by Megan Linski
“We’ll be staying overnight. It’s a long flight to the Academy,” I told her. Not to mention this big-ass ship doesn’t move very fast.
Sophia handed off her bag, and I gestured for her to follow me. The staircase was pushed back into the earth. The doors closed behind us and the Hozho rattled as it rose into the sky once more.
Sophia clung to the railing like a cat, shaking and terrified. I rolled my eyes this time.
“Come on.” I grabbed her arm again and hauled her after me, from the deck and into the inside of the ship. Sophia’s head went from this way to that as she tried to take in all of her surroundings and failed. The carpet was lush green with swirling designs, and the walls were wooden paneling with gold railings. We passed all sorts of shops, such as rare jewelers, clothing stores, and places that sold souvenirs and chocolates.
I think the Elementai with their Familiars is what impressed her the most. She had to be careful to avoid accidentally stepping on anyone in the crowded hallway. Elementai had birds on their shoulders, or small animals like rabbits or chinchillas in their arms. Dogs followed at the heels of their Elementai, while big cats like tigers and jaguars stuck together, yowling as if they were having some sort of conversation. Sophia had to press to the wall to let a moose with antlers that were as wide as the hallway pass by. Above us and imbedded in the ceiling was a huge inner tube filled with water. Water creatures, like manatees and otters, swam to where they needed to go.
Once, a unicorn shoved her out of the way. Sophia went to pet it, but I grabbed her hand.
“Don’t touch another person’s Familiar without permission,” I told her sharply. “It’s not allowed.”
Yep, like watching a toddler. I dragged her out of the hallway and onto the deck, where it was more quiet. All around us was the murky grey of the clouds and a touch of condensation, a hint of the Toaqua on board doing their job.
She gasped when I led her to the main lobby. A crystal chandelier hung from the center, opening up to a massive ballroom with stained-glass windows and a shiny wooden dance floor. A classical band played soft music while attendants checked in guests. I gave our passes to the Elementai at the front desk, who handed us two key cards.
Sophia wasn’t paying attention. She was twirling around on the dance floor like a princess in a fairy tale.
“It’s gorgeous,” Sophia said, looking around.
“It’s something.” I’d been riding the Hozho since I was a kid, but it still never failed to impress me. They were always adding more and more onto it. I was pretty sure there was a movie theater and an ice rink somewhere in here. Personally, I’d been fine with the waterpark. I’d been on this ship a million times over the years, and I still hadn’t seen everything.
The ship bobbed up and down like a real cruise liner would, only it rode the air currents instead of the waves. I was a Toaqua, so I was immune to getting seasick, but Sophia looked a little green.
“Come on. Let’s get something to eat,” I told her.
“But I just had dinner,” she protested.
“Yeah, well, good for you. I didn’t.” I led her to my favorite restaurant— known for native Hawkei food. It was late, so we didn’t have to wait for a table. We sat on the deck outside the restaurant and watched the tiny hydras and dolphins playing in the pool below. Their Elementai swam and chatted in the water. They were Toaqua, so they manipulated the water to splash each other, causing mini-waves.
Their happy screams made me remember what I’d lost.
“You want anything?” I asked, looking up from my menu.
She shook her head. “No, I’m fine.”
“Well, that’s not happening,” I muttered. She needed some food in her, to combat the sickness. Riding the Hozho on an empty stomach was a recipe for disaster, and I wasn’t going to be holding the trash can all night for this girl. I’d seen her plate when I’d gotten to her house— she’d barely eaten her dinner. She had to be starving by now.
The waiter came back, and I said, “I would like the salted salmon with a side of buffalo stew. She’ll have some acorn bread and ginger ale.”
“Liam, I don’t—”
I gave her a look, and she shut up.
I handed the waiter our menus. He came back with the acorn bread a moment later, and I nudged it toward Sophia. “Go on. It’ll help.”
She nibbled on it, and I noticed the green in her skin subsided. She ate half of the loaf, and I grinned. She’d lied about not being hungry.
When her ginger ale was half-gone, she put down the drink and sighed. “Thanks. I do feel a little better now.”
I smiled. “Good.”
By this time, my food was out. I was a gross eater, a true carnivore, but there was no shame in it. I really didn’t care if people thought I was nasty. I inhaled the soup and started tearing into the salmon with my bare hands seconds after, chewing loudly. There was sauce smeared on the side of my cheek. Sophia stared at me with a disgusted look on her face, her nose wrinkled and lip curled.
I was starving. That was the only thing worth sticking around for anymore, the food.
I put the plates aside and wiped my face. Sophia was giggling.
“What?” I asked, throwing the napkin down.
“Nothing.” The waiter took the plates away, and Sophia stared at me. “So, I’ve been meaning to ask you a few questions.”
Oh, goody. “Like what?”
“Well, for starters… how the heck is this thing flying around, and why hasn’t anyone noticed it yet? It’s a huge cruise ship!” she belted.
“The Yapluma use the power of Air to keep the ship flying and afloat, while Toaqua move clouds in front of the liner so it isn’t spotted by outsiders,” I informed her. “The Koigni keep the boiler room running, so the rudder has control over where the ship is directed. The Nivita help it land and build the staircase. We all work together to make the ship possible.”
“That’s weird. Amelia made it sound like the different Houses hated each other,” Sophia said.
She’s not wrong. “Amelia was exaggerating. Yapluma and Nivita are opposites as Air and Earth, but they get along fine. Like I said, we all need to work together to stay alive and underground.”
“I’m guessing Fire and Water don’t mix?” Sophia asked.
There was a rolling in my stomach, and I shook my head. “No. To be honest, it would be weird for people at school to see you, a Koigni, talking to me, a Toaqua, outside of class.”
She nodded glumly. “My House sounds terrible.”
I wanted to high-five her, but I gave a diplomatic answer instead, because it’s what my dad would expect me to do. “Our entire world is about unity. We need each other to keep our society running,” I informed her. “That’s why most of the Elementai live together, in the area around Orenda Academy.”
“I thought Elementai would be all over the world.” She sat upright.
“No. There are some Elementai spread around the earth and throughout the world governments. They’re put there to keep our world secret. But most of the Elementai live together in Northern California, which is where we’re going. It’s… unheard of for an Elementai to be away from the tribe like your family is.” I eyed her.
“Tribe?” she questioned.
“All Elementai come from one ancient tribe, the Hawkei. We still follow their customs and live in the same area they originated from long ago.”
“Like Native Americans?” She stared at me blankly.
“There are many indigenous societies. All of them have their own traditions and are very different. The Hawkei are no exception,” I said.
“I’ve never heard of the Hawkei before. They weren’t in any history books I read,” Sophia replied.
“We don’t let in outsiders for a reason. Keeping our culture and stories secret is one of the only reasons our people are still alive.” I crossed my arms.
“Amelia said something like that.” She looked away from me. “But… I notice all the Elementai look diffe
rent.”
I sighed. “We… that includes you… have married and intermingled with many different cultures throughout the centuries.”
“Oh.” She sipped at her latte again. It was taking her forever to finish it. It was getting on my nerves. She didn’t ask any more questions about the original tribe, which made it obvious she was the type of person that didn’t care about history or tradition.
Oh, we were going to get along splendidly. And by splendidly, I meant not at all.
“Are there other… magic people in the world?” Sophia asked. “Or are there just Elementai?”
“There are a few groups who have magical powers. But none of them can bond with animals like Elementai can, and their magic is different. Only we control the elements. Our kind doesn’t associate with them. We keep to ourselves.”
“I feel like I’m so far behind.” She dropped her eyes.
Tell me about it. “You’ll catch up, pawee. I promise.”
“Why do you keep calling me that?” Her eyebrows knitted together. “Pawee?”
“It means little child,” I told her, smirking. “Because you act like such a kid.”
“Thanks,” Sophia said sourly. It made me smile more.
What I didn’t tell her was there was another meaning behind the word, too. But that was a secret.
I stood. “It’s nearly midnight. We should really get to bed. The ship will come into port early tomorrow.”
Sophia followed me out of the restaurant. The traffic had started to die down, and many Elementai had returned to their cabins. We were basically alone out here.
I rounded a corner before Sophia did. I stopped in my tracks when I saw a large lioness prowling the deck, her eyes searching for something.
Naomi. I’d seen her, but she hadn’t seen me… yet.
I didn’t have anything to hide. I was bringing Sophia back, like Madame Doya wanted. There was no reason for her Familiar to bother me. Even so, just being around Naomi made me feel like a criminal— like I had something to hide.
Dad always said to follow my instincts. I wasn’t about to question them now. Before Sophia knew what was happening I latched onto her, then dragged her behind a collection of lifeboats with parachutes, hugging her tightly to my body.
Sophia screamed. I slapped my hand over her mouth and whispered, “Be quiet! Someone’s coming!”
Sophia’s eyes widened when she saw the cat, then she went silent. Naomi stopped in front of the lifeboats, then raised her nose to sniff the air. Her lip curled, and she made a rumbling noise of discontentment before she moved on, her steps heavy with intent.
I didn’t breathe until the lioness was gone. What was Naomi doing here? Madame Doya was at the school. Why were they separated?
Sophia kept quiet until I let her go. We stepped out from behind the lifeboats, and Sophia cried, “What the heck is that stupid cat doing here?”
“You know her?” My eyes widened.
“Yeah! That cat attacked me and my sister when we were hiking in the woods the other day,” Sophia explained.
“Was anyone with her?” I asked quickly. “A woman?”
“Not that I know of,” Sophia said slowly. “I just thought she was wild. She must be a Familiar. She seemed really focused on my sister.”
My mind raced. What the hell had Amelia Henley been up to while she was at school?
“That cat is Madame Doya’s Familiar,” I told her. “I’m assuming you don’t know her.”
“No. But Amelia mentioned her.” Sophia tapped her chin with a finger, thinking. “You mean to tell me that the lion who attacked me and Madame Doya are bonded?”
“Yes.”
“But… Amelia told me it was just a mountain lion,” she said quietly. “She should’ve known that was Madame Doya’s Familiar. She took classes with her.”
“Naomi is an African lioness, not a mountain. Amelia knows who she is. She lied to you.” I had to be blunt. Sophia deserved to know the truth.
“She lied? Again?” Sophia deflated. Her face went into a pitiful, upset look.
“There has to be a reason for it.” I struggled to recover, because even though I didn’t like Amelia, I knew Sophia loved her and I really didn’t want to get in the middle of family drama. “Maybe she was just trying to protect you.”
“Maybe.” Sophia chewed her lip. “But why not tell me the truth? What was she trying to protect me from?”
I hesitated. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
This wasn’t good. Madame Doya and Naomi couldn’t be separated. If they were apart, it meant that they were looking into something important. Amelia had been poking her nose in places where it didn’t belong, and I didn’t like it.
Sophia crossed her arms. “Why would Madame Doya send her Familiar after us?”
I could think of a few good reasons, but I shrugged and said, “I don’t know.”
She didn’t seem satisfied with my answer.
I led Sophia to her cabin. She used the keycard to get in. Inside, there were dozens of little Familiars making everything perfect. Hummingbirds plumped the pillows and straightened out the sheets, while monkeys and lemurs polished the mirrors and floors. They bowed to us as we came in before they scuttled away. I noticed that the Elders had spared no expense in Sophia’s room. It was one of the nicest suites on the ship, with a King sized bed, a mini-bar, a living-room area collected around a fireplace, and a window that showed the clouds sailing by. She even got a kitchen, something my suite didn’t have. Her duffel bag had been placed on the dresser. I noticed a pair of her pajamas had been neatly folded and set out for her immediate use.
She took a peek in the bathroom and squealed when she saw a Jacuzzi big enough to fit four people. There was also a vanity and a widescreen TV inside the room. I’m pretty sure her toilet was one of those weird ones that talks to you.
I myself was looking forward to getting into my own Jacuzzi tonight and not coming out for a really, really long time. My body was sore.
A raccoon wearing a sailor’s hat and an apron pushed a little cart into the room. He handed Sophia a warm towel scented with lavender and a tiny box of chocolates.
“Thank you,” she told him. The raccoon tottered out with his cart and shut the door behind him.
“Now that’s what I call service,” she said in a bright voice. She squealed happily before jumping on the bed.
By the ancestors, this girl was lame. And really cheesy. Why couldn’t she just be cool?
“My room is right across the hall if you need anything,” I told her. I really hoped she didn’t come by. My duty was done, as far as I was concerned.
“I think I’m just going to hit the hay,” she told me. I resisted snorting. She got off the bed and stood in front of me. “Thanks for showing me around, Liam. I really appreciate it. This ship is incredible.”
Don’t get used to it. “Like I said, I’m right across from you if you need anything.”
She beamed at me, and I felt funny again, but it was probably just my nausea kicking in. I always felt sick after I ate these days. I headed across the room to my suite and filled up my tub, grabbing a beer out of the mini-fridge. I wasn’t supposed to drink anymore, because it would probably make me feel worse, but screw it. Maybe the alcohol would help me sleep for the first time in days.
I laughed a little when I thought of Sophia. She was so naive. If she thought the ship was awesome, she hadn’t seen anything yet.
Just wait till she got to the castle.
The cruise ship horn blared, sending a wave of disappointment over me. Liam and I stood on the deck as the ship descended into port the next day.
“What’s wrong?” Liam asked with a heavy sigh.
“This ship is just so magical,” I replied. “I’m not ready to leave.”
He scoffed.
“What?” I asked. Had I said something wrong?
He just shook his head. “You’ve got a lot to learn, pawee.”
Liam pointed over the rai
ling. I peeked over the edge, and what I saw took my breath away.
“Welcome to Kinpago,” Liam said.
Below, the clouds parted. Tall mountain peaks rose around us, but they were different from the mountains back home. These were covered with tall trees and lush greenery, and the caps were painted with snow. In the distance, a waterfall cascaded down the side of the mountain. To my other side, the ocean reached out to the horizon.
A city with winding streets stretched far across the valley. The buildings were short, no more than two or three stories high, and most were hidden beneath a thick layer of trees. There were all sorts of houses, but they were unlike any houses I’d ever seen. They were almost like elaborate huts, with stucco walls and thatch roofs. The streets were dirt, and there weren’t any cars, just carriages pulled by an array of creatures like pegasi and unicorns. Thousands of people were down there, venturing in and out of little shops. It looked like a city straight out of a fairy tale.
“Get your bags,” Liam said. “It’s time to go.”
Minutes later we descended a long flight of stairs made from earth. I couldn’t take my eyes off the city in front of me. From this vantage point, there seemed to be a unique charm to it. I had the urge to explore the entire valley.
The air was chilly, in stark contrast to the dry desert air I was used to. I pulled my cardigan tighter around me as we made our way down the steps.
“You cold?” Liam asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “It’s a lot colder here than back home.”
Liam shrugged. “You’ll get used to it. Plus, you’re Koigni, so it should be easy for you to stay warm.”
I barely heard what he said, since the city once again stole my attention as we got up close. At the base of the staircase vendors lined the street, like we were walking straight into a magical farmer’s market. I saw one group in a unicorn-drawn carriage. Another guy rode on the back of a huge beast that looked like a bear with horns. Large plants of all shapes and colors, bigger than even some houses, bloomed out of gorgeous painted pots. Streamers and banners, along with little stringed lights, criss-crossed over our heads and connected to various buildings. Every shop looked different, some with hand-painted signs, and others with ones that looked like they were made of metal. It was like everywhere I looked there was a different color, or something else going on. There were so many different smells, like bread cooking, and cinnamon and other spices. I heard music coming from all directions, along with laughter and conversation. It was so loud I had trouble hearing myself think.
