Chapter 21

"Alright, show of hands,"Jeremy said, looking around us. "Who here has and hasn't taken hallucinogens?"

We were outside the castle now. Apparently, the maze was in the rear courtyard.

And holy hell, if I thought this place was pretty before, it was a utopia now. Every star in the sky twinkled brighter, practically reaching out to me as I reached for them. The streetlamps were even more remarkable, a kaleidoscope of gems twinkling like rainbows, reflecting the flames that flickered in their glass tops.

Mohawk, still perched on my shoulder, looked so much cuter than usual. I took a moment to admire him, smiling as I stroked my thumb down his cheek. He nuzzled his head against mine, fighting the wind that nipped at my pale face. Chuckling, I shut my eyes against his touch.

Hers, maybe? I still wasn't sure how to check a bird's sex.

Iliantha snapped in front of my face. "Rain. Did you hear that?"

"I was a teenager in America living in a small town," I said. "There wasn't shit to do in high school except for drugs. So yeah, I've tripped before."

"So have I," Graham said. "Never had to make it out of a magical maze on them, but I think I can handle it."

"I'm good," Ezra said, grinning like a child. "I think it'll be fun."

Turning his way, I arched a brow. "You've done drugs?"

"We went to Woodstock," Warren said. "Of course we've done drugs, Rainbow."

"Huh." I propped my hands on my hips. "I never would've thought."

"They loved it," Ramona said, looking quickly from left to right. "I vowed never to do it again. Yet, here I am."

"Everything considered, though," Jeremy said, looking Warren over, "do you think you can handle it?"

"It didn't affect me as much as it affected the rest of you, I think," Warren said. "Vampire tolerance and all. I feel something, and my vision is a bit altered, but if anything, I'm calmer than I was earlier."

"I'm most definitely not." Laila rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Adrenaline's in full swing. But I got this."

"I don't think so, Lai." Jeremy stroked a hand up and down her arm. "Things didn't go well the last time you tripped."

"No, but I'm in a much better headspace now. And you're here."

"And he's tripping too," I said. "If you're going to panic, you probably shouldn't come in."

"I didn't drink the wine," Jeremy said. "I'm fine. And that's why, when we're in there, everybody listens to me, alright?"

I did like the idea of a sober person being present for this.

"I agree with Laila," Iliantha said. "It's important for you to gain Caeda's trust."

"Seems more about challenging us to gain respect than trust, but yeah," Laila muttered. "Really wasn't what I imagined when you said she was eccentric, though."

"I was trying to be polite," Iliantha said.

"Next time, be a bitch," I snapped. I knew it wasn't my place to tell Iliantha what to do. She was a queen, and I was a no one. But, sorry, the stakes were high here. "This is the kind of thing we probably should have been warned about."

"I didn't suspect she would do this." Iliantha folded her arms against her chest, exhaling deeply. She stared off into the distance, then cursed under her breath. "I should have, given her history, but that was my error. I won't make it again."

"Yeah, please don't," Naomi muttered. "I did acid a couple times in the seventies. Didn't like it then, don't like it now."

"I'm inclined to agree," Ramona said.

Grinning, Connor raised his shoulder. "I'm not gonna lie, guys. I love this fucking tea. I'll be fine out there."

"I suspect most of us will," Ezra said. "You know, the Vikings would take hallucinogens before battle. They were successful most of the time."

"This isn't a battle, is it?" Ramona asked.

"That's exactly what I suspect it will be," Iliantha said. "It isn't only a maze. It's a test. We'll have to fight our way through it."

Well, that was different than the image I had in my mind. As teenagers, Graham, Jake, and I had gone through a corn maze while tripping on acid. It took us about six hours to get out, while it took most about an hour.

I should've guessed this wouldn't be that simple. In my defense, I was a little stoned.

"Great," I muttered.

"Let's get a headcount then," Jeremy said. "Who's in, and who's out?"

Ramona laughed. "Probably best that you don't have me in there with you."

"Honestly, unless you need me?" Naomi raised her hands at her side and shook her head. "I'd rather not."

"I'm good," Ezra repeated with a big smile. "A bit excited, in fact."

"You're an odd one, mate," Graham said to Ezra. "But, aye. I'm alright."

"So am I," Warren said. "As long as we all stick together, I'm ready."

"Plus me, Laila, and Connor make six," Jeremy said, turning to Luci. "Are you good?"

Luci grunted, then nodded. "I'm not thrilled about it, but yes. I'm in."

"Neither am I," Amara said. "But my queen isn't going in there alone. So long as you were planning on going in, do gràs."

"Eight and nine then," Jeremy said. "Rain?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but my brother spoke first. "She's out. I'll take her place."

Jeremy looked at him, and then at me. "Is that the plan?"

"Absolutely not," I said.

"Why's that?" Amara's eyes turned on me. The massive pupils made her condescending stare more volatile than usual. "If ye don't handle getting high well, then he's probably right. Ye oughtta stay."

"He's not right." As much as I'd tried to stay civil with this woman, I couldn't take it anymore. "He's talking about one time, when I was fourteen, smoked too much weed, and had a panic attack. That says nothing about how I'll handle this now."

"Don't start this," Jake said. "You freaked out the first time we all tripped too. And I've tripped a thousand more times than you have."

"You and I both know you have not tripped a thousand times," I said. "But that's not even the point. Regardless of who has the most drug experience, I have ten years more experience practicing magic than you do, and the guys need me."

"Not if you wanna sit it out." Graham gingerly trailed his hand down my arm.

I wrenched it back. "Well, I don't."

"They're all grown men who can fend for themselves," Jake snapped. "You're safer out here, so that's where you're staying."

"Ye really are," Amara said. "We don't need ye in there. Best for ye to?—"

"I think it'd be best if you stopped acting like you know me," I cut her off, though my rage wasn't really at her. "Both of you." I looked between her and Jake, then landed on Graham. "And if you just stopped acting like my knight in shining armor. I'm saying I can handle it, so I fucking can. Now stop telling me what to do."

"I wasn't telling you what to do, mo—" Graham began.

"You were. You all were, and I'm tired of it." I turned to Jeremy and Laila. "You're the gods. Do you think I can handle it?"

"If you say you can, I'm not arguing," Jeremy said.

"You've got a better head on your shoulders right now than I do, and I'm still going," Laila said. "So yeah, I think you're fine."

"You gonna argue with your icons, Graham?" I shot him a pointed look.

Graham raised his arms in surrender. "I was just?—"

"Yeah, fuck off," I said.

"You're full of shit." Jake's tone darkened, sharpening with each word. "I know you. I know how sensitive you are. You can't handle this, Rain."

"For one, stop infantilizing her. And for two, stop yelling." Laila rubbed her temples. "You're killing my vibe, man."

"If she says she'll be fine, she'll be fine," Graham said. "I'll make sure of it."

That was intended kindly, I knew it was, but it pissed me off in a way I couldn't put into words. He agreed with me, though, and that was good enough for now.

"You didn't make sure of it when she vanished into the cave of cannibals earlier." Jake's voice was getting louder and louder. "You let me in there with you. I got dosed too. I'm a part of this, and I know my sister. I know she can't handle this. I know?—"

"And I know that you missed out on the last ten years of my fucking life." I whipped around to face him. "Whether you like it or not, I learned to live without you. And as you so kindly pointed out about the guys, I am a grown ass woman. I do not need you hovering over me twenty-four fucking seven, dude. You're the kid here. Whether you like it or not, you're eighteen years old, Jacob." I turned to Jeremy. "He's out. That's all there is to it."

"But—"

"That's all there is to it," Laila agreed, looking up at Jeremy. "Right, baby?"

Eyes washing over us, he nodded slowly. "Right."

"But I?—"

"I swear to fucking god, I'm gonna punch you in the face, dude," I said.

He huffed and opened his mouth to speak.

"Are we ready, then?" Caeda's voice came from atop the staircase to my left. When I turned that way, she looked five times bigger than she did an hour prior. "Clocks ticking. Later you get in, later you'll get out. The deal was sunrise."