Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

T he familiar streets of downtown loomed closer as Faith drove with a fierce determination, the Jeep's engine humming beneath us. I couldn't shake the sense of urgency. We were moving fast, but where exactly were we going?

"Where are we headed?" I asked, my voice cutting through the tension-filled silence. I assumed she'd take us back to my house, to the relative safety it offered.

Faith glanced at me, her grip steady on the wheel. "Black Bounty," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Why?" I demanded, confusion mingling with my rising anxiety.

"It's safer," she replied. "Greyson just installed a magical safe there. It's similar to the one I use for the gargoyle egg."

I sometimes forgot Faith was nursing a two-thousand-year-old egg. She had so many responsibilities, but she always dropped everything to help me or my friends. Still, uncertainty gnawed at me. "I need more direction before I activate the Temporal Echo," I said, desperation creeping into my voice. "From either my mother or the Chronicles of the Guardians book."

Faith kept her eyes on the road. "That makes sense, but we should secure the artifact first. Asham knows where the Guardian's home is. We don't want him attacking us there."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. "Kacey," I breathed, my fear for my daughter overwhelming. The thought that I might have put her in danger was unbearable.

I fumbled for my phone, my fingers trembling as I texted Toga and Spencer to warn them. My heart raced as I typed out the message, the screen blurring with the speed of my movements.

I sent the text, praying they'd heed my warning. My thoughts churned, a maelstrom of fear and guilt. The Temporal Echo felt like a ticking time bomb in my possession.

Faith's words echoed in my mind as we approached Black Bounty. We needed to secure the artifact, but the gnawing dread for Kacey's safety refused to abate.

"Almost there," Faith said, her voice an anchor in the storm of my thoughts.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself as Faith pulled into the parking space in front of her building.

We exited the Jeep and made our way into Black Bounty, the familiar scent of leather and iron wafting through the air as we stepped inside. Faith's hand strayed to the large Buddha statue by the door, a habitual gesture that seemed to ground her before she moved with purpose toward her office.

The room was simple but efficient. A long wooden desk dominated the space, adorned with a computer, a phone, and a penholder with a few black pens bearing her logo. A single picture hung on one wall, capturing a dragon in flight—an exact replica of Brutus, her faithful pet. My eyes followed her as she approached the picture, and with a practiced motion, she pulled it from the wall, revealing the metal safe behind it.

The safe looked exactly like the one in her suite, a sturdy and secure fortress for our precious cargo. Faith's fingers danced over the magical lock, and with a soft click, it swung open. She turned to me, her expression resolute.

"Give me the Temporal Echo," she said, her hand outstretched.

I hesitated for a fraction of a second, the weight of the artifact pressing heavily against my palm. Then, with a deep breath, I handed it over with the elephant. Faith took them with a nod, carefully placing the artifacts inside the safe before closing it with a firm turn of the handle.

As she locked it away, the tension in my chest eased slightly. We had secured the Temporal Echo, but the sense of urgency lingered. There was still so much to do, so many questions left unanswered. Faith's efficiency was a reassuring anchor, but I couldn't shake the nagging fear for Kacey's safety.

The office seemed quieter now, the hum of the computer and the distant sounds of the shop outside fading into the background. We stood there for a moment, the gravity of our situation settling around us like a shroud.

"We'll figure this out," Faith said, her voice steady. "But first, we need to make sure Kacey is safe and get the information you need. Let's head over to your house."

We exited Black Bounty, the cool air wrapping around us as we headed back to Faith's Jeep. The urban landscape blurred past as we drove, but my thoughts were anchored on Kacey and the warlock now hunting us. The city's familiar sights—shops, streetlights, and hurried pedestrians—seemed distant and inconsequential against the backdrop of our current crisis.

"Do you think that Asham makes most of his money from the trade of black-market items?" Nishi asked, breaking the silence.

Faith shook her head. "That property is massive. His legit business does really well, according to Greyson. He didn't do it for the money."

"Prestige?" Eve said, her gaze fixed on the passing buildings.

"Maybe," Faith replied. "Or he's just a prick."

Their conversation shifted to how wrong they had been about Marco Madison being responsible for the recent troubles. As they speculated about Asham's true motives, my thoughts drifted back to Kacey. The fear of having put my daughter in danger gnawed at me, and I gripped my phone tightly, ready to send another warning to Toga and Spencer.

Just as Faith turned down the familiar street toward my home, a sudden impact from the side jarred us all. The Jeep skidded, tires screeching against the pavement as magic crackled around us like an invisible net. My heart pounded as the world tilted, and the vehicle came to a jarring stop.

"Shit!" Faith yelled, trying to regain control.

Magic surrounded us, a suffocating pressure that made the air hum with danger. I glanced at Nishi, her eyes wide with shock, then to Eve, who was already muttering under her breath, trying to counteract the spell.

"Hang on!" I shouted, fumbling to get my bearings as Faith fought to steady the Jeep.

Through the haze that surrounded us, I saw figures approaching—shadowy and menacing, their intentions clear. "What is this, Eve?" I asked.

Eve swore under her breath. "It's a type of shroud. The people around us can't see anything happening inside the spell. I am too weak to break it."

"Asham found us. He didn't wait for me to get home?"

Faith slammed her hand against the steering wheel as the motor died and the vehicle came to a rolling stop. "He likely didn't want you to put it in the vault. Despite what happened to your mother, a Guardian is the most powerful when she is home."

"My mother allowed her attacker inside our home. I would never have done that with Asham."

Asham stopped in front of the vehicle with four other men. Their eyes glowed, and it was obvious it was them casting the spell that created the shroud. "Why don't you get out of the vehicle so we can talk? This doesn't have to be unpleasant. I just want my property back."

"Get ready," Faith muttered as she opened her car door and stepped out.

We scrambled out of the Jeep, our hearts pounding in unison. Faith stood a few paces ahead, her gaze fixed on the man who had orchestrated this ambush. Asham stood there, immaculate in a gray pinstriped suit, a picture of composed malice. He had changed since the incident at his mansion; the tailored suit clung perfectly to his frame, exuding an air of authority and danger.

He looked older than I had anticipated, perhaps in his sixties, but age had done little to diminish his striking appearance. His short, gray hair was impeccably styled, and the lines etched on his face spoke of experience and cunning. His cohorts, equally well-dressed, flanked him like dark sentinels, their expressions void of emotion.

Asham's smile was a serpentine curve, cold and calculating. "I am hoping we can conduct our business in an orderly fashion," he said, his voice smooth but dripping with venom.

I met his gaze, unwavering. "What do you want, Asham?"

He chuckled, a low, unsettling sound. "What do I want? It's quite simple, really. You have something that belongs to me."

"And you think we're just going to hand it over? It was stolen from my vault," I said, my voice steady despite the churn of fear and anger within me.

Asham's smile widened, but it never reached his eyes. "I believe you will. If you know what's good for you. I paid good money for that piece."

Faith squared her shoulders, her hand twitching like she wanted to draw her weapon. "We're not afraid of you, Asham."

"Perhaps not," he replied, his tone mocking. "But are you willing to risk everything for a trinket?"

The air was thick with tension, magic crackling just beneath the surface. Despite his polished appearance and smooth words, I could see the threat lurking in Asham's eyes. He might have been older, more refined, but he was no less dangerous.

I glanced at my friends. We were outnumbered and possibly outmatched, but we were united.

"Your time is over, Asham. We will tell the council about your little treasure trove and the items you are selling on the black market," I said, my voice firm. "You might want to reconsider your plan."

For a moment, his smile faltered, revealing the predator beneath the polished exterior. The battle lines were drawn, and there would be no backing down. Asham had no intention of letting us go, no matter what we did.

"Why did you steal the artifacts from Tegan's vault? Where are the rest?" Nishi asked.

I already knew the answer. He said he paid handsomely for the Temporal Echo. He wasn't behind the theft, but he was fine with paying for stolen property.

Asham sneered at her. "I was not responsible for the theft. The vampire leader was supposed to sell me far more than the few trinkets he did. He got what he deserved."

A wave of pain washed over me as memories of my mother's last moments flooded my mind. The ache was almost unbearable, like a wound that had never fully healed. She had allowed the vampire leader into her home, trusting him because he was a council member. That mistake had cost her everything.

I could see her, as clear as if it were yesterday. The warmth in her eyes as she welcomed him in, the soft lines of worry that creased her brow even as she tried to hide them. She had always been strong, always put her faith in the council, in the system that was supposed to protect us.

But that trust had been her undoing.

The vampire leader had moved with deceptive grace, his polite facade a mask for the monster beneath. My mother, so kind-hearted and open, had never seen it coming. By the time she realized her mistake, it was too late. The betrayal had been swift, brutal. She had fought. I knew she had, but her strength was no match for his cruelty.

I often wondered what her final thoughts were in those last moments. Did she blame herself for trusting too easily? Or did she hold on to the hope that someone could alter destiny? That there was a way for her to live alongside me and Kacey. The thought haunted me; the not knowing gnawed at my soul. And I was too afraid to ask her.

She had paid for her trust with her life, leaving me with a legacy of pain and a burning need for justice. It drove me, fueled my every action, including my distrust of vampires and Spencer.

As I stood there, facing Asham, the pain transformed into a steely resolve. I would not make the same mistake. I would not trust blindly. And I would not let the past repeat itself. My mother's death would not be in vain. Her sacrifice would mean something. It had to.

"You were working with Rhain," Faith growled.

Asham shrugged. "Darick too, not that it matters. You are all about to die."

"Not going to happen. Asswipe," Faith snapped.

Asham smiled before he held up one hand and it erupted in hellfire.

Blue flames exploded toward us, an inferno of pure rage. Eve muttered a spell under her breath, her fingers weaving through the air. A shimmering shield enveloped us, its glow flickering weakly. The hellfire crashed into it, shattering the barrier like glass. But it bought us precious seconds. We dove for cover behind the Jeep, with our heartbeats pounding in unison.

"Text Hunter!" Faith yelled, her voice strained.

"I am, but I can't get a signal out," Eve replied, frustration evident. "I tried at the mansion and had the same issue. Asham can disrupt my cell signal."

Faith peeked over the Jeep's hood, her eyes narrowing. "We have to engage his underlings. Hopefully, he won't fire on us while his posse is close to us."

Nishi peeked over as well, her gaze sharp and focused. "They're almost here. Ready, ladies?"

I felt a burning in my side, but there was no time to assess the damage.

And no time for hesitation. We leaped from behind the vehicle, charging at the younger warlocks. My fists clenched, the air crackling with tension. Faith's battle cry echoed in my ears as we met our foes head-on.

The first warlock swung at me with a burst of dark energy, but I ducked, my body moving on instinct. My fist connected with his jaw, and he stumbled back, surprise flickering in his eyes. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nishi take down another with a well-placed kick, her movements swift and precise. Her attacker crumpled to the ground.

Faith was a whirlwind of fury, her punches landing with brutal efficiency. She grappled with one warlock, her strength overpowering him. Eve, despite her earlier spell, was not to be underestimated. She fought with a fierce determination, punching and kicking like a hellcat.

Amidst the chaos, I spared a glance at Asham. His smile was a serpentine twist of malice, his eyes glinting with dark amusement. He watched as his underlings fell, a predator biding its time.

When the warlock Faith was fighting pulled a long blade from under his suit, Faith crouched low. "Big mistake, buddy."

He lunged at her with deadly efficiency, but as the blade would have pierced her heart, she grabbed his wrist and wrenched it backward. The momentum couldn't be stopped, and the tip plunged into the warlock's heart. He screamed as he went down and the warlock I was fighting scrambled to get away. As he fled, the surrounding shroud failed, and the sunlight shone down on the remaining warlocks. The streets were empty of vehicles, but several pedestrians stopped to see what the commotion was about. With Faith's Jeep in the middle of the street, it likely looked like we had crashed. Though nobody had seen the accident.

Eve's phone beeped. "Hunter is on his way."

Asham's eyes glowed. "This isn't over." He made a swirl with his wrist before black mist covered him and he was gone. The two remaining warlocks ran off as Nishi went to the dead one.

"We need to find out who these guys are. Purchasing black-market artifacts is one thing, but attempted murder on a council member and the guardian, well that's an act of war."

Eve grunted. "I'm sure Lucinda wouldn't shed a tear if me or Faith were killed in this skirmish."

Faith eyed the spot where Asham had stood. "She wouldn't, but she had nothing to do with this. There is more going on here, and I want to find out what it is."