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for witch branded in its forehead.”
    “You kill people?” She shot Spero an alarmed glance. “And the authorities don’t investigate it?”
    The driver laughed. “The authorities practically work for House Aten. They warn tourists to stay away.”
    Serenity stared out her window as they drove deep into the countryside. Snow flurries cascaded from the gray sky like white rain. They traveled on a dirt path through a valley of green hills, headed for a ridge of white-capped mountains. After crossing fields of volcanic rock that stretched for miles, they passed a blue canyon with a breathtaking waterfall. “Aten is beyond the gorge.” Daniel pointed to a narrow entrance carved between two steep mountain peaks.
    A massive orb of white light flickered and danced in the snow several miles ahead in the heart of another mountain on the other side of the gorge. “The citadel of lights,” she mumbled.
    The wind picked up, blasting heavy sheets of snow through the sky and whooshing around the vehicle.
    “Didn’t expect the snow squall for another few hours, but we’ll be there shortly,” said the driver, decreasing the speed of the car.
    Clumps of snowflakes gathered on the windshield. The driver turned on the wipers as they entered the throat of the narrow passage. The rocky sides of the mouth looked like razor-sharp teeth ready to rip them to shreds.
    Oddly, in the pass flanked by high walls of rock the car swayed from the wind. She couldn’t see the light ahead anymore through the heavy snowfall, but her heartbeat quickened in anticipation. House Aten held the secrets to her past and the only way to free herself of the evil magic that killed her child, but once inside she’d have more than a little necklace to worry about.
    The immortals had a dark agenda that could alter her fate.
    A loud click filled the car. The dashboard went black, the wipers stopped and they suddenly slowed.
    The driver turned the key in the ignition, clacking followed. The car rolled to a stop. He pumped the accelerator and turned the key again.
    “What’s wrong?” Spero scanned their surroundings three hundred and sixty degrees.
    “I don’t know,” replied the driver. “The car is dead.”
    Spero unbuckled his seatbelt and tightened his grip on his sword. “How often do you service your vehicles?”
    Daniel turned around in his seat. “Quite regularly.”
    The driver popped the hood. Daniel motioned to get out, but the other man stopped him with a hand to the shoulder. “I’ll take a look. Left to you and we’ll miss breakfast.” He hopped out, slammed the door and raised the hood, blocking their frontal view.
    Spero unsheathed his sword.
    “He’ll fix it,” Daniel said confidently. “If we have to, we can walk from here. The perimeter shield is less than two miles. Once inside we’ll be safe from the elements.” Daniel removed his gloves and handed them to Serenity. He didn’t have a tattoo of flames.
    The driver stumbled around the car. Snowfall whipped around him. He opened his door and pulled something out of his neck. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came. Then he crumpled to the ground.
    “Jeremiah!” Daniel cried.
    Gusts of snow blew into the car. The wind howled. Serenity wished she’d listened to Cyrus and brought her crossbow.
    “Daniel, reach over and close the door,” Spero commanded in a calm voice.
    With shaking hands, Daniel unbuckled his seatbelt and did as instructed.
    Spero removed his jacket. “Are you a fighter or a mage?”
    “Neither. I was Jeremiah’s apprentice.”
    Wonderful. Why couldn’t the jittery apprentice be the one incapacitated?
    Spero reached into his bag, pulled out a dagger and shoved it into his boot. “Are you completely useless or can you do something to protect yourself and Lady Serenity?”
    “Uh, I know a spell that creates a circle of protection. Nothing can penetrate the shield, but I can only make it last for a minute, two at most. It takes