Saliva flooded her mouth, like one of Pavlov’s dogs. She snatched the vial at once, unscrewed the cap, and tilted it to her lips. As the coral and bone elixir coated her throat, she prayed for it to work this time.
“Do you feel better?” He brushed her bangs away from her eyes.
“I’m standing. That’s a good thing. I shouldn’t have used magick. I should have just gone through the portal. I put you all in danger.” She clipped the vial onto her leather cord, next to Tasar’s stone.
“Your powers are incredible.” His cool hands cupped her cheeks. She leaned into him, his touch intoxicating. “Taking the Huntress on was brave. Your magick is getting stronger.”
She swallowed hard. Asair guided her magick in the hotel room and she let him. When she thrust the Huntress against the wall, she wanted to crush her bones; she longed to hear each vertebra buckle in her grip. The desire still lingered beneath her flesh. “Maybe I am getting better.” She wore her smile like armor.
“Let’s hope so. Your magick saved our butts back there. If the elixir is working, then we’re going to need more. First, let’s find Catch and Pepper, then we’ll find our parents.”
She blinked back tears as the images of Ezra washed in Daspar’s blood and the stricken look of horror in his eyes as Dax dragged her into the portal taunted her.
“What?” Dax laced his fingers through hers. “What are you thinking about?”
“I want to go back.”
“We will go back and help them, but I have to think of you first. It’s what I’m programmed for.”
“Programmed.” Her gaze fell to their interlocked hands. She unwound her fingers from his.
“I didn’t mean it like that.” He reached for her hand.
She shook her head. “Do you even want to be here?” She followed the trail of his birthmark, noticing how a new needle-long line ran from his index finger to his wrist. Halen followed Dax’s new marks up to the swirls, which disappeared beneath his shirtsleeve where a tattooed bird flew; inked on its wing, the letter E and superscripted above, the number three—three realms united—the symbol of the Tari. How much of the time did he spend with her out of duty?
“Neither of us has a choice. But I want to be here—with you.”
“It’s not real, you know.” Halen bit her lip. “These feelings we think we have for one another are because of the Guardian bond. Asair told me so…when I was in his dimension.”
“How many times did he lie to you?” Dax took her hand once more, and she let him. “Halen, we have a lot to work through, but I promise never to lie about how I feel about you. I will always fight by your side. I will always…” He met her gaze. “The day we kissed—I wanted to; not because of some stupid bond. I kissed you back because you’re incredible.” His face broke with that irresistible dimple.
Why was it so hard to trust him, when he had proven himself over and over again? Asair. She ground her teeth. He had planted the doubt. “I’m sorry. Every time I think I understand, I get side swept.”
He brushed her cheek. “You’re the bravest person I know.” He smiled that crooked grin that made her weak in the knees. Guilt tore her inside out. She couldn’t keep her secret about Asair from him, but she couldn’t bring the truth to her lips.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“That we should hurry.”
“You’re right.” Keeping her hand in his, he walked.
Though much of Elosia was underground, with canals flowing through hidden passageways, above was a vast realm that called to Halen’s curiosity. She would have loved just one more peek at the lapis river, and the bubbled domes that lined the stone pathways, and the blue trees with their curlicue branches. She longed to go above, but this trip would not take them out in the open. No, they would hide like rats in the shadows.
“What happened when you brought me back here—after I defeated Asair?” Being unconscious for days, she still had so many questions. “I thought the Elosians would be happy.”
“At first, but you have to understand, their fears run deep. Elosian history is complicated when it comes to our kind—sirens. Your father asked me to take you away, believing you would be safer. If we’d still been here when the Elosians found out about the fires, they wouldn’t have let us leave.”
“Does everyone follow Huron’s orders?”
“He knows what he’s doing. And he’s your father, Halen. You don’t have to call him by his first name.” He squeezed her hand and she let go.
“I know, but I’m still trying to figure out where he fits into my life. I mourned for him—remember?”
“But he’s alive. And I’m sure he wants to be a part of your life now.”
“Yeah, well, he doesn’t get to pick and choose when he’s going to be a father or not. We still have a long way to go.” She waved her arm in an arc. “He lied about all of this. Do you know I thought he was born in Monterey?”
“His lies were to protect you.”
“I get that part of it. I really do. It’s just the man who was my father, I know nothing about him. That man drowned, and I haven’t had a single minute to get to know the ‘Huron’ you all know.”
“You will. I promise. He’s taught me things—shown me the possibilities of the realms.”
“How do you mean?”
“Let him show you. He wants you on his side more than anything.”
“Maybe in time.” Right now, she couldn’t think about her relationship with him. Right now, she needed to figure out how she was going to get to Jae and purge Asair. Where was he, by the way? He hadn’t chimed in since she’d entered Elosia. Was he gone? Hope swelled. It would be amazing if he had simply dropped out of her. Could that even happen? She was running all the possibilities through her mind when Dax stopped short.
“Did you hear that?”
She shrugged, shaking her head. Dax didn’t budge.
A cry pierced the air and at once Halen’s sparks charged along her arms.
Dax bolted.
“Wait! Where are you going?” She caught up with him and tugged his arm.
He didn’t stop, but picked up his pace. “Someone’s on trial.”
A symphony of screams echoed in the cavern. With each stride, her sparks electrified. “What the hell?” She glanced back, thinking they should head in the opposite direction, but Dax ran faster toward the horrific screams.
“This way.” He waved. He stopped at a long narrow slit, like the eye of needle, cut in the rock surface. “It’s dark on the other side. Stay close to me.”
“Dax, I’m scared. What if they find us?”
“They won’t be able to see us—trust me.” He wedged sideways and before she could protest, he disappeared. He stuck his hand back out, and against her better judgement, she took it. Turning to one side, she sucked in a breath and slid between the rocks.
Once through, her breath hitched with the blinding darkness. She banged her knees, and when she reached for her aching limbs, her shoulder butted against the rock, preventing her from bending. As she took a step to her right, the space narrowed even more; her shoulder blades pressed against the rough rock, and her chest squished against the cool rock in front of her. Her breath quickened. “I can’t do this.”
“Take one side step at a time.” He shifted away.
“Don’t you dare leave me!”
“It’s okay.” His pinky finger hooked hers. He took one step, and she rushed to fill the space between them. Her hip nudged his side and he took one more step.
They moved side by side, their feet shuffling through freezing sand. Her toes grew numb, but fearful of being abandoned, she followed. “It’s so cold here. How much farther?”
Dax picked up his pace. “Not far.”
They went another twenty steps before he stopped. His pinky slipped from hers, and she fumbled for his hand.
“We’re going to climb now.”
“Climb what?” She peered into the darkness. “I can’t see anything. H
ow do you even know where you’re going?”
“I was a curious child.”
When she slid to the side, he was gone. She patted the wall behind her, and ahead, but felt only more rock. Her panicked breath rushed with her rapid heartbeat. “Dax!”
“I’m right here.” He brushed the top of her head, mussing her hair. “Place your hands on the wall in front of you. Search for the grooves. There’s a ladder built into the rock.”
“What kind of weird kid were you?” She rubbed the wall, her fingers finding the rough notches in the stone. They were spaced about every foot or so. Placing her hand on the highest rung, she hoisted herself up and climbed. “What made you want to lurk around here in the dark?”
He laughed. “You’ll be able to see in a sec. Keep climbing.”
She tilted her chin toward the dim light above. When Dax’s silhouette disappeared, she climbed faster. The ladder opened into a wide alcove, illuminated with a gold-flecked curved ceiling; already the air was warmer. The sparkling rock was one of Halen’s favorite things in Elosia. The surrounding walls were dull rock, the floor sandy and scattered with treasures: a book, a hooked claw of some kind of creature, fish skins in varied colors, and an enormous conch shell. Dax grabbed her elbow and helped her over the ledge. He stood hunched with his neck bent.
She imagined a younger Dax reading in this hideout. “Was this your fort?” She picked up the book and brushed the sand off. Another scream cut the air. “This is a bad idea.” She set the book back down.
“My mom is on the Council. If there’s a trial, she’ll be down there.” He pointed. The rocky alcove opened in a semicircle; on the opposite side, dozens of similar openings pitted the rock face.
“Then we should go down.”
“Believe me, you don’t want to go to a trial, but we can observe from up here without being seen.” He stepped toward the light.
“You’re sure?”
“I’ve been here hundreds of times. I used to watch all the trials.”
Sharp cries penetrated the air. She pressed her back to the wall. “Are they torturing someone?”
He nodded.
“How could you watch?”
“You can learn a lot by observing the Council.” He lay flat on his stomach and peered over the ledge.
“I think ignorance may be the better option.”
Hesitantly, Halen crouched beside him. Her head swam when she looked over. The cave below spiraled downward like the inside of a giant cone. Higher on the outer rock ledges were rows of seats, occupied by hundreds of Elosians. A massive rock pillar with a wide platform jutted from the center. On the platform, a woman held audience for the crowd. Her thunderous voice carried throughout the cavern.
“Who is that?” Halen whispered.
“Rania.” Dax clutched the ledge.
She pressed closer to Dax. “Rania—the head of the Elosian Council?”
Rania pointed. When Halen followed the direction, her breath hitched. Pinned to the wall like an insect on a dissection board was the Elosian girl who had fought for Halen’s life—Nelia.
BILE ROSE TO Halen’s throat. “What are they doing to her?”
Nelia’s chin rested against her collarbone as if her head were a heavy stone. She wore nothing more than swim skins. Blood coated her flesh from her neck to her waist.
Dax lunged.
Halen shoved him back to the ground. His energy charged, and as his anger rolled through her, she fought both Dax and the urge to unleash her magick on the crowd below. “You can’t help her if we get caught.”
“They know she’s Tari. They’re punishing her because she helped us. We have to do something.”
“I wouldn’t be so quick to go down there,” a voice said at their backs.
Halen thrust her hand outward ready to cast a spell, but dropped her guard as soon as she spotted the bald head poking up from the entrance. “Catch!” Halen said a little too loudly, and he shot her a warning glance. She stood and wrapped her arms around his bony frame when he climbed into the alcove. Pulling back to get a better look at him, she gasped. His eyes sunk deep within his skull and his cheeks too were drawn as if he hadn’t eaten or slept in months, though it had only been a short while since she had seen him last.
“Where’s Pepper?” Dax asked, his gaze never leaving Nelia.
“Thankfully, she’s not down there,” Catch said, “and neither should you, so don’t get any ideas.”
“What’s happening?” Halen asked.
“Tari trials. The Huntress Aurelia came to Elosia looking for the Hunter’s soul a few days ago. She reported the fire rings to Rania. We sealed the liquibrium pipes off to prevent further damage to your realm. After that, Rania issued a decree stating any Elosian found in open water would face trial as a Tari traitor. She evacuated the domes and forced everyone underground. Those who didn’t comply ended up in the prison chambers. Many awaiting trial aren’t even Tari, they’re just scared citizens who didn’t want to leave their homes. Huron tried to reason with her and your mother—” His gaze fell to the ground. He slid his toes under the sand.
“My mother? Where is she?” Dax rolled to his side and faced Catch.
His eye twitched more than usual, and his words caught in his throat. “I…uh…”
“Where is she?” Dax asked again.
“Your mother tried to protect Nelia.”
“What do you mean?” Dax stood, turning his back to the trial below.
Catch’s eye twitched, blinking in overdrive. Dax grabbed his arms, shaking him. “Tell me where she is!”
Tears flooded Catch’s eyes. “I’m so sorry, Dax. Rania killed her first. She didn’t suffer like Nelia. I couldn’t do anything.”
Dax wilted to the ground, falling to his knees. “No, no, no…”
Halen knelt beside him, and when she touched his shoulder, his anger ripped through her, wild as the raging sea. With her free hand, she clutched her chest, the weight of his anger suffocating. Catch gently guided her hand away from Dax, and motioned for her to step back. At once, the surge of Dax’s emotions settled, though the remnants of his fury left her breathless.
“I never should have left Elosia,” Dax said between gritted teeth.
“You should leave now.” Catch’s eye stopped blinking for several seconds as he met Halen’s gaze. His unwavering stare raised the hairs along the back of her neck.
“What about Huron?” Halen asked.
“Huron is alive. Rania's saving him for last. She wants more information.”
“We have to help them,” Halen said. “Nelia saved my life.”
“You can’t do anything from here,” Catch said.
Listen to the boy. This is not the time to be a heroine. Save yourself. We have work to do.
You! You picked a fine time to pipe up. Halen rubbed her temple, trying to scratch Asair’s voice from her head.
You need to leave—now!
Coward. Go away! This has nothing to do with you.
“Are you all right?” Catch asked.
“I’m good.” Halen glanced toward Dax. He lay down, peering at Rania. She knelt next to him. “I’m sorry. Your mother was kind. She didn’t deserve this.”
When he turned, his tear-filled gaze wound through her. She wanted to tell him it would be okay, but her lips stitched with uncertainty. She had to get to Jae; none of this would be happening if the portal opened. Already, the guilt of Samira’s death weighed heavy in her heart. Samira’s blood was on her hands. Was there no end to the death? She peered down at Nelia. She wouldn’t leave her behind. “We need a plan.” She glanced back at Catch.
“You don’t need to make plans.” Catch rubbed his bald head. “I think you two should split up. It’s safer that way.”
“There’s no way I’m leaving Dax, or any of you here with that!” She pointed toward Rania, who was now bringing up another Elosian to her rock pillar of doom. The man trembled, holding himself in a hug, while two men flanked him. Then, prying his arms
away from his torso, they bound him in chains. “We’ll find a way—together.”
“Pepper would know what to do,” Catch said.
With the mention of her name, Pepper’s chimed voice echoed from the ladder. “Catch, are you talking to yourself again? I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Rania’s army has breached the outer tunnels we need to swim—” As her white hair crowned into the cavern, her eyes widened. “Dax!” Her gaze darted to Halen. “What are you two doing here?”
She hoisted herself up. She was slightly taller than Catch, but she didn’t need to crouch in the alcove like Halen. Her usually neat bob was tangled; mud smeared her pale skin, her swim skins caked with green grime, and bloodied scratches marred her legs. The little glass bottles and charms that hung from the golden chain at her hips sang like bells when she stepped forward.
“I told you to take that noisy chain off.” Catch shook his head.
“I need my potions.” She turned back to Halen. “You have to get out of here. If Rania finds you—”
“I’ve been trying to convince them to leave,” Catch said.
“Rania will pay.” Dax grabbed a fistful of sand.
Pepper shook her head. “Your mother was wrong to fight her. She would want you to go.”
“You don’t know what my mother wanted.” His voice came out as a growl.
“We want to help,” Halen said. “Huron is still down there. I can’t leave him. Besides you and Catch, are there any other Tari she hasn’t captured?”
“There are a few, but not enough to fight back,” Pepper said. “We’re going to have to abandon Elosia.”
“Why are the Elosians allowing this? Not everyone can support that.” Halen nodded toward the trials. “Is this the way of your realm?”
“They’re frightened. There’s no reasoning with her. She’s snapped.”
“What they’re doing is inexcusable,” Halen said.
“Fear can drive one to do unforgivable things.” Pepper sighed. “Rania’s convinced you’re the reason the fires are spreading. She thinks you brought Asair back with you.”
Catch wound his hands together. Pepper placed hers over his, and he settled. “She won’t stop until someone gives you up.”
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