Fire Stones - By Kailin Gow Page 0,13

Water King, wary of the return of the power of Fire to the world? Or was he merely jealous of Chance? I sighed as I thought back to his lips on mine – the oxygen that connected our two mouths.

But I put him out of my mind. It was time to focus on Chance. He had texted me his plans: we were to go out for an elegant dinner at one of Aeros's most fashionable restaurants, located on the top floor of a high-rise building in the heart of Aeros's commercial center. I'd heard Haven talking about having her last birthday at the place – Gabriel’s – bragging about the 360-degree views and incredible panorama as well as the incredible food. Seemed like Chance knew how to pick them.

I changed for dinner, even applying a daub of makeup to cover up the sweat and exhaustion of that day's wrestling. But when I saw Chance appearing at my doorstep, his suit elegantly and immaculately tailored to fit his perfect body just so, I flushed. “I guess I'm underdressed,” I said.

“You look perfect,” Chance said, kissing me. “Effortlessly beautiful – just the way you are.” He stroked my hair. “Some girls spend hours to look just half as good as you, but you, my love, don't even have to try.” He took me by the elbow, leading me to his car. “Gabriel is one of my favorite restaurants in the city,” he said as we drove. Aeros Island was even more beautiful than usual in the moonlight; the main road went along the seaside, and I could see the white face of the moon reflected in the dark, palpitating waves. Yet I looked away from the water – waves only made me think of Varun. I looked inland – at the flaming torches that lit the driveway. Yes, I thought, Vesta's element – fire. This is where I'm meant to be. Near the hot, scorching beauty of the flames.

Dinner was a formal affair, but despite the French accents of the waiters and the unpronounceable names of the dishes (six courses, all of which were more delectable than the last), Gabriel was far from stuffy. The panoramic vistas of the island, the tantalizingly dim candlelight at our table, the taste of the chocolate soufflé on our forks – everything was just as I hoped it would be. Just as romantic.

“Do you realize?” Chance said to me, laughing. “That this is our first real date?” He was right. Our previous relationship had been a mixture of conflicts and stolen kisses, fighting and making up – a relationship as fiery as the flames that were apparently our destiny. But now we were dressed up, sitting indoors, conversing like a normal couple. We held hands as we talked of lighter things than gods and destinies – our childhoods, our favorite books, memories long-forgotten. It was good to see a lighter, wittier side of Chance than the glowering, brooding figure I had come to know. His levity was welcome after the stress of the weekend.

“So?” I asked Chance as we finished our dessert. “What's the special occasion this time? For all of this.”

He laughed. “Come, my love. I don't need a special occasion to take you out, do I?”

He took my hand, pressing my fingers to his lips, one by one. “Mac,” he whispered, looking happier than I had ever seen him look before. “My Mac. You found it.” He smiled. “The first stone of Vesta. That's impressive. Jana only thought she did – but what she found were only fakes. Decoy traps, set by Vesta.”

At the sound of his ex-girlfriend's name, I went quiet. I had not forgotten how Jana had died – trying to prove herself as Vesta, just like I was. My face fell. After all, had not Jana, too, been so sure that she was Vesta? And had she not been burned by the flames, just the same?

“How are you so sure that mine are real?” I asked.

“You said you only found one,” said Chance. “I should have known – Vesta would never have left all the stones together in one cave. That's how Jana found them. All five at once. After...” his voice became choked. “After she died, I looked at the stones. They were not as bright as I remembered Vesta's being. Their magic was not real. I should have examined them more closely, should have made sure, but I was so happy...” His brooding look returned.

“But the one I found