by Quinn Loftis
“Sometimes, you should just ignore what comes out of my mouth,” Gabby said, considering jumping into the lava river to save herself more embarrassment.
“I’d have to say yes because your saliva is hot. And I know that because I kissed the hell out of you before I rode a river to the base of a volcano.”
Gabby turned her head to look at him.
He winked. “What you said doesn’t sound crazy at all now, does it?”
“Uh, no?”
“Excellent.” Liam nodded and glanced over his shoulder. He took one of her hands and tried to pull it down, but Gabby shook her head and looked back at the lava river she was supposed to be focusing on in the first place.
“It’s okay, babe,” Liam said. “Frost gave the signal.”
Gabby frowned. What the hell was the signal? Why hadn’t she known about it? Liam nudged her and motioned behind him. Gabby turned to find Professor Frost laying on the ground, not moving.
“Shit.” Gabby ran toward her, pulling Liam along. “Why didn't you say something?”
“I did,” he said as he jogged beside her. “I said she gave the signal.”
“That’s not a damn signal, Liam. It’s her collapsing from exhaustion.”
“No. She clearly told us before this all began that we’d know when everything was over because she’d be on her ass unable to move because that’s the only way she would give up—Oooooh,” he said. “My bad.”
When they reached Professor Frost, she was climbing to her feet. She waved them off. “I’m fine. Just passed out in the middle of a volcanic eruption. Nothing to worry about.” She dusted off her hands and looked Gabby and Liam over. “You two okay?”
Gabby knew she must be staring at Frost like the woman was crazy. Why the hell was she so calm? “You were on the ground. Like, not moving.” She pointed to where Frost had been lying.
“Yes. And I realize that might have been alarming, but I assure you I am fine.” Frost looked up to the mouth of the volcano and then back at them. “It appears we have relieved enough pressure. Now, we need to get Professor King up here to give the inside a temperature drop.” Gabby remembered Professor Eddison King from some of the training sessions at Terra Academy. He was an Air elementalist, and quite skilled with his power.
She opened a portal and motioned for them to go ahead. Gabby still stared at her, convinced the woman needed a doctor or something. She’d been unconscious. Maybe her body was too hot. What if her insides were cooking and that was why she’d passed out? What if her brain was damaged, and that was the reason she wasn’t worried about the fact that she’d lost consciousness on the side of a mountain during a volcanic eruption? Granted, if she went to the hospital and told all of that to a doctor, he’d call the psych ward, and Professor Frost would be in a padded cell.
Gabby followed Liam through the portal. She suddenly felt heavy as if her limbs had been filled with concrete. The rest of her group was already there. In front of them was a huge lake of lava that was slowly being cooled by Professor Eddison. Gabby could feel the cold air he was pulling in with his power. She stepped into the refreshing breeze. She was hot and hadn’t realized just how hot until she’d felt the relief of the cooler air.
“Whoa there, fire queen,” Liam said as he caught her around the waist. “No walking off into the pit of lava.”
“I’m hot,” her mouth said before her brain could tell it not to.
“Water,” Liam snapped at Josie, all playfulness and tenderness gone.
She hurried over and held up a bottle. “Here. Gabby and Frost are probably badly dehydrated.”
Liam held up his hand. Suddenly, a light mist fell on Gabby. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes as the cooling rain hit her overheated skin.
“Drink, baby,” Liam said as he pressed the bottle to her lips.
Gabby lowered her head, took the bottle from him, and drank deeply. As the water ran down her throat and into her stomach, she swore she could hear the sound of sizzling. It felt good, and when the bottle was empty, she wished there were more.
Liam took the bottle from her and opened the lid. His eyes focused for a moment, then the bottle was full again.
Gabby smirked. “Show off,” she mumbled as she took the offered drink.
“Just providing for my mate,” he said as he watched her. He seemed to be studying her as if waiting to see if she was going to pass out. Gabby really hoped she didn’t. She hated appearing weak in front of anyone, especially the guy who was supposedly her soul bonded.
“Is it just me or is it getting colder?” Josie asked, shivering.
“That cold isn’t coming from me,” Professor Eddison said. “I’m just channeling what is already there.”
“As soon as you think this lava is cool enough, Eddison, we need to head up to the top and do the same to the volcano itself,” Frost said.
“What about the lava running down the mountain in the riverbed we created?” Gabby asked.
“Professor King will cool it as well,” Frost answered while looking at the other professor for confirmation. King nodded and then turned his attention back to the lava lake.
“What’s the next plan of action?” Miles asked.
Gabby had to fight back her exhausted groan. It wasn’t just physical. Dealing with the revelation that Liam was indeed her mate—her other half—and the one being who would keep her from falling into the darkness and succumb to the pull of the power the darkness offered, had taken its toll on her.
“I’ll check in with the royals and see if they can tell us where the next potential crisis might pop up. Hopefully, we can get ahead of it, but we need to get some rest first,” Frost answered.
Gabby slumped forward and leaned into Liam. She tensed as she realized what she’d done and started to pull away, but he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her tighter to him.
“Lean on me, Gabby,” he said softly. “It’s what I’m here for.”
Her chest tightened as her heart pounded a little harder, and she found it harder to breathe. She was beginning to appreciate the sweet, albeit at times crazy, things he said to her. Gabby’s heart skipped a beat as her overactive mind latched on to her insecurities and ran with them. What if he suddenly decided he didn’t want her or that she was too weird? And yes, she was well aware of the fact she’d already had an internal panic attack over the same questions but cut her some slack. She was damaged to her very soul, so much so that she was actually missing some of it. Her parents had plunged a knife in her heart, and now life was giving it a good, hard twist.
“Everyone still have their packs?” Zuri, who’d been oddly quiet, asked.
“I got yours,” Liam told Gabby.
The fact that he’d managed to keep up with their packs through the chaos of what they’d just been through was impressive.
There was a grumble of agreement and then Zuri said, “We’re going to head back to Crimson Academy for the night. Let’s get a good meal in us and rest.”
Professor Frost nodded. “We will head out again in the morning. It will be early, so I suggest you actually get rest.”
“I’ll take them back. Will you and Professor King be okay?” Zuri asked Frost.
“I think we can handle ourselves,” she said with a smirk.
“Just because no dark elementals have interfered yet doesn’t mean they won’t,” Zuri pointed out. “Remain vigilant.”
Frost saluted her, which made the rest of them chuckle.
Zuri opened a portal, and everyone except Frost and King walked through. The group emerged just inside the main hall of Crimson Academy. Gabby had to admit, it was good to be back. It was the only place that had ever truly felt like home, and after feeling so exposed on the side of that volcano, she suddenly felt protected.
“Liam, you’ll be in one of the student guest dorm rooms. Josie and Miles, there are suites for visitors. I’m sure they have something similar at Hydro Academy.”
Gabby felt Liam’s hand on her b
ack, and she turned to look at him. “I’m going to give you some time, but we will talk later. I’ll text you.” He didn’t give her the opportunity to say no. He just told her what would happen and then turned to follow Zuri.
If Gabby hadn’t been so exhausted, she’d have told him where he could shove his orders. As it was, she was ready to drop, and her mouth didn’t have the energy to toss out an insult.
She marched to her own dorm room and sighed at the prospect of a shower and the oblivion sleep would bring. After she was cleaned up, however, instead of crawling into bed, she grabbed a blanket and crept out of her room. She didn’t know exactly where she was going to sleep, but she wouldn’t put it past Liam to come banging on her door in the middle of the night demanding they talk about their bond. She’d be damned if she was going to have that conversation, at least not yet. The only way she knew to get out of it was to stay one step ahead of the persistent water elementalist.
Chapter 10
“Are you ready for this?” Nasima asked Aviur and Kairi as they stood outside of Terra Academy. The lord of the underworld had said he would be meeting them at dusk, but the sun was setting, and he was nowhere to be found. Nasima was surprised he was running late. According to Jax and Zuri, Osiris had been quite firm about them showing up at the appointed time.
“Is anyone ever ready to have a chat with the lord of darkness?” Aviur asked.
“Good point,” Kairi said.
“I just want to know why he would come to us for help,” Nasima said. “Never in the history of the world has Osiris sought out the help of beings of light.”
“I need your help because there is no one else who can banish a demi-lord into the pit of fire.”
The royals turned at the sound of the dark voice. Osiris stood, leaning his shoulder against a large tree, looking for all the world like he was only there to exchange pleasantries about the weather.
Nasima narrowed her eyes at him. “Why should we help you, especially when you have our mates?” When his eyes widened briefly, Nasima wondered if he was truly caught off guard by the information or if he was just playing them. How could he not know their mates were in the underworld? Didn’t he know everything that happened in his realm?
“Why do you seem surprised by that question?” Aviur asked, obviously having the same concerns as Nasima.
“How could the lord of the underworld not be aware that there were beings of light, not to mention powerful ones, in his realm?” Kairi said as she took a step toward him, her voice low and her eyes narrowed.
“I am not omniscient,” Osiris snapped. “And I’ve recently discovered there exists a place in my realm that has been warded by magic I am unable to break. I would be willing to bargain if your mates are indeed in the underworld, then that is where they are located.”
“If you’re not responsible for their disappearance, then who is?” Kairi asked.
“Dolion,” he answered. “He is the reason I am here. He is a demi-lord, and his power has grown unchecked as of late. According to an informant, Dolion has been working closely with certain powerful witches, using their black magic to increase his own strength.”
Nasima glanced at Kairi and Aviur to see if they showed any signs they knew of the demi-lord. Their faces were blank, so she schooled her own features.
“I can divine some of Dolion’s goals, but not all. I know, of course, that he wishes to take my place,” Osiris explained.
“Is that possible?” Aviur asked. Nasima heard the concern in his voice.
“No,” the lord of the underworld replied. “It would cause chaos, which would likely lead to my realm becoming uncontrollable. That is not something anyone needs to happen.”
Scoffs came from the elementals. “That’s the understatement of the year,” said Kairi.
“Dolion does not understand that I was placed in my role by the Creator himself,” said Osiris. “Which means I specifically have been given power to keep the demons there under control.”
“Are you sure about that?” Kairi asked, crossing her arms in front of her.
Osiris narrowed his eyes at her. “There are exceptions to every rule. You three of all people should know that.”
Nasima admitted they couldn’t argue with that. They’d seen plenty of rules challenged and broken in their long lives.
“The point is, Dolion wouldn’t be able to control the demons, or the underworld itself.”
“What does that mean?” Kairi asked, frowning
“The underworld is somewhat of a living entity,” he explained. “It has the ability to change and grow. If not kept in check, there is a possibility that hell could literally reign on earth because the power of the realm would be able to get through the gates.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Nasima snapped. “Since when is that a thing?”
“Theoretically, it’s a possibility,” Osiris amended. “Obviously, it’s never happened, but I would prefer not to test the theory.”
“Why wouldn’t you want hell to reign on earth?” Aviur asked. “That seems right up your alley.”
“Demons are like a bunch of evil, twisted toddlers,” Osiris growled. “It’s hard enough keeping tabs on them in a controlled environment. Do you know what it would be like trying to babysit them across the whole damn earth?”
Nasima shivered at the thought of demons roaming free in the world, completely unchecked by the rules set by the Creator. If Osiris wasn’t able to control them, there was no way the demons would stick to the rules. That made her realize something. “You don’t want to be destroyed,” she breathed out. “If all hell breaks loose, literally, the Creator will step in and destroy not only the demons, but you as well.”
Osiris nodded slowly. “You are correct, my dear. I have no desire to have my existence ended.” He smiled and the darkness in it was disturbing. “I will admit things have been getting rather boring lately. Dolion has at least added some excitement to my existence.”
“It seems like an awful high price for some entertainment,” Aviur pointed out.
Osiris shrugged. “Where’s the fun if there is no risk?”
“I think risking all of humanity is a bit too much,” the fire king challenged.
Kairi folded her arms across her chest and began tapping a foot. Her lips were pursed and her eyes swirling blue like an agitated ocean. Nasima could see the water queen was growing tired of standing there talking to Osiris. “Could we please get back to the part where you want our help, and we want our mates?” Nasima asked, attempting to keep her temper in check. The air picked up around them, which meant she wasn’t doing a good job of it. Her emotions were all over the place as she thought about Beval being in the underworld, enduring that horrible place.
“Is that your price?” Osiris asked. “You will help me banish Dolion in exchange for the return of your mates?”
“Unharmed,” Aviur added. “If they are returned in less than perfect condition, then we will wage war on hell.”
Nasima nodded her head before Aviur had even finished speaking. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her mate. Without him her existence would be bleak and empty. And if her emotions were ever damaged to that extent, the world would be taken over by natural disasters such as tornadoes, tsunamis, and fluctuating temperatures. The earth would be unable to withstand the icy temperatures her sorrow would bring. “I cannot guarantee that because I have no idea what Dolion has done,” Osiris argued.
“He is a demon under your command. You are held somewhat responsible for his behavior,” Nasima said. Her clenched fists were at her sides.
“All I can do is give my word that once I retrieve them, they will be treated respectfully.”
Nasima looked at Aviur and Kairi, and the other two royals nodded. It was the best they were going to get.
“Fine,” Nasima huffed. “What do we need to do in order to trap Dolion and cast him into the pit of hell?”
“Unfortunately, that is something I still need to figure out,” Osiris
admitted. “I wanted to secure your agreement to help first, but as soon as I have a plan, I will contact you. In the meantime, I will work on getting past the wards Dolion has set so that I can get your mates free.”
“Thank you,” Nasima said, something she never dreamed of telling the lord of the underworld.
Without another word, Osiris opened a portal and walked through it.
“Well, that was not what I expected,” Kairi said.
“I can’t believe he didn’t know our mates were in the underworld,” Nasima said. She stepped back and leaned against a tree. She missed her mate. And she knew her emotions were having an effect on the already plummeting temperatures.
“I am surprised by that as well,” Aviur said. “It’s actually quite disconcerting to know Osiris can lose control of his demi-lords if they find a way to gain power. Osiris at least understands why the rules are in place and keeps order. Other demons crave power so much they don’t care about the rules or stop to consider why they are in place to begin with.”
Nasima didn’t want to think about what would happen if Dolion succeeded in whatever plan he had to overthrow Osiris and take over hell. It just could not be allowed.
“It would be helpful if we could do some research on Dolion and the other upper-level demons,” Kairi suggested.
“I agree. But we already have so much going on. I don’t know if it would be wise of us to take off to … I’m guessing to the Vatican?” Nasima said.
“They would have the most extensive records,” Aviur replied. “Even if they won’t admit it.”
“I’m sure we can sway the pope to allow us to view the non-existent records,” Nasima said.
“Perhaps we don’t all need to go,” Kairi said. “One of us should stay and check in on the teams to see how things are going and make contact with some of the elementals in the trouble areas.”
“That’s a good idea,” Nasima said and Aviur nodded.
“Should we draw straws?” the fire king asked.
None of them liked going to the Vatican, and they only visited when it was absolutely necessary. They were nature elementals. Being stuck in a dim library, surrounded by walls, was not something any of them enjoyed.
