CHAPTER 28
M auree draped the knee-length, terry cloth bathrobe around her shoulders and tied the belt at her waist. Her skin still warm from her bath, she nuzzled against the soft fabric. Steam coated the mirror, obscuring her reflection. That was fine with her. She didn’t need a reminder she was no longer beautiful.
Mauree picked up the eyepatch from the counter and, with more force than necessary, slapped it over her eye. The string snapped against her cheek, the sting bitter and swift, reminding her of the males who had betrayed her—Theron and Noeh. Both were dead. Good riddance.
Through the crack under the doorway, a blue mist filtered into the room, swirling with the steam.
Mauree tensed. Zedron. What does he want now? She tightened the belt around her waist.
The particles coalesced in the middle of the room, swirling and solidifying. Zedron, dressed in an impeccable tailored suit with wing tip shoes, met her gaze. A smile bloomed across his lips.
Despite the warmth in the room, a shiver ran down Mauree’s legs. “What brings you here, my lord? If this is about Anlon, we’re looking for the babe.”
His attention flicked from her breasts hidden behind the robe to her bare legs before returning to her good eye. “No need. I know where he is. There is something more pressing I need you to do.”
She leaned against the counter. “Of course, tell me.”
“Watch. Learn.” He flicked his finger to the water in the bathtub. The suds parted, and a blurry image graced the surface.
Mauree pushed away from the counter, curiosity bringing her to the tub’s edge.
A waterfall appeared, a beautiful blue pool at its base. The rush of water echoed against the bathroom tile. Fresh and clean, the scent of pine, dampness, and wet foliage filled the room.
Mauree tapped one of her long red nails against the tile wall. “What am I supposed to see here?”
A rumble shook the house. Fine grains of dust fell from the ceiling.
Zedron narrowed his eyes. “Patience.”
She swallowed hard. Awareness that he could crush her in an instant percolated over her skin. Yet, he’d come here for a reason. She focused on the picture.
Two figures stood at the base of the waterfall. One was a female she didn’t know. The other—Gaetan, the Keep’s haelen. “What is Gaetan doing outside the Keep?”
Zedron didn’t reply. Not that she’d expected him to. She concentrated on the pair.
The two conversed, their hands waving in the air, but Mauree couldn’t hear their words above the waterfall’s roar. Gaetan tugged the female to him and gave her a powerful kiss. The female returned his passion.
A twinge hit Mauree in the chest. The intensity between the couple was something Mauree had wanted for so long and would never have. Unwilling to watch, she looked away. “Why are you making me watch this?”
Zedron tsked. “You aren’t going soft on me, not now, are you?”
She clamped her jaw and snuck a glance at him. “No. Never.”
“Good. If you had, I’d kill you on the spot.” He winked at her.
Mauree swallowed and returned her attention to the image. The kiss broken, the female swirled her hands over the pool’s edge. The water bubbled, frothing far more than the waterfall kicked up. An opening, like a tunnel, appeared, parting the water.
Mauree tilted her head. “Nice trick.”
Zedron smirked. “I thought you’d like that. Look deep inside. What do you see?”
As the couple rushed through the tunnel, Mauree looked into the distance. “I see nothing but a small pool of water and a bunch of rocks. Is there some point to this visit?”
Zedron laughed, the menacing cackle growing in volume until the sound reverberated against the walls.
Perhaps this time, she’d stepped over the line. Not that she worried. She’d done far better than any of his other leaders. He’d be a fool to smack her down.
“You’re always full of surprises, aren’t you?” His smile seemed genuine, but she couldn’t ignore the cool glint in his eyes. “Let me zoom in a bit for you.”
He flicked his wrist and the picture enlarged. A small room at the back of the cavern became clear. Inside were a table, a bed, and a small basin filled with water.
She scrunched her brow. “I fail to see the significance—”
He held up his hand. “Wait.”
The image flicked forward in time, in fast motion, until it stopped with Gaetan seated at the desk, pouring over the ancient texts. He read out loud. “A great energy burns from the rock, as if it has a mind of its own. If not used with care, it can be deadly to those that oppose it. Use caution.”
The female scrunched her nose. “Does that make sense to you?”
“Not initially, but let me continue.” Gaetan ran his hand through his hair and returned his attention to the old tome. “Initial tests indicate all elements must be present. The catalyst is the blue sunstone. Whoever possesses the magical gem shall command the other elements, Roan’s Rock, and the power within.”
“The blue sunstone…” The female pushed away from the table. “Do you still have it?”
Gaetan stood. The chair crashed to the stone floor. He shoved his hand into his pocket and withdrew the sacred blue gem.
“Ginnia was right. We need this crystal.” Gaetan’s attention slid from the blue sunstone to the female. “The pieces are beginning to fit together. I believe we might have a chance in this war after all.”
The image faded, and the water in the tub returned to normal, the white porcelain reflecting the light.
Zedron leaned against the counter and crossed his legs at the ankle. “You must go to Roan’s Rock and prevent Gaetan from achieving his mission.”
Mauree’s thoughts whirred. “…and what, exactly, is his mission?”
Zedron pursed his mouth. “If he uses the blue sunstone to ignite the portal within Roan’s Rock then the backlash on all of you, my lovely characters, means you will die.”
Mauree tapped her finger against the tile wall. “But I touched the blue sunstone to Roan’s Rock. It slowed the Stiyaha but didn’t kill them. Why would it kill us now?”
Zedron pushed away from the counter and invaded her personal space. She resisted the urge to recoil from him. He leaned in, and his breath tickled her ear. “I only showed you the most pertinent part, but the blue sunstone represents earth. The other elements—air, water, and fire—reside in three females…three Dren. Nikki, the one with Gaetan, has a power over water.”
Who of the Dren had a power over air and fire? Mauree’s breath hitched. “Melissa and Sheri are the other two.”
“Now you’re getting it. Stop Gaetan and his female before he reaches Roan’s Rock. Get that blue sunstone. If he’s figured out a way to start the reactor, they could win the war.”
A drop of fear slid down the back of her throat. “That can’t happen.”
Zedron pulled back enough to meet her gaze. Steely resolve reflected in his eyes. “No, it can’t, not if you want to enslave and rule the humans. That’s why you’re going to stop him.”
The urge to please her god, beat down her rivals, and win this war once and for all, bolstered her determination. She clamped her teeth, her jaw tightening to the point of pain. “Gaetan’s as good as dead. Him and that female.”
Zedron stepped away, a smug smile tugging at his mouth. “Now that’s the answer I wanted, no, expected to hear. Don’t disappoint me.”
She raised her chin. “Have I ever?”
He smirked. “That’s why you’re the leader of my army. Your bitterness keeps you honest.”
Heaviness settled onto her shoulders. She mentally shook herself. “By the way, how did you see what transpired there?”
He winked at her. “That’s my little secret.”
Before she could ask him anything else, he transformed into the mist and disappeared the way he’d come.
She let out a relieved breath. Zedron had bolstered her desire to finish this war over Earth’s water. One way or another, this game they played would end at Roan’s Rock tonight.