Stealing a glance up, Ren couldn’t see Slate. Why did she even bother looking for him? Fuck, fuck, fuck.
What was his plan? Could she even trust him? Why in the heck was he wearing her face?
If I had hands, I would slap them to my eyes. It is an insult to even think that you—of all people—bested me!
Ren’s jaw clenched. Not. Now.
You are going to fight here, and if my instincts are correct, he expects you to die.
Surveying her opponents, a cold sweat beaded on her back, droplets slithered between her shoulder blades. The drums beat again and the men in the pit tensed. Arms splayed, silver and steel glinted. A throat splitting warcry exploded from the space opposite Ren.
Mia broke through a cloud of dust, fingers splayed, mouth opened in a sardonic scream.
24
Mia’s body collided with Ren’s, sending her down into the dirt. Her head thumped against rocks and pebbles as the ring erupted into chaos. Shadows played over the dirt as Mia grinned widely, the corners of her lips almost reaching her ears.
Ren froze, black energy wafted around her—coming without her willing it. The energy pierced her veins, rushing through her like blood. Before long, her palms were on fire and she slapped them to Mia’s reaching forearms. Fire danced in Mia’s eyes as a crazed look stretched her face. Mia’s shadow swallowed Ren as she leaned into her, throwing Ren’s hands away.
“This is for leaving me fucking stranded.” She hissed, snapping her hands to Ren’s throat.
You can control fire, girl! Use it!
Ren’s eyes boggled. A fight exploded behind Mia. Steel clashed against steel as the watery sounds of waves crashed into the dirt. Everything melted away when Mia’s grip tightened on Ren’s throat, collapsing her windpipe.
“I didn’t—”
She won’t listen to you. Let me—
Clamping her hands to Mia’s forearms, Ren let fire roar through her palms and burn Mia. Her skin blackened as she cooked, the sickening scent of burning skin raked Ren’s nostrils, but she couldn’t give as Mia’s hands tightened and tightened. Little specks of black fluttered through her vision, swimming over everything. Ren dropped her head back and Mia’s fingers twitched, slipping.
“Mia—”
“Don’t,” Mia growled, her fingers clenching tighter.
Kicking her legs, Ren struggled against her windpipe being crushed. As Mia’s fingers closed further, Ren concentrated on the black rock above her head, shaped like a dome. She tightened her own grip on Mia’s forearms and apologized before fire curled through the lines of her palms and rocketed up Mia’s forearms. Charring her.
Mia cursed, her fingers twitching open. Shooting up to sitting, Ren growled and sliced her knuckles across Mia’s cheek. The woman wavered, the force of the blow sending her spiraling into the dirt. Behind them, bodies fell into the dust, kicking up clouds. Blood dribbled into the arena, the crowd surrounding them going wild as drums pounded and thundered.
It was Ren’s turn to straddle Mia. Slamming her forearm onto Mia’s throat, Ren searched Mia’s eyes for any hint of recognition and found loads of it, though it was mixed with hatred and contempt.
“I saved you.” Ren tried, her voice wavering. “From the Kirabo. From my grandfather.” How could you? The phrase waited on her tongue.
A choked growl climbed from Mia’s throat. Ren blinked away tears—damn she was soft, but Mia had been her friend. It hurt like hell that she somehow…hated her now. Ren had told Mia to follow her, to come with the Mesh after Nyx had been destroyed by her grandfather’s forces. But Mia had refused. Told her that she just wanted to go back to the States with her grandfather’s help. Ren had warned Mia about him, about the fact that he didn’t give a shit about anyone but…
Mia hawked and spat. Saliva landed in Ren’s left eye and she hissed, attempting to blink the glob away as it burned. Snorting like an enraged bull, Mia elbowed Ren in the stomach and shoved her backward onto her back. She didn’t laugh as she straddled Ren again, she simply shook her head of layered locks and snapped her hands back around Ren’s throat.
“You left me to die out there.” She said as another body dropped into the dust.
“I—”
“Save it.”
This time, Mia didn’t take her time. Jabbing her thumbs into Ren’s windpipe, Mia tightened her grip quickly as threads of pain shot through Ren’s throat. Everything in her throat collapsed against Mia’s vice like grip. Mia wouldn’t allow Ren to look her in the eye as she strangled her, pressing her weight into Ren’s neck, she forced her to stare up. Forced her to see the frantic crowd as they cheered for her death, stomping their feet along with the thumping drums.
On the edges of her vision, amid sailing black energy, she saw herself among the observers watching with a stone-faced look.
Slate.
Ren coughed, a strangulated sound rushing from her opened mouth. A shadow hovered over Mia as she brought Ren up by the throat and slammed her head back into the dust. The roar of the crowd dissolved as a rush of water filled Ren’s ears. A translucent mass of liquid flew through the air above her head, and landed on Mia’s head with a bone shattering smack. Salty mist sprayed Ren’s face as she gasped for air, the crushing fingers on her windpipe suddenly dissipating. Suddenly falling away as the weight on her abdomen slid off, Mia thumping to the ground like a sack of sand.
Ren backed away from the figure that stood before her, triumphant as Mia’s skin pruned. Her skin wrinkling severely around the eyes and mouth, knuckles and elbows, almost as if she had soaked in the ocean for hours on end. Intent on never getting out.
Mia’s chest rose and fell. It stuttered. Crawling backward through the dirt, Ren backed up until her back hit the crumbling stone wall of the ring.
A curling serpent of water surrounded a man sliced with multiple cuts. When he splayed his fingers, the water serpents slipped through the gaps.
The Water Scion.
Well, Nakato purred, aren’t you lucky?
25
In her mind’s eye, she saw the black energy surrounding her. Wafting and swimming like jellyfish near the surface of a river. It thickened, becoming a cloud of dark smog that blocked everything out. That blinded her.
Let it in.
Nakato’s voice. Ren struggled to stand. Shoving herself up, she squinted, searching for her opponent. The black mass of energy refused to dissipate.
Let it IN.
The shriek echoed through her head, shocking her with white-hot pain. For a moment, her eyes closed, her stance faltered.
The serpents came then.
Cutting through the thick smog, they circled around her and tightened. Fingers appeared, splaying and dancing. Working the watery serpents like marionettes absent strings. A cool sensation rippled up Ren’s arms, making gooseflesh rise and prickle. The smog wafted closer, closing her in. Smothering her with its dark intensity.
Renata—
Water versus fire? Ren snorted, rolled open her hand, and let the black energy fill her. Fire always wins.
But, Ren swore Nakato was smirking in her head, what does water sustain?
Something crackled in Ren’s mind as her concentration was shot through by the serpents of water dancing around her. Affixing themselves to her skin, they began stealing from her—water, blood—whatever they could land their nonexistent fangs on. Suddenly, the black energy was no longer entering her body in a controlled stream. Spiraling out, it became a funnel of snapping tendrils as it raced up Ren’s forearm and stabbed straight into her chest.
Ren screamed, her voice bottled up as the excess energy wafting around her and it raced for her, ripping through her like the talons of a vulture. Nakato’s deep laugh rolled in her head as the watery serpents flattened themselves against her forearms, shivered, and died away. Ren’s right arm raised without her volition, then her left. Ripples of white earth rose along with her arms, spearing up through the ground like pikes as the black fog evaporated.
&nb
sp; She could see the ring now. Could see Mia laying knocked-out on her side. Ren’s arms trembled as she fought to bring them down and ignore the little pikes of earth she had somehow called up. Nakato’s chant-like murmur whispered through Ren’s mind, her lips forming every strange word Nakato chanted. Ren’s eyes widened as she tried to stop herself from taking a tentative step forward. Her heart thrashed against her chest as the water scion—the man who had killed her friend—followed the dance and took a step back, fingers splayed. A glowing scion crystal dangled near his wrist was draining, its blue glow fading to a dusty gray.
“Be gone,” the words fell from her lips like poison, “this is my home now.”
Shock chilled against fear and rage—Ren forced her head to cock in disbelief as her fingers flicked, the little pikes rippling like water before they shot up higher than the ring and dove for the water scion.
I can handle this myself—
Nakato threw back Ren’s head and laughed, her left hand slicing through the air toward the water scion. The pikes followed.
“You are just like her—the goddess.” Ren’s head shook. “Believing that you can do things on your own, yet you still ask for help. Without me, how would you even open the Heart, stupid girl?”
The water scion flattened himself against the arena floor. Then, calling up water from the surrounding corpses, he enveloped himself in a bubble of water. A translucent shield. Ren’s hands dropped toward him, guiding the pikes toward the shield. Mounds of sharp rocks crashed into the bubble, sharp pike ends cracking as they careened and smashed into the rippling shield.
I don’t need you. I’ll find the true earth scion. Ren’s fingers twitched as feeling rushed into them. She could feel warm blood pumping through the veins of her fingers and forearms. Slowly, inch by inch, she was regaining control.
“You are every bit as stupid and clueless as the youthful often are,” Nakato growled, black energy threading through her every word. “When you refuse to use a scion crystal, how do you think you power this magic?”
Ekanna and Chi Chi had taught her to pull from nature. The answer was simple—the world around her.
But if that were true, then why was Nakato’s voice attached to the energy she always came into contact with?
Fire rocked up her arms as Nakato let go, diving deep into Ren’s mind like a parasite breaking skin.
Finally, Nakato drawled, we are finally getting somewhere!
Ren was still in the arena, still sequestered in this ring. She scanned the dirt, eyes falling on prune-skinned men and women. Mia.
This guy was just slaughtering everybody. Was that what it took to win? Did she have to be the last one standing to get that damned Godcaller? Or did Slate have some ulterior plan?
Ren didn’t have time to think.
Clutching his drained scion crystal, the water scion brought his hands to his chest and whirled them away in a slow circle. Water charged from the dirt, the ransacked bodies, and even the people surrounding the ring. Flowing in thick translucent lines, when he smacked his palms together, they dove for her. Honing in on her head like watery beacons.
Ren was ready. She dropped to kneeling and raked her hand across the dirt. Nakato laughed within her mind as fire threatened to splay from her palms. Instead of fire, earth rocked and jolted from the dirt, springing up like little serrated clay blades. They sprang up and flew for their target—the water scion.
In a moment, the water serpents died, falling to the ground as steaming droplets of rain. Raking her other hand across the dirt, Ren threw a line of roaring fire at the water scion, the man rolling away from the clay blades and right into the path of her flame.
You aren’t a murderer.
Ren blinked. That definitely wasn’t Nakato’s voice.
Hear me: you are not a murderer.
Nakato sighed heavily. If she had eyes, Ren knew she would be rolling them.
Ren wasn’t sure how right the voice was. Ren murdered Nakato. Almost took out the Mafioso and Seble. Ren hadn’t meant to take Nakato’s life, but that didn’t mean anything. She had still done it. Hell, she had practically buried the woman. Now, she was stuck in her head.
Maybe it was time to atone.
A clay blade met the back of the water scion’s leg, slicing it raw. Scarlet stained the sand where he stood, crouched and heaving. Hand choking the dead scion crystal dangling from his wrist. His eyes flashed as his jaw clenched, every muscle working to make sure his death would be honorable but not painless.
Ren wasn’t murdering anyone today—especially not someone who she needed to open the Heart. Maybe he would remember this.
Maybe.
You still don’t get it? Nakato roared in her mind. You don’t need them!
In seconds, Ren closed the distance between herself and the water scion. The scent of cloves filled her nostrils as she stared up into his face. Pressing a hand to his chest, she shoved, gently. The guy toppled over like a tree with rotten roots.
The crowd screamed.
Finding her way back up into the bleachers, she was guided toward the man who had called for the fight and held the Godcaller ransom. Up close, he resembled an albino rat.
He splayed his long fingers toward an empty chest, then pointed at her and back at the ring. He started chattering at her in island speak, throwing up his arms. Pointing at the arena once more and then back at her, over and over again.
Ren threw up her hands and sneered. What the fuck is he saying? The guy looked exasperated. Frantic. Sweat beaded on his wide forehead.
He’s saying you have already come and gone.
The man hawked and spat, the glob landing on the toes of her sandals.
You already have your share, he says. Now, fuck off.
26
Rain pelted her head and angry gusts of wind whipped at her hair as she stormed back to the wooden cottage of Slate’s informant. Throwing open the rickety door, a barrage of wind smashed it against the wall, shaking the little house.
Ren wasn’t really sure what she would do if she actually found Slate hiding out in here. If someone who looked exactly like her picked up her winnings—and the Godcaller—then it only made sense to blame Slate. Who else could pull her look off and trick people? Granted, the guy who ran the arena probably didn’t give a fuck about who the winnings went to, but still. She was still in the fucking arena when “she” picked up her winnings. Could someone seriously be that dumb?
You should ask yourself the same question. Why should that man care if you get your treasure or not?
The floor moaned beneath her feet as she stomped inside. Shaking off rain, Ren jabbed her nails into her palms, balling her hands into fists.
“Slate,”
She didn’t even need to scream.
Blinking once, a mirror materialized before her. Blinking once more, she realized that it wasn’t a mirror, but a real living, breathing, version of herself. Her hand rose, a crystal-bone key dangling from her slender fingers. A Godcaller.
Ren’s eyes lit up. “You got it.”
A soft smile appeared on Fake Ren’s face. Sliding her opposite hand across the length of her face, the mask dropped along with the hand, revealing Slate’s sickly pallor and stone-cold eyes. Outside, a ripping wind howled against the cottage walls.
“Why’d you fucking leave me?” Ren demanded, taking a step toward him. Fuck. She had left Mia there and the water scion. She needed to get her fucking priorities straight if she wanted to save this place. Ren let a sigh escape her lips. A weight tensed her shoulders and they dropped. Her fists went limp, fingers hanging like overripe fruit. “I needed to—”
He silenced her with a hand. “He wouldn’t have given it to you anyway.”
“He?”
“The Underking.”
Ren rolled her eyes and dropped her head. She had to go back. She had been so pissed she hadn’t even thought about Mia or the fact that she needed that stupid water scion to open the stupid Heart. Wind slammed against the co
ttage, rain smashing into the wood outside.
“I need to go back.”
Slate reached for her and missed her shoulder by an inch. “This way,” he said, “you should go through the back.”
“Does it matter?” Ren asked, shrugging, shoulders tensing with every buffet of wind that slammed into the house. “I’m going to get rained on either way.”
Slate seemed to stiffen, the Godcaller disappearing into his clenched fist. “Do what you want.” He finally said. “The others have returned.” And he turned on his heel, disappearing down the hallway behind Ren.
Already? Ren swiveled around. She glanced toward the window at the far right and clenched her jaw when a sheet of rain obscured her view. Maybe she could wait until the weather calmed down. Make up a plan of attack and execute it once the sky has stopped throwing down its used bathwater. Stalking down the hallway, she found Kato and Maka milling about near a window centered in a cozy living room. The place reminded her of what an old woman’s house was supposed to look like, all mismatching knick-knacks and ugly polka dot sofas.
It reminded her that after everything was said and done, she might go back to civilization and forget all about this place. Kato caught her eye and smiled, picked up the crystal-bone key hanging from his neck and winked.
Would Kato come with her? Would he leave the island for a home in the States? Ren shook her head. Why would he ever want to leave this place? Why would she?
Because you have cell phones and hot water.
Ren rolled her eyes, luxuries aren’t everything.
Somewhere, your soul is screaming that hot water and cell phones aren’t luxuries, but necessities. Remember what you are, Outsider, and where you came from. Once everything is over—
“Was it easy?” Ren called, Slate appearing near Maka and Kato.
Maka gave her an easy smile, while Kato’s face fell.
Wild Hunt (The Island Book 2) Page 10