Passion

by Kailin Gow

  Pim nodded as he held a firm gaze on Dr. Sanz. “I can’t,” he said simply. “There are too many lives at stake.”

  His face contorted into an ugly sneer, he growled his discontent. “Then say goodbye to your son.” He raised his dagger.

  I wanted to cry out, but my voice was muffled by a painful sob.

  But before Dr. Sanz could plunge the dagger into Liam’s heart, Pim rushed forward, pushed Liam to the ground, receiving the blow meant for his son.

  “Dad!” Liam cried. “No.”

  Dr. Sanz grinned. “I guess it’s just as well,” he said.

  Pim pulled the dagger out and pressed his hands to his chest.

  “If the loss of blood doesn’t kill you, the poison on the tip of my dagger will.”

  Pim turned gray as he looked at Liam. “I had to save you, Liam. I love you, my son.”

  For a quick moment, my life at the governor’s manor flashed before my eyes. I’d known this man all my life; had even loved him as my father. He had done so much, all in the name of love for my mother. For all the evil and destruction he’d brought to Arcadia, I was saddened to see the life leave his eyes. I gazed at Liam, wondering what he was capable of if he didn’t get the love of his life.

  He rose and pulled me into his arms and I knew he’d never be like his father.

  “Take care of Arcadia,” Pim muttered as he fell to the ground. “And Kama.”

  Dr. Sanz shrugged and clucked his lack of sympathy, then turned his attention to Liam. “Even in death, he can’t deny me what is mine. It is now up to you to grant me my wish, son of Pim.”

  “I don’t even know what my father promised you.”

  “The power to rule Arcadia! He promised me the elixir that would help the Dark Djinns win over the Light ones… the ones ruled by the royal family.” He gazed at Torrid and Rowan.

  “I don’t…” Liam said.

  “You will never get the elixir,” Rowan said. “It is the most secret and sacred of all magic. No one can touch it, especially a Dark Djinn.”

  “Pim promised me. He said the Catchers would have it. After all, only a Catcher has the power to retrieve it since the curse placed on it by Armadon.”

  “You will not get close enough to the elixir, Rogue,” General Adar said. “It is time for you and your Rogues to taste what you have done to so many innocent djinns throughout the years.” He raised his hand and the fighting ceased.

  “My father is dead,” Liam shouted. “I am the new governor and this battle is over.”

  Catchers stood in stunned silence while Rogue Magical Ones glanced around a moment before disappearing into thin air.

  “It appears they’ve all abandoned you, Sanz,” Liam said.

  All eyes turned to the evil little man.

  “Mark my words,” he growled. “I will take over Arcadia and the Dark Djinns will rule the Nethers.” He glared at Rowan and Torrid. “Watch your backs.”

  And he was gone.

  Epilogue

  “This is a beautiful ceremony,” I said to Liam. “Especially considering the circumstances.”

  Arcadia needed to be rebuilt, as much of the Governor’s Manor did, but we’d managed to clear away enough debris to make an official banquet worthy of Liam’s new title as Governor.

  “I didn’t want to put you on the spot in front of everyone, but now that we have a moment alone, I have something to ask you.”

  I looked at him, fearful of the question to come. With everything that had been happening, my mind and heart weren’t ready to make any kind of emotional decision.

  “I’d like you to consider taking on the role of co-governor,” he said.

  “Co-governor? Can I do that?”

  “Why not? It’s pretty much the role you would have taken had you been my wife, only without that… well, commitment.”

  “Are you comfortable with that?”

  “I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t.”

  I didn’t have to think about it too long. Just looking at all the people who’d come to the ceremony; people who were happy to see Liam take over; people who’d been through so much and who now looked to him with hope. My place was here, building a new and better Arcadia; one with flaws, but the kind of flaws everyone preferred to live with compared to the false perfection we’d come to know.

  “I’m honored, Liam. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

  He reached out to shake my hand. “I’ll go make it official, then.”

  Watching him walk away I became acutely aware of Torrid who’d come to my side.

  “I assume you heard that,” I said as I turned to him.

  “You're really going to take on co-governing Arcadia?”

  “What would you have me do, Torrid? My place is here and co-governing is the perfect role for me.”

  “What about the Nethers?”

  “What about the Nethers?” I shot back.

  “The djinns are your people too, Kama. And…” He hesitated and I saw the pain in his eyes. “And of course I would like you to come be with me as well. I know we haven’t had the chance to be together much lately, but I still love you, Kama. Very much.”

  “And I love you, too, but I have to make things right here in Arcadia. As far as my romantic relationships are concerned, I want to take my time. I want to make sure I make the right decision without hurting anyone. You know, I’ll always be there for you, Torrid, but for now, my place is here with Liam. He’s offering me an unbelievable opportunity; to help run Arcadia, while being on my own. I think I need some time when I’m not someone’s girlfriend or wife.”

  He nodded, but was obviously unhappy with my decision. “I see.” He cast his gaze aside. “Rowan says Dr. Sanz is not done with us. He’s now set his aim on the Nethers and we’re already getting word of unrest in some of the provinces. Dr. Sanz and his dark forces are not going to back down. Arcadia may have found peace, but now the Nethers will have to face a war.”

  With a gentle touch, he brought his fingers to my forearm. “I’ll be back and when I do I hope you’ll still hold me fondly in your heart.” Before I can say anything back to him, he pulled me harshly to him to crush me against his chest, and his mouth met mine in a searing kiss that shot electricity through me. It was the most passionate kiss Torrid had given me, leaving me feel as though my mouth was on fire. “Remember me, Kama.”

  He turned to leave and I choked back a cry to have him come back, but just as it pained me to watch him walk away, I saw Liam’s bright smile and knew I had to concentrate on the work needed in Arcadia.

  Eager to take on my role as co-governor, I came to his side.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Healy are happy to hear you’ll be standing at my side, Kama.”

  I smiled at them and while I chatted optimistically about what was to come, I saw a movement in the distance. With a gasp of horror, I realized it was Dr. Sanz, vying for my attention all while remaining hidden.

  “It was a pleasure meeting you,” I said to the Healys as they walked away. Turning quickly to Liam, I grabbed his arm. “Liam, Dr. Sanz is out there. Do you see him?”

  “Are you serious?” He peered into the forest past the gardens.

  “Oh my God!” I let out as I caught sight of what Dr. Sanz was trying to show me. “He has my mother.”

  Now that Pim Seer is dead, I can do as I please with your mother, Kama.

  Dr. Sanz’s voice entered my mind.

  Janice Johnson is the perfect pawn in this game. What do you think your father, the great General Adar, will do to have her?”

  I cringed as I realized it wasn’t over. This war wasn’t going to be waged in the Nethers as Torrid thought, but right here in Arcadia. Dr. Sanz was going to bring the War of the Djinns to Arcadia.

  I sent word to Torrid. We’ll see each other sooner than you thought, Torrid. Dr. Sanz has my mother. I’ll have to get her back.

  Kama, Liam, and Torrid’s story continues in Volume 4 of Desire.

  Frenzy (Volume 4, Desire)

&nb
sp; December 2012

  Sneak Peek at Kailin Gow’s Newest Dystopian:

  Circus Summer

  Circus of Curiosities #1

  Releases July 2, 2012

  Prologue

  Dr. Dex Hightower stood on the sand in the middle of the circus ring, milking the applause from the audience as it rose to a crescendo behind the hard plastic barriers. The tiny town of Bent Roads had plenty of people, it seemed, who wanted to see what his Circus of Curiosities had to offer. In a world with so little else, full of war and the struggle just to survive, could he blame them? Dex’s mouth quirked in a smile. He could see them staring down at him in anticipation, but he kept them waiting.

  He knew what they would see. A man in his late thirties, tall and powerful enough to command their attention as he stood there, his dark hair spilling down the back of his long leather coat. The silver buckles and studs on it shone in the big top lights with every movement he made, catching and dazzling, as bright as the green of his eyes. His shirt was a deep red, the color of blood, while he wore pants of tight fitting black, with high boots that were as much about practicality as showmanship. Dex spread his arms as the applause built.

  “Hello, Bent Roads!” His voice carried easily throughout the tent. “These past five days, you’ve seen wonders!”

  They’d seen the genetic monsters spewed from the broken labs.

  “You’ve seen strife!”

  They’d seen their own children fighting and occasionally dying.

  “You’ve seen the full gamut of things our broken world has to offer!”

  Which wasn’t much. Dex paused again. That was the key to being a ringmaster. Not giving people what they wanted. At least not until they begged for it.

  “So are you ready for what we have for you tonight?”

  That got a roar that was almost deafening, and Dex whirled for a moment with his arms outstretched, drinking it all in. Despite everything, even down to the hate he felt for them for letting him do what he did, this moment was always good.

  “If you’re ready, then I’d like to present to you a performer you all know very well! Already, she has fought alongside other performers from your lovely town! She has fought against them too, and she has won!” Dex very carefully didn’t mention what had happened to the losers. The audience had seen it. It didn’t need reminding. The people there were too busy cheering to need reminding. “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I give you… Prima Thornsby!”

  Spotlights focused on the far side of the circus arena, on an ornate entrance that looked like it was the kind of marble and gold doorway a Roman emperor might have stepped through. The fact that it was really a mixture of painted plastic and iron didn’t matter. It was what people thought that mattered.

  The girl who stepped out through that entrance was sixteen, her red hair tied back into a ponytail, the glittering leotard she wore clinging to her to show off a gymnastic figure. The costumers and makeup artists had obviously been hard at work, because as well as the leotard, she wore silver gloves and boots, and her face had streaks of all the colors of the rainbow painted on. Just one more hint of show among the rest of it. She walked out with confident strides. She had every right to them. She’d done well so far.

  “As you know,” Dex continued. “Prima here has come through almost all our challenges for her. Now we have just one more before she can move up to our national level of performance. Would you like to see what it is?”

  The crowd roared its approval. Dex turned to Prima, who nodded her readiness. Brave girl. At a signal from Dex, assistants came forward dressed in a harlequin patchwork, pieced together from scraps. They held a selection of weapons and protective items. The girl chose a long, clear plastic sword sharpened to a razor edge, along with a round shield of toughened glass. When she’d done that, the assistants retreated while more wheeled in a large crate. Dex moved to the side of the arena, behind the barriers protecting the audience.

  “Ladies and gentlemen of the audience! Prima! I give you… the hydra!”

  The side of the crate fell open, and a shape slunk from within. It was reptilian, far larger than the girl before it, walking on six scaled legs, with nine necks rising sinuously from its bulky body like snakes. The heads at the ends of those necks were snakelike as well, and as Dex watched, one opened its mouth to reveal vicious fangs.

  He heard the audience’s collective gasp. He saw Prima flinch, half glancing at him to check whether it was real. It was. So very real. It and many more creatures like it, thanks to the labs. The creature seemed to sense the girl’s hesitation, because two of its heads struck out, snake fast.

  Prima reacted quickly, Dex had to admit that. She got her shield up to block one of the heads, venom dripping down it to the tent’s sandy floor. Her sword lashed out, slicing through the neck of the second, sending the head flying. She stepped back, as though expecting the hydra to fall to the floor dead. Dex shook his head at that. One head wouldn’t do it. Another minute or two, and it wouldn’t even be injured. One of the gifts this one had was regeneration on a scale barely comprehensible.

  Still, she’d gotten one head. Maybe the others would follow. Dex had high hopes for Prima. She had obvious talent. The only question was whether it was the level of talent they needed…

  Prima spun as the hydra struck again, slamming one of its heads aside, then darting away as the creature lunged after her. She moved like an acrobat; so fast, so graceful. She dodged another strike, bringing around her sword in a simple arc to lop off another of the Hydra’s heads. The creature momentarily reared back in pain, and Dex dared to believe…

  Three more of its heads flashed forward at once. Prima blocked one with her shield, and managed to get her sword in the way of another, but the third grazed her side with its fangs. She cried out, obviously holding onto her sword with an effort, and lowering her shield just enough. More heads snapped past her defenses, biting her again and again. She shrieked in sudden pain. Dex wished he could do something for her, but it was too late now. With the way the circus worked, it had been too late the moment she decided to sign up.

  Prima fell back, scrambling away from the hydra on her back. The creature let her do it, as though knowing what came next. Out on the sand, the girl started to shake, and the shaking became convulsions, the massive amounts of venom in her body pumping through it with every heartbeat. Dex watched her there, not because he enjoyed it-not because he enjoyed any of it-but because he knew he should. In just a couple of minutes, she was still, her silver costume looking far less vibrant while she sprawled lifeless on the sand.

  The crowd started to boo.

  Dex made a small signal, and his assistants did their job. A few moved in with tranquilizers to bring the Hydra under control and get it back into the crate. Two of the others, the ones who had brought the weapons, lifted Prima’s body and took it away.

  The crowd was still railing against what had happened, some pressing against the plastic walls as they yelled their displeasure. It was always like this. Dex moved out into the center of the circus ring, standing absolutely still as he waited for silence. He got it. His presence wasn’t the kind of thing people could ignore, even if their hometown girl had failed.

  He’d failed too, of course. He’d been so certain about Prima. He’d had such high hopes for her. It seemed now those hopes had been unfounded, the way they so often were. Another young performer dead in the dust. Another wasted talent. Dex shrugged, forcing himself not to think about it. In this world, people died every day, and even the hydra was better than some of the things the war did to people.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen,” he said at last. “It seems that our entertainment for this evening is at an end.”

  That got another round of boos. Strange that they’d boo because more of their young people weren’t being killed, but Dex knew as well as anyone what people could be like. By tomorrow, they would probably deny that they had done it. They would probably blame him for the whole thing, until the nex
t time the circus came to town.

  “Don’t worry, don’t worry!” Dex announced. “The show will go on!” He paused for just a second to let them think about whether they wanted that. “Just not in Bent Roads. Your town has provided some very skillful and brave young performers, but we have exhausted their talents now, and none of them remain, so it is time for us to move on. I hope you will join us when we are next in town.”

  He walked away through the circus, heading out through the door Prima had come through, pausing just long enough to take a theatrical bow. Behind the scenes, things were a lot less spectacular. There were wires and the remnants of machines, circus hands working hard to get ready for the finish of the show and to deal with its aftermath. The ones dealing with Prima Thornton’s body were gone, and the hydra’s crate was out of sight.

  Another town. Another failure. That had happened so many times. Some days, it made it hard to remember why they kept going. Dex turned to one of his assistants, a woman in a costume of feathers and leather scraps.

  “Another failure Tia.”

  She shrugged. “The crowd got their entertainment. We made money. What more do you want, Dex?”

  A lot more than that, but it wasn’t something to talk about.

  “Maybe things will go better in the next place,” Tia tried.

  “I suppose the show does go on,” Dex said, trying to sound upbeat.

  “The show goes on,” Tia echoed, with the kind of fervor everyone had in the circus for that mantra.

  The show went on. The show always went on. What else was there? And who knew, maybe there would be someone better than Prima Thornsby. Dex shook his head, putting her from his mind. He didn’t focus on the ones who had failed. There were far too many of them to think about.

  “Get ready to leave soon,” Dex instructed, even though he needn’t have bothered. Everyone in the circus knew not to outstay their welcome. “There’s nothing else for us here. It’s time to move on.”