“Freddie, there! Grab the rope.” He tries and misses, then tries again, and this time he has it! At once the enchanted thread coils itself firmly around his wrist. I close my eyes and offer a prayer to Hekate, begging for some of her great strength. Instantly I feel the power course through me, so that I am able to stand at the crater’s edge and haul Freddie up. Hand over hand, I reel the rope in. The demon has had to release Freddie to fight its attacker. I must work quickly. At last Freddie reaches the top and is able to grasp the edge with his hands. But the demon has not abandoned his prey yet. It lurches up through the choking air of the pit and grabs onto Freddie’s legs, pulling him down. Freddie yells and claws furiously at the wall of the crater. I redouble my efforts, but their combined weight is too much. I cannot hold on! Maygor’s Thread tightens itself protectively around my arm. If I do not pull Freddie up, I will go down with him. This time, there will be no escape. My feet skid across the surface of the sacred circle until I am inches from the hole. Then, just when I am certain all is lost, my three Cavaliers lay their ghostly hands on the rope, lending me their own ancient energy. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, we drag Freddie from the abyss. The second he is safe I leap up and whip the Silver Thread against the floor, shouting the command that will reseal the fissure, sending the demons back into the Darkness where they belong.

I am breathing like a runner, gulping good air at last. My muscles tremble from the exertion. Freddie scrambles up and backs away from me shaking his head, plainly scared beyond reason by what has just happened. By what he saw. By what he now knows to exist.

“Those things,” he gasps, “those terrible … creatures! Was that Hell, Lily? Was it? Was that where I was supposed to go? Where I am supposed to go?”

“No, Freddie, no, not there, not you…”

“Why not? How can you be certain? Those things … they wanted to take me … they thought I belonged there. Dear God, Lily, you have made me into a monster, and now the other monsters want me for their own!”

“No, Freddie, listen to me, it isn’t like that.”

“I have to get away!” He starts to dart about the chamber, and then rushes at the door, heaving at the great beam that bars it.

I hurry after him and put a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugs me off and will not be stopped.

“Get away from me!” he screams. “Leave me alone! I have to get out. Have to get away!”