Anubis actively ignores me while Nefer nervously shifts her weight from foot to foot. Good. At least, one of them wants to end the conversation as much as I do.
“What would it accomplish to send Kiya?” Nefer asks at length. “Your powers only cover the gateways to and from Hell. If you free me, that means taking me out of the netherworld, and Verus’s prophecy was most specific. I can’t leave Hell until I’m its Queen.”
What the what? Words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them. “Verus said you have to become the Queen of Hell? Really?”
“Yes. Otherwise, the netherworld could fall apart.”
“Nonsense.” Anubis’s large brown eyes harden into thin, angry slits. “How can you place Verus’s imaginings before us?”
“They aren’t imaginings.” Nefer’s voice comes out husky and low. “And I’ve made my decision. There’s nothing else for us to discuss.”
“Whatever you say.”
That’s all I needed to hear. My pulse kicks harder, knowing I may get the answers I need.
“Let’s get back to business.” I gesture to Nefer. “So, you overheard something…”
“Yes,” says Nefer. “Armageddon has created an alliance with a new soul called Aldred. He’s one of your Earls, isn’t he? I thought the name was reserved for thrax nobility.”
“Oh, yeah.” I chuckle, but there’s no humor in it. “I know exactly which soul you’re talking about.”
Aldred was the last Earl of Acca and a first-class asshole. Over the last two decades, he constantly tried to steal the thrax throne from Lincoln’s family. The guy raised a pack of crazies, too. His daughter Adair agreed to be possessed by the King of Hell, all for a chance to steal my Scala powers. The minute we took the crown, Lincoln and I executed the old bastard. He even went straight to Hell, did not pass Go, did not get a trial in Purgatory. I was so happy that I wouldn’t have his evil-ness polluting my Ghost Towers, I told everyone not to investigate. Go me.
I scratch my neck, confused. “Not sure how much damage a ghost can do, especially one in Hell. What could Aldred possibly have that Armageddon would want?”
“He has something of value, make no mistake,” replies Nefer. “That’s the acquisition I spoke of before. Aldred used it to make a trade with Armageddon: his prize in exchange for a comfortable eternity in Hell.”
“That sounds like Aldred, alright. No idea what he traded though, eh?”
“Not a clue.” Nefer snaps her fingers. “Although, they did say how Armageddon hopes to use it. Whatever Aldred gave him will become the centerpiece of a plan that smacks of Helen of Troy.”
Her words turn over in my mind. Helen was the famous royal ‘face that launched a thousand ships.’ When she was abducted by Paris, the Spartans invaded Troy to get her back.
That can only mean one thing. Whatever Armageddon has, he thinks it will give him the power to abduct a royal…and then, to start a war. That’s what happened with Helen of Troy, after all. Armageddon can’t leave Hell, so he’s scheming to bring all the armies of the after-realms to his doorstep, using an unsuspecting royal as bait. It’s exactly the kind of sick and twisted plan that made him King of Hell in the first place.
Which means it’s really happening.
My heart sinks. Again, my Mom-reflex kicks into high gear. Forget invasions, war and the rest of the after-realms. All I can think about is Maxon. He’d be the perfect royal for Armageddon to kidnap. My boy is beloved in Purgatory, Antrum and Furonium. Tears prickle in my eyes. My child could be abducted into Hell. That’s not possible. I won’t let it be possible.
“You’re worried,” says Nefer.
“I should be.”
“Certainly, you receive threats all the time?” she asks.
“Not like this.” I exhale a long breath. “I need more information.”
And when I say ‘need more information,’ I mean ‘contact Cissy.’
Over the years, my best friend has created one the premiere spy network in the after-realms, all under the guise of her role as Purgatory’s Senator of Diplomacy.
“I wish I could be of more assistance,” says Nefer. “But I’m afraid that’s all I heard.” Bit by bit, she shifts to face Anubis once again. This time, it’s her turn to look mighty thirsty. “If you’re through with me, you may end the dreamscape, Great Scala.”
“There are two ways I can do that,” I explain. “Everybody goes home, or I step out and leave you both alone. What do you want?”
Nefer worries her lower lip with her teeth. “I don’t know. Would you like to be alone, Anu?”
A muscle twitches along the Gatekeeper’s throat. “All these years, I tortured myself over the reasons why you didn’t send Kiya. Perhaps escape wasn’t yet safe. Or Kiya was gone. Or worst of all, you were hurt. But in all that time, I never thought—” Anubis shakes his head. “The truth is so much worse than anything I imagined.” He steps toward the wall. “You two do as you please. I’m leaving.”
Nefer’s voice cracks with grief. “I’m sorry, Anubis.”