Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

My hands trembled as I slid the dagger into my sheath, the heaviness a constant reminder of its power. I carefully placed the other one with my quiver of arrows, the metal clinking softly against the arrowheads.

Brody's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the dark, hidden tunnel beyond the cells, the way we'd come down here. "That tunnel could be harboring unseen threats. We can't risk endangering the team or our mission." He gestured toward the dimly lit, off-limits corridors branching out from our position. "We need to navigate the guarded sections of the dungeon. It may be a maze, but it's our safest bet for getting out of here without incident."

His gaze swept the team. "Stay alert, keep formation, and watch each other's backs. Remember, we move as one unit. If anyone spots anything suspicious, speak up immediately. Our strength is in our unity and our wits. Let's move out."

As we hurried through the dimly lit corridors, the musty air clung to my skin, and every shadow seemed to hold a potential threat. My heart raced as we approached the tourist area and spotted guards posted at strategic points.

"I've got this," Lisa insisted, calm and determined. Her eyes gleamed with a mixture of excitement and concentration.

Damon raised an eyebrow, his trademark skepticism evident. "All right, magic lady, do your thing." His fingers drummed nervously against his thigh. "Just make sure it's something that'll keep those guards off our backs."

Lisa nodded as she pulled out spell components. A glittering powder caught the dim light, sparkling ominously. A silver feather seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy.

As Lisa began her chant, the air around us thickened, charged with magical potential. Goosebumps raised on my arms, and a tingling sensation spread across my skin. The glittering powder swirled in the air, defying gravity, while the silver feather gleamed with an inner light.

The magic coalesced around us, a shimmering mist that blurred my vision. I fought a wave of dizziness as our forms began to fade. The sensation of becoming invisible was disconcerting, like being submerged in cool water.

Brody cut through the disorientation, steady and reassuring. "Everyone, stay close and move quietly. We'll be out of here in no time."

We moved as one, our footsteps eerily silent on the stone floor. My breath came in short, controlled gasps as we navigated past the oblivious guards. The castle's grandeur seemed almost mocking now, its beauty contrasting with the danger we faced.

"Great, we're playing ‘Ghosts of the Castle: Extreme Edition,'" Damon whispered. "Anyone else feel like we're extras in some B-grade supernatural heist movie? ‘Cause I gotta say, the special effects department really outdid themselves with this invisibility gig."

I had to bite my lip to stifle a nervous laugh, the adrenaline making his quip seem funnier than it was. Leave it to Damon to find humor in a life-or-death situation.

As we neared the exit, I felt the spell weakening. The sunlight seemed to burn through the magical mist, and my hand started to reappear. Panic surged through me, and I quickened my pace, my hand instinctively covering the sheath to protect our hard-won prize.

We burst through the gates as the spell dissipated. The sudden brightness made me squint, and the rush of fresh air was almost overwhelming after the stale atmosphere of the castle.

Brody tensed as he counted heads. "We're all out, and there doesn't seem to be any sign of Maci and her envy demons."

Damon clapped Lisa on the back, the sound echoing loudly in the open space and making me flinch. "Hot damn, Sabrina! You went full-on Hogwarts on their asses." He grinned. "Remind me to never piss you off. I like my junk hex-free."

Lisa gave him a sly smile. "See? Witches aren't all bad."

"You keep proving that to me every day," he conceded.

As we moved away from the castle, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. There were still shadows out here, and Maci could be in them. Every passing car, every pedestrian seemed a potential threat.

Brody approached the car with purposeful strides, scanning our surroundings for potential threats. "All right, let's move out. Stay alert until we're clear of the area."

We filed into the car. The familiar leather creaked under our weight, a small comfort after the tension of our mission. I sank into my seat, my muscles aching from the strain of the day's events. The jeweled dagger seemed to pulse with faint warmth, a constant reminder of what we'd accomplished and the challenges still ahead.

Brody slid into the driver's seat, his movements smooth and controlled. He gripped the steering wheel, his white knuckles betraying the tension he was trying to hide from the team. The engine roared to life, and we pulled out of the parking lot without incident, blending seamlessly with the flow of tourist traffic.

As we left the castle behind, Brody's shoulders relaxed, but his eyes remained vigilant, flicking regularly to the rearview mirror. His jaw set in a determined line as he navigated the streets of Edinburgh.

"I hope McDuff Manor is in one piece," he murmured. Then, louder, he addressed the team with a reassuring tone. "We've completed our objective, but our mission isn't over. When we get back, we'll need to secure the artifacts and plan our next move. Every one of you performed admirably today. We faced extraordinary challenges, and we overcame them together."

He glanced in the rearview mirror. "I'm proud of this team. Whatever comes next, I know we'll face it with the same courage and unity we showed today. Stay sharp, folks. We're not out of the woods yet."

The car fell into a tense silence as we drove, each of us lost in thought about what we'd experienced and what might be waiting for us at McDuff Manor. The adrenaline of our escape was beginning to wear off, leaving me drained but wary. Maci and her forces weren't done with us yet. As the Scottish countryside rolled by outside the window, I both dreaded and anticipated the challenges ahead.

Zara's gaze flickered toward me with hope and hesitation. "Since we have both the Heartstone amulet and the dagger, maybe we can go back to the Grove of Whispers. Working together, they could free my sister."

A pang of sympathy stirred inside me, mixed with growing unease. Before I could respond, Brody's authoritative voice cut in.

"That's not our mission, Zara," he interrupted. "We must obtain the Crown of Envy before Maci does."

Zara's body stiffened, her arms crossing tightly. Her next words came out sharp and bitter, cutting through the air like a knife. "Sure, you'll do everything to save a vampire, but not a witch."

I could almost taste the resentment radiating from Zara.

Lisa gently patted her thigh in a gesture of comfort. "I'm not sure the blade and the stone would be enough to save your sister," she explained softly. "The dark magic is too strong. I believe only the Crown of Envy has the power to break the spell."

Zara's head snapped toward Lisa, her eyes flashing with anger and desperation. "You don't know that," she spat. "Justice is getting stronger."

Lisa flinched at Zara's tone but held her ground. "He wasn't turned to stone, though," she pointed out. "The stone and the blade are eliminating some of the poison, but he's not completely cured. Only the Crown of Envy can do that."

My stomach clenched. The reminder that Justice could still die from the envy demon's poison chilled me. But what truly unsettled me was Zara's insistence, the raw desperation in her voice.

I watched her from the corner of my eye, noting the tight set of her shoulders, the way her fingers twitched restlessly in her lap. Her resentment was dangerous, growing stronger with each passing moment. A knot of worry formed as I contemplated how far she might go to save her sister.

The dagger pulsed as if responding to the rising tensions. I placed my hand over it instinctively, seeking comfort in its power. As we drove in uneasy silence, I couldn't shake the feeling Zara's desperation was a powder keg waiting to explode.

If I didn't find a way to defuse it, one of us could be severely injured or even killed.