A faint howl sounded in the distance and Damaris flinched, whipping around to stare wide-eyed at Will. "Did you hear that?" she demanded.

"Of course." He shrugged. "It's just a dog."

"What if it's a hell-hound?" Damaris bit her lip. "I told you coming here wasn't wise. We're deep in the forest, and I've heard weird things have happened out here. People have even vanished before."

"Don't be an idiot. The rumors are sheer crap and there's no such thing as a hell-hound." Will dumped the remaining silverware into the pillowcase, following up with ornate, jewel-encrusted candlesticks, and several figurines made of pewter, jade, and crystal. "This is the last of it. The electronics, guns, and jewelry are already in the car, so we can go."

"Doesn't taking this stuff bother you? Since it belongs to someone else?"

Will snorted. "You're kidding, right? Look around you. The people who own this mansion are filthy rich. They didn't need half this stuff in the first place, and can just buy more if they want. Think of the money we'll going to end up with. We deserve it."

He left the house, Damaris on his heels. They stopped short, though, when a tall, cloaked figure stepped out of the woods, features concealed by a hood.

Damaris shrieked.

"Quit that," Will snapped.

The stranger suddenly vanished, reappearing right in front of Will and pushing back his hood.

Will's mouth fell open as he studied the glowing eyes, red skin, and horned head. "What in the… You pretending to be Satan or some kinda demon?"

"I am Satan," the being snarled, lashing out with his clawed hand.

Blood ran down Will's face, and he swayed on his feet. Grimacing, he demanded, "Why can't I move?"

Damaris ran to the car, jumped in and started it, but Satan waved a hand and the engine stopped. She gasped as he flew toward her, ripping off the door. He ripped off the door, yanked her out, and she screamed when he tossed her away like discarded garbage. Her body slammed into a tree before crumpling on the ground where she lay still and silent.

"I'm not doing that to you," Satan hissed at Will before snapping his fingers. "For you, I have something special in mind: the creatures you claimed didn't exist."

The man trembled uncontrollably as howls sounded from all directions. A pack of large, black hell-hounds emerged from the woods, surrounding Satan and Will. Their eyes glowed an eerie black, saliva dripping from their jagged fangs.

"Enjoy yourselves," their master told them. The animals parted, and he walked through them, then vanished altogether.

A hell-hound lunged at Will, biting a chunk of flesh from his right arm. Blood spurted out and he moaned in agony. A wail escaped his lips when another creature sank its teeth into his left leg before ripping it from his body.

The beasts howled exultantly as they savaged Will, and all of them fell on him at the same time. His screams stopped abruptly when one sank its teeth into his throat.

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