Fire

by Terra Harmony

  "We have sent mediators and scientists to meet with other UN countries at the summit in Geneva, where they will be discussing not only the causes of these recent events, but our solutions to them. For now, the best thing we can tell you is to stay safe. Stay home unless it is an emergency, and be prepared for anything that may come your way."

  The rest of the address was short and inconsequential. Truth was, many people of the US didn't even have power. The address was recorded and would be played repeatedly over the next few days, hopefully catching those at a time when the intermittent power came on.

  He finished his speech, "The world is crumbling at our very feet. Our destiny remains uncertain. As we go to bed tonight, we do so with heavy hearts and fear. I am sorry to say that the state of our union is fragile. Thank you, may God be with you, and may God be with humanity."

  The producer called 'cut' and the light flickered off. The president sighed in relief.

  "Right this way, Mr. President." The large secret service man led him back to the bunker’s war room.

  The president entered the war room after a quick sweep by the secret service men, sat down in his chair and opened a bottle of water. He chugged half of it, wiped his mouth, then looked at the man sitting across the table from him. "Now what, Micah?"

  Micah cleared his throat. "Now – we mobilize the Wiccans."

  Excerpt from 'Earth, Book Four of the Akasha Series':

  The Greenbrier is a Cold War era underground bunker buried 720 feet into the hillside of White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia. Each of the four entrances are protected by large steel and concrete doors designed to withstand a nuclear blast. Alex and I were standing outside the gated fence, trying to figure out how to break in.

  "The west and east entrances are vehicular tunnels," said Alex, handing me his binoculars. "This one here is the west entrance."

  I focused the binoculars in on a large 'high voltage' warning sign at the door.

  "Do you think Akasha can burn through that baby?" Alex asked.

  "Maybe," I sighed, handing the binoculars back. "But do we really want to risk a high-profile entrance?"

  Footsteps in the woods to our backs caused us both to duck down. I peered under a thick, prickly bush. Susan's boots came into view. I stood, unsuccessfully avoiding sharp thorns.

  "Ow!"

  Susan started at my outburst. Bee squealed with delight, "Mommy!"

  She ran straight for me, and the thorns. "Oh, honey – watch out!" I scooped her up before she suffered the same fate. She squealed again.

  "More!" she demanded as soon as I set her down.

  "Um, excuse me everyone – we are in surveillance mode here. We need to use our inside voices." Alex said.

  "Tell that to the two-year-old," I said. Alex was right, but leaving Bee behind wasn't exactly an option.

  Bee took the hint and ran to Alex, "More Unka Alek, more!"

  He smiled down at her, "I can't refuse my best lady. But can you be quiet when I lift you up?"

  She nodded her head as fast as she could, practically hopping in anticipation. Alex lifted her so fast her feet flew in the air above her head. To her credit, not one sound escaped her lips. She could be quiet if she wanted; she just had to be properly motivated.

  "What did you find out?" I asked Susan.

  "Hotel is operational. Well, as far as hotels can be, these days. But the tours have been cancelled since Daybreak. The electricity is too unreliable to lead tourists underground."

  "Either that, or the facilities are actually in use." Alex said.

  Bee automatically demanded more lifts at his sudden shift in focus. I dug around in my backpack for the stash of honeysuckle I found the day before. "Here," I handed her the entire bag. "Let the grownups plan their break in."

  "Bake in, bake in," chanted Bee, plopping down on the ground, already diving in to her new treat.

  I smiled, then turned back to the west entrance and frowned. "Let's camp out for a night – see if there is any activity in or out."

  "What about the other entrances?" Alex asked.

  "We could split up," I suggested.

  Susan groaned. "I hate spending the night alone, outside."

  "You won't be outside. You can go back to the hotel; find out more." Alex said.

  "And you won't be alone, you'll have Bee." I said. The three of us looked down at her, still sitting at our feet. Several white flowers already sat crumpled by her side, having been deprived of all their sweet nectar.

  In a world with only intermittent power, traditional packaged goods – including candy – along with a long list of other necessities, were scarce. Honeysuckle soon became a treat of choice. Last fall, we also discovered its medicinal properties when Alex came up with a concoction infused with honeysuckle and applied it to the poison ivy rash that covered my legs. After that, I had traded all of my shorts for a few pairs of Susan's pants. They were long, but a few rolls around my ankles added protection from poisonous plants and bugs.

  "Let's meet back here an hour after dawn tomorrow," Alex said.

  Susan stuck out her lip.

  Alex rolled his eyes, "Ok, two hours after dawn. Put that lip back in before I bite it."

  Susan smiled, raising one eyebrow, "Bite me and I'll bite you back." She moved a step closer to him.

  "Is that a promise?" he asked, closing the distance between them.

  I turned my back just in time to hear kissing sounds. The open romance between Alex and Susan was a long time coming, and I was happy for both of them, but with every passing day it made me long for Micah more and more. He'd been missing since a few weeks before Daybreak.

  The kissing noises were still coming. I sighed and squat down by Bee, "It's rude to stare, honey." The few honeysuckle that remained were forgotten.

  She shifted her gaze to me, stuck out her lips and said, "Kiss, kiss!"

  I laughed and obliged, then gathered her in my arms, "You're going to stay with Aunt Susan tonight. Be good, okay?"

  "Otay!"

  I kissed her again.

  "Enough with the smooching you two," Susan interrupted. I passed Bee over. "We're going to be late for girl's night out."

  "Make sure she gets a bath – and check her for ticks." I dug in my backpack for the only bar of soap the four of us shared.

  "We'll do the usual pampering session," Susan promised.

  "And you get double duty tomorrow night." I said.

  "Done." A night out of the woods was totally worth it for Susan.

  "Bye, Bee."

  She waved, and I watched them walk away as Bee fiddled with the soap.

  "She'll be fine, Katie." Alex said, slinging his arm over my shoulder.

  "I know. I just wish…" I trailed off. Alex didn't need to hear all about how Micah was missing out on Bee, again.

  "You wish what?" he asked.

  I leaned into him, nose first, and sniffed. "I wish we had another bar of soap."

  'Earth, Book Four of the Akasha Series', will be released Spring 2013.

  About the Author

  Terra is author of the eco-fantasy novels in the Akasha Series. 'Water', 'Air', and 'Fire' are self-published as e-books. 'Earth' will be published in Spring 2013 to complete the Akasha Series.

  Terra was born and raised in Colorado but has since lived in California, Texas, Utah, North Carolina, and Virginia. Terra has served a 5½ year enlistment in the Marine Corp, has earned her bachelor's and master's degree and presently runs the language services division of a small business.

  Terra currently lives in a suburb of Washington, DC with her husband of 13 years and three children.

  Connect with Terra:

  E-mail: terra.harmony11@gmail.com

  Facebook: http://facebook.com/terraharmony

  Blog: http://harmonylit.wordpress.com

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/harmonygirlit

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