He struggled to his feet, body caught between forms. The portal continued to widen, the Collector's ever-changing face becoming clearer with each passing second.
They were running out of time.
The world around Delilah fractured into a kaleidoscope of possible futures. A shadow creature slammed into Zelda, throwing her backward and leaving Delilah alone at the edge of the ritual circle. The magical artifacts pulsed with sickening energy, their light casting Morgana's face in sharp relief.
Delilah clutched the map tightly, its edges cutting into her palms. It vibrated against her skin, almost alive.
"It's just you and me now, little seer." Morgana's silver hair whipped around her face like living mercury. "How does it feel to see the end coming and be powerless to stop it?"
Delilah steadied her breathing. The visions threatened to overwhelm her—thousands of possible outcomes flickering through her mind like a film reel on fast-forward. She forced herself to focus on the map in her hands.
"You know what's funny about being clairvoyant?" Delilah took a step forward, ignoring the pain as the ritual's energy lashed at her skin. "Everyone thinks I just see what's coming. They never consider that seeing possibilities means I can choose which one happens."
The map began to warm in her hands, its surface rippling like water. The markers representing the stolen artifacts glowed in response to their physical counterparts floating in the ritual circle.
Morgana laughed, the sound echoing with that strange dual tone. "You see possible futures, girl. I create them! Your power is nothing compared to what I'm about to unleash!"
"Maybe." Delilah's fingers traced the pattern on the map, connecting points of light. "But I've got something you don't."
"And what's that? A pet wolf? A sentient map?" Morgana's eyes flicked toward the portal, where the Collector's shifting face grew more distinct. "My master has waited centuries for this moment!"
The map suddenly flared with brilliant light, transforming in Delilah's hands. It expanded, its surface showing not just Assjacket but neighboring towns, then entire states. Points of light appeared across the map—dozens of them, all connected in a vast pattern.
"I have context," Delilah said, her voice stronger now. "Your ritual isn't isolated. It's part of something bigger. And I can see the whole picture."
A shadow creature lunged at her back. Before it could strike, Mac appeared, his claws tearing through the darkness. He positioned himself behind Delilah, his breathing heavy.
"Thought you could use some backup." He glanced at the transformed map. "That's new."
"Thanks for the assist." Delilah didn't take her eyes off Morgana. "Can you hold them off a little longer?"
Mac's lips curved into a grim smile. "For the woman who found my lucky fishing lure last summer? I'll give you all the time I've got."
A shadow creature shrieked as Mac's claws connected, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. He moved with practiced efficiency, creating a protective barrier around Delilah.
The map continued to transform, lines of energy connecting the artifact points. They formed a pattern that matched the one Delilah had glimpsed in her vision—a vast ritual circle with Assjacket at its center.
"It's not just about the artifacts," Delilah called out, loud enough for Sam to hear. "It's about the pairs! Ivy and Rafe, Sam and me—we're part of the ritual too!"
Morgana's confident expression faltered. "How could you possibly?—"
"Know that?" Delilah stepped closer to the ritual circle. "I told you—I see possibilities. Including the one where your master discards you once you've served your purpose."
The shadow behind Morgana seemed to pulse with anger. The witch's eyes widened in momentary fear before hardening again.
"Lies won't save you," Morgana snarled, but uncertainty had crept into her voice.
The map in Delilah's hands pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat. She could feel its magic merging with her own, amplifying her clairvoyance. Visions flooded her mind, but instead of overwhelming her, they crystallized into clarity.
"You want to see real power?" Delilah raised the map high. "Let me show you what a fortune-teller can really do when she stops holding back."
The map shimmered in Delilah's hands, its surface rippling like disturbed water. Magical energy crackled around her, raising the fine hairs on her arms as the ritual circle's power reached its crescendo. Behind her, Mac's growls mixed with the unearthly shrieks of shadow creatures.
"Your problem," Delilah said, stepping closer to Morgana, "is that you're so focused on your master's promises that you never bothered to look at what comes after."
The map's surface suddenly went mirror-smooth, reflecting not the chaos around them but something else entirely—something only Delilah and Morgana could see.
"What are you doing?" Morgana's confident smirk faltered. Silver tendrils of her hair writhed like agitated snakes.
