After Allecky closed the barrier, they all decided to walk to Astrington and find a place to sleep.

As Allecky stalked ahead, Esadora fell into step beside Holly. “I thought you were going straight to Aster.”

Holly crossed her arms. “Of course not. It’s way too late in the night, and Aster is a pretty long walk from here.”

“Oh.” Esadora grimaced. “So, in the morning…”

“I’m leaving,” Holly confirmed.

It bothered Esadora how unbothered Holly was—excited, even.

But of course she was. She was going to find her brother.

Silence fell between them, and Esadora decided to leave Holly alone. She already seemed distracted anyway, expression pensive.

Needing something to occupy her attention, Esadora walked with Allecky.

Allecky clasped her hands together, extinguishing the green in her palms. She smiled at Esadora. “Hey.”

Esadora smirked. “Playing with pure magic again?"

"If you just came here to make fun of me, I would appreciate it if you walked somewhere else." Allecky sniffed, turning her head away.

Esadora laughed. "I didn't know you were so melodramatic."

"And I didn't know you enjoyed harassing people."

Esadora squinted at her.

Allecky just smiled.

And they were all silent until they got to Astrington.

The only signs that they were in the city were the dilapidated buildings and shops that they passed. They chose a small house to stay in. As they walked up the mossy porch steps, Esadora made sure to keep away from the plants that wrapped around the wooden posts.

When they stepped inside, she was surprised to see the place in decent condition.

Not livable... but not completely terrible.

Moonlight shone through the windows, making the environment eerier than it already was. Leaves poked in from the corners, seats rotting and wallpaper peeling and discolored. The worst of the disrepair was at the windows, especially one window that had been left open. Green had torn through the net, growing into the hallway.

So maybe it was terrible, but there was something mystical about it.

“Let’s hurry up and find an at least slightly clean spot to sleep,” Allecky said, stepping carefully. “It’s almost midnight.”

They found a decent spot at the floor of one of the bedrooms. Esadora tried not to pay attention to their surroundings after glancing around—a bed sat in the corner, sheets frayed from time, and the desk and dresser were coated in dust.

Combined with the darkness of the room, it was awfully depressing. There wasn't even a window, so the dim light only came through slightly from the doorway.

Before they could even do anything, a stomach rumbled. Esadora turned her accusing eyes to Allecky, who shrugged.

"I'm hungry, alright? The last time I ate was in the morning," she said, digging in her satchel. She pulled out a box of crackers. "Esadora can't have any, but Holly—feel free to take some."

Holly laughed as Allecky tore open the package. Esadora just shook her head, smiling. Honestly, she wasn't in the mood for food anyway. Once the morning came, Holly would set off to Aster, and Esadora would have to face Esmeralda.

Face Ezra.

Face the Chamber.

Save her mom.

It all felt like fantasy to her. How could the Chamber use her mom to get to her? Mrs. Veharic had said that Esadora was a descendant of Esmeralda, which was hardly believable—but Allecky had said that the most important Chamber Representatives had gathered in Esmeralda, which wasn't normal. What if what Mrs. Veharic had said actually meant something?

What if she really was a descendant of Esmeralda?

She internally groaned. It was late, and she was tired. Better to think about this in the morning. And so, she leaned against the wall and dozed off.

Esadora woke to the whisper of her name next to her ear. She started, somehow smacking her head against the wall. Before she could start groaning in pain, a hand covered her mouth. Her eyes snapped to Allecky's.

"Don't say anything. I think there's someone inside the house," Allecky said in a low voice.

A creak out in the hallway caused them both to freeze. They exchanged a glance. Allecky raised a hand, eyes wide, as if saying, Don't move.

Esadora stayed against the wall as Allecky pressed her ear to the door. Slowly, Allecky reached into her satchel, pulling out her wand and muttering, "Envislin."

And they were invisible again. Allecky opened the door slightly, sighing in relief when it didn't creak, and shuffled out on her knees. Esadora glanced at Holly’s sleeping form, then peeked out of the doorway. She didn't see anyone. Then she heard the floorboards groan, but farther away than Allecky would be at the moment.

Only a few seconds later, there was a shout, and the intruder appeared around the corner.

It was a woman, tall and full-figured. One of her arms was angled as though wrapped around something, the other holding a wand, which she twirled. "Vislin!"

Allecky appeared, clutching at the lady's arms that were wrapped around her neck. Esadora's eyes widened. She glanced at herself to find that she was also visible.

Oh... shit.

She froze as the woman’s eyes snapped to her, and the woman pointed her wand at her. “Comen.”

Esadora could only watch in horror as she herself stood up and began walking to the lady. She slowed herself down as much as possible—the spell made her come to the woman, but that didn’t mean she had to do it fast.

“Tachre.”

Against the spell, Esadora’s resistance was nothing, her feet speeding her forward until she was right in front of the lady, staring into her sharp, brown eyes. When she struggled against the magic, the only thing she managed to do was squirm.

The woman glowered at her, jaw set. She looked as though she wanted to yell at Esadora, but she didn’t say anything, eventually glancing down the hall.

She pointed her wand at Esadora and Allecky and said, “Postin.”

And now Esadora couldn’t move at all.

The woman released Allecky, who was now stuck leaning awkwardly backward, hands in a grasping position at the air around her neck.

Esadora wanted to laugh at how helpless they were, but she couldn’t even do that.

She could only listen as the woman stalked into the room they’d been in. She heard a muffled voice, and then two pairs of footsteps seemed to be coming back to them.

“Procin forti.”

Allecky's and Esadora walked forward in tandem, glancing at each other, grimaces on their face.

Just last night, they'd been free, and now they were at the will of this wizard.

“Are you part of the Chamber?” Allecky asked.

The woman didn't answer, simply walking past them, Holly hot on her heels and looking distressed. Esadora felt a pang of guilt. Holly had wanted to leave today, and with their current circumstances, there was no way that was happening.

They all went on out of the house until they reached a big, black vehicle with enough space for half a dozen people. The lady muttered low, quick words, and Allecky, Holly, and Esadora climbed into the vehicle. Then the woman climbed into the driver's seat. She didn't start actually driving, however, pointing her wand at the vehicle.

"Undi mui contoy."

Esadora's heart sped up as the automobile began to move. At first, it went at a steady rate, but after a minute or so, it sped up, so much so that Esadora was afraid for her safety. It seemed like the woman was controlling the car with her wand, but she didn't look very comfortable doing it, sweating intensely, eyes narrowed in focus.

Esadora stared into the early morning sky, all pale yellows and light reds. It was beautiful, and not meant to bear witness to this sad kidnapping.

Tears pressed against her eyelids, emotion bubbling up in her throat, but she held it all back and looked ahead at the barrier of magic surrounding the great city of Esmeralda.