The man didn’t even blink. He didn’t react at all. Had Death been lying about this not being like the Divine Comedy? Because Virgil had guided Dante through Hell, giving him a… Hell of a tour, so to speak.

But I was playing it safe. Always wear protection. “How much do you cost?”

His lips peeled back into a faint smile. Almost as if it wasn’t a smile. Nothing nefarious, but as if he had forgotten how to truly smile and was doing his very best.

“Before we get to that, you must state your purpose.”

I realized that every single shade around us had frozen still. “I’m sure you already know that, Virgil,” I replied warily.

“It must be stated. Witnessed.”

I studied him, watching his eyes. Not a flicker of deceit hung there. Nor fear. Just… acceptance. Whatever happened to me here would not impact his schedule tomorrow. For better or worse. He was already having one eternally-long shitty day.

I glanced at the Arch behind him, wondering if we were even supposed to be here since he had mentioned other gates, other entrances. The corners of the arch held carvings of stone faces screaming in torment. As I looked closer, I realized they were moving. Not carvings… they were alive. Well, relatively speaking. I watched as one took a deep, silent breath and then continued to scream without sound, his eyes stretching wide. I averted my eyes to the arch itself that spanned overhead. This close, I noticed worn words carved into the stone.

Abandon hope, all ye who enter here. In English. I frowned. It had been written in Italian according to Dante’s book, but perhaps it was seen from the eye of the beholder. Made sense.

Can’t have only Italian signs in Hell. That would be discriminatory.

I read it again. The direct translation had been hotly debated. Not the words, but the order.

All hope abandon, ye who enter here. Or…

Abandon hope, all ye who enter here. Semantics. At least now I could consider myself an authority on the subject when I returned. I began to laugh. Talon shifted uncomfortably, leaning my way. “Stop!” he hissed. His tone added, you fucking lunatic!

I wiped at my eyes, careful to not smear them with the mentholatum. And I let my laughter fizzle out. Still amused, but more resigned.

I thought about my answer to Virgil’s offer. Very carefully. Death had made it obvious that the reason I had been allowed to see my parents the first time was because I sought nothing of interest from them. Nothing valuable. My sacrifice – dying briefly – had been enough to grant me a brief meet. Death had even been allowed to offer my parents a figurative couch to crash on in the Armory for a time, but the price to that was paid by them. They apparently hadn’t been allowed to bring up anything that they knew. None of the secrets that I hadn’t even known existed at the time. Also, in repayment for that brief hall pass they were to spend the rest of their existence down below. At least that’s what Death had told me – only recently – the dick.

They had chosen to live in Hell for eternity – just so that they could spend a little more time around me. Not even so they could do anything to help me. Just… get to see me the few times I had deigned to visit the Armory.

Which, in hindsight, made me feel like a moldy asshole. I should have spent more time with them. I should have simply hung out with them rather than—

I cut off that thought abruptly. That would do me no good down here. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if self-pity could be fatal down here. Like a cancerous poison to the air, slowly seeping my will to live out of me. Killing me with guilt.

I took a deep breath. What was my purpose here? What was true, yet vague? What would have a price I might be willing to pay? I was pretty sure Virgil knew exactly why I was here, and the act of me stating my intent was somehow an act of futility, but that it might have consequences down the line. But there was really only one reason I would risk everything to come here, and whoever was in charge had to know it. Had to have expected it, or he never would have required my parents spend the rest of their eternity down here.

This meeting had been put in his books long ago, even though I never knew my parents had made the appointment.

I met the dead poet’s eyes. “I come bearing a gift. In return for granting a request.”

Virgil nodded after a very meaningful pause. My answer had… surprised him. Intrigued him, perhaps. “So be it.”

“Are you going to take us through the Nine Circles and everything? Because I would rather take the elevator if possible.”

“You’re more than welcome to wander the Path of the Nine, but I wouldn’t recommend it. You would do so without a guide, and…” his eyes grew distant for a good ten seconds, “it wouldn’t end well for you.” He said that with… conviction, as if he had just checked his future calendar and read about my death. It was enough to make me shiver coming from that dead poet’s mouth. “Everyone who enters Hell must see things, but no two people get the same path. Not that we have many visitors, you see. But the path to Hell is paved with good intentions. Quite literally. And I fear the Nine Souls would destroy you,” he said directly to me.

Carl cleared his throat. “Can we walk and talk at the same time?”

Talon punched him in the shoulder, dipping his head to Virgil in apology.

Virgil didn’t even acknowledge the two, staring at me. “There is a price for a guide. Accept that price and we may proceed.”

I was already shaking my head. “We’ll talk price first, but nice try.”

“No. Accept the price and we may proceed,” he repeated in the exact same tone.

“Maybe you didn’t hear me. I’m not stupid enough to agree to a price that hasn’t been defined. Some prices are too high. This is where we haggle.”

“We… contemplate things down here. Think on it. We will define the price later.”

I threw my hands up. “No, Virgil. I’m not falling for it. After we begin, you could demand any price.”

“And would you not pay any price?” he asked in a soft tone.

I felt Wylde’s instincts backing me up. He was Fae, and knew better than to make a deal without a defined price up front. “No. Not any price.” A new thought hit me. “Where is Charon? All he would require is a six pack of beer.”

“He is… unavailable at this terminal.”

I grumbled under my breath.

Virgil finally lowered his standards. “I’ll tell you this. A life or a gift. But you will have the ultimate choice. If none are appealing at the time your decision is required, your life will be forfeit. Now, agree to the terms or I will depart. And leave you to them.” He slowly pointed a finger.

I turned to find three Candy Skulls staring at me, heads cocked. I didn’t see any of their crystal blades, but their depthless eyes made my heart stutter. “Motherfuckers…” I whispered under my breath, readying myself for a fight.

“You may still leave this place, but once you set foot beyond the arch, there is no backing out. And traveling Hell without a guide will guarantee that you all become permanent residents here.”

I thought furiously. I wanted answers from my parents, but did I need them? Really need them? I already had a lot going on in my life, not even considering this Catalyst crap. White Fang was prowling St. Louis, and if I didn’t do something, every faction was ready to turn on one another. Fat chance the Regular humans would miss something like that.

Then our secret would be out – magic was real – and there was no telling what could happen. Freaks could become Enemies of the State overnight. Fugitives. Criminals.

Pandora’s words whispered in my ears and the hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up. Pay the piper… Had she been talking about this moment or something else back home? Something to do with whatever was going on with Alex? Or maybe it had been a warning about Matthias kidnapping the Knight. Or… it could have meant so many things.

But whatever my parents had discovered was obviously very important. Because everything had been set up like a house of cards. Me being a Catalyst. Their Armory. The Hand of God. The Hourglass. The War Hammer. The Round Table. The Mad Hatter. Everything led to another thing like some vast, intricate, infinite web.

And…

If what my parents had discovered wasn’t important, why had the person in charge decided to lock them away in Hell rather than let me talk to them?

“The price will be paid, if I have to pay it myself,” Carl hissed, stepping forward. “This place isn’t so bad. Like a long vacation compared to my previous banishment,” he boasted, and I was pretty sure he wasn’t lying. So far, Carl had been remarkably unimpressed with Hell.

At the same time, Talon advanced. “My life before his. Forever.” His tail twitched back and forth, fur puffed out to make it look like a club. And his ears were tucked back as if he expected – and hungered – for Virgil to make an issue of it.

The Candy Skulls watched, heads jerking back and forth in their spastic twitching mode of movement. I sighed. “Fine. I’ll agree. But you can’t have them. I’ll contemplate…” I enunciated his word darkly, “giving up some of my powers before I let it come to their lives. I have enough to go around,” I added with a confident smirk.

Virgil bowed his head, and for a moment, I thought he looked utterly relieved. Not in any personal satisfaction of what I would pay, but… something else I couldn’t quite make out.

“Then we shall meet the Lord of the Dead, and see if he will accept your gift. If it pleases him, he may even grant you a request. If. But heed me. If granted, you may only ask for one thing. And the answer – even if it seems what you asked for – is rarely what you hoped for.”

He turned, and drifted through the arch onto the long stone bridge. Only inches remained on either side of his sandaled feet. Inches from death. I took a breath and followed him, keeping an eye on the Candy Skulls behind us as Talon and Carl followed me.

They didn’t move. But they continued to watch.