Curses and Ash

by Tiffany Daune

  “You’re the strongest person I know, but I can’t do this. Find Jae. She knows about these things.” Her mom turned so she could connect with more than Halen’s reflection. “Keep this a secret. Don’t tell anyone he’s inside you. Do you understand? You must find Jae on your own.”

  “Dax can help. He thinks Asair is dead. He trusts me.”

  “Trust no one. Place your trust in your instincts. They will guide you to her.”

  “This doesn’t make sense.” Halen rubbed her forehead. “I’m lost. I thought you wanted me to trust Dax. I placed my life in his hands.”

  “I don’t have time to explain. You need to get out of this hotel before the Hunters arrive.”

  “I want you to come with me. You’re the only one who knows the truth.”

  “I can’t. Already, there are those who don’t believe Asair is dead. I need to spread the word, and tell them I performed the test.” She leaned back on the counter and released a heavy sigh. “I shouldn’t be letting you go.”

  “Why are you then? Why did you lie to Daspar?”

  She shook her head. “I haven’t been the best mother. I’ve been a horrible mother, but I love you, Halen.”

  “I love you too, and really, you’ve been an amazing mom.”

  She laughed. “Mothers don’t lie to their children.”

  “They do if they're trying to protect them.”

  “Thank you for seeing it that way.” She brushed Halen’s cheek. “You are more than I ever could have asked for in a daughter.”

  She held her mom’s hand against her cheek. “I won’t let you down. I’ll find Jae, but you have to promise me one thing…”

  “Anything.”

  “In ten days, if I don’t find her, you find me.” Halen swallowed back her fear. She wasn’t giving in to Asair. If Jae didn’t have a solution, there was only one way to stop the fires. “Asair can’t live if he doesn’t have a host. Bring Tasar and Lina and we end this.”

  Her eyes creased in the corners as if fighting back tears. “That won’t be necessary.”

  “We both know what will happen if Asair takes control of my powers. I refuse to be a slave to him. You have to promise you’ll end this.”

  “Let’s get these stitches out.” Her mom reached for her ear, gently tugging the thread.

  “Mom? I need to hear you say it.”

  Without meeting her gaze, her mom spoke, “I will do what needs to be done.”

  She gathered her into her arms, embracing Halen so tightly—the hands holding her both loving and threatening—nothing would ever be the same between them again.

  DASPAR AND TASAR stood guard outside the hotel room watching for signs of the Hunters, while Tage paced inside, chewing the last bits of her nails. What the heck was taking Corinne and Halen so long? She moved to her index finger, now raw with pink skin, then tucked her hands in her pockets and stopped next to Lina. “How much longer for the portal?”

  “These things take time.” Lina ran her hands in counter-clockwise circles against the window pane.

  Ezra peeled the wrapper off another candy bar. “Even if we go through the portal, the Hunter’s soul will lead them right to us.” He waved the chocolate bar toward Dax as if it were a sword.

  Dax’s fist tightened on the vial now fastened to the chain around his neck. “You don’t have to worry about it. We’ll be out of here soon.”

  “Not soon enough,” Ezra said.

  Tage couldn’t agree more. Trapped in a room of siren hunters, it would be open season with nowhere to run. “Where will the portal take us?”

  “I’ve split the portal. Tasar and I have matters to settle elsewhere on Earth, but you, Ezra, and Dax will go with Halen to Elosia.”

  “No way,” Ezra said. “I’m not going back there. You didn’t see the way Rania treated us. Nothing has changed.”

  Tage agreed. “The Elosians couldn’t care less Halen risked her life for the realms. As long as Rania is head of the Council, a siren will never be welcome in Elosia.” She turned to Lina. “I’m not going back there.”

  Dax dipped his finger in one of the ripples. “Lina’s right—Elosia is a good choice. The Hunters won’t expect it.”

  Ezra scrunched the candy wrapper in his fist. “We’ve been going along with your plan from the beginning and look where it’s gotten us. You’re only thinking of yourself.” He bumped against Dax. “You just want to keep the Hunters away from that soul so you don’t end up their puppet. Elosia is no place for Halen or any of us.”

  Dax shrugged. “Stay here then—you’ll be slaughtered for sure.”

  “I don’t think so,” Ezra said. “We’ve got Mother Nature on our side. Have you forgotten what Halen can do?”

  “Could do.” Tage grasped his shoulder, pulling him away from Dax. “Halen’s not the same. Whatever happened to her in Asair’s dimension screwed with her magick. Taking on the Hunters might drain her completely. We can’t ask that of her.”

  “Look, I’m thinking of Halen.” Dax tucked the vial under his shirt. “Yeah, it doesn’t help having the Hunter’s mark, but despite what you think, Halen’s safety is all I care about.”

  “We all care about her,” Ezra said.

  “We’ll pass through Elosia, hide out for a few days, then move on,” Dax said. “We’ll be fine. Don’t forget my mother and Halen’s father are in Elosia. They’ll help.”

  Tage’s bones throbbed along her forearm. She searched his gaze. Was this a lie? Was Halen not safe in Elosia? Why would he take her then? Something wasn’t right. “We’ll go,” Tage said. “But any sign of Rania and we’re out of there—deal?”

  “I don’t want a run-in with her either.” Dax held his hands up.

  With these words, the ache subsided. At least this was true.

  “There.” Lina clapped and stood back. The windowpane rippled, the portal glistening with a silvery film. “Now all I need is my brother and we can all leave.”

  “How is it you ended up with a bear for brother?” Ezra asked Lina as he opened another candy bar. “I mean, if you’re a bird…”

  Lina rolled her eyes. “This is not the time for chitchat.”

  “Just curious.” Ezra shrugged.

  Lina poked the portal once more. Her finger shimmered and she wiped the residue off on her pajama bottoms. “All Etlins are family. Just as all mankind are brothers and sisters.”

  “Yeah, I get that, but did you like have a bird mom and bear dad or is Tasar adopted? Because I’d totally get that. You two are so—”

  Tage pinched his side to shut him up. She hadn’t forgotten how Lina turned the Hunter Otho to stone.

  “That’s not how it works in Etlis.” She shoved the pajama sleeves up her arm. “Not that it's any of your business, but our mother was an eagle and our father, a coyote. The dragons trusted their counsel during the war.”

  “War?” Tage recalled Elosia and Etlis’ history from her mom’s detailed accounts, but her mom never mentioned a war.

  Lina jerked her head to the side, twitching slightly. Her eyes knowingly studied Tage, so she never quite felt comfortable in Lina’s presence. Tage never pegged Lina as a simple wren.

  “You don’t know?” Lina sprang to the balls of her feet as if ready to pounce. “I assumed you were—”

  A hard thump on the door shifted her attention.

  Daspar’s rushed shouting echoed from the hallway. Tage bolted for the door. When she yanked it open, Daspar tumbled against her. Blood welled between his fingers where he clasped his shoulder. “Everyone get inside!” He shoved her back.

  Tasar’s skin sprouted with bristled fur; his hands spread to paws as an arrow sailed past his head.

  “Watch out!” Lina shouted and he dropped to all fours.

  “Shut the door!” Ezra yelled.

  “Not without my brother.” Lina shoved past Ezra and into the hallway.

  When Lina reached for Tasar, the great bear rose on his hind legs. His black lips pulled back over razor sharp teet
h. He released a guttural growl.

  His rage tore through Tage, sending her off-balance. She gasped for breath as his fiery anger twisted in her belly. She stumbled and Ezra took Daspar, guiding him to the couch.

  “Tasar!” Lina cried. “Get in here now!”

  Obeying his sister, he backed into the hotel room, never taking his sharp gaze off the hallway.

  Tage slammed her weight against the door, pulled the chain, and bolted the locks as Corinne had done. As if that will keep the Hunters out.

  “You have to go through the portal now!” Lina nudged Dax toward the window. “Get Otho’s soul out of here.”

  “Where’s Halen?” Dax pushed her aside.

  Tage’s thoughts spun as she scanned the hotel room. Ezra pressed a towel against Daspar’s shoulder, his hands washed with bright blood, his clothes stained ruby. Tasar turned, his furry butt knocking over the lamp. He backed up, bumping into the food cart. China cups, plates and the silver domes crashed to the ground with a clatter. “Stop moving!” Tage shouted.

  “Let’s go through the portal!” Lina yelled.

  Dax called for Halen.

  “Get Daspar up.” Tage motioned to Ezra. “Tasar and Lina can take them. Corinne won’t be able to breath in Elosia.”

  Daspar grabbed Ezra’s wrist. “No, we'll stay and fight. I just need a minute to catch my breath. Go. We will find a way to you.”

  “I can’t leave the portal open that long,” Lina said.

  “Daspar.” Tage knelt by the couch and took his hand in hers. He had been like a father to her when the Hunters slaughtered her parents. She couldn’t believe this was happening all over again. “Please come with us. They’ll kill you—you have a siren soul inside you. You know they’ll take it.”

  Daspar slipped his hand from hers and gently took her chin. “This is not the time to be brave. Go.”

  “I can’t. I can’t leave you.” The words choked in her throat.

  Ezra’s arms wrapped around her chest. He tugged her away, guiding her to her feet. “We need to leave.”

  She shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. “If they take Pura’s soul, Daspar will die.”

  “I won’t be able to hold the connection much longer!” Lina shouted.

  A sharp cry pierced the air. The portal undulated with the sound, the ripples extending to the edges of the window frame.

  “No!” Lina slammed her hands against the portal. Tage ran to her side, when another cry cut through the air, exploding the glass coffee table; the shards scattered like raindrops in a windstorm. Tage buckled, her hands clasped to her head. Ezra curved over her, his body an umbrella protecting her from the daggered rain.

  Lina redirected the glass with a wave of her hand, and crouched with her hands over her ears.

  Tasar stood fast by Halen’s bedroom door, his eyes squinting as he endured the penetrating cries.

  The crippling wail emanated from the hallway in a steady, horrific tone, increasing in intensity with each passing second. Tage’s eyes pooled with tears as the sound bled through her ears. All the years of running from Hunters, all the hours practicing spells—nothing had prepared her for this moment.

  The chain rattled at the door, vibrating with a great force. The hinges popped one by one, flying into the air; the door blew off, sailing through the room like a kite in a hurricane. Tage screamed, holding her hands over her head as the door bounced off the walls until smashing into the television and settling on the floor.

  A howling wind rushed through the room, tossing the magazines and pillows into the air. The drapes clung to the rods, swept up in the torrid gust. Peeking from the crux of Ezra’s elbow, Tage spotted a girl. Her dark hair swirled around her like raven’s wings; her sharp emerald eyes scanned the room. When her full lips shut, the storm ceased, the pillow and magazines dropped to the floor—the room rang with the echo of defeat.

  Tage shoved away Ezra’s arm to get a better look. She had seen pictures of the girl before, and those were from a few years back, before the leather pants and knee-high, bone-crushing boots. If she could cause this much damage from simply parting her lips, Daspar had trained Halen’s sister well.

  Dax bolted into the room, Halen by his side. “Natalie?” His face flushed, and his hand went to Halen’s chest, shoving her behind him.

  Flashing Dax a killer smile, Natalie unleashed her warrior cry.

  Dax crumbled to his knees, but Halen stood fast, her unwavering gaze fixed on her sister.

  Natalie shut her mouth. The sisters stood, hypnotized with one another. Neither had ever seen the other face to face, and Tage had but a few seconds before the shock would wear off. Grabbing a shard of the broken coffee table, Tage spat on it. She motioned for Ezra to do the same.

  “That’s Halen’s sister?” he asked.

  She nodded, then held her hand alongside his chin. “Spit—now!”

  He spat in her hand and she blew, whispering, “Volantis!” A ball of fire ignited in her palm and she blew hurling it toward Natalie. Leaping to her feet, she grasped Ezra’s hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

  They bounded for the portal, when an arrow whirled past her, puncturing the wall.

  “Hunters!” Lina shouted.

  Corinne bolted from the bedroom, shoving Halen toward the portal.

  “Go now!” Daspar stood, but the severity of his wound dragged him back to the sofa.

  Tage stopped. Hesitation killed—she knew better, but she had to look her parents’ murderers in the eyes. She didn’t get her revenge, perhaps she never would, but she had to know which arrow had her mother’s soul. She pushed Ezra away and turned on her heel.

  A Hunter, with the hollow stare of death towered over Natalie. Her thin lips pressed with a frown, her features tight as the bow drawn against her high cheekbone.

  “Aurelia,” Tage whispered her name.

  "Hello, siren. Nice to see you again.” She smiled as she released the arrow.

  The arrow seemed to spin in slow motion. The hotel suite sprouted with tall oaks and spruce trees. Her father washed in blood lay a few feet away. She wanted to run to him, but she couldn’t will her feet to move.

  “Tage!” Ezra shoved her and the forest cleared.

  The arrow skimmed his arm. “Damn it!” He grasped his arm as blood oozed between his fingers. “Get through the portal now, Tage!”

  Tasar lunged at Aurelia, knocking her back, when a second Huntress appeared at the door.

  Her scarlet hair fell to her bare midriff. Secured at her waist, seven sheathed daggers awaited their next victims.

  Vita. Her arrows never missed. “Watch out!” Tage shouted, when

  The Huntress dropped to her knee, and with fluid motion, released an arrow.

  Lina’s pajamas crumpled in a heap to the floor, and a wren darted from the folds of the fabric. She fluttered around her brother’s ear, and he bounded for the portal with Vita’s arrow stuck fast in his haunch.

  The portal sparked, shifting to an indigo swirl. Corinne shoved Halen forward, but Halen broke free. She thrust her hands outward. Dax reached to stop her, but the sound of magick already crackled in the air.

  Aurelia ducked, but was caught in Halen’s force. Her body flew against the wall. Halen raised her hand higher; the Huntress squirmed with her back pressed to the wall until her head hit the ceiling. She hung as if a noose bound her neck.

  “Let her go!” Natalie shouted. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

  The Huntress gagged with forced breath.

  Tage searched for another element to bind a spell. Immortality didn’t block pain, but if Halen released Aurelia, they could kiss their asses’ goodbye.

  A Hunter, with deep eyes peering from beneath curly dark hair, released an arrow toward Halen.

  “Emil, no!” Natalie waved her hand, redirecting the shaft so it hit the wall. At first, Tage thought she had seen it wrong—Natalie protected Halen—but when she glanced up, Natalie cupped a glistening silver orb. Kneading her fingers,
the orb spun to black.

  “Poison!” Tage shouted.

  Dax shoved Halen aside as Natalie hurled the poison toward her sister. Halen flew back against her mom. Corinne fell, slamming her head on the dresser. She slumped to the ground as the orb sailed past and vanished through the portal.

  “Mom!” Halen cried. The ground shook, the carpet rippled and the Huntress dropped to the ground.

  Dax’s face deepened with rage and he lunged for Natalie, but the Hunter, Emil, intercepted. He leaped through the air, as if he had wings; the soles of his boots hit Dax square in the chest. Dax buckled, wheezing for breath.

  As the Hunters descended upon them, Tage reached for the potted plant. She had taken breath for granted when she woke that day, but now she gave thanks for the air in her lungs. She blew on the gravel, whispered her incantation and the rocks swirled toward the Hunters’ faces. It wasn’t much of a spell, and the effect lasted only a few seconds, but it was all the time Halen would need. “Go!” Tage shouted.

  “Not without you.” Halen lunged toward Tage. Dax grabbed Halen by the waist, scooping her up in his arms. She dangled like a rag doll, clawing the air. Without glancing back, Dax jumped through the portal.

  A bright light surged through the room and the portal cinched shut.

  “YOU LET HER escape!” Aurelia grabbed her bow in her fist. She crossed the room and butted against Natalie. “She was right in front of you!”

  Natalie shoved her. “Back off, Aurelia. You shot the first gold arrow—her soul wasn’t part of the deal.” Natalie’s green gaze simmered with challenge.

  “What the hell’s going on? Natalie isn’t even freaked by the Hunters?” Natalie was unhinged, but she added insane to the list of things she knew about Halen’s sister.

  “Maybe they don’t need her soul because they’re in a room full of sirens. We need to see if we can still get through the portal.” Ezra edged toward the window.

  Tage followed, being careful not to draw attention, while Natalia and Aurelia argued.