Smoke and Ruin

by Tiffany Daune

  She would need magick to fight him off, but though he inched closer, her sparks didn’t rise. “Am I dead?”

  "Quite, but for us to leave, one more must die."

  Her thoughts raced with her sister and Asair. Had she hurt Natalie when they tried to extract the silver?

  He crossed the room and stood at the window. "It won't be long. Plans are in place."

  "Don't you dare touch my sister. Don't go near Asair."

  A sly smile filled his face. "You don't know? Well, of course not. You've been so busy trying to die, that you didn't get the news."

  "What news?" She hugged her new body, her fingers sliding against a rib bone.

  “He’s already dead.”

  “What are you talking about? Who?” Her thoughts grew frantic.

  He drew a breath and blew. The smoke curled, forming letters before her eyes.

  A S A I R

  The smoky letters blurred with her tears. "Liar!" She beat the air sweeping his name away. Asair had the mermaids by his side. His magick was strong. He couldn't be dead, she would feel it. "You're a liar!"

  "How else do you think you arrived here? I wouldn't have been able to reach you unless…"

  "Stop! I don't want to hear anymore." She covered her ears, turning away. She wouldn't let this monster speak of Asair. He wasn’t dead. This she knew for sure. He wouldn’t leave her only to die.

  Tarius touched her arm and she struck out, clipping his cheek. His skin caught in her nails, ripping from his face. She screamed. “What the hell?” She swiped his skin off on her skirt.

  “This isn’t hell.” He glanced in the mirror and patted his cheek, peeling off the hanging bits of flesh. “But if you keep that up, we’ll look quite hellish.”

  “I think we’re past that point.” She held up her arm; the skin was broken, feathers poking through.

  He laughed. “Oh, you’re quite right.” He ripped the remaining skin from the side of his face. “What’s the use in trying. We’ll have new bodies soon enough. When Dax kills your sister, he will free us both.”

  “Natalie can handle Dax.” As Tarius patted his face where she tore the skin, she thought maybe she could obliterate him. Still, she hesitated.

  He shook his head, humming under his breath. “Dax is a Guardian to you both.”

  “She’s free of him. Natalie can cast magick without Dax.”

  He chuckled. “Of course, she can. Any blue moon siren can learn to cast magick without the elixir, but that doesn’t prevent him from entering her seam.”

  “I haven’t released him. He can’t touch her.”

  He leaned against the wall crossing his arms. “You’re here, aren’t you? Death proceeds any formalities.”

  She loathed his cocky stare. With his body so mangled, she wondered how hard it would be to pop his eyes right out of their sockets. “You don’t know how the Guardian bond works.”

  “I created it.” He smiled. “And I’m pretty sure Dax can control your sister’s magick now.”

  “Dax led me here. I followed the white butterfly in Etlis. We’re still connected.”

  “The butterfly belonged to Dax?” His charred eyebrows rose. “Interesting.”

  “Why do you care?” She didn’t like the look on his face. He seemed almost pleased.

  “We should hurry if you want to return to your body.”

  “I’m not leaving with you.” She had made this mistake in Asair’s dimension, taking the demon with her instead of killing him. This time only one would leave Etlis or no one at all.

  “If your body is of no use to you, then we can take our time. But I’m sure Dax won’t be long with your sister.”

  “You underestimate Natalie.”

  “And you underestimate the Guardian bond.” He smiled. “All that beautiful power of yours will never be free.” He raised his fist in her face. “I will always have a grip on you. You will never leave me again. You and I will renew our vows.”

  Her breath quickened. “Vows?” What didn’t he get about this? She wasn’t playing games. "I would rather die!"

  He chuckled. "Halen Windspeare is already dead. When we have the water stone your soul will remember—you will be Galadia once more. Etlis will be ours. Her powers—your powers can bring back life." He waved toward the open window. "You have the gift to restore this realm."

  She stepped to the open window, standing high above Etlis, while the thick air suffocated her. A vast realm glowed with flames. Dragons beat the sky, their tortured cries echoing in the air with wings on fire, mimicking the call of her loss and despair.

  "Their magick keeps them alive, though they’re burning inside and out. You'll get used to the sound." Tarius stepped beside her.

  "I could never." She hugged herself, her body so frail as if it might transform to dust with her next breath. She had bent to the will of Dax. She had followed everyone's plans so willingly, but she wasn’t the same girl. Her sister’s soul would live; Emil would make sure of it. If she had to stay in the flames to protect earth and Elosia, she would but not by this monster's side.

  With the desire to leap from the window, her body stirred with a strange sort of tickling feeling. The feathers on her wrist poked through her skin elongating. She shook her hand and her arm shifted to a wing. She marveled at the fine feathers untouched by flames.

  “That’s not a good idea.” Tarius’ tone held warning. “The body inside is undamaged by the wreckage of Etlis. I’m afraid it might be all that’s keeping you together.”

  Halen shook, remembering Lina's actions back in the forest that day. She wriggled until her feet vanished and her legs tucked up under her belly, and she fluttered up in the air. She darted out the window, flying across the barren land, her tattered wings beating the thick smoke. The river flowed crimson, bones of the dead lining the banks; the beauty of Etlis swallowed in Tarius' rage.

  A dragon's wings churned the air above. When she glanced skyward the dragon spread its jaws. She beat her little wings faster. The dragon swooped beside her, brushing her body with its horn. The motion threw her flight off balance, sending her spiralling toward bank of bones. With her wings tucked at her sides, she cried for salvation as the ground neared where the empty sockets of a skull stared up, welcoming her death. “No!” The word came out her beak as a screeching squawk. And as her will to live ignited, her wings spread out by her sides. Her body drifted, slowing her decent.

  Again, the tickling rustled her feathers, and as she touched the ash ground, her body transformed. Her toes sunk in the ash, the soles of her feet burning, but as much as she fought the transformation, she stood as the fragile girl once more.

  Shadows of wings darkened the ground as the beasts hovered. She scanned the landscape for a hiding place. Beyond the crimson river, the mouth of a forest of rocks called to her. The granite spires spiked the sky, reaching toward the three crescent moons. She darted toward the shelter, slipping through the entrance. When her arm touched the rock walls, her skin sizzled. She screamed, clutching her elbow. She pressed her arms in front of her, trying to make herself as small as possible. Should she shift? She considered her bird form might navigate the maze of rocks better, but she also didn’t feel comfortable as a bird. It seemed only instinct guided her actions when in the bird form, and right now she needed reason.

  Shadows darkened her hiding spot. The beasts cried out, furious with the rock tips barring them from entering. Still, the dragons darted to and fro searching for a way to her. Despite her feeble legs, she ran. Her skin split along her thigh with the movement. Panicked she might fall apart and her carcass left to burn, a surge of sparks tickled her skin. Not the same as when she transformed, but the familiar sparks of magick. She rubbed her fingers and the sparks flickered. She glanced up as a dragon whipped its tail against the spires, knocking them one by one so they crumble behind her, blocking her from turning back.

  Dagger sharp fragments rained in heavy waves, and she picked up her pace to keep from being crushed. All at once
she came to a clearing, and she stood still holding her breath while the dragons circled. This time the sparks electrified, charging across her chest, wrapping her beating heart.

  She waved, and the ash swept upward with her command. The ash spiralled, swarming the dragon and forcing the beast away. Two more beasts swooped in taking its place. She waved again, but this time her magick fizzled, leaving her helpless. She glanced back at the barricade behind her and then to the opposite side where a stag stood waiting. She resisted the urge to call out his name, to plead for help, but already he charged toward her. As the dragon swooped down, the stag scooped her with his antlers, thrusting her over and onto his back. She clutched his fur, tucking her chest to his neck.

  Sparks ran through her, reaching deep within her soul. Like lightening on dark summer night, the boy’s face emerged. He smiled; despite the smoke, his breath, sweet like honey, filled her mouth. She rolled her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Fighting the memories of his love, his heart beat thrummed in her ears, calling her back to him. He ran to the other side, ducking into the forest of charred trees. The dragons loom overhead, swaying in the breeze, but they rescinded their attack when the stag cast his gaze skyward. She wasn’t the only one frightened of Tarius. She cried into the fur, screaming her frustration. "I hate you!" She pounded the stag.

  He knocked her off, careful, so she gently tumbled onto soft ash.

  Striking his hoof on the ground, the transformation was effortless; the young man stood before her once more. He offered his hand.

  "Get away from me." She scooted back, whishing she could bury under the ash and away from his piercing gaze.

  "I've waited too long to have you become a dragon's dinner."

  "I don't love you." Though feeling his pulse against hers, she knew full well Galadia had. Somehow, she loved this monster, but her soul also knew there was a reason she left—a reason driven by fear.

  As if reading her thoughts, Tarius spoke. “You’re not thinking of leaving—are you?”

  She averted her gaze to the ground terrified a part of her soul wanted to stay.

  “You will to remember how good it feels to love me.”

  She shook her head, her body trembling. “No, I won’t.”

  “I should have never let you go. I should have fought harder. But what I can’t understand is why you never came back for me. I waited by the shore every full moon until…”

  “Stop!” Halen held up her hand. “I’m not her. I know you’ve been here a long time and spent a bazillion years thinking of her and what happened, but Galadia’s dead. Let it go. Whatever happened between the two of you isn’t going to happen again.”

  “Did you touch the stone?”

  She swallowed hard. The desert of death flashed through her thoughts. She glanced away.

  “You did.” He chuckled. “Then you know full well what you’re capable of. Is that why she never returned? Did Galadia cave to the calling of the stone?” He laughed once more, letting out a whooping holler. “All these years I thought she had found another love, but she succumbed to the darkness—didn’t she? Galadia had an undying thirst for blood. It’s what I loved most about her.”

  “You’re wrong.” Halen shook her head. “Galadia was the mother of Elosia. The realm is beautiful.”

  “Of course, it’s beautiful. She had exceptional taste.”

  Halen wouldn’t listen to his lies. She had seen Jae’s book with the history of Elosia. How the heavens gave Tarius the fire stone to build Etlis and Galadia the water stone for Elosia. Elosia with its azure rivers, indigo sky, and rainbow dusted cavers was the most stunning place she had ever seen. A demon’s heart couldn’t fathom Elosia. He was trying to get into her head. Yet, she couldn’t deny the urge winding through her magick that night in the desert, something calling beyond the Guardian bond. The same wanton call for blood still begged for a release. Love and death spoke to her soul. Like his honeyed kisses, she craved the thrill death brought her. Given the chance, she would kill them all again.

  INHALING A DEEP breath, the heavy perfume of gasoline and rubber fill Asair's lungs. He rolled to his side clutching his ribs. Staring down at him from the hood of a beat-up Charger sat Vita. He grasped his chest, his fingers fumbling over his shirt buttons, finally resting on a gauzy strip of bandage soaked through with blood. Otho's determine stare flashed through his mind. If the gold arrow punctured him, how was he still alive? "What happened?"

  She hopped off the car. "Your heart stopped for a few minutes. I had to perform CPR.”

  “And I did a little magick to stop the bleeding.” A waif of a girl stepped from the shadows. Behind her, towered a boy with curly auburn hair.

  Asair smiled. “Thank you, Lina.”

  “I carried your sorry ass here.” Tasar grinned. “Who would have thought I’d have to rescue the powerful Asair.”

  “I’m forever grateful.” Asair nodded.

  “We’ve all been catering to you for the last three hours.” Vita peered out the window, then turned back to him. “Get up. We have to go—now."

  Vita had never been one with words, but he needed answers. "It wasn't a gold arrow?"

  "No, not gold. I deflected Otho's arrow,” Lina said.

  “My sister, Aurelia stabbed you with her dagger. Not to mention you had a Krull blade in your back.” Vita frowned.

  "Knife wounds. That's why I feel this way." He took in the service garage; the only light cast from a neon sign flashing. A car sat above on a hoist, with scattered tools beneath. He rose to a sitting position, wincing as his bandage tugged his wound. "Where are we?"

  “A shifter owns this garage.” Tasar rummaged through the tool chest. “She’s fine, but she won’t want us to stay much longer. She doesn’t want any trouble.”

  "And Rania?" Asair hoped she had retreated.

  "She's a coward. She bolted below the waves when the fire rings crisped the coastline." Vita rolled her eyes.

  "The portal thinned when my heart stopped didn’t it?”

  Lina nodded. “The damage is extensive.”

  “Damn it. I shouldn't have been so careless." He grabbed the workbench using it to stand.

  Vita rushed to help him to his feet, hooking her arm through his. "Let's just say the portal wavered, but at least it sent Rania and her army back underwater. My brothers and sister will be looking for us, though. We need to get back to the fortress."

  The one thing he knew for certain from Quinn's memories, a little fire wouldn't scare Rania. She would return. His head throbbed more.

  Vita’s cell phone rang. She took it out of her pocket, glancing at the screen. "It's Natalie." She tucked the phone back in her jacket.

  "Answer it." He squeezed her arm.

  "We need to get out of here first." She nodded toward the old car. "The Charger’s gutted. No engine." She propped him against the wall, then opened the garage doors and peered into the yard where three more cars sat parked. "Hopefully, one of those starts." She grasped all the keys from the hooks, then hit the fobs until one beeped.

  “Let’s go.” She wrapped her arm around his waist and he fumbled.

  “I got him.” Tasar took her place.

  His grip was frim at his side, but for such a burly young man, he was careful not to agitate his wounds. “Thank you.” Asair nodded as they stepped into the yard.

  “Don’t thank me yet. We still have to get you back to the fortress.”

  Lina rushed ahead, keeping a keen eye on the shadows. Vita hopped in the driver’s seat, and Lina opened the passenger side for her brother.

  Tasar guided him to the seat, fastened his belt, and shut the door.

  Vita’s cell phone rang again as she started the car. She tossed the phone to Asair. He caught it, though the quick movement burned along his shoulder blade. He winced.

  Tasar and Lina jumped in the back seat.

  Vita veered the car into the empty street, revving the engine. "Slow down. You're going to draw attention." He placed his hand on her
knee.

  She shot him a pointed stare and he withdrew his hand at once. The phone buzzed in his other hand and he answered, hopeful to hear the one voice he longed for. He needed to apologize to Halen. Let her know he had made a terrible mistake and he would never leave again. "Hello."

  "Asair?" Natalie’s voice cracked. “You’re alive!”

  "I’m fine. I’m with Vita, Tasar, and Lina."

  "I thought you were dead." She sniffed.

  Was she crying? "Why now, darling, don't you have any faith in me?"

  "What the hell happened?" She sniffed again.

  "My heart stopped for a few seconds. That's all. We’re heading back now."

  "Put me on speaker."

  They passed a coffee shop, the spinning doughnut sign in flames. Fire fighters lined the street with hoses. Alarms wailed along the coast line as waves beat the shore, but his focus stayed with the girl now sobbing on the other end of the line. His insides rolled with fear, and his hands trembled with her sorrow. "Natalie, what's the matter?"

  "Tarius…" Her voice was so small, reminding him of when she woke after Jae's magick and realized for the first time she couldn't walk. This same uncertainty plagued her voice now.

  "Natalie, tell me what's happened."

  "We tried to get the silver out—separate Dax from Halen. It was going so well, but I guess when your heart stopped beating…” There was a long breathless pause.

  “What are you saying?” Vita spoke for him.

  “Halen’s dead.”

  What was this madness? She couldn’t be dead. He had left her in the safest place. He had left to protect her. The car shook with his grief.

  Vita shot him a warning glance as she fought to keep the car on the road.

  Lina leaned forward and took the phone. “What happened?”

  “Tarius took her soul,” Natalie whispered. “Halen's in Etlis."

  As the weight of her words hit them head on, Vita slammed her foot to the accelerator. She sped through the red light, not looking back as she swerved onto the highway. The city lights bled into one another as Asair's emotions spun.