Page 128 of Grave Revelations

Sophia quirked an eyebrow. “I don’t know what they’re saying.”

Rebecca covered her mouth. “You don’t?” She turned back to the creatures, replying in that same strange language.

The one in front responded, and she glanced back at Sophia. “They say I can understand them because I’m the… queen… of this realm.”

“No. Call me Rebecca,” she continued, “and this is Sophia.”

They darted nervous glances between Sophia and Rebecca. “Re-be-ck-a,” they said, sounding out her name.

Rebecca rolled her eyes, and Sophia’s heart swelled at the single human gesture. Rebecca was still in there. She just needed time.

“We need to find our friends,” Rebecca told the soldiers. “Will you help us?”

The creature in front said something to Rebecca and turned to the other soldiers, barking orders. When he finished, they darted away in groups of two, each going in a different direction.

“That was strange. They are cute though, aren't they? They reminded me of sphinxes,” Sophia said, looping arms with Rebecca as they continued forward.

“They were pretty helpful. They were right about splitting up to cover more ground.”

Sophia bit the inside of her cheek to stop from laughing. “I’m just glad one of us could understand them.”

Rebecca darted a glance at Sophia. “Thatisodd. Say something in Greek.”

“Adelfi.”

“Something I don’t know.”

“Lypámai polý, Adelfi.”

Rebecca released Sophia’s arm, finding her hands and squeezing them. “Please don’t apologize.”

“You understood!”

A deep vee formed on Rebecca’s forehead. “I guess I did.”

She released Sophia’s hands, pacing away from her, continuing over rocky terrain, and everywhere she stepped, new life formed. As Sophia watched her go, she could have sworn the faintest outline of wings hovered just over her back.

Chapter 84

Simon

Simon wedged his shoulder against the massive boulder blocking his exit. He’d been to the in-between thousands of times, tens of thousands, and never once had he been trapped.

When he’d awoken beside the river, it hadn’t shocked him. When Rebecca killed Elizabeth, he should have died—for real this time. But in over one hundred years, dying had never meant the end for him. Why would it be any different this time?

Would he come back, though? Would he wake to find himself in the body he’d left on that battlefield, and if so, what condition would it be in? What new hell would await him?

There was one difference. He’d arrived at night this time. Was that the reason it was dark? He had always assumed the in-between, Sheol as the angels called it, was a gray, lifeless place, never changing. As he’d trekked over dull, cracked dirt to his cave, he stumbled a few times in the pitch dark, surprised to find his night vision didn’t work here.

When he’d reached the cave and stepped inside, calling for Sophia or any of the others, a large scraping sound resounded off the walls. He’d raced to the entrance, moving at human speed, only to find it sealed shut.

In absolute darkness, he had run his nails along the seam of the wall, trying to find purchase. After an eternity, he gave up and pressed against the massive rock, shoving with all his mortal human strength.

A trail of vines snaked along the rock, and radiant light seeped around the edges.

“Hello? Hello! Can anyone hear me?”

Dust and debris rained from the ceiling, and the boulder barring his way began rolling aside. He stepped out into the blinding light, shielding his eyes.

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