The Burning

Chapter 1It wasn’t until I saw the telltale cables of Zakim Bridge piercing the sky over the Charles River that I realized we were about to enter Boston. I’d assumed my brother would be taking us straight back to Montreal. Or worse, back to Aeden. I had felt the sting in Hollis’ gaze, every time he seared me with his icy glare in the rearview mirror. I’d suspected a tongue-lashing was imminent, but so far he’d remained silent. I suspected he had no words for what I’d done. I knew I was having a hard time processing it myself. David’s head lay warmly against my shoulder, his long sandy hair tickling my neck. Rather than brush it away, I reveled in it, proof that he was here, that we’d done it. A dream no longer, for the first time in weeks I finally had him at my side again. After he’d been taken by the warpers, I had started to doubt I would ever get him back. Even now, I wasn’t sure what they’d done to him, how damaged he might be. His body would heal, but his mind? I didn’t know. For weeks, all I had thought about was rescuing David. Seeing him safe. Finally, I’d done it. I was bringing him home. But at what cost? Every time Hollis’ angry eyes flicked towards me, I feared the answer. Too high. I hadn’t rescued David. I had traded one hostage for another. David was safe, but now Khai was at the mercy of the warpers, alien hybrids with a thirst for world domination. The boy I had known since birth, trained with since I could walk, confided in since I’d had wishes and dreams – he was gone, and it was all my fault. If I hadn’t insisted on saving David myself, if I hadn’t run off, none of this would have happened. Even the fact that David had been taken in the first place, if I really wanted to get down to it, even that could be traced back to my selfishness. How had we gotten here? How the hell had this happened? All I’d wanted was to enjoy my final summer of freedom before venturing further into adulthood. I had always lived a relatively unassuming life. It wasn’t like I was asking for anything much. A month hiking the wilds of Vermont, some fun clubbing and finding an apartment, then start University with my best friends. When I’d stumbled upon a secret warper encampment hidden in the woods along the Long Trail, I’d thought I could ignore the drama and finish out the hike. What was the harm, right? All I had wanted was a few quiet days, some time to finish the trail in peace. I had been stupid: dazed and distracted by my own awakening powers as a water fae. The warpers had taken their discovery as an invitation to move on their brethren, attacking the starseed headquarters in Montreal and taking David in one efficient strike. My family had said they’d take care of it. That they’d work with the starseeds to find my boyfriend, save everyone. They’d saved no one. Weeks had turned into months and still David hadn’t been found. I had taken matters into my own hands, fled Valhalla and dragged my friends along with me to search for David. Khai and Hollis had followed us, to stop us maybe, or help us, I don’t know. They’d shown up just after we’d found David and were trying to escape the facility, the warpers hot on our tail. All I’d been thinking of, the absolute single thing on my mind, had been getting David to safety. And that’s when it had all gone horribly, terribly wrong. David had gotten out. Everyone had gotten out. Except Khai. He’d told me to run. I hadn’t wanted to. I’d tried to help him as a horde of warpers held him down. But my powers had failed, and he’d screamed for me to run. And gods help me, I did.