Submerging

by C. S. Johnson

  Sighing to myself, I briefly glanced over at City Hall as we came up to it. If this hadn’t happened, I would be there by now, I thought.

  It was the strange, orange-colored fuzz around the building that made me falter in my self-gloom. “Elysian,” I said. “There’s something at the mayor’s office.”

  “Yes. I see it now, too,” Elysian agreed. “It seems to be inside.”

  “Oh, no.” I groaned. “It figures. We need to make sure we don’t do any damage. The mayor can’t have any distractions at the moment.”

  “I’m not sure that’s going to work,” Elysian told me. “Be realistic about it.” But even as he said it, he began his descent, heading toward the back of the building.

  “Hey!”

  “You there. Stop!”

  There were policemen around as we flew over them. Elysian swung around the corner swiftly, and I could hear them start to follow.

  “What are you doing, Elysian?” I yelled up to him. “Trying to get everyone’s attention?”

  “It might help keep them safe.”

  “Huh?” I looked over to see Aleia had arrived and was waiting for me, already garbed for battle in a white tunic of her own. Unlike Starry Knight and myself, she did not have any wings. There was a circlet made of silver chains and starlight that held back her dark blonde hair. Her twin daggers were bound at her left side, and a pure white battle dress covered with body armor similar to my own hid all but the toes of her protective boots. A lady warrior, I thought. “You’re here.”

  “Of course,” Aleia said with a smile. “I told you I would help. Have you seen the aura?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can you find the heart of it? The strongest point will be where the demon’s power resides; that would be its heart.” She looked up at Elysian. “We might need you a bit smaller for this one, Elysian.”

  “All right,” he agreed, and I felt a budding resentment at him being so willing to follow her directions. He was never that submissive to me.

  “Where’s Starry Knight?” I asked, looking around.

  Aleia pulled out her orb, filled it with her power, and searched through the power of time to find our mutual ally. “She’s coming,” she said quietly. “It seems like she had a harder time getting away than you did.”

  “You can see her? Can you tell me . . . ?” My voice trailed off as she shook her head.

  “Hey, you! You need to stop.” The police officers were back.

  “Let’s just go,” I said.

  Aleia nodded. “Elysian, lead these guys and the others away from here. No teasing,” she warned as Elysian smirked. “Wingdinger,” she said, turning to me, “I’d like it if you led the way to the demon. It’s a powerful one, and its Sinister is here as well.”

  We started running, breaking away from Elysian and the police. Thanks to my job, I knew the layout of City Hall pretty well. Aleia and I headed up into a side stairwell, as I punched forward toward the heart of darkness.

  “If the Sinister is here,” I suggested, “I think we should just go get her. You know, like the killing the snake by cutting off its head philosophy.”

  “I can see they are close,” Aleia said. “We’ll have to fight together when we get there.”

  “All right.” I wasn’t going to argue with her on that. I spurred ahead of her and charged through the door.

  And ran straight into Starry Knight.

  In the split second I saw her before we crashed, I could see her eyes grew wide in surprise, and then sharpen as I launched into her.

  Even as we collided, my arms were lacing around her and I pulled her close; for the longest, shortest second of my life, it was like we were dancing rather than falling. We toppled together, tangled up; I hit the floor hard on my shoulder, then squeezed her closer, protecting her.

  When I looked up a second later, her eyes were blazing their violet gaze into mine, and even as I could tell she was reprimanding me for running into her, my gaze was transfixed by her mouth rather than her words.

  Does she remember? I wondered again, for the millionth time, whether she remembered that moment where we were trapped inside her starlight, bound between the heavens and the earth, when I kissed her and she willingly kissed me back.

  I wish it didn’t bother me so much. But I didn’t just remember the kiss itself; I remembered the feeling of home and longing, the simultaneous pain and pleasure, something unparalleled in all my life. And it ate at me, how she pushed me away, how she didn’t feel the same way, how she didn’t dream of it so vividly when she woke up that she could still taste the remnants of the warmth blazing between us . . .

  Reality brought me back with sound waves, and I started hearing her words.

  “—need to watch where you’re going!” She pushed me off and I relented. “We’ve got to hurry.”

  “Yes,” Aleia agreed, moving alongside me and pulling me up by the arm.

  “It was an accident,” I heard myself say. I brushed some imaginary dirt off my tunic, making a show to get a moment to reorient myself. “Let’s get going again. It’s up here.”

  “Do you know which Sinister it is?” Aleia asked Starry Knight.

  We pushed through the door. “It’s Elektra,” I said, causing the Sinister before us to turn around and sneer at us.

  Her skin was slightly orange, a weird color that made me think of burnt pumpkins. Her black hair was long and pulled back at the neck. A small jewel-like shard glimmered at the top of her arm, marking her as one of the Seven Deadly Sinisters. I noticed quickly she had a glowing confection of pure energy in her palms, and I suddenly wondered how many people she’d managed to steal souls from.

  “Well, isn’t it nice to see you again?” Her voice was silky smooth, even though it grated against my nerves. “I guess that’s my cue to leave.”

  “You’re not going anywhere,” Starry Knight spoke up. She pulled out her bow, and Aleia stood ready for battle.

  I have to admire the ladies I work with, I thought, watching them out of the corner of my eye. They were real warriors, serious about this. Next to them, I felt like a stage extra for a fight scene in a low-budget film production. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn they had trained for years to develop their skills.

  Elektra moved quickly, shifting back from our blows, dodging the arrow by the merest of millimeters. Aleia shot a dagger through the air; it sliced into the wall directly behind Elektra as she laughed and took to the skies.

  She turned and licked up the power still residing in her hand. I grimaced as she swallowed it whole. I could see her throat expand as it went down. Did they really have to do that? That’s an appetite killer. I worried my birthday cake was going to be force fed to me later. “Tasty,” she purred, pleased with herself.

  “You’ll pay for that,” Starry Knight vowed, bringing her bow to the front.

  “I doubt that,” Elektra said, laughing still. “You know, Sister, while I might have once been happy to share with you, I cannot tell you how nice it is to have all this power.”

  “It is not yours.”

  “That did not stop me from making it my own.” Elektra cackled to herself.

  “That was wrong.”

  “Well.” Elektra alighted down onto the floor once more, obviously teasing us. “We both know what it is doing wrong, don’t we?”

  “Some of us refuse to enjoy it,” Starry Knight sparred, slashing out with her weapon.

  Her bow crashed into Elektra, who used her power to keep it from cutting through her.

  “You always were a stickler for rules,” Elektra teased, obviously trying to bait her.

  “Here!” Aleia stepped in. I watched in wonder as Starry Knight and Aleia ambushed her from the front. I circled around, waiting for my opening.

  A strange force wrapped itself around me before I could move. I suddenly gasped, coughing as an invisible hand reached around my throat and choked me.

  Starry Knight glanced back. “What’s wrong?”

  Her momen
t cost her. Elektra’s power smashed her. I could see the moment of surprise and blatant pain play out in slow motion, before Starry Knight tumbled down to the floor.

  “No!” I breathed, more determined to break free. I grappled with the invisible monster at my throat. I could hear a sort of chuckle from him as I fought.

  “One down, two to go!” Elektra cried. She ducked low and tripped Aleia, who stumbled into a railing. Elektra reached out and pushed her hard, sending her flying backward.

  My breath caught back into my throat as Aleia fell. I didn’t have the strength to protest this time. A strange straggle escaped me as I thrashed around on the floor.

  “Krono, don’t kill him,” Elektra warned. “I need him alive.”

  Instantly, the force holding me still released me. I doubled over and sucked in air like a reverse-engineered balloon. I clutched at my chest and fell to my knees, still captured but able to breathe normally. I peeked up to see Starry Knight’s hand twitch.

  Help me, help me, please. I found myself more than slightly uncomfortable, to say the least. “What was that for?” I asked, my voice scraggly, and still unable to move very well.

  “Orpheus wants you dead,” she explained. “And I want to know why.” Her power slid around me like a string of orange lightning, paralyzing me, and lifting me up to meet her gaze. “It’s strange. Normally, he would want your power, which is considerable, I see.”

  Elektra reached out and put her hand over my heart, and I squirmed. A bright flame, bursting out from inside me, shot out at her. She only laughed.

  “Yes, you have powerful heart,” she said. “How about I take a closer look?” Her eyes, dark and sharp, narrowed as she reached into me.

  This time, I didn’t just choke. I felt my blood surge. Power lashed out at her, but she continued to press. I could feel it as she reached around and latched onto my heart and soul. My physical body was raked with pain, and, despite the invisible restraint, I cried out.

  Elektra just smiled. “Yes. Orpheus was a fool,” she muttered. “Your power is too great to just let it die. I must have it for myself.”

  My eyes blurred over and my body went limp as my own power, the power of my heart, the burning life force inside of me, began pouring out. I would have recognized it anywhere, even if I had never seen it before.

  From the beginning, I had wondered what my soul looked like, I vaguely recalled. Most of the ones I’d seen looked like glowing candlelight, burning with different patterns and colors, or small, brightly shining stars.

  My Soulfire was a blazing ball of energy; not just a flame but burning with life, time, and tears, all wrapped up in blood-colored Soulfire.

  “Yes . . . ” Elektra’s eyes reflected my power, lighting up her obsession.

  It was the last thing I saw as I closed my eyes. Or at least, it was the last thing my eyes saw.

  ☼8☼

  More Concern

  “Am I dead?” My voice echoed all around me. I don’t think anyone heard me. I was alone with my thoughts, but not alone.

  Before I could get my answer, Elektra screamed. I felt her power release me.

  Time had not stilled, but we were still in the middle of a battle. My vision, suddenly able to see all around me, caught sight of her as an arrow sliced through her arm and into her chest.

  Aleia suddenly landed beside me. “I’ll get her,” Aleia shouted, indicating Elektra. “You get him.”

  “I’m fine now,” I said. But as I watched Starry Knight drop to her knees to pick up me up, I realized what was wrong. My self—my Soulfire, my heart, and my consciousness—was outside of my body.

  Even so, I still felt the warmth of Starry Knight’s embrace as she whisked me off to an alcove in the hall, away from Elektra and Aleia as they continued to square off. It contrasted with the hard, cold cement of the floor of City Hall.

  “What’s going on?” I asked, as Starry Knight began to check my vitals.

  A moment passed before I could see her visibly relax. “Oh, thank goodness,” Starry Knight muttered. “She didn’t get all of your Soulfire out of your body.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked. “Ugh, I can’t believe you can’t hear me.”

  I saw Starry Knight take off a glove and place her bare hand over my heart. Her emotions leaped off her, brightly colored flashes and feelings. I could read them as if they had labels: anger, regret, but most of all, a terrifying amount of fear. I focused on her eyes as they glassed over and her power flowed from her into me.

  Another spurt of fire, close to her face, blinked at me. I saw it was the feather in her hair; I was entranced at the dancing light, amused to feel as though it was calling out to me.

  Turning back to her emotions, I watched as they changed slightly; there was something more there. I pressed in, working to get closer to her.

  As if Starry Knight sensed me, she leaned in. “Come back to me,” she whispered, her voice shaky and strong at the same time.

  Was it my imagination, or were there tears in her eyes? I felt myself leaning in to look, worming my way back into my flesh, pushing past weariness and reluctance, until my eyes all of a sudden opened and locked on hers.

  I felt her joy, rapturous and strong, wash away her dread and push back her fear. A small smirk appeared on her face as she glanced down, a mask of inconsequence hiding her real reaction.

  “Well,” she said, “I guess it’s a good thing Aleia and I were here to—umph.”

  Starry Knight’s words stopped short as I reached up, pulled her close, and kissed her.

  My lips fumbled against hers, desperate and determined, reveling in the feeling of rightness. A surge of power burst through me as she reeled with delight and longing. I was surprised I managed to hold on as I felt my own heart reply in kind.

  She might have forgotten our last kiss, I thought, but I was determined to make her remember this one. That was my last coherent thought before the sweet, hot fire of her response swept the rest of them away.

  I could feel her fingers tentatively cling to me, keeping me close. My hands held onto her, cradling her face as if offering up a prayer, petitioning this moment to be peeled out of time and spun into an ongoing, separate entity of eternity. Seconds passed as I reached up and found her hair and twisted my hands in its enduring softness; it was intoxicating to the touch, and I ran my hands through it, brushing up against the long red feather in her hair—

  When all of a sudden, it burst into open flame. “Augh!” I jumped back at the small fire. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

  The spark dissolved back into its feather form as quickly as it had lit itself once I stopped touching it. Starry Knight reached up and steadied it, briefly, and I was about to ask her about it when we were further interrupted.

  A loud crash! from the room over jolted us apart, and I briefly remembered there was a battle outside; one of good versus evil, power against love, and protection over destruction.

  I only had seconds, I realized, if I was going to say or do anything. I looked up at Starry Knight, who wore what I imagined was a similar look to the one on my own face—one of confusion and anxiety, the standstill between saying something and wondering if any words would mean condemning the moment.

  “Elektra’s getting away!” Aleia called out, further ruining the mood. “Are you able to help, guys?”

  Still breathless, Starry Knight suddenly backed away as if she had been scalded.

  The tangy cinnamon flavor of her was still partially clouding my senses as I sat up.

  “Coming, Aleia,” she called back as she watched me.

  I grumbled, sore as I began to move. “Starry Knight.”

  She narrowed her eyes. Even from here, I could see her joy switch back into wariness.

  I hesitated before saying, “We need to talk.”

  Starry Knight shook her head. “No.”

  “Why not?” I asked through gritted teeth.

  “I can’t.”

  “Can’t or won’t?” />
  “Both,” she bit back. “You don’t understand.”

  “Are you guys coming or not?” Aleia asked. “I need your help.”

  Starry Knight and I exchanged glances, both of us torn between our duties and desire. As another bang and smash rang out, necessity broke through.

  But before we left the alcove, I caught her arm. “I’m not giving up on this,” I warned her.

  “Like I said, you just don’t get it.” Starry Knight shook her head and brushed my hand away. “It’s better if you just let it go.”

  “I don’t believe that for a second.”

  “I’m not surprised. You never seem to do the smart thing the first time.”

  The jag was meant to hurt me, and it did. And it would have hurt a lot more if I hadn’t seen the fleeting, flickering look of regret on her face, and I stopped in my tracks as confusion overtook me.

  Seeing no choice at that moment, I allowed myself a moment to tuck away the memory of her melting against me, of her lips meeting mine with a matching fierceness. A renewed determination sparked inside of me, and I vowed I would get her to talk to me.

  I smiled, despite everything. There was no question now of whether or not she knew of our kiss. “Thanks for the birthday present, fate,” I said with a small snicker. It was my favorite gift.

  Glass shattered. I hurried to meet up with Aleia and Starry Knight. Aleia, winded and slightly disheveled, was pointing to the window, which had a nice-sized hole shattered through it.

  “Where did Elektra go?” I asked. “And where is her minion? You know, the one who was strangling me?”

  “Krono is up there.” Aleia pointed to one of her daggers, which was stuck in a nearby wall. I studied it for a moment before I saw a haze form around an invisible, humanlike shape. Elektra’s power swarmed around him in a static pattern, but there was no other movement.

  “Nice work,” I said. “I’m surprised he’s not moving.”

  “I sealed him with blood,” Aleia explained, showing us a cut on her arm.

  Starry Knight balked. “You really shouldn’t do that. It’s dangerous.”

  “It’s also effective.” Aleia turned to me, no doubt noting the flabbergasted look on my face. “Stars have power here on Earth, even fallen stars. Our blood carries a large portion of that power, and in its purest form. Part of it is because we are born outside of Time’s power, and part of it is because we take on elements required to live inside of time while we are here.”