Chapter forty-six
His betrayal is a monster with fangs and poison blood.
I feel betrayed by Micah, deceived by the one person I’d come to trust, despite a world that has woven a tale for me rich with lies.
I know I needed to test my skills and learn to use my fire, but the way Micah tricked me into entering the Underbelly, leaving me there alone, is what has me tied in knots.
I have no desire to see or speak to him, and thankfully, he keeps his distance.
I’m not even certain of what I feel for him right now, aside from anger.
I’m really angry.
I spend the afternoon and evening secluded in the library reading about the Underbelly of Elysium.
Apparently, every world has one, and the idea that one of these demon prisons might break open and wreak havoc is terrifying.
They’re guarded by Archangel magic, but is that as impenetrable as the passages I’ve read claim?
That evening, I hang out in my room and do something I have not done in what feels like a lifetime.
I spellcast a TV and pizza and watch a cheesy Hallmark movie.
It’s an indulgence, but I need a little taste of humanity right now, something light and bright that reminds me of the innocent lives I need to protect, not destroy.
My sleep is restless, filled with nightmares of demons.
Come dawn, I don’t even think about meeting Micah to train, and he’s smart enough not to come looking for me.
Instead, I shower, dress in my battle gear—black fatigues and boots—tie my hair back, and rift to the library.
I spellcast my breakfast as I study the asset of fire and the techniques to teach myself to control it.
Now that it’s activated, I’m eager to learn to use it safely. I have to learn to use it safely.
Once it’s late enough for the sun to sit high in the sky, I rift to the lighthouse, and when Silas appears in the dining room, I’m waiting, sitting at the table, a steaming cup of Starbucks in hand. He halts in front of the table, gives me a hard look, and then grimaces. “Oh, shit. What’s wrong?”
Apparently, Micah hasn’t been bragging about tricking me into using my fire. “I need Gabriella.”
“I’m here.” She appears at the corner of the table, dressed in her favorite green fatigues, her silky hair pulled back at her nape, her skin pale perfection. She, too, inspects me, and her brow pinches. “What’s wrong?”
“Micah took me to the Underbelly and left me there to die.”
Neither of them moves, but there’s a jolt of shock radiating through the room. Gabriella slides into a seat. “You survived, though, I see,” she dares tentatively. “That’s good.”
Zeke appears out of nowhere, standing to the right of Gabriella. He’s dressed in black, dark hair slicked back from his face, and the lethal quiet of him would be comforting if he weren’t so damn loyal to Micah. “I heard you found your fire.”
Micah is talking after all.
“That’s good news,” Gabriella exclaims. “Really good news.”
“And scary as fuck,” Silas mutters, reminding us all that I’m the lethal one, not them, not Zeke. “On that note,” Silas adds, “I’m hungry.” He sits down, and a full breakfast spread appears on the table with everything you could ever imagine.
“Is it good?” Zeke asks, watching me, gauging where I’m at with this new development.
“He threw me into the Underbelly,” I say, incredulous over the question.
“So, no. It’s not good. I’m not good.” He arches a brow, and I hold my hands up in defeat.
“Okay, yes, it’s good that I’ve activated my fire asset, but there were better ways to make that happen.
” I glance at Gabriella. “Can we test out my fire and see what I can do?”
“Yes, of course. Now?”
“After you eat.”
“Oh, I’ve eaten. This is all for Silas.” She smirks at him. “He doesn’t understand that gluttony is a sin.”
“You could use a little gluttony in your life, Gabriella,” Silas says rather pointedly. “I’ll help when you’re ready.”
“You need Chie incorporated in your training,” Zeke says, his attention on me as he clearly tunes out Silas and Gabriella. “It’s a good way to calm your mind and body.”
“Chie? What is that?”
“It’s a type of mediation.”
I crinkle my nose. “Really?”
“Really,” he assures me.
“I hate meditation. I can’t be that still.”
“You need to be centered and balanced in every way. Know yourself. Know your abilities. Meet me in the octagon at four. We’ll work on those things.”
“It does help,” Gabriella chimes in. “Zeke actually helped me learn to control my water asset. The truth is, he’s probably exactly what you need right now.”
“If I don’t work out my frustrations first,” I say, “no one is calming my mind, not even you, Zeke.”
Silas fist bumps his chest. “I feel that to the core.”
Zeke inclines his chin. “Fair enough.”
“The bay, then?” Gabriella asks.
“Yes,” I say. “The bay.”
We’re about to rift away when Zeke quickly adds, “I know you’re angry, Ember, but he did what was necessary.”
“Yes, well, fuck you, too, then, Zeke.”
I rift away.
We don’t bother with a barrier.
Gabriella and I sit down at the cauldron while I attempt to create fire and fail.
That is, until I close my eyes and envision the serpents multiplying and slithering a path toward me in the Underbelly.
I remember it with such clarity that I funnel the fear I’d experienced toward the water that soon becomes flames.
Gabriella is giddy, clapping and hopping up and down.
We spend hours playing with my flames, and it becomes easier and easier for me to produce fire with simply my will, instead of only when I felt fear in the Underbelly.
Yoga with Zeke is interesting. He’s a giant warrior that has me doing downward dog. It’s kind of crazy, but I take what he’s teaching me seriously. When we finally match swords, he has me breathing in between the clash of our blades.
I end my day of training with Silas. “Are you planning to BBQ me?” he asks. “Or just cut me again?”
His taunting is constant, and it takes me a while to realize that he’s testing that mental strength Zeke is working to create in me.
I’m stronger, though. I feel it. There’s a part of me that woke up inside the Underbelly, and when I leave my session with Silas, I walk away without needing more than a small drop of soto.
The next morning, I rift to the lighthouse for breakfast, and Micah is there, sitting at the head of the table that will seat six when there are only five of us.
Zeke is to Micah’s right. Silas is next to him, and Gabriella is at the end of the table.
Micah is, of course, at the head of the table, and the one open seat is to the right of him.
I can either rift away, or sit next to him.
The entire room is silent, as if waiting to see what I will do.
I won’t run.
I sit next to him, refusing to look at him and reaching for the pot of coffee sitting in the middle of the table, but I’m aware of him, oh so aware of him in every part of me.
I know that he’s clean-shaven. I know that his blue eyes are as sharp and beautiful as the new day just sliding over the horizon.
I know what he feels like and tastes like—ocean and salt and life itself. And I know he’s an asshole, too.
“Ember is doing great with her fire,” Gabriella announces. “I can’t believe how much control she has gained in what amounts to overnight.”
“That’s good to hear,” Micah replies tightly.
“When do we go to the Diviner?” I ask, my gaze lifting and locking with his, a punch of anger and awareness between us.
“When you have full control,” he says, “which you do not. Precision matters, or you’ll burn down a city. I’ll stay out of your training, at least for now, but I’ll be informed of your progress.” There’s a slice of ice in his voice that warns me not to cross him in front of his people.
I fail miserably at heeding that warning. “Will I be informed before I’m dropped into another demon pit?”
He pushes to his feet, his body ramrod stiff, his voice pure steel. “Come with me, Ember.”
I want to refuse, but I’m aware of his trusted friends staring at me expectantly.
He’s their leader, and while I have plenty to say to him, I’ll happily do it behind closed doors.
He walks around my chair and heads toward the stairs, with me on his heels.
I hope he’s taking me to the octagon. I want to battle him. I want to lock blades.
Instead, we stop at the small library a short walk down, and once we’re inside, he rotates to face me.
“I did what was necessary, and right now, all you’re doing is breaking apart our unit that must be intact for us to win this war, regardless of how strong you now feel on your own.
If you think it won’t take all of us to win this battle, you’re wrong. ”
“I get that. And maybe you should take your own advice. I would have gone into the Underbelly if you asked me to. Your tricks were uncalled for.”
“The edge would have been taken off, Ember, and you might not have been jolted enough to unbind your assets. But you did. You’re alive. You’re fully endowed with your powers, and we’re close to moving on to the next step.”
“I trusted you. I could have died. You would have left me to die.”
“Come on. Why would I do that? All I’ve done is fight to save you, protect you. Shelter you.”
“With what endgame?”
He tilts his head sharply. “What does that mean?”
“Everyone wants something from me. What makes you different?”