Ashes of the Firebird (The Firebird Fairytales Book 2) Read online

  “Katya acted as a link between us and Aleksandra. Aleki threw the bones and found your spirit here. We have had a few failures trying to recover you. The dream world is constantly changing,” he explained. Honaw was silently watching everything around them as if scanning for trouble. The woods were silent and peaceful, Anya wasn’t fooled and neither were the Twins. The place reeked of malice.

  “What has been happening since I have been gone? Did I manage to close the gates?”

  “You did. You were amazing.”

  “Good, I have been worrying that I didn’t succeed. Was anyone hurt? How is Trajan?” The Twins shared a loaded look and Anya stopped walking.

  “He isn’t…” She could barely think the word let alone say it aloud.

  “He isn’t dead, well, not in the way you’re thinking. He is fine,” Chayton took her hand again and helped her start walking. “He has taken what happened to you very badly. His whole personality has darkened. Your body has been asleep for weeks now. He has a deep anger eating away at him towards Ladislav. He is mostly blaming himself for not protecting you properly.”

  “That is so typical of him! Dammit! Get me out of here.” She started walking faster into the forest that was rapidly growing darker.

  “Slow down, Anya. Honaw is looking for a marker to take us onto the right path. Once we find it, we will take you to your body,” Chayton hurried after her. He grabbed her to slow her. It annoyed her that he was right. She would have no idea what to look for in this place.

  “Is Yvan okay?” she asked to distract her.

  “No,” said Honaw, “He is more a bird these days than a person. He wants to be left alone.” The pain in her chest that had been growing the last few days tightened and she leaned over to try to breathe.

  “I’m sorry… I need…I need to get back,” she wheezed. She looked past Chayton’s shoulder as the tree behind him spurted out a nest of white tentacles. “Move!” She pulled him towards her and out of reach.

  “Run!” Honaw called behind them. Chayton gripped her hand and Honaw took the other as the bolted through the trees.

  “What does the marker look like?” she shouted. There was a high pitch howling in the distance that didn’t sound in any way animal.

  “I don’t know yet,” Honaw said as they scrambled over a fallen tree. There were heavy footfalls behind them, Anya didn’t dare look around. Chayton gripped her and tossed her over the trunk as a branch swept down to hit them. She didn’t have time to thank him before they were running again.

  “I think that is it!” Honaw said and pointed to a flower that was growing next to a pile of large moss covered rocks. As he went to touch it a white tentacle burst through the soil as thick as Anya’s arm and a fang mouthed. Honaw fell back to dodge its snapping jaws. The creature ignored him long enough to crush the flower with its worm maggot body. Chayton and Anya helped Honaw to his feet and pulled him out of the way.

  “Now what?” Anya said as they stood back to back.

  “We need to find another marker,” Chayton replied as he picked up a heavy stick. He didn’t mention that it was full dark and finding another one while trying to stay alive was next to impossible. Anya thought about Yvan and how having a firebird to light their way would have been ideal. If she didn’t get back what would happen to him? Would he let the firebird take over his whole body? Anger rose inside of her, the vision of the firebird in full glory flamed white hot in her mind.

  “Anya? What are you doing? Your magic is spiking!” Honaw said as he smashed the worm creature in the head. Another popped through the ground almost instantly.

  “I’m getting us out of here. That’s what I’m doing,” she replied, her voice going metallic as power rippled up her skin.

  “You shouldn’t be able to draw magic in this place at all! Anya! Stop!” Chayton screamed. Crackling with energy and the image of the firebird in her mind, Anya clasped their hands tightly and they disappeared in a flash of light and flame.

  Anya hit her body with enough force to make the bed shake. She gasped as she sucked air rapidly into her burning lungs. She gripped her chest, the tube in her arm tangling in her sheets. Her heart was pounding in her ears as she tried to sit up.

  “What the hell?” Honaw shouted as he came charging into her room. “Do you have any idea how stupid that was? You could have lost our spirits forever!” Chayton grabbed his brother’s arm and held him back.

  “Brother, calm yourself. Shouting at her isn’t going to change what happened.” Chayton’s voice was strained.

  “We would’ve have been dead from those things by now,” Anya coughed as she managed to sit straight, “We would never have found another marker in time.”

  “I don’t know how you did that. You shouldn’t have been able to. Honaw is right.”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know how I did it. I thought of the firebird and my power…I don’t know. I followed the flames, heat…” She gripped her head in her hands and tried to fight the nausea.

  “We can talk about it later, Anya,” Chayton said softly.

  “I think I’m going to be sick,” she muttered and winced as she pulled the drip tube out of her arm. Honaw helped her to her feet and she stumbled toward the bathroom, flailing her arm out to shut the door behind her. She made it to the toilet before she vomited up frothy yellow bile.

  It took her a long time to have a shower and dry herself. She didn’t know if any of her clothes had survived the trip so she wrapped herself in a heavy towelling robe. The Twins were gone, her bedroom door closed behind them. She flipped the lock before she opened the cupboards. Cerise had struck again, filling it with clothing all her size. Dressed in jeans and a soft green sweater, Anya combed her damp hair and went out into the strange house in search of her favourite people.

  The house itself was immense. Persian rugs were spread out over the slate and wood floors, cushioning her foot fall as she made her way through the house. Each wall was painted in all different shades of red, orange, yellows and creams to contrast boldly with the dark wooden furniture. Fresh flowers and fruit were arranged in bowls and vases on small ebony tables. Dramatic paintings hung from the walls; some in a classic Renaissance style that reminded her of Botticelli and others abstract and modern. The air smelt of spicy incense and beeswax candles. Anya was hopelessly lost in minutes.

  Focussing her jittery power, she reached out to try to find Yvan. A bright glow pulsed from a room at the end of the hall and she made for it. Yvan was concentrating on a chessboard, Cerise opposite him, her long legs crossed as she watched him make his move. His head snapped up as soon as Anya stepped into the room, the marble piece in his hand clanging to the board and scattering the pieces.

  “Holy shit,” Cerise breathed as Yvan launched out of the chair.

  “Yvan, I…”Anya began before she was pulled tightly to his chest. The heat of the firebird poured over her and made her magic hum.

  “Shalosť, you scared me half to death,” Yvan said as he laid a whiskery kiss on each cheek.

  “You can’t get rid of me that easy,” she teased.

  “Let the poor girl breathe, Yvan,” Cerise chided, “You’re going to break her.” He let her go, an awkward blush creeping up his neck. Anya held onto his hand as Cerise moved in for a lighter embrace. She smelt of expensive perfume and roses.

  “I’m glad your back, sweetie. These men have been driving me insane.”

  “Speaking of which, where is Trajan?” Anya asked.

  “I may have accidentally drugged him,” Cerise said as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “I simply had to do it. He hasn’t slept in weeks and he wouldn’t listen to me.”

  “I might leave him to sleep for a while longer then.” Anya smiled at the guilty look on her face.

  “He will get pissy about it, but it’s for his own good,” Cerise maintained.

  “Thank you for the clothes.”

  “Think nothing of it. You know these men aren’t practical about that kind of thing. As fo
r me, I’m going to make coffee.” She gave Anya a smile before slipping out of the room.

  “How are you?” Yvan asked as he took her face in his warm hands and looked down on her.

  “Not great, but I will be okay,” she replied. “The Twins are angry with me.”

  “Why? What did you do?”

  They ended up sitting closely together on a couch, Anya retelling him what had happened in the dream world. She told him of strange Yanka and the Twins running through the forest and it turning viciously against them.

  “Tell me honestly, how long has it been since Russia?” she asked, squeezing his hand between hers.

  “About four weeks,” Yvan replied.

  “Four weeks…”Anya whispered. She didn’t know if the time she had spent there felt longer or shorter than that. Days with Yanka in that strange place seemed to bleed together; already the details were fading like a real dream upon waking. Yvan wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

  “Relax shalosť is over. Honaw and Chayton are shaken up but they won’t stay angry for long. Those creatures would have destroyed you, and then I would never have gotten you back.”

  “I don’t know how I did it, Yvan. I followed the firebird.” His dark eyes flashed golden for a moment before fading back to blue.

  “The firebird is a little flattered,” he said. “It’s trying to make me preen.” Anya laughed and laid a hand on his chest where the firebird sat.

  “I missed you both.”

  “We missed you too and I’m so relieved you’re back,” Yvan said solemnly, placing his hand over hers, holding it to his chest.

  “So am I. I panicked when Honaw said that you were spending all of your time as the firebird.”

  “I was angry with myself and everyone else so it was better to remove myself before I did or said anything I would regret. I don’t like losing control.”

  “Prince Yvan, the responsible one as always. I wasn’t so mature. I ranted, paced, and raved. I was beginning to think…”

  “That you had died?” Anya nodded slowly. If she could admit her terror to anyone, it was Yvan. “I’m sorry you felt that.”

  “I will be okay. I am…I don’t know.”

  “The important thing is that you’re awake and I don’t have to talk to your sleeping body anymore.”

  “Sounds exciting,” Anya said with a roll of her eyes.

  “You became a good listener,” he teased and smiled her favourite smile. The one that showed all of his white teeth and made the corners of his eyes crinkle.

  “Very funny.” She pinched him. “I should go and find Aramis and leave Trajan to sleep. The Twins said he had been acting strange.”

  “I might let him explain that,” Yvan said, his beautiful smile gone once more.

  Following directions from Yvan, Anya went in search of the library where Aramis had been holed up for most of their time in Budapest. She didn’t know if the fluttering in her stomach was nerves or if her magic was excited to touch his.

  She ventured into a room and her gaze rested on the back of a tall man. He was flipping through a book and didn’t look up as she entered. Long, thick, ebony curls hung down to his waist. He turned slowly as she approached him and smiled warmly.

  “Hello Anyanka,” he said as he put down the book he was holding. His voice was deep and held a Middle Eastern accent, though he spoke English perfectly. Anya would never have thought burnt golden orange as a masculine colour, but against his dark skin, it made her think of candied orange skins dripping in thick dark chocolate.

  “My name is Silvian and this is my home. You’re welcome here.” He took her cool hand in his and heat poured up her arm and through her body. Her eyes closed momentarily as the sensation flooded her. She could taste exotic spices and the sweat of a lover’s skin. She felt warm desert sand on a clear and starry night, soft dark hair bunched in her hands and warm hands roaming around her body. Anya’s eyes shot open, her mouth dropping in a surprise. Silvian was smiling and it wasn’t innocent in the least.

  “What are you?” she whispered. Her pulse was threatening to choke her as he smiled.

  “Wouldn’t you love you know.”

  “Silvian, that is enough.” Anya jumped as Aramis came to stand beside her. Silvian dropped her hand and stepped back slowly. Anya gave herself a little shake and turned to Aramis. His cold blue eyes banished the illusion of deserts instantly.

  “Hello to you too,” Anya said. Aramis ran a hand slowly down her arm. That brief touch sent her power out of her body in ribbons of light wrapped around him. He brought her to him in a strong hug and she breathed a sigh of relief as she held him. It wasn’t only Yvan and Trajan she had sorely missed. Silvian muttered something in Arabic as he watched Aramis’s magic fold and weave in with hers.

  “I told you about our power, Silvian, so you can stop staring,” Aramis said without letting her go.

  “This…this is impossible,” he replied dark eyes wide.

  “So was getting my spirit stuck in the dream world,” Anya added as she moved out the circle of Aramis’s arms, their fingers and power remaining link.

  “Or pulling yourself and the Twins back into your bodies,” Aramis said. “They told me what happened. I felt the moment your spirit and your magic hit your body.”

  “You did? Then why didn’t you come to find me?”

  “I thought you would want to see Yvan first,” he said with the smallest of smiles, “I’m happy you’re back.”

  “Very, very happy by the look of your aura,” Silvian added. He had a dirty smirk on his face and Anya’s cheeks burned. He laughed loudly.

  “And she is a blusher, how splendid.”

  “Silvian, go and find something to do,” Aramis suggested without taking his eyes off Anya.

  “As you wish, noble leader,” Silvian bowed to Anya.

  “Interesting man,” she commented as she watched him leave.

  “That is one way to describe him.” She smiled up at him and the frown on his face vanished. “Have you seen Trajan yet?”

  “No, Cerise drugged him. I thought it best to let him sleep.”

  “Did the Twins tell you about Yanka?” Aramis asked as they sat down on some sofa chairs that decorated the room.

  “They did, and I would like to see the information you have on her. How did you even discover that she was still alive?”

  “I started to question the way she had died. You have the same amount of power that she had and you have not been in danger from it even untrained as you are. It hasn’t overridden you or altered your personality. You were dream walking with her and that is impossible when someone is dead and their spirit moved on. I had Silvian hack into the Illumination files and bring up everything that he could find on her.”

  “Silvian capable of hacking a computer. I never would have guessed,” Anya said in disbelief. “Where does he fit into all this anyway?”

  “He is Rogue, like I am now. He used to be one of the commanders in the Illumination and one of my friends before he deserted. We have kept in contact in secret. He owed me some favours so here we are.”

  “The next question I have is when are we going to rescue Yanka?”

  “She sounds as crazy as you are,” Silvian reappeared carrying a silver tray. “I thought you would be hungry.” There was freshly ground coffee and a croissant with a pot of jam and butter. Most surprisingly was a small bowl with candied orange skins dipped in dark chocolate. Silvian placed the tray on the table in front of her and winked.

  “How did you…never mind. Thank you, Silvian,” Anya stammered. “You should stay.” He smiled lazily and the heat of the illusion came back, and she tasted chocolate on skin.

  “Thank you, Anyanka. I have heard enough of Aramis’s rescue plan though. Try not to let him talk you into anything too foolish. You still have to recover from one traumatic ordeal before you get involved in another.”

  “If I could convince Anya of anything, it would be staying away from you,” Aramis said dryly
. “Far away.”

  “I know a threat when I see one, Aramis,” Anya said loftily as she looked Silvian up and down. “I don’t think he is too much of one.” Silvian’s smile widened and Aramis’ frown deepened.

  “That is because you don’t know me very well. Though your words sound like a challenge to me.”

  “No, it doesn’t sound like a challenge, Silvian,” the warning tone in Aramis’s voice brought goose bumps to Anya’s skin. “If you do not wish to hear my rescue plan again you best be on your way.”

  “Try not to let him lord it over you too much, Anyanka. He’s used to getting his own way.”

  “He is more trouble than what he is worth sometimes,” Aramis muttered once they were alone.

  “I thought he was rather charming,” she remarked as she sipped her hot coffee. Silvian was more than charming. The man radiated lust in the most dangerous and obvious kind of way. Aramis was studying her carefully. “What is he by the way? There is no way that he is human.”

  “He is annoying. As for his nature, he can tell you if he wants, but don’t be surprised if he doesn’t.” Thinking on her very brief introduction to Silvian, Anya decided that she would land herself in deep trouble if she paid him too much attention.

  “Tell me about this plan,” she said.

  “Now that we have you back with us, I’m going to suggest to Isabelle that she sends a copy of the Yanka file to her friend Harley. Apparently, she has the means to narrow down the location of where Yanka could be held. Once we know, and hopefully have blueprints of the compound, we can start planning a way to get her out.”

  “So what you’re saying is that you really don’t have a plan yet.” Anya sounded blunter than she intended. She didn’t know what her expectations were but they had been higher than the reality.

  “I know this is frustrating for you. To be honest, we haven’t thought much further ahead than getting you back into your body. You have been priority one.”

  “What if I had never woken up? Were you going to leave her in their hands?”

  “Anya, the situation is not as simple as you think.”

  “I’m going to go and find Trajan. I am too tired to deal with this now. I spent four weeks trapped with Yanka, so it’s hard not to be upset about her condition, even if we didn’t really get along.”