Page 12 of Tangle of Lust and Lethargy

“All right,” I whispered. “I’ll try, but don’t expect any miracles. The mirror might not be as forthcoming as before.”

Garrick nodded in understanding. He knew as well as I did the price of failure in our world.

I had a feeling that whatever answers the mirror held would come at a cost.

As if in response to his words, a low, ominous rumble echoed across the highlands. It was too deep, too prolonged to be thunder. The flowers in the window boxes trembled, their petals shivering as if in fear.

“Everyone, inside. Now,” Garrick ordered, his voice brooking no argument. He ushered the stunned group toward the manor’s entrance. Maggie was at his side, her tears replaced by a look of grim determination.

As we hurried toward the safety of McDuff Manor, a twisted sense of irony burned in my gut. We had barely had a moment to process Brody’s loss, to begin our mourning, and a new threat loomed already. It seemed even in death, our friend couldn’t rest. The consequences of our failed mission continued to unfold.

The warm, inviting facade of the manor looked like our only refuge against whatever storm was brewing. As I crossed the threshold, ushered in by Garrick’s insistence, I cast one lastglance at the turbulent sky. Whatever was coming, facing it without Brody would make our task more daunting, but we had no choice. We had to press on, to honor his sacrifice by seeing this through to the end. Whatever that might be.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Thunder crashed overhead, the sound so violent it sent vibrations through the entire manor. I felt the tremors in my bones, my teeth rattling as the ancient structure groaned around us.

Nausea roiled within me, and my body broke out in a frigid sheen.

The moment of truth had arrived.

Grady and Scott weren’t the only ones I had to come clean with. In fact, they might have been the easier ones. The real challenge lay before me now, gleaming in the dim light. The Mirror of Aethereal. I didn’t want it to punish us because of my mistake. The consequences were too dire to contemplate.

It was too chaotic in the main room with Justice, Damon, and Garrick shouting orders, so I took my backpack to my bedroom. Outside was still thunderous, but it was quieter in my room.

With trembling hands, I reached for the mirror.

I braced myself for disappointment and possible retribution as my fingers wrapped around the golden handle. The metal was cool to the touch, but it seemed to warm unnaturally fast as if responding to my grip. The ornate designs etched into its surface pressed into my palm, a tactile reminder of the power I held.

The air grew thick and heavy, charged with an otherworldly energy that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“Mirror of Aethereal,” I whispered. “I apologize. I have failed.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue, each syllable a struggle to voice. “My team and I were betrayed by a team member. Maci has the Crown of Envy. The fault lies with me. Please don’t punish us.”

My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the glass face of the mirror rippled like a river disturbed by a strong wind. It shimmered and swirled, mesmerizing in its fluid dance.

I leaned in closer, drawn in by the mirror’s ethereal display.

A voice emanated from the mirror, not quite out loud. It was more like thoughts materializing directly in my mind. “Justice is slowly dying,” it intoned. “The Heartstone amulet didn’t cure him.”

The temperature in the room plummeted, my breath visible in small, panicked puffs.

“You have but one chance to correct your mistake,” the mirror continued, its message both a lifeline and a burden. “Seek out the Sands of Yesteryear hourglass. It is a portal that can take you back in time. But you can only use it once, and you’ll be able to save two lives. Choose which point in time wisely.”

A spark of hope ignited in my chest, small but fierce, battling against the crushing hammer of guilt and fear. Did this mean I could not only stop Maci from getting the Crown of Envy but save both Justice and Brody?

The mirror’s surface stilled, returning to its normal reflective state, and I stared at my own reflection. Pale, wide-eyed, the gravity of our situation etched into every line of my face. The path ahead was fraught with danger. The Sands of Yesteryear hourglass. My last hope, my only chance to set things right.

I frowned, my brow furrowing as I stared into the now-silent mirror. “Where is the Sands of Yesteryear?” My tone betrayed desperation and frustration.

But the mirror didn’t answer. Its surface remained stubbornly still, reflecting only my own troubled face back at me. It was as if it were giving me the silent treatment for my mistake, a cosmic punishment for my failure. Or maybe, I realized with a sinking feeling, the answer was clear. I had to discover this on my own. The thought was terrifying but oddly empowering.

I was still lost in contemplation when a sharp knock jolted me back to reality. “Sawyer,” Garrick called from outside my door. “What happened?”

I took a deep breath to steady myself and crossed the room in a few quick strides. My hand hesitated on the doorknob before I wrenched it open, coming face to face with Garrick’s concerned expression.

“The mirror said we need to find the Sands of Yesteryear hourglass to save Justice,” I blurted, the words tumbling from my lips in a rush. I searched his face, hoping for a glimmer of recognition, a sign that this impossible task might not be so impossible after all. “Have you ever heard of it?”

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