Rage of Storms

by Kat Adams

  Like the fact I had a sister out there somewhere, probably just as batshit crazy as our mother.

  Sammie addressed the crowd as if accepting an award for her performance. “I’d like to thank each and every one of you. You and your fears made this possible. We can’t wait to take our rightful place at the top of the elemental food chain. Until then…” She smiled wide as she faced the head of the Council. “Here’s my parting gift to you, Albert.”

  She called a root from the ground behind him. We all watched in paralyzing shock as she drove it through Stephens’s chest. His eyes bulged as his jaw dropped. Someone screamed as several more roots shot from the ground and struck at Council members like angry snakes, impaling them in swift, precise assaults.

  Chaos erupted inside the tent as the root snakes went after anyone dressed in black. I focused on the darkness inside me. The coolness consumed me, energized me, and boosted my powers. I called earth and ordered the roots back underground. They ignored me and continued to attack. Oh, hell no. I narrowed my glare and increased my call.

  The first root exploded, sending splinters of wood in every direction. One by one, I detonated my earth charge, blasting the roots into nothing more than sawdust.

  A slow clap caught my attention. I whipped around.

  Sammie applauded. “Very good. Looks like Spence was right. You are more than a quint now, and now you’ve just exposed yourself as magically enhanced. I hope you enjoy your time at Carcerem, dilute.”

  She drew in a satisfied breath and glanced around at the destruction. “Looks like my work here is done. The Council is gone.” She then addressed the crowd. “This is your one chance to join the winning side. Leave with us now, and you will be spared. Anyone standing with the Reed…” she paused to point at me just case that wasn’t perfectly clear “…will fall with the Reed. You’ve been warned.”

  And then she, Alec, and Spencer popped out.

  Not only them, but several other members of the crowd. Even surviving Council members who’d just been the target of her deadly attack. One by one, audible pops sounded as elementals chose their side.

  22

  Clearwater Academy was now the location of the deadliest attack in elemental history. After the dust had settled and the staggering body count finalized, there were only a handful of Council members left on our side. The others who weren’t killed had disappeared with Sammie and her entourage.

  No one spoke as we cleaned the scene by hand, leaving our elements out of it. They’d done enough. I raked up fragments of roots while Syd directed the guys to place the sheet-covered bodies on a large tarp on the far end of the tent.

  So much loss. So many senseless deaths. I wasn’t Albert Stephens’s biggest fan, but he didn’t deserve to die like that. None of them did. Professor Fowler. Brooks, the Incredible Hulk of a man who’d led the search to find Stace. The tall blonde Council member from that search. Presley, the pretty redhead partnered with Rob. Even Dean Carter, now gone, murdered senselessly to decrease our numbers. So, so many more.

  Thank God none of the guys were taken from me. Rob had a gash the size of the Grand Canyon slicing through his bicep, dried blood caked down his arm. Clay was covered in cuts, some of them deep enough to require stitches. They were the two the roots went after. Bryan and Leo walked away unscathed.

  No, that wasn’t true. Bryan stared straight ahead as he followed Syd’s instructions, no expression on his face, like he’d completely tuned out. Leo hadn’t stopped thrusting his fingers through his hair since we began cleaning the scene.

  “Ms. Reed?” Virgil Graves, the father of my nemesis, Vanessa, walked up. Since the head of the Council was now part of the body count, that put Graves in charge. I stopped raking and waited for him to tell me why he hesitantly regarded me. “In these troubled times, our world needs a guiding light, something good to believe in.”

  “Have them start up a prayer group.” I went back to raking.

  “It’s going to take more than that,” he went on, fidgeting with his tie. “As you know, with Albert’s death, it’s my duty to step into the role of head of this Council.”

  “Congratulations.”

  “As head of the Council, it’s my job to heal our world. That begins by having a prophecy not directed by fear, but rather by hope. We need to come together as a whole.”

  I stopped raking again and studied him until he glanced at the bodies on the opposite side of the tent as Syd had them loaded into vans. I waited until he returned his attention to me. “Are you asking me to be the prophecy again?”

  “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m asking.”

  “I’ll pass.” I dropped the rake and walked away.

  Graves followed me. “Ms. Reed, I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation.”

  “I understand it just fine.” I stopped and turned. “You declared me the prophecy when I couldn’t even control my calls. After I stopped Alec von Leer, you thanked me by nearly giving the title to a dark elemental leecher who’d partnered up with the grand poohbah of the dark side. If Stephens hadn’t freaked out over Spencer Dalton’s birthday, we’d be having an entirely different conversation. And I still stopped them. Your thanks on that one? You give the prophecy to someone who’d faked her own death to get away from it. The Council’s track record isn’t all that stellar.”

  “Yes,” he agreed and fidgeted with his tie again. “We’ve made mistakes, mistakes that cost lives. Please, don’t let Stephens’s past mistakes stop you from doing what’s right.”

  I just looked at him, stunned at his level of epic cluelessness. “Seriously? You’re pinning this all on Stephens? You were right there with him, Virgil. You didn’t step up. You didn’t stop him. You just let him run the Council—run our world—using fear and discord. I’m done.”

  “You’re the true prophecy.”

  “That’s just a title.” I stormed off.

  He, of course, followed once again. “Ms. Reed, please reconsider.”

  “Bite me.”

  “Ms. Reed!” His outburst echoed through the tent. Everyone stilled to watch the show. I stopped and crossed my arms, jutting out my hip as I waited for him to stop in front of me. “I’m asking you to do the right thing. Our world needs you.”

  “The answer is still no. I won’t work for a Council who’d allow something like this to happen.” I motioned at the destruction around us. Even though Syd had taken all the bodies, there were still piles of wood to rake up, tables and chairs to put away, and a reality to face.

  “We had no idea Samantha Reed would turn on us.”

  “I call bullshit. The woman disappeared almost six years ago. She suddenly reappears on the heels of me defeating the elemental the Council imported in from the UK, where she’d been hiding out. No coincidence there. How did you think this was going to go?”

  “This is your last chance to do the right thing, Ms. Reed.”

  “Or what?”

  “Or your rejection could be taken as a stand against the Council.”

  I unfolded my arms. Did he just threaten me? “Those are my choices? I either take back the prophecy or I’m labeled dark?”

  “Take a few hours to think about it. I’ll expect your decision before sunup.” With that, he walked away.

  Screw that noise. I marched over to the guys to tell them about the ultimatum Graves just dropped on me. As I drew closer, I thought about it. No matter my decision, they’d stay by my side. If I turned down the prophecy, got labeled as dark, the guys would be labeled as dark right along with me.

  Fuck a bunch of fuckers.

  Leo turned as I approached and offered a weak smile. “Hey, babe.”

  I walked into his arms. “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m in shock, to be honest. We knew she was dark, but I don’t think any of us expected her to be with Alec and Spencer. That…” He trailed off and shook his head. “I just can’t wrap my brain around that one.”

  Tell me about it. “I’m going t
o go for a walk. I need to clear my head.”

  “Do you want company?”

  “No. I want to see if I can talk to Cressida.”

  He nodded. My guys totally got my connection to the school’s founder and didn’t question it when I needed time with her. I said my good-byes to the guys and headed out, emerging from the tent for the first time since the attack. The sun wouldn’t be up for a couple of hours. I lifted my face to the sky and pulled in a deep breath, relishing the fresh air.

  With a sigh, I approached the statue and slowed, resting my hand on the bronze. “Hey, Cressida. Just giving you a heads-up that I’m heading to the ruins. Please be there.”

  My hand slid away from the statue as I moved on, too distracted to teleport. I couldn’t focus now if my life depended on it. I’d just stayed up most of the night cleaning the horrific path of destruction left by my mom.

  Twenty minutes later, I stepped into the ruins, wringing my hands and struggling to breathe without breaking down. Crying wouldn’t do any good. It wouldn’t change what’d happened or turn back the clock. Crying was a form of weakness, my dad used to say.

  I guess I was weak.

  The first sob consumed me as the dam broke. I melted onto a stone and buried my face in my hands. Sob after painful sob gutted me. I cried over the deaths of so many good people. I cried over being forced to choose between becoming the prophecy again and wearing a target on my back or being labeled dark and thrown in Carcerem.

  But above everything else, I cried over losing my mom all over again. “It’s not fair. Why couldn’t she just stay gone? What did I ever do to deserve her hating me so much that she’d turn half of an entire world against me? Now if I don’t agree to be the prophecy again, the Council is going to label me dark. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Open your eyes.”

  I glanced up and choked on another sob. Cressida Clearwater, as beautiful and regal as the first time I’d seen her, her long chestnut hair flowing in the nonexistent breeze, her hazel gaze warm as she smiled, stood before me, her arms open. Without another moment’s hesitation, I sprang from the stone and rushed into her embrace.

  She held me tight, brushing my hair with her hand, whispering reassurances. “You’re stronger than you know, and you’re not alone. You have one half of an entire world on your side.”

  I pulled back. “I do, don’t I?”

  “It’s going to take all of you together.” She moved to the opening facing the water and stared out. “Including those wrongfully imprisoned.”

  “You mean the magically enhanced elementals sent to Carcerem?” Why hadn’t I thought of that? As the prophecy, I had an in with the Council. I might not be a full-fledged member, but I had influence.

  “You could free them.” She glanced over her shoulder.

  “That’s exactly what I’m going to do.” I turned to leave, then paused to address her again. “Thank you, Cressida. You’ve been more of a mom to me than my own mother.”

  “We prophecies must remain united. Go, Katy. Save your people.”

  Save my people. Damn straight I was going to save my people. I marched with purpose, not slowing until I entered the tent and spotted Virgil Graves. Let’s do this. “Virgil?”

  He looked up and almost smiled. Almost. “Ms. Reed,” he greeted once I stopped in front of him. “Have you reached a decision?”

  “I have, and it comes with a condition.”

  “That is?”

  “You release the magically enhanced elementals from Carcerem, and I’ll agree to be the prophecy again.”

  His mouth fell open. He snapped it closed and fidgeted with his tie. “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

  “Take it or leave it.”

  “Do you know what you’re asking? The magically enhanced are unnatural. They aren’t one of us.”

  “You sound just like Samantha Reed when you say that.”

  He stiffened, clearly insulted.

  “Look, the dark side gained a ton of new elementals tonight, some pretty high up the food chain within the Council. They continue to grow in size and power. We need all the elementals we can get, magically enhanced or not, if we’re going to stand a chance against them. You want me to lead this army? Release the magically enhanced elementals. That’s my one condition.”

  Reluctantly, he nodded. “You have a deal. Welcome back to the prophecy, Ms. Reed.”

  “After their release,” I amended. “I’m not the prophecy until then.” When he didn’t move, I clapped twice. “Chop, chop. Let’s go free us some elementals.”

  “THAT’S ALL OF THEM.” A large bald man handed Virgil Graves a clipboard. “Sign here, and they’re all yours.”

  Graves scribbled his signature on the paper and handed it back. “It’s done.”

  “I never thought they belonged here anyway.” He nodded at the white bus now full of magically enhanced elementals, all outfitted with their very own elemutus.

  Although I understood the need to keep their powers muted until we could be sure they wouldn’t turn against the Council, I still didn’t approve of the method. The bus driver opened the glass door when I knocked on it. I stepped up into the bus to address everyone.

  When I recognized the frizzy scarlet hair matted with grime and dirt, I stilled. No wonder we hadn’t seen her at the academy. “Lulu? What are you doing here? You’re not magically enhanced.”

  Her usually over-painted face was void of makeup. Her skin seemed to sag on her bones. Did they not feed them at Carcerem? She had to have lost ten pounds in a week. “I made the mistake of telling the Council what I thought of them forcing all the students through tribunal again.” She nodded at those on the bus. “They’re just kids, Katy. They didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Katy!” Trevor exclaimed as he jumped out of his seat and barreled down the aisle to throw his arms around me. “I knew you’d come.”

  “Hey, buddy.” I pushed him back. “I promised you I would. Now, go find your seat. We need to get going.”

  “Okay!” He practically skipped back to his seat. The other students finally laughed and broke into loud chatter.

  I took a seat in the front as Graves climbed aboard. He swept that deep piercing blue gaze across the occupants, gave a single nod, and took a seat on the opposite side of the aisle. The bus belched smoke as it took off down the road.

  As we drove over the Deception Pass Bridge, I looked out the window to catch one last glimpse at the elemental prison high on the rock cliff. Good riddance. When I turned back around, what I saw had the blood in my veins freeze.

  Samantha Reed, floating on air, came up over the side of the bridge and landed right in front of the bus. The driver yelped and slammed on the brakes, sending the bus skidding sideways at fifty miles per hour.

  Screams filled the air. Everyone grabbed hold of the seat in front of them and held on for dear life. The tires shrieked as the bus slid toward the edge of the bridge.

  People jumped into the aisle in a rush to escape before the bus plummeted two hundred feet into the freezing waters below. If the fall didn’t kill them, the current would pull them under before they could escape the icy grave of the bus. With them all muted, they couldn’t call on their elements to help. There wasn’t enough time to get to everyone and free them of their elemutuses.

  Slamming into the lowest portion on the side of the bridge, the bus growled in protest and rocked up on its side, breaking through the cement barrier and sending the front out over the edge.

  The bus teetered there, teasing us by rocking a foot toward the water, skidding a few inches forward, and then rocking back. It made an eerie groan as it finally slammed down on the bridge and rested to a stop.

  The screams of fear were deafening. People ran toward the front doors—the exact opposite direction they should run. The bus shifted from the weight of everyone now pushing their way to the front. It slid another foot forward.

  “Stop!” I jumped up on my seat and screamed. Some stopped and loo
ked at me, but most were too terror-stricken. The instinct to survive at all costs drove their actions.

  “Get to Lulu! Have her teleport people to safety,” I ordered Graves, then climbed over the seats until I reached the back. Gripping the handle on the emergency exit, I twisted and twisted, but it wouldn’t budge.

  The bus slipped over the edge another foot. Full-blown panic erupted as everyone instinctively ran toward the back to get as far away from the edge as possible.

  In an instant, they had me pinned up against the back window. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. Uselessly, I pushed back against the crowd, but they didn’t budge. I called air and blasted through the door, blowing it from its hinges.

  Alec appeared in front of the emergency exit, grinning maniacally. Where one Tweedledum would be, the other had to be close.

  I jumped out of the bus and readied myself for the battle of my life. For like the third time this year. He brought up an airfield behind me. I turned when someone shouted in panic and frustration.

  He’d blocked the exit. Elementals screamed and slammed their fists against the invisible wall, desperate to escape before the bus plummeted over the side.

  “Let them go!” I hit him with a fireball.

  His grin widened as several people sobbed uncontrollably. The sick bastard actually took pleasure in other people’s pain, especially when he was the cause. God, how I hated dark elementals.

  “Now why would he do that?” Sammie walked around the bus and stopped next to Alec. When she brushed his scar with the back of her knuckles, I shuddered. Gross. And here I thought him being with Jules was the most disturbing thing possible. “He’ll do anything to please me.”

  Alec’s grin caused me to shudder again. If I lived through this, I’d need years of therapy to process the fact my mom and my arch nemesis were fuck buddies.

  “Don’t forget me,” Spencer said and walked up, pausing long enough to plant a kiss on Sammie’s cheek.