Page 78 of Hollow

Still, Jack resisted, and Dimitri writhed in pain, wishing more than anything he could convince Jack to flee.

“I can tell you two are going to be quite the pair to break,” Patrick said, pushing the button of his device and offering Dimitri the smallest reprieve.

Dimitri didn’t anticipate it’d last long, knowing Patrick’s mean streak far too well. He’d take great satisfaction in tormenting Dimitri, knowing every injury he inflicted hurt Jack by extension. Jack might have been invulnerable, but his heart cared too deeply for Dimitri, and that had become his undoing.

A low growl drew everyone’s attention, and Patrick grinned at the sight of Astaroth holding his ground by the front door.

“Aww, look at the little puppy.” Patrick’s grin twisted into a sour frown. “I have no use for a damn dog. Shoot it.”

Some of the hunters hesitated, but one boldly stepped forward. He trained his pistol at Astaroth’s head and pulled the trigger.

In a blink, blood splattered, a scream bellowed through the woods, and Astaroth pinned the hunter to the ground with his teeth pressed down onto the man’s jugular. With a swift motion, Astaroth ripped out the man’s throat and pranced over his bloody corpse.

“I do so enjoy hugging mortals with my teeth.” Astaroth’s voice slithered through the undercurrents of the air, sending a shiver through all those around him.

His eyes glowed a devilish red, and his voice echoed louder so everyone could hear him speak.

“You have come to claim hold over my peasants,” Astaroth released a low growl as he spoke. “This will not do.”

Dimitri stared in awe as heat erupted from Astaroth’s mere presence.

“I refuse to train new peasants on my preferred routine.” Astaroth cut his gaze at Dimitri and smiled. “The only solution is to slaughter you all.”

Dimitri clung to the hope Astaroth’s presence brought. Even if the demon dog’s ruthless attack resulted in Patrick triggering the dead man’s switch, Dimitri would gladly sacrifice his life knowing Jack would be safe.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Wait!” Jack trembled, believing full well that Astaroth could easily kill every single person here and make a show of it too, but Jack feared what would happen to Dimitri if the dead man’s switch was triggered.

“Are you attempting to offer the mortals an advantage?” Astaroth asked, cocking his head. “I find even when I provide them ample time for preparation and insight on my disadvantages, they still underperform. How they became the superior species in this realm is a mystery in itself.”

“I’m attempting to save Dimitri.”

“Ah, yes, my preferred servant.”

Jack rolled his eyes at that, knowing the exaggerated shadowy expression did not escape Astaroth’s attention.

“I’ve already taken measures to protect the preferred servant,” Astaroth said, wagging his tail. “He treats me like a good boy, providing proper scritches, and he doesn’t ignore my walking schedule.”

“I give you tons of treats and a roof.”

“You think my loyalty can be bought with food?” Astaroth raised his nose at that as if to shame away the very idea. “You merely earn a pittance of my time.”

“I’ll be real, a demon dog was not on my bingo card,” Patrick said with a laugh.

“Do not interrupt your betters with trivial one-liners.” Astaroth turned his gaze back onto Patrick.

“Someone kill that damn thing.”

The first hunter who raised their gun suddenly combusted. Jack’s eyes widened in shock. The screams were guttural, making him almost pity the poor bastard who had threatened Astaroth.

“Holy fucking shit balls,” Jack said. “Since when can you set people on fire?”

“I’ve always been able to light lesser beings aflame, but where is the fun in that?” Astaroth said, staring at the writhing body burning on the ground. “It is truly pathetic how boring and breakable mortals are. You can’t do anything fun with them before they collapse to pieces.”

The other hunters backstepped, frightened of what Astaroth might unleash next. Jack didn’t want them to escape, hoping that if one moved too far out of line, Astaroth would unleash another brutal assault.

“You better stop!” Patrick waved around the device he had to use over Dimitri. “I swear to God if you⁠—”