The Rose Witch - Chandelle LaVaun Page 0,27

that stung the skin everywhere it touched. And I only wore this gown.

I took a step forward and my feet sank into cold slush. I cursed and hissed. But then gravity took over and I fell forward. My hands and knees landed in — I gasped. Snow? I balled my fists and felt the cold, powdery substance seeping through my fingers. Where the bloody hell am I? I looked around, desperate for any kind of clue as to where I was, but all I saw were thick pine trees covered in snow. Moonlight shined through the branches, making the white snow seem almost blue.

A bright golden light ripped through the darkness.

I jumped and crashed onto my back, then hissed as the snow touched all my bare skin. The light. It looked like someone shined a flashlight through the forest, a huge flashlight. It was either a person or a car. Had to be. Either way it was life. It was hope for getting help. But I needed to hurry.

With a violent curse, I leapt back to my feet and trudged through the snow, the long golden skirt of my dress trailing behind me. Little cold droplets hit my cheek and I gasped. It was actively snowing. That was why everything seemed blurry. I grinned as this reassured me. Part of me had wondered if I’d hurt myself or if he’d put some spell on me. But it was just snow.

I stomped through the snow, forcing my way around a few trees – then I stopped. Up ahead, just beyond the line of this forest I was in, a cute little train station sat buried in snow. The building was white with soft green accents. On the wall, written in big bold black letters was the word HIMMELREICH. I gasped. That was German. I was in Germany. How the bloody hell did I get to Germany?

But then I saw it, idling right beside the cute little building, and my heart stopped.

A bright red train sat there looking like a cardinal in the snow. Golden light poured out of the windows and I could see people sitting inside. Some even sleeping. Hope surged inside. I could do this. I could get there. I bent down and gripped the skirt of my dress in my hands, then charged forward.

Within a few feet, the snow grew shallower and the ground more sturdy.

Somehow, no one was watching this side of the train. No one was expecting a runaway to hop on from out of the forest. When my hands gripped the cold metal handles I almost cried. But I held it in. I wasn’t on the train yet. I climbed my way up the steps and then pushed my way through the door that separated cars and stumbled inside the car.

Warmth wrapped around me like a fuzzy blanket. I sighed as every nerve ending in my body tingled from the heat waking them up. The train whistled again and I jumped out of my skin. To my surprise, not a single person sitting in the seats of this car even looked up to see who had joined them. Which was a relief because my gold feather-bodice gown did not blend in.

All the way down at the far end of the car, there was a row of seats without anyone in it. I hurried down the little aisle and slipped into the row. The cloth was itchy against my bare skin but it was warm. And it was safe. I glanced over my shoulder to confirm just how far the door was. If there was an emergency, I could make a run for it.

I sighed and relaxed into the seat, leaning my head against the window. My whole body tingled and pulsed with energy. I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself. Tears threatened to pour but I was holding them in. For now. I just couldn’t believe the day I’d had.

Tegan tricked me. She set me up. She took me outside and handed me over to him.

It made no sense.

The Coven was supposed to protect its civilians. Why did she do that?

I had more questions than I had at the beginning of the day and not a hope to answering them. I didn’t even have a cellphone. Or money. Or clothes. Shit.

Just take a deep breath, Chloe.

You got here through a picture, you can get out of here through one.

The train jostled and rocked backwards – then lurched forward. My stomach turned. I curled my