Chapter 10

Cera led Ursula into the heart of the city, along a winding path that curved between humble homes, their facades lit by glowing mushrooms.

In the center of the Grotto was an open cobbled square that reminded Ursula of an Italian piazza. At one end stood a tall building carved from a single pillar of rock, beneath a peaked column that hung from the grotto ceiling, nearly touching it. A giant stalagmite.

Violet light glowed over the swooping runes and sigils that covered its surface—similar to the ones she’d seen in the tunnels, but with pictographs: curling creatures that looked like caterpillars and bats. Ursula shivered at a carving of an eight-legged beast: the Molok.

Cera led her up a flight of sloping steps carved into the stalagmite, and Ursula’s new heels clacked off the stone. At the top stood a pair of oneiroi guards dressed in blood-red cloaks and holding spears tipped with silver axe-heads. They nodded curtly at Cera. I guess we’re expected.

Teetering slightly in her heels, Ursula followed Cera inside the stalagmite building, where she found herself in a single room. An ancient oneiroi woman with long, silver hair and glittering violet jewelry sat on an onyx throne on a dais. It took Ursula a moment to realize that Bael and Kester were standing in the shadows near the dais, and she smiled with relief at the sight of them.

Cera bowed before Bael. “My lord. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting?—”

“Cera,” said Xarthra. “The demon’s name is Bael. He is not your lord within the Grotto.”

Cera scowled. “Yes, of course, Xarthra. I forgot.”

If Bael was upset about the lack of honorific, he didn’t show it, instead giving a short bow. “Thank you for brining Ursula here.” He smiled at Ursula, his eyes gleaming with that deep, familiar gray. “We were just making introductions. Xarthra, this is Ursula. She and Kester are here to help us restore the moon to its rightful owners.”

Ursula smiled, nodding as if she had any idea what the hell Bael was talking about.

Xarthra stared at her, tapping the armrests of her throne. “I have heard of your exploits, Ursula. Is it true you defeated Abrax at the Lacus Mortis?”

Ursula shivered, thinking of how she had almost died that day. “I was able to drain his magic, but I’d be lying if I said I knew how.”

Xarthra cocked her head. “A stupendous feat in any case. Abrax poses a great threat to our society. If we are to retake the moon, he must be defeated.”

“Thank you.” Ursula cleared her throat. “Sorry—where exactly are we?”

“I am Xarthra. Daughter of Zeth. Oldest living descendent of the Shining-Haired.” Xarthra’s eyes flashed. “And I will rid the moon of the demons and lead my people to freedom once again.”

Ursula stared at her. “Right. Of course. And Bael and I are helping you.”

Xarthra blinked slowly, retaining her regal bearing. “As you know, Bael has his own reasons for assisting.”

Ursula smiled, nodding again. Of course I don’t know. That would involve Bael having filled me in.

Bael stepped forward into the candlelight. “When I returned to the moon after Abrax stole my wings and attacked my manor, I was lost. Alone. Eventually I would have succumbed to Hothgar and the other lords. But, with Cera’s help, Xarthra showed me a new path.”

Okay. Ursula couldn’t quite play along any longer. “Let me get this straight. You’ve been working with the oneiroi resistance this whole time?”

Bael nodded. “I didn’t see any reason to fill you in. After all, you work for Emerazel.”

Frustration simmered in her chest. “Any of you happen to know which oneiroi planned the attack on my room the last time I was here? The bomb with the note?”

Bael looked confused. “A bomb with a note?”

“An oneiroi on a white bat threw a bomb through my window. There was a note too. It said that I wasn’t welcome on the moon, and that next time they wouldn’t miss.”

Concern furrowed Bael’s brow. “I don’t know who that was.”

Xarthra raised a wrinkled finger. “That was my doing. I sent one of my men to try to scare you away. We worried that your presence—” She paused as she carefully considered her next words. “We worried that you might distract Bael from more important matters.”

“Can someone tell me what the fuck is going on?” Kester interrupted. He looked exhausted, with his hair plastered to his face and smudges of dust on his cheeks.

Ursula let out a long sigh. “Demons and oneiroi are working together to defeat Nyxobas. That’s the long and short of it.”

“Righto,” said Kester, looking down at his cuffed hands. No one but he and Ursula seemed bothered by the cuffs.

Ursula turned back to Xarthra. “Is there any chance you could get Kester something to eat and drink? He’s had a rough couple of weeks.”

Xarthra nodded at the nearest guard, who scurried off. Then, she tapped her fingertips together. “Bael and I will raise an army of oneiroi to defeat the demon invaders.”

Ursula frowned. “What about Abrax’s golems? He has his own army.”

Xarthra smiled for the first time since Ursula had met her. “The golems will be neutralized.”

“Neutralized?” Ursula stared. “I nearly lost my life to one. A single golem killed at least three of Nyxobas’s most powerful demons with nothing but a knife. How are you going to neutralize them?”

Bael scrubbed a hand over his stubble. “She’s not going to believe us unless we show her.”

Ursula lifted her manacled hands. “As much as I want to see the golems straight away, I don’t suppose anyone could help with this situation?”

“Oh. That.” Xarthra narrowed her eyes. “We’ll get there.” Without another word, Xarthra rose and began striding over to the piazza, her movements shockingly smooth for someone who looked so ancient. “And you’ve probably never seen exactly how the oneiroi can really fight, either. Follow me, and I will show you.”