by Raven Steele
But it wasn't just our world created. I saw many others forming and changing and then collapsing within themselves. Galaxies were created and destroyed. It was so much that I nearly lost my mental grip on this dark, unearthly place. But I couldn't stop. I needed to know about one specific place.
Using all this new information, I thought of what I wanted. I needed to know about Erebus, and where he came from. Images appeared instantly. Fire burned the crust of an old planet, but in a different realm than Earth. The flames scorched the landscape until a great pit had formed, releasing a dark energy. It attracted all sorts of vile, supernatural creatures who craved the planet's darkness and the power it emanated.
Lucifer appeared in their midst and became a powerful ruler none dared defy. He was a God to them, and he appointed only his most loyal subjects to help rule what later became known as Hell.
The mirror. I needed to know more.
And just like that, the mirror appeared. Lucifer stood in front of its glossy surface while seven of his most trusted devils circled around him. Lucifer traveled through the mirror to different dimensions. When he was away, he would often leave Erebus in charge.
After some time, Erebus's desire to see what kingdoms lay beyond their fiery depths grew, so he left through the forbidden mirror. Many more times he escaped, taking his brothers with him.
Soon Lucifer discovered their deception. His punishment was swift and severe. All seven Devils were banished to different places throughout time and space. Erebus went to Earth as one of the first supernatural creatures. Initially, he chose to live in wolf form, but as time went on he would appear as a man when the occasion demanded it.
I focused on his life; his days passing in front of me like a movie reel. I saw when he discovered Boaz. Boaz was just what Erebus needed to regain his power. Boaz was obsessed with control, like himself, and shared the same disregard for the human race. It took centuries of slowly teaching Boaz, in quiet manipulative ways, how to drain magic from witches, which he in turn stole for himself. And once Erebus was able to regain his strength, he used Boaz's connections to slowly rise to power among supernaturals and humans, all the while keeping his identity hidden from Boaz.
Boaz never knew that Erebus was Hunwald. It was interesting to see that Boaz had been just as much a fool as the rest of us.
I quickened the memories, fast-forwarding to see more about this ritual Erebus would perform to bring back the mirror. The dark circle of water appeared in front of me, then Erebus dropping the necklace into its murky depths. The inky liquid boiled, and hot steam swirled into the air. A mirror slowly rose from its center. It was monstrous, stretching at least fifteen feet high and five feet across. Its wooden frame was carved with all kinds of beasts, some I recognized from Earth.
The surface of the glass didn't look like any mirror I had ever seen before. It was translucent and shimmered like a rainbow. Just beyond the shimmer, stood six devils with monstrous bodies and giant horns. They were all waiting to leave the mirror.
I blinked when I realized I wasn't seeing a past ritual. I was seeing the future. I inhaled a slow breath to calm my racing pulse. In case we failed to kill Erebus before the ritual, I needed to know how to close the gate. I pushed this thought into the pillar of light.
A moment later, the answer came to me. A living soul. It must have a living soul to close the gate to Hell.
I withdrew my hand and returned back to my own mind where the darkness wasn't so great. I choked a little, a weight on my chest making it difficult to breathe. A living soul. As blood of the dying opened the mirror, life would close it. And I knew in that moment, it would be mine. I wouldn’t sacrifice any of my friends.
I opened my eyes. A pale white ceiling above me. A narrow bed with a floral bedspread below me. The smell of mothballs and cinnamon potpourri. I rolled onto my side and curled into a ball.
I didn't want to leave again. I’d promised Lucien. My heart clenched so tight it stole my breath, and tears stung my eyes. I had hurt Lucien enough. There had to be another way, but my recent other-worldly knowledge had confirmed it. A life needed to be sacrificed. If not me, then who?
A knock at the door startled me.
"Eve?" Llona's voice.
I forced myself to sit up on the edge of the bed. "Come in."
She opened the door. "How did it go?"
"Your Light did the trick. I reached the First magic."
"Then why do you look so upset?" She walked over to me, her eyes full of concern.
I forced a smile and came to my feet. "It's nothing. Is Liam back?"
She searched my eyes, and for a moment I thought she spotted my lie, but then she nodded. "He's in our room."
I followed her to the room next door, which looked exactly like mine.
"Tell her what you told us," May said.
Dr. Han leaned against the wall, a glass of water in his hand.
I lowered into a chair by a small, wooden table where May also sat and attempted to forget that, if I couldn’t kill Erebus, I’d have to give up my soul.
Liam turned around from the window he had been staring through. "There are only two dozen guards outside the prison. I spotted werewolves, vampires, fays, but only a couple of Vykens, which is good. It means your fire," he glanced at Dr. Han and May, "will be effective."
"Does anyone happen to have a Saranton knife?" I blurted. If I did have to go to Hell, then I might as well go with a weapon that might be able to hurt a demon.
Dr. Han set his glass down on a dresser. "What do you need that for?"
I averted my gaze. "It might come in handy inside the prison."
"I believe I have one," he said and turned to exit the room, but I thought of something else.
"And could you bring me the Auran blood we packed? I don't want to forget that either."
He nodded and disappeared
"Are you sure you're up to going inside by yourself?" Llona asked me.
I nodded, feeling fairly confident that I could combat any supernatural within those prison walls. Only Erebus would prove difficult as we both had access to the same power. "Liane is most likely there too."
"I didn't see her," Liam said, "but you're probably right."
"She's the only one I worry about you guys fighting," I added.
"I'm going to kill that witch," May said, her voice full of anger.
"Careful, May," Dr. Han said as he walked back into the room carrying a backpack. May's gaze lowered to the floor almost in shame. What was that about?
Dr. Han dropped the bag onto the table and unzipped it. He removed two pouches of blood, followed by a sheathed knife. "Be careful with this. You'd hate to cut yourself with it."
I took it from his outstretched hand and turned it over, studying it carefully. "What would happen if I did? I'm not a vampire."
"No, but you are supernatural in nature. It harms all kinds."
Good. I attached it to my belt.
"Are we ready?" Liam asked.
The pressure in the air felt heavy. I looked around the room at all of my friends. May's expression burned with anger, but she was tugging at her fingers. Llona met my gaze briefly before turning to Liam. He stared at her, his chest rising and falling. I glanced away from their private moment. Dr. Han met my gaze and nodded.
I stood up. "Let's go."
Chapter 11
We stared across the city landscape from the rooftop of a textile plant. Two blocks south was Eastern State Penitentiary, the outline of the building unmistakable with a center rotunda, and at least seven wings expanding outward, making it look like a wagon wheel. The tall wall surrounding the prison was covered in green moss that almost reached its top. We were on the north side, opposite of where tourists entered. The prison was currently closed to the public for renovations. I didn’t know what Erebus would've done otherwise. Killed anyone who had been there? I'm glad we didn't have to find out.
"Do you feel that?" Dr. Han asked.
"The humming in the air,"
I said. I had felt it from the motel. "It's a suppressor spell meant to keep attention away from the place. Whatever happens within those walls will not attract attention from anyone on the outside."
"What about burning flesh?" May asked, her eyes steel. "Will people smell it?"
"May," Dr. Han warned. "Control yourself."
I looked from May to Dr. Han. She must have anger issues. I wondered what would happen if May unleashed all that anger.
"Let's get this over with," Liam said. He had one foot on the edge of the roof as if he was just waiting to jump from it.
All eyes turned to me. I felt the weight of the backpack on my shoulders. I had everything I needed.
I nodded once and faced the prison. Power surged forth at my command. With it came a fierce wind that blew all around us, twisting my hair into the air. I lifted my arms and began to chant:
"From the four corners of the Earth, we call upon the bearers of Light. In mirage only, we seek their might. A simple trick, a little lie, defeat our enemies, help us fight!"
One by one, women appeared along the tops of the wall, their hands holding ever-shifting balls of light.
"Whoa," Llona breathed. "They look so real!"
I kept my focus, multiplying the illusion until there were dozens of Auras. All of them looked battle ready.
In less than a minute, supernaturals from within the prison walls gathered together. Some came running from out of the building.
"They're freaking out," Llona said, her head tilted toward them as if listening to what they were saying. "They don't know what to do."
"Let's go," Liam said. "You're first, Dr. Han."
Liam took hold of his arm and lifted into the air. It was a strange sight. Liam was no longer corporeal but as a fierce wind he carried Dr. Han across a row of buildings then lowered him within the compound into a secluded area. Liam returned for Llona.
I turned to May. "You ready?"
"I hate traveling like this," she grumbled.
I smiled wickedly. "I'll try and make it fun."
"Wait—"
I grabbed her hand, and instantly we were teleported to Dr. Han just as Liam lowered Llona.
May nearly fell to the ground. She punched my arm. "Still sucked."
"Quiet!" Dr. Han ordered. He was several feet in front of us peering around the edge of an outer storage unit. "There are almost three dozen supernaturals that I can see."
"There may be a lot more inside," Liam added. "We have no way of knowing."
May exhaled a breath and shrugged. "No backing out now."
"That time has long since passed," Dr. Han said. "Please stay safe everyone." His worried eyes met mine, his eyes glossier than usual. "Save our friends."
"I intend to." I closed my eyes. The Auras on the wall mimicked my action. When my eyelids snapped open, the Auras began their attack. They tossed balls of light to the courtyard below.
Shouting and chaos ensued.
I didn't look at the others as I teleported inside the prison, a sharp pain worming its way into my heart. Part of me knew there was a chance I may never see them again, especially if I couldn't kill Erebus before he summoned the mirror. And even if I did, my friends had a big fight ahead of them.
I appeared inside the same room my consciousness had been in before, wrinkling my nose at the smell of dust and rusted pipes. I tiptoed to the door and peered out. The back of the constructed wall wasn't far away. I shrugged off the backpack and hid it in the shadows. Voices came from the other side. I needed a better view. I glanced up to the stone balcony, and in the blink of an eye I stood on top.
Air caught in my chest. All along the railing, small, black demons had increased ten fold. They had become an audience to whatever was happening below. For me to see, I was going to have to go right past them. The first time I had come across these creatures over two years ago, they had swarmed me and gotten inside my head, nearly making me kill myself. I hated them.
Shaking my hands out, I puffed air in and out. I can do this. I crept forward slowly, keeping my back close to the cells. For the most part, I went unnoticed, but a few times, one would glance back at me with their beady red eyes and hiss. I would've teleported, but I wasn't confident I could reappear where Erebus wouldn't see me.
It took almost two minutes for me to get into a position where I could see. And when I did, I forgot all about the little demons. Lucien and Henry looked worse than ever. Their bodies were gray and lifeless. I needed to act fast.
The two witches still stared at the wall, their all white eyes practically glowing. Erebus stood close by, speaking with Liane. He no longer wore his business suit. Instead a white robe hugged his muscular body.
"Just take care of it," Erebus ordered. "I don't have time for this."
"Did you not hear the part about there being over a hundred Auras out there?" Liane snapped.
"It doesn't matter. I only need a couple of minutes, and then they will all wish they were dead." Erebus stepped toward the puddle that looked blacker than before, like thick tar. He held something in his hand. "Do what you have to do."
She huffed but left the hall, her long dark hair swaying against her back. I had to stop her somehow. There's no way the others would be able to fight her.
Reaching out with my mind, I managed to mentally grab hold of her consciousness before she left the building. She stopped as if she noticed the intrusion. I held still, not pushing further. I didn't want her to know what I was about to attempt, or she could stop me.
When she continued onward as if nothing had happened, I slowly and carefully drained her magic. Not all of it, or she'd notice, but enough that the others would have a fighting chance. Instead of taking the magic for myself, I directed it into the ground where nature could absorb it. I didn't want her black magic affecting me in any way.
Returning my attention to Erebus, I searched the area for something I could use against him, something to kill him before he summoned the mirror. I found a long broken pipe pressed against the wall. Curving my finger into a hook, the pipe responded and lifted into the air as quiet as a bird's wing through the sky. With a swift movement of my eyes, the pipe followed my gaze and shot through the air. I held my breath in anticipation for when it would strike through Erebus's chest, but just before impact, he spun around and caught the pipe.
"Did you not think I felt you the moment you entered this hallowed ground?" he said, his gaze sliding up to mine.
Air caught in my throat, and I couldn't speak. The next thing I knew I was being lifted from the balcony, then slammed to the cold concrete below. I coughed, spraying blood across the dirty, gray surface. The Saranton knife lay several feet from me. It must've fallen from its sheath.
Erebus extended his hand over the dark pool of water; the necklace dangled from his fingers.
I pulled myself to my feet. "Your reign is over."
I growled and shoved my hands forward. A blast of energy drilled into his back. He flew forward into the metal bars of a cell door. I jerked my palms backward, mentally yanking all the metal from their concrete encasement and curled my fingers. The metal twisted in response and pierced through Erebus's chest and all the way to the floor, trapping him. He hollered in pain, a cry that shook the prison walls.
Pressure built around me, pressing against my flesh as if I was being squeezed between a vice. The witches had released Lucien and Henry and had turned their attention on me. Before they could harm me further, I cried, "Aperire animo!"
They resisted me, but when I pushed harder, their mental barriers broke. I slammed my consciousness into theirs, dominating their willpower, and planted the forceful thought: "Go home. Stay far away from the DSRD. Leave now!"
With one final mental push, their eyes' blinked, and they scanned the room as if they had no idea where they were or how they got there. They turned around and walked hurriedly away.
I leaned over, gasping for air. That amount of power I had used on the witches had taken its toll, but I should be abl
e to recover with a little time. I stumbled toward Lucien and Henry, not wasting a second. Part of me wanted to glance back to see if I had killed Erebus, but by the energy crackling in the air, I guessed he was still alive.
Lucien's and Henry's eyes remained closed. The blood that once flowed into the funneled tube now dripped slowly. I worked quickly, using magic to remove the spikes that had been drilled into their bodies.
I caught Lucien first when he fell forward, and after carefully laying him on the floor, did the same for Henry. I quickly summoned the backpack to me. The bags of blood were surprisingly warm. I pressed the straw-like tube from its top to Lucien's lips and squeezed the bag. Blood trickled down his chin.
"Come on, Lucien. Drink!"
I patted his face with my free hand and squeezed more blood, this time forcing his mouth open. The crimson liquid dripped onto his gray tongue and ran down his throat. After a few seconds, his body responded and his mouth closed over the straw. I hurried over to Henry and did the same. He took a little longer to respond. Just as he did, a horrible grating sound echoed through the chamber. Erebus was freeing himself.
"Hurry," I whispered to Henry and Lucien, unsure if they could hear me. Lucien's eyes moved back and forth behind his eyelids. "You need to get out of here!"
More noise sounded behind me, like metal twisting and scraping against concrete.
I decided to attempt another risky move—teleport them away from the prison, then come back alone. This would tax me further, but maybe I could stall for a few minutes while I gathered my strength, even going back to the First magic.
Grabbing them each by the arm, I closed my eyes to leave with a thought, but nothing happened. I tried again.
A deep and low chuckle reverberated behind me. "Going somewhere?"
I whipped my head around, keeping my arm raised in case I needed to defend an attack.
Erebus had unhooked himself from the metal bars, but he was no longer human. His flesh had been replaced by dark red, leathered skin that stretched over bulging muscles. He must've been at least seven feet tall. His face was more beast-like with bony eyebrow arches and a distinctly pointed nose. His mouth opened into a grotesque grin, revealing a set of long white fangs. Even more frightening were the giant black horns protruding out each side of his head at least three feet long.