Dearest Mother of Mine (Overworld Chronicles) by John Corwin

said. "Is that the thing that chased you when you came down here the first time?"
    "Yeah," I said. "Scared the crap out of us."
    "Wasn't it Vadaemos's pet?"
    I shrugged. "I think it just wanted attention."
    Yolo brayed and licked my hand.
    "Aw, he's sweet," Bella said, leaning over and scratching the beast.
    Cinder appeared from the dim surroundings. "Justin, I took the liberty of surveying the area. I found several more crushed golems. It would appear Lornicus sent them to investigate, but the leyworms attacked."
    As if in answer, the small dragon rumbled.
    "Ah," Elyssa said. "I think I know Lornicus's game now."
    I looked at her expectantly. "And that is?"
    "He knows you have a powerful influence on beings around you. He obviously couldn't infiltrate the leyworm perimeter, so he figured you could do it." She pointed out a gray-suited shape at the fringe of the white light from the glowballs. "I'll bet he sent golems to take some of the babies."
    "I estimate there are nearly a hundred destroyed golems around this area," Cinder said. "It would appear he had no success."
    Shelton whistled. "That's a lot of dead golems. It can't be easy to replace them."
    "Makes sense," I said, mulling it over. "Does he expect me to take a baby so he can steal it from me?" Is that what he wants in exchange for help with saving Mom?
    "He wants information," Elyssa said. "Think about it. The golems didn't get close enough to see much. They may not even know these are angels."
    "Wittle baby angels," Bella said in a coochie coo voice, while staring adoringly at one making eyes at her.
    I looked at Cinder. "Do gray men share a consciousness of any kind? Or would an individual scout have to report the information?"
    Cinder made a stiff shrug. "I do not remember. I would surmise a shared consciousness and the instant sharing of information is possible."
    "They still didn't get close enough," Elyssa said. "So unless they spit out a baby at a golem's feet, I doubt they know much. Maybe they didn't even see the babies and only saw the leyworms acting weird."
    "You still aren't asking the important questions," Shelton said. "Why are the leyworms doing this, and who are they helping? Because if they're helping Daelissa, we're in a world of trouble."
     

Chapter 8
     
    Nobody had an answer for Shelton's questions, and the young leyworm remained silent, giving nothing away. Judging from the brutal demises the gray men had suffered, I knew we'd be no more successful removing a baby from here than they had. One thing was certain—I had to find out everything I could about this situation before agreeing to anything with Lornicus.
    "I just thought of another question," I said. "Supposedly, even being near the cherubs would weaken Daelissa. How are these babies not affected?"
    "The leyworms," Adam said. "If they're feeding the infants constantly, that might mitigate the effects of the cherubs. Or it could simply be the leyworms are keeping the cherubs far enough away."
    This was certainly a wrinkle in the greater scheme of things. If just one angel was powerful enough to end the world, what did it mean to have a few dozen? How long would it take for them to grow up and wreak havoc? Those questions would have to wait. Since we had access to a control room with an Alabaster Arch, it was time to branch into other avenues of exploration.
    "I think we should figure out how to work the control room," I said. "Maybe see if we can get the lights on in here for starters."
    "And the Alabaster Arch?" Elyssa asked, eyes worried.
    "That too." I ran a hand through my hair. "If we can get through to the Grand Nexus, maybe we can ward it, set up booby traps to keep Jeremiah Conroy and Daelissa from using it." Taking Mom away from them would delay them, but that would only create the constant threat of Daelissa trying to steal her back. Destroying the nexus would remove the threat.
    "I say we get a bunch of plastic explosives and blow it to hell," Shelton said.
    I raised an