Then I remembered Madeline.
I would find her, as soon as I was done stalking this group of sumptuous children. I watched Hunter, drank in the lad’s smell, smoke flowing from his skin in a shimmer of heat. Dangerous young man—his dreams would be dark and self-possessed and sensuous, a good addition to my stable. I longed to swoop down on Hunter now, mark him as my own.
Just at that moment, Hunter dragged a wooden crate into position, then climbed on top.
“Time for the tally and the dare,” he announced in a loud voice.
All heads turned toward him and all voices hushed.
Chapter 74
Rumbling Quake
Ash:
I could feel it building in the distance with a wild fury, the Legend was getting ready to slash through this mountain village. Like a butcher’s cleaver, it would separate bone from marrow, severing the protective shield that had become a part of the fabric of every building, every rock, every living creature in Ticonderoga Falls. In an instant, the glowing, almost invisible latticework would fall away. From the edge of Blueridge Mount to Cedarpine Peak, the village would be laid bare.
It began with a rumbling quake.
Already I could hear it sweeping down Main Street, rattling all the windows and shaking doors. It flipped several cars and it shred a furrow right down the center of the highway. Then it shocked outward with the force of a sonic boom, knocked a few people off their feet, and with a quirky twist, it shattered all the glass globes in the vintage-inspired street lights that lined the town square.
It would only be felt by those humans who happened to be in Ticonderoga Falls at the time. No outsiders would suspect a thing. But that didn’t matter, because I knew that it would be heard by every Darkling, wild or tame, for a thousand miles. And they would all know exactly what it meant.
Ticonderoga Falls no longer had a guardian. The humans who lived here were now fair game.
Chapter 75
The Dare
Elspeth:
The ground trembled and shook beneath us. The fence around the junkyard bowed and flexed; in the near distance, the line of trees rippled and waved. Instinctively, I wrapped one arm around Jake and covered us both with a Veil. All about us broken things began to tumble to the ground, until the aisle that led to the exit was choked with clutter and debris. The longer the quake lasted, the farther I cast my enchantment until nearly all of the children were sheltered beneath my covering. Even Hunter. I managed to keep him standing upright despite the tossing and the turning, always focusing my attention on the ever bright, ever strong moon.
And throughout it all, I felt myself growing stronger.
A strange whisper burned in my ear. It’s different now. I wished Father were here, I suddenly longed to see him, to know that he was safe.
Then as quickly as it had started, the quake passed.
Jake seemed to know what I had done. He smiled and held my hand, just as Hunter raised his arms, claiming his right to the dare.
“Every year we play a game,” he said, his voice triumphant, as if he had defeated the rolling quake himself. “This year I choose the dare and, with it, I command that everyone reveal their true nature tonight—”
Even from this distance, I could see a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
“—So, to get this epic adventure started, I’m going to sing something that my grandmother used to sing to me. She called it an incantation of protection—”
“No,” Jake said, shaking his head. He started pulling me toward the exit, climbing over the top of the rubble, trying to make it toward the hole in the fence. “We need to leave, Elspeth. Now!” I stumbled over toasters and microwaves, cut my arm on a broken mirror, all the while compelled to turn and listen to Hunter. “Close your ears, don’t listen to him,” Jake warned.
He continued to pull me along the top of the debris, one laborious step at a time. It would have been easier if we had just flown out, if I just dropped my disguise and carried him. It felt like I might be strong enough to fly a great distance right now, although I didn’t want to leave. I kept stopping, turning around to face Hunter and staring at him, his words melting into a lyrical song, so like the songs of home that it made my skin flush and my shoulders ache from the hiding. I longed to cast off my mask.
“—you can no longer hide,” Hunter sang then, his voice strong and clear, “from those who dwell in the world of humans—”
Jake grabbed me by the wrist and began pulling me even harder over the top of the rubble. The exit wasn’t completely blocked off—I could see that now. But at the same time, a growl of rebellion was building in my chest. I wrenched free from his grasp, my eyes glowing.
“No!” I bellowed. “I want to stay!”