Page 52 of Into the Abyss
“In total?” Raphael asked.
“Yes.”
“A day and a half,” Raphael answered.
“How long did it feel?” Erin asked.
“About the same,” I replied.
“Sloth shouldn’t have that kind of power,”Corson said, drawing the conversation back to the horseman. “Or atleast he shouldn’t have enough power to keep it up for this long.Sloth can make others lazy enough they eventually waste away anddie, but this is abigundertaking even for a horseman.”
“If he has enough power to put them under,even for thirty seconds, the jinn can get into their minds.”Straightening her shoulders, Amalia stepped away from the wall.“You’re assumingallthe humans and demons went under at thesame time. True, many of the bodies were centered in one area, butnot all of them. You’re also assuming this was all based offonewish, and because of the number affected, I did too, butI’m beginning to think there is more than one wish going onhere.
“If some of the jinn moved through thehumans on the outskirts of the camp, they could get people to makea wish without knowing what they were doing. Demons might have beenmore suspicious about what was going on, but not people, and maybenot even demons as they’ve had little to no interaction with thejinn before. Working this way, the jinn could take out solitarypeople until someone made the group wish. Then, with the help ofSloth, they could take them all down at once.”
Everyone in the cave remained mute as theydigested her words.
“What if we find whoever made the groupwish, would there be some way to stop it if we brought them out ofthe Abyss?” Erin finally asked.
“Unfortunately, no, and that wisher mayalready be dead,” Amalia said. “Mara said she wished for something,and if she was the group wisher, she’s already gone. If she’s not,then it still makes no difference.”
“Then what do we do to stop it?” Corsonsnarled.
“Don’t talk to her like that,” I warnedhim.
Corson glowered at me while he cradled Wrencloser. Then, some of his anger eased, and he took a deep breath.“I realize you didn’t do this and you’re trying to help,” he saidto Amalia, “but you have to understand—”
“I do,” Amalia interrupted. “I can feel thesorrow and terror ofeveryonehere, but yours is so raw andso…” Her voice broke off as she wiped away the tear streaking hercheek. “I understand.”
Erin rose and started pacing while shespoke. “Okay, so there is no easy fix. Is thereanythingwecan do? Can you bring more of us into the Abyss with you? Wouldthat help?”
“I…” Amalia held her hands before her as shegazed helplessly at them. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.Webarely got away from the jinn when they found us, andhaving more in there would make that more difficult.”
“They know you’re in there?” Lixinquired.
“Yes.”
“I used the cloaking illusion to avoid them;I’m still a little drained from it,” I said and told them about ourencounter with the jinn.
“What if I go in there?” Raphael inquiredwhen I finished speaking. “If I draw on the life in there, I may beable to bring the place down.”
“You would intervene to save the lives ofothers?” Caim inquired, a sardonic smile curving his lips.
Raphael’s violet eyes were chips of ice whenthey flicked toward Caim. Hostility simmered between the angels asCaim’s grin widened.
“If they are still alive, I’m notintervening; I’m merely freeing them from a trap,” Raphaelreplied.
“That’s splitting hairs, brother, and youknow it. Is Earth already having an impact on you? I cautioned youit would. Is it making you more humane, or perhaps feeding on thewraiths is already starting to turn you from your angelicnature?”
Raphael’s shoulders became rigid. “Nothingis turning me from anything,” he replied crisply. “I would not behealing anyone.”
“But you could be interfering in theirnatural course.”
“Enough,” I interjected. “We have far toomuch going on without adding your childish bickering to it.”
Both angels gave me an irritated look butremained quiet.
“Besides, I don’t think bringing the wholeplace down is a good idea,” I continued. “It may kill everyone inthere.”
