Page 95 of Princess Avenged

Chapter

Forty

Ana

Crusher and I approach the base of the Eiffel Tower, and my heart pounds with excitement. Soon, this nightmare will be over.

At Ember’s insistence, she’s bringing Phil behind us, keeping him contained with some kind of magic.

She told us to meet her at the corner of the North pillar, near the statue of Gustave Eiffel. And although it’s the middle of the night, many people are walking around in this city of lights that does not seem to sleep.

We debated our timing for quite a while. Coming right after sunset would have reduced the risk that Phil, Crusher and I might try to come back through the portal during daylight hours, but that timing would have risked more potential witnesses.

Ember says she can create an illusion to hide our entry and exit, but she looked worried about executing too many pieces of magic at once. Keeping Phil from attacking me, opening the portal, all while holding an illusion to hide us from passersby. It does seem like a lot.

I argued we should wait until three or four in the morning when few humans would be around. Crusher acted as if the timing didn’t matter, and in the end, Zuben closed the discussion. He pointed out that time itself might work differently in the other realm, so our fussing about choosing the perfect time to start this quest could be moot.

Phil, Crusher and I could be in the other realm for weeks, but only moments might pass here. Or the other way around. For Ember’s sake, I certainly hope that won’t happen, but at least she’s okay in daylight, and can watch the portal for as long as it takes.

If it is daylight when we cross back, the three of us will just have to face burns. And then quickly feed from Ember. Or maybe we can wait inside the portal until sunset. Ember hasn’t explained exactly how the portal will look or function, and I suspect she isn’t certain herself.

I file all these questions under: cross that bridge when we come to it.

Checking the dagger, I run my fingers over its hilt. Hidden under my sleeve, it’s stashed in one of Blade’s wrist holsters that he modified to fit me and the dagger. Then I adjust the waistband of my trousers. I’m not used to trousers, but Crusher thought they might be more practical than a gown, so I conceded, borrowing a pair from Ember.

I stare up at the tower. Its construction was completed in 1901, two years before my year of birth, and while I knew of this tower as a child, I never visited. Father didn’t think it was appropriate for my sisters and I to travel very much until we took husbands, and of course none of us lived long enough to do that. None of us except me.

Hope floats into my trepidation. Once the demon’s cast out of Phil, perhaps I can put marriage onto a list of possibilities for my life. The idea, never appealing before, warms me.

“They’re coming,” Crusher says, and I turn to look for signs of their arrival.

“Where?” I ask him.

“Still a half a mile away,” he says. “I sense Phil.”

I nod, wishing I could sense him right now. I was devastated after kissing Blade and Flame goodbye, and it didn’t cross my mind to tune into Phil. I’m grateful that Crusher thought to do it.

“You okay?” Crusher asks, and I nod.

“I wish I could spare you this.” His eyes fill with anguish. It’s clear he wants to spare me what’s to come, as much as he’s ever wanted anything.

“Thank you.” I smile. “I appreciate that. And I also appreciate you offering to cross over with Phil and me. But I still think you should wait over here with Ember.” She’s made it clear that this will be dangerous. There’s no sense risking more lives than necessary.

“No.” Crusher takes a step toward me.

My belly stirs. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to Crusher’s size and commanding presence. And I’m not sure if my body will ever get past its visceral reactions when he demonstrates his protective power.

“I will never let you be alone with Phil.” Crusher’s voice is deep and strong. “Never. Not until this demon is gone.”

“What did you and Ember talk about last night?” I can’t believe I haven’t asked him already. But beyond the preparations, and the sleep Ember insisted I needed, I wanted to spend what little free time I had today with Flame and Blade.

Crusher’s jaw shifts. “She was just making sure I understood the danger.” He shakes his head. “She tried to talk me out of crossing, but her warnings made me even more determined to go with you.”

My chest expands with gratitude. Crusher makes me feel safe. And while I still hate that he lied to me, I do trust him with my life, even if I can’t trust him with my heart.

We both turn to the side. Ember and Phil are in sight.

Phil is walking strangely, almost like he’s trying to run but is being held back. Ember is doing something to constrain him, and it breaks my heart to see Phil like this. But excitement floods inside me, flushing aside all my fears. I will succeed, no matter how difficult this is. I will end this nightmare. Soon, I’ll be in Phil’s arms again.

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