Sins of Eden by S.M. Reine

with a toothy grin.
    “Yeah, secure the other side for our arrival,” Elise said. “We’ll be following fast and hard.” Terah took a step, but Elise grabbed her arm. “Don’t let the gibborim kill any humans if they don’t have to.”
    A sharp nod, and Terah thrust her gauntleted fist into the air. “Let’s go!” she roared, and the gibborim crawled under the iron branches to approach the sinkhole.
    One by one, they vanished to the other side.
    Elise phased with Jerica back to the gates of the Palace.
    Neuma was huddled inside a tunnel through the battlements with a couple hundred mortals. These humans were all that remained of the liberated staff that had run the Palace for so long. Two hundred, maybe two hundred fifty.
    Elise had taken the time to place a few extra wards before leaving, so the humans were still breathing—for now. But those protections wouldn’t follow them as soon as they stepped outside the battlements.
    Beyond the tunnel, the remnants of her army filled the courtyard. Elise could see brutes and behemoths, more fell beasts, and even a few demons for which she had no names at all. The centuriae in the front were led by Endi and Albrinck, the loyal incubus twins who had proven themselves almost as tough as Terah, and easily just as brutal.
    Elise approached Albrinck. The air was growing sour within the courtyard. “Ready?” she asked. The last of the red canvas tents that the army had been living in collapsed around them.
    “Ready as rain,” he said grimly. He made it almost sound like a threat.
    “Straight through to Belial Orchards,” Elise said. “Terah’s holding the other side of the sinkhole. Don’t stop until you’re all through.” She jogged back to the humans and shouted, “Stand aside!”
    The humans clustered against the wall. She spotted Gerard among them, talking to a trio of men who looked to be in the midst of a shared panic attack. And who could blame them? The mountain was erupting, the sky had already been crushed, and they were one flimsy spell away from having the breath sucked from their lungs.
    Elise held the liberated slaves back as the army rushed past them, dozens at a time. There were still over five hundred remaining. Not as many as she had hoped to take with her, but hopefully enough.
    She edged toward Neuma, lowering her voice to a whisper. “The atmospheric conditions between the Palace and the park are favorable, but I can’t guarantee they’ll remain that way. Let me phase you over so you’re not at risk of getting sucked into some other part of Hell.”
    “No way. I’ve got to stay with the Palace,” Neuma said. “If all three of us leave, it makes the defenses vulnerable.”
    “The Palace doesn’t matter anymore. We’re abandoning it.” Elise brushed her fingers through Neuma’s hair. Its texture was similar to hers, just a little bit coarser. “I just want to make sure you get home safely.”
    “You know, I never woulda called you sweet,” Neuma said, “but you’re a little bit sweet sometimes.”
    “Do you want me to phase you there?”
    “Naw. The slaves are my responsibility. I’ll run with them.”
    There was no point in arguing with Neuma once she’d made up her mind. “Fine. Lead them to the sinkhole. I’ll take up the rear.” She said the last part loudly enough for Gerard to hear her, too. If anyone deserved to get out of Dis, it was definitely Gerard.
    He winked at them. “Been nice working with you,” he said. “Both of you.”
    The half-succubus kissed Gerard on the cheek. “Ditto.”
    He blushed. Gerard, strongest of the former slaves, leader of the Palace, actually blushed.
    The last of the demon army passed them, clearing the route to Belial Orchards.
    Neuma broke into a run.
    The former slaves followed.
    Elise held the wards until the last moment, feeling each body pass through as they hurtled into Damnation Square. Her heart clenched to see the former slaves run for Earth. People who had been through the