With a resolute look upon her face, Cora continued to spell out her strategy to the others for escaping this realm of Lianna's memories.

First, they would splinter off into two parties.

The first group would consist of Nahemah, Orthrus, Luisen, and Barghest. As the most advanced magical users of the lot, it made sense for the succubus and the latter three to stay put, guard the summoning circles, and watch over the witches, the felines, and the Butters.

The second group would consist of Dyp, Yeth, Cora, and Cerberus. Cora would be in charge of finding the fissures while the hellhounds would be tasked with tearing through the barrier through their brute strength.

Once Cora finished explaining her plan to Cerberus' brothers, all five pairs of their blood red eyes were locked onto her, and a myriad of different reactions lifted from each of them.

Orthrus seemed game. He even smiled. "So, gatekeeper, you seek our assistance in tearing through the fabric of this realm..."

"It is not like she leaves us much of a choice," snapped Barghest with an impudent glare.

"The idea of being entrapped in a magical memory vortex," grumbled Luisen, "is most off putting to me."

"It is off putting to all of us, Luisen," Dyp fired in his direction.

"Do as my Cora requests, you dolts, else we shall be stuck here forever!" Cerberus barked at his brothers, "And one last thing before embark upon this grand scheme of ours—"

He turned to Cora with a shifty, little half-smirk.

Ignoring her wide-eyed expression, Cerberus carried on without a flicker of shame, "Let Nahemah be my hellborn witness before my brothers five—I claim you, my sweet little gatekeeper, as my mate and mistress from now until the end of time!"

Immediately following the hellound's fervent outburst, shock flew across Nahemah's beautiful face, his brothers gasped aloud, and a strange sensation took hold of Cora's heart. She frowned at this oddness of feeling. Her heart wasn't in any pain or discomfort, but it suddenly felt as though a second pulse now echoed and thumped alongside her own.

What in the world was going on?

The succubus hissed softly, "Cerberus! Those are bold and brash vows to make! You ought to know better than to serve a creature who is neither demon nor god! And why the hell would you claim her as your mate? She cannot even be categorized as the same species as you!"

The second heartbeat in Cora's chest seemed to quicken in speed.

"I know," Cerberus admitted in uncharacteristically flustered tones, "but if I do not claim her now, then I fear my brothers might try to take her from me..."

This gave Cora pause.

Could it be Cerberus' heartbeat that she was sensing beside her own pulsing organ?

She interrupted testily, "Tell me, Cerberus, what does it mean, precisely, when you say that you claim me as a mate and mistress? And do I not deserve to have a say in this matter?"

He shot her a guilty look before averting his gaze.

"Well?" Cora prompted while tapping her foot to the ground.

When Cerberus refused to answer, Nahemah explained with a sigh, "Pretty gatekeeper, you may not be aware of this troublesome fact, but, when hellhounds come of age, they must choose another, typically, more powerful demonic entity to serve as their masters. This core desire to become subservient is ingrained in their blood. It would appear that your hearts are now tethered to one another in an even more decidedly fixed manner than the deal you struck with me."

The doubled heartbeats inside Cora continued to thud side by side like twin drums, taunting her and reinforcing the truth in Nahemah's words.

It occurred to Cora that she wouldn't be rid of Cerberus anytime soon, for there were still the vexing matters of their other two demonic agreements to be resolved. Noctis' soul and memories were now intact, but Luna's were obviously still missing. They would remain bound together until Luna's soul and memories resurfaced as well. As for Cerberus' vow of transparency and honesty, he had clearly broken it in his most recent attempt to claim her as his new master without consent.

Did this mean their second deal was now broken?

In truth, Cora didn't mind being bound to Cerberus overly much, but she was deeply put off by the idea of being bamboozled and bullied by him into yet another situation in which she had no say in.

With a shrewd gleam in her dark eyes, Cora hummed, "Is there any way to undo what Cerberus has done?"

"No, no, no, it is impossible to retract yourself from my servitude," came Cerberus hurried reply, "you are mine to pamper and service until the end of time, my sweet!"

Orthrus chuckled at Cerberus' desperation.

"You must be jesting," Cora groaned.

Luisen and Dyp snickered at Cora's lackluster response.

Barghest coughed loudly. "The gatekeeper has you by the balls, Cer!"

Yeth smirked widely in agreement with Barghest's jab.

Like two young lovers locked in a quarrel, Cora and Cerberus paid them no mind. They only had eyes for each other.

Cerberus sighed. "Please do not be cross with me, Cora dear! I did not mean to deceive you. Again. Look upon the bright side, though. You are my master now. You would be free to send me away to the bottommost rungs of hell, if you wished, and I would not be able to deny your request!"

"Is that so?" Cora murmured.

"But please do not send me away," he whined with a pout.

Cora bit back a smile at his cheeky pout. She didn't wish to send Cerberus away from her, not at all, but she refused to give the unruly hound the satisfaction of preening over her burgeoning attachment to him.

"We shall see about that," she huffed in mock anger. "Your behavior must improve if you wish to remain at my side."

Cerberus nodded heartily in agreement. "I swear upon the ashes of my ancestors, I shall be the most docile and angelic demon you have ever laid eyes on, my sweet!"

"Let us hope so," Cora grunted, unconvinced. "I—"

She was unable to finish her sentence because, all of a sudden, a most peculiar feeling seized her. Her powers swirled, whispering to her, urging her to look around and pay attention. She heard a ripping sound cut through the air, not unlike the shredding of papers being torn to pieces.

Cora glanced around the hedge maze. Her eyes grew wide. A dark, glimmering speck appeared at a distance, several hundred feet away from where they stood in the tall, bushy labyrinth.

It looked very much like the hole she had glimpsed upon the ceiling of Little Cora's bedroom.

Cora gasped and pointed, "Look, there! A fissure! We must go to it at once!"