Chapter 15: Building The Portal
Taking a seat next to Julianna, Marcus looked over his shoulder expecting Eric to emerge from the room in the back at any second. All he could think to himself was what was taking him so long. It wasn't like he had anyone to hold him up or anything.
"Marcus..." Julianna spoke softly, catching his attention.
"Yeah?" He responded turning his head so he was facing her.
"Do you think we stand a chance at rescuing them?" She asked in a half doubtful tone. She wasn't feeling so sure that they would win either.
"Honestly?..... I can't be too sure. But what I am sure of is that we're going to do everything we can. We're going to fight long and hard for them. Of course blood will probably be shed. It's not going to be easy. We've lost a lot already, but there's a chance that we're going to lose more. There will be wounds and tears and even moments of hopelessness...... but despite all of that, I believe that if we stick together we have a chance at succeeding. Even if that chance is slim, it's one I'm willing to take." He answered reaching over and taking her hand into his. He tried to be as comforting as possible and make her believe it, although that was tricky since he wasn't even sure if he believed it himself.
The only response she gave him after his words was a nod of agreement. She may have been desperate for hope but she wasn't blind. She could sense his doubt and his fear. In fact his fear was so strong that she herself could feel it as though it was the air in the room.
Their connection was a strong one, though not as strong as her twin connection with Joshua, it was one that could still be of use when it came to understanding each other.
Before another word was spoken between them, Eric finally emerged from the back room. However he wasn't alone.
Hiding behind him was an averaged height brunette. Her hair was long and silky, hazelnut brown strands were resting around her shoulders. Her face an oval shape with almost ghostly pale skin. Marcus could feel her aura from all the way across the room, it was glowing in an almost magical way.
Odd. Marcus thought. He was considering asking his brother but before he could get a word out, Eric spoke.
"Marcus, Jules.... this is Maria. She's going to help us open a portal to the Shadow Realm." Eric introduced, looking so proud for whatever reason that Marcus just couldn't figure out.
"How can she help us? And where did you find her? In the wild?" Marcus quizzed cynically. Though he kicked himself for how rude it had sounded when he played the words over in his head. Not the best start.
"That's enough little brother!" Eric scolded before explaining further,
"She's a witch. That's how. She's the only one who can open a portal. As for your other question. No. I didn't. She's my mother's best friend's daughter. I grew up with her, and now she lives here with me... she's my uh...." He stopped mid-sentence unsure of how to say the next part. Instead of trying to say anymore, he stepped out of the way, bringing the young woman into the light.
"My best friend." Eric finished sheepishly. Instantly he could tell that best friend wasn't the right term for their relationship.
Marcus's eyes widened when she stepped into the light. He now knew, just by looking at her, what Eric was trying to tell them. He could see her clearly now. Hazelnut brown, long hair. Stormy grey eyes. But what caught his eye most as he could see her full figure, was her rounded, swollen stomach. She wasn't just a witch. Nor were they just best friends. She was pregnant, and probably with his baby.
"Best friend?" Marcus quizzed, giving Eric a look that told him that he knew better than that. He wasn't stupid, and he wasn't a child. Of course he knew better than that.
"Alright you caught me. So she's my girlfriend... and my baby mama. Don't give me that look.? She's 19 ok." Eric admitted looking sheepish yet again. He felt stupid for even trying to fib on that one.
"Ok... then. Let's just get this portal open before anything else goes wrong." Marcus said dismissively. What Eric did was none of his business and he really didn't plan on getting involved.
Bringing Maria round to the centre of the room, Eric sat her on the floor before fetching two candles from the kitchen counter.
Once they were lit, the pregnant brunette started chanting in what Marcus believed was Latin. It made him feel slightly uneasy but at this point he was willing to do whatever it took to end this nightmare.
As she got further into the chant, the candle light began to flicker wildly and a breeze swept through the cabin. Then it began to appear. To the left of them, the sight began to ripple the way water in a river or a lake would, and what looked like a tunnel, began to form, only it wasn't a usual tunnel. It wasn't pitch black. Instead it was lit brightly with human shaped shadows dancing on the walls. The entrance was surrounded by a bluish purple ring.
"We can only keep the portal open for forty eight hours. You have to hurry." Maria explained to them quickly as Marcus and Julianna stood up, preparing themselves for what came next. Though he didn't know if all the preparation in the world would be enough for what they were about to experience.
"Are you ready?" Marcus asked Julianna who gripped his hand tightly.
"As ready as I'll ever be." She replied, closing her eyes as they stepped through together.
On the other side, nothing was as they imagined. There was no light in this hellish looking place. No light at all. It was as though they had been sucked into an eternal pit of darkness.