Choosing Fire: Book Two (The Bone Gatherers 2) Read online

  “You okay?” Sofia asked, taking her hand.

  Xel smiled at her new sister. Her heart broke a bit. How could she feel so alone when her family surrounded her?

  “Want to go shopping later?” Xel asked, looking for a distraction.

  Sofia bit her lip. “I...uh...” she said, sipping her coffee. “I don’t really have any money.”

  Xel squeezed her hand, hoping the warmth from her flames had cooled. “You’re part of the financial collective now, honey.” Xel giggled. “We gonna spends some Bens today!”

  Xel stomped on the gas pedal, and they flew down the street to their adobe home in the mountains.

  ~

  “Ezekiel?” Eztlie asked, reading his cup.

  Sitting on their massive deer-leather sofa, Eztlie wrinkled his nose. Sofia wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Aw, did they hurt your feelings, Elizabeth?”

  Setting his cup down, he growled, pulling her over his shoulder and cradling her in his lap. Leaning down, he gave her a deep kiss. Xel tried not to watch as Sofia ran her fingers through his raven-black gentleman’s haircut. “Gag,” Atla said, looking at her chai teacup. “At least they spelled Atla right.”

  After jumping into her large fluffy armchair, Atla went back to reading her first edition of the Canterbury Tales. Xel eyed the weathered hardback. Most would have put a book worth eleven million dollars in a sealed glass case. But not Atla, who said books were for reading. And since she purchased this book from Geoffrey Chaucer’s son, Thomas, in 1416, it would have been an insult to his artistic mind laying it out as décor, she reminded them often.

  Suddenly, the front door burst open. Xi staggered in, singing. “Ay, caray, caray, qué bonita es mi tierra qué bonita qué linda es,” Xi sang and sambaed with an invisible partner.

  Xel ground her teeth. Drunk as a skunk, out again with a mortal, no doubt.

  The Jeweled Prince sauntered to the fireplace and bowed. “Senorita?” he asked, extending a hand to Atla.

  “You touch me and I’ll chop it off,” she said flatly, not taking her eyes off her book.

  Xi shrugged and looked around the room. “Good morning, my fine friends!” he slurred.

  He smiled, eyes heavy, balance waning. He looked down at the tray. “Where’s my coffee?”

  “You weren’t here,” Xel growled, crossing her arms.

  Eztlie picked Sofia up from the couch and headed toward their room. “You can have mine,” Eztlie said, burying his head in Sofia’s neck.

  Her squeal echoed off the walls of the hall.

  Xi shrugged again and took the coffee, drinking it down greedily.

  Atla looked up from her book. “Yeah,” she muttered, looking at their horny, motley crew. “I’m going to the university. Professor Martin has another lecture on ancient civilizations.”

  Xi smiled at Atla. “You’ve been attending his lectures quite often,” he slurred. “Perhaps ol’ Professor Henry Martin isn’t as elderly as his name sounds.”

  Atla grabbed a throw pillow and launched it at his head, hitting him square in the face. “No,” she said with an edge. “It’s fun to see how much shit he gets wrong.”

  With a huff, Atla left out the front door.

  Looking around the room, Xel sighed. Everyone had something or someone to do, except her. Walking to the kitchen, she gave Xi a look and started fixing herself breakfast. Try as she might to block them, the sounds of love coming from the end of the house still found their way into her ears. She felt herself get hot. Xel chewed her lip and focused on slicing the tomato and peppers in front of her. But the moaning made her set her knife down and close her eyes and take a breath. She was completely off today. Perhaps it was a bit of jealousy about Eztlie and Sofia. Maybe it was the fact flames kept shooting from her fingers at random times. Or maybe...

  “Hey, Xel,” Xi purred and popped a pepper into his mouth. “You are so...you’re just so...”

  Xel opened her eyes, and Xi stood before her, using the kitchen island for support. “Go away, Xipilli.”

  “My full name,” he said with a raised brow. “You must be mad. At. Me.”

  He touched her nose with his finger on each word. Xel grabbed his finger roughly. He only spoke so informally to her when he was drunk. Otherwise, he would only give her the most basic platitudes. His new demeanor was driving Xel insane. She felt seasick with the bizarre to-and-fro of his affections.

  “Do not let the sweet face fool you, Jeweled Prince,” she growled. “Atla may chop off your hand, but I’d find another member you find dearer.”

  Xi smiled, his head bobbing. “Hand, manhood, it doesn’t matter,” he slurred. “I’d find a way to make you moan.”

  Xel took her hand away and rolled her eyes in disgust. Wiping her hands on a towel, she said, “Those sweet nothings may work on your mortal pets, but they do not work on me.”

  She wasn’t giving in this time. He always did this. Baited her. They’d head to one of their rooms, and then right when she tried to take it past heavy petting, he’d make a getaway.

  Turning on a heel, Xel stomped toward her room, tears in her eyes. She didn’t know why she tried or why she let him get under her skin. Xel had noticed herself coming apart in recent months. It started with the more frequent visits from her flames. They used to occur once every hundred years, then once a year. Yet lately, her hands had been blazing multiple times per week. She wanted to tell someone, but was afraid of what they’d say. Or worse, report her. Xel didn’t think her family would ever do such a thing. But when dealing with gods, mortals and immortals alike have been known to act out of character.

  Bone Gatherers with special powers were revered. And often, Mictlantecuhtli and Mictecacihuatl, King and Queen of the Underworld approached them to serve in their guard as a Sentinel. But Xel didn’t want to go back there. She had only been in that place once, and it was on the day of her rebirth.

  Xel leaned her head back on her closed door. She couldn’t remember anything about the day she died. All the Bone Gatherers seemed to know their death tale and their entire mortal lives, but not her. She tried to pushed that unease far down inside her. But the looming dread of “why” filled the back of her mind.

  Xel lay on her bed and stared at the ceiling. A soft breeze blew through the room, making her hair swirl around her. Her mind spun like a wheel as she got lost in her thoughts. Soon, she felt her lids grow heavy, and she found it easier to succumb to sleep than to the trepidation of her waking dread.

  ~

  It was raining. The winds were howling. She could taste blood in her mouth. In the distance, she heard a male voice calling her name. Begging her not to go. Xel fought to keep conscious, but the pain was endless. She felt the man slide a hand under her head and press his lips to hers. It felt so final as he whispered, “Metxtli.”

  Her eyes shot open. She felt herself damp with sweat. The room was dark. How long had she slept? Loud clanking came from the hallway, and her eyes shifted to her half-opened door. Her heart pounded. “Ay, caray, caray, qué bonita...”

  Xel grabbed a nearby pillow and covered her head. He is insufferable.

  Suddenly, the hallway went quiet. Daring a peek, she pulled the pillow off, and Xi was standing at the foot of her bed, drunker than he had been that morning.

  Xel gasped. “Don’t you knock?”

  Xi opened his mouth to reply and stumbled into bed. The large man fell face-first into her duvet.

  “You have got to be kidding me?” Xel sighed, staring at the ceiling.

  Lifting his massive body off her legs, she felt the tight muscles beneath his half-opened white shirt. She could smell the tequila on him, but his male scent hit her nose. It was like hiking in the mountains after a rain, when a gust of wind blew through the trees and the pines opened their bouquet to the senses. Xel tried and failed not to breathe him in.

  Xi snored lightly. Xel ground her teeth. Fine. He could sleep there.

  Not wanting her bed to be soiled, she walke
d to his feet then untied and removed his shoes. After grabbing a large quilt from her closet, she covered his body. When she pulled it up to his chin, his hand shot out from beneath it, grabbing her arm and pulling her close. They were nose to nose, and his eyes stared deep into hers. “You’re everything,” he breathed.

  Xel’s eyes went wide. Leaning in, he kissed her. Fire blasted through her veins. She was afraid to look down at her hands. Xel pulled back. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, eyes still closed.

  Her breath was ragged, and she throbbed at the small kiss. It had been so long since he had made any advances toward her. And a part of her lit up every time he did.

  Knowing she would regret it later, Xel launched her body on top of his. It was all the permission his drunk ass needed. Ripping the quilt from the bed, he pulled her face into his. His long curls fell back on the pillow, and he smiled at her. Deep dimples edged his tanned, chiseled jaw. Xi’s eyes were the most brilliant shade of hazel. They changed color with his moods, and at the moment, they appeared to be rolling with flames.

  Xel pressed her mouth roughly to his, their tongues dancing. He grabbed her hips and ground into her mound. Despite his complete inebriation, Xi was standing at full attention, his pants taut against her.

  The hardness of him pressing between her legs made her moan. The sound made Xi go wild. With one arm, he flipped her over and straddled her. Not bothering to unbutton her pants, he nearly tore them from her body. Where they laid on the floor, Xel could see the damp spot she had left in them.

  With only her panties between her and Xi, he sat back on his heels, taking her in. The alcohol in his blood seemed to become dilute. He seemed positively sober, raking his eyes over her body. Xel felt entirely exposed, but her hips edged closer to him. Sliding hands down her chest and stomach, Xel felt the heat between her legs grow. His right hand reached her slit. He sucked in his lip at the warmth coming from her. His smoldering eyes looked up at her from beneath thick dark lashes, asking for permission. “Yes,” Xel moaned, losing control.

  She needed to be touched. She wanted to be touched, damn the consequences. She could taste the añejo tequila on his tongue. Her hands clutched the sheets at her sides, hips begging him to go on. Then he released her. The vacancy of his hands left her skin cold. Opening her eyes, she saw his gaze was on her hands clutching the sheets. His mouth was open in shock. “Tikpia in uelilistli,” he breathed.

  You have the power.

  She looked down at her hands and saw them burning. Xel gasped, launching from the bed, and ran into her bathroom. Xi followed her; his face was blank. “How long has that been happening?” he asked, eyes glassy with desire and booze.

  “I don’t know,” she said, running her hands under the tap. “Just go away. I’m fine. We shouldn’t have done that. You’re drunk. You’re always drunk.”

  Xi’s eyes narrowed, and something washed over his face. Pain? Jealousy? Xel turned to dry her hands, her heart breaking, guilt seeping in for what she’d said. But when she turned back to apologize, he was gone.

  ~

  Emerging the next morning, Xel looked down the hallway. She had locked herself in her room, completely embarrassed to leave it for the rest of the day and night. She’d cried, covering her face with her pillow to muffle the sobs. How could he make her feel so complete and tear it away all at once? It was heartbreaking and infuriating.

  Throughout the centuries, Xel had moved between wanting to leave the family, never wanting to fight beside Xi, and convincing herself it would be possible to ignore him completely. Her denial was thick. But it allowed Xel to make it through her existence with a semblance of normalcy.

  Xel rubbed her eyes roughly. It was early. The sun wasn’t above the ridge of the mountains yet, giving them a purple glow. It took only one glance at the ancient stone formations to know where the lyrics “purple mountains majesty” originated.

  Xel filled the coffeepot and waited for it to brew. She clicked her blood-red nails on the countertop and chewed her lip.

  What if he tells someone about her flames?

  Xel shook her head. Hopefully, he had been too drunk to remember.

  The machine beeped, and Xel poured herself a cup and walked out to their veranda. The cobblestone patio was a sight to behold in daylight, but at this hour, it was magical. The crisp air made her skin pimple as she took a seat in an Adirondack chair. And when the thoughts of Xi creeped into her mind, she felt herself throb.

  Xel scowled and crossed her legs tighter. She had only been outside for a few minutes, and her coffee was cold. She looked around to make sure no one was watching and concentrated on her fingers. Slowly, a blue flame appeared. Xel marveled at its beauty. It coiled and wound around her fingers as though it was conscious. Alive. Xel put her finger in the coffee, and soon small bubbles appeared and steam rose from the ceramic cup.

  “You’re up early.” Tupack’s voice made her jump.

  Xel looked over her shoulder, hiding her hand. “Couldn’t sleep.”

  Tupack sipped from the cup he was holding and leaned on the banister. Thankfully, she had managed to extinguish her hand and wrapped it around her cup. “Ow!” she yelled. “Dammit!”

  “Too hot?”

  “Yeah,” she mumbled when the air filled with the sounds of crunching gravel.

  Xel looked up and scowled. Xi stumbling in again through the back door of their house. He and Xel made eye contact. He looked down and let himself in, not bothering to be quiet.

  “He is such a piece of work,” Xel said, shaking her head.

  “You shouldn’t be so hard on him,” Tupack said, sipping his coffee.

  “Oh yes,” she chided. “Because gallivanting around the valley and coming home piss-drunk is so honorable.”

  Tupack sighed.

  “I know you two go way back,” Xel continued. “But he and I do not. And I find his behavior embarrassing for the Bone Gatherers and our family.”

  “What, exactly, do you think he is doing in his spare time?” Tupack asked gently.

  “More like who he’s doing?” Xel mumbled, snuggling deeper into her oversized fuzzy cardigan.

  Tupack was silent for a long while.

  A nighthawk was circling in the sky, calling out to its nearby mate. Soft clucking from the bird high in her nest echoed off the canyon walls.

  “He’s at shelters, Metxtli,” Tupack mumbled.

  Xel turned to look at Tupack, shocked.

  “Like homeless shelters?” she breathed.

  Tupack gripped his cup tighter. “He brings supplies and volunteers when he can. He tries to mentor the youth. Give them a chance at a better life.”

  Xel blinked.

  “And it’s not just our descendants either. Any color or creed, he tries to stop the cycle and symptoms of poverty.”

  “Well, they aren’t selling booze at the shelters,” Xel snapped a bit too harshly. “So he’s obviously going out afterward.”

  Tupack nodded. “We all have our own ways of dealing with tragedy and regret. Unfortunately, that is his.”

  Xel rolled her eyes. But the thought of him spending every waking hour helping others made guilt roll in her stomach, thick and acrid. All these years, she thought him such a playboy. “But all the stories I’ve heard throughout the years. He is known for being a womanizer.”

  Tupack nodded. “Until about five hundred years ago,” he said, giving her a steady look.

  Xel blanched white.

  “Please do not mention this to anyone. He doesn’t like people knowing.” Tupack shifted uncomfortably.

  Xel narrowed her eyes. “Why wouldn’t he want people to know? I mean, that’s a noble hobby. I’d have thought a lot more of him if I knew that.”

  Tupack made a circle with his hand, opening a viewing portal. A simple gift of power, storytelling. Before television, it was a miracle. Now, Tupack joked he was an outdated version of YouTube. But to his advantage, it was the only gift the gods had no interest in taking advantage of.


  Lucky, Xel thought sourly.

  He pushed the viewing circle into her lap. “If you want to see the ‘why,’ then take a look.”

  He patted her on the shoulder and walked back into the house.

  Xel bit her lip. What was she going to do with this new information? She had always pictured the Jeweled Prince one way. Was it possible he was actually a good person?

  Xel stared at the portal. It was a stone city. Like tiny ants, people scurried here and there. Staring over her shoulder to make sure she was alone, Xel leaned into Xi’s past.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Swirling mist cleared, and the portal brought her to ground level. Tupack’s skill of storytelling was so impressive, Xel felt as though she was there, as a person standing in the crowd of a massive celebration.

  Xel was in awe of the size of the ancient city. Grid-patterned streets looked the same as modern road planning. Houses stretched for as far as the eye could see. Small temples dotted the sky from throughout the land, but the skyline’s highest point was a massive stone pyramid in the city center.

  Her eyes wove through the crowd, taking in the sights and sounds. It was the largest Aztec city she had ever seen. It had to be close to the size of Teotihuacan, the largest Aztec city in the area.

  The scent from food carts made her mouth water. The colors of the smocks and finery that even the lower caste citizen wore were a treat for the eye. Everyone was chatting excitedly. Smiles were bountiful.

  The beating of drums pulled her attention to the center temple. The people rushed forward. Children climbed walls, and adults clambered onto high ledges for a better view.

  Xel felt the vision pulling her in closer. Soon she had a bird’s-eye view near the top. To her shock, Tupack emerged from the opening at the apex of the temple. His face hadn’t changed, but the air of him was all warrior. His muscles gleamed in the sunlight, flexing under the matching golden arm rings. Large plugs in his earlobes matched the jewelry adorning his body. And none of his finery was made of wood like a commoner’s. His jade spools were exquisitely carved. He looked out, straight ahead from beneath the hide of a jaguar. The teeth of the animal framed his handsome face. Tupack slammed the seven-foot-tall spear he held on the ground, and the crowd hushed.