Seble stomped away from Kato, exploding up the boardwalk.
“She is going to wake the Elders and the Shamaness.” He said, the muscles in his arms momentarily relaxing. “Seble is not a bad person. She is just wary.” When Ren opened her mouth to retort, Kato shook his head. “Listen, there is no time. Many Dreamers prepare for a moment like this for their entire lives. You will only have a couple heartbeats.”
18
Here we go again.
Striding up the shadowy boardwalk felt like a slow and steady death march. Even with Kato at her side, Ren’s heart was promptly lodged in her throat.
Remember Mia. Remember Itzel.
This would be her second chance to ask for help. Her second chance to find a way to that damned camp and free Mia like she should have done a long time ago. With the Shamaness’s nod of approval, she’d get help. Kato could take out Mafioso for her and create a path toward Mia—toward home. Then, Mia would help her remember. And Ren could find out exactly what she was running from.
But, only if the Shamaness allowed it.
Ren coughed out a laughing breath. Everything hinged on how the Shamaness took…this—fire rising out of her palms. According to Kato, her attitude would change, but he wouldn’t go into detail about how. Ren rolled her shoulders as they stepped down three rows of steps into the village’s torch-licked heart. Six strangers stood outside the Shamaness’s hut, three to either side of its teakwood walls. Further off to the side of the platform stood Seble, hands braced behind her back. Dark-brown eyes flickering toward Ren before dashing toward the hut.
As Kato approached the six men and women, he dropped into a bow. Muttering in island-speak before shooting a glare Ren’s way. Dipping half-heartedly, Ren chewed at her bottom lip. It will all be over soon.
The hut’s flaps parted.
“The Outsider lives.” The phrase sounded like a punchline as the Shamaness’s inky aura flooded the platform, forcing Ren to bend down double. “What have you brought me, Air Scion? Another plea for the rat?”
Kato nudged Ren. When their eyes met, he nodded stiffly. Show her.
Tentacles of the inky aura splayed around Ren, scuttling up and down her skin like the slimy tongue of a monstrous squid. Fuck your freaky-ass magic you condescending…—Ren stood, straightened as best she could. For a moment, the Shamaness’s eyes locked with her own. Madness crept through them, hissing and spitting like a crazed cat. The woman held a crooked smile on her face, the whites of her eyes widening as Ren stretched out her hand and flinched. Fire churned through her skin, a glowing tangerine orb grew into a spiked frenzy of flames.
The Shamaness crept forward, arm outstretched. Her tan fingers spread out across the flame. Her grin tightened, straining her face.
“Another.” One of the six whispered, stepping forward. A woman with black marks etched across her face stood near the light.
Tension bubbled over the floorboards like rolling mist. Ren took a step back. “Alright, well…” she extinguished the flame, closing her fingers. “…I did it, Shamaness. Now, you promised…”
The Shamaness’s face was frozen. “Another?” she hissed. “Another one, another one.” She singsonged, pivoting on her heel to face the stranger who had spoken. “Aren’t you ecstatic, Lindiwe? Aren’t you all incredibly pleased? Oh, yes—Moira has granted another, another fucking Outsider, her Rage. Her Blessing. Oh, yes!” and she swerved, turning to face Ren in a storm of swirling skirts. “I’m sure you’ve never seen anything like this. Go on. Open your hand again. Play with it for me. Tell me, Outsider, how does one trick a Goddess? How does one blackmail a god?”
Things were getting creepy. When the Shamaness took a swipe at Ren’s arm, attempting to take it back and force her to show the fire, Ren shifted her arm away. Bumping into Kato in the process. “What in the fuck is she talking about?” she hissed up at him. Gods? Goddesses? Who in the fuck was Moira?
Shoving past Kato, the Shamaness brought her face close to Ren’s. They stood nose to nose, their lips almost touching. “Our children have died searching for Her Rage. Tens of hundreds—” she barked a laugh. “—I wouldn’t go so far as to say thousands. But children have died searching for what you have found in under a day. You’ve made a deal, haven’t you? With one of those devils—those spirits. You’ve tricked our Moira—tricked her into giving you her Rage, and now you come back to us demanding, what? That we help you? That I help you?”
“Shamaness.” Kato’s growl.
“We have survived the Kirabo’s Blood Raids—we have watched our home wither and die. We have sent children into the Wilds to battle the Scourge—children who have trained for years—decades. They die—but you—you!”
Ren pressed her hands against the Shamaness’s chest. She wasn’t a fighter—hell, blood made her queasy. But if this fucking woman wouldn’t get out of her damned space…
“Tell me, Outsider—go on. Go on! Burn me—set me aflame. Is this what you’ve promised the devils in exchange for Her Rage? My death? Your aggrandizement. Come on!” she screeched, her voice exploding through Ren’s ears.
Flame licked at Ren’s fingertips.
But not before a hail of sediment came raining down. Rough rocks tumbled first, falling in a controlled ribbon of rock and dirt. It flew at Ren, battering her. Tearing her off of the Shamaness and flattening her against the boardwalk. Wood bit into her back as dirt and rock enshrouded her, becoming a tomb. Falling on her like a wave, it swallowed her up to her neck. Her nose. Her eyes.
19
Ren couldn’t breathe. Dirt charged up her nostrils, swelled in her ears. Sweat broke on her forehead. Ren closed her eyes as her throat constricted, her tongue becoming cotton in her mouth. The Shamaness didn’t even have to lift a fucking finger to send a river of dirt and rocks crashing onto her. A finger. No wonder she wore nail-guards.
Panic blared in her head like a siren. Ren was packed in, sediment pressing her arms tight to her body. Breathing became a chore as she choked on sediment and rough pebbles. A black void tore at her vision as she forced herself to concentrate. To find a way out of being suffocated to fucking death. She’d be some fucked up version of a mummy entombed in slithering earth if she didn’t get out. Mia would die. Hell—Ren would die. Rocks slipped across her skin, slicing her palms as she tried shoving them against the earth. She held her breath and kicked. Cursed.
Air. It whistled through tiny holes boring through the tomb of dirt and rocks. A howling gale whipped over her head and suddenly, she could see the stars above. She could see faces hovering close as a soft wind rippled over her face and arms. A large hand dropped in and she took it. Kato lifted her out as the tomb became a shower of rocks and pebbles that slid through the slivers in the floorboards. Ren caught her breath. Slapped a hand to her chest to make sure her heart was still there, violently beating. Did the Shamaness just try to kill her?
Ren blinked. No shit.
The Shamaness held a glowing blue crystal. It dangled at the end of a necklace. Her glare was steel when she met Ren’s eyes. The Shamaness spoke in that island-speak before tossing the crystal at Ren.
She didn’t catch it. The crystal skidded to a stop between the two. Ren tried to swallow her fear, chasing it down with anger.“You said if I drank that stuff and found what you were looking for that you’d help me.” You promised.
Guarded eyes glared back.
“My friend is still at the Kirabo camp. I need help getting her back.”
Kato let go of Ren’s hand as she took a step forward.
“Please.”
One of the six elders, the woman with the marked face, shuffled forward. Grasping the crystal, she held it before her face.
“You are of the Mesh now.” The Shamaness said, turning on her heel. “Forget your past. Forget your friends, your family.”
What? “You promised!”
But the Shamaness was already gone, disappeared into her hut for the night.
What a bitch.
If Ren
forgot Mia, she would die. It was just that simple. You are of the Mesh now. Fuck no—no she wasn’t. She didn’t belong here. Ren came from civilization—a place where computers and cell phones existed. She didn’t belong in a world where magic was the go to. Where creepy-ass creatures tried to suck out your soul and trees fucking talked. This lady was fucking insane. So what if Ren could call up fire? She was probably hallucinating. They were all probably hallucinating. This was just one big nightmare that needed to end. Right fucking now.
Marked Face was speaking. Holding the crystal up. Ren blinked, coming out of her anger as the woman spoke nonsense at her.
“She says,” Kato stood behind her, “every Scion, no matter their lineage, deserves this.”
“What am I supposed to do?” Ren spat. Tired of all this nonsense.
“Simple.” He shrugged. “Put it on.”
20
“Elder Lindiwe.” Kato whispered as the woman with the marked face came close. Draping the necklace around Ren’s neck, the crystal pulsed on her breastbone.
Great. Lindiwe spoke in that island-speak, looking up at Ren with melted brown eyes. Beneath her flaxen hood, her hair was a tangle of braids and locked hair.
“She says,” Kato translated, “you will be an agent of change for the people. Our people.” He quickly corrected himself. “You are one of us now.”
Ren didn’t like the sound of that. “Thanks?” I guess. Lindiwe nodded, her grin soft. As she backed away, Seble bit back a laugh. Instead, a snort rolled through her nostrils.
Ren had almost forgotten she was even there.
“Poor Outsider.” Seble spat. “History is always doomed to repeat itself.”
“Is it?” Ren snapped as the six vanished, shuffling across the boardwalk like a parade of black widows. “She promised. You said!” Ren hissed, turning to Kato.
“Don’t blame him. It is yourself you must look at. You’ve seen our people. You’ve seen our land. It is natural, no?” Seble said, stepping between Ren and Kato. “But all you care for are your problems. Your friend. I must save her!” Seble snickered. “Well, save her yourself. We Mesh have our own problems.”
“What have I ever done to you?!” Ren growled. “Why are you such a—” I won’t say it. I won’t say it.
“A what?” Seble sneered, her grin twisting. “Say it, Outsider. There are worse things to fear than our Shamaness.”
A vein on Ren’s forehead twitched. “I could fucking incinerate you!”
Seble hawked and spat, the glob landing near Ren’s foot. “Eh? What does that mean, Kato? Are you enjoying this?”
Kato’s eyes were unfocused, lost in a deluge of thought. When Seble barked at him, he blinked. “Let’s not do this here.” He said, avoiding her question. “Come.”
Leading them away from the Shamaness’s hut, they tread up the boardwalk walking toward the darkening face of the moon. Gossamer clouds clung to the white face as the horizon bled burgundy. Thin teakwood huts stood to Ren’s left like silent sentinels, their windows black with sleep as low snores rumbled through their stilted planks. Kato’s hut was simply one in an identical line of thatched roofs and simple teakwood sidings. Ren noticed tiny differences. An orange and purple bead curtain replaced thin wooden screens, acting as a door. A bronze bowl standing on a thin wooden pole held a scorched stick of sage he promptly lighted before entering the round, dark, hut.
White smoke billowed in Ren’s face, the sage spewing a thick, woody, scent. “Cleansing agent.” Seble told her before she could even ask why. “New people, new spirits.” She shrugged as Kato lit a lantern in the far corner. Brightening the small hut in a tender orange light.
Thatched floors rubbed beneath Ren’s bare feet. A cream rug bled through the center of the hut, running over the thatch like spilled milk. Charms and bleached bone hung from the low ceiling, clinking and clamoring as Ren moved toward the rug. It wasn’t a bed, but she’d drop into it anyway. She’d been stabbed in the shoulder tonight, attacked by some wicked lion-beast and talked to a fucking tree. Her spear—where was the spear that tree-thing had given her? Oh, right. Kato dropped it into a pile of others—a pile. How did a man own so many weapons when he didn’t even need them?
Kato lit a stick of incense before snuffing the sage out. “You can sleep here.” He told Ren, ignoring Seble as she opened her mouth to retort. “Until the Elders give you a hut of your own.”
“Wait, wait.” Ren shook her head and plopped down, cross-legged. “You expect me to stay here?”
“You’re injured.” He said matter-of-factly. “You expect me to let you go like that? Even without your injuries, the island would swallow you up.”
“That, or the Shamaness.” Seble added, leaning against a colorful mandala flattened against the right wall.
Ren blinked, disbelief stretching her patience thin. “Okay—get this, alright? My friend—my friend is going to fucking die if I stay here. Plus,” she tapped her head, “I don’t remember a damned thing about—well—damn near anything. I need her.”
“The Northern Shore.” Seble said, crossing her arms. “Go there, Outsider. Hopefully your own wouldn’t kill you.”
“You know they are soulless—they sent their own here to—” Kato caught himself, tore his gaze away and glared at the floor. “They may be Outsiders, Ren, but they are the type who murder their own. You do not want to go to them.” Something hung in the air, something unsaid. White smoke from the burning incense swirled around the room, dousing the hut in a fruity lavender scent.
“Who are they? The people on the shore?”
“They did this.” Seble said, spreading out her arms. “To us. Everything you see here.”
“What?” the fuck? “You mean all the dying trees and stuff? Outsiders did this to you? People like me?” Sure, crazy. Ren stifled her smirk. “Sure it wasn’t magic?”
Seble stood from the wall and barked back in island-speak, her pale face reddening.
“We are sure.” Kato’s voice was dark as his hands tightened into fists.
Whatever Ren had said—she’d struck a nerve. “Fine.” She threw up her hands. “Whatever. I’m not staying here. So you can take this—” she pulled at the necklace. “—back.”
Kato and Seble flinched. “You need it.” Kato managed, his hand moving on instinct as it reached toward the crystal. “The power you have—if you mistakenly use it without the crystal…”
“What?” Ren smirked, letting the necklace fall around her neck. “It’ll kill me? I’ll become some sort of rabbit-monster-thing?” she teased.
Kato shook his head. “You will lose your soul, Ren. Without that crystal, your power will take everything from you—but your life. It will make you a shell.”
Well. Ren blinked, her smirk capsizing. “Anything else you want to tell me? Besides, you know, the Shamaness telling me to forget fucking everything.”
“The Shamaness is right.” Seble snapped. “It will only bring you pain if you hold on to your past.”
“There was another Outsider Scion before you.” Kato told her, suddenly unable to make eye contact. “The Shamaness…lost her. We must make sure she doesn’t lose you too.”
“Oh.” Ren piped. “Terrific.”
21
Ren would leave on her own then. Fuck the Shamaness. Fuck that—forget everything—bullshit. She had a life outside of this craziness. A normal life she missed.
Kind of.
She crashed on Kato’s rug, but once Kato and Seble were soundly asleep Ren opened her eyes. She swiped her weird spear from the pile in Kato’s hut and shuffled through the bead curtain, careful not to make any more extra noise than she already had.
“Really, now?”
“Holy shit—” Ren gasped. Brought her gaze over her should and sighed. Seble.
“You will just leave everything? Just throw it all away?”
There was nothing for her here. These weren’t her people. Ren didn’t belong in this strange, savage, world. “I’m throwing nothing
away.”
Seble slipped from the hut, moving like a phantom on the wind. “You’re throwing everything away, Ren. Don’t you get how important this all is?” her tone changed, going from condescending to commanding. Ren didn’t like that.
“You’re questioning me? If anything, I thought you’d be happy I’m going.” Ren said, rolling her eyes as she tiptoed further into the night. For some reason, she felt a pang of guilt. Not because of Seble—hell no. But Kato had been so nice to her. He had gone out of his way to protect her from Mafioso, and then he had helped her get out the Wilds. She felt…wrong for leaving him. But, that’s just life, right? People come and go…
Why in the hell was she thinking about this now?
“I’m leaving, Seble.”
Seble blocked her path, taking up the boardwalk by spreading out her hands. “No. Listen to me, Ren.”
Wait—when had Seble ever called her by her name? Seble always called her Outsider. Was Seble having a change of heart all of a sudden? Ren smirked, maybe the woman actually cared about her. Fancy that.
“We can walk and talk.”
Seble kept a slow pace, shuffling almost. Ren fought the urge to leave her on the damn boardwalk once she had the gangplank in sight. In the sunrise, the village didn’t look so dreary.
“I know things have been hard for you, but you can’t just walk away.”
Actually… “Yeah. I can.” And I will. “Didn’t think I’d have to tell you twice, but I don’t belong here. Even you made that clear.”
“Everyone thinks that in the beginning, Ren. You’re not alone here.”
Ren was taken aback. “What do you mean—everyone?” weren’t these people natives? Things were getting kinda strange. With the gangplank just a few steps away, Ren picked up her pace. Seble doubled it. “You’re a fucking native—what in the hell do you mean?”
Wild Magic (The Island Book 1) Page 6
