Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

The last person, to all our surprise, was Zara. Three men and three women. There had to be a reason for that. Damon didn't look happy. She was definitely not trustworthy in his book, but it was up to the mirror to pick.

Justice and I retreated to the patio, seeking solace from the grumbling team members who hadn't been chosen. As we stepped outside, I noticed clouds had rolled in, obscuring the sun and casting a cool shade over the area. I inhaled deeply, the sweet, crisp air filling my lungs and providing momentary relief from the tension inside.

We settled into Adirondack chairs on the patio, the weathered wood creaking slightly beneath our weight. Sean had also procured some blood bags for Justice, and he slowly brought one to his lips, his hands trembling. He took a long, slow sip, his eyes closing as the blood flowed into his mouth. Gradually, the color returned to his face, the ashen pallor giving way to a healthier, more vibrant complexion.

My gaze drifted to his hand and wrist where the demon had left its mark. Angry red lines marred his skin, resembling the welts left behind by a whip. I swallowed hard as I recalled Zara's chilling words. He would be dead by the next moon. The thought of poison seeping into his bloodstream made my stomach churn, and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead.

I reached out, my fingers hovering above the wounds, afraid to touch them and cause him more pain. My heart ached, and a sense of helplessness washed over me. I wanted to take away his suffering, to find a way to heal him, but I knew the demon's curse was far beyond my abilities.

I bit my lip, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes, and forced myself to look away. I focused on the distant horizon and the gathering clouds as if they could somehow provide an answer to our predicament.

He caught my worried look. "I'm a vampire, Sawyer. It will take longer to kill me than a human. It's lucky I was the one holding the jewel when that demon attacked."

I nodded and tried to give him a reassuring smile, but my heart ached. After all we've been though, I couldn't lose him.

Justice set his empty blood bag on the small wooden table beside him, the plastic crinkling as he released it. He leaned back, his gaze fixed on the sky above. "Looks like it's going to rain," he murmured.

I shifted to face him fully, my brows knitting in concern. "Justice, would fresh human blood slow the poison down further?" I asked, my heart racing at the thought of offering myself to him.

His head snapped toward me, his eyes narrowing as he met my gaze. "Don't even think about it," he warned. He turned his attention back to the tumbling gray clouds overhead, his jaw clenching.

I reached over, my fingers trembling as I clasped his hand in mine. His skin was cool to the touch, and I felt the strength in his grip, even in his weakened state. "You're not invincible," I reminded him softly, my tone laced with an undercurrent of fear.

Justice's shoulders sagged. He sighed heavily, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand. "Sawyer, you have to be at one hundred percent," he insisted. "If I drink from you, it would drain you. If something happened to you…" He trailed off and swallowed hard. "I would never forgive myself."

Tears stung my eyes, and I blinked rapidly, trying to keep them at bay. My chest tightened, and I struggled to breathe, his words squeezing the life from my lungs. I wanted to argue, to insist I would do anything to save him, but the raw vulnerability and the depth of his love for me in his eyes stopped me. Instead, I simply nodded, squeezing his hand tighter. I silently vowed to find another way to help him, no matter the cost.

The door creaked open, and Brody stepped onto the porch, his broad shoulders squaring as he gazed at the incoming rain. As the first droplets fell, the roaming hills seemed to come alive, their vibrant green hues intensifying with each passing moment. Even the flower pots hanging on the porch appeared to brighten.

Justice glanced at Brody. "Are the rest of them still upset that they weren't chosen?" he asked.

Brody nodded, his chiseled features set in a thoughtful expression. "Scott and Grady have been trying to plead their case on why they should go on this journey," he explained. "But the mirror remains stubbornly silent, unwavering in its decision."

A grin tugged at my mouth, and a flicker of amusement flared in my chest. Brody and Scott were good men, and I knew it must have stung them not to have been chosen for this crucial mission.

"You notice it's three men and three women?" His piercing gray eyes looked between Justice and me.

"We did." I nodded slowly, my mind racing with the implications. "You think it means something?"

Brody's jaw clenched. He folded his arms, the fabric of his shirt stretching taut over his muscular frame. "Yes, I do. What exactly, we won't know for sure." He paused, then his brow creased as he continued. "Zara's not part of this team, and I can't help but wonder why the mirror didn't pick Maggie instead."

A twinge of unease burned in my gut, and I shifted in my seat, the rough wood of the chair digging into my back. Brody's words hung heavy in the air, and I could sense the tension emanating from Justice beside me. The question of why the mirror chose Zara over Maggie nagged at the back of my mind, and I couldn't shake the feeling there was more to this than any of us could possibly know.

I shrugged noncommittally. "Maybe Maggie's not well enough to travel," I suggested, trailing off as I considered the possibility.

Brody shook his head, his blond hair catching the fading light. "Justice isn't well enough to travel, and the mirror chose him," he countered.

Justice sat taller, his spine straightening as he met Brody's gaze. "I can travel," he insisted.

A teasing smile played on Brody's lips, and he cocked an eyebrow at Justice. "If I carry you." His gray eyes sparkled with mirth.

"Doesn't matter. I'm going," Justice maintained, a flicker of defiance in his eyes.

Brody held up his hands in a placating gesture, his smile fading. "I didn't say you weren't," he assured him. "The mirror's the one picking the players in this game. I'm not sure I like it. Something doesn't feel right." He turned to me. "Why doesn't Damon like Zara?"

I sighed, my shoulders sagging under his perceptive stare. "I'm not sure," I admitted. "Damon's never been big on witches."

"He's not big on vampires, either," Justice mumbled bitterly.

I looked at Brody, taking in his pensive expression, the way his features seemed to be carved from stone. "You don't trust Zara, either?"

His gaze hardened, and his frame tensed. "We need people we can trust on this journey," he stated. "Our lives may depend upon it."

A shiver ran down my spine as the responsibility of the mission pressed heavily on my heart. The air seemed to crackle with tension. I glanced between Justice and Brody, searching for any sign of reassurance but finding only grim determination.