Despite the fact that Grim was an impulsive, emotional, and irresponsible quasi-man child, this act wasn’t quite as suicidal as it seems. Besides, if he was going to kill himself, he (probably) wouldn't take Artemis down with him.

Regardless, Artemis did not have this information. So he screamed.

Black tendrils shot from under Grim’s cloak, digging into the side of the wall and slowing their descent. The tentacles sharp exterior sliced into the stone, a wicked grinding noise assaulting Artemis’s ears.

Artemis held onto Grim’s chest, as they were lowered to the ground, upside down, head first. He may or may not have peed himself a little.

Grim let Artemis roll harmlessly into the dust, gasping for breath. He wiped the sweat off his forehead, casting his eyes upward. The hellhounds darted out of sight.

Grim’s head was buzzing. His father had wanted him back in his court. He gritted his teeth. He couldn't face him again. No, not after what had happened.

“Let's get to the garage, we can get one of the cars,” Grim hissed, pulling Artemis off his knees.

Grim dragged Artemis along the length of the castle, until the ground began to slope downward. A paved driveway led into a partly-underground garage, where Grim kept a stock of expensive and fancy cars.

Grim hastily typed in the key code and threw open the door. Rushing inside, he threw himself in the closest car and pulled a set of keys from his pocket. Artemis slipped in beside him, peering nervously over his shoulder.

"Grim, whatever you're doing, you need to hurry. The hellhounds are outside." Artemis's face was drained of color. "That's odd, those are my father's private guards," he whispered, almost to himself.

"We've gotta get out of here," Grim muttered, shaking his head, the car revving to life.

"We're running from your father?" Artemis yelped, the purr of the engine almost drowning out his voice.

"Open the door!" one of the hellhounds snapped, "That is a direct order!"

Artemis grabbed Grim's hand, "I think we should really open that door."

A fresh coat of sweat clung to Grim's face. "This is bad..."

Just as the garage door began to cave from the combined efforts of several hundred pounds of canine, Grim threw the car in reverse, shadows gathering on the point of their inevitable collision with the wall.

They sunk into the shadows and disappeared from sight.