Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

Lisa led the way, the flickering glow from her palms casting long, wavering, intermittent shadows across the white pebbled path. Its mercurial radiance painted the surrounding landscape in shifting hues of silver and azure.

As we approached the fairy pools, the magical light grew more intense, as if responding to the mystical energy of the place. It sent prismatic reflections skittering across the water's surface, creating a mesmerizing light show rivaling the aurora borealis. The pools seemed to come alive, their waters no longer merely bubbling but swirling with an inner luminescence that pulsed in harmony with Lisa’s light.

The cascading waterfalls appeared truly enchanted. Each droplet caught the magical light, creating cascades of liquid starlight that tumbled down the dark rocks. The mist rising from the falls shimmered with rainbow hues, forming diaphanous veils that drifted on the cool night air.

I picked my way carefully along the path, my eyes constantly drawn to the fantastical scene around us. The white pebbles beneath our feet seemed to absorb and reflect the magical light, turning the trail into a winding ribbon with a soft, pearlescent glow. When we reached a small stream crossing our path, the slippery rocks glistened like polished opals, their surfaces alive with swirling patterns of color.

Justice followed close behind me. I could sense the others behind him, all moving in a hushed procession through this transformed landscape.

A gust of wind swept over us, carrying the crisp scent of heather and the earthy perfume of moss. I shivered, partly from the chill and partly from sheer wonder. The breeze seemed to whisper ancient secrets as it rustled through the surrounding vegetation, stirring the magical light into swirling eddies that danced around us like mischievous spirits.

The night air here reminded me of skiing in Colorado, where no amount of clothing could keep the air out. When I exhaled, I could see my breath, and my teeth chattered. I suspected this wasn’t natural. As I moved through the darkness, my heart pounded so loudly that I feared it might give us away.

I still felt we were being watched. Every shadow seemed to conceal a potential threat, every rustle of leaves a sign of Maci’s cunning traps. Knowing she wouldn’t leave the phoenix unprotected made my palms sweat. We wouldn’t be able to waltz in and rescue it. That much was painfully clear.

Lisa’s past words echoed in my mind, fueling a spark of hope amid my anxiety. The phoenix could supercharge our artifacts, giving us an edge we desperately needed. It was the only way to defeat the demons.

Yet, with that hope came a new wave of worry. If we knew this, Maci did too. The thought of her using the phoenix’s power to strengthen her demons made my stomach churn. We couldn’t let that happen. The consequences were too terrible for me to contemplate.

As we carefully moved down the path, something unexpected happened. A sense of serenity washed over me, momentarily pushing back my fear and doubt. It was as if the ancient magic of this place recognized our purpose and offered its silent support. Each tranquil pool we passed seemed to infuse me with renewed strength, steeling my resolve for the challenges ahead.

Yet, even as this calm flowed through me, a nagging voice in the back of my mind whispered warnings. Was this serenity real or another of Maci’s traps? Were we walking into an ambush, lulled into a false sense of security by the enchanting surroundings?

Despite my conflicting emotions, one thing remained clear. We didn’t have a choice. The fate of so much hung in the balance. With each step deeper into the heart of the fairy pools, I silently prayed our determination, and perhaps a bit of fairy luck, would be enough to see us through this perilous night.

From the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a dark shadow move. It was blacker than the night, as if a fabric had been torn away, showing the depths of hell. My heart leaped into my throat, and a cold sweat broke out across my skin. Was it my imagination, or had something really shifted in the darkness? It could be Maci or another demon.

Then came the smell, a nauseating mixture of copper and sulfur that made my stomach lurch. The unmistakable scent of blood mingled with brimstone grew stronger with each passing second, reminding me of the same stench back in the Shadow Mine.

My ears strained in the eerie silence that had fallen. The usual nighttime sounds had all ceased abruptly. In their place, I heard something that made my blood run cold. A low, guttural growl, barely audible above the bubbling fairy pools but undeniably real. It was a sound that didn’t belong in this world, a hungry noise that spoke of unnatural hunger and otherworldly malice.

I could almost taste the fear, metallic and bitter on my tongue. My mouth went dry as I fought the urge to call out to the others, worried that any sound might draw whatever it was closer to us.

“Justice, do you smell that? The gluttony demons…” I whispered, trailing off.

“They’re here.” Justice gripped my arm. “I don’t see them, but I suspect they are lurking where Maci imprisoned the phoenix.”

His movement startled me, and I put a hand over my mouth to keep from screaming. I gasped between my fingers as he pulled me back against his chest. The firmness of his body was both reassuring and anxiety-inducing.

Lisa hurried to the edge of the fairy pool and looked like she was about to jump into the water without thinking, like a little kid.

“Lisa, stop,” Justice’s low voice called near my ear. “The demons are tracking us and can see us. They’ll capture you before you get close to your phoenix.” He tightened his grip on my arm. “Sawyer, you need to look in the mirror.”

His words sent a chill down my spine. I scanned the area frantically, trying to spot what Justice had sensed. The shadows danced and shifted, playing tricks on my eyes. Every rustle of leaves, every whisper of wind felt sinister.

My hands trembled as I opened the backpack and pulled out the Mirror of Aethereal. “Show me where the phoenix is.”

The surface rippled like a lake under a silver moon, an eerie sight that never failed to send a shiver down my spine. In my mom’s voice, it said, “The phoenix is hiding behind a single waterfall cascading into a fairy pool, and you shall see.”

The mirror continued. “Seek the Veil of Whispers, where water cascades from ancient stone. A spell is over the phoenix. To retrieve it, you must swim under the waterfall and down to its prison. Only your blood has the power to release the phoenix. The bloodline in the women of your family is stronger. Trust in it. It’s your destiny.”

Lisa’s eyes widened with recognition. “The Veil of Whispers? I’ve heard of it. It’s said to be one of the most magical of the fairy pools, a tall, narrow waterfall that spills into a deep, circular pool. The locals say the sound of the falling water carries whispers from the fairy realm.”

Justice nodded grimly. “I’ve seen it. The water falls from a height taller than three men, creating a curtain of mist. The pool below is deceptively deep. No one knows how far down it goes.”

“I don’t care what the mirror says. My phoenix is down there. I have to save her. She needs me,” Lisa insisted, her voice thick with emotion.

Brody placed a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder. “Stand down, soldier. We can’t let our hearts cloud our judgment. The demons are counting on us to fracture. We’re stronger together, and that’s how we’ll win this fight. Your phoenix is brave. She’d want you to make the right call here.”

Lisa’s reaction didn’t help my nerves. Her stubbornness to push forward despite the danger made my stomach churn with worry. I was torn between the desire to flee and the need to continue our mission.

“Follow me.” Justice slipped in front of Lisa and Brody.

Relief and apprehension filled me. His confidence in his ability to see in the dark was reassuring, but it also highlighted how vulnerable the rest of us were.

Lisa’s light illuminated Justice’s broad back, and I couldn’t help but stare at the taut muscles visible through his shirt. His tension seemed to seep over to me, heightening my own anxiety. I wished he could use his vampire speed to whisk us away from danger, but I was the only one who could retrieve the phoenix.

Every step forward felt like a risk. The darkness beyond Lisa’s light seemed to press in on us, full of unseen threats. I strained my ears for any sound that might betray the presence of demons or a dragon, my imagination running wild with every rustle or snap of a twig.

A shiver shook my spine as I imagined the task ahead. Swimming under a powerful waterfall, then plunging into unknown depths, was a daunting prospect, even without the threat of demons lurking below.

Justice stopped and pointed. “That’s the waterfall.”

I followed his gaze. “So, I need to get past the waterfall, dive into the pool, find this prison, and use my blood to free the phoenix,” I summarized, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice. “All while avoiding any traps Maci might have set, not to mention the gluttony demons.”

Lisa inhaled sharply. “Blood? That can’t be good.”

Justice’s eyes narrowed. “Gluttony demons feed on blood. Maci must be using them as guards.”

Zara paled. “Gluttony demons?”

I nodded grimly, feeling every nerve standing at attention. I didn’t want to become an enslaved vampire. “Yes. Gluttony demons were the first Seven Deadly Sins demon we encountered, and they’re always hungry. Their type of demon devours prey like vampires, sucking their blood until there’s nothing left but an empty shell.”

The memory of the drained victims in the Shadow Mine still haunted my dreams, and a shadow of fear fell over me.

Lisa stepped closer and whispered, “We need to be careful. Fairy pools are dangerous enough on their own. They’re gateways to the fairy realm. One wrong move, and we could be trapped there forever.”

I peered into the darkness, trying to spot the pool Justice had gestured to. As if on cue, faint moonlight broke through, illuminating a small, circular pool nearby. Its surface was mirror-smooth, reflecting the starry sky above. An ethereal mist hovered above the water, giving it an otherworldly appearance.

Its beauty both awed and terrified me. The last thing I wanted to do was to crawl down there by myself.

Justice placed a protective hand on my shoulder. “You need to be careful. Swimming down is risky enough, but with gluttony demons waiting…maybe you should take the mirror.”

“I can’t swim and use it at the same time.” I swallowed hard, “Besides, I think you need it. The demons could attack you. To do this, I need to know all of you will be here when I get back.”

He lifted my chin. “I promise I’ll keep everyone safe. You’re the one who needs to be careful.” He clasped my chin. “Call for me, and I can whisk you out of there. Remember, you’re not doing this alone.”

“I know, but it’s my destiny.” My voice sounded braver than I felt. All I wanted to do was turn tail and run, but that went against everything I had been taught.

The fairy pools gleamed like liquid starlight, their serene beauty a deceptive veil over the danger that lurked beneath. I felt the enemy’s eyes upon me, waiting with bated breath for my desperate attempt to save the phoenix. The air crackled with tension, and I knew my next move would either be our salvation or our doom.