After drinking a cool handful of water, Eva washed in the river—first carefully scrubbing every last trace of dirt and blood from her face, then her hands and arms. At last, she slipped off her boots and washed her feet. She watched the blood swirl away and drift downstream. When she rose to continue her journey, Alecto already stood beside the stone bridge spanning the river.
Alecto did not move until Eva stepped onto the bridge. Hollow footsteps sounded behind her.
The river followed the path for a short distance before veering sharply around a small chain of mountains. The way ahead was rough. Eva’s ankle twisted when she stepped on a crooked stone. Beside her, Alecto walked as though the rocks did not exist.
To her left ran a split-log fence, separating the path from a pleasant meadow. Not a single stone marred the grass. It was as though someone had dug up every rock long ago and thrown them onto the path ahead. Leave the hard way, and the ground will take you.
“What does Beelzebub want with me?”
Alecto continued walking in silence, as though she had not heard. A sharp rock jabbed through the sole of Eva’s boot.
“Why?” Eva demanded. “Why are you here?”
“Many things are in motion,” Alecto said. “You play your part. I play mine.”
Eva placed each foot with care, but it did not seem to matter. A loose stone shifted beneath her, and she nearly lost her balance. Alecto did not reach for her.
“Who is the Daughter of the Moon?” Eva asked.
Alecto stopped. She stared at Eva for a brief moment—then turned and kept walking. This was going nowhere.
A set of wooden steps climbed up and over the fence into the meadow. Beside them stood a rough stone pillar. Inscribed upon it were the words:
Over this stile is the way to Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair, who despises the King of the Celestial Country and seeks to destroy His holy pilgrims.
Doubt keeps Despair. Hope stirred in Eva’s chest. This had to be the right way. Eva climbed the steps, expecting Alecto to stop her. She didn’t. She simply followed.
The path was smooth, a relief to her tired feet. It ran alongside the Narrow Way, but little by little—almost imperceptibly—it drifted away. The Narrow Way tugged at her. She should have been walking it with Perry. Well… not this path. The rocks would not have mattered with Perry beside her. She was sure of it.
Alecto caught Eva’s arm. The sun was nearly down, and the way ahead had grown dim.
“Walk with care,” she said. “There is a deep pit ahead.”
Eva scanned the horizon. The sun was half-hidden behind a castle of cyclopean proportions, hewn from rough stone. Castle Doubting. Other than scattered bones and lengths of chain, there was no sign of the giant. Eva hoped it would stay that way. It didn’t.
“Who trespasses on my grounds?” Giant Despair bellowed. He stood directly in their path, towering above them. A cap of steel covered his head, iron shoes shod his feet, and a breastplate glowed as though fire burned beneath it. Six fingers curled around a mighty club fashioned from an entire crab-tree.
“You will let us pass,” Alecto said. The giant stared at her without moving. “By order of Dread Lord Beelzebub.” Menace edged her words.
Confusion crossed the giant’s hideous face. He shifted the club from one hand to the other.
Alecto’s eyes darkened to ink, and her hand went to the whip at her side.
“Your command, Mistress,” the giant muttered. He bowed slightly, then turned and lumbered toward the castle.
They made their way around the deep pit, Alecto’s whip still in hand. Ahead, men wandered among the tombs in the gloom—grasping, stumbling, pacing without purpose.
“Help me,” one groaned, his empty sockets fixed on Eva. Alecto nudged him aside with her whip. Almost gently.
Despair takes the eyes… Feet walk among the dead. This had to be the place. But where?
Mountains loomed ahead, steep and jagged, their crooked silhouettes barely visible in the darkness. There was no way through. No way over. The ground rumbled beneath Eva’s feet, and sulfur thickened the air. There was no mistaking the moans of the tormented here—the same anguish she had heard in the Abyss.
Words drifted toward her—tortured fragments of broken sentences. “Curse my father…” A shriek. “…torn in pieces…” Wailing. “…lost my soul…”
Eva could not decide whether Alecto’s presence comforted her… or terrified her more.
Set into the mountainside, in impossible stone, stood a massive black iron door. Inscribed upon it were ancient words:
–
ABANDON ALL HOPE, YE WHO ENTER HERE
–
Eva let out a sharp, breathless laugh.
“What is it?” Alecto asked.
“The Author,” Eva said, quickly regaining her composure. “He’s been reading Dante. The vicar’s son snuck me a copy of Inferno. It was worth the chores. Gave me nightmares for months.”
The door was pitted and scarred, streaked as though by centuries of heat and tears. Slowly, it began to open on its own.
Eva stepped forward hesitantly. Alecto didn’t move.
“You will not return,” Alecto said.
“I will go anyway.”
“Why?”
“Perry.” Eva offered no further explanation.
“What my sister showed you was not merely a vision. It will come to pass. Lord Peregrine will die. You cannot change it.”
“Then you know.” Eva’s lips curled with bitterness. “I was there—with him.” Her mouth refused to form the next words. She forced them out anyway. “When he dies.”
Inferno. It was hard to breathe. The smoke choked the air, but there were no flames to light the descent. She followed the footsteps ahead of her. Down and down the path led, seemingly without end. The occasional red fissures scarring the walls did nothing to pierce the inky darkness.
Eva’s breathing quickened. She could not draw enough air. Terror clenched around her heart. She froze. Screams echoed off the walls around her.
The footsteps ahead of her ceased. A finger snapped. Alecto stood before her, silver flame dancing in her palm. It cast harsh shadows along the tunnel walls.
“Follow.”
Wretches lay sprawled across the ground, hiding their faces and recoiling from the light. None seemed aware of her. None made any move to approach.
The way widened before them. Ahead, a scattered infernal glow bled through the darkness.
“I cannot go much farther,” Alecto said. “Up ahead is the threshold of Hell. Beyond that, I cannot cross. If you go, you must walk alone.”
Eva’s heart sank. She nodded. “I understand.”
The cave opened into a vast cavern, flames scattered across the floor. Guarding the threshold to Hell waited a three-headed dog. Teeth the size of swords. Three tongues from each slavering mouth, dripping deadly black venom.
It snapped at them—close enough that Eva could have touched the mane of writhing snakes.
“Stand down, Cerberus,” Alecto ordered. “By command of Dread Lord Beelzebub.”
Without hesitation, Cerberus slammed into Alecto with a massive lion-clawed paw, sending her flying.
