The Plentiful Darkness by Heather Kassner

Author:Heather Kassner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

21

THE TRUTH OF IT

Rooney scrunched up her face, twisting her features into the most disapproving, disappointed arrangement she could muster.

All for waste, as Trick wasn’t even looking at her. Whereas Devin’s hand had passed right through it, his fingers tangled in the moonlight the way weavers crafted it into impermanent string and bows.

A soft melody filtered through the woods. But it was not made by the children with their off-key instruments and high-pitched voices.

Rooney’s mouth dropped open.

Somehow, Trick’s fingertips strummed the fading light, the notes plinking like rain on a rooftop. Rooney didn’t know if the music was magic, exactly, but it sounded like it could be, beautiful and hollow and echoing through the trees. She stared at him in surprise—that his hands, fisted and angry more often than not, could touch the moonlight so gently.

“It’s not strong enough to carry us all. I just thought…” He glanced at Devin, who looked both fragile and fierce as she tried not to cry. “I just thought it might be strong enough to carry one of us. And Devin, your parents are waiting for you.”

Rooney chewed on her lip, hoping to keep her words inside until she could sort her tumbling thoughts, but they burst out all at once in a terrible jumble. “I thought you’d abandon us the first moment you could. It’s just the type of thing you would do! So why are you being so nice?”

As soon as this last question slipped out, she clamped shut her mouth. It was a ridiculous accusation. To yell at someone for being kind.

“I’m always nice.” Trick grinned, the corner of his lip curling impishly.

Rooney rolled her eyes. Even if she’d been wrong about him this time, she’d never apologize to Trick. It didn’t change who he was deep down. Rotten at his core.

“It’s decided, then.” Devin came between them, smoothing things over. “We all stay, until we all can go.”

“The magician may never return,” Trick warned. But when Devin did not object or change her mind, he dropped his hand.

The wisp of moonlight spiraled away, and shadows swarmed as the seam above closed. Sealing them in.

Although it had been her idea to stay in the first place, folded up in the darkness, Rooney wondered if she had cursed them to remain here forever.

Only, forever might not be very long at all. She brushed her fingertips against the spot of gray on her cheekbone. Death lingered all around them.

The hairs along her arms stood on end. From nowhere came a sudden cold. The air snapped with distant crackles of blue light.

“What’s that?” Devin squeaked.

The flickering came from the direction where Sorka had run off. “More trouble, no doubt,” Rooney said, squinting.

“Well.” Trick’s black eyes reflected the strange splinters of light. “I would rather creep up on trouble than have it creep up on me.”

Rooney quite agreed, and the three of them slunk forward.

The blue shimmer led the way through the woods. It zagged like lightning, so quiet without a trailing clap of thunder.

Around them, the woods shifted; the woods changed.

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