Fists balled, ready to throw, Ryan said, “You can’t stop me. I’m immortal—I can’t be killed.”
Mac pointed to Ana. “She can though. Look at her—”
Ana had been trying to watch despite the fact that her hair was singeing off, her skin was blistering and it was agony to breathe. Every time she inhaled, she moaned. If it hurt this bad to exist, she didn’t want to know what she looked like. The end was welcome now that Chance was safe.
Ryan glanced at her, but couldn’t look away. He appeared caught, his eyes wide.
Mac continued to speak, “See the light pouring from her like a million candles lit all at once. Let your mind go free. Think of the one thing that can save her from this agony—the phoenix talisman. Show us where it is, Ryan.”
Ryan’s hands lifted to his head, but his eyes remained on her. A frightening expression warped his face as his mouth opened into a silent scream.
For the first time since they’d left Lifen’s house, Ana sensed her friend stirring. She also noticed that below the surface of the strands of light that overlaid each other in a net around his body, a blue glow emerged from within the green luminescence.
Agonized that Ryan was caught in the middle, she said with a scratchy voice, “I’m so sorry . . .”
His eyes met hers. Caught in an internal battle, Ryan appeared to be struggling with himself. His hand rose up to point at Ana’s feet.
“There,” he choked out, “under you.”
Ana looked down at the fire licking at her flesh. The pages of the book and papers scattered at her feet were in flames. She stepped aside and squatted down, ignoring the pain of burning flesh touching burning flesh.
Her fingers tried to lift the charred pages aside, but they incinerated at her touch. She worked her way through a layer of books and carved wooden sculptures, their acrid smoke biting at her nose. Then she saw it. A metallic engraved lid shone through the blackened debris.
Before she could touch it, Ryan roared so loud it made her jump. “I will not fail now that I’m so close!”
Through the stitching of his energy pattern Ana detected a jade glow emanating from Ryan’s body. Any trace of inner conflict disappeared. He hunkered down and launched himself at her. His shoulder connected with her upper body, sending her backward off the altar of treasure and into the water. As soon as her body hit, bubbles and steam rose. At first it was soothing against her skin, but nothing could slow the heat and energy pouring out of her.
Like sledding down a snow slope, she’d carved a path in the valuables, pushing them below the pool’s surface. Perched on top of the treasure was Ryan, arms flexed and muscles tight. He was not going to let her near the golden box.
A dark form towered over him. Long hairy arms wrapped around his shoulders and dragged him off the mound. The Sasquatch gripped Ryan tight but only for a moment, until he morphed and dropped onto all fours. Larger than either of them, a huge bull with enormous horns snorted and pawed at the loose coins in front of him. He turned his body to the side and swung his dangerous spiked weapons at Mac, who jumped back. Then, the angry beast stampeded onto the pile of treasure. With fire reflected in his eyes, he bellowed a thundering threat.
Ana watched the scene, unsure what to do. She didn’t know if she’d survive shifting even if she tried. It could push her past the breaking point and she was already millimeters from the end of the thread that connected her to this world. But she had to get to the golden box somehow. She had to try. Even if it meant dying. Especially if it did.
The bull continued to make threatening noises and tilted its head back and forth to keep an eye on both her and Mac. It was helpful seeing the energy patterns around her since the amount of steam that rose from the water obscured her vision further. She stooped low, breathing slow and steady, and waited for her chance.
Tucking down behind her view of the bull, the hulking Sasquatch disappeared. Seconds later, a yellow lion leapt on top of the massive creature. Its claws dug into the bovine’s flesh as it settled near its neck. The fur which draped the impressive cat’s arms shrank away. Before Ana could blink, the feline had transformed back into Mac, who wrapped his arms around the bull’s neck, locked his hands together and squeezed.
Daemon, who’d been unable to move quickly in his hulking form, began to teeter and stumble. He shifted sideways off the mound and Ana acted. She ran to the place he’d just stood, scanning for the rectangle of gold. Moving a carving of a bird out of the way, she found it. With her fingers, she scooped away the coins and jewelry that surrounded the box.
Just as she fumbled to lift the lid a thundering roar echoed through the sweltering cavern. She looked up and saw Mac standing behind an enormous gorilla. Sharp white teeth flashed in the primate’s mouth, its eyes set on her.
Without blinking, she lifted the lid to the box, blindly reached inside and put her fingers around what was within. As soon as her skin touched the smooth object, something slammed into her.
Every inch of her body, inside and out, was in pain and burning hot. Daemon smacked her hands. He grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her as far as he could. It didn’t cause her any more discomfort than what she was already in.
She hit a rock formation and she slid down into the water, realizing she no longer held what she’d withdrawn from the box. A moment of panic set in. She didn’t know what it looked like, plus she wasn’t sure she’d be able to see it.
Ana took a slow breath. The impossibly hot air hurt going in and killed as she exhaled it. She wasn’t sure how much longer any of them could survive exposure to her power.
At the foot of the treasure mound, the gorilla grappled with Mac’s Sasquatch. Both were grumbling and grunting from the excruciating heat. The hair on their bodies began to burn.
Ana stumbled back toward the pile of relics and valuables, the light pouring from her body, nearly blinding her. Her eyes traced over the open box, searching for the smooth stone she’d felt in her hand.
The two men’s grumbling turned to screams. She was horrified to find them writhing in the shafts of energy that now radiated from her cracking flesh. Tears couldn’t come, but she sobbed anyway.
As the scene deteriorated before her, she thought of Chance. Felt him with her. And knew what he’d tell her to do. Move! Find the talisman! With his voice screaming in her ears, she focused on that singular task.
Her hands combed over the treasure, feeling for the smooth object she’d held minutes earlier. Only seeing energy fields that formed shapes, she sought out the organic shape that fit perfectly in her palm and found it.
Brittle, charred fingers fumbled to hold it safe. Cupping it carefully, she studied the pendant. The precise gold wings encircling its radiant, spherical center began to soften and melt in her hands. The central glassy stone gleamed like a bulb before dissolving at her touch.
Fear struck her heart. Maybe the talisman was only a treasure to those who valued wealth and not the kind of knowledge she required. It didn’t matter any longer. She hoped the pain would stop soon.
At her feet, the curled up bodies of the gorilla and Sasquatch had stopped moving. The smell of burnt hair and flesh filled the air and she could barely breathe. One after the other, a burst of blue light shot out from the animals. The shockwave surged through her, almost knocking her over.
From the lifeless bodies, fingerlings of green energy curled up and expanded into the ghostly forms of two men, one much older than the other. The younger of the two appeared to be a teenager. His features were dark and his gaze couldn’t be swayed from her. He reached his translucent hand toward her. When the tips of his fingers touched the power emanating from her like radiation off a fire, they sparked. He moved closer, lighting up his palms, then arms. The corners of his mouth lifted into a sneer.
Behind him, the other older man, who had hair to his shoulders and a familiar glint in his eyes, wrapped his arms around the teen and began pulling him away. Desperate to reach Ana, the boy clawed at the air but grasped at
nothing. Eyes wide, he was dragged slowly across the cavern.
The older man’s lips moved and she thought she made out a voice saying, “It’s time for us to leave, it’s never good to keep a lady waiting. Try being a nicer version of yourself—it might help for a change. Say goodbye to this world. You’re done here.”
Mac turned his attention to Ana and smiled just as he began to dissipate. Both ghostly figures dissolved into the walls of the sandstone chamber, their lights going completely out.
Ana was alone. A single flame.
Anything that hadn’t already ignited went up in flames. The mass of golden treasure turned into mush which sizzled in the bubbling waters. Steam and smoke filled the air. Ana’s blinding glow illuminated everything in the chamber. Orange-tinged light glimmered from her pores, growing brighter every second that passed.
In her hands, the liquid coating of gold and glass shone like a precious second skin. A fan of black wilted strands sprawled across her palm. In an instant, the threads ignited and etched a pattern of light on her skin before turning to ash.
Unable to contain the energy flowing out of her, Ana threw her head back and gave her life over to the fire consuming her soul.
For always, my love.
Chapter 25
Chance woke with a start. He inhaled sharply and his eyes snapped open. His body was resting on a hard surface and his knee hurt. Darkened shapes were all around. Once his eyesight adjusted, he realized he was wedged into the recesses of an opening in a rocky wall. Confused, he couldn’t remember where he was or how he’d gotten there.
With his hands, he felt for grips in the rock to help pull himself out. It took a minute to stumble free. When he contacted the floor of the illuminated passage, it was nearly too hot to touch. His bronzed skin gleamed in the light and he noticed he was slick with sweat.
It was obvious why. The heat in the air was thick with moisture, making it hard to breathe, like a sauna. While he struggled to inhale enough oxygen, he wracked his brain to recall what happened. He’d been here for a reason. He was here to find something important. Something important for Ana.
As soon as he thought her name, a vision of her glowing in the cavern filled his mind. Everything rushed back to him, ending with Ryan repeatedly smashing his head, knocking him out. After that, he couldn’t remember anything. Including how he got in the pathway.
But where was Ana? He suddenly remembered. It was hot in the passage for a reason. He swallowed a painful breath and ran toward the light, hoping it was her.
Every step he took led him closer to the cavern, building more tension in his stomach. Afraid of what he’d find, he pushed ahead.
God, Ana. Be alive, be alive.
The opening of the chamber was before him. When he jumped down into the grotto, his heart stopped. Only inches of water remained and the light he’d been running toward was not coming from Ana, but sunlight which poured through openings in the ceiling and far wall. Crumbled stone lay in piles across the ground.
Cool currents mixed with hot air, but it didn’t matter. He didn’t notice. He didn’t feel the sweltering water on his feet or notice the burnt smell of minerals, paper and flesh in his nostrils.
All he cared about was finding her. She had to be there. Somewhere.
He ran across the glimmer of melted gold and traced over every inch of the cavern. When he came across the bones, he stopped. Two intertwined skeletons lay in the shallows, the legs of one disappearing under a large piece of stone.
Chance swallowed and with all of his might, rolled the rock over. He squatted down and touched one of the skulls. It was larger than the other and a different shape, although neither struck him as human. Humanoid, maybe.
Not convinced either belonged to Ana, he stood up and looked at the stony rubble. Without stopping, he began to move every rock he could in search of her.
He didn’t even notice Batukhan enter the space until his voice said next to him, “What happened?”
Startled, Chance stood up and spun around to face him. Panting, he answered, “I don’t know. Mac took off to check out some wall paintings and I went ahead. Ana was here with Ryan and she was glowing hot—”
Chance looked around wildly, not wanting to meet Batukhan’s eye. He continued, “Ryan started beating on me and I don’t remember anything else. I just woke up wedged into some rock in the passage. Where have you been? Didn’t feel like coming to help?”
Chance rubbed his forehead a little rougher than he should have and roared in frustration. He could imagine that if Ana had been there, she would have told him he was being unfair to Batukhan, which he knew he was.
His friend frowned, but Chance still didn’t want to look at him. Batukhan put his hand on his shoulder, which felt like a hammer pounding Chance into the earth, and said, “I’m so sorry, Chance. I had no idea you were in danger. You know I couldn’t come with you because of the hemlock. I’ve been trying to shift so I could come in and only a few minutes ago I was able to. I followed your scents through the pathways and they led me here, to you.”
It was obvious he wanted to say or ask more, but thought better of it. He simply stood with his hand on Chance’s shoulder, waiting for him to say something.
When Chance did speak, it came out choked up. “Did you find her?”
His friend’s answer was soft and low. “I found no one.”
Just what he feared.
He couldn’t accept any of this. Ana had to be there. She wasn’t the reason for the heat or apparent cave in. She was safe. She had to be.
Strange, strangled noises filled the cavern and he realized it was him. He couldn’t breathe. Not in a world without Ana.
“Help me look,” Chance said between gasps and went back to work overturning rocks.
Without a word, Batukhan joined him, moving anything that wasn’t attached. When he came across the two skeletons he stopped and looked at Chance. “Those are the remains of the great howler and a gorilla.”
“I know,” Chance said, “keep looking.”
“That means my old friend is gone.”
Pity and sadness were reflected in Batukhan’s eyes as he studied Chance. There was too much despair to be felt by Chance alone. It was overflowing everywhere, like a poisonous fog around him.
Chance ignored the fact he’d overturned all of the rocks and stones multiple times without a trace. Beside him, Batukhan stopped after searching the entire space. “I do not know how to say this, but I feel I must. As painful as it is, I do not think we will find your Ana here. The destruction around us is proof of that.”
Not wanting to hear any more and filled with fury, Chance launched at him. Screaming and spraying spittle, he yelled, “I won’t accept that! She couldn’t have left me. I can’t survive without her! I don’t want to.”
For a minute, Chance wasn’t sure if he was going to hurt him and Batukhan seemed to be wondering that himself. He watched Chance through wide eyes, but didn’t move away. Unblinking, he answered, “What you feel for Ana is how I feel about Lifen. The fear you are living is in my heart as well. I worry if Lifen is alive. Daemon took Ana—do you think he did that without causing more damage? I think you know him best of all. I must find out if she is safe. I am going back to the boat and then the marina to call. I would feel better not leaving you here alone.”
His words filtered in slowly. It took Chance a while to process what was said. He looked at Batukhan, who was wearing a deep frown. He could see the concern in his friend’s eyes.
In a breath, something changed. Like a line being cut, emptiness consumed Chance and he no longer cared. He didn’t care what happened to him, what he did or where he went. None of it mattered. Not anymore.
Batukhan walked away from him to the opening in the far wall. He climbed through and disappeared.
Chance stared at the orange sandstone walls, feeling empty and alone. Black ashes swirled in the water at his feet. He watched them drift for a moment before following Batukhan out of the cave
rn.
Chapter 26
The next few hours moved like he was in a dream. Detached from what was happening, Chance flew with Batukhan back to the boat and sat beside him when he drove them to the marina. He stood next to him when the call was made to Lifen’s house and when the news came that Jordan was dead. However, when Batukhan began to discuss what happened in the cavern, Chance tuned out entirely.
This isn’t to say he wasn’t thinking, because he was. He thought about the one person who meant the world to him, the one who accepted him, faults and all. Who stood by his side and pledged herself to him for eternity. The woman whose kindness and heart offset his impatience and brashness. He recalled the green of her eyes and how they shined when he entered the room. Even now, just thinking of her, it made his heart race.
He couldn’t leave her. He wouldn’t.
“We’ll come home as soon as possible,” Batukhan said and hung up the phone.
The sound of the receiver touching down snapped him awake. Chance shook his head and said, “No. I’m not leaving yet. I have to go back.”
Batukhan didn’t appear surprised by his announcement. He gestured toward the water and answered, “Let’s go. A prayer should be said for Mac and Ryan. And it may be good for you to say goodbye to Ana.”
Chance wasn’t going to argue with Batukhan, but he would never say goodbye to the one he loved. After the amount of trauma he’d endured since his grandfather had died, he was empty. He couldn’t take any more.
By this time, it was late afternoon. They sped upstream, knowing just where to go. The sun didn’t touch the horizon until they reached the water filled channel they’d left mere hours earlier. Instead of following the same way into Daemon’s hideaway, they located the rocky trail that led up to the eroded wall they’d escaped from.
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