“Just go on,” Matt said as he glanced at them through the mirror. “Please.”
“Glad to.” Thomas raised a pair of fingers. “In the second circle, Billy and Bonnie met the Caitiff, savage beasts who prey on children. At your second door, you discovered a so-called medical clinic that preys on unborn children. In the third circle, in addition to the parallel your mother mentioned, Billy had to wade through a swamp filled with dangerous serpents. Here you had to overcome a shark tank, a parallel dangerous creature in the water.”
Mariel poked Thomas’s ribs. “And Morgan kidnapped Bonnie in the third circle and separated her from Billy, and now Arramos kidnapped Bonnie at the third door and separated her from Matt.”
“I was just getting to that.” Thomas looked straight ahead. “According to Bonnie, Morgan kidnapped her because she was making Billy’s journey too easy for him. He needed to face the perils and gain strength. Morgan wanted him to be prideful by the time he reached the seventh circle, but Bonnie thinks God wanted Billy to learn about himself through trials and thereby become wiser and stronger.” In the mirror, Thomas’s blind eyes seemed unearthly. “Does that portion have a parallel in you?”
Matt shrugged. “Not that I can think of. I’m about the same age my father was then, and I have the same ability to sense danger, but since I don’t know what he had to learn, how can I figure out a connection?”
“Bonnie didn’t provide those details in the journal,” Thomas said.
“Too personal,” Mariel added.
Thomas nodded. “Too personal.”
“What happened in the fourth circle?” Darcy asked. “Maybe that could be a clue.”
“Yes, of course.” Thomas spoke with a lyrical hum. “The child of doubt will find his rest and meet his virgin bride, to build a world of love so blest, forever to abide. For Arthur has a choice in hand to choose this lasting bliss, or fly again to troubled lands and toil through Hell’s abyss.”
“Naamah’s song,” Mariel said. “Billy met a lovely songstress in the fourth circle who entreated him to join her in a blissful union of everlasting pleasure and peace. Because of the circumstances, the magic of that place, and Naamah’s stunning beauty and unmatched acting abilities, Billy’s trial was very real. Even though he was not bound to Bonnie by marriage, he stayed true to her, as well as to his commitment to purity. So he rejected Naamah, even as she wailed that she would die in that place without him.”
Matt painted a picture in his mind of a girl on her knees, begging for help. “That last part would be hard for me—the wailing, I mean.”
“The first part wouldn’t?” Thomas asked. “Even for a blind old coot like me, the thought of a beautiful nymph propositioning me is enough to make me sweat. Don’t you find girls attractive?”
“Oh, hush,” Mariel said to Thomas. “Haven’t you got any sense at all?”
Darcy stared intently at Matt, as if anxiously awaiting his answer, but she didn’t breathe a word.
Matt’s cheeks heated up. Of course girls were attractive, but Darcy had injected a suspicion of all females. Lauren was the first exception, then Mom and Listener. But present company made that topic untouchable. “What I mean is, I can’t imagine just walking away from someone who says she’ll die without my help.”
Mariel reached forward and patted Matt’s shoulder. “Of course not. You’re a courageous young man who would never want to see a girl suffer.” She elbowed Thomas. “Now tell him the rest, and be more polite this time.”
“I am being polite.” Thomas folded his hands. “Naamah turned out to be a wraithlike creature who could turn into a bat. Her pleas were all part of her act. If Billy had given in, he would’ve been vampire bait.”
Matt nodded. The words no surprise almost slipped out. “I’m glad to hear that my father could see through her charade.”
“Oh, he didn’t see through it, at least not until later. He just knew he couldn’t accept her offer. He chose to follow principle in spite of appearances.”
“Yeah, I get that. After all I’ve seen in the last few days, I know you can’t trust appearances.” He glanced at Darcy out of the corner of his eye. She brushed a tear from her cheek. Yes, appearances could be deceptive.
“So,” Thomas continued, “you should prepare yourself for a similar trial. Perhaps you will meet a seductive beauty who shows unusual admiration, or a pathetic child who begs for rescue from danger. Whatever it is that would attack your vulnerabilities the most, that is what you will likely face.”
“Then we should make sure I’m with you, Matt,” Darcy said. “Maybe I won’t be vulnerable to whatever you’re vulnerable to.” She looked away, her face reddening. “I didn’t mean to imply I’m stronger or anything. I’m sure you’re stronger in places I’m weak.”
Heat spread to Matt’s ears. It took all his willpower to avoid thinking about Darcy’s cruel “strengths.” He firmed his lips and nodded. “I guess everyone has strengths and weaknesses.”
“True,” Thomas said. “And Darcy’s suggestion is valid, but we don’t know if she will be able to accompany you. Since Billy entered the fourth circle alone, perhaps you should expect to enter the fourth door alone.”
Mariel grasped Darcy’s shoulder. “Allowing Darcy to go along makes perfect sense. Most women are able to see straight through the wiles of other women. I’m sure Darcy is quite aware of how deceptive some women can be.”
The words I’m sure she is came to Matt’s mind, but he kept them locked inside.
“I grant you the point,” Thomas said, “though begrudgingly. We would all have come up with a plan to include Darcy when we reached the fourth door.”
Mariel wrinkled her nose. “It takes brains to plan in advance.”
“Then if you’re so smart, why would Arramos capture Bonnie if his goal is to ruin her song? She won’t be around to witness the remaining tests.”
“Tamiel is mimicking the circles. Morgan placed Bonnie in the sixth circle where she met a virtual copy of herself.”
“Shiloh,” Thomas said. “Of course. I know that.”
“Then be quiet and listen. I’m not explaining this for your sake.” Mariel shifted her hand to Matt’s shoulder. “While Billy marched on through the circles, Bonnie endured her own test. When she sacrificially provided a way for Shiloh to escape her prison of forty years, Bonnie died, and, as you learned, Billy had to carry her to the seventh circle where he hoped to find a way to resurrect her.”
“So my mother and her song will suffer while I’m staying on this course,” Matt said. “She’ll be worried about me, and that’s a song killer.”
Mariel squeezed his shoulder and settled back in her seat. “Exactly.”
“Then what’s the point in me going to the rest of the doors?”
Thomas lifted a finger. “Suppose Tamiel’s obsessive mimicking extends to the point of killing your mother. Perhaps he will bait you with the idea that the only way to raise her from the dead is to go through the seventh door.”
“And I’ll need all the keys to open it.” Matt nodded. “It’s diabolical, and that fits his perverted style.”
“He also put us all together,” Mariel said. “While he was having a couple of thugs chain us to the ceiling, he mentioned the circles of seven a number of times. Obviously he wanted us to tell you about the parallels.”
Matt squinted. “Why didn’t he tell me about them himself? Is he playing a game?”
“Yes,” Thomas said. “A game. This is fun for him. It’s hide and seek. It’s blind man’s bluff. I wouldn’t be surprised if more puzzles and intricacies continue to be revealed. We are dealing with high intelligence. Evil intelligence, to be sure, but we should not underestimate his mental prowess. By threatening your father and removing your mother, he has provided all the incentive you need to visit every door.”
Matt sighed. “And there might be more people to rescue. I can’t just leave them hanging.”
Thomas la
ughed. “A fine choice of words, considering our own predicament.”
“I guess so. But I wasn’t trying to be funny.”
“Don’t worry.” Mariel patted Matt’s shoulder. “If we can’t laugh at ourselves, we will be sour people indeed.”
“So,” Thomas continued, “you have triple incentive—your father, your mother, and anyone who is Tamiel’s next victim. And besides, where else would you go? It seems to me that Tamiel is giving you a lot of leeway. For some reason, he is allowing you to make decisions as long as you don’t stray too far from the path.”
Matt glanced at the GPS map. “Well, we have to decide about where we’re staying. We have quite a few miles to go, so I’m guessing we should find a motel for the night. Tamiel didn’t mention adding passengers, but like you said, he knew I’d try to rescue you and I wouldn’t just leave you behind.”
“Then all is well.” Thomas nudged Mariel. “I told you so. Even when all seemed lost. Even when they were ready to hang us over those man-eating sharks. Didn’t I tell you so?”
Mariel let out an exasperated sigh. “Yes, until they gagged you. You are as insightful and insufferable as ever.”
“And handsome.” He grinned. “I told you that, too.”
Mariel groaned. “Maybe leaving him behind isn’t such a bad idea after all.”
Chapter 10
FLIGHT PASSENGERS
Billy sat in the helicopter’s rear passenger compartment, his legs chained to the bench’s frame. He gnawed on an asbestos rag stuffed inside his mouth, unable to spit it out because of a gag tied securely around his jaw. Saliva had long ago dried up, making his tongue feel like sandpaper.
Dehydration racked his body. Pain hammered his skull. His captors didn’t dare remove the gag for fear of his fiery breath. They mentioned the possibility of an IV once, though they never followed through. Instead, they broke the two smallest toes on his left foot without bothering to explain why. Pain from those breaks matched the dehydration headache throb for throb.
Lack of information added to the discomfort. Why were they just flying around? It seemed as if they were waiting for a call to do something, and in the meantime they flitted from base to base like a stray dog searching for a handout. The soldiers wouldn’t talk, not even to each other. They seemed like robots, programmed to obey without question.
The propeller buzzed, adding to the pounding hammer in his head. He raised a hand along with a cuff and massaged his temple. The motion jingled the chain attached to manacles around his ankles, a chain that ran to Ashley’s ankles and then to Walter’s and Gabriel’s.
Ashley squirmed a bit as she dozed, but the slight jingle didn’t faze Walter. He was asleep and sat with his head leaning against Ashley’s.
Billy closed his eyes. Earlier, Walter explained last night’s events in his usual rapid-fire manner. As Billy replayed Walter’s account, he let his mind follow the action in vivid pictures.
“The pseudo-goth freak shot me.” Walter touched the bloodstained bandage around his chest. “When he and his goons left, I blacked out for a second, but rainwater ran up my nose and woke me up. Then Ashley and Gabriel came zooming back like angels sliding on greased ice. Well, Freak and his friends must’ve been hanging around in the cornstalks, playing Farmer in the Dell for all I know, because they came back with guns ready and with a proposal we couldn’t refuse—basically that they would let Ashley dig the slug out of me if we came along without a fight. Well, you know how much Ashley loves to do dangerous surgery, especially with lightning flashing and cold rain spilling into my open chest cavity, so she agreed, though Gabriel made it easier by making an umbrella with his wings. Anyway, since Ashley’s healing touch was working great and since I’m too ornery to die, I survived. We kind of ruined that part of the cornfield, but I left a big blood donation on the ground as payment. I hope the farmer appreciates it. I don’t want to give blood in vain.”
Billy smiled in spite of the corny pun. Good old Walter. No matter how much he suffered, he never lost his sense of humor or his confidence. Whether facing dragons or demons, he always stood his ground. Now having him close brought a boost. He was a survivor, a valiant warrior, a loyal friend.
From Walter’s other side, Gabriel leaned forward and winked but said nothing. Across a narrow gap on the opposite bench, four quasi-soldiers sat with automatic rifles on their laps. Three slept while one kept his stare on Gabriel, perhaps thinking that a winged man would be the most capable of escaping.
Billy massaged his temple again. During an overnight stop to refuel, use the facilities, and get some food, he had thought he could pry information from one of the soldiers while the other three were guarding Gabriel, Walter, and Ashley at the restroom. When he asked a simple question, a whack to the skull with the butt of a rifle silenced any further communication. At the time, it seemed that dehydration had one advantage, the lack of a need to use the facilities, but the new headache chased that thought away.
Ashley’s handcuffs rattled. Her eyes still closed, she spread out her right hand between her thigh and Billy’s. Then, one by one, she folded her fingers in, as if signaling a countdown.
Billy nodded. She was awake, ready to read his mind. Then she would use sign language to answer. They had employed that routine several times years ago when worried about eavesdroppers.
When the final finger curled down, Billy called out mentally, Have you been able to read anyone’s mind to figure out what’s going on?
Her closed fist nodded almost imperceptibly. Then she spelled out, They always knew we were following you. Sprang trap to catch us all. Wanted Lauren but missed her.
Where are we going?
She spelled, Unclear. Something about the sixth address.
Interesting. Billy looked through the side window. The worst part of the storm had long passed, and now snowflakes fluttered by the dirty glass. Any idea how many addresses there are?
Ashley spelled out, Seven, I think. Hard to know.
Sixth address out of seven. There are seven circles in Hades.
Ashley nodded with her fist.
Bonnie was imprisoned in the sixth circle. She died there, and I had to carry her body to the seventh circle, hoping to get her resurrected.
Are you worried she will die again?
Definitely. Can you blame me for that?
She laid her first two fingers over her thumb, the sign for no.
Any thoughts out there about her? Billy asked.
Ashley’s fist nodded. Trying to think of a way to tell you.
Just . . . He bit his lip. Just tell me.
Her fingers flew. Arramos captured her and took her somewhere. Unclear.
Captured. A painful lump swelled in his throat. But Bonnie will manage. She always does. He looked past the guards and eyed the helicopter pilot as he guided the craft through thin clouds. Any other clues? Maybe about where Sapphira is?
Mysterious. Picked up chatter through headphones. No one is at Fort Knox. Deserted. Elam is heading that way. Thinks Sapphira is there.
A trap?
Her fist nodded. But what kind?
The worst kind. When the rats desert the ship, you know it’s going to sink. Billy looked at Walter, then at Gabriel, then at the rifles in the soldiers’ hands. When Walter wakes up, we need to hijack this chopper. Think he’ll be up for it?
Ashley smiled. Think you could stop him?
Not a chance. Billy locked gazes with her. The fire in her eyes proved that she was ready to fight. Gabriel knows sign language. I’ve seen him use it with Shiloh.
Her fist nodded once more.
I’ll formulate a plan. Then you can let Gabriel in on it.
She slid her hand into Billy’s and used her other hand to spell out. We should pray for your plan.
Thanks for the reminder. Give me a minute. As they held hands, Billy closed his eyes and leaned his head back. Years ago, prayer was just a collection of words spoken at a meal or before b
edtime. Talking to God seemed out of reach. Memorized phrases bounced off the ceiling unheard—rote requests unanswered by a deaf deity.
And then came Bonnie—a miracle gift bestowed on the wings of a prayer. Even though she had suffered so much at the hands of a slayer, even though she had bounced around from foster home to foster home, even though fears and doubts assailed her during dark hours in the candlestone, even after sitting in a cold prison cell for fifteen years, her faith endured. She never lost hope. And now, in even darker hours at the sunset of Earth’s existence, she needed help. Her song was fading.
Billy took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Father in Heaven, I pray for my beloved wife. Years ago, through heartfelt words in her journal, she showed me your light and love and how to wield a spiritual sword and shield. Not long after that, she shone the same light to Ashley and led her to your saving grace.
Ashley compressed Billy’s hand.
But her light was more than ink on paper. She lived out her words. She was like a beacon in everything she did. She was a living song that expanded until it eventually fed the entire world with a holy influence.
He let out a silent sigh. And now her song is faltering. The corruption in this world is sending a cacophonous blast of twisted noise that tortures her heart. She needs your help. She needs encouragement. Just like you sent Merlin to remind her to sing while in the candlestone, she needs another uplifting voice. She needs a lifeline from the heavens. She needs to know that you are at her side.
Ashley spelled out, And that we love her.
Billy nodded. Amen.
* * *
High above the ground, Bonnie dangled from Arramos’s grip. Although one claw pierced the shoulder of her shirt, the other clutched her hair and pulled, stretching her skin and making it impossible to tear the shirt and fly away. With every gust of wind, he refastened his hold, sometimes clawing her scalp. Blood trickled down both sides of her head. Pain roared from ear to ear, and her underarms ached from her body weight straining against her clothes.