07 The Return_ Midnight - L. J. Smith

in Fell’s Church the Last Midnight is coming, and we don’t know—”
Stefan and Elena exchanged a long, meaningful glance and then Stefan said, “Bonnie, we
have to ask Sage the most important question.” He looked at Sage. “Is it possible for us to save Fell’s
Church? Do we have enough time?”
“Eh bien. As far as I can tell from the chronological vortex, you have enough time and a
little to spare. Enough for a glass of Black Magic to see you off. But after that, no dawdling!”
Elena felt like a crumpled piece of paper that had been straightened and smoothed. She
took a long breath. They could do it. That allowed her to remember civilized behavior. “Sage, how
did you get stuck way out here? Or were you waiting for us?”
“Hélas, no—I am assigned here as punishment. I got an Imperial Summons that I could
not ignore, mes amis.” He sighed and added, “I am just Out of Favor again. So now I am the
ambassador to the Nether World, as you see.” He waved a languid hand around the room.
“Bienvenue.”
Elena had a sense of time ticking away, of precious minutes being lost. But maybe Sage
himself would do something for Fell’s Church. “You really have to stay in here?”
“But assuredly, until mon père—my father”—Sage said the word savagely and
resentfully—“relents and I am allowed to return to the Infernal Court, or, much better, to go my ways
without ever returning. At least until someone takes the pity on me and kills me.” He looked
inquiringly around the group, then sighed, and said, “Saber and Talon, they are well?”
“They were when we left,” Elena said, itching to get on with their real business here.
“Bien,” Sage said, looking at her kindly, “but we should have your entire group in here
for the viewing, no?”
Elena glanced at the doors and then again at Stefan, but Sage was already calling—both
with voice and telepathy—“Damon, mon poussinet, do you not want to come in with your
comrades?”
There was a long pause, and then the doors opened and a very sullen Damon stepped in.
He wouldn’t reply to Sage’s friendly, “Bienvenue,” instead saying, “I didn’t come here to socialize. I
want to see the treasures in time to save Fell’s Church. I haven’t forgotten about the damned hick
town, even if everyone else has.”
“Alors maintenant,” Sage said, looking wounded. “You have all passed the tests in your
way and may look upon the treasures. You may even use magic again, although I am not sure that it
will help you. It all depends upon which treasure you seek. Félicitations!”
Everyone but Damon made some gesture of embarrassment.
“Now,” Sage continued, “I must show each gate to you before you can pick. I will try to
be quick, but be cautious, s’il vous plaît. Once you choose a treasure, that is the only door that will
open again for any of you.”
Elena found herself clutching at Stefan’s hand—which was already reaching for hers—as
one by one the doors shone with a faint, silvery light.
“Behind you,” said Sage, “is the very gate you entered to get into this room, yes? But next
to it, ah…” A door brightened to show an impossible cavern. Impossible because of the gems lying on
the ground or sticking out of the cave walls. Rubies, diamonds, emeralds, amethysts…each one as big
as Elena’s fist, lying thick in great piles for the taking.
“It’s beautiful, but…no, of course!” she said firmly, and reached out to put a hand on
Bonnie’s shoulder.
The next door lit up, brightened, then brightened more so that it seemed to disappear.