I cursed and cursed to no end as Acacius and Vere dragged me to the Strike Class Ilse were a certain someone waited. She leaned casually against a the railing of her personal private tower, her arms crossed.
She was the Alpha of the strike class Nephilim after all. Her eyes regarded us coldly as we approached. Her face was as usual, completely unreadable.
I felt a tingle down spine and to my embarrassment, I felt a little jittery in my stomach.
Butterflies? No, not for her. I banished the thought immediately. Now that I could see her again i could fsintly feel an ache in my back even though the wound shouldve healed a long time ago.
I decided immediately. "Nope. Not doing this," I said flatly.
"Abel," Acacius cautioned, his tone was as usual patient but firm.
"You're joking," I protested, shooting a glance at Acacius. "She's our only oracle?"
"This isn't optional."
"Yes it is," i shot back, as I pointed to her. "She's insane!"
Rachel spoke for the first time, her voice was both insultingly indifferent and remorseless. "It was training." she said coolly. "You were supposed to learn from it."
Beside me, Vere nodded like an excited puppy. "She's got a point, Abel. Builds character."
"Shut up, Vere," I retorted. We had been here barely a minute and he was already a simpering mess.
"Learn from almost dying?" I snapped. "You're psychotic."
Rachel roller her eyes like talking to me was a chore. "And you're a coward," she replied smoothly.
"Please!" Acacius's pleaded, cutting in . He looked at both of us imploringly. "We are getting nowhere with this. Now able we definitely need her help. Please show restraint for now. And Rachel my dear, I apologize on his behalf."
Rachel's eyes flicked to him. "Fine," she said after a moment. "But I'll need silence to concentrate. Please keep a leash on him."
I bit back a retort, closed my eyes and rubbed my temples.
Rachel also ignored me then stepped forward, closing her eyes in concentration.
The air around her seemed to grow heavier, a gold mist poered out of her body and coiled over the floor like a nest of snakes.
Very slowly, her eyes opened, glowing a bright, molten gold.
When she spoke again, her voice was an eerie amalgamation of several voices, as though she was several other people at once:
"To the land of demons, the bold shall go,
Through trials of fire and ice and woe.
A treasure stolen, a truth denied,
Through pain and loss, their bonds are tried.
Yet what is gained may bring despair,
For all shall falter in the snare."
The room fell silent as the glow in her eyes faded. Rachel blinked a few times, steadying herself, then glanced at us as though nothing unusual had happened.
"Well," I said, breaking the silence, "that was... creepy."
Vere nudged me sharply in the ribs.
"What?" I muttered, rubbing my side. "It was creepy!"
Acacius sighed with an ancient sorrow, his expression grim. "The prophecy is clear enoigh. Though dangerous, we know what we must do."
Vere threw up his hands. "I knew this was a bad idea."
I frowned. "Umm..Acacius the prophecy wasn't exactly encouraging and we need a party of three. Who would willingly sign up for this?"
"Maybe we shouldn't tell anyone," Vere suggested. "No one's signing up for certain doom."
"No," Acacius said firmly. "Every member of a questing party has the right to know what they're getting into. It's their choice."
Before we could say anymore, Rachel spoke again, her tone eerily calm. (I was beginning to think she was an android or something) "I'll join you."
The room went still. Vere's jaw dropped. I blinked in disbelief. Even Acacius seemed momentarily taken aback.
"You will?" I asked, unable to keep the surprise out of my voice. "But... why?"
Rachel shrugged, her expression unreadable. "Does it matter?"
And then there was awkward silence
Finally, Acacius cleared his throat, his voice breaking the tension. "Then it's decided," he said. "Rachel will join you and Vere and you three shall reclaim what was lost."
I glanced at Vere, who I thought would've back out by now. Surprising he nodded firmly in assent.
...
....
.....
...
I slumped onto Marmoo's couch. Vere took a seat by my side while Rachel stood in the corner 'At least she said we would find the torch.' Vere posed, trying to lift.
'My dear, what do you see exactly?' Acacius asked the stoic Rachel.
'You know I do not retain vivid memory of my visions. Knowledge of the future is not so easily kept.' She answered.
I was still really freaked out but I managed to say. 'Yet what is gained may bring despair,
For all shall falter in the snare!'
'That means we might succeed, right,' Vere said a little to forcefully, like he was trying to convince himself.
Acacius didnt look sure. 'Lines of prophecy often have double meaning: no one really know what they mean until they happen. They have shown us where we must go, and that is enough.'
I got the feeling he was holding back something bad. Something I couldn't know if I was to accept the quest.
'Okay,' I said, anxious to change topics. 'So we go to the land of demons. That means Hoth right?
But where do we find the torch?'
'I also wondered that at first. If Orion did not steal the torch who would?' Acacius continued. 'Who has gained the most from the recent events: divided Celestials and a missing torch?'
'The demons' I guessed.
'Yes, and no. I believe there is someone manipulating them behind the scenes. The same person who sought to frame your father.'
'A Yowie came after Abel,' Acacius reminded him. 'Imstead of attacking it observed you before trying to end you. Demons never do that; hesitate to kill a likely Nephilim.
No it was following orders... it had a master
To escape the view of the Celestials that person can only be in Hoth.'
'Great,' I muttered. 'That's another likely cosmic powered entity who wants me dead.'
'But a quest to…Hoth' Vere swallowed. 'The demons are bad enough when they slip into the mortal world. But now we are actually entering their realm.'
'If a demon stole the torch, then there is no doubt it will be in the heart of Hoth,' Acacius
insisted. 'A place even Hel cannot trespass You must go to Hoth, find the torch, and reveal the truth.'
My heart was thumping very hard:but it wasn't fear I felt. It was rage. I wanted to let loose like I had on the burronjor. Like I had against Rachel.
I looked at Chiron. 'You've known It would come to this all this time right?'
'I had my suspicions. I knew your arrival here was no accident.'
I was still worried about what he was holding back. Then I decided that it didnt matter. I wouldn't get it out of him anyway.
'So let me get this straight,' I said. 'I'm supposed go to Hoth and find the Samhadi Torch.'
'Yes,' Acacius said.
'Which has been taken a corrupt, hidden entity.'
'Yes.'
'And return it to Titan so the Celestials wont kill me, as soon as possible.'
'That's about right.'
I looked at Vere, who had began to literally turn the color of Ice.
'You don't have to go,' I told him. 'I can't make you do that.'
'No I want to…' He shifted nervously. 'No… it's just that sprites get their power from nature,and Hoth is a realm that opposes nature…'
He took a deep breath, thm straightened. 'I owe you my life, Abel. If… I dont know how useful I will be, but if you want me to come along, I won't let you down.'
The immense wave of relief was instantaneous. Vere was the only friend I had in this crazy magical world.
I wasn't sure how good hed be against demonic forces, but I felt better knowing he'd be with me.
'Im glad to have you.' I turned to Acacius. 'So where do we go? Is there a road map to the land of the demons or something?'
'Like the dreamtime, Hoth also has a physical entrance.
moves from age to age, just like Olympus. Right now, of
course, it's in America.'
'Where?'
Acacius looked surprised. 'I thought that would be obvious enough. The entrance to Hoth Underworld is in Sin City, better known as Rio de Janeiro.'
'Oh,' I said. 'I should've geussed. So we just open a portal –'
'No!' Vere shrieked. Alarming me
'Abel,' Acacius cautioned. 'The dreamtime is no longer safe. This place has magical wards, but attenpting to spatial travel to any othee location will bring utold danger to us.'
'Okay,' I said, determined to look brave. 'So, I'll travel in the mortal world.'
'That's right,' Acacius said. 'Two companions may accompany you. Vere is one. And Rachel is the other.'
'Yeah about that I kind of only want to travel with sane people so..' I began.
Rachel suddebly spoke up. 'I've been waiting a long time for a quest, Idiot,' she said.
'You dont like me, and I definitely dont like you, but if you're going artifact hunting, I'm the best person to ensure you dont fail miserably.'
'If you do say so yourself,' I snorted. 'I suppose you have a plan, Witch?'
She frowned. 'Do you want my help or not?'
The truth was, I did. She was right about me needing help.
'Alright,' I said. 'That'll work.'
'Great,' Acacius said. 'You'll leave in three hours. We'll take you to the capital. After that, you are on your own.'
'No time to waste,' Acacius said. 'I think you'd better prepare.'