Devil May Cry (Dark-Hunter 11)

For him.

The fact that she'd never abused so much power or hurt anyone with it. It was mind-blowing and it made him love her all the more.

She pulled back to look at him.

Sin cupped her face in his hands as he stared at her in wonder. She was truly the most beautiful soul he'd ever encountered. "I love you, Kat."

Her eyes twinkled with mischief. "I know."

Invigorated, Sin pushed himself up. Kat stood to his right and Ash to his left. The instant they were on their feet, the demons retreated. All those who were able to vanished.

"Oh come on," Sin taunted. "You cowards."

But there was no sign of them now.

Deimos wiped his hand over his cheek as his comrades finished off the demons who were wounded and dead. "Did anyone happen to see where that Dimme went?"

No one had an answer. One by one, they all had to admit no one had seen her leave.

Deimos let out a heavy breath. "Well this sucks, huh?"

Kish scoffed. "Not from where I'm standing. If we lived, it's a damn good day."

Xypher nodded. "He does have a point. Trust the one person in the room who is currently dead."

Sin moved to Zakar who was still trembling and sweating even though he was standing.

"The demon is still in me," he whispered.

"I know." Sin pulled his brother against him. "And we're not going to let it win."

Kat looked around at the damage. There were demon bodies everywhere. The Dolophoni who were wounded were cauterizing their wounds. She was grateful they'd been able to confine their battle to this cavern.

But would they be able to do it the next time? "Can one Dimme end the world?"

Sin stepped back from Zakar. "Not as easily as seven could. Besides, she should be easy to spot. She won't have any social skills and she's hungry."

Kat hoped he was right. "When they attack do they convert those they bite?"

Sin shook his head. "No. They just kill."

"Well that's one thing I guess."

M'Adoc came forward to address Sin. "We'll patrol dreams, watching for the gallu to turn up."

"And I'll warn the Dark-Hunters, Chthonians, and Squires to watch for them," Ash said.

Kat sighed at the carnage. "I guess that's all we can do. That and clean our wounds."

"Yeah," Kish said, "but we saved the world just now. You have to feel good about that."

Sin agreed. "I do. But I'll feel a whole lot better when he find Kessar and his crew and the Dimme and eliminate that threat entirely."

"Believe me," Kat said, leaning against him, "we'll all feel better."

Sin laced his fingers with hers before he spoke to Ash. "Can you locate them?"

"No. They're off my radar. The best defense we have against them is you."

Without thinking, Sin put his arm around Kat. As soon as he did, he saw the look of warning from Ash.

Ash crossed his arms as he approached them slowly. "You ever hurt her, god or no god, I'm going to kick your ass."

Sin laughed. "Don't worry. I'd die before I let anything happen to her."

"You remember that, and you'll have a long and pain-free life."

Kat smiled as love for both of them welled up inside her.

One by one, the Dream-Hunters and Dolophoni left.

"Xypher?" Kat called as he started to leave too.

He turned toward her.

"I'll speak with Hades immediately to get you your freedom."

Xypher curled his lip. "Human for a month. I can't wait." But buried in that disgusted tone, she heard the underlying hope and anticipation.

With a nod to them, he vanished.

Ash held his hand out to Xirena. "You ready to return to Kalosis?"

"Am I ever. The human world just has too many humans in it for me, which wouldn't be bad if I could eat some. As it is, it's just too cruel to be taunted this way. Let me go back to my shopping room."

Ash paused. "I'll check in with you guys when I can. In the meantime, you know where to find me."

Sin turned to Zakar, "C'mon, Brother. Let's go home."

Zakar shook his head. "I think I need some time alone."

Sin frowned. "Where are you going?"

"I don't know. The world's changed... and so have I. I need to find my place in it again. Don't worry. I'll be in touch."

Kat felt the sadness in Sin as his brother vanished. "He meant what he said. He's not out to do harm."

"I know. It's just hard to see him leave like this." He leaned his head against hers. "I only hope he finds what needs."

Kat patted his ribs before she left his side to retrieve the sfora. She closed her fingers around it. It looked so small and insignificant, yet it had held back the destruction of the world. "Well, we averted this crisis. I can't wait to see what comes next."

Kish stepped out from the shadows. "Um, guys, can we go home now?"

Sin took her hand. "Yeah, we're going home."

Kessar stood back as he watched the remnants of his people. They'd suffered an atrocious blow today. But they weren't defeated. Even though this was a hard situation, there was still hope.

And hope had seen him through worse times than this.

Leaving his people to tend their wounds and set up their homes, he wandered through the new caverns they'd found to use in just such a case.

But honestly, he was tired of hiding. If they were to venture out, they would need an ally. One they could depend on who was just as angry and bloodthirsty as he was.

One who hated humans as much, if not more...

As Kessar paused in the lowest part of the cavern, the old adage played through his head. My enemy's enemy is my friend.

Drawing a circle on the ground, he filled it with the image of a dragon... an ancient symbol of a cursed race that had once been their enemies.

War made such strange bedfellows.

"Strykerius!" he shouted, summoning a different kind of demon from its home.

A thick smoke appeared from the circle to form the image of a man Kessar hadn't seen in centuries. Tall and well-muscled, he had short black hair and a nasty attitude that more than matched Kessar's.

Stryker looked at him with cold disdain. "I thought you were dead."

Kessar laughed before he removed his sunglasses to show Stryker his red glowing eyes. "I'm alive... and we need to talk."