Page 53 of The Shadows of Excess

God, what if it didn’t exist?

“I suspect the trees will be near a turnoff,” Justice suggested from the backseat. “You might want to slow down so we don’t miss it.”

Damon frowned. “Don’t get your panties in a twist, Mr. Traffic Cop. I know what I’m doing.”

The question was, did I?

Up ahead, a thick mist enshrouded the road, resembling a dense, white cloud that swallowed the landscape whole. Damon eased off the accelerator, reducing the Porsche to a cautious crawl. “I can barely see a thing in this soup,” he muttered, peering intently through the windshield. “If this keeps up, spotting those twisted aspens is going to be like finding a needle in a haystack.”

The mist clung to my window, reducing the world outside to a blur of indistinct shapes and shadows. Through the hazy glass, the greenery of the landscape was barely discernible, appearing as faint, ghostly smudges. A surge of frustration welled up inside me, and in a moment of helplessness, I clenched my fists. The back of my head thudded against the seat as I gritted my teeth. “Damn it, this is hopeless. We’ll never find it in this,” I muttered.

Justice gently clutched my shoulder. “You can figure it out, Sawyer.”

I glanced at him. “How? I can’t see a foot out the window.”

“By trusting in your ability,” he replied, holding the book out to me.

I wanted to argue, but we couldn’t creep through this fog forever. We could miss our turn. I realized that was all on me. Neither Damon nor Justice could help me.

My hand shook as I reached toward the ancient leather-bound book, its spine cracked and pages yellowed with age. Anxiety and determination battled for control within me. As my fingertips made contact with the cover, a jolt of energy surged through my body, stronger than anything I had ever felt before. My head snapped back, and an unseen force pushed me into the seat.

Damon’s and Justice’s concerned voices filled my ears, but they sounded far away as if coming from a distant tunnel. Amid this chaotic sensory experience, a vivid image of two trees intertwined seared into my mind.

Without hesitation, I screamed, “Stop!”

Damon hit the brakes hard. The tires squealed a harsh protest. Damon and I lurched forward, nearly colliding with the dashboard. Justice slammed into the back of my seat.

After regaining his balance, Damon turned to me with intense concern and confusion. “Sawyer, what the hell?” He scrubbed his face, panting hard. “You gotta give me a little warning before you yell like that. I could have plunged us off a cliff.”

I managed to gasp out, “We’re here.” The certainty in my voice surprised even me. I knew without a doubt we had arrived at our mysterious destination.

I placed the book down and got out of the car.

“Sawyer, wait.” Damon flung open his door.

Justice was already beside me. “Are you sure this is it?”

Trusting my instincts, I let my body navigate through the dense mist, reaching out until my fingertips grazed something solid. I looked up, and a smile spread across my face. The two aspens were emerging through the swirling fog, their branches entwined in a delicate dance, almost as if they were embracing in a tender hug. The ethereal mist added a magical quality to the scene, making it feel like we had stepped into a realm of ancient legends and fairy tales.

I looked over my shoulder at my brother and Justice. “This is it. Look.”

Damon and Justice came up next to me.

“Well, I’ll be damned, Sawyer,” Damon declared. “You’re a damn good compass.”

Justice clasped my hand. “I knew you could do it.”

Confidence flowed through me for the first time since this power had awakened. I couldn’t help breaking out in a beaming smile.

Damon circled us, his phone’s flashlight cutting through the fog. “Well, look at this. We’ve got ourselves a road, or at least someone’s idea of one,” he proclaimed, eyeing the tire tracks. With a half-smirk, he added, “Guess it’s time to play Hansel and Gretel and follow the breadcrumbs, huh? Let’s hope this fairy tale doesn’t end with a witch in a gingerbread house.”

VOOSH-VOOSH-VOOSH.

A sudden rush of wind swept across my face, sending my hair fluttering wildly. I froze, the fleeting moment of triumph quickly evaporating into apprehension. I lowered my voice and whispered, “What was that?”

Damon’s movements were cautious yet deliberate as he slowly drew his revolver from his jacket. He cocked it with a soft click, his eyes narrowing. “It sounded like…wings. Really big ones.”

Justice’s head snapped up, his gaze piercing through the mist. “You mean like a dragon’s wings?” The possibility seemed to dawn on him. “Maci. She must have followed us here.”

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