Then I noticed something on the floor by the backpack I’d taken on our camping trip: a small box made of polished wood—about the size and shape of an index card. It must have fallen out when I was gathering up my finds to take downstairs. I tucked it into the band of my running shorts and slid out my window onto the roof.
A spring breeze ruffled my hair and kissed my cheeks. I couldn’t help but remember how cold and barren the field below me had been all winter. Then, I’d stared out at a bleak white sky and watched as a flock of birds took off from the treetops, the rush of hundreds of wings echoing in my ears. But now the sky was bluer, the treetops greener, and the birds were coming—not going.
I took out the box and studied it. The wood was a dark, rich hue, polished to a shine. It struck me as weird—everything else that I’d salvaged from the cabin was showing signs of age, decay. The wooden box was as polished and shiny as it might have been on the day it was made.
Strangely, the wood appeared to be all one piece—with no grooves or hinges where it might open. There was a keyhole in the front, but no actual key. I shook it and heard something lightweight flutter within.
There was a design etched into the lid—or what should have been the lid. An old-fashioned key, with an elaborate top that swooped out in four intertwining loops—like a four-leaf clover.
The whole box looked like some sort of strange puzzle. If it was left with other personal items in the cabin, then it must have belonged to my parents, or to the Rogues they were working with. It was clear that whoever it had belonged to didn’t want just anybody to discover its contents.
I put my hand on the engraving, and it glowed silver beneath my fingers. And then, before my eyes, the silver became solid, real metal—and I found myself holding a key.
Like it was meant for me.
The key fit into the lock perfectly. I held my breath as it clicked, and the top of the box slid sideways.
Resting inside was a single piece of paper folded many times into a tight square. I couldn’t stop my fingers from trembling slightly as I unfolded it to reveal a page filled from top to bottom with cramped, tight script. My heart expanded like ink in water when I saw how it began:
Dear Skye,
I’m writing you this letter, my sweet girl, because I don’t know what else to do. We are in danger. Your father and I have made a risky mistake, and we are being watched. Followed. If I’m being truthful with you, I don’t think we’ll make it through another week.
But you will. They won’t kill you. You hold the key to breaking them, and they’ll do whatever they can to harness that power. You’re not ready for it now. I can’t put you in the position of having to save the world just yet. I can hardly let you wander off by yourself for two seconds, Skye, without worrying! But one day, your powers will grow to be stronger than any angel’s before you. And the great task—a burden, and an honor—will be asked of you. It was the thing we could never accomplish, because it wasn’t time yet. But for you—for you, it will be time.
Of course, you know none of this. I’ve made certain of that. I hope that one day, when you read this letter, you’ll understand that I kept you in the dark out of love, and protection, and for no other reason.
There will be a time when you come looking for answers. Even though I am no longer with you, I promise you, my little silver clover, that I will tell you everything you need to know.
All you have to do is ask.
Love,
Your Mama
Only when I looked up and the colors of the world were blurred around me did I realize I was crying.
After school, everyone came over.
Cassie was, predictably, thrilled that we had found Aaron and Earth, and ecstatic that they’d come to join us after all.
“I’m telling you, Skye,” she said with a wink. “Epic love is always reunited.”
“What’s it like to be in your head?” I asked. “Is it rainbows and puppies, all the time?”
“Mm-hmm.” She grinned mischievously. “Labradoodles.”
“Well,” I said, “just because Aaron is back doesn’t mean he and Aunt Jo are, like, back together or anything. And it definitely doesn’t mean that all epic love is reunited.”
“No word from Asher, huh?”
My stomach suddenly lurched. It had been him at the fire, hadn’t it? It was possible I’d made it up, hallucinated him because I wanted so badly to see him again. But his silhouette was unmistakable against the dancing flames.
Had it been a message for me? A sign?
Or—a more troubling thought occurred to me—had he been involved in starting it? If he was fighting with the Rebellion—no. I put that thought out of my head as soon as it popped in.
“No word yet,” I said.
“Don’t worry, Skye,” she whispered, putting her arm around my neck and pulling me tightly to her. “You guys will find a way. I could never believe anything else.”
I wanted to believe it, too, that Asher and I would find a way to be together. But I’d been hurt and betrayed too many times to believe in love with much certainty. I couldn’t believe anything anymore—unless I had proof.
We rejoined the group in the living room. Cassie’s hair was woven into an elaborately braided masterpiece, and when she sat down on the floor, Earth, who seemed to have a hair fixation, begged her for something similar.
Cassie braided away, and I filled the group in on what was going on.
“You guys heard about the fire on Main Street last night?” I began. “It was an attack on Into the Woods.”
“The Order?” Ian asked sharply.
“No. It was the Rebellion, this time.” I took a deep breath. “This is going to be hard to hear, but I have to tell you, so that you stay safe. We think they’re trying to pick off my friends and family, to isolate me. Then they can take me away and use my powers to defeat the Order.”
“And what about the Order?” Ian asked. “What are they planning?”
I sighed nervously. “I don’t really know yet. But they’ll do anything to keep the Rebellion from taking me.”
Cassie looked equal parts terrified and enthralled. She loved drama, indiscriminately and in all forms.
“That means time is running out,” I continued. “Ian, we have to find James, and soon. Can you talk to your mom, and try to find out where he might be?”
“Of course,” Ian said, his voice and expression deadly serious.
“Cassie, Dan, I’ll need you guys at school, every day. It’s important to keep up the appearance that everything is normal—that we don’t know what’s going on, and we don’t have a plan. I think the element of surprise will work well in our favor here. No one will expect that you two have a plan up your sleeves.”
“Hey . . .” Dan said.
“And Raven.” I turned to her. “You have to be at school, too. Just like today. Keep an eye on Ardith and Gideon. Make sure Cassie and Dan stay safe.”
She mock saluted.
“Great. Aunt Jo, Aaron. I need you guys to try to remember and dig up as much information as you can about James. And I need you working on your powers. Any Rogues you know of who you think we can easily get on our side, reach out to them. Tell them to come to River Springs. I think they’ll come if they know I’m at the helm. Explain that we’re starting a new faction, and they have a place in it.”