Broken Promise (Between Worlds #2)

by Julia Crane

  I needed to trust him. I forced a smile and hurried over to where he was standing. I yawned. I should have grabbed a cup of coffee on the way out. “Here’s something you should know about me,” I said wryly.

  “What’s that?” He cocked his head to the side and studied me.

  “I’m not a morning person.”

  He laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “So where are we going?” I asked as we walked into the forest. I glanced back over my shoulder at my house. Soon my mom would be awake and panicked. I wished there was another way, but this was something I had to do and asking for permission was a risk I couldn’t take.

  “We need to find the faery that said he saw Oren,” Kallan said.

  “Where’s he?”

  “He’s a wanderer. Doesn’t call anywhere home, so finding him may...be difficult.”

  “Great,” I said sarcastically. “Do we at least have a starting place?”

  “Yes.” Kallan grinned. “Have some faith in me. I’m not going to take you on a wild goose chase. At least, not on purpose.”

  I did have faith in him, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. We walked into the woods in silence. There was so much I wanted to say, wanted to know, but I felt that getting closer to Kallan was cheating on Adam. I knew I couldn’t last long without talking, so I chose something safe to talk about. “How do you like school?”

  “It’s different. So much indoor learning, homework, and testing. I don’t know how you do it.”

  “Faery schools are that different?”

  “Yes. We do a lot of our learning outside. I’ve never had homework and the tests aren’t written tests. We’re taught with a more hands-on approach. When we’re tested, it’s more show than tell.”

  “What do you learn? I mean, do you learn more than how to use your powers? Do things with nature? Or is there more?”

  He laughed. “Of course we learn other things. Math, geography, even science. It’s not that the subject matter is different than what your schools teach, it’s the way we’re taught.”

  I wondered if I decided to live in the fey world, if I’d be required to go to their school. “Do your friends know about me?”

  “Of course.”

  “What do they think?”

  “They think you’re hot.” He stepped over a log and I followed.

  I laughed. “That’s not what I was asking.”

  “They don’t know what to think. Our...situation is different. They think I’ve gone off the deep end coming to school here.” He smiled.

  “I don’t blame them. It’s pretty crazy.” I paused. “Sierra knows.”

  “What? She knows everything?”

  “I told her. I had to tell someone. I couldn’t talk to my parents about...us.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “You talk about us?”

  “Sometimes.”

  “What does she say?”

  “Well, she doesn’t understand the significance of the promises. She’s my best friend and she’s supportive. She thinks you’re gorgeous, but she’s known Adam as long as I have.”

  “What are you going to do, Rylie?”

  I thought about Adam and how much I didn’t want to hurt him. I also couldn’t deny my feelings for Kallan. “I don’t know.” I pushed a branch out of the way. “Can we not talk about this right now? I just want to focus on finding Oren.”

  “Sure.”

  As we continued walking, the forest changed around us. The trees became taller, and fruit-covered bushes lined the floor. It didn’t look as colorful and beautiful as the light faery land where Azura took me, but it wasn’t dark faery land either, which meant we were in the neutral zone.

  I was hungry. We had been walking for hours, and I forgot to eat breakfast. “When’s lunch?”

  Kallan chuckled. “Any time you want. All you have to do is say the word. Can’t have you withering away.”

  “Then I choose now.”

  Kallan took my hand and pulled me behind a tree. He picked a few delicious-looking fruits off nearby bushes and handed me one. Biting into it was like tasting a piece of heaven. I closed my eyes in pleasure and enjoyed it to the very last bite.

  Kallan dropped his backpack to the ground and pulled out a package of beef jerky. “You’ll need protein. We could be out here for a while.”

  I shoved my hand in the bag, extracted a few pieces, and leaned against the tree. The jerky had a sweet maple taste to it, but I didn’t like how hard I had to chew. I tried to focus on my surroundings. It was so relaxing in the woods. Birds chirped, and the soft breeze tickled my skin.

  Kallan smiled as he handed me a bottle of water. “We should probably keep moving.”

  I helped myself to the cold, refreshing liquid and fell into step beside him. A short time later, a rustling sound from the bushes beside me broke through the forest sounds. I grabbed Kallan’s arm. “What was that?”

  He stared into the brush, going quiet for a few seconds, then answered, “Just keep walking.”

  I did as he instructed even though a creepy feeling lingered. My grip on his arm got tighter as the sound followed us.

  Suddenly, an ugly creature jumped out in front of us. It was small and brownish and had a long, curved nose. The way his dark beady eyes looked at me made the hair on my arms stand up. I froze and my nails dug into Kallan’s skin.

  Kallan and the thing stared at each other. “What do you want, goblin?”

  “Your father requests your presence.”

  Kallan’s face was stoic. “I don’t care. I’m busy.”

  “He sent me to escort you.”

  “Tell him I am not coming.”

  The goblin took an awkward step back. “But Prince, your father insisted.”

  “I’m. Not. Going.” Kallan said each word very slowly. With that, he grabbed my hand and pulled me away. He looked back a few times, but the goblin didn’t follow us. Finally his face softened and the worry lines disappeared.

  “What was that all about?”

  Kallan ran his hand through his hair. “My father wasn’t happy with my decision to visit the human realm for so long, and he definitely doesn’t like me helping you.”

  “I thought he wanted to find Oren.”

  “He does. On his own terms.”

  I swallowed hard. “What’s going to happen now?”

  “I don’t know. He could send guards to force me back home or he could let it go for now.”

  “I don’t see your father letting anything go.” Varwik’s face flashed before my eyes. I shuddered and pushed it out of my mind. “What exactly is a goblin?”

  “Not a very nice creature. They’re mischievous and can be evil. You don’t want to be near them if they’re hungry.”

  I didn’t like the sound of that. “Where do they live?”

  “They hide in the neutral lands. But my father will feed some of them if they do things for him.” He shifted an arm around my shoulders and squeezed me playfully. “If it makes you cling to me like this, maybe I should have them stick around.”

  I slapped him in the arm. “Knock it off.”

  He tilted his head back and laughed.

  The sun was in the west when we came to a dark, denser area of the forest.

  “Stay close,” Kallan said, holding out a hand to indicate I should stay behind him.

  “Why?” My voice was shaky.

  “We call this Targore. There are a lot of...creatures here.”

  “Dangerous ones?”

  “They can be.”

  “Maybe we should go a different way?”

  “There isn’t one. As long as you stay with me, you’ll be safe.”

  I blew out a long breath. I did not consider myself a brave person, but I did feel slightly safer with him by my side. Not by much.

  Kallan’s blue-green gaze caught mine. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  Although I had a few doubts in my mind, I knew I wanted answers. And if this was the only way to get them... �
��Yes. I have to.”

  “You’re stronger than you realize. You just need to embrace your power.”

  I wished it were that easy. We pushed forward, pine needles crunching below our feet. At least they looked like pine needles, except for the fact they were dark red instead of the green I was used to.

  A huge creature at least seven feet tall stepped out in front of us. I froze. He looked half human and half reptile. A leather vest covered his chest and large knives were tethered at his side.

  Kallan tensed under my grasp.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” the monster growled.

  “We’re just passing through. Not here to cause any trouble,” Kallan said with an edge to his voice.

  The creature drew a sword from his hip.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” Kallan said calmly.

  “Oh, really? And who are you to stop me? I can slice up you and your pretty girlfriend and feed you to the goblins.”

  Kallan’s eyes glowed. He stared at the monster with an unwavering gaze. The monster fell to his knees, his eyes pleading, but not a word escaped his mouth.

  “Let’s go.” Kallan stepped around the monster.

  “What did you do to him?”

  “What I had to. He gave me no choice.” His mouth was set in a tight line. “I wiped his mind clean. He’s as useless as a newborn baby now.”

  I inhaled sharply. “Couldn’t you have just told him to let us pass?”

  “No. He’s a hunter. It’s in his blood. He wouldn’t have let us go with a simple mind trick. He would have kept after us until we were both chopped into little pieces.”

  I shuddered. “I’m glad you’re with me.”

  His eyes widened. “You don’t think I’m a monster?”

  “I would have been dead without you. I know it’s not easy for you to use your gift to harm others.”

  Kallan didn’t say anything, but I could see the tension leave his shoulders, and he relaxed as we trudged on.

  I don’t know how much time passed before Kallan stopped abruptly. “We’re close. I need you to stay here for a moment. I need to talk to someone, and they won’t talk to me if you’re with me.”

  Panic rose in my chest. “No. You can’t leave me out here. Kallan, please don’t.”

  “I have to. Use your glamour and make yourself invisible. Stay here. I won’t be far, so if anyone bothers you, use my power.”

  I nodded and tried to hold back the tears. I was terrified to be left alone.

  “Stay here, Rylie. I’ll be right back,” Kallan repeated before slinking off.

  As soon as he was gone, the forest seemed to close in. The darkness grew thick, and it was so quiet I could hear myself breathing. I gulped and tried to remain calm. Be brave, I told myself. I wrapped my arms around my torso, trying to fend off the chill. No one can see you. I tried to relax and be one with nature like a faery might be, but it wasn’t helping.

  The hoot of an owl made me jump. My eyes searched the trees and sky, looking for the source, but I didn’t see anything. That didn’t make me feel any better. Only a small amount of sun shone through the trees. It felt like the middle of the night where I stood.

  What was taking Kallan so long? I wandered off in the direction he’d disappeared. I couldn’t stand staying in one place. I had to keep reminding myself that no one could see me, and I was safe.

  Time passed. It was probably just a few minutes, but it felt like hours. I realized I had wandered too far and had no idea where I was or which way to head. The forest looked the same every direction I looked. Trees, bushes, all the same. No way out.

  I remembered what Azura had told me. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. I stood completely still and tried to tune into the forest. I didn’t feel the warmth or familiarity I did when I had been with Azura. But I did feel something. Coldness and danger behind me, but not to the left. The left was more...friendly.

  I opened my eyes, determined to go left. Something scurried over my foot and I let out a scream, my glamour falling away like water as I lost hold of it. Had the sensation been a normal forest animal? Or something creepier?

  I heard chattering, and then a scratchy voice. “Well, well. What do we have here?”

  A goblin. He stood before me, his wrinkled face gazing up. He was so close I could have reached out and touched him.

  I opened my mouth to scream again, but nothing came out.

  “Cat got your tongue?” He circled me. “I know you. You’re supposed to be some great, special faery, aren’t you?”

  I didn’t answer.

  “Don’t look like nothing special to me.”

  I swallowed and found my voice. “Leave me alone.”

  “I don’t want to. I have no reason to keep you alive.”

  He was less than three feet tall. How dangerous could he be? If I could just kick him hard enough, he’d go flying, and I could run. I started backing up very slowly and then suddenly tripped on something—either a branch or my own feet. Pain shot up my leg as I twisted and hit the ground on my butt.

  “Damn it,” I swore, clutching my ankle.

  The goblin was closer now, an evil smile spreading across his face. “Thought you could get out of here, did you? The tree roots here like to move and grow unexpectedly.”

  I glanced down at my feet and saw the root I had tripped on burrow back into the ground. I scooted backwards, my hand hitting something else. I turned to find a different root emerging from the ground.

  “I wouldn’t go too far,” he cackled. “There’s a drop-off just a few feet behind you. You don’t want to fall.”

  I turned my head. Sure enough, after a few more feet of dark forest floor, there was a black darkness where the grass ended. The goblin came closer and fear paralyzed me. It wasn’t Adam’s face that flashed before me; it was Kallan’s. He was who I thought about first.

  “Please,” I begged. “Please don’t hurt me.” I tried to get to my feet, but my ankle exploded in pain.

  The goblin was closer now. I noticed how creepily long his fingers were as he reached out to touch me.

  “Rylie!”

  “Kallan!” I yelled back.

  Kallan burst through the trees and stuck his dagger into the goblin. The goblin’s mouth opened in a silent scream, and he dropped to the ground.

  Kallan yanked the dagger out and put it back on his belt, then rushed to my side. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah...you saved me. Again.”

  Kallan didn’t answer. He extended his hand.

  I took it and then yelled out as I placed pressure on my foot. I had forgotten about hurting my ankle.

  Wrinkles erupted on his forehead. “What’s wrong?”

  “My ankle.”

  He helped me over to a log and sat me down. “Let me see.”

  “It’s too dark.”

  Kallan dug into his backpack and pulled a long yellow stick from it. He cracked the stick between his hands, and light burst from it like a glow stick—only much brighter. He took my shoe and sock off and poked around on my foot. “I think it’s just sprained.” He reached back in his backpack and pulled out a disposable ice pack. “Put this on it.”

  I laughed. “You just happened to have an ice pack in your bag?”

  “You’re not used to walking through the woods so much. I was worried something would happen.” He motioned to my foot and gave me a wry grin. “Unfortunately, I was right.”

  I settled the ice pack against my ankle and sighed as the cold seeped through my skin. “That feels good. Why were you gone so long?”

  “Why weren’t you invisible?”

  “I got scared and my glamour dropped. This isn’t second nature to me like it is you.”

  “You’re right. I shouldn’t have left you. If something would have happened to you....” His voice trailed off and pain flickered across his face.

  “Did you get what you were after?” I wanted to get out of this part of the woods as quick as possible.

  �
�We got a lead.”

  I waited, thinking he’d say more, but he didn’t. “What is it?”

  “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “So?”

  He shrugged. “Okay. The faery was seen near the field of rocks.”

  He was right. I had no clue what that meant. “Where is that?”

  “Few hours away. But that ankle is going to present a problem.” He pursed his lips. “We could rest here for the night.”

  I looked around at the eerie forest. “Do we have to?”

  Kallan reached back in his bag and pulled out a small green fruit. “If you eat this, your ankle will feel better. Won’t be completely healed, but you should be able to walk on it.”

  “Is this something like what Lena gave me?” Lena was a light faery with healing powers that Varwik held captive by threatening her family. Kallan looked confused, so I added, “When I had a stomachache at your…house?” I wasn’t really comfortable calling a castle a “house,” but that was where he lived.

  “Yes, that drink was made from this fruit.”

  I took the fruit and bit into it. My stomach churned. “Yuck! That doesn’t taste like the drink.”

  “The drink is made with other things that make it taste better. You gotta finish it though.”

  I sighed and ate the rest of the fruit, trying not to gag. It was the first faery fruit that I didn’t like. After a minute, I felt a warm tingling in my ankle and the throbbing subsided. “Wow. That stuff is pretty awesome.”

  Kallan helped me stand up. “How does it feel?”

  When I put pressure on my foot, the pain was gone. A smile broke out on my face. “Let’s get out of here!”

  It didn’t take long for us to emerge out of Targore. I breathed a sigh of relief when we stepped into the clearing.

  “That place is...” I couldn’t put my finger on it.

  “Draining,” Kallan finished my thought.

  “Yes.”

  “Targore does that. It drains the energy and the happiness from you.”

  “Yuck.”

  “We don’t go in there much. Nobody likes to.”

  “I don’t want to go back. Do we have to go that way again?”