Turns out, fighting with magical powers isn't as easy as the movies make it look. Especially when you're running through a dungeon that seems to rearrange itself, trying not to get eaten by what Rex casually called "some baby shadow wolves."

  Baby. Shadow. Wolves.

  If these were babies, I didn't want to meet their parents.

  "Left!" Luna shouted, sending a blast of blue energy that knocked one of the creatures away from me. "And would you please stop trying to punch them? Use your flames!"

  "I'm trying!" I yelled back, ducking under razor-sharp claws. "It's not exactly like riding a bike!"

  The shadow wolves were about the size of horses, with fur that looked like living darkness and eyes that burned like coals. Every time they moved, they left trails of black mist in the air.

  Rex, now fully transformed into a massive werewolf with steel-gray fur, grabbed one of them by the throat and slammed it into the wall. "Less talking, more fighting! Channel that attitude into power!"

  Easy for him to say. He wasn't the one who'd been dead just a few hours ago.

  But he had a point. The more frustrated I got, the stronger the purple flames became. I focused on that feeling, letting it build up inside me until my whole body felt like it was burning.

  "That's it," Luna called out encouragingly. "Now shape it! Give your power purpose!"

  Purpose. Right. I thought about all the questions burning in my mind, all the confusion and anger about being thrown into this mess. The flames responded, wrapping around my arms like armor.

  "Okay, you shadow puppy rejects," I growled, feeling something shift inside me. My vision sharpened, and suddenly I could see... patterns in the air? Energy flows? Whatever they were, they showed me exactly where to strike.

  I moved without thinking, my flame-covered fist connecting with the nearest wolf's jaw. The impact sent it flying, its shadowy form dissipating into mist.

  "Now that's more like it!" Rex barked, literally.

  Luna spun her staff, creating a circle of runes around us. "Zephyr, get ready! Rex, formation three!"

  "Formation what now?" I asked, but they were already moving.

  Rex howled, the sound somehow materializing as visible waves of force that stunned the remaining wolves. Luna's runes exploded outward, creating a network of light that trapped them in place.

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  "Hit the center point!" Luna commanded.

  I had no idea what she meant, but my body seemed to. My flames gathered into my right hand, forming what looked like a burning claw. Above the trapped wolves, I could see a point where all the energy lines converged.

  Without hesitation, I jumped and struck that point with everything I had.

  The resulting explosion probably took out half the dungeon.

  When the dust settled, I was on my knees, gasping for breath. The wolves were gone, leaving behind only small red crystals like the one from the Shade Wraith.

  "Not bad," Rex said, shifting back to his human form and adjusting his now-torn jacket. "Bit overdramatic, but not bad."

  Luna was already collecting the crystals. "You're a natural at energy reading. That's rare for a new Guardian."

  "Thanks," I managed between breaths. "Now would someone please explain what's actually going on? What are these crystals? Why was I chosen? And why does this place keep changing?"

  "The Shifting Halls," a new voice said, smooth as silk but cold as ice. "They respond to power and intent. Especially the power of a Cursed Guardian."

  We all turned to see a figure standing in a doorway that definitely hadn't been there before. She was tall, with long black hair that had streaks of silver running through it. Her eyes were the most striking feature - one was deep blue, the other bright gold.

  "Aria," Luna said, her tone cautious. "I thought you were on assignment."

  Aria's mismatched eyes fixed on me, and I felt a chill run down my spine. Not a fear chill - something else entirely.

  "I was," she said, walking toward us with a grace that seemed almost predatory. "Until I felt his awakening. You're the one I've been waiting for."

  "Okay, someone really needs to explain that part," I said, standing up on shaky legs. "Luna said the same thing. What do you mean, waiting for me?"

  Aria smiled, and small flames - black as night - danced around her fingers. "Because, Zephyr Nightshade, you and I are connected. Your purple flames and my black ones - they're two halves of the same curse. The power that could either save this realm..."

  "Or destroy it completely," Luna finished, gripping her staff tighter.

  Rex moved slightly closer to me, his posture tense. "Aria, we agreed to ease him into this."

  "We don't have time for 'easing' anymore," Aria snapped, her black flames growing stronger. "The Void Lords are moving faster than we predicted. He needs to know everything, now."

  The walls around us pulsed, responding to the tension in the air. Those creepy faces seemed to be watching with increased interest.

  "Know what?" I asked, my own flames flickering to life in response to Aria's.

  She held out her hand, her black flames reaching toward my purple ones like they were being drawn together.

  "Know that you and I are the last of the Original Guardians' bloodline," she said. "And that one of us is destined to kill the other."

  Luna muttered something that sounded like a curse. Rex growled softly.

  And me? I just stood there, watching as my purple flames danced with Aria's black ones, feeling a connection I couldn't explain and really didn't want.

  "Well," I finally said, "that's just great. Any other bombshells you want to drop, or can we save some for chapter four?"

  Aria's smile turned predatory. "Oh, Zephyr. We're just getting started."

  The walls shifted again, and somewhere in the darkness, something massive began to stir.

  Just another day in the life of a dead guy, I guess.