Playing With Fire (Power of Four Book 2)

by SF Mazhar

  “We do what Hadrian needs us to do,” he managed to utter through gritted teeth, “but we are vamages. We have instincts that can’t be helped. Hadrian knows and accepts that. He has them too–”

  “Difference is, my father knows how to control his instincts,” Kyran argued. “That’s what makes him civilised. It makes him far more superior to what you and your men could ever hope to be. Your blood-lust makes you nothing more than rabid animals – ones that need to be put down.”

  Machado lost it. His claws slid out. His eyes turned red. He darted towards Kyran with a snarl, his fangs glistening, ready to rip Kyran apart. Kyran leapt to his feet but Machado stopped, standing face to face with the Scorcher.

  “Go on,” Kyran urged in a deadly whisper. “Go for it.” He inched closer. “Give me a reason.”

  Machado was breathing like a wounded animal, his chest heaving. Kyran stared at him, holding his crimson, blood-thirsty gaze. Machado glanced to Kyran’s empty hands and then pulled back. The fangs slid up into his gums, disappearing from sight. The red eyes changed back to blue and his claws retracted.

  Kyran smirked and leant in towards him. “You only have to bite once for me to put you down. Always remember that.”

  Machado didn’t speak but his entire being trembled with the effort it was taking not to go in for the kill. Kyran turned to pick up his glass, drained it and walked away, leaving a seething Machado alone at the table.

  ***

  Aaron spent the next week convincing himself to speak to his parents about the dream. His mum and dad had been perfectly normal with him, not mentioning anything about the memory of Ben’s death. They seemed at peace with Aaron, comforted by his promise of not fighting in the war. His dad hadn’t said a word to him about the upcoming battle with Hadrian. Instead, he discussed his landscaping ideas with him for their garden.

  It was as Aaron cleared out the back garden with his dad, forcing the overgrown grass back into the ground, that Aaron couldn’t take the questions in his mind any more.

  “Dad?” he called.

  “Yeah?” Chris didn’t look at him, too busy bringing the dead flowerbeds back to life.

  Aaron licked his lips. “Were you and uncle Alex close?”

  Chris stopped and turned around. His eyes were narrowed, but Aaron didn’t know if that was because of the sun’s glare or his question. “Why are you asking?”

  Aaron tensed and the grass at his feet shrunk completely into the ground. “I had this...this dream.” Aaron started. “It was of uncle Alex, but it didn’t feel like a dream.” He paused. “It felt like a flesh memory.”

  Chris’s frown melted, replaced by a look of understanding. He relaxed. “Right, of course.” He walked over to Aaron and put both hands on his shoulders. “Don’t worry about it. You’re at that age. You’ll be getting lots of dreams; some of them may well have Alex in them.”

  “I don’t understand,” Aaron said.

  Chris chuckled. “No, I don’t reckon you do.” He pulled Aaron to the steps leading up to their back door and sat down. “From the time your core awakens to the point it matures, mages quite often dream about moments from the past and even the future,” Chris explained. “It’s referred to as your Inheritance. Some don’t get more than three or four dreams, others can have them nightly.” He dropped his gaze. “I should have told you about them. I can’t imagine how unnerving it must be to have such vivid dreams and not understand what they are.” He looked up to meet Aaron’s eyes. “I’m sorry. Truth is, I had forgotten you’d be coming into your Inheritance.”

  Aaron was too distracted to take in his apology. “The dreams are real?” he asked. “So what I dreamt will happen?”

  “Not necessarily,” Chris said. “The dreams of the past have already happened, but the dreams of the future may not play out as you see them.” He rested both arms on his knees and clasped his hands. “There are scholars that argue there are too many variables present to put much faith in future Inheritance. What you see might happen, but a simple change to the events that lead up to it – even a minor one – can alter the future. So what you see in a dream is one of many possibilities.” He seemed to enjoy sharing this facet of the mage psyche. His eyes were brighter and a small smile graced his face. “Of course, there are those who argue what you see in a dream is what’ll happen. It’s our Inheritance; we will come into it, no matter what we do.”

  Aaron’s heart was going a thousand miles a minute. His mind was overloaded, flashing him moments of all the dreams he’d had over the last eight months. The dream of him and Kyran running into the cave full of lava, the moment Kyran refused to help him, the time Kyran was convincing him to use the gun. The last two dreams had already come to pass. He had lived those moments. Did that mean the others would come true too? Like the one where Kyran told him calmly that he would kill him?

  Aaron felt like he couldn’t breathe. The trees swayed in response to his panic. The ground under him trembled. His dad’s hand gripped his shoulder.

  “Aaron?” His voice was full of concern. “You okay, son?”

  Aaron turned his head to look at him. The green of his eyes was dark with worry. With great effort, Aaron nodded. He forced himself to relax and the tremble in the ground ceased.

  “Did your dreams come true?” Aaron asked. “The ones you saw when you came into your Inheritance?”

  Chris didn’t reply straight away, but studied Aaron carefully. “Why?” he asked. “What did you dream about?”

  Aaron swallowed. What did he dream about? The short answer was Kyran. He was the one that Aaron saw – Kyran and, of late, Alex. Aaron decided to start with family.

  “I saw uncle Alex,” he said. “The first dream I had of him, he was in a Q-Zone with you.” He shifted and took in a deep breath. “Last week, I saw him again.” He paused. “He was...worried about something. He was talking with–” Aaron faltered, not sure how his dad would take the news. He swallowed. “With Hadrian.” He watched his dad closely, but Chris didn’t look fazed at all. He nodded slowly at him, as if to tell him to go on. “Aren’t you surprised?” Aaron asked.

  “Why would I be surprised?” Chris said. “You saw a moment from the past. Back then, Hadrian was one of us. He lived here in Marwa. We were like a family. We fought and bickered all the time, but we were there for each other too.” He smiled. “And as for Alex? Everyone was fond of him. He was the youngest Elemental of our generation – a fact he used to his benefit, a lot.” He chuckled a little, shaking his head. “Hadrian and Alex were very close. Hadrian used to look out for Alex all the time.”

  Aaron watched his dad, seeing the light of memories sparkle in his eyes. “What about you and uncle Alex?” he asked, repeating the question his dad never answered. “Were you two close?”

  “We were each other’s only family for a long time,” Chris replied. “Alex was three when our parents died. I was all he knew from that age. I brought him up. So yeah, I guess you could say we were close.” He grinned.

  Aaron didn’t know if he should say any more. His dad obviously had good memories of his younger brother. The last thing Aaron wanted was to tarnish them by revealing his brother kept things from him. He held his tongue and looked down at his lap.

  Chris leant in towards him. “Have you seen Alex in other dreams?” he asked. A glint of excitement shined in his eyes and Aaron felt his heart ache for his dad.

  “No,” he said with regret. “Only those two.”

  Chris nodded, doing his best to hide his disappointment. “I used to dream every week when I came into my Inheritance,” he said. “I think you take after your mum.” He winked at him.

  “I do get other dreams,” Aaron said. “Just not of uncle Alex.”

  “Oh?” Chris looked intrigued. “How many dreams have you had?” he asked.

  “I’ve had plenty,” Aaron said. “Other than the two of uncle Alex, the rest were of–” He faltered but pushed past the awkwardness. “Of Kyran.” He closed his eyes and shook his head
. “I got such a shock when I saw him for the first time, back when I was still in the human realm. I couldn’t understand how it was possible for me to dream about a boy I didn’t know, only to meet him a few months later. If I–”

  “What did you say?”

  Aaron stopped at his dad’s whispered words. He looked at him to see the shock on his face. The colour had drained from him, his eyes wide and mouth open. Aaron felt a cold chill creep down his back.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You...you said you dreamt of...Kyran?” Chris asked.

  “Yeah.”

  Chris shook his head. “That’s impossible.”

  Aaron frowned. “Why?”

  Chris swallowed hard. “Kyran wouldn’t be a part of your Inheritance. He can’t be.”

  “Why not?”

  “Aaron,” Chris started in a shaky voice. “Your Inheritance is made up of moments that have passed and moments that could come. They are a heritage.” He paused, holding Aaron’s eyes. “A heritage that only associates with family.”

  Aaron stared at his dad. “Are you saying the dreams can only be about family members?”

  “It’s the way the Inheritance works,” Chris explained. “You see moments you shared or will share with your family. Moments you witness that don’t have you in them will be moments about someone you are related to. Those are the only moments that can have others present, like your dream about Alex talking with Hadrian. Alex is your uncle, but you witnessed a moment he shared with Hadrian because it’s one Alex experienced, not you. Your moments can only be those shared with someone you are related to.”

  Aaron felt a strange flutter in his stomach.

  “So, does this mean that Kyran is…is part of our family?” he asked, finding himself equally excited and terrified at the prospect.

  But Chris shook his head, his eyes still wide. “He can’t be. He’s an Aedus. He is the legacy holder for Fire. He wouldn’t be able to wield the Blade of Aedus if he wasn’t.”

  Aaron’s heart broke but he didn’t understand why. “But then, how could I have dreamt about him?” he asked.

  Chris was up on his feet, pacing the garden. “I don’t understand,” he said. “How is it possible? He’s the legacy holder for Fire, he is Hadrian’s son. I saw the Blade of Aedus in his hand.” He continued to pace in front of Aaron. “But he looks so much like...And he’s a part of your Inheritance. It doesn’t make sense.”

  A thought, small but tremendously troublesome, came to Aaron. He stood up and Chris stopped pacing to face him.

  “The dream I had last week,” Aaron started. “Uncle Alex was talking with Hadrian about something. He seemed worried and upset, and whatever it was, he was keeping it from you. Hadrian told him he would handle it. He said he would cover for uncle Alex, for as long as he needed.” Aaron stepped towards him. “Dad, what if the thing uncle Alex was keeping from you, the thing that Hadrian was helping to keep hidden was...Kyran?”

  Chris didn’t speak. He didn’t move. Then his fists clenched and eyes darkened. He stormed over to tower over Aaron. “Tell me about this dream,” he gritted out. “Include every little detail.”

  ***

  Kate sat with her brow furrowed, a hand to her mouth. She slowly shook her head.

  “It’s not possible,” she said. “Kyran can’t be a part of your Inheritance.”

  Aaron sat in silence next to her.

  “Are you sure you saw Kyran?” she asked. “It was probably Alex you were dreaming about. It has to be.”

  “It was definitely Kyran,” Aaron said. “Two of the dreams I saw already came true with Kyran.”

  Kate paled and her mouth dropped open. “I don’t understand,” she said. “This...this doesn’t make sense. If he’s a part of your Inheritance, that makes him an Adams.”

  Aaron felt a shudder go through him at the thought. He remembered asking Kyran what his family name, his surname was, but Kyran had smiled and replied, ‘Trust me, Ace. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.’

  He was right. If he had said he was Kyran Adams, Aaron would never have believed him.

  “He looks just like Alex, but Alex wouldn’t have hidden the fact that he had a son from us,” Kate continued. “And if Kyran is Alex’s son, how can he wield the Blade of Aedus?”

  Across the room, standing next to the window, Chris spoke, “He’s not Alex’s son.”

  “Then why is he a part of Aaron’s Inheritance?” Kate asked. Chris didn’t offer an explanation. Kate took in a breath. “I don’t want to say it, Chris, but maybe...maybe Alex made a mistake.”

  Chris turned to her with a frown. “You’re suggesting Alex cheated?” he asked. “You know Alex wouldn’t do that, not to Alaina.”

  Aaron looked between his parents. Alaina? He had never heard of her before today.

  “These things happen,” Kate said. “Maybe he got someone pregnant and he was too scared to tell us. Maybe Hadrian covered for him. That could be the moment Aaron saw. Maybe Hadrian took the boy in as his own–”

  “That wouldn’t give him the legacy for Fire, Kate, and you know it,” Chris said. He turned back to stare out of the window before letting out a long sigh. “He’s not an Adams. He’s Hadrian’s son. He’s an Aedus. The Blade of Aedus in his hand proves that.” He took in a breath. “If he was my nephew, I’d be able to feel him.” He paused for a moment before facing them. “I can’t feel him, Kate.”

  Aaron had gleaned enough facts to understand that if Kyran was family – if he was Aaron’s cousin and Chris’s nephew – then his dad would have felt that connection with Kyran. He didn’t, so Kyran wasn’t related to them.

  “What was that dream I had then?” Aaron asked. “What was uncle Alex hiding from you that only Hadrian knew about?”

  “I don’t know,” Chris said and Aaron could see the effort it cost his dad to speak past his heartbreak. “But it wouldn’t be the first time Alex kept things from me.”

  Aaron didn’t know what to say. A part of him wanted to probe further, to ask what secrets his uncle had, but he could see how much this was hurting his dad. He couldn’t find it in himself to ask and cause more pain. Instead, he asked, “Who’s Alaina?”

  His dad tensed but didn’t answer. Aaron turned to his mum, to see her expression filled with sorrow.

  “Alaina was Alex’s fiancée,” she replied. She looked around at her husband. “We need to go and see her, Chris,” she said. “We should ask her–”

  “Ask her what?” Chris said and there was a bite to his tone. “Ask her if she and Alex had a baby eighteen years ago and just forgot to tell us?”

  Kate dropped her head. “Chris,” she said quietly. “If you can’t feel Kyran, then he’s not an Adams, regardless of being a part of Aaron’s Inheritance.” She held Chris’s eyes. “But we need to go see Alaina. We have to ask for her forgiveness.” She gave Aaron a sideways look. “And we have something important to discuss with her.”

  Chris closed his eyes. “I don’t think I have it in me to face her.”

  “Chris–”

  “You know what they call her?” Chris asked, turning to look at Kate with fierce eyes. “The name they’ve given her?”

  Kate nodded. “I do.” She tilted her head and bit her lip. “All the more reason to go and see her.”

  Chris stood with his fists clenched.

  Kate held his stare, refusing to give in.

  Aaron looked between them.

  “What would Alex want you to do?” Kate asked in a whisper.

  Chris crumbled. He sat down in the nearest chair and ran a hand through his hair. He gave a small nod.

  “Tomorrow,” Kate said. “We’ll leave first thing in the morning.”

  16

  Withered Flowers

  The moment Aaron stepped out of the portal, a cool breeze swept past him, ruffling his hair and clothes. He could taste the salt in the air and smell the ocean before his eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. He found himself at the edge of a stone path
, a light dusting of golden sand on either side of it. The pathway led up to a single wooden house. Behind the house, Aaron could see the ocean, a deep glistening blue with white wisps of froth floating on the surface.

  “Whoa,” Sam breathed from somewhere behind Aaron.

  Aaron turned to see Rose by Sam’s side, staring at their beautiful surroundings. His mum was the last to step out of the portal Scott had set up for them. Chris was standing in front of them, staring at the house with trepidation.

  “Dad?” Aaron called.

  Chris turned to Aaron and smiled, just a small, tight lifting of his lips. “Let’s go,” he said and began leading the way.

  Aaron and the twins followed. Kate hurried to pass them and matched her husband’s pace. She walked by Chris’s side, slipping her hand into his.

  Aaron studied the house they were approaching. It looked like a holiday beach home on an island – a small, double-storey, wooden building with a triangular roof, set against the backdrop of the breathtaking ocean. Big leafy palm trees lined one side of it. It was a sight to behold, quiet and secluded, a world of its own.

  They climbed four steps to reach the porch. Chris hesitated at the door. No one made a sound; there was only the windchimes overhead and the gentle waves lapping at the shore behind them. Aaron saw his mum’s fingers squeeze around his dad’s hand. With a deep breath, Chris reached over and knocked on the door.

  Nothing happened for almost two minutes. Chris knocked again.

  “Is he sure someone’s in?” Sam asked.

  Aaron shrugged.

  The sound of faint footsteps came from inside the house, shortly before the door opened.

  A woman, not much older than early thirties, stood at the door. Her dark hair tumbled over one shoulder, her big brown eyes stared in shock at her visitors. She had a thin face, with prominent cheekbones and sculpted lips. She was beautiful, there was no doubt about that, but there was a darkness in her eyes – a deep well of pain that shadowed her face.

  Her gaze flickered from one face to the next, just a brief glance, before settling on Chris. Her lips which had parted with surprise, closed. She stared at Chris, but didn’t say a word.