Chapter 40

Chapter

Forty

Ana

C rusher and I approach the base of the Eiffel Tower, and my heart pounds with excitement. Soon, this nightmare will be over.

At Ember's insistence, she's bringing Phil behind us, keeping him contained with some kind of magic.

She told us to meet her at the corner of the North pillar, near the statue of Gustave Eiffel. And although it's the middle of the night, many people are walking around in this city of lights that does not seem to sleep.

We debated our timing for quite a while. Coming right after sunset would have reduced the risk that Phil, Crusher and I might try to come back through the portal during daylight hours, but that timing would have risked more potential witnesses.

Ember says she can create an illusion to hide our entry and exit, but she looked worried about executing too many pieces of magic at once. Keeping Phil from attacking me, opening the portal, all while holding an illusion to hide us from passersby. It does seem like a lot.

I argued we should wait until three or four in the morning when few humans would be around. Crusher acted as if the timing didn't matter, and in the end, Zuben closed the discussion. He pointed out that time itself might work differently in the other realm, so our fussing about choosing the perfect time to start this quest could be moot.

Phil, Crusher and I could be in the other realm for weeks, but only moments might pass here. Or the other way around. For Ember's sake, I certainly hope that won't happen, but at least she's okay in daylight, and can watch the portal for as long as it takes.

If it is daylight when we cross back, the three of us will just have to face burns. And then quickly feed from Ember. Or maybe we can wait inside the portal until sunset. Ember hasn't explained exactly how the portal will look or function, and I suspect she isn't certain herself.

I file all these questions under: cross that bridge when we come to it.

Checking the dagger, I run my fingers over its hilt. Hidden under my sleeve, it's stashed in one of Blade's wrist holsters that he modified to fit me and the dagger. Then I adjust the waistband of my trousers. I'm not used to trousers, but Crusher thought they might be more practical than a gown, so I conceded, borrowing a pair from Ember.

I stare up at the tower. Its construction was completed in 1901, two years before my year of birth, and while I knew of this tower as a child, I never visited. Father didn't think it was appropriate for my sisters and I to travel very much until we took husbands, and of course none of us lived long enough to do that. None of us except me.

Hope floats into my trepidation. Once the demon's cast out of Phil, perhaps I can put marriage onto a list of possibilities for my life. The idea, never appealing before, warms me.

"They're coming," Crusher says, and I turn to look for signs of their arrival.

"Where?" I ask him.

"Still a half a mile away," he says. "I sense Phil."

I nod, wishing I could sense him right now. I was devastated after kissing Blade and Flame goodbye, and it didn't cross my mind to tune into Phil. I'm grateful that Crusher thought to do it.

"You okay?" Crusher asks, and I nod.

"I wish I could spare you this." His eyes fill with anguish. It's clear he wants to spare me what's to come, as much as he's ever wanted anything.

"Thank you." I smile. "I appreciate that. And I also appreciate you offering to cross over with Phil and me. But I still think you should wait over here with Ember." She's made it clear that this will be dangerous. There's no sense risking more lives than necessary.

"No." Crusher takes a step toward me.

My belly stirs. I don't know if I'll ever get used to Crusher's size and commanding presence. And I'm not sure if my body will ever get past its visceral reactions when he demonstrates his protective power.

"I will never let you be alone with Phil." Crusher's voice is deep and strong. "Never. Not until this demon is gone."

"What did you and Ember talk about last night?" I can't believe I haven't asked him already. But beyond the preparations, and the sleep Ember insisted I needed, I wanted to spend what little free time I had today with Flame and Blade.

Crusher's jaw shifts. "She was just making sure I understood the danger." He shakes his head. "She tried to talk me out of crossing, but her warnings made me even more determined to go with you."

My chest expands with gratitude. Crusher makes me feel safe. And while I still hate that he lied to me, I do trust him with my life, even if I can't trust him with my heart.

We both turn to the side. Ember and Phil are in sight.

Phil is walking strangely, almost like he's trying to run but is being held back. Ember is doing something to constrain him, and it breaks my heart to see Phil like this. But excitement floods inside me, flushing aside all my fears. I will succeed, no matter how difficult this is. I will end this nightmare. Soon, I'll be in Phil's arms again.

As the two of them get close, my nerves reignite. We're attracting attention. Phil and Crusher are both very large and drop-dead gorgeous, so I can't blame people for staring.

"How are you feeling?" Ember asks me.

"Ready." I smile at Phil, and even through his clothes and his skin, it's like I can see his heart beating under his chest.

"I'm ready to get this fucker out." Phil winces in pain, and my heart breaks again.

Not only do I want to erase his pain, I know I'll have to cause him more. To save Phil, I need to stab him.

Drawing deep breaths, I remind myself that Phil can survive a stab to the liver. And that he's well equipped to face the pain.

"Why did the magic keepers put the portal here?" Crusher asks, staring at a group of approaching tourists. They quickly change direction and scatter.

"The portal was here eons before this tower," Ember replies. "Not to mention this city."

Crusher nods.

"Actually," Ember continues, "I'm pretty sure the tower is here because of the portal."

"Really?" I ask her. "Why?"

"Gustav Eiffel's daughter, Claire, was a magic keeper."

"Really?" I look up at the tower. "Did she…"

"No." Ember laughs. "I don't think that this tower, the Statue of Liberty, or any of her father's feats of engineering involved any magic. In fact, I don't think Gustav knew of his daughter's talents. They came from her mother's side of the family. Her mom died tragically when Claire was only fourteen."

I nod, in genuine interest. This history lesson is helping to postpone the inevitable, and I'm keen to stall as long as I can.

"How do we get started?" Crusher's body language indicates that stalling is the last thing on his mind.

Ember glances around. And then, in a flash of light, she turns to spread magic around us. I search for an opened portal but see none.

"Where is it?"

"I haven't opened it yet."

I cock my head to the side.

"One step at a time." Ember nods stiffly. "With the spell I just cast, anyone who glances this direction won't see the four of us standing here. Or the portal once it's opened."

"Wow."

A group of drunken revelers approaches, but they stagger past us, laughing, as if we aren't here.

"I put up a barrier," Ember says.

"No kidding." Her magic is impressive, as is her improvement since we first met. Back then, she'd only just become a vampire and barely knew she had magic. I've been through a lot, but Ember had so much to process all at once, and my admiration for my friend expands. "The barrier around us is invisible. Like on the plane."

"I mean that barrier." She points toward a waist high fence, blocking off access to the statue we're near.

"It should drop the risk that someone will slam into the side of the actual illusion."

"Smart." I grin at her. But my face feels tight. Listening to all these details can't take my mind off what I must face.

"So. You going to open it?" Crusher asks.

"First," she turns toward Phil. "Are you in control right now?"

He nods. "Fucker is tamped down tight."

Ember glances toward Crusher, who nods.

"As soon as I open the portal, I'll release the magic constraining Phil." Ember looks at me, fear in her eyes, and then turns to Crusher. "Ana should enter first, to make sure Phil follows?—"

"I'd follow her anywhere," Phil says, as if Ember suggested otherwise.

Ember keeps her focus on Crusher. "You follow directly behind Phil. Understand?"

He nods stiffly, and I suddenly sense that the two of them discussed more last night than Crusher let on. But it's too late to ask questions now, and I'm not even sure I want to know the answers. If Ember told Crusher more details about what we're about to face, I'm glad one of us knows.

Crusher's body is tense, like he's preparing for battle, and nerves scramble inside me, threatening to paralyze my muscles. I shake them off, letting strength and courage banish my fear. I have no time for fear now. I must save the world. I must save Phil.

Turning away from Phil, I touch the dagger under my sleeve. Based on what Ember told me, it's possible that the demon can sense the weapon is nearby. But if Phil sees me touching my arm, the demon might guess its location.

"Ready?" Ember asks.

We all nod.

She flicks her wrist, and Phil stumbles forward. His gaze shifts toward me, and my heart nearly breaks from the pain and longing I see in his eyes.

"Can I hold you?" he asks. "Just for a second, before…" He turns toward Ember. "It's me. I have it under control."

Ember shakes her head, clearly hating the idea, but I dash toward Phil, and we fall into each other's arms.

"Ana, no!" Crusher yells.

But love and desire explode inside me at once as Phil's strength wraps around me like a massive, heavy blanket, making me feel safe, making me feel like I'm home.

Maybe we don't need to do this. Maybe Phil's okay like this. Maybe he has figured out how to control this demon. Maybe he's banished him all on his own.

Phil's body tenses. A growl builds up in his chest, one so visceral I feel it rising.

"Finally," he growls in my ear. "Finally, you are mine." His voice sounds unnatural.

I try to push away, but his hold is too tight.

Phil screams in anguish. His arms drop from my body, and he staggers back.

"Open it!" He screams. "Now!"

Ember closes her eyes, mouths an incantation I can't comprehend, and then swirls her wrist. A hole appears in the ground in front of the statue, with a ladder leading into abject blackness.

I stare agape.

"Go." She grabs my hand. "Quickly. And come back. Come back, no matter what happens."

Nodding. I head for the ladder and start to descend.