Chapter 45
Sabrina had nothing against the great outdoors. She liked going for walks and riding her bike and spending time in the park. All of that stuff made her feel alive. Like she was getting fresh air and enjoying nature to the fullest.
But being in the midst of a forest like this, a forest that seemed to erase all sense of direction, a forest that seemed to look the same behind her as it did in front, this was nothing like those experiences.
This felt like being an interloper. Like she was trespassing. The woods were beautiful but foreign in a way she hadn’t expected. She also hadn’t expected the feeling of being watched.
Was that just the presence of magic? Or was something, or someone, actually watching them?
Every time she got the sensation, she’d look in that direction. Not once did she see anything but more trees.
She inched closer to Gideon.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
She nodded. “Just a little nervous, I guess.”
“As long as we don’t venture into the Dark Acres, we’ll be fine.”
“The Dark Acres?”
He gave a quick nod, his eyes still scanning their surroundings as they moved slowly through the brush, following Korrie. “It’s another part of the Enchanted Forest, a much more dangerous part. I hope that’s not where the book is, or we’re really in trouble.”
“Why is it dangerous?” She almost didn’t want to hear the answer.
“Because there’s so much dark magic there. I don’t think it’s dangerous to everyone. I’m sure it would be to us, though. Some people actually live in the Dark Acres. Those who want to be left alone or just prefer solitude.”
“Like who?”
“Well, Robin Gallow, for example.”
“The Goblin King? Does his mother live there too?” She thought about Pryn, who hadn’t seemed at all like someone who’d make her home in such a perilous place.
“Yes, and his wife. I believe at least one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse lives there, too.”
Julia glanced over her shoulder. “He does. He’s Nasha Black’s father.”
Sabrina blinked. “Nasha Black who owns the Black Horse Bakery?”
“The very one. Her father is Famine. Word is, the bakery is her way of balancing him out.”
“Is that why everything is free?”
“I think so,” Julia answered.
“Wow,” Sabrina exhaled. “You learn something new every day in this town.” She looked at Gideon. “How do people live in a place like that?”
“Much like this forest, I get the sense that the Dark Acres does what it wants to whom it wants. Maybe some it even protects.”
A little shiver went through her. “Are you saying this forest is … alive?”
“Alive with magic. And you know how devious that can be.”
Still ahead of them, Julia snorted softly. “For real.”
Sabrina grabbed Gideon’s arm. “How will we know if we’re in the Dark Acres?”
“You’ll know,” Gideon said. “It’s unmistakable. The trees all look burned, and there’s a smell of soot in the air.” He grinned as if trying to lighten the moment. “Like my kitchen after the sprite’s been in it.”
She let out a little chuckle, but her mood hadn’t really changed. “What else should I look for?”
“The tree trunks are twisted, and all the leaves are black. Like I said, they look burned, but that’s just the way they grow.”
“Because of how murky the magic is there,” Julia added.
Gideon nodded. “She’s right. Trust me, you’ll know. It’s not lush and green like this.” He ran his fingers across some moss on a tree trunk as they passed. “But what you really need to look out for are the creatures that live there.”
Again, she was a little afraid to ask. “Like what?”
“Lightning bugs, for one. And I don’t mean the fireflies you grew up with. These are literal lightning bugs. They carry an electrical charge, and they will zap you. Hurts like you can only imagine.”
“Have you been to the Dark Acres? When did you go? And why?”
“I was there on one of my trips out here. Didn’t mean to go, but I got turned around.
Easy to do in this place. Ended up on the edge of the Dark Acres.
Tried reversing my path, but somehow that didn’t work.
Finally found the road but couldn’t get to it before a lightning bug got to me.
” He shook his head. “Thought I was going to die.”
She grimaced. “Why does a place like the Dark Acres even exist? I thought Shadowvale was supposed to be a safe haven?”
Julia dropped back to walk next to her. “It is, but the other side of safe is unsafe. All of that dark energy needs a place to go, or people’s curses would be even worse than they are now.
So the Dark Acres absorbs some of it. Think of it as the balance to all the good that goes on here. Like a yin-yang situation.”
“I see. Still scares the bejeebers out of me.”
“I hear ya,” Julia said.
A long stretch passed where no one said anything.
They just focused on the forest around them and looked for signs that they might be getting close to the book.
Korrie kept moving forward, occasionally stopping to look right or left or stare at something that she couldn’t see.
When he slowed again, he turned to face them.
“This is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I need to get above the treetops again and see what the patterns are telling me.”
Gideon glanced up. The canopy overhead was so thick, no sky showed through. “You think you’ll be able to find us again?”
Korrie stared skyward, too. “Good point. I guess that’s out.”
“No,” Sabrina said. “Just give me the gear. You can find your way back to that, can’t you?”
With a big grin, the sprite dug into his pocket. “I sure can.” He held out the gear, dropping it into her hand. “I’ll try not to take too long.”
“Take whatever time you need,” Julia said. “Without some kind of clue, we have nothing to go on anyway.”
“Right.” Korrie’s grin disappeared, replaced by determination. He rubbed his hands together, gave his wings a little shake, then shot toward the canopy like a tiny rocket.
Sabrina tried to watch him, but he disappeared into the green. “Fingers crossed he brings us some good news.”
“You can say that again.” Gideon inspected the nearest tree, then leaned against it.
Julia stooped to examine a cluster of mushrooms.
Sabrina settled in to wait, but Korrie returned in a surprisingly short amount of time. “It’s no good. It’s like the forest knows we’re here. The patterns are gone.” He flew back and forth like he was pacing, his agitation obvious. “Stupid magic.”
“We’ll figure out another way,” Sabrina said, hoping that was possible. Gideon needed this help more than any of them.
Korrie stopped pacing and stayed in front of her. “The only other way I know is to talk to an animal or a creature that lives here.”
“Okay,” Sabrina said. “How do we find a creature?”
Julia sighed. “I wish I could do a summoning spell for you, but with my magic, asking for a squirrel would probably get us a succubus.”
Gideon moved away from his tree and looked around. “How about we just sit down, be quiet, and wait. You never know what we might see.”
Sabrina nodded as she looked around too. Suddenly, she smiled. “Hey guys,” she whispered. “I already found something. Would that creature work, Korrie?” She pointed into the trees, at a branch high up.
They all turned.
The creature, which looked to Sabrina like a tabby cat with wings or maybe an owl with a strangely feline face, stared unblinkingly back at them. Its gaze was almost fierce with determination. It flexed its wings slightly, like it was about to take flight.
“That’s a meowl,” Julia said. “And I’m pretty sure it thinks Korrie is a snack.”
“Well,” Korrie said with a grin. “I am pretty tasty.” His eyes widened. “Wait, you mean like an actual snack?”
Gideon stepped in front of all of them, raising his hands. “Not today, meowl. He’s a friend. Not food.”
The meowl blinked and, with a slow swoop of its wings, took flight and disappeared into the forest.
Korrie flew to Sabrina and sat on her shoulder, pulling some of her hair over himself. “This is not going how I thought it would.”
“Yeah,” she said. “Me either. Why don’t we try Gideon’s suggestion of sitting down and being quiet? Just to see if a friendlier animal or creature comes by?”
Julia nodded. “I’m game. Walking aimlessly isn’t doing us much good.”
Gideon took a few steps forward and turned his head. “I hear water. If we can find the source, that would be a good place to sit.”
Korrie launched off Sabrina’s shoulder. “I can find it. You keep watch for more meowls.”
“You got it,” Gideon said.
“Actually,” Korrie said, “all of you keep watch for more meowls.”
“We will.” As Korrie flew higher, Sabrina inched closer to Julia. “That meowl was pretty cute. Would it really have gone after Korrie?”
Julia shot her a look.
“Right,” Sabrina said. “I’m glad Seymour was nice.”
Korrie came back to them shortly. “There’s a really big tree just ahead. The stream is right on the other side of it.”
“I see the tree,” Gideon said.
Soon, they were all sitting under the canopy of that tree. Sabrina dug peanut butter-honey granola bars out of her fanny pack and passed them around, while Julia handed out small bottles of water.
Sabrina had also packed a couple of snack-size candy bars, left over from Halloween, for Korrie. He sat between her and Gideon on the moss, happily munching away.
A low, snuffling sound made them all go quiet.
Sabrina’s mouth fell open. She held her breath. She had no idea what she was looking at, but she was really glad it was on the other side of the stream.
Although judging by the creature’s large, muscular frame, jumping that stream probably wouldn’t be an issue.