Elemental Hunger

by Elana Johnson

  Hanai wore the same blue robe as I did. He wore a silver pin over his heart. Two intricate snakes coiled upward, glinting in the electric lights.

  After we’d gone up a flight of stairs, he paused and let go of my hand. “I have something for you.” He swept his robe open so he could dig in the pocket of his pants. He held up a silver pin, much like his, but this one depicted a silver flame of fire.

  “For my Firemaker.” His tender smile extended all the way to his voice. He slid his fingers under the collar of my robe and fastened the pin on the left side. “Beautiful.”

  When I looked up, he wasn’t looking at the pin, but right into my eyes. I stared back, the tingle of his fingers still itching my skin under the pin. Something strange and wonderful passed between us. The moment stilled in time, where everything was exactly as it should be.

  He took my hand again and we continued down the hall toward a black and white tiled room. I recognized the floor; I’d crawled onto it from the elevator shaft. The elevator doors had been sealed shut, the slot where the doors met melted together.

  Heaps of dirt lay in sweeping arcs, left where it had been tossed. The walls looked like a giant fist had punched through them and pulled out everything inside. White plaster dust coated the couch and two overturned chairs. Several scorch marks marred the walls, the desk, even the ceiling, where pipes hung down like weathered tree branches.

  “What in the blazes—?” I searched Hanai’s face for an answer.

  “Adam fell.” He cleared his throat. “You burst into flames and started stumbling around. You were talking, but I couldn’t make out the words. You wouldn’t let me near you.

  “Then the sentries came up from the stairwell, and all hell broke loose. Cat broke pipes and threw waves of water. Her voice….” He shuddered. “Remind me not to tick her off, let’s just say that. Isaiah used the dirt in the potted plants and some plaster from the walls.

  “You exploded an entire wall and disappeared behind a curtain of flames. Then Councilman Davison came out, followed by the rest of his Council, and about twenty additional Councilmen.”

  Hanai paused, long enough for me to remember the agony of Davison’s fire. Long enough to remember the way Adam’s tattoo had disfigured his whole face and to watch the terror replace the pain in his eyes as he plummeted away from me.

  “They sequestered themselves up here as a precaution. They have sentries hiding underground, and they’ve been busy preparing for what Davison calls an ‘imminent disaster.’”

  “And Adam?” I asked.

  “Davison sent his Airmaster to find Adam.”

  I glanced at Hanai, concern spiking in my heart.

  “They haven’t returned yet. Adam fought that mark until it nearly killed him, and then he couldn’t control the air, so he fell.”

  “Where is Adam? Can you feel his, well, his soul?”

  Hanai cleared his throat before speaking. “Not really. He seems to be coming in and out, but I can’t pinpoint his location.”

  I squeezed Hanai’s hand, asking a question without words.

  “I don’t know, Gabby. I don’t know if we can trust him or not.”

  I swallowed. Hot tears gathered behind my eyes, but I blinked them away. I’d already chosen to trust him, now I had to live with whatever happened next.

  “Anyway, Councilman Davison has some serious firepower. He killed a handful of sentries and chased the rest out of his building. He sealed all the entrances and assigned us rooms on the floor just below this one. He ordered the removal of the registration process, sent his Unmanifested Councilmember to clean up the streets, and has sent for his loyal sentries.” He paused to take a breath. “The other Councilmen have been just as busy. There’s a new Elemental here every other minute, and more meetings than I knew someone could attend. Then the Elementals leave again, each with an assignment.”

  He gripped my fingers. “I think they can do it, though. Their souls feel hopeful, almost triumphant. I think together, their combined power and resolve can overthrow Alex.”

  For the first time in a long time, I felt a bubble of hope push its way into my heart. Just as quickly as it bloomed, it deflated. “But what about our chartering? Surely Davison doesn’t have time for that.”

  Hanai’s eyes sparkled. “Isaiah and I started the paperwork to charter the Council with Davison, though we can’t proceed without Adam.” He sighed, the sound full of exhaustion. “And Davison wants to talk to you alone. He wouldn’t disclose what he wants from you, but he won’t sponsor the charter until he speaks with you.”

  “Thanks, Hanai,” I said, trying to tell him how much he meant to me in just two words.

  “You were on fire,” Hanai said, softer now. “Really burning. Your soul hurt so much. I wanted to help you, but—but—it was horrible.”

  Horrible described it pretty well, actually. “Davison summoned me. I had no choice but to respond.”

  “Cat and Susanna doused you in water as fast as they could. Davison was livid when he found out you were a girl.” Hanai paused, searching my eyes. “Because of Alex, he does not think highly of women.”

  The news stung more than I wanted to admit. “I knew people wouldn’t accept me.”

  “But I think you could change his mind. He just needs another example of a female Firemaker to emulate. It can be you instead of Alex.” He leaned toward me, almost like he wanted to embrace me. “You can show him that it’s possible to be a powerful Firemaker and a girl.”

  He drew me into a hug, and I borrowed his confidence and strength. My head felt too heavy to hold up, but I felt calm in the circle of Hanai’s arms. “He’s following all the rules, Gabby. He just wants to talk to you. Make him see a talented, sane, worthy Firemaker. You can have real power for change here.”

  “The laws are changing,” I whispered into Hanai’s neck. “Aren’t they?”

  He responded by holding me tighter. I never wanted him to let go. As long as we were together, I could be the Firemaker he wanted me to be. I could enact governmental change. I could make everyone see that girls were as strong as boys, that we were just as talented, that our fires burned just as hot.

  Hanai stepped back, and I held my head high. “I sat by you most of the night. You do talk in your sleep.” He nudged me with his shoulder.

  I cried out as hot pain streaked down my left side.

  “Sorry,” Hanai said sheepishly. “I forgot to tell you that you were shot.”

  “Shot? Like with a gun?” I didn’t dare move my arm. The pain slowly receded into a dull ache.

  “Felix had a handgun. He fired one shot through the curtain of fire before Cat unleashed a tsunami on him.”

  I reached up and touched my left shoulder blade. Hanai covered my fingers with his. “Leave it. Davison cauterized the wound, but it needs a few days to heal.”

  I winced at the word cauterized, beyond thankful Cat had sung me to sleep. Even though I’d just woken up, I felt like I needed a nap. “Where’s Felix now?”

  “He jumped into the elevator shaft, and we haven’t heard from him since.”

  I glanced at the doors, thinking He’s not dead. I also thought it strange that both Adam and Felix had disappeared through the elevator shaft. Were they together? Would Adam come back?

  “Well, let’s go see Davison, then,” I said. “Get this over with.”

  Hanai led me down the hall. With every step, my feet felt heavier. He paused outside an ordinary-looking door, similar to the others we’d passed.

  “You’ll have to go in alone,” he said. “Davison was very clear about that.” Hanai released my hand and pressed a quick kiss to my forehead. “Good luck.”

  When I couldn’t stall for another second, I opened the door and stepped inside. I saw a dozen people, all wearing various shades of silk. I shrank against the closed door as several of them turned to look at me.

  I stood there, mute and staring. See, I’d never attended the diplomacy classes in school. Those were for registered Elem
entals.

  “Hello, Gabriella.” Davison stood, stretching to his full six-foot height, and abandoning the hushed conversation he’d been having with two Councilmen. The other chatter in the room dissipated.

  I swallowed. “Hello, Councilman Davison. You wanted to see me?”

  My eyes flitted from face to face. The first man I saw looked like he’d tasted something sour. The steel in the second man’s expression didn’t fade as the silence stretched. By the time I looked to the third man in the room, the message was clear: They weren’t sure what to make of me.

  I blinked angrily at the tears pricking behind my eyes. I wouldn’t give them another reason to think girls couldn’t be Firemakers.

  “Hello, Firemakers,” I said. “My name is Gabriella Kilpatrick, and I hail from Crylon.”

  A man shifted, and I recognized him. As was custom, I bowed to my Councilman. “Councilman Ferguson.”

  “Rise,” he said. His footsteps echoed closer, but I kept my face toward the floor. Only when he touched my shoulder did I stand. He looked older than I remembered; maybe I did too.

  His bright blue eyes sparked with intensity as he appraised me. “You’re a Firemaker?” His voice came out soft, kind.

  I nodded.

  “Show me.” He stepped back to allow everyone in the room to witness my power.

  I snapped my fingers, igniting them into blue-tipped flames. I took a deep breath, then urged the flames into torches. Flames licked the ceiling; a calm, white smoke filtered through the room.

  I fisted my hands, pulling the power back into myself. When I dared to look at the group of Councilmen, I found that some of the disgust had been replaced with respect. I tried on a timid smile, and Davison flashed me a tight grin in return.

  Some of the tension in my muscles relaxed—at least until he said, “Come sit down, Gabriella.” He gestured to a chair next to him. “Councilmen, my apologies. I need a moment alone with Gabriella.”

  I quickly stepped further into the room to allow space for the others to leave. He spoke with several of them, casting me a daggered look as he did. I interpreted the look to mean, I really don’t have time for this.

  And I knew he didn’t. I squared my shoulders, deciding that I didn’t care. I needed the magical protection of a chartering, and he was the highest ranking Councilman available.

  The Councilman of Crylon was the last to leave. He stepped close to me, a look I couldn’t decipher in his eye. He opened his mouth to say something, thought better of it, and left with only a smile for me.

  “Come, sit.” Councilman Davison frowned when I still didn’t move. His dark purple Council robes practically smoked with annoyance. “My Airmaster is out looking for yours,” he said, like it was my fault Adam was gone. Perhaps it was—he had been fighting his tattoo on my behalf for days. I shrugged away the guilt flooding my system.

  Against my better judgment, I moved forward and sat. Every nerve raged with desperate fire. I cleared my throat, not that I was gearing up to say anything.

  “What is it you want?” Davison settled himself back into his chair.

  “I need to charter a Council, sir,” I said, using the social skills Educator Ostrund had inflicted upon me.

  He steepled his fingers, appraising me. “Your Earthmover and your Watermaiden have considerable talent,” he said.

  “They do,” I agreed, wondering why he was going through my personnel. Did he honestly care?

  “Your Unmanifested seems capable,” he said.

  “He is.” I balled my hands into fists in my lap where Councilman Davison couldn’t see. With each passing moment, my fire burned hotter, and I swallowed to cool it.

  “You cannot charter without an Airmaster,” Davison said.

  “I’m sure Mr. Gillman will return as soon as he’s able,” I said, though I had no idea if that was true, or when it might happen. A squirmy sensation wormed through my stomach, not only from worry but from the possibility of lying to this very powerful man.

  The Councilman stared at me with cold eyes, and I stared right back. He broke the silence by inhaling deeply and exhaling loudly.

  “Gabriella, this is a huge opportunity for us.” He leaned forward. “Do you understand?”

  My mind raced, trying to find the opportunity in living confined in a twenty-story building and declaring war on an extremely powerful Elemental. I thought through what Hanai had said about the laws changing and showing Davison that girls could be blazing talented Firemakers.

  Finally, I nodded. “There is change coming,” I said. My voice hardly sounded like my own, but wiser. More like my beloved Educator Graham.

  “I can help you with the chartering,” he began, each word drawn out. “But, then, the United Territories needs your help.”

  “My help?” I asked. He had two dozen Councilmen—men who could call down fire from the sky and bring lava up from the ground—waiting in the hall. “My help to do what?”

  “You are a girl,” he said simply, like that explained everything.

  “Yes,” I said, still not getting it.

  “Alex Pederson, the current Supreme Elemental, is a girl.”

  “Yes,” I agreed.

  “She is not a good Supremist.” He sighed when I didn’t jump in with my next step. “Gabriella, I’ve been opposing her new educational policies for over a year. I’ve been traveling to Unmanifested villages and gathering support. I’ve been training twice as many sentries as I usually do. I’ve sent messages to all the Councilmen in every region and city in the Union. All to be able to come against Alex at the right time.”

  “And you think now is the right time,” I said.

  “It’s the right time for a lot of things,” he said. “She is desperate to find you. She has gone from school to school, searching for you. I don’t know how she knew you existed, as you never sent in the Manifestation of your Element, but she knew.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “My sentries say she will do anything to find and eliminate you.”

  I wasn’t sure if this news was supposed to make me feel better or not. “Sir, what is it exactly you want me to do?”

  “I need you to go to Tarpulin and draw the Supremist out of her stronghold.” He leaned forward. “My sentries cannot attack her there, and she refuses to leave for fear they’ll bind her and bring her here. We have been at a standstill for weeks.”

  I frowned, unable to make certain facts line up in my brain. “Sir, I thought she was here.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “Well, when we arrived on the train, her personal sentry said she could feel me, could feel my firemaking ability.” I looked at him, some of the tension between us melting away. “How could she do that if she wasn’t here? I find it hard to believe she could feel such things all the way from Tarpulin.” Again, I had no idea how far Tarpulin sat from Gregorio, but Davison didn’t need to know that.

  He rubbed his hand over his face. “Yes, that doesn’t make much sense. Perhaps that sentry is misinformed. Alex is definitely sequestered in Tarpulin.”

  “I saw her in the Outcast settlement last week.”

  “When last week?”

  “Well, we rode the train for two days, and then one day here, and how long have I been asleep?”

  “Just one day.”

  With the day of walking… .“So five days ago. She was there. She shot out of the ground.”

  “Shot out of the ground?” Davison leaned forward, his eyes dancing with dangerous curiosity. I preferred the cold indifference, honestly.

  “Yes, sir. Right out of the ground like an Earthmover. She threw fire too.”

  Knocking sounded on the door, but Davison called, “A moment more, please.” He focused his attention back on me. “I have a great many things to do, Gabriella. It matters not where Alex is now. I am centering the attack on Tarpulin. That is where you must go. She will come to you.”

  The words rattled in my head as I tried to sort through them. “So you want me to lure her out. Yo
u want to use me as bait.”

  “You will not go alone,” he said. “I have a legion of sentries already surrounding Tarpulin.”

  “That makes me feel so much better,” I snapped, letting my anger rise. “This sounds like a suicide mission.”

  When he didn’t protest, a heavy weight settled on my shoulders. “I’m going to die if I go to Tarpulin, aren’t I?”

  “I need her out in the open,” Davison said, ignoring my outburst, as someone knocked again. He rose to his feet. “You will have the magical protection of the chartering. You will not be alone. And if we succeed, I will personally ensure that your Council is approved and apprenticed.”

  Apprenticed too? I’d get a ten-year mentorship with an established Councilman and city. Even when Councils had been chartered and had completed diplomacy training, they didn’t always get an apprenticeship right away. Or at all.

  “And I don’t have to marry one of my Councilmembers,” I said, standing so I could feel like I was on equal footing with Davison.

  “You are asking for a major policy change,” he said, a new measure of respect in his voice. “I don’t think I can guarantee such a thing before the chartering.”

  I considered him. He seemed genuine. He hadn’t been overly excited to see me, but he’d been fair. “Fine,” I said. “I’ll sign the regular paperwork, but I want to change that law when we defeat Alex. As you said, the laws are changing. With female Firemakers, the marriage laws for Councils should be altered too. Women should have equal rights as men.”

  A tight smile appeared on his face. “Very well.” He smoothed down the front of his robes. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have many things to attend to.” He did not wait for my permission before wrenching open the door and shooing me out.

  I returned to my room, where I stared out the window to the city beyond. Through the glass, I felt the chill of the coming night. I thought of Jarvis, hopefully somewhere far away from here, from Tarpulin, from danger. As much as I’d wanted to run into the forest the evening of his chartering ceremony, I couldn’t. I’d wanted to be there just as bad.