Infernal

Nina's POV

It took us almost an additional hour to arrive at Danvers. When I eased my foot off the gas pedal my whole body thanked me on hands and knees. My limbs were exhausted. My arms were about to fall from steering, my legs... Well, I was surprised I could feel them. This had been the longest I'd ever driven.

I felt tempted to ask Cameron to pull his seat-switcheroo. Almost. My pride was still bleeding though; it had been impossible to deny my jealousy for Vanessa—even if I knew it was silly—and telling him how I felt—about him leaving after the kiss?

That had shot me through.

"I thought Powerade boosted your energy levels?" Cameron commented strolling in his oh-perfect fashion. He could've walked straight out of a makeup room.

"Shut up..." I steadied myself along the Camaro, craving to fall into the passenger seat he'd just vacated. A long sigh left my muscles, I closed the door keeping the dewy feel out.

The rain had stopped a while ago, it was cold and wet. Hated it.

"I always preferred Isostar." He shot smartly. I glared through slitted eyes. "Next time you say you wanna drive, think twice." The nerve on him! I did so he'd get some— "But... you know, thanks for doing it. I needed to rest." My inner satire stopped before it truly began.

I tilted my head gazing at Cam through my eyelashes.

"You're welcome." I grabbed my arms, rubbing them distractedly. Why did his gratitude make me all mushy? "We're in Danvers—what now?" directing the conversation to what was important helped me recuperate.

Cameron's onyx hair was tossed aside, "We're going to a place."

I frowned when he said nothing more.

"I thought so, but what place? Where are we going?" wherever the Hell Gate was, that was for sure.

Cameron's fingers bumped along the wheel, lips slightly puckered. He tilted his head all the way to my shoulder—brushing it—my breath caught. Obsidian eyes twinkled gleefully.

"Do you need to pee?"

I cocked a brow, "What?"

Cam straightened, shrugging.

"You might wanna use the bathroom before I take us to a cemetery—"

"A cemetery—?"

"Located behind an ex-asylum." My eyes popped. "Apparently, they took down the place and built apartments, luxury condos... there's a pool and tennis court." He mumbled, busy scrolling down on his phone—expression shifting to disgust. "Who would want to live in a place with that kinda baggage?" he turned to me for support. I nodded eminently— "Exactly, no one. I mean, the pre-frontal lobotomy was invented there—"

"Okay, stop. Stop talking." Cam put on an innocent face. Like he wasn't doing all that on purpose. "I need to use the loo."

At his triumphal smirk, I murmured how much I wanted to throw him off the moving car. Cameron stopped at a coffee shop where he ordered a chocolate muffin and drank another coffee. He should've had his fill already, I had no idea how he'd been able to sleep in the car. It went to show how tired he was.

It was lucky he didn't get sick.

I hurried in the bathroom. Checking myself in the mirror before leaving, I the dark circles weren't as badly stamped. Now that I thought about it, I hadn't had one single nightmare about... their death. Or with fires. And no premonitions.

I nibbled my lip thinking how easy I seemed to be having it. Bad dreams should be plaguing me, right? Why did it feel like I was getting off the hook?

I didn't want Cameron to blow a fuse—figuratively and literally—so, I left before the answer was bestowed upon me.

It was annoying to see every pair of lady-eyes on him. Everywhere. Jesus, you'd think they'd never seen a man in their lives. Although, Cameron was a naturally born example of human perfection. He did luck out with his Angel DNA—probably—if his dad looked anything like Raph... it wasn't a shock that Phill and Cam were so mouth watering.

He was leaning on the counter, arms crossed—jacket pulled tightly against his shoulders and back, a T-shirt that left no room to wonder and of course, his hair artfully messed up. I almost jumped when I saw his eyes—locked down on mine. Then there was those sexy dimples, showing from a classic-Cameron smirk.

"Tune down the charm, you'll get me killed out here." I mumbled pulling the denim jacket closer. "Every girl in here is throwing glares..." at me.

"Are they?" he cocked his head, sweeping the dinner with his eyes. I gasped when Cam pushed the small of my back. My heart palpitated and I bet he heard it. His index finger traced the hem of my jeans, I felt paralyzed by how hypnotic Cameron's lips were—he propelled me by a belt loop. "So tense... I could loosen you up, drive you all sorts of crazy. You'd never stop asking for more."

His thumb got under my top and had my lower muscles bunch-up. Why did he feel like putting on a show? And why couldn't I just push him off?

We were so dysfunctional. There were so many unresolved issues.

"We have a cemetery to ravish."

Cam wolfish smirked, "Interesting choice of words."

"Back off, Casanova." I got out, out of breath. If he took much longer, I would lose control.

Cameron's eyes dipped from mine, to where his exploring hand was. He dropped away. As he turned around to pay, I was incapable of looking up to the brunette. She'd been behind us the whole time! Had he no shame?

I snuck a peek at his hard-shaped features. Full-blow-mind grin on. Nope, no shame.

When we were back in the black sports car. I couldn't help but think: We were doing this. We were going to Hell. Another dimension. A place I knew nothing of.

The car started.

Oh good Lord, what was I thinking? This was insane! Philip was stuck in tell, suffering—we had to go. But I was scared. It was rational, right? It wasn't cowardly? No, not at all—but it felt that way.

I was fiddling with my thumbs. Yep, I was going to have a meltdown.

"We can't," I yelped in a shrieky tone. Cameron side-glanced me confused. "We can't do this. We can't go to Hell—" the car gave a jerk, halting completely.

My seatbelt was the only thing keeping me from smacking the dashboard.

Cam was looking livid when I saw him from under my lashes. There was no teasing, humor or kindness.

He was angry.

"Nina," he breathed out. "I told you, you could come with me, I asked if you were sure—this was your decision!" Cameron was blazing.

"I know—"

"And now—now—that we're here, finally close to the Gate you want to go back on your word?"

I bit my lip corner. Was that what I was doing? Going back on a choice I'd made?

It had been a rather rash call on my part, maybe I should've pondered it better... but no. this was different.

I wanted to help Cam—bring Phill back. But if we were going on a rescue mission...

"We need a plan." I blurted as if I knew exactly what I was talking about. "We can't just go charging in, right? I mean, have you ever been to Hell? Do you have any idea where Phillip might be? How big it is? What happens when we cross the Gate or whatever?" Cameron's rage subsided with each question. Hopefully, he saw my point. "And we don't have food or anything... We need to think this through."

Out of both of us, he was the only one who could fight. I didn't know even know how to make use of my ability!

Cam leaned his head back before grumbling a curse, re-starting the car. I'd been too deep in our little bubble to realize people were honking and yelling for us to move. We were holding up traffic.

"You're afraid."

"Shouldn't I be?" I asked quietly and cautiously.

His midnight irises met mine briefly.

"You should." He answered with a detached monotone. I hated that.

We drove through a hazy road in silence. What was he thinking? His face was pinched in thoughtfulness. Cameron was anxious as he steered right, pulling up behind well trimmed bushes in a dirt road. Light was coming from between the foliage up ahead.

"This place was falling last time I was here." Cameron leaned over, ducking his head to see clearly. "This was Danvers State Hospital. Where all the crazies ended up in."

"I see," I stated, and with all seriousness asked, "How long were you a patient here?"

Cameron's lips peeled back, smiling tightly. I could feel my stomach coil. Until... he laughed. It was just one, short laugh. But then Cam's head tilted as he watched me mildly amused. It made me smile.

It was a deep, boyish laugh.

"This closed down before we were born. A really long time ago." He fidgeted, leaning back. "You're right, you know." My gaze slithered from the impressive, towering facade left from its days as a sanitarium. "We can't cross into Hell without having a plan lined up." Cameron slid the key off the ignition stuffing it in his leather jacket. "I figured the faster we got here, the lesser time it would take to get things ready. I needed... to be close by."

"Close to the entrance?" he nodded.

"So once we were prepared all that was left was open the Gate." Cam turned to me. "Did you really think I was going to plunge us into Hell without giving it a second thought? I want to get my brother back, and preferably come back alive. If we go there unprepared we'll all die." I wasn't keen on that idea.

"So... why are we here now?"

"Reckon mission." He slid out the car. I followed hastily. "I want to make sure the Gate's here. That I know how to open it—if there's anything around. That sort of thing." We were gathering info. Oh, that was clever.

It made me feel bad for snapping. I thought he was just going to charge like a crazy idiot. God knew he had his blind moments.

"Can we get caught sneaking around here?" I mumbled sticking as close as I could.

Cameron was leading us right on the sidewalk through a memorial site, and all the short way to where the apartments stopped and the condos began.

"Not if you keep quiet and follow me." I took that as a nicely put 'shut up, before I duck tape your mouth'.

Near a downhill, Cam hooked his fingers through mine—he didn't need to search. They found each other. Just like that. Across a small field was an opening. Through a luscious bank of fog, I saw a big stone sitting there like a marker. I had to squint to read the inscription.

The Danvers State Hospital Cemetery

The Echoes They Left Behind

"Most people buried here were patients who weren't claimed." My grimace was apparently visible to Cameron. "They won't come out of the ground or tombs and eat you." Then, in a gentler voice he said, "Don't let go of my hand and you'll be fine. I won't let anything hurt you." My grip on his fingers relaxed.

There were no old headstones at jarring angles or open mausoleums harboring ghouls or ex-patients haunting the place. Not even a giant rat. Instead, it was nicely kept, open, with a few trees, a low stone fence running along two sides, and polished stone plaques inlaid into the ground with the name and date range of the interred.

Not what you'd expect.

Of course, what Cameron was looking for wasn't in the pleasant kept environment. It was behind a deeper area, darker weeds scratched us as we tried to work our way out of them. It felt like seaweed. Cam tugged me out of the bushes easily. I barreled into his side.

"These aren't poisoned or anything...?" I held up my free hand. A trickle of blood fell down my thumb.

Apparently plants had certain uses—like that bloodroot—who knew what others did?

"Nope, just regular thorny plants."

My sigh of relief choked up. A warm, delicate thing brushed up my bleeding finger. It was really just a measly cut—I shivered watching Cam's tongue clean my blood away. His eyes were knowing, deep and inviting delving into mine.

Then he pulled away. Leaving me harboring a harsh breath.

"How do you feel about closed, underground spaces?"

A... what? "Okay, I guess." I shrugged pulling my gaze from my hand. Cam motioned me close, looking to something on the ground—it was a heavy marble tombstone. "Enochian?" there were scribbles all over, faded, but it was written like a tablet.

He nodded and crouched. On cue, I dropped beside him. A ebony eyebrow cocked.

"You said stay close..." I had the jitters standing so close to this tombstone. A cold, icy feeling rose off it.

Cam's perfect lips curved for a microsecond, then his hands took the marble's edges. His veins perked some, his muscles swelled as he destroyed the perfect alignment of lid and tomb. In a minute, it wasn't fitting snugly anymore. It was pushed over, thrown to the side revealing a dusk interior.

"There are all sorts of tunnels under this field. Most were known to everyone who worked in the hospital, doctors and nurses carried patients threw them—especially for therapies. This tunnel," Cam nudged downward with his chin. "Has nothing to do with the building."

I got up joining him. "Where does it lead?"

"Hell Gate," he muttered. "You said there were two things in life you hated. Liars and heights." We faced each other. "This isn't very deep. A good athlete could survive the jump."

My looks swooped into the great unknown.

"No offense, but I'm not crazy about jumping down a hole—any hole—especially one that has no bottom." I crossed my arms.

Cameron extended a hand, opening it wide. Static crackled, a tiny white light bubbled—it became brighter, blueish. He lowered his electrical-clouded hand inside the tomb. I saw the walls, they were made of old sedimentary rocks—further below was the ground. Maybe fifteen feet away.

The athlete would probably break his legs.

A scream didn't have time to built—my stomach dropped, my skin crawled with a familiar tingle. My senses ran from me. One minute we were falling, with nothing beneath us—the only thing keeping me grounded to the world were Cameron's arms. The next thing I knew, Cam's body shuddered—then went still as a rock and my feet touched solid ground.

He had a thing against warnings.

My face was still pressed up to his shirt when I heard a sizzling nearby. Blinking, I saw the energy cloud enveloping Cam's hand.

"You can jump all the way, right? Or is there like... another way out?" I asked glaring up. To the hole in the ground.

"Pretty sure I can jump that high." I stared at him. He was squinting up, playing out the math.

I scowled, "Pretty sure?" I wasn't claustrophobic, but I wasn't ready to take a next step in human evolution and turn into mole-woman. "You threw us down here on a guess?"

"Keep your panties on, Nina-kins. The worst case scenario is that I have to hoist you out, or throw you out." Cameron leaned in, a gleam in his obsidian eyes. "The last one's looking swell about now."

I swallowed. Was that a threat? My scalp prickled at the thought of being intimidated by him—it irked me. I wasn't the same Nina from three months ago!

My foot lashed out hitting his knee. Cam stumbled back, winded. I smiled—but quickly went sullen. The light vanished; my hands grasped blindly until I found his jacket.

"Don't do that!" there was a audible chuckle, my chest bumped his. "Don't turn off your glow-worm hand!" Being under a tomb in a dark, confined space was freaking me out.

"Glow-worm, hmm? I've got a better idea." Flickers came left, right—my head turn sideways trying to keep up. I was awestruck when I saw endless light bulbs lit, lining either side of a long cavernous tunnel. "I thought there were lights down here." He mused as I relaxed, stepping back. "They probably fed from the asylum's old generator, after all the construction the power source changed, leaving this tunnel cut off." Last time he was here?

"Are you feeding all of these electricity?" Cameron walked beside me down the way.

"Yep," wow, he was like a walking-power-plant. "You're not going to ask?"

Could he read me that quickly? "Ask...?" I kept my voice smooth.

"When and why I was here?"

I fought to keep still when I saw a worm curling on a wall. Ew.

"Huh," I focused on the abnormally handsome boy, instead. "Would you tell me?"

Cam paused, "Would you say I'm at fault with you?" At fault? My brow furrowed. "I feel that I owe you." His voice calmly stated. Hawk sharp eyes fell to me. "You were right, you didn't need to stay with me when I asked. I should thank you for that. So, I'll grant you one request—one. Choose what you want wisely, lovebird."

Cameron stood there, hit by the own light he was creating. His cheek structure refined as ever, paired with that strong, dominant air about him. He reminded me of those seductive, dark romance novel characters.

Was that what he made me into? Strong and commanding?

I folded my arms, staring evenly, "Whatever I want?"

"Whatever you want." He confirmed.

Gosh, there were so many things I wanted—from him nonetheless! Cameron was compelling with his complex personality, the secretive mask covering the true him—I couldn't possibly fit all of my questions into one.

But I wanted to know him, if it had to be little by little, I'd take it.

"How do you know this place?"

His epic smile beamed for a nanosecond. I hadn't time to swoon.

"Just knew you were going to pick that one." I rolled my eyes at his back, he carried on. "I was brought here when I was five," my ears tuned in fast. "My parents didn't bring me or anything like that. No matter what my dad found, to shelter Phill and me, the Fallens found their way around it. They knew where we were—who we were—it wasn't very hard. Anyway," Cam looked over a shoulder. "One day after school, dad was late to pick us up. We were supposed to wait inside school grounds, but a few kids baited me into jumping over the wall... I never liked being told what I could and couldn't do." He shrugged a I'm-better-than-everyone-else shrug. I blocked a giggle at his cockiness— "I made the jump. Obviously."

Cameron stopped, half-turning towards me.

"I was always a good jumper, you know." My body tensed—how did he make everything sound dirty? "Before I made my way back inside school, a guy came up to me. He said he was friend's with my dad and he knew about the whole Nephilim thing—so, I believed him. Before I knew it, I was in Danvers."

"You just went with a stranger? Didn't your parents ever tell you not to take candy from strangers or something? How could you be so—"

"You're not the only one that can sprinkle bloodroot ash over people." Oh. "Yeah. I woke up when we got here—this place was falling apart. The cemetery was deplorable, to be honest, this was the only unchanged part."

Who cared about a graveyard of the dead-insane? He'd been kidnapped!

"A Fallen abducted you?"

"Abducted? They're not aliens—he tricked me and kidnapped me, yes. It wasn't a big deal—" my mouth dropped open. "Hmm, my mom reacted the same way, making a big deal out of everything—she wouldn't let me out of her sight for a whole week."

"Can you blame her? It's called motherly-love, Cam. God, if it was my kid..." I shook my head. Having a child was something too far off to envision—but I'd kill for Henry. "Wouldn't you be worried? How did you escape—why did he bring you here?"

My bombardment made him wince, "Phillip came looking for me and saw the guy—he told my dad and... Raph found me and got me. End of story."

Raphael. Hmm, back when he was still cheering on our team.

"I thought Fallens killed Nephilim, though. Not that I'm saying I wanted him to, but why didn't he off you?"

"Beats me," the lights flickered. Was this a sore subject? "He wasn't evil—or even mean, I guess. He was actually pretty convincing saying something about me helping my family or whatever—I just know we were going to Hell. That's all." Cameron pulled me faster. "The guy could've been nuts for all I knew—"

Cameron's voice faded. Stopped.

There it was.

Carved into the far end of the hall, was the most terrifying door I had ever laid eyes on. A double door, tall nearly brushing the cave's height. Two serpent-like creatures adorned both fronts. The columns supporting it, were of sculptured people—who were running everywhere along thick ivy branches; ones were torturing, others were being tortured.

One of the serpents tail created a hollow center; from there, lines—trails, led up to a head above. It looked like an ancient sea-monster thing. A large tongue emerged from a row of sharp, dainty teeth.

Cameron stared at it, mesmerized with distress.

"Cameron...?" I latched for his wrist, holding him back. "You promised we we wouldn't go in—not without being ready."

Cam's eyes hung on me for a heartbeat. I saw his Adam's apple bob.

"I keep my promises," he whispered. "I'm just going to check if it opens—" my eyes grew, fingers wrapped harder urgently. "I'll close it right after—trust me. I just need to do this."

Realizing how much he needed this, to know that we could have a shot at saving Phillip through this, I released him. I knew Cam wouldn't drag me in unwillingly. As he walked forth, his hand hovered above the circle formed by the snake's tail.

It was shaking. I wondered if Cameron was afraid—doubts drained away as he thrust his palm deep into the hollow.

Nothing happened right after. He had a semi-frown on; the stone trails began to fill though, carrying blood up to the monster's head.

Everything worked with blood, didn't it?

His frown morphed into a gasping expression and I watched him collapsing, looking up at the door—at the monster's eyes that appeared to be leering, laughing at us.

This wasn't right—I didn't know how I knew, but I did. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Gazing at Cameron, I knew he knew too. Better than I did.

"It's not working," I heard him. "It's not working." Cam repeated letting his bloodied hand flop down to his side.

The bulbs shone brighter—too the point where I had to shelter my eyes. Suddenly they went out. Back on—out—on—off—it was a never ending cycle until they began bursting.

"Why isn't this working?" Cam's yell took a dozen of bulbs, I closed my eyes dropping on my knees. "It's supposed to open! I know this is how it's done—I know." A dry thump made me squeeze my eyes shut—he hit his bleeding fist on the ground again. "This isn't fair—it's not fair! This is the only Gate—it was supposed to work if I can't... if I can't open it—!"

On hands and knees, in a black scenario, I felt my way around until I felt him. When I touched his back, my hands climbed to Cameron's shoulders—they were shaking—and wrapped my arms around him.

His breaths were raging, I think thunder was clapping above ground level. Was this how it was every time he let anger out? Was this how he felt inside?

My eyes prickled at the thought. I wanted to go away.

"Cameron," I whispered. "Cameron," I touched my forehead to the nape of his neck. "Shh, it's okay. It's going to be alright, we'll figure it out." His body was trembling and mine was soaking up his fear and dismay, taking it. "You'll figure it out. You will, I know you will."

The lights were off, but I preferred to be in darkness then to have them flicker. It meant Cam was calming down.

"I have to save my brother, Nina..." he said, in a awfully lost voice. "I have to... I can't leave him..."

"We won't!" I hissed firmly. "We'll find out what's wrong, why the Gate isn't opening—we'll find other Gates, go to all of them, but we will never give up." I shook my head, pressing a soft kiss on his hair. "Never."

Cameron sagged under my comfort. And I knew, I'd forgiven him for leaving me after our kiss, even if I still wondered who that corpse was.

I'd reached him, though. For now, that was a win in my book.