“And were you an annihilator?” I ask Priya.
“I still am,” she replies with a nod, leaning forward on Titus’ lap to snag some more grapes. She doesn’t feed them to him but merely holds them out in her palm where they both pull from the bunch. “I just don’t go out as much as I used to.”
Fascinating. Priya is all lush and sensuous and so feminine, it’s hard to imagine her killing Dark Fae. But hey… I was just a plain barista almost four months ago and look at me now.
Savior of the world.
“Will you be helping to train Finley and Zora?” Carrick asks Priya from the end of the table.
She nods and Titus explains. “I’m going to have a man by the name of Caiden Gallagher, who’s both an annihilator and instructor at the Academy, run Finley through the Gauntlet while Priya and I work with Zora on some fighting skills. We’ll start on that today. Tomorrow, we’ll move into magical skills.”
“What’s a gauntlet?” Zora asks, her first words since arriving.
Priya is the one who answers. “After you graduate from the Academy, you become an Initiate and are assigned a mentor. From there, you have a period of one-on-one training with your mentor and go out on actual assignments. Once your mentor feels you are sufficiently prepared, you run the gauntlet. If you make it through, you become an annihilator.”
Titus sweeps his eyes to me. “I think Finley already has what it takes to defeat the gauntlet, and it will be a great way for her to practice utilization of all her skills, including her magic.”
“But I’m still not sure what a gauntlet is,” Zora says.
“It’s a series of trials whereby Finley will be pitted against dark creatures and obstacles in an environment that’s pretty hostile.”
“It sounds terrifying,” Zora says aghast, cutting her eyes to me.
“No more terrifying than facing Kymaris in a battle for the Earth realm,” Titus points out.
“But I’m not going to be doing that, am I?” Zora asks with a frown.
Titus shakes his head. “Finley actually had years of mixed martial arts before any of this ever started. She’s got a huge head start on you in the physical arena. I merely hope to show you some defensive techniques and how to use a weapon for protection. We want to spend the majority of time with you tapping into your magic. That will be your biggest advantage.”
Zora nods in understanding then brings her attention to me. “Our magic is connected somehow. I assume we’ll work together?”
It’s a good question and I look to Titus to answer, but Carrick speaks. “Once Zora is comfortable accessing her magic, I think it would be good for you two to practice some unification of your powers, but there’s no guarantee that we’ll have the opportunity to do that during the ritual. So it’s more important that you be able to individually tap your magic.”
Zora nods again, her gaze dropping down to her food where she quietly starts eating again.
Talk turns more casual as Priya and Titus educate us on the island and its inhabitants. There’s an actual town down at the bay with restaurants and shops. There are a fair number of daemons here who work on the island, including some who are instructors at the Academy.
Eventually, Titus announces it’s time to head out and Priya hops off his lap. “Give me just two minutes to get changed,” she announces before she trots off into the kitchen and then presumably down one of the wings to their bedroom.
I lean over to give Titus a quick punch on the arm. “All our talks… all the time we spent together, and you never mentioned Priya once,” I chastise.
“Priya’s not the type of woman you just mention,” Titus replies in that deep rumbly tone that indicates he’s imparting a lesson. “She’s someone you have to experience.”
I can’t help the sigh that escapes because that was romantic.
And then Carrick says, “I know exactly what you mean, buddy.”
And I sigh again because Carrick doesn’t often proclaim his feelings out loud to others.
A quick glance at Zora and she looks confused as hell. Again, relationships built on love are foreign to her and I imagine the romantic sentiments went over her head.
Titus pushes up from his chair, then looks pointedly at Zora and me. “Grab your packs and I’ll show you all to your rooms. You ladies need to get changed into something you don’t mind getting dirty or bloody.”
I laugh but when I note Zora’s look of alarm, I insist, “He’s just kidding.”
“I’m not,” Titus retorts as he heads into the kitchen but I can see the mischief in his eyes.
As we follow, I lean in toward my twin and whisper, “He’s kidding. I promise.”
Titus takes us down one of the wings and shows us two bedrooms opposite each other. He points at the doors. “Take your picks.”
Zora leans her head inside one and disappears, leaving the other to Carrick and me. The room is beautiful, also with sliding glass walls that open up to the warm, salty breeze, and it has its own small private courtyard. Carrick gazes outside as I quickly get dressed in a pair of workout leggings, a fitted tank, and tennis shoes.
As I’m putting my hair up in a ponytail, using the mirror above a dresser, Carrick turns my way. I can see his reflection in the mirror. “Are you worried about the gauntlet?”
His tone… it’s off. One of my eyebrows lifts as I turn to face him. “Are you?”
“I’m always worried about you,” he says with a wave of his hand. “I’m asking how you’re feeling.”
“I’m fine,” I assure him, but admittedly… “Okay, I’m a little nervous.”
“You should be,” he says, coming to put his hands on my shoulders. “It’s going to be mentally and physically taxing. You’re going to get hurt, but we can heal you. It’s going to be like nothing you’ve ever faced before.”
“Okay,” I drawl, feeling my palms go sweaty. “I’m really nervous now.”
Carrick dips his head. “But you can do it. You’re as qualified as any Initiate running this course. Just keep a level head and remember your brain is your best weapon once you’re inside.”
“Got it,” I say with a nod. “Any other advice?”
Carrick smiles. The kind that’s devilish and makes my belly flutter low. “Don’t get too hurt. That bed looks pretty unbreakable.”
I laugh and he kisses me hard, then he’s turning me toward the door. “Let’s get this done.”
We meet up with Priya, Titus, and Zora, who are all waiting on the front lawn where we first arrived from Seattle. Both Priya and Titus have changed into workout gear.
“Are we going to bend distance to the Academy?” I ask because that obviously seems the quickest way to travel on the island. I have no clue where the Academy actually is, but even the closest buildings I see down by the bay are quite the hike.
“Since you and Carrick have never been, yes, we’ll bend distance and I’ll take you,” Titus says, but then shifts his attention to Zora. “I understand you can fly, though.”
Zora seems shocked he knows this, but not in a betrayed way. She knows I shared her abilities, but she looks nervous anyway as she nods.
Priya steps up beside her. “That’s how we travel in Semper Terra… flight. The residents here are all imbued with the island’s magic that lets us fly. So I thought perhaps you’d like to join me in flight there?”
I never thought in a million years I’d ever be jealous of Zora, but I am in this moment.
But in a happy way since she gets to take the aerial view of Semper Terra.
A smile breaks out on her face, such that I have never seen before. I didn’t know Zora was able to feel that level of joy. That obliterates any jealousy, and I’m insanely happy on her behalf.
“I’d love to fly there with you,” she exclaims.
Carrick and I share mutual smiles over her enthusiasm.
“Let’s do it then,” Priya exclaims. The next thing I know, she’s leaping into the air where she floats about thirty feet above us.
There’s a rustle as Zora’s wings unfurl from behind her back. She’s dressed the same as me in workout pants and a tank, but her white curls cover her back and in between her wings so I can’t see how they are attached.
Magically, of course, but I also assume they are attached to muscle and bone.
Regardless, she doesn’t hesitate before giving them a huge flap to lift her off the ground.
Another flap and she shoots up five feet, and the third flap has enough power to put her equal to Priya where she slowly moves her wings to keep her hovering.
Zora looks down at me and I’m grinning like a loon. I flash her the double thumbs-up sign, and then I laugh when she does the same back to me.
Titus, Carrick, and I are silent as we watch the women fly off over the top of the house and up and over the other side of the mountain.
When they’re out of view, Titus grabs my hand and I grab Carrick’s.
After he bends distance, we step out onto the Academy grounds.
CHAPTER 13
Finley
After we step out onto a grassy field, I glance around. It looks like we might be on the other side of the mountain where Titus lives as the bay down below is smaller and there aren’t as many buildings going down the forward slope.
Where we are, there isn’t a building in sight but there is a man walking toward us.
And um… what a man. He’s as tall as Carrick, packed with muscle, and has the dreamiest face surrounded by midnight-black hair. As he gets closer, I see his eyes are a light green surrounded by long, thick lashes. His face is covered in dark stubble and he’s dressed casually like Carrick is—shorts, tee, and flip-flops.
“Caiden,” Titus rumbles, stepping forward and holding his fist out. “Thanks for coming to help.”
The men bump fists and then Titus introduces Carrick and me, and it’s clear that Caiden has been fully apprised as to who we are and that we have a big role to play in an upcoming prophecy in the Earth realm.
“Caiden is one of the instructors here at the Academy,” Titus explains. “And one of our most successful annihilators. If you’re going by kill count, that is.”
Caiden flashes a grin and shakes both our hands. “Glad to help. Most of the people here in Semper Terra are from the Earth realm, so we all have a vested interest in helping you defeat Kymaris.”
“You know Kymaris?” I ask him.
Caiden laughs. “Not personally, but I’ve taken down quite a few of her Dark Fae that she’s sent through the veil to cause havoc. Let’s just say I’ve got some good interrogation techniques and have managed to learn a lot about her over the centuries.”
“Centuries?” I exclaim. “How old are you?”
“Right around four hundred,” he replies, his eyes cutting to Carrick. “But not as old as you, demi-god.”
“And yet, I’m young by many Dark and Light Fae standards,” Carrick quips.
“Guess I’m the baby of the group,” I add, and then immediately blush as that was totally lame.
“You have the gauntlet set up?” Titus asks his friend.
“Sure do,” Caiden replies easily, throwing a thumb over his shoulder to where the jungle forest begins.
“Then I’m out of here,” Titus says, turning to me with a smile. He moves closer, then puts his hands on my shoulders. “Caiden will start you on the gauntlet. I’m going to go help Priya with your sister.”
I swallow hard, not really wanting Titus to go. He’s been the one who has taught me the most when it comes to my physical abilities and he just always inspires confidence in me.
“You’ve got this,” Titus assures me.
I don’t even get a chance to reply that I do indeed have this, because Titus flashes away, apparently bending distance to wherever Priya and Zora are.
“So what do you know about the gauntlet?” Caiden asks, slapping his hands together and rubbing them with anticipation in his expression.
“Just that it’s an obstacle course,” I reply, but the hesitation in my voice shows that I really don’t know much at all.
Caiden turns on his foot and starts heading toward the edge of the jungle line, talking over his shoulder as we follow. “The gauntlet is sort of like an obstacle course. It can be held in many different places, sometimes here on the island or sometimes in another realm. It’s got physical obstacles you have to overcome as well as foes that you’ll have to face off with. You may use any weapon or magical ability that you like. Past that, the only rule is to make it through alive.”
“Alive?” I exclaim, feeling a bit sick.
Caiden comes to a stop at what I can now see is a footpath into the thick bushes and trees. “The foes you are going to be pitted against are going to try to kill you. Titus said you’re ready for this.”
I glance over at Carrick. While I know, deep down, he’s got a bit of worry because my safety is going to be jeopardized and he won’t be able to help me, I mainly see confidence.
Sliding my gaze back to Caiden, I nod. “I’m ready.”
With a whoosh, a flaming sword appears out of thin air right into Caiden’s hand and he leaps at me to attack. Without thought, I dive to the ground, roll to the right several times to put distance between us, and come back up with my whip I’d conjured in my hand. I had left it back at Titus’ house as I was told to bring nothing with me.
I add some magical pizazz in the form of fire along the length of my whip and I throw an underhanded snap at Caiden, which causes him to jump back to avoid getting struck.
He grins and drops the sword, which disappears before hitting the ground, then thrusts his hand at me, a blue jet of light shooting out of his palm and straight at my face.
I go to my tried-and-true bubble shield, which I get up in plenty of time before his magic hits me, but this time I take control of the ricochet and drive the magic back on him.
He merely waves his hand in front of his face before the blue light strikes, and it disappears.
“You’ve got great instincts, and your mind works fast,” Caiden praises. “I think you’ll do just fine.”
Turning, I face Carrick. He steps into me, puts a hand behind my neck, and pulls me in for a quick one-handed hug and a swift kiss on top of my head. “You got this, Finley.”
I tip my head back. “You sure?”
“The surest,” he says with a nod. “Trust your instincts. Remember your abilities are only limited by your imagination. And—”
“—and if I die, you’ll wait for me to come back,” I finish for him.
Carrick laughs. “That was not what I was going to say. I was going to say if you get into real trouble, scream your ass off and I’ll come running.”
“Oh.” I give him a sheepish grin. “Okay. That’s nice to know, but I won’t call. You know I’m too stubborn for that.”
“Then I suggest you don’t die,” Carrick replies. This time, he pulls me in for a long kiss, still just holding me by the back of my neck.
When he releases me, I’m a little weak and dizzy but that’s merely the power of Carrick and has nothing to do with the tinge of fear sweeping through me.
I wave to Carrick before following Caiden into the jungle along the footpath. He’s quiet for a few minutes before asking, “You really can’t die? I mean… you told Carrick you’d come back.”
“Oh, I can die,” I assure him. “But I’m under a curse to reincarnate and Carrick is under a curse to find me, fall in love all over again, and one day watch me die again.”
“Okay, that’s a story I need to hear in more detail over a beer after you finish the gauntlet,” he cracks with a laugh.
“Deal,” I say, but then my mouth snaps shut as we round a bend and come to a cave shrouded in jungle vines. The opening is barely big enough for Caiden to squeeze through.
“That’s the start of your gauntlet,” Caiden says, sweeping his hand toward the cave. “Just keep pushing forward, and Carrick and I will be waiting for you on the other end.”
“And you can’t tell me what exactly to expect in there?” I press, already knowing the answer.
Caiden just winks at me before giving me a tiny push toward the cave. “Good luck.”
“You mean good skill,” I murmur. “Luck won’t have anything to do with it.”
I glance over my shoulder, but blink in surprise. Caiden is gone, and I’m on my own.
“You can do this, Finley,” I murmur as I step into the opening of the cave.
At first, it’s so dark I can’t see anything, so I put my hands in front of me until they press against a cold, slimy stone wall. I follow it along for a few feet before it opens into a chamber that’s lit with torches attached to the wall at various intervals. The lighting isn’t great—just enough to get an idea as to the dimension of the chamber I’m in as well as the hard-packed dirt beneath my tennis shoes, but there are far too many shadows in between the torches. I’m already on high alert.
The chamber is roundish and maybe thirty feet across. I move to the middle and slowly turn, eyeballing every inch of the wall and any details the light provides.
And there… I see an opening.
I glance around again, make sure I’m not missing anything that perhaps I should be taking with me a weapon or something, but the chamber appears barren except for the torches.
I might need a torch, so I step to the one near the opening in the cave wall and pull it out of its holder. The flame is vigorous and hot, so I hold it as far away from me as I can to light the way and not singe my eyebrows. I thrust it into the dark opening, but I see it’s nothing but a short passage that leads into another room, and that one is aglow so I assume there are more torches on the wall.
I don’t drop the one I have just yet as there’s no telling what the lighting situation will be the further I move.
The inside of the cave is cool, but I don’t feel any drafts of air. The walls shimmer with slime, so I try not to touch them as I walk the narrow passageway to the next room.
When I reach the threshold out of the passage, I note it’s considerably darker in here as there’s only one torch on the wall opposite me and I can see by a darkened shadow there’s another opening there to walk through.
The Rise of Fortune and Fury Page 12