Halen covered her arm. “Dax would never hurt me.”
“Sometimes we only see what we want. Look how you’ve made me into something your mind can accept.” Jae dangled the yellow flip-flop on the end of her big toe. “How long have you known him?”
Halen choked back the answer. Dax’s past was still a mystery—his secrets as vast as the sea. He had promised to tell her everything, only there never was the right moment for them to talk.
“You’re fighting your instincts. Your gut is telling you one thing, but you’re questioning it. If you saw the truth, you wouldn’t hesitate.”
“I don’t doubt him.” Halen’s fear shifted to frustration. “I’m tired of games. If you’re not going to help me, just say so, but don’t lie to me. Take off the glamour. All of it.”
“I only wanted you to feel safe.” Jae smiled and Halen wished to retract her challenge. Jae kicked off both flip-flops and stood. She snapped her fingers. Halen’s bedroom melted away, until a living room emerged with jewel-tone couches and a large desk, the top covered with little glass bottles. Halen now sat on a sapphire-hued couch; the stuffing poked from long tears as if a large animal had shredded the cushions. The only light came from the glow of flames emanating from the crackling fire. Beside her, shelves overflowed with books and scrolls. Another shelf filled the opposite wall, this one full of bottles and jars of colorful herbs and liquids, each neatly organized alphabetically, though Halen didn’t recognize most of the names.
“A glamour spell is not a lie.” Jae’s clothes switched with a blink, back to the silken robe, her curly hair gone and her nails clawed once more. “It is simply what the mind wants to see. Sometimes the truth is hard to face.”
“I’d rather see the truth,” Halen said. “At least then I know what I’m dealing with.”
Jae nodded her head knowingly. “Wise.” She chose a bottle from the shelves marked with V’s and poured the contents into the fireplace. The flames burned brighter, flooding the room with light. “We must make haste if you're unwilling to host Asair.”
“Host him? I never welcomed him in. This was a mistake.”
“There are no mistakes, only shifts in the journey. Your mother knew you would allow him refuge. That’s why she chose you.”
“Chose me?” Halen scoffed. “I never should have been in Asair’s dimension in the first place. I was the Tari’s backup plan.”
Jae stood by the fire rubbing her hands in the warmth. She leaned so close, Halen thought the flames would consume her, but she didn't back away. “Natalie would have killed him, and then all would be lost. But your mother is clever.”
“I failed.” Halen hung her head.
“Is that what you believe?” Jae turned to face her. “That you're a failure?”
Halen nodded. That was what it came down to. It wasn’t self-pity; she had royally messed up. What other way could she see it?
“You have the power of the realms in your fingertips.” Jae walked toward her, her eyes wide with a glossy shimmer. She sat across from Halen on the emerald ottoman and grasped her knees.
Halen gasped when Jae’s icy touch penetrated her clothes. Her legs chilled, as if all the heat in her body was rushing toward Jae’s palms. “You have to believe in your power. Don’t let this feeling of failure consume you—claim what is rightfully yours.”
Halen slid from her grip. She rubbed her legs, trying to heat up again.
“Sorry.” Jae folded her hands in her lap. “Your blood is so warm.” She smiled, and needle-pointed teeth jutted over her lip.
Halen inched back on the couch.
“Tell me this. Do you pray?” Her eyes narrowed to thin slits.
“Sometimes.” Like right now, and every second since she had laid eyes on Jae.
“And what is it you pray for?”
Not to have my bones crunched by a crazy bird-eating lady. “I pray when I need help.”
“Prayer should be like breath.”
Not a problem. Halen’s breath grew rapid and with each inhalation she prayed she would make it out alive.
“And when do you use your magick?”
Now would be a really fantastic time. “I guess when I’m in trouble.” Her voice cracked.
Jae stood, returning to the fire.
Halen let out a heavy breath filled with thankfulness that Jae hadn’t pounced and swallowed her whole. Her mom had said she was an Etlin, and Halen wondered what kind of animal Jae was. A jackal—something freakishly fierce.
“Odd you should pray only when you’re in trouble. The heavens and your magick are always there. When you inhale prayer, you can’t help but exhale magick. You need to have faith in the heavens and in yourself.” When she turned, her robe swished like smoke behind her. Her dewy skin glistened against the fiery glow of the flames. “You didn’t fail. You’re exactly where you need to be.” A cast-iron kettle appeared in Jae’s hand. She leaned forward, bending at the waist, and set the kettle right into the middle of the fire. Her skin charred, sizzling to the bone.
Halen gagged, tossing the back of her hand against her mouth, as the stench of crisping flesh hit her nose. Asair recoiled inside her.
When Jae pulled her hand away from the flames, her arm rippled with new flesh all the way to the crook of her elbow. She turned to Halen. “Sorry, I don’t have many guests. I sometimes forget to use the glamour.”
“I thought you had removed all of it.” She scanned the room for a way out.
“A little glamour is best, right now.” She sat down again on the emerald ottoman and Halen scooted back. Jae held her palms upright. “Place your hands on mine. If you want to know the truth about your life—it’s better if I show you.” She nudged her hands closer. “Don’t be shy. I’ve warmed up.” A sly grin spread across her face.
No kidding. No way was Halen holding hands with Jae. “Why don’t you just tell me?”
“It’s the only way you’ll believe me, if you see it with your own eyes. I can show you the past, things your mind has suppressed, anything from your mother and twin sister’s lives, but I need your energy.”
Halen shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Your mom sent you to me—she trusted me with her secrets—you can trust me too. I’ll show you.”
Halen stared at Jae’s open hands; not a scar, wrinkle or cut. What she just witnessed terrified her, but she wanted to see what Jae knew. Her hands shook, hovering mid-air. Jae snatched her wrists, holding her in place. Sparks charged along every nerve like a static storm. Halen jolted, trying to free herself, but Jae only held her tighter. Jae’s gold eyes spun with silver, transitioning to murky black; Halen’s mind drifted into darkness.
Halen now stood behind a woman who was dressed in two sickly blue hospital gowns, one pulled back and the other secured at the front. Halen stepped beside her.
“Mom!” She reached to touch her; Halen’s hand passed through her mother’s face. She followed her mom’s focused stare. Two clear plastic bassinettes sat side by side, each filled with a wide-eyed baby; one infant swaddled in yellow, the other green. An unmade bed sat a few feet away, and along the wall, a counter with a bag overflowing with clothes and a huge vase of brilliant orange lilies. Halen smiled. She was born here. She recognized the flowers, and the room, from an old picture her mom had taped inside her journal. The picture was of Halen, wrapped in yellow, secure in her mom’s arms, and beside them was the giant bouquet of tiger lilies. They were her mother’s favorite. But in the photo, there had been only one baby—here there were two.
Her mother stood with a hand on the chest of each infant. A printed card, taped to the front of the bassinet read Halen Windspeare and on the other bassinet, Natalie Windspeare.
“So innocent,” her mom whispered and her eyes filled with tears. “No matter what happens, know I love you. I will make the right choice. We will be together again.” She let out a heavy breath. “Now which one of you is good with secrets?” Baby Halen cooed. “Yes, I already know it’s you. Th
at is why we must prepare your sister.”
She placed her hand on Natalie’s chest and rubbed her tiny body. She brushed Natalie’s puffy red cheeks, and then ran her hand over the top of her head. “I’m so sorry.” At once, Natalie’s bassinet cracked. Baby Halen rolled to the side. Her chubby hand broke free from the flannel binding and when her fingers touched the plastic, it sealed as if never broken. “You two have to stop this.” Her mom tucked Halen’s arm back in the swaddling.
“Stop what?” a voice said at her back.
Her mom snapped her hands by her sides. “Daspar.” Her voice was flat. “The girls were just squirming out of their swaddling again.”
He leaned next to her, peering over the bassinets.
“Why are you here?” Her gaze darted to the door, as if expecting another.
“Huron had matters to attend to, but he wants to know just the same.”
“Then he should have come himself.” Her jaw was tight, her fists clenched.
Daspar laughed. “I bet you would like that.” His tone held an edge of sarcasm.
This was odd behavior between them, Halen thought. Daspar was her mom’s one true confidant. Had it not always been that way?
“Which one will live?” He tapped the edge of Halen’s bassinet.
No way did he just ask that. Grab them and run, Halen’s inner voice shouted. What was Daspar thinking? Her breath grew shallow and her chest tightened with an aching cramp. She grasped the side of the bassinet, her fingers slipping through the plastic. Jae needed to stop. She didn’t want to see any more. This was another lie.
Daspar wedged closer to the bassinets. “Which one has the will to kill Asair?”
“This one.” Her mom’s fingertips lingered on the edge of Natalie’s bassinette. “She will vanquish Asair without hesitation.”
“Then it’s decided.” Daspar removed a thin cylinder from his pocket. He twisted the top, revealing a long needle.
The weight of his words pressed down on her chest, shoving the air from her lungs.
“No!” Her mom stepped in front of Halen’s bassinet, walking right through her shadowy image. “This child must live as well.”
Daspar shoved her aside. “This is not the time to get sentimental. We can’t have an unguarded siren. Think of the realms.”
Her mom wedged between him and the bassinet. “What if the Hunters find Natalie?” Her words rushed from her lips, her gaze on the needle in his hand. “The Tari will have no other way to Asair. It’s a blessing two were born.”
“But only one Guardian.” Daspar tapped the side of the cylinder.
“Surely, your son will possess your greatness. I will make sure Halen never knows about her magick unless the Tari need her. We can give her the coral and bone to subdue her; she’ll be addicted. If we ever need to shift her to Dax, the transition will be natural. The Tari has never had such an opportunity.” She placed her hand on his, guiding the needle away. “Tarius is so close to freedom. He will rule once more.”
The room spun, sweeping Halen away in the golden light. She grabbed for her mom’s arm, but her wispy fingers blended with the air.
Her feet now pressed in a soft cushion of carpet. She recognized the blue floral wallpaper, and thought maybe Jae had returned her to Quinn’s flat, when she noticed her mom. Her mom knew where Natalie was all this time? Her mom stared in silence for several minutes, and Halen wished she could read her thoughts. Then she reached in her backpack, and taking out a picture, she placed it on Natalie’s pillow. “It’s time to remember.”
When Halen lifted on her toes to see the picture, the room spun again, opening to their Chicago apartment. She peered out the window at the sparkling city below, when Daspar’s reflection caught her attention. She turned to face him, her heart racing. His clothes were soaked, his jacket torn, and his pants muddy. Her mom came out of the bathroom, handed him a towel, and then knelt, placing several at his feet.
“What’s wrong?” Her voice was weary, as if she had asked this question a thousand times.
“Natalie is missing.” He dragged a towel across his cropped blond hair.
Before her mom stood, Halen noticed a small smile playing on her lips, but when she faced Daspar, not a trace remained. Instead, her eyes were wide, her mouth agape. “What? How? I thought Quinn was watching her!”
Daspar placed his hand on her shoulder. “I fear the Hunters may have found her.”
“No! This can’t be.” Her mom paced the apartment.
“Huron wants Halen back in Rockaway immediately. We need to awaken her powers.”
Her hands dropped by her sides. “She can’t go now. It will take time. I spent years helping her suppress her magick. She will need time to bond with Dax.”
“Time we don’t have.” His tone was sharp.
“We should wait until her powers mature. She will have the strength you desire.”
“What I desire? What we all desire? Don’t forget you birthed the girls so we could free Tarius.”
“Because of Huron.” She wagged her finger. “I didn’t know what he wanted. I thought he…” She paused. “I thought we wanted the same things. I didn’t know his true intentions.”
“Then you’re not on our side?” Daspar shoved past her. “Where is Halen now?”
“Don’t!” She grabbed his sleeve. “She’s sleeping. She won’t understand if you take her. I have to be the one to tell her.”
He held her arms gently on either side. “You know I love her.”
“Like you love Dax?”
These words hurt him, for he jerked away as if he’d been slapped. “That’s not fair.”
“None of this is fair. They’re just teenagers.”
He met her gaze. “And they will be rewarded. When Etlis opens—we will restore the realms. Bring back the glory of Tarius.”
“The spirit of Tarius will not be filled with reward—only destruction.”
“And from the ash, the realms will be united as one.”
Her mom crossed her arms. “We will all die! Is that what you want? You can’t reap a reward in hell.”
“You don’t know the power of Tarius. Once Asair is dead and his spell is broken, Etlis will open its doors to us and Tarius will be waiting.”
“You can’t rush this. Halen and Dax need time to bond. She needs to know how to defend herself against Asair, otherwise…” She shook her head. “If you truly love her, then you’ll wait.”
“You’ve given her the coral and bone her entire life; she will connect easily with Dax. But we will need to drive her to the darkness of her seam. It took years of practice with Natalie. Her soul wasn’t as malleable as you thought.”
“You can’t shove Halen off—she’ll get lost.”
“It’s a chance we have to take. Besides, I have a plan. I know a girl who will help. Her parents are Tari. Hunters killed them. She will do as I say.”
“Not everyone will always follow your rules.”
“But you will. If you want Halen to live, you will awaken her powers.” Daspar headed into the kitchen.
“She’ll be ready.” Her mom’s face broke with a smile. “Oh, she’ll be more than ready,” she whispered.
Golden light encompassed the apartment and the sparkling city spun away. Halen sat across from Jae once more. When Jae opened her eyes, she shifted back on the ottoman, breaking the connection.
“What does this mean?” Halen cleared her throat.
Jae smiled the same determined grin she had seen on her mom’s face. “It means your mother chose wisely. You will save us all.”
DASPAR’S NEEDLE PLAGUED Halen’s thoughts. She rubbed her throbbing temples with her thumbs. He was going to kill her—a baby! He only protected her so he could use her; this realization stung the most.
Jae leaned back on the emerald ottoman, giving Halen some space. “Your mother provided the Tari with a warrior; Natalie is strong-willed, bold, and determined. She knew Natalie would appease them. Yet, she also knew when Natalie le
arned of the Tari’s true intentions, she would want revenge.”
The throbbing spread to a sharp cut over her eyes. “Natalie tried to kill me. If it’s revenge she wants, she’s gunning for the wrong person.”
“Your sister would never harm you. She wants what we want. Only, I hope it’s not too late for her.”
Halen fell back into the cushions, as the pain shifted to nausea. “And what exactly do you want?” Her gaze narrowed on Jae.
“I want what’s best for you, the same as your mother.”
“I’ve got a rogue demon inside me who wants to hijack my powers and, as if that’s not enough… My sister is keeping company with Hunters. My mom has a pretty twisted idea of what’s best for me.”
“Your mother made strategic choices, even when it came to Natalie.”
“She sent her away. No wonder Natalie’s psychotic.”
Jae’s voice remained calm, despite Halen’s ranting. “Dax is to blame for your sister.”
“How could Dax be to blame? He protected her.”
Jae rose and headed to the fireplace. Her body was long, and though she was lean, her arms were muscular. She would be hard to fight with physical strength, and Halen feared she was no match with magick either. As she reached into the fire, Halen’s gaze slipped to the floor, not wanting to witness Jae’s skin peel back again.
“Dax left her in the darkness far too long.” She poured tea for two; the china cups clinked on their saucers as she walked over and handed one to Halen.
Halen inhaled the comforting scent of bergamot and vanilla. “Natalie trained to explore the darkness of her seam,” Halen said in Dax’s defense, as she set the cup and saucer on the side table to cool. “He had to take her there; the portal to Asair wouldn’t open without darkness.”
“And a blue moon siren.” Jae sat on the ottoman, crossed her legs, and sipped her tea before continuing. “When my sister Mariela cast the spell to protect Asair—”
“Protect?” Halen interrupted. “Your sister was the Etlin woman who trapped him inside?”
Curses and Ash (The Siren Chronicles Book 2) Page 17
