“I wouldn’t have made it this far without your help,” the Lord of Shadows said, his voice laced with amusement. He was mocking me. “It’s ironic. The daughters of my eternal enemy are the key to destroying the veil.”

I swallowed hard and pushed back my tears. This moment was surreal, like waking up from a bad dream to find out that reality was even worse. I tried to hold on to what Papa told me this morning. Adults like the Lord of Shadows didn’t want to take responsibility for their own bad behavior. I understood it, yet I still felt angry that he used my magic to create the wound in the veil.

“So, you’re the Lord of Shadows?” Winston’s mouth curled into a grimace. “You don’t look so tough to me.” He stepped closer, flame licking his hands. “I’m going to end this now.”

“Winston, don’t,” Frankie shouted, but it was too late.

The Lord of Shadows’ purple and black ribbons whipped out and latched around Winston’s wrists. He let out a bloodcurdling scream and dropped to his knees. His knuckles turned ash gray, then his face, his hair. Even though he was the biggest bully I knew, I sprang into action. No one deserved this fate. Not even him.

I swung my staff at the ribbons, and Frankie let loose two energy balls. Zeran attacked with his prod. But Winston had gone completely still as the ribbons dragged him toward the Lord of Shadows.

“It isn’t working!” Frankie shouted.

I ducked a shadow that snapped at my face. “We have to keep trying.”

Suddenly a warm light pulsed above our heads, and I shielded my eyes as I looked up. It was vaguely human shaped with the impression of double axes across its back. It had to be Ogun, the god of war, or what was left of him. The library began to shake, and a biography of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the father of Chicago, flew across the room, heading straight for the Lord of Shadows. Glowing god symbols flew from the pages of the book in a wild flurry. Hundreds of them, thousands. They sliced into the Lord of Shadows and shredded his cocoon. It was enough of a distraction that his ribbons dropped Winston and formed a wall of darkness to protect him.

“Take that!” Frankie cheered, pumping her fist in the air. “Courtesy of the celestials.”

The Lord of Shadows glared at her, his violet-colored eyes narrowing. If looks could kill, we would be goners by now. The du Sable biography lay on the floor in front of the Lord of Shadows, the last god symbols fading to dust. “Do you think tricks will stop me? Are you really so naive?” He slipped another smile on his face. This one was more devious than the last. “Your mother, Zala, was naive too, so I’ve been told.”