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  “Julie…”

  “Ah, guys.”

  “What?” Jade and Julie snapped, swinging toward Jasmine.

  “We have company,” Jasmine said, pointing down toward the lake, as a vortex opened. Black angels raced toward the lighthouse.

  “There too,” Jorja said, as another vortex opened. “Are those the Scrivers, Joss?”

  Josslyn nodded, recognizing the demons immediately. “Yes. That’s them.”

  “Damn! How did they get here so fast?” Julie asked, glaring at Jade. “We’ll deal with this later.”

  “You bet your ass we will,” Jade said. “Okay, Jorja. We need to figure this clue out, and fast. What did the clue say?”

  “In the land of a thousand lakes, the greatest of waters will wash away sins of the past.”

  “I think we all have a few sins we need to wash away,” Josslyn muttered, as the light of the lighthouse washed over the lake. Staring at the waterfall lying in the distance. “Wash away. The waterfall!”

  “That was a little too easy,” Julie muttered.

  “I’d say,” the black angel said, propping his hands on his hips, as he climbed up the steps behind them. “But who’s going to reach it first?” He disappeared in a reign of black light.

  “Crap! Guys, we gotta go!” Jasmine shouted. “Josslyn, Jade, you’re the only ones who can teleport! Go, now!”

  “We’re all going,” Josslyn said. “We’re in this together.”

  “And the race is on,” Liam snickered, staring through the portal, like a cheshire cat, as he glanced over his shoulder at Sky. “What do you think, Sky? Who’s going to win this race to find the sapphire.”

  “Please! The girls will win this race, no doubt!” Sky shouted, struggling against the gold ropes that were binding his hands behind his back. “The black angels have nothing on them!”

  “And the Scrivers?”

  “They’re demons! They have no chance.”

  “Spoken like a true angel,” Liam said, turning away from the view, and striding across the room. He paused in front of the kettle, watching as the potion bubbled, adding a dash of hemlock root to the liquid.

  “What are you brewing over there?” Sky asked, narrowing his eyes. “You’ve been making that potion ever since we got there!” He raised his head, staring up at the gray skies above him. “And where are we?” he asked, as the red sun started to fade into the distance, just beyond the sand that surrounded them.

  “The wasteland,” Liam said. “Since the Scrivers took the demons from here, this is the only place I can lay out my plan, and get the witches ready, from what’s to come.” He nodded to Jessi, Jami, and Josi as they lay in the glass capsules on the far side of the room, white goo covering their bodies.

  “You’re the one who kidnapped them?”

  “Well of course,” Liam said, adding a bit of lavender, and a dash of cayenne to the potion. “They’re half-breeds, half-witches I aim to get rid of in this world, and they are going to be my first experiment. Along with her.” He nodded to the fourth glass capsule, and Sky squinted, his eyes widening when he saw the young, brown-haired girl. “Is that…”

  “Jordyn, yes. Jorja’s missing daughter.”

  “You took her!”

  “I bought her. In the demon market. She was going for quite the price.”

  “You bastard!” Sky gritted his teeth, struggling against the rope that tied him to the old, oak tree, trying with all his might to break free. He closed his eyes, trying to teleport, trying to summon lightning, but it was no use. Liam had already taken his powers. “So, what are you going to do with me?” he finally asked, lifting his chin.

  “Take everything you love away from you,” Liam said. “And send you to a land, where you will never see anyone you love, ever again.”

  “Julie, come on! We have to go!” Josslyn cried, shoving Julie forward as they appeared in a reign of icicles near the lake. She glanced over her shoulder, the black angels appearing in a cloud of smoke behind them. “They’re gaining on us!”

  “Joss!” Julie stumbled, racing across the gravel along the side of the lake, stumbling over rocks. “We’re almost there!”

  “Hurry!”

  Jade, Jorja, and Jasmine appeared next to them, and they all raced forward toward the waterfall. “This is the end of the road, guy!” she shouted, as she neared the water. “Let’s just hope there’s nothing with sharp teeth in this water!”

  “That’s not funny, Julie!” Jasmine shouted, skidding to a stop, and staring at the water. “There’d better not be any jellyfish in there!”

  “It’s a lake, Jasmine, not an ocean!” Jorja cried, shoving her forward. “Now, get your ass in the water! You’re not staying behind!”

  “I couldn’t have said it better myself!” Jade shouted, jumping into the water with her sisters and swimming forward. She glanced to her left at Jorja. “You know, I always knew you were going to be trouble,” she said, coughing as water got into her mouth.

  “What do you mean?” Jorja shouted back. “You mean going hunting for a sacred sapphire, that the demonic world wants? Oh, come on, Jade! Live a little. This is fun!”

  “You know, I can’t argue with her!” Josslyn cried, as she swam forward, struggling against the current as they neared the waterfall. “Uncovering clues, and seeing what leads to the next, I love it!”

  “She is right,” Jasmine shouted. “It has been fun. I’m just curious to where the waterfall leads!”

  “We’re about to find out!” Julie shouted, ducking, as a ball of pink energy came her way. She gasped, glancing over her shoulder, as the Scriver demons laughed, tossing pink balls of energy at them as they raced after them in the canoe. “What the hell? They’re throwing things at us? And they found a canoe? Where did they find a canoe?”

  “They’re demons, Julie!”

  “Right, and all demons can magically summon whatever they want,” Julie said, rolling her eyes. “You know nothing of demons.”

  “And you do?”

  “Well, I was married to one!”

  “Is married to one,” Jade shouted, her voice full of disdain. “And you lied to us… again, Julie.”

  “Yes, I did lie,” Julie shouted back. “Because I knew how you would react, and I needed time to figure things out, but like I told Josslyn, even if Elijah were to come back I want nothing to do with him!”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Believe whatever you want, Jade! But sooner or later, you are going to have to forgive me!”

  The water shallowed, and they scrambled up onto the grass, and raced forward.

  “You know, it is quite beautiful,” Jasmine said, as she walked with her sisters toward the waterfall, staring at the water falling from the cliffs above, glistening under the moonlight. “So… what are we supposed to do now?”

  “The clue,” Jorja said.

  “It said something about washing away the great sins of the past, didn’t it?” Josslyn asked, tapping her finger against her lips.

  “Yes, it did!” Jade cried. “So, who has the biggest sin amongst us?”

  All eyes turned to Julie.

  “Hey! I’m not the only one who has done bad things!” Julie cried. “In fact, I believe Jade’s the one who took away my future!”

  “Guys, it doesn’t just say sins of the past, it says great sins of the past,” Jorja said. “Maybe it means we have to forgive one another.”

  “Well, that’s easier said than done.”

  “Jade!”

  “What? I’m just speaking the truth!”

  “It’s not just that,” Josslyn said, softly. “What the Scriver demons are trying to do, they need more power. More dark power, and with Elijah gone, they don’t have it, so they need more power. They need Julie.”

  “Wait. What?” Jasmine held up a hand. “Are you telling me that Julie is in danger?”

  Josslyn nodded. “Yes, which is one of the reasons we need to get to this sapphire! If the demons get to it first, they
’ll be coming for Julie and her baby.”

  “Hey, witches! What do you think you’re doing!”

  The black angels appeared in a cloud of black light around them, and they ducked, as arrows flung their way.

  “We’re doing the one thing you’ll never be able to do!” Jasmine shouted, racing toward the waterfall. “Come on, girls, jump!”

  They jumped forward, making a circle underneath the running waterfall.

  “Oh! That’s cold!” Jasmine cried, shivering, as the cold water washed over her. She blinked, water droplets blinding her. “So… what next?”

  “Link hands!”

  They linked hands, staring at one another.

  “Now we have to apologize to one another?” Jade asked, scowling.

  “Yes, Jade. We need to forgive each other for everything,” Jorja said. “For the lies. For the betrayal. For the hurt. For the pain. For everything!”

  “I guess I’ll start,” Julie said, gazing around at her sisters. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, as she stared at them. “For lying to you, and not being able to make the choice you wanted me to make. I was torn, and honestly, I didn’t know what to do, but I never meant to hurt any of you. I swear! Especially when you all have been there for me.”

  “Well I haven’t,” Jorja cut in.

  Julie laughed. “I just met you!” She sobered, her eyes locking with Jade’s. “I know you can’t understand what I did, Jade, but you need to understand. I love Elijah, how messed up that sounds.” she said, glancing over at Josslyn. “Considering he is the father of your children.”

  “You’re right, it is really weird!” Josslyn cried.

  “And I’m sorry too, Julie,” Jade said, guilt creeping up inside of her. “Because it’s not that I didn’t understand, it’s because didn’t want to. I’ve been in your shoes, remember? I was in love with a demon, too. Remember Tony?”

  “Of course,” they all murmured.

  “And I was also pregnant, with a demon’s child,” she added. “And in some ways, I think I resent you for still having yours, but that’s not the only reason I’ve been so hard on you. I just couldn’t let you go, Julie! I wanted you to need me.”

  “I’ll always need you, Jade,” Julie whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. “You’re my big sister.

  “Are you listening to this?” the black angel asked, snickering, as he glanced at the other black angels behind them. “Do they really think this is going to work?”

  “Well, the clue does say…”

  “I know what the clue says!” the black angel shouted, aiming his arrow. He gestured to the other angels. “Now! Now’s our chance! Aim your arrows, and fire!”

  The black angels drew back their arrows, letting them fly, and Jasmine flung her hand up, holding them back. “And I’m sorry, too,” she said, softly. “For being such a whiny, little bitch when you first met me. I was obsessed, with how I was brought up, and I was obsessed with changing that when we first met, but I wouldn’t change a thing because I have all of you here with me now, and of course Sky.”

  “Who you have been spending a lot of time with lately,” Josslyn muttered, laughing at the glare Jasmine sent her way. “Don’t worry, I’m not mad, Jasmine. You’re allowed to spend time with your guy! Just don’t forget about any of us.”

  “I could never forget about any of you! You’re my family!”

  “And I’m sorry for everything I’ve done, since I’ve met you guys,” Jorja put in. “For lying to you about what I did for a job, about Jordyn, even dragging you into this mess. I’m a train wreck, and I’m so sorry… for being me.”

  “Don’t ever apologize for being yourself, Jorja,” Josslyn said. “You are you, and I am me. Just like Jade is Jade, Julie is Julie, and Jasmine is Jasmine. We’re all different. Unique, and that’s what makes us so great! I wasn’t the greatest person fifteen years ago, but I’ve grown since then. I don’t do drugs. I don’t steal, and I have three gorgeous daughters. I couldn’t ask for more.”

  “Guys, I can’t hold these arrows much longer!” Jasmine cried. “They…” She let out a cry, her hand dropping, the arrows flinging forward. They all ducked.

  “Get them!”

  The black angels charged at them from the right, the Scriver demons charged at them from the left, and a blinding white light shined in front of them. They all blinked, shielding their eyes from the brightness, as a door opened behind them.

  “A secret passageway!” Jorja cried.

  “Let’s go!” Julie shouted.

  “Do we really want to know where this leads?” Josslyn asked, following her two sisters.

  “Why not?’ Jasmine asked, hurrying after them. “It’s not every day you find a secret passageway behind a waterfall!”

  “Leave it to a princess from the 5th century, to lead us on this scavenger hunt,” Jade said, laughing, as she glanced over her shoulder. The Scriver demons and black angels hurried after them, a bright, red hue glowing around the entrance, and shoving them back.

  “Uh oh. Looks like this is one spot you can’t cross, demons,” Jasmine said, sticking her tongue out at the demons. “Looks like you’ll have to find another way to the sapphire. Bye-bye.” She waved to them, the passageway closing behind them.

  “Do you really think it’s a good idea to taunt the demons?” Julie asked, as they walked down the cracked, brown path inside the cave.

  Jasmine shrugged. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

  “Guys…”

  “What?” They trotted up the steps after Jorja, stopping at the entrance, their eyes widening.

  “Holy crap!” Josslyn cried.

  “It’s beautiful…” Jorja whispered, staring at the dark green grass as it rolled out in neat, fine lanes around them. The sound of rushing water filled their ears, waterfalls standing to the left, the right, even in front of them, the water crisp and clear as it ran down from the cliffs above them. Weeping willow trees were scattered around the landscape, hovering under the night sky.

  “What is this place?” Julie asked, as she raced forward on the padded trail, her sisters right behind her.

  “Beats me!” Jasmine cried. “All I know is that it’s beautiful! Do you think the water is pure?” she asked, point to the waterfall to her left.

  “Well, this one isn’t,” Jorja said, as she stepped toward the waterfall, reading the inscription on the ground. “One drop, and you’ll surely feel the poison of my wrath.” She gulped. “I’m not drinking this.”

  “This one says something too,” Jasmine said, squatting and brushing her fingers along the plaque, brushing the grass away. “The one who drinks this, shall be destined to a lifetime of doom, with heartbreak to follow.” She scowled. “Somehow, I don’t find that funny.”

  “This one says something too!” Jade shouted, from across the valley. “Sticks and stone shall break your bones…” She frowned. “Well, that’s nice.”

  “And this!” Josslyn cried, as she neared the last waterfall. “This one says, what you see is what you get. Your past will never set you free, for if you drink, you will be destined to never find happiness.” She planted her hands on her hips. “Just why does a beautiful place like this, feel like a booby trap? Just why are we here?”

  “Because of this,” Julie said from the center of the valley, stepping up to the pedestal. “It says, only the one who has faced her inner darkness shall find the path.”

  “What?”

  They all turned, racing back to her.

  “Look, there’s a handprint!” Jorja cried, pointing to the top of the pedestal. She glanced over at Julie. “Julie, you’re the only one of us who has ever embraced her darkness, it has to be you! You have to be the key to finding the sapphire!”

  “But I haven’t embraced my darkness,” Julie whispered, as she stared at her sisters. “I didn’t choose it, it chose me, and it scares me! It scares me, how I could be so mean, so lethal, and turn my back on my own family! I don’t want to ever feel like that again.” />
  “You won’t, Julie,” Josslyn whispered, wrapping her arm around Julie. “Because you’re strong, but you have to do this. This is the only way to get to the sapphire, and we need to get to it first! We can’t let the brothers be resurrected, and we can’t let Liam have it. We need it, if we’re going to find the girls.”

  “And Jordyn,” Jorja whispered. “Please. I haven’t seen Jordyn in three years! I barely remember what she looks like. What she smells like. Her laugh. Her smile. Please, do this, for me.”

  Julie stared at her, suddenly not sure what she should do. What would happen, if she put her hand on the pedestal? Would she turn evil again?

  “If I turn evil, I’m blaming you,” she said, pointedly at Jorja, before placing her hand on the pedestal.

  A loud rumbled sounded throughout the valley, and they all gasped. They grabbed a hold of each other, the ground shaking underneath them.

  “Another earthquake?” Jasmine asked, as the wind picked up around them.

  “No! Look!” Jorja pointed at the pedestal, as it turned, water springing from the top as each of the waterfalls around them turned, an image of various places around the world replacing them.

  “Look! It’s the Eiffel tower!” Jorja cried.

  “And the Taj Mahal!” Jade shouted, pointing.

  “And over there. It’s the Statue of Liberty!” Josslyn added. “You know, I got to visit it once.”

  “Josslyn, that’s not important right now,” Jasmine told her. “But look, it’s the Coliseum in Rome!” She frowned. “Wait a minute. Four—”

  Another loud rumbled sounded, interrupting her, and the ground shook underneath them once more. The pedestal turned again, disappearing into the ground, an image of the clocktower in London appearing before them.

  “It’s Big Ben!” Julie shouted!

  “Hmm. Five locations. Five of sisters, and five missing pieces of the sapphire,” Jorja murmured, tapping a finger against her temple. “A coincidence, I think not.”

  “Guys, I think there’s something written here.” Julie squinted. “When the clock strikes midnight, a secret will be revealed, but only the one who has succumbed to the dark side will be able to see it.” She sighed. “Well, I guess this one’s for me.”