A bright blue light appeared in the center of the circle. It bobbed for a few seconds before brightening so much they had to turn away. When they looked back, Shamarion stood there, his sapphire robes practically shining. The scent of sulfur retreated a little, and Jez felt stronger.

Luntayary, I did not expect to find you here. He looked around. Truth be told, I did not expect ever to walk these grounds.

Youre safe, right? Jez asked.

Shamarion inclined his head. You summoned me. The core of my power remains at the Keep of the Hosts. I can be banished here, but I cannot be destroyed.

We need help, Jez said. Sharim and Mirel have the Library of Zandra.

Mirel?

An afur, but one that went to the other side. She tricked us.

Shamarion scowled, but his expression softened after a second. He shook his head. I cannot face the whole of the hordes of the abyss, not alone.

We can still do more with your help than without it.

You misunderstand. I did not mean I wouldnt help. He smiled, an expression which seemed out of place, given where they were. I said I could not do it alone. Give me a little time. I can gather support from the other pharim. The demons have been coming into your world since your kind first began to walk the earth. I think it is time we returned the favor.

For a moment, all three of them were shocked into silence. It was Osmund who finally spoke.

Youre going to lead an invasion against the abyss.

With Luntayarys aid.

My aid?

Of course. I cannot return here unless I am summoned.

Jez nodded. His mind reeled from the implications, and he could see his feelings reflected on the faces of Osmund and Lina. The pharim invading the abyss itself. He could hardly believe it. This was the stuff of legends. He tried to swallow, but his throat was dry. When he spoke, his voice was raspy.

How long do you need?

A day.

A day? Jez gaped at him. To gather an army of pharim to lead against the hordes of the abyss, you need a day?

Shamarion scrunched his brow. I see your point. We shouldnt delay, or the opportunity will be lost. Half a day.

Jez could only stare. What exactly do you want me to do?

Do not be killed, and when you summon us, do not call for me. Call for pharim in general, and dont add the limiting rune. We cannot always tell where a summoning originates, and that will allow us to respond without having to choose to enter the abyss willingly.

But... Summoning without a limit rune was incredibly dangerous. It opened the door for a mult.i.tude of beings to come through, none of them controlled. In this situation, however, that was exactly what he wanted. Never mind. Well call you when the time is right.

Shamarions eyes snapped to the cage mouth. He curled his fingers around the hilt of his sword for a second before releasing. I should leave this place. My presence is attracting unwanted attention, and youre not ready to face the things that are found here.

Jez nodded and brought his hand to his throat. Believe me, I know. We need to go too. Mirel has probably already sent others to find us.

Shamarion inclined his head and disappeared in a flash of blue light. Outside, Jez heard the rumbling of heavy footsteps. He looked to Osmund. Did you find another way out of here?

The cave goes on for a long time. There might be, but I didnt find it. I wouldnt want to get lost down there, though.

Jez, there are probably other demons down there too, Lina said.

The thing outside roared so loud dust came free from the ceiling. The three exchanged glances. Well, we know theres definitely something out there, and Shamarion specifically asked us not to die, so I think we should try our luck in the cave.

It roared again, but this time, creatures from deep within the cave responded. Dozens, if not hundreds, of roars sounded from within the earth. They were coming closer. Jez pursed his lips.

Or maybe we should just go outside.

CHAPTER FORTY.

Lina, can you send out decoys? Jez asked.

She nodded, and images of Luntayary and Ziary appeared. They were imposing, but they didnt look quite right. They didnt have the same presence as their real counterparts. Ordinarily, theyd be good enough.

What senses are you using?

Sight, smell, and sound. Theres a little protection and destruction, but Im not that good at those. They wont hold up to a close examination.

Hopefully, they wont need to. I think that should be enough for a little while.

Are you ready? she asked.

Jez took on Luntayarys form and nodded. Ziary stepped up next to him and did the same. Their false images extended their wings. There wasnt enough room for them to do that in the cave, and their wings pa.s.sed right through the stone. A second later, they flew out. Jez and Ziary exchanged glances before running out of the cave and taking to the air.

The thing stood at least twenty feet tall and was wreathed in flame. Bat-like wings rose from its back. Bone spikes jutted from its arms and legs. Deep red scales covered its body wherever bone wasnt showing, and a pair of curved horns came from its head. Fire billowed from its nostrils with every breath, and a forked tongue flickered from its mouth. Burning cracks ran up and down its body which constantly spurted fire and smoke. It had three sets of eyes, each burning like fire. Fear welled up inside of Jez, but he forced it down. He knew this creature.

Thats a phobos, Jez said.

That doesnt look like a phobos, Ziary said.

Its a phobos that has its full power. It wont be as easy to beat as they are in our world.

One of its clawed hands grabbed at the fake Jez but pa.s.sed through the image. The creature roared, and Jez felt the impulse to run, though Luntayarys power blunted it. Ziary shifted his weight.

Fighting a phobos has never been easy.

Jez nodded, and Ziary shivered. As if detecting the gesture, the phobos turned and focused its six eyes on them. The illusions buzzed around it, but it ignored them. Its hand slashed forward, but Jez flapped his wings, and its hand pa.s.sed beneath him though it came close enough for him to sense its power. He felt an echo of his own. Ziarys sword sank into its arms, but it barely seemed to notice. Its hand shot forward and closed around Jez, and the world vanished.

The boy was on the ground in tears. The creature raised its foot to bring it down on the human, but a ball of force hit his leg and sent him to the ground. He got to his feet and saw another boy, even younger than the first. The child threw power, and the next thing the creature knew, it was back in the abyss, its form dissipated.

Jez gasped as the fingers squeezed. He was almost positive that vision had been accidental, the result of him touching an echo of his own power. This wasnt just a phobos. This was the phobos Jez had banished on his first day at the Academy. The phobos recognized him as well. It brought him to its face and opened a wide mouth full of teeth seemingly made of black stone. Rather than drawing more deeply on Luntayarys power, Jez released it. His form shrank, and he slipped out of the demons hand. Almost instantly, he called his wings back. Jez drove his crystal sword into the demons abdomen, but the creature was too powerful for even his weapon to have much of an effect.

Jez darted into the air, and Ziary flew in close to attack. The scion delivered a quick slash to the creatures chest before diving away, but the demon threw out his hand, and a rope of fire lashed out and wound itself around Ziarys feet. The demon tugged, jerking Ziary backward. The phobos caught him in his hand, and Ziary screamed. Jez turned in the air and rushed toward his friend. At the same instant, a ball of fire engulfed the demons head, but it ignored the illusion, and the flames vanished just as Jez reached Ziary. Scarlet energy ran through the scions body. There was a cracking sound, and Ziarys form fell away to be replaced by Osmund, who wasnt moving. A heartbeat later, Jezs blade sheered through two of the demons fingers. Osmund fell free, and Jez dove to catch him. Just as they neared the ground, half a dozen duplicates scattered in all directions, and Jez could feel the well of protection energy inside of them.

I may not be able to fool that thing for long, Linas voice said. Jez looked around, but he couldnt see her, but I think I can buy you a few seconds.

Jez nodded and placed Osmund on the floor. Before he could say anything, the other boy vanished.

Thanks Lina, he said under his breath before taking to the air again.

The flame rope tried to entangle Jez, but a quick slash of his sword severed the end of it. Jez drew deeply on Luntayarys power until it singed his flesh. He shaped that power into chains and threw it at the phobos. The creature caught the chain in its hand, but Jez sent a surge of power into it. The hand steamed, and the demon roared and tried to release it, but the chain had burned itself into the phoboss hand. Jez flew around the creature until he had it completely tied up. The demon struggled, but the chain was too strong, and Jez continually poured power into it. The demon screamed as the binding burned its flesh and fell to the ground with a thundering crash. Jez landed a few feet away and staggered to it. The demons six eyes focused on him. With one quick slash, Jez removed the beasts head from its body.

The head rolled away, though its eyes locked onto him every time they turned in his direction. It was a full minute before the creature roared. The sound shouldve never been able to come out of a severed head and probably couldve been heard for miles. Blue flames erupted around the demon, both from its head and its body. In a matter of seconds, it was consumed, leaving nothing but a pile of ash.

Jez felt a faint pulsing of power where its body had been. For a moment, he couldnt believe it. If the demons physical form had been destroyed in the mortal realm, its essence would return here while it recovered, but it had been destroyed in its home. There should be nothing of it remaining. Jez stepped forward and closed his eyes. He reached out for the power and excitement welled in him. This wasnt the demons power. It was fading quickly, and it would be gone within an hour, but he recognized it. It was his own. He started to laugh.

Jez, what is it? Lina asked.

She had reappeared and examined Osmund. He had his eyes open and struggled to sit up. Jez pointed at the ashes. I bound that demon over two years ago.

So?

So I created a talisman to keep it in the abyss. The talisman was linked to the demon, but now that the demon is destroyed, the talisman is crumbling. Until it does, though, part of that link is still in the abyss. Its free to be used.

You mean Sharim could use it to get free?

Jez shook his head. No, the other end of the link is still sealed away by my talisman, but I made it, and I can take it down.

Jez what are you saying? Osmund asked.

I can get us home.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE.

Jezs awareness ran through the link until he could sense the lower levels of the Academy. Wards surrounded him, powerful ones that would prevent them from leaving the room if they were there physically, but it would still be a thousand times better than being trapped in the abyss. The silk doll that served as a talisman to keep the phobos locked away was decaying, but so long as it held, he would be able to open a way back. He took a deep breath and returned to his body.

He sat on the burned out ground where the phobos had died. Osmund stood over him, though the larger boy struggled to stand up straight. Lina waited nearby as well. Jez saw the characteristic darkening of the land around them which told him Lina was hiding them beneath one of her illusions.

Anything? he asked.

Osmund looked down at him and shook his head. Weve seen some demons, but none of them came close.

We should hurry, Lina said. With what youve been doing, it wont take Mirel long to tell the false images Im sending her from the true one.

Jez nodded. Be ready to fight off whatever comes. Linas illusions probably cant hide this.

Jez, are you sure? Osmund asked.

No, but this is a combination of banishing and summoning, and its going to be a lot of power. Shes not good enough in either of those to know them well enough to hide them.

Lina huffed. You know, I am standing right here.

Jez raised an eyebrow. Am I wrong?

Well, no.

Thats not what I mean anyway, Osmund said.

Then what?

Are you sure we should be leaving?

Jez gaped at his friend. Osmund, are you serious? This is the abyss. Were both wounded, and Lina is exhausting herself trying to hide us from senses she doesnt have. Why shouldnt we be leaving?

Because we delivered the library into Sharims hands.

That brought Jez up short. Osmunds words seemed to hang in the air. Jez looked in the direction of the library. With no fog, he could make out its outline on the top of the large hill. I hadnt thought of that.

Really? Youve hardly thought of anything else for the past six months.

For the past six months, I wasnt in the abyss.

We have a way out, Lina said. We can take care of Sharim later, if he can even escape.

He can, Lina. That knowledge is in the library. If Sharim can find it, h.e.l.l be able to invade the mortal realm with a practically endless army of demons.

You can barely stand.

Im the only one who can summon Shamarion and the rest of the pharim. He pursed his lips. He had to drag the next words out. Look, Lina, theres no reason for you to stay here. I can send you back.

For a moment, she looked surprised and a little pained, but Osmund spoke before she did.

What about me? he asked, making no effort to hide his wide grin.

Jez rolled his eyes. I would be glad if you werent around to bother me.