“I thought… I thought I lost you.”
“I know. Listen… Jack, I need your help. There is a girl, she’s been shot…”
He looked past her. She felt his body go limp, and then he ran to the girl.
“Sarah! Oh Gods! What did they do to you?” He leaned over the girl and cried at the sight of her emaciated body.
Sarah’s lips moved, but Molly couldn’t hear the words. She turned her attention to the end of the alleyway where a woman walked towards them. Jack wasn’t alarmed by her presence, so she must have been an ally. As she got closer, Molly recognized her as the woman from Jack’s apartment. So focused was she on getting to them that she didn’t see someone come up behind her.
“Look out!” Molly screamed.
*
Too late, Sylvia heard Molly’s shout and realized she was in danger. She whipped around, prepared to fight, only to be laid flat by a hard knock to the face. Jumping back up, she forced a beam of fire that encased her assailant.
“Come now, Sylvia. You will have to do better than that.” A female voice rang out, clear as a bell.
The cold and snow was causing Sylvia to drain her powers faster as she tried to keep the fire around the woman.
“Who are you?” Sylvia snapped.
Fire surrounded the enemy, but it did not burn her. Sylvia squinted past the flames to see the fire wasn’t touching the woman’s skin. She had created fire herself to serve as a barrier, which meant she was an elemental. As the flames died down, a thin, older woman came into view. She had short blond hair cut close to her face. Cold, stern eyes glared from above lips set in a firm line. Recognition came over Sylvia as she realized who was standing in front of her.
“By the Gods. Anna. Is it really you?”
“Long time no see, little sister. I’ve waited for this day. Waited for the day I could bring you as much pain as you have brought me. You killed my husband, and now you will stand there and watch as I kill your children.”
Sylvia was beyond stunned to see her sister. Her mind drifted to nearly ten years before. Anna and Sylvia had been fighting a pack of hunters alongside Anna’s husband. They had been attempting to learn the location of a recently kidnapped elemental child, but their source turned out to be a trap. They had been outnumbered, but Sylvia refused to give in. She wouldn’t allow these monsters to take them, or her children, to their deaths. Unleashing her power to its full potential, she managed to burn the life out of all but one of the hunters. He begged for mercy and spoke of his own children. He claimed his desire to protect them, to make the world safe for them, drove him to kidnapping. Sylvia couldn’t bring herself to finish him off, being a mother herself, and let him go. As the man stepped away, he pulled a gun on her. Anna’s husband saw it, and took the bullet himself. With no healer or hospital nearby, they were unable to stop the bleeding, and he died in Anna’s arms. Grief-stricken, Anna left without a word to either Sylvia or the council and had not been seen or heard from since.
“Anna, what happened to your husband was not my fault. He died defending a fellow elemental. He would have done the same for you or for anyone else. You can’t expect me to believe you would align yourself with the hunters and kill your own kind.”
“Oh, but I would. They said they would let me have the shot that killed you, and I thought I wanted it. I longed for it, but when I found Sarah alone in the park, I decided the best revenge wasn’t taking your life. No, it was taking the life of someone you love. I was just going to let her die and put her body at your doorstep, but I think this is better. You can watch her die. Then you can watch your son die. I can tell their powers are spent, and you haven’t any more strength than they do. Say goodbye to your children.”
“You took Sarah? You tortured an innocent child for revenge on me for something I didn’t even do? For something that was never my fault? I didn’t tell your husband to get in the way. I would have taken that bullet, rather than let him die! Anna, think about this! There is still time to turn back. You do not have to be on the path to evil. Stop this, I beg you…”
Anna refused to listen and aimed the gun at Jack and Sarah.
But she had forgotten about Molly. A rock flew at Anna’s hand, hitting it hard, and knocked the gun to the ground.
It was enough of a distraction for Sylvia to gather her strength and build up a fire ball to shoot Anna. Though Anna was her sister, her heart was stained with evil, and Sylvia couldn’t allow such evil to live. As she began to unleash her power, Molly ran out in front of Anna to protect her.
“You don’t want to do this. She’s your sister!”
Sylvia tried to pull back, but it was too late. The fire that was meant for her sister hit Molly instead. The last thing Sylvia saw was the girl’s eyes wide with shock before the fire enveloped her.
*
Jack had managed to get Sarah to stop bleeding, though his power was now depleted, and looked up just as the fire hit Molly.
“No!” He stood to go to her, but he knew there was nothing he could do.
The snow fell furiously, and the wind had picked up, bringing in a storm. A heavy gust fueled the fire, and in moments, the spot where Molly had been standing was vacant except for the charred earth.
Jack’s heart stopped, and he fell to the ground. It was his fault, he reasoned, because he had not taken her to the council the moment he sensed she was an elemental. She would still be alive if he had bothered to think things through. Everything that had gone wrong for his family was his fault. Sarah had been kidnapped because he had insisted on going to the park without Mother, and Molly was dead because he had failed to protect her. She had done nothing to deserve this. She never asked to have powers, or to be put in the middle of a war.
Anna’s voice became shrill, cutting through the wind. “Well, this turned out better than I could hope. You managed to break your son’s heart before he dies. You energy is gone, sister. And now, you will watch as I kill Sarah, once and for all.”
Jack threw himself over Sarah in a desperate attempt to save her. There was no hope left, but he would spend his last moments protecting her.
“I’m sorry, Sarah. I’m so sorry.” He sobbed into her ear, as the flames came towards them.
He expected to feel his skin on fire, but nothing burned. He dared to open his eyes and looked up to see a figure of Molly, made of earth. She stood beside them, deflecting the fire. As he watched in awe, her eyes opened. They were not Molly’s brown eyes, but eyes of fire. Heat began to radiate from the figure as the earth dried and broke. Underneath was another figure of Molly, but this one forged of fire. She was absorbing the flames. Slowly, she lowered her hands to her sides and took firm deliberate steps towards Anna.
When the older elemental saw the burning figure coming at her, she attempted to run but the fire-Molly raised a hand to stop her. With a swift swirling motion, the air, earth, and snow wound around Anna, holding her firm. Snow that had built up on the ground burned away beneath the figure’s steps. She stopped inches from the captive. Sylvia ran to her children’s side, shocked at what she was seeing.
“You will never harm this family again. Your days of revenge are over. The crimes you committed, and the murders you assisted in, will stain your hands for all eternity. We will forever fight against those who come to slay us and commit wrongs against us. Your days are up, Anna. You are finished.” The voice was calm, yet dreadful.
Anna shook from the waves of power coming from fire-Molly.
The being put her hand on Anna’s face. Fire flared, completely surrounding them. Anna never had a moment to scream or to run. In a matter of seconds, her body was nothing but ash, carried away on the wind.
Molly lay beside the scorched earth, unharmed but unconscious.
*
Molly awoke to find herself in a room with white walls, a heart monitor, and what seemed to be a bouquet of flowers from every florist in the state of New York. She tried to sit up, but her body felt like it had left all
its bones behind somewhere.
At first she remembered nothing, but slowly, the memories flooded back. She looked around again and saw Jack sleeping, his head resting at her bedside. She moved her hand over his hair, unsure of what to expect when he awoke. She knew she’d killed his aunt, and she didn’t expect forgiveness for that, no matter the reasons behind it.
She heaved a heavy sigh and tried to shift her body, which was aching all over. The movement woke him.
He looked up at her. His eyes went from worried, to relieved, to happy. He leaned forward and pulled her to him tightly.
“I could get used to this,” she said half-jokingly.
“Molly, we thought… When I saw you, you were on fire. But you…. Do you remember any of it?”
“I remember seeing the fire from Sylvia coming at me. I grew cold. But I found myself standing beside you and Sarah moments later, though I have no idea how.” Molly paused and took a breath for courage. “I remember killing your aunt. I understand if you wish me to go away. I never meant to kill her… I don’t know…”
She never got to finish her sentence. Jack’s lips on hers cut off her words. His mouth was soft and inviting. Part of her wondered if it was too soon for this; the other part didn’t care. Molly had never been kissed before, and if she had, it could never have felt like this. She welcomed it and returned what she hoped was a kiss that felt as good to him.
He broke the kiss after a long moment, resting his forehead on her shoulder.
“Don’t leave me, Molly. My heart couldn’t bear it.”
“I won’t. I want to stay. I want…”
She couldn’t find the words to say what she wanted, so she kissed him again. It was just as good, if not better, the second time.
Molly was the first to break contact, questions swimming in her mind. She settled for the easiest one to answer.
“How long have I been out?”
“Two weeks, almost three.”
Molly had a hard time with the idea of losing two weeks of her life. “And Sarah? Is she alright?”
“She is fine, or will be. She needs a lot of therapy, but she will be okay, thanks to you.”
He held her hand in his, watching as she fell asleep.
Molly spent two more days in the hospital. The news on the television showed the result of the earthquake, and the bodies they had found. It was labeled as the biggest human trafficking case in nearly a decade. Molly had a feeling Jack’s mother pulled strings to keep her, and them, out of the news.
Jack kept tabs on her health at the hospital, spending his time off by her side. On her last day, his mother and sister came to bring her home.
Sarah took her hand with a smile. “Since Jack’s apartment is pretty much in shambles, we moved him into Mother’s house, just outside the city. Your room will be next to his; since you will need a little more looking after when you leave the hospital. Mother and I will be there to take care of you as well. The council said that would be best. They were very impressed and eager to help you train in your new powers. I can’t believe you can use two elements! That’s unheard of! ”
Sarah seemed to have recovered from her eight-year ordeal, though she required a wheelchair and physical therapy due to the inability to use her legs during captivity.
Jack operated to remove the bullet, which thankfully hadn’t hit any major organs. With enough therapy, she could potentially regain full use of her body, but it was going to be a long road. Though she had been through so much pain, she couldn’t stop smiling or talking Molly’s ear off the entire ride to the house, and Molly was enjoying every moment of it.
As they pulled up and Molly got out, she saw a banner across the top of the door that read WELCOME HOME, MOLLY.
“Wow. You guys didn’t have to do that for me.”
“Are you kidding?” Sarah laughed. “We are making you dinner, and tomorrow we are going to take you shopping and get you out of those scrubs my brother gave you. You’re part of this family. Oh, and the best part is that you get to be here for Christmas!”
“Christmas?”
“Yep, and I got you a present and so did Momma and Jack. I told you, you are part of the family now.”
Molly’s eyes began to mist as she pushed Sarah up the ramp into the two story house. It was large with an open-concept downstairs with the sitting room, kitchen, and formal dining room immediately visible. Christmas lights hung all over the house, and the largest Christmas tree Molly had ever seen dominated the living room. The decorations and lights hung heavily from the branches, creating a warm glow, even in daylight. Underneath the tree, presents wrapped in every color piled high.
Molly could tell they had rescued some of the stuff from Jack’s apartment, even the plants, though the only one that seemed to be alive was the lavender one. She vaguely recalled the day she was brought to Jack’s apartment, when it had been just as bad off as the other ones.
“It was you, dear,” Sylvia murmured, squeezing Molly’s shoulder. “You will find plants respond better to you. It’s part of being an earth elemental. Why don’t you take Sarah outside while I start dinner? We have a lot to celebrate tonight.”
Sylvia opened the oven and the smell of a Christmas ham wafted throughout the kitchen. Molly rolled Sarah’s wheelchair outside and gasped as she saw a large stone wall surrounding a massive backyard. An in-ground pool sat off to the side, surrounded by a white deck for the summer time.
“Mom says there is enough ground here for you to be able to garden anything you want in the spring. There are paths all over we can walk through. Isn’t it wonderful, Molly?” Sarah’s brow crinkled. “Molly, what’s wrong?”
Molly hadn’t realized she was crying. The tears kept coming. “No one… No one has ever done anything like this for me. Not ever. It’s…wonderful, and I will…never be able to thank you.”
She put her arms around Sarah and hugged her as the tears fell.
“Molly, I owe you my life. I would never have gotten away from the hunters without you. It’s us who will never be able to repay you.”
*
Jack had come home to find his sister and Molly in the backyard. The snow covered most of the ground, but the fading light in the sky gave Molly’s skin a beautiful glow. He smiled at how she let his sister prattle on.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” His mother came up behind him and patted him on the back. “I see the way you look at her. It’s only a matter of time before I’ll be planning a hand-fasting.” Sylvia winked and smiled, ushering him out the door. “Jack, take it slow. That girl has been through much in such a short time. Make sure you give her room to breathe first.” She stepped out onto the porch, motioning to Sarah. “Can you come help me in the kitchen for a bit, honey?”
“Sure thing, Mom.”
Jack caught Sarah’s knowing wink, and Sylvia wheeled her back into the house. He took Molly’s hand as he looked out over the yard.
“I think Sarah is trying to say we really want you to consider this your home, for as long as you want it to be. It could be forever…if that’s what you want.”
“Nothing would make me happier, Jack.”
Jack couldn’t resist pulling her close to him. He knew he had strong feelings for her, and he was desperate to know if she was feeling it, too.
“I don’t want this to sound like a cliché, but I’m falling for you. Nothing makes me happier than seeing you and being with you. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, and if you prefer we stay friends, I can do that.”
“Jack, shut up and kiss me.”
She smiled at him, and his heart lifted. He knew the hunters were still out there, but he felt that no matter what happened, they would face it together and be stronger for it. He also knew he would never, ever get tired of kissing her.
“Hey, I got something for you.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small box topped with a green bow. Inside was a Celtic knot necklace identical to his.
Molly lifted her hai
r so he could place it around her neck. “It’s beautiful, but what do the words mean?”
“It’s old Gaelic. A phrase passed down in my family for centuries. Chosaint go dtí go bás. Defend until death. The knot is called the five-fold knot. The four outer circles represent the four elements: earth, fire, water, and air. The middle circle unites them and reminds them to keep in balance.”
“I love it.”
“You’re one of us now, Molly. You’re home.”
“Those are the sweetest words I think I’ve ever heard,” Molly said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Snow fell quietly around them as they lost themselves in another kiss.
*
Outside the stone wall, a pair of eyes watched the young couple’s happiness through binoculars.
“What do you think? Is she the one the hunters are looking for?”
A second pair of eyes answered. “Yes, I think she is, but if the rumors are true about how she destroyed Anna, it won’t be easy. We certainly can’t take her while she’s in the house. We will have to wait for an opportunity to grab her.”
“Are we sure she is the one?”
“No elemental can possess more than one element of power. She’s the one, and we are going to capture her.”
Author Brittany White
Brittany is a pagan writer who lives and works in Kentucky. She lives with her fiancé and pet. She loves stories of magick and love. This is her first attempt to write a story for other people to enjoy, and she hopes to write many more in the years to come. Find her on Facebook.
Holiday Dreams
K. Laslie
Prologue
Startling awake from a long and restless night, Ayden wiped sweat from his brow. His heart raced as if he had been running from a pack of angry lionesses, and the sheets were soaked through as if he had jumped into a pool of angry sharks. This was not the first instance he had been pulled from his slumber; in fact, it was becoming more the norm than not.
What in the hell was that?
Throughout his life, he’d had dreams that seemed familiar. He learned over time to know when a dream was more than just a dream: a déjà vu sensation when he awoke for some, while other dreams he would recall after the events played out in his life. Ayden pulled himself from his relative comfort to change the bedding once again. Terror rolled through his spine as if a percussionist were playing the Twilight Zone theme on a xylophone of his vertebrae.