Chapter 16
Maya entered the private lair of Micha and Skye hidden beneath the picture-perfect house built in the swamps outside of New Orleans.
It didn’t take her ability to sense the thick magic that pulsed in the air to realize that there was nothing normal about the vast spiderweb of caverns.
It was impossible to dig beneath the bayous without them being flooded.
Still, the amount of power it’d taken to create such a vast lair was impressive.
“I wondered what would finally lure you to visit my new home,” Skye said as she moved forward to greet Maya, her summer dress floating around her slender legs and her golden curls bouncing around her face.
She looked as beautiful and delicate as a butterfly about to take flight, but her ancient power pulsed against Maya with enough force to lift the hair on the nape of her neck.
Had the native magic seeped deep into the bayous intensified Skye’s special gifts?
They certainly felt a lot more intense. “It turns out all it took was the end of the world. Again.”
Maya gave her friend a tight hug. “I’ve been a little busy.”
“And you didn’t want to leave that delicious mate of yours,” Skye teased.
Maya pulled back, her heart squeezing at the thought of Ravyr. She missed him. More than she ever dreamed possible.
“He is above-average delicious,” she agreed, then turning in a slow circle she concentrated on the cavern that surrounded her. Ravyr would soon be home where he belonged. For now, she had more pressing worries.
Her eyes widened as she took in the polished perfection that surrounded her.
A coved ceiling soared well above her head and the walls were framed by towering glass cabinets protected by thick weaves of magic.
Inside the cases she could make out rare manuscripts, scrolls, and various gem-encrusted weapons that were no doubt hexed.
“Wow,” she breathed, not having to pretend she was impressed by the extensive collection of magical items. Until this moment, she would have sworn that Tia had the largest library of rare books.
Now she wasn’t so sure. “This is spectacular. I assume Micha created this?”
Skye looked smug. “He possesses a talent for molding and altering earth. You should see the gardens he created for me at our hidden spot deep in the bayous. It steals my breath every time we enter our private oasis.”
“It’s no wonder he’s always been a hermit.
” Maya’s gaze skimmed over the tightly rolled scrolls and stone tablets etched with long-forgotten hieroglyphs.
How long had it been since anyone beyond Micha had held those precious scrolls in their hands?
Or tested the precise magic contained in the daggers and ivory figurines? “I wouldn’t leave this place either.”
“There’s more,” Skye promised, continuing to lead Maya across the open space.
They’d reached the middle of the cavern when Maya caught the sweet scent of lilies, and without warning invisible fingers stroked over the scars on her cheek, as if seeking to understand the source of the wounds.
“Magic.” Maya shivered as electric tingles raced over her skin, as if someone was standing directly in front of her. “Arcane magic.”
“Ah.” Skye smiled as Maya stopped to concentrate on the invisible presence that continued to touch her face. “You must mean Adelle.”
Maya shook her head. “This isn’t a demon.”
“Adelle is a spirit.”
Maya sent her friend a worried glance. “A ghost?”
Skye shrugged. “A spirit. A ghost. A restless soul. It’s hard to say. One thing I do know is that she was here long before Micha created this lair. She’s kind enough to let us share her home.”
Maya didn’t have much experience with ghosts. Most were human spirits who avoided demons and vampires. But she knew that there were some that could be dangerous. Especially the ones who had been magic users when they were alive.
“Can you see her?” Maya demanded.
“Sometimes I catch a glimpse out of the corner of my eye, but she’s never more than a misty form who floats through the rooms.”
“She doesn’t bother you?”
“Not usually, although she sometimes tosses books around when she’s not happy,” Skye admitted. “Or leaves behind unpleasant scents.”
“You could probably have her exorcised if she’s bothering you.”
Skye’s eyes widened with a genuine shock at the same time the scent of scorched lilies swirled through the air.
“Don’t say that.” Skye clicked her tongue. “She’s part of our family. And like I said. This swamp was her home first. We’re just visitors.”
Maya’s heart melted. This young mage had every reason to be bitter and jaded after her years of being used and abused by the demons who had held her captive. Instead she was filled with an infectious joy for life. Maya missed spending time with her dear friend.
“Oh, Skye,” she breathed. “You and your odd collection of the lonely and abandoned.”
Skye smiled. “You haven’t seen anything yet. Follow me.”
Maya nodded, allowing herself to be led through an opening in the far wall.
She shivered as she walked through a thick barrier that protected the inner chamber.
Skye’s pace never slowed as they passed by cupboards stuffed with magical artifacts that pulsed with a variety of hexes and curses.
Maya hissed as the waves of evil washed over her.
She understood why Micha took such care to keep the items out of the reach of potential enemies.
They had the power to spread disease and plagues if they fell into the wrong hands.
Maya was relieved when they stepped through another opening and another layer of magic. The chamber was smaller and the power from the spellbooks gathered on the wood shelves snapped and sizzled in the air. Like standing in the middle of a lightning storm.
This magic, however, didn’t have the thick tang of evil. This was raw power that strained to be released.
“I’ve searched for any information I could find on dragons and put them in this pile,” Skye said, seemingly indifferent to the vast power raging around her as she strolled to the center of the room.
Maya followed more slowly, her brows pulling together as she studied the two piles on the table.
“That’s it?” Maya counted the meager pile. “Seven books?”
Skye spread her hands. “Unfortunately there’s only three books that directly refer to dragons.”
“And the other four?”
“They contain magic that can transform into a sentient being.”
Maya moved to stand next to the table, thumbing through the top few books. “These are all about the miasma,” she said, referring to the evil magic that had attacked Peri a couple years before.
“It’s the only thing similar to what you explained to me,” Skye admitted. “The miasma gained enough power to think independently and to infect other creatures with its evil.”
Maya had to admit that there were some similarities, but she’d been in the presence of both magics. They felt completely different.
“The power that attacked me wasn’t any magic I recognized,” she insisted.
“Maybe it’s the dragon form of miasma,” Skye suggested. “It wouldn’t be exactly the same, would it?”
Maya tried to recall the magical attack when she’d been standing guard in Hexx’s empty pawnshop. It hadn’t felt evil. And it hadn’t tried to infect her. Or at least, she didn’t think she’d been infected.
It had been raw power pummeling her like a sledgehammer.
“I don’t know.” Maya heaved a harsh sigh. “We’re grasping at straws, aren’t we?”
“Do you have a better idea?”
“No.” Maya shook her head, frustration storming through her. “And if this is some sort of dragon miasma, then I have no idea how we’re supposed to stop it. Not even Peri’s wild magic could battle against that sort of power.”
“True, but maybe the dragon who is sneaking around the world will be able to stop it,” she suggested. “There has to be a reason he was able to escape the bonds of the treaty.”
Maya shook her head. She wasn’t ready to trust the creature. They’d already discovered that dragons could reach into this world and cause havoc. If she had to depend on someone to save them from disaster, she would choose Joe every time.
Which only proved just how little faith she had in the dragons.
About to suggest they travel to Tia’s library in Colorado, Maya jerked in shock when a heavy book tumbled off a nearby shelf.
Skye wrinkled her nose. “Adelle isn’t happy.”
The book flipped open, the pages fluttering in an unseen breeze. “Stop that,” Maya snapped. “We’re busy.”
“Wait, Maya.” Skye scurried to pick up the book, carrying it to the table. She carefully set it down, leaving it spread open to the page the ghost had chosen. “I think she’s trying to help.”
Maya blinked. “Seriously?”
“Quite serious.”
With an effort, Maya leashed her smoldering irritation. She had no idea why an unknown spirit would be trying to assist them, but Skye wouldn’t waste her time if she didn’t truly believe that there was something in the manuscript that would prove helpful.
The beautiful young mage was eccentric, not irresponsible.
“Okay, I’ll play along,” Maya conceded, stepping forward. “What is the book?”
Skye skimmed her fingers over strange hieroglyphs etched on the parchment, easily deciphering the script that looked like a bunch of scribbles to Maya’s untrained eye.
“A collection of ancient prophecies,” Skye at last concluded.
“Dragon prophecies?”
“No, this is fey writing.” Skye squashed Maya’s brief flare of hope. “I thought I’d discovered and read through every book of prophecy in this library, but I’ve never seen these before.” She sent Maya a strange glance. “I think there was some sort of spell hiding the book until Adelle revealed it.”
“Why would anyone go to the effort of writing down a prophecy if they intended to hide it?”
“Most clairvoyants like me can catch glimpses of the future, but as we both know, they’re just fragments of possibilities that usually offer more confusion than concrete answers.
” Skye tapped her finger on the book. “These are from an oracle. The seer has no context of what the words mean, but they can determine when the event will occur. Most oracles will wrap them in spells that will only allow the foretelling to be revealed when the time is right.”
“Do you recognize the oracle?” Maya asked.
Skye shook her head. “These visions came from the days just after the dragons went into hibernation. I doubt whoever had the vision is still alive.”
Maya sighed. Skye’s predictions offered her warnings about things that were about to happen within minutes or days of the event. And they were usually so vague they did nothing to help. How could they trust something that had been foreseen eons ago?
Unfortunately, they didn’t have any better options.
“Is there anything in them about the evil magic?”
Skye furrowed her brow as she slowly translated the glyphs.
“Hard to say. The language is old enough to be different from modern fey, and it looks like there’s a lot of mumbo jumbo mixed in.
” She silently mouthed the words, nearly reaching the bottom of the page when she abruptly stiffened. “Wait. This one mentions a corruption.”
“Read it to me,” Maya commanded.
Skye leaned over the book, clearly struggling to make out the words.
“‘When the corruption bubbles in the bowels of the ground and violence spreads throughout the land, the heart of darkness will strike from beyond the prison walls. Those too blind to see will drown in the evil while the watchers will be devoured by fire. To survive, you must stand steady against the unseen traitor.’”
“The watchers? That might refer to Joe.” Maya clicked her tongue. “But the rest of it makes no sense. How do you stand steady against an unseen traitor? And are we going to be devoured by fire or the corruption? Typical prophecy nonsense.”
Skye straightened, her face pale. Clearly she was disturbed by the oracle’s vision. “Don’t glare at me. I’m a seer, not a prophet.”
Maya waved an impatient hand. “You’re the only one to glare at.”
“True.” Skye tapped her finger against the book. “I know it sounds like gibberish, but I think we should share this with Joe.”
Maya grimaced, recalling her glimpse of Joe through Tia’s mind. He’d been covered from head to toe by the green, slimy magic.
“He’s a little preoccupied and this vision doesn’t really offer much clarity.”
“If Adelle showed it to us, it has to be important,” Skye stubbornly insisted. “And since Joe is the Watcher, this might mean something to him even if it sounds like nonsense to us. Maybe he’s heard another prophecy that’s similar to this one.”
“Okay. You’re right,” Maya conceded with a small sigh of defeat, reaching for the book. “I’ll take this back to Tia. She can share the prophecy with Joe.”
“Hurry.”
Maya stared at her friend, a strange unease creeping down her spine. There was a sharp urgency in Skye’s voice that hadn’t been there before.
“Did you see something?”
Skye shook her head, her curls bouncing. “Not a vision. But a feeling. Here.” She pressed her hand over her heart. “Having you back in New York and close to Tia suddenly feels...important.”
“She’s in danger?”
“Yes.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“I need to warn her.” Maya closed her eyes, ignoring the heavy press of magic that made it difficult to breathe as she tried to tap into her mental connection with the older mage.
Immediately, she realized that it was going to be impossible.
There was a familiar buzzing sound that echoed in her ears, and a thick mist repelled her efforts to break through.
“I can’t reach her.” Maya opened her eyes, her frustration reaching a boiling point.
Dammit, couldn’t one thing be easy? “There’s an interference that comes from being so close to that evil sludge. ”
“Then you have to go to her, Maya,” Skye insisted. “I’ll have Micha’s jet ready and waiting at the airport.”
Maya gave a slow nod. “You’re right. So much for my plans to stay the night and catch up.”
Skye moved forward to give Maya a quick hug. “Next time,” she promised.
“Considering how often we’re facing the end of the world, I assume I’ll be here next week,” Maya said dryly.
Skye offered a faint smile. “True. In the meantime, I’ll continue to search for answers on how to stop the corruption.”
“Call if you find something.”