Playing With Fire (Power of Four Book 2)

by SF Mazhar

  “These swords are not like other weapons,” Neriah continued. “The Blades of Aric are extremely lethal. There is nothing in this world that could block them, defeat them.” He held Aaron’s gaze. “Mages were made for the sole purpose of fighting evil. The Blades were created to make sure legacy holders didn’t fail that task. When a legacy holder raises their Blade, nothing can stand in their way.”

  Aaron nodded. So far, he was following. “So how does the death sentence come into it?”

  “The legacies are our power, our future – they’re passed from one generation to the next,” Neriah started. “Legacies give power to the mages who share an affinity for their element. So as long as the legacies exist, every mage and Elemental will stay strong. The legacy holder is the only one able to use the Blades of Aric – the most powerful weapons against demons.” He paused for a moment, collecting himself. “Look at it through the eyes of our enemy, and you’ll see why legacy holders make such tempting targets.”

  Aaron stiffened, his eyes growing wide. His dad was still pacing, looking closer and closer to losing his nerve, but Aaron couldn’t focus on anything but Neriah.

  “But legacies are like anything else – they strive to survive,” Neriah continued. “If a legacy holder dies before leaving an heir, the legacy races back up the bloodline, going to the former holder. If that person isn’t there it will go further back. If it can’t find a previous holder, the legacy will try to attach to another in the same Elemental bloodline. If it can’t find anyone, only then will the legacy die.”

  “What happens then?” Aaron asked.

  “Without an active legacy, all those that shared that element’s power would grow weak and lose their powers.”

  “They would become human?” Aaron asked with shock.

  “No, Aaron,” Neriah said quietly. “They would die. Our powers are our life. Take them away and we have nothing to sustain us.” He took in a breath. “Which is what the demons want.”

  Aaron stilled in horror.

  “Three hundred years ago,” Neriah continued, “the leader of the Lycans decided the way to cripple mages was to hunt down the legacy holders and kill them. If they got rid of the legacies, the mages would grow weak by themselves and die.”

  Icy fear crept down Aaron’s back, making him shudder.

  “But it’s impossible for the Lycans to know the identity of the legacy holders,” Neriah explained. “So they target all of the Elementals.” He took a moment to continue. “Mages, they mostly ignore, but Elementals, they hunt down and kill.”

  Something clicked in Aaron’s mind and his heart dropped like a stone.

  “The City of Marwa,” he started in a hollow voice. “The City of the Elementals.” He held Neriah’s pained and saddened gaze. “That attack, the one that killed my brother and uncle, that was by the Lycans. That’s why they attacked Marwa, because they knew the Elementals lived there.”

  Neriah didn’t say anything but his grief-stricken expression was enough to answer Aaron.

  They went straight for the kids.

  His dad’s words rang in his head.

  “That’s why they attacked the children,” Aaron said. “They were targeting the legacy holders.”

  “A legacy transfers from the parent to the child once the child’s core awakens at the age of thirteen,” Neriah said. “Lycans didn’t want to wait for that to happen. They killed the Elemental young so the legacies wouldn’t have anywhere to go and would die when the parents did.”

  Aaron closed his eyes and dropped his head, slowly shaking it. Everything was making sense. That’s why the Lycans had targeted his brother, because Ben would have been the legacy holder for Earth.

  “Isn’t there anything we can do?” Aaron asked. “A way to safeguard the legacy holders?” It didn’t register with him right away that he was talking about himself.

  “Of course there is,” Neriah said. “Train them. Make them untouchable.”

  Kyran forced his way into Aaron’s mind at the word untouchable. The memory of his easy confidence, his graceful but lethal fighting, the way he taunted the demons but never allowed them to get close – yeah, Kyran was pretty untouchable. Which made sense now, as he happened to be the legacy holder for Fire.

  Once Aaron managed to force all thoughts of Kyran away, he realised what it was Neriah had said, and what that meant for him. “That’s why you’re here,” he said. “You want me to train?”

  “I want you to learn to defend yourself,” Neriah explained. “You’re the legacy holder for Earth.” His eyes stayed locked on his. “You are the only one that can use the Blade of Adams and help us in this war.”

  Aaron didn’t say anything. He honestly didn’t know what to say. He found he didn’t need to figure out a response, because his dad was suddenly standing in the middle of the room, blocking Aaron.

  “No,” he growled. “He’s not fighting.”

  “That’s not your choice to make,” Neriah replied at once.

  Chris had both hands clenched. “You’re asking a fourteen year old to risk his life–”

  “No, I’m asking him to learn how to safeguard it,” Neriah corrected, rising to his feet. “I don’t want Aaron to fight this war, not until he’s ready.” His eyes flickered to Aaron before snapping back to Chris. “But there’s no time to waste, and you and I both know what he could do with the right Blade in his hand.”

  Chris bristled, like he had been burnt. “No.” He forced the word out from behind clenched teeth.

  Aaron thought he could feel the ground tremble under him, or maybe it was just his heart that was beating so hard it was making him shake.

  “Chris.” Neriah’s tone was one of warning.

  “You can forget it!” Chris bit out. “I’m not losing any more of my family.”

  Neriah looked stunned. His eyes widened before narrowing. “Your family?” he asked. “Your family, Chris?” He stepped closer, his eyes darkened with anger. “What about the rest of us? Have we not lost family? Have we not suffered?” His expression was fierce, fury filling every inch of his being. “Have I not lost family, Chris? Hasn’t Drake? What about Thomas? He was found hanged, drawn and quartered. Did his widow take her son and run?”

  Chris stood silently as Neriah’s fury escalated. Aaron turned to see the windows had begun to ice over.

  “Or how about Joseph’s eight-year-old son,” Neriah continued, “who was forced to watch as his family was butchered? Did Skyler leave this realm?”

  Aaron’s heart leapt in his chest. He remembered Skyler’s bitter words to Rose, only a few months ago.

  You think you’re the only one to lose your parents? Count yourself lucky you didn’t watch them die. You didn’t hear their screams.

  Skyler was a git, a bully and a general pain, thought Aaron, but no one, no one, should go through that. No one should watch their family die.

  “You’re not the only one to lose someone, Chris,” Neriah said. “Every single one of us has suffered but no one else got up and left!”

  A tremor ran through the ground, rattling the furniture. Aaron quickly stood up.

  “What can I say?” Chris’s words were strained, coming from his tight jaw. “I’m not as brave as the rest of you. I can’t risk my family and I’ll do whatever I have to in order to protect them.”

  “What about the others?” Neriah yelled. “The families in Hadrian's zones? The ones who are tortured every day? What about them Chris? Who protects them?”

  The ice covering the windows cracked, taking the glass with it. The ground shook violently in response, the chandelier swung dangerously overhead.

  “Stop it!” Aaron yelled, somehow managing to come between the two mages without tripping on the shaking ground. “Stop! Just stop!” He grabbed his dad’s arm and pulled him back. “Dad, stop!”

  The shaking ceased. The chandelier swayed overhead, the tinkling of the glass droplets and the quick breaths of the Elementals who continued to glare at each other filled the roo
m.

  Aaron turned to Neriah. “I think you should go,” he said quietly. “Please, just...just go.”

  “I’m not going anywhere until I get an answer.”

  “I already told you–” Chris started.

  “From Aaron,” Neriah snapped. He turned to the fourteen year old. “I want an answer from you.”

  Aaron paused. He could feel his dad’s arm tense under his hand. Aaron took in a breath. “I’m sorry,” he said to Neriah. “I can’t help you.”

  Neriah kept his eyes on Aaron. “Is this your decision?” he asked. “Or are you only saying what you know your father wants?”

  Aaron couldn’t help but glance at his dad in guilt, but he didn’t say anything.

  Neriah straightened up, standing tall. “I’m staying in the city tonight,” he said. “I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. If in one night you can gather the courage to do what you want, then come and find me.”

  ***

  Morning crept along. Chris hadn’t slept. He couldn’t, not with Neriah’s words spinning in his head. He picked up his mug and took a gulp of coffee. Kate was fixing breakfast. She hadn’t slept much either, joining her husband in the kitchen just before daybreak.

  Aaron had been very quiet after Neriah left. Chris didn’t know what to say to him and so had left him alone. Until the early hours of the morning, he had heard voices coming from Aaron’s room – Aaron whispering with his friends about Neriah, no doubt. Chris had wanted to go upstairs and tell them off, scold them to get some sleep, but he didn’t have the energy, or the heart. He told himself that at least Aaron was talking to someone; he was getting his feelings out, which could only be a good thing.

  Kate put a plate of pancakes in front of him but Chris didn’t have the stomach to eat.

  “Hey.” Kate ran a hand through his hair, caressing him gently. “Don’t think too much about it,” she said. “Neriah’s not forcing Aaron to fight. That’s all that matters.”

  Chris nodded. “Yeah,” he said. He rubbed at his eyes again. “Yeah, I know.”

  Kate slid into the chair next to his. “When I saw him at the door with the other two Elementals, I thought he was here to take Aaron away, one way or another.”

  “He’s the oldest Elemental,” Chris said. “If he really wanted to, he could have taken Aaron, even against his will.” He shook his head. “But Neriah’s not like James had been. He doesn’t force, he gives a choice.”

  Kate didn’t say anything and picked up her mug of tea.

  “He’s desperate,” Chris said quietly. “It won’t be long before Hadrian’s core awakens. Neriah needs all the power he can gather before then.”

  Kate was looking at him with a frown, her eyes narrowed. “You want to go.”

  It wasn’t so much a question as it was a statement.

  “Want isn’t the right word.” Chris pulled in a breath. “I need to do this,” he said. “I need to fight, to stand with the rest and do what I can to stop Hadrian.” He looked at his wife. “The world can think what it wants, Kate, but I’m not a coward. I didn’t run from a fight. I ran to protect what I couldn’t afford to lose. But now that Aaron’s older and he knows the truth about who he is, I can leave him with you and go join the war.” He held her blue-eyed gaze. “These last fourteen years haven’t erased who I am. I’ll always be a Hunter.” His hands flexed, itching to close around his familiars. It had been almost a decade and a half since he held his weapons. “Neriah wants the Blade of Adams. I know I can’t use it. The legacy is now with Aaron. But that doesn’t mean I can’t use another sword.” He held Kate’s stare. “I need to help, Kate. I want to stand against Hadrian. I’m fighting this war.”

  Kate was silent, watching him. She nodded at last, before breathing out a sigh. “I know.” She smiled at him. “And so am I.”

  “You need to stay with Aaron, Kate,” Chris said.

  “I have just as much right to protect this realm as you do,” Kate said.

  “I never said you don’t,” Chris replied. “But if both of us go away to fight, who will take care of Aaron?”

  Kate dropped her gaze. “Family,” she said quietly.

  “Michael won’t stay back,” Chris said. “He wants to fight too. He told me just the other day he was thinking of going to Salvador to speak to Neriah.”

  “I didn’t mean Michael,” Kate said.

  Chris frowned. “What other family do we have?”

  Kate looked at him. “Family doesn’t always mean blood.”

  Chris’s eyes widened with realisation. He looked away.

  “Chris,” Kate reached across the table to touch his hand. “We need to go and see her. We should’ve by now.”

  Chris shook his head. “I don’t think I can face her.”

  “Alaina has every right to be mad at us,” Kate said. “But she won’t hold anything against Aaron. She will take care of him, and Samuel and Rosalyn too.”

  Chris shook his head. “Kate–”

  A door closed somewhere above them, then they heard footsteps down the stairs, coming steadily towards them.

  “We’ll talk later,” Kate said, getting up from the table.

  She pulled out another few plates and turned, about to lay the table for the three teenagers when the door opened. Kate froze, the plates in her hands. Aaron was standing there, wearing his heavy jacket, with a packed duffel bag in his hand.

  5

  Making Choices

  Aaron watched as Chris stood up, surprised eyes on him, taking in his attire – heavy boots, jeans, hooded top under his jacket. Aaron could almost see the realisation as it swept over his dad. A Hunter – he was dressed as a Hunter. Chris’s stare moved to the bag in Aaron’s hand before snapping back to his face. Aaron almost flinched.

  “What are you doing?”

  It was his mum who asked the question, standing with a stack of plates forgotten in her hands. Aaron walked further inside, and Sam and Rose trailed in after him, clutching their own bags. Aaron put the duffel bag on the table.

  “I’m leaving,” he said. He looked straight at his dad. “I’m going with Neriah.”

  The plates hit the worktop with a hard crack. The next thing Aaron knew, his mum had grabbed his arm and yanked him around to face her. “Have you lost your mind?” she seethed. Her eyes were wide, mouth twisted in outrage.

  “Mum–” Aaron started.

  “NO!” Her shout reverberated in the kitchen. Her grip tightened on Aaron’s arm. “You’re not going anywhere!”

  “Kate?” Michael appeared at the door, looking surprised. “What’s going on?”

  Kate didn’t answer him. She was too focused on Aaron. “You listen to me.” Her voice was beginning to shake, clear blue eyes clouded with fear. “You’re not stepping one foot out of this house. You hear me?”

  Aaron rested his free hand on hers, on top of her tight fingers clenched around his arm. “Mum,” he said quietly. “You know hiding like this isn’t right.”

  “What?” She was livid. “You think risking your life is the right thing to do?”

  Aaron held her gaze. “Mages were brought into existence to fight demons.”

  Kate’s grip loosened. She pulled away, eyes still wide, mouth open in surprise.

  Aaron turned to look at his dad. He was standing with his back rigid, jaw clenched, eyes fixed on him.

  “If we don’t fight, if I don’t fight, then what does that make me?” Aaron asked.

  “Aaron.” Chris’s voice shook. “We already explained to you. We can’t lose–”

  “I know,” Aaron stepped towards him. “I get it, Dad, I do. You’ve been through so much, you’ve lost your brother and your son, you don’t want to risk losing me too.” He paused to take in a deep breath. “But that doesn’t mean we get to sit back while everyone else is left fighting.”

  “Yes, you do,” Kate said. “You do. Your dad and I will fight. We will do what we can to help defeat Hadrian but you will stay out of the way.”

  A
aron’s eyes narrowed. “What?” he asked. “You both are joining the fight?” He looked at his dad. “When were you going to tell me this? Or were you planning on leaving in the middle of the night again without saying a word to me?” He turned to his mum. “Was I going to get another letter? How long would I have to wait this time to see you again?”

  “We left you in Salvador the way we did because we had to,” Kate said. “There wasn’t time to explain everything to you. We needed to find Neriah. If Neriah found out we had returned to the realm but made no contact with him, he would’ve been within his right to execute us.”

  Aaron’s surprise showed in his expression.

  “Neriah wouldn’t–”

  “He didn’t,” Kate said. “Doesn’t mean he couldn’t have.” Her voice dipped. “We will fight for Neriah. But you need to stay as far away from this war as possible.”

  “I can’t,” Aaron said. “I’ve spent all night trying to talk myself into doing what you want. I told Neriah I wouldn’t help him, but I can’t sit back and watch as the world crumbles around me, especially when I know I can bring something to this fight.”

  “Aaron.” Michael came to his side. “I admire your courage, but you’re not of age yet. Until your core matures, you won’t be much good to anyone in the war.”

  “What if I have the Blade of Adams?” Aaron asked.

  Michael hesitated. He looked to Kate but didn’t speak.

  “You said you always wanted to tell me the truth,” Aaron reminded him. “Now’s your chance. I’m asking you, would the Blade still be effective if I use it now?”

  Michael dropped his gaze and gave a reluctant nod. “Yes,” he whispered unhappily. “It wouldn’t be anywhere near as powerful as it could be with a mature core, but – yes, the Blade would still be pretty lethal.”

  “Then why shouldn’t I use it to help?” Aaron asked.

  “Aaron,” Michael’s voice held a pleading note. “You’re too young.”

  “Mages younger than me are out hunting.”

  “That doesn’t make it right!” Chris snapped. “Just because Neriah’s lost his mind, sending kids out to face down demons, doesn’t mean I’ll let you do the same!”