Fire Stones - By Kailin Gow Page 0,14

– is it real?”

“Vesta liked to set challenges,” said Chance. “She wouldn't have made it easy. It wasn't her style. From what I know of Vesta, hiding a stone in a shark-infested cave is exactly in character for her.”

I swallowed hard. Abandoning Mars for Neptune or Poseidon – setting up challenges designed to lure innocent girls to their deaths; was I so sure I wanted to be Vesta, after all? Was this really who I was?

“Plus,” added Chance darkly, “when Vesta...went away...it was the sea she fell in love with. With Varun. It would make sense that she left this stone by the sea, by the place with which – or should I say with whom – she had fallen in love.”

My head was swimming as he spoke. How was it possible that Vesta could have fallen this in love with Neptune – willing to give up her whole life, her whole world, for him? No wonder Varun wanted me so much. He, too, thought I was his love of old. Really, Vesta, I thought, you sure got around...

After we finished our dinner Chance took me out to the restaurant's roof terrace. A telescope sat on the edge of the deck, and Chance pointed out to me all the constellations of the night sky, making sure to note the ones associated with the great gods and goddesses of old. “That's Orion,” he said, keeping me warm with his embrace, “and Cassiopia!” He sighed. “You know...” he began. “About wrestling class today. I couldn't get you out of my mind all day after that. It drove me crazy – seeing you with Brandon. The biggest flirt in the school.”

“So you were jealous!” I almost laughed. How could Chance have ever thought I'd be interested in anyone else? But then again, Vesta...

He nodded mutely, turning a bit red.

I laughed and kissed him in turn. “You don't have to worry about Brandon,” I said. “He's just fun to talk to – not my type.”

Chance pressed his cheek against mine, and in ecstasy I felt my desire for him increase. I wished we could spend the whole night like this: me entwined in his arms, safe at last, his body keeping mine alive with his heat.

“Good,” he said. And then he said something strange indeed. “I don't know if you'll start to develop feelings for him. I hope not. But there's a strong possibility.”

I laughed aloud. “What kind of crazy theory is that?”

“Because Brandon is more like you than I am.”

“What?” I grew concerned. Chance didn't sound like he was joking.

“He's an embodiment, too – haven't you guessed? He is the Fire God Zhu Rong – and yet he is Varun's best friend. So he has taken on some of his friend's qualities: fire and water together. Not surprising, in a way. According to legends Zhu Rong had fire powers, but also controlled water. So perhaps his attraction to Varun is natural. But you, too, are a mix, aren't you? Fire and water. When Brandon and I were younger, we were the best of friends. Our fire natures joined us together. But now...water is ever more his element. He is powerful – more powerful than you'd think.”

I remembered Brandon on the wrestling mat and nodded.

“The only other immortal to have power over both elements is Vesta.”

I gulped. No wonder Chance was so jealous of Brandon. This seemingly innocuous jokester seemed to have more in him than bad one-liners and cheap attempts at flirtation. Apparently he was more dangerous than I thought.

Was anyone safe?

Chapter 6

The rest of the date passed by in a lovely haze. We spent the evening looking at the stars, wrapped in one another's arms as we huddled around the telescope for warmth. We drank cup after cup of strong, sweet coffee on the restaurant terrace, enjoying every glorious moment together. How I wished it would always be like this. I had never been so happy. Lying in Chance's arms, his rough, stubble-lined cheek against mine, with the stars glimmering above us like the gemstones of my vision. When I was with Chance, I didn't care about Brandon; I didn't care about Varun. I wanted only to be with him. Whatever Chance was afraid of – he didn't have to be. My heart was his and his alone. Whatever Vesta had done, whatever Vesta had felt...I had to ignore it. Vesta's relationship with Poseidon was nothing to me. Chance was all that mattered. I had to forget Varun's piercing eyes, the way