Page 51 of A Time of Witches

Run.

The cry was more base instinct than thought, and her legs pumped under her, propelling her down the hall at breakneck speed.

The icy ground blazed with heat, singeing her soles, and the whispers began to crackle, like firewood burning and popping. Thick plumes of smoke curled around the mirrors to form a disorienting nebulous haze.

The fumes sucked into her lungs, and she choked, coughing.

A mirror appeared in front of her, and she began to slow.

The smoke cleared, the floor now cool enough to stand on.

Lilith gasped a breath.

Finally, the end had come.

A figure materialized in the mirror, dressed in a white shift, a cap on her head.

Sybil.

The woman clutched the inside of her right arm as if in pain, and an answering ache lanced through Lilith’s birthmark.

In the mirror, Sybil’s lips moved.

The fire was roaring now, making hearing impossible.

Lilith shook her head. “What?”

Sybil’s face contorted in agony, and she shouted, “You’re running out of time.”

Then, she disappeared, leaving Lilith standing in front of an empty looking glass, her reflection missing once more.

Lilith jerked awake with a cry.

Her heartbeat slammed against her ribs, as if trying to escape from her chest. The odor of smoke still lingered, leaving grit in her mouth.

She peeled herself out of bed. The floor was cold, bringing back the recollection of the dream. Suppressing the urge to shudder, she padded toward the bathroom, the stink of smoke redolent in her hair.

The door to her bathroom was almost completely closed. She paused, a sudden spike of fear nailing her in place.

But she scoffed at herself. She was being ridiculous. With a roll of her eyes, she pushed into the bathroom, clicked on the light, looked into the mirror.

And screamed.

She had no reflection.

Lilith jerked awake with a cry.

What the hell was that?

She lay in the dark, gasping in fear. The crescent moon birthmark still ached.

August 27.

The date echoed in Lilith’s mind, prodding the wound of her legacy.

Her heart stuttered in a hard, painful beat.

Did that mean she had until August 27?