Empyreal

by Helsel, Spencer

  “Give me a minute.” Dani told Ethan.

  He stepped away to wait.

  She told them quietly. “Give me some time. I’ll be back.”

  “I think he’s wants to give you more than some time.” Bouden joked.

  Nathaniel slugged him.

  “Ow! Hey!”

  “Silence back there!” Atid called, then returned to his lecture.

  “Thank you.” She told him. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. If Elder Atid is looking for me, tell him I went to the little girls’ room.”

  “Do they have a little girls’ room?” Dink wondered. “You are the only girl here after all.”

  She didn’t want to think about that. Bathrooms in Empyrean were basically the same at Earth, though made of stone, but the last thing she wanted to think about was pee on the rim of the seat. She was very thankful the centaurs—who, she wondered, somehow knew how to make a human toilet—made for her a private commode at her house. Of course, how horsepeople did the plumbing, she wasn’t sure.

  She joined Ethan. He held out his arm.

  “Again?”

  He nodded. Dani stepped into his arms, ignoring the jitters, and together they lifted off the ground. They flew up. Light cascaded down from the large dome skylight above them as they headed to the top.

  The very top of the Anthenaeum was dominated by a large, circular platform directly underneath the skylight. A few dozen Chroniclers milled about the large pedestal. On a dais, a single Chronicler transcribed something onto scrolls and handed them to others.

  Dani didn’t need to ask. “The Book of Metatron I presume?”

  “Yes. The Chronicler you see there is the Scribe of the Elder Council.”

  “You people really love your titles, don’t you? Scribe, Consul, Arbiter, Novice. Don’t you have anyone like a butcher, a baker, or a candlestick maker?”

  Ethan ignored her joke. “He’s the one who assigns Guardians to new charges. It’s his responsibility until the Book is taken to a new celestial city.”

  “Why?”

  “There’s only one Book of Metatron, but seven cities.” He told her. “Elysium, Beri’ah, Tartarus, Hyperuranion, Pleroma, Ayn Sof and Empyrean. They protect different parts of the world. They all need to know what names appear near them to retrieve the newest Numen. This solar eclipse was the responsibility of Empyrean. Our Novices came from this region of the world. The next solar eclipse will occur somewhere else and call one hundred and forty-four more Novices to a different city.”

  “Or one hundred and forty-five.”

  He got that serious expression he seemed to wear a lot lately. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about: you. Mastema told me that the Elders did not tell you about the Trials.”

  “Yeah. Why is that?”

  He tensed. “I imagine because they don’t want you to succeed.”

  “Well, I guessed that much, Sherlock. But why? What do they have against me?”

  “I wondered that myself. In this case, I think it might have to do more with Mastema instead of you. Or both.”

  “To do with Mastema?”

  “When he told me that you didn’t know about the Trials, I assumed it has something to do with him going before the Council last month. You remember? Generally, Guardians are not taken away from their charges unless for special circumstances. That’s when I got suspicious.” He pulled her close, talking low so no one else could hear. “You have to understand something, Dani. You aren’t the average Novice. I’ve tried to come up with a way of describing you without being insulting, but you’re…well…”

  “Abnormal?”

  “A little.” He sighed. “The Council has never been good with change, though I hoped they would be with you.” His faced flushed for a second. “Some Elders outright dislike you.”

  “Dislike is the wrong word for it. Hate is better. They hate my guts.”

  Ethan nodded. “Others are suspicious of you. They speak on your behalf, but that doesn’t mean that they trust you.”

  “You’re talking about Elder Jeduthun?”

  He couldn’t hide the shock.

  “Yeah. That first day? He and I had a not-sonice chat.”

  He tried to be encouraging. “Elder Azariah speaks highly of you. Elder Castus believes in you, too. Some of the others—Caspar, Harut, Atar— they’re sympathetic. They’re your strongest advocates, but they are not completely on your side. I’m afraid that eventually, those on the Council who are on the fence might turn against you.”

  “You mean by Elder Asaph and Elder Heman.”

  “They have a lot of influence.” He said. “The Gatekeepers are very loyal to Asaph. He’s been their commander for over two hundred years. Heman has many allies on the Council and many supporters amongst the Powers. Many believe he will succeed Castus, should he pass.”

  “And how would that happen? Elders rarely leave the city, right? How could he die?”

  “Yes, well, things still happen.” He told her enigmatically. “My point is that everything is precarious for both you and Mastema. I think that’s why they put you together.” He held up his hand to stop her next question. “Don’t misunderstand me: he is an excellent teacher. But to not tell you about the Trials makes me wary.”

  “Okay, someone needs to explain to me what is up with my Guardian.” She folded her arms. “Why does everyone not like him? And don’t give me any crap about not needing to know. I want to know. I need to know. And I know you know.”

  Ethan avoided her gaze. He wanted to lie. She could read it on his face.

  “Ethan!”

  “Fie, fie, fie!” he cursed, which Dani knew was Empyrean’s version of the f-bomb. “I swear I thought he would tell you. But since he hasn’t, then I guess you deserve to know. Do you remember what I said about a Guardian’s job?”

  “You guys go to Earth, look after future Numen, and then bring them here during the solar eclipse.”

  He nodded. “Yes, but its more than that. Guardian training is very specific. Combat and survival techniques are required along with all of the advanced knowledge, but it’s more than that. Part of the process is mental. It’s indoctrination. We are trained to die.”

  “Die?”

  “To die for our charge. Our sole task is to get them to Empyrean. We accomplish it by any means necessary. Sometimes, we have to make a choice; a hard one.”

  She got it. “You sacrifice yourself if it comes down to you or us.”

  He nodded. “In our training, it is instilled in us as an absolute faith that our life is meaningless if our charge dies. We cannot let that happen. If they die, we die. Guardians throw themselves at overwhelming odds to give the men we protect a chance to escape. It becomes second nature. No one questions it.”

  “Did Mastema?”

  “Mastema was the best of us. No other Guardian faced odds the way he did. He explained his name, right?”

  She nodded.

  “Trust me, he earned it. Most of us might get some kind of nickname or moniker from some trait or heroic event. Mastema didn’t. He’s just Mastema. Death incarnate. Demons fear him. But a few eclipses ago, something happened. We don’t know exactly how, but he lost his charge. The Novice was killed, but Mastema didn’t kill the demon that did it and he didn’t die to protect him. When he returned to Empyrean, he returned in shame. Everyone knows the law. Mastema broke it.”

  “It doesn’t sound like his fault.”

  “From what he said, it wasn’t. He was the only witness, but ever since then the Chroniclers have never assigned him a name out of the Book. Then last month, he was brought before the Council. They warned him.” “About?”

  “About you.” He told her. “They decreed that should Mastema fail to train you properly, his position as Guardian would be forfeit.”

  “What’s the worst they could do to him?”

  Ethan expression was not a happy one.

  “They’d kill him? They’d kill their own soldier?”

  “Judah
was right when he said the Council doesn’t break tradition very easily. Mastema is a source of shame. There are laws which state that a Numen unable to perform their duties would not be welcome amongst us. Many interpret that as grounds for execution.”

  “So they didn’t tell me about the Trials in hopes I’d lose and he would pay the punishment?”

  “And should you fail, already under suspicion…”

  He didn’t have to finish that sentence. “I’d be next.”

  “That’s my belief, yes.”

  She felt cold. “Did you tell him?”

  “I have. He agrees with me.”

  She folded her arms, sniffing back anger. She pressed her hand to her mouth to stop herself from screaming. “This is so unfair.”

  “It is. I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry? I didn’t ask for,” she yanked back the sleeve on her left arm to show him her halo, “this! I didn’t want it as much as they didn’t want me here. I was supposed to be safe from demons in Empyrean, but it turns out I’m in just as much danger from the people I’m supposed to be a part of!”

  Judah’s last words hung in the back of her mind: I’m afraid that your existence is going to make quite a stir in our community. I’d chance to say that by the end of the day, the very people who just saved you will probably put you to death.

  Well, that was true. It just took more than a day. His other warning should have told her that: People fear what they do not understand.

  “What am I supposed to do?” she asked. “The Trials are soon.”

  “I know. Kleos, Mastema and I are working on that.”

  “Working on it?” she demanded. “What are you supposed to do? I’m pretty sure you can’t help me cheat.” Though she half hoped she was wrong.

  “No, we can’t. We would pay a heavy price if discovered and it would all be for naught.” He placed both hands on her shoulders reassuringly. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t try. I’m not going to let something bad happen.”

  She couldn’t look him in the eye. She just couldn’t. It was unfair. It was worse than unfair. Dani’s life hadn’t been the best before coming here. Ricky and her mom were their own kind of mess. But facing down death, all because she and her Guardian were outside the norm? How was that remotely better?

  Chroniclers looked their way. Ethan quickly removed his hands, warm with embarrassment.

  “I should go.” She said, trying not to get red herself. “Uh…thanks.”

  “You are quite welcome.” He bowed formally, probably more for all the Looky-Lous than anything else. “Should I escort you back to your studies?”

  “I think I’ll climb.”

  And quickly, she fled towards the nearest ladder to make her way back down. She didn’t particularly like flying and she didn’t like that she liked flying with him.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Begin!” Caspar commanded. She ran. A dozen Novices ran with her. They sprinted across the open courtyard towards the first pedestals. Dani was the first to make it, leaping onto the first, and then with a few quick steps, launched herself at the next in the spiral.

  And missed.

  She smacked hard into the side and landed with a pained grunt on the stone floor. Two other Novices did too. Others had more luck. They soared over the gap and made it to the next pedestal, their Aer arc lifting them. Others landed chest first and pulled themselves up; not failures, but not successes.

  Bouden easily skipped from one to the next like a kung-fu movie master. Of course.

  “A Numen’s ability to overcome the obstacle of gravity is one that takes patience and a clear mind!” Caspar announced.

  “Not focus? Amazing.” She grumbled sarcastically, dusting off.

  “And focus!”

  There it is.

  Dani rejoined the Novices at the center as the next group began. Her palms bled from scrapes and one elbow throbbed in pain.

  “You okay?” Nathaniel asked, examining her.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Dani,” he touched her arm and she hissed in pain, “I think you broke your elbow.”

  “What?” She looked down at her arm. Sure enough, she couldn’t bend it and she could barely lift it. “How did I not notice that?”

  “You need panacea.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Dani had never gone to the Ward, the medical area of the Citadel behind the Keep. Usually, Mastema treated her wounds. Hell, he gave her most of the wounds to begin with. Pain shot down to her fingers.

  “Maybe you’re right. I think Mastema can patch me up at my house.”

  It was odd. A month and a half before coming to Empyrean, a broken elbow would have crippled her. She’d have bawled like a baby. Now, she looked at her broken limb like it was nothing.

  “Elder Caspar!” Nathaniel called. “Novice Daniella needs panacea!”

  Caspar frowned, coming to examine her. When he lifted her arm, she groaned between clenched teeth.

  “Broken.” He muttered, as if a shattered elbow meant nothing. “Very well. Novice Nathaniel, accompany her.” A scream, collision and loud groan echoed off the walls behind them as another Novice fell. Without looking, Caspar sighed. “And take Novice Ailbe with you.”

  Caspar allowed them to go. Nathaniel helped her. Dink limped along after them. The trio crossed the Vale Bridge into the market. Roxelana met them as they came over.

  “What happened?” She asked, then her eyes widened. “My God! Your arm!”

  “It looks worse than it is.”

  “I doubt that.”

  Korë, playing nearby, skipped over. She waved and smiled at Dani, giving her a hug. Airlea, who stocked shelves in Adare’s market, saw her with them.

  “Airlea,” Roxelana cradled Dani’s arm, “can you go get healing herbs from the market?”

  “What? Why?”

  “Just do it.”

  Airlea glared and stormed off as they headed to Dani’s house. Korë followed. Roxelana went inside as soon as they arrived, getting panacea and bandages for them. A few minutes later, she arrived with the herbs. They lay down in the pavilion and allowed her to play nurse.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Mastema arrived, along with Ethan and Kleos. Dani couldn’t help but notice how harried the trio looked.

  “They’re injured.” Roxelana said, tending to Dani first. Airlea begrudgingly helped.

  “We can take care of them.” Her Guardian said, attempting to shoo her away. “You need to go.”

  “Why?”

  “Because!”

  The look on his face told Dani something was wrong. “Mastema, what is it?”

  He ignored her, telling Roxelana. “You must leave.”

  Airlea was in complete agreement. “Roxelana—.”

  “She is my friend.” She insisted, wrapping Dani’s arm with the panacea-soaked bandages and held up an earthen cup steaming with some foulsmelling mixture inside. “Drink this.”

  She sniffed and gagged. “Do I have to?”

  “It’s a tincture; algaophotis and silphium.”

  “I’ll pretend like I know what those are.”

  “Just drink.”

  She did. She doubted any magical healing would ever taste or smell good, but she drank it all the same and it took effect almost

  instantaneously. The pain subsided. She relaxed.

  But Mastema was anything but relaxed. Ethan and Kleos looked similarly uneased.

  “Can someone please tell me what is going on?” She asked. “Why do you want Roxelana to leave?”

  Nathaniel similarly noticed the Guardians’ mood. “Something has them spooked.”

  Dani turned her eyes on Ethan. Unlike her Guardian or Kleos, he wasn’t as good at hiding things from her. “Ethan?”

  He knelt, touching her arm. Dani pulled it away, even though it didn’t hurt anymore.

  “Tell me.” She told him. “Don’t lie.”

  “The gifted need to leave. Someone is coming.”

&
nbsp; “Someone?”

  Dani was about to ask more but the sound of armored marching caught her attention. Ethan worriedly looked uphill. She stood painfully and stepped out of the pavilion, shielding Roxelana, Korë and Airlea.

  Six Powers crested the hill. They wore full armor and armament, with Heman at the lead. The group descended and as soon as they reached her home, fanned out.

  “Ethan?” She asked softly.

  He muttered out of the corner of his mouth. “We wanted them out of here before they saw them.”

  “You look worried.”

  “He doesn’t normally make house calls; especially not with an entourage of soldiers.”

  Heman frowned at her home, running his fingers through some of the vines and accidentally knocking off some fruits. Or maybe it wasn’t an accident. Either way, he regarded them all coolly.

  “Guardian Ethan, Guardian Kleos, I did not expect to see you here.”

  “We did not expect you here either, Elder Heman.” Kleos answered, careful not to let any worry slip, though Dani noticed he, Ethan and Mastema all had sheathed weapons lying nearby. That wasn’t by accident. What the hell was going on?

  “What are you doing here?” Then, his eyes wandering over the pavilion, he noticed Roxelana. “And what are gifted doing here?”

  “Treating them.” Roxelana stepped into the open. “We lent our services.”

  “Not all of us happy to do it.” Airlea added in her own defense.

  “Silence!” Heman’s dark tone quickly made the two gifted silent. “That is the duty of the healers of the Ward. You know the laws of Empyrean.”

  “They aided wounded Novices.” Ethan clarified. “That should be commended.”

  “We’ll see.” Heman gave nothing away. “Novice Daniella, is this your home?”

  “Yes. I couldn’t be in the other aeries, so I made one for myself.”

  “You made it? Truly?” He brushed his fingers along the side where some healing moss grew. “Amaranthine wood? That is usually centaur design.”

  “I read some books.” It was a bad lie.

  But Heman ignored it. Instead, he let slip a gleeful, stupid grin. “Novice Daniella, it has come to my attention that we have been remiss in not informing you of an impending event. It is a tradition amongst our people. I apologize for the late hour notice. I am aware it will put you behind your fellow Novices in preparation.”