“You know it.” Nix tossed a duffle bag on the bed. “And another sword and sheath from Cass’s collection. Roarke said you might need it.”
“You’re a hero.” I changed quickly while Cass and Nix explored the room.
“This place is nice,” Cass said.
“Yeah.” I strapped the new sword sheath to my back and picked up the hilt of the sword that the Phantom dragon had given me.
“You’ve got some answers?” Nix asked as she came out of the bathroom.
“Yeah. Let’s go down and get something to eat, and we can talk about it.” I was famished, and from the pale gray light coming in the window, it looked like it was dawn. Breakfast time.
We found Roarke and Aidan in the kitchen. Aidan leaned against the wall, drinking a cup of coffee, while Roarke poked at a massive skillet of eggs. It was an older, homier room, with a black slate floor and little framed pictures all over the walls, and the men looked distinctly out of place. Too big and too deadly looking, despite the spatula in Roarke’s hand.
Roarke and I traded smiles, then I looked at Aidan.
“Aidan! You came,” I said.
“‘Course.” He nodded at Roarke. “Just chatting with your friend here. It sounds like you have an adventure ahead of you. And behind you.”
“Adventure.” I thought of the dragons and the crazy ride down the mountain in the mining cart. “Yeah, adventure just about covers it.”
Roarke filled two platters with bacon and eggs, then nodded at the table. “Food’s up.”
“Thanks.” I grabbed a cup of coffee from the pot. I kept the sword hilt near me at all times, putting it in my lap as we all sat at the round table in the corner of the kitchen.
We dished up plates. As the first bite of eggs was headed to my mouth, Cass asked, “So what are we up against? Why are you carrying around a broken sword hilt?”
I set down the fork and pulled the sword hilt off my lap. “This is half of a talisman that will help me control the Cat 5 powers.”
“The Ubilaz demon powers,” Nix said.
“Exactly.” Between bites of eggs, I filled them in on what the Phantom dragon had told me—about how I’d have to use my dragon sense to find the blade and prove myself worthy of obtaining it.
“That’s not so hard,” Cass said.
I swallowed my last bite. “No, not normally. But I still have demons after me. Though I’ve finally got control of my other magic.”
“Well, that’s something,” Nix said. “When do you want to get started?”
“I’m thinking right about now.”
“Sounds good,” Aidan said.
“Since Roarke was good enough to cook, we’ll clean up,” Cass said. “You, Del, can figure out where we’re going to get this blade.”
“You’re coming?” Even as I asked the question, I knew the answer.
“Duh,” Cass said. “You might need help. I’m sick of sitting around and letting you do this alone. And anyway, I want to be there to claim some credit.”
I grinned. “Thanks.”
They cleaned up the dishes while I stayed in my chair, closing my eyes and focusing on my dragon sense. It was a little weird to use it around Roarke even though he knew exactly what I was doing, but it was fine.
When my dragon sense finally caught on and tugged, my eyes popped open. “Oh crap.”
“What is it?” Roarke demanded, coming to stand in front of me.
“My dragon sense wants me to go through the portal near your house. To the Underworld.”
“Damn it.” Roarke rubbed his forehead.
“Lots of demons in there, I bet.” Cass threw the dishtowel she’d been using on the counter. “Sounds like it will be a fight.”
“As long as we stick to my part of the Underworld, no,” Roarke said. “I have jurisdiction there. The demons will follow my command and not attack. But if we have to take a portal to another Underworld, then we’re in trouble. I rule those places through command over their king, not the subjects themselves. So if we happen to meet any wayward demons, they won’t necessarily listen to me.”
“And they’ll attack,” Nix said.
I looked at Roarke. “Is it even possible for them to go to the Underworld without dying?”
He nodded. “If I escort them through personally, then yes. But they won’t be able to get out unless I accompany them.”
“So if you get killed while we’re there, we’re stuck?” Nix asked.
“Yes,” Roarke said. “And if you get killed there, then you’re stuck.”
I grimaced.
“Then we’ll just have to make sure none of us get offed,” Cass said.
I met her gaze. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Her voice was firm. “And you’re going to need the help if you want any chance of making it to your sword. If we have to leave Roarke’s area, demons will be on you like white on rice, and you’re going to need help fighting them off.”
She was right. “Thank you.”
“But once you’re in your Underworld, how do we get to other ones?” Nix asked.
“More portals,” Roarke said. “They’re scattered over the different Underworld realms, connecting each of them.”
“So we just have to go and see where my dragon sense leads, then,” I said.
Roarke nodded.
I stood, nerves making my skin feel extra sensitive. “We might as well get a move on.”
“I can transport us to Roarke’s house,” Cass said. “It’ll save time.”
“Thank you.” It still kinda stung not to have my transportation power—I’d used it for so long it had become part of me—but Cass was always good about giving me a ride. And I had plenty of powers now. Too many, in fact.
Everyone made quick work of getting their things together. I strapped the sword hilt into the sheath that Nix had brought and carried the actual sword in my hand, ready to be used if necessary.
When we were all ready, we gathered around Cass. Because of her massive amount of magical power, she was able to transport many people at once.
“Okay, children,” she said in a singsong voice. “Everyone stand in a circle and hold hands.”
I grinned and grabbed Roarke’s and Nix’s hands.
Once we were all connected, Cass smiled and said, “Here we go.”
The ether sucked us in, a whirlwind ride that spit us out in the woods near Roarke’s house. At least, I thought it was near Roarke’s house. It was dark, the sliver of moon shedding hardly any light at all.
“Where’s the house?” Nix asked.
“Eh, somewhere nearby?” Cass said. “I’ve never actually been here, so I was guessing based upon what Del had told me before.”
“It’s okay.” I used my dragon sense to find the portal. “The portal is only about a hundred yards away.”
We set off through the woods, eventually coming upon the portal. It had been repaired since the last time I’d torn through it, so I could feel it but not see it.
“We’re here, right?” I asked.
“Yes,” Roarke said. He turned to my friends. “I’ll have to hold your hands as you go through. You need to be touching me to pass over.”
“We’ll go first.” Cass grabbed Aidan’s hand and stepped toward Roarke.
Roarke gripped Cass’s and Aidan’s hands, and they stepped forward, disappearing into thin air.
“Crazy,” Nix said.