by Amy Sumida
“Is this her?” she asked, her voice musical and clear as a bell.
Souta’s grin lit up his face. “Yeah.”
She shooed the boys, who backed up and took seats around the room, then kneeled next to me.
“Hello, sweetheart, you’ve caused quite a stir among our boys. You’re not looking good today. I’m going to do a quick examination, okay?” Her voice held confidence and comfort, putting me at ease right away. “It might hurt a little, but I’ll try to prevent it as much as I can.”
Her hands ran over me, quick and efficient, assessing the damage to my body. With the stethoscope cold against my abused flesh, she listened to my breathing and my heartbeat.
Her expressive face showed her findings as she went. “I’d say you’re a lucky girl with lots of bruises. These burns aren’t pleasant but they could be worse. I’m assuming they were caused by a Heater?”
I nodded at her question.
“I believe your ribs are bruised or cracked, but not broken. You need x-rays to be sure, and you need them for your wrist. I’d like to know how you ended up in this condition.”
Though she made it a statement, her tone held a question. I bit my lip and shot a nervous glance at the guys.
She smiled in understanding when I did not respond, then turned to her son. “Souta why don’t you settle her in the room by yours? She needs rest. I’ll call the clinic and see if we can get her in for those x-rays today.”
Standing, she looked kindly down at me. “My name’s Akiko, or you can call me mom. I expect we’ll be seeing a lot of you.” I stared, gape mouthed at her statement. Why would she want me to call her Mom?
This time Brooks lifted me and held me close. I winced, a tiny whimper escaping, as we made our way upstairs, and Brooks laid me down on a soft, pillowy mattress. I shifted, gritting my teeth against the agony.
“Why?” I asked them when they settled on the bed around me. I couldn’t make heads or tails of things anymore, like I missed half the story.
“Why, what?” Souta cocked his head as he propped himself on his elbow. His other hand found my thigh and began stroking little circles on it. Frustration poured through me, at myself for enjoying the little display of affection and them for being deliberately obtuse.
“Why everything?” I tossed the words out. “What was all that with your mother? Why did you bring me here? Why do you give a damn?”
Confusion fell on JJ and Brooks’ faces, but Souta laughed. “Because. My mom knows how much we like you. You needed help, and we sure as fuck weren’t leaving you there.” He sat up then, scooting up the bed and gripping my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His thumb ran over my jawline, and his eyes shone with affection. “Because you're worth giving a damn for, even if you don’t think so.”
I tried to yank my chin from his grasp unsuccessfully.
“You keep trying to push us away, hot stuff, but you need to realize we aren’t going anywhere. And be prepared. We came for you today because we were worried sick, but you were coming here either way. Tomorrow, you’re getting your Ad Aetatem. Don’t argue. Everything is done and set already. Now get some rest. We’ll see you after your x-rays.” He dropped a kiss on the only place that didn’t hurt, my forehead. followed by Brooks and JJ.
They left before I could give voice to my protest. I knew I should fight harder, but my own embarrassment at needing rescuing combined with my sheer exhaustion from holding my emotions back from the guys weakened my resolve.
I tried to rest but sleep wouldn’t come. My brain and my heart wanted to keep going over the last two weeks. So much happened, and what I knew I should do warred with what I wanted to do.
Eventually, I went to the clinic and the bruised ribs and sprained wrist were confirmed.
Upon my return to Souta’s, I found the boys waiting for me. They decided on a quiet evening of movies and munchies, and my heart melted a little. Fighting them exhausted me, instead I gave in and opted to worry about the consequences when the time came.
Chapter Twelve
The morning of my eighteenth dawned bright and clear. A stream of sunlight peeking through the cream and gold curtains fell across the large, comfortable bed, and I realized I wasn’t alone. The guys sprawled around me after falling asleep at some point during our movie marathon. Somehow it seemed natural to all be cuddled up in bed together.
The prescription meds Akiko gave me dealt with the pain better than the over the counter ones I used, and the aches were bearable now. The brace she made me wear did a better job of protecting and stabilizing my wrist, too. Moving didn’t hurt badly anymore. I still appeared ten shades of beaten to a pulp but it couldn’t be helped.
The chiming of my phone startled me, and I reached over Brooks to find it on the nightstand. The gold comforter fell to the side. Shock ran through me as May’s picture greeted me.
“Hello?” I murmured, settling back into the comfort of the guys.
“Happy Birthday, darling!” May’s warm, enthusiastic voice sang out of the phone. “I finally got back into town. Now, I have something for you, a little gift. It’s your big day after all. What are you doing today? Something special I hope. I wish I’d time to give you a proper Ad Aetatem but my schedule’s been crazy.”
Warmth spread inside me knowing May wanted to give me the same thing every normal Elementum child got. I didn’t believe it would matter to her, only being a ward after all. Granted, I knew she cared about me, but I’m not one of her grandbabies, not real family. Tears came unbidden, and I swiped them away hastily. I had cried more in the last week than in the rest of my life. What the elements was wrong with me?
“Um, actually,” I kept my voice soft, partly from uncertainty and partly to keep from waking my sleeping boys. “I kind of met some people –”
“Darling! You made friends? How wonderful!” Her enthusiasm made me grin like a loon. She knew how hard connecting with others happened to be for me. Leaving hurt, and as I got older, she watched me close myself off with each move.
“Yeah, I guess I did.” For some reason, it only hit me when May said it. “They kind of planned something for my Ad Aetatem.”
“I’m glad someone did. It wouldn’t be right for you not to get one. Now, where am I going for this?”
“Souta Kurihara’s house. Do you know them?”
“The Kuriharas. Oh, my. When you make friends, you do it big, don’t you?” Her chuckle rang through the phone. “Yes, I know exactly where they live. I’ll be there at a more reasonable hour then. See you soon, sweetheart.”
“Bye May.” I signed off and glanced at the time on the phone. Barely seven a.m. Well, it was my birthday, and if I wanted to sleep till noon by the elements, I would. I sank into the pillows and back into sleep, surrounded by the warmth of my boys.
~
It seemed like seconds, but by the way the light fell through the curtains, I knew several hours passed when gentle shaking and murmurs woke me. Souta sat on the bed, Brooks behind him, and I searched the room for JJ but didn’t find him. My heart fell a little.
“Where’s JJ?” I frowned as the words fell in a rough whisper.
“He needed to make a call. He’ll be –” Souta stopped as the door opened, and JJ strolled in.
When Souta shot him a questioning glance, JJ nodded. He turned back to me, smiled then stood up. JJ took his place, gripping my hand gently and running his thumb over my knuckles.
“Tradition dictates upon waking on the morning of their eighteenth year, an Elementum is presented with a physical symbol of their element, so they may proudly proclaim their maturity for all to see.” Brooks deep rumble intoned the ritual words, and I fought a smile back at the picture he made. He stood next to the bed, face serious and dressed up in black slacks and a turquoise button down.
Souta’s mouth twitched, fighting the same impulse as me. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box. The urge to laugh fled, and I suddenly shook. What did they do?
Souta depo
sited the flat box onto my palm. “An Ignis is passion, strength, bold, and beautiful. They seek attention and act on impulse. They are our light, our life, our need. Without them, we do not burn the way we should. Without them, we are incomplete.” Souta’s eyes twinkled even as he said the traditional words seriously.
“You are Ignis,” JJ whispered the next part as his fingers found the box on my palm. “May your fire ever burn proud and bright for all the world to see.” He pulled the box open. The gaze I fixed on each of them as they spoke fell to the box, and I gasped.
Inside, resting on a bed of velvet, laid the most incredibly beautiful cuff bracelet I ever laid eyes on. Thin, silver curls of flame wove in and out of each other. Deep red stones nestled at varying intervals where the flames came together. At the center, the flames surrounded a larger, brighter red stone cut in the shape of a heart. It sparkled in the sunlight.
My fingers shaking, I reached for it but pulled back at the last moment. Swallowing, I glanced at the boys, who all grinned like idiots. Souta chuckled and took the bracelet from the box, then slipped it on my wrist. The cool metal caressed my skin. It fit perfectly, slipping on with ease. Clearly they put thought into the piece. I started to object then caught the happiness shining on their faces.
“Thank you,” I whispered, swallowing down my objections.
“Good girl. Now come on, breakfast’s waiting, and I’m starving!” Souta bounced on his feet, grabbing Brooks’ hand and tugging him toward the hall.
JJ grinned, then lifted my good hand, kissed it and rose, following the others. I climbed off carefully, mindful of my bruises and my wrist. Unfortunately, I still wore the same clothes from last night, and I knew I must smell ripe. It couldn’t be helped, though.
An older woman, round and rosy cheeked, with her white hair pulled into a bun, bustled into the room, clothes thrown over an arm. “Come now, little one. Time for a right cleaning. I imagine it’ll be nice to get out of those clothes.”
Uncertainty skittering through me, I froze.
She laid the clothes, ones I recognized as mine now, on the bed then took a surprisingly firm grip of my elbow and steered me toward the bathroom. “Into the bath with you. I know a real shower isn’t possible but there’s a cloth and some soap, bathe as best you can, and I’ll be here to help you dress, if you need.”
“Who are you?” I stammered out, entering the bathroom.
“Oh, dear. I’m sorry. I’m Mrs. Hennis, the housekeeper. Now go on, clean up.” She hustled me the rest of the way into the bathroom and I went willingly. Cleaning up proved difficult but I managed it and with Mrs. Hennis’ help got into the simple, black dress the boys pulled from the back of my closet.
As I stepped into the kitchen Mrs. Hennis led me to near the front of the house, a whistle greeted me. “Damn, JJ. You were right. Nice choice.”
Heat rose in my cheeks as Brooks gaze swept over me. My eyes roamed over the kitchen in an effort to avoid his stare. A chef’s dream, or at least mine, the kitchen featured large windows, a center island with a gas stovetop and indoor grill, two ovens, reddish wood cabinets and an expanse of counter I dreamed of baking on. The boys sat at a granite counter, Souta on one side, JJ and Brooks on the other, each with a plate piled with eggs, bacon, toast and hash browns. A fourth plate full of food sat next to Souta. He patted the black leather stool next to him in invitation.
“Come on, hot stuff. Breakfast is served,” he said, shoveling another bite into his mouth.
Part of me still wanted to run, to take off before they could hurt me, but I decided to quit fighting the need to be with these boys. In my head they were already mine, even though I knew that for a lie. Instead of running, I settled onto the stool and ate. The red clock on the wall told me noon came and went already. We barely finished up when a knock sounded on the door. I rinsed my plate as the sound of footsteps entered the kitchen.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
I spun at the sound of May’s voice, a smile spreading over my face. She stepped close, resting a hand on my shoulder and leaning in a bit, her version of hugging me.
“We confess,” Brooks said from behind May. “We got in contact with the Concilium and May. She helped us plan this.”
I pulled back in shock, then laughed at the contrite expression on May’s face. She knew! She knew when she called me!
“Well, now the secret’s out,” May began, “let’s move this celebration to the study, shall we?” The boys moved off, but May held me back, whispering in my ear. “When the Ad Aetatem is over, we’ll discuss these lovely colors marking up your skin, understand?” Steel laced her voice.
The time for confessions would come. Right now, I would enjoy the Ad Aetatem the boys put together for me.
Chapter Thirteen
A natural disaster moves in with little warning, blows through your life in moments and leaves a huge mess behind for you to clean up. It feels no remorse, no guilt. It simply comes and then goes, never knowing your life is irrevocably changed by its mere presence. Afterwards, you stand there, lost amid the debris once containing the pieces of your world, wondering how exactly you move on from this. You may pray, or cry, or curse but eventually you accept nothing will ever be the same.
As I crossed the threshold of the study, I imagined myself like one of those people, sitting in front of their television, glued to the news and waiting for the natural disaster to barrel through, unable to do anything to stop it or change its direction. The boys’ actions seemed like a catalyst though I still didn’t know for what. I only knew, deep down, by the end of the day, I would be standing amid the debris of my life and trying to reconcile the changes.
The night before I only caught glimpses of a couple rooms before crashing hard from my aches and the meds Akiko gave me. The study didn’t seem like a study to me. Two small, dark wood shelves contained an array of beautifully bound books and flanked a simple, matching desk and chair. The desk and chair rested in front of a large picture window. A crystal lamp and ivory shade stood like a sentinel on one corner of the desk. The remainder of the room appeared to be given over to the boys. A large screen television mounted on the wall above a low, black shelf containing a gaming console and an array of games gave the little detail away. Two pub style table sets sat opposite the study area. A large, ornate, red and gold rug took up most of the center space without hiding the glossy wood floors underneath. A couple black leather couches and a low coffee table faced the television and completed the room.
Music, a lively, upbeat tune I recognized, drifted softly around the room from a hidden speaker. On one of the pub tables sat a couple wrapped boxes, while the other held a round cake, complete with bright pink icing, castle and... I peered closer. Yep, those were princesses. I made a mental note to kill them later.
May beckoned me over to where she stood near the tables. The boys stood behind her, silent but grinning like fools, the only other people in the room. I shot them a narrow-eyed glare and glanced at the cake. When I glanced back, both JJ and Brooks pointed thumbs at Souta, who grinned brazenly and shrugged. I tried to make my gaze promise retribution. From the way he grinned, I failed, or he anticipated it. Weirdo.
May grasped my hand, drawing my attention away from the boys. Her soft, brown eyes held mine captive, emotion shining in them.
“Normally, this would be done by a parent but as we all know, it’s not possible. Today I stand In Loco Parentis.”
I swallowed hard. This part of the Ad Aetatem I wanted the least. It could be done at any time on an Elementum’s eighteenth birthday, and I hoped the boys would skip it entirely. How would this work with no parent?
“Eighteen years ago the world changed, simply by virtue of your birth. Ten years ago, the world changed again as your power revealed itself to us. Today, the world changes one more time, as you reach your maturity and begin your search for your Genus.”
Moisture gathered in my eyes, and I tried hard to keep the tears in. I couldn’t imagine the next part of this p
articular ritual could even occur. With no parent, how could I be given a family symbol to aid me? May released my hand and grasped a small, silver wrapped box on the table. She took my hand again, turning it over and resting the box there, trapped between our hands. I couldn’t breathe.
“Before she passed on, your mother left this in my possession, specifically for this moment. It’s been in your family for generations, and though it didn’t lead your mother to her Genus, it has been a beacon for others. Though family is no indicator of ability, you come from a long line of Ignis on your mother’s side.” She slid her hand away.
I trembled a little at the idea I held something once belonging to my mother. My entire life, I knew only the barest of facts. May didn’t know her on a personal level at all, and I never met anyone who had. Sheer luck made May the Sage closest when it became obvious my mother wouldn’t make it. Now, though, I held something of hers, something she wanted to give to me, something from a family I never knew, but still evidence they once existed.
I pulled the wide, shimmery, silver ribbon and set it aside, intending to reuse it. I unwrapped the rest carefully, not out of a need to preserve the paper but rather because of the fear still warring with the joy inside my stomach. Once the last barrier no longer remained, my fear fled as well, and I lifted the lid on the white box.
Words failed me. Breath failed me. Movement failed me.
Nestled inside the box, a silver heart made to appear like a lock peered back at me. Engraved flames on the face surrounded an orange-red gem with fire shining from its center. The heart was decently sized, not small enough to be considered delicate or dainty but not large enough to be ostentatious or unwieldy. The silver was dulled with age, but the gem shone bright and clear. I picked it up, hands shaking, expecting a chain but finding none. I cast a quizzical gaze at May.
