I guess I was weak.
The first sob consumed me as the dam broke. I melted onto a stone and buried my face in my hands. Sob after painful sob gutted me. I cried over the deaths of so many good people. I cried over being forced to choose between becoming the prophecy again and wearing a target on my back or being labeled dark and thrown in Carcerem.
But above everything else, I cried over losing my mom all over again. “It’s not fair. Why couldn’t she just stay gone? What did I ever do to deserve her hating me so much that she’d turn half of an entire world against me? Now if I don’t agree to be the prophecy again, the Council is going to label me dark. I don’t know what to do.”
“Open your eyes.”
I glanced up and choked on another sob. Cressida Clearwater, as beautiful and regal as the first time I’d seen her, her long chestnut hair flowing in the nonexistent breeze, her hazel gaze warm as she smiled, stood before me, her arms open. Without another moment’s hesitation, I sprang from the stone and rushed into her embrace.
She held me tight, brushing my hair with her hand, whispering reassurances. “You’re stronger than you know, and you’re not alone. You have one half of an entire world on your side.”
I pulled back. “I do, don’t I?”
“It’s going to take all of you together.” She moved to the opening facing the water and stared out. “Including those wrongfully imprisoned.”
“You mean the magically enhanced elementals sent to Carcerem?” Why hadn’t I thought of that? As the prophecy, I had an in with the Council. I might not be a full-fledged member, but I had influence.
“You could free them.” She glanced over her shoulder.
“That’s exactly what I’m going to do.” I turned to leave, then paused to address her again. “Thank you, Cressida. You’ve been more of a mom to me than my own mother.”
“We prophecies must remain united. Go, Katy. Save your people.”
Save my people. Damn straight I was going to save my people. I marched with purpose, not slowing until I entered the tent and spotted Virgil Graves. Let’s do this. “Virgil?”
He looked up and almost smiled. Almost. “Ms. Reed,” he greeted once I stopped in front of him. “Have you reached a decision?”
“I have, and it comes with a condition.”
“That is?”
“You release the magically enhanced elementals from Carcerem, and I’ll agree to be the prophecy again.”
His mouth fell open. He snapped it closed and fidgeted with his tie. “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
“Take it or leave it.”
“Do you know what you’re asking? The magically enhanced are unnatural. They aren’t one of us.”
“You sound just like Samantha Reed when you say that.”
He stiffened, clearly insulted.
“Look, the dark side gained a ton of new elementals tonight, some pretty high up the food chain within the Council. They continue to grow in size and power. We need all the elementals we can get, magically enhanced or not, if we’re going to stand a chance against them. You want me to lead this army? Release the magically enhanced elementals. That’s my one condition.”
Reluctantly, he nodded. “You have a deal. Welcome back to the prophecy, Ms. Reed.”
“After their release,” I amended. “I’m not the prophecy until then.” When he didn’t move, I clapped twice. “Chop, chop. Let’s go free us some elementals.”
“THAT’S ALL OF THEM.” A large bald man handed Virgil Graves a clipboard. “Sign here, and they’re all yours.”
Graves scribbled his signature on the paper and handed it back. “It’s done.”
“I never thought they belonged here anyway.” He nodded at the white bus now full of magically enhanced elementals, all outfitted with their very own elemutus.
Although I understood the need to keep their powers muted until we could be sure they wouldn’t turn against the Council, I still didn’t approve of the method. The bus driver opened the glass door when I knocked on it. I stepped up into the bus to address everyone.
When I recognized the frizzy scarlet hair matted with grime and dirt, I stilled. No wonder we hadn’t seen her at the academy. “Lulu? What are you doing here? You’re not magically enhanced.”
Her usually over-painted face was void of makeup. Her skin seemed to sag on her bones. Did they not feed them at Carcerem? She had to have lost ten pounds in a week. “I made the mistake of telling the Council what I thought of them forcing all the students through tribunal again.” She nodded at those on the bus. “They’re just kids, Katy. They didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Katy!” Trevor exclaimed as he jumped out of his seat and barreled down the aisle to throw his arms around me. “I knew you’d come.”
“Hey, buddy.” I pushed him back. “I promised you I would. Now, go find your seat. We need to get going.”
“Okay!” He practically skipped back to his seat. The other students finally laughed and broke into loud chatter.
I took a seat in the front as Graves climbed aboard. He swept that deep piercing blue gaze across the occupants, gave a single nod, and took a seat on the opposite side of the aisle. The bus belched smoke as it took off down the road.
As we drove over the Deception Pass Bridge, I looked out the window to catch one last glimpse at the elemental prison high on the rock cliff. Good riddance. When I turned back around, what I saw had the blood in my veins freeze.
Samantha Reed, floating on air, came up over the side of the bridge and landed right in front of the bus. The driver yelped and slammed on the brakes, sending the bus skidding sideways at fifty miles per hour.
Screams filled the air. Everyone grabbed hold of the seat in front of them and held on for dear life. The tires shrieked
