Winter Fire (Witchling Series)

by Ford, Lizzy

  Noah rose, abruptly agitated. Biji sensed his anger and assumed it was because he was protective of his sister, though she didn’t deserve it. How was Dawn able to fool her own family?

  She studied him. He was troubled, his gaze stormy. He stopped pacing and stood with his hands on his hips, his back to her. She calmed some and let her eyes roam over his body. He had a runner’s body: tall, lean with thick thighs.

  “Do you really …” she stopped, aware of his agitation. “What do you think happened to make your sister Dark?”

  “Being Dark doesn’t – “

  “I know,” she said quietly. “You’re right. You didn’t have to fish me out of the lake. I’m glad you did.”

  Noah glanced at her. She waited for him to speak.

  “She said she went Dark to save her baby,” he replied. “I can’t fault her for that.”

  Biji’s jaw clenched. She calmed herself.

  “I was there,” she said. “That’s not what happened. Summer saved her baby. Dawn went Dark trying to kill Summer. Your sister’s lying to you.”

  Noah faced her. His grey gaze was as hard as ice, but he didn’t look surprised at her version of events.

  “You know this, don’t you?” Biji asked.

  “You’re Summer’s friend. You’re supposed to say that, like I’m supposed to defend my sister. No matter what she does.”

  “I’m not lying to you, Noah.”

  He looked away. Biji wobbled to her feet. She tested her legs. They still hurt.

  “Noah, she’s going to hurt my friends.” Her legs wouldn’t support her if she tried to run. She had to convince him to leave her here, so she could get help.

  He shifted again, running a hand though his blond hair.

  He glanced at her. “If you can walk, we’re going back,” he said.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  “You’re light enough to carry.”

  “Try it,” she ordered.

  “Come on, Biji. Don’t be ridiculous. It’s suicide to stay out here tonight.”

  “Then leave! You can drag my frozen body back there tomorrow.”

  “What is wrong with you?” he demanded. “You’d rather die of exposure than go somewhere warm and safe?”

  “Yes, I would. I know what your sister is capable of, and I’d rather freeze to death,” Biji replied calmly.

  He was staring at her. “I’m not leaving you here.”

  “Okay, then how about this,” she said. “You go back and see what your sister is going to do with my friends. I’ll wait right here for you to find out and come back. If you’re right about her, I’ll go back with you. If you’re wrong, then you leave me alone.”

  “That’s stupid.”

  “You know you’re wrong about her.”

  “Fine.” He was angrily. “Stay here. I’ll be back in an hour to take you back.”

  “Whatever,” she replied. “Take your coat.”

  Noah glared at her. Without another word, he spun and left. The coat stayed next to the fire. Biji waited until the sounds of him retreating faded. She snatched his jacket and huddled into it. It smelled like him, an odd mix of ocean and man. She breathed in the scent, unable to characterize it exactly, except that it was a rich, cool, sweet scent.

  Her body didn’t stop shaking. She moved as close to the small fire as she could tolerate, not wanting to think about what might’ve happened to her, if Noah wasn’t there to drag her out of the icy water. She’d be dead already.

  He really was oblivious to his sister’s depth of darkness. Or maybe, he didn’t want to know how mentally damaged she was. With three sisters, Biji understood how intense family loyalties could be.

  Snow began to fall. She glanced at her fire. Flames were melting the snow. Her phone was still dead.

  Biji placed her hands and feet closest to the fire. She could barely feel her toes. She’d warm herself up and leave before Noah had a chance to return. He was as brainwashed as the others. He knew his sister was a mess, but wouldn’t admit it. If he wasn’t too angry to leave her to the elements, he’d come back to drag her to the resort.

  The snow fell harder. Soon, even the fire wasn’t able to burn the sheet of flakes pouring down on her. Snow edged the wood in the fire. Biji huddled in the thick coat, grateful for its warmth, but worried it wouldn’t be enough to help her get to the Turners.

  I’ve survived worse, she reminded herself, recalling the years she and her family spent on the streets of India, before her father’s company made it big. Summer and Morgan were relying on her. Hopefully, the storm kept Dawn from going to the resort tonight, and Biji had a chance to bring help.

  Biji watched the fire die slowly. She swallowed hard. Not that she wanted to return to the resort, but even if she decided to seek shelter in one of the abandoned rooms, she had no idea which way to go. Snow blanketed Noah’s footsteps, eliminating the option of following him.

  Biji rose. It was snowing enough that she barely saw the trees nearest her. She couldn’t stay put; this much she knew. Her best chance was to find the Turners or shelter of some sort, before she got too cold again.

  Shoving her hands into the coat Noah left her, she started towards the lake once more. She didn’t dare risk wandering into the forest without the lake to guide her. She’d end up in Canada.

  She reached the bank of the lake. She couldn’t move fast enough, and it didn’t take long for her limbs to start losing feeling again. Tears brimmed in her eyes. She drew a shuddering breath but forced herself to continue as long as she could go.

  Chapter Twenty

  Morgan was sinking into her fever. She shook her head again, struggling to stay focused. Her shin was on fire. Summer’s pain patch had worn off too fast.

  “Morgan,” Summer called.

  “I’m okay,” she mumbled.

  “She needs a doctor,” Summer said to their captors.

  “No way we can leave in this storm,” one of them said. They’d traded playing on their smart phones for cards. Neither bothered looking up.

  “Can I give her a pain patch?” Summer asked.

  “Stay in your corner.”

  Morgan rested her head against the wall. It was cool while her body burned from the inside out. Her magick wasn’t helping; it was actively trying to figure out how to help her, resulting in even more fire in her body. Her eyes closed for a moment. She roused herself again, and when she opened her eyes, there were five Dark teens in the room, not two.

  She pushed herself up. She was sweating, and she felt nauseous. Focusing on the five, she tried to figure out how much time had passed.

  Noah, Jason, the other teen boy.

  Dawn. Alexa.

  Morgan looked twice. Was it her mind or did the shadows seem twice as thick around Dawn as they did the others?

  Her gaze swept around the room and settled on Summer, who was pale. Biji wasn’t there, but Noah was. Fear made Morgan more aware of her surroundings. What happened to Biji? Was she okay?

  She cursed herself for not being able to focus. Gritting her teeth, she shifted her hurt leg. Pain tore through her, but it penetrated the cloud in her mind. Her gasp drew the attention of everyone in the room, including Dawn. Morgan’s thoughts sharpened.

  Dawn trailed off mid-sentence in a quiet talk with one of the boys, Jason. She left Jason and approached Morgan. Morgan’s fire stirred, and she suppressed it. Pain throbbed. She practiced breathing the way Beck had taught her, needing the calm to keep her magick in check.

  “Hang in there,” Dawn said. “I can’t have you dying on me like Tanya.” The words were accompanied by a wry smile. She knelt beside Morgan, her next words quiet enough that only Morgan heard them. “Not yet at least.”

  “I know my fate,” Morgan said. “Let Summer go.”

  “I can’t do that. I promised Alexa a chance for revenge. Summer stole Decker. You stole Beck. We’re going to make things right,” Dawn replied. “When you’re out of the way, I’ve got a shot with Beck. We
’ll become a family.”

  “That’s insane,” Morgan scoffed. “You have to know that.”

  Anger flared in Dawn’s eyes. She rested a hand on Morgan’s shin. Morgan tried hard not to flinch.

  “Maybe so,” Dawn said. She leaned on the hand on Morgan’s leg.

  Agony shot through her. Morgan gave a strangled cry, her world growing black. Cold energy jarred her awake. It was familiar, like that of the stone. She shook her head, unable to focus with the pain arcing through her body.

  “But if he won’t do the right thing, I’ll get rid of him,” Dawn added.

  Morgan glared at her. The Dark girl lifted her hand, and Morgan sagged against the wall. Sweat was dripping down her face.

  “Although, it sounds like you might’ve killed Beck.” Dawn rose as she spoke.

  Morgan’s defiance shattered.

  “Morgan wouldn’t do anything to hurt him,” Summer said stubbornly.

  “Is that true, Morgan?” Dawn asked with a false smile. “Alexa, check their cuffs.”

  Morgan felt Summer’s gaze on her but avoided it.

  “Tell her what you did, Morgan,” Dawn taunted.

  “It was an accident,” Morgan mumbled. “I didn’t mean to hurt him.”

  “What happened?” Summer asked, paling further. “Is he okay?”

  “Last I heard, he’s in the hospital in a coma. The doctors won’t know if he’ll make it for a few days,” Dawn replied. “Thanks for resolving my custody battle, Morgan.”

  Morgan squeezed her eyes closed, horrified by the idea she hurt Beck so badly that he might not survive. She’d felt the strange coldness that went through him. It came from the rock, and she’d barely managed to keep it from overtaking her.

  Or maybe, she’d failed, and he was slowly dying. Her breath caught. The only person who believed in her, and she’d killed him. Her heart ached enough for her tears to start.

  Alexa lifted her cuffs. “She burned through another set.”

  “Her leg’s broken. She’s not going anywhere,” Dawn replied. “Check Summer’s. Jason, Troy.”

  Alexa moved, and Morgan wiped her tears. She didn’t want Dawn to see her weak or upset, but it was so hard to control the emotions when her leg hurt. She had to pretend it was like being home. She’d gone to school once with a broken arm. The pain was excruciating, but if she bore through it then, she could now.

  This time, she deserved everything that happened to her.

  Coma.

  She wanted to sob. Before she could sink again into the fever, the two teens grabbed her arms. Startled, Morgan barely remembered to catch her balance with her good leg. The movement sent streaks of pain through her.

  “Dawn, she needs a doctor,” Noah said from across the room.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just a sprain,” Dawn replied. She moved to Morgan again. “I need something from you.”

  Morgan raised her head.

  “It’s … a, well, what you used to kill Beck.”

  Stunned anyone knew about the stone, Morgan stared at her.

  “You know what I’m talking about,” Dawn assessed. “Where is it?”

  “I don’t know,” Morgan managed.

  “Hmm.” Dawn grew nearer. “I don’t believe you.”

  “After … after Beck …” Morgan’s voice trembled. She stopped and swallowed. “I just left.”

  Black fog crossed Dawn’s gaze, swallowing the pupils and whites of her eyes. Morgan blinked twice, suspecting she was delusional from shock.

  Dawn snatched her neck and lifted her off the ground. Morgan was slammed into the wall behind them before she was able to register she was moving.

  “Don’t lie to me, girl.” Dawn’s voice was neither human nor female.

  Morgan clutched at the hand around her neck, frantic when her air was cut off. She lashed out, her blows falling squarely on the Dark girl. Dawn ignored them.

  “Stop!” Summer cried from across the room.

  “You have no power over me now!” Dawn snarled at her. Her attention returned to Morgan. “Where is it?”

  “My … my room!” Morgan gasped.

  Dawn released her. Morgan dropped, crying out at the pain as she landed in a heap. The Dark girl stumbled back and shook her head. She glanced around, as if uncertain where she was.

  Summer was on her feet, held back by Alexa.

  “Dawn! What have you done?” she shouted. “You can’t let the Darkness take you!”

  “Shut up, Summer!” Dawn retorted. “You have no idea how horrible my life is right now. What choice do I have?”

  “It’ll destroy you!”

  “It’s your fault I did this. Both of you!” Dawn strode towards the guys.

  “Dawn –“ Noah started, frowning.

  “Don’t start, Noah. She’s just angry.”

  “But she said the –“

  “Noah.” Dawn touched her brother’s cheek. “Trust your big sister, okay?”

  Noah didn’t respond. Dawn moved away.

  Morgan glanced at Summer, who was holding her cheek. It was red, as if Alexa had slapped her. Morgan straightened with some difficulty, her leg thrumming with pain.

  “We need to get out of here,” Dawn said. She lifted a pair of handcuffs that Morgan had burnt through. She considered them.

  “She melts them or starts things on fire,” Jason complained.

  “Not like Tanya,” Alexa agreed. “We can’t leave them here.”

  “You made a mess with Tanya,” Dawn said. “And with Summer. In either case, we can’t leave bodies or Beck will be able to read their memories, if he survives.”

  Noah’s breath caught loud enough for Morgan to hear. She looked at Dawn’s brother, whose face was white. The other teens weren’t surprised.

  “How do you snuff a fire?” Alexa asked, walking to Morgan. “Water?”

  “It’s a thought,” Dawn said pensively. “She can burn through wood and melt metal.”

  “Dawn, I can’t believe you’re considering this!” Noah said, recovering. “What’s gotten into you?”

  “Oh, I’m just playing, Noah,” she said with a big smile. “I wanted to scare them a little.”

  Noah didn’t look convinced.

  “She’s not joking,” Summer voiced. “She and Alexa tried twice to get rid of me and once to take out Beck. It’s petty jealousy. They got rid of Tanya and now, she wants to hurt Morgan, because Beck’s in love with her.”

  Beck’s in love with her.

  Morgan’s world froze. She couldn’t believe the words.

  She couldn’t believe she’d killed someone who loved her.

  “Beck is not in love with her!” Dawn snarled. “He’s attracted to any girl who breathes, but it’s not love. Not like it was with him and me!”

  “Then you shouldn’t worry about hiding the bodies,” Morgan said. “It’s the cowardly way out. You lack conviction, Dawn.”

  “Conviction,” Dawn tensed.

  “Yep,” Morgan said and stood unsteadily. “You have these idiots doing your dirty work. How many tries did it take for them to grab me? Three? If you were serious about killing me, you’d just do it yourself.”

  The fog formed again but Dawn shook it off.

  “You suffocate it,” she said abruptly. “That’s what you do to fire.”

  Fear stirred in Morgan. Dawn was right; Morgan was claustrophobic. Fire needed air and space to exist. Elevators were too small for Morgan.

  “Alexa, where do you put someone where there’s no air, metal or wood? Someplace they can’t escape from?” Dawn asked innocently.

  “Dawn, I can’t let you do this,” Noah said, stepping forward. “It’s crazy.”

  “You think I’m crazy?”

  “No, I think this is crazy. It’s gone on long enough. Morgan needs to go to a hospital, and that storm isn’t getting any better.”

  Dawn stared at Morgan. She was quiet for a moment, before a cold smile crossed her features. It disappeared as she turned to look a
t her brother.

  “You’re right, Noah,” she said quietly. “It’s gone on long enough. Do you want to get the truck ready, so we can all go back to campus?”

  Noah studied her. He hesitated then nodded. She tossed him the keys. He went to the door, lingering for a moment, then left.

  “Jason, follow him and tie him up,” Dawn said to the largest of the Dark teens remaining. “Don’t hurt him. He’s my brother. Just keep him from interfering.”

  Jason nodded and left. Morgan willed Noah to run.

  “Tomb,” Dawn said suddenly.

  Alexa shifted uneasily. “Are you serious, Dawn?”

  Morgan’s heart was in her ears. She couldn’t imagine a worse death.

  “Very,” Dawn said. “You’re right, Morgan. I lacked conviction before. This time, I’ll do it right. Troy, grab Morgan. Alexa, get Summer.”

  The door burst open, and Jason stumbled in. Blood was on his face, and he was drenched with water.

  “Noah’s gone,” he said.

  “Gone?” Dawn demanded. “What do you mean?”

  “He knew something was up and jumped me.”

  “Find him.”

  “But the storm is –“

  “Find him!” the inhuman voice was back. “Find him and bring him to me, or don’t come back!”

  Jason appeared surprised. Dawn strode to him and backhanded him. The Dark teen flew into the nearest wall and hit it with a thunk. He scrambled to his feet.

  “Go!”

  He obeyed. The other Dark teens were frozen in shock, while Morgan eased back against the wall. She eyed the nearest window. She had no chances of reaching it and Summer wasn’t going to leave her.

  Beck and Summer. She’d kill them both before the night was over.

  Morgan pushed the thoughts away.

  Dawn shook the Darkness off again. “Troy, Alexa, grab those two.”

  Morgan tried to avoid Troy’s reach, but he grabbed her easily. Fire flared up his arms.

  “Nice try,” he said and snatched her. “I’m a fire witchling, too. Won’t work on me.” He flung her over his shoulder.

  Morgan heard Summer and Alexa scuffling, but couldn’t see them. The sound of something heavy striking flesh came, and the sound stopped. Morgan pushed herself away far enough to see Alexa standing over Summer’s still body, a starter log in her hand. Alexa hauled the unconscious girl into a fireman’s carry.