The faithful companion of Artemis Watson, a kitten-shaped demon named Mashu'ra, was killed in the line of duty. He's always lived in her hat and he's like a brother to her, leaving her deeply upset and unable to calm down.However, there's a slim ray of hope, which from another perspective becomes a ray of horror: the imp originally arrived on Earth through summoning magic and dying merely returned him to Hell. Unfortunately, nearly every demon in the place knows he's a turncoat and the arch-nemesis of Artemis, Vogerath, has been waiting centuries for this to happen.The Ashen Blades immediately tried a summoning spell to retrieve their friend, but another imp appeared in place of Mashu'ra, informing the kitten's friends who has him. If they want him back, they'll have to visit Hell and promise an unacceptable measure of cooperation that would surely doom the human race.Meanwhile, Mashu'ra endures a nightmarish ordeal at the hands of his old boss, starting with magically-enhanced interrogation, then torture and brainwashing, using means both magical and mundane.Artemis and her friends mount a desperate rescue mission and open a portal to that infernal world. Artemis leads the way, with military backup, using all of her power to cut a blood-soaked path through Hell, to reach the Outcast Detention Center, where Mashu'ra is held captive.Will she be in time to rescue her dear friend before it's too late? Will she manage to save his soul, or will she rescue only his body? Will Mashu'ra ever be the same again? Read more
