Page 19 of Heiress of Fire

“I do, but it is a lonely home. I’ve lost my father, my mother, and now my brother. I don’t know what to do. My father left me loads of debt and a business to take care of.”

“Why are you so worried?” Davina asked.

“I’m young and I have no power to depend on. I have nothing. What can a girl like me do?”

“You can do so much more than you can imagine.”

It was as if Cara was a reflection of Davina. The words that spilled from Cara’s heart were the exact thoughts that abided in Davina’s mind. But she did not doubt that if this young girl were to choose to activate her abilities, she’d be powerful. Perhaps she had to see herself that way too, despite what everyone else said about her.

“Why are you being so kind to me?”

“I’m not doing anything but fulfilling my duty to my people.” Davina grinned as they entered the Castellum shore.

SIX

“What just happened?” Leilani was the first to speak, breaking the eerie silence among Davina and the others.

Davina’s eyes scanned the last of the Prey who were heading deeper into Basalt, at last, they were going to rest. The streets were quiet and vacated. Many of the Prey were now carrying an unfamiliar emptiness in their hearts due to the absence of their loved ones. Three hours had passed since the Predators died.

Davina could see the memories of the incident flashing through her friends’ eyes: the horrifying reminder of the bodies decaying after a few seconds, the smell that penetrated the air of all five islands, and the blood that had transformed into black ink.

Davina massaged her arm as she observed the tension in her friends’ muscles from having carried the deceased bodies.

Chief Leaders Isaiah and Amir interrupted her thoughts as they walked onto Basalt’s shore. Chief Leader Isaiah wore his brown leather gear which complimented his tanned skin, while Chief Leader Amir wore his blue fine uniform with his Neptulan insignia strapped to the waist, complementing his dark afro hair. Chief Leader Amir flicked a glance at Leilani.

Davina recalled Leilani telling her about their secret courtship before he had been chosen Chief Leader of Neptulus. Davina looked at Leilani, who had an emotionless expression before returning her attention to the Chief Leaders.

“Didn’t mean to scare you,” Leader Amir said with a small chuckle until his frown returned. “My friend, Isaiah, and I wanted to introduce ourselves to you all.”

Davina felt Leilani and Caleb shifting beside her as she smiled and said, “It’s a pleasure to officially meet two of the Chief Leaders of Bellatorm. I wish our introduction were under better circumstances.”

“I concur, Miss Almenara,” Chief Leader Isaiah said as he bowed slightly.

“Please, call us by our first names. We’re here to present ourselves as friends and not as Chief Leaders,” Amir softly pleaded.

“Yes,” Isaiah affirmed.

“Okay.” Davina nodded.

An awkward silence suffocated the young Soldiers along with the two Chief Leaders. Davina remained still as thoughts of her siblings came to mind. How she wished she could go home and see if they were okay. She’d have to race home after she was finished with her duties in Castellum.

“We decided to present ourselves to you, Miss Almenara, because we believe we will be working close together in the next few months, you and your friends,” Isaiah began.

“How would we be working together?” Davina asked.

“It seems as though the person responsible for these ambushes has quite an interest in you. We have come upon information that could help us put an end to the threat that has been hanging upon Bellatorm for far too long,” Amir answered, hands behind his back.

“Shall we all go someplace more private to speak of these matters?” Isaiah asked. His tone sounded rather different from Chief Leader Amir’s. Chief Leader Amir’s voice was calm and polite, while Chief Leader Isaiah’s tone seemed demanding.

Davina turned to her friends. “What do you think?”

“I think we should check it out. Maybe we can find out why the Predators are looking for you.” Beacon nodded.

“I agree,” Leilani, Valerie, and Caleb muttered. Davina’s eyes landed on Snow, who simply nodded.

Davina was waiting for one more reply, but she recalled that he hadn’t appeared that day. Hopefully, Ron was okay, wherever he was. Questions about his wellbeing rushed to the front of her mind. She would have to deal with that later. Right now, the Chief Leaders were calling for her and her friends’ presence. “Okay, let’s go.”

Davina and the others walked behind the Chief Leaders, whose boots clicked against the stones beneath them as they reached the Bridge. The breeze brushed against their ears, and the sound of the waves crashing under the Bridges filled the air.

---