Page 79 of Sweets and Sycamores
“I doubt that,” Allie mumbled to herself. She dropped the subject and silently handed Anna her order, who mercifully took it and left with a loud, frustrated groan. Allie waved her off, offering her a smile that was not reciprocated.
She’d done the same with all the customers today because she was excited for her plan to walk around town, and for Dom to get back. To her shock, her smiles weren’t met with the usual sneers and distaste. No one smiled back at her, but most of the townsfolk kept their mouths in a straight, indifferent line.
Mrs. Chen came by at lunch and praised Ekko’s form, the gleam of his purple scales, and the strength of his wings. She’ddone that as if the dragon took care of himself all on his own, but Allie enjoyed hearing this positive assessment. It was her confirmation that she was doing a good job caring for Ekko.
The creature was around her all day, sometimes perching on her shoulder, other times bringing Allie different items between his claws. Lately, every time Dom was away or Allie was on her own, there was nothing she could do or say to keep Ekko away. The baby dragon clung to her clothes and hair and puffed steam at her until she relented. Allie hadn’t figured out if Ekko didn’t like being alone, or if he didn’t likeherbeing alone.
The busy day passed by quickly, and Allie and her dragon went on their way with the sun still out. Allie followed the trail toward the farmlands today, a part of town she had only experienced from the car. She kept close to the river once it slithered out of the forest, its murmur a comforting noise in the quiet afternoon.
Ekko flew from tree to tree, happily creating swirls of steam among the red and yellow leaves. They stumbled upon a wild plum tree, and Allie sat at the base of its trunk, letting Ekko eat his fill, while she took a moment to think about Petra.
What clues am I missing, Mom?
Allie closed her eyes, memories of the two of them in the sycamore shade vividly coming to the front of her mind. She smiled at the fun coincidence of being in the town of the sycamores, missing her unique broom that her sisters had found distasteful.
Between the steady flow of the river and Ekko rustling the plum tree leaves, Allie heard a constant, long hissing sound. She strained her hearing to identify it, but it was as difficult as splitting a hair into three.
“Ekko,” Allie called for her dragon, and he appeared immediately, chewing, his snout covered with plum juice. Alliewiped him with the back of her sleeve. “Can you fly over the trees in that direction? Is there something else other than the river?”
Ekko wasted no time and did as he was told, coming back with a loud flutter of chitters after a short moment. Allie followed him through a narrow path in the forest, unmarked and undisturbed, until that resonant ringing grew louder and deeper than the river, and…
Allie stood in front of a hidden waterfall. It flowed beautifully and untamed, foaming the water at its base, like a thick curtain protecting the rocks underneath.
Everything clicked into place at once.
Sycamore Falls.
Falls.
Waterfalls.
“Sycamore Falls is bordered by mountains covered in dense forests and hidden waterfalls.”Brandon’s words from the night he rescued her came to Allie’s mind.
It was just like a conniving Witch to pick a place as much in your face as it was out of sight. Allie could swear that evil Witch thought, “This townfallsbecause I want it to.” She had no power to test her theory, but her gut instinct screamed that this was right. Maybe not this waterfall, but one of the hidden waterfalls in Sycamore Falls.
The wind picked up as Ekko led the way out of the forest and back to the main road, then plopped on Allie’s shoulder and snuggled in her unruly hair. Dusk settled in, painting the forest pink and violet. Dom would be home soon, and Allie couldn’t contain her excitement. She finally had a lead for him, a promising one, and?—
A string of loud honks made Allie stop in her tracks as a red car pulled over, rolling the passenger’s window down.
“Get in, get in, get in!” Mia screeched.
Allie nearly caught her fingers in the door while rushing into the car. She strapped her seat belt as Mia high-tailed it back onto the road, Ekko still clinging to her shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
“Brandon’s farm is on fire.”
“What?” Allie shouted. “Which part?”
“The part closest to his house,” Mia answered robotically, driving like a maniac. “That place is his entire fucking life,” she muttered.
“And he’s out of town. Dom’s with him, too.”
“Shit. I forgot about Dom. I kind of hoped to find him at the farm, putting the fire out by the time everyone gets there.” Mia’s voice was low and lost in a way Allie hadn’t heard before.
“Everyone?”
Mia took a sharp left, and a dark tower of smoke curling into the sky came into view.