Destiny's Fire

by Trisha Wolfe

  My mind tried to process everything he was telling me. “And the scroll? It tells us how to lift this curse?”

  “Yes. Somehow the Narcos got their hands on it and deciphered it. That’s why they didn’t kill us off when they destroyed the Leymak race, only weakened us. They still need one other race, one they can use to unite and find the power to lift the curse.”

  “But how is that me? How can you think it’s me?” I threw my hands up. “Jace, Reese is just like me. And according to you, we aren’t the only ones.”

  Jace cupped my face. “I saw that power, Dez.” His eyes lingered on my face. “You know that you’re not just like Reese. You have to know how much more powerful you are than him. I’ve heard him say it.”

  My chest tightened. “You’ve been spying on us?”

  “I’m sorry.” His eyes sought mine, pleading. “But I didn’t have a choice. I had to understand you. And I had to find out what Reese and the rest of the Narcos were up to.”

  His words brought my world crashing down around me again. “Reese,” I said. “He’s one of them.”

  Jace clasped my hands. “I’m sorry we couldn’t decipher the scroll faster.” He bowed his head and shook it. “But right now, we have to get you somewhere safe. I can explain more later.” His eyes searched my face. “But, Dez…I need to know first. Are you all right?” I managed one nod before he continued. “We haven’t finished decoding the rest of the scroll, and we need to hurry and do that before the fighting starts.”

  “Fighting?”

  Jace ushered me toward his levibike. “You don’t think Reese is going to let you get away now, do you?” He started the engine. “Now that his plans have been ruined, I’m sure the Narcos will try and take you by force.”

  Reese’s warning echoed in my mind, adding to the fear in Jace’s voice.

  Run.

  Jace took us to his house. For now, there was no going back to the Academy. When I walked through the door, Lana wrapped her arms around my neck.

  “Oh, my God,” she said. “I was so worried. When Dr. Thailow finally deciphered the part about…well, Jace figured out it was you.” Her eyes shone, gleaming with tears. “I wanted to come with him, but he wouldn’t let me.”

  I hugged her again. “I’m glad. I wouldn’t want you in danger, Lane.”

  Her eyes trailed over my busted corset, and she pinched her eyebrows together. “Did Reese hurt—”

  “No.” I shook my head. “I’m fine.”

  She clasped my hand, pulling me behind her as she moved toward the stairs. “Come on. Let’s get you a change of clothes.”

  Once I was in her bedroom, she closed the door and left to join the others downstairs. I needed a moment alone. I didn’t want to face all those knowing eyes just yet. My secret was out. They knew who I was, and they weren’t attacking me. I shook my head in confusion.

  My mom had hidden me all these years from our own Council, but they weren’t locking me up or trying to kill me. Well, yet, I realized. I tried to clear my lungs with a shuddering breath, and then went to Lana’s closet. I grabbed a pair of leather pants and a loose fitting blouse. Then I balled up my bustle and tattered corset and tossed it in her waste basket.

  I made my way down the steps and braced myself for the interrogation I was sure I was going to get. As I entered the dining room, I saw the Tuners’ table littered with proofs of the scroll, documents, and maps. Four members of the Shythe Council sat around the table. I assumed the man hunched over a notebook, scribbling away was Dr. Thailow. I glanced around, and noticed Mr. Tuner in the kitchen. I gave him a weak smile. He only nodded, his eyes heavy with his thoughts.

  He neared the table and pressed his palms flat against it, staring at the other members of the Shythe Council and his family. “We may only have hours before an attack comes. The scroll can wait.” He eyed Dr. Thailow. “We have what the Narcos want, so we must plan strategy now.”

  Jace stepped forward. “The barrier spell,” he said. “We need to reverse it. The Narcos’ airships are docked in our harbor. We can infiltrate the ships, take them over, and push them and the rest of the army beyond the barrier.” He glanced at each serious face in the room. “We’ve snuck on the airships before. It’s not that—”

  “Which was the stupidest thing you’ve ever done, Jace,” Mr. Tuner interrupted.

  Jace’s eyes shot toward him, angry. “We have the scroll now. Don’t we? And we have Dez.” He looked to me for a moment. “We might only have a short time to try and force their army through the barrier. If we can reverse their spell, I think we can fight them back.”

  Dr. Thailow stood. “That’s a fine plan, Jace, but our army is no match for the Feyan. Even if we somehow manage to put the original barrier back up, I don’t know how we’re to defeat an army of super Kythan and Narco guards. It’ll be a massacre.”

  The room went still. Then Nick spoke. “Regardless, we have to try.” His eyes scanned our faces. “If we don’t fight, they’ll storm every house, every unit, looking for Dez. And after they take her, they’ll destroy us.” He lifted his shoulders, shrugging. “The way I see it, we don’t have a choice.”

  “What about the magics?” Lana piped up. “Is there some kind of spell that we could cast on the Narcos? Make them leave?”

  Dr. Thailow shook his head. “Those are long lost, my dear. I’ve no idea how the Narco Council managed to remove the humans.” He rubbed his forehead. “They must have a powerful leader in order to cast a spell like that.”

  Mr. Tuner released an exasperated breath. “Let’s get our focus back on the barrier spell.”

  “No, let’s decide once and for all that we’re going to call our troops,” Jace told him.

  The Council members began debating whether or not to summon their guards before or after the barrier was reversed. Jace and Nick argued their side, and the room broke into shouts.

  The ruckus made my head hurt. Members of the Shythe Council argued, Lana and Nick debated whether or not to inform Devon of something, and I just needed…air.

  I slipped out the backdoor, shutting it silently behind me. The chilled, night air cloaked me, and I settled on the Tuners’ back porch, staring into the dark sky. My first thought was that if there was going to be a fight, I had to warn my mom. But I didn’t know how to do that without freaking her out. I couldn’t scare her right now. She finally believed I was safe. I buried my face in my hands. But she wasn’t safe. If the Narcos thought I was the “one”—whatever that was—then they’d look for me at home.

  I pulled out my communicator, but halted typing when I heard the door squeak behind me. “Dez?” Jace said.

  “Yeah, I just needed a moment. I have to contact my mom.”

  Jace sat down beside me. “We already have. Well, we didn’t fill her in on the specifics, but there are guards watching her house.”

  “Thank you.” I released a heavy breath, running my hands over my face. “You said there are others. A Feyan Army?”

  “From what I’ve learned, there was an experiment to find, or create, this prophesized Kythan that could break the curse. But they supposedly disposed of the failed attempts.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, my mom escaped when she found out they were killing them.”

  “Well, they weren’t.” He ran his hand along my back. “They told the parents that, but secretly raised an army. I mean, why dispose of power that great when you can manipulate it into a force to use for your own gain?”

  It made sense. My chest burned as I thought about Reese being part of this army. He had been raised to kill. He’d lied about his mother and her escape. He’d lied about everything. But I couldn’t wrap my mind around what his intentions had been for me.

  I looked into Jace’s glowing eyes. “What did you overhear? What did you learn?”

  “The Feyans’ mission was pretty simple. The Peace Act, for all intents and purposes, was legit. The Narcos wanted to unite the races in order to start a full on breeding gone wild. They were gettin
g desperate to find the prophecy child.” He paused, his eyebrows knitted together. “The Feyan were on search and find—discover the escaped subject and find out if she harbored the ultimate power.” He shook his head. “They were to gain the subject’s trust. Manipulate her into believing the Narcos were here for a good purpose. For some reason, it was vital that Reese gain your trust.” He cleared his throat. “If it was reported back that the missing subject couldn’t be found, was dead, or that she didn’t hold the power, then the plan to unite the races would continue in order to produce the ‘one.’”

  My stomach churned, threatening to make me lose its contents right there. I hugged my midsection, rocking. “That bastard.”

  Jace pulled me into his arms and rested his chin on top of my head. “Want me to kill him?”

  “Yes.” I clamped my eyes shut, urging the stinging tears back. “No. I don’t know.”

  His breath caressed my hair as he breathed out heavily. “At least you found out the truth before it was too late.” His body stiffened. I’d almost been with Reese. My soul flooded with guilt at the thought of Jace walking in and seeing us together.

  “Jace…I’m—”

  “It’s okay. You didn’t know.” He held me tighter. “I’m just sorry I couldn’t work faster and figure it out way before now.”

  I pushed the thought from my head, blocking out the ache in my chest. “So, now that Reese knows that we know…” I bowed my head against his arm.

  “I have a feeling since I botched his mission, that yeah, they’ll come for you—try to take you any way they can.” Jace pressed his lips to my head. “But they won’t. I won’t let them. And whatever your power is…whatever reason they want you so badly, we’ll figure it out. Together.”

  He finally released me, and I fell slack. I sat back on the palms of my hands, staring blankly out into the darkness. Jace stood and moved toward the door. “You know I’m here if you need me,” he said. “I’m going back in. Have to try and figure this out before they attack.”

  Before the door shut, I spun my head toward him. “Jace, don’t worry about Reese.” I paused a beat, taking in his confused expression. “I’ll kill him.”

  I looked toward the woods and heard the door close behind me. There was nothing to think about anymore. Reese was part of some Feyan Army that had been ordered to get close to me, manipulate me, turn me against the race that had raised me. Somehow, they planned to use my power to their benefit.

  Why didn’t Reese just take me right when he discovered my power? I despised him for all the hoops he’d made me jump through. Whatever the reason, he was really good at his job.

  I stood and brushed the back of my pants legs. Turning to go join them inside, I froze as I heard a snap behind me. Ice hit my bloodstream. Before I was able to run, a blinding pain splintered through my head, and the world around me went blacker than the night sky.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  MY EYES CRACKED OPEN, and my surroundings rocked. I was in a dimly lit room with mahogany paneled walls—walls and furniture I’d seen before. The swaying of the room and familiar scenery jarred my memory. I was on the Narcolym Council’s airship.

  I touched the back of my pounding head. A tender knot bloomed beneath my fingertips. Panicked, I dug for my communicator, but my pockets were empty. Damn.

  I glanced around me. There were no windows. Only one door. I jumped off the small cot and stumbled toward it. Grasping the brass handle, I twisted, my hands slipping around the knob. Locked. Of course. I slumped against the cool wood.

  I pressed my ear to the door. Footsteps echoed in the hallway just outside the room. I backed away from the door. Crap. I didn’t have any kind of weapon. Quickly, I scanned the room. The only thing here was that stupid cot and a desk with a chair. A chair!

  I ran to the desk, balanced myself, and raised the chair above my head. I threw it against the floor. It didn’t break. I did it again and this time a leg came loose. I knelt and pried it from the seat. I heard a click and the door began opening. I stood my ground, my wooden stake held out in front of me.

  “Put that away,” a Narco said. “I’m not a vampire.” He sauntered toward the center of the room. His black hair was slicked back, and his pale, unearthly features hard. He was the Narco Council member I’d seen the day of my test. “Wouldn’t want you to poke one of those precious violet eyes out now, would we?” He motioned for me to take a seat on the cot.

  I shook my head. “Whatever you have planned,” I said, sizing him up, “I’ll die first.”

  He tsked me, waggling a finger. “You should have never been raised Shythe. Your attitude would have been far more accommodating if you were brought up Narcolym.” He studied me a moment. “I have to admit, though. You were the last one I suspected. That was an amazing performance you gave.” He leaned against the desk. “You even managed to fool one of my best soldiers.”

  I relaxed my grip on the weapon and squinted. Did he mean I’d fooled Reese? If Reese didn’t report me…My mind drifted. I sat down on the cot. I didn’t feel I was in immediate danger. He still needed me, after all.

  I glared at him. “Then how did you find me?”

  He crossed one ankle over the other. “Hair sample,” he deadpanned. “I became bored waiting for my soldiers to locate you. And with today’s amazing advancements, there was really no need to wait any longer to discover if you were alive and here in Haven Falls.” He grinned.

  I felt the back of my head, remembering my hair being yanked before I began my performance. “The blindfold.”

  “I see that the Shythe haven’t raised a complete fool.” He uncrossed his legs and took a step toward me. “Although, it would have been much better for you to have come to me first. We could have avoided this whole painful process. That was my intention, of course. I didn’t want to force you to hand over you power.”

  I studied him. I could take him. Maybe he felt me considering it, because he halted mid-step.

  “Well, I have no idea how to just give you my power,” I said. “So you’re out of luck.”

  A viscous smile snaked across his lips. “There are ways to persuade you to learn how.” He paced slowly. “Those you care about, perhaps. It’s come to my attention that your mother is still alive.” He faced me. “For now.”

  “You bastard, don’t touch her.” I jumped up, but before I reached him, he blasted me with a ball of Flame, sending me crashing back into the cot.

  “You’re not the only one with power, Destiny,” he said. “And I’m sure we can figure out a way to help each other without anyone getting hurt.”

  I clutched my chest. The burned fabric of my blouse wafted up my nose. He hadn’t sent enough power to actually hurt me, but I assumed he probably could. “I have no idea how it works. I can’t just hand it over,” I pleaded for my mother’s sake. Then what he called me hit me. The hair test might have proven who I was, but my mom was the only one allowed to call me Destiny. “And don’t use my name.”

  “Why not?” He arched an eyebrow. “I’m the one who gave it to you.”

  Recognition hit me all at once. No. He was lying. Trying to use me, trying to make me more upset. “You’re a liar. My father’s dead.”

  “I’m sure your mother told you as much. I wonder if she’s still as fond of me as I am of her.”

  I wanted to tear his eyes out. But I controlled my anger, swallowing it down into the pit of my stomach. “I don’t believe you, but…I’ll do whatever you ask.” I bowed my head, feeling my power wanting to burst forth. “As long as you don’t go near my mother or my friends.”

  “Excellent.” He clapped his hands together. “You may call me Drevan, if not Father, by the way.” He shook his head, glancing down to the floor. “Seventeen years I’ve longed for this moment. And I’ve been waiting to find the one to release us even longer.”

  I scowled at him. “Why did you end the experiment, then?”

  His eyes darkened “Not me, them.” He cocked his head toward Haven.
“Your weak Shythe couldn’t handle a few dead children. Of course they weren’t killed, but I couldn’t let them know who I was searching for. The Narcolym have to become the freed race.” He laced his arms across his chest. “I had to try and build trust between the races before I could convince them it was imperative we try again.” He chuckled deeply. “Oh, but power and fear are wonderful tools where trust fails.”

  I hated him. More than anyone. More than Reese. Reese had only been Drevan’s pawn. If I ever escaped, I was going to make it my mission to destroy Drevan and all Narcolym.

  “Come,” he said.

  I ignored his outstretched hand, standing on my own, and followed him into the corridor. He led me to the center of the airship, right before a giant window.

  Stepping hesitantly toward the glass, I pressed my palms to its cool surface. Below, just past the bay, the city erupted in lights and fire. Smoke billowed from the tops of buildings. The fight—no, the war—had begun.

  “Call it off,” I said, panic lacing my voice. I shot my head toward him. “You said if I agreed you wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

  He took a step forward, looking directly into my eyes. “I didn’t do this.” He turned his gaze toward the city. “This is your army, though feeble it may be, trying to get you back.” His lips curled into a sinister grin. “I’m preparing to move the airships as we speak. Once we’re beyond the Shythe reach, past the barrier, I’ll do as you ask.” He looked at me. “I’ll call it off. Then we shall be on our way. But…” He paused, glancing out the window once more. “If the Shythe choose to try and pursue us, I’ll make no promises for their safety. They’ll be destroyed.”