"Not anymore."
"You're kidding me, right?" Jake laughed. "Here we go … let's hear it, Quint. I should have known you'd done that for a living."
"It was many years ago. I learned from my sire. He wasn't just into imports. It wasn't as if I had a choice. If it brings you solace, I killed a lot of assholes. It's not like I don't have a conscience."
"I'm not judging. Hey, here it is. It's a door of some kind." Jake turned the metal handle, but quickly released it, staring at his hand.
"What's wrong?" Kai asked, grabbing Jake's arm to inspect his palm.
"It's silver," Quintus noted.
"You're both allergic?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that. It'll weaken both of us. The door's locked. So trying to use our powers to get through it? It's not happening."
"But maybe I could … " she began.
"No way, sweetheart. You are not going in there alone. We stick together. Sit down here a second. The silver … " Jake grunted as he dropped to one knee.
"Are you all right?" Kai sensed his weakness; his wolf trod slowly, attempting to rally.
"The magick in here. The wards are heavy. Can you feel it?" he asked.
Quintus closed his eyes, placing his palm on the wall. "This place. It's meant for vampires. I can feel it. The silver. It's been manipulated by vampires. Something's going to happen here. If we can get to the other side, I think we'll find her."
"I just need a minute. Let me think," Jake said. "Maybe we should have a look at the book before we go in. Kai, is there anything you remember that might help us out here?"
"It's been years. Here, let me get it out." Kai reached into his backpack, retrieving the book.
"Got it?" Jake asked.
"Yes. Can you shine a light down onto this?" Kai squinted as Jake slid on his cell phone, the bright light illuminating the scratched leather binding. She traced her finger along the designs, recalling the fear it had instilled in her as a child. Don't ever lose it, Mama had warned. It will protect you, Papa had said.
"Now that's a book cover," Jake half joked.
"Pagan." Quintus crouched to get a closer look.
"Eye of Horus." Kai untangled the delicate strings that formed its lock.
"It always freaked me out as a kid," Jake confessed. "But it's a good one. Symbolizes healing."
"Wards off evil," Quintus added.
"My papa always told me it would protect me." Kai gently pried opened the book and flipped through it. Each page was filled with colorful etchings, some covered in text, detailing spells and hexes.
"It's almost like something a witch would have," Quintus noted.
"You said your sister is a witch. Has she seen this?" Jake asked.
"No. My parents gave me the book. I kept it hidden. Her magick exists but it's barely noticeable. And besides, Shilan never practiced the craft … because of me."
"This definitely looks like it belongs to a witch. I'm not sure what a shifter would need with … hey, wait." Jake reached to help support the book.
"What?" Kai asked. Guilt had wormed its way into her psyche, and she'd spaced, losing her concentration on the book's contents.
"Go back a couple of pages. Just a little further. There." His finger landed on a page corner. "That looks like … "
"The Kris," Kai whispered. The miniature sketch lacked the details of the symbols written on it, but the s-shaped knife was clearly drawn.
"What's it say?" Jake asked.
"It's Chinese. It says … a rough translation of it, 'Look within for sacrifice. Cleave open your fear'."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Jake scrubbed over his beard in thought.
"I don't know." Quintus sighed and pressed to his feet, and attempted to spy through the hole in the door. "Doesn't matter much. Maybe try using it on her."
"Stab her with it?" Jake stood, and reached to help Kai up off the floor.
"Sacrifice. That's the same word the Elder used. I can't see how stabbing her is much of a sacrifice," Kai said. "That seems like a good thing."
"Shh," Quintus held his fingers to his lips,
Kai's heart pounded in her chest as a faint echo of music filtered into the tunnel. The light pouring into the tunnel flickered, morphing into a dim illumination. A loud click resounded and the door swung open, revealing an arena. Voices grew louder as several black figures emerged in the distance.
"What's happening?" Kai asked, her voice wavering.
"It's her," Jake replied.
"She's here. This has all been an illusion," Quintus stated.
"The Elder. Remember the stone," Jake reminded them. Kai handed him the book, and he shoved it into his backpack. Light reflected in his eyes as he met Kai's gaze. "Stay close, sweetheart. If anything happens and I need to shift, take the Kris. If you need to shift first, I've got your back."