Page 170 of Crystal Iris
“What do you know about it?”
“I know that there are more. The prophecy says seven. My family has been looking for them for centuries. This one on your neck has been in their possession for a long time, but nobody could figure out how to fuse it. Your mother stole it anddisappeared.”
“Why didn’t you take it before? You saw it, at the river, months ago.”
“My father. He wanted to do this differently. He wanted to gain your trust, tell you about the family. He… wanted you to… join us. Help us. He thought there was a chance you wanted a family, since your mom was dead.”
“Help you do what?”
“Use it, of course. And then find the other ones. He found you a couple of years ago, found out your mom was dead. He decided I should go to Harvard, get close to you. We weren’t sure you actually even had the amulet—you never wore it. Not until last year. We knew if you did possess it, you hadn’t fused with it. Or you would’ve had to wear it. We thought maybe your mom had passed it on to someone else. We waited. My dad said we had to play the long game. He’s wrong. It was a waste of time. I grew tired of waiting.”
“How many other… amulets does your family possess?”
“None of your business.”
“I’m asking because… have they never… fused any of them?”
“They don’t have other ones. They’re still… tracking them.”
“Why do you want them?”
“Are you kidding me? Why do we want the most powerful things on Earth?”
“What are you going to do with them?”
“Whatever we want.”
“All it does is shine a light.”
“If that’s all you think it does, then you have no idea what’s on your neck.”
I realize he’s right. I don’t. “Then tell me.”
“I’m done with the history lesson. You’re the professor here. You tell me how to fuse this thing, or she’s dead.” He points the gun back at Akira, and she shakes.
I have one other idea. It’s risky, but I have to try it.
“Let me try with the lighter again. Let me hold it this time.”
Instead of holding it, I throw it on the floor. The flammable chemical ignites instantly.
This time, I don’t think of Hoyt. I think of my light—my violet light only. And then I’m out. I’m out of the chair, out of my body. I’m shining in the air, right in front of them. The men are staring. I take a look at my body in front of me—my eyes are rolled up, white. Blood drips from my nose. I have to be fast.
I set a line of fire, separating the men and my body from Akira. I burn the tape that ties her hands and feet. She runs.
The men try to get around, but whatever chemical is on the ground is also everywhere else. The fire picks up quickly. I hear shots. I’ll burn the whole place down if I have to. I keep moving, igniting more and more of the liquid on the ground.
I look at my body. It’s surrounded by fire. The men are coughing, trying to reach me. They can’t pass. But I can. I move toward my body. I burn the tape around my ankles and set myself free.
And then I open my eyes. I’m back in my body.
I’m too weak to run, but I manage to get up. Somehow, the prism creates a veil around me. I can’t burn. I literally walk through the fire,unbothered.I hide, watching Darion and the other man try to find a way back into the building, a way back to me. I wait inside.Hidden in the flames.I stay there until they leave, until the cops show up. Until Aaron shows up.
Thirty-Five
“From my rotting body, flowers shall grow, and I am in them, and that is eternity.” – Edvard Munch
When I open my eyes again, I’m in the hospital. Everything hurts. My entire body is exhausted.
