22

Intense heat slammed into Kai as he stepped through the arch. He ran his fingers over his forehead and cheeks, no blisters. Heat like this would surely cause some damage. Why Bree chose to come back here was a mystery. Kai checked his shoes. His navy trainers were still on his feet. He wouldn’t be chasing a girl through a desert with bare feet. Things were looking up from the last visit.

He took a few cautious steps and swung around. Was the way back still there? It wasn’t. Kai barked a laugh. Obviously, it wouldn’t be that easy. Only one thing made sense. Head to the highest point and get the lay of the land.

The tallest stood closest to him and without much thought, he trudged up the side of it. Dune climbing was hot work, and soon he was drenched as if he’d fallen into a pool. A breeze picked up as he reached the top. Kai turned a slow circle, searching for a clue. Or Bree herself. That would be even better.

Further along the base of the hill, a lone figure stumbled through the sand. It had to be her. Movement caught his eye to the right. A darKound. He knew them so well that just a glimpse of the sleek, blue-black skin pulled tight over ropey muscles sent a shiver through his body. There were more coming over the hill, too.

He had to get to Bree. His long legs took on a life of their own and pinwheeled him downward. It felt as if he might split in half. He tripped on a rock, rolled, and hit the bottom of the dune with sand in his ears, mouth, and everywhere else.

The other walker was just up ahead. Kai coughed, rolled onto all fours, and pushed himself to standing, hoping his wobbly legs would support him.

Grim thoughts built on the edges of his mind. That meant the darKounds were closer than he’d estimated and were moving in. There was no way he would let Bree get attacked twice. At least while he was still alive.

“Bree! Wait for me!” He didn’t wait to see if she’d heard him but took off after her faster than he’d ever sprinted at school.

The thoughts were louder now. DarKounds were closing in. His imprint flashed bright, and in an instant, he knew what to do. A gust of wind blew through, strong enough to knock Bree off her feet. Kai ran to her. He was close enough now to see the green glow on her damaged arm. It had spread to her chest and head. Kai helped her to her feet as another strong wind blew Bree right into his arms. She bounced off his chest.

“What are you doing here? Are you completely mad?” She pulled her hand from his as another gust of wind hit and knocked down both of them. The ribbon that held her hair came undone. As the wind whipped through her hair, it blew the straightness out and brought her curls back.

Kai stared, blinking.

“Kai! Snap out of it. We’re surrounded.”

They were hemmed in. The circle of darKounds drew closer with their blue-black skin gleaming, powerful muscles rippling underneath. Kai scrambled to his feet, wishing he could tuck Bree away safely and deal with these creatures alone.

Fiery heat coursed up Kai’s arm, his imprint was glowing. With each passing second, the intensity of the burn increased, and with it came a swell of music from deep within. Bree was breathing too fast, panicking. Kai threw an arm around her and tucked her close to his chest. He raised the other arm and opened his mouth. The words came as he did so, a song of defiance, full of the untamed love of Tau. Joy bubbled through him. He closed his eyes and his spirit rose buoyant, light, free. A shudder passed through Bree, and she stiffened.

A thunderclap cracked through the air. Reality smeared and blurred into a whirlwind that sucked them both upwards. The atmosphere around them snapped, and they fell hard onto cold stone. Bree broke her fall on Kai, and he lay there, the wind knocked out of him. They were back in the testing room, facing the desert arch which was now sealed off by a stone door.

FAILED.

The word rang out and bounced off the walls, echoing and re-echoing.

~*~

The image in the water swirled and faded until the pool was back to glowing blue. Evazee sat back on her haunches. What was she meant to do with that picture? She pushed herself up, careful not to touch the water again.

Zulu and Peta had settled next to a pool that shot up sparkling golden rays. Peta sat cross-legged, both hands playing in the glow. She pulled her hands out. They were covered in sparkles. Giggling, she held them out to Zulu. He sat on his haunches, observing but not getting drawn in. He smiled at Peta, but gently brushed her hands aside when she tried to wipe the sparkles onto his cheeks.

Peta’s face pinched with concentration. She reached into the rays of light and began moving her hands in deliberate patterns. The sparkles responded to her small fingers and without too much trouble. She’d fashioned a gold crown that floated on the light rays. Reaching in with infinite slowness, she took the crown and placed it on Zulu’s head. The big man didn’t argue or push her away. He let her put the crown on his head and then sat up to kingly straightness. Peta clapped her hands in delight.

Evazee didn’t want to disturb them, but Zulu was ever alert and stood as she got to them. His fragile crown dissipated leaving nothing but a faint dusting of gold on his forehead.

“Have you seen enough?” Zulu swept an arm across the field of pools as if he owned it all. Peta sat at his feet, juggling three balls of sparkles that she’d fashioned from the light rays.

Evazee shrugged. “I don’t know that I want to see anything else.”

Zulu patted his chest. “Heart says one more.”

Peta looked up from her light juggling and nodded. “I want to stay here.”

Evazee crossed her arms. She couldn’t help feeling conned. “OK, fine. You two should really try another pool yourselves.”

Peta dropped her three balls. They landed on the ground and vanished in a glittery puff. “But I like this one.”

~*~

Bree pushed away from Kai and lay on her back as a single tear ran down her temple. Kai rolled onto his side and brushed her tear away. He reached for one of her curls. Her hair was silky between his fingers. “We didn’t die.”

Bree stared at the ceiling. “But we failed. That’s worse.”

Kai checked his imprint. It was no longer just silver, but the edges were tarnished, an ugly shade of coppery yellow. “I want your arm to be healed.”

Bree sat up and glared at him, “So that’s what all this is about. Making you a hero. No, thank you.”

“It’s not for me, Bree. I don’t want to see you going through life unable to do the things you love the most. That’s not living.”

“For your information, I am more satisfied now than I’ve ever been.” She sat up and looped her arms around her knees.

“But you’re not happy.”

“I don’t care about happiness. I want nothing more to do with that stuff. Happiness, hope. I spent years hoping things would change, hoping it would get better. What a joke.”

“What about Elden?”

“What about Elden?”

“He’s dead worried about you.”

“Not true. He just wants me recruited. I won’t do it.”

“Maybe you don’t know your brother as well as you think you do.”

The door swung open and Zap peeked inside. “We’ve been looking for you everywhere. Come on. They’re taking us to the pools.”

~*~

The walk from Stone City to the pools left Kai sweating.

“Before you go in, a word of warning. Don’t touch the water. It’s right here in the rules.” Their guide tapped on a raised rock with words carved into the surface. He was a skinny fellow, all bones and hollows with teeth that grew whichever way they pleased. He looked to be about the same age as them, but he acted and spoke like a granddad.

Kai pushed past Ruaan and Zap to get to the rock. The words had been painstakingly chiselled into the hard surface.

Welcome Seeker,

to the Pools of Resonance.

What you see may be, or may not.

One alone can set you free.

Look, don’t touch,

“There’s a bit scratched out at the end here. Do you know what it said?”

Guide-boy shook his head. “If we needed to know, they would have left it. Couldn’t have been important.”

Kai didn’t agree, but decided against arguing. There was something about the place that gave him butterflies in his belly.

“Make good use of your time here. I’ll return later to take you back to the city.”

Kai waved him off absently. For the first time since waking up in this place, he felt a bubbling lightness inside.

Ruaan stood, scratching his head. “Now what?”

Zap clipped him on the shoulder. “We go swimming, that’s what.”

“Weren’t the two of you listening at all? We can only look into this water, we can’t touch it. So, I guess we pick a pool and have a look. Hard to choose, there are so many.”

Pools dotted the landscape like a toddler’s plastic baubles thrown carelessly. The range of colours cycled through the entire rainbow. It was breath taking.

Kai stepped onto the spongy grass path and relished the feeling of sinking into its softness. He breathed deeply. Even the air was different here. His lungs tingled. Zap pulled Ruaan toward a purple and emerald pool. Ruaan dug in his heels and did his best to resist getting any closer to the water, but Zap managed to drag him closer anyway.

Tucked behind a handful of pools, sat a small one the size of a modest coffee table. Kai watched the colours cycle through all the sky-shades from sunrise to sunset. He settled down in front of the water, not sure what to expect. The water turned chaotic and choppy, bubbling and hissing. Violent purple and green flashes clashed and fought. Deep from within the centre of the chaos came a dark shadow, sliding and oozing, forming a path. No sooner had it flattened out when he heard the howling. First one shadow low and compact, running. A darKound. Followed by another, and then more until the entire surface of the water teemed with gaping mouths and dripping fangs. Kai fell back and hit his head on the ground. Pain sliced through his head, but it was preferable to what he’d just seen.

Kai scrambled to his feet and let them take him. He found himself drawn to a pool that sent up a steady beam of white light. He settled down at the edge and wondered what to do next. Leaning over the water, he let the glow wash over him. Tau, where are you?

The pool rippled once then cleared to a flat glassy surface.

Come on in.

Kai knew that voice. The water rippled once again, almost parting to make room for him.

Um, I’m not supposed to do that.

Deep laughter bubbled through Kai, and he felt the open invitation as clear as if he held a card in his hands. He sucked air into his lungs and slipped into the pool headfirst. This was unlike any water he’d been in before. There was a moment of chill as he passed the surface, but after that, it was like drifting through feathery duvet-clouds.

Tau appeared next to him, floating flat on his back with his bare feet crossed and his hands behind his head. Kai was struck by the absurdity of it all and laughed. Tau turned toward Kai with a grin.

Happiness rippled through Kai. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you!”

“I know. I’ve been close. I always am, even if you can’t feel me.”

They floated close enough for Tau to reach out a hand to Kai. “Let me see your mark.”

Shame washed over Kai. He knew it was tarnished from trying to save Bree. Shutting his eyes, he held out his arm. Tau ran his fingers over Kai’s markings and they flashed hot and then icy. With a final pop, Tau let go and the icy heat left. Kai dared open his eyes long enough to see his imprint had been restored. Another wave of happiness washed over him.

“That’s brilliant. Can’t you come back with me? Bree needs you.”

“I’ve had my eye on that one. It is nearly her time.”

“Why does that sound like a no? Ugh. Never mind. How do we get back?”

“There are things you need to do here before you go back.”

Kai waited. Surely, Tau would explain what he meant. They were still floating in mid-air, and golden light surrounded them. It seeped into his pores, warming him. He couldn’t wait any more. “Are you going to tell me what those things are?”

Tau turned his body upright, and it gave the illusion that he stood on a cloud. “You know already. You don’t have much time.”

“I don’t think you were watching as closely as you thought. This has been one long mess up.”

Tau nodded, thoughtful. “Don’t lose your courage. Keep moving. There is much more at stake here than what you know.” He took a deep breath and his cheeks puffed out as he blew toward Kai. Cool air washed over him, raising gooseflesh down his arms.

Tau paused for a moment, frowning. “One more thing. Your suspicion that Bree needs her dad? That’s a good place to start.” As the words left his lips, his form grew hazy and indistinct.

“I know that. Wait! Don’t go. Where do I find him? I’m not ready for all of this. I still have questions.” But Tau was gone, and the wind that had started in his lungs took on a life of its own. Kai was lifted, tumbling head over heels until he could see the round edges of the pool above. One last gust deposited him on the grassy bank. He lay there for a moment, savouring all that it was to be with Tau. He reached down and patted his jumpsuit. It was dry. So was his hair. Maybe he’d dreamt it all.