The Fire Prophecy

by Megan Linski

  “You’re in the center of the city, where you’ll find most of the stores, restaurants, and shops. All your magical needs can be supplied here,” Liam said, like he wanted to get this over with. “Behind us near the cruise port are offices and shopping centers. Each part of Kinpago is split into various cultural districts, though the Hawkei district, the one we’re now in, is the largest. For example, the Latin district is directly on the left, three blocks down, and on the other side is the Gay Quarter. About a mile down Main Street is Chinatown. You can find Little Bavaria on the other side.”

  Liam rattled on and on about all the areas of Kinpago, so quickly that it was tough for me to keep up with him. It seemed like every country from around the world was packed into the crooked streets and small spaces. People of all colors and nationalities crowded the streets, dressed in everything from casual daywear to traditional clothes from various places around the world.

  Were they really all descended from the Hawkei tribe? Everyone looked so different. I’d never been in a place so culturally diverse…

  “I didn’t realize Kinpago would be so big,” I said, glancing around in wonder.

  Liam shrugged. “There are maybe ten, fifteen thousand people per tribe.”

  “Tribe?” I asked. “There are more than just the Hawkei here?”

  “No. We’re all Hawkei,” Liam answered, sounding irritated. “I’m referring to the four Houses. Earth, Water, Fire and Air.”

  “Oh,” I said, but I was quickly distracted.

  The only things more beautiful than the people were the Familiars. They came in all shapes and sizes, their fur purple and blue and sometimes multi-colored. Elephants with rainbow manes and purple skin walked beside cats that had scales. A four-legged mammal the size of a horse, but that looked like a weasel with a large furry white mane and feathers, blinked at me before its Elementai called her, and she vanished before my very eyes.

  I was pretty sure there weren’t even names for some of these gorgeous creatures. They were things I hadn’t even imagined seeing in story books.

  In the middle of the street, a man in a beautiful outfit that was embroidered with beads and decorated with feathers danced to a couple of street musicians playing on flutes and drums. I wanted to stop to watch, but Liam grabbed my wrist and dragged me behind him.

  I resisted his hold, my pace slowing to take it all in. A nearby booth buzzed with small critters. They were the color of emerald tiger beetles with wings like dragonflies. They glowed a soft yellow, blinking on and off like fireflies.

  “Fortune Fairies!” the guy behind the booth shouted. “Get your Fortune Fairies! Said to bring you good luck and change your future."

  I took a step toward them, but I didn’t make it far before Liam tugged on my arm.

  “Hey!” I protested. I just wanted to see what they looked like up close.

  “Don’t waste your money,” Liam said. “Fortune Fairies are easy enough to catch on your own. Besides, they don’t bring fortune to everyone.”

  While he spoke, my eyes fell upon white winged stallion ahead of us. My breath left my chest, and I stopped right there in the middle of the street. Children swarmed the pegasus and petted its soft white fur. The sign in front of its stall advertised pegasus rides. Nearby, a kid cried because his mom wouldn’t let him “ride the pony.”

  I turned to Liam, who didn’t look happy that I’d stopped again. “I thought you weren’t supposed to touch someone else’s Familiar.”

  “You aren’t,” he confirmed. “That pegasus isn’t bonded yet.”

  I wanted to ask if it would ever bond, but before I could, a voice cut through the crowd.

  “Mr. Mitoh!” a male voice called.

  “Not interested, Jones,” Liam replied.

  I turned to see who he was talking to, and another wave of amazement overcame me. At this point, I was probably going to pass out from sheer overwhelm before we made it to the school.

  An older guy with a lot of muscle stood on the other side of the street, holding the reins on two massive beasts. The front half of the beast looked like a stag, with a long nose and pointed antlers. The back half resembled a bird, with strong legs, sharp talons, and massive feathered wings. It even had a beautiful plumed tail spanning out behind it.

  “What is it?” I whispered in wonder.

  “They’re peryton,” Liam said, like they weren’t interesting in the slightest. “Half-deer, half-bird.”

  What was this guy’s problem? Was he so used to this place that he could no longer appreciate the magic in it?

  “Mr. Mitoh,” Jones repeated in a whining voice.

  “We don’t have the money,” Liam told Jones before he could get another word in, though it sounded like a lie.

  “Not to worry,” Jones responded, taking no notice to Liam’s rude tone. “These peryton have already been reserved, courtesy of Elliot Baine. They’re to take you up to Orenda.”

  “Baine. Thank the ancestors,” Liam mumbled under his breath.

  His shoulders relaxed. He led me closer to Jones until we were close enough to touch the peryton. The one closest to me stared down with his big dark eyes. He was a large beast, but there was a gentle quality in his eyes. I was just about to reach out and touch him when a set of hands wrapped around my waist and swept me off my feet.

  I let out a yelp on instinct.

  “Up you go,” Jones’ voice said in my ear.

  Before I knew what was happening, I was straddling the peryton with my knees tucked under his wings. Jones placed the reins in my hands, then adjusted the strap on my duffel bag so that it draped securely across my body.

  “You’re in good hands with Bud here.” Jones patted the peryton’s neck. “Just hang on tight, and don’t startle him.”

  “But wait—" I started to say.

  Jones smacked Bud’s behind, and the creature lurched forward. My stomach dropped, and a shot of adrenaline rushed through my chest as we launched into the air. A scream tore out of my lungs. Within seconds, the market was far below us, and the people looked like nothing more than ants.

  “Relax!” Liam shouted over the sound of the air whipping past my ears. He looked more comfortable on the other peryton’s back than I’d ever seen him in the short time I’d known him. I think even a slight smile graced his expression.

  I quieted, and the fear in my body slowly eased. Even with the flapping of the peryton’s wings, I felt strangely secure on his back. Laughter bubbled up from my chest.

  I think I can get used to this.

  We flew over the city and toward the ocean, but we didn’t reach it before the peryton shifted course, soaring parallel to the mountain range. As the town disappeared behind us, a large clearing came into view.

  A castle bigger than the state capitol back home stood at the center. Pointed stone towers stretched into the air above the trees. The walls were long, sturdy, and thick. Hundreds of ornate, stained glass windows were placed here and there. Within the castle walls there were keeps that stretched high above the towers, while gargoyles of various Familiars sat perched along the castle’s walls. The castle itself was surrounded by a series of narrow rivers and tall waterfalls. The sunlight glistened off the water droplets at the base of the tallest waterfall, creating a rainbow. A large, open patch of grass stretched out in front of the school’s main doors, filled with flowers and elaborate fountains. There were hundreds of kids and Familiars down there, chatting excitedly with each other as they entered the school.

  A roar caught my attention. My stomach lurched as I saw dragons— actual dragons— soaring in a circle around the castle. They weren’t alone. Other flying magical creatures, like griffins and manticores, flew above the castle and played with each other, pretending to fight or making loud noises like they were chatting.

  Holy crap. Amelia made Orenda Academy sound magical, but she didn’t tell me I’d be attending something this spectacular.

  Our peryton circled around a courtyard near the tallest tower. Bir
ds of all different sizes and colors soared above the courtyard, while creatures followed behind their Elementai as they crossed the lawn. I caught sight of another pegasus, and I saw what I swore was a huge feathered serpent slither behind someone and into the open doors at the front of the school.

  Bud swooped down so fast that I was afraid we’d crash straight into the ground, but he pulled back at the last second and landed gracefully at the center of the courtyard. Liam’s peryton landed behind Bud, and he slipped off its back with ease. Meanwhile, I was acutely aware of all the eyes on me.

  Liam reached up to help me off the peryton’s back. I placed my hands on his shoulders to steady myself, shivering slightly as his hands touched my hips to lift me off. As soon as I landed, the perytons took off again and went back the way we came. Once I was on the ground, Liam let go of me like I was a hot potato.

  Liam started for the grand double doors, but I remained rooted in place. The whole courtyard had gone quiet. At least a hundred pairs of eyes locked on me.

  “Is that her?” someone whispered.

  Liam hurried back to my side. “Are you coming?”

  I still couldn’t move. It didn’t seem right when I was being oggled at like a zoo animal. “Why’s everyone staring?” I asked under my breath.

  “We don’t often get outsiders,” Liam explained.

  Great. I’d already been pegged an outcast.

  “You know, they’d stop staring if you followed me to your dorm,” Liam said.

  I was just about to take him up on that offer when a girl with long black hair and manicured eyebrows stepped forward. She wore skin-tight black pants that showed off her curves, and a orange top that accented her chest. Her liquid eyeliner and perfect contouring made it look like she spent hours every morning painting on her face. A group of five stood behind her— two girls and three guys. They all had the same tan skin and I’m-hot-and-I-know-it look. A large, beautiful red bird landed on the girl’s shoulder. Her tail feathers were so long they trailed on the ground, and she had a feathery plume on her head, which accented black eyes.

  “You must be Sophia Henley,” the girl said with a smile. “I’m Haley. I’m from your House, Koigni.”

  Despite the look of disgust on Liam’s face, I shook her outstretched hand. It was only polite.

  “So, is it true?” Haley asked in a tone that had gossip written all over it.

  I glanced to Liam warily. “Is what true?”

  “For the ancestors’ sake, she just got here,” Liam snapped at Haley. “Could you let her get settled in before you start interrogating her?”

  Haley narrowed her eyes at him. “I wasn’t asking you. I think Sophia can speak for herself.”

  “Yeah, I can,” I agreed.

  Liam growled.

  “But I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I added.

  Haley crossed her arms. “Rumor has it you’re the one the prophecy talks about. If the prophecy is to be believed, that is.”

  She had to be kidding. I mean, prophecies weren’t a real thing. Then again… I had no idea what was real anymore after what I’d seen recently.

  “Like you said, it’s just a rumor,” Liam reminded her. “No one even believes the prophecy. Someone made it up just to scare the Houses.”

  “Maybe Sophia can confirm it for us,” Haley argued. She looked to me for a response.

  “Look…” I didn’t know what to say. This girl was talking crazy. “No one mentioned a prophecy to me.”

  “See?” Liam said. “Now, would you let her rest? She’s had a long journey.”

  Haley’s lips tightened. “I don’t take orders from people like you.”

  Liam’s nostrils flared. He opened his mouth, but I cut in before things could escalate any further.

  “Actually,” I said, “I’d just like to get checked into my dorm. But maybe later you can tell me more about this prophecy.”

  I wasn’t betting on it. Haley didn’t seem like the kind of girl I’d hang out with. She held her nose so high that she’d drown in a rainstorm. Liam left without saying another word. I hurried to follow.

  “What does she mean by people like you?” I asked once we were out of earshot.

  Liam hesitated, but answered anyway. “In our society, the stronger your Familiar is, the higher you stand on the social ladder. She’s Koigni and her Familiar is a phoenix. She outranks just about everyone at this school.”

  “That seems unfair,” I said. “Shouldn’t social status depend on your intelligence and accomplishments?”

  Liam didn’t get a chance to answer. A fluffy red critter darted between his legs. He stumbled and cursed under his breath. The creature stopped several feet away and sat, curling its bushy tail around itself. A fox. It looked up at Liam with bright eyes.

  “Sassy!”

  A curvy girl in the strangest outfit I’d ever seen approached us. She wore a bright green tutu, with striped pink tights and blue sneakers. Her shirt was black with purple polka dots. At least five thick bangle bracelets hung from each wrist. She wore her hair in pigtails, a giant sunflower pinned to her head between them. Her hair was strawberry blonde. She stood out, even when you stripped away the quirky Dr. Seuss look.

  “Leave the poor guy alone, Sassy!” the girl scolded the fox. She bent to scoop up her Familiar, but the fox leapt from her arms and made a break for it.

  The courtyard buzzed with conversation again, but there were still a lot of eyes on us. Quirky Girl didn’t seem to notice— or didn’t seem to care— as she chased Sassy between a group of nearby people. She dove forward to catch her Familiar, but it dodged out of the way. She sprang to her feet and didn’t seem to notice she was covered in dirt. Haley’s group pointed and laughed.

  “Sassy, if you don’t get back here, you’re sleeping in the woods tonight,” Quirky Girl threatened. “You know what are in the woods, don’t you? Big dragons!”

  Sassy darted between the legs of a tall, muscular guy. He stood on the outer edge of a small huddle of students who were no longer paying attention. Quirky Girl dropped to the ground and stuck her head right between the guy’s knees.

  Liam tried to stifle his laughter next to me. I just watched in horror. How embarrassing.

  “What the—?” The guy glanced beneath him.

  Quirky Girl dragged her fox out of the crowd and rose, as if totally forgetting anyone else was there. The top of her head smacked right into the center of the guy’s crotch. Like, full sunflower pressed firmly onto dick.

  I cringed. It was like watching a trainwreck. I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

  “What the hell?” the guy cried. He jumped away from her and grabbed one of his friends to use as a human shield.

  Quirky Girl’s eyes widened. “Oh, my ancestors! I am so sorry. I was just— my Familiar is—"

  “You need to put that thing on a leash, Imogen.” Haley clipped each syllable in the girl’s name as she made her way over. Her cronies followed behind her.

  Imogen got to her feet. “That’s cruel, and you know it.”

  “That thing is a hazard!” Haley snapped. “People who can’t control their Familiars shouldn’t have them.”

  “She is not!” Imogen pulled the fox closer to her chest. “She’s just playful.”

  “Come on,” Liam said from beside me. “Let’s go.”

  “Hold on,” I objected.

  I dropped my bag at my feet and bent to my knees beside it. I dug inside for an extra tote bag I’d brought with me. I thought it would come in handy if I wanted to haul stuff with me to the beach or something. It was light blue, with bright pink flowers all over it. It would suit Imogen perfectly.

  Liam groaned when he saw me pull it out. I ignored him and walked across the courtyard, abandoning him with my stuff.

  “That thing needs someone to actually train it,” Haley was saying when I approached.

  I cleared my throat. “Um… Imogen?”

  The whole crowd turned to look at me. Whereas everyone else’
s expression hardened when they saw me, Imogen’s softened.

  “Would this work?” I held the tote bag out to her. “You can keep Sassy by your side, but she can still jump out and run around when she wants to.”

  Imogen’s face brightened. “That’s brilliant. Thank you so much.”

  I opened the bag, and Imogen gently placed Sassy inside. She swung the bag over her shoulder and twisted from side to side, as if she was modeling it. Sassy peeked out of the top of the bag, looking positively content.

  Haley looked me up and down. She was not pleased with my solution.

  “Better?” Imogen asked her mockingly, like it didn’t matter to her at all what Haley thought.

  Haley pursed her lips. “I hope it suffocates.”

  The crowd drew a collective breath, but the following laughter told me more people agreed with her than were shocked by her heartlessness.

  “And you,” Haley pointed at me. “Be careful about who you stick up for. It could reflect badly on our House. I’ll let it pass this time, because you don’t know any better.”

  “Your House has enough of a reputation,” Liam said from behind me. I hadn’t realized he’d followed me. “I don’t think the friends Sophia makes is going to change anything.”

  Haley stared him down but turned to me instead. “Just know that you’ve been warned. Blood is thicker than water around here.”

  Haley turned on her heel, and the crowd dispersed.

  Liam handed me my duffel bag. “Can we finally go?”

  I glanced to Imogen, who was petting Sassy and looked thrilled with her bag.

  “Yeah,” I said, slinging the strap over my body.

  “Wait!” Imogen called when we were several paces away. “Thank you!”

  “No problem,” I told her, waving back to her and Sassy.