by Jenn Nixon
“What has changed since we last left the island?”
“Jeez, really?” Cyndra lifted her brow when he grunted at her. “Sorry, okay, um, first we went back to the village and met Jack, then we went through the darklands and into the Southzone, talked to soulless about the missing wraiths, there’s me mastering my fire, last night, and—”
“We both went through the mirror,” Zorin said, dragging a hand down his face. Mergan’s manipulation had finally paid off.
“You mean…”
“It’s not a new barrier. This is the one keeping Mergan her and now that we’ve been in the mirror, we cannot get off the island either.” Zorin wanted to tell Cyndra about his dream talk with Pristy, yet the words never escaped his lips. He wasn’t certain it was true and didn’t want to scare her more. The caster lifted her hand toward the barrier again. He snatched it back and glared at her. “What more proof do you need?”
“I wasn’t going to touch it. I wanted to see if I can figure out what it’s made of,” defiant Cyndra barked, tugging her hand free and trudging toward the shore.
Zorin already knew and followed her, unprepared for the punch to his groin watching her walking out of the water, clothes clinging to her curves.
Stop that.
“Why?” Zorin moved behind her, watching her shudder.
She turned her head sideways. “I have to tell Rune and Jack and I can’t think when I feel your eyes on me.”
“Then go,” Zorin said softly. “I need to rest.”
Cyndra didn’t turn back, only nodded and walked away, taking her power from the immediate area yet increasing her output so he still felt her through the siphon. Swallowing hard and striping his eyes from her, Zorin returned to the lighthouse, taking the stairs slowly, and collapsing into the foam mattress.
This time, he forced his body to relax, but stayed awake. He didn’t want the burden of knowing the fate of those inside if what he saw was true. As much as he owed Evie, he couldn’t help her. His only mission was to keep Cyndra, Rune, and Jack safe. Returning to the mirror, even to bring Mergan out, put them and the entire planet at risk. Barrier or not, she’d find a way to make life on Earth worse than what the humans currently struggled through.
The longer he lay there, the more his body relaxed and eyelids grew heavy. The foam mattress was more comfortable than expected. He’d have to thank Jack for the work when he next saw him. Despite his attempts to stay awake, the need for sleep overcame his ability to keep his eyes open.
After updating Rune and Jack, Cyndra spent a couple of hours training with them, trying to push her energy to the max so she could finally master it. She was so close.
“I’m thinking once I can evoke the water and change its shape, I’ll have mastery.” Jack shrugged while controlling the movement of a puddle cradled in a batch of roots Rune conjured from the ground. “Few more weeks, maybe.”
I didn’t want to say anything, but I think after that last fight, I hit my fire limit, Rune projected as he glanced down at his left hand. My earthcasting has been weird lately like it’s trying to catch up or something.
“Same thing with my energy,” Cyndra said, evoking her fire to her hand only. “If I keep using it, my left hand starts to get tingly, almost like it’s jealous.”
Rune lifted his brows and shrugged. Who knows, maybe it is.
Jack chuckled. “I’ve learned to be open. Anything is possible.”
“’Cept getting off this fucking island,” Cyndra spat, rubbing her hand over her face. “Sorry, I’m tired of the mirror and the barrier and Mergan.”
“We should remove the protections from the mirror,” Jack said. “If Zorin can’t help us find the casters, the soulless will, eventually. We don’t know what she’ll do inside with power. At least if Mergan’s out here—”
“Not yet, not until I hear from Pristy. We know it works now, I’ll even go right now and try to nap,” Cyndra said, taking a breath to continue, “We need a plan for dealing with Mergan. We can’t fight her on our own even if we are stronger now.”
Rune nodded. I can make an early dinner…
“I’d love that. I’m not really tired yet.” Cyndra glanced toward the lighthouse, aware Zorin was sleeping, even from this distance. “My turn to pick the garden.”
“Dibs on the first shower,” Jack said with a smirk.
I’ll stay until Zorin’s ready for his shift. Want to fix up the staircase a bit anyway.
“You’re such a perfectionist,” Cyndra chuckled. “I’ll check on him when we get back.”
Rune waved them off and Jack talked non-stop as they walked through the woods and field heading back to the lighthouse. She had to admit it was nice to have other things to talk about besides their problems.
“Believe me, I regret teaching Kyle how to place chess, the kid beat me less than a year after learning.”
“He’s going to be great at ZoneCorps, they might try to recruit him for staff.”
Jack smiled. “You think so?”
“With all his skills? Yeah, you taught him well, Jack-Jack,” Cyndra said, smiling back at him.
“We really should check out that library,” Jack said, slowing his pace the closer they got to the lighthouse.
“Yes, we need to. I’m running out of fantasy books to re-read.”
“And it’s possible we’re going to have to house and feed thousands of casters on this island. We’ll need to do a lot of repairs, didn’t you want solar panels? And maybe get more wells working for water…”
Cyndra chuckled tersely. “I never should have opened that box.”
“Oh, come on,” Jack said, bumping his shoulder into hers. “Sure, this sucks right now, but we’re part of this bigger picture, Cyndra, a world we belonged to with family and friends—”
“Who were part of a war that almost ruined that world,” Cyndra mumbled. “Before this all dropped into my lap to fix, I survived to live. Every day working twelve hours, sunrise to set, just to make enough to eat for the day and keep my lights on. Rune and Zorin turn up in my life and I’m eating three times a day, have a roof over my head that I don’t have to pay for, protect. I’m grateful for what I have. I don’t have time to think about some fancy life I’ll never get, I know the shit’s gonna hit the fan, soon.”
Jack smiled at her, surprisingly.
“What?”
“If you could have any life, what would it be?”
Cyndra rolled her eyes.
“Use your imagination, Cyndra. Come on, what would it be?” Thinking about it for a moment, a smile tugged the corner of her mouth. Jack opened the door to the lighthouse. “Go on.”
“I’d live in the mountains, high up, preferably in a small cabin, completely off grid, growing my own food, and hunting, somewhere cooler than Virginaland, oh, with a lake nearby.”
Jack lifted his brow, pausing halfway up the stairs. “You’d want to be alone?”
“No, derp, I’d be with Zorin,” Cyndra said.
“Right,” Jack replied, shaking his head. “But why not with other casters? Or in a big city, like we used to have or even in space, you’ve read a ton of books.”
“And all those people’s lives are complicated. I don’t like complicated, it drives me nuts as you’ve recently seen.” Cyndra shrugged as they reached the living space. “Simple plan, simple life, but it would be nice to have friends nearby, so you can have part of the mountain.”
“That sounds great,” Jack said, patting her shoulder as his eyes averted up to the ceiling. “I’m going to take that shower.”
While he went to get a change of clothes, Cyndra tiptoed up to the service room only to find it empty. She breezed up the stairs and through the lantern room, finding it and the walkway empty as well. Sensing Zorin’s agitated energy riding through the air, Cyndra dashed to the other side of the lighthouse and spotted him gliding over the trees near the ocean side coast, heading for the mansion.
What are you doing? she projected.
He
didn’t answer or slow or even turn back to look her way. Was he that mad over a little spat?
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Cyndra reached out to Rune to let him know Zorin was on the way and that he was in a mood, again. Unsure why she thought things between her and Zorin would be easier now that they’d been together was just another miscalculation on her part. Maybe it was time to stop making decisions and just follow, every time she made a choice something backfired and she was tired of losing.
Chapter 23
Mergan wasted no time finding him as he slept, almost as if she’d been waiting for him. Zorin tried to wake, but her pull kept him under, and clouded his mind while heightening his threshold for physical pain in the dreamlike-state.
“Release me,” he growled to the air, unable to see through the fuzzy scenery.
“Do you know what happens when we don’t sleep, my pet?” Mergan’s voice echoed through his ears, her face hidden from him.
“Drive me insane if you wish, you rotting in the mirror-realm is worth my death.”
“Death, oh no, pet, I’ll have enough power soon and I’ll regain control over your mind, it still belongs to me. You belong to me. You are my creation and you’ll do as I bid.”
“No, I won’t,” Zorin snapped.
“Do you remember your family name?”
The question stunned Zorin into silence.
Her chuckle rose through the air. “What do you want most? Cyndra or your former identity? I can fill the gaps in your mind, make you whole again, take away the darkness, and return you to human.”
“You’ll never help me.”
“I will, but require a condition,” she said, softening her voice. “Cyndra lowers the barriers and you leave the island with me.”
He laughed this time. “Easy, Cyndra. I’d rather stay in this form for eternity than let you free.”
“Zorin Thorne, Cyndra is not your redeemer. I am. She has no chance of turning you back. She can’t save you, monster.”
“She’s already stronger than you,” he snapped, spinning around, crunching his fingers against his thigh.
“Is she? Does she even know how?”
“Your powers are nothing special, just twisted and dark,” Zorin grunted, growing tired of this conversation.
She laughed at him.
“Release me!”
“Return to this realm and free me.”
“I won’t.”
“Then Evie’s death is on your head and Cyndra will be next.”
Zorin opened his eyes and lifted his head from the mattress. With his siphon completely open, he sensed all the casters nearby, not in the lighthouse thankfully. Drawing up to his knees, he stretched his wings and limbs, then got up and finished the cool tea Cyndra left on his table.
His chest warmed then his heart dropped as Mergan’s words rushed back into his mind. He didn’t know if Cyndra was strong enough to undo such a dark and powerful energycast even with her accelerated skills.
“Thorne,” he whispered, seeing the faces of his parents in his mind. Beyond having his name back, Zorin heard threats that chilled him to the bone. Taking Mergan’s words to heart, he paused in the doorway, sensing the casters coming closer.
Jack and Cyndra walked through the field, laughing and talking.
Mergan’s dark energy seeped into the air.
Zorin froze in place, eyes locked on the mansion. When he heard Jack’s voice inside the lighthouse, he forced his body forward and gripped the railing. He had to be sure Mergan didn’t escape. Jumping off the walkway, Zorin spread his wings, circled around the lighthouse, riding the air, and sensed Rune’s powers as he neared the mansion.
He tilted his body for more lift and soared over the trees, dipping down halfway to pick up speed during the descent.
What are you doing?
Hearing Cyndra’s voice in his mind sent ripples up his spine, diverting his attention from his flight. He extended his right wing and curved toward the mansion, landing just outside the barrier.
“Rune?”
The caster came around the side of his staircase of roots with his usually upbeat attitude. Cyndra said you were coming for your shift. However, I honestly think this is a waste of time.
“Why?”
We should let them out, all of them. Even her, we have a better chance of stopping her out here with more casters on our side. Rune reached through the barrier and clasped his wrist. Zorin jumped the wall and barrier and followed him back toward the former tower wing.
“Perhaps we should bring that up at dinner,” Zorin said, gazing toward the mirror. Mergan’s power increased, but there was no breach, she was not here.
Going to get started after I shower.
“She’s still inside,” he murmured.
What?
“I will take the shift,” Zorin answered, following the pull of her dark energy.
Yeah, I…are you okay?
“Fine, Mergan is still trapped. See you at dinner.” Zorin bypassed the stairs by leaping into the air and catching a gust of wind to take him up to the hallway leading to the former prison room. Rune called his name, but Zorin had his mission. Protect the casters. Casters were in the mirror and he could get them out. He had to help the casters.
Zorin paused in the doorway, hearing Cyndra calling him again, but then he remembered Pristy and Evie and Lily, they were stuck in the mirror. He entered the room, knowing he had to find them and bring them back.
What are you doing? Rune projected forcefully as he rushed up from behind.
“Protecting the casters,” Zorin said, sensing a pull from a new direction now. Unsure which to follow, he gazed toward the mirror then the opposite way, seeing the lighthouse in the distance.
Zorin! Cyndra shouted through his mind.
He blinked at Rune. “I…”
Cyndra’s power cocooned his body, bringing clarity for a single moment before the ominous cloud returned to his mind. Seeing her dash down the hallway sped up his heart, and when their eyes met, Zorin knew what was happening. Forgive me, Cyndra.
“What, no…Zorin?” Cyndra ran into the room.
He lifted his hand to stop her and Rune from stepping closer. He had a mission: protect the casters. Walking backward to keep his eyes on the pair, Zorin paused in front of the mirror, feeling his pulse racing, and the dark pull overtaking his senses.
When he shoved his other arm into the mirror, Cyndra screamed and jerked forward. Rune held her back.
“What are you doing?” she screeched at him, struggling in Rune’s arms.
“Protecting the casters.” His reply seemed rehearsed.
Zorin, please don’t go .Cyndra’s sweet voice bounced through his brain.
Everything turned fuzzy. His head swirled. Another voice pierced his thoughts, this one telling him what to do, how to save the casters. Something wrapped around his arm, tugging him into the mirror.
“No,” Cyndra cried, breaking from Rune’s grasp, and grabbing his left hand with hers, infusing him with pure energy and giving him another moment of clarity. “Please…”
“Cynd—”Zorin jerked at the same moment Cyndra pulled him back.
He tumbled forward, knocking her in the shoulder. She lost her footing, but not her grip, and crashed to the ground, taking him with her.
A third thud echoed.
When Rune gasped, Zorin’s eyesight faded and the whole world turned white.
Cyndra stopped breathing and stared into the whited-out eyes of her gargoyle. He blinked at her, void of all emotions. Unable to speak while watching Zorin help Mergan to her feet, Cyndra scrambled backward, closer to Rune, who already had his casterguard in place, flaming against his forearm.
Zorin, can you hear me?
Of course we can, his mental voice projected.
“No,” Cyndra gasped, covering her mouth as she rose to her feet. “Zorin you have to fight her!”
“I’m afraid that’s not an option, firebug,” Mergan mocked, running her hand dow
n Zorin’s arm as she walked in front of him. “You get the same choice, you want Zorin back, lower the barriers—”
If you’re so powerful, you do it, Rune projected, as his shielding grew larger.
“Obviously I can’t, you simpleton, otherwise I would.”
“Don’t know why you think I can, I’m just a newborn caster,” Cyndra said, using Mergan’s words against her hoping she’d get pissed and run her mouth.
“Zorin thinks you’ve surpassed me. His faith in you will be rewarded with his freedom if you succeed or doomed to servitude upon your failure.”
“Fucking bitch.” Cyndra evoked the fire to her hand. “Too afraid to face me head on?”
“Afraid?” Mergan scoffed. “Silly girl, do you know nothing of our powers? We can’t kill each other.”
What? Rune blinked.
“The damage can be severe, but directly lead to death, no.” Mergan shook her head as she reached down and took hold of Zorin’s hand. Her gargoyle didn’t move, didn’t speak, living up to the nickname Cyndra gave him as he stood at Mergan’s side. “I’m tired of imprisonment, yes, which is why I want to bargain.”
“Manipulate. The answer is no.”
“I’m willing to give up my greatest weapon, relinquish control of my monster to you in exchange for my freedom.”
“He’s not—”
“Yes, yes, gargoyle, semantics. I’ll leave, you can free the others,” she said too sweetly as a smile crept up her mouth. “You have one day to decide.”
Zorin picked up Mergan and cradled her in his arms as she wrapped her hands around his neck. “Your power is outstanding, Cyndra. I’ll enjoy siphoning him all night.”
Rune’s hand tightened around her wrist, trying to calm her through their bond as Zorin dashed out of the room and took to the skies. After Rune let her go, Cyndra ran to the edge of the remaining hallway watching Zorin circle around the far side of the mansion and disappear into the trees. There were no tears this time. Even Rune’s attempt to keep her calm was lost at the building rage inside her body. Her left hand began to shake.
Rune gripped it and glanced over. He’ll fight her. He’s still in there. I saw it.