"Uh.This doesn't look like Tartarus," I stammered and spun in a circle, havinga very horrible feeling. "Or earth."
"No.It's not," Aodh agreed and frowned.
"Youknow where we are, don't you?" I did, too. The sunless sky was a huge hint. I just wanted to hear howmuch trouble we were in straight from my father's lips.
"Yes.You do, too."
"Shit."
"Doubleshit," he said and let go of Candace's arm with a soft pat of assurance. "Youand your friends get back. It's me she wants." He pushed me behind himwith an outstretched hand.
Imoved behind him, but stayed close, urging everyone back with my own handgestures while we waited for the attack to come.
"Comeon out, Belenus. You know we're here." He was looking toward the sky, butdropped his gaze to the plains before him as the blue curtain of the sky partedand the goddess Belenus stepped through.
"Well,well. I knew putting that portal on the inside of the door would be a good idea.Beautiful piece of work, don't you think? My angels can come and go as they pleaseand anyone foolish enough to infiltrate the castle would be stuck there for alleternity or dumped in my lap for a proper punishment. Or quick death. Youshould have stayed in your hole, Aodh. It's where you belong."
"Inyour hole? That seems like too harsh of a punishment to me," I chided frombeside my father. More of behind, but a little off to the side.
Aodhturned his head and shook it, telling me to shut up and leave the banter tohim. She was his mirror power. She couldn't be any more powerful than myfather. I was confused as to why he was worried. The odds were fourteen to one.
Untilthe choir of archangels landed behind her, flaming swords at the ready.
"Oh."
Myfather nodded.
"Ifkeep me you must, I surrender. Let the rest of them return to the mortal realm."
Belenuscackled. "Another human has emerged as a god against the decree of the All.And you wish me to simply let her go?" Belenus took a step closer. "No,Aodh. She will be joining you. Maybe I'll be sweet and give you adjoining cellsso you can have company until her mortal coil finally withers away. Then youcan spend eternity together as daughter and daddy gods." She chuckledagain at her own joke.
"Lether go, Belenus." Daughter.I will fight her. Flee. Circle around her, find her castle, and use the portalinside to go back to your realm. Do not worry, she will not kill me. And thistime, leave me be. She is crazed and will not relent until I am broken.
I'mnot leaving you.
Go!Use the child of the light to get past the archangels.
Howhe knew Candace could do that, was beyond me. I was almost prepared to listen. Until mymother and grandmother took up the spaces beside me.
"No,Aodh. Enough is enough," Mother answered. "She is punishing you forleaving her, nothing more. There is nothing righteous about her decree orimprisonment of you. We will fight. The three witches of Blackwell stand besideyou."
"Together,"Nana added and grabbed my hand. Mother took the other.
"Allof us," Yuki and the rest strode closer, witch hands ablaze, fangs bared,and talons at the ready.
Aodhjust chuckled. "Well, I had thought to surrender peacefully, but mydaughter's family wishes for a fight. What say you, Belenus? Last chance to letus go?"
"WhenTartarus freezes over."
"Itwas pretty cold there. I'm just saying," I said to Nana and Mother.
"Itwas. Kind of surprising actually. You'd think it would be hot with all thatfire and redness? Really kind of strange." Nana shrugged.
"Iwas thinking about a nice summer home right by the fire springs," Motheranswered Nana.
Belenusfumed and the angels attacked, command unspoken.
"Wallof fire," Nana said calmly as the three of us focused our power and cantedthe words together. A wall of fire the likes of which even the goddess hadnever seen sprang up behind Belenus, separating her from her choir.
Belenussnarled in fury and attacked Aodh, curved flaming swords appearing in bothhands as she tried to separate his head from his body. Tendrils of earth sprangfrom the ground beneath her feet as my coven casted spells with the soleintention of helping my father. Ice cracked off her arms as she swung herblades, severing vines, and clashing against the matte black blades of myfather. The sky shuddered with each strike.
"HelpAodh, Daughter," Nana said calmly. "Dorothea and I will keep theangels at bay."
Thewall of flame diminished for a moment as Mother let go and strode behind Aodh,casting slowing spells, binding spells, and everything and anything she couldto aid his battle.
Thefirst angel skirted the crest of the wall of flames and attacked Nana and mefrom above. It was almost upon us when Candace's scream of fury stopped it in itspath, dropping it to the ground and leaving it staring at her in bewilderment.
"Youhave a child of light," Belenus sputtered.
"Myfuture daughter in law," Aodh answered proudly.
"Child!Quell your song. I command it!" There was a momentary rumble of thunderand Candace shrieked, falling to the ground. Letting go of Nana, I almost beatJosie to Candace's side.
"Areyou okay?" She opened her mouth to speak but nothing emerged. The goddessBelenus had silenced her. By letting go of Nana, the power fueling the fire walldiminished, and it continued to shrink. Archangels started to pour over and aroundit. Calling the shadows, I nearly cried in frustration. Just as in Tartarus,there were no shadows to be found. Light illuminated everything above and below,leaving no room for darkness. Not in the realm of Belenus.
Ifwe were going to win, we needed the night.
Turning,I ran back to Nana. I needed her power. Putting both hands on her shoulders, Iwhispered into her ear, "Forget the fire, we need to blot out thisdamnable day."
"Huh?"
"Ineed shade!"
"Whatdo you have in mind?"
"Darkness…"
"Dorchadas," we canted together.
Itstarted slow, a mere sphere before us. Reaching over Nana, I plunged my handinto the heart of it, feeling its coolness against my skin, reveling in itsfamiliarity. Turning his head, my father blinked in surprise and took a bladeacross the bicep. Ignoring the
