Taking a deep breath, I grab the right handle and pull. The door groans but doesn’t budge. Panic unfurls in my mind as I drop the handle and pull up short. However, the more I look at the door’s architecture, I realize how much of an idiot I am.
Putting the palms of my hands on the wood, I press hard, instead. This time, the wood creaks open, allowing a draft of cool air to scurry out. Beyond the entrance, the inner tunnel is as black as the portal Wade’s dad emerged from.
What if this isn’t the entrance to the catacombs? What if I get lost?
The thought interrupts my forward momentum, unleashing a torrent of panic. I have no idea what I’m doing…and no idea if I’m even in the right place. What if I’m wrong? What if everything I saw inside the catacombs wasn’t even real?
What if it is, but I’m not deemed worthy this time? Could I be lost in here forever?
Before I have more time to second-guess myself, torches, similar to the ones inside the resurrection chamber back in the house, begin to ignite along the tunnel walls. I can’t see anything beyond them, but a sudden urgency beckons me. A warm, calming sensation sweeps through my body and I can’t help but take a step forward.
I cross the threshold of the catacombs, entering the sacred space. The sensation is like stepping through a curtain of water and emerging on the other side. The energy brushes past my cheeks, tickling my senses, and heightening every ability. Whatever magic protects this space from Dominic’s abilities seems to have accepted me as one of its own.
The pathway to where I need to go emerges in my mind, like a holographic Google map only I can see. No longer scared about where to go or how to get there, I follow my instincts and the direction being unveiled for me.
The deeper we go, a strong fragrance of frankincense greets us. At first, it’s just a hint, but quickly overpowers any of the earthy scents trying to permeate the space. With each step forward, more torches ignite while others go out. Occasionally, there are paths that lead off from the main tunnel and sometimes torches even light up, as if tempting me to venture off from the path. However, my internal compass continues to guide me and I follow its calling, ignoring all others.
We walk for a good fifteen minutes, taking a number of turns. While I know I’m on the right path here beneath the ground, I’ve lost all direction to where my house is on the property. My only hope is that my experience with Abigail earlier won’t fail me.
As I take a final left turn, Wade’s grandpa and I leave the darkness of the tunnels and emerge into the large circular room I had seen in my vision. Walking into the space, Abigail awaits, hovering just off to the side with an expectant smile on her face. In the center of the room, the grimoire rests on the pedestal as if awaiting my summons.
“Abigail, it’s time. I need to know how to put the revenants to rest,” I say, looking over my shoulder at Wade’s grandpa, who has mimicked my halt.
She nods, eyeing Wade’s grandpa as she points to the grimoire. “The spell is not difficult, but it requires your utmost attention. You must bless the soulless and inter them so their bodies may finally be at rest. Should your attention slip, even but a little, it would be most dreadful.”
I walk over to the book with grandpa in tow. Looking over the open pages, the anxiety I felt before blossoms again inside my stomach. I still can’t read the pages…
“What do I need to do?” I ask.
“Are all of them within the catacombs?” Abigail asks, her eyebrows furrowing.
I shake my head. “No, not yet. We’re working on it. They’ll be here soon.”
Abigail’s expression cools, but she tips her head in acknowledgement. “Let us try on this one first. I will walk you through the words and help you with their saying. You shall find once the words are spoken out loud, they will become a part of you, making each interment easier.”
“That sounds good,” I say, letting my shoulders relax and my gaze fall back to the book.
“Sorry, but I can’t let you do that,” a woman’s voice hisses from the shadows.
Chapter 25
Fetch
My head jerks up and my eyes search wildly for the source of the words. Without feeling the need to stay hidden, Cat slinks from the shadows, crossing her arms behind her back.
“Be cautious,” Abigail warns, moving closer to me.
I narrow my gaze, shaking my head. “How…?”
For some reason, my brain doesn’t seem to want to make sense of seeing her here. Alarm bells ring like they’re announcing Armageddon, but the best I can do is gawk at her.
A sly grin spreads across Cat’s lips, and she takes another step closer. “It is a bit miraculous, isn’t it? I never in a million years thought I’d find my way through this maze. Fate has a funny way of delivering, doesn’t it?”
Confusion swirls around inside my brain like a caged bird and I can’t help but wonder what in the world is going on. The last time I saw Cat, she was leaving with Colton. I highly doubt she’d leave his side unless—
My mouth drops open. “Was there an accident? Omg…you’re not…” I take a step toward her, my heart thudding haphazardly in my chest. I can’t bring myself to say the final word, just in case it could be true.
Abigail moves quickly, coming between me and Cat. “Guard the revenant,” she says as she passes me. “Be gone, foul thing. You are an unholy abomination and not welcome in this sacred space.”
“I’m
