My shock faded as a new realization hit me like a brick between the eyes. “Fiora!”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Bale
Caim’sback hunched up as he rubbed his neck. “That was horrible.”
“Brother.” Raphael rested his hand on Caim’s back. “It is good to see you.”
Caim’s eyes swirled with confusion and love as he stared at Raphael with a parted mouth and the eager look of a puppy. These were words he’d never expected to hear again from an angel, but there they were. I wanted to let them have their reunion, but more and more demons were coming alive around us. We couldn’t stay here, and Ihadto know what had become of Fiora.
“Caim, Raphael, we have to go above,” I said. They both looked at me like they’d forgotten I existed. “We fell through a hole and into this level of Eldorata. Wehaveto go back there.”
“It’s good to see you too, Bale,” Caim quipped. “Why no, it wasn’t odd at all to become a statue.”
I grasped his hand in both of mine and squeezed. “Mysisteris a statue up there. Ihaveto get to her.”
Wrath rested his hand on top of my wrist and, with a gentle squeeze, pulled me away from Caim when I started jerking on him.
“Easy,” he murmured.
“Then we will get you above,” Caim assured me. “Shall I carry you, or would you prefer Raphael to do it?”
“I’ll carry her,” Wrath growled.
“My dear boy, we’re powerful immortal beings blessed with stunningly good looks, but I’m not carrying two of you at once,” Caim said.
Raphael rolled his eyes, and I wondered if he regretted revealing his distress over Caim’s frozen status. Wrath scowled at Caim as his power crackled against my skin, and Caim’s eyes narrowed.
“I’ll go with Raphael,” I said and rested my hand on Wrath’s chest. “I have to see my sister. I have to know if she’s awake too.”
I couldn’t consider the possibility she was still frozen, not while there was a bubble of hope building inside me. If we got back above and she was still frozen, it would be like losing her all over again, and I couldn’t handle that.
Wrath started to protest, but whatever he saw on my face caused his mouth to close, and he gave a brisk nod.
“It’s this way,” he said, and as demons continued to come alive around us, he led the way into the tunnel that would bring us out of this place.
Following Wrath into the tunnel, I ran with him past the countless statues as they broke apart and demons emerged from them. There were as many lower-level as upper-level demons.
I didn’t know if these demons were palitons or craetons; I didn’t know if they were aware they were on an entirely different plane. It was highly unlikely, but they would soon learn how much their lives had changed. They would also choose a side. These demons could be enemies or allies, but that was something to deal with later, after they eventually escaped this place.
When we became engulfed by darkness, flames rose to encircle Wrath’s hands. Those flames were the only source of illumination in the dark tunnel. My heart thundered with every footstep as I sprinted faster and faster through the awakening and disoriented demons. Many of them staggered around in search of a way out, some of them were getting their bearings, and some were fighting.
I ignored all of them as questions raced through my mind. What if Fiora didn’t wake up? What if the demons waking up now were the ones who hadn’t been under Mytaz’s spell for too long, like Caim? What if she remained frozen?
I didn’t know what I’d do if that happened. I hadn’t held out any hope of reuniting with her, but hope now thundered through my veins. I couldn’t lose her again.
Raphael and Caim flew ahead of us before doubling back and circling behind. Some of the statues we passed were still frozen, and the demons showed no signs of breaking free. Maybe Mytaz’s statues didn’t die right away, but after time, they were unable to survive in their frozen state.
Please let Fiora be free. Please let Fiora be free,I begged with every step I took.
When Caim flew overhead again, I tilted my head back to look at him. “Did the others make it out of the forest?”
Caim flapped his wings as he hovered above us. “We lost some humans and demons, but Corson, Wren, Shax, Hawk, Aisling, Magnus, Amalia, and Lix all survived along with the hounds. We’ve been searching for you.”
I sighed in relief. I might lose Fiora again, but I still had my friends.
“What about the nuckals?” I asked.
