Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

H obbling through the temple, I could feel a twinge of pain radiating down my leg, but it dissipated slowly. Each step was a reminder of just how much my body had endured. And I wasn't the only one feeling it. Damon was moving like a snail beside me. His normally-strong stride reduced to a careful shuffle. Though in better shape, Eve was also showing signs of fatigue.

Tegan and Faith led the way as we followed the faint, ethereal trail of magic that snaked through the ancient corridors. "Stay behind me," Faith ordered when we came to a corner. Her tone was firm, almost like a commander addressing her troops. "You, Eve and Damon aren't at full strength yet, and we can't afford to have you guys unconscious."

I grumbled under my breath from a surge of irritation. "I'm not out of the fight yet, you know," I snapped. My pride stung at the implication that I needed to be coddled.

Faith raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. "Just trying to keep you in one piece, Nishi. We can't afford to lose anyone, especially not now."

I focused on the temple's crumbling stone walls and towering columns. I could see the intricate carvings. I couldn't understand what they depicted but I could tell some of them were symbols. Soft light filtered in through cracks in the walls and cast long shadows that seemed to move and dance on their own.

"At least it's not dark and dank," Eve muttered, trying to lighten the mood. "I'd hate to encounter more Shadow Weavers."

"I think ‘majestic but falling apart' is a better description," Tegan quipped as she scanned the carvings.

I agreed wholeheartedly. Despite everything, there was something awe-inspiring about the place. It was like walking through a forgotten piece of art and history. Damon stumbled slightly, catching himself on a pillar. I reached out to steady him, our eyes meeting for a brief moment. "You okay?" I asked, trying to mask my own weariness.

"Yeah," he grunted. "Just need to keep moving."

I held his gaze for several seconds and inclined my head. He refused to give up. I was doing the same, so I couldn't very well call him on it. I was feeling better with each passing second, so it wasn't necessary to stop when we were so close.

Pressing on, we followed the trail of magic that Eve had identified. It felt playful like it enjoyed playing hide and seek with the magic in the area. I might be losing my mind to attribute such intentions to the magic. It wasn't capable of thinking or feeling.

Shaking my head I focused on the spell. It was a shimmering thread that seemed to pulse with energy. It led us through narrow passages and wide halls. Each turn revealed more of the temple's splendor and decay. But it didn't take us where we needed to go. The temple didn't look like it was this big. How were we still searching?

"I wonder how much farther," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.

"Not far. I can feel a surge." Tegan's voice held an edge of excitement that was infectious.

There was more pep in my step when we rounded another corner, and the trail of magic grew brighter. The air around us tingled with energy. "We're close," Eve said. Her relief and anticipation were palpable.

Faith glanced back at us, a small smile on her lips. "Stay sharp. We don't know what we'll find."

I tightened my grip on my weapons, ignoring the protest of my muscles. "I'm ready," I said, more to convince myself than anyone else. The fight wasn't over yet, and neither was I.

We walked for several more minutes, taking note of the images and symbols as we went. I suddenly felt like a character from a movie. "I'm getting serious ‘tomb raider' vibes here," I quipped. "Minus the Lara Croft outfit, unfortunately."

Eve shot me a wry smile. "We can't all be action heroes," she retorted playfully. "But at least we have Faith to lead the way."

We all laughed and went on. The glowing thread of magic led us into a large chamber adorned with murals. It was the best preserved of the entire temple but was still weathered. The artwork depicted scenes of battles with gods and mortals intertwined in epic struggles. The energy had become electric. It made the hairs on my arms stand on end. I was so turned around and I had no idea where we were.

"Look at this place," Tegan said in awe. "It's incredible."

"Yeah, yeah, it's pretty. Let's find what we're looking for and get out of here," I muttered as my impatience bubbled up.

Damon limped around the chamber examining the walls. "There's something odd about this mural," he said, pointing to a particularly detailed section depicting Apollo with a lyre.

"What do you mean?" Eve asked, joining him.

Damon ran his fingers over the surface, feeling for inconsistencies. "The texture is different here. It's smoother, almost like…"

"There's a hidden door," Faith finished for him.

My curiosity was piqued so I stepped closer. I had no idea who did what but as the three of them felt the wall in front of us, a section of the wall slid open with a soft rumble. A narrow passageway was revealed. The smell that wafted out was of damp earth and old magic.

"Would you look at that? A secret passage in an ancient temple. Who could have guessed?" I quipped.

Faith shot me a smirk. "They've taken us to some fun times before. You ready for this?"

Nodding, I said, "I'm good. Not a hundred percent but better."

We squeezed through the opening one by one. The passage was barely wide enough to accommodate us. It sloped gently upward until the climb became so steep I thought there should be stairs. My legs protested and cried out in relief when we encountered steps. It was almost as if I'd conjured them with my thoughts.

"That's a lot of stairs," Faith grumbled as she looked up. "The temple isn't that tall."

Eve patted her shoulder. "It's magic, Faith."

There was more grumbling, and we continued. After what felt like an eternity, we emerged onto the temple's roof. The view was breathtaking. The night sky was a tapestry of stars and lights. And the landscape below was bathed in silvery moonlight. The roof itself was made of ancient stones. Some were crumbling and others still stood strong.

Faith looked around, frowning. "I thought more of the roof was missing. How is this even possible?"

Eve gave her a knowing look. "Like I told Nishi, it's magic. Isn't it wonderful?"

Faith smiled at her. "I love it. I don't know why I fought the supernatural for so long."

As we stood there, catching our breath I felt a strange energy in the air. Vibrations emanated from all around us. "Do you feel that?" I asked, glancing at the others.

Eve nodded, her eyes scanning the sky. "I think the tear is here. It feels like it did briefly that night in the vault. "

Damon looked thoughtful as he said, "He definitely hid it away from prying eyes."

The rooftop stretched out like a vast canvas. It was painted with hues of dusk that blended seamlessly with the golden rays of the setting sun. Eve's magic hung in the air and wove intricate patterns that danced around us.

"Great. So how do we close it?" I asked.

Eve looked over at Damon. "My gut is telling me that we need to do this together."

Damon nodded in agreement and moved closer to Eve. "We'll need to channel our magic into one focused beam," he suggested. "We will need to target the tear's weakest points. Those are what we need to stitch together."

"With thread made of steel so no one can get through again," I added.

Faith chuckled. "Add some cyanoacrylate glue for good measure."

Tegan looked as confused as I felt. "What's that?" she asked.

Faith lifted a shoulder. "Supercharged superglue."

Eve sighed and glowered at us. "As fascinating as that is, we need to concentrate. You do not want me messing up my intent on this one."

Pinching two fingers together, I ran them across my mouth. "I do not want you ripping the thing open entirely so every Tom, Dick, and Harry can come through. We trust you."

Eve and Damon continued discussing things. She mentioned potions she thought would be advantageous in addition to the enchantments. He agreed they would be helpful, and Eve handed me a vial containing a potion. "Throw that at the focal point of energy when you feel it heighten."

I nodded in agreement and fixed my gaze on the pulsating tear in the fabric of reality before us. Every fiber of my being strained with the anticipation of what was to come. My heart was pounding in my chest like a drumbeat echoing through the night. Damon and Eve stood beside me with their hands clasped together. It would make combining their magic easier. They were a formidable duo. They hadn't said anything yet and I could feel their magic intertwining. It was a mesmerizing dance of power and purpose.

"Are you ready?" Eve's steady voice drew my eye. She was confident and not at all afraid. When I grew up, I wanted to be like her.

Damon nodded again and pressed his lips into a thin line. He wasn't nearly as confident. I prayed that didn't come back to bite us in the ass. I braced myself for what was to come. This wasn't the time for distractions or doubts, or I would have called him on it.

Damon and Eve began to chant in Latin, their words weaving together in a complex tapestry of spells and incantations. Each syllable dripped with ancient power and resonated through the air like the tolling of a bell.

" Κλειδ? τη? π?λη? μεταξ? των κ?σμων, " Damon intoned. There was a weight that seemed to echo through the depths of my soul when he spoke. Right as I was wondering what he had said, he whispered, "Key of the gate between worlds."

" Erigere murum ," Eve chanted. I'd been learning some Latin with Eve and thought she was saying, "Raise the barrier."

Their voices melded together in a crescendo of power as they said more that I couldn't quite hear and didn't understand anyway. Their words swirled around us like a whirlwind of energy. The rooftop vibrated with their power. It made the loose stones bounce and debris fall onto the temple floor below us. My wide eyes shot to Faith, and I mouthed, "I hope we don't fall."

"Same," she mouthed back.

They wove their power together and with a final surge of energy, the tear collapsed in on itself. A blinding flash of light engulfed us, and a boom of thunder shook us as the rift was sealed shut. The air crackled with residual energy. The rooftop was bathed in a ripple of lights that reminded me of the Aurora Borealis. It was a beautiful sight.I hurtled the potion at the focal point, and it flared when it connected.

As the light faded, a sense of relief washed over me. It left me feeling drained but victorious. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. My shoulders sagged from the weight of the moment.

"Well, that was something," Faith remarked. She surveyed the rooftop with wide eyes. "I don't know about you all, but I could use a stiff drink after that."

I couldn't help but laugh at her words, the tension of the past few hours finally beginning to ebb away. "You and me both," I replied. My voice was filled with relief as I turned to face my friends. "But first, let's get the hell out of here before something else decides to take a bite out of us."