Page 31 of Crown of Envy

A nagging feeling tugged at the edges of my mind. My brow furrowed as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing. Something had to be at work here, something we didn’t understand.

I glanced at my teammates, seeing my confusion mirrored in their wide eyes and tense postures. We were out of our depth here, facing forces beyond our comprehension.

As the green light continued to pulse from the Heartstone, bathing us in its otherworldly glow, I suspected we’d stumbled upon a mystery far deeper and more dangerous than we’d ever imagined. My fingers tightened around the stone. Whatever was happening, whatever secrets this cave and its monstrous guardian held, I knew our lives depended on unraveling them—and fast.

We exchanged meaningful glances, our eyes wide with fear and determination. Brody gave a curt nod, tilting his head toward the path. Understanding flashed between us like an electric current.

As the creature veered off, momentarily disoriented by the stone’s power, we seized our chance. Our feet pounded the forest floor, hearts racing in sync as we made a desperate dash for the path. The sound of our ragged breathing mixed with the creature’s distant, angry hisses.

The moment we reached the relative safety of the path, a wave of exhaustion crashed over me. It felt like all my energy had been suddenly, violently drained away. My lungs burned with each shallow breath, and my legs trembled beneath me like jelly. The world around me spun, the edges blurring.

Justice’s strong hand gripped my arm, his touch steadying and grounding. “What’s wrong?” he asked. I heard the rapid beating of his heart, so close to mine.

I tried to focus on his face, but my vision swam. Beads of sweat trickled down my temples. “I don’t know,” I managed to gasp, each word an effort. “Maybe the stone.” The Heartstone felt impossibly heavy now, its earlier warmth replaced by an icy chill that seeped into my bones.

Without hesitation, Justice scooped me into his arms. The sudden movement made my head spin even more, and I instinctively curled into his chest, seeking comfort in his familiar scent and warmth.

“Hold on,” he murmured, his breath tickling my ear. Then, with a burst of vampire speed that made the air rush past us in a dizzying blur, he sprinted toward the car. The forest became a smear of dark greens and browns, punctuated by flashes of moonlight breaking through the canopy.

As we raced away from the cave and its horrors, I clung to Justice, my fingers weakly gripping his shirt. The steady rhythm of his footfalls and the strong beat of his heart against my cheek were reassuring, anchoring me as I teetered on the edge of consciousness.

Damon sprinted to keep up with Justice’s supernatural speed. Despite his usual sarcastic demeanor, concern laced his voice.

“Hey, Twilight! Mind slowing down for those of us without super-speed?” he called, his breath coming in short gasps. “I know you’re trying to play hero, but that’s my sister you’re whisking away!”

He pushed himself harder. “Look, Fang Face, I appreciate the assist, but some of us would like to keep an eye on our family members. Especially when said family just went all magical glow stick on a multi-eyed freak show!”

Damon’s hand moved to his weapon. “And in case you forgot, we’ve still got man-eating trees and evil Medusa wannabes to worry about. So maybe cool it with the vampire track and field, huh?”

As he finally caught up, Damon’s eyes met mine. “You okay there, sis? Because I gotta say, being carried off into the sunset by a vampire wasn’t exactly in the family vacation brochure.”

“I don’t know what’s wrong.” My voice was barely audible.

I attempted to smile back at my brother, but the effort sent a wave of dizziness crashing over me. Damon’s face swam, blurring and distorting like a photo viewed through water-warped glass. My head felt heavy, and a high-pitched ringing started in my ears, drowning out all other sounds.

Someone was saying something to me, their voice urgent but muffled. I tried to focus, to make out the words, but it was a losing battle. The world tilted precariously, darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision.

I felt my eyes roll back, my body suddenly boneless. The last thing I registered was Justice’s arms tightening around me as I went limp and Damon’s panicked shout before consciousness slipped away, plunging me into a void of nothingness.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Darkness enveloped me, thick and oppressive. I was floating in a void, weightless yet somehow heavy with dread. Suddenly, pinpricks of light appeared, swirling around me like fireflies. They coalesced, forming a familiar shape. The Heartstone amulet.

As I reached for it, the amulet pulsed with an eerie green light. The light expanded, revealing a vast, shadowy landscape. I found myself standing on a desolate plain, the ground cracked and dry beneath my feet. In the distance, a mountain loomed, its peak shrouded in ominous storm clouds.

A low rumble shook the earth, and I watched in horror as the mountain began to move. It wasn’t a mountain at all but a massive, coiled dragon. As it unfurled its wings, blotting out what little light remained, I recognized the unmistakable silhouette of Maci in her dragon form.

Her eyes fixed on me, glowing with malevolent intelligence. She shifted back into her human form, wearing a dark cloak. When she spoke, her voice was like grinding stone, echoing in my mind.

“Little Chosen One,” Maci’s voice dripped with cruel amusement. “You think you can stop me? You can barely control the Heartstone’s power. My envy demons are already at work. Soon, it will be mine.”

She tilted her head back and laughed.

I tried to run, but my feet were rooted to the spot. The shadow of Maci’s dragon form engulfed me, and a chill seeped into my bones…

I woke with a start, panting heavily. Where was I?

I soon realized I was in my bedroom at McDuff Manor. Maci was gone. Or was she? She was a shadow dragon and could be here without me even knowing it.

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