The depths of hell?
I looked at the crumpled note with horror. Were my children dead? Was that what this meant?
“The depths of hell is a code; it means they have been taken to the underworld,” Lord Edvin said in a soft voice as though afraid of upsetting me.
“The Underworld? Is that not worse than hell itself?” I asked. The Underworld was a place people knew existed but never spoke of. It was a labyrinth of death and the place bespoke ancient spells that could turn one crazy. It was not a place where good people went on a visit; people went to the underworld to seek forbidden powers and perform abominable sacrifices.
“It is the very depths of hell, Gina,” his voice held little hope.
“So, so my twins, are they as good as dead?” I asked in a shaky voice, willing the answer to be negative.
“We must not despair, we must look for them. They cannot be that far gone,” he replied.
“Where is the underworld? How far is it?” I asked him.
“It is at the very end of the sea. You will need to board a ship to get there. If you attempt to travel by land it will be almost impossible to get there,” Lord Edvin said.
“I must bury my aunt first then we will…”
“Gina, I'm afraid this is a journey you must take alone. I must return to the palace posthaste.”
“No, no, I cannot… It is…”
“You will be just fine by yourself. When you get to the underworld, I will send help to you.”
Hot tears streamed down my face as I lifted my aunt's dead body from the ground. Lord Edvin helped me carry the corpse to the town's cemetery. We dug a grave for her there and laid her to rest.
“Captain Thoma will stop at the harbour of Normandy tomorrow night. He is an excellent sailor and perhaps the only one who can set sail for The Underworld. I will give you a ticket. You will board the ship as Cecille Banks, the daughter of a businessman. You must pretend that you are human. If it is uncovered that you are a hybrid breed, you may not get out of that ship alive,” warned Lord Edvin.
I spent the next day shopping for clothes that the daughter of a businessman would have in her wardrobe. I found that it was a lot indeed. I also bought lots of dye for my hair and eyebrows; I needed a different look entirely. I got eye contacts too that were blue, it was best if my green eyes did not stand out on the ship.
When it was time to sail, Lord Edvin could barely recognise me.
“You have done well, nobody should suspect a thing but you, you must always be on guard. I believe you took some weapons,” he asked me.
“Yes,” as we spoke, my spear was lodged safely under my clothes. It was also within easy reach should I need to use it.
“Here,” he slipped something to me that was wrapped in a thick cloth. I looked up at him questioningly.
“It is a gun; I have put a manual there too so you can learn how to use it. It is very efficient,” he said.
I had never seen a gun before but its weight told me it was something both dark and deadly.
“Goodbye, Gina.”
I showed the Dockmaster my ticket and he looked at it with suspicion. I held my head high and tried for the haughty look of someone who was into business and had grown up spoiled.
“You are travelling to the isle of Montague?” he queried, the man had a funny-looking mustache and a proud chin. He looked like he was content and stupidly filled with the little power his position afforded him.
“Yes, the isle of Montague,” I maintained my arrogant air.
“What for?” he asked in a rude tone.
“What for? What the f*ck is your business with that? I've got the ticket, just let me in,” I faked a Southern accent too and hoped that I spoke convincingly.
“Mademoiselle, you must watch your tongue. If I say you do not board this ship your ticket means nothing. Understand me?” he said, waving my ticket in my face. He was clearly enjoying himself but this was not fun for me. I needed to get on the ship to see my children. If there was hope in reconciling with my twins again, I needed to get on board and this funny little man was not going to stop me.
I grabbed the man by his collar and saw his face morph into one of shock. I lifted him to my height and brought his face near mine. It was a good thing I was boarding when many people were not around to witness the drama.
“You will let me on the ship or else I will throw you into the sea and invite the sharks to eat your flesh. Do you know where they will start eating from? Your eyes, then that pitiful thing dangling between your legs and then….”
“Mademoiselle, I understand you,” he said between grated teeth.
I dropped him on the floor and smiled like nothing happened.
“I may board now, yes?”
“Oui, Oui.”
It was a magnificent ship; it spoke of a rich luxury. I could not imagine how much it cost for the ticket. It was also remarkable that Lord Edvin had purchased a first-class ticket for me. It meant that I had a little cabin all to myself.
“Madam?” I turned my attention to the porter who had been trying to vie for my attention.
“Thank you,” I said with a smile as she helped me with my luggage.
Once I was settled in my cabin, I went over my plan. I would meet up with this person Lord Edvin had assigned to help me and then what? Search for the twins? Whoever had kidnapped them would not let them go so easily.
I needed a sordid plan to get my children back.