Chapter 10
Chapter
Ten
GENEVA
T rying to drown out the growing sense of dread that had settled deep in her chest, Geneva concentrated on her breathing. She'd been hyper-focused for hours, pouring over her notes and the runes they'd discovered tattooed on the trafficked victims. Jenny had just left, but she had heard enough that she was beginning to piece things together. She didn’t have the full picture yet, but she had heard enough and was too smart not to figure it out. Geneva couldn’t let that happen. She couldn’t drag Jenny into her world. It was too dangerous.
Before she could figure out what to do, the door to the morgue slammed open, the force of it sending a gust of cold air through the room. Geneva’s blood ran cold as she looked up, her heart skipping a beat.
Ash stood in the doorway, blood dripping onto the floor, his face pale and drawn. His eyes locked onto hers, urgency burning in them. “Geneva, we need to go. Now.”
Geneva shot up from her chair, her stomach twisting into knots. “What happened?” she asked, fear creeping into her voice.
“They’re here,” Ash rasped, stumbling slightly as he moved into the room. “Asmodeus’s forces… they’re coming for you. This whole place is about to be overrun.”
She rushed toward Ash, slipping her arm under his to support him. “We need to move. Now.”
But before they could take another step, the air in the room shifted. It grew heavier, oppressive, thick with dark magic. Geneva’s breath caught in her throat, her pulse thudding loudly in her ears. She knew that feeling—it was the unmistakable presence of Asmodeus’s forces.
Then, out of the shadows, they appeared. Demonic figures materialized, their red eyes glowing with malice, claws gleaming under the flickering light. There were three of them, towering and monstrous, their forms distorted and rippling with dark energy. They were here for her. For Ash.
Geneva’s heart raced. This was it—she had no choice. She couldn’t hide anymore.
She reacted on instinct, invoking her magic, the fae energy she had kept hidden from her workplace for so long surging to the surface. Geneva’s wings—glimmering and translucent—unfurled from her back with a brilliant burst of light. Power rippled through her, her skin glowing faintly with the ancient magic of her lineage. She could feel the raw force of it rushing through her veins, the magic she had suppressed for so long now coming to life.
The remaining demons roared, their eyes locking onto her with murderous intent. Ash moved beside her, drawing his blade despite the blood dripping from his wounds. His jaw was set in determination, even as his body weakened.
“Geneva,” Ash rasped, his voice rough but filled with resolve, “we need to get out of here.”
She nodded, her heart thudding in her chest as she summoned more of her magic. “Not without a fight.”
The demons lunged again, but this time Geneva was ready. With Ash at her side, she faced the darkness head-on, her magic swirling around her like a protective shield. There was no going back now.
But as she fought, her fae power glowing brighter, she knew one thing for certain: she would protect those she cared about, no matter the cost.
And she would not let Asmodeus win.
Geneva’s world exploded into chaos as the morgue became a battlefield and more demons joined the fight. The sterile, cold environment that once reeked of antiseptic and death now pulsed with dark magic, swirling energy, and the sound of bodies crashing into metal and walls. Geneva barely had time to catch her breath before the first demon launched at them again, its claws outstretched, red eyes glowing with hatred.
She darted to the side, casting a barrier of shimmering fae magic to block the blow, the force of it sending vibrations up her arms. The impact rattled the room, shaking the examination tables and knocking over shelves of medical supplies. Her wings, now fully unfurled, pulsed with an ethereal light, their energy crackling in the air as she summoned more magic.
Ash moved beside her, his blade flashing in the dim light as he parried another attack from the second demon. Blood dripped from his side, staining his shirt, but he didn’t falter. His movements were fluid, deadly, despite his injuries. Every strike was precise, his demonic instincts heightened by the danger that surrounded them. They fought together as though their bodies were in sync, the rhythm of battle flowing between them like a practiced dance.
But the demons were relentless.
One of the enforcers snarled, lunging toward them. Geneva realized the danger just in time. Without thinking, she unleashed a wave of fae magic, a shimmering force that slammed into the demon’s chest, sending it careening backward. It howled in fury, its claws scraping the tiled floor as it tried to right itself.
The demons pressed harder, their power fueled by the dark magic of Asmodeus. One of them struck out at Ash, catching him off-guard and raking its claws across his arm. Ash gritted his teeth, swinging his blade in a wide arc that sliced clean through the demon’s arm. Black blood splattered the walls, but it didn’t slow the creature down.
“We can’t keep this up!” Ash growled through clenched teeth, his breath labored as he barely avoided another strike. “There are too many of them.”
Geneva’s mind raced. The demons were too strong, too coordinated. They had come for her, for Ash, and they weren’t leaving without blood. The morgue, already in shambles, couldn’t take much more. Nor could they. Every moment they spent here put more innocent lives at risk.
She needed a plan. They needed to escape—but not just to flee. They needed to take the fight directly to the heart of this operation, to the traffickers and their twisted labyrinth. Geneva’s pulse quickened as an idea formed in her mind, a desperate gamble that might give them a chance.
The Labyrinth.
The runes she had been studying—the same runes that marked the trafficked victims—held the key to the Labyrinth, a shifting pocket dimension beneath the city where the trafficking ring operated. She had uncovered some of the patterns, enough to understand how they worked. It was risky, but if she could harness her fae magic and combine it with the runes, she could create a portal.
“Geneva!” Ash shouted, snapping her out of her thoughts as another demon came barreling toward her.
She threw up a barrier just in time, the force of the demon’s attack rattling the walls and sending a table skidding across the floor. Her muscles strained, the energy required to hold the shield draining her faster than she could recover. The demons were getting closer, their power overwhelming.
“I have an idea!” Geneva yelled over the chaos, her mind working frantically as she pushed the barrier out, shoving the demon backward. “But we have to go now.”
Ash glanced at her, sweat dripping down his temple, his eyes filled with determination. “What’s the plan?”
“I can create a portal,” she said breathlessly, her magic shimmering around her like a halo. “To the Labyrinth. We can take the fight to them, but I need you to hold them off for a few more seconds.”
Ash gave a sharp nod, his gaze fierce. “Do it.”
Without hesitation, Geneva reached deep into her core, pulling on every last ounce of her fae power. The runes she had studied flashed in her mind, the intricate symbols aligning in her vision as her fingers moved through the air, tracing the patterns of the magic. She whispered ancient words, her voice steady despite the pounding in her chest.
As she worked, the air around her began to shimmer, the magic crackling with power as it coalesced in front of her. A swirling vortex of light and shadow formed, its edges shifting and twisting like the very fabric of reality was tearing apart. The portal glowed brighter, expanding as her magic intertwined with the runes, creating a gateway to the Labyrinth.
Behind her, Ash fought with everything he had, his blade slicing through the air as he kept the demons at bay. Blood dripped from his wounds, but he never faltered, his focus locked on protecting her. Geneva’s feelings for him coalesced in that moment—his strength, his resilience, his willingness to fight for her, even at the risk of his own life.
The portal pulsed, fully formed now, a swirling maelstrom of energy that crackled with power. Geneva’s hands trembled as she held the spell together, the strain of the magic pulling at her mind and body. She could feel the portal drawing on her energy, threatening to consume her if she let her guard down for even a second.
“Ash! It’s ready!” she called out, her voice trembling with effort.
Ash dispatched the last of the demons within striking distance with a brutal swing of his blade, then staggered toward her, his chest heaving from the exertion. His eyes locked onto hers, a flicker of relief crossing his face. But there was no time to rest.
Geneva felt the pull of her magic straining as the portal swirled with intensity, the energy crackling around her like a living force. Every second was a battle to maintain control, the sheer power required to create the gateway between the realms threatening to overwhelm her. But she couldn’t afford to falter, not with Ash’s support and the looming danger of Asmodeus’s forces pressing in from all sides.
Just as they were about to step through, the room filled with a sudden surge of familiar energy—her sisters. Geneva’s head whipped around, her heart pounding as Phoenix, Catalina, and Savannah appeared in the doorway of the morgue, their expressions a mix of shock and ferocity.
“Geneva!” Phoenix called out, her voice sharp with concern as she took in the chaotic scene. Her fiery aura flickered around her, a blazing reminder of her power. “What the hell is going on?”
Savannah, with her more measured, but no less powerful demeanor, surveyed the damage and the unconscious bodies of the demons scattered across the morgue floor. She locked eyes with Geneva, her gaze heavy with unspoken understanding. “We felt the magic from across the city,” Savannah said, her voice calm despite the tension in the air. “Are you okay?”
Catalina stepped forward, her energy crackling in the air, the sharpness of her fae magic palpable. “This doesn’t look like the usual mess, Geneva.”
Geneva’s breath caught in her throat. The sight of her sisters—her family—standing there, ready to help, should have been a relief, but it only made her more aware of the growing danger. The portal was open, and time was slipping away. She had to act now.
“I don’t have time to explain,” Geneva said, her voice tight as she struggled to hold the portal steady. “Ash and I need to go. We’re taking the fight directly to the Labyrinth, where the trafficking ring is centered.”
Her sisters’ eyes widened, and Phoenix stepped closer. “The Labyrinth? That’s a death trap, Geneva.”
“I know,” Geneva replied, her tone brooking no argument; she had made her decision. “But it’s the only way. We can’t let this continue. Ash and I—this is our fight.”
Savannah glanced toward Ash, who was standing beside Geneva, his body battered but his eyes sharp with determination. She hesitated for a moment before speaking. “We’ll back you up. You’re not going in alone.”
Geneva shook her head, the pressure of the portal’s magic weighing heavier on her shoulders. “No. I need you here. We can’t leave the morgue like this. There are my co-workers, people coming and going with bodies, cops… They can’t know about this.”
“You want us to make sure they don’t know anything and if they do to erase their memories?” asked Phoenix.
“Yes,” Geneva said, her voice urgent. “Do whatever it takes. Just make sure they’re safe.”
Catalina stepped forward, her face softening. “Geneva, are you sure about this? The Labyrinth is no joke, and once you go in…”
“I’m sure,” Geneva interrupted, shaking her head. There was no other choice. “This is the only way to end it. We’ll find the heart of the operation and destroy it from within. We have to.”
Phoenix nodded slowly, her eyes filled with both pride and worry for her sister. “Then we’ll cover you here and above ground. If anything gets past you, we’ll get it. You two just focus on getting in, doing what needs to be done and getting out alive.”
Geneva was grateful, but there was no time for sentimental goodbyes. She and Ash had to move. The portal crackled with unstable energy, and every second they lingered increased the chance that it would close before they made it through.
She looked at her sisters one last time, knowing that this could be the last time she saw them. “Take care of each other,” she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion.
Savannah gave a tight smile, her usual lightheartedness fading in the light of the gravity of the situation. “You, too, Geneva. And don’t let Ash drag you into too much trouble… well at least not unless it’s the kind of trouble you like.”
Ash snorted softly at the comment, but Geneva could feel the tension in his body. He knew what was at stake just as much as she did. They were both walking into a trap, but it was a trap they had no choice but to spring.
With a final nod to her sisters, Geneva took Ash’s hand, their fingers entwining as they stepped toward the portal. The energy pulled them forward, a rushing wind of power and light swirling around them. Ash squeezed her hand, grounding her as the magic threatened to consume them both.
“Go!” she said, her voice strained as the portal pulsed, demanding more of her energy.
Ash didn’t hesitate. He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the portal, his grip strong and sure despite the chaos around them. Together, they plunged into the swirling vortex, the world around them shifting and warping as the portal swallowed them whole.
The sensation was dizzying, like falling through an endless void, the fabric of reality twisting and bending around them. Geneva felt the magic pulling at her, the weight of the spell dragging her down, but Ash’s grip anchored her, keeping her grounded.
The last thing she saw before they were pulled into the swirling vortex of the portal was Savannah waving.
And then, they were gone and with a sudden jolt, they were through.
They stumbled out of the portal and into the heart of the Labyrinth, the air thick with magic and darkness. The atmosphere was oppressive, heavy with the presence of the trafficking ring’s dark energy. Twisted corridors of stone and shadow stretched out before them, constantly shifting and rearranging, a living maze designed to trap and confuse anyone who dared enter.
But Geneva wasn’t confused. She could feel the runes pulsing beneath her skin, guiding her through the darkness.
They had taken the fight to the heart of the operation.
The portal closed behind them with a burst of energy, sealing them inside the twisted, shifting world of the Labyrinth. The air was thick with darkness, the very walls of the place seeming to breathe with malicious intent.
Geneva took a steadying breath, feeling Ash’s presence beside her as the magic settled. She had made her choice.
Now, there was no turning back.