the elevator cuts through the silence. Declan and Ryker step out first with their special weapons in their hands. They’re no bigger than daggers.
“Are you planning to fight a demon with that?” I eyeball their tiny blades.
“Don’t underestimate something because of its size,” Ryker sneers.
“Ashmedai is definitely inside,” Declan redirects. “We’re going in, but you’d better stay out here.”
“Absolutely not,” Aurora and her mother reply at the same time.
There’s a shared, uncomfortable glance between them, but it breaks when Solomon opens his big mouth. “Quit trying to get rid of us.”
“Fine. But let us handle Ashmedai.”
“You may handle the demon once he’s out of my daughter’s body,” the High Witch grits out, then flicks her wrist, pushing the two asshats out of her way.
She gives Aurora a crystal similar in size to the one she’s holding. Both are big enough that they could break someone’s skull if used as a weapon. There aren’t words exchanged, but I know the gesture was a big deal. Aurora frowns, and through the bond, I pick up her turmoil.
Not knowing what else to do, I brush the back of her wrist with my fingers to let her know I’m here for her. I wish I could do more, but until we save Niko, this is the best I can do.
Declan and Ryker follow right behind the High Witch, and we stay glued to their tails. Since I can’t fight the demon, I’m making it my mission to ensure those two pricks behave. If they step one toe out of line, if I so much as suspect they intend to hurt Niko, I won’t hesitate to cut them in half.
“Where is the mirror?” Declan asks Aurora in a whisper.
“Down the hallway.”
“Dude, just use your nose and follow the stench,” I hiss.
He shoots me a scowl, which I sling right back at him.
The apartment is quiet, when suddenly, I hear low chanting in a young woman’s voice coming from ahead. Fuck. That’s Niko. Aurora shows no indication that she’s heard it, though.
“Can anyone hear that?” I ask as low as I can.
“Hear what?” Ryker asks.
“The chanting.”
The warlocks trade a glance, then without ceremony, they push the High Witch out of their path and dash ahead.
“What the hell,” Aurora retorts, immediately motioning to follow. She only takes a couple of steps forward before she halts suddenly.
“What’s the matter?” I ask.
“They hexed us!” the High Witch replies.
“Of course they did. I should have known they’d pull something shady like that,” Solomon grumbles, patting the pockets of his jacket as if he’s looking for something.
A moment later, there’s a cry that’s definitely not from Ashmedai. It’s Niko.
“They’re going to kill my sister!” Aurora tries to use her crystal to free herself.
They’re all frozen, but when I try to move, I discover that I can. “Son of a bitch. They forgot about me.” I take off after them, but when I enter the room where the infamous Taluah Mirror is, I find the two warlocks on the floor, unmoving. I don’t have time to check if they’re alive. I grab one of their small athames and tuck it into my pants, hiding it under my jacket. I don’t want the demon to know I have it.
Aurora’s younger sister stands in front of the mirror, which has turned into a portal to hell if I were to guess by the towering inferno on the other side. She turns around, looking as innocent as can be, besides a couple of details: the freakish all-black eyes and the stench of death emanating from her.
“Hello, Saxon. I was hoping you would show up. You’re exactly what I need to finish my little spell.”
She raises her hand, and at once, it feels like my throat has been gripped by a deadly invisible force. I’m lifted from the ground, then dragged toward the demon. She forces me down on my knees, facing the mirror. The image of the raging fire changes to a scene much more gruesome. Kari’s murder.
I try to shut my eyes, but I can’t. The demon forces me to watch the whole thing again. First the violent beating, then my father shredding Kari’s body into pieces with his bare hands as my mother and I were forced to watch. I should have tried to stop him, but I was too afraid. My cowardice is my biggest sin, and even after I killed my father, I wasn’t absolved of my guilt.
“Your sister got what she deserved. She was such a whore,” a familiar voice