They all turned to the noise. At the far end of the hall the shadows darkened to pitch and grew into a solid, writhing mass. Dozens of glowing yellow eyes focused on them, pinpricks on the darkness.
"What the hell is that?" Ratigan asked, backing away.
"Are those freaking Heartless?" Hayley asked.
"Run!" Kiara urged.
They broke into a sprint, running through the door Kiara originally came from. The Heartless moved as a horde after them, defying gravity and draining all the light from the room. It didn't take long before the Heartless were mere feet behind them, slinking along the walls apace.
"We can't outrun them!" Basil panted.
They stopped, turning different directions to face the Heartless, backs to each other.
"How do we fight them?" Kady asked, his arms braced in front of him. The Heartless surrounded, a pulsing tidal mass that skittered closer before flinching back. One that came too close met with a kick to the head from Ratigan. It fell aside and flattened itself to a shadow before disappearing back among its brethren.
"I'm not sure we can," Hayley said.
"Well of course not," Luci said, and the hairs on the back of Kiara's neck lifted up. The mob of black parted for the approaching devil and sank into the shadows. "The minute you set foot in here your doom was decided."
Hayley seized up. "That's not our dad," Kiara whispered. "Even if he looks like that, that's not our dad. That's… Satan."
"I prefer Luci," he clarified.
Fear widened the eyes of the others, with goosebumps or hair standing on end, or wings chittering in agitation.
"My God we really are in Hell," Basil murmured.
"Not yet you aren't. By all means, you don't have to come to my realm for a while, if you cooperate. However that one," he lifted a finger to point at Kady, "has overstayed his welcome in the mortal world. So I will be taking him with me."
"Over my dead body," Kiara growled.
He scoffed. "Do not sell yourself so cheaply." He took one step forward.
Kiara charged to the front of the group and stood halfway between them and Luci. He paused, teeth bared in a wide smile. Kiara met his gaze unflinching, her body poised to strike. The others held their breath, watching between Kiara and Luci.
"Kady! I think you need to sing!"