Virgo's Vigilantes (The Zodiac Book 6), page 26
Bilba's mentor stepped forward to stand alongside my friend. "We would ask for a delay. I have mentored numerous—"
"I'm aware of how many you've mentored," Apopis said in a tone that communicated that he was not willing to be cut off again. "And I'm not interested."
"The delay," Melchiot said, her head cocked toward Bilba as if she was confused. "A delay would be beneficial to Bilba, giving him time to—"
"There will be no delay. Unfortunate circumstances have changed the schedule once again, which is why I am here. I've come to escort you to the Passage, Mr. Ravenous."
"Now?" Bilba squeaked.
A slow smile crept across Apopis's face.
Son of a salamander.
"But—but we were given another day," Melchiot said.
"You were given as long as you were given," Apopis snarled. "The Council has decided Ravenous will take the Passage now." He shifted to Bilba, a stupid smirk on his stupider face. "Collect what you need. We're escorting you, Burning, and… Sunstone without delay. Such are things."
Melchiot stepped forward, now standing in front of Bilba. "It is my responsibility as his mentor to attend to him in the Passage," she said, her voice sounding stronger than I'd ever heard it.
"That won't happen," Apopis said. "You can spend this last minute providing any advice you have, but you will not be walking through this gateway. Ravenous takes his trial without you."
"But that puts him at serious risk. The tradition is—" Melchiot said, taking another step forward. She was parallel to the first guards of the cordon.
"Tradition doesn't matter. I will not hear another word." Apopis looked past Bilba's mentor to him. "Forget collecting anything, Ravenous. We leave now."
Apopis was turning toward the gateway when Melchiot shrieked. I was so shocked by her tone toward the Founder, by her intensity, I didn't recognize what was happening until after the fact. "It is my right!"
Apopis spun. "Enough!"
At his shout, the guard to Melchiot's right raised his arm and swung, catching her cheek and sending her sprawling to the floor. I tried to catch her but was too late.
She cried out when she fell, holding her face. Blood trickled from her nose. Under the hand covering her cheek were angry, red slashes from the guard's gauntlet.
I yearned to pull Creed free. To birth life into the magical halberd and free Hell from one of its oppressors and his protectors. I couldn't. I could not pull it out and rain devastation in this room. The confines were too small. The risk, too high. Bigger picture, I couldn't attack a Founder. That would be the end of the demons I loved. Even if I could take Apopis out, three other Council members remained. I'd never win.
Akimon stepped forward. "I will go with my son."
Bilba whirled toward his father. "Dad, no."
But Akimon tilted his head. "I will go. I am requesting to attend him. He's my boy. Please do this for me, sir. I have so little in this world. The one thing I have is him. If he is to take the Passage today, I want to be with him."
Bilba never talked about Akimon's Abilities. Strong or weak, it didn't matter. Though I appreciated the display of love, his presence would be a distraction to my friend, introducing even more risk.
Apopis's head bobbed with a silent laugh. "You would chance going into the Passage to be with him?"
Akimon's size seemed to grow by dimensions. "For my boy, I would do anything."
"Dad, I don't want you to go. It's going to be hard enough to do this without worrying about you," Bilba said, grabbing his father's hand.
Akimon faced his son, wrapping his free hand around the back of Bilba's head, and pulling it closer. They touched foreheads. "I want to do this. I want to be there with you during this trial. I know you can do it, son. I'm not worried about that. Give me this. Okay?" He ruffled Bilba's hair before turning to face Apopis and directing the same question at him. "Okay?"
"This is very touching, but I'm not here to entertain personal requests," Apopis said with a scowl. "We have delayed long enough."
"Why won't you let me go with my boy?" Akimon said, taking on a new personality, a fierce one.
Apopis strode forward. The guards shifted. Inch–by–inch, I pulled Creed out of the loop. It pulsed in my grip.
Apopis was face-to-face with Bilba's father. "Don't you dare presume you may question me or make demands of me. I will do what I deem appropriate. You want to go with your son? To watch as it pushes him beyond his limits? To see him attacked and tested, mentally, emotionally, and physically? You want to see what your boy is made of? See his demise? That's on you," Apopis said, tapping Akimon's chest with a narrow finger.
Ralrek made a hostile rumble from deep in his chest.
Creed was in my hand.
The Founder knew Akimon wouldn't lash out. Like a true coward, Apopis was only brave when he knew he had the superior position.
Spinning toward the gateway, Apopis snapped at the guard commander, "Bring them. Leave the succubus." He stepped through. Out of reach.
"I'm sorry, Bilba. I tried," Melchiot said, now getting to her feet, still holding her bleeding cheek.
"I know. I know you did," he said. "Thank you for everything. Thank you for preparing me. If—if I don't come out… we… we can settle what I owe you, somehow. My mother… she's in the Ei—"
Melchiot shook her head, her eyes no longer darting around the room. "Focus on this. Remember your emotions. The Passage is an illusion. You can master it. Don't forget your lessons."
"I will," he said, turning to the three of us. "Dad. Guys. Ready?"
I doubted we were, but we stepped into the gateway anyway.
20
Bilba's Passage
Expectations can be dangerous. I figured as much of a big deal as the Passage was, entering it would be an awe–inspiring event. For the record, it's anything but.
First of all, the area around the gateway leading into the Passage was barren, devoid of hope. In fact, it wasn't even impressive on an esthetic level.
We stepped out of the gateway into a small room I figured was somewhere in the Council chamber. We squeezed in, trying not to bump into the rift a few feet away. Once we were through, Apopis closed the gateway to the Fifth and stepped into the rift without a word.
After tumbling for a fraction of a second of existence, we stepped out of the rift onto a sandy patch of the eternal plane. Dunes of brown sand rose up on all sides, cutting off any view of what lay beyond. A cliff face fifteen feet ahead held a shimmering black archway, dead center on the wall of rock.
Apopis went toward it.
The arch rippled, the blackness shimmering with silver slivers that added dimension to the impenetrable darkness beyond. Whatever it was, rift, gateway, or something else, the archway was silent.
Apopis stopped beside it. The guards pushed us forward. Closer.
From the surrounding desert landscape to the blackened archway, that blackness absorbed life.
"I can't see anything," Bilba said, more to himself than to the Founder.
"That's by design," Apopis said.
"What do we do? Just step in?" Bilba asked.
"No time like the present," Apopis hissed, thinking himself funny. He wasn't. "Of course, if you succeed, I will be here to receive you. The Passage will beckon me. Don't worry about that. For all we know, this will be the last time you see what lives outside the Passage. Your fate awaits. Step inside. I would wish you luck, but…"
Bilba ignored Apopis's attempt to antagonize and distract. "I'm ready, guys. Dad, please stay out here."
Akimon was about to respond when Apopis cut him off. "Oh no, he asked for this. He will get this. Your father enters with you."
"But—but," Bilba stuttered.
Ralrek stepped forward, his lips pulled back in a vicious grin.
Akimon put his arm on his son, in turn, blocking Ralrek. "I meant it when I said I wanted to be there with you, son. Let's not argue. Let's just begin. You're about to be a Major demon. I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks, Dad," Bilba said, drawing a deep breath. He faced the archway and the shimmering black. "I'm ready."
My best friend, the only incubus in the world who has stood beside me throughout my life, throughout every challenge and every time someone rejected me. The true friend who never wavered. Who saw the error of his ways when he took part in Aries's death. The stocky incubus who was a powerful magic user and a blabbermouth. The guy who tried his hardest at everything, and for everyone. The ball of joy with a good heart. The one who acted like an impling at Samhain carnivals even though he had attended them for thousands of years, treating each iteration as if it were his first. That is who Bilba was.
Maybe admitting for the first time in my life as I watched him approach that dark void, I loved him. His spirit brightened my world.
And he was about to enter the Passage, where he would suffer attacks designed to push him beyond breaking. My job was to protect him. Hell needed more demons like him, and I was going to make sure the special one they already had was going to return home tonight.
With a brief pause at the face of the magical hole in the cliff side, Bilba stepped through. As he disappeared into the archway, the black wrapped around him as if he were submerged in a vat of oil.
Akimon followed on his son's heels without delay.
"Looks like it's going to be a good time," I commented to Ralrek. He grunted and stepped forward, disappearing into the archway.
I stepped up, feeling Apopis's eyes on me. I faced him, never wavering. "He's not weak, you know? You might think you put us in the spot we can't get out of, but that incubus," I said with a tip of my head toward the shimmering blackness, "is one talented, stubborn guy. If you think you won't see us again, you're going to be disappointed."
I stepped into the murkiness, which rolled over me, pressing against my skin, against every orifice. The blackness pressed against my lips, yet I could taste nothing. Pushed on my eyelids. Filled my ears like a tiny yet persistent finger. It covered my hands, my arms. It pressed against my chest, pushing back as I entered. It coated my neck. Every inch of my skin, invaded. I didn't dare draw breath or open my eyes. I pushed forward.
And then I was stumbling onto smooth marble. Ralrek caught me.
Bilba laughed. "It did the same thing to all of us, don't worry. Dad almost face-planted."
"I wasn't ready for that," Akimon said.
"Don't worry, Zeke. You didn't look any dumber than usual." Ralrek smiled.
The narrow tunnel, twenty feet tall, stretched into the darkness. Far down its length, a single torch hung in a sconce on the right side, casting orange light to the floor and not much further.
"I guess we go in that direction?" I asked.
"I assume so since it's the only direction to go," Bilba said, characteristically cheery as though all his doubt was sucked up in the blackness.
"Lead the way then, future Major demon," Ralrek said.
My skin itched with the first sensations of a Fire spell. I eyed the tall incubus as he mumbled his incantation. Soon, his hand glowed, and a small flame appeared in his upturned palm. "So we can see where we're going, dummies," he said with a chuckle.
"Oh, that helps a lot. Thank you," Bilba said and skipped along the tunnel.
"Don't you think we should exercise a little caution?" I called after him.
Having just come through the Passage's barrier, I could have done without sticky sensations. Unfortunately for me, Bilba was drawing on his Ability now.
"What are you expecting?" Ralrek asked, his voice echoing down the tunnel, the only sound except for the crackling torchlight.
I think Bilba shrugged. It was hard to tell in the gloom. "I'm not sure. Running sucks, so I wouldn't be surprised if we get chased by something. Muscle-heads too. Definitely don't like muscle-heads. But a lot has changed since last time I fought one of those."
I laughed at the memory of Bilba trying to out-muscle the Seattle muscle-head body guard of Aries.
"Guys, I think I'm ready," Bilba said. "After all of our sparring sessions, and the two of you helping with training, I don't imagine they'll throw anything at me I can't handle. Not that I'm saying this will be easy."
"Just don't get too cocky," Ralrek said.
Ah, sweet irony.
"Just don't get emotional. You know what happened the last time," I said, reminding him of our recent training session. "Melchiot let us walk out of that place. The Passage won't."
"I'll make sure he stays level-headed," his father said.
Bilba stopped next to the crackling torch. "Do you think we should carry this with us?"
Ralrek lifted his hand, the one burning with flame. "What you think I have this for?"
"And what if you need to cast against a target?" Bilba said.
"I cast a spell. Either way, I'm going to need both of my hands," Ralrek said. "Carrying the torch is just one more thing that I have to drop. And for all we know, this place could be full of tinder. I'm not about to take that chance. Plus, it doesn't take much to hold the spell."
"Okay, that's settled. Can we move?" I said, encouraging us forward. "The sooner we get out of here, the better."
Leaving the flaming torch behind, we approached the mouth of the tunnel.
"What do you think is out there?" Ralrek asked.
Bilba crept forward. "Who knows? But I'm ready."
I pushed my senses outward and stumbled into Akimon, nearly knocking the older incubus over.
"Whoa, Zeke. Are you okay?" Ralrek said, catching me.
My head swam, but otherwise I was fine. "Yeah, I don't know what in the heaven just happened, but there's a lot of magic in this place. I don't think it likes me poking around."
Far beyond the torch light, a deep, rich, smooth, yet light and almost feminine voice said, "Hold true to what you know."
I spun, seeing nothing except the mostly-dark, mostly-empty tunnel. I didn't dare project my senses again. Doing it could bring a blackout. "Did you guys hear something?"
They stopped, casting sideways glances at each other, and then toward the mouth of the tunnel.
"The only thing I hear is the torch," Bilba said.
"I did not," Akimon said.
Ralrek shrugged. "Me neither." He watched me for a second, concern passing over his face. "Why? Did you?"
I couldn't tell my friends I had been hearing voices since being pulled out of Abandonment. It was easy to push out of my mind when I wasn't sure I'd heard an animal or the wind. But I couldn't make that claim this time. Someone had spoken an entire sentence from the mouth of that tunnel as clear as morning Hellfire rays.
"Are you feeling okay, son?" Akimon asked, moving to me.
"Ignore me," I said, waving away their concern. "Just got a lousy night of sleep. Think it's screwing with my head."
"Well, focus. Bilba needs you," Ralrek said, holding me until he was sure I wouldn't topple over.
Ralrek was right. Bilba needed us. He needed the best of us. Which meant I wouldn't send my senses out again. Whatever magic was at work here, it was far superior to my Creed–enhanced abilities. It hadn't liked me prying into its mysteries, prying I would no longer do.
"I'm better, guys. Let's go," I said, shooing with my hand.
Bilba, in the lead, craned his head up and arcing from left to right as if we were back in the Overworld watching the sun transit the sky in seconds instead of hours. "Whoa. This place is immense."
We filed out of the tunnel and into a gigantic chamber. Gray slate stretched into the darkness. Smoky shadows fell over it, the walls hidden behind them. Every twenty-five feet, a torch burned in a sconce, casting weak, orange light that didn't even reach the floor, never mind penetrate the cloud of darkness hovering over this room.
I looked up, craned my neck and got lost in the dizzying heights of the towering chamber. If there was a roof, I couldn't see it. The sections of the walls I could see were identical to the floor's slate. Nondescript, free of designs or lines. The chamber looked as if giant engineers molded it from wet clay, every discrepancy smoothed over.
"What do we do?" Akimon asked from the rear of the group.
"I—I am not sure," Bilba said. "Melchiot said she couldn't tell me what we'd find because it's different for everyone. The Passage reflects the testee's worst fears."
Ralrek snorted, craning his head to take in the intimidating chamber. "Your worst fear is a boring room desperately in need of an interior decorator?"
"Ha. Funny. No, I have a lot of fears, just like everyone. But this isn't one of them." Bilba scanned from side to side. "Maybe we need to move. Inspect the chamber. See if we come across anything. Maybe this is a transitory place, and there's a doorway or something on the other side that will take us where we're supposed to go. Come on, let's see what we find."
We moved along the right wall, our steps hesitant. The petrified cherry of Creed was warm, putting me on high alert. The height of the chamber absorbed all sound. Except for our footsteps, the only thing I could hear was the crackling torches we passed. Those ahead and behind were soon muffled as if they didn't exist at all.
"Allegiance," a voice whispered close to my ear. My heart stopped—I swear, it did—at the voice. We were in a line, Bilba in the lead, with me behind him, Akimon behind me, and Ralrek bringing up the rear. No one could have whispered in my ear. To do so required stealth none of these incubi possessed. Why would the Passage torture me? This was Bilba's thing. The three incubi were looking into the shadows and the hazy center of the room as if they hadn't heard anything.
I was losing my mind. Absolutely losing my mind. And at such a young age.
I pushed the troubling thought away, trying to focus without accidentally sending out my senses and getting us—me—into further trouble. Creed thudded at my hip, and my hand dropped to it. Part of me wished the halberd would give me a heads-up the next time my broken brain decided to play tricks on me. Creed had no problem warning me whenever the Council was about to cause trouble, but if I was causing it for myself, the stupid stick seemed content to watch me fumble my way into a mess.
This thumping wasn't that type of warning, though. This time, Creed thumped insistently. The needy halberd wanted my attention.
