Her First Mistake

Chapter Twenty-Four: You're Just Going to Leave?

   "So, that's it? You're just going to leave?"

   "Yup." I finished tying off my shoelace and stood up. The crowd stood awkwardly as I did. "There's no point in waiting around. I've got things to do. A dark mage to hunt." 

   A hand caught my wrist. I looked at my father as his eyes turned misty. "Please don't be reckless. I know I can't stop you, but please, don't do anything stupid." He grimaced. "You're not alone in this. You're my daughter, Roxie. Remember that."

   He was scared that I was walking into death. For all I knew, I was. I pressed my lips and nodded. For him, I'd try to keep myself safe. He had a point. I had a habit of biting before barking -- one habit that he knew could get me into trouble very easily. 

   I did feel an inkling of regret for doing this to him, but my determination to see Dani Darhk's blood overrode it. I squeezed his hand before letting go. He sensed my decision and stepped back. 

   I lifted my hand and caught the practice staff Blue had given me. It hit my palm and my fingers closed, potential energy buzzing through my veins. Allie's healing spell had done wonders. I tilted my head at the crowd. "See you soon."

   With that, I reached for the nex line. My fingers hit the current and I grabbed it. My feet were jerked from the floor and my surroundings vanished. I let go once I was further south, and far away from that place. It had fallen dark. 

   I was going to go to the Ghost Realm and make my staff. It was what Alexie wanted. He believed I could do it. He must've had reason to say he going to send me there to complete my training. I would honor that. Besides, I needed my own staff. Alexie had said it would amplify my power. Once I had it, I was going after Dani.

   I reached for the barrier. Energy swirled up my arm as I focused, going deeper until I felt my fingers hit a physical wall. Taking a deep breath, I coiled my hand into a fist and slammed it against the wall. My magic crashed into it and another painful punch later, I felt the wall crack. I knew it cracked because the moment it did, I was wrenched off of my feet.

   My body hit the ground in the middle of a swamp. Mud seeped into my clothes and I lifted my head to spit out the water. Irritated, I got up and swiped the mud clots off. Cicadas sung around me deafeningly. I looked up and froze.

   The sky . . . I'd never seen it so clear. The stars blinked and winked merrily, lighting up the ground before me. I could see the line of the Milky Way clearly. A bit of awe made me stand there and stare at it. I'd grown up a city -- I'd never seen the stars. Not even while camping.

   Well, I was missing out. It was like seeing in color for the first time. I blew out a breath and looked back down to examine my surroundings. Alexie had mentioned that his staff was made of mahogany wood. I had a vague idea of where those trees grew naturally -- down towards Florida. I had traveled to the flat center of Florida before coming into the Ghost Realm.

   So this was the terrifying Ghost Realm, huh? It didn't look too scary. Still, Alexie himself had said it was dangerous. That man had never lied to me. I hefted the staff and used it as a probing stick to find holes in the ground that was covered in a foot of water. My converse sloshed and squished, making me wince. Poor shoes.

   Even though I was in where Florida would be, I had no idea where to find a mahogany tree. My safest bet was near a body of water. Considering I was standing in one, and there wasn't one nearby, the specific tree didn't like too much water. I somehow doubted it was a swamp tree. Shaking my head, I sloshed through the mud until I found a small hill. I stamped my feet clean and squinted through the dark.

   A twig snapped somewhere behind me. The hairs on the back of my neck rose. I glanced that direction, hand tightening on the staff, but nothing else moved. I moved that direction and used the staff to lift a bush out of the way. There was nothing in the area. I shook my head. 

   I needed to pick a direction and head that way. But which way to go? If I went the wrong way, I would spend twice as long searching for this tree. I turned in a circle with a frown. Did I just pick a random direction and walk? With no logic as where to do?

   Damn it. I should have researched mahogany trees before I came in here. Well, there was no reason I couldn't dip and come back in the morning. I lifted my hand and reached for the wall. Crimson swirled around my arm. It was much easier to find the wall. I made contact within seconds. My mental reach brushed the wall and I balled my fist, wrapped it tightly in crimson, and slammed my power onto it.

   It didn't budge. Undeterred, I wound up and swung with all my might. My physical fist hit something invisible and my wrist cracked. I released a groan without thinking and grabbed my wrist, the pain shooting up my arm. 

   "What the hell?" I hissed under my breath, glaring at the air in front of me. Dread curled through my gut. I reached forward and felt for the wall. My fingers hit it and there was not a single scratch. Worry bound my spine and made it go cold. I gave it one final, desperate attempt, and launched all of my energy at the wall.

   It bounced directly off and I was shoved backwards, tripping back into the mud. I landed on my back and my head hit a rock. Groaning, I sat up and stared at where I'd been. Smoke coiled where my feet had stood.

   I was stuck. Somehow, I couldn't get through the barrier. I was trapped in the Ghost Realm.