Elemental Trial, page 6
I crossed my arms with a “Hmm…”
“I think your friend’s waiting for you,” Sienna said, waving toward the window. “Run along.”
Hayes backed up, his grin looking a little more forced. “Fair enough. See you soon.”
He spun, thanked the waitress, and walked out. Sienna nibbled her bottom lip, her eyes following him as he passed the window and out of sight.
“Can’t make it too easy for him, can you?” I asked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“We can probably trust him now.”
“I want to…But I’m not so sure.”
I sighed. “Me neither, but I want to believe it. I have a feeling we’ll need a lot more friends in the future.”
I filled Sienna in with how the meeting with my parents had gone. By the time we’d returned to the Loft and she’d unlocked the front door, I was more confused than ever.
Which only got worse once we stepped inside.
Lucinda the mermaid, sopping wet and in full human form, stood in the center of the living room, gaping at the black onyx stone above the fireplace.
“I felt it!” She gasped. “There are new lines to the prophecy!”
Chapter Seven
I immediately rushed over to Lucinda. “Hold on, are you okay? Can you be out of the water like this?”
Lucinda held up a spray bottle as though that answered all my questions and pointed it at the prophecy stone. “Look!”
I felt a slight burning in my right shoulder a second before I turned to the stone above the fireplace. The same symbol as the white, scar-like birthmark on my shoulder—a curved Y, or maybe something like football posts—reflected in the mirror-smooth surface.
Words the color of magma began appearing, as though drawn by an invisible hand.
“I’ll go get Sawyer!” Sienna said, hurrying off before I could tell her good luck trying to drag him out of his room. But she was right. If this prophecy was anything like the last, we’d need his input.
I scrunched my forehead tighter and tighter as the lines continued forming. There were more than last time, and though they weren’t hard to read, I wished the prophecy had taken a communications course and learned how to speak in normal English rather than nursery rhymes.
“What do you think it means?” Lucinda said when the last of the fiery pen tip had faded and the words glowed across the black stone.
I took a step closer—the final sting of my birthmark fading away—to read them.
Traverse the dark lands dying
To break the usurper’s grip
While the sleeping evil lies
In wait to rise again
* * *
A crown to forge
A right to wrong
A throne to take
To await the second one’s arrival
“I have no idea,” I answered at last, realizing with a surge of frustration that I really didn’t.
Lucinda squeezed a thin mist from her water bottle. She shivered, and I didn’t think it was from the chill. “Dark lands dying, I don’t like that at all.”
Neither did I. It didn’t take a genius to know what it was referring to.
“Found him!” Sienna said triumphantly, appearing at the top of the nearest staircase with a reluctant Sawyer in tow. He winced at the overhead lights, like a cave-dwelling creature being exposed to the real world for the first time.
Sienna tugged him down to us and spun him around to face the prophecy. “See?”
“I know,” Sawyer grouched. “I’m an Outcast. I felt it too.”
“Any idea what it means?” I said, torn between wanting—needing—to know, and fearing the answer all the same.
Sawyer pulled his hoodie back up to cover his eyes and approached the fireplace, craning his head to take in all the lines.
“Anything?” Sienna said hopefully when he’d been quiet for a full minute.
“Maybe,” Sawyer said. He raised a cell phone and snapped a picture. “I’ll have to look more into it, but some of it is obvious.”
“Like the first line,” I said. “The Dying Lands.”
Sawyer nodded. “And usurper’s grip is probably Lukas.”
“Or Valencia, or Uko, or anyone else who wants Riley’s throne…” Sienna saw me looking at her and gave a sheepish grin. “Sorry. There’re just a lot of people after it, you know?”
Oh, I knew.
“I’ll do some more digging and get back to you,” Sawyer said.
“When?” I said. “I have to head back to the palace soon. The trial starts early tomorrow morning.”
Sawyer glanced at Lucinda and Sienna. “I’ll find a way to contact you. In the meantime, I think it’s clear. There’s something else waiting for you in the Dying Lands. Don’t let your guard down.”
Don’t let my guard down? Was he serious? I hadn’t let my guard down, not completely, since the second I’d become an Outcast. And now I had something else to worry about? Something worse than all the other paranormals who wanted me out of the way?
Flippin’ perfect.
The palace halls in the Dead City were quiet as I made my way to what I now considered my room. Ari and Leon had insisted they accompany me back here before returning to the Loft. I hadn’t argued. Even though Lukas and the rest of the factions were taking refuge in the city below, I wouldn’t put it past one of them to try to off me before the trial officially started. It almost made me glad for the Order’s guards scattered around the perimeter. No doubt a personal request from my parents.
I stopped to take my bearings. The palace and city had stopped growing for the most part. The walls didn’t move and rooms no longer sprouted out of nowhere, but this place was massive. The cathedral-esque interior I now stood in was testament to that.
My breath caught. A prickle had started crawling up the back of my neck. I slowly turned until I could make out the barest hint of red eyes and a devilish grin peeking out from the shadows of a nearby alcove.
My heart skipped. I knew those eyes.
I moved closer, skin prickling even more, until I stood just outside the darkness, close enough for Jasper to reach from within and pull me into it.
“What are you doing here?” I said, breathless.
He cocked an eyebrow, his hands never leaving my hips. I thought vampires were supposed to be icy, cold creatures, but for as long as I’d known Jasper he’d been anything but, his touch igniting a warmth that traversed my entire body.
“Are you disappointed?” he said.
“Not even a little. It’s just…I didn’t think you’d be allowed…”
Then I could fight it no longer and threw my arms around him, pulling him close to me. Though it’d only been a short time, I’d missed his touch. Missed the reassuring firmness of his hold on me and the assuredness he seemed to have in every situation.
Jasper’s rough chuckle vibrated through me. “There’s the kind of welcome I was expecting.”
I bunched the back of his shirt in my hands as he slotted the top of my head beneath his chin. My sudden comfort at being this close to him came as a bit of a shock to me. It wasn’t as though Jasper and I were totally oblivious to the connection between us. We simply hadn’t had much time to act on it, not since our first disastrous kiss when I’d transferred my magic to save him from Lukas.
This felt right, in a way I couldn’t quite explain. “I can’t believe Valencia let you come see me.”
“She didn’t. If any of the Order or Deathless catch me here there’ll be hell to pay.”
That jolted me out of my bliss. I drew back, but not too far. “Then what are you doing here?”
“I wanted to make sure you’re doing okay.”
“Me? What about you? You’re the one who’s been forced into this!”
Jasper shrugged. “I can handle it.”
“I can handle it,” I mimicked in a terrible imitation of him. He chuckled again and ran a finger down the curve of my jaw. My breathing hitched.
“There is…another reason.”
I leaned my face against his hand, letting my eyes briefly shut. “I figured. Don’t keep me in suspense.”
“Riley.”
His hand left my face and all too soon we were standing apart again, still holding each other but no longer close. “You know Valencia ordered me to be her champion. She wants me to find these shards and deliver the forged crown to her. With her hold on me, I have to try my best to get it.”
“The blood oath,” I said.
“Yes. And Valencia’s threatened to hurt the Outcasts if I fail.”
“What?” I couldn’t help a furious gasp escaping me. “How dare she! Even if you tried your hardest, Lukas or Rasesh or even I could still get it. That’s…That’s…”
One look at Jasper’s face told me what that meant to him. Hurting the Outcasts—the closest thing he had to a family—was possibly the worst thing Valencia could threaten him with, even more than his life. Jasper had never told me much about his past, but I knew something terrible had happened to his real family and he’d been scarred from it ever since. He would do anything to protect us, even if that meant going through with whatever the Deathless asked.
“I’ll warn the other Outcasts,” I said. “They’re already on alert about whatever Lukas might try. What’s one more threat?”
“Thanks, that’s…” He seemed to choke on his words. “That’s perfect. And Riley, you need to win this. Whatever it takes.”
A lump welled up in my throat. His words were scaring me. I didn’t even know if I could complete the trials if doing so meant I’d lose him. But if I failed, the consequences would be unthinkable. The Outcasts would be in danger whether I won or Valencia got the crown. And if Lukas did…We had no clue what he’d be capable with that kind of power.
“We’ll figure out a way,” I promised. “Somehow.”
“I know we will.” His hand was back on my jaw. His eyes flickered to my lips and I wanted the same thing I know he did, even though I knew we couldn’t.
“Riley…” Jasper’s voice was low. “I wish…”
“I know,” I said. “I’ll find a way for it to work between us. Soon.”
He gave a husky chuckle. “It better be soon.”
He leaned down and kissed my cheek. It was the best we could hope for without hurting one of us. It was sweet, but I still cursed the rules of magic that made him unable to resist draining my magic, and whatever made me unable to protect it from him.
Jasper pulled away suddenly, as though lingering too long with me would be painful. His body bled into the surrounding shadows, leaving only his red eyes, like some kind of hot, muscular Cheshire Cat. “I brought a friend with me to help you out. He’s waiting in your room.”
“Jasper, wait!”
His eyes paused, blinked slowly. Whatever heartfelt words I’d been about to say were suddenly lost to me, so I settled on giving a lame thumbs up.
“Good luck. You die and I’ll kill you.”
His rumbling laugh filled me up, and soon he was gone.
“There she is!”
Upon returning to my room, I had all of two seconds before being engulfed in a hug. I bit back my magic as my assailant backed up. He made a picture frame with his fingers and put me in the center of it.
“Oh, wow, that hair. Taming it must be a nightmare! But you look alive. Healthy, at least, which, from what I’ve heard, is a feat unto itself!”
“You must be the friend Jasper mentioned,” I said. I hoped. Either that or the most fashionably dressed man I’d ever seen had broken into my room to smother me with affection.
He wore a sharply tailored suit of charcoal gray, complete with a blazing orange tie and shoes so meticulously shined I nearly went blind looking at them. Tips of pointed ears poked out from the snow-fine layers of gray hair draping either side of his narrow head, reaching all the way to his shoulders.
“Maxime Laufraun,” the man said, vigorously pumping my hand up and down. “Fifth Outcast. And yes, before you ask, the tie color was intentional. When I heard about your special brand of magic, I couldn’t resist trying to match.”
He winked. It took me a moment to get my mouth moving again. Maxime was a lot to take in.
“I…haven’t seen you around the Loft.”
“I’d imagine not, seeing how I’ve been away for a few months and you crashed the Conclave’s party, oh, was it a month ago? So there’s that, and…”
He tapped the tips of his ears. “Not many of us elves around anymore.”
I balked. “Did you say elf?”
“I did! Not Fae, not gnome, and before you ask, no, I am terrible at archery. Not all of us are like they show in the movies.”
I hadn’t been about to ask. I wasn’t sure I’d have been able to get a word in edgewise.
“I see you’re marveled by my entrance,” Maxime said. “That’s good, but I’m afraid we don’t have much time. Those Order people are close by and they’re very frustrating to sneak past.”
He took my arm and led me over to the bed. A black quilted vest with long, thin sleeves and a hood lay next to a glittering bracelet the color of magma.
“When I learned you were taking part in some dreadful trials, I knew I had to pitch in. I didn’t have much on hand but I think these will work wonders. Or at least keep you alive.”
He picked up the vest and handed it to me. It felt sturdy and light and oh-so-warm. “Um, thanks. I guess it could get pretty chilly wherever I’m going.”
“I made it myself. A tight thread count and perfect cut isn’t the only thing it’s packing,” Maxime said. “Look again.”
I glanced down and gasped. I could now see below the surface of the fabric to the woven chainmail beneath. Maxime pulled his finger away and fabric covered it once again.
“A little elven magic. Jasper told me some stuffy rule maker guy said the champions couldn’t interfere with each other. But do we really believe that?”
He gave another wink. My stomach dropped, but I folded the vest up with a, “Thank you. This will really help.”
“Hopefully not too much. Just try to avoid getting stabbed and you’ll be fine. Last but certainly not least we have the pièce de résistance, if I do say so myself.”
Maxime deftly snapped the magma bracelet around my wrist. Like the vest, it felt solidly built but incredibly light. “It’s beautiful,” I said, holding it up close, mesmerized by the swirls of moving light inside.
“It’s a magical enhancement charm, not unlike something Sienna could make.” He frowned. “That is, if she’s not still blowing everyone up with her spells.”
“She’s gotten better,” I assured him.
“Excellent.” He took my wrist and held it up. “This will greatly increase the power of your magic, but only for a very, very short time, so only use it if you absolutely need to. To do so, simply pinch one of the beads until it snaps. It won’t break any other way so don’t worry about smashing it against anything if you, say, fall off a cliff.”
“Which, of course, we don’t want to happen.”
“Of course not! But one never knows…”
I liked Maxime, but I already knew he wouldn’t be my first choice to give any inspirational pep talks.
“Thank you again,” I said. I held up the things he’d given me. “I’m sure I’ll be fine, but just in case these will really come in handy.”
Maxime pulled me into another hug. “I know you have to face off against Jasper. And I know about the prophecy. Just remain strong. We’ll get through this. We Outcasts always have.”
My tears wetted the sleeves of his perfect suit as, for just a moment, I let all the troubles I’d been carrying break me down and overwhelm me. “Thank you. Really.”
Maxime patted my back. “Get some rest. I’ll see you when this whole terrible ordeal is over.”
Lukas was chasing me. I tore through the parting darkness of my dream, hearing the ragged animalistic panting of him in close pursuit, his hot, rancid breath washing across the back of my neck. If I so much as stumbled, he’d snap his jaws shut and I’d be dead.
“Help!” I screamed. “Someone help—”
My feet clipped something and in an instant I was airborne, slamming down a second later on the unforgiving ground. I couldn’t physically feel pain in my dream, but I still checked myself over to make sure everything worked. I looked back at what I’d tripped on.
Jasper’s wide, dead eyes gaped at me, blood pouring from the gouge wounds in his chest.
A ragged scream tore itself from my throat. “Jasper!”
I scrambled over to him, cradling his head in my lap. “Please wake up, please…”
A yawning chasm of grief opened deep inside me, a hole no amount of crying or pleading would ever fill. Tears blurred my eyes, but through them I could see Lukas stalking closer, a new light illuminating his grinning face. I looked up to see the flaming words of the prophecy swirling around my head. I tried to swat them away but they dove closer, taunting me. One of the letters touched me and burned like someone had pressed a lit match against my skin. Jasper’s body grew colder and my chasm of grief wider.
And then there was a chasm opening beneath me as the ground split. Hellish orange light gleamed from below, and all the while the world kept shaking and shaking and shaking—
“Riley!”
I was shaking.
No, wait. Someone was shaking me.
I sat up, punching out at the darkness, which only managed to tangle my hands in the bedsheets. I took a second to calm down, thankful I hadn’t incinerated my bedding during my nightmare.
Then I turned to find Iris beside my bed and all my thankfulness evaporated. The icy sleeve that’d encased my heart since seeing her again took over. “What are you doing in my room?”
If Iris was hurt by my tone, she didn’t show it. “You have to go now! The other champions have snuck off without you. The trial’s already begun.”
Chapter Eight
