“Children of the natural elements,” I mused. “I mean, I can understand how it would happen, but the amount of energy it takes to possess a body like that… The Hermessi would’ve had to be strong.”
“They’re obviously stronger here,” Taeral replied. “We saw a fire manifestation without passing out into some weirdo vision.”
I nodded. “Fair enough. So it’s not just Inalia. It’s Eira, too.”
“I knew that one was hiding something,” Varga replied, his satisfied grin speaking volumes.
“That’s not all,” Taeral said. “I found the Hermessi records. Eira gave me the tip. I found some general stuff, but, when I touched the Fire Hermessi’s book, I blacked out. I had a vision.”
“Whoa,” Amelia murmured, her eyes wide and glassy.
“It shouldn’t come as a surprise. Taeral is part fae, after all,” Eva said.
“True. I figured that much,” Taeral replied. “Thing is… I relived a very intimate and important memory of the Cerixian Fire Hermessi.”
He paused, letting the concept sink in. Once he got started on the description, we all had our jaws on the floor. This wasn’t easy to digest, but it didn’t strike me as unexpected. I’d somehow made the connection already from the moment I’d seen Inalia’s palms erupt in deadly flames, back in the temple.
Everything that Taeral told us about… Brann and Inalia’s mother—it was the glue that held all the other pieces of the story together.
“If a Fire Hermessi took hold of a Cerixian and created a Hermessi child, then it should stand to reason that the other elements can do it, too,” Amelia said. “I wonder if Eira is also Brann’s.”
“I doubt it,” Taeral replied. “I can… feel Inalia’s fire, if you know what I mean. Eira is different.”
“And they both know,” Herakles muttered.
“They didn’t see what I saw. They can only assume, based on what they can do. We’ll have to talk to their mothers if we want to find out more,” Taeral explained. “But the one thing that’s clear is that it’s possible. I’m not sure it’s a casual thing, or what amount of energy it entails for a Hermessi to be able to do it, but they can have children. That’s a fact, now.”
“So, what do we do now?” Eva asked. “How is any of this going to help us find and stop that rogue Hermessi who’s supposedly responsible for the fire fae blowing up? Not to mention the damn cult.”
“I think they’re all linked,” Taeral replied. “Don’t ask me how I know it. I feel it in my bones. And there’s also the risk to Inalia and Eira’s safety, if the empire finds out about their abilities.”
“So, what? We get them out? Hide them?” I asked. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, this wouldn’t be the first time I went behind the leadership’s back, but we could really use a plan right about now.”
“We get Inalia out. She’s more volatile. Eira can cover her own ass,” Taeral said. “According to her, she’s got self-control. Inalia, on the other hand, is getting anxious, and I wouldn’t want to see what’ll happen if she loses it.”
Herakles nodded. “Okay. Let’s break the ginger out of jail, then, and find a safe place to hide and plan our next steps. If you feel there’s a connection to our Hermessi problem here, I trust you.”
“We all trust you, Cuz,” Riza added, smiling at Taeral.
“Thank you. We’ll figure it out. I’m sure we will,” he said, then put his hands out.
I wanted to believe him. Wholeheartedly.
But there was a pretty big chance we’d have to find a way to stop that rogue Hermessi from doing more damage throughout the In-Between, and I didn’t trust his siblings at all. I’d felt them during the Blackout. They’d saved my life, but I couldn’t shake the doubt—there weren’t any specifics to it, just a faint feeling that something was… off.
So far, I’d been right. At least one of them was crooked and wreaking havoc. Another one had been dropping super-powerful babies on Cerix. What were the odds that the irregularities would end here?
We linked hands with Taeral and vanished from the cell.
Our troubles were just getting started. I knew it.
Inalia wasn’t in her cell. That was my first observation upon reappearing on the other side of the prison, in the western block. Eira was gone, too.
“This is weird,” I said, stating the painfully obvious.
Taeral was downright distraught. “Wait… Where the hell did they go?”
Varga looked around, using his True Sight to find them. “I can’t see Inalia or Eira anywhere in the building—Uh-oh,” he breathed, then stilled.
Boots rumbled through the hallway, as Cerixian soldiers came in. This wasn’t a coincidence. This was planned. We’d been played, somehow, though I wasn’t sure who to point a finger at, just yet. They all aimed their weapons at us.
I couldn’t help but smirk.
“Let’s not engage them,” Taeral whispered.
“Aw… I was actually in the mood to break a jaw or two,” Herakles grumbled, pouting like a little boy.
“Bigger fish to fry, my friend,” I said to him.
Nalyon Martell came into the corridor, his heels clicking on the stone floor. He slipped between the soldiers and reached us, wearing a smug and perfectly punchable grin. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked rhetorically.
“The weather is so nice outside,” I said. “Figured we could catch some fresh air, get some vitamin D into Varga and Eva… You know, the basic pampering.”
The joke flew right past Nalyon’s head, but it got an unintended chuckle out of Amelia. Great, she laughs at my jokes, too.
“Where’s Inalia?” Taeral asked, gritting his teeth.
Nalyon narrowed his eyes. “She’s no longer your concern. You should be more worried about yourselves right now. It looks like you’re attempting to escape, and, I must say, it doesn’t exactly paint you people as innocent.”
