House of Leights (Secret Keepers, #3)(49)
“You should go to him,” my mom said as she turned me toward the trees. “He’s hurting and you’re the only one who can help him heal.”
My mom was so wise. I couldn’t imagine living without her sage advice. My father looked less convinced, but he didn’t object as I started toward House of Leights. No one stopped me. Emma briefly hugged me as I moved past them, before she moved back to stand against Lexen. He wrapped his arms around her.
“I’m sorry you were lost,” Lexen told me. “But you have proven your connection to Overworld by finding your way through the transporter.” I sensed his pride, which kind of made me want to blush, because I hadn’t really done much.
Nodding, I started to walk again, only stopping when he added. “Bring him back, Maya. We need to go to House of Darken and track the fourth secret keeper.”
“We’ll be back as soon as possible,” I promised. I was determined to make sure Laous didn’t destroy this world, because I was already in love with it.
Home.
“Be careful,” Emma called after me. “Trust the trees. They’re good.”
Those words barely registered with me, because I was completely focused on my land. Well, on the trees. I stood right at the edge of the metal platform. The tree trunks were thick, close together, and I could see no clear path to enter. Not sure what I was supposed to do, I reached out to touch the nearest one. Hopefully at minimum I’d feel that same sense of peace like last time. Its trunk was an unusual gold, with barky flakes giving it an aged and roughened appearance. The moment my hand connected, I jolted. It felt like someone had attached a rope to my center and then tied the other end to the tree … like I was tethered to it. There was no other way to describe it.
A rush of whispers entered my mind, an unnatural noise. At first I could not differentiate anything, but the longer I remained with my hand against the trees, the clearer it was starting to become.
Daughter.
They called me daughter, over and over, a million voices speaking at the same time, until it was almost deafening. I felt much more than peace. I felt everything. I wanted to stay there forever, but I needed to get Chase. Though, I’d be back for the trees.
Closing my eyes, I brought forth a mental image of Chase. Those beautiful green eyes. The marks etched into the short hair on his head. The perfect planes of his face.
Can you take me to him?
The ground started to shake, rocking me back so that the connection between me and the trees broke. Within five seconds the shaking had subsided, and the trees parted. Like … actually shifted out of the way to form a path through their branches. Peering over the edge, through the gap between the platform and the first branches, I could see no ground at all in sight, just long trunks below. I drew back, blinking and breathing to calm myself. Heights were not my favorite thing, and if there was ground below, it was much further down than I could see.
It was only the knowledge that Chase was close by, and that he was hurting, that calmed my racing heart. I stepped in under the dark canopy. My feet were surer against the branch path than I expected, and each step forward felt a little easier. After a few moments I continued without worry, the only sound a rustling behind me as the trees closed the path.
The tether in my stomach remained as it was when I first touched the tree. It didn’t stretch or strain, but I could feel it there like a physical connection. For the first time in my life, I walked among nature and did not stop for one moment to freak out about bugs. And that wasn’t because there were none, because as my ears adjusted to the “quiet,” it became apparent that this world was filled with small noises, different creatures rustling through the branches, some tiny, others larger and more unique. I particularly liked ones that looked like a cross between an owl and … maybe a koala, those Australian animals. It was fluffy and bear-like, but with large feathered wings. It perched on the branches in the same manner as an owl.
One in particular, almost completely midnight black, barring one splash of terracotta across its chest, started to follow close behind me. I’d turn my head and there it would be, moving through the branches, and after some time I started to feel like I’d made a friend. I even chatted to it as I moved.
“You’re very beautiful,” I cooed, my hand lifting almost involuntarily to touch it. Large yellow eyes darted toward my hand, and I hesitated, not wanting to scare it away. “Thanks for taking this journey with me,” I continued on, lowering my hand. “I’m searching for Chase. Do you know him?”
A small chirp of noise; I took that as an affirmative. This creature did indeed know Chase. “Will you help me find him?”
There was a soft whooshing sound, and then those stunning wings spread out on either side of it, somehow finding the space within the tightly packed trees. Before I could blink again, a heavy weight landed on my shoulder, and while at first the urge to freak out was strong, I took a moment to calm my mind. After a few deep breaths, I accepted my new friend.
We were going to find Chase.
15
The further I ventured into this House of Leights, the lighter I felt. I truly believed it was my soul that was growing … healing … soaring. Whatever essence made me Maya Anne Lewis was bursting free from the confines my life on Earth had placed on it. The bear-owl squeaked on my shoulder, a soft, gentle sound that I took as an agreement even though I hadn’t spoken my thoughts out loud.