The Door to the Lost by Jaleigh Johnson

Author:Jaleigh Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2018-07-02T16:00:00+00:00

AS THEY APPROACHED THE RED wall, Rook was surprised at how much shorter it was than the gray wall. It ended just a few feet above Dozana’s head and would be easy enough to climb. There were no guards watching the area. No one in the city—not even the constables—had ventured this deep into the Wasteland since the explosion that tore apart the portal.

“How is a wall that short supposed to protect the city?” Rook asked.

“Don’t underestimate its power,” Dozana cautioned. She stepped up to the wall and laid her hand gently against the copper stone. “For two years, it’s managed to cage uncontrollable magic. Come here and feel for yourself.”

Reluctantly, Rook stepped forward, Drift and Fox close behind her. She reached out and touched the wall with just her fingertips. No way was Rook risking her whole hand on something that trapped magic.

The stone vibrated ever so slightly beneath her fingers, as if threads of energy ran through it. It was also warm to the touch, though not unpleasantly so. Still, Rook felt a strange pulling sensation inside her, as if the red stone was trying to draw out her power. Quickly, she removed her hand.

“This stone is like your power,” Rook said, glancing at Dozana. “It drains magic, doesn’t it?”

“As a matter of fact—” Dozana turned to look at Fox, but before she could finish the sentence, he abruptly transformed back into a human. He wobbled on his feet, looking bewildered and frightened. “Yes, it can,” Dozana finished.

“Are you all right?” Rook asked, rushing over to grab Fox by the shoulder before he fell.

“I—I think so,” he said. He looked down at his hands as if he didn’t know what they were. “How…Why did I change?” he asked.

“You didn’t transform on purpose,” Rook said, realizing what had happened. “It was the red wall. It took away your power.”

“It’s messing with mine too,” Drift said. She closed her eyes and wrinkled her forehead in concentration. She managed to levitate a couple of inches off the ground, but no more than that. “I don’t feel weak, but it’s like someone’s pulling me down by the ankles.”

“That’s why we couldn’t open a door here,” Dozana said. “The barrier is absolute. Rook’s magic either wouldn’t have been able to penetrate the wall, or it would have gone wild and we might have ended up anywhere. The wall is meant to contain magical calamities. The Regarans who built it didn’t think anyone would ever be trying to get into the Wasteland.”

“No kidding,” Drift muttered.

Hardwick pointed to Jace and Garrett. “The two of you climb up first and see what you can see from the top of the wall. Then you’ll help the rest of us over.”

Rook, Drift, and Fox stood back while the two constables nodded and approached the wall. They found handholds in the cracks between the stones and carefully pulled themselves up to the top of the wall. Fox fidgeted, clenching his jaw and wrinkling his forehead, as if he was trying everything he could to turn into an animal again.

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