into the trees. My mouth dropped open— now where was she off to?
“Odette!” Theo cried. He changed into an alicorn and ran after her. The rest of us hurried to follow. I raced through the trees, jumping over logs and stones. Had Odette lost her mind? Where was she taking us?
Finally, the trees parted. I caught my breath as a familiar site came into view. Odette had led us to the faery fort, underneath the shade of the Willow Maiden. The ruins from the abandoned castle seemed to glisten in the sun as the monumental tree towered over the area.
Circling the clearing was a line of mushrooms. A fae circle. They’d been commonly used as portals to Edinmyre a long time ago, but I didn’t think they held any magic now.
As I came close to the willow, that’s when I heard it. Tinkling bells, and the sound of women harmonizing. It hadn’t been here before the last time I visited. This was so strange. By the mystified faces of my friends, they heard it now, too.
“Odette, wait up!” Delmare called, but Odette didn’t listen. She giggled as she came to the base of the Willow Maiden. She looked up at the great tree and let the strands brush against her face, before she put her hands against the tree bark—
And walked straight through.
In moments, Odette vanished.
“Odette!” Theo screamed in a panic. He didn’t pause to think. Theo charged right after her. Just like she did, he became encompassed by the tree’s bark, vanishing into its trunk.
My heart pounded. The bells were louder than ever in my ears. Theo and Odette had disappeared, but I knew where they had gone.
Ethan saw the curious expression on my face. “Emma, don’t try it,” he warned.
Too late. I ran full-speed toward the tree— which, in retrospect, was a stupid thing to do, considering I had no idea where it would take me. But I trusted the Willow Maiden, and I had to know where my friends were. My body pressed into the trunk, and I felt the warm safety of the Willow Maiden envelop me like a mother, her heartbeat pounding against me as I melded into the tree and came out the other side.
Sunlight beamed on my face. The sound of bells and singing was gone, replaced by the chirping of birds and the whistling of wind through long grass. I opened my eyes. Tears blossomed in them when I took in the incredible view.
I was in a large valley. The grass here was golden, and up to my knees. The sky above us was a mixture of pink and purple, orange clouds passing by. Flowers as big as my hand bloomed amongst the grass, scattering like red blood droplets against the span of gold. In the distance, I saw great mountains, blue like sapphires with diamond tops.
There was no one around for miles. I didn’t see a single building. Behind me was a perfect replica of the Willow Maiden, her fronds weaving in the breeze.
This was a beautiful new world. One so delicate, nearly made of glass. The sight of it made me want to cry. I didn’t know where we’d been taken, but it felt right. More than that— it felt safe. Like coming home after a tiring journey, finding a place to stay after being gone for far too long.
Odette clapped while Theo bobbed his head, looking a little sick. “You made it, Emma!” Odette cheered. “I hope the others follow!”
Except... Odette didn’t really look like Odette anymore. She had a long pink horn, like one of an alicorn, growing out the center of her forehead. Pink butterfly wings sparkled in the sunlight upon her back, and her clothes had changed into a flowing pink dress.
Something on top of my head itched. I reached up to scratch it, and cried out aloud when I felt something very furry.
I looked behind— my wings were out, but more than that, I’d grown a fluffy white wolf’s tail after running through the tree! My clothes had been replaced by a navy blue dress, with a light blue corset that laced up my middle. Though it was comfortable, it was something you’d wear to a Renaissance Faire— not the modern clothes I’d left behind me.
I reached for my phone to check my reflection, but I didn’t have it. The only thing I still carried with me in my bag was my grimoire.
Worry knotted in my gut. What the hell had just happened?