Damien.

He floated in comfort and warmth. A gentle peace filled every inch of his body. Nothing hurt. It seemed he couldn’t remember a time when nothing hurt.

Damien.

That was his name. Damien knew that voice, loved it. Why was the one he loved trying to pull him back to pain and violence? That didn’t seem right. She should join him. They could enjoy the peace together.

DAMIEN!

He blinked and stared at the stone ceiling. Green light stained everything, making the stone appear covered in moss. He still didn’t hurt as he floated in the warm water, that was a welcome surprise. Damien put his feet down and stood up. The water came just to his chest.

A horrible screeching, like nails on slate, filled the cavern. “What is that?”

I’ve been trying to tell you for the past half hour. The demon wolves have almost dug through the stone sealing the cavern.

Damien shook his head, trying to dislodge the last of his peaceful dream. Heaven’s mercy, it would have been nice to stay in the pool for a week or two. Lizzy lay on top of his clothes where he’d left her.

He turned his attention inward. His core was full and his soul force was flowing correctly. That was a relief. Damien climbed out of the pool, vaporized the water covering him with a burst of soul force, and restored his shield.

As he dressed he asked, “Is your soul force restored?”

Yeah, I’m good to go. Like I said, without a body I’m less susceptible than you to physical damage. Are you okay?

“Yes, the pool did wonders.” He picked Lizzy up and slipped her into his harness. “How long was I out?”

Time’s a little hazy down here, but I’d say a day and a half, maybe two.

“Heaven’s mercy! It felt like minutes, or an hour at most.”

The scratching got louder. Damien drew power and formed a spear of energy that floated at his shoulder. It felt good to use his power again. Not as good as it would feel to slice Lizzy through Connor’s neck, but still good.

A wolf’s head made of blue crystal broke through the rock pile. Damien hurled the spear at it. The spear skewered the wolf from nose to tail. The construct exploded in a burst of corruption. Damien smiled. How wonderfully satisfying, and if his restored senses weren’t lying to him, there were eight more out there to smash.

As if reading his mind another wolf appeared in the tunnel. It lunged out just in time for a golden hammer to crush it to bits.

Don’t hog all the fun.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Damien drew Lizzy, mingled their power, and slashed at the rubble pile. The blockage burst outward, scattering stone and constructs a hundred yards down the tunnel. The remaining constructs scrambled to their feet just in time to get blasted with focused beams of gray flame. They all shattered, filling the tunnel with a sulfurous miasma. Blasting the things was like stepping on stink bugs.

“We’re all out of wolves.”

There’s still Connor.

“There certainly is.” Damien looked left and right. “Any idea how we get back to him?”