Wings of Fire

The boys settled down.

Parisa saw a shimmering beside Endelle, then Alison came into view. A few seconds of explanation and Endelle put her hand on Alison’s forehead, which allowed the powerful ascender to see Parisa, window-to-window. She made eye contact with Parisa.

An energy field? Alison sent.

Yep. I’m flat on the floor. I can’t even lift my arms up. How do I get out of this? I haven’t tried to work with energy fields before but I thought maybe since I could throw a hand-blast and dematerialize …

Right, Alison sent. She took a deep breath. The first time I erected a field, I just thought the thought. And you’re right, it’s not unlike folding or throwing a hand-blast, just another aspect of power.

This wasn’t very helpful. Alison looked behind her. Parisa panned back to see what Alison was seeing. The warriors were talking.

Oh, dear God, Alison murmured inside Parisa’s head.

What? What’s going on?

Have you heard this stuff about Greaves and his army?

Yes, that he’s gathering his troops at the Grand Canyon.

He’s challenged Endelle to a battle. Thorne just said that Stannett checked in earlier and said unless there was some kind of miracle, she’d lose today.

Parisa’s heart sank. She needed her own miracle to stay alive and to keep Antony alive, but she needed to let Endelle and Alison go right now so that they could work on this much bigger issue. She searched through her mind and had a thought. Alison, I know you need to leave, but is there a chance you could download your “field” abilities straight into my head? I can take it. I know I can because I’ve had Endelle in my head and Antony as well. Will you do that for me?

Alison turned back to look at her.

Endelle butted in. Of course she’ll do it but hurry the fuck up. Get yourself out of that hellhole and would you please fucking complete the breh-hedden?

Alison didn’t miss a beat. Ignore her, Parisa. Just take your situation one step at a time, okay? Are you ready?

Yes. Do it.

The images of the arena battle from seven months ago began to flow through Parisa’s mind. She knew enough about taking someone else’s memories to keep her shields down. She saw the battle with Leto in an instant replay: the cutting off of his arm, the reversal of the time-pocket, Leto’s counterattack, then Alison erecting the energy field, effectively trapping the warrior on the black mats of the battle zone.

It was over in seconds.

Parisa blinked into the pitch black for one, two, three seconds. She smiled. Thanks, Alison. I think I’ve got it. Tell the warriors I’ll do my best to bring Antony home.

You go, girl.

Parisa closed her voyeur’s window.

You go, girl. Was there a sweeter, more sisterly thing Alison could have said?

Parisa closed her eyes and let Alison’s memories flow once more, feeling exactly how Alison had built the field. But could it be done in reverse and with someone else’s energy creation?

She turned her hand palm up and held her hand against the field. Removing a field meant taking the energy in, not releasing it. But it was Rith’s energy. Could you take someone else’s energy into your body?

She almost thought the thought, but held back. Maybe some sort of “ground” would help. She planted the fingertips of her left hand onto the terra-cotta bricks next to her just in case the energy needed someplace else to go.

She thought the thought and as though she’d opened a valve, the energy started flowing into her hand in a terrible numbing sensation. Just as she’d expected, it traveled up her arm, across her shoulder, her chest, to her opposite shoulder, down her left arm, and began to flow through her fingertips and into the bricks.

It took only a matter of seconds but by the time she was done she was panting and her chest hurt. Too much energy, too soon after being brought back to life with those fucking defibrillator paddles.

She reached up a weary hand—and no more field. The sudden relief eased the physical pain.

But she still couldn’t see a damn thing despite her preternatural vision. Apparently the eyes needed some light to work with.

She crawled on her knees in the direction of Antony’s strong, even breathing. At least the warrior had gotten some sleep.

When she reached the field around him, she groaned. It was much larger than hers—more a jail cell than a coffin. She thought maybe a different pathway would help, so she stood up, put her left hand on the field, and kicked off her shoes.

She refused to think about how uncomfortable this was going to be. Instead, she just let the energy flow. She tensed then relaxed and realized her decision had been a good one. The energy moved straight down her left side, missing her heart altogether.

When the last of it was gone she called Antony’s name.

I searched for you

In the wilderness

I called your name at the darkest hour

I broke every promise

And shattered the unknown

I called your name when my heart was open

And you were there, Beloved,

You were there.

—Collected Poems, Beatrice of Fourth

Chapter 23

Medichi awoke to the sweetest sound in the world—Parisa speaking his name.

“Parisa? You sound so close, but I can’t see you.”

“I didn’t want to startle you.”

She was closer now, closer than she should be, like really close. Was he dreaming? He sat up then gained his feet. He put his hands out in front of him. “Where are you?”

“Right here. I … well, how do I say this … I contacted Endelle through our mutual voyeur windows. She brought in Alison, who sent me a nice little download all about energy fields. They’re gone. The fields are gone.”

Relief washed through him like a flash flood during a monsoon storm. His knees buckled but he caught himself.

“You’re kidding” came out of his mouth. “I mean, that’s fantastic.” He grabbed for her and the next moment she was in his arms and flat against his chest, stuck to him like a wet autumn leaf. A series of sobs bounced her beautiful breasts against his. “It’s okay,” he said. “It’s okay. You did great. It’s okay. I can’t believe it. You’re amazing.”

She laughed and cried but after a moment she took a deep breath. She pulled back but only far enough so that her hair brushed his chin. His nose started itching, and a second later he sneezed.

“I’m covered in that awful dust. Antony, what do we do now?”

Just as the words left her mouth, a distant light flicked on and Rith’s voice echoed across the room. “Ready for the next round, my dear?” The rattling of wheels sounded at the same time.

The field was gone. Was it possible he could fold? Would it be this simple?

One thing was for sure, he wasn’t going to wait around to find out.

Medichi clutched her close. Just as Rith appeared in the doorway, he thought the thought. The next moment he was holding Parisa in his arms at the foot of his own bed.

Holy shit, they’d done it!

“Did we actually make it out?” she asked.

“Yes. We did.” He looked down at her, still clutching her hard against him, afraid she would vanish straight out of his arms.

“What if he follows your trace?”

“He tried that once before, and I almost had his head. Remember, he’s not a warrior. He’d never be that foolish to come here again although I’d love for him to try.”

She blinked up at him. “Antony, we did it.”

He nodded, still stunned. “But how did you come up with using the voyeur window?”

At that her expression softened. “I figured something out: I don’t have to go my own path alone anymore. I got us into this mess by chasing Rith’s illusion outside the hospital because all my life I’ve acted independent of everyone. I had to let that thinking go, to think differently. And the moment I had that thought, I remembered that Endelle also had a voyeur’s window. And now here we are.”

He kissed her hard on the lips and she responded with a low cry in her throat as she threw her arms around his neck. His hand drifted low and caught her buttocks in his hand. He pressed her hard against him.

After a moment, she drew back. “Oh, God, I almost forgot.”

“Why the frown? What’s wrong?” He had the worst feeling.

“Greaves is mounting an attack. He’s been amassing his forces on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.”

“Shit. Oh, shit. I’ve got to get over there.”

She grew very still as he pushed her away. He reached for his phone then caught sight of Parisa’s expression. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head. “I’m not sure.” She put her fist between her breasts. “Antony, be careful right now. Be careful of the choice you make.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I was so sure you were on the lawn that I rushed into harm’s way without knowing it. I realize there’s a battle taking shape, but don’t rush. I’m here with you now. Take a moment to think what it is you really need to do, what perhaps you and I need to do … together.”

He lowered the phone to his side and stared at her. “Something has changed for you, hasn’t it?”

She smiled, a very soft warm smile. “Yes, it has. I’m willing to do things I wasn’t so willing to do a few hours ago.”

He knew she referred to the breh-hedden. A shiver crossed over his shoulders. “Parisa,” he said softly.

“Just think about it, then make your call. I’m going to take a shower, here, in your bedroom.”

“Okay.” He lifted the phone and thumbed. “Hey, Jeannie, can you—”

“Patching you through to Thorne.”

Yeah, they were in deep shit for Jeannie not even to greet him.

“Give,” Thorne’s gravel voice barked at him.

“We’re out.”

A long silence, then, “How?”

He glanced at Parisa who stood next to the shower attempting, not altogether successfully, to fold off her clothes. Her shirt hung off one arm. Not bad for a beginner. The terra-cotta dust clung to her hair, her arms, her pants.