Earth(105)

He pulled his lips back, crinkling the skin on his long snout.

"Okay I lied – there’s going to be one more. A big one. I'm going to leave you here. It'll be safe, I promise. Just don't leave until after the blast, okay?"

He looked at me out of the corner of his eye.

"I know, I know. I'm stalling." I took a deep breath. "Okay, come on."

I led him into the tiny building, kicking stone and brick debris out of the way. There was just enough room for him. I tied his reins to a chair, then thought better of it and untied them. He looked at me again.

"Still stalling, I know – but I gotta keep you here, somehow." I looked around. There was a large plastic bin filled with files. I dumped it out; papers went everywhere. I walked over to the open side and set the bin down outside. Then I drew in moisture from the air; lots of it. I kept drawing until the bin was full, keeping a wary eye out for stray Elementals.

I dragged it back in, right under Rock's nose. He bent to drink.

"All life comes from water – right?"

He snorted at me.

"Okay, okay, I'm going."

I walked up the short hill. At the top, I looked toward where both Micah’s and Shawn's signals were emitting. Several large, monolithic, red rock cliffs jutted up in a semicircle. Red Rocks Amphitheatre was obscured by the cliffs and hills surrounding it, but the energy that circled within could not be missed.

I glanced to my right, looking for Elementals, or more traps. My head snapped back to Red Rocks. Micah's signal was sputtering.

That's never happened before.

It sputtered again. I waved my hand behind me, encircling Rock's building with several more stone walls. They had staggered openings. If he did finish his water it'd take him some time to get out. I faced the amphitheater and took a deep breath.

I'm coming Micah…





Chapter 66





Laughter





Micah couldn't hold it in any longer. He cried out.

"There it is!" Shawn smiled. "Don't be afraid to just…scream!" Shawn's voice echoed throughout the amphitheater, followed by his laughter.

Micah's blood pooled around his body, just beginning to drip over the edges of the steel tabletop. Shawn hadn't made any life threatening cuts – nothing a few stitches couldn't fix. But Kaitlyn wouldn't see that. She would just see blood.

Micah turned, watching the plains, waiting.

Shawn placed the tip of the knife at Micah's forehead, running it down the temple and just past the ear lobe. Micah flinched when it reached his neck.

"Just think…" Shawn said, pulling the knife away. "You'll have some really great scars."

"Untie me," Micah said.

"I don't think so."

He turned to look at Shawn. "I'm drained – I'm not going anywhere. Can't you tell?"

Shawn looked at Micah, wiping his nose with the back of his sleeve. He put the knife to Micah's wrist.

Micah flinched, expecting a deeper cut. Instead, the constricting bind around his hand was released. Shawn moved to Micah's feet and around to his other hand, slicing through the rope as he went.

Micah watched, keeping a wary eye on the Athame once his final limb was freed. When Shawn sheathed his knife, Micah closed his eyes and let out a slow sigh of relief.

Shawn noticed. "You've bled enough for the cause."

"Now what?" Micah asked, eyes still closed.

"Now we wait." Shawn picked up the handheld and put it to his mouth. "Get those tornados closer."

"Tornados won't stop her."

Shawn leaned back against the bloodied tabletop. "I don't expect they will. But they'll sap her strength." Shawn ran his pinky through the thick, red liquid. When he pulled away, it held on like a stubborn leach. He dipped it back down, making small swirls. He laughed again.

"What?" Micah asked.

"I was just thinking, she had used wind when she ran from me on Galapagos. She even erupted the volcano. Now here I am, using wind and fire to keep her from getting to me."

"I thought you wanted her." Micah finally opened his eyes – the world swayed in front of him.

Shawn wiped his finger on his jeans. "I would've taken her – or the baby. Or found my own Gaia. Just not yet."

"When, then?"

Shawn started pacing. "Is this some sort of distraction technique? Twenty questions so she can sneak up behind me?" Shawn glanced around, then up at the monoliths. His crew stood guard at the top of the cliffs, and throughout the rest of the stadium.

Now it was Micah's turn for a crooked smile. "You'll know when she's here. She doesn't need to sneak up on you."

Shawn took out his knife again, spinning it in his hand while he paced. "I have nuclear facilities going up – several around the world, in protected places."