"A warrior's challenge," I whispered.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing…keep going," I murmured. The pain was a welcome distraction. I was on the precipice of a nightmare.
He pulled back, just slightly, then pressed in. I held my breath, trying to concentrate on his foreign words. I lost myself in their tune. His chant washed through me, penetrating deeper, encouraging me to give myself to him.
He moved faster, and I raised my hips to meet him.
"Now," he said. I almost missed his switch to English. "Do it now."
I nodded, losing myself in his words again. As his whispers started to die off, I focused in on them, grabbing hold and refusing to let go - like I was stealing his breath. As he climaxed, I absorbed the energy. Ten seconds, then I released him. His body collapsed over me in an impossible weight.
He heaved in deep, slow breaths. Even with my help, he barely managed to roll himself off me.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
He nodded his head, grimacing at the movement.
"Should I get Natasha now?" My mouth turned down at the thought of running to another woman to fix what I had just done.
"No." He licked his lips, laying his head back down on the pillow. "Wait till morning, just…" He drifted off.
"Just stand watch." I finished the sentence for him. I kissed him on the forehead, stood, and stretched out my arms. I walked over to the windows, where my backpack was laying, and retrieved the Chalice. I sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at my wrapped package. I sighed – I wasn't in the mood for Cato. "Let's just get this over with."
Chapter 51
A Threesome
I was there before I knew it. The route was familiar to me now, and with the high I was riding, the netherworld bent to my will easily. Cato and Ted stood, waiting for me, the remaining men behind them.
"You've been gone awhile," Ted said.
"I've been busy." I walked toward them on firm ground.
"You've found Shawn," Cato concluded. "And you've found more power."
"Yes to both." I stopped in front of them. No need to divulge details. "Shawn is releasing the Shades in the Athame, as I am doing here. How will that affect his power?"
"He will be missing the knowledge they could otherwise provide. But his power will become more pure and controlled. He will be able to wield Akasha." Cato held nothing back.
I craned my neck, looking at the faces of the group of men. They looked anxious, but they would have to wait. "Before, with me, Shawn used The Great Rite to steal my energy. Is that partly what tainted his power?"
Cato flinched. "I'm sure of it."
"So if I used The Great Rite – would it do the same to me?"
Ted answered this time, shaking his head, "Not if both, or…" He cleared his throat, face going red. "All parties are willing."
I couldn't resist, "You mean like a threesome?"
The word 'threesome' echoed in the open space. Cato and Ted shifted on their feet, suddenly avoiding my gaze. A few snickers floated up from the group of men behind them, and some glares. I think I even saw one in the back crossing himself.
I stepped forward, Cato and Ted parting to give me way. "Don't worry." I glanced at Cato, "I'm not that desperate for power…yet." I continued to the group of men. "Step forward if you wish to move on – step aside if you wish to stay."
They hesitated, seeking guidance in each other's eyes. Finally, one brave soul stepped forward. More than half followed suit. Less than a dozen moved away.
I looked at the palms of my hands, already glowing in anticipation.
Would this one burn?
I chose the already injured hand. Burn marks on the palm, recovering dog bite on the wrist. Without warning, I flung my arm. Power burst out in a wide arc, from one end of the group to the other.
I exhaled the words of the spell, using air to intertwine my breath with Akasha, "In love and in trust, in peace and in wisdom, I release you." The men were gone in a wisp of smoke before I finished speaking. I lowered my arm, and my voice, "So mote it be."
It suddenly felt empty. I turned back to Cato and Ted. "And you?"
In perfect sync, they answered, "We're staying."
It was a little creepy, and I had to remind myself they were just ideas, or images of the men they had once been. I tried rubbing the goose bumps out of my arms. I glanced at my hand. There was no pain this time. Did that mean my conscious was clear?
"So what now?" I asked.
"Now, we prepare you." Cato said, stepping forward.
I stepped back, narrowing my eyes. "How?"
"Well, what do you need?"
I took a deep breath. "I need you to answer a question, first. It comes from Micah." I glanced at Ted, then back over to Cato. "Does the mission of The Seven, according to the doctrine, supersede family ties?"
Cato didn't hesitate. "Yes, it does."
"Oh," I mumbled. I was almost positive that was the wrong answer.
"However…" Cato continued.
My eyes snapped back to him.
"That doctrine no longer applies."
He was right, Susan had rewritten it, but after he had died. "Since when?"
Cato smiled. "If I'm honest, since the day you stepped into our lives, Kaitlyn."
That is a better answer – I think.
Cato asked, "You are trying to decide whether or not to trust me, which is understandable. After all – it is my son you are trying to kill."
"Micah stands with me; don't you consider him your son – or at least as much of one?" I snapped back.
"If not more so," Cato answered. "He was my natural choice to take over as Rais."
"Not Susan?"
Cato shrugged. "The Seven has never been run by a woman. But – times are changing."
"That they are," Ted mumbled.
I wondered if he was a former Rais.
"Let me share some of my knowledge with you." Cato held up his hand, palm out toward me. "You can decide whether or not to trust me later."
I hesitated. Couldn't hurt, right?
"What is your element of choice?" he asked.
I stepped forward, raising my good hand to meet his. I glanced into his dull, blue eyes. "Earth," I said.
Chapter 52
To Say the Least
Micah cracked open his eyes. His eyelids were heavy, and the light that crept in was blinding.
"Are you okay?" a soft voice asked. It wasn't Kaitlyn.
Micah tried again, squinting against the early morning sun. Details of a darkened form slowly emerged. Natasha.
Micah groaned. "I have to pee."
"Oh," Natasha glanced around the circular tower, eyes resting on a bucket. "Do you want me to—?"
"No, no. Sorry; it can wait. Where’s Kaitlyn?"
"She…got restless, I think. Said she was going for breakfast." Natasha didn't look at him. She was concentrating.
For the first time, Micah noticed the tingling at his palm. His arm twitched.
"Hold still," Natasha said. "Almost done."
Micah glanced down, "Oh."
The barely detectable glow between each of their palms was the telltale signature of Natasha's energy transfer.
Micah looked back at her.
She wavered, sweat dotting her forehead, then toppled over.
"Natasha!" Micah pulled himself up, then rolled, using his arms to drag himself forward.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Just…winded." She rolled over on her back, breathing hard.
He lay down next to her, doing the same. "We are pathetic."
She laughed. "To say the least."
"I'm still not sure I have the energy to even make it down the stairs." Micah sat up slowly, propping his back against the wall.
Natasha sighed. "I'm sorry…"
"No, no. I didn't mean it that way. It's just – I've got to find some way to keep up with her."
Natasha sat up, leaning against the wall, too. "We need more people. We can still make it
work."
Micah looked at her with a wry smile. "Thanks, I—"
His eyes traveled outside the tower. "Wait, is that her?"
Natasha followed his line of sight, squinting. "I can't tell. Things are kind of blurry for me."
"Well, not for me." Micah made an attempt to stand. He couldn't get off his knees.
Kaitlyn was already past the train tracks, headed downtown.
He tried again, fell, and knocked over the backpack Kaitlyn left behind. Something clattered out. He sighed, mumbling, "I'll never catch her."
I'll never survive this.
"I have a headache." Natasha rubbed her temples. "I miss ibuprofen."
Micah stayed on the ground, bumping something by the backpack. He rolled over, picking up the object. It was the Chalice. His eyes lit up with an idea. "Natasha," he asked. "Do you have a knife handy?"
Chapter 53
Choosing a Name
I spent the night pacing the observation tower, stopping at every full circle to check Micah's ragged breathing. With all my pent up energy, I never felt so powerful – yet so powerless at the same time.
When dawn came, I was finally sitting still, looking out over the river. I closed my eyes, reaching out and practicing identifying Elementals in the area. I counted everyone at the amusement park and everyone at the One Less camp. I pressed further, testing the extent of my skill. Judging how far I went was hard, but I could at least pinpoint higher population areas. I scrutinized each form, finally realizing I was searching for the telltale signature of a Gaia. I was searching for Bee. I couldn't find her.
Good, I told myself, wiping a tear trailing down my cheek.
Natasha came in shortly after. I couldn't stand to watch her struggle to fix the damage I had done to Micah. I left.
I walked out of the observation tower, letting my skin drink in the gift of full sun, and took a deep breath. I made my way to the cooking fires. The smell of meat permeated the air.
What is that? Squirrel? Rabbit? I could really go for some wild dog, I smiled to myself.
The sound of laughter caught my attention. A group of kids, squealing and yelping, were playing tag around a dilapidated carnival game. A water gun horse race, by the looks of it. The horses had been torn off and were now in the kids' hands. Bee would've loved it.
We hadn't come across many kids in the past few years. Either they were kept hidden – protected, or not many survived the sudden push back into the dark ages. I laughed when a little blonde girl crouched down around a corner, then jumped up to scare the living daylights out of her older brother.
Another group of kids rounded the bend, the older children outpacing the younger. Toward the back of the group, a skinny, darker-skinned girl panted to keep up. A Fire. She snapped her head around, black braids swinging out in a wide arc.
I staggered back.
A Fire – those braids. I know this.
Pain ripped through my chest, settling deep in my stomach.
* * *
"Easy there, Princess."
I turned, first meeting Shawn's blue eyes, then glancing down, into Ahi's brown ones.
I staggered back, almost tripping right into Akasha. I lunged forward and fell on my knees. Akasha rose; I turned again to Ahi. Chills ran down the length of my spine, despite the fire at my back.
Ahi had been the mist all along, on her knees in front of Shawn. He held a pistol to her head. I looked behind them for the other four swirls of mist. Alex was one, held to the ground by three larger men.
"Where's the baby?" Shawn asked, shoving the tip of his gun against the back of Ahi's head.
Shawn's finger was on the trigger, already squeezing. "Release. Your. Akasha."
Ahi shook, looking to me for help.
"Kaitlyn," Shawn asked, "is the baby mine?"
Above us, Akasha crested the treetops, chasing down Shawn's plasma.
Akasha or Ahi? Save the world or save Ahi? Why did it always have to one or the other? I was determined to make the right choice this time. I was determined to save both.
Ahi angled her head away from the gun. Blood dripped from a gash in the side of her head. "Help me, Kaitlyn."
Before the lump in my throat even finished forming, I shot my hand straight up into the air. Akasha rose, overtaking Shawn's plasma.
I looked at Shawn and whispered, "Too late."
Akasha burst as I released its energy. Bone-shaking thumps went off, and I dove for Ahi. I wrapped my arms around her as we tumbled, end over end, straight through the wall of fire, and back to Earth.
* * *
"Let her go! What the hell is wrong with you?"
I unwrapped myself from around the little girl at her mother's insistent screams. The girl was crying.
"Oh, shit – I'm so sorry. I…I was having a nightmare." How else could I explain it?
The girl and I were helped up, then pulled apart, her mother escorting her away. I was left to face the crowd that had gathered.
"Kaitlyn? Are you okay?" Someone touched my arm, keeping me steady.
"No," I answered honestly.
Kaitlyn, Chica, Mommy, Gaia, Lucy…
I chose the least painful of titles, blocking out the devastating memories the other names held.
I straightened, shaking off the touch at my arm. "The name is Lucy." I swallowed, "And I need to go for a walk."
"I think that is probably a good idea." The man gestured to the exit of the park.
My stride was quick; I never looked behind me though I could feel the weight of a thousand eyes boring into my back. I walked straight for downtown Denver, then the length of the 16th Street Mall, heading for One Less.
My nightmares had caught up with me, and I finally understood what I had to do – what I should've done all along. Akasha could reign, but not at the expense of human life.
I paused, eyes tearing up. Something dropped at my feet.
"Excuse me, could you please hand that up?"
I bent down, retrieving a piece of large red material, tied in a bow. I handed it to the woman standing on a ladder above me. She secured it to a lamppost, right next to a clump of gold balls.
Christmas decorations – already?
Other holiday paraphernalia was being placed up and down the outdoor mall. Good to know everything wasn't sacrificed in order to stoke the cooking fires. The air smelled of pine and cinnamon.
"There," she said, climbing down the ladder. She surveyed the rest of the decorations then smiled at me. "For the celebration of new beginnings."
I managed to smile back, then took my leave. Turning down the alley toward the entrance to the One Less camp, I stopped short. Two cars blocked the entire alleyway, sitting side by side, leaving an only very narrow space for passage. A guard stood on top of each of the cars, along with several in front. Each of them had their weapon pointed at me.
I did the only thing I could do. I raised my hands in the air.
"State your name and your business," one of the guards demanded, stepping forward.
"Lucy. Lucy Evermore." I pointed to the blue band on my arm.
"Check the list."
One of them lowered their barrel and began flipping through papers; probably some of the same papers I had drafted myself weeks ago.
My mind raced. What had happened? Had they found out about Micah's crew?
The shuffle of papers ceased. "She's on it."
I lowered my hands and stepped forward.
"Just a minute, you." The guard lowered his weapon and closed the distance between us. "Where were you last night? Everyone was accounted for once we went on lock-down. No one has been allowed to leave yet."
"Where I was, is none of your business," my tone was low and even.
"I've got orders to bring anyone found outside the camp straight to Shawn."
My entire chest constricted, though I kept my eyes locked on his. He said no more.
Is he giving me an out? If he wasn't, he'd already have me in cuffs.
I
forced my lungs to take in air. "I don't like to be locked in; spent too much time in prison."
He narrowed his eyes, peering at my face tattoo. "You're that Earth – the one that killed the wild dog?"
I paused, then nodded.
His face broke into a smile. "Shawn doesn't have to know. I think we can work something out." He put his arm around me, leading me deeper into the alley.
I shoved it off. "I'm not going to go there."
He laughed. "Neither am I, sweetheart."
"Then what is it you want?"
"You’ll be my entry into tonight's dog fight."
Chapter 54
A Promise
"A dog fight?" Erika choked on her coffee.
"Yeah – I got caught outside after the lockdown. I think it is the only way the guards won't turn me in. Unless you can pull a few favors?"
She shook her head. "My reach only goes so far. And the guards have gone all chauvinistic on me. Been turning away all my requests, even if it gets sent through someone else."
"What about you, Clay? Aren't you the head guard or something?"
He put down his breakfast plate, wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve. "Not since I lost all the prisoners. But Kait—" He paused glancing at Erika. "Er, Lucy….have you ever been to a dog fight?"
"You mean like with pit bulls?"
Erika slapped her forehead with her hand.
Clay took a deep breath. "You are the dog."
"You mean I have to fight?" My stomach flipped. "Another person?"
"Usually a Fire. Not too many other Elementals volunteer." Erika looked at me. "I imagine you'll attract quite the crowd. Being an Earth, and all. Not to mention the fact you’re already famous."
"Will Shawn be there?" I started picking apart my roll; I was no longer hungry.
"Shawn doesn't know about the dog fights. They’re underground, so to speak."
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