“It’s simple,” Bhati said, looking at Tremblay. “If Marcus is concerned that between the Grand Master, an angel,andthe head of the Alberta chapter there’s not enough power to make the return trip—which we believe is easier from the Borderlands than it is from Earth—then why does he simply not also accompany you?”
Tremblay’s eyes bulged at this suggestion. “You cannot be serious!”
“You don’t believe you’re powerful enough?” Bhati suggested mildly.
“That’s not . . . I mean, it’s simply . . . I don’t . . .” Tremblay spluttered.
Zach’s patience was fraying once more. “Tremblay, if you’re too much of a coward to make the trip, simply say so. Otherwise, shut up and allow the grownups to take care of this.”
“How dare you!” Tremblay barked. “I am no coward!”
“Then prove it.”
“Very well, I will accompany you. Heaven knowssomebodyhas to be the rational one on this expedition,” he said loftily.
“Now that’s settled, can wepleaseget going,” Zach practically begged Kensington.
“Yes. I believe we’ve wasted enough time.” He looked over at Simon. “Our provisions are ready?”
Simon nodded. “All packed. I’d added more than I thought necessary, so you’ll have enough for the addition.”
“Thank you, Simon,” Kensington said, clasping his shoulder. “Be well while we’re gone.”
“I’ve got things covered here. Just be sure to bring Drew home safe and sound.”
“We will.” He turned back to the group gathered to one side of the table, where a large, pinkish crystal sat in the centre. “Let us begin.”
Zach and Cavendish shouldered the large packs Simon had prepared, then took their place at the table. Kensington and Tremblay sat opposite them, and Zeng, Bhati, Van de Laar, and Simon each stood behind one of them. The four at the table reached out and joined hands, then focussed on the crystal.
“Do you have a visual of our destination?” Kensington asked Zach.
He nodded. If Drew had left something behind, then surely he’d be backtracking the route they had taken. His plan was for them to arrive halfway between the village and the rocky outcrop where they had faced off against the Shadow Blades. Hopefully, whichever way Drew had gone, they’d be relatively close to him when he traced Drew’s aura. “I do.”
“Direct your power into the crystal,” Kensington directed.
Zach’s ears popped as each magic user tapped into their well of power and the atmospheric pressure dropped. He focussed on the crystal, thenmurmured, “hanc potestatem libere do1.” Around the room, the others said similar words as they slowly fed their magic into the crystal. It was a slow process, since they couldn’t risk overloading the crystal and risk destroying it before they’d utilized the power within.
Zach was vaguely aware that dense clouds had formed inside the room. An errant thought crossed his mind that the beautiful summer’s day was going to be abruptly interrupted by an uncharacteristic thunderstorm. The local meteorologists were going to be left scratching their heads.
The crystal began to glow as the magic within built up, spilling pale pink light across the dark wood of the table. A bead of sweat rolled down Zack’s temple and over his brow, but he blinked it away, dismissing the distraction. It was hard enough trying to ignore the unfamiliar magic merging and meshing with his own as it collated inside the crystal. He was familiar with both Kensington’s and Simon’s magical signatures, but the others were strange to him. Opening himself up like this took a lot of trust, and considering there was one person at the table he didn’t trust at all, it made it just that little bit harder.
Thunder cracked the air directly overhead and made the entire building shake and shudder. Rain began to pelt against the windowpanes, and the wind howled across the bay, causing branches to slap against the outside walls. Zach’s ears popped again, painfully so this time, and he winced. He saw Kensington across from him do the same, and he knew they must be close.
The crystal glowed even brighter now, beginning to brim over with magic. A hairline fracture appeared in the base, and Zach’s eyes widened in horror. But then Kensington spoke, his deep voice cutting through the sound of the storm. “ad terram Luciferi nos duce,2” he intoned.
Zach could almost see the words of the spell hit the crystal, wrapping around it and drawing the power forth. The house shook once more as lightning struck the roof, followed by a clap of thunder so loud that everyone flinched in shock. The clouds that had formed inside the room itself were now producing rain, and Zach blinked away the water that streamed onto his face.
Above the table, the clouds began to swirl, faster and faster until they formed a vortex. The funnel of the vortex touched down, drawing even more power from the crystal, turning the swirling mass a pulsing pink colour. It danced across the table, and Zach felt like something had hooked into his spine, drawing him closer to it.
Tremblay cried out in fear, throwing a hand up in front of his face, but Zach kept his eyes wide open as he felt himself lift out of the chair and be drawn into the portal.
“I’m coming, Drew,” he thought to himself. “Hold on. I’m coming.”
Kensington’s workshop disappeared, and between one breath and the next, the four of them were in Hell.
1. 'This power I freely give'
2. 'Take us to the land of Lucifer'
