As he returned to the tree line, Rafi met Pirro’s eyes, aflame with a destructive lust, his anger swamping everything.
“I cannot help you with this, Brother. This is a healthy creation, full of life-forms we hold no malice against.”
“You are weak, Rafi. You have no sense of infinite time and no longer embrace the long arc of purpose.”
“It is you throwing aside our purpose, Pirro. You’ve become as blind as God pronounced us to be when He cast the Djinn aside. Wholesale desecration of the creation is not our way. You know this. Why are you choosing deviation? Is it because you fear God was right? You would rather burn it all than follow a learning path? When is the last time you took the Pause to Clarify in the time-honored way of the Djinn? Thousands of years? Are you afraid of what you might learn?”
“You have lost your way, Rafi. This is not a true Pause, it’s all show, for what? A woman,” Pirro spat the word. “You cower like a human, defiling the race of Djinn. Your redemption is now. Join me and we will each blast a fissure, returning this life-giving water to God’s earth. It will not displease him.”
“Destruction for vanity is the epitome of disregard for the earth, Pirro. You’ve lost your way. Stop, Brother. See this for what it is.”
SYLVIA DROVE AS THEO sat in the passenger seat, eating with determination through a loaf of bread and her jar of peanut butter.
“That hungry?”
“If I have to transform and fight, I need energy, Sis. One Djinn is a force There are two, so this may turn vicious. Have you been practicing since that little incident in your kitchen?”
“Oh. Well, yeah, in the shower. I can fill the space with water and hold it in place, then send it down the drain.”
“Are you consistent?”
“Ha! No, not at first. I soaked the bathroom more than once, but I’m trying.”
“Okay. It is what it is,” Theo said, passing her a sandwich. “Eat this, two of them if you can.” If it’s gonna go sideways, at least go strong. “Here’s the plan. If they blast the water up, I want you to catch it. I intend to reseal the fractures on the bottom with dragon fire. If they fight me, or you drop the water, I should be able to survive that.”
“Should? How many variables? This is not a great plan, Theo. I think we need to just talk to them.”
“We’ll taste the air when we get there, okay?”
“Um, what?”
“Let’s get a sense of the magic’s strength. If it’s dialed to ten, all we can do is damage control. If that’s the case, hold that water, okay?”
Blinker on, she slung a sliding left into the park, heading for the lake, swallowing hard.
“Pull in here, we don’t want to have the car near the lake,” Theo gestured toward a utility shed, and Sylvia tucked the Hyundai in behind it.
“Throw the keys under the seat,” Theo said. “Keep ’em dry.”
She climbed out of the car, slammed with rising nausea. Theo snorted, then gave her a candid look. “You OK? I can’t save the water without you, but I can try to stop them. If you want to sit this out, Syl, I’m fine with that. I remember how it was in the beginning. It’s a lot to deal with.”
Their eyes locked, hers huge, blue storms shading to grey, his ice-blue, hints of the yellow in their depths. The air crawled with magic.
“I’m scared, but I’m OK, Theo. All I can do is try. I’ve been standing up for protecting water for most of my adult life. My rubber just met my road. Let’s go.”
They picked a path through the trees, staying off the main trail before hunkering down in the scrub twenty feet from the shore, waiting for the sun to drop, tasting the air. The sense of waiting covered everything. Theo leaned over at one point, whispering, “The magic feels muted. My guess is that they are in the water. If the water moves, do what you can. I’ll shift and do the same.”
She nodded. I can’t tell the difference, it’s just nausea. What if I can’t do this? The desecration of this ecosystem is wrong on every level. How could Rafi agree to this abomination?
Theo leaned toward the water. “Get ready, Syl. It’s about to start.” Pulling off his boots, jeans, and shirt, he crouched, waiting. The water exploded, two twisters shooting up from it, their spinning vortexes sucking up loose leaves and sticks near the edge. An eerie wail emanated, skittering across Sylvia’s skin.
“What’s happening!” she whispered. The malevolence in the air was thick and greasy.
“The Djinns are fighting each other,” Theo murmured. “Stay down and quiet.”
The twisters danced across the water, separating and banging back together, the air filled with hideous keening. The vibration shook Sylvia, her bile rising. Unable to maintain, she leaned away from Theo and threw up in the grass. He patted her shoulder, eyes never leaving the warring Djinns.
One twister wrapped the other, squeezing it, reducing its size and strength. The setting sun shot fire through the merging whirls. Sylvia could not breathe. Fight, Rafi, be the victor. Don’t let Pirro destroy this place.
The whirling winds roared, and the twister became a single spiral, exploding, and throwing a form on the beach.
Rafi!
Theo’s grip on her shoulder was iron.
“Don’t move,” he hissed. “This could be a trick.”
The piteous form on the beach cried out. “Sylvia! Sylvia!”
Theo’s pressure on her shoulder was steady, his head shaking side to side. The air, vibrating with magic, scratched across Sylvia’s skin. She looked down and freaked, elbowing Theo and holding out her arms. Scales! I’m covered in blue scales!
She looked at the beach but the body had vanished. The twister, in a slow spin, headed across the lake, sinking as it whirled.
“He’s going in, Syl. Do the best you can.” Theo stood, wings erupting from his back, his snout pushing out of his face as huge yellow eyes, capable of seeing for miles, stretched along the sides of his lengthening head. Orange scales flipped down across his expanding body as his huge hindquarters and long claws emerged. The tail, rippling out as the vertebra added, snaked past Sylvia through the scrub oaks behind them. With a puff of smoke, the dragon looked at her, nodding. He’s still in there. It’s Theo, but his magic is coursing through my core, waking my dragon side. Such strength. Invincible even. Holy crap!
The water exploded from the reservoir. It’s not like before, it’s not as neat or complete. There is life still within this water. The pressure from the shock wave pushed hard, but the new strength helped her keep her footing, holding her hands up, lifting the water.
She blinked.
Time slowed with her breathing. The water coalesced, pulling in the billion droplets to dance together, conjoining, adding more, finding the nature of the body once more, meant to be a flow, a single source of life, meant to be whole while separate. I do not hold the water; I am the source, the place flow begins.
She flowed in time’s suspension as Theo lifted, his coppery orange tail sliding past her body. Powerful wings beating, he flew into the reservoir and blasted fire, catching Pirro’s vapor in flaming punishment. The vapor shifted, rocketing away from the burn. Theo shot fire straight down to weld the bottom, heating the rocks, smelting them into a new seal.
Smoke returned, and Sylvia turned her mind, moving the massive ball of water away, placing it between the smoke and Theo, forcing the smoke to navigate her waters. The water’s creatures gazed out at her. Go, stop the smoke within the water.
As one, the peering fish turned tail, swimming into the smoke, roiling it with their deliberate, darting confusion.
Theo’s fire turned the basin a pulsing orange, so near his own color he was almost invisible as he peeled away, the crack mended. She returned her focus to the water.
Swim up, now.
As the creatures all moved to the top of the bubble, Sylvia dropped the bottom layer of water onto the molten rock, cooling it as the steam rose in high columns around the water.
Stay away from the bottom. It is to
o warm for you.
She lowered the ball of water, releasing the life within it back to the basin.
Theo thudded into a landing next to her, shifting back and grabbing his clothes in one fluid motion. “RUN!!”
It’s like I flew through those woods. She landed on the front seat as Theo dove into the back, yanking up his jeans and peering out the rear window. “Go, go, go! Pirro is pissed.”
Chapter Eleven
The sky boiled, green and ominous around the little car, buffeting them as they tore out of the park and headed to the main highway. Smoke flowed through the A/C vent. Theo’s face transformed to fight, but Sylvia screamed, “Rafi!”
The Djinn’s body was unrecognizable, his arms and legs bent at odd angles, his torso, spine, and neck bruised and twisted. He lay, dying, jammed against the window as Sylvia raced down the highway.
“Here,” Theo called, his dragon eyes picking out a refuge, and she took the exit. “Stop at this little place.”
Sylvia whipped into the parking lot of the little hotel. “Want me to do it?”
“Look at your arms, Kid.”
Holy crap, they’re still blue! Am I blue all over?
Theo, face restored, patted her shoulder and headed in to secure a room. They parked at the far end, around back, and she held the door while Theo carried Rafi into the room, and lay him on a bed. Phone in hand, he punched a number.
“I need help. Healer, for a Djinn. He’s damn near dead.”
A knock sounded as Theo disconnected. He nodded, and Sylvia opened the door.
An exquisite Native American woman stood at the door. “Greetings, Theo.”
“Thank you for coming, Haseya, I need help. He’s in rough shape. A Djinn.”
Knowing hands ran across Rafi’s form, then dropped. “He is as twisted on the inside as the outside. I can try. He is close to crossing over.”
“Take him,” Theo said, “Please do what you can, Haseya.”
She nodded, lifted the Djinn, stepped into a twirl, and vanished.
“What?” Sylvia’s knees buckled. She plopped down on the other bed, staring at the spot where the healer vanished with her dying Rafi, then at her skin that was no longer blue, and at her brother, who was both the same and like someone new. I need to sort this out.
Theo laid a hand on the window, the glass amplifying his ability to sense, and nodded. “Let’s go.”
Mute, she stood, walked to the car and got in. Theo dialed, placed the order, and they headed to Pizza Poppa, about 15 minutes away.
“Keep the motor running.” Theo hopped out or the car and came out with five pizzas and a six-pack.
“Drive. Stay on crowded roads.” He passed her a pizza slice and grabbed one for himself. They were finishing the third pie before Sylvia felt like herself again. Theo ate the fourth one before leaning back with a sigh.
“It’s been a while since I burned through that much fire,” he said, “Takes a lot out of you.”
HITTING THE ROAD EARLY, they arrived at the Embassy Suites near Busch Gardens.
“Good, it’s crowded,” Theo muttered, looking around.
“It always is, because of the theme park,” Sylvia replied. She threw the room on her card, and they headed to sanctuary.
Curled up on the small hotel sofa, Sylvia sighed. “Theo, I need to get home and get Puddles.”
“He’s protected by a strong spell, Sis. I had it put on before I gave him to you. He understands human speech, he’s indestructible, and he will protect you.”
“What?”
“As soon as I knew what we were and that your spell wasn’t removable, I took precautions. I’m your big brother, Kid.”
Sylvia shot him a look between love and annoyance, and Theo laughed.
“Syl, our being out in unpopulated places is dangerous, both to us and any innocent humans caught in the crossfire. If isolated, we are an opportunity for Pirro. Djinn treat other magical entities as brothers, but they have no rules against killing us.”
Theo looked drawn, his voice calm and low. “I’ve never faced so much fury. Pirro exploded with rage when you blocked him with the water. In hindsight, exposing you to this was a mistake; you can’t defend yourself with all of your magic. I didn’t realize we were up against this much instability. I am sorry, Sylvia. My plan made you a vulnerable target.”
Sylvia looked down at her now normal arms, quiet, thinking. “No, Theo. You said it depleted you after blasting the bottom of the lake. If I had not been there to slow Pirro, he might have killed you. You made the right choices. So did I. You also saved Rafi, and that’s a win.”
Maybe. I hope so. He chose the right side of that fight, but man, Pirro messed him up.
“If it will help your peace of mind, Kid, send Tina for Puddles. She is human, and the spell on the dog will protect her.”
Nodding, Sylvia pulled out her phone and sent a text to Tina.
I need a huge favor, no questions until later, and avoid Pirro at all costs. Can you help me?
Girl, shut up. Of course.
Go get MP and keep him with you.
Done.
TNT, no matter what, stay away from Pirro. He’s violent, and he hurt Rafi. It’s bad.
What? Does he need a lawyer?
Not now, Tina, We’ll talk. I love you.
ARE YOU OK???
I’m safe, with Theo. Just love up on MP for me.
OMW. Love you too.
TINA BLINKED. SLY’S house looked like a tornado nailed it. Broken glass, doors blown out, and crap all over the yard.
“What the hell?” She took a deep breath, pulling her phone out and snapping pictures, then stepping with care to the front door and snapping a few more. She looked up; half the roof was missing. She heard a door slam as Taylor, the guy from the other trailer, walked over.
“Hey, Tina. This was the damnedest thing. Like a downburst or something, Calm everywhere else.” Taylor hitched up his jeans, pointing back towards his place. “I’m lucky. No damage. Puddles hauled ass to my house. He’s safe, but I wouldn’t go into Sylvia’s. Looks like it might fall over. It’s totaled, man.”
“I’m glad you’re not hurt Taylor. This is mind-blowing. Did you notify the landlord?”
“Nah, I figured this is Sylvia’s business, not mine.”
“Gotcha. I’ll grab Puddles and let her know.”
WITH THEO’S ARM AROUND her shoulder, Sylvia looked at the photos Tina sent, trying not to cry.
“Not unexpected,” Theo said, his voice gentle. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“There’s nothing to be done, Theo. We can’t go there, and the roof appears gone. The weather will ruin all my pictures and papers! My diplomas, my Masters’ theses...” she trailed off with a little sob.
“Puddles is safe with Tina.”
Sylvia sucked in air. “You’re right, Theo. I can’t change what happened, and MP came through fine.”
“Hang in there, Kid.”
RAFI’S EYES SLIT OPEN, taking in a fire, a woman, and a man, both watching him.
“Don’t move, Brother,” the man said. “Your injuries are vast.”
The woman rose, moved to Rafi and knelt. Placing her hands upon his abdomen, then within it, she touched him, sorting, assembling, and reconnecting. Incredible pain shrieked through his system, blowing from his mouth as toxic smoke.
Haseya removed her hands, laying one on his forehead, and the pain muted. Rafi looked at her, less near death.
“Who’re you?” he rasped.
Haseya lay her hand upon his throat, and the brokenness within smoothed away.
“I am Haseya, the Healer. This is my husband, Zayn. He too is Djinn.”
“Brother, Healer,” Rafi said, his voice a faint semblance of normal. “I am Rafael. How did I get here?”
“Theo called for a healer,” Haseya answered. “I answered the call.”
“Where am I?”
“Across the interdimensional plane, Brother,” Zayn answered. “Safe for no
w. What are you up against?”
“For three thousand years, I have traveled with my Brother, Pirro, fulfilling the purpose of the Djinn. I met a woman, she is my one.” Zayn and Haseya exchanged a glance as Rafi continued. “This opened my eyes to how Pirro corrupts our purpose to feed his appetite for rage.”
Rafi looked at Zayn. “We fought in the way of the Djinn. Powerful and growing more so, at some level, Pirro no longer fears God. To Pirro, God’s implacability to see humans as Pirro sees them confirms His weakness. Pirro believes he can replace God. This myth damages Pirro’s spirit, and he finds joy in that damage. I could not stop him.”
Zayn and Haseya nodded. Zayn rose, then knelt on one side of him, taking one of Rafi’s twisted, broken hands between his own, as Haseya knelt on the other.
“I am with you, Brother,” Zayn told him
“Your organs, in this form, are stable,” Haseya told him, “I will work on your bones now. Do not shift. This will hurt, Rafael. Go inward for strength.”
Rafi’s howls filled the hut as Haseya touched each bone, untwisting, connecting, and beginning the knitting, undoing Pirro’s madness, rebuilding to whole once more.
Chapter Twelve
“Max, did you see this?” Murph gestured to the newscast on his screen as Max rolled over from his desk.
“Park officials report a dramatic loss of water from Lake Compton this morning. Preliminary analysis indicates the lake lost ten to fifteen percent of its water in less than twelve hours, but now appears stable. Coupled with the recent failure of the Chiles Reservoir, Hillsborough County residents, already facing a water shortage, are concerned. Our reporter, Jim Mortensen, has the story.”
“Thanks, Caroline. I’m here with Florida Department of Environmental Protection official Dwight Janson. Mr. Janson, what are the possible scenarios for this amount of water loss, and how can the lake be restored?”
Swimming for Air Page 6
