Book 2 - Chapter 25. The True Thief (1/2)

”You're lying!” I scream.

Lord Loss shakes his head slowly. ”I do not lie.”

”You have to be the thief! You gave the order for Art to be stolen! If Cadaver isn't the thief, it can only be you!”

”But it isn't,” he says calmly. ”Doubt my word if you wish, but Beranabus knows it is sacred. He is watching this now. If I lied to you, he would have cause to seek revenge. And while I do not fear Beranabus, I would rather not provoke him, especially when there is no need.

”Search again, Cornelius Fleck. Look for the real demon thief. You will find him if your heart is true and your eyes are clear. Then you will understand. And be set free.” He raises a hand warningly. ”But you have only once chance left. If you make a third wrong call, your souls are mine, as we agreed.” I feel angry tears in my eyes. Blink them away. I'm still not sure if he's telling the truth, but I've no choice other than to believe him. I have to focus. Think. If it's not Cadaver or Lord Loss, then who? Trying to make sense of it. Crazy thoughts flickering through my head -

Maybe Beranabus struck a bargain with Lord Loss to steal Art. He might have sensed my power and wanted to draw me into this universe.

Mrs. Egin? The witch opened the pa.s.sageway for Cadaver.

Perhaps she was the true thief. But she's dead. Unless, like Nadia, her soul has been preserved here.

Mum and Dad? Maybe they got into trouble or craved power, sold Art to Lord Loss, arranged for him to be kidnapped when they were away.

Madness. But the way my mind is whirring, I can almost believe it. I could believe the worst of just about anyone right now. Dervish, Shark, Sharmila - they're all suspects. Maybe the thief doesn't have to be a demon. It might be one of my closest allies.

Dervish steps up beside me and speaks in my right ear. ”Don't like to rush you, Kernel, but we have company.”

I look around and spy the demons from Lord Loss' castle. He's brought them into the Board with him. They're creeping up on us, sliding over and around the chains and hills of guts. I spot the crocodile-headed demon - Vein - off to my left, flanked by the fire-eyed h.e.l.l-child. Advancing steadily along with the others.

My gaze pa.s.ses on, then stops and returns to the h.e.l.lish baby. I keep seeing him since I came to Lord Loss' kingdom. First when we arrived, then in the castle, the maze and volcanic zone, now here. Why does this demon cross my path more than any other? He's a fearsome little beast, with his fiery eyes, lice-ridden head and mouths in the palms of his hands. But no more frightening or vicious than a hundred of his kin. What draws me to him time and time again?

”We need to move,” Shark says, nudging me hard in the ribs. ”We can get out if we act fast, but in another minute they'll have blocked the path to the panels and we'll have to fight.”

”It's one of them,” I mutter, glancing at the hordes of demons, then at the h.e.l.l-child again. ”The thief's here. I'm certain.”

But you were certain it was Lord Loss, the voice inside my head says, the first time for ages that it's spoken.

”It has to be one of them!” I cry.

Unless it's Beranabus, or Dervish, or your father, the voice says, and I don't know whether it's mocking my earlier hysteria or hinting I was on the right track.

”Kernel!” Dervish hisses. ”We have to decide now!”

”Do not rush him,” Lord Loss murmurs. ”It is a hard, momentous decision. You should give it more thought, Cornelius. Escape. Rest. Ponder. You have more time than you could possibly imagine. Wait a hundred years, then try again. You don't want to act on a hunch, do you? Risk all on a blind gamble?”

”He's right!” Shark shouts, grabbing my arm and turning me in the direction of the panels. ”Survival first - strategy second. Let's get the h.e.l.l out while we - ”

I pull free of Shark. ”No! We'll never be free if we don't find him now! It's the h.e.l.l-child! It must be! I keep seeing him!”

”You can't know that, Kernel,” Dervish says. ”Not for sure. Why him?”

”I don't know! I just...”

Cursing, I race after the h.e.l.lish child, ignoring the threat of the demons and the possibility of escape. I'm gambling, a bigger gamble than any I've ever taken, but I have to. This is the moment when everything will be decided. That's why Lord Loss is here. He wants to see me fail, be here in person to gloat. But I can't worry about failing. I have to believe this is my chance, my time. And pray to all the G.o.ds that I don't waste it.

The h.e.l.l-child sees that I've set my sights on him. He squeals with surprise, turns and flees. Vein snarls and sets herself between us, blocking my path to the demonic baby. Other demons pile in around her, increasing my belief that the h.e.l.l-child is the thief.

”Shark!” I roar. ”Dervis.h.!.+ Help me get through!”