One hundred and three

One of the best things Pyrgus ever did was to appoint Henry a Knight Commander of the Grey Dagger. It allowed him to pass freely through the Purple Palace and often earned him salutes from guards.

He crashed down the corridor of the imperial quarters and gasped breathlessly, ‘I must see Queen Blue at once!’

The guards saluted to a man, but their Captain said apologetically, ‘Afraid she’s not in her rooms, sir.’

‘Where is she?’ He had a horrified feeling he already knew the answer.

‘Couldn’t say, sir. She refused an escort.’

‘When did she leave her quarters?’

‘Little while ago.’

It had to be! It had to be! ‘How was she dressed?’

The Captain blinked. ‘Dressed, sir?’

‘Dressed, man – dressed!’ Henry shouted into his face. ‘What was she wearing?’

The Captain looked at him in bewilderment. ‘Nice-looking gown, sir. Like she was off to a party. Not the sort of thing she usually wears.’

Dear God, he was too late! He’d remembered too late!

The Captain frowned. ‘Is something wrong, sir? Sir –’

But Henry was already racing back down the corridor. How could this have happened? How could he have let this happen? Why hadn’t he remembered sooner? Blue could be lost by now – lost for ever. And it was all his fault!

Savagely, Henry pushed the guilt and self-pity out of his mind. There might still be time. But he needed a clear head. If he managed to catch up with her in time, he could stop the whole disaster, even if he had to force her. He’d kidnapped her before. He could do it again. Once they got the implant out, she’d be fine. And she’d understand.

He was moving by instinct now, twisting and turning through palace passageways he’d never seen before. Except it wasn’t really instinct, however it felt. He knew he had to be following the memory of the instructions the demons had planted in his head. He knew where Blue was going, because he was supposed to go there with her. And if his implant hadn’t been removed, that’s exactly what he’d have done. But now maybe he could turn Beleth’s own plan against him.

He was in the old quarter of the palace now, running like a demon himself. Pyrgus once told him this part of the building dated to a time before faeries ruled the Realm. It contained chambers that hadn’t been opened in millennia and there were rumours of ghosts. Most palace residents avoided it, but Henry was too desperate to feel any unease.

Part of him hoped he might catch up with Blue before she went too far, but by the time he reached the corridor that housed the little door there was still no sign of her. A horrid thought struck him. What if the door was locked? Beleth’s demons had given Blue the key, but as far as they were concerned, Henry had no need of one since he would be with her. But now … what happened if she’d closed the door behind her?

Henry skidded to a halt. The door was closed, but when he tried it, he found it unlocked. He almost groaned with relief as he hurled himself down the narrow spiral staircase.

But his relief was short-lived. Even before he reached the bottom, he could hear the howling. Blue had begun the obscene ceremony that would finally unlock the gates of Hell.