Chapter 69
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
Ellery
My lightning crackled between my fingers when I emerged from the portal. I doubted any of the duke’s guards had made it to this section of the forest yet, but I’d destroy anyone close by.
My eyes darted around as I lifted my hands to unleash hell. The only things greeting me were the distant hoots of an owl, the trees, and a set of yellow eyes that vanished behind a wall of briars.
I braced myself while I waited for something to attack, but the fading snap of twigs told me the creature was moving away. I still didn’t lower my guard as I waved my portal closed and turned in a circle to survey the woods once more.
Nothing stirred nearby, and the sounds of the forest remained the same. If the duke’s soldiers were nearby, those sounds would have ceased or increased into an angry frenzy.
When I was certain I was safe for at least a little bit, I shifted my attention to the massive, intertwined trees. The space beneath their connected boughs was darker than the rest of the forest as little moonlight penetrated their thick canopy.
I stood at the edge of the aisle they’d created as I waited for something to happen, but nothing did. The black dog didn’t return, the trees didn’t rustle as they sometimes did, and no roots poked out of the earth to beckon me forth.
The stillness unnerved me more than their movement. I didn’t know what would happen when I walked beneath them again.
They could be done with me after what happened earlier. They could decide they wouldn’t take me down to the tunnel, or maybe they’d choose to crush me instead.
I gulped at the idea and resisted tugging at the collar of the cloak Ruby had given me. My heart raced, and my palms were unnaturally sweaty for the wintry night, but these trees couldn’t know how shaken I was.
I suspected they didn’t appreciate weakness, and while they had no eyes to see—at least I didn’t think they did—they sensed things. I eyed the knots in some of their trunks and branches, maybe they could somehow see out of those.
And then I decided I didn’t want to know anything more about these unnatural creations. I only needed them to take me to the gargoyles.
They wouldn’t harm me if I was here to do what the forest asked. I just hoped the woods were on our side; the last thing we needed was more enemies.
Taking a steadying breath, I threw back my shoulders and strode out beneath the canopy of branches. I kept waiting for the roots to start emerging, but nothing happened as I walked toward the middle of the aisle.
I stopped there and stood, waiting for them to come for me. When nothing happened, I let the lightning dancing around my fingers grow until it illuminated almost the entire walkway.
Though no breeze stirred the air, the trees creaked above me. Some of the branches slithered through the canopy, but none came any closer to me.
“I’m going to set the gargoyles free,” I called to them. “I should have done it before, but we were scared about what would happen.” I didn’t like admitting this, even if it was to trees, but I had to give them the truth. “I have no choice now. We need their help… if they’re willing to give it.”
The bare branches scraped against one another as they slithered together like a nest of worms. I couldn’t prove it, but I sensed the trees were communicating with each other. I didn’t know what they would decide.
“I’m sorry I didn’t do what you asked of me earlier, but I had to try to find Ryker. I couldn’t free the gargoyles without knowing what happened to him. They’ve taken him, and they’re taking our children. I have to get them back.
“Let me free the gargoyles. If they decide not to help us, I won’t blame them, and I won’t try to cage them again, but if they do decide to help us, then together, we can hopefully fix the wrongs ravaging Tempest. I need your help for that.”
I could try entering the cavern through the Temple, but that involved a huge risk of exposure. Plus, I wasn’t sure I could move the slab blocking the entrance to the gargoyles. It fit perfectly into the floor and weighed a lot.
I might be able to hammer through the stone with my lightning, but that was a last resort. There was no way I could keep that quiet, and I’d expose the gargoyles if I did, but I’d do whatever it took to free Ryker.
Unsure of what else to say, I waited, unmoving beneath the trees. I wouldn’t leave until they gave me what I sought.
The trees creaked again before I glimpsed some movement from the corner of my eyes. It looked as if a massive worm had rolled over beneath the earth, but instead it was a root shifting beneath the dirt.
It rotated the earth again before a tip poked out. It was only a tree root, but there was something repulsive about the way it moved as if it were tasting the air… or perhaps trying to taste me.
These things had taken me twice now, and it wasn’t getting any easier to stand here to let it happen. The tip weaved its way through the air toward me before stopping to hover a few feet away.
It seemed to debate whether it would come any closer while bobbing up and down. I kept expecting something to flicker out and touch me, but it remained where it was as it weaved back and forth.
If the thing hadn’t been so unnerving and different in its reaction to me this time, I wouldn’t have been so disconcerted by it, but I didn’t know what to make of this. Would it take me to the gargoyles or tear off my head?
Then, having made its decision, it moved closer to encircle my ankle before rising to my calf. I held my breath as it rose higher.
Everything in me screamed against staying docile for this, especially when I didn’t know if the trees meant to help or harm, but I had to trust them. Just like when it came to releasing the gargoyles, I was out of choices.
The root slid around my waist as more of them broke free of the earth. They rolled beneath the ground, creating an opening as the one encircling me began to pull downward.
When it dragged me lower, I closed my eyes and prayed to survive this before taking a deep breath and holding it. Dirt filled my nose and pressed against my closed eyelids as the earth swallowed me.