Catch wound his hands together. Pepper placed hers over his, and he settled. “She won’t stop until someone gives you up.”
Run, Asair whispered.
All eyes were on her. No matter her neutral expression, she felt as if Asair’s name was written in red marker all over her skin. She took one step toward the ladder. Would Catch and Pepper turn on her to stop the trials? Would Dax?
“This has nothing to do with Halen.” Dax stood. “The Tari were wrong about everything. We spent all those years training, and for what? Killing Asair didn’t make a difference.”
“So, he’s not with you?” Pepper’s pointy eyebrows rose so high they almost touched her hairline.
“Of course not,” Dax said. “I watched Asair die, and Corinne performed the test.”
“She did? I thought Corinne was with Daspar?” Pepper said.
“She is,” Halen said. “Tage, Ezra, my mom, and Daspar, they’re all with Natalie and the Hunters.”
“Natalie?” Catch’s eye blinked in overdrive. “You saw Natalie?”
“Yeah.” Dax nodded. “Talk about a real cozy family reunion—lots of blood and dark magick.”
“Oh my.” Pepper gasped. “Is she all right?”
“Are you serious?” Dax edged toward Pepper. “How can you be concerned? She’s working with the Hunters.”
“No!” Catch thumped the side of his head. “She’s not like that.”
“She’s a lot like that,” Halen said. “I know she saved you once, but she’s not the same girl.”
“I told you she was alive.” Pepper elbowed Catch. “I felt it—I just knew.”
“I should have known.” Catch rubbed his side.
“How could any of you have known?” Halen asked.
Catch and Pepper’s attention shifted toward Dax.
He shrugged. “She released me. I can’t feel Nat anymore, not when I’m Halen’s Guardian.”
“Then she’s unbalanced—like Asair.” Pepper’s hand trembled as she fiddled with the charm of a silver serpent on her chain.
“Why would the Hunters let an unbalanced siren live?” Catch asked.
“Why would they let any siren live?” Pepper tapped the black bottle, next to the serpent, with the tip of her nail. “It doesn’t make sense.” She shifted toward the opening of the alcove and peered below.
“Maybe she’s their hostage?” Halen suggested. “When I was in Asair’s dimension, he had this orb to see the Earth. I saw Natalie through the orb. She was chained and locked away in some room.”
“She used dark magick in the hotel room,” Dax said. “She’s not their prisoner.”
“Unless they’re forcing her to use magick,” Catch said. “Did she have the Hunter’s mark?”
Dax shook his head. “She had control. I know you cared for her, but you didn’t know her like I did. She’s not being held under duress, and I doubt she has a single scratch on her.”
“They’re moving Nelia.” Pepper waved.
They rushed to the ledge. The two Elosian men, who had strung up the man, now lowered Nelia’s body from the wall. Her worn body slumped in their arms.
Pepper let out a soft whimper.
“Is she…” Catch asked.
Nelia let out a sharp cry when one of the men hoisted her body over his shoulder.
“She’s alive—for now.” Pepper pulled Catch away from the ledge.
“We can use magick.” Halen turned to Catch. “Do you have more coral and bone?” She placed her hand on the vial at her neck.
“You don’t know if it’s working,” Dax said.
“I’m fine—really.”
“I don’t think we should push our luck. How are we supposed to help them if I have to carry you out?”
“She’s not the only one who can cast a spell.” Catch nudged Pepper.
“I’m really not that good.” Pepper stepped back.
“You’ve had us under a cloaking spell since the trials.” Catch turned to Dax. “She’s good.”
Run, while you still can. Asair’s voice swept through Halen’s mind.
We’re not running. She channeled her thoughts to Asair. They’re my friends and I’m staying to help them.
Then, if you won’t run, I’ll have to help you.
Really? She turned away so they couldn’t see the confusion, on her face. You would help—me?
If they get hold of you, I’ll be passing into a realm neither one of us can return from. I just got out—I don’t want to die so soon. Take the elixir. I promise not to block it.
What? You’ve been blocking the elixir! Stop it now or I'll tell them you’re in me.
They would kill you on the spot. You think they’re your friends—you have a lot to learn about friendship.
Shut up and unblock. She faced them once more. “Hand me the coral and bone.”
Catch didn’t budge.
“We have to try.” She looked to Dax.
Dax crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.
“I’ll stop if I feel weak. Just keep me balanced.”
Ignoring her, Dax stared over her shoulder.
“Dax? I mean it.” She didn’t trust Asair. If he was offering to help, there would be consequences. She couldn’t allow Asair to drag her to the dark side of her seam. She needed Dax now more than ever. “Are you with me?”
He pulled her by the hand, guiding her to his side; his pain slid up her wrist where his pulse touched hers. He leaned, whispering at her ear. “I can’t make any promises right now.”
She turned ever so slightly. His lips were at her cheek. She wanted to wrap her arms around his waist and hug the pain right out of him. “There will be a time to mourn your mother.” She thought of her mom and the friends she had abandoned in a room of Hunters. When this was over, maybe they would be grieving together. “We have to fight for the living.”
A splintering scream echoed from below. They clambered to the ledge once more. In one hand, Rania wielded a long, black staff. She ran the tip of the rod across Nelia’s back.
Pepper unclipped a vial from her chain and tossed it to Halen. “Do what you have to do. Get her out of there.”
As she licked the glass rim, the sweet elixir unshackled her magick, igniting a charge through her veins. Halen’s fingertips sparked with the sand. She scooped a fistful, and the grains warmed in her palm. She opened her hand and blew. The grains spun, forming the body of bird. She held the image of a powerful bird of prey in her mind, a strong hawk to swoop down, pluck Nelia from the carnage and carry her away. The sand bound together, the grains lengthened with wings; each feather held together with golden threads of magick. The sand bird flew before them, its keen eyes trained on Halen, awaiting her command. Halen parted her lips, the task on her tongue, when Dax clasped her knee. His fingers dug deep, his energy penetrated her flesh; Daspar bleeding, her mom unconscious, Tage and Ezra cast to the ground, and a Hunter’s arrow sailing toward them flashed though her mind.
The hawk exploded.
The sand spun once more, elongating to a spear. Dax squeezed tighter. His rage called to her, fueling her magick. She found Dax tripping on the seam of her soul; wavering between the light and the dark. The darkness tugged harder, and Dax fell in with open arms. As his anger consumed her, she understood what he needed.
Pepper grasped her arm. “Stop, Halen! This is not the way.”
Her warning hid in the shadows.
The sand spear launched, sailing toward its target. Dax released his grip, and at once Halen gasped. “What did I do?”
Dax turned away from her.
Rania’s screams flooded the cavern as the spear pierced her shoulder. When she reached for the weapon, the spear disintegrated; the sand spilled through her fingers. Her gaze shot upward.
Foolish girl, Asair hissed.
When Rania pointed toward their alcove, Halen couldn’t agree more.
EVEN WITH BLOOD trailing her arms, Rania had the posture of a queen. She barked orders to her guards, w
hile the crowd’s murmurs turned loud with panic.
Catch yanked Halen back from the ledge. “Come on.”
Pepper was already descending the ladder.
“That was so stupid. I’m sorry,” Halen said to Catch and then she turned to Dax. “I wasn’t thinking. I saw you on the seam…” Her thoughts raced. He was her balance. He was supposed to keep her from losing herself in the dark side of her soul. He wouldn’t take her there intentionally—would he?
The corners of his mouth turned with a smile. “Thank you.”
His gratitude caught her off guard. “I didn’t mean to hurt her! Why didn’t you stop me?”
“You have control over your magick. You wanted it, or it wouldn’t have happened.” He shrugged.
“There isn’t time to discuss this.” Pepper’s head poked from the entrance. “We have to get out of here. Now!”
“Go.” Dax guided her by the elbow, while he held Catch back from the ladder. Catch’s eye twitched double-time, but he said nothing.
“You’re not coming with us? We should stick together.” Halen stopped her descent.
“It’s okay. We’ll be right behind you,” Dax said.
Pepper tugged on her ankle and Halen lightly kicked her away. She held out her hand to Catch. “Why don’t you come with me?”
“I need him,” Dax said. “We still have to free Nelia and find Huron.”
“It’s okay.” Catch’s lips lifted with a forced smile.
Catch wasn’t built to fight. No way was he okay with Dax’s plan, but there wasn’t time to argue. “Just hurry.” Halen grabbed the ledge. Her head swimming with doubt, she descended the ladder.
At the bottom, her back pressed against the cool rock and she glanced up thinking they should stay together. Her magick got them into this trouble, she could get them out.
Pepper grabbed her wrist. “Where are the guys?”
“They’re staying,” Halen said flatly.
Pepper muttered something under her breath that sounded a little like a string of curse words. “No matter. What’s important is to get you out of here.”
“I should stay and fight,” Halen said.
“This is not the time to be brave.” She tugged her to the left.
“What good is this magick, if I can’t use it to help?”
“You will help, just not here. Trust me.” Pepper touched her arm. “Please come with me.”
Above, a conch shell rang with a battle cry. Her heart tripped, her fingers trailed with sparks. Was Dax leading them here?
“Come on!” Pepper tugged her hard. “Rania will kill you. And if she finds me with you, our fates will be the same.”
No way would she let Rania get her hands on Pepper. She had to believe Dax knew what he was doing. She followed Pepper, sliding through the passage. The conch shell horn echoed in the darkness with an earie challenge. One, Halen feared, Rania would willing accept.
They scooted side by side, farther and farther until the wail of the conch shell faded into the darkness. Halen’s magick charged along her veins, seeking release, but as the passage widened with the soft glow of light and no sign of Rania, her sparks settled.
“Just through there.” Pepper pointed.
The echo of rushing water reverberated off the walls. In the center of the cavern, a dark pond flowed counter-clockwise with a water spire spinning like a drill in reverse. The spire rushed up to kiss the azure sky, then cascaded back into the pond, fueling the turbulent current below.
“It’s incredible,” Halen said.
“And deadly.” Pepper cast her gaze toward the spire. “We have to cross to the other side.”
Just beyond the water spire, two tunnels offered a way out.
“How? We can’t swim in that water.” Halen scanned the shore for a boat, even though she figured the water might shred the hull.
“We have to go under the water fall.” Pepper headed to the side of the pond; the spray of the water hitting the rocks coating her in a fine mist. “Through there.”
Between the cavern walls and the pond, beneath the cascading water, was a narrow path. The rocks slicked with algae and the spray.
“You’re kidding?” Nervous laughter escaped her throat.
“It’s the only way.”
“Well, then, let’s do this.” Halen took the first step and her foot slid along the rocks. Pepper caught her by the elbow.
“I’ll go first,” Pepper stepped around her, and flattened against the wall. With her body pressed between the waterfall and the rocks she took a careful, tiny step.
Halen’s toes curled into the rock formation as she took her first step. She pressed her chest against the wall like Pepper had done, while waterfall beat at her back. She hugged the rocks tighter. “I won't fall,” she murmured over and over again, as if this mantra could keep her from slipping.
She caught up to Pepper, who glanced back with a brief weak smile. Halen had let her down, too, and she wished desperately for a do-over. If she were more prepared, if she hadn’t let Asair trick her… I wish you were dead, she said to Asair, but he didn’t answer.
Pepper scooted another few steps. A sandy outcrop lay ahead, and beyond, their escape route. “That’s it!” Pepper picked up her pace, when her foot slipped from the ledge, her ankle turning. Her scream cut the air as her knees bashed the rocks. She scrambled, for the ledge, holding on by her fingertips.
Teetering, Halen reached out and grasped Pepper’s wrist. “I’ve got you!” Pepper’s fingers dug into her arm connecting with her sparks, but they faded when Halen tried to draw Pepper in with her magick. “Hold on!” Her back was to Pepper, one hand on the wall, her toes digging into what little bit of ledge she had to hold onto.
“I can’t hold on!” Pepper shouted.
Halen tightened her grip on Pepper’s wrist. She called to her magick, reaching deep inside, travelling to her seam, but found only darkness.
Let her go! Asair’s voice rushed through her mind.
Never! She tugged and her foot dipped in the current.
Let her go now, or all will be lost. Halen’s fingers spread and Pepper slipped.
“Help me!” Pepper cried.
“Kick!” Halen shouted. “Kick harder!”
The current spun faster, trying to rip her from Halen’s grasp, when another hand reached down and grabbed Pepper. Halen followed the muscled arm up to Dax’s clenched jaw.
Halen let out heavy breath filled with a silent prayer.
Dax yanked Pepper up, but as he guided her to the ledge, his balance wavered. Pepper plunged back into the water.
Halen flattened so her back was at the wall, her other hand in a crevice. Pepper’s head bobbed in and out of the current. Halen reached out as Pepper spun toward her. “Grab my hand!”
Pepper whizzed by with her hand outstretched, but missed. The current dragged her flailing body toward the center, where the vortex increased in speed. With each spin, Pepper floated farther and farther away.
“Dax! Do something!”
For what he did next, Halen would never forgive him. As Pepper spun toward them, instead of reaching out for her, Dax shoved Halen off the rock ledge and onto the sandy shore.
The water’s jaws swallowed Pepper whole.
Halen clambered toward the ledge, her eyes wide as she searched the dark water.
“She's gone.” Dax gently guided her back from the ledge.
Halen sprang to her feet. She pushed against his chest. “Why did you do?” Hot tears burned her cheeks. “We could have saved her—damn it!” She shoved him.
He grabbed her wrists. “I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “Sorry isn't good enough.” She yanked her arms back, but he wouldn’t let go. “Pepper was your friend. How could you?” The words choked in her throat.
He released her, his gaze dropping to the sand.
“Catch?” She glanced over his shoulder, expecting to see her friend. “Where is he?” She feared he was huddled in a corner, brok
en by what he had just witnessed.
Dax kicked sand. “I lost him.”
“What exactly do you mean—you lost him? Like you lost Pepper!” The current spun faster with her frantic shouts. Now her magick surged, which only fueled her anger. Why had her sparks abandoned her when she needed them the most? “They will kill him!” The water lapped their feet, sliding up their ankles.
“Calm down.” Dax shifted, edging away from the water. “Catch ran away. He didn’t want to come with us.” He pointed to the water, now turbulent from Halen’s emotions. “Can you blame him? Danger follows you!”
His words stung. “Me?” She croaked. “I tried to help Pepper. This wasn't my fault,” she said, knowing full well if she hadn’t malfunctioned, her magick could have saved Pepper.
“I’m not blaming you, not for Pepper…” His eyes wouldn’t quite meet hers.
“Whoa!” She held up her hands. “Is this about your mother?”
He hung his head.
“Dax, if I could stop all of this, I would.” As she said this, the water retreated. “I didn’t create Elosia’s laws or Rania’s twisted justice. You’re a siren too. Your mother died for you!”
“She died because you failed!” His voice held an edge she hadn't heard before, rocking her to her core.
“What?” She backed away from him.
“She died because Etlis is still in flames! You must know something.” When he grabbed her arms, warning sparks pricked her flesh. “Asair must have told you something—a way to break his spell.”
He was frightening her. His eyes narrowed with untamed rage, his lips pursed, and his fingers dug deep in her flesh.
“He didn’t tell me anything. Let go of me!”
“I swear, if you’re holding anything back from me—”
“Let her go!” a man shouted.
Dax dropped his hands by his sides at once; his face flushed with fear.
Halen’s father had that effect on people.
She nodded toward Huron, thankful for the interruption.
“What are you doing here?” Huron approached them. His chest was raw with wounds, as if he had already endured a round of Rania’s interrogation. If they were closer, Halen might wrap him in a hug, but she still couldn’t bring herself to the time and place before he faked his death. Some lies were harder to forgive. His pointed stare landed on Dax. “Why would you bring her here?”
Curses and Ash (The Siren Chronicles Book 2) Page 8