Page 7 of Rage of the Fallen

Zara and Damon strolled toward us.

Damon scrutinized the Great Hall. “Well, would you look at that? It’s like we stepped into friggin’ Hogwarts or something. Hey, Sawyer, you see any house elves running around?”

I took the mirror out of my backpack and chuckled. He still could make me laugh even in dire situations.

Brody and Lisa approached, their faces etched with concern. Brody’s posture was straight and resolute, reminiscent of a soldier ready for duty. He placed a reassuring hand on Lisa’s shoulder and spoke with a calm, authoritative tone.

“Easy there, Lisa. I know you’re worried, but we have to trust the plan. Sawyer gave her word, and that means something. We’re a team. Right now, we need to stand together.”

He turned to address us, his voice carrying a note of inspiration. “I know we’re all under pressure, but let’s not lose sight of why we’re here. Each of us has a crucial role to play. Sawyer, what’s our next move? Whatever it is, we’re with you.”

I looked past Brody, my gaze settling on Lisa. Her lips pressed into a thin line, tension radiating from every line of her body. The sight made my stomach churn with unease.

When I was at Rimespire Isle, the mystical location revealed the phoenix’s whereabouts on the Isle of Skye. The information had been our ace in the hole, the leverage that brought Lisa back to our side. However, doubt gnawed at me now. What if the phoenix wasn’t there anymore? Magical creatures, especially ones as powerful as a phoenix, were notoriously difficult to pin down. If we arrived at Skye only to find Aurora gone, what would Lisa do?

I studied her face, trying to gauge her state of mind. The palpable desperation in her eyes reflected the profound bond between a guardian and their magical charge. I understood the connection in theory, but its intensity still took me by surprise.

I kept my voice low and steady. “Lisa, I know you’re worried. We all are. But I need to know, are you with us? No matter what happens?”

She met my gaze, conflict clear in her eyes. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of the old Lisa, the trusted friend and ally. But the fierce, almost feral determination of a guardian separated from their charge quickly overshadowed it.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” The lines around her eyes and mouth tightened. “Sawyer, you have to understand. The longer we wait, the greater the risk. If anything happens to my phoenix…”

She left the threat unspoken, but it hung between us, heavy with implication. I nodded in acknowledgment, trying to project a confidence I didn’t entirely feel.

“I get it, and we will find your phoenix. But right now, we need to focus on staying alive and outmaneuvering Maci. One step at a time, okay?”

As Lisa gave a curt nod and turned away, I exchanged a worried glance with Brody. He wore the same uneasy look. Our truce with Lisa was fragile at best.

CHAPTER FOUR

Damon glanced around the Great Hall as more people entered. “Well, this ain’t The Grove. I say we ask Magic 8-Ball here what our next move is. Then we grab a burger, of course.”

Bringing up The Grove, our watering hole back in Colorado, made me homesick. It was a brewery and a safe house for supernatural hunters. I was far from home and needed to get back into the game.

I looked into the Mirror of Aethereal, my heart pounding with hope and dread. “Tell us what we can do against the demon of rage. Is there a way to defeat him?”

The mirror rippled like a stone tossed into a still lake, making me shiver. Damon flinched. His jaw clenched, muscles coiling with tension. A flicker of raw emotion crossed his face, quickly masked by his usual stoic emotion.

I held my breath, muscles tense, dreading yet longing to hear my mother’s voice speak from beyond.

Only music can soothe rage. Music from a harp.

The familiar timbre echoing from the mirror made my chest tighten with a bittersweet ache. I exchanged an uncertain glance with Justice, his furrowed brow mirroring my confusion. I stared at the mirror and leaned closer. “What harp?”

In Argyll, Scotland, there is a castle. Inveraray Castle. There, you’ll find Queen Charlotte’s harp. It is magical and has the power to send Rage back to hell.

My mind raced. A magical harp? I scowled, frustration creeping into my voice as I considered the logistics. “How can we get the harp out of the castle? Harps are huge and heavy.”

The harp can change sizes. Then, you must go to Rosslyn Chapel. Once there, I will tell you what to do next.

Damon rubbed the bridge of his nose and released a short, humorless laugh. “Oh, fantastic. So we gotta break into a freakin’ castle, steal a magical shrinking harp, and then go on a field trip to some chapel? Why don’t we stop for tea with the Queen while we’re at it?” He shook his head. “Sounds about as easy as ganking a wendigo with a butter knife.”

I shot Damon an exasperated look, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. Sometimes, my brother’s snark was exactly what I needed to cut through the tension. Right now, it only grated on my already frayed nerves.

“Really, Damon? Wendigos and butter knives?” I snapped, my voice sharper than I’d intended. Immediately, I regretted it. I drew a deep breath, trying to rein in my frustration. “Look, I know this sounds insane. Trust me, I’m right there with you on the crazy train. But Mom’s voice…” I trailed off, the lump in my throat making it hard to continue.

I softened my tone. “We’ve faced worse odds, haven’t we? Besides, I don’t know about you, but I’m fresh out of butter knives. Guess we’ll have to settle for a magical harp instead.”

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