My fingers brush the surface of the page, shaking. I can't look at Mirra or Eleanore. I'm too entranced by this book. I look back at the title. The Dark One. Ominous.

"What is she doing?" I hear Eleanore whisper.

Mirra's answer is too soft for me to hear, but I'm not paying attention. I pick up the knife, and the still silence swirling around is broken once again by Mirra's yelp of shock. "What in Bloody Mary are you doing?"

I finally am able to look away from the glowing page.

"I'm testing your theory."

"Maddi, do you realize what you're getting yourself into?" Eleanore asks me, wide eyed. "No, of course you don't. Well, let me tell you. If Mirra is right, and you are, indeed...that..." She gestures to the page. "You could bring the whole of hell down on us all."

"What are you talking about?"

Mirra takes a step forward. To take the knife away, I assume. I take a step back. I look back and forth between her and Eleanore. From Eleanore's scared expression, to Mirra's serious one. "Maddi." She stares deep into my eyes. I remember what Eleanore told me when I met Blaze. How most females can't resist a vampire smolder. And that Blaze's was stronger than most. But in this moment, it was Mirra that seemed to have the all powerful smolder. Her brother was a weak glow compared to her eyes right now. "If your blood touches that page, and my calculations are correct--and they usually are--you could...Eleanore said it best."

I could bring the whole of hell down us all.