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Beyond the Flame: Essence of Ohr, #3
Beyond the Flame: Essence of Ohr, #3
Beyond the Flame: Essence of Ohr, #3
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Beyond the Flame: Essence of Ohr, #3

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When old scars open—wounds that never truly healed—can Kole find the courage to stand against the deepest fear he's ever known?

Feathered Quill says: "This book is absolutely mesmerizing and just goes to show that, even when the author has already written two books in a series, the next book can truly be even better. All I can say is I can't wait to see book 4 and, if we are all very lucky, a motion picture that may be the beginning of the best movie series ever!"

  • BRONZE MEDAL: Feathered Quill Book Awards – 2023 – Fantasy
  • WINNER: Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, Fall 2022 – Best Fantasy

In Kole's quest to reunite all six gods, he's led to a distant city where magic and technology have merged and proven as a combatant against the spread of the Black Wall. Yet the god he seeks lies beyond the border of the black wall of fire encroaching on the continent.

Kole plans to use this new-found technology to aid in his search, but when equipment begins to mysteriously malfunction, he suspects foul play. He must uncover and eliminate the perpetrator if he hopes to save Ohr, but a part of him wants it broken, or he'll have to face the very entity which left him maimed.

EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS the third book in the multiple award-winning "Essence of Ohr" series of wondrous young adult fantasy adventures. And be sure to start with the first two books in this series: Warden's Reign and Children of the Volcano. [DRM-Free]

"One of the best young adult epic fantasy series of the decade..." ~ Rabia Tanveer, Readers' Favorite Books Reviews (5 STARS)

"I found myself both immersed and totally invested in Beyond the Flame from cover to cover..." ~ K.C. Finn, Readers' Favorite Books Reviews (5 STARS)

"...visually compelling, clean, and extremely addictive, the pacing is pitch perfect and the overall story is richly fulfilling." ~ Jamie Michele, Readers' Favorite Books Reviews (5 STARS)

"The action sequences in the latter third of the book are among the best in any YA fantasy fiction I've read." ~ Asher Syed, Readers' Favorite Books Reviews (5 STARS)

"Author Parris Sheets's world-building is simply phenomenal." ~ Pikasho Deka, Readers' Favorite Books Reviews (5 STARS)

LanguageEnglish
Release dateMay 4, 2022
ISBN9781622536566
Beyond the Flame: Essence of Ohr, #3
Author

Parris Sheets

Parris lives in Mesa, Arizona with her husband and two golden retrievers. She discovered her love for reading when a middle school reading assignment led her to the fantasy section of the library. This passion sparked stories of her own imagination, yet she never put pen to paper until after college. When she’s not consumed in her writing, she enjoys Olympic weightlifting, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and coaching color guard.

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    Beyond the Flame - Parris Sheets

    Chapter 1

    Gray plains. Gray winds. Gray skies. It had become Kole’s least favorite color. The Ashland Plains proved so dreary, the dullness of it all had managed to bleed into his dreams. He longed for bright blossoms and vivid sunsets. One thing he wanted more than color? Water. They’d run out last night, and though the late morning hours only just leaned toward noon, his nose, throat, and mouth felt as dry as bark.

    Kole, Felix, and Vienna clung to the trunk of the rambler. The walking tree provided little relief from the ash-filled winds tugging at Kole’s dusty clothes, but having a ride helped slow his spiral into dehydration. Trudging through knee-high soot would do no good for any of them. Kole squeezed his hands around the roots of the tree, which he used as reins to control the behemoth, and urged it faster. The rambler’s roots below, long and lean like spider legs, picked up the pace at his command.

    How much longer till this bloody plain ends? Felix groaned beside Kole. His brown curls, dusted in ash, bounced at the tree’s heightened gait.

    Vienna? Kole asked. Where do you suppose we are now?

    With an exacerbated sigh, Vienna fetched the map from her belt and unfurled it. I don’t know why you two keep making me pull this thing out. The volcano is long gone. No landmarks, no telling.

    At this point, just lie ta me, Sis. Felix wiped his eyes. They matched his sister’s perfectly. Brilliant green—jewel-like against the dreary landscape. Say we’ll be outta here by dinner, and I won’t peep a word the rest the day. Swears it.

    I’m not going to lie to make you feel better. Here. Look for yourself. Vienna offered the map to her brother, but he swatted it away.

    I’ve got the rambler going as fast as it can, said Kole.

    A strained feeling emanated from the roots poised in Kole’s hands. The tree needed water. Usually, the rambler got its nutrients from the soil when anchored. The roots would sink into the earth like any normal tree. The morning after, the rambler would pull free and stand tall, energized. But the first morning the rambler had emerged from its slumber here in the Ashland Plains, it appeared drained. Since then, the bark had taken on a brittle texture. No stretch to assume the same poisonous gases spewing from the volcano nestled at the heart of the Ashland Plains tainted the surrounding earth as well. Kole refused to anchor the rambler again for fear the toxins would render their only ride useless.

    Well, it ain’t fast enough for me, mate.

    Felix, Vienna scolded with a punch to his gut. He’s doing the best he can. So is the rambler. It’s just as weary as us, I imagine. Sorry, Kole.

    It’s fine. He was grateful for the conversation no matter what it entailed. Anything to provide a distraction.

    I didn’t mean ta blame him; just lettin’ ya know what’s all in our heads right now. Outta food, outta water. How long ya reckon we’ll make it ’fore one of us collapses?

    It’s not the food that’ll do it, Kole said. We need water soon—sooner because of my.... His eyes fell to the frayed hem of his sleeve. The red sheen of scar tissue stared back. Cords of thick flesh maimed his hands. He flexed his fingers. The scars hindered full movement. The fire disfigured more than his hands. Every inch of him held the same marks—the same resistance. Due to his permanent injuries, his need for water had grown exponentially. His body no longer self-regulated his internal temperature. No sweating meant overheating. And if he overheated....

    Vienna’s freckled face turned to him. We’ll find water. A promise held in her voice, one that made Kole believe it true.

    Heat rose in Kole’s cheeks, and he turned away. Though he’d known the siblings for a while now, she still had a way of rousing his anxiety. He blamed the feelings on his scars—told himself the nerves came because he still found it hard to fully accept his new appearance. No matter how much he tried to push the thoughts out of his head, he knew what some might think at first glance. Monster. Freak. Someone to be pitied. With Vienna, everything felt different. She’d been the first one since the accident who looked at him and didn’t so much as flinch.

    Wish we had Fiona. Felix leaned back and propped his hands behind his head. That little bird coulda scouted out a pond or somethin’. I’d drink from a puddle. Too bad someone had ta send her off. A harsh side-eye to his sister.

    Whatever encouraging warmth Vienna held in her gaze dropped as she set her sights back to her brother. "And leave Leo blind to what’s been going on? Maybe this is why he didn’t pick you for the mission."

    Ugh, that hurts, V. With a closed fist, Felix mimicked stabbing himself in the heart. But the more I been thinkin’, the less I think we really know. I mean, Pipes is alive and working with Savairo.

    It’s more complicated than that, Kole said. The mere mention of her name brought forth unpleasant memories. When Piper had disappeared during the battle for Socren, Kole and the Liberation believed her dead, or fated so. Savairo had taken her, after all—the blood crazed warden who murdered any in his path to create monstrous servants. Kole never guessed he’d reunite with their beloved Liberation member on the side of an erupting volcano. With her supposed captor.

    Is it really that complicated? Vienna posed. Fidgeting fingers playing with the frayed thread of her sleeve revealed her scrutiny on the matter. She force-fed you Soul’s blood. She connected you to... you know.

    Aterus. The god responsible for the whole mess that was Kole’s life, who’d broken the pact of the Seven Souls for his own selfish gain. Aterus’ betrayal cast destruction and death upon all of Ohr. Because of him, the Black Wall consumed the land, little by little. Those flames—those black flames—had burned away not just Kole’s skin a few months ago but his identity.

    Good or bad, or somewhere between, it doesn’t matter what Piper is, Kole said. She’s saved me too many times to count. It was a mercy giving me that blood.

    You can’t be serious. A violent cough took Vienna. She hid her face in her elbow until it passed, then cleared her throat.

    Better than what Savairo had in mind. He wanted to take me straight to Aterus. In that scenario, Kole’s choices would’ve surely been severed. His fate would lay in Aterus’ hands. But the way Piper had played it—feeding him blood to spark a connection between their minds—let Kole retain his choice. There was only so much the god could do to Kole from a distance. Least through the mind-link, I could escape.

    Blondie’s gotta point. Felix arched his back. A pained brow tucked down over his eyes as he rubbed where he’d been leaning against the rough bark of the trunk. If Kole’s a prisoner, how’s he gonna free the Souls?

    Vienna silenced at that.

    It was a good call with Fiona. Kole nodded to Vienna. Sure, we could have used a bird out here, but Leo should stay up with what’s going on. He’ll know what to do.

    "Well, if he does know what ta do next, there’s no way in hell he’s gonna find us out here. We can’t even find us. And we gotta map."

    There is another way to get our bearings. Kole nodded to Felix’s wrists.

    Tilting his head back onto the trunk of the rambler, Felix sighed and said, Yeah, I know.

    You don’t have to if you—

    Dontcha worry, Blondie. I know it’s time I start using it. Felix rubbed his wrists, where small wisps of smoke danced from the seamed scars of his skin. Felix had his own permanent reminders of the horrors of their journey. But his hadn’t come from fire. Tonight. I’ll do it tonight, eh?

    Vienna rested a hand on her brother’s shoulder. Whatever you think is best.

    The afternoon passed quietly. Kole focused on steering the rambler, while the siblings leaned back with eyes on the horizon in case unwelcome company found them. Few words were shared until the bright light of day dwindled. Ash thickened the air, blocking out the sun’s outline. The only way of knowing the time of day was when the brightness grew and faded, marking sunrise and sunset. Otherwise, Kole and his friends could only guess the hour.

    The sky took on a terracotta hue. Night grew near. Kole marched the tree on for a little while longer, then stopped to set up camp.

    The three companions slid down the roots of the gargantuan tree to the powdered floor. They must have been closing in on the Ashland boundaries because the buildup of soot had thinned. Where it had been knee-deep before, now it topped Kole’s ankles.

    Kole set his hand on a root. The rambler shook in response. Sorry, big guy. You have to go another day without rooting. The groan of wood answered him. It’s for the best. You remember last time. Hand still on the tree, Kole closed his eyes and dove into his head. He took a deep breath and reached his mind out to the rambler. Though the brute relayed a bit of resistance, the tree complied.

    Roots stretched out, whipping to and froe, as if stretching and shaking away the strain from the day’s travel, then tapped back down to the ground in an arced shape. The rambler created cage-like walls with its tendrils all around the trunk. A small gap emerged before Kole, which acted as a doorway. The idea had dawned on Kole to use the tree as shelter the night before last, when the winds kicked up so much dust, they’d all tossed and turned, congested and coughing. The small room under the rambler offered protection from more than the wind, though.

    Any minute now, Felix followed Kole in but refused to sit. Instead, he paced the short length of the shelter repeatedly. His fingers combed through his curls, which had grown so long, they grazed his shoulders. Know I should be used ta it by now—I mean—I know it’s comin’, but the thing always pops up all creepy like. Makes me jump every time.

    "It’ll be all right. Remember, you control it. Sort of like me and the rambler," Kole said.

    His friend’s eyes glanced up at the bottom of the trunk hovering overhead. ’Cept trees don’t have claws. And their species haven’t killed thousands of innocent people. There’s a bit of a gap in the evil meter, wouldn’t ya say, mate?

    No arguing with that. Sure, the forest where Kole had lived, filled with walking trees, had been dangerous—getting in the way of a stampeding rambler meant getting trampled—but few had died in comparison to Felix’s burden. The trees proved as deadly as any wild beast. And when tamed, they became less feared.

    The sun is down, Vienna called from outside. A rustle as she ducked through the doorway and settled a worried gaze on Felix. Don’t send it away this time. At least not without—

    Yeah, yeah, I know. Gotta make it useful, gotta—for the love of Souls! Felix jumped when a shadow swept across the wall. A humanoid figure appeared in the corner. It swayed, head trained on its master. First off, no more of that, ya hear, he scolded with a wagging finger.

    The shadow’s long claws twitched. The resemblance was uncanny. The demon shared Felix’s short stature, the same hip-favored lean, which gave off an aura of mischief, and even the silhouette of the hair—Souls!—it had grown to touch the Kayetan’s shoulder. It truly was Felix’s shadow.

    Well, go on, Vienna said expectantly, yet she hugged the wall as she rounded the room to Kole. Talk to it.

    Don’t always work that way, Sis. For the more complicated commands, I gotta do Kole’s thing and use my mind.

    A touch to his hip made Kole flinch. He caught Vienna pulling the sunstone dagger from his belt. Apparently, she still held her fear of the shadow. For good reason. Kayetans had tormented their city for decades, killing and massacring innocent people at the warden’s command. The siblings’ parents had been slaughtered by these very demons. Kole gave her a look of warning but let her take the weapon.

    I’m in control, she whispered, eyeing the penumbra.

    Kole? When Felix’s attention turned to him, Vienna hid the dagger behind her back. Could use yer help, mate.

    Kole moved to the center of the room and sat, cross-legged. A wave of his hand encouraged Felix to join.

    I can hear him whisperin’. Felix lowered across from Kole with his thumb pointed to his head. That’s good, right?

    I’m not an expert on Kayetan communication, Kole lifted one side of his mouth in a teasing grin, "but, yes, it’s probably good. It—he?—is open to you. What do we call it anyway?"

    Felix shrugged. It’s my shadow, so he, I guess. Ya want me ta ask him that instead of findin’ us water?

    Good to know Felix’s humor remained. Felix had lost it at first when he’d returned from his time with Savairo. The warden had abducted Felix and forced him through the blood ritual, which had severed the shadow from his friend’s body. Felix had barely survived the encounter. The aftermath, physically and mentally, from that horror had morphed Felix into something unrecognizable. No longer the happy-go-lucky thief from the city. That part of him still shined through every now and then, giving Kole hope that one day Felix might make a full recovery. Mostly now, Felix held a blank stare, and his smile lines grew less severe.

    The ritual had left Felix with a long, continuous scar outlining the sides of his body, yet his mobility remained, something Kole wished he could say about himself. No one should have to bear the burden of such wounds, least of all a friend. Though happy, it would be a lie to say Kole harbored no envy. If I could move like the days before my own accident.... A dream that would never come to pass.

    Kole removed the thought from his mind and focused on Felix. I’ll take you through the strategy Russé taught me. Close your eyes. When Felix obeyed, he too fell into the peace of darkness. He hoped to keep things light and extend Felix’s peppy demeanor for as long as possible. What do you see?

    Vienna, Felix said. He’s lookin’ at her.

    Kole had heard Felix mention it before. When night came and the Kayetan emerged, Felix had this strange ability to see through the eyes of his detached shadow. Unsure of why or how, they assumed it had something to do with the smoke dancing from Felix’s wrists. Something had gone wrong, or at least different, during the blood ritual that created the demon.

    Are you in control of the vision? Kole asked. "Can you make him look somewhere else?

    No. Just see what he sees. It’s kinda like when ya have a dream, I guess—watchin’ in on it.

    Interesting. They share sight but not control. Kole assumed they’d be more bonded, since the ritual had stopped before completion. Truthfully, they all stood blind to Felix’s situation. The only other person they’d know who had control of their Kayetan had died a couple days ago. Shikar had meant to train Felix before her passing. Now Kole, Felix, and Vienna had to go it alone.

    Give it a command. Something simple. Kole opened his eyes to find Felix’s face contorted in concentration, his bottom lip clenched between his teeth. Slowly turning to get sight on the Kayetan, Kole waited for it to heed its master’s secret command.

    The shadow folded its arms and tapped an impatient foot.

    For the love of Souls, mate, Felix erupted. Do what I say. He jumped to his feet and shook a fist at his Kayetan. It just keeps lookin’ at Vienna.

    Vienna tensed at that and lowered in her stance as if readying to pounce.

    Kole climbed to his feet and held his arms out between them. He studied the devil for a moment. If this truly was Felix’s shadow, he might be able to read the physical cues. The tapping foot stood out as a clear sign of agitation. Something else about its posture sparked a cue in Kole. What is it? The shadowed chin gave it away, tilted down and slightly angled. Felix did the same when he sensed danger.

    He doesn’t trust her. Immediately, he guessed why. Kole pointed to Vienna’s arm wrapped around her back. Hand it over.

    She dropped her arm, revealing the dagger clenched in her fist.

    Felix turned on her. Why ya got that? Thought we got past tryin’ ta murder it.

    I’m not actively hunting it. It’s... for protection in case—

    In case I go on a rampage? Felix mimicked his shadow’s agitated posture. "May not be able ta make it do things, but I can keep it from... doing things."

    Kole scrunched his mouth at that. Didn’t quite makes sense, but he knew where Felix was coming from. He approached Vienna with an open hand. It’s a block. If Felix is going to make any progress, we need to trust him. Which means his shadow, too. No more commandeering my dagger.

    Vienna twirled the hilt in her palm as she stared past Kole’s shoulder. When her eyes came back to him, she handed over the weapon, saying, Technically it’s mine. Then she walked straight up to the Kayetan. Let’s be clear here. If you so much as scratch my brother or Kole, I will find a way to vanquish you, with or without that dagger.

    Kole’s jaw dropped when the shadow held out a clawed hand. An offering of peace?

    A long moment passed while Vienna stared at the hovering hand. Finally, she lifted her own—trembling as if unsure—and curled her fingers between the smoke-like claws. She didn’t squeeze, for her touch would pass straight through the creature, but she held herself there, stiff as a tree, confirming the pact.

    In a blink, the Kayetan swirled away, leaving a trail of smoke through the roots where it escaped.

    Vienna turned. Where did it go?

    Guess it was you. A smirk set on Felix’s face. I told it ta find us some water.

    As if on cue, Vienna’s cough returned. She nodded to her brother, then hunched against the bark until her fit subsided.

    The night dragged on. Felix and Vienna had long passed into their dreams, snuggled up in the soot, while Kole spent another night restless. Less ash sifted to their lungs with the roots acting as walls. No need for a watch since the rambler would rouse the group if danger approached, Kole leaned against the tree and stared blankly into the darkness. Quiet should bring peace. Should. Yet all it brought was images of the past.

    This crazy quest—more like death mission—had started a little over a month ago, when Kole learned he had a connection to the lost gods of Ohr. The Seven Souls, as they called them, each had a part in creating the world. His lifelong mentor, Russé, who’d disguised himself as an old man throughout Kole’s youth, revealed his true identity as the Green Soul, creator of all plant life. Russé was the reason Kole could steer and control a tree as easily as a horse. Hell, the Green Soul had given the ramblers the ability to walk in the first place.

    Apparently Kole had released Russé from his prison at the young age of five, though he held no memories of the event. Before Kole learned of all this, he—and everyone else in Ohr—believed the Souls had abandoned them. The truth? One of the Seven, Aterus, had betrayed the gods for his own gain and banished his kin from the land. But the Souls were a perfectly balanced petal propped on the tip of a finger. The absence of one Soul sent that petal whirling and allowed chaos to consume the land. That chaos came in the form of the Black Wall: the dark fire that had left Kole maimed and had slaughtered his family and closest friends.

    Niko. Kole thought the name so vividly, he had said it aloud. If only you were here.... I need help.

    A way existed to return Niko from the grave—one that had recently presented itself to Kole. At the time, he’d refused the offer, but things changed when he had reached his limit back at the volcano. The moment he released Obell, the Red Soul, something within Kole’s spirit surrendered. He alone bore the pain. He alone bore the burden of returning peace to Ohr. And what did he get in return? A chance that it would work—that his efforts would destroy the Black Wall. But a great penalty loomed over such a victory: Kole may die in the process.

    How much more would he have to endure for Ohr? Why him? A fifteen-year-old boy. Why was he meant to suffer for the mistakes of others?

    Death. Is that what I’m running toward? Kole squeezed his hands into half-balled fists. The taut scars pulled sharply against his knuckles, preventing them from fully closing. Haven’t I suffered enough?

    But there was another way.... A way out.

    Kole’s eyes scanned his sleeping companions. Neither stirred as he snuck through the cage of roots into the dark, open plains. He walked far enough so that the wind would conceal his voice, but he maintained full sight of the rambler.

    He struggled to swallow the dried lump spreading in his throat. Even the thought of what he intended to do next made his hands tremble. There’s no other way. There isn’t. The thoughts did little to subdue his fear.

    With closed eyes, he reached into the depths of his mind and followed the roads to where the Souls lay like parasites in his brain. He could feel the doors leading to each one. The ones he’d already released, Russé, Issira, and Obell, no longer held fortifications against him. Their doors, if pushed, would open at will, he knew. They offered easy connection. The others lay dormant, forever waiting for release. But he searched for one Soul in particular. The one which frightened him the most.

    He found no door, but Kole knew the god lived within him somewhere, for they had connected before.

    Aterus. Kole let the name ring through his body, then waited.

    No answer.

    After a shivering inhale, Kole clenched his fists. I want to make a deal.

    A tingle ignited in his fingertips. Subtle first, then it built in his veins. He felt the throb of his heart pulse through his arteries like strikes against a war drum.

    The voice came clear in his head. The voice of Aterus. I’m listening.

    Chapter 2

    The face of Piper’s enemy stirred in her head. She replayed the death—the murder she’d committed a day ago—over and over again. Not out of guilt; she carried no remorse. Piper reveled in the act. The kill strengthened her. The image of the flesh melting off Savairo’s face as she pushed his head into the boiling lava... she closed her eyes and welcomed the goosebumps. Too long had the blood sorcerer held power over her. Too long had he tormented Socren and the people of Ohr. No doubt anyone who learned of Savairo’s demise would celebrate. If they’d seen it, though—the way it’d all played out—would they deem her savior or monster?

    Piper.

    The sweet voice stilled her thoughts and brought Piper back to reality. She sat knee-deep in ash. The remnants of the exploded volcano lay at her back.

    We need to know what happened. Will you talk now? The woman knelt beside her. The stained blue silk of her gown along with the ash smeared across her face made her seem almost human.

    How interesting they’d take the forms of the species that marked their end. Piper took in the god’s eyes; the color of thunderclouds, and they swirled, too, like skies birthing a twister. The Blue Soul, as the people of Ohr had come to know her. "Like you don’t know, Issira. What you saw is what happened."

    Issira leaned back, angular brows soft over her unreadable expression. You would have burned with him. You would’ve met the same fate had I not doused your pride. But the lava didn’t affect you. Why is that?

    Feigning ignorance? Or do you just want to hear me say it? Piper rose and faced the cooling streaks of lava draping the volcano. A few bright veins of orange remained. Mostly, the rivers of fire glowed dull, like dying coals.

    Two other Souls stood around her, staring, waiting. One, she’d met before. Russé, the Green Soul. The one responsible for enchanting the trees of the forest north of the mountains. His power over plants made the trees of the forest a menace, walking on their roots and bumbling about like cattle. But here, in the desolate plains, he held little threat.

    And the other god who stood beside Russé? A new face. Freshly released from the volcano, no doubt, which meant he could be no other than Obell, the Red Soul. Despite having three gods in her company, she only felt their weakness. Dried up powers. Fallen divine. Pity.

    Piper surveyed the volcano. Look at this mess. I thought you’d handle things subtly. Were you surprised I found you, Russé? You left a clumsy trail from the beginning.

    Freeing my kin felt more important than covering our tracks at the time, Russé answered. The only surprise was learning you traveled with Savairo. Are you working for him?

    A laugh escaped her. She smiled, replaying the blooming fear in the blood sorcerer’s eyes the moment he realized she had the upper hand. Not anymore.

    Aterus, then? Russé leaned against his gnarled staff. The old man’s persona was almost believable. He’d thought of everything: the beard, the hunched back, even a weapon that served as a walking stick. The form might have fooled humans, but not her.

    No. I left my father’s graces a long time ago. By my own choosing.

    Russé stepped back. Father?

    Even Obell clenched his fists with palpable confusion. The behemoth man’s muscles flexed and twitched beneath rich, deep skin. Aterus had a child? Impossible.

    The shock on their faces pleased her. Save for Issira’s, which never flinched.

    What are you talking about? Russé asked.

    Piper swung her head to the Blue Soul. Why don’t you ask Issira?

    Belches from the cooling volcano filled the tense air between them.

    Issira? Russé turned to his kin. You know something about this?

    Issira brushed back her pin-straight black hair and lifted to her full height. I know of her.

    "You knew of a child? The wrinkles of Russé’s face deepened. Yet you kept it hidden all this time."

    It’s an abomination. Human and god together. Diluted power, said Obell. As his fury intensified, so did the light of the lava behind him.

    Piper rolled her eyes. "This abomination, she pointed a thumb at herself, is more powerful than any of you at the moment. I’d show a little more respect for the person who is single-handedly going to pull this world out of the destruction you all created."

    Aterus created this! Obell roared. The volcano rumbled at his anger.

    "All the Seven Souls are responsible, Piper snapped. With your quarreling and need for control, even now."

    Enough. Issira flung a hand toward Obell. A jet of water burst from her palm and soaked his skin. On contact, the water sizzled and steamed away. Obell’s shoulders fell forward, more composed than before. Before the calamity, Issira began, Aterus and I made a deal. My end was to keep the pregnancy a secret. I never met the mother, nor did I ever see the newborn. A quick nod Piper’s way. After I realized my error, I confessed.

    You never mentioned a child, Russé accused, his fingers wrapped tightly around the gnarled top of his staff.

    And what of it? Issira’s sweet voice held a sour note. What does her existence have to do with finding the rest of our kin?

    Russé rubbed his temples and sighed. We don’t know the complications.

    Honestly, neither do I, Piper admitted. Beyond the few otherworldly gifts she possessed, she never fully grasped what it meant being the offspring of a Soul. A curse? Blessing? Depends on the day. That’s not important for now. What we need to do is stop bickering and find Kole. Where is he?

    I sent him away, Russé answered.

    What? The annoyance in her voice wouldn’t be reined in. Are you insane?

    It was too dangerous for him on the volcano, and I needed to ensure Issira and Obell escaped unharmed, so I told him to run the rambler as far from here as he could. Russé glanced to his kin, who, other than a few scuffs and bruises, seemed in good shape. He’ll sit tight until we find him.

    "He’ll sit tight, Piper mocked. When has Kole ever sat tight? For claiming to know him so well, I seem to have a better grasp on him. She waved a hand at the dense winds of ash swirling over the plains. How are we going to find him in all of this?"

    The ash will settle once the volcano sleeps. Soon, the air will clear, Obell said.

    I can sense him through our connection. Russé closed his eyes for a moment, leaving Piper and the two other Souls to stare at one another.

    She snuck a peek at Issira. A part of her felt indebted to the Soul for keeping her deal with Aterus all this time. Even when her father captured and imprisoned his kin, the Blue Soul never faltered. Piper held a bit of admiration based solely on that. Who knows what the gods would have done to me or my mother had they discovered us. Probably killed us both. Still, whatever budding trust was forming came with scrutiny. The Souls had moved against one another before, and Piper held no doubts they’d do the same before the end.

    Issira caught her stare and held it. The few seconds felt like minutes under the Soul’s gaze. Something squirmed in the back of Piper’s mind. Not a thought or feeling. Something simpler. A presence—foreign, yet oddly familiar. Was Issira trying to breach her thoughts? Piper shook it away. No one’s getting in my head if I can help it.

    They’ve gone north, said Russé. I can sense him and the rambler.

    No use wasting time. Piper trudged through the ash away from the three Souls, knowing full well they would follow. Though she preferred to continue alone, she lacked the skills to track Kole now. No. Not lacked. Piper chewed her bottom lip. She had one way to find Kole. But what she’d have to do... the mere thought made her shudder. One slipup and it could ruin her. A last resort. Only as a last resort.

    Chapter 3

    When Kole opened his eyes, the Ashland Plains had gone. The mind-link showed him a wide, bare landscape weighed heavy with hills of golden sand. No heat or cold touched his skin. The place seemed void of temperature and wind. Somehow, the sky shone clear and bright without a sun.

    This is... unexpected. Much more pleasing than the ocean of blood.

    Kole clenched his teeth, then turned to the voice.

    Aterus walked down a nearby dune. Each step sent a small river of sand rushing down with him. The Soul looked just as Kole remembered from the previous mind-link: salt-and-pepper hair, hard features, and broad shoulders, which stretched his white tunic tight across his chest. It seems as though your opinion of me has shifted. Those dark eyes glinted as he approached.

    Kole waved to the desert scene. I’m not controlling any of this. He’d never even seen one before, merely heard of them through childhood stories. None existed within the confines of the the Black Wall and hadn’t since the wall of fire had consumed the lands far south a couple decades before he was born. How could such an unfamiliar landscape show itself so clearly to him?

    One side of the god’s mouth lifted. Maybe not direct control. But it is you.

    Three days ago, when they’d spoken in the last mind-link, they’d stood on a red sea and the pink sky had rained blood. Aterus claimed the gruesome scene represented Kole’s opinion of him. A murderer. If the Soul assumed correctly, what did a desert mean?

    Aterus slid his hand down the sleeve of his white tunic. Brows raised. When his eyes trained back on Kole, something sparked behind them, and his tense posture softened. I’m glad to see you safe.

    You know why I’m here, Kole blurted. Every passing moment offered another chance to second guess himself or the siblings to discover his absence. He wanted this done.

    "I told you last time; that deal was gone the moment you denied it."

    Kole chewed his corded lip. Then I’m here to make a different one.

    Aterus folded his arms and studied him but continued his silence.

    I know what I want now. I’m not clouded by the wills of others.

    "The will of your Souls," Aterus corrected.

    Yes.

    What is it you desire, Kole? I will not give you your refugees back if that’s what you’re asking. I’ve already offered that, and I refuse to be so kind again.

    Why had he been so stupid before? Dozens of children, the orphaned refugees of his camp who’d died in the Black wall, could’ve had their lives back if he’d agreed last time instead of listening to Russé.

    I want Niko. Kole’s mind raced. Was that all he wanted? No, but should he risk too many demands? Negotiations always dwindled the price. Might as well lay it all out and cut where he could. I want my body back.

    Aterus lowered his head like a wolf stalking prey. No.

    A shiver of anger ravaged Kole’s body, trembling his hands. He balled his fists to hide it, though he knew his efforts were in vain. A feverish heat swept through the desert at his shifting temper. It seemed his emotions controlled more than he thought.

    If that’s all.... Aterus started to turn. No doubt he felt the morphing climate—could read Kole’s every emotion.

    Wait!

    The Soul ignored his cries and walked back up the dune. His bare feet shimmered, fading away like a mirage.

    Niko. Just Niko. A portion of his heart sank at the admission. The part which longed to become whole again—to break free of the bars that were his burns.

    Mid-step, Aterus paused.

    Please. That’s all I want. I’ll make your deal. I’ll free the rest of the Souls and give them to you.

    A stubbled chin turned over the Soul’s shoulder. Your friend? That’s all you want?

    Kole swallowed, fighting back the protests clawing up his throat, which begged and pleaded to take back his words. Yes, he forced.

    How generous you are. Aterus turned back to Kole. Willing to live crippled till the end of your days.

    I’m not crippled, Kole roared. Things had shifted since the last mind-link. Before, Aterus had come to Kole with a deal. The Soul had been the weak one. Now Kole begged for a compromise. Aterus held the control here, and he knew it.

    No. I guess you’re not. The Soul straightened and closed the distance between them. You will give my kin to me. Convince the imprisoned to transfer their essence to me so they can ascend, and I will remain over Ohr as the one and only god. With the strength of four, I will be able to overpower Russé, Issira, and Obell. They will concede in the end. If not on their own, after a few more millennia back in their prisons.

    Millennia?

    Don’t fret, Kole. I doubt it will take that long. Niko will be returned to you as soon as I have the three you’ve promised me. As for the Black Wall... I will have enough power from those you give me to keep it at bay—even restore half of Ohr. But the wall will not burn out completely until all seven are merged. It’s the only way balance can be restored. Russé will give up when he knows the key won’t be sacrificed. Obell and Issira will follow shortly after.

    When the key won’t be sacrificed....

    He means me. A shred of doubt reared up, but Kole forced it down. He held no pity for Russé, who would have Kole die for the cause... and many times over again.

    Kole’s hand went to the pendant resting on his chest. He pulled it free and stared at the symbol of the Seven Souls. What if I can’t convince them? What if they refuse?

    The sand shimmered despite the absent sun as Aterus bent and grabbed a handful. We may be gods, but our will is as fragile as your own. At first, we put up walls. Hope is strong. The sand slipped through his fingers in thin streams, but he closed his other hand over the leaks and the sand ceased flowing. Isolated for so long, our will—our sanity—begins to fade. Aterus’ second hand, cupped around his first, only acted as a temporary solution to the leak. Soon the sand slipped through the cracks in his fingers once more. When the stream finally slowed, he opened his palm to Kole. Small granules remained tucked in the creases of his skin. The time to act is when they still hold reason—still hope for a way out. Too much reason and they will deny you. Too little, and they will have turned mad from isolation. The time to prey is now, Kole. They are ripe.

    Gods dwindling into madness. The thought frightened Kole. With all their power, one wrong word could sour his mission. More than Ohr is at stake. I have skin here. I will make them agree. The thought made him pause. Those words compelled him to see himself in a new light. The Kole from a month ago would’ve called out such greed, but he knew better now. He would act for himself, yes, and for others. If claiming control over his fate labeled him as heartless, then so be it. Better than accepting death.

    Kole thumbed the pendant he’d inherited from his old camp leader after his home had burned. Seven jewels encircled the black center stone.

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