Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

A heavy silence fell over the table. We retreated into ourselves, delving deep into the darkest recesses of our souls, where we hid our most closely guarded secrets. The thought of bringing those secrets to light, even to each other, filled the air with a deafening sense of unease.

I glanced around at the others, seeing the same trepidation on their faces that I felt twisting in my gut. These were secrets we hadn't shared with anyone, not even our closest confidants. Secrets that could shatter the carefully constructed facades we presented to the world, revealing the vulnerable, flawed, and sometimes broken people we were beneath the surface.

Damon released a low whistle, shaking his head. "A hidden truth, huh? Great. Just what we need. Another deep, dark secret to spill." He ran a hand through his hair. "Why can't these things ever ask for a drop of blood or something simple?"

He glanced around the room. "All right, who's got a secret they're ready to share with the class? And it better be a good one because it sounds like this crown doesn't mess around." He crossed his arms and leaned back. "Guess we're gonna have to dig deep, folks. But hey, if it's what we need to take down those envy demons, we've got no choice."

"You can't share this secret alone. It must be revealed to everyone. Once revealed, you will have the power to wear the crown and dispel the envy back to hell," the voice intoned, its tone haunting and insistent.

A cold, clammy sensation washed over my skin, and my stomach twisted into knots. The thought of baring my deepest, darkest secret to everyone made my palms slick with sweat, and I had to fight the urge to bolt from the room.

The image in the mirror shimmered and changed, revealing Maci holding the green emerald the creature had ripped from Justice's hand.

My breath caught in my throat, and I leaned forward, my heart pounding as the voice continued. "You're not the only one seeking it. Your enemy has one of the jewels, and the jewel will act like a beacon, drawing her to the crown. If she and the demons of envy find it first, they will destroy it, and the demons of envy will remain in this realm forever."

I slumped in my chair, my shoulders sagging. "Great, another race against Maci," I muttered with exhaustion and frustration. I dragged a hand down my face, feeling the sweat on my chin wet my palm.

I glanced around the table at my companions. We were in this together, for better or worse. But as my gaze lingered on each of them, I couldn't help but wonder what secrets they held close to their hearts and how those secrets might change everything.

Brody sat taller in his chair, squaring his shoulders, then gestured toward the mirror. "All right, let's focus on the mission. This mirror holds the information we need. What exactly is this entity we're up against, and more importantly, what's our plan to take it down? We need to be prepared for anything."

We turned to Zara. She sighed, her shoulders slumping. "No one knows what this entity is since we haven't been able to find it."

"Sawyer, can you ask the mirror about the creature guarding the crown?" Brody questioned. "We need to know what we're facing."

I gripped the mirror, my palms sweating as a chill ran down my spine. "Show us the creature guarding the Crown of Envy," I commanded in a trembling voice.

The mirror rippled, its surface shimmering like quicksilver. A gasp escaped my lips, my body involuntarily recoiling from the sight of a massive, serpent-like creature with shimmering emerald scales that absorbed and reflected light, giving it an otherworldly glow. Its piercing, luminescent green eyes bored into my soul and sent a wave of terror through my body. Intricate patterns that pulsed with an eerie light, mesmerizing and terrifying, adorned the creature's body.

The snake opened its mouth, revealing long, sharp fangs that gleamed menacingly. A low, guttural hiss escaped its throat, echoing through the room and making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. My heart raced as I struggled to catch my breath.

Damon stared at the reflection, his brows furrowed. "Well, that's awesome," he muttered sarcastically, his jaw clenching. "It's like a freakin' basilisk from Harry Potter, but with a serious case of the uglies."

Despite the fear churning in my gut, I couldn't help but smirk at Damon's comment. He had a way of facing even the most terrifying situations with a cocky grin and a sharp tongue.

"Sawyer." He clasped my stiff arm. "Looks like we've got ourselves a real-life Slytherin mascot to gank. Better break out the big guns for this one."

Brody stepped forward, his voice calm and reassuring. "We've faced tough challenges before, and we'll face this one head-on. Zara, your knowledge is invaluable. Keep searching for any information to help us understand and defeat this creature. Sawyer, you and I will work on a strategy. We need to be cautious, but we also need to be bold. This creature may be powerful, but so are we when we work together."

I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. Brody's words had a way of inspiring courage and unity, even in the darkest of moments.

The creature moved around the crown as if daring anyone to steal it. The snake radiated an aura of ancient power that made my skin crawl.

I glanced nervously at the team. "What exactly is this creature? Is it a snake?"

"No," the voice in the mirror answered. "The creature is an Aegis serpent. It has the power to look into the hearts and minds of those who approach, uncovering their deepest secrets and hidden truths. Only those truly ready to reveal their darkest secret can approach the crown."

I squirmed in my chair, my palms damp as I processed this information. "What if you're not ready?" I asked.

"The creature can sense it, and its bite is lethal," the voice replied gravely.

Dread pooled in my gut, twisting and churning like a nest of restless snakes. The thought of facing my deepest, darkest secrets sent a shiver down my spine, and I gripped the armrests of my chair, my knuckles turning white with force.

Damon scrubbed his face with a hand, frustration and determination crossing his features. "Great," he muttered. "A snake that doubles as a lie detector." He leaned forward, his eyes intense. "All right, let's think this through. We need that crown, but we're not walking into a death trap without a plan. So, who here is ready to spill their darkest secret? And how do we make sure the rest of us don't get bit?"

The mirror spoke again. "To find the right catacomb, you must complete three tasks before you can receive the key. Only six of you can go."

Damon crossed his arms with irritation and resolve. "Three tasks, huh? Because it's never easy, is it?" He sighed, glancing at his team. "All right, let's get this show on the road. We've faced worse. And hey, at least it's not a hunt where we don't know what we're up against yet."

Then he turned to the mirror, his eyes hardening. "Listen, if my sister gets chosen for any of these tasks, I'm going with her. No arguments, no exceptions. We're family, and we do this together. So bring it on."

"Hold me up, and I will determine who is worthy. I will call out your name," the mirror declared.

With trembling hands, I grasped the handle, my heart pounding as I slowly lifted the mirror. I swallowed hard and aimed it at Brody first.

A brilliant light burst from the mirror, bathing Brody's face in an ethereal glow. His eyes widened, and he drew a sharp breath as the mirror spoke. "Brody O'Hara, you are chosen." Brody's shoulders sagged, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

I moved the mirror, my grip tightening as the light passed over Grady and Scott. They both flinched, but nothing happened. The mirror remained silent, and disappointment etched itself on their features.

As I turned the mirror toward Lisa, my stomach churned with nervous energy. The light fell on her face, illuminating her delicate features. "Lisa Denham, you are chosen," the mirror proclaimed.

Lisa's eyes grew wide. She inhaled sharply, her body stiffening as if she'd been struck. Her hands clenched into fists on her lap.

Damon's brows furrowed, his gaze darting between Lisa and the mirror. "I thought you didn't have a last name," he commented with suspicion.

Lisa shifted, her shoulders hunching as if she wanted to disappear. She licked her lips, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I don't go by that name anymore," she whispered. A sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead.

Another light from the mirror shined on Damon. "Damon Grant, you have been chosen."

Damon smirked, his green eyes glinting with amusement and satisfaction. "Damn straight," he mumbled.

"Sawyer Grant, you have been chosen," the mirror continued, its light now focused on me.

Soft footsteps approached behind me, and I turned, my heart skipping a beat. "Justice," I murmured, taking in his haggard appearance. His face was pale and drawn, with dark circles beneath his eyes, and he looked like he was about to collapse. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him close. "Are you okay?" My voice cracked, heavy with concern.

Justice leaned into my embrace, his stubble grazing my cheek as he planted a gentle kiss there. "I'm going too," he muttered, his warm breath tickling my skin.

As if the mirror had heard him, a bright light flickered across his tired face. "Justice Cristea, you've been chosen," it announced.

I shook my head vehemently, my stomach twisting. "No, you can't go," I protested. My fingers dug into his shoulders as I clung to him.

Justice's arm tightened around my waist, pulling me flush against his body. His jaw clenched, determination etched into his face. "Do you really think you can stop me?" His voice was low and rough with emotion. "You belong to me, and you're not going into danger without me."

I wanted to argue, to beg him to stay at the manor. My heart raced, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. However, the hardened tone in his voice put that to rest. Like my brother, he'd come or at least follow me. A sigh escaped me as I rested my forehead against his chest, the steady beat of his heart both comforting and terrifying.