“It wasn’t me,” he said again. His voice rasped, and I looked at him frantically as he continued to stare blankly at the flames. Wondering if he was in shock, or hurt, without invitation I grabbed his arm. It was a big step for me, because I didn’t usually touch people, but I had to make sure he was there, solid and real and unhurt.
He was.
“Keller. . . .”
I turned to look at the crumbling Tower one more time. Panes of glass were sliding off it, released by heat, destroyed by burning, their sole remaining function to cause pain.
At the very top, in the only place where there was still no fire, I thought I saw something move in the window. Just a flutter, barely visible. My stomach clenched.
Then the Tower was obscured by the waves of hot air coming off the fire and the roiling smoke, which was growing ever thicker. I hoped whoever had locked me in that room was burning with it.
Without thinking I pushed to my feet. My legs cried out in protest and my hands throbbed as I used them for leverage. I would have to go to the infirmary yet again, but it was going to have to wait. After the fire finished with the Tower I would have all the time in the world to go to the infirmary.
Behind me Keller tried to say something, to reach for me, but I ignored him.
I staggered towards the burning building, feeling the heat slam my face, an evil greeting from a growing/raging/familiar foe. I tried hard to ignore the glee emanating from the flames that licked the walls of my home. I couldn’t go much further, but I didn’t need to. The clouds of smoke parted for a moment. Through the rippling night air I could now see what was framed in the highest window of the Tower.
It was a pale face, familiar and kind, with bright red cheeks.
I gave a cry and sank to my knees. Behind me, I heard Lisabelle screaming.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Involuntarily, I grabbed a bit of watery mud and looked around. Everywhere were scattered bits of burning debris. Steeling myself for the pain I knew was coming, I grabbed up a very small piece of charred building material. It still glowed like an ember, but to my surprise it didn’t burn me. I dropped it in with the mud and clenched the whole mess together in my hand. I felt glass bite into my flesh as I lifted my fist in front of my face and blew.
Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Elemental. Me. With desperation I tried to order the flames to subside, but I couldn’t. There was no magic left in me. I had let it all race away. No, I had encouraged it to go. Now I was going to pay for my recklessness with the life of one of my best friend.
Tears pricked at my eyes, but I didn’t have the energy to cry. The only thing that kept flashing through my mind was Lough’s grinning face, trying to do laundry, trying to say simple sentences to Lisabelle, standing up for all of us and braving hanging out with three girls.
Now his life was at the top of the Tower and there was no way to get to him.
Anguish forced the sob coming up my throat back down. This was too serious for screaming.
Suddenly Lisabelle was next to me. Her grip felt like nails biting into the flesh of my arm and I stared into a pair of manic black eyes.
“He does not die,” she said, her voice hollow with too much emotion. “He is the best of us. And he does. Not. Die.”
I nodded numbly. As an elemental, normally I would have some control over fire, but as I had just proved, I had no power left. I cursed myself again for not properly resting before I attempted this. Whoever had done this to the Tower had been waiting for me to show up and when I had, they had set it ablaze.
“I have an idea,” said Lisabelle, her voice becoming thick with desperation, moving towards me as if she was trying to push against a fierce tide. “Take my hand.”
I stared blankly at it until she snapped her fingers together.
“Take my hand,” she repeated. This time I grasped her cold fingers in my own numb ones. When we locked eyes I knew she could see the question shining plainly out of mine. Now what?
“Now,” said Lisabelle. “I give you strength and you destroy that fire.”
Shocked, I started to protest, but she only squeezed my hand harder.
Instead of arguing, I closed my eyes. I had never heard of anything like this before, one mage giving strength to another. I didn’t know how it would work, especially because our magics were different. Darkness was its own particular brand of dangerous. Mine was elemental, and it was not even clear how much elemental power I had. I knew I had power with water, but it remained to be seen whether I had power with the other three branches. If we were lucky, I even had power over fire. Lisabelle might be able to give me strength, but I could never use darkness magic just as she could never have command over the elemental powers.
“Stay calm,” said Lisabelle. Her voice was soft, almost rhythmic. “Steady breaths.”
I tried to relax, even with my friend about to die in front of me, because I knew that if I was calm my body would be more willing to accept something foreign, like Lisabelle’s raw power.
The first thing I realized when I opened myself up to Lisabelle was the staggering amount of power she had. It was like a marble to a mountain compared to what I had thought. Her whole being was consumed in black energy. No wonder everyone gave her some distance, and no wonder Risper was so well respected. If he had anywhere near as much power as Lisabelle, and his behavior over the course of the semester hinted that he did, he deserved to be feared.
The next thing I realized was that my body wanted to accept the power from her. It would only be for a short time, it wasn’t as if our magics could ever be confused. She could only give me power, not actual spells.
My next intake of breath found my limbs flooded with dark energy. My knees started to knock together and I knew that in another second my head would start to pound.
But in the next second, instead of cowering away, what little power I had was ushering Lisabelle’s darkness through my own familiar channels, forging ahead towards my ring and towards release. I felt stronger, a hundred times stronger, as if the sun had suddenly started to shine inside me. I could do anything. I could force the flame to submit.
I ordered my rejuvenated power forward. Never opening my eyes, I felt for the heat in front of me and demanded that it disappear. I didn’t call rain, or water from the ground. I simply ordered the fire extinguished. It was the fastest thing I knew how to do. Next to me, Lisabelle was gripping my fingers so hard I wasn’t sure where my hand started and hers finished. I just focused on feeding my power into stopping the fire. I don’t know how long the two of us stood like that, entwined in bodies and fear, but eventually Sip’s voice entered my consciousness. “Open your eyes,” her voice screamed in my ear.
I could feel power screaming around me. I had eaten up the power Lisabelle was giving me and drawn more, as if her body was a bucket filled with water that I was tapping.
“OPEN YOUR EYES,” Sip screamed again.
This time I listened.
Before me the world swam. Instead of one blond head in front of me I saw three Sips, each a little more blurry than the one before.
“Is this what it’s like to be drunk?” I asked weakly, trying to focus.
“I wouldn’t know,” said Sip, glaring at me as if I had been caught stealing a cookie.
“No,” said Lisabelle. “Usually there’s making out involved in being drunk.”
“I’d love to know where you drink,” I said, trying to grin. Lisabelle grinned back, then collapsed to the ground, her legs no longer strong enough to hold her upright. Since our fingers were still entwined, I too was forced to my knees, which was just as well, because I couldn’t stand upright any longer either.
I looked towards the Tower.
We had dealt with the flame. It now resembled a raging candle more than a burning building, which is to say that as far as the fire itself went, it wasn’t dangerous any more. But what we hadn’t dealt with, the problem we didn’t know how to solve, was how high up Lough was. Casting around for a solut
ion, I thought briefly of sending a water spout upwards, in the hope that he could somehow ride it down and that it would cushion his fall. But I just didn’t have the strength.
All this for a stupid scrap of paper written by the undead.
“How do we get him down?” Sip cried in frustration. There was no way the stairs up to the top of the Tower were usable. It was a good thing Sip was working on it, because Lisabelle and I were now both useless.
But just then I saw something swoop through the darkness, a massive bird in flight, only much more graceful.
“Who is that?”
“A fallen angel,” Sip breathed, her eyes locked on the same movement that had caught mine.
“Thank you, Captain Obvious,” Lisabelle gasped out.
“You’d think as tired as you are you’d stop mouthing off,” Sip said.
“I’d have to be dead,” Lisabelle assured her.
“It’s Professor Erikson,” said Lisabelle, squinting. “She’s going to get Lough.”
And she was.
I could barely make out Lough’s face, there just appeared to be a tiny white blot at the top of a towering black mass that was the charred remains of Public’s centerpiece.
Professor Erikson had reached the window Lough was peering out of, and in a matter of moments he was safely on the ground, being whisked away to the infirmary. He looked pale and covered in soot, but there were no visible injuries.
“Why isn’t anyone whisking us?” Lisabelle asked forlornly. She was becoming delirious.
Just then Risper strode towards us. Without so much as a word he scooped up his niece and started to carry her away. She waved happily, and before she disappeared I heard her say, “Now, don’t go thinking you can pick me up whenever you feel like it. Paranormals might think I’m soft. This is a special occasion.”
My view of my darkness friend was blocked by Keller, who was striding towards me. Even with smoke swirling around him, I could see his perfect blue eyes shining. The darkness was gone. My eyes flicked to his aunt, who was standing a good distance away, watching us.
Without a word Keller bent down, scooped me up in his arms as if I weighed as much as a kitten, and kissed me. I was so shocked that at first I forgot to kiss him back. I wouldn’t be winning any kissing awards any time soon, but hopefully he wouldn’t care.
Don’t worry, I remembered pretty quickly.
And the kiss . . . oh my. Suddenly my arms started to work and they clamped around his neck, holding him close. He was better than the best healing drug. When he tried to pull away I couldn’t let him, and I could feel him laughing against my mouth. It sent warm shivers cascading down my arms. Maybe everything would be okay after all.
Chapter Thirty-Four
This time we weren’t taken to the infirmary. Thankfully. I was tired of that place and I was really tired of spending more time there than I did in Astra. Keller had been virtually ripped from me by his aunt, who I’m sure was furious, but I was equally sure that Keller wouldn’t care. At least not much.
I barely remember being laid in bed. I was asleep before another thought could run through my brain.
Some time much later I rolled over, just wanting to keep my eyes closed. My body felt like it had been beaten all over with sticks and I didn’t even want to test my magic. Instead, I did the only thing I could think to do. I went back to sleep.
The next time I awoke there was an argument going on around me. And bright lights. Instinctively I threw my arm over my eyes.
“She’s awake,” said a rasping voice. It sounded familiar, but I couldn’t believe it. He hadn’t been seen in weeks.
I opened my eyes and lifted my head, just enough to see the faces crowded around me. Even that little movement sent cascades of pain through my temples, but before I closed my eyes again I definitely saw Dove, an emaciated and frail Dove, glaring at me. He looked like wet, white paper stretched over bones, with blood red lips. Not a pretty view.
“What’s he doing here?” I asked groggily.
Lisabelle answered me. “Being annoying?”
“Lisabelle,” said Risper warningly.
“Ms. Verlans, I am an elder paranormal and I would appreciate it if you showed me some respect. On top of that I am still a Committee member,” Dove rasped. I was seriously worried that the vampire was going to collapse right then and there.
Lisabelle gave a blinding smile. “Sorry, it’s more important for me to be right than respectful.”
Sip, who I saw with gladness was standing next to Lisabelle, flinched. “I don’t think that she’s saying you’re wrong. . . .”
“She most certainly is,” Dove sputtered. It started him on a coughing fit and he was forced to clamp his shaking hand over his mouth.
“Right, well, we’ll go now,” said Sip, clamping her fingers around Lisabelle’s arm and pulling the taller girl away.
“That’s a good idea,” said Dove, his eyes boring into Lisabelle.
“No,” said Risper. “Dove. I have this under control. Why don’t I escort you back to Cruor?”
“NO,” Dove cried. “I am still a Committee member here! And I will have my say. All three of you are confined to your respective houses,” he said, waggling his finger at us and glaring. “I will not tolerate this disrespect. The number of rules you all have broken. . . . It must be some sort of record for a twenty-four-hour period.”
“Thank you,” said Lisabelle. Risper glared at his niece.
Dove took a sharp intake of breath, as if the number of our infractions seemed really stunning to him. I guess it kind of was, between my going to the force field to our visiting the Museum after hours.
Oops.
“They’ll go to their dorms,” said Risper reassuringly. Something in his voice made me think he was actually adding, but not out loud: As long as you go to Cruor. Dove gave us one last glare, but he was too weak to resist Risper.
As he left he added, just for good measure, “And while you’re at it I order you to stop fighting demons. I will not have it on campus.”
“You know what amazes me?” said Lisabelle. Dove paused and Risper stared at her as if he was holding his breath.
“That Lightmares can do magic similar to what mages can do?” Sip asked hopefully.
“No.”
“That fallen angels are the fastest type of paranormal?”
“No.”
“That Professor Zervos is a big supporter of elementals?” Sip offered.
Dove looked like he was going to burst or faint or have a fit.
“Yeah, that’s important too, actually,” said Lisabelle, grinning mischievously. But she wouldn’t be distracted. She enjoyed having us all on edge.
“No, that no matter how many times Charlotte is right and everyone else is wrong, people keep arguing with her.” It was like a bomb had gone off. Dove lunched for Lisabelle, who easily dodged the ailing vampire. Before anymore damage could be done Risper dragged a fuming and spitting Dove away.
“We have to go too,” said Lisabelle quietly. “I don’t think he was kidding about being confined to Airlee.”
“We could always sneak out,” Sip said. “Not that I’m condoning rule-breaking, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.”
“You will do no such thing,” said Risper from the doorway. He was glaring at the three of us like we were bugs that had made him angry. “You would think you all wanted to get into trouble.”
Lisabelle was about to say something - probably awful - when Sip darted forward and clamped her hand over her friend’s mouth. “Not. One. Word,” Sip cautioned, her purple eyes blazing confidently in her pale face.
I sat up in bed, exhausted as I was. If this was going to be the last time I saw my friends for a while, I would at least try not to look like a piece of pale, limp string. There was still so much we didn’t know.
“Figure it out, Charlotte,” said Sip. “I think all the tools are there.”
Lisabelle nodded her agreement before my two
best friends followed Dove out of the room. To my surprise, Risper stayed behind, watching me carefully.
“Dacer had faith that you would figure out what’s happening to the vampires,” he commented. I wished I knew what was going on behind his eyes.
“He did,” I agreed. “He was sure it was the masks and he was right.”
“Are you going to prove it?” Risper asked. As usual, he gave nothing away behind his black eyes.
“Yes,” I lifted my chin in defiance of Dove and anyone else who didn’t believe in me.
“Well, in that case, you should talk to Lealand,” said Risper. “I think you will find what he has to say very interesting.”
My ears perked up. Had he just suggested the same thing I’d been thinking, that Lealand knew something? Or maybe it was Trafton. Lisabelle never trusted anyone who was that friendly, and I seemed to be getting more and more like Lisabelle everyday. Besides, Lealand was obviously a pixie. He couldn’t pass for undead, but Trafton probably could, with the right spells and planning.
“I’m confined to Astra,” I pointed out.
Risper laughed softly. “First, there is no one here but you, and second, when has a mere thing like a rule stopped you?”
My breath hitched on a laugh. Was he suggesting I sneak out? I was pretty sure he was.
“Where’s Lealand?” I asked boldly. Why waste time? I thought to myself.
“He’s visiting Lough,” said Risper softly. “Who is recovering just fine,” he added when I started to react as if I was afraid my pale dream giver friend had died.
“But Ms. Rollins, you should know, we are fast running out of time. Dove was only on his feet through sheer force of will. He is stronger than granite, but anything can break with enough pressure. This has to be fixed, now. Or we will start to lose the vampires.”
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