Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Brody darted toward the terrace, his movements swift and purposeful. I clutched my backpack tightly, the straps digging into my shoulders as I poured on the speed to keep up. The manicured lawn blurred beneath our feet as we crossed the exposed ground.

Sweat poured down my face, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm. The cool Scottish air felt sharp in my lungs as I pushed myself to run faster.

A shadow passed overhead, and I instinctively looked up. Justice hovered above us, wings beating rapidly to maintain his position. He didn’t dive-bomb us, but his presence was a constant reminder of what was at stake.

For a split second, our eyes met. Even in bat form, I saw a flicker of something familiar in those tiny eyes, a hint of the Justice I knew and loved. My heart clenched with hope and despair. I desperately wished I could reach out and heal him, break through the demon’s control, and bring him back to us.

Damon’s hand gripped my arm, yanking me forward. “Hey, sis. This ain’t the time for a staring contest with your bat-boy,” he growled. “Unless you want to be demon chow, keep those legs moving.”

I allowed him to drag me a few feet before I broke from his grasp. I forced myself to concentrate on the terrace ahead and not let Justice distract me.

As we ran, Damon glanced back at me, his eyes softening. “Look, I get it. But the best way to help Justice is to get that damn harp. You can make goo-goo eyes at him when he’s not trying to eat us, okay?” He smirked, but I saw the tension in his jaw. “Besides, if we pull this off, you two can have a real Batman and Robin thing going. Now, move!”

“Almost there,” Brody called back, his voice barely audible over the sound of our footfalls and ragged breathing.

I gritted my teeth and pushed on, my lungs burning. The ornate double doors of the castle loomed before me, their intricate designs a blur as I approached at full speed. I skidded to a stop, my hands slamming against the cool glass as I struggled to catch my breath.

Damon was on my heels, his footsteps thundering up the stone steps behind me. I heard Lisa and Zara not far behind, their labored breathing joining the chorus of our collective exhaustion.

“Clear?” Damon asked tersely, scanning the area.

Brody gave a curt nod. “For now. Let’s not waste it.” He stepped forward, grasping the ornate brass handle of the door. The muscles in his arm tensed, veins standing out as he attempted to turn it.

The door didn’t budge.

He grunted. “Locked.”

“Allow me.” Lisa stepped forward with a determined glint in her eyes.

Before she could act, Brody squared his shoulders. “No time for finesse,” he muttered. With a sudden burst of strength, he wrenched the handle. The sound of splintering wood and bending metal pierced the air.

The door gave way with a groan, swinging open to reveal the castle’s dimly lit interior.

As we stepped inside, a piercing alarm shattered the silence. Red warning lights flashed, bathing the ornate hallway in an eerie, pulsating glow.

My heart leaped into my throat. We’d barely made it inside, and our cover was already blown.

Before panic could fully set in, Zara stepped forward, her face a mask of concentration. She flicked her hands in a fluid, practiced motion, her fingers tracing invisible symbols in the air.

“ Hushyndra ,” she intoned, her whispered voice charged with power.

The effect was instantaneous. The shrieking alarm cut off mid-wail, plunging us into an almost deafening silence. The flashing lights flickered once, twice, then died, leaving us in the dim light filtering through the windows.

For a moment, we all stood frozen, hardly daring to breathe.

Damon released a low whistle. “Handy trick, Sabrina. Remind me to bring you along next time I’m sneaking out past curfew.”

“Nice work,” Brody nodded approvingly at Zara. “But we’re not in the clear yet. Everyone, stay alert. We don’t know if that spell tripped any other security measures.”

I shared a glance with Lisa, seeing my own relief and apprehension mirrored in her eyes. We’d overcome our first obstacle, but something told me it was only the beginning of what this castle had in store for us.

One by one, we filed into the cool interior. As I crossed the threshold, I felt like I’d stepped into the lion’s den. Yet, with Justice’s fate hanging in the balance, there was no turning back.

Brody moved to shut the door, his hand already on the ornate handle, when Lisa clasped his wrist. “Not yet,” she told him. “Aurora.”

As if on cue, a streak of fire and gold shot through the air as Aurora soared through the open doorway. But she wasn’t alone. A dark shape darted toward the entrance directly behind her. Justice in his bat form, his tiny wings furiously beating as he pursued the phoenix.

When he reached the threshold, a flash of blue light erupted. It was as if Justice had slammed into an invisible wall. The bat’s small body ricocheted off the unseen barrier, spinning wildly out of control. We watched with relief and concern washing over us as Justice tumbled through the air and crash-landed into a nearby hedge.

“The wards,” Lisa explained. “They keep out demons, remember?”

Damon whistled. “Talk about your rapid evictions. Guess Dracula’s gonna have to find another castle.”

A pang pierced my chest, watching Justice’s helpless tumble, but I pushed the feeling aside. This was proof the castle’s defenses were working, and we were on the right track.

“All right,” Brody announced as he finally closed the door. “We’re in. Now, let’s find that harp and end this.”

As he sealed us inside the castle, I hoped I hadn’t led my team into the arms of danger again.

Damon must have sensed my unease. He clapped a hand on my shoulder, his touch grounding me. “Hey, chin up, Buffy. Your bloodsucking boyfriend got his ass handed to him by a magic doorway. If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is.”

His smirk faded as he met my gaze, his voice lowering. “Look, we’ve faced worse odds and come out swinging. Hell, we’ve nearly died and come back for an encore. Whatever this place throws at us, we can handle it. Besides,” he added with a wink. “I’ve always wanted to raid a castle. It’s like Dungeons and Dragons but with better-looking players.”

I stepped further into the room, and the grandeur of the salon took my breath away. The space was vast, its high ceilings adorned with intricate plasterwork that seemed to dance in the dim light. Ornate chandeliers hung above us, their crystals catching what little light filtered through the tall windows, sending prismatic reflections across the walls.

Brody looked around the salon, scanning the opulent surroundings. “Where do you think the harp is?”

I followed his gaze, taking in the room’s details. An impressive array of weaponry lined the walls. Gleaming swords, antique firearms, and polished armor spoke of centuries of clan history. Between these martial displays hung massive oil paintings depicting stern-faced ancestors and dramatic Highland landscapes.

At the far end of the room, a grand fireplace dominated the wall, its mantelpiece intricately carved with the heraldic symbols of the Campbell clan. Plush sofas and richly upholstered chairs were arranged throughout the space, their deep reds and golds a perfect counterpoint to the pale, elaborately decorated walls.

Ornate tables dotted the room, their surfaces home to various historical artifacts and curios. I glanced from one to another, searching for anything resembling our target.

“This place is like a museum,” Damon muttered, his hand hovering near a particularly wicked-looking broadsword. “Talk about your family heirlooms.”

“We should split up,” I suggested, trying to shake off the feeling of being overwhelmed. “Cover more ground. But stay within earshot. We don’t know what other surprises this castle might have for us.”

As the team dispersed, I once again felt we were being watched. Whether by the stern gazes of the portraits or something more sinister, I couldn’t tell. But one thing was certain. We needed to find that harp, fast.