Haneef stared into the bottom of his cup of tea. “I can’t believe what we saw today.”
“Believe it,” said Qiang. The matter-of-fact tone to his voice sounded chilling under the circumstances. “That’s been going on for months.”
“Why haven’t you stopped them?” Matthew asked.
“We tried once, about two months ago. One of our larger patrols came across the Seamstress about to perform the ritual and attacked. Our people were slaughtered. Only one of twenty-eight horsemen survived. The decimators ripped them apart in seconds.”
“Maybe you can’t kill the demons,” said Vicky. “Why not get rid of the Sataners?”
“We do. Every time we kill one, Mei builds their ranks with more followers. Even the leaders are replaceable. We’ve taken out two of them already, and someone else always steps forward to fill the position. Mei is the third person we know of to lead the cult.” Qiang drank from his cup. “All we’re able to do is whittle away at the Sataners. We’re too outnumbered to take on the Seamstress or the decimators.”
“Your best bet is to shut down the portal,” said Ustagov.
“Why is that?”
“Every demon that passes through into our realm is somehow connected to it. When you close the portal, the demons perish.”
“All of them? Including the Seamstress and the decimators?”
Ustagov nodded.
“Then the rumors are true. You’ve found a way of closing them?”
“We have.”
“How is that possible?”
“The portals were created because of an experiment with antimatter. One of our group, who is no longer with us, created an antimatter device that will destroy the portal. All we have to do is get close enough to throw it in. That’s why we’re here.”
“That’s excellent.” Qiang’s excitement was palpable. “It’s only a few days ride by horse. If we leave tomorrow morning, we can end all of this within a week. I’ll have my people get everything ready—”
“Not so fast,” interrupted Haneef. “First, we have to rescue our friends from the Sataners. We need them to help close the portal.”
“Qiang’s right,” said Jason. He opened his eyes and sat up on the pillows, even that minimal effort draining his energy. “We need to close that portal before we do anything else.”
“What about the others?” asked Sook-kyoung. “They’re still alive. They won’t be for long unless we rescue them.”
“There’s nothing we can do can keep them alive.” Jason crawled to his knees and attempted to stand. His legs gave way from under him. Sasha wrapped her arm around his back and under his left arm, propping him up. It took a moment for him to get his footing. When he felt strong enough to walk, he patted Sasha’s hand. She released Jason but stayed beside him. “You heard Qiang. They’ve already tried to stop the Seamstress and decimators and lost twenty-seven men in the process. We can’t afford such losses. Besides, she doesn’t plan on killing the others yet.”
“Why do you say that?” asked Gabriel.
“She would have done it when she created the Golem and would have included them in its formation.” Jason staggered over to the team, swaying slightly. “She knows who they are and is saving them for something much more sinister.”
“You mean like a special ritual?” asked Matthew.
Father Belsario’s eyes widened. “Or an offering.”
“Exactly. What better way to please Satan than to sacrifice Demon Hunters at his door. Our best chance of saving them is get to the portal first and close it.” Jason turned to Qiang, “You said it’s a few days’ journey from here?”
“Two days, to be exact. If we leave tomorrow morning, we should arrive there early to late evening the next day.”
“Good,” said Jason. “Then we leave at midnight and double time it. I want to get there the morning of the second day so we don’t have to battle the Demon Spawn in the dark.”
“It’s dangerous to travel at night,” warned Qiang.
“It’s even more dangerous to let Mei and the Seamstress get there before us. I understand your concerns. If you don’t want to go, just give us the directions and we’ll do this by ourselves.”
The expression on Qiang’s face showed both anger and embarrassment. Jason’s tone became more conciliatory. “You’ve lost too many good people already. No one here will think any less of you if you don’t want to go.”
Qiang appreciated the gesture that allowed him to save face. He stood and bowed. “My people will accompany you.”
“Are you sure?”
“You’ve come halfway around the world to close the Gate to Salvation. I owe it to my ancestors and China’s future to give you all the help we can.”
Jason bowed to Qiang. When he did, his knees wobbled. Sasha reached out to him, but he waved her off. Taking a deep breath, Jason stood upright. “Thank you.”
“I’ll have my people get everything ready to leave at midnight. Let me know what you need and we’ll take care of you.”
“Father Belsario and Haneef will work with you. I’d send out a few scouts to follow the Sataners and report their progress back to us. We need to make sure we beat them to the portal if we’re going to be successful.”
“I’ll get on that right away.”
Jason bowed again, only this time being careful not to disrupt his balance. Qiang rushed out to prepare for their departure, followed by Jason’s team. Only Sasha and the werehounds remained behind. When the others had left, Sasha took Jason by the hand and led him back toward the pillows.
“Come on. You need to rest.”
“I’m fine,” Jason protested, although he did not let go of her hand.
“No, you’re not. You can barely stand. And I didn’t come back to Earth to babysit you.” When he tried to respond, Sasha placed the middle and index fingers of her free hand against his lips. They felt warm and soft. She led him back and stood over Jason as he settled into the pillows. Lucifer and Lilith settled in on each side of their master and snuggled.
“Thanks, Sasha.”
“You know I’d do anything for you. Now get some rest.” Sasha went to leave and paused. “You realize how much danger you’re putting the others in by not rescuing them and closing the portal instead?”
“Are you asking this because you’re concerned I might not be thinking clearly after today’s trauma?”
“I’m wondering why you’re putting Jeanette at such a risk.”
“She’s in just as much danger as the rest of us, and she knew that when she asked to come along.”
“But you… you…”
“Care for her?”
Sasha lowered her head.
“My feelings for Jeanette are irrelevant. It’s the same as in Paris when I let you lead the Demon Spawn away from the portal inside Notre Dame. I knew I would never see you again, and it broke my heart.”
Sasha’s head shot up. “Did it really?”
“Of course. I love you. I’ve lost everybody I love because of this damn apocalypse. My mother and father. Doc. You. I’m going to continue to lose people I care about as long as these portals exist.”
“We’ve all lost people we care about.”
“I can empathize.” Jason spoke the words without emotion. “The difference is you’ve watched our friends die, while I’m the one who made the decisions that sent them to their deaths. I know what we’re doing is noble, and we all volunteered for this. Every time one of us is killed, I tell myself their sacrifice will save the hundreds of thousands of people struggling to survive, if there are even that many left. I tell myself that everything that happened in Paris, Moscow, and Lake Baikal is for the greater good, and in the end more lives will be saved because of the sacrifices we’re making. Rationally I can accept that. Emotionally I can’t. Every time one of us dies a piece of my soul dies with them.”
Sasha knelt beside Jason and placed her hand on his leg. “You can’t allow this to consume you. I ne… we need you.”
“Don’t do that. One of the things that makes you so special, and that makes you a good leader, is your emotions.”
“I can’t lead my friends to their death and still maintain my emotions if I want to keep my sanity.” Jason drooped his head, a sad expression that betrayed the conflict raging within him. “I don’t know what bothers me more: the fact that I made the decision to abandon Jeanette and the others to a horrific death, or the callousness with which I made it.”
Sasha struggled to hold back her tears.
Jason clasped her hand. She squeezed it, her touch tender. It felt good. Jason was pleased he still had some emotions left.
“Thanks for being here. If you don’t mind, I’m exhausted and need to rest. Wake me around eleven.”
Without waiting for an answer, Jason laid back into the pillows. He fell asleep immediately and did not hear Sasha sobbing as she exited the building.
Chapter Thirty-One
The day had been exceptionally arduous for Jeanette. First, they had to witness the butchering of the villagers and the creation of the Golem from the body parts. Then Mei took her and the Demon Hunters prisoner, confiscating their horses so they could not attempt an escape and forcing them to travel on foot. Each had their hands bound in front of them, with one end of the rope attached to the saddle of a Sataner’s horse. Jeanette estimated they had traveled five or six miles with no breaks and no water. She began to get thirsty two hours into their trek; by the time the Sataners stopped for the night, she could barely swallow due to the dryness in her throat. As Mei’s people erected tents, a young Chinese woman barely out of her teen years came over and offered Antoine a canteen of water. He took it without offering any thanks, swigged a mouthful, and passed it to his friends.
Several minutes elapsed before Mei and five of her followers approached, four of the latter with their Type 63 automatic rifles drawn and ready to fire. The fifth untied the rope from each of the saddles, clutching the ends in her right hand. Jeanette fought back the urge to wrap the length of rope around the woman’s neck and strangle her.
“What’s going to happen to us?” she asked Mei.
“We’re preparing a tent for you to sleep.” Mei spoke the words with the pleasantness of a hotel clerk welcoming a guest. “You need to rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“Where are you taking us?” Ian asked.
“To the Gate to Salvation. Bai will meet us there.”
“What will happen once we get there?”
“You will all be part of a glorious ritual that will free you from your misery.” Mei walked off. “Bring them this way.”
The young woman followed. As the ropes grew taut, Jeanette and the others refused to move. One of the guards stepped forward and shoved Jeanette in the back with his weapon. Antoine moved toward him, his fist clenched. Jeanette shook her head and started walking. The others fell in beside her.
Mei led them to a tent in the center of the compound and pulled aside the flap. Inside, a sixth guard waited. He held four sets of shackles connected to each other by a thick chain. As the Demon Hunters entered, he attached one set to each ankle and locked them in place. When all four had been secured, the young woman untied the ropes.
Jeanette motioned toward the shackles. “What are these for?”
“To prevent you from escaping, of course.” Mei turned to one of her guards. “If you do try to get away, my people have orders to shoot you in the leg, which will make it difficult for you to travel. So, please, for your own sake, don’t try anything foolish.”
The young woman exited the tent accompanied by the gunmen. Mei stopped before letting the flap close and said, “You should get some sleep. I’ll have someone bring you dinner once it’s cooked.”
After everyone had departed, Antoine lowered himself onto the dirt and immediately fell asleep. Vicky sat down and crossed her legs. Tears ran down her cheeks.
Jeanette knelt beside her and wrapped her left arm around Vicky’s shoulders. “Everything will be all right.”
Vicky brushed her arm away. “No, it won’t. We’re going to die, just like those villagers.”
“Jason will rescue us.”
Vicky snorted derisively. “He left us after the dust storm to close that damn portal. Face it, we’re on our own, and we’re going to die.”
Jeanette reached out a hand to comfort her. Vicky slapped it aside. She collapsed and curled into a fetal position as she cried.
Ian crouched beside Jeanette. “Leave her alone. A good cry and some rest are the best things for her right now.”
Jeanette moved as far away from Vicky as the chain allowed and sat. Ian lay down nearby and locked his hands behind his head into a makeshift pillow. A few moments of awkward silence passed before she asked, “Do you think Jason and the rest of the team survived the dust storm?”
“I’m sure some of them made it through alive. We did.”
“Then why hasn’t Jason rescued us?”
Ian hesitated. “He’s probably still trying to find us. It’s been several days since we were separated.”
“You don’t believe that. You agree with Vicky that he left us behind to close the portal.”
Ian lowered his voice to a whisper. “I wouldn’t blame him if he did.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because the smart thing to do is close the portal as quickly as possible, remove the demon threat to the area, and then come for us.”
“That doesn’t bother you?”
“That’s what I would do.” Ian closed his eyes and settled on the dirt. “If I were you, I’d get some rest while you can. We’re going to be doing a lot of walking tomorrow.”
Ian dozed off within a few minutes. Vicky cried herself to sleep not long after. Jeanette sat there, staring at the walls of the tent for a while before settling down herself. Although rationally she knew Jason had to proceed with their quest, it upset her that he had not bothered to search for them. She would have made the effort because she loved him. Maybe that was the problem—she cared for Jason far more than he did for her. For the first time since leaving Mont St. Michel, she felt as though she had come along for all the wrong reasons or should not have come along at all.
As exhaustion overwhelmed Jeanette and she fell asleep, she had one final thought. Part of her felt certain that if Sasha had been the one separated from the rest of the group, Jason would have made every possible effort to find her.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jason woke up an hour before midnight. Except for still being a little drained from the afternoon’s events and slightly disoriented from sleeping so late, he felt better than when he had arrived back at the factory. Rolling to one side, he expected to bump into Lucifer or Lilith snuggled against him. The werehounds were not there. He rested for a few moments before gathering his gear. As he did, the door opened and Sasha entered, with Lucifer and Lilith right behind her.
“Oh, good. You’re up.” Sasha sauntered over to him. The werehounds raced ahead, tails wagging, to greet their master. “I came by to wake you.”
“I’ve been up for a while.” Jason scratched Lucifer and Lilith behind the ears. The latter licked his face.
“How do you feel?”
“Much better.” Jason stood. “Are we almost ready?”
“We’re waiting on you. Are you sure you’re up to it?”
“No problem.” Jason took a step forward and stumbled. Sasha reached out for him. He clasped her hand and shook his head. Sasha wrapped her fingers around his and squeezed affectionately before releasing her grip. The two of them stepped outside and Sasha led him to the compound’s gate.
The Demon Hunters and their horses had gathered by the exterior wall. Scores of Xiongnu horsemen huddled nearby. Qiang stood to one side talking with three women in their early twenties. When finished, the women bowed deeply at the waist, mounted their horses, and rode off. Qiang waved Jas
on over. Sasha led the werehounds to the rest of his team.
Qiang nodded as Jason approached. “I trust you’re feeling better.”
“I am.” Jason gestured toward the Xiongnu horsemen. “Are they going with us?”
“Yes. These are all my mounted archers. There are sixty-nine of us, including myself. We’re going to escort you to the gate and help you close it.”
“Isn’t it dangerous leaving your compound without protection?”
“As you said the other day, our best chance of survival is to stop the demons from entering this realm. The quicker we do that, the safer we all are. It’s a calculated risk leaving my people undefended for two days, but it’s one I’m willing to take.”
“And what happens if we fail and your archers are killed?”
Qiang shrugged. “In that case, it will only be a matter of time before we’re all dead anyway.”
Jason could not argue with Qiang’s logic. He pointed in the direction the three young women had ridden off. “What are they doing?”
“They’re going to follow the Sataners and report back to me on their progress.”
“Are you anticipating trouble?”
Qiang shook his head. “We should have more than enough time to get to the gate before the Sataners. If there’s any change, I want to know about it before it surprises us.”
“Good thinking.”
“Are you ready to head out?”
Jason glanced at those around him. Their force contained his own team of four, four Purgatoriati, and sixty-nine Xiongnu horsemen, which should be more than enough to clear a path to the portal long enough for him to deploy the antimatter device.
“Let’s head out.”
Qiang issued an order in Mandarin to his archers, who all bowed and mounted their horses. Jason’s people did the same. Qiang led the way through the mounds of debris surrounding the factory and headed for the nearest road. Once there, he led his horse south toward Shenyang, with the others close behind. Lucifer and Lilith stayed close to Jason. The lights from the campfires at the factory were soon engulfed by the night, and the group made its way through the dark toward their destination.
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