Gray shook his head. “I hate to think of that man free. Are you sure you should go alone?”
“Yes,” Celine answered. “I’ll be fine. It would be best to go alone. We’re already disturbing the adjudicator. It would be best for only one of us to do that. And needless to say, the conversation with Marcus will proceed far better without your presence.”
“The idea of you having a conversation with that man makes my skin crawl.”
“And that is why it will proceed far better without you. You both hate the sight of one another. It will set him off right away if you appear.”
“Yes, I realize that,” Gray responded. “Don’t worry, if he does agree to help, I won’t get in his way.”
Celine smiled at him. “Thanks, Gray. Okay, I am ready. But first I want to check on Michael and Damien.”
Celine and Gray returned to Alexander’s and navigated to Michael’s room first. Celine sat on the edge of his bed, reading the monitors around him. His pulse was steady, his heart rate in normal range. He breathed in rhythm. He seemed the picture of health, if not for his blue lips and ice-cold hands.
They moved to Damien’s room. His status matched Michael’s. His vitals were within normal range, with the exception of his temperature. His lips were tinged blue and his hands frigid to the touch. Celine sat next to him for a moment. She slipped her hand under the covers, grasping his freezing hand. It sent a chill through her.
“Hang in there, D. I’m going for help. We’re going to bring you home, just hang in there until we do.” Celine kissed his forehead, caressing his face with her hand.
“Okay,” she said to Gray. “Now, I’m ready.”
Gray kissed her forehead. “Hurry back.”
“I will.”
Celine departed the room, heading back to her own room at Alexander’s. She took a deep breath, settling onto the bed. She relaxed her mind, shutting her eyes and the world out. She took slow, rhythmic breaths, concentrating. She slipped into Shadow World while imprisoned by Marcus. She could do it again. She focused her energy, allowing the earthly realm to fall away as she sought the cold and colorless realm of Shadow World.
Within minutes, she navigated to it. She stepped into the gray scale world, pulling her sweater tighter against the chill. She glanced around, listening for any sound in the stillness to locate the adjudicator. After a moment, she heard its shrill call.
Celine navigated toward the sound. She found the adjudicator near an ice cave, gliding through the sky, twirling from front to back, a sign of relaxation for the creatures. She stepped into view. The adjudicator spotted her on its next pass. Its wings fluttered in agitation as it ceased its barrel rolls through the sky.
The adjudicator shot toward the ground like a bullet, sliding to a halt and righting itself just before landing. “What is the meaning of this, Celine Devereaux Buckley?” Its eyes burned fire red and its wings flapped in agitation.
“Hello,” Celine began. “I’m sorry to disturb you… again. But it is urgent.” Celine slipped the ice crystal from the velvet bag. “I have brought a peace offering.” She offered the crystal to the adjudicator.
Its eyes grew wide, turning from red to white. “Is it…”
“Yes,” Celine answered, “an ice crystal. Mined from the caves here. Please take it.”
The adjudicator snatched it from her hand with its claw. It rolled the stone in its clawed hand, rubbing it. “Why do you seek me here, Celine Devereaux Buckley?”
“I must request that Marcus Northcott return to the material realm with me. I require his help.”
“You’ve sought me out during my repose to ask me to return Marcus Northcott to earth?”
“Yes,” Celine answered. “It is urgent. I require his help, only he possesses the knowledge I need.”
“Celine Devereaux Buckley, do you realize what you ask? You yourself landed here after a conflict with Marcus Northcott. To prevent further conflict while I enjoy my repose, I kept him here. Now you seek me to return him?”
“Yes.”
“And you use an ice crystal as a bribe?” it asked her, waving the crystal at her, its eyes turning red.
“No, no,” Celine corrected. “Not as a bribe, as an apology for disturbing your repose for a second time. It cannot be avoided, however. It is a matter of life and death, and Marcus is the only one I know who possesses the knowledge to assist me. No matter your decision, you may keep the crystal.”
“Has he agreed to assist you?”
“I have not spoken with him yet. If you are not agreeable, it makes no difference if he agrees or not.”
The adjudicator considered her statements. “Your request is granted, Celine Devereaux Buckley. He waits in the cabin behind you. Please speak with Marcus Northcott and depart from this realm at once!”
The adjudicator unfurled its wings to fly away, but Celine stopped it. “Just a moment.” It curled its wings against its back. Celine swallowed hard, realizing her request may ruin the progress she made. Still, she must try for her family’s safety. “Might you consider signing his soul to me?”
The adjudicator fluttered its wings, unhappy with the request. “Celine Devereaux Buckley!” it boomed, its eyes fiery red. “What do you mean by this request?”
“Only that you are correct. Our bitter battles have endured for centuries. I fear if he returns to earth unchecked, we may disturb your peaceful repose once again. If I control his soul, there is less chance.”
The adjudicator considered her request. “It is not unreasonable. He has sought to control my soul for centuries,” she reminded the adjudicator. “In fact, he holds a soul shard belonging to me right now.”
“His soul is not mine to give,” the adjudicator countered.
“That is not true,” Celine argued. “You are the current holder of his soul. You may return it to his master, to him, or give it to me or anyone you choose. I am asking that you give it to me
