Free The Triad of Finity by Kevin Emerson Page B

pushed them through. They returned to their booth in the busy restaurant.
    “Okay, well,” said Dean, “now what do we—” but he didn’t finish.
    There was someone sitting across from them.
    “Hello, Mr. Nocturne. Mr. Aunders.” The man sitting on the other side of the booth was tall, with neat black hair and a black suit. He looked at them blankly with eyes that were solid black, no iris or pupil. And he had no mouth, just smooth alabaster skin. The voice was coming from a speaker, a copper box with a round wire mesh center. It protruded from the man’s chest, through a neat hole in his clothes.
    “Aeonian Parcel Services would like to inform you that we have a package delivery for you.”
    Dean spoke sideways to Oliver. “Um, what is this?”
    “I don’t know,” Oliver replied, but he thought the company sounded familiar.
    “To accept delivery, please touch two fingers to the countersign on your inner left wrist.”
    “The—” Oliver glanced down. His inner left wrist … there was the small black tattoo of a leaf that Emalie had given him and Dean for transporting to and from the Delta, where they had met to plan in secret before Emalie left. Over the last two years, Oliver had pressed it any number of times and tried to close his eyes and travel there again, but it hadn’t worked.
    Oliver’s head snapped up to Dean.
    “Do you think?” asked Dean, his eyes wide like he was thinking it, too.
    Oliver felt a burst of nerves, of hopeful fear. He held up two fingers to Dean. “Let’s find out.”
    “To accept delivery, please t—”
    Oliver placed two fingers on the tattoo and closed his eyes. There was a rush of wind and darkness.

Chapter 7
    The Post Office at the Edge of the World
    When Oliver opened his eyes, he saw the fog-shrouded borderland of the Delta, where the black river Acheron flowed out of the world, delivering souls and energy into the universe beyond. He and Dean were standing on the high wooden platform, in the thick branches of an enormous tree where they’d once met with Emalie to plan. The river was far below, hidden beneath the canopy of a lush rainforest. Strange birds and creatures called through the perpetual folds of mist. Here and there, other giant trees sprouted up through the jungle and atop these were more platforms, orange fires glowing, indicating secret meetings in progress.
    Oliver instinctively looked around, but their fire was out, the platform empty—
    Except for a giant winged creature. It had charred, maroon skin and thick, muscular legs that ended at pearl-white talons, bat-like leathery wings, a wolf-like face, and giant yellow eyes.
    It looked down at the two of them and screamed. “ Keeeeaaatchhhhhh! ”
    “Um …” said Dean worriedly.
    “ Please don’t be alarmed. ”
    Oliver spied another square copper box with a speaker implanted in the creature’s chest. “ This Hermesian demon is highly trained and skilled at its task. To continue your delivery, please say ‘Okay.’ ”
    “Okay,” said Oliver.
    The creature leapt into the air, beating its wings, and snatched Dean and Oliver, one in each giant claw.
    “ Please hang on, ” advised the voice.
    The creature vaulted upward and soared out over the forest. Mist left a cool film on Oliver’s face. The creature’s huge wing beats made it undulate up and down like a wave. It banked left and right to avoid the enormous trunks of the towering meeting trees. Oliver watched the forest canopy blur by below, now and then catching a glimpse of movement and hearing the roars of the hidden creatures that fed on the river’s souls.
    All at once, the trees gave way to smooth rock. Below, Oliver could see Acheron, its dark waters striped by blurry luminescent spirits. The river was now hurtling through a shallow rock canyon. Ahead, it cascaded off a sheer cliff of black, volcanic basalt, into what seemed to be an infinite void below.
    The Hermesian flew out over this abyss, then tucked its wings and dropped