Book of One 04: A Child of Fire Read Online Free PDF

Give me the water!"
    "Do you wish to die or do you wish to live?" Kasha repeated, and her eyes flashed golden for a brief moment.
    Lexi stopped thrashing and stared at her, defiant at first, but her aggression began to fade and her lips quivered. She slumped back onto the bed and looked away from Kasha's eyes and stared up at the ceiling.
    "I don't know," she said, and blue liquid tears gathered in the corners of her eyes and ran slowly down the sides of her face.
    "That is an honest answer," Kasha said and she lifted her hand from Lexi's chest. He touched her finger to one of Lexi's tears and tasted it then spat on the floor as she turned to Aaron and Tash, who were looking on. "This is a very powerful magic, see how the poison runs from her." She looked back to Lexi. "There is much of it within her, too much, I fear, for her to expel and she will die if the poison is not taken from her body."
    "How?" Aaron asked. "The healers said they could do no more. Do you know of another way?"
    "I do," Kasha said, tasting the poison tears that lingered on her tongue. "It is possible but I am unable to do such at thing at this moment, but perhaps there is another way."
    "If there is, then it is worth trying, " Aaron said.
    "It is not without risk," Kasha told him. "You have magic, that much I can see, and you have enough knowledge to work with lines of power the mages use so it is possible that I might teach you this. It will mean taking some of the poison into you, but you are strong, and you may be able to burn it with your fire, though you must be careful not to use too much of your power."
    "Show me," Aaron said.
    "Come, then," Kasha said. "Rest your hand upon mine."
    Aaron did as she asked and Kasha placed her hand upon Lexi's chest once again. Aaron was surprised to feel the hum of power in Kasha's hand, something he had not felt when they had been together in Forsina. Kasha was a greater mystery that he had imagined and he wondered what else about her remained hidden beneath her surface.
    "What do I do now?" Aaron asked.
    "I will draw the poison into my hand and you will draw it into yours. It is an elemental power of water, which you possess though I can see you have little experience with it. It is overpowered by the elemental fire that burns very brightly within you, so you must try to look past the flames and find that power instead." Kasha thought about how best to explain. "Think of the steam that rises from a kettle or a boiling pot that has already been moved away from the fire. Feel the heat of the water as it becomes one with the air. Now, do you feel the warmth of my hand, the blood in my veins, the sweat that rises from my skin?"
    Aaron had closed his eyes and he listened to Kasha's words, letting the sound of her voice guide him as he reached out with his thoughts and his power, feeling the raging fire flare within him, but looking past it, letting it subside, focusing on the things she described.
    "I feel it," Aaron told her.
    "Now take the water that has risen from my skin and now wets the palm of your hand and allow it to flow into you. Draw it in gently."
    Aaron focused on her hand and felt the wetness that had gathered between them and he drew upon his power, opening a flow that pulled her sweat into the skin of his palm.
    "Gently," Kasha said in a low voice. Aaron realized he was pulling too hard and tasted the iron of her blood as his power drew more than just water from her skin. He slowed his breathing and let go of all but a little of his power. "That is better."
    "Did I hurt you?" Aaron asked.
    "Only a little and I can heal that very easily. Shall we continue?"
    "Yes," Aaron said.
    "It may be confusing when the poison enters you. You will feel its effects. It will affect your thoughts and it will make you want it. Remain steady and calm."
    "I will," Aaron said.
    "Then let it flow a little more."
    Aaron increased his power slightly and tasted a hint of iron again and he backed it off a touch, realizing that