Newbie?
I shirk free of the thought. Can’t afford to engage.
My heart is still damaged, my stamina fading. I need to use what little energy remains on getting the heck out of here before Axel awakes.
I sift through my memory. Try to dredge up anything I might’ve forgotten about how we arrived. Remembering the feel of Axel’s arms folding around me … rocketing me high into the sky, until we pierced through a glorious, silken spun web, bursting into a world of bright golden light …
And then …
And then?
There’s a big empty gap yawning between that first glimpse of the light and the moment I awoke in the bed. Though while the memory may be irretrievable, one thing is sure: If I flew upward to get here, I’ll have to glide downward to return.
I shift my search for something that descends—anything—a ladder, a slide, a large tree with long roots. And it’s only a moment later when Wind stirs, prodding me toward a warm, incandescent glow beaming off to the right that looks a lot like the golden web that landed me here.
I race toward it without question, convinced it’s my exit. So mesmerized by the inviting way it pulsates before me, I nearly miss the group of girls cutting my path.
“Slow down!” one of them calls, but I keep my chin lowered and brush past.
Gaining a handful of steps between us, when she says, “Daire?”
I push my legs faster, causing my heart to quiver in protest.
Just two more steps and I’m there …
“Daire Lyons-Santos?”
I pretend not to hear. If she knows my name, that can’t be a good thing. It might mean she’s connected to Axel.
She rushes up from behind me. Her movements quicker, lighter, more fluid than mine, she catches me by the shoulder with ease and spins me until I’m staring into a pair of deeply appraising eyes that remind me of the color of the sea at sunrise. Her silvery/pink gaze so astonishing, it’s a moment before I manage to take in her soft brown skin, long, dark ringlets, and the tall lithe body clothed in a dress that’s a close match to mine. Only instead of stark white, hers is the same shade as her eyes.
“It is you, isn’t it?” she says, her surprise at finding me here visibly marked on her face. Though while it’s clear she knows me, I have no idea who she is. “What are you doing here? Where have you been? I’ve been searching everywhere—I lost track of you in all of the chaos.” She tugs on the slim strap of my dress. “And why are you wearing this? Who gave this to you?”
I duck free of her grip and take a step back. While I have no idea what’s going on, or why my dress could be of any concern to her, I know better than to answer.
I chance a quick glance over my shoulder, needing to reach that shimmering veil more than ever. Regretting the act the moment she catches me looking.
“Oh, no,” she says, closing the space between us with one fluid step. “I don’t know how you got here, Daire. Or how this even happened, but you cannot go back there. Not now. Not ever.” Her friends call to her, asking if they should wait, but she waves them away and returns her focus to me. “Come, Daire. Come with me.” Her fingers circle my wrist. Her gaze locks on mine. “I’m here to help. There’s nothing to be afraid of. It won’t take long to get this all sorted out.”
I nod like I mean it. Going so far as to return her smile in a bid to win her confidence. While I’m sure she means well, she has no idea what’s really going on. No idea what’s at stake back home.
No idea of what Axel has done.
And I’m in no mood to enlighten her.
She turns on her heel and tugs on my arm, and I pretend to drop my resistance and follow along. My willingness to obey causing her to slacken her grip just enough to allow me to jerk free and bolt toward the veil, using every ounce of strength that I have.
Aware of her voice calling out from behind me—high-pitched and frantic, urging me to stop.
But it’s too late for that.
I’m already soaring, diving, bursting through the web.
Already in gravity’s clutches, plunging toward earth.
burnt offerings
nine