Page 27 of Poltergeists & Change of Life

CHAPTER 12

Istared at the rusty gate blocking our entrance to the abandoned subway station. I was fighting the urge to hurl all over my shoes. The nausea that had been my constant companion for the past six months was reaching epic proportions. The stench of mildew and decay wafting from the dark tunnel wasn't helping.

"Remind me again why we're spelunking through Portland's dirty laundry?" I grumbled, leaning heavily on Aidon's arm. My mate's steady presence was the only thing keeping me vertical at this point.

Stella, practically vibrating with excitement, was already working on the padlock. "Because, my dear knocked-up friend, this isn't just any old subway station. It's the home of the Arcanum Subterraneum, one of the most comprehensive Dark magical archives in North America!"

"Uh-huh," I said, unconvinced. "And it just happens to be in a moldy hole in the ground in Maine. Seems legit."

“I’d bet anything it’s here because Lyra spent a lot of time trying to get around the anti-theft protections on the Pleaides power. She’s been trying to manipulate Hattie for decades. We need to find the other six artifacts Lyra created.” Aidon's armtightened around me. "Are you sure you're up for this, Phoebe? We can come back another time."

I wanted to say yes, to curl up in bed with a gallon of ice cream and a trashy romance novel. But the memory of Lyra's smug face as she gloated about binding Hattie's essence burned in my mind. We needed to find those artifacts fast.

"I'm fine," I lied, straightening up and summoning what little energy I had left. "We’re protected by that glamour. No one will know our true identities."

“They won’t even see that belly of yours,” Stella pointed out. “I didn’t believe Tarja when she said we could hide it. I mean, it’s bigger than the Hindenburg.”

I rolled my eyes as my bestie turned and went for the latch. The lock clicked open under her fingers. The gate swung inward with a screech that set my teeth on edge. We walked through, and Aidon conjured a ball of light that illuminated a set of crumbling stairs that descended into darkness.

"Ladies first," Nana cackled, giving me a gentle push. "Age before beauty, after all."

I shot her a glare that should have made her whither. "I'm pretty sure that saying doesn't apply when the lady in question is housing three future hellraisers, Nana."

Nevertheless, I started down the stairs. One hand was on the filthy wall for balance while the other protectively cradled my swollen belly. Aidon was right next to me, ready to catch me if anything happened. I hid my grimaces as each step sent a jolt of discomfort through my body. The magical aura of the place was doing weird things to my senses. It felt like trying to walk through pudding while wearing beer goggles.

We reached the bottom of the stairs, and I had to bite back a groan. The subway platform stretched out before us. Why did we have to enter a vast cavern of crumbling concrete and rusted metal? I was over dirty, evil places.

That wasn't what made my stomach do a somersault that would have impressed an Olympic gymnast. It was the wild, untamed magic that swirled in eddies and currents around us. They were visible to my enhanced senses as ribbons of color and light. The effect was like being stuck in a kaleidoscope designed by a madman. It made me dizzy as hell.

"Oh, this is not good," I muttered, swaying on my feet. Aidon's strong arms steadied me. Unfortunately, even his touch couldn't fully ground me in this chaos.

Oblivious to my discomfort, Stella was practically skipping down the platform. "Can you feel it?" she squealed. "All that knowledge and power isn't just Dark. There’s more Light than anything here."

I could feel it, alright. It felt like my insides were trying to become my outsides. "Stella, I swear to all that is holy, if you don't tone down the pep, I will puke on you. And trust me, pregnant witch puke is not something you want to experience."

Her excitement dimmed a notch, and concern flickered across her face. "Sorry, Pheebs. I forgot about your, uh, delicate condition. Maybe we should-" Whatever she was about to suggest was cut off by a low, rumbling growl that definitely didn't come from my rebellious stomach. We all froze and our eyes darted around the dimly lit cavern.

"Please tell me that was just the wind," I whispered, knowing full well it wasn't. When was the last time anything in my life had been that simple?

As if in answer, a section of the far wall began to... move. No, not move. Transform. Books and scrolls emerged from hidden alcoves, swirling together in a vortex of paper and ink. They coalesced into a massive, vaguely humanoid shape that was easily twice my height. Glowing symbols danced across its surface, and two balls of blue fire burned where its eyes should be.

"Well, shit," I eloquently summed up our situation.

The construct took a thunderous step forward, its voice booming through the cavern like a librarian from hell. "Who dares disturb the Sanctum of Knowledge?"

I opened my mouth. A snarky retort was on the tip of my tongue when a wave of nausea hit me so hard that I nearly doubled over. The magical currents in the air were going haywire, reacting to the creature's presence. Or maybe reacting to me? Either way, it felt like being on the world's worst carnival ride.

Aidon moved to stand protectively in front of me, his divine aura flaring. "We seek information to combat a great evil. We mean no harm to your archives."

The creature's fiery eyes narrowed. "Many have sought knowledge for noble causes, only to bring ruin. Prove your worth, or be expelled."

Nana stepped forward, looking for all the world like a sweet old lady who'd wandered in by mistake. She made a tsking sound and wagged a finger. "Is that any way to treat guests? I thought libraries were supposed to be welcoming places. Are we not evil enough for you?"

The creature seemed taken aback. Its papery brow furrowed as it stared at her. "The Arcanum no longer caters to evil. It is more than a tool for the dark-hearted. It is also more than a mere library. It is a repository of ancient and powerful magic."

"It’s good to hear you have evolved and developed a mind of your own," Nana said as she thrust her hands on her hips. "You need to consider your audience, though. I've got underwear older than half the 'ancient' magic in this dusty hole. Now, are you going to let us in, or do I need to break out the reading glasses and give you a proper talking-to?"

I bit back a laugh, not sure if it was hysteria or genuine amusement. The construct's eyes flickered, and I swear I sawconfusion in those fiery depths. "You... You dare speak to the guardian of knowledge with such disrespect?"

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