This is a book of fiction. Names, characters, places, and
incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination
or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual
organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely
coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

Kindle Ebook Complete 2nd Edition

Copyright © 2011 by Constance Sharper

Al rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or
reproduced without written permissions.

Airborne

One

She fled, tearing into the dark forest with only the dim
moonlight as her guide. She burst through the first layer of
trees and her sprint died. The icy air of October had frosted
over the huge treacherous roots that covered the forest
floor and each step farther, the path grew darker. The
terrain from there was too dangerous to keep running and
Avery reluctantly slowed to an agonizing crawl. She held out

her hands to map out her surroundings before she took
another careful step. Her fingers met rough bark and she
lifted her boots over another root.

Maneuvering careful y, she cast a hurried glance
backwards. Beyond the forest itself, she could see the hint
of artificial fluorescents lit up on the hil . The faint smel of
rich redwood smoke from the huffing chimneys even
reached her. Her home, at the top of the hil , now seemed
so far away as compared to the bitter cold and dry air in the
forest in which she stood now. She never got the chance to
become absorbed in the nostalgic image. The sharp crack
of a twig breaking nearby sent her back on edge. She was
supposed to have more time than this.

She was supposed to have a head start.

Heart clenching, she kept moving, delving farther into the
woods until the canopy took away the moonlight and she
had been swal owed by complete darkness. Only her firm
grip on a nearby branch gave her any sense of placement.
The vertigo was actual y welcomed. If she couldn’t even find
herself, no one else could either.

Suddenly an explosion of noise ripped through the woods.
Branches snapped and trees cried out as something
slammed into them. The canopy parted and just for a
second let in a splash of blue moonlight. The movement
caught her eye and saw a flicker of white crash down a
quarter mile away from her position. Avery didn’t hesitate.

She ran for it, leaping over the tangles of roots and dodging
branches before her moonlight faded away.

The image waiting in the newly formed clearing made her
slide to an abrupt stop. Laying limp over muddy snares of
weeds and chipped branches was a man. Brown hair
covered his glassy green eyes and scratches marred his
porcelain smooth skin. Massive white wings, strewn to
either side of him, rested crookedly under a fresh layer of
fal ing snow.

“Mason!” Avery dove to her knees beside him, careful not
to make contact while he looked so fragile. “Are you okay?”

His entire tan shirt was splotched red with blood. Eyes
darting over him, she sought the origin of his most grievous
injuries. The lack of light made it difficult, but gently tracing
her hand over his limp wing, she found the source of the hot
liquid near the wing base. He’d been sliced badly and the
wound hadn’t even remotely healed. Crimson blood
continued to steadily soak his white feathers. She swal
owed before any bile threatened to rise in the back of her
throat.

“What do I do?” She asked desperately.

Mason shifted to life and unexpectedly jerked forward.

Lashing an arm out, he dragged her down to his hard chest.
Long fingers clasping over her mouth, he forced her silent.
Mason didn’t need to say anything. The distinctive flapping
of wings sounded overhead. She shut her mouth, pressed
her cheek to his chest, and stayed quiet. The flapping
continued, forming circles in the sky above the clearing with
some persistence.

Anxious, she wanted to move right then and there but
knowing she couldn’t lift Mason, she was forced into a silent
submission while waiting for the danger to pass. Her mind
spun, only landing on the same repetitive question: how
exactly did she end up here?

She remembered it now.

She had clasped her hands together tightly as the car’s
tires lumbered over another thicket of rocks and twigs.

The paved roadway had ended long before the school’s
entranceway had begun and the taxi’s low clearance wasn’t
up to take the terrain’s beating. Avery waved the driver to
just stop there. She could already see enough of the gothic
brick spires belonging to Mayweather Academy to know
that she’d arrived.

She slid out of the cab just hearing the gruff annoyed mutter
of the driver before the door swung shut. Even though she’d
tipped him wel , she couldn’t exactly blame him. While the
boarding school sat within Seward city borders, the trip
here brought them through a desolate road after it seemed
that al civilization had long since ended.

Tucked into mountains and hidden by hundred year old
trees, no one would find the Academy by accident. The taxi
driver had sworn she was just getting them lost until they
reached the only sign a mile back.

The cab then took off in an explosion of dirt. Eyes burning,
Avery dredged forward through the heavy iron wrought
gates and to the stairs that led up the hil side. She’d barely
made it halfway up the staircase when she heard a howl
that made her stop short.

“Avieee!” Avery turned to spot the source at the top of the
stairs.

Her one and only friend at the school, an auburn haired girl
smal enough to disappear into her hoodie, sprinted down
the stairs at light speed. Before she even cleared the final
step between herself and Avery, she opened her arms and
leapt forward. The combination of extra weight and radical
sideways movement almost knocked Avery off her feet. The
girl then closed her into a tight hug.

“Hi Leela.” Avery lightly squeezed the girl back and then
happily broke away after a minute.

“Welcome back to Alaska. I was convinced you’d like

“Welcome back to Alaska. I was convinced you’d like
California too much and not come back!”

“I was certainly considering it.”

“You know you like this place more than that.” Leela had to
tease, knowing ful wel they looked forward to senior year as
one step closer to freedom.

“Because everyone just lovessss high school.” Avery said.
Half smiling, she looked back toward the man hesitating by
the stairs. He’d walked with Leela only a moment ago but
now waited cautiously in the distance. He wore a parka
from his neck to his knees that managed to block out any
details of his person. The weather wasn’t cold enough to
warrant it. The odd scene irking her, Avery found herself
staring.

“Who’s your friend?” Avery asked while glancing back
toward the Leela.

“Friend?”

“That guy with you.” Avery indicated but looking back, the
man had gone. “Uh never mind.” Avery amended, and

she shook off the bad feeling as quickly as she could.

“Okay, stop distracting me and tel me how your summer
was. I’m stil jealous you got out of Alaska.” Leela changed
the topic.

“Yea, staying at my brother’s was pretty awesome.” She
didn’t want to sound like she was bragging but it had to
come out that way. Everything that busy urbanized
California was, their smal section in the woods of Alaska
wasn’t. She then fil ed Leela in, adding a few things about
the surfing, heat, and traffic as they worked their way back
up the stairs and through the heart of campus.

They final y reached their destination, a circular brick
courtyard in the middle of the school, and the distractions
came quickly. Today, the courtyard was home to an array of
wooden booths, sorted by last names, to hand out class
schedules and room assignments. Freshman panicked and
raced back and forth while seniors in her class floated
around to socialize, making the courtyard painful y packed.
She nearly lost Leela in the tal body of students, but they
both already knew where they were heading. They made for
the booth for “Z” names in the back.

“Hi Avery. Leela.” Ms. Morrison, the staff member at the
table, greeted them personal y. “How was your summer?”

Avery gave the same great review she’d given to Leela.

“Avery’s rooming with me this year.” Leela piped as
Morrison began shuffling through her blue index cards for
Avery’s senior year assignment.

“Oh. I see you’ve already picked up your card.” Morrison
had finished the stack and leaned back.

Avery shook her head. Leela had an assignment card that
listed Avery as her designated roommate so she knew
already her room, but Avery always was supposed to be
given a card too. Morrison thumbed through the entire stack
of blue index cards a second time around. Brows pinched,
she looked over the papers on her clipboard.

“I’m not sure why but I don’t have you here. You’re
registered as a student

” She flipped through a few more

papers before giving up. “And you’re certain no one else
picked it up for you?”

Avery nodded. Short of Leela, her friends at this school
were nonexistent. Not that she wasn’t popular she was

just in more of the outcast crowd.

Frowning, Morrison final y said, “I suppose it could have
gotten mixed up courtesy of first day chaos. I’d say you
should check the other tables.”

Avery didn’t even take one look backwards.

“Can I just pick it up tomorrow? I know where I’m staying
already.” Avery gestured toward Leela as proof.

“Of course. I’ll get to it tonight and personally deliver it to
your dorm room. I’m sorry for the mix up.”

Without another word, Avery slid free of the crowd and fol
owed Leela up the nearest grass hil . Seniors were placed
in the oldest and coincidental y the best dorm. Crepuscule
Hal had been built next to the river. Immersed in woods at
every other side, it sat the farthest back from the center of
the campus. Almost like its own entity, the brick building
had gated doors and its own kitchens. Outside was a long
balcony that was home for crazy parties.

Also, this hal was the only one on campus that could be
coed.

They descended the last set of stairs that led to the main
gate. Students congregated just outside by the concrete
picnic tables. More uncomfortable by the second, Avery
began to wring her hands. Leela glanced her way and the
girl noticed something.

“What happened to your hand?” Leela asked abruptly,
successful y reminding Avery of something she had nearly
forgotten.

Avery flexed her right hand that had been bandaged in ace
wrap from fingers to wrist. The wrapping already loose,

Avery unraveled it to show her palm in the light.

“I went looking for seashel s on the beach and picked up
glass or something.” She showed Leela the purple and
black bruising. There was no visible cut and the nurse at the
walk in clinic had shrugged off Avery’s worries.

“You probably picked up a crab or something.” Leela said,
dismissing it too.

Her attention soon drifted to congregation of students
nearby. Avery scanned the crowd over for anyone familiar.

She’d gone to school with al of these students for years but
she wasn’t exactly friends with any of them. Then, out of the
mass of colorful faces, a familiar person surfaced. Avery
groaned when she recognized it. Nathanial walked out,
slicking back his black hair greaser style and wearing a
sideways smirk. Nathanial, resident slacker, acted as the
campus pretty boy. Dressed to crisp perfection with big
price tags, he flaunted his parents’ money more than not.

“Isn’t it my favorite girl?” Nathanial maneuvered by Avery
and right up to Leela’s side.

On par, Avery’s friend lit up pink and fidgeted on her feet.

“Be nice.” Leela admonished with no real force behind her
words.

“Sweetheart, I’m always nice.” Smirk growing, he pressed
open palms against his chest as a sign of innocence.

Sensing the situation grow awkward fast, Avery backed to
the very edge of the sidewalk. Nathanial absorbed the extra
space in seconds and posted himself between the girls.
His eyes never once left Leela even though he spoke more
than loud enough for both of them to hear. Avery didn’t
know which bothered her more, Nathanial’s interest in her
friend or his point to make a show of it. She twitched in
spot, mind rol ing over potential ideas to force Leela out of
the situation. The only one she could come up with would
involve dragging, kicking, and screaming.

“So you excited about the party tonight?” Nathanial
suddenly asked.

Leela opened her mouth to respond but Avery beat her to it.

“Party? What party?”

“Sorry, select invites only.” Nathanial final y acknowledged
Avery’s existence only to give her a cool glare through
pretty boy long lashes.

Avery ignored him and whirled to face Leela straight on.

“It’s nothing big.” Leela defended herself immediately.

“Don’t buy into her fit just because she’s not invited.”
Nathanial piped in from behind them.

Avery didn’t even grace it with a response. She focused on
Leela even though Leela seemed more focused on the
floor.

“It’s not the party. It’s the fact that you’d even go with him.”
Avery whispered harshly.

Leela shrugged.

“Don’t worry about it, okay.”

Face heating, Avery clenched her fists before she could
overreact. Turning back to the man behind her, she gave
him a stiff glare.

“I’l see you tonight Leela.” He said.

Avery rol ed a few choice words around in her mouth but
ended up swal owing them. She nodded as politely as her
tight muscles al owed. Without another word, Nate turned
on his heels and headed back for the gaggle of
congregating students. Shifting the heavy duffle bag over
her tense shoulders, Avery turned her attention back to the
dormitory.

“Forget about it.” She told Leela grudgingly while knowing
ful wel this was a battle just beginning.

Her friend rejoined her side and then together they walked
through the last gate into Crepuscule Hal and began the
year that’d change her life.

Two

“Party that lame or did you just forget something?” Avery
swung her dorm door open mid-rant and abruptly froze.

Rocking back on her pink slippers, she looked over her
unexpected guest. Where she’d been expecting Leela, a tal
man stood. At least six foot seven, he barely would have fit
through the door frame. She didn’t recognize the face
beneath the mop of brown hair, but she recognized the
heavy parka and the wide shoulders. It was the man from
the top of the stairs. Closer up, she could see distinctive
details. His skin was soft but his jaw line was sharp making
him look both young and old at the same time. She couldn’t
peg his age. His jade green eyes studied her in return.

“Uh. Hi.” Somewhere in the surprise, she’d almost forgotten
her manners.

“This yours?” He slid a card out of his jacket’s pocket and
handed it over. Avery took a moment to identify the blue
index card with her name printed in bold.

“My assignment.” It clicked in her head. Shutting her open

mouth, she nodded grateful y and put it on her nightstand.
“Thanks. I forgot that Morrison would have it brought down.”

It’d become so late that she hadn’t expected anyone but
Leela. In fact, she suddenly regretted answering the door in
her pajama slacks, oversized t-shirt, and bunny slippers.
Subtly losing the slippers, she kicked them to the corner.

“So you’re Avery Zane? I’ve seen you before. My name’s
Mason, I’m new here.” It sounded forced like a practiced
line for a shy person and characteristic of a painful
conversation, he smiled but refused to open his mouth al
the way. Not that Avery felt offended. So far, he seemed
more like a kindred spirit.

“Yea, at the stairs earlier today. So you’re on as staff here?”

“Uh, something like that.” He paused for a moment of thick
silence. Before she could think of anything else to say, he
asked, “So your roommate’s gone?”

“Oh yea. She’s at

” Avery stopped herself. Leela was at the party but that
wasn’t exactly a detail she’d tel to a staff member. Worse
yet, he was new and would likely sell them out in a
heartbeat. “She’s just out. She’l be back before curfew.”

They both glanced at the wal clock in the same moment.
Leela had exactly fourteen minutes to book it across
dorms.

“Wel thanks for bringing my assignment by. If you see
Morrison, thank her for me too.” Avery leaned back,
changing her body motions stiffly to end the conversation.
While any other time, she wouldn’t mind having a nice chat
with a pretty boy, tonight friends came first. She wouldn’t let
Leela get busted and blame her for it the rest of the year.

Feigning a yawn, she murmured, “Nice meeting you. Have
a good night.”

“Wait.” He held his hand out to stop the door from shutting.
“Would you mind taking a walk with me?” He asked in the
next second.

“What? Like a date?” It slipped before she could stop it.
With her face flushing, Avery mental y cursed herself for
being so tactless. “I don’t think we can date staff.” She said
immediately in the best joking tone she could.

Whether or not he bought it, she couldn’t tel . His face
hadn’t changed much from the same placid stare.

“Just like a walk. We won’t get caught. You won’t get in
trouble being out after curfew.” He said.

Her face stil hot, she nodded. A walk with a staff member,
cute or not, couldn’t hurt.

“Okay, just uh gimme one minute.” She stuck a single finger
in the air until he backed up to clear the doorway. As soon
as she closed it for him, she rushed for her phone. Ripping
her sheets apart, she snatched up the blue device from its
hiding spot.

Leela was on speed dial and the phone started to ring
before Avery even brought it to her ear. With her free hand,
she dug through her duffle bag. With advanced notice, she
would have laid out something al uring, but with thirty
seconds or less, she had to settle for her nice dark jeans
and a black tank top.

“Stupid girl, answer your phone.” She hissed a second
before Leela’s voicemail came on. Something this cool
never happened to Avery, and Leela would pick this
moment not to pick up. Giving up, she tossed it back on the
bed.

Stripping off her pajamas, she changed and threw her hair
up in a messy bun. Most days, she’d have stared at the
mirror for an hour trying to cover up the freckles on her
cheeks. Today, she embraced them reluctantly and focused
on framing them with her bangs.

He had posted himself up against the opposite wal when
she came out. From here, he looked even lankier with his
legs stretched out and folded. She did a quick check of the
hal way before announcing her presence. This late at night,
the corridors were empty and only the staff would eventual y
meander through the hal s. Morrison always wore thick
heels that would clack on the carpeted floor so that any
student would have to be stupid to not hear her coming. Idly
thinking, Avery began to wonder if Mason would be the
same. So far, he wasn’t scolding students but inviting them
out to wander around.

“Hey.” He greeted catching sight of her.

“Where’d you have in mind?” She prompted him as he
began to walk.

“Just around.” He strolled towards the left. “So, I hear you
went to California this past month.”

“Yea, you and everyone else.” She rol ed her eyes over
dramatical y. “I can’t have been the only person outside of
Alaska before.”

The first official day hadn’t even started yet and she was
already sick of talking about it.

“No, I’ve been to California too. In fact, I was there this very
summer.”

“Seriously? That’s awesome

Wait.” She paused, distracted, before they reached the end

of the hal . In front of them was the fire escape door. The hot
red letters adorned on it reminded everyone it couldn’t be
used except in emergencies.

“We can’t go out this way.” She told him.

While the door wasn’t hooked up to an alarm, no one would
ever sneak out this way. Outside were steep blocky stairs
that led down straight into the forest. From there, the
campus was a good twenty minute walk back after having
to twist up the hil through the woods first. This exit never
had any lights either. At night, the path was pitch black and
treacherous.

“You want to get caught?”

“I’d sooner get caught than die.” Her voice broke and she
turned away. An ugly feeling crept up her spine and she
watched the empty hal way. Avery wasn’t afraid of the dark
but there was also no way she’d take a creepy trip out at
night either.

“I’l make sure nothing gets you. Come on.” He said but his
voice sounded anything but reassuring. In fact, he bit off the
words harshly. Muscles drawing together tightly, his entire
posture changed. The transition happened in a heartbeat.
Avery never got a chance to properly react.

He abruptly lashed out and caught her shoulder. Spinning
her, he whirled her towards the exit and with a sharp push,
knocked her forward. She stumbled into the door and it
tipped open from her weight.

“I had to fol ow you al the way to this bloody place, you
stupid thief. You understand how much time this cost me!”

He roared.

“Stop it!” She hol ered when he pushed her again.

Outside, her heel slipped on the first blocky step and sent
her sprawling. No railing to brace herself, Avery landed on
her elbows hard. She struggled to stand, panic making her
clumsy. Her thoughts were minimized to two simple
sentences: Bad situation and must get out.

“Where is it?” He demanded. “I’l tear apart your whole room
if I have to. Where is it?”

Somewhere in his rage, he stopped paying attention. She
got her balance, stood up, and bolted down the stairs.

Gravity and momentum helped. By the time he began to
pursue, she’d reached the last step and ran into the forest.
The thick roots threatened to knock her over again but
adrenaline kept her on her feet. His footsteps final y
thundered down the same path but he didn’t fol ow her into
the forest.

“You can’t run. Hear me out.”

The absolute firmness of his words made her slow. She
slipped behind a tree and slammed her back up against
the rough bark. The moonlight didn’t shine through the thick
canopy and the visibility where she stood dropped to zero.
Unsure if she should even take her chances with Alaskan
wilderness over him, she gave it a minute.

Common sense tel ing her that he would get her to talk to
locate her position, Avery stayed quiet. He waited a
moment before speaking again while indicating he’d
probably thought of the same thing.

“This is about when you were in California. I told you before.
I was at the very same beach, the very same night.

The fourth of July.”

At first, Avery spit out a confused “what?” before she
thought about it. She had been in California al summer, not
just Fourth of July, but she couldn’t deny that night had been
particularly strange. That was the night she was on the
beach and col ecting sea shel s. One specific shel had
caught her eye as it washed up on the foamy waves during
high tide. Driven by an unusual impulse, she’d snatched it
up. Once the odd looking shel touched her palm, it’d stung.
She’d dropped it quickly only to find that it’d injured her right
hand and left a bizarre bruise. It was the same bizarre
bruise she stil had. Other than the sole instance, nothing
else about the night stood out. She didn’t meet anyone, she
didn’t see anything, and she definitely didn’t take part in
something strange.

“So what?” She asked, at least giving him her ful attention
again.

“That night my boss dropped a pendant. It was a shiny
black pendant off the coast. This pendant has a particular
way to be found again. I tracked it to the where it washed
up in the surf and then I tracked it to Seward, Alaska. I
tracked it back to you.”

Her mind processing slowly, she took a minute before she
drew her hand up to her face. The bandage had partial y
unwrapped to reveal her palm. Before Avery even
considered the possibly, she curled her hand back into her
chest.

“I need it back, and I won’t be the only person looking for it.
I’l take it from you nicely but these other people wil hurt you
for it.” Mason had kept talking.

She didn’t believe her own ears. It sounded like a line from
the movies after she just stumbled upon the mob boss’s
family brooch and now became a mark. The seriousness of
the statement didn’t escape her either. She let out a deep
breath.

“I don’t have it. Even if I picked it up I don’t have it. I left
everything at the beach.” She wouldn’t be above begging
him to believe it.

He didn’t answer. Only the quiet rustling of the forest fil ed
up the silence. The wind picked up off the water and blew
through the trees. Growing cold, Avery wrapped her arms
around herself. She listened for the crunching of leaves or
the snapping of twigs. While she’d picked a disadvantaged
point of view from which she could only stare in front of her,
she could hear him if he got closer.

“Then come out of the woods and prove it. I’m not going to
hurt you.” He said after a tense moment.

“No way.” She said promptly. She may have been naïve, but
she was not insane.

“If you just give me what I want, then I’l leave. Believe me. If I
wanted to do anything, I could have done it before.”

The rational part of her brain held out on believing him, but
then she also knew it’d be a nightmare staying in the forest.
If she had any intention of crawling out back towards the
school, she’d be doing it in the dark. Opting to cooperate,
at least temporarily, she cal ed out.

“I’d help you if I could. But I don’t have it.”

“Then show me. And I’l leave. Or are you planning to rot to
death in there?”

She struggled to draw her shaken nerves together. “Okay.”
She announced at last. “At least talk to me so I can find my
way out of this forest.”

Brushing her fingertips over the tree, she stepped careful y
to avoid protruding roots. In her last kicks of summer, she’d
opted to wear a pair of thong sandals. Knowing she just
needed one misstep and a firm knock into a rock to be in
serious pain, she moved slowly.

“You have my word, I won’t hurt you. I just have

temper problems.” He admitted the last part as an
afterthought.

Avery could have hysterical y laughed. Temper problems?
Is that what they cal ed psychotic rages now days?

“In fact, my only intention here is to get what I’ve come for
and leave you in peace.” He kept talking and she focused
on fol owing his voice.

The moon came out again, and it lit up the clearing in front
of her. Mason stood in the center and behind him was the
steps back up into the dormitory and back home. Happy to
see it, she rushed forward but only managed to catch a root
and stagger. Hands flailing in the darkness, she threw

herself off balance. Hitting the ground, she kissed the dirt.
Avery couldn’t get up quick enough. Only she, in the
presence of a psychotic raving man, would stil be clumsy.

A shadow fel over the ground. Glancing up, she saw him
towering above her. With deliberately slow and gentle
movements, he offered a hand.

“Uh hi.” She greeted him meekly. Already too close to him
to escape again, she didn’t fight it.

Crawling to her knees, she nearly handed him her right
hand—her dominant hand—before realization made her
switch it out. Lightning fast, he snatched her right wrist mid-
motion before she could properly offer him her left hand.
Wrapping his long fingers around her right wrist, he yanked
her up in one swift effective movement. The quick motion
jarring, old adrenaline spiked again and she pul ed away
from him. He held her wrist with a steel grip.

“Wait. What happened to you?” He demanded to know.

The bandage had already come loose from her rough fal
and the black bruise peeked out from beneath. The
moonlight made it glow. She gave a stubborn yank on her
wrist.

“Lemme go. Lemme go or I won’t show you.” She hissed,
stil attempting to tear away from him.

Frowning, he released her but beckoned her to keep her
hand up. After giving him a sufficient suspicious glare, she
unraveled the bandage in a few quick rotations. To her
surprise, the mark had grown worse over the daytime.

Instead of the charred black that covered the side of her
palm, the black had turned purpleish and reached from her
heel to her thumb. She grew sick looking at it. Mason didn’t
shy away from it. Tentatively reaching out, he brushed his
thumb over the mark. Something under her skin abruptly
pulsed in response. Jolted by the sensation, she yanked
her hand back into her chest.

“How did that happen? How’d you get that?” He asked
again before she could get a word out.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I just went picking up shells
on the beach and a crab bit me.”

He eyed her, disbelieving, and then he asked her
something strange.

“What did the shell look like?”

“It was...” She fell silent, listening to her thoughts before she
voiced them. Then she admitted it. “It was shiny and black.”

He must have expected it, urging her on immediately.

“And where is it now?”

She gave him a helpless look.

“It broke when I picked it up, turned to dust. You don’t think...
you don’t think it was the pendant that I picked up, do you?”

Mason’s face paled considerably and mouth open, he said
nothing. When he finally spoke, his words came out quiet
and short.

“This is not good.”

Three

“Look, I’m sorry if I picked it up, and I’m sorry if I broke it.
But believe me, I don’t have it anymore.” Avery said.

She might as wel have been talking to herself. Mason
wasn’t listening. Shortly after his cryptic declaration, he’d fal
en into a silent thought train that left his green eyes staring
at nothing and his hands wringing. Worry seeped off of his
taunt body but none of his agitation was directed toward
Avery any longer.

Even though the situation had calmed remarkably, Avery stil
didn’t trust it. She trekked back towards the stone stairway
and created a berth between them. The clearing just
outside the building’s emergency exit was far from being in
the wilderness, but she was beginning to feel the effects of
being outside too long. Without a jacket, it was getting cold
and without real shoes to traverse the rough ground, she’d
beaten her toes bloody.

“I know you don’t have the actual pendant.” Mason said
suddenly, earning her ful attention once again.

“You believe me?” She double took, surprised.

“I believe you don’t actual y have the glass pendant. But you
don’t understand.” He marched a few steps forward, and
closer now, he lowered his voice as if someone in the
woods could hear them. “That pendant was an amulet, and
that amulet was very special. It was fil ed with magic.”

She stared at him blankly, waiting for the punch line. When
it never came, she shook her head and stepped back.

“Are you nuts?” She asked careful y. She eyed her exit, one
quick sprint up steep stairs and though it was dangerous,
she certainly wasn’t going for the woods again. He didn’t
make any quick movements so neither did Avery.

Instead, he slowly raked his hands through his mop of
brown hair and let out a frustrated growl. “It makes sense
doesn’t it? The amulet broke from the fal and when you
picked it up then that magic inside of it then jumped straight
into you. How else do you think I tracked you al the way to
this god-forsaken place sixty miles north of nowhere? The

magic in your body left me a trail.”

She let the words process for a ful minute. His expression
didn’t waver once while waiting for her reply. Humoring
herself, she reasoned it aloud.

“You stil lost me at the magic part. I mean...magic. Do you
real y believe that?” She spoke delicately too, waiting for
him to flip out again anytime.

Instead, Mason just said, “Don’t patronize me. You’re the
stupid human.”

The venom in his words didn’t strike her. Instead, she
replayed what else he’d conveyed.

“Human?”She repeated. “I’m a human?”

Mason gave her a long look and then in a sudden flurry of
motion, he tugged his oversized parka off. The fabric
dropped to the floor, forming a puddle at his feet, and then
she was able to see something white twitch behind him.
That something white spread out on either side of his body
in the next second. She’d known his coat was unusual y
heavy for late fal , but now she understood that it had been
hiding something. Wide angel wings, made up from
thousands of short feathers, now surrounded him.

“Uh. Bird?” She pointed dumbly, unable to form a single
coherent thought more.

“Harpie.” He gave her a glare that could have kil ed. “You
don’t need to understand. You need to come with me.”

Stil in shock, she forgot about her getaway plan, and
walked towards him. Avery then circled around him needing
to see the entire phenomenon in detail. He twisted to face
her a few times until he let her behind him, groaning from
deep in his throat.

“This is

unreal.” The whisper left her before she realized it. The
moonlight cast a hearty blue glow on them both and let her
see clearly.

Hands tentatively reaching out, she lightly brushed her
fingertips over the feathers. Stiffer than they looked, they
were stil soft. She could feel the hardness of bone over the
arch of his wing. He wore a shirt so she couldn’t see how
they were directly attached to his skin, but Avery didn’t
need any more convincing. His wings were hot, twitching,
and very very real.

Curling her hand back to her chest, she whispered, “This is

”

“Unreal?” He offered.

Bobbing her head, she agreed. “Unreal.”

His wings then stirred up a quick gust and the cold wisps
that hit her face snapped her out of the daze.

“You’re a harpie. Like a legit harpie.” She put a hand on her
forehead while stil having trouble wrapping her mind around
the concept.

He nodded again.

“I thought harpies were actual birds.” She thought of the
pictures from her mythology books. Most were smal white
creatures with beaks, long feathered abdomens, and
talons. The man that stood before her was just that—a man.

She studied him head to foot, one last time. She’d known
him to be tal , but that fact combined with his long lanky
limbs suddenly took on a new significance. His entire body
stature, most importantly his broad shoulders, must have
been used to balance out the weight of his wings. His thin
body probably kept him light to fly. His nails were a little
sharper than they should be too-- not just for a man but for
any human.

“Hardly. Harpies have natural y become more humanoid in
recent centuries to blend in with bloody humans.” He
snapped the last part, tilting his chin up with a blast of
superiority.

“And you have bad tempers.” She remembered, absolutely
ignoring his attitude now. With some effort, she recal ed her
old school lessons on Greek mythology. “Harpies are
notoriously bad tempered. We even derived the term
harping from them...uh you.”

She used to draw her mother as a half-human half-harpie
nagging about her homework. Of course, even that version
of a harpie came nothing close to the one that stood before
her now.

“You believe me now?” He asked dul y like she’d just
caught up with the news flash.

Catching his eyes, she paused.

“You were serious about the magic?” Letting out a gasping
breath, she shook her head. “No way. This just isn’t real.
This just doesn’t happen.”

“Wel then I have a rude awakening for you. You, in your
human curiosity, picked up a harpie amulet and became
the home to harpie magic. Now believe me or don’t, but it’s
the truth.”

She opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t think of any
words. Her mind final y grasped the ful situation. Unable to
control her twisting facial expressions, she turned and

faced the woods. Her right hand itched at the revelation.

The black smudge she’d gotten back in July stil marred her
palm like she’d burnt it yesterday. That combined with the
unbelievable evidence that stood a few feet away left her
reeling.

“Oh my god, is this dangerous?” She voiced the thought as
it hit her. “This thing, will it hurt me?”

Jerking her hand out in front of her, she held it away from
the rest of her body.

“The magic won’t hurt you. But there are people who want it.
Dangerous people and they will kill you to get it.”

After moving closer, he reached out and touched her hand.
The jolt of warmth made her flinch. He wrapped his fingers
around hers until he pushed her palm closed and hid the
black mark. It hardly felt reassuring. His rough skin stung,
and he squeezed her hand too tight.

“Come with me, and you’l be fine.” He said.

Abruptly, his wings snapped open. He used his grip on her
to twist her around quick enough to make her dizzy.

From there, she saw his wings clearly. Almost over ten feet
they nearly touched both the tree line and the staircase.

“What are you doing?” She gasped.

His wings began to flap. The dirt kicked up and the wind
dropped the temperature. His long arms looped around her
waist and he pinned her to his broad chest. His wings
caught enough speed to begin to lift them from the ground.

“Let’s make this as painless as possible.” He said.
“Struggle and I’ll drop you.”

She did just that. Bracing her elbows against his chest, she
pushed backwards to break his grip.

“I’m not doing this with you! Stop it!” She shouted.

Ignoring her completely, he kept his grip tight. The ground
disappeared below her feet. Just an inch up, the cloud of
dust nearly made the rest of the world disappear.

“Stop it, you stupid pigeon!” She screamed.

Arms abruptly going lax, he let her go. Unbalanced, Avery
fel back and landed on the ground painful y hard. She didn’t
complain though. Adrenaline stil pounding in her veins, she
used the opening to run towards the stairs. His large wings
made it impossible for him to fly without a clearing so she
dashed up to the top step where there was no space. The
dust fel away revealing his face. Lips drawn back, he
glared at her sharply.

“Pigeon?” He hissed.

Pride was a fal point, Avery realized quickly. Even though
the anger radiating off him grew suffocating, she kept her
chin up resiliently.

“I don’t know how harpie mechanics work but I’m not going
in the air on that. You’re not a plane!” Her last words grew
so high pitched, she stung her own ears. Stil shaking, she
gripped the door knob.

“Did you not hear me earlier? People wil be coming for you
if you stay here.”

Thoughts swirling in a mil ion different directions, she
hesitated. Maybe there would be bad people after her but
he could just as wel be one of them. Any bird that would try
and take her out of here would have to do it while she
kicked and screamed.

“I’l take my chances.”

Yanking the door open quickly, she jumped inside while half
expecting him to fol ow. The door swung shut and he never
made chase. Avery was relieved until she noticed someone
else standing before her in the hal .

“Morrison.” Avery said, immediately recognizing the new
problem. She was caught out after curfew. The staff woman
saw Avery and immediately shook her head.

“You know I have to put you on notice now.” Morrison
sounded about as bummed out as Avery felt. Morrison
always wore the pumps so everyone would hear her
coming and no one would get caught. Of course, a student
wouldn’t hear the pumps if they were outside being chided
by mythological creature. She seemed to expect Avery’s
excuse just as much as Avery expected her own excuse.
But in the moment, Avery couldn't think of a single lie.

“Okay. That’s okay.” Avery settled for instead.

Morrison took the omission of guilt without admonishing her
further. With the initial confrontation over, Avery sent a quick
look behind her at the door. It remained both shut and
silent. Mason wouldn’t be dumb to charge into a crowded
room apparently.

“By the way,” Morrison began as she stepped to the side
and guided Avery back to her room. “I couldn’t find your
assignment anywhere. It must have fal en out and I’m going
to have the office print up another one.”

Avery walked to her door and knocked on it twice to wake
Leela up.

“It’s alright, I have it. Uh, someone found it on the floor and
brought it back to me.” By the floor she meant probably
straight off of Morrison’s desk. Mason had probably stolen

it.

Morrison’s brow stil pinched at her explanation. Looking
significantly older than she ought to have, she gave Avery
one last speech.

“Okay. Just be careful. This curfew isn’t in place because
the faculty is bored. The Alaskan wilderness come nightfal
isn’t the place for a student. The danger is very real. Please
keep that in mind.”

The door swung open and before Morrison could get in
another word, Avery charged forward and nearly toppled
Leela out of the way. The heavy wood slammed shut behind
her sealing them inside the dorm room. Avery did nothing
until she could hear the last clacks of Morrison’s heels echo
down the hal way. She then shifted her attention back
towards the room.

Leela stood before her, ful y dressed in fashion wear.
Pumps, leggings, and the denim dress gave away that she
hadn’t been home long. Avery prepped herself to explain
everything that had just happened, but she never got the
chance. Someone else in the room spoke out.

“Look what the cat dragged in.” The familiar ring of
Nathan’s voice made Avery flinch.

He’d stretched out on Leela’s bed, ankles crossed,
showing everyone the bottom of his expensive leather
boots.

Black hair slicked back and leather jacket adorned on his
shoulders, anyone else in the world would have looked like
a cheap imitation of a movie icon. Not Nathan though.
Nathan pul ed it off in his own individual way. Had Avery not
hated him so much, she could have admired it.

“What’s he doing here?” Avery asked.

“Calm down.” Leela stood between them. “We were just
hiding out until Morrison dipped.”

Avery noticed first and foremost that Leela only directed
that towards her and never once admonished Nathan.

Secondly, she noticed the rest of the room. Leela’s sheets
on the bed sat perfect, starch, and undisturbed. The
television sat in a mess of unhooked wires and the only
light on was the painful y bright overhead fluorescent.

Leela, for the first time, unstrapped her heels and kicked
them to the corner. Avery surmised they hadn’t been in here
long and definitely not long enough to get into trouble. Stil ,
the thought nearly made her shudder.

“I heard her catch you. You’re lucky I let you in, bringing her
over here like that. Do you have any idea how much trouble
I could have gotten in?”

“One week grounding?” Avery tried for a joke but Leela’s
scowl grew darker.

“Little Avery just wants company since she’s too deaf to
avoid trouble.” Nathan brought every bit of attention back to
himself.

Before Avery could even respond, he stood and moved
between her and Leela with agile quickness. Standing
directly in front of her now, he popped her personal bubble
and then some. This close she could smel his minty
aftershave and the hot spiciness of his cologne. Just a few
inches tal er than her, he leaned forward until their
foreheads touched.

“Don’t worry girl, I’l come visit you if you want.” He
whispered just to Avery.

“You should be leaving.” She snapped at him. He made a
hurt face just for theatrical effect, and then slinked out the
door. Once it closed firmly behind him, Leela turned on
Avery.

“That was so rude. He was just here to see me! What do
you have against Nathan?” Leela, even though not included
in the initial exchange, had been clearly embarrassed.

“I- nothing. I mean, I just know he uses girls. I don’t want you
to get with him.” Avery rubbed her arms, feeling unsettled
enough already.

“You don’t even know him!”

“I know him enough.” Suddenly busying herself, Avery went
for her bed.

“What are you not telling me then? Did you guys used to
date or something?”

“N-no.” Avery found herself stuttering worse in front of a tiny
girl than she had with a crazy harpie. “No. I just know Nate
through school.” Avery final y amended, firmer this time.
With the sheets on the bed fixed, she climbed beneath
them, dirty jeans and al . Curling the unsightly black mark on
her hand back into her chest, she stared at the wal .

As expected, Leela didn’t let it go.

“You’re lying to me. He says that you guys have met before.
You said you only knew him through school.” She marched
right up to Avery’s bedside. “You know I like him.”

“I told you. I hate Nate because he’s a jerk to me period.
There isn’t anything more.” The familiar tightness of guilt
weighed on Avery’s chest but she stuck to her story.

Though she couldn’t see Leela’s reaction, she could
certainly picture it. Cheeks red, Leela marched away and

threw herself onto her bed hard enough that the springs
cried in protest.

Clicking off the light, she sent the room into absolute
darkness. Leela said one last thing.

“You always lie to me, and you wonder why I never believe
you when you say anything.”

Then Avery wouldn’t say anything. Especially not about
crazy human birds. Especially not about Mason.

Four

The winter crept closer stealing away the few hours of
daylight Seward had left. Even with the school’s fluorescent
light display, the fade to darkness was never welcome. The
inevitable cold, black ice, and frostbite would come with the
winter. Even though Avery had lived in Alaska most of her
life, the winter this year seemed less appealing than ever.

The teacher’s chemistry set abruptly popped and fizzled,
bringing the entire class’s attention to the smoking test
tubes.

“Are we clear?” The teacher asked. “We’l al be performing
this experiment next Monday and I don’t want any
problems.”

The class gave a chorus of uncertain mumbles. At the front,
people like Leela nodded confidently. Avery watched the
back of her pony tail bounce with her symbolic agreements
to the teacher’s lecture. As expected, Leela had said
nothing to her but the mandatory hel o and goodbye. Even
then, she’d spent most of her time out of the dorm where
Avery couldn’t fol ow while stil on probation. Leela may not
have wanted an apology but she wanted an explanation
and that was more than Avery was wil ing to give.

“Refer to your notes for guidelines on how to do the pre-
experiment. I want no excuses.” The teacher continued,
raising his voice just so the slackers in the back could hear
her every word.

Before Avery could be incorporated into one of those
slackers, she flipped back through her notes to seem busy.

The pages were littered with crooked handwriting, arrows,
and lines but Avery’s attention stil fel to the drawings in the
margins. She had doodled feathers and traditional harpie
birds from her Greek mythology text books. Her eyes
lingered on the depiction. Worse than the issue with
Nathan, Avery stil had no idea what to make of her
encounter with Mason.

It’d been almost a week and with every day, the vividness
she’d felt that night became surreal and she could have
convinced herself it didn’t happen. Only the throbbing black
mark on her palm kept her from thinking she was crazy.

Avery looked back up to the front of the class, determined
to distract herself with chemistry, when she caught some
people staring. The girls in the front of the class quickly
turned and acted nonchalant. Their attempt at normalcy was
horrible. They exploded into a chorus of whispers and
stared at their notebook too hard. Avery knew they’d been
talking about her. Mayweather Academy wasn’t a big
school and news got around the student populous fast.
Combined with boredom and little else to do, fel ow
students had already heard about Avery’s grounding and
started spinning the rumors.

Avery knew the type. They’d say, “I know she wasn’t at the
party. I think I saw her smoking out back.” One girl even
dropped the “I heard that she waits until everyone leaves
and digs through their rooms.” The rumors got stupider and
stupider every year. If she had to stay in the school any
longer, they’d be cal ing her an axe murderer next month.

Avery made a point to glare when one of the gossiping girls
risked a quick backwards glance her way. The girl paled
and swiveled in her seat, burying her nose into a book.
Letting out a deep breath, Avery leaned back in her plastic
chair. The teacher gave the class a knowing look before
dismissing them. She shut the cover of her book and stood
to stretch when someone came up behind her.

“Hey Avery.”

She perked up at her name to find Leela hovering behind
her desk.

“Hey. Uh, what’s up?” Avery turned.

“How much longer does your probation last?” Leela asked
finally.

Avery glanced at her watch even though she already had
the dates memorized by heart.

“Two more days. Then I’m free.” She said.

Leela nodded and for a moment, an awkward silence
developed. Leela twirled her hair and bounced from foot to
foot while Avery drew a blank on what to say. The teacher
happened to pass by the two and cleared his throat to
remind them to leave soon.

“Wel , we can walk and talk.” Leela suggested. The whole
post fight conversation was developing painful y.

Taking the option, Avery took the first step towards the door
and Leela fol owed. Outside, light snow fel . She slowed,
letting the last few lingering students pass them and
disappear down the sidewalk. Leela didn’t seem to mind
the stal ing.

“Life’s boring without you.” Leela then mentioned. “I want to

believe you, you know. That you and Nathan are nothing. I’m
just worried you know. This thing with me and Nate is too
good to be true.”

Avery clenched her teeth and had to force herself to be civil.
She hated Nate but Leela was her friend and she wasn’t
about to cause another fight if she could avoid it.

“Are you guys dating now?” Avery risked asking.

Leela beamed with happiness.

“Yep, it’s absolutely positively official! He asked me at the
party.”

Avery couldn’t share the excitement, but she swal owed her
discomfort quickly. She needed to break them up before
Leela got hurt but she needed to wait until her friend would
at least listen. Launching into the anti-Nate speech this
early would have Leela lock her out completely.

“That’s cool. How intense in the relationship?” Avery hated
herself for asking but the details would be important if she
had to form a plan.

Leela held a hand to her heart and swooned.

“Geez, Avery. I’m not that close with him yet. We just started
dating. I’ve barely kissed him.”

“Good.” Avery was relieved but quickly added, “Jumping
into that too fast is always trouble.”

“Tel me about it. I’m ready to kil you for keeping secrets.
How come everyone in the school knows about it but you
haven’t told me?”

Avery paused, wondering if she’d missed something.

“What do you mean?” She was almost too afraid to ask.

Leela put a hand on her hip and lifted a single index finger.

“Word on the street is that you have a new guy.” She said
waggling the finger.

That comment made Avery stop in her tracks.

“Wait. What?”

“Cassie from the third floor said she saw you with this tal
brunette kid that doesn’t even go to school here. She’s
been tel ing everyone you got busted sneaking out to see
him.”

Avery’s jaw dropping, she turned her head away to hide her
reaction. The clock in the center courtyard rang with the
daily reminder her probationary curfew was approaching,
but Avery ignored it to press for more answers.

“Wait, is that al she said?” She asked. She knew absolutely
that Cassie was referring to Mason. There weren’t many tal
brunette guys at Mayweather, much less one that didn’t go
to the school. More so, Cassie even knew it was the night
that Avery got busted after curfew. Avery panicked.

What else did Cassie even see? Maybe the girl had looked
out the window at the wrong time and had seen Mason’s
wings in al their glory. Mason hadn’t exactly been hiding
and Avery had been screaming to attract attention. Avery
pinched the bridge of her nose and tried not to lose control
of herself. Wings weren’t exactly details that would be left
out. If Cassie saw something supernatural that night, that
should have made the gossip chain too, right? The logic
wasn’t ful proof. Maybe Cassie did see something but
thought that it was too unbelievable. She could have been
in the same state of doubt that Avery was in now.

Leela crept closer in the spare moment.

“What else would she say?” Leela’s need for gossip
apparently completely overshadowed the awkwardness of
their fight.

“Nothing. It wasn’t anything.” Frazzled, Avery shook her
head. “You know Cassie’s stories are half crap.” She
added as an afterthought.

“Then what exactly did you get busted sneaking out for?”

Avery had forgotten to fil in the technicalities. She weighed
her options. On one hand, she could sound absolutely
insane with the harpie story that Avery wasn’t even sure she
believed. On the other, she could lie. Avery struggled with
the options. Leela knew her too wel to outright lie but she
wouldn’t drop the crazy idea about harpies either.

“I did get sneaking out to see a guy technical y.”

Leela’s smile widened and she bounced from foot to foot,
waiting for the scoop. Avery made a pained face.

“But it definitely wasn’t a date. He just brought me my
assignment card from the office and I got caught up talking.

We didn’t want to get caught so we walked outside and
then... then I snuck in and Morrison caught me.” Avery said.

“Ohh. Was he cute? I’m not a big fan of tal guys but he
sounds cute.”

“No. Turns out he was kind of a jerk. Mostly a jerk. Anyways,
I’m sure I won’t see him again.” Avery confessed, thinking
back on it.

“Aw! That’s a shame. Double dates would have been
awesome.”

So awesome, Avery would have to hang herself.

“Yea, crying shame. I’ll have to pass on that.”

They’d been lingering outside for awhile now and it had
began to get cold and dark. Most other students had left the
courtyard, hurrying indoors, and left the place quiet. Avery
final y realized what time it was.

“It’s almost seven.” She said.

Leela’s smile didn’t diminish but she did glance towards
the clock in the center of the courtyard.

“Yea, you’re gonna get in trouble if you get caught. Better
book it home. I’m gonna go to the library now, but maybe
we can raid the dorms kitchen tonight and talk about boys?”

For the first time, fairly happy, Avery nodded. “Absolutely.
See ya at ten.” She said.

Leela took off down the right path, opposite of Crepuscule
dormitories. Avery waited until her friend’s figure
disappeared in the darkness before turning down the path
home.

“Shit.” She exclaimed to herself and paused mid-step.
Glancing down at her empty arms, she swirled back toward
the hal . In the rush, she’d forgotten her books. Quickly,
Avery turned back and jogged back towards the classroom
building.

By the time she had backtracked to the stone steps of Cal
away hal , the lights had been turned off and the building
had gone dark. The unusual silence was just enough to
make Avery hesitate by the door. No one was al owed here
after hours but if she was alone, she wouldn’t get caught.
She tugged on the cold iron handle until the door creaked
open. Inside, the hal ways were draped in darkness. The
alcove windows let little of the moonlight inside.

Avery knew the building wel and memory guided her
effortlessly down the hal way. She took a left at the
intersection and headed to the last room on the right. Her
shoes clicked on the tile and the sound of every step she
took fil ed the entire hal way.

Reaching her destination, she pushed the heavy door to her
classroom open. Inside, that darkness was worse and the
shadows gathered thickly in the corners. Avery crept
forward, careful not to catch her foot on some unseen
obstacle while making her way to the spot where her books
waited.

Just as she reached her them, a chil raked down her spine.
Before she even moved, the door slammed shut.

Heart skipping a beat at the sharp sound, Avery dropped
her things and glanced around the room. It was too dark to
see anything.

“Hel o?” Her voice broke. She couldn’t help it. Her feeling of
unease tripled within the minute and she didn’t ignore it.
“Nathan, I swear if this is you, I wil kil you personal y.” She
whispered without force in her words.

Taking a deep breath, she crept back for the door. That’s
when everything happened in a second. Something hit her,
hard. Losing her footing, Avery fel backwards and bounced
off the floor. The lights snapped on and someone else was
in the room. She never got to move away because rough
hands snatched her and guided Avery to her feet. Before
she could even gargle in shock, what met her eyes made
her freeze.

In front of her there stood three people. Their tal bodies
pushed their heads against the roof and their outstretched
wings crowded out among them. Harpies—of that Avery
had no doubt, but these harpies were different. Their wings
were grey and tattered with ripped feathers hanging like
they were ready to fal . Over their chest they wore bronze
plates etched with gothic spirals. The two harpies standing
at the edges of the group were men. Both had bulging
arms, sharp jaw lines, and scrappy hair. In the middle there
stood a girl and though she didn’t look nearly as large as
her companions, the men gave her a wide berth even in the
cramped room.

“What do you want?” Avery’s stuttered out though she
dreaded the fact that she already knew. Mason had said
that people would be coming from her in only a matter of
time.

The woman watched her carefully. Almost a full minute went
by until, finally, she spoke in a catlike voice.

“I know you have it here. Mason wouldn’t be here if you
didn’t have it.”

Wanting to play dumb, Avery went for the basic.

“Who is that? And what are you?” She added the second
question as an afterthought.

When she first saw Mason, she was much more concerned
with the wings and danger than the names and identities.
On that train of thought, she tried to channel as much real
emotion as she could like shock and confusion. These
harpies were freaky looking enough she didn’t have to act.

“I don’t care to answer your foolish questions.” The woman
ticked off with bitter superiority.

She lashed out and caught Avery by the arm. Somehow
knowing, the harpie pul ed Avery’s injured hand forward
and looked straight for the black bruising. The harpie even
smiled like she’d been expecting it.

“Cut it out” Offered the male harpie on the left. “We don’t

need the girl.”

“No for if we are mistaken, the magic is destroyed. We take
the human.” The female harpie announced after a second
of thought.

“And then?” He prompted. They clearly wasted no time with
decision making.

“And then? Then we kill her.”

Five

Without waiting any longer, the male harpies grabbed a
hold of Avery and hoisted her to her feet. They knocked the
desks out of the way, sending the tables up against the wal
to shatter with a thunderous bang. Partial y dragging her,
they made their way for the exit. They burst through the first
door and went out into the hal way.

Avery’s eyes searched desperately. The hal s were as dark
and empty as she’d initial y left them. She let out a breath of
disbelief. There had to be a janitor somewhere. Why
couldn’t anyone hear the clatter?

The harpies kept on toward the final door. Avery rapidly
understood that once outside, the harpies could take her up
in the air and any chance to escape she had would be
gone. She immediately began to struggle.

“Help!” She shouted. “Help me!”

People should have heard her screams in every dormitory
on campus, but if they did, she’d never get the chance to
tell.

“Shut up.” The male who held her growled and gave her a
vigorous shake.

They smashed through the exit door to the Hal and dragged
her down the steps. The temperature dropped and it had
begun to sleet. Avery’s feet slipped on the icy front steps.
The harpie tried to yank her up to keep her in place but
Avery didn’t put her feet upright beneath her. Then luckily,
the harpie didn’t find the point in dragging her.

Loosening his grip, he let her fal back to her knees.

Avery’s looked for help, but the outside was just as
desolate as inside the Hal . Hope threatened to leave her
until her eyes landed on the front office in the middle of
campus. The lights remained on. Someone always had to
be there. Fueled by desperation, Avery went for it. Surprise
working on her side, Avery jumped to her feet and as soon
as her boots met the ice, she ran.

The biggest harpie was clumsier than the rest and he made
a wild futile grab. Avery dodged away from it, bounding off
the last step. They chased but the sound of footsteps

thundering behind her only drove Avery to run faster.

“Company!” A screech rang out from behind. Avery didn’t
get a chance to understand before impact knocked her
back off her feet.

“Come on!” The familiar voice made Avery snap her head
up.

“Mason!” She recognized the harpie with a surge of relief.
Without a second more of greeting, he snatched her up in
his long arms, kicked off the ground, and sent them
airborne.

Feet abruptly dangling, she panicked. His arms had her
under the shoulders but the grip wasn’t a sturdy one. He
flew upward and cut a sharp left. The world spun, blurry with
his aggressive flying. She saw the white topped trees one
moment and the stars in the night sky the next. The
movement kept her barely aware of their pursuers’ exact
location but she could hear the high pitches screeches as
they chased.

A shadow flashed in Avery’s peripheral. In an instant, that
shadow became a harpie and that harpie sprung for them
in a bounding motion. Mason lurched back, legs kicking up
to counter the attack. Mason’s embrace loosened as he
fought and that’s when the attacking harpie lashed out. The
harpie’s talons missed Avery, apparently aiming for the
interior of Mason’s wings. The attacking harpie made his
target with a sickening crunch.

Shaken backwards, Mason staggered in the air and
accidently dropped her. Avery screamed before she ful y
realized she was fal ing. Her world swirled in a mass of
white and black coloring. Then she saw the grassy ground
below her approaching at ful speed.

Her breath left her and heart clenching, she braced for
impact. Just before she smacked the ground, a hand tore
at the back of her shirt. Plummet slowed, she landed in a rol
ing thump instead. Mason fel to the ground besides her in a
crouch.

“The forest. They can’t follow you there.” Mason roared.
“Go!”

Avery didn’t think. Bounding to her feet, Avery just fled.

***

Snapping back to the present, Avery shuddered while
remembering exactly how she’d arrived to this moment.
The Band of Thieves had chased them into the forest and
she hid with Mason wounded at her side. Mason and Avery
had been quiet, waiting for the harpies over head to pass,
and using the precious moments to regain their strength. It
had final y gone silent and stayed silent for some time.

Avery snuck a glance at Mason. He looked worse than
ever. Crimson soaked his feathers and his skin had turned
a pale white. Surprisingly though, he looked completely
conscious and sharply aware.

“They know we’re here but they’re regrouping to come up
with a plan.” He whispered raggedly.

“What do we do?” Her voice began to wane on her. Forcing
herself to swal ow, she leaned forward and repeated
herself. “What should we do?”

The dense forest had slowed the other harpies down as
they were unable to land with the trees packed so closely,
but they’d hurry in on foot shortly. Avery knew they had little
time left to escape.

“We need to run. I can’t fight them on the sky with a bloody
human on my back.”

She agreed, not wil ing to take another plunge to the
ground. When he sat up, her eyes flickered to his wing. The
red gash had begun to close but stil raw, they risked that
running would make it open again.

“Can we even do it?” She asked.

“Yes, but Avery,” He said pointedly. “Listen, you need to
stay with me this time. You can’t run away again.”

“I know.” She made a face, more offended than she should
have considering she’d run from Mason once before.

Circumstances had drastical y changed and she repeated
herself. “We’l stay together.”

Hearing what he wanted, Mason nodded. Avery suddenly
went stil , hearing a sound just a few feet away. She
listened for it again. The forest always made some noise.
The wind would rustle the leaves and the snow would weigh
down on the branches until it plopped on the ground. Smal
forest creatures would run over the wood and scratch at the
bark. Holding her breath, she listened for something out of
the ordinary. Then she heard it--the unmistakable crunch of
leaves and twigs that meant something heavy treaded over
the forest floor. And it was coming their way. Trying not to
whimper at the horrifying realization, she turned to him.

“They’re in here. We have to go.”

Without a word, he gripped her elbow with his tight claws
and pointed north. She didn’t budge. Breath still held, she
only focused on crackles and pops growing closer.

“We move, they hear us.” She reminded him.

Nodding sharply, he finally leaned in until his lips brushed
her ear.

“We must run. And when we start, we cannot stop.”

Then he held three fingers in the air that were just visible in
the very faint light. Taking the unspoken message, Avery
readied her muscles for al it was worth. The tel tale sign of
steps grew close and now Avery could tel there was a
number of people. The mix of noises from al around the
forest scattered her attention. They were surrounding the
area. They were closing Mason and Avery in.

Mason’s fingers dropped, one at a time, at an agonizingly
slow pace. When the last one fel , the pent up energy in her
muscles exploded. They sprinted forward, tearing through
the woods quickly. A tree came between them and they
split up. Just as Mason slipped from sight, an unseen grip
lashed out and caught Avery’s shirt. Before she even
realized it, the fabric wrenched her back and sent her
twirling into the dirt. Eyes snapping up through the wave of
vertigo, she spotted another harpie. One of masculine
males leered down at her.

“Don’t touch me!” She screamed but he grabbed for her
anyways. The harpie’s claws whipped out and caught her
shoulder, lifting her off her feet. His grip was tight enough
he could have snapped her neck but he only let her dangle.
Avery choked and thrashed. Pain shot through her body.
His grip tightened. Eyes closing, hot fear washed through
her veins. He was going to kil her, Avery thought. This was
it. She readied herself for something that never came.

Half a minute later, he stil held her the same. Avery’s eyes
opened and it dawned on her slowly. The harpies weren’t
trying to kil her just yet, Avery realized. Seeing it as an
opportunity, she brought her boot up and made impact with
the harpie’s rib cage. When it worked, Avery was quick to
slam another foot into him, and this time she aimed for his
kneecap. The sole of her boot and the center of his bone
col ided with a shattering force. The harpie stumbled
backwards, angrier than ever, but he never made a second
charge. Mason final y reappeared and hit the harpie from
behind. The lumbering male attacker went down, and
Mason stepped over his twitching body.

“Come on!” Mason jarred her back out her stupor, hauled
her back to her feet and shoved her forward before she
could react.

“Move!” He ordered.

Furious footsteps pounded behind them and Avery didn’t
need to hear it twice. They slid past the last of the tree line
when one of the chasing harpies screamed.

“Mason, don’t you dare run away from me!” A female
shouted.

Mason stopped so abruptly that Avery crashed into his
back. He whirled, grabbed her shoulders, and pushed her

behind him. Together they faced the forest from which
they’d just come.

“Why are we stopping?” She squeaked.

The other harpies caught up to them quickly and burst
through the tree line. The girl emerged first, raven black hair
framing her pale face and ugly glare. Her fingers clasped a
silver knife tightly and she held it just before her bronze
chest plate. Next to come were the two cronies. The one
Mason had struck already had purple and blue bruising
discoloring his face and shoulders. He shot them a
particularly nasty look. Mason didn’t panic.

“Eva.” Mason nodded curtly at the woman, knowing her
name. In fact, he didn’t even look surprised to see her.

“Wait, you know each other?” Avery suddenly asked.

No one confirmed or denied it, staying silent. Eva kept her
green eyes locked solely on Mason with slanted stare.

“This must be a joke.” She said coldly. “Your wings are
nearly torn to shreds, you’re outnumbered, and you’re stil
fighting with us. It’s foolish, not bold.”

Mason stiffened but stayed in place. He subtly offered
Avery a free hand that she clasped wil ingly. His wings
twitched and Avery spared a glance at the feathers. The girl
spoke the truth. Mason’s wings probably couldn’t open al
the way, much less fly.

“Leave us alone Eva.” He said instead.

“Leave you alone?” She threw her head back and cackled
in a high pitched chirp. “Leave you alone? You started this
Mason. Now just give me the girl and we wil al be on our
merry little way. Keep this up and you’l die too.”

His eyes slowly tread between her and the others.

“I can’t do that. I won’t do that.” Mason said.

Any small sign of amusement draining from her face, Eva’s
cheeks reddened.

“You know, I didn’t actually want to kill you Mason.”

“Then don’t and leave us be.” It seemed bizarre but Mason
was actual y reasoning with her. Avery kept looking
between them, desperate that whatever friendship they
seemed to have would work in her favor.

“Look, my boss is expecting the amulet and if I don’t bring
him the girl then I wil be punished by death. So, which side
do you think I’m going to take? You can find another way to
redeem yourself to society Mason. Give me the girl.”

Mason didn’t answer at first and for a horrifying moment, he

looked like he actual y considered it. But final y he shook
his head.

“No deal.” He said.

“You can’t fight me.” She growled.

Mason shook his head. His free hand disappeared
beneath his shirt and returned, cupping some unseen
object.

“Sorry Eva, but I don’t have to.” He said.

Mason chucked what he held towards the dirt and it
shattered like glass upon impact. A blinding flash of neon
green blew up in the air. The other harpies let out a piercing
screech that echoed off the trees. She felt Mason spin her
and guide her into another run. They began to dash but
Avery only made it about ten steps before the ground gave
out below her feet. She didn’t understand why until her right
ankle hit water. Alarm shot through her body when she
realized they’d run straight into a river. She grabbed out
from Mason but he’d fal en in too. The momentum of the
movement prevented any chance they had to regain
balance on the soil. He splashed into the river behind her.

Her entire body slipped in and she struck the ice cold water
like a brick wal . Avery tried to swim but the cold shocked
her nerves. Her body wouldn’t perform the necessary
movements. Every reaction came a second too late. Every
motion didn’t act right. The current continued to pound on
her. With her feet unable to touch the ground, she was at
the river’s mercy. Her world swirled blue. Water washed
over her face. Al the while, the river kept pushing them
downstream. The familiar tree line rapidly disappeared
behind them.

Avery then col ided with a protruding rock on the river’s
side. Knocked askew, her limbs flailed and a strong current
pushed her under. Her head below water, her lungs burned.
Blackness crept up on her vision’s edge.

For the briefest moment, a new sort of desperation struck
Avery. The water beat her down farther. She couldn’t even
see the surface anymore. Before the entirety of her world
slipped to darkness, her body col ided with something else
in the river. That something yanked her upward. Face
reaching open air, Avery took a clumsy breath. The water
kept moving them but she was barely aware. She only felt
something warm and clawed grab her hand and hold on
tight.

The river knocked them downward. Weak and cold, they
were at the mercy of the current until the water pattern
slowed by a blockade of stones ten feet downstream.

Barely coherent, Avery stil spotted the opportunity and
swam for the shoreline. Rocks biting at her knees and

ankles, she used the ground to boost up. Snow covered the
grass making it impossibly slippery. Digging her fingers
down to the roots, she grabbed and held on. Current stil
working them over, her grip loosened. One last wave of
adrenaline washed over her. Clawing at the dirt, she hauled
them up just an inch off the shore. Mason rol ed away from
her, slamming into the ground with a wet thud. Free of his
weight, she pul ed and yanked her feet free of the freezing
water. Crawling an inch more on wobbling limbs, she col
apsed hard.

Every nerve in her body went numb. Muscles giving out, she
stopped moving .The last of her subconscious screamed at
her to budge. She lay on the snowy grass, sopping wet, and
chil ed to the bone. Soaked to the core was a one way
ticket to hypothermia and death. The rational part of her
mind went ignored, favoring primal desire to relax. Her
eyelids grew heavy and she shut them. She felt sleepy. Just
as her world threatened to slip away into a blissful but lethal
sleep, something strange happened.

Six

Somehow, she felt tingles of feeling return to her fingers.
Certain she was hal ucinating, Avery twitched her limbs.

They al reacted. Blood pumping, her body lit up with
energy. She didn’t hesitate any longer. Sitting up, she
surveyed the world around her and located Mason nearby.
Mason sat on his backside, legs strewn in front of him.

Dirt and mud caked his face and littered his hair. His wings
had more tattered feathers than before. Stil , he looked
surprisingly alright with al things considered.

She turned away from him and focused back on herself.
Confusion sinking in, she rattled her limbs. Her nerves
reacted. Strangely, she didn’t feel cold. Warmth wound up
in her chest and her skin felt hot. Avery couldn’t prevent the
inevitable frenzy of emotions that fol owed.

“This isn’t possible. I must have died.” She said, panic
growing. When did she die? She died. She had to have.

People just didn’t feel like this after swimming in a freezing
river.

“Are you okay?” Mason had crossed the yard at some point
and kneeled down in front of her.

Face morose, he pressed his warm palm to her forehead.

“I should be...” She gasped desperately. She should be
frozen to death, but she didn’t want to say it out loud.

“The magic from the amulet’s keeping you alive.” He said.

“Magic?” She squeaked and gave him a flabbergasted
look. “Are you nuts?”

“I thought we were done with the disbelief stage.”

It took another moment for the situation to sink in. Her eyes
trailed to her right palm and what she saw almost made her
heart stop. The black magical mark had stretched down her
forearm and reached toward her elbows.

Avery scrubbed at the black like it’d come off. The mark
remained.

“Be glad. You shouldn’t have had the strength to pul us out.
Either way, I told you we’d be okay.” Mason said.

“We almost died! How is that okay?” Wrapping her arms
around herself, she shot him a dark look. “They’re going to
come after us again, right? How are we supposed to fight
them off twice?”

Avery knew she was on the verge of a panic attack now.
Her breath came too fast and her hands shook. Eyes
burning now, she looked away before he could see it. They
hadn’t washed up near anything civilized. A clearing had
been carved out by the river but the massive trees in the
area stil provided a canopy overhead. The river would most
likely end up in the Bay of Alaska. They’d climbed out of the
river before it did, but then they could be anywhere. Her
stomach plunged at the thought.

“These people aren’t run of the mil criminals and we did wel
considering.” Mason sounded exasperated. “And this is
your fault anyways. I told you they’d be coming.” His
comment landed particularly hard, probably because it was
true.

“Not helping now!” She shouted at him, eyes glistening so
much he just looked blurry.

Mason leaned away from her making a face she couldn’t
distinguish. In the next minute, she heard his tone change.

“Okay, I’m sorry. I know this isn’t your fight.” Mason was
trying to sound gentle. He wasn’t good at it, but she tried to
calm herself down in return. She wiped her cheeks clean
and blinked the wetness out of her eyes. It may have been
the because of the magic in her body but Avery felt alright
physical y. Her muscles only ached a little bit.

Also, she hadn’t gained any wounds and they hadn’t died.
She knew she shouldn’t be that upset.

“I suppose you did the smart thing anyways. You don’t know
me. I could have been one of them just trying to trick you.
Hiding away and staying around people was probably the
right thing to do.”

He kept consoling her and it sounded both awkward and
painful y forced. She decided that harpies weren’t good at
being nice which would only add more credence to that

nasty vicious reputation they had. Mason made an attempt
though, and she appreciated it. She looked at him this time
and gave a weak smile.

“Thanks.” She’d take credit for being smart even if she had
technical y just been grounded. “And thanks for saving me.”
She added.

She stuck a hand out in the air.

“We never did actual y get to know each other properly. Hi,
I’m Avery. Resident human.”

He quirked a smile at the last part but only glimpsed at her
hand instead of shaking it. Probably not a harpie custom,
Avery decided. She tucked her hand away before the wind
chil could properly get to it.

“Mason. Harpie.” He repeated her greeting and stretched
his feathers in what Avery assumed was the harpie version
of a handshake. It reminded her of her old parakeets.

“So, would you like to fil me in on who exactly is chasing
us? You knew them right?” As much as she’d wanted to
chat about anything carefree, she knew the situation cal ed
for more serious conversation.

Mason’s smile faded when he heard the question.

“I did know the girl once

Her name was Eva and I knew her before she became a
fugitive. Those harpies together are cal ed the Band of
Thieves. And they had original y tried to steal the amulet
from our prince, Jericho.”

Each quiet word he spoke made his face grow pinker.

Sensing the tension around the subject, she changed the
topic a bit.

“You said you were trying to recover the amulet for your
boss. Does that mean your boss is the prince?”She asked
to put the information together.

“Yes but he wasn’t just the prince. He was my father.”
Mason clarified and continued with, “You have to
understand that the Band of Thieves is legend in my world.
They are considered some of the most deadly and
dangerous fugitives. And those back there? They were just
the youngest ones. We wouldn’t have escaped from their
superiors.

“My father both created and owned the amulet. It was cal ed
the Wil ow amulet and it carried strong magic. One night he
was traveling with the amulet when the Band ambushed him
off of the California coast. Somewhere in the fight it fel and
the amulet was lost. I scoured the coast and found nothing.
Nothing but you.”

That brought up another subject.

“Okay, walk me through this magic thing.” She begged him,
knowing it was probably lowering his opinions of human
brains, but she stil had a problem wrapping her head
around this. “You said that I picked up the amulet and that it
broke. Then the magic slipped into me.”

He nodded for confirmation so she went on.

“And that magic is just chil ing there. Keeping me warm.” It
sounded more bizarre. Was she actual y tapping into the
magic? And how exactly did it just chil in someone’s body?

“Consider yourself like a vessel. Just like an amulet. The
magic wil reside within your body like an energy signature.
The energy wil give your body some strength just by being
nearby.” He wrapped his hand around a closed fist as an
example. Avery wasn’t going to pretend she understood
that ful y.

“Okay, now you said you could fix it.” She said next.

“Yes. It should be entirely possible to pull the magical
energy away from your body and recapture it in a new
amulet.”

“Okay.” It didn’t sound perfectly insane. Holding out her
hand so that the black mark showed clearly, she said, “Go
nuts.”

She expected some chanting or flashes of neon light.
Contrary to what she expected though, Mason just gave her
a helpless look.

“I’m not personal y sure how yet.” He said. “But that
shouldn’t be impossible to find out.” He added hastily,
apparently more than embarrassed to show a lack of
knowledge.

She frowned, unable to hide her disappointment.

“Wel , your father created it, right? Then he’d be the one to
know how to get it out of me. We just need to find him
before the Band of Thieves finds us.”

Mason didn’t answer at first, opting instead to stand and
walk closer to the woods. He disappeared behind the trees
and returned with dry wood. Avery took the hint and fol
owed him over. It was cold next to the river and unprotected
from the fal ing snow. By the trees, it was a bit warmer and
more out of sight. He put a make shift fire together quickly
and Avery happily sat next to it.

“Okay, now where do we go? They’l obviously find us here if
we linger.” She pointed out.

“We have some time before we have to move. Dry your

clothes and get some sleep.”

Avery cast a look up toward the sky. Though darkness in
Alaska didn’t always mean pitch black, she couldn’t even
see the stars. That also meant no one flying over head
could see them wel either. Maybe a few hours wouldn’t hurt.
They wouldn’t be making good progress this tired anyways.

“Alright.” She final y agreed.

Rest didn’t come particularly uninvited. She curled up on
the grass and final y al owed herself to relax. Avery didn't
even realize she dozed off until she recognized the hot
sandy shores of her dream. It reminded her of California
down to the salty air and sparkling blue water. Wrapping
her arms around herself, she peered down the shore line
from where she stood. The beach sat dead quiet with only
ghostly remnants of life. Empty tan chairs angled around a
pile of charred ashes in the fire pit. Pacing around, she
remembered it. This was the campsite she’d been at for
the Fourth of July.

White flashes lit up the sky and drew her attention upward.
They came from the farther down the beach, down by the
pile of shoreline rocks. She strode toward them without
thought. Each step she took turned into a mile in her dream
world and in moments, she had climbed to the top of the
rock pile. The flashes in the sky came closer and became
distinguishable as figures. Both figures had long lanky
limbs and large wings. They clashed sounding like fire
crackers. Avery covered her ears.

The battle came closer until it raged just off the shoreline
and Avery final y recognized the harpies. One wore bronze
armor with a gothic spiral insignia, and she identified the
wearer as Rafael. He gave his trademark ugly smile, even
as he clashed in battle. She looked at the other harpie and
knew his face.

“Jericho.” She identified him aloud.

Jericho, the harpie Prince, didn’t look much like his son
Mason. He had black hair instead of brown and was shorter
and slimmer. Considerable lines etched his face showing
his age and his slow reflexes showed the tol that age had
played on his body. The only way he resembled Mason was
the pale green eyes and the way he held himself with
indestructible pride.

Jericho’s eyes past over the beach and over her but looked
on blindly like Avery wasn’t there.

Rafael continued to lunge at him but Jericho danced away
graceful y. A shiny marble caught her eye next. The shiny
marble was the amulet which dangled from Jericho’s neck
almost mockingly, glowing with a faint blue and staying
always one inch out of Rafael’s reach.

Suddenly she spotted a flurry of other winged figures join
the fray. Each moved so quickly that it difficult was to
distinguish their faces. The unrecognizable harpies flew at
Jericho and the four of them circled him with a systematic
formation.

The sound of shifting sand on the beach caught Avery’s
attention and she glanced away from the battle. Behind her
stood Mason, except Mason didn’t see her either. Wings
tucked in beneath his oversized trench coat, he walked to
the end of the beach like she had. His eyes watched the
clouds and Avery fol owed his gaze. Jericho had staggered
back in the air. Wings spiraling, he didn’t fly but plunged. In
seconds, Rafael made a grab for Jericho. Rafael caught
the amulet, ripping it clear off its gold chain. The amulet fel
free and spiraled down towards the waves.

Avery instantly lost interest in the fight. Some unknown urge
driving her, she raced down toward the waves where the
amulet had fal en. Ankle deep in the water, she dug for it,
fingers clawing through the sand until she held the hot
broken glass in her hands.

Avery woke with a stir. A strong breeze brushed at her face
and she blinked the dust out of her eyes. Mason stood back
in the clearing, airing out his open wings. Sometime since
she’d fal en asleep, he scrapped the blood splattered shirt
completely and stood with his chest bare. The lack of
wardrobe did him justice at least. Even while thin by human
comparisons, his chest was flat and defined with muscles.
He’d cleaned the mud out of his face and hair with the river
water. Together, Mason resembled a male model without
the steroids. Avery had to scold herself quickly before her
body reacted to the inappropriate thought train. It stirred a
feeling in her that she wasn’t exactly okay with.

“Come on.” He beckoned, seeing her awake.

“Where are we going?” Using the ground to boost herself,
Avery came to a wobbly stand.

The sleep had helped but it was by no way a miracle. She
massaged her special hand, wil ing it to give her some
strength. Mason final y circled back away from the fire and
joined her near the tree line.

“We need to leave before they find us here. Besides, bad
weather wil be moving in. We need to reach the southern
coast by the end of the day.”

He beckoned her closer with an open hand. She took it and
let him guide her out into the clearing. Mason’s nails
seemed sharper now and looked more like talons. Maybe
he’d filed them down before coming to her school.

Maybe most of what she saw was an il usion. Shoving the
possibilities in the back of her mind, she glanced at the sky.
As promised, clouds had formed in the horizon but the

darkness hid the extent.

“The southern coast is a long walk away.” She pointed out
blatantly.

His wings snapped open with an unspoken suggestion.

“Oh no! How do you know you can even fly on those?” She
backed away without giving up his hand.

“We’ll make it but I need you to trust me.”

She wanted to protest but one wearily glance around them
stopped her. They were probably miles from the next town.
A quick way of travel would be preferable. She looked at
him again. He seemed confident in his flying ability, but
maybe harpies always did that confidence thing. Giving up,
she agreed.

He pul ed her to his bare chest and angled her arms to
reach around his neck. Scolding herself mental y for
flushing, Avery stared towards the ground. The stance
looked awkward. Avery barely made it above the five foot
range so Mason had some serious height on her. He didn’t
find it important once they would be airborne.

“Where do we find your father then?” She muttered into his
chest as his wings began to pick up speed.

“We’re not looking for him. We’re going to the harpie court.”

She forced her head back at an odd angle to look at his
face.

“I thought it was your father that could help us.”

His face became morose and Mason looked as if he
seriously debated tel ing her a thing. The ground
disappeared below them as he began to hover. Avery
squirmed but Mason’s arms around her waist held her stil .

Moving a hand, he pressed her face back into his chest.
Before she could protest, a rumbling stirred deep in his
chest.

“You must understand. The Band of Thieves didn’t just
attack my father Jericho. They kil ed him.”

Seven

A hundred feet in the atmosphere became absolutely
deafening and yet Avery found herself screaming above the
wind ringing in her ears.

“How much farther?” She questioned increasingly
impatiently.

Muscles trembling, she struggled to draw herself closer to
Mason who seemed like his own personal heater.

She’d never put much thought into why harpies ran twenty
degrees hotter than humans but this stood as the best
explanation. A few hundred feet in the air, it got cold. And
her human body wasn’t happy about it.

Mason took a long time to answer as he stared down at the
one place Avery refused to look. This far in the air, she
couldn’t imagine what the ground looked like. She could
see the mountains in her peripheral vision, and at this
altitude, they were crisp white and covered in glistening
snow. Any remaining green life sat so far below them, it
couldn’t be very visible. Even the highest canopy of the
giant trees probably resembled weeds. Avery wouldn’t look
down to confirm her sneaking suspicion.

“As far as we can get.” Mason finally announced.

“Do you even know where we are?” She whined again,
knowing it was a bit childish but she was sick of the
position.

“No, but I know where we’re going. Consider it an internal
compass of sorts.”

The state of Alaska was massive and most of it was rural,
unused lands of icy or forested masses. Even if they had a
distinct altitude advantage, they weren’t a plane and
wouldn’t be making great time. Thoughts straying, Avery
shifted her head to glance at the gash on Mason’s left wing.
The wound on the base of his wing had started to show al
over again. The feathers that had once covered it began to
part revealing the raw red gash. Fastening her left arm
tightly around his neck, she moved her right hand to finger
the wound. His wing snapped hard in protest.

“Sorry.” She muttered and recoiled. “But it’s getting worse.”

Mason hummed, his chest vibrating.

“Says the girl who knows nothing about harpie anatomy.”

“Hey, I said I didn’t know if you could fly. A gaping wound is
a gaping wound.” She said undeterred.

No matter how much he shushed her about the subject,
Mason’s wing clearly hurt him. He flew at a crooked angle
and his wing refused to open completely. They whirled
through the air, control ed but increasingly uncomfortable.

“It wouldn’t kil you to rest it awhile.” This time she didn’t
shout but he heard her anyways.

“Avery,” Mason interrupted, “shut up.”

She opened her mouth to protest and never got the chance.
His wings abruptly shifted and they lost altitude. The
nauseating displacement of height left her stomach in
knots.

“Harpies?” She squealed. Mason’s grip tightened and he
lowered them again with a single twitch of his wings.

“Worse, storm front. Hold on!”

A crippling gust hit them right at that moment. Mason’s
injured wing went askew first and sent them spiraling
backwards at an awkward angle. The entire flight pattern
ruined, they began to plummet. The world spiraled and
Avery suddenly saw what they were facing. They’d flown
right into a blizzard. Fear kicking in, Avery screamed.

Mason’s wings beat in a last ditch attempt to upright them
but the wind made him reel.

“Mason!”

She lost her grip and plunged downward. The world
spiraled in a blur of solid white. Her limbs flailed as she
flopped through the air. The drop wasn’t a long one and her
shoulders made impact with the ground first before her
head snapped back on the hard packed snow. Even if the
fal had been shortened by Mason, her body stil went into
shock from the impact. The storm kept raging above her.
Hurricane force winds bit at her skin and snow packed
down on top of her body. Forcing herself to rol to her knees,
Avery’s body ached but obeyed.

She scanned the spiraling white horizon as the wind and
ice dried out her eyes.

“Mason!” Her throat had gone hoarse from her earlier
screaming and her voice barely made a sound above the
thunderous storm.

She couldn’t spot anything but the snow and the white
capped hil s. She squinted desperately but no speck of
brown, tan, or black ever caught her eyes. Dragging herself
to her feet, she pushed herself forward. Buried to her
knees, she couldn’t walk right. Every muscle in her body
protested as she hauled her ankles up and forced herself to
take another step.

Her footing slipped and she waivered before sliding down
the slick terrain on her backside. Striking something rock
hard, she stopped. With no visibility, Avery ran her hands
over what she’d landed on. She vaguely recognized it as
the side of a mountain. Bracing her hands against the wal ,
Avery held it as she trudged sideways. The bumps of the
mountain shifted and she led herself right into a cave. The
wind let up and the air calmed. Avery blinked, heart
pounding in her chest, as she glanced around. The cave
delved deeper into the mountain and though musky and
dark, she welcomed the sight.

The mark of magic in her hand rhythmical y pulsed with her
own heart beat. The magic not only warmed her but kept
her body always one step up from total col apse. Not

wanting to think about it anymore, she glanced back
outside.

“Mason!”

She hol ered again when flicker of movement caught her
eye. She curled her fingers around the rock, hesitating.

While ironic that she’d ever find a damp, harrowing cave
more appealing than what played out before her, she
couldn’t find it humorous at the moment.

Avery slowed her spinning thoughts to pick at them one by
one. She hadn’t exactly seen Mason but the clunk she
heard could have easily been a body coming down. Avery
took a deep breath, steadying herself. The movement she’d
seen originated from only a few feet away, but the weather
made it a virtual mile. Too, leaving the cave now may mean
she wouldn’t find her way back in the absolute confusion.

“Suck it up girl.” She told herself with a fair lot more
audacity than she felt. Reaching for her cotton scarf, she
unraveled the stark blue fabric until it bundled in her hands.

“Hansel and Gretel left themselves a trail of bread crumbs.”
She parroted the old child’s rhyme idly.

The snow would cover it within a few minutes but so far it
stood as the best idea she had. Readying herself in a hurry,
she stretched out the cotton to its ful three feet and walked
back into the stormy weather. The gusts threatened to take
it away but she dropped the front end and packed it down
into the snow with the heel of her boot. It stood out harshly
against the white snow. Done with that, she turned her
attention outward and began to walk.

“Mason!” She yel ed.

Just as she took another step, she stepped on something
hard and bumpy. Looking below, she saw the figure lying in
the snow for the first time. Mason’s face and straggly brown
hair stood out above the snow.

“Come on, wake up, get up.” Avery dove to her knees as
her hands scrambled to brush off the rapidly piling snow.

It fel as fast as she cleared it off.

“Get up!” She demanded again. Taking on another
strategy, she grabbed for him. Snatching up his hand, she
stood, put her weight into it and tugged. Surprisingly light,
Mason’s body budged and curled up. He let out a choking
sound from deep in his throat.

“There, come on.” She dragged him up and over to the
cave.

The blue of her scarf led the way, though it’d been blown
unruly by the storm. One last wave of adrenaline racing

through her veins, Avery tugged him into the cave. The wind
slowed inside. The snow stil piled in the front of the cave
but not high enough to interfere with movement. She led a
stumbling Mason in farther, col apsing when she reached
the end.

Little light reached inside the cave and even less during the
storm. Stil , the cramped wal s were near enough that she
could chart the entire place by touch alone. Mason had fal
en below her, using just enough energy to rol onto his back
and fold his mangled wings beneath him. Hands moving
quickly, Avery brushed the last snow off of both of them.
When it would melt, they’d be wet again. This time, they
would likely freeze to death. Mason stirred when she
touched him.

“You alright?” He softly muttered.

“More so than you. I’m frikkin’ immortal this week.” She
gave a hoarse laugh even though it probably wasn’t funny.

“You’re not immortal.” He said, seeming more alert now.
“Come here.”

She couldn’t quite see him so she leaned in careful y. Then
his hand came up behind her and pul ed her close.

Avery jumped at first when he pul ed her tight to his bare
chest but she put it together quickly. He’d combined their
body heat-- something that was especial y useful when one
of the persons ran hot al the time. Immediately feeling the
difference, Avery leaned into him to warm up. She
maneuvered her face into the crook of his neck and let out
a breath. She couldn’t lie, squashing so close to Mason--
even in life or death scenarios-- seemed a little too
personal. Unsure of what to make of it yet, she didn’t
mention it.

“Wil this kind of storm pass?” He asked.

“It should clear up in a few hours.” That was if it didn’t cause
an avalanche and bury them alive in the cave. Avery didn’t
add that part.

“That was brilliant you know.” He commented.

“What?”

“Getting us in here. You’re a credit to your race.”

Avery’s face burned, thankfully hid by the darkness, and she
shrugged.

“It wasn’t that big.” She said.

Mason actual y acted like he liked her more. Avery had to
admit, they hadn’t ever gotten off on the right foot so Mason
liking her at al was an accomplishment. They’d still be
squabbling in the forest if it wasn’t for mutual survival. At

least this was a step in the right direction.

Mason stretched and she could feel the outline of his body
as he pressed against her.

“We should rest.” He mentioned.

“No, we can’t.” Moving quickly, she nudged his chest before
he even acted on sleeping. “Stay awake. Just trust me. You
don’t want to fal asleep when at risk for freezing to death.”

He made a grunting sound of discontent.

“Trust me. Just talk to me.” Her mind spun to think of a
subject. “Wel , I’ve never met a harpie before you, right? So
are there any other mythological creatures other than
harpies?”

“If they are mythological, they don’t exist.” No matter how
exhausted he was, Mason was quick to point out the flaw in
her logic. “But no. Just us real y. And that’s boring
anyways.”

She let out an aggravated breath.

“Fine then, pick a subject. Just stay awake.” She said.

“Okay.” Mason shifted a bit, pul ing away from Avery. If it
was a traditional situation, he would have done it to see her
face. The darkness in the cave didn’t al ow that, so he
touched her face instead. His fingers traced over her
cheek, her lips, and downward off of her chin. The
movement wasn’t inherently sensual, but Avery couldn’t help
but react to it. Heart skipping a few beats, she shifted
uncomfortably. Feelings were stirring in her chest that she
definitely knew she shouldn’t be feeling. Especial y not
when they were trapped in a cave, pressed to close
together and absolutely alone.

“Are you single, Avery?” Mason asked.

Avery froze, certain she must have heard him wrong.

“W-what?” She cursed herself for stuttering but this wasn’t
exactly her version of flirting.

“That’s what you humans call it, right? Single as in not
seeing a guy?”

She heard him clearly this time but didn’t have an
immediate answer. Her mind spun. He’d left his hand
lingering by the nape of her neck but hadn’t moved.
Desperately wishing she could see his face, she didn’t
jump to conclusions but swal owed the lump in her throat.

“Why?” She tried to judge whether or not Mason was
serious.

“Because I’m trying to figure out who Nathan is to you.”

Nathan’s name sobering her up, Avery’s mood soured.

“Nathan’s not my boyfriend.” She corrected quickly.

He laughed.

“Don’t be so defensive. I’m just trying to figure you out. I
watched you, you know, when I showed up at the school.

Mostly to make sure that you were the right person. That
you were human and that you didn’t know about harpies.”

She gave up on thinking he meant something more and
changed her focus. “Why, you thought I was supernatural?”

“You picked up the amulet of Wil ow by absolute chance.
Out of a hundred rocks on the beach, you picked up the
amulet. I wouldn’t dismiss the chance that you didn’t pick it
up by accident.”

Avery suddenly thought about the dream she’d had. In her
dream, she didn’t pick the amulet up by accident but had
been looking for it. She wondered at that moment if harpies
believed in fate too. If magic was real, what else could be?
But the truth of the matter was that she didn’t pick up that
amulet knowingly. It was absolute luck.

“Anyways, I got to see all of your friends. The girl made
sense. But Nathanial was strange. I thought you were dating
him.”

“Well I’m not.”

“Uh huh...” He sounded like he didn’t believe her.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Avery shrugged.

“Look, Nathan is just one of those pretty boys that dumb
girls fal for al the time. And yea, once I was that dumb girl.
Now I’m just trying to put that behind me, except no one real
y lets me.”

“Is he mean to you?”

Mason kept pushing for reasons Avery couldn’t understand.
And while spil ing her secrets to a harpie didn’t seem like
much of a problem, his intense curiosity was strange. She
leaned back into him but did it primarily to hide her face in
his chest. He didn’t comment on it but wrapped his arms
around her.

She never answered him but he said something about it
anyways.

“You know Avery, if we survive this, I’l crack that Nathan kid
in the face for you.”

Eight

Avery awoke with a start and took a moment to remember
where she was. It was stil dark and chil y, and she was
abruptly aware of the rough cave wal s digging into her
back. She’d stayed tangled up with Mason throughout the
night but awake now, scooted away from him. Outside, the
storm had calmed and the temperature had warmed.

Avery listened to the striking silence for a moment, idly
wondering if they’d find the cave snowed in with three feet
of ice. Mason final y twitched to life and Avery turned her
attention back to him.

“Okay, you’re right. We fel asleep and didn’t die.” She
admitted before she could hear him dropping the ‘I told you
so’. She pushed her cold hands into her pockets and was
distracted instantly when something firm met her fingertips.
Recognizing it immediately, Avery yanked the smal metal
rectangle from her pocket.

“My phone.” She rol ed it over in her hand.

It’d been water logged and squished under her weight a
few times. The glass time screen had been cracked and
the screws loosened so the phone didn’t quite click down
right. The metal stayed chil y but not wet. Flipping it over,
she took a breath and turned it on. She didn’t get any signal
but the phone lit up the cave.

She turned it on Mason, stopping before she declared its
working as a miracle. The light from the phone revealed
Mason’s face. Even coated in the blue hue, his cheeks
flared pink and his lips were a shocking white. His cheeks
suddenly looked hol ow and the angles on his face looked
harsh.

“Mason! Are you okay?”

She reached for his forehead and her fingertips just grazed
his skin before she felt the sweltering heat.

“You have a fever.” She realized official y. Turning her
attention to his wing, she examined the wound. It had
widened and scabbed over. Nose crinkling, she smelt the
rotting scent of infection.

“This is not good. Mason, we need to cal for help.”

They certainly weren’t flying out of here. In fact, she began
to worry if Mason would even live long enough to leave this
place. Though he looked bad, he stil remained alert and he
peered at her through glazed eyes.

“I’m not sure if we should leave yet.”

She shook her head, suddenly frustrated and panicking.
Mason needed antiseptics and ace bandages at the least,
antibiotics and stitches at the most.

“You’re not going to get better here! We can’t wait any

longer.” She hissed. “And what if you just don’t wake up?

Then we are in serious trouble.”

Mason let out a long breath and beckoned her closer.

“I do have something.” He said.

His fingers slipped into his pocket and he pul ed out
another amulet. This jewel was ruby red and bigger than
typical. He offered it over.

“This is a homing device. If you break it open then someone
I know wil track the magic and come to help us.” He
explained when she plucked the amulet from his fingers.

“Then why are we even waiting? We should cut to the
magic stuff now, get some help, and get out.” She said
while giving the amulet a thorough examination.

The amulet, made of glass, would be easily broken. She
could climb out of the cave, pick any rock to break it open
and send out the homing cal . That fact, combined with
Mason’s deteriorating condition, left her reluctant to wait.

“You have to understand. The second you cal out for help,
the Band wil hear it too. I can’t let you go out there alone.”
He rasped.

She let his words sink in. He was right, if the Band showed
up she’d be history. But if they didn’t try, Mason could die
and she’d stil be alone.

“Do you have a better idea?”She asked.

He gave a half hearted answer.

“Give me a day and if I don’t get better, then we cal for help.
I’m not human Avery. I don’t have such weak genes.”

She shook her head, caught between emotions. Mason
was at least wel enough that he stil managed to be
condescending. She let his attitude go in spite of recent
circumstances and turned her attention back to his wound.
Using her phone’s light, she examined the injury again while
holding herself back from gagging. It didn’t smel horrible for
an infection-- probably a sign it hadn’t spread far-- but
Avery could barely stomach looking at it.

The gash was scabbed over and the surrounding feathers
were brown with blood. She was convinced there was
some swel ing. Avery couldn’t give real medical advice, but
she did know it should be cleaned and wrapped.

“Okay. At least let me do something.”

After switching the backlight setting on her phone so the
light would remain on as long as possible, she looked
around the cave for anything useful. Avery knew she’d

seriously have to improvise with supplies. Slipping off her
jacket and her hoodie, she tugged the hem of her shirt until
the sheer white cotton went over her head. Avery tried to do
it quickly, hoping she could manage before he even
noticed.

“What are you doing?” He asked just as she got the shirt
over her head.

Feeling his eyes on her, she struggled not to sputter.

“It’s the best material I have. I’m going to use it to wrap the
wound.” She explained while her cheeks burned. Avery was
down to a lacy black bra that she didn’t relish him seeing
her in, especial y when they were stuck so close together.
Throat drying, she swal owed hard and placed the cotton
shirt in a pile. She rushed to grab her hoodie and put it on.
Mason wouldn’t quit staring.

“You know, you’re not bad looking for a human.” He said.

“Okay, quit that.” She spit out. “Look at the wal or
something.”

Her hands were shaking enough that she struggled to put
on the hoodie right. Avery fumbled with the zipper.

“It’s a compliment. Take the compliment.”

“Not from you.” She successful y zipped the hoodie al the
way up to her neck, but she stil refused to look at him.

“Why not from me? A harpie giving anyone a compliment is
a plus. I don’t know why you’re so twitchy about it.

Have you real y never been with a guy before?”

“I’m not twitchy! I just think there are more important
subjects than me.” She focused on her shirt now, tearing up
the cotton into two separate strips. The first one she placed
on the ground and then plopped a pile of clean white snow
inside the cloth. Wrapping it up, she slipped it underneath
her jacket and suffered through the chil iness. She needed
water.

“Wel that’s obviously the case. Why haven’t you been?”

Avery shook her head firmly.

“The fever is making you delirious, clearly, because you’d
have to be insane to think I’d talk with you about this.”

She crawled over to him and stretched out his wing. The
wing twitched with life of its own but quit resisting and
spread until she could see the wound. Her phone stayed lit
but would eventual y die so she needed to work swiftly.

“We’re trapped together. I just figured you’d tel me about
your life to pass some time.” He quirked a smile. He was

actual y enjoying this. She couldn’t believe it.

“That’s not my life. My life doesn’t revolve around boys. I’m
a high school student who was sooo close to graduating
and moving away.”

She pul ed out the fabric from underneath her jacket. The
snow had melted and the cloth was damp enough she
could use it. Wringing out the fabric, she sprinkled the
wound on Mason’s wing with water.

“Where were you moving to?” He asked.

“I don’t know. Probably California.” Avery said, but she
honestly hadn’t given the subject much thought.

“Aw, you want to be closer to me?” He crooned and Avery’s
face flushed.

“Shut up, Mason. “ She growled. “I didn’t even know you
lived in California, and I’m definitely not moving there for
you.”

She didn’t know that harpie homeland was in California but
it would make sense seeing as she’d picked up the amulet
off of the Pacific coast.

“Why are you so volatile? Like a fire cracker. You could
almost put harpies to shame with that hatred I feel. But for a
human, I don’t know why you hate me so much.”

She rol ed her eyes hearing the playfulness in his voice.
This definitely wasn’t the Mason she was used to, but being
trapped in a cave probably did that to people. Plus, he
clearly enjoyed getting underneath her skin. She refused to
let him.

“Hold stil .” She focused on her task and used the wet cloth
to wipe the wound clean. She did it careful y, scared to hurt
him and knowing it’d be easy to do so. The rag went from
white to black fairly quickly as she scrubbed.

“Seriously, do you torture al of your friends like this?” He
asked bluffly but failed to mask his clear pain.

“No, I have only one special place in my heart and that’s for
torturing you.” She stopped scrubbing after she’d done a
sufficient job.

With much of the blood cleaned off, it looked better but also
rawer. She grabbed the second piece of cloth and prepped
it as a bandage. It’d be a dreadful job by most standards,
but it would sufficiently protect his wing from the elements.

“I know you don’t hate me, Avery. I think you’re quite getting
used to me.”

Getting more used to taking his abuse, Avery thought. But it
was true. If she’d been told a week ago that she’d be

huddled in a cave with Mason and nursing him back to
health, she wouldn’t have believed it. But here they were.

“Yea, wel I’m growing on you also.”She pointed out while
she careful y wrapped the bandage around his wing base.
Her hands were shaking from stress, but she did her best
to hold stil and do it gently.

“Growing on me? Sounds like a weed. But you are
something. And for the record, I don’t understand why a guy
wouldn’t go for you. I might have-” Mason was cut off
immediately.

Nervous and shocked by his change in topic, she
accidently pul ed the bandage too tight and he yelped.

“Sorry!” She gasped, seeing him arch his back and
convulse. “Sorry, sorry, sorry.”

She loosened the bandage and let him rest before even
touching it again. Mason calmed and went limp. Avery
forced herself to breathe.

“You okay?” She final y asked, afraid to know.

Mason moaned and didn’t give a clear answer. She
hesitantly finished wrapping the bandage correctly. The
wound was covered and protected from the elements by a
decent film of cotton. Finished now, she curled her hands
up in his lap.

“Tel me about your life, Avery.” Mason said, changing the
topic, and stil refusing to address that he was in pain.

“I’m real y not that interesting. I go to school. I live at school.
The school is in a place where virtual y nothing ever
happens. I don’t have a car so I don’t go off campus much. I
don’t have many friends.” Avery said, struggling to answer.

Reminiscing on school only served to make her nostalgic.
She’d known she’d be leaving it for awhile but now Avery
wasn’t entirely sure she would ever get the chance to go
back. It seemed unreal. How Avery had gone from social
outcast to the most wanted person on the west coast, she
wasn’t exactly sure.

“Do you ever get into trouble?” He asked.

“No. That’s reserved for my brother Chase. He’s the trouble
maker. Actual y, I was there in California visiting him on
Fourth of July-- when this al happened. He lives right off the
beach by that boardwalk.”

Mason made a face, probably recognizing the area.

“So, why don’t you tel me anything about your world?” She
asked.

“I don’t care to talk about my family.” He said cool y.

Sensing the immediate change in his tone, she changed
the subject.

“What about harpies in general? Do you guys have to hide
from humans? What happens if you talk to them?”

“You’re thinking we’re so far different from humans. We
don’t have a code or law for anything but if I showed off my
wings to every person I met, I’d have problems. It’s just
easier this way period.” He shut his eyes firmly and let out a
hissing breath.

Avery felt his forehead again and found that the fever hadn’t
broken. In fact, it seemed like it was getting worse.

“Go to sleep.” She told him. “You don’t need to keep me
entertained. I’l make sure everything’s okay in the mean
time.”

He did and Avery was left to her thoughts.

Nine

Avery found herself outside squeezing the crimson homing
amulet in her fist until the angled edges cut into her hand.
Mason’s condition hadn’t gotten better and she now held
onto their only hope of surviving.

Dying scraps of sunlight shone in the far distance,
overshadowed by the closer and looming reminder of night.

When the blizzard had blown through, it took any hint of
weather disturbance with it. The snippet of sun and heat
had beaten the snow down into a flat sheet of white. In the
new day, Avery could final y see her surroundings.

They’d landed in a shal ow val ey eaten out from a mountain
top. She stood nearly equal between the two twin peaks
before digging her heels into the snow.

Glancing back down, she rol ed the transparent ruby red
rock through her fingers. Original y intrigued, Avery had
studied it on the hike down. Mason had thrown something
like this at the Band of Thieves when they’d escaped in the
forest. Even the original amulet she’d plucked up on the
beach resembled the amulet now. It didn’t take a genius to
connect the pieces. Harpies contained magic within these
glass stones. And this one, Avery reminded herself idly,
would send out a distress cal .

Picturing Mason hurt and waiting, she readied herself. He’d
barely been conscious when she’d left. Negative thoughts
urging her, Avery nudged the flurries of snow off of the
protruding rock. Once the rock had been cleared, she
raised the red glass in her hand. Holding her breath, Avery
aimed and chucked the amulet.

The glass cracked on the rock and before the shards even

ful y split, a bril iant violet light burst upward. An explosion of
pressure knocked Avery clear back until she landed and
slid over the ice on her backside. The violet beam of light
reached up and parted the clouds, expanding outwards
through the sky.

Avery’s jaw fel open. Everyone and anyone with eyes could
see that. Mason was nuts. UFO fanatics would be on this
place in a heartbeat. Avery might as wel have considered it
her backup plan. The amulet crackled and popped, the
blackened shards dropping into the slush. The light
dimmed from its base before dissipating into the air. It left
ripples in the clouds.

Avery stared up at the sky, unsure of what to expect next.
Tal er and more monstrous mountains ate up most of the
skyline. The distance had already faded into complete
darkness. She waited for a familiar flicker of movement
fluttering through the sky. She waited for the harpies to
arrive.

They left her waiting. Avery gathered her shaking knees into
her arms where she’d grudgingly sat. Temperature
dropping again, Avery sent an absent thought towards
digging for her missing scarf. Even the vivacious blue fabric
had become buried over night so even if she found it, it’d
be sopping wet. As the last of the sun was slipping away,
she saw something in the distance.

Unlike the flap of bird wings, the eventual flicker came like a
spiraling comet. She barely saw a flash of grey when it
barreled into the ground half a mile away. Within seconds
of the landing, Avery spotted the harpie woman
approaching directly paral el to her.

Wings extended, the harpie closed the distance between
them in moments. Avery didn’t recognize the girl so at least
it wasn’t Eva. This harpie had beige wings, blonde hair,
and absolutely pastel skin. Face rounder, she almost
looked young but the crinkles around her eyes spoke
otherwise. Short for a harpie, she stil stood inches above
Avery and used her height to glower downward.

“Who are you? And where’d you get this?” The harpie
woman snapped automatical y. She marched up to the
shattered remains of Mason’s homing amulet. Without even
seeing them, she knowingly kicked at the slush until they
surfaced.

“Um. Avery, and Mason gave it to me. And who are you?”

“My name is Adalyn, I’m Mason’s fiancé.”

Avery, immobilized, didn’t speak until the muscles in her
slack jaw finally tightened again.

“Fiancé?” Avery repeated just to make sure she’d heard
right.

“Where is he? I need to see him.” Adalyn urged, snapping
Avery out of her stupor.

“He’s in here. He’s injured.” Avery began to backtrack into
the cave but Adalyn didn’t follow.

“How?” The harpie woman asked shortly.

“What?” Avery stopped, confused.

“How was he injured?” Adalyn had backed off a least a
dozen feet. Her wings had shut and eyes had widened.

Brow pinched, she scrutinized Avery with an excruciating
tension. It clicked in Avery’s head. Adalyn was probably
justified to be suspicious. Al owing it, Avery turned to face
her and explained with the wide berth between them.

“The Band of Thieves attacked us.”

“Real y?” Adalyn cocked her head to the side, pink lips
parting. “Why was the Band attacking you? Why was
Mason ever with you?”

Posing the serious questions in a deadly quiet voice,
Adalyn advanced a few steps. For the first time, a shiny
silver glint became visible at her side. Avery’s eyes darted
to it before she could stop herself. The glint shone off a
dagger that Adalyn had strategical y tucked into her belt. Its
recent appearance meant she’d unsnapped it from her
buckle with a slight movement of her arm. Stomach turning
in knots, Avery forced herself to stare back at Adalyn’s
narrowed blue eyes. Holding her open hands up, Avery
explained.

“He was searching for Jericho’s amulet and I found it.”

Astonishment flushed Adalyn’s face a clear crimson.

“You have it?” She questioned immediately.

Avery shrugged, unsure of exactly what to do. Holding her
injured hand up, she showed Adalyn. Within the week, the
magical mark had transformed from a few black splotches
on her palm. It now twisted down her arm like external
veins, reaching up past her elbow and just below her
shoulder blade. It resembled frostbite except its wiry
patterns almost formed a design, and Avery was the
canvas.

“I am it.” She reasoned aloud, not letting the smal cinch of
hysteria reach into her voice.

Though she’d gotten the mark as far back as the Fourth of
July, only now did it expand and swel with such ferocity.

In the cave, Mason had wearily mentioned the reasoning.
“The more you use its energy to survive,” He’d justified,

“the more it becomes part of you.” With that il thought, Avery
had hurried to summon the harpie that stood before her
now.

Adalyn’s expression didn’t change initial y. Young face and
old eyes shifting at last, she trudged forward at a
deliberately slow pace. Final y she stood directly before
Avery and gingerly touched Avery’s outstretched hand.

The mark pulsed below Avery’s skin, hot and itching.
Adalyn drew her fingers away unhurried. Blue eyes catching
Avery again, Adalyn’s face showed everything in her mind
clicking together.

“If they don’t have the amulet, then the Band is still after
you.”

Avery nodded and with that thought, cast a quick weary
glance at the sky. Adalyn yanked the dagger out of her belt,
and swung her stance into a crouch.

“You cal ed them here! They’l fol ow you here! Where’s
Mason?” She bel owed.

Avery turned and dashed toward the cave. She slid to a
stop just where the entrance to the tunnel peeked from the
rock base. Adalyn knocked past her and dove into the
channel’s entrance with her wings snapping behind her
back. Knowing the tight squeeze inside, Avery didn’t chase.
Lingering by the entrance, she heard Adalyn crash to her
knees.

“Mason, are you alright? Wake up, speak to me.” Her voice
altered noticeably. Her shouting had turned to soothing
whispers and in a minute, Mason’s husky voice whispered
in return.

Cheeks reddening, Avery backpedaled towards the center
of the shal ow val ey. The voice tones had rapidly turned
into something Avery wasn’t too okay with over hearing.
She stared down toward the glistening snow and focused
on settling her spinning mind. She reasoned things out.
Mason hadn’t told her anything about the harpie world. She
shouldn’t have found it so surprising that he had a girlfriend.
Or an almost-wife. After al , Avery reminded herself, Mason
had no intention of sticking around when they got the amulet
out. He’d go back to his own life and Avery would go back
to hers like nothing ever happened.

Her thoughts stopped suddenly when a shadow fel upon the
ground. Avery didn’t have a chance to turn around. A heavy
crack to her head and she saw stars. Another whack and
Avery saw nothing.

Her world eventual y returned to her in blurry blotches. Bit by
bit, pieces of her vision restored until she found herself
staring at a brightly lit floor. Her skul pounded and ears felt
like they were stuffed with sand. Head weighing ten tons,

she rol ed her shoulders and struggled to look up.

“Sleeping beauty awakes.” For the briefest of seconds, she
thought she heard Nate.

Confused, she tilted her head up and desperately blinked
until the room became clear. But instead of off white wal s,
time worn wood stared back at her. Instead of plush carpet,
dust and dirt covered the concrete floors. And instead of
stout Nate sulking against the wal , there stood a towering
harpie. Grey wings curled behind his back, he watched her
while wearing a taunting smile.

“Rafael?” She croaked with recognition. The il usion of
being home disappeared and was replaced by the bitter
reality of an empty cold room.

“Hi girlie.” Rafael acknowledged her with a nod.

“Where am I?” She asked in a hoarse voice. She examined
her surroundings with a quick, overhaul gaze.

Only one light brightened the room and shadows col ected
in the corners. The air smelt musty and thick. An old run
down cabin in Alaska. Now that was just classic.

“Somewhere safe now.” He said.

“Psh, I certainly feel safe.” She said against her better
judgment, but her frustration demanded to be properly
voiced.

However they’d knocked her out and moved her here hadn’t
been gentle. Though adrenaline kept her from feeling every
ache, she stil felt the searing sting of rope trapping her in a
stiff chair. Leaning forward, she pul ed on her restraints.
They’d tied her tight enough to cut off her blood pressure.
The ropes didn’t even so much as shift.

Rafael watched her smal motions with a sharp predator’s
gaze. She gave up and shrugged at him innocently.

He’d never moved from his position on the wal but she
didn’t want to give him reason to either. Avery never
mastered in playing con games for survival, but something
told her to keep talking.

“I take it we’re still in Alaska.” She commented openly.

His silence was her answer.

“Somewhere in the woods perhaps?” She tried again.

“You might as well not know where you are. Your friends
aren’t coming for you and you won’t be calling them.”

Realization sunk in and with it, a harrowing prickling panic.
The Band had fol owed the homing signal not only to her but
to Mason also. When she’d left, Mason couldn’t even stand.

He couldn’t face off with them twice.

“My friends? What happened to Mason?”

He grinned at her.

“That joke of an exiled harpie is probably rotting away
somewhere in the mountains still.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Twitching, she pushed against
her ropes and rol ed her hands that were tied up. She
couldn’t even budge.

“What do you mean?” Avery asked.

“The exiled part or the rotting part?” He swaggered forward
and closed the distance between them. She didn’t have to
specify before he took the opportunity to speak.

“Your precious boyfriend was exiled from the harpie
community months ago. Why do you think he took this
suicide mission to find the amulet? To find you?”

Avery’s thoughts raced.

“Mason came after the amulet because you kil ed his
father. You kil ed Jericho. He probably just wants it back.”

Her words sounded halfway hol ow.

Rafael’s smile curled up even more.

“Is that al Mason told you?”

A creak from the door interrupted him. The door swung
open and another harpie hunched over to fit through the
doorway. No lights lit up the world outside the cabin so
when the door shut, Avery was just as lost as ever before.

The new harpie was Eva and Eva’s mere presence sent
Rafael to the opposite side of the cabin.

“Tell her no more, Rafael. She already knows too much.”

He pressed himself flat against the wall and gave a half
hearted debate.

“I didn’t tell her anything, Eva. And even if I did, it won’t
matter when we kill her.”

Eva’s lips thinned and she strode up to stand before Avery.
Avery squirmed when the tension thick atmosphere
became suffocating, but she couldn’t move away.

“It may not be that easy anymore, Rafael. You should know
that.” Eva hummed quietly. Moving again, she walked
around Avery’s chair until she reached the one spot that
Avery couldn’t see her.

“I don’t know what to do with you.” She said slowly, this time

directed at Avery.

“What do you mean?” Avery’s voice had twisted with panic
but she was kept forceful y stil . The blood pounding through
her veins only made her wrists and hands tingle with
numbness.

“What’s wrong, Eva?” Rafael piped in as wel .

“Somehow this human filth has managed to absorb the
magic not only into her body but have it grow there. Never in
my life have I seen humans used as vessels, nor am I
entirely sure to reverse it.”

“And that means?” Rafael kept prompting on the exact
same thoughts Avery shared.

“That means we must find a way to free the magic from her,
find a way to use the magic within her, or cut our losses and
kil her.” Eva’s silky voice made everyone in the room
shudder down to the core.

Rafael then piped in something that Avery didn’t see
coming.

“This is why you told us not to kil your brother. Mason might
know how to free the magic.”

“Wait, Mason’s your brother?” Avery’s voice spiked with her
abrupt shock. Struggling once again to move, she tried to
get a glimpse of Eva’s face.

Eva moved again, heading for the cabin door. Hovering by
the knob, she looked straight toward Rafael with the sharp
green eyes that suddenly seemed so reminiscent of
Mason’s.

“Yes, and if Mason knew enough to track her to Alaska then
he’l find us again. But this time, we’l be ready for him.” Eva
opened the door. She glanced toward Avery this time and
said, “Oh and Rafael, bring our company.

We’l have to deal with a few things before my brother
arrives.”

Ten

The world bounced from Avery’s skewed vantage point and
though she could see her surroundings, they only
resembled an obnoxious blur of blue skies and grey gravel.
Spitting out the feathers that poked in her mouth, Avery
wiggled and tried to see past Rafael’s wing mast. He’d pul
ed her out of the chair, threw her over her shoulder and
carried her like a rag dol out of the cabin. And on a harpie,
the ride wasn’t a pleasant one.

“Stop moving girl.” Rafael warned her and squeezed his
arm around her waist until she squeaked.

Avery debated on complaining when she heard something
over the crunch of gravel beneath their feet and then she
stayed quiet to listen to it. At first the swooshing noise
sounded too vague to identify until she heard the
characteristic trickle of a stream. Avery wrenched her body
to glance in the correct direction just as Rafael stepped
onto paved ground. They weren’t in the middle of the
woods, Avery realized rapidly.

Nearby, a col ection of two-story wooden buildings sat. In
the middle of the tiny town, some of the buildings had
toppled and only remained as piles of jagged wood and
scraps of metal. Except the destruction there didn’t exactly
resemble remains from a blast site or a charring fire.
Nearby it, the buildings remained untouched, shinning, and
new with recent coats slick paint and varnish. Avery
squinted at the odd picture. It struck her then. No lights were
on inside nor were there any cars nearby.

Her thoughts landed on an answer fairly quickly, and she
turned her body to correct location for confirmation. The
stream ran nearby and above it was a concrete path up the
mountain side. Visible from the top was a set of
treacherous and rotting suspended train tracks that circled
around down the mountain side. From here she could even
see the rusted silver box cart affixed at the track’s onset.
She recognized it now.

“We’re at Hatcher’s Pass.”

Hatcher Pass was an old gold mine turned tourist spot near
Palmer Alaska. She used to come here as a child.

The vivid memories of it came back to her. She’d splash
through the cold water stream, panning for tiny specks of
gold and ruining her overpriced fur boots. Even though it
seemed so distance in the past, the memories returned
with such striking clarity that her eyes stung.

Avery began to wonder if she’d ever get to make anymore
stupid memories like those again. Mason had been her last
hope to survive and he was on his death bed a few hours
ago. Avery’s thoughts darkened. She didn’t know how to
get out of this one.

“Up here, Rafael.” Eva’s voice led them back off the path
and though the dirt. Rafael final y stopped short and rol ed
Avery off his shoulder before she’d gotten the chance to
brace herself. Smashing into the floor sent a sharp jolt of
pain throughout Avery’s skeleton but she ignored it. She
wasn’t tied up anymore, wasn’t trapped, and was ready to
escape. Rol ing to her feet, she stood only to freeze
because of what she saw.

Lingering around the old wooden wreckage stood more
harpies than she had seen before. Every one of them wore
the familiar brass plate with the same swirling insignia on it.
The mere sight made her back into Rafael’s hard chest and

he used it to bounce her back into the center of the circle.

Mason had once referred to the members of the Band
she’d encountered as children. At the time it seemed
foolish but now it rang as absolutely true. The new harpies
she hadn’t seen before had at least ten years on the others.
Even Eva slunk behind them and disappeared into the
background. The new center of focus revolved around one
man who rested on the wood ceiling of a dilapidated
building. The harpie’s black eyes crawled over her a few
times over before he spread his massive wings and leapt
down to the floor with a sweeping gust.

Like al other harpies, the man stood head and shoulders
above her and had never ending limbs. His claws caught
the light and his wing mast spread out far. Unlike other
harpies though, he didn’t wear the brass chest plates or any
familiar insignia. His cloth clothes had been tattered
showing off the long scars over his neck and chest. With
graying hair and drooping eyes, age and experience
showed in his face.

“This would be the girl that I’m foretold about?” He asked
the crowd but no one answered him. Avery was wil ing to
bet they were afraid too.

The harpie then walked up to Avery. She recoiled, but he
didn’t let her get away. Reaching out, he touched her cheek
with the back of his hands. The movement hadn’t been
harsh but quick, and Avery jumped. Reflex kicking in, she
raised her hands to knock him back but he was undeterred.

“My name is Mikhail. Now don’t fight me.” He said calmly.

His touch then trailed from her cheek to her jaw and he
grabbed her chin to force her head upward. Eyes rising,
she looked at him. His eyes were cold and empty, but
looking at them made some strange feeling seize her body.

Her heart began to pound and her stomach fluttered. Her
skin began to tingle and her head began to float. Avery
wanted to fight the unnatural feeling that flooded her body
but her eyes stayed focused on his. Her rational mind
began to leave her. She suddenly noticed how pretty he
was. His skin was porcelain and perfect, and his eyes were
large and beautiful.

“Don’t fight me.” He parroted and she went limp, obeying
him. “Trust me. It’s just easier this way.”

Avery nodded. Of course, she thought, it was easier this
way. He gave her a crooked smile and his hand drifted
from her chin. Landing on her shoulder, he let his hands
wander down the side of her arm and his fingertips left a
hot sensation in their trail. His hand final y took hers and pul
ed it out between them.

He broke his gaze to look down at her hand where the

magical mark had tattooed her skin. Careful y, he ran his
thumb over the marking with clear concentration. Avery
didn’t fight him. She trusted him at that moment with
absolute sincerity.

“Have you been using the magic lately? Have you been
able to harvest its energy?” He asked quietly.

“Yes. I have.” The words spilt from her lips before she even
realized she said them. Unable to stop herself, she kept
talking. “It’s been keeping me warm and keeping me
moving. Mason said that my body is absorbing the energy.”

“You see these marks?” He asked while traced his fingers
over the wiry markings. His skin was so warm that the
sensation made Avery’s knees weak.

“Yea.” She answered him breathlessly and eagerly.

“This means that your body isn’t just holding the magic
anymore. This means your body has bonded to the magic.

This means you might be able to use it.”

Her mouth fell open and for the first time, she actually
stopped watching him and looked at her arm.

“Do you feel it? Tell me you can feel it.” He then said.

She flexed her fingers and focused, wanting to feel the
magic for him. Nothing happened at first, and then Mikhail
guided her.

“Feel the knot in your stomach? Push it outward. Out
through your fingers.”

She obeyed, focusing on the warmth of her chest. Mental y
wil ing it, she pushed the feeling through her veins. The
warmth suddenly felt like an electric current that tingled
through her blood and she pushed it down her arms, down
to her fingertips.

Then she actual y saw something that took her breath away.
She had felt the electricity that ran through her veins but
seeing it was a whole different matter. A tiny visible
electrical current darted between her fingers like they were
conductors. The current was blue and didn’t hurt, but Avery
didn’t want to see it anymore. She tried instantly to shake
the feeling off, let the warmth go back into her chest. Mikhail
took this moment to intervene. Grabbing her chin again, he
forced her eyes to meet his.

“Keep going, I want to see how much you can actual y
manage to manifest.” He demanded.

Avery shook her head. She didn’t want to, but she felt
forced when Mikhail’s black eyes were on her. Muscles
aching, she obeyed until the magic actual y hurt. The
electricity grew stronger, bigger, but never made it beyond

her wrist.

“Does it hurt you?” Mikhail asked but it sounded more like
curiosity than concern.

“It does! It hurts!”

Suddenly he let her go and Avery fel back, smacking the
ground hard. The electrical current vanished but her arm stil
stung. Some part of her heard every harpie in the
immediate area ah and oh at the spectacle. But at the
moment, she found herself desperate and panicking when
the pain grew worse. Her eyes watered and she held the
infected arm away from the better half of her body.

Eyes snapping upward, she quickly scanned the crowd just
as her world began to blur in and out in masses of blinding
color. Her body reacted before she did. Dragging herself,
she reached the dirty slush that had col ected just off the
pathway and plunged her hand into it. The slush actual y
sizzled and popped, steam puffing up from the impact
zone. The burning began to fade, slowly and agonizingly.

Avery let out a hissing breath as the last of the pain slipped
away leaving her a welcome numbness. She turned back
towards Mikhail but he suddenly looked different. She
swore a moment ago he’d looked beautiful and had been
inviting. Now he just looked ugly and vicious. Confusion
sunk in quickly but her eyes dropped down to the necklace
he wore. It was a glass amulet with a bright orange hue.
That’s when it sunk in. He had used magic on her. He had
made her listen to him. Feeling sick, she kept back but he
didn’t seem to want to grab her again.

“Eva, come here.” Mikhail ordered.

Eva did come forward.

“Eva, you put our entire Band in danger for this?” His voice
shot up quickly.

Paling considerably until her skin harshly contrasted with
her stark black hair, Eva stuttered to defend herself.

“The amulet-“

He interrupted her.

“This is not the amulet. This is a human with weak magical
powers at best.” He said, waving his hand vaguely at Avery.

“Sir, the magic is al stil there. We can make it manifest.”
Eva tried again, this time desperate to keep her words
clear. Her shoulders had slumped, wings folded, and she
suddenly looked smal er than ever before.

The boss harpie paced.

“It’s moved into an unusable source. Don’t you understand,

Eva? Don’t you understand that kil ing Prince Jericho wil
once more bring the wrath of the entire monarchy on our
heads? They can’t so easily look away anymore. We took
the risk because you promised results. And this is not
results.” Through the swagger of sophistication in his
words, his voice dipped low with a clear dripping tension.
Even Avery heard it from where she stood. The spare
harpies became engrossed in staring at the floor, and Eva
stood dead stil and unmoving.

“Give me time. Give me time and I can make it work again.”
She final y whispered, licking her dry lips and wringing her
clammy hands.

His threat was clear but he gave a reassuring smile
anyways.

“Punishing you would do no good now. Their soldiers wil be
after us soon and it wil not make them go away. Now do
something with your new pet Eva, I grow tired of looking at
her.”

After being dismissed with that short statement, Eva
hurried into action. The other harpies began to part and
scatter. Eva slid to her knees just to yank Avery back into
her feet. Avery could barely stand and staggered when Eva
hauled her away.

Eva dragged her back, only stopping when they’d reached
the two story wooden welcome lodge. The Pass was
closed at winter and at night. It was the off season and the
building was locked down. Even if Avery did escape, she
wouldn’t be finding a phone or help inside.

“This is his fault. This is al Mason’s fault! I’l tear him to
pieces when I see him.” Eva raged, dropping Avery straight
back onto the concrete. Eva turned away and glanced to
the distant snowcapped mountains. It didn’t take a genius
to imagine that was the path to the shal ow val ey in which
Avery and Mason had crashed.

“Don’t hurt your brother too,” Avery pushed herself up to sit.
Her body ached down to her bones and yet the thought of
Mason brought her straight back to reality. “You slaughtered
your own father for an amulet and now you’d kil Mason
because he wanted to save his father’s legacy.”

Avery didn’t bring up exactly how she knew that. The dream
from a few days ago stil lingered in her mind, and it had
been so real, Avery would have attested to being there.
She was there. Almost there. Avery was off the side of the
California coast the night a good harpie was murdered.

Eva’s suddenly whirled to face her. Dirt exploded upward
from the gusty motion. When the cloud had thinned, Eva
face had twisted into something ugly. Her entire stature had
changed into something tense-- into something dangerous.

“How dare he blame this al on me?” Eva growled and
advanced to tower above Avery. Fists clenched until her
own claws drew blood, Eva shook with a new seething
rage. “Mason had more part in this than anyone. Mason is
the only reason it could happen. Mason is the reason my
father is dead.”

Though on the ground, Avery instinctively leaned back to
put an inch more of distance between them. Mind spinning,
she shook her head out of habit.

“What? What are you talking about?” Avery then prompted.

Eva paced away, putting clear distance between them as if
her twitching hand was at risk of lashing out at any moment.
She strode to the end of the clearing and turned on Avery
with slanted eyes.

“Mason cal ed Jericho out that night knowing it’d be an
ambush, and he set his own father up. The Band offered
him a trade-- he’d help us get the amulet from Jericho for
our help in return. You’ve met that little girlfriend of his?

Wel she was engaged to be married to somebody else and
Mason wanted the guy gone. Mason wanted us to kil him.”
She explained slowly. “But when Adalyn’s fiancé showed up
dead, the police fol owed the blood trail straight to Mason.
They exiled him, and the only reason Mason isn’t
imprisoned is because they can’t prove it. Then Mason got
nervous and decided to hide the amulet from us. His
foolishness is going to get me into trouble. So Mason
deserves everything Mason gets.” She bit out the last part
through clenched teeth.

Her words hung in the static chilly air for nearly a full minute.

“I don’t believe you. Mason wouldn’t...Mason loved his
father.” Avery finally spit out the words, but they sounded
surreal.

Eva’s eyebrows shot up, as if daring Avery to ponder on
that one.

Light headed, Avery abruptly forgot about her immediate
surroundings. Instead, her mind brought back the past
week’s memories. She remembered Mason’s story, his
words in his husky voice. She remembered the sorrow
etched with lines into his face and the darkness in his jade
green eyes. Avery shook her head again, finding herself
suddenly unsure.

“Then he hasn’t told you one true thing yet.” Eva said and
continued with, “I’l tel you this little girl. You may fight us
because you know our motives. But at least you know them.
Mason lies and has already lied to you. Don’t believe him
for a second. If you needed to die too, he’d let you. In fact,
I’m sure he’d murder you himself. Now he should stop
hiding behind the white horse façade because it’s pathetic

to watch.”

Avery opened her mouth to retort but never got the chance.
Eva held a silencing hand up in the air and hissed.

“Shut up.”

The moonlight flickered on the concrete, disturbed. Eva’s
eyes shot upward and her wings shot open. Internal alarm
ringing, Avery sprung to her feet and fol owed Eva’s gaze
up toward the parting clouds. Avery squinted upward just as
an explosion in the air sounded out. Head twirling, she
glanced back towards the heart of town.

Shadows darted in the air-- too quick to be seen but just
slow enough to distort the dim blue skyline.

“Mason?” Avery asked aloud.

“No,” Eva’s growled. “The police.”

Eleven

The stars in the sky disappeared when the flocks of harpies
amassed in the sky overhead. The thunderous drumming of
wings consumed the entire mountaintop but the
concentration of it circled the center of the mine site.

Already, Avery could hear the piercing cries and shrieks of
battle as the harpie police clashed with the Band of
Thieves. She even swore she heard the whistling of
harpoons tear through the air and the inevitable pop of
impact. Unsure how to react she turned back toward Eva
only to find that Eva had left her standing on the street
alone.

Seeing the opening, Avery quickly took in the remainder of
her surroundings. She couldn’t see a single harpie nearby
but only the abandoned parking lot and a road that twisted
down the mountain. She ran for that parking lot and hit the
road. Green information signs led her way from that point.
Though the signs al declared something like

“thank you for visiting” it translated as “EXIT” in the long run.
She fol owed the signs until they ended and the road
began. This time, her new direction became marked out by
the yel ow road reflectors that lit up from the moonlight.

Taking the high road put her more in the open but if she cut
through the forestry at this high of an altitude, she may not
make it out at al .

Adrenaline kept her moving and Avery made good time.
Then the inevitable happened. A harpie quickly descended
from the sky and made a grab for her, successful y yanking
her sideways. Instinctively, she twisted her body in the
opposite direction. The move, mildly effective, knocked the
harpie’s grip free but doing so on an icy ground, she lost
her own balance. When the harpie pushed her, she went

down and met the pavement with a painful crack. He landed
on top of her and pinned her this time. She couldn’t see
anything more than the road and weeds from her new point
of view, but she could hear the unfamiliar masculine voice
whisper in her ear.

“I am a dual y appointed Marshal and you’re under arrest. If
you fight me, I wil kil you.” She heard a clatter before he
fastened freezing metal cuffs around her wrists and
tightened them until it hurt. His hands kept moving, freeing
another set of cuffs with a tel tale clatter.

Grabbing the popped col ar of her jacket, he tugged it back
to reveal the blue shirt back underneath. The metal cuffs
dangled as the harpie held them loosely and then abruptly
he flinched like he’d sprung a mousetrap.

“You’re human.” He said aloud with every bit of disbelief stil
dripping in his voice.

While to his defense, she wore a heavy enough jacket to
conceal wings, Avery didn’t resemble a harpie in any way.
On cue, he looked for that next. Lighting up a flashlight, he
shone it at her curled fingers. Avery’s fingers barely had a
nail, much less talons. She was also short for a human and
definitely short for a harpie.

“Definitely human. Can you let me up now?” She pled.

She knew it wouldn’t work. It didn’t take a genius to know
that a human running away from the Band of Thieves
hideout had something to explain. He held her down while
he demanded that explanation.

“Why are you here? Who are you?”

“Look, I’m really nobody. I just stumbled upon this whole
thing by accident and just want to go home.”

“Don’t lie to me!” He put pressure on her back and Avery’s
eyes watered.

She tried a different approach.

“I am a friend of Mason’s, Prince Jericho’s son. The Band
of Thieves kidnapped me but I got free. Please, let me go. I
don’t have anything to do with them.”

She didn’t know Mason’s last name but considering
everyone knew Prince Jericho, she didn’t need to explain
further. The police officer didn’t let up on the pressure but
he did go quiet. Avery could hear the battle rage on up on
the hil . The bloody squawks and the ear piercing crashes
had only grown closer and louder. Avery didn’t need to look
up in the sky to know more police were arriving and that her
opportunity to plead her case out was running out.

“Mason was banished for his part in a conspiracy.
Affiliation with him only makes you guiltier.”

Avery let out a frustrated gasp. So much for that approach.
She’d thought that dropping Mason’s name might have
gotten her a reprieve at least.

“I know you have magic. I know you aren’t innocent.
Surrender the amulet to me. I’m taking you in.”

Avery grunted when he yanked her up to her feet. The
harpie was ready to leave with her but Avery couldn’t let
him.

Mind racing, she struggled to remember what Mikhail had
just taught her about manifesting the magic. She struggled
to feel the pul of warmth inside her chest and then
desperately pushed it out. It worked just like before, coming
easier this time, and soon Avery felt the electrical charge of
magic in her fingertips. She used it, grabbing the police
officer with her hands. The electricity simmered, crackling,
and shocked him. She only heard his roar of outrage and
felt him fal back.

Free from his hold, Avery backpedaled. Her wrists natural y
moved and unexpectedly the cuffs gave. She brought her
hands in front of her face and barely understood what she
saw. The silver cuffs had to have been at least an inch thick
made of something stronger than steel. Now, the metal had
melted into sticky globs of semi liquid. The magic had done
a number to them.

The police officer managed to stand back up and
demanded Avery’s attention again.

“What are you?” He asked deadly quiet.

She stuttered for an answer.

“I’m not your enemy, but I’m sorry, I need to leave.” She tried
but his scowl indicated that he wouldn’t let her go easily.

Avery prepped herself for battle but another harpie
swooped down behind her. Avery barely saw Eva before
the harpie grabbed Avery and hefted her in midflight, taking
Avery’s feet off the ground. The world spiraled. Unlike her
brother, Eva didn’t have the same balance or build to hold
Avery’s weight. The resulting choppy flight left them
plunging down the hil side at a break neck speed. Avery
screamed, clawing at the arms that held her and kicking at
the air.

The police officer took to the sky as wel , tailing them in a
blur of white. Eva’s wings pounded, just enough to glide
them. The cop grabbed at them. Eva maneuvered too hard
to avoid the man and the resulting motion had let Avery slip
free. Avery plummeted through outstretched tree branches,
and hit the ground rol ing. Though she hadn’t been dropped
far, landing just about kil ed her. In that same second, she
turned her head just in time to see unmistakable blinding
glare of headlights gunning her way. Her limbs didn’t budge

in time. The oncoming truck swerved, breaks squealing in a
cloud of burning rubber. Avery’s knees weakened and she
hit the pavement just as the truck skid to an agonizing stop.

A ful minute went by before Avery final y peeled her white
fingers off the asphalt and remembered how to breathe.

The moment had past so quickly, it took a second for her
brain to catch up. Leaning back, she sat in the damp snow
and drew her knees back into herself.

The sputtering blue truck that had just missed making Avery
road kil remained nearby. The car’s door opened and its
engine final y clicked off with a guttural moan. The driver
approached wearily, his eyes apparently il adjusted to the
darkness, probably looking for a wild animal. When he
spotted Avery, his face changed considerably. Mouth
dropping open, the driver raced to her side.

“What happened? Oh my God, you need help?”

Closer now, Avery could see the man in detail. His scruffy
orange beard made the majority of his face disappear but
soft green eyes were stil visible. Dressed in flannel and
heavy duty boots, he could have been a park ranger but
Avery couldn’t be sure. As far as Avery was concerned,
humanity was enough for her at the moment and she
accepted the hand he offered. He walked her to the car,
doing a lot to support Avery’s weight, and popped open the
door to al ow her to sit. Avery did grateful y. The car’s lights
came on and the man’s eyes widen and his jaw went slack
when he official y got a clear look at her. Avery didn’t have
a mirror but it didn’t take a genius to know she was caked
with everything from slush to blood. Half starved, frozen,
and scared, she probably seemed a little twitchy to boot.

“Uh. I uh, ran.” Nothing she was saying made sense when
her brain refused to work right.

“Were you- were you attacked? What attacked you? Good
God, child, you know there are moose and bears out here!”
He said.

“Um, I don’t know. It was dark. I just heard something and I
ran.”

“What are you doing out here? The Pass is closed tonight!”
He clearly thought she was insane but Avery shrugged.

“I just, I wanted to see it but then I got lost. I thought
something was chasing me so I ran...” She used every bit of
energy she had left to make her story sound genuine.

He believed it.

“You’re so lucky I found you. Is there anyone else with you?”

“No, no. Just me.”

She glanced up at the sky when she said it. Mason may
have kept away from humans but she knew Eva wouldn’t.

Once that harpie police officer got done chasing her, she
knew Eva would be back.

“I’l give you a ride back to town.” The man decided without
hesitation and closed Avery’s door once her legs were
clear.

The mix of uneven temperatures fogged the windows.
Rubbing at the side window with her sleeve, she peered out
into the night. The trees thrashed together and the flailing
branches were distracting. The sky directly above her was
clear, dark, and starless. She squinted desperately. Eva
had probably kept flying but would inevitably double back. It
was only a matter of time.

The truck bounced from an impact. Flinching, Avery tore
around to glance behind her. In a hurry, she rubbed the
back glass clean of the foggy condensation. The sight of
familiar red flannel greeted her and she let out a pent up
breath. The man had jumped onto his own truck’s bed. Too
close for her to see detail, she heard metal clink and clatter
until the man finished and resurfaced at the car door. But
this time, Avery realized, he carried a long pump action
shot gun. He held it up for her inspection before pushing it
into the cabin with them.

“Not gonna hurt you but if there is real y an animal out there,
we don’t wanna run into it twice.” He climbed in making the
truck creak on its pumped up suspension.

Inside, he hit the locks with a single click and threw the car
into drive. It started with a bumpy shot and began to cruise.
Realizing she’d dug her own fingernails into the grey plastic
dashboard, she moved to fold her arms into herself. Avery
grudgingly waited, uncertain of what for, but ready for any
flash of white or grey. She was ready for the horrible
grinding of a steel truck being dragged to a stop or a
screeching pop of tires. She was ready for the harpies to
attack. After a ful ten minutes when none of these came
about, the excruciating anxiety final y began to dissipate bit
by bit.

Final y drawing her eyes back to inside the cabin, she
noticed the plastic identification tag that had been draped
around the rear view mirror. An old photo showed the
man’s face with the similar but much darker red beard. The
faint blue back drop was the familiar stars of Alaska’s flag.
Heavy black text on the plastic card identified him as a park
ranger. The park ranger waited until they’d bumped a mile
down the road before staring at her from the corner of his
eye.

“It’s not illegal to be out here but it’s certainly stupid.” He
said over the steady humming of the engine.

“Trust me, I know.”

“Hey, is your arm hurting you little miss?”

Avery noticed herself that she’d been clenching her arm.
She didn’t answer him before he added, “You should look
under your seat.”

She did and found a hunter green tackle box. Lifting the box
up onto her lap, she opened it. The scent of alcohol wafted
out. Stuffed to its brim, the box held starch white medical
supplies. Bandages and gauze sat on top. The man
motioned to her and she picked through the plastic
wrapped supplies until she found wrap at the bottom.

“Thanks. I owe you one.” She tore open the bag and
unraveled the bandage.

“No problem, it’s my job.”

Avery concentrated on wrapping the bandage tight around
her right arm until the better half of the black mark was
covered. Below the skin, she felt just a hint of magic
tingling. She knew she could manifest it now so at least she
wasn’t helpless. The fact that she was okay with that idea
was a big concern for a different day. Avery just wanted to
get out of here alive.

Twelve

Downtown Anchorage, which lacked any dingy forests or
dark creepy roadways, had come as a welcomed sight.

The park ranger had been on his way to the city so not only
did Avery take the ride there, she also took him up on an
offer to be dropped off at the airport. She’d snagged up a
ticket and was ready to go. The harpies would have to
chase her down across the lower 48 if they wanted to get
her now.

Sighing, she took a breath and tried to clear her emotions
away. She’d made it al the way out of Hatcher Pass to
Anchorage almost incident free. The trip took a few hours
and though the car peaceful y chugged along the interstate,
the il and foreboding feeling never stopped hovering.

The memory of the trip, crisp in her mind, kept the bad
feeling around even now. Only an hour out, the park
ranger’s demeanor had changed dramatical y. Going from
a general y jol y old man, he went stiff and quiet. The car stil
rumbled along at a steady speed but he gripped the wheel
until his knuckles turned white. His pupils had expanded to
take up much of his beady eyes and stayed steady on the
empty road with absolute concentration.

“It’s just been a weird night.” He’d said once she’d inquired.
His tone attempted to brush it off but she could hear the
worry in it. “Thank god I managed to find you. I’ve just got a
bad feeling.”

Avery didn’t know how to answer so she simply stayed
quiet. It prompted to man to say more and he spoke softly
enough that the words barely reached past his own scruffy
beard. One of his hands absently cradled the wooden base
of his shot gun.

“I’ve always had this theory about when things aren’t okay
out here. Consider it natural instinct if you wil , but the
animals always know if something isn’t right. And tonight,
the birds...the birds have real y been acting up.”

Pushing it back in her mind and focusing on the present,
Avery twirled the metal coiled cable in her hand and
wedged the plastic phone head between her shoulder and
chin. It stil rang high and loud on the other side waiting for
the recipient to agree to pay the col ect cal . She’d been
trying contact her brother Chase for awhile-- especial y
considering she got a plane ticket to see him, but knowing
his lazy habits, she’d consider herself lucky if he answered
at al . Final y the incessant ringing halted and a gruff voice
answered the phone.

“Ello.” It must have been five hours too early in the morning
for him to answer. Still, Avery was happy to hear it.

“Hey Chase.”

Even though she’d identified herself on the recorded collect
call message, his voice spiked with surprise.

“Avery? Why are you calling me collect? Are you okay?”

“My phone is history.” She said truthful y. Maybe it was the
constant fal ing but the once baby blue flip now resembled
scrap metal.

“Avery!” He shouted, this time annoyed. Rustling on the
other line told her he was now up and moving, probably one
step from diving in his old Ford to come on a rescue
mission. The best quality about Chase was also his worse.
Chase was absolutely over protective

“I’m fine.” She amended. “Look, I’ve been thinking about
what you said and decided to skip town for awhile and
check out what else California has to offer.”

The silence on the other line didn’t come unexpectedly. In
fact, it sounded both reminiscent of the park ranger and her
mother when she barely put up a viable excuse. She
wouldn’t try either. Even basking in the heat of the building
with fries and a burger settling in her stomach, she didn’t
feel up to it. Chase’s voice final y came over at a steady
and deep pitch.

“It’s Nathanial isn’t it? I’m going to kill that kid this time. I’m
going to...”

She cut him off before the rant.

“Look, would you just pick me up at the airport. No murder
rampage necessary. I just... need some time away from
school, okay?”

“Fine, when?” He asked grudgingly.

“Well, my plane leaves in twenty minutes so...five hours
maybe?”

Silence again.

“Chase, I already talked to mom, I already bought the ticket,
and I’m already at the gate.”

She had spoken to her mother earlier only to find out that
Mayweather Academy had been cal ing her mother
incessantly since she’d disappeared. They probably did it
to decide whether they needed a truant agent or a corpse
search team. After apologizing profusely, she’d just told her
mother that she’d gone on trip to the Anchorage and spent
the last few days horsing around in the city. Avery had spun
a convincing tale about how there was too much drama in
school and her mother had no problem with her taking a
weekend break in California. Her mother swal owed this
easily-- she had, after al , raised Chase who was an
absolute hel raiser. In comparison to anything Chase did,
Avery cutting a few days a school would be laughed off.

Her mother was easy to talk to, but dealing with Chase
would be a different matter. The mere fact that Avery
needed a so-cal ed break from school meant that Chase
needed to kil somebody on her behalf.

The overhead speakers boomed and Avery’s attention shot
to the gate entrance on her left. Outside sat the tiny silver
plane waiting at the tarmac. For some time, there’d been a
line of twitchy people but they’d final y started boarding.
She squeezed the heavy plastic phone receiver.

“I gotta go. Just pick me up please.”

“Avery.” He stopped her before she placed the phone back
in its cradle. “Be careful.” He sighed.

She nodded even though he couldn’t see her and then hung
up. It would turn out she hurried onto the plane for no
reason. The only other ten people had already found their
seats and the flight attendant hadn’t even completed the
safety lecture. Avery dropped into her seat, abruptly
exhausted, and gave a passing glance to the other people.

She didn’t recognize anyone and no one had the
characteristics of a harpie.

Most times Avery hated planes. The cabin was stuffy and
the smal fan blowing ventilated air smelt too much like
gasoline. Today though, it didn’t bother her. This had to be
the way to fly. A nice, granted mildly unpleasant, closed

environment with no one trying to kil her and no chance of
being dropped.

The plane took off and her dream had begun before she
even realized she’d fal en asleep. Instead of being in the
plane seat, she stood on soft grass and breathed in cool,
fresh air.

The sharpness of the detail of a hearty garden ful of
overwhelming flowers could have tricked her but Avery
realized it wasn’t reality. To her left trickled a tall marble
fountain in a circle of polished tiles. Multicolored purple and
blue accent lights focused at the center of the fountain
giving the whole area a healthy glow. The lights lit up the
red and white rose bushes that bloomed around the
pathway. She admired its beauty for only moments when a
voice demanded her attention.

“My highness.”

A gray haired harpie appeared at the edge of the garden
and fel into a sweeping bow. The harpie looked older than
any she’d seen before. The skin on his face drooped over
hazel eyes, and he walked bent over.

“How are you?” She asked, the words slipping from her like
they were already scripted.

She paced toward the fountain and perched on the edge.
From there she caught a glimpse of herself in the rippled
water’s reflection. Sharp green eyes stared back. Even
through the distortion, she recognized her own reflection as
the prominent face of Jericho. It seemed she was Jericho.

“I come on behalf of the Counsel, Jericho. We are
concerned about the amulet of Wil ow.” The gray haired
harpie said, standing close but also refusing to stand on the
same tile pathway as she did.

“Aw, so quick to business. How’ve you been Samuel?” She
said politely, and with her tiny nod, harpie Samuel took a
few steps closer. Now standing just a foot before the
fountain, Samuel seemed more relaxed.

“Always wel these days, my lord. You know my daughter is
soon to be married.” Samuel‘s voice rose with the pride,
and his chest puffed with elation.

She nodded appropriately.

“Very good. The new couple has my blessing.” She said in
Jericho’s voice.

Samuel’s smile still fell.

“I only wish your son could feel the same.”

She gracefully shrugged, appearing more unconcerned
than he did.

“Mason’s a strong boy. Mason wil get over it.” With that, she
abruptly dug into her pocket and retrieved a book that
barely fil ed her huge hand.

“Speaking of this though, I would like to break the news to
him myself. So we should make haste.” She then held the
book out to Samuel as an unspoken offer and said, “This is
al I can tel you.”

Samuel eyed it wearily before snatching it in one motion
and flipping through it in the next. The pages inside were
worn and abused by too much pressure and far too much
fountain ink. From where she stood, it resembled more
jibberish than anything else. But when the Samuel closed
the book, she remembered the insignia clearly. In silver
embossment, a crescent moon decorated the cover.

“What is this, Jericho?” Samuel asked.

“Research. Observations. Theories. Everything I know
about the amulet’s creation and its abilities.” It had to be a
fair amount of information considering the book’s size.

“Wel , for time’s sake, help me understand.” The other
harpie put two fingers to his wrinkled scalp resembling a
worn out parent about to lecture a child. “This amulet is
different than the others?”

She nodded.

“And for that reason, you aren’t even sure what this amulet
is capable of or even how strong it might be?” Samuel
asked.

He phrased his questions like a police interrogator, forcing
her to answer and confirm one step at a time. Before he
could finish his questioning though, she interrupted.

“Au contraire, it’s more powerful than any magic I’ve ever
captured before.”

“Jericho, I know we may only be cousins but I’ve always
been like a brother to you. I’ve always believed in your
dreams. But creating the most powerful weapon in the
world isn’t a dream but a nightmare. If this reaches the
wrong hands...“

“It won’t. No one knows about the amulet.” Avery shot back,
defensive.

The other harpie continued despite her interruption.

“Eva does, and that is sufficient reason for concern.”

The mere mention of Eva’s name made her mood
darkened beyond compare. A new kind of rage simmered
in the pit of her stomach making her fists ache with tension.
She drew her claws into her hands until it summoned blood

and expanded her itching wings until they, at ful width now,
looked massive.

“Don’t you think I know about Eva?” Her words were short,
sweet, and most of al , coldly threatening. The warning
made the air grow heavy and the beauty of the garden fade
away into an ignored black backdrop. She waited for the
harpie to give her reason enough to quit repressing the
growing fury.

“I’m sorry, my highness.” He stammered and swept into
another bow.

She twitched, emotions unsatisfied, and ended up pacing
to put more distance between them. Some of the garden’s
view returned to her again and she found herself staring at
the sleeping flowers. She cruel y plucked their petals off to
relish the tiny snaps as the flower wilted and broke.

“I can give the counsel my word, but there is no certainty
they may not destroy the amulet. They wil be afraid of its
power.”

Samuel’s tone beckoned forgiveness, and his head had
bowed forward again. She ignored it.

“If it were only so easy to destroy, Samuel. This amulet is
different from others of its kind because it’s organic. It’s
truly a life of its own. It’s part of me. ”

“Wait, Jericho. You didn’t.” Losing his posture, Samuel
darted to be by her side in mere seconds. The wind stirred
and the flower she’d been torturing flopped away.

“Not quite. I only bound the magic with my blood, Samuel.
That’s enough for me to believe that even if the amulet is
destroyed it’l be taking a part of me with it.” She explained.

“Jericho.” Samuel said slowly. “What have you done?”

Avery snapped awake to the plane landing and the
screeching thumps of the wheels dragging along the
runway.

The normal sense of unsteadiness swept her forward and
the moving scenery in the windows slowed. Avery gripped
the starch fabric of her arm rests until the last of the dream
induced vertigo dissipated. She sat next to the window
staring at the back of an airplane seat.

Cold again, Avery rubbed her bandaged arm furiously. Her
mind kept reeling but for the first time with a new sense of
clarity. The magic in her arm pulsed, almost knowingly,
when she examined it. Some part of her understood now.

With the magic had come some part of Jericho. Now that,
Avery knew, just made for more complications.

Thirteen

“Avery, over here!”

They’d barely rattled up to the worn out concrete beach
house in Chase’s car when she heard the welcoming party.
Standing on paint chipped steps waited Michel e, a girl that
could have been the more weathered version of Leela. She
was petite with an overabundance of energy and though
she didn’t even know Avery wel , she excitedly greeted her.

“What is up? I heard that you’re taking a mini-vacation.”
She squeaked as Avery climbed out of the car.

“Something like that.” Avery walked up the steps and gave
the girl a hug.

“Well I love the spontaneity and you’re always welcome
here.”

Avery thanked her, usual y loving to be there. Chase and
Michel e had managed to nab a house only a block and a
half from the beach. While the one bedroom apartment was
hardly considered premiere living, the location made up for
it al . From this house, it as a short walk to the beach and
the boardwalk where every brand name that existed had a
store front. The reason for this visit, however, put a damper
on the fun.

“How’ve you been?” Avery asked next.

“I’m great. Your brother is worried though.”

Avery shrugged.

“Chase is always worried.” Avery said just as her brother
finally strolled up the steps next to them.

She had to give him credit. He didn’t give her the usual
barrage of twenty questions. Too cheap to park, he’d
picked her up at the entrance way in the airport. The fol
owing drive back to his tiny beach apartment had been fil
ed with more sight-seeing than intense conversation. While
Avery hadn’t given much thought to it in the scheme of
things, it suddenly struck her as remarkable now.

Chase slung the car keys into a green pot by the front door
with disturbing accuracy and moseyed inside with his half
slouching walk. Inside now, he made for the brown couch
and plopped in front of the television. Nothing displayed on
the black flat screen but he watched it like there was
something. Michel e joined him, perching on the slanted
arm rest.

“Chase! Offer your sister something to eat! Bad host!” She
swatted at him with her tiny hand.

“Dragging me outta bed that early, she should get me
food.”

“Chase!” Michelle chided him.

“I’m all right.” Avery piped in.

The tiny girl, unsatisfied with Avery’s response, tried again.

“You sure?”

“Well...actually a shower would be nice.”

“Oh. Of course.” Michel e went to lead her down the hal
way. No matter how many weeks Avery had stayed here
before, she’d get the same introduction and lecture about
how what when and where.

Avery barely stepped onto the sandy tile when Michelle
stopped her again.

“Here.” She held out a bundle of blue and white to Avery.

“What’s this?”

“I just know you didn’t bring any clothes or anything so I
figured that you’d want to borrow some for awhile.” Michelle
offered.

Avery accepted them in a hurry and shut the bathroom door
with a firm clank. Inside, she flipped the water on as hot as
it would al ow. The tiny bathroom would fog up in no time
but Chase would just have to deal with the condensation
later. Avery had a few days worth of sweat, blood, and tears
to wash out. With it al , she’d probably take off a few layers
of skin.

The shower also gave her some much needed time to
think. Scraps of the dream returned to her when she thought
about it. Standing in a garden, she saw herself watching
Jericho’s distorted reflection stare back at her in the
fountain’s water. The dream had seemed too real this time.
The mention of Eva’s name sent her into a dark rage that
she couldn’t even manage in her gothic years of middle
school. Something about it al led her back to Jericho’s own
words.

“That’s enough for me to believe that even if the amulet is
destroyed it’l be taking a part of me with it.”

Now it felt like Jericho was with her. Or in her. In the form of
the magical amulet. It certainly wouldn’t be the strangest
thing she’d ever heard. Now to pitch the idea to Mason that
his dead father lived in a magic that lived in her... she
couldn’t see that one coming out wel .

The thought should have scared her more but surprisingly
didn’t. Jericho had probably been the only good harpie
she’d remotely met so far. Avery kept on the muse as she
careful y climbed out of the shower. Hot water did wonders
for her aches but couldn’t dissipate the pain completely.
Limping towards the counter, she reached the sink and

happened to look up. Avery screamed.

“Hey, are you okay? Sweetie, unlock the door.” Michelle’s
voice was on the other side of the door in seconds.

The knob rattled but the door didn’t budge.

“I’m- I’m okay. Don’t come in. I just-- I almost tripped.” Avery
stuttered the badly thought out excuse.

She was too preoccupied with staring at the mirror to think
out a better one. In the mirror, her pale face stared back.
Her attention had been drawn to the magical mark that
once had crawled from her mid palm to sprawl to the very
tip of her shoulder blade. She’d expected that. But over a
day and night it had changed again. The thin lines had
thickened and multiplied to resemble a spider’s web. It now
reached over her shoulder and down past her ribs. It looked
more like a ful body tattoo than a simple burn mark
anymore. Feeling il , she leaned over the sink to dry heave
until her throat grew sore. If it had changed and grown so
rapidly, what would it look like in another week? In a year?
Would it ever stop?

“Avery?” Michelle’s muffled voice reached in from the other
side again. She apparently hadn’t left just yet.

“I’m okay. I’m just getting dressed.” Avery didn’t put more
effort into her excuse.

“I’m not rushing you. But there’s a boy here to see you. He
says it’s important. He followed you from Alaska or
something.”

Avery’s head shot up and she backpedaled into the wall.

“What?”

She didn’t wait for Michel e to repeat it though. Avery
grabbed up the clothes in a hurry. While Michel e may have
only been one size off, the tank top rode up her midriff and
the spaghetti strap revealed every extra inch of the amulet’s
burn pattern.

“He’s a tal pretty boy and Chase is total y giving him the
third degree. Maybe you should be quick.”

“Michel e, please tel me you have more concealing clothes
than this.” Avery already had slipped into the white denim
shorts but left the tank sitting on the nearby counter next to
her used bandage. She didn’t have time to rewrap her arm.

“I’m sorry babe, I don’t exactly have much else.”

Letting out a breath, Avery stil ed her nerves so she could
think. Then remembering her winter jacket in the hal way,
she opted for it but in doing so would inevitably have to
pass Michel e before she got it. The girl couldn’t keep a
secret to save her life.

Avery couldn’t stal longer. Stuffing the smal blue tank over
her head, she braced herself and slipped into the hal way.
The other girl had been momentarily distracted by the
commotion in the living room, only turning just as Avery had
the stuffy jacket in her hands. Her brown eyes predictably
widened.

“Shush.” Avery said, swinging the jacket over her shoulders.

“You’re not even eighteen, Avery!” Michel e gasped, only by
luck, quietly.

Obviously she thought it was a tattoo. The new heavy
appearance certainly helped. Fitting her arm through the
last bunched sleeve, Avery maneuvered past the girl to the
living room with a finger pressed flat to her lips.

She headed straight inside where she found Mason and
Chase standing in opposite sides of the room and glaring.
Chase’s over-protectiveness was kicking into over drive
and a harpie wasn’t one to lose a staring contest.

But when she walked into the room, Mason’s attention
broke and turned toward her instantly.

“What happened? Are you okay?” He asked.

The genuine concern in his green eyes took her off guard
and made her forget how to formulate a good answer.

She didn’t have to when Chase jumped in.

“Who is he? Is he a problem? Because I swear I’l throw him
out.” Chase wasn’t kidding either.

“Don’t worry,” She maneuvered in front of her brother. “I’l
take care of it.”

Chase looked one second away from protesting but Avery
took only half a second to get out the door. Mason was on
her heels automatical y. She barely trekked to the end of
the block, just where the beach sand began to gather and
the ear shot of any residents ended. Then she turned to
Mason.

Despite being on his deathbed last time she’d seen him,
he looked great today. He stood at his ful height with his
wide shoulders and perfect posture. His skin had taken ful
color, cheeks had rosy hues, and eyes stayed wide and
alert. Avery was almost happy to see him so healthy but
since Eva’s pep talk that al suddenly seemed fake.

Mixed sentiment lingering, Avery remained unsure of what
to think. Either way, she beat him to the punch.

“How’d you track me back here? I just got here!” She didn’t
hide the irritation in her voice. She’d barely escaped long
enough to make it to one place and they were on her again.

Feeling displaced again, Avery couldn’t think of where to
flee next.

“No! It’s not like that. I mean, I didn’t track you.” He spoke in
a soft enough voice that her fury simmered down a bit.

It didn’t sound like his typical cocky, lecturing tone. The
emotion plaguing his voice wasn’t clear but it certainly
resembled something hurt-- something scared. Whatever
internal mothering instincts plagued Avery made her lay off
quicker than she’d initial y preferred.

Mason continued.

“I’ve been here. Waiting...hoping you’d show up.”

“The Band got me, how’d you know I’d ever be showing
up?” It came out meaner than she’d intended but she didn’t
amend it either.

“It was the only place I knew I had a chance of finding even
a trace of you. I didn’t expect you’d show up on the door
step though.”

The honesty that protruded in his voice sounded legitimate
but she didn’t understand what he was talking about.

“What did you mean by finding a trace of me?” She
prodded.

Mason beckoned her closer with a smal flick of his hand
and only then did Avery realize she’d instinctively put at
least five feet between them. Gut reflex made her stand stil .
Being so close to him was uncomfortable. She opted to
keep her distance and Mason didn’t try to get closer again.

“Like you trying to contact your family. Or the Band trying to
contact your family...” He said intentionally slowly.

“Wait, what do you mean?” She asked, growing panicked
quickly.

He grimaced, clearly unwilling.

“You met the Band didn’t you? I’m sorry, but it wouldn’t be
the first time they’d use friends or family to coerce
obedience.”

Stress churning her stomach, she turned away from him to
stare at the floor.

“You alright?” He approached her tentatively but thankful y
never tried to touch her. In a few moments, her stomach
settled itself again. She glanced up and stared wearily at
the gleaming sand and the shifting waves in the distance.
The heavy scent of salt water didn’t help her situation but
she breathed it in wil ingly. Final y al owing her body to
recover, she twisted around and set her back against the
nearest wal . Avery rubbed her temple hard.

“So they’re in danger now? Chase, Leela, my mother?
They’re al in danger.” It wasn’t a question at the end. Eva
could easily use them against her. In fact, if Eva had Leela
or Chase tied up, Avery never would have attempted to
escape. They’d know that too. Sound logic al around but
harpies played dirty.

“Wait, what happened to your hand?” Mason asked
suddenly.

The barest tint of webbed black peeked out from her
sluggish jacket sleeve. He saw the difference too. She
tugged the cuff of her jacket to cover it again. Short arms
were a luxury when fitting ones hands into a large jacket.

“It’s okay, I’ve got it.” Her mind rol ed over the plans she had
for raiding a few libraries. She’d have to roam through
hundreds of pages of potential y useless texts but lore and
myth would give her a good direction. After al , they were
somewhat right about harpies. A flicker of Mason’s old
personality returned when he gave a superior sniff.

“We’ve been over this, you need my help.” His eyes slanted
and his tone dropped like he was speaking with a child.

The whole bit actual y succeeded in infuriating her al over
again with the manic anger suspiciously reminiscent of
Jericho’s.

“Yea, real y? I’m not even sure you’re trying to help me. I
found out that you’ve been lying to me al along. Trying to
save the amulet for your father? I don’t believe it. You made
a deal with the Band.”

His face washed out white.

“What?” He choked out.

“If you... if you even want me to speak another word to you,
you will tell me everything now.”

He held his hands up, ready to deny it again.

“Mason!” She shouted at him reaching the end of her rope.
“I’ve heard it al . The whole spiel and I know. Don’t avoid the
subject anymore because this is the one chance you have
to give me your side. Otherwise I have no reason to believe
you.”

Avery’s voice broke. Avery knew she shouldn’t trust him, but
she wanted to trust him, and she’d give him a chance.

“We need to talk. Alone.” She final y said. Unable to sit stil
anymore, she began to walk toward the beach leaving
Mason to slowly fol ow.

Fourteen

“You do know what ice cream is, right?” Avery final y felt the

need to ask after Mason continued his stare down with the
double chocolate mint scoop of ice cream in her hand.

She’d been watching him since they’d arrived at the Edy’s
shop just off the beach. She’d walked them far away from
Chase’s place, knowing her brother had a habit of
eavesdropping, and stopped at a stal that seemed like a
good place to talk. People were al over the beach, but none
real y lingered in ear shot while paying more attention to the
wanna-be singer belting out off-pitch songs or the model
worthy girls prance in their skimpy red bikinis.

It was scolding hot and thickly humid outside, and there was
little shade over the patio furniture where they sat.

She would have even sprung to pay for his ice cream too,
just to get any relief from the weather, but he’d adamantly
refused.

“Yes.” He scoffed but never moved his eyes away. “Does it
seem like an appropriate time for ice cream?”

The mood killer making her scowl, Avery glanced out
towards the beach line.

“Well, we’re two weirdos wearing Alaskan coats on a hot
day. Yes, eating some ice cream would help us blend in a
bit.”

“We’re not the only ones with coats.” Mason said.

He apparently didn’t like being cal ed a weirdo even if his
choice of an ankle length trench coat was ridiculous.

He’d picked out a jacket with awkward crosshatching
patches that didn’t quite pul together right. The gawkiness
of it actual y gave him some strange charm and fit him as a
harpie. It didn’t help blending in though, and Avery knew it
would attract odd looks.

“Fine, don’t have one.” She said with a childish hotness and
began to eat before the treat completely liquefied in her
hand. She might have been stal ing from the serious,
looming conversation, but Mason wouldn’t let her forget it.

He leaned over the table, nearly flipping the flimsy metal,
and whispered.

“We’re still in danger Avery. They could have followed you
here.”

She sighed, already uncomfortable in the glaring sun and
this was only making her more frustrated.

“I think you missed the point of this Mason. I’m not telling
you a thing until you tell me the truth, the whole truth.”

“I have.”

“I’ve talked to your sister!” She spoke above him. A few
passing heads whirled at the increased volume and Avery
reluctantly shut up and leaned back in her seat. Only when
the tension drained long enough did a white faced Mason
speak.

“What’d she say?” He asked in a tentative voice. His
demeanor shifted again, slipping away from the hot headed
Mason she knew to something of a more vulnerable one.

His eyes had even glazed and his shoulders slumped,
drawn into his chest. His wings twitched under his coat and
he kept shaking his knee until the nervous activity made the
table tremble. Avery mul ed on her answer for a moment.

“She told me about the night Jericho died. That it wasn’t an
accident.”

“It was an accident.” He interrupted.

Glowering, Avery set the ice cream cone flat on the table.
Wrapping her arms around herself, she scrutinized him
harder.

“It was.” He seconded his own comment when she refused
to answer.

He explained further. “Okay, how about this. I’ll tell you my
version and then you compare.”

When she nodded, he launched into the story.

“I fel in love with Adalyn. But she was betrothed from a
young age and as long as she was, we couldn’t marry. And
then Eva came along... she told me if I cal ed our father out
into the open, she’d steal that stupid amulet. Then she
would break up Adalyn’s engagement with her
connections.”

Avery stuck a finger up to stop him and said something
about the next part.

“You hired the Band to kill him?”

“No. You’re wrong again. You can’t listen to Eva! Eva lies!”
He growled.

The al egation sounding so familiar, the déjà vu threatened
to make Avery nauseous. Eva said Mason lied. Mason said
Eva lied. It felt like she was dealing with children but lacked
the parenting skil s to get the real scoop.

“Breaking up someone’s engagement doesn’t mean kil ing
them. It’s easy in the harpie world. They’re al about
banishment. Al she’d needed to do was give any reason for
the authorities to believe Adalyn’s fiancé was less than...
honorable. Like if he’d associated with the Band of
Thieves. That rumor alone could have done it and that did.
The fact that he showed up dead almost a week later had

nothing to do with me.” Mason protested vehemently.

“And what about Jericho?”

Mason leaned back in his chair and cast his eyes towards
the cracked concrete patio.

“I didn’t cal Jericho out to get murdered, Avery. I would
never have thought, no matter how insane my sister would
turn out to be, she would have let that happen. They were
only supposed to take the amulet. He fought them over it
and then they kil ed him. It happened so quickly. I didn’t
think he was ever in any mortal danger. He should have just
given it up.”

Mason’s voice sounded particularly raw and his eyes had
glazed over with thought. She almost didn’t want to interrupt
whatever was going through his mind but she stil needed to
figure things out.

“And that’s when you decided to get it back. Was it to save
your father’s legacy after al or did you just want to salvage
your relationship with Adalyn?”

He glanced at her wearily.

“Does it matter now?”

“Yes. Because if it was Adalyn then I’m not entirely sure I
can trust you anymore. I am the amulet. Are you going to
give me to the harpie court if that means you could get
Adalyn back and your banishment removed?”

His eyes shot up and he glared at her, clearly offended.

“I said I’d protect you!”

“Yea but you also went out of your way to tel me a whole
romanticized story about what happened with Jericho.

You’re leaving things out al the time.”

Mason stood up so suddenly, he knocked his seat back
and made Avery flinch. Pressing his palms flat on the table,
he leaned forward.

“Don’t judge me for leaving things out Avery. I watched you
lie to Leela’s face every day about Nate. You’re the same
way.”

Avery didn’t know how to react to that so she didn’t. Letting
out a deep breath, she looked away from him.

“Fine.” She finally admitted and Mason corrected his chair
and sat back in his seat. “But you have to make a deal with
me.”

He cocked his head at her proposal and she met his eyes
again.

“We have to stop this secrets stuff. This amulet thing is
dragging out a lot longer than we’d expected, so we need
to trust each other.”

Mason nodded firmly. Before Avery could say more, the
seat between them abruptly moved. A girl sat down to join
the conversation and it took Avery a minute to recognize
her. Adalyn had let down her curly blonde hair and adorned
heavier makeup. Wings tucked away under a clenched
black coat, she looked smal and lean. She frowned at
Avery with hot red lips and blinked at her through heavy eye
mascara. Mason didn’t even so much as look up indicating
he’d known the blonde had been nearby al along.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Adalyn said stiffly and
her eyes flickered over Avery and Mason.

“We’re just figuring some things out.” He said.

“Wel then I don’t want to rain on your parade but I don’t think
you need to figure anything else out with this girl.

We’l have to find another way to remove your banishment.”

“What do you mean?” Avery snapped out, quickly upset by
the comment. Adalyn didn’t even look at her but kept talking
to Mason.

“So guess what I found out. Apparently this girl here
attacked a marshal. He put two and two together. She has
magic in her body and she knows you. The police now
know that Prince Jericho’s Wil ow amulet runs in the form of
a human girl. Do you know what that means?” She didn’t
wait for them to ask. “That means they’re going to think the
problem is out of your hands and take it into theirs. Do you
know what they would do with a human girl that attacks
police? Especial y considering she might be working for
the Band of Thieves? Whatever they decide, it won’t be
good.”

“What?” Mason and Avery must have gasped in unison, but
she jumped up out of her seat first.

“I didn’t attack anyone!” She hollered. Hurt and helpless,
she was having trouble processing the news.

“Avery, wait! What happened?” Mason spoke above her
hysteria.

“It was on the...” She slowed, knowing she had to start from
the beginning. “Your sister picked me up and brought me to
this place cal ed Hatcher Pass. Her boss-- or some higher
up, I’m not sure-- wanted to see if he could use the magic.
It’s hard to explain but he almost showed me how to
manifest it. I could actual y use it.”

She thought it was amazing but Mason’s scowl indicated
he did not. He let her keep talking.

“Anyways, then a bunch of police showed up to get the
Band. I used the opportunity to run and then one of the
police grabbed me. I didn’t want to hurt him, I just wanted to
leave. So I kind of...wel I guess I did attack him with the
magic. But just so he could let me go. I didn’t know that he
was hurt.”

Mason took awhile to answer, clearly thinking it over.

“I know you didn’t try to hurt him Avery.” He said at first, at
least making her feel better. “But the more you use the
magic, the more danger you put yourself in. The last thing
we need anyone to think is that you can be a weapon.”

“Yea, but the Band thought it was useless when they saw
what I could do. It’s just been growing stronger recently.

And the mark is getting worse.” To prove her point, Avery
slid off her jacket. In the bright sunlight, the contrast against
her pale white skin stuck out even more than usual. “It’s not
just my arm anymore. It’s my entire right torso.

It keeps growing and getting darker.”

“This is bad. We need to find a solution quickly. If it’s
growing this fast, we may not be able to stop it and take it
out.” Mason hissed.

Avery already knew that but hearing it sent chil s down her
spine.

“Mason, we have to leave soon. We can’t deal with this
right now, remember? We know where she is so we can
come back later when you actual y have answers.” Adalyn
said, apparently choosing that moment to remind him of
some apparent undisclosed appointment. Mason grimaced
but agreed quietly.

“Wait!” Avery shouted, instantly worried they’d leave so
suddenly. “Uh, what do I do if they find me before then?”

“Worst case scenario, I guess you can fight them without
using the magic.” Mason final y offered.

Adalyn snorted, rocketing forward in her seat to sit at the
very edge. She was obviously expecting a show and based
on her smile, a humorous one at that. Avery backed off and
hovered, uncertain.

“What do you mean fight them without magic?” She
inquired partial y dreading his answer.

Mason dropped into a fighting crouch to demonstrate
something but al it did was make attention come their way.

Avery tried to ignore it, hoping that a six-foot-something guy
wearing a trench coat wouldn’t warrant anyone cal ing the
police. Mason didn’t care.

“Look, there are two things you have to remember. Harpies’
biggest weakness is their wings. The wings are both easily
accessible and easily injured. If you take their wings out,
they can’t fly and that puts you on a more even playing
field.”

“She doesn’t have any talons, Mason.” Adalyn prompted
and Mason shook her comment off.

“It’s not that hard. You can do it with a harpoon, a knife, a
stick-- just get creative.”

Avery was horrified to hear it. She pictured Mason’s injured
wing, a harsh bloody red, that barely healed over in a few
days time. She couldn’t grab a knife and do that to
somebody else. Avery was human, lacked the viciousness
of harpies, and the violent images just didn’t sit wel with
her. If Mason noticed her face turning green, he didn’t
comment.

“So, otherwise you have to remember that harpies don’t
weigh much. We have a lighter bone density than humans
to help compensate for flying. So when it comes right down
to it, brute force is a good way to go. Just hit them.”

“No way, I’m not good at that either.” She curled her fists
and raised them to make a point. Bone density or not,
Avery would more likely break her fists than use them right.

“You don’t have to punch them.” He said.

She dropped her fists, confused.

“Wait, are you telling me to like...use my body as a
battering ram?” She tried to understand.

“Yes. But really, it won’t come to that. I’ll protect you,
remember?” He chimed.

Mason gave her a smile and Avery’s heart fluttered.
Alarmed, Avery squashed the feeling immediately. He
hadn’t been hitting on her, just teaching her how to fight,
and her heart was over reacting. At least Avery tried to
convince herself of that. Feeling guilty, Avery refused to
look back at Mason’s fiancé for fear of giving her thoughts
away.

“Take this.” Mason came forward and pressed something
warm and rock hard into her hand. Barely glimpsing, she
recognized it as a sapphire blue amulet.

“A homing device?” She asked.

Mason shrugged.

“No, it’s probably closer to what you call a telephone. We’ll
be in touch.”

Unable to stall him any longer, Avery watched them leave.

Fifteen

The suffocating scent of must and mold exploded in the air
as she flipped the flimsy browned pages. The heavy text
remained legible even though the binding of the book fel
apart in her hands. She careful y shut the book and looked
over the faceless tarnished cover again.

“Is this al you have?” She peered across the long reference
table to where the Emo librarian dabbled on the computer.
Headphones wrapped over his ears, Avery was surprised
when he could even hear her.

He glanced up at her through the glare on his heavy
glasses and shrugged.

“Sorry, but harpies aren’t a hot topic outside of Greek
mythology and I already showed you those.”

His attention drifting away instantaneously, Avery cut her
losses and gave up. She glanced at the digital clock above
his head. A quarter til one meant Chase would get out of
class soon. Her brother let her tag along to his school and
she’d figured she’d poked around at the university’s library
a bit. Shelves packed to the brim made up every layer of
the four story building. And even with a whiny helper, the
library produced virtual y nothing, legend or reality alike, on
harpies.

Cradling the book the librarian gave her, she maneuvered
past the chattering crowds of students and towards her
spot. She’d picked a desk near the back, buried behind the
stacks, so she’d have the table with three wooden wal s on
either side. Initial y, she’d thought doing harpie research
would be easy, but thus far Avery hadn’t had much luck. The
original mention of harpies came from Greek al usions to
the subject. And al those books mentioned them as no
more than tiny feathered bird creatures.

The only two viable mentions from the first book were about
vicious temperament and sharp claws. Maybe she’d have
more luck surfing the web for strange encounters and
paranormal babble. Angels could have been another
subject line she could have fol owed up. Flipping the new
book open, she scanned the tiny text for any hint of
something familiar. A single word caught her eyes.

“Magic.”

Excited, she fumbled with her pen cap and readied her yel
ow note pad.

“Magic had long since been affiliated with creatures such
as harpies the lore gave way to modern thought that

theorized that a potential concentration of energy could be
used to manifest different phenomenon in simple

terms, a concentration of energy could create magic.” Heart
pounding, she couldn’t write quick enough and her shaking
hand made her shoddy print more like shoddy cursive.

This was it. They were talking about amulets. Even with the
technical jumble, the text gave hint to the real world.

Maybe the author had actual y known a few harpies.

“Research considers the ability to concentrate energy and
contain it within an object. This is a different sort of science-
- not physics and chemistry. Instead of creating energy, the
energy wil have already have existed but expounded and
stuck inside a containment device. The best example is a
lithium battery. The battery holds energy but not energy
comparable to the ones described from mythology. The
science behind the mythology holds that this energy,
derived from nature and magnetic waves, has the ability to
manifest different abilities to its holder.

Because of its bizarre and typical y unproven nature, this
subject of thought is often referred to as magic and the
containment devices are referred to as magical charms
and amulets. ”

She began to paraphrase on the paper. Containment of
energy into amulets, containing living energy, creatures.

Scratching arrows and stars, she copied the connection
and importance. The yel ow page actual y began to fil and
she scribbled smal er to fit in more text.

“This mythology is scribed in multiple areas of the world
and exists in oral tradition that stretches as far back as
Mesopotamia. These charms are supposed to endear
attributes such as power, agility, strength, and intel igence

the most coveted charms of al is al ure. Allure begs
compulsion and is the most influential of al .”

She stared at the page. An instant image reached her
mind. Back in the top of Hatcher Pass, she pictured
Mikhail. Even though the harpie carried himself with a
stature of confidence and ease, something wasn’t quite
right. She could stil feel the black eyes wash over her and
the odd sensation of closeness that wrapped her body with
warmth. Her whole mind had threatened to go blank when
he touched her. Mikhail had a glowing orange charm strung
around his neck. She hadn’t given it much thought at the
time, but now she was certain of it. He was playing with an
advantage most didn’t have.

Tense, Avery nearly ripped the pages up as she flipped
them. Through the jumble, she picked out sentences.

“These charms can be in direct contact to endear ability but
some may be used without contact.” She’d underlined it.

The book was nearing the end as she kept flying through

the pages. Nerves riding high now, she desperately
searched for one more detail.

“Energy is highly volatile and nearly impossible to
contain...damaged containment devices wil al ow energy to
escape.”

Letting out a tortured breath, Avery stared at the last blank
page. Not a single thing about it bonding with humans.

Not a single thing about the magic that practical y lived in
her body. Squeezing her eyes shut, she pushed the book
away. The amulet’s energy in her arm kept spreading and
her time was running out to figure a solution.

Hysteria threatened to fol ow and trying her best relaxation
breathing, she pushed it back.

Reopening her eyes, she stared at the tattered cover and
the aging pages. In her dream, Jericho had a similar book.
One that detailed everything Jericho knew about the Wil ow
amulet.

A buzz made her snap out of her heavy muse. Flinching, it
took her a few seconds to dig the source free out of her
pocket. After her beautiful phone threw in the towel, she’d
borrowed one of Chase’s junkers. Heavy as hel , it only had
one siren ring and a bruising vibration setting. She looked
at the screen and recognized the number.

“Leela.” She recognized.

Scrambling, she punched the answer button before the
harsh ring had every glare in the library turn her way.

“Hello.” She whispered loudly into the phone.

It didn’t take much. People began giving her dark looks
anyways, even those who probably just surfed the web.

The other line answered with white noise. She looked over
the phone again. The four story library probably cut down
her signal but Seward was notorious for signal problems
too.

She hurried to gather her books before the signal was lost
and she’d have to redial. Stuffing the papers into a
haphazard bundle in her arms, she headed for the exit and
the open blue sky. Emo boy at the reference desk lapsed
into a heavy cough before she went through the set of
sensor detectors. Fidgeting with impatience, she struggled
to free the book from the bundle of papers it’d been
pinched between.

The static on the other line continued.

“Thirty seconds, thirty seconds please!” She pleaded on the
line.

Jogging back, she tossed the library book at him with
barely enough time to see if he’d even caught it. Whirling,
she plugged a finger in her ear and listened hard. She’d
just stepped outside when the signal cleared enough to
hear the female’s voice on the other side.

“Avery?”

“Hey listen, I can explain everything.” Avery sprung off the
sidewalk, headed into a patch of yel owing grass, and final
y stopped.

“Where are you?” The voice on the other line barely made
out.

“Chase’s.”

“Chase?” She echoed.

Cursing the shoddy transmission, Avery repeated louder,
“I’m at my brother’s place. In California.”

The line clicked dead.

“Hello? Hello?” Avery parroted herself until her phone lit up
with ‘Call Ended’.

Something il churned in her stomach. She took a breath to
steady herself. Dialing on the thick digits, she cal ed Leela
back. The phone lit up blue and the blocky images showed
a rattling phone signal out. It picked up immediately.

“You must have just missed me. Please leave a message.”
The clear recording of her voicemail carried over the
phone.

Clicking off, Avery stared at the blank screen. She hadn’t
imagined Leela cal ing her-- the digits remained in the
phone’s memory. Waiting, she paused before dialing the
digits again. The voicemail repeated. The gross feeling
growing into nausea, Avery took to pacing on the trampled
grass and scanned her surroundings. The inevitable
thought crossed her mind when the phone went straight to
voicemail for the third time. Either Leela had turned her
phone off or something wasn’t right.

“Please please tel me it’s the first option.” She said aloud
while forcing herself not to panic. If there was anything
Alaska was known for, it was terrible cel phone reception.
Avery wobbled to a bench, sat, and forced herself to wait.
Leela would cal her back in a minute. She was convinced
of it.

“Was that the guy?”

Avery hadn’t even realized Chase was standing above her
until he spoke. He shouldn’t have been out from class this
early but making it halfway through anything was an
accomplishment for Chase. He’d always been a free spirit

but since he’d gone to col ege, he’d ful y embraced the
hippie scene and that didn’t help his motivation. Rocking
the long blonde hair and the baggy tattered clothes to
campus, the teacher was probably shocked he’d shown up
at al .

“What?” Avery had been so preoccupied that she wasn’t
sure what he was referring to.

“The guy on the phone. Was it the same guy that barged in
yesterday?”

“Oh. You mean Mason. No, that wasn’t him.”

Chase made a face.

“Good. I’m not sure you should be near him. He looks a little
old for you. You guys aren’t dating, right?”

The turn in the conversation became awkward fast and
Avery had trouble acting nonchalant.

“No, it’s not like that with him.” She protested but honestly,
Avery wasn’t exactly sure what it was like.

Maybe it was because Mason wasn’t human, but his
actions gave her plenty of mixed signals. On the mountain
top when they were trapped by the blizzard, she’d thought
they’d grown close but then she found out he had a fiancé. It
hurt Avery to think about but then it should be the last thing
on her mind.

“Wel what about that Nate kid? Is he stil in the picture?”

Avery gagged. Was Chase trying to bring up every drama
fil ed boy in her life? Needing to get out of the conversation
quickly, Avery began the walk down the grassy hil s towards
the parking lot. Chase’s old Ford was al the way in the back
so she’d picked up her pace.

“No. That’s another guy I wasn’t real y dating.” Just the
pretty boy she’d fal en for like every other girl. Avery then
considered something then that she hadn’t before. Mason
could easily turn out just like Nate did. The thought made
her sick.

“Real y?”

“Yea. Besides,” Avery added. “I think Nate is dating Leela
now.”

Avery suddenly got an idea. Pul ing out her phone, she
scrol ed to Nate’s number. He may have been one of her
least favorite people in the world but he would be able to
get a hold of Leela. She dialed, pressed the phone to her
ear, and listened. The phone picked up with a crystal clear
recognizable voice on the other end.

“Oh, it’s you.” Nathan didn’t even feign politeness, but she

could have still jumped with happiness.

“You’re at school, right?”

He snorted on the other line.

“The smart people typical y stay in school. Where’d you end
up? The entire staff turned this place upside down looking
for your body. I had dibs on the forest.”

That one hurt. Steeling herself, Avery spoke over him.

“Look, I hate you too. But I need to talk to Leela.”

“Then call her! I’m not a messenger boy!” He continued to
make it difficult.

“I tried that and she won’t answer. Her phone’s out of
service. I just need to know if she’s at the school...did
anyone...did anyone show up looking for her? Or asking her
about me?”

“Wel lemme see, yea there were some people.” He said
slowly but just as Avery’s breath left her, he continued.

“That’s right. I just did say that people turned up the school
looking for you. Of course people came around here asking
about you dumb girl, they thought you were dead.”

The agonizing knot in her stomach wound down just a bit.

“Okay. I’ve never asked you for anything but I’m asking you
this. Please check on her for me. Get her to cal me or
something but either way make sure she’s alright.”

“What’s in it for me?”

She could have screamed at him. Restraining the familiar
wash of instant rage, she seethed.

“Nate, bargaining chip for later. Find out now.”

He groaned on the other line and obediently hung up. She
listened at her phone even when it stayed silent. Final y,
she lowered her hand and shoved the bulky thing back into
her jacket pocket. Mason’s amulet cut at her fingers when
her hand lingered. She had to cal Mason. She had to do
something and soon. Mason’s old words echoed in her
mind. They’d use her friends and her family against her. No
one was safe. Worse, the Band probably knew where she
was located now. Avery cursed herself. Why does she
always offer herself up on a silver platter?

They’d reached the car and Avery jingled open the rusty
knob with one hand. Chase had been waiting for her to
finish talking and eagerly quizzed her on it when they got
inside.

“Who was that?” Chase asked.

“Nate... and not in like a bad way Nate. He’s just checking
on Leela for me. And that’s a long story.”

So the guys in her life were confusing. It wasn’t a crime, just
really annoying.

“Is he the reason you left school and came down here?”

Avery had expected that question eventual y, but stil hadn’t
planned a good answer for it. She’d told her mother stress
was getting to her and she needed the week off, but that
excuse probably wouldn’t work on Chase. Avery bit her lip
as she struggled to find a more believable answer, but
luckily she didn’t have to. Avery’s phone rang loudly and
she hurried to bring the cold plastic to her ear.

“What?” She asked quickly.

Nate didn’t answer right away and the few seconds made
Avery go quiet.

“This isn’t a joke anymore Avery, where is she?”

“What do you mean?”

“I went to her room and she wouldn’t answer. So when I got
one the staff to open the door, the whole place had been
trashed. Al her stuff, even her phone is stil there, but Leela
is not.”

Color draining away from her face, Avery dropped the
phone. It hit the floor and rol ed beneath the seat.

“Uh oh.” She whispered the turmoil aloud. Now she was in
serious trouble.

Sixteen

She fingered the sapphire blue amulet while examining it.
With the direct lamp light behind it, she could see a blue
mist that swirled inside. Mason hadn’t told her how to use
this one so she referred to her literary knowledge. If
touching it alone didn’t activate anything, she’d have to
break it open and release the concentration of energy.

Leaning back on the couch, she double checked that the
room was empty. Even at nine at night, the house sat dead
silent.

Turning her attention back to Mason’s telephone device,
she held it firm and smashed it on the sharp edge of the
tarnished wooden coffee table. The glass cracked and a
hot steam seeped out. Avery sprung backward, unsure of
what to expect, when the steam kept coming. It began to
form a visible blue cloud that crawled over the floors and
ceilings. Avery held her breath when the mist encompassed
the entire room. Eyes watering, she anxiously waited for it
to stop while hoping Chase or Michel e didn’t wake up.
They’d probably think there was a fire in the living room.

“Avery?”

Hearing her name cal ed, Avery looked around. The mist
stopped spreading but fogged the room in a thick
transparent layer. She didn’t see anything out of place but
the airy substance.

“Mason?”

She’d half expected him to appear but only his voice
responded.

“I haven’t found anything new yet.” He said.

“Mason, my friends are in danger.” She told him. “Please, I
need help now. I’m worried that they did something with
Leela. Her room was trashed and she’s missing. I think they
I think they might have taken her.”

“Are you sure? Don’t jump to conclusions.”

“Who else would have taken her?”

Frustration washed over her when he didn’t respond
immediately. She’d rushed to get away from Chase and to
contact Mason. The subsequent waiting became agonizing.
Rubbing her eyes, she let out a whining gasp. He final y
answered.

“They won’t kil her. Or hurt her. Not yet. If she was taken by
harpies then they took her to use against you. But they don’t
have you yet to coerce obedience by hurting her. So until
then we shouldn’t worry.” Mason’s reassuring voice barely
worked but the idea sunk in.

Sniffling, she held herself.

“Okay, then what do I do, let them find me?”

Her mind whirled with the fine points. They’d catch her and
either free the amulet or kil her trying. And though Mikhail
had let her go thinking it useless, they had never meant to
let her escape completely. Even if Avery went to them
cooperating, what promise did she even have they’d let
Leela go alive? More fine points. The Band hadn’t been
known for their morality thus far.

“No. Avery, listen to me. If they get you then the game’s
over. If they’re looking, Leela wil be safe. Now you’ve
bought us some time by moving. They wouldn’t know you’re
with your brother or where you brother lives.”

“Okay,” She twirled hair. “Wel , on that subject

they might actual y know where I am.”

Mason cursed darkly. The blue mist began to dissipate and
with it, Mason’s voice grew softer. She inched toward the
cracked amulet where the concentration of mist remained.

His voice became clear again.

“You’re no closer to finding out how to remove the amulet?”
She asked before having to dole out an embarrassing
explanation about how the Band actual y got her location.
Any one in Witness Protection wouldn’t have been dumb
enough to hand out her location. But at the time, she’d been
too eager to think it out.

Mason thankful y didn’t ask for an explanation. Rather, he
simply reminded her, “Avery, no one has ever seen
anything like this before.”

Her dream returned to her when Mason echoed Samuel’s
exact concern to Jericho about the amulet’s mysterious
nature.

“You know your father probably had a journal of some type
where he kept all his research.” She tossed out there.

“Don’t hold your breath on that Avery. Even if something like
that did exist, it’d be impossible to find.”

“Well, what if I told you it did exist for sure. And that he last
gave it to a harpie named Samuel.”

Digging her nails into the couch, she waited for the assault
of questions and harpie suited emotional rage. None
immediately came. Mason went first to the most rational
solution.

“Did Eva tell you that?”

“Not quite Eva but trust me, I know the information is legit.”

“Go ahead.” His voice already changed with a more intense
level of concentration.

She threw it at him.

“I know there’s a book and I know that it’s Adalyn’s father,
Samuel, who has it. It has everything Jericho knew about
the amulet and we can get it back. I think it’s our only
chance now.”

He absorbed the first part quickly.

“And you know this how?”

In a single breath, she told him in a jumble. She told him
about the realistic dreams, the exact locations, the names,
and the people. She told him about Jericho’s theory-- his
blood leaving some sort of imprint on the amulet.

She lastly fil ed him in on how vague her theory was.
Whatever was left of Jericho was left in the amulet.

Al the while, the last, most vivid dreams played in her mind-
- the odd but freeing weight of wings on her back, the hot

garden, soft grass, and cold fountain water. She wasn’t
watching it happen from third person this last time.

She was actual y seeing it from the eyes of Jericho. The
silence on the other line lasted for awhile. The fog kept
slipping away until it barely hovered around the cracked
glass itself. Taking it back in her hands, she held the glass
by her ear to listen hard. Mason stil hadn’t responded, and
the drawn out silence was making her worry.

What if Mason just thought she was making a joke at the
expense of his dead father? Even bringing the touchy
subject up with him brought them into dangerous territory.

Final y, his quiet voice came across.

“It’s just a dream Avery.” He insisted, sounding like he was
trying to convince both of them.

“It’s not. How else would I know about Samuel being
Adalyn’s father? The garden? You didn’t correct me
because you know those things are real.”

He let out a deep breath that sounded like static on the
other line.

“How am I supposed to believe that, Avery? That my
father...my father...”

He stumbled over his own words and then stopped. Avery
didn’t need to hear the end and stayed quiet to give him a
chance to col ect his thoughts. Mason then changed topics
quickly.

“You said Samuel had it? How long ago was this?”

Before she could respond, a third voice joined the
conversation from his end.

“My father Samuel? What about him?” She recognized
Adalyn’s voice coming over the line.

The harpie girl’s voice was just as loud as Mason’s, and the
unwanted picture of them closely cuddled together popped
into Avery’s head.

“I don’t think it was very long ago so her father was probably
the last one with Jericho’s journal. If we can get it back, we
can find a way to fix this.” Avery explained roughly.

Adalyn didn’t ask for the details.

“He wouldn’t give it to me even if I asked.” Adalyn
commented blandly. Avery could just picture the blonde rol
ing her eyes and pouting her hot red lips.

“We can steal it, use it, and then give it back.” Avery
pointed out.

“My father has lots of books. I can’t find it unless I know
what I’m looking for.” Adalyn shot the idea out of the water.

The last of the magical mist vanished and just as Avery
thought the connection might have died, Mason spoke.

“Avery, I have an idea.” He said. “We take you to court,
Adalyn sneaks you in, and you get the book. Plus, we keep
you safe from the Band a little longer. They won’t look for
you there.”

“What about the police in the court looking for me?”

Avery knew the phrase “the best hiding spot is in plain
sight” but that probably didn’t count with the seriousness of
the situation.

“Trust me. We’l need to meet

You remember that pier by your house?” He just spit out the
directions before the last of the mist disappeared, and the
telephone device died leaving Avery sitting in silence.

The next morning would find her packed, out at the location,
and ready to go. She’d arrived before them and had been
waiting awhile. Avery wrapped her arms around herself.
The pier wasn’t her definition of cold, especially not with her
heavy winter jacket. Rather, the area was beginning to give
her the creeps. The sun stil hadn’t risen and the smal bits of
yel ow in the horizon didn’t light up the dim area enough.
Even though no lamps stayed on overnight, Avery wedged
herself under a light post and wearily watched the dark
clouds.

Mason had told her to meet him here, probably so they
could fly in without arousing suspicion, but she began to
hate it. They couldn’t have picked a place more reminiscent
of any horror movie. The water made the rickety wood
beneath her begin to rot and the eerie silence had her on
edge. Every once in awhile the wind would howl and the
wood would creak.

Just about the point she couldn’t stand it anymore, shadows
dropped onto the pier. Happily recognizing the harpies, she
walked down to meet them. As expected, they didn’t cover
their wings up.

“You didn’t tel your brother where you were going, right?”
Masons question.

“Nope. He’s under the impression I’m going back to
school.” She had to real y push the act too. Avery had
gotten her brother to drive her to the airport. Once he’d left,
she walked out, and hailed a taxi to get across town. It
wasn’t a permanent solution but it’d buy her some time.

“She can’t wear that unless you want her to stand out like a
neon sign.” Adalyn said to Mason and gestured to Avery’s
outfit with a less than pleasant face.

Avery had adorned jeans, sneakers, and the heavy blue
jacket that kept her magical tattoo hidden away. Mason
made a face that indicated his agreement.

“Wait, I’m not marching in the front door, right? I can’t!
They’l know I’m human.” She didn’t want to remind them or
herself, but both harpies had at least a foot on her. Not to
mention the whole lack of wings thing.

“There are humans in harpie court.” Mason said.

Impressed, she raised her eyebrows.

“Really?”

“Not many

you know some are servants and some are used for
breeding

”He said quietly.

“Oh fun, I’m either a slave or a booty call.”

“Seriously, Avery.” He shook his head, lapsing into his
authoritative voice that he seemed to reserve only for her. “I
said we can do this but it won’t be easy. Please take it
seriously. If you don’t act the part, you’l definitely be cal ed
out on it.”

“Fine.” She said it only to reassure him. “I don’t have
anything harpie formal ya know.” She added as an
afterthought.

“We brought something. But you will need to be careful. The
mark on your arm is still giving off a heavy aura.”

Avery paused in mid motion, letting her jacket hang off one
arm.

“Wait, how are we gonna hide that?” She asked.

“Fake amulet. They won’t think it’s coming from your body.”
He suddenly held up a plain black piece of glass that
caught the rising orange sunlight.

Never let it be said that harpies didn’t think of everything,
Avery mused. She took it from him. Touching his warm skin
caused her cheeks to tinge red. Redirecting her face to the
grey planks below, she worked on getting the oversized
jacket off. Adalyn had already tossed the pile of white and
tan clothes at her feet. The material could have been see
through it was so light. Made of micro fleece, it apparently
did a lot to keep one’s body warmth intact. Mason turned
away, casting his attention out into the ocean and giving
Avery a moment to slip on the new clothes.

Exactly as she’d expected, the clothes suited someone far

tal er than her. It hung off her hands and she stepped on the
bottom hem. She had to push the sleeves back onto her
shoulders a few times. At least the pants had a string belt
that she could tighten. Avery caught a glance of herself off a
rusted piece of machinery.

“I look like I’m part of a cult.” She gasped.

Already pale, it sufficiently washed out the rest of her color.
The clothes had no more design than a pil ow case.

Too big, it swarmed around her figure and made her
resemble a deflated bal oon. The only piece of color was
the empty amulet strung around her neck, but that did
nothing to fix the outfit’s blandness.

“Cal it a step above how you usual y look.” Adalyn laughed
without even pretending to be friendly about it. If Mason
heard the distaste in her voice, he ignored it.

“You can act like Adalyn’s new helper. Don’t speak unless
spoken to and do not stray from her side. She can walk into
her father’s study with no problem. Then you have to find it
and leave before anyone looks at you twice.”

“You’re not coming?” Avery asked as it dawned on her.

“Banished from court, remember?”

Avery glanced over at the blonde harpie. She’d sprung up
to balance on the railing of the pier. Adalyn’s face had
twisted into something bitter, dark, and unhappy. Beyond
her sat the vast abyss of blue ocean from which they’d
come. Avery stared as it sunk in.

“Great.”

Seventeen

It would turn out that the harpie home base resided on an
island off the California coast. Though not big enough to
make the map, it stil had a huge radius. It resembled one of
those island paradises rich people would buy as a vacation
place with the green gardens, blue pools, and shimmering
waterfal s. It was also very modern.

Infrastructure didn’t actual y have accommodations for cars
but walkways were plenty.

What Avery found most striking was the utter lack of human
interference to the island. A whole other species existed
with its own island and not a word about it was leaked to
the media? The government either had some talking to do
or harpie magic had a heavy hand in the area.

Adalyn began the first graceful harpie descent that Avery
had ever been on, and she was grateful for every smooth
inch of the way. The scenery became clearer as they got
close enough that Adalyn stopped pumping her wings and

glided them in. The buildings she’d seen from high
revealed their true towering size and a monument to simple
design. While they included big alcoves and huge
archways, the design was ripped from middle century
England with plain grey bricks. The harpies decorated wel
though. The buildings sat far apart with large pathways
running between, and just off the pathways grew
multicolored flowers, trim scrubs, and tiny ponds like it
belonged in some Disney movie.

It took awhile for Avery to realize that they didn’t have any
trees with long hanging branches. In fact, everything about
the place demanded ample space for the harpies and their
massive wing length. Adalyn glided them on the far edge of
the island where the civilization hadn’t quite begun. Avery’s
feet hadn’t made the sand when Adalyn dropped her and
the subsequent landing left her spitting out dirt.

“Let’s get something straight.” Adalyn said while landing
graceful y nearby.

Avery looked up while grudgingly wiping herself clean. The
area on the beach around them was empty so Avery
focused on Adalyn and waited for her to continue.

“I’m doing this for Mason and not you.”

Avery already knew that but instead of being rude about it,
she went for the polite approach.

“Thanks. I know you don’t need to do this.” Avery forced out.

She wasn’t exactly sure how il egal this was by harpie
standards but everywhere Avery went, danger fol owed.

Adalyn’s hard expression never softened. Rather, she put
her hands on her hips and stared down with a superior
glare.

“I’m only doing this under one condition. After this is al over,
you have to promise not to talk to Mason again.”

Avery’s brows furrowed. She hadn’t ever thought much
about the after. Just the now. But letting herself consider it,
she’d admittedly grown a little attached to Mason and the
notion of never talking to him again left her with a mix of
unsettling emotions.

Avery wrapped her arms around herself, defensive again.
No way. She hadn’t done al of this for Mason to go ahead
and peaceful y walk out of his life. What kind of friend did
that?

“Mason’s my friend. I’m not going to just like stop talking to
him.” Avery said.

Adalyn bared her teeth like rabid dog. Her wings twitched
and opened enough that her appearance looked huge.

Towering over Avery, she intimidated.

“You wil if you want my help, human. Do not contact Mason
again.” Adalyn’s voice was sharp and dangerous, but Avery
stood her ground.

“Wait.” Avery said as it dawned on her. “Why do you need
me not to talk to him? Why can’t you get him not to talk to
me?”

Adalyn’s face tinged pink and she whirled to face the
opposite direction. Before Adalyn responded, a figure
surfaced on the sandy beaches. The sight of another harpie
made Avery freeze. The young male wore blue stiff formal
wear that resembled the police uniforms. Avery waited for
the man to jump, point, or scream. He only sent a half
interested glance her way before his eyes went straight
back to Adalyn.

“How was your trip out?” He asked her causal y, not truly
expecting an answer.

Adalyn gave some nonchalant chatter in response, turned,
and waved Avery up the sand bank and over the rock
bases. Without another word to the hovering male harpie,
they marched in silence until they hit a pathway. If Adalyn
had intended to finish the Mason conversation, she never
got the chance. The sidewalk they were on led them
straight onto a market street. Tents were set up on the side
of the road bearing everything from fresh fruit to silver
jewelry. The whole place smelt like heavy incense of
cinnamon and nutmeg. Harpies lingered, chattering loudly
and bargaining prices like auction pros. Avery probably
should have acted more nonchalant but the chaos of it al
had her head spinning.

The wide sidewalk became crowded enough that Avery
found herself walking off the side, in the dirt, and receiving
smacks of feathers in the face from a careless harpie’s
wing. Only her tiny stature helped her to dart through the
limited space until she surfaced almost a block ahead.
Mason had spoken the truth about her trip here. No one on
the island was shocked to see a human.

The crowd parted for Adalyn and the tal blonde watched her
as she swaggered her way down the open sidewalk.

Leaving the chattering market crowd behind them, they
ended up on tranquil pathway with little more than stirring
air to disturb the sound.

“So far so good.” Avery told herself to boost her wavering
confidence.

“Ha, that was the easy part. Most people don’t know and
don’t care. But you’re walking into Grand Central Station
now, sweetheart. And if they catch you, they’l kil you.”
Adalyn dropped the foreboding comment just before they’d

reached their destination.

In front of them sat an isolated building. Three stories tal , it
was the first to demonstrate significant grandeur. The wal s
had green ivy climbing up the sides that only parted exactly
where bril iantly carved insignia adorned the marble. For
being on a first floor, it stil had a dozen smooth steps to a
set of heavy wooden doors. Harpies in sharp blue guard
suits stood on either side and stared Avery down before
she even got close. Growing more nervous by the second,
Avery hesitated by her harpie companion’s side. She’d
thought they’d sneak in, not walk in.

Adalyn snatched her shoulder, which with the height
difference, was easy to do. Digging her claws straight into
Avery’s skin, she pushed them both forward. Taking the
unspoken hint to keep her mouth shut, Avery began the
slow treacherous climb up the stairs.

“Adalyn.” One the guards stepped forward to intercept their
path.

Broad shoulders, a wide abdomen, and thick beefy limbs
made him look more pro-wrestler than bird. He wore an
amulet around his own neck that flared an angry red.
Staring down at them, his dark black eyes trained on Avery
specifical y.

“Who is this?” He quizzed.

Avery fought the urge to cower under the heaviness of his
glare. Adalyn shrugged as casual y as she ever did.

“She’s a servant and present from my father to console my
breaking aching heart.” She spit out the line to intentional y
sound cliché -- a move that the guard seemed to find
perfectly normal.

“She can’t have magic, Adalyn, you know that.” In a
startlingly swift motion he swung his fingers out, caught
Avery’s fake glass necklace, and popped the thing free of
its chain.

Freezing, Avery just watched as he brought the thing to just
below his chin. The amulet of his stil glowed a hot and
heavy red. Unsure what it was, Avery hovered. What if
everything went wrong? What was her sign to turn and high
tail it away?

After their discussion on the beach, Avery wasn’t entirely
sure that Adalyn wouldn’t let her get caught either.

“This is setting off the magic detector like an alarm. I can
hold it.” He said and then tapped the amulet resting on his
own chest. Avery caught on. The amulet he wore detected
magic and specifical y the magic radiating off her.

He’d assumed it was the glass since the red hue hadn’t
dissipated.

“Was that real y necessary?” Adalyn complained but based
on her tone, she’d probably expected it.

“You’re kidding.” He shook his head and then said, “Get it
on your way out, Adalyn.”

He shifted to the side, fake amulet stil cradled in his hand,
and motioned for them to pass. Coldness crawled through
Avery’s veins. She realized the detector would stop with its
angry red hue once she left, even if the fake glass amulet
remained. The second she cleared the area, he’d know in
an instant that the fake amulet hadn’t been setting the
magic detector off. She glanced at Adalyn’s face only to
see the that female harpie had figured that too. Regardless,
Adalyn nodded and with her painful grasp on Avery, pushed
them up the last step. The second guard pul ed the wooden
door open on its squealing hinges and ushered them in.

The uniqueness of the inside registered with Avery
immediately but it took her a ful minute to figure out why.
Then it sunk in. Instead of individual floors for the three
stories, the inside lobby sat three stories tal without stairs
anywhere in sight. Worse, the lobby branched out into open
hal ways on the top levels but had no path to get to them.
The hal ways were like holes in the wal . Everything was
designed for wings here.

Caught between a mix of shock and amazement, Avery
barely realized Adalyn had steered them down the first hal
way. Here, the building looked normal. Normal white wal s
with normal paintings crookedly affixed. Normal red carpet
beneath their feet led the way past normal wooden doors.
They final y turned another corner that put them out of
eyesight of the main hal way. The second they were out of
sight, Adalyn gave Avery a powerful shove and they took off
running. The carpet dampened the loud clacks of their
shoes as they dashed down the hal way, frantic to
disappear before the guard was onto them. Adalyn slid left
and final y stopped abruptly at the last set of double doors.

“Go.” She hissed urgently as she jigged the door open with
a bronze skeleton key. “Find it, and hurry.”

Avery slid past her, inside, and stopped in her tracks.
Adalyn told her to hurry and by doing so had drastical y
underestimated the time it’d take Avery to dig through
Samuel’s study. The big room had at least eight towering
bookshelves pressed against every available wal . Worse,
books had also been set out in leaning stacks everywhere.

She glimpsed back toward Adalyn, ready to recruit help,
but just as Avery turned to look, the door slammed shut.

Adalyn’s loud voice just barely made it through the heavy
wood.

“Father, what are you doing back so soon?”

Heart skipping a beat, Avery whirled back to look around
the room. She hadn’t even had a real moment to search.

Shaking with panic now, Avery’s eyes desperately sought
out any good place to start. She found it. Samuel’s desk sat
in the middle of the shelves. Sprinting up to it, Avery
searched the disgustingly tidy space. The short search
turned up a dead end.

The door creaked and Avery froze. The door hovered but
didn’t open. Adalyn had stepped in front of it again. Only
thanks to her superior height did Samuel not get a clear
look inside the room.

“Adalyn, I don’t have time for this. The counsel head and I
have urgent business we must attend to.”

She heard the murmur of a third person, no doubt the
counsel head in question. Avery knew she definitely wasn’t
leaving out that door.

“You never have time for this.” If Adalyn was acting, she did
it wel . Her voice spiked with the snootiness of a bitter
teenager and she slammed her boot heel on the carpet
floor. The door shut, presumably Adalyn’s doing.

“Please. Not now.” Samuel said loud enough, Avery could
hear it through the wood.

“I’m so tired of hearing that excuse. Is this what I need to do
to get you to talk to me?” Adalyn said.

Grateful for the extra moment bought by their escalating
argument, Avery skirted the room’s boundaries again.

There weren’t any doors or windows she could escape
through. There wasn’t even a curtain she could hide behind,
and Avery needed to get out of there now.

“I’m going to ask you to move Adalyn. If you don’t, I’l have
them move you for me. Please don’t have it come to that.”
Samuel’s tired voice set a final ultimatum.

Something drew Avery’s eyes to the corner. There was
another oak varnished bookshelf. On the third shelf, one
book lay askew in a tight pile. Driven by hope, she raced
over and snatched it from its high shelf. Avery didn’t need to
open it to know for sure. The memorable insignia of a silver
crescent moon confirmed it as Jericho’s journal.

Adalyn’s undignified scream shot through the doorway.
Avery knew that they must have shoved Adalyn aside. In the
next second, the knob rattled. The noise made Avery
glance up toward the door and that’s where she saw her
Plan B. There a silver vent grate that opened into the
bottom of the wal . She dove for it. Avery pried at the sharp
metal with her fingers. It didn’t budge.

“Come on, I can’t be this unlucky!” Avery cried to herself.

The hol ering voices outside wafted into the room and grew
louder by the microsecond. The knob had been turned but
whoever held it had hesitated. Adalyn must have been
struggling.

Knowing her seconds were precious, Avery forced herself
to breathe and to think. Mason had told her not to use the
magic, but if Avery ever had a good excuse, this was it.
She dropped the book and put both her palms dead center
on the two screws that held the grate in place. She then
tried to conjure the stirring feeling in her finger tips to the
hot palpable magic she’d managed before.

It took a moment for the fizzle in her blood to manifest into a
vibration. With the vibration came a sort of burning in her
veins. The metal obediently shivered with the energy and
just as the hotness threatened to be unbearable, Avery
yanked her hands away. She’d melted the surrounding
grate metal until the screws sat askew. Breaking her
fingernails, she dug the screws out and opened the grate.

The inside was just big enough for Avery to squeeze
through. Struggling inside, Avery pul ed the metal shut just
as the wooden door in the room swung open.

Eighteen

Avery had never been the claustrophobic one. She had
never fought over the window seat with her classmates or
particularity cared about messy and crowded dorm rooms.
Now she could, for the first time in her life, honestly
describe the sensation of being boxed in. It just so
happened to be brought on by crawling through an air duct
where the cold metal pressed in on al sides. She didn’t
have enough room to turn around but rather wormed her
way around the tight corners.

Sliding on her bel y as quietly as she could, Avery kept
moving. The ducts thus far were dark and loud from blowing
air. Far ahead there was always a hint of promising light,
but she felt like she’d made no progress on reaching it. To
think that somehow the movies made this look cool.

Trying to redirect her increasingly panicking thought
pattern, she focused on what she knew. Jericho’s journal,
currently wedged between her chin and her chest, held
every detail there was about the amulet’s creation.

Between her and Mason, they’d probably figure out fairly
quickly how to get the Wil ow magic out of her. The magic
would, with their best efforts, then be in another friendly
glass amulet which Mason could take home to have his
banishment revoked. He’d get married, she’d go home,
and the rest would be history.

The devil remained in the details. She’d have to meet back
up with Adalyn to get off the island and that was assuming
the guards wouldn’t already be onto them. Wedging herself

around another corner, Avery heard something and froze in
place. On the side of the vent ahead was another metal
grate, but this one was far too smal for her to crawl through.
The sound she’d heard turned out to be voices coming
through that tiny grate. Avery held a breath to keep quiet
and squirmed up another inch. Light poured in through the
grate and combined with the thick metal netting, the room
was invisible.

“You wil regret this. They wil come for me!” A girl screamed.
It took a second but Avery recognized the voice.

“Eva.” She gasped to herself.

Mason’s sister was in the room, screaming and thrashing
by the sound of metal clattering and clanging. They must
have caught her in the Hatcher Pass raid and took her as a
prisoner straight back here. Knowing Avery’s luck, she
crawled herself straight into the police station.

“Haha.” A male that she didn’t recognize mocked Eva. “The
last I heard you were on the outs with the Band.

Probably why they threw you at us.”

Intrigued, Avery turned her ear to the grate and listened.

“The Band doesn’t work like that. We’re not traitorous,
murderous banishing bastards!” Eva packed so many
nasty adjectives in one sentence that she almost lost her
breath at the end.

If the male harpie was impressed, he didn’t let on verbal y.

“Now Eva, I’m hardly the enemy here. What you’ve done to
the Prince, even if he was your father, is very much a
hanging offense. But if you help me, I’l help you.”

“You can’t make me any promises though right? I’ve heard
it before.” She spit at him. “And I hate the good cop routine.
Why would you want to help me?”

“For information.” The male harpie didn’t sugar coat it.

“I’m not turning in my col eagues.”

“This isn’t about your col eagues. This isn’t about the Band.
So don’t jump the gun. This is just information.” The guy
interrupted, clearly growing frustrated with Eva’s whining.

“And why would I give you this information?” Eva didn’t stop
the verbal roulette. Her voice was light and carefree but
Avery knew that she was testing her limits and learning her
options. The girl may have been insane but she had yet to
strike Avery as stupid.

“Let me remind you, the case against you is a bad one. If
you give us any information, I’l make sure the prosecutor is
aware of your cooperation and you may get a lesser

sentence.”

“How bad?” Eva questioned.

“Wel , how about I tel you what evidence we’ve already
gathered. Then we’l see how cocky you are about turning
me down.”

Avery could hear the distinct sound of paper shuffling and a
chair being pul ed along a hard tiled floor. She squinted
through the grates but could only spot distinctive moving
shadows. One, probably Eva, sat localized in the center of
the room. Another shadow maneuvered in front of her
before settling there.

“We’ve linked you red handed to the death of Prince
Jericho. The motive was to steal the amulet of Wil ow-- an
intention which was unsuccessful y fulfil ed.”

“Open and shut case huh. What exactly do you want me to
help you with then pops? What information, if not about the
Band, could you possibly want?” Eva asked with sarcasm
dripping.

“We need information on our favorite murder suspect. Your
own brother, Mason.”

“Ohh, fun subject.” Eva snapped.

Papers rustled more and a chair creaked.

“There are two incidents we need clarification on and don’t
act innocent. First up, Prince Jericho’s death. We have a
recorded cal from Mason to Jericho at ten forty five at night
asking for him to come out to the California coast line.
Eleven thirty three, the Band had found his position and kil
ed him. Now we’re not dumb enough to think it’s a
coincidence. It’s no coincidence that Mason cal ed Jericho
out in such a rush that Jericho would leave without personal
protection. He’d do anything for his children and it...” The
male harpie slowed when his voice wavered.

Whoever he was, he certainly had some affiliation with
Jericho. In fact, that odd thought brought a picture of a
harpie to Avery’s mind. Short for a harpie, he was heavy set
like most guards. Older, he had a square wrinkled face and
large brown eyes. The image in her mind struck her with
such certainty that she knew the memory had to come from
the part of Jericho infused in her.

“It’s no coincidence that the entire Band knew exactly where
Jericho would be down to the exact time. They set him up to
walk into an ambush.”The male said.

“What do you want me to say? So far you’re just talking at
me man, I don’t think its working.”

Avery could hear a crash and could see the shadows shift.
It appeared that the guard, the bigger figure, boxed Eva in

threateningly.

“You were there the night Jericho died, I need you to
confirm or deny that Mason had any part in it. I need you to
confirm or deny our suspicion that he did it as a trade off for
Adalyn’s fiancé being put in the ground.” He said.

Avery went cold when she heard it. The male harpie had it
almost down to the detail. Now whether or not he’d have
agreed that it was an accident was a different matter. Her
heart sunk as she listened. Eva would rat Mason out and
then he’d have no chance of ever coming back from his
banishment.

“Don’t you think we could have just tortured Mason until he
did call Jericho out?” She said so smoothly, Avery’s jaw
dropped.

The guard also stuttered and shot up from his chair.

“Are you saying that’s what happened?” He frantically
demanded to know.

“Maybe.”

Avery could hear the guard gasping and sputtering,
apparently just as shocked as she was. Avery didn’t know
Eva very wel , but it just didn’t seem like something that the
girl would do.

“Well...what happened to Adalyn’s fiancé then? Who killed
him?”

“No idea.” Eva quipped.

Avery’s head floated. Unbelieving, she squinted out the
netted grate and searched for any more detail.

“I didn’t think Mason could have done it. Not Mason.” The
male harpie confessed. Avery could picture the pale
shaking guard in her mind but couldn’t put a name to him.
Rather, she listened to the relief rip through his voice.

“Haha! I’m not saying that’s what happened. I’m just saying
that it’s a theory. I’l never confess a word to you bastard. My
friends are coming for me and then I’l kill you on my way out
of this joint.” Eva said then. In a flurry of movement, she tore
at the bonds that kept her pinned. Chains screeched in
protest and she kicked her feet out.

Knocking the male’s chair back, the wood flew and crashed
into the wal with a deafening smash.

“You wil regret this! I swear you wil regret this!” Eva
screamed with a maniacal voice.

The male harpie’s shadow suddenly moved and
disappeared from the room. Eva’s screaming fol owed him
al the way out. Only in the wake of his presence, did Eva

calm her thrashing and let her screaming become silence.

Avery sent a last glance through the grate before
readjusting Jericho’s book and quietly pushing forward. The
chil y air rushing through the vents had practical y frozen
her. The amulet continued to protect her from the cold but it
didn’t prevent the tips of her fingers from turning blue. She
was ready to move on when Eva’s voice stopped her.

“You know, it’s funny how you always find things when
you’re not looking for them.” Eva’s voice floated into the
vents. Avery stil ed. “I’m surprised though. The island was
the last place we’d look for you. I bet this was Mason’s
idea.”

Avery paled, knowing that Eva was official y talking to her.
Stil , Avery kept quiet while she thought about her next
move.

“I know exactly what that magic feels like now. I can sense it
from a thousand miles away so natural y ten feet is nothing.
And it was great timing on your part too. You just got to hear
exactly what they had in mind for us.” Eva’s tone showed
she enjoyed this. Avery only listened.

“So I’l make you a deal. My brethren are coming to rescue
me. And if you official y cooperate then we’l let you live, if
possible.” Eva said.

Avery drew her nerves together.

“No way.” Avery whispered, just loud enough that Eva could
hear and just quiet enough that her voice wouldn’t attract
outside attention. “I’ve heard you say that before.”

The Band had made no bones about wanting her dead
when this was done. Why start now?

“So tel me then. What are your other options? The harpie
government knows about you now and if that magic can’t
be removed then you’re going to become a danger to them.
Let me tel you something. There is nothing in harpie law
that prevents a harpie from kil ing humans. So if you think
for a second that you’re safe with them, you’re out of your
mind.”

Avery swallowed hard.

“I’m not worried about it.” Avery said.

“Oh. So has my brother found a way to remove the magic
then?”

Avery cursed herself. Eva was just getting answers. She let
out a breath, ready to end the conversation and finish
sneaking out of the vent. Eva then said something that
prevented her.

“So you won’t cooperate with us to help yourself? I envy

that. Take your chances. You have a lot of nerve for a
human. But what about your little girlfriend? Would you
cooperate with us to save her?”

Avery’s heart skipped a beat. The Band did have Leela.
She shifted hard and smashed the metal until the
resonating clank ripped through the vent line.

“Touch her and die.” Avery hissed through the grates.

“Sorry, girl. I’m not trying to hit a sore spot. I’m just making it
easy. Besides, now I don’t think you’re getting off this island
without help so when you realize that you need me... Wel , I’l
find you.”

Avery opened her mouth to retort, to threaten, to think of
something completely nasty, but she never got the chance.
The door in the room clicked open and Eva’s attention
turned elsewhere. Without another moment of hesitation,
Avery pushed her way through the vent.

Leaving the grate behind her, she turned another corner
and saw a dead end. She scooted up to the final grate and
prepared herself to melt through the screws again, but this
time the grate gave way when she barely touched it. Avery
scrambled to catch the metal before it shattered on the
floor. Now forced to move quickly, she popped her head
into the open and glanced around anxiously.

The room was empty. Deeming it safe, she wedged her
way out and touched the concrete floor grateful y. Her
muscles eagerly stretched in the new space but the
appreciation was short lived.

The vent trail had let out into an empty storage room. The
room only had the single door and lacked any windows.

If Avery’s internal compass put her right, the vent had led
her along the perimeter of the building and dumped her in
the back corner. She’d have to walk right back through the
hal ways or worse, the lobby. Without Adalyn, that ruse
wouldn’t work wel twice. Plus, she completely lacked the
ability to cal Adalyn. Mul ing on her limited options, Avery
was forced into deciding on one. She dusted herself off and
made her way for the waiting door.

Nineteen

Avery closed her eyes and listened intently over the
pounding of her own heart beat. The door had led to a short
hal from which she couldn’t peer around the corner, but
she’d heard the sounds of abundant activity outside.

Footsteps stomped the carpet floor, people laughed, and
doors creaked open and shut. The sharp scent of coffee
and sweet baking pastries wafted in the air. There had to
be at least a dozen people. Maybe more.

Avery opened her eyes and stared at the ugly floral wal

paper across the hal . Just from the décor on this side of
the building, she didn’t think she’d come out anywhere near
the police headquarters. Rather the offish green, pink, and
tan color scheme seemed more like a home with an
atrocious decorator.

Chase had once told her that if you acted like you
belonged, then people didn’t question it. Of course, he’d
used it to cut school and sneak into the girl’s dorm rooms.
But, the theory probably presumed the same. Avery
decided it was that or attempting to blow them out of the
way with her barely contained magic. Neither sounded very
appealing but the former sounding less dangerous al
around, she decided.

Sucking a deep breath into her chest, Avery turned the
corner. She could see now that people lined the hal ways.

The most predominant of them were the harpies that
chatted and laughed until their voices echoed off the high
ceilings. Stark white uniforms and coffee cups in hand, the
harpies looked like working stiffs on break. The smal er
people in the hal must have been human. They lingered
nearby and stayed quiet. Avery let out a breath,
disbelieving her own luck. Al the other humans resembled
her down to the correct clothing and it made it easy for
Avery to blend in.

Speeding up her pace, Avery began to maneuver between
the shifting crowds. She knocked into a few feathers and
elbows but if the harpies ever even gave her a second look,
she didn’t know about it. The shocking wave of success
saw her al the way to the end. That was about when her luck
ended. Avery had slipped around the side of one last
harpie when something compel ed her to look up. The blue
uniform struck her first. Only then did the harpie’s familiar
face sink in. The same guard that had given Adalyn and
Avery a hard time coming in stared back with wide eyes
and arched brows.

“You.”He stuttered.

Fight turning to flight, Avery spun and ran. She heard the
harpies shouting behind her.

“Security!”

She slid out of the hal way into the main three story lobby.
Flashes of white came from everywhere. Harpies
descended from the air with the heavy flapping of wings.
Footsteps rushed in her direction. Avery saw them in
glimpses. She kept moving. With help from her initial
charge, she knocked the first two harpies backwards. Their
lanky bodies sprawled to the ground and they were, at least
temporarily, impeded. She dashed through the opening but
the harpies were gaining on her fast.

Hands tore at her hair and shoulders. The flying harpies

struggled to get a working grasp on her. Using her burning
magical arm, she swiped at them. Then something caught
her eye. A window sat open just at the end of the lobby. Too
smal for a harpie, the irrational part of her mind told her to
go for it. Yanking Jericho’s journal from the draw band of
her pants, she held tight.

Just as another harpie dove for her, she jumped out the
window. She clipped the upper sil and the glass shattered.
Smashing into the ground outside, she absorbed the force
of the crippling impact with her shoulders and rol ed on the
floor. Glass rained down.

Just as shock had swept over her, the harpies behind her
came to a dead halt. Knowing she’d earned only precious
seconds to escape, Avery forced her aching body to its
feet. She’d stumbled into a garden but didn’t take in the
scenic view. She took off down the stone trail. The
pavement took a sharp left and just as Avery could see the
next corner, she skidded to a stop.

“Shit!” She cursed.

The harpie blocking her path didn’t seem nearly as
surprised. He apparently recognized her as soon as she’d
recognized him. The harpie Samuel looked different now
than he had in her vision from Jericho. Age had more
substantial y ravaged his face until his wrinkled skin
drooped over his dul eyes and thin frowning lips. His skinny
body hunched until his presence came off smal er than
hers. Smel ing like a concoction of must and citrus, he stil
held some aura of wisdom.

Unsure of whether or not to backpedal into the police or risk
pushing past him, she stayed stil .

“I’d beg you not to steal from me.” He said, startling her.
“But in this case only, perhaps I would condone it.”

“What do you mean?” She didn’t try to play dumb but it
certainly came out that way. Jericho’s journal stil clenched
between her white fists, she knew the what and not the why.

“Come, walk with me child. You’l be in no danger here.”
Samuel didn’t wait for her to finish speaking. Turning
around, he began a slow tread into the garden before them.

Avery sent one more wearily glance backwards. She
should have heard the heavy boots slamming on the floor
and the shouts or loud demands of the security team. As
soon as Samuel had appeared, it seemed like everyone
else had taken the opportunity to disappear.

Slowly, she began to fol ow. The garden final y earned her
specific attention. The roses weren’t in bloom but the
thickets of the red and white flowers lined the brick
pavement. Ahead, she heard the distinctive trickle of the
fountain before spotting the glittering blue water in the light.

During the night in her memory, the garden was beautiful.
But today with the sun lighting it up in a healthy orange
glow, it was absolutely stunning. Looking at it brought back
the images from Jericho’s dream and such a threatening
headache, Avery barely heard Samuel speak.

“This was my daughters doing. No more scandal needs to
be brought to my name.”

“I take it Adalyn...” Avery began while watching him. Samuel
had slowed and stopped by the fountain. Folding his wings,
he sat and stretched out his long legs, just like Jericho had.
The familiar image brought flashes to mind and Avery
pushed a hard palm to her temple until it faded.

“I needn’t interrogate my daughter for her motives are so
easily predictable. The word is out. Jericho’s famed amulet
runs in the form of a young human girl. As Mason attempts
to reconcile his banishment, Adalyn helps him.

Together, they help the young human girl find a fair
resolution and to do that, they must know what they are up
against. They must steal Jericho’s journal.”

Gathering quickly that nothing would get past Samuel, she
didn’t deny it.

“If we could get it out of me, then I’l give the book and the
magic back. Then you’l never hear from me again.

Scouts honor.” She said.

He didn’t so much as smile.

“I’ve read Jericho’s journal many times so forgive me if I
already see how this wil end. But as such, I find no harm in
al owing a few days time for Mason to give it his own
opinion. Perhaps as Jericho’s own blood, he’l find reason
in it that I don’t.”

“That’d be great.” She muttered. Her migraine came back
as if something about being in this place set off the magic’s
memories of Jericho. Unable to think straight, she only
pictured her dream. She pictured the glowing multi-colored
hue of the garden, the massive blossoming roses, and the
same trickling fountain in the moonlight.

Samuel kept talking. “But the book and you shal not leave.
There is another island just off this coast that Mason can stil
step foot on. This wil be the only place I allow you to meet
and study it.”

She tried to nod but the pain in her head became
impossible to ignore. Avery let out a pent up growl. The
world kept spinning and she tensed her calves to keep her
upright. The images in her head kept playing until that
became al she could see. And suddenly she was Jericho
again, standing by the fountain and looking into a much
younger face of Samuel. She held the same ragged red

book out.

The sky had darkened in seconds and she stood below the
stars.

“This amulet is different.” Her whispers kept up, distorted in
Jericho’s deep voice.

Body rocking, Avery half knowingly pressed her hands to
her ears. The dream flickered and the world changed from
day to night and back again in seconds. The sky
increasingly resembled a strobe light.

The whole il usion dizzying, she staggered. Opening her
eyes, she stared at Samuel basking in the green and blue
fountain lights under the night’s sky.

“Samuel, you have to promise me!” Something possessed
her to say. “Samuel, you must watch over Mason for me.
Consider it my most important wish.”

The dream dissipated and she found herself back in reality
under the real sky in the real heat. Samuel stil sat on the
fountain, staring at her with nothing more than a bored
expression. He didn’t look like he heard any of Avery’s
schizophrenic rambling. Rather, Avery only stood with her
hands pressed to the sides of her heads and jaw clenched
shut. It took a moment for her to regain control of her
muscles. Straightening her arms to her sides, she blinked
at him.

“You said...you said another island?” She gasped.

Her voice came out normal, light, and distinctively female.
Jericho’s booming voice had certainly left even while his
last words stil floated in her head. She forced herself to pay
attention to the situation at hand.

“Yes. I have already taken it upon myself and contacted
transport for you. It is waiting for you at the end of our
conversation.”

“And Mason?” She asked.

“I’m sure Adalyn is in the process of informing him now. He
wil show. Of that I have no doubt. Though I suspect his
crimes are great, Mason has always made the distinction
of being better than his sister. He could have just turned you
over and more than likely had his banishment removed.
And yet, he stil insists on saving a human’s life.”

Avery didn’t like the way he belittled the word human but
she didn’t dwel .

“I guess that’s what happens when you fight for your life
together.” Avery offered the comment only for Samuel to
give her a calculating look that she couldn’t decipher.

“I’m not fond of his ideas child. I doubt they wil work. I’m not

fond of his affections for my daughter either. I don’t want to
revoke my offer to help him... but let’s say I’m beginning to
think I’m more foolish by the second for doing so.”

“You’re doing it because Jericho asked you to. I know he
was your friend. I know that you don’t want to see Mason
fail.” She said quietly, immediately regretting what
possessed her to say it. Pressing the book to her chest,
she backed off a step.

Samuel’s brown eyes darkened substantial y but he didn’t
raise his voice.

“Turn around and go with your escort.”He said stiffly.

For the first time, Avery noticed the hovering presence
behind her. Another harpie in a sharp blue suit held his
hand out. Feeling more awkward by the second, she took
the guard’s hand and soon watched the island
disappearing below.

Thoughts of Jericho and his only son consumed her mind.
She didn’t count the time but soon, the harpie’s wings
stopped thumping and began to glide. Turning her cheek,
she glanced below them. Sure enough, the outline of
another island could be spotted in the blue sea below them.
This one was instantly and distinctively different. Not only
smal er, it didn’t have any signs of a tropical paradise like
the first. Instead, mountainous terrain disturbed the sandy
beaches and turned the entire island into a black rocky
mass. Amongst it, only one building stood out. The grey
brick was actual y built into the raised terrain and had no
windows and only one obvious door. Avery’s gut told her
exactly what she was looking at.

Built into the island was a prison.

Closer down, she could see the outline of the flat roof top.
On one side sat a tal wooden desk. In the middle sat a few
lone steel seats. Behind that existed a mass of benches.
The wide open space on the roof top had obviously been
utilized for a courtroom. One stop shopping, Avery thought
bitterly.

The harpie landed her half a mile north of the foreboding
building and atop a high, flat rock. Smal benches had been
nailed into the ground out here. The guard landed and
shoved her towards one.

“You’re leaving me here?” She asked the guard. Stone
faced and stil , the sharp suit never answered her. But then
another voice did.

“That’s because we aren’t technical y prisoners yet.”

Avery whirled to find Mason landing himself. The sight of his
familiar brown hair, green eyes, and cocky smile made her
heart sing.

“Yea, well you have no idea what I just went through.” She
grinned at him.

Mason happily beckoned her closer until the two stood next
to each other and further from the guard’s earshot.

“Knowing you, I don’t doubt it.”

Avery fumbled to free the Jericho’s journal from her waist
and held it out to him. Mason never took it. Green eyes
squinting, he swayed to the side and sat at the table
instead.

“Open it.” He said.

Avery instinctively wanted to push the book at him again but
held herself back. Mason had purposely avoided it.

Cracking the book open herself, she flipped through the
pages. Jericho had original y divided up the sections by a
date at the top of the page and neat paragraphs with
uncanny cursive. Halfway into the book though, the
paragraphs became undefined clumps of text and the
cursive became sloppy, barely comprehensible print.

Instinctively beginning there, Avery settled into the
uncomfortable seat and struggled to decipher the text.

“What’s it say?” He asked her.

She made a face.

“It’s jumble about the amulet. With terms I don’t even
understand.” She admitted. Jericho’s journal made no
attempt to fil in magic amateurs either.

She flattened the book on the table.

“Is that al it says?”Mason asked next.

“It goes on about the amulet for awhile,” Avery stopped
when she caught his eyes. “It doesn’t say anything else.

Like about...ya know

his life.” She explained, final y understanding Mason’s
reluctance. The shadows in his face clearly revealed that he
felt guilty about his father. Avery wouldn’t relish the thought
of reading the journal in that case either. Apparently
satisfied it had nothing but information on the amulet,
Mason final y snaked a hand across the table and pul ed
the book in front of him. His eyes moved across the text
lightning quick.

“Good. This is promising.”

Avery let herself smile.

“Can you do it in three days?”

Mason nodded.

“I’m certain. This is the opportunity we needed. We’re safe
from the government and the Band in the meantime.”

Avery’s smile faded.

“By the way, I ran into your sister.”

That drew Mason’s attention straight back from the book to
her face. Happy expression drastical y altering, he urged
her to continue.

“They must have caught her in Hatcher Pass. You know,
when they snatched me the first time.” She had forgotten to
fil him on the details but skipped them for a second time.
“Anyways, she said that her Band mates are coming for
her. And that the police can’t stop them.”

Mason’s eyes flickered to the rest of the island sitting
behind them. Lips thinning, he frowned. There weren’t too
many guards in view, but Avery had no doubt security must
have lingered just out of sight.

“Rafael doesn’t have that kind of strength. The wal s of the
prison are bespel ed with magic to prevent col aborative
breakouts. No harpie can ever pass the wards to go inside
the prison without being invited in first.”

He didn’t explain how the wards kept people in, but Avery
knew they had separate security for that. She just didn’t
want to know the details.

“What about Mikhail? Would he have that kind of strength?”

“You met Mikhail?” Mason’s voice shot up.

Mason forced Avery to move again, hopping down toward
the rock near the shoreline. Just as he reached his decided
destination, he said something else.

“It doesn’t matter. For now we have the chance to make this
al go away. Stop worrying about it, Avery. One step at a
time. Even if we have less time than I thought.”

Avery never bothered to ask him why his mood had so
drastical y changed at the mention of Mikhail’s name. Truth
is, she didn’t want to know.

Twenty

The salt of the ocean water had taken its tol on the brick
prison wal s. The outside of the building had begun to rot
and disfigure with erosion. Inside, dampness led to mold
and a suffocating stench. Without windows, no fresh air
ever came in leaving the prison essential y a dark, dank
tomb. Avery stil found it ridiculous that they’d actual y
chosen to be inside the prison rather than outside on the
picnic benches by the shore. As bad as the conditions

inside were, Mason worried enough about Mikhail to
choose the safer route.

Using the candle light to lead her way, Avery walked
cautiously so not to touch anything slimy. She’d only been
here a few days and already felt like the dirt covered her in
layers no matter how careful y she skirted the place. A
guard with his own candle accompanied her down to the
cafeteria without portraying real authority. Buff and big, he
apparently wrote off Avery as no real threat.

In fact, the guards hadn’t taken many steps to treat Mason
or Avery like prisoners. They were locked in the cel where
they resided but the guards came to let them out for
whatever they needed. In this case, Avery asked to get
some food but also just needed to get away from Mason.
They’d been cracking heads more than ever.

“Avery, think!” He’d rattled her when he demanded that.
“What did my father mean when he said this? You have his
memories, right?”

Avery had spent hours squinting at the pages of Jericho’s
journal while hoping that it would drudge up some
explanation in her head. It didn’t. She thought back to the
memories she did have about the garden and the shore
line. Nothing triggered it. Head beginning to hurt, Avery had
backed off and Mason grew more frustrated.

“You said you had his memories!” He snapped at her.

“I’m trying Mason. It’s not like I can control them.” She’d
protested, annoyed. In fact, the more she tried, the tidbits of
memories that returned to her were absolutely useless. She
remembered his wedding to some pretty red head and the
birth of Eva. She remembered pacing the hal ways of the
hospital and hovering in the garden, but she remembered
nothing about the book. Avery definitely surmised that trying
had nothing to do with it.

Avery knew they were just irate with each other over the
intense stress. Time was running out and they were
answerless. She’d final y left him behind for a food break
and to clear her head.

“What day is it again?” She asked the guard, unable to
recall how much time had passed since they’d been sent to
the island.

The days were blurry at best between sleep, testing magic,
and remembering short snippets of Jericho’s memories.

“Day two. You have less than 23 hours left. Made any
progress with the amulet?” He asked, sounding more
curious than concerned.

Shrugging, she said, “I’m not the right person to ask. I’m just
here for shits and giggles.”

She barely understood the concept of magic and much less
the technical jumbles. Mason did and so it came down to
him to do most of the research. It aggravated her that she
couldn’t help and it aggravated Mason that he had to do it
al on his own.

Avery and the guard turned the last corner into a room with
an open buffet. As she wasn’t exactly a prisoner, the guards
al owed her to eat the management’s food. Not that she
would ever cal it much of a favor. The buffet contained an
array of fresh fruit and green vegetables that took a beating
from the atmosphere around here. Dew col ected around
the wilting veggies and the fruit was mushy. The meat, hot
red in coloring, looked like food poisoning waiting to
happen. The bread was hard enough it could be used to
flog someone. Maybe the whole lot was in accordance to
harpie appetites but she’d have a hard time stuffing it down
her throat.

“At least if Mason gets the amulet’s magic out of me,
everything wil be cool right? Like his banishment
removed?”

She asked while poking the bananas to test their softness.

“Wel , yea. He could petition the counsel to lift the
banishment anytime now.”

“That’s great.” Avery confessed.

“It’s not that easy. You see, Mason was banished because
there were a lot of unsavory accusations about him
associating with known fugitives. But more evidence has
come to light and they’re gonna want to try him on murder
charges the second he reenters our society.”

“Murder?” Avery glanced up at him, distracted from picking
at the food. The guard continued.

“Come on. You must have heard the situation. Mason al
egedly cal s out Jericho and steals the amulet to give it to
the Band. Then coincidently the fiancé of Mason’s lover
gets wacked. They think it was al a catered deal. The
amulet for the murder of Adalyn’s fiancé.”

“Is that why he needs the amulet? So he can prove that he
didn’t give it to the Band?” She asked.

He nodded, apparently eager to talk with her. By the
sounds of it, the whole thing had been on the guard’s mind
for awhile now. Settling for her slim pickings, Avery took her
paper plate and sat down at a warped, wooden table.

“Yep. Which sucks for you in the long run. We can’t let you
go unless you’re magic free. If we do let you go with that Wil
ow magic inside you, then you could potential y end up
back with the Band and Mason would be unable to prove
his innocence.”

Avery understood the need to know for certain that the
magic wasn’t being used by the Band but she didn’t enjoy
being referred to as a pawn.

“Wel didn’t they find evidence at the crime scene that could
prove it wasn’t him anyways? DNA? Finger prints?

Wing impressions? I don’t know...something.”

Mason told Avery point blank that he didn’t kil Adalyn’s
fiancé so forensic evidence shouldn’t be a problem. The
guard slid into the seat across from her and leaned
forward.

“But that’s the fun part, isn’t it? We know it wasn’t Mason
himself because the foot prints in the dust were too smal .
During the struggle, the man actual y got lipstick smears
and chips of nail polish al over himself. Now I dare you to tel
me that don’t sound like a woman to you.”

Rapidly uninterested in her food, Avery absorbed the
scenario.

“They think it was Eva.”

He nodded accordingly.

“There aren’t many females who would have a hand in
offing the man. That’s why they think, with the timing, it was
al a trade off. It’s a real y compel ing case.” He surmised.

Thoughts running away with her, Avery absently yanked the
skin off the banana and brought the soft fruit to her mouth.
Eva didn’t strike her as the diva type but it certainly fit with
the facts-- even Avery had to admit it.

“Humans cal it tunnel vision when the police get fixated on
one person. What if there was somebody else in the guy’s
life that just wanted him dead?” She pointed out.

The harpie laughed.

“You’re an audacious human. Tell me then, you don’t think
Mason had the guy killed?”

Avery did give it a few extra moments of contemplation.

“I’m sure he didn’t have anyone kill anyone.” She said. “It is
just bad timing. Really bad timing.”

The guard studied her with amusement in his eyes.
Apparently he’d thought so low of Avery that any sign of
intel igence on her part was amazing.

“Is that an unbiased answer?” He asked.

“Of course.” Avery snapped back. She considered herself
more unbiased than most since she was an outsider
looking in. The guard didn’t see it that way.

“I don’t think it is. You’re taking up for Mason because
you’re clearly into him.”

Avery spit up her food in her rush to interrupt him.

“Whoa.” She protested while hoping her face didn’t flush
too much. “Didn’t we just establish the fact that he’s in love
with Adalyn? Reasons why he’d want her fiancé murdered
and al that?”

The guard didn’t let up on that topic so quickly.

“Adalyn or no Adalyn. You like him.” He put particular
emphasis on the ‘you’.

Avery steadied herself.

“He’s my friend certainly. I mean, I have to like him a bit.
He’s the only one here working to save my life.” She
stopped herself before starting the “why does everyone
else want me dead” rant.

The guard kept giving her the stare down and Avery was
beginning to feel like she was on trial. She may not have
been entirely truthful because she didn’t know what the
entire truth was. Did she real y like Mason that much? Or
was it just a false feeling based off of everything they’d
been through together? There were too many
complications involved to generate an easy answer.

“Besides, I’m human and he’s harpie.” She added.

“You don’t think those two ever mix?”

“I don’t know, do they?” Avery actual y wanted to know.
She’d known that harpies had interbred with humans but
she didn’t know what defined the norm.

“They can. It’s not my personal taste but they can. My
brother Charlie’s married to a human. He’s got like ten kids
too.”

Avery scowled down at her food. Stomach churning, she
pushed her plate away. She wasn’t thinking about kids.

She wasn’t even thinking about marriage. She was thinking
about whether she could even see Mason from a romantic
point of view and whether it’d be worth her effort.

Something about her turn in thoughts made her head hurt.
Dropping her food, Avery pressed her head between her
open palms. Colors danced behind her eyelids. It was one
of Jericho’s memories. Desperate to hold onto it, she faced
away from the guard and concentrated.

The memory didn’t come easily. She struggled to grasp it
and soon Avery found herself in a room much different than
the prison. The moldy wal s and muddy ground was
replaced by floral designed wal paper and polished

wooden floors. She was sitting in a plush chair a few feet
away from a cackling fireplace. Before her was a desk, and
on the desk was the familiar black Wil ow amulet. Some
instinctual part of her knew the amulet was an empty glass
shel , magic free. Closest to the amulet was Jericho’s
journal, open and waiting. Much of the book hadn’t yet been
fil ed and a fountain pen rested next to the book waiting to
fil in the blanks.

“The magic won’t stick.” She said to the open air. She
remembered now trying to capture the magic in the glass
amulet. The blue swirling mist of magic had temporarily
stayed inside the glass but in seconds it escaped the glass
and dissipated into the air. She let out a growl and
strummed her knuckles on the desk top.

“I’m not mixing two energies that won’t mix. This should
work. I’m just strengthening an energy that already exists

”

“It exists in organic organisms.” She was laying out the
logic aloud. “Organic organisms. Of course, the amulet is
lacking. There must be a way to paral el nature. There must
be a way to use an organic organism inside the amulet and
make it al stick.”

She brought her hand up in front of her face and pricked her
index finger with her thumb nail. With harpie sharp
fingernails, she broke the skin easily and a drop of blood
surfaced. The epiphany made her beam. She picked up the
amulet and smeared it red with blood.

“Hey, hey, girl!”

The voice hadn’t come from the memory. Snapping back to
awareness, she found herself sitting in the prison again.
Sometime during her vision, the guard had gotten up from
his seat and crouched down in front of her to be at eye
level.

“Uh. What’s up?” She asked.

She hoped her space out hadn’t been conspicuous but
something on the guard’s face told her that it had. He
looked conflicted between cal ing a doctor and rattling her
senseless.

“You tel me what’s up.”

He sounded suspicious, likely used to dealing with tricky
people in prison, and thought he’d seen a red flag.

“I’m just upset

” She stumbled over her words. “About Mason. Yea, I was
just thinking about it.”

She was an atrocious liar but the guard bought it. Anger

draining from his face, he looked more relaxed.

“Girls are insane. It’s clear that the guy likes you. He could
have turned you in yesterday and this al would be over with.
That’s more proof than flowers or poems could ever bring.”

“Helping me could mean he’s just my friend. Nothing more.”
Avery pointed out quickly before her head could float to
space.

“Does he need to stamp it to your forehead, kid? What he’s
done far surpasses what a guy would do for a friend.

Besides, it’s my job to read people and I’ve never been
wrong about it yet.”

Avery didn’t protest again. Instead she quietly absorbed the
words. Standing up, she backed away from the table.

“Wel , thanks for bringing me down here but I real y think I
need to get back to Mason now.”

She could tel Mason about the memory and find a way to
help him. She had to.

Twenty-one

Careful y gathering the half burnt out candle in her hands,
she held the blue flame out to lead her down the hal way.

Driven by her new revelation, she stepped in every puddle
on the way and ignored the mud that marred her blue jeans.
Though antsy, she had to wait for the guard to guide her
down the intricate corridors. Half way there, Avery could
hear screaming that would lead directly to the cel .

“This is unbelievable. Give up Mason. The game’s over.”
Adalyn’s shouted, her loud voice ripping through the
confined space.

Closer now, Avery could see the blonde harpie standing
just outside the cel . The door to the cel could be unlocked
from a panel located halfway down the hal way, but Adalyn
hadn’t opened it or gone inside. She had her wings wide
open, back arched, and talons wrapped around the iron
bars. Avery could barely see Mason’s slumped figure
inside the cel , but she heard him.

“Come on, my times not up yet!” He said.

Adalyn let out a deafening shriek in response and turned
her back to him. Marching down the hal , she nearly paved
Avery over in her hurry to the exit. The guard accompanying
Avery opened the cel door, waved Avery inside, and then
took off in hurry to fol ow Adalyn. Inside, Mason sat
stretched along the muck covered floor with the red journal
balanced on his knees. Chin down, his hair sufficiently
covered his eyes and the shadows went to work covering
his face. Tension lingered making the air thick. Avery chose

the opposite wal to sit.

“Harpie tempers, huh?” She final y had to speak to break
the painful silence. Mason’s head popped up and he
looked at her with blood shot, glassy eyes.

His face pale, his chin stubble stood out more. Together
with his unkempt hair, Mason looked sick.

“Just Adalyn.” He whispered.

“Why’s she so upset?”

He grunted and pulled his knees into his chest. Jericho’s
journal hit the concrete, ignored.

“Because she did all this for nothing. She did all this to try to
be with me for nothing.”

His voice kept getting lower, forcing Avery to edge closer.
His shoulders trembled but she held her hand tight by her
own side, unsure if she should touch and console him.

“What did she do exactly?” Avery asked carefully.

He answered with surprisingly little hesitation.

“When the original plan didn’t turn out right...Adalyn killed
her fiancé for us to be together.”

“No way.” Avery gasped out louder than intended. Lowering
her voice, she scooted forward this time touching his arm.

“You have to tell them Mason. They’re going to put you on
trial for the crime.” She added in a hushed voice.

He laughed bitterly.

“You’ve clearly never been in love.”

Cold, Avery drew herself back onto the opposite wal again.
The twinges of jealousy she’d felt morphed into disdain.
Why had Avery even thought that she had a chance with
Mason? He was too far down the Adalyn River without a
paddle. She struggled to control her emotions. It felt like
Nathanial al over again. She fel for the cool irresistible guy
and had it thrown back in her face.

Forcing herself not to over react, she turned her attention
back to the obstacle at hand.

“I remembered something else from Jericho. I’m not sure
how to explain it but he was trying to get the magic to stick
into the glass amulet but it wouldn’t take. He decided it only
clung to organic organisms and that’s why he used his
blood.”

Mason’s expression rapidly altered into interest and his
body suddenly became livelier. Seemingly encouraged by
the update, he reached out and snatched up Jericho’s

journal. Mason clearly looked for something specific among
the last pages. Avery held her breath, forcing patience that
didn’t come natural y. Mason thumbed to one final page,
ran his finger over the heavy ink, and scanned a few lines.
Her heart lifted in her chest as she waited but when Mason
final y shut the book, his expression wasn’t comforting.

“What’s wrong?” She prompted.

“I read it before

but I didn’t put it together. I’m sure of what it means now.”

He stood, clearly shaken, and began to pace. Avery sprung
to her feet too.

“What do you mean? What’d you find?” Alarm rising, she
begged him to continue.

“No. It won’t matter anyways because of what I’m about to
do. We’re in trouble, Avery.”

He didn’t make sense and Avery began to panic. She
sprinted up to him and grabbed his arms forcing him to
face her. Stronger, Mason broke free of her grasp and he
looped his long arms around her waist and held her to his
chest. Avery didn’t fight but persistently pushed for
answers.

“What are you going on about? Please tel me.” She
begged.

Seeing him this upset wasn’t encouraging. Lips in her hair,
he answered.

“Don’t you get it? My father bonded the energy with his
blood. It’s not like other amulets in that way. The magic
clings to life force. When the amulet broke, the magic clung
to the nearest available life force. You. And it won’t be
leaving, going into anything else until its current residence’s
life force is fading. The amulet had to break for the magic to
move. You have to die for the magic to move again.”

Avery heard what he said before she understood it, her
mind taking an extra minute to wrap around the concept.

“I have to die for it to work.” She whispered when she
caught on.

Mason kept holding her because he felt guilty, Avery
realized. She should have been frightened but the emotions
didn’t register immediately. Pressed against Mason, she
didn’t know what to think. The adventure couldn’t end just
like that. There had to be a way to fix it without her dying.

“So I can hand you over to the authorities for them to deem
you dangerous and potential y kil you. I’d have to watch the
one innocent person I know in this whole thing take the fal .
Get my banishment removed in time to go on trial for

murdering Adalyn’s fiancé. Or...” Mason said.

“Or what?” She was afraid to ask but stil managed to.

His sad smile stretched into something crazy.

“I guess we’l have to escape and evade the authorities for
the rest of our lives.” His tone spiked with hysteria and he
let her go. Free from her, he paced up to the bars and
thrashed at them. Avery shrunk against the wal , watching
the harpie.

“Of course, that means we have to break free from the most
wel guarded prison on Earth but that should be easy, right?”
Not containing his voice, Mason’s words echoed off the
closely confined wal s.

Heart pounding loudly, Avery barely heard the footsteps but
when she did, she rushed to his side.

“Mason, shut up!”

“Why, because it can’t be done Avery?”

He didn’t seem bothered that everyone on the floor could
hear him, but Avery cared. Knocking the harpie back into
the wal , she pressed a firm hand to his warm lips.

“Shut up, Mason.”

The footsteps grew closer. The fel ow cel s on this hal being
empty, the steps were inevitably directed toward them.
Mason didn’t struggle beneath her but suddenly acted
content to wait too. The figure final y became visible and
Avery froze when she saw the person.

“Leela.” She acknowledged in a stunned voice.

The unmistakable brunette girl stared at her in return.
Though stil dressed in the black coat and knee high boots
as the day Avery had last seen her, Leela didn’t seem
badly kept. Her neat auburn hair had been tucked beneath
a ski cap and her skin was bright and flawless. Leela’s
eyes scanned them before landing on Avery.

“Are you okay?” Avery spit out in a jumble, absolutely
uncertain where to begin.

Leela didn’t answer at first, small hand jigging the latch
outside their cell until the iron bar door opened.

“Come with me.” Leela said shortly.

Avery slipped out of the cel . She wanted to give the only
real friend she had a crippling hug and spil out every
frustrated emotion she’d been holding in. She never got the
chance. Looking up at the hal way, she’d stopped herself.

“Where’s your minder?” She asked.

The hal way sat void of anyone else besides them. There
should have been someone. No one walked these hal s
alone. The situation didn’t fit right and Avery didn’t ignore
the sinking feeling in her stomach. Leela never turned and
gave her any answer.

“Come with me.” She said again.

This time, a dark feeling in her gut made Avery hesitate.
Mason’s claws suddenly jumped out and grabbed Avery’s
shoulder. Pul ing her back, Mason hissed.

“Get back in the cell.”

“What’s going on? How’d she get away from the Band?”
Avery asked as she staggered backwards.

Mason answered in a deadly serious tone.

“She didn’t.”

“What do you mean?” Avery demanded.

“Avery, look at her eyes.” Mason hissed in her ear.

This time Avery paid attention. Leela’s pupils had been
dilated to the twice the normal size until the brown iris
disappeared. The girl stood too stiff as wel . She hadn’t
natural y swayed or shifted once.

“What’ve they done to her?” Avery gasped.

“It’s strong magic. She’s being compel ed.”

A flash of Mikhail and his orange amulet shot to Avery’s
mind. Mikhail had an amulet for al ure in which he could use
to compel people into actions. He’d looked into Avery’s
eyes once and had her spil her secrets. With more than a
few minutes of that kind of magic, anything was possible.

“What do we do?” She asked Mason desperately.

“Come with me.” Leela answered them both. “Come with
me or I’ll jump off of the roof.”

“Mason!” Avery begged as he held her. Leela had already
turned and began to walk down the hall.

“They’re up to something.” He sounded sure of it.

Avery knew it too, knew they were using Leela against her,
and knew that she was buying into their plan.

Dangerous or not, she couldn’t let Leela die on her behalf.

“I have to follow, even if I have to go alone.” Avery decided.

Mason roared out of frustration.

“Just don’t leave me!” He ordered, grabbed her hand, and

walked them into the hall.

Leela kept acting bizarre. Her movement jerky, she headed
straight down the hal way. They fol owed with a wide gap.
The hal was dim and the nearby cel s were eloped in
shadow. Mason kept glancing in the cel s and behind them.
The mere thought that someone would spring out of the
darkness frightened Avery more than she’d like to admit.
She squeezed Mason’s hand tighter.

“Leela, please stop. Those aren’t your thoughts or your
ideas. You don’t have to obey them.” Avery pled.

She hadn’t even considered that when Mikhail had
compelled her actions on Hatcher Pass. Maybe if Leela
comprehended that someone else was inside her head,
she could fight it. Leela kept walking. Avery tugged
Mason’s hand, ready to storm in front of her friend and
physical y stop her in her tracks. Avery had some weight
and height advantage but Mason prevented her from doing
it.

“Wait.” He urged her.

They took a corner and for the first time, Avery could see
the unmistakable bright orange of sunlight ahead.

Considering the prison had no windows, Avery wanted to
ask where it’d come from. Before she had to, they were
close enough to see. The wal had been blown open in an
array of dust and rubble. Sun beamed through the opening.
This high up, fourteen stories and a pounding coast line
were beneath them.

“They blew a wal in the prison?” Avery gasped.

“It’s a trap Avery. The wal s of the prison have magic that
protect us from uninvited harpies coming in, but if we go out
there then we’re vulnerable!”

Leela turned in one stiff movement and before they could
react, she burst into a run. Jumping straight through the hole
in the wal , Leela dropped.

“Mason!” Avery screamed.

Mason lunged out after her, wings snapping open. Avery
rushed to the opening and peered down. Mason had
caught Leela but something else drew her eye. Avery
jerked backwards, but in a flash the harpie was on her.

Talons ripped her free out of the side of the building. Avery
fought back instantly. Grabbing at him, she caught a free
limb and forced the magic in her chest outward. The
attacking harpie shrieked, releasing her, and Avery fel .

Avery’s whole world spiraled until only a clear wash of blue
remained. She hit the salt water with a painful crack.

Muscles ceasing up, the waves thrashed her up against the
rocks. Only the magic in her body kept her breathing.

Unable to see straight, she glanced up. The entire sky lit up
with chaos. Harpies col ided. Harpoons howled.

Sharp blue suits spun through the air.

She couldn’t spot Mason among them. The waves drew her
back and threw her again. Salt water washed up her nose
and burned in the back of her throat. The magic hummed
but Avery couldn’t feel anything below her abdomen.

A shadow suddenly swopped over her and then a quick
hand plucked her from the water. Avery looked up into
Eva’s grinning face.

“I told you we’d have a nice chat.” Eva laughed.

Avery didn’t fight. Too weak, she couldn’t. Al she could do
was wait and see what Eva had in store for her now.

Twenty-two

Magic ripped through the air in vibrant flashes of blue,
green, and gold. The night sky lit up like a thunder storm.

Every second, the clouds above would glow and show the
vicious fighting shadows above. Eva maneuvered through
the raging battle with practiced ease. Fifteen stories up,
she dropped Avery on the building top. The resulting
awkward crash into brick left Avery writhing on the damp
floor. Eva set down next to her and yanked Avery upright by
the back of her col ar.

“Stop fighting me.” Eva growled in advance.

Avery hadn’t yet thought of using her magic. The wind up
here was fierce, and the cold salt water clung to her skin to
leave her harrowingly numb. Bones aching, she stil ed
obediently. She just had to wait, Avery told herself. She just
had to wait for Mason. With that mantra in her mind, Avery
turned her attention to the situation.

Eva had thrown her down in the middle of the makeshift
courtroom. Above, atop the raised wooden bench perched
Mikhail. He balanced lightly with his wings barely opened
and peered down at her.

“How are you dear?” Everything about the leisure ridden
tone seemed bizarre as though the harpie didn’t realize a
battle raged on around them. Eva also kept her eyes set
inward as if they were in a bubble and everything else went
down miles away.

“What do want? You said you couldn’t use me.” Avery
shouted almost futilely. Her teeth chattered so hard, she
could barely form the words.

Wings snapping open, he swept down until his presence
towered over her. Avery jerked back but Eva held her stil
with a brutal hold on her shoulder.

“Oh foolish girl, we didn’t kil the Prince to let our prize go.”

Avery sputtered for an answer when Mikhail produced a
gleaming knife. He brandished it but never struck. So
focused on the situation in front of her, Avery barely noticed
Mason land with Leela nearby. He came to an awkward
landing and before their feet even touched the ground,
Leela broke free from his hold. The girl then took off,
rushing to stand besides Mikhail. Leela was stil bespel ed,
clearly, and her mind must have been on a one track road.
Mikhail’s al ure amulet stil had Leela bowing at his feet.

Mason stood by, doing nothing but waiting intently. He
didn’t want to step in with Mikhail’s knife stil posed to strike.
Avery held back on protesting herself. They were at a
standoff.

“Let her go.” Mason said slowly. “She’s no use to you.”

Eva sneered.

“Then why are you stil here, Mason? If she served no other
purpose, you would have traded her in to the government a
long time ago.” Eva asked pointedly.

Avery’s heart skipped a beat. The Band apparently didn’t
miss much. If he had decided he couldn’t remove the
amulet’s magic from her body-- turning her in or not-- he
wouldn’t have spent almost three days delaying. Mason
seemed to know this too. Apparently careful to change their
thought train, he said something else.

“I wouldn’t trade her into the government. They’d kil her and
you know it. I won’t let another innocent person die. I’m
nothing like you.” His temper had flared and with it, he
growled so darkly at his sister that even Avery was
intimidated.

“You’re everything like me. When wil you admit it?” Eva shot
back, her voice curling into an ugly and bitter tone.

The hatred in her green eyes simmering, she looked ready
to attack. Avery watched it, her stomach knotting with the
tension. If Mason kept this up, a sibling show down would
be inevitable but he was also successful y distracting Eva.

“I would never have kil ed our father. You crossed a line.”

Avery watched as Eva kept going for the distraction hook,
line, and sinker. Too concerned with the spat, she hadn’t
been any closer to discovering the secret about the
amulet’s magic. Avery’s attention flickered to the clouds.
The police had descended upon the island with a ful y
fledged force. Most of the Band was in the area fighting
back but they were clearly outnumbered. She stood a

chance, Avery realized. If she just kept the secret for a few
minutes longer, the police would swoop in and she’d
escape.

“You have no right to judge me, Mason. And you have no
right to protect that man. Jericho was a thief, a traitor, and a
liar.”

“Eva. Shut up.” Mikhail said softly but the second he spoke,
al attention fel to him. His knife stil lingered in the air but his
patience had apparently worn thin. “You’ve forgotten why
we came.”

Avery squirmed backwards on the muddy pavement but
Eva quickly readjusted her painful grip until Avery moved no
more. Mikhail turned his eyes on Avery and she felt her skin
crawl and her stomach flutter. Lungs constricting and mind
blanking, she struggled to talk. Mikhail was using his amulet
again. He would compel her to comply with his commands
just as easily a second time.

“Tel me dear. Why are you stil around? What has Mason
found out about the Wil ow magic?”

Her mouth clicked open but she struggled for words. Her
head pounded. Mikhail looked dreamy again. His black
eyes appeared soft and beautiful. His hair fel over his face
perfectly and skin looked shiny and smooth. His half smile
made her heart swoon. Feeling light headed, she forgot al
of her concerns.

“You have pretty wings.” She giggled lucidly. “Can I touch
them?”

He pouted and Avery panicked, knowing she’d upset him.

“Not until you tel me. Tel me what Mason has found out
about the Wil ow magic.”

“Oh.” Avery frowned. Her mind wasn’t functioning properly
and her head felt like it was stuffed with cotton. She knew
Mason had found out something but that something kept
slipping away. She grasped at the memories, straining to
think properly. Mikhail wanted to know and she wanted to
tel him.

“Come on.” Mikhail reached out and brushed her cheek--
the contact threatening to make Avery’s knees buckle from
under her. Blood pounding in her ears, she opened her
mouth.

“Avery, stop!”

Mason’s voice suddenly tore through her daze. Snapping
from the stupor, Avery found herself on the building top
again, wet and in pain. Her eyes connected with Mikhail’s
but this time they didn’t look inviting, just horrifying.

Mikhail’s expression changed rapidly. Going from amused

to infuriated, he tightened his grip on the blade.

“Leela.” He ordered and Avery’s friend became alert again.
“Did you overhear them? What were they saying?”

“Leela, don’t say anything!”Avery couldn’t finish. Mikhail
wacked her hard enough that she saw stars.

Leela blinked as if she was having trouble comprehending,
and she was probably going through the same struggle
Avery had. As so, Avery was convinced she could snap her
friend out of it.

“They said something.” Leela admitted quietly. “I heard
them say something.”

“Leela, please! You’re being bespelled. Shut up!” Avery
yelled.

Leela didn’t answer. Her brown eyes fixated on Mikhail, it
seemed the rest of her world had completely drained away.

“Mason!” Avery screamed, frantic to stop this. She cast a
hurried glance sideways but Mason and Eva were nowhere
to be seen. She was on her own. Avery tried to wrestle her
way to her feet but Mikhail held her firm. Leela kept talking.

“Mason was upset. He said that Avery had to die. If she
died then the magic would jump to the nearest organic life
form. It’s the same way she got the magic inside her body
when the amulet broke.”

Mikhail eyes shot open and his face flashed with some
incomprehensive emotion.

“Eva.” He ordered into the sky. “Come here.”

Avery crawled to her feet just as the female harpie
swooped back toward the building top. Mason was stil
nowhere to be seen and Avery’s panic grew. Eva crossed
the roof and grabbed hold of Avery again. Immobilized,
Avery couldn’t escape when Mikhail idly drew his talon
across her cheek.

“So this magic can be absorbed into another person? This
means once you die, whoever is closest wil get the magic.
And they can use that magic as an invaluable weapon.”
Mikhail surmised.

“It’s not that easy.” Avery protested.

“Because you don’t know how to use it. But if you die, and I
inherit the magic-- I wil use it wel . I wil be unstoppable. So
that al leads us back to you dying for me.”

“You’re insane!” She gasped but he grabbed her chin and
forced her head stil . Bringing his eyes up to meet his, he
stopped smiling. He spoke to Eva.

“Eva be a dear and let her go.”

Eva opened her mouth to protest but Mikhail silenced her
with a shake of his head.

“I’m not afraid of this girl.”

His hand moved quickly, launching back and then forward
to give Avery a sharp slap. The strike jarred her but also
made her fight harder. Mikhail struck her again but this time
he slammed his knee into her jaw. Avery’s bones rattled
and her vision splotched with blackness. Mikhail struck her
and Avery’s entire world threatened to go dark.

The back of her head smacked the brick and she found
herself staring at the chaotic blue strips of sky above.

Her thoughts didn’t work right. Where was Mason? Her
mind kept repeating the single idea. He should have been
here to help her by now. Feeling more than mildly delirious
now, she looked back toward Mikhail. His figure, blurry
around the edges, had two fel ow duplicates at the sides of
her vision.

Advancing on her, Mikhail ordered Eva to back up with a
sharp bark. Holding something shiny and thin in his hands,
he leaned down before her. Avery’s mind urged her to
move before Mikhail could use the knife, but every inch of
her body only quivered from the attempt. In the visual
distortion, something shining and orange caught her eye.
Drawn to it, a last wave of adrenaline ripped through her
veins. Avery used it. Darting up, she caught the orange
amulet between her fingers and tore it free. The chain
snapped before Mikhail could even let out a screech of
rage. Holding it tight, she caught his eyes.

“Stop.” She ordered in a firm but breathy voice.

He didn’t advance again.

“Stop it now. Drop the knife.” She said again, feeling
empowered. The al ure amulet heated in her palm and she
clenched it until the glass bit into her skin. Mikhail obeyed
on cue and the knife skidded on the floor.

“Back up.” She struggled to hold his eyes now and forced
her aching muscles to stand. She staggered but stayed up
right. Mikhail backed up in slow, stiff movements.

“Now don’t move until I tel you.” Blood turning to ice water,
she desperately watched it work.

She concentrated on the harpie so much, she barely heard
Eva’s growl of outrage behind her. The female harpie
sprung and before Avery could whirl around, they both
crashed into the ground. The orange al ure amulet went
sliding away.

On her bel y, Avery couldn’t struggle. She tried to summon

the humming in her blood but Eva shoved her face against
the brick. Eva’s weight suddenly lifted from her back. In a
flash of moving feathers, Mason had yanked her free. Avery
staggered to her feet. The two siblings danced around
each other with quick swipes and lashes. Avery
backpedaled to avoid the fray when she spotted Leela in
the corner. The smal girl, wrapped in her own arms, shook.
Slipping through the multiple frays, Avery darted to her side.

The police had brought in reinforcements by now.
Reminiscent of the thunderous flapping on Hatcher Pass,
they began the assault to retake the island. The police
pounced on the immobilized Mikhail. Only when the mass
of bodies col ided with the floor did Mikhail snap out of his
trance and let out an ear splitting screech.

Eva turned her attention to distracting them and Mason
took the opportunity. Quickly returning to Avery, Mason
lifted her backwards with one arm around her waist. The
roof swarmed with harpies. Reaching out, Avery snatched
her Leela’s hand when Mason forceful y lifted them off the
ground.

Then it happened.

One of the Band members sideswiped Mason to join the
frenzy and another came swooping in for them. Mason
dodged backwards sending them both over the side of the
building. Avery held onto Leela’s hand, but with the sudden
jerk she lost her grip. Then Avery held nothing but air.

Mason flew upward just as the roof began swarming with
police. Leela stil stood on the edge of the building, growing
smal er in the increasing distance.

“Mason! Turn around! Turn around!” Avery hol ered over the
deafening wind.

Mason didn’t turn though and his wings pounded to propel
them forward. Just when they touched the first layer of
clouds, Leela’s form final y disappeared in the swimming
mass of bodies.

“Mason, turn around now!” Avery kept screaming.

The sight of the island was fading into a blur of black and
blue. The night had final y come and darkness covered the
area in shrouds. Avery fought to see clearly.

“We have to go back, we can’t leave her there!”

Knowing he wasn’t listening, this time she turned to thrash
at him. Desperation coiled a knot in her chest and she
kicked at him. His grip seemed unbreakable. He kept flying
until the island disappeared in the distance. If he said
something, it got lost underneath Avery’s cries.

Twenty-three

His choppy flight final y descended in a downward shift. The
shore approached rapidly and he barely slowed enough to
land. Avery slipped away from him upon landing and
tumbled into the dirt. Gasping and spitting, she rol ed and
sprung upward. Mason had fal en in a spiral of feathers
nearby. He stood and straightened his feathers before he
unraveled a coat that had been tucked behind his neck. He
had clearly prepared for human life and hadn’t forgotten his
disguise. Mason then stood to meet her as Avery charged
across the beach. Seeing her coming, he intercepted her
before she could smack him.

“What did you do?” She screamed and attempted to swing
at him again. With practice, Mason caught her wrists and
pinned them together with his long fingers. She wrestled
and thrashed. She threw a kick at his knee cap but Mason
just lifted her off her feet. Dangling, she flopped in the air.

“Put me down! I can’t believe you!” She was ready to hit
him again if she could just get a shot.

“Avery, stop it. We had to get away.”

Frustrated with how calm his voice came out, she swore
loudly.

“Let me go!” She shouted.

This time he seemed to consider it. Mason final y set her
down on her feet, but Avery didn’t go down quietly. She tore
backwards but the sand threw her off balance. Landing on
her backside on the rigid dirt, she crossed her arms. Hot
tears streamed down her face and she blinked to clear her
vision.

“They’re going to kil her now.” She said. “How can you not
care? She’s my best friend.”

Her heart kept pounding uncomfortably in her chest and
every inch of her skin burned from the salt water and sharp
wind. The sickening watery feeling of fading adrenaline
went ignored in favor of her glaring.

Mason bravely crossed the sand to sit across from her in a
tangle of long legs and awkwardly folded wings. She folded
her arms tightly before he got the idea to touch or console
her. It may not have been Mason’s fault but feeling helpless,
she wasn’t done blaming him for his part in it.

“If the police have won the fray, I have no doubt she’l be
fine.” He said, but must have lied through his teeth. There
was a doubt. A very serious one. The police hadn’t exactly
demonstrated much restraint when dealing with humans.
Deeming them crazy thus far, Avery wouldn’t put them
above committing another murder. He shook his head as if
reading her thoughts.

“Leela had nothing to do with this. Those who are compel
ed often have no memory. And having humans go missing

ed often have no memory. And having humans go missing
right and left isn’t beneficial to anyone. It’s not Leela you
have to worry about. It’s you. You’re the one with the mil ion
dol ar head on your shoulders.”

Sniffling, she wiped madly at the dampness on her cheeks.
She didn’t answer at first, taking a long look down the
shoreline while she regained composure. The beach they’d
landed had to be on the California coast but this section of
it wasn’t fit for tourists. The sand felt more like mud and the
waves ravaged the rocky coastline. The wind made the
area freezing and no road made for difficult access.

They had some time to spare but they hadn’t flown far. Even
if they’d reached the California coast, Avery knew that
wasn’t far enough. They’d have to keep moving but she
wasn’t sure she was okay with the idea of moving farther
away from Leela. During her musing, Mason reached out
and brushed her knuckles. She reluctantly relaxed her fist
and he took her hand and drew it into his own. The gentle
touch did little to reassure her. Avery just felt guilty now.

“I took Mikhail’s amulet from him and then dropped it
somewhere. Wil that break Leela’s spel ? And if it does, wil
she remember everything then?”

Avery natural y began to think about the details. Mason had
a point. Leela had nothing to do with this situation.

Stil , if she snapped back to normalcy and began to freak
out about harpies, would she be deemed as a problem?

Mason had once said that harpies didn’t particularly hide
their identities. So if Leela knew about their existence, that
shouldn’t be an automatic death sentence. Right? Avery
wasn’t sure. The harpie government didn’t seem evil but
they did seem to deal with problems harshly.

Mason final y answered her question, squeezing her hand.

“Don’t worry about her. She’l be fine.” He said and then
explained why. “Mikhail’s al ure amulet doesn’t have to be
in contact to work. It can leave a lasting impression. That’s
how he made Leela walk into the prison. But some people
aren’t real y susceptible to the magic. They can fight it or
make the magic wear off quicker. I don’t think Leela is one
of those people.”

“I am though, aren’t I?” Avery pictured Mikhail on the
rooftop. He’d used the amulet on her too. It worked at first
and she remembered being so intent on pleasing him.
Then Mason cal ed her name and she broke free from the
al ure amulet’s power entirely.

“You scare me sometimes, Avery.” Mason said, catching
her off guard. “I know that people can break free from being
compel ed if they are not being directly commanded. But
unlike Leela, Mikhail was right in your face. He was even
touching you-- ordering you with al his strength. No one

breaks free from that kind of magic. No one.”

Disconcerted, Avery didn’t know how to take that
statement.

“I’m not special. He’s gotten to me before. And I wouldn’t
have broken free if not...” She stopped herself before
amending her sentence. “I wouldn’t have broken free if not
for help.”

That didn’t make sense either. They’d fol owed Leela
straight out of the prison and screamed at her to snap out
of it every step of the way. Mason’s face revealed that he
thought the same thing. Avery moved onto a new tactic.

“It’s the Wil ow magic then. That’s the only thing that makes
me different.”

“Most likely. But if the magic is that strong and that
dangerous, Mikhail won’t stop until he gets it and that is not
good news for us.”

A strong wind whipped down the beach and growing cold,
Avery took her hand back from Mason and wrapped her
arms around herself. She cast another hesitant glance up in
the air. Cloud coverage blocked most of the sky from view
but the sky otherwise remained desolate and calm. No
harpies in sight.

“Do you think he was caught and arrested? There were so
many police.” Avery would have assumed that no one could
escape the dog pile that Mikhail had been under but he’d
shocked her a few times already. She wouldn’t put anything
past him.

Mason neglected to answer for a prolonged moment and
instead took a long look down the empty shoreline.

“Maybe. And even if they didn’t, he’l be temporarily out of
commission. That wil give us some time.” He final y said.

The idea didn’t comfort her. Mason must have thought that
no prison could hold Mikhail. Time though, Avery repeated
to herself, it gave them time.

“So are we really running away?”

“It’s about our only option now.”

“Okay then,” She ignored the fatigue building up in her
muscles and stood. “Lets hop to it. If we wait then they’ll
catch up.”

Despite her eagerness, Mason didn’t move immediately.
His eyes flickered over her form.

“We aren’t going anywhere until we clean you up.”

For the first time, Avery realized she’d been bleeding

steadily. She’d been smacked around enough by Mikhail to
certainly warrant it but adrenaline had kept it off her mind.
Tentatively touching her head, she found the soft spot and
sticky blood met her fingertips.

“Okay.” She agreed wearily.

Mason busied himself with ripping the sleeves from his shirt
and spreading out the white fabric for a make shift
bandage. He leaned over to the ocean water and soaked
some fabric in the salt water. Avery watched him idly.

Some sense of calm final y setting in, she let her mind wind
down. Mason had saved her life. And he hadn’t once
chided her for being childish or stupid in the light of things.

He came over and splotched her wound with the damp rag
with his green eyes in deep focus. The salt water stung and
she grimaced until he stopped.

She opted to wrap the rag around herself, tying it once
around her forehead. It looked more like a gang sign than
first aid. Her windswept black hair hung over the white until
the bandage’s striking appearance faded into the
background.

“How far do we have to run? How far until they can’t track
the magic?” She didn’t forget how Mason had tracked her
al the way to Alaska. Most people couldn’t even find
Mayweather Academy with a map. Finding it accidently
was just unprecedented. He frowned, face darkening with
shadows.

“I’m not sure. It wasn’t this bad when you first absorbed the
magic. After my father died, it took me months of searching
for the magical trace. And even then I only came across a
clue after talking to humans who were there on the beach
that night.” As he thought aloud, he drew figures in the sand.
The first thing was a tiny stick figure wearing a see through
triangle dress. “You were, for al intents, practical y
invisible... but since you’ve begun to use its power...”

He drew lines around the stick figure like a child would
draw a radiant sun. The stick figure shone with the lights
around it. And even through the crude il ustration, Avery
understood. She was the misshapen stick figure and the
radiance of magic kept drawing the harpies right to her.

In the moment, she absentmindedly drew more stick figures
in the surrounding sand. Except on her figures, she
smeared the sand for wings and used her nail to detail the
feathers. The picture now depicted harpies descending on
her from both sides.

“They’l just find me again then, won’t they?” She asked.

He neglected to reply for a long, agonizing minute. His eyes
cast down toward the il ustrations in the dirt and he final y
shrugged gently.

shrugged gently.

“Sooner rather than later I’m sure. Our time is running out.”

His words hung in the quiet air and the steady thumping of
waves did nothing to sound them out. Having no words to
reply, Avery engrossed herself in the picture and stayed
silent. Mason seemed content with that too.

The beach calm, Avery let the bitter implication sink in. The
time she’d actual y plucked the amulet up seemed so long
ago. It took al the way until the end of the October for the
magic to even work and for Mason to show up. The
memory of school brought Leela to mind, and Avery bit her
quivering lip hard. Even Leela seemed impossibly far away
now. So did Chase. So did her school and her normal life.
Every step she made to be closer to her old life only took
her one step farther away from it.

She reluctantly let herself wonder if she’d ever see her ivy
covered stone wal s of Crepuscule hal again or even
graduate in the flowing black gown like she’d planned. If
they were on the run, she wouldn’t be able to go back there.
But then, as Mason said, they wouldn’t be able to run for
long.

“Why do you keep helping me?” She asked as it occurred
to her. “I knew you did it before to save the magic and the
amulet. Now you’re just putting yourself in danger. If you
didn’t have me, the others could never find you.”

His face didn’t change expressions and he only shrugged.
His brown bangs hung rowdy in front of his eyes and his thin
pink lips curled up into half a smile.

“Honestly, I have no idea. I guess the little human girl is al I
have left now. And we’re probably going down together.”

Avery snapped her mouth shut before she could stutter.
Flushing quickly, her heart threatened to jump up through
her throat. A mil ion thoughts raced through her head but
she couldn’t settle for a single one.

“Anyways, get some rest. When we take off, the trip wil be a
hard one.” He said and Avery forced a smile.

The lapping waves of high tide final y reached them. Avery
didn’t move when the warm water sloshed between them
and beneath them. It final y pul ed away, back into the
ocean, and smoothed the sand in its wake.

The tiny stick figure of Avery had smudged and washed
away.

Twenty-four

She came too slowly with the blissful ignorance of first
waking. Cool, she snuggled into the covers that smelt of
baking bread. The air conditioning hissed in her ears and
the sun peeked in through the windows lighting the entire

room. Keeping her eyelids tight shut, she stretched and
yawned.

A male voice caught her off guard. Sitting up in a flash, she
blinked at her surroundings. Lying on the moist sand, she’d
had Mason’s heavy trench coat drawn over her shoulders.
The hissing she’d heard came from the breeze snaking
through nearby palms. The light had come from sun
reaching down through the tree shade instead of her dorm
room window. She’d almost been convinced she’d been
sleeping in her bed.

Coming too completely, she searched out Mason. They
hadn’t left the beach where they’d landed. Mason said
something about resting for a few hours. She knew why
now. While she’d napped, he crouched over a familiar blue
mist and broken glass. Putting two and two together, Avery
stayed silent. Mason spoke into the mist, using a harpie
communication amulet to commune with someone who
wasn’t on the beach with them.

“We’re off of the north coast of California right now. I can’t
give you a city name.”

“Mason, don’t do this to me.” Adalyn’s clear voice returned
to them through the harpie telephonic device.

Her tone gave away that she was desperately upset. The
air grew thick with palpable tension. Avery couldn’t see
Mason’s face but his muscles had tightened considerably.

“You’re actual y thinking about running off for the human’s
sake? You can defend yourself at trial but you can’t if you
run away.” Adalyn whined again.

Feeling like too much of a voyeur now, Avery glanced for a
new place to go. She would happily die before getting
involved in a harpies lovers’ quarrel. This side of the beach
was calm, too close to rock lines for swimmers to enjoy and
too smal a beach for sun bathers. She could probably walk
through the thicket of trees behind them and stumble upon
civilization. Unsure, she stayed stil before gaining any
undesirable attention.

“You know I can’t go back there either way!” Mason shouted
into the fog.

“I don’t care. The murder trial doesn’t mean you’re guilty! It’s
a trial. But if you run off now, then there wil be no hope.”
Adalyn’s voice hissed with heavy agitation. “You’re just
feeling guilty about your father. I get it. But she isn’t him and
this won’t bring him back.”

He growled, deep and furious.

“It’s not that...” He said.

“Mason, at least...at least tell me where you are. I’m worried
okay.”

His attention final y shifted and he noticed Avery for the first
time. Eyes catching with hers, he gave her a long, blank
look. Then, after a moment, he rattled off a few coordinates
into the fading mist.

“Ten minutes. Give me ten minutes.” Adalyn said before the
line went dead.

“Come on,” Mason abruptly whirled on Avery while
stomping the broken glass into the dirt.

“Where are we going?” She pushed the trench coat off her
lap and stood up in a hurry.

“Inland. Somewhere with a bunch of people. It’s harder to
track down a single person, especial y if they have to get
into the city on foot. Come on.”

She’d swung the coat over her shoulders. If Mason was real
y considering going to the heart of some human city in
mainland America, they’d need to hold on to his only
disguise. Mason opened his wings to ful mass.

“Aren’t we waiting for Adalyn?”

“Yea. Apparently we’re al gonna run away together.” He
laughed though the statement was far from funny.

Twitching his wings, he performed the familiar procedure of
readying himself for a long flight.

She lingered off to the side with a rush of mixed thoughts.
Though she didn’t savor the idea of having Adalyn
anywhere around, it would help prevent the other harpies
from getting a drop on them again. The plan was already
formulating in her mind. They’d take to a city where harpies
couldn’t outright fly and they’d be harder to pick out of the
crowd. She had half a col ege fund in her name but she
didn’t have the account numbers. That was only the
beginning of the complications. She was stil a minor and if
she never showed up, a missing person’s report would be
filed. Humans would be looking for her too. They definitely
couldn’t stay in California. Getting a headache, she pushed
the details to the back of her mind. One thing at a time.

“Are we flying or are we walking?” She asked Mason. “We
could get a car but I’m technical y not old enough.

Stealing one would be too dangerous.”

The harpie seemed to have thought of that. He paced back
up to her and shook out his wings.

“We fly inland and then take to the streets. What are the big
cities within four hundred miles?”

Avery struggled to remember. “Um, I know there is Las
Vegas.”

He cocked his head, not recognizing the city. She shrugged
innocently. He’d be in for a surprise.

“One state over, south east” She amended.

He reached out and touched her forehead without warning.
Fingers molding over the bandage on her head, he felt the
white cloth. His hands dropped down through her curls and
down to her shoulders.

“Are you feeling wel enough to fly?” He asked, clearly
concerned.

“Great.” She whispered.

For the first time, she realized how utterly close he stood.
She could smel the peppermint on his breath and feel the
distinct heat of his skin. His hands lingered on her
shoulders and his eyes studied her face. A startling tender
feeling stirred from inside Avery’s chest and her heartbeat
sped up. Her throat went dry but she licked her lips wet.

The rational part of Avery’s mind disapproved instantly. She
should have backed up and put a hearty berth between
them. Mason had a fiancé, her mind told her. But then she
began to think. The guard in the prison had said he’d read
Mason wel . He’d said that Mason liked her and Mason
continued to risk his life to help her.

Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt. She wanted to
kiss him but the height difference was noticeable.

Instead, she turned her cheek and leaned into his chest.
Her arms went around his neck like they were going to fly
but lingered in his hair. Though she couldn’t see his face,
she knew that he had no intention of pushing her away.

His arms looped behind her back and drew her closer. One
of his hands slipped onto the smal of her back and the
other into her hair.

They’d held each other once in the prison when Mason had
his break down. But this was different. This was absolutely
different. Close together, their combined body heat grew
hot and their individual scents mingled.

Avery’s mind threatened to go blank in the moment. She
final y drew her head back and tilted her chin up to look at
him. On her tippie toes, the height difference wasn’t so
severe. His lips were mere inches from hers. She let out
deep breath, ready to take the chance.

Mason’s head suddenly snapped to the side. So jarred
from the moment, Avery didn’t understand. Only after a
minute did she notice that the sun light flickered with
shadows, and she looked towards the horizon. Then she
heard the flapping of wings before she saw the specks on
the horizon, but knew that no single harpie could make that

roaring sound. Gut already sinking, she didn’t need to see
the mass descend on the horizon. A hoard of harpies
headed directly for the beach line without a moment of
hesitation.

Backpedaling, she grabbed for him.

“Mason, we can’t wait! We have to go!” She shouted.

He didn’t budge. Wings falling in, he stood stiffly.

“Come on!” She begged him, giving his hand a sharp tug.

Unmoving, Mason stared out to the horizon with an empty
expression.

“She did it.” He whispered.

The harpies descended, dropping onto the beach line like
comets. Avery didn’t watch them come, instead caught
staring at Mason’s face.

Pale, his lips quivered.

“She turned us in. She double crossed me.” He said.

The blue uniformed harpies circled them in. Still clenching
Mason’s long fingers, she begged him from his stupor.

“What do you mean? Adalyn?”

“She lied to me. We might die because of her.” Suddenly,
his lips twisted into a bizarre, sad smile. Heartbreaking at
his crippling expression, she wanted to reach out and touch
him. The harpies beat her to it.

A police harpie choose the moment to wrestle Avery
backwards. With practiced skil , he spun her with barely a
touch. Then from behind, he latched on heavy metal cuffs.
She didn’t fight anymore. They sprung on Mason and he
went down in a mass of shrieking bodies.

“Ease up!” She groaned when the police harpie jerked her
off the floor, going airborne. The launch of sudden height
left her heart in her stomach.

With limited mobility, she hung with reluctant obedience al
the way back to the prison island. Avery eventual y found
herself in a dimly lit damp cel reminiscent of the one Mason
and she had first stayed in. This time was different though,
Avery was a prisoner. She was on the basement floor and
placed far away from Mason. When she’d demanded to
know where they’d taken Mason, the guard gave her a
shove backwards into the concrete wal . Avery didn’t
protest again.

The guards had since left her alone but she’d natural y
assumed they hadn’t left the hal . Cautiously, she crawled
on her knees over the wet ground and pushed her head up

against the rusty iron bars. The lights were kept so low that
she could only see vague silhouettes. Other prisoners
paced in nearby cel s, muttering and hissing nasty things,
scaring Avery more by the second. The tiny dorms of
Mayweather Academy were luxurious compared to her
current circumstances. She couldn’t live in a cel like this the
rest of her life-- especial y when she hadn’t done anything
wrong.

What would her mother or brother think of her missing? And
Leela, what would become of her? Avery tried to control her
thoughts. The threat of hysteria stil loomed above her but
she refused to cry.

Her fingers curled around the bars and lingered there. The
magic stil hummed in her chest and she could feel it giving
her strength. Avery had to wonder if she could break her
way out. The bars would give easily but even if she got out,
she’d have to get past the guards posted on the corridors.
Then she ran the risk of getting captured again, if not kil ed
on sight. How would Avery explain attacking the guards
twice? She needed to get out of here but forcing herself not
to react prematurely, she released the bars and waited.

In a few minutes, sharp footsteps echoed down the hal way
until they were just outside her cel . Avery looked up to find
Adalyn, standing at six foot something, towering above
Avery. Avery jumped to her feet and pressed against the
bars again. She never would have thought she’d be happy
to see Adalyn, but there she was.

“Hey, what’s going on?”Avery rushed to ask but Adalyn
didn’t rush to answer. The harpie female gave her the stare
down before looking back at her face.

“They’re calling court to emergency session. They need to
try you three quickly.”

“Three?” Avery begged for details to determine who exactly
would be going on trial.

“You, Eva, and Mikhail.”

Mason wasn’t included. Relief washed over her. He
probably wasn’t a prisoner and he probably wasn’t on the
same floor.

“Good.” Avery admitted.

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it as wel . Al of Mason’s
problems gone after just one trial.” Adalyn said cool y, her
attention turning down the hal momentarily.

Avery fol owed her gaze. Maybe Mikhail and Eva had been
housed on the same floor as Avery al along. The thought
made her shudder and she pressed herself back against
the wal . She knew they’d be out to get her if they could.
Avery was the primary reason they’d been caught, not to
mention that she lost Mikhail’s al ure amulet.

mention that she lost Mikhail’s al ure amulet.

“Okay, so what’s the plan?” Avery asked eagerly. She had
no intention of staying in the cell any longer.

“What plan? You go to trial.”

“I don’t understand.”Adalyn was here to help her, right?
Adalyn had helped her before.

“I’m not here to save you. You deserve what you get. You’re
the one that attacked the police officer. You’re the one that
made your dangerous presence so utterly apparent to the
government. Humans are foolish.” Adalyn spit out.

Avery rocked back on her heels. Light headed, confusion
struck her first. Avery opened her mouth but couldn’t find an
appropriate response. She’d expected Adalyn to be rude
but this was different.

“If they charge me, they might sentence me to death! I can’t
die here!” Her voice echoed off the closed in walls.

Eyes burning, Avery didn’t care. “Mason wouldn’t let me
die.”

“Don’t even bring him up! He’s helped you enough.” Adalyn
snapped, her wings opening and her appearance seeming
bigger.

Avery backed against the farthest wall.

“Is that why you turned us in?”

“Of course. Mason is putting himself in danger to help you.
Haven’t you ever thought about that? The last thing he
needs to do is to run off with some human girl. Besides, I
helped you get Jericho’s book under one condition-- you
would leave my fiancé alone. And running away with him
isn’t doing that.”

Avery closed her mouth for a moment while thinking of an
appropriate retort. She wouldn’t let Adalyn make her feel
guilty about putting Mason in danger. This entire thing was
Adalyn’s fault and Avery brazenly pointed it out.

“You’re the one who put him in danger in the first place.
With your ex fiancé.” Avery didn’t specify but the ugly look
on Adalyn’s face confirmed that they both knew the truth.

“Wel you know girlie.” Adalyn came closer to the cel and
wrapped her fingers around the bars, digging her claws into
the rustic metal. “I won. You’l be sentenced to death and
Mason wil never see you again. I wil get him off his murder
trial and then we’l be together while you’re buried six feet in
the ground.”

Avery paled and shaking, she wrapped her arms around
herself. Harpies were nasty. No sense of empathy or
sympathy. She knew that but it always took her off guard

when a harpie dropped a particularly cruel comment.

“You don’t deserve him.” Avery said quietly.

She knew that Adalyn would have lashed through the iron
bars had she been able. The woman reluctantly settled for
holding the bars and showing Avery a sharp row of white
teeth.

“And you think you do? I wouldn’t have hated you quite so
much if it wasn’t for your bloody crush on Mason.”

“I don’t-“

“Ha!” Adalyn laughed loudly. “I thought you were almost
about to say you didn’t have a crush on Mason. How stupid
do you think I am?”

Avery didn’t answer immediately. Maybe she did have a bit
of a crush on Mason but what disturbed her was that
everyone else seemed to know it. How long had Adalyn
suspected it?

Adalyn stuck a manicured finger out and drew it in a line
across her throat.

“I’m not going to al ow anyone to get between Mason and
me now. Understand?” She said. “Even if they find you not
guilty, your ass is grass little human girl.”

Adalyn whirled and her heels clacked back down the hal
way, leaving Avery alone in the cold. Al Avery had left was
to wait for her trial and her death sentence now.

Twenty-five

The guard came to pick her up the next morning and Avery
recognized him. It was the same harpie that entertained her
while she’d been in the prison with Mason only two days
ago.

“Hey.” He produced a heavy ring of skeleton keys and slid
one in the lock.

She stood and dusted her clothes clean. Human courts al
owed people to dress in suits so the jury’s opinion wouldn’t
be adversely affected. Here in harpie court, she’d be going
in dirty and unprepared. Stil wearing the cult worthy outfit
that Mason once gave her, she just looked grungy and that
was not the impression she wanted to give.

“Can you tell me what’s going on?” She asked the guard.

They were by no means friends but he’d been helpful to her
once before. The guard cast a glance behind him before
answering.

“You’re going to a trial for the judge to determine whether or
not you pose a threat to our society.”

“I don’t.” She protested weakly. “You think they’ll believe
that? I’m not trying to hurt anyone.”

“I believe you but I can’t promise they will. Turn around
please. I have to cuff you.”

Avery didn’t fight. Obeying, she turned. The cold metal cuffs
slid over her wrists and clicked into place.

“Well even if they find me guilty, will Mason be okay? This
won’t affect him at all right?”

He’d taken a big risk on running away with her. The court
might interpret his actions as him trying to steal the amulet.
Any good lawyer could counter that idea with the truth but
she wasn’t sure how much hope she held out for the justice
system here.

“Kid,” He said, “Just worry about yourself now.”

He seized her arm and led her down the hal way. With the
hal way lit up substantial y more than it had been the
previous night, Avery could final y see into the surrounding
cel s. Emaciated harpies leered out from behind the rusty
bars and scraped their talons over the cement. A few of the
prisoners pressed their dirty faces against the bars and
gave her bone chil ing smiles. Avery couldn’t help but lose
what little composure she’d managed. Her head swiveled,
searching for a way out. No other guards currently stood
posted on the basement floor. The only guard was the one
that held her and he led her towards a door. Avery knew
that no one else was down here to stop her.

The guard opened the door. The bright rays of sunlight and
the scent of open air were jarring. Her eyes adjusted
quickly and al owed her to see what was now in front of her.
A ten foot balcony reached out from the side of the building,
into the granite rock base. A few dozen feet away, she
could see the steel benches where Mason and she had
once sat and read Jericho’s journal. Behind that was the
empty ocean.

The guard let her go again and turned to lock the door
behind them. They were the only two on the balcony but she
could hear the very faint sounds of commotion on the roof
top.

“The court is on the roof?” She asked.

“Yes it is.” He said.

She flexed the cuffs on her wrists, with only a moment to
think. She could break out of the cuffs, take out the guard,
and run. Where would she go though? She couldn’t fly and
even if she got off the island, couldn’t they just track her
down? Maybe she could get out and go to the human
police. Indecisive, Avery let out a hissing breath. The guard
finished locking the door and opened his wings.

“You ready, kid?” He asked her, reaching out to secure her
arm. Gut twisting, Avery let him. Fighting had to be the
second option, she final y decided. A trial, part of her
wanted to believe, was stil better than a firing squad and
she’d take her chances with it.

They took off into the sky. Since she’d seen it earlier, the
rooftop had been transformed into a prime example of
court. The rooftop had been cleaned and swept until the
usual mucky brick resembled a polished floor. They’d
covered the better half of the floor with red carpet and
adorned the sets of benches with purple draperies. The
court was ful , and every inch of the benches was swarming
with harpies.

Guards in blue lined the edges of the building. Like a
helicopter pad, the harpie that held her landed on the very
edge of the roof. Her feet touched the ground and he kept
her upright while landing himself. A loud explosion of
hushed voices broke out from the crowd upon her
appearance.

Forcing herself to ignore the ugly, tingling feeling of eyes
boring into her, Avery took in the scene. Though Avery
didn’t earn A’s in law class, it didn’t take much for her put
together the set up. Directly behind her rested a set of
rising stadium seats housing the most chattering crowd.
They had to be the open audience. Angled left from them
was another, smal er, group of seats. Among them sat a
familiar face. Samuel’s brown eyes stared back while his
face displayed an absolutely indiscernible expression. That
group was the jury, Avery decided.

Final y, there was only one harpie left. He sat on the highest
bench in the center of the court setup. Older than any harpie
she’d seen before, he scratched at his balding head with
skeleton thin talons. That had to be the judge.

So focused on his expression, she barely noticed the
people behind the judge’s bench. Only when her eyes
shifted that way did she realize just who stood there. Clad
in massive, draping chains and manacles stood both
Mikhail and Eva. Mikhail’s white wings had been ruined,
spewed with dark crimson and packed with thick dirt.

Though his body seemed mangled and the guards held him
firm, Mikhail stil managed the dangerous aura and a
deathly stare. Afraid to look any longer, Avery turned back
to the judge who summoned the audience with sharp
hammers of his gavel.

“Order in the Court!” He boomed.

The last of the chatter died away leaving only the howling
wind in the background. If the harpie guard hadn’t been
guiding her, she wouldn’t have known where to go. He
maneuvered them backwards, close to the edge and luckily
a few good feet away from where Mikhail stood.

“We hereby commence the Capital offense trials of,”

“What’s your name, girl?” A nearby uniformed harpie
hissed in her ear.

Her mouth dropped open before she processed. They’d
decide to kil her and they didn’t even know her name.

Failing to find reason to lie at this point she told him. The
judge announced it shortly along with Mikhail and Eva’s
name. Papers were being shuffled and people in the
audience quietly narrated into electronic recording devices.

Stomach knotting, she quickly glanced around. Mason stil
hadn’t shown. The police had to have captured him too, but
maybe they wouldn’t bring him here. Increasingly
distressed, she turned her attention back to the judge’s
bench.

“For the record, the initial testaments.” The judge said
matter- a-factly, and the harpie nearest to Avery motioned
her forward. She didn’t recognize the proceeding at al but
didn’t have to since the judge began it without her.

They brought her out to the center of the rugged area
located directly below the judge’s seat. The judge curled
over his bench and peered down to get a clear look. An
ugly scowl marred his face and then he leaned back in his
seat a moment later.

“The charges are brought by what fol ows.” He pul ed a
scrol free from his desk and unraveled the yel owing paper.
“You are in fact in physical possession of magic from the
Amulet of Wil ow created by the late Prince Jericho?
Answer the question.”

“Uh, yea, technically but” She started to speak but the judge
cut her off.

“You cannot in fact separate the magic of Willow from your
body, correct?”

“Not really, no.” She let out an exasperated breath.

“Would the bailiff please show the jury?” He ordered.

A harpie next to the judge’s bench approached and steered
Avery to audience. The harpie’s talons cut straight through
the thin cotton of her shirt. Fabric drifting to the floor, the
black webbed tattoo of her arm showed in the bright light.
The crowd gasped from al sides and she felt naked.
Hurrying to turn back and face the judge, she wrapped the
arm around herself.

“This magic has already led to the endangerment of
Marshal Randy Wil iams.” The judge’s comment wasn’t a
question.

“Wait,” She jumped up.

The bailiff sharply nudged her with a pointy elbow, an
unspoken order to shut up. Her statement already gaining
attention, she maneuvered backwards and continued her
verbal protests quickly.

“I’m not to blame. This magic got stuck in me and I can’t get
it out. I’d give it back if I could! I’m not using the magic to do
anything!”

Heart hammering her chest, her words blurred together but
made just enough sense that the judge understood and
frowned.

“Regardless of the guilt in acquirement or use, al the earlier
facts stand true. As it is, you possess dangerous and
deadly magic. That is the only detail that matters. And
perhaps the bailiff wil do wel to keep you silent next time.”

The last part was directed at the harpie next to her, and the
bailiff paled and frantical y nodded. Grip tightening on her
arm, he yanked them both backwards and off to the side.
The judge kept talking.

“Meeting the requirements of endangerment to our society,
Avery Zane is guilty of the Capital Offense.”

Hearing it, Avery’s jaw dropped. For the first time, she
realized there was no witness box near the judge’s station.

Did the jury even have a choice in harpie court? Why were
they there?

The harpies in the juror boxes only murmured and nodded.
No single one stood out as the foreman. No single one
stood to pass his judgment.

“You must be insane!” She let slip with pure panic. “You
can’t kil me for that, you can’t-“

The bailiff elbowed her stomach hard enough she doubled
over. The harpies only looked on wearily now as her
screaming sounded over them.

“You can’t kil me! I’m not using the magic to hurt anyone!
People wil know I’m missing!”

She stil protested with a dangerous mix of stubbornness
and desperation. Grappling with the bailiff, she fought her
way an inch forward before he yanked her two inches back.
Unable to silence her with violence, he slapped a huge
hand over her mouth and held. She struggled initial y but
her jerky movements made him press harder and slow the
oxygen flow. Dizzy now, she shut up obediently and the
judge continued at last.

“Next we cal forth Mikhail Yates.” The judge prompted.

Two harpie guards grabbed Mikhail by both arms and
forceful y pul ed him to the center of the court. Even against
the heavy weight and awkward shackles, Mikhail managed
to saunter with his head up high and his wings half open.
His black eyes spied Avery as he went past her.

“Don’t worry dol ,” He purred loud enough for her to hear.
“It’s me you have to worry about. I don’t take wel to slights.”

Feeling like ice water had been thrown in her face, she
stiffly watched him pass by. He was chained up, she
reassured herself. Guards had been posted at every
available space on the crowded rooftop and they had the
magic amulet detectors. They would know if Mikhail had
any tricks up his sleeves. She was safe from him, she told
herself, but ugly doubt lingered in the back of her mind.

Mikhail stopped in the middle of the court and his black
eyes crawled over the audience’s bench with a chil ing
glare. Only after a moment did he turn that look on the
judge.

“For the record of the initial testaments, Mikhail Yates is
brought to court today on charges homicide, terrorism, third
degree robbery, third degree burglary, arson, aggravated
assault, aggravated battery...” The judge continued to rattle
off the charges long after many people stopped listening.

Mikhail’s smal grin turned into a bright smile as he heard
every new charge. The disconcerting sight final y made the
judge stop.

“Do you think something is humorous, boy? It is your life we
discuss.” The judge, though not a big man, went for an
intimidating glower. Leaning over the wood, his talons dug
through the purple desk draperies and far into the wood.

“My life?” Mikhail echoed quietly. “You think it is my life that
you have in your hands?”

The guards dove towards the middle of the floor to silence
him using an ambush technique, but the judge stopped
them with a single wave of his hand. Apparently refusing to
back down, the judge rose from his seat and expanded his
long wings to ful length.

“I wil not be mocked.” He boomed with discontent.

“Nor wil I dear judge. One hundred years and you think you
can capture me now?” Mikhail slowly drew out the words
with a clear threat.

Unsettled, the judge threw his hands open to indicate the
surroundings. The guards, stiff and alert, stood ready.

The audience watched on both intrigued and wearily. Only
the jurors seemed concerned in the least.

“We already have captured you.”The judge said, his thin

chest puffing with confidence. Before he could go on
though, a cry from the audience stopped him.

“Does anyone smel that? I smel gun powder!” A female
harpie yelped.

The scent curled in the air and suddenly reached everyone.
Avery smelt it too, but it wasn’t just gunpowder but also
bitter smoke. In a wave of panic, everyone scrambled to
find the source. The guard took to flight and the harpies in
the audience stood. Mikhail spoke above the chaos before
it grew too loud.

“I didn’t come unprepared.” Mikhail said. “Trust me, your
majesty. In less than five minutes, you and everyone in this
court wil be dead!”

Twenty-six

At first, it came quietly.

The smoke bil owed into the air from the foundation of the
building. Mikhail hadn’t moved from his spot and the judge
went stil , sputtering, clearly unable to conjure appropriate
words for his fear and outrage. The audience began to
fidget and the crowd burst into confused and harried
jabber.

The wind howled over the obstacles on the tal building’s
rooftop and the water far below sloshed angrily. Against it
al , they barely heard the faint whooshing of wings.

The guard next to Avery noticed, looked up in the air, and
let out a howling war cal . The other guards instantly
mobilized into organization. They split into separate tight
lines in front of the jurors, the judge, and the audience.

The flapping grew louder and a figure joined them in the air
by the building’s edge. Forced to squint from the bad
position of the sunlight, Avery struggled to recognize the
shadowed figure. When she did, it registered with a wash
of fear. It was the harpie from Seward forest and Hatcher
Pass in his bronze chest plates, Rafael. He, no doubt, had
come for his boss.

Then, it came loudly.

A loud pop suddenly emanated from the building below
them and a tremor shuddered through the clay and bricks.

Everyone watched each other, uncertain. Avery knew the
harpies assumed they could take off into the sky, but then
the complications arose.

Everyone’s attention turned downward but only Avery took
in what Mikhail was doing. The harpie took a wide step and
opened his wings as far as the constraints would let him.
Then an abrupt explosion went off-- it was a deafening blast
that left her ears ringing and a cloud of smoke bil owing

upward. The entire building shifted and the roof let out a
horrible moan. The greater left side of the building had
been blown out from inside taking out the judge’s bench
and Mikhail’s guards. A blast of twisted metal and rocks
exploded into the air. The debris rained down and
showered the crowd of harpies.

The ear piercing cries ripped through the area as the
debris struck multiple harpies. Their wings tore and they col
apsed.

The building quaked and the slant on the roof grew worse.
Then even the injured harpies took their chances with a
damaged wing and a dangerous scrappy flight pattern.
They took off into the sky in a flock but couldn’t escape.

Rafael and other members of the Band were there to meet
the fleeing harpies, weapons drawn. Then, at mass, the
Band members began to attack.

Avery averted her eyes from the bloodshed. She stil stood
on the roof, exposed and alone. She desperately sought
out Mikhail. He’d escaped his shackles at some point
during the chaos and jumped onto the toppled judge’s
bench.

“Nobody leaves!” He ordered. The screams of fear and
hoards of panic intensified.

The guards were too busy to capture him. The authorities
couldn’t keep track of anyone in the chaos. Avery took the
opportunity, looking for an escape. She couldn’t fly and
there weren’t exactly stairs waiting around for a human to
get out. She made a dash for the edge of the roof, ready to
look for an opening, when the building gave a roaring
rumble again. Somewhere during her run, she lost her
balance.

Normal y she could have pin wheeled but with arms cuffed
behind her back, she swayed. Slick concrete and another
tremble from the building caused her to slip. Avery
screamed, seeing it in slow motion. She fel and hit her
back, and her legs slid over the side of the building. Unlike
most rooftops with raised edges, the entire roof was
smooth and currently pointed to the dark blue waves of the
thrashing ocean.

Merciful y, the long chain of her cuffs caught a rigid crack in
the cement. Her weight fel over the side and she hung from
the cuffs on her arms. Horrified and helpless, Avery kept
screaming. The cuffs wouldn’t support her weight much
longer. The broken piece of brick they held onto was
slipping. Avery shut her eyes, waiting for the drop.

A tight hand grasped her forearm. Before she realized it,
she was lifted up with a single pul and found her feet
standing on the rooftop again.

“Mason!” She gasped, heart fluttering to see the harpie that
had saved her.

“Can you, just once, not die?” He posed the questions with
two comical y arched eyebrows but the moment was
fleeting.

He stil held her arm and urgently guided her over the roof.
The initial dust and smoke storm had lessened just enough
to increase visibility in the area. It’d become clear that the
explosion had ripped through the foundation and half of the
building’s supports. Avery knew then that the slanted
rooftop was the least of their problems. The entire building
would give out soon.

She cast a quick glance towards the sky. The Band
members had created something of a corral, blocking and
rushing the panicking harpie civilians. The resulting
stampede al owed no one to escape. The flapping could
have caused a windstorm.

Mason kept her moving before she could stare. He stopped
her by a downed harpie and fetched out a set of skeleton
keys. Upon recognizing the keys, her heart stopped. She
looked down and saw the harrowing scene.

The harpie guard that she’d actual y been friends with had
been struck down. A steel bar had come down from the
explosion and struck him dead. His dilated, fixed eyes
stared blankly upward.

Mason used the keys to unlock her cuffs. Then he put a
hand on her shoulder.

“Come on.” His urged her uneasily.

She nodded, ready to take off and bury the unsightly image
away in her mind, but then she heard the voice.

“Help me!” She heard.

The screeching and flapping was thunderous but the
distinct sound of someone’s cry managed to cut through it.

Avery spun around, trying to locate it.

“Help!” It was weaker this time but she recognized the voice
as belonging to Samuel.

“Mason, where’s Samuel?” She asked. “Mason, he’s cal
ing for us.”

Mason’s eyes sought out the roof behind her, to the juror
box, where he’d once been. It was empty now and Samuel
was nowhere to be seen.

Face shadowed, Mason acknowledged it but stil said, “It
doesn’t matter. We have to go now.”

The building continued to rumble and the vibrations grew
worse by the second. Avery ignored it, suddenly frantic to
find the other harpie, but Mason caught her elbow and
prevented her from turning.

“It’s not time for your human nonsense, Avery.” He barked,
heavy and impatient.

“It’s not nonsense, Mason!” She said, stil trying to listen for
Samuel’s weakening cries.

It sounded like Samuel had fal en down into the lower level
and somewhere in between his wings had probably been
injured. Mothering instinct or not, the sheer pain in his cry
made her feel the need to help.

Mason kept his eyes towards the clouds. The Band didn’t
have the advantage anymore and harpie civilians were
fighting back. Among them was Adalyn, and the blonde girl
had her sharp silver dagger posed to strike. Mason was so
intent on the sky, Avery ripped free from his grasp.

“I’m going to help him.” She declared.

Mason’s looked down from the clouds and caught her eyes.

“If you go back, I won’t come after you!” He hissed.

Temporarily stunned, she blinked at him. Using the
opportunity, he grabbed her again, eager to take off from
the roof. Mason wasn’t so eager to leave her behind,
clearly, but she knew the situation. He wanted to protect her
and help Adalyn. Avery knew he couldn’t do both.

She knew instantly that this was the choice. Every fairy tale
had one. But this wasn’t a fairy tale and if she chose wrong,
Avery wouldn’t live long enough for the happily ever after.
Decided and moving quickly, she broke free from his
grasp. Mason whirled around, surprised, but she’d already
taken off.

She’d pinpointed Samuel’s voice on the lower level.
Samuel’s weakening cal s guided her and she came to a
spot where the ground opened up. Below, the crushed
concrete and ruined supports acted as a makeshift ramp
onto the lower level. Careful not to trip, she climbed down
inside. The lower level was hot and even though it was
unclear what was actual y burning, the heavy black smoke
reeked of wood and plastic.

Avery dropped to her knees, holding a sleeve to her nose,
and crawled forward. She listened hard over the blood
pounding in her ears. Twenty more agonizing steps fol
owing his voice and she found him.

Trapped beneath huge chunks of clay and concrete laid a
figure so covered in soot, it didn’t even look like a person
anymore. Moving in, she could final y pick out the face that
protruded from the pile.

Lungs burning and body sweltering, she quickly scrambled
to his aid but found herself unsure of exactly where to start.
Samuel’s face had been blissful y spared by the crushing
concrete but his body hadn’t been so lucky. His chest was
crushed and he only managed slow and shal ow breaths.
The chunk of concrete over his abdomen was massive and
heavy, but Avery knew this is where she had to start.
Digging her fingers into the rock, she pushed.

Her muscles turned to fire and the concrete refused to give.

“Sorry.” She wheezed out, hearing him cry uncomfortably.

The building’s trembling grew worse and Avery let out a
strangled gasp. Changing her approach, she placed her
open palms on the rock and tried to stir the magic in her
chest.

It always started like a hum in her blood but rapidly turned
into a pin needle sensation. Though she successful y
wound it up, she wasn’t sure how to manifest it in the proper
way. She’d melted things and electrified people. She never
managed anything worthy of moving an overwhelming
chunk of concrete before.

She shut her eyes.

“Come on Jericho, help me do this.” She whispered. “I
know you could use the magic. Show me how.”

The electric sensation of the magic in her chest pushed
outward. Hands firmly on the rock, she wil ed it to work.

Then, with an explosion of feeling, the debris shuddered
and suddenly gave. The concrete actual y launched off of
Samuel and skidded onto the floor at least ten feet away.

Samuel twitched to life and cleared the remaining rubble off
of his own body. His widened eyes caught hers after he
could stand.

“You came back for me.” He breathed, the amazement
dripping from his voice.

She smiled, but felt too disoriented to enjoy the moment.

“Yea, no big.” She waved him off.

Avery turned her attention to finding an exit. The crumpling
structure of the building caused huge crevasses in the wal
s. Seeing them as an opening to the outside world, Avery
pointed it out to Samuel. Samuel’s forearm grasped tight,
she started towards it with the lumbering harpie behind her.
The air was toxic this high up but they had to make better
time. An entire building rocked to its foundation wasn’t a
reliable place to stand.

Just a few steps from the exit, Samuel stopped in his

tracks. At first she’d thought he’d fal en from his injuries but
instinct quickly told her something was wrong. Samuel
hadn’t stopped because of something but rather because
of someone. That someone’s body was eclipsed in the
dying sunlight outside but she didn’t need to see his face to
recognize him.

“Mikhail.” She said with more audacity than she felt. “I
guess I knew you were around here somewhere.”

Samuel released Avery and sulked behind her, clearly
wanting to stay out of the show down while so grievously
injured.

“Go.” Avery told him in a short breath, feeling the weight of
Mikhail’s stare solely on her.

Samuel used the moment to dive out of the opening, even
on his injured wings. Then Avery was alone. An icy fear
washed through her veins, and Avery forgot how to breathe.
Mikhail’s black eyes glimmered with sick enjoyment.

“Now, I couldn’t let you get away without seeing you first.
After al , now that the government’s out of the picture, we
have a personal score to settle.” He made a wide gesture
with his hand to encompass the entire array of chaos.

Weary, she checked her escape routes. Crawling through
the wreckage would be too slow and she couldn’t fly.

Avery was trapped with Mikhail. Her brain fought to connect
with her mouth and she blurted out the only thing she could.

“You don’t want to kil me.”

“I don’t?” He raised an eyebrow, edging toward her slowly.

“No. This magic won’t help you. Everyone in the world wil
know where you are al the time. If you have it, you can’t hide
from anyone.” She circled to mirror his movements,
desperate to keep the berth between them.

“Whoever said I was going to hide? Wait,” He tapped his
forehead. “Whoever said that I only wanted to kil you
because of the magic? I can’t take a slight from a little
human girl.”

In the next second, he freed a long thin blade from his belt.
Without a moment of hesitation, he went for her chest.

Even in slow motion, Avery didn’t react in time. The blade
came at her and then she fel to the floor. She expected pain
but none came. Then she caught on. She hadn’t been
stabbed but knocked back. Someone had pul ed her free
before the blade made its target. Avery whirled to face her
hero.

“You came back for me!” Avery shouted.

Mason shot her half a smile but kept his eyes trained on
Mikhail. The Band’s leader had recovered from the
movement quickly and was on his heels again. Mikhail’s
weapon had the natural advantage and he used it.

Mikhail dove for Mason this time, a tactical sliding
movement that caught Mason’s shoulder. Blood splattered
and a gurgled cry escaped Mason’s throat. Mikhail kept on
him, ready to launch another attack.

“Hey pigeon, over here!” Avery shouted.

Her insult worked. Mikhail turned and Avery launched into
motion. His wing was wide open and she jumped for it.

She made contact with the bone segment of Mikhail’s wing
and let loose the magic in her chest. If it hurt, she never got
the chance to know. Mikhail spun on her quickly. She
slammed back into a pil ar and held both hands out. She
could feel every inch of the magic now, clear as a bel . The
pulse of energy raced through her fingertips with absolute
control. She bundled the magic in her chest, the burning so
familiar it didn’t sting anymore, and held it.

Mikhail then lunged for her. In that second, she let the magic
go, pushing it out from her chest, out her hands, and into the
open air. The blow, like an invisible backhand, knocked
Mikhail clean off his feet. He slammed into the opposite wal
with a crippling crash. The resulting vibration ripped through
the entire building and the foundation churned. The damage
growing worse in seconds, the wal s creaked, and building
shifted and slanted. Rubble rained down on their heads.

Mikhail let out a deafening bark of frustration. Twisting
quickly, he rushed her. Avery threw her hands up but he only
slid sideways, narrowly avoiding her. Mikhail then dove for
the opening in the wal to disappear into the sky. Avery fol
owed him to the edge and peered into the air.

She waited until he was gone, then whispered, “We did it.”

She couldn’t have done better with Jericho watching over
her shoulder. Triumphant, a smile reached her in the
moment of it al and she turned to Mason to find his pale
face staring back.

“Avery.” He rasped and reached out for her.

Something made Avery glance down. Her breath escaped
her. Mikhail had struck her on the way out. His silver knife
had slashed her nearly hip to hip leaving an ugly brown
streak of blood in its wake. Feeling the surge of pain at that
moment, she let out a bumbled gasp. Muscles giving out,
she fel backwards. Mason snatched her before she fel
through the opening in the wal , and then she only dangled
by his hand. Her body refused to work right. She couldn’t
make her numb limbs pul herself back in.

The pain grew more intense by the second until her entire

The pain grew more intense by the second until her entire
abdomen was consumed by the scorching sensation.

Black splotches took up her vision. Then the tingling came
back in her blood. But the familiar magic suddenly seemed
so unfamiliar. It pushed out from her body with the
consistency of crushed ice. Among the mil ion things
stuffing into her panicked brain one echoed loudly.

“If you die, then the magic wil jump to the next organic
creature.”

Images flashed through her mind the same moment.
Jericho’s crumpled form fal ing into the raging black ocean.

The shiny rock that had attracted her attention and the sting
as it dissolved in her hand.

“Mason.” She whispered. “Mason, let go.”

The building was col apsing. He’d die with her. And the
magic. Even if he got out, the magic would be his death
warrant. She stopped holding but his grip never loosened.
Holding on so tight that his talons dug into her skin, he
refused to let go.

She knew when the magic reached him, curling around his
body with the stinging that made him gasp. She knew when
it left her too, and a sudden fatigue soaked into her body.
Barely aware anymore, she just saw him flinch.

Then he pul ed with such strength she ended up face flat on
his chest. Unspoken, she just barely understood what had
happened. The magic sinking into Mason gave him that
burst of strength that had left her. Quickly, he wrapped his
arms around her back.

The last thing she remembered before her world spiraled
black was the wing on her face and the subtle brushing of
soft feathers. The last thing she remembered was going
airborne.

Twenty-seven

She came to with a start, launching herself forward and
immediately regretting the movement. Abdomen in stitches,
she drew herself forward cautiously the second time
around.

Her surroundings were surprisingly calm and quiet, and the
knot of anxiety in her chest took a moment to loosen.

Rather than a salty beach side or green forest clearing, she
sat in a stark white room. The room was empty and lacked
furniture in the corners, photos or paintings on the wal s, or
any real hint of life. The ceiling clearance was abnormal y
high leading her to the conclusion she wasn’t anywhere in a
human structure. Maybe she was in a VIP

harpie cel or some type of harpie hospital room.

She turned her attention down to her stomach, the
gruesome memory of the bloody wound inflicted by Mikhail
weighing heavily on her mind. The injury had been tightly
bandaged so she couldn’t see any stitches or scar. The
pain was minimal so she shifted her thoughts to the more
pressing situation at hand.

The nearby door’s knob jingled and turned, and then a
figure slipped in quietly. Mason walked in and his eyes
widened when he caught sight of her.

“You’re awake already.” He crossed the room to end up by
her bed.

His arm too had been bandaged with the same consistency
as hers and his white face became a canvas for dark
purple bruising. He held his wings awkwardly, but otherwise
he was looking wel .

“You okay?” He asked when he sat down at the bottom
edge of her bed.

“Depends. We’re stil in harpie headquarters aren’t we?” It
came out more hateful than she’d intended. The dismal
situation was sinking in fast and Avery didn’t have enough
energy to fight off the negative emotions. As far as she
could foresee, they’d battled for their lives and done
everything to fix the magic situation only to be back at step
one. This time however, the magic had jumped from her to
Mason and he was the one in trouble. Already miserable,
Mason’s morose comment only made her feel worse.

“I couldn’t take you very far away.” He said and she could
hear the rawness in his voice.

“What do we do now, Mason?” She lowered her voice,
losing her energy quickly.

Without the magic in her blood, every sore joint and
cramped muscle rekindled. She hadn’t tried standing up
yet, but she already knew how that would end. Toes frozen
and feet numb, she’d end up face flat in a hurry. He sat at
the foot of her bed.

“Wel , they don’t seem to be in any hurry to kil us.” He said.

The door opened and two more harpies entered the room.
The first was the frail, skinny judge, with his skeleton hands
clasped tight and shedding wings wrapped around his own
shoulders. The second was a more recognizable face.

“Samuel.” Mason greeted the second harpie but Avery’s
parched throat kept her quiet. Neither of them looked
happy. Faces grim they filed toward the corner where the
judge opened his black hooded gown and produced a yel
owing scrol . By the crinkles and tears, it was probably the
same used in the original sentencing.

The judge came forth.

“The high juror does inform me that many of the sentences
carried by Ms. Avery Zane have official y been changed.”
His monotone voice managed to keep their distinct
attention.

Digging in his pocket, he removed a clear amulet and held
it in the air. Avery’s heart could have stopped when she
recognized what kind. The amulet was another magic
detector, designed to glow a fiery red when magic came
too close to it.

Mason tensed besides her, waiting for the detector amulet
to go off. To everyone’s surprise, the amulet didn’t light up
at al . The judge’s foggy eyes scanned the amulet and then
he retired the amulet back into a pocket.

“As the magic no longer resides within the body, the
information we used at the sentencing was incorrect and
the sentence shal be over turned. I hereby relinquish the
charges and the sentence.” He clapped his hands loudly
like a gavel, and then he turned and left just as quickly.

Disbelieving, Avery caught Mason’s eyes with a
confounded expression. Samuel lingered, demanding their
attention before Avery could ful y grasp what had just
transpired.

“We’re not al evil and I do remember what you’ve done for
me.” Samuel said pointedly to Avery. “I’ve marked in the
official books that you are dead. So it would be highly
unwise to show your face in our society again. You may not
get the same mercy the second time around.”

Mason nudged Avery to draw her out of her stupor.

“Of course, I’m gone.” She did the strike out motion with her
hands for good measure.

Samuel nodded and his eyes flittered to Mason and stayed,
darkened with an indiscernible emotion. Avery could guess
what he was feeling. The only son of his dead friend sat in
front of him, the son his friend had asked him to protect. For
that reason, she had no doubt that the judge’s decision had
been influenced.

Final y, Samuel spoke to Mason.

“And you. Your fate remains in your own hands. Adalyn’s
fiancé was a noted citizen. Conviction in such a murder
case could lead to hanging.”

“Wait, you’re stil going on trial. We saved his--” Avery
started but Mason shut her up, slapping his hand over her
mouth. She growled but it went ignored.

“I know.” Mason said, seeming less distressed than he
should have been.

Samuel shot him one more despondent look before leaving
the room. Mason waited another minute before he let go of
her mouth. She spit at him, annoyed, but couldn’t muster a
physical fight. She raised her voice to make the same
point.

“What was that? Mason, you’re stil going on trial for
murder?”

He shrugged.

“It’s complicated, Avery. If I do petition to remove my
banishment then I once more fal under their laws. And if I go
on trial and am found guilty...wel , you heard what he said.”

She gave a hiss of frustration both at his careless tone and
at the situation.

“Are you going to turn Adalyn in?” She asked.

She couldn’t exactly compare to ‘eternal harpie love’ but it
seemed stupid to her. Adalyn had done him no favors.

Kil ing her own fiancé, she put Mason on trial. Then she
turned him in to the authorities. At best, Avery could see
Adalyn’s actions as good intentions paving the road to hel .
But, at worse, Adalyn was just a bitch.

Mason made the same twisted pout as he’d done the first
time she’d mentioned it.

“I don’t think you understand. You’ve never...” He started
slowly, clearly preparing an explanation of careful y
calculated words but Avery cut him off at the first one.

“Never been in love. Got it.” She blurted out, feeling dirty
again.

“You’ve never been stabbed in the back by someone you
love either.” He slumped forward and let out a breath.

The dejected look he’d put on shut up any more bitter
comments she’d had in mind.

“I’ve got time anyways. And I need time to think far away
from my kind.” Mason said.

“So how much did we actual y achieve. You’re stil banished
and waiting for the axe to fal .” She worded it careful y but
honestly.

“It’s not al bad. I saved my father’s amulet and had it
returned rightful y after al . I stil feel like...like I have the last
piece of him with me now.” He clenched and unclenched a
fist marred with the magical mark for reference. “We didn’t
die either. And I’l have you home safely. So yes, I’d say we
did a lot.”

“Wel , what are we gonna do about you know, that?” She

whispered cautiously. “You must have it. That magic
detector wasn’t working.”

Mason wore long sleeves but she would bet her life that the
mark already showed on his arm, just like it had with her. It
would start slow, on his hand or his wrist. In a month’s time,
depending on how much he used the magic, it would snake
outward and upward into a bizarre spiral.

“It’s because I just got it. It won’t give out an aura. Not yet.”
Mason mused. “We know more about it. I think I know how
to prevent it from becoming a problem. After al , it worked
for you months on end. And maybe I’l find a way to put it
back into an amulet where it belongs if given more time.”

Not that they’d hold out much hope on the last option. Stil ,
the plan was good enough for now.

“So what are you going to do now, mister banished
harpie?”

She leaned forward to get a better angle but the movement
surprised her with a burst of pain. The wound in her
abdomen lighting up with agony, she doubled over. When
she went down, the sheets on the bed slipped and she
almost fel off of the mattress. Mason’s hands caught her,
probably with practiced ease at this point, and drew her
back upwards.

A cool embarrassment washing over her at the situation,
Avery waited for a mocking comment from Mason.

Mason didn’t say anything and she looked up. Finding
herself surprisingly close to the boy, her heart skipped a
beat. His face, within centimeters, was so close she could
feel the heat radiate off his skin. Mason didn’t move away
immediately either. His hands, which had caught her hip
and shoulder, stil rested firmly in the same spots.

The position was too close and far too intimate. Soaking in
the situation, her attention flickered down to his pink lips.

Mouth halfway parted, he let out a warm breath that tickled
her cheeks. He smelt like cranberries and spice. Avery
couldn’t help but wonder what he tasted like too. The
thought in her head, her heart suddenly pounded, and her
mind blanked.

She acted blindly on the impulse. Leaning in, she touched
his lips with her own. Shockingly softer than expected, his
lips molded to her own. The kiss lasted almost a minute
before Mason abruptly pul ed back, ripping her from the
moment.

“Avery.” He said her name in husky whisper.

The spel broken, she rushed to untangle herself from him
completely. Face burning, she scooted backwards and
wrapped her arms around herself. It was worth the eruption

of pain from her abdomen.

“Avery,” He tried again, this time clearing his voice to sound
more normal.

“Sorry.” She felt dumb now. Mason was engaged.
Absorbed in the moment, she forgot to mul on that little
detail.

Mood going south fast, she glowered.

“Don’t be sorry. It’s not- Avery, just

” He stuttered for words and then went quiet for a moment
to revise. His hand reached out and wrapped around hers
in an unspoken gesture.

Avery desperately tried to regain her composure. He had
kissed her back. Of that, she’d had no doubt. The kiss had
lasted too long to be accidental. But whether or not he’d
reciprocated, the situation remained complicated.

Accepting that, Avery didn’t overreact. He’d kissed her
back, Avery kept reminding herself and that meant Mason
liked her also.

Mason’s face flickered with emotion but Avery couldn’t pin
point exactly which ones. After a short lul of silence, Mason
went back to talking about their original conversation,
uninterrupted.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. Mikhail’s stil out there
somewhere.” He said.

Avery grateful y took it as an opportunity to clear the
suffocating awkwardness from the air momentarily and put
the kiss behind them.

“So what, is he gonna come back al mad?” She said more
casual y than the issue deserved. Mikhail, at best, was
psychotic. At worse, he was deadly. The fact that he’d
almost kil ed her should have been proof enough. Plus, Wil
ow magic or not, he’d come after her out of sheer revenge.

“Of that I have no doubt. If he does come after you, you’l be
in trouble. You don’t have the Wil ow magic anymore.”

She knew what Mason was getting at. She’d be in danger.
She shouldn’t go back to the human world unprotected.

Her thoughts strayed back to her school.

“I gotta go home Mason.” She objected quickly. It’d been
almost a month with the entire incident after al . “And Leela.
What about her? She’s gotta come home with me.”

“Leela’s already there actual y.” He piped in. “No memory,
like I’d figured. Al ure amulets can do that. They took her
home this morning.”

Avery let out her own relieved breath knowing that Leela
was safe. She didn’t know how to explain Leela’s time
missing from school yet, but she’d worry about it later.

“What about me? When do I get to go home?” She asked.

“Soon.” He said and squeezed her hand, forcing her to look
at him. As mortified as she’d been earlier, Avery was
grateful for it now. Then he brought up something she hadn’t
expected. “

but you don’t have to go home alone,

right?”

Twenty-eight

Mayweather Academy looked better the second time she
returned to it. The harsh chain of weather had broken into
something beautiful. The air, fresh and crisp, remained just
warm enough that no more snow fel but col ected in soft
piles on the roof tops and patches of yel owed grass. Bits
of sun pierced through the long darkness and made the
campus shimmer.

She walked up the smooth, salted pathways with more
appreciation than ever before. Her days of rough climbing,
crawling, and straining would be out of the picture for
awhile. Her lower abdomen stil ached from time to time, but
elation kept her moving.

She trailed after Ms. Morrison, the staff member, who was
assigned to catch her up on the school time she’d missed.
The school recognized her absence as stemming from a
medical emergency-- the official story-- an exploded
kidney. She had a scar to prove it even though she didn’t
relish thinking about it. When Mikhail had nearly kil ed her,
he left quite a mark that stretched almost from hip to hip.
The scar would probably never heal right either, leaving
Avery with the permanent reminder that Mikhail stil wanted
her dead. Avery refused to get caught up in morbid
thoughts and was happily distracted. Ms. Morrison blazed
ahead, even in clunky high heels, leaving Avery straining to
keep up.

“I’m afraid some of your classes can’t be caught up this
semester. The state dictates that we have a certain amount
of seat time for the core classes. Otherwise, you can get
the homework for your electives and finish those credits.”
Morrison lectured. “You may have to stay for the summer
semester.”

“She might as wel stay. I’l be here.” Leela commented from
Avery’s other side. The only person in the universe smal er
than Avery herself managed to blend into the background.

“What I want you to do and what I’m supposed to
recommend are two different things.” Morrison laughed.

“But you can decide that when you revisit the workload.”

“Alright, wil do.” Avery nodded the staff member off. She’d
already gotten her assignment and decided that summer
school would probably be necessary. Avery wasn’t that far
behind but her fal semester had been completely shot.
She’d have to make up the hours.

“Did you get your assignment yet?” She asked Leela,
wondering if they’d have to struggle through the same
classes together.

Leela paused and looked into space. Her brown eyes
glazed over and her lips mouthed words without speaking.

Before Avery could voice any concern, Leela became alert
again.

“No. I didn’t realize they were out.” She said blankly.

Avery opened her mouth to say something but Morrison
piped in first.

“The schedules are waiting in the office to be picked up.”
Morrison said.

“Oh yea.” Leela said slowly, the thought clearly having
difficulty sinking in. “Yea, I’ll go get that.” She finally said.

Morrison led the way and Avery didn’t feel obligated to fol
ow Leela. Instead, she headed to the courtyard, ready to
wait by the water fountain. A few other students mul ed
around, basking in the unusual beauty of the day. Her eyes
past over them until she caught a familiar face at the other
end of the courtyard. Just seeing Nathanial made her
stomach turn. Avery couldn’t slip away quick enough. Nate
made a bee line her way and in seconds, he was on her.

“Can’t say I was hoping to see you resurface.” He said
smoothly, quirking an ugly smile.

Avery became distracted with her thoughts before she
retorted. Nate was always the cute boy, and even today he
looked striking. His leather jacket perched on his shoulder
with the col ar popped and his perfectly messy hair
disturbed by the wind. She’d already accepted the fact that
he wouldn’t change from being ful of himself or particularly
annoying, but a few weeks ago she had worried that Mason
was the same. They did share a number of disturbing
similarities. Both were the prideful, cute guy that used his
confidence and looks to make any girl swoon.

She’d been one of the girls that swooned for Nate and
gotten kicked in the teeth over it. Avery had feared that
Mason would be the same way. In light of recent events
though, it seemed sil y that she’d even drag Mason down to
Nathanial’s level. Underneath al of his bravado, Mason had
proved he could care about others more than just himself
and that put him worlds above Nate.

“Earth to Avery.” Nate said, upset that she’d ignored him.

“It’s okay. I can’t say I was hoping to see you at all.” She
shot back finally.

“Hey girlie, you still owe me.”

Confused, she asked, “Owe you for what?”

“You called me and made me go check on Leela.”

Remembering her frantic phone cal from California, she
shook her head.

“She’s your girlfriend. I shouldn’t owe you just for getting you
to check on her. Besides, I was right.”

She knew Nate wouldn’t give up that easy. He never did,
but when he took a single step forward, something fel from
the sky. A wood chunk shattered on the sidewalk with a
heart stopping pop. Avery nearly jumped out of her own
skin and put five feet between them in the process. Her first
reaction was to fol ow it upwards. The sky was dark but she
swore she saw a shadow flicker over the starlight. Nate had
also panicked. With ruined composure, he sputtered and
fidgeted. Clearly realizing his infamous attitude was failing,
he hurried away before he could embarrass himself. Left
alone for the moment, she bitched upwards.

“You can’t do that.” She said, possibly to an empty sky, but
more likely a nearby harpie. The tree line a few feet over
was thick and probably a perching stop.

She waited for a response but got one only from behind.

“What are you saying?”

Leela had come back up from behind wagging a blue index
card in her fingers.

“Talking to myself. Is that your new assignment?”

“Yea, I got physics and chemistry back to back. I can barely
handle one.”

Leela kicked the dirt in disgust. Avery shrugged, having the
same miserable schedule, but was determined to see the
upside.

“That’s okay. Lots of smart boys in those classes.”

“Psh. Why do you care, you already have a boyfriend.” She
said loudly enough Avery flinched. Avery wasn’t exactly sure
how much Mason picked up from wherever he hovered but
that was not something to sing out to the rooftops.

She felt her face grow pink.

“I was talking about for you. You know, just in case things

between Nate and you don’t work out,” And Avery would
make sure they didn’t. “Plus, it’s not like that. I don’t have a
boyfriend.” She added.

“Come on, Mason visits you every weekend he’s al owed to
and probably even the weekends when he’s not. You guys
hang out al the time but I never get to see him. Why so
mysterious? You’re hiding the fact you guys are dating
hardcore!”

“You’re kil ing me.” Avery gasped, about ready to suffocate
herself.

She didn’t even want to talk about the Mason thing. Since
that kiss, everything had been loaded with mixed signals
and Mason wasn’t helping. He’d talk to her-- normal. He’d
hold her hand or find excuses to touch her--

confusing. They hadn’t even broached the subject of any
potential relationship since the harpie hospital, and the
longer the subject went ignored the harder it was to bring
up.

Avery couldn’t decide if the attention came from growing
affection or growing loneliness from his isolated existence.
And even if Mason might be opening up to the unspoken
pink elephant in the room, he stil technical y had a fiancé
and Avery was technical y fal ing too hard for the taken
harpie. Leela voicing the whole thing didn’t help either.

“Well, when can I at least meet him?” Leela asked.

Avery tried to act causal.

“I’m not sure that’d be a good idea.” Avery said slowly.

Avery used the moment to eye Leela without begetting
suspicion. Mason had assured Avery that the girl’s
memories were unclear and she wouldn’t be able to tel a
harpie from a bird. But that begged the question of what
Leela did remember. The official story had to be something
like a weekend escape with friends. Though against school
rules, it wasn’t whol y il egal since Leela was eighteen. And
unlike Avery, she hadn’t been gone that long. In fact, the
only concerning behavior Avery had seen was a few
distance stares with glassy eyes and raging forgetfulness.
She wanted time to study Leela, but she continual y lost the
opportunity.

Until she knew for sure, she wouldn’t introduce Leela to
Mason just in case he looked familiar and triggered
something in her mind. She wasn’t sure how her friend
would take it-- especial y after what some harpies had put
her through.

“Do you

” Avery started but hesitated, knowing her curiosity could
lead down a dangerous trail.

“What?”

“Do you remember him? Or Mikhail? Eva maybe?” Avery
asked at last.

Leela stopped, the abrupt movement concerning, and
pinched her brow. Her eyes became glassy again and she
stared at the dirt. Avery suddenly regretted asking but it
was too late. Leela took a moment before reanimating.

“Mikhail? The kid from grade school?” She said cautiously.

Avery let out a deep breath that she didn’t know she’d been
holding.

“Yea, him.”

“Very vaguely.” Leela said and went on to chat about some
human boy that Avery wasn’t concerned with. Avery’s fear
fading, she al owed herself to relax. Her school schedule
would be chaotic and she stil had a confusing superhuman
love interest to think about, but the worst was over.

They started toward the entranceway doors to Crepuscule
Hal when Avery spotted a flash of movement drop from the
trees. Recognizing the unmistakable figure of white
weaving through the forest, she looked for a way out of the
conversation. When Leela took a breath between her
chatter, Avery used the chance to interject.

“Do you want to meet me inside? I think I need to make a
phone cal .”

Leela nodded and without missing a beat, jogged inside.
Avery waited until the area was clear before trekking
towards the forest’s edge.

“Hey.” Mason appeared from the trees.

Since the incident at the prison, Mason had cleaned up wel
. His mop of brown hair stil had a sense of disarray but was
ful and shiny in the light. His face had smoothed over,
stress lines al but gone, al owing his skin to glow.

He’d adorned another gawky coat, again endearing, that
was a mix of multiple colored stitching. His lips upturned
when his eyes landed on her.

“You can’t keep throwing stuff at my class mates!” She
chided him after making sure the coast was clear.

Mason smirked so deviously that Avery had trouble not
letting her heart flutter.

“He’s lucky I missed. I don’t like that kid. In fact, neither
should you.”

“I don’t like him but that doesn’t give me the right to

seriously injure him.”

“Humans are strange.” He pointed out with a superior nod.

She rol ed her eyes and let out an over-exaggerated sigh.

“Wel , you’re living with one now so try and fit in.”

They hadn’t exactly figured out how this would work yet.
Mason couldn’t stay in her room with her at night, but he
didn’t mind staying in the trees. He’d already taken to
finding a few perches nearby. She could smuggle food out
to him and spend time with him anytime she snuck out. The
details were sketchy but it could work until Avery graduated.
Now after Avery graduated, that was in grey territory. Would
he move in with her? While she wouldn’t mind the
roommate, how much pressure would that put on their
relationship—whatever their relationship actual y was?
Avery refused to mul about it at the present time.

“Living with one? I’m living near one. I’m not living with one
until she lets me share her room or her bed so I have...”

“Mason, shut up!” She burned a bright shade of pink.

He immediately erupted into laughter, apparently finding
her humiliation funny. Fighting off embarrassment, Avery
began to walk. Those kind of jokes weren’t real y funny
anymore but quaintly awkward. Mason trailed after her.

Avery turned the next corner a bit too quick, unaware of the
door swinging open on the other side. Her hand shot out
natural y to protect herself from the swinging wood.
Suddenly the entire door stopped and cracked straight
down the center. She felt the unmistakable humming from
her fingertips and looked down at her hands marred with
the faint tattoo of magic.

The Wil ow magic had moved. She knew it. She’d felt it. But
she hadn’t exactly died entirely either. The possibility that
some magic stil lingered seemed more plausible than she
wanted to believe. Glancing down toward her hand, she
could only manage one strangled thought.

“No way.”

She cast Mason a sideways glance and their eyes
connected. Apparently her problems were not over yet.