Immortals After Dark 07 - Kiss of a Demon King

with."
    "What? Well, you don't need him anyway!"
    "Ah gods, Lanthe. I think I really do."
    Lanthe sprinted, out of breath, getting herself more lost. She and Sabine both had zero directional skills. Hadn't she just passed those tennis shoes strung over the power lines?
    All the while she was craning her head around to scan the skies and trees for the Vrekeners.
    But she thought she'd ditched them.
    There'd been at least two dozen. And when she'd first seen several of them crouched on the limbs of an ancient oak, she thought she'd spied the scarred face of Thrpnos among them....
    "I'm out of the house now."
    Lanthe was so relieved she nearly tripped. "Then let's get the hell out of here. I've lost the Vrekeners, so all we have to do is find our way back to the portal. Do you remember where the park was?"
    "Are you kidding?"
    "One would think, huh?" Alley after alley opened up like doors to choose from. She sprinted headlong down the wet steaming pavement of one, then turned to follow another.
    "Wait! I think I see it." Lanthe sprinted toward a clearing ahead-it would have to be the park.
    "I'm
    here!" She could see the portal not even fifty yards ahead. "Follow my . . . " She trailed off, the tiny hairs on the back of her neck standing on end.
    Lanthe gazed up with dread.
    Vrekeners everywhere. Dotting the tree limbs, surrounding her on the ground. They'd trapped her, using the portal as bait. "Ah, gods, it's a trap! They've been waiting for us. Driving me, so I'd draw you out."
    If Sabine hadn't been tackled by that demon, she would've been seized by them. "Abie, don't come here. This place is crawling with them!"
    "I'm on my way!"
    Lanthe caught sight of Thronos once more. Crouched on a limb in his black trench, he looked like the Reaper. He smirked, stretching the raised scars across his face. Then he dropped effortlessly to the ground.
    The asshole thought he had her.
    A perilous incident was supposed to reignite her power of persuasion? It didn't get much more perilous than this. Why not try?
    He gave a hand signal, and in a flash, they attacked as one. She gulped in a breath and sprinted for the portal.
    Some flew overhead as she hunched and darted, some chasing her on foot. "Leave me alone!"

    she cried. Had she felt a twinge of power?
    Never slowing, she glanced over her shoulder. The ones on the ground had stopped. Those in the air flew in place. All except for Thronos, who appeared to be gnashing his teeth, straining to resist her command.
    He continued limping toward her with malice in his
    expression, his wings unfurling with hostility. Stalking closer. ...
    Should Lanthe try to find Sabine? Or attempt to lead them away again so her sister could get through the portal-One by one, they began to throw off her command, charging once more. In a panic, she scurried forward, diving headfirst into the portal, landing halfway into her room in Tornin.
    Thronos was right behind her, catching her foot at the threshold. She gave a mule kick, connecting with his mouth. "Get back," she commanded.
    The battle within him was clear as he resisted, but he took a step back.
    Sabine said, "Where are you?"
    "I'm at the portal door."
    "Then close it!"
    "What about you?"
    "I can make it six days!" Sabine cried. "But if you get caught now, I don't have a chance."
    "But-"
    "You have to do this!"
    "I'm coming back for you!" Gritting her teeth with effort, Lanthe began sealing the portal, closing the rift she'd created. The edges of the threshold were like the seams of a wound, easing together to heal. "Abie, hold on till I return!"
    Just before she'd sealed the sides, Thronos shoved his boot inside. He gazed down at her with silvery eyes, his wings'spread wide.
    Lanthe cast him an evil smile. The wound of the portal was healing-nothing could keep the edges open now. She heard the echo of his roar as his foot was severed, then she fell back onto the floor of her room, gasping for breath. I've got to find a vampire, someone who could trace me back to Sabine. But they'd all bailed....
    She stood in gradual degrees, shoving her hands to her knees as she heaved for breath. She glared at Thro-nos's booted foot. Because of him, Sabine was stuck in that plane.
    Lanthe yelled at the foot, "I'm so sick of you fuckers coming down on us! Five hundred years of this!" She punted it across the room.
    It sailed past Omort in the doorway. "And you dare return without her."
    Sabine sensed quiet and felt her sister's absence, which meant she'd gone