Chapter 47
“What do you think, Korrie? Can that hellhound really show us the book?” Sabrina kept her voice low since the sprite was on her shoulder and she didn’t want the others to overhear. She doubted Gideon would. He was ahead of them with Zeus, tracking the dog’s every move.
“He should be able to if he really lives in these woods. I don’t see why the magic would hide itself from him seeing as how he’s part of the magic that lives here.” Korrie let out a deep sigh. “I feel bad that I let all of you down, though.”
“What?” She looked at him the best she could. “You didn’t let us down. You’re the whole reason we’re here. We wouldn’t have come if not for you.”
“You’re just saying that.”
“No, I’m not. You heard Gideon say he’d already tried to find the book on his own and failed.
And Julia’s looked on her own too. I’ve never looked because I feel like my curse is pretty manageable.
Also because this place scared me a little.
So yeah, we’re here because you made us think it was possible again. And you know what?”
“What?”
“You were right.”
He smiled. “You’re a good talker.”
She laughed. “I’m just telling you the truth.”
He hugged her neck. “Thank you. I feel better. Less like a disappointment.”
“Never a disappointment, Korrie.”
They walked on. Mist covered the ground in patches, giving the woods an eerie feeling.
“I don’t love this,” she muttered.
“The magic is thicker here,” Korrie whispered into her ear. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you.”
That brought a smile to her face and boosted her mood. “You’re the best.”
Ahead of them, Gideon and Zeus’s pace had decelerated, making them easier to follow. In the dim light, the dog’s red and orange markings seemed to glow, but they weren’t the only things giving off light. A luminescent butterfly went past, and some of the trees sported clumps of phosphorescent moss.
The forest was fast becoming something otherworldly. Sabrina was equal parts curious and concerned. None of this was anything remotely familiar to her.
The mist thickened into fog, clinging to the ground and swirling around their ankles. Seeing farther than a yard or so in any direction was impossible. She had no idea how they were still moving forward other than Zeus clearly had some kind of supernatural GPS in his head.
She tugged her jacket closer, not because she was cold but because it made her feel safer for no real reason. “Don’t go flying off, Korrie. I’m afraid we’d lose you in this.”
“I’m not going anywhere, but keep that gear in your pocket. Just in case we get separated and I need to find you.”
“You got it.” She halted abruptly to avoid running into Julia, who’d come to an unexpected standstill. Sabrina put her hand on Julia’s back to steady herself. “A little warning next time.”
“Sorry, but look.” Julia pointed. Her hand was trembling. “Look.”
All around them, the fog rolled away in waves, revealing a grove of trees unlike anything Sabrina had seen before. And they were standing in it. Twelve enormous, picture-perfect trees stood guard around them, sentries watching their every move.
She sucked in a breath, making a small gasp.
“This is incredible,” Julia said softly as she turned, taking it all in.
Sabrina could only nod. It was beyond incredible. It was real-life magic. The grove radiated with an uncanny light that reminded her of the sun. She moved to see better and realized they were standing on a springy carpet of blue-green moss. She bent to touch it. The moss was soft and resilient.
Gideon and Zeus moved closer to her. “I think we’ve found it.”
“I think so too.”
The twelve trees stretched far overhead. The branches made a dome, covering the grove completely except for a perfect circle in the center that showed a glimpse of clouds. Inside the circle, it was as quiet as a cathedral and to Sabrina, felt just as sacred.
This space was something very special. No wonder the forest hid it.
Julia stuck her arm out and pushed back her sleeve. Her skin was pebbled with goosebumps. “The magic here is as thick as that fog we walked through. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
Her breath caught, and she shook her head, her gaze fixed on something behind them. Once again, she lifted her finger to point.
They all turned.
In the center of the grove stood a pedestal. And on it was a book. It was directly under the opening in the grove’s leafy dome. How had they not noticed it before?
But Sabrina’s attention was pulled back to the trees. “Hey, guys? Have the trees always had faces?”
A ripple of magic passed through the grove. A low growl rumbled out of Zeus.
Twelve warrior women stepped out of the trees.
Not from behind them or between them but out of the trees.
All had bows, which were taut with arrows drawn and pointed at the group.
The women wore tunics of pale green and ivory silk with knee-length leggings of tanned leather beneath.
The outfits emphasized their bark-brown skin and gave them a battle-ready look.
Sabrina put up her hands. “We’re here for peaceful reasons, I swear.”
One of the women stepped forward. “I am Lylianna, captain of the nymph guard. What are those reasons?”
Sabrina hadn’t intended to become the spokesperson for the group, but Lylianna didn’t seem a like a woman who was going to wait for them to sort that out. “Because we have curses that are ruining our lives. We want to write our names in the book.”
Lylianna lowered her bow. The rest of the nymphs followed suit. “All of you?”
Sabrina nodded quickly. “Yes, all of us.”
“No.”
Sabrina’s mouth fell open. “No?”
“There are too many of you. The book can only bear the weight of so much magic.”
Gideon stepped forward. “The hellhound isn’t part of this, in case you’re counting him.”
Julia sniffed.
Sabrina shook her head. “We have been looking for this book a long time. All of us have been told that moving to Shadowvale means the possibility of having our curse removed if we find it. Now we’ve found it, and you’re telling us no?”
“Correct. Three may write their names in the book. Choose now. Then you must leave. We will be watching.” She turned and disappeared back into her tree.
The rest of the nymphs did the same.
Sabrina wasn’t going to let her friends come all this way and then not get what they’d come for. “Gideon, Julia, Korrie. You’re the three.”
“No,” Julia said, grabbing Sabrina’s hand. “You’re the one who let Korrie loose and started this whole thing. You deserve to write your name in the book.”
Gideon nodded. “She’s right. You do.”
“Yes,” Korrie whispered in her ear. “You have to.”
Sabrina shook her head and backed away. “I’m fine with my curse. The three of you aren’t.” She smiled and put her hands up. “Go on. I mean it. Go write your names. We can’t be here forever. Stop stalling.”
Julia and Gideon looked at her like they wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. Korrie hugged her neck.
Gideon gestured at the book. “Julia.”
She kissed Sabrina’s cheek, whispering, “Thank you,” then made her way to the pedestal. Light effervesced from the book, making the pages seem lit from within.
Julia picked up the feather pen resting on the book, gave Sabrina a quick but sad smile, then leaned in to write her name. She laid the pen down and stepped back. “Done.”
Gideon went to the book next. With no hesitation, he signed his name. He exhaled as he turned. “Done.”
“Go, Sabrina,” Korrie said. “I don’t mind being tied to that gear for the rest of my days. It’s small, and I can carry it around.”
“But if someone else gets ahold of it, you’ll belong to them. Your freedom will be gone. No, Korrie. Go put your name in the book.”
“You’re completely sure, Sabrina?”
“Yes. Completely. Now go.”
With a sigh, he flew off her shoulder and landed on the book. He bent to pick up the pen but couldn’t. He tried again. Nothing.
She frowned. How could he not lift a feather pen? “What’s wrong, Korrie?”
“I can’t lift it.”
“Shrink it,” she said.
He made a face, then shook his head. “Nothing’s happening.”
Gideon stepped in. “I’ll pick it up for you.” He held the pen out to the sprite.
Korrie grabbed it, Gideon let go, and immediately the weight of the pen took him down. Clearly perturbed, he got up and brushed himself off. “I can do this.”
But he tried again, twice, and couldn’t lift the pen. Angry sparks snapped in his eyes as he flew away from the pedestal. “I’m done. It wasn’t meant to be.”
Then his expression softened. “You might as well put your name in there now, Sabrina.”
“Oh, Korrie. I’m so sorry.”
He gave a grumpy shrug and headed for the tree line. “I’ll meet you outside.”
Julia put her hand on Sabrina’s arm. “I’ll go with him.”
“Thanks.”
Gideon was doing his best to look sympathetic, but he broke out in a smile anyway. “I guess it was meant to be.”
“I guess so. But please, make sure he doesn’t do anything silly. I won’t be long.”
“Okay.” Gideon patted his leg to get Zeus’s attention, and the two of them left as well.
She looked down at the book. It was impossible to read any of the other names. The scripts danced and moved and became gibberish when she tried to focus on them.
That meant that no one would know what name she wrote.
She picked up the pen.