Chapter 7

It was a bumpy road that led to Treetham through the lonely countryside. Roots and grass and even the occasional sapling split through the pavement and rustled under the weight of the taxi.

"So, Treetham, huh?" said the driver in his wild brogue. "Blimey, haven't heard o' that place for years and years. Used to think it was just one of those nice little fishing places, but then people started saying weird things about it. Then just like that, we never heard a thing about it again."

"What weird things were they saying?" asked Tsubaki.

"Oh, you know." The man chuckled. "There's a lot of superstition in this country, but you probably know tha'. Whole bunch o' nonsense about fey folk and goblins and such. All total rubbish, of course."

"Would you happen to know of anyone named Fannon who lived there?" said Eve.

"Fannon? I dunno. You'll find loads of families named Faonn or Faolan, though. You maybe related to them?"

Eve lowered her eyes. "That's exactly what I'm trying to find out."

"Arrived," said the GPS.

"Whoa. What happened there?" said Black*Star. They were coming up to the remains of a village. Stone buildings held their ground, roofs intact, as if they'd been abandoned only yesterday. No one lived in them now, though, that much was certain. Snakes and rats scurried from cracked windows and disappeared into gardens overgrown into small forests. Rusted cars lay on their sides like tipped cows, their black interiors gaping and moaning with the salty sea wind.

"Please tell me that isn't Treetham," said Tsubaki. "That poor village hasn't been lived in for at least ten years!"

"Arrived in Treetham," said the GPS.

"Bloody hell," said the driver. "You want me to turn around?"

"No!" said Eve. Everyone turned to stare at her.

"Eve. There's nothing here," said Black*Star.

"You can't say that!" she cried. "Not after we came all this way!" Inside her, Macy's soul was a veritable vessel of anxiety. "My parents' postcard, the only thing Macy and I have left of them, said Treetham, and I won't leave until I've found something here that will tell me about them. Even if it's just, I don't know, a receipt. You understand that, right, Tsubaki? Think of your brother! You shut yourself inside the Enchanted Sword to save him, so why can't I look for my parents in an abandoned village?"

Silence. Tsubaki's eyes filled with tears at the mention of Masamune. Eve was right—in many ways, this was no different than her fight against her brother.

"I'm with you, Eve," said Black*Star with a grin. "If it's weird or dangerous, it'll be right up my alley, right? I can't miss a chance like this to show Ireland what a star I am!"

"I'm with you, too," Tsubaki whispered. "Of course."

"Eh…I think I'll just stroll along the coast until you're all finished?" said the driver. "Just holler when you need me."

"Thank you, sir," said Tsubaki, bowing politely, then quickly turning red at the man's puzzled look. Of course—people don't bow to each other in Ireland, she thought, mentally smacking herself.

While Eve may have been the natural leader, Black*Star strode ahead, leaping over toppled wheelbarrows and taunting squirrels and rats. Tsubaki laughed a little and shook her head. She loved that little pain in the ass too much.

They searched every building, top to bottom, until their stomachs screamed for food and their bones creaked with fatigue. Tsubaki wondered if their driver was still down at the beach. If he left them, what would they do? It was too far to walk, and they didn't know anyone here in Ireland who could come to help them.

She was baffled by the contents of the houses. They were disheveled to say the least, but what on earth could have caused their occupants to abandon them seemingly in a great hurry, leaving every last belonging behind? There were no signs to indicate a particular disaster; no bodies, scorch marks, no bullet holes in the walls. Tsubaki hadn't even seen a single weapon—unless she was counting kitchen utensils. The way Eve looked at the scenery broke her heart; her green eyes were wide and watery as she took in the destruction around her.

There was a rustle from behind the dunes outside. "Hey!" Black*Star shouted, and the others rushed outside just in time to watch a small, rounded silhouette scuttle into a sandy hole just beyond the town's edge.

"Black*Star, wait!" cried Tsubaki as her partner ran after it.

"It's a cave!" he said. "I'm going in. YAHOO!" He leapt into the hole and disappeared.

The girls stood in bewilderment. "Uh…we're going to follow him, right?" said Tsubaki.

"I don't think we have a choice," said Eve, and they plunged in.