Free The Mortal Knife by D. J. McCune Page A

touch her palm to Morta’s without spitting in it first.
    Adam was the last in line, Nathanial keeping him close. ‘It’s much easier getting home Adam but stay close to me. Once we’re back in the Hinterland we can swoop as normal.’
    Adam nodded, dreading returning to the weird grey light beyond Morta’s realm. As he shuffled along behind the others his foot struck something and it rolled in front of him. He frowned and bent down to pick it up. It looked like a tiny black marble until he turned it over and saw the earring mount on the back. He grinned. At least Morta could lose things like anyone else. It reminded him that she was still human.
    He was going to give it back to her but Nathanial had noticed his hesitation and frowned, ushering him towards the door. Not wanting to draw attention to himself, Adam shoved the earring in his pocket and managed to shake Morta’s hand without making eye contact. Even the gloom of the Hinterland seemed more attractive if it meant escaping from her.
    Still, passing through the doorway was scary. Stepping from a marble floor into grey nothingness made Adam’s head spin. He closed his eyes, feeling sick and disorientated until he felt Nathanial’s firm grip on his arm. ‘It’s OK, Adam. Just wait a moment. I need to speak to Heinrich and then we’ll go home.’
    Adam nodded and managed to ease his eyes open without falling over. The door into the Realm of the Fates had disappeared and he was back in the same dim light as before. The others had already swooped home. Nathanial and Heinrich stood a little distance away and Adam tried not to listen to their conversation, but in the deathly silence of the Hinterland it was hard not to hear even their lowered voices.
    Heinrich’s face was serious. ‘So, a message then. It appears that our Lady Fate is paying close attention.’
    Nathanial nodded, looking grim. ‘Message received. I’ll be watching.’
    Heinrich looked relieved. ‘Good. Let us think of happier matters. We have many things to celebrate.’
    There was a sound in the distance. Adam paused and looked up. It was a strange hissing, rattling noise. It wasn’t near but it was coming closer, the way a thunderstorm could move. He squinted into the gloom. Far off the light was changing. It looked darker.
    Heinrich and Nathanial had noticed it too. ‘The Fates are cautious today,’ Heinrich said wryly. He embraced Nathanial. ‘Best not to tarry.’ He beckoned to Adam and shook his hand. ‘Goodbye Adam. I look forward to seeing you all soon. My Light is your Light.’
    Adam and Nathanial repeated his words and watched him disappear. The hissing sound was growing louder. Adam peered around him. ‘What
is
that?’
    Nathanial took his arm. ‘Nothing to worry about. Come on. It’s time to go home.’ Adam clutched his keystone and a second later the Hinterland was gone.
    Minutes later, back in the confines of his bedroom, Adam gave a sigh of relief. He had survived the encounter unscathed. Morta hadn’t been joking when she said there were threads to cut – they had barely re-entered the physical world before Mortson death senses had flared and Nathanial had swooped away to guide an unsuspecting soul into the afterlife.
    Adam had lost all sense of time in the Realm of the Fates but he knew they’d been there for at least a few hours. Weirdly they returned home and found that only a few minutes had passed in the physical world. It was clear that time passed differently in the Realm of the Fates, which probably explained how the Fates lived longer than Lumen. He made a mental note to ask Auntie Jo about it – and this time he promised himself he would actually
listen
to what she told him.
    His relief was slightly overshadowed by the guilt of knowing Morta was watching the Mortsons. He had an awful feeling he was pushing his luck with the whole saving people