They used the same tactic they’d used on the gate guards to fell the first pair at the end of the long hallway. According to Simone, Ranja’s bedchamber stood at the other end. Fortunately the hall did not follow conventional architectural laws; it bent, curved, and even changed directions in places. Plenty of angles Breaker to sneak along. Plenty of walls to spatter with Haidian blood.

Before long they could see the entrance to Ranja’s room. It was set in a part of the hallway so broad it might as well have been a room, complete with columns and torch sconces. Six guards stood sentinel in front of the the heavy double doors, their eyes flicking periodically in all directions from beneath their grimacing masks. Each held a halberd that glistened wickedly in the torchlight. The sound of their breathing echoed from within the helms and filled the hall.

Josh leaned back from peering around the corner and leaned down next to Simone’s ear.

“There’s six of them,” he whispered, “all armed and armored. I should likely handle this one alone.”

“I’ll be ready to rush in and save my daughter,” Simone whispered back.

Josh took a deep breath and rolled his shoulders. He was going to try something so risky it bordered on stupidity. But it had worked for him in the past… two out of three times.

He planted a smile on his face and strolled casually around the corner, his empty hands upraised.

“I surrender!” He called to the halberdiers as they noticed him and closed ranks, their axe blades and spear heads forming a semicircle that pinned him against a solid granite wall. Within mere moments the guards had gained complete control of the prizefighter.

Or so it seemed.

“What are those things made out of anyway?” Josh asked, winking at one of the guards. “Steel?”

There was a moment’s silence. Suddenly everyone moved at the same time. Some of the guards reared back to swing their halberds at Breaker. Others drove forwards to impale him on their spear points.

Josh surged forward like a tidal wave. The spear points broke through his clothing and opened his skin but could not penetrate the solid muscle fibers beneath. He caught the rest of the halberds mid-swing and pulled all six demons backwards with tremendous aggression. While he moved and bled his hands did their lethal work. He snapped the first Haidian’s neck, and struck the second in the throat with the edge of his hand so it collapsed writhing and choking. The last four drew their daggers and attacked in concerto.

Breaker was the most elusive note of the symphony. Wherever they stabbed they met either air or a fellow Haidian’s flesh, until all four of them lay wounded and leaking ichor.

“Simone, come!” Breaker called. He threw open the double doors and dashed inside the bedchamber.

Leila’s screams felt like broken glass in his ears. He saw Ranja standing over her, wielding the hot fire poker.

“You!” Ranja shrieked. He threw the poker at Breaker but it froze into a chunk of ice and slid harmlessly to the floor. The demon prince roared in anger and rushed to meet his foe. Breaker embraced him in close combat, the two powerful warriors grappling afoot as they tried to throw one another to the ground in a show of superiority.

Thwesh!

Black blood spouted from Ranja’s neck, and he crumbled to his knees, a confused look on his face. Breaker was equally shocked. Then in the shadows beside Ranja he saw Simone, wielding the black diamond dagger.

“You said stab him in the neck,” she said in a faraway voice, looking at the dying demon. “It worked well. But he is not dead.”

Breaker moved to Leila, his hands crafting icy poultices to soothe the wounds on her back.

“Do it again,” he told Simone.