“Okay, so here’s what we know for sure.” Lita moves from the couch to the fan, seeking relief from the unbearable heat. “The Richters are back in business, both literally and figuratively. Question is, what are we going to do about it?”
“We’re going to rise to the challenge.” I look upon my small group of friends, my voice as determined as my gaze.
“Meaning?” Axel looks at me; he’s the only one in the room who isn’t wilting in the heat, and I can’t help but feel envious.
“It’s like Xotichl said, everyone has limits, no one’s invincible. Heck, even Superman had kryptonite. We just have to discover the Richters’ weakness.”
They all look at me. Well, everyone but Dace who continues to dwell in a faraway place.
“We need to be on high alert. We can’t afford to slack off or get lazy. If nothing else, this invite is a clear warning that the honeymoon is officially over. It’s a direct challenge if I’ve ever seen one.”
“And, so what do we do about it? Other than being on high alert, and all?”
“You can start by not blocking the fan.” Auden motions impatiently. “C’mon, Lita, share the breeze. Flower and I are dying over here.”
Lita slinks back to Axel’s side, as I say, “For starters, we’re going to the masquerade.” I lift my glass of iced ginger tea and press it to my forehead and cheeks, transferring the sweat from the glass to mix with the sweat on my skin.
“That’s it? We just fix our hair, change our clothes, slap on a mask, and head out—or do we have some kind of plan?” Lita’s voice is less sarcastic than her words might imply.
“I don’t have a plan. Or, at least not yet.” I sink deeper into the cushions, ashamed to admit I’m as clueless as they are. Still, lying won’t do any good.
“Okay, so let’s put our heads together and come up with a plan,” Lita says. “You don’t have to go this alone, you know. We may not be Seekers, but I’m sure we can help.” She echoes her earlier lecture. “For starters, who’s the entertainment? Auden, are you playing the event?”
Auden looks up from his cell. His face shading with embarrassment at being caught texting again. “Sorry,” he says. “Just trying to arrange a meeting with Luther to sign some contracts.”
“Well, while you have him, ask if he can try to squeeze you into the lineup,” Lita says.
Auden looks uncertain. “I think Epitaph’s scheduled to play.”
“So, make it a reunion, then.” Lita makes an impatient face.
“They were pretty pissed when I left. I doubt they’ll want to see me . . .” Auden flips the phone in his hand.
“Don’t be so sure.” Xotichl sneaks closer, whispers into his ear. And, unable to resist her, it’s only a second later when Auden starts thumb-typing again.
A few moments later, he says, “Well, Luther’s not happy, but he said he’ll do what he can.”
“Good.” Lita nods. “So hopefully we’ll have someone to cover the stage. Dace—what about getting your old job back? Any chance of that?”
I turn to Dace, wondering what’s going on with him. He got here much later than anticipated, and he’s barely said a word ever since.
“Leandro offered.” He shrugs, rubs a hand over his chin. “But that was before Phyre blew up the place. For all I know, he blames me.”
“Doubtful. Didn’t you pull Cade to safety? I’m sure Leandro’s aware of that.”
“We didn’t do it to save Cade.” I’m quick to defend our actions, even though there’s no need. My friends are well aware of the mystical connection that binds the twins’ lives.
“The reason doesn’t matter. Fact is, Cade’s alive because of you.”
“Yeah, and he left a dead raven as a thank you.” I shake my head.
“Kind of like when a cat leaves a dead mouse as a gift for its owner,” Xotichl says, prompting us to laugh, though the moment’s short-lived.
“Still, might be worth a try,” Auden says. “Maybe you can head over. Grovel a bit. Appeal to his ego. It would be good to have someone on the inside.”
I study Dace’s expression, but he keeps it so carefully guarded it’s impossible to read.
“What the hell.” Dace’s gaze briefly meets mine. “The gas station’s no longer an option. Not after today.” I lean closer, willing him to elaborate, but he just breezes right past it. “And there’s no doubt I could use the money. Maybe he’ll even give me an advance so I can cover my rent. That is, if I grovel enough.” He exchanges a quick look with Auden. “So yeah. Fine. Worth a try, right?”
“Okay,” Xotichl says. “So now that we’ve got two possible insiders, what about the rest of us? Do we pose as normal, clueless partygoers? Or do we go in with an agenda? Or both?”
“Too bad Axel’s not still invisible,” Auden says. “That might’ve helped.”
“Doubtful,” I say. “For some inexplicable reason, Cade was able to see Axel that night just after he stabbed me and Axel appeared to take me to the Upperworld.”
“That was a glitch I still can’t explain.” Axel looks truly perplexed. “I used to be quite adept at light-bending.” Fielding Auden’s blank look, he explains, “I could will myself to be unseen even by those meant to see me. I was one of the few who could do such a thing. Though it was highly frowned upon.”
“Rebel.” Lita grins, nudges his side. Causing Axel to beam.
“Anyway,” I say, hoping to get this conversation back on track. “While we may not have the details just yet, I think we need to be ready for anything since clearly they’re up to something more than just a reopening.” I go on to tell them about seeing Marliz vanish inside and the pile of glimmering dust she left in her wake.
“Glimmering dust?” Axel looks at me, brows drawn tightly together.
I nod toward the hat I left on the counter. So much has happened, I forgot all about it until now. Within a matter of seconds Axel has glided seamlessly from the couch to the kitchen then back to Lita’s side where he peers into the cap, dips a single finger inside, then looks at me and says, “Onyx. Black onyx to be exact.”
“Okay . . . anyone mind cluing me in? I’m a little lost here.” Lita looks from me to him.
“They must be using it to enhance the building. It’s impossible to get a good look at it what with all the barriers they’ve set up around it. But that”—I nod toward the cap now placed on Axel’s lap—“it’s definitely not your usual construction material, which means they’re building a bigger, better, more powerful Rabbit Hole.”
“By using black onyx they’ll add immense power and strength,” Axel says. “Not only will onyx provide support and staying power, it’ll increase the energetic vibration as well as retain the memory of all that went before.”
“So . . . what you’re really saying is that we’re doomed to bad food and watered-down drinks forever?” Lita grins, trying to add a bit of levity to a room gone suddenly somber. But it’s only a moment later when her smile fades and she settles into the grim reality that awaits us.
“They’re ensuring that the memory and strength of the Richter ancestry, along with the legacy of their magick and power, stays forever retained in those walls,” Axel says, and when his eyes meet mine, he looks as worried as I am.
The Richters have found a way to harness the power of their ancestry and the countless acts of evil they’ve wrought.
In other words: We are greatly outmatched.
Though it may prove worse still. They may have found a way to turn the entire town against us.
I look among my friends and say, “And let’s not forget the tourmalines they included in the New Year’s Eve swag bags. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time until they come into play. There’s no way the Richters would ever waste such a valuable resource.”
“But why do you think they waited so long to exploit them?” Lita looks at me. “I mean, nothing out of the ordinary has happened for months.”
“That’s the million-dollar question,” Xotichl says, fiddling
with the glasses she’s still not used to wearing. “Though try as I might, I can’t get a read on the energy.”
Despite the heat, I’m left chilled by her words. She’s been saying things like that so often, I wonder if she has any idea just how frequently she’s come to repeat herself where her failing abilities are concerned. Then again, I’m probably overreacting. Maybe she’s so excited by the novelty of seeing, it’s distracted her from her more mystical gifts.
I return my attention to my friends. “Okay, so the bottom line is, from this moment on, until we come up with an actual plan, we need to be on high alert for signs of anything out of the ordinary.”
“And, I have to go buy a new party dress,” Lita says. “Which definitely calls for a trip to Albuquerque since it’s not like I’ll find anything in this fashion-challenged town. Xotichl—you in?”
Xotichl nods eagerly, as Auden says, “I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a wrap. Anyone up for pizza?”
“I was thinking maybe we could hang in the Lowerworld instead,” Lita says. “It’s gotta be cooler there, than here.”
“Maybe so, but last I checked, there was no pizza to be had in those parts.”
“True . . .” Lita purses her lips, trying to decide which holds greater appeal.
“Was there pizza in the Upperworld?” Xotichl looks at Axel, but Axel just laughs and shakes his head.
“Poor baby.” Lita leans in, ruffles his hair. “You’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Which means we shouldn’t waste a single pizza-ordering opportunity.” She pulls her phone from her pocket and scrolls through her speed-dial list as Auden grabs his keys.
“You’ll need to pick up some drinks too.” I head into the kitchen and peer into the fridge, if only to confirm that other than a nearly empty tub of cream cheese and a package of week-old bagels, it truly is empty. “I’m way overdue on food shopping.”
“No worries, we’re on it.” Lita grabs her purse with one hand and Axel with the other. “We’ll take supermarket duty. Xotichl and Auden, you’re responsible for fetching the pizza, and Daire and Dace . . .” She looks over her shoulder and centers her gaze on mine. “Whatever’s brewing between you, get it settled before we return. This may prove to be our last fun Friday night for a while. So I’d rather not waste it on relationship drama.”
TWELVE
DAIRE
“Since when did Lita get so insightful?” I tip onto my toes and reach into an overhead cupboard. Glancing over my shoulder, waiting for Dace to react, but he remains frustratingly silent. “Hello? Anyone home?” I drop onto my heels and unload an armful of glasses onto the counter. Poking his shoulder, I say, “Dace. Hey. You in there?”
He squints. Shakes his head. Requiring a handful of seconds to travel from his private world of faraway thoughts to the tiny kitchen in Enchantment, New Mexico, where we both stand.
“Sorry. Guess I’m a little preoccupied.” He swipes a hand through his hair, pushes his bangs from his eyes.
“A little?” I quirk a brow, make a face. But when he fails to react, I say, “Anything you want to talk about?”
He meets my question with a conflicted look.
“Did something happen at work?”
He rubs a hand over his chin, purposely avoiding my gaze. “Didn’t make it to work today. Spent the day with Leftfoot instead.”
He returns his focus to me, but the move comes too late. His words were clearly veiled, and I can’t even fathom what sort of secret he’s so determined to keep.
I study his face, relieved to find my image reflected in his eyes. Last time he acted like this, that wasn’t the case. “Why would spending the day with Leftfoot leave you like this?”
“Like what?”
“Cold. Distant. Remote. Geographically close, but emotionally unavailable.”
He looks at me as though he’s just woken from a very long sleep.
“God, I’m so sorry. Is that what I’ve done?”
I bite my lip and nod.
“C’mere.” He reaches for me, clasping me at the waist as he pulls me into his arms. “I’m not trying to push you away, really.” But when his mouth tips at the side, I’m not sure I believe him. Dace’s inability to lie without giving himself away is just one of the many things I love about him.
“Dace—what’s going on? What happened today?”
He shakes his head, returns his focus to me as though willing himself to try harder. The fact that he has to will such a thing only deepens my concern. What happened to my love-trumps-evil optimist from this morning?
“It’s been a long day. A long and tiring day. You know how Leftfoot is . . .”
His breezy attitude clashes with the fine lines forming around his eyes, the grim downward tilt of his lips. Unwilling to partake in his charade, I move to untangle myself from his arms. To my surprise, he lets me.
I move about the kitchen, busying myself with gathering the correct amount of plates, napkins, and drinking glasses. Loading it all onto a tray I carry into the den where we’ll gorge on pizza and watch loads of movies where Lita will grill me about which actors I knew (and which actors I kissed) back in my former life as a Hollywood makeup artist’s jet-setting daughter. The usual plan when we don’t head for the Lowerworld.
I place the tray on the table, start to arrange all the settings, when I realize I forgot to include the red-pepper flakes Xotichl loves, and turn so quickly I smack into Dace.
“For the last time, what is going on with you?” I cry, frustrated to find him pulling away just when I need him the most.
“Daire—when was the last time you checked the prophecy?” His eyes glitter so strangely a chill slips over my skin.
I pause. Struggle to remember. Finally admitting it’s been a while. “Maybe a month—quite possibly more.” I shrug. “Why? Why is this relevant? What have you learned?”
Without a word, he grasps my hand in his and leads me out of the den, through the kitchen, and up the ramp to the office where the Codex is kept.
THIRTEEN
DACE
When the worst is confirmed, when we’ve exhausted the subject between us, all we can do is sit quietly and wait for our friends to return.
Bodies stiff, thoughts mired deep in our own private hell, when a blare of chatter and laughter bursts through the door, only to halt a few seconds later when our friends find us sitting silent and stricken with the Codex propped open before us.
Lita’s the first to react. Centering it before her, she reads the words that are branded on my brain no matter how much I’ve tried to deny them.
When air sears and water fades
When tempest winds ravage fire-scorched plains
When Shadow eclipses Sun—the Seer shall fall
Causing three worlds to descend into darkness eternal
“Okay, so what we have here is another quatrain.” Lita shrugs, pushes away from the book as though it’s not to be taken seriously. Try as she might to appear unaffected, her spooked expression betrays her. Yet, it doesn’t stop her from adding, “We averted the last prophecy, so why should this one be any different?” Her gaze searches Axel’s, seeking reassurance.
“The last prophecy was thwarted in part because of me.” Axel’s expression turns guarded as his eyes glow dark violet. “I broke one of my most sacred vows. I interfered in that which is considered strictly forbidden.”
A solemn hush descends on the room as everyone takes a moment to consider his words. But I’m focused on the words he failed to speak.
He’s one of us now.
His celestial pass, along with his celestial powers, have been revoked.
Which means there’s no one left to guide me.
No one left to step in and save us.
And, from what I’ve seen, no one should so much as attempt to spare me.
The Codex mimics the exact same story I read in the bones.
The glorious feather-crowned beast that dwells deep inside, is morphing into something else en
tirely.
Something wicked and foul.
Something capable of dark, malevolent deeds.
Everything I professed to believe just twelve hours ago has been flipped upside down.
Turns out, I’m not the man I thought I was destined to be.
Rather than a creature of light, the savior I imagined—I’m well on my way to becoming the very worst enemy mankind has yet seen.
When Shadow eclipses Sun—the Seer shall fall
It’s the takeaway line that says it all.
Somewhere within me stirs the darkness men fear. And it’s that very darkness that will eclipse the light of the world and cause Daire to fall.
The girl I’ve sworn to protect—the girl I’d give my very life for—I’m now destined to destroy.
The countdown has started.
It’s just a matter of time before my darkness is unleashed on the world.
Funny, how the last time I saw Cade he was unable to shift, yet now I’m destined to transform into something so heinous it’ll make his two-headed, snake-tongued beast resemble the punch line to a really bad joke.
Is it possible the beast that once lived inside him has found a new home in me?
One where it could flourish and grow and turn my light against me—against all of us?
“So what do we do now?” Auden asks. Those six simple words heralding the moment I’ve tried hard to avoid.
Hoped I could delay just a few minutes more.
It’s the reason I’ve been acting so sketchy and distant. I know exactly what comes next and I can’t bear to face it.
It may be inevitable, unavoidable, but it’s shredding my insides—pulverizing my heart. And worse, it’s turned me into the worst kind of liar.
Just this morning I swore to Daire that I would always be with her, would never leave her, that we’d get through this together—and now I’m about to break every vow.
Daire deserves better.