Maxon (19 page)

“Tempest didn't say,” says Nizam. “But we've gotten some intel from Purgatory.”

Maxon's eyes narrow. “What did Grandma Cam and Pops have to say?”

For a second, my mind gets stuck on the whole ‘Grandma Cam and Pops' thing. Then, I remember my father telling me how Maxon's grandparents run Purgatory. Makes sense that they'd send him news when he needs it.

“The bottom line is this,” says Nizam. “Zephyr may be protecting Chimera. Nothing solid yet, but they could've teamed up.”

“I'm calling bullshit on that one.” Ty shakes his head again, hard. This time, his dreads jingle with the movement. “Elementals keep to their own. Why would Zephyr team up with anybody?”

The image of Silas's face appears in my mind. “Zephyr has teamed up before, believe me.”

“Still doesn't make any sense,” snaps Ty.

“You're questioning Lianna on this?” asks Maxon. Ty looks away. Right now, we're all a little tired and easily pissed off.

Ty fixes Maxon with a frustrated look. “What do you want me to say, M?”

“Nothing.” Maxon folds his thick arms over his broad chest. “I want you to
think
.”

I should be wound up in the play-by-play between Maxon and Ty, but I'm not. Instead, I'm gaping at Maxon's chest. The way he's folding his arms, the guy looks particularly ripped. I can't stop staring, and that's downright sad. How often do I have to be rejected before I get the message? We kiss outside the Chocolate Hills, and then inside the cave. Plus, there were a million other times where we got oh-so-close to kissing, only to have Maxon back off. The guy is right. He's got some serious issues. I need to move on.

So why can't I look away?

“Why would Zephyr link up with Chimera?” asks Maxon. “The question really is, why does Zephyr do anything?”

I raise my hand school-style. “So he can get his hands on a Kristalli and get a fix.”

“Exactly,” says Maxon. “Clearly, he thinks Chimera can get him the other stones.” Maxon gives the ground a frustrated kick. “Zephyr wouldn't be wrong to think that, either. Chimera's smart.”

Nizam pulls a small envelope from inside his body armor. “This message also arrived for you.”

Maxon pulls it from Zee's hand. “Is this the one from the rat?”

“Yup.”

My hands twitch to grab the letter.
If Silas has the Kristalli, I need to know what he wants.

Ty twists a bead nervously through his fingers. “I know you get a ton of odd mail, M. Normally, we'd chuck this away. But once we heard about the Kristalli of Fire being stolen by a rat demon, we brought the envelope along.”

“That was the right call,” says Maxon. He hands the envelope to me. “You want the honors?”

“Thanks.” I straighten my spine and try to look calm. Inside, the terrified thirteen year old that I once was is screaming in fear. After tearing the envelope open, I read aloud. “If you want the Kristalli, here are the coordinates. Come quickly and bring my girl. Zephyr may find me before you do. Silas.”

The world takes on a surreal sheen. In my mind, the Chocolate Hills become misted over in a dreamlike haze. Bit by bit, the news seeps through my consciousness. Silas is luring me back to his lair, using the stolen Kristalli as bait.

Well, screw him.

My hands ball into angry fists. I am so done with running and fearing Silas. Zephyr too, for that matter. Rage flows through my body, making my internal light flare brighter. Time was, I had to run and hide. That's over and done with. Now, I'm facing this and ending it, one way or another. I turn away from Maxon.

“I have to go. These coordinates are in England. If I change into mist, I can get there pretty quickly.”

Maxon steps into my path. “Not alone, beautiful. We'll go together.”

“I can't ask you to join me,” I say. “You just got healed. And in any case, I need someone I trust to protect Kristalli of Earth.”

Maxon hands the Kristalli to Zee. “Lock this up in my personal safe.” After that, he turns to Ty. “Any more healing spells you need to cast on me?”

“Nope,” replies Ty. “You're one-hundred percent healthy.”

“How's that?” Maxon turns his attention back to me. “Totally healthy and no more Kristalli. Now, I'm definitely going with you.”

Wow, I kind of like it when he's a little possessive and pushy. Maxon sees he's wearing me down and adds in a dimpled smile. That just kills me.

“It's settled then.” Ty slips the packet into the folds of his robes and nods. “You know how to find the nearest Pulpitum?”

“I remember.” I rub my forehead in a nervous rhythm. “I'm still not sure about Maxon, though.” I gesture to Tyberius. “You say he's fine, but you'd lie for him, wouldn't you?”

“I'd never when it comes to my prince's health. Besides, look how happy he is. He totally wants to go kill stuff with you. How can you say no?”

Maxon bobs his eyebrows up and down. “I know you want to check me out again, beautiful.” He folds his arms across his chest once more, just like he did when I was last ogling him.

“I wasn't checking you out.”
Much.

“Maybe you want a repeat on playing doctor? Make sure I'm all healthy?” He pulls on his edge of his upper body armor. “I can whip this off pretty quick.”

I can't help but stare at Maxon's pecs. Warmth crawls up my cheeks. The guys start chuckling.

“Trust me,” says Nizam in his rumbling basso voice. “If Maxon can flirt, he can fight.”

Maxon steps in closer, invading my personal space. “You heard what the badass thrax warrior said.” I really shouldn't notice how good he smells, but I do. He's so yummy.

Stay focused on the defeating Silas, Lianna.
“Okay, I'm convinced.”

Maxon's smile widens. “You won't regret it, beautiful.”

Somehow, I doubt I will.

Lianna

Maxon and I step through a dark and deserted shire somewhere in England. Normally, I love places like this. Everything's broken down and industrial. Cracked slate walkways. Abandoned factories choked with undergrowth. Smashed-up street lamps that droop at odd angles. When I was on the run from Zephyr, I hid in spots like this all the time. Usually, they make me feel safe.

Today, not so much.
Instead, a cold sense of fear creeps across my stomach.

“You're nervous, yeah?” asks Maxon.

“How'd you guess?”

“You're having trouble staying human looking.” He shoots me a half smile. “Not that I don't like you in monarkki blue.”

I stare down at my skin. Maxon has a point. Strong emotions like fear always make me glow. Right now, I have some serious sapphire action going on.

“Walker used to hide me in spots like this,” I explain. “Normally, I'd feel comfortable here.”

“I'll take your word for it. I hate these kinds of places. Class A jobs love anything industrial.” He gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “Walker probably cleaned them out for you before you got anywhere near. The guy's a killing machine.”

“Walker, a warrior?” I picture the tall and gentle ghoul. “That's hard to believe.”

“Oh yeah,” says Maxon with a chuckle. “Walker's a total badass. Killer engineer and architect, too. Your regular Renaissance ghoul.” We stop outside a one-story brick building with an arched roof and shattered windows. “We're here.”

I stare at the lopsided wooden doorway. Silas is in there. Images flicker through my mind. My old cage. His scalpel and bone cutters. The tiny mouse cowering against my chest. Raw terror clamps around my body, encasing me from head to toe.

Maxon seems to read my thoughts. “Chances are, he's already flown.”

A heavy sense of foreboding settles on my shoulders. “Nope, he's still in there.” I stare at the crooked door intently, my skin starting to flare ever brighter shades of blue. “Promise me something.”

“Sure.”

“We kill him first thing.”

“Wish we could, beautiful. But if we do that, we'll never lay our hands on the Kristalli of Fire.”

“Then we kill him right after we find the Kristalli.”

“That we can do.” He tilts his head. “Want to do the honors?”

My voice turns hard and rough. “So long as he's dead, that's all I care about.” I step forward, push the doors open and stride inside. The moment I'm past the threshold, awareness tickles across my skin.

No doubt about it. Someone's in here with us.

Dust and cobwebs cover every inch of the abandoned weaving factory. The floor is lined with small tables, moldy sewing machines, and broken metal looms. Long strips of wire hang down from the arched ceiling. Large skeins of thread hang at the bottom of each line, their bright colors now dimmed with dirt and age.

I'd think it was cool if I didn't know what kinds of things Silas was manufacturing here.

Thwack. Thwack.

The rhythmic pounding of a hammer sounds from the far wall, followed by the sickeningly familiar sound of small bones cracking. My chest tightens with anxiety.

Oh, yeah. Silas is here, all right.

Beside me, Maxon's tail arches over his shoulder, ready to strike. I summon a dozen bullets onto my palm, each one made from super-heated water. The small blue projectiles smoke and bubble against my skin. To anyone else, they'd cause excruciating pain. To me? I barely register a tickle.

From across the room, Silas starts humming one of his mock-spiritual songs.

“Thy power is naught,” Silas sings. “Surrender to thy master.”

The lyrics fill my soul with boiling-hot rage. Silas is trying to use my bad memories of his evil songs to give him some kind of advantage. I suppose he expects me to cry again, just like I did when I was a powerless kid.

Won't happen this time.
I'm not thirteen anymore. And I'm certainly not powerless.

With each step closer to the far wall, more anxiety and excitement zing through my system. The footfalls of my boots become overwhelmingly loud, like a drumroll before a hanging. Overhead, the long ceiling wires no longer hold sewing supplies. Instead, each line ends in one of Silas's mummified birds. I'd call it taxidermy, but that would only involve using skin. Silas's black magic goes far deeper. Memories of his terrible spells flicker through my mind. An electric charge of anger makes my skin flare even brighter.

At last, we reach the far wall. Silas sits at a long metal table, tinkering with some unfortunate dead animal. Barrels of bloody slurry line the nearby walls. The smells of rot and death fill the air. I fight the urge to dry heave.

Lifting his arms, Silas repositions the animal that he's working on. It's the head and spine of a Rottweiler. Just grown to adult size, too, by the looks of it. All this demon does is corrupt innocence. Fury courses through me. I raise my palm, aiming the boiling bullets at his head. Silas flinches but doesn't turn around.

“What do you want, my girl?” he asks.

Above our heads, the mummified crows open their eyes. A jolt of fear runs through my limbs. The birds search the factory floor, their gazes quickly locking in on Maxon and me.

Keep calm, Lianna. Stay focused.

I set my hands on my hips. “You know why I'm here, Silas.”

The old demon swivels around on his stool. He looks the same as always. Balding head, bowler hat, and handlebar moustache. He inspects me from head to toe, his irises flaring red with demonic power. “It's been so long. Why don't we rehash old times?”

Maxon's eyes also flare red, only brighter. “You don't get to talk to her.” He raises his hand, making lightning dance upon his palm. “Where is the Kristalli?”

Silas's mouth winds into a smile, showing off his blackened teeth. “Zephyr told me all about you, boy.” He inhales deeply. “Oh, I can smell her on your skin. Strawberry, so sweet. How was she?” He looks Maxon over. “I never saw her as more than a servant. Perhaps I misjudged things. She could be a succulent concubine as well. How I'd love to take her body before I take her life.”

That does it.

On reflex, I raise my palm. A dozen water-bullets whip forward and tear through Silas's chest. He leans his head back and lets out a satisfying roar of agony. His gaze snaps back to mine. Fresh menace flickers in his all-red irises.

“That was uncalled for, my girl.” Silas pokes his pointer finger through one of the holes in his dress shirt. “I can give you the exact coordinates to find the Kristalli of Fire. I have my price, however.”

My mouth twitches with held-in words. How much would I love to whisper an incantation and take Silas down right now? It would feel sweet, but it wouldn't get me any closer to the Kristalli of Fire. Silas watches me, his thick lips rounding into a satisfied smile.

“I remain willing to discuss terms, my girl. Magically binding, of course. You know I always keep my word.”

It takes everything I have to reply to Silas without separating his head from his shoulders. “I know.”

“What do you want?” asks Maxon.

“I wanted my girl's life energy. That plan ended when she became an elemental.” Silas rounds on me. “Your life force is worth nothing to me now. And this one?” Silas gestures to Maxon. “He's already vowed to kill me. I know the type. He won't stop until I'm dead.”

Maxon's tail whips out in front of him. The arrowhead end points right at Silas's throat. “You got that right.”

Silas steeples his fingers beneath his chin. “How I'd love to kill the prince. Sadly, that would bring all the thrax on my head. I'll pass on that, thank you very much. These are my terms.”

“Go on,” I say.

“I don't raise a hand against either of you, and you don't raise one against me. Ever. On pain of an especially gruesome death. In return, you get the coordinates for the Kristalli of Fire.”