Page 98 of Daman

“Maybe.”

“Did the man say anything else?” Bellamy asked.

I thought back to that day so long ago.

“Remember what I’ve told you, boy,”the man said. “The serpent seeks a key. Don’t let him have it.”

“He mentioned a key. When I asked what kind of key, he put me to sleep. I woke up outside my house and thought it was a dream.”

“Put you to sleep?” Warrin asked. “Like the power you use on me sometimes?”

“Yeah.”

Castor released a breath. “So he was an angel.”

“Or a vampire,” Bellamy suggested. “He could’ve put you in a trance.”

“Asa is searching for a key,” Warrin said. “Could it be the same one the man mentioned?”

“It has to be. The man said that I’d go on a long journey. I’d see civilizations rise and fall. And when the serpent’s power was awakened, I’d have to return to the land beyond the forest.” I studied the faces of my brothers. “We need to go to Dacia.”

***

“Absolutely not,” Alastair’s voice boomed through the phone’s speaker. “You’re not going. It’s too dangerous.”

“Weren’t you the one who said the mission must always come first?”

“Don’t use my own words against me, Envy. This is different. You don’t even know if thereisa mission.”

“Yes, I do. Think about it, Al. Shades are tracking something. Asa is searching for a key. What if it’s all connected? He could be looking for the man in the cave.”

“You met this man thousands of years ago,” Alastair said. “Why would he still be there?”

“I feel it in my gut.” I shoved clothes into my bag and zipped it closed. “I think Lucifer was after him back then, and the man evaded him. Now Asa is picking up where his father left off. That stone around his neck is some kind of key, and Asa wants it.”

“You don’t know that for sure.” Alastair’s voice came out strained. “Your mission is to stay in the ice kingdom and—”

“And what? Sit on my ass and wait for Asa to get evenmorepowerful? No. That man warned me for a reason. He wants me to stop this. If I don’t… if Asa gets this key or whatever it is… all of us will die, and the world will be thrown into darkness. We’ll fail.”

“Don’t do anything right now. Let me speak with Lazarus first. If he agrees, the rest of us will come with you. We’re stronger together.”

“There’s no time for that, Al.” I sat on the bed and laced up my boots. “You know how Lazarus is. By the time that bastard angel finally responds to you, Asa might already have the key. We have to leave today.”

“Daman…” His voice broke on my name. “Just… stop, goddammit.”

I paused in tying my boots, shocked by the emotion in his voice.

“Wait for me,” he said. “Don’t do this alone.”

“I won’t be alone. You sent Cas, Gray, and Bell for a reason.”

“I sent them for backup in case Asa broke through the kingdom’s defenses,” Alastair said. “Not for you to go on a goddamn suicide mission. You will be outnumbered if Asa finds you.”

“I guess we need to make sure he doesn’t find us, then.”

I disconnected the call and sharply exhaled, my hand shaking as I tossed the phone beside me on the bed. Alastair didn’t show emotion that easily. So when he did, it meant he was seriously worried. It made me doubt myself.

What if he was right and this whole thing was a mistake?