Book Four: Chapter 174

Naia shouted in alarm, and all three of them ran for the backyard. Once outside, they heard a loud roar from the gate below and saw that Marco was fumbling around with the lock. Some rats had come out to see what the commotion was, but quickly hid once more when Cerberus howled. On the other side of the gate, the forest lit up at the sound of hellfire being blasted in every direction, revealing that a giant castle of black stone now stood menacingly beyond the treeline.

Marco yanked the lock free and pulled the gate open, a look of triumph on his face.

“Is he going in there?” Beth asked.

“No, he isn’t.” Kisa’s eyes widened in terror at the sight of the spectral army that had been waiting on the other side as they stormed into the backyard. There were dozens of them, men and women in antiquated armor that held their weapons high as they marched up the hill. Through the gate itself, she could see columns of hellfire burning in the forest as lost souls continued to fi