Igniting Spirit (Gathering Water Book 3) (7 page)

“Yeah, well…” I didn’t have a comeback, so just pushed away completely. “It’s time to go, c’mon.” I dived out of my Shield and into the water just seconds before releasing the Shield  around Ezra, letting him get pummeled by the water before he was ready.

Now
that
was funny. Besides, cold water was supposed to help that, er, type of problem. I swam quickly, intent on catching up with Lena and Ian before they got further away, ashamed that we took so long before following them. I trusted Ezra was keeping up, something I knew for a fact when he grabbed one of my feet and tugged me back, playfully, just enough so that we were swimming side by side. I put the cone-Shield back up, and with the feel of water at our feet pushing us forwards — Ezra’s Loa, no doubt — we caught up to Lena and Ian easily and swam past them.

I almost missed how grueling the trip down had been without the Ambrose halfway through, because then I’d been too exhausted to think past saving Cash. Nothing else could sneak in.

Now, my mind went over a million different things: the true cause of my mother’s death, and the split of the Ethnos and whether I seriously thought they could come back together after all the hurt. I thought of Ezra, and how quickly our relationship— or whatever you could call it — had progressed without ringing any of my warning bells, and whether I was prepared for the way I felt about him. That brought me back to Kaylus, and the coppery scent of blood that I smelled in my vision of him killing Ezra. I increased my speed. He wouldn’t hurt anyone else I cared about.

Even though he hadn’t been the one draining Cash, the man who did was at Kaylus’ command. And that was more than enough for me.

The last half of our journey took a little longer than the first. I could have pushed ahead of the others and arrived sooner, but I could do nothing without Ian, and I needed to conserve my energy in case he needed my help.

I couldn’t afford to pass out.

Besides, it’d be best if I arrived
with
the three Clades, instead of assuming they would arrive at my cousin’s hospital bed with no trouble.

There was probably going to be trouble. I just hoped Alexander had told my father and gotten a message to my family by now, so they would be expecting my new, er, friends to arrive with me.

It wouldn’t do to get the guy who’s supposed to heal Cash killed before he did his job.

Speaking of getting people killed, I was starting to get incredibly nervous having Ezra with me. Of course, I was even more nervous to have him away from me, so there was nothing I could do about it.

I really hoped my family wouldn’t try to kill my new boyfriend — or whatever — because that would seriously suck.

I’m back Journal,

Anyway, I considered it my civic responsibility — as a human — to show the fellas a good time. I had to do a few sleight of hands around everyone to hide from my friends how much they (mostly Alexander) were drinking, while pretending like drinking three bottles of tequila by yourself was totally normal to them.

I wonder if Elfennol get hungover, because poor Alex will definitely be feeling it today. He had loosened up considerably after his second fifth. And everyone got a kick out of him when he started singing what I can only assume are ancient battle songs. He has a surprisingly pleasant baritone.

We ended the night on the beach. My friends tapered off, one by one, until it was only the three of us. And Alexander didn’t particularly count since he was trying to dig for sand fiddlers. I was glad my friends had left at that point, because he was digging a mite faster than a human would be able to, and seemed to know exactly where to dig even though the only light came from the stars and the heat lightning in the distance.

Derek and I took a walk at that point, and the things we talked about! I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to hide what I knew about him at first (what does one talk about with an Elfennol?) but by the end of the night, it was the farthest thing from my mind. We talked about normal everyday things, about growing up and knowing your place in the world. We have that in common — I’ve always known my place. My calling. It’s something I’m proud of, and excited for, and know that I was meant to stay in the Outer Banks and be Duxa.

I didn’t exactly tell him that since I didn’t want to spoil the night by admitting who I was.  But I did tell him about how people — my dad, really — are worried that I’m not taking my future seriously enough. I know my future. I know my role in this world. I don’t see how finishing college, or getting some boring day job is going to help me with those responsibilities. I don’t want or need any of the things those bring me. Derek really seemed to understand. He said he comes from a very traditional family who doesn’t understand his approach to things. They also don’t think he’s taking life seriously enough, just like my family. I’m not surprised his family has a hard time understanding him. The Elfennol are supposed to be very big on control, structure, and respect. Derek’s relaxed approach to life would drive them crazy — at least that’s what dad always says about
my
behavior, and how it wouldn’t do much to instill our allies’ faith in us.

It’s bizarre that an Elfennol understands me so much better than anyone else I know. We just approach life a little differently than the people around us, I guess.

So there we were, two misunderstood misfits, watching the sunrise over the water. We were holding hands, and I still can’t pin down when that happened. It was natural for me to lift my face to his and kiss him. And when he wrapped his arms around me and returned that kiss — and more —  it felt more than natural (supernatural? haha). It felt like a promise for something huge; like a domino had just been knocked over and the world spun from the potential of it all.

Afterwards, with the sand still clinging to our bodies, we said our goodbyes. Neither of us said anything about meeting again.

I know a relationship with him isn’t possible, but I can’t regret our time together. I’ll forever be haunted by the beauty of it — because whatever was between us last night was very real. Just because it was temporary doesn’t mean it didn’t leave a permanent mark on my soul. Somehow, I know it did for him too.

Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part.

*****

Since it was December and only a couple days after the Nor’easter that Cash and I had fought the Clades in, the beach was mostly empty when we finally stepped onto shore. I suppose if we’d come with the tides, we’d have run into a few surfers, but we didn’t. I purposely directed us close to where the Nags Head Pier was — or once was, since I’d mostly destroyed it the other day during our fight. The Nags Head Pier was always being destroyed by some force of nature, according to Cash — I just never considered that I would be one of those forces. But I knew Cash’s Jeep should still be parked nearby, and because we couldn’t run at warp speed to the hospital in the middle of the day, the vehicle would help. Ignoring the memories trying to choke their way out of my head, I walked past the broken pier to the vehicle. Cash was one of those supremely trustworthy people — most of the island’s population were — and he never worried about locking his car doors unless it was tourist season. According to him, tourists were basically piranhas in disguise.

I looked for a spare key while Ian and Lena awkwardly got into the back seat since Ezra was riding shotgun, but there was no spare.

“Uh, Ezra? Can you get the Loa to start the car?” I asked. If I knew heads or tails about car engines, I could have done it myself with Fire energy. Here’s hoping Loa knew more than I did.

“Maybe?” he answered with a small crease between his brows, as if he weren’t sure of the answer himself. Seconds later, the engine roared to life, and I drove us all to the hospital. On the way, I noticed Cash’s phone sitting on the dashboard, forgotten. I grabbed it and sent a little prayer that there was still battery life in it, since it hadn’t been used in days. There wasn’t, so this time I
did
use my abilities and gave it a little charge. Fire energy works with electrical items, as well.

By the time it powered on, I was pulling into the hospital parking lot. I called my Uncle Connor before getting out of the car, motioning to Ezra that the Loa could turn the car off now.

“Della?” Connor answered the phone with my name. He must have guessed I would be the only one to use his son’s phone to call right now.

“How is he, Uncle Connor?” I asked, not even taking the time to say a polite “hello.”

“Where are you, Della? Please tell me you’ve come home before —”

“I had to get help. How is he? Is Clara still here?” I needed him to answer before I told him my plan.

“Here? Are you at the hospital? Where are you?” I could hear him moving around over the phone, probably walking around the hospital searching for me.

“Yes, I’m in the parking lot. You need to answer me, Dux. How is Cash?” I spoke with as much authority as I could muster. This man was my Uncle, and though he was technically my equal — the Dux where I was Duxa — as far as the Elfennol were concerned, I’d just dealt with a lot of shit and needed him to answer my question. I needed to know how my cousin was before I stepped out of the vehicle, and that meant I needed to boss him around.

“He is hanging on. Clara still doesn’t know how to heal him, and your father doesn’t either. He went to ask the other Elfennol whether any of them can help.”

“They can’t, Uncle Connor. But maybe the people with me can.”

The double doors leading into the hospital lobby opened, and I closed the phone, looking at my Uncle’s form standing in the doorway staring at me through the windshield. Finally, I got out of the car, motioned to the others to do the same, and walked to my Uncle, hoping he was in a listening kind of mood.

“Della, you said the Elfennol can’t help.” He already knew, but I think he hoped he was wrong. He hoped I hadn’t brought a car full of Clades with me.

“Yes, I did. Do you trust me? Really trust me, the way that family is supposed to trust each other?”

His chest deflated an inch, and he nodded his head.

“Then believe me when I say that I would not bring people here that I wouldn’t trust with my life. With Cash’s life. They might be able to help.” I kept my eyes on his, willing him to accept this.

He nodded his head and I started to walk by when he placed a hand on my arm. “You owe me an explanation, Duxa.”

“Yes, I do.” And I pulled away and led my group to the room Cash was in. Explanations could come later.

We attracted a bit of attention in our strange bathing suits — or underwear in Ezra’s case — before I decided to Shield us all from view. Cash was in the same room as before, and when I walked in I thought I’d be prepared for what I saw.

I wasn’t.

The musky scent of incense was strong in the air, and Clara was sitting in a chair to the side of Cash’s bed, her forearm wrapped next to his with a deep green silk cord, connecting them at the palm and elbow, like a handshake that went all the way up. Her eyes were open but unseeing, and her mouth was moving in a chant that I could barely hear. I let my True Sight come forth and looked at my cousin. He was much worse than he’d been before I left. Before, the golden net of his spirit was still visible, though clearly crumbling. Now, there was no net, only golden dust sprinkled here and there. But something was there in its stead. Not a net so much as a cocoon, wrapping around him and keeping inside whatever made Cash
Cash
. It looked like silk cord, identical to the cord that connected Clara and my cousin.

“Ian, please take a look and see what you can do. Please. Try not to disturb Clara. Whatever she is doing is very important.” Ian immediately followed my direction. My aunt, whom I had overlooked when I first entered, came up and gave me a hug.

“Della, I’m so glad you’ve come home.”

“Of course, Aunt Ellis. I only left to bring help for Cash. I need him to get better so I can hit him for scaring us so badly.”

A ghost of a smile flitted across her face. “Let me go see what clothes I can drudge up for your… friends.” She started to walk past me, but stopped halfway to the door. “Thank you, Della. It means a lot.” I turned to tell her how sorry I was for letting this happen to Cash, but she walked out of the room, giving Lena a wide berth since she had placed herself by the door, guarding us.

“Della, you’re here. Good.” Clara spoke, and the room seemed empty without her quiet chants. She looked exhausted, and I wondered if she’d been attached to my cousin this entire time, until I saw her unwrapping the cord from their arms.

She saw my gaze, and explained before I assumed the worst. “The cord will stay in place for about an hour before I have to come back and do the ritual again.”

No wonder she looked exhausted, if she needed to do that every hour.

“Clara, I brought someone who might be able to help. Ian, this is Clara. She’s a Dunamis with Casting and Natural abilities for spirit healing. She’s a mutt, really.” I tried to smile at the words, but the constant smell of antiseptic dampened the mood considerably.

Ian perked up while Clara walked over to us to shake his hand.

“Who are the other two Clades?” I don’t know whether she guessed, or could somehow tell who they were and didn’t particularly care.

“This is Lena,” I said, watching the two women shake hands. “And this is Ezra.”

Clara raked her gaze up and down Ezra, and I suddenly remembered she might have issues with Ezra that had nothing to do with his Clade status and everything to do with the fact that he was not her brother, with whom I had broken up less than a week ago.

“That’s interesting.”

“It’s not —”

“Don’t worry, I’m not worried about Dove. I knew you guys were a temporary item. A stepping stone to your forever loves.” I didn’t know if I was relieved or insulted she didn’t think her brother and I would last. “Stop looking at me like that. Quarter-gypsy, remember? Grandma taught me things before she died. I’m talking about y’all’s auras when you get close like that. Nifty.” I opened my mouth to ask what she was talking about but Ian chose that moment to speak up.

“Della, will you please take a look at this?” Ian asked, and he didn’t sound happy. He had turned Cash’s head to the side, and was busy inspecting something behind his ear when I walked up beside him.

“What is that?” I asked as I noticed the very small mark placed behind his ear. It looked like a thumbprint.

“Nothing good, I fear. It is the mark of a Thanatos, and one of the many reasons why they were so feared.”

“But what does it do, and how did it get there?”

“Kaylus’ men must be infected with his power. You saw what that did to Arthur. But the Thanatos can infect a person and keep them alive. It works particularly well to ensure loyalty because it would take very little effort to let them die. Kaylus can work through the people infected with his dark power. It is unlikely he can control them completely, but he can infect others through them. This cord around Cash seems to be keeping the blight from spreading through his body as quickly, but if you look with your True Sight, you can see the darkness of the spot and how small tendrils seem to pulse out from it.”

“It is like a transmittable disease that is only contagious to those the infected
wish
to infect.” Lena had walked over and helped explain. Her time with humans and the birthing room must have taught her more about contagion since the Ethnos have no need to worry about such things.

I looked at the spot with my True Sight, the way Ian said to, and saw what he was talking about. It looked like a round patch of darkness, and the faded light that made up Cash’s aura was inky near the spot. The spot reminded me of Kaylus’ aura, and those who followed him. The spot was so small, and in such an innocuous spot, I’m not surprised no one had seen it.

“I do not know if I can heal this, my Lady,” Ian said quietly from behind me. When I turned to look at him, he was pale and visibly disturbed by how bad off Cash was.