Page 71 of Triumph of the Wolf
Blue-silver light blinded me,and a buzzing jolt coursed through my entire body as the ground disappeared from under my feet. I fell, flailing in terror for long seconds, as if I’d leaped into a pit instead of through a portal. My sword flew out of my grip.
Finally, I landed hard on my side on grassy earth, momentum sending me bumping and rolling across it, my body battered until I came to a stop. Somewhere behind me, the brilliant light faded, replaced by a soft silver—moonlight flowing down from a clear night sky.
The strong scents of flowers as well as grass flooded my nostrils.
“Ouch,” Duncan murmured from a few feet away. He’d come to a stop against a huge mossy log. “I might have activated the security system as well as opening the doorway.”
Bolin groaned from another direction. Grass spread for hundreds of yards in all directions except one. There, a vast garden stretched away, pathways meandering among plantings, fountains, and statues of winged creatures that I wanted tocall fairies, though they had animal faces more reminiscent of gargoyles. This was what I’d seen in my vision.
I looked back in the direction we’d come. There was no sign of an archway or portal on this side, but the Space Needle rose in the distance, visible over a forested area beyond the grass. The rest of the city had disappeared.
“Uhm, okay.” I rose to hands and knees and peered around, hoping my sword had come through with me.
“Are we… still in Seattle?” Bolin had also fallen but pushed himself to his feet. He touched his chest. Was the potion still guiding him toward Jasmine?
“I’ve no idea,” I said.
Was this some kind of alternate dimension? Did such things exist?
“Maybe we should have done more research before you waved your magnet over that frog house, Duncan,” I added.
Ah-ha. My sword lay in the grass. I plucked it up, having a feeling I would need it.
“With enemies barreling down on us?” Duncan rose to his feet and faced in the direction we’d come from, probably reminded that those enemies might follow us through the archway. They had to know about this place.
But there remained no sign of the portal. If they appeared, it would be out of nowhere.
“I hope there’s another way back,” I said.
“Maybe you wave a magnet over another frog house.” Duncan patted his pack.
“We’d better get out of here in case?—”
“She’s that way.” Bolin pointed and headed toward one of the paths leading into the garden.
“Okay, then.” I walked after him, waving for Duncan to follow.
He continued to eye the spot where we’d appeared. Expecting Lykos and those men to pop out at any moment?
Theyhadbeen right behind us. Likely, they were waiting for the rest of whatever patrol had been put on duty to keep an eye out for us. Then, they could all come through together. Withrifles. What was my sword supposed to do against those?
“Do you want me to stay here?” Duncan asked. “And?—”
“No,” I interrupted. “I’d pine terribly if you weren’t at my side.”
“Worried I’ll get myself in trouble, eh?”
“Vastly.” I walked back and gripped his hand to make sure he didn’t intend to stay behind and buy us time while he risked his life.
Besides, we might face something more dangerous here. I would need Duncan.
Determined to find Jasmine before the potion wore off, Bolin was already dozens of yards ahead of us. So many of the garden beds had towering stalks and flowering bushes that rose well over our heads that it would be easy to lose track of him, and something told me we wouldn’t have cell reception to send texts here.
Duncan and I jogged to catch up with Bolin, the night air crisp and cool on our skin as a breeze swept through, rustling the plants. When we started down a path that traveled between beds of what looked like bamboo, the length of the green shoots covered in purple flowers, I paused to look behind us. Just before we rounded a bend that would take the area out of view, an arch-shaped blue-silver light flared. The portal was activating again.
“They’re coming through.” I wondered how many men would arrive. For that matter, how many enemies were already here in this place? Hiding and waiting for us?
Duncan touched his hand to the small of my back, guiding me around the bend so that our enemies wouldn’t see us as soon as they came through. Since Lykos would have no trouble tracking us by scent, did it matter?
