Chapter 13

My eyes roamed over the aftermath of the battle. It left Salem"s town square in disarray. Movement caught my eye and I looked over to see Siobhan floating down from a nearby rooftop. Her ethereal presence cast a deadly aura over the scene. She joined Aidon, Stella, Todd, and I.

"He's going to be fine," Siobhan told Stella, who had tears streaming down her face. "I don't sense his death."

I crouched and wrapped an arm around my bestie. "That's good news."

She nodded in agreement and smiled at Todd. "I love you," she told him.

The sound of heavy boots made me turn around. Aidon was approaching the hulking men who were nearing us. They had to be his men. I could feel the sense of urgency coming from my mate. Releasing Stella, I stood when he took a call. What was that about?

Aidon hurried back to my side. "We need to join Murtagh and Tseki. He called in, and they"ve found the stronghold for Umbra in town."

Still recovering from the fight, Todd struggled to stand. His determination was palpable. The toll of the battle was evident in the way he winced with each movement.

Stella, ever protective, objected immediately. "Todd, you"re injured. You can"t go charging into another confrontation like this."

Todd gritted his teeth, insisting, "I"m fine, Stella. The healing potion is working. I can handle it."

Aidon stepped forward and assessed Todd"s condition. "We can't afford any distractions or liabilities. I trust you"ll stay back if you're not stable enough to go inside. There is too much at stake to chance mistakes."

Todd nodded with a sense of responsibility in his eyes. "I won"t put us in danger, Aidon. But I can"t sit this one out. We need to stop Umbra."

Stella was wringing her hands and glaring at her husband. "Todd, please. I can"t bear the thought of you getting hurt again."

"We"ll watch out for him, Stella," I reassured her. "We have magic and can tie him to a fence post if we have to."

Stella hesitated but eventually nodded and looked at her husband and said, "And don't think we won't do it."

He chuckled and leaned on her for support as we made our way through Salem"s streets. Aidon pulled up directions from the information Murtagh gave him. It was a relief to see Todd walking on his own and looking better when we arrived a few houses down from the suspected Umbra stronghold.

The building loomed in the moonlight, a two-story Victorian structure with an eerie, dilapidated charm. The windows were boarded up, and the front door bore signs of recent magical disturbances. The yard was in rough shape, with dead patches scattered throughout. That had to be the Dark energy seeping into the earth.

"Where are Tseki and Murtagh?" I asked was we hesitated to get any closer.

"Right here," Tseki said as he and Murtagh stepped out of the shadows.

"I can take my incorporeal form and find a way inside for you guys," Siobhan offered before further plans were made.

Aidon inclined his head. "We would appreciate that. It'd be nice to maintain the element of surprise until we get inside."

I nodded as I sent out magical feelers for protections around the house. I sucked in a breath when I detected some powerful magic. "I don't detect significant wards," I told Siobhan, "but there is significant power there."

The banshee nodded and disappeared. Stella frowned and flung her hand in the air. "We should tear down the wards before she gets back."

"That will alert them. We should create a bubble that will shield our approach and is attuned to the same frequency as the ward," I countered.

Stella's grin grew, and she rubbed her hands together. "I like the way you think." That was one thing I loved about Stella. She was always up for new things. The two of us went to work and had the spell in place by the time Siobhan rejoined us.

We decided to go in through a rear window to the basement when she told us the Umbra were on the upper levels and they had magical artifacts on the bottom level. I wanted to examine them. We didn't need any of the cult members running to grab something and attack us with it.

We stuck to the shadows with Siobhan"s spectral presence trailing behind. We approached the stronghold, prepared to face whatever supernatural challenges awaited us inside. Our spell worked perfectly, and we moved without any issues.

I eyed the window with thinly veiled horror. "I can't get through there!" I whisper-hissed.

Stella grimaced, and Tseki rolled his eyes and said, "Widen it with your magic."

My cheeks heated with my embarrassment. Quickly casting the spell, I gestured for Aidon to go first so he could catch me as I dropped in. It didn't take long for all of us to get inside the dimly lit room.

We were surrounded by the eerie glow of ancient symbols painted on the walls. Aidon headed to the shelving unit containing countless relics. I didn't need to open my senses to know they were Dark. And malevolent.

"Great," I muttered, "a cursed knickknack to add to the collection. Do they come with a money-back guarantee?"

Stella smirked. "I doubt the cult"s return policy is very accommodating."

Aidon"s expression tightened. "This relic is no ordinary object. It"s a conduit. This is how Eris is channeling energy to her followers and keeping them enthralled and working on her plan."

I rolled my eyes, unable to resist a sarcastic quip. "Because every evil plot needs a good centerpiece, right?"

Stella chuckled without making a sound. "We need to understand its origins and find a way to neutralize its power."

Todd studied the dusty bookshelf, crossing his arms. "How do these trinkets work? Are they forged in the fires of some demonic forge and put up on a Black Friday sale? There are a lot of them."

Aidon pointed to the one emanating the most power. "That one dates back thousands of years. Eris created it as a way to invoke chaos between witches and demons that were making their way through to Earth. The cult believed that unleashing her chaos would bring about a new era. They believed they'd be eliminating the threat to mankind."

I raised an eyebrow. "Well, aren"t they just a bunch of overachievers? Most people join a book club, not reshape the world. How do we handle this?"

"We need to find the artifact"s original source of power and sever its connection to the cult. Only then can we prevent the apocalyptic scenario they will unleash," Aidon said.

I scowled at him. "They want me. Not the end of the world."

Stella looked at me incredulously and smacked my arm. "You're not that stupid. Eris wants you, but they want power. And I bet she told them you were a block to their getting it."

"And if their grab for power doesn't end the world, Aidon will. His murderous urges are making my dragon itch," Tseki added.

As I stood before the cursed relic, the room was charged with energy. "I can use this to track the other artifact. It's got to be close, right?"

Aidon inclined his head. "Yes. Even a goddess's creation must be close to channel the power."

I took a deep breath, channeling the power that flowed through my veins. Stella and Aidon watched with a mix of curiosity and skepticism as I closed my eyes. I let the magic guide me through the tangled threads of magic.

I almost lost focus when I heard Stella mention taking one of the artifacts there and enchanting it to protect Todd from Dark magic. It was a smart plan, especially if she did it before we went up the stairs. Any of the witches could hit him with a spell and kill him instantly.

Shutting out the others, I concentrated on my task. The energy swirled around me but never moved away. I tried for several long seconds. Finally, I released a pent-up breath and opened my eyes. Once again, I was sidetracked by Stella giving her husband a charm.

"So, let me get this straight," Todd said, eyeing the enchanted talisman like it was a particularly interesting sandwich. "This little trinket is going to protect me from spells?"

Stella nodded. "There's a lot of power in this house and we can't hold a shield around you while also trying to fight."

Without hesitation, Todd slipped the talisman around his neck. The moment it settled against his chest a subtle shimmer enveloped him. It was the supernatural version of a makeover montage in a cheesy rom-com.

He looked at his reflection, bewildered. "Is it supposed to do that?"

Stella shot me a panicked look. I smiled at her. "Every person is unique, Todd. You're protected, and that's what matters right now." Looking to Aidon, I held back my grimace. "I can"t seem to find the other end of the relic," I confessed in a hushed tone, frustration lacing my words.

Aidon"s gaze bore into the shadows, his expression thoughtful. "It might be upstairs. There's someone in charge of the Order. We look for one of the witches in Eris"s cult that seems to have more power."

Nodding, I eyed the staircase. Tseki went first, followed by Stella and then Todd Aidon nudged me into action. My legs shook as I lifted one foot to the tread. Ascending the creaking staircase felt like an ascent into the heart of darkness. The musty scent of aged wood intermingled with an ominous undertone that set my nerves on edge. The flickering glow of magical wards adorned the doorway above.

I cast a hasty spell, creating a bridge over it. I didn't have much time. Tseki couldn't see it, and he was about to encounter it. I held my breath as he stepped over the threshold.

As we traversed the dimly lit corridor, the hum of volatile spells resonated through the air. An inexplicable chill crawled along my skin. The sensory symphony intensified. The scent of aged wood grew more potent, as did the whispers of ancient incantations. A subtle vibration underfoot hinted at the magical current the Umbra were using.

The glow of magic intensified as we approached a door to what I would guess was a living room. Aidon gestured for us to stop as he inspected the entrance. We were so focused on him that we missed the Umbra witches approaching from behind.

The sudden eruption of chaos shattered the fragile stillness. Dark-robed cult members materialized with frenzied determination. Their eyes were ablaze with an unholy zeal. Our group was forced apart, and I went into automatic fight mode. I was grateful I had such fast reflexes because I was tossing fireballs before anyone could reach me. Spells collided in a cacophony of magic, the air pulsating with the tangible energy of battle.

Amidst the pandemonium, I lost sight of most of my companions. Siobhan's mouth was open in a wail that I was relieved I couldn't hear. Ducking past a woman with bright blue hair, I set her robe on fire and left her to burn. On the other side, I saw Murtagh and Tseki engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Their movements were a blur of martial prowess. I headed for Todd, who was wielding a gun. He fired sporadically, and each shot was accompanied by a resounding echo. Stella's talisman worked because spells bounced off of a shield surrounding him. Thank the gods she'd had the foresight to create it.

Bright sparks of light clashed with tendrils of inky darkness, creating a visual symphony that danced on the edges of perception. The metallic taste of adrenaline tinged the air as I summoned protective barriers. My fingers tingled with the raw power coursing through them.

The sounds of magical clashes became a dissonant melody, a surreal concert of light and shadow. It was practically all I could hear. Intermittent gunshots were the other thing. I never thought I would be so happy to hear a gun being fired in my life. But at the moment, it meant Todd was still standing. Siobhan, ethereal and elusive, moved like a wraith through the battlefield.

I tried to open my senses and search for the witch that might have the other piece of the relic to channel Eris's power, but it was too chaotic. I had to keep fighting. My fingers danced with the arcane as I unleashed bolts of energy. Each burst was a testament to the ancient magic coursing through my veins. The air crackled with the symphony of elemental forces, a sensory overload of sights and sounds.

However, as the skirmish unfolded, I lost my bearings in the tumult. The world blurred, and my senses spiraled into disorientation. A burst of dark energy collided with me, sending me hurtling backward. The impact against a refrigerator in the kitchen was a visceral collision of pain and force. It wasn't until I hit the ground that I realized the spell hadn't sunk into me.

Pain radiated through my body, momentarily paralyzing me. My unborn children, sensing danger, had conjured a protective sphere from the depths of their magic. The ethereal shield enveloped me, a shimmering cocoon preserving the fragile lives within. I didn't mean to keep putting them in danger. This case was supposed to be an investigation into a missing witch, not World War III. I made a mental note to talk to my team about how we would handle these situations in the future. I would need to lean on Selene and Layla, along with Tseki and Murtagh, to handle the nitty-gritty of cases.

The scent of blood distracted my thought process as it infiltrated my nostrils. The coppery taste lingering on my tongue made my heart race. Where was I hurt? Did I have internal bleeding? Were my babies not as safe as I thought? Those thoughts raced through my head as I struggled against the pain.

I attempted to rise. The kitchen around me was a testament to the supernatural skirmish. There was upturned furniture, shattered glass, and the lingering scent of burnt incense.

As I fought to regain my composure, the battle raged on around me. Clashes of magic and incantations echoed through the house, Todd"s gunfire sporadically punctuating the supernatural symphony. I heard the call for a retreat as I lay there, determined to rise and confront the darkness threatening to engulf me and my babies.