Ashes (The Firebird Trilogy Book 1)

by Stephanie Harbon

  I finally plucked up enough courage to ask him, “What did happen between you and Kieran?”

  He took a deep breath, glancing away, then returned his vision to me, sighing eventually, “It’s complicated, and, in all honestly, not much at all to do with Kieran.”

  I analysed his expression. He seemed suddenly deeply sad, “Adrian?” I guessed. “You found out about him being human?”

  He shook his head, eyes wide. “No!” he said honestly, almost shocked at my accusation. “What I said to Kieran just now was in anger. I never meant it. I knew about Adrian all along. It didn’t bother me. It was them it bothered.”

  I frowned confusedly, “So what did happen?”

  He withdrew a shaky breath; his usually relaxed face was utterly devoid of emotion. “I can’t tell you Ruby.”

  I pulled a face, “Why not?”

  “It’s just so shameful,” he answered. “It hurt me so much I did something stupid. I told Lynk that they were leaving.” He put his head in his hands, his shoulders sinking. “I was just so angry. I regret it so much.”

  “Lynk?” I felt horrified, “Why?”

  “He’s our Elder,” he frowned, staring down at the floor. “I thought he would just bring them back and punish them. I didn’t expect him to send so many after them, with death warrants…” he trailed off; shuddering. “I went to Lynk after, trying to find out what had happened but he refused to see me. I assumed they were all dead.” He looked up at me. “When I saw Kieran during your First Flight it was like seeing a ghost. I didn’t know what to think. What to say. I think I just got angry all over again.”

  I placed a hand on his, knowing that this was really hard for him to admit. “I believe you,” I sighed eventually. Whatever had happened between them was just between them. Maybe I’d be told one day, but I knew it’d be a while.

  He looked up at me from underneath his long ashen lashes, those amber eyes sparkling with an orange flame. “Really?”

  I smiled, “Really.”

  The next thing I knew he was leaning in closer to me, his lips coming dangerously close to me. I froze where I sat, astounded and confused, unsure of what to do. I liked Jayson, but could I do this? I didn’t have much choice in the end, my body reacted for me.

  His lips were soft this time. He was being careful to erase my memory of our last drunken kiss. It was sweet and easy, like our friendship. It wasn’t all crazy and wild like it had been with Kieran. It was slower; more of a build-up of something that could actually happen. Would the feelings and passion come later? Was it okay to be doing this now?

  I was so confused. It felt wrong. Seriously wrong. It wasn’t Kieran I was kissing, but I couldn’t be with Kieran, so should I settle for the next best?

  He lifted his hand to my face, carefully entwining his fingers in my hair, pulling me closer and kissing me again, our mouths moving together. What was I doing? Why was I letting him kiss me? I was so confused.

  I pulled back suddenly, looking at Jayson. He smiled that soft easy-going smile. I looked away, a million emotions and questions running through me. Then my heart lurched as I noticed Kieran standing at the bottom of the steps.

  His face was incredulous, dangerous. He walked away with apparent effort. Without the slightest hesitation I left Jayson, instinctively running after Kieran and apologising as I went. I ran down the stone steps into the forested gardens. Kieran wasn’t hard to find because wherever he went he left a path of destruction, ripping up the roots of several large trees with his mind and his natural affinities, sending them loudly catapulting to the snowy earth.

  I had no idea he was that powerful.

  I followed the devastation, then his footprints when he stopped killing the greenery. His footprints disappeared. Sighing, I went and sat on the ledge of a nearby water fountain. A beautiful stone Phoenix was positioned in the centre; water trickled from her slender wingtips. I put my head in my hands, listening to the water.

  Why did Jayson have to do that?

  A sound of rustling splinters made me glance up. Kieran stood there, looking at me. I looked at him. The large moon shone in the sky like a magnificent opal, casting the world in a mysterious silver ambiance. Kieran was like a shadow in the ominous atmosphere. His black hair was inky and luminous; his darkly tanned skin standing out against the snow, but his emerald eyes remained constant and familiar.

  He stood silently for a long moment, his feet planted uncooperatively to earth like they were undecided if they wanted to move.

  I rose quietly. “Kieran, I…“ I didn’t know what I was going to say.

  “Just shut up for a moment,” he demanded furiously.

  I shut my mouth obediently, awaiting his harsh words.

  He strode over to me and swiftly bent down to kiss my unsuspecting lips.

  I gasped in surprise and he made a rumbling noise in the back of his throat; almost a growl. One of his hands fiercely cupped the back of my head. His fingers intertwined in the curling strands. My heart hammered erratically, my head whirling dizzyingly. I wrapped my shaking hands up around his shoulders, kissing him back with equal passion. The hand that was in my hair moved down my bare back, his rough fingers tracing over my tattooed spine. I shivered ecstatically at his touch, my defences crumbling.

  Kieran pulled back less than an inch. Leaning his forehead against mine and holding my face in his hands, his large fingers were spread protectively. His deep green eyes held a strange distant light, a flicker of silver sparkling within his black pupils; like he was showing me his soul.

  “You are mine,” he whispered, leaning forwards. His breath tickled my neck as he nuzzled his nose against my ear. I shivered and his voice came again in a deep seductive murmur. “No one can touch you but me. And if I can’t touch you; then no one can.” He voice was stern; his expression ferociously protective.

  I smiled helplessly. And he launched at me again.

  He pushed me back with his body, against a nearby tree; his fingers moving across my body with a fierce hunger. His hands were in my hair, pulling at the curls almost painfully, forcing my face to his. He kissed me wildly, fast and strong and unpredictable. My hands danced across his chest, feeling the hard muscles there and the contraction of his lungs as he breathed heavily. My body seemed on fire, sensations spreading though me like wildfire. My skin burning in ways I’d never experienced before.

  “You’re too beautiful tonight, Ruby,” Kieran murmured, pulling back to stop himself from going too far. “I completely blame you for this.”

  “I don’t mind taking responsibility,” I offered contentedly.

  Abruptly Kieran leaned back. “You will,” he disagreed seriously, “if somebody finds out.”

  My eyes widened as the image of the Wall sprung across my vision. The thought was horrifying. We’d be cursed before we’d even get to that stage too. I’d be made human again; but this time permanently. I couldn’t imagine never flying again, to once again feel secluded and not belonging to anything. To me it was the worst thing imaginable, and I’d barely been a Phoenix for a month.

  It would kill Kieran.

  Suddenly I heard the rush of running feet over the snow. Kieran released me instantly, straightening up. Ebony burst out of the trees, panting frantically like she’d been racing for her life. I looked at her, instantly worried by the look in her eyes. My stomach trembled apprehensively.

  “What are you-“ I began confusedly, but she interrupted me.

  “You need to come quickly,” her voice was saturated with fear and panic. “It’s Lynk, he’s-”

  That was all she needed to say, I was already running.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  My heavy wings made it difficult to balance as I thundered up the cold stone steps. There was nobody dancing inside anymore. The various instruments lining the wall were eerily abandoned. I burst into the centre of the ice structure, to where every Phoenix gathered around the stage in a heaving crowd. A lone figure stood on the stage with a golden breastp
late covering his chest, a Gaborah blade at his hips and massive white blond wings released from his shoulders. Lynk was speaking calmly, rationally and I strained to catch his words.

  “For too long we have been forced to remain within the boundaries of Kariak, trapped like disobedient animals. Don’t we deserve to be free? Don’t we deserve to know what else there is out there?” he was saying. I instantly heard the persuasive note in his influential voice. “We are all caged birds; we should fight back at those who imprisoned us. We are more powerful; we are stronger, we will prevail. We will be the higher race.”

  He wanted to leave the island? He wanted to go…to go to my country? And countries like it? I couldn’t believe my ears. People would freak out. For a moment I imagined poor sweet Tanya, alone in her little pub, surrounded by the Angels and Daemons. She’d have a heart attack.

  Phoenix flesh is tainted…you have forgotten the taste of human… we’ll both be reunited with it soon anyway, brother, thanks to Lynk. The monster’s words were like a death sentence; humankind’s death sentence. If Lynk leaves, they leave. If they leave, they’ll eat humans. If they eat humans, it’ll be mass destruction. And God knows how many half-breeds there are. My attacker had said an army; an army of those monsters? I shuddered mentally. It’d start a war!

  Oh God, people were nodding in agreement.

  It’s his voice, I realised in dawning horror.

  I glanced at Kieran, and he looked just as shocked as me. Without hesitation, he began shoving his way through the audience.

  Lynk was still speaking, “A few have left before, but what I wish is that all of Kariak can leave. All Karisian creatures deserve freedom.” His black eyes scanned the audience, “The task isn’t that difficult. All we need to do is destroy the Towers, destroy the wards, and we’ll be free. We’ll come and go as we please.”

  I heard a voice speak up, it sounded surprisingly like Charas. “There was a reason the Towers were made, you know. Humans hate us.”

  Lynk barely looked interested in this. “They will fear us. And fear we can control. Human’s fear their Gods as they will us, or adore us as their Angels.”

  Kieran reached the stage while I was still struggling to tear my way through the unresponsive bodies. Only a few still looked comprehensive. Kieran stood up straight, looking out at the emotionless faces, a spark of worried understanding lighting his eyes; he knew that the majority of the crowd were already controlled by Lynk.

  But still he said to Lynk, “You could never be a God.”

  Lynk looked at him, merely curiously, “And why is that?”

  “Well, one: you’re ugly. Two: you’re actually quite stupid. And three,’ Kieran suddenly flipped a small knife from inside the thick leather band around his wrist, and before Lynk could react, Kieran cut the tip of his finger with it; drawing a single tear of dark blood. “You bleed. Gods are immortal. We are not.”

  Kieran knew what he was doing. For the second it took for the tiny wound to heal, Lynk lost his concentration, and therefore severed the connection with some of the crowd under his influence. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.

  Kieran turned to the heaving crowd, emitting an air of reassuring confidence. “Let’s cut out the bullshit. I have lived with humans, lived as a human.” He announced bravely, “I can tell you the truth before you go dancing off with the Siren over here.” Kieran pointed at Lynk.

  I heard a faint but authoritative voice; an Elder. “Speak, Earthbird.”

  Kieran nodded “Humans are simpler than us. They depend on normalcy and routine. If we knock down the wards and reveal Kariak, releasing all the monsters even we don’t want to see, they’ll freak out and fight back. And there are far too many of them for our single race to fight.” Kieran had a glint in his eyes, a glint that made it very obvious that he knew about Lynk’s alliances.

  Lynk saw this, but didn’t seem remotely bothered. He answered now with a lazy ignorance. “This is the reason I have made alliances with others.” He explained, and at this some of the crowd woke up.

  A man next to me shook his head. I recognised him instantaneously. He was on the High Council, the man with blueish white hair and ocean eyes, and also the one who was the harshest. He boomed, “You made alliances without consulting the Council?” his voice echoed around the room. “Who have you made these alliances with?” he demanded.

  Lynk merely glanced at the man, “Daemons, or rather, my new breed of Daemons.”

  The man next to me took in a deep, horrified breath. “Daemons?” he bellowed furiously. “They’re not to be trusted. They wouldn’t help us.”

  Lynk glared down at him now. His eyes gave the impression that he was mentally visualizing pinning the Elder to the floor like a butterfly on a pin. Outwardly though, Lynk was as cool and calculating as usual; it was an extremely intimidating quality.

  “I believe in the art of breeding to gain perfection,” Lynk’s lips twisted, but his voice remained unbearably beautiful. “As creator I have the upper hand.”

  “What have you done?” the Water Elder demanded.

  Lynk ignored him, instead his gaze swept across the other faces in the audience. “Don’t you all want freedom? Don’t you all want to live? To know what’s out there and take it for your own?”

  Nobody in the audience spoke. A terrifying silence filled the air.

  “Well,” Lynk finally spoke, “I had hoped you would all see my point of view. I had hoped I wouldn’t have to make you all understand.”

  Apprehension trembled my stomach. Lynk was going to use his voice properly…oh my God. I shoved an Airbird to the side to push my way closer to the stage, but more people swallowed me up like a constant tide.

  Nikolas suddenly appeared on stage. “You won’t survive out there,” he said quietly to Lynk, his voice so soft that even I, only a metre away, had to strain to hear. “The air isn’t pure enough for Phoenix.” He glanced at me sadly, and slowly I began to understand. “We were growing weaker every month we stayed away, becoming so ill that sometimes it took hours to Change. We’re not meant for that world. The land is paved over by concrete; the fire is contaminated with toxic gases. We were slowly dying.”

  I gasped in realisation, and finally shoved my way through the rest of the crowd to look up at Kieran. “You…were…dying?” I barely whispered the words but I knew he heard. So, after all, the reason they left wasn’t because of me; it was to save themselves. “That’s the real reason you left, isn’t it?”

  Kieran never did answer that question.

  Nikolas was abruptly there, his kind eyes regretful. “It wasn’t the only reason, Ruby, we did want to save you, but we were planning to go back anyway. We just didn’t know when. You were just a…”

  “A reason to leave,” I finished in a whisper. “An excuse.”

  I could feel my hands shaking. They’d let me believe that it was for my benefit that they left. I’d thought they’d wanted to help me. I’d thought they cared about me. Really they just wanted to save themselves.

  They didn’t really care about saving me.

  I wasn’t even of Earth. I didn’t matter to them.

  I was such an idiot.

  Lynk’s harsh laughter cut deeply, “My poor daughter. Did you think you were special?” His voice was like razors. “Don’t take it personally; most Phoenix are liars.”

  My eyes narrowed, “Including you. I saw what you did to that woman a week ago. You tortured her, then had those monsters tear out her stomach so you could get a stupid worthless key.”

  “Worthless?” he repeated, as if mildly surprised by my choice of vocabulary. “Do you even know what that key opens?”

  “It opens the Gemstone Tower in the Fire City,” I snapped.

  “And what’s kept in the Tower?” he asked, his voice like razorblades.

  I glared at him, “The wards that protect the city.”

  His topaz and black eyes, identical to mine, transformed. The onyx in them expanded, devouring the colour that once thr
ived there like sunshine. When he spoke his voice was too deep; a horribly seductive edge was creeping into it, “And how, my sweet child, is that unimportant? Don’t be so naive, everything has ambiguous purposes.”

  His voice was like a drug; as soon as people caught a whiff of its intoxicating essence it captivated them completely. Like the siren’s enchanting music that caused sailors to blissfully crash their ships into rocks. Like a vampire’s bewitching smile that disguised its fangs.

  And he hadn’t even started yet.

  “The Metovah key isn’t important right now, however what is important is that ridiculous proposition, Lynk,” spoke the blue-eyed Elder with a clear firm voice. Apparently he was still completely himself. “As a member of the Council, you have a right to express your opinion and your ideas, but as an Elder I strongly decline.”

  Lynk rolled his eyes. “I’ve had enough of you. I am the Council.”

  Lynk looked towards the ceiling, raising his hands as if praising; a distinctive gesture. Immediately, I glanced up at the roof. At first I noticed nothing spectacular, but then slowly, I understood. Camouflaged high in the icy rafters, concealed by the extravagant decorations, the half-breeds dwelled.

  Phoenix dazedly looked up, realisation immediately snapping into them.

  There were at least twelve; some crawling down the walls to block the exits, some abseiling down on diaphanous rope to hang silently above the petrified crowd like spiders.

  One sprang off the highest rafter, landing on the stage. It straightened up, one of its devilish horns pointing directly at me. Its skin, under a damaged breastplate, was streaked with distorted tribal patterns. Its sharp human cheekbones were splattered with obsidian paint. Its deformed legs were spread wide; its bat-like wings devouring the stage.

  Lynk ignored my glare, instead acknowledging the whole crowd. “This is your last chance,” he said. “Do you share my vision? Or are you against it.”