Patting my hands downmy body, I huff out a relieved breath to feel how solid I am again, all while fighting the urge to throw up.
What the flying fuck just happened?
Lucien tentatively steps out of the ring, and when he isn’t thrown back, passing unscathed, I’m jumping to my feet and out like my ass is on fire. Dorian isn’t in nearly as much of a rush, looking way more thrilled with this than any sane man should be.
His geeky little heart is probably exploding right about now.
I bite back any snide remarks when I get a solid look around us, though. It’s a near replica of the clearing we just left, yet somehowmore.The colors are more vivid and it’s like the place practically glows with life.
But as opposed to before, there is nowhere to go but forward. Here, the trees are so close together that there’s no way we can pass through them except for the clear path in front of us.
“Should we... should we step back in and see what happens?”
Lucien looks torn while Dorian on the other hand is brimming with indignation. “Are you kidding me?! You cannot possibly tell me you don’t want to look around. You only get one chance at something like this and if we turn back, we’ll miss out on all of the magic and adventure.”
Lucien sighs. “This isn’t like one of your cartoons, Dorian.”
Dorian doesn’t even miss a beat. “Anime.”
He starts walking down the dirt path away from the circle of death and I share a look with Lucien. Just like he and Dorian chased after me without a thought, we are both well aware we can’t let our friend walk off to god knows where alone. I may not have a damn clue what is happening, but I’m not so much of a bastard as to let him get himself killed. And truth be told, if it came down to Dorian or me, Luce would choose to save Dorian in a heartbeat with their history, so I’m better off sticking close to the nerd.
The path twists and the trees are just as dense as back by the ring, so there’s no possible way to deviate or wander off. Even breathing feels different, as if the air is laced with something.
Of course. Someone probably slipped something in my drink at the club and I’m hallucinating this whole thing.
It’s a short path and soon there’s an opening out of the woods, clear like a light at the end of the tunnel. When we step through, I have to blink rapidly several times for my eyes to adjust to the brightness. Compared to how shadowed it was within the forest, it’s like stepping from one world into another, and it’s suddenly very clear that I’m not imagining things.
Because I could never dream up something like this.
It’s gorgeous, a perfect blend of nature and technology. Affluent houses that look like they rose straight from the ground itself; crafted from stone, wood, and coated in flowering ivy. They line an asphalt street, but instead of cars, people are walking, riding on strange beasts, or flying. I don’t think I’m even breathing at this point, glancing around. Iridescent wings like a dragonfly buzz on some of these people that look far too perfect to be real, carrying them above the crowd.
“I knew it,” Dorian whispers in awe.
“There has to be an explanation for this,” Lucien disputes, but he doesn’t sound as sure as he did before.
We only make it a handful of steps before we’re noticed and it’s far from a warm reception. The rest is a blur as we suddenly find ourselves pinned to the ground, vines wound around our bodies like rope and binding our arms to our sides.
“What are mortals doing here?” one of the three men snarls in disgust.
“Just trying to find our way home,” Lucien attempts amicably, but the man isn’t having it.
By their uniformed look, I assume they’re some sort of police or guard. “Humans can’t cross over unless they’ve seen a fae use the ring, so cut the bullshit. Who brought you here?”
Dorian squirms onto his knees. “We weren’t brought here, she didn’t even know we were watching.”
One guard turns towards Dorian, using his abilities to make the vine stretch and wrap around his neck. “Who?”
“I don-“ he starts to protest, but I interrupt him.
“Cambria. Don’t know her last name though.” No point protecting a thief and getting killed for it.
One of the other men grins like it’s the best news he’s heard all day, pulling a knife from his pocket and rolling it between his fingers. “Knew that heathen would slip up eventually. Kiss your necks goodbye, humans; this is going to be fun.”
***
“You know the law, CambriaLark,” the sadistic guard practically purrs at her, like he’s getting some sick thrill from the whole thing.
One of them left long enough to drag her here and her eyes widen in horror before steeling over and glancing away, refusing to look at us. “I do,” she replies curtly. “Just do what you need to.” She turns and promptly starts walking away, back in the direction she was roughly escorted here from.
