Singing Fire

by T. L. Martin

  The skies had already darkened from the sun going down, making the lighthouse itself especially dim when I climbed the small steps and entered. Small windows evenly decorated the walls, allowing for clouded rays of light to seep in, and on each corner of the room sat a single lit candle—undoubtedly Quinn’s work based on the craftsmanship. Priscilla and Quinn greeted me at the entrance, followed by four strangers standing in the center of the compact space.

  “Dominic Alastor, Kinsey James, Julien Sparks, and Willow Birch,” Priscilla announced in the order they stood. “Charlie, meet your Guardians. Guardians, meet Charlie.”

  I nodded cordially at the group, genuinely pleased to finally meet them, and they each greeted me back. Dominic, with his closely shaved head and burly build, gave me a small but friendly smile. Kinsey’s bubbly wave and her curly hair, though blonde, reminded me a lot of Pixie, and Julien looked small and timid beside Willow’s surprisingly tall, lanky stance. Matt ambled inside, placing himself in front of the four of them.

  “Let’s do this,” he said, with a pumped up tone that rang of confidence. I knew he’d been waiting for this moment for a while, and his proud expression made me smile.

  Priscilla gave him the go-ahead with a nod, and he and the others backed away to form a large circle along the walls of the room. Priscilla remained at the doorway, just outside of the circle, while Quinn led me to its center and withdrew a pocketknife from her jacket. Lifting a narrow copper cup from the ground, she made her way to Matt first. His hand was already extended for her, and she gave him a cut just deep enough to let a few drops of blood trickle into the cup. Moving on to Dominic, she did the same before continuing with Kinsey, Julien, and, finally, Willow.

  “Matt,” she said softly, and he followed her to stand right beside me in the middle of the circle.

  Quinn retrieved another, smaller, tin cup and held out her hand for my own. I obliged. The sting was sharper than I’d anticipated as she drew more blood than she had with the others. I watched as it dripped easily into the cup before she released my grip, allowing my hand to fall to my side. Returning to Matt, she dipped a finger into the copper cup and dabbed the mixture of blood onto the inside of his left wrist to create a thin, vertical line, then she dabbed my own blood onto his right wrist in the same fashion. She made her way to Dominic and Kinsey, then Julien and Willow, repeating the process exactly each time.

  Finally returning to me, she followed the same routine. But instead of releasing my arms to my side this time, she placed my right hand into Matt’s left hand before exiting the circle completely. I looked around the room curiously, and Matt gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. It was Dominic who approached us first, taking our free hands into his own.

  “As Guardian to the Opal, I vow to always place your safety above mine. To protect and to serve with loyalty and honor. To commit myself to you always.”

  He stepped back, taking his place in the circle once more, and Kinsey stepped forward. I could feel the knots forming in my stomach as she took hold of our hands, repeating the same words in her sweet and friendly voice.

  “As Guardian to the Opal, I vow to always place your safety above mine. To protect and to serve with loyalty and honor. To commit myself to you always.”

  This process repeated itself with Julien and Willow, and by the time it was Matt’s turn, I felt certain I was going to be sick. Matt turned to face me and took my other hand into his. He opened his mouth to begin the same dedication speech, but I couldn’t let him do it. Breaking my hands away from his, I took a step back.

  Matt lowered his voice into a whisper. “Charlie. What are you doing?”

  The palms of my hands were sweaty as I looked from Matt to the others, bewilderment on each of their faces.

  “I’m sorry,” I said quietly, trying to steady my voice. “I guess...I didn’t know it was going to be like this.”

  “Like what?” he asked. “You’re doing great, Charlie. Two more minutes and it’ll be over. I promise.”

  The others were looking at me almost earnestly now, and I backed away a little farther, shaking my head. “I can’t do this. I’m so sorry, Matt.”

  I’d barely made it past Priscilla and down the steps when Desmond materialized before me, stopping me in my tracks.

  “Desmond. I can’t,” I whispered. When he didn’t immediately respond, I bit my lip anxiously and gave my head another shake. “Did you hear what they were saying? They’re willing to sacrifice themselves for me. Almost eager to do it, even.” I paused and looked straight into his eyes as a lump formed in my throat. “You guys...you’re already risking everything.”

  “Please.” His voice, though gentle, was urgent, and his eyes desperate. “Just listen to what I have to say, then I’ll step away. And you can do whatever you feel you need to.”

  I was hesitant, but I knew he wouldn’t budge. His eyes strayed slightly, and I turned to see what he was looking at. Everyone around us, other than Priscilla, was closely watching our intimate interaction. Quinn’s eyes fueled wildly. I needed to hear him out quickly before we aroused any further suspicion.

  “Okay,” I quietly agreed.

  He gave an appreciative nod of his head, focusing completely on me now.

  “You didn’t force any of us to help you. We are all here because we choose to be, despite what’s at stake. Our best hope for keeping you safe is in sticking together and getting as many on board with us as we can.” He spoke every syllable with care, watching me intently with each word. “There’s a reason the Guardians were destined to protect you, and all they want is to serve their purpose. If you won’t do it for yourself,” he added softly, “think of everyone else who could be in danger if Tempest is able to use you to her advantage. No one would stand a chance.”

  That was the longest definite speech I’d ever heard him make, and the compassion behind it was evident. He was right, of course. There was a bigger picture to consider, and it would be ignorant of me to argue with that. But it didn’t make it any easier. I exhaled in frustration, still highly uncomfortable with the idea.

  Desmond stepped aside, as promised, and I could feel the tension as everyone anxiously waited for me to make a move.

  Slowly, I headed back into the lighthouse. I would finish this initiation for the sake of his safety, the safety of my dauntless new friends, and my beloved aunt. But this would be the end of their sacrifices for me. I was going to kill Tempest on my own, and I finally had an idea of how I was going to do it.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN: SYNCING WITH A PRIMARY

  The initiation concluded with Matt’s final vow, and, at that moment, I experienced just what he had meant the other day, when he said I would feel it. It was like an invisible thread between the five of us, connecting us in a way I didn’t even fully comprehend yet. But the bond was constant, flowing through my veins. Matt’s experience, from what he’d explained to me, was far more extraordinary as the Alpha. He’d said his mind had linked with theirs so completely that there was no longer a need for them to communicate through words. What was more, he could actually feel what they felt.

  Our next destination was the tea shop, where Priscilla and I were to sync and practice the relocation spell. I was feeling uneasy about it, not knowing what to expect. But the short ride had proven to be interesting enough to distract me, with Pixie and I subjected to Matt’s unusual facial expressions and random snickers as he and his new friends silently got better acquainted.

  It was comforting, being back at the shop, and it hit me then how much I’d missed it. The Guardians, Matt included, designated the two tables closest to the entrance to settle into. Pixie gave my hand a squeeze before she and Quinn relaxed into a corner sofa, and Desmond positioned himself watchfully beside the front door, his eyes centered on me as Priscilla and I made our way into the enchanted room.

  The room, which was once again nearly unrecognizable, was as dim as the night outside but for the chandelier gently illuminating colorful vines along the walls.

/>   “Pixie’s work?” I asked, touching a finger to one of the plants.

  Priscilla smiled. “Indeed.”

  A small wooden bowl sat in the middle of the room, and I leaned in for a closer inspection. Its contents were finely powdered and colored in shades of greens, browns, and silvers. Priscilla took a seat behind the bowl.

  “Charlie, dear,” Priscilla said, gesturing for me to take a seat before her. “Are you certain you’re all right with syncing with me?”

  “I’m sure,” I answered without hesitation. Not only was I now depending on it more than she knew, but she of all people deserved nothing but support with her magic, or otherwise. “I trust you.”

  I could see the genuine appreciation in her eyes when she smiled softly. “Very well. Now, I’ve done the relocation spell before but never on another Primary. Which is why I thought it best for me to run a little practice test before attempting the real thing. You don’t mind being the subject, do you?”

  I shook my head. The truth was: I was an eager subject. I was hoping to be able to absorb the process as much as possible.

  She winked and retrieved the wooden bowl, bringing it to her nose. “Mm. I’ve always loved the natural scents of the earth. I wish I could have kept it as potent as it was when originally mixed, but the essence would be a dead giveaway the moment Tempest gets a whiff.”

  I smiled faintly, admiring how in tune she always seemed to be with nature. “What is it?” I asked with another peek inside.

  “A simple combination of roots, herbs, and minerals. The key here lies in the quality of ingredients and in the energy of the hands that mix them.” She playfully drummed her fingers against the air. “Luckily, this particular batch was made by these hands.” Priscilla set the bowl aside. “First, however, we must sync.”

  “Right. Um...” I glanced at her with uncertainty. The first time I had ever synced with someone was while I had been unconscious. The closest experience after that was reconnecting and training with Pixie, but I had the feeling that wasn’t quite the same as the initial connection.

  “I know, dear,” she said. “It’s all right. Every bonding experience you have will be different than the last.”

  I inhaled sharply. That wasn’t reassuring. “So, what do we do?”

  She smiled kindly. “Unfortunately, there’s no manual with instructions for this sort of thing. You are, after all, the first human Opal. Why don’t we try something basic to start?”

  She extended her arms, and I took her hands. We were sitting in a similar fashion as I had with Pixie during our training session, which made me think to close my eyes. I didn’t know if Priscilla closed hers too, but I kept mine shut regardless. I tried to relax, to listen to the nature around us and smell the earthy essences. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get my mind to slow down. Fear and the pressure of pulling this off only increased, and tension was building in my muscles.

  “How about a more familiar approach?” Priscilla’s voice gently called. Relieved, I opened my eyes. “It was magic which first bonded you to Pixie, and you connected through it once more here in this very room. Maybe we can try something similar?”

  “Okay.” I waited cautiously to see what she would do next.

  “It is rather cold in here. Don’t you think?” she asked with a hinting smile. Extending her arms once more, Priscilla took only one of my hands in hers.

  “Mirror my actions with your free hand,” she instructed.

  I obliged, watching her other hand rise until it was level with my neck, then slowly fall until it was mere inches from the ground. She repeated this motion several times with the artfulness of a skilled dancer, letting her fingers pull back when they rose and fan out when they fell. I mimicked her clumsily at first, but I was soon able to match her rhythm with ease. By the fourth time, we had become completely in tune with one another—pulling back, then gracefully down, back again, and down.

  I didn’t know when I realized my body was going through the motions on its own, but I felt the spark when it shot through her fingertips as though they were my own. It hit the ground forcefully and formed a small, yet radiant, ball of flames between us. Her energy channeled through me, warming my body completely as we fueled the fire together.

  When I instinctively flicked my wrist to make the flames rise, Priscilla’s wrist involuntarily mirrored my own, as though our minds were one. I looked at her, feeling both awe and empowerment, and she beamed.

  Finally breaking contact and dropping our hands, the fire went out as quickly as it had started. I didn’t need a mirror to see my glow now, for I recognized the refreshing sensation within me.

  “It worked,” I said through an amazed laugh. Letting out a sigh in solace, I whispered, “We did it.”

  “You did it, Charlie,” Priscilla gently clarified. “You are the one who allowed me in and set the bonding in motion.”

  The experience was sensational, and I could still feel its initial high as the channeling energy between us dissipated.

  “Ready for a little more magic?” she asked, and I smiled. I felt ready for anything at this point.

  “All you essentially need for a relocating spell, once the batch has been prepared, is a strong, visionary mind.” She dipped her hand into the bowl and retained a pinch of the powdery, light substance. “First,” she said, freely scattering it across my skin, “a little sprinkle here and there, and we should be set to go.”

  “Does the amount you sprinkle matter?”

  “A pinch is all it takes. But remember: in order for my spell to work on Tempest, you will need to be certain each of the elements have made contact somewhere along her skin.”

  I inhaled and looked away as the guilt struck me from hearing her words, knowing that I didn’t intend on having her perform the spell at all. My interest in the spell derived solely from a new plan still forming in my mind—one that would ensure no one else I cared about got close enough to the horrible witch to risk getting hurt.

  “I’m sorry I have to ask this of you, Charlie,” she said softly, and I realized she was mistaking my guilt for apprehension. “If I didn’t need to prepare the ritual at that moment, I would take your place in this. Trust me when I say you will be all right. The Guardians will not leave your side in her presence.”

  It took me a moment to bring myself to face her again, and once I did, I made sure each word I spoke reflected nothing but the truth. “I’ll do whatever I need to make sure Tempest can’t hurt anyone else.”

  Priscilla watched me carefully, and I feared she would see right through me. If she thought for a second I might try to seek Tempest out on my own, she would put an end to it immediately.

  “So,” I said, clearing my throat. “You’ll be able to perform the spell without being near her?”

  “Not ordinarily. However, now that we’ve synced, you will be close enough for the both of us.” Pausing, she rubbed her hands together. “Now. Are we ready?” she asked.

  I nodded my head. “I think so.”

  “Let us begin.” Priscilla closed her eyes.

  “The most important thing here,” she said, without breaking concentration, “is envisioning the destination as vividly as possible and holding on to that vision until the spell is complete. Otherwise, you never know where the subject will end up.”

  I glanced at her hesitantly, and her lip twitched. Very funny.

  Priscilla pressed her right thumb to her forehead and straight down to her chest. Inhaling a deep breath, she opened her eyes and locked them on mine, whispering something inaudible. Before I knew what was happening, I felt myself stumble as my footing shifted. When I looked up, Priscilla was nowhere to be seen, and I found myself standing in the middle of the shop, with everyone watching me in surprise.

  Holy crap, I thought to myself. I was just teleported.

  “Charlie. You made it,” Matt joked, and Pixie grinned.

  I was surprised to see Quinn leaving Desmond’s side, a satisfied expression on her face.
He pressed his lips together in a hard line, turning away from me to look outside, and I wondered what she had said.

  Priscilla entered the room from the closet door, breaking my attention from him.

  “How do you feel?” she asked.

  “Fine. You?” I assumed she must have experienced some difference after syncing, but she wasn’t letting on.

  She smiled knowingly. “Well. Thank you.” She revealed a small purple pouch in her hands, holding it out for me. “You’ll be needing this,” she said. “Keep it someplace safe until it’s ready for use.”

  I took the bag, peering at the mix briefly before pulling the drawstring tightly shut and placing it in my pocket.

  “Need a ride home?” Quinn offered, standing from the sofa. “My car’s just out front, next to Matt’s.”

  I shot a quick glance at Desmond, who still hadn’t turned to face me.

  “I kind of wanted to walk, actually. If that’s okay,” I answered. “I could use the fresh air.”

  The clouds rumbled loudly, and Quinn’s eyes darted to the dark window before landing back on me. “You sure about that?”

  “Yeah. Thanks, though.”

  Priscilla nodded her head. “Of course you may walk, dear. Desmond will accompany you, and the Guardians will meet you back at your house. If it’s all right with you, I’d like them to stay the night at your place, keeping watch in shifts. Just as a precaution.”

  Dominic rose to his feet. His burly build looked far less intimidating beside Desmond. “We’ll stay out of your way,” he said thoughtfully.

  “Really, it’s okay.” I shot him a reassuring smile. “I can set something up for you guys.”

  Matt stood as well, and the others followed suit. He smiled proudly at his team. “Nah. We’ll take care of it,” he insisted with a confident wink. “We can stay in the living room. You won’t even know we’re there.”

  I glanced at Kinsey, noticing the attentive way she batted her blonde lashes at him. My lips curved up slightly, and I lifted a brow. “Okay.”