The Witch's Devil (Complete)

Chapter 34, Hells Gate

Ember's POV~

Cozbi had a sinister sweet smile as she walked to my front door. Just standing there with her hand on the old knob. Stopping briefly with a heavy sigh, I tilted my head curious if she was giving me a last out. Too bad for her, I'm not backing down.

"Can you let me know how we get there?" Asking aloud with an attempt at a cocky smirk to hide my growing fear. "Do we just go to the nearest graveyard, open a mausoleum door and casually walk? Maybe we will need a blood sacrifice with a goat." Bringing my hands up pressing the tips together. "Or perhaps we need to make a virgin sacrifice over a sheepskin rug, painted pentagram of blood." A cackle escapes me with ease as I focus on my brain's images of the scenario.

I wasn't going to show fear the same way I did all those months ago. There was no time for fear. No time to back down from this. I was going. Diverting conversation be damned.

Cozbi turns the door knob with a click, slowly cracking it open, as an eerie breeze blows past me. A scent of sulfur and ash filled my nostrils— the door now fully opened wasn't displaying my front yard and garden back to me.

I found myself speaking before I could stop, "Oh. Wow."

Cozbi stifled a laugh, "Well that's a reaction."

My eyes grew wider at what stared back at me. Nothing, but darkness. As if a wall of inky black shadow now stood on the threshold. Unsettling my soul, yet calming all the same. I didn't remove my eyes for fear of what horrors might escape into my home.

"You could use those ways you mentioned. I highly doubt you'll appreciate the aftermath they'll eventually inflict though." Cozbi's tone was sharp as a blade, as cold as the very void that stood between me and hell. "I figured you would be more comfortable with a direct line to the circle of lust." She giggled.

A glint of purple caught my gaze. I shift to see a small crystal shimmering from a ring on her hand on a golden band that shone brightly. She plasters on an eerily cheesy grin, with her glistening teeth that twinkle with the purple. Gracefully dropping her hand down to her side, she walks through the doorway as if it were nothing.

"Right this way, little witch."

I was frozen there at that moment. The tone of her voice felt like a song beckoning to my ears. Shivers slithered their way down my spine. No going back from here, Ember. Gulping down the lump in my throat. One step— two. Inching closer to that darkness. I stopped.

Looking over my shoulder to the nine felines I've called my family for so long. I kneeled down giving scratches to those who wished. The look in their eyes expressed approval, but a sting pinched at my heart. Unsung words told between us. Ilmatar and the other fae appeared behind them. Nodding a silent understanding for my family, their home, would be taken care of and protected.

It wasn't much, far from it in fact, I'll have to take it at that. To earn a little trust, I must give a little after all . "I love you all." I whispered. With my final scratches given, I was on my way.

Once through the threshold, I couldn't look back. Not for fear I'll never be able to muster the courage needed to do this. Cozbi hadn't walked too far in, lifting her chin up, then the open door into my home slowly closed. Close.

She appeared none too pleased with my choices as of late. Even more displeased with them tonight. Silently judging, watching my every move with her cold eyes. Huffing out a breath of unamused frustration, she holds her hand palm up and out, a small neon blue flame ignited above.

"No going back." Cozbi spoke firm. The glow of the flame adding to her features

The flame bobbed up and down. Just hovering there before taking off straight as a flash like a lightning bolt. Igniting similar small substantial neon flames along the path, eerie cavern walls of ebony stone lit with a subtle ambiance that was oddly calming. Shadows reaching out like twisting dark tendrils. A light brush of air brought the smell of soot, ash, sulfur— it was death in the air. Flickering the flames, the light sending the tendrils hissing back to the cracks that it came.