Al?
Kira grabbed her head as the ache suddenly turned into a sharp pain that shot threw her head and down her spine. “Crap!” She didn’t want to try that again.
“What happened?” Ussay asked, scooting closer. She still knelt on the floor next to Kira.
“Nothing, I’m fine. Give me a second. I want to try something.” Kira opened her left hand and settled the ruby in her palm. She rubbed it again.
Lydia! I need you to connect with Altaria. We need you. Please, I need you.
For several seconds, nothing happened, and then Kira felt the cold metal of the Crystor warm against her skin-a complete contrast to the ice cold ruby. She closed her fingers around it to take away the chill. It warmed beneath her grasp. Kira stood and crossed to the bench. Running a finger across the Crystor, she summoned the good memories of healing to take over her mind-healing a little girl’s puppy, jogging through the park with newfound strength, the shine of her silken hair and seeing her touch heal the ones she loved. She let herself be lost in them, unaware of Ussay and her surroundings.
“Are you all right, Kira?” Ussay’s voice pulled Kira from her thoughts. Ussay had also stood and taken a seat next to her.
“I’m fine. I just miss it.”
“May I see the bracelet closer? It appears to be glowing slightly. I think it might be the way the candlelight is reflecting on it.”
Kira turned and put her wrist between them.
Ussay touched the Crystor with the tip of her finger. “Ouch,” she said, pulling her hand away quickly. “You did not tell me it would hurt.”
Her reaction startled Kira, making the ruby slip from her hand into her lap. “It shocked you?”
Ussay nodded. “It went right up my arm.”
Kira carefully examined the bracelet which had grown almost too hot to touch. She covered it with her other hand, pressing her palm to it, but nothing happened. She looked down at the ruby where it lay in her lap. Altaria said the heart pendent turned up the volume of their thoughts. Maybe the ruby did the same thing, increasing whatever powers the person had.
Kira picked up the ruby with her right hand and gripped it firmly, even though the pain in her broken finger made it difficult. A few seconds passed before heat began to radiate from the ruby and into her wrist. She watched as the glowing strand of silver came to life. It tightened around her wrist until the circulation in Kira’s fingers was lost, making her fingers tingle. Kira thought it would cut her hand off, so opened her palm, hoping less pressure on the stone would loosen the Crystor. Instead, the tiny strand of silver broke into a thin long line and coiled around the ruby like a snake, swirling around in her palm until the outside ends began to unravel. It circled the ruby several times, then wound itself around her broken finger, healing it instantly. As it slid back into her palm it found its brilliant silver sheen.
Ussay jumped to her feet and started backing out of the room. Ussay’s eyes widened with fear as she put a trembling hand over her mouth.
“Ussay, it’s all right.” Kira reached for her with her free hand, but Ussay didn’t stop. She kept backing away with a dazed look on her face.
“Ussay!” Kira yelled.
Ussay jumped at the sound of Kira’s voice, but it only hastened her escape. Kira clapped her fingers around the Crystor and ruby, then took off toward the stairs. By the time she reached Ussay she was half way to the back of the bookcase leading to Octavion’s chambers. Kira grabbed the back of her dress and pulled her to the ground.
“Stop,” Kira pleaded. “Let me explain. It won’t hurt you.”
Ussay tried to push her away. “It is evil,” she cried. “I have never seen such magic. Objects do not have a life of their own, they must have a Jayde to control them.”
“Ussay, please trust me. I promise it won’t hurt you.”
Ussay pulled away and climbed two more steps before sitting with her back against the wall. “You can explain, but do not touch me.”
“All right. Just don’t run, okay?”
Ussay nodded.
“Remember how bruised and swollen my hand was where I broke my finger?”
“Yes,” Ussay said cautiously.
Kira still had the Crystor securely gripped in her fist, so she turned her hand over so Ussay could see her knuckles. The swelling had completely gone and so had the bruise.
Ussay gasped, moving up one more step.
“It’s okay. Octavion gave me this bracelet so I could save Lydia’s life. It gives me the power to heal. It has no evil in it, only good.”
Ussay seemed to relax, but the fear in her face remained. “Why did it move by itself?”
“It’s okay. It did that before. It’s just. . not supposed to work anymore.” Kira stood and offered her free hand. “You can leave if you want, but if you stay I have to warn you, I want to try something and you won’t like it.”
“Will it hurt?”
Kira smiled. “It won’t hurt you,” she teased.
Ussay took Kira’s hand and followed her down the stairs and back to the bench. Kira sat, but Ussay remained standing.
“You’re not gonna run again are you?” Kira asked, trying to lighten the mood.
“No.” Ussay wrapped her arms around herself and looked like she might take off any second.
Kira tried to remember the level of concentration it took to heal and put all that energy into the palm of her hand. If she could somehow connect with it-connect with Lydia-maybe it would find its place around her wrist and give her powers back. The feeling it left inside her when it released her was like sucking an egg from its shell, leaving her hollow and empty. She took one last look at the ruby and silver thread in her hand, pressed her fingers firmly around them and closed her eyes.
The instant she channeled her energy toward her hand, the Crystor began to shift. Kira moved her fingers out of the way to give it more room, but continued willing it to live. As the coldness faded and it started to burn, she opened her eyes. She watched as it changed from red to blue, finally radiating a celestial white glow that spilled out into the room. The end eagerly searched for its mate. First it went around her thumb, but didn’t stay there. When it slid across her palm and brushed the inside of her wrist, the entire chain rose up out of her hand, wrapped itself around her wrist and sealed its ends together.
Ussay took a step back, but didn’t run. “Did it hurt?” she whispered.
Kira felt the rush of its power creep up her arm-much stronger and more intense than the first time.
“Not yet, but it’s coming.”
Kira stopped concentrating on giving it life and tried to stay focused on the changes in her body. What took days to bring her to her maximum stature in her world, happened so quickly it sent her to her knees. The pain was excruciating. Every muscle in her body swelled and her joints burned. Even the pores of her skin seemed to breathe new life into her flesh. She’d seen Octavion transform, watching his back and arms explode into bulging muscles, but she never gave a moment’s thought to it causing him pain.
Ussay dropped to her knees beside Kira and tried to help her up, but she pushed her away.
“Not yet,” Kira managed. She looked up to find Ussay’s face, contorted in fear.
“Kira, your eyes. . and your face.” Ussay scooted back and stood.
“I know, Ussay. Please, don’t. . run.”
Kira’s eyes burned cold and she felt the broken and damaged tissues from the cut on her cheek heal. Before, the Crystor took its time exploring her inner strengths, using it to provide her what she needed to survive. Now it knew her. It recognized every minute detail of her body, spirit and mind, and she welcomed it.
When the pain began to diminish, a rush of extreme euphoria took its place. Its attack on her senses lifted her to her feet. The smells and sounds in the room surrounded her, tormenting her sanity. She couldn’t take in enough air to satisfy her craving for more. She’d never felt more alive.