Finally, he broke through the thatch of branches and leaves blocking most of the sun. The day was darkening. In the distance, he saw the massive fortress that was Death’s, and he saw the Lake of Souls he’d seen in angel memories. He saw birds but couldn’t see through the jungle to where Katie might be. The branch holding him swayed in a heavy wind that smelled of rain. Toby clutched it and twisted in the branch’s grip, until he could see the dark storm clouds moving slowly across the sky.
“Toby?” Ully sounded disoriented.
“Down, tree,” Toby ordered.
The tree dropped, caught, and dropped him again, catching him half a second before he hit the ground. He landed on his back at Ully’s feet. The scientist knelt beside him, one hand on his head.
“Not sure I like this place,” Ully said.
“It’s not bad. You ok?”
“I think so.”
“I’m not sure why the trees attached you.” Toby stood and dusted himself off then hauled Ully up by his arm.
“Bad luck maybe.”
“I’m searching the angel memories to see why. Maybe they don’t like Immortals. In a couple of years, I won’t have so many problems searching the memories. It’ll be instantaneous, like that!” he said and snapped his fingers.
Ully flinched. “Don’t worry about it, Toby.”
“No, I need to know why. It might mean Mama is in more danger than I thought.”
“Really, it’s fine Toby.”
“Though I think if trees didn’t like humans, Mama would be dead, and if they didn’t like Immortals, Gabe couldn’t stay here either,” Toby reasoned. “That leaves demons. Maybe trees don’t like demons.”
“What’re you saying?”
Toby grinned. “Maybe you’re so ugly, they thought you were a demon!”
“That’s not funny, Toby.” Ully’s face was graver than Toby had seen it, and his wiry body was tense.
“Just joking, Ully.”
“Let’s walk.”
Toby shook his head and started forward again, wondering when Ully had lost his sense of humor. He led them in the direction where he sensed Katie, until night and clouds rendered the jungle too dark. Ully stopped when the first drops of rain fell, and Toby retreated as the Immortal seated himself on a fallen tree.