The Seventh Sun

by Lani Forbes

  A stitch in her side ached as she ran, and she had to remind herself to breathe. By the time she found the tiled path at the garden entrance, the sky had faded from golden to a smoky indigo with the crescent moon peeking just above the distant mountains.

  Ahkin had mentioned the sun fading, and with it already growing dark so early, Mayana worried he was right.

  She raced through bushes and around pools, looking for some sign of glinting gold amongst the foliage. But nothing. He wasn’t here, and darkness gathered around her like a suffocating cloak being pulled over her head.

  Mayana crouched on the ground and hugged her knees for stability. Where else could he be? Was she allowed to visit his private quarters? Would servants prevent her from getting close? Well, she could at least try.

  She rose back to her feet and heard the distinct snapping of twigs nearby. She froze, not wanting to deal with talking to anyone until she saw Ahkin. She scooted herself into the shadow of a large tree, determined to stay hidden until whoever was rushing through the garden passed.

  “You don’t think this was way too early? It won’t look suspicious?” a familiar voice was saying. Smooth, lazy, and utterly recognizable. What was Coatl doing in the gardens?

  “We don’t have time to be subtle anymore. This is the perfect moment.”

  Was that Metzi’s voice? Instead of dancing with melody as it usually did, her tone sounded harsh and cold, like the edge of a blade. Mayana chanced a peek around the trunk to see them hurrying up the path, Metzi clutching her hand to her chest.

  “Let me heal it before we get inside.” Coatl reached for her hand.

  Metzi hissed at him. “No, I want to go back to my room as quickly as possible. With the stupid feast canceled, there are too many people wandering the halls. We can heal it once we are alone.”

  Coatl grumbled a response that Mayana couldn’t quite make out, though she thought she heard something like “Miquitz.” She tucked her hair behind her ear, listening hard. Why would Coatl be talking about the death demons?

  “I’m not discussing it again. You should have thought about that before you agreed to take care of my father for me. Our deal with the death priest is already done.” Metzi’s voice finally faded along with the hurried slapping of their sandals against the stone tiles.

  Mayana’s pulse pounded inside her ears. She couldn’t have heard them correctly. The splashing water of the waterfalls must have distorted their words because it sounded like … But no. There was no way.

  Coatl had said something about it being too early, that they had done something that would seem suspicious … and Metzi was cradling her hand against her chest. An injured hand. Didn’t Metzi’s blood possess the same power as her brother’s? If she could raise the sun, then surely her blood could set it as well—set it far earlier than it should be setting. With a gasp, Mayana realized that Metzi was the reason the sun appeared to be dying. It wasn’t an apocalypse at all. And she had Coatl “take care” of her father? What deal with the death priest?

  Fury burned within Mayana’s chest. Metzi certainly had the ability, but why would she do such a thing? Why would she want everyone to think the sun was dying? To have her own father killed and maybe even to conspire with the Miquitz? She knew the ruling family had a history of ruthlessness when it came to the throne, but she thought such practices had died out long ago.

  Mayana didn’t need to guess why Coatl was involved. He obviously loved her, and from her hazy memories of that morning after the scorpion sting, Metzi loved him too. She also needed him to heal her hand each night.

  Now Mayana really needed to find Ahkin. She had to tell him everything. The emperor had been murdered by his own healer—and his own daughter. The sun wasn’t dying after all. Metzi was sneaking out each evening and pulling the Seventh Sun below the horizon at earlier and earlier times. Mayana wondered if it had something to do with Metzi being sent to Ehecatl.

  But would anyone believe her? Especially now?

  Mayana just needed to find him. The desperation inside of her chafed like wet sand against her skin, rubbing her raw and not allowing her to think about anything else.

  As she had guessed, the servants wouldn’t let her anywhere near his quarters, though they assured her he wasn’t there anyway. Mayana wasn’t sure she could believe them, but she didn’t have a choice.

  After an hour of searching the shadow-filled halls, Mayana dejectedly decided to go back to her own room. Perhaps Ahkin was looking for her and she wasn’t where she was supposed to be. Yes, that would make sense. Maybe he was waiting for her in her own room, waiting to talk about what happened.

  Mayana was nearly sprinting by the time she reached the entrance to her room.

  She shoved the still-lopsided curtain aside, her smile wide and expectant—and there was someone waiting for her in the room.

  But it wasn’t Ahkin.

  Zorrah stood before the hanging vines that led out to the garden beyond with a curling lip and a monkey perched on her shoulder like a personal guard.

  Chapter

  47

  Mayana was clenching her teeth so tightly, her jaw ached.

  “I don’t care why you’re here. Get out of my room.” Mayana held the curtain open and jerked her head toward the hallway.

  “No, I don’t think I will.” Zorrah’s smile was taunting. On her shoulder, the yellow-faced monkey fiddled with a golden necklace in its nimble fingers. It brought the jade pendant to its mouth and chewed noisily on the precious stone.

  “Take your filthy little servant out of here and give me back my necklace.”

  “Why?” Zorrah pulled the pendant from the monkey’s grasp and the creature shrieked in frustration, greedy little fingers reaching for its treasure. “I don’t think you’ll be needing it much longer.”

  Mayana balled her hands into fists at her side. She knew exactly why Zorrah was here. This girl from Ocelotl had tried to kill her on more than one occasion, and now she came here to gloat about the fact that Mayana would never be empress.

  “I was going to send in another scorpion, but what’s the point now? He isn’t going to choose a sacrilegious little worm like you. You showed us all exactly who you are, and I didn’t even have to do anything. You sealed your own tomb.” Zorrah tilted her head as though amused.

  “I must admit,” she continued, “when my uncles warned me of your beauty and charm, your ability to manipulate others to feel sorry for you, I was almost worried. But we all knew where your heart truly was. My uncle watched you sob like an infant over your pet dog, and he watched your father let you get away with not doing sacrifices just by shedding a few tears. You don’t have the courage or the strength to do what’s necessary for the people of this empire.”

  Mayana tried to block out her words, but even the blood rushing in her ears still could not silence Zorrah.

  “You are the epitome of selfishness, and now it cost you the prince. He’ll probably choose Teniza and you can die knowing that she’ll give him everything you couldn’t. Or maybe he’ll choose me and see what only the princess of animals can show him in private.”

  Mayana wasn’t exactly sure when she made the decision to attack Zorrah, but it was made. Perhaps the stress and desperation had stripped her down to nothing more than an animal like Zorrah, pulled away her patience and compassion like petals off a flower.

  Mayana ripped the dagger out of her ankle cuff and—in a blinding flash of fire glass—her palm was soaked in blood. Every water jug along the wall, every fountain inside her room and in the garden outside, exploded.

  The water rushed around her, a swirling mass of transparent glass, a giant turning whirlpool with Mayana at its center. The power of it made her feel like a goddess—a terrifying goddess whose wrath would now be suffered. Her godly heritage flowed through her, overwhelming any sense of fear. She could destroy Zorrah if she wanted to, and oh
, she definitely wanted to.

  Mayana shoved her arms out in front of her, and the water followed the movement of her hands, shooting out from her like a geyser.

  The rush of water caught Zorrah in the stomach and threw her backward. She landed on the ground with a surprised shriek. Her monkey spun across the stone floor, buffeted by the streaming torrent of water.

  Zorrah was back on her feet in an instant, a feral snarl escaping her lips. Her own dagger in her hand, the animal princess mimicked Mayana and sliced her palm, crimson now dripping from her body along with the water.

  Zorrah lifted her bloody hand in the air and a flock of birds rushed through the vines of the entrance to the garden, surrounding her in her own wild whirlwind.

  “Two can play that game, daughter of water,” Zorrah snarled, and she unleashed the birds with a thrust of her fist.

  Like a thousand tiny blow darts, the birds assailed Mayana, their beaks and claws shredding her skin wherever they found it.

  “Don’t hurt the poor little birdies,” Zorrah cooed as Mayana shielded her head with her arms.

  Rage rose within Mayana like an almighty wave, and with a sweep of her arm the water surrounded her body—encasing her in a transparent spherical shield.

  She threw out a hand and shot another wave of water toward the princess of Ocelotl, but this time she kept the water low to the ground. Growing up playing in the rivers of Atl had taught her one thing: moving water had great power. Six inches of water moving fast enough could knock a grown man off his feet.

  Sure enough, the current beat against Zorrah’s ankles and she could not stand. She was instantly knocked to the floor as her feet swept out from under her.

  Something cold and dark settled over Mayana. She forced more water over Zorrah, until the animal princess herself was encased in a glittering sphere of water. She thrashed around inside of it, unable to claw her way out, great bubbles escaping from her mouth as she foolishly released the air from her lungs. Mayana laughed and tightened her control over the mass of water.

  “Mayana!” Yemania’s screech from the doorway broke her concentration. The water surrounding Zorrah collapsed in a cold rush across the floor. The animal princess coughed and sputtered, her soaked form sprawled across the stone. She was a vicious drowned cat—on edge and waiting to lash out. Her chest heaved, and she narrowed her eyes dangerously at Mayana.

  “You will regret that, you heathen.” Zorrah reached toward the doorway to the garden and this time, several smooth, muscular snakes slithered through the opening. Their forked tongues lashed out at the air. The vivid green color of their scales made Mayana think of living vines as piercing yellow eyes fixed on her.

  “Stop! Please.” Yemania burst into the room, utterly helpless as the snakes glided toward Mayana.

  Mayana summoned the water back to her and trapped one inside a floating silver orb, but the snakes had separated. Two more still moved toward her from opposite sides.

  A wall of fire rose between her and the snakes, as quickly as though dried tinder had been placed along the stone.

  Mayana turned toward the doorway and found Yoli, her face fierce, holding an outstretched hand dripping with blood.

  “Let the real fun begin.” She laughed. Mayana swore something dark and primal stirred within Yoli’s eyes as she glared at Zorrah. “I’ve been waiting for a chance to tame that wild spirit of yours, animal princess.”

  Zorrah hissed and jumped back to her feet, water streaming from her long dark ponytail down her back. Her hands curled into claws.

  “Is the kitten scared to play with fire?” Yoli’s dark eyes smoldered. Flames rose up her arms and engulfed her as though she were a living torch. Yemania scrambled back against the wall, eyes darting between them as if she weren’t sure who to be more afraid of.

  “No.” Mayana held up a hand toward Yoli. “She tried to kill me. I want to deal with her on my own.”

  “I don’t like people who think they can use their power to push others around.” A dangerous rage seethed within Yoli, and Mayana worried that, like a volcano, she was waiting for a moment to release it. Her heart ached as she wondered what suffering Yoli must have experienced to give her such a deeply rooted anger. She had never thought to ask.

  Something snaked around Mayana’s ankles and dragged her to the ground. Growling in frustration, she twisted around to see vines wrapped around them. She clawed at the vines, bits of thick green plant matter bunching under her fingernails as she tore at them.

  “I won’t let you hurt her just because she saw the truth of who you are from the beginning.” Teniza materialized through the hanging vines now too, standing beside Zorrah.

  Yoli shot a tongue of flame toward the vines. “We all know why you hate Mayana, you twig. It was supposed to be you. You couldn’t buy his heart with all your money and influence, and you hated her for that. You think you’re so much better than the rest of us.” The vines were burnt clean through. Their grip around Mayana slackened, and she kicked them off.

  Yemania curled into a ball against the wall, crying “Stop it, stop it,” with her hands over her ears. Mayana felt as if her heart would cleave in two.

  “How could I compete with someone so flippant about the rules of the codex? No wonder you had no shame in seducing him into your bed. That’s the only real reason he chose you.” Teniza spat the words at her with as much venom as one of Zorrah’s snakes.

  Mayana lunged to close the space between them. She would rip those tiny little flowers right out of Teniza’s hair. She heard Yoli’s delighted yell behind her. Mayana was not alone as she hurtled toward Teniza and Zorrah.

  A whirlwind erupted between them, and all four princesses were thrown back against the walls. The fierce power of the wind held them in place, beating against Mayana with such force that she had difficulty turning her head to see where the wind was coming from.

  Itza stood beside Yemania with her arms spread wide, her face contorted in concentration as she held the battling noble daughters in place. Mayana was momentarily dumbstruck at how someone so tiny could wield such intense power. She immobilized all four of them with the deadly force of a hurricane.

  “That’s enough.” Her voice was eerily calm. “You are all fools if you think the selection ritual is your biggest concern.”

  “What are you talking about?” Zorrah hissed between her teeth, struggling against Itza’s gale.

  The pounding of feet in the hall broke the tense silence. At least ten Jaguar warriors burst through Mayana’s curtain. Their weapons lowered, and their faces fell slack at the scene before them—Yemania curled against the side wall crying, Itza on her feet and holding Yoli, Mayana, Teniza, and Zorrah against the wall with swirling winds. Blood and water soaked the floor, which was littered with the charred remains of the snakes and Teniza’s vines. Itza didn’t answer. She just released them all at once. Mayana fell to the ground in a crumpled heap and gasped for breath.

  Ahkin’s general, the head of the Jaguar warriors, entered the room in formidable silence.

  He glared at them all, though the disgust on his face was particularly apparent when his eyes fell on Mayana.

  “I don’t know what’s going on in here, but you are shaming your families and the gods themselves with your behavior. You will each return to your room and stay there. I will be placing guards throughout the halls and the garden to make sure no one even thinks of disobeying me. You will all be ready for the sacrificial games tomorrow, and we will not tell the lord prince about whatever this is.” He waved his hand around the room.

  Mayana wiped her running nose with her arm as the other girls filed out of her room. Zorrah and Teniza both gave her looks that spoke plainly of their desire to skin her like a rabbit carcass. Yemania had to be half carried by an uncomfortable-looking warrior. Itza didn’t look angry, just disappointed, as she shook her head at Mayana and left for her own
room.

  The general turned to face Mayana, crossing his massive arms across his chest.

  “He really loved you,” he said. His frown deepened the lines on his face. “I don’t know why, but the last thing he needed was a broken heart on top of everything else. I hope you realize the pain you’ve caused him. If you truly love him as you claim, then leave him alone. You’ve done enough damage as it is.”

  The air within Mayana’s lungs whooshed out as he left, a fist closing around her heart. The general had managed to do far more damage with his words than Zorrah ever could have done with her beasts.

  He was right. She had hurt Ahkin. Deeply. She hadn’t been honest with him. She had let him fall in love with the Mayana he wanted to see. She hadn’t stopped him because she wanted to be that girl. Or, at least she had thought she wanted to be that girl.

  The Mayana he wanted would have sacrificed the dog in front of everyone—would have silently and obediently submitted herself to the rules forced on her by others. That wasn’t the true Mayana. The true Mayana loved and cared for humans and beasts alike, longed to honor the gods through celebrating their loving sacrifices, not by paying back some supposed blood debt.

  If she really cared for Ahkin, was it best just to let him go? Or should she continue to fight for him? Either way, regardless of what happened between them, he still needed to be warned about his sister. Maybe she should have told the general when she had the chance.

  Somehow, Mayana would expose Metzi for what she truly was … even if it was the last thing she did before Ahkin sacrificed her to bless his marriage to another.

  Chapter

  48

  Ahkin wasn’t sure how long he sheltered in the darkness of his father’s tomb, but he could not hide forever. How embarrassing to feel like he needed to run to his parents when life got too hard.

  When morning came, he did his duty to raise the sun and focus on the future. The past was the past. He could do nothing with it but learn from it. He would sacrifice the Miquitz captives today and learn why they were capturing peasants. Then he would decide what to do about Mayana.