Page 13 of The Road to Hell

“He’s a cat.”

“He’s ademon.”

“Please. We’ve fought hellspawn. He’s hardly?—”

I lunged and snatched my fluffy boy. The next few seconds were a blur of yowling, clawing, and swearing—mostly mine. Purrgy’s claws seemed to glint in the light as he swiped them through the air. Twisting his body in all the impossible angles, he busted free and bolted toward Rathiel.

“Stop him!” I shouted, scrambling after my ginger menace.

Rathiel cursed and dove after Purrgatory. For a brief, glorious moment, I thought Rathiel had him—until Purrgatory turned boneless, slipped through the vampire’s hands like smoke, and torpedoed into the bedroom. Meanwhile, Vol rolled around on the couch, clutching his small stomach as he laughed and laughed and laughed.

“That was priceless, Meat Sack!” he shouted, his grey skin mottled pink.

Rathiel straightened and blinked his angelic blue eyes at me. “Well, that didn’t go according to plan.”

“No kidding,” I sighed.

With a new plan in mind, I stomped to the linen closet and yanked it open. Thankfully, since the landlord wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow, I had a small arsenal of blankets at my disposal. I snatched one, then led Rathiel toward my room.

“He’s under the bed,” I said, knowing my cat’s hiding habits all too well. “I’m going to flush him out. He’ll likely bolt for the door again.” I thrust the blanket at Rathiel. “Come inside and close the door so he can’t dart past us. Then use this to catch him. Make sure to wrap him tightly so his claws don’t get you.”

Rathiel took the blanket with a serious nod, then followed me into my room with Vol at his heels and closed the door.

I crouched beside the bed and peered under the frame. “Come on, Purrgy,” I murmured. “Don’t make me get the spritz bottle. You can do this, big guy.”

From under the bed, a pair of pissed-off, green eyes glared at me. I reached under the frame, and Purrgy scooted backward with a quiet hiss and a loud growl.

“Come on, baby, don’t be like that. You’ll like Hell, I swear.”

Vol’s bark of laughter came from the doorway.

“Not helping, Vol.”

“Not here to help,” he informed me gleefully.

I rolled my eyes, then patted the floor. “Come on, Purrgy. We gotta go buddy.” I dropped flat onto my stomach and scooted closer. The second my fingers grazed his fur, he bolted and dove straight into Rathiel’s waiting arms.

This time, Rathiel caught the little bean and scooped him into the blanket, cinching it tight to keep Purrgatory from wriggling free.

“Quickly!” I said, scrambling to my feet and leading Rathiel into the kitchen. I grabbed the collapsible fabric cat carrier, stuffed with blankets for the cold, and said a little prayer. “Don’t give him time to catch his bearings,” I said. “Just get him inside as quickly as you can.”

Rathiel unwrapped the kitty burrito and stuffed Purrgatory through the hole. Purrgy kicked and howled, growled and spat, but in a war between vampire and putty tat, vampire won. Once Purrgy’s whole body was inside, I zipped closed the door, then lifted the carrier to eye level.

“Everything’s going to be okay,” I told him, who was practically vibrating with kitty rage. “Okay everyone, it’s time to kick this joint.”

Rathiel and I quickly dressed in our winter gear, and I grabbed a side satchel, one I’d lined with scraps of fabric for Vol. I opened the flap and told him to get in. He paused to stick his tongue out at Purrgy, then vanished into the bag’s depths.

I carefully slung the satchel over my shoulder before hoisting my pack onto my back. Rathiel came behind me and secured Purrgy’s carrier to the top before shrugging on his own pack. Then he grabbed our duffel bag full of weapons and turned to face me. We had far too many bags—more than I wanted—but I wasn’t willing to part with anything else. So, we would just have to make do.

We didn’t speak, but our gazes met and held. When he arched a questioning brow, I gave a firm nod. I could do this. Ihadto do this. I didn’t like it, but so what? We didn’t always get the life we wanted. And while I wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of my eternal days snuggled up on a couch, watching a movie, possibly cuddling with a fangy blood drinker…

I cleared my throat. Nope, those kinds of thoughts wouldn’t help right now.

The point was, we didn’t always get what we wanted.Thiswas my life, and the only one I had to live. So, I needed to live it.

As if right on time, my apartment intercom buzzed, announcing our Uber’s arrival. I’d asked my neighbour to call for me since my cell phone was now little more than a brick.

“Let’s go,” I said.

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