Under the Roses

77 - Shake and Quiver, Little Tree

LORY

The Duels had started. Lory could hear the crowd through the thick palace walls. The floor seemed to shake with the noise.

"Wow," Quinn muttered as they followed Grant down the hall. "They're riled up."

"I'm riled up," grumbled Livia, who was. Grant had again woken the girls much later than Quinn and Nix, which again had offended Livia. She was limping still, but Lory was glad to see that her injury didn't seem to be hurting her as much. Though she'd checked the wound last night, and she was almost sure it would leave a scar, not that she thought Livia would mind at all.

Nix wrinkled his nose. "It's disgusting." He paused. "I don't think that's the right word."

"It is pretty disgusting," Quinn said. Last night, he'd told them what he'd learned from Rome. He was gripping Rome's compass in one hand.

Lory glanced at the walls as if she could see through them to the arena outside. She hoped Rome didn't die. She didn't know him all that well, and she couldn't say she liked him very much, but she didn't dislike him. And he did seem to be taking good care of Austin.

"Here," Grant said, ushering them all into a small room, where there was nothing but a dark curtain hanging down in the middle. It was a different room than the one where Fritz had taken Lory to see Pan. Fritz was out watching the Duels now, but he had told them what to do.

Grant shuffled his feet, silent for a moment. "Well, good luck down there."

"Thanks," Quinn said.

"Don't..." Grant seemed to be struggling to find the right words. "Fail."

"I hope we don't," said Quinn. And Grant gave them a final nod before darting out of the room, leaving them alone.

Lory looked at the curtain. She'd seen the portal in Cerieve before—she'd used the portal in Cerieve before. It had looked just like this. But this was different. This wasn't just a portal. It led down to the Otherworld. And though she'd been with Fritz, this was different. None of them were familiar with demons. There was no Fritz to guide them. Only Rome's compass.

Lory wondered, though, if Quinn hadn't told them everything. He'd been very brief, saying only that they needed to get through the principalities to the highest one and ask the Lord of the Otherworld to let them out at Cerieve. That was all. He'd told them the names of the principalities and the princes who ruled each one, though Lory didn't really see how that would be useful.

"Okay," Quinn said, shouldering one of their bags. Nix had the other bag, Livia had Lory's book, and Lory had Clara. "Just in case something happens, we'll stay in pairs. Nix and I will go first. Livia and Lory, come in straight after us."

They all nodded. Livia, for once, had nothing to say.

"All right," Quinn said, taking a deep breath. He reached out his hand, and Nix took it. Nix pushed aside the curtain, and they disappeared behind it.

"Ready?" Lory said, glancing at Livia. She held out her hand.

"I'll never be ready," Livia said, her voice barely a whisper. She took Lory's hand. "But, at the same time, I'm always ready."

Lory squeezed Livia's hand. Then she swept aside the curtain and stepped into the darkness.

* * *

The Otherworld was dark.

That was the first thought that struck Lory. She looked around and saw nothing. Not even Livia, though she could still feel her hand. Livia tightened her grip on Lory's hand. "Lory?"