Maxon (5 page)

“They'll never believe that. They'd rather not have a monarkki than get one who's not qualified.” I shake my head. “Not that I blame them. I haven't been training for that long. The other apprentices were selected at birth. They've been working for this all their lives.”

Fisk's face turns gentle. “You have a solid chance at being chosen. I wouldn't be here if it were otherwise.” He steps closer, and I know that heated gleam in his eyes. He's moving in for a kiss.

Crap, I don't need this right now.

A low hum fills the air, interrupting the moment. I should feel relief at having Fisk's kiss derailed, but I don't. Instead, dread weighs heavily on my spine. I'd know that humming noise anywhere. It's the unmistakable sound of a portal opening, which is how ghouls zap themselves around the after-realms.

My breath hitches.
This is it.
Walker's coming to take me to Namare.

A door-shaped hole appears at the water's edge. Through it steps a tall ghoul in flowing coal-dark robes. He has angular features, short hair, and sideburns. His all-black eyes shimmer with sympathy as he says four words that rock my world.

“Lianna, it is time.”

Lianna

Walker and I stumble out of his portal and onto a snow-covered plateau high up on a mountainside. A thin layer of clouds hovers below us. The air is crisp, ice-cold, and stings my lungs with every breath. I start to walk forward, but Walker grabs my upper arm.

“Watch out.” He points to the ground.

I look down and yow, that was close. I almost stumbled into a deep crevasse. This small clearing is riddled with them. I'm not an elemental, so falling down one of these would've killed me.

“Thanks, Walker.”

“All in a day's work,” he says with a smile. “This way.”

Taking far more cautious steps, I follow Walker toward what looks like a sheet of frozen ice. After all my years of training, I can tell elemental magic a mile away. This thing is no icefall; it's an elemental shield, a sort of force field that monarkki create to keep everyone else out, even other elements.

Namare must be inside along with the rest of the apprentices. My temples tighten with a feeling somewhere between sadness and fear.

“This is where I leave you,” Walker says. “I'll see you soon.”

I open my mouth and try to say goodbye. Nothing comes out. Walker appeared out of nowhere and became my lifeline, literally. He hounded Namare, saying that Verus, the Queen of the Angels, had demanded that he help me out. Verus is also an oracle, so her request should've easily convinced Namare to loosen her choke-hold rule about ‘no outsiders.' It didn't. Walker followed us around for a year before Namare would even talk to him.

Since saying goodbye isn't happening, I opt for a half-smile. At this point, it's the best I can manage.

“You'll do well.” Walker wraps me in a deep hug. “This isn't my first time at this kind of challenge, you know. I watched over Myla for years before she came into her powers.”

“So they tell me.”

Myla is the Great Scala, the only being who can move mortal souls to Heaven or Hell. She's also Queen of the thrax and a big celebrity in our world. Even in our isolated cabin in the middle of nowhere, my parents told me stories about her family.

Walker grips my hands in his. “You remind me of Myla, not a little.”

“Is that good?”

“Ah, it's the best.”

“Thank you, Walker. For everything.” I stop myself before I get really mushy. “Now, get out of here already.”

Walker winks, opens a portal, and disappears into it. Once he's gone, I turn to face the ice shield. On the other side of this frozen barrier, Namare waits for me. I know I'm everyone's last choice to take over as monarkki, so it'll be my job to watch her powers go to someone else. After that, she'll die. A shudder of sadness runs down my rib cage.

Don't think about that now. Just be here for Namare.

Steeling my shoulders, I walk straight through the wall of ice. Inside, Namare lies on the snow-covered ground, her body curled into a fetal position. Like always, her skin and hair are in varying shades of blue, only now, there's a grayish tinge mixed in. That means she's losing her life force. Even her once-round form looks slight and frail in her long blue robes. My eyes sting with emotion. She's the last family I have.

“Come here, child,” whispers Namare.

I kneel down beside her. “How can I be of service?”

She offers me a sad smile. “You lived. You're here. That's enough for now.”

The other four apprentices stand nearby in their robes, looking very official and prepared. Suddenly, I'm feeling rather awkward in my jeans and T-shirt.

“Where are the Water Valta?” I ask.

“Only my apprentices may be present for the transfer of power,” says Namare. “The Water Valta will appear shortly afterward.” She gestures to the other apprentices. “Join the line.”

Nodding, I rise to my feet and walk toward the other apprentices. We exchange sympathetic glances, except for the guy we call Magic Marcus. He's a wiz with the Kristalli and a favorite of the Water Valta. Everyone knows he'll be Namare's pick as successor. Judging by the satisfied look on his face, he knows it too.

Namare hoists herself up on her elbow. The Kristalli of Water glitters about her head as a crown. Namare snaps her fingers and the Kristalli disappears from her brow, only to reappear in her hand as a dagger-shaped stone.

My breath catches. She's about to transfer power.

“You've all been faithful apprentices,” says Namare. “I thank you for your diligence and service.” With pained movements, she forces herself to sit fully upright. “Today, I will transfer my elemental powers to one of you using this Kristalli.” She inhales a shaky breath. “In the end, there was only one candidate for me.”

All the apprentices stiffen their stances. My heartbeat skyrockets. Some of these folks have waited a lifetime for this moment. Namare inspects each of us in turn. When she speaks, her voice is unwavering, intense, and full of conviction.

“I choose Lianna.”

Shock tingles across my skin.
I didn't hear that right.

“Did you say Lianna?” asks Marcus.

“That I did,” replies Namare. “You're too full of ambition to make a true leader. When it's done right, ruling is about service, not self-aggrandizement.”

“But, great mother—” begins Marcus.

Namare's skin flares blue with anger. “Don't question me. Lianna has more strength than all of you combined. She lived through things you can't imagine under—” she stops herself before she says ‘Silas.' She knows I don't like advertising that part of my life.

“Lianna is strong,” says Namare simply. “That's all that matters.”

Marcus makes a point of stretching his arms over his head. The guy is ripped.

“Not that kind of strength, Marcus,” snaps Namare. “If you can't respect my wishes, I'll ask you to leave.”

Marcus bows his head. “Yes, great mother.”

Namare pats the stretch of snow by her side. “Come here, Lianna.”

I sit down beside her and wait. My mind scans through what I know happens at this moment. It isn't much. There's one Kristalli for Water. It will act as a conduit to transfer Namare's powers to me. Over the years, I've practiced that transfer. Beyond that, I've no idea what to expect.

I take Namare's hand in mine. Her skin feels papery and cold.

“What do you need me to do?” I ask.

“First, a favor.” Her breathing comes in rough wheezes, and my heart cracks with grief.

“Anything, Namare.”

“Pass a message to Walker for me. Tell him that Verus's prophecy about you was right. You were meant to become the next Monarkki of Water, and I am grateful that he found me and offered his help. Please give him my deepest thanks.”

“I will.” I blink away tears.

This is really happening. Namare's dying, and I'm taking her powers.
I say the words over and over in my mind. They still don't seem possible.

“Thank you.” Namare weakly raises her right hand. “Now, it is time.” The Kristalli remains tightly gripped in her fist. The stone is dark; Namare hasn't placed any of her elemental power inside it. She offers me the other side to hold. “Take it, child.”

I set my hand on the opposite side.

“There's no power in the Kristalli yet.” Namare's gaze finds mine. “Soon, I'll release elemental energy into the stone. Then, it will enter you.” Her voice lowers with sympathy. “There will be pain.”

“How much?”

“Many apprentices fail this final test.”

I know what that means. They implode into water puddles. I shake my head. This is so crazy. There hasn't been a new monarkki in ages. Not water, earth, or fire. Most apprentices were killed by Zephyr before they got anywhere near the stage that I'm at now. And the few who made it? Kaboom.

Namare gently squeezes my hand. “You don't have to become the monarkki, Lianna. Even now, it is your choice.”

I straighten my shoulders. Namare asked me to do this, so I'll try my best.

“Thank you for the choice, Namare. I want to do this.”

A small smile rounds her mouth. “Very well.” Namare stares at the darkened Kristalli. “I thought we had years left together. There's still so much I need to tell you.” More blue light leaches from her skin. She looks pale gray. “Now, there is no more time. Are you ready, child?”

“Yes.”

That's a total lie.
I'm about to pee my pants in terror. I haven't felt this scared since my last nightmare about Silas.

“Open your mind,” whispers Namare. “The Kristalli contains the memories of one of the original elements, what we call the Etevin. The experiences of the Etevin of Water will now become your history.”

I never learned exactly what happens during the transfer, but I didn't expect memories to be part of it. Still, I suppose it makes sense.

The Kristalli turns a searing bright shade of sea blue. Prongs of stone poke into my skin, transferring energy from Namare to me.

Instantly, every particle in my body feels like it's bursting with energy and life. As more power moves into my soul, my memories merge with someone else's—the Etevin of Water. His experiences flicker through my mind, combining with my own.

It is the beginning of time. I float above the Earth. The planet is an empty thing, dead and cold. Slowly, the tendrils of my liquid thought wind through these vast and empty lands. I erode, cascade, and create. Eons pass as I wear down mountains and exhale atmospheres. I shape vast oceans and tiny raindrops. I divide land from shore.

More time passes. The world grows livable. My liquid journey changes. Rocks brush my belly as I tumble off cliff-sides. Evaporation tickles my spine while I stretch ocean-wide. Flowers soothe me as I rain down on their little petals.

For ages uncounted, the planet remains livable and yet empty. No other consciousness exists outside myself and the other Etevin of Fire, Earth, and Air. Our domains lie limitless and silent.

That is not to last.

Suddenly, life stirs within me. Single cells scurry about in a jumbled rush. From the very start, those tiny clusters sum and summon new consciousness. Millennia pass and their awareness grows. The realms form about them and for them. Soon, I stream through Earth as well as Purgatory, Heaven, Hell, and the Dark Lands. These small conscious creatures call louder and grow larger until they become human, elemental, angel, ghoul, and demon.

And then, these minds begin to suffer. My waters transform into enough tears to fill an ocean of sorrow. I want to ease their agony, yet I know so little of mortal lives. To help them, my energy must be wielded by one of their own. A mortal must join with an elemental. We Etevin choose thrax, hoping their angel blood will give them wisdom. The Tärkein are born, the only race with human, angel, and elemental bloodlines. They will accept our powers.

I enter into an agreement with my fellow Etevin. We create four Kristalli, one for every element. These stones will transfer our abilities to four Tärkein, transforming them into four monarkki. And in turn, those monarkki will create peace.

New visions overtake my mind's eye. I see the resting place of each Kristalli. The Kristalli of Air sits on Zephyr's head as a crown. A fierce, copper-skinned dragon guards the red Kristalli of Fire. An old man made of brown gemstones clasps the Kristalli of Earth.

The memory implants stop and I return to the present. With that, I become aware of only one thing.

Pain.

Agony rips through me as more elemental power presses inside my soul. I'm crammed with seas and clouds, calm pools and waterfalls, veins and raindrops. The hurt seems to go on forever, as does the energy that I gain. Strength flows into my body from the oceans. Resilience rains down into me from the skies. Firmness of purpose enters my mind from glass-blue glaciers.

I become a water elemental.

The torment ends as quickly as it began. I still grasp the Kristalli. Now, the stone is almost dark. The prongs that dug into my skin are gone. The Kristalli is smooth once more. Beside me, Namare lies on her back, panting for breath. The last bit of light disappears from the stone.

Namare waves her hand. With that, the Kristalli of Water disappears.

“The stone's use is over,” whispers Namare, her voice hoarse. “I have sent it away for safekeeping.” Based on my implanted memories, I know exactly where that is: Inside a vault at the Water Palace.

A new kind of hurt rolls through me. Suddenly, I can sense the pain of all water elementals. There are bodies in need of healing. Rivers that require cleansing. Clouds that must give rain. I have work to do. Every inch of me aches to get started.

I grip Namare's hand. “They need my help.”