Page 352 of Fated to be Enemies

Chapter Thirty-Two

Raiden and Aziel fought demons sent to weaken them by Lucius. It was too late. They were already preparing to fight Lucius. Crowds of demons swarmed them. Lucius was nowhere to be seen, but it didn’t mean he was far.

In the far distance, a tall obsidian castle towered into gray storm clouds. Around it was a moat of lava, and over it, a drawbridge made of green marble. There were no windows, but then why would they need them in the underworld?

A crash of thunder sounded overhead, the ground rumbling as cracks formed in stone and mud. Time was running out. I rubbed my hands against my eyes. Demons devoured everything in sight, always hungry, never fulfilled. Everything swarmed with darkness. It was a plague of a realm. Nausea swept through me. I couldn’t help them here, but I could if I went back home. There was a way for me to save us all, but only if I was quick enough.

Fingers slimed against my ankles in featherlight touches as I sped through the creek, breaking water too quickly for the dead to grab me. I looked back one last time when I reached the misty cave.

Demons emerged, their black, soulless eyes scanning the creek and crop field that extended to the red hills and led toward rocky mountains and a never-ending crimson sunset. Crows screeched overhead, settling near vultures that sat on low branches around the cornfield, waiting for something to die so they could pick at it, but everything here was already dead in some way.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw them through a fluff of hair that had made its way around to my forehead. Tucking the lock behind my ear, I crinkled my nose, grimacing. Souls—new ones, I presumed, from the horror on their pale faces—with their misty bodies, a ghost of who they once were, shivered in an illusory dance. They fell from the sky and were quickly grabbed by demons who devoured them as they landed. Some escaped, heading for the cornfield or creek. I averted my gaze as things leaped out of the water, snatching the new souls from the air, and dragged them into their depths.

Before I changed my mind, I looked back at Raiden one last time, my heart in my stomach, then turned and sped for the portal out.

I fell out into the powdered snow, coughing as the portal closed. Darkness slithered over me as I turned. Two demons had come through when I did. Before I could reach them, they slipped into the shadows of the rocks, disappearing from sight.

Glancing at the northern mountains, where Mona was probably being kept, I sighed. I swore on my soul I would come for her, but I couldn’t do it alone. For the first time, I felt strong, powerful even. I knew how to help the gods, Mona, and everyone else, but it would come at quite the risk. I wasn’t stupid enough to try it alone. I had to rely on my family, my friends back home. I was stronger with them; it had just taken me a while to realize it. Inhaling deeply, I cast my eyes in the direction of home and took off into the forest.

Everyone gathered in the kitchen except Dora, who was taking a nap. Maddox made a coffee, Naomi sat at the table, fumbling with a teaspoon, and Edmund leaned in the doorway, stroking Benji who was curled up on the countertop.

“We can do this,” I urged as my plan unfolded to them. “Our coven has dark magic. It’s why we were created. We are the keepers of all that is dark, and it’s our job to keep Istinia safe from dark magic, and the underworld is that. Demons can get out. Some followed me through the portal. Lucius will keep coming back whenever he feels like it, and we’re in danger when he does. Alexander is on the loose, and since Freya is now in the underworld, who knows if she’ll ever break out? We need to seal it like our people did a century ago, when the prison realms were created.”

Edmund pressed his lips into a hard line. “It’s a good idea, brilliant even, but Raiden did break out of his realm and?—”

“Yes.” I put a finger up, pausing him for a moment. “But our people had to create three realms and seal them. This realm already exists, and we just need to make sure it remains that way. It would be the future keepers’ jobs to do it. We were meant for this. It’s why our coven even exists at all. Freya needed someone to guard the keys the blood witches created. We are the only blood witches, so no one else can do this but us.”

“Might I add,” Maddox said, “your boyfriend would be trapped ruling the underworld if we don’t seal Lucius in there. But I’m sure that has nothing to do with your sudden idea.”

I swallowed thickly. “He is not my boyfriend. Not even close. Trust me.”

Maddox’s eyebrows pinched when he saw tears in my eyes. “If we close it,” he said, changing the subject, “no one can get in or out.”

I fumbled my fingers. We all knew what that meant. Any demons left in this world would be able to stay here, for good, and any souls left inside would be trapped. “I know.”

Naomi nodded. “Unless you die.”

Edmund interjected. “I’m not sure if it would still work after that.”

Maddox nodded. “Then I guess everyone’s going to the otherworld.” He rolled his eyes. “Talk about offsetting the balance.”

“You weren’t there.” I shuddered at the memory. “It was terrible. Unless you’re a truly horrible, evil person, then no one should end up there. That type of punishment is reserved for the darkest of the dark, and I can’t believe all the new souls I saw were pure evil. So much darkness can’t exist in the world at once.”

Naomi agreed. “Let’s close it. Let all the bad in there feast upon itself. It has no place in our world.”

Maddox shook his head. “It’s a bad idea. If dark souls can’t get in, then where will they go?”

“Wouldn’t they just stop existing?” I asked. “Or turn into ghosts or something? I don’t know.”

Maddox arched an eyebrow. “You don’t know? You didn’t get a telepathic encyclopedia of knowledge on the afterlife when you became a goddess?”

Edmund shot him a look. “This isn’t Elle’s fault. She’s trying to help.”

Maddox shrugged. “Do whatever you want. I think it’ll backfire on us.”

Naomi clicked her tongue, placing her hand on her hip. “You know what, genius? You’re always telling everyone how brilliant you are? Well this is your time to shine. We’ll go save the gods, and you can figure out the after part.”

He choked on his coffee. “I know I’m good, but you’re talking about figuring out another afterlife. No one is that amazing.”

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