Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

As Brody eased the SUV to a stop in front of McDuff Manor, the tension in my shoulders relaxed. I exhaled a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding, taking in the familiar sight of the grand old building. It stood exactly as we'd left it, seemingly untouched by the chaos we'd endured.

On the porch, Garrick, Grady, and Scott stood at attention. Maggie had shifted back into her human form, her long black hair dancing in the light breeze. Their presence was a welcome sight, a small piece of normalcy in our increasingly abnormal lives.

Damon peered through the windshield with exaggerated scrutiny. "Well, would you look at that," he drawled. "Casa Creepy is still standing. Gotta say, I half expected to come back to a smoking crater or some kind of demon block party."

He slouched back in his seat, a lopsided grin on his face. "Hey, maybe our luck's changing. I mean, we made it through Hogwarts' dungeon of doom, and now the home base is intact. Who knows? Maybe we'll find out they've stocked the fridge with beer and pie while we were gone."

His gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, meeting mine with humor and underlying tension. "Though knowing our luck, they've probably adopted a hellhound as a new house pet. Anyone else voting we check for hex bags before we start the victory dance?"

We piled out of the car, and Damon stretched dramatically, his joints popping. "Home sweet home, kids. Let's hope the welcome wagon doesn't include any surprise guests of the fanged or clawed variety, huh?"

As we approached the manor, I couldn't help but share Damon's wariness. In our line of work, moments of peace were often the calm before the storm.

Garrick descended the porch steps, his movements cautious and measured. He scanned our group for any signs of trouble. "Good. You all survived," he commented with relief. "No one was tainted with dark magic?"

The question turned my insides into knots. I instinctively touched the dagger, its warmth a reassuring presence.

Brody shook his head. "No, why?" His hand moved to his weapon, a reflexive action born from years of facing the unexpected. "Did the Manor come under attack?"

Garrick's expression tightened. "Maci tried, but the wards Lisa and Zara set prevented her or the envy demons from entering." He constantly scanned the perimeter of the property as if expecting another attack at any moment. "The strange thing was she didn't stay long."

Brody frowned, his brow furrowing deeply. "Meaning what?"

Garrick rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I got the feeling she knew right away the Heartstone wasn't here."

My breath caught in my throat. "Maybe she could sense it," I whispered. The implications of this possibility sent a wave of nausea through me.

"Perhaps," Garrick drawled.

My heart rate increased as a cold sweat broke out across my forehead. The others shifted uneasily, exchanging worried glances.

Justice moved closer to me, his cool presence a comfort against the rising tide of anxiety. I leaned into him, drawing strength from his proximity.

Damon's hand twitched toward his weapon. "Great," he muttered under his breath. "So not only is she powerful, she's got some kind of magical GPS. That's just peachy."

This new piece of the puzzle cast long shadows over our previous sense of accomplishment, transforming our victory into something far more fragile. I suspected we were missing something crucial. The dagger at my side seemed to pulse in agreement.

Brody placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. "We know one thing for certain. Maci will be waiting for us to complete our third task." He paused, allowing his words to sink in. "She'll probably lie in wait for us in the catacombs when we face the Aegis serpent. But remember, team, forewarned is forearmed."

I sighed. "I need to rest and eat before I can think about going on our third task."

"We need to know what it is," he pressed. "We're all exhausted, but we don't have much time. Maci isn't slowing down."

The reminder of our enemy sent a jolt of adrenaline through me, momentarily cutting through the fog of fatigue. My stomach clenched with fear and determination.

I nodded grimly, my head feeling heavy with the motion. A wave of resignation washed over me as my body protested the decision my mind had made. It wasn't what I wanted to do, but Brody wasn't wrong. If Maci suspected we were too exhausted to fight, it would play perfectly into her hands.

"You're right," I conceded. "I'll go check with the mirror."

Justice put his arm around my shoulder, his touch comforting and supporting. I leaned into him, and we walked past the rest of the team, then Grady and Scott. Their concerned gazes followed us, weighing heavily on my already burdened shoulders.

Back in my room, Justice wrapped his arms around me and held me close. His familiar scent enveloped me, a small comfort in our chaotic world. His steady heartbeat was mesmerizing, the rhythm almost hypnotic. My eyelids grew heavy, the temptation to curl up next to him and fall asleep nearly overwhelming. My muscles ached for rest.

He kissed the top of my head. "We'll get through this. I promise," he murmured, his voice a low rumble.

I looked up at him, my neck protesting the movement. His dark eyes met mine, and I wanted to lose myself in that gaze, to forget all my responsibilities.

"I hope so," I whispered back, my voice cracking slightly. The words hung between us, heavy with unspoken fears and tentative hope.

As we stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the pull of exhaustion warred with the urgency of our mission. The mirror awaited, holding secrets that could determine our fate. With a deep breath, I drew strength from Justice's embrace and the knowledge that, no matter what, we were in this together.

Reluctantly, I untangled myself from Justice. The loss of his warmth left me feeling vulnerable, but I steeled myself for what lay ahead. With heavy steps, I headed to the dresser where the Mirror of Aethereal rested.

My fingers touched its cool surface, and the mirror vibrated in my hand as if awakening to my touch. I drew a deep breath and spoke the words that would set our next challenge in motion. "Please, show me our third task."

The mirror's surface swirled, reminiscent of ripples spreading across a pond. From its depths, my mother's familiar voice emerged. The sound of it sent a pang through my heart, a mixture of comfort and longing.

"You have done well," the voice soothed, its tone both proud and cautionary. "The last task brings you closer to your goal, but it will test you in ways you've yet to face."

I listened intently as the mirror continued, each word etching itself into my mind.

"This task takes you deep within the catacombs, where you must navigate the Labyrinth of Reflection. Look for a specific door marked with the symbol of balance. The magical maze begins in the chamber beyond. It will force each of you to confront distorted versions of yourselves, each consumed by envy. To succeed, you must resist temptation and find the true path to your heart."

The mirror's surface shimmered, reflecting my worried expression back at me as it delivered the final piece of information.

"After you have completed this task, the Scales of Balance will materialize. This ancient artifact has the power to weigh the purity of your intentions against your envious thoughts."

As the mirror fell silent, I stood there, absorbing the magnitude of what lay ahead. The Labyrinth of Reflection sounded like our most challenging task yet, not only physically but emotionally and mentally. I turned to Justice and saw my concern reflected in his eyes.

"We need to tell the others," My voice was stronger now, fueled by determination. "This task will test us all in ways we might not be prepared for."