Chapter 23
Eliane
“Hazel died three years ago.” The words circle in my head.
Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
No, that can’t be true. I saw her. In the trials. She rattles, just like me. I felt the sister bond.
“You are lying,” I breathe out. “You are lying!” I shout at them, aiming forward.
My hand shakes with anger, my blood boiling.
Anisha takes a step back as I rush forwards furiously, livid even.
Kyan steps in front of her. I need to throw something.
My first dagger flies through the air, landing just next to Kyan’s brown beard.
Before I can throw another dagger, something bursts.
Glass crashes onto the floor. Light shines so bright, the lanterns hanging on the walls and lightning balls must have snapped.
A scream erupts from my throat, and suddenly something lifts from my shoulders. The sun shines blindingly bright through the now open window, warming my skin. Sweat drips down my back.
“Honey, your skin,” Braxton whispers concerned. I look down at my hands and Braxton answers at once.
“It is giving light.”
My gaze goes up through the window and from there straight to the clock.
It is 5:30.
The sun is shining bright, probably brighter than ever before.
It is only then that I notice my whole body is tingling.
I blink my eyes and as I open them, Kyan drags my mother outside using his flash ability.
I don’t bother following them. I must look for proof.
My hands look like light erupts from them.
In front of me, a path of light lays down, leading upstairs into a room.
I follow it, stamping through the house.
Another lantern bursts and the candle standing inside it falls to the ground.
The wooden floor burns fast, but I don’t care.
I am already burning.
The first door swings open and a girl’s bedroom appears behind it.
A room covered in green—plants and flowers.
A room of a girl with a nature signet. The plants are alive.
Green and bright and healthy. Not the type of plants you would expect when somebody died three years ago.
My hand brushes one of the green leaves and my fingers leave a trail of light sparkles behind on it. A scream erupts from my throat.
“I knew they were lying. She isn’t dead.”
The heat must have gone up with at least fifteen degrees in the last few minutes. My body burns as I open the first drawer with violence. A kid’s voice filling my ears, like there are memories floating in the room. Or is there really a kid’s voice? The voice tickles my brain in a familiar way.
I must be hallucinating.
It is the only explanation. My attention gets dragged towards her bed. I kneel down to the floor, light flying under the bed. My hands try to find something.
Yes.
A handle of a suitcase or something touches my fingers, and I drag it from under the bed. A small brown leathery case. I lay it down on my legs as I sit cross legged. My fingers burn.
“Stop it,” I hiss to myself in frustration. I shake my fingers to ease the burning sensation, but it doesn’t help. On the case is a small combination lock.
Shit.
Smoke fills my nose and despite my power, warning lights shine bright from under the door.
Fire.
But one way or another, it doesn’t come closer.
Footsteps fill the hallway.
Braxton.
I don’t have to look to be sure it is him.
The way he prickles my skin is the only confirmation I need.
The door opens and I see the shadows of the fire burn.
I am kind of surprised he didn’t follow me earlier.
Maybe he didn’t want to get dragged further into this mess.
He sits down next to me without saying a word as my fingers drag over the lock trying multiple combinations.
“Her birthday maybe?” he suggests, without asking any questions. His voice is low and raspy, but it has something sweet in it. Maybe he is right. Think, Eliane. Her birthday. My fingers cross the code, but I can’t get the correct numbers in place because of my aching fingers.
“Aaahg!” I throw the case on the floor, leaving scratches on the wood. I focus my eyes. Burn marks. I left black burn marks. I rub my temples with my burning fingers, trying to calm myself down. Braxton grabs the case.
“What is it?” he asks. He seems utterly calm despite my anger. Normally, he is the grumpy one.
“February 16th.” I sigh. He shakes his head as he tries the code.
“That’s not it.” I press my face in my hands, feeling desperate.
“Sorry,” I whisper. “I have no idea what it can be otherwise.” My fingers feel hot on my skin, but the light around us seems to ease and even the sun goes back into the normal sunrise. I can hear Braxton try the code again.
It clicks.
I look up from my hands as he pushes the case into my arms.
“There you go.” He sighs, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. My eyes wide as I look at him.
“How did you do it? What was it?” I blur out. He closes his eyes and lifts his head back. My eyes trace the code on the lock.
2904
I try to wrap my head around the number standing on the lock. I repeat the numbers in my head, like a song on replay.
April 29th? No! My heart drops at the fact that Hazel saw it as an important enough date to use it for her lock. Manes I hate how much I mean to her. And how could he possibly know that date? That isn’t possible. I turn to him, but his gaze is already focused and waiting desperately to meet mine.
“The day your parents abandoned you,” he explains.
How can he possibly know that?
A yawn escapes my mouth, and my movements start to slow down.
“Your walls are down, Honey.” Braxton sounds worried, but I close my eyes. I feel my body collapse onto the floor and warm strong arms lift me up.
I blink my eyes, trying to see what is happening. Another silhouette sprints out of the house.
A blond hair stroke is being brushed away from my eyes and big fingers touch my cheeks gently. I hear fire crunch and things fall to the ground.
Fresh air brushes my skin and screaming fills my ears.
“No! Not our home!” someone cries out.
I blink my eyes and see Hazel’s home burning into flames.
Within a split second, her home is gone.
Even though my body and limbs are weak, I hold the papers with all I have.
I blink my eyes and look up. Braxton holds me firmly as he walks away from the scene. His jaw is locked, and he looks at me. He gives me the thing that gives me the most comfort.
A smile with those dimples.
My dimples.
His face changes and as I blink my eyes, lips brush against my burning skin. Soft lips leave a print on my forehead.
I close my eyes and for once in my life I am grateful for the fact that I am bonded to someone—for not being on my own and free. Braxton drags me away from everything as I try to realize what just happened.
Without thinking about the consequences of stealing Hazel her plan to fulfill her dreams, it might have become Hazel’s one chance of making them come true.