In moments,Odette vanished.
“Odette!” Theo screamed in a panic. He didn’t pause to think. Theo charged right after her. Just like she did, he became encompassed by the tree’s bark, vanishing into its trunk.
My heart pounded. The bells were louder than ever in my ears. Theo and Odette had disappeared, but I knew where they had gone.
Ethan saw the curious expression on my face. “Emma, don’t try it,” he warned.
Too late. I ran full-speed toward the tree— which, in retrospect, was a stupid thing to do, considering I had no idea where it would take me. But I trusted the Willow Maiden, and I had to know where my friends were. My body pressed into the trunk, and I felt the warm safety of the Willow Maiden envelop me like a mother, her heartbeat pounding against me as I melded into the tree and came out the other side.
Sunlight beamed on my face. The sound of bells and singing was gone, replaced by the chirping of birds and the whistling of wind through long grass. I opened my eyes. Tears blossomed in them when I took in the incredible view.
I was in a large valley. The grass here was golden, and up to my knees. The sky above us was a mixture of pink and purple, orange clouds passing by. Flowers as big as my hand bloomed amongst the grass, scattering like red blood droplets against the span of gold. In the distance, I saw great mountains, blue like sapphires with diamond tops.
There was no one around for miles. I didn’t see a single building. Behind me was a perfect replica of the Willow Maiden, her fronds weaving in the breeze.
This was a beautiful new world. One so delicate, nearly made of glass. The sight of it made me want to cry. I didn’t know where we’d been taken, but it felt right. More than that— it felt safe. Like coming home after a tiring journey, finding a place to stay after being gone for far too long.
Odette clapped while Theo bobbed his head, looking a little sick. “You made it, Emma!” Odette cheered. “I hope the others follow!”
Except... Odette didn’t really look like Odette anymore. She had a long pink horn, like one of an alicorn, growing out the center of her forehead. Pink butterfly wings sparkled in the sunlight upon her back, and her clothes had changed into a flowing pink dress.
Something on top of my head itched. I reached up to scratch it, and cried out aloud when I felt somethingvery furry.
I looked behind— my wings were out, but more than that, I’d grown a fluffy whitewolf’s tailafter running through the tree! My clothes had been replaced by a navy blue dress, with a light blue corset that laced up my middle. Though it was comfortable, it was something you’d wear to a Renaissance Faire— not the modern clothes I’d left behind me.
I reached for my phone to check my reflection, but I didn’t have it. The only thing I still carried with me in my bag was my grimoire.
Worry knotted in my gut. What the hell had just happened?
“Don’t worry, Emma, you lookvery cutewith wolf ears,” Odette gushed. “It suits your style.”
There was a crashing sound behind me. I watched as the rest of my friends came flooding through. Delmare and Kiara were first— their features were similarly changed, to resemble that of a griffin and dragon’s.
As Kiara got off the ground, her expression widened when she saw Odette and I. She reached to the top of her head, feeling her feathery yellow griffin ears, like those of an owl’s, and a long lion’s tail. Her wings were similar to a dragonfly’s, golden and shimmering. The yellow dress she was wearing was nearly identical to mine, except the sleeves were so long they draped onto the ground, reminding me of the robes priestesses wore.
“Okay, I’m totally keeping these horns,” Delmare said as she felt them. She’d sprouted large black horns, and a scaly tail that resembled Stefan’s. Black, leathery wings like that of a dragon beat at her side. Her dress exposed her shoulders and clung to her body like spiderwebs, the black lace embracing her curves as a red corset held everything in place.
Alexei was next to follow. He easily walked through the willow’s portal, coming to Kiara and nudging her with his beak. “You all right?”
“I’m fine,” Kiara said. She was taking in the scenery with an awed expression, unable to believe where we were.
Ethan slid on through. He was a wolven, and he tumbled head over heels as he pulled through the Willow Maiden. It looked like the tree had spat him out, which was quite funny. He staggered to his feet, flashing his fangs as he whirled on me.
“Dammit, Emma! I thought I told you to wait,” he growled.
“I’ve never been very good at listening,” I said.
Ethan lifted his lip in a growl, until he saw the wolven ears on top of my head. He tilted his gaze and took in the sight of us girls, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
Stefan was the last. The Willow Maiden groaned as he passed through, like it was giving birth to a monster. The tree expanded, growing outward. Stefan clawed his way to land as a black dragon, giving low growls. The tree finally released her hold, and he yanked free with considerable effort.
The dragon shook his head and snorted out embers as he said, “Big dragon. Little tree. Physics don’t work out well.”
Alexei sniffed the air and ruffled his feathers. “Where are we?”
“I don’t know,” I said slowly. “I’ve never seen this land before.” Had my spell done this? It was insane.
“What magic is this?I can’t— change back,” Theo said, like he was trying and failing.
