38. Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Lexia
I knew by the name of the forest that it wasn't located in the United States, but I had no idea which country we'd be traveling to.
The Bia?owie?a Forest is located in Poland.
So, Poland and Italy in the same week. If only these trips were for fun. The fact I have the ability—thanks to my mates —to travel anywhere when I want is something I should take advantage of. And maybe when this is over, I can.
We've been walking off the path for at least an hour now. I'm pretty sure we're walking over and through things people haven't stepped on in hundreds of years. There is so much growth, it's absolutely breathtaking. Nature is beautiful.
Though I can't be sure where we are going, Lumen assures us that he knows the way.
I'll believe him until he gets us lost in the middle of the forest. Something that would be a concern to a normal human, but not one who has two mates that can pop her out of whatever rough situation they get stuck in. It's convenient in many ways.
"How are you feeling?" I ask Slate as we fall back from the others a short way.
I've been worried about him since last night. All of that was a little difficult for me—I couldn't handle my guys being so rough with me, and I'm grateful they aren't. I love that we each have our own dynamics. I'm glad they can be that way with each other. If they like it, that's great for them. And even though I wouldn't want them to be so rough with me, I do like watching it…
"Peachy," he answers. "And you?"
"Just tired," I answer honestly. I imagine he must be sore… or maybe he's not, since he's capable of healing himself. I decide not to ask about it because I don't want to make it awkward.
"Are you still mad at me?" he asks brazenly.
"Mad isn't the right word. Disappointed, maybe? I just don't understand why you wouldn't tell us."
"I understand that."
I take his hand and interlock our fingers. "I'll get over it. We'll get past this. Trust me, after all of this is over, there isn't a single thing from this time I want to remember."
"Is that so?" he asks knowingly, raising a brow.
I scoff, giving him a shove. "Pig." He chuckles, and I add. "We'll make better memories when it comes to that. "
"You sound so sure."
"Oh, I am. I have ideas." I grin to myself, avoiding his gaze.
"Do you, now?"
"I do. And I'd tell you some, but I don't need you distracted. We're on an important mission."
From the corner of my eye, I see his smirk.
"Guess you'll just have to show me then."
"Guess so…" I say with a smile.
Much to my surprise, we reach the tree sooner than I expected. We don't get lost. Lumen doesn't even stop to figure out where we're going. It's like he really knew the entire time. Did something actually go right for once?
The tree looks nothing like the others in the area. All the other trees are tall with high branches. This one has low thick branches that bend and curve upward. It's also a slightly different shade than the others. This one is lighter brown and somehow looks softer—like the bark is nice and smooth.
"We made it," I say.
"You say that like you didn't think we would," Lumen comments, raising a brow at me.
"Wouldn't be the first snag we've come across." I shrug.
Vesperon kisses the top of my head.
"Let's get climbing," Slate says, moving to the tree first.
He grabs onto a branch just above his head and steps on another. He keeps doing this until he's about ten feet off the ground, and then Lumen goes next.
"I will stay beneath you in case you need help," Vesperon says, urging me toward the tree.
He's always so thoughtful. I want to tell him this is one of the easiest types of trees to climb, but I don't want him to think I don't need him.
I hop onto the tree, Ves holding my hips to help me along. Tree-climbing is not my forte—in fact, I've never done it before in my life—and I don't have the best balance. I climb as high as I can with his assistance, and once I'm out of reach, he climbs onto the tree too. Slate is moving quickly, Lumen behind him. There's a good distance between me and them, but I have Vesperon with me, so I'm not worried. Trying to keep up with them will likely cause me to slip and fall. I don't want to think of how high we are off the ground.
We climb and climb and climb until I feel we should be in the clouds. Feeling brave, I sneak a glance down and realize we are in the clouds! I gasp, gripping the tree tighter when a wave of dizziness hits me.
Why did I look down?
"My love, are you okay?" Vesperon asks from directly below me. His hand comes to rest on my lower back, and I open my eyes to look at him, focusing on just him and not everything else around us—or below.
"Yeah," I say through a pant. "Fine. Just got caught off guard, is all."
He nods, but his face says he doesn't believe me and he's still worried. I take a few settling breaths, then keep moving. The trick is to not look down. So, I don't. I just keep going up. And every time a thought of how high we are pops into my head, I push it away, refusing to give it attention.
When we reach the top, I'm even more terrified than when I was climbing up.
The very tips of the branches poke out of the fluffiest clouds I have ever seen. Even though Slate and Lumen are already standing on them, their feet hidden beneath the fluffy stuff, I'm too scared to step on them.
Something in my head tells me it's only working for them because they're not human, and when I step onto the clouds, I'm going to fall through and go crashing back to earth. I'll be as flat as a pancake when I hit the ground. Actually, I'll likely be like a shish kabob when I hit the trees in the forest on my way down.
I'm gripping the bark on the tree so hard I don't know how it hasn't crushed under my fingertips and turned to saw dust.
Lumen holds his hand out, a sympathetic look on his face. "I will not let you fall."
I believe he won't let me fall—or try to. But accidents happen.
"You couldn't stop me from falling through these clouds, Lumen. Not unless I'm on your back!"
He smirks and turns, kneeling down. He looks at me over his shoulder. "Then hop on, darling."
I look down at Ves, who gives a small jerk of his chin. I feel ridiculous. But not ridiculous enough to not do this. How intimidating are we going to be if someone catches us walking into Heaven like this? I can't get past the fear, so I don't care what people think. Hades is relying on us…
With a death grip on the branches with one hand, I reach out my other to grab onto Lumen's shoulder. He places his hand on mine. Next, I reach over with my leg, but thanks to my sweaty hands, my grip slips from the bark, and I fall face first into a big. Fluffy. Cloud.
And I don't go sky-rocketing back to earth.
I'm holding my breath for far too long. And someone is speaking to me, but I can't hear who. I'm grateful to be a live, but heart is pounding.
Someone is still gripping my hand, and when I look up, I see that Lumen never let it go.
"This is the softest thing I've ever touched," I say, a smile creeping over my face. I could lie here forever. I could sleep here. It hugs my body comfortingly; just enough for me to feel it, but not making me feel trapped. It's soft, warm, but slightly misty. "I want one."
Slate chuckles, while Lumen shakes his head with a smile. Vesperon still has that concerned look on his face, as if he has a reason to worry about me.
"Maybe we can find a way to make that happen. For now, you have to get up so we can walk," Lumen says.
He fits in here with his golden skin and golden hair. If he didn't have all the tattoos, I'd think he were an angel. But I'm not sure angels are allowed to have tattoos, having to be all pure and stuff. Not that tattoos aren't pure, but I'm sure angels would think they ruin your skin or something.
"Fine," I mutter, then push myself up, in awe at how the cloud beneath me feels like a memory foam mattress. It's sturdy, but soft and giving. When I'm finally on my feet, I look around and see the shiny golden gates off in the distance, just as the paper Rasiel left with us said we would.
It doesn't take long to reach it, and when we get there, we are greeted by another angel.
"Rasiel said you would be here. My name is Anaiel, and I am happy to assist in your purpose."
This person looks much like Rasiel, with the flowing blond hair and porcelain white skin. This person is dressed in white robes, though, not pants and a shirt like Rasiel was. Anaiel waves his hand, and the gates silently swing outward. We step inside.
"You must walk until you reach the berry tree. Once at the berry tree, you will be greeted by Hofniel. He will take you to what you seek."
"Seems simple enough," Slate says with a shrug and starts walking.
"I'm worried it's all too simple," I say as I walk after him.
Lumen puts his arm around me when he catches up to my side. "Think positive, darling. We're in Heaven."
I look around, staring to get a headache from how bright everything is.
"Yeah, I haven't forgotten that," I say, rubbing my temples.
"I don't like all this white stuff," Ves says, kicking at the clouds we're walking on. The mist kicks up and dissipates.
"I could do without it," I add, reaching for Vesperon's hand. We walk like that for a while. Slate seems to have no issue walking ahead, guiding the way, while the three of us stay in the back, holding on to one another.
The sky and the clouds are the purest white I've ever seen, and that's all there is, which gives the impression we're surrounded by white walls too. It's a little trippy. I wasn't sure we were walking in the right direction, but when I see something sparkling up ahead, something that isn't white, I figure we must be going the right way. When we get close enough to see what it is, I'm certain this is the berry tree that Anaiel mentioned.
The bark is a shimmering gold, while the leaves aren't actually leaves, but what look like strawberries in the shape of leaves. I guess they're also similar to bleeding heart plants, only more dramatic. It's absolutely gorgeous.
"This has to be it," I say. "Right?"
The three guys stare at the tree. Lumen gives a nod, but Vesperon doesn't look so convinced. Slate taps his chin as he walks around the tree.
"I suppose it could be it, but for one problem," he says.
"Which is?" Lumen asks.
"I don't see a Hofniel."
That's a good point.
The tree isn't thick enough that someone could hide behind it. Its trunk and branches are thin. Similar to a birch tree, I guess.
"Should we keep going?" I ask.
Lumen walks around the tree too, eying it like this Hofniel might pop out from its branches. I don't think that'll happen.
Vesperon watches him with curiosity.
"No, I think we should wait here. Getting lost up here isn't a good idea." I look behind me to see nothing but white. "And it seems it could happen way too easily."
"I agree," Vesperon says.
If we got lost up here, I'm not sure we'd ever find our way out. There are no landmarks to tell us where we are going. At this point, I'm not sure we're even on the right side of the tree. Right side as in the side we came to when we got here. I wouldn't know which way to go to get back to the tree we climbed if my life depended on it. And that has a wave of dread washing over me.
What if Hofniel never shows up?