Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and did all I could to lock my concerns away and focus on creating a portal like Aurelia had been teaching me. When I smelled the sulfuric stench of rotten eggs, I knew I’d done it.
“It’s large enough for me to go through,” Gage said.
I opened my eyes and stared at the opening between worlds my magic had created. I couldn’t see the landscape through the thick smoke seeping out of this portal, but from the strong scent of sulfur and heat coming from the smoke-filled opening it was obvious it led to the Netherworld.
Gage cast a final look at his father’s crumpled form on the ground. I couldn’t read his expression. It wasn’t sadness or regret, but it wasn’t satisfaction either.
“I’ll wait for you on the other side,” he said to me, and then stepped forward and disappeared into the smoke.
I gingerly released Indigo’s hands, concentrating on still siphoning energy so the portal wouldn’t collapse before I could get through. I didn’t give myself any time for doubts to creep in, and instead ran forward and was swallowed into Hell.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
Ilanded in the Netherworld on shaky legs and fell to one knee. Gage was there in an instant to help me up. Just like last time I traveled to the Netherworld, it felt like I’d been spun in a dryer before landing on solid ground.
I glanced around as I got to my feet, immediately on alert. The Netherworld was just as I remembered: black ashy ground as far as I could see, broken up by veins of orange that cut through the landscape. But one thing was glaringly missing: Shadow City.
My stomach dropped at the realization.
“The portal didn’t take us to the same location as it did the others,” Gage said, voicing my fear.
Oh, no.
“Where are we, then?” I asked as I scanned the area.
“Shadow City is that way, over that mountain range,” Gage said as he pointed over my shoulder.
I spun to see what he was talking about and caught my breath at the rock formations in the distance. They shot up from the ground like jagged shark teeth. Shiny red dripped from the top of each peak, leaking down the sides of the black rock.
“What is that?” I asked. “Lava?”
Gage was silent a moment, and I turned back to him. “Not lava… blood. Those are the Blood Mountains.”
Holy creepy Nightmareville.
“How do you know Shadow City is on the other side of those nightmare mountains? Have you been here before?” My boyfriend of all of one hour was just full of surprises today.
Gage shook his head. “No, but I’ve seen a map on my father’s desk. It was a while ago. It’s been years since he’s let me in his office unsupervised, but I had enough sense to memorize it while I had the chance.”
I took in a calming breath, gathering my thoughts while also trying not to freak out that I’d locked four of my Lumen besties in Hell and we were now miles away from them. “Okay, then we head that direction. By now Drea and the others must realize something has happened and we’re not coming through. The plan was to head toward the black castle in Shadow City, so you and I will still do that. We’ll find them on the way.”
“According to the map, there should be a tunnel through the mountains, so we don’t have to scale them,” Gage said.
At least that was one thing we didn’t have to worry about. I didn’t know if I could have climbed a mountain that was drenched in blood.
No, that’s not true, for my mom and friends I would have, but I was glad that I didn’t have to.
“All right, let’s go,” Gage said, and then turned toward the Blood Mountains.
“Hold up,” I said, and Gage stopped, glancing over his shoulder at me. When he saw the look on my face, he turned fully in my direction.
My mom needed me. My friends needed me. I knew we didn’t have a moment to spare, but this couldn’t wait either. I couldn’t go a minute longer without knowing what was going on with Gage. He’d kept secrets from me for days, but that stopped now.
“What’s going on with you, Gage? And don’t even try to play it off as nothing. I heard what Arthur said. Isawwhat happened to you. Were you bit by the hellhound you saved me from?”
I knew he had been. I’d already seen the evidence, but I needed to hear him say it.
Gage just stood there staring into my eyes, expressionless, almost as if he wasn’t sure if he wanted to tell me the truth or not.
