Emma Holly by Fairyville

Author:Fairyville
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Chapter Eleven

They took Alex’s nice brown Audi to Fairy Creek Canyon, parking at the overlook where, for as long as Zoe could remember, high school kids had made out. Today, all the slots but theirs were empty, horny teenagers apparently having better things to do while the sun was up. A broad hiking trail led them down into another world. Alex followed Zoe, the emergency blanket from his trunk slung over one arm—protection against the poison ivy that was the bane of this lush, green place.

“God,” he said as they descended into cool, moist air. “I forgot how beautiful this is.”

Compared to the scrubby pine woods or desert that covered most of the land around town, Fairy Canyon was an exotic oasis. The creek that ran through it was fed by the local aquifer. It narrowed during the summer but did not dry up. As a result, oak grew here and cypress and maples that would turn to flame in October. Moss padded the ground like fairy stepping stones. Zoe had to remind herself this wasn’t a romantic date. They’d come to see what readings she could get off the falls, to see if she could shed light on the mystery surrounding Alex’s client’s son.

The falls announced their nearness with the steady rushing sound they made plunging down the rocks. Fairy Falls was no Niagara, but for Arizona it was tall and wide, booming slightly over the hollows that undercut the striated red sandstone. A poison-green pool met the waters’ misty culmination, the color the result of a vigorous algae content and a lot of silt being stirred up. Only the bravest souls swam here, because the pool was known to be home to snakes and leeches, and the rocks were slippery enough to defeat experienced hikers. The caves behind the water also remained unexplored, being prone to rockfalls. Fairy Falls was strictly for admiring by eye—not that this was a great hardship.

“Wow,” Alex exclaimed as they emerged through the veil of trees for their first clear look. “You can see how rumors started that this was the spot to scope out fairies.”

Zoe could see it, though she’d never met a fairy here herself. Despite her own flock not seeming to like the place, the effect of the sun slanting through the leaves to strike rainbows off the misting water was magical. Birds and insects set up a steady chatter among the trees, their pleasant noise underscoring the peaceful stillness that lay beneath. A heron stalked farther down the stream, partially hidden by the bank’s tall reeds.

Good hunting, Zoe thought, wishing him a meal he liked—a nice plump lizard or a juicy frog.

Alex startled her by tugging at her hand. The warm length of his fingers inspired a shiver of déjŕ vu. She’d loved holding hands with him when they were dating. Walking down the halls at school. Feeling for a little while as if she fit in.

“Sit,” he said. “I’ve got to enjoy this for a few minutes.

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