Chapter 16: Ruined Everything

We step out of the flames together, into a cool night breeze. I hear the pounding of the surf nearby, but it's too dark to see the ocean. A small, two-story cottage sits before us, surrounded by an overgrown but welcoming garden, an old wooden swing-set creaking softly on the right. The light is on, enough to cast shadows back from the climbing bushes and long grass that border the small lawn, lighting the path of beach rocks leading to the back door.

I hold my place as Ash turns to me, her brow tight, but her hand on my arm gentle and supportive.

"This probably won't be pretty," she says, just as the door opens and a handful of people spill out into the yard to stare. I look over her shoulder at the mix of emotion crossing their faces and understand her meaning. One of the men looks so angry I worry he might come after us. He's big, too, burly through the shoulders, a full beard making him appear bear-like and dangerous.

I'm not afraid, despite his animosity. I can take care of myself. The flames surface, waiting for me to summon them as I step past Ash and face the six men and women now watching me. At least some of them just seem anxious, whispering to each other while my aunt waves with one of her smug grins.

"What the hell were you thinking?" The big man's rumbling voice silences the mutters passed among the others. I feel Ash's demeanor shift from arrogant to irritated and reach out to hold her back as she snarls back at him.

"It's time, Baird." She snaps his name with familiar temper. "Zoe needed to be read in long ago."

I have no idea what she's talking about, but I have a feeling these people, this situation, are going to change everything about my life. And, privately, I feel a surge of relief, though I don't yet have any answers. But the feeling I'm trapped in the sanctuary-a feeling I've been enduring for the past two years, if not longer-is stripped away. Because I can sense the sorcery in these people and, in a few of the women, the fire. Oracles, escaped from the control of Liander and Sibyl.

What other explanation is there?

The big man stomps two steps forward, though he flinches from my gaze when his brown eyes meet mine. Is that fear under his bluster, then? Why is he afraid of me?

"You've ruined everything." He chops through the air with one big hand, fingers tightening into a fist at the end of the movement. I breathe in the scent of lavender and wild roses and feel an even deeper calm take hold of me, the barest hint of salt from the ocean reminding me of my need to talk to Piers.

"Oh, hush, Baird." I didn't notice her before, though perhaps she's only just emerged from the doorway. She's shadowed by the light behind her, caught in the dark space on the step between the glow coming from inside and the illumination over the porch. Still, a shiver runs through me at the sight of her and I hesitate, a frown pulling at my brows. The feeling I know this woman is almost impossible to deny. She steps down into the grass, the barest touch of light over her cheek before both sources are behind her, cloaking her once again in shadow. "I agree with Ash. Zoe belongs here, with us. And it's time we admitted we need her."

Baird backs down, but from his deeply creased scowl I know he doesn't agree. I keep my attention focused on the woman approaching us, find myself smiling as her features finally come into clarity only a step or two from Ash and me. My chest tightens, air compressing in my lungs as she turns and hugs my aunt, kissing both of her cheeks. She's smaller than Ash by at least six inches, closer to my height, with my dark, curly hair, my brown eyes.

"You're an Oracle. A Helios." But she's more than that, I know the truth even as I choke out the words and she turns to smile at me with gentle eyes.

"Zoe." Her voice cracks. "I'm so happy you're here."

It can't be her. She's dead. I was told she died, when I was very small. But it is, I know the sound of her voice though it's been years since I heard it and as I stumble forward and hug my mother, I sob uncontrollably and release the pain I've held deep inside for so long.

It's easy to ignore the renewed whispering while my mother's arms hold me tight and her lips touch my temple. If I had my way, I would never let her go. But, after what seems like only a moment, she gently pushes me back and I let her, misery and hope and love all hunching my shoulders forward as I savor the scent of roses clinging to me. From her.

She blinks away tears, touching my cheek with her fingertips, lower lip trembling. "My darling Zoe." Mother coughs softly before composing her face to calm. "I've missed you, my dear."

I clear my own throat, rubbing gooseflesh from my arms, feeling suddenly awkward and exposed. Ash joins my mother, stepping back from me, as though forming a line I can't cross. I look back and forth between them, heart aching while a sizzle of anger wakes and won't be denied.

"They told me you were dead." I believed them, even Ash. Who knew better. The sizzle turns to a slow burn I'm not sure I care to control. Relief spins into fury quickly, so quickly. "You lied to me." My own mother. Has anyone I loved ever told me the truth? "You're as bad as Sibyl."

She flinches from those words, turning her face from me while Ash sighs.

"It's not Leyea's fault, Zo." My aunt shoves her hands into the front pockets of her leather jeans. "We all decided it was for the best."

"You left me with them." I'm spitting my hate at my mother suddenly, flames bursting from my fingertips as I lash out verbally, my power wanting to strike her while my mind works through the truth. "All those years, knowing we were being manipulated and controlled. You let me work for them." I can't speak further, throat locked. Instead, I hammer my thighs with both fists, more tears coming, pouring down my cheeks, hot with flame, but out of rage. The fire begs to consume me, to carry me away from this agony, and I wish I could just let go and accept its offer.

"We couldn't take you out." My mother's voice is soft, but it reaches me, so full of anguish my own fury softens a little, enough I regain my focus, to pull back from temptation. "Zoe, if you'd seen what I've seen..." she trails off, shaking her head, hands wringing before her. "There is a time and a place, my darling. For everything." She tries a little, wretched smile, eyes dark with hurt. "You of all should understand that."

I do. I'm an Oracle, just like her. I know fate works in mysterious ways. But I just can't work past the betrayal of my own mother abandoning me like this.

"Zo." Ash's tone is dark, but not harsh. "These people, they're family." She gestures behind her, my gaze drifting over the watchers. I recognize Helios bloodline markers in the women's dark hair and eyes. "Family working outside the sanctuary to protect the world from Belaisle and the Brotherhood."

The who? I shake my head, wiping at my tears.

"The sorcerers we work with," she gestures to Baird and a few others, "were once known as the Steam Union." Mother's words trigger memory.

"Piers?" I lick my dry lips. "Piers Southway. Do you know him?"

Baird grunts in anger when my mother appears confused. "The boy who's been hunting us."

Understanding lights her eyes. "No, dear one," she says. "This group are not of his kind. Though there was a time they had association with his people." Baird nods while my mother sighs. "This is no time for a history lesson. Just know the founder, Josephine Morrow, was unhappy with the way her people were headed and created our branch, moving out here to the coast." She opens her hands, gestures for the others to come forward. They do, though they stay at least three steps back, wariness in their eyes, the set of their bodies. "She was the first to uncover the sanctuary, to call on Oracles to join with her sect. And some of us did, interbreeding with the sorcerers in her care. This group has only ever been few in number, on purpose, their ultimate aim to protect the family."

"From the Brotherhood," Ash says. "Though, after the initial few left our people, the sorcerer sect cut off the Helios women from contact with the Steam Union, a fact we only just discovered shortly after you were born."

My mother's lips tighten. "I was restless. Spent my days wandering the city, much like you do, Zoe." She knows? She's been following me? "I was contacted," she says. "By Baird and his people." The big man grunts. "They had dwindled in numbers and in power, had lost their true purpose, though it was he who resurrected Josephine's true goal-to watch over the Oracles."

I shake my head, part of me fighting everything she says. "And yet," I say, flames beginning to stir, "you abandoned us. To the very people I take it you were supposed to protect us from." I bite back a curse. "For years, Mother. Years."

Ash's expression twists to sadness before returning to granite. "You're mother didn't abandon us, Zo. She escaped. And at great cost to her and risk to all of the family." I refuse to meet my mother's eyes, not caring what excuse is offered up. "She joined the Steam Union and started extracting some of our numbers to join her."

That makes me unwind a little, look around. I don't know any of the other faces. They must have left when I was small. Aunts, possibly? Cousins I've never met? And the men must be Steam Union.

"You know Liander and Sibyl are using our family for their own agenda." I glare at my mother, anger surging again, though this time it's not as all-encompassing and allows me to think, to process. "Why haven't you acted?"

Mother hesitates before speaking. "Because I can't," she says. "Not yet."

A vision, then, guides her. But she can't know what Liander is really doing. "He has a plan, to harm someone important." I shift my position, anxiety rising. This might be the chance to act, to save the family and stop Liander before he can act. "Mother, he's taking power from Gaia."

She shivers, hugs herself while the others sway a little. "I know," she whispers, the words carrying in the sudden silence on a sea-scented breeze. "And he plans to destroy a network of power so huge the repercussions will be felt by even the normals."

I gape at her as she just stands there. "And you're going to just let that happen?"

Agony and fear burn in her dark eyes as she raises her face to meet my gaze. "I have to."

No, this can't be happening. They have to help. Why else did Ash bring me here?

Mother turns away from me, chin dropping again, voice steady and calm. "Take her back, now, Ashtoria."

"Mother!" I lunge for her. This can't be right. But Ash stops me, one arm holding me back as my mother walks back toward the cottage door, the others following her with their eyes downcast. Only Baird glares at me while I stare open mouthed as they close the door behind them.

Ash lets me go, blue eyes unreadable. "I wanted you to know you're not alone."

A burst of temper flares, sparks flying from me as I shove her hard, backing away from her, letting my anger take over. Ash doesn't move, just watches me as I retreat.

"I wish you hadn't." I seize the fire within me and leap into the flames, the sound of her calling my name, her panicked face an afterimage behind my eyes.

The fire wants me and I am so tempted. It would be easier and cleaner and I could just let go. But if my deceptive mother and her useless friends won't help, I must at least try to offer a warning.

I leap from the flames onto a familiar beach and straight into his arms.

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