The path led deep into the belly of the Gods’ caves. Narrowing down to a literal hole in the rock wall only wide enough for a bigger adult male to fit and squeeze through. And of course, it was guarded by the vicious looking spartan female warriors who all looked the same and their existence’s purpose was to guard what they were designed to protect.

Of course, there was also teleportation to enter for the beings who held such skills. And were allowed to pass the magic shield that was cast around the inner hall. Because after one pressed through the small hole, the interior was breathtaking.

The first thing that struck people were the huge precisely shaped cubes of granite built to a wall once and the remains there were still strong in a land that was covered in limestone. That ancient building ruin reminded everyone on the Mayan, Aztec and Egyptian ancient walls and temples which used massive pieces of the hard stone.

As they walked deeper, winged lions with bearded human heads and sphinxes stood guard on the carved walls. Going back to the Babylonian and Sumer times. And the energy of the swirling opened portal could be felt strongly already.

The exact place of the 'Gate' which Sotiris never left for long was a mass of concentrated cosmic energy. Those who know how, can use it to go to many far away dimensions and even use it to bring invaders through.

Next to that slowly swirling energy that was slightly visible to humanoid eye,s a big part of the wall looked like the liquid surface of silver. Shining and pulsing in synch with the cosmic power. All that was surrounded by pained figures on the walls which were surely left by prehistoric cavemen who could feel the importance and strength of the place.

The demon horses the little group was bonded to were there, waiting. Christos and Seth were already in the saddle in their leather armor, while Sotiris stood proudly next to the portal, glowing with the power of the sun.

The small but strong group stood there in awe. Well, except for Kerim and Paolo, who knew the place, but even those two felt honored to be able to be there again.

"Wow... such massive energy...." Jim blurted out, standing close to his pair also in the leather armor he got from the Gods, still shocked both from the sight and the energies coming from the Gate. "No wonder you have to guard this place..." he added, meeting Sotiris' yellow eyes. The Nephilim was also the first who started walking towards the horses and the Gods.

And as most probably thought about it too, Jim just realized the weight of the importance of guarding such special Gates. From the different cultural evidence he saw before, it was clear that these Gates have been there way longer than humans. That fact was mind-boggling on its own.

"Yeah… It's really something, right?" Seth said amused on Jim and his usual ways. "We just ride through and get out at the foot of the mountain road that leads to the town where the signal is coming from. We thought it would be better not to jump directly to the location. It is possible that some guards it or were left behind. So be prepared for a fight too."

"Samael and Lucifer are already awaiting us there. Our legions are ready to be called if needed too," Christos added smiling at his pair as Brent nodded and got on his horse and took his place next to the God.

"Yupp, never felt something like this before... I mean faintly I felt the closeness of the Gate lately... Once our... bond with Paolo got to a higher level recently..." here Jim sent a kinky and amused smile to his pair then looked back at Seth "but not like this..."

While Kerim sat on his horse too and patted its black neck, Mick did the same and Jim headed towards his too, thinking that it was a clever move from the Gods to transport them a bit further away. Before he sat on his horse and put his mask on, he stole a short kiss from Paolo, though.

As everyone seemed to be ready and Mick put on his mask too and focused to get in synch with his horse, they lined up. Seth and Christos were at the front, Brent and Paolo and Jim beside each other and guarding their backs were Kerim and Mick.

"Doubt may never poison you!" Sotiris said bowing to them. From his powers channeled more into the gate, the liquid surface seemed to bubble like water. But the two Gods at the front started to walk into it.

It was freezing cold. The fluid type that feels like entering the pores of the skin and creeps into the veins and rushes over the whole body. As if icy water would fill them up instead of warm blood. It lasted only a few seconds and they found themselves on the edge of a shadowy forest before a road sneaking up to the mountain tops.

For once no one's stomach was turning from passing through – to which Jim was very grateful. Although maybe it was from the shock his system got while passing through the cold liquid of the Gate. But soon after that they had other things to focus on.

Thanks to the shadowy surroundings, it was hard to tell the exact time of the day as the Gods started to lead the little group towards the meeting point with Samael and Lucifer. This forest seemed to be relatively unaffected by the destruction of the rest of the world, though it was eerily void of animals and also there was a strange sensation that made the fine hairs of the Nephilim stand on end on his nape. Like an impending pulsing threat... They were close...

The hooves of the demon horses made nearly no noise as they were more gliding than walking in the classical sense. Jim had some questions, but for a change stayed silent.

Everyone in the group were on high alert, scanning their surroundings and focusing on their mission. Some were more nervous or tense, others not that much, but one thing was clear to all: they were out from the relative safety of the Sanctuary and a mistake would cost a lot.

Soon enough, Seth and his brother turned their horses toward a barely visible path that went upwards the mountain and in a few minutes they arrived to a smaller clearing, the trees opening up on its other side to give the view of the surrounding area.

Near that spot was where the "unholy pair" awaited them on their own horses...

Robb smiled seeing the group arriving and seeing Jim's face and the others, he just cleared his throat and turned to his pair.

Robb himself rode a black demon horse. But Samael… He was proudly grinning in the saddle of a… demon unicorn. The beast was black as coil, eyes red liquid fire. It was slightly taller than the demon horses with magic oozing from its being and the twisted horn on its forehead while it was sizing up the others.

Behemoth: Lucifer

Samael was… something else himself once again. His face was painted with white and black ash, some blood for red. His eyes full black without irises and dressed in a black hood, leather boots and elbow long gloves without fingers’ ends.

"You're all here and not frozen in the vortex," he exclaimed grinning. "A very good start! The Call is still casting, though..." he said like everything was normal and not everyone was staring at him baffled.

Seth and even Christos seemed to be amused from the dramatic look while Paolo could clearly see the comical side of it and he even giggled. Kerim's big eyes widened while his pair's narrowed in complete opposite. It seemed the Nephilim was the most shocked from all of them.

As they stopped close to the couple, Jim sized up the majestic and a bit scary-looking "dark unicorn" then Samael himself. Looking around still baffled, he murmured "And I thought we were supposed to blend in and look more or less as humans as much as we can..." he finally chuckled too, lightly shaking his head.

To that Robb snorted a bit too, simply shrugging his shoulder as if saying "Samael will be Samael..."

Mick blinked with his glowing white eyes and shrugged too. "We don't really look human right now in the masks and with our glowing eyes," he looked at Jim who also had his mismatched eyes glowing from under the mask.

"Come on… Gods... you know I can change the look to... boring and normal in a blink," Samael rolled his eyes at them dramatically.

"Of course we know. Your pair wouldn't let you out like this if you could not bend in later on," Christos chuckled too but mostly on the reactions of the others.

"The Call is still casting. And it is strong. We should be careful and proceed with our mission," Seth said a bit more serious but he had his jackal smirk on his face as well.

"True that..." Jim nodded to Mick.

"I quite like it," Paolo grinned at Samael then all became more serious once Seth spoke.

Robb told Samael through their bond that he found him hot like that, making them both chuckle then the brown eyes met Seth's dark ones. "It's been steady ever since we got here. The Call doesn't seem to get weaker," he added, making his horse walk next to the God of Darkness. "We should go. The longer it is active, the more danger it can draw in…"

"I agree. Stay alert everyone! And keep the lines," Christos said in his usual seriousness, showing the cold tactical warrior side of him.

That made Brent nod and blush with a small smile. The small demon glimpsed at his fellow commander by his side and nodded in a silent agreement with Paolo.

As Robb stayed at the front as a third member in the line beside the Gods, Samael stayed back and galloped his unicorn next to Kerim. "I help to guard those butts," he grinned humming at the trio riding in the middle.

Even the lighter mood was welcomed and maybe forced by them all to ease the tension. But the weight of the mission soon weighted on them as they reached the narrowed down entrance of the valley hidden between the once crater. All of them could feel the massive energy pulsing from there. Controlling and using up every drop of life around it.

It was something none of them saw before...

THE END
… for now