Page 15 of The Spark that Ignites (Shattered Soul #1)

T he permanency of her choices etched into her bones—her being now tied to this place as the gate closed forever.

Emmery skin pebbled though she was no longer cold and the realization sank in.

There was no going back.

As they hurried away from the gate, the air lifted, warmed, and freshness swept in, her skin thawing in the rays of sunlight.

These trees weren’t a cage, unlike the Waking Wood, but rather welcomed them with splatters of lemon peel and blood red flowers.

Pockets of sky peeked through, cerulean unlike the greying smog of home. Or she supposed, what once was home.

Her eyes trained ahead on the winding path—the end unseen through the thicket of brush. Her aching feet told her there would be blisters upon blisters when she removed her boots.

Unclasping Vesper’s cloak, she tossed it into his waiting hand.

He caught it without looking at her and slung it around his shoulders. “Remember rule number one. We’re not at the end of his lands yet. Kaah will know if we touch anything. I swear he has eyes in the back of his head. And trust me you don’t want to be on his bad side.”

Emmery shuddered, like his unseeing stare still followed her. “And I’m assuming you know this from experience?”

“I had a few run-ins with him as a child.” Vesper pushed his hair off his forehead. “He’s not too kind about people messing with his things.”

Emmery studied the side of his face, but he kept the same nonchalance and light-hearted humour painted there. “What happened?”

“My sister and I were playing a game, and we set fire to some brush.” He chuckled at the memory, biting down on his bottom lip. “Let’s just say we weren’t allowed back for some time.”

“ Fire ?” She stared at him in utter disbelief. “Wait, you were children. What kind of game were you playing?”

“We stole an enchanted orb from my father’s room.” He shrugged as if it was common for children to toss a flaming ball at each other. “It made a game of catch more interesting. Upped the stakes.”

Fighting a smile, she said, “Sounds like you two were a joy as children.”

Maybe Kenna traditions were vastly different. Her mother would never let her play a game that dangerous, though she cringed at the memory of jumping from a tree to see if she could without breaking her leg. There wasn’t much to do at the cottage most days.

“You could say that.” He exhaled a laugh. “It would be a lie, but you could say it.”

Emmery’s head swivelled as they walked, not wanting to miss a single speck of detail.

The gentle breeze carried peace and birds chirped merrily in the trees— a stark difference from the cold, ominous forest. Her mind kept flashing back to the gate, the sharp edges glinting like blades, the Guardian and those creepy eyes. The way he stared right through her.

“What did you give Kaah for our passage?” she asked.

“It’s called a Stone of Refraction.”

It was careless that the Guardian could be bribed so easily but there had to be more to the story. “Why did the gods close the gates?”

“We’re not sure if it was an order from Deimos or Kahlia, but one day during the war everyone was called back, and not long after it was forbidden to cross.

Kaah sent people away, claiming the gods spoke to him and we all took him at his word.

He’s been the Iron Gate Guardian for hundreds if not thousands of years.

I’ve never asked how old he is. Not sure the question would be received well.

” The corner of his mouth pulled up, but the smirk quickly died.

“Honestly, most of us had no reason to travel after. The war ruined everything.”

She unclipped her canteen from her pack to parch her dry throat, each swallow like a mouthful of silt. “What does the stone do?”

“It’s ancient magic. If the stone is cast into the khaos flame, it’s enchanted to show the past, present, and future but the oracles claimed the future always shifted and was impossible to pinpoint.

” Vesper reached for the canteen and took a pull.

“The stones were once gifted before we passed our trials, but that tradition hasn’t happened since I was young. ”

She frowned at him. “And what does Kaah want with it?”

“How should I know what the big oaf wants?” Vesper tightened his pack straps. “It isn’t much use right now anyway. Maybe he wants to sell it.”

She cocked her head. Perhaps Vesper was a better thief than he let on. Maybe stealing these items would be a breeze. “If it’s so rare, how did you get it? I’m sure it cost a pretty price.”

“It was given to me.”

Emmery slivered her eyes. “Willingly?”

When he nodded her brows pulled together.

“Surely you had to trade something,” she pressed. “Nothing is free. Nothing is fair. Remember?”

“Careful, Sparky. Sometimes it’s better to plead ignorance.” Vesper laughed, dragging a hand through his hair before he pointed at her. “And don’t use my own words against me.”

“You’re not going to tell me?” She crossed her arms. “It’s rude to keep secrets, Vesper.”

He ran his tongue along his bottom lip, his eyes distant as he stared ahead and took another swig of water. “Some deals we make ensure we can’t speak of them as part of the terms. The bargains, or we call them pactums, prevent it.”

Pactums. The term dragged from the far recesses of her mind. So much of Kenna culture had been lost over time, not to mention humans had little knowledge to start with.

Emmery exhaled loudly. “Am I allowed to ask what was in the woods?”

“Hollow hounds. They’re Deimos’s pets. His daughter keeps them too. Though, I didn’t see them on the way in. They’re not usually in the forest or at least they weren’t when I was young.” His eyes slid to her, a hint of worry in his gaze. “Did you see them?”

“You blocked my view.” She said it with snark but, honestly, it was a relief. After hearing the growls, she bet their faces were equally as terrifying.

“That’s probably for the best. The first time I saw one, I didn’t sleep for weeks.”

Curiosity gnawed at her though she feared the answer. “What do they look like?”

“They’re large, about this high.” His hand hovered at his waist. “Red eyes. Lots of teeth. Too many in my opinion. Major overcrowding. They’re also missing a lot of skin.

And they’re vicious. They don’t let up for a second.

” Vesper shuddered dramatically. “Believe me, they’re not pretty and you don’t want them to catch you off guard. ”

“I’ll take your word for it.” After a long pause Emmery spoke. “Also, thank you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

“You kept me safe.” Emmery studied her boots. “It deserves some recognition.”

“It was part of the pactum, was it not?” He scuffed his foot along the ground. “Not that I would leave you but I’m sort of obligated.”

Her fingers knotted in her cloak. “It is, but ... thank you anyway.”

Vesper nudged her shoulder. “I don’t abandon helpless women. My father raised me right.”

“I’m far from helpless.”

“If you say so. That’s the second time I’ve saved your life in less than two days.”

Emmery glared at him and snatched the canteen from his hand.

Vesper happily trailed behind, eyes closed, and head tilted back, soaking in the sun’s rays.

The gate disappeared, tucked away by magic and the further they ventured the more the air sparkled in the sunlight.

Emmery reached out to touch it and whatever hung in the air followed her fingers.

She breathed it into her lungs, never wanting to exhale. Was this magic?

A strange pulsing shimmer like white stardust caught her eye and as she glanced back at Vesper, her jaw slackened. An aura clung to his body—the same moonlit paleness of his eyes. Surely her mind was playing tricks on her, but it thickened by the second.

She swallowed hard. “Vesper?”

“Hmmm?” He cracked an eyelid and seeing her expression, a slow smile crept onto his face. Evidently her concern was amusing.

She gestured to the glowing shimmer encasing his body. “What’s this?”

He crooked a dark brow, that stupid smile still on his lips. “This is how we carry our magic. We call it a vestige.”

She had certainly seen Kenna but not that . Well, seen from a distance, but still. Emmery waved a hand through the blank air surrounding her. “Then where’s mine?”

“You don’t get it until you pass your trial. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

Emmery crossed her arms over her chest, walking backward, cautious to avoid any uneven ground. “You didn’t have it ten minutes ago.”

“Magic doesn’t look the same beyond the Iron Gate.” He waved his fingers through the shimmer. “It was there; you just couldn’t see it.”

Vesper caught up to her and shoved his hands in his pockets. She couldn’t help staring. The white glow was beautiful and by that wide grin on his face, he enjoyed the attention.

Her cheeks warmed and she yanked her gaze away. “What does it do?”

“Our magic resides in our blood, but it holds the remainder of our power. It’s like a reserve.

When our magic depletes our vestige fades.

You have to be careful not to burn through it.

If you drain your magic, you’ll faint. Or worse, you could Collapse.

And that’s—well, it’s fatal. It only happens if you drastically overextend yourself.

But you should be mindful. Especially because you’ll be learning. ”

Emmery sank her teeth into her lip as worry swelled in her belly. She’d been in the dark for her entire life, not really knowing who or what she was. How long would she be playing catch up? “Humans know so little about your people.”

“ Our people,” he corrected again.

“Right.” Emmery almost smiled. “It’s quite embarrassing really. Humans are so afraid of Kenna .” She kicked a rock with more force than necessary. “I suppose, the generation raised with magic have all passed at this point.”

“People fear what they don’t understand.”

“They call us Damned Ones and demons. Innocents were burned, drowned, beaten to a pulp, and horrifically murdered before crowds. It’s more than a misunderstanding.

It was ... some sick game . They hunted us.

Hunted me like an animal.” She stared at her feet, her chest shaking with each breath.

She’d never said that aloud. Never acknowledged the things she’d seen or been through.

The fear she’d lived inside—her own personal pocket of darkness. “I’m a person too. We all are.”

Vesper clasped a hand around the back of his neck, uncertainty in the set of his jaw. “I’m sorry you had to see that. To endure that. It—” He paused, his mouth twisting to the side and voice quiet, contemplative. “It must have been terrible.”

It didn’t matter anymore. She was over the gate and safe for now. Eager to steer the conversation away, she said, “Aside from mist and smoke, what other things can you do?”

A grin devoured his face. “Would you like me to tell you or show you?”

Emmery opened her mouth to respond, when a weak cry flitted through the air like a wounded bird.

Her eyes darted to the flowers lining the road and a lump formed in her throat.

Tangled in what looked to be an abandoned spider web was a tiny white fox no longer than her forearm.

It thrashed, failing to free itself from the sticky tendrils.

Immediately, Emmery moved toward it but Vesper caught her by the shoulder.

She scowled at his urgent stare, but concern knit the lines of his face.

“Don’t touch anything, remember?” Vesper warned, his severe and foreboding tone making her pause.

Emmery looked at the fox and back at him, her eyes wide and pleading.

“I know, Emmery, but ... please,” he assured but she wasn’t convinced he knew what she was feeling.

“Look at the little thing. It’s so helpless .

” She clutched her chest as the creature surveyed her with pleading eyes and thrashed in the web.

How many times had she needed someone to save her or called out for help and been spat on?

Her heart cracked wide open as she watched it struggle. “We have to do something!”

“Kaah has his reasons for everything.” Vesper’s tone softened but he shook his head. “We’re not meant to understand but we have to respect it.”

“ This ?” Her voice shook as the creature cried out again. It was like watching herself snared in that web, the threads wrapping around her throat. “This is cruel . Who could be this hateful?”

“ No . Emmery, I mean it.” Vesper pointed to the winding path ahead. “Look, we’re almost past the edge of his territory. I’m sure it’ll get itself out of the web.”

Frozen in place, Emmery stared at the creature. Its limbs were so tangled, there was no way it could free itself. Its eyes spoke to her, the deep amber hue tugging at her chest, winding around her heart in an irreversible way. If she left it, she couldn’t live with herself.

She knew what she had to do.

Emmery lunged before Vesper snagged her arm. Grasping the dagger at her thigh, she sliced through the webs in one swift jerk.

“ Emmery !” Vesper bellowed. His eyes darted around the trees as if waiting for the entire world to fold in on them. “Oh, gods. Oh, gods . We’re so fucked.”

The birds quieted as the forest fell into a grave silence, and an eerie emptiness stifled the air as clouds banished the sunlight. Lightning shot across the sky and thunder crackled in response as the trees sprang to life, branches snapping and twisting to form an impenetrable cage.

Emmery’s heart threatened to give out. “ Shit.”

She sheathed her dagger and gathered the animal in her arms before leaping to her feet. The fox-like creature melded into her embrace and whimpered, hiding its face in the crook of her elbow. The poor thing had to be injured.

“Run!” Vesper was already panting, the branches reaching not for him, but for her. “For the love of the gods, run !”

The forest closed in, trapping them in its clutches.