But as impressive and endless as the ocean is, it isn’t what sends me to my knees.
A mile or so down the coast, raised domed glass structures supported by stone columns jut out from the sand and continue into the tumultuous waves. A spectrum of colors tints the semi-transparent glass of the outermost domes. Fiery citrine. Sparkling peridot. Pearlescent rose. Winding elevated pathways weave throughout the structures, connecting them to one another and to the central dome that stands proudly at the heart of it all, its glimmering glass as clear as crystal.
My eyes blink rapidly, as if to test whether it’s all an illusion induced by the migraine aura clouding the edges of my vision. Surely, there’s no way something this resplendent could exist up here, where the only life-forms are animals and mutated former humans.
The world becomes a tumultuous, spinning thing as I spot the tiny specks of luminescent moving figures roaming in and out of the structures and across the pathways. I squint harder. “Are those Sols?”
“They can’t be. Sols are selfish creatures. They travel alone or in very small numbers,” Gem says, reciting what we’ve all been taught. “Commander Guffian said the most they’ve seen together is a group of five.”
“And Sols lose their ability to communicate and think critically the moment the sun poisoning corrupts their minds, so they wouldn’t be capable of creating all of that.” Demi gestures at what seems to be a small village.
“Maybe they’re humans, then?” Yvonne suggests.
Gem waves a gloved hand toward the figures in question. “But they’re glowing.”
Little does she know that I am, too.
Are those people down there like us—humans who have founda way to harness small amounts of exposure to the sun without sacrificing their humanity? My head swivels towards Kalden, wishing we were alone so I could speak my thoughts aloud.
Demi retrieves her map, dusting off the grains of sand. “Well, whatever they are, if we can see them, they can probably see us. So maybe we should head back towards the trees.”
Kalden shakes his head. “Not yet.”
“What do you mean,not yet?” Gem mocks his intentionally obtuse response. “What are we waiting on?”
Kalden’s quiet for several beats, then turns around to face the direction we came from. “Them.”
There’s not a cloud in the sky as a chillingly familiar thunder rumbles through leaves and sand. The skin along my spine crawls as more reverberations come in quick succession. Too quick. Too many. Like they’re coming from more than one source.
My suspicion is confirmed when five black-and-gold forms leap out from the forest across the southern dunes, heading directly towards us. I push myself up to standing, clutching at my plummeting stomach.
Gem whirls on Kalden. “You knew they were coming?”
He unsheathes his knives. “I figured our scent of humanity would lure them in at some point.”
Gem grabs onto the hilt of her poniard. “We’re supposed to fight them all?”
“Five against five. I suppose the odds could be worse.” Yvonne laughs dully.
Two more creatures emerge from the tree line, and we each mutter a curse.
Kalden sighs, straightening his posture. “I was hoping to hold off on this, but I promise I’ll explain later.”
It’s the last warning we get before he twists off his helmet anddrops it into the sand, where it begins to roll down the hill.
“What are you doing?!” Gem screams as she lunges to snatch up the helmet. She shoves the headgear into Kalden’s chest, but it’s too late.
Luminous gold streaks across his face and neck, brightening the dimming marks of his prior exposure. The twin suns of his eyes roll back, and I sense the ecstasy of his surging power as if it’s my own. He doesn’t leave it at that, though. A pulsing aura ignites around Kalden’s body, morphing into flames that engulf the top half of his leather bodysuit. The material incinerates within seconds. Radiant light races from the veins around his throat down his freshly exposed chest and abdomen.
I’d be impressed with how cleanly he’s preserved the bottom half of his attire if I weren’t in complete slack-jawed shock. How did he do that? The speed and accuracy . . . like he’s done it countless times. Just how much sun exposure has Kalden had? How close has he gotten to the edge of his humanity? My arm tightens around my roiling abdomen.
Gem grabs hold of my wrist to lug me away from the gleaming figure beside us. “We need to go.Now.”
Demi and Yvonne are already scrambling down the hill.
Kalden opens his eyes, those otherworldly irises finding mine as he latches onto my other arm.
“Don’t touch her!” Gem bites out, pulling me closer to her.
