Page 59 of Of Stars and Lightning (Sun and Shadows #1)

Forty Three

THE MOTHER OF JINN

MAVKA MOVED LIKE a soft current. She floated toward Sol, who was torn between running, yelling, or attempting to fight. She held Phil close, who was still frozen in a snapshot of terror, against her chest.

The Mind Slayer was beautiful. Beautiful in the kind of way the sun was—uncomfortable if looked at for too long.

Her skin was a flawless baby blue, nothing like the other Jinn whose waxy pelts rotted from their bones.

Strands of jet-black locks tumbled down her back to her waist in thick tendrils, and she wore a loose cloth over her torso and hips in what seemed like a feeble attempt at modesty.

“I quite dislike human fashion,” Mavka remarked, crossing past Sol into the tumbling apothecary. “Too many layers.”

Typically, Sol was able to formulate plans rather quickly. But this time, she remained where she was, utterly confused. Around her, the space remained suspended as Mavka emerged.

“Your lover and the little Air Caller’s brother are safe in there.

For now.” A smile, a degree too reminiscent of the Lower Jinn, pulled at the creature’s thin, navy-blue lips.

“I can maybe keep time frozen for another minute and a half before your planet bursts with the dimensional magic.” She picked at her taloned nails. “I would hurry in there if I were you.”

“Who are you?” Sol’s voice was shaky and brittle, unable to hide the fear. “Why—how?”

“You’re asking all the wrong questions, Queen of Wielders.”

“Why help me?”

The creature named Mavka frowned. “I have a contractual duty to you Yarrows. Your mother might have broken our agreement, but I never did.”

“You knew my mother?”

“Again, wrong question.”

Sol shivered as she stood, careful to place Phil in a safe position. “Are you Jinn?”

Sol had a sense that was also a wrong question, but Mavka shrugged, “I am the mother of Jinn.” She looked up at the sun, bare and daunting overhead. “Fifty seconds, Queen of Wielders.”

“Why here?” Sol squared her shoulders. Queen. Think like a Queen. “Why invade Erriadin?”

The creature’s laugh reverberated through Sol’s very bones. “Oh, no dear. I hate it here. Unfortunately, some of my children disagree with me—as most children do.”

The ground beneath them shook, vibrating and sending pebbles jumping around. She had no time to be curious.

“We will meet again, Yarrow Queen.” Mavka kicked aside stray rubble and strode back the way she came. “Maybe you’ll figure out the right questions by then.”

The buildings had begun to quake, and the flames seemed to wink back to life. Before Sol could think twice, she darted into the apothecary.

It was thick with haze and embers, but she spotted Jonah and Cas not far from the foyer.

Jonah knelt on the floor with his arms over his face, and Cas was in the process of reaching for his bicep.

Sol threw herself forward and grabbed both of their shirts.

She pulled them with her whole being, but really only managed to fall back on her heels.

Freezing time apparently didn’t affect gravity— or weight.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Seconds. They had mere seconds before chaos resumed and the building collapsed. Sol’s hand burned like ants feasted on it. Her neck and chest exploded into slashes of hot pain.

Let me in, dove.

This time, Sol didn’t fight it.

Everything was blue. Like before time froze, the pain paused and was replaced by a numbing tingle while sparks of blue danced around her. Her exposed skin shimmered like starlight, her hair dancing as if pulled by static.

This time, when Sol reached for Cas and Jonah, they moved easily.

She pushed them to the entrance, unable to stop to question the off series of events.

Just as she collapsed with them beside Phil, in the span of a hasty exhale, time resumed.

Coughs erupted from all around, and Sol exhaled sighs of relief.

“Princess—” Jonah reached to her, then to Phil, who instantly sobbed and wrapped himself around his brother.

Sol held them both. “We have to get back to the cathedral.”

“Leave me—take Phil,” Jonah pleaded, his brows furrowed and voice horse. “They won’t let us all leave.”

Sol shook her head and pulled him up. “Not all of us are. Let’s go.”

Mercifully, Cas asked no questions and followed behind them, taking the end of the line to help them evade debris and flames.

With every step they took, crashes resounded behind them, as if they moved any slower the flames would devour them whole.

Finally, the cathedral came into view. Its pointed roof stood tall with the tinted windows reflecting the flames in a show of blood.

Sol pounded against the doors. Over and over, she knocked, each time more frantic than the last. What if they hadn’t made it?

Sol would have no way of knowing.

And there was nothing else to do if—

The wooded doors flew open, throwing Sol into Cas behind her.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had been so relieved to see anyone. But when Penny’s little face, eyes wide and full of worry, appeared from behind the cathedral doors, Sol scooped her up into a messy embrace.

“The basement,” the girl said against her. “Miss Amana waits.”

Sol nodded and placed her back on the safety of the ground before urging Jonah forward.

Sol said, “Come on.”

“What is going on?” Jonah’s face was smeared in sweat and ashes. “Where are we going? The exit should be at the other end of town.”

Sol glanced at Cas who crossed his arms and angled his head. He also waited for an answer.

“I am getting you both out of here,” Sol said. “You’re both to board a ship North and stay there until things get resolved here.”

Jonah’s expression went from confused to hesitant, but Phil’s was a sentimental joy the whole time she spoke. “They will know,” Jonah said finally. “We won’t be safe.”

“You will. And they won’t.” Sol gestured them forward to follow Penny. “Come.”

Jonah moved forward, his brother still in his arms, and his face clad with disbelief.

Penny grabbed his torn sleeve and guided them toward the spiral staircase, one that led down into a basement, interconnected by ancient terrestrial tunnels through the entirety of Rimemere.

Tunnels that were almost always guarded by Enchantments.

Almost always.

“The tunnels,” Cas said, stepping beside her. “How did you know they ran beneath here?”

Sol shrugged. “Nina.”

“How did she tell you?”

“Penny.”

“And how did Nina know this trial would be here?”

Sol sneezed. “Samara, I think. I don’t know. Perhaps she can read minds, too.”

Cas's jaw twitched with a hint of a smile. “You could’ve told me.”

“It was a last-minute plan.” Beyond the cathedral walls, chaos continued to roar, and she knew they didn’t have much time before the flames engulfed the sacred building as well.

She began toward the staircase, Cas closely beside her. “You could go too, you know,” she said. “Go north, start a new life. We could meet once a month somewhere for your tattoo—and you’d be free.”

He glanced at her sidelong. “Is that what you want?”

“Isn’t it what you’ve always wanted?”

They began their descent down the stairs, Penny’s sweet voice beckoning below.

He sighed, “For a long time, yeah. I hated being bound to Rimemere.”

“And now?” Sol asked.

They neared the end of the staircase, a black tunnel ahead. Cas had no time to answer as Sol spotted red followed by a pair of bright green eyes visible even in the dimness. Sol ran forward and crashed into Nina’s open arms.

“Sol.” Nina embraced her with such a genuine kindness that Sol couldn’t help the small sob. “Sol, we miss you.”

Sol smiled as well and, although it seemed impossible after such a short time of knowing them, replied honestly, “I miss you all as well.”

“M—Miss Amana,” Jonah’s eyes went wide, and even Phil shifted to be set down. The boy grinned. “Nina Amana?”

Nina nodded and lowered herself to his level. “That’s me! I will be your guide. We must leave quickly.”

“How?” Jonah turned to Sol. “How did you know?”

“Jeriyah was easy to put to sleep.” Penny giggled. “We slipped some Kerproot into his tea.”

“It won’t be long before the old fart wakes up, though.” Nina pulled Cas into a hug next. “So, I’m afraid we cannot stay long.”

Jonah looked from Sol, to Nina, to Phil. “I don’t know, Princess.”

“I’m not having any of you dying here, Jonah,” Sol said. “Please. I know it will be hard to remain hidden and fake both of your deaths, but please. Live.” She pleaded. Begged.

Jonah’s blue eyes softened, and he reached to grab Sol’s hand. She squeezed his palm, gentle and firm.

He brought his free arm over his chest, laying his hand on his shoulder with a set of taps. “Long may you reign, Princess.”

Phil looked up at Sol with tears in his eyes. He mimicked his brother’s gesture. “Long may you reign.”

With a final glance from Nina, the four of them began their journey into the tunnels.

Above them, the roof rumbled and groaned.

Not waiting for emotions to distract her, she didn’t protest when Cas swept her back up the stairs and out the rumbling cathedral, the booming of crumbling walls unnervingly close the entire sprint to the exit.