“How do you know?!”
“Let me rephrase that. It didn’t kill them here. Because if it had, I would smell the leftover death,” he said, licking his lips hungrily. “Zane, think with the god part of your brain.”
“But…how did this monster know they were here?” Ren asked.
“We’re in enemy territory,” Ah-Puch said. “Security was probably set up, just in case Zane ever came back.”
“That’s a big ‘in case,’” I said. It was like whoever was behind all this could see our every move.
“The enemy is luring you to wherever they are. They are playing head games, relying on your ridiculous human emotions. It’s a trap. It’s
always been a trap. And now we need to figure out its trigger.”
“Yeah, well, I know where they are,” I said, seeing the location of the godborns Antonio had planted in my brain. “They won’t be expecting that, and trap or not, we have to hurry. Or did you forget our deal?”
Ah-Puch sighed. “Do you have exact coordinates? We have to be very precise about where we open the gateway. One wrong move and we may find ourselves right in the middle of the enemy’s den, which is not a place I plan to be.”
I stuffed the map in my back pocket and walked my memory through the images Antonio had given me, including the trail that led to where the godborns were being kept. There was a shady tree-lined cliff that overlooked the valley campsite. I didn’t know if it would work, but I took hold of Ah-Puch’s elbow and opened my mind so he could see where we needed to go.
“Something isn’t right with that forest,” he said.
“What do you mean ‘not right’?” Ren asked.
“I don’t know.” Ah-Puch groaned. “I blame it on the puny brain that’s feeding me these visions.”
I didn’t bother wasting time with a comeback. “How far out will guards be posted?” I asked.
Ah-Puch’s mouth tugged into a half grin. “Not guards. Magic. And I, for one, have a godly form to return to, so if you don’t mind, I’d rather not waltz into their little snare.”
“We made a deal,” I reminded him. “So, if you really want that godly form back, we still have some rescuing to do.”
He glared as his shoulders sagged with defeat. “Deals really are the devil when you’re on the weaker end,” he muttered.
“How are we going to get inside with…with magic surrounding the place?” Ren asked.
If Hondo were here, he’d say to visualize the outcome, then he’d ask for an arsenal of weapons and he’d go in swinging. Brooks would tell me to plan, to wait for the exact right time to strike. But when was that?
“At least be on the lookout for the trap’s trigger,” Ah-Puch said. “I don’t want to get caught like a rat.”
Just then, Brooks’s feather glistened in the sun. Golden specks of dust whirled around it like a mini Dirt Devil. I reached out.
“Zane, NO!” Ah-Puch shouted.
But it was too late—the feather was in my hand. The cow skull split open, and a torrent of wind formed a tunnel that sucked me inside. Shadows wrapped themselves around me so tightly I felt like my lungs were being crushed under the weight of dirt-packed earth. No air. No light. But instead of being buried, I was being driven up, up, up.
Itzamna’s voice broke through. It’s going to hurt, but don’t tell them anything. Do you hear me? Trust no one.
Hurt? What’s going to hurt? You said you were going to help me!
This IS me helping you.
I blacked out.
* * *
When I came to, I couldn’t open my eyes. I was blindfolded. I couldn’t move, either—my hands and feet were bound to some kind of tree or wooden pole.
A cold wind whipped around me. Leaves rustled. Birds chirped.