Chapter 7

Iblinked several times, trying to make sense of what I saw, but my mind felt sluggish, as if waking from a deep sleep. Swirls of clouds painted in burnt yellows and strokes of burgundy sailed across the sky. A light breeze carrying the faint scent of wildflowers caressed my face and the sound of grass blades whispering in the wind reached my ears.

My palms pressed into something soft and moist. And as I took in a breath of air, my nose filled with the distinct earthy smell of peat, moss, and recent rain.

Something about all these scents fired up a neuron in my brain. A memory of some sort. A feeling. But everything was still so foggy, and the world spun in and out of focus. Felt like I'd been sleeping for days. But where? On a patch of grass?

I took in another deep breath and the aroma of mint and lilac swathed me, sending me back to when I used to go camping with my parents. Smiling, I sunk into myself, letting the scent permeate through me.

Home. It smelled like home. Those were some of my fondest memories of them. Just the three of us on magical adventures. If I'd only known that trip to Arizona would be the last time I'd ever see them again…

In the same breath, the smell of home also summoned memories of pain. I rubbed my temple, hoping to erase the images of that nightmare, wishing there was a way to wipe them away forever. At the same time, the memory of that night kept me fighting to seek the truth.

Sitting upright, I rubbed my eyes again, finally able to focus, and took in the vastness of my surroundings. The fen-like terrain I'd been lying on sloped into an unpopulated strip of land that stretched for miles with a spine of rocky mountains carving across the valley in the distance.

As I gazed above the horizon, my lips parted in a silent gasp. Setting behind a snow-capped mountain was the top half of a monstrous orange-red sun. Its solar flares could be seen with the naked eye, reaching out like tentacles over the heavens.

A shiver rippled through me as I became aware, lucid. A memory nudged against my skull—a faint recollection of me walking back to my apartment and suddenly feeling so tired I …

Shit. I stood, shaking off the dreamy haze.

The bus. The accident. The sick feeling in my stomach as I made my way back to my building and collapsed on my bed.

Where the hell was I now? I reached for my pendant. It glowed. Another dream. Peering down at my hand, I noted the branded triangle mark was still there, too. I closed my hand into a fist and stared back out into the distance.

As the ominous sun completely sank out of sight, the sky darkened and an inky purple sea blotted out the pink waves of clouds, showcasing an ocean of twinkling stars. Enchanting as they were, they were out staged by a pair of twin full moons shining brilliantly over the meadow, each casting shadows into the night.

This new dream was unlike all the others—it felt like a memory. My blood hummed with affinity as if it recognized this place, even if I didn't. A sensation of belonging, of being home, welled in my chest.

Then the crackling sound of tree branches breaking and the rumble of quaking earth jolted me. I swirled toward the sound erupting behind me, half expecting to find a wild animal tromping through the brush, but what I saw was far more frightening.

A dark and dense forest stood before me, its menacing tall trees and crumbling ground moving by their own volition. Gnarled branches pulled back as organic debris blew away, revealing a hidden dirt path.

A gust of air accompanied by an unnatural disembodied groan escaped from within the forest's maw, prickling my skin as it touched my face with invisible feather-like fingers. The deathly chill seeped through my flesh and burrowed deep into my marrow, making my bones rattle and knees wobble.

A trembling breath swooshed out of me. This was the part of the dream where I should have willed myself to wake up. Or turned from the beckoning gaping mouth of the black forest and ran down the sloping hill as far away as my legs could carry me.

The fear churning in my gut warred with my reality, as if trying to remind me of my apartment back in Brooklyn, to tell me this was just a dream, that I shouldn't be afraid. But the thumping in my chest wouldn't cease, and the heat of adrenaline rushing through my veins wouldn't ebb.

I clenched my fists and shut my eyes.

Think, Avery. What is this place, if not a dream? Don't let fear paralyze you.

But I couldn't wrap my mind around what I saw. Thinking through it made my head pound.

I reached for the crystal dangling from my neck and palmed it tight. This place isn't real.

Fear would not conquer me. I needed answers, and damn if I didn't know I'd find them inside.

As I took a step forward, heavy fabric hanging from my shoulders snagged on a fallen tree branch. Scanning myself over, my eyes widened at the odd clothing I now wore. Despite the countless dreams I had experienced, I could never get used to the way in which details changed on their own.

Black velvet-like pants clung to my thighs like a second skin. Buckled up to my knees, brown, worn leather riding boots hugged my calves. An long, emerald-colored tunic was held snug against my torso by what appeared to be a tight, brown leather buttoned vest. Maybe it was a corset or perhaps some type of armor, I couldn't be sure.

My brows dipped lower. The leather was artfully stitched with intricate swirls and patterns. Clusters of ornate flowers were embroidered with gold and burgundy threads on the hem and tapered sleeves of the tunic. The indigo-colored cloak draped around my shoulders hung around me thick and heavy. Partially amused, I giggled, feeling ridiculously dressed, like I was cosplaying for a renaissance fair.

Then a thought occurred. What if I wasn't me? What if like the witch on the stake, I was in someone else's body? I checked my hands, but they seemed like my own, especially since I still bore the scar.

I pulled on the tips of my hair. Still red and curly.

Seemed it was me after all, just dressed like a character from a fantasy movie. Expecting to find a bow and a quiver full of arrows strapped to my back, I glanced over my shoulder. I shook my head when I saw nothing. Worth the shot.

As I pulled the hood of the cloak over my head, ready to enter the forest as if I had the slightest idea what in the universe I was stepping into, the glint of moonlight reflecting off a metallic surface on the ground caught my eye.

Laying on the ground beside me was a dagger.

Reaching for the hilt, my fingers wrapped around the leather-bound handle, the gold guard glinting under the light of the moon. My eyes grew large as I admired the pommel. The faceted crystal ball shimmered like a prism, the silver light of the twin moons hovering in the sky making the ball glimmer in a rainbow of colors.

Magnificent.

The remarkable wavy-blade dagger seemed to be forged of steel, but I couldn't be certain. It appeared to be made of a dark gray metal that snaked down the center of the blade to form a flawless, smoky design.

Fascinated and perturbed at the same time, I tapped the pointy end with my index finger and drew a tiny bead of blood. I hoped I wouldn't have to stab anything… or anyone. But if I was going to walk into a ghoulish-looking forest, then having a lethal weapon wasn't a bad idea.

Grasping it firmly, I lifted my gaze to the dark path. Anxiety coursed through my veins, fast and hot, making my skin damp with sweat. Taking deep gulps of air, I reminded myself this was just a dream, even if it didn't feel like one.

Nothing can harm me here.

I glanced down at my hand.

Then why am I gripping this so fiercely?

Reaching for my necklace, I palmed my mother's fluorite pendant once again and drew from it the courage I needed before squaring my shoulders and walking into the mouth of the beast.

The forest came alive again the instant I crossed the threshold, the trees closing the entrance behind me. Tree branches twisted and cracked as vegetation grew over rocks, vines wrapping their tentacles around trunks in tight knots.

With the path sealed behind me, and the light of the moons unable to penetrate the dense canopy, I was left in complete darkness. The only illumination came from my pendant, but it wasn't sufficient to guide the way.

As if reading my thoughts, the crystal pommel on my dagger brightened, casting a beacon of light into the darkness.

I didn't question how it was possible; I simply marveled, appreciating the fact I wasn't going to need to do this in the dark.

As I walked deeper into the forest, keeping to the dirt path, I didn't dare look behind me. A nudging feeling at the back of my neck told me I was being followed, but I wasn't ready to confirm my fear.

Fear.

Dammit.

No matter how hard I tried to convince myself there was no reason to be afraid, I couldn't help the dread dripping down my spine. What made things more shuddersome was the unnatural silence that surrounded me now that the path had closed behind me. No crickets chirping or owls hooting, not even the scuttering of small animals or the swish of leaves fluttering in a gentle breeze. Nothing.

I could have forced myself to wake up, but if I did that, it was possible I would never return to this place and whatever it wanted to show me would be lost.

No. I couldn't give up now. The smell of home—of camping with my parents—when I first awoke in this place had to be a clue, an indication that I was close to uncovering something.

I couldn't forget the red eyes, the bodies made of smoke, or the piercing shrieks that tore through my eardrums that dreadful night my parents were taken from me. Those creatures were otherworldly, like this place.

The answer to my parents' deaths lay hidden in these dreams and visions.

Muscles tense, I pushed onward, my heartbeat racing and thundering throughout my entire body. With no choice but to blindly follow the winding path, I picked up my pace, practically running, determined to find the end.

More running. And running. And running.

No change in the path. No fork in the road. Nothing.

Fuck.

Eventually, I came to an abrupt stop. The more I ran, the darker the shadows grew and the more deafening the silence became. This was ridiculous. I didn't even know how long I'd been stuck in this forest, and I could've been going in circles for all I knew.

This was never going to end. Just one more meaningless hamster wheel. Being one step behind the truth.

The sharp clack of twigs breaking and bushes rustling broke the silence, snagging my attention and quieting my thoughts. I swiveled my head left and right, lifting my dagger to illuminate deeper into the brush.

Something was out there alright, but what?

"Show yourself," I yelled into the darkness, my voice trembling. "I know you've been following me."

There was no reply.

I peered deeper into the blackness, trying to distinguish limbs from trees. There was no use; I couldn't see anything. Then it happened. Something deep in the brush reflected the light coming off my dagger.

Two bright dots.

A deer?

I walked toward it, slightly coming off the path. "I see you." Whatever you are. My foot came down on a broken branch and the cracking sound echoed through the forest.

The dots blinked, and a jolt of fear punched through me. Whatever it was, it was definitely a living, breathing creature.

What now?

I was in the middle of a staring stalemate with heavens only knew what.

I inched closer.

You're not going to intimidate me, blinking-dots. I'm not leaving this damn creepy-ass forest without answers.

Blinking-dots must have sensed my intentions and in a split second, it took off running.

"Oh, no you don't!" Not giving myself a chance to second guess my decision, I sprinted after it, holding my dagger out in front of me, attempting to use its brightness like a flashlight. Tree branches snapped accompanied by the thumping of feet against the soft earth. Then the rumble of a rolling log was followed by the loud grunt of someone falling.

I couldn't see the creature, but the sound of its heavy breathing reached my ears.

I was closing in.

There, a stone's throw in front of me, with its back to me, stood a figure. I stopped, my heart ready to burst from my chest. Bipedal and draped in a dark cloak, its humanoid figure hunched against a tree trunk, but the instant it sensed me, it took off running again.

"Stop!" My voice reverberated through the forest.

A spring tightened around my muscles when the creature listened. With caution, it turned its hooded head. Although human-like, this creature was not human. It stood tall and would likely tower over me.

Long, straight, snow-white hair poked out from the hood, framing its pale, angular face.

But what stilled my breath were the atypical, large, almond-shaped black eyes. As we gazed at each other, it raised a long, thin finger to its lips, and gestured for me to be silent before taking off again and disappearing into the forest.

What the— "Wait," I whispery-yelled as I rushed after it, but my ankle twisted on a rock, and I went flying, falling hard on the ground and rolling down a jagged hill.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Rocks dug into my back and ribs, sticks poked my limbs, every plunk of my body against the earth hurting more than the one before it. When I finally came to a stop, a loud groan whooshed from my lungs.

Took me a long minute to test my extremities.

I was still intact.

But I lost my breath yet again when I took in my surroundings. I'd fallen down a steep hill into a clearing in the middle of the forest. The moons shone brightly, casting their silvery light over the grassy patch of land.

Tall and proud, an enormous knobby tree dominated the open field, its trunk wide enough to fit a car. Twisted branches reached high above the dark canopy.

But what made my heart gallop with wonder was the mirror-like surface etched onto the bark. It stood about ten, maybe twelve, feet high and was almost as wide as the trunk. A faint, pale blue light emitted from within, capturing my attention and luring me like a beacon to a ship lost at sea.

I stepped forward with caution, looking into the shadows deep in the woods, remembering someone was out there, watching me. Its silent warning bounced in my brain louder than words could belt.

Stay quiet,it had warned with a finger to its lips before disappearing into the darkness.

Something told me I should heed its warning.

As I neared the tree, my eyes widened at the true immensity of the trunk, the mirror even bigger than I thought, the glass surface rippling like water. Entranced, I pressed a finger against it, and the ripples ceased, the surface solidifying and becoming translucent, revealing another world within.

A portal… Just like the mirror back at my apartment. But this one was on a whole different scale.

Slack-jawed, I stared through the glass at a throne room carved into the rock face of a mountain peak. The same twin moons hovering above me could be seen through the large gaping opening behind the throne itself. From the looks of it, beyond the opening was a sheer cliff to a vast chasm.

Was this one of the mountains I'd seen in the distance when I first awoke in this dream?

A tingling sensation spread across my skin when my eyes landed on the majestic creature sitting atop the throne. I did not know how else to describe it… her. She was the most magnificent, regal being I had ever seen. She dazzled in a sleek gown so black, it must have been made of liquid night. The firelight from the torches flanking each side of her throne reflected off her dress like rivers made of flames.

Long-limbed and slender, she sat with impeccable posture, her legs crossed at the knee, her spine a solid beam. A hand rested on each armrest as she sneered down at the white-cloaked individual who stood mere feet from the dais.

The queen's long, golden hair fell in large curls around her shoulders, and a crown made of what appeared to be finger bones pointing upward sat on her head. Each bone appeared too long to have belonged to a human.

What was this place?

Wherewas this place?

"You hear them, Amarenthia?" The bone queen's voice vibrated through the mirror, her spoken tongue foreign, yet familiar. I shouldn't have been able to understand her—it was a language that did not sound like anything from home, yet sounded as if it was my own.

"They demand your body be skinned alive," she continued. "Your head on a pike. Tell me why I shouldn't give them what they want."

In the distance, the boisterous chants of a large crowd echoed off the rock walls, their voices harsh and rife with vulgarity.

"Killing me won't save your people," the individual replied in a soft feminine voice.

The bone queen narrowed her eyes. "But keeping you alive will?"

The female lowered the hood of her white cloak, revealing red plaited hair running the length of her back. "You know I've come in peace, Esarelle."

The queen's stiff posture remained intact, but the sable sparks in her gaze gave away her discontent. "What makes you believe I would honor such a timeworn agreement?"

"Killing me would be an affront to our doctrines. A violation of our laws and the Ancient."

"Being here is an affront to me!" The bone queen pushed up from her throne, her lips curled in a snarl. "You dare step foot in my kingdom, invoking the Law of Unity, believing I wouldn't rip out your beating heart?" she growled. "I could end your life with one word from my tongue."

"You could," the red-haired female replied, her voice untroubled. "But you'd be declaring war on my people and sentencing yourself to death."

The queen sat back down, a rankled breath escaping her lips as she sunk her head. "The Ancient is gone, and so are her rules, sister."

Sister?

"Besides, death means nothing to me," she continued. "This world is already dead."

The red-headed woman stepped forward with caution, hands clasped at the fingertips, her snow-white cloak swishing at her feet. "I have an offer."

Raising her head, the queen let her gaze rest on the woman's face. She seemed to consider her words. "What need have I for bargains? There is nothing worth fighting for any longer. You should have stayed in Callienne, Amarenthia, and died with your people."

"I know we cannot heal our world from the sickness spreading from its core, but our people do not need to meet the same fate, Esarelle. There is still a chance to save both our kingdoms."

"No magic is strong enough to prevent our demise."

"You are wrong," the woman said, stepping even closer to the dais. "You know this."

"The Artifacts are lost. No one can wield their power any longer."

"There is another way," Amarenthia said, reaching into a satchel shielded under her cloak and pulling out a silver-plated tome. "I found the Anákeum."

Esarelle cocked her head, eyes awash with disbelief. "The Ancient's book of spells… It was lost along with all four Artifacts."

"That's inconsequential," Amarenthia said, waving a hand. "What matters now is that it is in our possession." Walking to a nearby table, Amarenthia placed the book on the black stone surface.

Her sister stepped down from the dais, each step a calculated movement. She joined the red-headed woman, hands gently caressing the book in awe.

Flipping through the pages, Amarenthia opened it to a particular one, pointing to something written in red ink. "Here. According to the Sheena Su Danis, the book speaks of a prophecy: A child not of this realm carrying the blood of Allorn will reunite all four races and restore the ruling houses of our world."

Not of this realm? Exactly what realm was this?

Esarelle read the passage, reciting it in a language different than the one they spoke. Shaking her head, she looked back at her sister. "Allorn is dying, sister. How could this be?"

"A child from another realm, Esarelle, with the blood of our people. It means we must find a new home. A place where we can rebuild."

Eyes widening, Esarelle took a step back. "But how? Where?"

Their gazes locked in a tense exchange of unspoken words. Then Esarelle broke the stalemate, her face a canvass of disbelief. "Are you mad? The Sacred Portal is closed."

More portals?

"It's our only option," Amarenthia said. "It is time for Allorn to pass, but it doesn't mean our people need to perish with it."

"Even if I agreed to your preposterous plan, the Sheena Su Danis no longer hold the ability to harness the power needed to open it, let alone to keep it open long enough for all our people to pass through."

"A Spirit Marked could."

Esarelle's back stiffened and she seemed to grow even taller. "None have been born in over a century."

Amarenthia cocked her head, her voice darkening. "That is not entirely true…"

Esarelle eyed her sister suspiciously.

Closing the book, Amarenthia stored it back in her satchel. "Rumor stirs that a young girl bearing the marks was seen traveling through Lagolosa into Doskhebraedas."

Marks? Heat flared from my hand. I couldn't help peeking down at the symbol branded over my palm. Could it be possible? Was my mark related to this somehow?

"Your spies know no bounds, do they? If King Velmaaris learns you have spies traipsing through Nevielle, he would declare a war not just against Calliene, but our whole continent," Esarelle said, her voice grim.

Amarenthia swallowed thickly.

"Who is this child, anyway? Why should I risk a war with one of the most powerful kingdoms in Cerritos for her?" Esarelle asked, skin tightening over her high cheekbones as she shot her sister a cutting stare.

Amarenthia lowered her gaze. "The child is a bastard spawn. Spoiled fruit from my son's indiscretion with a mage from your court."

Laughing, Esarelle spun in place, her gown swooshing like a river of black silk. "You can't be serious. An elemental magic wielder born of royal blood? A low-breed grandchild of House Fabriell? And with one of my mages?"

Elemental magic wielder?A lump formed in my throat as memories crystalized in my mind. My mother by the lake…her summoning circles, her chants.

"A bastard child with no claim to the throne," Amarenthia snapped.

Esarelle's lips curled with a wicked smile. "A bastard child with no claim to the throne who you've kept very secret, sister. A bastard child with the four marks and potentially strong enough to open the Sacred Portal. Tell me, how long have you known about her powers?"

"They began to manifest recently. It's how my trackers were able to find her."

"Trackers," Esarelle scoffed. "Filthy spies. And what of your son? Does Prince Keryth know of his bastard child?"

"He does not," Amarenthia gritted, stepping toward her sister, face tense, body bristling. "I sent that harlot away before she gave birth."

A glimmer of understanding shone in Esarelle's gaze, eyes growing impossibly wide. "Ah, I recall now. Rayne Gael. The Sisterhood exiled her for breaking the fourth cardinal law. But they failed to mention who she'd laid with. I wonder what your son will think when he learns of your machinations."

"Keryth will never know he fathered a low-breed."

Cold amusement danced on Esarelle's face. "A low-breed who now appears to hold our fate in her hands. Tell me, have you any idea what the old magic requires, Amarenthia? Opening the Sacred Portal comes with a high cost."

Amarenthia inclined her chin. "All magic has a price."

"It will take your grandchild's life, bastard or not."

"It will."

"And you're willing to offer the life of your own son's blood so easily?"

"For my people? Yes. This world is already dead. Were those not your words? If we do nothing, everyone dies. This is our last chance to survive, sister. This way, her death means something."

The bone queen took a step back, shaking her head. "I was wrong about you," she purred with malice, the menacing tone of her voice making my back muscles twitch with warning. Something sinister hung in the air, firing up my instincts to run, to wake up.

But I needed to know more.

I had to stay.

"The portal is our only hope," Amarenthia said, meeting the bone queen's astounded eyes. "If what the prophecy says is true, we must leave Allorn if we're to have a chance to build a new life."

Esarelle circled her sister, watching her with inquisitiveness. "The Ancient forbade opening that portal for a reason. The power of Allorn must die with it."

"Look out there, Esarelle." She pointed at the open chasm beyond the throne. "You are their ruler. Will you let them die believing there was nothing you could've done to save them? Will you let our lives—the legacy of our ancestors—perish in the ashes?"

"It is better to accept our fate. We could be dooming them to a worse end by sending them into another world we don't know."

Amarenthia approached the queen, pinning her with an unwavering stare. "There is no worse end than to die without hope. The portal must be opened, sister. It's the only way."

Esarelle took a deep breath, regarding her sister in silence for a brief moment. "You wretched woman." She chuckled, but her laughter lacked mirth. "I'm to be the wicked one, yet you are the one bargaining with your own grandchild's life."

"Don't pass judgment onto me, sister. My son's child—" she cut herself off, disgust tracing across her lips. "The Ancient's laws were put in place for a reason—to keep order, to ensure our dominion. No royal shall ascend the throne, let alone be born, if not of pure elven blood. Our kingdoms have waged wars to keep the bloodlines clean. It has been so for thousands of years. Yet, here we are.

"I should have ordered that mage's death as is written in our doctrines. I could've demanded reparations from your court for the affront to mine, but I chose to let her live—to let the child live in secret away from our continent. I would like to think it was my love for my son that pushed me to violate our laws, but the prophecy is written in red ink, sister. This was the Ancient's doing. This child bears the marks. She has to be the key that sets it in motion. Who are we to stop it?"

"Then why are you here, sister? Go, take your grandchild and offer her life to the old magic. Save our people if that's what you wish. But I will take no part in sacrificing a child for a prophecy I don't know is real."

Crossing her arms, Amarenthia held herself in a tight hug as she walked toward the edge of the throne room and stared out into the vastness of the open mountains, the wind blowing strands of her braid undone. "I will not watch my family burn," she half-whimpered. "I will not let my kingdom fall to this sickness."

"Did you ever stop to wonder why the Ancient closed the portal?" Esarelle replied with a taunting smile.

Squaring her shoulders, Amarenthia spun around. "Because we failed. We exploited the magical gifts of our world, dooming it to this hapless end. But now we have a new opportunity. Will you aid me or not?"

Esarelle walked back to her throne and sat, eyeing her sister with resignation."I'm afraid your efforts to woo me have been in vain. I will not risk a war with Nevielle and put my people through more bloodshed for this child."

"That poor little girl…" I muttered, placing a palm over my mouth when I realized too late that I'd spoken out loud.

Amarenthia said, "I should have known you'd let me down yet again?—"

"Silence," Esarelle hissed, hushing her sister.

"I will not be shut?—"

"Quiet," she ordered again in a firmer tone. She scanned the throne room as if searching for something… or someone.

"What is it?" Amarenthia asked. "I don't have time for?—."

"It seems…" Esarelle drawled, her gaze tracking an invisible line across the room, straight to where I stood. "We have an uninvited guest."

My blood drained the instant her cold eyes locked on mine.

Oh. Shit.

Something rustled in the brush, the sound reminding me that I was in the middle of a dark forest. I searched the blackness of the woods. Something scuttled behind the trees.

An ill-boding feeling twisted in my stomach, my Spidey-sense going haywire. When I turned back to the mirror, the bone queen stood right in front of me.

"Well, well. Look at what we have here." She reached through the mirror at lightning speed and grabbed me by the neck. "A spy?" she sneered, scrutinizing me with her sharp, golden-colored eyes—eyes that were inhumanly large. She held me firmly without squeezing my windpipe too tight, yet hard enough to keep me from moving.

She tilted my head as if trying to decipher a mystery, gaze widening as she examined me closer. "I know those eyes, dream-walker," she said, the golden flecks in her irises shimmering with curiosity, a perverse grin carving across her mouth. "It appears, dear sister, we're about to strike a bargain after all."

Panicked, I raised my dagger in warning, and the bone queen immediately released her grip on my neck. She retracted her hand back into the mirror, her face contorted in horror.

"Impossible," she said, glowering at the dagger then back at me.

I stood frozen, unsure what to do. I needed to wake up, but how? Energy vibrated from inside the dagger, pulsing in beat with my heart. My gaze drifted to where I gripped the weapon by the hilt. The pommel brightened, and from inside the mirror, the queen hissed. "Blessed Daughter," she said, her eyes blazing. "There is no place to run."

"What did you just call me?" I asked, stepping backward with caution away from her.

But she ignored my question. "Drop the dagger and no harm shall befall upon you."

Somehow, I doubted that. Dream or not, I didn't want to find out what would happen to me if she came through that mirror. And if she did, I wasn't about to give up my only weapon.

"Drop the dagger," she gritted, her hands fisted, face a breath away from the surface of the glass separating us.

"No fucking chance in hell, lady."

Her eyes narrowed, brimstone burning behind her stare. "You've taken something that does not belong to you. But you're not the only one who can walk in the In Between, dream-walker." She smiled so wide and sinister my knees nearly buckled. Then she hollered to someone in the throne room,"Release the ajumadae. It's time for a hunt."

In the distance, howls pierced the silence of the forest. I didn't need to see what was coming to know what it was. There was no forgetting that sound.

The beasts who had chased after me and my parents that night in Sedona had been unleashed and were now coming after me.