Darkness Splintered

sword had no sense of immediate threat.

Which didn’t mean there wasn’t.

Meaning that light is the gates? If a mind voice could come out croaky with fear, then mine undoubtedly did just that.

Yes. It is what you would call the gates to heaven and hell.

Surprise rippled through me but it was quickly pushed aside by frustration as a small sphere came out of nowhere and charged toward me. I leapt over the top of it, but it flung white goo at me, forcing me to twist in midair to miss it. I landed awkwardly, and felt pain ripple up my leg. But was that even possible when I was energy rather than flesh?

The mass began a long looping turn. I kept an eye on it, and said, Wait, what do you mean gates? Are they both here? Together?

Why should they not be? There was an odd sense of amusement in the reply, and it filtered across the gray world in much the same manner as his words did.

Because… My reply faded. In all honesty, I couldn’t actually think of a reason why the gates to heaven and hell wouldn’t be together. I guess I’d just imagined the two would always be separate. Instead I asked, Who are you?

Who am I? He seemed to ponder the question for a second, then said, I am of this place. I am all that remains of what we once were.

You’re a priest? The small slug mass had completed its circle and was coming at me again. They were persistent bastards, that was for sure. A Dusan appeared – Azriel’s, not mine – and grabbed it with a snap of its teeth, then flung it away. Then it whirled around me, buffeting me forward with the force of its wings. It was almost as if it were telling me to hurry, that they couldn’t contain the slug masses for much longer.

But given what Azriel had said, why wasn’t the priest doing something about them? If anything was an intruder, it was these fucking things.

Once, yes, the voice replied. I remain to protect.

The structure up ahead drew closer, clearer. It consisted of two high, soaring but simple arches that stood side by side, neither one particularly ornate. At least they didn’t appear so from this far away.

Well, you’re not doing a particularly good job of it, are you?

Up until that point, I’d felt no real malevolence from the remnant that was the priest, but the moment the words were out of my mouth, that changed. The air grew dark and thunderous, and it suddenly seemed like I was teetering on the precipice of an endless pit. And that the priest stood behind me, ready to push.

Amaya’s hissing ran through the far reaches of my thoughts, but her noise was muted, wary. It was as if she sensed the being who confronted us was not something she should ever attack or have any hope of beating.

You have no justification —

I haven’t? I cut in. Perhaps stupidly, given Azriel’s earlier warning about the remnants being able to cause great harm if they decide you’re an intruder. Then why is hell’s first portal open? And why the hell have you allowed a sorcerer bearing the second portal key to get so close to opening it?

There is no one in this place but you and me and the reaper who battles the twisted Dusan within private temple quarters.

No one here? Incredulity filled my mental tones. What the fuck do you call the shadow who runs ahead of us? And what do you call the things that chase me?

The heavy sensation of danger briefly lifted, and an odd sense of bafflement ran across the ether surrounding us. The Dusan battle something, but I cannot sense what.

I frowned. How was that even possible? He might be a remnant, but he was still of this place, these temples. The sorcerer was not, so how could she disguise not only her presence, but that of her creatures?

And if this priest couldn’t sense her presence, what chance would the reapers who guard hell’s gate have of seeing her?

The answer, I suspected, was a big fat zero.

There is magic at work, he continued. Magic that is powerful and dark. It has the taste of hell, and yet this place runs through it.

This place? What the hell did he mean by that?

And then it twigged. Lucian. Maybe he’d not only been teaching the sorceress Aedh magic, but dark magic as well. He’d been trapped on Earth for centuries after all – certainly more than long enough to become proficient at all types of magic, be it light or dark.

And maybe she was his very last throw of the dice. Maybe, if all else failed, the destruction of the place that had become his prison was part of his ultimate end game. That, and the destruction of the Raziq’s grand plans for freedom.

The shadow that was the sorceress ran through the left arch and disappeared. I swore. Time had run out. We had seconds left, if that, to stop her.

Can you stop the intruders hidden within that magic? Or, at the very least, contain them?

Here, yes. At the gates? No.

Naturally. I mean, it wouldn’t be that fucking easy now, would it?

Why not? I thought Aedh priests are the guardians of the gates?

I am not what I once was, he said, his voice so heavy it seemed to press down on me. I can contain the things that chase you, but I am no longer able to enter the portal’s sacred space.

Why not?

Because I will be forced to move on, and this place would be left unprotected.

Are you all that is left?

No, but we are still few.

Then gather the few and stop the things that chase me. I’ll take care of the sorceress.

He seemed to contemplate this suggestion, then said, Stray not from hell’s path, reaperess, or you will find yourself compelled into a realm that is not your destiny.

And with that, the heavy sense of impending doom abruptly disappeared. A second later, the two Dusan were circling around me, eyes afire and skin dripping with the muck and flesh of the slugs. Thankfully, there was no sign of the slug masses themselves.

I ran on, pushing for every scrap of speed I was capable of. The gates soared high above me, otherworldly, but very plain. Which was something of a disappointment. The gates to hell, at least, should have been dramatic. Or at least reflected the hell that awaited the souls who journeyed through this gateway. Had either of these arches been on Earth, I wouldn’t have given them a second glance. The only decoration was the stone vines that crept around the soaring pillars. Then I noted that the arch on the left, which at first glance looked identical to the other, had tiny thorns twisting through the leaves. Hell’s gate, I presumed.

If there was a Mijai warrior here anywhere, I couldn’t see him.

I ran through the arch and into a different space entirely. It was light, restful, and filled with a warmth that was extremely comforting. Not what I’d expected from the antechamber of hell at all.

I slowed. For some odd reason, haste didn’t seem to be appropriate – or indeed welcome – here. I was several steps in before I realized I was alone. I paused and looked behind me. The Dusan flew in agitated circles, trying to get in but unable to do so. Obviously, whatever force prevented them from getting into the inner sections of the temples also forbid entry here.

Meaning it was just me and Amaya against whatever the sorceress could fling at us.

Cope can, Amaya said. Kill will.

I wish I had half her confidence. I gripped her tighter, but felt no easier as I