Page 109 of An Unexpected Ascension
“Sister Mary has been asking about you. It’s so unlike you not to show up for the kids and we’ve stopped by a hundred times.”
Will eyes me wearily, studying me as if he can smell the rot from Hell on my clothes. My face nearly flushes with shame, only I know that isn’t true because shame doesn’t exist here.
“I...” Pulling away from Jessie, I take them both in with my gaze and consider how much I tell them. Finally, I let loose a sigh. “I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?” Will urges softly.
“Did you know there’s a cave behind that waterfall?” I nod behind me. “There’s some type of magic in there or something. It’s incredible. I have free reign over my memories and feelings again. It’s almost as if it’s a blind spot that the Gods don’t know about.”
“What?” Jessie’s face drops.
Will’s brown eyes hold a cautious curiosity.
“I guess I’ve been holed up for a while without realizing it. I-I'm so sorry I scared you guys!” I force a small laugh, carefully crafting my words to avoid any lies.
“A cave?” Will presses.
I nod, offering a friendly smile.
“Look, I should really probably catch up with Sister Mary. I didn’t realize I was gone for that long, but you guys should check it out.”
“Wait! We haven’t seen you in weeks and you’re already leaving?” Jessie whines.
I continue walking backwards, still facing them.
“We’ll catch up in a little bit.”
“Briar.” My name cuts from Will’s tongue like a demand. “The orphanage is that way.”
He points behind him, in the opposite direction I’m heading. There’s an uncertainty clouding him, a distrust in the wrinkles near his eyes as I laugh it off and rush past them. Toward the Market and away from Lynx.
Fuck.
With each step through the forest toward a bustling market where I’m sure to be noticed, my heart pounds. Panic lances through me as my mind reels, desperate for a plan.
I chance a glance behind me and through the thicket of the woods, I can see Jessie and Will climbing the side of the cliff. With their attention elsewhere, I take a sharp left and start heading back toward the demon.
A hand wrapping around my mouth startles me, but the tattoos adorning the skin give him away. Lynx presses his body into my back, warming me in places Heaven wouldn’t approve of.
“You gave away our hiding spot,” he whispers.
I wretch his hand from my face.
“Didn’t really have much of choice now, did I? This should buy us some time.”
“Smart.” He chuckles, then pulls me along toward the garden.
With a quick pace, we trail through the forest just slightly off path to avoid any more run-ins. If anxiety didn’t claw through my chest and up my throat at getting caught, I would slow down and take in the beauty of these landscapes one last time. Hell just isn’t as pretty.
“It’s not the same,” I mutter.
“What’s not?”
“Heaven? Me?” I rub at the pain searing my chest. “I-I thought I’d be safe here.”
Lynx pauses a step, gently grabbing my elbow.
“Why would you think that? We warned you, you’re not welcome here anymore. Give it time and that run-in will cost us.”
