That moment in the forest, when he’d watched Allyra deal with the Cleaner, he’d known that the girl he’d grown up with, and loved for so long, was lost forever. Allyra had shown herself to be an adept fighter in the Elemental Trials, but The Five Finals was turning her into something altogether deadlier.
There were a million things he wanted to say to her, but two words might cover every thought in his head: I’m sorry.
I’m sorry I let my need to find Emma cloud my judgment.
I’m sorry I hid my Gift from you.
I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth about your father’s death.
I’m sorry you had to fight in the Elemental Trials.
I’m sorry you have to fight in The Five Finals.
I’m sorry that I’m afraid of what you’re becoming.
I’m sorry I played a part in making you into what you are today.
I’m sorry.
So many apologies, but he couldn’t say a word of it.
For the first time in his life, Jamie found he didn’t know what to say to Allyra. Feeling like the worst type of coward, he turned and walked away.
Chapter 22 – Allyra
Still gobbling down an apple, Allyra raced toward the sparring room. Despite the improved relations with Jason, he could still be counted on to be grumpy whenever she was late. With only eight pairs left in The Five Finals, training had taken on a new urgency and seriousness, which meant there was little time left for mundane things like food and sleep. So, Jason’s quirks notwithstanding, she was going to take her time and eat the apple.
Swallowing the last bite, she opened the door to the sparring room. “I know, I know—I’m late. But it’s only a few minutes, so don’t get your panties in a twist—”
Too late, she realized that Jason wasn’t the only person waiting for her in the sparring room. Leaning against the wall next to Jason was Master Akerman, looking highly entertained, in sharp contrast to Jason.
There was no taking her words back, so she composed herself and nodded at Master Akerman. “Good afternoon, sir.”
“Miss Warden,” he replied, still making no attempt to hide his amusement. He pointed between Jason and Allyra. “Remind me again how you two knuckleheads managed to get this far?”
“It’s a mystery to us all, sir,” Jason replied sardonically.
Master Akerman shook his head with lingering disbelief. “Well, somehow, you’re still here. So—lucky me, I get to spend more time with you.”
“Sarcasm, sir?” she queried lightly.
“Never. I can’t get enough of your sparkling personalities. But enough time wasting, let’s get down to it—Evanescence—that’s why I’m here. If, by some miracle, you two make it to the Fourth Final, you’re going to need it.”
He glanced at Jason. “I’m guessing you know how already.”
Jason nodded. “Of course,” he drawled, making no effort at humility. Allyra wanted to roll her eyes but managed to control the instinct. Master Akerman felt no such need for restraint.
“Try swallowing that arrogance sometime, it might build some character,” he said before turning to Allyra and studying her intently. “Now, you present an interesting case. You’ve crossed the Veil into the Between, so the natural assumption would be that you know how to Evanesce. But, I’ve been teaching long enough to realize that assumption of knowledge is not something a good teacher should ever do. So, Miss Warden, tell me what you know about Evanescence.”
Her mind leapt to the memory of passing through the Gate—the bright light, the warmth, the siren’s call. The feeling of being herself but also not. Of being somehow both more and altogether less. It had terrified her.
“Come on, spit it out,” Master Akerman said cheerfully. “I’m here to help you.”
“I know what it feels like,” she said carefully, “but I’m not sure I would know how to make it happen.”
“Back to basics then. Evanescence is about transformation. You have a starting point, an intermediate point, and an end point. The start and end should be the same, the intermediate stage will be your Element. Evanescence is the process through which something is transformed into an Elemental form then back into its original form.”
Master Akerman picked up a rose. It was a deep, glossy red with dark green leaves. He turned it slowly in his hand, admiring it. “Lasting Love,” he said. “An apt name, I think, for something so beautiful. But, let’s see just how lasting it is.”
He handed the flower to Jason. “Would you care to demonstrate?”
Jason took the rose, his expression bored. He called a flame to his hand and glanced at Allyra. “Watch,” he commanded.
The flame in his hand started to get bigger, growing and licking its way up the rose’s stem, caressing the leaves and finally the bloom itself. But the Fire didn’t burn where it touched the flower, instead the rose seemed to collapse and fade, becoming a part of the flame itself.
Like a magician doing a trick, Jason snapped the fingers of his other hand and a fire burst into existence in his palm, burning a brilliant white. In its center, a spot appeared, and the flame slowly retreated from it, leaving only a perfectly formed rose behind.
Ever theatrical, Jason offered her the rose with an exaggerated bow. Ignoring him, she took the rose and studied it, her forehead furrowed in concentration, as if the rose held the secret to successfully Evanescing it. It was perfect—glossy red, darker at the center than the edges.
Master Akerman took the rose from her and in turn, examined it. Eventually, he looked up at
