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Oh shit, shit, shit

"The Shalott," the beast hissed

Mes moment to hear the cold, furious voice from deeper in the shadows

"Goddammit, Shay, I told you to leave Get the hell out of here"

She grimaced as she came back to herself with a sudden thud Were all varateful asses, or was Viper a special breed?

The deh that echoed through the tunnel Disturbing Very, very disturbing

"There is nowhere you can run that I will not find you Shalott, but come to me and I will spare the lives of these two he pro voice Shay sucked in a deep breath as she covertly reached into the bag and closed her fingers around one of the cera, I’," she muttered

"Shay" There was an edge of soht have been panic in Viper’s smooth voice "The Lu is trapped for theGet out of here"

"Do what he says, Shay," Levet echoed "You can’t defeatthis beast"

The beast in question gave a low hiss toward the gargoyle before atte to look harmless A hopeless task, of course

"I am not your enemy, low rippled eerily over the derip of some fierce emotion "A master who does not like to be disappointed"

She took a step closer Not that she wanted to be in biting distance of those sharp teeth But she had to be near enough to use eapons she possessed

"Who is this mysterious master?" she demanded, more to keep him distracted than to discover the truth

Priorities, priorities

Get out of this alive, and then worry about anted her so desperately

"A powerful friend, or deadly eneive me a name"

"His name is forbidden to speak, but I assure you that I mean you no harm"

Shay rolled her eyes at the typical demon mumbo jumbo "Soe that I will take you without harm to my master Does that satisfy you?"

"That all depends on what’s going to happen after we arrive" She inched closer "What does your master ith me?"

"That is a question that he will have to answer"

"You are not exactly inspiring erous fire Or at least one red eye did The other was currently sporting a heavy dagger Ick

"I have no need Either you go with ly, or I take you by force There are no other options"

Shay sensed Viper slowly edging around the back of the deerous mouth that hovered all too near She had no idea if her impetuous plan would work, and it seemed wise to be prepared to duck

She was rather fond of her head precisely where it was

"Actually " sheout the ceramic pot "I have another option"

"Shay, no "

Viper’s words caainst the long snout and the demon roared with unmistakable pain

For a low that rippled over the scales She hadn’t been expecting the flare of light, and her brief vulnerability cost her as the deainst the wall

It hadn’t been intended to be a killing blow, but that didn’t keep it fro With a shake of her head, she painfully forced herself to her feet and watched in horror as Viper threw himself between her and the razor-sharp teeth

The Lu instantly charged and Shay’s heart halted as the vah the tunnel

Shay scra and pulled out another pot She had to do soed to reach Viper

As she came to her feet, however, she heard a sharp hiss and her eyes widened as Viper’s sword slowly began to sink into the thick scales

"What’s happening?" she demanded