Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

I stared out at the blissful paradise of the pack lands, the serene beauty of the night contrasting sharply with the turmoil in my mind. A few solar lights had flickered on now that the sun had completely descended, casting a gentle glow on the landscape. The moon was peeking out from an errant cloud, its silver light spilling over the trees and casting long shadows on the ground.

Night crickets chirped their rhythmic song, filling the air with a sense of calm that I desperately wished I could absorb. The peaceful scene felt like a cruel joke, mocking the storm of thoughts and emotions raging within me. The pack lands, with their rolling hills and dense forests, were a haven, a place of refuge and tranquility. But tonight, that sanctuary seemed just out of reach.

The soft light of the solar lamps illuminated the path ahead, wanting to guide us through the darkness. I could see the faint outlines of the pack houses nestled among the trees, their warm lights promising safety and comfort. Yet, even as I looked at them, my mind kept drifting back to the council chambers, to Asham and his smug smile, to the threat that loomed over us all.

The night air was cool, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves and carrying with it the earthy scent of the forest. I took a deep breath, trying to let the fresh air cleanse my thoughts, to bring some clarity to the chaos. But the worry for Kacey, the fear of what Asham might do next, and the weight of my next decision made it hard to find peace.

"We can't use the Temporal Echo without finding out more about Asham and his intentions. Since I know Clark is at the rehearsal with Kacey, I figure this is a good time to go have a chat with Marco about Asham."

Faith began to text into her phone. It pinged a few seconds later. "Eve and Nishi are done updating Hunter. They will come with us to question Marco."

Faith and I returned to the jeep and a few minutes later Eve and Nishi got in the back.

"What information are you hoping to get on Asham?" Nishi asked as she put on her seatbelt.

I leaned against the window as Faith started the vehicle and began to pull out of her parking spot. "I want to know what Asham's powers are. Besides hellfire, that is."

"Good idea. I took a potion at the house and brought some extras for anybody who needs a boost," Eve said.

Faith glanced in the mirror. "Go-go juice?"

Eve nodded. "You want some?"

"Yeah, I'll double down on your magical energy drink. That stuff is better than a shot of expresso. But it doesn't taste as good."

Eve chuckled and passed Faith a vial. Faith downed it and passed it back. "I will work on a latte flavor for you."

"Awesome sauce," Faith said, keeping her eyes on the road.

We drove through the night, the headlights cutting a path in the darkness as we made our way to the empowered area. This time, our destination was Marco Madison's estate. As Faith guided the jeep down the winding road, the opulent mansion came into view, almost glittering in the moonlight.

The sculptured trees and meticulously arranged plants stood like silent sentinels; each one bathed in individual lighting that highlighted their vibrant colors and intricate shapes. It was as if nature itself was on display in a museum, each piece curated to perfection. The mansion loomed ahead, its grandeur and extravagance in contrast to the turmoil we carried with us.

Faith parked the jeep at the end of the driveway, and we all stepped out, the cool night air hitting us immediately. The silence was almost deafening, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets. I glanced up at the mansion, its windows dark and imposing, and felt a shiver run down my spine. Despite its beauty, there was an unsettling energy about the place, as if it were a fa?ade hiding something darker within.

Eve moved to the front, her eyes scanning the surroundings with practiced caution. Nishi followed, her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger, ready for any trouble that might come our way. Faith lingered by the jeep for a moment, her gaze fixed on the mansion, before she turned to me.

"Ready?" she asked, her voice low but steady.

I nodded before we walked up the path together, our footsteps almost soundless on the well-maintained gravel. The lights illuminating the trees and plants cast eerie shadows on the ground, making the entire scene feel surreal.

As we approached the grand front doors, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were stepping into a lion's den. But we had no choice. This was our best chance to get answers, to find a way to protect Kacey and ourselves from the threat Asham posed.

Faith raised her hand and knocked, the sound echoing through the still night. We stood there, waiting, each of us lost in our thoughts as footsteps approached.

A tall, balding man in a black suit opened the door. "May I help you?"

"We need to see Marco. Tell him Tegan is here," I said.

The butler nodded respectfully and opened the door. "Please wait in the foyer while I retrieve him from his study."

We all piled into the foyer and pretended to be interested in the vase with fresh-cut flowers on a glossy oak table in the center.

"Marco is going to think this has to do with Kacey and Clark," Nishi whispered.

I shrugged. "I don't care what he thinks as long as he comes to speak with us."

Marco entered the foyer, and we all turned. He was wearing a dark-blue suit and looked like he was about to go out for an evening on the town, rather than work in a home office, but his personal life didn't concern me.

"What can I do for you, Tegan? If it's about the children, they are at the school for the class rehearsal."

I shook my head. "This isn't about them. I need information on Asham Wager."

Marco's lip curled. "He has bought his standing within the community and his early businesses were anything but legitimate. I recommend you stay as far as possible from that shyster."

I almost laughed, but Marco's distaste for Asham was real.

"I hear he is your top competitor."

Marco smoothed the front of his impeccable suit with his hand. It was impossible not to notice the gold signet ring. "His export business is ranked second to mine. A statistic he would love to improve. Asham is self-made and was always jealous of my family's station in life. He made questionable financial decisions in order to hurt my business, rather than improve his own."

"He hates you," Faith said.

Marco nodded, but his eyes roamed over Faith as if she were beneath him.

Eve crossed her arms. "He used spelled hellfire on us. That is high-level dark magic. What are his other powers?"

Marco's eyes widened. "Asham attacked you?"

"Yes," I said.

Marco's eyes darted between us. "He attacked all of you. A council member and a guardian."

Nishi sighed. "Yes."

Marco's smile was slow in coming. "He's a dead man."

Faith's eyes burrowed on Marco. "Try not to get so excited. He is in possession of a dangerous artifact and there is a good chance you are his target."

Marco sucked in a breath. "Yes. He would take me out if he could, especially if he is proven guilty of attacking you."

Faith grunted. "We both know he will never make it to trial. If we don't get to him, my grandfather or one of the demons will."

Marco slipped his hands into his pants pockets. "That is true. But it seems I should beef up my security until he is... apprehended."

I hated how smug Marco was and I was curious if he was always this confident. "Asham attacked us on our way to my house. We suspect he may go after the kids. I have people watching Kacey. Does Clark have a protection detail? If not, I suggest you get on that."

Marco paled slightly, and I realized he was not willing to risk his son to take Asham out. "I have a man on him at all times, but I will double his security. Perhaps after the rehearsal, we keep the kids at one of our homes with heightened security until this is resolved."

"I am not sure we can lock them up, but if we both have added security when at home and school, then it will help."

Marco glanced at Eve. "Asham has a squad of talented warlocks. I will assign some of my own to watch the kids till this is resolved."

"Thank you, Marco." I never thought I would ever thank this man, but he seemed genuine about protecting Kacey and Clark.

Marco puffed out his chest slightly. "Despite his jealousy. Asham is a talented warlock. On top of hellfire, he is excellent at shrouds and can create such effective glamor spells even an empowered has difficulty seeing the truth."

I glanced at my friend. "Yeah, we kind of suspected that. Is there anyone who would try to impersonate him? That is the one glitch in our investigation. Someone could be impersonating him."

"He would love you to think so. I wouldn't be surprised if he was behind the theft of your artifacts. He built his business in the black-market trade, but he is very effective at hiding it."

"He admitted to doing business with Rhain and Darick."

"Yes, he was quite cozy with the vampire elders. They gave him access to things the empowered community would not. There are some lines our leaders will not cross."

He almost sounded disappointed. As if he were sorry Caton and Lucinda weren't criminals. Maybe he didn't like them any more than we did.

As we stood in Marco Madison's grand foyer, listening to him spill details about Asham's operations, a nagging doubt settled in the pit of my stomach. This was too easy. Marco was never this helpful, even when it served his interests. Despite actively trying to take down his competition, something felt off.

Marco's polished smile and smooth words did little to ease my suspicion. He laid out his information with a practiced nonchalance, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something crucial. There was a hidden layer here, something lurking beneath the surface of his cooperation.

"Thank you, Marco," I said, my voice steady but my mind racing. I needed to get out of here, to regroup and figure out what piece of the puzzle I was missing. The ladies were already heading for the door.

I followed them out, the weight of my doubts heavy on my shoulders. Marco's front door closed behind us with a decisive thud, sealing in whatever secrets he chose to keep hidden. Faith and Nishi moved with purpose, their steps quickening as we neared the jeep. Eve cast one last glance back at the mansion, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

I settled into the passenger seat, my mind still churning with unease. Marco's cooperation was a gift wrapped in barbed wire, and I had no doubt there was a catch.

Faith started the engine, and we pulled away from the mansion. The opulent surroundings faded into the distance, replaced by the familiar urban landscape. I couldn't shake the feeling that Marco had played us, that his help came with strings attached.

"I don't trust him," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. The ladies nodded in silent agreement as Faith turned down the street that would lead to Asham's home.

Nobody expected to find him there, but we needed a lead and were almost at his property when the jeep engine died.

The jeep rolled to a sudden stop, its lights cutting out as if the battery had been ripped from its heart. We were plunged into an inky darkness that swallowed the road and our surroundings.

"I can't see anything," Faith snapped, her frustration palpable in the suffocating blackness.

Eve leaned forward, her silhouette barely discernible. "This is a shroud. It has to be Asham."

Her words sent a chill down my spine. The air felt heavy, thick with foreboding. "Get out," Eve commanded, her voice steady. "I'll cast a light spell."

We fumbled with the door handles, the oppressive darkness making even the simplest task difficult. Stepping out, the night felt like a solid wall pressing in on us. I heard Faith's breath quicken and Nishi's soft curses as we gathered together.

Eve murmured an incantation, her voice a lifeline in the void. Slowly, a soft, gray mist began to permeate the darkness, pushing back the shroud. The area brightened, revealing our surroundings in muted tones. The world was bathed in an eerie, ghostly light, the mist swirling around our feet.

Through the haze, a figure emerged, his approach slow and deliberate. Asham. His presence was a black mark on the otherwise ethereal scene, his eyes gleaming with malevolent intent.

"Well, well," he said, his voice smooth and taunting. "You've been busy, haven't you?"

The sight of him, with his smug grin and tailored suit, sent a wave of anger through me. I felt the urge to lash out, to make him pay for all the chaos he'd caused. But I knew better. Asham was dangerous, a serpent coiled and ready to strike.

"Your life is over, Asham. The council knows about your activities. You will either be remanded to Scorchwood or die," I said.

Faith's fists clenched at her sides, and I could see the determination in her eyes. Nishi's hand hovered near her weapons, ready for a fight. We stood our ground, a silent, united front against the warlock.

"You know nothing, but your meddling ends here," Asham said, taking a step closer. "Hand over the artifact, and maybe I'll let you live.

His words were like poison, but we were not about to back down. The Temporal Echo was too powerful to fall into his hands. My heart pounded in my chest, the stakes higher than ever.

Eve's light spell held the darkness at bay, but I knew it wouldn't last forever. We had to be alert. This was the moment of truth, and we couldn't afford to falter. Not now, with Asham standing before us, ready to unleash his wrath.

I shrugged. "You should have checked that we had it first. It isn't here."

Asham's wrist flicked, and I felt a wall of power move over us. "It is connected to you, Tegan. I don't need the others. You will lead me to it, or I will kill your daughter."

My mouth went dry, but I kept my head up. "She is well protected, and I am not giving you shit."

Asham hissed. "You have no idea what you have done. I am running out of time to make things right."

Faith inched forward, and I grabbed her wrist. "Why are you doing this, Asham? Why would you risk altering time? You have to know the consequences can be dire."

Asham huffed. "I know exactly what is at stake. You would be wise to heed my warning, guardian. Your entire lineage is at stake and will soon be owned by another if I do not set the timeline right."

I stared at the enraged warlock. His words scared the crap out of me because I believed him. He thought whatever he was doing was justified, and I assumed his motivation was power or money. This was something far more personal, and it involved me. "I think we will have to agree to disagree. Whatever you are doing, it isn't worth the risk to the timeline."

Asham sneered. "Some things are worth the risk." He hurled a ball of hellfire at us, the searing heat distorting the surrounding air. Eve chanted something under her breath, and a shimmering bubble erupted around us, encapsulating us in a protective barrier. The hellfire smashed against the globe, dispersing harmlessly into sparks and smoke.

Asham's eyes narrowed, and he began to launch a barrage of different spells at us—dark energy, crackling lightning, more hellfire. Each attack met the same fate, crashing against Eve's shield and dissipating. But I could see the strain on her face, the tightness in her jaw.

"I can't keep this up forever," Eve hissed, her voice tight with effort as she absorbed another impact. Her hand trembled slightly as she held the spell in place.

Nishi whispered something in her ear, and I watched as Faith moved to the edge of the bubble. "Asham, you spineless puke," she shouted. "Why don't you fight like a man? Or did you always hide behind your magic?"

Asham's face twisted in a snarl, and he hurled a series of hellfire balls at the shield, each one more forceful than the last. Eve grunted with the effort of holding them back, her power flickering but steadfast.

In the chaos, I hadn't grasped what Faith and Eve had planned until I saw the silver flash of Nishi's throwing star. She had slipped out of the bubble, silent and deadly, as Faith held Asham's attention. The star embedded itself in Asham's neck, and he staggered back, his hand flying to the wound, blood seeping between his fingers.

For a moment, I thought we had him. But as Asham yanked the star from his bleeding neck, his focus shifted entirely to Nishi. His eyes blazed with fury and something more dangerous—determination.

"Now," Faith whispered so low I barely heard her.

Eve dropped the shield, and Faith pulled the small dagger from her belt. She threw it so quickly that I barely saw a flash before it embedded in Asham's chest. His eyes widened in shock and his fingers wrapped around the dagger, but it was too late. He fell to his knees before toppling to the ground.

Faith pulled her phone out as the shroud around us dissipated. She hit a contact on her phone. "Dran. I need you and Drin to retrieve Asham's body."