Chapter Thirty-Nine

Gabriel

I stood on the porchwith my papí while the storm rolled in. We called to everyone who passed, warning them a hurricane was approaching. At first, they shook their heads and walked away, but as the wind picked up and the water continued to rise, people started to heed our warnings, grabbing their families and a few possessions, and seeking higher ground.

The water had already risen above the sandbags and continued to rise at an alarming rate. Soon our porch steps would be buried.

I looked over my shoulder at Safina and her mother, kneeling beside the sofa, trying to soothe a frayed Mrs. Jenkens. My brothers, Moses, and Safina's father were busy moving our furniture and possessions to the second floor. I wanted to help them, but Papí said he had a more important task for me.

Papí stood at the end of the porch, not flinching as the biting wind and rain pelted him. "Come, ni?o." He spoke loudly to be heard above the din of the whistling wind. "It is time for your lessons."

I shielded my face against the onslaught. "Lessons?"

The old man arched a bushy brow. "Do not tell me you survived three days at sea because of luck, ni?o."

I swallowed a lump of regret. I didn't like to be reminded my magic was feeble. "I tried to summon a wave to carry us, but I'm not good at it."

Josef raised his hands in the air, catching raindrops on his fingertips. "Do you think I was born knowing how to speak to the elements?" he said as the wind plastered thin strands of hair to his head. "You must practice your powers if you are to get better."

My skin flamed at the thought of failing again. "I try, Papí." I raised my voice as the whistling wind began to howl. "I don't understand what I'm doing wrong."

Josef narrowed his eyes. "Let me see," he ordered. "Shift the wind away from our house."

Reluctantly, I raised my hands, putting all my energy into fighting back the wind. The current seemed to push even harder, and I had to wedge my heels against the uneven wood planks to keep from being knocked back. "See? I told you I'm no good."

Josef turned his back on the storm, shaking his head. "I think the problem is that you are fighting the wind."

I threw up my hands. "Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?"

"No," Josef yelled as the wind flattened his clothes against him. "You must become one with the elements."

He turned into the onslaught and lifted his arms to the sky. Closing his eyes, he leaned into the storm, so far over the edge of the porch, I feared the old man would tumble down the stairs. And then something remarkable happened. I could literally see a break in the current. The wind split at my papí's fingertips, arching around the old man and away from the house. The air became surprisingly calm and the din from the storm died to a whisper. The rain and wind stopped battering my burning flesh. Though the storm raged around us, the house suddenly felt as secure as a baby in a mother's arms.

"How are you doing that, Papí?" I asked.

As soon as my papí opened his eyes and stepped back, I was pelted once more with the stinging rain and wind.

"Now your turn," Josef called. "Become one with the storm."

I stood beside my papí, shielding my face with my hands. Closing my eyes, I imagined I was a current of air. I lifted my hands to the sky, and instead of working against the elements, I envisioned myself splitting in two and going around the house. The first thing I noticed was the tension in my neck caused by the strain eased. My muscles relaxed, and my mind felt as if it were soaring. My fingers tingled like a thousand tiny butterflies were escaping from the tips. The pelting elements stopped battering my exposed flesh as the air around me parted and went surprisingly quiet. So quiet that I could hear the sound of boards creaking as Papí rocked in the chair behind me.

"Papí!" I yelled to the sky. "I'm doing it!"

"Keep doing it, ni?o." Papí chuckled. "These weary bones need rest."

* * *

Safina

I STOOD ON SORE LEGS, feeling the "pop" in my bones as I arched back. There had been no calming Mrs. Jenkens using mortal means, so Mother had finally laid her hands on the hysterical woman, putting her into a fitful slumber. How long the old woman would remain asleep, I had no idea, but I was relieved to no longer hear her fret about her house when so many other unfortunate souls would lose more than just material things.

I turned to see Gabriel outside with his grandfather, and my heart swelled with pride. Gabriel stood before the storm, arms extended as the wind literally parted at his fingertips. That was when I knew Gabriel and his grandfather would keep us safe this night. I wished all of Galveston could fit inside Se?or Cortez's modest home.

I lurched forward as Gabriel's brother, Pedro, bumped into my backside.

"Oh, sorry," he said sheepishly as he hoisted a crate into his arms.

"Do you need any help?" I asked.

His cheeks flushed, and he shook his head.

My father and Gabriel's brothers were still moving furniture and boxes up to the top floors. I grumbled under my breath, wishing I had something to do, but was distracted by my growling stomach.

I headed to the kitchen, which had been stripped of all but a wood-burning stove, a small table, and two chairs.

Moses set bread, cheeses, and fruit on the table, as well as a pitcher of lemonade. "You hungry?" he asked.

I eagerly nodded and pulled up a chair but paused when I heard a moan coming from Gabriel's bedroom.

Moses nodded to the curtain that separated his room from the kitchen. "Miss Abby is worried for her friends."

As hungry as I was, I couldn't leave Abby to suffer alone. Reluctantly, I pushed back from the table and the heavenly aromas of sharp cheese and fresh-baked bread.

The howl of the wind was much louder in Gabriel's bedroom, the din intensified by the cacophony of raindrops hitting the top of the roof.

Abby was lying face-down in Gabriel's bed, sobbing into his pillow. I sat beside my friend. "Abby, dearest," I said as I stroked her back, "please stop crying."

"I can't." She spoke through a muffled sob. "My friends are going to die."

I did my best to sound reassuring. "We can't be sure of that."

Abby sat up, pulling her knees to her chest. Her eyes were bloodshot and swollen. "Se?or Cortez told me the east and west sides of the city will be lost. Lydia's house is on the west," she said on a wail before burying her face in her hands.

As if to emphasize her friend's dire situation, a loud clap of thunder shook the house, electrifying the air in the cramped room. The howling wind intensified, rattling the narrow window above our cot and sounding as if a thousand demon spirits were swirling around us.

I couldn't tell if the cries I heard outside were victims of the storm or just the howling of the wind. Of one thing I was certain, I was glad to be inside. My gaze shot to the ceiling. I truly hoped Se?or Cortez and Gabriel would be able to keep the house safe.

"I am sure they have come to realize you were telling the truth, and they have gone back to Charlotte's house," I spoke with a confidence I didn't feel.

Abby looked at me through watery eyes, sniffling loudly. "Teddy told Charlotte it would all blow over. The papers said the hurricane headed up the East Coast."

I shivered when a cry for help rose above the din. "Surely they must know by now." This time, I didn't sound confident. I couldn't help the tremor that slipped into my voice.

Abby shook her head. "I cannot sit here, not knowing if Charlotte is safe."

"Well, you can't go out in this. Moses has prepared supper. Come and eat with me. Maybe you'll feel better." As if on cue, my stomach growled. Had circumstances been different, it would've been a comical moment, though I doubted Abby heard it above the noise outside.

"I'm not hungry." Abby pouted. "I just want to be left alone. I'm sorry."

"Okay." I patted Abby's knee and stood. "I will come back and check on you."

* * *

Safina

I SAT ALONE AT THEtable, toying with my food while the walls shook around me. Even my cup rattled on the table, so hard I feared my drink would topple. Surprisingly, I had lost my appetite, and I didn't think I could stomach food, anyway. The screams outside were definitely getting louder. I didn't want to think about how many people would die. How many babies would be ripped from the arms of their mothers, and how many children would drown in the very waters they'd frolicked in just hours earlier. I smiled down at that orange cat as it rubbed against my leg, its soothing purr vibrating my bones almost as if it sensed my distress. I'd no idea where it had come from, but I was grateful for its company, and that it still didn't consider me a threat.

The kitchen door swung open, then slammed with a crack. The cat ran off, and Gabriel stood there, his hair swept back as if he'd been caught in a windy tunnel. His shirt was ripped on one side, and he had dirt on his face, but he was otherwise whole.

I patted the chair beside me and managed a weak smile. "Come sit."

He fell into a chair, taking a cool glass of juice from me. "Thank you," he said with a sigh. "Elemental magic is draining. Papí says I must eat to keep up my strength." Gabriel finished the drink and piled cheese and bread on a plate.

"I saw you parting the storm," I rose and stood behind him, massaging his shoulders, delighting in the feel of his muscles. I bent down, my lips close to his ear. "How were you doing that?"

His mouth turned up in a lopsided grin. "Working with wind is easy," he said as if it was no big deal. "Papí showed me how." Then he frowned. "Working with water is harder, but Papí says it will get easier with practice."

"You were magnificent, Gabriel." For some reason, the words hurt coming out. Why? Why would I not wish for my mate's magic to strengthen? A wave of shame washed over me when I realized the truth. I was jealous that my mate had magic and I didn't. What was wrong with me?

If my mother hadn't broken the bond, I would have no cause to feel jealous, I thought bitterly.

After Gabriel finished eating, I leaned into him, nuzzling his chest and needing to feel his heartbeat against my ear. How odd that we were no longer tethered. That our souls were not bound. Though I didn't wish to dwell on my sorrows, the louder the wind howled, the darker my thoughts became.

Now that I was no longer immortal, and Gabriel was no longer bound to my immortality, we were both vulnerable to the elements. This storm could easily claim our lives if Gabriel and his grandfather lost control of their magic. I resented my mother for breaking the bond. If I was a dragoness, Gabriel and I could have flown away from the hurricane and waited out the storm someplace safe.

Another thunderous boom shook the walls, and it felt as if all air had been sucked out of the kitchen through a vortex. I shivered against him.

"Don't worry, mi amor," he cooed in my ear. "Papí and I will keep us safe."

I placed a palm on his chest, looking into his eyes. "I can't help but worry, Gabriel. I worry for you, for us."

He smiled softly, brushing a strand of wayward hair behind my ear. "There is nothing to be afraid of. It will all blow over tonight." He looked around him as if he were seeing the room for the first time. "Where are the others?"

"Abby is lying in your bed. She's been crying over Charlotte. I believe my father and Moses are helping your brothers move the furniture upstairs. You saw my mother and Mrs. Jenkens in the front parlor, right?"

"I did." He slowly stood, looking lost in thought. "Did you hear that?"

I shook my head. "Hear what? I hear all kinds of sounds." The house was shaking as hard as a locomotive. What did he expect me to hear?

Gabriel crossed the kitchen to his room. He pulled back the curtain and swore.

I was at his heels, peering around his shoulder to get a look at what had upset him. The narrow window above his bed was open, rattling as it banged against the side of the house. I heard a crack and a "pop, and the window came off its hinges and fell outside. The bed was empty.

Gabriel jumped on the mattress and looked outside.

I tried to do the same but pulled back when my face was pelted with rain as hard as pebbles.

"Gabriel," I cried, "Abby must have gone to Lydia's house. What are we going to do?"

He slipped on a coat, leveling me with a stern expression. "Stay here. I'll go get her."

"You're not going without me." My friend was in trouble, and I wasn't going to sit in the house all day doing nothing to help her. Just because I no longer had my dragon powers didn't mean I had to play the role of the helpless mortal.

Gabriel frowned. "It's dangerous out there, Safi."

I planted both hands on my hips. "I'm not afraid. My mate is an earth speaker."

He breathed out a huff while coursing fingers through his hair. "You put too much faith in me."

"And you don't put enough faith in yourself." I eyed him coolly. "Besides, if you leave me here, I'll follow you after you're gone."