Chapter 22 #2
The realization slammed into me hard enough that the world around me shuddered. Or maybe that was the storm. Did the power go out? The little lightning bolt on my phone said it was still charging, and the plug-in in the bathroom glowed as usual. So what the hell was that?
I was all for an epiphany having the ability to rock your world, but it didn’t have tangible effects like this. This was a stillness. A shift. Kind of like when the power shuts off and all the appliances in the house go silent; which is why I assumed that’s what happened.
The door to my bedroom swung open, and Ezra appeared, chest heaving like he’d run all the way up the stairs. I saw the whites of his eyes in the next flash of the storm and knew something had gone horribly wrong.
“Eryn, tell my cousin that we’ll be back home by morning,” he called, somehow knowing I was on the phone.
How much more did he know? Was he listening to our conversation? But as Eryn’s panicked calls for Kai registered, my outrage faded, and fear weaseled its way in.
“We’re leaving tonight? ”
Was that even possible? I glanced out the window; it was end-of-the-world level shit out there. If a coyote almost took us off the road, how did he expect us to fare against a flying tree?
“The second the roads are drivable, we’re out of here,” he replied, the phone in his hand lighting up with an incoming call. “The barrier is down. The house isn’t safe anymore.”
Shit moved real fast after that. I hung up with Eryn, who made me promise to be careful, then started grabbing whatever clothes I could reach and shoved them into my duffel bag.
A few toiletries went next, but I honestly wasn’t paying too much attention to what I grabbed. Which was saying something.
Ezra told me to pack my things and bring them downstairs. The second the rain let up, we were loading the truck and taking off. Hours later, it was still pouring outside, and I had a neat collection of bags ready to go.
I couldn’t help but stare out of each window I passed, the feeling of being watched something I couldn’t shake. I had to squint through the rain and prayed that this wasn’t a ‘they can see you, but you can’t see them’ kind of situation. No one in their right mind would be out there in this.
Not that any djinn I’d met so far were in their right minds, in my opinion.
Stop freaking yourself out and focus, Rani!
My mental scolding did nothing to curb the growing fear, so I went to see what else Ezra needed help with.
His own clothes and a few other bags were already piled at the front door.
When he came around the corner, arms laden with the large box he’d hidden in the front closet our first week here, I raised a brow.
He still hadn’t told me what was in there.
“Don’t even think about peeking, babe.” He set it on the floor and stood in front of it with his arms crossed. “If you ruin my surprise, I’ll have to punish you, and right when you’ve been doing so well.”
My eyes narrowed. That was practically a dare.
The asshole couldn’t covertly dare me to open something and then punish me for it, right?
Who was I kidding? That’s one hundred percent something he would do, and take great enjoyment out of it too, I’d bet.
I also bet that that punishment would have something to do with my ass. Swear to God, the man had a fetish.
“I already told you I wasn’t interested in whatever toys you had hidden in there, Ezra.”
“Oh, I think you’re very interested.” He gave me a lopsided grin and sauntered past to grab another box. “But now isn’t the time. If you’d take your mind out of the gutter long enough, you’d notice the rain has lessened.”
“You smug asshole, it was pouring not even five minutes ago and you know it!”
He stepped closer, until the cardboard pressed against my chest, and he towered over me. “Let me get you back to my home safely, Rani, then I’ll let you play with all the toys you want.”
I glared and picked up my duffel, then grumbled my whole way out to the driveway.
The rain was far from gone, and my hair was damp within seconds, but I could actually see where I was walking, so our countdown had officially begun.
After all, if we could move around outside, so could the djinn. They were coming.
Thunder rolled in answer to my ominous thoughts, and the wind picked up. I was on my way back up the drive when I heard my name. It was faint, like a far-off shout, but I definitely heard it. Spinning around, my eyes widened as I saw Eryn hanging out of the passenger window of Kai’s truck.
They came tearing up the drive and parked behind our own getaway vehicle.
How in the hell had they gotten here so fast?
And why? Weren’t we going to them? Eryn hopped down the second the wheels came to a stop, snarling something to Kai behind her.
He was probably scolding her for getting out without using him as a shield. He was just as overprotective as Ezra.
“We came to help!” Eryn shouted with that familiar determined set to her jaw.
Oh my God, I missed her. I didn’t realize just how much until I saw her in front of me, ready to kick some djinn ass in my name.
All my worries were swept away by the next gust of wind.
Those evil bastards didn’t stand a chance.
Fat raindrops mixed with the hovering mist in a warning.
It looked like the storm was gearing up for a second peak.
I heard my name called once again and glanced over my shoulder to see Ezra stepping onto the front porch.
“I think there’s still a few things left to grab, but we can probably get it all loaded before the next round of rain,” I shouted, waving at Eryn and Kai to hurry up.
I turned, inviting them to follow, and watched as Ezra tore from the house in a beeline for me.
“No!” Horror lined his face as he looked past to whatever he saw over my shoulder.
Warning bells rang in my head, and everything moved in slow motion; the raindrops, the swinging branches along the driveway, even Ezra’s steps appeared too slow, like he’d never reach me. The sky lit with another flash of light, adding to the already menacing atmosphere.
Turning on my heel, I wanted to ask Kai and Eryn what was wrong, but they weren’t there.
No best friend, no truck, no protection.
In their place, spread in a half circle across the front lawn, were five djinn.
The increasing rain made it hard to distinguish their features, but I didn’t need to see their feral grins to feel the malice radiating off them.
I backed away, keeping them in my sights. The storm was right above us once more, drenching my clothes and forcing water into my eyes. Were they getting closer, or was I just not moving fast enough?
“Run!” Ezra screamed, before his voice was cut off with a grunt.
There was no time to look behind me. The phantom pain in my gut and the sounds of fighting told me all I needed to know about running toward the house. More djinn surrounded Ezra, and he had a better chance of fighting them off if he didn’t have to worry about me.
Fuck, but I was worried. Could I hold my own against five of them? I was about to find out.
Before they could gain any more ground, I bolted to the left, dodging between the thick bushes that made up the fancy landscaping and vowed to never call them ugly again. My feet hit the grass, and I slid. Mud and water—so much water—made running almost impossible; I was going to break an ankle.
Still, I pushed on, slipping and falling, and at one point, crawling to safety.
Except nowhere was safe, not with the barrier down.
The djinn kept between me and the house, never allowing me a window to see what became of Ezra or even a wish for a chance to lock myself behind the heavy doors. They were closing in.
One djinn suddenly appeared in front of me, only visible because of the lightning, and a scream left my lips as I fell back.
He reached for my ankle and growled as his fingers slipped off wet skin.
I kicked at his hand while scrambling back to my feet.
Gasping now, soaked to the bone and terrified, I did the only thing I could and broke away from the yard toward the cliffside.
The thing about a rainstorm on the coast was that it churned up the ocean.
Currents and undertows combined to make massive waves.
Salt sprayed into the air, and ocean mist carried it far from its home to mix with the fresh water falling from the sky.
Meaning the strength of my power was everywhere , and I was no longer afraid to tap into it.
With a hoarse cry, I flung my hand out at the djinn attacking me and imagined all the raindrops turning into little knives.
I willed the water to do my bidding, to protect me, and begged the storm to channel her anger into my magick.
Answering thunder covered the sound of their cries, but I knew my marks landed.
Not enough, though.
The remaining djinn had weapons of their own. Steel flashed in each of their hands, and I knew they would like nothing more than to bury it in the soft flesh of my body. My escape route stood proud behind me, like a launch pad to freedom. I only had to conquer my fear and take a leap of faith.
Easier said than done when every singular cell in my body opposed this idea. But it was either jump or die, and I already swore that death was not an option. With a plea on my lips, I dove from the cliff.
Down, down, down to the dark raging waters below. A jump from that high sent me deep, but even under here, the storm took root.
Flipping ass over head and around like a cyclone, I couldn’t get my neck back above water.
Nothing but darkness greeted me, an eerily similar sight to the night I died.
It all came roaring back: the loneliness, the silence, the pounding, deep pressure on my chest because my lungs were screaming for oxygen.
God, I just wanted to breathe.
Not an option. Hold it together, Rani. Fight.
I wasn’t the same terrified girl I was all those nights ago. I had magick, I had strength, and I damn well wasn’t going to die for a second time. I kicked and threw my arms out, trying to stop my spiral and find the surface.
There! Finally free from the current’s fury, I swam for my life, but the faint shimmer of light was too far. My body too exhausted. Each stroke of my arms grew weaker until I was left floating.
There was no more fighting it; that urge to breathe.
The instinct was too strong. Mouth open and lungs desperate, I inhaled. Fresh oxygen chased away the darkness closing in on my vision and lent a burst of energy to my weak limbs. Another inhale. Another. I breathed the water as easily as I did air on land.
I could breathe underwater! Holy fucking shit, I could breathe underwater. Why the hell did Cova not tell me this was a siren power? I wouldn’t have wasted so much time being terrified of drowning if I’d known it was no longer possible.
In my elation, I failed to notice the presence that now surrounded me.
It was nothing I could see, but there was no escaping the feel of it.
The feel of Her . Oh no, had I given my soul away again?
Something far more precious? Was that the price of this new gift?
It was too late to stop whatever exchange I’d inadvertently agreed to, but I found myself unafraid.
I wasn’t alone, not like the last time I found myself in these waters.
And maybe Ezra was wrong and I had given my soul away that first time, but I no longer saw it as a burden.
No. This was a second chance. I got to live, to find my bond, and he was still up there fighting his own demons.
Ezra needed me. So, the ocean could do Her worst, but I wasn’t afraid to bite back this time.
Amusement settled over my mind. As well as happiness—both emotions that somehow didn’t come from me . Visions and impressions assaulted me next, taking hold of my brain in a giant wave of communication that I had no idea how to stop, let alone understand.
Slow the fuck down!
The communication trickled to singular intentions, and oh man, did I have it all wrong.
Life.
Her entire purpose wasn’t to terrorize my nightmares, but to give life to the earth and the creatures who dwelled on it. And sirens were her greatest creation.
Protect.
Protecting the oceans and Her ecosystems was one of my biggest passions and She recognized that. She saw in me a kindred soul and rather than take it, as I’d feared, She’d cradled it and delivered it to safety.
Give.
She found me worthy. She was the source of my magick and the reason for my transformation. She was my home, my safety, and all the world’s oceans were ready to greet me.
Yes. I wanted nothing more than to see them. To swim free and explore. Get lost in warm tropical waters and take naps on colorful reefs. Wake to the sun and fall asleep to the reflection of the moon.
A sharp pain in my arm made me hiss and break from the spell the ocean weaved.
Another agonizing throb in my back. Ezra!
They were hurting him. I looked toward the surface and, for once, didn’t find the distance too far.
Nothing was too far. Power surged through my veins.
My magick coiled in my chest, ready to do my bidding and defend our bond.
Our enemies may have thought me dead, but little did they know, it was my time to rise.