Cursed Demon Kissed 2 Page 0,16

get in! But I couldn't tell if she was going to tell me. Her brow was creased, as she stared at me in silence. If she told me, she would be one of the cogs in the wheel that pushed me closer and closer to fulfilling the prophecy. The thing was, I was going whether she helped me or not. And she knew it. I just didn't believe that I would ever succumb to evil. It was so not me.

Finally Al said, "It's in the catacombs, Ivy. Read about them. As soon as you can, go and see them. But, the one thing that you have to know is that the Guardian that we posted to block the entrance will be worse than anything you could possibly imagine. The living aren't supposed to enter Hell. Remember that."

The catacombs were ancient tombs beneath the city. Was it possible? Could I really just walk into Hell through an old grave?

Excitement was bubbling inside of me. "I just have to walk through a tomb and get past a guard?" I asked.

Al's old lips smirked, "Not just any tomb; you have to find thee tomb. And there is no just getting past anything. You must defeat the Guardian to get through. I'm sorry I can't tell you exactly what it is. That information's been lost over the centuries."

How hard could that be? It was one guard. I'd battled horrifying things before, and I'd already seen demons. I just had to kill it. I had no qualms killing demons. And if the demon guard wouldn't let me pass, I knew I could slash through its scales without remorse.

"Which tomb?" I asked.

She shook her head. "They never told me. I only know it's in the Roman catacombs, and that the Martis guarded the entrance, even though it's been forgotten."

Across the courtyard I saw Shannon striding towards us, effectively killing our conversation. Her long hair had a reddish gleam in the sunlight. It made her eyes glimmer an intense green. She pulled up a chair and sat with us.

A smile spread across her face. "I've got news."

While I hadn't really forgiven her for the airport incident, she was still acting like my friend. She kept me company, and barked at guards when they mistreated me. She'd apologized and done everything to show me that she was sorry, but I was still leery of her, although my distrust was fading. Often she seemed to be on a personal mission to clear my name.

"Spill," I said, leaning forward. She knew everything about the trial. If I couldn't find her, she was usually listening to the hearing. After several weeks, I stopped asking for updates. It just enraged me.

Shannon was practically bouncing out of her chair. Al regarded her with a concerned look, but said nothing. "The court decided that the Tribunal couldn't judge you without a critical piece of testimony. That's what was dragging things out. Everything keeps coming back to whether or not Eric sealed the portal to Hell. Some said he did - with the massive amount of light he called. They have been debating whether or not it was even possible for him to do that, and what the effects would be with an orb that large." She leaned forward, gripping the edge of the table. "Basically, they only have you saying that you sealed it. If you did seal it, they said they have no reason to fear you. But, if Eric sealed it, your loyalties are more questionable."

Al asked, "They're going to call him?" Her eyes cut to me.

Shannon nodded. "Yes. They want Eric's testimony. Again. When they first took it, no one thought to ask these things. Then Julia banished him to some Godforsaken place. But the whole thing hinges on him now."

"Great," my voice dripped with disdain, as I dropped my cup. "My life is in the hands of the guy who killed my sister; the guy who knew me and hated me the instant he learned that demon blood flows through my veins."

I shot up from the chair and started pacing. My arms folded tightly in front of me. The guards that trailed me watched, but didn't come closer. I had no privacy. I could not react. They watched me and reported everything. When I first arrived, I thought being transparent and not fighting the guards would win me brownie points, but it did no such thing. I fought to control myself, knowing they were watching.

Al's voice was careful, "He has