Dark Matter

by Christie Rich

  Zach gave him a nod that I was sure meant something more than what lay on the surface.

  We marched through the forest hardly making a peep. The sounds of destruction intensified the closer we got to the cottage. I covered my nose to keep out the acrid stench that tainted the air. We weren’t all that far from the compound and I was finally able to see what was going on. The whole place was an inferno.

  My gut clenched when I considered what could have happened to all those girls. Had they been taken away on the boats, or would they have been deemed expendable and left behind to be devoured by insatiable flames? I glanced back at Roger. He was as grimfaced as I felt. I knew he cared about Lacey even if he wouldn’t admit it.

  The cottage was dark, the back door still open. I just prayed they were inside.

  It felt odd to have Zach and Luke here with me now. I had been so consumed with the desire to rescue them that I hadn’t considered how awkward it would be when I finally saw them again. I was beginning to think I had romanticized the experiences I’d had with them.

  Zach reached out and took my hand as if he knew that I was doubting everything I felt about him. His fingers were warm against mine, reminding me of when he had held me in the hospital when Cassie was hurt. It seemed so long ago now, again, as if I had lived a different life. Was that what the Order had done to me?

  Not to be outdone, Luke nestled my other hand into his. This was ridiculous. Zach let go of me and shoved his hands into his pockets.

  I studied his slumped shoulders and downcast eyes. Was he already giving up on us?

  It would certainly make my decision easier if he was no longer interested in me, but was that what I wanted?

  Easy usually isn’t the best route to take and I knew it. What would I do if he distanced himself from me like Heath had?

  Heath and Roger moved away from us, staking out the perimeter of the cottage before they went inside. When they came out mere moments later, Roger shook his head.

  I didn’t hesitate. I started down the road toward the compound then stopped when realization struck me. I was still thinking in human terms.

  With Ainessa gone, we should be able to use our powers. I faced the group. “Isn’t there a faster way to locate them? Can’t you all feel them or something?”

  Zach frowned and Luke laughed as if I had just uttered the most absurd thing he had ever heard.

  Heath inched closer to me.

  He studied me for a moment with an inscrutable look on his face. His eyes were unusually dark with an emotion I couldn’t define. “Are you willing to lose some of your suitors then? Which of us would you send away?”

  He wasn’t making any sense. His tone and inflection held a finality I didn’t like. “What are you talking about?”

  He took a deep breath then let it out slowly, looking at me as if I was clueless. “In order to seek out another Elemental we would have to relinquish our claim to you.”

  Oh.

  This was a perfect opportunity for me to dump some of my burden onto another girl. The question was: did I really want to?

  I had to give them credit. The lords waited patiently for me to make up my mind, but in the end, I couldn’t. Not with a decision that was this important.

  Good thing I had a different idea. “Tell me how to do it.”

  Heath laughed. “Avoiding as usual, I see.”

  Luke joined Zach in frowning. I turned toward them, hoping for help but finding contempt.

  “Come on,” I said. “It’s a good option and you know it. Unless one of you wants to volunteer…”

  I wasn’t aware that men could look at me that way. They all shot me the same offended expression. It reminded me of how Jenny reacted when Aunt Grace refused to get her the latest fashion magazine at the grocery store.

  Finn spoke up, “She has a point. She should be capable.”

  “I don’t think it a good idea,” said Zach.

  Heath stepped forward donning a smug expression. “Don’t tell me the legendary Zach is afraid of losing her,” he said in clear mockery.

  “What would you know about loss, Heath? You haven’t ever given yourself over to the bond fully. You would be stronger than any lord if you had.”

  Heath turned a glare on Zach that should have melted his face off. When he glanced at me I recognized uncertainty before he covered it with a laugh. “Stronger isn’t everything,” he said to no one in particular.

  I couldn’t believe he said that. Light bulbs flashed in my brain as a series of events suddenly made sense.

  Could it be possible that Heath was actually afraid of something? Maybe the connection he felt to me. Had he become attached to me back in Ignis? Was Zach right and he was worried he would lose me?

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  It all added up. Heath’s reaction in my room when I tried to leave him after Ainessa had attacked us and then his stony façade afterward. His pained expression when I did escape him with Gibbit.

  The only thing I was curious about now was what had made him change his mind again. He had claimed he would never bond with me, but we just about did. There was only one explanation I could come up with that made any sense: he was in love with me. He would probably never admit it to me, but somehow I knew I was right.

  Even though the bond hadn’t been completed, I still felt a connection to him that I didn’t have with Zach or Luke. It was feasible that it would fade in time, but what if it didn’t? What if we were partially bonded? Was that possible?

  Had I made a rash decision back there? If I had only known that Zach and Luke were coming for me, I would have waited, but which one of them would I have chosen? I was getting tired of asking myself that question. Would I ever be able to decide?

  Heath didn’t even respond to Zach. Instead, he walked over to me and turned me around, cocooning me in his arms. When I looked over my shoulder to question him, he said, “This is the easiest way for me to show you.”

  I tried to relax, but between his scent and his body pressed against mine like that I was feeling a bit tipsy. He was in my mind and it almost felt natural to have him there.

  But not quite.

  He swept my hair over my shoulder and leaned nearer. When his lips brushed my earlobe, I shivered. He spoke out loud, but it was so soft I wasn’t sure that anyone other than me could hear him. “Imagine you are drifting toward the compound, but don’t allow your soul to leave your body. Just use your third eye.”

  I chuckled, twisting toward him. Bad idea. Our lips were a breath apart. I had to say something now. “You’re starting to sound a little bit like a hippy, Heath.”

  He didn’t respond, but the rest of the group laughed. His eyes searched mine intently. What did he see there?

  Enough with jokes, I had to be serious. I closed my eyes and envisioned the compound. The scene focused. I could see us all huddled together near the cottage. My awareness rippled outward like a sound wave. Just like in the courtyard I could feel the Elementals on the island, yet this time was stronger. I recognized their power because of my own. There was no barrier blocking our connection. Each signal was slightly different. Would I be able to differentiate between the women though?

  I strained to see more clearly and Heath squeezed my forearm. “You’re trying too hard. Relax into it. When we get some time, I’ll show you how to harness your emotions to your advantage, but for now, just think about the person you want to see. Block out all else.”

  Lacey’s image wavered in front of me before solidifying into a horrifying scene. Someone was pushing her up into a helicopter. She was gagged and handcuffed. The background lit up with an explosion that rocked the air. I could feel it even from where I was standing. May shoved her forward and ordered the pilot to hurry.

  There was no way they were going to make it out of there alive. The air was electric with power as if the elements were ready to explode. Before Heath could stop me, I drifted to Lacey’s side. He’d just have to follow me.

  I shoved May out of th
e way. She stumbled unsteadily forward but whirled around quickly. When she saw who I was, her eyes flew wide. “You!” she growled.

  I smiled at her, but it wasn’t nice. “Get out of my way,” I demanded.

  “Make me,” she said in a low voice.

  I didn’t have anything against the girl, but I wasn’t about to let her hurt Lacey. I planted my feet and pictured a gigantic hand plucking her out of my way. Her mouth formed a near perfect O before her body flew backward and slammed into the tank behind her.

  With her gone, I focused on loosening Lacey’s binds. She held still, trying to make it easier for me then suddenly she pulled away, moaning loudly.

  I turned to glance over my shoulder, but something hard connected with my head, sending me sprawling. I shook off the blow and jumped to my feet.

  Just like the Terminator, May was back. Her eyes were full of hate and her skin was so tight I thought any second now she would spontaneously combust.

  No such luck.

  I felt a trickle of blood sliding down my face, filling my senses with its metallic aroma, but I refused to think about it. What was this girl’s problem anyway? I had never done anything to her.

  She had a long stretch of pipe balanced. Before I could say a word, she took aim at my head again.

  I focused on the pipe and it disintegrated in her hands as if it were made of sand. She gasped in a breath, her face hard in concentration. Her palm glowed green. I imagined an invisible shield bubble around me and Lacey.

  Just then the air grew thick with something ominous. I looked around but couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

  But something caught my eye, a slight movement that normally wouldn’t have stood out. Suddenly, Ainessa stood in front of May. She gave the girl a once over before she flicked her finger against May’s shoulder. A horrible expression of terror slid into May’s eyes just before her body exploded into a million shimmery specs of light.

  Okay, I was pretty sure that the fae were not allowed to kill humans. By the time she started toward me, I had finished untying Lacey.

  Ainessa narrowed her pretty green eyes at Lacey and raised her hand. I stepped in front of my friend strengthening our shield. At least I hoped I had.

  “Leave her alone,” I said, looking around for backup that hadn’t arrived yet. I couldn’t believe that Heath and the rest of my group hadn’t followed me.

  “What will you give me if I agree?” she asked with the weight of the world in her tone.

  I shook my head in confusion. “What do you want?”

  She relaxed her stance and stared at me for a minute. “I should think it would be quite clear by now. I need your power, Rayla.” Her compulsion blasted into me, shattering my new formed barrier as if it was made of glass. I stumbled from the impact.

  My feet shuffled toward her. I fought to stay in control, but I wasn’t good enough at this stuff yet.

  Before I knew it I was running into her embrace as if we were long lost friends.

  Lacey screamed at me to fight her.

  I stiffened under her touch, but I couldn’t bring myself to lift a finger against her. She moved her hand, and I caught a glimpse of an amazing ring. Something inside it swirled like a hypnotic whirlpool. I couldn’t pry my eyes away from it even though I tried.

  I heard a man’s voice behind me. “Nice work, My Queen.”

  Mr. Lambert’s face came into view. “If you want your friends to live, you will come with us.”

  I managed to nod but it was as if I was moving through setting concrete. “What is that?” I asked pointing to Ainessa’s ring. I had never seen it before, but I never wanted to look away. I reached toward the stone; it glowed under my touch. My body began to tremble as if my life was slowly flowing out of me and the thing pulsated like a heartbeat.

  “This just might work,” said Mr. Lambert.

  “Come,” Ainessa urged.

  I found myself following her toward one of the buildings. I turned around when Lacey started screaming at me again. Frick clamped one hand over her mouth the other hooked her waist, pulling her back against him.

  Seeing her in danger snapped me out of it momentarily. “Let her go,” I pushed out. The words felt like acid against my throat.

  Ainessa looked stunned, but when she glanced at Frick, he released Lacey. I was trying to call my power, but the barrier was back. My thoughts came in a jumbled mess. Where were the lords that had all vowed to protect me? Wasn’t the fae army supposed to be on the way? I thought Ainessa had gone. What was I going to do now?

  I knew I had to fight. I couldn’t let her have me no matter what happened. I stopped moving and she gave me a command again. This time she put the force of a hurricane behind her words. I staggered but was able to stop again. It took all my will to keep me where I was. If something didn’t happen soon, I would collapse. Ainessa whirled on me, glaring ferociously, and grabbed my hair, yanking me toward the building again.

  A strange buzzing blared in my ears. No one else seemed to notice it. It faded away but was soon back again, louder this time. There was something barely discernible in the static. Was that a voice?

  I looked up and saw a black spot in the sky. Styx? Could it be?

  Spread out behind him was a thick blanket of movement. They were coming. My heart leapt at the thought.

  The spec materialized into a vision I would never forget. Zach was perched on Styx’s back brandishing a blazing sword like an ancient hero. Behind him stretched a sea of fae. I glanced around wondering when Ainessa was going to react. Was I hallucinating? The fae didn’t use weapons, did they?

  Ainessa lifted her head and cursed when she saw Zach. He pointed the tip of his sword at her heart and tightened his jaw.

  Her fingers clamped around my upper arms, and I was pulled taut against her. Something cold and sharp pressed against my neck.

  “Make another move and this girl dies,” she hissed.

  “You would never let that happen,” said Jett.

  How was it that I was just noticing him? He was astride a magnificent animal. She was so beautiful it was hard to look at her, yet, at the same time, impossible not to. I wasn’t sure how I knew she was female, but it was unmistakable. Styx snorted and I glanced at him. Our gazes connected. Without so much as a word spoken, I simply knew. She was his mate and Jett had her captive somehow. No wonder he hated Jett.

  “You have no idea what I am capable of,” growled Ainessa, pressing the knife deeper into my throat. “The time for waiting is over. The council has shown their cowardice one too many times.”

  Zach laughed menacingly. “Even if you managed to bond with the girl then what? Neither of you have the experience to ignite the germ. Think about what you are doing, Ainessa. It would only be a matter of time before she would be taken from you. There are better ways to address your concerns. Consider what you are risking here.”

  I could feel her shake her head behind me. The knife bit deeper into my skin, and I winced. With her distracted, I was able to consentrate. I imagined a suit of armor between me and that blade. The pressure was gone immediately.

  She leaned nearer. “This isn’t over, Rayla. It won’t be until your power is mine.” With the strength of a freight train, she shoved me out of her way.

  I went sprawling toward the earth but managed to glance up just in time to see her grab Mr. Lambert, who was screaming at her to take me with them, and vanish.

  Dawn was approaching, bringing the rest of the fae army with it. Winged horses littered the sky, moving in unison like flocks of birds.

  The air around me swirled with their descent, kicking dust into my eyes. Lacey ran over to me and threw her arms around my neck. “I can’t believe she left you here,” she said.

  I couldn’t either. What had changed her mind?

  Lacey laughed. “Nice look, by the way.”

  What was she…oh, the armor. Instead of the bulky medieval things I had seen in pictures, I was wearing what looked like a cat suit. Only this app
eared to be made of diamonds. It cast prisms all over Lacey. I just shrugged.

  I marveled at the destruction around me. The buildings were leveled as if by an air-raid when moments before most of them had still been standing. I had expected a fight, but this didn’t resemble any battle I had ever heard of, although I was no expert. It wasn’t as if I had ever actually witnessed a war.

  Ainessa’s statement repeated in my head like a mantra. She wasn’t about to give me up, and now I knew she was willing to kill me if she couldn’t have me. Her thoughts had penetrated my mind moments before she vanished. A dark foreboding was brewing inside me, twisting my insides into something unrecognizable.

  Shadows danced at the edges of my vision. Elementals walked tentatively out of the jungle, gathering around us. They all had the same stunned expression plastered to their dirty faces.

  All in all there were about a hundred girls left. One of them started screaming, shrinking away from something more horrible than the Grim Reaper from the look in her eyes.

  A fae warrior circled above her, staring at her as if she was Athena herself. Lacey rushed to her side positioning herself between the girl and the man.

  She began patting the girl’s shoulder and looking at me for help. How was I supposed to know what to do?

  I walked up to the two of them and bent toward the shuddering frame of the fragile looking girl. She had to be about my age. Maybe a bit younger, I couldn’t tell for sure. I caught her attention and asked, “What’s your name?”

  She sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve. “Beth,” she replied softly.

  I looked up. The man had circled around for another pass. More of the fae were positioning to land. “I know they look really scary, but I’ve been to the fae realms. Apart from being a bit brighter than here, it’s not much different.” I was acting as if I knew everything about the place simply to calm her down. I wasn’t sure why I had taken to lying, but I felt the need to comfort her.

  Her gaze pierced my own. “It is?”

  “It’s actually quite beautiful. The mountains around Ignis put the ones in Alaska to shame.”