Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Frustration and fear wrapped around me like a constricting snake, tightening with each heated word exchanged between Lisa and Damon. My chest felt compressed. I looked between them, noting the anger flashing in Damon's eyes and the stubborn set of Lisa's jaw.

"This is what Maci wants," I blurted. The words seemed to hang in the air. "You need to stop."

Damon's eyebrow cocked upward in surprise and skepticism. He crossed his arms. "Meaning what?" he challenged.

I inhaled deeply, wincing at the effort it took. As I struggled to sit up straighter, Justice's hand steadied me, his touch both comforting and grounding.

"Her envy demons." My words came faster as the pieces fell into place in my mind. "Don't you get it? They were designed to split us up." I gestured toward the door, toward where I assumed Zara was. "Look what they're doing to Zara. The envy demons or even Maci may have been lurking in the Grove of Whispers, and we didn't even know it."

The room fell silent as my words sank in. Lisa's eyes widened with dawning comprehension while Damon's brow furrowed in thought. I could almost see the gears turning in their heads.

"Think about it." My voice grew stronger with conviction. "Zara's desperation to save her sister, our arguments about trust and loyalty? It's all playing into Maci's hands. We're letting envy and suspicion drive us apart."

"I agree," Justice stated, his red eyes meeting mine with understanding. "If looks could kill, I'd have a stake in my heart."

As the words left Justice's mouth, a surge of anger swirled in my chest, hot and ugly. The mere thought of Zara looking at Justice with anything resembling ill intent made my blood boil. My fingers twitched, longing for the familiar grip of my blade. For a brief, intense moment, I imagined driving it between Zara's eyes if she so much as looked at Justice cross-eyed.

The violent thought shocked me, and a wave of shame washed over me. Wasn't I just preaching about unity and resisting Maci's influence? Yet here I was, succumbing to the emotions I'd warned against. The irony wasn't lost on me, and it left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I drew a deep breath, trying to quell the storm. My reaction was proof of how insidious Maci's influence could be, how easily envy and protectiveness could twist into something darker.

"We're all susceptible," I admitted. "Even me. Maybe especially me." I looked at Justice, then at Damon and Lisa. "We need to be vigilant, not only against external threats but against our own emotions."

The battle against Maci and her envy demons wasn't merely out there in the world. It was here, in this room, in our hearts and minds. And it was a battle we'd have to fight every day if we hoped to stay united and strong.

I looked at them, willing them to understand. My heart raced, pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. "If we keep fighting amongst ourselves, we're doing Maci's work for her. We're making ourselves vulnerable."

The tension in the room shifted, transforming from anger to a dawning sense of unease.

"We need to stand united, like the Mirror of Aethereal foretold," I insisted. "It's the only way we'll have a chance against Maci and her demons."

As my words trailed off, I slumped back against the pillows, exhausted by the outburst. But I saw the impact of my revelation rippling through the room. The atmosphere had changed, the angry energy replaced by a somber realization of the true battle we faced, not only against Maci but against the envy and discord she sought to sow among us.

"I keep telling you. It's not that easy." Lisa's voice was tight with frustration. She ran her fingers through her hair, tugging at the strands. "Zara's really torn up about this."

A twinge of guilt gripped my chest, but I pushed it aside. "I hate to say this, Lisa, but Damon's right. You can't trust her." The words felt heavy on my tongue, like I was betraying someone.

Lisa's eyes flashed with anger, her body tensing as if ready to spring. "You're only saying that because she's a witch," she spat, her words sharp enough to make me flinch. "Everyone on this team treats us like second-class citizens. Only vampires and hunters are valued."

My heart sank, and a cold feeling spread through my chest. I stretched my hand out and took her stiff one. Her skin felt cold and clammy against mine. "Lisa, that's not true," I murmured, trying to infuse my voice with sincerity. "You're the one who saved us more than once with your healing magic. You're the one who healed me, aren't you?"

Lisa gave me a troubled smile. "Yes, with my incense and spells."

I squeezed her hand. "We're determined to help you find your phoenix and your dog. You're part of our team. That's why the mirror chose you."

Lisa's brows furrowed, creating a crease between them. Her gaze darted back and forth as if she was trying to process what I was saying. Conflicting emotions played across her face.

Fatigue washed over me in a sudden wave, making my eyelids heavy. I lowered my voice to a whisper. "Your statements sound envious, don't you think?"

Lisa's hand jerked in mine as if she'd been physically struck. The room seemed to hold its breath.

I swallowed hard, hoping my words would break through the fog of envy that seemed to be clouding Lisa's judgment rather than push her further away.

Lisa's face cycled through a range of emotions. Shock, anger, denial, and finally, a flicker of understanding. Her body tensed as if preparing to flee, but then she seemed to deflate, her shoulders sagging.

"I…" she started, her voice barely audible. She cleared her throat and tried again. "I didn't realize… Is that really how I sound?"

Tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked rapidly, trying to hold them back. Her hand trembled in mine, and I gave it a gentle squeeze.

"It's not your fault, Lisa," I insisted with relief and concern. "Maci's influence is subtle. It creeps in when we're vulnerable."

Lisa nodded slowly, her gaze unfocused as if looking inward. "I've been so worried about my phoenix, about being left behind…" Her voice cracked. "I didn't even notice how it was affecting me."

Damon leaned forward, his expression softening. "We've all been affected, Lisa. It's not just you."

Justice nodded in agreement. "The important thing is that we recognize it and fight against it. Together."

Lisa drew a deep, shuddering breath. "You're right. I'm sorry, all of you. I… I need some time to think." She stood, her movements slow and deliberate. "I won't go far, I promise. I only need to clear my head."

As she walked to the door, she paused and looked back at us. "Thank you, Sawyer, for making me see. We'll talk more when I get back, okay?"

I nodded as Lisa left the room. The door closed behind her with a soft click, leaving us in contemplative silence.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" I asked, looking between Damon and Justice.

Damon ran a hand through his hair. "I hope so. At least she's aware of it now. That's the first step."

Justice squeezed my shoulder gently. "We'll keep an eye on her, on all of us. We're stronger when we're honest with each other."

I leaned back against the pillows, exhaustion washing over me.

As my eyelids started to droop, urgent footsteps echoed in the hallway. My eyes snapped open, adrenaline instantly cutting through the fog of fatigue.

The door swung open with a bang, and I flinched. Brody burst into the room, his usually composed demeanor shattered. His face was pale, a sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead.

"We've got trouble," he announced.

Damon was on his feet in an instant, chair scraping against the floor. "What happened?"

Brody's eyes darted to each of us before settling on me. "It's Maci. Grady and Scott returned with intel that she's on the move. And she's not alone."

My heart plummeted, dread seeping into my bones like icy water. Justice's hand found mine, squeezing tightly, his touch a lifeline in the emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

"What do you mean, not alone?" I managed to ask.

Brody's jaw clenched. "Reports suggest she's amassed an army of envy demons. They're heading this way."

The room fell into a stunned silence, the shock of Brody's words hanging like a physical presence. My earlier exhaustion evaporated, replaced by fear and determination churning in my gut.

I scrubbed my face roughly as if I could wipe away the dire news. "She's coming for the Heartstone," I realized.

Brody crossed his arms. "Someone must have told her we had it," he growled.

"How long do we have?" Justice's voice was steady despite the dire news, a calm counterpoint to the panic threatening to engulf us.

Brody shook his head grimly. "Not long. We need to move. Now."

I scowled, frustration and weariness bubbling up inside me. "To do what?" The words came out sharper than I intended, edged with fear.

"I know you're weakened, Sawyer, but we must start the next task." Brody's tone softened slightly, acknowledging my condition. He strode across the room and grabbed my backpack from the floor. The familiar thud of it landing on the bed beside me was oddly comforting.

"You need to ask the Mirror of Aethereal what our next task is." His voice left no room for argument.

I swallowed hard, my hand instinctively moving to the backpack where the mirror waited. Its cool surface seemed to pulse against my fingers, even through the fabric, as if it sensed the urgency of our situation.

Responsibility twisted around my insides like a boa constrictor, squeezing tighter and tighter. Despite my weakened state, I knew I had to push through. With Maci and her army of envy demons bearing down on us, we were out of time and options.

I inhaled, steeling myself for whatever the mirror might reveal. "All right," I agreed, my voice stronger than I felt. "Let's see what our next move is."