“That’s earth,” I said, mentally reviewing the alchemy symbols. “The cave must have something to do with the elemental power of earth.”
“You don’t know what’s in the cave?” Shay asked.
“In the cave?” I repeated. “I assumed it was the place that mattered. The Keepers have always referred to it as a sacred site. You think there’s something inside?”
“I think we should find out.”
“You’re serious?”
“We can’t go back to the library after the Searchers attacked us there,” he said. “You’ve already pointed that out. But we have to try something.”
“I’m not sure.” My mouth went dry. “The cavern is at a high elevation. There will already be a lot of snow up there.”
“I’m a good climber. I’ll manage,” he said. “I know I can do it, Cal.”
“It would have to be on a Sunday, when Bryn and I patrol,” I mused. “Getting rid of Bryn isn’t a problem. She’d jump at the chance to spend the day alone with Ansel. But we might not be able to make the climb quickly enough to get to the cavern and back before the next Nightshade patrol showed up. Well, I could do it . . .”
“Don’t think for a sec that I’ll let you go without me.”
My mother appeared in the doorway, waving a doily at me. “Calla, time for presents and games! Do you need help getting out of your dress? Be careful not to lose any pins.”
“Games?” I felt a little sick.
“Games?” Shay’s laughter crackled in my ear. “Are you having a bridal shower over there? No wonder you wouldn’t tell me what you were doing. You must be miserable.”
I put my hand over the phone. “I’ll be down in a sec, Mom.”
“It’s rude to keep guests waiting,” she said sourly before she disappeared back down the stairs.
“Calla?” Shay said. “Are you there?”
I stared at my reflection, imagining how much fun it would be to shred the dress into the world’s most expensive confetti. “I’m here. Sorry.”
“So when are we going?”
Shay’s eager tone made me want to laugh and cry. Samhain was only a little more than a week away. Once the union took place, there would be no sneaking off with Shay. I wondered if I’d be able to see him at all. “This Sunday. We’re going to the cave this Sunday.”
“In three days?” he said. “Oh, man, I was excited about my brilliant plan. Now I’m just nervous.”
“You should be. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Aren’t you going to tell me about your dress?”
I hung up on him.
“I’m coming, Mom!” I shouted, hopping off the pedestal.
I’d made it two steps out of my room when my foot caught on the hem of my dress and I tumbled forward, falling flat on my face. I tried to right myself but couldn’t find my way out of the endless pink, gold, and ivory layers that cocooned me. With every movement, pinpricks stung me like a swarm of angry bees.
When Bryn finally dug me out of my silken prison, I was still screaming.
TWENTY-ONE
“SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING TONIGHT?” SHAY asked as we walked out of Big Ideas.
“Outlining this essay.” I tapped my notebook. “I’m starting to fall behind because of . . . everything.”
“Can I come over?” he asked, holding up his full page of notes. “We could do it together.”
“I don’t think it would be a great idea for you to be at my house.”
“Why not?” He held my books while I opened my locker.
“My mother wouldn’t like it.”
“But I’m such a nice boy.”
“That doesn’t—ouch!”
Ansel had nailed me in the back with a soccer ball. “Score!”
I grabbed a water bottle from my locker, squirting him in the face.
“Good comeback.” He grinned, wiping his face. “But you shouldn’t shoot the messenger.”
“You’re still breathing,” I said. “What’s the message?”
“Nev’s playing at the Burnout tonight. He asked us to come.”
“What’s the Burnout?” Shay asked.
“It’s a bar just west of town.” I slipped on my jacket. “More of a shack than a bar, really.”
“Come on, Cal. You love it there,” Ansel said, bouncing the soccer ball on his knees. “Don’t pretend dive bars aren’t up your alley. Besides, we haven’t done anything with both pa—, er, all of us since Eden. We need to blow off steam. Together.”
“What time?” I asked.
“Ten.”
“I don’t know.” I glanced at Shay. Ansel followed my gaze.
“You should come too, Shay. Hang out with us tonight,” he said. “We have a good time even when we’re not eating lunch.”
“How will you guys get past the doorman?” Shay asked. “Or do you all have fake IDs I don’t know about yet?”
“Nev’s got an in with the owner,” Ansel said. “No IDs needed.”