Chapter 7

I sat in the wooden tub, my knees right up under my chin. The tub was surrounded by panels of cloth, which dangled from rope and draped down to the ground. It should have made me feel as though I had privacy, but there were huge gaps where the material met and every few minutes flaps were pushed aside by young girls carrying in pots of hot water.

Van was having the same treatment only a few feet away. The ever-moving material gave me distracting flashes of smooth skin. He was angled away from me and if he knew I was there he gave no sign.

But he didn't have a cluster of girls attending to his every need. Just one. The Traveler girl looked about twenty-five and her long shiny hair hung down her back in a cascade of dark curls.

She was currently soaping off Van's back and watching I realized I didn't like it one bit. I had the sudden urge to cross the distance between us and slap Traveler girl upside the head. It was a totally irrational emotion, especially given the fact that Van and I were not involved. Forget involved, Van and I seldom spoke. And yet there it was again, the urge to slap her. I uncurled my fist and took a deep breath.

* * *

My clothes had been confiscated, and in their place, I was given a blue skirt and white bohemian blouse. My long red hair was now a pile of intricate braids intertwined with colorful ribbons, done by a girl of no more than twelve, who ignored numerous protests and slapping of hands. I finally just let her have her way. And when she showed me my reflection in a handheld mirror, I had to admit it looked festive. I looked damn good.

The party was in full swing. Music filled the air and the wine poured freely. After the last few days of hell, and at the prospect of my upcoming, and possibly suicidal, mission, I found myself drinking one glass of wine after the next. It was dark and red and sweet on my tongue.

Van was suddenly next to me. "Enjoying the party?" he asked.

I watched him in profile. He looked tense. "How does it feel to be home?"

The words came out through clenched teeth, "This is not my home."

"I thought..."

"My mother is a Traveler, but my father is not. I was raised above."

His answer surprised me. I would have thought that one of the chosen, someone so powerful, would be of full Traveler blood. "You seem to know your way around and the people..."

"My father died when I was a teenager, and my grandmother took over raising me. She's the one that brought me here for visits. And the one who has tried to teach me the ways of her people."

"It must have been hard." He didn't answer, which I was getting used to. When your companion hardly speaks what choice do you have but to keep asking questions? "Theresa, your mom seems like an interesting woman."

"We don't always see eye to eye."

"What was your father like?"

"He wasn't around much, even when he was alive."

We watched the crowd enjoying themselves for a while in silence.

When he spoke again his voice was somber, "The partying, the merriment is all their way of showing they aren't afraid of the dark."

Couples danced and laughed only a few feet from us. These days there seemed to be a lot to be afraid of.

A swarm of dark-haired children ran by, laughing and chasing each other.

"Another child went missing a few days ago," Van said quietly.

Another child gone. Taken by those monsters. They had to be stopped, but not for the first time I wondered how the hell we expected to stop them. We needed an army and, if at all possible, a truck load of bazookas. Unfortunately, we had neither. I took a deep sip of wine.

After another long stretch of silence Van spoke, "You know this is not your problem. You don't have to do this."

"I thought we covered this already. Claire says you need my help. So here I am."

Those caramel eyes watched me. "Have you always been so stubborn?"

I smiled. "I'm told it's one of my finest qualities."

"Why did you become a DK?" he asked.

"What's not to like." I looked around the encampment. "I get to travel to exotic places."

He raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

I looked down into my glass, swirling the dark red liquid. I cleared my throat a few times before I finally got it out. "My brother was a DK. He was killed."

My brother. The image of his broken, bleeding body filled my mind. And with the image, pain, and heartache as fresh and powerful as the day he died filled my body until I felt as though I couldn't breathe.

What do they say, time heals all wounds? They were liars. It had been two years since Robert's heart stopped beating and in that time the hole in my own had not healed. With long practice I pushed back the very thought of my brother to the dark recesses of my mind. I could do that with practice, at will push his memory away. And as the memory faded so did the pain and I could breathe again.

Van's hand suddenly covered mine. I looked up into those golden eyes and was surprised to see them full of compassion. He started to say something, but he stopped and looked behind me.

I turned and realized we were no longer alone.

The Traveler girl who had been so keen on bathing Van was smiling down at us. "Van, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I really need to talk to you."

* * *

The girl was beside Van, talking to him, her head close to his.

I had retreated under the guise of getting more wine and was now on the other side of the encampment.

Theresa walked up and stood next to me. Her gaze followed mine. "That's Kara. Don't they make a lovely couple?"

At the word couple I choked on my wine.

She smiled at me and continued, "It's important for our people that the bloodline continues. Kara is a very powerful woman, and Van one day will take his proper place as leader. And when he does, he'll need such a woman at his side."

"Leader? Your son doesn't seem to have much enthusiasm for the job," I murmured before taking another sip of wine.

Her eyes flashed with anger, but then she quickly covered her anger with a smile that didn't quite make it to her eyes. "My son will do what he has to when the time comes. I have always known that he would come back to us one day, and now that he is here, this time he will stay."

I raised my eyebrows at that one. I wasn't sure what she had planned, but the look she was giving me left no doubt of my fate if I got in the way of her plans for her son.

"Yes, this time he will stay," she said again, but with more force. And just like that she turned and walked away.

* * *

My body swayed in time to the notes of the violin. I had drifted for a time on the fringes of the party, watching the tight bonds that linked every member of the community together. As I watched Van move through the merriment it became obvious that he was just as much of an outsider as I was. Laughing faces turned to him as he approached and offered to include him, but he seemed to show these people, his kin, the same distance he showed me.

I watched him, and in so doing, caught him watching me. I do not know what my face showed, but he turned and weaved through the throng until he stood in front of me.

"Want to dance?" Van held out his hand.

"Sure." I put down my glass and went into his arms and for the first time since we started this adventure I truly relaxed.

He guided us both to the beat of the music as we glided amongst the other couples dancing.

"Kara is a pretty girl."

"Yes, she is beautiful."

I grumbled, "I think the word I used was pretty."

He actually laughed out loud.

He had asked me to dance and now he was laughing. Both things were completely out of character for my normally sullen companion. I pulled back and looked into his face. "Are you drunk?"

"Maybe." He spun me and we moved across the floor. "Why are you obsessed with Kara?" he whispered in my ear.

"I wouldn't call it obsessed. I just noticed you seem to spend an awful lot of time with her."

"Her sister is one of the missing kids."

"Oh, I didn't realize."

"I've known Kara a long time."

"Your mom has quite a high opinion of her."

"Really?"

"She seems to think Kara would be the perfect companion for you when you take over as leader."

He stopped dancing and just stared at me.

"Her words not mine."

"Like I said, my mother and I don't always see eye to eye." He leaned in and wrapped his finger around one of my braids. "Sparkling green eyes, hair the color of sunset." He let go of my hair and ran his finger down the side of my neck. "And skin as smooth as silk."

I cocked my head and narrowed my eyes. "Just how much did you have to drink?"

I realized Jay was standing next to us, a big grin on his face.
"My turn." Jay smiled and opened his arms.

What choice did I have but to oblige. Over Jay's shoulder I watched Van make his way to a group of people. And to the side of Kara. She smiled as he approached and held out her hand. He took it.

I closed my eyes at the sight and, with a shock, realized that jealousy was gnawing at my stomach.

The music began to slow, and Jay's voice whispered in my ear, "I requested a slow one."

Great, just what I needed, a slow dance with a man whose hands were becoming like an octopus. I calmly moved his left hand from my butt to my waist, only to have it appear again against my lower back.

I was just about to deck dear Jay when Van showed up beside us. "Your turn's over, buddy."

Jay stepped back and gave Van a big smile, "Can't blame a guy for trying."

Van pulled me close, and we danced slowly to the beat. The man knew how to move. I could feel the heat of his body through my clothes. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensation.

"Van."

"Hmm..."

"You were saying something about my eyes."

His laugh was low and seductive against my hair. "Was I?"

"Are you always this amicable when drunk?"

"Who said I was drunk?"

"You did."

"I said I had a bit to drink."

"It must have been quite a bit."

"Amicable. Interesting word." He twirled me out and then pulled me back against him. Our faces were now inches apart. "If I'm amicable when I had a few drinks what does that make me when I'm sober?"

I gave him a slow smile. "The word that pops into mind is scowling. And let us know forget taciturn." And I laughed when my answer produced a scowl. "Okay, maybe not quit enough to drink." My hand, of its own volition, rose and smoothed the frown from his brow. He had such a strong face. Chiseled nose, determined chin, sensual lips.

It took me a moment to realize the music had stopped and the musicians were taking a break. A bottle was being passed amongst them as they stood on the edge of the encampment. The lights were now dim, and Van and I were standing in the shadows. The music stopped, but Van had not let go of me, my body was still pressed firmly against his.

My fingers had moved from the scowl on his forehead down to his lips. There they were now gently pressed against his lips, and at the realization, I quickly pulled them back. I opened my mouth, I am not sure to say what, but I never got a chance to say anything. His mouth was suddenly on mine.

The kiss was hard and deep, and when he finally pulled away, we were both more than a bit breathless.

I had been kissed before, but never like that. And whatever that just was, I wanted another taste. Our bodies came together again as did our lips. His hands skimmed the back of my neck, and I shivered. The sensation of his hands on my skin, honestly, there were no words for it. Whatever he was doing, I was all in and wanted more.

He suddenly pulled away. Strong fingers gently moved across my throat. Those dark caramel eyes watched me, waiting, for what? Me to pull away and say, no thanks? I pulled him close and brought my lips against his.

My hands moved around his neck as his right hand moved down my body. The heat of his hand against the flimsy material of the blouse was sending delicious sensations across me. I think I might have gasped quietly with pleasure, but any sound I might have made was captured against his mouth. We stood locked together, our mouths devouring each other. I was no longer aware of my surroundings. No longer cared about anything but feeling his body against mine.

I could blame it on the wine, but I wasn't that drunk. The feel of his lips on mine had suddenly sobered every fiber of my being.

When he broke contact again, I cried out in protest. My hands reached out to pull him back against me again.

His hand took mine and he led me to a blue tent on the far side of the encampment.

I was about to do something totally irrational. I didn't know this man well, and it was never a good idea to get involved with a comrade in arms. The last thing you needed to worry about during a fight was the safety of someone you cared about. During a fight you had to stay focused and deep emotional connections only brought distractions. Distractions would and could get you killed.

A dozen reasons ran through my head why I should stop this right now, before it got out of hand. I could just laugh the whole thing off as having too much wine, but the problem was a deeper part of me wanted this to happen. I desperately wanted to run my fingers over all the naked parts of this man's body. The desire to bring our bodies together was so strong it made my mouth go dry.

I didn't have to worry about what to say next, the moment we were through the entrance flap to the tent Van pulled me hard into his arms. His lips made their way down my neck. Deft fingers worked the strings at the front of my blouse and suddenly my shoulder was exposed. And then my naked breast. He lowered his head and warm lips peppered my skin. A moan escaped from deep within my throat. I threw back my head at the glorious feelings running the length of my body.

My fingers grasped at his shirt and pulled it over his head. His hands on my body, the feel of his naked skin suddenly against mine, the only word that came to mind was sublime. I was a great fan of sex, but this was something entirely different. Entirely intoxicating.

Another moan escaped my mouth and at the sound suddenly we were both tearing the rest of each other's clothes off as fast as humanly possible.

We fell into a tangle of limbs against a mound of silk pillows strewn across the floor of the tent. The pillows weren't meant for such vigorous action and as our bodies fell, feathers burst forth and filled the air around us.

I laughed out loud as I was assaulted by a cloud of feathers. One moment I was on top, the next he rolled and pinned me beneath his body.

His face was inches from mine. His caramel eyes were now the color of dark honey. I raised my hand and caressed his cheek.

"I want to please you," he said as his hands moved across my naked flesh.

Without another word he ran his hands down my skin and where his hands roamed his mouth followed. Each part of my body was devoured. I arched and withered until I thought I would go mad.

I wanted to ride him. I wanted to taste him. I wanted...God I just wanted.

And then those soft lips found my inner thigh. Sensual kisses worked their way up and then down. Up and down, they went causing electric shocks through the very core of me.

His tongue suddenly plunged into me and my body arched, and my hands reached out desperately for something to steady myself.

His mouth was relentless. It engulfed me, first with feathery kisses, then more intense probing, until he was savagely sucking and licking the very depths of me.

I knew there were dozens of people out there mingling not more than ten feet away, but I was beyond caring.

Suddenly I could take no more. I turned my head and pushed my face into the nearest pillow as I cried out and shuddered uncontrollably. Small explosions of pleasure still vibrated within me when he began to move again.

He was over me and as our eyes locked, ever so slowly he guided himself inch by incredible inch inside me. The sensation of him, sliding against the wetness of my flesh, made the breath catch in the back of my throat.

He watched me, his eyes never leaving my face as his movements were slow at first, then harder. Slow again and then harder still. He plunged into me. He drove into me again and again.

I felt another orgasm building inside me. I was tortured over and over until finally I found release in a sudden violent shudder.

My body rocked and I began to cry out. His lips crushed against mine swallowing that cry as he convulsed against me, and his body became dead weight against mine.

We lay against each other breathing hard, covered in sweat. I looked up at the ceiling of the tent and raised a hand to my chest. I could feel my heart still pounding. For the first time in a long time, I found myself speechless.

* * *

I sat sipping coffee watching them argue. It was some kind of meeting of the elders and Theresa had made damn sure I knew it was a Travelers only meeting. But that didn't stop me fromu finding a good vantage point to watch the fireworks.

Van stood in the middle of a dozen people. I didn't need to read his body language to gauge his emotions. He kept raising his voice in anger. The group was yelling back, and I wondered not for the first time since the meeting started at what point the whole thing was going to explode into a massive fist fight.

I took another sip of coffee and watched as Theresa took charge. The group suddenly took a collective breath and calmed down. Which made me wonder exactly what powers the queen of the Travelers possessed. More screaming and shouting. More calming on Theresa's part. The meeting went on, and I watched.

Van and I hadn't spoken about last night. He had his way with me not once, but twice. Every second of it had been glorious and delicious.

When morning came and we woke nestled in each other's arms, surprisingly he had not rushed to get up. Instead, he held me tight and stroked my hair.

Eventually we got up and got dressed. Nothing really was said between us as we made our way to find food and coffee. We sat together eating until someone came to tell Van his mother had summoned him to meeting.

That had been an hour ago and I had been sitting here trying to think of what I would say when the meeting finally ended, and Van came back. We both had too much to drink last night, but it was more than that. We were about to go on a possible suicide mission and last night we had taken comfort in each other's arms.

I was wondering how much longer this meeting might last, when Van suddenly broke away from the group and stormed across the encampment.

He settled himself down next to me.

I offered him a cup of coffee.

He took it. "They won't help."

"You can't be serious."

"The fools are worried by going after the children they'll be declaring open warfare on the demons."

"Open warfare sounds good."

"They refuse to risk it." He shook his head in disgust. "There was a time my people were so strong the demons feared us. Now look at us."

I raised my eyebrows at the "us" comment. Usually when Van talked about his people, he made it clear he was on the outside.

He put the cup of coffee down without drinking it and looked out at the encampment. "We are on our own. I told them we would be leaving soon. But before we go, Mother wants to do an official send off."
"Great, another party."

"Not exactly. We'll drink some wine, and the elders of the tribe will do a few blessings."

"One last hurrah?" I asked watching his mother walk across the encampment.

"Something like that," he said, his expression troubled.

* * *

"Friday." My name was accompanied by a violent shake. I tried to open my eyes but realized they felt very heavy.

"Drink this." A cup was pushed against my lips, and I drank deeply.

"Am I sick?"

"Drugged. I knew there was resistance to our plan, but I never believed she was capable of doing something like this."

I pried my eyes open. Van was sitting next to me. He pushed a cup towards me. "This will counteract the effects. You should be feeling better in a few minutes."

The last thing I remembered was standing around the camp drinking some wine and listening to an old woman singing along to violin music while young girls threw sea salt in the air.

I gulped down the mixture which tasted like battery acid. I sat up and started to ask a question when Van motioned with his fingers to his lips. He leaned forward. "They think we are both out cold."

I leaned against him and whispered in his ear, "But how did you..."

"I only took a sip of the wine when I realized they spiked our drinks. I just pretended to finish it off. I waited until this side of the camp was clear and I was able to sneak off without being seen and get you a remedy to counter the effects."

"How long have I been out?"

"Hours," he said handing me a pile of clothes and my duffle bag. I put on the black shirt and pants. The stolen pants had many pockets on each pant leg. I emptied the contents of my duffel bag and tucked away bottles of holy water and blessed oil until all the pockets were full.

When I was done Van spoke up, "Most of the camp is asleep, but no doubt they have guards posted at both ends. We have to get out of here."

"How?"

"If it comes down to it, fight our way out."

I couldn't help the gasp that left my lips. "Van these are your people."

He curled his fist. "You think that's easy for me say, fight my people. We have to go after the children, and if they can't see it's the right thing to do..."

My hand covered his fist. "What type of weapons do they have?"

"Axes and knifes, buy it's been a long time since they trained in the use of weapons. And any powers they have, has been muted over the years from lack of use."

"They went after a nest of demons with axes?" I asked incredulously.

"An axe is a very effective weapon for use in close combat. If you can hack off a significant enough chunk the demons go down eventually. Even a demon can't function for long if you chop off its head."

"Duly noted." I tried unsuccessfully to visualize a group of DKs making the rounds around town with axes. DKs had to blend into the environment. We stalked the world above, where law enforcement and concerned citizens dwelled. We had learned long ago that guns were of little use against the demons. Firing a hundred bullets into a demon didn't get you far. The creatures were already dead. Fire sticks were just as useless since fire seemed to be an intricate part of the creatures. The fire sticks were used for practice, not as defensive weapons.

Some DKs used swords, but to conceal them you had to wear long coats. And every time I saw someone stalking the night in a black leather coat, I got the urge to giggle and ask them if they watched the matrix and underworld too many times. Besides, how in the hell do you wear a long black coat in the middle of summer?

Most DKs usually relied on a different arsenal of weapons. The metaphysical powers each DK used were usually unique to them alone, and much of our training focused on finding our own power. The symbols of religion provided a framework, but in the end the ability to fight evil came from within.

Now knives were a weapon I could get behind. Easy to conceal, easier to use. Give me a nice blade with blessed silver and I was a happy girl.

This time his fist hit the ground. "I don't know what she thinks she is doing." He turned to me. "If your life is in danger and you have to defend yourself..." his words petered off.

I just stared at him. Was he telling me to kill his people? I had signed up for killing demons and possibly their nefarious human collaborators, but to kill another human... one not working with the demons. I wasn't sure if I could, even if my life was in danger.

"Are you ready?" he asked. "We are going to have to make our way around the camp to the far tunnel. If we can get past the guards, there will be another set further down. Maybe a hundred yards. After that, if we get that far, we'll be clear."

I could feel the effects of the drug still pumping through my body. It was very slow going. The massed humanity made slipping by unseen almost impossible, yet somehow Van did it. It was hard to explain what he was doing. We never seemed to be moving in the direction of the tunnel, but every time it came into sight from behind whatever pile of boxes or group of tents we happened to duck behind, the tunnel was closer. I swear it was if he was somehow moving us within the shadows in a way that was far from natural. Another one of the prodigal son's special abilities? I would have to ask him about it once we got out of this mess.

By the time we reached the tunnel the lethargy caused by the drugs had fallen away. If anything, I was shaky with adrenaline. Any moment someone could call out in alarm, and we would be in a desperate struggle with people who should be our allies.

We reached the guard post without incident and received a stroke of luck. The guards who were supposed to be watching the tunnel were sitting a good twenty feet away talking to a pretty girl. Her flirtatious giggle carried clearly to us in the quiet camp. We slipped past easily.

The tunnel was eerily dark, and Van couldn't do his normal human flashlight trick until we were out of sight of the camp, so we paused for a few minutes to let our eyes adjust. When darker forms became visible against the general gray, we moved forward. When we reached the next checkpoint, we would be lit from behind, so the chances of slipping by were not good.

I made sure that my knife was in my hand and prayed I wouldn't have to use it.

Like the flipping of a switch, the tunnel was suffused with light. I didn't dive for cover this time, but I came close. Twenty feet ahead stood three glowing beings. Light sloughed of them like fog, pooling around their feet and lapping at the sides of the tunnel. I could just make out Jay's features through the glare. On either side stood a man and a woman that I didn't recognize.

"Hello Van, Can I help you?"

"You could get out of my way."

"I'm sorry, I can't do that."

"Jay, you have to trust me. I know that I can bring them back, Claire has seen it."

A look of doubt crossed Jay's glowing features, and then quickly vanished. "I'm sorry, I have my orders."

"Whose orders would hold a member of the tribe against his will?" Van demanded.

"My orders," Van's mother's voice rose from behind us, and I knew that we were trapped.

I turned to see a large group of Travelers enter the tunnel. With Van's mother stood a group of stern looking men and women with various weapons in hand.

I doubt they intended to use them on Van, but I would probably be fair game.

"I'm not yours to command, Mother," Van shouted at the group.

"I'm merely saving you from yourself. If you go into the nest, you will be killed, and your people will suffer the consequences of your actions. You will break the truce that has kept us in peace for so long."

"There is no truce mother, you broke it when you the first group went after the children. In the past they feared to attack us because we were strong, but now they know we have grown weak."

"You will bring them down on us in force!"

"It is going to happen anyway mother, they'll come eventually and destroy our people to the last man, taking forever the dark middle places back for their own. Because we are not strong enough to stop it."

"I will not allow you to go." She turned to look at me with undisguised hatred. "I will not let an outsider steal you away from us again. Your place is here."

A feeling of dread suddenly washed over me, and I turned to look down the tunnel to find its source.

Darker things slowly resolved out of the shadows and paused just outside of the circle of light. The things paced on the edge of the light in disturbingly unnatural ways and the odd shapes and sizes left no doubt of the nature of the invaders. They were the minions of darkness. And as they slowly advanced into the light, I realized we were now facing an army of low-level demons.

I had never seen a low-level demon in real life, but I knew from training that they were the worker bees of the demon world. They were smaller in size and easier to kill, but that was only helpful information if you were facing one or two of them. Advancing on us was a small army of the creatures filling the tunnel from wall to wall.

A gasp rose from the gathered Travelers and all eyes turned to the advancing menace.

"Looks like you have a choice, Mother." Van grabbed my arm and started leading me to the left. "Try to stop us or protect the tribe."

"You would leave us here to fight them!" Theresa screamed.

Van looked back at his mother and said, "No, I intend to take the fight to them." And then he moved and then Van's energy flashed to life. There was a blast of light and when my eyes cleared it was obvious that Van was special. The other Traveler's light seemed to dim in comparison as Van glowed in ball of bright light. The light expanded out to fill the whole tunnel. He brought the noon day sun to places that had forever lain in shadow.

Van turned and walked with nonchalance towards a force of demons that only a madman could hope to fight and survive.

He didn't look back to see if I was following, perhaps giving me a chance to back out. Part of me wanted to turn and run away from this insanity, run all the way back to the surface. For an awful second, I considered it. But only for a second.

I muttered, "Fuck it." And ran to catch up with him.

Van turned and smiled at me as I caught up, and the warmth I saw there melted away my doubts. "What's the plan?" I asked, trying to keep the panic I was feeling from my voice.

"I'm going to cut a path down the right side and try to do as much damage as I can without slowing down. Your job will be to keep them off my back. If I have to cover my own flank I lose my momentum, and it will turn into a bloody slugfest. Can you handle it?"

My left hand went to my neck, fingers circling the silver cross. "I guess we'll see."

"A little ways down, the tunnel starts to divide, and we should be able to lead them on a merry little chase. We should be able to draw away enough of them to give the tribe a chance."

As Van drew closer to the waiting demons they seemed to change. Their dark cloaks started to shred into tatters and red bloody skin turned to the sickening gray shades of festering rot. Gaps showed white bone or just black nothingness. The shadows and illusion which normally hid their true nature were ripped away by Van's presence.

"Are you ready?" he asked not taking his eyes from the demons.

"Ready," I answered.

He was already moving, charging towards the demons at a speed nearly too fast to follow. He swung a hand as he came into range and a ball of light gathered around his fist. The demon raised a forearm to block the blow, but at Van's tough, the demon's arm and half of its head dissolved in a flash of light. It fell to the floor with a hollow thump.

Van rolled and dodged a club swung by a huge demon. He ducked under the blow and plunged his now glowing hand into the demon's putrid stomach. The touch was enough to stop the demon in its tracks. The monster's top half continued the swing, but without the support of its legs, it soon stumbled to the ground.

Fire began to rain on Van from the enemies' ranks, but none of it seemed to reach Van or slow his progress. Balls of orange and purple flame suddenly shredded to tatters in mid air, becoming nothing but smoke. What little demon fire reached Van seemed to slide off without effect. And when a wall of fire sprang up before him, he didn't even pause, he walked straight through. As he passed through the flames they guttered and died, becoming harmless coals and blowing ash.

Van killed one demon and then another. Yet a third, fourth, and fifth fell. The fire attack slowed and then stopped completely as more and more demons fell beneath Van's vicious assault.

Me, I was just trying to keep my ass in one piece. I rolled, stumbled, and threw myself from one corner of the tunnel to the other just trying to keep from getting smacked upside the head by demon fire. And while I kept my ass intact, one eye was on Van and his whereabouts. The boy put me in charge of covering his back and I was damned if I wouldn't do my best to do just that.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught movement and turned to see two demons, running on all fours like some dogs from hell, bearing down on Van's side. I raised the cross and focused my will on the closest, releasing my power. I smashed my will into it, and it flew back down the tunnel.

The other turned to me just as I threw a bottle of holy water in its face. It fell forward and slid to a stop at my feet. I gave it a vicious kick, but the damnable thing didn't have any fight left in it.

I scrambled to catch back up with Van. I had just killed two demons, but during my mini battle Van had returned a dozen more demons back to hell. And I was now forced to scramble over their rotting remains to keep up.

As I watched Van demonstrated a new trick—he threw the ball of light he had built up around his hand into the densest concentration of demons, and it exploded. Liquid light clung to the creatures and dissolved them like acid.

I tried to stay with Van as more and more demons tried to work their way into his blind spots. Thankfully, the tunnel was not very wide, and I kept mentally shoving the creatures in front of Van, where he made sure, they quickly met their fate.

Van was beginning to slow down, and it seemed like the light he was creating was beginning to dim. Perhaps a third of the demon force now lay in pieces, and if Van was weakening it was only a matter of time before the remaining group overwhelmed us. I looked back towards the barricade and realized with a sinking heart that there would be no help from that quarter.

Where the Traveler's still gathered, there was a flurry of activity readying defenses, but no one was coming past the barricade to join our fight.

We were alone in the tunnel with an army of minions from hell.

Van finally came to a stop. A gap had appeared in the side of the tunnel, another tunnel that might lead to safety. The light fell from Van's hands, the shadows seem to wrap around him and poof, he was gone. Van had disappeared. I was now alone in the tunnel.

There I stood in the darkness, as a group of creatures turned and started towards me. Any minute demon hands would seize me and with so many, there was no way I could survive such a battle. Not on my own.

I despaired in the darkness, waiting for demon hands to seize me, loudly cursing Traveler boy for making a run for it and leaving me behind.

Then Van was suddenly there again, this time at my side. He gave me a smile, and I watched as the shadows slowly swirled around us both. The dark engulfed us and as it did Van grabbed my hand and pulled me along with him down the side tunnel.

****