22. Patrick

Chapter twenty-two

Patrick

A brief moment existed where I had thoughts of running after Kaos and Allan. But I knew that such an action would only be met with disdain and reprimand from Sheq'wa-nay and his people.

A pit formed in the hollow of my gut.

Argus stared at me, then glanced toward the brush, not understanding where Allan and the bird had gone. But he knew that something wasn't right with me. He placed a paw on my thigh and whined.

"I know boy. I know." I ruffled the fur on his head, then let out a huge breath, the end of it seeming to be attached to my heart as it ached. A lump caught in my throat, and I knew if I didn't rein it in, I would shed tears.

Allan would be okay.

He had to be.

He had come so far, so fast, only to lose him.

He's not gone forever. Only a year.

Right now, that year seemed insurmountable. A period of time I wouldn't live through.

Bending over, I reached for my backpack, which I'd brought just in case Sheq'wa-nay agreed to take me instead of Allan. Or, if we all had the chance to go together, at least then I would be prepared. I slung the no-longer-needed carryall over my shoulder then turned away from the clearing, the spot where Allan had changed everything: himself, the land, and me.

Allan

I flipped through the air, spinning one way, then spiraling another. The wind in my ears turned into a high-pitched squeal. Kaos screeched from somewhere above me. Stars sparkled before my eyes until the shiny spots obliterated all sight and everything before me went white.

I'm going to die.

Falling…falling…falling…

In my mind's eye, I could see the once metallic sphere that was the center of my magic. It then shifted as the surface lost its gleam and became malleable, its luster dimming, the sheen corroding to black. The sphere wobbled and contorted.

Falling…falling…falling…

Then tiny bits of the surface began to lift away, like dead skin peeling after a sunburn. Little strips tore and separated until the sphere became translucent, milky, and glowing from within.

Falling…falling…falling…

I could see various quadrants within the sphere: pockets of powerful energy called to me, and I knew within my heart that each zone represented one of the elements.

Except—there weren't just four.

There were eight.

And as the wind continued to blow, my body fell toward the ground.

Falling…falling…falling…

The sphere shattered.

My body tensed and spasmed.

I flipped onto my back.

Energy erupted from my core as the elements raged throughout my body.

Earth, air, fire, water…so much water!

And then soul, light, shadow, and time…so very little of that left.

Falling…falling…falling.

As the torrent of power cascaded out of my body, through every orifice, each limb, every digit and pore, my descent slowed.

The ring in my ears from the rush of wind stopped.

I found myself floating.

Weaving and bobbing, gently being pulled in one direction and then swaying in another.

Swirling.

Heaving.

Sailing through a current…of water!

Flopping about in an attempt to keep my head above the surface, my body was carried downstream in a torrent. A river of wet that had burst forth from my own magic.

So much water… It splashed over my head, causing me to gulp and choke.

Flailing, I attempted to maintain my position at the surface, but the current yanked me under again and again. I had to get out of this stream. The dangerous wave swell was too similar to the one I had conjured on the island, and I needed to get free before my own magic killed me as I was carried away.

Talons gripped my shoulders and searing hot pain shot through my torso as I felt my body lifted from the water before I blacked out.

I came to. My eyelids peeled open.

Sheq'wa-nay extended a hand.

I gripped it. Warm flesh touched upon flesh.

He pulled, and with some effort I found my legs and stood upright.

Despite my memory of being swept away by a raging torrent, I was bone dry, but all around me lay thick prairie grass dotted with the tiny pendulous flowers I'd seen before.

As I glanced around, my jaw dropped at the lush beauty surrounding us. Foliage, dense and green blanketed every nook and cranny, every flat surface and cliff face. As far as the eye could see, the once barren land had been restored. Flowers of all kinds grew in clusters and hung from vines. Gushing waterfalls and bubbling streams tumbled over precipices and through rock beds. Hanging branches heavy with leaves swayed in the gentle prairie breeze as birds and animals went about their business.

I glanced at Sheq'wa-nay, questions forming within my mind which he picked up on.

"Yes, Allan, you did this."

As far as I could see, the barren, dried up Fae lands had been healed.

"You and your healing waters restored our home. I have had many visitors as we lay here, and all reports that have come in state the sacred Fae lands have been returned and the waters you summoned obliterated the demon horde we had been fighting.

"You have single-handedly removed the infestation…for now."

"I…I did this? Wait, how long have I been out?"

"You have been resting for many hours. I held vigil to ensure you were safe. You accomplished all of this. How could I not keep watch over you as your body recovered?" Sheq'wa-nay's hand gestured to the land around us. "And I believe, in some small way, we have Kaos to thank for that."

She cawed from above our heads.

I glanced up to see her perched on a branch, having returned back to her normal size.

Wait! Didn't she grow to the size of an airplane?

Still a large bird, she'd lost the Roc-like mass she had magically gained when she saved me from the demon-possessed Fae warrior. But her feathers had all changed. The tips of each one had turned snow white.

"What happened?" My eyes grew wide, thinking of how unhappy Patrick would be with me for altering his pet pterodactyl.

"I am no expert, but I believe the colour in her feathers wasn't able to keep up with the rate of her growth, and when she reverted, the new pattern stayed. I think she's rather stunning like that."

"Patrick is gonna kill me."

"I highly doubt that." Sheq'wa-nay snickered.

"So your world is completely healed?"

Sheq'wa-nay shrugged. "It is hard to speculate, but what we needed you to do, you have completed. I apologize for allowing your life to be endangered. But I believe it was for the better. We have found that for those of you who are so powerful, shattering all the barriers which contain the elemental magic only occurs when you believe your very existence is in jeopardy. Then nature takes over. Survival becomes the only path forward, and your body smashes the safety glass, so to speak, so you may access the fire extinguisher."

"That's a rather humanish analogy to make," I squinted at him.

"Allan, I am very old, and I have seen more of your world than you would think. You will also find that you have access to far more than just the element of water." He smiled sheepishly.

"Wait a minute…" I tilted my head to one side as my brain started ticking away. I held out my hand and imagined the searing heat of fire.

With an audible fwomp , a flame erupted in my palm, dancing back and forth, changing colors from orange to blue to red. It didn't burn.

I closed my fist and glanced up at Sheq'wa-nay who smiled knowingly at me.

I pursed my lips as my brain continued to sort through problems. I had a whirlwind of ideas and thoughts. "If I've completed what you needed me to do here, then shouldn't I be allowed to go home?"

"Well, I believe the original demand was for a year."

"Or was it that my magic was needed here? And fair enough, it was, evidently, but now that I have done what you needed me to do, what else am I required for?"

"That we cannot tell. There may be more issues or hidden demons where your talents will come to use."

"But the main task has been accomplished." I stared at the gorgeous scenery around us. A large multi-coloured bird flew past us. It reminded me of a macaw, but its tail feathers were twice the length of its body.

Kaos voiced her displeasure.

Sheq'wa-nay laughed. "I believe you have indeed accomplished what none of us could."

"Okay, then, what if I leave, and if you need me to return, you can send word?"

"Would you do that? Would you come if we called?"

"Of course! Sheq'wa-nay, I do apologize for what happened on your island back home. It's no excuse, but I didn't know any better. But now that I do know, I will follow the rules. And I will also be more than happy to come back and assist wherever you think it's required. But I want to go home. I want to go back to Patrick. I love him. I don't want to be away from him for a whole year." I glanced at the ground, silently hoping Sheq'wa-nay would agree. As I replayed our exchange in my head, I froze for a second, coming to terms with what he'd said. "Sheq'wa-nay, wait. Did you say that I broke through all the barriers? Exactly how many did I smash?"

"All eight of them."

"Eight? I thought there were four."

"No, Allan, there are eight. Earth, air, fire, water, soul, light, shadow, and time. All live within you now." The Fae pointed to my hand where I had summoned the element of flame. "Fire is only the beginning of your new talents."

"No shit! Wait till Patrick hears about this. Now, what's your answer to letting me go home, at least until you need me again?"