Akasha 4 - Earth (43 page)

I know
this
, I thought.
Oh yeah - Donkey Kong.

I was going to expend the
rest of my energy just trying to get to Shawn, and I'd still have
the big-ass gorilla to fight in the end. I eyed the dozens of
Elementals. They eyed me right back. I shook my head.
Nope – I'm done running the gauntlet.

I sent energy up into the sky, past
the thick clouds above us. Infusing cold moisture into the
atmosphere, ice crystals formed. As the crystals fell, they punched
a donut-shaped hole in the cloud cover. Moonlight shot through the
temporary hole. There was a collective gasp around the amphitheater
as all heads turned skyward.

"It's a UFO!" someone shouted. He,
along with several others near him, went for the nearest
exit.

That was easy.

"No, wait! It's just a crazy weather
thing – skypunch!" It was an Air spouting off, chasing down those
trying to leave. I hit him with a blast of his own element. He went
sprawling into one of many trees that lined the bottoms of the
cliffs.

Movement above caught my eye. Hang
gliders were taking flight. None of the Airs seemed fooled by my
display.

Maybe something a little
flashier for them
, I thought. The skypunch
hole closed, blocking out the moonlight once again. Clouds rolled
at the disturbance. I infused more moisture into the atmosphere and
charged the clouds with electrical energy. Next, I used
opposite-charged energy to create a conductive path. Bolts of
electricity shot down, aiming for the hang gliders and those left
on top of the cliffs.

As lightning plagued the Amphitheatre,
I ascended the stairs. I used air when I could, giving me an extra
push. I used earth for small ramps and springs, sending me up and
over Elementals. I zigzagged, my silhouette giving my location away
only occasionally with each flash of lightning.

I remembered Vayu, using a combination
of wind, energy, and his own breath to create a spell. I copied it,
speaking low, "Run…Akasha is coming." Air carried my words away,
and they echoed throughout the Amphitheatre.

More than halfway up, I paused behind
one of the trees, surveying my progress. Red Rocks was in chaos.
Lightning and snow rained down. Some Elementals held their ears,
blocking out thunder and the sound of falling rock. Either that or
the sound of my voice; I was not sure which they found to be worse.
An unfortunate few didn't avoid the crumbling cliffs. Several more
decided to leave. I followed the path of their retreat up the
stairs and focused on the Elementals still standing at the top.
Mostly Fires. Hot heads with something to prove. Dragon came to
mind. In the end, it hadn't taken much to finish him off. Of
course, I was fresh out of filing cabinets.

I took a deep breath and squared my
shoulders. Sending out energy, I lit the barrels on fire. The
Elementals behind them stumbled back in surprise. Someone went down
the line, cursing and kicking the barrels down the stairs, adding
to the chaos. Those still left in the concert venue got out of the
way, fast. They continued to go, fleeing the area. For them,
friendly fire was the last straw. I just hoped they would find
cover fast enough, and far enough away.

As the last barrel made it to the
bottom, shattering against the stage, I climbed my tree. I perched
myself as high as I could, watching a driverless glider nose dive
toward me. Rough bark scraped my back.

Micah proposed the
handfasting ceremony to me in a tree.

The thought came out of
nowhere.

Focus, Kaitlyn.

Three quick steps along a sturdy
branch, and I leaped, grabbing hold of the glider's control bar. I
didn't need to pull myself all the way up. A short burst of air
sent me to the upper terrace. It was a large, flat area constructed
with alternating slabs of concrete and stone. I landed on the
railing separating the terrace from the stepped seating
area.

One quick bend at the knees to balance
myself, and I looked over at Shawn, and Micah sprawled out behind
him.

Chapter
68

Two Peas in a Pod

"That.." Shawn cleared his throat,
getting rid of the squeak that wanted to come out. He spoke up,
loud enough to be heard over the heightening wind. "That was a good
show."

The figure on the railing bowed. He
walked a full semi-circle around her, leaving a wide berth. "Is
that really our Kaitlyn? The Princess?" He squinted, taking in her
tattoos. The image of a woman with short hair working in the camp's
gardens flashed in his mind – and another of the same woman
chopping wood outside his headquarters. "You've been…right next to
me for a while now." Shawn squeezed his Athame. If his palms
sweated any more, he would lose his grip on it. "And here I was,
searching out way too far for you."

He walked back, standing to the side
of Micah. She had yet to take her eyes off Shawn. He was counting
on the gruesome display of Micah's crimson life-force throwing her
off her game. Whether it be pure anger or a frightened little girl;
Shawn could feed on either reaction. Shawn glanced over at Micah,
ensuring he was still even there.

Eyes locked on Shawn, Kaitlyn jumped
down from the railing. Without thinking, Shawn took a step back.
Kaitlyn raised one eyebrow. The sound of quick, retreating
footsteps made him glance over his shoulder. The rest of the
Elementals were gone. It was just the three of them left under the
stars, surrounded by rock. When he turned back, Kaitlyn was
directly in front of him.

She glanced at his wrapped hands.
"What have you been up to, Shawn?"

He lifted them, palms up, staring at
them like he was lost in thought. She stepped toward him and began
unwrapping one hand.

Shawn was too shocked to
move. He even held the Athame in his other hand.
Was she not scared; not even a little
bit?

Once his palm was exposed, her
fingertips hovered over the burn marks. "What have you done with
the Shades?" she whispered.

He moved quickly, grasping her
fingers. He squeezed, and turning her palm over. "Same as you," he
said. "Only with…"

"The Chalice," Micah coughed
out.

Shawn looked at him, then back to
Kaitlyn. Her wide, brown eyes bore into him.

"You released them, safely?" she
asked.

"What else do you think I would've
done with Sarah?" He narrowed his eyes. "And you – they must have
been male Shades, right? Did you release them safely?" His tone was
mocking.

"What else do you think I would've
done with Cato?"

Shawn's eyes bulged. "Cato? He was
there?" Shawn squeezed her fingers tighter, trying to
intimidate.

"He is still. I need him for something
else, maybe." She finally looked at Micah.

Shawn needed to gain the upper hand.
He turned her wrist, following the words tattooed around it,
reading aloud, "I am the hero of this story." He smirked. "Yeah,
right."

Chapter
69

Akasha

"I can't believe you let Sarah go," I
said, changing the subject.

What did he have to gain
from it?

"Akasha," Micah chimed in.

Shawn tensed.

"Well?" I asked, a smirk twisting my
mouth. "Do you have it?"

I felt him draw energy in, still
holding my hand. I twisted, leaning back to bring my leg up. I
kicked him in the chest. Our bond broken, we both went stumbling
back.

When I steadied myself against the
railing, he was still pulling energy together. Earth, fire, air and
water, twisting and weaving the elements until they intertwined. It
was shaky, with gusts escaping in large chunks that we both had to
dodge. Finally, a light shined out from the middle. Flickering but
definitely there. It grew to encompass the whole of the elements,
right above his palm. My hand squeezed the cold railing, and a
chill ran up my spine, stopping to pulsate at Shawn's mark on my
shoulder.

Akasha's light danced across his
scarred palm, making it look as if the exposed flesh slithered. It
hit the dirt in his fingernails and threw strange shadows across
his face. His arm muscles flexed, and sweat beaded his brow with
the effort. The smirk on my face disappeared.

He wielded the power of Akasha; the
power of a Gaia. Weak as it was, it was there. I knew only too well
what more practice could bring.

Using the falling snow, I weaved
together moisture in the form of an arrow, using air to shoot it
straight at Akasha. The balance of elements thrown off, Akasha
shattered around us and fizzled away into the night.

Shawn shook out his arm, then
rewrapped his hand. He looked at me.

"What?" I asked.

He smiled. "You're
nervous."

I tried to maintain a calm face, but
my chin lifted slightly and the effort gave me away. His smile grew
wider.

Chapter
70

A Toy

"Now you've done it." Micah said from
his tabletop. His head lolled to the side to watch Kaitlyn seethe.
Her fists were clenched, teeth gritted.

"Done what?" Shawn asked. His eyes
darted between Micah and Kaitlyn.

Pause for dramatic
effect
, thought Micah.
1…2…3…
"You've pissed her
off."

Shawn turned his head fully to Micah
now, eyes wide. It gave Kaitlyn the chance she needed, and she took
it. Air shot into Shawn's chest. He flew back, cracking his head
and back against a small, square, stone hut. Temporarily dazed,
Shawn sunk to the ground. A sign on the door, 'Family Restroom,'
fell on Shawn.

He craned his neck up, fearing more
falling rock. Instead he found Kaitlyn, squatting on top of the
hut. She lobbed two fireballs in the air. They arched up, almost as
high as the cliffs. Then she pushed Shawn with air again, out onto
the open plaza. Making adjustments for his location, the fireballs
began their descent.

Micah craned his neck to watch. It
made his head swim, but this wasn't something he was willing to
miss. The balls whistled and crackled as they came down. Shawn
looked up with enough time to duck, covering his head. They hit his
back. Gaseous flames splayed across his body then rolled to the
concrete.

Kaitlyn was on the plaza, walking
toward Shawn. She stopped, giving him a chance to put out the
flames on his jacket.

"Now if you were a true Gaia," she
said, pulling snowflakes together with energy. "You could do this."
The moisture transformed into a sloshing sphere of
water.

Shawn spared a hopeful
glance.

"But, you're not. So…" Kaitlyn let the
element fall. It splashed across the ground at her feet.

Shawn gave up at batting at the
flames. He took off his jacket and tossed it aside.

"And since I am a Gaia…I'll just keep
doing this." Kaitlyn threw out each hand, pitching more fireballs
at Shawn.

They brushed his loose shirt. He
whipped it off, over his head, attempting to throw it at Kaitlyn –
and missed. Another well-aimed fireball licked at his bare bicep.
The skin turned bright red.

"Aww." Kaitlyn pursed her lips. "Want
me to get some mud for it?"

Shawn heard the hills rumble behind
him. "No…don't!"

Kaitlyn concentrated on pulling loose
dirt toward her and Shawn.

Micah's eyes widened. "Watch
out!"

Before the dirt reached the dueling
couple, Shawn tackled Kaitlyn. They rolled across the concrete and
stone. Dirt sprayed across them.

Shawn ended up on top. He smiled.
"I've been here before."

Micah's veins coursed with adrenaline.
He pushed himself up; pain squeezed in on his head. He threw his
legs over the side of the table and slid off.

Kaitlyn wriggled one knee in between
her and Shawn. She bucked and kicked out. Shawn flew off, heals
over head. He rolled.

They both got to their feet at the
same time, while Micah fell to his knees.

Kaitlyn glanced at Micah. The
distraction cost her. Shawn weaved energy, trying for Akasha, but
not getting it together. The result was a wobbly, uncontrolled mass
of various elements. He pushed it out, sending it toward
Kaitlyn.

It hit her in the chest, throwing her
back. When she stood, she was laughing. "You're losing,
Shawn."

"You’re the one that just got off the
ground."

"No – I mean you’re losing Akasha."
Kaitlyn charged.

Shawn desperately attempted to call
the elements again. They came in short bursts, mostly dissipating
before he could weave them together.

Kaitlyn reached him, shouldering him
in the midsection. They both rolled. Now Kaitlyn was on top. She
wailed on his face. Punch after punch, his blood sprayed across her
knuckles. She kept his arms pinned with her knees. When he no
longer tried to dodge her strikes, she got up.