Firestorm:

  Inside the warehouse where Mark experimented on me, Jackie pleaded for answers beneath the flickering lights, every shadow taunting me with what happened then.

  “Mercy never comes here.” My ribs tightened, and the sting of old tears burned my eyes. “Fate is a silent executioner. It steals without shame, and wounds without reason.”

  “Enough with the riddles. Tell me the truth. Hold nothing back. What happened to Grace? Where’s my mom now?”Jackie demanded.

  “She’s…” A shiver ran through my mutilated body as I imagined Grace in her sundress by the broken cage where we met.

  I swallowed the lava-like vomit bubbling inside my mangled throat.

  “Spit it out.” Jackie bit her fingernail.

  “She’s dead. Grace is dead.” Those words took the air out of my lungs.

  “What? No…” Jackie grabbed at the red streak in her hair. “Can she rebirth?”

  “Not exactly…” My shoulders sagged under the weight of the truth.

  “This whole time, I thought… I’d hoped…” Jackie shook her head in disbelief. “You said we could save her, Firestorm.”

  “This is hard for me, too. I haven’t fully accepted it myself.” My wings fell to the floor, defeated by exhaustion.

  “How’d she die?” Jackie’s voice trembled.

  “The few injections she took made her sick. When we left the island, she stopped taking them, but her cells needed more to survive.”

  “No.” She stomped her foot.

  “I know it’s hard to hear, but we’re running out of time. We’ve got to stop Beatrice before she burns Bennu to the ground.” I buried my emotions instinctively.

  “I don’t understand. You said we could save her.” Her shoulders rose in a helpless shrug.

  “Grace still lives in the Slipstream. You’ve seen her in past portals. Maybe we can save her if…”

  “Maybe?” she screamed. “You sent me on this dangerous mission for a maybe?”

  “The plan changed when you told Beatrice about the fire portals. I thought we’d have more time.”

  Jackie’s cheeks flushed as she kicked the ground. “I assumed Beatrice knew more about the Slipstream than I did.”

  I heaved a wing around Jackie. “We have to save the people of Bennu. They’re alive right here, right now, but for how long? Tinga, Jappa, all the kids… After we’ve stopped the wildfire, we can go back into the Slipstream to manipulate the probabilities to save Grace and Baxter.”

  “How? I don’t understand.” Jackie flipped through another Life Rite manual, searching for a magic answer that didn’t exist.

  “The Slipstream is powerful, Jackie. You’ve only begun to see…”

  “Then show me.” She pushed my wing off her shoulder and put space between us.

  “I’ll tell you everything,” I whispered. “But first, we have to stop Beatrice from destroying the village. My people can’t be collateral damage anymore. They stay to protect the eggs. If we don't help them, they’ll die here.”

  I approached Jackie with caution.

  She flinched when I raised my wing again, so I abandoned the failed attempt at comforting her.

  Her sobs echoed in this house of tears. Life Rite’s reign of terror affected another generation.

  “My people won’t perish. Not on my watch,” I mumbled.

  “I don’t want that either.” She rubbed her wet eyes.

  “Jackie…” I inched closer, spread my wings, and embraced her.

  She softened, her body crashing into mine.

  My chest heaved as we breathed in tandem.

  Jackie cried in my arms. “I always figured Baxter wasn’t my real dad, but that’s not uncommon for Climber kids. At least now I have confirmation.”

  “He loved you as his own.”

  Her body shook with each sob. “As painful as it is, I’m glad to know. Ignorance isn’t bliss; it’s powerless. Now that I know the truth, I can finally make my own decisions.”

  I held her tight, wishing her hurt away.

  Jackie wiped the snot from her nose. “You know, I never had choices before. I didn’t choose to be a janitor. I didn’t choose my roommate-infested home, and I would never have ignored my family tree, no matter how twisted it is.”

  She burrowed into me. We sat in our embrace, savoring the closeness we had craved for so long.

  “It’s finally time to choose your fate,” I told her.

  Jackie looked into my hooded eyes. “You’re right, Firestorm. We’ve got to save your people. I guess they’re my people now, too. Let’s protect the eggs and this island…”

  I nuzzled her with my elongated neck.

  She scratched my scales. “Then will you show me how to use the Slipstream to save Grace and Baxter, and stop Life Rite from hurting anyone else?”

  “That’s my girl. Of course, I’ll teach you everything I know.” I let out a battle cry. “Beatrice Claudi is going down.”

  Jackie mounted me, and I burst through the broken door, escaping that damned warehouse of horrors for the last time.

  With the heavy truth about Grace off my chest, I whooshed past the vicious scavenger waiting outside and soared into the Grid-covered sky.

  The air tasted like charcoal as it tore past my wings in a furious rush.

  Beatrice’s fire consumed the forest, charring acres of land. Burned trees stood like blackened skeletons, coated in ash.

  Jackie hugged my neck. “This is a nightmare. I’m sick to my stomach, Firestorm.”

  “The wind carried embers to the village. The inferno is spreading at a horrific speed. Let’s jet.”

  I squeezed my biceps to flap my wings harder on a quest to save my people. The smoke-filled wind carried us home.

  We circled the village to get a top-down view of the wreckage.

  Several people threw pots of water on the fire that tore through two homes, but their efforts didn’t make an impact.

  A gray-haired doctor aided a dozen wounded people.

  Their bodies twisted in pain, skin blistered and raw. Ash clung to their faces, mixed with soot and sweat. Some stared blankly at me flying in the sky, eyes wide with shock, lashes singed.

  The stench of roasting flesh hung heavy in the air.

  Jackie covered her nose and mouth to protect herself from the smoke. “You’re right, Firestorm. They’re constantly under threat from Life Rite.”

  I glided on unseen currents, banking into a deliberate arc, eyes locked on the ground below. Dipping downward, I sliced through the air in a controlled descent and touched down in the center of the village. My claws dug into the grass.

  Tinga ran toward us, now the elder leader.

  Jackie dismounted to greet him.

  “Who are you?” he asked.

  She knew his story from what I showed her in the Slipstream, but he didn’t know her.

  “I’m… This is Firestorm. I mean, Zayne. We’re here to help,” Jackie stammered.

  With his one good eye, Tinga squinted at me.

  “Zayne?” he asked, turning pale.

  I nodded.

  No more time for pleasantries. I lunged toward the burning homes and wrapped my wings around one to absorb the flames.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  The heat charred my skin, but my scars were well-trodden.

  As my body ingested the flames, a surge of energy tore through me like lightning, igniting every cell, flooding me with raw, unstoppable vigor.

  I moved to the next house and absorbed those flames, too, leaving only scorched beams and collapsed walls. A blaze of power flooded my veins.

  Tinga dropped to his knees, bowed his head, touched my torrid talons, and prayed.

  My people stared in disbelief as smoke bled from my pores. They bowed in prayer, too.

  After a moment of silence, they looked up with tired, ashen faces, many with bandages and burns. The children looked exhausted and uneasy.

  Under a nearby tree, a Bennu-skin blanket covered a dead body, bare feet exposed.

  I grabbed the blanket with my beak to see who had died because of Beatrice’s blaze.

  Tinga nodded toward the dead girl. “It’s Sumi.”

  Sumi…I remember her.

  Sumi’s thick, dark hair fell to the ground, exposing her high cheekbones. Sun-kissed freckles covered her broad nose. She lay lifeless in her Bennu skin dress, which failed to protect her delicate skin from third-degree burns.

  A tornado of half-lives tore through my mind violently, hitting me with Slipstream déjà vu vertigo. I recalled playing hide and seek with Sumi in the forest, splashing her in the river, kissing her in another far-flung lifetime.

  “I wasn’t quick enough. The fire consumed too much. Life Rite’s reign of terror must end.” My mind loops through what ifs.

  Jackie asked, “Why do the villagers stay here to be tortured and oppressed by… my family? That feels weird to admit.”

  “The eggs must be protected,” I said.

  Jackie looked around at the weary villagers. “It’s so admirable that they sacrifice themselves to protect others. I envy them and wish I were more selfless.”

  Jappa stepped forward and hugged my neck.

  My childhood friend was now a healthy adult, similar to what I would have looked like if I hadn’t mutated. It hurt too much to look at him, so I closed my eyes.

  “Welcome home, brother.” He put his forehead to mine. “For Bennu.”

  “For Bennu,” I repeated.

  Tinga addressed the crowd. “We’ll build a Merkaba to protect our home.”

  Everyone nodded and got to work, their renewed spirits flowing like water from a well that never ran dry. They grabbed pots and gathered around a pile of Bennu eggs near the outdoor kitchen.

  Protection circles were made of crushed Bennu eggs mixed with salt from the caves. They beat the ingredients into a paste, singing ancient hymns of our ancestors.

  Jackie grabbed a pot and joined them.

  I lay on the grass to heal my skin as they worked, smiling at the children who peeked at me with curiosity.

  They worked in groups to spread the paste around the perimeter of the village in the form of the Merkaba symbol. This powerful geometry is composed of two interlocking tetrahedrons, one pointing upward and the other downward, forming a star-like shape.

  Others left with pots filled with paste to create Merkaba protection fields around Bennu nests dotted around the island to protect their bounty.

  Working the perimeter of the village, Jappa pointed at blood on Jackie’s shirt near her abdomen. “I fix?”

  She nodded and lifted her shirt.

  Her gunshot wound reopened and bled from the manual labor and a lack of belief in her abilities as a phoenix gene carrier.

  Jappa wiped a salve onto her wound, made from Bennu eggs as well.

  Jackie sighed with relief.

  He pointed at her feet and said, “I have a gift.”

  Jappa ducked into his home and returned with a pair of cloth shoes. He presented them to Jackie to protect her bare feet.

  Her face lit up as she accepted them. “Thank you, Jappa.”

  My heart fluttered watching my old friend care for my child. We are One. This is where we belong.

  Jappa smiled, forming light wrinkles around his eyes. I wondered what I would have looked like if I hadn’t turned into Firestorm, but that train of thought was dangerous.

  I got up and flew over to join them. “Jackie, you can heal yourself. Trust in your ability.”

  She shrugged. “I’m not special.”

  “Come. Pay respects to Nannu.” I nodded toward the treeline.

  Jappa bowed to me and returned to work.

  Jackie waved to him and followed me into the forest opening, where a tree was dedicated to Nannu’s memory. Luckily, it was untouched by the wildfire.

  A Merkaba symbol made from Bennu teeth hung from a chain on a branch. The beautiful necklace Nannu always wore around her neck protected her final resting place.

  “Ancestors teach the next generation. They don’t steal from them. It’s time for Beatrice to pay for her sins.” My teeth clenched in silent resolve.

  Jackie nodded. “I’m ready to avenge your tribe…. No, our tribe.”

  My chest swelled with pride as my daughter stepped into the sacred role of protector passed down through our bloodline.

  Without discussion, Jackie mounted me, and we left to make things right. Revenge seemed like enough of a plan.

  As the sun set, we flew over scorched lands to confront Beatrice at the complex.

  The smoky air was devoid of birdsong as the wildfire smoldered. It tore across the land with terrifying speed, leaving a quarter of the island charred and broken.

  With the village safe and more Merkaba protection fields being laid, the best way to stop its spread was at its source.

  I sailed over the volcano and landed on the balcony overlooking it. The same balcony where Grace and I killed Beatrice and Mark all those years ago.

  Beatrice stood in a trance overlooking the sacred lands she set ablaze.

  Jackie dismounted. “You’ve gone too far, Mrs. Claudi.”

  Beatrice didn’t respond. Her eyes rolled into her head, and her eyelids danced between open and closed.

  “Firestorm, how deep into the Slipstream is she? What does she do in there?” Jackie asked.

  “We can’t know unless we ride her streams.”

  “Okay… how do we do that?”

  “Halt,” Alpha said from its perch.

  Beatrice opened her eyes, showcasing extreme control over going in and out of the Slipstream. She made a formidable enemy, to say the least.

  “Welcome to Bennu Island.” Beatrice turned to us with a wicked smile. “I’m glad you’re here in the flesh, Jackie.”

  “Look what you’ve done to this place. Please put the fire out before it’s too late.” Jackie sighed.

  “Alpha, send the water drones to stop the spread.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the drone replied.

  “Jackie, have you seen the castle my love erected in my honor?” Beatrice pointed at the tower, now complete. “He brought over the bricks from our wedding chapel in Scotland and painstakingly reconstructed it.”

  I sneered. “Don’t you mean the villagers painstakingly reconstructed it?”

  Beatrice crossed her arms. “Under Mark’s watchful eye, yes.”

  Jackie balled her hands into fists. “Be careful. If you start a fire, it might burn down.”

  Beatrice sauntered toward us. “My Slipstream vision has never been stronger. How can I repay you for such valuable information about fire portals?”

  Jackie leaned against my oversized body for support. “Are you offering another bonus? I won’t take your hush money.”

  Beatrice grinned. “I want you to join me, Jackie. Help me run the family business. Take your place as rightful heir of the Claudi estate.”

  Jackie’s jaw dropped. “Why would you want someone like me on your team?”

  Butterflies fluttered in my maimed stomach. I nudged her to stay strong.

  Alpha snuck behind us and pricked Jackie’s neck.

  “Ow.” She grabbed at the pain, looking at the blood on her hands.

  My muscles flexed, ready to defend my family.

  “Stand down, Alpha,” Beatrice commanded, but it was too late. It already took another blood sample.

  My knees bent to pounce, but Jackie held her hand up to stop me. “Wait. Let’s try to talk things out. Violence is our last resort.”

  “No, let’s blast ‘em, Jackie.” I hissed, debating the best way to defeat an enemy that can rebirth. I sharped my claws against the concrete, ready to fight.

  “Keep your pet on a leash, dear,” Beatrice said.

  Jackie crossed her arms. “Way to show your true colors, Grandma.”

  “Don’t call me that.” Beatrice scoffed.

  “Jackie, look.” I nodded toward Alpha.

  Her blood synthesized in its belly, which protruded like an eye with a sty on it. Her deep red blood swirled, mixing with the green radioactive liquid already coursing through Alpha’s veins. The biochemicals created a dangerous chemical reaction, releasing faint wisps of toxic steam.

  My stomach twisted with heat, and I let it surge out of my mouth in a searing blast, erupting in a roar of fire from my lips.

  My flames engulfed the drone.

  Beatrice stepped back, shielding herself.

  “I am fireproof,” Alpha said, unharmed by my attack.

  My eyes widened, and a gasp slipped out.

  Beatrice put her hands up in surrender. “Alpha is top of the line, but there’s no need for violence. It was acting on old programming. I promise, Jackie. I come in peace.”

  That put me over the edge.

  I yelled, “You come in peace? Your fire portal murdered Sumi and hurt a dozen more. It’s time to throw you into that volcano again. Or should I shred you into bloody scraps this time?”

  A snarl escaped from the pit of my stomach.

  “What’s the point?” Beatrice raised an eyebrow. “I’ll rebirth, get deeper access to the Slipstream, and we’ll be back at square one.”

  I started toward Beatrice anyway, drooling for revenge.

  Her drone pricked me in the neck, stopping me in my tracks.

  “A strong tranquilizer should give us some time to talk without your pet,” Beatrice said to Jackie.

  The drug hit me like a sledgehammer. “You’re gonna pay for this…”

  My legs fell out from under me, and I stumbled. The balcony shook from the weight of my fall.

  Jackie wrapped her arms around me. “Dad, are you all right?”

  An inescapable heaviness moved through my bloodstream. I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed.

  “Did she say Dad? Is this what’s become of you, Zayne?” Beatrice squinted to examine me. “Fascinating. How long did it take you to turn? Your blood type is extremely effective at staving it off for much longer than your fellow villagers.”

  “He’s not your science experiment.” Jackie cracked her knuckles, ready to brawl.

  Beatrice clicked her tongue. “Oh, honey, no need to turn savage. When we can all rebirth, that’s not the most interesting way to spar. See if you can outsmart me another way.”

  Jackie asked, “We all can rebirth, like, me too? How many times have I rebirthed?”

  My eyelids fell heavy, and I struggled to keep them open.

  Beatrice pointed at two chairs and a table on the far side of the balcony. A chessboard awaited them. She took a seat and motioned for Jackie to join her.

  My tongue felt like cotton from the tranquilizer. I could barely swallow, let alone speak. There was no way to advise Jackie at this critical moment.

  I squinted at Beatrice, despising that woman with every ounce of my soul.

  “Stay strong, Jackie,” I coughed out.

  Jackie sat doe-eyed across from Beatrice.

  “Don’t get sucked in by her lies,” I whispered, swallowing between words.

  “What a lovely little family reunion we have here.” Beatrice smiled and clapped her hands. She was enjoying this.

  “Jackie, don’t…” The haze threatened to overtake me.

  Beatrice moved a pawn on the chessboard.

  “What do you say, Jackie? Will you join the family business?” Beatrice sneered at me as my vision blurred around the edges.

  We both knew Jackie was about to make a mistake she couldn’t take back, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.