Page 41 of Magic Blooms
Lorraine tightened her lips. “She’s waiting on the porch.”
So this was it then. I may not get more time with them, other than the briefest of moments before I jumped through the portal that would take me home to Vilea.
I pointed to the pile I’d set out on the bed and held back the sudden surge of tears I felt pushing at the edges of my eyes and threatening to spill. “Since I can’t take any of this with me, will you give it to the next wanderer you find in the woods?”
Lorraine stepped forward and started to undo a strap on her wrist. “Here’s my watch. You can use it to make sure you get back in time.”
“What will happen if I’m late?” I asked, already knowing but needing the confirmation.
“The power will be greatest when the moon is at its apex,” said Jasmine. Her voice was logical as always, but even she seemed sad to see me go. “The apex is at eleven. From then on, we’ll just be pressing our luck. I’d be comfortable attempting it for maybe ten more minutes. I don’t want to send you through an unstable portal. If we don’t… If we can’t make it in time, we’ll have to wait until the next full moon.”
Okay, so eleven it was. I fastened the watch Lorraine gave me and glanced at its face. The little arm pointed toward 1, which meant I had ten hours. “I think we should be fine. I doubt Fawn’s ritual will last ten whole hours.”
“Well, actually—” Jasmine began, but Lorraine silenced her with a stern glare.
So she also had doubts. Never matter. I’d find a way to make it work. “I want to say thanks for?—”
Lorraine held up a hand. “We’re not doing goodbyes right now. You’ll be back in plenty of time for that later.”
I could only hope. I had to imagine Fawn wouldn’t be much of a talker.
I tried to shake off the feeling that I was marching off to my doom as I left my room behind, trod down the stairs, and out the front door.
Fawn stood waiting on the front porch, her eyes closed in what appeared to be a type of meditation.
“Hello,” I said hesitantly as I approached. “You requested my help today?”
“I didn’t request anything,” she said in that same low, echoing tone she always used. “I ordered. Grab the supplies and come. We have much to do.”
Her edict spoken, Fawn glided down the stairs and toward the forest, leaving me no choice but to grab a zipped-up tote bag she’d left on the porch and follow in her wake. I had to double my normal pace to first catch up with her—and then to keep up as well.
“Where are we going?” I asked as items in my bag clinked together inside, revealing its fragile contents.
She didn’t bother to answer.
“Is it far?” I remembered that Joshua’s cabin hadn’t seemed far but had actually required a two-hour walk. What if Fawn was taking me somewhere even farther away from Fox’s End? If we spent all our time today walking there and back, would that leave enough to perform her ritual?
Once again, my question was met with an icy silence.
“How do you know this will work? “
Nothing.
“You’re not planning to kill anyone else, are you?” I asked with a nervous laugh. “Because I can take you in a fight,” I lied.
Fawn stopped, her shoulders tense. “This will go much more quickly if you follow in silence,” she snapped before continuing on her way once more.
As much as I didn’t appreciate the lack of transparency, I supposed it was better than having to carry on a conversation with the woman. I wasn’t exactly sure I could keep my true opinions to myself if I was forced to exchange more than just a few quick sentences with her.
The journey grew tense despite the continued silence, and soon our previously firm footing gave way to the moist swampland. I glanced around for any sign of the gators but couldn’t see them. Still, thanks to Joshua’s impromptu tutorial the other day, I knew they were there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Maybe they would rise up from their hiding places to snatch Fawn away from me. I already knew I could handle myself, but could she?
I struggled to keep up, having a difficult time balancing the fragile contents of the bag while navigating the softened terrain.
