Chapter 7

Dreya

"That is not what I expected. What do you think this is?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I glanced at my sisters for guidance. I moved my hand toward the shimmering veil we'd conjured when we'd done that ritual Kaitlyn had told us to do to find the relic. Pulling my hand back before it made contact, I watched the iridescent hues dance like ethereal flames in the air.

The veil seemed to ripple when I'd gotten close. It was now casting a mesmerizing glow that both intrigued and unsettled me. Were we staring into a barrier between worlds?

What exactly had we conjured just now? I was expecting a trail leading to the relic. Or an image of the location like you would see in scrying water. This could be a gateway to the relic we sought. Or it might lead us to something else entirely?

Lia"s brow furrowed in contemplation. "I"m not sure. Kaitlyn"s instructions were clear. And we followed them to the letter. But this... we've never encountered anything like it. It's not an entrance to a pocket realm."

Dea shivered and ran her hands over her arms. "There"s a resonance to this veil. Like it"s connected to something ancient and spiritual. But whether it leads to the relic or not, I cannot say."

Phi"s curiosity got the best of her, and she stepped closer to the shimmering barrier. "Should we call Kaitlyn? Maybe she can provide some insight before we take the plunge."

Kota shook her head. "We"ve come this far on our own. We can"t rely on Kaitlyn for everything. We need to trust our instincts." The uncertainty gnawed at me, but I knew she was right. We couldn"t turn back now.

Dani"s gaze flickered between each of us. "You're right. We're strong and capable. And we"ve faced worse odds before. If there"s even a chance this leads to the relic, we have to take it."

I nodded in agreement, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. "Let"s do it. Whatever lies beyond that veil, we"ll face it together." Kaitlyn's comment about us creating magic that few, if any, could combat fueled my courage.

Lia clasped my hand, and I latched onto Kota's. As a group, we took a step forward, crossing the threshold into the unknown. As the veil enveloped us, I felt a surge of adrenaline course through my veins along with the tingle of power.

Maybe we were wrong about it leading to a pocket realm because we were looking at a labyrinth of magic sprawled before us. We were still in City Park. At least it looked like we were. Aside from the power around us, the rest looked the same. Correction... my gaze landed on some ancient stones scattered throughout the area.

"Are we still in the park?" Dani whispered.

Lia lifted her shoulder. "I don't know. Maybe it just opened our senses? It feels like there's a maze of magic around us."

I tried to take a step forward and tripped over something. What had been invisible came into view. There were more of those stones than it seemed. Crouching, I traced the intricate symbols that adorned the surface. Had we stumbled into the mind of an ancient sorcerer?

"This is a living spell," I mused quietly as I looked back at my sisters.

Phi laughed as her fingers danced over the glyphs making them glow. "If magic had a language, this would be its poetry. It's stunning, but what does it mean?"

"The stones carry spirits... and stories of the past," Dea observed as she examined the stone closest to her. This is creepy as hell and doesn't explain much."

Kota"s brow furrowed, and she extended her hand in front of her body. She was the only one still on her feet. "There"s a pulse to this place. I bet if we sync with it, we will be able to navigate to the answers we need," she theorized.

Dani"s gaze was fixed on the shifting symbols as she mused, "It's a riddle we need to solve. My alarm bells aren't ringing. Surely that's a good sign."

Lia nodded and pointed to the stone in front of her. "We've always had some kind of warning when danger was near," she agreed. "Does this feel like the work of a witch to you guys? Or have we stumbled into something unrelated to our quest?"

"That's the million-dollar question. And we won't get closer to an answer standing here," I said as I stood and moved forward.

I could feel the maze sprawled through this section of City Park which was not far from the well. My sisters followed suit and we scanned the web of arcane symbols etched into the very fabric of the stones. There was no denying that they pulsated with raw magical energy. Letting it guide my movements. Each step felt like a dance through an intricate spell, as if the maze itself was testing our prowess in the art of magic.

We were a conga line of sisters picking our way through the magic. Kota"s eyes glinted mischievously. "Let"s hope this doesn't turn into the mystical version of the three-hour tour."

Dea chuckled and puffed out her chest. "If it does, Mav taught me how to tie knots and gave me tips on survival." That could come in handy. Her son was in the navy. And no doubt, knew some serious survival skills. "What if we align ourselves with the frequency of their power to navigate this maze?"

"I've been doing that," Lia said. "I can't tell if we're getting anywhere though."

We fell silent for several seconds until Kota stopped suddenly and growled. "This is a bullshit test of our magical aptitude," she snarled, baring her teeth at nothing. "I never thought I would say this, but it's easier when we have someone to fight."

Dani smirked at her. "That's because we know what we're doing. We kick ass and take names Twisted Sister style."

As if in response to our resolve, the symbols shimmered with renewed intensity like they were acknowledging our determination.

Kota conjured a large purple cocktail and took a sip then handed it over to me. "Although, being able to have a drink while saving the world is nice too. I just don't like the confusing crap."

Lia sucked in a sharp breath as she was taking a drink and started coughing. Dani patted her back. "We haven't joined our magic yet. That's our secret weapon," she said once her hacking stopped.

I sent my magic to intertwine with theirs. Once it was fully entangled, we continued. Within a few minutes, it was clear something was different.

"We"re making progress," I declared as I surveyed the maze before us. "To what I have no idea, but we aren't walking in circles even if it feels like it."

Phi"s grin widened. "I can feel it, too. We should be ready. You might get that battle you were itching for, Kota."

Kota held up a hand and shook her head. "Hold up. For the record, I didn"t want a fight. It's just easier than this was. I've changed my mind. This is so much better." We'd finished the drink she had conjured. I had to admit, it was a nice change of pace from what we usually faced.

The air in the mystical labyrinth clung to us like ancient cobwebs that were woven with threads of arcane power. The ground started to shake, making us tumble into each other. Clinging to Kota and Lia, we watched as a large obelisk rose in front of us.

I leaned forward to inspect the symbols on this stone. The magical graffiti beneath my fingertips reacted, and a soft hum resonated through the labyrinth. "This is like a magical crossword puzzle."

Phi stuck her head over my shoulder and said, "My favorite kind."

Kota snorted and added, "Just what we need. A touch of intellectual challenge in our quest. I take it back. I miss the fighting. This shit is making me work too hard. And we all know how I feel about that."

Her comment lightened the mood and made us all laugh. Phi composed herself first and examined the obelisk. "Who knew our quest for the relic would turn into a magical game night? I hope it"s our prize at the end."

Lia inhaled deeply. "Did someone just fart? It smells."

"It's not us," Dea replied with a shake of her head. "If I'm not mistaken, it's the spirit realm. The dead are awake and listening to the echoes of our footsteps. They"re curious about the game we"re playing."

Dani looked at her with a question in her eyes. "Game? More like a magical maze designed by someone with too much time and too many enchanted quills. Seriously, did Agnes spend decades designing this to hide her precious?" A snort left me when I heard her description of the relic. That was fitting. I could see her crouching and holding it close to her chest while stroking it.

With a glint of mischief, Lia added, "Maybe the maze is just upset we didn"t share the cocktail."

Focusing on the task at hand, I rolled my eyes and said, "Let"s not anger the magical maze. We"ve got codes to crack, not cakes to bake."

Twirling her finger in the air, Kota replied, "Cracking codes, baking cakes—aren"t they essentially the same? Both involve a dash of magic and a sprinkle of mystery."

Phi growled softly. "Something changed. We"re onto something, or something"s onto us. Be ready for anything."

Dea whispered, "Is it reacting to our intent? We're trying to distract each other to ease the tension."

Dani grinned. "Our true intent is to get to the relic, get the job done, and maybe grab a snack on the way out. We should reach the end in no time."

With a playful smirk, Lia said, "Snacks aside, let"s stay focused. We need to find that relic."

I nodded in agreement. "We need to cut the banter and prove to this maze that we"re not just wandering. We"re the Twisted Sisters, on a mission."

"A mission with style and a hint of flair," Kota replied as we continued.

We moved cautiously through the maze, our senses alert for any sign of danger. Lia"s sharp eyes caught something and she flung a finger in front of Kota and me. "Watch your step," she warned. "It looks like there's a warding spell right there." After she pointed it out, I saw the faint glimmer of shimmering runes etched into the ground.

Dea nodded in agreement. "We can cast a bridge over it. That should avoid triggering any unwanted consequences."

Phi shook her head and grabbed Dea's arm. "We should dispel it instead. I"m afraid a bridge might trigger it."

A chorus of good ideas echoed from the rest of us. With a softly spoken incantation, we began to unravel the intricate weave of magic ensnaring the ground. Wisps of ethereal light danced around our feet as we deftly dismantled the enchantment. It dispersed it like morning mist.

We didn't make it very far after that when Phi"s keen senses picked something up. She crouched next to a tree stump and examined it closely. "There's a containment spell connected to this," she observed, her eyes narrowing as she examined the intricate sigils etched into the opposite side. "We"ll need to disrupt the flow of magic through these markings to neutralize it." With a flick of her wrist, Phi conjured a swirling vortex of elemental energy.

The rest of us scurried to catch up with her efforts, and we all channeled power into the heart of the spell. The magical currents clashed and surged, creating a dazzling display of light and sound as they battled for dominance. In the end, our mastery of the elements emerged victorious. We managed to disrupt the containment sigils in a burst of radiant energy.

As we pressed onward, our progress was once again impeded. This time by a cunning illusion that threatened to ensnare us in its deceptive embrace. It was Dani who recognized the telltale signs of enchantment.

"The way ahead is a glamour," she declared, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "If you look sideways you will see there is a cage in the middle of the path."

Lia contorted her body and gasped. "And I guarantee that moving through the forest will be a trap. We need to disrupt the caster"s focus to dispel it. But where is it?"

I was searching the area when I felt Dani's magic reach out. I just threw my power at her, hoping to help. I had no idea what she'd seen. A second later, the facade crumbled before our eyes, revealing the cage in the path. Using my telekinesis, I picked it up and tossed it into the trees.

Kota clapped my back. "Thanks, sestra! Let's hope that's the last of this BS." Unfortunately, a few minutes later we encountered another obstacle. This time, Kota sensed the danger lurking in the shadows.

"Here's another frickin' one!" Her voice was low and menacing. "I think it's super-duper quicksand, or something. The frog that just hopped on it sank in a second flat."

I shuddered. "I totally missed that. Can you freeze it, Phi?"

Rubbing her hands, she smiled with glee. "Absolutely." Her power flowed out of her and chilled me as it passed by my left side.

I picked up a rock and tossed it on the patch of earth when it frosted over. "You rock, sestra," I called out when it didn't sink.

Kota tapped it with her foot before stepping on it entirely. "What else are we going to encounter?" she asked as she plowed ahead.

I shoved her playfully. "Don't tempt fate like that."

Lia chuckled from behind us. "That's what we do, sestra. I thought you understood that."

I rolled my eyes, and we fell silent as we scanned our surroundings for more magical booby traps. "At least it's not a hidden trap," I said ten minutes later when we encountered a portal.

I noticed the temporal turbulence from a few feet away. This was different from the veil earlier. This would take us somewhere else. I was hesitant to go further. Kota pointed to the ethereal mists that coiled around us. "That seems ominous."

I nodded and braced myself as the ground beneath seemed to undulate with the thrum of power. I squinted at the fog with an air of skepticism. "This one will take us to somewhere else. We've come this far, I can't see backing out now, but we need to be sure it takes us to the relic and not some dungeon where we will starve to death."

Lia sucked air between her teeth. "That"s rather descriptive. I have an idea. I think we should throw our collective desire to find the relic at that to ensure we don"t end up in Dre's dungeon. I'm not sure if it will work, but it's worth a try. We"ve tackled a lot already."

Dani cocked her head to the side. "Agreed. Given the setup we just encountered, I wouldn't put it past Agnes to have this send us to Timbuktu. And magic is all about intent, so I'm confident it will work."

Joining hands, I focused on what we wanted, channeled that into my magic, and sent it to join my sisters. Lia was tugging us through before anyone else made a move. Our steps never faltered as the tingle of the magical portal surrounded us. One second, we were standing in City Park. And the next, we were in a stone chamber with three doors leading to the gods knew where.

Kota wrinkled her nose. "This place smells ancient, like a library that hasn"t been opened in centuries. And it"s giving me a headache."

Lia waved a hand in front of her face. "And there's more than old paper. This place must have been flooded by every storm to ever pass through New Orleans. There's mold and decay, too."

Phi nodded and turned in a circle. "I bet that means we're below ground somewhere in the city. I don't think we've gone to another realm which is good because I'm not sure how we would get home."

Dea spoke softly, distracting us from that horrifying thought. "I feel emotions here. The echoes of laughter that once danced in the air. The past isn"t a static record; it"s a living, breathing entity here."

Kota shivered and conjured a machete. "I don't think we"re not alone. I swear there's something hiding in the shadows."

Dea"s eyes widened. "I bet it's Agnes's ghost. I'll keep my spirit powers at the ready."

Huddling together, we moved as one giant mass of Twisted Sisters. Dani suggested we go through the closest door. We saw the magical shield before we reached it. It barred the way like a formidable sentinel.

Phi sighed and dropped her shoulders. "Do we need a secret handshake or a password? I can"t feel the magic behind this one."

As I assessed the situation, the strategist within me scowled at the defenses. "You"re right. It's hard to pick up the energy signature, but it's there. This barrier is infused with ancient magic, far from child"s play."

Dea cocked her head to the side, and her gaze went distant. It was her listening to the spirit world look. We all held our breaths until she finally blinked and refocused on us. "The spirits are telling me we can't pass without a sacrifice. They said I have to offer a piece of myself. A fragment of my essence, to resonate with the magic guarding the relic."

Phi"s expression mirrored the shock I felt. "You can't give part of yourself!"

Dea lifted a shoulder. "I was thinking of offering a taste of my magic in the hopes that it will harmonize with the ancient magic and breach the barriers."

As the skeptic of the group, I raised an eyebrow. "And what"s the cost to you? There"s always a cost."

Dea looked frightened for a split second. "It'll be irreversible. Once given, a part of me will forever resonate with the magic guarding the relic. It"s a bond that cannot be undone."