Part 28 (1/2)

-against those who would do it all again, and happily. Sarai stood, an impossibly graceful unfolding that seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. We cannot afford such a battle. We are too few. Too many innocents would be killed.

”Same tired argument,” Jack said in a sour voice. ”It saves us the trouble of having to confront who we have become. Of course, once the others realize where you've come-what you intend to do-it will be a moot point. Even those who would let you and your family live would kill to stop this.”

I held up my hand. ”Where is my husband?”

”Where do you think?” Jack rubbed his face, looking weary. ”I couldn't bring myself to go in after him. Which shows you the limits of my courage.”

”You hoped I would arrive to be brave for you?”

”I hoped you would never come at all. Sometimes bravery is doing nothing. Giving up the man you love for the greater good would have been such an act.”

Old Wolf, Sarai admonished. But his words rolled right off me.

”The Devourer is in there, isn't he?” I said. ”On the other side of that door, in the world where you trapped him.”

”It's not a world. More of a foyer, per se,” Jack replied. ”But yes. And Grant went through with his demons. And his demons.”

I gave him a cold look. ”Watch it, Grandpa.”

Jack grunted, glancing from me to Tracker-who appeared around a hairy, giant fern that could have sheltered a small family from the rain if there'd been any. Oturu, curiously, did not make an appearance. Now that I thought about it, he'd never shown himself to anyone but the boys and me. And Tracker.

”You,” said Jack.

”Apparently,” replied Tracker.

”You know what awaits her?”

”I do. Any last words before we all die horribly?”

”Shut up,” I said, and made toward the door.

I didn't think Jack could move that fast. One moment he was seated on that root-and in the next he stood in front of me, grabbing my arm and trying to pull me away. Zee hissed. Dek and Mal puffed flame at his face, but that didn't slow him down.

I tried to twist free without hurting him, but it was impossible; his grip was like steel. Tracker drew close, expression inscrutable, but the old man was not so composed; the strong lines of his face showed the ravages of terrible distress, and his cheeks were flushed.

”I must strongly advise against this course of action.”

”You think I'll let this freak go. Is your prison really that shabbily constructed? I mean, it must be if Grant was able to waltz in.”

We made it impossible to leave, Sarai said, voice cool and dry. We were not worried about the fools who would fall in.

”You're not a normal woman,” Jack said. ”So no, I don't know how you might break his shackles, just that I've seen the possibility.”

I'd seen the fire. Witnessed myself torn apart within it. And he was right, maybe being brave meant I should walk away and let my husband rot in that place. But I couldn't even contemplate that. I couldn't even face that option.

I stared him dead in the eye. ”Tell me the truth, old Wolf. Can a Lightbringer of Grant's strength control that Aetar?”

Jack hesitated. ”I don't know. Grant is not like any one of his kind who ever existed. But neither is the Devourer.”

”You still managed to imprison him.”

”Barely. Because we used the crystal skulls. It was our last act with them, after we broke the power of the Reaper Kings.” Jack glanced at Zee and the boys. ”You destroyed the other skulls. If he goes free, we will have nothing to use. Nothing that is strong enough.”

Sarai had also positioned herself in front of the gate, her head lowered ever so slightly-just enough to make that horn seem like a weapon instead of a decorative piece of fantasy. Raw and Aaz gathered close to my sides, watching her with glittering crimson eyes. Claws flexed.

Tracker studied her, then my grandfather, his gaze inscrutable.

”The Wolf is right,” he said. ”This is too incredibly dangerous.”

”Of course it is,” I said. ”It may be suicidal. But what would you have given, Tracker, to have someone risk herself to keep you safe? What sacrifice would have been too much to keep that iron collar off your neck?”

”This one,” he said.

”Liar. Even the attempt . . . someone trying for you . . . would have changed everything.”

I stepped away from the men-and the unicorn-clenching my right hand into a fist. Zee and the boys gathered close. ”Get out of my way.”

Jack shook his head. Zee rasped, ”Nothing lasts, Meddling Man.”

”Except foolishness,” he whispered. ”You're a mother now, Maxine. What do you owe your child?”

”Stay here,” I told Tracker, ignoring that dirty play. ”Watch them.”

I didn't wait for a response. I ran to that s.h.i.+mmering haze, demons at my side. Raw and Aaz slammed Sarai out of the way when she tried to charge me. I heard Jack's choked, startled shout-but that was all. I hit that s.h.i.+mmering haze, pa.s.sed through.

And got a surprise.

I found myself inside a white marble foyer. Wide and curved as two cupped hands-and gleaming, s.h.i.+ning, with an unnatural brightness that permitted no blemishes. In fact, it was as though the stone and walls had been airbrushed to absolute perfection. No color, anywhere. Just a pure, alabaster white.

It was the visual equivalent of hearing a prim old woman speak in a man's booming lumberjack voice. Unexpected, given certain expectations. I was antic.i.p.ating h.e.l.l, after all.

”Tell me,” I said to Zee, who prowled across the floor, looking like some obscene blemish against that pure, luminous marble. ”This is kind of f.u.c.ked up, right?”

Dek and Mal began humming the melody to ”Strangeness,” while Raw and Aaz pressed against the walls, scratching them-leaving claw marks that oozed black tar, like blood.

”Excuse me,” said a quiet male voice.

I flinched, surprised. Zee also twitched-all the boys, jumping a little-their surprise even more visceral than mine. No one ever sneaked up on them.

I turned and found that an elderly man stood just behind me: stout, with spectacles hanging down his nose. He was dressed like a butler, all in black, his skin very pale and his eyes a watery blue. He held slippers in his left hand.

”Please announce yourself,” he said.

I stared, heart still pounding so hard I wanted to vomit. ”Who are you?”

One stubby brow arched up. ”I am the butler. And you are?”