Borrowed Ember (14 page)

“Oh now you tel me.”

Before Falon could answer with something completely smart ass, a blustering gust of wind ripped through the parking lot, blowing Ari’s hair back off her face.

Papers blew out of the loose folder Falon was carrying and messed up her short pixie haircut. Students cried out around them as they lost their hold on assignments, chip packets and other items.

That wasn’t what caused the blood to drain from Ari’s face, or Falon’s eyes to widen in recognition, or Jai’s whole body to tense as he stepped in front of her, guarding her.

With the wind had come the largest mass of Jinn power Ari had felt since meeting Azazil. But it wasn’t his power. That would have been familiar to her.

“You guys are feeling that right?” she asked, gazing over Jai’s shoulders and into the parking lot. Falon and Jai mirrored her, searching the crowds for the source.

As though her eyes were suckers, Ari’s zoomed through the crowds of students and cars to find the Jinn. And he wasn’t alone. One by one Ari found them, male and female Jinn standing in the crowds staring at her. There were at least fifteen of them, their expressions dark with intent.

“We’re surrounded,” Jai muttered having spotted them too in the half-circle they made around the three of them.

“Jai…?” Ari asked shakily, wondering how they hel they were going to get out of this without her activating the Seal. The last thing she should do was tap into that thing. It was too dangerous. Nothing...
nothing
was worth that risk.

Jai stepped back, his hand grabbing a hold of hers tightly. “They’ve found you. They know what you are.”

“The trial,” Ari breathed, “Because of the trial.”

“It doesn’t matter why, al that matters is getting you out of here.” Falon looked up at Jai, her expression fierce. “We can’t trigger the Seal. Not after what happened…” she trailed off, almost apologeticaly.

Ari nodded, ignoring the bite of hurt that nipped at her to know they al thought she might flip a switch and go crazy on them. “No, you’re right. But we’re
all
getting out of here.”

Jai’s anger was palpable, but seeing how determined she was he cursed under his breath, his brows creasing in concentration. After a second of alowing Ari’s panic to grow, his eyes flew upwards behind her.

She grabbed his arm. “What about the SUV? If we jump in that we could lead them away from the school, from the students…”

“They’d kil the engine,” Falon answered, shoving her suggestion aside impatiently. “We’d be sitting ducks.”

“The roof,” Jai murmured under his breath. “Ari and I are heading into the school and up onto that roof. Falon, they’re not here for you.” He placed his car keys in her hand. “Take my car, it’s closer than yours, and get back to the house. I’m going to take Ari somewhere safe and as soon as we get there, I’l cal to make sure it’s safe to return to the team.”

“Of course.”

“No, not of course,” Ari argued, disbelieving what she was hearing. “What if they’re waiting at the house? I can’t leave you to walk into that.”

“Ari,” Falon hissed, “If we let your ass fal into the hands of some sociopathic Jinn, we’re al dead anyway. Just stick with Jai and try to listen to him for once.”

The fact that Falon had referred to Jai by his actual name was enough to bring the severity of the situation crashing down on al of them. Before Ari had even nodded her approval of the plan, Falon was jumping into the SUV and Jai was hauling her by the wrist into the school. He shoved students out of his way, his expression sending the rest skittering out of their path.

“Why the roof?” Ari breathed, trying to keep up.

“Because I tested the
Peripatos
and the Jinn have combined their power to block the channel. They’re working together, Ari, which is worse than bad news.

Nothing can come in or out around this fucking school.”

Jai was cursing. He
was
worried.

Ari gripped him tighter, her heart thudding in her chest as Jai suddenly cursed again, looking around bewildered. His strong arm reached out and grabbed the colar of a passing male student. “How do we get onto the roof?” he demanded.

The boy’s answer was lost to Ari. She was barely listening now as the thought of imminent battle with the Jinn set her panic at an al-time high. It wasn’t that she was afraid to fight. She’d fought the Jinn before and lived to see another day. It was that the Seal was reacting so badly now, pushing through and dominating her. She couldn’t let the Seal have control and already she felt its ugly darkness churning to wakefulness in her chest.

As Jai dragged her up a narrow empty staircase it suddenly dawned on Ari why they were heading for the roof. “Oh God,” she bit out. “You want us to fly.”

“Ari, keep it together, baby,” he growled. “I know you hate flying, but right now I just need you to concentrate on keeping a lid on the Seal. Okay?”

“Being patronizing won’t help me keep the lid on it,” Ari growled, tugging her hand out of his as they stepped out onto the roof. The wind was stronger up here and it provided a great view of the town, and the four Jinn standing behind Jai. “Oh crap.”

At her widened eyes, Jai spun around, his reflexes fast as he swiped a hand across the air in time to deflect a wave of magical energy. Ember burned in his left palm and he threw it at one of the Jinn, who did as Jai had done and created a shield that the magic bounced off of.

“Ari, defense!” he reminded her to use her defensive magic against the enemy as he strode towards the Jinn, blocking their magic with one hand and attacking with the other. Al four were intent on Jai though, having garnered he was her guardian and needed to be taken out.

Wel, Ari wouldn’t let that happen.

Doing as Jai had taught in training, Ari concentrated until she felt her own Jinn energy. It was like listening for her heartbeat. Once she found it, she could control it with her emotions. And her emotions were raging right now.

Pushing the energy towards her hand, she let it build up until it blossomed in her palm into a weapon. With a scream of outrage, she threw it and it clipped the shoulder of one of the female Jinn who was crowding towards Jai. Seeing the beads of sweat drip down Jai’s face as he fought off four against one clawed at Ari and immediately woke up the Seal. Its whispers curled around her veins and Ari had to take a moment to push it back down.

A moment that almost cost her.

She ducked from the bal of energy that flew at her and summoned the
Cloak
. Invisibility wrapped around her and Ari moved at a speed she would never have thought herself capable of until Jai had shown her how. In seconds she was behind the female, her hand slamming down like a hammer into the back of her neck as Jai had trained her.

The female Jinn crumpled at her feet and Ari jumped over her in triumph, heading for the next Jinn. Ari charged at the male Jinn she’d marked to attack. At the speed she was going, it was incredibly painful as he intercepted her attack, grasping her neck, and successfuly puling her out of the
Cloak
. At a little over six foot, the Jinn was built like a tank, his dark eyes hidden under an overhanging brow that screamed ‘invincible caveman!’ He certainly felt invincible as he threw her to the concrete paving of the roof, her teeth breaking the skin on her bottom lip as her head slammed back and down again with enough force to kil an ordinary girl. The world spun, and Ari felt her limbs loosen as the Seal shoved its own into them. As it took control, Ari watched through the blur as Jai snapped the neck of the first Jinn who’d attacked just seconds before a blast of the other two’s combined energy sent him soaring back into the roof exit with such force his whole body just crumpled to the ground.

As Ari/the Seal was about to command them al to stop, flames exploded behind one of the two remaining male Jinn. Ari’s astonishment at the sight before her

caused the Seal to lose control of her. She struggled to sit up as Sala appeared out of the flames. Without a moment’s hesitation Sala smashed a fist of glowing ember through the chest of the shorter attacker and yanked out his heart. His body hadn’t even folded in on itself when she dropped his heart to hold up both hands, this incredible energy pulsating out of them at the goliath who’d knocked Ari on her ass. He shook quietly, horrifyingly, as if he was being silently electrocuted, and then he fel on top of the dead Jinn.

Sala twisted around to gaze down at Ari, her long hair whipping in the wind, her red dress matching the blood dripping from her hand. “He’s a Marid so he’s not dead. And he’s strong so you need to go.”

“The other…” Ari gestured to the Jinn Sala had so effortlessly ripped the heart out of.

Striding over to her with determination and violence in her eyes, Sala puled Ari to her feet. “I’m older than he was, sweetheart. No time to explain. Get Jai,” she shot a worried look over at Jai who was groaning as he shakily drew himself up off the ground, “And leave.”

“Thank you,” Ari whispered, not sure what else to say.

Sala gave her a weak smile. “I told you I’d always be watching over you. Now go.” She pushed her towards Jai and then stepped back into the
Cloak
before Ari could say another word.

“Jai!” Ari cried as he got to his feet, staring down at the defeated Jinn.

“What happened?” he asked, touching the back of his head and bringing back bloody finger tips.

Ari blanched at the sign of a wound. “Sala… my… my mom.”

“She saved you?” he breathed, his eyes dark with emotion.

“You both did,” she reassured him.

He looked anything but reassured. “Let’s get out of here.” He tugged her close and they both wrapped the
Cloak
around themselves seconds before Jai pushed off, flying them up into the air and away from the school, and leaving Ari’s stomach on the roof with the dead and unconscious Jinn.

18 -
How Can an Emerald Heal When its Poison Caused the Wound?

Good thing Michael Roe had a huge house. He had two more guests to accommodate.

They’d al agreed that it would be strange for Charlie and Trey to remain living in Jack’s house. Charlie stil couldn’t get his head around the fact that he’d never once been training and learning from Jack. He’d been learning from a goddamn, real life Jinn King.

The Glass King had spent hours, days, weeks, patiently teaching him and, in a way, becoming his friend. Charlie knew Ari felt utterly betrayed by Red and

subsequently by Glass, but he couldn’t help but be grateful to them. And yeah, he knew how selfish that sounded. But whatever their personal agenda, they’d been helping him to achieve vengeance. And Glass had been feeding his need for magic every day in doses he could handle. And now he was back to square one because Ari didn’t want them anywhere near her.

Charlie sighed, leaning his head back over the sofa, staring at the ceiling of the second sitting room in Michael and Caroline’s home. He sounded like a dick even in his thoughts. Red had hurt Ari. There was a time when Charlie would have kiled anyone who hurt her. Was he that far gone?

“Dude, you look pensive,” Trey remarked as he sauntered into the room, his hands jammed into his jean pockets. He stopped, staring down at Charlie like a bored little boy. “I wish I was out there with them. Doing something. Anything. I’m not used to sitting around.”

Charlie raised an inquiring eyebrow. “You want to spar using magic?”

“I’m not touching that.” Trey shook his head, eyeing him carefuly. “You addicted Charlie boy?”

Yes
. “No,” he grunted. “I just thought we could aleviate the boredom by smashing the hel out of each other.”

“Sounds quite entertaining. I’l watch,” a deep voice murmured from the corner.

Adrenaline spiked, Charlie jumped up off the sofa to stand next to Trey, his eyes wide on the blue-haired Jinn who was leaning casualy against the wal in the back corner of the sitting room. The Glass King smirked at them although his bright eyes lacked any real mirth. “I’ve been standing here in the
Cloak
for forty minutes watching you brood. I think you miss me, Charlie.”

Before Charlie could say a word, Trey was pushing him back towards the doorway. Trey’s usualy relaxed face was tense, his pale eyes burning, his whole body

bristling with energy as he stalked towards The Glass King. This was a side to Trey, Charlie had never seen. This was his guardian side.

“You dare to come back here after what you’ve done?” Trey was ful of reproach, his voice low with anger.

Charlie wasn’t the only one who couldn’t believe Trey was actualy talking to a Jinn King so disrespectfuly, so carelessly. Glass’ eyebrow quirked, his eyes sliding down Trey with lazy perusal before climbing back up to his face. “You dare to speak to me thus? Have you forgotten who I am?”

“You’re the guy that murdered an innocent man and impersonated him. You’re the guy that’s trying to coax my friend into kiling a ful-blooded Jinn so that he can be taken to Mount Qaf and sentenced to death. You want him out of the way for some reason. Wel you’re going to have to go through me first.”

As Trey’s brave and loyal words settled upon Charlie and Glass, Charlie couldn’t help but smile a little. Maybe he wasn’t such a dick after al if a good guy like Trey was wiling to take a bulet for him. Not that he was going to let him—he thought of the emerald nestled in his trouser pocket. He’d tried to keep it hidden but being too far away from it made him feel agitated, the way his old acquaintance Mel Rickman got agitated when he went too many hours without popping a pil. “Trey.” Charlie shook his head, taking a step forward. “Don’t.” He flicked an anxious gaze at Glass, worrying what his response would be.

Glass’ inscrutable gaze bore into Trey’s and the air around them crackled. It felt like the wals were closing in on them, that together they were sucking al the oxygen out of the room. Suddenly Charlie felt like he was intruding upon… something.

“I do not want to harm you, Trey. And Charlie does not want me to either. He knows the risk he is taking by pursuing the Labartu.” His eyes drifted past Trey’s face to Charlie’s, and they glinted knowingly at him. “He knows what my father wants and he knows what Red is doing. He has al the information.” And Charlie knew then that Glass was aware he had the emerald. That Red had given it to him to help him escape capture after he kiled the Labartu. Any mistrust he felt towards Glass disappeared in a selfish breeze of need to find her. To find the one who’d destroyed his family’s life. It didn’t matter if Red and Glass had kiled Jack, had hurt Ari.

Maybe one day it might matter to him again. But not today.

“He’s right, Trey. I know what I’m doing.”

“But, Charlie-” As Trey turned to argue light exploded around the room with a crackle and hiss. It wasn’t until Charlie watched in frozen shock as Glass jumped in front of Trey, taking an invisible hit from the strange Jinn who’d appeared out of the
Peripatos
to attack the young Ginnaye, that Charlie realized there was more than one of them.

They were under attack.

Pain exploded in his left shoulder just as the fog began to clear, and eyes-watering, struggling to draw breath, Charlie whirled around in time to create a cushion for the glowing fist that came at him. He swung back, eyes narrowed on the tal female Jinn in her leather trousers and white shirt. She sneered at him and jerked her hands out towards him, palm up, a wave of energy pulsating out at him. Without thinking, Charlie yanked the emerald out of his pocket, curling it tight in his fist and with
feeling
more than
thought
, struck his hands up like a conductor before an orchestra.

His
feeling
must have been one of pure destruction.

The female froze completely, her eyes widening in horror, her mouth faling open in a silent scream. Her skin began to turn lucid with transparency as al her veins popped up, emerald green fluid rushing through them. Blood spurted from her wrist as the first vein exploded and Charlie stumbled back in horror as he realized what he’d done. It was too late.

Warm, wet bits splattered across his face, the floor, the ceiling, the wal behind where the female Jinn he’d just exploded had been standing.

Sick silence drenched the room along with the heady, stomach churning coppery smel of blood and innards. Momentarily paralyzed, Charlie was only shaken from his stupor by Trey’s voice.

“What?” he murmured, feeling the Jinn’s blood on his cheek. He glanced at Trey, the room seeming to tunnel in around the guardian.

“Charlie?” Trey was pale, shaken.

What?
Charlie blinked, shaking his head as the tunnel vision dissipated and he could see clearly again. The Glass King and Trey stood staring at him, the former with a severe expression and the latter in shock. Scattered around the room were five unconscious, possibly dead Jinn. Trey had not a mark on him and although Charlie knew he was powerful, he knew he was not formidable enough to have taken out five Jinn in a mere few seconds.

The Glass King had saved their skin.

“Charlie, how did you…?” Trey gestured to the mess Charlie had made. “It’s not possible.”

“He didn’t.” Glass strode forward. “I did.” He stopped before Charlie and it was easy for him to read Glass’ expression.
‘Put the emerald away and let me take
the credit.’

Hastily shoving the emerald back in his pocket, Charlie watched with a churning gut as Glass swiped a hand over the air around Charlie, the floor, the ceiling, the wal, the blood and body matter disappearing. Just like magic.

Taking a shuddering breath, Charlie tried to calm himself enough not to be sick.

He’d kiled someone. Again.

Worse stil—the way he felt, the way the emerald felt— it was intoxicating. Exhilarating.

He felt invincible.

“Hel, I thought for a minute there he was going back to Mount Qaf for trial,” Trey blew out a relieved breath.

“He wouldn’t have anyway.” Glass gestured to the bodies of the Jinn. “I didn’t give you much time to realize it before I took them out, but these are sorcerers.”

“Sorcerers? I don’t understand. What are sorcerers doing here? Looking for Ari?”

Before Glass could answer the sound of chaos reigning from the back of the house met their ears. Cries of outrage mingled with the destruction of furniture. And then the gun shots rang out.

“My brother,” Glass growled as al three of them rushed towards the sounds. “The Shadow King. Many of his servants are sorcerers. And I can smel his dishonor from here.”

Adrenaline pumping, Charlie hurried after Trey and Glass, coliding with Trey in the doorway of Michael’s office. In one corner Caroline fought hand to hand with what Charlie was sure was a human man. Michael was aiming a gun at him, trying to get a clean shot. On the floor were two more humans, a young man and a woman, and a third body with an energy pulsing from them. A Jinn. Not dead, Charlie registered, seeing the rise and fal of the male Jinn’s chest. Or was it a sorcerer?

And in the corner, hovering above a glass cabinet where Michael displayed ancient weaponry he colected, was another Jinn. His long dark hair was braided over his shoulder, and like Glass, he wore a stark leather vest and leather trousers. His dark gaze bore into Glass, an amused smirk twisting his lips as he just floated there, cross-legged. “Just in time for the entertainment, brother.” He swept his hand over the scene.

In a blur of movement, his speed so fast he was just a streak of black and blue across the room, Glass was behind the human man fighting Caroline. He placed a hand on his head and the man froze, shuddering, his eyes roling back in his head before one last gasp escaped his now frothing mouth. His dead knees gave way and he colapsed to the floor, Caroline jerking back out of his way, alowing her husband to draw her into his side. Michael looked at Glass with amazing calm, his gun stil held tightly in his left hand.

“What on earth is going on, Your Majesty?” he asked quietly, indicating the bodies around them.

“That’s what I’d like to know,” a voice very similar to Red’s said very close to Charlie’s ear.

In unison, both Charlie and Trey backed into the room, their eyes staring up into a familiar face.

A Jinn King.

They al looked so much alike.

This one had a hawk-like nose, and peering stern eyes that swept the room, lingering on Glass and The Shadow King who stil floated from his perch in the corner.

In golden silk robes with matching golden trousers, his upper body bare under the robe except for the large ruby that hung around his neck, this king was a strange mix of danger and light. His long hair spiled around his shoulders, so golden blonde it could be mistaken for strands of the precious metal. He was also the talest Jinn King Charlie had met. Taler even than Red or Glass.

Speaking of Red.

The air in the room seemed to grow shalow as Charlie stumbled back involuntarily. The Red King stepped into the room beside his brother, a few inches shorter than the golden king.

Four Jinn Kings in one room. Charlie’s eyes nearly roled back in his head. It was almost how it had felt to stand before Azazil.

Both Red and his unknown relative were gazing up at Shadow in the corner. His eyes stil on Shadow, Red murmured to Michael, “Mr. Roe, this is my brother The Gilder King and founding father of The Guilds.”

Caroline gasped and quickly dipped her head as her husband bent deferentialy towards The Gilder King. “Your Majesty, it is an honor to have you in my home,”

Michael acknowledged, his voice ful of awe. It was the first time Charlie had seen Michael flustered.

“The honor is al mine, Michael of the Roe Guild. I just wish it was under better circumstances.” His dark eyes weren’t even on Michael. He was glaring with

rancorous intent at Shadow. “What is going on here?”

Smirking, seeming completely untroubled that he was outnumbered by three of his brothers, The Shadow King slowly lowered himself to the floor. Charlie nearly gulped. Fuck, he was huge too. He shot a look at Trey who hid an inappropriately amused smile. This was so effing surreal.

“Whatever I have done, you should realy blame Red for it.” Shadow shrugged, his smile ominous and sharp, like that of a shark’s. His expressions were richer than his brothers,
more
somehow—as if he did not know how to hide his feelings. He reminded Charlie of The Gleaming King in that respect. “He told me to stop sitting around for White to tel me what to do. So I went to White and told
him
what to do.”

“Ari, isn’t here.” Red curled his lip in disgust at him. “You’re realy quite crap at this aren’t you, Shadow?”

Charlie coughed, spluttering down a laugh at Red’s use of the word ‘crap’. The other kings were so formal compared to Ari’s uncle. Wait. Charlie froze, his gaze drifting from Glass, to Shadow, to Red and to the massive Gilder. They were al Ari’s freaking uncles.

“I know Ari isn’t here you arrogant swine.” Shadow roled his eyes. “I just sent some Jinn in to attack her. They have no idea who she is, just that I paid them a lot of money to do it. I did this to distract you. White probably has what he wants from her by now.”

As if he knew how he would react, Trey was by Charlie’s side in seconds, his hard grip curled around Charlie’s upper arm, holding him steady and stopping him from doing anything foolish. He was grateful for it, because for a moment al he’d felt was utter fear and fury for Ari. What had the son-of-a-bitch done with her? And Falon? His heart thudded even faster. Falon was with Ari. The two of them were together.

They have Jai
, a calm voice whispered to him.

As much as Charlie hated it, that calm reminder eased him a little.

Voice surprisingly cool, Red took a step towards Shadow. “What is White up to?”

“I’l stop you there.” Gilder strode past Red until he was standing center in the room. Those bird of prey eyes of his spanned the room, taking each of his brothers in carefuly. “I came only to issue a warning. I may be neutral in this war at present, but that can easily change if any of you,” his menacing gaze pinned Shadow to the wal,