Read Online The Demonata #10: Hell's Heroes by Darren Shan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Darren Shan
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was able to open one with relative ease. But I operate more like Dervish did when he once summoned Lord Loss in the cellar at Carcery Vale. Lots of huffing and puffing, incantations, smoke steaming out of my pores.
Finally, after hours of intense effort, a weak-looking window of yellow light forms. “Quick,” I groan at the others. “I don’t know how long it will last.”
Shark is first through. He moves stiffly, hindered by his brace, and looks quite pitiful, but I wouldn’t like to be the demon who mistakes Shark for an easy target. Timas hurries after him. I don’t think he’ll be much use over there—he has all the magical talent of a slug—but he won’t abandon Shark.
Kirilli hesitates. “Maybe one of us should stay here to…” He stops, unable to think of a valid excuse.
“Cower?” I suggest.
Kirilli shoots me a dark look, then steps through. I bark at Moe and Curly and they cross. Then I take Kernel’s hand and lead him to the window. He pauses in front of it.
“I can still sense the lights,” he whispers, moving his head as if he had eyes.
“I bet my window doesn’t compare with any of yours.”
“No.” He smiles. “But you did good for a novice.”
He steps into the window, sighing happily, and disappears.
Are you sure this is wise?
the Kah-Gash asks as I lift my leg to cross.
I frown. “You don’t want me to go?”
My wants are yours,
the voice of the ancient weapon says.
I have always served, hiding myself when you wished, fighting your wolfen half when you were afraid of it, helping you take the world back through time when the Demonata crossed. You don’t trust me, but I have always respected your desires.
“Then tell me if this is the right thing to do.”
I cannot judge. I merely question your actions because I sense your uncertainty.
“Will I destroy the world if I go after Bec?” I press. “Should I flee with Kernel to the other side of the universe? Throw myself off a cliff?”
I don’t know,
the Kah-Gash says.
I have no insight into the future. I only know that you mistrust this course, so I ask as your friend—is this wise?
“You want me to find her, so we can unite and set you free,” I challenge it.
I have always been free,
the Kah-Gash retorts.
I choose my hosts and stay of my own free will.
“But you want to be made whole again?”
There’s silence for a few seconds. Then a sigh.
The window is about to close. Cross or stay, the choice is yours. But choose now.
I want to question it further, but there isn’t time. Cursing, knowing this might be the worst move I ever make, I throw myself through the window just before it blinks out, severing the link between universes.
We’re in the middle of an oasis. At least that’s what it looks like, but on closer examination you can see that the trees are made of bones and scraps of human skin, and the pool at the center is alive and carnivorous. This was one of Beranabus’s favorite spots in this foul universe. He often rested here.
“What kept you?” Shark asks.
At the same time Kernel says, “We shouldn’t be here.”
“I was tying my shoelaces,” I tell Shark, then turn to answer Kernel.
“You’re not wearing any shoes,” Shark notes.
“You’re
so
observant,” I respond drily.
“Bec knows about this place,” Kernel says, raising his voice. “We stayed here after the attack at the hospital. She might be keeping tabs on it.”
“I already thought of that,” I scowl, “but this is the only place Beranabus showed me how to get to. I couldn’t guide us anywhere else.”
“That’s stupid,” Kernel barks. “The location is irrelevant. You could have—”
“You can stand there and lecture me,” I snap, “or you can build a fresh pair of eyes and lead us all to safety.”
Kernel grumbles, but turns, sits, and focuses on his empty sockets. As he directs magic at the place where his eyes once were, Moe growls and advances on him, followed by Curly.
“Easy,” I soothe
Finally, after hours of intense effort, a weak-looking window of yellow light forms. “Quick,” I groan at the others. “I don’t know how long it will last.”
Shark is first through. He moves stiffly, hindered by his brace, and looks quite pitiful, but I wouldn’t like to be the demon who mistakes Shark for an easy target. Timas hurries after him. I don’t think he’ll be much use over there—he has all the magical talent of a slug—but he won’t abandon Shark.
Kirilli hesitates. “Maybe one of us should stay here to…” He stops, unable to think of a valid excuse.
“Cower?” I suggest.
Kirilli shoots me a dark look, then steps through. I bark at Moe and Curly and they cross. Then I take Kernel’s hand and lead him to the window. He pauses in front of it.
“I can still sense the lights,” he whispers, moving his head as if he had eyes.
“I bet my window doesn’t compare with any of yours.”
“No.” He smiles. “But you did good for a novice.”
He steps into the window, sighing happily, and disappears.
Are you sure this is wise?
the Kah-Gash asks as I lift my leg to cross.
I frown. “You don’t want me to go?”
My wants are yours,
the voice of the ancient weapon says.
I have always served, hiding myself when you wished, fighting your wolfen half when you were afraid of it, helping you take the world back through time when the Demonata crossed. You don’t trust me, but I have always respected your desires.
“Then tell me if this is the right thing to do.”
I cannot judge. I merely question your actions because I sense your uncertainty.
“Will I destroy the world if I go after Bec?” I press. “Should I flee with Kernel to the other side of the universe? Throw myself off a cliff?”
I don’t know,
the Kah-Gash says.
I have no insight into the future. I only know that you mistrust this course, so I ask as your friend—is this wise?
“You want me to find her, so we can unite and set you free,” I challenge it.
I have always been free,
the Kah-Gash retorts.
I choose my hosts and stay of my own free will.
“But you want to be made whole again?”
There’s silence for a few seconds. Then a sigh.
The window is about to close. Cross or stay, the choice is yours. But choose now.
I want to question it further, but there isn’t time. Cursing, knowing this might be the worst move I ever make, I throw myself through the window just before it blinks out, severing the link between universes.
We’re in the middle of an oasis. At least that’s what it looks like, but on closer examination you can see that the trees are made of bones and scraps of human skin, and the pool at the center is alive and carnivorous. This was one of Beranabus’s favorite spots in this foul universe. He often rested here.
“What kept you?” Shark asks.
At the same time Kernel says, “We shouldn’t be here.”
“I was tying my shoelaces,” I tell Shark, then turn to answer Kernel.
“You’re not wearing any shoes,” Shark notes.
“You’re
so
observant,” I respond drily.
“Bec knows about this place,” Kernel says, raising his voice. “We stayed here after the attack at the hospital. She might be keeping tabs on it.”
“I already thought of that,” I scowl, “but this is the only place Beranabus showed me how to get to. I couldn’t guide us anywhere else.”
“That’s stupid,” Kernel barks. “The location is irrelevant. You could have—”
“You can stand there and lecture me,” I snap, “or you can build a fresh pair of eyes and lead us all to safety.”
Kernel grumbles, but turns, sits, and focuses on his empty sockets. As he directs magic at the place where his eyes once were, Moe growls and advances on him, followed by Curly.
“Easy,” I soothe
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