Indeed, they sounded different than, say, Bajangs or werewolves. The growls were sharp and scratchy, and the roars they let out reached a higher note, enough to fill me with dread. They were coming, and they were coming for us.
“The Hermessi are sending their welcoming committee,” Ramin remarked, his tone dry.
“We must hurry, then,” Ibrahim said and moved closer to Herbert. “I trust you with this girl’s life. Do not disappoint me, old friend. I am giving you freedom.”
Herbert whispered a few words, his dark purple tongue slipping between the fangs.
“What did he say?” Corrine asked.
“That freedoms are taken, not given,” Ibrahim replied. He smiled at Herbert. “You are right. And I’m giving yours back. So, please… help us.”
The ghoul nodded and pressed both hands over Ibrahim’s ears. They were so big, the fingers so long, that they made Ibrahim’s head look tiny in comparison. As if Herbert was clutching an apple with both hands. Ibrahim grunted as what I assumed was the information download began—the ghoul implanted all his memories from his previous life as a Reaper into the warlock’s mind, for him to go through and do with as he pleased.
The Daughters turned their backs on the crater, choosing to focus on the hostile creatures that would soon emerge from the woods. As products of the pink waters themselves, they showed no fear of this new enemy. Instead, they lit up, bright pink and determined to make their statement against the Fire Hermessi. Even Nova was up there, ready to fight.
I feared this would lead to further repercussions, along with the fact that Firr was bound to come down here himself eventually. Hell, I expected most, if not all, of Calliope’s Hermessi to descend upon us soon enough. So why are they sending Shills instead? I wondered.
“I’m asking myself the same question,” Ramin said. We looked up. Storm clouds were gathering. Charcoal puffs that crowded the sky, occasionally illuminated by spidering lightning bolts. The bangs that followed were relatively distant, but they’d get closer with every minute that passed. “Our time here is running out, I’m afraid.”
“I know. We’re almost there, Ramin,” I said to him. “Once Herbert has me, you’re free to go and get as far away from these elemental creeps as possible.”
“How is this going to work?” Phoenix asked Corrine. “Herbert carrying Harper’s soul. Like, physically, how would that manifest?”
Corrine took a deep breath. “The beauty of a soul is that it does not conform to the same rules of physics as us. Once separated from their bodies, they’re basically interdimensional, existing between the world of the living and that of the dead,” she explained. “That being said, an interdimensional being like the ghoul can pick a soul up and hide it inside him, much like Ramin did with Harper. Our only concern is that, unlike Ramin, the ghoul subsists on eating souls. But I’m willing to trust him as much as Ibrahim does.”
Phoenix sighed. “We don’t have a choice,” he said. Viola squeezed his shoulder.
“I’m going up there with my sisters,” she murmured.
He nodded. “Just be careful, please.”
“They’re Shills, babe. We can handle them. Besides, as soon as Harper and Ramin clear the area, we’ll all be gone, and the Shills will be rendered useless.”
“We’ll move as fast as we can,” Kailani said to her. “We certainly don’t want to be here when the actual Hermessi show up.”
“Do we not fear retaliation from them afterward?” Viola asked, fear present in her violet eyes. “I mean, we are aiding and abetting a rebel Hermessi.”
“Let’s hope they don’t come after us. After all, our main concern here is Harper. We are doing this to save Harper,” Corrine said and gave Ramin an apologetic smile. “Sorry. It is how it is. We do appreciate your support, and we’d hate to lose it.”
“Do not worry,” Ramin replied. “I understand. Your lives and your community are at risk because of me. You have me as your ally for as long as I live.”
Ibrahim exhaled sharply as Herbert moved back. Judging by the dazzled look on the warlock’s face, the ghoul had given him quite a lot to work with, going forward. The Shills got louder. I couldn’t see them from here, but I could tell that they were out of the woods now and headed toward us.
The rustling grass around the crater denounced movements. We looked up and saw dozens of Bajangs in full feline form. They dashed across the plain, growling and eager to tear the Shills apart. The Daughters watched them with sheer awe as they vanished beyond the blades of tall grass. Savage sounds erupted about two hundred yards away. The Bajangs came to our aid, even though we’d asked them to stand back. Such bravery had to be commended.
One by one, the Daughters moved away from the crater’s edge and walked toward the conflict zone, from where terrifying growls and roars erupted. Beasts clawing and biting at one another. Savage creatures vying for supremacy in this patch of green, once the battleground in the fight against Azazel’s Destroyers. I’d hoped this land would never see such bloody skirmishes again, but that wasn’t meant to be.
Hopefully, the Daughters would destroy as many of those Shills as possible before the Bajangs were hurt or, worse, killed.
“He’s ready,” Ibrahim said to Ramin and me. “Just let him take you, Harper.”
“I’ll see you soon, hopefully,” Ramin whispered.
“You be careful, you hear? Neraka needs you, and I sure as hell don’t want to see your boy taking your place,” I replied firmly.
“We’ll both fight this as hard as we can, Harper. I only wish to see you back in your body, with your husband… just as I wish to someday return home and find nothing but peace, happiness, and prosperity.”
Herbert came forward, his arms wide open. He kept a remarkably straight, albeit deformed, face, though I couldn’t ignore the tiny string of drool stretching from the corner of his mouth. Oh, God, he’s slobbering already…
“He’s an animal, Harper,” Ramin whispered. “He can’t control such a reaction. Have faith.”
“Herbert has never hurt anyone while under my rule,” Ibrahim said, noticing how long it was taking me to let go of Ramin. He couldn’t see me, but he would’ve seen Herbert taking me in if I’d let go by now. “Besides, remember, Harper. Herbert is free only after he delivers your soul safely back to your body. If he doesn’t, I’ll be able to track him and destroy him. Once you’re well and conscious again, I will break the spell on his pencil case. That’s how it works.”
That gave me enough confidence to take the next step. I could feel myself loosening up inside Ramin. Herbert’s big, black eyes grew even bigger. I figured he could see me better, now that I wasn’t fused to the Fire Hermessi anymore.
Gut-wrenching shrieks pierced the sky. Bajangs were going down. There was a bloody fight taking place, worryingly close to the crater. I heard strange swooshes and grunts, heartbreaking wails and bloodcurdling growls. We had to get away from here, fast.
Herbert slowly reached out, while I did the same. Phoenix gasped. “Holy crap, I see you… sort of. You’re just a mass of white light.”
“This is so beautifully weird,” Kailani murmured, staring at me.
So they could see me now. Sort of. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Herbert and I were touching one another, and Herbert had made himself visible to them. Perhaps I was visible by proxy. The ghoul pulled me out of Ramin and pressed me against his skinny chest like a cloth. I didn’t even realize I was literally being absorbed into him until I could practically feel his insides, moist and cold, tightening around me.
For a few seconds, I was blind.
“Open your eyes, darling.” A hissing voice startled me. I could hear it so clearly, as if it was inside me. The voice inside me, while I’m inside a ghoul… Oh, boy… It snickered. I’d amused it. “Yes, Harper, you can hear me, and I can hear you. I can hear your thoughts… everything. So, careful what you think of.”
“Herbert?” I croaked.
