Set the Sky on Fire (Fire Trilogy Book 1)

by L K Walker

  Ari sat, arms wrapped around her shins, as she watched dawn scuttled its way across the harbour. Nightmares weren’t anything new; she’d never grown out of them like her doctor said she would. Still, there was no way to get used to them, and since there was an HD image of a plane crashing currently scorched on her retinas, she wasn’t going back to sleep. At least, Nevaeh could get an extra hour or two. By the time she woke, Ari had read all the pamphlets in the tourist folder from back to front.

  Without any food in their room, Bugis Junction was the first visit on their itinerary. The decision had less to do with the supermarket there and more to do to with the all the other shops. For a couple of kiwi girls, it was a good warmup for the seven-story Singapura shopping complex they planned to visit before they left the city. The Junction was within walking distance and, in the time she spent waiting for Nevaeh to wake, Ari had found a quicker route to the mall’s back door. They grabbed their handbags and headed to the elevator.

  The hotel lobby was aglow with sunshine beating down through the large glass panelled hotel frontage. A staircase cascaded down from the second floor, ornately patterned in white and brown tiles, giving the area a sense of grandeur. Ari had been too tired to really appreciate it when they’d arrived, but now she took it all in.

  On the ride down in the elevator from the eighth floor, Nevaeh had already listed six things she wanted to buy, her outstretched fingers retaining the count. “Hmm.” She looked at them. “Perhaps you should hold my debit card. Otherwise, I don't think I’ll have enough money to last the day, let alone the trip.”

  As they walked through the lobby, the staff smiled and greeted them with ‘good morning.’ It was like being in a fairytale. To get to the automatic doors on the other side of the lobby, they had to duck around a throng of people who had taken up residence on the circular couches. Too consumed by her surroundings, Ari bumped in to another tourist. The woman had a ratty baseball cap pulled down over her face.

  “Sorry,” Ari apologised, but the women never lifted her head.

  “She might not speak the language,” Nevaeh whispered as she laced her arm through Ari’s and pulled her through the automatic doors and out on to the busy street, where the humidity engulfed them.

  The doors silently slid open before them, giving them access to the busy street as they stepped out from the air conditioning into the warm, moist air.

  Ari’s neck protested as she craned back, looking in awe at yet another of the tall buildings on either side. They’d used the short cut outlined on the hotel map, and had reached a quiet street that led to the back entrance of the mall. The mall itself didn’t open for another thirty minutes. They planned to have breakfast at one of its small cafés to pass the time.

  The street was quiet. Two people had disappeared into the mall up ahead of them, and another person was behind them heading the same way. The rest of the Bugis Junction complex, not filled with shops, had been fitted out as offices. Ari suspected this route would be highly frequented come Monday morning. But today was Sunday, and there was hardly anyone around.

  “I was starting to wonder whether we’d be able to get in.” Nevaeh slapped Ari’s arm. “Looks like it’s open.” The door was settling closed again. The smell of fresh baking wafted from the vents.

  Ari listened to rapid footfalls heading up the road behind them. Ari veered off to the right, not wanting to delay the stranger as they hurried towards the doors. But as the person neared, they also slowed, moving behind her. Ari could smell a heavy dousing of floral perfume.

  Ari and Nevaeh turned at the same time to see who had invaded their privacy.

  “I wanted the pleasure of telling you it was me.” The brutality of her smile was haunting. “It was me who helped him. Me who tracked you. Me who gave you to him.” She removed her sunglasses to look them in the eye then, taking off her cap, she flicked her hair into place.

  The voice, dripping spiteful triumph, was so close to them that Ari had a problem focusing on the face in front of her. It came into view and she saw Michelle, her face reeking with satisfaction, standing there. Ari's skin tightened. She scrambled through her mind looking for answers, trying to find an explanation. There it was, hidden deep within. She’d thought she was out of harm’s way. How foolish was that? Naive. Stupid. Too many years of bundling her ability away had made it too easy for her to keep the feelings hidden. Assuming Nate had sent her somewhere safe hadn’t helped either, and she’d let down her guard, not even bothering to check for herself.

  Ari knew where he was and turned to face him. The seether stepped out from the shadow behind the dumpster.

  “Scream or run, and I'll kill your friend.” His voice was calm as if commenting on the weather. However, the blade held in his right hand belied his placid tone. The sun hit the blade, the metal reflecting the colours of the walls around them, the walls closing them in. He strolled towards Ari and Nevaeh. To people at a distance, it could have appeared to be an innocent encounter. Ari didn't know if he would kill them here in the open, but she wouldn’t put it past him, knowing what he was capable of.

  Nevaeh said nothing. She stood there, looking terrified and angry. Then, before Ari could move, she turned and punched Michelle hard in the stomach. The humph noise she made when all the air expelled from her lungs was oddly satisfying. Michelle staggered but didn’t fall. Ari looked at Nevaeh, shocked by the sudden outburst and the sheer ferocity of it.

  “Oh come on, she deserved that. He just said I couldn't run—what else was I supposed to do.”

  The seether sneered, “You're right, she did deserve it, but how about, since she’s on my side, you know—the one with the knife, we say you don't do that again, okay? Either of you.”

  Michelle, still bent over, craned her head up at Nevaeh. “Bitch,” she spat through a ragged breath. “You’ll pay for that.”

  “Cell phones, please.” The seether drew their attention back to him. His outstretched hand waited to receive their phones.

  Ari and Nevaeh didn't move.

  “Oh, don't give me that shit. Two teenage girls who don't have cell phones? I have a better chance of perfecting time travel. Now hand them over.”

  They complied, forcefully slapping them into his hand.

  “You don’t need her,” Ari pointed to Nevaeh. “Let her go and I’ll do whatever, okay?”

  “Ha. If I let her go alive, first thing she’ll do is call the cops and that Serrathan guy of yours, and watch them bring us down. Now, shut your face and walk. I’m taking you on an adventure.” The seether’s commands were forceful, as was the hand he shoved into Ari’s back.

  Ari was frantic, trying to weigh up their options. Wouldn't it be better to stay out in the open and try and lose him here? She looked around her for any potential way out. She had been too obvious. The seether sidled up to her and, standing as close as a lover would, he squeezed the wrist he had grabbed at the lakeside. Pain ripped up her arm. She tried to pull away but he held her tight.

  “Let's remember what I can do. Your lover boy is a bit more durable than you. But you and your little friend here, I could happily break like twigs.” He released her wrist, gave her a forceful kiss on the forehead as a final show of dominance and, in a low pitched voice, demanded, “Move.”

  Ari and Nevaeh both turned and started walking.

  “Are you alright?” Nevaeh whispered.

  Nevaeh inspected Ari’s arm, checking for damage. The imprint of the seether’s hand disappearing as the blood returned. Ari had used a wide-strap watch, carefully positioned to cover the previous bruise, but it wasn’t quite wide enough. Nevaeh noticed the faint brown-yellow hued markings poking out and pushed the watch aside to get a better view.

  “That's not the first time he’s grabbed you, is it?”

  “This one is from the winery,” Ari said, pointing at her wrist. “Only difference is, that time Nate was there to stop him.”

  “Now would be the perfect time for him to show up.” Nevaeh mumbled. Th
e sentiment was wishful and hopeless. Ari knew he wasn’t near. She’d searched for his emotional signature the instant she had seen the seether’s face.

  Reluctantly, they walked back towards the hotel, the seether and Michelle only a step behind. How deep was Michelle's hatred to have offered them up so easily? No answer, no explanation could suffice. Ari heard an air of seduction in Michelle's voice, as she talked with the seether. Even the sound of her breathing aggravated Ari. She understood fully why Nevaeh had hit the girl. Ari wished she’d been the one. Her hands twitched, and she stopped dead in her path. She turned around, wanting to get a clearer picture of the evil walking behind her.

  “I just want to know why? Why would you do this?” As she spoke, she looked Michelle straight in the eye but could find no guilt or remorse hiding there, only a haze of pleasure.

  “I’m sick of you and Nevaeh always getting what you want. Everyone’s favourite little duo. Even my father thought you were so fantastic after getting those stupid awards last year for netball and math. I thought it would be nice to bring you down a notch or two. Turns out it does feel satisfying—even better than sleeping with Nevaeh’s lover boy from the party, although, he was easy pickings.”

  “You did all this just because you're jealous of us?”

  “That makes it sound a lot less meaningful—but yeah, pretty much. Why would I not do something that made me so happy? That and a free, all expenses paid holiday. First class even. How do you think Dominic found you?”

  The seether had a name. Up until that point, Ari assumed he was nothing like a human. But naming him seemed to change that.

  “I can't believe you didn't see me at the airport. Admittedly, I wasn't looking my fabulous self.” She flicked her hair back behind her shoulder. “That was me in the shabby Adidas cap and sunnies.” She pointed to the bag. “So not my style. But you were all wrapped up in your pretty boy, and you didn't see me standing a few people behind you. I couldn’t believe it when you booked onto a different flight. I had it all planned out in Phuket, my excursion, my spa appointments, everything. Never mind. I cheered up when they had no spare seats in cattle class left on the Singapore flight, and I got to fly first class instead.” She leaned into Ari and murmured, “Well, I could have gone business, but why would I, not when there’s a cute guy wanting to pay, right?”

  “Your parents must be so proud.” Ari’s sentence oozed with sarcasm.

  “Whatever. I'm sure they're happy as long as I’m leaving their bank accounts alone for a change.”

  Having had enough of the exchange, the seether prodded Ari and told her to get a move on.

  They walked in silence the rest of the way, with the exception of the seether, who spent most of the time on his cell phone. From the bits and pieces Ari could hear, it sounded like he was booking flights.

  The seether soon confirmed it. “If anybody is not traveling on a New Zealand passport, now would be the time to tell me.”

  Nevaeh and Ari shook their heads but didn't bother to turn and look at him. In a silky voice, he said, “We're all kiwis. Book us up, and if you could arrange a taxi from the hotel to the airport that would be great too.”

  There was a short pause. “Wonderful. We will be ready to go in twenty minutes. Thanks so much for your help. After he’d hung up he added, “…you melodious pain in the arse.”

  “So Dominic, where are we going next? Will I get some shopping time?”

  The affection in Michelle's voice sounded out of place, so Ari turned her head to see what was going on. Michelle looked dolefully up into the seether’s eyes, linked her arm with his, then let out a ridiculous giggle. The seether, in turn, looked like he might push her into the oncoming traffic. His eyes narrowed, then, he took a deep breath and appeared to compose himself.

  “Melbourne.” He even looked back at her with a smile.

  “That works for me,” Michelle replied.

  “I'm so glad,” the seether responded flatly.

  They walked back through the hotel lobby, the staff welcoming them. This time, Ari didn't respond to the pleasantries, merely acknowledged their kindness with a short nod and kept moving. Dominic and Michelle, their arms still linked like a honeymooning couple, held back far enough to give the impression that Nevaeh and Ari were alone.

  “If we start screaming,” Nevaeh whispered, “the staff will do something to help.”

  “No, don't even think it,” Ari barraged her.

  “But it would be worth a try. He's not going to hurt us in front of all these people. And, anyway, there's bound to be someone here who does karate or something.”

  “Please listen to me. He's lightning fast. And he wouldn't hesitate to hurt you, maybe even kill you. He will do whatever it takes to make me do what he wants.”

  “But we could ...”

  “No, Nevaeh.” Fear made Ari's voice quaver. “I’ve told you what he’s like. He knows Nate’s not here to protect us. Please, please don't provoke him. Not until we have a way out or he loses that knife.”

  Michelle and the seether joined them as they waited for the elevator. The seether hustled the girls up to their room and ordered them to immediately start packing. Michelle headed to her own room to do the same. After Nevaeh had cleared her things out of the bathroom, Ari went in to pack her toiletries. She closed the door behind her.

  “Why do you need the door closed?” the seether called out.

  “I need to go to the toilet. If you could sing a little that might help speed the process up.”

  “Just get on with it,” he snarled back.

  Once finished, she washed her hands with liquid soap and warm water. The heat steaming up the mirror gave her an idea. It was a silly thing her mother used to do with her when she had been a young girl; leaving hidden messages on the mirror that would show up later with a bit of steam. Before she rinsed her hands properly, she wrote at the bottom of the mirror, Melbourne. Doing it without making the mirror squeak was hard. When the mirror dried, the message would be practically invisible. Ari took off a small gold stacker ring and placed it on the arm of the hot tap, the gold blending in with the brass making it less noticeable. She picked up her products littering the sink and threw them all into her toilet bag, each piece providing a snap as plastic on plastic struck each other.

  The message took too long to dry. Second thoughts poked holes in Ari’s plan. It was risky and there were so many ways it could go wrong. The service staff might clean it off, or Nate might not see the ring or realise why it was there, that’s even if he could get into the room. But the worst outcome had to be the seether seeing it. She had already experienced his mercurial bursts of violence, and this would surely provoke him. For a moment, she considered wiping it off, but she stayed her hand. She had to do something. She couldn't leave without giving her and Nevaeh a chance of being found. That was the one thing she was sure of; Nate would come for her. Leaving the message was better than nothing and, with all her soul, she hoped it would be enough. She put her toothbrush into its case and shoved it into her bag. Turning out the light, she came back out of the bathroom leaving the door wide open. She put the toilet bag in her suitcase and zipped it up.

  “Right, let’s go. I would hate to keep the taxi waiting,” Ari said. Not wanting to stick around, Ari fled the room and stood outside in the hallway waiting for Nevaeh and the seether to follow. As the seether left the room, he poked his head into the bathroom. With enough light flooding in from the main area, he never bothered to turn on the light. Ari’s heart lodged in her throat threatening her oxygen supply as she waited for the outburst. His face reappeared a moment later showing no sign of concern Ari couldn’t believe her luck.

  The seether pulled the knife from his pocket.

  “Let’s not forget what damage this can do. Oh, and one last thing.” He grabbed a handful of Nevaeh’s hair, forcing her head back, and held her mouth open to drop a pill down her throat. A hard slap on her back shocked her into swallowing the tablet. Ari reacted, shoulder-ch
arging him, driving as hard as she could. But, with his feet planted firmly, his body hardly moved under the impact and she found herself crumpled at his feet.

  “Enough of that, Ari.” The seether pushed her back to her suitcase. “Now, pick it up. If you both behave, I will give her the antidote on arrival at the hotel in Melbourne, not before. But, if you make any mention of it before we get there, then she gets nothing.”

  “What was it?” Ari yelled.

  “Tut, tut. Another word, and I’ll end her now and leave her for room service. All you need to know is that it isn’t good for her.”

  “You’re lying.” Nevaeh swung a fist at him. He caught it with a smile. “Oh, little girl, I have been alive long enough to learn a few tricks. Poisons, they’re easy. Now, get a move on. It would be terrible if we missed the plane.”

  After the seether shut the door, he attached the Do Not Disturb sign to the outer handle. At least, that might stop the housemaids cleaning up her markings. The chances of Nate discovering the writing improve by the minute.

  As soon as they turned the corner and the elevator was in sight, Ari saw Michelle punch the down button. She appeared to have been waiting there for a while, leaning up against the wall. A backpack, all she had with her, lay dumped in a heap at her feet.

  “I was told to pack light,” she whined, as if expecting sympathy.

  As they waited for the elevator, the seether dished out more instructions.

  “Give Michelle your suitcases. She’ll take them to the taxi.”

  “I'm not the bellboy. They can do it themselves.” She swooped down on her bag, picking it up and flinging it over her shoulder.

  The seether glared at her. “Just do it. I don't want any of the staff to think these two are leaving. They might ask questions.”

  Further grumblings were ignored. Both Ari and Nevaeh practically threw their cases at her, finding some small delight in doing so.

  The elevator door opened. “Michelle only, in this one.” The seether’s extended his arm, barring their way. “We'll get the next one.”