Chapter 55 – The Northern Pass
Nobody spoke after the messenger disappeared.
Snow continued falling.
Brook stood in the middle of the courtyard, staring at the place where the winged figure had vanished.
His sword remained in his hand.
Henry lowered his.
Sera slowly let the magic around her fingers disappear.
Mara was the only person who seemed unsurprised.
Crowley wasn't.
He looked furious.
Brook noticed.
"What?"
Crowley looked at him.
"Nothing."
Brook laughed once.
"You're terrible at that."
Crowley ignored him.
Mara turned toward the mountain.
"We need to leave."
Henry frowned.
"Why?"
"Because it knows where you are now."
Brook looked at her.
"Who?"
Mara didn't answer.
Brook sighed.
"Of course."
She looked at him.
"You're learning."
"I'm learning that everyone outside this Wall hates answering questions."
Mara smiled.
"That's because questions are dangerous."
Henry stepped forward.
"You said my friend was created."
Mara's smile disappeared.
"Yes."
"Who created him?"
"I don't know."
Henry stared.
"You just said you found proof."
"I found proof that someone was involved."
"Who?"
Mara looked at Brook.
"Your parents were looking for them."
Brook's expression hardened.
"And they went north."
"Yes."
"Then we're going north."
Mara shook her head.
"No."
Brook frowned.
"Why?"
"Because the northern pass is guarded."
"We know."
"Not by something you can fight."
Brook tightened his grip on his sword.
"We've fought worse."
Mara looked at him.
"No."
She stepped closer.
"You haven't."
The way she said it made Brook pause.
They spent the morning preparing.
Food.
Weapons.
Clothing.
Anything they could carry.
The northern pass was only a few miles away, but the mountain weather made it dangerous.
Elias studied the map.
"There's another route."
Mara shook her head.
"Don't."
Elias looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because you'll end up somewhere you don't want to be."
"Where?"
Mara pointed to the eastern side of the map.
"The Valley of Bells."
Elias frowned.
"I've heard of it."
"You shouldn't go there."
Henry looked at Mara.
"Why?"
"Because the bells ring when something dies."
Sera raised an eyebrow.
"That's not very reassuring."
"It isn't supposed to be."
Brook looked toward the mountain.
"What about the pass?"
Mara answered:
"Three days."
Henry frowned.
"Three days?"
"On foot."
"Why?"
"Because the horses won't cross."
Elias looked at the animals.
"They can."
Mara shook her head.
"They won't."
As if understanding her words, both horses suddenly became restless.
One pulled against its reins.
The other refused to face the mountain.
Elias stared.
"How did you know?"
Mara simply walked away.
They left before noon.
Mara didn't come with them.
Brook expected that.
She had never stayed long.
Before they departed, she pulled Brook aside.
"You need to learn something."
Brook looked at her.
"What?"
"When Michael speaks…"
She pointed at his chest.
"…listen."
Brook frowned.
"Why?"
"Because he knows what you are."
Brook stared at her.
"More than Crowley?"
Mara looked toward Crowley.
"More than Crowley will ever tell you."
Brook's expression changed.
"Why?"
Mara shook her head.
"Not yet."
Brook sighed.
"You're doing it again."
Mara smiled.
"You'll thank me later."
She turned to leave.
Brook called after her.
"Mara."
She stopped.
"Thank you."
She looked back.
"For what?"
"For warning us."
Mara smiled.
"Don't thank me yet."
Then she disappeared into the forest.
The first day was uneventful.
Almost.
Brook noticed the temperature dropping the farther north they traveled.
His breath became visible.
Henry complained every twenty minutes.
Sera told him to stop.
Elias tried to navigate.
Crowley barely spoke.
Brook walked ahead.
The third Source was quiet.
The first felt different.
It was still there.
Watching.
Brook could almost feel Michael's presence.
He didn't speak.
Neither did Brook.
Not yet.
That night they camped beneath an overhang.
Henry started a fire.
Sera prepared food.
Brook sat alone at the edge of camp.
Henry noticed.
"You coming?"
"In a minute."
Henry walked over.
"You've been doing that a lot."
"Doing what?"
"Sitting alone."
Brook shrugged.
"I like quiet."
Henry sat beside him.
"You used to hate quiet."
"People change."
Henry looked at him.
"You're changing."
Brook didn't respond.
Henry continued.
"I'm not saying that as an insult."
"I know."
"You're different."
Brook stared at the fire.
"Maybe that's what the Sources do."
Henry looked down.
"Does it scare you?"
Brook took a moment.
"Yes."
Henry nodded.
"Good."
Brook looked at him.
"Good?"
"If you're scared, you're still you."
Brook smiled slightly.
"You've got an answer for everything now."
"No."
Henry looked at him.
"I'm just trying to keep my friend around."
Brook's smile faded.
He looked away.
"You're not going to lose me."
Henry didn't answer.
Later that night, everyone slept.
Brook remained awake.
He looked toward the mountains.
The first Source began glowing.
A faint white light appeared around his fingers.
Brook closed his eyes.
The world disappeared.
He stood in the white space again.
Michael was waiting.
This time, he wasn't standing far away.
He stood directly in front of Brook.
"You're back."
Brook looked at him.
"You knew I'd come."
Michael nodded.
"I did."
"Why?"
"Because you want answers."
"I do."
Michael walked around him.
"You also want power."
Brook shook his head.
"I want to protect them."
Michael stopped.
"Who?"
Brook looked toward the emptiness.
"My family."
Michael's expression remained unchanged.
"You call them family."
"Yes."
"Would you kill for them?"
Brook answered immediately.
"Yes."
"Would you die for them?"
"Yes."
"Would you kill them?"
Brook froze.
"What?"
Michael stared at him.
"Would you kill the people you love if you believed it was necessary?"
Brook's expression hardened.
"No."
Michael stepped closer.
"You answered too quickly."
Brook's jaw tightened.
"I said no."
"You don't know what you'll become."
"Neither do you."
Michael's eyes narrowed.
Brook stepped forward.
"I'm not you."
"No."
Michael looked at him.
"You are something different."
Brook waited.
Michael raised his hand.
The white world changed.
Brook saw Henry.
Sera.
Crowley.
Elias.
They were standing together.
Then the image changed.
They were dead.
Brook froze.
Michael looked at him.
"Your greatest weakness is attachment."
Brook stared at the images.
"You think caring makes me weak?"
"Yes."
Brook looked at him.
"Then I don't want your strength."
Michael studied him.
"Why?"
"Because if being strong means becoming someone who doesn't care…"
Brook shook his head.
"…then I don't want it."
The images disappeared.
Michael looked at Brook for a long time.
Then he said:
"Perhaps there is hope for you."
Brook frowned.
"Is that a compliment?"
"No."
Michael disappeared.
Brook opened his eyes.
He was back beneath the overhang.
The light around his hand remained.
But this time…
it was brighter.
Brook looked at it.
He smiled.
Then closed his fist.
The light disappeared.
The next morning, the mountain pass appeared.
Massive cliffs rose on both sides.
Snow covered everything.
At the center stood a stone gate.
No guards.
No soldiers.
Nothing.
Henry looked around.
"Where's the guardian?"
Crowley didn't answer.
Sera stepped forward.
"Maybe Mara was wrong."
Brook looked at her.
"Maybe."
They approached the gate.
Nothing happened.
Brook reached toward it.
Crowley grabbed his wrist.
"Wait."
Brook looked at him.
"What?"
Crowley stared at the gate.
"Something's wrong."
Henry looked around.
"I don't see anything."
Crowley pointed toward the snow.
There were footprints.
Dozens.
They led toward the gate.
But none came back.
Sera's expression changed.
"How old?"
Crowley crouched.
"Fresh."
Brook looked at the gate.
"Someone went through."
"Yes."
"Recently."
Crowley nodded.
Brook stepped forward.
"Then maybe that's where we're supposed to go."
Crowley didn't stop him this time.
Brook placed his hand against the stone.
The gate opened.
A wave of cold air hit them.
Beyond the gate was a narrow path leading into darkness.
Brook looked back at the others.
"Ready?"
Henry drew his sword.
"No."
Sera smiled.
"Not even close."
Elias sighed.
Crowley stepped forward.
"Then let's go."
They entered.
The gate closed behind them.
Far away, hidden among the mountains, Mara stood watching.
She looked toward the sealed pass.
Then whispered:
"Please be careful."
She turned away.
Behind her, something moved between the trees.
Mara stopped.
She didn't turn around.
"I know you're there."
A voice answered.
"You shouldn't have warned them."
Mara's expression hardened.
"They deserved to know."
"You've chosen your side."
Mara finally turned.
"Not yet."
The figure remained hidden.
"Then when?"
Mara looked toward the mountain.
"When I know who deserves to win."
She walked away.
The figure watched her disappear.
Then looked toward the northern pass.
"They've entered."
A second voice answered from the darkness.
"Good."
The figure smiled.
"Now we see what the anomaly does when he has nowhere left to run."
End of Chapter 55