“Come on,” Elena muttered.
She hurried after the ember, and I followed. We burst out the door and scanned the street and buildings.
“There!” Elena pointed.
I squinted until I saw the tiny flash of blue, and we rushed after it. It hastened its speed like it knew we weren’t far behind. It flew and swirled as if carried by a fierce wind.
We ran together in silence, weaving through buildings and down several side streets. Just when I thought this stupid ember was leading us on a wild goose chase, it stopped, hovering mid-air.
I glanced around, my eyes widening in recognition. The pub. The shop where Howard had abducted Oliver. It was all the same place I’d been in earlier, only slightly different—empty, eerie, and tingling with magic. The place was the same, but it was in the magical realm.
“He’s underground,” I said, looking at Elena with worried eyes. El Diablo has him in the demon caves.
Elena’s jaw hardened, and she nodded. Crouching to the ground, she spread her palm along the concrete and closed her eyes. Her brow furrowed, and her lips pressed together in concentration. The space surrounding her palm glowed blue and then burst apart in fragments of rock and dust.
I jumped, eyes wide. Elena was a Pusher, like me. I didn’t know we could do that!
Elena stood and opened her eyes. She blinked dizzily and swayed. I held her arm to keep her steady.
“You okay?”
Elena exhaled through her lips. “Yes, fine. Let’s go.”
I glanced down and found a gaping black hole below us. Demons probably heard that and were waiting for us. But I didn’t have a choice. Elena was right, I couldn’t just abandon Oliver. Nobody but us knew he was in trouble. We were all he had.
I nodded firmly, more to convince myself than her, and sat on the ground. Taking a deep breath, I wriggled my feet through the hole and dropped in.
The free fall of nothingness took my breath away. My stomach dropped, and for way too long, I fell into darkness.
Then my feet found the ground. My knees buckled, and I toppled over. A dark shape appeared in the hole above me, and I rolled to avoid colliding with Elena.
Elena stumbled forward but righted herself as I stood up next to her, still breathless from taking the plunge. Adrenaline pulsed through me, and electricity tingled in my fingertips. My magic was ready.
I wiped dust and dirt from my skirt as Elena squinted, no doubt searching for the ember.
“Over here,” I said, pointing.
“No,” Elena said slowly. “It’s here.”
We stared at each other a moment. Then I saw it.
A second ember. One led to the left, the other to the right.
“What does that mean?” I demanded.
Elena frowned, her brows pinching in confusion. “I—it must mean his blood’s been spilt. The spell tracks his blood. Perhaps he lost blood in one place but he’s being held in another.”
Panic flooded through my throat, and my chest constricted in terror. Oliver’s being tortured.
“So, what do we do?” I asked, my voice on the edge of hysteria.
Elena’s worried eyes met mine. “We split up. We can’t be too far, or the ember wouldn’t have led us to go underground. If one of us finds him, shout. Okay?”
I nodded, my stomach quivering.
Elena touched my elbow and leaned closer to me. “You can do this,” she whispered.
I nodded again. “Be careful.”
She offered a half smile before turning toward the ember to the right and vanishing into the darkness.
I clenched my fingers into fists and steeled my nerves. You can do this, I repeated to myself. I blew air out of my lips and followed the small speck of blue floating patiently in the other direction.
My soft footsteps echoed against the cavern walls. Though I treaded lightly, I swore it sounded like it was amplified tenfold, alerting every demon to my presence. I wiggled my fingers to ensure my magic was still ready. The weight of the athame at my ankle and the stiffness of the stake under my dress served as a comforting reminder.
I’m armed. I can do this.
Low voices echoed ahead of me, and I froze, my heart puttering against my chest. I sucked in a breath for courage and hurried forward.
I rounded a corner and stopped in my tracks.
A circle of a familiar powder surrounded Oliver, whose shirt was torn and covered in blood. His lip was puffy and bloody, and he lay on the ground, motionless.
Lilith, please don’t be dead . . .
My eyes scanned the large cavern. Several hooded figures surrounded the circle. Their palms were already cut and dripping blood.
“No!” I screamed, rushing toward Oliver.
As soon as my feet crossed over the line of powder, a ripple of magic shuddered through me. I ignored it and placed my hands on Oliver’s bare and bloody shoulders.
“Oliver,” I whispered. “Oliver, please tell me you’re alive. Please wake up!”
A low, familiar chuckle sounded from the hooded figures. “If you wanted to donate yourself to the cause, all you had to do was ask.”
El Diablo. I couldn’t tell which one he was, but he was taunting me. Goading me.
I drew my athame and rose to my feet, gritting my teeth. “Too afraid to show your weak, human face to me, are you?”
Silence met my words, but a few of the hooded figures shifted uncomfortably.
I smiled and cocked my head. “I’m right, aren’t I? You are afraid to show your face. That’s kind of pathetic.”
A ripple of black cloth, and then a burst of flame. With his cloak shed, El Diablo stood before me in all his fiery glory.
I didn’t even flinch.
I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes. “You’re only proving my point.”
El Diablo spread his arms wide. “This is my true face. The pitiful human face I wear is a mere disguise. I hide it to protect myself as well as my comrades.”
“Protect your comrades?” I spat. “Right. Keep telling yourself that.”
“You
