by Gina LaManna
“I’m in Ranger training. I will be laughed out of HQ.”
“I doubt it. Most Rangers are men. You are a beautiful woman,” Hettie said. “Maybe they’ll enjoy the show. You can kick butt in a tutu.”
Even Gus looked impressed with Hettie’s assessment, and I had to admit the point was valid. Zin, however, looked underwhelmed with Hettie’s solution and huffed out of the room.
“I think she looks adorable,” Hettie said as she left. “If I had legs like hers, I’d walk around in a tutu all day, too.”
“I feel bad,” I said, turning to Gus. “I have to come up with a way to reverse the effects. Do you think adding thyme to the antidote will wipe out the sweetener and let the silver work its reversal?”
Gus grinned. “Of course it will.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that ten minutes ago?! Now Zin has to walk around looking like a ballerina.”
“You’ve got to learn to think under pressure,” Gus said. “I won’t always be around to save the day.”
I shook my head, setting to work re-mixing the antidote. “I have to get this to Zin. While I’m at Ranger HQ, I’ll find X and set things right so he’ll stop taking out his frustration on his employees.”
“Great. I’ll let you handle this,” Hettie said. “Now’s my time to leave.”
“She always comes to make a mess,” Gus said, watching my grandmother leave. “And then leaves us to clean it up.”
I sighed. This afternoon was shaping up to be one pile of joy after the next: fix a faulty potion, make amends with my cousin, settle my seething boyfriend, and prevent Wishery from being destroyed.
No big deal for the Mixologist, I thought wryly.
The fact was—I had no idea where to start on the contents of the vial. My pulse quickened as I sealed the antidote into a container for Zin, watching out of the corner of my eye as the calla lily slowly bloomed into another perfect flower.
Time was running out.
Chapter 13
THE ANTIDOTE EXCHANGE with Zin went quickly.
I found her lurking in the bathroom at Ranger HQ. Elle, the gorgeous, over three-hundred-year-old receptionist, pointed me in her direction as I signed into the building.
Grudgingly, Zin swallowed the antidote and reverted back to her normal self. It was only after she’d inspected her newly regenerated attire and found it perfectly intact that she reluctantly admitted she liked the idea of a costume party.
With one relationship repaired, I set out in search of my next target.
“Hey, Elle—do you have any idea where X might be this afternoon?”
The silver-haired beauty raised exquisitely manicured fingers to her lips and grimaced. “He’s in a mood today.”
“So I hear,” I said with a sigh. “And I’m afraid it’s partially my fault.”
“He stomped into The Forest an hour ago after clocking out. Usually that means he needs some time to cool down. Let him wrestle were-bears, or whatever he does in there. I’m sure he’ll calm down by the evening.”
“I wish I could, but I really need to fix this.”
“Honey, if you want my advice, there’s nothing to fix.” She offered a flickering smile. “Whenever he gets this angry, it’s usually something he did himself. A mistake he made, a decision he’s worried about.”
“I know, but I pushed him to make a mistake. So, we’re back to it being my fault.”
“I guarantee he won’t see it that way. Ranger X takes pride in making all of his own decisions. If he made a mistake, even on your account, he’d still blame himself.”
“Any idea where he goes in The Forest?”
“No, I’m sorry. He wouldn’t even be happy that I told you he went there at all.”
“I know, but—”
“Just wait it out, Lily. It’ll only make things worse if you go chasing him down. He loves you, and you love him. He’ll come back soon.”
I groaned as I stepped back from the desk and headed toward the elevators to the outside world. “Thanks anyway.”
“See you soon,” she hummed. “And be careful out there.”
The second I appeared above ground, I turned my feet away from the Ranger HQ entrance and started to make my way deeper into The Forest.
The familiar dampness, the heavy weight of the air, settled on my shoulders. The world here was a bit too quiet, a bit too still. So stuffy it was nearly impossible to find a full breath of oxygen as my feet pulled me underneath the giant trees.
I closed my eyes and inhaled, and exhaled, practicing the almost meditative-like state that Liam had taught me to get through The Forest. Directions here didn’t work in any normal capacity. The trees, the shrubs, the wildlife—all were alive and moving, bending their limbs to the songs of the universe and changing the course of The Forest with each passing breeze.
I’d improved at my ability to listen, to feel, to guide my way through. I still avoided the need to venture in alone as much as possible, but often it was a necessity. Dust of the Devil—the dangerously blooming plant required for Poppy’s Vamp Vites—bloomed in only one location. That location was deep within The Forest.
As my feet wound their way through the undergrowth, I focused on that very thought—I was overdue for a harvest from the plant, and it would give me a good excuse as to why I’d come to The Forest in the first place.
My footsteps sprung light and easy, and I made my way toward the flower-laden tree in record time. I’d only paused once or twice to listen, but it hadn’t helped. Something was amiss within The Forest. It was as if every branch and leaf had been stunned into complete silence. Not a single creature or critter had brushed past my legs as I picked my way through the undergrowth.
When I approached the clearing where the Dust of the Devil plant lived, my suspicions crept up higher than ever. The faerie who lived on the mushroom here, Ferrah, a Tinkerbell with sex appeal, had vacated her post. She never vacated her post. Ferrah loved to sit and smoke her fake cigarettes and tell stories to anyone who stumbled deep enough into the wilderness.
Suddenly uneasy, I focused on the task at hand. Gather the flowers. Do not linger, do not inhale their scent, do not get sucked under their enchantment like a sailor to a siren.
I gathered three flowers and reached for a fourth. The second I plucked it, I heard a noise. The noise. A popping, almost as if a log were on the verge of collapse. I whirled around, expecting to come face to face with a wild animal, but...nothing.
“Hello?” I called. “Anybody there? Ferrah?”
No answer.
The fumes from the Dust of the Devil flower grew stronger. I hadn’t capped the vial quickly enough, and the scent began to pull me under, to gather me in a loving embrace and carry me away on a light melody.
I let it happen for a moment, blithely drifting away, letting my eyes close until—
Another noise.
This one louder, too loud to ignore.
Snapping to attention, I shoved the flower in the vial, sealed it shut, and quickly stowed it away in my travel belt. Still shaken by the Dust of the Devil’s spell, I glanced up. Again, I saw nothing.
“Hello?” I called. “I’m not here to hurt anyone. I’m Lily Locke, the Mixologist. Is anyone there?”
Only silence spoke back.
The eeriness of being watched, however, only intensified. I moved quicker, faster. Somehow, despite the spine-tingling sensation increasing, I didn’t feel afraid.
I forced myself to trust in my gut reaction. The Forest and its natural magic had a way of protecting those who respected it. I’d been in danger in The Forest before, and I’d always known. Always sensed it.
I couldn’t piece together why this sense of calmness had settled over me. I didn’t dwell in The Forest regularly, and I never wandered about aimlessly. It wasn’t as if I knew its paths inside and out. As I began my journey out of The Forest, deciding to wait for X at his house, I found myself pulled in a new direction.
A short while later I stumbled f
rom the grip of The Forest into brilliant rays of sunshine. Glancing around, I realized I’d emerged at a different location than the one I’d entered. I’d popped out in a sunny little oasis bordered by palm trees that looked unfamiliar to me.
Confused, I stepped further from The Forest, giving my brain time to process. Why had The Forest spit me out here? The Forest had never before pulled me in a new direction. It usually sent me exactly where I’d wanted to go.
That’s when it clicked. This place wasn’t new to me at all.
I’d been here before, and recently. Through the palm trees, I spotted the little house that Chuck had claimed was haunted. I’d popped out on the opposite side of the oasis, hence the reason it had looked unfamiliar.
With a giddy sigh of relief, I realized it was only a short walk home. Whoever had been following me in The Forest would have to wait another day for whatever business they had with me.
Still, I hadn’t resolved things with Ranger X. I shouldn’t have been surprised that I couldn’t find him in The Forest, but the disappointment hit nonetheless. I’d almost hoped The Forest would bring us together.
Elle was right, I supposed. Time would calm him down.
Resigned to letting X stew alone, I glanced around, locating the worn footpath that would take me back to the bungalow. I took one step and stopped. Silent, listening.
Something had moved.
Something was different.
Something was alive.
My chest felt like it’d been hit by a brick, my lungs constricting until I could hardly breathe. I ducked behind the nearest cluster of bushes, watching a small spiral of smoke curl up from the chimney of the old shack, long ago abandoned by the Witch of the Woods.
Cats couldn’t start fires. Neither could most wild animals. This time, it wasn’t Tiger hiding out innocently in the cottage. Which meant that something else—or someone else—was inhabiting this home.
I remained crouched in hiding as my eyes stayed glued to the front door. The windows were grimy, and I strained to see through them, to locate movement through the windows. Aside from the curling smoke, which now made sense with the burned smell I’d detected, the house rested quietly.
A squirrel skittered over the front lawn, and a small family of birds made their way to the stream before the cottage. They landed, drinking from the water while the smoke continued to rise.
I watched everything—every movement, every wisp of a breeze, and yet I could find nothing save for the smoke.
Inching forward, I craned my neck for a better glimpse through the window, almost disbelieving my eyes as a shadow flickered behind it. A whisper of darkness behind the grime.
I held a brief debate with myself, muttering the pros and cons list for pushing forward and demanding the inhabitant show themselves. On the cons list, however, was the fact that nobody knew my whereabouts. I hadn’t intended to come here, so if things went south, not a soul on this island would have the first idea of where to look.
My decision made, I began to back away. I eased under the cover of The Forest, keeping just along the edge as I traced a roundabout way toward home. The canopy kept a layer of shade over me, and I made good time traveling along the ridges until a large tree diverted my path.
Keeping close to it, I eased deeper into The Forest for just a second.
Just a moment to inch around the fallen tree.
A hand circled my wrist, pulling me into the darkness. A firm, strong grip that had no intention of letting me go.
My heart nearly burst, my pulse racing as adrenaline flooded my body. My instincts kicked in, sending my legs and body bucking as my fingers scratched like a wildcat.
“Lily, it’s me!” Ranger X called, exasperation clouding his words. “It’s just me, sweetheart. It’s me.”
“Why?!” I breathed, sheathing my claws as he gently set me on my feet. “Why would you ever startle me like that? What happened to calling out a hello?”
“Why were you running through The Forest?”
“I was walking, not running. And I hardly stepped foot inside of it.”
“You stepped far enough inside for me to find you.”
“How did you find me?”
Ranger X eyed me carefully. “The Forest has a way of bringing me just where I need to be.”
“What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here? Did you come here to look for me?”
“No, I was harvesting Dust of the Devil. Poppy’s Vamp Vites are due for a refill, and...” I trailed off as his gaze landed on me.
“Why didn’t you take the Upper Bridge?”
“Maybe The Forest led me straight to you.”
“You were looking for me.”
“Of course I was looking for you! You stormed out after our meeting. I had to come find you.”
His face clouded with something I initially pegged for anger, but underneath, I wondered if it wasn’t more. A hint of shame maybe, or embarrassment.
“I was looking for you,” he admitted finally. “To apologize. Sometimes when I’m frustrated, I escape to The Forest to blow off steam. I wander around and let my mind work. The Forest takes care of me, gets me to wherever I need to be. By the time I’m spit back into the sunlight, I usually have a new perspective.”
“And this time?”
“It brought me to you. I owe you an apology,” he said, taking my hand in his and cupping it between his fingers. “I’m sorry about how I acted at Hettie’s. It was your meeting, your team, your place to speak.”
“Thank you, but—”
“I hope you can understand I never meant to undermine you.” He brought one hand up, ran it through his hair in frustration before meeting my gaze dead on. “I’m beginning to realize that I don’t always act logically when matters concern you.”
“It’s okay, really.”
His eyes darkened as he brought his hand down, leaving behind hair standing messily on end. He slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me close. “Walk with me for a bit.”
I hesitated, our lips inches apart as my hands braced against his chest. I waited for him to close the gap, to kiss me and make the world crumble away, but he didn’t.
My heart pounded against my chest, and his echoed in response. The sizzle between us grew palpable until my entire body shook from hunger to close the space between us, but X seemed to have other things in mind.
“Sure,” I eventually managed. “Let’s walk.”
After a long silence of nothing but the crackle of branches, he spoke. “I don’t know what to make of this.”
“Of what?”
“I’ve spent a lifetime straining to keep myself in control. Always in control. Not once since I was a child have I used my Uniqueness without intention.”
“Until earlier today?” I guessed, sliding my hand into his as we fell easily in stride.
“That... it just happened. Lifting Harpin, restricting his airway—no, I didn’t intend for any of that to happen.”
“It looked purposeful.”
“Maybe in my subconscious, but it wasn’t logical. I just acted, and before I realized what had happened, it was too late.”
Uneasily, I shifted next to him. “Was it because of me?”
His eyes flashed to me. “This isn’t your fault, Lily.”
“It is a little bit.”
“I’m just trying to absorb what it all means. I can’t be out of control. Ever.”
“You’re a person just like everyone else. We all lose control sometimes. It happens.”
“Everyone might make mistakes, but everyone cannot be head of the Ranger program. I’ve been granted that honor, and my path is incredibly clear. It is why I have my position—I am not everyone. I can block off my emotions.”
“Maybe you can’t.”
“Whenever a Ranger makes a decision with their emotions instead of their brains, we play a dangerous game.”
“You didn’t really hurt Harpin, and he was being quite rude—”
“That’s no excuse. I deal with people and creatures who’ve done bad things. Most of them aren’t polite when we arrest them.”
I pulled him to a stop as we reached a small clearing. A lump had grown in my throat, and I didn’t know what else to say. I had nothing to add, no insights or advice. I just knew that X was spiraling lost, and I was starting to go with him.
Jasmine circled us, small white flowers blooming amidst the darkness, thousands of little stars amongst the greenery. The moment was filled with sweet intensity as I brought my gaze to land on his glittering eyes.
“What you’re not saying,” I began, “is that the problem with all of this is me.”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying at all—”
“If it weren’t for me, Cannon, would you have lashed out at Harpin or would you have walked away?”
He took a breath before responding and let it out slowly. “I don’t know.”
“We both do,” I said, feeling a little cross. “The answer is no.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course it does! Obviously you’re worried because you’ve used powers you haven’t used freely in years. And you didn’t try to do it. That’s dangerous, X. You know it, and I know it. What I don’t know is where we go from here.”
“It doesn’t matter. The Core—you’re all bound to secrecy, yes?”
I nodded.
“Then they will not share what happened. The secret is safe.”
I flinched. “Unless the group is dissolved.”
His gaze faltered as he shot me a questioning glance. “What did you do?”
“You were right! We weren’t working together. The only thing the group of us have in common is my grandmother. Half of us don’t like one another. Maybe it’s a bad idea to force something.”
“Your grandmother brought the group together because you are all talented. And you’re needed now more than ever—all of you.”
“Help is needed, yes. Not a bunch of misfits who can’t get along for ten minutes.”
“You wouldn’t have left the meeting if it weren’t for me.”
“You wouldn’t have used telekinesis if it weren’t for me.” I stepped back, the space where his fingers had been now blindingly cold. “You wouldn’t be having any of these issues, or thoughts, if it weren’t for me.”