Sorry this took so long, I've been distracted with fun things. Like PercyxNicoxJason fanfiction. Anyway, here's the chapter update, enjoy. Usual disclaimer and whatnot, review if you like. –edited-

You are Jake Harley again and you are very much in your element. Caves and tombs deep underground, possibly with treasure at the end. Jade's practically skipping when she follows you and dirk down into the tunnel, and you can agree with her mood. Both of you have always enjoyed delving through ruins and caves. It's how you had come to be here in the first place after all.

"Watch your step." Dirk mutters over his shoulder and you grin at him. You honestly think you should be out front, given your expertise with traps and such. Then again, for all you know there could be demons in here.

Since Dirk is the only one with experience with demons you figure it's a safe bet to follow him. "Yes sir~!" You say easily, shrugging. He only grunts and keeps walking, causing you to frown.

Dirk seems to have been getting grumpier and grumpier since you got into the canyon, though you suppose he has his reasons. If you were deliberately guiding people towards someone who had tortured and tried to kill you, you suppose you'd be a bit snappy to.

You sigh softly, glancing around the cave as you walk, flashlight in hand. The light seems to move of its own accord, drifting over polished black rocks that are glistening with water. It seems strange that the rocks are black until you realize that they were burned and melted into place.

It's unnaturally dark in the tunnel as well and something about it is making your skin crawl. The sound of water starts to echo in the darkness as you continue deeper into the tunnel, and you realize that you've started walking extremely close to Dirk when he stops suddenly and you run into him. "Ouch," is all you can say before he covers your mouth with his hand. You can smell hay on his skin, but the smell and taste of butterscotch you'd noticed before is missing.

"Hush." He hisses, his eyes glowing gold. It's then you realize that he doesn't even have a flashlight. Maybe he can see in the dark with those glowy yellow eyes of his because he starts growling really low.

"What's going on?" Jade whispers to you softly and you hold up on hand, giving her the signal you two have been using for years to tell her to be quiet. She shuts up, but you think it's incredibly strange that Jane hasn't said a word all day yet.

Dirk doesn't move for the longest time, still growling softly, and finally you touch his arm gentling, tapping it with in Morse code. What's wrong? Are there demons ahead of us? The growling stops for a moment, and you'd swear Dirk had jumped when you started tapping away.

Finally he uses the hand he'd covered your mouth with to tap gently on your cheek, answering in that same silent language. Probably. I can't see them. But I can smell them. And the webs are obvious. Your eyes widen a little when he answers then you nod slowly, steeling yourself for a confrontation with demons who will most likely not be as keen on letting you live as Dirk. "Be careful where you walk girls. There are a lot of spiders down here and you do not want to meet them. Their poison is particularly… problematic." Dirk says quietly after a few more moments of stillness, starting forward again.

His hand trails down from your mouth to your hand, and you can't help feeling a little giddy at the contact. You find that slightly disconcerting but you suppose it's a very good thing. After all, binding yourself to a demon like you did the night before is terrifying enough. Promising to be their boy toy when you didn't have any interest in them would have been a nightmare. As it is you still don't know when you realized you were attracted to the demon male.

You wrack your brain for any answer to the question as you pick your way around some frighteningly large spider webs lying like bear traps on the ground. The first time you remember having any kind romantic thought about the cowboy holding your hand was back when you'd caught him talking to Dave about the game the younger demon likes to play with his lovers. You'd thought how you'd never mistreat Dirk if you were in a relationship with him, though now you think you might have to beware his mistreatment of you.

Dirk's hand is warm in yours, though not as hot as it had been in his demon form, and you wonder absently why he agreed to your deal while he pulls you through the darkness of the cave. Obviously it had a bit to do with the fact that he likes you as well, which you honestly hadn't figured out until you'd kissed him out of desperation.

You sigh again. These questions aren't going to be answered any time soon, so you might as well focus on the task at hand, glancing back to see how your sister and Jane are doing. Only to be met with a wall of solid darkness. A river of ice runs down your spine as you tug Dirk to a stop, shining the flashlight in your free hand behind you. Nothing. The girls are gone. "Jade? Jane?" You call softly, a tremble in your voice.

Dirk curses loudly and steps back to stand beside you. "I didn't… I didn't hear them." He growls, eyes glowing again and when you shine your light towards his chest you can see his fangs elongating, claws and wings and tail reappearing. The tail is thrashing as he searches the darkness and the smell of butterscotch is back.

It comes out of nowhere when Dirk releases your hand to draw his sword from his sheathe, something hitting you in the back and yanking you away from him. "DIRK!" You scream before what feels like a sticky wet rag covers your mouth and the hairy leg of a giant spider starts to caress your cheek.

"Oh my~. You're a little cutie aren't you~?" A disembodied female voice whispers in the darkness.

BE JOHN EGBERT