Page 26

CHAPTER 25

“W E SHOULD BE NEAR the river,” Zichri said. “I would prefer to travel the edges of the Chupalma Wood.”

I looked over my shoulder, and the dirt along the trail shifted ever so slightly. Had we been walking in the wrong direction? A terrible pain clutched my stomach.

The midday light grew darker. I walked under leaves large enough to wrap around my body. My markings throbbed as a constant reminder to hike faster. Push harder. The shiver of death chased me and wasn’t far behind.

“Come with us,” cried a voice.

Zichri and I stopped. His gaze darted about like eagle eyes scanning the landscape. Smooth tree trunks wider than a carriage stood in eerie silence. A carpet of foliage covered each side of the path. I edged closer to Zichri, heart pounding like a woodpecker stabbing at my breastbone.

We tramped ahead, air thickening. Silence fell over the land, and the leaves stilled.

“Zichri,” I whispered, “do you think it’s the Chupalma?”

“Remember what your uncle said. Focus on the trail. Don’t engage.”

My chin trembled, and I nodded. Our boots padded hard on the dirt, the only sound besides our breathing.

“We’re watching you,” the serene voice said again.

I clutched Zichri’s arm. What would Uncle Uly consider worse than anything else in the valley?

Zichri held me close, keeping a firm grip on my shoulder. “Keep to this trail no matter what.”

A pale face moved in a branch above.

His gaze shot up and around. I clasped his waist, pressing my cheek against his soiled tunic, and slammed my eyelids shut.

“I heard a voice. Did you see a Chupalma?” Zichri pulled my hands from around him and cupped my chin. His warm touch comforted me enough to peek at his achingly handsome face. “I can take you back.”

“No!” I tugged on my sleeves. “I can’t go back.”

“Come with me to the land beyond,” a melodic voice sung in a hushed tone. “Far is the reach of the Chupalma of Abismo.”

We both searched the underbrush. Coils of leafy vines overtook the ground and trees. A wisp of cool air wrapped around my body, whispering in a gentle voice, Lift your hands and squeeze until you become one of us . The smooth words worked their way through me, like a song, carrying my thoughts into its melody. I crossed my arms over my chest, thumbs pressing into my throat.

“Let’s keep going.” Zichri turned his chin down. “Cypress?”

My thumbs jammed into my voice box. What’s happening?

The serene voice spoke in my head, Come to a place so divine. All is yours, and all is mine. You responded to our call, so we’ll lead you there.

Zichri yanked my forearms, but they wouldn’t budge. My thumbs dug harder into my skin, and I gasped for air.

The voice continued to sing, twirling a chorus of the sweet taste of Abismo. How I longed for this place. But why did it hurt?

Flecks of light spun on the outer edges of my sight, spinning. Closing in.

A cackle pierced the skies.

“Cypress!” Zichri’s call sounded so far off.

“She does this to herself,” the serene voice hissed.

My vision blackened, and strong hands gripped my shoulders.

“Cypress! For the love of the Ancient One!” Zichri’s voice was muffled. “Beatriz. Please.”

The cool, wicked melody that had worked its way through me let go. My hands fell to my sides, and my knees buckled. Before I hit the ground, Zichri scooped me up with two strong arms. Leaves clapped as the air shifted into a sweltering heat. Why had I lost control of my limbs? Why couldn’t I stop myself? Did Zichri call me by my real name?

My lashes fluttered with my efforts to open my eyes. I smelled a heady mix of healthy male sweat, sun-warmed clothes, and campfire. My body bobbed up and down with the steady pound of feet.

“Did you call me Beatriz?” I asked in a weak voice.

Breathless, he whispered, “I did. Are you all right?” He continued to plod along.

“Why did you call me that?”

“The Chupalma wood ends soon. We’ll talk then.”

“We’ll be safe?” I snuggled to his chest and let my body relax until a ripple of some invisible current pressed into my body again. It twisted in my heart and whispered within my mind— We have Laude, and we’ll get him too.

I shrieked and jolted, eyes snapping open.

Zichri grappled to keep hold of my legs and back, but I continued to scream despite my best effort to stop.

“Give her to us.” The voice sounded from ahead on the trail. It had the same tenor as the Chupalma who had spoken before.

“Never.” Zichri’s voice resonated even above my screeching.

Hiss.

Dozens of blurry figures surrounded us. My throat burned. What could I do to help?

“Give up, you useless fool,” a male Chupalma said.

I pulled my lips forward, trying to break the scream. “No!”

It worked. The invisible tentacle loosened its grip. Hadn’t Uncle told us that it couldn’t touch us if we didn’t engage? But he never explained how forceful their prodding would be.

Zichri set me down, and I wobbled to an upright position. A Chupalma woman appeared only an arm’s length away.

Zichri whipped out Milo’s dagger, slicing the translucent body of the Chupalma. But it went through her, doing no damage.

She laughed. “You fool. Iron does not harm us, nor does your punch.”

The ghostly Chupalma gathered close enough to touch, and a sneer covered each of their faces. All of them shone like dull moonlight. They wore the apparel of the people of a bygone era—long, dull-colored robes with ropes about their waists.

The Chupalma woman before me reached with long thin fingers, blackened cuticles, and cracked nails and took hold of my chin. “You will be one of us.” She slid her tongue over her sharp teeth.

Zichri slashed at the Chupalma, attempting to overtake her, and I bit my bottom lip, swallowing the terror gathering within my chest. “Why not take me and be done with it?”

“Say you’ll”—she jerked my chin—“come with me.”

What can I do? My mind filled with the golden glow from the morning I made my oath.

“ Saalah kai hizzgezer revato ,” I called to the Ancient One. Warmth blossomed on my skin and lit my arms, shining yellow light shone through my sleeves.

Her hand flew back.

Words shifted in my mouth until they spilled off my lips. “Remove these evil creatures from our path that I may fulfill my oath to you.”

The angry flesh on my palm shrank to its regular size, strength filled my legs, and my scratchy throat healed.

The Chupalma stepped off the trail and into the foliage, deep grimaces twisting into position. The one who had touched me opened her mouth to speak, but not a sound came out. Her nose wrinkled in disdain, and when she reached her talon toward me, her body began to quake.

I spun toward Zichri, but the Chupalma had roped vines around his body and tied him to a tree.