The vortex of flying demons slowed, then gracelessly stilled as they realized a Demon Judge floated among them. Fear and confusion bloomed on the thousands of faces hovering in the air in front of the condo. Just as hesitant as the rest of them, Marcus had stopped his approach with Heather. He glanced back and forth between Thorn and the Judge. When the wind subsided, Crystal looked up at Thorn. “What happened?” She must have noticed the hopeful expression that had seeped from Thorn’s face onto Virgil’s, because she asked, “Are we safe?” “I said,” the Judge repeated, his usually glib voice replaced by a thunderous bark, “which one of you cocksuckers wants to die first?” Nearly every demon in the horde looked around at his peers as if to say, “Not me.” “You idiots think you can interfere with my punishment for Thorn? I get to decide his fate. Not you.” More than relieved to still be alive, Thorn felt a sudden pang of his old vindictiveness at the awkward standoff.
