“I’m coming with you,” Isoul said following her out.
Hellfire drew magic from the elements and as flames engulfed her, she sighed at how good it felt. She hadn’t realized how cold she’d been until this moment. She thought about letting Isoul join her, but Sami hadn’t wanted him to go for a reason.
“No,” she said. “Sami’s right. You’ve already helped us so much.” Even though she’d been angry with Isoul for letting Sami give himself up to the Ilyium, he’d redeemed himself when he saved Nix’s life.
Isoul sighed. “Fine, at least let me show you the way,”
Hellfire frowned. Sami obviously hadn’t told him she’d been there with him.
“I know the way,” she said and shot into the blood red sky.
Though it was just after noon, it was already dark. The moons were very close to completely eclipsing the suns.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Out of Control
SAMI FLEW THROUGH THE EVER-DARKENING SKY, and landed in the middle of the village he once called home. This time he wasn’t rooted to the spot and unable to move. He scanned around with a purpose trying to see what he missed the first time around. There was nothing unusual. Closing his eyes, he journeyed back in time, remembering what he’d seen that horrible day so long ago.
Tierney’s mom had just given them all their soul stone chokers. “You will always be able to find each other with these,” she’d said with a faraway look in her eyes.
At seven years old they hadn’t thought anything of it at the time. Instead, they had thanked her and taken off to go play in the foil forest. But he did remember seeing his father.
Marcius was supposed to go with Tierney’s dad, their lord. but had stayed behind because he wasn’t feeling well. Sami frowned as he thought back on that memory. It was rare for any of them to get sick and he’d often wondered if his father was involved in the attack. Though he never knew if his curiosity was because he hated the man so much.
Sami began to walk, searching for anything out of the ordinary, until he found himself at the north wall. They once had guardhouses at both the north and south gates, but the one at the north end had been pretty much destroyed. Part of it had burned along with a huge portion of the wall surrounding the village. The rest of the guardhouse lay in a heap of rubble.
Some of the stone and wooden boards lay in piles while the rest were scattered everywhere. Sami turned and walked the wall, studying the ground as he went. With the lack of new vegetation, everything looked like it had just happened. He didn’t know what he was looking for but ever since Isoul had told him about the guard who let the Ilyium into Razukeen, something had been niggling at Sami’s mind.
He continued to search, looking for what, he didn’t know. Finally, after not spying clue to what had happened, he turned as if drawn, and made his way back to the guardhouse. He carefully studied what was left of it, sure the answer was here, though he couldn’t have said why. Not getting anywhere, he reached down and picked up a board, pulling it out of the way. Then he picked up another and another, tossing them behind him. He let out a frustrated growl when he’d cleared most of the debris and still found nothing.
Sami dropped the board he was holding and sat down on what was left of an old chair. The back was gone, but the legs and seat still worked.
What am I doing?
Sami stared out at his village through the magic filled air which was now a brownish-red haze. He could imagine the bodies, how they looked lying in pools of blood. He knew Marcius was responsible, he just couldn’t prove it.
Even at seven years old, Sami had noticed something off about the way Marcius acted that day. They furtive look in his eyes, they way he kept glancing around as he had headed toward the north wall.
Gods! I knew something was up. I should have stopped him, or told someone that he was up to something.
As a familiar well of despair began to fill Sami, his thoughts suddenly shifted to Hellfire and his feelings for her.
What did you expect, asshole? That she’d just fall at your feet, tell you she loves you? Get real!
Sami groaned and pushed her from his mind. He needed to go home, back to Earth but he’d wanted … had hoped to find something to prove once and for all, that Marcius had done it. Zander, Tierney and Jax could all use the closure. He could as well.
The familiar old feelings of guilt slithered steadily through his body, filling him with anger and pain.
Why can’t I be done with this shit?
He knew his control over his new powers, combined with all the fucked-up shit inside of him was the cause. He’d seen his own brother lose his shit in a similar way, but geez, enough already …
Suddenly tired of fighting it, Sami closed his eyes.
His power began to rise along with the pain and guilt. Letting go for the first time ever, Sami reveled in freedom. The temperature suddenly dropped and the wind began to swirl and howl like mini tornados. Ash and debris that hadn’t moved in years, launched into the air in a crazy quest for destruction.
“Sami!”
The sound of his name being called didn’t resonate as Sami reveled in the energy pulsing through his veins. His skin tingled and his dragon began to roar inside of him, while tremors shook the earth under him.
“Samarias!” The voice yelled again, louder and closer finally penetrating the fog in his brain. His eyes opened. What? Who? Bolts of lightning erupted from newly born fissures in the ground and zipped all over. Sharp cracks and wicked strikes pierced the very air like a bull whip out of control.
Panic filled Sami at the sight of a dark winged apparition. It was dodging through the chaos, trying to reach him.
Hellfire? No, oh gods …
Sami stood up and then ducked when a board flew past his head. Fear for Hellfire made it hard to concentrate as he attempted to rein his power back under his control.
What the hell is she doing here? If she gets hurt because I can’t control my magic I’ll never forgive myself!
“Stay back!” he shouted, but it was no use. Either she didn’t hear him or was ignoring his wishes.
What the fuck am I doing? I need to stop this, now!
But the more he panicked, the stronger everything became.
No! Stop!
He searched around, looking for something sharp. A piece of flying debris caught him in the ankle, then a half burned plank smacked into his side. Sami shoved it away but as he did, he spotted a bent nail sticking out of it. Quickly he grasped the board and yanked the nail out. With one ragged swipe across his arm he drew blood, but it wasn’t enough to calm the storm raging out of control inside of him.
Shit, no …
Desperation spiked his power and brought tears to his eyes as Hellfire tried to force herself through the maelstrom. He ached to go to her but feared making things worse. Heart pounding and breathing ragged, he fell to his knees and dragged the nail across his skin again and again.
Stop! Please, please …
He chanted the plea over and over as he cut himself in an attempt to get a grip on his out of control power.
Then a pair of dark wings surrounded him from behind, shielding him. Gentle arms wrapped around him, offering comfort.
“Sami,” The sweetest voice he’d ever heard crooned, and suddenly a sense of peace filled him. His power softened and lost its sharp deadly edge.
Relieved, though unsure of what was happening, Sami looked up and gasped. Hellfire’s wings were sparking with little flames.
No! He attempted to pull away when he realized that she was acting as a conduit, taking his power into herself.
“Shh, it’s all right. I’ve got you,” she whispered and just like that, he began to calm. His breathing returned to normal. Hellfire held him tight as she said his name, over, and over while his power pulsed from him into her, easing off little by little until it was a faint hum, sizzling through and around them.
Sami blinked, humbled. She had come after him again and put herself i
n harm’s way just to reach him. Gods, I am so lost to her.
“Sami?” Hellfire loosened her hold and moved to face him. She shifted and dropped to her knees.
Sami could only stare at her. “Hellfire?”
She took his hands. “Yes, I’m here.”
“Why, how? What you did …” He shook his head, speechless.
“Sami, what are you doing here?” she asked.
Sami tore his gaze from her and glanced around. The soot and dust had finally settled thought his power still hovered in the air like a gentle breeze. He let go of her hands and stood up, then kicked at some of the debris.
“I was looking for—” He shrugged. “I really thought I’d find something.”
“What are you looking for, Sami?” Hellfire asked.
“I don’t know. I was just so sure—” He turned in a circle.
Hellfire stood and walked up to him.
“Okay,” she said and took his hands once more. “Just close your eyes and let your power flow through you.”
Sami scowled. Was she crazy? “You saw what happens when I do that. I can’t control it.”
“Not when you’re upset, but you can do it and I’ll help,” she said.
Sami stared into her silver eyes as calm flowed into him. “How do you do that?”
Hellfire shrugged. “Don’t know. I just feel connected to you.” She smiled at him and suddenly everything seemed like it was going to be okay. “Go ahead.”
Sami swallowed deeply and nodded.
“Okay.” He closed his eyes and listened to her voice as she talked to him.
“Easy slow breaths, calm … focus. Think about what you are searching for.”
Sami frowned.
“Concentrate on what you are looking for,” she said again and her words flowed through his mind to his very soul.
Sami thought about that long-ago day. He remembered his father walking toward the north wall before he, Tierney, and Jax took off beyond the wall, to the foil forest to play. They had an inner and outer ward ringing the village for protection. The outer one encompassed the fields, stream, and foil forest. Villagers were often seen in the outer ward going for a walk, picking berries, playing in the forest or stream, or even just checking on the crops.
The inner ward surrounded the village just outside of the wall, and while both wards required a magical imprint to pass through, only members of their village could enter the inner ward, unless invited by someone who lived in the village.
Sami searched with his mind, hunting for a clue, something, anything … his power pulsing quietly on the air and like a magnet drawing him, he opened his eyes. Hellfire held his arm as he began to walk along the wall as if in a trance. He made it about ten feet when the pulses grew stronger, slowing him down.
“What do you sense?” Hellfire whispered.
Sami didn’t answer. He just stared at a pile of debris, searching. It was more debris from the guardhouse.
“Do you see that?” he finally asked her, hoping she’d see something he couldn’t.
Hellfire shook her head. “Nothing but dirt, ash, and pieces of old board.”
Sami closed his eyes again and opened his mind. He frowned and opened his eyes. “I see a murky, pulsing red glow. Right there.” He pointed and letting go of Hellfire, began to pull the boards out of the way.
Heart pounding, he dropped to his knees and began to feel his way in the dirt and ash until he touched something metallic. Sami stilled. This was it and yet suddenly he wasn’t sure if he wanted to see—to know the truth.
“What did you find?” Hellfire asked.
Sami took a deep breath and letting it out slow, wrapped his hand around the object and held it up.
“What is that?” Hellfire crouched down beside him.
Sami stared at the medallion as if it were a deadly snake. The leather cord that used to hang around someone’s neck had crumbled and Sami shook the loose bits away. He began to tremble until Hellfire’s hand landed on his shoulder.
“Sami?”
Sami sank to his knees on the ground. This was it. He couldn’t believe he’d found the evidence they needed.
Hellfire’s other hand landed on him. “Sami, what is it?”
Moisture pricked his eyes as he turned his gaze on her. “This is it and I have the proof.”
HELLFIRE WAITED FOR HIM TO CONTINUE. Instead, he blinked and shook his head but tears had begun to trickle down his face.
“Sami?” Hellfire said, shocked at the feelings he was projecting.
She hated to see him hurting. She wrapped her arms around him and held him. “Oh Sami.”
His pain was so intense that Hellfire could feel it deep inside herself. Her own tears flowed as Sami clung to her. Hellfire wished she knew what to do, that she could take the hurt and pain away, but she didn’t know how.
Eventually though, he drew away and sat back.
“I thought I’d be happy when I found it,” he said very quietly as he stared at the medallion. Hellfire didn’t say anything and just let him talk. “I knew it had to be here. He didn’t have it after, when he took us away from Tierney and Zander. When Jax asked him about it, he beat Jax until he was unconscious,” Sami whispered.
She could feel all of Sami’s horror, pain, and guilt and was stunned at the weight of it.
Sami swallowed. “Later, he said he had lost it and never to ask about it again. But I knew. Jax and I both knew.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Shattered Truth
SAMI HELD THE MEDALLION out in his palm for her to see. “I thought I’d be happy, but I’m not,” he whispered, feeling utterly lost.
Hellfire frowned. It was round with had a square hole cut out of the center. There were strange markings, almost like symbols, etched in it.
“What is it? What does it mean?” she asked.
Sami shook his head. “Every one of Zander’s elite guard had one of these medallions. They’re given one when they take the oath to protect their lord, family, friends, and village from all who seek to harm them.” Sami studied the medallion. “Each one was engraved with that guard’s family name.” Then he turned it over in his hand. “On the other side is the motto they pledge when they become part of the elite guard. See?” Sami rubbed the dirt off the medallion until she saw more of the same kind of symbols.
“What does it say?” she asked.
“My life for the innocent.” Sami snorted and flipped it over. “And this says Audenzi. It’s supposed to mean courageous or brave.” Again, he snorted and shook his head.
A chill rushed through Hellfire and she felt sick at the sudden insight of where this was headed. “Whose family name is that?”
“Mine. My father’s,” he said venomously.
“Oh fuck. Sami, I’m so sorry,” Hellfire whispered.
He shook his head. “Not your fault my father was a grade A bastard. He never deserved the family name.”
He looked out at what remained of the village. “I thought I’d be happy when I found it, the proof that Marcius … that my father was the one who did this.”
“Maybe it wasn’t him, maybe he just lost it?” Hellfire suggested.
“No, it’s him,” Sami said bitterly.
“Why? Why do you think it was him?” she asked.
“I saw him that day. He was one of Zander’s elite guard but didn’t go with Zander to the meeting of the clans. A few days earlier I overheard him tell Zander that he had intel on a plan to attack Zander at the meeting. He insisted Zander take more of the regular guard than he normally would have. But that morning, after Marcius claimed to be sick, I saw him. He was headed over here and he kept looking back, as if to make sure no one was watching.” Sami swallowed and looked at her. “It was mine and Tierney’s seventh birthday. We were headed to play in the foil forest when I saw him. I knew he was up to something.”
Hellfire sucked in a breath and laid her hand on his. “Sami—”
“No. He convinced Zander to take mo
re warriors with him. Warriors he knew would be needed here. Isoul told me that three hundred Ilyium attacked the village that day.” Sami shook his head and held up the medallion. “These are spelled. Just like my soul stones.” He touched the shiny emerald stones in the choker he wore around his neck. “They can’t fall off. Only the person wearing them can take them off.”
HELLFIRE’S eyes grew wide in understanding. “Oh.”
“Yeah. Marcius took his off and tossed it away when he betrayed his lord, his family, his village. And I saw him. I knew he was up to no good. I should have stopped him, or at least told someone but I was so wrapped up in having fun because it was our birthday.”
Hellfire wrapped her arms around him again and buried her face in his neck.
“Sami, you were only seven. You couldn’t have known,” she said, tears once more streaming down her face. Sami just held still, not saying a word.
Hellfire pulled back and wiped her face. “Sami, you can’t blame yourself for this, please,” she pleaded, but his expression was stoic and it was like he wasn’t even seeing her. Hellfire knew she wasn’t getting through to him. He’d decided it was his fault.
“Sami?”
He pulled away. “What are you doing here Hellfire?”
The coldness in his voice made her shiver. She needed to break through to him. “I had to talk to you. I need to apologize.”
Sami started to rise but Hellfire grabbed his hands and pulled him back down. “No, please. Stay. Listen, please Sami.”
When he didn’t move away, Hellfire took a deep breath. “I owe you an apology. You didn’t deserve any of what I did. What I said.” Hellfire shook her head. “I hate how I hurt you.”
“It’s okay, I get it, you just didn’t want—” Again he began to pull his hands away but Hellfire hung on to him.
She swallowed. Opening up and baring her soul to another was not something she was comfortable with. Ever since her parents had died she’d learned to keep it all inside, buried under layers of self-loathing and guilt. Then when she did attempt to emerge and care about someone again, Deacon had reinforced how painful, how costly it was to do so. She never dared attempt to let her feelings show, or let another in again, not until now.
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