Risen (The Firebird Trilogy Book 2)

by Stephanie Harbon

  Jayson and I arrived at the Tower at precisely seven o’clock, after a brief cold flight. After entering the building we were eventually presented to the rest of the Council and there was an initial shock. I didn’t blame them to be honest. It was inevitable that they’d have suspicions about me. To be fair only a week or so ago I was in this room being accused of consorting with a known felon.

  “Are you sure you this is a good idea Cecelia; considering the child’s background.” It was Acheron who spoke first, Silva’s cruel father. I looked at him and realised that his soul was as transparent as his hair; he was an intentionally mean man. Still, that wasn’t reason enough to kill him.

  The High Elder smiled a smile so small it was barely visible underneath the prominent wrinkles that encircled her mouth, “She passed the Garatourii with flying colours. And we do owe her a favour. After all the harsh judgements we always seem to be passing onto her; accusing her of things that are out of her control.”

  I felt a scowl dominate my features before I could stop it. Oh, suddenly she’s defending me. Just to make herself look better. What a bitch.

  I glanced at each Council member and, despite me not actually being on trial for once, I still felt their judicious eyes coolly calculating how they should handle this situation; how they should treat me. Even Katrina, the impressive Water Elder with a sharp tongue and clear mind, seemed doubtful.

  They made it very clear I wasn’t a popular choice.

  Katrina was the first to speak. Her voice was as calm and emotionless as usual, her eyes occasionally flickering between me and Jayson. “When’s the date then?” She wondered casually. “For the Binding Ceremony.”

  My mouth opened but no words came, and fortunately Jayson spoke for me. “We have not yet booked an exact date my Lady, but I assure you it will be soon.”

  She nodded, but before she could speak Acheron interrupted, “She isn’t even Bound? I definitely do not believe that this girl,” he emphasised, “is mature enough for this position. She isn’t even of age for the Mother’s sake.”

  “I’m eighteen in three days,” I protested defensively. “I’m hardly a long way off being of age. I’ll even possess the Fire Palace by then. Do not underestimate me Acheron. I am a lot more mature than you think.”

  “You,” he pointed a long grubby finger at me accusingly. “Are just a child in this courtroom; and you will remain a child until you are both of age and Bound. Until that point, your opinion means nothing and your claim to being a Council member is invalid.” He turned to the Fire Elder with a poisonous tone, “You have made a bad decision. I suggest you withdraw it.”

  “Enough,” the High Elder of Fire ordered with obvious authority. “I have made my decision and it is not in your power to negate it.” She gave Acheron a hard look and then turned to Jayson and I. “However, he is right. Unless you get Bound and turn eighteen extremely soon, I can withdraw my decision. I have one week to change my mind and replace you, according to the rules of the Garatourii. I can change my decision depending on your performance or your circumstance; so I suggest you book a date as soon as possible.”

  I stared at her hard, but said through gritted teeth, “No problem. It’ll be done by my birthday, if your ladyship can suffer me that long.”

  I shouldn’t have added that last remark, however I couldn’t stop myself. This whole situation was infuriating.

  The High Elder narrowed her eyes at me and then gestured for us to sit in the two empty chairs that were placed purposefully near the edge of the row of council members. “You shall just observe today. Watch and listen. Silently.”

  As it turned out, listening and observing silently wasn’t as fun as it sounded. We spent all morning listening to the Councils judgements and I soon realised the group dynamic. You could very easily distinguish who was elected on the Council and who was a chosen; the ones who remain silent were generally the ones just tagging along for the ride because of their partners. However the older and more experienced you were on the Council the more authority you had, even if you were only an Elder’s Chosen. Even Garnha had gained power and confidence in her husband’s absence.

  The gaps in the Council were blatant though. I soon discovered that the Garatourii for each individual Tribe were staggered so that none of the events clashed. This week, apparently, was the turn of the Earthbirds and then Waterbirds. This meant that if the Airbirds had a Garatourii it would have to be after that. This was cutting it extremely close in terms of mine and Silva’s deal. So realistically I had about three days to assassinate Acheron; if I wanted Silva to be on the Council within the time limit. It would take at least a week to get the nominations in and the hearings sorted.

  This notion gave me a bad headache.

  And I couldn’t do anything until I returned from my trip with Blaze.

  Could I really do it? I’d killed before, but I had never intentionally planned to murder. This was different. Does saving two lives justify killing one? I knew that if it were the other way around Acheron wouldn’t have thought twice about murdering me. But I wasn’t Acheron, I reminded myself, and this was too much the kind of thing Lynk would do.

  Still undecided, I watched the Council all morning, in all honesty too consumed by my own thoughts to be properly paying attention to the trials. There were a lot of violence-related crimes, lots of theft and a surprisingly amount of adultery. It was during one case, where a man had been unfaithful to his Chosen and she demanded punishment –a credible crime in Kariak- when I truly realised what the concept of being ‘Bound’ actually was.

  When the trials finally stopped for the day and I was dismissed, as we were walking back to the Tribe House, I expressed this new-found discovery to Jayson. “Being Bound, it’s like being married isn’t it?”

  Jayson looked at me in confusion, “I don’t know what ‘being married’ is.”

  “It’s a relationship isn’t it?” I demanded. “Between two people, forever. A romantic relationship.”

  “I thought you understood that.” Jayson frowned.

  “No!” I cried, suddenly realising how stupid I’d been; my cheeks colouring in embarrassment. “I just thought it meant being bound together on the Council, so I have someone there to support me.” I waved my hands erratically, my voice rising in my discomfort. “I thought it could be like a proven friendship. I didn’t know we were supposed to be in love or something. Why didn’t you tell me that’s what it was?”

  “I honestly thought you knew,” he said sincerely.

  “Then why the hell did you say yes?!” I asked, slightly hysterically.

  I couldn’t believe this, I couldn’t believe I didn’t realise this before. I couldn’t marry Jayson; I didn’t love him like that. He was my best friend.

  No wonder Kieran had been so impossible about it.

  “You asked me,” Jayson shrugged calmly.

  “What were you thinking?” I demanded seriously.

  “I’d rather be Bound to you than lose you from my life completely.” He answered, his tone calm. “That’s what I was thinking. I knew if the Council found out about Kieran healing you…or worse, you’d be cursed or killed. I didn’t want that, so I was prepared to do whatever I could to prevent it.”

  He stood straight in front of me, interrupting my walk and forcing me to halt. By now we were back at the Tribe House and as I looked at him he reached out to grasp both of my hands in his. His soft amber eyes were open and honest. “Ruby I know you don’t love me, and I know I’ve given you the wrong impression before, but being friends is all I want from you. I promise.”

  As I gazed into those deep honey-glazed eyes I knew he was telling the truth, but still I didn’t know. It wasn’t fair on him either. “But it’s not fair on you.” I explained, “It’ll ruin your life. You won’t ever be able to get Bound to anyone else.”

  “I know,” he shrugged. “But it’s a price I’m willing to pay. And I’ll never get Bound anyway. Not for real. That is a fact.”

  �
��But I can’t even give you time to think about it,” I protested. “It needs to be done by my birthday if I want the Council to take me seriously.”

  “Then it’ll be done by your birthday,” he assured me.

  “But what about my trip with Blaze?” I argued, “I can’t organise both.”

  Jayson sighed, “I’ll sort it all out. You just stay alive.” He smiled my favourite smile and touched my nose, “Don’t worry about anything.”

  What a stupid thing to say. I had everything to worry about.

  I deliberated. I knew I didn’t want him to have to do this, but if he was still willing I knew I couldn’t say no. I valued my life too much.

  Eventually I sighed, surrendering, and I hugged him, “Thank you Jayson. You are a life saver. Literally.”

  That night I went downstairs to double check with Adrian what time we would arrange to meet in the morning. The answer was way too early; but I reluctantly surrendered… eventually. Thankfully Kieran was nowhere in sight when I arrived, however I could feel Sofia’s cold glare graze my skin. After I left Jayson lectured me about ‘staying safe’ when I was with Blaze. Apparently he didn’t trust Adrian at all.

  To be honest, his lecture didn’t help. I was still bricking it.

  As the hours passed and the others finally went to bed, I realised that there was no way in hell I would get any sleep tonight; despite my severe exhaustion. I was physically and mentally drained from the past few day’s challenges, not to mention the superfluous sleep deprivation that plagued me. My eyes would not close and anxious thoughts persistently nagged me; stinging my mind like a wasp.

  On any other night I would have flown somewhere; but I knew I couldn’t afford to strain my fatigued body any further. I paced for a while, waiting for my eyelids to droop, desperately ignoring the thoughts in my mind; wondering if I’d survive tomorrow. The twelve chimes signifying midnight seemed to have rung hours before, so it must have been ridiculously late.

  I padded over to the balcony, strangely feeling drawn to it, and shut the door behind me so that no heat escaped the common room. Outside was overcast. A dull, unchanging blanket of cloud trapped the night’s sky within its thick mist. What with that, and the snow that remained from a previous storm, the world appeared a dark and sombre place. The light filtering through the training pavilion’s windows below was the only source of colour. I knew there could be only one other person awake at this time; someone whose insomnia could somehow exceed my own.

  I could see Kieran through one of the large, frosted windows of the pavilion, and with my sharp vision realised that at least it wasn’t just me who felt like crap. I remembered back to the first time I had seen him, back in Tanya’s pub all that time ago. He had appeared so strong then, so unbreakable, and so unlike how he was now.

  Now he was alone that confident defiance had left his eyes, leaving only a mist of tiredness. His strong back leaned against the wall for support, as if he could barely hold his weight anymore. He was smoking of course. I imagined he’d done his exercises already, trying desperately to tire himself out. The drug was usually his last resort. But his eyes were glazed and devoid of life. He’d taken a lot.

  Obviously it had been a long night for him as well.

  I shunned this thought from my mind with irritation; he didn’t deserve my sympathy. Not after what he did this morning. Never after that. I turned away, a renewed repulsion sweeping over me at the thought of him and those girls. The thought of their hands on him sickened me. My stomach churned.

  When I glanced back for a final time I realised Kieran was closing his eyes; perhaps the drug was finally working. I half-heartedly hoped it hadn’t killed him. I watched as he ostensibly drifted off and, quite peculiarly, I suddenly felt drowsy.

  He looked so different when he slept. Younger perhaps, and more attractive; as no cruel expression tainted his features. Though, as I watched, I noticed his eyelids twitching, almost as if he were having a nightmare.

  Ignoring my aching heart I went into my bedroom, sombre and abruptly sleepy. I fumbled with the bed sheets and struggled into bed, wishing it were warmer. The cold lumpy pillow was not a comfort, however as soon as my head touched it I was dreaming.

  My dream was strange, even for me. I felt like I was in somebody else’s mind. It was peculiar, confusing my senses. As the dream dragged me deeper into unconsciousness the befuddlement subsided and I became entwined within the dream’s essence; drawing me in completely. I was lost in it.

  Panic seizes me. We aren’t going to get there in time. I fly faster, but her weight, however minimal, slows me. My heart races, I can hear her screaming.

  The spot arrives before me. I land with a thud and help her off of my back. I lay her down with my wing as gently as I can, then tear myself away from her body for a split second as I Change. Once the pain subsides I pull on my jeans and clamber back to her.

  Someone else is talking but I can’t hear what they are saying. Or rather my brain does not want to comprehend their words. However my hands, left to their own accord, are doing their bidding anyway. I’m pinning her down, my hands pressing firmly on the curve of her spine as the back of her neck is cut. She screams. The noise makes me cringe inwardly and I want to bash the knife away. But I don’t, because I know it might help her survive. It had to help.

  When the knife has done its brutal job, I can feel her relief, though her pain worsens constantly. After a moment I pull her closer to me, cradling her in my arms as I know that she is scared. The strange thing was, I was also scared. No, I was terrified. I didn’t want to let her go. Why was this? I barely even knew her, she was nothing special. I didn’t even like her. She was far too witty, too stubborn and self-righteous. She was far too much like me.

  So why, when she reached for my hand, her white slender fingers touching my skin, did my pulse race rapidly? Why did I find myself whispering gentle words to her? Why did I stroke her gorgeous red hair to try and soothe her? Why was I so desperate that she lived?

  The flames were coming now. I can see them flickering on her skin. Caylic fire. All destroying. I have to move away or it’ll take me with her. But I don’t want to. She’s stopped screaming and I know she’s given up. I move away.

  She was dying. Within minutes, as I watch, the flames consume her. She becomes ash. I fall to my knees, unable to stop myself, and anguish overwhelms me. I have this feeling that I’ve done this before. But this time it’s different. This time I know she won’t come back. She will never wake up.

  I can feel people touching me, dragging me away, but I’m unaware of them. All I feel is pain. Pain and loss and hopelessness.

  I’d let her die.

  She’s gone.

  I’d let her die.

  A horrific panic tormented me as I woke up gasping. Through my mind ran panicked thoughts. What was real? Is she dead? Had I killed her? I was hyperventilating. I’d killed her. It was my fault. I would never see her again.

  As my body eventually calmed, my mind did to. The irrational, desperate thoughts had subsided. I felt more like myself, and that’s when I realised. That wasn’t my dream. Those weren’t my thoughts.

  They were Kieran’s.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  I raced to the balcony and, sure enough, there was Kieran; awake and stood below me in the snow. His body was poised expectantly, as if he already knew I was going to be there. He said nothing, but in that second I knew my hunch was right. I’d watched Kieran’s dream. I had somehow entered his unconscious mind as he slept.

  And the girl who’d been dying in his arms was me.

  He glanced up at me and his expression was devastating, tormented. “Don’t go,” he mouthed, his eyes flickering desperately. My heart sank.

  Then I shook my head, ignoring the tremendous aching of my heart and the longing I felt, and went back into the living room; the memory of this morning still sharp in my mind. I couldn’t let him get to me. He’d only break my heart into even smaller pieces. I had to be stron
g. He slept with two other girls, remember? I had to remind myself.

  Once inside I realised it was pretty much time for me to get going anyway. I had a date with Adrian, Blaze and Lynk. How exciting.

  I wandered into Jayson’s room. He was tucked deep in his bed, snoring with his mouth wide open. I smiled at the sight, amused by his right leg and left arm; which and spontaneously escaped his cotton sheets during wild dreams. I closed the distance between us and gently woke him up. His eyes opened slowly, his golden lashes fluttering, and he mumbled something inaudible. After a moment he spoke my name, slightly surprised, though his expression still hinted he was half asleep.

  “I’m going now,” I told him softly. “I’ll see you soon, yeah?”

  He nodded and grunted something; clearly still anchored to dreamland. He wouldn’t remember this goodbye. Maybe it’s for the best; in case I died.

  I kissed his cheek before cautiously tiptoeing downstairs. I wasn’t looking forward to today, but I’d spent so much time in dangerous situations recently that the novelty had worn off.

  Still, I would have paid good money for a lie in.

  I knocked on Adrian’s door and soon discovered that both the Ashaik brothers were up and clad in the black Gear that also protected my own skin. I swept my vision over Kieran, avoiding his face, looking at the brothers as a whole so I didn’t register any unwanted expressions or emotions. However I did notice that, like me, they had light leather wing braces and belts filled with shining sharpened weapons. What I didn’t have was the look of dark arrogance and untouchable dangerousness.

  It took me a moment to realise why Kieran was all dressed up too. Then I remembered he had his Garatourii. I idly hoped his rivals would beat the crap out of him.

  “You ready?” Adrian asked.

  “Aren’t I always?” I said.

  “No,” both Adrian and Kieran answered simultaneously.

  I huffed. “Shall we go then?” I addressed Adrian, ignoring Kieran completely.