by Shyla Colt
“The forgotten place.” She frowns. “Most are fooled by its exterior.”
“You shouldn’t mistake witches with humans.” I smile. Her lips press together in a thin line. I move on to the owl. I brush it tentatively with my fingertips. Nothing. I press my palm flush against the wood. It’s warm to the touch. Feelings of well-being and joy wash over me. I want to experience more of what the entrance is offering. I caress the notches in the wood and lift the key. A shrill cry snatches me from my trance. I stumble back. Any door that begs to be opened this way shouldn’t be.
“Not this one.”
“Are you sure?” Sebile purrs.
More than ever. “Positive.” I walk over and touch the final door. It’s a breath of fresh air. Cool like a refreshing dip in a hot day, it eases my apprehension. “This is the one.”
“Use the key if you dare.”
I place the key in the lock and turn. The door swings open. High arched, brick ceilings curve with the majestic architecture of the medieval time period. Mirrors of every shape, size, and varnish are attached to the walls.
“It appears you’re determined to live up to the hype, Louella Esçhete.”
“We all want the same thing, don’t we? Neutralization of a threatening force?”
“Hmm. This time.” She waves a hand. “After you.”
Ignoring her unsettling games, I step inside. Mixed vibrations clash. My stomach swirls in the vortex I swear has been opened up inside of this space. I slowly rotate as I struggle to get my bearings.
“Why does it feel like this?”
“Every mirror is a portal to another realm. When you put them all in one space, the energy can be chaotic.”
My jaw drops. It adds an entirely new meaning to the phrase ‘Into the looking glass’. Perhaps Alice in Wonderland wasn’t a fictional work after all.
The corridor stretches out beyond my eyesight. “There are so many.”
“Silly humans. Always thinking they’re all there is to existence.”
“More like praying we aren’t,” I say honestly.
She sneers. “I’ll believe that when I see it. For centuries I’ve watched your kind destroy what you can’t understand.”
“Witches worship nature and do what we can to keep the balance of things. How easily you forget I’m not human.” I let the fire in my eyes come through. I’m not above using my newly gained gifts from the bond to flex some muscle.
“It’s close enough.”
“If you truly believed that, I would not be here.” I’m bluffing, but the confidence I’m faking will never alert her to the truth. I focus on keeping my breathing steady, my muscles loose, and my mannerisms lax. On the inside, I’m close to a mental meltdown. She could laugh as easily as she could lash out.
“Smart girl. I need you to help me decide my position on this matter. Don’t mistake this arrangement for anything more than that.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I say honestly.
“Familiarize yourself with the hall and explore. You’ll feel the fracture.”
No pressure. I walk the space arms out. Each mirror has a distinct signature of energy. It’s like being in the center of a large airport with an infinite amount of potential gates that lead to different destinations. I feel a tug at my magical core as I approach each one. An oval-shaped, silver-gilded antique runs up a wall, dwarfing me. There’s an old feeling of nobility to this one. I stop a few feet down in front of a small, circular mirror surrounded by metal roses. The impression of light-hearted fun and whimsy bring a smile. I trail my fingertips over the glass. They sink in slightly. Startled, I pull them back.
“Careful you don’t take an accidental journey,” Sebile cautions with a throaty laugh.
I continue my walk. After a time, I feel the sour note playing among the beautiful symphony. I retrace my steps and stop at in front of a mirror with Middle-Eastern roots. The pointed apex rounds out to a curved that smooths into a rectangular shape. Intricate floral designs and interlocking squares line the double border. I run my finger along the edge. The power here isn’t contained. It’s leaking out. I sense a fracture. I use my magical vision and find a crack that’s beginning to form a spider web of smaller imperfections. I’m certain Sebile saw this. Why didn’t she act?
“What’s on the other side of this one?”
“Look for yourself.”
I frown. “When you cross the threshold, do the inhabitants see you?”
“Not if you shield yourself and keep the visit short.”
With a quickly whispered invisibility spell, I push my head inside. The stench of brimstone chokes me. Smoke burns my eyes. I swipe away the saline as I try to take in my surroundings. It’s complete desolation―a ruined landscape of scorched earth dotted with small fires, and an active volcano. Heat engulfs my face. A shiny object flies up into the air, hopping around as if it’s alive. The lid rattles, and as it pops off, I realize it’s a lamp. A smoky figure explodes out of the spout. The gangly creature with pale green skin and ghoulish features is instantly recognizable despite the sinister tone rarely associated with its kind. Djinn. Holy shit. The Djinn turns its head toward me, and I pull out of the mirror.
“Genie.”
“Yes. It appears after a few millennia they’ve found a way to make their move on claiming the earth as their own.”
“Why? How?”
“They are not benevolent mystical beings who live to grant wishes. Djinn are fallen angels who want to not only return but rule and destroy the human race in the process. If they manage to breach the barrier, life as you know it will end. They live for death and destruction and hate … the creation they feel their father revered over all others.”
“You knew. Why do all of this?” I throw my hands up in the air.
“I always choose the winning side, Louella. Right now, I’m not convinced you’ll be the ones who come out on top.”
“Self-preservation?”
“Wars take time, cause casualties, and quite frankly, they bore me. I won’t put my people in the position for petty humans.”
“Why contact us?”
“To tip the scales in the favor I want them.”
I know next to nothing about Djinn. That needs to change immediately.
“We have to go home and prepare.”
“Be sure you win. You don’t want me for an enemy.”
Chapter Thirteen
Dumped unceremoniously outside the wards of the court mansion, Marcellus grumbles loudly about our rushed exit.
“What the hell—”
I hold my finger up to my lips and cross through the wards.
“I don’t put it past Sebile to linger. Once we’re inside the house, I’ll explain more.”
The minute we open the door, Luz and Ruby greet us.
“Where’s Miles? I need all hands on deck in the library.”
“Welcome back …” Luz trails off.
We dump our luggage by the front door, and I hug her before continuing to the library. “I know what we’re dealing with now, a Djinn.”
“A genie? Like Aladdin rubbed a lamp?” Luz asks skeptically.
“Yeah, the actual thing is nothing like the Robin William’s Disney version.” I snort. The concept is a ridiculous one now that I’ve seen the real thing.
“What happened with Sebile?” Marcellus asks, bringing us back to task.
“She took me to a place where dimensional portals exist. I saw with my own eyes where the Djinn lie. I watched one come out of a lamp. It’s the only thing the legend got right. Their land looked like hell. Fires, volcanic explosions, and destruction as far as the eye can see. I’m not shocked they want to get out of there. There wasn’t a hint of anything living.”
“What are we going to do?” Sacha asks.
“Wait, you’re going to trust what yo
u experienced in the Fae realm?” Ruby asks.
“No, we’re trusting my senses. I have never experienced an environment so devoid of hope, light, or love. I’ll die before I let that be the Earth’s future. Sebile said they wanted to conquer and reign. I believe that.”
“The first thing we need to do is learn everything we can about our enemy,” Marcellus states. This is the man charged with keeping members of the court safe.
“That’s why we’re here.” I gesture to the rows of books stacked neatly in the library and long for Cristobal once more. He’s meeting with an expert in the Middle East about the sigil. Communication has been sparse.
“Given the recent development, do you still believe the murders and strange occurrences are connected? It doesn’t seem like anything a Djinn would do,” Sacha says.
“Yes. I don’t know how though. I feel like it’s a huge piece of the puzzle we’re missing.”
“What do any of us know about them?” Ruby questions.
“Only the myths which are always a mix of fact and fiction and not helpful at all,” I admit.
“I know the basics.” Percival gestures for us to sit before continuing. “They were a branch of the fallen angels cast down after the war. Angry and bitter, they live to bring down the humans they envied and despised. Their wish giving abilities are linked to the leader of their rebellion. Much like demons make deals for souls, so do the Djinn. The major difference is their approach. The three wishes are the free sample plan.”
“Damn, it’s manically genius,” I whisper.
“Wait. Can you extend your wish quota? I thought that was against the rule, wishing for more wishes.” Sacha’s brow furrows.
“Oh, it’s allowed. For a fee,” Percival reminds her.
“It’s like a drug trade. You give ’em a taste to get them hooked, and then there’s no price too high,” Luz marvels. “And people think vamps are fucked up.” Luz snorts.
“Do you have any idea how to stop them, Perc?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I wish I had better news for you, my Lady. They’re a vastly unknown subject matter.”
“Well, kids, let’s break out the books and dig in.” Marcellus twines his fingers and cracks them. “It’s time to get the research ball rolling on all fronts.” His pointed stare makes me roll my eyes.
“Okay, daddy. I’ll contact the witches. I’ll need to call another council meeting anyway.”
“Tread carefully. Zephirin’s itching to nail your ass after the stunt you pulled with Cein and Kul.”
“Please.” I roll my eyes. “I saved his son’s ass. It’s not my fault his stupidity overrides his survival instincts.”
“Clearly, it’s a family trait he inherited from his father,” Sacha says drolly.
I snicker. “Too right you are there.”
“You bled for the bastard. He owes you, and everyone who witnessed it knows that. Use that to your advantage when the time is right,” Sacha suggests.
The vampires hiss. Blood matters are a big deal.
“When the time is right, I’ll call in my marker.” I soothe them through our link. “At the time it was the easiest way to handle a potentially dangerous situation. I don’t regret my actions. Uniting against a common enemy outweighs any lingering prejudices.”
“I’d pay money to see his face when he realized the family is now in your debt,” Sacha says as we move to the bookshelf.
“Like he’s sucking on a sour lemon, I’m sure.”
Sacha wrinkles her face and squints her eyes. I can’t hold back the laughter that wells up at her imitation. The oppression lifts, as we dive into the leather-bound tomes. The smell of parchment, the careful turn of pages, and the ingestion of information whittle away the hours. I slowly surface when my stomach growls loudly.
“Okay. The humans need food and sunlight. I’m stealing your Queen. We have to touch base with our people anyway,” Sacha says.
I close the book, Middle Eastern Monsters and Myths, and stand. My legs protest my inactivity. I roll my stiff shoulders and neck.
“Call me if you find anything?”
“Of course,” Luz says.
Sacha and I link arms as we make our way out of the library. The moment we’re outside she turns to me.
“Tell me really, are you okay?”
“I feel like we’re on a time limit. I can’t shake the image of an invisible doom’s day clock loudly ticking down the seconds until total destruction. There’s so much we don’t know. It unsettles me. Every new death reported feels like a direct result of our failure.”
“You can’t think like that, Lou. You’ll go insane.”
“I know.” I sigh. “I hate to go to sleep at night because I’m not sure what horrors await me upon waking. People are starting to take notice of the strange things occurring, and the council is expecting me to make it all go away. I didn’t even know what the hell we were dealing with until today. A few hours ago, genies were ancient lore, not history.”
“There are people desperate to discredit you right now, and others looking on to see if you can prove you can handle yourself against their attacks. No one believes what’s been dumped on you was caused by anything you did. What do you think Sebile’s angle is?”
“She’s hedging her bets while helping us under the table, so she can keep her hands clean. Just in case the Djinn come out on top. Fae forbid she has a war waged on her over humans.”
Sacha laughs as we make it to her car. “We’re going to gorge ourselves on Mama’s Soul Kitchen and put everything else on hold. After our bellies are full, I’m going to keep the council at bay for the next twenty-four hours, and you, my brilliant bestie, will have something for them when they approach you after that time.”
“Don’t ask me what,” I say sarcastically.
“That’s the spirit. Polish the turd. Make it pleasant to the ear and give them a call to action that makes them feel important. I’ve watched my father kiss enough influential ass to know how it works.”
Climbing into the teal beast, I lay my burdens down momentarily.
***
“You look to be in one piece, but I’m not so easily fooled. If there’s one thing I know about witches, it’s that they hate to lose face.”
I turn in the garden and smile up at Percival. I slipped to my sanctuary to think after lunch. Hands shoved into his black slacks, the dark-haired man is studying me carefully. I wonder who elected him to come out and check on me.
“And you know this from experience, do you?”
“Firsthand with Rosemond. But I think you knew that, didn’t you?”
I shrug, uncertain how to respond. It’s a bold admission coming from the usually private man.
“I sensed the change. You paid close attention to me and gained a softness in your demeanor toward me that hadn’t been there previously. It made it easy to put two and two together. For the record, I don’t mind you knowing. I’m not ashamed. I loved her. The timing killed any chance we might’ve had. The world wasn’t ready for a union like ours. Not even after the collaboration necessary to end the Reaping. No one likes to mention how we banded together to defeat our foe these days. It’s akin to a dirty secret we all try to keep shoved in the back of our closets.” I remain silent, afraid he’ll stop talking if I interrupt. “Those were desperate dark days. Bloody battles and blood magic were part of the sacrifices.”
“What?” The word is out before I can bite my tongue.
He looks up at me. “I could never deny Rosemond much. The power she needed to harness with the loss of so many in her family required more than she could attain on her own. Your ancestors were silent in those days, dismayed with the actions of their future generation.”
Excommunicating family members for no damn reason would piss them off all right.
“What did you do?” I ask, silently
willing him to continue opening up.
“I bound myself to your line, pledging my power to her cause.”
“You drank from each other?” I ask, stunned.
“Yes.”
“A-Are you still bound?”
He shakes his head. “No, what we did was temporary.”
“You still love her?”
“There will always be a special place for her in my heart. Love is not so easily carved from us, is it?”
“No. Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I think it’s time for you to hear it. You doubt yourself and your choices. Yet you’ve already made calls your predecessor couldn’t. They let fear rule them. In this way, you are fearless. Witches like to pretend they’re above pettiness and all-powerful, but they too have their secrets and reach out for help. The only thing you did was be transparent about it. It’s earned you the respect those who came before you never had.”
His words are enlightening and needed at the moment.
“You are about to take two thrones for a reason.”
“Yes. Which means every decision I make affects twice as many people.”
He smiles kindly. “There are too many good people around to allow you to cause irrevocable damage. You’ve yet to realize the superpower you’re assembling. This community has long needed an individual like you. One who can remain fair and just because they’re able to see both sides. The Cortez Court is on the cusp of another power level up. It makes us more noticeable to others, and therefore a target. It’s made it harder to touch us. Thank you.”
“It wasn’t intentional—” I refuse to accept his gratitude.
“Doesn’t matter. Others have ignored the bond. Whatever this family needs to do to keep you safe we will. You’re one of us now. So, if that means spending a day buried in dusty old books to fight your latest enemy we will.” He wraps an arm around my shoulders. I surprise myself by allowing it to remain. “Come on, Cristobal will return tomorrow with the one he’s searched for.”