Page 97 of Defying the Relic Hunter

“Yes, sir.”

Granny frowned. “I cannot sense any ghosts, ghouls or demons in the area.”

“You think Ceti scared them off?”

“It is a possibility.”

I opened my senses and scanned the area. She was right. There was no spectral activity at all. Something wrapped around my ankle and jerked me off my feet. “Hey! Let go!”

“Kizzy!” Ethan shouted.

I caught a quick glimpse of him running toward me before a vortex of blinding light engulfed me. Teleporting with a Gorum was like falling down the eye of a tornado at Mach One. Thirty heart-stopping chaotic seconds later, I appeared in a smaller cavern. Clumps of glowing yellow fungus provided enough light for me to see Ceti’s looming bulk.

Ethan slid into my head.“Are you hurt? Do you know where you are, Angel?”

“I’m ok. I haven’t a clue and Raj is a piss poor hunter.”

Ceti’s tentacles waved angrily.“Where is Asmoday and the sphere.”

“Holy hell! Ceti’s a girl,”I whispered to Ethan.

“Where are they?”Ceti shook me.

“Ah, well, Asmoday was captured by Qa’a and the sphere is nearby. I’d be happy to take you to it.”

Her yellow orbs filled with fury.“Qa’a has my beloved?”

Guess they were the alien version of Bonnie and Clyde. There was no way in hell I was telling her Asmoday was dead.“He does. In a fortified prison. That’s escape proof.”

“Once I have the sphere, I will free him,”Ceti declared.

“You betcha.”Asmoday must have been the brains of the outfit.

Red eyes glowed in the darkness and I could hear rustling in the shadows, like rats skittering behind walls.“If you haven’t noticed, we’ve got company.”

A tentacle shot out and dragged a rat/demon hybrid into the dim light and stuffed it into Ceti’s gaping maw.“These creatures are almost as tasty as the Rodan.”

“They’re called demons and I know where there’s a lot more.”

“Do not try to trick me,”Ceti hissed.

I held up my hands.“I wouldn’t think of it. You’re too smart for me.”

“Take me to the sphere.”She yanked me to my feet.“Or I will eat you.”

“Sure. Whatever you want. It’s ah…”

“Follow the ball of light,”Granny murmured in my mind.

A glowing blue ball formed in the darkness.“That way.”As I trailed after the orb, I could sense my family growing closer and closer.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Contorted rocks reared up like giant monsters and faraway voices wailed in anguish.

“Holy Jesus! Is that…?”

“Si, it is the portal to hell,”Granny repliedon our private link.

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