Convergence - The Last Science #2.2 - Heroes and Villains

B2: Chapter 33 - Self-Made - IV

  The car slid to a halt, deep in the forest to the east of Rallsburg. Jeremy had no clue where they were, but the Laushires seemed to know where to go. After the third or fourth mixup, he threw up his hands and hopped out of the front seat. Lily took the wheel, and they proceeded much more swiftly through the rest of the thick forest, in a path seemingly at random.

  Seemingly, my ass.

  It didn't surprise him in the slightest when a pair of cloaked figures appeared in front of them, emerging from behind the trees. Jeremy recognized the crimson-haired Ruby from the funeral—and from the many news stories still circulating about her, as Hannah Newman, calling for her return home and an investigation into her original disappearance. Jeremy didn't know what to think about it yet, but he doubted the girl was worse off without her father, based on what he'd read.

  Ruby was accompanied by a tall Japanese boy who stood just behind her at all times, watching the group carefully with his hands deep in the pockets of his robes. Jeremy couldn't see a gun—but the Greycloaks didn't need guns to be dangerous.

  "Welcome!" Ruby called as they got out of the car. "I'm glad you got here okay."

  "You called ahead?" Jeremy said, glancing at Kendra.

  She nodded. "A courtesy to a generous host."

  "For one of the empowered eight?" said Ruby, blue eyes wide and sparkling. "We'd do anything."

  "Please," said Lily, glancing up into the snow filtering through the canopy. "Can we get out of this? I'm a right popsicle out here."

  "Of course," said Ruby. She glanced at Jeremy. "Are you coming too, Mr. Ashe?"

  Jeremy shrugged. "Figured I should see it sooner or later, right?"

  She smiled. "The whole world should. Come on."

  Ruby lead them back through the trees, in a twisting route that had Jeremy's head spinning in minutes. He knew he was helplessly lost, and stopped bothering to try and figure out the path after the second switchback. Something about the confusion felt oddly familiar though. He couldn't quite place it, until he smelled a hint of a fire ahead and remembered his last time stumbling through the forest.

  Same shit that Julian used to protect his little gambling circle. Bet I can't just trip into this place though.

  They rounded the final copse of trees and found a perfect archway of tree branches and vines forming an entry into the wide clearing. Ruby gestured for them to proceed, a wide grin plastered on her face. "Welcome to the Greywood," she said, beaming.

  Okay, this shit is pretty cool, Jeremy had to admit. The wide clearing with the cabins was covered in a thin layer of snow, but the creek bubbled through the center heedless of the season. Next to the water, the garden still grew, as if it were the middle of spring, and a cloaked silhouette picked out crops ready to harvest. The farmer waved to the group as they walked in.

  Ruby lead them across the stone pathway and over the perfect wooden bridge growing out of the ground. Well, nobody else seems surprised that there's two Kendras. Guess this is another damn thing Rachel left out. Jeremy kept a close eye on Ruby as she sauntered up through the carved wooden doors into the wide meeting hall, where their host awaited.

  Cinza smiled from her chair at the head of the room as they walked in—and smiled even wider as Kendra's hair and general appearance returned to their normal state. "Welcome back, Kendra. I hope your flight from the city wasn't too taxing."