Page 53 of Guarded By the Gargoyle

But where was Kael? Was he stuck in the Hellscape I had witnessed through the open doorway?

He must be, I decided and suddenly I felt tears stinging my eyes.

“I don’t want to lose you,”he’d said to me just a few hours before. I felt the same way about him—I couldn’t lose him this way!

“I need to get help,” I said out loud. I started for the bedroom door, only to realize I was stark naked. Rushing to the dresser, I dug for anything to wear but everything was jumbled up—I hadn’t unpacked my duffle very neatly.

I saw a glimmer from the corner of my eye and realized the cottage was trying to help. Rushing over to the bed, I found a complete outfit from underwear to boots including jeans that were just my size and a red sweater that fit me perfectly too.

I pulled it all on as fast as I could and rushed out the doorway. I had to find Goody Albright—she was the only one I could think of who might be able to help me rescue Kael from The Pit!

29

WILLOW

“I’m sorry, my dear—I can’t help you.” Goody Albright shook her head regretfully after I finished explaining the situation. But I think I know someone who might be able to. Come with me.”

She led me down to Goldie’s Diner and I went with her, still on pins and needles. Every minute I left Kael in The Pit was a minute of pure agony. What might be happening to him? Had the Hell Hound regenerated somehow and come for him? Or what if Carlo was trying to take his revenge?

Ihadto get him out of there—I just didn’t know how.

The minute Goldie saw our faces, she seemed to know something was wrong.

“My goodness—what happened?” she asked me. “You look terrible, sweetie! I mean, not to be rude but?—”

“Ifeelterrible,” I said, interrupting her. “Kael is gone!”

Her eyes widened.

“Gone? Gone where?”

“We fear he may be trapped in Hell,” Goody Albright said seriously. “And you’re the only witch in town I know of who has any kind of expertise in that realm. Because of your…well, you know.”

Goldie nodded.

“All right, come in the back,” she said, gesturing to us. “Let’s talk about it.”

She took us to a break room that led off the kitchen where there was a table and three chairs. Before she sat, she took a pot of coffee from the machine set up in the corner and waved a hand, murmuring over it. She poured me a cup and as the steam reached my nose, I realized it was chicory.

The pungent, bitter scent made me think of the last time I’d had it—was it really only that morning that Kael had been sitting safe and sound across from me? The thought made me burst into tears, though I usually try not to cry in front of strangers.

“Oh hey now, it’s okay, sweetie! Everything is going to be okay.” Goldie reached across the table to squeeze my hand. “What happened to Kael?”

“He…he got stuck in The Pit,” I sobbed, my shoulders shaking. “Sh-shutting the door thatIleft open. He’s stuck in Hell and it’s all muh-my fault!”

“Oh dear…” Goldie gave me a sympathetic look and shook her head. “Is that really what happened?” she asked Goody Albright.

Goody Albright nodded.

“I don’t understand how the door was able to manifest inside the town’s magic shield, but somehow, apparently, it did.”

She went on to describe what had happened and I was glad I’d been able to give her all the details before breaking down.

“Hmm, that’s bad,” Goldie agreed, nodding when Goody Albright described the iron door folding in on itself until it disappeared. “It sounds like that door is shut for good.”

“Shut for good?” I cried, half rising from my seat. “Are you saying there’s no hope? That he’s gone forever? Trapped in Hell for eternity?”

“No, no, sweetie—that’s not what I’m saying at all!” Goldie put a hand on my arm and urged me gently back down into my seat. “Just because you close one door, doesn’t mean you can’t open another,” she added.

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