Collide and Seek: Act 4-5 (Bitter Ashes Book 2) Read Free Page A

sent you both to trick me.”
    Alaric shrugged. “Do you think I'd be his plan A, or plan B?” he joked.
    “Plan B,” I replied somberly.
    Alaric shifted his gaze quickly to me, then back to the woods ahead of us. “And why is that?”
    “Because Estus would have to be an idiot to believe I'd ever trust you again,” I answered. “He wouldn't waste Plan A on the underdog.”
    Alaric was silent after that, though he stayed by my side. When it became clear that I wasn't going to take his shirt, he put it back on. The moment he did, I wanted the shirt even more, but I refused to ask for it.
    We followed James for several hours. The protests from my stomach got louder as my feet began to drag, and I grudgingly accepted Alaric's help as I stumbled and almost fell several times.
    Just when I thought I couldn't go on any longer, James stopped. At first I was unsure of why we'd come to a halt, as all I saw were more trees ahead of us, then the air went all shimmery. As the shimmers dissipated, a small cottage came into view.
    James walked confidently into the cottage without offering an explanation, shutting the door behind him against the chilly air. Not knowing what else to do, I approached the humble building and knocked on the door. No one answered.
    Feeling irritated because Alaric was watching me with a raised eyebrow, I grabbed the doorknob and turned it, then pushed the door open and went inside. I scanned the interior for any sign of life, but it seemed abandoned. Where was James? Given his absence, I desperately hoped that who or what ever might live in the cottage wouldn't try to eat us, and would possibly offer us food instead.
    Alaric followed me in and stood close by my side, appearing at ease, but I could feel tension radiating off him like tiny ants marching across my skin. 
    “This should not be possible,” he said quietly.
    “What should not be possible?” I asked as I looked around the cottage's living room.
    I had no idea where James had gone. From all I could tell, the cottage seemed empty. The rickety-looking furniture was covered in a thick layer of dust, and I had a strong suspicion that some mice had taken up residence in the couch cushions.
    “The Vaettir are forbidden to live above-ground,” he explained while he crept around the room as if looking for a secret panel.
    “I don't think anyone lives here,” I whispered as I followed his progress around the room.
    Alaric went down a nearby hallway to explore the rest of the house, forcing me to either follow, or stay in the creepy, dusty room by myself. I followed.
    “It's an illusion,” he explained, “a facade to turn away any who might discover the nature of whoever lives here.”
    “Forgive me,” an elderly-sounding voice said from behind me.
    I whipped around to find an old woman standing in the middle of the living room. The room she stood in was the same one we'd just left . . . only different. The dust had all been lifted to reveal spotless furniture, and a few candles were lit to make the place cozy.
    “I needed a moment alone with James,” the woman explained. “It is not often I receive visitors, especially other Vaettir.”
    The woman was dressed in a long, pale blue robe that obscured any other clothing she might be wearing underneath. The hood of the robe was pulled up to cover her short, curly, gray hair.
    “And where is James now?” I asked suspiciously.
    “He's fixing you supper, little mouse,” the woman said with a smile. Her eyes were the vibrant green of fresh-leaves, and looked out of place in her pale, deeply lined face.
    “I really wish people would stop calling me that,” I grumbled.
    The woman chuckled to herself as she removed the hood from her head. “I am Diana,” she introduced, “and I offer you refuge for the evening.”
    “Um, thanks,” I replied hesitantly. “I'm Madeline.”
    James came into the room from the hallway opposite us. He was carrying a large tray with stacked sandwiches on one