Page 75 of Blood Illusions

Dad cleared his throat. “I remember reading an ancient tome back at The Grove. There are legends about shadow dragons, myths from centuries ago. According to what I read, there’s an artifact. The Lumina Orb. It’s said to harness the pure essence of light, powerful enough to weaken, maybe even kill a shadow dragon.”

“Where can you get it?” I asked.

Dad sighed in frustration. “Unfortunately, the artifact, originally part of a traveling Scottish exhibit, was stolen while on display at the Denver Natural History Museum.”

“I have a feeling about who stole it,” Justice commented grimly.

Soft footsteps approached us, and I caught something slightly outside the light of the flashlight. I pulled my arrow back, ready to fire.

The unexpected sound of hands clapping echoed through the dark room, and suddenly, bright lights flickered on. A woman with long, dark hair and a flowing robe stood before us, her brown eyes gleaming with amusement.

Justice hissed behind me. “We’re so screwed.”

“Yes, you are. And it doesn’t even feel good,” she replied as her lips curled into a smirk.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Fierce determination set my jaw as I stood with my bow and arrow ready, aiming directly at the beautiful woman. She was tall and elegant, with deep brown eyes that gleamed with a dangerous power. I could tell she was no ordinary human. “Maci?”

She bowed slightly. “At your service.”

“If you take one step toward Justice, my dad, or me, you won’t make it out alive,” I warned through gritted teeth.

She flicked her hand dismissively. “Your little arrows won’t work on me. I’m a shadow dragon. As for the Lumina Orb, let’s just say my dear old dad was overly fond of it.” She glared. “You don’t think he’d let the PMC get their hands on that little gem, do you?”

Behind me, Justice swore under his breath.

Maci hadn’t come down here alone. A horde of vampires stood behind her, their red eyes gleaming with hunger. She must have removed the salt at the top of the stairs that kept the vampires at bay.

“Looks like I’m caught between a dragon and a hard place. Good thing my arrows are like a party favor for vamps. They’ll light up faster than a bonfire at a witch’s convention.”

Maci tilted her head back and laughed arrogantly. “Oh, I’ve delighted in this storybook you three have painted. Even the witches are quite dense.”

Confusion furrowed my brow. “What are you talking about?”

With a wicked grin, she turned to Justice directly. “Surely you told them about the dimensions?”

Justice sighed. “Yes, I told her about the dimensions. We don’t know which one you opened.”

She strolled back and forth with an air of superiority. “Well, I suppose it’s time to open the bag and show you what you’re dealing with here.”

I held my breath, trying to keep my nerves in check as Maci dangled the information in front of us. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and she seemed to take pleasure in our confusion.

She finally produced a small key, its ancient design etched with elaborate patterns. Justice gasped beside me, recognizing the key instantly.

“This is the Obsidian Key,” Maci announced triumphantly. “As you know, it has the power to unlock any dimension.” She paused for dramatic effect before dropping the bombshell. “Including hell.”

My heart dropped into my stomach as I processed her words. This was no game or prank. Maci’s smug expression faded as she saw our fear, but I could tell she was still eager to explore the unknown territory behind that key.

I looked past her at the snarling vampires, and everything unraveled in my mind. The salt lines, the sharp, acrid smell of an electric charge, the phoenix feather grass—and why none of these things had an impact on the vampire Justice.

My hands shook as my arrow was trained on them. “You mean they’re not vampires?”

Maci tapped her chin. “No. Want to go for door number two?”

I felt the blood drain from my face. God, this couldn’t be true. “They’re demons.” I didn’t want to say it. I didn’t want it to be true.

Dad, Damon, and I knew everything there was to know about supernatural creatures—except for demons.

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