by Dana Gricken
Caleb made good points. I needed some air, and I really wanted out of the dark, death-filled room. When I left, Caleb and Jacob followed me and pointed behind the cash register.
“We found a body over there. Soulful,” Caleb said, as I peeked around the desk. A middle-aged man laid there in a pool of his own blood. It looked like he had been viciously attacked, but at least he wasn’t a Red Sentinel.
“I’m guessing this is Joe. Maybe Iris and Damon attacked him, and he managed to lock them inside his office,” I said. “The door was locked when I got there, and Damon was already dead.”
“You’re saying this man could kill a Red Sentinel?” Caleb asked. “If he did, why couldn’t he kill the other one? Why did he have to lock them in his office? He doesn’t look strong enough to kill anyone.”
“Maybe you’re right. When I asked what happened, Iris told me Damon was weak. Maybe his body rejected the Power Crystal and that killed him?”
“I guess we’ll never know,” Jacob replied. “God, it sucks feeling this helpless.”
“Did you grab all the supplies?” I asked, and they nodded. “Good. Let’s get the hell out of here in case more Red Sentinels show up.”
When we arrived back at the headquarters, everyone looked overjoyed to see us—specifically, to see what we had brought. We passed around the food and bottles of water, and I handed the medical supplies to Violet. At least I knew Wanda, Lara, and any other injured person would get the best care we could give them.
As everyone took a seat, eating their food and chatting with one another, I watched from a distance. A grin tugged at my lips seeing everyone this happy. I knew it probably wouldn’t last, so I made sure to enjoy it for now.
“Riley?” a small voice asked, and I looked down to see Kara in front of me. She was the little soulless girl I had met on the submarine. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. How are you?”
“Better, now that there’s food in my belly. But I know something’s wrong, Riley. You’re sad. I can tell.”
I had forgotten Kara could feel the emotions of others, which I found ironic for a soulless. I could lie to her, but she’d see right through me. “You’re right, Kara. I guess I’m sad because I saw some people I used to know today. They…didn’t make it.”
“And you had to kill them?” Kara asked. She could probably sense the death on me.
“Just one. The other was already dead. I wish I could do more to protect everyone.”
“You are. Everyone is happy,” Kara replied. “They like living here. But there’s another emotion…coming from far away. It’s so strong, I can feel it all the way out here.”
“What is it?”
“Evil. It’s like it…just woke up. It’s grumpy, like me in the morning, but it’s also happy to be back.”
I was about to ask her more when Kara skipped away, joining her parents’ table to eat her food. I had to know what Kara was talking about. Could it have been the Cardinal?
I searched the main hall for Caleb, but I had seen no sign of him anywhere since we had gotten back. I walked down the corridor, and I saw him outside the medical bay. He was looking through the glass window, unblinking.
“There you are,” I said, joining his side. “What are you doing?”
“Watching Wanda,” he replied. “When she told you she was the Dark Queen’s mother, it came as a surprise to me too. My mother told me my grandmother was a terrible soulless, and her death was deserved.”
“I’m sorry. It can’t be easy seeing a family member like this.”
“If we find my mother, I need to ask you a favor,” Caleb said, turning to me. “I need to be the one to kill her.”
“If we find her, and it doesn’t interfere with our mission, then yes. But you can’t put us all in danger, Caleb—even if that means Wanda dies for the greater good.”
He turned away from me, watching Wanda again. I hoped he knew I was being serious. I couldn’t let him be reckless and risk innocent lives.
Wanda slept while Violet and the Healer hovered over her, performing more tests and taking samples. I sighed, uncomfortable with what I had to do.
“I know this isn’t the best time, but I want to know more about the Cardinal.”
Caleb nodded. “I know.”
“When the Dark Queen interrupted my interview earlier, she mentioned the Cardinal—that he’s a bigger threat than her. I need to know, Caleb. Stop avoiding the subject.”
“I could tell you,” Caleb began, looking me in the eyes, “but I’d rather you see the truth for yourself.”
4
The Tomb
When I told the others Caleb and I were heading for the Underworld, they weren’t happy. All our soldiers came together in the lobby in an attempt to change my mind. I wasn’t thrilled about it either, but Caleb promised that what he wanted to show me was big.
I’d never admit it, but we were vulnerable right now. We had no idea where our enemies were, what they were doing, or how we could defeat them if they attacked. I was willing to take any advantage, no matter how small.
“Sounds crazy to me, kid,” Patrick said. “What if you’re ambushed? Hell, what if you run into the Dark Queen or the General?”
“And don’t forget about the Resistance,” Jacob said. “Now that King Lucius is dead, the soulless loyal to him must be pissed. Remember Princess Ivy’s snakes?”
No one knew about the Cardinal, except for Amelia. She was keeping quiet about it, which was surprising. I didn’t want to be secretive, but I couldn’t tell anyone yet. Without having any further information, I didn’t know what to tell them, and I didn’t want to scare them.
“I don’t want to upset you, but I don’t think this is a good idea, sweetie,” Mom said. “Your father is missing. I can’t lose you too.”
“I know you’re all worried about me, but I have no choice,” I replied. “I’m the General now, which means I make the decisions. If I think going into the Underworld will help, then I plan on doing it. I don’t need someone arguing with everything I say!”
Everyone quieted at my outburst. I didn’t want to lose my temper on them, but they had no idea how important the Cardinal was. This trip could tell me everything I needed to know.
Caleb cleared his throat. “Since the Lift was destroyed, we’ll have to enter the Underworld through the passage in your backyard.”
“Do you think we’ll run into trouble? Could there still be soulless in the Underworld?”
Caleb shrugged. “There shouldn’t be, but it’s hard to say. I have no idea what we’ll find down there.”
“That’s not making me feel better, soulless,” Patrick muttered. “Why don’t you take us with you? I volunteer to watch your back. Itching to get out of this place, anyway.”
I shook my head. “No, we need to protect the headquarters at all costs. We have civilians to watch over, in case you’ve forgotten. Caleb and I are more than capable.”
Patrick said nothing. None of the others tried to argue with me again, either.
“Caleb, I’m ready to go,” I said. “Let me grab my gear and I’ll meet you outside.”
As soon as I walked away, the crowd started to mutter behind my back. As I put on my armor in the equipment room, the door opened quietly.
“I need to talk to you, Riley,” Amelia said, shutting and locking the door behind us. “It’s about the Cardinal.”
I groaned, still fiddling with my armor. “Now? I’m getting ready to leave. I don’t have time to chat with you, Rayne.”
“You’re lying to them, Riley. You remind me of General Grissom.”
I whipped my head around. “Don’t compare me to that monster. I’m only lying to them in order to protect them!”
“And General Grissom thought the same thing,” Amelia replied, without flinching. “But lies can be addictive, Riley. One lie turns into another, and then it’s difficult to find your way out.”
“I guess you’d know all about that,” I said, equippin
g my Deathblade. “You’ve told a few lies in your career, haven’t you?”
She shrugged. “I’ve bartered and coerced people into covering a story, but I’ve never lied about something like this. Don’t the others deserve to know? What if this Cardinal person attacks the headquarters?”
“Caleb is taking me to learn more about the Cardinal. I’ll consider telling them only if it’s safe to do so,” I replied, sidestepping her. “If you’ll excuse me, I have real work to do.”
“Tell them soon, or I will…and they won’t be happy to hear it from me.”
I ripped the door open and slammed it behind me. As I stomped through the headquarters, the others stared at me, but didn’t ask what was wrong. Being a General was hard work, and now I was beginning to understand why it had driven Grissom to madness.
When I approached the front doors, I found Amanda Brooks gazing into the courtyard. Some of the soulless were out there practicing Synergy, the art of combining two soulless powers into one. Although her eyes followed them, she looked like she was in deep thought.
“Hey, Amanda. How are you doing?”
“I’m holding up,” she replied, “as much as I can during an apocalypse. I miss Los Angeles. I wonder what’s happening in the city right now.”
There was an awkward silence. Any interaction with her was awkward. She was my father’s mistress—if you could call her that after a one-night stand. With Lara as my half-sister, she and I were family now, though it was strange to think of her like that.
In many ways, she was a stranger. Though I knew Lara a little better than Amanda, it wasn’t by much. A few weeks ago, I’d had no idea they existed.
“I’m sure you’ve heard my dad is missing by now. Do you know where he could’ve gone? Did you see him before he disappeared?”
She shook her head. “No. He’s barely spoken to me since everyone found out about our relationship. I know as much as you do.”
I wanted to apologize on his behalf, but it really wasn’t my place. He was a grown man capable of making his own decisions, even if they had hurt everyone in his life.
“I never had the chance to speak with you after that,” Amanda said, turning to face me. “I wanted to say I’m sorry for the pain I caused your family.”
“It wasn’t your fault. Dad was the one who made the choice,” I replied, sighing. “Do you still care about him?”
“Yes, of course—and not just because he’s the father of my child. Don’t worry, Riley. I know my place. I wouldn’t jeopardize your parents’ marriage now. Will you be looking for him?”
“Yes, absolutely. I don’t know if we’ll find him, but I have to try.”
“When the war is over—if that happens—Lara and I will be returning to Los Angeles,” Amanda said. “Before we do, I wanted to say goodbye to him. It’s only right.”
“Returning to L.A.? But…why?”
Amanda sighed. “We don’t belong here, Riley. No matter what happens, we’ll never be a real family, and looking at us only causes your parents pain. Despite everything, I hope you find your father.”
“You and me both.”
After I had caught up with Caleb, we took one of the military trucks and headed for my old house. I hadn’t been there in weeks—not since Doctor Zero’s invasion—and part of me was dreading having to return.
It wasn’t really my home anymore. My place was with Caleb, helping him fight for peace.
As we rode in silence, one question was bothering me. “Do you think I was right to yell at the soldiers?”
Caleb glanced over at me. “Soulful aren’t easy to work with. They weren’t listening to you, and you needed to make yourself clear. I think you did the only thing you could.”
“I guess. What about my leadership? Do you think I’m doing a good job?”
“Riley, what’s going on? Where are these questions coming from all of a sudden?”
“Amelia is threatening to tell everyone about the Cardinal if I don’t. But what’s bothering me is that she compared me to General Grissom for lying.”
Caleb shook his head. “You’re nothing like the old General, Riley. You care about your people, and you’d never turn them into monsters. The others might not realize it yet, but they’re very lucky to have you as their protector.”
“But do you think she’s right about telling the others the truth?”
Caleb shrugged. “The choice is yours, Riley. I know you’ll make the right decision, and I’ll be there to support you.”
I smiled. He always knew how to make me feel better.
As I pulled into the driveway of my old house, I saw how much damage it had taken. Some of the walls had collapsed, shattering windows in the process, and debris coated the front porch. Either Doctor Zero’s people had done this, or it was the result of desperate looters searching for food.
“I know the Underworld is our priority, but I was wondering…could I have a minute inside?” I asked. “I haven’t seen my house in a long time. I guess I just need a second to process everything.”
Caleb nodded. “I understand. I’ll meet you in the backyard when you’re ready.”
As Caleb walked toward the backyard, I entered through the damaged door and took a good look around. It was dark inside, and a lot more disorganized than I remembered. Upside-down furniture, torn wallpaper, and toppled bookshelves had destroyed our dream home. My heart ached when I thought of all the ruined happy memories.
I made my way upstairs, hoping the staircase wouldn’t give out below my feet. Mom and Dad’s room was gone—the flooring had fallen through—but mine was still intact. As soon as I entered, memories flooded my brain. All my teddy bears were here, tucked away in the closet. A picture in a frame sat on my bedside table, one of my parents and I. We had looked so happy then, so carefree.
Until I had learned about the Sentinels and lost my innocence.
I wiped away tears and forced myself to put the picture frame down. I hadn’t come here to wallow in sadness. I had a job to do.
“Riley?”
I turned around, startled to see Caleb. “What are you doing here? I thought you were going to wait outside for me.”
“I was, but something caught my eye. Something strange.”
“What is it?”
He sighed. “I think you’d better see it for yourself. It’s about your father.”
I followed Caleb down the broken staircase, where he led me into the backyard. From where we were standing, we had the perfect view of the back of the garage. In bold, red marker was I’M SORRY written on the wall over and over again.
“Did my dad write this?”
“I think so. I found this near it,” Caleb said, handing me a letter. “You’d better read it.”
I knew it was my dad’s handwriting. All it said was: I CAN’T DO IT. I CAN’T ACCEPT YOU. FORGIVE ME, RILEY.
Tears welled in my eyes again, but I pushed them away. Dad really had left on his own, because I had become soulless. I wanted him to love me—I needed it now more than ever—but I wasn’t going to get it.
“Dad was here, at some point,” I muttered. “Where is he now?”
“I don’t know. I did a quick search of the house, but no one’s here,” Caleb replied, sighing. “I’m sorry, Riley.”
“Me too,” I said, before my sadness turned into anger. “I’m sorry my dad is such a coward and an idiot.”
I dug my boot through the dirt, revealing the hidden hatch below it. This was one of the last few entrances into the Underworld, and I felt relieved nothing had happened to it.
“If you need a moment to collect yourself, I don’t mind waiting,” Caleb said. “I’m sure this can’t be easy for you.”
“No,” I replied sternly. “I’m tired of talking. I want to get this done.”
Caleb nodded, going down the ladder first. I joined him, closing the hatch above us so no one would follow. As we delved further, darkness and white fog surrounded us. A strange, comforting feeling spread through my chest.
Home. That was what it felt like.
But the Underworld would never be my home, not even now as a soulless. This was a place of great pain and torture, and the feeling that I belonged here revolted me.
When we reached the Golden Quarter, the top floor of the Underworld, all was quiet. As I looked around, I saw no one, not even a scurrying Darkrat.
“Come with me,” Caleb whispered, “and try not to be too loud. In case someone is here, we don’t want to catch their attention.”
I nodded, reaching for my Deathblade. I had a million questions, but forced myself to stay silent, just as Caleb had asked. I wondered where we were going at first, until we crossed over the diamond bridge and headed toward the Dark Palace.
The soulless castle was nothing more than a pile of debris. The Dark Queen had accidentally destroyed it in an attempt to kill me and escape. And with most of the soulless dead or in hiding, no one had rebuilt it. When Caleb continued to head for it, I furrowed my eyebrows.
“The Dark Palace? This is what you wanted to show me?”
Caleb walked past the castle toward a giant soulless statue. “You’ll be more interested in what’s below it.”
When he tugged on the statue’s arm, a section of the ground beside the castle opened. It revealed a descending staircase that led deeper underground. Just when I had thought I knew the Underworld, it had surprised me again.
“I never knew this was here,” I said in amazement.
Caleb nodded. “And we kept it that way for a reason. Follow me.”
When Caleb and I reached the bottom, I used my flashlight to look around. From what I saw, it looked like a sarcophagus they would have used in Ancient Egypt to preserve their pharaohs. A coffin sat in the center of the room, left open. It was just as dark and foggy down here as the rest of the Underworld, but I could feel something much worse as well.
Something dangerous.
It reeked like death and despair, and it sent a chill up my spine. This was worse than the Dark Palace—even worse than Room 66. I didn’t know why, but I could feel the coffin’s dark energy inside.