by Ravyn Fyre
“I admit you have me at a disadvantage. How’d you do it?” I queried, crossing my fingers behind my back; it was something I could reverse.
“I could be a bitch and just say fate, but I’m rather proud of this win. Since your departure from this planet is mere minutes away, I can’t see how it will hurt to let you in on my secret. I’ve known since childhood; Lord Kalen would be mine. A prophetess from our village foretold the most powerful female Sixer to attend the Gathering this year would be Kalen’s mate.
Over the years, I made sure I knew every nuance my power was capable of and honed it into a lethal weapon. I have no doubt I can beat any opponent I face, but I needed to admit my plan had holes. I realized if I wanted to be all-powerful, I couldn’t rely on my gift alone. I began collecting artifacts and unique Sixers. Of course, I found troubled individuals easier to manipulate. Nothing was off-limits if I thought it would help me secure my position as Kalen’s Queen,” Onyx explained, waving her right ring finger back and forth before she continued, “This was the first addition to my collection. Do you like it?”
I studied the black ring on her finger that resembled a crown of thorns and shrugged before I answered, “A little dark for my taste. I didn’t take you for a goth girl, but to each their own in my opinion. Were you rebelling against your parents, princess? Shit, do you have tattoos too?”
Onyx ignored my teasing and continued like she hadn’t heard me, “Do you know what I like best about it?”
“No, but I have a feeling you’re about to tell me,” I muttered, rolling my eyes in annoyance.
I could tell my insolence pissed her off when Onyx brought the ring up in front of her face, like it was the most interesting thing in the world, examining it closely before she replied, “This thing allows me invisibility.”
Containing myself proved harder, the longer Onyx spoke. If I only had minutes left on this planet, I needed to hurry this conversation along. “I think you got swindled; that or our definition of invisibility is different,” I replied with a shrug before adding, “But you do you, and I’ll do me, is what I always say. Although I am curious to know what’s blocking my gift?”
“I’ll get to that, but first, I think I should elaborate. It doesn’t make me invisible, just my powers,” Onyx replied with a smirk.
“When you say it that way, it leads me to believe you’re hiding something? Which begs the question. What could a chalcedony user have to hide?” I answered, thanking Beatress for that tidbit of knowledge.
“How did you know that was my specialty?” Onyx questioned with a whine.
“I picked up on it when we flashed into the room,” I lied with ease.
“Impossible! Besides my cloaking ring, Kema here is a suppressor. It’s one of the reasons I collected her. Her ability to suppress a Sixer’s gift is a game-changer, in my opinion,” Onyx challenged.
“I admit my power is missing now, but I had access for a brief moment upon our arrival to detect a few gifts in the room. Your ring must not work against me,” I answered, hoping she’d take the bait and ask me to elaborate.
“What are you?” Onyx asked with a frown.
“I’m a compendium,” I replied with a curtsy, “My ability allows me to identify the powers of other Sixers.”
Onyx scoffed at my admission and said, “It has to be more than that; otherwise, why would the Mengh want you?”
“Probably because I can see everything a Sixer is capable of doing; Or it could be because I can provide them with instructions on how to access that ability if they haven’t yet mastered it,” I responded with a straight face. I couldn’t help but grin when Onyx stomped her feet in a fit.
I half expected her to throw a full-blown tantrum, but she shook her head instead and said, “No.” Pausing for a moment before she raised her head, studying me for a minute before she spoke, “I admit you weave a fascinating tale, but did you really think I would fall for it? Granted, I practically handed you the idea when I told you I made it my mission in life to master my gift. The chance to prove I have nothing left to learn is a nice carrot to dangle in front of my eyes, but for what purpose is my question?”
“You seem like a smart businesswoman. I’m gambling on the fact that you’ll realize my worth and what I could bring to your army. Surely you must see handing over such a precious commodity is detrimental to your end game, especially when your enemy will use it to strengthen their army,” I countered.
Onyx stroked her braid while contemplating before she spoke, “I can’t deny I’m curious, but you have one thing wrong. The Mengh are not my enemy. We’ve come to an understanding. If I deliver you, they’ve agreed to sign a peace treaty. Ending this millennia-old war when I take my place alongside my mate. Even you should see the beauty of your sacrifice.”
“Gutsy decision, in my opinion. I don’t know whether I should applaud you for your bravery or ridicule you for believing the Mengh would stop. Their need for my services should be proof enough they aren’t looking for peace,” I opposed, throwing my hands in the air for emphasis.
“You could be lying about your powers just to make me second guess my decision,” Onyx added, cocking her head to the side.
“True, but you could always test me. Choose anyone in this room, and I’ll tell you every little thing there is to know about their special abilities,” I replied, pointing to the other Sixers present.
Onyx shook her head and said, “No. If you’re going to read anyone in this room. It will be me.”
Holding my arms open wide, I looked over at the Sixer suppressing my powers and said, “I’ll need you to call off your lackey if you want me to work my magic.”
“Kema,” Onyx barked, giving an imperceptible nod when the petite blond with a messy bun spared a glance her way. Kema’s ocean blue eyes held a hint of rebellion when she answered, “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Your Highness. What if she overpowers us with her gift?”
“I didn’t ask you for your opinion, but you do have a point. Jade will have five seconds to start talking. If she’s wrong or hesitates, simply suppress her gift again,” Onyx snapped, crossing her arms as she dared the Sixer to argue with her again.
Kema withered under Onyx’s glare, losing some of her spirit. Dropping her shoulders, she sighed and said, “As you wish, Master.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
The way Onyx treated Kema and Adira gave me hope that when shit hit the fan, her allies would prove less loyal than mine. My nemesis’ ridiculous timeframe left me scrambling to deliver results without being able to explore my options beforehand. The stakes were too high for me to make a mistake. I needed to stall. Take matters into my own hands by feeding Onyx small bits I already knew about her gift. So I’d have more time to study the available powers within my reach. If I’d learned anything in the last few days, it was that my tendency to jump into things without a plan tended to backfire. I knew it was a gamble to assume my gift could see past Onyx’s ‘invisibility’ ring, but something told me to have faith.
I wanted a foolproof plan, but to do that, I needed to prepare for the worst, which included being ready to retreat with Kalen in tow if need be. At least I had the element of surprise on my side, but I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. Overconfidence could lead to my subsequent failure. If it were just my life on the line, it’d be one thing, but the thought of my mate’s death brought me to a place of darkness. One I didn’t know I was capable of. It made me realize I’d do anything to save the Strix at my feet, including killing the people in the room with us. Without question! Of course, I’d prefer a solution that didn’t include death on either side, but if it came down to them or us, I had no doubt I’d be able to protect us.
Knowing my luck, I’d only have one shot, and if I intended to make it a powerful one, I couldn’t take any chances. I braced myself to cut off Kema’s gift the moment her power over me receded if Onyx’s ring actually worked. I breathed a sigh of relief when I felt my gift return in its entirety and barely stop
ped myself from fist-pumping the air when my bluff paid off, and I could see her chalcedony power in its entirety. I blurted out the first thing Beatress told me as I mapped out our escape, “As a chalcedony user, you use your power to make weapons from the cryptocrystalline structure.”
“Is this a joke? You already knew I could make weapons. Again I showed you that talent. If that’s all you’ve got, you’re wasting my time,” Onyx sneered.
She looked past me to Kema, and before she could say anything, I spit out the next thing she was capable of, “Your gift allows you to erect large structures, such as walls, bridges, and buildings. I imagine an onyx temple would be something to behold.” Her silence gave me permission to continue, “Your gift can also produce chromium, which is lethal in large doses.”
When Onyx started nodding her head in agreement, I felt compelled to find something she didn’t know she could do. No matter how small it was. “Were you aware that if you produce enough hexavalent chromium, you can remove the oxygen from the air and suffocate everyone in the process? I highly recommend having a fail-safe, like an oxygen tank, when you try that one out. I’m positive even YOU can’t survive without air.”
Onyx paused for a moment in thought, which I used to my advantage. Switching gears, I dissected Kema’s power and skimmed over the cliff notes my gift provided me. I was surprised to discover her talent didn’t just suppress a Sixer’s gift. In fact, she was capable of stopping all six senses within a ten-yard radius. If push came to shove, I could take away everyone’s sight and sound as we made our escape.
“Interesting. I always felt like there was more I could do with it. Continue,” Onyx finally replied with a hint of excitement.
Stalling for time again so I could jump back to her portfolio, I asked, “You did? I’ve always wondered if the person could tell they were missing out. Did you have a sense of unfulfillment? I mean, how did you know?”
Onyx cocked her head at me in curiosity. No doubt, trying to assess my sincerity. I kept her gaze as she studied me and prayed she’d buy my bravado and attentiveness as earnestness. I used the time to look at the next significant ability she possessed and shuttered with uneasiness. I started second-guessing my delay tactics. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to teach my enemy how to kill me in a multitude of different ways. I opened my mouth to redirect the conversation when Onyx interrupted me with an unladylike snort, wrinkled her nose, and said, “No. Don’t be absurd. It just felt like the element had more potential. I got sidetracked perfecting something else, but have faith I’ll begin experimenting with chromium immediately. What else can you tell me?”
I blinked a couple of times in shock before I gained my composure. This battle was no longer about just my survival, not after that statement. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I let Onyx escape, knowing she planned to torture people with the knowledge I provided her. It was my responsibility to ensure she would never have the chance to harm anyone else ever again. There was no way I’d let myself be an accomplice in any way. “Uh . . . um. Let’s see,” I stammered before I cleared my throat and said, “Your ability to create a bloodstone is the stuff of nightmares.”
“What do you mean? Besides using it to focus my thoughts. I found the stone useless,” Onyx stated as she produced one in her outstretched hand and studied it.
“The iron oxide in the gemstone can pull the hemoglobin from an opponent without even touching them, essentially draining them of their life source, like a bloodsucker. The gem stores the blood of your victims, which you can use later if you need to heal yourself,” I answered with reluctance as I started to see all the different ways she had to kill a person.
“How do I do it?” Onyx asked as she looked at the stone in her hand with newfound reverence.
“I’m afraid that would take more time than we have. Would you like me to continue, or have I said enough to prove I wasn’t lying,” I stated, acting like I didn’t have a care in the world. When in actuality, I’d never been more frightened in my life. Gah! I know they say there’s a first for everything; I just wish my test didn’t have to be during a life or death situation. Even though I could read every gift within a one-mile radius, I’d never used more than one at once. Of course, if I thought about it, technically, I used more than one every time I borrowed someone else’s gift. There shouldn’t be a reason why I couldn’t add more to the mix. At least that’s what I was hoping for.
“Time isn’t a factor,” Onyx argued, taking a step in my direction.
“Oh? I was under the impression you were handing me over to the Mengh after our little chat,” I protested at the same time Adira spoke up, “I hate to intrude, but Lord Kalen’s potion will only last another fifteen minutes at the most.”
“Fine. What else can my power do? You’ve yet to list my favorite one,” Onyx conceded with a taunt.
I contemplated ignoring her request when I came across an ability that acted as a mirror. One that would allow me to redirect Kema’s power back on her, like a deflector shield. Virtually canceling out her ability as well as anything Onyx tried to send my way. Unfortunately, her jab had me questioning what else the sadistic bitch might be capable of.
“Your favorite? Huh. Let me see if I can guess what it is out of what’s left,” I hedged, carefully surrounding myself with the mirroring ability before I probed her gift one more time. I skipped past anything non-lethal and almost lost my composure when I realized what she might be referring to. Cocking my head to the side, I began with, “Do I get anything if I am right?”
“Depends. Your release to the Mengh is not up for discussion, but anything else is fair game,” Onyx responded easily.
“I don't want Kalen anywhere near the Mengh. Promise me; he’ll be far away when you make the transfer. I wouldn’t put it past the monsters to try and hurt him when he’s vulnerable,” I declared with passion. Even though I knew we’d be long gone before anything like that could happen, I found myself promising myself I’d make sure she paid for her treachery.
“Granted,” She replied quickly with a chuckle.
When I looked at her in confusion, she said, “Your appearance in his life made me question my destiny. But your admission points out you have a weakness. Ordinarily, I’d exploit that flaw and use it to my advantage, but seeing as his safety was never an issue, I think you’d have been better off picking something else to bargain with. Can I be honest with you?” Onyx asked, adopting a sweet demeanor.
“Does that mean you’ve been dishonest with me the rest of the time?” I replied with a frown.
“A smart woman never believes the words of a stranger, an enemy, or someone they screwed over,” Onyx answered, counting the reasons on her fingers one at a time. “Considering I fit all three of those categories, you shouldn’t trust a thing I say.” Chuckling to herself, she continued, “Of course, that statement could also be a lie, so I’ll leave you to decide for yourself what you choose to believe.”
Shaking my head slowly, I scoffed before I said, “Good advice. I think. What did you want to be honest with me about?”
My hackles rose when Onyx looked down at my mate on the floor with tenderness before she answered, “He’s handsome and all, and having his offspring will be no hardship, but I always thought I’d feel different when I met my mate. Probably a byproduct of all the fairytales they told us as little girls. You know, the ones where they fill your head with fantasies that your special someone would somehow miraculously complete you. That statement always made me feel like they were telling me I was broken, which, as you can imagine, didn’t go over very well. So really, in the end, I have those tales to thank for who I am today.”
Her look of tenderness faded as a frown marred her face. Raising her gaze to mine, she said, “For such a brief affair; you seem mighty attached to him. I mean, you act like you actually care for him? Does it make you sad to know you’ll never have him again?”
“I’m feeling anything but sad right now,” I replied with barely concealed rage. I
gave Onyx my most sinister look and added, “No, the only thing I’m feeling is disgust and pity. Does it make you feel happy to know Anolla suffered immensely as your little creation ate her from the inside out?” Pointing at the squirming diabolitum in its cage of fire.
“Ahh, you figured it out. Fascinating creatures aren’t they,” Onyx answered as she waltzed toward the fiery cage with a faraway look in her eye.
“I wouldn’t consider calling a silicate-based lifeform that consumes all organic matter in its path fascinating. Call me crazy, but I’d call it creepy,” I seethed.
Onyx ignored my reply as she stared down at her gruesome creature with admiration. “I discovered the wicked talent when I was young. Six to be exact, when my nanny found my secret stash of stolen gold and gems. I panicked when she said she’d tell my father. Everything happened so fast. I just remember feeling threatened when I made a diabolitum the first time. My nanny being the unintended victim. My uncle found me in tears and helped me cover it up. It wasn’t until I was older that I discovered my body uses them in self-defense. Of course, I can also produce them at will now, but it’s nice to know I always have someone watching my back.”
“Like I said, creepy. I like being able to converse with the people that have my back,” I replied haughtily, making sure my deflector shield was in place.
Onyx snickered before she turned to me and said, “You really are naive. Let me give you a bit of advice before I send you on your way. Your destination won’t be teeming with loyal allies. If I were you, I’d trust nobody but yourself. I mean, you’re welcome to try, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I nodded my head slowly as I did my best to look defeated. Onyx strode to the other side of the room, putting distance between her and Kema before she turned around and said, “Well, even though our visit hasn’t been fun, I can honestly say it was educational. Thank you. Pity I already made a deal to get rid of you. Kema, be a dear and make yourself useful.”