Chapter Seventeen

“How did you get past the ward?” Xae demanded.

It was the one thing no one else had thought to ask of the Elements in the hour or so we'd been meeting with them. And it was a meeting. We had even included General Ranor. We wanted to be open with everyone this time. Well, not everyone right away. We were discussing it with the General, and then, if he approved, we'd speak to the rest of the wraith lords.

“As I told Ember, Death has weakened himself by bonding with Aranren,” Air said. “He has limitations now that none of us have. You cannot ward against the Elements.”

“But you can ward against a dickhead with a god complex,” Fire said.

“A god complex?” I asked. “You mean, he's complicated?”

“No, I mean he's fucking mental. He thinks he's a god.”

“Mental?”

“Crazy. Bonkers. Certifiable. Off his rocker. Nutso—”

“Don't mind Fire,” Water said, cutting her off. “She likes to use phrases she learns in other—”

“Do not!” Earth roared. “There is only so much I will agree to share.”

Everyone went silent. Well, all the non-elementals.

Water got annoyed. “Fine, you don't have to get pissy with me. I thought we were being open with them?”

“Ugh, now you're doing it. Can we just stick to the vernacular of this world?”

“This world?” I jumped on that. “Meaning there are others?”

“Oh, that was all you, Rocky,” Fire said, her tone amused. “Nice job. I never said shit about that. You could have just let them think I was woo-woo. I mean, I am Fire. Having a strange way of speaking isn't all that strange.”

“Forget about other worlds,” Air said to us. “This is the only world you will ever know and the only one you have to save. Focus on Varr.”

“I believe we are more focused than you four are,” Rath said.

“Watch it, pointy-ears!” Fire snapped. “We're here to help, and it's a huge step for us to even talk to you. Never, in the history of all the inhabited universes, have we ever spoken to anyone. Have a little respect. We may seem odd to you, but we're genuine and we care.”

“Sorry, ma'am,” Rath said. “You're right. Please forgive my rudeness. Thank you for going against your nature to help us.”

“That's better,” Fire said. “And you're welcome. Now, back to Death. He can't get past your ward because, even when he is not inside Aranren, he is connected to him, making him just physical enough to be warded against. He's like a balloon tied to a rock. It can float about, but if the rock can't go somewhere, neither can it.”

“What's a balloon?” I asked.

“For fuck's sake,” Fire huffed. “Can't you figure it out by the context?”

“Context?”

“The way it's used, Sparky! A balloon is a ball full of . . . shit, you won't know what helium is either. Uh, it's—”

“It's a floating object,” Air interrupted. “Now, let's get back to the subject at hand. All you need to know is that we can go places that Death cannot. You are safe from him here.”

“That's good to hear,” Ranor said. “And I don't need to hear anymore. I can feel the truth in your words and my bones. You are here to help, and I approve of you training Lord Ember. But before you get started, I have to speak with the rest of the lords. This shouldn't be my decision alone.” He stood up. “I'll summon everyone to the dining hall. Please, join us, esteemed Elements.”

“We will be there, General,” Air said.

The General nodded and faded downstairs.

“He called us 'esteemed,'” Fire said, her tone a mix of glee and amusement.

Seconds later, a knock came at the door. I was speaking with Air, so Keltyr answered it. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Vex.

“He's steady, that one,” Air said. “But you've been flighty with him. Puts you out of balance.”

“No, I haven't,” I said.

Fire snorted.

“How can you snort without a nose?” I asked.

“It's a sound. I can make sounds,” her tone went dry. “Not so bright for the destined savior of the world. Are you, Sparky?”

“Oh, leave him be,” Water said. “It was a valid question. Although, she was right to snort, Ember. You have been wishy-washy with him.”

“Wishy-washy?”

“Yes. It means unstable. Back and forth. Weak in willpower.”

“Weak in willpower?”

“Yes, you can't decide whether you love him or not.”

“It's not that I can't decide,” I said. “I can't be certain of my feelings with all this shit with Ara going on. I can't focus. And love can't be decided upon anyway.”

“Blowin' hot and cold,” Fire said.

“You know a lot about our private affairs,” Vexen said.

I winced and turned toward him. “Sorry, Vex. Uh, these are the Elements.”

“Yes, I've heard,” Vexen drawled, his bright stare shifting around the room as if he could see them. “They're nosier than I expected.”

“Nosy?!” Earth rumbled.

“We have been watching Ember for a while,” Air said. “We needed to know whether he was worth our interference. You happened to be with him.”

“Yeah, otherwise we wouldn't give a shit about you,” Fire said.

“Fire!” Air snapped.

“Well, we'd give a shit in a very general, caring about everyone, kind of way,” Fire amended. “You know, Ember, you probably don't need him.”

Everyone went still.

“What did you say?” Vexen growled.

“You heard me, kitty-cat,” Fire said. “He probably won't need you. Our training may be enough.”

“Probably. May,” Vex repeated. “You don't know anything for certain.”

“No one knows anything for certain,” Earth said. “Not even the Goddess knows if her predictions will come true.”

“Wait. What?” I asked. “My destiny isn't certain?”

“Of course not,” Fire said. “What's the point of knowing the future if you can't change it? A prophecy is only the most likely result with the current path. But it changes every day. Usually just a little. Not enough to alter the end. That being said, if you were to vigorously oppose the prediction, you could change it.”

I swayed on my feet.

“Ember!” Xaedren steadied me.

“I'm all right,” I said. “Just surprised.”

“There's no need for such concern,” Earth rumbled. “You don't want to change your destiny, do you?”

“No,” I said.

“Then just do as your instincts lead you. You'll keep to the path you need to be on.”

“Instincts?”

“You like to repeat things, don't you?” Fire muttered. “Listen, Sparky, you've already mastered Elemental Magic at a level most people on this planet never reach. But you've forgotten one of your first lessons, and it's an important one.”

“What's that?”

“Seeing through them.”

“Seeing—”

“Don't you fucking repeat me,” Fire cut me off. “For fuck's sake. Seeing through the Elements. You know how to know them. Us. Look at the world through the magic. That is how you learn to connect deeply with it.”

“Death tried to alter my vision of the world,” I whispered.

“Ah,” Air said. “That's why you haven't done more with your magic.”

“That's not it,” Fire huffed. “He never tried to connect with our magic before Death got to him. He's just a wanker.”

“He's not a wanker,” Water said. “He's young.”

“What's a wanker?” I asked.

“You don't want to know,” Air said gravely. “Ember, we are with you now, and we will guide you. Do not worry. Fire was getting ahead of herself. When the Wraith Lords have given their consent, we will begin your advanced training, and your first exercise will be to look at the world through the Elements with your new, deeper understanding of them.”

“All right,” I said. Then I remembered Vex. “Did you come to talk to me?”

Vexen grimaced. “I did, but it sounds as if you don't have the time for it.” He turned and headed for the door.

“Vex.” I went after him and grabbed his hand. “I'll make the time.”

Vexen's hand clenched around mine and his tight lips softened for a second. But then his gaze shifted over my shoulder, and his expression tightened up again. Vex let go of me. It felt as if he did it in more than the physical way.

“Later,” he said and left.

“Fuck,” I growled and spun around to see what had made him leave.

The men suddenly had other places to look.

“Did you scare him?” I demanded.

Xae made a scoffing sound. “He's a wraith lord. It would take more than a few glares from us to scare him.”

“So you glared at him.” I set my hands on my hips.

“We conveyed that this wasn't the time for a conversation,” Rath said pointedly. Then, instead of arguing with me, he faded.

“Son of a bitch,” I muttered.

Xae shrugged his wide shoulders and followed Rath.

I looked at Kel. He grinned at me and faded. I turned to Taroc. He was already gone.

“Son of a bitch!” I faded after them, the sound of Fire laughing following me.