The boat righted temporarily, but its back was broken, and they were sinking fast. Franks reached the demon, and pulled the dagger free. It sprung up and clawed at him, but Franks blocked the arm and slugged the demon in its punctured mouth, sending it crashing back down. He loomed over it. “Who sent you?”

“Traitor,” the demon gasped. “You’re a traitor to the host.”

Franks kicked the imp in the face. Fat droplets of glowing blood flew up into the rain. Even animated bodies felt pain, but considering the imp had just gnawed its own arm off in an attempt to escape it had a respectable pain threshold. Torture would take too long. The boat was going down. Explosions were ripping through the ocean as more torpedoes struck the thrashing monster. There was no time for games. “Talk or I’ll send you back to Hell.” It would take a thousand years for a shit stain like this to find its way back out of the void.

“Please, no,” it hissed. Franks didn’t answer, but the demon looked him in the eyes, saw what was waiting there, then experienced an involuntary shiver. “Fine, fine.” It dipped its remaining hand into the puddle of glowing blood, and with one claw drew a complicated symbol on the wood. The demon didn’t need to explain. They both knew exactly who that stood for.

Franks scowled at the design. Another related event . . . Already the rain was washing the mark away, but it was unmistakable. This would be going in his report. His superiors wouldn’t be happy.

One of the smaller tentacles approached, bristling with eyes and thorns, looking for one last snack before it fled back to the deep. Franks looked up nonchalantly, saw the massive blob of flesh, and immediately slugged one big fist into a soft eyeball. Pus squirted out and the tentacle retreated.

“That’s right, Franks. All those years buried deep, but he’s awake, and he’s gathering his army. The end is beginning, and you picked the wrong side, brother. Don’t leave me out here. I can help you. Let me go and I’ll tell you everything I know.”

Never trust a demon. The fishing vessel was listing badly, but it looked like the main body of the leviathan was coming back around to swallow them whole. Franks took the demon’s other hand, shoved it against the deck, and slammed the dagger through its palm. The imp screamed. “Chew fast.” Franks began walking away.