Elemental Release (8 page)

His words rang true, and yet fear still twisted my insides. “But what if—?”

“Davison is the most powerful Firemaker this Union has ever known. He is wise and forward-thinking. Let him handle the situation.” The finality in Rusk’s tone prevented me from speaking further.

The wind came into the room, joyful and vibrant, only to leave subdued. I could not stand this silence between us. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I will focus on my own tasks.”

“I’m happy to hear it.” Airmaster Rusk faced me again, his grin in its proper place. “Now, I believe you were going to do something upon returning from your vacation. Before we resume lessons on Monday?” He arched his eyebrows.

True fear squirmed through me now. “Yes,” I said, and cleared my throat. “I have scheduled a visit with the dungeon master to see my brother tomorrow morning.”

Rusk nodded and sat behind his desk. “Is there anything you need before you go?” His voice was kind, soft—the way I imagined a father would speak to his son.

A rush of gratitude welled in my throat, so I only shook my head.

He nodded again, and I escaped his office to dine with my Council. I hadn’t told anyone about the visit with Felix. As I watched Gabby laugh with Liz, I knew I should. But I couldn’t bring myself to dampen their mood, or add to her already full load of responsibilities. However, before the lunch hour ended, she stood and gestured for me to come with her.

Underneath the shade of the same tree I’d led her too several months earlier, she asked me how things had gone with Rusk.

“Fine,” I said. “Davison is handling it.”

She studied me like I might be lying. I knew that was still a sore spot between us. I’d like to believe that she trusted me, and I did. But I knew she still held back a part of herself. Our trust wasn’t complete.

“What else is there?” she asked. “I know you’re not telling me something.”

I exhaled and looked up from the ground. “I am going to visit Felix tomorrow.”

Her eyes widened, fear leaching the beauty from her face.

“Don’t worry,” I said hastily. “He’s in the dungeons. He can’t hurt me. He’s….” I looked down the street. “He’s part of my list.”

“I’ll go with you,” she offered.

I whipped my attention back to her. Her voice had been small, timid, but the strength I found in her shoulders, in the set of her mouth, made me love her more than I already did.

I tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I know you will,” I said. “But I have to do this myself.”

“You’ll come tell me all about it?”

“Right after,” I promised.

The next morning, I dressed carefully. I didn’t have much, but I had emerald green Council robes that I hardly ever wore. They weren’t practical when practicing with my Element, and we’d had no official business so I usually wore jeans with a plain tunic. Today, though, I put on my sentry blacks and my polished boots, before covering everything with my Council robe.

I tucked the knife into my boot and straightened to look at myself in the glass. My hair fell across my forehead, something Felix would absolutely hate. I’d shaved, and I rubbed my jaw, remembering a time he’d slugged me during a sparring session. My mouth had dripped blood—and I’d learned I couldn’t stand to watch myself bleed. Or the sight of anyone’s blood.

I’d passed out, but when I woke, I learned that Felix had covered for me by saying he’d hit me too hard. He never disclosed that I was squeamish around blood—if he had, I certainly wouldn’t have advanced as fast or as far as I had in the sentry program.

I shoved the memories away. They would not serve me well in the dungeons.

“Good luck, Gillman,” Isaiah said as he joined me in the bathroom.

“Thanks,” I said. I left, making my way to the dungeon master’s office with purpose. Airmaster Rusk believed I was ready to face my brother, and while I didn’t want to do it, I knew I needed to.

The master explained that Felix would be chained, and that he was still recovering from the burns Gabby had inflicted upon him.

“Really?” I asked. “It’s been months.”

“Burns are incredibly difficult to treat,” the master said. He flexed his beefy arms, and I was glad to be going down to the dungeons with him at my side. “He’s had the medics come every day, and still there’s some skin that will not regrow.” He unlocked the door to the dungeon and entered first.

I followed him, my flesh pimpling the lower we went. He unlocked a door on every level until we reached the visiting cell. Sconces hung on the walls, providing the only light. I couldn’t breathe down here with the metallic scent combined with the distinct smell of decaying straw and sour milk.

When the dungeon master stepped back so I could enter the cell first, I saw Felix sitting in a chair behind a single table. The only other piece of furniture was a chair opposite him, across the table.

My brother wouldn’t look at me, but focused on a spot in the corner above my head. I took a deep breath, though the foul smell made me want to throw up, and entered the room.

“Half an hour,” the dungeon master said, letting the door drift toward closed. He didn’t let it shut all the way, and I didn’t hear his footsteps retreat. I didn’t think I’d need him so close, not with a knife in my boot, my airmaking Element much more developed, and Felix chained to both the chair and the table.

I moved into the cell and sat down. “Hello, brother.”

He didn’t acknowledge me. I wasn’t sure what else to do or say, so I examined him. His clothes and person looked clean and cared for. He looked like he was eating well, though I was sure he didn’t have exactly what he wanted. The dungeon menu certainly couldn’t have been as plentiful or as varied as the dining hall.

The skin on his throat, chin, and lower half of his face was disfigured and stretched from the burns. In some places, the skin looked transparent; in others, it was an angry, bright pink. His beard grew unevenly because of the scarring, and he didn’t seem to be able to close his mouth all the way.

An awful wheezing noise escaped his lips each time he exhaled. Looking at him, I realized I didn’t hate him. I had expected to. He’d lied to me for a long time, concealed key information, and then hunted me across the United Territories. He’d tried to rape Gabby, even after I’d told him she was important to me, that I would kill him if he hurt her at all.

I’d carried so much anger toward my brother, for so long.

But now, in a dungeon cell that smelled like the last visitors had used it as a latrine, I only felt sorry for him. I’d seen what his life was like before—I’d coveted his position, his apartment, his power.

Comparing it to the man and living conditions I saw before me now only made my stomach sick, my heart heavy.

I let my hatred leave. It took the anger with it, and I leaned forward. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I should’ve done a lot of things differently. Maybe if I had, you wouldn’t—”

He growled, a low, dangerous sound that froze my words in my throat. He finally drew his eyes to mine, and I found loathing and pain within.

“You don’t get to apologize,” he said, the words warped coming from his nearly ruined mouth. “I don’t want your pity.”

I didn’t know what else to say. I’d been foolish to think he’d accept anything from me, least of all my kindness. Still, he’d accepted my visitation request. I brushed my hair away from my eyes, and Felix followed the motion of my hand.

He eyed my robes. “So you’re an Airmaster now.”

“Yes,” I said. “I was an Airmaster in Gregorio too.”

He scoffed, and it sounded like a cough. “You were pathetic in Gregorio.”

I didn’t need the rest of the half-hour. I’d come to feel and say what I needed to. I stood, scraping the chair across the stone floor. “I’m sorry,” I said again, ignoring the angry grinding in my brother’s throat. “I’d like to come see you again, but not if you’re going to insult me.”

“I will say whatever I want to say,” he yelled. “You’re weak, and delusion—” His voice cut off as I silenced him with a stream of air. His eyes widened when I turned and showed him how I held my hand up, controlling the air pressing against his still-injured windpipe.

“I
am
an Airmaster,” I said. “A very good one. And I don’t care if you approve or not. This
is
who I am, and you can either accept it or not.” My chest heaved. I had never spoken to my brother like this.

“I’m sorry,” I said for a third time, honestly feeling nothing but sympathy for Felix. “I hope you’ll let me visit again soon.”

I took the stairs two at a time to escape the dungeon as quickly as possible. When I burst out of the law enforcement building, the fall sunshine greeted me like an old friend. I sucked at the air before I started laughing.

I didn’t wait
for Gabby to get up from the couch. “I did it,” I said, too excited to sit. I paced in front of her balcony door. “He was mad; he wouldn’t let me apologize, but I said it anyway. Three times!” I laughed again. “He hates me, I think, but I couldn’t feel any of that toward him. All I felt was sadness. You should see him.” I finally glanced at Gabby, who had reseated herself on the couch. She wore a sexy smile that made me want to kiss her.

“What?” I asked.

She waved at me. “I’ve just never seen you like this.”

I took a deep breath, enjoying the adrenaline rush that came from releasing the pent-up fear, anger, and hatred I’d been harboring against my brother. I felt so
free
—much like I had when I’d given up the guilt over Hanai’s death.

“I’m going to request another visit in a few weeks. See what he does.”

Gabby’s smiled faded. “How did he look?”

Tornadoes. I hadn’t considered how Gabby might feel because of Felix’s injuries—which she had caused.

“He’s healing well,” I said evasively.

“You’re not as good at lying as you used to be,” she said, standing. She went into her kitchen and threw away her banana peel. “I got some lunch for you.”

We settled at her table, and I started eating the curried shrimp she’d taken from the dining hall. “Thank you,” I said after a few minutes of silence.

She covered my hand with hers. “I’m glad you’re not as good at lying to me anymore.” She smiled, but she kept her face turned toward the tabletop.

“Me too,” I admitted.

She looked up, and I saw the determination in her eyes before she closed them, and then closed the distance between us. Her initiating our kiss made me so happy, I almost couldn’t contain the joyful laugh inching its way through my throat.

Monday morning, Airmaster Rusk was not in his office. I sat in the chair to wait for him. He’d been late a handful of times before, so I wasn’t concerned. When Shane walked into the room wearing the black robes of a mentor, I stood.

“Where’s Rusk?” I asked, alarm singing through me.

“He and Jones are investigating another Airmaster,” he said. “He asked me to fill in as your trainer for the week.”

“Where did they go?” The situation must be serious if Davison had sent his personal Airmaster.

“Rhyss,” Shane said.

Panic streamed through me, and the air outside the window reacted violently. “Rhyss?”

“Yeah, why?” Shane peered at me like I was acting crazy.