I looked up, confused by the word. “Soul mate?”
“It’s what mages call their spouses. We believe that the union of two people is a conscious and deliberate joining of souls.”
My fingers trembled as I looked at the ring. “Where did you get this?”
His lips tightened at my delay in responding. “I bought it in town tonight. It’s just silver and lapis.” He shrugged. “If I’d had more time—”
I shook my head, cutting him off. “It’s beautiful.” I let out a long shuddering breath. My heart pounded in my ears. Never in my life did I ever think I’d be so lucky. “I don’t deserve you, you know.”
“Sure you do. We deserve each other—that’s why we’re so good together.”
“Yes,” I whispered. “Yes, I will be your soul mate.”
He tackled me and suddenly I was too busy sobbing. And kissing him. And saying quietly to myself, “Miracle number four.”
Chapter 31
Tall pine trees rose like old gods from primordial soil. The air was scented with the dark perfume of damp earth, pine needles, and the pleasing brackish tang of lake water. Silence reigned except for the occasional soft lapping of water against rock.
Lago D’Averno was located in southern Italy, near the town of Pozzuoli. According to Nyx, the lake was sacred to the Romans, who believed it to be the entrance to Hades, their version of the underworld. “But the modern history of the area is interesting as well. Last year, the Italian government seized the lake from a private owner because of Mafia activity.”
“Oh?” Giguhl piped up. “Like what?”
“It was a hideout for their hit men and their drug-fueled parties. They also found evidence of several executions on the site.”
“That’s pretty awesome,” Giguhl said, shooting me an excited look.
That certainly explained the heavy death energy in the air. I hefted the bag of supplies higher on my shoulder. “Let’s get moving.”
Because it was the new moon, the night was spectacularly dark. But instead of feeling like a bad omen, it felt… comforting. I suppose it should. After all, in addition to being a Chthonic mage, I was also a vampire. Night was my kingdom.
Recent rains left the earth muddy and our feet sank into this ooze, masking our footsteps. Tristan led us through the tree line and we emerged on the banks of the lake. The body of water was formed in an old volcanic crater and was almost perfectly round. I stopped, listening for signs of trouble, but the area was quiet. Too quiet.
“Why is it so calm?”
“Avernus means ‘without birds.’ It’s believed most wildlife avoids the lake because of volcanic fumes,” Tristan said. “But I think they avoid it because they know this place is full of dark, heavy magic.”
“Where’s this grotto?”
He waved a hand over his shoulder to indicate we should follow him. We climbed down the banks of the lake and trekked a couple of miles. Probably this area was a draw for tourists during the day, but now it was closed and we had the run of the place.
Eventually, we found the entrance to the grotto. It stood at the end of a pathway lined on either side by towering trees. Cut into a tall rock wall, the entrance looked like a large keyhole—or the entrance to a womb.
When we reached the opening, Tristan held up a hand to still us. “Sabina must go in alone. She will summon Hekate and make the proper offerings. Once they have set off, we will follow.”
“Wait.” I shot Tristan a panicked look. “I thought you were going with me?”
“We’ll be behind you,” he said. “But only you can open the gates.” He motioned to Giguhl. “She’ll need the bag.”
Not for the first time, I wished Rhea were with us. She’d said her good-byes in Tuscany before we’d headed out. She’d wanted to come, but we’d all decided that if the worst should happen, she needed to be alive to lead the mage race. The good-bye was tearful and hard, but I was relieved that she, at least, would be safe.
Giguhl came forward quietly and handed over the sack containing all the items we’d collected for the rites. His face was solemn as he surrendered it to Tristan.
I forced a smile. “Thanks, G.” He laid a massive claw on my shoulder and squeezed.
“If you run into trouble, summon me. Remember that.”
Part of the plan was to send Valva and Giguhl ahead to the demon realms to wait for us. It would be too much of an energy drain to maintain our hold on them in the nondemon areas, since their bodies would be pulled back to Gizal and Zigal like magnets.
I blinked against the sudden sting in my eyes. “I will.”
He hugged me hard. “I’m ready.”
I pulled back with a sniff and looked at Valva. “Stay with him.”
She smiled and put her arm around Giguhl’s waist. “Absolutely. We’ll see you in Gizal.”
I took a deep breath and muttered the incantation to send Giguhl back to his home. The instant before he disappeared, he winked at me. Valva disappeared a split second after Giguhl. Since she was a Lilitu demon, she could move between the mortal realm and Irkalla of her own will.
“Adam,” Tristan called. “Come help her prepare while I help Calyx and Horus set up a perimeter.” The faery and vampire had met up with us the instant we materialized in the forest. They’d spoken quietly to Tristan to let him know the coast was clear but otherwise had remained silent. “We don’t want any nasty surprises interrupting the rites.”
I blew out a long, deep breath. We’d gone over all this at the estate before we flashed to the lake. But now, facing the reality, I realized how unprepared I really was for what was coming. After all, Tristan had based his instructions on vague theories and arcane bits of information. The truth was, none of us really knew what was waiting for us in Irkalla—that is, if we could get there at all.
Adam came forward, taking the bag from Tristan. “How you doing?” he whispered.
I choked on an ironic laugh. “Peachy.”
He placed a warm palm on my suddenly cold cheek. “You’re gonna do great. Soon this will all be over and we can go on a nice long vacation. Just the two of us.”
“You promise?” The tears were more insistent now. Neither of us expected to come through this intact. We’d danced around that issue, but neither of us had spoken the words out loud. I’d never met Lilith in person, but her reputation didn’t leave me feeling very confident I’d escape this confrontation unscathed.