Smokeless Fire (Fire Spirits #1)

by Samantha Young

  “I’ll deal with the girl once I’ve gotten rid of you for good. What say I lower the barrier and we play this nice and fair half-breed?”

  No way was he telling her he wasn’t a half-breed Hunter. He needed the advantage the element of surprise would provide. The barrier dropped immediately and Jai fell back on good old fashioned human training.

  He threw a punch. Her nose breaking under his fist.

  Howling the Ghulah clasped her face, clearly having expected something in the way of a magical attack from her opponent. Her retaliation, the buzzing that erupted in Jai’s ears, almost made him laugh. It was a wasp enchantment — a hallucination that wasps were crawling in his ears and into his brain — to make him think he was being eaten alive by them. With a wave of his hand he killed the enchantment, something a half-breed would never be able to do.

  The Ghulah’s eyes narrowed at his defense, the blood dripping out of her mashed nostrils. “What are you?”

  Without another word he shot a leg out, his foot connecting with her solar plexus. She stumbled back in outrage and Jai lunged at her, his fist pummeling into her face again and again. At the hum of power emanating from her neck Jai swore and snatched at the talisman, ripping it from her neck and melting the stone in his bare hand. The act cost him, the Ghulah pushing her own magic out to cast him back into the air. He slammed into the wall again, the breath whooshing momentarily out of his body as he slumped to the ground.

  “You’re not The Guild,” The Ghulah snarled. “You’re full-blooded Jinn!”

  Huffing, Jai drew to his feet, shrugging at his leather jacket. He would be reeking by the time he got out of here. “Yeah. So that kind of leaves us at a stalemate. Neither of us can kill the other without being taken before the Jinn Courts. So what do you say you get the hell out of Roswell?”

  She curled her lip. “I was here first.”

  Narrowing his eyes, Jai crossed his arms over his chest. “Look, I may not be able to put you in the ground like I want to but I sure as hell can do something to make sure you never walk again. So what’s it going to be?”

  “You don’t frighten me.”

  “Yeah well I don’t have all day and my patience is wearing thin since you tried to choke my friend to death.”

  “She didn’t though,” Ari croaked, and Jai shuddered in relief as she clambered to her feet. Her face was pale, her neck red and swollen, and she swayed unbalanced on her feet. She touched her neck, wincing, before drawing those eyes of hers up and at the Ghulah.

  “You OK?” he asked quietly, wishing he could just grab her and hide her somewhere where nothing bad could happen to her ever again. How the hell was he going to get them out of this?

  “I’m fine,” she reassured him, taking a few tentative steps towards him, her hair falling into her face. She tucked a few strands behind her ear with trembling fingers, revealing intense eyes narrowed solely on the Ghulah in front of them. When she pressed her side up against him it took everything within him to resist putting an arm around her. She coughed, tears of pain pricking her eyes before she threw her shoulders back, looking every inch the battered Princess. “More than I can say for this bitch.”

  The Ghulah grinned, cocking her hip confidently. “Like you could do anything to me, sweetheart.”

  “Actually…” Ari smiled back at her, a dark smile he’d never seen before. It made him shiver, as did the pulse in her aura that told him she was about to use her magic. “I command you to leave Roswell and to never eat the flesh of any living creature again.”

  The smug smile on the Ghulah’s face slipped as the force of Ari’s command seeped into her. “How…?” she blinked, her body automatically walking her out of the alleyway. She stepped over the boy’s body next to the dumpster and as she strode towards the mouth of the alleyway her neck was still craned back over her shoulder as she gaped at Ari in utter disbelief.

  That is some seriously wickedly creepy power she has going on. Jai eyed Ari, not sure what to say.

  Catching his look Ari shrugged wearily. “I know. It’s creepy.”

  He couldn’t help but smile. “A little.”

  “It worked though, right?”

  “That it did.”

  Frowning Ari whipped back around, her eyes falling on the body of the guy. “We should help—”

  “He’s gone, Ari.” Not wanting her to see the mess the boy was in Jai caught her arm, pulling her back.

  “But—”

  “He’s dead.”

  Hating the way her lip trembled with confusion and distress Jai wished there was something he could say or do but there was really no way to comfort someone during their first experience with death, especially a violent one.

  “We need to get out of here,” he told her quietly, trying to draw her gaze away from the young man. “We need to step into the Cloak and get back out there and find Pazuzu. You OK to do that?”

  ~24~

  What’s the Use of the Wind if It Won’t Take You Away on It?

  Accepting that there was nothing to be done for that one boy was harder than Ari ever could have imagined. Numbly she followed Jai into the Cloak disappearing out onto Main Street just in time. Two deputies were approaching the alley with cautious and sober expressions. Feeling sick at the thought of what they’d find, Ari turned away, gripping tight to Jai’s hand. The garish costumes and masks — some seriously scary — as well as the pounding music and riotous flurry of the crowds felt difficult to manage after what had just happened. She was quiet, not even using telepathy to talk to Jai. After ten minutes of causing freak outs bumping into people while invisible, Jai squeezed her head. Come out of the Cloak.

  You sure? People might have seen us go into the alley.

  We’ll have a greater chance of feeling Pazuzu if we come out.

  She didn’t need much persuading after that. She so wanted this over. She wanted to find him. She wanted to cure her dad.

  And then what?

  Thankfully Ari wasn’t allowed to fall into a teenage/Jinn version of a mid-life crisis because a ripple of power suddenly flooded over her, the unpleasant taste of dirt filling her mouth. What is that?

  Pazuzu.

  Heart pounding Ari clasped her other hand around Jai’s wrist, feeling the vibrations grow deeper, stronger, nearer. She twisted her neck around, checking the people strolling past.

  “Watch it,” a voice growled as a body slammed into her. Jai pulled at her as her eyes washed over the tall figure before her. A grey alien mask with its pointy chin and huge black almond-shaped eyes stared down at her blankly and Ari screamed inwardly at the pulsating power that was coming off of the guy in waves.

  IT’S HIM!

  I know!

  “Damn,” the voice cursed and Ari blinked in disbelief as he disappeared into the Cloak.

  Hauled into Jai’s arms Ari didn’t even have time to squeeze her eyes shut as he took off. Ari, CLOAK, CLOAK!

  HOLY MACAROONS! She bit her lips, focusing on stepping into the Cloak, although she was pretty sure it was too late now.

  Holy what? Jai teased as they blazed through the air.

  Not the time!

  This time when they landed it was with a bump. The impact ripped her from Jai’s arms and she collapsed on her ass in the sandy dirt. Gaping up at Jai, who had somehow managed to keep his feet, Ari’s heart throbbed seeing him stare off into the distance like a gunslinger getting ready to duel. She followed his glower and scrambled back to her feet to face the Jinn who stood legs braced apart before them. Around them was nothing but open New Mexico desert. The scent of sage hit her nose in the muggy atmosphere, lifted by the musky scent of animal. There was no road near them, hardly any plantation, just red clay-colored rock mountains looming in the background like bored spectators. There wasn’t even a breeze to send a shiver of foreboding down her spine.

  When her eyes focused on the Jinn before them, the Jinn that moved towards them on taloned feet, Ari’s jaw dropped. He was almost as bad as the Nisnas. Fr
eaked out, Ari backed into Jai, wishing she was more graceful — his feet must be black and blue by now. At the parade she had been pretty sure the Jinn looked like… well… a guy. Dressed bizarrely in a shirt and jeans, the Jinn smirked, his face part human, part lion. The flesh of his mouth curled like an upside down love heart, reminding Ari of the Lion from The Wizard of Oz except this guy had huge fangs peeking from between his lips. He had human shaped eyes and nose, except where the bridge should be — like the Nisnas’ it was completely flat. His skin was almost black in color, his amber eyes glowing eerily against the rich dark chocolate of his flesh. He pointed a long, twig-like finger at Ari and it was then she noticed that even more strange, his left hand was twisted downwards, while his right hand seemed to be perpetually twisted upwards, the bones pushing against his flesh, making Ari feel queasy.

  “You shouldn’t have come for me, girl. Have you no idea who I am?” his voice to her surprise was… normal. For some reason she’d expected it to be screechy, like nails across a vinyl.

  Pulse throbbing visibly Ari threw her shoulders back, pulling on all the bravery she could muster even though her legs were shaking so badly it was a wonder she could still stand. “You’re Pazuzu.”

  He smiled. “I am Pazuzu!”

  At the pronouncement a gale force wind rushed in around her and Jai, the desert storm blinding her, stinging her eyes and beating into her mouth. She clamped her lips closed and threw a hand up to shield her eyes, wondering how the hell they were going to get out of this.

  Ari! Jai shouted.

  I’m here. I’m right here! What do we do?

  Try and reach for me. I’ll get us out!

  I don’t know where you are!

  Beat out your arms around you, I’ll do the same!

  OK! Ari began flapping her arms around her like a blindfolded idiot determined to hit the piñata at a child’s birthday party.

  I don’t think so, little girl. Pazuzu’s voice echoed into her mind. How dare you HUNT me! I’ll show you what it feels to be an animal caught in a trap.

  A slice of pain cut through Ari’s cheek and she cried out, sand and wind whipping up against the open wound. Another one, another one, another! Slice, slash, gash after gash, laceration after laceration ripped into Ari’s skin until she was screaming, collapsing to the ground in agony as her whole body went up in torturous stings and flames.

  ARI! Jai was yelling frantically in her head at the same time Pazuzu filled it with his laughter.

  She was in too much pain to call back to Jai, shuddering on the ground as the desert storm ate at her wounds. Agony writhed through her, so much so she was barely even cognizant when the storm dissipated.

  Jai was leaning over her, his face pale, his hands hovering above her, afraid to touch.

  “Ari,” he choked, his eyes so full of worry and horror her heart might have exploded in panic if it weren’t already slamming against her ribs in outcry against the pain. She wanted to reassure Jai but she could only bite her lip, tears streaming over her lids. It felt as if the whole of her insides had been laid bare.

  Darkness crept over Jai’s face and she watched in blurry disconnection as he stood to his feet and faced Pazuzu. No! Her brain attempted to fight through the pain. He couldn’t face the Wind Demon. Not alone!

  Pazuzu’s laughter echoed around the desert, a manic, forced sound that seemed to enflame her wounds. Ari tried to shout out to Jai only to cough up a thick gunk of blood, her throat raw and unusable. Jai jerked around at the noise, his eyes widening, his jaw tightening with rage. Ari tried to plead with her eyes for him to leave. Instead he turned to Pazuzu, whipping his hand out like he was throwing an invisible curve ball. Pazuzu screamed as his eyes bled pure white, his awkward and grotesque arms flailing out in front of him as if he couldn’t see.

  Jai had blinded him?

  Yes, she choked on her momentary triumph, more blood bubbling up between her lips and cutting Jai’s victory short. I’m dying. Oh god I’m dying.

  “This won’t hold, you child!” Pazuzu snarled before he began muttering something under his breath. At the same time alien words met Ari’s ears as they escaped out from between Jai’s lips. She had no idea what he was saying, but as he rose his arms like a conductor at the orchestra the ground beneath her began to shake, scraping against her wounds. Biting back silent screams, Ari watched as Pazuzu rocked on unstable talons. He cursed and began muttering faster.

  Just as the white began to melt from his eyes the ground finally gave way beneath his feet and water gushed up out of it like a geyser. As it descended, cascading down over his head, Pazuzu screamed as if someone was sawing off his twisted limbs. Ari’s eyes widened at the bloody pustules that popped up on his skin where the water touched, smoke pouring from his pores like cold water on hot asphalt. His screams nipped Ari’s ears and she curled deeper into herself. When he fell to his knees, she almost breathed a sigh of relief, despite her wounds.

  Desert Spirit. Jai turned to her to explain. Water is poison to them.

  If she could have, Ari would have nodded at him. She didn’t care why Pazuzu was going down. All she cared was that Jai was safe.

  Afraid to move, Ari waited for Pazuzu to pass out, but instead he howled into the New Mexico desert with hatred fuelling his power. A gnarled hand struck out towards Jai and Ari watched in horror as Jai clasped his throat, his face turning purple as he, too, dropped to his knees. Petrified, Ari slid a hand towards him, the sickening agony of her torn skin matching her sickening fear as Jai began coughing up desert dirt, thick with his saliva and insides. The gooey dirt began seeping from his eyes and nose, even his fingernails. Pazuzu was suffocating him, filling his insides with desert.

  No. No! NO!

  In all the pain and confusion Ari knew there was something she was supposed to be doing. What? What was it?

  Suddenly Pazuzu was kneeling before her, his vile, wounded face grinning at her evilly. “So this is the Seal. What a disappointment you are, child. So easy to kill.”

  The Seal! Ari screamed inwardly. She choked, trying to force the command out but she only ended up spitting up more bloody globules. Fury and helplessness gripped her as she saw Jai collapse onto his back, his eyes closing and hands falling limply to his sides.

  JAI! Her mind screamed.

  Pazuzu laughed again.

  Eyes widening as she realized what she’d done, Ari slid her narrowed gaze back to Pazuzu and whatever he saw in her face made him freeze. Got you, you piece of crap.

  Pazuzu, I command you to release and heal Jai.

  Mouth hanging in horror, Pazuzu immediately turned like a robot at the telepathic command and crooked a hand out at Jai. Her guardian’s eyes flew open and he coughed, spitting up the rest of the dirt as he sucked in shuddering breaths, his eyes wide with panic.

  Pazuzu, I command you to heal me.

  Furious now, the Jinn spun back on her, his legs collapsing beneath him as his mind gave into her. The palm of one of his twisted hands pressed against her forehead, the slide of his skin reminding her of the feel of the lizard’s skin she’d touched at the zoo in Cincinnati years ago when she’d visited with her dad. Relief washed through Ari as the wounds began to close and heal, the pain dulling to a sting, to a throb, to nothing. Before he could disappear, Ari clamped a hand over his and pinned him to the spot with her unrelenting gaze.

  Pazuzu, I command you to undo the illness you placed upon Derek Johnson. Heal him. And afterwards, never come near me or mine again.

  Despite the rage burning in his eyes, Pazuzu nodded deferentially and she let him step back. The New Mexico air burst into fire as the Wind Demon disappeared into the Peripatos, where she had no doubt he would head to the hospital to revive her father.

  Relief crashed over her, deadening her limbs, and Ari had to drag herself across the desert dirt to Jai who was crawling his way towards her. His face was pale, his eyes slightly haunted as he reached her, a large hand cupping her cheek. Ari nuzzled into it, shocked by the d
epth of her fear of losing him. “You OK?” she croaked, her throat still raw from being shredded from the inside.

  For a moment Jai didn’t say anything and when he leaned into her, her breath caught, her heart crashing against her ribs. He was going to kiss her! He’s going to kiss me!

  The excitement fizzled out into something deeper as Jai pressed his forehead to hers, his green eyes seeking something – she didn’t know what – in hers. Frozen, afraid to move, to talk, to break the moment between them, Ari merely waited. For what… she didn’t know.

  At last Jai pulled away, nodding jerkily. “I’m fine. You?”

  “I used the telepathy to command him.”

  “Good thinking.” He coughed again, a spittle of dirt landing on his hand. He grimaced, groaning as he eased onto his feet, reaching a hand down to help her up. “We need to head back.”

  Ari frowned, swaying into him as his arms banded around her. “Have you got the energy?”

  He nodded, the color still frighteningly absent from his cheeks. “We have to make sure Derek is OK.”

  She wanted to kiss him. She wanted to reach up and tug his lips back down to hers so she could enjoy the deliciousness of his mouth this time feeling the way she did about him.

  But she wouldn’t.

  Not yet.

  ~25~

  One Plus One Equals Two Walking Away

  It was a miracle they made it back to Sandford Ridge in one piece. The flight had been slow because Jai was still suffering from the effects of having desert try to kill him from the inside out. When they touched down on solid ground they both wobbled, clinging to each other for balance. Smiling abashedly, Jai made sure she was steady on her feet before taking a few steps back from her. Ari would have taken the time to frown but as she glanced over at the hospital the need to see if Derek was awake was far more compelling than whatever was going on with her and Jai at that moment. Stepping out of the Cloak Ari nodded tightly at Jai and moved to head into the hospital. His hand on her arm stopped her and she turned back impatiently. He tugged her back into the shadows of a skinny Buckeye planted next to a large sign with the hospital name on it. Following him behind the sign Ari sighed. What?