Playing With Fire (Power of Four Book 2) by SF Mazhar

already lost too much.”
    Kate didn’t say anything. She waited until her friend looked back at her. “Where did you go?”
    “Everywhere,” Jane said. “Lived almost ten years going from city to city before I gathered the nerve to come back here.”
    Kate’s eyes widened. “Ten years?”
    “I wasn’t the only one,” Jane said. “The attack on Marwa left everyone shaken. If the City of the Elementals wasn’t safe then what city was?” She shook her head slowly, eyes brimming with tears. “You don’t know what it was like after the attack. The entire city emptied. No one wanted to stay in Marwa. This place was like a ghost town. For years, the city lay in ruins, abandoned, not a soul living here. Everyone was terrified the Gate was defective, that it would allow more demons in, so they refused to come back. Even Neriah didn’t return until five, maybe six years later.”
    Kate was surprised but she didn’t say anything.
    “When Neriah came back, a small community followed him,” Jane continued. “I think they felt...secure with Neriah here.” She quietened for a moment. “But Neriah didn’t stay. He couldn’t. He began moving from city to city, always on the move. Some say he did that to avoid being tracked, others just assumed he needed to travel from one place to another to keep on top of things.” She paused before swallowing heavily. “But I know why. He left Marwa because he couldn’t live here, not with all the memories–” She broke off suddenly, taking in a breath to stop the tears. “He changed, Kate.” Her voice quivered. “Neriah changed.”
    “He had to,” Kate said quietly. “He was the only Elemental of his generation left in this realm.” She met Jane’s eyes. “He had to change, so he could take control.”
    The guilt was heavy and noticeable but Jane didn’t say anything. Instead, she wiped at her cheeks and sniffed, turning to look at Aaron in the kitchen again. She watched him silently for a moment before smiling.
    “He seems like a lovely boy,” she said. “He looks so much like Chris.”
    Kate smiled at the sight of Aaron helping Sam with the dishes.
    “What did you name him?” Jane asked.
    Kate paused before replying quietly, “Aaron.” She had to force her voice steady. “I named him Aaron.”
    Jane didn’t say anything but looked at Kate with wide eyes, which were filling fast with tears. Kate didn’t blame her. She was finding it difficult to keep them out of her eyes too.
    ***
    Jane left shortly after Aaron had given up on eavesdropping and went upstairs to his new room. It was a big room, with a double bed and a four-door wardrobe against one wall. A small but fancy glass chandelier hung from the ceiling. But the room, much like the rest of the house, was in dire need of a good clean and Aaron had only half-heartedly attempted to clear away the dust and filth. In Salvador, he had shared a tiny room with Sam and Rose. Here there were so many rooms they got one each, but Aaron found himself wishing he was back in that small room with three beds crammed inside. At least he’d got to talk with his best friends there. He could always go to Sam or Rose’s room but he was holding back. He wanted to see if they would come to him first. If they wanted to see him too.
    Eventually, Aaron gave up. He opened his door and took one step when two doors simultaneously opened, and Sam and Rose walked into the hallway. They stopped to stare at each other. Small, awkward smiles came to all three.
    “I was just coming to see you,” Sam said to Aaron.
    “Same here,” Aaron said.
    Rose stepped towards Aaron. “I was coming to say sorry,” she started. “About before.”
    Aaron shook his head with a smile. “Already forgotten.”
    Rose smiled back at him.
    Sam looked between the two. “What am I missing?”
    “Nothing,” Aaron said.
    A knock sounded on the front door again. All three glanced to the stairs.
    “How many friends does your mum have?” Sam