Hardly anyone paid attention in Professor Hemlock’s class. It was a dreary day, and though nobody talked, nobody listened either. Students doodled in their notebooks while Hemlock rattled on about portals all hour.
“What you must understand about portals is that there are multiple supernatural races, as well as magical creatures, that can make them,” Hemlock began. “The fae are best known for their use of portals, but in some circumstances, angels can create them, too.”
I lifted my head off the desk. Angels could create portals? What kind?
I wanted to ask, but Hemlock went into the next part of her lecture before I could raise my hand. “Now, different portals are capable of transporting different beings. Typically, a portal can only transport one individual at a time, though some portals are strong enough to transport multiple beings. Portals that can transport demons from hell, for instance, have to be much stronger than portals that can teleport supernaturals.”
My hand was in the air this time before she could go on. “Could a portal transport… I don’t know… a god?” I asked.
Hemlock blinked. “I’m not sure what you mean, Miss Mitoh.”
“Like, if someone opened up a portal to hell, could a dark god pass through it, and come to earth?” I asked.
“I don’t believe so.” Hemlock shook her head. “A god cannot go through the same portal a supernatural or a demon can. The type of power it would take to transport a god to earth would be tremendous. I suppose the gods have come to earth before, in various forms and incarnations, but if a dark god was trapped in hell by the other gods, they wouldn’t be able to leave unless someone let them out.”
The bell rang, and Hemlock dismissed us. I wanted to ask Hemlock more questions, but I thought it would be risky, so I gathered my things and left.
Coyote had come to me, and so had Whale Spirit. But they were benevolent gods, for the most part, and I bet they could go back and forth from the Ancestral Lands to earth easily. Many of the dark gods, from stories I’d been told, were bound to hell because they’d been banished there by other deities.
What if the Warden hadn’t made a deal with a demon? What if he’d made a deal with adark god?
That was even scarier to think about.
Chancey sat on the stairs, working on a card trick. He was exactly the person I needed to talk to. His cards went flying everywhere as I plopped down beside him.
“Chancey, can I ask you a question?” I said.
He scowled and went to pick up the cards. “I’m a little busy, sweetheart.”
“Cool. So can an angel open up a portal to a spiritual realm? Say, heaven or hell?”
His eyes flashed to the side. “Eh… you’d have to be really powerful,” Chancey said with a shrug. “It’s gotta be in your blood. Our ancient prophets in our holy book were said to be able to go back and forth to heaven. But I don’t know anyone who could, in our time. Hell, though, that’s a different story. It’s easier to go down than up, if you get what I’m saying.”
“I’m guessing you can’t be an ordinary angel.”
“No. Only our Deacons can make portals to hell, and talented ones at that. Those are the most powerful angels on our ruling council.”
“So if a Deacon wished to go to hell, and they had the power, could they open up a portal to go there?” I questioned.
“It wouldn’t be easy. The ritual requires materials that aren’t easy to get your hands on, but I suppose if youreallywanted to… but then,whywould you want to?” He raised an eyebrow.
I clapped him on the shoulder. “This is perfect, Chancey, thank you.”
He looked totally confused as I left him behind. I began scouring the school, on a mission to find my friends. I figured they had to be at lunch, but I actually found them standing on the edge of a huge crowd gathered outside the Warden’s office.
“What’s going on?” I asked as I pressed close to Charlie. Oberi licked my hand as a greeting. I scratched his fuzzy ears, and his tail wagged as I observed the gathering.
“They’re taking new recruits for this year’s Darke Games,” Charlie said. “Ivy and Chancey already signed up.”
“Yeah, and Alistair joined them,” Marcus added.
“Along with Scarlet,” Kallie pouted, crossing her arms. “She wants to break out of here and leave me behind.”
I guess the new relationship wasn’t coming up roses. I scowled. “Do these guyswantto die?”
“I told them they didn’t know what they were getting themselves into, but they seem to think the Darke Games are going to be a fun adventure with a chance to win a free ticket out of here,” Charlie said.
“Reminds me of us,” I grumbled.
