Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
I stared at the rusty gate blocking our entrance to the abandoned subway station. I was fighting the urge to hurl all over my shoes. The nausea that had been my constant companion for the past six months was reaching epic proportions. The stench of mildew and decay wafting from the dark tunnel wasn't helping.
"Remind me again why we're spelunking through Portland's dirty laundry?" I grumbled, leaning heavily on Aidon's arm. My mate's steady presence was the only thing keeping me vertical at this point.
Stella, practically vibrating with excitement, was already working on the padlock. "Because, my dear knocked-up friend, this isn't just any old subway station. It's the home of the Arcanum Subterraneum, one of the most comprehensive Dark magical archives in North America!"
"Uh-huh," I said, unconvinced. "And it just happens to be in a moldy hole in the ground in Maine. Seems legit."
“I’d bet anything it’s here because Lyra spent a lot of time trying to get around the anti-theft protections on the Pleaides power. She’s been trying to manipulate Hattie for decades. We need to find the other six artifacts Lyra created.” Aidon's arm tightened around me. "Are you sure you're up for this, Phoebe? We can come back another time."
I wanted to say yes, to curl up in bed with a gallon of ice cream and a trashy romance novel. But the memory of Lyra's smug face as she gloated about binding Hattie's essence burned in my mind. We needed to find those artifacts fast.
"I'm fine," I lied, straightening up and summoning what little energy I had left. "We’re protected by that glamour. No one will know our true identities."
“They won’t even see that belly of yours,” Stella pointed out. “I didn’t believe Tarja when she said we could hide it. I mean, it’s bigger than the Hindenburg.”
I rolled my eyes as my bestie turned and went for the latch. The lock clicked open under her fingers. The gate swung inward with a screech that set my teeth on edge. We walked through, and Aidon conjured a ball of light that illuminated a set of crumbling stairs that descended into darkness.
"Ladies first," Nana cackled, giving me a gentle push. "Age before beauty, after all."
I shot her a glare that should have made her whither. "I'm pretty sure that saying doesn't apply when the lady in question is housing three future hellraisers, Nana."
Nevertheless, I started down the stairs. One hand was on the filthy wall for balance while the other protectively cradled my swollen belly. Aidon was right next to me, ready to catch me if anything happened. I hid my grimaces as each step sent a jolt of discomfort through my body. The magical aura of the place was doing weird things to my senses. It felt like trying to walk through pudding while wearing beer goggles.
We reached the bottom of the stairs, and I had to bite back a groan. The subway platform stretched out before us. Why did we have to enter a vast cavern of crumbling concrete and rusted metal? I was over dirty, evil places.
That wasn't what made my stomach do a somersault that would have impressed an Olympic gymnast. It was the wild, untamed magic that swirled in eddies and currents around us. They were visible to my enhanced senses as ribbons of color and light. The effect was like being stuck in a kaleidoscope designed by a madman. It made me dizzy as hell.
"Oh, this is not good," I muttered, swaying on my feet. Aidon's strong arms steadied me. Unfortunately, even his touch couldn't fully ground me in this chaos.
Oblivious to my discomfort, Stella was practically skipping down the platform. "Can you feel it?" she squealed. "All that knowledge and power isn't just Dark. There’s more Light than anything here."
I could feel it, alright. It felt like my insides were trying to become my outsides. "Stella, I swear to all that is holy, if you don't tone down the pep, I will puke on you. And trust me, pregnant witch puke is not something you want to experience."
Her excitement dimmed a notch, and concern flickered across her face. "Sorry, Pheebs. I forgot about your, uh, delicate condition. Maybe we should-" Whatever she was about to suggest was cut off by a low, rumbling growl that definitely didn't come from my rebellious stomach. We all froze and our eyes darted around the dimly lit cavern.
"Please tell me that was just the wind," I whispered, knowing full well it wasn't. When was the last time anything in my life had been that simple?
As if in answer, a section of the far wall began to... move. No, not move. Transform. Books and scrolls emerged from hidden alcoves, swirling together in a vortex of paper and ink. They coalesced into a massive, vaguely humanoid shape that was easily twice my height. Glowing symbols danced across its surface, and two balls of blue fire burned where its eyes should be.
"Well, shit," I eloquently summed up our situation.
The construct took a thunderous step forward, its voice booming through the cavern like a librarian from hell. "Who dares disturb the Sanctum of Knowledge?"
I opened my mouth. A snarky retort was on the tip of my tongue when a wave of nausea hit me so hard that I nearly doubled over. The magical currents in the air were going haywire, reacting to the creature's presence. Or maybe reacting to me? Either way, it felt like being on the world's worst carnival ride.
Aidon moved to stand protectively in front of me, his divine aura flaring. "We seek information to combat a great evil. We mean no harm to your archives."
The creature's fiery eyes narrowed. "Many have sought knowledge for noble causes, only to bring ruin. Prove your worth, or be expelled."
Nana stepped forward, looking for all the world like a sweet old lady who'd wandered in by mistake. She made a tsking sound and wagged a finger. "Is that any way to treat guests? I thought libraries were supposed to be welcoming places. Are we not evil enough for you?"
The creature seemed taken aback. Its papery brow furrowed as it stared at her. "The Arcanum no longer caters to evil. It is more than a tool for the dark-hearted. It is also more than a mere library. It is a repository of ancient and powerful magic."
"It’s good to hear you have evolved and developed a mind of your own," Nana said as she thrust her hands on her hips. "You need to consider your audience, though. I've got underwear older than half the 'ancient' magic in this dusty hole. Now, are you going to let us in, or do I need to break out the reading glasses and give you a proper talking-to?"
I bit back a laugh, not sure if it was hysteria or genuine amusement. The construct's eyes flickered, and I swear I saw confusion in those fiery depths. "You... You dare speak to the guardian of knowledge with such disrespect?"
Nana's smile was a deadly blade, sharper than Aidon's steel. "Listen up, bookworm. Respect isn't handed out like candy—it's earned. You're the creation of a madwoman. A witch who'd burn the world to get her way. This 'turning over a new leaf' act? It's fresh, and your judgment's greener than spring leaves. We can't afford to wait while you figure out which end is up or who's playing for which team. So, here's the deal. I hear you magical types have a thing for riddles. Give us your toughest. If we crack it, you let us through. How's that sound?"
The creature was silent for a long moment, and I held my breath. Finally, it nodded, sending a shower of loose papers to the ground. "Very well. Answer this riddle, And you may enter. Fail, and face expulsion."
It drew itself up, seeming to fill the entire cavern, and spoke in a voice that echoed like waves crashing against cliffs. "I have a mouth but do not speak, a bed but do not sleep. I can run but never walk, and have a head but never talk. What am I?"
My brain was foggy as sea mist. It churned like a whirlpool trying to make sense of his question. Mouth, bed, run, head... I was about to blurt out 'a really lazy marathon runner' when Aidon's eyes widened with realization. "A river!" he exclaimed. "It's a river!"
The creature's eyes flared brighter for a moment, then dimmed. "Correct," it rumbled, sounding almost disappointed. "You may pass."
With a sound like a thousand pages turning at once, the creature dissolved. In its place was a hidden doorway. I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding, then immediately regretted it as another wave of nausea hit me. "Nice job, Yahweh," I managed to say between deep breaths. "Remind me to buy you a drink when I'm not, you know, gestating."
Aidon cocked his head to the side and pressed a hand to my cheek. "Phoebe, are you sure you're okay?”
Stella nodded and said, “Yeah. You look like you're about to pass out or throw up. Or both."
"I'm fine," I lied again, straightening up with effort. "Let's just find what we came for and get out of here before Mister Papier-Maché changes his mind."
We stepped through the doorway, and I nearly fell to my knees. The magical energy here was even more intense. It swirled around us in a maelstrom of power and knowledge. It was beautiful, awe-inspiring, and absolute hell on my overloaded senses.
The room was vast and stretched farther than should have been possible, given the constraints of the subway station. Bookshelves towered to dizzying heights. They were crammed with tomes, scrolls, and artifacts of every description. I’d never been near so many Dark artifacts.
"Spread out," Aidon commanded as he scanned the endless shelves. "Look for anything related to Lyra's relics, soul binding, or ancient covenants."
“And keep your feelers peeled for anything that feels like Lyra. We need to find those other artifacts,” I reminded them and took a wobbly step forward.
The floor seemed to shift under my feet. For a moment, I thought I was going to face-plant into a stack of grimoires. But then something strange happened. A pulse of energy emanated from my belly. It was different from the chaotic swirl around us and spread outward. It interacted with the archive's magic in a way I couldn't quite understand. Whatever it was, I would take it. My nausea receded and was replaced by a connection.
"Uh, guys?" I called out with a shaky voice. "I think the babies are doing something weird."
Aidon was at my side in an instant. "What's wrong? Are you in pain?"
I shook my head, trying to find the words to describe the bizarre sensation. "No, it's... it's like they're reaching out. Like they're drawn to something here."
As if responding to my words, a book on a nearby shelf began to pulse with an ominous, blood-red glow. Drawn by an inexplicable urge, I reached out and grasped it. The moment my fingers touched the cover—bound in what felt suspiciously like human skin—a jolt of dark energy surged through me, and my perception warped.
I was grossed out by the thought of what I held while also seeing the archive's true nature with terrifying clarity. The chaotic swirls resolved into intricate patterns. Some were nightmarish. At the center of the origin of this place was the book in my hands. Its malevolent energy resonated with an answering darkness inside me.
"Holy shit," I said as my vision swam with symbols. "We've stumbled into something far beyond our imaginings."
The others gathered around as I carefully opened the grimoire. Its pages were filled with forbidden knowledge, diagrams of unspeakable rituals, and symbols that seared themselves into my mind. Somehow, I understood it all.
"This is the Codex of Eternal Shadow," I explained. The words tasted of ash and blood. "It's a compendium of the darkest arts. Ones capable of tearing the veil between worlds."
Stella's face paled. "This might be what we need to understand what Lyra's done to Hattie."
I nodded, but my focus was split. Half on the book, half on the writhing, hungry energy emanating from my womb. The triplets were reaching out, yearning for the power that saturated this place. I snatched Aidon’s hand as fear seized me. I didn’t want my babies to turn Dark. Aidon placed a protective hand over my stomach and let me lead him deeper into the archive. The others followed, muttering protective incantations, but I barely noticed. I was caught in a trance, pulled by an irresistible dark gravity.
We wound through labyrinthine shelves. The malevolent magic grew thicker with each step. Finally, we emerged into a hidden alcove. There, suspended in a vortex of writhing shadows, was an amulet that made my blood run cold. It was an abomination of beauty and power.
It had a pitch-black stone that was veined and pulsing crimson light. It hung from a chain that seemed to be woven from tormented souls. But as I looked closer, I realized it wasn't a single stone at all. It was six distinct relics fused together into one unholy artifact. And at its center was a hole that would fit Hattie's locket if I wasn’t mistaken.
"That's it," I whispered as my hand landed on top of Aidon’s. "That's how Lyra did it. How she turned Hattie into a poltergeist. It’s all outlined in this book. She had to fuse the power of each of her Dark artifacts. It was the only way she could reach beyond our wards and grasp Hattie’s soul."
“Hattie’s locket is connected and goes in the middle.” Aidon's face was a mask of dread. "She created the Heart of the Abyss," he said in a voice tight with fear.
“What’s that?” Nana asked.
Aidon sucked in a deep breath. His fingers dug into my belly slightly. "It’s a relic of such evil the original was destroyed eons ago. The vilest of beings have continuously recreated the magic over the years. But this... this is worse. She's reconstructed it using six artifacts of power. To my knowledge, nothing like that has been done before"
I reached for the amulet, compelled by a hunger I couldn't explain. Aidon caught my wrist. His grip was painfully tight. "Phoebe, no. It will consume you."
But the babies had other ideas. A surge of energy that was stronger than anything I'd felt before erupted from my womb. It collided with the amulet's aura, and the two forces warred for a moment. Then, to my horrified amazement, the amulet's power began to yield.
The malevolent red glow intensified and spread throughout the fused relics. The chain of tormented souls began writhing violently. They morphed and reformed into links of obsidian. As we watched in terrified awe, the Heart of the Abyss tore free of its containment and slammed into my outstretched hand.
The moment it touched my skin, a flood of forbidden knowledge invaded my mind. I saw the ritual Lyra had performed, combining the relics into this monstrous creation. I glimpsed the cosmic horrors she had bargained with to gain such power. But more than that, I saw the shadowy organization behind it all. It was a clandestine group operating in the darkest corners of the Underworld.
I came back to myself with a gasp, feeling changed. I started to freak out, thinking I had been corrupted. Aidon cupped my cheeks, grounding me. In a sense, I had been violated with the knowledge. But it was done for a terrible purpose. The others stared at me with undisguised fear.
"Phoebe?" Stella's voice quavered. "What happened?"
I looked down at the Heart of the Abyss, then back at my family. A grim smile spread across my face. "I saw how Lyra did it," I explained. "Lyra isn't working alone. There's a group in the Underworld. They call themselves the Covenant of Eternal Night. They're the ones who provided her with the knowledge and the items to perform this ritual."
A heavy silence fell over the group. Nana was the first to break it. "The Covenant of Eternal Night? I thought they were just a myth, a boogeyman story to keep young Underworld deities in line."
Aidon shook his head. "They're real. I've heard whispers of them taking action, but never anything concrete. If they're involved in this..." He trailed off, the implications too terrible to voice.
Stella's eyes narrowed with determination. "We need to know more. Aidon, we should go to the Underworld, see what we can dig up about this Covenant."
Aidon nodded. "Agreed. If we're going to have any chance of reversing what's been done to Hattie, we need to understand who we're really up against."
"I'm coming with you," I said, already mentally preparing for the journey. But before I could take a step, I was met with a chorus of protests.
"Absolutely not," Nana said firmly. "You're carrying triplets, Phoebe. Triplets with enough magical potential to interact with an artifact like this. The Underworld is no place for you right now."
"But—" I started to argue, but Stella cut me off.
"Nana's right, Phoebe. It's too dangerous. We need you here, safe, working on deciphering that grimoire. It might hold the key to unraveling the Heart of the Abyss."
I wanted to argue further, but the look in their eyes told me it would be futile. Plus, as much as I hated to admit it, they had a point. The babies' safety had to come first. "Fine," I conceded. My hand tightened around the Heart of the Abyss. "But you two better come back in one piece. And with answers."
Aidon managed a weak smile. "We will. And when we do, we'll put an end to this madness once and for all."