with your head.”
“I know.” I toss some grass in the air and watch it land in the water. “ Te sunt seruatis unum . ”
“What?” Aislin and Laylen gape at me.
“That’s the other thing he said,” I explain. “What does it mean?”
“It means you’re one of the protected ones.” Laylen fiddles with his lip ring.
“I’m protected from the Queen?” I support my elbow on my leg and let my chin fall in my hand. “Or protected from The Lost Souls?”
“I’m not sure.” Aislin’s hair flaps in the wind as she stares at the lake. “I’d guess it means you’re significant somehow.”
“But the star’s energy isn’t in me anymore,” I say. “I thought I was normal again.”
“I don’t think you’ll ever be normal,” Laylen states with honesty. “I don’t think any of us will be.”
A bitter taste floods my mouth. “I wish we were, though.”
We nod our heads agreeing.
“We’re being watched,” Aislin states through gritted teeth.
Standing in the arch entryway of the castle, Alex has his arms crossed, his eyes fastened to our huddle up.
“What do you think he’s doing?” Aislin fiddles with her hooped earring.
“Planning our murder probably,” Laylen jokes tensely.
“I have an idea.” I slip off my shoes and squeeze behind Laylen. I hoist myself into the tree. The branches crackle as I ascend upward. Moving slowly, I reach a thick branch that elongates over the lake. I step on it vigilantly, feeling the sway. With my hands out to the side, I balance to the end. It curves under my weight and my breath falters.
“Gemma, don’t.” Laylen advises from below.
I glance at the castle to make sure Alex is still watching, then I raise my hands above my head. My heart leaps in my throat as I spring on my toes and dive into the lake. Screams ring the air and the icy water stings my skin like pins and needles. I thrash my arms, resurfacing, before losing momentum and sinking for the bottom. Murky water suffocates my lungs, blinds my eyes.
Alex, where are you? I kick my legs and paddle my arms, verging for the surface, but never breaking it. Don’t be afraid. Laylen will save you. Water chokes my lungs and smothers my sight. A hand clasps mine and I’m yanked upward. Warmth rushes over me until bony fingers twine around my ankle.
Something’s wrong. The Water Faeries are out, even though the lake hasn’t been sprinkled with ash. They wrench on my leg and my fingers slip from my rescuer. Darkness assails me as I downfall to The Underworld.
Chapter 12
I’ve been to The Underworld before to save my mom from the Queen’s custody. It’s a wretched place, packed with the death. The Water Fey like to torture people and creatures who commit horrendous crimes. They feed off pain and fear, like it’s water and air.
The faerie drags me to the bottom of the lake and dives into a tunnel channeling into the sand. Even if I escaped, I’d drown before I made it to the top. Water whirlpools and sloshes my body in different directions. When we splash to land, I’m dizzy and half-drowned. I hack up water until my ribs ache. My gaze scales to a waterfall, roaring over a rocky cliff. I shove up, my palms scraping the jagged rocks. A Water Faerie, white and wispy, floats in front of me. Its hollow eyes refuse to leave me. I dodge to the side, but it whooshes over and blocks my path. I spin around, prepared to plunge back into the water.
“No.” The faerie’s breathy voice delivers a shiver down my spine. “This way.”
I glance over my shoulder. “You can talk ?”
Its fabric legs touch the rocks. “Only for the protected.” It soars upward and plummets behind me. “Now go.”
My legs tremble as I mount the side of the steep cliff. The rough edges cut my bare feet and my drenched clothes weigh me down. The faerie taunts me, floating behind me during the climb. My hands blunder, but I snatch a ledge before falling to a painful death. When I heave onto the top,
“I know.” I toss some grass in the air and watch it land in the water. “ Te sunt seruatis unum . ”
“What?” Aislin and Laylen gape at me.
“That’s the other thing he said,” I explain. “What does it mean?”
“It means you’re one of the protected ones.” Laylen fiddles with his lip ring.
“I’m protected from the Queen?” I support my elbow on my leg and let my chin fall in my hand. “Or protected from The Lost Souls?”
“I’m not sure.” Aislin’s hair flaps in the wind as she stares at the lake. “I’d guess it means you’re significant somehow.”
“But the star’s energy isn’t in me anymore,” I say. “I thought I was normal again.”
“I don’t think you’ll ever be normal,” Laylen states with honesty. “I don’t think any of us will be.”
A bitter taste floods my mouth. “I wish we were, though.”
We nod our heads agreeing.
“We’re being watched,” Aislin states through gritted teeth.
Standing in the arch entryway of the castle, Alex has his arms crossed, his eyes fastened to our huddle up.
“What do you think he’s doing?” Aislin fiddles with her hooped earring.
“Planning our murder probably,” Laylen jokes tensely.
“I have an idea.” I slip off my shoes and squeeze behind Laylen. I hoist myself into the tree. The branches crackle as I ascend upward. Moving slowly, I reach a thick branch that elongates over the lake. I step on it vigilantly, feeling the sway. With my hands out to the side, I balance to the end. It curves under my weight and my breath falters.
“Gemma, don’t.” Laylen advises from below.
I glance at the castle to make sure Alex is still watching, then I raise my hands above my head. My heart leaps in my throat as I spring on my toes and dive into the lake. Screams ring the air and the icy water stings my skin like pins and needles. I thrash my arms, resurfacing, before losing momentum and sinking for the bottom. Murky water suffocates my lungs, blinds my eyes.
Alex, where are you? I kick my legs and paddle my arms, verging for the surface, but never breaking it. Don’t be afraid. Laylen will save you. Water chokes my lungs and smothers my sight. A hand clasps mine and I’m yanked upward. Warmth rushes over me until bony fingers twine around my ankle.
Something’s wrong. The Water Faeries are out, even though the lake hasn’t been sprinkled with ash. They wrench on my leg and my fingers slip from my rescuer. Darkness assails me as I downfall to The Underworld.
Chapter 12
I’ve been to The Underworld before to save my mom from the Queen’s custody. It’s a wretched place, packed with the death. The Water Fey like to torture people and creatures who commit horrendous crimes. They feed off pain and fear, like it’s water and air.
The faerie drags me to the bottom of the lake and dives into a tunnel channeling into the sand. Even if I escaped, I’d drown before I made it to the top. Water whirlpools and sloshes my body in different directions. When we splash to land, I’m dizzy and half-drowned. I hack up water until my ribs ache. My gaze scales to a waterfall, roaring over a rocky cliff. I shove up, my palms scraping the jagged rocks. A Water Faerie, white and wispy, floats in front of me. Its hollow eyes refuse to leave me. I dodge to the side, but it whooshes over and blocks my path. I spin around, prepared to plunge back into the water.
“No.” The faerie’s breathy voice delivers a shiver down my spine. “This way.”
I glance over my shoulder. “You can talk ?”
Its fabric legs touch the rocks. “Only for the protected.” It soars upward and plummets behind me. “Now go.”
My legs tremble as I mount the side of the steep cliff. The rough edges cut my bare feet and my drenched clothes weigh me down. The faerie taunts me, floating behind me during the climb. My hands blunder, but I snatch a ledge before falling to a painful death. When I heave onto the top,
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