Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Damon eyed the hourglass like it might sprout fangs and bite him. A healthy dose of "what fresh hell is this?" tinged his usual bravado. He jerked his chin toward the artifact. "So, uh, you actually know how to work that thing? ‘Cause I gotta tell you, I'm not loving the idea of ending up as some dinosaur's chew toy."

I sighed, feeling a pit of uneasiness grow in my gut. "Yes, I have to pick a time. The right time. If I don't choose correctly, nothing will change. We could make things worse."

"Oh, fantastic," Damon drawled. "Another magical mystery tour. Just what the doctor ordered." He glanced around, a hopeful glint in his eye. "Any chance we could, I don't know, drive there? Maybe take the scenic route? I hear the Fairlane gets great gas mileage in the space-time continuum."

"No," I stated bluntly, cutting off his rambling. "And you're going."

Damon's eyebrows shot up, and resignation and determination crossed his face. "Well, hell. Wouldn't want to be left behind with the B-team, would we?" He smirked and gestured to Garrick and Maggie. "No offense, guys. Someone's gotta hold down the fort and look pretty."

Garrick and Maggie flashed him death glares that could've peeled paint. Demonstrating a rare moment of wisdom, Damon clamped his mouth shut, though the mischievous glint in his eyes suggested he was far from done.

Justice stepped closer, taking my free hand in his. His touch was cool, but it sent a wave of warmth through me as he lifted my palm to his lips. "You'll choose right, Sawyer," he murmured. "I believe in you."

The simple gesture hit me like a tidal wave of emotion. Justice had always been my rock, the one constant in a world gone mad. When all I wanted was to crawl into a hole and cry, he was there, pulling me back to my feet.

Apparently unable to stay quiet for long, Damon cleared his throat. "Hate to break up the Hallmark moment, but tick-tock, people." His voice softened a fraction as he met my eyes. "You got this, sis. You're a Grant. Kicking supernatural ass and taking names is practically the family business."

I couldn't help but smile at that. Leave it to Damon to wrap encouragement in a layer of snark.

"All right, Team Free Will," Damon clapped his hands, a determined grin spreading across his face. "Let's go back in time, gank some bad guys, and maybe we'll be home in time for pie."

As I raised the hourglass, preparing to activate it, I felt a strange mix of fear and hope. With my ragtag family around me—my snarky brother, my steadfast vampire, and my loyal witch—I knew we stood a chance.

"Here goes nothing," I muttered and turned the hourglass.

One moment, I was gripping the artifact in present-day Edinburgh. The next, a dizzying rush of sensations overwhelmed me. Suddenly, I was standing in the chamber, facing the Aegis serpent.

It was disorienting, like stepping into a vivid memory. Everything was exactly as it had been. The enormous serpent looming before me, the weight of my confession about my mother's murder still heavy in the air. My stomach clenched. The last thing I wanted was to relive this nightmare, but I knew we had to.

I glanced around, taking in the scene with new eyes. Justice, Zara, Brody, and Lisa were all in their exact positions from before. Zara and Lisa stood together while the guys were behind me, poised for an attack. But I knew now that the real threat wasn't external. It was among us.

My gaze landed on Brody, and my breath caught in my throat. Alive. He was alive. The sight of him standing there, strong and determined, hit me with such force that I forgot how to breathe. Memories of his sacrifice that hadn't happened yet in this timeline flashed through my mind. The way he had thrown himself into danger, his final, brave smile, the devastating emptiness he had left behind.

I wanted to run to him, to wrap my arms around him and never let go. I wanted to warn him and save him from the fate I knew awaited him. The effort it took to remain still, not to cry out or change everything then and there, was almost physically painful.

My eyes stung with unshed tears, and I had to clench my fists to keep my hands from shaking. Brody caught my gaze and gave me a reassuring nod, oblivious to the turmoil raging within me. That simple gesture, so characteristic of him, nearly broke my composure.

Lisa's face caught my attention. How had I missed it before? There was a haunted look in her eyes, a tension in her posture that screamed something was wrong. I silently berated myself. I was an investigator. I should have noticed these signs.

The same emotions washed over me. Heart clenching, shivers racing down my spine. Even knowing what was to come, I still wasn't sure I was worthy. But I knew one thing for certain.

I was a thousand times better than the alternative.

As I stepped toward the serpent, I steeled myself. This time would be different. This time, I would save Justice, Brody, and my brother, and I'd hang on to the Crown of Envy. Whatever the cost, I would change our fate.

I locked gazes with Justice, trying to convey a silent message. Be ready . Then, taking a deep breath, I prepared to face my destiny. Again.

A familiar hiss sliced through the air, making me flinch despite knowing it was coming. You are worthy . The Aegis serpent's voice slithered into my mind, just like before. You have earned the crown.

The words hit me with the same force as the first time. My heart clenched, and shivers danced along my spine. But this time, a new emotion mingled with the old. Determination. Bitter resolve replaced the tears that had formed before.

Damon's gaze met mine, filled with the same forgiveness and love I remembered. It was surreal seeing that look again, knowing what was to come. I pulled away, my hands shaking not only from emotion but from the weight of foreknowledge.

"Thank you. I—" I began, the words falling from my lips automatically.

"Sawyer, you're my sister. You're family. Never keep anything from me again," Damon interrupted, like he had before.

I sniffed, the familiar words striking a chord even in this strange replay. "I promise."

Déjà vu didn't begin to describe it. Every word, every action mirrored what had happened before. Yet, beneath the surface, everything was different. My mind raced, searching for the right moment to change our fate.

The serpent's eyes bored into me, and I couldn't help but wonder. Did it know? Could it sense the temporal anomaly we represented? "Thank you, Damon," I whispered, backing away slowly, hyper-aware of every movement.

As if on cue, Damon clasped my wrist, his grip desperate. "Sawyer, no. Don't do it."

I gently removed his hand, my heart aching at the fear in his eyes. A fear I now understood all too well. "It's my destiny, Damon," I murmured, the words hollow in my mouth. "Whatever happens, it was meant to be."

This time, I silently vowed, I would write our destiny. Maci would not get the crown, and Brody wouldn't die.

The serpent's verdict of worthiness echoed in my mind, yet this time, experience colored my perception. Now, I knew worthiness didn't guarantee a happy ending. Sacrifices loomed on the horizon. I'd faced them before, losing memories of my father for the mirror. Now, standing here again, I wondered what darker price awaited.

My gaze swept over Justice, Damon, and my friends. Last time, I thought I was saving them. This time, I was determined to actually do it. The weight pressed on my shoulders as I approached the serpent with measured steps.

The creature bared its fangs, and I tensed, muscle memory kicking in despite knowing what would happen. But its gaze slid past me, focusing on someone behind me. I turned, following its line of sight to where Zara and Lisa stood.

The realization hit me anew, though tinged with the bitterness of betrayal I'd already experienced. Lisa was the traitor, not Zara. Did the serpent know? Could it sense the deception we were all blind to before?

This time, armed with the knowledge of what was to come, I felt a shift within me. Condemnation had led us down a dark path before. Perhaps forgiveness was the key to changing our fate. The thought settled in my mind, a small but significant deviation from the script we'd lived through once already.

I reached for the Crown of Envy, my heart pounding a familiar rhythm of fear and anticipation. The serpent coiled on the altar, its hiss raising goosebumps on my arms, a sensation both new and remembered.

I won't kill you , its voice slithered through my mind again.

Relief washed over me, quickly chased by dread. The same question that had haunted me last time resurfaced. If not me, who? This time, it carried the weight of grim experience.

The serpent's gaze remained fixed behind me, and a chill ran down my spine. This was the moment. The pivotal point where everything had gone wrong before. Instinct and memory collided as I lunged for the Crown, my fingers closing around the cool metal.

The moment was coming. The time I could change history if I played my cards right.