Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

I glanced at the wet rocks surrounding me, each one a potential key to this watery prison. Which stone held the magic I needed? They all looked the same. Slick, dark, indifferent to my plight. My bleeding hand trembled as I reached out, desperation making my movements clumsy.

The creature wiggled by me again, so close I felt the displacement of water against my skin. My heart leaped into my throat, choking me with fear. With a stifled cry, I slammed my palm against another rock, watching as my blood smeared down the stone in crimson rivulets. For a heartbeat, hope flared in my chest, then died as quickly as it had come. Nothing happened.

Suddenly, the creature struck. It wasn’t a gentle brush this time but a hard, deliberate bump that sent me reeling in the water. I gasped, inhaling a mouthful of icy liquid. As I sputtered and coughed, trying to keep my head above water, a flash of color caught my eye.

I looked down, blinking away tears of pain and fear, and my world tilted on its axis. The creature, which I had imagined as some nightmarish leviathan, was red. A vibrant, familiar red that stirred something in my memory. Red like flame. Red like a phoenix.

Understanding crashed over me like a wave. Without thinking, driven by instinct and hope, I drew a deep breath and dove under the water. The cold hit me anew, but I pushed past it, my eyes straining in the murky depths. There—a flash of red. I kicked hard, propelling myself toward it.

Time seemed to slow as I reached out, my bleeding palm extended toward the creature. For a moment, I thought I had missed, that this last mad gambit had failed. Then, my hand connected with something smooth and leathery.

The effect was instantaneous and extraordinary. A burst of light exploded from the point of contact, so bright it was visible even through my closed eyelids. The water around us vibrated with energy, tingling against my skin like static electricity.

I opened my eyes, squinting against the glow, and watched in awe as the creature transformed. It twirled in the water, faster and faster, becoming a whirlwind of light and color. The leathery skin rippled and changed, scales giving way to something softer, more delicate.

Feathers. They unfurled like blooming flowers, each a masterpiece of red and gold. The serpentine body reshaped itself, becoming more compact, more birdlike. A beak emerged where once had been a nightmarish maw.

The eyes captivated me the most. As the creature’s face reformed, the predatory hatred vanished from them. The red glow faded, replaced by a deep, vibrant green that seemed to swirl with inner light. And in those eyes, I saw something that made my heart swell. Gratitude. Pure, unbridled gratitude.

I smiled. I was looking at Aurora. A jolt of joy shot through my numbed limbs. She hadn’t been imprisoned behind a rock as I’d thought. No, Maci’s cruel magic had gone further, transforming the majestic creature into something designed to terrify and mislead me.

The phoenix now stood, freed by the spell-breaking power of my blood. As I watched, the last vestiges of the shark-like form melted away, revealing Aurora in all her glory. She was magnificent, more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

Her feathers shimmered, reds and golds dancing in the dim light of the underwater cavern. Her eyes gazed at me with an intelligence and gratitude that took my breath away. At that moment, I understood why these creatures were so revered, so sought after. Aurora wasn’t simply a magical being. She was magic itself, personified in a goddess form.

As we floated there, human and phoenix, a profound connection grew between us. I’d never felt like this with any other animal. Her very presence chased away the fear in the face of this miracle. I tilted my head back and exhaled a breath of exuberance. Despite Maci’s little tricks, I had found Aurora and broken the spell.

She was free, and she was on our side.

The phoenix soared from the water, a bright ball of hope. She lit up the embankment, and my heart nearly stopped.

There wasn’t only one gluttony demon. There were six. Six men dressed in suits, ready to kill me.

Their eyes glowed with an unholy red light, fixed on me with murderous intent. They stood arrayed along the embankment, a gauntlet of evil between me and safety.

For a moment, despair threatened to overwhelm me. How could I possibly fight six demons? Even with Aurora by my side, the odds seemed insurmountable.

Then, like an answer to an unspoken prayer, a figure leaped onto the embankment. Justice! His sudden appearance sent a jolt of hope through me. He landed in a crouch, then straightened, his face a mask of determination. In his hands, he held the Mirror of Aethereal.

The demons hissed and snarled. They rushed at him, their hands stretched out. Justice raised the mirror high. Its surface caught Aurora’s light, magnifying it and directing it toward our enemies.

The effect was instantaneous and horrifying.

The gluttony demons released a collective screech of agony, a sound that seemed to claw at the fabric of reality. Their forms wavered and distorted like images in a funhouse mirror. Then, in a grotesque display of unmaking, their bodies dissolved into black smoke.

The smoke writhed and twisted in the air as if fighting against an unseen force. But it was a losing battle. With one final, unearthly howl, the smoke was sucked downward, disappearing into the ground as if the earth itself was reclaiming some long-banished evil.

In the sudden silence that followed, I heard my own ragged breathing and the gentle lapping of water against the shore. Aurora circled overhead, her light now gentle and soothing. Justice stood on the embankment, the mirror still raised. Power radiated from him.

As I struggled to stay afloat in the frigid water, my gaze locked with his. His expression held a mixture of relief, triumph, and love.

I reached the embankment, and Justice was there in an instant. With one powerful motion, he lifted me from the water, his strength making me feel as light as a feather. He cradled me to his broad chest, and I felt the rapid beat of his heart against my cheek. His warmth seeped into my frozen limbs.

“Sawyer, are you all right?” He scanned me for injuries.

I tried to respond, but my teeth were chattering uncontrollably. “Ye-yes,” I managed. “Just fr-freezing.”

Relief washed over his face, softening his features. He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Let me warm you up,” he murmured, his breath ghosting over my skin.

Justice rubbed his large hands over my trembling form, the friction generating blessed heat. His touch was determined yet gentle, each movement deliberate and caring. It felt like magic, chasing away some of the bone-deep cold that had settled into me.

“You did it,” he murmured, a note of pride in his voice. “You found Aurora and made it back. I knew you could.”

I nestled closer to him, seeking more of his warmth. “It was close,” I admitted. “If you hadn’t shown up with the mirror when you did…”

He tightened his arms around me. “I’ll always be there when you need me,” he promised fiercely.

After a moment, Justice reluctantly loosened his hold on me. He reached over and snatched my clothes piled on the edge of the pool. “Here. You need to get dressed before you catch your death.”

My fingers were still numb and clumsy, but I managed to pull on my jeans and shirt. Justice knelt to help me with my socks and shoes, his touch lingering a moment longer than necessary.

As I stood, feeling somewhat more human now that I was clothed, I caught sight of Aurora circling overhead. Her presence reminded me of the gravity of our situation.

“Justice.” I caressed his muscular chest and leaned in closer, feeling his warmth and strength. “We did it. We rescued Aurora.”

His gaze softened, and he gently cupped my face with his rough hands. “No, you did it. You’re amazing.” He kissed me, then pulled back to look into my eyes. “All we need is the harp, and we can stop Maci. We’re stronger now, thanks to you.” He brushed his lips over mine again. “After this is all over, I’m taking you somewhere peaceful and far away from monsters.”

I smiled at him, lost in his dark eyes. “Somewhere tropical?”

His lips traced a path down my neck, leaving a trail of tingling kisses in their wake. As his sharp fangs grazed my skin, an electric current shot through me. “You drive a hard bargain, my stunning mate,” he muttered.

“Hey,” Damon called from above, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Sorry to interrupt your little Twilight moment there, but we’ve got bigger fish to fry. You know, like the army of demons probably heading our way?”

Justice wrapped his arms around me and jumped, carrying me to where the others waited.

Aurora, resplendent in her newly restored form, perched regally on a rock next to Lisa. The sight of the mythical creature seemed to have a profound effect on the witch. She wore the biggest smile I’d seen in a long time. The tension etched into her features for so long appeared to have melted away, replaced by wonder and relief.

As I watched them, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. We had done it. We had rescued Aurora, and in doing so, we’d given Lisa back a piece of herself.

Yet our moment of triumph was short-lived. Brody approached, his face set in lines of concern. He stopped beside Lisa, scanning our surroundings warily.

“There’s something not quite right,” he claimed. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up at his words. Brody’s instincts had saved us more than once. If he sensed trouble, we’d be fools to ignore it.

He faced us with a grave expression. “We need to move to our next task and retrieve the harp.”

Zara gestured toward the backpack Damon held in his hand. “We have to charge these first. Especially the hourglass.”

Lisa moved away from the rock and gestured toward the grass. “Put them down, and Aurora will charge them.”

I took the backpack from Damon and laid out the five artifacts, including the phoenix feather, the phoenix grass, the scales, the hourglass, and the crown. Justice knelt and set the mirror beside the others.

The phoenix glided gracefully toward them, her iridescent feathers shimmering in the light. As she drew closer, I noticed her eyes brimming with pearly tears. The sight was both beautiful and unsettling.

I turned to Lisa, my voice hushed with awe and concern. “Why is she crying? Is something wrong?”

Lisa’s expression was calm, even reverent, as she gently stroked Aurora’s feathers. Her hand moved in long, soothing motions along the phoenix’s back. “The phoenix’s tears are more powerful than you can imagine. They’re not a sign of sadness but of magic. Watch closely,” she whispered.

As if on cue, Aurora tilted her head, angling it precisely over the artifacts. Time seemed to slow as the first teardrop fell. It splashed onto the nearest object, and the effect was immediate and mesmerizing.

The artifact shimmered as if lit from within by an otherworldly fire. Its surface rippled with color, first turning a deep, passionate red that reminded me of embers in a dying fire. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the red shifted, blooming into a vibrant orange that pulsed with energy.

I held my breath, transfixed by the transformation. The colors began to fade, retreating like the tide. Within moments, the artifact had returned to its original appearance. Or so it seemed at first glance.

“Look closer,” Lisa murmured, noticing my puzzled expression.

I leaned in and realized the artifact wasn’t quite the same. There was a subtle glow to it now, a hint of power that hadn’t been there before.

One by one, Aurora’s tears fell on each artifact, and each underwent the same spectacular metamorphosis.

“What…what happened?” I asked in wonder.

Lisa smiled. “The phoenix’s tears have awakened these artifacts, unlocking their true potential. They’ve been imbued with a fraction of Aurora’s power. The power of rebirth, renewal, and purification. These aren’t mere relics anymore. They’re vessels of phoenix magic.”

I looked at Aurora, who was watching us with what I could swear was a look of satisfaction. “Will they always glow like this?”

“No,” Lisa replied. “The visible effects will fade, but the power remains. These artifacts are now more than they appear. Much like Aurora herself.”

As if to confirm Lisa’s words, Aurora released a soft, melodious trill. The sound seemed to hang in the air, filled with promise and ancient secrets.

I smiled at Justice. He gave me a handsome grin that warmed my heart. For once, the sun was shining our way, its rays blessing this moment of peace and hope.

However, our respite was short-lived. A chill ran down my spine as a dark shadow suddenly rose behind Justice. An ominous voice, dripping with malice, shattered our brief happiness.

“Did you really think it would be this easy?”