Raiya was waiting for me at the door. The long, unending dark corridors were back into view again. I wished I had such a structure in my possession. Imagine what I could do with it, where I would go using it… the possibilities were endless.

“Stop daydreaming and focus here Zedd,” Raiya said.

I turned to see her scowling. The dark expression she wore reminded me of the upcoming doom.

“Can’t we just teleport away?” I asked.

“Do you think Utar will come unprepared for this possibility?” Raiya snapped. “Reinforcements should be here any minute,” she went on. “We can’t let them take this vessel.”

“Vessel?” I asked. “You mean this tree’s a ship?”

“You thought it was a real magic tree?” Raiya’s mocking snort; raised eyebrows and condescending look made me blush. “You’re more naïve than you let on Darkstar.”

“Stop it with that silly name already,” I barked at her. “We’re going to die here, might as well call me by my real name.”

“Naïve,” Raiya mumbled, “clueless… After all you’ve been through, you’re willing to let others know who you really are? Your real name has power Darkstar.”

“What’s the harm in that?” I protested. Maybe she was right, but I was stubborn to a fault. I wouldn’t let her lecture me without fighting back. “It’s not like anything worse than being imprisoned, handed to a perverted old man, escaping then falling into the hands of a manipulative witch who wanted nothing but to use me and throw me to the dogs, could happen!”

“Manipulative?” her eyes narrowed to slits.

Yeah… I said that! Call me stupid now…

‘We don’t have time for bickering,’ Sisha intervened.

Thanks my stars for Sisha! I swear I felt a strong killing intent coming from the warlock. I should stop taking mental notes about politeness and diplomacy. I should seriously consider applying instead of giving mental advice to myself .

‘What’s the situation?’ Raiya asked the cat demon.

I was included in the psionic conversation. I wished I wasn’t. My mind took a great hit. The energy from the Fragment almost broke all the seals I’d put on it. I faltered for a second there, which the warlock didn’t miss. I suspected it was her intention to destabilize me like that.

‘They’re fifty strong,’ Sisha answered. ‘I give them an hour before they reach us.’

Raiya swore, a tirade filled with rage and frustration followed. I would spare you the dirty details. All I can say is that I’ve never seen the warlock angrier.

‘You take to the woods,’ she ordered Sisha. ‘Zedd and I will organize the defenses here. We’ll hold them off while you flank and reduce their numbers. We can’t wait for reinforcements.’

“Wait a freaking moment,” It was easier for me to speak than hold a psionic conversation. My own Essence was draining rapidly just listening to those two. No wonder I almost fainted when Sisha revealed his own voice. “How am I supposed to fight against Priests from the Church?”

“You’re good with a sword,” Raiya said.

“How will that help? They have spells!” I objected.

‘Their spells won’t help them if you thrust your sword deep within their hearts,’ Sisha replied.

“But I have to get close enough,” I said, still unwilling to take part in their skirmish. I wouldn’t get mixed in all of this. “Besides, Utar’s there. He’d kill me if he caught a glimpse of me.”

“How do you know Utar’s here?” Raiya asked.

Really woman? Now of all time you’re interrogating me? Shit, she wouldn’t let go of her suspicion, even in this dreadful situation.

“I assumed he’d be the one leading the men here,” I answered. “Seeing as he almost invaded us yesterday.”

Raiya narrowed her eyes, looking at mine intently. I challenged her gaze until she whipped her hair to the side and walked off. ‘Meet us in the interrogation chamber,’ Raiya told the demon. “Follow me,” she ordered with a side glance toward me. “We have unfinished business there.”

The warlock strode through the dark corridor and I followed, almost to a trot.

“How will I deal with their magic?” I asked, refusing to let go of the subject.

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“I’ll cast protective spells on you. You’ll be fine as long as you keep away from their line of fire.”

“They’re fifty, Raiya,” I protested. My voice broke as I did so. “Fifty! How would I stay out of their line of fire?”

“You’re seriously pissing me off now Darkstar!” Raiya warned. “Don’t underestimate a warlock and her demon companion!”

I gulped. I didn’t utter another word. It was wise to let the warlock deal with her anger on her own. I’d just be pouring oil to an already raging fire if I spoke.

“I’ll keep them busy. You and Sisha will sneak up on the unwary and take them out. How’s that for a plan?” she said after a long, uncomfortable silence.

“I suppose I can work with that,” I said.

“Good, now let’s get going!”

We reached a double wooden gate that Raiya pushed without touching. The doors slammed open and I found myself staring at an actual prison. Rows of metallic bars extended as far as my eye could see. The place was dark, damp, and smelled of mold and decay. Raiya clicked her finger as she stormed through the prison corridor. Magic crystals above lit up, showing the place in all its horrific glory.

I saw a skeleton dangling from a gibbet above me. The floor on which we walked was tainted red, probably from dragging tortured prisoners to and fro. What was this warlock up to? I didn’t realize she delved into such dark arts. I dreaded her now more than ever.

Why would the Church fight the Covenant over a pile of withered bones? I say they should fight for this vessel instead. That’s what I would do if I were as power hungry as they were.

Anyway, back to our subject…

There were only two people in cages, the live ones anyway. Zoey was in one, and Agatha two prison cells away. Zoey’s clothes were but tatters. She was chained up against the dark wall. Blood had dried over her face. She looked ghastly, like someone who’d lost a tremendous amount of weight overnight.

Raiya waved her arm and the door to Agatha’s cell swung open. She dragged the unconscious Herbologist out and levitated her with a spell. She then walked toward the end of the bloody corridor. We soon found an iron door. Looking at it made me realize it hid something terrible behind.

There were some strange runes and drawings of little creatures gnawing on human bones. Raiya placed her hand on the door and the runes flashed red. Then the door swung open. She threw the Herbologist in then followed. I hesitated for a moment, unsure. What if the warlock wanted me dead too, or worse?

Sisha was waiting for us inside. There was an eight pointed star drawn on a bloody floor. Bones, withered clothes, sinew and even some feathers littered the place.

“Don’t you ever clean up?” Raiya said out loud.

The cat only purred and wiggled its giant tail. I saw him open his gigantic mouth and lick his shiny, pointy teeth. I shuddered. Shivers ran down my spine as I realized what was about to happen.

“We need an offering to the Netherworld,” Raiya turned to me and said. “It will grant Sisha a power-up for the remainder of the day.”

“She’s the offering?” I asked, jerking my head toward the floating unconscious body of Agatha.

Raiya nodded.

“You might think of me as a manipulative witch,” she started – I may have replaced a letter before, but it saved my life I guess – “but I know how much you hate this woman. The kill is yours if you wish to, but Sisha won’t get the necessary power-up if the offering’s dead.”

“What will happen to her afterward?” I asked.

‘She’ll be the king’s problem,’ Sisha answered. ‘You don’t want to know what’ll happen to her.’

Shivers down my spine again…

I nodded. “Take her,” I said. “Killing her won’t bring my family back anyway.”

Raiya smiled then nodded at Sisha. The latter got inside the eight pointed star along with the Herbologist. A bright blue screen immediately encircled them. The spell binding Agatha was released and the Herbologist woke up. She looked around for a moment, dazed and confused. Then she looked up and saw the cat demon’s open mouth. His sharp teeth threatened to rip her to shreds.

‘Welcome to hell,’ Sisha’s voice reverberated inside my head. ‘Say hi to the king for me, will ya?’

Agatha looked at me then at Raiya. Her frightened eyes spoke a million words. I couldn’t help but feel pity for the Herbologist. I wouldn’t want to be in her position. At least I had a chance to fight back. What chance do you have when you’re handed to the demon king?

“Myles, my dear boy,” Agatha came closer to the screen. She tried putting her hands against it but she winced as it burned her.

Raiya started reciting an incantation in a language I’ve never heard before. It sounded rough. I didn’t need to understand the words to realize what was about to happen.

“Please,” Agatha went on again. Her voice had reached a high pitched note, close to hysteria. “Don’t let them do this to me, my dear boy. I saved your mother. She’d be dead long before this witch arrived if it weren’t for me.”

“She died anyway,” I replied. My cold voice surprised me. Remembering this woman’s betrayal made me forget about pity.

Raiya was still reciting. A small hole appeared on the ground then started expanding. Sisha, the big monstrous cat, was standing on all fours. His paws were strategically placed on the extremities of the eight pointed star, dangerously close to the blue screen.

Agatha looked at the hole that just appeared and her eyes widened. Her mouth fell open and I saw terror in her face. I never thought I’d see someone this fearful. The woman who was willing to backstab me even when backed into a corner was now sobbing helplessly.

“I don’t deserve this,” Agatha went on. “Please, my dear boy, you can still stop this. I’ll give myself to you willingly. You can torture me, kill me if you want. Anything but this, I beg you please!”

I fought the urge to help her. We needed her if we were to repel the Church posse. I wasn’t proud of giving her over. Thinking back on it now, I grew to accept the shameful things I’ve done in my life. This one was but a grain of sand in an endless desert.

The hole expanded, large enough to accommodate the Herbologist. Sisha purred then spoke, real words, for the first time since I’ve met him. The walls around us shook as the cat demon spoke those foreign, harsh words.

I heard a terrible voice respond. My entire being shook, as the walls around us did, while the voice kept talking. Agatha clutched her head in both hands and started screaming in agony. A strong wind blew from the hole then started sucking the Herbologist in. Agatha threw me a last look of despair.

I didn’t say a word. My eye met hers and for a moment, a tiny fraction of a second, I was willing to help her out. Her hands clawed the wooden floor. Her nails broke as she was dragged down to her doom.

“BLOOD TRAITOR!” she screamed at me before she was completely sucked in. “YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS ONE DAY STALWART. I WON’T DIE HERE. I’LL COME BACK FOR YOU AND HAUNT YOU. CURSE YOU AND CURSE YOUR TAINTED BLOOD!”