Together, we slipped into the coolness of the cave. A tingle ran down my spine, and the hair on my arms raised the second I was immersed in the space. Whisper met my gaze, took a deep breath, and tugged Adam’s shirt sleeves over her hands.
We moved on. I waited for something to take over, for some sense of magic to overwhelm me and steal my thoughts away, but minutes passed, drifting into an hour, and only the flowered walls met my view. The tunnel wound like a snake, twisting and coiling, sometimes inclining and sometimes declining.
“Are we actually getting any closer?” Whisper asked after any initial fear or resolution had worn off.
“I can’t tell,” I replied, exhaling. I checked the air to see where we stood and what we might be looking forward to. There were only two streams of wind flow, a massive, rushing one before us, and a quiet, seeping one behind us. But there were two touches of something more back there too, something irregular.
I froze.
“What is it?” Whisper asked.
I swallowed, gripping my bag until my knuckles went white. “He’s here.” He’d followed us. But, of course, he had. We already knew he’d come with us to Skyla, and finding the Fountain had been his sole purpose all along. My empty sheath weighed more on my thigh than it did when it was full, and my fingers found it with a level of dread. Even if I had my knife, could I fight Bay with it?
Perhaps the real question was: would he fight me with the knives I knew he had?
The thought broke my heart.
When the path jackknifed, creating a bend where we wouldn’t be seen, Whisper and I stopped, waiting. Sure enough, after several minutes, Bay drifted around the corner silently, spotted us, and went still. Our eyes locked, and my chest pinched. Before I could say anything, he raised his hands and blurted, “You can’t destroy the Fountain until I save my mother. That’s the only reason I’m here.”
Whisper snarled, “Oh, so now you’re interested in saving mothers, huh?”
True remorse seemed to flicker through his gaze when he looked at her, but he shook his head and pinned his eyes back on me. “Please. Try to believe me. This is all I’ve lived for since I lost her. It’s only Skye and I. Any friends I had are more than twice my age now or no longer have any qualms about beating me to a pulp.”
I wanted to believe him. Believing in the people I cared about came so easily to me, but he’d abandoned Tiger Lily and didn’t tell us. Worse, he led us to believe she was okay, knowing his own lie.
Whisper gripped my hand. “We don’t believe liars.”
“Wind Song,” he begged, disregarding her completely.
I dropped my gaze. “We are going to save your mother, Bay. I still have the vial, and I will make sure the water gets to her.”
“But—”
“No buts,” I snapped, glaring. Releasing Whisper’s hand, I took a deep breath and raised my head. “We can collect water just as well as you can. Unlike some of us, we aren’t in the habit of ignoring people our friends care about.”
“Maybe try trusting in us for a change.” Whisper tossed back her hair and huffed. “If it bites you in the rear, you deserved it.”
Skye clenched his fists and fluttered before Bay. “These walls are lined with the same magic that courses through the temples in Neverland.”
“He’s right. The further you go, the stronger the magic gets. It’s safer toge—” Bay pleaded, hands outstretched.
“Thank you.” Whisper scoffed. “We already know that.”
“Tinkerbell told us what to expect.” I held his gaze, though the desperation in it burned in my gut. “We have each other; we know we can count on each other.”
He deflated, hearing what I hadn’t said. He’d proven that we couldn’t count on him. He couldn’t be trusted.
“I’ll know if you follow us,” I said. “So don’t.”
Lamely, he nodded, looked at the cave wall, and floated to it, sliding to the ground. “I’ll be here then.” He drew his legs up and clasped his hands between his knees, no longer daring to glance at us. “Good luck.”
Before I was sure I had done the right thing, Whisper grabbed my arm and pulled me along with her. When I peered over my shoulder, Bay’s head was in his hands, and his whole body shook with tears.
It didn’t take long after we left Bay to come upon the Fountain. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen, and neither of the temple visions had done it justice. The mirabel clinging to the cracks in the ceiling tripled in mass, boasting luminous blooms twice the size of my head. The blossoms flooded the space with light, revealing a pit that led into churning waves.
That pit stood between us and the Fountain. It sprayed gold, glittering water over the edges of several wide bowls. Intricate designs depicting a history I hardly knew decorated the pearl dishes. Just the sight of it all left me breathless.
Whisper touched my shoulder, her eyes pinned on the magnificent structure. “Can you believe it? All this time, right beneath our feet.” Her voice drifted off, and I checked to make sure she was still with me. Nothing glassed her eyes when I met them, and I exhaled with relief.
A distinct tang of magic vibrated in the wind, skating down my throat when I parted my lips. “It’s beautiful.”
Moments passed, each of us staring and waiting.
“Do you feel any different?” Whisper asked finally.
My head shook. “No, you? Any urge to join the forever-twelve cult?”
“Pardon you. I’d be forever nineteen. And I think I’ll pass.” Holding my wrist, she leaned to look into the swirling ocean. “The only way across is over. How are you feeling?”
An ache spread through my chest before dipping into my stomach. “Still incapable. I’m not sure I’m willing to take the risk. If I drop you…” Bitterness overwhelmed the taste of magic on the back of my tongue. “I’m not willing to take that chance.”
Her brows furrowed. “What are you saying?”
I sifted through my bag, drawing out the vial and clasping it in my hand. “The faster I get over there and back here, the better. It should only take a moment.”
“And if something goes wrong?” Lips pursed, she narrowed her eyes. “You’re also supposed to destroy that, remember? How are you going to manage that quickly?”
Sensing skepticism, I smiled. “I can see you’re getting defensive, but trust me. I’ve lived with the forever-twelve cult. There is no way I’m joining it at any age.” I lifted off the ground, but she didn’t release my wrist.
