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I was desperate and willing to take the risk. I had to hope that he would hear my plea and come. For if he did not, his sons might be doomed. But what did he care? If he wanted to really save his sons he would do it without my asking.
I went to the window and peered out at the endless night sky, hoping to find some trace of another way. But I saw nothing. To defy the eternal darkness, I would need something powerful enough to break through many barriers, something that was wicked enough to do so.
I went back to the candle circle where I prepared the elements and with a deep breath and a chant in shadowlanguage, I called Apollyn, hoping against hope that he would heed my call. I waited and watched, my heart pounding in my chest.
And then, as if from nowhere, a brilliant light appeared in the sky. It streaked across the night, radiating an unearthly energy. I could almost feel it reverberate through me as it drew closer and closer.
Apollyn descended out of thin air in a rush of wind and flame. His eyes blazed with a mixture of pride and anger as he looked around at the situation before him. I felt a chill pass over me that had nothing to do with the cold night air.
When Apollyn stepped into the room the temperature plummeted. All the hairs on my body rose in alarm, and I knew an unholy presence had invaded. The air filled with a loud crackle of supernatural energy, a vortex of black smoke, and a wave of pure wickedness. His relentless eyes locked onto mine, his lips curling into a cruel sneer. My stomach lurched as I faced up to this evil entity, yet I had to remain composed.
"Why did you call me here? What could you possibly want from me after having cast me away?" He spoke with a booming voice, his authority reverberating through the room. I could feel his gaze piercing me as he waited for an answer.
Fear and apprehension coursed through me as I outlined the dire plight of his sons Altair, Morpheus and Dominik, who were separated and in danger on opposite ends of the universe.
He listened intently and then his angry scowled turned into a smug grin. "I wish I had known that casting my sons into fire would get you to bend. I would've done it myself."
I could see that he wasn't joking. "Apollyn. This is serious. Your sons will burn. We have to time for pride or games."
"On the contrary, we have all the time in the world. My sons are immortal. As am I."
I gave him a fierce look. "Anything that draws breath can die."
He sent a fiery glare straight back at me.
"Please, Apollyn. I know you have the power," I pleaded.
"Then, you'll accept my offer?" He cocked his head to one side, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.
I desperately hoped there was a way for the father and his sons to make peace, but I knew there was no hope. How could the sons ever forgive their father for that unforgivable murderous act? But, their very lives were at stake, and Apollyn had the power to save them if they were willing to accept his help. Could they really be so stubborn that they’d rather die than accept his hand of mercy?
"Once again, do you understand what I seek? I want entry back into Shadow World. It is King-less. Allowing themselves to be taken into a void is the same as abandoning Shadow World. By now, any of our foes could have claimed it," he said. "But you...a most interesting earthbound witch have been able to keep that from happening thus far and I am very impressed. You wield shadow magic as if you were born to do so."
"Then all I have to do is let you back into Shadow World, right?"
"And you must remain there too and help me keep my brother Asmodeus from ever resurfacing," he said.
"But—"
"I will put out the flames upon my sons, if you do that. Un-banish me from my rightful home, remain in Shadow World where you have certainly earned your place through sheer demonstration of your loyalty to it, and help me keep Asmodeus at bay. That is all I ask."
Breath quickened in my lungs. "And I want them out of the void permanently. Get them out of that hell. I want you to destroy it."
Apollyn sighed. "My sons are supposed to be imprisoned for treason—"
"You killed their mothers!”
“If you knew the things their mothers did, you would never challenge me in this. It’s—”
“I don’t care! You took their mothers away from them. If you killed mine, I'd commit treason to overthrow as well. What did you expect them to do after you did that? Give you a hug?"
Apollyn had a fleeting look of remorse on his face, but it vanished just as quickly as it came. It was almost like he regretted his actions, though it only lasted for an instant.
He nodded. "Very well. I will destroy the void, releasing them from its claws, but while I oversee Shadow World, they will never be allowed back inside."
I gasped.
"Once you agree with our deal, there is no going back," he said, his voice heavy with warning.
