Burn With Me (10 page)

“Ugh,” Ram interrupted. “Don’t get him started or he’ll never stop. Let’s just say it’s a magical curtain of privacy where we can’t be seen or interrupted by wandering humans. They don’t come near it and they don’t know why. The end.”

The youthful voice harrumphed. “Hardly a
definitive
explanation.”

Aziza turned toward the new arrival, looked down and gasped. “Holy shit. You’re the creepy kid from the Ferris wheel.” It was the nine-year-old with platinum hair and dark, expressionless eyes.

“He’s also the creepy kid from the sandwich shop,” Greg added suspiciously. “Guess you weren’t really looking for your mother, were you, squirt? If you’d found her you wouldn’t be out this late.”

The child frowned. “Creepy?”

Aziza looked to Ram for an explanation. “Why am I being followed by all of you?
What
is Brandon and
who
is this boy? I think I deserve those answers now.”

Shev leaned on the invisible “wall” that now surrounded them, and Aziza could clearly see people walking right behind her, some even looking in their direction at the statue that was now only a ghostly outline to her gaze. Where were they? The ground was still beneath their feet, but she could also see grass beneath the cobbled stone. Through the stone. It was as if the world had become a faded hologram, and the five of them were the only reality.

“She’s not wrong, Te.” Shev’s words drew her attention again as the woman studied the enigmatic child. “She deserves something. Sadly, our orders are rather confining. Surprisingly so. Please tell me your wise and enlightened leadership agrees that, at the very least, she should be given enough knowledge to protect herself, if not the entire history of our…disagreement.”

The sarcasm and hostility in her voice wasn’t hidden. Ram was right, Shev didn’t know how to do subtle. “Protect myself from what?”

They ignored her. The child—Te, Shev had called him—placed his hands behind his back thoughtfully. In his little school uniform, complete with adorable bow tie, Aziza wasn’t sure whether to pinch his rosy cheek or run screaming in the opposite direction. “I, too, have been advised to remain silent. I do not wish to be reactionary, but it seems unwise, given the approaching two-year deadline, as well as the extenuating circumstances, to keep everything from our charge.”

Two-year deadline? Then she was right about the curse?

Ram threw his hands in the air. “Thank you. This is what we believe as well. What the hell are they thinking?”

“I merely acknowledged the conflict involved, Jinn Qarin. I did not state a desire to disobey the consensus more than I already have by aiding you this afternoon.”

Aiding…? This afternoon? The lost child that had delayed Greg with their lunch. Had he known that Ram planned to seduce her? Had it all been arranged? Aziza glared accusingly at Ram, who had the good sense to look away.

Guilty.

Shev’s laugh was an angry sound as she responded to Te’s words. “We’d never believe it anyway. Have your own ideas? Perish the thought. There must be consensus. Never mind that we could go the way of her previous Qarins and die by an unknown enemy’s hands. Never mind that the last Fireborne in existence could be killed in the process without having produced any offspring to continue the line. Never mind that not
one
of us wants to imagine what would happen after that. The bloodshed. The effect on all our worlds once her death dissolves the treaty.”

A high, piercing whistle had everyone wincing and turning toward Aziza. Or more accurately, toward the man standing beside her. Greg was at the end of his rope. “Is anyone, at any time, going to explain what the hell is going on?
What
are you? I’m getting an angel-versus-demon vibe, but I’m not sure I’m right. You obviously don’t like each other, and frankly I couldn’t give a shit. I want to know what happened to Aziza. Why do you keep calling her Fireborne? What does that even mean? And
what
two-year deadline?”

“What he said,” she muttered, leaning against Greg for a moment in gratitude.

“Angels?” Ram muttered in disbelief before swearing underneath his breath.
“Humans.”

Te ignored Ram and looked up at them as if choosing his words carefully. “I understand the need for knowledge. It is the founding principle of my kind and one many of us attempt to foster in our allies. There are some things that are too complex to explain in human words, however, I will try. The simplest explanation of what her name means to the Niyr—that is what my people are called by the way—is
one who bears the burden of the fire
. Fireborne. What it means is far more complicated.

“The deadline we are referring to is the one of which you are already aware. Not the curse, as she calls it, so much as a pattern that has been unfolding with unerring precision. Once again, your words cannot convey it in proper context and I am not at liberty to explain it…to the Fireborne. If
you
truly wish to understand, however, there is a way.”

Greg crossed his arms. “What kind of way?”

Te moved closer, never blinking as he searched Greg’s gaze intently. “If you would help her, bend down. I will share what I can.”

As Greg knelt on the cobblestones, seemingly without hesitation, Aziza placed a restraining hand on his arm. “Wait, Greg, what are you doing? Is he controlling you?” She glanced at Ram with a pleading expression. “Why does
he
have to do anything? Please tell me this scary little man-boy isn’t about to suck his blood or eat his human brains.”

The boy in question made a startled sound and froze with his hands reaching for Greg’s head. “Scary? Human brains? I don’t understand. Why does my appearance displease you, Fireborne? There is no less-threatening form to a woman of your age and cultural experiences than a young child. That
is
why I chose it.”

“You had a
choice
?” Aziza let him see her disbelief. “I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but you obviously need to do more research on
my
cultural experiences. Watch
Pet Sematary
or
Children of the Corn
. Or hey, we’re in England. You could pick a random episode of
Doctor Who
,
any episode, to realize that you couldn’t have chosen a creepier way to introduce yourself.”

Shev snorted and Ram began to laugh. “Just when I thought you could not be more delicious, sweet Aziza. Alas, I think you’ve hurt his feelings.” He snickered. “He’s not certain though. He’ll have to go back to his people and see if they concur.”

There was no reaction on Te’s face to their taunting, but Aziza could feel the tension in the air. “Your kind enjoys chaos, Ram, because they know nothing else and they have no wish to change. You live in the moment, seeing only the next opportunity to indulge. This is why you are blind to the opportunity we’ve been presented with by the unusual presence in our midst. Do you wish me to share what I can with the Fireborne’s human, or would you prefer to close the meeting now and leave all our lives to the whims of chance?”

The laughter stopped instantly and Aziza began to shake her head, already disliking the direction this seemed to be going. “With my human? You mean
Greg
? No. Absolutely not. Why can’t you share it with me?”

The young Te’s large eyes were difficult to read, but Aziza would swear she saw pity. God, she hated pity. “The knowledge of who you are and what you need to do is in your veins, Fireborne. Awakened by your blood oath. It would, in due course, rise to the surface…if we had time. On both sides we are restricted from giving you the information you need in time for you to stay alive and fulfill your purpose, which
could
be contrary to our people’s well-being. I believe this is why they are hesitant to aid you. I respect consensus in all things,
however
, I am inclined to agree with my fellow Qarins in this case.”

He glanced at Greg. “We are also forbidden to reveal ourselves to a human unless the circumstance is dire. This situation qualifies. He is the way. Our loophole.”

“Agreed,” Ram and Shev spoke at the same time.

Te held out his hands again and cupped them in front of Greg’s lowered head. “Do you, Gregory Paul Prophet, willingly accept this knowledge in the Fireborne’s stead? Will you take this responsibility, freely and despite the danger, so that she may be able to protect herself?”

“Hell no,” Aziza intoned, answering for him. “This is
not
happening.”

Greg was watching the boy as if he would sprout horns at any moment, but he nodded. Had he even heard what she said? “Whatever it will take to get some answers. Anything to protect Aziza.”

“Yes, you have shown yourself to be interestingly determined in that task, but you should also understand the nature of the risk. It will take a transfer of thought. You will be inundated with images and words that will be out of order and confusing. It may overwhelm you. The human mind is still in a fragile evolutionary stage and I’m not entirely sure how you’ll react.” Te lifted his eyebrow, waiting for Greg’s response to change.

“Bring it, little man.”

Aziza wanted to smile at her friend’s bravado, but she was too worried. She should have sent him away with Penn. Should have sent him home before she’d come to England.

Then you might never know what you are.

But Greg would be safe.

When Te’s small hands began to glow with a brilliant white light, Aziza gasped and glanced at the men and women still walking by them. Past them. No one looked their way. The light was so bright it lit up the faces of people walking across the street, but they couldn’t tell. They didn’t see what was happening at all. Didn’t even sense it.

Greg could. “If I react badly, as in die a horrible death from my brain exploding, I’m coming back to haunt you, kiddo.”

Te didn’t respond to the threat. “The key is to feel the doors of your mind opening. You must open yourself to receive the knowledge of the Fireborne, or it will use force to gain entry.”

The ball of light grew in size until it swallowed Te’s hands and engulfed Greg’s forehead in its glow.

He began to scream and Aziza dropped to her knees beside him, reaching out to pull him into her arms. “Fuck.
Stop this.
It’s not working, it’s hurting him. Ram, Shev, someone make him stop.”

Ram’s hands gripped her shoulders and dragged her away from Greg, holding her easily when she struggled against him. “This is necessary, Aziza. The pompous prick is right for once. It’s the only way. He won’t hurt for long.”

“Jinn,” Greg shouted, clutching his head. “Her mother was right. Jinn. Not demons, not people, not snakes. Close to us. Right beside us this whole time. Ram, that bastard. Fuck, it hurts.”

“Oh, Greg,” Aziza whispered, not bothering to hold back her tears while she watched his flowing unnoticed down his cheeks.

Greg began to rock back and forth, still bathed in the light. “The others are nearby. No. Not nearby.
Niyr.
Niyr and Jinn—locked in conflict, thousands of years of hate. The center, the middle, the heart is…us. Human.” He was speaking swiftly now, almost muttering to himself. Slurring his words. “The light of the fire, the smokeless flame and the vessel heated by its warmth. Three worlds entwined, in battle, but the destruction of one means the destruction of all. There must be balance.”

He frowned and stopped rocking, but he was still holding his head with clawed fingertips. “All focused on Aziza. Jinn and Niyr come together as Qarin, only for her line. Aziza Stewart, standing at the base of the king’s statue. A king from the house of Stuart. A Stewart from the lineage of Ammu.” His laughter came out sounding like a sob. “The symmetry. The pattern. I see it. Aziza must not be the line’s end. All Qarins—doubles, guards—dead along with their charges. All but Aziza. Her blood is in the sand, the sand is in her blood and what it conceals it can reveal. But only to her.”

Blood. Aziza saw the blood dripping out of his nose and onto his lip, and knew she had to get to him. She relaxed her muscles and Ram shifted his hands to stop her limp body from falling. She used his distraction to tear herself away, rushing to her friend’s side. “Greg, stop this. Damn it, someone stop this now or I will kill all of you.”

“Kill.” Greg shook his head. Could he hear her? “The killings. Danger. Death follows her, leaving bodies in her path. Who is her enemy? How many? There is more than one wolf at her door. Whispers. Te, who are the Whispers?”

Te dropped his hands and the light disappeared. “I believe that is all I can safely give him. He will be confused for a few hours, then he will experience a short period of understanding and euphoria. Unfortunately, most of it will fade and he should return to normal, since the human brain cannot function for long in this state.”

Shev strode over to the petite Te and lifted him up by the fabric of his vest. “Why did the human mention
them
, Te? Do you believe they could be involved? Is there some piece of information your people aren’t sharing with ours? Because that would be a violation of the treaty.”

He stared at her in silence until she lowered him back onto the ground. “I believe it was merely a random bleed-through of my thoughts. I received a few of his as well. And I’ve hidden nothing. In the history of their existence the ones you refer to have never used physical violence to move their agenda forward.”

“Greg.” Aziza tried to shut out their voices, focusing on the man who was currently curled up in a fetal position on the ground. “Greg, babe, it’s me. Talk to me.” She lowered her head to kiss his cheek and whisper against his warm skin. “Please, don’t leave me alone.”

“Aziza.”

She looked up blankly, noticing the compassion in Ram’s shimmering eyes. He pushed her hair out of her eyes tenderly, humming in a soothing, almost unconscious way as he touched her. “He is unharmed. This has been done many times before. Your history is rich with dire situations and Niyr-human interactions. They live for this kind of thing. Trust me. He’ll be fine.”