Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Someone shook me gently. “Sawyer. Hey, it’s time to get up, sleepyhead.”

I looked into my brother’s weary eyes, noting the dark circles and the stubble that had grown heavier. I wondered if he had gotten any sleep. Knowing Damon, he’d probably spent the night on watch, shouldering the burden of keeping us all safe.

“Morning, sunshine,” he stated with a tired smirk, his attempt at levity not quite reaching his eyes. “Ready to go kick some demon ass?”

I blinked and stretched as dawn peeked over the horizon, its golden rays piercing the misty Scottish air. The light caught the turrets of Inveraray Castle, their slate-gray stone glowing warmly against the pale sky. The majestic structure peeked through the trees, its fairy-tale silhouette a stark contrast to the grim reality of our mission.

Rising to my feet, I took in our surroundings. The forest around us was coming alive with the sounds of morning. Birds chirping their dawn chorus, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of ancient oaks and Scots pines. The crisp, damp air carried the earthy scents of moss and heather.

As we gathered our gear, I couldn’t help but marvel at the castle beyond the tree line. Inveraray stood proudly, its imposing Gothic Revival architecture a testament to centuries of Scottish history. The symmetrical towers flanked a central keep, their crenellations cutting a dramatic figure against the lightening sky. The pale walls seemed to glow as if the castle itself was waking up to greet the day.

“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, almost forgetting why we were here.

Damon nodded, scanning the perimeter out of habit. “Yeah, it’s something, all right. But remember, sweetheart, looks can be deceiving. That place is crawling with demons, and we’ve got a job to do.”

His words snapped me back to reality. Queen Charlotte’s harp was inside those walls, the last missing piece we needed to send Maci and her horde of demons back to hell. A flicker of hope mixed with apprehension. If we could get our hands on that harp, maybe we could end this nightmare. And maybe it held some magical property that could free Justice from Rage’s clutches.

As if reading my thoughts, Damon squeezed my shoulder. “We’ll get him back, Sawyer. One step at a time.”

I nodded, steeling myself for what lay ahead. The castle loomed before us, beautiful and terrifying. I grabbed my backpack, the weight of our supplies a reminder of the long journey that had brought us here. “Where are the demons?” I asked.

Damon pointed through the trees, his jaw tightening. “They’re crawling around the entrance like cockroaches, but they’re not going inside.”

I followed his gaze and spotted dark figures moving unnaturally around the castle’s grand entrance. My stomach churned at the sight. Something was keeping them out. Maybe the same magic that protected the harp we sought.

I swallowed a lump of fear and forced myself to ask the question I dreaded most. “Is Justice with them?”

Damon hesitated, his green eyes clouding with concern. Then, he met my gaze squarely. His honesty was one of the things I’d always relied on. “Yes, he is. He’s not as you remember him, Sawyer.”

I frowned, confusion mixing with fear. “But he only got possessed yesterday. How could he have changed so much?”

Damon ran a hand through his hair in frustration and worry. “Demon possession isn’t like possession by a ghost or a regular spirit. It can change a person fast, especially when fueled by rage. The Justice we knew might be buried deep right now.”

My heart sank as the reality of what we were facing hit me anew. I steeled myself, drawing on the determination that had gotten us this far. “Then we’ll have to dig him out,” I insisted, my voice stronger than I felt.

Damon nodded, a ghost of a proud smile crossing his face. “That’s my girl. Now, let’s figure out how to get past those demon bastards and into that castle. We’ve got a harp to find and a vampire to save.”

As we huddled with the rest of the team to plan our approach, I cast one last glance at Inveraray Castle. Somewhere in there was our salvation—and Justice. I only hoped we weren’t too late.

Damon stared at the castle. “What’s the plan?”

Brody straightened. “I’ve scouted the perimeter,” he announced. “The demons are concentrated at the front, but I’ve identified a potential entry point at the rear. We have an advantage. The castle’s closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and today is Wednesday. That means fewer civilians to worry about.”

He paused. “It won’t be easy, but we’ve faced worse odds before. If we work together and stick to our strengths, we can do this. We’re not only fighting for ourselves. We’re fighting for Justice and for everyone those demons threaten. Remember why we’re here and watch each other’s backs.”

Brody’s words were reminiscent of Captain America’s speeches. He concluded with a determined nod. “Now, let’s gear up and move out. We’ve got a team member to save and a world to protect.”

Damon gestured to my backpack, a glint of hope in his eyes. “Why don’t we time-warp ourselves in there? Wouldn’t that be easier than trying to sneak past a horde of demons?”

Lisa shook her head. “Unfortunately, the wards don’t allow us to use any magical objects within the castle grounds. We’re able to get inside, unlike the demons, but our magical gear will be useless after we cross the threshold.”

I frowned, instinctively wrapping my arms around the backpack. The hourglass had gotten us out of more than a few tight spots. The thought of being without it made me uneasy. “Will I be able to bring in the backpack at all? We can’t let Maci get it.”

“The artifacts are not evil, so they can get inside,” Lisa explained. “We just can’t use them. The wards seem to differentiate between beings and objects. They keep out demons and neutralize magical items but allow humans to pass through with their possessions intact.”

Damon frowned, processing this new information. “So we can bring our gear, but anything magical is dead weight when we’re inside. Great. Any other surprises we should know about?”

Brody stepped in, his tactical mind already working on a solution. “This changes our approach, but it doesn’t change our objective. We’ll need to rely on our training and non-magical skills inside. It levels the playing field. The demons won’t be able to use their supernatural abilities either.”

I looked at Lisa, and a sudden chill gripped me. “Do you think Justice can get inside? He knows our plan and could go in and steal the harp.” The words tumbled out, tight with anxiety.

Lisa glanced at Zara, then back to me. “No. He’s possessed, Sawyer. He can’t enter.”

My blood froze. Justice was now one of the things we were fighting against. Something we were sworn to kill to protect the innocent. Now, the magical wards that protected the castle couldn’t distinguish between the man I loved and the evil that possessed him.

My breath caught in my throat as a wave of conflicting emotions washed over me. Relief came first. At least we didn’t have to worry about Justice beating us to the harp. But it was overshadowed by a crushing sadness that he’d become a tool for ungodly forces.

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back fiercely. Now wasn’t the time for a breakdown. I had to lead the team. The mirror was always picking me to do this. Brody had taken the lead when I was down, but to save my team, to save Justice, I had to step up. I channeled the ache in my chest into determination, and newfound resolve settled over me.

I inhaled, squaring my shoulders. “Okay,” I stated. “We have to retrieve Queen Charlotte’s harp before Maci or her demons do.”

“We’re with you, Sawyer,” Damon replied, his gruff voice softening. “All the way.”

One by one, Brody, Zara, and Lisa nodded in agreement. Even the phoenix fluttered its wings as if to say, “I’m with you.” Their unwavering support, including our magical companion, filled me with a renewed sense of strength and purpose.

Damon cleared his throat, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips despite the gravity of the situation. “Well, ain’t that touching. We’ve got Captain America, Sabrina and Hermione the teenage witches, and friggin’ Fawkes all lined up. If those demon bastards aren’t shaking in their boots, they should be.” He clapped my shoulder. “You’ve got this, sis. Now, let’s go raise some hell. Or, you know, the opposite of that.”

I smiled. Damon always knew how to pump me up. I glanced at Brody. “Lead the way to the back.”

Brody tilted his head. “This way.”

I followed him, wishing Justice was walking alongside me, giving me his strength. This time, I had to draw on my own courage, not rely on his. I wouldn’t disappoint him.