03] ES) Firestorm

by Shannon Mayer

  “Terraling, the bad luck cat saved us. I couldn’t believe it when I saw her, but she saved us.”

  Peta gave a low grumble, but through our bond her pleasure was a warmth that spread through to me. She leaned out and gave Tinder’s face a lick. “You’re welcome, little lizard.”

  Ash strode forward, took one look at Keeda and sucked in a sharp breath. “What happened to her?”

  I shook my head, unable to say the words, hiding my shame behind a wall of silence. Cactus looked from me to Keeda and back again and my face burned. He would figure it out if anyone would. But he said nothing about her.

  Holding Keeda by the arm, I drew her forward. “I have to get her home.”

  Cactus nodded but he wouldn’t make eye contact with me.

  The firewyrms took us to a tunnel that led back to the entranceway. Peta went first then Ash. The seven children, including Tinder, piled in after him, excited and chattering like they hadn’t been abducted and kept in a dungeon for hours. Resilient little hearts was the only thought I had for them.

  I guided Keeda ahead of me, and Cactus brought up the rear, a faint glow of fire over his left hand. Each Salamander child also held a tiny glow above their hands, lighting the tunnel with ease. At least they could reach their element with Keeda and her cohort gone. I hoped that meant they—and the other Salamanders—were finally safe.

  The tunnel was big enough for us to walk without crouching, but only in single file, which made it easy for me to ignore Cactus’s attempts to talk to me. Three times he tugged at my arm and cleared his throat. Each time I pushed forward a little faster until Keeda was on top of Ash.

  Ash glared back at me after the third pushing incident. “Lark, hurrying at this point isn’t going to help anyone.”

  He was right, but I still didn’t want to explain what happened to Cactus so when he reached for me a fourth time, I jerked my arm away from him. “I don’t want to talk.”

  “I just want to hold your hand, Lark. To know you really are here and we’re getting out,” he said softly.

  Shame burned me through and through. I reached back for him and he laced his fingers with mine. A soft warmth cascaded through me and eased some of the heartache that hummed within my body. Still though, my mind would not let me forget what I’d done.

  I’d destroyed my sister’s soul. She and I were not close, and it was obvious that she was taking after her mother. That didn’t negate the fact that she was a hollowed out creature, her body intact and her soul missing. My control—or in this case lack of control—over Spirit had done that.

  Another minute passed and we were out of the tunnel and in front of the broken doorway. The children ran around, darting like large fireflies in a game of tag. Ash opened his mouth and I knew him well enough to know what was going to come out. He would tell them to settle down, to be serious, and fall in line.

  “Let them play,” I said softly. “Let them be children.”

  His eyes met mine and he gave me a slow nod. Then he held his hand up and the rocks blocking the doorway shifted so we could slip into the open air.

  Night had fallen, and the moon was high above our heads giving a soft ethereal tone to the cherry trees and the ever-falling blossoms.

  The stillness was broken by the cries of the children as they were reunited with their families, the sobs of mothers and fathers as their little ones, thought gone forever, returned to them.

  I put a hand on Peta’s back. “Good job, bad luck cat. You did that for them, I think now they will have to give you a new nickname.”

  Peta snorted softly, but said nothing.

  Fiametta strode toward us, her eyes going straight to Keeda.

  “Who is this?”

  No choice now, I had to come up with a lie she would believe. “This is my sister, she was imprisoned by the one who blocked your element and stole control of the lava from you.”

  Fiametta leaned in and then sucked in a sharp gasp. “Her soul is gone.”

  Like a punch to the gut I tried to breathe around sharp dig of pain. I’d done that, I’d stolen my sister’s soul. Goddess, how could I ever fix this? “It happened in the battle.”

  Fiametta was talking, a blur of words. Something about being heroes, or judging all Terralings by a few, or giving us a hero’s send off. I didn’t really hear much of it, just nodded and smiled while my heart and mind reeled.

  I’d stolen a soul.

  I was a monster.

  “What can we offer you, in thanks for saving us?” Fiametta said, her words finally snapping me out of the fog I’d fallen in.

  “Stop killing the firewyrms. Make peace with them. They could have left us all to die, they didn’t have to help, and yet they did,” I said, mulling over my words and then just going with it. “Like us. We could have left you to fight this battle on your own but we didn’t. Because we are family, and no matter how much we fight, we need each other in this world.”

  The Salamanders around us nodded, and my words were quickly passed through the crowd.

  “Family,” Fiametta said softly. “That is a word I have not applied to the other elements for many years. Yet perhaps you are right. Call on me, Larkspur, if you have need, and I will call you cousin in truth. I swear on the soul of my unborn child that I will send aid if you ask for it.”

  Unborn child. I raised an eyebrow at her. “There is one more thing. Cactus is coming with me.”

  Fiametta’s eyes narrowed.

  I gave her a tight smile. “You don’t need him now, if you make peace with the firewyrms.”

  Beside me Cactus tensed, no doubt expecting her to command him to stay. But despite her hard ass nature, he’d been right about her. She wasn’t an evil bitch like Cassava, just a very tough woman.

  “So be it. But I will miss him.”

  “I will visit.” He grinned at her, and her lips twitched with what might have been a smile.

  I held my hand out to her, tapping two fingers across the top of my hand in the way that they showed recognition of someone stronger than themselves. “Thank you, and may the mother goddess be with you and all your children.”

  There was nothing left to say, and within a few minutes we were all inside the mountain once more. Fresh air replaced the heavy heat of the receding lava flows. The Salamanders were already putting things back into place, and the lava had returned to its bubbling river.

  Homes were destroyed and personal items had been burned up in the flooding lava, yet even I could see that the damage was not complete.

  Blackbird had to have been directing the flow of the lava all along, chasing the Salamanders. There were areas of the living quarters completely untouched.

  I wondered how long it would be before any of them truly trusted their element again and willingly stepped into the lava for a swim.

  Fiametta directed her people, encouraging them to help those who’d lost everything. To share what they had. She even put one family into her private quarters while their home was rebuilt. I had to give it to her, she was a better queen than I’d thought. Still a hard ass, but a good leader.

  Perhaps I just brought out the best in her. Peta snorted on my shoulder, picking up on my thoughts. “Not likely.”

  Cactus, free from the hold Fiametta had on him went to the middle of the living area, beckoning me. “Will you help me?”

  I went to him. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Let’s show them just what a Terraling is made of, yes?”

  At first I didn’t understand, until the first curl of green lines rose up his arms and the shoots of grass erupted under our feet. Nodding, I held my hands out and tapped into the earth. With my eyes closed I imagined a garden loaded with fruit and blossoms, vegetables, and living plants of all varieties. The power flowed out of me with ease and the air around us cooled.

  Opening my eyes, I struggled not to gasp at what we’d created. An oasis in the middle of a desert was the only thought I had. Exotic trees that could withstand the heat towered o
ver us, and the ground was soft with soil that would encourage growth.

  We’d changed the very makeup of the Pit. At least in this one place.

  Fiametta came to us in the oasis. “Cactus, why didn’t you do this before?” The awe in her voice was rather gratifying.

  He shrugged. “Most of this isn’t me. This is Larkspur. I just gave her the idea. Most Terralings could barely get a shoot to grow in this heat . . . she gave you a paradise.” He winked at me as I gaped back at him.

  I’d done all of it?

  Fiametta looked to me. “Then I will give you something in return. The truth.” She let out a slow breath. “I know the Enders were not killed by your hand, Larkspur. I’ve known all along that Blackbird did it. He told me himself in one of his forays into my bedroom. But I needed you. Finley told me how you saved her people when you didn’t have to and I . . . I wanted to believe you could do the same here. And while I perhaps went about it the wrong way, I was right. You did save us.”

  If I thought my jaw had dropped before it was nothing to what it did then.

  “You knew.”

  Two bright spots of color emerged on her pale cheeks. “I did. I am . . .sorry.”

  Peta bumped her head against mine. “Take it, Lark. You will never hear those words again from her.”

  Swallowing the remnants of my anger at the Pit’s queen, I held out my hand in the gesture of greeting. Fiametta brushed her palm over mine.

  “I have no guarantee that Blackbird won’t come back. He stole something of mine. A powerful tool.” The queen said.

  Damn, she meant the emerald. Sweating, I could feel the stone against my skin. Was that why I’d been able to pull so much power and create the oasis? I had no doubt it was the stone that allowed the user to connect with the earth.

  Fiametta continued. “ . . . I will work with the firewyrms. Perhaps between our two people, we can find a way to protect ourselves against the power of Spirit. But if we don’t . . .” her blue eyes all but nailed me to the spot, “I will call on you again. And because we are friends now, you will come.”

  Damn. Friends? There was nothing for me to do but nod until Peta piped up.

  “And she can do the same. Call on you for help if she needs it.”

  Fiametta surprised me by smiling. “Of course.”

  Cactus touched my arm. “I think we should go.”

  The ruby ring. I closed my eyes for a moment and slipped my hand under my vest pulling the ring out. “I took this off Keeda. Blackbird gave it to her.”

  Fiametta gasped and with a trembling hand took the ring. “Do you know what this is?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you would give it to me?”

  Peta purred softly, obviously pleased with my decision. “Who better to care for it than the one who carries the same element?”

  Surprising me, she swept me into a hug. “I am so sorry I misjudged you, Larkspur.”

  Goddess, I didn’t want to like her. “I saw it in your eyes when you lashed me.”

  She pulled back. “I did not want to do it, but I saw no other way out. I have to uphold the law. Always.”

  There was a soft cough and we turned to see her black panther walking toward us. “Fia,” he said, “there is such a thing as the spirit of the law, and the letter of the law. You have yet to learn both have power.”

  She looked away from him and I put a hand on her. “You should listen to him. The only reason I survived is because I took Peta’s advice. Your familiar . . . if he cares for you even half as much as Peta cares for me, you are in good hands.”

  Peta tucked her head against my neck, hiding her face. “Larkspur, how can you know that?”

  Fiametta’s face tightened and I thought for a moment she would ignore me. She held a hand out to Jag. “Come, be at my side, pet.” He butted his head into her outstretched hand, a deep rumble of contentment slipping out of him.

  The queen gave me one last nod. “Cactus is right, it is time for you to go.”

  We backed away, each giving her a bow before we turned and headed to the Traveling room.

  No words were spoken, too much had happened in those last minutes.

  The Traveling room was still intact, whatever magic that kept the globe spinning and moving in time with the real world had kept it from collapsing under the heat.

  Ash handed me an armband as Brand, Smoke, and their three boys entered the room. Smoke gathered me into her arms.

  “Bless you, Larkspur. You saved my boy. I know Peta helped, but she wouldn’t have if you hadn’t been there.” She kissed me on both cheeks and then the lips. “You are always welcome in our home.” She put a hand on Peta’s head. “Both of you.”

  Peta fairly glowed with pride. Tinder scooped her up and hugged her against his body and she licked his nose. Stryker and Cano tapped their fingers across my hand before backing away.

  Brand hugged me with one arm. “Thank you.” Just two words, but they held the weight of what almost happened. If he’d gone into the lava, Smoke would still have lost one of her men.

  I gave him a tight nod. “Anytime.”

  Keeda stood beside me, and Tinder handed me Peta who curled up on my shoulder.

  “I can’t Travel with more than one person,” I said. Peta snorted.

  “I’m a part of you, I don’t count as a separate being.”

  That was news to me, but I didn’t question her. Brand, Smoke, and their boys waved to us from the doorway as we engaged the armbands and the world of the Pit slid into nothing.

  My hand was clamped around Keeda and for a moment, I thought I would see nothing, that her memories would be gone along with her soul.

  Yet, that wasn’t the case in the least.

  CHAPTER 26

  he throne room was everything she ever wanted: a golden throne, golden floors and ceiling, gemstones everywhere. This was where she would be queen. A smile lifted her lips as she checked the spell that held her cloaking ability in place.

  Simple, it was so simple to take the essence of her element and dilute it so the magic was not a power connected to the earth, but a pure power she could use for spells. Not all that different from a supernatural. The smile slipped as the burns on the fronts of her thighs cracked. She’d gone too close to the Pit and had to steal ointment from the healer’s rooms a second time.

  Soon though she wouldn’t have to sneak anywhere. She’d just make a demand and someone would get her what she wanted.

  As she ripped through Fiametta’s things, her mind wandered. Why did they have to kill Larkspur anyway? She was a weak half breed with nothing to offer. Why couldn’t Mother see that?

  Not that it mattered, she would kill her sister and then be done with that chapter of her life. Mother would be so pleased. Perhaps she would come see her coronation as the new queen of the Pit. She could just imagine her mother smiling, proud of her youngest daughter for doing what none of her other children had managed. Kill the half breed and take a throne in one fell swoop.

  The memory busted apart as we stumbled into the Traveling room within the Rim. No one was waiting for us. I shook my head, trying to orient myself and push Keeda’s memory away. Perhaps her soul wasn’t gone, but just tucked away deep within her. Because how could a memory exist where there was no soul to power it?

  Cactus drew in a deep breath beside me. “I can’t tell you how good it feels to be home.”

  Ash clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here. Perhaps between the two of us we, can keep Lark out of trouble for more than a day or two.”

  The two men laughed, but I didn’t join them. Now home, there were things I had to take care of. Primarily a missing father and the missing soul of my sister. No matter how bad she was, I couldn’t leave her in that state.

  “Ash, take Keeda to the healer and call for Niah. See if she can help with what I did to her,” I barked the order out as I made for the door. “Cactus, go with him.”

  Cactus grunted. “Bossy, isn’t she?”
/>   “You have no idea,” Ash answered.

  Peta growled at them both. I ran up the stairs and into the main Enders barracks. The room was silent, but of course it was early enough in the day that even the Enders wouldn’t necessarily be up.

  The farther I got from the Traveling room, the faster my feet took me until I was full out sprinting across the small distance between the barracks and the Spiral, my family’s home and the seat of my father’s rule.

  The guard on duty at the main doors stared at me with wide eyes and an upraised sword. At first I didn’t recognize her, with her hair cut short enough to leave nothing to be pulled back. Even the sides were shaved.

  “Blossom,” I said her name and she lowered her sword.

  “Lark, you’re back.”

  “Is Belladonna here?”

  She nodded. “Yes, go on up. She left orders that when you came home you were to be taken to her right away. But . . . how did you get away? We all thought she was off her rocker thinking you’d escape the Pit.”

  “Long story, no time for it now,” I breathed out as I flung the doors open and headed for the stairs that would take me to the sleeping quarters. While this was my family’s home, I hadn’t actually lived there for years. Not since my mother, my father’s mistress, had been killed by Cassava.

  There was another guard on Belladonna’s door, and I did recognize him right away. Coal.

  “I need to speak to my sister.

  Surprising the hell out of me, he didn’t question me, just stepped aside. “She’s crabby when you wake her up suddenly.”

  He sported a black eye. I couldn’t help the laugh. “You tried to make a move on her?”

  His eyes narrowed as I pushed through the door, shutting it tightly behind me. “Bella, wake up. I’m home.”

  She sat bolt upright in bed, her hair a mess and her nightdress tangled around her body. “Lark, thank the mother goddess, you made it out. What took so long?”

  I let out a breath. “Long story. But before I do say anything, this is for you.” I pulled the emerald necklace out and slipped it over her head. “It will boost your connection to the earth, but you will have to practice. It is a weapon, Bella, and I am trusting it to you. Use it only to protect our family.”