Page 95 of Jake

“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.”

Kai nodded, fear surging as Jake stepped over the threshold into the alternative reality. Her breath caught, her eyes drawn to the stone arches. Gothic murals depicted the angels. A cathedral? Fucking figures, she thought. Kai suspected the demon mocked the Goddess, transforming a place of worship into a blasphemous spectacle. As she caught sight of an enormous stage, her pulse raced. No, no, no. Kasdeya thrived on attention. The anticipation of the kill was just as satisfying as the act. When she’d bitten Kai, she’d done it in front of her court, laughing as she drained her. Kai blinked, shaking off the memory that still haunted her.

A strong hand squeezed hers, and she jolted back into the moment. As her eyes locked on Jake’s, his powerful energy seeped into her pores, calming her nerves. Although he never spoke a word, she heard her Alpha’s voice. You’re all right. Keep close. She swallowed the terror that threatened to paralyze her, and kept moving.

A hooded stranger bumped into Kai, and she stumbled. As the figure disappeared into the crowd, she steadied her feet and increased her pace, determined to stay near Jake. No matter how many of the vampires ignored them, Kai had a sickening feeling they knew they’d arrived. Like a cat watching minnows in a pond, Kasdeya played with them, waiting to strike.