Elina’s thoughts are on Malach, she follows the map given to her and creeps through the tunnel, shielding her thread. Lexy said not to port until she has too. The power would draw a horde of demons, so she crawls.
Blind, she said blind and wingless. Will he forgive her? Can she forgive herself? It doesn’t matter what he looks like, only that he is free. I need to free him and hold him once more. She tells herself as she feels the heat begin to build.
Even this hell needs ventilation shafts to move air around and she finds herself overtop of the cell that holds Malach.
She can’t see inside the black depths of the tunnel, but she can hear. Sweat runs down her back plastering her clothes to her body. Her heart is beating loudly in her ears, Can they hear it below?
The guards are laughing and talking about the last group of humans they captured. Relaxed, they all jump when the mountain rumbles and the screaming begins.
Elina smiles in the dark and waits for it, the sound of running feet. They fell for it! She quickly crawls through and drops into the room below.
Alex and Lexy are almost to the fountain when the rumble occurs. She stops crawling and waits for it, the sounds of screaming and running. He grins and urges her on.
Perfect! They have arrived! His team is comprised of the toughest humans around. They can handle a simple distraction drill.
Lexy reaches the end of the tunnel and points ahead. Alex can see a faint glow, and hears the sound of water trickling. It seems a strange sound to be heard in hell, the soothing life force of flowing water.
Another vibration and Lexy waits for the room to empty, before jumping down. Alex follows quickly and is entranced by the enormity of the water fountain. The water flowing is a thick liquid silver, not truly water. He does a quick scan and finding no threat, watches as Lexy walks towards the fountain.
“It is a contradiction, isn’t it Alex, the beauty of this fountain here, in this place? This isn’t water Alex, but essence. Human souls are sent here to be judged.”
Alex looks up at the three tier, granite fountain. His eyes are drawn to the angels supporting the tiers. Each layer has angels supporting the weight of the layer above, on their backs. Their faces are carved in grimaces of pain and silent screams, as they bear the weight of the souls.
At the top most layer rests a small child with his hand outstretched. Each drop of essence first falls into the palm of his hand before dropping into the level below.
Careful not to touch the liquid, Lexy flares her wings. They are sheer, black, lace wings. Relief crosses her face at their release. She flies up and hovers in front of the small stone child. Lexy stares at the liquid and turns the child’s hand face down, then swiftly lands beside Alex.
“Watch this!” She says excitedly. The three level fountain makes a great cracking sound as the child on top is sucked into the second layer, disappearing completely! The second layer is sucked into the third and finally the last layer opens in the earth below, revealing a staircase.
“That was awesome!” Alex whispers. Lexy smiles at him in glee.
“Hurry, Alex. Let’s go,” she calls out and runs down the steps, intent on the destination. Alex shares the images in his mind with Elina, stunned by what he is seeing. He follows Lexy into the dark and jumps at the sound of the fountain, moving, reforming. Alex is blind and the silence is deafening. With a growing dread he feels as though he has been entombed beneath the mountain.
Elina senses Alex’s fear and sees an image of the fountain in her mind. She knows she should go to him, but she is so close to Malach. So she stays, and searches the cavern finding it empty. Torches line the walls, she jerks one free and turns around looking for Malach. Nothing. Confusion gives way to fear at the sound of dark laughter behind her.
“Well, well, look who decided to pay us a visit.” Kane says.
Elina turns to face the fallen angel, Kane and his brothers. He strikes immediately giving her no chance of escape. The force of his blow sends her flying backward into the wall. Pain explodes in the back of her head and she struggles to stay conscious.
“Malach?” she groans holding her head. Elina reaches for her power only to find it weak and flickering.
“Is that what you came here for? How pathetic.” Kane laughs.
“Raphaim said you would come for him, blinded by your lust, but I must say I am shocked,” Nameed snaps.
When he steps forward, Elina ports out. She must get to Alex. Following the last image from Alex in her mind, she ports to the fountain. They do not try to stop her, they know where she is going.
“Alex!!!” No longer caring who hears her, Elina screams for her brother. The fountain is before her, suspended in frozen animation a single silver drop freezes midair. The stone child on top sinks into the level below, and so on until a great cracking is heard. It slides open, revealing stairs and Elina knows she is walking into a trap, but Alex needs her.
“Nooo! You must get to safety. This was a trap Elina, you are our only hope!” Alex screams in her mind.
Elina blocks his voice and runs down into the depths below, while the fallen watch from the shadows.
Nameed follows, soundlessly watching as the fountain closes above them.
Elina hears the chanting and knows they are in trouble. She calls for Malach and finds emptiness. She begins to pray to God, but finds she can’t utter the words because of the fear in the pit of her stomach. She has lived this nightmare before, except this time it is not a dream.
Elina steps into an enormous cavern with rows and rows