“Father, leave him for Abaddon, and let’s get to the finale and ditch this hell hole.”
Paymon laughed with approval and threw Marla over his shoulder. “Fine.”
The earth rumbled under Lucas’s feet. He saw where the hole in the ground would appear and jumped clear. The earth gave way with a massive crack. The son balled his hands and suspended Lucas in the air above the chasm. “Don’t worry about Marla. We’ll take our time with her. And if you survive this, don’t try to run, because Abaddon will find you.”
“NO!” Lucas shouted as Nicor released him and his body fell into the crater.
Chapter 4
Calise opened her eyes to see Ron and Anna’s worried faces hovering over her. What happened? Wasn’t she just sunbathing by the pool?
“Heat sickness, don’t you think, Ron? Here, have some water, dear.”
A silky soft hand rested on her shoulder, and Calise swore she smelled her Nana’s apple pie. She took a tentative sip of water.
“I’d call Dean or your mom, but I think you fainted because it’s so unnaturally hot here. Don’t you think that’s it? You’re dehydrated, is all.” Ron busied himself arranging a platter of fruits and chicken on the small coffee table.
How did she get back to her bungalow? Sitting up, Calise leaned her body into Anna’s. She rubbed her eyes and shook herself awake. “I’m so embarrassed to have put you through so much trouble.” Calise pulled away.
“No trouble at all.” The words came from Anna’s mouth, but her voice sounded like Calise’s mother.
“Anything for Dean’s baby sister,” Ron said.
“I don’t remember anything after being at the pool. I’m sure I only need a nap and some water.” She lowered herself back into the bed.
Anna pulled the sheet over her. The sheet appeared to move in slow motion. When the fabric touched Calise’s bare skin, the material soothed her as if pure silk covered her. Her eyes drooped and her mind swam in a fog.
Something has happened.
She fought to snap herself out of the delirium, but her thoughts swirled into cool water and warm breezes. She succumbed to slumber and dreamt of a pillow fight with her college girlfriends. Anna was there in a red lace teddy. The girls sank into the feathery softness of the bed together. The bed became a cloud floating over the ocean. The girls wrestled and giggled. Everyone wore white nightgowns, except Anna, the most beautiful woman she’d ever laid her eyes on. Calise crawled to reach Anna, willing the dream to go on forever. She continued to repeat her name: “Anna—Anna—Anna.”
****
The demons disappeared with Marla. In a place where the cavern’s opening narrowed, Lucas slid to a halt and wedged himself sideways. His feet pressed on one rocky wall and his badly scratched back pressed the other.
He braced himself as best he could but realized the loose dirt wouldn’t hold him for long. Pebbles shaken loose from the earth descended into the abyss. He started to slip. His hands, still tied behind his back, cut against a sharp rock. Legs shaking with exertion, he sawed feverishly at the rope binding his wrists. He loosened the knot just before his feet lost their purchase, and he managed to grab a sturdy root.
He dangled there panting when a familiar loop of leather appeared—Gotzone’s reins. The mare had managed to flip the lead over her head and extended them to Lucas. He transferred one hand to them at a time. “Whoa, girl. Back up nice and easy.”
He heaved his body out of the crevasse and collapsed on the ground sweating and breathless. Gotzone prodded him with her muzzle. He dissolved the illusion and the earth returned to its former state. No earthquake. No crack in the ground.
Panic seized him— Marla!
With a rush of adrenaline, Lucas mounted Gotzone and raced after the demons. He remembered Ron said they’d rented Casa del Noche, up the beach a half a mile. Stogey appeared alongside them. He limped but kept pace. Upon nearing the rental
Paymon laughed with approval and threw Marla over his shoulder. “Fine.”
The earth rumbled under Lucas’s feet. He saw where the hole in the ground would appear and jumped clear. The earth gave way with a massive crack. The son balled his hands and suspended Lucas in the air above the chasm. “Don’t worry about Marla. We’ll take our time with her. And if you survive this, don’t try to run, because Abaddon will find you.”
“NO!” Lucas shouted as Nicor released him and his body fell into the crater.
Chapter 4
Calise opened her eyes to see Ron and Anna’s worried faces hovering over her. What happened? Wasn’t she just sunbathing by the pool?
“Heat sickness, don’t you think, Ron? Here, have some water, dear.”
A silky soft hand rested on her shoulder, and Calise swore she smelled her Nana’s apple pie. She took a tentative sip of water.
“I’d call Dean or your mom, but I think you fainted because it’s so unnaturally hot here. Don’t you think that’s it? You’re dehydrated, is all.” Ron busied himself arranging a platter of fruits and chicken on the small coffee table.
How did she get back to her bungalow? Sitting up, Calise leaned her body into Anna’s. She rubbed her eyes and shook herself awake. “I’m so embarrassed to have put you through so much trouble.” Calise pulled away.
“No trouble at all.” The words came from Anna’s mouth, but her voice sounded like Calise’s mother.
“Anything for Dean’s baby sister,” Ron said.
“I don’t remember anything after being at the pool. I’m sure I only need a nap and some water.” She lowered herself back into the bed.
Anna pulled the sheet over her. The sheet appeared to move in slow motion. When the fabric touched Calise’s bare skin, the material soothed her as if pure silk covered her. Her eyes drooped and her mind swam in a fog.
Something has happened.
She fought to snap herself out of the delirium, but her thoughts swirled into cool water and warm breezes. She succumbed to slumber and dreamt of a pillow fight with her college girlfriends. Anna was there in a red lace teddy. The girls sank into the feathery softness of the bed together. The bed became a cloud floating over the ocean. The girls wrestled and giggled. Everyone wore white nightgowns, except Anna, the most beautiful woman she’d ever laid her eyes on. Calise crawled to reach Anna, willing the dream to go on forever. She continued to repeat her name: “Anna—Anna—Anna.”
****
The demons disappeared with Marla. In a place where the cavern’s opening narrowed, Lucas slid to a halt and wedged himself sideways. His feet pressed on one rocky wall and his badly scratched back pressed the other.
He braced himself as best he could but realized the loose dirt wouldn’t hold him for long. Pebbles shaken loose from the earth descended into the abyss. He started to slip. His hands, still tied behind his back, cut against a sharp rock. Legs shaking with exertion, he sawed feverishly at the rope binding his wrists. He loosened the knot just before his feet lost their purchase, and he managed to grab a sturdy root.
He dangled there panting when a familiar loop of leather appeared—Gotzone’s reins. The mare had managed to flip the lead over her head and extended them to Lucas. He transferred one hand to them at a time. “Whoa, girl. Back up nice and easy.”
He heaved his body out of the crevasse and collapsed on the ground sweating and breathless. Gotzone prodded him with her muzzle. He dissolved the illusion and the earth returned to its former state. No earthquake. No crack in the ground.
Panic seized him— Marla!
With a rush of adrenaline, Lucas mounted Gotzone and raced after the demons. He remembered Ron said they’d rented Casa del Noche, up the beach a half a mile. Stogey appeared alongside them. He limped but kept pace. Upon nearing the rental
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