My heart sank at the knowledge we had long-forgotten ancestors from this world who had probably fought to their dying breaths to protect their kind, only to fail and be forgotten by future generations. Since we had been one and the same long ago, by being at war with the Elementals all this time, we were essentially at war with ourselves. “Ya know, I can see why you and Gray are such good friends. Both smart, but so blind to everything around you at the same time,” Valik said with a casual air in his voice. “It’s kinda adorable, really.”
Scarlett stormed over to walk by Valik’s side. “I thought you didn’t know Gray personally?” she demanded.
“Met her once…maybe twice, in passing. But I can see the commonality between you.” He shrugged, leaving Scarlett reeling with her mouth agape.
Valik cut through the narrow spaces between the Mystics’ small homes, weaving in and out until we reached a circular opening like a town center. A massive and elaborate fountain stood in the middle, with a wooden and marble altar standing proud and strong beyond it. Valik kept walking, striding to the glass building directly behind it.
Before we reached the door, a woman with chestnut hair wearing a white tunic and loose pants exited with a fierce scowl on her face, all aimed at Valik. “Didn’t I tell you to fuck off?”
Valik skidded to a stop, hands up in surrender. He chuckled. “We both know you didn’t really mean it. Right, Tali?”
“Talitha, asshole,” the woman snapped. Gods, she was strikingly beautiful with bold, feminine features. Her cheekbones could slice steel, while her eyes seemed to penetrate the most fortified defenses. “You can’t call me that.”
“It was a simple misunderstanding, Tali.” Valik shook his head, his deep brown hair bouncing with the movement.
“You nearly annihilated the wards that keep the Tempests from breaching us!” Talitha closed in on Valik, keeping a few inches between them as she glared at him. “If you fuck up my wards, I swear?—”
Scarlett clutched her sword’s hilt tighter, and I took a small step back, unsure of the threat we faced if this went sideways.
Instead of backing off, like any rational-minded person would do, Valik stepped closer to Talitha. “Your wards are nearly impenetrable. And yes, I mean that in more ways than one.”
A loud crack echoed through the town center. Valik’s head jerked to the side by the force of her slap, but his grin simply grew. “Oh, how I’ve missed you, Tali.” He massaged his cheek but stepped back.
Talitha’s jaw rippled at the nickname that he insisted on calling her, forced her glare off our companion, and locked her ferocity on Scarlett and me before her eyes widened. “You brought visitors.”
“Glad you finally caught on, love,” Valik said. “This is Cotton and Scarlett. I assume you can piece together for yourself which one is which.”
“Fuck off, Valik,” Talitha said, shoving his chest, making him stumble back a few steps. “You’re Kinetics, right?”
I dipped my head to my chest in affirmation and a show of respect. Whoever she was, she felt powerful. The energy coming from her intense aura was nearly suffocating.
“You know about us?” Scarlett asked, surprise in her tone. She shot an accusatory glare at Valik. “Why have you kept us locked up in that castle for so long if others were here who knew of our existence?”
Valik rolled his head around and winced. “It never came up…”
Talitha pinched the bridge of her nose. “Just ignore him. Eventually, he’ll shut up and wander off.”
“Valik mentioned there was someone here for Cotton?” Scarlett questioned, seeming unsure. She sheathed her Kinetic sword at her back while I kept mine firmly gripped in my hand, not wanting to take any chances, regardless of how pure these Mystics felt.
Upon hearing his name, Valik stepped up to Scarlett’s side. “Yes. See, Cotton here is verbally impaired. And their king refused to help him in the communication department back at home. Then I remembered…”
“Nell.”
I shifted my gaze back and forth between Talitha and Valik as they seemed to finally come to a mutual understanding.
After several awkward seconds had passed, Talitha settled her gaze on me, and her green eyes softened. “I hate to ask, but it is only for my understanding, so I can better assist you if you wish. Feel free to reject my help if it isn’t something you’re comfortable with.” She reached out, gently grabbing my free hand to cup within her own.
I looked down, watching the yellow currents that flowed from my fingers disappear in the sleeve of my jacket as I thought over what she was asking. Was there really a way to fix my inability to speak? Would that even be possible at thispoint?
I remembered the last words I’d ever spoken. I had only been nine. Squeezing my eyes shut, I forced the memory to rise to the surface. I inhaled, nodding my head for Talitha to ask me what she needed. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but I supposed there was no harm in trying, right?
Talitha offered a comforting grin, not pity, which made gratitude warm my heart. “I must ask, Cotton. Are you unable to speak due to magic prohibiting you?”
I shook my head. No, what prevented me from speaking was far more sinister than any magic.
Talitha nodded in understanding. “Is it due to a mental blockage of any sort?”
I shook my head, no.
