The Evolution of Fae and Gods, page 25
It was creeping up on two AM when Carrick and Myles finally left the party, and they were among the first to leave. The festivities would probably carry on until the sun rose.
In the car, Myles jerked off the collar and rubbed his neck. “That was by far the most miserable thing I’ve ever done in my entire life.”
Carrick didn’t acknowledge Myles’ proclamation because if that was the worst that had happened in this young man’s life, then he was going to be in for a world of shock if demons were let loose in the Earth realm.
“At least it wasn’t a total bust.” Carrick turned slightly in the seat to address Myles. “That chalice could be a potential source of power for this hypothetical ritual we still haven’t figured out.”
“Agreed,” Myles replied, but then a sly grin came to his face. “But I have an even better lead.”
Carrick blinked in surprise, it having never occurred to him that Myles could be of any use tonight other than as a prop to gain him credibility among these fetishists.
“It just so happens that on one of the bathroom breaks my master was benevolent enough to bestow upon me, I struck up a conversation with another one of the humans whose master is also an avid collector. I told him that my master was there looking for powerful objects, and I mentioned the Blood Stone.”
“And he knew what it was?” Carrick asked in surprise.
Myles waved his hand. “Of course not. But we started talking about the stones and relics with power, and he mentioned his master had been searching for a book to come on the market that purportedly cataloged every known item of power in the universe and where it was located.”
Carrick stared blankly at Finley’s nerdy friend, flabbergasted.
Myles lifted his eyebrows. “Did you hear me? Every item in the universe, which implies the Blood Stone or chalice could be somewhere other than the Earth realm. And it also implies there could be other items.”
“How could such a book even exist when it’s been centuries since any stones have even been found?”
“Here’s the thing,” Myles replied in a low voice. “The rumor is the book was created by a demi-god who acted as a historian of sorts and traveled the world in search of items—not to use them, but merely to record their existence.”
“Impossible,” Carrick replied with a frown. “I’d have known about it.”
“You know every demi-god created?” Myles queried.
“Well, no—”
Myles narrowed his eyes. “You’ve read every book in your library?”
“Gods no,” Carrick scoffed. “There are thousands and thousands.”
“Well, it just so happens that I think the book this guy was talking about is actually in your stacks,” Myles replied, and nothing could have shocked Carrick more except perhaps when he first realized Finley could see under glamours. “He said it was called Libri Mysteria, and he asked me to keep an eye out for it as his master would pay big bucks. And I just so happen to remember seeing that book a few days ago while browsing. It was in Latin, so I reshelved it.”
“Un-fucking-believable,” Carrick muttered, sitting back fully in his seat. This could be just the big break they needed, and it hit him like a slap in the face that Myles would be lauded as the hero of the evening.
Myles also sat back, a smug smile in place as he crossed his arms over his chest. Clearly, he thought that, too, and Carrick had to admit it was well deserved.
CHAPTER 23
Finley
Rainey yawns, stretching her arms up high. Clasping her hands, she arches her back.
“Why don’t you go take a nap in my room?” I suggest.
Shaking her head, she leans forward to pour a cup of coffee from the carafe Zaid had brought down to us a bit ago. “I’m good.”
We’ve been in the library all night, going through book after book, hoping to find something about either the ritual Kymaris will use to take the veil down or how she’ll get enough power to do so. It was the best use of our time while Carrick and Myles were off playing weird fae BDSM games of master and human submissive. We’d both vowed to wait up for them until they came back to the condo.
Admittedly, Myles having to play that role was funny. While he is mild-mannered and the first to try to mediate a fight, he is far from submissive. And while I didn’t see the outfit he had to wear, Carrick had told me it was ridiculous. In fact, he’d suggested that perhaps Rainey and I not be around when they were ready to leave so Myles didn’t feel even more awkward.
I’d thought that was sweet, and while I saw more and more of that side of Carrick, which was somehow becoming his norm to me, it was still shocking to others. Sometimes, he’ll say something to me in a certain way, and it will cause Zaid to snap his way with an astonished expression. Apparently, Zaid is seeing things that are either very new or so very deeply buried he never thought he’d see them again, but Carrick has definitely changed since we became intimate.
Now, he can still be domineering, curt, boorish, and egotistical, but I know if I love the man—I mean demi-god—I have to love every bit of him.
Rainey seems cut out for this type of work. She went to college and graduated with a degree in communications, but she was a good student. She was one of those who loved studying in the library, and she’s a sponge.
I’m not that great at this stuff. I’m a college dropout.
Not that I’m dumb or anything, but I really just hate reading. On top of that, I cannot seem to make myself care about this stupid ritual or a stone that will give Kymaris more powers.
I’m an awful, horrible human and would-be hero to the Earth realm, but damn if I can’t stop thinking about ways to get my sister out of the Underworld instead. In fact, while Rainey’s been pouring through books about the stone, veils, magic, and rituals, I’ve been surreptitiously taking books about the Underworld.
Tonight, I learned that it is not unheard of to travel within the Underworld. While it’s not the easiest thing in the world to accomplish, it is possible to create a small rip to go in, much the same way Dark Fae could be brought through to this side with the right form of magic and power.
So, the important question—is it possible for me, a human, to go to the Underworld? I know Sarvel didn’t know how I should use my angel light, but I bet it would protect me enough to go through the veil. Just as I’m convinced it would have protected me going into Faere, but Carrick wouldn’t let me try it.
Regardless, Sarvel said I should have the confidence to try, knowing I have power at my disposal.
The question, though, is how to find Zora when I get there and how to get her back out. I definitely need a solid exit strategy that will account for every possible way in which this could get screwed up.
Bottom line, though… it can be done.
Also bottom line… I can’t go alone. Carrick will have to go with me. In fact, it would be best if Maddox and Lucien came, too, and that’s an awful lot for a puny human to ask for when we’re supposed to be stopping a prophecy that will doom the world.
Regardless, we’d need way more information than what I’ve been able to find. We’d need to know more about the Underworld, probably from an insider. I’m quite confident Carrick or Zaid have many Dark Fae contacts, so that goes on the to-do list I’ve titled, “Saving My Sister,” in my head.
Under that list, I have a sub-list called, “Ways In,” and there aren’t many options. Ozigeor was the foremost expert in summoning rituals to rip the veil and bring Dark Fae through to our side, so I assume he could do the reverse. But he’s dead, melted from the inside out by Kymaris.
A stone would get us in. Maybe Nimeyah would let us use hers, but I’m betting not.
Interestingly, while Rainey is a whiz at the books, Myles hits the internet for his research, and he apparently goes down deep into the dark web—the place seen on Dateline where people can hire contract killers and such.
Apparently, there’s also an online black market for mystical objects, and there are some stones for sale that purport to have “extraordinary magical properties”. They could be from the meteor, so that’s a possible avenue. Of course, I’m terrified Myles is now on some type of FBI watchlist or something, but that’s just something we’ll have to worry about if and when they come busting down our doors.
“You seem distracted,” Rainey mulls, and I lift my gaze to find her watching me over the edge of her coffee cup as she takes a sip.
No sense in lying. “I’m having a hard time concentrating on the prophecy.”
“Boy problems?” she asks, grinning knowingly.
“Girl problems,” I correct softly, and her expression hardens just a little because Rainey is not all that keen on me finding my long-lost sister. She thinks my twin is more sinister than not.
“You can’t get sidetracked by her,” Rainey points out almost primly.
“You can’t expect me to just put her out of my mind, Rainey. She was a baby—then a child—raised in Hell while surrounded by Dark Fae and daemons. She was abused when they funneled magic into her, she never knew an ounce of kindness, and she sure as hell wasn’t shown love. I don’t get how you can’t understand that she’s more important to me than the prophecy right now.”
Immediately, Rainey’s face gentles and she puts her cup down. “You’re absolutely right. I’m scared by the fact that she filled you with dark power, and, yes, I assumed the worst, and, yes, she probably did try to kill you but only because she’s scared. Of course, you want to save her, and she should be the most important thing to you right now.”
The sigh that comes out of me is so loud and exits from such a deep place that I realize I didn’t know how much I needed Rainey to understand this. How much I wanted someone to champion my deep-seated need to help Zora.
“You could try to reach out to her,” Rainey suggests, and I physically jerk in my chair before bolting up straight.
“You mean like… with a Ouija board or something?” I ask.
Rainey rolls her eyes. “Not unless she’s a ghost. But think about it, you two have a connection. You’ve successfully contacted her once, and she has you once, too—or so we think. We do still have to consider she may have been trying to kill rather than help you, and it’s entirely possible she wasn’t reaching out at all, but that you pulled on her powers. Regardless, I think it might be worth trying to see if you can establish a connection to communicate.”
Frowning, I ask, “How?”
“I don’t know,” Rainey replies in exasperation. “But you’re the one with angel powers in you. Figure out how to fire ’em up and bridge the divide.”
A thrill of excitement races up my spine, bolstered more by the fact this is actually Rainey’s idea and not mine, which means it’s not as harebrained as most.
“Let’s do it,” I exclaim, slapping my hand on the table.
“We need Zaid,” Rainey says confidently as she whips her phone out.
I become alarmed because it seems like what we’re doing is a little shady. I mean, we should be focused on the prophecy, not holding seances or whatever it is we’re going to do.
And Zaid?
“Not Zaid,” I say with an adamant shake of my head. “No way.”
“Yes way. He’ll be able to give you some direction. He’s the most supernatural being we have here,” Rainey replies as she actually sends a text that I presume goes straight to Zaid.
My eyes are wide with astonishment. “Did you just… text Zaid?”
“Yeah, why?”
“You actually have his phone number?”
Rainey smiles. “Yes, I have his phone number. Had it for a while now. We also play Words with Friends.”
I sink back into my chair and put my hand to my forehead, sure I’m in the middle of an aneurysm. My eyes pin on Rainey. “You’re actually like… friends with him?”
“He’s a sweetie,” Rainey chirps, and I know I’m in the Twilight Zone now.
It’s not long before Zaid trots down the spiral staircase. He actually smiles at Rainey before scowling my way as he comes to the table. “So, you want to try to make contact with your sister in the Underworld?”
His words aren’t exactly warm to the idea, but he’s not shutting me down. I decide to take a confident role. Straightening, I say, “Yes. I do. I want to see if I can communicate with her. If I’m successful, she could have information that could be crucial to our quest.”
Okay, that might have been hamming up the potential for using Zora, but it was a possibility, so not exactly an untruth.
“Are you going to try to stop me?” I ask tentatively.
“No,” Zaid replies without hesitation. “But I want to make sure you’re as safe as can be or else Carrick will skin me alive. I’ll try to coach you along.”
“Have you done this before?” Rainey asks.
Zaid shakes his head. “No. Daemons don’t have those abilities, but I’ve been around a long time and seen more forms of dark magic and power than you can ever imagine. And make no mistake about it, your sister is dark.”
Rather than reassure me with his presence, I’m afraid the mere fact Zaid feels like he needs to watch over me means something bad is going to happen.
Yet, I’m determined.
“So… um… what should I do?” I ask Zaid.
He nods over to the two cushioned seats before the fireplace. It’s a set up for pleasure reading, but we rarely read over there. “Take one of those chairs. Just get relaxed.”
I do as Zaid suggests, and he follows me there. Rainey stays at the conference room table, for which I’m glad. I don’t want anyone hovering.
As if reading my mind, Zaid stands several feet away once I settle into the chair, feet planted on the floor and my hands gripping the armrests so hard I’m afraid my bones might crack.
“Relax,” Zaid barks, and I shoot him a side glare. “And pick something to focus on.”
I roll my neck, then my shoulders. Taking in a few deep breaths, I release my death grip on the chair. I stare into the cold fireplace, which I’ve never seen lit because we’ve never bothered with ambiance down here.
“Try to picture the Underworld in your mind.” Oddly, Zaid’s voice is slightly soothing, which means I’m receptive to his instruction. “The way the caves smelled as you walked through them, and how you felt when you first came out on the ledge and saw the vastness of the Caverns. Remember how you had no fear walking through the streets… and keep that confidence. Recall what Zora looked like in the mirror and be confident she’s still waiting for you somewhere in there.”
I listen carefully to every word Zaid says as I stare at the fireplace, and I can feel my focus start to become keen. The rest of the room fades away until all I see is the fireplace, and then even Zaid’s voice goes softer and softer until I can’t hear him anymore.
The fireplace is made of old red brick, empty except for soot marks leading upward along the walls. There’s not even an iron basket to hold wood, so it’s easy for me to narrow in on the black soot marks.
Black like the walls of the caves I’d walked through. Black being the color that represents darkness and all the atrocities living in the Underworld.
Black meaning evil.
There’s a feeling as if something is rushing toward me, or maybe I’m being pulled to the fireplace. The sooty back wall is right in front of my face, and then… whoosh… I’m standing in the caves of the Underworld, looking exactly as they had when I dreamed of them.
“Hello?” I say tentatively, the echo carrying down a path that rounds a bend I can’t see past.
“Finley… are you in the Underworld?”
Zaid’s voice.
Very close by.
I turn around in a circle, but I’m not in the library. I’m most definitely in the caves.
“Zaid… are you in here with me?” I ask hesitantly.
“No,” he replies, his voice clear, sharp, and, thankfully, grounding. “You’re still in the library, and so are we. What do you see?”
“The caves,” I tell him, tentatively reaching out to press my fingertips to the obsidian walls. They feel cool to the touch, and it’s hard to reconcile that I’m still physically in Carrick’s condo.
Yet, this is different than my last visit. Before, I knew I was in a dream.
Now, I know I’ve projected my conscience here.
“Should I go to the Caverns and look for Zora?” I ask.
“I don’t think you need to,” Zaid replies. “I think you just need to try to make mental contact with your sister.”
I frown, turning around to study the caves while struggling to see any part of the library, but I don’t. It’s just the Underworld that I see. “How?”
“Think of her,” Zaid instructs. “Remember what she looked like. Remember what her power felt like inside of you. Then reach out to her.”
It felt so very dark… that power.
And part of me liked it.
Part of me wanted to destroy Deandra with it.
“Zora.” I don’t say this aloud, but only in my head. Not that I’m trying to keep anything from Zaid or Rainey, but, somehow, I don’t think my sister will hear me otherwise.
Using my soul as well as my ears and mind, I strain to listen, waiting for a response. I don’t hear anything, but I do sense something.
A presence.
As if someone is listening.
“Zora,” I repeat in a projective greeting. “It’s me… I was inside your body a few days ago. I was able to see the Underworld through your eyes. Could you feel me at all?”
Ever so gently, I feel something probing back. As if prodding my very essence to test around my edges to discern if I’m real.
