by Jenn Nixon
You have me now, Rune said, patting her shoulder. And Zorin, too.
“You’re probably the first real friend I’ve made since leaving my last village. The kids are great back where I live now, I just don’t talk to them…” Cyndra sighed as she guided the jeep onto Route 13 thinking about Zorin now. He’d be here soon. Watching her with his pensive eyes, and tempting her like she tempted him.
What happened this morning?
“Wish I knew. While we were unlocking the rest of the book, we had a moment…or I thought we did. He said our bond made him feel human again, so I figured he was opening up. But just like before, I told him what I felt and he shut down and pushed me away.” Cyndra sighed, gripping the steering wheel a bit tighter as she stepped on the gas. “Part of it is the crystal bond he said that much, not all of it, but if the rest of this is one sided…”
Rune smirked and rolled his eyes.
“You weren’t there. One moment he looked at me like he wanted to kiss me and in the next…I had destroyed his entire world.”
Did you want to kiss him back? Rune grinned.
“What are we twelve?” She shook her head. “This is much…stronger than just wanting to kiss him.” Cyndra frowned, ready to drop the whole conversation. It wasn’t helping like she thought it would. Only added more questions on top of emotions she wasn’t sure she was feeling. “Anyway, you better not say anything to him.”
Rune twisted his fingers in front of his mouth.
“I mean it. I know how close you two are. We have spent a lot of time together.”
Rune tapped the dashboard of the jeep and pointed to the side of the road. Ahead, about fifty feet, Zorin stood half-shadowed by a ghostwood tree, yet protruding enough to see without calling obvious attention to his odd appearance on the side of the paved road. Cyndra lifted her foot from the gas. Unmoving, like a real gargoyle, Zorin’s wing twitched only when the jeep slowed to a roll and she pulled off to the side. He hopped in without a word and set the duffle bag on the floor.
Cyndra returned to the road, trying to hide her shuddering by moving her hands to a different position on the wheel.
Rune glanced back.
“Yes, I fit,” Zorin said. “Thank you for thinking of me, Cyndra.”
“Sure,” she replied and shot Rune a sideways glance.
“I haven’t seen one of these since I was young,” he said, inching closer to the front of the jeep. “With no roof, we’ll have to find a place to rest.”
“I’m good with camping for a night,” she said, picking up a bit of speed, searching the road for any sign of a limit.
Cyndra had bypassed this whole area by taking the bus route inland when she ran away from her grandfather. Staying to the rural road lining the new coast took longer, it had less traffic, and that meant fewer people. She didn’t want to run into some thieving jerks, blast ‘em with her fire and then have to fight off some soulless.
A nice, quiet road trip was exactly what the doctor ordered. She wondered how long it would actually last.
Zorin pulled the fruit mix from the duffle bag upon request and opened the beeswax wrapping, forming it into a bowl shape as he held it between them. Rune took two pieces while Cyndra picked one slice of orange, unable to hide her grin as she took a bite.
“So good,” she cooed before finishing her piece. Rune, nodding in agreement eyed the bowl then shook his head. Zorin covered the fruit back up and replaced it in the bag. “We’re about an hour and a half outside Fayeville, it’s the last town for a while. Lots of villages between here and the next big town.”
Smart to find a place to sleep before dark.
Zorin nodded. “I can hunt for game when we find a spot.”
Will you eat with us this time? Rune asked.
“Yes,” he replied, leaning back in his seat again, letting the conversation die. Sitting behind both casters made it impossible not to sense their powers. Even without evoking an element the power coated them both, like an aura or electrical field. Their growing control helped him ignore the desire to siphon Cyndra. Yet the urge lingered, creating a pit in his stomach that wouldn’t go away.
“This area is known for having wild pigs,” Cyndra said, glancing over to Rune for a moment. “Seriously. If not I’m sure there’s plenty of the usual, meat is meat.”
We can eat in town, too, if need be, Rune added with a shrug.
“I should have no issue—” Zorin stopped catching an odd scent in the air and focused on smoke rising in the distance.
Look. Rune pointed in the same direction. A huge wall of fire roared through a thick patch of ghostwood trees about a mile southwest of the road.
Without thinking, Zorin jumped onto the seat and into the air, extending his wings, using the speed of the vehicle to lift him higher. He soared toward the fire. It was nearing a few buildings, occupants unknown. Tucking his wings, he descended to the ground, landing back on the road, a few feet in front of the jeep as it skidded to a stop.
“Idiot,” Cyndra grunted as she slammed the jeep into park and bounded over the side. “Well, what did you see?”
“Fire’s spreading. I saw a cluster of buildings, unsure if anyone’s there.”
Sucks neither of us is a watercaster, Rune said, standing up in the jeep.
“You both control fire,” Zorin said. “It’s an advanced technique, but you can try to put it out.”
“How?” Cyndra asked as her eyes roved toward the rising flames in the distance.
“You have to make the flames listen to you. Think of every spark of fire as an extension of your element and use the same techniques that you evoke your power to gain control.”
“We need to get closer,” she said, running back to the vehicle and jumping in, her expanding power drenching the air.
Already tempted, Zorin took to the sky again, even as his gut twisted hearing Cyndra’s exasperated sigh. Still, she altered the vehicle’s direction and followed in his wake, nearing the blaze roaring through the woods.
He landed fifty feet from the epicenter of the fire just as the jeep slowed behind him. Rune and Cyndra’s power spilled into the field. Their control tamed the surge, giving Zorin a chance to focus on how to help them.
“Are you sure? If it gets big enough the ZGuards will come…usually,” Cyndra said through a pant as both casters ran over.
At least we can say we tried to help.
“Guess that’s true.” Cyndra nodded, glancing over slightly before adding, “This isn’t going to be easy and I’m going to—”
“Do what you need to do,” Zorin replied softly. “It’s a good way to help hone your skills.”
Her mouth twisted as she tensed. Then she nodded and walked toward the fire. Rune stayed at her side, looking over a couple of times. Zorin maintained a healthy distance. Cyndra’s hand was already giving off tremendous heat.
When Cyndra stopped halfway to the flames, Zorin lessened the space between him and the casters some, while watching their backs and the jeep behind. For now, they were alone, but with the size of this fire, others would see it soon.
“Ready to try?” Cyndra asked.
Rune nodded and both casters lifted their right hands. Neither evoked their element yet the power surrounding them intensified. Zorin clenched his jaw, allowing his body to siphon enough of their residual power to satisfy the growing cravings.
Cyndra gasped and her left hand trembled. Her awesome energy invaded his senses creating another internal battle. Balling his hands into fists, Zorin shut the siphon, unable to take his eyes off the caster, subconsciously twirling her fingers and moving the flames. Rune, growing frustrated with his lack of control, dropped his hand and glanced over to Cyndra.
Zorin didn’t move closer. Her energy and fire choked the air. Had he left his siphon open, he may not stop until he was satisfied. With Cyndra, he dared not think how far that would go. He was the useless one now.
Zorin, look, Rune called joyfully.
The fire was shrinking, in
width and height. Sighing, he moved closer, unprepared for her power to warm his skin from such a distance.
Cyndra dropped to her knees.
Are you okay?
Zorin didn’t hear her response and froze in place, swallowing back what he wanted to say and do. She nodded her head at Rune, lifted her right hand higher while her left continued to twitch. Stopping her from evoking both elements simultaneously so early in her awakening was the right thing to do. He rushed closer, ignoring every temptation, and opened his thoughts to her. Before he said a word, Cyndra’s energy dropped as her fire exploded through the air.
The forest fire dispersed, shrinking to embers.
Rune smiled at her, lifted his earthcasting hand, and did something Zorin couldn’t see from his vantage point. When he approached, Cyndra was still on her knees panting and throwing off so much heat that it seeped into his muscles.
“Good work. We should head back to the jeep,” he said, keeping an even tone as he backed up.
Cyndra shook her head, jumped to her feet and bolted past him without a word or a look, taking her fire and energy away. Rune followed, shrugging. Even though she seemed in control and didn’t need his help, Zorin shut his eyes and absorbed her power needing just a bit more.
She sucked in a sharp breath. What the shit?
Zorin saw her staring back at him, trembling hands at her sides, those curious scorching eyes locked on his face.
You know I can feel your siphon, right?
He blinked. No.
“Why—never mind…idiot,” she stammered and headed to the jeep, this time leaving him and Rune in her wake.
You siphoned her? Rune asked, frowning.
Zorin’s eyes narrowed as he followed her. “It’s what I am, caster. I told you what her power does to me. You didn’t listen.”
Rune jogged to catch up. I did and do listen, you’re the one who doesn’t. Did you tell her how you feel? No. You told her what the bond does.
“There is little difference.”
Bullshit, Zorin. Rune shook his head and quickened his steps, through with the conversation.
Suited Zorin just as well, if keeping both casters angry with him helped maintain an emotional distance, perhaps it was the best path to take. Over time, it would be easier to ignore their power if he didn’t care so much. Rune and Cyndra may think they understood him, knew what he truly was in this form. They had no idea and he wanted to ensure they never found out.
As she reached the jeep, Cyndra shook off every terrifying emotion that attacked her during the firefight. The happy feeling she should have—after putting out a potentially deadly fire—seemed lost among the reality of their situation. She’d honestly thought all the odd, familiar feelings would stop after she unlocked the journal.
Nope.
Wrong again.
How a forest fire had dredged up such a scary sensation made little sense. She’d seen plenty of fires in her days, especially when she was younger. Whatever it was, it didn’t matter. Now, she had to deal with the overwhelming energy vying for her attention and the mastery of fire she desperately wanted to achieve. That was all she wanted to think about.
Rune hopped into the jeep, drained of his joy. Even though she was curious, Cyndra knew she was the reason for the drama, so she silently started the car and waited for Zorin to get in. Soon as he did, she took off, hoping to escape the likes of any soulless that felt their casting power.
Half an hour later, the awkward fog hanging over the jeep lifted when Rune pulled out the water bottle, took a long sip, and smiled happily.
It will be dark soon, do you still want to camp?
Cyndra shrugged. “Seems a nice enough night but I didn’t catch the weather report in town.”
“I can scout for a cave,” Zorin offered.
“If you want—”
He was gone.
Cyndra pinched the bridge of her nose and gripped the steering wheel tighter, hoping her hand didn’t catch fire. “I’m sorry about all this.”
Rune shook his head. Nothing to apologize for. He’s as much to blame. I…can’t even image a stronger bond than we have. It must be distracting, especially—
“He told me his hunger would destroy our bond. He didn’t say it, but I know he needs the crystal bond with me and you. The energycasting we share is just overwhelming—”
Because you both keep fighting it. Rune rolled his eyes.
“I…wasn’t.” Cyndra shook her head this time. “I said things to him I’ve never said aloud, Rune. I thought it was mutual. For him, it’s just about the power, I get it now.”
I’m not sure—
“Can we talk about something else? How’d you do during the fire?” she asked, popping a slight smile on her face. “I thought you had something working there for a minute.”
I did, the tail end of the fire was almost under my control. I’m thinking I should focus on offensive skills with my element. The book had a whole chapter.
“Yeah, it’ll definitely help. Maybe even tell us what we actually have to do to master the element and how we will know. Wish I had Silvio’s old digital camera.” Cyndra shrugged when Rune glanced over with his jaw dropped. “I had it rigged up to charge using solar power. There was one picture on it from before the flare, stupid really. The truck was on a patch of grass with a lonely daffodil sticking out near the tire. Anyway. I coulda snapped pics and read it on the screen.”
I think we’re doing rather well on our own.
“We are, for sure, it’s…just, like right now, I’m ready to burst out of my skin. Half of me is burning and the other is cool and electric-like. I’m controlling it, but it doesn’t like that, this power wants out. It’s taking me longer to reel it back in.”
Because Zorin isn’t here?
“That’s a big part of it. He siphoned me after every fight and flare up, just about. I need to figure it out myself now,” she said, letting the rest of her questions and comments fall silent in the crisp evening air. Pushing it all away, Cyndra focused on the half-paved, half-stone road before her, aware they were coming up on a village by the slight care taken with some of the stones.
She slowed the car a few miles so the ride wasn’t as bumpy, and only glanced over to Rune when he tapped the dashboard.
Zorin found an abandoned barn just off the road ahead. Says the jeep will fit inside too.
“Sounds good, I’m starving anyway,” Cyndra said with a shrug, waiting for directions, and thinking about what she wanted to eat from their perishables.
Turning off the main road, Cyndra guided the jeep over muddy terrain for several yards before the path turned into a pebbled driveway of tiny stones. The wooden barn at the opposite end had a few holes in the roof and a broken door on the side, but overall, a decent find.
She slowed the vehicle allowing Rune to jump out and open the main doors. After he pulled them both back, she settled the jeep inside and shut it off. There was enough space in front of the jeep and on the two barn-length tool benches for a dozen people to sleep.
Not bad, Rune shrugged as he hefted the duffle bag out of the back and set it on the hood of the jeep.
Cyndra jumped out, rounded the jeep, and kicked at the dry earth at her feet. “You want to start a fire while I go through the bag?”
I’ll find some wood. He nodded. Zorin’s hunting, said he’ll be here soon.
“I figured. Oh, and don’t give him shit if he doesn’t eat a lot. Apparently, he prefers his food raw.”
For some reason, Rune hid his smile by fiddling with his belt and then heading toward the exit. Cyndra went to the duffle bag, ignored her grumbling stomach as she sifted through what they’d brought along, and pulled out the bird stock, a couple vegetables, and a half loaf of bread that somehow found its way inside the bag.
Saving the fruits, remaining veggies, and rationbars for tomorrow, she set everything else out on the hood of the jeep, feeling the heat of the engine dissipated, replaced by Zorin’s growing energy. He was
returning to the barn.
Zorin had been right about one thing. It seemed all fire was part of her regardless if she evoked the element or not. Controlling that fire had been easier than everything else she tried. Even overwhelmed by the power, Cyndra maintained control, yet tempted him enough to siphon her. She had no idea when she started noticing it and she didn’t want to think about it now.
He walked through the broken side door, scraping his feet as means of alerting her of his presence as if she couldn’t sense him coming. Thankfully, Rune had an equally strong bond with Zorin and the jovial caster came through the back door, smiling and carrying enough wood for a decent sized fire.
Catch anything good?
Zorin nodded and lifted his hand, showing off a plump, plucked chicken that made her mouth water. Then she frowned. The gargoyle’s face turned stone-like as his still eyes locked on hers. “I didn’t steal it. Perhaps it got loose, but it was in the wild.”
“No spices, sorry, but I only need a little stock to cook the veggies. We can baste it,” she said while Rune dropped his pile of wood and readied to make a fire.
She delved back into the bag and pulled out the camping kit of bowls and utensils, wishing she brought her collapsible rack for the fire. She hated cooking outdoors without it.
“Yes, the wildlife is better here. I had my sights on two rabbits before I saw the bird. I may hunt on the way back,” Zorin answered a question she didn’t hear.
As she unpacked the mini kit, she wondered when they would be going back. Right now, it didn’t seem like soon enough. Unsure why his words always had so much sway over her, Cyndra blanked her mind and got to work preparing her side dish for dinner. Her mood, or perhaps a private conversation between Rune and Zorin kept them occupied enough to leave her be to mope as she saw fit.
Cyndra ate the last piece of meat from her bowl and proceeded to lick her fingers clean much happier now that she wasn’t starving. She and Rune were overstuffed, two days in a row, something she never imagined happening.