Playing With Fire (Power of Four Book 2) (18 page)

“Why would I be surprised?” Chris said. “You saw a moment from the past. Back then, Hadrian was one of us. He lived here in Marwa. We were like a family. We fought and bickered all the time, but we were there for each other too.” He smiled. “And as for Alex? Everyone was fond of him. He was the youngest Elemental of our generation – a fact he used to his benefit, a lot.” He chuckled a little, shaking his head. “Hadrian and Alex were very close. Hadrian used to look out for Alex all the time.”

Aaron watched his dad, seeing the light of memories sparkle in his eyes. “What about you and uncle Alex?” he asked, repeating the question his dad never answered. “Were you two close?”

“We were each other’s only family for a long time,” Chris replied. “Alex was three when our parents died. I was all he knew from that age. I brought him up. So yeah, I guess you could say we were close.” He grinned.

Aaron didn’t know if he should say any more. His dad obviously had good memories of his younger brother. The last thing Aaron wanted was to tarnish them by revealing his brother kept things from him. He held his tongue and looked down at his lap.

Chris leant in towards him. “Have you seen Alex in other dreams?” he asked. A glint of excitement shined in his eyes and Aaron felt his heart ache for his dad.

“No,” he said with regret. “Only those two.”

Chris nodded, doing his best to hide his disappointment. “I used to dream every week when I came into my Inheritance,” he said. “I think you take after your mum.” He winked at him.

“I do get other dreams,” Aaron said. “Just not of uncle Alex.”

“Oh?” Chris looked intrigued. “How many dreams have you had?” he asked.

“I’ve had plenty,” Aaron said. “Other than the two of uncle Alex, the rest were of–” He faltered but pushed past the awkwardness. “Of Kyran.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I got such a shock when I saw him for the first time, back when I was still in the human realm. I couldn’t understand how it was possible for me to dream about a boy I didn’t know, only to meet him a few months later. If I–”

“What did you say?”

Aaron stopped at his dad’s whispered words. He looked at him to see the shock on his face. The colour had drained from him, his eyes wide and mouth open. Aaron felt a cold chill creep down his back.

“What?” he asked.

“You...you said you dreamt of...Kyran?” Chris asked.

“Yeah.”

Chris shook his head. “That’s impossible.”

Aaron frowned. “Why?”

Chris swallowed hard. “Kyran wouldn’t be a part of your Inheritance. He can’t be.”

“Why not?”

“Aaron,” Chris started in a shaky voice. “Your Inheritance is made up of moments that have passed and moments that could come. They are a heritage.” He paused, holding Aaron’s eyes. “A heritage that only associates with family.”

Aaron stared at his dad. “Are you saying the dreams can only be about family members?”

“It’s the way the Inheritance works,” Chris explained. “You see moments you shared or will share with your family. Moments you witness that don’t have
you
in them will be moments about someone you are related to. Those are the only moments that can have others present, like your dream about Alex talking with Hadrian. Alex is your uncle, but you witnessed a moment he shared with Hadrian because it’s one
Alex
experienced, not you. Your moments can only be those shared with someone you are related to.”

Aaron felt a strange flutter in his stomach.

“So, does this mean that Kyran is…is part of our family?” he asked, finding himself equally excited and terrified at the prospect.

But Chris shook his head, his eyes still wide. “He can’t be. He’s an Aedus. He is the legacy holder for Fire. He wouldn’t be able to wield the Blade of Aedus if he wasn’t.”

Aaron’s heart broke but he didn’t understand why. “But then, how could I have dreamt about him?” he asked.

Chris was up on his feet, pacing the garden. “I don’t understand,” he said. “How is it possible? He’s the legacy holder for Fire, he is Hadrian’s son. I saw the Blade of Aedus in his hand.” He continued to pace in front of Aaron. “But he looks so much like...And he’s a part of your Inheritance. It doesn’t make sense.”

A thought, small but tremendously troublesome, came to Aaron. He stood up and Chris stopped pacing to face him.

“The dream I had last week,” Aaron started. “Uncle Alex was talking with Hadrian about something. He seemed worried and upset, and whatever it was, he was keeping it from you. Hadrian told him he would handle it. He said he would cover for uncle Alex, for as long as he needed.” Aaron stepped towards him. “Dad, what if the thing uncle Alex was keeping from you, the thing that Hadrian was helping to keep hidden was...Kyran?”

Chris didn’t speak. He didn’t move. Then his fists clenched and eyes darkened. He stormed over to tower over Aaron. “Tell me about this dream,” he gritted out. “Include
every little
detail.”

***

Kate sat with her brow furrowed, a hand to her mouth. She slowly shook her head.

“It’s not possible,” she said. “Kyran can’t be a part of your Inheritance.”

Aaron sat in silence next to her.

“Are you sure you saw Kyran?” she asked. “It was probably Alex you were dreaming about. It has to be.”

“It was definitely Kyran,” Aaron said. “Two of the dreams I saw already came true with Kyran.”

Kate paled and her mouth dropped open. “I don’t understand,” she said. “This...this doesn’t make sense. If he’s a part of your Inheritance, that makes him an Adams.”

Aaron felt a shudder go through him at the thought. He remembered asking Kyran what his family name, his surname was, but Kyran had smiled and replied, ‘
Trust me, Ace. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.
’

He was right. If he had said he was Kyran Adams, Aaron would never have believed him.

“He looks just like Alex, but Alex wouldn’t have hidden the fact that he had a son from us,” Kate continued. “And if Kyran
is
Alex’s son, how can he wield the Blade of Aedus?”

Across the room, standing next to the window, Chris spoke, “He’s not Alex’s son.”

“Then why is he a part of Aaron’s Inheritance?” Kate asked. Chris didn’t offer an explanation. Kate took in a breath. “I don’t want to say it, Chris, but maybe...maybe Alex made a mistake.”

Chris turned to her with a frown. “You’re suggesting Alex cheated?” he asked. “You know Alex wouldn’t do that, not to Alaina.”

Aaron looked between his parents. Alaina? He had never heard of her before today.

“These things happen,” Kate said. “Maybe he got someone pregnant and he was too scared to tell us. Maybe Hadrian covered for him. That could be the moment Aaron saw. Maybe Hadrian took the boy in as his own–”

“That wouldn’t give him the legacy for Fire, Kate, and you know it,” Chris said. He turned back to stare out of the window before letting out a long sigh. “He’s not an Adams. He’s Hadrian’s son. He’s an Aedus. The Blade of Aedus in his hand proves that.” He took in a breath. “If he was my nephew, I’d be able to feel him.” He paused for a moment before facing them. “I can’t feel him, Kate.”

Aaron had gleaned enough facts to understand that if Kyran was family – if he was Aaron’s cousin and Chris’s nephew – then his dad would have felt that connection with Kyran. He didn’t, so Kyran wasn’t related to them.

“What was that dream I had then?” Aaron asked. “What was uncle Alex hiding from you that only Hadrian knew about?”

“I don’t know,” Chris said and Aaron could see the effort it cost his dad to speak past his heartbreak. “But it wouldn’t be the first time Alex kept things from me.”

Aaron didn’t know what to say. A part of him wanted to probe further, to ask what secrets his uncle had, but he could see how much this was hurting his dad. He couldn’t find it in himself to ask and cause more pain. Instead, he asked, “Who’s Alaina?”

His dad tensed but didn’t answer. Aaron turned to his mum, to see her expression filled with sorrow.

“Alaina was Alex’s fiancée,” she replied. She looked around at her husband. “We need to go and see her, Chris,” she said. “We should ask her–”

“Ask her what?” Chris said and there was a bite to his tone. “Ask her if she and Alex had a baby eighteen years ago and just forgot to tell us?”

Kate dropped her head. “Chris,” she said quietly. “If you can’t feel Kyran, then he’s not an Adams, regardless of being a part of Aaron’s Inheritance.” She held Chris’s eyes. “But we need to go see Alaina. We have to ask for her forgiveness.” She gave Aaron a sideways look. “And we have something important to discuss with her.”

Chris closed his eyes. “I don’t think I have it in me to face her.”

“Chris–”

“You know what they call her?” Chris asked, turning to look at Kate with fierce eyes. “The name they’ve given her?”

Kate nodded. “I do.” She tilted her head and bit her lip. “All the more reason to go and see her.”

Chris stood with his fists clenched.

Kate held his stare, refusing to give in.

Aaron looked between them.

“What would Alex want you to do?” Kate asked in a whisper.

Chris crumbled. He sat down in the nearest chair and ran a hand through his hair. He gave a small nod.

“Tomorrow,” Kate said. “We’ll leave first thing in the morning.”

16

Withered Flowers

The moment Aaron stepped out of the portal, a cool breeze swept past him, ruffling his hair and clothes. He could taste the salt in the air and smell the ocean before his eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. He found himself at the edge of a stone path, a light dusting of golden sand on either side of it. The pathway led up to a single wooden house. Behind the house, Aaron could see the ocean, a deep glistening blue with white wisps of froth floating on the surface.

“Whoa,” Sam breathed from somewhere behind Aaron.

Aaron turned to see Rose by Sam’s side, staring at their beautiful surroundings. His mum was the last to step out of the portal Scott had set up for them. Chris was standing in front of them, staring at the house with trepidation.

“Dad?” Aaron called.

Chris turned to Aaron and smiled, just a small, tight lifting of his lips. “Let’s go,” he said and began leading the way.

Aaron and the twins followed. Kate hurried to pass them and matched her husband’s pace. She walked by Chris’s side, slipping her hand into his.

Aaron studied the house they were approaching. It looked like a holiday beach home on an island – a small, double-storey, wooden building with a triangular roof, set against the backdrop of the breathtaking ocean. Big leafy palm trees lined one side of it. It was a sight to behold, quiet and secluded, a world of its own.

They climbed four steps to reach the porch. Chris hesitated at the door. No one made a sound; there was only the windchimes overhead and the gentle waves lapping at the shore behind them. Aaron saw his mum’s fingers squeeze around his dad’s hand. With a deep breath, Chris reached over and knocked on the door.

Nothing happened for almost two minutes. Chris knocked again.

“Is he sure someone’s in?” Sam asked.

Aaron shrugged.

The sound of faint footsteps came from inside the house, shortly before the door opened.

A woman, not much older than early thirties, stood at the door. Her dark hair tumbled over one shoulder, her big brown eyes stared in shock at her visitors. She had a thin face, with prominent cheekbones and sculpted lips. She was beautiful, there was no doubt about that, but there was a darkness in her eyes – a deep well of pain that shadowed her face.

Her gaze flickered from one face to the next, just a brief glance, before settling on Chris. Her lips which had parted with surprise, closed. She stared at Chris, but didn’t say a word.

“Alaina,” Chris greeted.

She – Alaina – gripped the door tightly, and Aaron was sure she was going to slam it in their faces. Instead, she swung the door open wider, letting her hand fall to her side. She didn’t look away from Chris as she spoke.

“Come in.” Her voice was soft, but her tone wasn’t. “It’s about time.”

***

They sat in awkward silence around Alaina’s small coffee table. The two-seater sofa had Sam and Rose, while the bigger sofa had all three Adams. Alaina sat on the ground next to the table, making tea. She handed each person a cup and saucer. They all took them but no one spoke a word.

Alaina finished making the last cup, pushed it towards Chris and sat back.

“I didn’t know you had returned,” she said at last.

“We had an incident,” Chris said.

“Oh, so you were forced to come back?” Alaina said. “Makes sense.”

Aaron glanced at his dad, but Chris didn’t look annoyed. If anything, he seemed abashed. Finding something to do, other than stare between Alaina and his dad, Aaron picked up his cup and took a sip. He almost spat it back out. His spluttering caught Alaina’s attention.

“It’s Horehound tea,” she said. “It’s bittersweet.” She looked back at Chris. “I thought it would be fitting.”

“Alaina.” Chris’s voice was no louder than a whisper. “Please. Don’t make this harder than it is.”

“
I’m
making this hard?” Alaina asked. “I’m not the one who ran out on everyone, Chris. I’m not the one who abandoned their family.”

“Alaina–”

“You left him!” she snapped. Her eyes, which already seemed too big for her thin face, bulged out with anger. “You left both of them. Everyone who died that day were buried by their kin. Everyone except Alex and Ben. Your name was called three times.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “
Three
times, Chris. On the fourth call, Neriah stepped forward and buried them. That wasn’t his burden to bear.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Chris asked and this time, his eyes were just as full of anger and pain as hers. The ground trembled a little, rattling the furniture. Kate put her hand on Chris’s knee.

“Chris–”

“You think I don’t regret it?” Chris continued, ignoring Kate. “It was my right to bury my own. A right that was taken from me.”

“Taken from you?” Alaina asked, either oblivious to the faint earthquake or bravely dismissing it. “You left and didn’t come back.”

“I came back,” Chris said.

Every eye turned to him in shock. Chris let out a strained breath and the shaking ceased.

“I came back,” he repeated quietly. “The next night, I returned, but they had already been buried by then.”

Alaina stared at him. She shook her head slowly. “Then why didn’t you stay?” she asked and for the first time since arriving there, Aaron heard the pain in her voice instead of bitter resentment.

Chris met her eyes. “Raoul was looking for me, for the rest of my family. He had set a bounty on my head, on any Adams his Lycans could find.” His fists clenched into balls. “He said he’d enjoyed the taste and wanted more.” He dropped his head and took a few moments to gather himself. When he looked up, his eyes had hardened, his jaw set. “I stayed in the human realm to keep my family safe.”

Alaina didn’t say anything.

“That doesn’t mean we don’t know what we did was wrong,” Kate said.

Aaron turned to look at his mum with surprise. He didn’t think either of his parents would ever admit they did wrong by hiding in the human realm.

“We left you by yourself,” Kate continued. “After everything that had happened, you needed us just as much as we needed you.”

Alaina didn’t speak but her eyes brimmed. She looked away, reaching up to brush her eyes dry.

“I’m surprised you still live here, to be honest,” Chris said. “I was hoping you’d be married by now, with a kid or two to run after.”

Alaina smiled, but there was no joy there. “You only have one heart,” she said. “And I already gave mine away. I don’t have anything left to give to anyone else.”

“Alaina,” Chris said softly, “Alex wouldn’t have wanted this for you.”

“I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have wanted to die when he did, either,” Alaina replied.

The room quietened, tension hung in the air, making it difficult to breathe.

Alaina closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

Chris waved a hand, but his inability to talk told of how much her comment had hurt. Alaina turned to look at Aaron, before glancing to Sam and Rose. She reached over and waved a hand at Aaron’s cup. It began steaming instantly. She did the same to the rest. She smiled and this time, it was genuine.

“I’ll just get some honey for the tea.”

***

Aaron studied the photos on Alaina’s wall. It was apparent by the numerous framed pictures that Alaina had been an unofficial part of the Adams family, and a part of the Elementals group, for some time. The area above her fireplace had many photos, most of the people Aaron didn’t know, but there were a few faces he recognised. Alex was in countless pictures. Aaron spotted Ben in a few, along with his mum and dad. His mum’s friend Jane was in one or two photos with Neriah. There was even one of Hadrian, standing with Alex and Chris on one side and Neriah and a woman on his other. The woman seemed very familiar, but Aaron didn’t realise why until Sam let out a splutter and pointed at her.

“Bloody hell,” he muttered. “How much does she look like Ella?”

As soon as he said it, Aaron saw the resemblance. She had Ella’s long dark hair, minus the electric blue streaks, Ella’s grey eyes and even her nose.

“Maybe she’s her mum,” Aaron said.

“Or her twin,” Sam offered.

“Her twin?” Rose asked. “Look how young Neriah is in the picture.”

“Maybe she’s Ella’s older twin.” Sam grinned, messing with his sister.

“Shut up, Sam,” Rose said, annoyed.

Sam chuckled. “Whoever she is, she’s damn beautiful.”

Aaron glanced behind him to see Alaina in the kitchen with his mum and dad. They seemed a little calmer now, talking in quieter tones as Alaina prepared some snacks for them. The photos proved Aaron had been right. Alaina used to be stunningly beautiful, but the loss she suffered sapped the glow of her beauty, took the light from her eyes and the warmth from her smile.

“Looks like Alaina was with your uncle for a while,” Sam said from Aaron’s side.

Aaron turned to see the frame Sam was staring at. Alex looked to be not much older than thirteen, maybe fourteen years old. An equally young-looking Alaina was wrapped in his arms.

“They were childhood sweethearts,” Aaron said.

“Teenage sweethearts, by the looks of it,” Sam corrected.

Rose, Aaron noted, was making an effort not to look at any pictures of Alex. Aaron didn’t blame her.

“I can’t believe she never went with another bloke,” Sam said. “It’s been how long?”

“Fourteen years,” Aaron murmured, staring at a picture of a laughing Alaina, with Alex at her shoulder, his tongue sticking out at the camera.

Reading the story told by the pictures, it didn’t seem very likely that his uncle would cheat on Alaina. They seemed happy. Seeing the devotion between Alex and Alaina made it clear that Kyran, despite the way he looked, could not be Alex’s son unless Alaina was his mother.

Aaron turned to study Alaina. She didn’t look old enough to be Kyran’s mother. Aaron rubbed at his head. He had to stop doing this. Kyran wasn’t family; his dad’s inability to sense him in the bloodline chain proved that.

“I feel so sorry for her,” Rose said, coming to Aaron’s side, looking at the collage. “She seemed so happy.”

Aaron stared at the main picture, a large framed photo sitting in the middle of the cluster of smaller frames. It was of Alex and Alaina, sitting on the porch of this very house. Alex had his arm around Alaina, holding her close, while Alaina rested a hand on his leg. They looked like a newly married couple on their honeymoon. Alaina even looked like a beaming bride, in a simple white flowing dress. Something caught Aaron’s eye and he moved closer, staring at the picture.

“Aaron?” Rose called. “What is it?”

Aaron narrowed his eyes. Around Alaina’s neck was a thin silver chain, holding a small pendant. It was difficult to tell in the picture, but Aaron was sure the pendant was a small glass dome with a white rose inside, in full bloom...

Aaron turned around to see Alaina in the kitchen. His eyes sought out the thin chain, still around her neck. He couldn’t see the pendant; it was hidden under her dress. The story he heard from the Peregrin girl came back to him.

...it’s the story of a girl, rumoured to be the prettiest in all the realm. She had hair as dark as night, skin that glowed like the moon...she lived by herself...she had fallen in love with a mage – a daring, brave warrior...

Aaron turned back to look at the photos of his uncle, a Hunter.

...he couldn’t take her despair and worry, so he gifted her with a pendant, one he had created himself, representing both of their elements…

Aaron looked at the picture of the pendant. A rose, to represent his element, floating in a pool of water, to represent hers.

...she knew her lover was dead, but she believed her love wasn’t...he was gone but she believed she could still see him – find his shadow in the house they lived in, hear his voice in the whispers of the wind...

His dad said he was surprised she still lived here. There were enough pictures to show she stayed here when she was with Alex. Is that why she was still here? Waiting to see Alex’s echo?

...she kept the pendant, with the belief that one day it would bloom again, the moment his echo finally reached her...to this day, she sits and waits for him and that is why we call it the Tale of the Waiting Bloom...

Aaron could hear Sam and Rose calling him, he even felt Rose’s hand on his arm, shaking him, but all he could do was stare at Alaina. The intensity of his gaze made Alaina stop and turn around, to meet his eyes with a questioning look.

“It’s you,” Aaron breathed. “You’re the Waiting Bloom.”

Alaina didn’t say anything. Sam and Rose turned to stare at her in shock. Aaron saw his mum and dad look at him with a mix of anger and surprise, obviously wondering how Aaron knew about the Waiting Bloom.

Alaina reached up and carefully lifted the pendant from under her dress, resting it in her hand. Aaron saw the glass dome with the ivory bud inside. The water around the bud was clear, not crimson like the story had stated, and for that small mercy, Aaron was grateful. He didn’t know how he would feel, seeing the blood-stained water that signified the death of his family member.