“That is true,” Ully said. “But I think you have the same limits as other Immortals?”
“Maybe,” Toby muttered.
Though scowling, Jared was listening. He hadn’t left them, and Toby’s hopes rose again. Rhyn had liked this demon for some reason, and because of that, Toby trusted the flawed half-demon as much as he did Gabriel.
“You’re not strong enough to take us all with you,” Jared said at last. “And I won’t be left behind.”
“I can take me and Ully and you and Gabe,” Toby replied. “It’ll be hard, but I can do it, with Ully’s help.”
“That’s four. You’d be pushing it with five.”
“Five?” Toby asked. “Why would I need to take five of us?”
Ully sighed. “Because Darkyn replaced Gabe and someone else with shapeshifting demons.”
“There’s another Immortal down here?”
“Not Immortal, human,” Jared answered. “You couldn’t take us all, and I’m certain I’d be the one who’s left behind. Humans take priority to you angels. No, sweetmeats, I won’t help you escape.” With that, the demon left.
“Ully, who is it?” Toby asked. He gripped the bars of his cell and pressed his face against them, trying to see into the neighboring cells.
“Fuck!” Gabriel’s furious curse made Toby jump.
Toby looked his direction the best he could through the bars of his cell and saw the walls around the dark cell shake.
“Gabe!” he called. “Are you okay?”
“Toby? What’re you doing in Hell?”
“Darkyn found me.”
The death-dealer issued another string of curses.
“Where’s Mama?”
“Stuck in the Immortal underworld.”
“Gabe, she can’t stay there! Death will find her!”
“Katie’s alive?” Ully asked. “That’s why Darkyn had me clone you, so he could get to her.”
“Clone?” Gabriel echoed.
“Shapeshifter demon.”
“And he’s with her now.”
“She’s safe, I think. Darkyn wants her as a hostage, just in case,” Ully whispered.
“Gabe, what’re you saying?” Toby asked, listening with increasing panic. “Mama’s been caught by a demon? Why?”