Coral & Bone

by Tiffany Daune

  “So, you’re a siren?”

  He leaned forward, rubbing his hands together, but said nothing.

  “You lied to me,” she said.

  He didn’t look up. “It was my secret to keep.”

  “Do Catch and Pepper know—that you’re a siren?” She pressed farther. “Does Nelia?”

  “Of course the Tari know.”

  “Did Catch and Pepper tell you what happened back at the tidal garden?”

  “They’re worried about you. Both of Catch’s eyes are twitching and Pepper…Well, she’s a mess. They both really like you.”

  Halen swallowed hard. “They thought I did something to you—they thought I hurt you.”

  “They were confused,” Dax said. “You did steal the elixir.” He eyed her suspiciously, but then smiled with that crooked grin that made her insides melt.

  “Do you think they will forgive me?” she asked.

  “They already have. I wouldn’t have got out of Elosia without them. They really care what happens to you.”

  “Because of Asair,” Halen said flatly. “Everyone cares what happens to me. No one gets what they want if I’m dead.” She kicked the dirt. “How did you survive so long in Elosia? I thought you were banned material there.”

  “Tattoos. I’ve had my birthmark altered over the years. You’ve seen the bird.” His eyes met hers, and she was thankful for the darkness hiding her flushed cheeks. Halen tried not to think of her fingers against the inked wings. Too late. She let her bangs fall over her eyes.

  “So Daspar is your Dad?” She shifted the topic. “I’ve known him my whole life, you know. He was my dad’s—Huron’s—best friend.” It was easier to forgive her mom than Huron.

  “Daspar is my dad. I don’t see him much. I wish I did. I really miss him. And you know your dad misses you. You need to let up a bit on Huron. He left you for the good of the realms and the sirens.”

  “That’s how you see it?”

  “When the hunters’ curse is broken, you are free. Provided you have a guardian,” he added.

  “You forget the Elosians will still want me dead; not all of you are Tari.”

  “But they can’t reach you if you stay inland. Remember Elosians’ can’t breathe long on land. You’ll be safe. So in a way Huron is protecting you.”

  “I don’t know. I still might not be able to this, Dax. I’m much better, but my magick is a little crazy.”

  “It really is,” Ezra said as he came around the corner with Tage by his side. He had the bottle of soy sauce and she the lantern. “Halen nearly suffocated us with flowers.”

  “Flowers?” Dax asked.

  “Yeah,” Tage said. “If Asair has an allergy problem, Halen’s got that one covered.”

  Ezra laughed. “Hey, that might just work. Death by pollen.”

  Dax looked between the two of them, obviously confused.

  “I made some flowers pop out of the ground. No biggy,” Halen said. “It was another one of my attempts at controlling—” she shook her hands out “—whatever this is.”

  “It was incredible,” Tage said. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

  “Sounds incredible,” Dax said. “I wish I had seen it.”

  Heat flushed her cheeks. “So, what’s the plan?” Halen asked taking the subject off the flowers. “Seriously, you all must have some kind of plan to release Asair—don’t you think I should know about it?”

  “Does that mean you’re in for good?” Tage asked nudging her. “No running away on us?”

  “Look, all of you have risked so much,” Halen said. “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll give it a go. But I don’t want any more secrets.”

  “Hey, I don’t have anything to hide,” Ezra said.

  “Tage?” Halen asked.

  “I only kept secrets to protect you.” She held up her hands.

  “That’s what a guardian would do,” Dax added and Tage shot him one of her death stares. It only lasted for a second, but Halen caught it. Did Tage not trust him?

  Tage sat down and crossed her arms over her knees. “First, we have to get the magick working for you. You have to be the lion tamer; don’t let the lion eat you.”

  “Gee, thanks for that encouraging analogy,” Halen said.

  “No, she’s right,” Dax said. “Once you take ownership of your power, you’ll have control. If you don’t, then when you cross the seam, you will be consumed by your own rage. It sounds a little confusing but you need to regain control as soon as you cross the seam.”

  “The seam?” Halen asked. “What the heck is the seam? I thought I was opening a portal.”

  “You are,” Tage said. “The seam is within your soul. At least that’s what the Etlins call it.”

  Dax continued to explain. “The seam is the essence of who you are. Think of it as running down the center of your soul. The stitches crisscross with all the love you have experienced, the joy, the sorrow the rage, each stitch woven with your life experiences. The stitches dip into the darkness and then cross over to the purity of the light. To open the portal you need to rip open the stitches, go deep within your soul and cross over to darkness. Only there will you find the dark essence of yourself needed to open the portal. But you must remember to come back to the other side,” Dax’s tone held warning. “You will have to walk out on your own. Find your way back to the seam. Only then can you defeat Asair.”

  “I have Tage,” Halen said. “She’ll bring me out.”

  “A guardian can offer you a hand, but you have to want to take it,” Dax said as he met her gaze. “You have to want to come out of the darkness.”

  “Well, of course I would want to come out—why wouldn’t I?”

  “Natalie had a hard time returning to the seam,” Dax said. “Huron pushed her too hard. Took away too much from her. There weren’t a lot of light stitches along her seam. She once told Huron the Earth realm wasn’t worth saving. The Tari tried to show her another way, but she preferred to listen to the dark thoughts of her soul.”

  “Do you think Asair was filling her head with these thoughts?” Halen asked.

  Tage shook her head furiously, and Halen reworded her question. “I mean, do you think she was just worn out with training and the idea of destroying Asair was getting to her?” She had let that one slip.

  Tage broke in. “There’s no point in talking about this until we cover the basics.”

  “We need to cover them fast,” Dax said. “If this diversion with the hunter’s soul doesn’t work, they will be coming after Halen. The hunters will not show mercy. Halen, you have to understand this is just as dangerous, but if we don’t go in now and the hunters do find you…”

  “Then we all go up in flames,” Tage said.

  “We can’t wait for another blue moon siren and guardian to be conceived is what I was trying to say,” Dax said.

  “Same thing.” Tage shrugged.

  “So what you’re saying is I’m Earth’s last hope,” Halen said. She hadn’t actually put all the pieces together. But now as they were making an actual plan she realized she only had one shot at this.

  “No pressure.” Ezra smiled.

  “When you’re confident with your magick, then we can enter the Mermaids’ Gate.” Dax said.

  “No!” Halen almost shouted.

  “We have to. It’s the only way into Asair’s dimension,” Tage said. “We’ll go in together.”

  “How do we even get in?”

  “They will welcome you in,” Dax said. “They want you—the trick will be keeping Tage alive.”

  “What?” Halen’s voice cracked. “Then she doesn’t come. You said the bond will work without her being near me.”

  “I’m going,” Tage said.

  “I am too.” Dax met Tage’s gaze.

  “Well hell, I’m going too, Mother Nature.” Ezra stirred his broth and placed the lid back on. “I can’t wait to see the look on Asair’s face when he sees you.”

  “He’s going to try and kil
l me,” Halen said, flatly.

  “He’s going to go for your guardian first.” Dax nodded toward Tage. “Then, he’ll come for you. He won’t be able to resist your power.”

  “How would he even get it? Magick is part of my soul.” Halen had a feeling she wasn’t going to like the answer.

  “The same way Daspar consumed Pura’s soul,” Tage said. “You would have to surrender your soul to him.”

  “I wouldn’t do that! Are you nuts?”

  “Asair is persuasive,” Dax said. “Look at the mermaids; they were once Elosians. You must resist him.”

  Tage spoke, “The Tari believes Asair won’t be strong right now; not after being locked up without coral and bone. You will have a slight advantage, but don’t let him near your elixir, and whatever you do don’t give him your bracelet.”

  “Why would I?” Halen asked.

  “Like I said, he’s persuasive,” Dax said, his jaw tight. “He had his guardian murdered, and that is not an easy task. The connection between the guardian and blue moon siren is like two halves of a whole. For him to sever this relationship without the guardian having knowledge of his actions would be nearly impossible. No one is sure how he did it. The records are incomplete. You have to be ready for anything.”

  “This is sounding more and more impossible by the second.”

  “Nah.” Tage sat down and wrapped her arm around Halen. “Think of the positive. Decrepit old demon with no elixir. You’ll be fine.”

  “And what about opening the portal? How do I even cross the seam to get to the darkness?”

  Tage grinned. “You let me worry about that—I’ve got darkness covered.”

  Though Tage was smiling, Halen worried. She thought of the fiery field and the black birds exploding with flames. What if Tage couldn’t bring her back—what if she got lost on the other side of the seam? What if she, like Natalie, agreed with the dark whispers of her soul? The Tari’s plan was flawed.

  Thirty-two

  “Well, we might as well practice.” Halen clapped her hands and Tage jerked awake.

  Ezra rolled over, moaning, “What time is it?”

  “Early.” The doors flew open, letting in the crisp morning air. Dax smiled. Halen hadn’t even heard him get up.

  “You two are mental. We have all day.” Tage yanked her sleeping bag up over her ears, burrowing inside. Clasping the zipper, Halen opened it all the way.

  Ezra was up and pulling his jacket on. “I’ll make some coffee.” He nodded toward Halen. “And hot chocolate for you.”

  “Coffee is fine,” Halen said.

  “Oh that’s right, you have enough happy thoughts.” Ezra glanced toward Dax.

  “No fires!” Tage said. “Sheesh, how many times do I have to tell you?”

  “Okay, I got it.” Ezra held up his hands. “I just wanted a little caffeine.”

  “And I wanted to try the fire again today,” Halen said.

  Tage yawned and sat up. She stretched her arm to one side and then the other. “We should try something else.”

  “You said you could put it out and I can get rid of the smoke.”

  “Yeah, but your idea of fire is a lot bigger than mine.”

  “I can help.” Dax stepped forward. “I know a few spells.”

  “Have you even seen fire—water boy?” Tage asked. She was back to being smart-ass number one. This was her ways of keeping Dax on the outside, even though he had more than proven himself.

  “I’ve seen plenty of fires.” Dax widened his stance. “Hunters burned my human grandparents’ house down when I was visiting them once. I was only six, when I lost them to the fire. Daspar taught me then how to tame flames. I think I can manage.”

  Tage touched his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

  “How would you?”

  “Okay, people,” Ezra said. “So what’s it going to be, fire or no fire? Because if Halen’s starting a fire, I’m brewing coffee with the flames.”

  She could use a cup herself. She hadn’t slept all night, fearful Asair might creep into her dreams and spin them to nightmares. Top that with anxiously awaiting for her mom or Daspar to call, she was in need of caffeine as well.

  “No fires,” Tage said.

  “Then maybe we should go to Portland and get some coffee? Besides we’re running low on food. We don’t know how long they will be,” Ezra said.

  “No one is leaving here,” Dax said. “Not until Daspar calls. We stay inside the protected area.”

  “He’s right,” Tage said. “We should stay inside Daspar’s enchantment.”

  “I saw an old Mustang in the back parked in the shed. We could drive,” Ezra suggested. “We would be quick.”

  “It probably won’t start,” Tage said. “Besides, Halen wants to practice.”

  “We can try the fire then?” Halen asked.

  “Well, you should get past that one. So I guess if you help out,” she addressed Dax. “We could try a little fire.” Tage brought her thumb and index finger together. “I mean it Halen—think small.”

  Ezra placed his hands on his hips. “So you’d rather Halen start a fire in an enclosed space, than drive to the city? That’s real danger prioritizing.”

  “Shut up.” Tage pushed past him, though Halen caught a smile playing on her lips. This was nice to see. Despite their sarcastic banter, Tage seemed to like him. Go figure.

  “Maybe I could break Daspar’s spell. I know the incantation,” Tage said, starting forward.

  “No, you are not.” Dax yanked her back.

  “We need some space.” When Halen touched him, he dropped Tage’s arm. “The last fire I started didn’t go so well. If we practice too close to the church, we might not have a place to sleep tonight.”

  “There’s plenty of room at the back of the church.” Dax kept his indigo stare set on Halen.

  “We won’t have a protection spell when we face Asair.” She removed her hand from his arm, though the sparks lingered, daring her to touch him once more.

  “Let’s get you ready first,” he said.

  Tage had already slipped on her boots and coat and was heading out the back door with Ezra close behind. “Lots of room!” she yelled from outside.

  Halen tugged on her boots and then her hoodie. Dax glanced toward the window of angels, their wings casting a soft glow across the crooked lines of his face. He was infinitely more beautiful than Halen had ever drawn him. She had known nothing about him before and each moment with him she realized she was a fool to think she could capture his complexities with just a pencil and paper.

  Her sketchbook. Checking her duffle bag, she spotted the coiled rings inside. She would die if he saw the sketches. She had been thinking of burning the entire book but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She hadn’t been ready to let go. She didn’t know if she ever would be ready.

  “I’m sorry about your grandparents,” she said.

  “It was a long time ago.”

  “It doesn’t matter when it happened—death lingers. I didn’t know Huron well, but his death haunted me every day of my life. I never got over the loss.”

  “And now?”

  “He’s still dead to me. Only, now I don’t have to mourn anymore.”

  “I’m telling you…” Dax started.

  “Don’t!” Halen held up her hand. “Don’t make excuses for him. You realize he didn’t even hug me in Elosia? If your child was that close to you, would you not want to reach out and hold her, clasp her against your heart and never let her go?”

  He let out a heavy sigh and she bit back her lip as she inhaled his sweet salty scent. She studied the wall behind him, trying desperately not to think of his lips on hers.

  “Halen, when I left you…”

  She interrupted, and met his gaze. “I never should have kissed you. The magick just… It was a stupid mistake.”

  His lips pursed together and her insides charged. Look away, her mind said.

  He laughed. “You do realize I k
issed you back—right? Or was it that bad of a kiss? In that case I take no credit.”

  “What—I—ugh…” He had wanted to kiss her? Her mouth hung open, unable to capture the words to complete one cohesive sentence.

  “Aren’t you coming?” Tage sang over the silence. Her eyebrows arched high over flashing eyes. “I didn’t interrupt anything?”

  “Nothing,” Halen said, setting down her coat. With Dax by her side, she was feeling hot enough. It wouldn’t take much to start a fire.

  At the back of the church was a shed with the old Mustang Ezra had told them about. There were a few tall trees, but mostly stumps lined the ground. An axe was lodged in one stump, and Ezra yanked it free. He hoisted the axe in the air and chipped off a wedge of bark. “I’m telling you we should have gone to Portland.”

  Tage squatted over a pile of twigs and damp leaves, rubbing her hands together. “The ground is so wet,” she moaned.

  “Maybe that’s a good thing.” Ezra said, wielding the axe once more. “That way, if Mother Nature screws up again, she won’t burn us to a crisp.”

  “Why does he keep calling you that?” Dax asked.

  Halen shook her head. “Don’t pay attention to the moron in the corner. He knows nothing.”

  “Forgive a guy for wanting to keep his hair.” He raked his free hand through his shaggy layers.

  “First thing I’m burning.” Halen smiled.

  “You’re cruel, Mother Nature. Tage is wearing off on you. I don’t think she is a good guardian for you. Maybe you should have a go at it.” He nodded toward Dax. “At least you have some manners.”

  Halen caught Tage’s glance shift toward Dax. Again, it was just for a few seconds, but she noticed something between them. Maybe Tage wished she could trade places with him.

  “Okay, what can we use that’s dry around here?” Tage flipped the wet leaves before her. “This is never going to work. Come on. Help me find something dry—anything.”