Osmund went on as if he hadnt spoken. Even if we didnt, thats not what Villia said. She said you cant go into the abyss of your own free will and come back again. We didnt come of our own free will. Mirel brought us. We can get out. We just have to figure out how.

Thats it? Jez asked. Just figure out how to escape from whats basically a prison world built to contain demon lords?

Can you banish us to the mortal realm like you were trying to do to the library?

Jez thought about that for a second before shaking his head. I dont think that would work from here. It wouldve with the library because we were in Between. Plus, we were in a stone building, and I know the rune for stone. I dont know the runes for flesh and blood.

Osmund waved to the ground beneath their feet. Theres stone all around us. Cant you just build something for us to get into out of that?

Use stone from the abyss? Are you kidding?

Why not?

Why havent you cleared out this fog?

We need it to hide.

Jez raised an eyebrow and though he doubted the other boy could see the gesture, Osmund sighed. It gives me the chills. I dont want to touch it, but I would if it were the only way to get out of here.

So would I, Jez said, but you have to admit the air here is different. Osmund nodded. So is the earth, and Im not about to surround ourselves in it and try to ride it back to our world. Jez pursed his lips. Not unless we dont have another option.

Jez, were in the abyss, Lina said. What other options are you expecting to find here? I think you should try it.

Its not that simple. I could accidently kill us trying to get out, and our souls could be trapped in the abyss for eternity.

Lina gaped at him. That couldnt happen, could it?

Jez shrugged. Its a world created to keep spirits in. I have no idea what will happen to ours if we die here.

But you will soon find out, I think.

The voice came from everywhere and resonated oddly as if spoken by many at once. Instantly, Jez summoned his sword. Lina vanished, though Jez could still see the outline of where she was standing in the fog. Flames flickered around Osmund as he held himself ready to transform. The mist swirled around them and began to take the shape of tendrils moving through the air. One wrapped itself around Jezs neck and suddenly became solid. It squeezed, and Jezs sword fell from his hand and vanished. His vision started to go dark. He tried to grip the tendril, but his fingers pa.s.sed right through it.

Ziary slashed, and the creature hissed as the flames of the scions sword left an acrid smell that overpowered the ever present odor of sulfur. Jez fell to the ground, coughing and wheezing. More mist entered his nose and mouth, and he felt it grab him from the inside. Ziary was occupied freeing Lina whod been entangled by the fog creatures. Jez flailed for his power, drawing more deeply of Luntayary than hed done since his battle with Marrowit, when hed nearly been consumed by the pharims power.

Nothing happened.

He wouldve gasped if he could have. The creatures were somehow entwined around his soul as well, and while Luntayary might be mightier than they, the demons had effectively come upon him sleeping and had tied him up so completely he couldnt move.

Ziary cut away the last of the tendrils holding Lina and turned to Jez. He shouted something that couldve been a curse and streaked forward with fire rushing out from his outstretched hands. Jez cried out as the flames engulfed him, but though he felt a little warmer, he didnt burn.

The creatures squealed and released him. Instantly, his form became that of Luntayary. Some of the mist still billowed from his mouth as he slashed. It was only then that he saw it wasnt many creatures, but one, a ma.s.sive being as big as some buildings. Its form was vague and indistinct. It shifted constantly, and hundreds of tentacles flailed about it. One lashed at Jez, but he felt a well of protection magic spring up a few feet away, and the tentacle turned aside and sliced through it. Jez slashed, severing the appendage.

It senses magic, Lina said through clenched teeth. I think I can distract it.

Jez nodded and took to the air. A skilled illusionist such as Lina could deceive not only the five standard senses but also the ones a.s.sociated with each of the seven dominions. All around him, Jez felt illusions of protection magic come into existence. Dimly, he was aware of those of destruction and knowledge, the other dominions hed been trained in, but he didnt sense those nearly as clearly. The fog creature lashed out at all of them, though it seemed not to be able to see Jez. He drove his weapon into the center of the writhing ma.s.s of tentacles. The creatures scream shook the land around them. It flailed wildly, catching Jez with a tendril and sending him flying. He righted himself just in time to see Ziary dive down from above and impale the beast. The scion dragged his blade all the way to the ground leaving a gash that spurted fire, but it still wasnt enough.

So you dont like fire, Jez said, his hands already crafting a working.

While ember magic was in the dominion of destruction, protection could produce something close. It wouldnt burn wood or flesh, but demons were another matter. A flaming arrow shot forward, splitting tenfold while still in the air. Each piece impacted the creature. Jez waved a hand, and burning lines appeared between the arrows remnants, forming a net of pure flame. Jez closed his fist and the net tightened. The fog beast snarled and tried to get free, but the bands around it held fast. Smoke rose from its body, and the smell of burning fur came so strongly Jez thought he was going to be sick, but he managed to keep his lunch down. It cried out once more, then went silent. Its form became nothing more than a blackened husk that collapsed into a pile of ash. The fog was gone.

We should hurry, Jez said. Someone else has to have heard that.

Lina stared at the remains for several seconds. How come it didnt vanish?

When you destroy a demons physical form in the mortal realm, its essence returns to the place where its power resides, normally the abyss, but here, if a demon is destroyed, their essence has no place to retreat to. He waved at the fog demon. Whatever that thing was, we didnt just banish it. Its been completely destroyed, and I don't want to be around when its friends show up.

Both Lina and Osmond nodded, and they continued down the hill, leaving the demon corpse behind them.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN.

Walking hurt, and with every breath, the coppery taste of blood filled Jezs mouth. The fog demon had apparently hurt him more than he had realized, and after a few minutes, he had to stop to catch his breath. Osmund kept looking up the hill, in the direction of the demons corpse.

Sorry, Jez said. He coughed into his hand and felt something wet splatter there. When he pulled it away, it was red with blood. Oh, that cant be good. Osmund, you didnt manage to pick up any healing from the beast men, did you?

Osmund shook his head. I only saw Penar once that entire time.

It wouldnt be so bad if it wasnt so hot.

Lina stepped up to him. Let me try something.

She put a hand on his forehead, and the heat seemed to leech away. He felt like he was out on a cool autumn evening. It wasnt long before he stopped sweating.

I didnt know you could do that.

I cant, Lina said. Not really. You just think youre feeling cold. This is a dangerous working, though.

Its an illusion, Jez said. It cant be that dangerous.

Jez, your body feels heat for a reason. It knows how to react to it. If I make you think youre not feeling heat, your body wont know what to do.

What does it matter as long as I dont feel it?

She raised an eyebrow. The red sun of the abyss accentuated her scar. You might be able to push yourself a little harder, or your body might cook itself from the inside.

Really? Above them, something screeched, and Jez had to squint to see a flock of dark figures flying overhead. He didnt know if theyd been spotted, but he didnt want to take the chance. Never mind. Lets keep moving.

He still got tired, and the pain of breathing didnt go away, but without the oppressive weight of the heat, moving became a little easier. He kept watching creatures flying in and out of the dark clouds, but none came close. Near the base of the hill, they found a cave and ducked inside. It was little more than a crack, only about six feet wide and barely taller than Osmund, though it went back farther than they could see. Lina made a light. The red stone that made up the walls made it seem like they had been swallowed by some great beast. Osmund took Ziarys form, which was even more cramped in the tight s.p.a.ce, and went to explore the interior of the cave while Jez and Lina stayed near the mouth.

What are we going to do now? Lina asked.

Jez let out a breath. Im not sure. I keep thinking we have to go back to the library. We basically gave Sharim the thing weve been trying to keep from him, so we know the knowledge of how to get out is in the library somewhere.

Are you sure?

Of course. Enki... He hesitated. Mirel told us. I dont think she couldve lied, not if she was a Lightgiver. He wracked his brain, trying to remember the exact words Mirel had used when pretending to be a demon. She couldve led them to believe something that wasnt true without speaking a single lie. Finally, he shook his head. I dont remember what she said. Still, if nothing else, the library is made of real stone, and I might be able to use it to get back home.

How do we get in there? Osmund asked as he came out of the shadows.

Jez coughed up more blood and shook his head. Lets get some rest. Maybe in the morning... He waved his hand toward the mouth of the cave. The effort made him feel dizzy, and he leaned against the wall. Or whatever the closest thing to morning is here, well be able to think of something.

Osmund and Lina exchanged glances. Lina put a hand on Jezs shoulder and started to say something, but Osmund spoke over her.

Thats a good idea. Get some sleep. Ill stand watch.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT.

Whats wrong with him? Linas voice asked.

Darkness surrounded Jez, but it wasnt of the ordinary sort. He could see himself perfectly clearly, but everything else was complete darkness. In the distance, he heard a soft whispering just loud enough to hear, but not enough to make out the words. He had the uncomfortable feeling it was the shadow Luntayary had locked away in his mind. He took a step away from it and the sound of his footstep seemed to echo forever.

He almost had his guts ripped out by a demon, Osmunds voice said.

h.e.l.lo? Jez cried out. His voice sounded hollow. He guessed at where the voices were coming from and ran in that direction.

Will he be all right? Lina asked.

The wounds I got from that demon hurt more than they should, and they havent gone away. Im not sure we can heal naturally here. We need to get him back home.

So thats where you are, another voice said.

Mirel?

The voice laughed. It took me a while to make it past the wards on your mind. They were impressive. I dont think I wouldve been able to manage it if you hadnt already given me a link to your mind.

When you gave me the fake memories of library.

You figured that out, did you?

Well, we cant exactly launch an a.s.sault on a library full of demons, Lina said. Her voice seemed far away.

Jez shrugged. You were still trapped in the abyss when the library burned. It wasnt hard to figure out. You never actually told me it was a true vision. I a.s.sumed that on my own. What I dont know is why youre confirming that for me, Jez said to the disembodied voice.

Maybe I dont think you can get free of me anymore, so I have no reason to hide it. I do, after all, enjoy dispensing knowledge.

What was that? Osmund asked.

Or maybe Im a distraction.

On instinct, Jez raised the wards around his mind. There was resistance there, but it was a weak thing, and he cut through it easily. Mirel started to say something, but her voice cut off. Jezs eyes snapped open just as Ziarys sword cut a bat demon out of the air. The acrid smell filling the cave told Jez it hadnt been the only one, though the air was empty. He picked himself off the ground and saw piles of ash scattered about.

What happened? Jez asked as he sat up.

We cant stay here, Osmund said. They know where we are.

I think theyll know where we are regardless, Jez said.

The other two looked at him, and he explained about Mirel linking with his mind. Lina nodded and placed a hand on his forehead. She closed her eyes for a second.

I can feel it.

Can you undo it?

She c.o.c.ked an eyebrow. Jez, its afur work. I dont have the power to undo one of their workings. She took a deep breath. Maybe I can do something, though.

She began to chant. Her eyes became twin points of violet light that shone as a stark contrast to the nearly universal red of the landscape around them. They grew brighter until Jez couldnt see her face. She threw out her hands, and motes of light shot out of the cave. Lina stopped chanting and sank to the ground. Jez moved to help her. She started to wave him off, but after a moment, she took his arm.

Im fine. Just give me a second.

What did you do?

I couldnt hide you from her, but I sent out false links. Each of those lights will feed her a fake location. We should still move though. She already knows about this place. Can you walk?

I think so.

Any idea where we go?

Jez looked at the dead demons. They could only be killed because this was where their place of power resided. Otherwise, the destruction of their physical form would only banish them. Demons werent the only spirits though. It was an incredibly foolish idea, but they were desperate.

Before we go, theres something I want to try.

Cant it wait? Osmund asked.

Jez didnt answer. Instead, he just started walking in a slow circle. Walking a circle instead of drawing one was a poor subst.i.tute, but he didnt have any materials, so he had to make do. As far as the summoning itself, he thought he could manage. Hed worked out how to do this long ago, though he never thought he would have to use a walking circle. He wouldnt be able to protect himself from the being summoned, but if all went well, he shouldnt need to. He started chanting, and his friends, realizing what he was doing, backed away. He lifted his arms and called out the name of the being he wanted to summon.

Shamarion.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE.