Chapter 43
Chapter Forty-Three
EMORY
W e finally trudged through the tunnel of vines, no more almost-suffocations happening, the vines satiated with all the secrets that had been spilled.
The five of us stood in a circle on the pathway, everyone breathing heavy and wild-eyed after yet another near-death experience. Black dust lifted and swirled, and I blinked a few times as some of it got in my eye. The pathway wound around a hill, and I could’ve sworn I saw more of those cat-like creatures lurking about, tails flicking out from the tall grass, eyes peering curiously. But every time I blinked, they were gone.
“Why didn’t you tell me about wanting to find my sister?” Maverick asked El, hands on his hips. “What else are you keeping from us?”
El signed, pointer and middle fingers sticking up, then she raised her pinky and swiped her hand in an arc over her chest.
“That’s not good enough,” Maverick said, fists balled. “I don’t care if you thought it might anger me, if you didn’t want to risk us running away to find her ourselves. You should’ve told me from the beginning. What are you planning on doing? Marching her through the Wilds so she can show you where she got in? What if she doesn’t want to? What if I say no?”
El glared at Maverick, making a quick succession of signs.
“Yes,” he responded. “Of course we want to escape, but not at the expense of my sister. It’s not her job to be your personal guide. And why do you want to escape anyway? As twisted as this place is, it’s your home. So why do you want to leave?”
El broke eye contact, pale skin flushed with anger. Another secret.
“Ah,” Maverick said. “So you’re willing to share a few secrets, but not all of them.”
“We should calm down.” Aron held out his hands. “I think we might be close to finding your sister.”
Maverick pointed a finger at El. “She’s not getting anywhere near my sister. Not until she tells me every secret she’s keeping.”
El threw her hands up in the air, stalking down the path, her back to us.
A buzzing noise filled the air.
Driscoll rubbed his temples. “What is that?”
“We need to stay quiet,” Aron said, voice low. “They’re blind, but they do react to sound.”
“Oh good, so another plant-eater situation,” Driscoll said.
Aron frowned. “These are flying bugs that latch onto your neck and suck out your blood, so quite different from plants.”
Driscoll sighed heavily.
“Okay,” I said as Maverick still stood rigid, El with her back to us, arms crossed. “What do we do?”
The buzzing morphed, turning to chimes and humming. I tilted my head. It sounded like a song.
“Are the bugs in a band?” Driscoll scratched the back of his neck. “Do they tour the Wilds and put on shows?”
“No, that’s odd.” Aron frowned. “The buzzing indicates they’re about to attack, but it seems to be...”
The buzzing faded even more, the other sounds growing louder, a melody that floated through the air. Fun and fast. It made me want to dance, to join in on whatever party was happening beyond this pathway.
El straightened, then started toward the sound .
“El, wait!” Aron said, but she didn’t listen.
“I think I’m going to need my heart checked if we ever get out of this place.” Driscoll laid a palm to his chest. “It’s just one thing after another here.”
Curiosity got the better of me, and I followed El. A hand grabbed my arm, and I whipped around, face inches from Maverick’s.
“You don’t know what’s around this hill,” he said. “Maybe it’s better to let her go first.”
I shook my arm from his. “Afraid of a little challenge, Bone Collector?”
“Oh, I live for challenges. I also prefer to keep my head.” His eyes flashed, and for just a moment, it felt like we were back.
A violin struck up a chord, and we jumped apart.
“Might as well go check it out.” Driscoll huffed and shoved between us.
Aron and Maverick looked at each other, and Maverick sighed, relenting. We followed the path around the hill. The music grew louder as we approached, and laughter pealed through the air.
I gasped as we rounded a curve, a thicket of thorns and tangled brush creating a large canopy that arched over a girl. A woman. Young, in her early twenties if I had to guess. She clapped and laughed again. Bugs hung in the air around her, as large as my hand, their translucent wings fluttering nonstop.
She pointed at one. “You’re not keeping up the harmony, Atticus.”
As if it actually understood her, the bug lifted higher and made a sound like a drum that beat in rhythm to its flapping wings.
I blinked a few times, unsure of what, exactly, I was seeing.
Maverick pushed past me, stumbling forward. “Annalee?”
My head snapped to him, then back to the girl.
The bugs continued their harmony while Maverick entered the canopy, ducking to get inside. Annalee patted the spot next to her and gave him a toothy grin like she’d been expecting him this entire time. Aron, El, Driscoll, and I stayed outside, all of us watching with rapt fascination.
“Maverick!” Annalee clapped her hands. “I was hoping you’d find me. Do you want to join my tea party? ”
“Your what?” Maverick snapped.
I took in the entire scene. Annalee sat on a checkered blanket, chipped and dusty cups surrounding her. A top hat sat next to her bouncing up and down.
“Would you like some tea?” Annalee held the cup to the hat. It flipped upside down and she poured the tea inside.
“This is the weirdest shit I have ever seen.” Driscoll stared at the scene, wide-eyed.
“Annalee, what are you doing?” Maverick asked, standing over her.
She glanced up at him, her brows folding into a scowl. “Well, at least sit down. You’re being rude.”
Aron’s gaze swept the area, then he stepped forward and sat down next to Annalee. So matter of fact, as always. El’s face had softened as she stared at Maverick’s little sister, and I wondered what was going through her mind.
Annalee gave Aron an approving look and offered him a cup, then grabbed the teapot and tipped the tea into it. “Welcome,” she said brightly.
Maverick crossed his arms, boot tapping on the ground.
Driscoll shrugged. “Whatever. When in Arathia. Or, in this case, the Wilds.” He sat next to Aron, and Annalee reached over and handed him a cup.
El huffed, then sank down, her red dress floating around her. I followed suit, sitting next to her while Maverick stayed standing.
“Annalee, this place is dangerous.” He crouched next to her. “What are you doing in the middle of the Wilds? Have you been hurt?”
She raised her pert nose, offering tea to both me and El. We accepted while Maverick ran a hand over his head. My lips twitched. I imagined his sister tested his patience quite often, and it was entertaining to watch.
“This tea is actually really good,” Driscoll murmured, taking another sip while the bugs continued their melody.
“How did you get the blood beetles to play this music?” Aron asked Annalee.
She tugged on one of her braids, all of them spilling over her shoulder as she leaned forward. “Oh, that’s easy. They like parties. ”
Driscoll’s cup froze inches from his mouth. “Parties?” he echoed. “The bugs like to party?”
She nodded eagerly. “Any chance for them to play some music instead of making that awful buzzing noise. They only make it when threatened.”
She gave us a pointed stare.
The hat flipped back over, bouncing next to her. “Hatter, where are your manners?” She tsked at it.
Aron stilled. “Hatter? As in the Mad Hatter?”
“Who is the Mad Hatter?” Driscoll asked, voice resigned.
“Don’t let the hat anywhere near your head,” Aron said quietly. “It’s known to make people who wear it go mad.”
The hat jumped higher, and Annalee shot Aron a glare. “Don’t be rude. Mad Hatter is behaving and drinking his tea.”
El sighed heavily.
“Enough,” Maverick said, grabbing Annalee’s arm and pulling her to her feet. The tea she held splashed out of her cup.
“Mav,” Annalee protested as her brother hauled her upright. “You’re ruining a perfectly nice tea party.”
“Annalee, this is serious,” Maverick said. “Do you understand how much danger we’re in? How many times we’ve almost died trying to get to you?”
Her eyes widened, the exact same shade of copper brown as Maverick’s. “Did you not listen to all my stories over the years? I thought when you came, you’d be prepared.”
“Bloody fire,” Maverick muttered.
“I didn’t mean to lead you into danger.” Tears filled her eyes. “I figured you’d follow me here, and I could finally prove this place was real. That I haven’t been making it up.”
Maverick stared at her for a long minute before yanking her into a tight hug. She buried her face into his chest, and I looked away, wanting to give them this moment of privacy.
“I knew you’d come for me,” she whispered.
Driscoll wiped away a tear. “It’s a little dusty in here is all,” he said as we looked at him. More tears spilled down his cheeks. “Okay, fine, I’m crying. This is a very sweet reunion, and you all are emotionless voids of humans.”
El rolled her eyes and signed, Aron clearing his throat and translating, “Now that we’ve found the girl, are you all going to accompany us back to our home? Or are you going your own way?”
Maverick still hugged his sister tight, but she turned. “Oh, I’d love to go with you. Can we, Mav? I can show you around a little more. Introduce you to some friends.”
“Friends?” Driscoll squeaked.
Maverick sighed, massaging his temple. “Does your home have a bath, by any chance? And food? And a decent place to sleep?
For the first time since I’d met her, El smiled and held up two fingers, both of them pressed together. I’d learned enough to know that meant yes.
Maverick slung an arm around Annalee’s shoulders. “Then let’s get going, and once we’re there, we have a lot to discuss.” He met El’s gaze, and she stared at him for a long moment before giving a sharp nod.
“Does that mean the tea party is over?” Driscoll asked.
The bugs quieted, slowly floating to the ground while the hat slumped. Annalee ducked under Maverick’s arm and patted the hat. “Don’t worry. We’ll have another tea party again soon.”
Maverick opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, but then he snapped it shut.
El signed, and Maverick nodded. “Okay, let’s get going, then.” He reached for Annalee’s arm. “Want to take a walk with your big brother?”
Annalee gave him the brightest smile. “Absolutely.”
He roped an arm around her shoulders. El turned and began walking, all of us following. I only hoped this place was safe like El claimed. I wasn’t sure my heart could take any more. I chanced a glance back at Maverick. Not when it was already so thoroughly broken.