Exhale (34 page)

“Where do you think you’re going? I thought you were just using that thing as a prop.”

Gavin turned around and grinned. “Surfing, old man. Watch and learn.”

He tucked Lucy under his arm and ran into the oncoming tide. His nuts shriveled on contact with the colder-than-fuck water, though thanks to the Fyre invasion, the temperature was warmer than it should be in the middle of winter. Probably should have worn a neoprene diving suit to keep the cold at bay, but the Tongans wouldn’t have respected that. And the Tongans demanded respect.

He climbed onto Lucy’s back and paddled out to sea. Riding waves was just like riding a bike. Even though he’d been away for a while, it came back quickly.

The three Wæter Elementals swam ahead of him, heading northeast, into the big waves. They moved like a pod of killer whales—graceful, fast, and murderous.

Gavin took a deep breath and steeled himself. He’d surfed Maroubra a hundred times, but he’d never seen such angry, tall waves. Not even in autumn, high season for this beach. The Tongans must have been bored and whipped up the swells to entertain themselves.

Dredging up some of the Earth energy he’d pulled from the sand, he grounded himself and pushed onward. When he approached the lazy trio from the side, none of them gave any indication they noticed him. They seemed fixated on the three-meter wall of water heading straight for them. Gavin squeezed Lucy tight. Teeth clenched, he wiped his wet face on his shoulder and waited like cornered prey.

Fuck, that was a big wave.

Here we go.

He jumped up. Both feet landed steady on the board. He rose to his full height. Arms flew out to his sides, and he found his balance.

The three didn’t jump, so much as walk up the spine of the wave like a flight of stairs. Once they reached the top, they faced the beach, expressions devoid of emotion. Their blue auras blared so bright, Gavin’s eyes hurt. Goddamn powerful. With these Wæters behind him and Jack, they could take out ten Fyres, Scarlet included. Maybe even Archelemental Eidan.

The wave he rode arched over his head, forming a massive curl. He maneuvered his board toward the Tongans. Another, smaller wave shot up from nowhere and blocked him.

Hmm…so they weren’t social types.

“I’m Gavin Cassidy, leader of the Sentinels,” he shouted over the surging roar. He twisted left, then right to avoid more sudden swells. An obstacle course? Were they testing him?

He focused on the white-capped breakers and used more Earth to strengthen his body and reflexes. The rollers grew in strength and number the rest of the way in, but he managed to keep himself vertical. Barely. His circulatory system worked overtime, pumping massive surges of adrenaline. He made it to the shallows just ahead of the Tongans. He slid off the board, turned around, and treaded water.

The three men rode a wave in behind him, their lean bodies lowering in sync until they also treaded water. Except they didn’t move. It was more like the ocean held them afloat. The one in the middle crossed arms over his chest. The other two scowled. Each a carbon copy of the next, they had to be identical triplets.

Palms open in front of him, Gavin kicked his legs slowly. “I need your help.”

No response.

“There are some powerful Fyres holding a young girl hostage at Concord Hospital. If we can get her out, we’ll be given the location of the hidden door into the Dreaming, and we can boot the Fyres out of there for good.”

“Sentinels and their ‘duties’ do not interest us,” the middle Tongan said. His voice flowed like honey, but his craggy expression suggested Gavin might have stepped over the line.

“But the Fyres must be of interest. They killed your Archelemental, right?”

The trio stiffened as one, and the water surrounding them bubbled.

“If you come with me, I can help solve your Archelemental problem.”

A meter-tall wave plowed into him, knocking him under for a few seconds. Dazed, he swam back to the surface and wiped his face. He spun around, coughing. The Tongans were gone.

Fuck.

Well, at least they hadn’t killed him.

* * * *

The security cameras are offline,
Iri said in Gavin’s head outside the main entrance to Concord Hospital.
Scarlet is meeting with the three Fyres guarding Whetu in the burn unit on the seventh floor. We will take the lift. I can manipulate the thoughts of anyone we encounter to keep our visit out of memories, but we must work fast.

He scanned Gavin’s mind. Worry for the Wyldling innocents who might get caught in the crossfire. A genuine desire to get Whetu to safety, but concern about Iri’s motivations. Disappointment the Tongans refused to join them. Grim acceptance that there was about a fifty-fifty chance they’d come out unscathed.

Jack was much harder to read. The Sentinel’s thoughts drifted to Zoe. When he caught Iri’s gaze, the trail of images went cold.

“Jack and I will take care of the Fyres. You keep the hallway clear.” Gavin’s Air and Fire tattoos lit up like halogens and shone yellow and red from under his jacket sleeves. He massaged his wrists and tugged the cuffs lower.

If Scarlet or her thugs got riled, Iri would be the first to fall. He did not expect to come out of this rescue alive, but he would do what he must to ensure Whetu did.

“Let’s not dick around any longer,” Jack said. Hands in the pockets of his long board shorts, he slipped inside the entrance and looked left and right. The smell of lemony disinfectant lingered in the hall. Iri and Gavin followed him to the elevators.

They took a lift to the seventh floor. Iri went to the nurses’ station. “I’m here to see my daughter, Whetu.”

Iri met the nurse’s eyes.
Are the security cameras offline?

Expression vacant, she nodded.

Excellent. Go back to work and remember nothing of me or my companions.

The woman did as she was told.

He reached into the thoughts of passersby and directed them accordingly. No one noticed the odd trio of men wandering around the burn unit.

Papa?
Whetu’s mind called out.
Are you here?

He tensed.
Yes. It will be over soon. Be brave for me.

I will.
Her mental voice quivered.

Iri’s heart ached. At least he would see his beautiful girl one last time.

He stopped at her room and tensed. The heat of the Fyres behind the door scrambled his Air, but deep breaths helped to clear his head of distractions. He would play every card in his deck if he had to.

Pushing the final remnants of fear away, he sent his mental feelers under the door to assess the Fyres’ strengths. Scarlet and three others, all strong from recent feedings, but not on Whetu’s Fire. She must have taken his warnings to heart and kept her fear under control. Good girl.

Gavin pushed open the door.

Scarlet stood beside the hospital bed, talking to a male Fyre. Two others rose from their seats and came at Gavin, snarling. Red surged through their irises. Iri and Jack filled in behind him. The intense Fire choked Iri, and his mental balance stumbled. He quickly righted it. The door closed softly.

Iri glanced at the ceiling. The Fyres had disabled the sprinklers. Clever of them, but disappointing for Iri. He had counted on having that added source of water. At least there was a fire extinguisher on the wall in case he needed it.

Pheromones flooded the room, the stench sickening. Scarlet’s familiar cinnamon scent tunneled into his brain and latched on to its pleasure center. Her ample breasts tried to escape containment from her thin-strapped top. It was easy for Iri to resist her sexual call, but not as simple for Gavin, who looked uncomfortable all of a sudden.

“Well, look who’s here. Gavin and his new mate, Iri.” Scarlet’s gaze shifted to Jack, her red curls whispering across bare shoulders. “And who are you, Sentinel?”

Gavin stepped forward, blocking her view to Jack. “We’re here for the girl.”

She reached for his cheek. His fingers glowed blue, and he slapped her hand away. Her hiss harmonized with the sizzle cracking open her skin. She brought her hand to her chest and cradled it with the other. The three Fyres flanked her, eyes glowing red and orange.

While they were occupied, Iri slunk to the bed. Clear tubes connected to an oxygen machine plugged his nine year-old daughter’s nose. Her chest rose and fell, slowly but strongly. Though her eyes were closed, her Air burned steady yellow with a blue halo.

Long streaks of gold contrasted with dark hair and framed her small face. An intricate series of red, pink, and oozing yellow splotches seared a path down her cheek, over her neck and chest, and disappeared under the linens. Elemental Fire burns. If they ever healed, she’d be scarred for life.

Whetu’s consciousness started to resurface. She must have sensed his closeness.

No, your body must stay asleep. No fear, remember? Stay with me in my mind.
Iri leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“You can’t have the whelp. Didn’t Iri tell you she belongs to me?” Scarlet said, then her thoughts shifted to Iri.
Unless you have something else you’re willing to trade? Are these Sentinels fast enough to stop four Fyres from killing you both? You Aers don’t stand a chance against us. Perhaps I should murder your daughter and let you live to mourn her loss. I’d love to watch you hate yourself for the rest of your days.

Like you do with your sister?
he replied.
Is that what filled you with such rage?

Scarlet’s face went slack.

Ah, there was the key to deconstructing her. He clung to the tiny scrap of humanity she still possessed and began digging into her brain.

Yes, I know about her. You understand what it is like to love someone unconditionally and stand by helpless, watching her die. The fear paralyzed you as your flesh and blood thrashed in the lake, choking on your name, reaching for you. The water filled her lungs and stole her life. Remember your beloved, innocent sister. Have mercy on Whetu.

Images of a hand slowly descending into dark, churning water flashed through her mind. The blazing Fire coming off her skin decreased to a soft, warm kindle. She glanced at Gavin. Confusion, desperation, longing warred within her.

Gavin whirled on Iri and pointed a finger at him. “No more head talking. Either of you, or so help me, I’ll fucking kill you both.”

Fire lit up Gavin’s left hand, and he targeted Iri. He kept the Water in his right trained on the Fyres.

The tenuous balance holding the Elements in the room together wobbled on its axis.

Jack stepped out, arms raised and fingers spread wide. “Okay, everybody, let’s cool it. Give us the girl, and we’ll let you go, hassle-free. We can all live to fight another day.”

“Please, Scarlet. My daughter has suffered enough under your hands.” Iri’s voice wavered.

“Why would I give back your piece of shit daughter when you’ve caused nothing but trouble for me, Iri?” Scarlet twisted a curl around her long index finger. The blood red polish on the nail caught the fluorescent light. Her lips fell into a pout, but her thoughts revealed a growing chink in her resolve.

Gavin scowled. “Show some respect, Scarlet.”

I need Gavin. This is your last chance. Give me something I can use to get him, or Whetu dies.

Scarlet stepped to the bed. Gavin and Jack’s stances tensed further. She laid a hand on Whetu’s leg, smiled at Iri, and flickered her irises from brown to red. Heat slithered through the blanket.

Papa? I’m scared. She’s hurting me…

Iri clenched his fists.
Stop it, Scarlet. You’ll spare her life if I tell you how to get Gavin?

I’ll let her live, but your life will be forfeit. You’ve outgrown your usefulness by keeping company with the Sentinels. I’m tired of you.

With Scarlet so close to his little girl, he was desperate. His life meant nothing. He’d happily give it up to save Whetu. He was pretty sure he’d gotten through to Scarlet with the memories of her sister, but his window of opportunity was closing fast. This might be his last chance.

There
is
something…
He merged his thoughts with hers.

Scarlet’s Fire exploded into laughing waves of heat. He flinched at the pain.

As expected, he’d made a terrible mistake by trusting her. But every plan had a contingency.

“Goddamn it. Get the fuck out of here and stay away.” Gavin leveled his shimmering blue pointer finger on Scarlet’s heart.

Scarlet’s eyes narrowed, and she stepped back. “You wouldn’t dare.” Her voice quavered.

He tilted his head. “I don’t need a reason with you anymore.”

Unable to keep track of all the thoughts in the room, Iri focused only on Whetu’s. He brushed her cheek, and her eyes fluttered.

No, Whetu. Stay asleep and listen carefully. I am no longer destined to walk in this world, but Gavin and Jack will help you. Once they get you to safety, you must take them to the door into the Dreaming. I’ve left you some clues.

Whetu’s brows wrenched together.
Please don’t leave me, Papa. I won’t know what to do without you.

You are clever and strong. You will figure it out.

Scarlet skirted to the wall. The other Fyres followed. “Don’t think for a second that we’re done, Gavin. I’m only getting started with you, lover.” The side of her mouth curled upward in an evil half-grin. She tapped one of the Fyres on the shoulder.

The tension binding everyone’s control snapped at once like a rubber band.

The Fyre threw his hand out and fire-balled the wall above the oxygen tank. Iri threw himself over Whetu’s body and clutched her tight.

Gavin retaliated with a Water bomb. The Fyre dropped to the floor and screamed as his flesh melted him alive into a puddle of gooey ash. Another fireball whizzed past Iri’s head and hit the wall behind him. The heat tore through his soul with excruciating force. Jack wrestled hand-to-hand with the offending Fyre, and more howls flew as Water steamed its body into condensed submission.

The chair a few feet from the bed lighted. Flames inched toward the flammable oxygen tank. Laughing, Scarlet launched herself into the blaze and disappeared into it with a crackle.