Total Eclipse

I knew about the Fire Oracle; Id seen it in my dream. As angry as I was, his horror and grief struck me, and I sank down to a crouch across from him. He was weeping uncontrollably, the tears of a man stretched too far, asked for too much.

Listen to me, I said, and reached out to tilt his chin up. He swiped at his face, angry with himself but still unable to stop. He was one step from a complete breakdown, and I could see it in him. Listen. I know it seems hopeless. I know you think theres nothing more we can do. But we can. We must. Whats our choice, to sit here and die when the hammer comes down? Screw that, Lewis. I didnt fight my way through what I have to give up.

Consistent, I wasnt. A few minutes ago my only thought had been to grab Davids bottle and get the hell away from Lewis, from the Wardens, from all this crushing, endless responsibility. But seeing Lewis break . . . That reminded me of something.

It reminded me that no matter what I did, how hard I tried, I could never really be free of the Wardens. I was a Warden, and always would be, until the day I died.

Give every Warden a bottle, I said, starting with the most powerful first. Its time for the Dji

If youll give me Ve

Weve got Imara.

He was already shaking his head before I finished the short sentence. Nobodys got Imara, and she wants to keep it that way. I told you, I tried. She wont come, and she wont talk to us. She wont give us sanctuary. Shes locked inside her own world, and shes letting us live or die on our own.

I pulled Ve

How?

Just give me the bottle.

He had it in his pocket. As he passed it over, I felt heat emanating from the glass. David was really, truly pissed off, and I knew that the second I released him I was going to have a very hard time keeping him from breaking Lewiss neck.

Lewis uncorked Ve

I expected that, Lewis told her. For now, help Joa

Ve

I took a deep breath, cradled the bottle in my left hand, and pulled the cork with my right.

A storm exploded out of the bottle, and the pressure of the room changed so abruptly my ears popped. David materialized in midstride, long coat swirling like smoke, and lunged for Lewiss throat.

Ve

David whirled around, and I saw the look that Lewis had just faced. Id never imagined David could seem that angry, or that deadly, but his beauty had taken on cold, unmerciful edges, and the glitter in his eyes was the color of blood.

He blinked, and it went away. Jo? He didnt wait for me to answer. In one step I was crushed against him and held tight, so tight I thought hed accidentally break my back. After a few breathless seconds he eased off and looked down into my face. His eyes widened, and I knew he was seeing what Id just been through. Hard to hide things from a Dji

That triggered the rage again. I knew what he was thinkinghed seen my horror and desperation, seen how close Id come to being killed out there, and he was blaming it on Lewis. Well, rightly so, but there wasnt time for it. Before he could lash out again, I grabbed him by the chin and held him still. No, I said. Im all right. And we need him as much as he needs us.

The fact that I was so baldly logical about it helped clear the anger out of him, at least for now. He shuddered as it passed, and nodded to me, and I let go. Well talk about this later, he said. Right?

Absolutely, I said. Although I plan on three days of spa treatments, with mud baths and all-day massages. So probably after that.

It got a twitch of a smile out of him before he looked at Lewis, and Ve

Ve

Ve

Youre the Conduit.

Yes, she said, just as quietly. Not by my choice. But I am the logical replacement.

Can you reach her? David asked. I knew by her he meant Mother Earth. Ve

Not while I am bound, she said. And once I am free, I become hers. Maybe without Ashans anger driving her she will be calmer, but the damage has been done. We have to find a way to speak to her before its too late.

Well do it, I said. David and I will go to Imara. Shell let us in; she has to. And once were in, we can reach the Mother through her.

Ve

Ive done it before.

When she was sleeping. Shes not sleeping anymore. The matter-of-fact way she said it made me pause. You die, and David becomes hers. Its what will happen. Imara knows. Thats why she kept you away.

Ve

Yes, she said. Shes your child. Shell let you in.

Then we have to try it. I turned to David, but he didnt look nearly as convinced. He was looking past me, at Ve

No . . . not at Ve

At Lewis.

Lewis wouldnt return the stare; he looked at the floor, deliberately avoiding any kind of contact. I wondered why, until Ve

Lewis? I blurted. Why?

Lewis let out a sigh, and now he did look up, troubled and very tired. Because Im the first triple-threat Warden born with that configuration in generations, and I may be the most powerful one since Jonathan walked the Earth. He was right. A triple-threat Wardenone who could wield all three powers with equal strengthwas extremely rare. So rare, in fact, that the Wardens themselves had tried to capture and study him, in hopes of figuring out how to artificially create the condition in others. Lewis had spent his time as a lab rat, and as a fugitive; hed been a thief, a con man, a hero, a leader, and a ruthless general.

Before you go, David said slowly, you should know the truth about Jonathan.

That came out of left field. Jonathan had been the leader of the Dji

David had been brought with him, because Jonathan had refused to let him go.

What else could there be to know?

Ve