He looked me dead in the eye. “Sabina Kane, I promise with every fiber of my being that we will be together. Nothing above or below this earth will keep me from you.” He kissed the ring he’d given me the night before.
His vow caused a shudder to pass through me, like a spell had been cast. I returned his clear-eyed stare and repeated the words. “Adam Lazarus, I promise with every fiber of my being that we will be together. Nothing above or below this earth will keep me from you. Even if death separates us, I will always be yours.”
His eyes flared at my impromptu addition. “If death separates us, I will always be yours,” he echoed in a whisper.
I grabbed him and pulled him to me. More than anything, I wanted his words to be true. More than that, I needed his strength against me. Needed my last sensation on this mortal realm to be his scent, his heat, the taste of his lips.
Despite our promises, we kissed like we’d never see each other again. “I love you,” I whispered against his lips.
If Tristan or the others were uncomfortable by the display, they didn’t react. No uncomfortable clearing of throats or shuffling of boots or claws. Eventually, though, Nyx whispered gently, “It’s almost midnight.”
I pressed my lips against Adam’s once, twice, three times to sanctify my vows. Then, with tears blurring my vision, I pulled away so he could dress me. As he bent to open the bag, his free hand swiped at his eyes. I didn’t bother trying to remove the tears from my eyes or face. Salt and strong emotions were great conductors of magic. They’d strengthen the ritual. And I needed every advantage I could get.
The gun belt had been a gift from Nyx. The twin pistols had mother-of-pearl inlaid in the handles. Adam had provided the apple bullets. Next, he added a few protective amulets. They clinked against the priestess necklaces and the lodestone necklace Zen had given me. I suddenly felt like Mr. T, but I wasn’t about to reject any of the magical weapons.
Finally, Adam finished loading me down with weaponry. “You look like a warrior queen.”
The corner of my mouth lifted. Truthfully, with each new item, I felt my resolve strengthen.
“Here goes nothing.” I took a deep, calming breath. Ahead, the entrance to the Oracle’s cave yawned open like a demon’s maw, waiting to swallow me into the abyss. A hush had fallen over the crew, their tension palpable against my skin. I accepted a torch from Tristan, as well as two unlit ones to use later, which I stuck in my pack. He offered me a facsimile of a reassuring smile but said nothing. What was there to say, really? Good luck? Hope you don’t get killed?
“Don’t f**k it up,” he said finally.
I bit my tongue against an angry retort. “Yeah, thanks.”
I stepped into darkness alone. The air here was musty, noticeably colder. My footsteps echoed off the ancient stone walls in time with my thudding heart. Every dozen or so steps, an opening in the wall let in a breeze off the lake. The air whistled through the corridor, like dire predictions from Sybil herself.
One opening led to a small, dank room. Steps down took me to a natural bridge made of stone. Dark, oily water stood on either side. Time and moisture had promoted algae, which spread across the top like a cancer. I realized this must have been the ritual cleansing area Nyx had warned me about.
As the vampire had instructed me, I dipped my fingers into the water. It was thick and smelled terrible, like sour dishrags and mold. I ignored my gag reflex and touched my fingertips to my forehead. As I did, I whispered a prayer to Sybil, thanking her for allowing me to enter her sacred space.
I exited the bathing chamber and continued down the corridor. At the end, a large room opened up. High, arched ceilings rose overhead. Besides the main space, two side niches were bathed in shadow. Low stone benches had been carved into the walls. But straight ahead, a conspicuously bare space must have once held the Oracle’s throne.
Just in front of the empty spot, in the center of the main room, sat the charred remains of an ancient fire. I lowered the torch for a closer look. Among the burned wood and ashes, small animal bones bore evidence to past sacrifices. A shudder passed through me. Would Hekate demand a sacrifice? If so, it was a good bet that the powerful goddess would demand something more powerful as a tribute—a blood sacrifice.
I seated the torch into a rusted metal bracket on the wall and began removing supplies from the pack Adam had given me. First, I spread out a black cloth in front of the old fire pit. On that I placed the amphiphon cakes Rhea and I had baked. I removed the black candles and placed three in each cake. Once they were lit, I laid out a flagon of red wine and a plate of almonds. I placed a yew twig, sprigs of lavender, and fragrant verbena along the top and edges of the cloth. Last, I removed the three large black pillar candles. These I poked into the earth, each flame representing the points of a triangle.
My preparations made, I retreated toward the doorway and sat. Crossing my legs into lotus position, I placed my upturned palms on my knees and closed my eyes.
“Sovereign Goddess of Many Names, Goddess of Magic, Queen of Crossroads, Lady of the Underworld, Hekate, I invoke and implore thee, reveal your almighty form to my undeserving eyes.”
A hot wind swirled through the chamber. The air echoed with warped whispers from another plane. I swallowed against the pressure building in my chest and continued my prayer. “Goddess of the Gateway, hear my prayer, heed my call, accept my humble offerings. Torchbearer, light my way, show me the entrance I seek. Hekate, I invoke thee three times three.”
The wind blew faster, harder. Even as the barometric pressure dropped, magic rose. At first, a prickle against my skin, then deeper. The blood in my veins sizzled, my stomach cramped, my heart galloped. My breath came in short bursts as my lungs struggled against the pressure. The power thrust up through me, forcing my eyes open.
A cyclone of black light formed in the center of the candles. The fires danced in the wind. Then, as quickly as the winds rose, they died. My ears buzzed from the sudden silence. I blinked and stared at the empty space between the flames.
I looked around, wondering what I’d done wrong. Had I angered the goddess? Forgotten a step? I looked right first, into the shadows of the side niche. Nothing. A low screech echoed through the chamber. A chill crawled over my skin. Turning my head slowly left, I saw two red eyes starting at me from the darkness.
I froze. Dear gods, what had I summoned by accident?
A large white owl flew out of the darkness. My heart stopped.
“Stryx?” I whispered. With achingly slow movements, I rose, not wanting to antagonize the vampire owl.