We follow him into the woods. It gets darker and darker. The trees loom over us, trapping us inside. After several minutes, I ask the old ghost, “These ents are nicer than the ones in the Black Forest, right?”
“Oh yes, a lot nicer.”
I let out a sigh of relief.
“As long as you adjust to their habits,” D’Maeo continues.
“Maybe you should fill us in on those.”
He stops dead. “Too late. We’re here.”
A clearing seems to pop up out of nowhere. For a moment, I think the trees just stepped back to create it, but when I turn my head, everything is quiet.
D’Maeo stretches his arms out and throws his head backward. “I’m back!”
He keeps his pose, his face turned toward the sky, his eyes closed, until the sound of snapping branches grows louder.
“Stay close to me,” D’Maeo whispers from the corner of his mouth. “When I introduce you, open your arms wide like this.”
Without realizing it, I have taken several steps back. I shuffle forward, keeping my eyes on the trees in front of us and the dark path between them. They all start moving, like a wave of trunks, branches and leaves. Although bright green now breaks the dark, I get sick just by looking at it.
As the wave approaches, I can distinguish several aspen trees. They don’t move like the ents in the Black Forest. These glide forward, like wooden snakes. They have gentle faces, but the extra black eyes carved into their white bark freak me out.
“Old friend!” the large aspen at the front breathes. Although the voice sounds almost alien, asthmatic and tired, I can clearly hear it’s female.
The tree curls up its long slender trunk and lifts its head. Its many eyes take in D’Maeo from head to toe, before jumping him like an excited dog. The ghost falls over backward, laughing as the ent tickles him with its many branches.
“It is good to see you, friend,” it says with a toothless smile.
I relax a little, until the ent turns its eyes on me. It slithers closer, while the other trees surround me. The leader raises herself to her full height and squints at me. “Who might this be?”
D’Maeo gets up. “This is my friend, Dante.” He gestures at me to spread my arms and I obey. “Dante, meet the loveliest ent in the world, Aspa.”
The tree bends over me and examines every part of my body with its branches. The light green leaves tickle my neck and arms and I shiver.
The ent lets out a satisfied snigger. It curls up until it’s at eye level and tilts its head.
“Nice to meet you, beautiful Aspa,” I say, my voice shaking a bit.
“Oh, but you don’t know if it’s nice to meet me yet,” it answers with a crooked grin. “Give me a moment to find out.”
Without warning, it pushes me onto my back and looms over me.
My heart pounds loudly as it blocks the sunlight.
“Is it here?” Aspa pokes me in the side and I let out a yell.
“Or is this the spot?” It continues, jabbing me under my armpit.
I try to keep still and slow my breathing. If I stay calm, the ent will leave me alone.
But it doesn’t. It prods and pokes me, its extra eyes staring at my face.
Just when I wonder how long I’ll have to keep still, the tree changes tactics. It stops jabbing me and gently strokes the bare skin of my neck instead. I shudder.
Aspa jerks her head up. “There it is.”
One of her branches creeps under my shirt. The soft touch of the leaves creates a shiver that runs through my whole body.
Behind me, Vicky steps forward. Her eyes are blazing, her fists clenched to her side. “What’s the meaning of this, D’Maeo?”
The old ghost just smiles, unwilling to give her presence away.
Vicky shakes her fist at the ent. “If this continues any longer, I’m snapping its trunk in two!”
“How about this?” Aspa asks, pulling off my right shoe and tickling the bottom of my foot.
My leg jerks away on its own and I giggle.
Aspa laughs out loud and releases her grip on me. She gives D’Maeo a small bow. “Yes, he is a friend.” She holds out a branch to me and I grab it. “It is a pleasure to meet and tickle you, young Dante.” She pulls me onto my feet. “What brings you both here? More than a hug, I suppose?”
“A hug is always nice,” the old ghost says, “but we came because we need your help.”
She slides toward him and beckons another tree. It comes closer and lays down.
Aspa smiles. “Sit down, friends, and tell me what you need.”
CHAPTER 31
On the way back home, I call Charlie.
“Your mom’s still asleep,” he says. “We took her to her bedroom and I put an extra line of salt around her for protection.”
I swallow my worries. “You’re the best. We’re on our way back, so we’ll see you soon.”
After a long silence, Vicky speaks up. “What’s up with that Aspa lady?”
D’Maeo chuckles. “Aspa is the queen of the aspen trees here. This species is fond of hugging. By tickling, they can determine whether their visitors are good or evil.”
Vicky is not satisfied yet. “Why did it take so long with Dante?”
“They can read your laugh, so they have to keep tickling until you make a sound.”
“And if you refuse to be tickled?” Taylar asks.
“Then they bite off your head.”
A chortle escapes me.
“Don’t laugh,” D’Maeo says. “I’m not joking. Aspen ents are kind to others with a good heart, but you don’t want to get on their bad side. They are very powerful and unforgiving.”
Jeep taps his hat. “Keep them on our side. Noted.”
“What’s our next move?” Taylar asks me.
We reach Blackford, which reminds me of Mrs. Delaney. “We should find a spell that can return Mrs. Delaney’s powers.”
Vicky leans forward and slides her hand under my waistband, right through my seat. She takes out Dad’s notebook and leans back. “I’ll have a look.”
I pull up my trousers. “Now that you’re looking, keep an eye out for a spell to wake up my mom.”
“Of course.”
“Watch out!” Jeep suddenly yells.
I hit the brake in a reflex and we come to a halt with screeching tires. Just in time.
I lean on the steering wheel. My knuckles slowly turn white. “Why is there a brick wall in the middle of the road?”
“Probably to keep us busy,” Jeep grumbles.
It takes my brain a couple of seconds to digest that. Then my hand shoots out to my phone kit. I’m shaking slightly, which makes it difficult to tap the right buttons. But in the end, I get it and with my eyes on the wall, I wait for Charlie to pick up.
“Hey man, everything okay?” he says.
“Charlie, get inside the salt circle with Mom, right now!”
“What? Why?”
“Just do it! And call Quinn. We’ll be with you as soon as we can.”
I hang up before he can answer and grip the steering wheel tightly. “I can’t let them hurt my best friend, too. Can we destroy this wall?”
Jeep sticks his arm out of the car and flings his hat at the wall. It chips off some dust, but that’s all. When it returns, he throws it again, with the same result.
“Try your powers,” he suggests.
I open the window, conjure up a bolt of lightning and aim it at the bricks.
It bounces off with a spark. The wall stays upright.
“Can you freeze it?” Vicky asks.
I reach for my core again. My hands get colder and I aim them both at the wall, pushing the cold away from me.
“It’s working,” Taylar says from behind me. “Keep going.”
Ice creeps from the top down and the wall starts to tremble.
With a grunt, I force out more cold. Cracks appear in the bricks. A ripple go
es through them.
“You’ve almost got it!” Taylar yells.
I give it a final push and the bricks tumble down with a roar. Some of them form into a mouth and a hand appears.
“Let’s get out of here before it transforms back into a man,” I pant, shifting gears and hitting the gas.
Phoenix creaks as she bounces over the bricks and I pat the dashboard. “You’re doing great.”
Only a minute later, we arrive at my house. The Shield is out of the car before I come to a halt. I hurry after them through the front door and take the stairs two steps at a time.
Balls of gel fly into the hallway, accompanied by yells and groans. As I step closer to Mom’s bedroom, Simon hits the wall in slow motion. Maël follows him, her staff pointed at his chest.
Taylar comes out after her, with his sword raised.
“Wait!” I yell.
Hope flickers in Simon’s eyes.
I take out my athame and turn to him. “He’s mine.”
As soon as I grab him by the collar, Maël releases him. I press my athame to his throat. “Just tell me why, Simon.”
His jaw is set in a grim expression. “Look around you, Dante. You’re a smart guy. What do you think of the world?”
I grid my teeth. “What do you mean?”
“We humans destroy everything we lay our hands on, including ourselves. We’re out of control.”
A sigh escapes me. “Not this again. You think bringing the Devil to Earth will make things better?”
His eyes shine with passion. He really means this. “Lucifer has the power to destroy everything bad. We can start over, this time with someone leading us.”
“Lucifer lives for destruction. If you think he’ll leave anything or anyone standing, you’re nuts. He’ll turn our world into a second Hell.”
There’s a crash behind me and I turn my head. A fraction of a second later, I realize my mistake. I press the athame firmer into Simon’s neck, but he is already transforming. His body goes up in smoke and the blade can no longer harm him.
“Dante, watch out!” Vicky shouts.
I duck aside and an ugly creature in rags slides past me. I recognize it as a ghoul.
It bares its teeth at me, hissing and spitting. I hold out my athame, but a cloud sweeps over me and presses my arms to my sides.
Vicky appears and looks the ghoul in the eye. While she works her magic, I fight to free myself.
“Let go of me, Simon. How can you do this to your best friends? How can you betray us like this?”
He wraps his body of air around my legs, making me tip over like a bowling pin. “Sacrifices have to be made to save the world.”
“Yes, and you’re one of them,” Charlie answers out of nowhere.
A dozen gel balls hit the air holding me captive. They sizzle on impact and Simon screams. The pressure on my body decreases as he fights to free himself from the substance.
From the corner of my eye, I see the ghoul approaching and I roll away quickly.
But it’s not after me. It hauls itself at Simon, who has changed back into his human form. Before he can defend himself, the ghoul opens its jaws and jams its sharp teeth into Simon’s neck. He screams and wriggles, but the creature doesn’t let go.
Vicky pulls me up.
“Nice job,” I compliment her, averting my eyes from the ghoul feasting on my former friend’s flesh.
Charlie steps closer. “I’ll finish it off.” He conjures a large ball of gel in his hands and starts forming a wall around the unsuspecting ghoul.
“Thanks,” I mumble, carefully stepping into Mom’s bedroom.
I find Jeep and D’Maeo facing the minotaur. Its roar is deafening as I enter and in a reflex, I hit it with a bolt of lightning.
It staggers forward, but regains its balance quickly. Fuming heavily, it turns to me. While I step back, I blast bolt after bolt, but it isn’t impressed. It is angry though, judging by the murderous look in its eyes and the way it shows its teeth.
I try to conjure cold as fast as I can, but it already charges, just when D’Maeo raises his sword to stab it in the back. I dive out of its way, but when I look up, it has already turned. The sharp horns on its head are inches from my face.
Leaning back I throw up my hands. A bolt materializes, but misses the bull’s head. It inhales deeply, as if to breath in my fear.
While I nudge my power core frantically, Taylar appears behind the minotaur. The beast turns its head, but it’s too late. Taylar stabs his sword straight through its heart. It howls and crashes sideways to the floor. Jeep and D’Maeo approach it carefully, their weapons raised.
I scramble to my feet and hurry back into the bedroom, where I dive into the salt circle around the bed, and press my fingers against Mom’s wrist. Her slow but steady heartbeat turns my legs into jelly. Dropping down on the edge of the bed, I kiss Mom’s hand. I want to say I’m glad she’s okay, but she isn’t. I try to swallow the lump in my throat, but it’s too big. My thoughts go to Simon, who was a good friend for so long. Or at least I thought he was. I’m so angry at him, but his death still hurts me. Until a few minutes ago, there was still hope in my heart that everything could go back to normal. That our circle of friends could be restored. They might have been under a spell. But when I looked into his eyes and saw the passion there, the passion to destroy the world, I knew he was lost.
“Are you okay?” Charlie steps into the circle. His eyes are full of tears. It’s so typical that he would ask me if I’m okay, when he just watched our friend die.
I stand up and put my arms around him. “There was nothing we could do. We did the right thing.”
“I know. But still…”
I sigh. “Yeah.”
CHAPTER 32
Since Simon, the ghoul and the minotaur don’t go up in smoke like demons do, Charlie and I have to perform a ritual to make them vanish. It requires the burning of a body part taken from the deceased, which thankfully Jeep is willing to cut off. The fingertips go into a bowl of water, mixed with elder bark.
“Be careful with the cesium,” Vicky reads from Dad’s notebook. “It is a dangerous kind of metal, that will explode on impact with water. Keep it away from the bowl until you have spoken the words.”
Charlie lights the candles around the three bodies and I read the words.
“Powers of Air, hear my cry,
take these spirits to the sky.
Powers of Fire, hear my call,
take them away from us all.
Powers of Water, hear my cry,
give these souls their final goodbye.
Powers of Earth, hear my prayer,
take these spirits and clear the air.”
I drop the cesium into the bowl and step back. The bowl rattles as the contents explode. A white cloud with red specks moves through the hallway. It whirls around the candle flames. Then it breaks up into little pieces and drops into the bodies. There’s a loud hiss and the pieces rise into the air again. They’re no longer white, but bright red. Just below the ceiling, they form a large cloud that casts a shadow over the bodies. Slowly, their faces fade, erased by an invisible force. The red cloud pulses. Then without warning, it drops down. The candles are extinguished and with a hiss, the three bodies go up in smoke.
I sigh. “Well, three enemies down, only about a thousand left to defeat.”
“Don’t be such a pessimist,” Vicky scolds me. “We’ll get there. We just have to take it step by step.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” I rub my face. “It just sucks having to kill a friend, you know.”
“And there’s another one out there,” Charlie reminds me.
My mind is trying to come up with a scenario that doesn’t involve killing another so-called friend, but deep down I know I’m just kidding myself. These guys have been working for the Devil all along.
Vicky changes the subject. “You should call Mona to see if Mrs. Delaney got her powers ba
ck. Simon might have been the one who took them from her.”
I hope she’s right, but of course nothing comes easy.
No, she’s still the same, Mona responds when I send her a message.
Okay, working on it, I write back.
Charlie’s stomach rumbles as I put my phone away. “Can we eat something? I’m starving.”
Charlie and I are chewing on our sandwiches when Quinn appears.
“Nice of you to show up,” Charlie says between bites.
Quinn pulls up an extra chair and sits down next to him. “I’m sorry, I was following a lead I couldn’t let go. Besides, you know I can’t get involved too much. That’ll only make the fight harder.”
“What kind of lead?” I ask.
His gaze jumps to Vicky for a second. There’s hurt in his eyes. “I can’t tell you yet. It might be nothing.”
My throat tightens. I can hardly squeeze words out. “Can you help me in the kitchen for a minute?”
He follows me and I fold my arms, leaning against the kitchen counter. “What’s going on? What is it with you and Vicky?”
“I think Vicky might have more to do with the Devil than we know.”
“What? You think she’s working for him, too?”
He shakes his head. “I didn’t say that. What I suspect is that there’s a hidden power within her that can help us defeat Lucifer.”
My mouth falls open. “Really? What kind of power?”
He shrugs. “That’s the problem. I don’t know. I’m not even sure I read it right. So please don’t share this with anyone.”
“Okay, I won’t.” I open the cabinets in search of more to eat. “I haven’t been this hungry since...” I stare at the ceiling trying to remember. “Well, never.”
Quinn winks. “Get used to it. Now that your powers are growing, you need more fuel. Especially when you use them as much as you do now.”
“Hey Dante!” Charlie yells from the living room. “Do you have anything else to eat? I’m still starving!”
“You’re always starving!” Quinn and I yell in unison.
Cards of Death Box Set Page 39
