The ground trembled beneath Liam's boots as Valdora charged straight at him, a monstrous blur of muscle and malice that ignored the girls entirely. Heart hammering against his ribs, Liam barely had time to think before the devil lunged, massive claws slicing the air where his throat had been a heartbeat earlier.
"Move!" Liam shouted, twisting desperately. His foot slipped on the cracked stone at the last second, and instinct took over. A shimmering portal snapped open beneath him. He dropped through it, reappearing ten paces away, gasping for air.
Valdora skidded to a halt, head snapping toward the sound of Liam's ragged breathing. The devil's eyes were milky and ruined, but his other senses were razor sharp. "Clever little trick," he growled, voice like grinding boulders.
