“Shut up, we’re going. Stop talking and let’s move,” Drea cut me off and started to cross the street.
Gage’s hand slipped into mine and he pulled me along. “The nearest cemetery is this way,” he said.
“We’ll scout the area,” Jacob said, and then he and Dash released their wings and shot into the sky, heading in the direction we were all already moving.
“I’m in too!” Indigo yelled, jogging after us while Marlow brought up the rear. My friends’ absolute willingness to just follow me into Hell to save my mom really hit me in the feels, hard. They didn’t even know the details, but they had my back. How did I get so lucky?
“We got this,” Gage assured me.
I wanted to stop and interrogate him within an inch of his life over what his aunt had said. He was clearly hiding something from me—definite weirdness going on with him and his yellow eyes—but it would have to wait for later. His strong hand in mine was an assurance that whatever it was, we would get through it together.
We ran across the street, down a cobblestone alleyway, and then across four more adorable stone cottage lined streets. Gage seemed to know right where he was going so we let him lead. When we finally ran up to a thick cropping of trees, he slowed. “This is it.”
“Hang on.” Drea pulled out her phone. “I’ll see if my mom and some of the master Lumens can portal here and help us.”
That would be amazing. The plan had been to bust into the Netherworld with an army, and so I was seriously freaking out about our small crew doing a last minute smash and grab under Apollyon’s nose.
“Dad, I need to talk to Mom. It’s urgent,” Drea said into her phone.
She was silent a moment and then her face fell. “What? Is she okay?”
My stomach dropped at the shock in her voice. That didn’t sound good.
What’s wrong? I mouthed.
“I’m… in England and it’s a long story, but Dad, go focus on Mom. I love you.”
There was some yelling, but I couldn’t make out the words and then she hung up.
“What happened?” Gage and I pressed her.
She swallowed hard. “My mom was attacked. Shades broke into the relic hall and stole the relic that keeps them from being able to use dark magic to make portals on campus. My dad said that my mom is in surgery. She’ll be okay, but not for a few days.”
“Oh my gosh, Drea. Go be with her.” I pointed to a passing cab, but she shook her head.
“No, she would want me here. I’m with you,” she said with tears in her eyes.
I pulled her in for a hug and then peered back to look at her. “Are you sure? Because I can totally do this with the others.”
Drea wiped at her eyes, determination settling over her features. “We’re going to get your mom back, Tatum.” There was surety in her voice, and I knew she probably needed the distraction. Waiting in the healing center for a loved one was a dark place to be, I knew from personal experience.
With a nod, Gage guided us over to the front of the cemetery.
I felt a surge of power rush through me the moment I walked through the open wrought iron gates and stepped foot in the cemetery.
“Help us.”
“Take us home.”
“Save me.”
Oh no, not again.
I glanced around the space and spotted Skye.
“This way,” I called to everyone, and we sprinted to where Skye stood. Dash and Jacob landed next to us when we reached her.
“We spotted a couple of people headed this way from the south,” Dash said as he readjusted the hood of his sweatshirt that had blown back during flight.
