Iri sprinted forward. Instead of backing away, the vegetation curled into her. Jaden watched, horrified, as vines stretched out of the undergrowth, wrapping their tendon-like arms around her ankles. Iri stumbled and fell forward. The vines crawled over her like snakes over a rat in a pit. If they didn’t do something soon, the vines would choke her or squeeze her to death.
A black shadow swooped down, obscuring Iri for a second. Jaden was halfway toward Iri, his DD extended, when he realized what had happened. Tinks had taken hold of Iri in her talons, lifting her voyager up, away from the danger. But the vines were relentless. The more Tinks tried to lift, they tighter they held on.
With a war cry, Jaden rushed the spot and slashed at the vines. Han dove down and helped Tinks. Then Taz, Kayla, Aren and Atu were there, hovering above him as well. Psychotically, Jaden hacked at the green ropes, his blade severing whatever it touched.
But the vines held their own revenge. As they slithered back to the ground, they released small puffs of particles. Thorns, Jaden corrected when his arm brushed through them. They sank into his skin, burrowing in and taking a thousand tiny bites out of his skin.
Abruptly, he was in the air. Jaden glanced up. Han was lifting him. Looking down, Jaden realized Iri had been freed. Their gliders increased their height, removing their voyagers from danger.
When they were clear, Atu tossed Jaden the same tube he’d used earlier. “Use it now. Those thorns will burrow all the way through if you don’t.”
Slathering the lotion over the affected area, Jaden groaned with relief. Tiny specks ejected themselves from his skin. The raw skin that remained slowly covered over until his skin was back to normal. Jaden really didn’t know how Atu did it, but he was glad Atu had the gift he did.
The others were discussing strategy, but Jaden had been distracted. “What’s the plan?”
“We’ll fly to the exit, then drop down at the last moment so we can walk through,” Han informed him.
Even as Han said it, Iri and Tinks slid down and ran forward. Iri had marked the spot. The rest of them followed her lead, and soon they all stood on the other side of the invisible door.
Iri slammed it shut. “Good riddance!”
Jaden expected to find more jungle, but this place was far from it. Jaden tensed. What now?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Kayla stared. The scrupulously manicured lawns, landscaped flowerbeds, and sculpted trees looked like something out of a fairytale. She glanced around, half expecting to find a palace, but she was disappointed. There were no buildings, only the lush, sweeping gardens, surrounding them on all sides as far as they could see. What was this place? More troubling, who had been maintaining it?
“Is this the end point?” Kayla asked Iri.
“I don’t know. I couldn’t really see what was here, just that there was an end point.”
Kayla nodded, thoughtful. “Jaden, how about you? Any of those feelings of yours?”
“Nope! I wish there were, though, because this place is eerily perfect.”
“You’re not the only one thinking that.”
Jaden nodded. “Well, we aren’t going to get anywhere just standing here. Let’s explore and see what we can find.”
“As long as we don’t go up, we’re fine,” Iri commented. They all looked at her. “You can’t see the ceiling?”
Kayla studied the sky overhead but saw nothing. When she glanced at Jaden and Atu, she gathered she wasn’t alone.
Iri grimaced. “Okay, so the ceiling up there is like that invisible wall we flew into before. It might even be part of that same wall. And I’m thinking it has the same purpose.”
“You mean to stop us from flying to the end point if this isn’t it?” Kayla clarified.
“Yeah. Wherever we’re supposed to go, we’ll have to walk.”
“Fantastic.” Taz’s sneer indicated it was anything but.
Kayla hid a grin. She couldn’t blame Taz. Who would want to walk when they could fly? “I suppose we should start walking then.”
They set off in no particular direction, meandering down the gently sloping lawn towards the pond that reflected the sun like a polished mirror. Apart from the lush lily pads bobbing idly on the water, there was nothing noteworthy about it. They angled towards some sculpted trees, shaped into animals and artfully placed around a loose gravel oval with white stone benches. Although Kayla would’ve loved to sit and admire the trees, there was no time. They pressed on and entered a section with flowers so flamboyant, they were taller than the gliders.
If there are such things as fairies, this must be what it feels like for them. Hiding amongst all the blossoms with their heady scents was almost intoxicating. Just when Kayla began to worry that this was another trap, they exited into the sunshine again. A short way in front of them, a hedge blocked their way.
“Do you think that’s meant to be a wall around the garden?” Kayla guessed.
“Let’s find out,” Jaden muttered.
Kayla glanced at him, noting his sour expression with amusement. Apparently the tunnel of flowers had done nothing to improve his disposition. She caught up to him and snagged his hand with her own. Startled blue eyes the color of cobalt focused on her.
“Try to relax. You know there’s nothing we can do to expedite this,” Kayla whispered.
Jaden smiled, albeit grimly. “How do you always know the right thing to say?”
Kayla chuckled. “I don’t. I just say what I’m thinking, and it turns out to be what we both need.”
Jaden squeezed her hand. This time, his smile was that gorgeous one that she loved. The one that tipped the corners all the way up and made crinkly lines around his eyes.
“Have I told you lately that I’m grateful you’re here with me?” Jaden asked.
“And here I thought you wanted to keep me wrapped up in cotton wool and away from all of this.” Finally, a chuckle!
“If only.”
Hand in hand, they approached the hedge and began walking along it. They didn’t have to go far before discovering its true purpose.
“A maze!” Kayla exclaimed, as a break in the hedge revealed a parallel hedge a few feet away with a sharp corner opening onto a perpendicular path. She scratched at her arm, irritated that it would choose this moment to start annoying her.
“We’re in the right place, alright,” Atu murmured, drawing up next to them. When everyone gazed at him, he pointed down.
On the ground, conspicuously placed at the entrance to the maze, was a concrete paver. The molded stamp on its square face was unmistakable.
“The medallion!” Kayla breathed.
“Bring back any memories?” Jaden asked.
“Yeah, the floor of the tower,” Atu remarked. He glanced at the sky. “At least, there aren’t any Gaptors around this time.”
“Did you have to say that?” Iri moaned. “You know you’ve jinxed us now, right?”
Atu shook his head. “There’s just no pleasing some people.”
But his tone was light, and Iri smiled. Some mild entertainment was welcome right now.
Kayla turned to Jaden. “Do we go in?”
“I don’t see that we have much choice.” Jaden sighed. He glanced at the gliders. “What do you think?”
Taz, as usual, spoke for all of them. “We will follow where you lead.”
Jaden grunted. “That’s not really an answer.” Despite this, he gripped Kayla’s hand more firmly. “Ready?”
“Yes,” Kayla answered.
Together, they stepped into the corridor of the maze. They stopped there, expecting something to happen. Nothing did. Iri and Atu joined them, followed by the gliders. Jaden and Kayla moved further down the corridor to make space for them. That’s when things changed.
Kayla gasped as the hedge’s walls reshaped themselves in front of them, forging a tunnel leading away from where they stood. The light at the start of the tunnel only allowed them to see so far. Beyond that, all that remained were the dark rec
esses of that closed space. She began to feel claustrophobic. This was like those black spaces in the tower.
Kayla shuddered. Jaden’s grip on her hand became almost painful, but ironically, it comforted Kayla. Having him close was all the support she needed. This time, Kayla took the first step.
As they walked, Kayla was surprised and relieved when the light overhead didn’t disappear. The tunnel stretched in front of them and behind, a dark void, but their area remained a bright, sunny spot. Not sure how that’s working, but at least we have that going for us.
Although the tunnel seemed endless when it appeared, it didn’t take long to reach the exit. Her gratitude at leaving the tunnel was replaced by confusion. A stone wall blocked their way. Kayla stepped closer. An inscribed stone wall.
“Looks like we’ve got a message.” Kayla released Jaden’s hand and dropped her pack. In seconds, she had her notepad in hand. She grinned as Iri ran her hands over the markings.
“You understand this?” Iri sounded awed.
“You can thank my Grammy for that.” Kayla set to work. Copying the symbols into her notepad, Kayla began the tedious process of crossing out and rearranging them so that they formed a translation. As she studied the completed work, she frowned, her mind caught on the third sentence. Was she reading too much into it? Should she tell the others about the double meaning? Then she dismissed her concern. This mission was making her paranoid about everything.
“Finished?” Jaden asked, stepping up behind her.
Kayla smiled up at him. “Yes. Want to do the honors?”
Jaden read through the words. She knew he’d reached the last line when his face drained of color. “You’re sure about this?”
“Yes. But the last riddle had something about a boy and burning, and that didn’t happen. I doubt this will either.”
Her words didn’t reassure Jaden. He looked ill. Kayla tried again. “Jaden, first of all, it probably isn’t even talking about us. Secondly, there are two girls here, so it could just as easily be Iri. Either way, stop worrying about something that may or may not happen. Fear will cripple us if nothing else does.”
Jaden wasn’t convinced. He stared at the paper for so long that Kayla wondered whether he was going to share it with the others. Just when she thought she needed to prod him, he shook himself and motioned the others closer. Anxiously, they crowded around Jaden.
“What does it say, bro?” Atu asked.
Kayla was surprised that he had been the one to ask. But then, he was also the most eager to leave this place.
Jaden read the words she had written:
In the mural of deceit
The elusive tiers defeat
Judge the leaves with care
Of dangers beware
Do not despair at this time
Find what leads you to sunshine
Not if you should hope
But when you should hope
Stop the steel from flying
Stop the girl from dying
Iri glanced at Kayla. “You think this girl in the riddle is one of us?”
“No,” Kayla answered firmly. “The last riddle had something similar, and that never came to pass. So perhaps these last two lines are only there to scare us.”
“As if all this isn’t sinister enough,” Atu muttered.
“Okay, ignoring the doom and gloom,” Iri said, “what does it mean?”
Kayla took the notepad from Iri and flipped back a few pages to the last riddle. Running her eyes across the words, she compared the two. “Well, the first line last time had to do with where we were. Based on that, let’s go with the theory that this riddle was written the same way.”
“The ‘mural of deceit’ being the wall in front of us?” Iri asked.
“Perhaps. It could also be the garden we just passed through or the entire Buried Forest. I mean, the whole place is practically one big lie,” Kayla noted.
“Go on,” Jaden encouraged.
“The next three lines on the first riddle told us what we had to do: go out the tower and climb the steeple to find the hidden item.”
“I’d say we’ve defeated the ‘elusive tiers’ already.” Jaden frowned. “Isn’t that what we did when we tried all those doors?”
“I don’t think so,” Kayla murmured. “Something you need to understand about this ancient language is that the way words are arranged is almost as important as the words themselves. The three lines need to be viewed together. And before you say all of them can apply to what we’ve already gone through, let me reiterate. The way the words have been arranged, the placement of the symbols on the wall, and how I had to get the translation imply future tense, not past tense. I’m inclined to say these lines refer to something we still need to do rather than something we’ve already done.”
“Alright,” Jaden acquiesced. “Think the ‘tiers’ are the layers of stones in the wall?”
Iri shrieked, startling them all. “Look, leaves!” Running along the bottom of the wall were leaves stamped into the stone. “But don’t touch!”
“Why not?” Jaden asked, his eyes round.
“They smell bad.”
Kayla almost wanted to laugh. How could inanimate, stamped leaves smell like anything? Hadn’t Iri said she couldn’t sense things that had no life? Were they in fact alive? But Iri was sniffing the air as she moved toward a small bush with long, thin leaves that had grown up right alongside the wall. Its coloring exactly matched the wall, making it blend in. If Iri hadn’t pointed it out, they wouldn’t have noticed it.
“These leaves, however, they smell right.” Iri gently pushed them aside.
Kayla inhaled sharply. The space Iri opened revealed another medallion stamped into the wall. This time, the medallion wasn’t oversized. In fact, it was the exact size of their medallions. Absently, she rubbed her arm, wishing she hadn’t indulged the itch the first time. The prickliness was just getting worse.
Jaden crouched next to Iri, examining the engraved image before removing his medallion from his wrist pouch. He glanced at the others. “Zareh did say our medallions were the key. Anyone disagree with me putting my medallion on that space?”
“No, go for it.” Atu’s excitement had overcome his reservations.
Carefully, Jaden lined up the sides and images. Then he placed his medallion over the one carved into the stone. The stone flashed, and Jaden’s medallion vanished.
“Uh-oh,” Iri said. “That doesn’t seem right.”
A grinding sound made them all leap back. The wall split into two, forming two doors that swung inward.
“Hmm, I’m a little more hesitant about going in there after the wall swallowed your medallion,” Atu conceded.
“I’m not.” Jaden bounded inside before anyone could stop him and snatched something off the ground.
“Jaden, what are—” Kayla didn’t finish her sentence.
With a broad grin, Jaden held up his medallion. “I think it was a key, just not in the normal sense. It took it in one side and spat it out on the other.” Jaden chuckled.
“Cowboy,” Han muttered as he waddled past Jaden.
“Worrywart,” Jaden parried, but he gave Han’s neck a fond rub. Han leaned into his hand, enjoying the contact.
Kayla grinned. She knew the feeling. As if he had sensed her amusement, Jaden turned his incredible blue eyes on her. Kayla smiled sweetly. “Do I get a turn too?”
Jaden laughed, that amazing smile making his face more handsome than anyone’s should be. Kayla moved toward him, but Taz stepped in front of her.
“What do we do next?” Taz demanded.
Kayla sighed. Time with Jaden would have to wait. Studying the two riddles, she came up empty. “I don’t know. There’s nothing more there.”
“There must be more,” Jaden insisted.
“If it’s any help, the ceiling over this area is really high,” Iri commented.
Kayla looked up. Although she didn’t see the ceiling, she couldn’t miss the dark shapes t
hat loomed far above. “Are those what I think they are?”
Jaden directed his attention upward and then groaned. “And here I thought we’d be able to complete this task without dealing with Gaptors.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Atu, you did jinx us,” Kayla accused. To no-one in particular, Kayla said, “Do you think the ceiling’s the only thing keeping them out of the Buried Forest?”
“Who knows.” Jaden sighed. “But if this ceiling is anything like the barrier that blocked the Gaptors when we were at the tower, it might only be effective for a limited time. Let’s get what we came for before they break through.”
His grim words forced Kayla to examine her surroundings. Their small group occupied a narrow strip of grass rimming a circular area sprinkled with circular stones, each one large enough to hold a person with their arms tucked at their sides. “What’s with all the circles?”
“I don’t know, but they smell bad.” Iri gagged. “Like something’s rotting there.”
“Any colors telling you which stones we should avoid?” Jaden asked.
Iri squinted at the stones. “No colors. And the smell is warped by the breeze, so I can’t pinpoint the bad stones that way either.”
Jaden picked up a pebble and raised an eyebrow. “Here we go again.”
He lobbed it, and they all watched as the pebble arced through the air. Kayla held her breath as it landed. Then she wished she hadn’t. What happened made her suck in air so sharply that she coughed, but no one else noticed. They were all staring at the gaping narrow pit that had taken the place of the stone.
“Can anyone see how deep it is?” Kayla wheezed.
Jaden clapped her on the back, and Taz took to the air. Kayla gave him a watery smile as the coughing subsided.
“I can’t see the bottom,” Taz called a moment later.
“That’s not encouraging,” Han noted dourly.
“I wonder if they’re all like that.” Atu idly tossed another stone into the circle.
Destiny Series Boxed Set Page 81
