Page 89 of Hell’s Half Acre

More whispering, only this he couldn’t make out. It was as if a thousand voices spoke at once.

He half expected to be thrown back through the opening and off the mountainside.

Instead, a glimmering light appeared in front of him. “Follow, son of darkness.”

With no choice, Luke did so.

The light led him through painted corridors. Murals of ancient kings and their battles decorated every inch of the cave walls. It was as if Ecanus had created a living history book. Especially since the murals moved and continued to fight.

Impressive.

After what seemed like eternity, the narrow corridor widened.

The light transformed into a beautiful naked woman. She wore an elaborate feathered headdress that matched the feathered cuffs on her ankles and biceps. Bowing low before Luke, she moved her arm through the air and pulled back an invisible curtain. He stepped through.

On the other side was a perfect paradise. Lush and green, it was a lot warmer in here than the cold mountainside.

Even so, Luke kept his parka on. Heat he could stand.

Cold…

Just the word itself froze him to the core of his soul.

Flowering plants fell from the top of the cave and shimmered all around him like some fey garden.

The red flowers from ceibo trees dangled all around. It was beautiful here.

But he saw no sign of a Chthonian.

“Ecanus?” he called.

Something that felt like two hands grabbed hold of Luke and pulled him forward until he stood before a large earthen dais.

Atop the mound was a massive throne that fanned out from the creature seated in it. It was so gold and shiny that Luke had a hard time looking at the man seated there.

Ecanus was decked out from head to toe in turquoise. An elaborate gold-and-turquoise triangle diadem rested on top of his head. Huge turquoise and red feathers fanned out from the diadem to frame the face of an exceptionally handsome man.

A long piece of turquoise ran through his septum, parallel to his lips. Long, beaded gold-and-turquoise earrings fell all the way to his broad, muscled shoulders. His turquoise cape was trimmed with red-and-black embroidery. Tied to one side, it showed off his elaborate breastplate and exposed a gold feathered armband.

Beneath the cape, he was naked except for a matching loincloth that was tied at his waist.

That mode of dress was impressive, but Luke was grateful he wasn’t required to wear it. Just the thought of it made him even colder.

“How dare you come here. This is my domain, and you don’t belong in it.”

Luke held his hands up to show the Chthonian that he meant him no harm. “I’m not here to challenge you.”

“Then why come?”

“I have a puzzle involving the god Xolotl.”

Ecanus scowled. “What are you, working on a term paper? There’s no puzzle. Xolotl’s dead.”

“How sure are you about that?”

Ecanus cocked his head. “What do you mean?”

Luke conjured an image of Sorcha and cast it to show in front of Ecanus’s face. “That’s my partner. She smacks of his pantheon. One of Xolotl’s priests tried to kill her earlier. When I went after him, he shot himself. I need to know why she’s so important.”