“Ash?”
Ruby approached from the other side of the terrace, wrapped up in a robe over her GASP uniform.
“Hey, Shortie.” I smiled.
“I’ve been looking for you—do you think they’re okay?” She came to stand next to me, looking out in the direction of the cove. “I’m glad you didn’t go.”
“I hope so,” I replied.
I didn’t know how I felt about being left behind. I knew and understood Derek’s reasoning—that if the mission were to fail, then the sentries would need a leader. Along with the rest of GASP, we would need to be the last defense against the entity and its army.
“I’m worried about Tejus—and Hazel. What she’d do if anything happened to him. I’ve been there, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.” She leaned her head against my chest, her hand idly grazing against my arm as if to check that I was still all there. She’d done this a few times since I’d come out of the immortal waters and I didn’t think she even realized that she was doing it.
“I’m here,” I replied softly. “You don’t have to worry. I’m not going anywhere.”
She nodded, not replying. I guessed the sentiment wasn’t entirely true—we didn’t know what would happen tonight. Whether or not we would survive to see the dawn.
“Ruby, I wanted to thank you for saving my life. It must have been difficult, riding with me all that way, not knowing. It was amazing. You’re amazing.”
She smiled, poking me in the ribs. “You don’t have to say thank you. Just stay alive, okay?”
“Will do,” I murmured.
I wanted to talk to her about Claudia’s offer, if she would want me to seriously consider it at some point—especially considering the differences our aging process would result in if she were to become a vampire and I didn’t.
Before I could open my mouth to say anything, the ground started to tremble. Ruby’s grip on me tightened, and we looked down at the stone beneath our feet. The mortar started to crack slightly, the surface shuddering just enough to dislodge some of the paving.
“Is it coming?” Ruby whispered.
“I don’t know.”
I rushed out onto the yard, Ruby following behind me. The ministers and guards were looking around, waiting for my instruction. Members of GASP flooded out from the palace doors, ready to help. Claudia and Yuri rushed up to us, Claudia instantly taking her daughter’s hand.
“What do we do?” one of the witches asked, her voice hoarse with fear.
“Secure the borders!” I yelled to everyone, waving GASP over to the ministers to provide the necessary energy.
I glanced up at the sky.
I couldn’t see or feel anything yet—but it didn’t mean that it wasn’t coming.
Tejus
A procession started to form. Jenus and the monstrous crowned female ghoul began leading the rest of the creatures in the direction of the forest that bordered the opposite side of the cove.
I waited anxiously for Jenus and his queen to disappear from view. I could feel the others growing restless beside me, all of us hoping that this would be our chance. If the procession left the portal unguarded, then we’d have enough time to lock it, or perhaps even better, if we were sure we’d get enough time, we could ensure the villagers, Hazel and the others got to safety first.
“Where are they headed?” Derek asked.
The forest they were walking into bordered Hellswan castle, eventually leading up to its front gates. Beyond the castle lay the summer palace and further in the distance, the mountain range, all surrounded by more forest.
“I think they’re headed toward Hellswan—there’s not much else that lies in that direction.”
We continued to watch the cove. Once the last ghouls left, part of the shadow remained hovering over the portal. I gritted my teeth in irritation—had they left the ghouls guarding it, we would have had a much easier job. Clearly the entity was well aware that the portal was its one way out of Nevertide—it wouldn’t leave it open to our interference.
“What now?” Lucas asked, his face ghostly pale.
“We split up,” Derek replied. “Sherus, Nuriya, Ibrahim, wait by the portal to see if anything changes. If you can get closer without the shadow detecting you, do—but don’t take any risks.”
All of them nodded, the jinni queen’s gaze darting across the landscape of the cove, already plotting where she might reappear without being seen.
“The rest of us are going to follow Jenus and the rest of them to the castle. Do we need to follow them through the forest, or is there another way?” Derek asked me.