Twenty

I shake Aspen awake, It's been all night and not once did he stir. I knew he was talking with Zahra, but having it be so long was starting to worry me. I don't know why we didn't think of summoning her the night before instead of finding her, but at least now the possibility of hearing her real self had been accomplished.

Beside me, June coughed smoke again. She waves it away and squints at Aspen. "He's not waking."

"Maybe Zahra is giving him more information?" I suggest.

June shook her head. "I don't think so. Something is wrong."

"Just give him another minute," I say, knowing that sometimes it could take a few minutes to return after a long summoning. "He's probably telling her when he can do this again and saying goodbye."

Not a moment after I finish my statement, did Aspen's eyes flicker open. He sits up slowly and takes a long drink of water, then looks at us. "She's still holding on," he says and I let the breath I hadn't known was held back go.

June sighs. "So, what happened?"

Aspen looks at me. "You have to carry her out. No one else."

"I was planning on it," I mutter. "Why?"

"I think she wants to wake up and know she's safe and the only for her to feel that is to be with you." I nod. Aspen takes another drink and explains, "We figured a way in, we just need to figure out a way to get her safely out of Lucas's control."

June and I nod in understanding, then June asks, "How is she?"

Aspen goes pale. "She says she feels as though she's dying. It makes sense because I felt the same way. But she will hold on as long as Roan is the one to get her away." He looks at June now. "She really is upset about what happened."

"I know. I am not and will never hold it against her."

"She asked about Sorrel and you, Roan. She wanted you to know that nothing she did was her."

"She thought I blamed her?"

He shrugs. "I'm guessing, but I think if anything is going to kill her, it's guilt."

I shake my head. "I don't want her to think that, Aspen. You told her I didn't blame her, right?"

"I told her you knew it wasn't her. But I don't think she'll believe me until she is reunited with you." He pauses then sighs. "We need to figure out how to get Lucas out of her mind. Figure out a way we can help her out of there."

"Let's all take a few hours to rest," June suggests. "We'll meet up in the afternoon to talk and come up with ideas. We're all tired, so maybe some clear heads will help."

We nod, then depart from Aspen's shelter. June heads to her own shelter and I go to my own. I am about to enter when Cat approaches. "Roan, there's someone at the entrance to the village. Someone who's asking for help."

"Do you know who he is?"

She shakes her head. "All I know is that he doesn't seem injured or anything."

"Did he ask for anyone?"

"No, but he does seem in a hurry."

I walk with her to the village entrance and see a man with black hair, brown eyes, and a very small form. He doesn't even look like he's past his juvenile years yet, but when he sees me, he stands straighter. "Do you know this forest?" he asks in a rush.

"Depends on who's asking and why," I say and cross my arms.

"I'm looking for someone, someone who killed my best friend. It is said that he lives in this forest."

"Who was it?"

"Lucas."

I huff a laugh and shake my head. "Seems like everyone is after him these days."

The man rushes up to me. "You know him! Can you help me?"

"I have my own business with him. Unless you know a way to release a person's control on another person, then you're on your own. I don't help strangers."

It was the day before we were to go rescue Zahra and everyone seemed to be on board. Aspen had explained to Zahra the plan the night before and just in case anything went amiss, taught her how to go into her own head without Aspen's help. She couldn't practice it of course, but the fact was that she had the knowledge if Aspen couldn't get to her.

Sorrel, Juniper, Cat, Marin, and I were going. Finx would listen in case we needed backup in which Raven and a few others would join. Sorrel would remain on the hill and be our target shooter if Lucas tried to attack anyone or wound Zahra enough so we could approach her. Cat, would run me out as quickly as possible if the need arises and would stay with Sorrel. Marin and Juniper were to be the distractions for Lucas while I went in from behind and got Zahra out. Once Zahra was back in the village, Marin would help break Lucas's control on her.

After the final meeting that day, I went to my shelter and sat on my bed, exhausted and yet restless to go find my sister and bring her home. She was all the family I had left and I couldn't let her die at Lucas's hands. She was supposed to outlive me by a few years at least. I was supposed to see her fall in love and have children, which wouldn't happen if she was with Lucas.

"Want to be alone?"

I look up and see Aspen. "I just want her home."

"Zahra wants to come home," he said and came to sit beside me. "She misses you. She misses June and Cat too. And she said something about even missing a scary man described like Raven."

I chuckle. "She met him only once."

"She said she will be fighting too. She doesn't know if what she can do is going to help, but she's willing to try."

"Of course she's going to try," I whisper. "The Zahra I know would try."

Aspen is silent for a long moment and then says, "Roan, What I have to do tomorrow, it's going to take all the energy I have because she's going to be fighting me. She's most likely going to be in pain while I am fighting for an audience just like the first few times when she fought me."

"I know. Just try to end the fight sooner than later."

"That's my plan, but it takes everything I have to fight. If she doesn't answer, there's a chance we'll lose her."

I look at him. "We won't lose her!"

He is silent for a long moment and then says, "I'm not at my fullest strength like I thought I'd be."

My brows furrow. "What do you mean?"

He shrugs. "I don't know what's wrong, but every time I summon her, I become more exhausted and I am not sure I will be able to fight her."

"Why didn't you say something earlier?" I hiss.

"Because I didn't want anyone to worry..."

"But you tell me at last minute!"

"It's a warning. I'm not backing out," he says hurriedly. "It's a warning in case she doesn't actually answer and you aren't blind-sided with a fire ball."

"What am I supposed to do if she doesn't answer? What am I supposed to do if she stands up and starts killing?"

Aspen swallows. "Hopefully, it won't come down to that. Hopefully, I'll be strong enough." He stands up and walks to the door. Before leaving he says, "And if not, you can blame me all you want because I wouldn't have made it to argue."