Just Breathe Part 43

Chapter Forty-six.

"I can't believe he's dead." Marred by streaks of tears, Vexx's pixie-like face had lost its usual vibrancy.

Jet started to pat her on the back but let her raised hand fall to her side. Vexx was a good friend, but touching her-especially in this upset state-wouldn't be good for either of them. The Air blowing off Vexx was already weakening Jet. She weathered the pain and stood her ground, as close as her Earth would tolerate.

"I know he was a total a.s.shole, but..." Vexx shook her head and dropped it into her open palms. Her shoulders heaved with sobs.

Jet's heart ached. Byrn had been like an annoying baby brother she kept out of trouble. A hotheaded fool, yes, but he had a good soul. She missed his c.o.c.kiness already.

And judging by Vexx's intense reaction to his death, Jet now knew her suspicions were correct. Vexx had been in love with him.

"I'm so sorry," was all she could say.

Whetu wandered over from Gavin's kitchen where she'd been watching in silence. She sat beside Vexx on the couch and took her hand. Xanthos was invisible as usual, but Jet sensed his Watery sadness churning from the far corner of the living room.

Jet, Xanthos, Vexx, Byrn, and Jack had worked as a team for twenty years. But their relationships went much deeper than the job. They'd faced life and death situations and bonded over the challenges they met. They trusted one another, and Jet felt as though she'd let them down-Byrn most of all.

They were family. And now they had to deal with the loss of one of their own for the first time.

The air in the room vibrated, and Jack emerged from a swirl of fog. He was soaking wet, dripping water on the carpet, eyes wide. All heads snapped up.

"It's time to roll out." Grim furrows etched Jack's brow. "Get your s.h.i.t together. Vexx, we need standby pa.s.sage out of Australia p.r.o.nto. Air or sea, whatever it takes. There was an incident with Sinnder outside of town. Like the others. He's the one we've been looking for. Right under our noses the whole time."

Dear G.o.d, no. Not Sinnder. Jet's heart thumped in a frenzied rhythm. "Is he...?"

"I don't know, but we'd better book travel for five. If he's still alive, Eidan is gonna be beyond p.i.s.sed."

"Is there anything left?" Jet swallowed.

Jack met her gaze, his face stern.

s.h.i.t. "I'll go look for him." She bolted for the door. Luckily, she traveled light, so she could pack her meager possessions quickly when she got back or leave them behind if she had to- Wait. The dingo. Regardless of Sinnder's condition, she couldn't leave Harriet locked up at Sinnder's house with no one to care for her. And she'd promised him she'd look after the dog. Jet always kept her promises.

She paused as her hand lighted on the doork.n.o.b. "Ah, I need to deal with something else first. I'll only be thirty minutes. Meet you at the site?"

Jack nodded. "Make it fast, Jet. It's gonna get real ugly up in here."

No need to remind her. From the sound of it, things already were ugly. The truth was, the world would be better off if Sinnder had gone back to his maker. His death would leave behind tragedy-a devastated land, likely loss of human lives, the difficult challenges of rebuilding, and plenty of mourning-but no additional aftershocks in the wake of it. The End.

So why did the thought of him ascending to Incendius hurt as much as Byrn's death?

You know why.

Yeah, she did.

She'd find Sinnder, even if it killed her.

"How could you, Ellie? We trusted you. Millions of Wyldlings depended on you, and you sold them out for power?" Wyland's top lip curled into a snarl. His aura stormed with violet disappointment and blood red anger.

Sick to his stomach, but also vindicated, Gavin clutched the footprint gemstone and yanked the necklace off her. The snapped leather left a red welt on her throat. Good.

Ellie rubbed the line on her skin and lifted her chin, casting a venomous glare at Gavin. "I was pa.s.sed over too many times to let the Council leadership leave me behind again. Do you have any idea what it's like to spend centuries clamoring for position only to get there and find Yileen holding the prize?

"And he didn't do it once. No, he did life after life, and I had full memory of being snubbed each time before. In every reincarnation, I was the strongest Sentinel of the lot, yet your precious Yileen stole the seat that should have been mine."

Gavin crossed his arms over his chest and stared down his nose at the traitor. "I'm no expert on being a Sentinel, but I thought our job was to protect people, not to gain status or recognition. Sounds to me like your greed and pride got in the way of better judgment. Are you not bothered that your actions claimed thousands of lives?" He gestured to the smoking remains of the Dreaming. "What sort of sickness drives a person to sit back and watch Wyldlings being murdered by the very things we're sworn to defend against?"

"I don't expect a whelp like you to understand."

"But the rest of us understand." A puff of sand kicked up as Erin stepped forward. "We've all cycled through many lifetimes under Yileen's guidance as leader. None of us ever broke the oaths we swore. We care about our charges. Rainbow Serpent entrusted us with a heavy burden, but we accepted it because we believe in the goodness of humanity, despite its flaws. You're a disgrace."

Waves crashed.

"I agree," a singsong voice said behind the group.

The Dreamweaver emerged from a swirl of mist hovering above the dream sea, hands at her sides, her body weary and broken, eyes sharp and unforgiving. Ribbons of color wound in flux around her as she floated closer. The circle of Sentinels enclosing Ellie parted, and they faced her.

"Ellie, you stand accused of treachery and betrayal of the Wyldlings you are sworn to protect. What say you, Sentinels? Shall Ellie remain on the Council as your leader?"

The Dreamweaver's gaze lighted on each face, and one by one, the councilors replied, "No."

Gavin smiled. Served the traitorous b.i.t.c.h right.

"Judgment is pa.s.sed. You are not fit to be a Sentinel." Pointing at Ellie, the Dreamweaver was a moving portrait of beautiful neutrality, despite the dried blood caked to her skin, the hunched back, and the atrophied muscles.

"I no longer acknowledge you as a Sentinel." Kai straightened and turned away from Ellie in a symbolic gesture.

Erin repeated the words and did the same.

Seth and the others followed suit until Wyland was the only one left. He spoke the words, spat on the ground, and stomped his foot on the sludgy sand as he whirled away from her.

"Gavin Ca.s.sidy?" the Dreamweaver said.

He startled out of his reverie. "I'm no longer a member of this Council."

She tilted her head to the side. "In the wake of recent events, it seems to me you never left it. What say you?"

A strange blend of pride and horror flushed his system. Back on the Council? He wasn't sure how he felt about that, but he couldn't keep the Dreamweaver waiting.

He met Ellie's steely, unapologetic eyes. The power of the four Elements coursed through him, returning color and life to the tattoos on his arms. Her actions had sentenced thousands to death, including the man who'd been like a father to him. "On Yileen's behalf, I no longer acknowledge you as a Sentinel." He turned away slowly, savoring the moment.

"As punishment for crimes committed against humanity, you are hereby stripped of all Sentinel rights and powers. You will forfeit your earthly body in payment for the many Wyldlings you neglected, and your soul shall remain caged here in the Dreaming for eternity."

"No, Dreamweaver, please-"

The enigmatic woman spread her hands in a wide arc. Bolts of white light shot past the Sentinels to where Ellie stood behind them, cutting short her pleas. The thud of Ellie's body crumbling to the ground followed. The Dreamweaver glided through the air to the center of the circle. Gavin dared not look, but light danced from that direction for several seconds. Then she said, "Face me."

The Sentinels collectively did as they were told. Ellie's body was gone, but the Dreamweaver held an odd-shaped sphere about the size of a tennis ball containing what Gavin could only guess was her soul. On closer inspection, he realized the object was actually a human heart, still beating, but very weakly. Swirls of dark color warred inside it.

Reduced to a ma.s.s of hatred, greed, jealousy, and anger, Ellie was no better than the Fyres she'd used to gain the station she only held for a fleeting moment in the big scheme. Poetic justice, as far as Gavin was concerned.

"The Dreaming has always been the exclusive home of Wyldlings. We kept Elementals out in order to protect our charges. But with the gates to the Dreaming flung open, you will no longer be able to fulfill your roles. Perhaps the time has come to re-evaluate Sentinel laws." The Dreamweaver looked at her frail, stick-like arms. The torture she must've endured inside that tank... Gavin shivered.

"You mean allow the Elementals to stay?" Disbelief punctuated Wyland's clipped words.

"Would it be worse than constantly fighting to keep them out?" Erin said. "Even if we could kick them out, who's to say they wouldn't find another way in?"

Kai's head popped up. "If we set new rules in place and worked with the four Archelementals to ensure they were followed, the Sentinels could act as the enforcers we've always been, but expand our territory into the Dreaming in a permanent capacity."

"That would require many more recruits," Wyland said. "We're short on man power as it is."

Kai stepped forward. "If the Dreamweaver negotiated with the Archelementals, things might run more efficiently. We know the Elementals want to feed here-it's no different from what they do in Realis. Why not set up new laws limiting how much they can take? Police both realms. Have the Archies punish any rule breakers themselves. Yes, we'd have to work out contingencies and be flexible until we get the lay of the land, but it's doable."

A soft breeze darted through the group, ruffling robes and hair.

"Gavin was our leader before...her." Seth nodded to the heart in the Dreamweaver's hands. "I move that he be reinstated."

What? No. He so didn't want to get tangled up in Sentinel politics again. He'd f.u.c.ked things up enough.

Gavin started to protest, but the Dreamweaver stared at him expectantly. The weight of her gaze suggested she wouldn't take no for an answer. Refusal would be like telling Queen Elizabeth you weren't interested in knighthood.

s.h.i.t.

He didn't want to offend her, especially after the h.e.l.l the Fyres had put her through. He studied his peers' auras. They were angry, betrayed, hurt by Ellie's actions. He was, too. Yileen had died because of her.

For whatever reason, the old man had wanted Gavin to lead. Out of respect for his mate but against his better judgment, he reluctantly agreed. "Okay. I'll do it."

The councilors nodded and slowly dispersed, leaving Gavin alone on the beach with the Dreamweaver.

"I'm very sorry for what you endured in captivity under the Fyres. And I'm sorry I couldn't get to you sooner." He bowed his head.

She closed the gap between them and lifted his chin with fingers that were neither warm nor cold, but all magic. "Yileen chose well."

A chill crawled over his skin at the mention of his lost friend's name. G.o.ds, he missed the old f.u.c.ker. He should've been here to lead. Gavin would never be able to fill Yileen's shoes.

He met her hypnotic eyes-a mixture of red, yellow, green, and blue. Unfathomable power there. Neither the Sentinels nor humanity could afford to lose her again.

"Thank you. I wish you well, Dreamweaver."

She might have smiled. He wasn't sure. Her form shimmered, paled, and ghosted away like breath on a cold day.

His muse's tinkling laughter caught his attention, and he headed back to her. Surrounded by whales, she was a queen before them. They nuzzled her with their monstrous noses and splashed her with ma.s.sive flippers. One seemed intent on giving her a ride.

What secrets did she share with them and they with her? Blond strands stuck to her cheeks. She never stopped smiling. The love she felt for them was evident.

Jealousy got the better of him. He swam to her side and hooked his arms around her waist. "You've had quite a night, Zed."

"Indeed, I have." Her hands rested on his shoulders, and she gazed into his eyes. "But it was worth every minute."

She tackled his lips, and Water enshrouded them. He had his muse. And they were okay.

He held her tight against his chest and stroked her back. "It's time to go back to Realis."

She looked up at him. Her aura beamed a stunning array of colors boasting confidence, contentment, and happiness. After this drama, he needed an entire week alone with her on a deserted island.

Her legs curled around his under the water. He laid his palms on her cheeks, let his lips hover over hers in a slow-motion tease, and whispered, "Wake up."

He kissed her softly.

Zoe's lids drifted shut...

...Zoe opened her eyes to the image of the man she loved leaning over her, lips locked on hers, just as they'd been in the Dreaming. She snaked her arms around his neck in a lazy wake-up stretch and grinned through the kiss, which quickly evolved into a long series of kisses. Not that she minded. At all.

"We did it," she said, her voice a bit raspy.

"Yes, we did." Oh G.o.d, that gorgeous rock star smile. The messy hair. Jesus, she had plans for giving him some major bed head in the coming weeks.

Gavin's gritty voice and guitar screamed to life from her cell on the bedside table. Annoyed by the distraction, she rolled left and grabbed the phone. s.h.i.t, it was five in the morning. "h.e.l.lo?"

"Thank G.o.d you're okay," Randy said. "I've been trying to get a hold of you for hours. After the riots last night, I was worried."

"I'm fine. What's up?"

"The Board held an emergency meeting. Considering recent events-the research house fire, Iri going missing, and the state of emergency Down Under-they've deemed Australia unsafe. They want the team to come home. You're booked on the 6:50 flight tonight."

Zoe straightened. "No! You can't do that. Everyone's okay here." Her heart pounded out of its normal rhythm as her gaze fell on Gavin's questioning face.

"What is it?" he whispered, touching her hand.

She shook her head. Randy couldn't do this to her. She wasn't ready to leave Gavin. It wasn't supposed to be like this. No. Just, no.

"The Board won't compromise on this one, Zoe. It's clear from the news reports you're not safe in Australia. No one is. Get on that plane tonight."

"Or what?" She tightened her grip on the phone.

"Or you don't have a job. Christ, this is an OSHA lawsuit waiting to happen. You've had nothing but trouble since you got there, and now the entire country is under marital law. Read the writing on the wall. The Board won't budge, and neither will I."

She drew in a sharp breath. Randy had wanted this all along. "But, the whales..."

"Come home, Zoe."