Cursed Demon Kissed 2 Page 0,14

reason became more obvious. Trapping him in a secluded part of the Underworld was like locking a king in his own thrown room. Around him were reminders of what he was, the power he held, and what he lost. And that was exactly what the Martis did. A few millennia passed and no one thought Kreturus was a threat. The Martis around the Villa still didn't believe that he was a danger, despite the testimony of Eric and Al. The rise in the number of Valefar and the attempt to open the Underworld portal last fall didn't make them change their minds either. This wasn't a case of blissful ignorance. It was a case of deep-seated fear that was too terrible to admit. If Kreturus was able to break his bonds, the Martis were totally screwed.

And so was I.

CHAPTER EIGHT

I sat at a little table decorated with Venetian glass in the courtyard of the Martis villa with Al. The sunlight filled the space, warming me. The Martis now allowed me to wander the grounds of their sprawling estate, but the guards were always with me.

Frustration flooded me as my fingers wrapped around a tiny cup with some coffee-like drink inside. After three months of searching I'd found nothing that would help me save Collin. Despair was choking me and everything was getting to me as my last shred of sanity was splitting apart.

"Al, I can't stand this much longer. What do they need to decide that I'm no threat to them?" I asked, completely exasperated. I expected them to convict me instantly, but when they didn't I started to hope that they would see me for who I was. That was hope that I severely misplaced.

Al's wrinkled hands clutched her cup. She crinkled her nose when she took a sip, and put the tiny cup down. "I thought it would have been resolved after I arrived, but they kept going." Her old eyes were full of compassion. "Use the time to prepare yourself. I know what you're planning to do, although you didn't bother to tell me."

I feigned shock. No one knew what I was really doing. They thought they talked me out of it, but they didn't. Shannon and Al thought I was looking for information on Kreturus. No one realized that the one thing that I was desperately looking for in the ancient library, but couldn't find. My forehead scrunched together, "Didn't bother to tell you what? What is it you think I'm doing here?" A smile lined my lips. I wasn't going to lie to her, but I knew she'd never approve of such an idiotic plan. And my plan was the epitome of idiocy.

She gave me one of her sassy old lady looks. "Ivy, I wasn't born yesterday. You're not planning on leaving Collin down there. I know that you're looking for a portal. You've pulled every book, scroll, and artifact on demons, the Underworld, and Kreturus. No doubt, that is part of what's making the Tribunal take so long to decide exactly what kind of threat you are to them. They don't expect you to find anything of course; otherwise they would have never let you in there.

"Ivy, you do realize that if you defeat Kreturus, you'll take his place, right? The prophecy was clear about that. If you kill him to save Collin, you'll end up being Queen of the Underworld whether you like it or not."

It wasn't like I hid what I planned to do. I even said that I was going to get Collin out of Underworld at one point, but Shannon thought she talked me out of it. Apparently, so did Al.

I released a deep breath and slumped forward onto the tiny table. "I just want to bring Collin home." I looked into her old face, "It doesn't matter anyway. I can't even figure out how to get in. The texts said that dark magic feeds off itself, whatever that means. But it also said that any outsiders would be sensed immediately. They'll smell my Martis blood, and know I'm there the second I walk in.

"And I can't just efanotate and flash in there, grab Collin, and leave since I've never been there before. Collin said I could only efanotate to places that I'd been, or I'll splice myself in half. Al, I thought if I could sneak in, and find him - then I'd have a chance. But, it doesn't matter how hard I look, there just aren't any