Igniting Spirit (Gathering Water Book 3) Read Free Page B

first time. It was obvious he’d been so intent on chasing down Kaylus before he did something else awful, he hadn’t even notice that he already had done something awful.
    I heard screams at the same time I felt something melt its way through my Shield. Not break it, melt it.
    Ezra jerked his head in the direction of the screams to find out what was happening, but I already knew.
    The islands of Bermuda are really a cluster of gad-dang volcanoes, and Kaylus had just figured out a way to make the suckers erupt. I’d been feeling a surge of elements, but hadn’t paid attention.
    I really wished I’d been paying attention.
    Maybe it was because of a close call with a drop of lava that had slid through my Shield’s overhead and landed by his foot, but Ezra seemed to realize the deep doo that we were in just a few seconds after I did.
    “Della, can you get the door open? The Loa aren’t strong enough and we need to get everyone out, now. It will take too long if we keep doing it this way.”
    I looked around at the now-panicking people, then at the door with the half dozen Clades hammering power at it to chip it away far too slowly, and nodded my head.  The door was thick, about a dozen feet of solid rock, and I could feel the Runes that had been placed on the other side to strengthen and prevent anyone from leaving. First, I tried to simply Gather the stone — Earth — and make it disappear into my Well, but nothing happened. Of course the Clades would know a way to protect themselves against my family's abilities. It was clear I would need to destroy the Runes before creating a doorway. Just as I got started, Aahana brushed by my shoulder.
    “Ezra, we need to get everyone else ready to evacuate! About half of our people stayed home today, minding their own business.” She was pulling him, but he realized, like I did, that there wasn’t enough time. Evacuation would mean more than sacrificing their homes, it would mean sacrificing their  lives.
    Another idea came to mind. Not necessarily a better one, but hey.
    “Ezra, I can keep everyone safe while your people work on carving their way out. Go for the Runes first. There are some on the other side as well. If you can get your Loa to focus on those while everyone in here works from this side, it will be much quicker.” Another loud boom echoed through the cave system. “I can hold off the worst of it.” I was remembering my Testing with the Elfennol and the lava that had nearly defeated me. I’d been able to hold it off for awhile, and even Gathered a bit of it. If I could do the same long enough for the Clades to open a path, Aahana would be able to get everyone the help they needed to evacuate.
    “Can’t you do the door first, then the Shielding?” Ezra asked. I heard him, but only barely. I was already reinforcing the Shields above us to protect us from the falling rock, while using the coolness from the water energy I’d been able to collect to try and slow the bulk of the magma before it reached the main part of the cavern. It was difficult since it seemed to be coming from everywhere.
    “One or the other, Ezra. My Well is half empty, and this is taking a lot of concentration,” I huffed out. I wasn’t trying to be rude, but this really was difficult.
    Another Clade who was nearby snapped to attention. “Ezra, do what she says. I’m not willing to sacrifice half our people to your father’s madness. We can take the door.” He spoke with a soft authority, but I barely acknowledged his words. I was too busy expanding my shields towards the closest rivulet of lava that was slowly leaching its way deeper into the Clade compound.  Rocks were still pummeling my shields from above, and the weight was becoming a bigger and bigger strain as they expanded to defend against an ever-growing pool of lava.
    I stumbled, then stumbled again. The pool in front of me slowed down, the outer crust going dark with a loud hiss of steam when the Water energy I was