Page 23 of Crimson Skies

Charlie squirmed under their stares.

Wallace’s eyes widened. “Altered Mind Box?” He looked from the enchanter to Strickland. “I thought that thing was just a rumor!”

“It isn’t,” the director muttered.

Yuan brightened. “Man, I’d love to get my hands on that artifact.”

“It’s pretty cool,” Charlie confessed.

Ortega and Wallace looked at them like they had a screw loose.

“We found out that warlock’s name,” Theo said. “It’s Ulrich Karlstad.”

Ortega’s shoulders knotted. “Ulrich?”

Victor frowned at his tense expression. “You know him?”

Ortega hesitated before nodding. “I’ve heard of him. He’s a nasty piece of work.” He furrowed his brow. “Still, I never thought he’d actually choose to work for Elios.”

Wallace studied Cassius warily in the hush that followed. “You said our soul cores are compatible with those summoning staffs. I take it by that you want us to use them?”

“Yes.”

“The staffs will not only strengthen your inherent magic,” Atropos explained. “They will grant you the ability to use the destructive powers of the Nine Hells against our enemy.”

Yuan paled. Ortega and Wallace froze.

“The powers of the Nine Hells?” Wallace repeatedly numbly.

Ortega shot to his feet. “How the heck do you expect us to do that?! We’re human!”

His angry protest echoed around the room.

“Calm down, Santiago.” Strickland sighed. “There’s already a human who can wield the magic of the Nine Hells.”

Ortega recoiled. “What?”

Yuan’s expression cleared. “Oh, you mean that blonde chick who fought alongside those two a few weeks ago?” He indicated Cassius and Theo. “I saw her on TV, although the pictures were pretty blurry. She was awesome.”

Tenebra shifted uneasily. Cassius could tell she still felt guilty about attacking San Francisco, even though she had done so while under Elios’s control.

Julia made a face at Yuan. “You have TV at the monastery?”

“We have video games,” the mage said smugly.

“Yes,”Atropos confirmed.“Eden Monroe is the new Magus. She wields the Bloodcursed Devilwood Summoning Staff and is currently the most powerful mage in all the known realms. She helped us defeat Elios in the Seventh Purgatory.”

A stunned silence befell them.

“A human went to the Seventh Purgatory?” Wallace mumbled hoarsely.

Atropos nodded. “Yes.Eden will teach you how to use the summoning staffs that were being kept in London.”

Wallace sagged in his chair. Ortega rubbed the back of his neck, his expression bleak. Even Yuan had sobered up.

Cassius could see the cogs turning in their heads. They could either choose to help them and have a fighting chance at defeating Elios, or they could resign themselves to the dire fate that would visit Earth.

The mages exchanged a glance as if they’d come to a mutual accord.