Fire Stones - By Kailin Gow Page 0,26

consider. If I really was Vesta, I couldn't compromise my Fire abilities, not without risking my ability to stop the Erosion. “I'll do it,” I said, nodding my head against his chest.

Varun nodded too. “Then so will I,” he said. “Whenever you're ready. Whenever you want.” His face was strange – a curious and inexplicable mixture of joy and pain mingling in an enigmatic smile. He took my hand and squeezed it.

“Isn't that what you wanted?” I couldn't resist asking. “What you've always wanted? The two of us – going into the ocean together?”

Varun shook his head. “Yes,” he said. “But no. I mean – yes and know. I've always wanted that. But now these memories of her. Of how much she hurt me. I can't get those out of my head either. Memories from the past; I'm not sure if I want them back or not. I miss her – you – whatever – but she can't come back.”

“Unless I find this stone?” I ventured. “Then surely...”

“It's a step,” said Varun. “For you to Awaken into Vesta. If that's who you truly are.” He reached out and pulled me in close. “I want so badly to shield you from everything that would happen when she returns, Mac...”

He stopped then, agony upon his face. My heart went out to him. I wanted so badly to reach out to touch him, to soothe him, to stroke his cheek, to pull him into me. I could feel our cheeks touch, and I felt it as his cheeks grew hot with longing. My body was responding, too. I wanted him. I wanted to embrace him, to press his lips against mine...

“Mac...” Varun murmured. “We can't do this. If we're going to go into the ocean together, we can't touch unless we absolutely have to. It's too dangerous. For both of us. I want to respect you – to respect your wishes – but being near you is driving me crazy. We need to stay strong. I need to stay strong. Because what I can't stop thinking about is the one thing I can't have.”

Looking at him, I felt that what he said was true. I wanted the one thing I couldn't have, too. I wanted him.

Chapter 11

The water lapped at our feet. In the distance, I could see the waves turn purple and black – the sea was getting rough. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow of light over the sea-foam. The salt sprayed into our faces, scratching against our skin. It was beautiful. I let the moist sand rise and fall between my toes; I let the cool air blow against my face. Soon I would be entering this strange, dark place – soon I would be plummeting down to the ocean depths. Soon I would risk losing everything I ever loved forever.

The man at my side did not look at me. His face was downcast; his eyes were solemn. I took his hand, aching alongside him. I could feel his pain; it was ripping me open. My heart felt as if it were locked in a vice-grip; I had never known so much sorrow.

“You're really going, then?” He looked up at me with eyes filled with hurt. “You're really going to risk it?”

“It's the only choice I have.” I pressed Chance's knuckles to my lips. “It's either that or letting my mother die – and I can't make that choice. I have to do this. We always knew I'd have to do this. But this stuff with my mom...it means I have to do it sooner, rather than later.”

“With him,” growled Chance darkly.

“He's the only one who can help,” I pleaded.

“I know that,” Chance glowered. “If only I had the power over the oceans. If only I could be the one to take you down there, to those depths, to slay mermaids and sea-dragons...” he sighed. “But I cannot. It is not to be.”

“It isn't like that...”

“Varun can offer you what I cannot. That was always the way of things, my darling Mac. Thousands of years ago – I gave her fire...but Varun could give her the ocean.” He looked grimly out over the waves. “Something I could never give her. She longed to walk in the water. She longed to feel the salt water on her skin, to dance with mermaids. I could never give her such happiness...”

“I'm not leaving you, Chance,” I pleaded. “I just want to save my mom!”

“I know,” he sighed. “I know that's how