Free Dead Wrath by T. G. Ayer Page A

screen. "There's plenty here to help us get a head start. I'll go through the files and see what intel we have so far that matches up with any of these activities. And I'll make extra copies and get things in order to print as soon as we get to New York HQ."
    "Yeah. Could we figure out a way to get a printer working here? Would make things so much easier," I said. Hearing the longing in my voice, I had to laugh.
    Joshua snorted. "Now you are asking for way too much, woman."
    I giggled at that and settled down to sort out files in order. A few minutes later, both Joshua and I suddenly looked up at each other, eyebrows raised. Voices traveled down the hallway, the sounds of two people arguing loudly hard to miss. We both watched the doorway, curious to see if the squabblers would enter our room. And they did. In the form of Aidan and his sister Enya.
    "What's going on, you two?" I asked, unsure whether to be worried or amused, or if I should even get involved. But the situation looked in need of urgent defusing. Enya's face was red, looking worse considering her pallid coloring. Aidan's face was dark with anger, a vein throbbing at his temple.
    "Could you please tell her she's being ridiculous?" Aidan pointed a thumb at his sister.
    "Well, if you could tell me what she's being ridiculous about, I could then make a decision." I smiled and tried to prevent myself from laughing. It was seriously funny watching the two siblings have a spat, and it reminded me we were all still so young. I myself would be turning eighteen in a few months, and I was sure Enya was a good few years younger. Now she looked like a furious tiger.
    She took a deep breath, gave her brother a dangerous glare, and said, "I want to join you. Be part of the missions. I know I can be an asset to the war." She spoke it all in one breath, then ended, suddenly uncomfortable.
    I looked at Aidan and he seemed to calm down when he saw that I too thought her plan was ridiculous. I took a small breath and said, "Enya, this is a war we are fighting. It's dangerous. You aren't trained to fight." I shook my head as I met her frustrated gaze, feeling a little sorry for her.
    "You have no idea what I can do," she said angrily, then threw another furious glare at her brother, as if my response were his fault.
    "Then tell us and we can make a final decision, because right now," I said gently, "I don't think I can allow you to come to the front lines. You're so fragile. I really don't want to be held responsible if you get hurt, or worse." I didn't use the word die, but she didn't care what I was saying or what I meant.
    She nodded firmly. "Fine. I've been practicing. Just watch. And keep away." She gave her brother one last glare, as if to say, Eat that , or whatever equivalent phrase was popular these days.
    I watched and couldn't prevent my eyebrows from rising. Aidan watched her too, the amused expression on his face quite funny. Joshua looked on, simply curious.
    Enya stood very still, then put her palms together and closed her eyes.
    And we were all hit by a sudden blast of heat.
    I blinked, staring hard at her, and I was amazed to see her entire body had turned white as ash. That was it. She was Einmyria, goddess of ashes, and now she showed us how hot ash could be. I glanced at Aidan and saw the stunned look on his face. All his arguments were laid to ash in that moment and even he knew it. She was powerful, had accessed her power so quickly, and seemed hardly affected by it.
    She took a breath and then the heat was gone. "See?" She looked around at all the watching faces.
    "And pray tell, how is super heat supposed to help us in our mission?" asked Aidan. Naturally, he had to speak before he thought.
    "Er, well, we could use her to melt anything from locks to power cables to bombs?" offered Joshua, and from his cringing expression, I could see he knew his opinion would not be welcome. At least on Aidan's part.
    As expected, Aidan shot him a dangerous look, and Joshua