Kate, looking like the banshee, gave him a withering look, but she knew he was right. Something about this place certainly felt different. Out here, they were still spirits, but inside she thought the situation would change. The rules of the mortal world and whatever place lay beyond were blending. She felt just how thin the air was here.
“You first,” she said, nodding at the hole.
Kieran looked startled.
“You don’t trust me?” he asked. “I just helped you fight off the witch — twice.”
“And you killed Quinn,” Kate replied in an acid tone, making Kieran flinch. “I made the mistake of trusting you once. You’ve been helpful, but you’re planning something. And I’m running out of time and patience. Get in the damned hole.”
Kieran didn’t protest again, but slung his backpack on, got down on his knees and crawled inside the small opening. Kate looked at the horizon, which had a thin line of pink, and turned back to Clinton, who stood behind her.
“Get everyone through here as fast as you can,” she said. “Leave no one behind.”
He nodded. Kate slid the shield across her back and sheathed her sword. Then she bent down and crawled through the hole.
Once inside, she found she could stand up again, but had to remain hunched over. Kieran was waiting for her.
The cave appeared to be carved out of solid rock and was clearly ancient. Kate brushed her hands against the walls, which glistened with moisture. She looked at her own bony fingers and wondered how many souls had passed through here. She had a feeling that this place had been here before civilization came to Ireland.
“We’ve got a ways to go,” Kieran said, “and we need to hurry.”
Kate nodded and started moving, listening to the sounds of others coming through the tunnel behind her. They walked quickly with their heads down
The tunnel went deeper underground, becoming a narrow passageway. Kate leaned on the stone for balance as she headed further down into the cave. The air around her hummed with a crackling kind of energy. It was similar to how she felt when changing into the banshee or the Horseman.
Kieran was talking to her, saying something about the first president of Ireland and pointing to initials carved in the stone, but Kate wasn’t paying much attention. The humming in her head was so loud now she almost couldn’t make out his words. Instead, she marched right past him as he gave her a surprised look.
All worries of betrayal faded from her mind. Instead, she felt drawn forward. She looked up only briefly and realized that they were now deep within the earth. She walked quicker, anxious to get where she needed to go.
The path abruptly sloped upward and Kate once again had to bend down to fit through a tight opening. She hurried ahead as the cavern opened out again, finally coming to a wall of collapsed dirt and stone blocking the path.
“The cave originally went deeper,” Kieran said behind her, hurrying to keep up. “They were installing electricity poles or something and caused a cave-in.”
Kate nodded. That was a shame — she felt compelled to go onward. But she knew she didn’t need to in order to accomplish her goal. The hum had become a pulse beating through her, like a giant heartbeat. The heartbeat of the world, she thought.
She could hear the spirits behind her becoming restless and realized that they too sensed the arrival of dawn.
Kate closed her eyes. When she had imagined this moment, she had always pictured herself searching for a way to open the portal. In her mind, it had been a struggle, a fight to understand the nature of the doorway between worlds and her own powers.
But standing there, it wasn’t that way at all. She reached out and laid her hands against the old stone. There was no need to fight to understand this place — it had always been here, waiting for her.
It was as if some final piece of a puzzle suddenly clicked into place. She knew the primary reason she was there — to rescue Quinn. She pictured him as he looked when she first met him and when they first kissed. He was her past, present and future.
I’m coming for you, my love, she thought.
But this journey was about more than just Quinn now. In the quiet darkness of the cavern, she could feel the spirits behind her, their anxious desire to be released from the mortal world. She felt their despair and fear, but also their hope. They were counting on her. Whatever else happened, she would set them free.
I am the last, she thought, and she finally understood what that meant — and what she was supposed to do.
She took her hands from the wall and reached forward, grasping what should have been nothing but air. She couldn’t see anything in front of her, but Kate felt something in her hands. It was soft and smooth, but heavy, almost like velvet. Using all her strength, she began pulling her hands apart.
It was as if she had grabbed an invisible curtain and was tearing it apart with her bare hands. There was resistance at first, but she finally ripped open a small hole. A stream of purple light came through.
It became easier after that, the opening growing wider as she continue to pull. The earth around her started to shake as the hole in the world expanded.
*****
Kieran felt the earth rumble and looked up. Dust and rock started to fall from the ceiling.
Something seems wrong, he thought.
As Kate made the rift wider, he could begin to see what was on the other side. He saw a large plateau surrounded by a high stone wall. He watched as three figures ran into view, obviously running from something.
The woman in the group turned away from whatever she was running from and faced Kieran. He was startled to realize he recognized her. Carol Cuthberson.
She could clearly see them too and her eyes widened in shock. She looked away again briefly at something Kieran couldn’t see and then turned back toward them. She started shouting something but he couldn’t make out what she was saying. However, he could read the emotion on her face clearly enough. She was scared.
Kieran looked at Kate to see if she was witnessing the scene in front of her. But she was still focused intently on pulling open the portal. It had almost grown wide enough to let her through, but she was trying to make it as large as possible. As she expanded it, however, the walls around them started shaking. Kate was going to bring the cavern down on top of them if she didn’t stop.
“Kate,” Kieran called, watching as Carol continued to shout in their direction. He thought he could make out one word for sure — she was shouting “Quinn.”
“Kate, look through the portal!” Kieran said again.
She was lost in concentration and didn’t respond.
“Quinn’s in danger, Kate,” Kieran repeated. “We have to go through.”
Kate finally stopped and looked in alarm at the scene in front of her.
“Madame Zora,” Kate said, sounding amazed.
Kieran looked through the portal to see a man with Carol start running away from them toward something Kieran couldn’t see.
“Janus!” Kate called. “We broke through.”
But Kieran could see the panicked expression on the man’s face.
“Look at him, Kate. Something’s wrong,” Kieran said.
Kate immediately rushed through the portal with Kieran right behind her.
“Quinn, no!” Janus yelled.
Kieran turned to see what Janus was looking at and watched as a giant worm-like creature came out of the ground and headed right for Quinn. Kate started screaming as the monster opened multiple mouths and swallowed Quinn.
*****
The banshee’s scream came with such force that it knocked the Wyrm back several feet, slamming it into the stone wall, much of which crumbled down on top of it. Its head rose in the air and it started thrashing around.
Kate stopped screaming and strode forward, unsheathing her sword. Since this thing had swallowed Quinn, she would simply cut it open until she could pull him out. She ran across the top of the fortress to the Wyrm, who continued to thrash wildly. It tried
to look in her direction, but seemed to be in great pain and abruptly turned away.
Kate plunged her blade into its side and started hacking away. The thing’s green blood splattered all over her and it turned in her direction again. It opened its mouths to scream, and Kate slashed at its face.
As she assaulted one of its jaws, she saw another one open behind it. She sliced forward from left to right, trying to do as much damage as possible. She cut into the second mouth, opening a fountain of green blood.
Hang on, Quinn, she thought.
She prepared to cut through the third mouth, drawing back her blade. But she watched as the tip of a sword came through the thing’s third mouth — from the inside out. She stood in the monster’s maw staring as a sword sawed its way through the third mouth.
The Wyrm continued to thrash weakly and Kate was thrown forward just as the third mouth finally opened.
On the other side, not three feet from her, stood Quinn, covered head-to-toe in gore and green blood — but alive and well, holding a sword in his hand.
Kate had never seen such a beautiful sight in her life.
Quinn looked up to see Kate standing before him with her own sword in hand.
“Hi, honey,” he said, and beamed.
The monster around them shuddered a final time and went limp.
The two immediately rushed to hug each other, still holding their swords. They kissed as if it were the end of the world and they were the last two people in it.
*****
Kieran looked in shock at the scene of carnage around them. Kate had transformed from the banshee back into herself as she and Quinn wrapped their arms around each other. Quinn didn’t seem to care either way. He heard the man next to him speak.
“That’s either the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen — or the grossest,” Janus said. “I’m honestly not sure which.”
Kieran turned to see the portal still open, with thousands of soldiers pouring through. Carol and her companions were also gaping at the portal. He could tell, however, that it was slowly closing itself, repairing the damage that Kate had done.
Kieran looked back at Quinn and Kate and started walking toward them. As he did so, he slung his backpack forward and began opening it. He cautiously approached the entwined couple, but he needn’t have bothered. Neither of them had eyes for anyone but each other.
I better do this now before I lose my nerve, Kieran thought.
He drew the knife out of his bag.
Part III
Chapter 32
Everything had gone terribly wrong. Sanheim stared out at the rolling ocean, watching the waves pound into the cliff side. The view normally gave him some comfort, but not today. He heard someone approaching and knew who it was without turning around. Sanheim clenched his fists and tried to contain his anger.
“My Lord,” the woman said behind him.
He didn’t bother turning around.
“How do you explain your failure?” he asked, trying to keep the fury out of his voice. He had always prided himself on his emotional control, his ability to craft plans within plans. If one failed, there was always another. But now he was forced to confront the possibility that he may not have any more back-up plans.
“She’s stronger than I anticipated,” Carman said softly. “I underestimated her. And she had help.”
“Kieran,” Sanheim sneered. “I can understand why you failed to kill Kate — she was always a worthy foe. But Kieran?”
“She protected him,” Carman said.
“Did you think she was such a simpleton that she wouldn’t recognize his value?” Sanheim said, and this time he couldn’t keep the disgusted tone out of his voice.
“We still don’t know what his value is,” Carman said. “How could she possibly know?”
“She doesn’t have to,” Sanheim said. “He’s a wildcard. That’s all she needed to know. And now he is here, with her, and we have no idea what he’s up to.”
Carman lay her hand on his arm, but before he could control himself, he jerked away. He almost immediately regretted it. Her failure was inexcusable, but it would do him no good if she turned against him now.
“I’m sorry, my lord,” she said.
For a moment, his temper softened. However, he underestimated her own wrath.
“But I am not the only one who failed today,” Carman said.
He turned to her and saw the anger in her eyes. He should have expected it, yet it came as something of a surprise.
“I take it you are referring to me?” he asked. His tone was light, but the inquiry was not. No one questioned him, not anymore. Those days were long gone.
“Who else?” Carman asked. “My sons are dead. Who did you think I would hold responsible? Who sent them to their deaths?”
Sanheim chuckled and he saw her stiffen next to him.
“Well, my dear, you have two choices,” he said. “No, make it three. We can blame Dub, Dother and Dian themselves, who were foolish enough to find a way to die against an enemy far smaller and weaker. We can blame the perpetrators, who doubtless used guile and deceit to strike down a stronger opponent. Or we can blame the woman who picked them, trained them, called them her ‘sons,’ and complimented herself on a job well done.”
Carman took a step toward him. He watched as she — perhaps unconsciously — raised her spear in her right hand.
“No man dares to…” she said.
Sanheim reached out, grabbing her wrist and twisting it slowly until she grimaced in pain.
“You forget yourself,” he said. “I am no man. And you would do well to remember it.”
“Yes,” she said, her eyes defiant even if her words were not. “Yes, my lord.”
He was disturbed by the sound of another person approaching them, but he didn’t stop staring into Carman’s eyes. He could still see her fury, but he thought he saw a little fear as well. And that was good.
“Oh, am I interrupting something?” the voice said. “I looked for you at the castle, but your attendants said you were out here. I didn’t realize you had company.”
Sanheim didn’t bother to look in his direction.
“Rippon,” he said. “How nice of you to join us.”
He released Carman’s wrists, and they turned to face the portly messenger.
“Yes,” she said, not bothering to hide the disdain from her voice. “What does the errand boy want now?”
Rippon gave her a slightly mocking smile.
“The council has been informed that a challenge has been made,” Rippon said. “We await the results with great interest.”
Sanheim didn’t face him, but turned back to looking at the ocean.
“Then they have been misinformed,” Sanheim said. “No formal challenge has been made. It’s impossible. The woman may be alive, but the man is still quite dead. They cannot be the Prince of Sanheim.”
“And yet the woman is here, with ten thousand men at her back,” Rippon replied. “Or perhaps my Lord Sanheim did not know this?”
“He sees everything, you little worm,” Carman said.
“Funny that you would use that expression,” Rippon replied. “There was a worm, but it’s dead now.”
“Do you have a point, Rippon?” Sanheim asked. “Yes, she has an army. Whether she has the wherewithal to use it is another question. She may seek to take her lover back to the other side.”
“That’s impossible,” Carman said. “He’d die.”
“I know that, and so do you,” Sanheim replied. “But she may not. Unless someone has told her.”
He glanced meaningfully in Rippon’s direction.
“You wound me,” Rippon said. “The council has not interfered in any way.”
Sanheim turned and approached the man, looking down on him. Rippon involuntarily took a step back.
“I doubt that,” Sanheim said. “I doubt that very much. Who helped shield Kieran from me? Who helped him find the answers for which he was so desperately searching? And wha
t else did you show him, I wonder? What did you whisper in his ear?”
Rippon bowed low.
“It grieves me to hear how you don’t trust us,” Rippon said. “All we have ever done is enforce the treaty and keep the peace between us. We have even overlooked a blatant disregard for the rules.”
Rippon looked meaningfully at Carman.
“We are not stupid, my lord,” Rippon continued. “We know you sent her to kill the girl. We also know she failed. Do not accuse us of the sin you have committed. You would risk the treaty to hold on to your position. We only want what’s best for everyone.”
Sanheim had to hold himself back from striking the man, from tearing his flesh off his bone. It would be so easy. He had only to reach out his hand and grasp Rippon by the throat. Both Rippon and Carman seemed to sense his feelings.
“My lord…” Carman said.
“I know what you think is best for everyone,” Sanheim told Rippon, edging closer to him. “I know what you would do to this world — and to all the others under your sway. And I will die to stop you, do you understand? Everything I have done has been with that in mind.”
Rippon looked up and smiled again.
“Of course,” he replied. “You only want what’s best, as do we. And if there is power that comes along with it, well, that is the burden we must bear.”
“Get out of my sight, you officious man,” Sanheim said. “I see your hand in everything. These intruders could not have come so far without your help. I don’t know what you’ve set in motion, but I know it will fail.”
“Very well, my lord,” Rippon said. “I will inform the council you are aware that a challenge has been made. I have only to…”
Sanheim grasped the man by his throat and without apparent effort picked him up and held him over the cliff’s edge. Rippon struggled against him, trying to pull at Sanheim’s arms as he looked down.
“I have grown tired of your games,” Sanheim said. “I told you before: no challenge has been made. She’s just one woman. She cannot be master here unless both of them stand against me and that’s impossible. He’s dead. And not by my hand.”
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