I love you. He sent the thought out to Maya, hoping wherever she was she would feel it and know it was true. If only things had been different.
But just as his mouth opened desperate for air, and he knew he would take in water instead, the flames inside of him expanded, and encompassed his body within the magical lake. And what he breathed wasn’t water, but the fiery air that had surrounded him. It was better than oxygen. It was like fuel for his mind. He inhaled deeply and smiled, waiting for the waters to recede.
And when they did, he saw that Morgana was waiting for him, hands steepled on the other side of the bars. Her black eyes watched him shrewdly, and he understood she’d meant to make him pass out this time.
It hadn’t worked. And now he knew what would get him through the torture. His love for Maya. Because that they could never take away.
“There’s no need for you to do this to yourself, Aedan,” Morgana cooed.
“To myself?” Aedan found his voice just as raspy as Terra’s. “This is all you.”
“All I ask is obedience, Aedan. That’s all. Really it isn’t so much. I want to help you. I want to bring you upstairs and give you a room with a real bed, and anything you could ever desire. I know Kari would be happy to help fill your needs.” She paused, but Aedan continued to stare hard and she sighed deeply. “Very well. Continue this foolish quest of yours. Test your limits. I will wait. I’m a patient woman, Aedan.” She shook her head and turned toward the stairs.
When the heavy clang of the door sounded somewhere above, Terra spoke. “She’s working you hard, harder than the rest of us. I would have been a blubbering pile of goo if she’d thrown the equivalent at me.” She let loose her manacle laugh.
“How do you know?” he asked, sinking into the corner of the cell, and letting his own fire warm him.
“I can hear it. The water. And I could hear you scream. Then I could hear you stop trying. So what changed? You still stood up to her.”
Aedan paused and pulled his hands down over the stubble on his cheeks. “I won’t give in to the darkness.”
Terra’s laugh echoed up and down the corridor, and Aedan began to drift off until the sound of another door at the far end of the dungeon forced him awake. The laughing stopped, and all he could hear was his own pulse rushing in his ears. But it wasn’t Morgana’s face that appeared on the other side of the bars this time. It was Toby’s.
Aedan leaped to his feet and ran toward him, nearly touching the force field in his haste. “You’re here,” was all he could manage.
Toby grinned. “A little bird suggested that you needn’t do this alone.”
“Who are you?” Terra hissed from her cell.
Toby turned, surprised, and furrowed his brow. “Merlin, my dear lady. Don’t think of calling out or I shall be forced to unleash the power of the wind already flooding your cell.”
“Not much of a good guy are you?” Terra cackled. “Consider me mute.”
“How are we getting out of here?” Aedan asked, eyes darting toward the steps, afraid that any moment they’d be discovered.
“With a little magic, I think.” Toby studied the bars for a minute, biting his lip in concentration and making little hmmphing sounds. “Yes, yes, yes, I believe that’s it.”
“What’s it?”
“You have to trigger the punishment I’m afraid. But when the magic is concentrated on you, I will break through the bars. They’re made specifically to hold off fire. But I think perhaps earth…” Toby let his voice trail off as he tapped his chin thoughtfully.
“Terra’s tried the earth,” Aedan said.
“Not on your cell. Nor have you attempted to free her with your fire I think.”
Shame flooded Aedan as hard as the water from the pipes. He never thought he could do it or he would have-
“Don’t feel bad. Learned helplessness, it’s perfectly normal. Now try using your fire to break out and call up the water please.”
Aedan studied Toby, mouth open but with nothing to say. Finally, he nodded and fighting the urge to cower back in the corner he readied himself and shot the fire at the force field, triggering the water.
He hadn’t been under more than ten seconds before the ground below the stone and metal rose, warping and bowing the bars until all the water rushed out between them, Aedan along with it.
He lay sputtering on the ground at Toby’s feet, before accepting a hand up.
“You okay?” Toby asked.
“I’ve been better.” Aedan’s eyes wandered to the cell next door. He’d known she was only eighteen also, but somehow her ruined voice had made him picture something very different than the straw-haired girl cowering in filthy rags.
“Terra,” he said softly, kneeling down near the side where she lay curled against the wall.
“We have to go now,” Toby said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “They’ll register your escape any second.”
“But-”
“Now.” Toby tugged at him with unexpected strength, and Aedan found himself on his feet. He opened his mouth to protest and heard the door at the top of the stairs. The newly ingrained panic set in and he cringed. But Toby was already guiding him toward the far end of the hall. In moments they were safely inside of a stone passageway that wound up toward the ground level. Aedan lit a fire so they could see, and as they walked, Toby waved an arm behind him causing rocks, dirt, and debris to fill in the passageway.
“You’re welcome,” Toby said the moment they were out on the beach above.
Chapter Sixty-One
Aedan
“You were supposed to be watching Maya,” Aedan said. “You promised me.”
“I am.”
Aedan stared until Toby squirmed.
“Sort of.” He nodded back toward the house. “She isn’t an easy person to say no to.”
Aedan relaxed slightly. “I know. So let’s just get her and get the hell out of here. Then the Circle can come in and – what?”
“I don’t know what happened to her, Aedan.” Toby threw out his hands to hold off his tirade. “I went back for her when I found the underground entrance, but there was no sign of her.”
“There’s something you aren’t telling me,” Aedan said, fire igniting in his gut.
Toby’s face lost all trace of pretense, and what Aedan saw there was brutal truth. “The floor was wet.”
Aedan collapsed to the sand, head in hands, struggling against the fear and grief that threatened to undo his carefully constructed firewall. He was hurt, beaten, and so very tired. Maya had been the only thing to get him through. And now – No! He couldn’t accept it.
“Are you okay?” Toby asked.
Aedan didn’t speak. He didn’t move. He didn’t trust himself.
“They’ll want to do it in front of you,” Toby said. The words were spoken far too softly. It made no sense when the meaning was so horrible.
“And it’ll work,” Aedan finally said through his fingers. He felt Toby sit close to him and put a tentative hand on his shoulder. “I know what they want. They want me to either break completely – and believe me I was pretty close just now – or lose it so bad that it takes over. I get it.”
“Which is why you can’t let it,” Toby said, squeezing his shoulder. “No matter what, Aedan.”
“You don’t understand,” Aedan said, surfacing to look him in the eye. “All my life it’s been there, inside, waiting to strike, to hurt those I care about. And I’ve always felt… incomplete. The only times I ever feel whole are when I fully embrace it whether by unleashing the power completely or,” Aedan stopped. His stomach wrestled with the flames that lapped at his ribs when he remembered sharing Serena’s blood. It made him ill, but no matter how much guilt he felt, the truth was there.
“What?” Toby pressed, unwilling to release his eye contact.
“When I’m with Morgana. But when that happens,” Aedan added quickly, “I kind of lose myself. I thought it was a spell at first, but now I’m not so sure.”
Toby nodded. “You’re a smart kid, Aedan. That’s right. The fire was separated long ago from the whole. It longs to reconnect, to be free of its prison. Until now, those in your position were taught to embrace that feeling of total release. You’ve kept it caged inside.”
“You’re talking about it like it’s another person, and no offense but that’s the creepiest thing I’ve heard so far.”
“Aedan,” Toby said staring out at the sea over his shoulder. “It’s bound to you, but it isn’t you. And it wants control.”
Aedan swallowed hard. “So how do I get rid of it?”
For a while, the only sound was the rushing of the tide. Then Toby spoke. “I don’t know. All I know is it would be easier to give in and let it control you. You’d feel whole as you say. Satisfied. You’d probably never know anything but pleasure after that.”
“You’re a ringing endorsement for the side of good,” Aedan said.
“It’s the truth. But to have that you’d have to sacrifice too. You’d lose your free will. Your capacity for love and forgiveness. The fire would make the decisions. And ultimately the fire is a piece of Morgana.” Toby pursed his lips like he was frustrated with his ability to describe it. But Aedan understood. Better than he could ever know.
“We have to get her out of there,” he said, standing.
“If you go in there and they-”
“You can’t stop me. I won’t leave her. And that’s me talking.” Aedan threw his head back and arms out, soaking up the heat of the sun.
“I can’t let you do that.”
It wasn’t Toby speaking this time. It was another man’s voice. One slightly familiar. Aedan spun to find one of the Circle Operatives he’d seen in Tucson pointing a wicked looking sword at him. His other hand held a semi-automatic pistol toward Toby.
“She’s your daughter,” Toby said, inching toward Aedan.
The man stopped him by cocking the gun. Toby put up his hands and stared between him and Aedan.
“Yes. And if I kill him, it’s over. Nothing they do to her will matter.”
“You’d let them hurt her?” Aedan said in disbelief. “Kill her? Just so you could kill me?”
For just a moment, the man looked unsure, but that passed quickly, and his cat-like eyes were cold in a way Maya’s could never be. “Two hundred years of peace. I’d be giving the world a gift. A reprieve from evil. That’s our purpose. Maya’s purpose. I’ve already sacrificed one child. It’s horrible, but I can get through it. I have to get through it. It’s why we’re all trained, every generation.”
“Then why haven’t you killed me yet?” Aedan asked. The fire fought to free itself, but he kept it down. He wouldn’t hurt Maya’s father. No matter how much of a prick he was.
“Shut up, Elemental!” He lashed out with the sword and Aedan’s cheek stung.
Toby started to move and Maya’s father thrust the gun at him, backing him away from Aedan. “I don’t want to hurt you. You aren’t one of them.”
“You know who I am.” Toby’s voice sounded far too deep and harsh all of a sudden. The wind picked up, throwing sand in Maya’s father’s face.
“Then why are you helping him?” He yelled back, seething hatred oozing from his face and words. “He turned my daughter!”
“No!” Toby shouted. “You are the one who’s been compromised, Palmer. Your heart is black with hate, not his.” His finger shook when he pointed toward Aedan.
Palmer forced them all back toward the shore where the tide was scraping farther and farther in toward the beach. Aedan’s pulse tripled when he felt the soaked sand pull at his feet.
“I have dedicated my life to following your edicts. To the oath of Arthur himself!” Palmer seemed so unstable, Aedan half expected foam to come from his mouth any moment. But that was the ocean’s job. That was the rabid animal Aedan most feared as little sense as it made. He’d rather face the madman with weapons and deadly intent than the ocean at high tide.
“Arthur was confused,” Toby said, softer again. “He thought he was following my edict, but he misunderstood. I never meant for him to kill anyone.” Pain laced his words as the water pulled hungrily at Aedan’s calves. And the fire fought for release.
“Please,” Aedan said, as he was forced to back up yet another foot. The water was waist high now after the last wave. In moments another would come in, possibly yanking him in. “Please, either kill me or let me go to Maya. I can save her. I know I can.” Tears leaked from his eyes and turned immediately to steam. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Palmer Sloan stopped and glared hard at Aedan. Without warning, Toby raised an arm, and Palmer swung out with the broad side of his sword, knocking him face down in the surf. Aedan saw what he’d done. He’d held back the enormous wave that crashed toward shore to buy Aedan more time. He watched as the water reached several feet in on either side of them, but not where they stood.
“I’m weak,” Aedan said, fear and pain tearing at his carefully constructed shield. “Please, you don’t know what you’re dealing with. I DON’T WANT TO HURT YOU!”
“Are you threatening me?” Palmer asked through clenched teeth. “Fight me then, Elemental. I guarantee you’ll be the one who ends up dead. You think you can evaporate the whole ocean?” He backed Aedan up until the water was chest high.
But Aedan wasn’t listening anymore. He was fighting the fire inside, and it wasn’t going so well. He struggled to remember his training. What had Kari said? Throw it at a desirable target when you just can’t hold it anymore.
Aedan focused with everything he had. And then, eyes closed, he collapsed in the surf with relief.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Maya
Where the fuck is Toby? Maya wondered for the millionth time as she strained against the chains that cut into her wrists. When she’d come to, she’d been bound to the wall in what looked like a dungeon cell complete with stone walls and metal bars. She wasn’t the only prisoner either. A wire thin girl about her age and height stared at her with sunken eyes and wild, ratted hair. She thought the girl would have been attractive except she was filthy and more than a little bit nuts. She wouldn’t speak, but whenever Maya made a sound of pain or frustration, she laughed.
At first, the girl’s presence unnerved her. After all, Maya was chained to the wall, arms and feet, whereas the girl, albeit bad off at least had freedom of motion. But the girl seemed disinterested in hurting her. Or helping. Now was the first time she’d really had to consider it, what with all the torture, especially after they’d discovered Aedan’s escape.
“My name is Maya,” She said, and her voice sounded odd bouncing off the stone walls. Somewhere nearby water dripped with a strange echoing sound.
The girl crouched further into the corner and bit at her blackened nails. Her eyes darted between Maya and a series of pipes at the far end of the cell. Maya didn’t know what came out of there, but she figured it was pretty bad.
“No one’s here now,” Maya said softly. “You can tell me your name.”
A short burst of laughter and more nail-biting.
“Okay, don’t tell me. But I’m going to get us out of here, so maybe you’ll change your mind. I’m one of the good guys.”
The girl stood, unsteadily and moved toward Maya who wished she’d kept her mouth shut. She held her head high, and kept her body still, ready to take whatever came next, though her accelerated breathing betrayed her. But the girl just grinned, reached up, and flicked at the chain connecting Maya’s wrist to the wall.
“Yeah, I know,” she said. “It doesn’t look like I’m going anywhere. But I promise you I am because it isn’t just me.” They wouldn’t leave me here.
And yet, a little voice offered from the back of her mind, what if Merlin wants the Elementals? Toby may have taken Aedan for himself. But she pushed these thoughts aside as soon as they sounded.
Still, it had been a long time since Toby snuck around back… And he’d helped Aedan out. She knew it f
rom what the others were saying about how fire could have never bent those bars.
The girl moved closer so that her face was level with Maya’s. Her reflection stared back from the girl’s muddy eyes, and she looked little better than the girl so she cast her own eyes downward.
“You would kill me if you had the chance.”
Maya was so shocked to hear her speak, she couldn’t help but lift her head. “Why would I kill you?”
The girl laughed, but this time it was quiet and bitter, not manic and crazed. And the truth dawned on her. Aedan was held down here. He was Fire.
“You’re Earth,” she said.
The girl knocked on her head. “Well you Circle are brilliant, aren’t you?”
Maya held her gaze steady. “I’m not interested in killing anyone who isn’t evil.”
“And how do you know I’m not?” the girl countered.
Maya considered her. Chances are she was evil. Aedan was an anomaly because the Scimitar hadn’t raised him. And yet…
“You haven’t hurt me. Not like the others.”
The girl stepped back as though Maya had struck her. She looked around at the pipes again like they may rain fire down upon her. For all Maya knew, they might. “I do nothing unless my mistress instructs it.”
“Good girl, Terra.” Morgana’s cold voice made Maya draw a sharp breath, and Terra cower on the ground.
The bitch stepped inside the cell, Kari close behind. The wind Elemental remained stone-faced, but Maya noticed her hand shake slightly when she neared Terra. Interesting.
“No need to grovel, Terra. It would seem you’ve finally learned to obey.”
“Yes, Mistress. I am ready for the pledge. Please.” Terra crawled forward, grasping at Morgana’s sandals.
“Then stand and drink from the chalice.” Morgana held out a silver goblet Maya was certain she hadn’t had a moment before. Smoke issued from the contents and floated down around the bowl. Terra scrambled to her feet and reached for it, but Morgana held out a hand telling her to wait. “You must speak the pledge.”
Flame and Fury (Merlin's Legacy Book 1) Page 24