by Ash Night
"Yeah, he left willingly, but yes, it was the same as you. Sort of. He was born and never received a Seal."
He whistled. "Lucky for him. So, couldn't they have given him a Seal after finding out?"
"Yeah," I replied. "I'll have to ask. I really want to know more. Being able to use magic freely since you were born, can you imagine?"
Liam smiled. "You really believe in him, don't you?"
I nodded. "Yes, yes, I do, Li. He's going to help us all. We need to trust him."
He raised an eyebrow. "His dad couldn't do it."
There it was, the sentence I'd been dreading to hear. The fact had been at the back of my mind all day. I didn't want to acknowledge it. Cam was the intrepid hero we needed. Sure, he was a little crazy. Sure, he wore Shadowsilver cuffs and was a wanted Fae. Sure, his father hadn't been able to do it.
But he would. Cam Crossfire would get our magic back for all of us.
Magic was a right, not a rule. And the government couldn't change that.
"Will Liam be joining us today? Or is he still lying for us?" Cam grinned. We were dipping our feet in Paradox river. The day was sweltering. I had been thinking about ice cream and it took me a minute to process what he said.
"What? No, it was his turn to go to the market and grocery shop. My parents know that too. They think I’m out here alone."
"His turn? Does he live with someone?"
"He lives with Master Cisco. Master Cisco is the village elder and everyone looks to him for advice. He took Liam in when he had no one."
Cam looked wistful for a moment. "How very generous."
I swirled my feet in the water. "Yeah, he's great. You would really like him."
"You look like you want to dive in. Go ahead. It’s hot as the devil today." He removed his shirt. "I think I'll join you."
Cam shirtless was... wow. Slim shoulders led to a well-sculpted chest and a six pack. A silver cross necklace on a black nylon rope was around his neck. Was he religious?
I looked away quickly as he took off his black jeans and cut them into makeshift shorts, using cutting magic, before slipping them back on.
He smirked at me as he did a loose cannonball off the bank, careful his cuffs didn’t touch his ankles. I laughed as I was hit with the splash back. The water was nice and cool.
Seconds passed and Cam hadn’t surfaced. I was beginning to worry.
“Cam, are you okay?” I called out, fearing the worst. Jumping in without a second thought, I almost shrieked. The water was colder than I thought. It was a shock to the system. I surfaced immediately.
Cam popped his head up a few feet away. “Did I scare you? I forgot these damn cuffs weigh a ton. Took me a little by surprise when I dove in.”
“I’m glad you’re okay…” I sank down a bit, hopefully hiding my blush. I felt like an idiot for worrying. I didn’t need to worry about Cam. He was just fine.
He smiled. “Do you want me to show you the underwater spell? I mean, I know you can’t do it yet, but I figured since we’re swimming, it’d be a great time to show you.”
“Sure!”
When he swam close to me, I felt my face get hot. I was nervous being so close to a nearly naked boy. A nearly naked boy I really liked.
Cam held my hand, making it hard to concentrate on staying afloat. “Ready?”
“S-sure,” I stammered. Tightening his grip, Cam counted to three and we plunged into the cold water. He smiled. I could hear my heartbeat pick up speed. This boy would be the death of me.
He held my gaze for a long time and I felt calmer than I had a moment ago. He brushed his thumb across my palm, his brow furrowed as he concentrated on the thin white line. I wanted to hug him. I wanted to reassure him once again that he didn't have to worry about hurting me. I wasn't a very strong person, but he acted as though he'd nearly killed a defenseless puppy.
My chest started to ache, pulling me back into reality. Oops, forgetting I was underwater wasn't very smart. Pointing to the surface, I tried to signal to Cam that I was going to be right back. He smiled at me but didn't let go of my hand or even move to swim up with me. What was he doing? I couldn't use the spell. He knew that.
Cam, let go! I pulled away a little harder. My body was screaming at me to surface now. He kept smiling and pulled me in closer to him. I fought the urge to struggle against his gentle iron grip.
Suddenly, I felt my weakened lungs expand with air. I backed away and nearly gasped in surprise. Cam’s smile grew wider. Releasing my hand, he swam to the surface. I followed, thoroughly confused.
“Did I scare ya?” he teased.
“Not at all,” I lied.
He turned serious. “Shit, I did it again.”
“Did what again?” Now I was even more confused.
Rubbing the back of his head, he chuckled. “You’re so innocent, Sunshine. I truly do not deserve you.”
“What are you talking about?”
Grabbing my hand again, he looked down at it sadly. I wished he would stop looking at that damn miniscule white line. If I had had my magic, I’d have no doubt I’d be able to make it disappear.
A small part of me worried that my hatred for it might be enough to break my Seal. An even smaller part of me was thrilled at the possibility.
“The fact I met you wearing Shadowsilver cuffs should have terrified you. Then, after showing off like an idiot, I almost melt your nerve-endings with said cuffs. Even after that fails to get you to run away, I go and scare you again just to show off.” He looked into my eyes. The sadness in them made me want to hug him.
So, I did.
“It’s okay, Cam. You’re impulsive and spontaneous. It’s who you are. Showing off isn’t always so bad. I get to experience amazing things with you when you do. I don’t regret a single second.”
He was a statue in my arms. I slowly started to pull away but he came to life and wrapped his arms around me, careful to be sure the cuffs were well away from my shoulders. For a few moments, he said nothing, resting his head on my shoulder.
“If I ever truly scare you again, I want you to run.” His voice was as hard and as sharp as ice. “Run as fast as you can and leave me behind.
My smile wavered at the dark timbre of his voice. “Okay.”
“Good.”
Splashing him to lighten the mood, I giggled. “You’re not the only troublemaker, ya know.”
“Oh, I’m not?” He growled and swam after me. Even with the weight of the cuffs, he was a very strong swimmer. I felt a tug on my ankle.
“Gotcha.”
I splashed him in the face to get away. “The water is my domain, Crossfire!”
He laughed, wiping water out of his eyes. “I know! You swim like a damn fish!”
“Excuse me, but the term you are looking for is mermaid!” I flipped onto my back, staring up at the cloudless sky. It was beautiful. I felt very lucky to get to share such a beautiful day with Cam. He had such big plans. How many days like this would I get to spend with him? The thought made me a bit sad.
“Mermaids are beautiful creatures, but they don’t do you justice, Sunshine. You’re a breed all your own.” Cam floated beside me, his arms stretched out for balance. He chuckled. “Your arms are behind your head like you’re lying on a flat surface. How do you do that?”
“Do what?” I snapped out of my thoughts. “Oh, this?” I gestured with my elbow. “I’m not sure. Just really buoyant, I guess.”
Cam sighed contently. “Today is amazing. Thank you for spending the day with me.”
“As I said before, I really like spending time with you, Cam. I wish you didn’t have to leave.”
He looked at me. “Come with me.”
“What?” I asked, nearly losing my balance.
“Come with me and help me start an army. Serena…We could rule the world.”
The way he said that sent chills down my spine and the water even felt cold. “Cam…I-I don’t want to rule anything. I just want our magic back.”
H
e laughed. “I know. I meant metaphorically rule the world. I can tell we’d make an excellent team.”
The water returned to its lukewarm temperature. “Oh…I know we would. But my family…”
“I know. I wouldn’t ever force you to leave your parents—”
“And Liam and Master Cisco,” I interrupted quickly. “They’re my family too.”
“Of course.”
“Thank you so much for the offer though…”
Cam stayed silent, staring up at the sky. I longed to know what he was thinking. His face was peaceful, but I sensed that my decline of his offer made him sad, or possibly even angry. My heart ached. I didn’t want him to leave. Maybe I could go… Convincing him to stay would just be selfish and most likely impossible.
“Cam…I…” I reached out to touch his hand but he had started to swim to shore. I followed quietly.
“I should start planning to leave. I have a lot of work ahead,” he said as he pulled on his shirt.
“I want to go with you,” I blurted out, “but I can’t.”
He looked at me with turbulent blue eyes, the betrayal clear as a bell. “I know. You already told me.” Turning away, he put his foot on an overturned log to tie his boot.
“But why do you have to leave now? You could stay…”
His back stiffened. “I can’t fight the government from all the way out in the boonies. You know that.”
“I know, but…it’s too soon,” I mumbled.
When I looked up again, he was staring at me with a sad smile on his face. “I’ll talk to you. I’ll send you messages on the Broadcaster. Whenever I’m talking about our right to magic, you can pretend I’m talking right to you. Because I will be.”
My heart tore in two. Wanting to be with Cam and wanting my magic were quickly becoming one in the same. How could those desires, ones that were both so integral to me, hurt so many of the people I loved? It wasn’t fair.
Since when is life fair? a voice in my head whispered. I had to agree.
“I want to go, but I don’t want to hurt my family.” I sighed. “I want my magic back so badly…”
“I’ll get it back for you, Sunshine. I promise.” He wrapped his arms around me. “I swear on my life, I will get it back.”
Tears blurred my vision and in that moment his hug was the only thing holding me together. I wanted nothing more than to fall to pieces, but he wouldn’t let me. Without words, he was telling me to fight.
A flame lit within me, drying my tears almost as quickly as they had arrived. I would fight. I would fight just as hard as he was. Cam fought with blind faith in his own abilities. He just knew that he’d get our magic back. There was no doubt in his mind. I needed to have the same faith.
“Thank you…” I said, clinging to him as I buried my face in his shoulder. “You’re the hero we need. I just know it.”
He grinned. “Of course, I am. I have to be, or we’re all doomed. No pressure, right?” He tensed as we heard a twig snap under someone’s foot. A gun cocked.
“Crossfire, I don’t know how the hell you survived, but you’re under arrest! You’re surrounded so you may as well surrender now!”
“Like hell,” Cam muttered. Grabbing my hand, he pulled me into the thicket.
“Where are we going and why is someone after you?!” I asked as I concentrated on not tripping over hidden tree roots, running on autopilot. Cam was flying, extremely sure-footed on the uneven terrain, nearly dragging me behind him.
“They’re not after me, technically. They’re after my dad, who they think is me. I was like four months away from being born when I was placed in that flower so no one knows I’m alive.” Cam chuckled. “Whoever killed my mother must’ve thought he’d killed her before she completed the spell. If they even knew she had done anything in the first place.”
“Your mother sounds like she was an incredible woman.”
His face was shining with pride. “Yeah, she was. Glinda loved her like a daughter and had nothing but good things to say about her. My dad on the other hand…”
“Crossfire!” An elf crashed through the bushes a few feet behind us. His blinding white armor bore the insignia of the Castle of Seven. He worked for the government. Was he a Shadow Knight? I’d only heard about them, what with living so far from the castle.
A bullet whizzed past my head, embedding itself into a nearby tree trunk. I screamed. They were shooting at us?
Cam whipped around and placed himself in front of me, his hand still gripping my wrist. “Hold on there, dumbass. You’re after me so shoot at me all you want, but you even graze her and you’re dead, got it?” The dark threat, although not directed at me, sent chills up my spine.
I decided not to tell him about my new split-end. “Cam, let’s go!”
A crazy, wild look appeared in his eyes. “You can go. I want to have some fun.”
“Fun? What, you’re going to fight him?”
“That’s the plan, Sunshine.”
I tugged on his arm. “But we can still make it if we run! The village is right around the corner!”
He laughed. “Running is no fun.”
I sighed, exasperated. “You sound just like Liam!”
“Good idea, go find him. You’ll need protection, in case they come after you.”
“Come after me? Why would they do that?”
He shrugged. “You were with me. You won’t see this guy again, I can assure you of that, but I heard six sets of footsteps, which means there are five others after me, and until I find them, you need to find cover.”
Taking a deep breath to clear my head, I nodded. “Okay.”
Confusion colored the knight’s face. “Who—You’re not Kalden Crossfire!”
“Brilliant deduction, dumbass. Kalden Crossfire has been dead for over three hundred and fifteen years. Don’t you idiots ever read the paper?”
“Who are you?” the knight demanded.
He smirked. “That’s not really any of your business, now is it?” Without taking his eyes off the knight, he squeezed my hand. “I’ll be right behind you, Sunshine.”
“You better be. We need you.”
Laughing, he crouched into a fighting stance. “No pressure.”
Smiling, I took off like a gazelle being hunted by a mighty lion. One day, I wouldn’t have to run. One day, I’d have my magic back.
One day, I would be the lion.
Chapter Eight
Rain pelted my eyes as I ran. Thunder boomed overhead. When I finally laid eyes on the village, I saw it was being washed away in a flood. Tidal wave after tidal wave bore down on the small homes like unsuspecting bath toys.
“Mom! Dad! Liam! Is anyone down there?” My heart was pounding out of my chest as I raced down a hill, trying to find signs of life without falling in. I was a good swimmer, but I was no match for those waves. I hoped everyone had made it out in time.
Strong arms wrapped around me, nearly suffocating me. “Thank the Goddess!”
Liam’s rich, silky voice calmed my nerves, if only for half a second.
“Where is everyone?”
He stepped back from the hug. “Higher ground, in the Catalina Hills. Your mom wanted to come back to look for you, in case you’d come home. They were in the bakery when the flood hit. Your dad volunteered, but I raced ahead. Your parents and I were freaking out. Was the river higher than usual?”
Liam was soaked and his hazel eyes looked wild despite his exhausted appearance. His magic was flaring like a beacon.
“H-how…How are you—” My mind couldn’t even form a coherent sentence right now. It was still slowly processing the fact my parents were alive and not trapped under the icy waves.
“Using my magic? It turns out danger can do more than just raise your heart rate to a billion.” He grinned, some of the usual spark returning to his eyes. “I don’t have very good control of it yet and nearly drowned trying to create an air bubble around myself. I also accidently blew up a house. Oops.”
&n
bsp; “You what?” I couldn’t believe it. Liam had never done anything more than cause a small cloud to produce snowflakes once.
He shrugged. “The flood was already destroying it so the homeowners can’t be too mad.”
“Why were you in the water?” I asked. “I thought you said everyone was safe!”
“I didn’t know you were!” Liam exclaimed. “By the time I got to your house, it was underwater. I dove in to look for you. I figured if you were there, you’d try to get up to the roof through the attic.”
Hugging him to reassure myself he was actually with me, I cuffed him in the back of the head.
“Ow! What was that for?”
“For being an idiot and putting your life in danger to save mine!”
“Sorry for caring! Geez!”
I started walking to Catalina Hills and he followed. “Now for the obvious questions. Who did this and why?”
“Don’t know and don’t know. By the way, where’s Cuff Boy? I didn’t see him trying to help when we were evacuating everyone. His magic could have helped too…” he muttered begrudgingly.
“He’s…fighting a Shadow Knight.”
Liam growled. “I thought I heard someone yelling before the waves started crashing. Did the knight hurt you?”
I shook my head, deciding not to tell him about my split-end either. He didn’t need to worry about me. “I’m fine. Cam may be hurt though.”
“What do we care? This flood is probably his fault too. The Shadow Knights have access to their magic. If there’s one Shadow Knight here for him, there’s probably more. He is Kald—”
After cupping a hand over his mouth, I started to walk away from him, too angry to speak. Cam was an easy target to blame right now. Everyone was angry and confused. They needed time to recoup and gather their senses.
It wasn’t Cam’s fault he was the son of the most wanted man in Valora. It wasn’t his fault people judged him instantly because of cuffs he was forced to wear. It wasn’t his fault the government was afraid of the magic inside of all of us.
“Is everyone in the same place?” I asked finally. Liam was still trailing behind me. With every step, I gained strength. I knew what I had to do. My fear of public speaking would have to take a back seat.
