by Jenn Nixon
“And we even have leftovers,” she mused happily.
“Hmm?” Zorin glanced over.
“Quarter of a chicken left. Good for lunch tomorrow,” she said.
I’ll wrap everything up.
“Pick it clean?”
Rune nodded.
“Thanks,” she said. “I’m going to catch some sleep, long day tomorrow.”
“Good night,” Zorin replied as he stood and handed his bowl to Rune who nodded in response to a secret query.
Cyndra nodded, walked over to the duffle bag, pulled out one of two rolled blankets, and hopped onto a bench, figuring it was close enough to the fire should the temperature drop overnight. She curled up on her side, facing the wall, and tucked her arms under her head.
The soft creak of the door and shuffling feet echoed through the barn every few moments, almost rhythmically, relaxing her overworked mind and calming her healing body.
Death filled her dreams. Impossible images of fire and ash. Screams of the lost echoed through her ears.
Cyndra shot upright wheezing. Flames took over her vision. An enormous cloud shot upward into the sky. The heat from an explosion blasted her skin. She couldn’t breathe.
What’s wrong, caster? Zorin’s voice entered her thoughts.
The images repeated, filling her with the same sense of dread she carried around as a child. She covered her eyes, struggling for each breath.
“Cyndra,” he called softly.
When she started hyperventilating, he moved beside her in a heartbeat, bombarding her with his energy. He held out his hand, hiding more in his eyes than she was ready to confront. She waved him off, ignoring her spinning head.
Zorin opened the siphon.
She hated how calming he was to her paranoia. She hated how much she longed to share her power with him, knowing it would strengthen his energy so she could feel it in return.
Cyndra balled her right hand into a fist, evoking her fire, and then stared him straight in the eyes. I learned to control this as quickly as possible to help you and still you siphon me. Why?
I told you. The more I take the more I require.
And when you get your fill…will you cut the shit and stop being an asshole?
Do not tempt me, caster.
“Oh yeah?” Cyndra flexed the fingers on her left hand, bringing her energy to the surface. “What the fuck are you going to do?”
Zorin’s cheeks darkened and his chest expanded as he drew in a ragged breath. He spun on his heel and bolted out the back door of the barn.
Cyndra darted outside, seeing nothing but the murky night lingering over the ghostwood forest surrounding the barn. Knowing both her elements had a different effect on him, she increased her fire, letting it fill her hand. He may crave her energy, but he enjoyed the fire more, that much she’d seen in his eyes.
Her whole body seemed hot enough to ignite by the time he returned, landing behind her, keeping a sizeable distance.
“Enough, Cyndra.”
“No. I’m tired of this shit. Siphon me, take what you require. Maybe it’ll fix your shitty personality,” she snapped back as she spun around.
“And you call me the idiot,” Zorin snarled, shaking his head as he approached. “I can drain you dry in this form, caster—”
“Big fuckin’ whoop, doesn’t mean you have to,” Cyndra said and filled her entire arm with fire. “Siphon me.”
“No.”
“Even though you need it?”
“Yes.”
“Just do it.” She approached, lifting up her left arm. “I…I trust you.”
“Whatever you hope to accomplish—”
Cyndra lowered her hand. “I’m not trying to accomplish anything other than helping you.”
“I don’t want your help.” He stared blankly at her and lied.
“Then maybe we don’t need yours,” she bit back, ignoring the pang in her chest as she spun around and went back to the barn. She tried shutting the door quietly but it creaked closed instead, waking Rune from a dead sleep. “Shit, sorry.”
Everything okay?
Cyndra nodded. Go back to sleep.
Rune yawned and set his head back down on his cloak. She returned to the bench and sat down. Despite the argument, Zorin was near. He needed the bond he shared with her and Rune. Together, they’d fed and strengthened him, unknowingly and unwittingly, but to take that away from him after so many years without was beyond cruel.
She had to ignore it all. The sensations their bond created. All the feelings he stirred. Everything she experienced when they touched. Whatever it meant to her, didn’t carry the same weight with Zorin. She thought she’d seen that spark in his eyes.
Got it wrong again, time to shut the door.
Cyndra needed the crystal bond to lessen or dampen or something. Maybe she’d have to wait until they got back to the island, to the journal. Until then, she had to keep everything, her thoughts included, close to the vest.
Zorin remained perched on top of the barn for most of the night. He wanted Rune to sense his presence when he woke. Having the time to focus and clear the clutter from his head, he realized he could strengthen his bond with the earthcaster and perhaps ease the hunger his siphon required.
When the first rays of sunlight broke through the dark night sky, the main doors to the barn swung open. Rune droved the jeep out and down the driveway, jerking to a stop after his third attempt. As he got out of the vehicle, he tilted his head up, smiled, and lifted his hand.
Good morning, Rune.
Are you coming down?
I think I will glide this morning, Zorin answered, glancing south, seeing more than enough trees to soar over.
We’ll let you know when we stop for lunch. Rune walked around the back of the jeep and smiled.
Cyndra approached, handing Rune the duffle bag. She ran a hand through her hair and then put on the hat she’d worn when Zorin first saw her. Expecting to sense her energy at any moment, he frowned as she got into the jeep, drove it away from the barn, and back to Route 13 catching little of her power on the air.
Somewhat concerned, but unwilling to get to the root cause, Zorin jumped off the barn followed a similar path south, only a much different view. With enough height and strong winds, he’d easily make it to the Carolina’s so long the casters stayed near. Regardless if she knew when he siphoned her or not, if they wanted his help, he needed to remain strong, nourished. On his terms, not hers.
Shaking Cyndra from his mind, again, Zorin focused on the forest below, every so often glancing toward the main road to see a dust trail marking the jeep’s path. Unlike the central part of the Eastzone, this area had little regrowth overall. He hoped the Southzone fared better having two casters on the post-war landmass of Florida and several former islands.
Flying much faster than Cyndra drove, Zorin circled back a few times, trying to pick up a word or two of her and Rune’s conversation, missing the banter between them. No doubt if he was with them, they’d be talking caster history or techniques to hone their skills.
Zorin frowned and altered his direction closer to the road. He was supposed to be guiding them, not allowing the demands of this form dictate his relationships with the casters. Everything always seemed clearer when he soared through the air. He wished he could maintain that control near Cyndra.
We’re stopping for lunch soon, her sweet, strong voice pierced his mind as if she knew he was thinking of her. You should come down and take a break.
I will be there, he projected back for both to hear, certain Rune was responsible for her making contact.
Zorin circled the area where they casters parked the jeep to ensure no soulless were near. Although he wasn’t eating with them, he needed to make an appearance. Once satisfied the casters were safe, he returned to the ground, sensing Rune and Cyndra near a rest stop just off the side of the road. He walked through the woods and approached from behind.
They were sitting on top of the jeep’s hood ea
ting and smiling at each other, passing the water bottle between them. When Cyndra set her head on Rune’s shoulder, his stomach twisted. He scuffled louder through the trees so he wouldn’t frighten them.
Rune looked back, Cyndra didn’t. The former grinned. Pleasant afternoon.
“Same to you, Rune,” Zorin replied. Unable to sense Cyndra as strongly as before, he neared the vehicle, tempted to open the siphon just to get her to look at him.
Are you hungry?
Zorin shook his head.
“Well, that hit the spot for me,” Cyndra said as she jumped off the hood and then walked toward the trash barrel near a broken bench, tossing something inside.
Huh?
“It means it’s what she needed right now,” Zorin answered automatically, unprepared for her blistering stare when she spun around.
Oh. You have more sayings than the old folks from my village.
“Technically where I got most of it from,” Cyndra replied, focusing on Rune as she returned to the jeep. “I didn’t go to the Zone schools. Most of the books I read were pre-flare, my grandfather insisted, lots of fantasy, which I kinda get now. My whole education revolved around reading. Until I turned seventeen, of course, then I taught myself everything I really needed to survive through ZoneCorps and got my trailer when I volunteered to teach for a year. Still, I’m always the weird one.”
I do remember one saying, takes one to know one, Rune replied, grinning.
“That’s more a taunt than an idiom,” Zorin said.
Says the guy with wings. I think we’ve got weird covered.
“Even before this form I was an outcast,” Zorin offered as he moved to the back of the jeep and jumped in.
You were?
“Yes. My parents died when I was young. I knew who we were and had already started learning about my aircasting. Then they were gone and I had to forge a new path forward. It proved more difficult than I imagined. Not all caster families are the same.”
Cyndra’s curious eyes glanced back for a moment before roving to the duffle bag as she packed it up.
How old were you when they died? Rune asked.
“I was eight,” Zorin said and added the rest, knowing he’d ask. “It was an accident, three car pileup on the Autobahn.”
“Were you—” Cyndra gasped and stopped herself from asking when he shook his head.
“I was in school,” Zorin replied.
That’s awful, so sorry to hear that. Rune rounded the vehicle and paused on the passenger’s side. But it gives me hope that we can learn without our families, too.
“You can and will, Rune. I’ll do anything I can to help you master your elements.”
A spike of Cyndra’s fire punctured the air. Zorin felt the sickly power of the soulless next. Rune, aware the moment after, drew two knives from his belt. Zorin jumped onto the seat while the casters spun and searched the area. He caught Cyndra’s flaming hand in the corner of his eye as he turned toward the forest behind the rest stop.
Rune appeared on his left and Cyndra on his right. Although he was tempted to glide around the area, he stayed in the jeep, looking for any movement inside the woods.
“They’re close,” she said, lifting her flaming sai.
When Cyndra’s energy mixed with her fire, Zorin shut his eyes and let it wash over him. The sensations faded away, leaving him cold and weaker than he wanted to be facing the soulless. He focused on Rune instead, seeking the gentle yet equally strong power to nourish his body. The quick siphon did little good. He didn’t want Rune’s power. He only wanted Cyndra.
Two wraiths screeched deep in the wood.
“Shit,” Cyndra said, lunging forward.
“Wait,” Zorin said, seeing movement east of their location.
Four soulless, two of which they’d already defeated, materialized behind the jeep.
What the shit? Rune said, borrowing Cyndra’s expression and rightly so.
“No fucking way,” Cyndra gasped when the flames rode up her arm.
With both wraiths and soulless, Zorin needed to absorb the casters’ power. Caring little if she knew it or not, he opened the siphon and drew all the particles lingering in the air first. His skin warmed and muscles tightened as his body soaked up her power. It wouldn’t be enough when the fighting began, he’d have to take more.
Neither caster made any indication they felt the siphon as they darted toward the soulless, ready to fight to survive once more. Zorin flexed his wings and locked his jaw, prepared to protect Rune and Cyndra with his life no matter what.
Ignoring Zorin’s energy and the draw of his siphon grew harder the more Cyndra fought the soulless. Creepy fucking soulless that somehow came back to life. Every time she thought she had a grip on what was happening, something new turned it all on its head.
Cyndra directed another flare blast at soulless number three while Rune dashed between two others, cutting their thighs and arms, trying to slow them down. Zorin landed a kick to number one’s chest, sending him back into the woods, but only for a moment because it rematerialized behind Rune.
“Left,” she shouted, lifting her arm.
Rune dodged out of the way and chucked his knife past her head. Cyndra made a fist and shot flames across the rest stop parking lot. The soulless ducked and dashed toward Zorin. Her left hand automatically shot up as her wrist flicked sideways. Same as with the wraith, the soulless jerked sideways.
The gargoyle’s gaze locked on her. Her heart beat so fast, her pulse throbbed behind her ears. The flames of her firecasting encased her entire arm. Energy tingled the tips of her fingers making her whole hand twitch. When the flames spread down her side and reached her hip, sweat beaded on her brow and the tingling of her energy raced up her right arm.
She made a fist.
The flare from her body exploded forward, dusting the two nearest soulless. The others vanished. Wraiths shrieked in the distance, stirring the power inside. The crystal wanted more and so did she. As the fire returned to her hand, the swirl of her energy tickled her palm.
“Cyndra!” Zorin’s face hardened with fear.
What’s wrong? Rune projected.
She took off, darting into the woods, following the sound of the wraiths, ignoring Rune and Zorin screaming her name and giving chase. Cyndra flexed her left hand. She knew what to do now, how to get answers. Perhaps pieces of her memory had returned or something from the book had clicked. Whatever it was, Cyndra was ready to face the wraiths head on and find out exactly what they wanted.
Cyndra, stop! Zorin broke into her head.
No, she barked back.
I’m struggling to control the siphon, please… His mental voice faded, but didn’t deter her mission.
She skidded to a stop in the middle of a clearing, hearing Rune’s heavy footsteps behind. Zorin would be here soon too. Where had the mirror-wraiths gone? Cyndra sensed the soulless were still near, which only agitated her firecasting hand.
What are you doing? Rune asked curtly when he approached.
“Trying to get answers. I can…move them, maybe hold them,” she replied, lifting her left hand. “It’s already so much stronger than before.”
Is that really the best idea?
“You must stop,” Zorin said, landing behind Rune.
“No.” Cyndra strengthened both elements in her hands to spite him. The gargoyle’s deep breath sucked all the air from the clearing as he stepped closer, drilling his gaze into hers, trying his best to intimidate her by keeping his wings expanded. His appearance didn’t scare her anymore, quite the opposite.
“Evoking both elements together is unsafe for even the most experienced caster.”
“You’re going to have to siphon me or leave. I’m not stopping.” Her cheeks flushed.
Zorin’s lip twitched. The look that spread across his face was one she’d never seen. When the siphon opened and their bond strengthened, Cyndra swayed and tried to ignore the excitement and familiarity the connection brought.
Unable to resist the power, two soulless appeared in the clearing. Cyndra crunched her hand and turned them into dust without even blinking. Rune gasped.
Zorin stepped closer, breathing heavier, narrowing his gaze. Stop, Cyndra.
Listen to him, please, Rune tried.
“Not until I catch a wraith,” she replied.
“I will drain every drop of your power, caster.”
“That’s the only way you’ll fucking stop me.”
You two have to quit fighting! We need to work together, Rune interjected, as he continued to search the immediate area, knives at the ready.
“I’m trying,” Cyndra shouted, the rage fueling both elements much more than she wanted. “That’s all I do is try! I try to help. I try to get stronger. I try to control it. I try to let it out. I try to ignore you.”
Her vision blurred. The fire encased her arm again and energy built between her fingers. She clasped both hands together, to tamp it down. It only grew stronger, more uncontrollable.
Cool hands encased her scorching face.
Her fire dimmed.
A trembling thumb brushed against her chin.
The energy inside reacted instantly to his touch, threatening to take over.
“Focus, Cyndra.” Her eyesight returned. Zorin was staring down at her, tight-lipped and fighting his own internal battle by the pained look on his dark face. She wrapped her left hand around his wrist. He trembled. That is not helping.
I’m not as strong as six casters, Zorin. I won’t turn you into a monster. Siphon me. Take what you need, help me control these powers, please. I can’t do it on my own. Not yet. I… She tightened her grip, keeping her feelings out of it. He didn’t care about any of that. I’m only asking you to help me control my elements.
You see the impossible. Ask the impossible. Zorin dropped one hand, while the other slid from her face and cradled the back of her head. The lack of control you feel is far worse for me, Cyndra. Don’t tempt me.
“Rune’s right, we have to stop fighting. I’m already calmer, focused,” she said.
“What happens when what I need is more than you have?”
“We won’t know until we try.”