A Love of Ice and Fire: Fire and Ice, #1

By Haimi Snown

Discover a riveting tale of power, love, and loyalties on a fantasy world, which will keep you wide awake.

In a world dominated by powerful Ergys, Anahy is an insignificant Cocktail, a fusion of despised fire-wielding beings and powerless Nulls.

Struggling to fit into either circle, her limited energy falls short for the former while proving excessive for the latter.

Hoping to discover her place of belonging, Anahy seeks refuge on the frosty island of Held where she meets a group of powerful Ergys. Yet, as the web of deceit unravels, she discovers an unsettling truth with Sasha at its core. That stubborn and enigmatic Ergy is her ultimate nemesis.

Can a mere Cocktail challenge the formidable powers of the Ergys?

Will she be able to enjoy a love born of disappointment?

And can she find freedom within the confines of an ice-bound prison?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadPress
• Release date: Feb 13, 2024
• ISBN: 9781667469508

Book preview

Prologue

Fire is killed by water, but water can also ignite.

A Few Months Later

The moon had ceased to accompany her. Luck had abandoned her. Every step was a challenge. The heels of her shoes pierced the frozen snow covering the ground. Spruces became obstacles; branches attempted to halt her progress. Her breath set the air ablaze, liquefying it, and the cold turned it into a rain of icy drops that slapped her face, mixing with her tears. She had lost her jacket, but she didn't need it; her skin was on fire.

She abruptly stopped and listened intently.

I just wanted a normal life. How did I end up here?

She screamed silently, biting her fist to suppress any sound. She couldn't hear any footsteps behind her, but that didn't mean he wasn't following her. He could move without leaving a trace, could become a shadow, could—

I hate you! she howled, spinning in circles. Can you hear me? I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!

A flash of light to her right made her heart constrict. She didn't wait to see what it was. Hastily, she struggled with the straps of her shoes, flung one without looking, grabbed the other, and started running again.

Stop, the command was a whisper carried to her by the wings of the wind.

She continued running, shaking her head in denial. She didn't know if he could see her; she didn't know how close he was, but she wasn't going to listen. She wouldn't stop.

The branches immobilized her arms; spruce needles pierced her skin, instantly bursting into flames. Her heels left craters in the snow, and behind her, a trail of hell was formed. The forest was on fire. Her heart skipped with every crackle and pop. The smoke was thick and mentholated, swallowing her with every breath.

Please, stop. Stop now or it will be too late. The sound came from all directions, disorienting her.

She halted and tried to see through the darkness, looking around in an attempt to find an escape.

There isn't one, she sobbed inwardly. Despair overcame her. Her knees gave way, and she fell face-first. The mark on the back of her neck burned, warning her of imminent danger.

She felt it before she saw him. The air grew heavy, and multicolored sparks twisted in a dizzying spiral until they took his form.

Then, there was only silence, so sharp that her ears rang. She could see the flames; she knew she should hear the wood crackling, but she heard nothing except the deafening sound of her heart and her ragged breath.

Don't come closer, she growled on her knees, using her shoe as a weapon with the heel outward.

She tried to control her tears and ignore the mocking, demonic voice that screamed above coherent thoughts. She couldn't stop him with a heel. Nothing could stop him.

A few meters away, he raised his palms.

I won't come closer if that's what you wish. But you must stop. Right now. You'll be trapped if you go further.

Bitter laughter erupted from her throat, her voice sharp as she spoke.

Why should I believe you? You lied to me from the second I met you.

I was trying to protect you. He didn't move, only his eyes were restless, scanning over her, to the sides and behind. His voice sounded tired but held the thin rasp of his usual hypnotic tone.

You were trying to protect yourself, she spat out, struggling to rise. She had to get away from this place. She had to get away from all of them.

I care about you, he said, locking his gaze with hers.

It felt like seeing the afterlife light. The warm feeling, the shift in gravity. She wanted to let go, to drift away.

She didn't allow it. Her heart cracked. Her energy, which had calmed at the moment of the fall, surged again, rushing through her veins as if she had awakened a nest of fire serpents.

She swallowed hard and took two steps back.

No, she shook her head, but couldn't dispel the tears clouding her vision. I don't believe you.

We can do this, he entwined his fingers at the nape of her neck, never breaking eye contact. Together, we can handle everything. I promise you. Urgency laced his voice and his gaze shimmered with a mix of desperation and annoyance.

Liar! she shouted, threatening him with her heel. You lied to everyone! I asked you, and you denied it! I offered my help! Who are you? What are you? How can it be—? She stopped. You know what? I don't care.

Stop! he yelled. You know about the fence protecting the Heart. It's right behind you. Don't take another step back, he pleaded.

She wanted to listen. She wanted to believe him. She clutched her head in her hands and closed her eyes, attempting to use logic. Simultaneously with the conversation, alien thoughts attacked her mind, hysterical screams mingling with her own ideas until she couldn't distinguish which ones belonged to her.

What should I choose? she screamed. What were your plans with me? Whose side are you on? She waved her hand frantically, the movement unbalancing her.

No! his growl reached her ears, distorted as if the sound had been suspended in space and time.

Her body arched back, and heavy waves enveloped her like a blanket pulling and holding her simultaneously. For an eternal second, the energy of the place kept her in the same position, back arched, hands raised, head tilted near her shoulder. She heard a new whispered no that triggered her fall. The ice shattered around her as her knees hit the ground. Contact with the ground brought pain. Millions of icy splinters pierced her skin. She tried to move, but it was as if the air had become viscous, clinging to her limbs. Her fingers petrified, turned blue, and the shoe slipped off. She gasped, and the needles penetrated her throat, making their way down inside her body. She could count her heartbeats and feel them weaken.

She noticed he was approaching because each long stride resonated like thunder. She saw him bring his hands to his face as if he wanted to hide, stop seeing her.

What's happening to me? She didn't know if the words had come out, although she believed her lips had moved.

He crouched to touch her cheek, but she didn't feel the touch, the weight of his fingers. Cold engulfed her from the inside. She felt her organs freezing, then petrifying. She sought his gaze but couldn't calm herself seeing terror harden his beautiful features.

Help me, she pleaded before darkness descended upon her.

CHAPTER 1:

Madelyne Brand entered the living room, bringing with her the smile she used on her good days.

Your fridge stores wind, and the cabinets collect dust. I made a list of what's needed; someone has to go out to buy groceries.

Sasha continued pressing the buttons on the remote without bothering to indicate that he had seen or heard her.

I said something, the woman insisted when she didn't receive a response.

Sasha! a shout came from upstairs, from Raisa's room.

No, he grumbled without raising his voice. I bought ice cream three days ago.

And I bought water yesterday, Blaze replied in his usual calm tone. With an expert move, he killed the 'Wise' character Sasha had chosen in the virtual exercise, breaking its neck. You're done. It's your turn, he commented, flashing a mocking grin.

I don't feel like going out, Sasha protested and threw the remote on the table where his feet were resting. Why is it called a day off? To do whatever I want. And I want to do absolutely nothing. He crossed his hands behind his head and let himself fall back against the sofa's backrest.

You're a gentleman, and you won't let the women do a man's job, Madelyne approached.

A gentleman? Blaze burst into laughter. The Creator would consider that an insult.

The Creator... Sasha muttered under his breath. When his gaze landed on his boss, he realized she didn't look well. Her tan skin was yellowish, her ebony black hair lacked luster, and deep lines framed her brown eyes. Has she contracted a virus? He wondered, not overly concerned. Madelyne was a high achiever; otherwise, he couldn't explain how a ꞌnullꞌ led one of the Ether factions. There are no weak women here. Raisa has more strength than a Knight of The Creator, Sasha commented, hoping the compliment would convince her to do the job for him.

I'm trying new hairstyles! the girl shouted from upstairs again. I can't do it until I make up my mind!

That’ll take the next century, Sasha muttered, realizing he had everyone against him and there was no escape.

Let's not turn such a simple matter into an argument, Madelyne intervened. The soothing tone she used was more cause for concern than her obvious discomfort. Zariah will come to inspect the facilities.

He never checked our fridge before, Blaze remarked.

But you never know. You are my responsibility, and living only on ice cream and water doesn't meet the contract. Would you like me to get fired for something stupid?

Sasha raised his eyebrows so high they nearly ended up on the wall behind him. His gaze spoke for itself: Seriously, are you asking me that?

Don't we have any cookies left? Blaze chuckled, a laugh that died down when Sasha responded with a look meant to freeze his blood.

I want two hours of insubordination, he demanded, deliberately challenging Madelyne. Whenever I want, he added.

Surprise made his boss stutter for a moment. You've just used your quota. Do you need it so quickly?

Sasha stood up and shrugged his shoulders while flexing his knees. I said whenever I want. Not now.

Fine, Madelyne snapped. I'll send you the list to your communicator. Come back as soon as possible. I won't leave before making sure everything is in order.

Please come back quickly, Blaze said, rolling his eyes behind the woman's back.

Sasha grabbed the car keys from the table.

You're forgetting your uniform jacket, Madelyne scolded, tossing the garment toward him.

I don't need it, he grumbled, turning just in time to catch it mid-air. Everyone on the island knows me; they know what I am.

Perhaps. But I don't want you to get sick. And rules are rules.

We don't get sick from the cold, he grumbled under his breath. And there are no rules on my day off.

He put on the red jacket with the mark of the Ergy printed on the back and flashed a feigned sweet smile at Madelyne. He received a wink and a smile. He knew she liked it when he obeyed her; it was a special event.

He went out onto the porch and lingered on the stairs for a while. The air temperature didn't surpass the freezing point of water. The sun shone with its dimmed light, as if it had caught a virus and had no strength left, yet his cells stirred, and energy tingled restlessly under his skin.

Soon, he whispered, getting into the car.

He switch on his Vidker, and after rolling a few meters at a snail's pace, he stopped to throw the jacket onto the passenger seat.

Rules are rules, he muttered under his breath, imitating Madelyne. Rules meant nothing to him.

He was an Ergy, with or without a uniform. He could produce energy, control it, and manipulate it. He could absorb it even from stones if he wanted. The nulls, those who were born without that gift, knew it well. Wearing a uniform in public as a warning of what he represented was the law, but on the island, it was unnecessary. After years of living in those lands, most of the inhabitants knew each other, and the number of nulls was insignificant. He went out for groceries, not to start a war.

He rolled down the window and floored the gas pedal, accelerating. The icy wind cut through his skin, and he felt the atoms of his body dancing with delight. He burst into laughter, enjoying the fleeting sensation of being free.

He slowed down, amused at the thought that he might as well stick his head out of the window with his tongue hanging out, resembling a dog. Then he realized that his situation didn't differ much from that of a dog; the leash in his case was imaginary, but existed. He was obligated to show up when called and fulfill what was asked of him. Remembering this didn't cheer him up, and his smile faded, replaced by a burdened expression. He turned on the music system and cranked up the volume to drown out his thoughts and continued the journey, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel to the rhythm.

Held Island had only one store where he was sure he would find all the products he needed. As he contemplated offering a portion of his gift to the car engine to make it fly, he passed by Stank Park. The image of the crowd kneeling on the frozen ground, their gazes lost in the statue of The Creator, sent shivers down his spine. The sculpture had been carved from golden marble. Considering that the material was as scarce as diamonds, the king of the Ergys, Eridanus, had spent a fortune to build it. Sasha supposed he had done it to give them hope.

The work was impressive. From the height of a five-story block, a pair of reddish eyes studied the horizon. Hair spilled down to her waist in an untamed mass. It was the portrait of a young woman; there were no images of The Creator when she was old. Sasha imagined that worshippers found solace in the determined line of her chin, slightly tilted upward. He acknowledged that her posture, one foot in front of the other, the bent knee as if poised to advance, and the raised hand seemingly ready to strike an invisible threat, achieved the purpose of conveying power. The Ergys were powerful, even when they didn't boast about it.

He respected the idea, but he wasn't a believer. The Creator was his mother. The first Ergy, the first being through whose veins, besides blood, energy flowed. It was neither fantasy nor legend; it was a fact. But millennia had passed since then. No prayer would bring her back to the world of the living, and no offering would help cure the virus that was killing them one by one. The statue reminded them of what they had been, not what they had become; 'Wises', that was the name some diplomat had chosen to call the sick Ergys. Unlike the nulls, they had been born with the gift but had lost it. Their energy core had extinguished, so they could no longer create energy to sustain themselves. Unfortunately, they didn't die easily, nor did they give up. They sought to absorb it from healthy Ergys while the latter raised prayers in hopes of finding a cure.

Sasha turned his head, looked ahead, and released an electric surge that sent the speedometer far above the allowed limit.

Once in the store, he briefly studied the list. He memorized what he needed to buy but headed first for his cravings, the ice cream freezers.

A tingling at the back of his neck made him come to a sudden halt and glance around. His mark ignited without warning, notifying him of the proximity of a potential conflict. He sniffed the air. The Ergys mark acted as a sort of radar that helped them find each other. The nulls meant nothing to them; they were cold bodies, flesh and bones. However, those like him left their own mark because the energy formed unique, specific bonds with each individual.

He looked around, feeling out the path of the heat wave. Anticipation made his heart race, and the tingling reached his fingertips, electrifying them. He was almost certain it wasn't someone he knew, and he knew they hadn't brought in anyone new, as he and his team were precisely in charge of the new arrivals. Besides, Madelyne wouldn't have missed the chance to celebrate such an achievement and would have informed them about the matter.

He scratched his neck where the mark branched out as it lit up, allowing it to guide him. He followed the path through the aisles until he reached the ice cream stand, instinctively knowing he would find what he was looking for there.

He saw her as she turned around, his brow furrowed with concern. She was a beautiful girl with blonde hair, her cheeks flushed. He stared at the area where her breasts met, as it was the same place where the energy concentrated. The core was quite strong, stronger than that of many Ergys. The rhythmic movement was guided by the young woman's heart. He could almost feel her power, the tingling of the molecules, the heat enveloping them.

But she wasn't one of them, Sasha understood, evaluating her without the possibility of error. She wasn't an Ergy, nor was she a Null. She was much more. She was precisely what they were looking for and was worth more than any jewel.

She was a Cocktail.

––––––––

CHAPTER 2:

Anahy clenched her fingers on the handle of the small cart as soon as she noticed the young man staring at her with an unsettling intensity. She had gone out to explore the island, and upon seeing the store, had wanted to try her luck and see if she could find ice cream. She thought it was unlikely that they would sell ice cream on a wintry island, but to her surprise, she found they were well-stocked.

The thought of ice cream vanished from her thoughts when she spotted the guy who had been staring at her. She studied him. He wasn't wearing the uniform of an Ergy, yet his haughty features didn't suggest he was an ordinary null either. He was handsome, so much so that she was mesmerized, determined to memorize his features and store them in the 'man of my dreams if I were a Null' drawer. She raised her head in an attempt to gather all the details because he was tall in an imposing way. He had honey-colored hair, but his eyebrows were much darker, almost black. The square jaw was undoubtedly a sign of a stubborn character, and his nose was straight with a thick bridge. She wanted to check the color of his eyes and then realized he was looking down and couldn't take his eyes off her chest.

What a big mistake! she thought, striking him off the list and creating a mental note to erase him from her memories. There was no way the man of her dreams would be a guy drooling over her breasts.

Hey, my eyes are up here! she snapped, but her warning didn't get a reaction from him. Pervert, she muttered, turning with the intention of walking away.

The fire waiting in her chest flared up with nerves, quickening her pace along with the beats of her heart.

Wha... what? He shook his head upon realizing she was disappearing from his view.

Anahy let out an indignant huff, looking at him over her shoulder.

I know my boobs look good, but I prefer to flaunt my brain. Apparently, you don't have much of that, she informed him, eyeing him up and down with a twist of her lips.

She hoped he had understood her contempt when he was momentarily bewildered, but he recovered and gave her a dazzling smile. A smile she hadn't asked for.

Hello. I'm Sasha, he said, extending his hand, and... she left it hanging.

Anahy tucked hers in the pockets of her green anorak, but she realized that the gesture might encourage the pervert. The zipper was only halfway up, and the snug T-shirt she wore underneath revealed the contour of her breasts. She covered herself up to her neck and folded her arms as an extra measure.

So? she inquired, raising both eyebrows.

At that moment, she hated that he had straight, perfectly horizontal eyebrows. They didn't arch when she raised them, failing to compose an indifferent expression. Moreover, crossing her arms inadvertently lifted her breasts, the very cause of the misunderstanding. Not achieving the invisibility she desired made her nervous. She felt the rhythm of the fire inside her growing more powerful.

Don't you have a name? he insisted.

Anahy bit her lower lip and looked around to assess her escape route.

I do. Are you interested?

No, he grumbled. I asked because I have nothing better to do. Following social norms, I introduced myself so that you could provide me with your name. Did you just fall from the sky?

Maybe I did. None of your business, she declared firmly, and tried to walk past him.

Wait, Sasha requested, grabbing her forearm.

Anahy's heart skipped a beat, and the energy inside her mimicked the movement. She pictured her gaze as that of a creature caught in the light emitted by Ergys when they transformed, but she couldn't keep pretending, concerned because the heat of her body had increased, and the fire was licking the upper half of her body.

What do you want? she asked, pulling her hand to free herself.

Sasha didn't allow it.

First, I need you to calm down, he said, looking around. It was a low-traffic hour, and they hadn't drawn anyone's attention. I don't intend to harass you.

Anahy struggled again. Something was wrong with him; she felt it deep in her gut. His smile was forced, and he behaved as if his life depended on knowing her. He was too insistent, and his gaze was so calculating that it gave her chills. Cold tongues traveled down her back while her torso charged under the weight of the energy. Fear unleashed the battle of her ailing cells.

That's what you're doing, she declared, unable to hide the tremor in her voice. Part of her brain told her she was in a public place and that she could get rid of him with a simple shout. Another part assured her that if he were an Ergy, she would be accused of provoking him.

I swear I'm not, he said. His voice sounded broken, and his gaze concealed a storm of emotions she didn't understand. At one moment, he was cold, the next, overly interested. His words and behavior didn't match, and Anahy started trembling, on the verge of losing control. She could feel the energy coursing through her body, knew the path that started from the center of her chest and shot off at a crossroads to her extremities. She also knew that once unleashed, she couldn't stop it. Just tell me your name, he insisted, not letting her go, maintaining his demanding attitude.

No!

Please... please calm down, he whispered.

Get off me, you bastard! Anahy shouted. Small centers of fire were already formed at the tips of her fingers.

Stupid! Sasha yelled, shoving her against the frozen goods fridge.

The blue of the cold made its way through the other molecules in her body, but it was too weak to deal with the intensity of her energy. Flames burst from her fingers as the boy covered her hands with his, joining them behind her back.

You are crazy? he snapped.

Anahy no longer heard him. Her chest rose and fell quickly and her gaze shot sparks. Flames burst from her palms and covered Sasha's hands. There was no way out, she understood. At this point, nothing could stop her.

She expected screams. She expected him to retreat burned, as it was what she did. Instead, Sasha pinned her against the fridge and covered her mouth with his.

She parted her lips in surprise. There was no room in her head for a carnal response, but somehow lust sneaked into her bloodstream. When he clasped her hands behind her lower back and pulled her against his torso, she forgot about the flames, that she could blow up the compound and a good part of the street. To her astonishment, she found herself returning his caresses. Timidly at first, her tongue trailing the corners of her lips, investigating the other kind of heat that seeped furtively inside her. That sensation was mixed with another that she could not identify. Cold currents engulfed her and made various parts of her body tingle with pleasure.

Relief.