Page 33 of Phoenix Academy: Mayhem

My magic settles into the old bones of the door.

And slips off it like water and oil coming together.

"What's next—will you hit it with a sword?" The fairy swoops up to hover by my shoulder, her piercing gold gaze full of judgement. "The magic that made this door was ancient at the time of its making, and is even older now. Simple mage runes won't work against it. Its creation predates the organization of magic into rules in the first place."

Chewing on my lower, lip, I flex my fingers and consider my option. "I'm not going to give in. Whatever it takes, I'll get this thing open. Maybe it'll take my blood, like it did from the other side."

"Blood has closed it, little witch. Blood is unlikely to open it again so soon. But try if you wish. I won't tend your wounds when you've spilled so many pints that you plead for mercy."

I roll my eyes in her direction. "How helpful of you."

"If you want help, take my offer to bring you through on your own."

"No." I set my chin, mouth stubborn. "There has to be a way."

It's Xavier who quietly asks, "What if there's not?" I turn to face him, my heart sinking towards my toes. He looks despondent but resolute. "We have to consider the possibility. It's time to make a contingency plan. If you go back without us—"

"Not happening." I shake my head and face the door, resolute. "I'll figure out a way. With my wild magic or... something. Maybe I'll burn it with my phoenix fire. It has to open for the three of you. We are going back. Together, or not at all."

Raising my fingers, I let blue flames dance across their tips. And I begun my onslaught of destruction.

* * *

Hours later, the door is no worse off than it was at the start. If anything it looks stronger and sturdier. Despite how many times I've tried to burn it and all the witch spells I've thrown at it, the thing mocks me with its unburnt surface.

I've contacted the Blue Phoenix ancestors, to little help. More than once I've tried to contact Auerbach, but there's no open line to him remaining. And I've bargained, brainstormed, and raged at Nehamae—all for nothing. The little fairy insists my three familiars are stuck here, and I'm starting to think that she's right.

Which means the most heartbreaking choice is in front of me.

Either I stay down here with them, and we resign ourselves to a life in Hell.

Or I leave them, promising to try to find a way to get them back out—knowing there might not be one at all.

Both seem intolerable to me. I'm a Wolfe woman; we don't just give up at the first sign of adversity. We keep trying time and time again. Failure just isn't an option.

But as time stretches by, the fairy stares at me like I'm a fool. My guys settle on the golden path, legs crossed, faces empty. And I realize that I'm not making things better by doing this. I'm just putting off the inevitable, and forcing everyone to watch me wrestle with my denial.

It isn't helpful.

It's just self-indulgent.

"Well?" Sagging against the door, I turn to face my guys, exhausted body and heart. "I can go back and ask Auerbach for helping getting you three out. The door was opened before... maybe we can open it again. Without letting scores of demons through this time."

"I can block them from the doorway for a time, as I am now," Nehamae offers. "But only a time. A click or two here, which would be... about ten to fifteen minutes on Earth."

My stomach flips, and my heart squeezes. "That's it? That's all the chance I would get?"

"Once your presence is gone from Hell, I'll have no purpose to feed my magic." She folds her arms, wings a blur as she hovers at my height. "My curse is to serve. Without someone to serve, I can't hold the demonic hordes at bay."

As if on cue, something screeches in the darkness, its jaw or its claws making a disturbing clicking sound. I shudder and try not to imagine what it must look like.

"Ten to fifteen minutes." I stare at my three familiars, taking in their empty expressions. "Maybe it's enough time. We just have to—"

"You just have to," David cuts in, his jaw tight with tension. "Once you're back on Earth, we'll be stuck here, and it'll all be up to you. We'll be helpless."

Xavier interjects, "What David means to say, Ari, is that we're counting on you. And we believe in you, of course. I'm sure it'll be just the right amount of time."

"And if it isn't," Reggie adds in a voice filled with false cheer, "we'll head to the nearest dick-flattening machine and wait in line."

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