“Are you okay?” Tage released Halen and ran to his side.
“Yeah, all in one piece, but we might not be for long. You have to see the news! It’s here!”
A reporter’s rushed voice echoed from the television. As Halen stepped toward Ezra, another boom clapped, swaying the hotel and tossing them to the floor.
Crimson and golden beams shot through the windows as if the sun was falling from the sky and gunning straight for their room. Halen ducked her head to the carpet.
“What’s happening?” she screamed.
“I don’t know. Keep your head down!” Dax shouted.
She trembled, her sparks rippling with the aftershock of the tremors, her ears ringing from the thunder. She rubbed her forehead against the carpet. Asair!
“It’s over.” Dax touched her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
Halen blinked away the dark spots dancing before her eyes, as her sight adjusted to the fading light. “I’m not hurt.”
“Guys, get in here!” Ezra shouted.
They rose to their feet, guided by the sounds still blaring from the television. Ezra hopped onto the safety of the couch and crossed his legs. His red mop of hair was a wild mess, his dark eyes narrowed. “It’s already on the news. It’s just like China.”
Tage slumped in the chair beside him. Halen perched on the armrest. Dax slid in behind her. They all stared in awe at the bizarre reporter on the screen.
A heavy reflective coat drowned her small frame. Strands of dark hair trailed her face, where the wind ripped them loose from her ponytail. Thick black goggles covered her eyes and cheekbones. She stood at the end of a pier. Behind her, the orange arch of the Golden Gate Bridge spanned the smoldering sky; the water below glowed with flames.
“What the hell?” Tage leaned forward.
“Can you flip the switch, Gail? The feed is not coming through,” an off-screen voice said.
“One minute.” She fiddled with the side of the goggles, then finally gave them a good thump with the palm of her hand.
“That’s got it. The images are coming into the studio now, Gail,” the voice said. “We can confirm they are the same as witnessed in Beijing and Cape Town.”
“Richard, it’s even more unbelievable on the ground. You really need to—” The wails of police sirens drowned Gail’s voice.
The camera cut to a news anchor sitting stiffly behind a desk, his manicured hands folded in front of him. “We'll get back to Gail in a moment, but for now, let’s have look at what Gail recorded when the fire ring emerged in the sky.”
He turned his attention to the left where her video feed replayed on a screen. As the tremendous boom that shook their hotel suite only moments before blasted through the television speakers, the screen flashed with concrete and Gail stumbled to the ground. The sidewalk cracked beneath her while a brilliant glow blazed all around her. As she tilted her head toward the light, a ring of fire ignited, bleeding out the blue sky. From the center, a metallic sheen flashed repeatedly, slicing long slash-marks through the red.
A collective gasp filled the room.
Halen’s skin flecked with sharp sparks. “What is that?”
“Wings.” Ezra held the remote out and turned up the volume.
“What do you mean?” Halen hugged herself. No one answered as Gail flashed back onto the screen and her broadcast resumed.
“Sorry, Richard, we lost sound. Can you hear me now?” Two big sooty black rings rimmed her eyes when she yanked the goggles up over her head.
“We can hear you fine.”
The camera angle widened, revealing the entire Bay alight with flames. “The fires are spreading across the Bay at a rapid rate. Firefighters are attempting to extinguish the flames. There may be a burst fuel pipe. As a precaution, nearby residences and shops are being evacuated.”
Laughter rolled through Halen’s mind, blurring the reporter’s next words. Asair’s chilling voice echoed in her thoughts. They’re coming for you, darling. Everyone will know your secret now—surrender to me.
GET OUT OF my head! She clenched her teeth. You’re not real.
Asair chuckled. I’m as real as the boy standing next to you.
Halen teetered on the edge of the armrest, catching Tage’s attention.
Tage cocked her head to the side and bit back the piercings on her lower lip.
Halen studied the print behind Tage. She thought of colors, composition, the gnarled wood frame—anything to throw Tage off from getting a read on her.
Tage lunged, grabbing Halen by her arms. “Is he in there?”
Halen’s spine stiffened. Why couldn’t vanishing be one of her siren powers?
Tage shook her hard. “Answer me!”
“Get off her!” Dax pulled Tage, but she slapped his hand back.
“It’s Asair,” Tage said. “He’s not dead! He’s hiding inside Halen.”
“Whoa, wait a minute.” Ezra scooted to the other side of the couch. “You’re still not thinking these fires have anything to do with Asair—really?” He raked his hand through his hair, tugging at the ends.
Halen’s breath quickened. Her skin flecked with sparks. She had to say something, but guilt and fear blocked the words from rising to her throat.
“See.” Tage stood back, crossing her arms. “I knew it.”
Tage interpreted her silence as a confession. That wasn’t it at all; she just couldn’t bear to tell her. Sure, Tage cared about the fires, but the hope of one day avenging her parent’s death kept her heart beating. Halen had let her down the most. “Look, I—”
Blinding rays burst through the room, cutting her off.
Tage dropped her grip to shield her eyes, and Halen leapt up from the chair. Peeking between her fingers, she darted across the room. She had to see; she had to know what was out there.
Dax ran to her side. “Get back!”
But when she reached the window, the orange embers faded. Even though the neon numbers of the clock radio reflected 2:58 p.m. on the windowpane, the entire sky went pitch black. They stood in silence, peering into the void. Dax leaned closer. His chest rose and fell, keeping time with her rapid heartbeat.
“Look over there!” Ezra pointed.
Halen followed his gaze. A swirling ring of fire crowned the dark sky. The ring swelled in diameter, undulating with a rippling force. Transfixed on the center, a shadowy form swaying from side to side drew her attention. Hands on the window, she pressed her nose to the warming glass. A heavy beating pulse filled the air, sending a vibration along her arms. She leaned in. Silver wings flashed before her, narrowly missing the pane.
“Dragon!” Dax’s grip tightened around her waist as he dragged her away from the window.
“I want to see it!” She struggled in his grasp.
“This is close enough.” He pulled her to the ground, behind the armchair next to Ezra and Tage.
She clamored for a better view, catching sight of the beast between the loop of the wooden armrest.
The beast’s muscled body rippled with a mosaic of onyx and silver scales. Its enormous copper eyes gleamed with the encompassing flames. Blistered wounds punctured the creature’s head; bloodied scales peeled back from its hide when the dragon’s nostrils flared. As its wings thrashed the air, the dragon’s body jerked violently as if a thousand swords plunged through its flesh.
A stag.
A boy.
A river of blood.
Three blurred images flashed before her eyes with each beat of the dragon’s wings.
Filled with an inexplicable yearning to connect with the beast, to glide her fingers along the torn scaled hide, caress the pitted bone of its horns, her fingertips sparked. Her bones ached; her muscles throbbed as she reached out. “We need to help it.”
“Help?” Ezra’s voice was a shriek. “It wants to eat us!”
Flames shot from the fiery circle as lightning struck the sky. The beast’s jaw spread with a crippling howl, cracking the windowpane like a fissure in ice. A s
econd pained cry escaped the dragon’s breath as the ring of flames cinched shut, stealing the beast and leaving nothing more than pillows of smoky clouds drifting in the charred sky.
Ezra tucked his legs to his chest, rocking back and forth. “Holy freaking dragon! We’re all going to die!”
Tage jumped to her feet, grabbed a hoodie and shoved it into a backpack. “We have to get the hell out of here. We need help.”
Dax nodded. “I’ll call my dad.”
“Daspar?” Halen asked. “You have a way to contact them? I need to speak to my mom.” Her mom had trapped a Hunters’ soul, maybe she knew how to get one out. If she could fix this before…
“You lied to me.” Dax’s tone stung.
“I didn’t lie.” She had only concealed the truth. Hadn’t he done the same? “You’re one to talk; it’s not like you’ve been straight up with me. You may be my Guardian, but you still have to earn my trust.”
“Fair enough. You don’t have to trust me, but if you want to erase the lies it might help by telling the truth.”
“Would you two stop!” Ezra leaped to his feet. “We’re going to be pulverized by dragons if we don’t get moving.”
“Halen, what gives?” Tage asked.
Outside, smoke lingered in dark wisps. Car alarms and ambulances wailed from below. “You know I wouldn’t do this,” Halen said. But Asair would. He would gladly watch Earth burn to the core.
Tage shook her water bottle at Dax. “This is your fault.” She tossed it into the backpack. “You said he was dead!”
Dax rubbed the back of his neck. “I watched him die,” he said, though his eyes held that familiar look of doubt. “Besides, I don’t feel his presence in her. There has to be another explanation.”
Tage shot Halen a pointed stare.
Ezra stepped in front of Tage. “Let it go. Asair’s dead. The Tari were wrong about everything. If anything, killing Asair made things worse.”
Tage shoved a pair of socks in the backpack. Her silence bothered Halen more than her ranting.
A bass beat boomed from the desk, catching Halen’s attention.
Dax snatched the cell phone and answered, silencing the music. “Hello? Yeah, we saw it. Yes, she’s fine.”
“Is it my mom?” Halen leaned closer so she could hear the voice on the other end.
Dax stepped back. “Are you sure?” His brows furrowed. “No, I can get us there. I’ll call you when we get there.” He ended the call.
“What is it?” Halen asked. “What’s happening?
“Our parents are travelling with Tasar and Lina. The spell still binds Etlis in flames. Whatever happened in Asair’s dimension accelerated the heat. The fires are bursting into our atmosphere. The dragons are trying to escape.”
“This is the beginning of the end,” Ezra moaned.
“Did Asair tell you something when you were in his dimension?” Tage asked. Did he say something before he died—anything about the fires?”
Halen shook her head. He’d filled her mind with his demented plots to rule the realms, but nothing that would help them now.
“Think hard,” Tage said.
She shrugged. “Asair admitted wanting to rule the three realms, but the Tari already knew this. Isn’t that why they locked him away—to keep the realms safe? He wanted—” She clasped her bracelet, tracing the tiny etchings. Asair had teased her with his charms as he eyed the silver band. Had she been willing to part with it, they would all be dead now. He had to die or the fires would never stop. She needed to talk to her mom—immediately. “He didn’t say anything that would help.”
Halen walked toward the window once more. When her fingertips connected with fractured the glass, her magick sparked and the dragon’s dying song rang in her ears.
A boy.
A stag.
A river of blood.
The images wavered across the window like reflections drifting across a rippling pond. She withdrew her hand at once, flinching when Dax stepped beside her, fearful he could see them too. She glanced up, his gaze instead focused in the distance where flames danced across the water, skipping along the waves.
“The liquibrium is combusting,” he said.
“What?” Tage and Ezra asked in unison.
“Technically, the liquid shouldn’t overheat, but we’ve never faced dragons before.” He shook his head. “Earth’s entire water supply will ignite with flames if we don’t find a way to cool Etlis down or open the portal.”
Release your Guardian, Asair whispered through the crevices of her mind.
Halen gritted her teeth at the sound of his voice. Never!
Surrender your power to me and Earth will be spared.
Get out of my head! She crouched with her hands over her ears.
“What’s wrong?” Tage crossed the room. “It’s him. Isn’t it?”
Dax shoved Tage back so hard she fell against the desk. “No one is touching her.”
“I wouldn’t hurt her, you idiot!” Tage rubbed her elbow. “I was thinking her mom could perform a purge. Corinne is an Earth Priestess.”
Halen rose. Her mom could remove Asair.
“Even if he was inside her, a purge is out of the question. Do you know what happens when a soul gets ripped out of someone?” Dax shook his head.
“What?” A sinking feeling came over Halen.
“You could lose your mind. I’ve seen it happen before. If the other soul is forced to leave, then it’s not pretty.”
“Not pretty how?” Halen asked.
The phone rang before Dax answered her. “It’s Lina,” he whispered.
Halen followed, hoping to hear the conversation on the other end, but Dax turned away from her so Lina’s voice came out gargled.
“I see.” He ended the call.
“What?” Tage asked.
“They’re coming here.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “My dad, your mom, Lina, and Tasar; they’re on their way.”
“What’s wrong?” Halen touched his arm.
“The shifters are restless. They want to go home. With Etlis still burning, there’s doubt surrounding Asair’s death. And since many don’t know you…” He placed his hand over hers. “They want proof.”
Halen’s stomach knotted—proof was her life.
“How long before they arrive?” Tage asked.
“They’ll be here shortly.” He withdrew his hand from hers. “We have another problem.”
“What?” Halen feared the answer.
“Hunters were spotted in the Red Wood Forest, near the portal to Etlis. Since Daspar has Otho’s soul, Lina believes they followed them. If we can’t get out in time, we need to prepare.”
“I’ll cast a protection spell.” Tage rubbed her hands together.
“I’ll help,” Halen said.
“No. Magick drains you,” Dax said. “Let’s get some food in you—if the kitchen is even open. You’ll need your strength if we have to run.”
Food? How could he possibly think of eating? “My magick is our best defense.”
“Not if we have to carry you out of here.” Tage poked the pillows on the couch. “Damn. Foam. Feathers would have been perfect to bind the spell.”
Surrender, Asair whispered. We’ll be stronger as one. I can end the flames.
Liar. You’re the reason Etlis is burning. If you think for one second I would let you—
You need me, he interjected.
Halen dug her nails into her palms. I don’t need you. I’m strong enough. Her legs trembled as she fought to keep her footing. Her energy waned and her head throbbed each time he spoke.
Have it your way.
She collapsed into the armchair beside her. A dead silence washed through her, as if Asair had simply given up and left. She feared his compliance. What if she really needed him? What if surrendering was the only way to save the realms? A sinking feeling clutched her bones. What if she just turned away their only hope of surviving?
TAGE SCANNED THE room for anything
useful to bind her spell. Her jumbled nerves fractured her focus. Halen’s sketchy behavior didn’t help either. Something irked her about the way Halen avoided her by scurrying off to the shower when she questioned further about Asair. Halen wore her heart on her sleeve—easy for an Empath to read. Ever since Halen returned from Asair’s dimension, Tage couldn’t feel anything from her—nada. Tage didn’t like it one bit, which only fueled her theory—Asair hijacked Halen. Still, Halen swore he died. Dax backed her up, but why then was he hovering?
Through the crack in the door, Tage watched Dax flip through a magazine then toss it on the bed. Did he really need to sit outside the bathroom door while Halen showered? His nervous energy made her skin crawl. She bit her lower lip, gnawing on the silver loops.
“Do you trust him?” Ezra leaned forward.
“He’s holding something back. I feel it.” She ran her fingers along her arm. “When someone isn’t telling the truth, my bones ache.”
“Is he lying about Asair?” He asked.
“I don’t know what his secret is, but Halen is lying about Asair for sure. Every time I press her about Asair, she averts the question.”
He lowered his voice. “Why would she lie to us?”
“To save her life.” She stood and walked to the side table where a marble pot sat with a plant trailing over the sides. She pressed the leaves between her fingers. Fake. She dug under the leaves, finding pebbles shimmering with quartz. She scooped a handful, returned to the coffee table, and sat back down.
“We wouldn’t hurt her,” Ezra said.
She lowered her voice. “But what if it’s not her? What if Asair’s taken possession of her and is pretending to be Halen?”
His eyes widened as he considered the possibility, but then he shook his head. “You can’t think like that. We have to trust Halen.”
“Yeah, okay, that might be a little easier if the entire Bay area wasn’t an inferno.”
“You do have a plan B—right?” He thrummed his fingers on the glass table.
She sprinkled the rocks onto the table top and stood once more. She scanned the room and, spotting an ice bucket, smiled. She shoved the bucket against Ezra’s chest. “Make yourself useful.”
Curses and Ash (The Siren Chronicles Book 2) Page 2
