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“How’d you…? Never mind, tell me later.”
I hoped there would be a later.
After Easton was suited up, we began the trek north up the mountain. It was something out of a nightmare. The trees, while full, were dark browns and black. The trunks bled tar-like liquid that no doubt was dangerous.
“Don’t touch anything with your bare hands. Dark magic breeds here. Sap, water, anything is likely designed to harm humans.”
“Noted.” Easton clutched his ax, and I was relieved he had some sort of weapon on him.
“Stay behind me.” I felt his angry glare at my order, but if a shot of magic came our way, he wouldn’t be able to absorb it.
Sandbox trees lined the sludgy and rocky path. Its sharp spikes stuck out from base to top and while the climate we were in wasn’t appropriate for their growth, Amaris used her magic to have them there. Much like the rest of the growth we saw as we hiked upward.
The terrain was brittle and more often than not, one of us slipped, sending shards of mountain down behind us.
“How are there cottonwood trees sprouting through the rock?” Easton asked as we passed a nest of them. I was sure they could be pretty but they were dirty and damp.
“This is Amaris’s world, East. If she wants it, it’s there.”
“Seriously need to reach out to some people I know and see about getting these mountains bombed.”
I chuckled despite the dread resting in the pit of my stomach.
I grabbed onto a divot in the rock and lifted myself up a second before a wave of darkness fell over me.
“Careful,” I said. “We’re close.”
We climbed and climbed until we reached a clearing…but it wasn’t empty at all. A cluster of Montezuma cypress trees filled the space, and in the center of it all was Tru. Her head lolled forward. She wasn’t awake and her pajamas were dirty and slightly torn, but there was no blood that I could see.
“Tru!” Easton shouted, and when he went to run I grabbed his arm.
“No, Easton.”
“She’s hurt. I can’t leave her.”
“If you go to her, you’ll both die without even uttering a word.”
With my grip firmly on Easton’s arm, I searched the area. Nothing.
There was a screech from a bird maybe, but other than that it seemed as though the area were vacated.
A moan caught our attention; Tru was waking up. Her head moved lazily from side to side.
“Finch,” Easton whimpered.
“No. Stay put.”
“What…” Tru lifted her head, and this must have been the first time she’d awakened since Amaris had taken her. Her eyes widened as she tried to pull on her bindings. “Oh, my God!” she shouted.
“Tru…” Easton spoke but didn’t move.
“Dad…Dad!”
“Don’t move, baby, okay?” Easton was struggling, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep him at bay much longer.
“What’s happening?” Her feet were on the ground and untied, but she continued pulling on the ropes.
“I need you to stay still, Tru,” I said at the same moment I saw movement to my left.
