The Rise of the Hotel Dumort (The Bane Chronicles 5)

"Was everyone out of the building?" he asked.

"Im not sure. The demons were both inside and out. We caught a half dozen of them in the street, but . . . "

The building shuddered and seemed to stretch just an inch or two, as if it was being pulled upward.

"Get back from here," Magnus said. "I have no idea what happens next, but it looks like this whole thing could . . . just get back!"

In all his years, in all his studies, Magnus had never encountered anything that had prepared him for this - a building turned into a perfect Portal, a warlock who wanted to go home to the Void, using his own blood as a key. This was not in the lesson books. This would require guesswork. And a lot of luck. And probably some stupidity.

If he was wrong at any point, which he likely would be, he would be sucked into the Void. Into Hell itself. Which was where the stupidity came in.

Magnus pulled open the door. The Shadowhunter behind him cried out, but Magnus just yelled for him to stay back.

This is a terrible idea, Magnus thought as he found himself in the lobby again. This may be the worst idea Ive ever had.

The fire that had blasted into the heart of the building had scorched every surface, blackening the ceiling, destroying the furnishings, exposing the floor under the carpet, and charring the great staircase. The doors to the ballroom, however, were completely unharmed.

Magnus stepped back inside the ballroom carefully.

Still not sucked into the Void, he thought. Good. Definitely good.

The bodies were now smoldering skeletons, and the white marble floor was completely fractured. The blood had evaporated and left a dark stain. The granite slab, however, was fine. It was also levitating, about six feet from the ground, bathed in the faint green light Magnus had seen earlier. Aldous was nowhere to be seen.

What are you?

The voice came from nowhere. It was in the room. It was outside. It was in Magnuss head.

"A warlock," Magnus answered. "And what are you?"

We are many.

"Please dont say you are legion. Someones taken that. "

Do you make mirth from the mundane scriptures, warlock?

"Just breaking the ice," Magnus said to himself.

Ice?

"Where is Aldous?" Magnus said, more loudly.

He is with us. Now you will come with us. Come to the altar.

"I think Ill pass," Magnus said. "Ive got a place here I like a lot. "

This was interesting. It didnt seem that the demons could come out. If they could, they would have. This was what demons did. But a connection had been opened. A one-way connection, but still a connection.

Magnus stepped just a tiny bit closer, trying to look for any markings on the floor, anything to tell him how large the Portal was. There was nothing.

Warlock, do you not tire of your life?

"Thats a very philosophical question for a nameless and faceless voice from a Void," Magnus replied.

Do you not tire of eternity? Do you not wish to end your suffering?

"By leaping into the Void? Not really. "

You are like us. You have our blood. You are one of us. Come and be welcome. Come and be with your own.

Blood . . .

If warlock blood opened the Portal . . . well, warlock blood might be able to close it.

. . . or not.

It was as good a guess as any.

"Why would you want that?" Magnus asked. "Pandemonium has to be a pretty crowded place, considering youre always trying to leave it. "

Would you not know your father?

"My father?"

Yes, warlock. Your father. Would you not know him?

"My father never took much interest in me," Magnus said.