Shadow destiny, p.10
Shadow Destiny, page 10
part #3 of Shadowlands Series
“What about a lookout? We need someone out there watching, to warn us when they get here.”
Avery smiled. “Already on it. I sent Daemon to talk to the twins. You may have seen them—skilled swordsmen, excellent trackers, and even better scouts. They should already be out there. Go Shadow hunting, Ashling, and take Daemon with you. Head out the back of Apocalypse just in case, and be quick. Find me when you return. I should have your route through the tunnels mapped out by then.”
I nodded as he turned his attention back to Em. “And you can go back to your room and stay there until I can find some use for you.”
She lifted her chin. “I can fight.”
He quirked a brow. “Oh, but wouldn’t that mean having to maybe hurt someone?”
His tone was saturated with sarcasm and Em’s cheeks grew pink.
“Come on, Avery.”
He sighed. “Fine, come with me. Maybe you can give me some insight into this Valance and his tactics.”
I watched as they strode off toward Avery’s office and then turned back to the lift. It was time to go hunting.
CLAY
The bed levitated and flew into the wall, resulting in an almighty crash that was closely followed by a frantic knocking on the door.
Cal’s voice drifted through the door. “What was the hell was that?”
Asmeus was chuckling silently.
Clay winced. “Nothing, sorry.”
“It didn’t sound like nothing. I’m coming in.” The big guy entered. “Look at the mess in here. What happened to the bed?”
Clay’s fingertips still tingled with the power of the air he had coaxed into doing his bidding.
“Practicing with my powers,” Clay said.
Cal looked behind him and spotted the water seeping out of the bathroom.
“Maybe this isn’t the best place to do that,” Cal said.
“Probably not,” Asmeus agreed, his tone laced with dying giggles.
“Go out the back and stop punishing the bedroom.”
“I’m sorry, Cal. I’ll tidy up.”
“No, you’ll keep on practising. Cleaning up is a waste of valuable time. We need you.”
Clay nodded and moved for the door, Asmeus on his heels.
Cal was right, he needed to focus on mastering his abilities, messes could be cleaned up but the dead stayed dead.
***
Initially, he felt exposed standing at the back of Apocalypse, but he soon overcame it. Folk knew about what he could do and, once the humans got here, they would also get a full demonstration.
There were some benches out the back and Asmeus took a seat on one of them. The man had nothing else to do but sit and watch.
“You don’t have to be here, you know,” Clay said.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because it’s boring.”
Asmeus let out a short bark of laughter. “Boring? Did you not hear my laughter back there? This is the most fun I’ve had in...well, a very long time. You, Clay, have brought a new light into my life, so forgive me if I stick close and bask in it a while.”
Heat expanded in Clay’s chest. “Well, when you put it that way...”
Asmeus grinned and threw him a wink. “Now get to work. I’ll be your very own cheerleader.”
Clay chuckled and closed his eyes.
Fire. His mind kept going back to it. Hot and brilliant and deadly, he could feel it on the fringes, waiting for him to call it forth, to be unleashed in all of its devastating glory.
But it was if the connection was blocked.
Fire…
He pushed it back for the moment, instead focusing on the earth. His boots stood upon it and he let the connection flow. He opened his palm and slowly closed it, the ground trembling as he did. With a snap of his fingers, a metre-long crack appeared, its creation matching the same rhythm of the snap.
“Nice one,” Asmeus said.
Clay drew a deep breath, and kept the flow between him and the ground. He was one with it.
“Remember not to do too much,” Asmeus said. “This is about your connection.”
“Save the show for show time,” Clay said. That had been Asmeus’s phrase and it had become a mantra for Clay, always chanting away to stop him going too far. He couldn’t risk burning out with an impending attack on the horizon.
Come to me… He stretched out his arms and let the air dance on his fingers. It nestled between them, caressed his palm, travelled up his arms under his long leather sleeves, curious and loving towards its master.
Master… It was odd, yet made him feel almost at peace. The elements were a part of him. It didn’t matter that he didn’t fully understand the reasons why, because nothing had felt so right before in his life. He was a part of something great that one day he knew he would understand.
The earth vibrated beneath him as if in answer, and the wind sang in his ears.
We’re here with you, they said.
Clay smiled and reached out to find the water. At first he tried deep down in the ground and then in the air. But that wasn’t it, that wasn’t quite right. Just as fire, it was on the fringes. He’d used the water in the sink, but he needed to go beyond that.
Save the show for show time…
Water…. He needed the water. Earth and air were so easily his. He knew he could call upon them with barely a whisper, barely a thought, and they would be there. That had to be the same with water and fire.
Come to me…
His eyes closed, he waited. Earth and air thrummed away.
Come to me…
He could hear the trickle, feel the wetness just beyond his touch.
Come…
His palm started to cool and quickly became wet.
Come to me…
The trickle was soon a river, the river soon a wave…or what he imagined a wave would sound like. Yes, that was a wave, the power of water…the seas and oceans and rivers and ponds—all of them together as part of the same element.
A sphere of water formed in his hand. He looked down at the rippling form, smiling, thanking it. It glistened in response.
Clay gave it a wink and turned to throw it at Asmeus.
The water struck the man right on target and he leapt up, stunned out of his observation with water running off his chin.
“What the—”
“Watch,” Clay said. Another sphere of water materialised in his hand.
“Impressive,” Asmeus said.
“I did it. I wanted to go beyond having the things there, if you know what I mean.”
“I do.”
“I actually summoned water.”
“From the moisture around us...Well done! And how do you feel?”
“Fine.”
“Just don’t over exert yourself.”
“I know, I know.” He smirked. “Catch!” He threw the water at Asmeus.
“Hilarious,” Asmeus said, taking a hit to his hair.
“I thought so.”
Clay turned around and closed his eyes again. One more beast to tame.
Fire…
Where water just needed that little bit of reassurance, it would take more than gentle coaxing for fire. He could feel the resistance and the power, the deadliness of it.
Come to me…
That fell on deaf ears.
He reached out and touched the flames.
He recoiled.
“Damn it,” Clay said.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
He rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, shaking his hands to establish some focus.
He could do this.
He closed his eyes.
Fire…
In a pit he stood, surrounded by a ring of flames. The heat was terrific and he was in awe of it, of how the orange and gold danced together, how they crackled and roared.
He was reminded of Pearl, his lost dragon friend, and how it spilled from her mouth.
Pearl…
No, he had to focus. The flames had to be his.
You will obey me… He went for stern, but the fire seemed to laugh at him.
You will obey your master…
Nothing.
Your master requests… Your master demands you obey. You will come to me and join with me. Come, we are one…
Again, nothing happened. He was so close, yet so far. He couldn’t touch it, and to be its master, he could not be burned by its kiss.
Come… His voice was becoming weaker, no matter how much he strived for iron force.
Please… Begging did not garner respect—from neither the fire nor himself.
Damn…
Fire waited for him, that he knew, but it wasn’t ready to come. Or was it that he wasn’t ready for it to come?
It had to come. Fire was a valuable element, a powerful force of destruction that could be used to…
Clay opened his eyes and sighed.
“Are you okay, Clay?”
“Yeah.
“What’s wrong?”
Clay turned to face Asmeus, who was on his feet and slowly walking over.
“Fire.”
“What about it?”
Clay’s shoulders sagged. “I can’t…I just can’t get to grips with it.”
Asmeus stopped before Clay and lifted his chin with warm fingers.
Clay looked up into those glittering dark eyes and felt a weak smile creep across his lips. Despite all the questions he had ready for the man, there was a certain reassurance about him that made his heart flutter.
Flutter? His cheeks bloomed at his thoughts.
“I-It’s me,” Clay said, not breaking the gaze.
“Go on.”
“There’s something about fire that feels…dark. Stupid, I know, because how can fire be dark?”
He snorted and cursed himself for the sound. Asmeus didn’t seem to notice.
“Sorry…for rambling.”
“I know what you’re saying, Clay.”
“It’s such a powerful weapon.” He looked away, lowering his head. “But I think about burning all of those people, some of them mine. I hear them scream and see them char. I do, I can picture it. I know what I did with those guns, when they melted to the skins of Em’s people was pretty intense, but this different. This is death by fire. How can I do that? I-I can’t.”
“You don’t need to.”
“Does that make me weak?”
“Look at me, Clay. Please.”
He did as asked. Asmeus leaned in closer. “You are the bravest person I’ve ever met.”
Talking of fire, Clay’s cheeks were ablaze.
Asmeus chuckled lightly. “I knew you’d turn a lovely shade of red.”
Clay frowned in response.
“Don’t ever doubt yourself like that, Clayton. You’re not weak, far from it. Not wanting to kill doesn’t make you a coward, it makes you true to your soul. And your soul is…” Asmeus trailed off and leaned in even closer.
Clay’s feet were as heavy as boulders.
He’s going to kiss me… By the Mother’s he’s going to kiss me!
Should he let him?
Do I let him?
Blake…
Blake…
Blake…
This wasn’t the time, no matter how intoxicating Asmeus’ scent was or how delicious those lips looked…
No! He couldn’t do this. He was Blake’s and this wasn’t the time for stuff like this. He needed a clear head, oh Mother, those lips were almost on his…
The roar of an engine filled the air, he spotted a dot on the horizon which grew bigger and bigger as it approached.
“What is it!” Asmeus cried.
Clay squinted to see into the gloom making out only a shadowy lump astride a...motorbike!
His heart quickened, he backed up toward the building as the beautiful machine grew closer and then he caught a hint of flying crimson.
Ash?
The machine came to a purring halt, all chrome, huge wheels, and Daemon.
Clay rushed over, his eyes fixed on the machine. It was gorgeous. He reached out to touch it, his hand making contact with the warm metal and jumped when the machine’s purr intensified.
“She likes you,” Daemon said.
Ash’s head appeared over Daemon’s shoulder and she pecked him on the side of his neck. “Of course she likes him. Clay has the magic touch.”
Clay watched the two of them, the twitch of Daemon’s lips, the warmth in his eyes, and the twinkle in Ash’s.
Ash dismounted. “I’ll meet you in Avery’s office.” She leaned in and kissed Daemon softly on the lips.
Clay backed up, not wanting to intrude on this intimate moment.
Ash joined him a moment later as Daemon drove around them toward the building and vanished into the shadows.
Clay turned to Ash. “Where did you go?”
She pulled up her sleeve showcasing a network of intricate inky lines.
“Are those...”
She grinned. “Yeah, the product of shadow eating. I’m all charged up, big bro. What about you?”
Clay glanced over his shoulder at Asmeus. “I think I have a little more to offer than just a wall.”
Ash cocked her head. “Do tell.”
It was Clay’s turn to grin. “How about I just show you?”
ASH
“So you take the marked route and it’ll spit you out near the museum. Then you can double back and catch them unawares,” Avery said.
I studied the map. He hadn’t been kidding about it being a huge network.
“I’m going with you and Em,” Daemon said.
I didn’t argue, we could use the back up.
“Any news from the scouts?” I asked.
Avery shook his head. “Cal will let us know as soon as we hear—”
His head jerked up and he froze. “They’re here.”
“What? How can you possibly know that?” Em asked.
“Cal just got word from the scouts. They’re about two miles out and moving in fast.”
I’d always suspected that Cal and Avery had some kind of special connection. I recalled the first moment I’d set eyes on Avery, when Treagor had tried to claim me and Cal had communicated with Avery without a word. This just confirmed it, but it begged the question—why Avery hadn’t shown up when we’d been attacked by Em’s people. Unless Cal hadn’t called him... He’d been trying to protect him!
“Ash, we need to go. Now!” Daemon took my hand.
This was it. It was happening. “I need to see Clay. I need to let him know.” I needed to hug him and tell him I loved him just in case...in case I didn’t make it back.
“Cal’s on it,” Avery said.
I swallowed my protest. There just wasn’t anytime. “Can you tell Cal to...tell him to tell Clay I love him.”
Avery’s gaze softened. “Of course.”
“What about you?” Em asked.
Avery blinked down at her. “Everyone is gathered at the entrance to the tunnels. I’m going to lead them to safety. This exit will take us to a cave stocked with supplies. I’ll drop them off and join Cal and Clay back at Apocalypse.”
“Be safe, brother,” Daemon said
“You too,” Avery replied.
And then we headed to the door and my pulse was pounding in my throat with excitement and fear.
CLAY
The time had come. This was it. Every inch of him sparked with readiness.
“You can do this,” Asmeus said.
He saw them marching, sent a prayer to the Mother for his sister, for Blake, for everyone. If Blake was there, he only hoped he could see reason before blood stained the ground.
Apocalypse would not fall. He’d make sure of it.
As he had before, he called for the earth to become a wall. The energy ripped through him as dirt and rock obeyed, rising up to encircle the building in a protective ring. Light swirled from his fingers and danced across the sky, joining the wall to become a shimmering mass.
“Easy,” Asmeus said. “Not too much too soon.”
“Yeah,” Clay said. He wouldn’t be a reckless about it, but it was good to have a grounding voice offering reassurance.
He could hear raised voices, but nothing more, and no gunfire. As long the lack of bullets kept up, it was good. That meant no death, that peace had a chance.
Clay flicked more light outward to join the wall, commanded more rocks to join the ranks. It was better to play things safe.
Still the raised voices. He wished he could hear what they were saying.
Clay kept the stream of energy consistent and didn’t push too hard, but hard enough to sustain his creation. He was okay, experiencing no drainage, no changes to his body other than the warmth of the light that radiated from him.
The shouting had gone up a notch. Something was happening. Peace wasn’t working. Damn it, he hoped the shouts didn’t lead to…
BOOM!
An explosion sent him flying backwards into Asmeus. They fell together, the guy breaking his fall.
“Shit!”
Clay scrambled to his feet, his ears ringing.
“Asmeus?”
“I’m fine.” He was getting to his feet. Clay helped him.
“What was that?” Clay said.
As the dust and rock settled, he saw them coming at him from the left. Two men and a woman—the woman was holding the biggest gun Clay had ever seen. It must have been that weapon that had punched a hole in the wall. They’d been flanked!
There were more people behind them.
Matching the drawing in and exhalation of his breath, wind rose up and pushed the intruders back out of the hole they’d made. He called the rocks to rise again and heal the breach.
They did so, weaving together to once again restore the—
BOOM!
Clay was sent flying back on to his arse.
“Damn this!”
He got to his feet, rage bubbling inside his chest.
Fire… No, he couldn’t, it was too much.
Water…
What could he do with the spheres in his palms?
