by Jenn Nixon
“I will consider it,” he said, clearing his throat and stepping back.
Rune sighed. Stubbornness must be a side effect of energycasting. Well, let’s hope I can change her mind then, if not, you’re gonna be alone on this island again with no one to talk to.
Cyndra’s painful cry echoed from below.
Rune dashed inside.
Zorin tucked his wings close and followed, jumping down and landing on the last stair on the lower level. Cyndra sat at the table, clutching her crystal with her left hand, while her right trembled on top of the journal, smoldering the leather covering. Neither her energy nor her fire seemed to be overwhelming her at present. This was something new.
What’s wrong with her? Rune projected.
“I don’t know, stay back,” Zorin said, moving to his friend’s side. “Try speaking directly to her through the crystal bond.”
A tense thirty seconds passed.
Rune shook his head. You try.
“Cyndra,” Zorin called first. The fingers on her left hand twitched slightly but no change otherwise. Next, he sent his thoughts to her. Cyndra, do you hear me?
Her hand dropped from the crystal and the journal stopped smoking. When she blinked at him with watery eyes, he almost reached out to comfort her. She wiped the side of her face and slowly got to her feet. “I remembered something. Something I overheard, something I don’t even want to believe.”
“What?”
“You’ve been lying to us this whole time,” she said, clasping her hands together and turning to Rune as his jaw dropped at the accusation. “A week after the flare you showed up at some random person’s house with a crystal and your letter, right?”
Rune nodded.
“How did you get there?” Cyndra asked. He shrugged. When her eyes settled on Zorin, he scoffed and shook his head. “You helped my grandfather find safe homes for the children after he blamed you for not protecting Evie.”
Zorin wiped his hand across his mouth. “I don’t remember.”
“You know about the mirror-realm, everything that really happened to the casters, I heard Silvio talking to you,” she snapped, scrubbing the side of her head.
Although his pulse rocketed, he kept his voice as calm as possible. “The memories are gone, Cyndra. I’ve never lied, to either of you—”
What’s the mirror-realm? Rune asked.
“The prison Mergan created to contain the casters who defied her, the ones Evie mentioned. Thousands of them are stuck in that mirror,” Cyndra said, gazing down at her left palm.
My father?
“I think so. Our notes make more sense that way. Silvio wanted me to save them…not the caster’s he shielded, the ones in the mirror.” She met Zorin’s eyes briefly, twisting his gut. “We need to remove the barriers. We need to talk to Mergan.”
Do we really want to set her free knowing everything she’s done?
“What other choice do we have? The journal is shit. My memory is fucked. The—”
“I will make contact. I only need to sleep,” Zorin offered, doing everything possible to manage the elevating emotions as he crossed the room. “Do not leave the perimeter of the lighthouse. If the wraiths return, wake me.”
Rune nodded.
Cyndra opened her mouth, but Zorin dashed up the stairs, needing answers desperately. If everything she said was true and he had some part in the Raine plan, he’d follow through until the whole truth came to light. Knowing he chose the right side in the end eased his mind some, even if it didn’t erase all the terrible deeds he’d done.
“I really want to take that shower,” Cyndra said, pulling her gaze away from the staircase leading to the service room. She brushed the ash off the top of the slightly toasted journal and handed it to Rune. “We got lucky, the pages end in the aircasting section, everything we need right now is here. I understand it better after reading. Now it’s your turn.”
Are you sure? he asked, taking the book and glancing at the cover.
Cyndra nodded and forced a smile. “Of course, read the whole section on firecasting, it lists different level of skills and what they’ve been known to do. I think you’ll be happy.”
Thanks, Cyndra. Rune rose from his seat and carried the book toward the stairs before pausing. I’ll be right outside.
“Happy reading,” she said, winking. She figured he wanted to be outside in the fresh air and sunshine. She didn’t blame him, not after reading about earthcasting in the journal; his powers thrived in nature. Now that she had some knowledge of the crystal powers, it all seemed to add up. However, Zorin didn’t get everything right.
According to the journal, using controlled emotions to evoke the crystal’s energy was more powerful than thoughts for master casters. Thoughts did work best on fire and air while water and earth thrived on mental images or need. Evie also instructed her how not to let her emotions overwhelm the energy, using a simple trick she’d learned long ago as a teenager: clasping both hands together. The initial jolt confused the power inside and dampened it, giving Cyndra a chance to refocus. It had worked twice already.
Grateful for the help and finally understanding enough, for now, she gathered her go-bag of essentials, an old business shirt she altered, and a pair of leggings from her bag and disappeared into the lavatory, excited to take another shower.
Completely energized and refreshed with clean clothes on her clean body, Cyndra tidied up the dining area, finished the fruit so it didn’t go to waste, and packed the rest of her belongings in her bag.
With Rune outside reading and Zorin upstairs sleeping, Cyndra needed something to occupy her time. First, she searched the rest of the living space for anything hidden in other hollow floorboards or behind the minimal furniture.
Finding only a button and a coin from before the flare, she went to the living room and folded the pile of clothes Zorin had offered yesterday and Rune threw on the floor to sleep on the couch. A brilliant idea popped into her head when she saw two pairs of dark blue sweat pants. Then she hoped she brought her sewing kit with her.
The moment she put the last stitch in the hem of the short pants, Zorin’s muffled groan resounded above. She tied a knot and bit the thread, stabbed the needle into the pincushion, and tossed it into the kit. Cyndra clutched the fabric in her hand and walked toward the staircase, tilting her head. His second groan was louder. She crept up the stairs, seeing him the instant her eyes raised above the floor. Zorin was lying on his side, his awesome wings draped over his back, breathing gently. With the blanket bunched under his body, Cyndra noticed a couple dozen thick gashes in the floor.
She stared at his striking face, glad to see him still sleeping. Aware he may be getting important information from Mergan, she didn’t want to wake him, set the shorts on the top step, and snuck back down stairs ignoring the butterflies fluttering through her stomach.
Hating to admit that Rune was right, Cyndra returned to the table and sat down waving her hands to cool the blush rising up her neck. This time, the bond wasn’t the cause. Yes, she cared about Zorin. She enjoyed sensing his energy too. Beyond that, she had no idea what else she was experiencing; their shared energycasting might explain why she got so flustered and anxious around him.
His heavy footsteps vibrated the whole floor as he came down the stairs. Her cheeks reddened the instant she saw him holding a smile and the shorts she sewed. “Are these from you?”
She nodded, turned away, and took a long sip from her water bottle.
“Thank you,” he said softly, approaching the kitchen area. “I’m afraid Mergan is ignoring me. I was unable to make contact.”
Just like earlier, the muted energy between them lingered, but it was easier to push aside now. Maybe if she did, she’d figure out what she really felt around him. When he sat on the stool across from her, she offered him the bottle of water and stared down at her empty cider cup while he drank.
“Rune’s downstairs reading the journal,” she blurted, filling the silence.
Cyndra curled her fingers around it and nodded.
“Are you leaving the island, Cyndra?” His deep voice sent shudders rippling up her backbone.
“I don’t know. I…I’m still weighing the risks and benefits.”
“Which am I?”
She glanced up and met his weary eyes. Her stomach twisted into a big fat knot. If she lied, he’d know, somehow. If she told him the truth, she feared he’d shut down again. Cyndra rubbed her brow. “I…”
“You’re gaining control quickly,” he said, steering the conversation easily and giving nothing away with his stoic face.
Cyndra nodded.
“I’m glad.” Zorin dipped his head to catch her eye. “I have a theory how we can unlock the rest of the pages.”
“What theory?”
“Caster power is elemental not fam—you and I can are energycasters, if two are all that’s needed, we can try, we don’t have to be related.”
“Really?” She smiled, feeling the load on her shoulder lighten just a tad. “That’s good news, probably advanced stuff, right? Dual-casting.”
“Yes, the journal mentioned it?”
Cyndra furrowed her brow. “No. How did I—”
“Our memories are returning. We may remember more as time passes or as you get stronger. I’m uncertain how the memories will affect us or manifest, so it may be wise to remain together.”
“Rune and I have to talk it over. I’m going to check on him. Sure you have things to do,” she said, staring at her cup again.
“I can give you a tour of the island. It may help change your mind.”
“Do you think we should stay?” she asked, looking up and meeting his still blue eyes. When his lips pressed together and he gazed off to the side and shut them, Cyndra sighed and rubbed her face. “You don’t—”
“Yes,” Zorin whispered.
“Because?”
“There is only so much you can learn from a book,” he said, frowning. “I can teach you what I know, so long as I don’t have to siphon your power.”
“Maybe we should test it out. What I’ve learned so far, see if I have better control.” Cyndra rose from her chair and went to the stairs. “I’m sure Rune would love to practice, and if the wraiths come, it’s better you’re around, right?”
“Right,” he replied, following silently behind as she descended the lengthy staircase. At the bottom, she paused, patted her hip, and realized she left her sai upstairs. She shuddered when his wing grazed her shoulder as he walked. Cyndra twisted her mouth and surveyed the remaining weapons lying about the storage area. “You want to use a weapon?”
“Just to see if the flames will encase it again.”
“They will,” he replied and opened the door to see Rune approaching.
Felt the vibrations of you walking, Rune smiled more cheerfully than normal. Wait until you see what I did.
Cyndra ditched the weapon idea and caught up to Rune on the side of the lighthouse. Zorin was already kneeling down beside a mini garden that looked about a week old. “You did all this in two hours?”
I’m dead tired, but it’s not just that, I can move the earth, too, watch, Rune said, sliding his hand along the dirt path. The ground swelled and then rippled sideways like a snake was traveling under it. The dirt burst outward, looking like tilled soil when he was done.
“That’s great, Rune,” Zorin said with a genuine smile, brightening his dark face. “Seems like it could be used as a defensive strike as well. I didn’t know many earthcasters, most never mastered their elements it proved too complex.”
For me, it feels like coming home.
“What does that feel like?” Cyndra asked, realizing she said it aloud. Zorin’s smile faded and his body tensed as he walked away. Rune, however, stepped closer and took her right hand in his. Their bond warmed her fingers. When he smiled, she did too.
It feels like you’ve known something or someone your whole life. It feels like warmth, safety, and happiness. It feels like belonging, like…home, Cyndra.
“Uh, that was way deep, Rune.”
Cyndra, he said, narrowing his gaze. I’m sharing something important with you.
“Sorry,” she said, pulling her hand back. “I’ve never felt at home anywhere.”
Maybe you just haven’t found yours yet, Rune said, looking down at the journal as he handed it back to her and then turned toward Zorin who was keeping a substantial distance from them both.
“More like it was ripped from me, from us, all of us,” Cyndra said as she took the journal and frowned. “If Pristy or your father is stuck in that mirror, we shouldn’t leave.”
So we’re staying?
Cyndra nodded. “For a few more days so we can practice, see if Mergan makes contact. Zorin thinks we can unlock the rest of the journal together—”
Have you tried?
“Not yet. I want to get a handle on my fire a bit more before I do that energy thing again, you saw how strong it was.”
Rune nodded and then walked over to Zorin, who pointed to one of the crops in the mini-farm. When Rune shrugged, Zorin chuckled.
Grateful his subdued energy wasn’t distracting her like earlier, Cyndra rounded the lighthouse, and gazed at the docks, their boat, and set her eyes on the mainland. The view from here was just as interesting yet didn’t create the same awe-inspiring feeling she felt at the top of the gargoyle’s lighthouse.
“Are you ready to practice?” Zorin asked, coming alongside with his shadow Rune.
Nodding, Cyndra glanced down at her hand, evoked her fire, and rubbed her heated fingertips together. She didn’t know how strong she had to become to transform a gargoyle, break barriers, and crack open a mirror-prison, but she was ready to do her part. Her grandmother had given her life to this cause. The least Cyndra could do was put her simple, boring life on pause for a couple more days and try to get some answers.
After reading the journal and thirty minutes of practice, Cyndra was practically an expert at evoking and directing her flare while maintaining control of her energy and emotions. Impressed, and despite the amount of work she had yet to do to master it, Zorin sat on the broken picnic table left behind and allowed the casters their moment of fun, trying to best the other with larger flames. While Rune’s fireball remained the size of a melon, which hovered above his palm, Cyndra’s entire arm blazed, like a phoenix wing.
Learning something new, however, would test both casters commitment to their elements and crystals. Any awakened caster had access to a few rudimentary skills, the rest had to be earned and honed.
When Rune stepped back shaking his head and hand, Cyndra blew on two of her fingers and shoved her hand down the side of her hip like a gunslinger. Zorin grinned at the confusion sweeping over Rune’s face.
Cyndra shrugged and waved her hand. “One of Pristy’s movies. She dragged me to an outdoor show, they called it a western. So, what’s next?”
Rune shook his head.
“Aw, I’m just getting warmed up, pun intended. What? I…don’t know.”
Well, I’m sitting out for a bit, Rune projected for Zorin’s benefit, then added. You should try moving stuff with your energy again.
“It’s best to practice one element at a time,” Zorin said, rising from the table as Rune walked away shrugging and yawning. “Or so I’ve been told by others.”
“Okay, what should I try next?” Cyndra asked, barely making eye contact again.
“Offense,” Zorin said. “You seem comfortable with your fire, yes?”
“Seventy-five percent.”
“Good enough,” he said. “Try using the flames as a shield.”
“A shield?” she repeated as she glanced up.
Zorin nodded. “The same methods you use to evoke the flames, use it to protect yourself instead. Envision a physical shield, covering your arm, solidified like a barrier.”
Cyndra’s f
ace tightened as she lifted her hand and sparked it to life with her fire. She turned out her arm, holding it off to the side as the deep orange and red flames rode up to her elbow, then her shoulder, and flared out as the wind blew through the field.
He wasn’t sure how long he stood watching her face contort and twist as her fire shrank and sputtered and grew, never changing shape or forming a shield.
When he glanced over to see Rune lying in the grass with the hood of his cloak over his eyes, Zorin wondered the time. As he swung his head around to find the sun, Cyndra gasped and her thoughts slammed into his mind.
Is it a mirror-wraith?
No, he said, turning back. Checking the time.
“Two thirty,” she said, lifting her shoulder. “Give or take, no one really counts minutes anymore, quarter after, quarter to.”
“Any luck with the shield?”
“Not yet, but I’ll get there,” she replied, approaching and wiping her brow. “I should have brought my weapon.”
“Where did you get your sai from?”
“Found it in an old kickboxing studio during a scavenge when I was eleven. I’d never seen anything like it before.”
“Sais come in a pair, normally.”
“Yeah, I read about them in one of the books I found in this abandoned library in the Southzone,” Cyndra said, flexing her hand. “Ended up selling the book to a collector from the North. Hard to give it up, but I read it five times.”
“You like to read?”
“Yep, Silvio had a ton of books, lots of fantasy, knights with swords and elves and stuff. Never found a sword.”
“I think you’d be better suited with a long knife or a staff. Gives your power extension from your body and still works for close quarters combat.”