Marked Chaos

by Niki Livingston

My voice rose an octave as I jumped from my chair. “Did you not—”

  “My word is final.” He dismissed me with a wave of his hand. “Your mother would agree with me, and that is all that matters. Now, return to the infirmary and we will all gather again in the morning for our meal.”

  I stared wide-eyed at him, then at Sister Nikita who shrugged her shoulders and pointed at the infirmary. It was clear whose side she was on. My pulse beat hard against my skull, and I started seeing red. I needed my herbs. I stomped in the direction of my home, but Tatum grabbed my wrist as I passed by.

  “This is not a request. You are not to go anywhere else.”

  I ripped my arm from his grip. “You do not have the authority to order me around. And besides, I need my belongings from my house. Are you really going to stop me from retrieving the medicines and herbs my mother insisted I take to help when I am in situations like this one?”

  Tatum’s lips twitched with amusement, and it took all my willpower not to reach over and rip them from his face.

  “Rork, accompany our Kia Lynn to her father’s home and make sure she keeps our conversation to herself.” His eyes never left mine. “We would not want a slip of the tongue causing her more pain and suffering.”

  “My pleasure, mate,” Rork said, strutting toward me like a chicken.

  I looked back at Sister Nikita. “Are you serious? Why are you allowing him to do this, Sister Nikita?”

  “Because I want to see your mother again, and she would be furious if you were not with us when that moment arrives,” Sister Nikita said as she examined her nails, clearly unconcerned with my treatment.

  I frowned at how they made Mama sound. She was not cruel like them. I furiously pivoted on my heel, and put as much distance as I could between me and Rork.

  “Oh, and Kia Lynn,” Sister Nikita called.

  I turned back to face her.

  “No need for the formalities anymore. The Doyen have been dissolved as of yesterday. Just call me Nikita.”

  The color drained from my face. What had happened to the other four members of the Doyen?

  Rork gave me a soft shove, and I shot him a frosty look before continuing toward my home. Off in the shadows, I could barely make out the outline of someone standing within earshot of the fire pit. I squinted, but I still could not see who it was. They were probably just another one of Tatum’s friends, keeping an eye on me. They shifted slightly, and I almost called out to them, but Rork interrupted when he threw his arm over my shoulders.

  I tossed it off and moved away from him. “Don’t touch me again,” I hissed between clenched teeth.

  “Feisty one, aren’t you?” He winked at me. “I like my ladies spunky.”

  “You are disgusting.” I grimaced from the thought of him getting close to me again. “And old. Stay away from me.”

  He laughed and shook his head as he put some space between us. “Yes, lass. For now.”

  I took note of his threat. He did not know the ways of the black mountain people, making him an outsider to the mating ceremony. No man would ever threaten a woman in these parts. It meant death, and it was taken very seriously.

  We walked in silence, and since my home was on the very edge of our village, it was absolute torture. Finding Zoe Dawn was the only thing that mattered right now. Then I would address my mother and her friends.

  My home was dark and quiet, which was to be expected so late at night. Papa would be safely tucked away, not expecting me to return for my possessions at this time.

  “Will you please wait outside for me?” I asked Rork, pausing just outside the white gate.

  He looked at the gate and then my house. “I’m coming through the gate so I can hear you inside. If you even think of whispering anything to your father, I will slit his throat.”

  Hatred for this man roared through every one of my veins like a destructive wind. It reminded me of what happened at the mating ceremony right before I blacked out, except this time it was inside me. Someday I would make him regret this moment.

  “I will not breathe a word to him,” I muttered, making a promise I did not want to keep but would to keep Papa safe. I opened the gate slowly to avoid any creaking.

  Rork followed me in and leaned against the front of the house as he chewed on a long piece of grass. My eyes narrowed at his barbaric behavior. I slid into my home and latched the door behind me, then tiptoed my way to my corner, carefully avoiding the mess left on the ground.

  I shoved my herbs, clothes, and other belongings into a satchel that was hanging from the wall. Then I tossed in a few apples and oranges, along with a small dagger I kept hidden next to my sleeping cushion. The moment I was able to escape, they were not going to stop me. I needed to be prepared.

  As I crept out of the house, Rork was still in his same position. He pursed his lips, threw the piece of grass to the side, and pressed away from the structure. All I could do was follow him as he strode nonchalantly back toward the infirmary.

  The walk back did not seem to take as long as the walk to my home. Rork left me just inside the doorway of the infirmary, sauntering back toward the other two at a snail’s pace, occasionally throwing an amused glance back my way as I watched him leave.

  I closed the door and secured it, then made my way back to the bed I had been sleeping on earlier. It was one night, and it would give me time to plan my escape, as well as wrap my head around the possibility of Mama being alive and well, leaving only one important question lingering in the air.

  Why had she not returned for me?

  CHAPTER TEN

  Elemental Magic

  ZOE DAWN

  Sprawling out on the lavish bed, I stared at the sparkling ceiling and the hanging lights shaped like large fireflies. This place was spectacular. Everything was soft, comfortable, and clean. I had been told stories of places like this, ones the anaman had assisted in rebuilding with their technology after the dusts settled, but I had thought those were just fairy tales.

  I drew in a breath, smiling as I exhaled. I could get used to this. Rolling over to my side, I stared out the large, clean window at the sharp peaks of the reddish-orange mountains. Who would have thought these existed?

  Someone knocked on the door.

  I sat up and looked around at my new room. “Come in,” I called, scooting to the edge of the large bed.

  Aly poked her head in. “Are you enjoying your room?”

  “Yes!” I jumped to my feet and pulled her into the room. “Have you seen this?” I rushed into the connected room they called a washroom and lifted the lever behind the sink. Water poured into the basin and I squealed with delight. “It is absolute sorcery.”

  She leaned against the doorframe, smiling as I showed her the contraption where I was supposed to relieve myself. Then I stepped into the small square corner and pointed up at the tiny holes above.

  “Water sprinkles out of those holes, and I can wash myself right here,” I explained to her, grinning so wide my cheeks ached.

  “It is quite marvelous,” Aly said as she walked toward me and grabbed my hands. “We are meeting for supper, and your presence is required.”

  My eyes narrowed as she finished speaking. “Required? I want supper. Mid-meal was by far the most satisfying food I have ever tasted. But why did you have to ruin it with that word?”

  She smiled, unfazed by my drastic mood swings. “Do you want to know why you have been brought here, or not?”

  I shrugged.

  “These luxuries were not held for just anyone.” She wrapped her arm around my shoulders and led me back into my bedroom. “We do require you to rise up and embrace the tasks you have been gifted to receive.”

  “You speak of things I do not understand, sister,” I replied, but I waved at her to open the door. “Let’s go. I am starving.”

  The hallway was perfectly straight, leading to what they called a lift. My hand print opened it, just like my room door. Then it took me up or down, depending on where I wanted to go
in the building. Was this how the ancients lived? Or did the anaman bring this when they arrived? I had so many questions, and none of them were really about this gift I had supposedly received, except the fire. That memory was still dancing on the edges of my mind.

  We rode in silence down to the third floor, where we eat. They called it a cafeteria, a word I had never heard before. The food was prepared by a staff, assisted by machines, and then set up along the wall for us to choose from. The abundance of delicacies at midmeal had been astounding, and when we stepped off the lift, I was not disappointed once again.

  I breathed in the smells permeating the air. Heaven existed in this place. There was no doubt in my mind this was a blessed establishment.

  “Zoe Dawn, thank you for joining us,” Malcolm said as he strode toward me, still wearing a stony expression.

  Did the man ever smile?

  I flashed him one of my winning smiles, hoping it would encourage him to do the same. His gaze fell to my lips, then went back to my eyes, but his expression remained as if it were painted on. It seemed to be the theme with him.

  Aly’s hand rested on the middle of my back as she eased me forward.

  “I do not need an escort,” I said, rolling my shoulders back and moving toward Malcolm.

  He led us to the food and we each filled our plates and settled it all on a table a few feet away. We were the only ones in the cafeteria. I was beginning to think that was not a coincidence.

  I shoveled a few bites into my mouth, then smiled at the other two as I chewed. “Mmm, delicious.”

  “Zoe Dawn,” Malcolm said, setting his utensil on his plate. “Your manners are lacking. We will work on that as well.” He nodded at Aly. “Please begin. She needs to know who she is, what this place will do for her, and those whom she will be connecting with after we break the protection incantation.”

  I swallowed my food hard, my eyes shifting between the two. I set my utensils down as well and leaned back in my chair. “Can this wait? I would really love to enjoy this food first.”

  “No,” Malcolm snapped. “You have wasted enough time already. Let’s begin now. If we permanently lose sight of the other one, this will all be in vain.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, wishing I could hide back in my fancy room.

  Aly leaned forward and cupped her hand over mine. “Kia Lynn has been gifted as well, but someone has removed our sight from her by way of a powerful spell, one we are struggling to move around to reconnect the two of you.”

  I opened my mouth, but Aly held up her hand to stop me.

  “These gifts are the utmost importance for the awakening of our Mother Gaia. You saw your gift when we were aboard the ship.”

  “The fire,” I murmured, holding up my palms to look at them. “What does it mean? And why did that fire burst from my hands?”

  Malcolm leaned forward. “You are fire.”

  “That is absurd,” I shot back. I sat up straight and began eating again. “You two have lost your minds. Please let me eat in peace.”

  “There will be no peace unless you connect with the other two elementals and then unite with Mother Gaia.” Aly pushed her plate away and scooted her chair closer to mine. “Listen, my angel child, I realize this comes as a shock to you, but you were created for this reason. Mother Gaia requires your light. And honestly, Zoe Dawn, you witnessed the fire yourself. I think we are way beyond absurd and losing our minds.”

  She had a point, but my mind wanted so much to reject it all.

  I sighed and set my utensils down again. “Tell me more, please. Kia Lynn and I are both elementals. Is that what you are saying?”

  Aly nodded.

  “Elementals are fairy tales.” I could not wrap my mind around what they were claiming.

  “There is more magic swirling around you right now then you could ever imagine,” Aly said, smiling at the air as if she was seeing something beautiful. “I will help you open your eyes, but you need to trust me for now.” She held out her hand toward me. “Can you do that for me?”

  When my hand took hers, a warmth settled over me and my heart burst with a sudden contentment and joy. Maybe what Aly was saying really did exist.

  “Yes, I think I can do that.” I rubbed my other fingers again, overcome by an abundance of energy and welcomed heat. Then a small flame burst from my fingers.

  This time I just stared. There was no pain. My heart and mind swelled with an intense joy, and I could hear a voice singing within my mind, with words I had never heard before. Or had I? It did not matter. I understood the words without knowing the language, and my vision was opening to a new world.

  Flashes of color lit the room, coming and going like lightning. I dropped Aly’s hand and rose from my chair, shifting away from the table as I held out my arms and twirled with the lights.

  My gaze landed on Malcolm, who was watching with the tiniest of smiles. “What is this?”

  “That is the magic of this world, the connection to all living species.” He pushed away from the table and rose, followed by Aly. They glanced at one another and then at me. “Your gift has been fully activated. Now we just need the other two to do the same.”

  I stared down at my hands. Flames still danced along my fingertips. My body was warm and filled with an intense adoration for the entire world, even though I had never been farther than the temple of the black mountains until today. I could sense the energy of the plants, animals, and people–anamans and humans alike. It was the most brilliant sensation I had ever experienced.

  “What do I do now?” I asked, looking to Aly for more guidance.

  “We find Kia Lynn, along with the anaman girl you connected with the other day,” she replied.

  Malcolm waved his hand, looking over my shoulder. I whirled around. People streamed in from the open doors—anamans and humans of all shapes and sizes.

  “We are all here to bring the three missing elementals together.” Malcolm’s hand rested on my shoulders. “My family has been the keeper of the prophecy for many generations and built this sanctuary for this moment.”

  I pressed my fingers together, and the flames extinguished. The edges of my lips quirked up in amusement. This was going to be fun.

  “How did you know I existed? Seems strange you suddenly show up in our lives, Aly.”

  “Did you forget I spoke of a seer?” Malcolm asked, turning me to face him.

  His height was overpowering. I felt like a child next to him.

  “There is a seer among you? Someone like ours in the black mountains?”

  Aly licked her lips, searching the crowd. “He will be here soon. Reach out with the energy in the air, and see if you can connect with him.”

  I wanted to tell her that was ridiculous, but I held my tongue. Life as I had known it was no longer a true reality, so how could I deny her instructions?

  I closed my eyes and pushed out from my mind. My breath caught in my throat when an unexpected warmth of ecstasy slid over me, filling me with even more energy. The abundance of light was overwhelming. There was really enough for everyone and everything. I gulped in a breath and reached through the crowd that I could sense was surrounding me, but then another lone light connected with mine, and I recognized his energy instantly.

  I am almost there. He spoke in my mind so clearly, I swore he was standing next to me.

  “Wow.” I opened my eyes, shaking from head to toe from the flood of divinity pulsating through my body. “Have you all felt this before?”

  “Not at your intensity,” Aly said.

  Her entire face had lit up, and her eyes danced with a delight I had never seen from her before. The crowd around me nodded in agreement, and Malcolm stood only a foot away, as solid as a mountain. He was my protector. I knew that now. His entire existence was to ensure Mother Gaia received what had been depleted from her hundreds of years ago.

  The crowd parted, and the man walking toward me was the one I had heard speak in my mind as the energy emanating from him
was the same I had seen in my thoughts. He wore clothes like the others, but his top was a vibrant blue like nothing I had seen before. His trousers were black and slightly baggy. My gaze met his, and I smiled at his soft face. He had perfectly chiseled cheeks that sat high, with mocha eyes shaped like almonds, and flawless, dewy skin. As he drew closer, I realized he was my height, maybe slightly taller.

  “Zoe Dawn.” His voice was almost musical. He reached out with both hands and held mine within his. “My name is Tiordan and I have been waiting many years to feel the connection to the three elementals. Thank you for following your adventurous heart. If you had not left the confines of your village, we would still be waiting.”

  The tall girl who had stood in the shadows of the trees entered my mind. When we’d passed by her, something changed in me. It was as if he were reminding me of that moment. I focused on his eyes and fell back into my thoughts, remembering when I saw her and the searing flame that had spread over my body. And Kia Lynn. My eyes widened. The gushes of wind had flowed around her, causing her hair to hover above her shoulders.

  “Air.” I breathed the word out as if trying to create wind myself. “Kia Lynn is the elemental of air.”

  “She is.” Tiordan nodded once. He released my hands and took a step back. “Her gift will flood the earth with the energy needed for insects to bring forth the proper growth for our Mother Gaia.”

  “And the girl from the new faction? She is water?” It all seemed clearer. “How is she water?”

  Aly moved into my view and stood next to Tiordan. “She is a mystery to all of us. Where she came from does not make sense, although there are those who are piecing together her origins.” She glanced at Malcolm, who nodded as if to give her permission to continue.

  “I want to know everything you know,” I blurted. “No more secrets. Please.”

  “The girl arrived from thin air. One day she did not exist, and the next, she did. When you three linked with one another, it was unforeseen even by me,” Tiordan said, his full lips pursing. He held his hands out, his palms toward the ceiling and closed his eyes. “We had our eyes on a different person—a male in fact. But then all eyes shifted to her, and we knew we needed to remove you and Kia Lynn before the others connected the dots.”