by Alison Pensy
Tears were still sizzling down her cheeks as she looked up at the dragon. "I can't bring it back, Draconis. I can't control it," Faedra cried.
Draconis turned his taloned claw palm up and rested the back of it on Faedra's forehead. Surprised, he drew his head back just a fraction, his emerald eyes blazing with concern. "Good Lord, little one, you are burning up."
"What am I going to do?" Faedra implored between gut-wrenching gasps for air. "It hit me so fast, I couldn't get hold of it, I couldn't...I can't...I..." Hysteria leeched into her voice as her eyes beseeched those of the great dragon who held her tenderly.
"Shh, hush now," Draconis cooed, soothing Faedra's furrowed brow with his palm. He brought his hand over her eyes. "Sleep."
The great dragon puffed out a sigh as Faedra's breathing calmed and her body went limp in his arms. He wasn't sure if his compulsion would work on her with all the powers she possessed, it sure didn't work on his brother. He was glad he tried, though. She was obviously so out of control she probably didn't even notice what he was doing and doubted if she would try and stop him even if she did.
"Alaris!" Draconis shouted.
The doors to the great hall squeaked open. "Yes, Sire?"
Draconis turned to face the iridescent blue dragon that now filled the doorway. Alaris's eyes fell upon the Custodian hanging limply in his master's arms. Startled, he brought them back to meet Draconis's imperceptible expression.
"Alaris, I need you to go to Azran and bring back her Guardian," Draconis instructed. "Take the ruby staff. I'm sure her loved ones will be worried about her whereabouts." He gestured to the ruby staff that lay on the floor beside him where Faedra had dropped it as she collapsed into his arms.
Alaris stepped forward and leaned down to pick up the ruby staff.
"Human form would be advisable, I am sure they are probably inside the castle. I find it...rather cramped in there."
The blue dragon rolled his blazing emerald eyes, inclining his head once more before shaking his whole body. A moment later, a cat-walk worthy specimen was standing in the spot the enormous blue dragon had occupied. The man moved his head around, stretching out his neck, and pulled his elbows back to stretch out his chest.
"Urgh, human form," Alaris grouched. He shot a pointed look at Draconis. "I can see no reason why you find this form so intriguing. I feel like a trussed up chicken."
Draconis raised a scaly onyx eyebrow at his guard's distaste and pinched his lips into a thin line to suppress the smile that was threatening.
"The Guardian," Draconis repeated.
"Don't see why I have to change," Alaris muttered under his breath. "Having a damn great dragon materialize on your doorstep would certainly have the guards bringing the king to me, not the other way around." He rapped the ruby staff on the floor. "Azran Castle!" he commanded. "I hate human form," he continued to grouch as the red laser lights twirled around his body and he disappeared from the great hall.
Draconis looked down at the unconscious Custodian in his arms and drew in a long, considering breath. He shook his head. "You should not be burdened with my brother's power, little one. If I could but do something to relieve you of it." He wandered over to the dais and lay Faedra down. Wondering if it was going to get a little crowded in his hall in just a few moments, he changed into his human form. He tenderly pushed a lock of hair from Faedra's face and tucked it behind her ear. A gaggle of anxious voices erupted behind him and echoed off the walls. He turned and raised a sleek brow at the entourage Alaris had brought back with him. The king and the Guardian, he expected. A heavily pregnant ovate with her daughter, a newly appointed guardian, two Lightbenders, and the water king, plus his wife and daughter, were somewhat of a surprise.
Alaris shrugged. "They were all in the king's study when I got there," he said, answering his master's unspoken question. "They insisted I bring them all back with me." The blue dragon rolled his sparkling green eyes for added effect.
"Faedra!" Faen exclaimed, as he laid eyes on the Custodian sprawled out unconscious on the wooden surface of the dais. He lunged forward from the group to where she lay behind Draconis. Faen searched the Dragon lord's emerald eyes as he reached them. "What happened to her?"
Draconis put a hand on Faen's shoulder. "Guardian, I induced her to sleep. She was panicking, and I believed it the only way to keep her from hurting herself...and, possibly, obliterating my castle."
Faen kneeled beside Faedra and made to run his knuckles over her cheek.
"I would not do that, if I were you," Draconis said, a grave tone to his voice. "She still has the power to inflict great harm, even in slumber."
Faen pulled his hand away and rested his forehead in his palm. "So, what now? We take her back to the cave in Antarctica again?"
"I don't believe that will be necessary," Derian said, stepping forward from the group, the king by his side. The rest of the group fell in behind them, creating a tight semi-circle. Anxious faces were staring down at the girl on the floor.
Faen narrowed his eyes as the water king leaned past him, reaching out to touch Faedra. Faen clamped his hand around Derian's arm.
"No! It was you that caused this to happen in the first place! You think I am going to allow you to touch her now? What exactly did you do to her, anyway?" Faen's eyes flashed.
The water king stopped. He looked down at Faen's hand, then up to meet the Guardian's cold glare.
"How do I know this is not some plan to incapacitate the Custodian?" Faen asked, menace leaking from his words.
Derian's expression remained impassive.
The king stepped forward and rested a hand on Faen's arm. "Release him, Guardian."
Faen tore his eyes from Derian to shoot the king an incredulous glance. "But we have no idea what he did to her. Look at her!"
The king glanced down at his daughter and closed his eyes for a split second before returning his steady gaze back to her Guardian.
"Derian is our ally. I trust that he would not see harm come to my daughter. Now, release him. I will not ask again."
Faen turned back to Derian, fixed him with an 'I'm-watching-you' stare, before opening his fingers and pulling his hand away in a dramatic display of testosterone fueled disdain.
Derian raised a translucent eyebrow and he inclined his head, a subtle acknowledgment of the Guardian's concern. He turned and kneeled down beside Faedra.
"Derian, are you sure about this?" Jalia asked, stepping forward and placing a hand on her husband's shoulder.
Derian looked up into the fretful eyes of his wife. He covered her hand with his and gave her a warm, reassuring smile. "I am strong, Jalia. If I do not try, I fear for the Custodian...we need her."
Faen narrowed his eyes at the water king's comment.
Derian turned back to Faedra prompting the group to surge forward a few more steps, anxious to see what the water king could possibly do to help the situation. He reached out a hand and placed it on Faedra's ankle. As soon as liquid touched skin, a loud hissing noise filled the chamber and steam rose from Derian's hand. There were a few gasps from the crowd. Derian closed his eyes, squeezing them shut with determined concentration.
Jalia took a step back behind her daughter and wrapped her arms around Eadlin's shoulders.
"He knows what he is doing, Mother," Eadlin whispered, her eyes not leaving the scene unfolding before her.
The tension in the great hall was tangible as the moments ticked by. Eventually, the angry hissing lessened and the steam abated. Faedra groaned.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Consciousness was tugging at the darkness that wrapped itself around Faedra like a warm blanket. She fought it. She didn't want to wake and let the light in. Somewhere deep inside, she knew if she did the furnace in her head would come roaring back to life, and, right at that moment, she didn't feel strong enough to contain it.
"Faedra," a soothing whisper stroked around the edges of her dark blanket, threatening to pull it back and expose the light, expose her to
the roaring, uncontrollable fire.
"Faedra, wake up," the voice continued. Faedra felt a sensation snake a path down her cheek. The grazing of knuckles perhaps; she recognized that feeling. She grabbed hold of the dark blanket and pulled it tighter around herself. She would not give in. She wanted to stay in this dark, quiet spot forever.
Her lips. She could feel something on her lips. Oh, God...Faen! She would burn him. No! No, she wouldn't allow that to happen. Her eyes opened, wide and scared. She scrambled back as fast as she could, away from her Guardian. She wouldn't hurt the people she loved. What was he thinking? Didn't he know how dangerous she was?
Faedra blinked several times as light flooded her eyes. Breathing hard, she blinked again, trying to bring everything into focus. Where was she? Draconis's castle, that much she remembered. Why was she on the floor? Why was Faen there? A few more blinks and her surroundings came into focus. Faen's face was close to hers, blocking the room from view. He forced a smile through the disquiet she saw on his features. He brought a hand up to her cheek. Fear spiked through her. She tried to back up some more but was thwarted by a cold stone wall.
"Stop," she whimpered, eyeing his ascending hand with abject terror. "I'll hurt you..." a tear slid down her cheek, "...I don't want to hurt you ever again."
Somewhere deep, Faedra’s subconscious registered that her tear didn't sizzle and evaporate before it reached her chin. She narrowed her eyes at Faen and reached up to wipe the salty droplet away. She looked at her wet finger, then back at her Guardian. The roaring wasn't there, why hadn't she noticed that before?
"You won't," Faen said. He shifted a little, allowing the rest of the room to come into view. The first thing she noticed was Derian holding her ankle.
"Derian," she breathed, almost inaudible. "How do you do that?"
Derian gave a slight hitch of his shoulder. "Water extinguishes fire."
"And fire melts ice."
All heads turned to Jalia. The look of contempt on the water queen's face was quickly squashed and replaced with regal composure. She glanced over at her husband, revealing no more emotion to the onlookers.
"What an odd thing to say," Jocelyn leaned over and whispered to Allora.
Jocelyn's comment pulled Faedra's attention away from Jalia and Derian. Up until now, too much had been going on in her head for her to notice how many of her friends were standing around gaping at her with worried expressions plastered across their faces. She wasn't sure whether to feel flattered or embarrassed. Until just a short while ago, she was confident that she had Savu's power under her control. It was a constant battle, but she hadn't lost control of it for a couple of month's now. No longer did anyone she loved have to fear her. Then, out of the blue, with the touch of a hand, she felt like she was back to square one. She wondered if she could corral her strength to get on top of the power again. She had to, she didn't have a choice. Faedra sighed at the realization that what she was feeling, or not feeling, as the case may be, was just a short reprieve.
She shot her friends a tight smile.
"How are you feeling?" Faen asked.
"Right now, I feel normal. But I'm sure Derian won't want to walk around holding onto me for the rest of my life." Faedra glanced down to where Derian was still holding onto her ankle before looking up and meeting his compassionate gaze.
"What happened before, Your Highness, was partly my fault," Derian spoke softly.
Faedra shot him a look of question.
"I did not realize that your power would come rushing back with such force. I should not have let go of you so suddenly. To be honest, I am surprised you had the strength to hold onto it as long as you did. You could have killed us all..."
Faedra's expression turned fearful again.
"...And that would have been my fault, too," Derian said, trying to reassure her. "We will try again, but slower this time...when you are ready."
Faen moved so that he was seated next to Faedra. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Faedra glanced up at the man she loved, searching his eyes for support. They didn't let her down. Love poured from every cell in his body and wrapped around her. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
"I'm scared," she whispered.
"I know." Faen buried his nose in her hair and kissed the top of her head.
"You can do this, Faedra." Faedra opened her eyes at the sound of her young friend's voice. Jocelyn had stepped forward from the group. "You beat Savu singlehandedly when it took all the power of the seven realms to do it the first time."
Etyran moved forward and put his hand on Jocelyn's shoulder. "She's right, you know, old girl. You beat this power before. You can do it again."
Jocelyn looked up at him and smiled. Faedra noticed Alyssa shift uncomfortably behind Etyran and Jocelyn. The young Lightbender quickly downcast her eyes and twiddled with her fingers when she noticed Faedra looking at her. Faedra felt a pang of sadness spear her in the heart. She had grown to like Alyssa since their unconventional meeting in a cave on Drofoz. Etyran had sensed the young Lightbender and wrestled her to the ground after she'd been coerced into using her ability and sent to spy on them by the tyrant sorcerer who had taken over Todmus's realm. But it soon became apparent she wanted nothing to do with the sorcerer and was only doing his bidding because he was threatening Etyran's life. Being the only other Lightbender left in the seven realms, Etyran's heart had been torn between Alyssa and Jocelyn. Faedra was glad his heart had picked the latter. She really wanted to see her two best friends together. They just seemed to fit. One day Alyssa would find love, of that, Faedra was sure. She closed her eyes and drew in a deep, calming breath, bringing herself back to the task at hand.
When she opened them, and cast a glance around the rest of the group, everyone nodded and gave her a warm, supportive smile. Except Alaris, who rolled his eyes as he folded his arms over his chest. Sentimentality was obviously not one of his strong suits.
Bringing her attention back to Derian, she gave him a tight smile. Knowing that within minutes the tranquility in her head would likely be destroyed, yet again, by the sound of a blasting furnace. Adrenaline coursed through her veins. Not helping, Faedra! her subconscious yelled at her. She sighed. It was right, of course. Heightened emotions would do her no good in this situation. She didn't want this but knew she had no choice. She couldn't walk around holding hands with the king of another realm for the rest of her life. She doubted his wife, or Faen, for that matter, would be best pleased with that potential solution.
No, there was nothing she could do but suck it up and take one for the girls, but she had to calm her pounding heart first. As if Faen could read her mind, he started rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. The simple motion was a soothing salve to her raw nerves. He exuded calm energy. How he was doing it in this situation was beyond her but she was thankful that he knew what she needed and gave it willingly. It was something he had learned over the past year. If he stayed calm she could draw from his energy and use it to calm herself and therefore better control her powers. It was working well, so far.
Faedra reached out with imaginary hands and grabbed hold of Faen's energy like her life depended on it. She breathed it in, infused it into every cell. She glanced up at him. He was studying her, reading the signs. She could tell from his smile that he knew his energy was working, giving her the strength she needed to withstand what was to come.
Faedra's lips twitched in reply. She turned back to Derian who was waiting patiently for her to let him know she was ready.
"This time, when I release you, I will do so one finger at a time," Derian explained. "That way your power will return in a steady flow, instead of one disastrous deluge."
Faedra swallowed, her eyes fixed on the man gripping her ankle who was waiting for her command. She gave it with a barely discernible nod of her head.
Derian lifted his little finger.
Faedra felt a warm tingle in her foot.
Derian lifted his ring finger.
Both feet became warm, and the tingle traveled up past her ankle into her calf. She drew in another calming breath. Concentrate, Faedra. You can do this, she told herself.
Derian lifted his index finger.
The heat intensified, working its way up her legs and into her belly. Faedra gasped at the sudden intrusion. Derian's hand stilled. She noticed a small curl of steam rise from between his fingers.
You can do this, Faedra. Concentrate. Her subconscious stood on the sidelines like a proud mom at a soccer game.
"Are you okay?" Faen whispered. Stroking the back of her hand with his thumb.
Faedra closed her eyes and gave Faen a quick nod. "I can do this," she whispered, more to herself than to her Guardian.
"I know you can."
"One more," Faedra murmured to Derian without opening her eyes.
Derian lifted his forefinger, leaving only his thumb touching Faedra's skin.
Raging fire roared up her chest and into her neck. She sucked in a breath, squeezing her eyes tight and fisting her hands. Faedra exhaled sharply, her breathing turning into short staccato gasps for air.
"Derian!" Faedra heard Faen shout.
Guessing he was going to ask the water king to replace his fingers, Faedra opened her eyes. "No! I can do this, just...give me a minute. I'm nearly there."
Faen searched his charge's eyes and saw only determination there. Faedra squeezed her eyes shut again as another wave of heat came raging through her body. Faen brought a hand up, stroked her cheek and withdrew it with a hiss.
Faedra opened her eyes and gave him an apologetic look. "I didn't say I was there yet," she murmured, breathing still heavy. She closed her eyes again.
Water extinguishes fire. Derian's matter-of-fact explanation popped into Faedra's head. She felt Faen gently pull away from her and lean her back against the stone wall. The heat must be getting to him, she thought absentmindedly as she tried to rein in the power.
And oxygen feeds it. The thought hit her like a freight train. She held her breath and imagined a hose pipe spewing water over the flames. A moment passed and Faedra rejoiced as she saw the flames recede, become more controllable.