“How?”
Ryder inclined his head to the back of the room. “As soon as it happens, the demons will come after us and the exit will be clear. Head that way.”
She frowned, not liking the idea of leaving him. “What about you and the others?”
Ryder and the rest of his crew of demon hunters, known as the Realm of Light, had amassed in this cave to fight the Sons of Darkness. They were currently surrounded by demons-huge, monstrous creatures that would frighten even the most sturdy adult. The creatures towered over the humans. Some were massive, others fast and deadly with their dripping, toxic claws and teeth. She couldn’t imagine doing battle with those things.
“We’re here for the duration. We’ve got to fight them. You don’t have the training, and I can’t take them on and protect you at the same time, so I need you out of the way.”
He was right. She had no idea how to battle these creatures. But she didn’t want to leave. There were so many questions she didn’t have answers to yet.
Somehow Ryder sensed her reluctance, because his gaze narrowed. “I mean it, Angie.”
She inhaled, letting it out on a resigned sigh. Thoughts of protest hovered on her lips, but she bit them back. She was a hindrance and would get in the way. And she did really want to get out of this with her life. “Okay, I’ll run.”
“Good. Hang outside the cave entrance and wait for us.”
He started to turn away, but she held tight to his hand, forcing him to look at her.
“What?”
“Please be careful.” She wanted to see him again, to explain the reason she’d brought the black diamond to Bart. It wasn’t her fault. She wasn’t a treasure hunter, no matter what Ryder might think. She hadn’t had a choice. She hadn’t known what Bart was.
“I’ll be okay,” Ryder said. “We’ll talk when all this is over.”
She released his hand and began to drift toward the back of the cave. Just then, an explosion of lightning struck in the vicinity of the demon hunters. Growls mixed with shouts as the hunters engaged in battle with the demons. Smoke filled the room and the smell of melting demon assailed her nostrils.
That was her cue. She ran like hell through the tunnels, her heart pounding, her steps unsure as she felt along the dark passageway. Afraid that someone or something would follow her, she tore ahead at a fast pace, the hairs on the back of her neck rising. She was certain some claw-handed creature was going to grab her by the throat any second. She made it halfway, her lungs burning, her legs feeling like rubber, until she couldn’t push any farther. She stopped to catch her breath. Her legs shook so much she was afraid she was going to slump to the ground. She was drenched in sweat, the result of fear and the rush of adrenaline from her flight to freedom.
When she could breathe normally again, when her blood no longer rushed like pounding waves in her ears, she heard it. Or rather, didn’t hear it.
The cave she’d run from had gone deathly quiet. Even while she’d been running, she’d heard the sounds of the battle echoing down the cavern. Now it was completely silent.
Unnerving. What had happened back there? Was Ryder all right? What about the others? She strained to hear the sounds of rushing footsteps. He said they’d meet her outside after they took care of the demons, but she didn’t hear them coming.
She needed to get out of here. What she was contemplating was a bad idea, something her sister would do.
She was going to do it, anyway. She had to know, had to check on Ryder. He could be hurt and she might be the only one who could help him, or go for help if he and the others needed it.
She turned and headed back, first walking, then running again. But this time, she was running toward the cave, unable to stop herself. When she got to the cave entrance, she stopped, certain she was going to see the hunters’ bodies sprawled everywhere, dead; massacred by those hideous creatures.
Why was she doing this?
Because Ryder would do the same for her. He wouldn’t leave her behind.
Just a peek, then she’d run again. She was strong, fast. She could do it. She edged around the corner.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the room and made a quick scan, fully expecting those hideous creatures to turn on her next.
Stunned, she blinked, then frowned.
The room was completely empty.
Where had they all gone? The way she came was the only tunnel, the only exit.
She moved into the room and looked around, wondering if she’d somehow missed another passageway.
No, she’d been right. There was no other way out.
Where were they?
She moved toward the altar where Bart had conducted the ceremony. The hunters were gone, the demons nowhere to be seen. Everyone and everything was gone.
But the black diamond remained.
