Orenda (12 page)

Lil swallowed the nervous lump forming in her throat. “I . . . ” She had no idea what to say to that. Was Hudson talking about himself or were they still talking about Bray? “I'm pretty sure he didn't plan on ending up here,” Lil said, assuring Hudson as much as herself. Bray wouldn't bring himself back to Orenda to find Lil, would he? No. Eilith had kidnapped him once already. Who's to say he'd escape the second time?

Hudson stared at Lil, just mere inches away. “I don't want to see you, or your friend, get hurt,” he said, leaning in toward her. He didn't kiss her though. Lil's back was to the bedroom door. She looked up at him, feeling the warmth radiating off his body as he stared deep into her eyes. Her hands stayed planted at her sides. She was still conflicted about Hudson. His sandy brown hair and warm amber eyes begged her to trust him. The immediate annoyance she'd felt upon knowing him had faded. Her eyes moved down to his plump pink lips. His breath lingered, and her eyes shut. Lil closed the distance between them, planning to kiss him. She heard a loud cough in the hallway, effectively killing the mood.

Hudson pulled back first, his face flushed. Jamie was staring at them in the hallway. “Were you about to kiss Lil?” Jamie asked.

“I was hoping to.” Hudson smiled, averting his eyes. “Goodnight, Lil.”

“Goodnight, boys.” A faint smile spread across her lips.

Lil awoke early to the sound of wind whipping along the sanctuary. She groaned in protest, refusing to wake. Whatever time it was; it was too early.

“Lil.” She heard a voice and slowly opened her heavy eyelids. Had she been imagining it? She pulled the sheets closer to her chest and felt Hudson staring down at her.

Her eyes opened and she pushed a hand through her unkempt hair. “What are you doing in here?” She moved to sit up, one hand holding the sheets, the other pushing him farther from her, needing personal space.

“The others told me to get you up. We're leaving in twenty.” He backed up with a boyish grin. “You don't want to be left behind, do you?” He closed the door and headed down the stairs. Lil wasted no time in pushing herself out of bed. She tore through the clothes on the dresser, finding something that fit before pulling her hair back and out of the way. She eyed the clock, knowing she was cutting it close. She took off out of her room and rushed down the stairs, relieved to hear chatter in the kitchen.

Hudson glanced up as he packed a bag with snacks and water. “Look who finally woke up.” He smiled. “Grab yourself something you might want to eat on the way.”

“Do I need to put on the eternal suit?” Lil asked, glancing at the boys in the kitchen. Jamie was eating a bowl of cereal.

“No chance of that,” Willow said. She zipped up the jacket for the eternal suit and walked into the kitchen. “It's mine again.”

Hudson glanced back at Willow before eyeing Lil. “You'll take the sword with you, just in case.”

“Okay, great.” Lil tried to sound enthusiastic, but a part of her was jealous. Maybe she didn't need the eternal suit, but wasn't she safer if she wore it? She pushed those thoughts aside, heading into the training arena. Was it horrible to like Arianna better than Willow, even though she and Willow were sort of the same person? It wasn't as though Willow had done anything terrible to her—except perhaps get her into this mess.

In a matter of minutes, they headed outside through the main entrance. “Are we driving?” Lil asked, noticing Rawlie's car hadn't moved since they'd brought it here just a few short days ago. She hadn't seen any sign of the sacred springs near the sanctuary, though she hadn't ventured outside the gates on her own.

“Just up to the mountain,” Rawlie said. “The rest of the way we hike to the springs.” It didn't sound so bad.

The Mystics

Chapter 8

Rawlie had lied. Though he had made the journey on foot sound easy, it was much worse than Lil expected. “Come on. We won't make it to the springs before night if you keep at this pace.” On the trail, Willow walked ahead of Lil with no hint of slowing down.

Lil’s feet were tired, and the sword had grown heavy and was now making her back ache. Maybe the eternal suit had helped her carry the sword before? Or perhaps it was just more difficult because they were climbing uphill through the forest. Though they didn't need any hiking equipment—the trails were clear enough—but it wasn't a breeze. With every step uphill, Lil's legs were aching.

“Come on. We're almost there,” Hudson said, trying to encourage Lil.

She shot him a look. “How much farther?”

“A few more miles.” Hudson reached over, taking her hand in his. “It'll make it easier,” he said and Lil glanced at him curiously, giving a faint nod. At the very least, it took her mind off the climb. Now all she could think about was his hand in hers. Boys back home never held her hand. Hudson wasn't just a boy though—not that he was anything else, she reminded herself. But he was from another world, another
universe
.

She decided not to have a crush on Hudson. No. She wouldn't allow herself such thoughts. It couldn't go anywhere, anyway. She had to go home—to her sister, her family, and Bray. She forgot about the journey and wondered about her friend. Was Bray safe? Did Eilith try to track him down in her world? Biting her bottom lip, she glanced at Hudson, tripping over a tree root protruding from the ground. Her knee buckled and she nearly hit the ground face first, but Hudson caught her.

“Lil,” he breathed, just a mere inch from her lips. “You need to watch where you're going.”

Lil nodded, dazed as she got herself steady on her feet, her cheeks burning. “I'll be more careful,” she said. Glancing ahead, she could see Willow, Jamie, and Rawlie waiting for the two of them to catch up.

“Good,” Hudson said, reaching for her hand once more. “Just in case.” He smiled, taking her hand in his and locking their fingers together.

Embarrassed, Lil didn't have the heart to tell him it was the thought of him wanting to hold her hand that had sent her into a whirlwind and made her careless. She forgot where she was, forgot what she was doing, and needed to get her head on straight. “Thanks.” It was all she could offer in response. She kept her eyes trained on the ground in front of her.

They traveled on foot until the light of the strange pink sun began to descend over the horizon. Lil wanted to ask Hudson again how much longer they had to go, but she suspected she was what was holding them up. If she was lucky, she'd be able to go home today, and she wouldn’t have to walk back to the sanctuary.

“We're almost there.” She could hear Rawlie's voice from ahead, though she was hardly able to see him, except for his silhouette against the rising moon.

“You should be prepared for what happens next.” Hudson glanced at Lil, giving her hand a tentative squeeze. “The Mystics will decide if you're fated to reach the springs.”

“What?” Lil's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. “And if I'm not?” Was this all for nothing?

“Just be honest, with yourself and with the Mystics. You want to go home, right?”

“Of course I want to go home.” There was a slight hint of uncertainty in her voice. What if she wasn't worthy?

“Good.”

They reached the clearing in the forest, finding the others waiting for them. Before continuing, Hudson worked to remove the sword from Lil's back. “What are you doing?” she asked. Arianna unstrapped the sheath, and Hudson and Rawlie removed it from around Lil's shoulders.

“You can't go in armed.” Hudson found her hand and squeezed it one last time before he dropped the gentlest of kisses to her lips. “In case I don't see you again,” he whispered and pulled away.

Lil felt conflicting emotions pulling her in every direction. She wanted to go home, but there was something about Hudson too; she wasn't ready to say goodbye to him yet. When he'd kissed her, she felt her heart quicken and her insides melt. He was her first kiss and she was going home to another universe and would never see him again. Her heart ached. She wanted to reach back to kiss him again, but she was devoid of courage. Lil gave him the faintest smile she could muster and reached for Jamie's hand. Together they walked through the tall grasses and across the land to the giant stones just outside the reach of the springs. They both stopped, afraid to edge any closer. Hudson had told Lil she'd face the Mystics before reaching the spring, but there was no sight of them.

“I'm scared,” Jamie said. He dropped her hand and glanced around, waiting for the Mystics to come.

Lil glanced back, but it was impossible to see her friends in the dark. “Don't be. This is what we came for, right?” She took a step forward between the two giant pillars of stone. They were taller than Lil, reaching much higher than any human could ever stand. When she was centered between both stones, she froze in place.

“Lil, watch out!” Jamie shouted.

A purple and blue glow surrounded her. She didn't move and couldn't seem to breathe. Was it because she didn't belong in this world, or was this the ritual? Jamie’s voice seemed distant to Lil. A shadow crossed in the darkness. Her eyes blinked and the world changed.

“You want to go home.”

“You're the Mystics,” Lil said, though her mouth never moved. Her body was trapped between the pillars. She imagined running through blossoming fields. Laughing, she smiled and fell to the ground, the bed of flowers soft and plush, as she stared up at the blue sky. This was her home, her world, exactly how she envisioned it.

“I am what you say I am,” the voice answered. “You've come for one reason—to go home.”

Lil sat up, realizing she was wearing a white chiffon dress. She didn't wear gowns or dresses. Whose reality was this anyhow? She stood. “I do. I want to go home,” Lil said, “to my world.”

“You
are
home,” the voice answered with a hint of satisfaction. “Yet, you wish to leave.” She could hear the Mystics’ thoughts. She nodded. “All right, but know that what one desires is what the springs provide. The first desire, not the second.”

“I don't understand.” Lil frowned. “I want to go home.”

“You desire many things, Willow.” The Mystics used her given name. “You want to go home. That can be your destiny. Your power to travel from Orenda to your world. You may pass through to the springs, but be careful, for if you desire something more than home—that may be in your reach.”

“There's nothing I want more,” Lil said, walking through the colored fog. It vanished behind her. She walked to the edge of the spring and bent down, reaching her fingers toward the water, but she didn't disturb the surface just yet. She hesitated. The water sparkled and glowed. The power illuminated the surface, urging her to choose her desire and it to become real. She stared down at her reflection, the Mystics’ words echoing in her head. What could she want more than to go home?

“Willow!” Jamie's scream startled her. Lil pulled her hand back, and the light from the spring vanished in an instant.

Turning around, she caught sight of Jamie lying motionless on the ground. “Jamie!” she screamed in horror. A pool of red seeped through his shirt. She rushed to his side, bending down to his level. “Who did this to you?” The words caught in her throat. He blinked once, twice, and when she pulled back from him, she found his hand soaked and crimson.

“Eilith.” He choked on his own blood.

“No. No!” she shouted, shaking her head in denial. She’d heard his scream, but hadn’t been able to save him. “Hang on. Just, hang on, please, Jamie.” Tears fell as she rushed back through the stone oracle. It seemed as if an eternity passed before she reached the springs. She dove in, the warmth of the water bubbled and sizzled around her until the springs lit up.

“Jamie!” She could hear Willow's scream.

Lil pushed herself out of the springs, dripping from head to toe. “Healing,” she said loud and clear. “You wanted to know my most desired power, what I want above all else—healing. I need to save Jamie.” It wasn't a question; it was what she needed to do.

Lil jogged back toward him with her gown dripping wet. The weight slowed her down, but she ignored it. She didn't know when the Mystics changed her clothes, or when the new power consumed her. She felt it though, spreading through her like fire under her skin. There would be no smoke and no sizzle, just intense flames. “Let me help him!” Lil shouted as she approached. Willow was bent down, cradling him, rocking his lifeless body in her arms. Tears stained her cheeks and soaked her shirt. Lil gently pushed Willow away. “I can save him!” It went against every reason for why they'd come, but she had no other choice.

“Let her try.” Rawlie pulled Willow back.

The ground vibrated and the steam of the springs inched toward them. “Eilith,” Hudson said, turning. With his back to Lil and Jamie, he tried to protect them. He drew the dagger from his side, holding it steady in his hands.

A dark, sinister laugh filled the air along with thick black smoke. Willow coughed. Rawlie stood beside her, raising his weapon. “I know you're there,” he called out to Eilith. “Don't be a coward. Show yourself!”

Eilith’s laughter stopped. The smoke coalesced in one area before it turned into a vortex and she appeared. The haze she'd brought dissipated. “Seems I ruined your plans.” She grinned, proud of her accomplishments. “Can’t let anyone else have the ability to travel between worlds. Didn't the Mystics warn you I was coming?” she taunted. “Guess they're not as high and mighty as they pretend to be.”

Lil didn't answer. Her hands rested over the blood on Jamie's body. Her mind was in a meditative state, doing everything possible to heal him. It was slow and exhausting, but it was working. She didn’t have room for distractions. Though Eilith was there, her voice seemed distant, like a memory from another time, another life.

Hudson lunged forward, dagger in hand, trying his best to cut Eilith. With every step he took forward, he found himself shrouded in mist, her body nowhere in sight. She appeared behind him on the third swing. “I could have killed you, boy,” she hissed. Her magic was a reminder that she held the cards and almost all the power.