Page 58 of Gladiator Moon

“But we always have a choice, right? You helped me see that. And if breaking the bond costs me my life, then so be it. Better that I die helping to end the Games than spend another hundred years feeding innocent lives into it.”

“Baltazar...”

“Besides, Samantha Moon, you have given us something we have not had in a very long time.”

“What’s that?”

“Hope. Do not concern yourself with me. You should hurry. He’s getting away.” Another bolt of lightning erupts from his hands and sends a demon sprawling to the ground. “And remember, he may attempt mind control. You must remain strong. Sing a happy song in your head, if necessary. He hates happy songs.”

“Will do.”

“Now go, Samantha Moon! Help us rid this world of that monster once and for all.”

I spread my wings, then launch myself across the chamber, soaring over demons and warriors alike, through drifting smoke, raining dust, and the broken remains of a cruel empire.

Chapter Twenty-six

The Dark One plunges through the dark maw behind the throne. As he does, a line of demons begins rising from the floor between us. Horns emerge first. Then shoulders. Then claws. Then black bodies claw their way up from the stone, looking like zombies emerging from the grave. Each turns toward me with hatred in their obsidian eyes. Pretty sure I am witnessing the birth of new demons. Molten, steaming ooze bubbles down their dark skin.

“So gross,” I grunt.

The newly born demons launch themselves at me. I immediately swing the Devil Killer in a controlled arc. Blammo! Six demons vanish. But a seventh catches hold of my ankle and immediately digs a sharp claw into it. I fly higher, then twist around and drive my free foot into its flat face. Next, I drive the point of my sword straight down through the top of its skull. The thing disappears in a loud poof.

I still don’t like killing. Not humans, not alien soldiers. And definitely not kidnapped warriors forced to fight for the pleasure of others.

But demons are another story. Yeah, I make exceptions for those suckers.

A cheer suddenly erupts above me. I glance upward and see a balcony crowded with palace servants, many holding torches, stones, knives, and pieces of broken furniture. They are throwing everything they can find down at the demons below. One elderly man in gold-trimmed robes drops what appears to be an entire dining chair onto a demon’s head. The demon barely notices.

I keep moving, zig-zagging through the air, flapping my wings hard and fast.

Ahead, the dark opening rapidly begins to close behind the fleeing Dark One, its two sides coming together magically like a massive stone zipper.

Nearby demons sense where I am going and move to block me. The Dark One is obviously willing to sacrifice as many of his ‘children’ as necessary to keep me from reaching him. I would expect nothing less.

I heft the Devil Killer in both hands.

“Out of my way, assholes!” I growl.

Except the demons do not get out of my way. Fine by me. I spin and cut through the first rank with a sweeping stroke that takes four demons out at once. Black smoke plumes into one big cloud. I beat my wings furiously, clearing my vision as a spear whistles past me. I let it pass harmlessly by, and answer with a backstroke that removes the thrower’s head.

Poof. Gone.

Something sinks its teeth into my shoulder. For creatures destined to soon become nothing more than black smoke, they sure feel awfully solid at times. I cry out more from surprise than pain, drive my elbow backward, and feel teeth break against my bone. As the demon rears back, snarling, I spin and erase him with the Devil Killer.

Another pulls at my right wing, sending me spinning.

The Devil Killer flashes once, and the demon disappears when I come back around to face him. My angel wing burns where it grabbed it, but it works just fine when I test it. Meanwhile, the archway continues to narrow before me. I can feel the Dark One inside, trying to get into my mind. Hell, into my blood, my bones. The sword begins vibrating violently in my hand, perhaps from anticipation, pulling me forward like a hunting dog catching a scent.

“You want him too, eh?” I chuckle amid the chaos.

The blade seemingly grows warmer in response.

Suddenly, a massive demon steps into my path. It towers over the others, broader by half, his body encased in black armor that appears to have grown directly from its flesh. Curved horns sweep back over its flat skull. Molten eyes stare at me with a familiarity I don’t like. In both hands he carries a sword made of fire. When it speaks, the voice belongs to the Dark One:

“No farther, vampire.”

“That’s not how this works, idiot.”