Dahlia's POV
The root-hand reached the top of the ledge. It started to wrap its fingers around Axel's waist.
Axel blinked. The white glow in his eyes flickered. He looked at the giant hand, then at me. For the first time, I saw the fear come back into his face.
"Mommy!" he cried out, his voice sounded small and terrified.
"Jump, Axel!" Nate roared.
Axel didn't think. He lunged away from the pillar, throwing himself toward the gap. He was mid-air, his little arms reaching out, when the root-hand snapped shut. It caught his ankle.
Axel let out a scream of pure pain. He was hanging over the black pit, the giant hand pulling him down.
"NO!" I lunged forward, reaching through the hole I'd made in the fire. My sleeve caught fire, but I didn't feel it. I grabbed Axel's hand.
I was leaning over the abyss, my boots slipping on the glass floor. I could feel the weight of the mountain pulling on my son. It felt like I was trying to hold onto a literal ton of rock.
