Curses and Ash

by Tiffany Daune

  When the vehicle stopped, all the doors unlocked at once. Natalie hopped out, slamming the door behind her.

  The sound startled Daspar awake. “What’s happening?” He fell forward, held in place by the seat belt.

  Tage unlatched hers and crawled across to him. “Don’t move. You’re injured.”

  He touched his abdomen, wincing.

  Tage placed her hand on his knee. “You were hit by a gold arrow.” Understanding washed over his face. “I’m so sorry.” Tage met his gaze. “I couldn’t stop them.”

  “And Corinne—what happened to her?”

  “She hit her head pretty bad. She hasn’t come to, and they won’t help us.”

  “Who?” He grasped the car door, jiggling the handle. “Where are we?”

  “The Hunters brought us to Nevada.” Ezra bounced on the edge of his seat. “We’re in their fortress.”

  “What do we do?” Tage asked Daspar.

  He closed his eyes and his forehead scrunched, as if he were concentrating hard. He swore under his breath, then opened his eyes. He held up his hand. “Where’s my ring?”

  She glanced outside where Natalie spoke with Emil. The two Huntresses walked by without stopping. “Natalie took it.”

  “I don’t feel anything. It’s as if all the magick…” He thumped his chest. “Pura’s gone.”

  Tage placed her hand over his. “But you’re alive.”

  “But I’m a human again.”

  His anger churned her stomach. “You still can cast spells.” Tage sounded hopeful.

  “I’m afraid not. I can’t recall one single incantation. The will to cast magick is there, but when I search for the words, there’s nothing.” His eyes pooled with tears. “I failed.”

  “No, you didn’t. You taught me every spell you knew. I can get us out of here.” Tage grabbed Natalie’s discarded water bottle, then poked her finger beneath Daspar’s shirt. “Blood and water.”

  Daspar’s face was blank.

  “Pay attention. You too.” She turned to Ezra. “It wouldn’t hurt for you to learn some spells. Your sarcasm isn’t going to get us out of here.”

  “Who is this boy?” Daspar asked.

  Tage’s chest tightened. How could he not know? “This is Ezra. He’s our friend. You know him.”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t recall ever seeing you before. Is he a Tari soldier? Are you under my command?”

  “He’s not a soldier.” Her frustration spun with fear, yet she kept her tone calm. “Pura’s soul is in the Hunter’s arrow. She took some of your memories, but I'll help you. At least you know me.” Tage forced a smile through gritted teeth.

  She smeared the blood on the door handle, then poured the water in the seam of the window as she murmured her spell. When she placed both hands on the window, heat rose beneath her fingertips. She held her palm in place until the burning sensation spread to her wrists. She repeated this step with the glass partition and then the other window.

  “There…” She wiped her hands on her jeans. “We’re sealed inside.”

  “That’s it?” Ezra’s jaw dropped. “You’re sealing us in a vehicle that’s parked inside a big-ass fortress surrounded by a desert?”

  “You have a better plan? We need time to strategize. There has to be a way out of here. Maybe we could steal this SUV? You’re good with cars. Could you start it without a key?”

  “No! I can’t hotwire a car!”

  “Then we run.”

  “How would we get past those pumped-up goons?” Ezra pointed out the window.

  One of the guards placed his hand on the door and Ezra jumped back. The guard tugged, but the door wouldn’t budge. When he called back to the other guard, Natalie glanced up. “Get them out!” The glass muffled her voice.

  “I can’t! The door’s locked.” He shook the handle.

  Natalie waved her hand; the SUV rocked from side to side. The guard jiggled the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. Tage slid away from the window, avoiding Natalie’s angered gaze.

  “Dark clouds will swallow the Earth,” Daspar mumbled. With each syllable, his voice grew deeper. “What once was ash will be renewed when the curse is broken.” His eyes rolled to the back of his head.

  Tage scooted beside him. “Daspar!” She raised her hand to slap him when he whispered, “Tarius evermore.”

  She froze, her hand midair. She had heard this before—Tarius—between lips sputtering with blood, and though she thought they were gibberish, her father’s last words were spoken quite clearly: Tarius evermore.

  She grabbed his collar as his head lolled to the side. “What is Tarius? What are you talking about?” Her voice rose shrilly. She had to know what all of this meant.

  Ezra touched her shoulder. “Tage, he’s out.”

  She let go. Daspar collapsed against Corinne. “Did you hear what he said?” She reeled to face Ezra.

  He held up both hands. “Calm down. Daspar's losing it. Whatever he said isn’t relevant right now.”

  “I’ve heard that before, ‘Tarius.’” She inhaled a deep breath as her father’s face flashed through her mind. Her parents had led the Hunters away so she could escape, but she had hidden up in the trees, waiting until the Hunters retreated. When she’d come down, it was too late to say goodbye to her mother, but her father’s chest still rose and fell with breath. She held him, rocking him in her arms until she no longer felt the pulse. She would never forget his last words and she had wondered to this day what they meant. “Those were my father’s last words.”

  “I’m so sorry.” He leaned across, pulling her to his side of the seat.

  “I don’t know what to make of it.” Tears pooled in her eyes and she swiped them away. “Daspar never mentioned this name before.”

  Ezra took her hand and rubbed the swirl of her Elosian birthmark. “Daspar lost Pura’s soul. His mind isn’t clear. I think we better focus on how to get out here first.”

  She glanced across at Daspar. Maybe the loss of Pura drove him to these strange thoughts. She had seen this kind of deterioration of the mind before. Soul separation inevitably led down the road of insanity. Some traveled there faster, their minds vanishing all at once; for others, it took years. But her dad was a human—what was his excuse?

  Ezra shifted from side to side. He cleared his throat several times.

  His nervous energy tripped through her. “You need to break the spell before she gets really ticked off.”

  “I know!” Tage’s gaze fell to his wound. He would be fine, but a bandage wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Ezra was there because of her, and that pissed her off too. Why did she think locking them in would be a good idea? Now they sat like trapped spiders in a jar waiting to see if Natalie would set them free or pull off their limbs one by one.

  “Hey.” Ezra touched her arm. “I’m just saying we might as well get out of here and see where they take us. Maybe we’ll find a way out, but if we stay in here…” He sighed, glancing at Daspar and Corinne.

  “I know. I know. They need medical attention. So do you.” She eyed his hand on her arm and he retreated, sitting back in his seat. “I don’t think they’re going to help us, though. What we need is Halen. She’s the only one who can go up against her sister.”

  “I’m not so sure she can take her. Natalie’s gone all super-siren. She’s tapped into a world of dark with no return.”

  “I get it.” She held up her hand.

  “I don’t think you do. You suspected Halen of lying, so what if you were right? Let’s just play this one out. What if Asair is inside Halen?”

  “I was wrong. Her mom tested her.”

  “Yeah, and Corinne knows exactly what would happen to Halen if she was harboring Asair.” He slid his index finger across his throat.

  “Corinne also knows how dangerous lying would be.” Tage shook away the thought away.

  “Halen is her daughter. We do some pretty stupid things for the ones we love.”

  His gaze fell to his socked feet whe
n she looked at him. She glanced at Corinne. What motive would she have for lying to Daspar? He posed no danger to Halen. “Asair’s dead.”

  “And Halen’s in Elosia. You even said Dax would prevent her from coming here. We’re on our own, Tage.”

  She rubbed her forehead. “This is a disaster.” She pressed her neck against the headrest and closed her eyes. She should have run when she had the chance. But as much as she wanted to believe she stayed for Corinne and Daspar, she knew better—she couldn’t leave Ezra.

  “Do you smell something?” Ezra nudged her, and she opened her eyes.

  Sniffing the air, a chemical odor wafted up from the floor. “Burning rubber.”

  Ezra pressed his nose to the glass. “Burning tires, to be more specific.”

  Tage peered out the window. Dark smoke blanketed the air. Across the garage, Natalie stood with her palms skyward, and as she blew out, fire escaped her lips. The ball of fire hurtled toward the SUV, landing on the hood.

  “Lift the spell!” Ezra yanked the door handle.

  “No, she’s calling our bluff. She won’t hurt us. She needs us as leverage if she wants Halen to comply.”

  “She’s breathing fire onto a gas engine! I think she’s made her intentions pretty clear!” Ezra kicked the door. He covered his mouth as smoke filled the vehicle. “She doesn’t have a Guardian. Lift the spell!”

  “Fine.” She tapped her fingers on the window like playing keys on the piano; her thumb first and ending with her pinky. “You’re free.”

  He glanced back shaking his head, as he shoved open the door. He tumbled from the truck, hacking into his shirtsleeve.

  Tage stepped from the SUV, holding her breath. Natalie crossed her arms, a satisfied grin planted on her face. This was a game to her—a game Tage feared she had already lost.

  WAVES BEAT THE shore; the rising tide a call to those who dare to enter the vast unknown. Broken bones and flooded lungs, this was the gift of the ocean. Why did she dare to play its game?

  “Stop daydreaming! Come in with me,” a girl called out through the howling wind. “Sirens shouldn’t be afraid of the water.”

  When Halen opened her eyes, a young girl with coils of black hair smiled back. Her fists were full of powder blue fabric; she hiked her skirt up to her knees and waded farther into the ocean. As she took another step out, Halen’s chest tightened with dread.

  “Don’t go, Elizabeth!” Halen yelled, but when her voice escaped her lips, the tone was deep and not her own. She clasped her hand over her mouth. The fingers were rough against her lips. She held out her hand; the knuckles were thick, her palm broad and calloused. Her gaze darted to her bare feet. They too were foreign. Her toes dug in the sand as if hiding from her curious stare. Her palms pressed the loose cotton shirt covering her muscled chest.

  “Asair,” the girl called out again, “don’t be a baby. Come in the water with me. I won’t let anything happen to you. I’m your Guardian.” She smiled a twisted smile that turned Halen’s stomach.

  Panic spun Halen’s thoughts. Elizabeth died many years ago. Even still, she wasn’t this young. Was she in one of his memories? If so, how did she get out?

  Halen followed the shoreline. The beach stretched for miles, sand butting against an endless wall of white rock. The air smelled of grass and brine. Her confusion grew. She was swimming with Dax only moments before. She turned, hoping to find him waiting for her, but she was alone with the girl.

  “Asair?” she whispered. “Are you there?”

  Only the sky responded with a howl of wind.

  Elizabeth scooped ocean water and tossed it toward the shore. She abandoned the hem of her skirt and waded up to her waist. The heavy folds of her skirt threatening to drag the girl down if she went in farther. Halen’s heart beat faster, no, it was Asair’s chest pounding, yet the panic felt as if it were her own.

  “Come back!” Asair stepped toward the water. When the tide swept his feet, his toes recoiled; a wave of fear curled up his spine. He stepped back.

  What’s wrong with you? Halen asked. Are you afraid of the water? But he didn’t answer.

  “You’re acting like the farmer’s boy,” the girl called out.

  “I’m nothing like that oaf,” Asair said as jealousy washed away the fear. He hated the farmer’s boy, especially his long dark eyelashes Elizabeth was so fond of.

  Halen’s mind reeled. She didn’t want to know more—she wanted to get back to Dax.

  “Don’t you want to see your father’s home? We could swim there. We could see Elosia with our own eyes.” The girl dipped in up to her chin, then dived under.

  He held his breath, fearing for her life, but he couldn’t bring himself to enter the water. “Elizabeth!”

  She popped up and Asair breathed with ease once more. The girl stepped out of the ocean, wringing her skirt as she walked up to Asair. “You really need to learn to swim. It’s unnatural for a siren to not know how.” She placed her hand on his arm. Though her fingers were cool to the touch, they sent a ripple of fiery sparks along his flesh.

  Elizabeth’s full pouty lips and flashing green eyes stole Asair’s words.

  “Why are you staring at me like that?” When she spoke, her skin sagged like melted wax along her left cheek, yet Asair believed she was the most stunning creature he had ever seen. Halen felt Asair’s emotions, every heated spark tripping along his skin. He loved this girl more than his own breath.

  “You've been acting strange lately.” She shook the water from her hair. Ringlets fell past her shoulders. Her soaked cotton dress clung to her small frame, the fabric almost sheer. Asair bit back his lip as his gaze skimmed her breasts.

  Seriously? Halen shut her eyes, but found she still could see Elizabeth.

  “Why are you so quiet?” Elizabeth asked.

  Asair averted his gaze to the towering rock wall.

  “You’re not still spooked about that story your mother told you?” She leaned under his chin, but he kept his gaze trained on the white wall.

  “Pirates named the Seven Sisters, not the Etlins. Besides, it’s impossible to turn women into mountains.”

  But Halen felt that Asair believed. He had inhaled every bit of his mother’s story, intoxicated with the morbid tale. Yet, when she searched his mind for the details, she could not find the story in his thoughts. He moved on when Elizabeth’s damp hand grasped his.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here.” She dragged him up the side of the hill. Though her full skirt was soaking, she moved with grace. Asair, however, tripped over his own feet. Halen had a hard time imagining the elegant boy who had charmed her with his blood.

  They perched at the top of the hill with their legs dangling over the cliff, like bangs along the Seven Sisters’ foreheads.

  “Your mother will not be pleased when she sees your dress,” Asair said.

  Elizabeth let out a heavy sigh. “Who cares?” She stared out at the water, while Asair’s gaze traced the outlines of her face. A part of him feared her, just as he feared the untamed ocean below.

  “If I could give you a fish tail, I would.” She leaned into him.

  Her wet clothes seeped into his, but he didn’t move away. “Don’t be absurd.”

  “I’m quite serious. You wouldn’t be scared of the water then.”

  “You’re wrong,” he laughed. “I’d be terrified.”

  She giggled, and plucking a long thin piece of grass, she stuck the end between her full lips. Asair bit his lower lip, jealous of the grass.

  Halen rolled her eyes, yet a part of her thought of Dax and his intoxicating smile.

  “No, you’re wrong,” Elizabeth said. “If we had tails we could swim even faster.” With her chin on his shoulder, her jeweled eyes met with his. “We could leave this place forever.”

  Asair swallowed hard, fighting the urge to touch her lips with his own. “You know we couldn’t leave. They’re depending on us.”

  Elizabeth tossed the grass over the cliff. “I don’t care ab
out the war. I don’t care what they want. Why do you care so much?”

  “What war?” Halen asked but she couldn’t connect with Asair in his memory.

  “I want to help.” He followed the green blade of grass now drifting in the summer wind.

  “Why?” She tugged his arm, demanding his attention. “The light is gone. Tarius is stronger than Galadia’s followers. If you truly believe your mother’s story, an Etlin who can transform women into mountains must be worth serving. You’re on the wrong side.”

  “How could you propose this?” Her words stung; spastic static rushed through his veins. “Darkness never wins.”

  Elizabeth stood. “Then you're a fool.” She swiped her sand-coated hands along her dress. When she marched away, his chest caved as if she had taken his heart in her fist.

  *

  “WAKE UP!” DAX’S voice blurred through Halen’s thoughts as Asair fought to hold onto Elizabeth.

  “Is she coming to?” a boy asked, but Halen didn’t recognize the voice. Gone was the grass and brine; now the stench of mold and damp leather cut the air.

  “I think so.” Dax’s voice was loud in her ears. “I’ve seen her do this before. She hasn’t blacked out recently, though. It must be the magick. She used a hell of a lot to get us out of Elosia.”

  Fighting her heavy lids, Halen willed her eyes open.

  “Hey there.” His cool hand brushed her forehead.

  She glanced up. His damp hair slicked back over his furrowed forehead, his smile tight. Behind him city lights whizzed by in streaks through a muddy window. With the help of Dax, she rose to a sitting position and her head almost touched the tattered roof of the car they were in. Towels draped her cramped legs, scrunched into the back seat. A towel wrapped Dax’s shoulders, falling along his bare chest, his soaked jeans pressed against her leg. “Where are we?”

  “Near London,” Dax said, a hint of disbelief in his tone.

  “London?” Halen’s thoughts raced. Jae lived in London. What were the odds and how… She replayed her final memories that were her own and not Asair’s: Elosia, the mermaids, and the torn flesh of the Krull. Her head throbbed. “I don’t understand.”