Acacia came over and looked at the inscription. She pondered, the same look of concentration on her face as when she was in the riddle contest with Nico. After a minute, she spoke a long string of words, in what sounded like a mixture of Latin and another language—David thought it sounded Gaelic. Despite the protection that the Latin language should have provided to subdue the Shade inside of her, she cringed in gut-searing pain. The seal of vines shimmered green, and the doors slowly opened in response to her voice.
David grimaced. Of course Nico had set a barrier that forced Acacia to speak. The runes must be a magical seal that by speaking a counter spell would open the doors. It was a trick that was designed to hurt Acacia. He prayed her family was on the other side and that would be
