that it means we will discover what sort of power we have or whatever, but what does it really mean.”
I had no response. I glanced toward Ash and Erion and the sets of majestic wings planted on their backs. We followed in silence, Ash and Erion’s whispers floating back to us, too quiet to decipher. I breathed deeply in through my nose and was delightfully pleased by the strong smell of flowers and spring water. It smelled like home, where the ocean roared only a mile away and my mother’s fragrant garden thrived practically year round. I thought of Kelsey and Danny and how confused and scared they would be when they discovered that my entire family had disappeared. Vanished into thin air. Caspian already tried to text Danny but no cell service could be found here. If our friends tried to contact us, they would be out of luck. What would they think? I wished I could talk to Kelsey. She had been my rock and source of wise advice for the past year. And Danny, with his understanding smile and great sense of humor, a listening ear I already missed.
We traveled down the winding cobble stone street until the small buildings on either side became more and more scarce and then none at all. We had reached another field, very similar to the first. Fragrant wildflowers dotted the green canvas, a mixed array of colors beaming bright even in the moonlight. The castle I had seen all of the way from the hill stood proudly in the near distance, transported directly from a fairytale.
“Uh, are you sure we didn’t pass it yet?” I called out tentatively to the two boys who were still deep in conversation. They glanced back, exchanged a final word, and fell back into step with me and my brother, taking the flanks with Erion beside Caspian and Ash next to me.
“No, we’re taking you there .” Erion pointed ahead to the beautiful castle. I struggled to keep my jaw from hitting the floor in wonder. The fanciest place I had ever stepped foot into was the dentist’s office. My brain simply couldn’t wrap around the idea of even touching the marvelous architecture the path led us to.
“Our rooms are in there ?” I muttered. “I don’t believe this.”
“Believe it, darling.” Ash murmured, his gaze fixed forward. I tried not to stare but failed miserably. Something in his haunted dark eyes, his mysterious expression, and the way his hair lay in a messy mop on his head and still managed to appear flawless drew me in. I knew Ash had bad news written all over him. All of that sarcasm and cockiness, plus the vaguely dark demeanor, but there was more to him, a deeper side.
His eyes flicked in my direction and his lips curved slightly upward as he caught me, once again, staring. I quickly averted my eyes and cursed myself for acting like a freak. I expected him to make some sort of snide comment to embarrass or make fun of me. But instead, he merely chuckled lightly and continued to look down at me. I finally braved another glance and dared to make eye contact. His eyes, black as coal, held the warmth of a blazing inferno. The heat rushed to my face as he gazed down at me. Again I saw through his joking act and straight to the real person concealed beneath the actor. What could he possibly be hiding?
A gust of brisk night air stung my skin. But the cold did not register against my flesh. Cold never particularly bothered me, but I shivered anyways because that was just what people did and it felt like the natural thing to do. Ash’s eyes clouded with concern, “Are you cold? Here…” he shifted off his cargo jacket and swung it across my shoulders. The wind was no match for the jacket and the pleasant warmth of my own body heat trapped in the insulation instantly seeped to my bones. “There yah go. Better?”
“Much.” I smiled with gratitude but he had already turned away.
“Yes, well, couldn’t bring an ice sculpture of yourself to the castle. The maids would be rather confused. Can you even begin to imagine their
I had no response. I glanced toward Ash and Erion and the sets of majestic wings planted on their backs. We followed in silence, Ash and Erion’s whispers floating back to us, too quiet to decipher. I breathed deeply in through my nose and was delightfully pleased by the strong smell of flowers and spring water. It smelled like home, where the ocean roared only a mile away and my mother’s fragrant garden thrived practically year round. I thought of Kelsey and Danny and how confused and scared they would be when they discovered that my entire family had disappeared. Vanished into thin air. Caspian already tried to text Danny but no cell service could be found here. If our friends tried to contact us, they would be out of luck. What would they think? I wished I could talk to Kelsey. She had been my rock and source of wise advice for the past year. And Danny, with his understanding smile and great sense of humor, a listening ear I already missed.
We traveled down the winding cobble stone street until the small buildings on either side became more and more scarce and then none at all. We had reached another field, very similar to the first. Fragrant wildflowers dotted the green canvas, a mixed array of colors beaming bright even in the moonlight. The castle I had seen all of the way from the hill stood proudly in the near distance, transported directly from a fairytale.
“Uh, are you sure we didn’t pass it yet?” I called out tentatively to the two boys who were still deep in conversation. They glanced back, exchanged a final word, and fell back into step with me and my brother, taking the flanks with Erion beside Caspian and Ash next to me.
“No, we’re taking you there .” Erion pointed ahead to the beautiful castle. I struggled to keep my jaw from hitting the floor in wonder. The fanciest place I had ever stepped foot into was the dentist’s office. My brain simply couldn’t wrap around the idea of even touching the marvelous architecture the path led us to.
“Our rooms are in there ?” I muttered. “I don’t believe this.”
“Believe it, darling.” Ash murmured, his gaze fixed forward. I tried not to stare but failed miserably. Something in his haunted dark eyes, his mysterious expression, and the way his hair lay in a messy mop on his head and still managed to appear flawless drew me in. I knew Ash had bad news written all over him. All of that sarcasm and cockiness, plus the vaguely dark demeanor, but there was more to him, a deeper side.
His eyes flicked in my direction and his lips curved slightly upward as he caught me, once again, staring. I quickly averted my eyes and cursed myself for acting like a freak. I expected him to make some sort of snide comment to embarrass or make fun of me. But instead, he merely chuckled lightly and continued to look down at me. I finally braved another glance and dared to make eye contact. His eyes, black as coal, held the warmth of a blazing inferno. The heat rushed to my face as he gazed down at me. Again I saw through his joking act and straight to the real person concealed beneath the actor. What could he possibly be hiding?
A gust of brisk night air stung my skin. But the cold did not register against my flesh. Cold never particularly bothered me, but I shivered anyways because that was just what people did and it felt like the natural thing to do. Ash’s eyes clouded with concern, “Are you cold? Here…” he shifted off his cargo jacket and swung it across my shoulders. The wind was no match for the jacket and the pleasant warmth of my own body heat trapped in the insulation instantly seeped to my bones. “There yah go. Better?”
“Much.” I smiled with gratitude but he had already turned away.
“Yes, well, couldn’t bring an ice sculpture of yourself to the castle. The maids would be rather confused. Can you even begin to imagine their
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