Chapter 51

A deep rooted shudder ran the length of Taylor's body as he stared around the grim landscape of hell. Just the thought Ni could be somewhere around here left his stomach feeling more than a little cold. How could one of his brothers fill him with so much certainty when the other held nothing but dread. Still he was determined to see Fray once all this was over and start his healing process sooner rather than later. Because if Ni's threat had any real weight to it, if he didn't learn to speak again on his own quickly then he might never speak again at all.

A part of him was almost ready to bolt at that thought and if it wasn't for the fact he knew he was here to help his cousins he might just have. But that didn't stop the place setting him on edge and making him feel dreadfully alone, despite the loving presence of his parents, Kisara and SK. It was a strange feeling and not the one he'd had on his last visit here. Then again, his last visit had brought Drake down with him and it was impossible for him to feel alone then.

'Gamma,' Kisara's voice was strangely hushed, 'that's the name of this city.'

'Why Gamma?' SK licked his lips, acting as though he didn't already know, when he clearly did.

'All the cities are named like that,' she shrugged, 'I think Ni was having some kind at in joke at the time.'

'That wasn't it,' his Dad was clearly tense, 'but it's a good enough reason anyway.'

'So where do we start?' His Parto glanced around. 'I mean, we know they're here somewhere, so…'

'They're most likely to be in the north-east quadrant of the city,' Kisara interrupted him, 'it's the only spot that would give them easy access to the ice caverns.'

'And where are we currently?'

'In the lower half of the north-west quadrant, I thought I'd give us some breathing room.'

'Why?'

'This is hell,' she stretched her right arm out to the side of her, then brought it in as flames created a red handled dagger in her hand, 'unless you know exactly where you need to be, its safest to give yourself a wide berth, in case of traps.'

'But this place is empty,' his Parto frowned, 'why would there be any traps?'

'This is hell,' she threw the dagger into a nearby wall, 'there are always traps.'

As the blade of her dagger neared the wall, it imbedded itself in something previously invisible. The device buzzed into sight for a moment, before completely exploding. Once it had her dagger fell to the ground. Before it landed Kisara stretched her hand out towards it, instantly calling it back to her and Taylor couldn't help but admit it was more than a little impressive.

'You're proving yourself more than useful already Kisara,' SK's face twitched with a smile as his tongue skated across his lips, 'are you sure I can't tempt you into taking a proper place with us?'

'I like the place I have thank you very much,' she started forward, keeping a tight hold of her dagger as she did.

'But you're a nobody right now.'

'I know. That's how I want to keep it,' she glanced back towards him. 'Now are the rest of you coming or not? Those kids won't save themselves.'


'One of the traps has been set off,' Helen half gasped, as she grabbed hold of her Balance issue binoculars and narrowed her sights in on the distant puff of smoke she could see.

'They're here already?' Nichee placed himself down beside her.

'I guess so,' she scanned the streets near the explosion, trying to get an early sight on them. 'But how did they manage to get down here without me noticing.'

'Maybe they recruited a demon to help them.'

'Damn demonic bounty hunters, there should be tighter laws against them.'

'They have their uses though,' his voice was light, 'I mean, the Council have been known to use them from time to time themselves, so there must be some merit to them.'

'How can there be any merit to something that betrays you the second you run outa cash?' Helen shook her head, as she continued to scan the streets. 'You're safer without them.'

'But that doesn't mean you still don't need them.'

'I'd never need one,' she glared at him, 'if I ever associate with a demon it would only be because I have a hit on them.'

'Hate them that much, do you?'

'It's not that.'

'Then what is it?'

'You know what it is.'

'This is about your mentor, isn't it?'

'He always warned me demons couldn't be trusted, then he goes and proves it by getting killed by a Hateling bounty hunter he was supposed to be working with. And because the Hateling was Council approved he got away with lying about it; saying it was an unfortunate accident.'

'How do you know it wasn't, you weren't there.'

'I know in my gut it wasn't. I told you that at the time and I still haven't changed my mind about it.'

'I know.'

For a few moments there was silence, then Helen turned her gaze back towards the streets and lifted the binoculars. She was sure she'd be able to spot them approaching, even from this distance, so she definitely couldn't understand it when nothing showed up.

'Where are they?'

'Maybe they weren't the ones who set off the trap,' Nichee's voice was almost bored sounding.

'Who else would it…?'

Suddenly the sound of another explosion carried through the air towards them. Instantly Helen began scanning for its source. It was closer than the last one, she knew that, but for some reason she still couldn't spot the ones who'd set it off.

'Is it possible they're using a cloaking spell of some kind?'

'More than possible.'

'Then this is going to be a little harder than I thought,' she sighed. 'And I really wanted it to be easy too.'

'Why easy?'

'Because I wanted to keep the fighting as far away from those kids as possible.'

'Oh I see,' Nichee let out a slow breath, 'you're all about protecting the innocent now, aren't you?'

'Of course,' she glanced up at him, 'why would I be any other way?'

'I can think of a few reasons,' the words turned almost slyly in his mouth.

'And what would they be?'

'I'll tell you once your mission is over.'

'What? Why not now?'

'Because you need to be on your guard right now,' he indicated towards the city, 'and heaven forbid I should distract you from it.'