I locked eyes with Taren, and I braced for the argument that was sure to come about me putting myself in danger.
Ember—
You know it's what has to happen. Please don't try to talk me out of it.
I wouldn't dream of doing something so obviously futile, he said, and I saw him smile. What I was going to say, was that I've got your back. If anything happens to you, I’ll bring you back to the Sanctuary. I'll make sure you heal. You won't go through this alone.
We began immediately.
Master Dogan handpicked a small group of Keepers that he believed would be open to learning and able to keep quiet about it. I’d wanted to include some of the Keepers-in-Training, but he’d insisted the risk was too great to expect students to bear. The irony of him using that reasoning on me, of all people, wasn’t lost on either of us. Still, he was resolute.
Taren did what he could with the Guardians. Cole had told him that meditation would enhance his gift of being able to predict his opponent’s movements, and, since then, Taren had renewed practicing. Soon his movements had become even more fluid, his grace more deadly. That was the best advertisement for what he was teaching, and his training sessions grew in attendance each day.
Michele continued working with her students to strengthen the Sanctuary, and they were definitely making progress. The boundary had expanded, much to the relief of the people practically living on top of each other in tents. They spread out as the Sanctuary did.
Cole got amazing news from Sadah. Every one of the Daemons who had crossed over from the demon world had now healed. It had been a torturous process, but worth it. Arrangements were being made to have them travel to Los Angeles. Even for the Institute, it took a while to get that many fake passports. I tried to tell them that they could simply influence the TSA workers to let them by, but Master Dogan wanted no mind trickery unless absolutely necessary. It would take only a week to secure the documents, so we waited.
50
Right when it all seemed to be coming together, things started falling apart.
Cara, who by now was so much better that she looked human—or, more accurately, like a really tall Daemon—had been in contact with some of the Dahraks on the other side of the Gateway. They were eager for the same chance that Cara had gotten, and they were coming. Thousands of them, and they weren’t coming alone. That many Dahraks mobilizing in one direction had earned the attention of other demons, and now it seemed that the entire demon world was marching toward Los Angeles.
There was evidence to back up that claim. Every Gateway but ours was doing better than it had in years. Incidents of Reds, of Retrievals, both down. There had been nothing close to a breach in weeks.
We weren’t faring quite as well. Reds had sprung up all over L.A. The news was reporting that they were just club kids under the influence of some new designer drug that gave them superhuman strength and made them act out violently. Except time passed and they didn’t detox. The Reds that got caught ended up in rubber rooms.
The passports were taking longer than Master Dogan had thought, leaving dozens of Daemons with power we needed stuck in Greece. I finally convinced the Elders to just let them do some mind mojo and get here already. They were set to leave the next day.
One bright spot was that my hunch had been right, and the Keepers were able to access the Chasm. Even Crystle and Callie—who I’d been training in secret—had been successful. The power they could wield was a tiny fraction of my abilities, but every little bit helped. The downside was that opening to the Chasm also opened them up to demonic influence. With all of the demons concentrated close to our Gateway, practicing was near impossible. There were simply too many voices to risk leaving the Sanctuary. I was teaching them to shield, and some were picking it up, but it was a lot to grasp in such a short amount of time, and after several people had needed Retrievals, we began teaching theory only. We just had to hope that when the time came, we’d be ready.
51
But when the time did come, we weren’t ready. Not even close.
It was evening, and I was walking with Taren and Kat, back from inspecting our new “holding area” for uncooperative Dahraks when the weight of what was amassing in the demon world broke through my shield and nearly crushed my brain.
Taren felt it. Even 100% non-Daemon Kat felt it.
“It’s happening,” she said, her hands pressed to her temples. “Right?”
“Yeah,” I said. “It’s happening.”
There was a moment of suspended animation when the world around us broke into Chaos that the three of us simply looked at each other. Even if the three of us survived—please let us all survive—nothing would ever be the same.
“Don’t do anything stupid, like die,” Kat said, squeezing my hand. She put a hand on Taren’s shoulder and said, “Good hunting.”
“Good hunting,” Taren said, then he turned and grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me. “Knock ‘em dead,” he said. “All of them.”
“Piece of cake,” I said. “And that’s what I want when this is over. A really big, the-world-didn’t-end cake.”
Another shared look, and we broke from our bubble and joined the fray.
52
The Gateway didn’t just open, it blew apart, along with the entire mansion that had once housed it. It wasn’t just debris that went flying, but people, and bits of people. I couldn’t hide behind my shield, but I still had the light behind my eyes, and I used it to block out what I couldn’t bear to see. People were going to die; I’d known that for a long time. I had to keep going.
Taren and Kat were at my side as we raced toward the heart of the battle. The expanded Sanctuary was doing its job—the second a demon entered it, it became so incapacitated that it could be easily killed. Even so, countless numbers were streaming through, and the Birds could fly out of reach, so it only did so much good.
I grabbed a piece of what had once been the Gateway building and swung hard at a Monkey as it leapt toward me.
Where are you? I said to Cole. I knew our conversation wasn’t protected, but I had to know he was safe.
With Cara and the others, he answered. She’s told the Dahraks on the other side to stay back or be killed.
Hundreds of demons poured through the hole in the earth, but still I waited, fighting only with the quarterstaff Taren had tossed me.
“It’s time,” I said finally when we’d reached critical mass. The Institute couldn’t hold even one more demon. If I waited any longer, the hills would be overrun.
I opened to the Chasm and instantly felt the rush of life as it coursed through me. I was aware of every atom of my being, every electron and proton dancing around their nuclei. I was my own solar system, yet still a part of everything around me. Everything sparkled, even the dust motes that swirled in the floodlights came alive. How could something that felt so wonderful be so dangerous?
“Holy crap,” Kat said, her eyes wide.
“Do you see it too?” I said, hoping she did. Hoping everyone felt what I was feeling.
“I see you,” she said. “You’re glowing.”
I looked down, and saw that she was right. My flesh glowed the color of gold mixed with silver.
“Do it,” Taren urged. “We need you.”
I drank deeper from the Chasm, marshaling as much power as I could, and then I let it go, to spider out in all directions, even reaching for the Bats and Birds high above. What looked like lightning fried demon after demon, hundreds of them falling.
I took a breath, filling with more power, and I saw that I wasn’t the only source of lightning. Scattered throughout the compound, mini versions of what I’d just done were springing up and killing demons. It had actually worked. Michele had trained humans to use the Chasm. Granted, not very much of it, but still it was amazing.
I let loose another storm, and when I’d finished, a hush fell. Taren’s heartbeat pounded in my ears, a coyote howling in the distance was near deafening. I felt the suffering
of the world and its cessation in the same moment. The tides rose and fell with my breath.
I released my link to the Chasm before it engulfed me, and before I did something stupid. Doing so caused me to crash to the ground, both figuratively and literally. Apparently I’d been floating.
“So that was kind of a trip,” Kat said, looking dazed.
“It’s not over,” I said, trying to catch my breath.
“It never is,” Taren said, taking me by the hand. “Are you OK?”
I nodded. “Let’s go.”
The three of us dodged demon corpses as we raced toward the hole in the ground that had once been the Gateway. The plan had been to lure as many demons out as possible and then take the fight to them.
“On three?” I said as we peered over the edge into the blackness below.
Both Taren and Kat gave a nod and I was about to begin counting when Cole burst in urgently.
Ember, I need you. The Dahraks in the holding area have broken loose.
What?
They’ve broken loose and turned against us. Not all of them, but dozens—too many for me to handle. Cara is dead.
I felt a stab of pain at losing Cara but stuffed it down.
Hold on, I said. I’m on my way.
I told Taren and Kat the news, and we raced to the edge of the Institute grounds where we’d set up the holding area for the Dahraks we’d hoped to rehabilitate.
The area churned with violence. Dahrak fought Dahrak, making it impossible to know which ones were still on our side. No wonder Cole needed help—he couldn’t let fly with his powers unless he was willing to kill all of them, foe or friend.
Darys fought with a tight group of Dahraks—he’d found some friends, it seemed. We weren’t as lucky, so Taren, Kat, and I jumped into the fray, killing anything that made a move on us.
In the battle we got separated, but Taren and I kept our hotline open so that we each knew the other was OK. I missed my quarterstaff and the satisfying feel of a blow landing, but those tiny bolts of lightning were much more efficient.
I’d just finished taking care of a group of six Dahraks and a handful of Monkeys when I realized how quiet it was in this part of the compound. Off a little ways, Taren fought a single Dahrak, and Kat was helping a wounded Guardian to his feet, but the battle—this section of it anyway—seemed over. Taren struck the Dahrak’s jugular, and I was about to reach out to him and let him know we needed to get back to the Gateway when a gurgling sound caught my attention. I looked behind me, and to my horror saw Master Dogan slumped against a tree, his hands pressed to a bloodstain in the center his robe.
I raced toward him, tears streaming down my cheeks. My hold on the Chasm evaporated, but I didn’t care.
“No, no…” I said when I reached him and saw his usually serene eyes looking glassy. "Hang on, Master Dogan."
I pressed my hands to his wound and they sank in much deeper than they should have. I bit my lip to keep from screaming. I had to get him to the medics. I knew where they'd be setting up triage—
“Ember,” Master Dogan said. “You must leave me.”
“No,” I said, “I can get you to help. I can fix this.”
I opened to the Chasm, preparing to levitate Master Dogan right to the medics, when he laid his trembling hand on mine.
“You are very powerful,” he said, his voice as kind as it had ever been. “But even you cannot fix this.”
The blood that seeped from his belly had already made a large pool around him.
“I can, I—”
“Ember, listen to me,” he said, his speech stilted. “My time here is done. But yours is just beginning. Live, child. Li—"
In an instant the light left his eyes, and his shallow breathing stopped.
I screamed then, the sound erupting from deep inside me. The only father I’d ever known and they’d taken him from me.
I drank so deeply from the Chasm that I could have burned to ash. Its power pounded in my veins, but this time it didn’t fill me with life. It filled me with death.
53
The glow that surrounded me wasn’t silvery-gold anymore. It was as red as the blood that stained the ground.
I didn't know which demon had killed Master Dogan, so I was just going to have to kill them all.
I rose to my feet, and as I did, noticed loud cawing from high above. One look, and dozens of bolts hit the Birds, sending them crashing to the ground.
I picked my way over their corpses on my way to the Gate. I glanced back to see that Taren and Kat had found three more Dahraks to deal with. I didn’t bother helping; I needed my strength, and with those odds, the Dahraks were as good as dead anyway. Besides, I wasn’t waiting any longer.
I walked toward the Gateway, leaving demon bodies in my wake. I no longer needed to see a demon to strike it; just sensing it was enough. Bolt after bolt hit its target, and I realized I didn’t have to worry about running out of strength. The Chasm was all but inexhaustible.
In the distance I saw Michele, along with Crystle, Callie, and the others making easy work of the demons that came their way.
The tide of demons pouring through the Gateway had slowed, which made me suspicious. I reached out for a Dahrak on the other side and looked through its eyes.
The instant I did I was overcome with crazed bloodlust, the scene around me vanishing, replaced by the demon world. I felt the Dahrak fighting my control, but I swung its massive head in all directions. At one time, what I saw would have turned my veins to ice. But now the sight of tens of thousands of demons amassing near the Gateway, awaiting orders to charge, excited me.
Nice of you to march to your funeral, I said, though I knew this beast was too far gone to understand.
I withdrew from the Dahrak’s mind and sprinted the rest of the way to the Gateway.
I was only twenty yards away when I sensed a Dahrak, off to my left. I sent a bolt without slowing, but when I felt it rebound, I stopped. I flung another bolt, and this time I watched as it bounced off an invisible barrier.
“Ember, no,” Cole said as he stepped out of the shadows.
“They killed Master Dogan,” I said. “They have to die. All of them.”
I didn’t just send a bolt; this time I sent a continuous stream of electricity straight at the Dahrak.
“Ember, stop!” Cole shouted. “It’s Zoe.”
“It’s a thing,” I said. “A killing machine.”
I continued my barrage. Cole’s shield held, but I felt it weakening.
She’s not a thing, she’s Zoe, and she’s on our side. I could hear the strain in his sending. Another minute and this would be over. He’d thank me eventually.
Taren and Kat came racing up, breathless and bloody.
“What are you doing?” Taren said.
“I’m killing this demon,” I said. Another few seconds and—
“It’s Zoe,” Cole said, through clenched teeth. “You have to stop her.”
Taren’s gaze swung from Cole back to me.
“Master Dogan is dead,” I said, but the look in Taren’s eyes told me he already knew. “And one of these monsters did it.”
“Ember,” Taren said, grabbing my shoulders, “this isn’t you.”
Betrayal stung my heart. “You’re on his side?”
He cupped my face in his hands, not letting me pull away. “I’m on your side, Ember, always, but Cole’s only doing what I promised I would do for you. She was a Daemon and she used the Chasm—just like you are right now. You can’t punish her for—”
“Fine,” I said, stopping the flow of energy. “Kiss your demon, Cole. I’m going to go save the world.”
54
Taren
Earlier the glow around Ember had been angelic—holy in some way. Now it was blood red, with black spots that seemed to be getting bigger. Losing Master Dogan was making her lose herself.
“Fine,” she said her voice bitter and full of venom. “Kiss your demon, Cole. I’m going to go save the wo
rld.”
Then she spun, and ran toward the gaping hole in the ground.
Not again! I said to myself. I wouldn’t let her leave me a second time. Not like this, and not when she was going to get herself killed.
She was just steps away from jumping when I tackled her. We landed hard, but before I could ask if she was OK, she was shoving me off of her. I gripped her hard.
“You have to let his go,” I said. “Rage isn’t power, Ember. I know it feels like it is, but it’s not. Rage is just rage. And it’s burning you up.”
“‘Let this go?’” she said. “Let it go that Master Dogan is dead?”
“Yes,” I said firmly. “The time for mourning—and the pain and anger that goes with it—is when this fight is done. Please, Ember. I need you. We won’t win this fight without you, but if we win it the way you’re trying to, I’m going to lose you in the process, and I can’t bear it.”
I flooded the bond between us with love, just like she had that night I’d walked away from her.
“You’re not alone anymore,” Kat said, kneeling beside us. “Not unless you choose to be. And if you do, you’re an idiot.”
The intensity in Ember’s eyes softened, and the black spots around her began to recede.
“I’ve been trying so hard to be less of an idiot these days,” she said and gave the tiniest of smiles. If I survived this fight, I was going to make it my life’s mission to see as many more of those smiles as I could.
Cole stepped forward then. “I will fight with you,” he said, “but I won’t leave Zoe.”
“Of course,” Ember said, and I saw remorse in her eyes for the things she’d said. “She belongs at your side.”
Ember
I locked the pain of losing Master Dogan away in a corner of my heart. Taren was right; he had been losing me. I’d felt myself slipping away and didn’t care.
The Gateway Trilogy: Complete Series: (Books 1-3) Page 56
