by Lucia Ashta
I hadn’t learned enough to know what to do. Even the experienced dragon charmers and tamers and shadow warriors around us didn’t seem to know either. Pumpoo’s level of wickedness was foreign.
So I let instinct guide me, within the limits of Luma’s warning. Not yet. I hoped I’d know when.
I pulled the energy in from the air as Pumpoo was doing. I took care not to pull from any other person, but I sucked and drew and yanked everything else toward my center.
Rosie started whining behind me, but I couldn’t stop just then.
I tugged and opened myself up to however much would come my way. Without looking at him, I sensed Rane growing stronger beside me. I assumed he must be doing what I was.
The energy crackled to life and turned into faithum. Energy never dies, it merely transforms. I intended that everything I managed to pull into myself convert into a faithum I could direct toward Pumpoo.
The faithum swelled and grew and crackled. I had to clamp down on a sudden fear. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve pulled in too much!
But it was too late to change course. I tried to moderate how much energy I continued to pull in, but I couldn’t. Momentum funneled more my way.
I panicked. I tried to stop any more energy from reaching me. I couldn’t stop it. It kept coming in vast, filling waves, until there was nowhere else to put it.
My bare feet sunk into the dirt beneath, my knees nearly buckling at the weight of the unseen force I was shouldering. I attempted to reach Rane, or even Traya behind me, but my body was locked in position. It took all my physical strength to hold the faithum vibrating through me now.
I made another effort to reach for Rane, no longer with my body, but through that unseen connection he and I had, which seemed to have grown as we accepted our potential power. Maybe I could share some of this faithum with him, spread it between the two of us so that we’d both survive this.
If I didn’t share it, I was starting to fear it would kill me. How Pumpoo could hold as much energy as he did was a mystery, one that I should’ve examined before I attempted this.
I was untrained, yet doing things only masters did. It seemed I might pay the ultimate price for my mistake, and save Pumpoo the effort of killing me.
Because I had no doubt that Pumpoo would kill Rane and me just as soon as he could hunt us down. Or maybe he’d find the way to drain our life force completely first, and take some of our supposed power before he finished us off.
The energy vibrated through me so powerfully it rattled my eyeballs. Whatever colors and shapes I’d registered before dissolved into nothing but fuzz. Rosie’s whining disappeared in a cacophony of mixed sound, and Luma’s warning vanished along with it. My lips and fingertips went numb. Even my toes tingled where they touched the dirt.
When my teeth started to chatter and I discovered myself incapable of reaching out to anyone in any way, I let go. It wasn’t an intentional attack against Pumpoo. It was a matter of my survival. I had to release this energy or it would kill me. Right then. I’d be extinguished from this world in a flash.
I let every single bit of faithum I’d gathered within me release with no more direction than the one thought I managed to form in my desperate mind. Pumpoo. I have to stop Pumpoo. That was all I could accomplish, and even that felt like a miracle.
I streamed every speck of my power toward the man. His malicious grin, which derived pleasure from our pain, formed in my mind’s eye. I unleashed every bit of me at it.
A flash of light, so bright that it overpowered every other sense and impression, grew everywhere. Inside me. Outside of me. My ears rang and the numbness spread to my tongue and forearms.
My feet forgot how to hold me up. I fell.
Someone caught me.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Despite my nearly desperate determination not to, I think I might have passed out again. There was too much at risk for me to sleep for days to recover. I wouldn’t have it. Everyone I cared most for was in danger.
I struggled to open my eyes, and when they resisted my efforts, I forced them open. I managed a sleepy-looking half-open eyelid, but it was enough to peer into the concerned face of my sister, who looked ahead, not at me, even as she clutched my body to her.
“Is everyone all right?” I murmured.
She snapped her gaze downward. “Oh by the oasis,” Traya said, tears welling in her big brown caring eyes. She breathed in and out rapidly, closed her eyes, and moved one hand from holding me to clutch at her chest. Slowly, she opened her eyes to stare at me. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
“What’d I do?” I sounded wobbly, like an adult who’d had too much to drink.
“What’d you do? You scared the crap out of me, that’s what you did. I thought you were dead.”
“Surely you didn’t. My body is still functioning.”
But Traya had no desire to hear my logic. “You looked dead,” she said. “One moment you were standing there, shaking all over, your face turning red and then pale and then red again, you didn’t hear me when I was calling to you... and then... and then you just collapsed. What was I supposed to think?”
“Traya,” I whispered. Traya was the calm one in the family, the rock we could all lean on, even Mother. She was the glue that kept our different personalities and temperaments functioning together as one family unit. Traya couldn’t fall apart. And more, I couldn’t be the one to cause it. “Traya,” I said again, but then everything else that had happened right before I collapsed crystallized with urgency.
I sat up with a start, slipping from my sister’s lap. My head spun and I immediately regretted having moved so quickly. Bringing a stilling hand to my head, I looked around.
Rosie limped over to me and licked my face. “Hi girl,” I said. “Sit with me. We’ll take care of your leg in a bit.” Without examining the gash in her leg, I realized she’d be all right. The others might not be. I patted my lap, and Rosie settled herself awkwardly in it, favoring her injured leg.
I’d added Rosie’s weight, but I still leaned back into Traya’s chest. I needed her support.
Up ahead was a mass of forcers and shadow people, all moving in different directions... but none seemed to be clutching at themselves in pain or leaning over limp bodies.
I allowed myself to take in a deep big gulp of air.
I saw Shula, Peachy, Boom, and Scar standing around each other in the place Pumpoo had been. But I didn’t see Pumpoo anywhere.
Next I found Dean, Dune, Brute, and Crush. They were all where I’d last seen them, but their arms hung limp at their sides, their faces slack with the aftermath of intense effort. They didn’t seem hurt or overly worried. I allowed myself another shaky breath.
Dragons swooped low overhead, but none of the milling warriors seemed worried. Luma was walking toward her father.
Rane. My heart thudded the one, terrified word. I didn’t see Rane anywhere.
I sat up straighter. Rosie looked up at me, her big, black eyes shiny with a reflection of my concern.
I jerked my head left and right, ignoring the way the world tilted with my movement. “Rane,” I said harshly. “Traya, where’s Rane?”
She tried to pull me against her chest to comfort me. I resisted. I couldn’t even look at her. “Tell me now. Did something happen to Rane?”
Everything stopped until she answered, even the tilting. Nothing dared beat or pump until I could determine whether my life was ruined or not.
“Shh, it’s all right, Nir,” Traya said, evidently feeling my panic. “He’s behind us. With Yoon.”
My head drooped against my chest in relief before I managed to prop it up. I could already tell I was going to pass out no matter how much I fought it. I had to make the most of the time I had before oblivion claimed me. With that in mind, I peppered Traya with questions.
“Is Rane all right? Is he hurt?”
“He’s fine. Great, actually, from the look of him. Better than ever, energized even.”
<
br /> “Hunh.”
“Aye, he didn’t get hit with whatever you did.”
Obviously Traya didn’t understand that all I got hit with emanated from me.
“Was it Pumpoo?” she asked. “Is he the one that did this to you?”
“No.” I wasn’t interested in giving her answers. I needed my own first, and fast. Gray was starting to creep in around the edges of my vision. “Where’s Pumpoo? Did he manage to escape?”
“I’m not sure yet, but I really don’t think so. From what I could tell, it looked like you all fried him with your combined faithum.”
“Combined? What do you mean?”
“I mean, it looked like you all blasted him with faithum at the exact same time. Pumpoo’s eyes looked like they might have actually popped in their sockets. I don’t know. I really don’t know how to explain it, Nir. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”
“Try.”
“It almost looked like he melted for a bit until he just... disappeared. One moment he was there, looking all... lopsided, like he was shrinking in on himself, and the next, poof, he was... gone.”
“And no one got hurt? None of the forcers trying to grab onto Pumpoo? Shula, Peachy, Boom, or Scar? Or any of the forcers or shadow warriors standing behind them?”
“I’m not sure, Nir. I’ve been here with you since you collapsed, but I don’t think so. They didn’t touch him at any time. They did move in on him, but it seemed as if they only used their faithum to contain him. It looked like the Alpha Team formed some kind of wall of faithum to hold him in place. Like a screen of light. But they never touched him, not that I saw at least. But I was a bit more worried about you than them.”
“So no one but me collapsed?”
“No, just you,” Traya said happily. I was glad no one else passed out, but I hadn’t managed to convince myself of it yet. I was the only weak one. I sighed, tired of being different, the one who never quite managed to do what everyone else did.
“And what about Luma? What’d she do with the dragons?” That was what I was most curious about. I’d been raised with people who dedicated their lives to dragons. But never had I seen any of the Dragon Force do what Luma was able to.
Traya chuckled lightly, the tension leaving her quickly. “I have no idea, but whatever she did, it was amazing.”
“Was it something you could see?”
“Oh, aye, I saw it alright, I just don’t know what it was. A ripple of energy? I don’t know, something, something big, descended from the dragons. Like a bubble.” Traya shrugged. “Sorry, Nir, I don’t have the words. Never seen anything like it. The dragons sent out some kind of blast that warped downward and settled over Pumpoo. It happened right before you, and everyone else, sent their faithum to Pumpoo.”
“Everyone else did what I did at the same time?” I pushed hard on the gray, which pulsed inward more aggressively now.
“Aye, that was amazing too. As if you were all in communication with each other. I wouldn’t have been surprised if you and Rane did it at the same time, you’re so connected to each other, but with the rest of the Alpha Team? And Dune and Luma? It was awesome.”
I didn’t think I’d ever heard Traya say the word “awesome” before, and I was sorry I’d missed the show that led to this particular first. The thought was sluggish. I realized I was drifting away, slumping into Traya’s chest. I swam toward awareness with everything I had left to me. “And Dean? Dune?” I slurred. “And the other two?” I couldn’t even remember Brute and Crush’s names anymore. “Did they blast too?”
“It seemed like they did. Though with them it was different. Their faithum traveled up the bind they had on Pumpoo. I could actually see a vibrating, light, uh, rope, I guess. It only lasted a few seconds, but I could see a blast of their faithum—it looked like light—explode into Pumpoo’s chest. That’s when his eyes started bulging and he melted.”
“Oh,” I said, and I knew that was it. I felt Rosie press her nose against my torso, nudging me, and Traya wrap her arms around me again.
I gave in to the gray.
Chapter Twenty-Four
When I next came to, Traya was gone, and Rane sat next to me—along with Rosie, of course. But Rane wasn’t paying attention to me, and I didn’t blame him.
Luma, who seemed to nearly sparkle with excitement, stood in front of the green dragon we’d first seen her riding. The shadows, which made up her body, swirled in non-stop movement, reflecting her enthusiasm.
She reached her arms up to the green dragon, and Green brought its head down and rested its nose between her hands.
My breath caught. Green almost seemed... gentle. No dragon I’d ever seen or heard of was gentle. In fact, they were the exact opposite.
“Ah, you’re awake,” Rane said, scooting closer to me. “How are you feeling?” His sharp eyes were on me, reassuring himself I was well, but I could tell he wanted to look back at the dragon. Or was it Luma he wanted to look at?
“I’m all right.” I pushed myself up to my elbows so I could have a better view. Forcers still milled about, but they’d cleared a wide circle in their midst for the dragon. They spoke with each other, but mostly they watched the sight so few of us had seen before. Shadow warriors intermixed with them, and seemed to be in awe of what Luma did with Green. Maybe her abilities with the dragons weren’t as common as I’d assumed. Maybe she was special even among her own people.
When I didn’t say anything else, Rane’s attention drifted back ahead of him. Green was nuzzling Luma’s head, and she was laughing as the dragon made a mess of her long, shadowy hair.
“Who are you watching?” I asked.
Rane startled, as if he’d already forgotten I was there. “What do you mean?” he asked without looking.
“I mean,” I said, bringing myself to seated, relieved the world no longer spun. “Who are you watching? The dragon or Luma?”
My twin flushed, and I had my answer.
“What about Yana?” I asked.
“What about her?”
In his reply, there too, I had an answer. His interest in Luma had outshone his interest in the forcer trainee we hadn’t seen since we left our home. Perhaps it was just as well. I doubted our lives would remain the same after this. I didn’t think I’d want to go back to the way things had been, even if it were possible.
“How long have I been sleeping?” I asked.
“A few hours, not as long as before.”
I stared at my brother. His face was relaxed, but it emanated a quiet strength I’d never noticed in him before. It was as if he’d discovered a power within himself, and fully owned it. His eyes were sharp, intelligent, fixed on every one of Luma’s graceful movements. His shoulders looked strong beneath his short sleeves, his chest broad, almost that of a man. His long, dark braid rested against his back.
Green nuzzled Luma again, and she laughed, turning her head in our direction. Her eyes landed on my twin, and I saw a shadow person flush for the first time. It wasn’t the same kind of color that flooded our cheeks, but I was certain of what I was seeing just the same. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind one ear.
This is going to be interesting, I thought, before remembering that Rane had changed and he could now hear my thoughts. But either he didn’t this time, or he didn’t care what I thought.
Luma’s attention drifted to me, and she started moving our way. I watched my twin follow every single one of her steps. I didn’t bother to hide my smile.
How are you feeling? Luma asked before she reached my side. Once she did, she settled on the ground next to me. The foot of space between her legs and Rane’s pulsed. With a start, I realized I could actually see the energy between them.
My eyes widened, fixed on the colorful swirls that eddied between their bodies.
Anira?
Sorry, I said. I, uh, never mind. Yes, I feel well enough, thanks for asking. How are you? What you’re doing with that dragon is absolutely amazing. I never imagined drag
ons could interact with people that way. I didn’t actually know if the shadow people were people, but it didn’t seem like the time to dissect the details. What else would they be? In a world with possibilities as great as the ones I’d recently discovered, I realized anything—anything—was truly possible.
Luma smiled and looked back at Green with evident affection. This wonderful dragon has been with me since she was a dragonling like Rosie, and since I was a girl.
Green’s a she-dragon?
Luma chuckled. Why does that surprise you so?
Because she-dragons are the most vicious of all dragons. They’ve killed more of our people than males.
Luma’s face lost its mirth. She-dragons aren’t vicious, they’re protective, as they should be. The males don’t take care of the young, they do, and they even have to defend dragonlings from the males. Once she-dragons consider you their own, they’ll protect you with their lives.
I sat with that for a moment, recognizing that she was right. Things were only frightening until I understood them. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Pumpoo would probably always be frightening.
Is Pumpoo... dead? I asked either her or Rane. I didn’t care where the answer came from, I just needed to know. Would Rane and I still be hunted? Would we ever escape our peculiar births?
Rane looked to Luma too as if he wasn’t sure of the answer. What had he been doing all this time while I slept if he wasn’t getting to the bottom of things? I had the feeling the answer to that question laid in the mesmerizing, swirling young woman.
Pumpoo isn’t exactly dead, Luma said, but he’s as good as. He’ll never bother you or anyone else again.
Wait, how can he not be dead but still not bother us? You don’t know Pumpoo. He won’t ever give up on killing us.
He can’t kill you, Luma said, staring deep into my eyes. He’s no longer in a body.
