Vault of Shadows by Jonathan Maberry

themselves on the other side of that doorway of shadow and now no one can pass through in either direction. Only in very rare cases and for very brief periods of time can she or one of her warriors slip between her world and this one. Demons can do it more easily, and some of them know how to create new doorways from world to world.”
    â€œWhat worlds are you talking about? That faerie ring was right here in the forest.”
    â€œThere are many worlds, Milo, and there are worlds between worlds. And even worlds between those. I suppose you would call them dimensions. They overlap with ours and are mostly invisible to any but the most powerful. Each of these worlds connects to others. Sometimes the doors are sealed shut with the strength of iron, and sometimes they are as insubstantial as smoke. That ishow demons move between the worlds, but they are usually pulled back to their own dimensions by cosmic forces that even my people don’t fully understand. However, with the right spells, a demon can be summoned who will open such a door.”
    Milo nodded, accepting this. It made him wonder if magic was really just some aspect of science that had never yet been measured or understood.
    â€œDoors are meant to be opened, though,” continued Evangelyne, “and there are many kinds of keys and many kinds of locks. Spells are one kind of key, and the casting of a faerie ring is a powerful kind of spell. If the right spells are cast, then those circles allow for passage between worlds. Not all worlds, just certain worlds. And the circles themselves act like cells. They contain whatever passes through. Do you understand?”
    â€œSure. It’s like the spells are entry codes and the circles are air locks.”
    She gave him a blank stare. “I have no idea what that means.”
    â€œDoesn’t matter. I’m following what you’re saying. Go on.”
    â€œWell, what you encountered in the woods was Queen Mab using a faerie ring to try to summon a being of power. A demon.”
    â€œBut the Huntsman’s not a demon.”
    â€œI know, which is why this is hard to understand. Unless . . .”
    â€œUnless what?”
    â€œUnless the Huntsman somehow convinced Queen Mab that he was a demon.”
    â€œWhy on earth would the Huntsman want to do that?” asked Milo.
    She considered the question, then shook her head. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong. There are several possibilities, but I’d only be guessing.”
    â€œSo . . . guess.”
    She thought again. “The Huntsman wants the crystal egg you stole and he wants the Heart of Darkness. The queen has wanted to be free of her prison for many years and she is a powerful sorceress. It’s possible—even likely—that she sensed the presence of a being of great, dark power and reached out to him to strike a dark bargain so that they both could get what they want.”
    â€œHow?”
    â€œThe easiest way for a sorceress of her skill would be through dreams. Much as the Witch of the World speaks to you in your dreams. Queen Mab might have offered to help him recover the crystal egg so he could give it back to the Swarm. And they would both want the Heart of Darkness. Besides, we know that the Huntsman craves magical knowledge. Who better to teach him than a queen of faeries? It is something she might consider a fair bargain if he helped free her.”
    â€œMaybe,” said Milo, “but I’m not sure that theory’s right. They called him their ‘champion.’”
    â€œOfcourse. If he promised to free her, then that’s what he would be. He is already so powerful, and that would be very appealing to her. An alliance between the two would make them each incredibly strong. Ten times more so than they would be alone.”
    â€œHow would it work, though? He’s scary, but all he has is science.”
    â€œMaybe,” she said dubiously.