Every moment I spent standing here felt like borrowed time. Maximus was unstable and irritated at his moment in the sun not turning out quite how he wanted it to, and this was the guy who had the most important person in my life standing next to him. I couldn't afford to leave her fate to him any longer. I had to do something. 

"I suggest you leave here right now," Victor spoke up with false bravado. "Otherwise we will have to take action." 

I almost laughed at him. They had more men then us. More guns. More firepower. We couldn't take them face on. Not like this. Not if I wanted to keep Carmen safe. 

Robbins seemed to share my hopelessness. I saw her close her eyes and send silent prayers up to the heavens as Maximus laughed in our faces. 

"We outnumber you in many ways foolish human. Your pathetic excuse of a back-up simply makes everyone's death a bit messier," he paused for a moment, his beetle-eyes glinting with smugness. "Give us the book and Mr Axon and we will end your lives painlessly." 

Il Libro Dei Demoni was still clutched in Robbins' arms. She had sunk down to her knees and was muttering to God with her eyes pinched shut. The action had started to draw attention from several of the lower-level demons opposite us, and even a few of the guys on our side were looking at her strangely. I didn't understand the confusion personally. If any time was a good moment to pray, it was now. We needed all the help we could get. 

What I did understand, however, was the sliver of fear that entered a demon whenever the Creator was brought into the mix. "What is she doing?" One of Rex's minions called out, unable to hide the shakiness of his voice. 

Robbins had everyone's attention now but she didn't stop. Maximus just laughed, no doubt assuming she was pathetic for turning to God in her fear, yet he was one of the few that did. Not all of his cronies were blinded by arrogance. 

Suddenly, the earth began to shake again but this time it was more powerful. We all collectively fell to our feet as the tremors grew in size and strength. 

A high, cold shriek bellowed from the rift going down to Hell. "No! No! Stop her!" 

But it was too late. Satan couldn't get another word in before the crack he'd created shifted back together, sealing him down in Hell. I smiled. Hopefully that was a sign he wasn't going to rise anytime soon. 

Panic ensued within the demonic ranks. "You never told us the Creator would be involved!" One yelled out. "I'm out of here!" Another one boomed. 

Maximus strode over to them and started yelling. "Stop this now! Stay in your positions you cowardly shits!" 

Everyone was so focused on the commotion that I knew this was the perfect time to act. Most of us had remained on the floor after the shock of the sudden earthquake, so it was unlikely that we would draw any extra attention. I had to move now. 

I made eye contact with Carmen, who was sitting on her lonesome without her previous guards, and beckoned her over here. She glanced around to make sure no one was watching her, before slowly edging her way towards us. I shuffled closer too until I was near enough to pull her into my arms. 

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Hi." 

"Hi," she smiled sadly at me as we shuffled back to our side. 

"Are you alright? Did they hurt you?" 

"I'm fine. They didn't do anything to me," she looked at me with heavy sympathy. "I'm sorry about Dev." 

I shook my head, repressing the feelings of grief swirling within. "Now's not the time for that." 

We reached Robbins and Spence, who were both smiling in slight amusement at the commotion opposite us. As soon as Darcy saw Carmen she pulled her into a tight hug. 

"I need you three to get the book safe and away from here. They won't be distracted for long," I told them, glancing back at Maximus to make sure he wasn't watching us. 

"What about you?" Carmen asked nervously, biting her lip as anxiety overtook her expression. 

My voice turned solemn. "I have to stay here and sort this shit out. I brought this on us, so it's my responsibility to deal with it." 

"I don't think it's your-" Robbins started, but I interrupted her quickly. 

"It doesn't matter. You guys have gotta go. Now." I glanced towards the monastery that they had to get to, which, luckily enough, wasn't too far away. "Go behind the cars and try to keep low." 

Spence nodded as the soldiers surrounding us got to their feet. "We'll see you in a bit, Roman." 

I said nothing as he led the way for the two women. I didn't need to tell them that the next time they'd see me was probably in a coffin. 

"Be careful, Mr Axon." Robbins smiled at me and I nodded to her, before she followed Spence. Carmen was about to move in her direction before she suddenly took me by surprise and kissed me fiercely. 

She drew away before I could return any of her passion with my own. "Please don't leave me." 

Guilt throbbed inside of me. She was such a clever woman. She knew that I was about to put my life on the line. 

"You need to go," I told her, stroking her cheek as unshed tears glistened in her eyes. She nodded and went to follow the others, turning just once to look back at me, as if it was the last time she'd ever see me again. 

For all we knew it could be. 

I watched them leave, before standing up myself and walking towards the front line. Maximus was still arguing with the lower-level demons when I yelled his name out. 

He scowled at me. "What do you want?" 

"You can't make them stay if they don't want to." 

I heard a murmur of agreement from the crowd and a few of them shifted then and there. 

Maximus let out a thunderous growl. "If any of you fuckers move another muscle, I will ruin you completely!" 

I snickered. "You and what army?" 

Some of the remaining demons laughed with me. It was no secret that Maximus wasn't exactly the most popular guy down below. 

"I'm powerful enough to kill anyone on my own. I don't need an army." His already tiny eyes had narrowed into furious slits. 

"So you're saying that you could destroy, even me, on your own?"

He huffed arrogantly. "Of course. I don't need any help." 

There was a moment of silence before Maximus realised what he'd just done. 

"I suppose that means you don't need any of us then," one of the lower level demons said, before shifting. The rest of the crowd followed suit until there were only humans standing in the vacated space. 

He whirled around to Rex and his minions, who were the only demons left, but the Hunter Leader shook his head at him. "You said it yourself: you don't need us." And then they shifted too. 

Maximus turned to me with a roar. "You made me say that on purpose!" 

I smiled gleefully at him. I knew his arrogance would be his downfall eventually, but I didn't realise it would bite him on the arse this early on. "Yes. Yes I did." 

He bared his teeth and started towards me, aggression pouring into his every step. "I'm going to kill you." 

I was about to prepare myself to fight when I heard a repeated chorus of clicks from behind me, making Maximus stop in his tracks. I turned around slightly to see Victor and the mafia men with their big guns to hand, locked and loaded for a fight. 

"I think you've lost the advantage you had over us, don't you, Maximus?" 

"It's still a close match, Roman," he sneered at me, his teeth still clenched together in fury. "And besides, I've been waiting for a moment like this for years. Its time we finally fight to the death. It's time I finally kill you for all that you've done to me." 

"Men!" He yelled over to his human cronies. "Kill them! But leave this one for me." 

Guns started firing to the right of me as soon as he had spoken, but I couldn't even concentrate on them. It was now time to kill or be killed. 

And I didn't particularly fancy my chances.