"If you think I've really corrupted the Templars, why don't you ask them?" I said, leaning against the Conroy headstone and inching forward with a casual stretch.

"I'm not stupid. The Templars betrayed their sweet angel and she'll make them pay for it, believe me."

A cold spike pierced my spleen. "Angel?" She already knew?

She smirked. "Of course. Daelissa."

I staggered back, losing the few inches I'd closed between the two of us. "Do you realize how dangerous that woman is? She's the real evil behind everything. Did you know she let a very dangerous demon spawn named Vadaemos loose and he killed over a dozen Templars a week ago?" I pounded the bottom of my fist against the tombstone. The blow splintered the marble, sending a crack diagonally up to the edge. "Daelissa may claim to be an angel, but she's a demon."

Ivy shrugged, her eyes exploring the crack I'd opened in the tombstone. "I don't know anything about this Vadaemos man, but when the Templars turned their backs on Daelissa, they got what they deserved."

I gritted my teeth to keep back an angry response. Ivy wasn't in her right mind. Good god, if Daelissa had her claws into her, no wonder she was so messed up. Had the twisted angel also done something to Mom? She must have. It totally explained Mom's behavior the last time I'd seen her in the church parking lot across from the school, telling me she never wanted to see me or Dad again. Sigh. Talk about a dysfunctional family. Since then, I'd been transported to Colombia by a malfunctioning magical arch, fought vampiric drug lords, and finally cornered Vadaemos, an evil spawn, in El Dorado, a city where these so-called angels like Daelissa had ruled as gods.

Nightliss was also one of them. Except, she seemed to be good, or at least she'd helped me so far. If it hadn't been for her, Vadaemos would have killed me. He and I had manifested into our demon forms and fought. It hadn't been a contest. Vadaemos's strength and cunning dwarfed my own and only intervention from the dark angel had saved me.

"You look scared," Ivy said. "You should be."

I snapped out of my recollections. Enough was enough. Maybe Nightliss could figure out what to do with my errant little sister. Maybe she could clear her mind of Daelissa's touch just like she'd done for Elyssa. I blurred toward Ivy. Wrapped my arms around—thin air. Ivy's nose was practically touching mine. Except it wasn't. It couldn't. Her body flickered where my hands touched it. A breeze kicked up fallen leaves, sending its cold fingers through my hair. Ivy's hair didn't move a bit.

"I knew you'd try to kidnap me or do something bad," she said, clicking her tongue at me.

"You're a holograph?"

"A projection. Bigdaddy would freak if he knew I was talking to you."

"How did you put this note here then?" I held up the sheet of paper as evidence.

"Mr. Bigglesworth put it there for me."

"Who?"

"You'll meet him soon, big brother. Don't worry. I think I figured out how to get rid of you." She smiled. Waved. Vanished. A misty cloud approximating her shape remained for a second before the wintry breeze scattered it.

I looked at the note again. The words had changed and the original message was gone.

I wish you weren't evil. :( Goodbye.

Smoochies, Ivy

Chapter 2

The funeral had ended. Elyssa stood by the edge of the hole. Her gaze found me the moment I stepped from behind the Conroy family headstone. She looked a little confused. Hurt. Maybe even angry. I didn't blame her. I'd bolted on her in the middle of her brother's funeral. What jackass would do that?

Me, apparently.

Elyssa met me halfway, eyes narrowed. "What happened?"

"My sister."

Her eyes widened. "Sister?"

I nodded. "She was over there." I motioned back where I'd come from. "And she thinks I'm evil."

For a long moment, Elyssa didn't say anything, but the confusion in the arch of her brows told me all I needed to know. Finally she said, "She was here? In this cemetery?"

"Well, not exactly here. She projected, or something weird like that. She wasn't solid when I tried to grab her." I pulled the slip of paper from my front jeans pocket and showed it to her.

Elyssa took it and examined both sides. It was quite obviously blank. "Uh, and this is?" She handed it back.

I flipped the page around, peering at it. Aside from a few creases where I'd folded it, it looked pristine. I couldn't even make out impressions where words might have been. "Or maybe I'm going crazy," I said, feeling even more stupid than usual. "I could have sworn…"

Elyssa gave me an understanding half-smile and shrugged. "Maybe someone is playing a trick on you."

I folded the paper and shoved it back into my pocket, feeling like a complete moron. Could everything have been a bizarre illusion? I'd made my fair share of enemies over the past couple of months as I'd stumbled my way through the politics of the Overworld. Maybe I'd ticked off an Arcane or some other illusionist with the ability to make me see my sister.

Elyssa took my hand and guided us toward the rest of her family as they walked toward a line of black SUVs parked curbside on the winding cemetery road. This place was the final stop for all sorts of beings from the Overworld, warded and guarded against noms in case some of the entities buried here weren't entirely dead. If ghosts existed, this would definitely be the place to find them.

A Templar sprang from one of the SUVs, walked briskly to Thomas, and spoke with him, his gestures urgent. It felt really strange to be on the Borathen family's side of the fence, not to mention openly dating the daughter of the head honcho in Atlanta. Just a week ago, he'd tried to take my head off with a sword.

Thomas turned and motioned us over. Or maybe he was motioning to Elyssa. I followed anyway, trying not to let my nervousness show. When we reached the group, his blue eyes settled on me and narrowed ever so slightly. He pursed his lips and seemed to arrive at some decision, leading us away from the crowd of mourners.

"Colombia is out of control."

"Maximus?" I asked, already knowing it had to be that pompous douche.

He grunted ever so slightly. "Noms in Bogota are starting to notice. He's not even trying to keep his recruitment activities a secret."

"What about here in Atlanta?" Elyssa asked.

"He seems to think he can get away with it down there. Weak local government." Thomas folded his arms and gave me an appraising look. "I'd like to send you down to help Commander Salazar."

Just the thought of going back to Colombia made me shudder. "Did he request me?"

"No. But Maximus seems to have a special hatred for you. It might be enough to draw him out." He looked around as the crowd thinned. "This isn't the place to discuss it. Meet back at the compound in an hour. I plan to put a stop to these rogue vampires once and for all." He turned to go.

"Umm, excuse me?" I said, trying to make my voice sound bold and commanding. Instead, I sounded like a scared kid. "I'm not really an official Templar or anything, so why send me?" Thomas's icy stare focused on me. I swallowed and continued. "Sure, Maximus hates me, but not enough to go out of his way to fall into a trap, if that's what you're planning."

Elyssa's father waited, the sort of learned patience on his face someone employs when hoping an annoying dog will stop barking. When he saw I was done yammering he said, "We'll discuss it at the compound. One hour." With that, he rejoined his wife Leia and headed for an SUV.

"Colombia." Michael grunted.

I turned to face Elyssa's big—actually huge—brother. I hadn't heard him approach, which I'd learned wasn't unusual despite his heavy muscular frame. "Are you going?" I asked, uncertain as to whether it would be a good thing or not. Michael didn't exactly like me, but seemed resigned to the fact I was supposed to date his sister for the good of the world, or so he said.

"Maybe."

"If Justin is going, so am I," Elyssa said, her raised eyebrow daring him to disagree.

I had a really bad feeling about going back to Colombia. I'd made new friends there, led them into ancient vaults beneath a cursed city, and nearly died half a dozen times thanks to a horde of mostly dead angels called husks, giant ley worms, and a half-insane demon spawn. And now Thomas Borathen wanted me to be bait for a crazy rogue vampire? Thanks, but no thanks. The Templars could take care of Maximus on their own. It was time for me to find Ivy, and—if she really was the one who'd contacted me—convince her I wasn't pure evil.

My cell phone rang. I groaned when I saw who it was.

"You need to answer it, Justin," Elyssa said. "You promised him."

I huffed and wrinkled my nose, but answered anyway. "Yeah?"

"Well, hello to you too, sweetheart," Harry Shelton said. "You never call. You never write. And you sure as hell didn't reply to my two texts and phone call."

I glanced at my text log and saw both attempts about an hour apart. I'd promised Shelton and Bella I'd let them teach me all about being an Arcane, a sorcerer, since I'd inherited some of those abilities from my mom's side of the family. I might have super strength, but considering the heavies I'd fought against and those who were likely to come after me in the future, having a few extra tricks in my arsenal couldn't hurt. I put the phone back to my ear. "No, I haven't gone by the Grotto to buy a new phone yet. The funeral just ended."

He snorted. "Damn, those Templar priests like to hear themselves talk."

"Tell me about it."

"Well, it's over now. Grab a new phone—I don't care if it's Orange or MagicSoft—just get it and meet me at Romulus for your magic lessons."

I could never keep the names and locations of his super-secret lairs straight. "Is that the one in Decatur Square, or the one near Centennial Park?"