by Jenn Nixon
When her right hand trembled, Cyndra pulled back from Rune and clasped them together, hoping Grandma Evie’s trick of confusing the powers worked. Taking a deep breath and clearing her head helped reel it all back in, thankfully.
Whew.
“Yeah, you’re not kidding,” Cyndra said, frowning, unable to keep it off her face. “We gotta go tell Jack.”
You don’t want to go after him?
“More than anything, but there are a few things we need to do first.” Cyndra bounded down the stairs, trying not to glance toward the west wing of the mansion, where Zorin went, as she hopped over the rock wall. Rune ran into the wood first. Before she did, she evoked both her elements without conjuring, hoping somehow Zorin knew she wasn’t abandoning him.
Whatever she, Jack, and Rune decided to do next would change everything one way or another. Cyndra had to do it with an open mind, think about the bigger picture because Mergan tried to end the world once. She couldn’t get a second chance.
Chapter 24
Zorin landed and set Mergan on her feet then followed her deeper into the patch of woods on the far side of the mansion wondering why she lied to…the other woman about caster power.
Mergan rattled off a list of a dozen items she wanted to eat now that she was free and paused in a small clearing with a large rock. She sat down and smiled up at him. “All our time in the mirror-realm helped. You performed perfectly, my pet, hardly any fight.”
He dipped his head.
“You’ll enjoy our new arrangement, that is, if you decide to go with me.”
The elemental warmth of the other woman flooded his senses. Mergan snapped her fingers, drawing his gaze. Zorin narrowed his eyes at her, unable to reply verbally. Release me!
“Oh don’t start now, we were getting along so well,” Mergan lifted her left hand, twirled her fingers, and spun her wrist. His vision grew fuzzy. She stood and stepped closer to him, setting her hands on his biceps. “I’m not recovering as fast as I’d like and you have more than enough power to take.”
Mergan stroked her hands over his chest, not to arouse, simply to siphon him, and pulled Cyndra’s power from his body.
Cyndra! He shuddered, trying to break the mental hold around his mind.
“Fight me all you want,” Mergan said as she jerked his chin sideways and sped up her siphon. “When I’m done destroying her memory of you, I’ll make you drain her until her heart stops beating. Do you believe they fell for that? Casters can’t kill each other, ha!”
“Why,” he managed before he swayed and Mergan’s control returned.
She threw her head back to laugh. “Take away their hope, like you took mine. You came to me broken after five years ignoring me and my warnings about the humans and I still took you back, healed your battered body, listened to you sob about how you weren’t strong enough. I made you invincible and the moment I use you to do one simple task, you turn against me. You won’t get that chance again.”
Zorin locked his jaw, knowing this didn’t feel right, yet unable to speak, he only stared at his captor.
She sighed heavily. “Once I know you’re fully under, I’ll let you talk, pet. Soon, if you behave, yes?”
Yes.
After sitting back down on the rock, she picked at her dress, waving her hand in front of her nose. “I haven’t bathed in twenty-five years. Nor do I have any clothes. You can procure something for me can’t you?”
No.
“Take it from Cyndra—What?”
He stared blankly.
Mergan sighed. “Why?”
Barrier lets me leave but blocks me from returning.
“Oh yes, I’d forgotten.” She lifted her brow. “At least you’re not lying to me. I’d hate to punish you again.”
Zorin narrowed his stare.
“No memory of that either? How have you managed so long with a brain full of holes? We can’t have you playing nice if you don’t remember the consequences when you don’t.” Mergan lifted her hand and wiggled her fingers this time.
Every moment with Mergan replayed in his mind, from their meeting when he was a young college student, trying to fit into two worlds, while everyone around him grew angrier and more fearful of casters to the better times, learning their elements. War, death, and his defeat in Georgia and subsequent pleading to take him back into her fold flashed next. He begged her to help him grow stronger, to help him protect those he cared about.
“I was all you cared for at one time. I didn’t turn you into a monster, Zorin, your darkness did that.” Her words churned through his mind as she bombarded him with the rest, all his deeds during the war, the slaughter, sneaking up behind unsuspecting humans, because they couldn’t see him, and destroying whole towns in one night. When he chose to stop, when the blood refused to wash from his skin, Mergan punished him with the same brutality he unleashed upon her enemies. “I will string you up and strip your flesh if you disobey me, am I understood?”
Yes.
“Good, now tell me what is Cyndra’s weakness?”
Emotion.
“Ah, I should have known, she seems a little hot headed.”
Zorin laughed.
“You’re laughing?” Mergan glared at him. “What has she done to you? Did you sleep with her?”
Yes.
Rage passed across her face as she swept her hair aside. “Had I known how much you wanted to fuck in this form I may have tried to seduce you. It wouldn’t have taken much, a compliment here, a kind word there with a little bit of flirting. You were simply too easy, Zorin.”
Zorin hardened his gaze.
“Do you love her, monster?”
His face tightened but he didn’t answer.
“Do you?” Mergan lifted her hand and then chuckled. “You don’t know…that’s even more pitiful than I could hope for. Oh, she will beg me to take you away from this island when I’m done with her. Anyway, I need a change of clothing terribly and I suppose it serves no purpose staying here. Get me something new to wear. Something of hers, pretty, and do not say a word to anyone. Understood?”
Yes.
“Take me to the old port first.”
Zorin picked her up and exited the same path he took into the woods then climbed the side of the mansion before leaping into the air. He eased through the barrier north of the mansion, taking Mergan along and dropping her where she commanded.
“I’ll be waiting on the last dock standing,” Mergan said, walking toward the abandoned port beyond the overgrown field of weeds and grass. “You have half an hour.”
Nodding his head, Zorin jumped onto a tree branch and into the air. He rose higher, directing his body toward the mansion and lighthouse beyond, feeling the frantic energy of the other woman ride over his skin the closer he got.
His wings tingled and his body hardened.
Focus, my pet, Mergan prodded mockingly.
He landed on the walkway atop the lighthouse, ignoring his racing heart as he entered the building and ducked down the stairs.
The two male casters gasped.
“Shit!” the older one said.
“What?” the other woman bellowed, dashing out of a side room. She locked her gaze on him. Zorin?
He clenched his jaw, balling both hands as he stared down, recognizing her eyes and voice.
Move, pet, Mergan ordered.
Zorin pushed past the other woman and walked into the room she exited.
“What are you doing?” she asked and grabbed his wrist. The warmth he sensed in the air spilled into his body. He shuddered, breaking free of her hold. “Zorin? You’ve got to fight her, please…look at me.”
Moving to the small pile of clothing lying on top of a dirty backpack, Zorin glanced down, looking for something pretty. When he picked up a small top and leggings, Mergan laughed in his head and directed him to an oversized shirt sewn to look like a dress.
I suppose that will have to do, this girl is tragic.
“What the shit, you’re bringing h
er my clothes? No,” the other woman spat and yanked the clothing from his hand. “Look at me!”
Zorin met her eyes.
“It’s me, Cyndra. Snap the fuck out of it, Zorin.”
He dipped his brow and tears filled his eyes as he snatched the dress back. His mouth opened. His voice echoed with Mergan’s words, “Let him go, caster, or he will suffer.”
“Why are you doing this, Mergan? Why?”
“Remove the barriers around the island and you can have him back. You have twenty hours to decide.” The words spilled out of his mouth without his consent or control, however, Mergan couldn’t stop the tear trailing down his cheek. All three casters stared at him as he carried the dress up the stairs.
No one followed.
No one called his name.
Zorin dove off the walkway, directing his flight toward the mansion, deciding which way to go around, and trying to recall the docks on the north side of the island. Halfway to his destination the other woman’s fire and energy erupted into the air. His body altered his flight automatically, drawn to her power, needing her touch.
Focus on me, pet, Mergan said to his mind, seducing his darkness with her tainted energy.
Redirecting back to the port, Zorin tucked his wings, easing his descent to the ground, landing on a concrete piling that once held up the main dock. Only one small wooden dock remained.
Mergan waved him over, snapping her fingers to make him move faster, then ripped the clothing from his hands. She curled her lip and sighed before removing the faded and torn fabric from her body and putting on the new dress. Grumbling, she tugged the hem down and pinched the sides together to give it shape, then pressed her hand against the fabric, altering the dress slightly with an intensely strong energycast.
“Much easier than sewing,” she said dismissively. “It’ll do. How did it feel seeing her?”
Zorin heart constricted and he shut his eyes.
“Answer me. How does it feel? Speak.”
“Hurts.”
“Did it hurt when you turned on me?”
“Yes.”
Mergan blinked and went still. “Why?”
“You were my mentor, my friend.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Go, hunt. Find us something to eat.”
Zorin dipped his head, hopped onto the piling and waited for the wind. When he jumped into the air, he extended his wings and lifted higher, returning to the lush green landscape south of the port. Remembering where most animals hid on this island, Zorin flew around the mansion, over the woods and field, bypassing the lighthouse heading straight for the forest between the former town and beach resort.
Hunting for an hour straight, Zorin had captured two squirrels and a rabbit, more than enough to feed Mergan.
He returned to the air, catching a mixture of caster power. Most of the elements were present. They grew too strong to ignore as he flew over the fields, heading back to the port. Siphoning all he could, knowing Mergan required him strong, Zorin absorbed the earthcasting power, the fire and water, even the energy, tainted and pure, confusing and arousing and tempting him, manipulating him.
Zorin, can you hear me? The calming, tender voice inside his mind shattered his heart. I’m going to do it. I’m going to release all the barriers. Tell her.
No.
Zorin!
Mergan broke into his head, bombarding him with the faces of the men and women he’d sent to the mirror-realm, those he broken with his bare hands, every single one he killed. Your darkness will infect them. Is that what you want?
He heard these words before. Zorin locked his jaw, balling both hands into tight fists. Lies.
Not another word to unless I ask it of you. Return to the docks, now, understood?
Yes, he replied, biting his lip and digging his nails into his palms. Yes, he would return to Mergan. Yes, he would do as she commanded. Yes, it was his only choice. Yes, he belonged to—
He sensed Cyndra’s wicked fire heating his skin from a distance. Her agitated, intense energy followed, filling him with more power than six casters combined. With her elements came another moment of clarity. Zorin realized the difference immediately. He knew what Cyndra was doing. He had to stop her or at least be near to help her.
Mergan, however still had her hooks in his mind.
“Yes, I do,” she said when he landed beside her. “What is she planning?”
Zorin tried not to answer, but she plucked it from his mind.
“Oh, well, we can’t have that now can we?”
“No,” he answered.
“I’m glad we’re on the same side.”
“No, we’re not,” he said again, watching her eyes darken and a snarl decorate her mouth. “I am not to lie.”
Mergan twisted her hand slightly. “I like it better when you fight me. You can think and speak freely.”
“Fuck you.”
“That’s more like it,” Mergan chuckled.
As the fog lifted from his mind, Zorin wished she’d put it back. Knowing his body would betray him every time Mergan commanded it, death seemed a simpler exit. Then he remembered Cyndra. The weight on his heart weakened his knees. He covered his eyes, trying to breathe, trying to hold back the rage and raw ache gnawing his insides.
“Take me to the mirror.”
Zorin bit the inside of his cheek as he picked her up in his arms then climbed up a piling to get some height. Mergan always strived to keep her word. When the caster elders turned her group and means of teaching away, Mergan felt shunned. Zorin didn’t know then what he knew now: casters needed the crystals and each other to balance the elemental powers. Casters needed the bond with family, friends, lovers, and even the Earth itself.
Mergan denied it, believed she knew a better way and went mad trying to prove her point, almost destroying the world in the process.
Cyndra embraced her gifts, after some hand holding, and thrived due to her kindness, curiosity, and openness and especially her desire to help others.
Zorin knew which side he wanted to be on. He knew where he needed to be. Somehow, he had to break from Mergan’s grip and he needed Cyndra to free him.
Chapter 25
Rune’s hand fell to her shoulder as they all watched Zorin disappear upstairs. Cyndra, still numb and confused, met Jack’s equally worried eyes. After scrubbing her cheeks, she dashed into the bedroom to retrieve her sai and debated changing into the first outfit Zorin had picked up, her battle outfit of cycle pants and crop-top. She’d do anything to jog his mind, push Mergan out. Once he saw clearly, he’d fight her.
“I have no idea,” Jack said softly to Rune.
Ignoring them, Cyndra returned to the kitchen and reached into the bookshelf to open the caster box her grandfather had sent her, the item that set everything in motion. She pulled out Pristy’s crystal and gave it to Rune and the other cloaked pendant to Jack.
What are we doing, Cyndra?
“I don’t know, yet, but I don’t want to risk her getting them, so, keep it safe.”
Rune nodded.
“What can we do?” Jack sighed, gazing down at the new crystal in his hand. “Let everyone out?”
“Rune, what do you think?” Cyndra asked, hoping the majority made the decision for her.
Can you remove the barrier?
“Honestly? I’m not sure and it’s going to be tricky because I need Zorin to be there.”
“Why?” Jack crinkled his brow. “Oh, air, right.”
“I’ll siphon his air whether he likes it or not. I should be strong enough now,” Cyndra said on her way to the stairs, evoking her powers without conjuring, allowing it to seep out so her gargoyle knew she was still here. “If we can break the mirror’s barriers maybe we can get more help to stop Mergan.”
Jack led the way down and held the door for everyone. “What about the rest of the barriers?”
“One thing at a time. I’m gonna need to rest after we take care of the mirror,” Cyndra answered truthfully. It had taken most
of her strength to put one barrier up, now she was going to try taking down a protection created by one of the most powerful casters. Mergan wasn’t the only crazy one, it seemed.
If Zorin shows up, she probably will too.
“This might not even work, but we have to try while we’re still on deadline.”
Nobody said anything during the walk across the field or into the mansion grounds. Not even Rune, whose usual jovial personality could elevate the tense mood.
When they reached the bottom of Rune’s staircase, Cyndra glanced up at the mirror at the end of the broken hall, ignoring the pang in her chest. Evoking both elements to her hands, she climbed the staircase hoping everything she read in the journal, everything Zorin told her, taught her, worked and she’d finally make things right and set the innocent free. Undo the mistake her grandmother made forcing the rest of the casters into the mirror. Undo the damage caused by Mergan. Possibly undo the damage of the flare, with enough people.
Cyndra shuddered, sensing Zorin through their bond. Jack was first to spot him and pointed toward the abandoned town on the opposite side of the island. Her gargoyle zoomed through the air bypassing the lighthouse without slowing or indicating recognition.
He’s alone.
“Evoke your elements, he’ll sense us,” Cyndra said softly, keeping her eyes locked on him as he rushed over the field and trees. She tried reaching him and focused on their strong connection through the crystal bond.
Zorin, can you hear me? Cyndra projected timidly. I’m going to do it. I’m going to release all the barriers. Tell her.
No. His reply sent shivers down her back. Rune was right, he was still in there, still fighting.
Zorin! Cyndra ran toward the end of the hall as he zipped around the side of the mansion’s property where the barrier didn’t reach. He vanished to the north. “Shit.”
“What?” Jack asked.
“He’s in there. I just can’t keep the connection for long.” Cyndra gazed down at the pendant hanging around her neck and ripped it off.
Rune raised his eyebrow. Cyndra?
“I need to master my energy,” she said, shoving the crystal into Jack’s hand and moving out into the hallway as she evoked both elements to her hands.
