Insight (Web of Hearts and Souls #1)(97)

The passage that I’d made to rescue the girls was still there. Landen gave one more pleading look to Brady before reaching to lead them in with us. When the string passed darkness surrounded us. As our eyes adjusted the moon gave light through an open ceiling. Cold, damp stones made the floor and walls. The wind was the only thing that could be heard.

The altar was in the center of the room, and three velvet red stairs led to the stage upon which it set. It was covered in a black cloth, and blood red roses were centered on the table. In front of them, the book was lying open. Along the back wall, eight planets were carved into the stonewall. Shadows from a candle lit at the bottom of each one gave definitions to the carvings.

A massive stone fireplace lined the wall to the right. Above it, a large portrait hung; it was of Perodine. On the opposite wall, a long, beautiful wood box laid, a bright light shining from the top. Marc’s curiosity took him there as Brady made his way to the wall to look more closely at Perodine’s portrait. I looked cautiously up at Landen before we stepped forward to the altar to take the page that would save my friends.

When I stepped on the first step I felt a spike of fear that caused me to hesitate. Looking to the source, Marc. I saw him standing over the long wooden box, covering his mouth and trying to hide his disbelief.

“What is it?” Landen whispered harshly.

“It’s Adonia,” Marc answered.

Landen quickly looked around the room, searching for another coffin, one that might hold Marc’s mother, Beth, wanting to shield him from such a pain. Not finding one, we slowly walked to his side. The box was sealed with a glass top, and inside laid a beautiful young woman frozen in time. Dressed in a white gown, her hair was long and dark and decorated with diamonds, and her olive skin lay against silk sheets. Marc stepped back, slowly shaking his head in disbelief as grief filled him along with the memory of his mother.

“What is this? How is this possible?” Brady said leaning closer to make sure it really was her. He was just a small child when she went missing.

“This must be preserving her somehow,” Landen said, running his hands along the coffin and examining it.

“Why would they preserve her?” I asked, not understanding why someone would hold on so tightly to someone who had left this world so long ago.

“She was Alamos’ daughter. Maybe he’s trying to bring her back somehow,” Landen said.

I remembered the story my father had told me before—Alamos was Donalt’s most powerful priest. I felt my stomach drop, my hands began to sweat, and my heart was pounding through my chest. I couldn’t help my unexplained panic. Landen glanced at me just as we heard someone laughing.

Drake had appeared out of nowhere and was now walking across the room, dressed in a black suit.

I swallowed hard and tried to control the adrenaline that was coursing through my veins.

Landen took the first protective step, pushing me behind him. Brady then stepped in front of Landen as Marc stood in front of us all. Stopping in the center of the room and looking over Marc carefully, Drake said, “Ah, you must be Marc.” Half-circling him, looking him up and down with his coal black eyes, Marc didn’t answer. Stepping closer, he dared Drake to make a move, anger coursing through him. Drake shook his head as a boyish grin spread across his face; he then turned and walked to the altar, and as he climbed the steps, he glanced in my direction. Catching me peeking around Landen, he winked then placed his hands on the book. “Oh, how I’ve waited for this,” Drake said to the room.

He snapped his fingers, and the candles that lined the walls all lit, giving the room an eerie glow. Growls could be heard at once, and now standing at his feet were the demons. Drake turned in my direction and smiled through Landen at me. I felt Landen reach the point of wrath. “Hey, fair is fair, Willow. You brought your friends, so I thought I’d bring some of mine.” He stepped down and walked toward us, weaving his head and trying to pull me into a stare, ignoring Landen and Brady. Marc held his ground.

“Willow, can you see his intent?”

“No.”

“He’s trying to get you alone. He can’t do what he wants with me this close to you.”

“I have to get the page.”

“Okay, we’re going to ease our way over there. Stay behind me.”

We took two steps sideways toward the altar. Drake then took a dominant step toward us, and Marc charged him. As he did, a demon jumped from the stairs onto Marc’s chest. Brady rushed to help defend Marc when another smaller one jumped from the stairs onto him. Marc and his demon rolled across the floor, crashing into the fireplace.

Landen reached back to ensure himself that I was still safely behind him. Drake walked without fear to Landen and stared him down.

“Get the page, Willow.”

I closed my eyes, hearing Landen’s request, not wanting to leave his shield. I hoped he was using his gift of intent and knew I would be safe. I stepped out from behind him. Drake and Landen were now face–to-face, glaring at each other with their shoulders back, waiting for someone to make a move. I kept my eyes on Drake, ready to dash back to Landen if he even attempted to come near me.

A blood-curdling scream went out, but Landen and Drake never broke eye contact. I looked to the fireplace and saw that Marc had taken a poker and stabbed the demon in the heart. As he did, the one on Brady squealed then they both vanished. Marc was enraged and charged across the room with the intent of killing Drake, then out of nowhere a woman screamed out and threw herself at Drake’s back.