“He’s paranoid,” Asair said.
“No kidding.” Nelia rested her head on his shoulder.
“We should go see him.” Halen yanked Nelia by the hand, breaking their bond. Asair’s mouth spread with a mischievous grin, and Halen pretended to find interest in the workers in the water. Several Elosians dragged cables across the surface, connecting them from one wall to the next.
“What are they doing?” Halen asked.
“They’re worried about the fires. If a ring opens near us, the whole place could combust. We’re flushing out any traces of liquibrium,” Nelia said.
A man with a water mask waved at Nelia, motioning for her to come up by the monitors. She sighed. “I’ll be back in a moment. The satellite imagery is constantly changing. Do you know we lost a satellite yesterday because of one of those fire rings? I swear Huron needs to get off his butt and stop worrying about the water stone and start finding a way to open the portal.”
She brushed against Asair like a cat rubbing along its favorite piece of furniture. “I’ll have time for you later.”
“I don’t like this,” Halen said when she was out of earshot.
“I quite like her.” Asair’s gaze dripped over Nelia, now in animated conversation with the man.
“I’m talking about the Tari.” Halen elbowed him. She counted at least twelve Elosians with water masks, the eagle, a cougar, a monkey, and others she assumed were humans. That wasn’t taking into consideration the Elosians in the water, or whoever else might be lurking in the tunnels. “We’re outnumbered.”
“I’m not concerned.”
“Yeah, obviously. You shouldn’t be kissing her. It’s not right. She was Quinn’s girlfriend.”
“I haven’t had a girl hold me in a hundred years. Forgive me if I indulged a bit.”
She wasn’t feeling very sympathetic, though her thoughts drifted to his parting kiss with her. Somehow, that one kiss seemed more intimate than the dozens he showered on Nelia. “How can you be so flippant when we have a big problem?” She nodded toward the guards. “How are we supposed to take the water stone? We should rethink the plan. We don’t even have Otho’s soul anymore.”
“Don’t worry, I have a plan. Besides, you’re doing great. Dax wouldn’t have brought you here if he didn’t trust you.”
“He’s hurting. I feel bad for him,” Halen said. “He’s lost just as much as any of us.”
“There’s a difference; Dax signed up for this.”
“No one signs up for this much pain.” Halen shook her head. “He was born into this—just like you and me.”
“You don’t know him, Halen. You didn’t see what I saw in the orb. He’s dangerous.”
“We’re all dangerous.”
A group gathered around Nelia. They flipped between two screens, each with blotted dark patches spreading across the landscape.
“I’m just saying it’s better to have Dax close. At least then we know what he’s up to,” Halen said.
“Stick to the plan.”
“I would if our plan was working. We lost the Hunter’s soul. We don’t have Natalie. I know you want redemption. I would go into Etlis with you—we could do this together.”
Asair grabbed her arm, and her sparks surged. “Don’t go rogue on me. You don’t know how dangerous the Tari are.”
“Exactly.” She yanked free from his grip. “We can’t wait around. Even if we survive until we’re old and gray, we will die eventually and then Tarius will be free. Then the Tari will have had a lifetime to strategize. I say we destroy him now.”
“Don’t go there. You’re not ready.”
“No, you’re not ready.” She shook her head.
“Listen to me.” His gaze narrowed, sending a chill down her spine. “I shared your grief with you, but it will return. Tarius will strike when you’re weakest.”
“Just because you failed doesn’t mean I will.”
Nelia slipped in behind Asair and wrapped her arms around his waist. “What are you two whispering about?”
“Quinn was just explaining how the water system works in the masks. It’s amazing.” She acted upbeat, even a little impressed, though her conversation with Asair left her unnerved.
“It’s good you’re here, Halen. And I’m so sorry the portal to Etlis didn’t open after all we put you through. We’ll find another way.”
“What about the rings of fire?” Halen glanced past her shoulder to the monitors.
“It’s a problem for Earth’s surface. We’ll be safe here for now, but we’re going to have to come up with a contingency plan. There’s been another fire ring. The damage is—” She glanced up at Asair. “Where’s Maddie? Is someone getting her settled in a chamber?”
“I didn’t bring her. She’s back at the flat with a friend. She’s safe.”
Nelia’s face paled. “Oh, Quinn, I thought she was with you.” Her voice cracked.
“What’s happened?” Asair’s irises shifted to jade, then flashed back to green.
Nelia placed her hand on his chest. “London’s gone.”
ASAIR FELL SILENT as Nelia led them down the tunnel. Halen wasn’t sure how much of Quinn remained, but if Nelia’s words reached him, he’d be shattered. As it turned out, London faced three converging rings of fire. Evacuation was in progress, but with the surrounding waters raging with flames, routes were limited.
They came to a section of the tunnel filled with water. Nelia waded in up to her knees. “You better take off your shoes.” She nodded toward their feet.
Halen flipped off her sneakers and Asair removed his high-tops before entering. The freezing water soaked through her leggings, straight to her bones. As if frigid temperatures weren’t enough to rattle her nerves, the creaking moan of water pressure sent her over the edge. If the walls collapsed they could breathe underwater, but how long would they last pinned beneath the rubble?
“The tunnels need repairing.” Nelia rapped on the concrete.
“How far do we have to go?” Halen followed the trickle of water along the crack.
Two men stepped from the shadows and Asair held Halen back. Both men wore Elosian swim shorts, though thin bulletproof vests protected their chests; they were equally prepared to swim or fight. Secured at their waist were two sheathed knifes, though their spears were aimed toward them.
“This is Huron’s daughter.” Nelia waved.
The taller of the two guards eyed Halen, but when his sharp blue gaze found Asair, he smiled. “Quinn.” He bowed his head. “Sir.”
Asair nodded. “At ease, Fallon.”
Both guards stepped aside. The one named Fallon opened a door, Halen hadn’t even seen through the darkness. This door too was metal, though much smaller than the one that led to the cavern. When Asair passed Fallon, he patted the guard on the shoulder. “You still owe me fifty pounds for the last poker game. Is that why you haven’t been by the flat?”
“I was hoping you would forget.” Fallon grinned.
“Not a chance.”
As they entered the room, Huron rose to his feet. He stood behind a long narrow slab of concrete raised on a platform, with Dax by his side. Huron wore a vest like the guards, only Halen spotted a gun holstered at his hip. Instead of swim skins, he wore tight neoprene pants with knee-high combat boots, which were coated in a sooty, gray powder; the same powder covered the entire floor. Behind him, a vast wall of water flowed into a fountain, and in the center, a shimmering blue stone gleamed with sparkling rays of light.
The water stone. Halen’s heart tripped.
A stag.
A boy.
A river of blood.
A stag.
A boy.
A river of blood.
She stumbled back as the images flashed with each rapid beat of her heart.
“It’s captivating, isn’t it?” Huron widened his stance, blocking her view of the stone. He set his hand over the holster of his gun.
Nelia leaned next to her ear. “I was speechless
too, when I saw it for the first time.”
Huron stepped off the platform. He kicked up the gray dust as he walked. It smelled of burnt bark and sage, with another scent Halen couldn’t quite decipher. “Quinn, it’s good to see you.” He nodded.
“Sir.” Asair bowed his head.
“Come inside.” Huron brought his arm around Halen, tugging her into the room. The dusty powder coated her wet feet in thick clumps. When his hand clutched her shoulder, her skin crawled. “Dax says you’re stronger than ever, and the coral and bone is working now.”
“My magick is flowing much better thanks to the coral and bone.” She had to remain calm, even though Huron’s touch made her skin crawl. If she used her magick to take the stone, how far would they get? Huron led her up to the platform, where the heavy gray powder grew ankle deep. It pricked her skin, and when she rubbed her leg, her fingers burned. She swiped the powder off on her shirt as Huron stopped in front of the water stone.
“I’m sorry to hear about your mother,” Huron said. “We mustn’t forget her sacrifice—the Tari are stronger because of her actions.”
Her gaze slid to the stone, unable to face him without tearing him apart. How dare he suggest her mom wanted the Tari to strengthen—she died for peace.
“Galadia’s wand, some call it.” His voice held a tone of wonderment. “The heavens gave Galadia this stone to build Elosia.”
She lifted her hand; a vibration hummed between the stone and her fingertips, as though the air was charged.
“Careful.” Huron guided her hand down. “Though it’s surrounded in water, the stone will burn your flesh to the bone.”
“What?” she asked. Asair failed to mention this. How were they supposed to get the stone now?
“We don’t know how it got here,” Dax said.
“But if no one can touch it…” Her fingers itched. She wanted to touch it. No, she needed to touch it. The same wanton energy as when she faced the dragon in the hotel room fueled her desire now.
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out.” Dax stepped beside her. “We think it must have something to do with removing the curse on Etlis. I thought maybe if I brought you here, you might know. Did Asair mention the stone?”
In one brief memory, the stone appeared in her hand. Feeling a tickle along her palm, she rubbed her hand on her thigh. Though a stone of this size should carry some weight, she somehow knew the water stone could be waved with the ease of a feather. When one rolled the blue cylinder between their palms, the stone would sing. Why would Asair know this? He wouldn’t. And this confused her more.
“Did he say anything, or not?” Dax asked again.
She stepped away, and already wanted to be close to the crystal again. “I’ve never seen it before in my life.” But as the words left her mouth, her mind flooded with a vivid scene, so bizarre and yet so familiar.
A young woman stood in a vast, barren land, her bare feet firm on rock. The Elosian sky spun above, and when a single azure drop of water fell from the sky, she lifted her wand. As the droplet seeped into the rock terrain, she cast the water stone across the land, and the deep blue Elosian river bubbled up, splitting the hard ground. Like a skilled painter, she swept brilliant emerald moss along the shore, and cast leafy shrubs dotted with succulent pink berries beside. Peaked mountains kissed the sky and the banks sprang with indigo-barked trees. Beneath the ground, vast caverns curved with shimmering gold and rainbow-dusted ceilings as stalagmites bloomed.
She glanced up, her warm gaze touching Halen. She offered her the wand. We are one. Never forget who you are.
As her mind swirled, Halen lost her footing.
Dax caught her by the elbow. “Are you okay?”
She scanned the dimly lit room where Asair, Nelia, Dax, and Huron stared at her as if she had just given a speech in the nude.
“The stone can be overwhelming for a blue moon siren,” Asair said. “At least, that’s what I’ve been told.”
“Did you see something?” Dax guided her to a chair and she sat.
She couldn’t tell them what she saw without sounding delusional. She glanced back at the water stone. Again, she felt the cylinder pressed in her palms, its smooth polish always cool except after casting magick, when it would warm like the summer sun. She shouldn’t know this, yet she did. Just as she had known the story of Tarius and Galadia when Quinn had shown her the book. Only this time, it felt more than just a story; this was a memory. She rubbed her forehead.
“Halen?” Dax nudged her.
“I saw my mother,” she lied.
“That’s not the stone. That’s your grief.” Huron sounded genuinely disappointed.
“Stop playing games.” Dax grabbed her arm and her sparks shot through her like daggers.
Halen’s gaze darted to Asair.
“Stand back, Nelia. That’s not your boyfriend,” Dax said. “It’s that filthy demon—Asair.”
“Dax, you’ve lost it.” Halen’s words rushed, like her rapid heartbeat. “What are you even talking about?”
“You’re such a bad liar.”
“When did you know?” She bowed her head.
“I suspected when I couldn’t get through to you, but I knew for sure when the mermaids rescued us in Elosia. They belong to Asair.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” Tears of fear choked her throat.
“At first, I couldn’t believe that you would lie to me—that it was even possible. After everything—” He released his grip on her.
“You lied too.”
“I told you the truth. The plan never changed, until you brought that filthy demon back.”
“Will someone please tell me what the heck is going on here?” Nelia glanced up at Asair.
“I’m sorry. It’s true. Quinn’s not here anymore,” Asair said.
Her mouth hung open and her eyes widened, as she registered what he was telling her.
“He’s gone.”
Nelia shoved against his chest. “How dare you! Where’s Quinn? Give him back!”
“He wanted you to have this.” He pulled from his jean pocket a silver chain with a charm.
Nelia stepped away. “No!” She shook her head, stepping away from him. “No.”
He held it out to her. The chain dangled from his fingertips, and Halen made out the two loops on an infinity knot. “He said you would know its meaning.”
“Enough!” Huron slammed his hand on the concrete slab. “Nelia, you need to leave. We have private matters to discuss.”
She slapped Asair across the face, so hard his face flushed, then snatched the necklace and without looking back opened the door, slamming it behind her.
Huron dismissed Nelia’s shattered state with a slight grunt.
Asair thrust his hand outward.
Alarmed, Halen stood at once.
Huron shook his head. “Your magick won’t work here, siren. You’re standing in ash.”
Halen lifted her foot. The gray soot clung to her like maggots on the dead. She tried to summon her sparks, but they fizzled with her breath. “You’re blocking our magick?”
“Even Quinn didn’t know about the ash.” Dax sat, crossing his legs.
“I can’t believe you.” Halen shook her hands searching for her magick. “This was a trap?”
“You could have come to me.” Dax sounded hurt.
“I wanted to tell you at first. I really did.” Her sparks flickered, her magick faltered as if trying to ignite in the wind. She glanced back at the water stone, her heart sinking.
“Listen,” Huron said, his tone sharp, making her back away. “We’re on the same side here. I know you’ve been misled by this demon.” He nodded at Asair. “But Halen, you will see.”
“She will never follow Tarius.” Asair stomped through the ash, and stepped onto the platform beside Halen.
“Tarius has other plans for her.” Huron smiled.
“You can’t be serious?” Asair’s jaw worked from side to side. “You would give you
r own daughter to him?”
“What do you mean?” Halen’s frantic gaze darted to Huron.
“We’re going to save the realms,” Huron said. “The world rots in its own decay. The humans want escape; they pump their bodies with drugs to numb their brains, and the leaders want to destroy each other with wars. Humans desire evil. We're going to give them—what they crave.”
“You'll destroy us all.” Asair grabbed Halen’s hand and guided her behind him.
“The realms will be renewed and I will rebuild them as they should be.”
“You’re a fool,” Asair said. “Tarius will never give you control.”
“I’m not asking for control, just respect and a position in his army.” Huron’s smile reached his eyes and Halen fought the urge to lunge. “When Tarius sees what I’m willing to sacrifice,” he nodded to Halen, “the gift I am bringing him, I will be greatly rewarded.”
“What?” The word choked in Halen’s throat.
“I know you saw more than your dead mother in the water stone.” Huron’s eyes glistened with zeal. “His soul will open the portal.” His greedy gaze slipped to Asair. “Then, my dear daughter, you will march the water stone right into Etlis.”
“Tarius will kill her.” Dax stood shaking. “My soul is bound to hers—I’ll die. There has to be another way.”
“You’re a soldier first,” Huron huffed.
Dax’s jaw tightened, the muscles straining along his neck, but he slumped back down in the chair.
Did Huron have this much power over him? Halen hated Dax for being so weak, for not being able to defend his own life. How could she have trusted hers with such a coward?
“You’re naive if you think Tarius will reward loyalty. You’ll perish in flames. Tarius will spare no one.” Asair’s chin dipped toward Dax.
Dax stood at once, and in an instant his hands were around Asair’s throat.
He let out a strangled laughed which only angered Dax more. Dax’s knuckles whitened with the pressure.
“Enough!” Huron slammed his hand on the table.
Dax retreated like a scolded child.
When Huron spread his fingers along the concrete table, a flash of red caught Halen’s attention—Daspar’s ruby ring. No, it couldn’t be. But she had never seen another like it. Even in the dim light, the stone sparkled as if dancing in sunlight. But if Huron had the ring, then… Her breath hitched. Had he been a part of her mom’s death? She clenched her fists, willing her magick to come forth, but it was her human rage that propelled her across the table.
Curses and Ash Page 24