maps that mark a backdoor to Hell." I rested my head in my hands, feeling defeated.
Al paused before speaking with her mouth hanging open, "So that's your plan? Sneak in the back door, and hope no one sees you? Goodness girl. That's a horrible plan."
I looked up at her. It didn't matter how long I thought about it, I couldn't devise a better strategy for saving Collin. "Do you have a better idea?"
She stared at me with one of her unreadable expressions and finally conceded, "No. I don't. So, you can't use Valefar powers to get in, but you can use them get out?"
"Right. According to the stuff I read, they'll sense me if I use dark magic - their magic. So I can't use my Valefar powers or I'll blow my cover. I'll have to locate Collin on my own, find him, and then I can efanotate us out." I dropped my hands back to my mini drink, and slumped back in my chair, pushing my hair out of my face. Three months and this was the best plan I could come up with.
The old woman breathed deeply. "There is a way in; a back door that no one will see you enter - if you can get past the Guardian."
I leaned forward, not believing what she was saying. "What? Where is it?" This was the most information I'd gotten about finding a way into the Underworld.
Her gray eyes were hesitant. "Ivy, do you realize that you're doing the exact thing that Collin tried to prevent? It's also exactly what Kreturus wants. If he gets hold of you, you'll have a lot more to fear than a demon kiss. And due to the unique combination in your blood, I doubt he'll rip out your soul. No, whatever fate he has planned for you is far worse than that. He'll want you alive and whole. If I tell you where the entrance is, you'll be walking straight into his trap."
"Al, I know. I've thought of that, but I can't leave Collin there." Remorse ripped through my chest in an unrelenting wave. I blinked back the tears that wanted to fall from my eyes. "I won't throw away Collin's sacrifice, but I can't abandon him either. Not if there is a way I can get to him. Al, I only have to touch his hand and we'll both be safe." The plea was very plainly written on my face.
Her old eyes locked on mine for a moment. Despite her age, she and I seemed like we were cut from the same cloth. Our ideals held us on our paths in life, whether they were easy paths or not. "Since I suspect you'll find a way in eventually, I'll tell you. But, you must realize that Kreturus is no longer contained. He may move freely in his own domain. It's possible that he is still restricted to the pit he was buried in, but I doubt it. Not after the visions you've had.
"Ah Ivy. Your convictions will be the death of you girl. Your passion will be your demise. It's written all over your face, and yet...I can't deny that you're right. Such a loyal and courageous friend does not belong in the Underworld." She pressed her lips together tightly.
It was plain that she didn't want me to go, but she seemed to understand what was driving me to do it. It wasn't just puppy love. It was as she'd said, Collin didn't belong there.
"There are several portals into the Underworld," she began. "They can be opened like you saw the night we fought the Valefar. None of the entrances are in plain sight. The Martis saw to that. And some entrances are safer than others. The oldest portal is the one you want. It's the least used and you won't find it discussed in any book. Only the Martis who were there when it was sealed knew of its existence. When the Martis left the Underworld, they marked the portal so they could return, if needed.
"This piece of knowledge has been forgotten by Martis, but the Seyers made sure that there were always two of us that knew. That way if something happened to one of us, the other knew of its location. This information was passed down from Seyer to Seyer."
She knew! Shifting to the edge of my seat, I couldn't hide the excitement on my face. She knew where the entrance to the Underworld was! She knew how to