“The Elements here aren’t real – not true fire or water – “
“But real enough to burn you to death or drown you?” She’d interjected.
He’d shrugged carelessly, as if they were discussing nothing more than the weather. “Yes. Real enough for your mind, but to not answer your call.”
“Seems like a rigged system.” She’d grumbled back.
It had been six weeks since that particular conversation, but she still thought it was a rigged system.
“There’s one thing you need to remember above all else…” Alex said, but she knew the lesson well by now.
“I know, I know – the first law of thermodynamics.”
Alex wasn’t much of a student of science and her statement was, as usual, met with a quizzical expression.
“The law of conservation of energy.” She supplied helpfully.
“Whatever you want to call it.” Alex replied, still appearing utterly unconvinced. “Explain it to me simply.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Energy cannot be made or unmade.”
“Which means…” He prompted.
Allyra huffed an irritated breath at him. Alex loved making her echo this, as if endless repetition might somehow better prepare her for the real world. “That it is easier to transform an existing flame than create the flame itself. If I want to make a roaring wildfire from a candle flame, I need to supply the power myself.”
He nodded and continued for her. “It is the same energy you use to walk, to breathe, so it’s important to always be aware of your reserves of power, and not to overspend yourself…”
“Or else I can end up killing myself.” She finished. “I know this particular horror story.”
“Don’t be glib.” He said, glaring at her.
“Or what?” She shot back. “None of this matters now. I’m not going to know how much of a power reserve I have until I go back, and nothing you say now will help me control the Elements any better.”
He hissed out a slow breath and like air rushing out a balloon, he seemed to deflate. “I just hate the idea of you facing the Trials alone. I wish I could better prepare you.”
They stood in silence, both staring at the horizon. The final truth was left unsaid between them, but even unvoiced it fed tension into the atmosphere until the air positively sizzled with it: if she didn’t have the necessary power or if she couldn’t control the Elements, she wouldn’t long survive the Trials no matter how competent she was physically.
Eventually she swept the undeniably pessimistic thoughts out her head and changed the subject abruptly. “Is it me or is it getting darker?”
He picked her sword off the ground and handed it to her, slipping his own gracefully back into his baldric.
“I was wondering when you would notice it.”
“I’ve been rather busy lately.” She replied sardonically. “You know – getting my ass kicked – repeatedly.”
“The light here is tied to the phases of the moon on Earth. It’s the only real indication of time moving in the Between. The extremes of light represent the full moon. You arrived here under a full moon at a point when the light was at its brightest. The next full moon will come when it is almost completely dark. The crests and lulls of light indicate when a Gate can most easily be opened, though the time between them is erratic and unpredictable. Sometimes it feels like months have passed, sometimes only days.” He raised his eyes to the sky, and then smiled at her, a small wistful smile. “I don’t think it will be long now. You’ll be home soon.”
She felt her heart clench at his words, ice coursing through her veins, creeping into her bones. Her lungs felt hollow and she struggled to keep her breathing steady. It was supposed to be what she wanted, her single point of focus. It would mean returning to Jamie and starting to put this madness behind her. So why was she not happier, more excited?
She wasn’t ready to analyze why she felt so empty. She forced a smile. “Right. Home.”
Chapter 15 – Allyra
As the light drained away, their world seemed to close in on them. Increasingly, Alex was reluctant to leave the safety of Sanctuary Hill. Allyra’s abilities may have improved with every day she spent in the Between, but it didn’t escape her notice that Alex kept them well clear of Revenants. She remembered her last encounter with them well enough that she was grateful for his care.
Allyra couldn’t help but feel increasingly tense as the darkness gathered around them. Even Alex wasn’t immune to the effects; only Mandla alone welcomed the gathering darkness as it meant that Alex was around so much more. Alex remained the center of Mandla’s universe, but he’d come to accept her too. In turn she’d become fond of his easy, happy nature.
Mandla’s favorite pastime was watching her and Alex spar. He would study them with quiet intensity, completely unlike his usual exuberant nature. The childish longing on his face made her wonder if he could remember another life, one where he was Alex’s sparring partner, where he was both Gifted and powerful.
The days ticked by, every moment bringing her closer to home until she could bear it no longer, finally broaching the subject she’d avoided for so long. They’d just finished a round of hand-to-hand sparring and the adrenaline was still rushing through her veins, making her just brave and rash enough to finally ask Alex, “Won’t you come back with me?”
Alex froze, his entire body becoming still and hard. His eyes landed briefly on Mandla and his features softened into a fond smile, reserved only for Mandla. He turned back to her and shook his head.
There was a finality to the gesture.
She realized the truth then, and remembered the moment she’d crossed the Veil – engulfed by the infinite brightness and the siren call for her to let go, to become a part of the Veil. It had taken all her willpower to resist, to form
