Page 58 of The Shadows of Excess

“The Greed Demons hoard power through souls. Their goal isn’t only to feed. It’s to grow in strength and influence. That’s why they’re after Aurora. A phoenix, especially one as rare as Aurora, holds immense power. In their hands, she’s not a mere creature but a source of incredible energy to fuel their insatiable greed for power.”

Justice motioned at Aurora. “We’ve learned the phoenix can have power over death.” He clasped my hand. “The demons said if we didn’t bring them Aurora, they would take Sawyer’s soul.”

“Yes, I know. Elijah told me.” She looked at me. “Where did the demon mark you?”

I rubbed the spot. “On my arm. He scratched me.”

She clasped my hand. “You don’t have to worry about that anymore, Sawyer. Phoenixes have healing power, not only over death but also evil. Please, roll up your sleeve.” She tilted her head. “Come with me.”

Justice gave me a reassuring smile while Damon displayed an I’m-not-sure-about-this stare. I drew a deep breath and rolled up my shirt with a shaking hand.

I cautiously approached Aurora, who regarded me with curious wonder. As I drew near, the phoenix tilted her head, and tears gently cascaded down her cheeks, landing softly on my arm. The moment her tears touched my skin, a rush of warmth surged through me, radiating outward in waves of soothing energy. Overwhelmed, I tilted my head back, my hair billowing around me as if caught in a gentle breeze.

A deep calmness swelled within me, engulfing every fiber of my being. It was as though a scream trapped inside me for ages was finally being released, its echoes fading into a serene silence. The sensation was euphoric, lifting me to a state of bliss.

I felt like I was floating on clouds. Every worry, every pain, seemed to dissolve, leaving behind a profound peace and an inexplicable sense of wholeness. Under the healing touch of Aurora’s tears, the world and its troubles melted away, leaving me in a sanctuary of tranquility.

I wanted to spin in circles like I did as a little girl. I laughed with giddiness.

“Sawyer?” At Justice’s worried voice, I opened my eyes.

He clasped my chin gently. “Your eyes. They’re back to sky blue.”

Damon looked like he was trying to figure out a math problem. “What happened? Was that her aura around her?”

“Yes. You can’t have a white aura if it’s tainted with evil.” Lisa stroked Aurora’s feathers with two fingers. “Aurora healed her. The bond between her and the demon was broken.”

As the last waves of euphoria from Aurora’s healing tears began to ebb, reality gradually seeped back into my consciousness. The warm glow inside me faded, replaced by a renewed sense of purpose and clarity. I stood there, feeling rejuvenated yet acutely aware that our journey was far from over.

The brief respite had been a precious gift, a moment of peace in the eye of an ongoing storm. But now, with the phoenix’s healing power coursing through me, I felt more prepared to face the challenges ahead.

I turned to Lisa, Justice, and Damon, my eyes clear and focused. The gravity of our situation lay heavily upon us all. There was a sense of unspoken understanding between us, a shared resolve that we were embarking on a crucial phase of our mission.

With a deep breath, I steadied myself, ready to embrace the final chapter of our journey. The path ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty but also with the potential for triumph.

“All right, spill it,” Damon stated dryly. “I’m hearing one of those ‘but’s that’s usually followed by some kind of crazy twist.’ What’s the catch this time?”

Lisa laughed. “So perceptive, aren’t you?” Her smile faded. “Sawyer is healed, but the Seven Deadly Sins are getting stronger. A new one has emerged that can tear all of you apart.”

My brief respite was squashed, but at least I wasn’t losing my soul like poor Becky. “Which one is it?”

“I’m not sure. It hasn’t revealed itself yet.” She picked up one of the phoenix’s feathers. “This will help you find the key to the next demon. On this quest, you must remain true to yourself. This one will try to rip you apart from the inside. The only way to stop these demons is to close the portal.”

Damon frowned. “You’re not coming with us?”

Lisa shook her head. “No, I have everything I need to survive here. I can’t leave this place until the portal is closed. If I do, they’ll catch Aurora, and we can never let them get her. Otherwise, they’ll have the power over life and death.”

I looked at her curiously. “This quest will help us close the portal?”

Lisa sat on the gravestone. “You must gather seven objects that will help you accomplish this. Each will be difficult. The Gluttony Demons was the phoenix grass. The second, for the Demons of Greed, is a phoenix feather. These two items will lead you to the third item.”

Damon waved his hand around. “How do you know this?”

She laughed and looked at Justice.

Justice lifted a slender eyebrow. “Dr. Gould. He was here?”

“Of course. He’s the one who asked me to pass this task to you. Your other friends, Brody, Grady, and Scott, are finding a way to wake your father. It’s leading them back to Scotland.”

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