The door opens, and Luke walks in with a large glass. "Here you go." He hands it to me and smiles. "Drink up."
Not wasting any time, I grab it from him and take a big sip. The cool water hits the back of my parched throat, and it hurts for a brief second before it brings relief. I drink it so fast that water spills out of my mouth and drips down my chin.
"Whoa there, firecracker." Dax laughs. "You're going to spill more than you drink."
When the glass is empty, I lower it and hand it back to Luke. "Thanks."
His eyes widen, and his mouth opens and closes.
"So, are you both ready to go get the artifact?" We don't have any time to waste, and I'm worried that I could lose control again any second.
"Of course." Luke closes his mouth and sets the glass down on the table. "Let's get there and get back."
Dax steps over to me and touches both mine and Luke's arm. "I'm ready when you are."
I close my eyes so I can picture the world perfectly. I need to make sure we land in just the right location. What comes to mind is a place where there is emerald blue water everywhere. I can't see land in any direction. "You both need to be prepared to swim." Before they can ask any questions, I project the image out to Dax, ready for him to take us there.
"Wow, you weren't kidding when you said it's a water world." Dax takes in a deep breath, and then he removes his hand from Luke to draw the portal. "Shit."
"Christina, are you projecting the image still?" Luke's voice is puzzled.
"Yeah." I open my eyes and see that Dax's portal isn't working. "What the hell?"
"I... I don't know." Dax shakes his head. "Maybe I'm the tired one this time."
That could be true. The first time in Hell, I couldn't locate the Flame because I was too tired from everything else. My abilities weren't working right. His could be the same way.
A loud knock at the door startles me. A butler joins us, his face red from exertion or embarrassment. I'm not sure. "Good afternoon. The Elder Couple has requested the presence of the two of you." He points at Luke and me. "They request a full council to discuss what happened here earlier today."
Oh great, now I have to see them and act like an Elder.
"We will be right there." Luke nods and grins. "Are they in the meeting room here?"
"Yes, they are there waiting on you both." The butler bows and scurries out of the room.
That's so stupid. They shouldn't be bowing to us. Hell, they are part reapers after all.
"Do I need to go with you two?" Dax is frowning and popping his knuckles.
"No, that would cause more trouble than it's worth." Luke focuses on me and nods to the door. "Come on. We better get moving. They get ornery if they have to wait."
"Sounds like someone else I know." I roll my eyes and smile. "And don't worry, Dax. I can take them."
"I'm sure you can." He chuckles as we leave the room.
All too soon, we enter the same room where the council threatened me not even three months ago. The Elder couple are standing on the side of the room, deep in conversation.
Today, the lady has her gray hair in her typical updo. She's wrapped an arm around her waist, making the long lavender blue dress bunch.
The man is shaking his head and tugging at his black suit jacket. Whatever they’re discussing, they seem to be riled up.
"Well, good afternoon." Luke's voice is charismatic, and he smiles at them like they are good friends.
They both smile at him, but when their eyes turn to me, the smiles fall from their faces.
"You." The lady points at me, and her voices quivers. "You've been a member of this council for a short time, and you've already messed up our Mansion."
Why did they even agree to allow me on the council? Luke still won't tell me the answer to that one. "No big deal. I hear the emergency crew is on the way. If you threaten the right people, no one will ever find out what happened."
"Christina." Luke's tone is chastising, but I can see the humor in his eyes. "Even if you are part of this council right now, it is temporary. You should remember that and be nice."
"You, little girl, need to learn respect." The Elder man looks down his nose at me. "Even if you have similar powers as we do, we can still squash you." Even as he says the words, the elements around him attempt to jerk away from him. Almost as if they are afraid of him touching them.
Opening up my senses, I connect to the air and earth in the room. Even though the elements don't speak, I can tell how they are feeling, and right now, they can sense how desperate this couple is to control them.
"I don't understand how she could be the one able to control these strong artifacts." The lady wrinkles her nose and glares. "Someone of my caliber should be that person."
Oh, hell no. I'm tired of how she cuts me down. "See, that's where..."
Luke grabs my arm and squeezes hard. "That may be true, but the fact remains, if we want the power of the artifacts on our side, then she is part of us."
Dammit, he's trying to be reasonable, but I just want to smack her.
"Not if she doesn't get the fourth one." The lady arches an eyebrow and gives me a menacing smile.
Nice, she wants me to implode. I'll make sure she's standing right beside me.
"Well, the witch came to visit her before we left for Hell." Luke frowns and pulls me closer to her. "She knows how to disperse the artifacts back to their
