Micah stayed on the ground, bumping something by the backpack. He rolled over, picking up the object. It was the Chalice. His eyes lit up with an idea. "Natasha," he asked. "Do you have a knife handy?"
Chapter 53
Choosing a Name
I spent the night pacing the observation tower, stopping at every full circle to check Micah's ragged breathing. With all my pent up energy, I never felt so powerful – yet so powerless at the same time.
When dawn came, I was finally sitting still, looking out over the river. I closed my eyes, reaching out and practicing identifying Elementals in the area. I counted everyone at the amusement park and everyone at the One Less camp. I pressed further, testing the extent of my skill. Judging how far I went was hard, but I could at least pinpoint higher population areas. I scrutinized each form, finally realizing I was searching for the telltale signature of a Gaia. I was searching for Bee. I couldn't find her.
Good, I told myself, wiping a tear trailing down my cheek.
Natasha came in shortly after. I couldn't stand to watch her struggle to fix the damage I had done to Micah. I left.
I walked out of the observation tower, letting my skin drink in the gift of full sun, and took a deep breath. I made my way to the cooking fires. The smell of meat permeated the air.
What is that? Squirrel? Rabbit? I could really go for some wild dog, I smiled to myself.
The sound of laughter caught my attention. A group of kids, squealing and yelping, were playing tag around a dilapidated carnival game. A water gun horse race, by the looks of it. The horses had been torn off and were now in the kids' hands. Bee would've loved it.
We hadn't come across many kids in the past few years. Either they were kept hidden – protected, or not many survived the sudden push back into the dark ages. I laughed when a little blonde girl crouched down around a corner, then jumped up to scare the living daylights out of her older brother.
Another group of kids rounded the bend, the older children outpacing the younger. Toward the back of the group, a skinny, darker-skinned girl panted to keep up. A Fire. She snapped her head around, black braids swinging out in a wide arc.
I staggered back.
A Fire – those braids. I know this.
Pain ripped through my chest, settling deep in my stomach.
* * *
"Easy there, Princess."
I turned, first meeting Shawn's blue eyes, then glancing down, into Ahi's brown ones.
I staggered back, almost tripping right into Akasha. I lunged forward and fell on my knees. Akasha rose; I turned again to Ahi. Chills ran down the length of my spine, despite the fire at my back.
Ahi had been the mist all along, on her knees in front of Shawn. He held a pistol to her head. I looked behind them for the other four swirls of mist. Alex was one, held to the ground by three larger men.
"Where's the baby?" Shawn asked, shoving the tip of his gun against the back of Ahi's head.
Shawn's finger was on the trigger, already squeezing. "Release. Your. Akasha."
Ahi shook, looking to me for help.
"Kaitlyn," Shawn asked, "is the baby mine?"
Above us, Akasha crested the treetops, chasing down Shawn's plasma.
Akasha or Ahi? Save the world or save Ahi? Why did it always have to one or the other? I was determined to make the right choice this time. I was determined to save both.
Ahi angled her head away from the gun. Blood dripped from a gash in the side of her head. "Help me, Kaitlyn."
Before the lump in my throat even finished forming, I shot my hand straight up into the air. Akasha rose, overtaking Shawn's plasma.
I looked at Shawn and whispered, "Too late."
Akasha burst as I released its energy. Bone-shaking thumps went off, and I dove for Ahi. I wrapped my arms around her as we tumbled, end over end, straight through the wall of fire, and back to Earth.
* * *
"Let her go! What the hell is wrong with you?"
I unwrapped myself from around the little girl at her mother's insistent screams. The girl was crying.
"Oh, shit – I'm so sorry. I…I was having a nightmare." How else could I explain it?
The girl and I were helped up, then pulled apart, her mother escorting her away. I was left to face the crowd that had gathered.
"Kaitlyn? Are you okay?" Someone touched my arm, keeping me steady.
"No," I answered honestly.
Kaitlyn, Chica, Mommy, Gaia, Lucy…
I chose the least painful of titles, blocking out the devastating memories the other names held.
I straightened, shaking off the touch at my arm. "The name is Lucy." I swallowed, "And I need to go for a walk."
"I think that is probably a good idea." The man gestured to the exit of the park.
My stride was quick; I never looked behind me though I could feel the weight of a thousand eyes boring into my back. I walked straight for downtown Denver, then the length of the 16th Street Mall, heading for One Less.