The Dragon's Descent (31 page)

“Does it burn?” she mocked him. “Better get used to that, boy.”

Adrik turned and walked deeper into the forest while Kane lay in the dirt. He watched her as she disappeared into the Ether, right before his eyes. This time, he did as he was told and stayed put, feeling angry and dejected.

As Adrik walked through a forest in the Ether, birds, deer, and other woodland creatures fled as she made her way over rocks and through the dark trees. She reached a familiar dim, fetid glade. A fire burned in its center. Adrik slowly approached, with reverence in her gait. She knelt before the flames and bowed her head low.

“Will I be happy, my bride?” the fire spoke.

Adrik raised her head, and her face transformed in the light of the fire to that of an ancient, repulsive hag—Lilith.
Her face was so decrepit that maggots had formed deep in the folds. Her complexion was riddled with warts, and the few struggling hairs failed to cover her bald, weathered head and missing ear.

“Even if I were to fill the depths of hell with all the human souls ever born, my prince, it would bring you no happiness. Because then this war you started eons ago would be over, and you would serve no purpose.”

“Regrets, my bride? Before you answer, consider this . . . Do you think He misses you?” The fire laughed mockingly, its menacing flames rising and falling.

“One cannot miss what one has never known,” Lilith answered. “He has never known hatred or wickedness—the essence of what we are. So, no, He does not miss me.”

“Well said. And that is why we must destroy all He holds dear . . . Which is why that child cannot be,” the fire growled. “Now give me the book I have coveted to possess for eons.”

Lilith held her hand to the fire, her eyes riveted to the ground. Despite touching the flames, the heat did not scorch her flesh. She unwrapped her bony fingers within the flames, revealing the blue sapphire. The flames lowered and stilled as they both examined the stone. Lilith waited in silence, her hand outstretched into the blaze. Moments of tense silence passed.

“I have taught you well,” the fire spoke, its flames rising.

Lilith's eyes looked up.

“Too well,” the fire snarled.

Two flaming hands shot out from the blaze and pinned Lilith to the ground, holding down her shoulders. Yet Lilith did not appear frightened. In fact, she seemed numb to the transpiring events.

“Did you think you could deceive me?” the fire shouted inches from her face. “You cannot fool me! I am the father of all lies and deception!”

The heat upon Lilith's face scorched the deep-set maggots. Their bodies popped and crackled, oozing down her gritty face.

“Are you not pleased with the book?” she asked.

“This is not the book!” the fire shouted.

Lilith's mouth became slack in shock.

“Perhaps our new recruit is more like you than we knew,” Lilith said.

“This is not the first time you have been disgraced by a mere fledgling. Where has your pretty long hair gone?” the fire mocked her. “And your ear?”

Lilith's eyes turned red with malice. “I will get the book!” she snarled.

“Does the fledgling Vero have the real book?”

“I do not know. Kane said the fledgling had given him that stone to hold.”

“Then Vero has played you both!” the fire screeched. “Unlike me, this Vero is smart enough to trust no one! I have given you many chances, and you have failed me each time. I will take the book myself!”

The fiery hands withdrew into the blaze, releasing Lilith. The flames shot higher than the treetops, then fell to the forest floor, scorching everything they touched before they died. Lilith stood. Without the light of the fire, her face morphed back into that of Adrik. She clutched the blue sapphire tightly in her hand and walked out of the clearing.

Kane sat on the ground where Lilith had left him. Despite the fact that every instinct in his body had told him to run, he stayed, busying himself by running his index finger through the dirt.

He heard the rustling of dead leaves and looked up. A figure shrouded in shadows approached. Adrik smashed through the tree branches and, with unworldly speed and strength, jumped to Kane, clenching her hand around his neck.

“You deceived me?” she hissed.

She shook him, her long fingers meeting around his neck. With one hand, she lifted him off the ground. The blood rose into Kane's face as he gasped for air, trying to pull her hand away.

“No, no . . .” he gurgled.

With her other hand, Adrik shoved the blue sapphire in his face. “This is not the book!” she shrieked.

Kane's eyes went wide with surprise.

“It is . . .” he managed to say. “Vero gave it to me to hold. He feared he would be attacked for it . . .”

“The fledgling saw your true heart and has played us both!” Adrik hissed.

She tightened the hand around his neck, squeezing harder. Kane's eyes began to roll into the back of his head. He was losing consciousness fast. As blackness overtook him, Adrik released her grip, and Kane fell to the ground. He gulped down huge breaths of air, coughing.

“You will go back to him and get that book!” Adrik demanded. “Why did you even come to us?”

Kane looked into her black, hollow eyes.

“Why?!” Adrik screamed.

“Because they turned their backs on me!” Kane blurted.

“And are you angry?”

“Yes,” Kane said sullenly.

“And do you hate them for what they did to you?”

Kane paused for a moment. Adrik moved closer to his face, waiting for a reply. Kane nodded.

“Then you will go back,” Adrik said. “Use that anger and hatred, spin it into lies, deception, or aggression to get that book. Should that fledgling be allowed to take it to the garden, all will be lost.”

Kane stood.

“You did not come to us because they turned their backs on you . . .”

Kane locked eyes with her.

“You came to us because you desire greatness.” Adrik smiled darkly. “And only we can give you that.”

She cupped his face with her long fingers.

“Bring me the book.”

Kane nodded his head once in agreement.

Vero, Clover, and Tack stood on the cliff overlooking the ravine. Early rays of sun were fighting through the morning clouds.

“You sure he wasn't on the bridge?” Clover asked with concern as she looked down at the gorge below, while Tack began pulling the slack rope up.

“No, he wasn't on yet,” Vero said. “The rope snapped from my weight, right after I got on.”

“Bad news,” Tack said as he pulled up the end of the bridge. He turned and showed it to Vero. “It didn't snap. This rope was cut.”

Vero looked at the rope's end. It was frayed, but not a one hundred percent clean cut. Almost in disbelief, Vero looked across the ravine, squinting his eyes, trying to see through the mist.

“Don't get your hopes up. We're never going to see him again,” Tack said. “He ran off with it.”

“Maybe he's hurt. Maybe he fell when the rope broke,” Clover reasoned.

“Or maybe he cut the rope!” Tack shot back.

“With what?” Clover asked. “He didn't have a knife.”

Vero turned around to Tack and Clover.

“I still have to find the garden,” Vero said, walking away from the cliff.

“What's the point if you don't have the book?” Tack asked, keeping pace with him.

Vero stopped. He reached into his pocket.

“Who says I don't have the book?” Vero said, showing Tack and Clover the blue sapphire in his hand.

Tack's eyes lit up with astonishment. Clover gasped.

“You had it the whole time?” Tack asked.

Vero nodded.

“So you didn't trust Kane?” Tack said. “I knew it.”

“I was told to trust no one,” Vero said, catching Tack and Clover's hurt expressions. “The book is too powerful. It can't get in the wrong hands. For whatever reason, I am the only one who can return it.”

“But what if somebody or one of those creatures just comes after you and takes it?” Tack asked, concerned.

“That's why I need to hurry.”

“Yeah, but can't you fight them off?” Tack asked. “Angels have swords.”

“I can't do much on earth.” Vero held back a sigh. “The garden is somewhere in the Ether. Once there, I can put up a fair fight.”

“Can't we go with you?” Clover asked.

“No.” When he saw his sister's distressed face, Vero smiled. “But the best way you can help me is to send prayers. Angels become more powerful when people pray.”

“Okay,” Clover said timidly.

“So how do we find the garden?” Tack asked.

“We've been over this. You guys don't. I do,” Vero said.

“No . . .” Clover looked panicked.

“I can't put you in anymore danger,” Vero said. “You need to get back on the trail and go back to Mom.”

“You believe this guy?” Tack looked to Clover, who shook her head.

“Do you think that bridge just fell by coincidence?” Vero asked. “Do you? It's probably been there for years, and the moment we get on it, it snaps? Guys, there are other forces at work here!”

“You're right. It wasn't random,” Clover admitted.

“Lucifer's followers did this,” Vero said, grabbing the rope from Tack. “You need to go back!”

“But you said we were to help you with your mission,” Clover said.

“And you have. I would have never gotten the book without you guys.”

“No,” Tack said.

“Please . . . if anything ever happened to you . . .” Vero said, working hard not to cry.

Once again, the rustle of the underbrush alerted them. Vero's eyes darted around the forest. It was much easier to see now that the morning sun had begun to fight through the thick vegetation, yet he saw nothing unusual.

“What's out there?” Clover whispered.

“I can't see anything, but that doesn't mean we're alone,” Vero said, his eyes still searching through the dense foliage.

The crunch of the forest floor grew louder, as if something was nearing. Vero pulled Clover in close to him.

“I hear it,” Tack said in a low voice.

Suddenly, something flew through the air, startling all three. It landed a few feet in front of them. As Tack stepped forward to examine it, Vero put out his arm, stopping him. Vero's head turned in all directions, eyes scanning. He still saw nothing. He stepped forward as Tack and Clover quietly followed. Vero kneeled down at what lay on the ground for a closer look. Clover gasped.

Lying on the ground was the fresh carcass of a half-eaten squirrel. Its head and torso were gone, leaving little more than a bushy tail. Clover quickly covered her mouth, as if afraid she'd gag, and Tack looked sick to his stomach. His eyes caught Vero's, who turned his head, his eyes suddenly filled with dread.

The sound of something approaching grew closer. Vero stood. He looked behind him, only to see a hulking figure on all fours in the early morning shadows. Vero put his arms out, corralling Tack and Clover so they couldn't walk any farther. He put his index finger to his lips, indicating to keep silent. Vero slowly backed them up and led them behind a massive rock. He crouched, pulling down Tack and Clover with him. The three peered over the top of the boulder.