Page 24 of Frosty and the Reaper
Even her appearance had been slightly altered. From the moment they’d met, he thought she was the most beautiful female ever born. But now, she was even more glorious. Her pale blonde hair was now a stunning shade of icy silver, and her glowing blue eyes had swirls of silver and black in them. That was a true testament to the source magic inside of her.
“Why don’t I help you shift this time so you know how it feels?” he suggested.
She beamed a smile at him. “That works for me.”
Not wasting any time, he instantly shifted them both into black smoke and sent them drifting on the air current that would take them higher up the mountain.
Kami felt an intense pressure as they shifted. It was different than teleporting, far more complex. It was almost like being squeezed into a tiny container, yet it seemed like it should have felt like the opposite since her form was freely drifting through the air. It was an odd sensation, but she quickly adapted to it.
As they floated toward the side of the mountain, she sensed a secret doorway hidden there. Rather than opening the door, they drifted straight through it. It was a little unnerving to be fully conscious without a form, yet at the same time, it was totally thrilling.
They glided through a dark passageway, taking multiple turns that would have been completely confusing if she had been walking the path on her own. She knew the tunnel was meant to be disorienting to keep intruders from reaching their goal. If someone was lucky enough to break into the mountain, they would wind up wandering around for days.
She barely felt a thing as they passed through each of the magical wards. Like everything else he safeguarded on the island, there were several layers of protection they had to go through. She’d originally thought he was paranoid, but now, she just considered all the layers of security being methodical and painstakingly thorough.
When they finally arrived at their destination, she barely had time to gasp before they were standing in their original forms again. Glancing around, she saw he had brought her to a mysterious cave that seemed untouched by time. An opening at the top of the cave allowed starlight to trickle in, casting shafts of light that shone down on a magnificent tree growing on an island in the center of a small glassy lake.
The tree in the middle of the cave was surrounded with an ethereal aura of light, creating a dreamlike haze around it. The tree was massive, a towering marvel with a wide trunk and a large cradle of branches. Its bark shimmered with dark hues of bronze and gold, and its leaves were a rich, vibrant green that had a silvery gleam.
Small, pear-shaped fruit grew on the branches, hanging down like pretty pink teardrops. Kami wondered what that fruit tasted like, but it almost seemed like a sin to even consider picking one off of a branch.
The tree exuded a quiet energy. Its very existence was a calming presence, like a living bridge between the physical and magical. Flowers of every possible color covered most of the island and surrounded the base of the tree like silent worshipers. The air in the cave was thick with the scent of rich soil and a touch of something magical. Thick vines hung down from the ceiling like emerald curtains, swaying in the occasional breeze that made it seem like the cave itself was breathing.
Dark stone walls were covered with softly glowing runes that were etched into the stone. Those ancient symbols pulsed withlight as though they were alive, watching, ready to react if one wrong move was made.
The pool of water surrounding the island shimmered like glass, daring those in the cave to gaze into its depths to catch a glimpse of their soul’s hidden reflections. Zander took Kami’s hand and guided her toward the edge of the lake. He flung out his other hand and sent a pulse of magic into the water. A few seconds later, a small fountain began to rise up out of the pool.
Magical energy seemed to flow out of the fountain, filling the cave and making the glowing runes on the walls pulse even brighter. As the fountain grew taller, she saw there were three tiers. Water cascaded down the sides, spilling back into the glassy lake. At first, she thought the lake was dark blue, but now she could see the water shifted from blue, purple, and silver, just like the lagoon in their bathing room.
It felt wrong to break the silence, but she had to ask, “Is that the Fountain of Youth?”
“Yes. And that is the Tree of Life.”
Staring in awe, it was hard to believe she was actually in the presence of two of the most revered magical artifacts in existence.
“Doesn’t the tree need sunlight to survive?” she blurted out.
He smiled and squeezed her hand. “Starlight is what nourishes it best.”
That sounded really strange to her until she realized the sun was also a star. It was just closer, but she wasn’t sure that mattered here in the In Between. She also reminded herself that magical relics had their own set of rules. Some ancient, mysterious artifacts operated on principles that often defied mortal understanding.
That was what made them so dangerous.
“What are you doing?” she hissed when he began to pull her toward a small stone path that curved around part of the lake and led to a small dock.
“You wanted to try the fruit.”
“What?” she gasped. “Are you freaking kidding me? I was joking!”
“No, you weren’t,” he countered, dragging her along even though she tried to stop him. “You might as well ask. The tree only gives fruit to those it wants to. Even the birds and butterflies have to be invited into the cave.”
“The tree is alive?” She mentally facepalmed. “Of course, it’s alive. I meant, it can communicate with us?”
He nodded. “It doesn’t speak, but it can convey impressions to us.”
The stone pathway was narrow, and Kami did her best not to let her feet slip and splash into the water. It would have been easier if Zander let her trail behind him, but his grip on her hand forced her to remain by his side. She didn’t want to inadvertently offend the Fountain of Youth, especially with the Tree of Life watching her every move, judging her. Shaking her head, she realized just how crazy that statement sounded.
When Zander chuckled, she glared up at him.