As much as I wanted to think Rod was innocent, maybe just to save Liz from the inevitable, the evidence was stacking up.
“The last thing I remember is Jonathan coming back over and telling him it was too late.”
Too late? “I’m really sorry you had to go through all this. We should’ve done a better job protecting you.”
“This isn’t your fault. The people to blame in this are the ones who keep attacking us.”
“You’re one smart cookie. You keep the positive attitude and you’ll be just fine.”
She smiled. “I don’t mean to gross you out, but I need to eat and you look kinda tasty.”
I heard a small laugh coming from the door and it was Liz. “I will get you something my dear. Victor, would you accompany me to the kitchen?”
I looked over at Rissa before leaving, “I made you a promise and I’ll get that werewolf that killed your friend. Don’t think I forgot that.”
“I know you didn’t.”
I left the room and joined Liz on her way to the kitchen. “How much of our conversation did you hear?”
“Just the end of it. How is she doing?”
“All things considered, pretty well. She noticed a lot more than I think anyone would’ve thought.” I pulled out my notebook. “It was Rod that attacked them, but she said it was weird because he seemed really off, like insane.”
“We all agree Roderick has not been himself.”
I flipped the page back. “She also noticed John looked really annoyed on his phone call. He said before he left the car he had bad signal, but he walked towards the trees, which would seem strange if you wanted better reception.”
She looked impressed. “The girl has a knack for this sort of work, does she not?”
“The last piece of information she had was what John said to Rod before she was knocked out. He told Rod he was too late.”
“Too late, for what I wonder?”
I had no idea and Rissa apparently didn’t either. “I hate to state the obvious, but we don’t have a clue where to go from here.”
We entered the kitchen and Liz grabbed a few packs of blood. When she shut the fridge door, her eyes lit up. “Yes, we know exactly where they are going!”
“We do?”
She grabbed my hand, “Before we deliver these to Rissa, we need to go talk to our prisoner.”
“I figured we would at some point, but just what does Tucker know that’ll help us?”
She was pulling me hard, “He knows where the Scythe of Death is supposed to be hidden!”
“I hate to point out the obvious, but that ain’t real. So, how does his info help us?”
She gave me that all knowing look. “But does Roderick know that? There could be so much more to this than we know.”
Ehhh, I was skeptical. “Alright, I’ll follow your lead on this one.”
We hurried down into the basement. When we entered the dungeon area, Tucker popped up and came over. “Are you here to release me from this imprisonment?”
“No,” I said a little too rough, “we’re here to ask a few more questions.”
“Oh, what else can I tell you? I’ve told you everything that I know in regards to Pan and what he is trying to accomplish.”
“You’re one hundred percent sure that as far as you know, we’re the only ones that know what you’ve found in your little book?”
“Yes, you two are the first ones I told everything to. If Pan and his master already knew, then why have me translate the text?”
Why indeed, that was the million dollar question. Liz went over to the bars, “Where was the Scythe said to be hidden?”
“Under the city is a series of catacombs, Pan’s hideout is at the beginning. We couldn’t access the rest of them because of an iron door that blocked the entrance. That’s why Pan hadn’t taken the witch yet, he didn’t have the key.”
“Liz, that’s what was in the bag! Rod had the key all this time.” I turned back to Tucker, “Can you take us to this door?”
He shook his head, “I can, plus I can lead you through the maze of catacombs that lead to the chamber in the legend. Most of the translations dealt with navigating the path.”
Praying the next answer would be no, “Does Pan know the way?”
“Yes, I gave him the translations in regard to that, since I deciphered them before I realized the truth. He would be able to lead whomever to the spot.”
“Liz go give Rissa her blood and tell Gregory we’ll be back, but don’t tell him what’s happening. He’ll just want to go and right now he’s not in any shape.”
She took off in a hurry, leaving me and Tucker by ourselves. “Even without his Lost Boys, Pan will be a difficult adversary.”
“I gather as much, but we gotta go. They’ve got a friend of mine and I want to get her back.” Neither Pan, Rod, nor anyone would stop me from saving Rosette.
Tucker gave me a look, “You may not believe me, but I don’t either. Maybe this ill-fated venture will bring my redemption.”
“For your sake Warren, I hope it does.”
Chapter 31
It was bad enough to have to slum through the sewer, but the catacombs were awful. Rodents, dead bodies, flies, and worse greeted us. “Is this where Pan and the Lost Boys dumped the bodies?”
“When the werewolf was finished, he’d bring them here, well enough away from the camp.”
Tucker continued leading us through until we got to the camp. There was a main common area that reeked of blood, with a few rooms connected. At the far end, there was a large iron door. It was open and a key was stuck in the lock. “I guess we’re a few steps behind.”
Liz walked over and stood in front of the door. “I get an ill feeling coming from here. Are you sure the Scythe is fictitious? You are not leading us into a trap set by your new master?”
“I am sure. I have made my lot with you, so I am just as much in danger as you are.” He walked past Liz, “Come, the catacombs are dangerous and will take time to navigate, even for Pan. If we hurry, we may be able to catch them.”
“I just hope they ain’t nothing horrible waiting for us. I’m with Liz; something doesn’t seem right about this place.”
Tucker grabbed one of the torches on the wall, “I cannot tell you what awaits us. If there is any chance to save your friend, the witch, we must go.”
I had Roscoe fully loaded, with another eighteen silver bullets in my coat ready to go. Liz had both tantos strapped to her back. I walked over to her and pulled a small vial out of my pocket. “This is for you.”
She took the vial and examined it. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Yeah, a little pick me up in case you need it.”
She placed the bottle in her jacket pocket, “I hope we will not need to use it.”
Tucker watched the exchange but said nothing. “Are you ready?”
“Lead the way – we’ll both be watching you.”
He took off into the catacombs and we followed. It didn’t take long for the light from Pan’s camp to fade away, leaving us in almost complete darkness. Tucker’s torch provided a little light, but I relied on the two vampires and their superior night vision.
It was slow moving and soon we came to our first obstacle, our current path ended and we could go either right or left.
We waited patiently for Tucker, who was consulting his book. Well I did, Liz was a bit short. “Do you know where you are going Warren?”
“Yes I do Miss Swansea, but each path has its difficulties. The path to the right has traps to contend with, while the path to the left has a guardian to overcome.”
Traps and guardians? “There’s an awful lot of security for a fake.”
“If anyone could walk right in and see there was nothing there, the legend wouldn’t do its job, now would it?”
It annoyed me a little when Liz was right, but it downright pissed me off with Tucker being right. Grudgingly, “I guess that makes some sense.”
“Th
e question is which way would Pan and the others go? If we can retrace their steps, it may make it easier.”
Liz spoke up, “Both Pan and Roderick would want to avoid a fight, using their wit to navigate. I imagine either would think he could outsmart the traps that lay in wait.”
“Then let’s go that way.” I started to take off to the right when the ground started shaking. Or no, make that the roof. “Cave in!”
I felt someone grab me and pull me back to the left. We fell to the ground, avoiding being crushed by the rocks that fell.
“You must be more careful Victor.”
Tucker’s voice was close. I turned around to see it was him who pulled my ass from the fire. “Thanks, I think.” I stood up and brushed the dust off me. “What the hell happened?”
“It seems the integrity of this place is not what it used to be.” Liz pointed up. I could barely see her, let alone what she was trying to show me. “It would appear the mortar used to hold the rock in place has long since passed its expiration date.”
“That or someone did something and is making us go the opposite way.”
“I agree with Victor, this feels more like we are being led in the opposite direction Miss Swansea.”
“I pray you are good at being a guide Warren. Come, we wasted enough time here.”
Tucker walked around us and started slowly down the left path. He seemed pretty shaken up by what happened and I was still kinda surprised he saved my life. I wasn’t sure if those rocks would’ve killed me, but I wasn’t sure how to handle owing anything to an enemy.
The three of us kept going with the other large elephant in the room; what was the guardian we’d have to get past. “Did your book talk about what this guardian might be?”
Tucker stopped. “It hinted about what it might be, but never outright said what it was. The impression I got was it was something not of the Earth.”
“We will handle whatever is waiting for us.” Liz poked Tucker in the back. “Continue going and do not worry, I cannot allow you to die just yet.”
With that vote of confidence given, the journey continued. I don’t know how long we walked, but eventually we stopped again. This time it was due to a door blocking the path.
Tucker ran his hand over something. “The wording is Latin, but I do believe it says ‘Fools Will Enter and the Brave Pay Heed.’ I think this is the lair of the guardian.”
I chuckled, “We have no choice, so I guess that makes us fools.”
Liz walked right up and opened the door. Light entered the passage, blinding me for a moment. When the adjusted, I saw my girl had already entered the room. I grabbed Tucker and followed. “Oh shit.”
Liz was already looked in a stare down with the guardian. My limited knowledge of monsters actually came in handy; I recognized this thing as a Sphinx. The feminine-like face was calmly staring at us, with its wings folded over its lion-like body and huge claws relaxed on the ground.
It decided to break the silence. Its voice was light and airy, matching the pretty face of the creature. “Welcome warriors. What is it that you seek?”
I stepped forward. “Hi there, I’m Victor and the three of us are looking for our friend. She was brought here by some unsavory characters.”
“You speak of the child vampire and his accomplices, correct?”
Confirming Pan was in fact here, “Yeah, that’d be the ones.”
“They are much deeper in the catacombs. It has been some time since the wolf came and spoke with me.”
Trying to sound pleasant but also express urgency, “Is there any way we can pass? We already know that the Scythe is a hoax.”
She smiled at me. “It is true that the Scythe of Death does not exist, yet there is treasure and it must be protected. I was not brought from the pit to allow all to pass.”
“How can we pass then?”
She smiled at me. “You have two options; defeat me in riddle or in combat. The choice is yours.”
I looked back at the other two. What I knew of Sphinxes, they were cunning and deadly. “Liz, what do you think?”
She addressed the Sphinx. “Is there a deal that we can make? We mean you no disrespect, but time is of the essence.”
The Sphinx seemed to think about this. She smiled at me and then there was a flash. Where the large, winged lion had been, a lady stood. She looked like one of those Egyptian princesses you see on those discovery TV shows. Even without the claws, she still looked deadly.
“You make an interesting offer vampire. I shall allow you to pass, but know this; I have seen your future.”
I interrupted, “You saw our future? Can you tell us?”
“I wish I could but alas, by making a deal with me, you have granted my wish, freedom. Know this; soon you will be in a position to help me greatly. When I come to you, you are bound to oblige.”
With one last wink at me, the Sphinx disappeared and the wall behind her opened up.
Chapter 32
“Was that the right thing to do?” Liz gave me a look that just said shut up.
“The path has opened, let’s continue on.” Tucker hurried off, and we had to run to catch up to him.
Leaving the lit up lair of the Sphinx put us back into darkness. The fact that whoever set up this ruse put that creature down here speaks volumes. Plus the Sphinx told us there is something of value down here, so just what were we walking into?
We came up to another crossroad, this time a fork in the road. Tucker had the book back out; I couldn’t wait to hear what bad news was in store for us.
“The path to the right will take us through the trials of fire while the path to the left leads to the trials of frost.”
“Considering fire is bad for you two, I think the trials of frost might be a bit better to take.”
“Warren, does it give any more description of the two?” Liz sounded apprehensive about my suggestion.
He looked back down and started reading. “Much like the vague generalities of the guardian, it only expresses that one must overcome extreme conditions to strengthen their resolve.”
“The choice is made, we go to the left. I don’t need you two getting crispy on me.”
Not even waiting for a debate, I grabbed the torch from Tucker and headed down the path. Liz eventually caught up to me, with Tucker in tow.
“The extreme cold will not affect Warren and I, as vampires have no internal body temperature. My real concern is if you will be able to survive whatever is in store.”
The coolness of the catacombs was starting to give way to real cold, something I didn’t have much experience with since I lived my life in the desert. “We best hope that my coat holds up.”
It didn’t take long to realize that my coat wouldn’t do much to help me with this. The cold went from mild, to tolerable, to chilling, to downright unbearable. Tucker and Liz looked just fine, but my teeth were rattling. “D-does it s-say h-how long t-this p-p-path lasts?”
“No it doesn’t. The trials are meant to test even the greatest of fortitudes. I feel we haven’t hit rock bottom as you would say, yet.”
Me and my chivalrous dumb ass; I should’ve stormed off down the trials of fire and let the two immortal ones worry about their survival. Who am I kidding? I’d never let Liz take the bullet if I could, even though she’d probably survive and I wouldn’t.
I slipped; the ground was turning into a sheet of ice. “G-great, n-now there’s i-i-ice.”
“Everyone stop.” Tucker grabbed what little was left from the torch and took it over to the wall. “There’s writing here.” He brought the light up to the markings. “It’s hard to make out, but it seems there is something causing this frost.”
Liz started looking around too. “Will you be okay for a few moments?”
I nodded, trying to huddle myself up to stay as warm as possible. She gave my arm a squeeze and started looking around the corridor for the source of this issue. I took a few steps back, off the ice and slid down the wall to a sitting positi
on. I brought my knees up close and did my best to keep my chest warm.
“This cold really sucks doesn’t it?”
Another disembodied voice, great. “”W-who said t-that?”
I looked over at Liz and Tucker, but neither of them seemed to have heard me. “They can’t hear us right now. So it’s just me and you kid.”
A blur outline shimmered and dropped in front of me. It was a guy, looked maybe about my age, and dressed in all blue. He looked like he’d come from the Medieval Ages or something. “C-could you m-make it warmer?”
He looked sad at that question. “I wish I could, but that’s not my power. Unlike my sister, who you would’ve met had you gone the other way, I am blessed with the power of ice.”
“I d-don’t t-think I’ll l-last much longer.”
He sat down beside me, “Don’t say that Vic, I’m pulling for you!” I went to ask him how he knew my name, but he stopped me. “Listen, you need to preserve your body temperature and I got information you need. From here on out, you just let me do the talking.”
Who was I to argue with him? I smiled, hoping he took that as my answer was okay.
“Good. First, if you were still talking, you could just call me Jack. My real name is a bit unusual and Jack works fine in this setting.”
I might’ve been silent, but I could still be courteous, so I reached out with my hand. Jack took it and gave it a quick handshake. His hand was like a block of ice itself.
“You and your friends are getting close to the end. I can sense the presence of those you’re chasing and they aren’t as far away as you think. By the way, tell your lady vampire friend nice job with avoiding a fight with the Sphinx. Those are nasty daemons to deal with.”
I gave him a thumbs up, like ‘yeah I was impressed too.’
“I protested the placement of such a creature in this place, but I was outvoted. Call me old fashioned, but I feel a place that protects the Light shouldn’t have creatures of the Dark.”
I had no idea what he was talking about. Hell, weren’t the three of us here technically monsters?
Jack changed the subject, “I’m not supposed to say a whole lot, but I can tell you that everything you know is wrong. Well not everything, but in regards to this situation, things are not as they seem.”
The Wrath of Pan (The Inglewood Chronicles Book 2) Page 14