Crystal Casters: Awakening (The Crystal Casters Series Book 1)

by Jenn Nixon

Mergan laughed and lost her grip. “But you need me. You’ll always need me, Zorin. Only I can feed your siphon, survive your bond. Don’t you remember how the other casters shunned you? Ran from the pain and hate you carried?”

  “I’m through listening to your lies. I’m no longer your pawn!”

  Mergan lifted her left hand. Cyndra’s crystal shot through the air. Zorin dove sideways to catch it. When he did, Evie and Cyndra’s incredible power filled his body. Mergan’s fingers curled around his wrist. His siphon, completely overloaded by Mergan, blasted the energy outward.

  Zorin crashed onto his back as Mergan screamed and vanished into the mirror. The crystal from her other hand fell to the ground.

  As his fingers curled around Cyndra’s crystal, a dozen memories flashed through his mind. He remembered. All the power he collected from the casters in this form had fed Mergan too. She used him to grow even stronger. She was an energy siphon just like him and Cyndra.

  Zorin... Rune crawled across the floor. Where’s Cyndra?

  Frowning and grunting back the pain, Zorin got to his knees and glanced toward the gaping hole at the end of the hallway. After he rose to his feet, he helped Rune and kept an arm around the caster’s back as they lumbered out of the prison room.

  Cyndra! Rune called as they got closer to the edge.

  Overwhelmed by power, Zorin didn’t feel Cyndra’s energy or fire and glanced over to Rune. “Can you sense her?”

  The caster shook his head, his eyes turned glassy while looking over the edge at the pile of rubble where Cyndra had been. Wraiths shrieked in the distance. Zorin shuddered and turned to the sky, feeling them approach.

  Can you glide down with me?

  Nodding, Zorin wrapped an arm around Rune’s waist and extended his wings. He kicked off the edge and spiraled down slowly, seeing a few small fires hidden under large rocks and planks of wood that made up the staircase.

  After they landed, Rune ran toward the pile, throwing pieces frantically aside searching for Cyndra. Zorin moved the bigger stones despite the dread rising through his chest the deeper they reached.

  Why can’t I sense her? Rune’s frustrated voice echoed.

  Zorin dug faster, ignoring his burning muscles, battered wings, and exhausted mind. No sliver of her power entered the air. He refused to believe she was gone.

  Rune lifted his earthcasting hand. Vines and dirt swelled from the ground, overturning more rocks and putting out some of the smaller fires. The decorative floor of the east hallway peeked through the last batch of rocks and wood. Zorin’s heart dropped.

  Where is she?

  Zorin stared at the ground, unable to answer.

  What about Mergan?

  “She’s…in the mirror.”

  Really? One less problem to worry about for the moment. Rune’s warm hand rested on his shoulder. You need to go look for Cyndra. I’ll only slow you down.

  Zorin pressed his lips together and nodded. “You’ll have to remove the glass from my wings.”

  Okay. Rune frowned. Turn around.

  He did as asked and relaxed his wings so they were lower. The first few pieces were small, causing little discomfort. As the glass got bigger, it was tougher to pull. “Do it fast, Rune.”

  Nodding, Rune tugged quickly on the larger pieces and everything else embedded into his wings for three minutes. By the time he was done, Zorin’s wings blazed. The last time he’d felt this much pain, he was human.

  There are a few more tiny pieces, they may suck the worst.

  “That is enough for now. Thank you.”

  Go, Zorin. Find Cyndra. I’m not leaving this spot until you do.

  “Call if you need me, Rune,” Zorin said, glancing back toward the mirror.

  Emotions were too high to tell the caster what he desperately wanted to know. Until he found Cyndra, nothing else mattered. Zorin extended his wings and climbed up the damaged tower until he was high enough to glide around the whole mansion. He circled the entire building once, returning to the same spot where Rune stood watching his flight. The caster pointed to the backyard. Zorin altered his direction toward the patio and staircase. Piles of dusted soulless littered the area. He saw no signs of Cyndra.

  The pit in his stomach grew. Refusing to believe the dark thoughts infecting his mind, Zorin circled the property, trying to focus through the tears welling in his eyes. Before the Shield fell, Zorin was hollow and lifeless, surviving day after day, waiting for her. Cyndra awakened the man hidden deep beneath a monstrous appearance. He refused to go back to that existence. He’d give up his chance to siphon her power to see her safe and alive. He’d sacrifice his life to see her smile at him again. There was no surviving this world without Cyndra.

  Near the stone staircase, Zorin spotted a scorch mark in the grass. He tucked his wings to descend seeing a second mark heading toward the east section of the rock wall. The third was right next to the wall.

  Zorin landed and glanced toward the brush and trees on the side of the mansion. Only the air, moving branches and leaves, stirred. Remembering what Cyndra and Mergan had said, he chanced electroshock and thrust his arm over the rock wall. He glanced back toward the destruction near the tower.

  Rune nodded as he lumbered closer. Find her.

  I will, Zorin replied before jumping over the wall. He kept his siphon open as he neared the brush and trees, pushing aside the rising terror, praying that when he did find her, she was still alive.

  Cyndra gasped for air. She could barely open her eyes and her body felt like mush, nothing was responding. Trying to remember what happened made her head fuzzy and hot. A gentle rustling of leaves sounded. Her lips refused to move. Her mind blanked.

  The gargoyle’s energy flooded the air. Cyndra groaned, allowing it to spread over her skin and seep into her muscles. She needed more and drew his energy with a thought.

  “Cyndra,” Zorin whispered and dropped to his knees beside her. She was in his arms a moment later. “You’re going to be okay.”

  She wrapped her hands around his neck and absorbed him as he carried her through the woods, into the field behind the lighthouse, and up the stairs to the living space. When Rune’s fire mingled with Zorin’s energy, Cyndra siphoned him, too, using it to warm her body. Zorin tried to set her down on the mattress in the bedroom, but she tightened her grip around his neck.

  Mergan?

  She’s gone, for now. We will talk later.

  Stay.

  Zorin sat on the edge of the bed, shifting her on his lap. He gazed down and brushed the hair from her forehead. You need rest, Cyndra.

  Too tired to argue, her arms slipped from his back as he pulled away and set her on the bed. The dreams took over shortly after her head hit the pillow.

  “That demon trapped Lily in the mirror, how can you trust him,” her grandfather yelled, while Cyndra watched the argument from the stairs.

  “Mergan manipulated him like everyone else. He sees the truth now, Silvio. Everything he said confirms the rumors. She’s planning something with her army, we must stop her.”

  “What about the children?”

  “They will be safe on the island, perhaps even awaken early,” Evie said as she began collecting things off the living room table.

  “Pray they don’t, if this war doesn’t end soon, there won’t be anyone left to protect and guide them.” Silvio frowned. “Cyndra’s already showing signs of fire. Without her mother here—”

  “We must protect the children. Find a way. We don’t have much time.”

  Cyndra woke abruptly when a bowl crashed to the ground. She sat up to see the lighthouse bedroom surrounding her. She covered her face and breathed in, shaking off the dream memory. It didn’t answer the questions she truly wanted, but confirmed Mergan’s lies.

  No, she didn’t know Zorin long or well enough to have every detail of his past. She knew the man he was behind the façade Mergan created. All Cyndra cared about were his actions, the truth she saw in his eyes, and how she felt when they tou
ched. If nothing else, he needed to know she still trusted him.

  Her grandmother’s crystal sat on top the nightstand. Grateful to have it back, she picked it up and let the power warm her hand. Instead of taking it with her, she set it down, got up, stretched as she walked to the exit, and found Rune standing in front of the stove making tea. He spun around and grinned. Meeting him halfway for a hug, she held him tight as he rubbed her back and sniffled.

  “Hey, I’m okay. I think my energy cushioned me when my fire overloaded. It seemed to get stronger without my crystal.”

  I’m glad you’re okay. You had me worried. You’ve both been sleeping for almost a day.

  Cyndra leaned back and blinked. “Whoa, really?”

  Yes, and Zorin’s still knocked out. Rune frowned as he released his hold and walked back to the kitchen. He really took a beating. Mergan was more powerful than I expected.

  “Yeah, tell me about it,” Cyndra sighed, pulling her eyes from the staircase and following him to the table. She sat on the stool and picked up her water bottle, taking a long, cool drink. “Anything happen?”

  Rune shook his head. It’s been eerily quiet. No wraiths, no soulless.

  “Weird.”

  Are you hungry?

  “Not yet, but I will be soon. What do we have left?”

  Venison, tomatoes, a hunk of cheese, some fruit. I can work on the garden, maybe get enough for a good salad.

  “If you don’t mind. I need a shower and change of clothes.”

  Gives me something to do. I’ve been restless.

  “I can only imagine. Thanks for standing guard. You deserve a break. I’ll…”

  We need to come up with a plan, Cyndra, and soon.

  “Yes, we do.” She frowned. “I guess there’s no beating around the bush. Hope Zorin got something out of her…I’m hazarding a guess she’s in the mirror since he said she’s gone.”

  That’s what he told me. Rune sighed. I don’t think this is over.

  “Yeah, seems unlikely.”

  Check on Zorin after your shower, okay?

  “I can do that,” she said, smiling back as he headed toward the stairs, long overdue for some fresh air. Grateful she had someone like Rune looking out for her, Cyndra finished the tea he left behind, hoping she had the chance to make the next batch properly. She scanned the room for her backpack, aware she had several huge decisions to make in a rather short period and made the first one without another thought. Cyndra dug through her bag for something to wear and disappeared into the bathroom for the next half hour.

  After she tossed her dirty clothes into the sink and covered them with warm water, Cyndra exited the lavatory in a long T-shirt from Zorin’s pile and a pair of black leggings that went with anything, one of Pristy’s must have pieces of clothing.

  Instead of ignoring the twinge of guilt, Cyndra made a promise to keep digging until every single question had an answer. Returning to the kitchen table, she pulled her grandmother’s journal to the edge and set her palm on top, hoping something new would happen. Since nothing did, she opened it up to read again, feeling the need to commit certain things to memory.

  “No,” Zorin grumbled softly from the service room an hour later.

  Cyndra closed the book, went to the stairs, and climbed the first two.

  “Enough, please.”

  She tip-toed up three more to see him lying on his stomach, wings high in the air as his fingers clawed the wooden floor, explaining all the markings. He whimpered and his wings tucked close to his back.

  “Zorin,” she whispered, hoping to calm his nightmares.

  “Hurts,” he cried softly, rolling onto his side and curling his large body in on itself.

  Cyndra crawled to him and collected his face in her hands. She evoked both elements and pressed her forehead against his. “It doesn’t have to hurt, siphon me.”

  He absorbed the power before opening his eyes. His body stiffened and he jerked away from her touch.

  “Just me,” she said, smiling and waiting for his eyes to soften.

  “You’re well,” he mumbled, sitting upright and narrowing his gaze instead.

  “Better, yeah. What’s the matter?” Cyndra stood when he did and tugged his arm when he tried to walk toward the stairs. “Zorin.”

  He shuddered as he gazed down at her. “I’ve learned things you and Rune need to know.”

  “Don’t care about that right now, just you,” Cyndra replied, lifting her left hand to his cheek. This time he didn’t jerk away, instead leaned into her touch.

  “I’m not sure what’s true or not, Cyndra, your mother is in the mirror, it may be my fault,” Zorin said, squeezing his eyes shut and letting tears leak down his cheeks.

  “It wasn’t.” She quickly wiped them away. “Whatever happened, Mergan manipulated you, Zorin.”

  “She did much more than that. She used me to gain power.” He opened his glassy eyes. “I was already angry and guilt-driven when I joined her. That war…stripped me of my humanity, that’s what you see on my face.”

  “Not true. I’ve read enough to know war is the worst thing anyone can survive. I don’t know your suffering, but I’m smart enough to understand what you’ve been through. The fact you still care enough to fight for what’s right, still want to help, proves your humanity. Sure, the war changed you—”

  “It’s beyond the war. I’ve been angry so long, Cyndra. I drag those around me into the darkness.”

  “And I’ve avoided my darkness. My whole life’s been driven by fear I never faced like yours has with anger,” she replied, setting her right hand on his chest. “You felt it. I know you did because when the siphon is open and our bond is strong, I can’t hide what I’m feeling.”

  “I never want you to hide from me,” Zorin said, cradling the back of her head in his hand.

  “I almost killed her because of that darkness…I tried to make you do it,” Cyndra said, frowning as her fingers warmed against his skin.

  “You’re not the first to be blinded by vengeance. Surrounding yourself with the right people makes all the difference. You’ve helped me see that.” Zorin brushed his fingers against her chin, creating butterflies in her belly. “You’ve brought me back to life, Cyndra.”

  She rose on her toes and kissed him. He kissed back, holding her head in place as she slid both her hands up his chest.

  Zorin tensed and leaned back.

  “You’ve got that look again,” Cyndra said, frowning and retracting her hands. “Your bond with Mergan was more than just a crystal bond, wasn’t it?”

  Zorin’s jaw locked and his face blanked of all emotion. “Not in the way you think.”

  “I’ll get Rune, he wants to go over a plan anyway.” Cyndra retreated to the stairs, holding in her sigh and all the awkwardness riding across her shoulders.

  “Cyndra,” Zorin called softly.

  “It’s okay, we can talk later,” she replied without looking back or infecting their limited siphon.

  Unsure exactly what he wanted to get off his chest, Cyndra tried to prepare for anything. She refused to let Mergan’s lies take Zorin away from her or Rune. They both needed him. Cyndra was ready to put up one more fight to make sure he knew it.

  Watching Cyndra walk away ripped his heart in two. Falling deeper, without knowing everything Mergan had said, without hearing about all the memories he recovered, may break hers. Zorin refused to take that chance.

  He followed her to the empty living space and sat on one of the stools while Cyndra went to the staircase to wait for Rune. Although the siphon was open and their bond remained strong, Cyndra had enough control now to keep her energy and emotions out of the mix.

  When the jovial caster came up the stairs with a few vegetables and a wide smile, the entire mood of the room lifted. Grateful for any means to ease what he was about to say, Zorin let the casters chat about what to eat as they entered the kitchen.

  Oh, all right. Rune projected and glanced across the room. Are you okay?<
br />
  “Yes,” Zorin said while nodding. “Mergan told me about the mirror and…I’ve recalled a few memories.”

  “We’re going to need every bit of information we can get, no matter how tough it is,” Cyndra added, leaning against the icebox.

  Rune set the vegetables down and took the seat across. Is this about what she said in the courtyard?

  “Some of it, yes. I’d forgotten more about the crystals than I realized. Did you tell Cyndra?” Zorin asked.

  Rune shook his head while she frowned.

  “Mergan was obsessed with power. One of the reasons I followed her, bonded with her, was because she didn’t follow traditional caster rules. She liked to experiment, stretch her powers as far as they would go. Once she mastered her elements, she took off her crystal because she realized it was hindering her powers.”

  Cyndra glanced down at her hand. “That’s why it seemed stronger, it was.”

  “The crystals do awaken the caster’s power. They also help us maintain a balance with our elements by absorbing and containing some of our power.”

  “Evie mentioned that our family used siphons, but nothing about the crystals containing power or being stronger without them.”

  Maybe they didn’t know? Rune added.

  “Possibly. Most casters followed long standing traditions, wearing a crystal was part of it.”

  “That’s probably why our bond is so strong, the crystal wasn’t enough because of how old I am,” she said softly, looking up for a moment before focusing on Rune.

  Zorin added, “And because the crystals hold the elemental power, Mergan used one to break out of the prison and recharge her powers, in a manner of speaking.”

  Which explains why she was so strong after getting out. Super charged, just like you, Cyndra.

  “Yeah, that was not fun.”

  “I don’t foresee it getting any easier. Mergan told me there are thousands of casters in the mirror prison including Pristy, Bale, and your mother, Cyndra.” Zorin paused. She only nodded, so he continued. “Mergan created the wraiths from casters as a way of hunting down those who defied her. She was partially truthful when she said I helped create the mirror. She used my crystal’s power. Just like she used me to siphon casters to feed her.”