The Rules for Lying

by L. A. Kelley

Esther added in a trembling voice, “Please come back safe.”

  Renny winked and jogged off.

  “Take care of each other,” said Mrs. Hart. She took a step to follow Renny and then suddenly turned to face us. “I love you all.” Then, she too melted into the brush.

  “What’s the delay?” shouted Clovis. “We have a lot of ground to cover yet.”

  I swallowed hard and gripped Esther’s hand.

  Amelie took her other one. “They’ll be all right,” she stated with assurance. “I know they will.” I flashed a grateful smile.

  We pushed harder than before. Shadows stretched wispy fingers across the tangled mass of vegetation. As night fell, Clovis switched on a flashlight. If Pike was close behind, the beam would betray our exact location.

  Esther’s foot caught in a vine. She fell to her knees with a cry. I crouched to help her. “Are you all right?”

  “I-I’m fine,” Esther insisted stoutly. She got to her feet, blood dripping down a leg.

  “You’re hurt.”

  “A little.” She took a limping step.

  “Climb on my back.”

  Amelie gave her a boost and Esther wrapped her arms tight around my neck. We trudged through the swamp following the flashlight beam clutched in the shaman’s hand. Darkness brought some relief from the heat, but not enough. Esther’s extra weight sat heavily on me. Sweat ran in runnels down my arms and legs. Within a short time my calf muscles screamed for mercy.

  Ignore the pain…keep going…one foot in front of the other. The sweat pouring off me attracted hordes of stinging insects. They buzzed around my face adding to the misery. How much longer did we travel? Minutes? Hours? I couldn’t say. All that mattered was to follow the light. Finally, Clovis pushed past a clump of trees and stopped short. I staggered to a halt beside him and gasped, “How…much…farther?”

  He played the flashlight into a clearing, highlighting the silhouette of a ramshackle cabin. “We’re here.”

  “Great,” I heaved. “Swell…Esther…please…I’m dying…get off.” She slid from my back. I let out a groan and sunk to the ground.

  Amelie pushed a canteen into my hand. I gulped the cool water. Gradually, my jackhammer heartbeat slowed to a respectable throb.

  Clovis shone his flashlight on the ground at the circle burned into the earth. “I opened the door here,” he said, somberly. “After six years the earth remains black with char.”

  A full moon had risen, illuminating the clearing with a silvery glow. Clovis switched off the flashlight. I retrieved the jar and spoon from my pocket.

  “We will wait to swallow until the very last minute,” said Clovis. He perused the circle and sighed with regret. “I wonder if plant life will ever grow here again. I almost wish to have it remain ever so as a constant reminder to others of my arrogance and pride.”

  I had grown fond of Clovis these past few months and offered support. “You’re being too hard on yourself.”

  “Others should not have to correct my mistake. I should enter the Lower Worlds alone.”

  “Entering alone,” Esther reminded him tartly, “is what started this mess to begin with.”

  “Point taken, young lady. Yet I—” He broke off at the crack of a rifle shot.

  Amelie flinched. “Renny.”

  “Clovis,” I barked, “we’re past the point of arguing fault. Open the door now.”

  “Agreed. Stand in the center.”

  Amelie and I walked Esther onto the blackened surface. Clovis spread his arms. “The border is complete, the magic concentrated within and under my control. The door will stay open if the circle remains unbroken.” Flames sprouted around the rim of the seared ground. All the little hairs on the back of my neck rose at the gathering energies.

  Clovis motioned in the air. “Le Premier—I summon the first section of the door.” A fiery orb appeared, floating in front of him. I barely made out the symbol of a little flame etched on the blazing surface.

  “La Seconde—the second section of the door is ordered into being.” Another circle hovered next to the first.

  “Le Troisiéme…” One more brilliant shape added to the mix. The little globes vibrated and then spun in a wild rotation like a tiny frantic solar system. Beads of sweat popped up on the shaman’s forehead.

  Another rifle shot rang through the dark followed by four more in rapid succession.

  “They’re getting closer.” Esther yelped fearfully. “Mrs. Hart, Renny—they may be hurt. Peter, I-I want to know what’s happening. Can I look—?”

  “No. They’re fine, Esther. Don’t worry.” No way would I give permission now. If either Mrs. Hart or Renny was in trouble I didn’t want Esther to see them breathing their last. My head jerked around as another flurry of gunshots ripped through the air. The noise was followed by the shouts of several men.

  Amelie clutched my arm. “They’ll be here in minutes.”

  “Le Quatriéme!” shouted Clovis.

  Magic crackled all around. The last globe whizzed around the burned circle. “The four parts are now complete.” Clovis’ breath came in a wheezy gasp, his face deathly pale. He staggered and I extended a steadying hand.

  The shaman waved me away. “Stand firm,” he commanded. “Don’t break the circle.” The little globes of fire darted around him. “The parts are now one,” he thundered.

  The four globes flared brilliant yellow-gold fire and then melded together. Clovis roared, “I summon the door!”

  The globe warped and twisted into a door made with four rectangular panels. It was a perfect duplicate to the one in the carriage house—right down to the glowing handle and the fiery symbol embedded in each section.

  Prickles of magical force jabbed at my skin like an electric charge. “You did it!” I cheered.

  Clovis managed a worn smile. “So it seems. Quick, Peter, take the potion.”

  I offered the jar. “You first.”

  “I’m not going. If Pike gets past Lucy and Renny, someone must be here to prevent him from breaking the circle. This way, you and Amelie will have more potion for yourselves.”

  “Those men have guns,” Amelie declared. “You have no way to defend yourself.”

  Despite obvious exhaustion, his eyes twinkled. “I have a few tricks up my sleeve, too. No more arguments. Pike senses the door by now.”

  The blazing light shown like a beacon through the swamp. Whether the conjurer sensed it or not, the portal was no longer a secret. I unscrewed the jar and was immediately enveloped by the foul earthy odor. I forced down a gag. The spoon stuck straight up in the gooey black tar.

  Amelie pointed behind me. “The woods.”

  A flashlight beam played through the trees past the cabin, but there were no more gunshots. Renny and Mrs. Hart must have failed. My heart wrenched at the sight of Amelie’s stricken face.

  “Stay with Clovis,” I urged. “Help Renny. It might not be too late.”

  “No.” Her face set in iron determination. “I can do nothing for Renny now. The demon must be stopped. I’m going with you.”

  Clovis towered over me. A fierce light shone in his eyes. “Kill Feu De L’enfer. Vengeance will wait.”

  I nodded tersely and made a silent vow. Pike and Delphine would pay heavily for their crimes. I scooped half the contents from the jar and swallowed. The potion smelled foul, but the taste was infinitely worse. The sludge oozed like slimy bilge water down the back of my throat. I was vaguely aware of Amelie snatching the jar from my hands before I doubled over fighting a convulsive heave. Digestive acid rose and for several agonizing seconds tried to push the stuff to my mouth. The acid should have known better. Odile’s potion wouldn’t be so easily conquered. The goo dropped to my gullet with a nearly audible thud. An eerie tingling sensation rocketed to the very tips of my fingers and toes. My eyes teared. I blinked hard to clear my vision.

  “Good stuff, eh,” Clovis said. “Odile sure knows how to brew ’em right.”

  “Gak,” I coughed out. The wors
e effects abated, leaving a mild itch on my skin.

  Amelie’s ashy complexion told me she choked down the other half of the potion. She managed a twisted smile. “Gluck.”

  Clovis crouched beside Esther. “They are ready.”

  She squared her little shoulders. “Take me to the door.”

  I gripped Esther’s hand tight. “I won’t let go.” Unconsciously I slipped my other hand into Amelie’s.

  A rough voice shouted behind the cabin, “I see them!”

  Esther touched the door knob. The symbols on the panels glowed like the sun as the entrance to the Lower Worlds swung silently open.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The Lower Worlds

  The three of us stepped inside. I heard an internal click and knew instinctively the spell around the Benoit’s homestead had released. The entire family was now at the mercy of the rat army.

  We crossed the threshold into a howling maelstrom of light and sound. I felt like a ping pong ball tossed around inside a hurricane. Existence had no up or down, no right or left, merely a hellish wind slashing at us with demonic claws.

  Foolish mortal, the roaring chaos screamed. I will tear your soul apart.

  Lights…sounds…colors…everything beat together. Cold fear made conscious thought difficult to hold. I fought against the urge to run blindly into the distance. Esther…Amelie…the one clear thought remaining was they gripped my hands tight.

  Hold fast. Think of them. Don’t let go.

  When I couldn’t stand the chaos a second longer, Odile’s potion kicked in. A charged electric current danced across my body. My skin stiffened as if coated in transparent flexible armor plating.

  Amelie dropped my hand and wiped her brow. “I can’t believe Clovis tried to walk through this without Odile’s potion. No wonder he went insane.”

  My vision cleared. Instead of the storm, a misty nothingness surrounded us. Slowly shapes formed. We were in a wasteland of scorched earth torn by arid winds, baking under an eternal sun. A glance behind froze my heart. The door was gone. “Esther, do you know the way back?”

  She pointed with absolute confidence. “Sure. We came in right over there.”

  I squinted and perceived a hazy outline, barely visible through the blowing sand. Another step and the exit would be completely hidden. I hoped Esther’s sense of direction continued to hold true, otherwise we would surely be trapped here for all eternity.

  The singular break in the flat vista was a cluster of outcroppings directly ahead. I took Esther’s elbow and guided her forward. Past the rocks yawned a cave entrance flanked by giant columns. Carved into the surface were fantastic creatures direct from a paranoiac’s darkest nightmares—most in various states of disembowelment. Piles of rubble littered the ground. I kicked the nearest one. Not rubble…bones. None were human. I didn’t know whether to be terrified or relieved.

  Amelie peered nervously into the cave. “I guess Feu De L’enfer is inside.”

  “Uh-huh. Guess so.” Neither one of us appeared anxious to move.

  Esther impatiently stamped her foot. “What are you gawking at? Are we going to stand here forever?”

  I started to say something like standing here was a pretty good idea when an unearthly howl echoed from deep inside the cave. The sound bounced along the canyon walls toward us. Whatever made the dreadful noise moved swiftly. I herded Esther and Amelie behind the nearest outcropping before hazarding a cautious peek.

  Snuffling growls announced the arrival of two creatures. Although wolf-like in shape, each sported several rows of teeth like a shark and had a scorpion’s stinger instead of a tail. The biggest one sniffed the air. “Huuuuman…” A slobber of drool splat onto the ground. “Near…..” The massive head whipped around to its companion. “I find. I do. I bring to Feu De L’enfer. Me. My reward. All mine.”

  “Yessss,” hissed the second monster. “All yours.”

  Satisfied, the bigger one turned away. Instantly, its sidekick bared the double row of teeth, and lunged without warning. Bear trap jaws opened wide, clamped around the neck, and bit down with a sickening crunch. The creature struggled futilely as the spinal column snapped clean in half. The back legs hung limp, while the front ones pawed uselessly at the ground.

  The champion howled over the body. “I find human. I bring to Master. Mine. My reward.” It tore into the gullet with undisguised relish.

  The victory feast was a trifle premature. In one final spasm the scorpion tail of the defeated monster quivered and then in a blink stabbed the smaller one in the shoulder. The wolf-scorpion roared in agony. The body slammed repeatedly against the rocky surface, twisting in convulsive jerks. The seizure progressed to mere fitful twitches. The wolf-scorpion collapsed with a heaving breath and then lay motionless.

  I stared at the inert bodies for a good thirty seconds before I nudged Amelie. “Do you think they’re dead?”

  “One way to be sure.”

  Before I uttered a protest, she stepped from behind the outcropping. I yanked at her arm. “Are you crazy?”

  “I’m certain they’re dead,” she noted calmly. To prove her point she walked over and to my disgust prodded the nearest corpse with her toe.

  “What is it?” Esther demanded. “Can I touch it?”

  “No,” we both chorused at once.

  “They’re…they’re…” I couldn’t think of a word disgusting enough to describe the scabrous duo drenched in blood and gore.

  “Unsanitary?” suggested a familiar voice.

  Esther’s expression lit up. “Mrs. Hart!” The sandy terrier sprinted over the cracked earth and into Esther’s waiting arms. She buried her face in the fur. “Are you okay? We were so worried.”

  Mrs. Hart sported a deep gash on one leg along with a painful-looking burn. She nuzzled Esther’s cheek. “Don’t fret, Esther. I’ll be all right.”

  Relief flooded over me at the sight of the little dog. “How did you find us? We heard gunshots. When they stopped I was afraid…well, we were afraid…” I swallowed. Emotional outbursts came hard.

  Fortunately, Esther had no such problem. She hugged the little dog. “We thought you were dead meat, for sure.”

  “Lucy…” Amelie hesitated. “My brother…is he?”

  Mrs. Hart’s voice betrayed a slight tremble. “I don’t know, my dear. Renny insisted I go ahead. He and Clovis are defending the door.”

  Amelie paled. “Against so many?”

  I gawked at Amelie. “You understand her?”

  She blinked in surprise. “Perfectly. It must be this place.” She addressed Mrs. Hart. “How did you get in without the potion?”

  “Clovis hypothesized since I was under a spell and not human I would probably be fine.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Probably?”

  “He estimated a thirty percent chance to stay sane, perfectly acceptable odds. So far, entering the Lower Worlds appears to have been the right choice as I feel no less clear-headed. Once inside I tracked your scent.”

  Amelie gazed into the wasteland in the direction of the door. Her hands clenched. “How many guards remain?”

  “Four. Plus Pike and Delphine. The others are indisposed.” She tilted her head meaningfully at Esther as if not wanting to go into distressing details.

  She needn’t have bothered. “Hah! Filled’em full of lead,” declared Esther with ruthless glee.

  “Be that as it may,” Mrs. Hart continued sharply, “they won’t bother us again.”

  “But the rest…” Amelie’s fearful voice trailed off to a whisper. “Renny is the last family I have.”

  I gave what comfort I could. “The rest have to deal with both a Marchand and the King of the Frogs. They haven’t got a chance.”

  She buried her distress and turned from the wasteland with stony resolve. “We must get going.”

  “We can’t simply march into the cave,” I said. “You heard those monsters—Feu De L’enfer sent them. The demon knows a door opened and a human came through.” />
  Mrs. Hart cocked her head. “You have a plan?”

  A sliver of an idea took shape. I gestured to the two dead wolf-scorpions. “Mrs. Hart, could you track their scent?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Unfortunately, yes. They’re quite pungent.”

  “Good. The trail will lead us straight to Feu De L’enfer.”

  “The demon will see us coming,” protested Amelie.

  “Not if I make an invisible border around us, like at the Benoit’s, but…” I hesitated.

  “But what?”

  “The magic is tricky. I have to keep the border in place while we’re moving. I’m not sure I can.” I pondered the difficulties. “Maybe, if we stayed close together…”

  “Fine by me,” spouted Esther, “I’m not planning to wander off.”

  “Me, neither,” agreed Amelie wholeheartedly.

  “Give it a go, Peter,” urged Mrs. Hart. “I have every confidence in you.”

  “All right, then. Stand together and don’t move while I figure this out.” The three of them clustered close around.

  Amelie removed her ever-present dagger from the leg sheath and tucked the weapon in her belt. The blade obviously was newly sharpened.

  I raised an eyebrow. “A knife won’t work against Feu De L’enfer.”

  For the first time since I’d known her Amelie was chagrined. “I know, but it makes me feel better.” She flashed a smile and punched me playfully in the arm. “Anyway, it’ll be a good distraction while you think of something that will.” She gripped Esther’s hand. “Ready when you are, shaman.”

  Her faith bolstered my spirits. I quickly discarded the idea of four separate barriers, one for each of us. Magic was draining. I wasn’t certain I could draw on my limited power to create multiple spells before Odile’s potion wore off. I needed one good lie to travel with us. We would also have to see whatever was created in order not to stray from the protective boundary.

  What to use, though? A roof was protective. No—a roof was immobile and didn’t feel aggressive enough. You hid underneath and prayed trouble went away. Another image flashed into mind. Something deep inside latched on. Yes. That’s exactly right.

  “A shield is overhead,” I murmured.