Page 48 of Tangle of Lust and Lethargy

Lisa’s eyes widened, her hand freezing in mid-gesture toward Aurora. Everything stood still, as if the forest was holding its breath to see what would happen next.

I studied Lisa and her beloved animals, my heart twisting with relief and guilt. They stood frozen, as still as ancient statues weathered by time. Lisa’s eyes were glassy and unfocused. Her phoenix, Aurora, was caught mid-ruffle, fiery feathers suspended in an unnatural stillness. Even her loyal German shepherd seemed carved from stone, its protective stance an eerie tableau.

The scene was a chilling echo of what had happened to Garrick, Maggie, Grady, and Scott. Friends and allies, all reduced to living statues. A lump formed in my throat as I struggled to reconcile the Lisa I knew with the threat she had become.

“What did you do?” I whispered.

Zara’s face was a mask of conflicting emotions. Pride at her successful spell, fear of its consequences, and a deep, gnawing worry that creased her brow. She stared at the frozen figures uneasily, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

“I used a stun spell,” she explained tightly. “It was the only thing I could think of to stop them without causing harm, but it won’t last long.” She swallowed hard, her eyes darting nervously between Lisa and the majestic, immobilized phoenix. “We have to get out of here before she breaks free by drawing on the phoenix’s power.”

We had bought ourselves a moment of safety, but at what cost? Lisa’s betrayal stung, but seeing her like this, robbed of her free will first by Maci and now by us, felt like a cruel twist of fate.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that every choice we made was leading us farther down a path from which there might be no return. The tension was like a ticking time bomb ready to explode as we stood caught between the need to escape and the shock of what we’d done to Lisa and her companions.

Zara’s warning about the temporary nature of her spell spurred us into action.

“We need to move, now,” Justice growled, scanning the tree line for any sign of additional threats. “I can hear Maci approaching. She’s flying at a record speed.”

Garrick stepped forward with grim determination. He raised his hand, palm out toward an empty space between two ancient oaks. His eyes closed in concentration, and the only sound was the rustling of leaves in the gentle forest breeze.

Then, his eyes snapped open, glowing with an inner light. “Aperio,” he intoned, his voice resonating with power.

The air in front of him shimmered and twisted as if the fabric of reality was being torn apart. A swirling vortex of iridescent energy bloomed into existence, growing until it was large enough for us to step through.

“Quick,” Garrick urged, gesturing toward the portal. “I can’t hold it for long.”

I cast one last glance at Lisa’s frozen form, my heart heavy with the weight of our actions and the uncertainty of what layahead. Then, I steeled myself and turned toward the portal, ready to leap into whatever chaos awaited us on the other side.

As Garrick followed me, a dark shadow fell over him, and an angry shriek set my nerves on edge. Maci released a stream of fire as the portal closed. Smoke filled the portal, and I choked on the fumes. I landed on all fours, coughing and sputtering, tears rolling down my cheeks.

Someone picked me up and held me.

The world slowly came back into focus, sounds and sensations flooding in like a rising tide. Hands gripped me under my armpits, supporting me. The cobblestones beneath me were uneven and cool through my shoes.

“Sawyer, are you hurt?” A familiar voice cut through the haze, laced with concern.

As my vision cleared, Justice’s face swam into view, his dark eyes scanning me for any sign of injury.

“I’m fine,” I rasped. “A little out of breath.” The adrenaline was still coursing through my veins, making my hands tremble.

I took in our surroundings, blinking against the sudden shift from forest to city. We were in a narrow close off the Royal Mile, Edinburgh’s ancient heartbeat pulsing nearby.

The walls of old stone buildings loomed on either side, their weathered facades telling silent stories of centuries past. At the end of the alley, a small church stood sentinel, its spire reaching toward the overcast sky. The muted light of a Scottish afternoon bathed the scene, lending an almost ethereal quality to our group.

“Did everyone else make it out alive?” I asked, my gaze darting from face to face, counting our numbers. “Did Maci follow us?”

Garrick stepped forward, his clothes singed and his face smudged with soot. “No, I was the last one out.” He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “I felt the heat on my back, but thefire didn’t reach me. We were damn lucky.” The relief in his voice was palpable.

Damon slumped against the nearest wall, looking like he’d gone ten rounds with a wendigo. His usual cocky grin was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a grimace that screamed,I’m never doing that again.

“Oh yeah, I’m friggin’ fantastic,” he growled sarcastically. He ran a hand down his face as if trying to wipe away the experience. “You know what? I take back every bad thing I ever said about flying. Compared to whatever the hell that was, planes are a luxury cruise.”

He pushed himself off the wall, swaying as he tried to regain his composure. “Next time, I’m walking. Or staying behind. Or hey, maybe I’ll let the bad guys eat me. Anything’s gotta be better than magical mystery tours with Count Dracula over there.”

Justice stiffened. “I didn’t take you through the portal. Garrick did.”

“Both modes of transportation suck,” he grumbled.

---