“I didn’t mean to light it all on fire,” I said. “When Nix conjured the match, I felt like I could create a match too. So I let my power out.”
“You’re a Mirror Mage,” Nix said. “You borrowed my conjuring power.”
“A strong one,” Del said.
“Too strong. I couldn’t control it.”
Mirror Mages weren’t rare or very dangerous, from what I recalled. They could reflect back the magic of any supernatural that they were with. But it was just temporary, and the other supernatural got to keep their powers the whole time. From what I remembered, if Mirror Mages didn’t use the borrowed gift right away, they could use it later. But it was a one shot deal. I could have held on to the conjuring gift I’d borrowed from Nix, but I’d only have been able to use it once.
In a way, Mirror Mages were a tiny bit like FireSouls because they used the powers of others. But they weren’t very dangerous because they couldn’t keep the magic or replicate it more than once.
I turned toward the valley. The fire was starting to dissipate, but it was still an unnatural spectacle, the sky alight with flame.
“I could have killed us if I hadn’t pointed my hands to the sky,” I whispered. “I’m dangerous.”
“I think you need to practice,” Del said.
“Or not use my power at all.” Tears pricked at my eyes. Why was I like this?
“Let’s not worry about that now,” Nix said. “We should get out of here. Let’s find food and shelter.”
I nodded and blinked the tears away. “Okay. Let’s go.”
We set off along the mountain ridge, following the magical string tied around our waists. I was tired and scared, but at least I had my deirfiúr. My sisters.
But as I walked, the most horrible thought occurred to me. Had I been born a Mirror Mage, or had I killed someone for this gift?
CHAPTER ONE
Ten Years Later
Temple of Murreagh
Deep Beneath Western Ireland
“Cass! Answer me, damn it. Are you hurt?” Nix’s voice echoed quietly from the pendant around my neck.
“Gimme a sec,” I wheezed as I shoved the huge rock off my leg and scrambled behind a big boulder. Pain radiated from my shin, but nothing felt broken, thank magic. I didn’t have time to deal with it anyway. A nasty looking shadow demon was currently trying to blow my head off. As long as my limbs were mostly functional, I was good to go.
A blast of magic blew apart the stone over my head.
I ducked and rubble bounced off my shoulders.
Damn demon!
When it stopped, I peered over the boulder at the demon who guarded the altar in the middle of the underground temple. It’d taken me nearly six hours to get through the enchantments that led to the temple. Fire charms, moving rocks, an awful riddle—the whole lot. Real Indiana Jones stuff, but I didn’t have the cool hat.
After all that, it seemed like it should be smooth sailing. But no, this treasure was protected by a shadow demon. Who was apparently very displeased with my presence.
His skin was dark gray, his powerful body clad in simple pants and a shirt. He was basically human-shaped, except for the exceptionally bulky arms and the narrow black horns that came out near his temples and ran back along his skull. Dark eyes glinted maniacally through the dust in the air.
Though big, he was dwarfed by the subterranean temple that housed the Chalice of Youth, my current assignment. The chalice sat on an altar behind the demon, gleaming gold. Graceful columns supported the soaring stone ceiling, each carved in the shape of a different long-forgotten goddess. The only light came from eerie torches that lined the walls. The air was stagnant, permeated by the scent of smoke that wafted from the shadow demon.
“Do I send backup?” Nix asked through static.
“No. I’ve got this.” I didn’t usually need my friends to step in and save my butt on a job, but it gave me the warm fuzzies to know they were willing. “You’re breaking up, Nix. Too much magic from the demon. I’m turning you off now.”
Strong magic, like the kind the demon was throwing, usually interfered with the comms charm that hung around my neck. Something about the magical signature overpowering the puny charm that fueled my necklace.
I usually worked alone, but sometimes—okay, always—a riddle enchantment stumped me. At that point, Nix was there to back me up via a quick call through my comms charm. But now that she’d gotten me through the riddle that had opened the main door to this temple—Why does a dragon cross the road?—I no longer needed her help.
“Fine, don’t—” More static broke up Nix’s voice.
“If I’m not out in an hour, remember that I hate lilies,” I said. “Worst funeral flower.”
“But—”
I touched the silver charm around my throat, and its magic went dormant. Only the sound of the shadow demon’s breathing echoed in the chamber.
It was time to get this over with. I was starving, and this was my last gig before the long weekend. My leg screamed as I pushed myself to my feet. Breathe through the pain. It’s just bruising.
I drew my obsidian blades from the sheaths strapped to my thighs and stepped out from behind the boulder. Torchlight reflected wickedly off the black volcanic glass. Lefty and Righty, I called them—not nearly regal enough names for their power—but I’d never been good at clever names.
“Time to go back to hell, fella,” my voice echoed in the stone chamber. “The devil says he’s missin’ ya.”