For a moment it seemed Isaiah had caught her off guard, but then a smirk slowly slid over her lips as she shrugged.
“I’m going to watch it burn.”
That was obviously the wrong thing to say as the wind began to pick up in the room. Isaiah felt like he was in the middle of a hurricane as the branches on the tree began to bend with the force of the wind. The tall bark-head groaned and the vines were left with no choice but to follow the circulation of the wind as it circled the room.
Edie turned her head, moving her hand to push her hair away from her face. Her long dark tresses were caught in the strong gusts as she squinted her eyes, dust particles flying into her face as she glared at Brison. The roar reaching her ears, deafening her as she shouted at him.
“Stop this!” She called out.
Isaiah simply sat there, grinning. It served her right.
Brison was angry, and it was easy to tell. If Isaiah had his guess, the poor bastard had hung onto every empty promise that Edie made to him. What exactly had she promised him? A better planet? More respect? Heidi? He was definitely sure about one thing; Brison did not like the idea of the destruction of Earth.
As Brison lifted his hands over his head, Edie grabbed onto the vines that were restraining Isaiah’s wrists to hang on. Her body was swept up by the monstrous squall that was taking place in the storage room. Other small trees were being uprooted, joining in the rotation as they flew around the room.
Isaiah had never witnessed a tornado in person, and he hadn’t necessarily thought he would do so in the confines of a four walled room. His hair was flying into his face as he squinted his eyes, noticing the look of terror on Edie’s face as she clung to the vines. She kicked her feet in the air, glancing back at Brison as he seemed so…emotionless.
“I didn’t mean it like that!” She called out to him. “I’m not going to hurt anyone! Come on, Brison! Remember what I said! Remember what I’ve promised you! Do not do this!”
Isaiah, despite the current situation, was amused. He really hoped the Australian would do everyone a favor and blow her away into oblivion. But it was much to his disappointment that the idiot was fooled by the pathetic puppy eyes or whatever she was giving him at the moment.
The wind began to die down and everything then went silent as Edie’s knees made contact with the concrete. She was breathing heavily as she released the vines, moving her hands to her hair in an attempt to fix it. She glanced at Isaiah briefly before she looked back to Brison.
She stood quickly and then straightened up, as if she was trying to recollect her dignity or something.
Damn. So close, yet so far.
Brison stood there, jawline locked tight as he stared at her.
Edie rolled her eyes as she placed her hands on her hips again.
“Another outburst such as that and I’ll kill you,” She said promised in a low voice. “I do not have time for your tantrums, Brison. I’ve got things I need to do.”
Flipping her long dark hair over her shoulder, Edie moved back to the vined swing she’d created for herself. She seated herself upon it and crossed her long legs as she eyed Isaiah.
“I don’t want to hear any snarky remarks from you, either,” She commented, snapping her fingers. Isaiah felt as another thick vine began to twine around the lower half of his face, covering his mouth.
“The show is over for now, Icer,” She stated in a low voice. “It’s time to get down to business.”
Lifting her hands, Edie removed the emerald jewels that dangled from her forehead. He watched as she held the jewels in her palm and they began to glow a dull green before slowly transforming into a brighter shimmer. It didn’t take long for Isaiah to realize this was the same thing he had witnessed in Heidi’s room before he’d incidentally froze the Fire fairy. He’d just frozen the wrong damn fairy, that’s all.
Edie’s lips curled into a smile as the fairy curtsied to her.
“Hello, Grena.”
Isaiah could hear the small chimes of the fairy, but he did not understand what she was saying. He knew that was because she was not of the Ice, and therefore he could not translate their conversation; at least not Grena’s side of it.
“I want you to go to King Fryse as quickly as you can and inform him that I have his son,” She said.
Isaiah watched as Grena turned her head to gaze at him. The fairy possessed dark, beady little eyes and a pointy smile. She nodded eagerly as she looked back to her mistress.
“Tell him that if he does not appear by nightfall, I will melt his son into nothing more than a puddle of water that he may absorb into that white beard of his. No negotiations will be made.”
The little fairy released a chime of laughter before flying through a crack beneath the door. Edie sighed, resting her hands against her thighs as she turned to gaze at Isaiah.
“Now we will play the waiting game,” She stated, her eyes falling to Isaiah. “It’s funny, you know? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so quiet before.”
Isaiah rolled his eyes in annoyance. If he didn’t have that stupid vine around his mouth, he surely would have said something insulting to her. Maybe he would comment how the leaf covering the apex of her thighs did not compliment the two hiding her small breasts. Women didn’t enjoy their fashion being insulted, correct?
“I think I want to hear you scream,” She smirked, hopping down from her vined throne as she approached him, conjuring the flames from her palm once more.
Isaiah really didn’t like the sound of that.
17
There were a number of things a Fire Princess simply did not do; driving was one of them. Alternating between hitting the brake and tapping the gas, Heidi squealed every time the car moved forward. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, listening to Pike’s nervous chimes as he tried to give her tips on what to do. He didn’t even know how to drive so she wasn’t sure how that helped anything.
It took longer than it should have to make it to the old abandoned paper mill and Heidi parked just outside the gate. She waited patiently while Pike disappeared beneath the hood and then the engine died. Who knew that fairies could come in handy for grand theft auto? She bit at her bottom lip as she gazed towards the large structured building and she wondered where Isaiah was at inside.
Why a paper mill?
Pike hovered in the air near her head as he chimed quietly and she turned to gaze at him.
She nodded, gripping the pendant again as she closed her eyes. She released calm breaths as she focused on Isaiah. She just needed to find him.
“Where are you?” She asked softly.
Again, she could feel the warmth that tingled through her body and she concentrated on nothing else. The wind picked up around them and Pike peered towards the Paper Mill again before he chimed impatiently.
Heidi’s eyes snapped open and she gazed at him.
“I know where he is,” She said softly.
As she carefully climbed over the gate, Heidi continued thumbing the pendant that dangled from her neck. She wished Lille was here. She wished that they had come together. She wished none of this had happened in the first place. Isaiah wouldn’t have even been here if it weren’t for her.
This time, it was her fault. She would beg for his forgiveness as soon as this was all over.
As they rounded the side of the building, Heidi stepped back quickly.
Had she really seen that?
Pike began to chime again as he poked his head around the side of the building and then he peered at her quizzically, scratching the top of his head.
“That’s Brison’s car,” She said, her heart dropping into her stomach. She suddenly felt very sick.
Brison was the Breezer? How could it be? How had she not known? Did that mean that Brison knew who she was?
She closed her eyes once again, trying to calm her breathing as her palms heated up.
There was a soft tap against her nose and Heidi opened her eyes to peer at Pike.
He chimed gently.
/> “I know there is no way I could have known,” She started softly.
Giving herself another moment to get it together, Heidi finally took a step forward just in time to see a blur of green fly past her head.
“What was that?” She asked, hearing an excited chime from Pike before a blast of blue zoomed after the green blur.
“Pike, what did you do?” She asked, watching as the frozen green object fell to the ground.
She hastily approached the fallen chunk of ice, quickly realizing it was yet another fairy.
“Oh, she’s quite terrifying…” Heidi commented as she tilted her head to the side. “Is she an Earth fairy?”
Pike nodded, landing beside of the frozen fairy as he peered up at Heidi, sounding off a few more chimes.
“That’s why you froze her?” Heidi asked, frowning. “But what if the message doesn’t make it to Isaiah’s father?”
Pike gave her another look that said, “Do I really have to explain this like you’re a child?”
Heidi pursed her lips, brows furrowing. “No,” She replied, “I am no child. I understand. There will be no need for Isaiah’s father to come because I am going to save Isaiah.”
Pike grinned, giving her thumbs up. Good girl!
Heidi straightened back up and gazed to the building once again. This wouldn’t be a fair fight, but it was one she was willing to go into alone. Isaiah was in there and he needed her help. Their kingdoms depended on it. Isaiah’s life depended on it.
If Heidi had ever wanted the opportunity to prove herself to her father and to her people, this was it. It was now or never.
Feeling the fire as it began to tingle within her fingertips, Heidi took in a deep breath and released it through her parted lips. She reached her hand up to trace her thumb over the ruby pendant as she gazed up towards the darkening sky.
“Lille,” She started softly. “I know you’re out there somewhere and I know you can hear me. Please watch over me and help me through this. Help me stay strong and give me the courage I need to help Isaiah. Help me help my kingdom. Help me save our worlds.”
Pike chimed gently, trying to encourage her. It was time to go in.
Letting out another low breath, Heidi swallowed her nerves back down into the pit of her stomach, lifting her hand up as the flames shot forth to melt the knob away from the door.
This was it. It was now or never. There was no turning back. This was going to be the moment that defined her forever. She only hoped that she wasn’t letting anyone down; especially Isaiah.
Once she was inside of the old paper mill, her eyes tried to adjust to the darkness. The stench of cedar attacked her nostrils straight away and she put her hand over her mouth as she coughed. She’d never been fond of that scent. She carefully stepped over a stool that had been knocked over some time ago, left to gather dust from the passing of time.
This place hadn’t been in operation in ages. It was a shame that places like these were left standing. Why hadn’t they tore it down and built something new? A school perhaps, or a library? She would never understand what humans were thinking by leaving things like this in place.
She squinted in the darkness, trying to see. As the sun went down, it was getting very difficult to see anything in front of her. She was grateful for the bright glow that was emitting from Pike’s body as he moved in front of her, flying just a few feet ahead to light her path.
She walked past various machines, some with paper still upon them. What a waste. In most areas, she held her breath, not wanting to inhale the particles. Had there ever been a person of the Elements who had allergies before? Perhaps it was only her.
As they started down a long, narrow hallway, Heidi knew that this was the hallway that led to the room where Isaiah was currently being held. That was the room where Brison was. That stupid turncoat. Every mean thing she had ever said about Isaiah; she took it back! He most certainly was not the turncoat in this situation. Brison was the one who kissed her and led her to believe he was a nice guy, when in fact he had been working with Edie to try and overthrow their families. Oh, the nerve of some people!
Heidi could feel as the fire within her soul became more furious than it had ever been before. The lump in her throat was painful as she attempted to swallow it down. Isaiah was unknowingly depending on her to save him. The continuation of her world, his world, and every other world; it was all on her in this moment.
There was a whispered chime from Pike as he touched her ear and Heidi turned her head to gaze at him.
She gave a gentle smile at his encouraging words. If an Ice Fairy could have faith in her, then she needed to have faith in herself.
Her breathing was coming out quietly, slowly. She was afraid they would pick up on her just by the sound of her breathing. Her eyes darted around, staring down the hallway as a door eventually came into view.
Isaiah was behind that door.
A much quieter chime sounded then and Heidi stopped, her eyes resting on Pike’s face as his arms moved through the air. Heidi’s brows furrowed as she watched the shimmering light that slowly took form of a dagger.
“I can’t accept that,” She said softly.
Pike rolled his eyes.
“But I am not of your kind,” Heidi insisted. “This should be something that is given to Isaiah. He is your prince.”
Pike flew forward quickly and swatted at her nose. Heidi didn’t even scold him.
“Thank you, Pike,” She whispered, fingers curling around the cool handle of the dagger as she accepted it.
As they moved closer to the door, Heidi’s heart was beating louder in her ears. This was it. This was a moment she had never imagined. She had certainly toyed around with fencing classes as a child. But this was no game. There were no rules here. This was a very serious danger in which she was aware that someone wanted to harm her. The people behind this door would attempt to kill her and Heidi had to be faster. She had to be smarter.
“I don’t think I can do this,” Heidi whispered.
But Pike must have thought otherwise as he quickly gave a circular motion with his tiny hand, sending a large blue blast of light towards the door. The knob shattered from being froze instantly and it slowly swung open.
Heidi’s heart stopped as she gazed inside.
18
The room was empty.
Heidi stepped inside and peered around, met with nothing more than the smell of mold and dust particles that instantly invaded her nostrils. She covered her mouth and nose with her arm, struggling to keep from sneezing as she turned her head to look at Pike.
“I don’t understand,” She said softly. “I thought this was the room!”
Pike shrugged, shaking his head as he fluttered in place, glancing around.
The pendant had been wrong.
Heidi felt discouraged as she moved over to a chair, sitting down as she gazed at the floor. How was she going to find Isaiah now? This place was so big, and time was running out. Everything was a mess.
She just wanted her father. He could make this right. He was the warrior. He was the strong one. He could do this. She couldn’t. She wasn’t capable of it.
Her bottom lip quivered as she reached her hand up, gripping the pendant tightly.
“I don’t deserve this,” Heidi whispered, causing Pike to turn around from the timecards he had been reading. He watched as the young princess gave a good tug to the ruby heart. The chain gave way and she pulled it from her neck. He frowned.
Holding the ruby pendant in her hands, Heidi closed her eyes and allowed her tears to fall freely. How was she supposed to save someone she couldn’t even find? How could the fire people depend on her if she was letting down someone as simple as a little Ice Fairy?
She sniffled, moving her hand up to wipe at the tears as one splashed down against the ruby. She let it fall to her lap as she buried her face into her hands.
“This is my fault,” She whispered. “It is all my fault.”
Cautiously appr
oaching the princess, Pike landed against her shoulder, reaching his hand out to touch her cheek gently. He patted at it as he listened to the gentle sobs. He frowned and blinked back the little tears forming in his eyes. He couldn’t prevent them from falling; forming as ice drops that fell from his chin and clinked against the floor silently.
It seemed that all hope was gone in that very moment as two unimaginable allies surrendered to what they considered to be a battle against all odds.
Though it went unseen by Heidi, Pike noticed the dim glow that was growing brighter by the second. Her tears had absorbed into the ruby and it was beginning to radiate against her skin. He perked up, staring from the stone to her and then back again. He tapped her cheek gently, trying to get her attention.
“It is no use,” Heidi insisted, shaking her head, her face still buried in her hands. “I’m a failure, Pike.”
Pike tugged at her earlobe this time, pointing desperately towards the ruby as it began to transform.
“What is it?” Heidi asked a bit exasperated. She lifted her head to gaze at him but her attention was quickly averted to the ruby as it levitated in the air.
“What did you do?” She asked softly.
The duo stared at the ruby in disbelief as there was an explosion of bright colors, more intense than the fourth of July. Pike found no better hiding spot than the Princess’ hair. Heidi’s tearful eyes were wide as she stared at a most unbelievable sight.
Lille smiled as she hovered in the air, lifting her hand to wave happily to the speechless princess.
“Lille!” Heidi gasped. “You’re alive!”
An excited chime left the fairy as she darted forward, straight into the eager arms of the princess as she carefully embraced the fairy.
“But how? I don’t understand?” Heidi asked as Pike carefully peered out from between the strands of her hair. His jaw dropped open as he gazed at the other fairy.
Lille smiled again, chiming quickly as she waved her arms in the air, explaining to Heidi that she hadn’t actually killed her when she’d set her afire. In fact, the fire had been needed to resurrect her, like a phoenix that rose from the ashes.
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