Katie's Hope

"No, we cannot. It's an informality that the Ancients respect about visiting us," Helga said.

"But, we can try to keep him asleep. You came with a healer, didn't you?" "Yes, Lankha."

"I'll have this Lankha keep the Ancient in a deep sleep until you return."

Katie hesitated again, afraid to leave her sister after the demons invaded the castle. The vial had to go to Ully, though, and at some point, she'd have to face Rhyn. For the first time since meeting him, she almost preferred to deal with Kris.

"If anything happens …" There was nothing anyone could do, least of all her. She couldn't bring herself to voice the words out loud. Helga gave her a warm smile.

"We've crossed this bridge before," she assured her. "Your family will be safe here. Come, I will show you a picture to where you must take the portal through the shadow world." An hour later, Katie stood in a similar-looking fortress several times the size of the Caribbean Sanctuary. The courtyard was packed with women in brown robes and Immortals.

Large shade trees and bamboo cabanas provided seating and protection from the sun. The Immortals were grouped beneath the trees, and none of them appeared the worse for wear from their escape.

She wandered the courtyard, looking for any sign of Ully or anyone she recognized. The fortress around the courtyard was four stories tall and lined with wooden doors indicating guest rooms. Several were open, and she saw much more comfortable accommodations and beds than at the small Sanctuary. The cafeteria was four times the size of the one she was used to, and she lingered in the doorway, finally catching the attention of a convent member.

"I'm looking for an Immortal named Ully. I don't know his last name or anything," she said as the woman approached.

"You'll have to check the register. We haven't been able to record everyone's names yet, but what we have is in the guestbook in the office, down that hall, last door on the right," the woman replied, pointing to a hallway behind her.

Katie moved quickly in the direction she indicated and found a line in front of the guestbook as Immortals wrote their names. When she reached it, she scanned all the names on each page, disappointed at not finding his anywhere.

She began to wonder if he made it out of the castle.

* * *

Gabriel stared at the portal in front of him. He dreaded stepping through it. The results of his trip to the mortal world would forever alter his life, and that of his only friend. He would've been content to stay in his cottage for another hundred years or never again visit the mortal world.