by Nina Walker
I peeked at Mastin, wondering again why he’d kept his father’s position a secret from me for so long. Was it a trust issue? A pride issue? Mastin stood with a stick-straight back, his mouth set in a firm line, arms behind his back and eyes ahead.
Nathan Scott turned on me. “Well, are you all talk or are you going to do something.”
I shook away my nerves as his comment seeped into my bones, the realization settling deep. “What do you mean?” My heart sped up with the questions. “You want me to do alchemy here? Right now?”
“You tell me,” Nathan grumbled. “You were adamant that your alchemy is so useful, so show me. Do something.”
“Fine.” I smiled despite myself. “Hand to hand combat with one of your men.” That could be fun.
“We use guns and bombs,” Mastin spoke up. He didn’t bother to move to offer his opinion. Not that anyone asked him!
“Not always.” I’d seen men practicing their fighting and it looked much the same as it was back home. “Besides, I can use green alchemy to heal any wounds that don’t immediately kill me.” I walked nonchalantly to stand in front of Mastin. I winked. His mouth quirked ever so slightly as he stood at attention like all the other soldiers. Ha! Got you!
I used to wonder how he stayed so aloof most of the time, even if he did have a temper, it was nothing compared to mine. But seeing him here in his element, and meeting his powerful father, I understood.
“My son has a good point. How would you use an alchemist to fight against bullets and bombs?” Nathan asked. I turned to meet his smirk, shaking my head. He had no idea.
A bead of sweat formed on my temple, but I didn’t wipe it away. “The alchemists working with Richard have trained military with them, it’s not as if they’re defenseless in that area. Alchemists aren’t the soldiers, they’re the weapons.”
His eyes were hard black slits as he leaned in. “Interesting choice of words.”
I shrugged.
“I don’t think a little healing magic is going to save them from real weapons,” Nathan quipped loudly, his voice carrying over the lawn. He put the words healing magic into air quotes. The group of men close enough to hear our conversation laughed at his joke. I didn’t find it funny.
“Maybe not,” I shot back, hands fisted at my sides, holding my temper at bay. Scott was the General after all, and I was keenly aware that I was probably the only person on this base without a gun. “But I’ve seen alchemy do more than just heal wounds, even life-threatening wounds. I’ve seen it turn people mad with emotion. I’ve seen it convince whole crowds that obvious lies are the truth.” My voice roared, echoing across the lawn for everyone to hear— the blue resting against my chest aiding me. “I’ve seen it used for telepathy, to read the future, to eavesdrop on conversations happening miles away. Some can use it to control people’s minds, make them do things they never would otherwise. It gives people super human strength. I’ve even seen it turn an entire helicopter invisible, completely invisible, even on radar.”
The snickering had long since dissipated now, and I stared out into the crowd of naysayers. “So yeah, any one of your men can shoot a gun, and believe me, New Colony has those too, but not just anyone can do what an alchemist can do, and as far as I can tell, I’m the only willing alchemist you’ve got.”
It was my second tirade of the day and it left the people around me more speechless than the first. I steeled myself for the fallout, not at all regretful of what I’d said. It had all been the truth. And these people needed to hear the truth. Everyone did. I was so sick of the lies, and wasn’t going to let my time here be used to create more.
I studied the faces of the men in front of me and was instantly hit with a wall of hatred and fear—hardened eyes, clenched jaws, and fisted hands. Here I was, what they saw as a little girl, someone who clearly didn’t belong, and I was holding my own with their General. Not only that, I’d revealed to them things about color alchemy that they didn’t know, things that should terrify them.
Mastin broke protocol and stepped up next to me, muttering under his breath. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? I swear to God, Sasha, you’re going to give me an ulcer.”
I elbowed him in the side. “Don’t swear.”
“Let’s start with your super human strength,” Nathan cut in, loud enough that it also echoed across the lawn. His body language wasn’t defensive anymore. Dare I say, it was proud? “Show us.”
I nodded. “I can’t do all those things I mentioned, no alchemist can. But I can do that one.”
“What else can you do?” He turned, his eyes narrowed slits, along with hundreds of others. I quivered under the pressure, swallowing hard.
“The healing, the super human strength, the enhancing emotions,” I said, “pretty much all alchemists can do that. But I can also block people from hearing me if I need.”
“But not the rest of the…powers…you mentioned?” He studied me.
“That’s all.”
Liar.
If I told them about red alchemy they’d probably kill me on the spot. Or maybe just lock me up for safekeeping. And besides, I hadn’t done it in years. I wasn’t even sure if I could still do it if I wanted to.
“The invisibility? The telepathy? Mind control?”
“Super rare.” I gulped. “But King Richard has alchemists at the palace who can do all of those things.”
He stilled, then nodded and flicked his wrist toward the space of lawn between the three of us and the rest of his men. “Like I said, show us this super human strength.”
I took five long strides forward until I was between Mastin and his father, and the rest of the men. My rainbow rock necklace rested under my clothes, flush against my skin. They didn’t need to see the color. It was safer for me if they didn’t know quite exactly how I accessed my magic, better if most of these men thought I could do it at any time. Though I figured Nathan and Mastin knew well enough that wasn’t the case, that I actually needed access to the organic colors.
I reached out to the yellow with my mind and it met me like an eager puppy, excited by the attention. The magic shot through me with a jolt, a tickling burning sensation rolling through my body. I used the momentum to start running. I ran between one of the rows of men. Startled, they had no issue getting out of my way. I was fast, zipping down the row, blood pumping. To everyone else, I was a blur of blonde hair, white skin, and black clothes.
Getting closer to my target, I jumped, easily clearing thirty feet, before landing with a thud in the sidewalk with such force that it cracked the pavement. A huge army tank was parked just in front of me. I hunkered down and placed my hands under one of the rubber tires. It was taller than me! Taking a deep breath, filling the magic through my entire being, I lifted the tire off the ground, the tank tilting as I stood tall. I strained against the insane weight, the ridges from the tire digging into my arms like rubber knives. After a few seconds I couldn’t take it much longer, so I dropped the tank and stepped back, brushing myself off.
Swinging back toward the crowd, I issued a bow. Admittedly, it was not my brightest move. Tristan would have laughed.
“She’s unnatural.”
“A witch!”
“Get her out of here!”
Mastin and Nathan jogged toward me. I didn’t miss the fire raging in Mastin’s usually mossy eyes. I couldn’t look away.
“That was amazing,” another voice boomed over the crowd.
“I wouldn’t mind some of that magic on the battlefield.”
A few snickered.
“Show us more, little witch!”
“I really don’t appreciate being called a witch, thank you very much!” I yelled back.
Mastin stopped in front of me, putting both hands on my arms. He pulled me away from the soldiers, moving his body to block me like a human shield. “Let’s get you out of here,” he growled low.
“No,” Nathan said, his voice soft enough that only we could hear. “You don’t want to appear to
be too friendly with her, Mastin. Step away.”
The crowd was stirring, growing louder.
Mastin froze for a second but did as his father asked.
“Squadron, attention!” Nathan called out sharply. The men immediately stood at attention, their bodies tall, feet at 45-degree angles, their fists balled at their sides, and their mouths? Oh, they shut those real fast. It made me wish I was a General. Nathan had earned the kind of power that came from respect, not magic, and it was a sight to behold.
“You will treat Sasha as if she were one of our own,” he said, his voice clear. “This is a direct order not only from me but from our Madame President. Sasha is here to help us, and she will be shown utmost respect at all times. Not only that, but you will protect her as if she is our biggest asset in this war, because quite frankly, she might be.”
There was a long pause and then he finished with a single nod. “Please continue on with the rest of your scheduled activities for the day. As you were!”
The men disbanded. I watched them go with the kind of curiosity that lifted my spirit ever so slightly. I could relate to these people and maybe I would be one of them soon. True, most of them ignored me, others nodded their approval, and even more eyed me with suspicion, fear, or hatred. But I didn’t let it get to me. These people had just seen their first bit of color alchemy, and whether positive or negative, it had made a lasting impact on each and every one of them.
They wouldn’t forget me, and maybe that’s how change would start.
Nathan brought me along to all his meetings that day. It was like getting a bucket of cold water dropped over the head.
A wake-up call.
That night as we sat around the dining table, I didn’t have anything to add to the conversation. I stirred the food around my plate, lost in thought.
First, the war was not going so well for West America.
Richard’s troops were gaining ground every day. And if the American citizens didn’t go along with whatever he wanted, they faced some nasty consequences. Torture and death in most cases. Color alchemy destroying land in others, but it seemed that particular problem had started to let up the more ground New Colony gained.
In the last two weeks, West America had tried several times to bomb the New Colony troops, but nobody got through. People were starting to wonder if the bombers should just go and bomb the palace. Never mind the fact that there were plenty of innocent people living there, many of them children. The very idea of it made me ill, and I hated Richard. But it wasn’t right to send others to an early grave because of him.
The President had felt that way too, apparently.
That had been why they’d started with the original plan they’d involved me in, the one that had failed miserably, delivering a boat-load of alchemists right into Richard’s hands.
And now everything was a mess.
War was a mess.
I sighed and leaned back in my chair, watching the family on either side of me. They seemed to have it all, the perfect home, perfect careers, love and respect. Would all of that become a casualty of this war as well?
The very idea officially ruined my appetite. I dropped my fork down with a clatter.
“May I be excused, please?” I turned on General Scott.
He studied me for a moment and nodded.
I took the stairs two at a time, retreating to my bedroom. I didn’t want to watch that family downstairs anymore. Not with what I knew was coming. It wouldn’t be long before Mastin and his father were out on the frontline, leaving Melissa to worry.
I plopped down on my bed and rolled onto my stomach, groaning into the squishy pillow. Would they let me come with them? I had to go! I needed to save who I could. Get Christopher and Jessa out somehow. Help those innocent West American alchemists I’d let down. Plus the many others who were Resistance, or who simply didn’t deserve to die.
And it wasn’t going to happen sitting on this military base.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Come in,” I muttered.
Mastin walked in, rubbing his hand along the back of his buzzed hair and watching me with trepidation.
“I’m fine,” I said, sitting up. “Really, it’s all good.”
He nodded once.
“Are you up for a surprise?”
I rolled my eyes. “Is it a good surprise?”
“It is. We get to leave base. It’s already been cleared for approval.”
Adrenaline shot through my veins as I jumped up.
“Are we going to the war?”
He stared at me, his mouth turning down in a frown. “No,” he replied. “We’re going to the beach.”
Oh. Well, fine then.
I followed him out to a black, shiny SUV that turned out to be his. As we drove out of the base and into the city, down winding roads that led to the ocean, I was plagued with guilt. I shouldn’t be here, shouldn’t be going to the beach. People needed me. I rested my forehead on the window, telling myself it was okay to enjoy this moment. Having a good life when others suffered, that didn’t mean I should suffer too. Right?
I closed my eyes against the setting sun and drove the thoughts from my mind. Just breathe.
We turned into a parking lot. The view unfolded before us, a spectacular horizon. The sun was setting over the ocean, transforming the sky into a vibrant mix of oranges, pinks, and purples. The second he parked, I was out of the car. I sprinted, kicking off my shoes as I reached the sand.
“The water is super cold this time of year,” Mastin called after me. “Don’t go in there!”
But I didn’t care what he said, and besides, I was hardly listening. I planned to dive into the water and lose my worries to the thrashing waves. The salty air whipped past me as my feet buried deep with each heavy stride. The crashing sound drew me to it like a relief I didn’t know I needed, but now that it was here I had to be a part of it.
“Well it’s nice to see you, too!” a voice called out and I jerked from my run and spun, sand flying, to see Tristan coming down the beach. He walked toward me, Mom and Lacey on either side of him. I cried out, abandoned the water, and darted toward the group. I tackled Tristan as I jumped on him, my body wrapping around his in a full-body hug.
“Whoa, hold on there!” He laughed. “It’s only been a week.”
“Shut it,” I said, nuzzling into his warmth and squeezing tighter for a second longer. Then I released him and hugged Lacey, and a surprise to us both, I hugged my mother.
“I’ve missed all of you,” I said, putting special emphasis on the all. “This has been a crazy couple of weeks and I’m just so glad to see you’re safe and healthy.”
“We agree,” Mom replied, though I could see lines on her face that weren’t there the night I’d left her behind. The very same night Christopher had insisted on coming on that foolhardy mission and gotten himself captured.
“He’s all right,” I said, answering the question I knew was on the tip of her tongue. “Last I saw of him they’d moved him up into the palace, in a room right next to Jessa. They’re treating him good, as leverage on her, I think. But he’s all right. And so is she.” For now.
She breathed out a sigh of relief and nodded.
I kneeled down to Lacey and wrapped her in a second hug. “I missed you.” Her little body melded against me and I breathed in her sweet scent. A pulse of love went through me, so strong, I nearly cried out.
“Mom says you’re my sister, too,” Lacey said when I’d finally released her from my grip. “I’m so happy to have another sister and I’m so happy that it’s you!”
She grinned up at me, her blonde hair wild in the wind. The sun reflected off of her blue eyes, mirrors of Jessa’s, and the longing for all my family burned deep.
“I’m glad I’m your sister, too,” I replied, the words a catharsis on my lips. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed my family.”
We all sat down on the sand and talked, watching the sun set, the colors fading from
bright, to pastel, and then to nothing at all. When the darkness overtook us, the chill set in.
“I’m so cold.” Lacey started to whine as kids do and it was clearly time to go.
“It’s okay.” We stood, and I hugged Mom and Lacey goodbye. As they walked up the beach, a heaviness weighed me down. Tristan leaned into me and I rested my head against him, drawing on his strength.
A few military men stood in the parking lot. They helped Mom and Lacey into the car, then nodded toward Tristan. My gaze drifted toward Mastin who waited patiently, leaning against the side of his car. He gave me a quick wave, but that was all. I bit my lip, pondering.
“I’ll walk you back,” Tristan said, tucking his arm around me. I realized that I’d begun to shiver, and only now could I feel it.
We ambled toward the parking lot, moving slowly. We weren’t ready for our time together to end. I didn’t think I was ever ready for my time with Tristan to end. He was home to me. He was comfort. Some people have comfort items or blankets or animals, I had him.
“Where’s Hank?” I asked.
“He couldn’t come. He’s been in so many meetings,” Tristan replied. “He’s working with lots of high-ranking people these days. But I’m sure you’ll see him soon. I know he misses you.”
I nodded. “I miss him. And I’ve missed you,” I added, rubbing my forehead against him. We stopped and pulled each other in for another hug. He rested his chin on the top of my head and relaxed into me. I lingered against the hard plains of his body. They did something to my insides, something that caused the opposite of relaxation. I buzzed.
“I missed you, too,” he whispered. “How’s it staying with Mastin’s family? Do you feel safe there?”
“Safe enough,” I said, careful to keep my mouth shut about how there were just as many people who hated alchemists inside the base as there were off of it. But I didn’t want to worry him.
I looked up to meet his pained expression. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
He shook his head once, the wind flipping his black hair to one side. It blended in with the sky above him.
