Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

We burst from the cave’s mouth like desperate animals fleeing a wildfire, the sounds of collapsing rock and Maci’s furious roars fading behind us. The sudden transition from the cave’s oppressive darkness to the open air was jarring, leaving me disoriented.

Outside, the sun was high in the sky, painting the world in its light. I spun wildly, the mirror clutched in my white-knuckled grip, my gaze darting from shadow to shadow in search of demonic threats.

The world around us was awash in vibrant greens and golds, the summer foliage in full display. Long shadows stretched from the trees, creating pockets of darkness that seemed to shift and move in my peripheral vision. But for some reason, the demons weren’t there. At least not visibly.

The eerie quiet of the forest felt almost as unsettling as the chaos we’d escaped. The normal sounds of nature—birdsong, rustling leaves, the buzz of insects—were conspicuously absent, as if the wildlife sensed the otherworldly danger that had emerged from the earth.

The mirror in my hands felt warm, almost alive, as if reacting to the sudden exposure to sunlight.

“Anyone else think this is too easy?” I muttered, unable to shake the feeling we were being watched.

The contrast between the peaceful afternoon setting and the supernatural horror we’d faced was stark and disorienting. It felt wrong, as if we’d stepped out of one reality and into another. But the dirt on our clothes, the scrapes on our skin, and the racing of our hearts were vivid reminders that the danger was all too real.

“Stay alert,” I warned the others, my voice barely above a whisper. “Just because we can’t see them doesn’t mean they’re not here. The sun might slow them down, but it won’t stop them entirely.”

As we regrouped under the canopy of leaves, dappled sunlight playing across our dirt-streaked faces, I suspected our escape from the cave was only the beginning of a much longer and more dangerous journey.

The thick trees surrounding us loomed ominously, their branches reaching out like gnarled fingers. Perfect hiding spots for anything that might want to ambush us. Were the demons lurking there, biding their time? Or were they afraid of the mirror, keeping their distance from its mystic power?

I glanced at my team, taking in our bedraggled appearance, and released a grinding cough. The taste of grit and cave dust coated my tongue, making me grimace. I looked down at my arms, barely recognizing them under the thick layer of dust clinging to my skin like a second sleeve.

Lisa stood nearby, her usually pristine blonde hair a shocking mess. The dust had transformed her golden locks into a dull, ashen gray, aging her by decades in mere minutes. She ran her fingers through it, wincing as they caught on tangled knots.

Her gaze fixed on me. “When are we going to rescue my phoenix?”

Her accusatory tone made me tense. The recent memory of her betrayal flashed through my mind, a painful reminder of how fragile our team’s trust had become. I couldn’t help but wonder if she would betray us again, given the chance.

I wiped the sweat and cave dust off my brow, buying myself a moment to gather my thoughts.

“We will,” I assured her, trying to inject confidence into my voice despite our precarious situation. “I promise, but we’ve got to form a plan first.”

Lisa’s eyes narrowed, searching my face for any sign of deception. The irony wasn’t lost on me, her questioning my truthfulness after her own betrayal. But I understood her desperation. The bond between a magical creature and its guardian was profound, and I could only imagine how the separation must be tearing her apart.

I turned away and looked at the rest of the team, not wanting to get into a debate with her.

Zara’s fiery red hair was barely visible beneath clumps of dirt and small rock fragments. Grime smeared her cheeks like macabre war paint across her freckled skin. She swiped at her face with the back of her hand, only managing to smear the dirt further.

Brody futilely attempted to brush the dirt from his clothes, creating small dust clouds with each swipe of his hand. His usually immaculate appearance was in shambles, his designer shirt now more earth-tone than its original color.

My brother, ever the pragmatist, methodically dragged his fingers through his hair, dislodging chunks of dirt and pebbles. He wore a grim expression, constantly scanning our surroundings even as he tried to make himself somewhat presentable.

Even the typically unflappable Justice showed signs of our ordeal. He brushed dirt from his dark hair, his movements precise. A small cut on his forehead had left a trail of blood mixing with the dust on his face, giving him a fierce, warrior-like appearance.

We were all covered in a uniform layer of cave dust, our clothes and skin bearing the marks of our narrow escape. Small scrapes and scratches adorned our exposed skin, stinging as the cool evening air hit them. Our chests heaved in unison as we gulped breaths of fresh air, savoring it after the stifling atmosphere of the cave.

It felt like the Grim Reaper’s scythe had grazed our backs as we fled. Yet, as I met each team member’s eyes, I saw the same wariness reflected back at me. The paranoia of potential pursuit lingered, an unspoken tension that kept us all on high alert. Every rustle of leaves, every shadow cast by the fading daylight, seemed to hold the promise of hidden dangers.

As we stood there, catching our breath, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of relief wash over me. My gaze swept my team once more. We were a mess, no doubt about it, but we were alive. Thank god, we were alive.

Everyone had made it. The thought nearly buckled my knees.

The SUV was parked undisturbed where we had left it. Justice clasped my hand and led me to it, with the others following behind us.

A hysterical laugh bubbled up in my chest, and I had to consciously suppress it. This wasn’t the time to lose it. Not when we were still in potential danger. I was supposed to be the leader, and laughing like a manic wouldn’t earn me any brownie points. But I couldn’t completely quash the giddy feeling of sheer aliveness coursing through me.

As if reading my thoughts, Damon gave me a cocky grin and gestured at me. “Look in the mirror and tell us our next move, Princess. ‘Cause I vote for kickin’ some demon ass.”

“We don’t have time.” Justice whipped the car door open and stared at the cave entrance. “I can hear them. They’re going to be here any second.”

The eerie silence that had followed our escape was unnerving. I strained my ears, trying to catch any sound of pursuit, but heard nothing. However, Justice was tense beside me, his vampiric hearing far superior to our human senses.

“We need to move. Now,” he urged tightly.

We scrambled into the car, our movements frantic yet coordinated from years of working together. Justice took the wheel, with me riding shotgun. Brody, Lisa, Damon, and Zara crammed into the back, a tangle of limbs and nervous energy.

As Justice gunned the engine, I glanced back at the cave entrance. A plume of dust erupted from the opening, billowing out like the breath of some monstrous beast. My heart leaped into my throat. Was something coming?

The tires squealed as Justice floored it, the sudden acceleration pushing us back into our seats. The cave receded in the rearview mirror, but the sense of impending danger didn’t fade.

“We can’t go back to McDuff Manor.” Justice glanced between the road and the mirrors. “We’ll be ambushed for sure.”

I nodded, my mind racing. “Maybe someplace crowded,” I suggested, grasping for ideas. “Somewhere they wouldn’t risk an attack.”

From the back seat, Damon’s skeptical voice cut through the tension. “That might not help. It’s not like Maci has a penchant for preserving human life.”

I twisted in my seat to face him, meeting his challenging gaze. Damon’s face was a mask of dirt and worry, but his eyes were sharp, questioning.

“She doesn’t want to make a move yet,” I argued, trying to sound more confident than the self-doubt that ate at me. “Not until she has control.”

Damon held my gaze, unconvinced. “Are you sure about that?”

The truth was, I wasn’t sure of anything anymore. I sighed heavily, feeling the entire team’s eyes on me. “No,” I admitted. “But I agree with Justice. We can’t go back to the manor.”

Zara sighed. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? Maci wants to destroy the artifacts. After that, she’ll be unstoppable.”

Damon chuckled. “Great. Another power-hungry monster on a world-ending field trip. Because we haven’t dealt with enough of those already. So, what’s the plan? We keep ‘em out of her scaly hands, then gank Maci before she goes full Godzilla on us? Just another Tuesday, right, Sawyer?”

I glanced back at my brother. “That’s the plan. We need to get her before she gets us.”

The car fell silent for a moment, the only sound the hum of the engine and the rush of wind outside. Then, Brody’s voice piped up from the back, tentative but hopeful. “How about Edinburgh Castle?”

Edinburgh Castle was a tourist hotspot, crowded even at this time of year. It was also a place of historical significance, possibly with its own mystical properties that could offer some protection.

“It’s public,” Lisa chimed in, her voice hoarse from the dust. “Lots of witnesses if anything goes down.”

Zara nodded. “Plus, it’s on high ground. Good vantage point.”

I looked at Justice, seeing the same thoughts reflected in his eyes. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a plan. And right now, any plan was better than none.

“Edinburgh Castle it is,” I declared with a small surge of relief at having a destination. “Justice, you know the way?”

He nodded grimly, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. “I know every street in this city. We’ll take the long way in case we’re being followed.”

We sped through the countryside, and soon, the looming silhouette of Edinburgh appeared. It was midday, and my stomach grumbled. I couldn’t remember when I had last eaten.

However, satisfying my hunger was the last thing on my mind.

Maci was out there, changed and dangerous. The demon of rage was still a threat. And who knew what other forces were at play?

I glanced back at my team, their faces filled with determination and fear, highlighted by the harsh afternoon sunlight streaming through the car windows. Sweat glistened on their brows from the summer heat and the lingering adrenaline. We were battered, exhausted, and out of our depth. The bright daylight outside seemed to mock the darkness we’d fled, making our supernatural encounter almost surreal.

Damon squinted against the sunlight, his usual smirk replaced by a grim line. Lisa’s blonde hair, still dusty from the cave, caught the light like a tarnished halo. Zara’s gaze darted constantly between the windows as if expecting something to emerge from the bright landscape at any moment. Brody’s fingers tapped a nervous rhythm on his knee, the only outward sign of his inner turmoil.

Despite the warmth of the day, a chill crept down my spine. I took in the resolute set of Justice’s jaw as he drove, the way my team instinctively leaned toward each other in the back seat, and felt a surge of something like hope.

We were together. Dirty, scared, and unsure of what came next, but together. And for now, as we sped through the Scottish countryside, that had to be enough.

“Stay sharp,” I reminded them, my voice cutting through the hum of the engine and the rush of air from the open windows. “We might not even make it to the castle.”

Zara opened her purse and pulled out a compact mirror. “I suggest we clean up as best we can before we get there, or we’re liable to draw unwanted stares.”

I opened the glove box and found some tissues. After pulling down the car’s sun visor, I looked into the mirror. Dirt covered my cheeks and forehead and dusted my hair. I dragged my fingers through my hair, trying to brush it off. I wet a tissue and attempted to clean my face, but all I did was smear the filth.

“Here,” Zara offered. “I’ve got some wet wipes. Try using these.”

“Thank you.” The moist cloth cleaned off the dirt, but I still looked like a little kid who had been playing in the mud.

“Maybe we should pull into a gas station,” Lisa suggested as she braided her messy hair.

“We don’t have time,” Justice returned. “Maci would catch us for sure. Just do the best you can.”

He pressed harder on the accelerator, and we raced onward, leaving a trail of dust in the golden afternoon light.