Page 93 of A Touch of Gold and Madness

“Because we can heal ourselves, but not others.”

“Oo-kay. What happened on Devolution Day?”

The question slammed into me like a brick wall. I should’ve expected it, but given my current state, I wasn’t prepared to answer through my foggy mind. “Uhm,” I said, running a hand through my raven waves. Answering this question was risky when it pertained to unknown humans. It could goeither way. “Well, I’m going to give you the story not many humans know,” I said, settling on my resolve. “The truth.”

Excitement lit her eyes again, a hint of a smile playing on the edges of her mouth. I bet she’d been a reporter—no doubt. Good, she could go back and spread it to the others. I’d take my chances.

As I delved into the story, the brunette remained riveted as she leaned across the table with her forearms pressed to the surface. I withheld a few details, things that no one else knew. But she got the idea. The narrative that had been spread all those years ago had been a complete lie. The Elementals were just as much the victims as the humans. Yet, we were fighting alongside them to help give them their world back.

“What’s your name?” she asked. And again, my words got caught in my throat. Both the names, Griffin and Chrome, were well-known to every group. I couldn’t give that away.

A hand clamped on my shoulder, making me whirl around to face the newcomer, immediately reaching for the knife in my sleeve. “How odd it is to find you here.”

Observing the man, I couldn’t place him. I knew him, and we’d interacted many times. He was a Kinetic, which meant my older memories from that time in my life were lost to me at the moment. His bracelet was intact, which masked his true hair color and currents, making it more difficult for me to place. The only thing I knew was that he was my contact.

He smiled wide, exposing bright teeth beneath a dark beard. “Mind if I steal you away from your new friend?” he asked me.

The woman’s expression fell, but she caught it quickly, trying to hide her disappointment. “Oh, sure. Thank you for your time…” she trailed off, still unsure of my name.

“Silas,” I finished for her.

“As in Griffin Silas?” she asked.

“No, Silas is my first name.”

“Oh,” she responded in what sounded and looked like relief.

After saying parting words, I rose from the table and faced my contact. I couldn’t bring myself to ask his name. It would raise alarms, and peoplehad trust in me. Regardless, I would see to Forest’s bloody death before I succumbed to my affliction. “Follow me,” he muttered loud enough for me to hear before doing a quick scan of the speakeasy.

I trailed closely behind him through the tunnel door leading to the steps above ground. As per usual, the air in the speakeasy was muggy and stifled, making the first breath of fresh air a relief once reaching topside.

My contact didn’t stop; instead, he walked in silence across the expansive field to an abandoned home. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the night air felt dense with moisture building from the impending storm. Lightning lit up the sky, faint yet beautiful, nonetheless.

Lost to my personal torture, I didn’t hear the whistling of an arrow. “Chrome! Snatch it,” my contact ordered.

Out of pure instinct, I struck my right arm out, feeling the air’s movements, and snatched the arrow from its trajectory.

Observing the blue-tipped arrow, I pushed my awareness outward to sense the energies. Judging by the quieted steps, there were several Kinetic warriors hiding in the trees at the edge of the woods nearby. It dawned on me that my unrepressed Elemental energy made it easy for Forest to find me. I couldn’t be too mad, it offered me an excuse to bring hell on earth.

Excitement zipped through my veins, ready to bathe in the carnage. “I hope our little chat can wait. I’ve got a fuck ton of pent-up anxiety I need to release. You in?”

My Kinetic contact grinned, mischief lighting up his eyes. Pulling two daggers from his belt, we bolted toward the direction of the Kinetics as the beast inside me roared to life.

Chapter 36

Gray

“You’re actually an Elemental, I see,” Void said, none too impressed.

I gave him a smirk. “Sorry to disappoint.”

My muscles were sore from training yesterday, so I made a point to stretch before today’s session.

Void stood in his cool indifference, his blank stare tracking me as if he could see my movements.

“How can you tell I’m an Elemental if you can’t see?” I lifted my head from the bent position that stretched my hamstrings.

Void narrowed his eyes, his thick arms banding across his muscular chest, which was partially exposed in the gray tank he wore. Black ink marred the skin, but I couldn’t discern the designs. “Just because I can’t see doesn’t mean I’m deaf to the gossip of this Hollow.”

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