The Golden Tower (Magisterium #5)(23)

“Yeah, we know,” said Call.

“Though in the future we’d appreciate more concrete warnings, you know?” said Jasper, totally failing to grab Warren and interrogate him. “Less of this beating around the bush. Just say what you mean.”

The lizard regarded him darkly and ate the last cricket. “Come with Warren. I have something to show you.”

“Does he always refer to himself in the third person?” Gwenda whispered as they followed Warren out into the corridor.

“Not always,” said Call. “It’s inconsistent.”

Gwenda muttered something about not being able to believe they were doing this. It was late, and the corridors were dimmed with low light. No students were around as they hurried after the bright lizard, who turned corners so swiftly that they were soon all lost. Call could sense his companions growing uneasy as the ground slanted down and down, and the walls became more splotched with damp. He felt as if he could sense the presence of the weight of the whole mountain above him, pressing down.

They came at last to a passage that was more like a crack in the rocks. It was horribly narrow. Warren scuttled into it, clearly expecting the rest of them to follow. Havoc, unable to fit, hovered worriedly by the entrance.

Call glanced toward Tamara, who swallowed hard and slid into the space after the lizard. They had to shuffle sideways to push themselves along, the stone pressing against their backs and stomachs. Call could hear Jasper complaining that he should have eaten less lichen at dinner. Please, please, don’t let me die stuck here, Call prayed, and I’ll do everything I can to defeat Alex.

He heard Tamara give a gasp of relief, and a moment later he popped out of the narrow space like a cork out of a bottle.

All around them were walls made of hardened volcanic rock, black and craggy. The heat was intense. Both Jasper and Gwenda gasped as they emerged into it. Fire was audible in the distance, crackling like thunder.

“Where are we?” Jasper looked around. A wide corridor led between two long rows of cages, whose bars were made of glimmering gold carved with fire symbols. Call had been here before, though he’d come through Anastasia Tarquin’s offices.

“This is where they keep the Devoured,” said Tamara quietly. “Those who have been consumed by elements. This area is for fire.”

“Warren?” said Call. “Warren, what are you doing? How did we get in here?”

“There is a secret way into every place,” said Warren. “And someone here wants to see you.”

He began to scamper down the corridor. After a moment, the four students followed. It was so hot that Call felt as if every breath were searing his lungs. Tamara and the others looked miserable, too. He was glad Havoc hadn’t come — a fur coat was the last thing anyone needed down here.

Most of the cages were filled with what looked like roaring bonfires; some were blue or green, most red and gold. In one cage, lava dripped from the ceiling like fiery rain. A wheel of fire spun in the air.

Tamara paused in front of an empty cage. The inside was blackened stone. Her lip trembled. “Ravan,” she said, touching the bars.

“Your sister is free.” The voice crackled like fire itself — Call knew immediately who it was. The students turned to face the cage opposite them.

Marcus, Devoured of fire, sat on a burning throne inside his cage. He was all black smoke, except for two burning eyes made of fire. He had been Master Rufus’s own teacher, until he had let fire control him.

Warren ran squeaking into Marcus’s cage and scampered up one smoky leg. He perched on Marcus’s knee as the Devoured scratched his scaly back. Warren half closed his eyes and purred. Call had seen a lot of weird things, but he had to admit this was one of the weirdest.

“Wow,” Gwenda whispered.

Privately, Call agreed. He went up to the bars of the cage, as close as he could without getting burned. “Marcus, we need your help,” he said. “You’ve helped us before.”

“And to what benefit to myself?” Marcus inquired. “I am still here, inside this cage.”

“You’ve done good in the world,” Tamara said firmly. “You helped us defeat Master Joseph.”

“And now his apprentice rises, more powerful than ever he was,” said Marcus. “Perhaps there is no victory, Rufus’s children.”

“He actually only became my Master fairly recently,” said Jasper. “I mean, for the record.”

“Marcus,” Call said firmly. “What do you know about Alex Strike? The Devoured of chaos?”

“I heard rumors such a creature had risen,” said Marcus. “At first, I did not believe. To be Devoured of chaos is to be overcome by the void. That which is not. The emptiness at the heart of the whirlwind.”

“Well, believe it,” said Tamara. “Is Automotones back?”

“Many have returned,” said Marcus. “The Devoured One was consigned to chaos. But he was able to tear open a door into our world and return. He brought with him those he thought might help him here — Azhdaha, the Great Dragon. Automotones. The most savage of the Chaos-ridden ever to be hurled into the void. All have returned at his side.”

“What about Stanley?” said Jasper.

“Who the heck is Stanley?” said Gwenda. Even Marcus looked puzzled.

Call sighed. “He was a Chaos-ridden who was loyal to Constantine. Me. Whatever. I don’t think Stanley was his real name either; it’s just what I called him.”