Page 100 of Demon Unleashed

Quinn shrugged. “Maybe I added a little extra just to make sure.”

“Yeah, you did,” Zoltan replied.

Enya smiled. “In fact, the explosions were so powerful that the tunnels started flooding with lava. Cut off our route to the portal.”

Hamish gasped. “Then how did you make it out?”

“There are advantages to having grown up in the Underworld,” Zoltan said. “I knew every corner down there, and I knew of a tunnel entrance that had collapsed years ago, but I knew the tunnel behind it was still intact and led to the portal…”

“And with Zoltan’s powers intact, we just passed through the stone wall and got out on the other side. We reached the portal with only seconds to spare.”

Manus and Logan shook their heads.

“Gotta hand it to you,” Manus said, and looked at Enya, “when you want something bad enough, you do whatever it takes.”

“Don’t we all?” Logan asked.

Everybody laughed. Then Enya looked at the vampires. “Samson, Amaury, Quinn, Ryder, I don’t know how to thank you guys. You risked so much for me, for us.”

“That’s what friends do,” Samson said.

“Thank you,” Zoltan said. “One day, I hope to be able to repay you for what you did.”

Samson shook his head. “Friends don’t have to repay friends. We’re just glad we could help.” He motioned to where the three council members were talking quietly. “But I’m not the boss here.”

Moments later, Barclay, Cinead, and Virginia rejoined them.

“For today, I suggest you all get cleaned up and get some rest,” Barclay said. “But this isn’t over. That goes for all of you. Do we understand each other?”

All members of the Baltimore compound nodded.

“Good,” Barclay said. “Well, I guess that concludes the official portion of our visit.” His expression relaxed, and a grin spread on his face. “You guys did it, you really did it! I don’t know what to say.”

“How about congratulations?” Virginia suggested.

Cinead nodded. “Well done, all of you.” Then he took a few steps closer until he stood in front of Zoltan. “Well done, my son.” His eyes were filled with myriad emotions. “I don’t know whether I’ll ever get used to your name, but maybe you’ll allow an old man to call you by the name he gave you when you were but a wee bairn.”

Enya noticed Zoltan swallow hard. “Nothing would give me greater joy…” He hesitated for a second. “Father.”