Page 29 of The Spark that Ignites
Emmery mimicked him, fixating on the rusty stained leaves at their feet. More blood.
“Please graciously grant us passage,” said Vesper, calm, cool, collected.
With a hideous breath, Kaah’s gaze flicked to Emmery. “Do you have the payment?”
Emmery stiffened, daring a peek as Vesper stepped toward the Guardian. Shoulders tight, he fished a stone from his pocket no larger than a walnut. It swirled with the colours of a summer sunset—the only thing in this forest that didn’t make her skin prickle. Kaah’s eyes lit up as Vesper dropped it into a gnarled hand and its bone claws twisted around it. Guardian Kaah inhaled deeply like it could consume the power the stone emitted. Whatever that stone was, it had to be special if it swayed the Guardian to betray the god’s wishes.
“You may pass.” The Guardian’s jowls peeled back revealing a mouth of sharp teeth and once more its voice rang, lingeringafter the words were spoken in Emmery’s mind. “Do come again. It has been far too long since I have had visitors.”
Vesper bowed once more. “Our eternal gratitude, Great Kaah.”
The Guardian ambled aside as the gate screeched open, pulled by invisible ropes and Emmery’s heart leapt into her throat.
This was it. The moment she’d dreamed of and yet, whether it was the forest or the probing stare of the Guardian, her chest remained tight. Weary of this new world. But this was a chance at a new life.
No longer would she have to hide or fear. Surrounded by people like her, she could have the permanence of a home and finally belong. Her heart strained at the thought, wanting it so damn badly. Because so much of her life had been wasted. All she had to do was complete this bargain and then ... she would finally be free.
Emmery held her breath, studying the ground, as they approached the gate and a new light sparked in her chest, unleashed by the opening of this door.
“Leave your presence unknown.” Gaze lingering on Emmery, Guardian Kaah flashed a cruel smile. “I will know if anything is disturbed.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat and kept to Vesper’s heels. The gate shrieked, a violent cry of metal on metal, and Vesper grasped the neck of her cloak, yanking her forward as the Iron door swung with malicious intent. They narrowly sidestepped the sharp edges as the gate slammed shut, knowing the consequences would have been far worse than a haircut if they’d been struck. A revenant wind lifted Emmery’s hair as it sealed them on the other side.
Chapter Ten
The permanency of her choices etched into her bones—her being now tied to this place as the gate closed forever.
Emmery skin pebbled though she was no longer cold and the realization sank in.
There was no going back.
As they hurried away from the gate, the air lifted, warmed, and freshness swept in, her skin thawing in the rays of sunlight. These trees weren’t a cage, unlike the Waking Wood, but rather welcomed them with splatters of lemon peel and blood red flowers. Pockets of sky peeked through, cerulean unlike the greying smog of home. Or she supposed, what oncewashome.
Her eyes trained ahead on the winding path—the end unseen through the thicket of brush. Her aching feet told her there would be blisters upon blisters when she removed her boots.
Unclasping Vesper’s cloak, she tossed it into his waiting hand.
He caught it without looking at her and slung it around his shoulders. “Remember rule number one. We’re not at the end of his lands yet. Kaah will know if we touch anything. I swear he has eyes in the back of his head. And trust me you don’t want to be on his bad side.”
Emmery shuddered, like his unseeing stare still followed her. “And I’m assuming you know this from experience?”
“I had a few run-ins with him as a child.” Vesper pushed his hair off his forehead. “He’s not too kind about people messing with his things.”
Emmery studied the side of his face, but he kept the same nonchalance and light-hearted humour painted there. “What happened?”
“My sister and I were playing a game, and we set fire to some brush.” He chuckled at the memory, biting down on his bottom lip. “Let’s just say we weren’t allowed back for some time.”
“Fire?” She stared at him in utter disbelief. “Wait, you were children. What kind of game were you playing?”
“We stole an enchanted orb from my father’s room.” He shrugged as if it was common for children to toss a flaming ball at each other. “It made a game of catch more interesting. Upped the stakes.”
Fighting a smile, she said, “Sounds like you two were a joy as children.”
MaybeKennatraditions were vastly different. Her mother would never let her play a game that dangerous, though she cringed at the memory of jumping from a tree to see if she could without breaking her leg. There wasn’t much to do at the cottage most days.
“You could say that.” He exhaled a laugh. “It would be a lie, but you could say it.”
Emmery’s head swivelled as they walked, not wanting to miss a single speck of detail. The gentle breeze carried peace and birds chirped merrily in the trees— a stark difference from the cold, ominous forest. Her mind kept flashing back to the gate, the sharp edges glinting like blades, the Guardian and those creepy eyes. The way he stared right through her.
