Salvation's Kiss (Tales Of Mython Book 1)

by Kathryn Jayne

  United as one, both parts of her knew there was no recovering from what had happened and so she closed her eyes, relishing the sensations of being held within his firm embrace. To let go now would be to offer him salvation. Fatigue washed over her. She had tried to fight the draining energy, to hold on, but now her release would save him. Please save him—she thought.

  At that moment, she felt so safe, so serene, as if everything in the world was how it should be. As if recognising her surrender, her knees weakened, her weight supported by his strong arms as her energy waned and her breathing slowed. A sudden alarm coursed through her as she realised what was happening. She wanted this, but now she realised she wasn’t ready to leave him; not yet, not without telling him loved him. She struggled for a breath, trying to push her final words through her failing body, but the only sound that escaped her was a whimper as the darkness embraced her and her fire died.

  Chapter 17

  Alex stood outside, the P.T.F. blanket that was draped over his shoulders sending small waves of cold energy from the enchantments woven within. His skin felt raw and tight, his face red from the burns, but as his essence cooled, their effect would lessen. His small squadron gathered close as the building continued to burn. The occasional thought through Bindu’s connection reached out to him, offering support as he stood transfixed by the scene before him.

  Loud rumblings could be heard from within as supporting walls continued to collapse in exasperated sighs as they finally relinquished their burdens, sending dust and embers into the sky. The fire was insatiable, burning hotter and more vibrantly than anything he had seen before. The balcony they had used to enter had become nothing more than flaming rubble as the entire right side of the house crumbled down to its foundations. The roof to the left, where his sister would have stood, had been blown clear from the property, landing in a smouldering heap at the forest’s edge. The walls still stood, but reports from his team confirmed the ceiling of the banquet hall was almost completely destroyed.

  He watched with a hollow emptiness building inside him, his thoughts turning to Conrad as he saw Tess approach with her arm slung under Jack’s shoulder as she half-dragged his hobbling body towards them. The medics rushed to meet them lifting Jack from her support to guide him towards one of the waiting ambulances. Alex could hear his weak protest, and sent Bindu a quick instruction. His sister’s friends would be treated at his base, including the healer. If he ever woke, he would answer for his crimes. Healers were rare; he would be indentured to the base until such a time as his debt had been paid. Bindu sent back a quick acknowledgement, dispatching one of the other team members to retrieve William and Jack.

  Alex realised his face must have shed the indifferent expression he tried to maintain when present in an official capacity, because he saw the tears start to form in Tess’s eyes before she even spoke, as her grasp tightened on the sketchbook in her hands.

  “You didn’t find her?” Tess asked, the light from the fires causing her damp cheeks to sparkle.

  He reached out, cupping her face in his hands as the blanket slid from his shoulders. “It’s not that we couldn’t find her. We know exactly where she is, it’s just impossible for anyone to get close.”

  “And Conrad?” Tess questioned. Alex shook his head. “You mean to tell me that he went in there, he went after her, but none of you can?”

  He looked at her regretfully. What was he meant to say? Was he meant to tell her that he had made the only decision possible? That there was no hope of anyone reaching her… that he had decided to let his little sister burn out because, now that her abilities were unrestrained, there was no way she could rein the fire in, no way she could stop it from harming those in its path. How could he tell her they had come too late; that there was nothing anyone could do, not even himself, her big brother, the one who should have protected her, prepared her. He was powerless to do anything but watch her burn.

  He felt Bindu’s hand on his shoulder and hung his head as he realised he had just voiced his monologue to anyone still linked to him, being too exhausted to guard his thoughts. Wiping his hands down his face, he sighed, his vision returning to the devastation before him. As Bindu tried to explain to his sister’s closest friend all the things he could not voice, he turned away, his gaze fixed upon the fire, watching it burn.

  The dark backdrop of the night sky made the vibrancy of the flames even more intense than their ethereal shades. There was something hypnotic about the way they swayed as if in a dance, while destroying everything in their wake. Fire engines with silenced sirens arrived, their lights meshing momentarily with those of the departing ambulances containing the rescued Tabus. The lawn was overcrowded, two ambulances still waiting while the fire trucks drew closer to the blaze and the firefighters emerged to do heroic battle against the hungry beast. Shoots of water sent mist into the air, but the fire burnt through the water, seeming to ignite it as if it were oil feeding its flame.

  Swearing, Alex ran towards them, his arms waving frantically. To a fire like this, everything was fuel, even water. It would burn with the power of the eternal flame until his sister’s life faded. Only when her own fire died would this one return to its mortal nature.

  He sank to his knees as he saw the water begin to gain ground, vanquishing its foe as the first plume of smoke altered in shade beneath the barrage of water. Tess approached him slowly, holding Jack’s latest sketch before his gaze. It took a moment to realise what he was seeing, but when he did, he found the faintest of smiles. He studied the image for a long time, lifting it from her hands to absorb the lifelike details of a formidable ifrit embracing a Phoenix as the world around them burned.

  Conrad felt her heat begin to wane. The fire surrounding her flesh became fine wisps of vibrant orange which peeled back to reveal her ivory skin beneath. She felt limp in his arms as he sank to the fractured floor, cradling her. His clawed hands combed through her hair frantically, his vision desperately seeking out any sign that she still held breath within her body.

  “Ashley,” he whispered, pulling her close as he held her protectively, no longer fearing the effect his heat would have upon her. All along, she had been naturally resistant, immune to the blistering heat of his essence and able to withstand the touch of his rawest form. His soul had been right all along; she was his, she had always been his. “Please,” he begged.

  There was so much he wanted to say… feelings so powerful that the only thing they could become was tears. He searched inside himself for the right words—the words that, if spoken, would somehow reach across time and space, across the realms and draw her back to him. But no such words existed, not in this world or any other.

  The world crashed down around him, yet still he sat. His own world had already been destroyed beyond any recognition. He understood the tether now, why she sang to his soul. She had been part of him, the missing piece, his soul mate. Now she was gone. Without her, without her smile, the sound of her voice, the touch of her hand, life no longer held meaning. Now she was gone, nothing would be the same. Part of him would remain forever lost, dead and grieving.

  He placed his lips to her forehead as he rocked her lifeless form. He had known her such a short time and, despite him fighting it at every step, he had known the truth. She was his soul mate, the very breath in his lungs, his reason for living, and now she was gone. He had spent so long fearing what his love would do to her, so long denying what he felt, but now it was too late to tell her. Too late to say he loved her, too late to place his lips upon hers and lose himself in the sweet promise of her kiss.

  He placed his forehead to hers, pulling her closer still, gathering her in his embrace as if sheltering her tiny frame would somehow save her. But she was gone. Everything she was, everything she could have been, was gone. Her magic had burnt out, consuming her in the process. He stroked her jaw with his claw, placing his lips to hers, wishing her safe passage to the other realm. Her lips were as soft as they had promised to be, their coolness gai
ning heat as he refused to end this final parting. Heat engulfed him as he closed his eyes, his lips still on hers, using the connection to seek her spirit in the other realm, praying she had not burned out so completely that her very soul had been destroyed. He pulled away, feeling only emptiness. She was gone. He pulled her close again then gasped as her eyes flickered open.

  “Conrad,” she croaked, lifting her hand to cradle his face. He leaned into her touch, relishing the coolness of her flesh upon him.

  “I thought you were lost, I couldn’t find your spirit.” He looked upon her in wonder, his claws tracing her with desperate gentleness, his eyes not willing to believe what he was seeing, before even questioning how she could have possibly known it was him through his monstrous visage.

  “I’m a Phoenix,” she whispered. “We don’t die from our fire, we burn out and are reborn.” She reached out to grasp his hand, her fingers clasping around just one of his enormous talons. “Thank you for coming.”

  He cringed, realising her tiny form was cradled within the arms of a beast. He looked away, attempting to ensure she couldn’t gaze upon him any longer.

  “Don’t,” she whispered. “Don’t hide something so spectacular.” Her voice was weak and he could tell it was taking everything she had not to sink into unconsciousness.

  “I’m sorry you had to see me like this,” he apologised. He hadn’t registered the praise she had spoken, because the hateful, mocking words from the past overpowered her whisper. He flinched as her arm curled around his neck, pulling herself up until their noses almost touched. He searched her eyes, expecting to see revulsion and disgust, but instead he saw something which caused his heart to flutter. Despite his bestial appearance, she looked at him now with the same desire she’d had all those times they had almost kissed. As if reading his thoughts, her lips pressed to his muzzle with weak hunger.

  He closed his eyes, no longer fearing the stirring of heat she caused in his core. The elation of her acceptance enveloped him and his blood burned for her. This one kiss did everything he feared it would. The fire of his essence consumed them both, but hers simply answered in kind, creating harmony. She pulled away, sucking her bottom lip as if to taste him for a moment longer. With a smile on her lips, her eyes flickered shut as she once more grew heavy in his arms.

  Through the hole above them, the damp mist from the rescue services’ hoses began to cascade down upon them. “Let’s get you out of here,” he whispered, his form shedding around him as the fiery essence that created it was reabsorbed back into himself, along with an overwhelming sense of fatigue. His clothes had fused to his skin, causing him to cry out as he peeled his jacket from his blistered flesh in order to wrap it around her naked body. The ifrit part of him was something which grew from within, a living shell, and as such, anything in his possession was normally shielded, but her fire had been too much, even for him.

  Pain radiated from his core as his arms grew heavy. He stood, scooping her into his protective grasp, staggering slightly as a feeling of weakness began to consume him. With a growl, he gripped her tightly and an overwhelming feeling of protectiveness encompassed his very being as he forced himself beyond the pain, beyond the exhaustion. He pushed them away to a place in his mind he could return to later. For now, the only thing that mattered was Ashley. He gritted his teeth. He was getting her out of here, getting her to safety. Nothing, no one would harm her again. Not so long as he drew breath.

  Tess watched with emptiness as the remaining frame of the building started to collapse in on itself. The firefighters were doing their best, but the flames were aggressive. She had listened with numbness as Alex spoke to his team and they recounted the quick and easy execution of all involved parties, many being trapped by the collapsing ceiling and unforgiving fire. A name kept circling in her mind as she listened. They spoke of numbers, of the clans they identified. But it seemed to Tess that people were missing. They had shielded and diverted their chip location data so it appeared they were in other places. A nearly impossible feat, but Tess had the skills to isolate who had been present, and if their numbers were correct, at least two people were unaccounted for. One was a figure known as Thaddeus. The other, however, she was certain was the person responsible for everything that had happened.

  “Vincent Masters,” she whispered finally. Alex crouched down beside her, giving her his full attention. “The Taphouse and this mansion both belonged to his clan. Please tell me he was amongst the dead. Tell me you got the bastard who killed my friends!” Tears streamed down her face as she watched the building with a growing sense of emptiness.

  “The wronged have been avenged.” Detective Mendel’s voice startled her. She hadn’t even noticed his arrival on site but, from the ash and debris clinging to him, he must have been here for sometime. “We apprehended him trying to flee. Justice was swift.”

  “Detective Mendel,” Alex acknowledged gravely.

  “Did my son go in there?” he questioned, already seeming to know the answer.

  “He did.”

  “So your sister was a Phoenix. I guess I was worried over nothing.” He placed his hand on Alex’s shoulder.

  “Worried over nothing?” Tess sniffled, wondering how he could possibly think that, given both his son and her best friend were dead.

  “About his feelings. We thought she was ice-aligned like the rest of the Ciele family,” he explained to her. She saw confusion cross his face as he looked upon her. Almost as if the pain she was feeling, that she wore upon her stained cheeks, somehow didn’t make sense.

  “Why would that mean anything? What good does that do now?” she demanded, casting a brief glance towards Jack who was seated in one of the P.T.F. vehicles. Bindu had said they would take everyone to their base. She knew they were waiting for her, but she couldn’t bring herself to move.

  “She turned his eyes gold. We thought he’d destroy her, but it turns out…”

  “She destroyed him instead,” Alex finished.

  “Now, why’d you go and say something like that?” Reuben Mendel demanded, as Tess heard the horrific sounds of her sobs. “Didn’t you hear me? She turned his eyes gold.”

  Alex looked at him, bewildered.

  “Ah, so you don’t know everything. An ifrit’s eyes only turn gold when they’ve found the one they need to protect. A calling beyond the voices of the wronged, a calling of the soul, and that is a powerful thing. There’s nothing quite like it.”

  “What does that have to do with anything? Nothing can survive a Phoenix’s flame, especially not when its magic turns berserk,” Alex interjected.

  “Nothing, except their soul mate.” Reuben nodded towards the smouldering remains, where a dark figure could be seen emerging from the flames.

  Tess cupped her hands over her mouth as shouts echoed from the medics who rushed forward.

  Alex watched as the orange hue of the fire seemed to part around the dark figure emerging from within. Conrad’s pace was slow, his feet barely clearing the debris he navigated, yet his focus never faltered. In his scalded arms, barely covered by a jacket, was his sister, her limp body pressed tightly to his chest. Medics, hovering on standby, began to stir, watching his difficult progression to the grass garden. As soon as he was clear of the ruined and crumbling building, it was as though his strength faded. His legs grew weak and he dropped to his knees, still cradling Ashley closely. This was the signal the gathering medics had been waiting for. A signal they had fatally misread.

  The medics crowded around him, attempted to advance, to take Ashley from his protective grasp. The look in his eyes should have warned them of their error. Even Alex could see the fierce protectiveness in his gaze. They should have known he wouldn’t let them take her away. Fire curled around them, drawn from the building to encompass them in its protective storm. Alex had only seen this manner of reaction twice before, and in both instances a preternatural had been wounded to the extent they had to draw strength from their origin, and this power was anything but
rational. It knew only the desire of its child, and Conrad’s sole focus was on defending Ashley.

  “I thought you said the flame wouldn’t hurt him,” Alex whispered, as Reuben drew level with him to watch the unfolding events.

  “No, I said it wouldn’t kill him, but even with their connection it probably took everything he had to withstand. He probably didn’t even realise how hurt he was until he reverted to human form.”

  Alex stepped forward, quickly shrugging free of Reuben’s touch as he reached out to restrain him, as if he knew what he had in mind. When he reached the group of medics, he saw two of them were now armed with tranquiliser darts, their hushed tones discussing a tag and snatch retrieval while their comrades took aim, their rifles steaming from the cold enchantment shielding the darts to ensure they would reach its target. The pink hue of the fletching sung of their second mistake—they were already greatly underestimating his strength. Those darts would be about as useful as sending a docile mouse to fell a serpent. It would simply bait him.

  “Mine,” Conrad growled, his vision snapping towards one of the medics who had dared to take a step forward, his dart gun raised, ready to fire.

  “Sir, please calm down, we’re here to help.” The medic tried to placate him, his trigger finger twitching as he lined up the shot. The dart released, striking the ground with a dull thump to discharge its contents. The medic looked up at Alex, whose fingers still rested on the barrel of the lowered weapon.

  “I’ll take it from here,” Alex stated. “Be grateful. If you’d hit him with that, we’d all be dead. Use your common sense and do as the man asked. They’ll not be coming with you in any scenario, so you may leave.” His voice was firm, holding an authority he hoped they dared not ignore.