Chapter 2

I woke up with a start, but I couldn't even sit up, because my shoulder hurt like a bitch. I groaned and lay back in bed.

"Hey, easy now." Lacey leaned over me in bed and help me prop up the pillows so I was half sitting.

I frowned for a second and then it all came back to me.

The supernaturals, the fight, the stake in my shoulder, the coins on the dresser, me calling for Lacey.

Shit.

I glanced down at myself. My shirt was cut above my breasts, revealing most of my blood-stained bra, and a bandage covered my shoulder. "Is it too bad?"

"Not anymore." She sat down on the edge of the bed. "If you hadn't called me, though." She shook her head. "but just so you know, when I healed you, the dye in your hair faded completely."

I reached to the ends of my hair and sure enough, the silver-blond was back. "Shit."

"What happened?" she asked, her tone concerned.

"What do you think? It's the damn reward. The entire supernatural world is after me."

"That's not true."

"All right. Then ninety-nine-point-ninety-nine percent." One corner of her lips tugged up and that reminded me so much of her brother. I cleared my dry throat. "Lacey, look, thank you for coming, and I'm really sorry I brought you here, but you can go now. You don't need to babysit me."

Her brows slammed down. "You don't get to do that. You called me and now I'm staying until I make sure you're okay."

"I'm okay."

"You're the patient. I'm the healer. I'll tell you when you're okay."

"Lacey—"

"Don't Lacey me," she said with a snap, the harshest she had ever talked to me. She rose to her feet. "It's midmorning, so I'm going out to get us some breakfast."

She headed to the door.

"Lacey." She glanced at me, ready to cut me off again. "Hm, I don't think you should go out like that."

She was wearing a black gown, fit for a witch. People would think she was dressed for Halloween in March … or supernaturals in the area would know what she was.

"Oh." She glanced at my bag on the dresser. "You know what's the worst part of portaling in a rush?"

"No."

"Never having any of my stuff with me." She showed me her cell phone in her hand. "At least I was holding this."

Yeah, that could be inconvenient. I pointed my chin to my bag. "Help yourself."

There wasn't much in my bag. Since I left her and her brother two weeks ago, I had bought two new leggings and three sweaters, since I kept getting them ruined. I looked down at the one I was wearing now, bloody, ripped, and now purposely cut. It seemed I would need more clothes soon.

Lacey changed into black leggings and a thin burgundy sweater, grabbed some of my money, and left the room.

I was left alone with my thoughts.

Why the hell had I called her here? Now she knew where I was, and she could tell her brother.

And what? Why would she tell her brother? Why would he care where I was? Why did I care if he knew where I was? That chapter of my life was over. He had tricked me, I had gotten what I asked for, and now it was all done.

My irritation grew and I felt restless.

I was hurt again and I had a fight tonight … how would I be able to fight and make money like this? I had to figure something out.

Half an hour later, Lacey came back with a white bag and two to-go cups, which reminded me of the times her brother had brought food to me.

Why was I thinking about him again?

I shook my head once, tried scooting more upright against the pillows, and thanked her when she handed me a breakfast burrito and one of the cups.

"Everything okay?" I asked before I took a bite.

"Yeah," she said, sitting on the armchair beside the bed. I imagined she had spent most of the time there, watching over me. Poor thing. "I didn't see any supernaturals. And if they are close by, they can't sense us." I raised one eyebrow. "Last night, after I got your bleeding under control and managed to close your wound, I warded the room. It's not as strong as when Heidi does it, but it should work for now."

That reminded me. "How's Heidi?"

A soft smile adorned Lacey's lips. "She's better. I convinced her of doing a strengthening potion for herself for once, and I think it's helping." Her smile faded away. "It won't cure her arthritis, or slow down her aging, but it definitely helps."

"That's good." Heidi had been nothing but kind to me. She deserved the best.

"What about you?" Lacey asked. "I mean, obviously, not doing so well right now." She gestured to my shoulder. "But overall … are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," I said automatically.

She didn't buy it. "Be honest, Ariella."

I shrugged, and then groaned in pain. "Shit."

Lacey got up, dropped her half-eaten burrito on the nightstand and placed her hands over my shoulder. A warm sensation flowed into me, coating my shoulder with numbness, and I sighed in relief.

"Better?"

I nodded. "A lot. Thanks."

She sat back down. "You've got your wings now, your revenge against the demon who took them, what now? Are you looking for your magic?"

I flinched when she mentioned the demon.

That was her damn father.

"Lacey, about Molraz. I'm so sorr?—"

"Don't you dare say you're sorry." Her voice was harsh. "He was a terrible father, a terrible person. I can't say I had any good feelings toward him."

"But he was still your father."

"He was and that was the extent of it. Besides, what are you apologizing for? Levi was the one who killed him, not you."

Because of me. Levi had killed his father to save me.

I opened my mouth to ask about him but closed it again. The bond was broken, Levi was out of my life, and that was how it was supposed to be.

I placed a hand on my chest, where I felt a little sliver of something stirring every time I thought of him. What the hell was this? Me being a girly girl and feeling what I shouldn't for the bad boy? This was ridiculous.

"I'm not looking for my magic because I don't know where to start," I answered her question.

I had talked to Hazel two days ago, and she had said that she and Khalisa were still researching, but apparently their information on angels' magic was limited. They knew the theory of several spells to restore hidden magic, to make it strong, more stable … all for witches. Besides, my magic wasn't suppressed.

It was gone.

She finished her breakfast and looked out the window—a small crack in the curtains revealed the day was bright and probably warm. Lacey returned her blue eyes to mine. "I can't guarantee anything, but I know a place where we could go to find some answers."

I perked up. "What do you mean?"

"It's a place most supernaturals think was lost centuries ago, but it wasn't. It's called the Grand Eternity Hall. It's like a library, a gallery, a museum, and a bank-slash-safe for magic and everything about it."

I frowned. I had heard about the Grand Eternity Hall. It had been a short paragraph in a book in one of my history classes. But I remembered thinking about it like the Library of Alexandria for humans. The biggest, most complete library and museum for any magical item and book on Earth. The place was hidden, only a few could access it, and it was secure.

Until one day, centuries ago, the Princes of the Underworld decided they could raid it, steal all the magical artifacts, and use them for themselves, and it ended in a big, bloody battle. It was said the Grand Eternity Hall prevailed, sans a few items the demons were able to steal, and because of that, had restricted access to all supernaturals.

If the place still existed, it had been hidden and silent for too long.

"I've heard of it," I whispered.

"Really? Most supernaturals haven't. I mean, maybe super old vampires, and some powerful witches, if they were alive back then."

"You said you know this place."

She nodded. "I can go there anytime I want."

I stared at her, incredulous. "How?"

She shrugged. "They are fond of me."

That still didn't answer my question. How were they fond of her? How did they meet her in the first place? Who was they?

"And you can go there?"

"Yes, and I think they would be okay with me bringing you." She placed a hand in her pockets. "Do you want to go there?"

"Of course!" Even if this place didn't lead to anything, what did I have to lose? Nothing! Lacey slipped her hand out of her pocket and showed me a silver coin. "It's just like the golden ones."

"Yeah, I've learned the spell for the coins." She stood up and reached for me. "You should change before we go."

Right. My shirt was still caked with dried blood and I probably smelled pretty bad. With Lacey's help, I took off my clothes, took a quick shower, careful not to wet the bandages, got dressed in leggings and a thin sweater, and shoved my feet in my boots.

Lacey picked up my bag and slung it over her shoulder. "Ready?"

I nodded. "Ready."

She pressed on the silver coin and a white portal appeared by our side. She stepped through first and I followed.

The portal opened to a large, beautiful front yard, with stone paths and flanked by tall trees and colorful flowers, which led to a two-story house with brown siding and a wrap-around porch. White curtains covered the windows, but the lights were on in every room.

I frowned. "This doesn't look like the Grand Eternity Hall."

Lacey smiled at me. "First, have you ever seen a picture or drawing of the hall?" I shook my head. "Second, they had to change things a bit when they decided to come out of hiding."

"They came out of hiding?"

"They tried." She started heading toward the house. "Come on. I'll show you around."

This couldn't be right.

The Grand Eternity Hall wasn't a small house in the middle of the woods. Was it?

Lacey opened the front door and smiled at me.

I paused at the door and gawked at the interior. This was another place completely. I glanced back to the porch. Very rustic, very traditional, and very small.

I walked in, taking in inch by inch of the giant, earthy room. I was in what could only be described as a lobby of a spectacular place. The floors were smooth gray marble and the walls were covered in vines and leaves.

Small iron sconces jutted out from between the vines, each holding a thick white candle. A big dome of colorful stained glass sat atop the ceiling, which was at least three stories high. A round, wooden circle floated halfway to the dome, holding several burning white candles.

The light coming from the dome gave the place an eerie, enchanted air.

What seemed like roots or thick vines twisted around archways, two to the right, two to the left, and one in the back, right beside the wide stone staircase that led upstairs to a balcony that wrapped around the entire lobby—and all of the railing was simply twisted vines and a few leaves.

"I know that feeling," Lacey said, watching me. "I was in awe the first time I came here too. To be honest, I'm always in awe of this place."

"It's amazing," I said, still shocked.

She chuckled. "And this is just the lobby. Wait until you see the rest. If you get to see it all. I don't think I even know every room and corner of this place. Come on."

I followed Lacey to the archway beside the staircase. It followed the same pattern of the lobby, with vines and roots everywhere, sconces and candles between the archways.

As we walked, I noticed the candles flicking on as we approached them, and off as we walked away.

"The candles are enchanted," I said, amused.

"Yeah, the hall is all enchanted. The Evermores say the hall has a mind and magic of its own."

The Evermores. The moment Lacey said it, I remembered reading about them in that short paragraph—they were the family appointed to take care of the hall several millennia ago.

"They are still alive?" I asked, looking side to side into the archways.

This bit reminded me of Duncan's house: beyond the archways were rooms with artifacts and items on display, like an art gallery.

"Oh, the Evermores are witches and warlocks, and they age like us, though I do think they live longer normal witches."

I paused in front of one archway and stared at a mirror with a golden frame. There was no reflection in the mirror, just a foggy haze, like thick clouds obscuring the view.

"I thought the items were supposed to be tucked away and protected." From the harm they could do if they ended up in the wrong hangs.

"The items in this gallery aren't dangerous," Lacey said. "The dangerous one are locked away deep in the hall." She looked at me with huge eyes. "That reminds me, you probably won't need your potions here."

"What do you mean?"

"This entire place is warded and hidden from any supernatural. Unless you know about it, unless you're invited in by the Evermores, or someone brings you in, you have no way of finding it."

"That's good." Since I had a proven track of forgetting to take my potions, this was great news.

"I thought you would like it." She nudged my arm. "Let's keep going."

At the end of the long hall were two giant wooden doors with lots of carvings. If I didn't know this place was full of magic, I would say Lacey and I would never be able to open those doors by ourselves.

But as it was, the doors opened when we approached them.

And once more I was shocked into silence at how stunning the place was.

The library was even taller than the lobby, with a stained-glass dome that was at least twice as big, and right under it was an arched tall wooden counter, and a huge tree with thick, twisted trunk, and vivid green leaves.

I didn't need to be supernatural to know this tree was ancient and powerful.

"They will be here," Lacey said, walking around the counter.

With slow steps, I followed her.

Behind the tree were a few rows of long tables, and at the end, a huge stained-glass wall, similar to the dome, and to the sides of the tables were rows and rows of shelves and books that reached the tall ceiling, with vines and roots and leaves everywhere. Knotted staircases dotted the place, leading up and up. In two levels, the staircase led to coves with small sitting areas beside the stained-glass wall.

And here and there were the same silver sconces and candles I had seen outside.

"Thank goodness the candles are enchanted," I muttered. With books and wood, this place would burn in seconds.

"Everything in here is enchanted," a voice said.

I turned back to the tables and saw an image I didn't know how I had missed before: four beautiful young witches that looked like quadruplets, despite the obvious age difference, and four animals—an orange cat on the table, a green snake twisted on a chair, and a raven perched on a rail.

"Hi, girls," Lacey said, walking up to them. "I hope you don't mind. I brought a friend who needs help."

The witches all stared at me.

"Hi," I said, feeling silly. "I'm Ariella."

"Nice to meet you, Ariella," the oldest one said. She had long, chestnut brown hair and deep blue eyes. "I'm Abigail, and these are my sisters: Magnolia,"—she gestured to the next in line, with light brown hair and green eyes—"Gwendolyn." She pointed to a young girl with dark-brown hair and green eyes. "And Brittany." She beckoned to the last one, the youngest, with light brown hair and hazel eyes.

They all waved at me politely.

Lacey scoffed. "We call them Abbie, Maggie, Gwen, and Britt."

"We're the protectors of the Grand Eternity Hall," Abbie said.

"You are," Britt muttered. Everyone shifted their gazes to her. "Well, she is. The eldest is the one who inherits the hall."

Abbie looked at her youngest sister. "We already talked about this, Britt, and I would love if you could refrain from arguing in front of others."

"You can't do this alone, blah blah blah," Britt said. She rose from her chair, grabbing a thick, leather-bound book from the table. "We've heard that a million times." She stomped away and disappeared among two tall bookshelves.

"I apologize for her behavior," Abbie said to me. "She's fourteen and is definitely in her rebel teenage years."

"I didn't have a rebel teenage phase," Maggie said.

"Mom and dad were alive for most of your teenage years," Gwen said.

"Girls," Abbie snapped softly. She looked pointedly at me. "Lacey said she brought you for help. What can we help you with?"

My mind was spinning and I had so many questions …

Where were their parents? Was Abbie in charge? She looked younger than me. What was that about the eldest inheriting the Hall? Were they alone in this endless place? Did they ever leave and mix up with the human world?

Whoa, my thoughts went on and on …

The snake moved on the chair and I stilled.

I stared at the snake, afraid of moving.

"Don't worry, he doesn't bite," Maggie said. "The tiger isn't here at the moment, but when you see him, don't let his size scare you. He's a softie."

I blinked.

There was a freaking tiger.

"Oh, you don't know their names," Gwen said. "The snake is Venom, the cat is Merlin, the raven is Bane, and the tiger is Rune. All males."

I stared at her, sure I would forget their names in three seconds.

I shook my head once, trying to focus. Abbie had asked me a question. What I needed help with.

"I lost?—"

The words faded away as a man appeared from among two bookshelves, the opposite side from where Britt had gone, holding an open book in his hands. "I found it."

He looked up from the book, his eyes met mine, he halted, and his shoulders tensed.

"Ariella … what are you doing here?"