My mind searches frantically for a better plan, but I can’t think of one. We could run away now that Raffe has his wings. But he’s on trial as much as I am. They won’t just let us fly out of here.

If Raffe loses this trial, I die. I’m not sure what will happen to him, but it’s clear what will happen to me. But if Raffe could win this trial by contest and take control of the angels, he’ll take them away. And it’ll all end.

Is it worth the risk of losing Raffe to the Pit and having him trapped there?

I bite my lip, not willing to answer that question. I’ll probably pace a ten-foot-deep trench in front of this cage while waiting for him to come back.

‘Do it,’ says Raffe. His wings are closed tightly along his back, and he stands rigid, ready for the worst.

Before I can get sappy, I nod to Josiah. He unlocks the cage door, and it swings open with a creak. The two hellions from the Pit back as far away from Josiah as they can.

Hopefully, they know how to use the sword to get back to their world. We just need to catch one for Raffe to ride on.

Beliel also backs away to the far end of the cage, looking like a shriveled zombie. ‘What are you doing?’ He watches us suspiciously.

‘Come on, creepy hellions. You want to go home, don’t you?’ I croon, sticking my sword into the cage.

The Pit hellions creep slowly toward me. They watch the sword greedily, sniffing as if trying to sense a trap.

As soon as Raffe moves toward them, though, they bolt back into the farthest corners of the cage, hissing. I don’t know how to make the creatures travel through the sword if they don’t want to.

‘They’re afraid of you.’ I put out my free arm in front of him. ‘Get behind me.’

I step into the cage. I raise my voice and make myself sound like I’m talking to puppies. ‘Come on, ugly squat-faced things. You want to go home, don’t you? Mmm, home.’

They creep cautiously toward me, watching Raffe carefully.

‘I’ll open the doorway to your home as soon as you let me hold your hand.’ I have to keep myself from cringing away at that thought.

‘No!’ says Beliel. His eyes are fierce, like he’s just realized he’s in a nightmare that he can’t wake up from. ‘Get away—’

I grab the nearest hellion.

It grabs my forearm back, sinking its claws in. Pain pierces through my arm, but I hang on.

At the same time, Raffe jumps in and grabs the other hellion.

Then total chaos breaks out.