Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

As I led my team toward the serpent's lair, I knew our lives hung in the balance. The Aegis serpent guarded this ancient artifact, and any seeker deemed unworthy would face swift and lethal judgment.

The Mirror of Aethereal's prophecy had been clear. Only those who were deemed worthy could claim the Crown of Envy. If we captured the crown, it had the power to send the envy demons back to hell. But to send all of the Seven Deadly Sins back, we had to gather seven objects.

The mirror hadn't revealed all seven magical items yet. So far, we had the mirror itself, the dagger, the Heartstone, and the phoenix grass. Now, we needed the Crown of Envy.

If we didn't find all seven magical objects, Maci would achieve her goal of dominating the world. She would unleash the deadly demons, and no one would be able to stand in her way. To make things worse, she had Lisa's phoenix and would soon have the power to control life and death.

The only thing stopping her was us.

I clutched the compass and the Scales of Balance tighter as we entered the dark and forbidding tunnel. As we approached the tunnel's gaping maw, an eerie stillness enveloped us. The air grew thick with foreboding, and my breath caught in my throat.

I instinctively tightened my grip on the items in my hands, their cool metal surfaces offering a strange comfort against my clammy palms. The tunnel's entrance loomed before us, a void of impenetrable darkness that seemed to devour what little light remained. The stone walls glistened with moisture, their rough surfaces disappearing into the inky blackness ahead.

A musty odor wafted from the depths, carrying hints of decay and secrets long buried. With each step forward, the outside world receded, leaving us to face whatever lurked within the ominous passage.

Algae dripped from the ceiling, leaving slimy pools on the path. I slipped in one, and the moisture coated my boot. Cold seeped into my feet like a block of ice. A faint hint of sparkling on the narrow passage walls reminded me of gold. Maybe the Crown of Envy was made from what was inside these walls.

The Scales, another ancient artifact, had the power to weigh the purity of our intentions and thoughts. It would be our key to proving our worth to the Aegis serpent. Fear gripped me as we continued deeper into the cave.

Flickering torches cast eerie shadows on the damp walls. Justice walked behind me, his presence giving me the strength and courage to lead my brother and the others deeper into danger. I felt the power of the Crown of Envy and the Aegis serpent bearing down on us, an invisible force pulling us into the unknown.

I handed the Scales to Justice, my hand feeling strangely empty without its weight. His face was drawn, and his tired eyes shone in the darkness that seemed to show off the battle he was fighting inside to survive. My heart ached for him, and a lump formed in my throat. I had to save him. He was my mate, and I wouldn't let him die.

The compass pointed insistently down the passageway, and I drew a deep breath, trying in vain to calm my racing heart.

My mind flashed to the endless mazes of the Grove of Whispers and the dungeons of Edinburgh, expecting something similar. But as we progressed, it became clear my assumptions were wrong. This passage seemed different, holding secrets yet to be unraveled.

It was darker and colder than the Grove and the dungeons. The cavern seemed older, as if it had been here when man first walked the Earth. How old was the Aegis serpent? Maybe it had lived here since the Ice Age, surviving here when the Earth turned into a frozen palace.

I trudged through the tunnel as if moving through a bog, following the unwavering compass. My team's blind trust awed and frightened me. What if I was leading them into a death trap?

As I turned a corner, my breath caught in my throat. There, mere steps away, stood an altar. Atop it was the Crown of Envy, gleaming in the torchlight.

My eyes widened as I took in the sight of the Aegis serpent, a massive snake, the largest I had ever seen. Its emerald scales shimmered as it slithered over the crown, and its glowing green eyes locked with mine. I could sense its pulsing power, drawing me toward it. A chill ran down my spine, and I instinctively knew I was the one who had to face it.

The serpent lifted its head and flattened it like a cobra. Its hiss echoed off the cavern walls.

Someone's hand landed on my shoulder, and I flinched. I turned around, expecting Justice, but it was Brody. "Stay back, Sawyer," he stated, his voice tight with concern. "I'll face it."

I placed my hand on his arm, feeling the tension in his muscles. "No, Brody. This is my destiny. Yours is to guard my back. Can you do that?"

"No. I'm stronger and faster than you. Let me do this."

I shook my head. "No. I'm the one that has to. I'm the chosen one. If you interfere, the serpent could kill us all, and we'd never get the crown. Is that what you want?"

He hung his head. "No."

I stared at the altar with a sinking feeling. I could almost feel other eyes upon us. "Good. Watch my back. I have a gut feeling we're being tracked."

His scowl deepened as he glanced around the chamber. "Maci is coming?"

I nodded, my stomach clenching with dread.

"We were betrayed, then," he remarked.

"Yes, unfortunately." My gaze fell on Zara, who was whispering urgently to Lisa. The sight of them made my skin crawl with suspicion.

Brody's grip on my shoulder tightened. "Be careful," he warned.

"I will," I promised, trying to inject more confidence into my voice than I felt.

Inside, I was a nervous wreck, everything quivering like a bowl of jelly. My knees knocked together, and I wanted to run screaming out of the cave. Snakes had always terrified me, their sharp fangs, their long slender bodies curling around objects and climbing walls. And those eyes that never seemed to see anything, like a doll's eyes.

I stared at the serpent. It knew I was afraid.

Justice stepped toward me with a look of determination and possessiveness. The snake wasn't the only one that could sense my fear. Justice was a vampire, and he could detect my every feeling. I was his mate, and he would do everything in his power to protect me.

But in this case, he couldn't help me. Not if he wanted the mission to succeed.

I placed my finger on his lips. "I need to do this alone," I murmured. "You know it's true. I must reveal my darkest secret. Something I haven't been able to think about for years."

His frown deepened, concern etching lines around his eyes.

I glanced at Damon, my heart heavy. Instead of seeing the man before me, I thought of the lost little boy who had found our mother lying in her own blood. How he had been nearly driven mad with grief. He blamed himself for not stopping her killer.

That wasn't his job, though. I was the one who should have told our father, though now, I couldn't remember his face.

Like Justice, he had always tried to shield me from my mother's death. Keep the gory details away from me. I had kept my secret buried for so long that it almost seemed like a dream.

But it wasn't. It was the truth.

Justice's hand clamped onto my arm, his grip almost painful. "I won't stand by and watch you die," he growled.

"I know," I whispered, slowly backing away. Justice followed, each step coming closer to me. The look in his eyes practically screamed you can't escape me. I'm a vampire .

I held out a hand. "You have to stay back. Please let me do this. It's the only way." I felt like I was reenacting Endgame . Like Tony Stark, I would save the others, but I would perish.

They were worth it.

Each step toward the altar felt like I was moving through quicksand, my legs trembling beneath me.

As I faced the hissing serpent, its eyes bored into me, seeming to pierce my soul. A tingling pull filled me, drawing out every memory, every emotion, every regret. I was powerless to stop it as I waited to be judged. My legs shook, threatening to give way beneath me as I opened the memory I had tried to bury for so long.

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision. "When I was seven," I began, my voice quivering. "I met a man. A vampire. I didn't know what he was. He was so charming and kind, and I… I told him about our home. About Mom."

Damon's sharp intake of breath sounded, and soft footsteps came up behind me. I glanced over my shoulder. Damon stared at me, hurt and bewilderment in his eyes. "What are you saying, Sawyer?"

I swallowed hard, the bitterness of the truth coating my tongue. "That vampire used the information I gave him to find us. He came to our house because of me. I led him right to our doorstep. I didn't know, I was just a kid, but…it's my fault Mom died."

The snake was finally out of the bag. I had carried it for so long, trying to pretend it didn't exist while it slithered around me, waking me up with night terrors, my bed dripping with sweat. I didn't realize the toll it had taken on my soul. Relief and shame nearly shoved me over like a steamroller.

My chest tightened as I stared at my brother. His eyes widened, then narrowed, a storm of emotions flashing across his face. The secret I'd guarded for years stood naked between us, raw and undeniable. My shoulders relaxed, unburdened at last, yet a new tension coiled in my stomach.

The serpent loomed silent, its judgment inscrutable. My brother opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. Whatever he said next would shatter our world, reforging it into something unrecognizable.

The cave fell silent with the significance of my confession. I felt Damon's eyes on me, anger and sorrow radiating from him in waves. The silence stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity as I waited, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst.

"But you weren't there when Mom died," Damon blurted. His brow furrowed, eyes searching mine as if trying to piece together a puzzle. He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, knuckles whitening with each squeeze. "I was the one who found her."

"I saw the man leave the house," The words burned my throat. "He had blood running down his chin. He laughed at me, thanking me for allowing him to kill the hunter who murdered his mate." I bowed my head, unable to meet Damon's gaze. I had fought to forget the image that haunted my nightmares, not telling a single soul, not even Justice. It was too painful, and the guilt ate at me like a rat gnawing on a piece of rope. "I'm sorry, Damon. It's my fault."

It was freeing to finally share everything, even if I lost my brother. He had every right to never forgive me.

Suddenly, Damon's arms were around me, pulling me close. I collapsed against his chest, sobs wracking my body. His shirt grew damp with my tears as he held me tightly.

"It's not, Sawyer," he murmured, his voice rumbling in his chest. "You weren't responsible. I forgive you."

A loud hiss cut through the emotional moment, making me flinch. You are worthy , a slippery voice echoed in my mind. You have earned the crown .

My heart clenched, a cold shiver running down my spine. The snake was using telepathy to communicate.

I was worthy? Fresh tears pooled behind my eyes, ready to stream down my face like a broken faucet. This seemed unreal. It's not every day someone forgives you for something as horrendous as getting your mother murdered, even if you were a little girl and didn't know what you were doing.

Although the serpent had deemed me worthy, the only person I cared about was Damon. He was my twin, and he meant more to me than anything except maybe Justice. My brother and I had been through so much together, and he had always been my rock.

The truth was I needed him.

I pulled away from Damon, wiping my tears with shaking hands. He still had that same brotherly love in his eyes. I could always feel it when he got the shine in them as if he was holding back tears.

I squeezed his hand. "Thank you. I?—"

"Sawyer, you're my sister. You're family. Never keep anything from me again."

I sniffed. "I promise."

I glanced at the serpent. "Thank you, Damon," I told my brother, slowly backing away from him.

He clasped my wrist, his grip desperate. "Sawyer, no. Don't do it."

I gently pried his fingers off, my heart breaking at the fear in his eyes. "It's my destiny. Whatever happens, it was meant to be."

Though I'd been deemed worthy, experience had taught me that not everything was black and white. Sometimes, sacrifices had to be made, like when I retrieved the mirror and lost my memory of my father. Maybe this would be even darker. Perhaps I'd lose my life.

But I was determined to save Justice, my brother, and all my friends.

With leaden feet, I approached the serpent. It revealed its fangs, and I froze, my muscles tensing for an attack. But its gaze wasn't on me. I glanced over my shoulder, following its line of sight to Zara and Lisa.

Did it suspect Zara as being a traitor and unworthy? Maybe it had read her mind. Was the beast preparing to cut her down where she stood?

If it did, so be it. Zara shouldn't have betrayed the team.

Taking a deep breath that did little to calm my racing heart, I reached for the Crown of Envy. The serpent rolled through it, coiling up the altar, its hiss raising goosebumps on my arms.

I won't kill you . Its voice slithered through my mind.

Relief flooded me, quickly followed by a new wave of dread. If not me, who?

The serpent's gaze remained fixed behind me. Instinct took over, and I lunged for the Crown, my fingers closing around the cool metal.

"She has it. Come forth, Maci."

The words splashed me like a bucket of ice water. That wasn't Zara's voice.

It was Lisa's.

"Sawyer, look out. Behind you!" Justice's panicked yell echoed off the walls like thunder.