mistaken, this place had the smell of druids all over it—and pickled olives in a stale, dusty atmosphere that made me want to sneeze.
The power at my core roiled, wanting me to pull in more energy, but thankfully my ability to loop it back on itself was keeping it at bay.
I thought back to everything that had happened at the shop with Raal. I wasn’t completely sure why Ronin felt the need to kill him, but something about how it happened and that odd red aura just didn’t feel right. Then he disappeared, I was hit on the back of the head, and I was brought here—wherever here was. It had to be connected, but why would he help me and then set me up? Plus, if I were dead or captured, how would I be able to repay the favor I owed him?
Without opening my eyes, I stepped outside my body. Even though the smell of pickled olives was prevalent, I wasn’t in the storeroom of a restaurant this time. I’d been left in an office off the main floor of a large warehouse. The big room, which I could see through large windows overlooking the main floor, was about the size of a football field. The ceilings stretched up half that height in the industrial structure, showing exposed metal beams and concrete columns. I popped around the interior. There was a large rolling door at the far end, with enough clearance for an eighteen-wheeler to pass through. Three truck beds were parked off to the side, with one truck cab waiting to be hitched. At least fifteen people were working and a few others were milling around. The workers—all druids—were loading pallets of merchandise onto each truck. Were these guys connected to the mob? Were they Johnny’s boys? If so, maybe Ronin wasn’t the reason I was here. Frankie could have come back with some of his crew to teach Raal a lesson and found me instead. I needed more information about where I was.
As I’d done before in the fourth realm, I imagined my presence going up through the top of the warehouse, high enough to look down on the area like a map. Unlike a regular map, there were no markings other than the brown dots of druids. The warehouse itself was perched on a high cliff jutting out over the Silver Sea, which meant the large rolling door didn’t lead to land. It had to be a portal, but to where?
I pulled my presence farther into the stratosphere, looking down on a much larger area, but again, only druids. I had a sick feeling in my stomach as I realized the truth.
I was in Paradise.
Chapter 11
As I surveyed the land, I caught sight of a tiny glow of green in the distance. I willed my presence to investigate. Zipping along the lush vibrant countryside, I finally found the enclave of green dots. Fallen descendants—or those who had chosen to change their allegiance to the fourth realm—were quarantined there. The quaint cottages, a small village of them, were surrounded by a military-style blockade. There was only one way in and out: through an armed checkpoint.
I was beginning to understand why my power wasn’t growing stronger. Harry—if he knew about this—wasn’t letting them leave. Mab was probably killing hers. I didn’t know how The Boss was justifying it, but I suspected none of the newly fallen still within their old realms were being allowed to return to Fallen.
I opened my eyes, returning to my body in the warehouse, and stood. I considered searching the office, but knowing who brought me here wasn’t going to solve my other problems. If it was the mob, then I wouldn’t learn anything new. There was most likely a standing order to grab me and the crew got lucky. If it wasn’t them, then I’d just have to deal with it later. The office was fully visible through the large glass windows to the main floor. If I stayed, I’d just get spotted by one of the workers. I had to leave now before any of them knew I was awake. I closed my eyes and thought of the enclave. I snapped a line and materialized within the woods
The power at my core roiled, wanting me to pull in more energy, but thankfully my ability to loop it back on itself was keeping it at bay.
I thought back to everything that had happened at the shop with Raal. I wasn’t completely sure why Ronin felt the need to kill him, but something about how it happened and that odd red aura just didn’t feel right. Then he disappeared, I was hit on the back of the head, and I was brought here—wherever here was. It had to be connected, but why would he help me and then set me up? Plus, if I were dead or captured, how would I be able to repay the favor I owed him?
Without opening my eyes, I stepped outside my body. Even though the smell of pickled olives was prevalent, I wasn’t in the storeroom of a restaurant this time. I’d been left in an office off the main floor of a large warehouse. The big room, which I could see through large windows overlooking the main floor, was about the size of a football field. The ceilings stretched up half that height in the industrial structure, showing exposed metal beams and concrete columns. I popped around the interior. There was a large rolling door at the far end, with enough clearance for an eighteen-wheeler to pass through. Three truck beds were parked off to the side, with one truck cab waiting to be hitched. At least fifteen people were working and a few others were milling around. The workers—all druids—were loading pallets of merchandise onto each truck. Were these guys connected to the mob? Were they Johnny’s boys? If so, maybe Ronin wasn’t the reason I was here. Frankie could have come back with some of his crew to teach Raal a lesson and found me instead. I needed more information about where I was.
As I’d done before in the fourth realm, I imagined my presence going up through the top of the warehouse, high enough to look down on the area like a map. Unlike a regular map, there were no markings other than the brown dots of druids. The warehouse itself was perched on a high cliff jutting out over the Silver Sea, which meant the large rolling door didn’t lead to land. It had to be a portal, but to where?
I pulled my presence farther into the stratosphere, looking down on a much larger area, but again, only druids. I had a sick feeling in my stomach as I realized the truth.
I was in Paradise.
Chapter 11
As I surveyed the land, I caught sight of a tiny glow of green in the distance. I willed my presence to investigate. Zipping along the lush vibrant countryside, I finally found the enclave of green dots. Fallen descendants—or those who had chosen to change their allegiance to the fourth realm—were quarantined there. The quaint cottages, a small village of them, were surrounded by a military-style blockade. There was only one way in and out: through an armed checkpoint.
I was beginning to understand why my power wasn’t growing stronger. Harry—if he knew about this—wasn’t letting them leave. Mab was probably killing hers. I didn’t know how The Boss was justifying it, but I suspected none of the newly fallen still within their old realms were being allowed to return to Fallen.
I opened my eyes, returning to my body in the warehouse, and stood. I considered searching the office, but knowing who brought me here wasn’t going to solve my other problems. If it was the mob, then I wouldn’t learn anything new. There was most likely a standing order to grab me and the crew got lucky. If it wasn’t them, then I’d just have to deal with it later. The office was fully visible through the large glass windows to the main floor. If I stayed, I’d just get spotted by one of the workers. I had to leave now before any of them knew I was awake. I closed my eyes and thought of the enclave. I snapped a line and materialized within the woods
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