Burning Bright

by Chris Cannon

  Asher started to fuss, so Bryn handed him back to Lillith before Ferrin could accuse her of doing something to the baby.

  “I still wonder if the whole thing isn’t some sort of distraction,” Jaxon said. “But I’m not sure from what.”

  “Or a way to throw suspicion on the new students,” Bryn added.

  “It’s not the students from Sanctuary that are the issue,” Ferrin said. “It’s the adults.”

  And there was no way that wasn’t a slam against her parents. Bryn sat down, put both of her elbows firmly on the table, and leaned forward, smiling at Ferrin. “Is this how it’s going to be? You’re going to spend the evening slighting my parents? Because I’d like to point out that you’re the one that agreed to the marriage contract.”

  Ferrin turned away from her and walked to a sideboard that held a crystal decanter full of amber-colored alcohol. He poured himself a glass, took a sip, and then said, “Believe it or not, the world does not revolve around you. I wasn’t referring to your parents, because as far as I’m concerned, the Sinclairs are your guardians. Anyone else that you may unfortunately share DNA with is not worthy of my recognition.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Bryn turned to Jaxon. “From now on when your father speaks I’m going to hear that teacher from Charlie Brown who goes, ‘Whah Whah Whah Whah Whah Whah.’ So you can handle the rest of this conversation.”

  Jaxon looked like he wasn’t sure if he should laugh or be outraged. He sighed and said, “Okay then. Let’s rewind the conversation to your concerns about the adults in Sanctuary. What’s going on?”

  Ferrin glared at Bryn and then turned to his son. “We believe there are some dragons living in the old mines below the town. The residents who have registered and are settled into the new housing have passed all of our tests, but we think there are some hold-outs.”

  “I still think it seems like too much of a coincidence that they targeted students connected to the Directorate,” Jaxon said.

  “It takes training to be able to siphon Quintessence from another dragon,” Ferrin said. “So even if this isn’t the Silver Cult brought back to life, some group is draining students and sending them out to do the same to others.”

  Bryn regretted removing herself from the conversation. She tried to mentally prompt Jaxon into asking his father what happened to the two men they’d questioned. Were they locked up in the cells below the library? Apparently, she and her future husband weren’t telepathically connected because he started talking to his father about something else. Bryn leaned over to Lillith.

  “What happened to the Silver dragon-pires they arrested?”

  Lillith frowned. “It might be better not to ask such questions. They attacked the Speaker’s son, so once the Directorate collected all the information they needed there wouldn’t be any reason to keep them around anymore.”

  “Oh.” So maybe she’d turned the one guy into a giant ice cube, but she hadn’t wished him dead. Then again, he was going around feeding on other dragons’ life force and he had dumped her unconscious body in a field by the stadium.

  A maid with a W sewn onto her uniform pushed a trolley full of food into the small room. She glanced around and then said, “Are you ready for dinner, or should I come back?”

  “You can serve the food now.” Lillith stood and took Asher over to the bassinet in the corner. After placing him inside, she pushed a button and the basket slowly swung back and forth. Why didn’t they make beds like that for adults?

  Bryn was already seated on the long side of the oval. Jaxon sat across from her. Ferrin sat at what must be the head of the table, and Lillith sat on the other end. The maid delivered plates of something brown and squishy. She made it a rule not to eat anything she couldn’t identify, even though it smelled good. Her three companions dug in. Jaxon caught her staring at her plate.

  “It’s basically steak with truffles,” Jaxon said.

  “Steak with chocolate?” Chocolate was awesome on most things, but on beef?

  “Not the candy,” Jaxon said. “The mushroom.”

  “Oh, that makes much more sense.” She took a bite. It was good.

  “People debate whether it’s a mushroom or a fungus,” Lillith said. “Arguments can be made for both sides.”

  “It’s a good thing I took a bite before you mentioned fungus,” Bryn said. “Because that is not an appetizing description.”

  “So, I hear that your grandmother has started planning an estate for you,” Lillith said.

  “Where did you hear that from?” Bryn stared pointedly at Jaxon. “I thought it was supposed to be a secret.”

  “Your grandmother shared the information with me,” Lillith said. “She comes over to spend time with Asher and we discuss all sorts of topics.”

  “Good to know that I don’t have to keep it a secret anymore,” Bryn said. “I was worried you might be upset.” Or try to stop it. And there was no way she was living under the same roof as Ferrin. This dinner was difficult enough.

  “I understand that you two will want your own home. And your grandmother has wonderful taste, so I’m sure whatever she comes up with will be spectacular.”

  “The next time you speak to her, please let her know that I want the W’s on the front gates to match the ones here at Westgate Estate,” Jaxon said. “It’s a tradition I’d like to continue.”

  Ferrin seemed to brighten at that news. “Good to know you’ve inherited my pride in our family name.”

  “Did I mention that I’m considering keeping my maiden name after we’re married?” Bryn said.

  Jaxon’s mouth fell open.

  Frost shot from Ferrin’s nostrils.

  Bryn grinned. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”

  Lillith pretended to be coughing into her napkin, but Bryn was pretty sure she was laughing.

  Once they finished their main course, Bryn hoped for some sort of dessert, but they ended the meal with coffee. What was up with that?

  Ferrin excused himself once his cup was empty. Once he was gone, Bryn said, “No dessert?”

  “Ferrin isn’t a fan of sweets. Unlike your grandfather, we don’t end most meals with dessert.”

  “That’s just wrong,” Bryn said.

  Lillith grinned. “Go open the box next to the crystal decanter on the sideboard.”

  Bryn walked over and opened the intricately carved wooden box. Inside she found individually wrapped pieces of chocolate. “That’s much better.” She grabbed six pieces and carried them back to the table, giving two each to Jaxon and Lillith.

  “I prefer this type of truffle myself,” Lillith said.

  “Me, too.” Bryn finished off one truffle in a few bites. While unwrapping the next one, she said, “Jaxon mentioned that you were concerned about me spending time with my mother over the holidays, so I wanted to let you know that I’ll be visiting them at their cabin tomorrow. And it might be better not to try and involve my mother in any Blue events.”

  Lillith frowned. “You’re probably right. I spoke to Marie after I talked to Jaxon and she didn’t think it was a good idea. I guess it will take time for them to come to some sort of understanding.”

  What could she say to that? “I think my parents will be part of the community at Sanctuary and I’m thrilled to have them back—and alive—and I plan on spending time with them, but I doubt that my grandparents will ever invite them to any events at Sinclair Estate. Co-existing peacefully in separate locations might be the best we can hope for.”

  “Maybe after the holidays we could set up a small dinner for just the women in our families. Honestly, I’ve always been curious about your mother and I’d love to meet her.” She glanced at Jaxon. “Do not share that information with your father.”

  “I’m going to pretend I never heard that odd bit of knowledge. In fact, I’m going to my room for something. Bryn you can stay here and visit with my mother.” And then he fled.

  Lillith laughed. “Poor Jaxon. He’s so proud of his father,
but he also understands that it’s best if certain things are kept private because Ferrin isn’t easy to live with.”

  “No?” Bryn feigned disbelief.

  “Hard to believe, I know,” Lillith said. “But honestly, I’ve had a good life. Part of the reason I’m curious about your mother is because my life is her nightmare. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around.”

  Bryn was pretty sure she could explain but didn’t think that would be polite.

  “You and Jaxon seem to be getting along better,” Lillith said with a knowing grin.

  Was Lillith looking for some sort of confession? That wasn’t going to happen. “I think the news about the house really threw him, but other than that we’ve been figuring out how to spend time together without annoying each other too much.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Bryn wasn’t sure what to expect at Sanctuary. The words “old mining town” conjured a vision of dirt roads and rundown buildings. In reality, it looked more like a camp, with cabins, in an overgrown forest.

  Clint and Ivy rode with Bryn to the front gate where her parents stood waiting.

  “Thanks for coming with me,” she said. “I’ll introduce you when you come back from Dragon’s Bluff.”

  “Have fun,” Ivy said.

  Bryn climbed out of the SUV and approached the guards standing at the admission checkpoint.

  “Who are you visiting?” the guard asked.

  “My parents, Ian and Sara McKenna.”

  The guard made her sign in and gave her a lanyard to wear which had a numbered pass card. “This is so we can keep track of who comes and goes. Don’t lose it.”

  “I understand.”

  The guard waved Bryn through the gate and she ran to hug her parents.

  “There’s my girl,” her dad said.

  He looked more like himself, standing tall without assistance. She pointed at his leg, noticing the different brace. “That’s new, and you don’t have your cane anymore.”

  “No.” Her dad took a few steps to show how the brace worked. “Your friend Garret is a genius.”

  “He is pretty smart,” Bryn agreed.

  “Come on.” Her mom hooked her elbow through Bryn’s. “I can’t wait to give you the tour.”

  They walked down a dirt road which branched off in three different directions. “Straight ahead is the Community Center, but our cabin is this way.” They walked down the right-hand road, passing several cabins, which appeared rustic but well restored. They reminded her of Valmont’s cabin. The wood was bleached with age and vegetation grew up some of the walls making it look like the wooden structures were part of the landscape.

  “Did you have to chop back the plants to find the cabins?” Bryn asked.

  “Sometimes,” her dad said. “But we left some of the greenery because it helps insulate the building, and in some cases, it seems to be holding the logs together.”

  When they reached her parents’ cabin Bryn understood what he meant. The vines grew up and around the house, looping around some of the logs which gave the whole structure an otherworldly appearance.

  “It looks like something out of a fairy tale,” Bryn said.

  Her mom laughed. “That wasn’t the case when we first came here. It was more like something out of a horror movie.” She led Bryn up the walk. “Come inside. That’s where you can really see what we’ve done.”

  Bryn entered the house. The front door opened onto the living room with a couch and rocking chair. One step up from the front room was a kitchen with an apartment-sized stove and a refrigerator. Shelves above the farmhouse sink held dishes and utensils. Off to the side stood a pantry which looked like it had been partially sunken into the wall. Intricate carvings of leaves and vines decorated the doors in an almost geometric pattern.

  “That’s cool.” Bryn pointed at the cabinet.

  “Yeah.” Her dad rubbed his chin. “That was one of those make-the-best-of-it moments. I wanted to put in a storage closet, but that was beyond my woodworking skills.”

  “He almost brought the whole wall down.” Her mom laughed. “But some neighbors helped us reinforce the area and then they built the cabinet to fit inside the niche that was left.”

  “I like to think of it as a happy accident,” her dad said.

  That’s one thing she loved about her parents. Their outlook on life was so positive. “Who did the artwork on the doors?”

  “A very talented Green-Black hybrid carved the design into the doors. It’s funny, we’ve met hybrids who have such interesting skills.” Her mom pointed down the hall. “The dresser doors are even more amazing.”

  Bryn followed her parents down the short hallway to a room which held a bed and a custom-built dresser that extended the length of one wall. The drawers were decorated with carvings of flowers and small woodland animals. Bryn looked closer. “Is that a skunk on the bottom?”

  “Yes,” her dad said. “I think a Black dragon would have known that a skunk isn’t something you particularly want in your art, but when I asked why he included the skunk he said that due to his Green side, he felt the need to accurately represent all of the animals that live in the forest.”

  “Interesting. I guess you’ll have to be more specific in your requests for art from now on.” Bryn stepped back into the hallway. There was one more door on the other side of the hall. “I’m hoping you have a restroom and not an outhouse,” she said.

  “It’s functional, but a little cramped.” Her dad opened the last door. “See for yourself.”

  Bryn scooted past him and was relieved to see a pedestal sink, curtained-off shower, and toilet. The blue-and-white striped curtain and towels gave the room a happy vibe.

  “It’s cute,” Bryn said.

  “Let’s go back to the living room,” her dad said.

  Once they were seated on the couch, her mom said, “Some people are having trouble adjusting to the tight space. But it’s not much different than our apartment.”

  It was smaller than Bryn’s dorm room, which made her feel guilty. Then again, so was the apartment she’d grown up in and she’d never felt crowded when she’d lived there. It was all a matter of perspective. “It’s really cute and homey,” Bryn said. “How is there so much light?”

  “Look up.” Her dad pointed at the ceiling.

  Bryn checked out the ceiling. Two rectangular skylights allowed sunshine to flow into the room.

  “Since we had to patch the roof anyway, it wasn’t too difficult to add the skylights.”

  Her mom laughed.

  “Fine,” her dad said. “They leaked like a sieve the first time it rained, but we figured out a better way to seal them and now they’re fine.”

  “A lot of this stuff has been trial and error,” her mom said. “But everyone has pitched in for the greater good, and we’ve all learned as we went along.”

  “I have to confess, I was a little worried about what it might be like out here,” Bryn said, “but this is really cool.”

  “I know my parents probably think we’re living in a slum,” her mom said. “But this works for us.”

  She didn’t want to talk about the strained relationship with her grandparents. “How many cabins are there?”

  “We’ve restored about fifteen and built another ten,” her dad said. “I have to credit whoever is keeping us supplied with materials because there hasn’t been a shortage. We have enough lumber to build a dozen more. It’s just a matter of time and manpower.”

  “What do you do all day out here?” Bryn asked.

  “I’m teaching yoga classes at the community center,” her mom said. “And your dad has helped with the building.”

  Bryn leaned back against the couch cushion and sighed. “You have no idea how worried I was about this visit. I was afraid you were putting on a brave face about the whole situation, but this is really nice.”

  “Our only complaint would be the lack of information about what is going on at the Institute. We’ve heard rumors about the
increase in security, but we don’t know why,” her mom said. “Can you fill us in?”

  How much should she tell them? She didn’t want to worry them, but she didn’t want to lie, either. “Honestly, we aren’t sure what’s going on. Some college students have been caught trying to siphon Quintessence from other students like some old cult used to do.”

  “Why?” her dad asked.

  “Apparently, there are some dragons who think extra Quintessence will help them become all-powerful. They apprehended two dragons who were involved in the attacks and they’re holding them for questioning.”

  “I don’t understand what they hope to gain,” her mom said.

  “Power, I guess. Clint coined the phrase dragon-pire.”

  “That’s funny, but not really appropriate,” her dad said.

  “What about out here? Have you run into anything strange?”

  “Not really,” her mom said. “Why?”

  “Ferrin suspects that there are dragons living in the mines, avoiding detection.”

  Her dad laughed. “As far as I can tell, the old mine is just a hole in the ground. I wouldn’t even call it a cavern. If anyone is coming and going through there they’d need to be excellent climbers. There isn’t even room to shift and explore.”

  “And how would you know that?” Bryn asked.

  “It can get a little boring out here, so some of the people tried to go exploring. They didn’t get very far. Said the tunnels made them claustrophobic.”

  After being trapped under the library, Bryn had no desire to investigate anything underground ever again.

  “There are rumors that there are other entrances,” her mom said. “You’d think there’d have to be, for airflow and safety standards, if nothing else.”

  “I wouldn’t ask too many questions about that,” Bryn said. “Since Ferrin is the one looking into it and I kind of pissed him off when I mentioned that I might want to keep my maiden name after the marriage.”

  “You said that to him?” her mom asked.

  Bryn nodded and laughed. “I couldn’t help myself.”

  “That’s my girl,” her dad said, once he stopped laughing.