From the Embers (The Born in Flames Trilogy)

  “What does he want Na’shir for?”

  She sniffled again, this time wiping her hand across her nose. “To build an indestructible army,” she said hauntingly. “He wants to destroy what is here, what has been touched by The Fates, and rebuild his own world.”

  “So the rumors are true?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

  “Yes. Bodies of the dead risen once again.” Her voice was clear as a faint green glow flickered in her eyes. “Only Na’shir is capable of this. It is why he made us swear to never use our power. But Zordon is determined to—”

  Someone behind me let out a delayed gasp, cutting Irisi off. I think it was Lexi.

  “Rest now, Irisi,” I heard Kaede say as a guard helped her up and took her away from me. My hands fell limp in my lap when she let go of them. My thoughts remained stuck on the words indestructible army.

  When she was gone, the room fell silent. Kaede leaned on the table for support, his mind lost in worry. I don’t know how long we all stood there, frozen in morbid thoughts, but it all went away when Astral knocked on the door.

  “Aurora,” he called as his large head poked through the door.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” I numbly said to everyone. I reached for Fenn’s hand and followed Astral out into the hallway.

  “We will do what we can to learn every weakness in this army…” Kaede said to the group as I walked out of the room, glad to have a moment to breathe.

  “I want you to meet Lev,” Astral said once we were down the hall and alone.

  “He’s okay?” I asked, slowly coming out of my funk.

  Astral laughed at my thoughts while tugging at his beard. “He’s fine,” he said, his laughter dying off. “I fed him, brought him up to date on everything, and now he is asking to meet you.”

  I leaned into Astral and whispered, “Does he even know who I am? All of this happened after him.”

  Astral chuckled. “He knows enough.”

  He was staying across the pavilion in a room next to my father’s. When we approached the door, my pulse quickened along with my racing thoughts. I grabbed on to Fenn’s hand, using his calm to steady me.

  “You’ll be great,” Fenn said in my ear.

  I forced out a smile.

  Astral only had to knock once. The door swung open and revealed Lev standing before us in black leather pants and an elegant, white, button-down shirt. My first thought was that he wasn’t anything like what I had imagined him to be. He looked to be around my father’s age even though I knew he was much older.

  There was a dangerousness in his eyes and smile that threatened to trump any who dared to go against him. He was tall and lean with an average muscular build. Under thick lashes, his eyes were so dark blue they almost looked black. When he smiled, only the left side of his mouth picked up and dimples appeared in his cheeks.

  He bowed his head. “Good evening,” he said with a thick Russian accent. “You must be Aurora.” He reached out for my hand and formally brought it to his lips. “I am Liege Lev Pankov.”

  “It’s nice to finally meet you, Lev,” I said, wincing internally at the shy sound of my voice.

  He stood tall again and then turned to Fenn. “The Protector,” he said with an amused grin. He gave him a once over, searching for something, and then stopped, looking pleased. “I don’t see him in you,” he finally said, placing his hands on his hips.

  Fenn looked taken aback, his face compressed into mixed emotions.

  “No one has said that to him before?” Lev asked, looking between Astral and me. “Of course it would be something that I wonder. He is after all—”

  “No,” Fenn said, cutting Lev off. He held Lev’s gaze, now showing absolutely no emotion. “He is not and will never be my father.”

  The lines in the corner of Lev’s eyes grew with his smile. “Sensitive subject,” he said, turning out of the doorway. “I completely understand. Please, come in.” His eyes sparkled with amusement. He took the lead, guiding us through the entryway. There was a bounce to his step when he walked, like gravity didn’t apply to him. He gestured to three pillows facing him and asked us to sit.

  Fenn stared him down. I reached for his hand. He looked over at me as if waking from a dream when I touched him. He creased his brows, questioning how he should respond.

  “Let it go,” I mouthed to him.

  “Astral tells me that you are the Progeny?” Lev said, pulling my attention back to him. “You will deliver us from Zordon?” he asked with his back to us, standing over a small table with four glasses carefully placed. He picked up a thick wine bottle and poured evenly.

  “Yes,” I said, folding my legs when I sat down. I forced myself to sit as straight as possible. I glanced over at Fenn, searching his eyes for the words I should say.

  A small smile appeared under Astral’s beard.

  “Get out of my head,” I said in my mind.

  “I wanted to thank you,” Lev said, spinning to face us with two glasses in his hand. He offered one to Fenn who took it willingly and then offered the other to me. I took it, staring down into the deep red-colored liquid. The taste was bitter and sweet, and left me wanting more.

  “No one deserves to be kept in a prison like that. If I could have gotten to you sooner…” I let the sentence hang, not sure exactly how to finish it. What would I have done?

  Lev paused in the middle of handing Astral his glass, staring down at me intently. I couldn’t help but feel a little inadequate under his gaze. He was centuries old and had seen so much. What could I possibly say to him that wouldn’t make me sound childish and inexperienced?

  “I couldn’t agree more,” he said after Astral took the glass from him. Something in his tone and eyes made me feel a little less silly…like he understood how hard it was to live up to the name you had been given.

  “Lev and I were just talking about Zordon,” Astral said, expertly guiding the conversation.

  Lev’s smile turned murderous. “That traitor,” he spat, leaning against the wall next to Astral. I could barely make out his eyes below his forehead. “I can’t wait for the day when I can eradicate this world of his infectious hate.”

  “Lev has information about what Zordon is up to,” Astral explained, placing the glass down beside him.

  Lev swirled and then smelled his fruity drink before sipping it. When he swallowed, he said, “He tried to get me to go for it many years ago.” His expression changed into sadness as he pressed off the wall and walked over to sit on the pillow across from us. His eyes wandered aimlessly around the room.

  “Forgive me, but…you were his mentor?” Fenn asked.

  “Yes,” Lev said, his eyes stopping on a wooden clock on the wall. “His power was uncanny and unlike anything I had ever seen before. He was doing what Archion Mages couldn’t do well before he earned a title. So I took him under my wing with the intention of making him my right hand man. That is, until he robbed me of my throne in the dead of night.” His fingers dug into the sides of his pillow when he said this, his lips curling over.

  “What happened?” I asked, unsure if the question was crossing a personal line or not.

  When Lev’s gaze shot to me, I shuddered. His eyes were cold and distant. “Saeth happened,” he seethed. “Days before I had been put into the crystal, I had discovered he was more than a normal Mage. I didn’t know what to do, so I chose to ignore it, thinking I had been blessed by The Fates to have such a special Mage as my successor.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been so wrong in my life. To think that a Fate is corrupt…,” he broke off, shaking his head. “Saeth gave him the means to bind my magic and my body to the crystal. I woke to my guards lying in a pool of blood and my wife screaming for her life. I tried to fight him, but his power was stronger, and before I knew it, I was trap
ped.”

  The room grew silent. I looked up from under my eyelashes, knowing there was nothing I could say or do to change what had happened to him. Nothing except for ridding the world of Zordon.

  “And what of the army?” Fenn asked.

  Lev looked over at him. “Before he trapped me, there was a mild threat from the Polar Magium, but it was nothing I was concerned with. I had planned on meeting with their Liege to talk more about peace. Zordon came to me in full confidence, assuming I would give him permission to ask Na’shir if he would supply us with an indestructible army.

  “He was always so hungry for power. I could see it in his eyes, I just never thought it was dangerous. He told me that I needed to show the realm what we were really capable of so they wouldn’t dare try and threaten us. He didn’t understand when I said no. He never understood the meaning of peace.”

  “Na’shir would never have gone for it,” Astral added.

  Lev turned his head to face him. “No, he wouldn’t have. But that wouldn’t have stopped Zordon. For centuries, I was trapped inside, hearing and seeing all that happened but never being able to do anything about it.” His fists curled into tight balls in his lap. “It literally ate me alive, filling me with hatred.”

  “You were conscious?” Fenn asked, appalled. The lump appeared in my throat again. I coughed to clear it, but it wouldn’t budge.

  Lev looked at us. His lips were pressed thin, and his eyes were slick with wetness. He didn’t have to say anything. My heart twisted for him, for all that he had suffered at the hands of pure evil.

  “It’s a wonder you haven’t gone mad,” Astral said lightly, chuckling to lift Lev’s spirits.

  “It’s a wonder he didn’t kill you,” Fenn said under his breath.

  Lev didn’t laugh. Instead, he stood and headed back for the wine, setting the glass down and grabbing the bottle. He took a hefty swig and then walked back over to us, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “He needed a trophy to stare at to remind him that he was more powerful,” he said, his words thick with disgust.

  “I will help you restore peace once again. I have plenty of contacts who will be willing to help in the upcoming battle.” He looked over at Astral. “I will speak with Kaede, and then I will leave immediately to collect the favors that are owed to me. We will meet again on the battle field.”

  I didn’t know what to say. “Thank you” were the only words I could muster.

  He dipped his head and then Astral stood, gesturing for us to follow. I still had one lingering question.

  “Do you think you will be able to help fight against this indestructible army?”

  A crooked smile gleamed on his face. “Every army has a weakness, Progeny, and I am good at finding weaknesses.”

  After we said goodbye and the door shut behind us, Astral pulled us aside to whisper, “He is not fully mentally recovered. We must be careful not to push him over the edge with too many questions. He is ready to go head-to-head with Zordon, but as you know, that is not possible. He will lose. Knowing this is eating him up.”

  “I wish there was something more I could do,” I said, biting my lip.

  “Saving him from the crystal was enough. He just doesn’t like that he can’t exact revenge right away.”

  “Or maybe he doesn’t like that it’s a girl who will kill Zordon,” Fenn added.

  Astral dropped his gaze to Fenn, his lips slightly pursed. “Either way, Zordon will be dealt with. Lev will have his revenge on the battlefield when the army he builds takes out this so-called indestructible army.”

  I refrained from thinking about what Iliana had said. “Do you really think Lev will find an army strong enough?” I asked, sounding more cynical than I had intended.

  “Without a doubt. Lev is a very powerful persuader, Aurora. Not only that, but he was also in alliance with very dangerous people. People that are currently on Zordon’s side. If he can bring them back over and use them, he will have what he needs.”

  “I can’t wait until that day,” Fenn said.

  “Me neither,” Astral said, walking us back to our rooms. After saying goodnight, Fenn and I tucked ourselves in, knowing what would happen once we formed a plan with Lexi.

  “We’re running out of time,” I whispered to him.

  “I know,” he replied before kissing my forehead and pulling me into him. I didn’t know how it would happen, but I was going straight for Zordon. I was done waiting around for orders. Not with the answer dangling right before me. With or without help, I was taking charge.

  Chapter 16

  A Threat Revealed

  FENN AND I HID HUDDLED up behind some shrubbery on the side of the Orient Lyceum in the dead of night. Tiny drops of snow fell around us. Winter was in full force.

  After days of careful planning, Lexi, Fenn, and I had finally formulated what we thought would be the best way to get the elixir from the Priests.

  “I think this will work,” Fenn said, wrapping his arms around me from behind to share our warmth. I turned just enough to see his face. His hair danced in the wind, moving in and out of his eyes, hiding the uncertainty I heard in his voice.

  “We won’t know until we try,” I said softly, watching my breath blow out in silver tendrils. I nudged him and then leaned my head against his chest.

  Lexi came around the corner with Adam.

  “Why is he with her?” I asked. “We agreed on just us. We agreed to not drag anyone else into this.”

  “She, umm…she had one condition, Rory,” Fenn said hesitantly.

  “One condition?” I asked, my temperature rising. “I guess the ice queen is back then.” Things still weren’t the same between us, and she took every possible opportunity to remind me of that.

  Her face tightened when she heard that remark. She stopped in front of us and flicked her wispy curls from out of her face, her gaze boring into mine. “How can we trust that she won’t get you killed as well?” she asked Fenn. The way she said she, meaning me, reminded me of the way I said Zordon’s name.

  “Hello to you too, Lex,” I said, sighing. I knew she was only acting like this because of what happened, and I still felt guilty about it, but at some point she either needed to forgive me, or move on.

  She set her gaze on me, her eyes cold and her mouth pinched into a scowl. “I told him this was a bad idea. Any idea of yours is a bad idea. Someone always ends up dead while you continue on with you wonderful—”

  I straightened my shoulders and jutted my chin out, returning Lexi’s insult with a stiff smile. My mind road blocked the rest of the incriminating words spilling out of her mouth by talking over her.

  I turned away from her, stepping into Fenn’s line of vision. “I’m done apologizing to her. I’m done feeling guilty for things that are more or less out of my control.”

  A hazy image of being struck by strong magic from behind coursed through my mind. My Foresight. She was going to try to fight me. I spun around.

  Her hands clenched into fists on her hips. White light radiated from her palms. I let my fire dance along my fingertips and tossed her a daring look.

  “There’s no need to apologize,” Fenn said over my shoulder, putting his hands in between us. He snapped his head in her direction. “Knock it off, Lex. This isn’t like you.”

  Her face glowered with rage. Where was this coming from? She was fine with me the other day. I thought things were getting better. I thought the old her was finally coming back. And now this?

  Slick heat glazed her eyes, her lip trembling as it curled. “And what do you know about me? I’m reborn. I died, remember? I was chosen to die by my so called best friend, and now I am stuck being immortal. I’m glad that you two have found your happily ever after, but that’s not the case for everyone else around you. Maybe you could be a little mo
re sensitive to that. Maybe you could be a little more sensitive period.” She crossed her arms and looked away from us, biting on her bottom lip.

  I felt like I had just been slapped awake. All this time I had been so selfish, so insensitive to Lexi and her needs. Seeing Fenn and I was a constant reminder of what she would never have because of the choice I had made. The choice that placed her in the position where she felt she could no longer live a normal life and know love. It had been robbed from her and I had been robbed of a best friend, all because of one Fate’s mistake.

  All because of a prophecy I had no control over.

  I felt emotionally drained. The ache in my throat just wouldn’t leave. Adam cleared his throat, his eyes darting between us uncomfortably. I had almost forgotten he was there. “Maybe we should all just take a deep breath for a minute,” he offered with a nervous chuckle. “This is getting a little too heated. We are about to go on a quest. It is my people’s tradition to do so with a positive mindset.”

  “I thought the plan was centered around the three of us. Just us,” I said under my breath.

  Lexi was quick to respond. “Well, you thought wrong.” My eyes shot to hers. She had her hand on her cocked-out hip. “You thinking that the three of us can handle this alone is absurd. Look what happened the last time.” Her lips puckered out, baiting me to say something.

  I took a step in her direction.

  “What she means,” Fenn rushed in, stepping between the two of us, “is that we’ve seen how hostile the Priests are, and I’m sure they will remember us. The more people we have with us, the safer we will be.”

  I turned away from Lexi and Adam, and walked Fenn a few steps away from them. “Fenn, we need to keep this to ourselves,” I mumbled under my breath.

  “Don’t worry about that part,” he said. He leaned down to my ear. “He doesn’t know the details, just that there is something you need that can help you defeat Zordon. Just try and understand where Lexi is coming from. You know how dramatic she can be.”