Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Damon swore softly under his breath, the words hissing through clenched teeth. "Well, if we're going to do this, let's go. The rest of the team is already in the Batmobile."

Justice moved swiftly, his arm snaking around my waist. The coolness of his touch seeped through my clothes, a stark contrast to the warmth of adrenaline coursing through my veins. He maneuvered me out of the hallway, his grip firm but gentle, supporting more of my weight than I cared to admit.

As we stepped onto the patio, the crisp night air hit me like a slap, helping to clear some of the fog from my mind. Grady and Scott stood like sentinels, their postures rigid, constantly scanning the perimeter.

But what made my breath catch in my throat was Maggie. She had shifted into her dire wolf form, a sight that never failed to amaze me. She was massive, easily twice the size of any normal wolf, her fur a mix of midnight black and steel gray. Her golden eyes met mine, burning with intensity. There was no doubt she was ready for battle.

Garrick stood beside her, his sword drawn and gleaming in the moonlight. The sight of the blade made my heart rate spike.

"The witches warded this place with a protective spell," Garrick noted. The muscles in his jaw worked as he spoke. "But I'm not sure how long it will last. You'd better get going."

He shifted his weight, his gaze darting between us and the shadows beyond. "Brody's got the Heartstone amulet. As soon as Maci discovers we don't have it, they'll be after you."

I swallowed and glanced at Justice, then at Damon, seeing my fear and determination mirrored in their eyes. With a deep breath that made my ribs ache, I nodded. It was time to move.

As we approached the vehicle, I saw Lisa already in the back, her face a mask of tension. She shifted over, making room for Justice and me.

Brody and Zara were in the front, their silhouettes rigid with anticipation. When Damon slammed the door shut, the air inside the car seemed to thicken with nervous energy.

Brody revved the engine, the sudden roar making me flinch. The vibrations traveled through the seat and into my bones, amplifying the trembling I was trying to control. We peeled out of the driveway, heading toward Edinburgh Castle, less than an hour away from McDuff Manor.

I pressed my forehead against the cool window glass, the chill a welcome relief against my feverish skin. My eyes strained in the gloom, desperately scanning the horizon for any sign of Maci or her envy demon horde. But the sky was a uniform gray, a thick blanket of clouds stretching as far as I could see.

A cold tendril of fear snaked through my gut as a thought occurred to me. Had Maci conjured the clouds for this occasion? The perfect cover for an aerial attack. My fingers tightened on the armrest, knuckles white with the pressure.

I tried to remind myself this was Scotland, after all. Rainy weather was as common here as kilts and bagpipes. But the nagging doubt remained, coiling in my stomach like a serpent.

The rhythmic swish of the windshield wipers cut through the silence in the car. Each swipe seemed to count down the minutes until our confrontation, ratcheting up my anxiety with every pass.

I caught Justice's reflection in the window, his gaze fixed on me with concern. I tried to give him a reassuring smile, but it felt more like a grimace.

As we sped through Edinburgh, heading for the castle, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were driving directly into the mouth of the beast. And I wasn't sure we were ready for what we'd find when we got there.

The castle, perched on the rugged crags of Castle Rock, exuded an imposing presence. Its towering battlements and turrets were silhouetted against the gray sky, contrasting with the lush green landscape below. When we reached it and parked, everyone piled out of the car and grouped around Brody, who squared his shoulders. "We can't bring our weapons into the castle," he explained. "Still, we need to be prepared for anything. We're not tourists here—we're on a mission."

I reached for the compass with a trembling hand, my muscles protesting even this simple movement. As I pulled it out, a wave of dizziness washed over me. I blinked hard, trying to focus my bleary vision on the compass face.

After a moment, the needle steadied, pointing decisively toward the castle. I exhaled shakily. "The dagger is definitely in the castle."

Damon scoffed, rolling his eyes dramatically. "Oh great, so we're going into the creepy old castle unarmed? Might as well hang a ‘demon bait' sign around our necks."

Lisa stepped forward, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I have an idea," she murmured. "I can cast a concealment spell to make our weapons invisible and undetectable."

Damon's eyebrows shot up. "Well, well, Hermione. Looks like you've got a trick up your sleeve. All right, magic lady, do your Harry Potter thing."

As we unloaded the vehicle and heaped our weapons together, Lisa began preparing for the spell, and Brody addressed the team. "Listen up. What we're about to do isn't only about us. It's about protecting innocent lives from forces they can't even comprehend. Stay alert, watch each other's backs, and remember we're stronger together."

Lisa knelt beside our pile of weapons, her hands trembling as she sprinkled herbs over them. She began her incantation, the words seeming to vibrate around us. As the spell took effect, a silvery glow enveloped our weapons before fading away.

Damon whistled, impressed despite himself. "Gotta hand it to you, Sabrina. That's one hell of a party trick."

Brody nodded approvingly. "Excellent work, Lisa. Your skills are invaluable to this team." He faced the looming castle walls, his jaw set with determination. "All right, folks. Eyes open, guards up. We're walking into unknown territory here."

We retrieved our weapons and kept going. As we approached the gates, my steps became increasingly sluggish. Each movement felt like wading through thick mud, my legs heavy and uncooperative. I felt like eyes were boring into my back, but my exhaustion had dulled even my sense of fear. The hairs on my neck stood on end, and I suppressed a shudder.

I blinked hard. The world around me swam in and out of focus, the castle gates before us blurring into indistinct shapes. I stumbled, catching myself at the last moment, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

"Just give me a second," I mumbled, my words slurring. I leaned heavily against the cool stone wall, grateful for its solid presence as my knees threatened to buckle beneath me.

Despite my best efforts to appear strong, I sensed concerned glances from my teammates. The exhaustion was bone-deep, making the simple act of standing arduous, but we had come too far to turn back now. I gritted my teeth and pushed myself off the wall, swaying as I forced my leaden feet to move forward.

The gates loomed before us. As we prepared to enter, I silently prayed for the strength to see this through as my body screamed for rest.

Damon nudged me with his elbow. "You feeling it too, Katniss? Place gives me the creeps. Like we're walking into friggin' Mordor or something."

I nodded, grateful for his attempt at levity.

As we passed through the gates, the stone archway seemed to whisper tales of centuries past. The cobblestone paths echoed with the footsteps of history. Guards patrolled the perimeter, but thanks to Lisa's spell, we passed unnoticed, our concealed weapons hidden from prying eyes.

The inner courtyard was a vast expanse surrounded by high stone walls adorned with flags bearing the emblem of Scotland. The Great Hall stood to our right, its grand entrance flanked by statues of knights in shining armor. To our left, the Royal Palace loomed, its windows dark and foreboding.

Brody led with purpose, scanning the surroundings. I held the compass in my hands, its needle quivering before settling in a specific direction. "The compass is pointing this way, toward the Royal Palace," I told them. "It should lead us to the entrance of the dungeons."

We moved as swiftly as possible, our footsteps blending with the ambient sounds of the castle. The atmosphere was thick with history and the faint scent of damp stone. Following the compass's guidance, we descended a narrow staircase, the air growing colder and more oppressive with each step.

The entrance to the dungeons was hidden behind a heavy wooden door reinforced with iron bands. The compass needle pointed directly at it. Damon leaned in, his ear against the door, listening intently. "No guards on the other side. Let's move."

Brody pushed the door open, and we stepped into the dimly lit corridor of the dungeons. Ancient stone lined the walls, and the flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows that danced and shifted as we moved deeper into the bowels of the castle. I kept my eyes on the compass, its needle unwavering as it guided us through the maze-like passages.

The sound of dripping water echoed through the passageways, adding to the sense of foreboding. Each cell we passed told a silent story of the souls who had once been imprisoned here.

Damon took point, his eyes sharp and alert. "Keep your eyes peeled for any traps. A place like this is bound to have a few surprises."

We ventured farther into the dungeons. Suddenly, we came across a heavy iron gate blocking our path. A sign hung from it, reading Restricted Area. No Public Access . The compass needle pointed insistently beyond the gate.

Brody frowned, his brow furrowing. "This must be where the cells we're looking for are located. The ones not open to the public."

I examined the gate closely, noticing a modern electronic keypad next to it. "Looks like they've upgraded security down here. Any ideas on how to get past this?"

Lisa stepped forward, her eyes narrowed in concentration. "I might be able to short-circuit the lock with a spell, but it could trigger an alarm."

Justice tensed beside me. "And if it does, we'll have guards down here in minutes."

Brody nodded grimly. "We need to find another way in. There must be maintenance access or an old passage they've overlooked."

As we debated our options, I noticed a faint draft coming from behind one of the old tapestries lining the wall. The compass needle swung slightly toward it. "Wait," I whispered, moving toward it. "I think there might be a hidden passage here. The compass is reacting to it."

After carefully pushing aside the heavy fabric, we revealed a dark, narrow corridor carved into the rock.

Damon grinned, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Now we're talking. Secret passages, ancient dungeons. It's like we're in our own Indiana Jones movie."

Brody held up a hand. "This could be our way in, but stay alert. If this passage has been forgotten, there's no telling what dangers might be waiting for us."

One by one, we slipped into the hidden corridor, the darkness enveloping us as we ventured deeper into the unknown depths of the castle. The compass glowed faintly in the darkness, its needle our only guide as we pressed on toward the dagger.