The vein in Elder Sam’s neck throbbed. “Are you suggesting what I think you are?”
“What is he suggesting now?” Elder Kali returned to the kitchen wearing a pinched expression.
“Cassia wants to go to the Nether to interrogate a suspect and Alastor wants to send the rest of the Spire 10 cambions with her,” Elder Bahaira said.
Elder Kali balked. “They’re children. If anyone needs to go to the Nether, it should be one of us. We’re demons, after all.”
“The academy needs us,” Elder Alastor said. “Especially when we have three new pupils to accommodate. The fire demon will be a handful.”
Elder Sam’s face contorted. He seemed to be fighting to keep his anger under control. “You’re a coward, Alastor. You always have been.”
“I’m a coward?” Elder Alastor glowered at the seraph. “Need I remind you which one of us fled our homeland in fear?”
“He didn’t flee,” I said. “He was the opposite of a coward. He was tortured and cast out because of me.”
“Enough!” Elder Kali banged a fist on the counter. “Time is clearly of the essence. These grievances will have to wait.”
“What do we do?” Elder Asago asked. “Alastor is right. The academy needs us. What if our attackers intend for us to leave because it gives them the chance to strike when we’re vulnerable?”
Elder Kali blinked. “You mean they might be luring us to the Nether in order to remove the strongest demons from the spires?”
“It’s possible,” Elder Asago said. “We can’t take the risk. Think of the children. There are far too many for us to protect during an invasion even now. If two Elders chose to go to the Nether, we’d be that much more vulnerable.”
Elder Sam wore a conflicted expression. “The other cambions have barely left the spires. And now we intend to throw them into the belly of the beast?”
“By all accounts, they performed admirably at the gray market,” Elder Kali said. “If they stick together, there is strength in numbers.”
“It will be yet another trial for them all,” Elder Bahaira said. She didn’t sound happy about it.
“Why don’t we ask them?” I suggested. “Anyone who wants to come with me is allowed. Anyone who doesn’t feel up for the challenge stays here.”
The Elders murmured to one another.
“I’d like it on the record that I am opposed to this entire scheme,” Elder Bahaira said. “We’re treating them like they’re disposable when they’re the next generation of graduates. It’s our job to protect them until the moment they leave here. That does not mean using them as tools for our own selfish purposes.”
Elder Kali offered a sympathetic look. “And we’ve trained them well, haven’t we? It’s only a matter of time now before they’re free to go. Why not give them a chance to show everything they’ve learned? We’ll feel more confident about releasing them into the realm after seeing them succeed under such challenging circumstances.”
“Not if they’re dead,” Elder Bahaira said glumly.
I squeezed Elder Bahaira in a tight embrace. “We’ll take care of each other. I promise.”
She kissed the top of my head. “I know you will, sweet child.”
“I’ll summon the others, shall I?” Elder Alastor seemed only too eager to move forward. And here I’d always thought his hatred was limited to Elder Sam and me. Maybe it extended to all the cambions at the academy, which would make his involvement here a strange choice.
Aldo fixed me a cup of tea while we waited for the others to arrive. I knew Sage would volunteer. I wasn’t sure about any of the others. I hated the thought of putting anyone else in danger, but Elder Kali was right—there was strength in numbers.
“I’m in,” Sage announced, the moment she appeared in the kitchen. Elder Alastor must have explained on the way. “How soon do we leave?”
“As soon as you’ve had a solid meal,” Elder Bahaira said. “There’s no telling what kind of food you’ll find in the Nether. Nothing like you get here, I’ll say that.”
Aldo grinned from his place at the oven. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Barris raised a hesitant hand. “On a scale of one to ten, how scary is the Nether?”
“It depends on where you go and which demons you encounter,” Elder Asago said.
“You’re not there on a sightseeing tour,” Elder Alastor said. “I suggest you figure out where the demon’s shade would have gone and head there directly.”
Not if I wanted to find Yara first. It was worth a quick detour to get her assistance. She’d know the relevant part of the Nether inside and out, and she’d be able to advise us on the best way to gain access to Luke’s shade. I pushed aside thoughts of my own situation—that if my grandfather discovered my identity while I was there, I was one dead cambion. My life was worth the trade if it meant keeping the rest of the academy safe—as long as no one figured out the truth and tried to stop me.
Chapter Fourteen
The nearest portal that connected the mortal realm to the Nether was located on the peak of a mountain in the Poconos.
“Salt Tears Trail,” Barris said, reading the wooden sign we passed as we trudged up the mountain. “It’s metaphorical, right? We don’t actually need to cry as payment for entry.”
“I’d have to borrow your tears,” Sage told him. “I can’t produce my own. I’m that tough.”
“No tears,” I said. “Just your stone.” According to the Elders, there would be a demon crossing guard waiting on the other side. We’d each offer an incised stone as payment. The strange-looking rocks were infused with a pinch of our personal power. It was similar to the way humans were fingerprinted in the mortal realm.
“Can we fly the rest of the way?” Barris asked. “I’m getting cold.”
“You’re such a whiner,” Sage said. “How do you expect to live through your first visit to the Nether if you can’t handle a healthy dose of fresh mountain air?”
“Barris is right,” Rafe said. “We should preserve our energy.” He looked at me. “How about it? We each take one?”
“I can take the third,” Zeph said. “The ride might be a little bumpier, but we’ll manage.”
Barris’s hand shot into the air. “I call shotwing.”
Rylan rolled her eyes. “I’ll ride Zeph's gust of wind.”
Barris folded his arms. “Could you at least try and make that sound dirty? Otherwise it’s a wasted opportunity.”
Rafe didn’t wait for an answer. He scooped his hands under Barris’s armpits and went airborne. I did the same with Sage. Zeph and Rylan trailed behind, bouncing on the unstable blast of wind.
As we reached the top of the mountain, the air thinned. I placed Sage gently on the ground and gave my wings a final flap before tucking them away.
“Where’s the portal?” Sage asked. “I see plenty of trees, but no glowing circles.”
Rafe put out his hands and closed his eyes. “Reach out and try to feel the energy.”
“The only thing I feel is chilly,” Barris said.
“Has no one taught you the importance of layers?” Rylan asked. “The academy has left gaping holes in our education.”
“Maybe we should’ve left him behind and taken Liesel instead,” I said. I knew it was best that the Watcher stayed behind. The Nether was too dangerous for her kind. The only reason Rafe was here was because I couldn’t persuade him otherwise.
“I’ll be an asset when we get there,” Barris said. “Just not here on Misty Mountain.”
“It’s not even misty,” Rylan said. She gazed at the view from the pinnacle. “It’s actually really beautiful here. Do you think the Nether will be anything like this?”
“Doubtful,” Barris said. “I’m picturing Smaug’s lair minus the treasures.”
I glanced at him sideways. “They really let you watch too many bounder movies.”
“It’s called assimilation, Cassia,” he said. “You should try it. Oh wait, that’s right. The
Elders didn’t even want you assimilating with us, let alone the rest of the mortal realm.”
Sage elbowed him hard in the ribs. “Leave her alone. It’s not her fault the Elders are overly protective.”
“Yes, but which one were they protecting?” Barris asked. “Her or us?”
I ignored the question. It hit far too close to home.
“The portal’s here.” Sage waved her hands in front of a massive oak tree that stood apart from the rest of the trees. “I feel a strong pull, like a magnet.”
“Top marks for Sage,” Barris said. He held out a closed fist. “Knuckles.”
Sage made a face. “Where’s Liesel? It’s just not cool when you do it.”
Barris dropped his hand to his side.
“Stones at the ready,” I said.
Barris rummaged through his pockets and produced a handful of stones. “Which one is it again? The flat one, right?”
Rylan groaned. “Are you serious? The binding stones should never have left the spire. Why are you carrying them around?”
Barris curled his fingers around the stones to block them from view. “To keep you from pulling any more tricks.”
I swept the stones from his hand and gave him back the incised stone for the Nether. “This one has that pinch of personal power. The guard won’t be interested in the others.” I shoved the extra stones into my pocket and tried to maintain my composure. This mission was too important to tolerate any juvenile behavior.
“What if they give Rafe a hard time?” Rylan asked. This was the third time she’d expressed this concern since we left the academy. Apparently our reassurances weren’t being taken on board.
“I’m allowed in the Nether,” Rafe said. “I just need to keep a low profile and not provoke anyone.”
“Better you than me,” Sage said. “I’ll go first.” She flipped her stone into the air like a coin and it landed back in her palm. “I can’t believe we’re going to the Nether without any Elders. This is going to be epic.” She walked straight ahead and disappeared.
“Hurry,” Barris said. “We can’t risk losing each other.” He practically tripped over his own feet as he entered the portal.
“Has he always been this uptight?” Rafe asked, and the others laughed.
Zeph and Rylan hooked arms and went through together.
Rafe faced me and tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. “How do you feel?”
“Terrified,” I said truthfully.
“We can do this,” he said. “If I didn’t think we could pull it off, I wouldn’t have supported the idea.”
I nodded, my throat too thick with worry to speak. I forged ahead without a backward glance. There was a rush of energy and I emerged in the Nether on the bank of a river, where a demon waited expectantly. He had the head and torso of a bull, the lower half of a horse, and gryphon wings.
“Your offering, please,” he said in a monotone voice.
I handed him the incised stone. The moment the demon’s hand touched the stone, his hand snapped back. His eyes met mine and I knew that he somehow recognized my identity. Apparently a pinch of my personal power was enough to alert the guard. I placed a finger to my lips and winked. The last thing I needed was to be outed as a Nether princess by the crossing guard.
He bowed his head. “Welcome home,” he said.
“Speaking of home,” I said quietly. “What’s the fastest way to get to Enir from here?” Enir was the village that Yara had referred to as her home. If I wanted to find her in the Nether, that was the best place to start.
“Take any of the three boats over here.” The guard gestured to his right with a wing. “They’ll take you to the right area. Fly due east from there and you’ll know Enir when you see the clock tower. It’s famous.”
“Oh, only two of us can fly.”
“Got it. How many are traveling in your party?”
“Six,” I said.
The guard grunted. “I would suggest Dogan’s Dragons. He charges a reasonable price and the dragons are big enough that you’d only need two. Tell the ferry demon you want Bank Tiddu.”
I struggled to speak. “Dragons? As in actual dragons?”
His bull brow furrowed. “First trip home, is it?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Don’t be fooled by Garamon’s lower prices,” the guard said. “His dragons are tiny. You’d need at least four, so it works out to be more expensive.”
“Thanks for the tip.”
He bowed his head again. “I consider it an honor, Your Highness.”
I moved away from the guard and surveyed the area. The river was lined with entry points. Sage and the others waved to me from a boat. Thankfully it was one of the three the guard recommended.
“Come on,” Sage called. “It’s leaving in one minute. This guy isn’t kidding around. He gets paid by the minute.”
“Who’s in the mood for a romantic boat ride?” Barris asked. “Because this isn’t it.”
I climbed aboard and settled into the wooden boat. It rocked slightly and Zeph gripped the sides in comic fashion.
“Relax. You’re not going to fall in,” Rylan said.
“Good, because whatever’s down there, I have no interest in joining.” Zeph shuddered.
I peered over the side of the boat to see strange shadows lurking in the water. No. I had no interest in making any water-based friends either.
The ferry demon offered a friendly smile. “First time visitors?”
“Gee, how’d you guess?” Sage asked. She smacked Zeph on the back of the head. “Try not to be so obvious. I’d like to live long enough to graduate.”
The boat cruised down the river until we reached a series of tributaries.
“We need Bank Tiddu,” I said.
The ferry demon nodded. “Headed to the palace? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s not open to the public. It used to be when I was young demon, but rules changed.”
“Why is it closed?” Rylan asked.
The ferry demon rowed us forward. “The king became worried about security. He closed off the palace first. Then other royal outposts.” He lowered his voice, as though we could possibly be overheard in the middle of a river. “I hear he’s even closed himself off from his own family. Tough times are ahead. Mark my words.”
I stared at the passing landscape as we continued down the river. The land around us seemed mostly flat and barren. There was only one other boat visible in the distance. Finally we entered a tunnel and arrived at a gate that blocked the boat from moving any further.
“Bank Tiddu,” the ferry demon announced. He waved to someone out of sight and the gate lifted. He rowed through the tunnel and immediately rowed to the left to dock.
“How much do we owe you?” Rafe asked.
“Transportation is included in your offering,” the ferry demon said. “But we don’t turn down tips.” He flashed a smile.
Rafe pulled a small red stone from his pocket and the ferry demon thanked him.
The cambions spilled out of the boat as quickly as they could manage. I couldn’t tell whether they were eager to leave the river behind or eager to see what was ahead. Probably both.
“We need to find Dogan’s Dragons,” I said.
Barris spun around to face me. “I’m sorry.” He laughed awkwardly. “I thought you said we need to find dragons.”
“I did,” I said. “The guard told me that’s the fastest way to get to the village where my contact is.”
Barris’s mouth hung open.
“Real dragons?” Zeph asked, equally gobsmacked.
Sage’s dark eyes glinted with excitement. “This is way more awesome than I expected.”
“How are we going to pay for dragons?” Rylan asked. “I didn’t bring any Nether currency.”
“Don’t worry,” Rafe said. “We came prepared.”
“No, you came prepared,” Sage said. “The rest of us came to kick butt.”
I shot her a warnin
g glance. “No one came to kick butt. There’s safety in numbers. The less butt we kick, the safer we are.”
Sage pressed her lips together. “That’s really not the way I see it.”
We found Dogan in the center of the small port city. He operated out of a wagon in front of the curiosity shop. There were other transportation businesses there as well, including one with flying carpets.
“Why can’t we do that one?” Zeph asked. “Carpets seem way safer than dragons.”
“The guard specifically suggested Dogan,” I said. And because he knew my identity, I trusted him not to steer me astray.
“Did I hear my name?” A robust demon with the body of a human and the legs of a goat greeted us with a cheerful smile.
“Are you Dogan?” I asked. “The crossing guard at the river recommended we see you about transport to Enir.”
He clapped his hands together. “Not a problem. Not a problem at all.” He counted our heads. “Will the two of you with wings be flying or riding?”
“We’ll ride too,” I said. I figured it was best not to draw attention to ourselves. Neither Rafe nor I could afford the scrutiny.
“Excellent. I have two dragons that would be ideal for the journey and a party of your size.”
I let Rafe handle the negotiation. According to Elder Kali, it was best to barter in the Nether and not accept the first price offered. I’d have to practice my skills another time. I was far too nervous to think straight.
Dogan led us down a lane to an area of large stables. The smell was an interesting mix of acid and lavender.
Rylan sniffed the air. “I’m so confused right now.”
Dogan chuckled. “The dragons are wonderful creatures, but their scent can be overpowering. We keep lavender in the stables to disguise the smell.”
“Do the dragons mind the lavender?” Sage asked. “Personally, it’s one of my least favorite scents.”
“They haven’t complained,” Dogan said. “And trust me, they would. They’re not shy about expressing their feelings.”
He pushed open a set of doors and I was immediately wowed by the sight of two dragons in the airy stable. One was dark purple with red streaks through its wings and the other was green with flecks of orange on the ears and snout.
Demonspawn Academy: Trial Two Page 14