Maxon

by Christina Bauer

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.”

  “I know, child.”

  Panic empties my mind of rational thought. “So much pain… I can’t reach them.”

  “You will be able to very soon.”

  My soul aches to connect to my people. “When?”

  “After your coronation by the Valta.”

  Closing my eyes, I make my mind focus on her words. My coronation. Right. The ceremony will take place at the Water Palace as soon as the Valta can be readied. Once the gathering is complete, the Valta will use their collective magic to connect me to all water elementals.

  With some effort, I force my breathing to slow. The pain felt by my people fades to a dull ache. It’s stays present, but in the back of my mind where it isn’t as overwhelming.

  “That’s better.” Namare smiles. “You made it, child. I’m so proud. The power of water truly lives in your soul.”

  My voice comes out robotic and low. “Thank you, great mother.”

  Namare’s words ricochet about my brain. The power lives in my soul. The moment turns crazy and surreal. The icefall disappears and I’m back on the open plateau, wearing a blue robe that matches Namare’s. My skin’s now covered in moving marks that look like sparkling blue water.

  I look around. The other apprentices stare at me, open-mouthed. Namare lies on her side again, panting for breath.

  Seconds tick by as everyone continues to stare at me, expectant looks on all their faces. Maybe I’m supposed to give a speech? My mind races through stuff to say. Over the years, I paid more attention to battle training than statecraft.

  Crap, I’m sure Magic Marcus had a speech ready.

  I nip my lower lip in my teeth, trying to come up with something good. Bad things happen instead. Wind whips through my now sapphire-colored hair.

  Wait a second. Wind?

  A line of smoke curls along the ground, aligning itself into a familiar shape.

  Zephyr.

  My heart sinks.

  It can’t be him. Not now. It’s too soon.

  Dozens of Air Valta surround him.

  The apprentices form a loose circle around Namare and me. My mind races through options. I can fight, or I can summon an army of Water Valta.

  I’ll take the army, please.

  Trouble is, I don’t know how to summon the Valta yet. My brain speeds through possible incantations while my body stays frozen in shock. Meanwhile, the apprentices kick, leap, and punch at the Air Valta. They’re holding the Valta back. That won’t last for long, especially considering how Zephyr hasn’t even jumped into the fight. Instead, he floats over the scene, a gloating grin on his scarred face. I kneel down beside Namare.

  “I need your help,” I whisper. “You must summon our Water Valta.”

  Namare shakes her head. “I used the last of my power to send away the Kristalli. You must summon them now.”

  I freeze with panic. “Look, Fisk and I only covered calling the Kristalli. I have no idea how to summon Water Valta.” Hell, it took me months to learn the trick with the Kristalli. Plus, the Water Valta hate my ass in a big way. Namare should summon them.

  “There’s no time for lessons now,” says Namare. “We will make do with what you know.”

  In which case, we’re screwed.

  “Can’t you turn into mist and escape?” I ask.
/>   Okay, I already know the answer, but I’m pulling for a miracle here.

  “I am mortal again.” Namare slumps back onto the snow. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t worry.” Total lie. “I got this.” Bigger lie.

  I rise, ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with the apprentices and fight for Namare.

  There’s no one to stand with.

  All the other apprentices are dead. Their limp bodies seep blood into the snow. On a day that’s already too full of surprises, this shock hits me hard. These were my peers. Maybe one day we could’ve become friends, too. I stare around the cold plateau, my mind as frozen as the ice.

  Meanwhile, Zephyr stalks toward Namare and me. On instinct, I scoop up her frail body and pull it against mine. She’s cold, too cold.

  Zephyr’s voice booms across the mountainside. “Where is your Kristalli?”

  “Not here,” I say.

  Zephyr pauses before me. He’s huge—almost seven feet tall—and radiates evil. “Bring back the Kristalli and charge it with the power of the water element.”

  I curl Namare closer to me. “No.”

  There, that’ll tell him.

  “Namare.” Zephyr looms over us. “If you wish a calm passing, tell me the locations of the Kristalli of Fire and Earth.”

  Namare whispers feebly. “Never.”

  Zephyr stares at her for what feels like eternity. “I believe you.” His eyes narrow into dark gray slits.

  With a snap of his fingers, fresh wisps of smoke appear on either side of me. The tendrils instantly weave together into the form of two Air Valta. Dread weighs down my soul. I clutch more tightly at Namare’s bony frame. There must be something else I can do here. Nothing comes to mind.

  Why didn’t Namare choose a different apprentice? Magic Marcus trained to use elemental power for a hundred years. I feel like I know a bunch of party tricks, how to turn into mist, and that’s it.

  Still, I have to try.

  Fisk’s battle training runs through my thoughts. I need to break up the Valta’s smoke bodies. I can do that.

  Whispering a quick incantation, I conjure a sheet of snow. With any luck, it’ll smack into the Air Valta and shatter their bodily forms—and their concentration—for a few precious seconds. That’s all the time I need to gain an advantage.