I couldn't believe that Giana had just taken off on us like that. We really could've used her help, and she'd just left. I still had no idea what I was or what I was supposed to do in order to save all four of us and get out of Hell entirely. I hoped that my gut feeling was wrong. Just the way my stomach was starting to knot told me that my suspicions were that she'd gone to the ninth dimension to tip off Lucifer on our whereabouts. I hoped I was wrong.
Arashi wasn't making things any easier. He kept cursing and saying that if he saw her again, he was going to kill her. I didn't want to burst his bubble and say that there wasn't much he could do on that front. They were both already in Hell. Instead, I kept silent and focused on the task at hand. It was a lot simpler than I thought it would be. I just focused on the fact that I was going to the ninth dimension to face whatever was in my way and to get out safely with Izzy in tow. And if I couldn't get out, I was going to make damn sure that she did.
We were coming up on the final stretch of dimension eight. I could see the gate to the ninth dimension in the distance...and it was completely surrounded by demons. There were the Furies, described countless times in Greek mythology. They were perched on top of the gate, watching, ever vigilant. Cerberus stood right in front of the gate, blocking the entrance into the final dimension. Other demons and evil mythological creatures paced back and forth in front of Cerberus, watching and waiting for something.
I cursed and pulled Arashi to the side. "Dammit. They knew we were coming. Giana must've been here," I hissed.
Arashi cursed. "I knew that vampire was up to something! Her sob story and her excuses to get into the ninth dimension didn't add up. Lucifer must have something in there that she wants. Something that she would be willing to sell us out for."
"Then he also knows you're helping me, if that's the case. You'll probably be killed if you stay down here."
"He'll hunt me down anyway. There is no escaping from this place." Arashi glanced around the building that we were currently hiding behind. "Got any idea how we're supposed to get around them?"
"Around the demons, it would be fairly simple. I'm getting really good at blocking my thoughts from prying minds. But around Cerberus and the Furies? That's a whole other ball-game."
"No chance of you being able to make a portal that would get us in there unnoticed by them?"
I thought for a second. "Actually, that's not a bad idea. I could try it."
I focused my entire mind on the thought of entering the ninth dimension unnoticed by the guards at the gate. I thought of the door that never opened to release anyone. I pictured the other side of it, on the inside, right where we needed to be.
A portal opened up in front of Arashi and me. I glanced sideways at him. "Well, I guess it's now or never," I said.
The fox-demon shrugged and stepped through the portal. I followed, and it closed up behind us, leaving no trace that it was ever there.
