“In the beginning, they followed you becausethe varcolac had always been their rightful ruler. Then theyfollowed you because you stood up for them and defended them. Youare far more powerful than they are, but you became one of them aswell as their friend and ruler,” I murmured. I focused on Kobalonce more. “Now they’ll follow you because they know.”
He tilted his head to study me. “Knowwhat?”
“What you went through to rise forthem.”
“I only went through what every varcolacbefore me has.”
“No. The entire dome would all be scorchedfrom the numerous risings if that were true. Instead, it’s onlymarked in that one area above and it’s fromyou. Your risingwas worse than any other before you, and though you’ve never saidit, you know what I’m saying is true.” A muscle twitched in hisjaw, and amber flashed through his eyes. “How bad was it?”
His hand cupped my face. “It is the way ofthings, River. It was nothing compared to what the pain of losingyou would be.”
My mouth parted on a breath. “You make mefall more in love with you every day.”
“That’s the plan.” His attention was pulledaway from me when the others stopped behind us. His thumb strokedmy cheek before he stepped away.
“Beyond this slab are the seals,” he said.“If another one of them has fallen, be prepared for a wave ofsomething to come rushing at us. I can feel that the hounds arestill alive, but whatever has happened to them, or is keeping themfrom guarding the seals, is something that could possibly stop ustoo. No matter what it is, go for the kill.”
Hawk pulled his gun from his holster. Balerested her hand on his arm. “Canaghs can kill through sex and theirpower thrives on it, but they also have other abilities. You arefaster and stronger now. If your fangs and claws haven’t come inyet, they will. Do not rely only on your human defenses forthis.”
“I won’t,” Hawk replied, but he kept his gunin hand.
The skelleins all took a swig from theirflasks before lifting their small swords. Their empty gazes focusedon the slab. “We would like some more beer or at least some mjéodafter this, Kobal,” Lix said. I had come to realize he was a littletaller than the other skelleins. “We are running low.”
“I’ll do what I can to get you some,” heassured them.
They nodded their agreement. Corson alreadyhad his talons extended; his citrine eyes were narrowed on the slabas he waited for Kobal to open it. Beside him, Bale had the smallsword she wore on her back in hand and a look on her face that saidshe’d slaughter anything in her way.
Magnus already had an image of himselfstanding beside him, and as I watched, duplicates of the otherscame to life around us. I managed to keep myself from jumping whenaround me, three images of myself materialized. I gazed at them inwonder, more so because he sought to protect me the most.
Kobal turned to me. “I know I won’t be ableto convince you to stay in here.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Then you are to stay by my side.”
“I will.” He continued to stare at me. “Ipromise. Iwillstay by your side.”
Taking a deep breath, he finally seemed toaccept my vow as he rested his palms against the slab. The umberlight spread outward from him again, illuminating the rock andrevealing the symbols carved into it. I braced my feet apart toprepare for what we were about to discover on the other side. Ididn’t bother with my katana as my hands spread at my sides andgolden-white light arced over my palms and wrists.
***
Kobal
The symbols on my arms pulsed with power asthey connected with the rock. I didn’t know how it all workedwithin this cavern or with these stones, but I did know it was apower so primitive it felt as old as the creation of the threeworlds housing the different species.
Each varcolac who had risen before mepossessed the ability to open and close the barriers to the Firesof Creation, whether it be from the symbols on their bodies orsomething else within them. My key to the barrier was my symbols,and I could feel them working within me to move the stoneaside.
The rock groaned before vibrating against myhands as the slab started to slide away from the wall. Steppingback, I glanced down at River and the golden-white light flashingover her arms. The vibrant power of this room had somehow restoredthe original color of her ability to her.
I’d always known this chamber housed themost power in all of Hell, but I’d never expected it to fuel her inthis way. However, I hadn’t fully expected her to be allowed insidethe chamber, or the others for that matter. I had a feeling thisplace somehow knew exactly what she was, what she was here for, andthat she was my Chosen. It would not harm her, not when she wasseeking to protect us all. And it would not hurt the others whenthey had so resolutely stood by my side through everything.
The rock settled into place with a puff ofair that kicked dirt and dust up around us. Immediately, thecoppery tang of blood and the rancid stench of rotting corpseswashed over me. Beside me, River gagged at the putrid scent and hereyes watered, but she didn’t step away or cover her nose.
Something screamed from the end of the rocktunnel before us. A tiny creature careened out of the shadows. Irealized the seventy-ninth seal had fallen as I took in thepanicked creature. The gobalinus waved its hands in the air,shrieking in distress as it ran in our direction. The two-foot-tallcreature, the color of sludge, didn’t veer off its course as itspiranha-like teeth snapped in the air. Warts marred its oval-shapedhead and stuck out nearly an inch from its leathery flesh.
I lifted my hand to set the thing on firewhen, from the darkness, a hellhound leapt out and pounced on itbefore I could destroy it. The hound’s jaws clamped down on thesmall creature and it gulped it down in one swallow. River gaspedbeside me; behind me, the others took a startled step back asconfusion emanated from them.
The hounds weren’t trapped somewhere. Theycontinued to guard the seals with their normal ferocity, yet theseals were falling. “What thefuckis going on here?” Ihissed.
