by Amy Alward
Everything that she says makes sense, but I have other cues that I can’t ignore. My shaking hands for one thing. The dryness in my mouth. I’m not made to be a spokesperson.
Before I do anything, I have to get in touch with Kirsty. Something has been eating away at me since seeing Prince Stefan’s face in the Palace. He didn’t tell me who the source was – but maybe that’s because he genuinely doesn’t know?
And now I can’t help but wonder . . . maybe the ORA do know more than they are letting on.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Samantha
I DISAPPEAR INTO THE WAIDAN’S OFFICE, sliding the door shut and sitting down at his desk. I open up Connect on my laptop and search for Kirsty on the chat function. It’s a long shot, especially as my parents couldn’t reach her, but I need to try everything. I open up several browser windows, logging into message boards I know that she frequents. Hopefully word will get out there that I’m trying to reach her. Almost instantly, she gets in touch with me on Connect chat.
Kirsty: SAM!!!!! I don’t even know what to say right now but many many exclamation points. Where are you?
Sam: Hey Kirsty! I’m in Zhonguo. Can you video chat?
Kirsty: No – that program is too easy for the Prince to trace at the moment. It’s better that we use Connect instead – it’s based out of New Nova, so it’s not easy for him to access. He has no control over this platform.
Sam: I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried when my parents said you’d gone underground. Look, I have a question.
Kirsty: Shoot.
Sam: I have to know: did the ORA have anything to do with the virus at the Palace?
There’s a long pause while I bite my nails in anticipation. I can see the annoying words Kirsty is typing . . . but she must be writing me a really long message or she’s unsure how to put what she has to say to me.
Kirsty: No, we didn’t.
Her reply comes finally. I let out a loud puff of breath.
Sam: Thank god.
Kirsty: We’re in the dark as much as you are. Wow, Sam. I thought you would be the last person to believe the Prince’s lies. Do you really think I would put your sister in danger? I’m leaving. Goodbye.
Sam: No, wait!
I wait a few moments, and when Kirsty doesn’t log off, I assume she’s giving me a chance.
Sam: I just had to ask to be 100% sure. But I do know who’s behind the ‘virus’.
Kirsty: Then spill.
Sam: It’s not really a virus at all. It’s a person. Someone with the ability to drain Talenteds of their power. The only problem is – I don’t know who.
I hesitate for a moment. I want to write more, I even start typing the sentence (‘There is an ordinary out there who took a potion to become Talented’), but I don’t know if that’s the kind of information I want spreading.
Kirsty: . . . . . .
I wish I could see Kirsty’s face right now. I have no idea what she’s thinking.
Kirsty: Sam . . . you mean to tell me that every Talented who is affected is losing their power? Including the Princess?
Sam: Yes. But I’m about to find the cure . . .
Kirsty: What?! There’s a cure? But this could be the perfect opportunity for us. If every Talented lost their power, things would be instantly more equal.
Now it’s my turn to be silent. I can’t believe what I’m reading. Luckily for me, I don’t have to reply, because Kirsty is typing responses so fast, I can barely keep up.
Kirsty: Who else have you told about this?
Kirsty: Can I keep you from making any moves until I’ve figured this out?
Kirsty: I know your sister is one of the affected. So I know you have to do this. But this is exactly what we’ve been waiting for.
Kirsty: A moment to show to the Talenteds, to prove to them, that they need us. That they’re not as strong as they think they are. Was this what had been happening in Gergon too? No wonder they hid themselves away.
Kirsty: Sam? You there? There’s something you should know.
I tap my fingers along the edge of the keyboard. This whole conversation has made me so uncomfortable. I don’t know whether to rise to Kirsty’s bait and ask her what that ‘something’ is. But eventually, I give in.
Sam: What’s that?
Kirsty: The Palace is trying to keep it quiet, putting blocks on all the media, but you should know. The invisible floating Palace was seen about an hour ago from the ground. The Royal magic is waning. You know what might happen if it goes altogether. If you were hoping to find the cure and contain it before it’s too late . . . it already is. If the Palace falls, no one will ever trust a Royal family of Nova again.
I log out of the chat before I can say anything that will make it worse. I got my answer: the ORA is not involved. But that doesn’t mean they won’t take advantage of the situation when it looks like things are turning in their favour.
Events are spinning out of my control. The thought of the floating Palace falling . . .
The ORA will blame the Royals.
The Royals will blame the ORA.
It will be ordinary versus Talented at the highest level.
I can’t let such an imbalance take place. Maybe Trina is right after all. Maybe I do have to put my voice out there. I can tell the people that there’s someone else behind this. A third party. A real enemy.
It might unite us.
Whatever trust I might have built up with the Novaen people in the wake of the Wilde Hunt and the Royal Tour could be so important now. Hopefully my reputation hasn’t been damaged too much.
It’s worth a try.
I step back out into the living room. ‘Okay, Trina. I’m ready.’
She leaps up from the chair, her bright red hair flying like flames.
We set it up a bit like the private interviews I was going to be doing on the reality TV show. She chooses a dark wall, and creates a makeshift light for my face out of the lamp from one of the labs and a piece of cardboard she folds around the naked bulb to direct the light. Now that there is no one Talented around to make it hover, we prop the FollowMe up on a pile of books, so that the lens is at eye-level.
All of a sudden, this feels so different to the kind of filming I was going to be doing. I thought that I could give an insight into my past, but this is all about bringing the viewers into the present.
This video, if it’s to have any impact at all, has to go up before Kirsty and the ORA make any announcements of their own about the Palace.
I take a deep breath, and look myself dead in the eye. You can do this. I stare straight into the camera, and start talking.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Samantha
LONG-SHI IS BUSTLING. DESPITE THE increased activity from the volcano, life continues as normal in the town – the people here are used to living in the shadow of danger. Until the sirens go off, they won’t evacuate. Mei tells me that news of what’s going on in Nova has hit mainstream Zhonguoan media, but it’s so far away – and there’s so much confusion – that it’s hard for people to grasp the severity of the situation. ‘Until it arrives on our doorstep, it will be hard to make anyone care – or understand.’
I nod, even as my heart constricts at the thought. If the drain really gets out of hand it could be dangerous for the whole world. ‘It’s the same in Nova. When events take place in other parts of the world, it’s hard to get people to care.’
The Waidan has gone to pick up Anita and Arjun, as well as to try and find us a local guide to take us up the volcano, but everyone is reluctant to go up when Yanhuo is clearly so active. My eyes drift to the cone of the volcano that looms over the town. Plumes of white smoke rise from the opening. It fills me with dread, but also reminds me that I still have time. The volcano hasn’t erupted. There’s still an opportunity to see if a phoenix has nested there, basking in the fiery heat. Even if we find the phoenix, collecting its flames will be challenging. My memory flickers back to the time I watched Kirsty as she
collected dragon flame. She came close to being seared alive. Collecting from the phoenix will be just as difficult.
Phoenix flames – even more volatile than phoenix feathers, an ingredient that is known to restore balance to the natural order. I add a mental note: Can be used in potions to stem the drain of magical power.
It’s strange to think that this time I know exactly the potion I need to make. It’s going to be getting the cure to the affected people quickly enough that’s going to be difficult. My throat closes as I think of the falling Palace, of my sister locked in sleep and of the Queen Mother, who risked her life to help me. There are people counting on me. I can’t let them down.
Thankfully, Zain is going to be on the inside. All I need to do is find that ingredient.
Mei and I are on a quest in Long-shi to gather all the equipment I might need. I’ve been up all night doing research, reading the book on the Wild creatures of Zhonguo that I’d brought with me – and trying to ignore the fact that my video is up on the internet, gathering views. Trina posted it in the early hours of the morning, which would have been peak viewing time in Nova. I know I should have tried harder to get some proper sleep, but it was impossible. My mind wouldn’t settle, no matter how much deep breathing I tried. It was a whirlwind of activity, my heart racing inside my chest, and only a bit of reading so I could trick my body into thinking I was being productive would allow me any respite.
I didn’t really need to do much research when it came to the phoenix, though. It’s always been my most favourite of magical creatures, and – with its status as one of the rarest – something I never thought I’d get to see in real life. I know almost everything there is to know about them, from how best to approach one, where they live, what they eat – even the average wingspan (it’s over four metres, for the record). I know they’re one of the few creatures to respond to human speech. That they are noble, solitary creatures that hate imbalance (and that’s just one of the reasons why they’re symbols of alchemy). We have a stash of dried feathers at the store for potions. Kirsty didn’t even Find those, we had to buy them from an alchemist who was shutting down in New Nova. They’re not often used in potions.
If you were a real Finder, you’d be figuring out a way to bring feathers home as well as flames. And maybe ash too, if it exists on the ground.
I’m snapped back to the present when Mei comes out of a grocery store with two bags of trail mix. ‘I know you’re not planning on being on the volcano long, but it’s a hard climb. You’re going to need all the energy you can get.’
‘That’s great, thank you.’
‘So is that everything?’
I nod. ‘I think so.’
‘Then let’s head back to the compound. Your friends should be arriving soon.’
We walk the short distance back to laboratory, and my heart leaps as I spot the Waidan’s car parked in the drive.
‘Sam?’ I hear Anita before I see her.
‘You’re here!’ I shout and drop the shopping bags I’m carrying. I practically tackle-hug Anita and Arjun to the ground as they appear in the courtyard. The two of them are my rocks.
My world.
I burst into tears.
‘Hey!’ says Anita. ‘None of that. We’re here now.’
‘What do we need to do to save the world this time?’ Arjun asks, rubbing his hands together.
I wipe my eyes and grin. ‘You ready to climb a volcano?’
‘I thought you’d never ask,’ he grins back.
Despite the fact that we are all keen to leave as soon as possible, preparations can’t be rushed if we’re going to be safe. Without an official guide, we’re going to be reliant on my research and Arjun’s intuition. We spend the next few hours inside the compound, putting together our volcano-climbing kit.
‘Do you think this will fit you?’ Arjun holds up what looks like a crash test dummy but is in fact a full-length jumpsuit.
‘Uh, maybe?’ I hold it up under my neck. It skims the ground, so I nod. ‘I think it will work.’
‘Good. Apparently we’re also going to need crampons for further up the volcano. It might get icy.’
‘Oh yeah – Mei and I picked up some of those from a hiking store in town. But are they really necessary? Isn’t it boiling hot on a volcano?’
‘Yeah, but there’s a glacier up there. I’ve been reading up on other Finders’ trip notes climbing Yanhuo, but they’re ancient; there’s not much to go on. Without a guide . . . it’s going to be tough figuring out a safe route. Our aim is to get up and back as fast as possible. And that’s going to be interesting considering it’s almost two thousand feet straight up.’
I gulp. I’m not exactly a fitness queen and even throughout the Wilde Hunt I never needed to do anything truly physically tough. Once again, Anita is going to be our point person on the ground, with Trina continuing to scour the internet for clues as to who the source could be – any rumour of an ordinary person suddenly gaining magical power is worth investigating, not that there are many of them.
‘Holy dragons, your video has just passed the 100k mark in views,’ says Trina.
My jaw drops. ‘What? You’re kidding me.’
‘Nope. It seems like people are sharing it on their feeds after they’ve viewed it. Come look.’
We crowd into the small office room, where Trina has set up a battery of electrical equipment that boggles my mind. She thinks alchemy equipment is complicated, but to me it feels like nothing compared to the maze of wires and monitors and various beeping, flashing devices that populate the area around her.
Trina herself is deep in the zone, her bottom lip sucked in between her teeth, headphones covering her mess of red hair. We crowd around behind her, staring at the large monitor. She plays my video, and I see she’s cut in some of the fake newsflashes that have been going around so that people everywhere know what I’m talking about. I cringe as my face appears on the screen, and I subconsciously raise my hand to my hair, wondering why I couldn’t have taken a moment to brush it before filming.
‘It’s so good, Sammy,’ says Anita, squeezing my shoulder. ‘You sound so awesome and natural. Like it’s coming from the heart.’
‘I’d believe you,’ says Arjun, nodding in agreement.
‘Thanks, guys. I think I just look . . . untidy. I don’t know if I would trust me.’
‘I would. I think: now there’s someone who cares more about getting the truth out rather than whether their hair is done properly,’ says Anita.
I grimace. ‘If you say so.’
I hear my voice, tinny through the speakers. We are Novaens – all of us, Talented or ordinary. This is not a conspiracy by ordinaries to control the Talenteds. This is not a conspiracy by the Talenteds to oppress the ordinaries.
I cringe. ‘And what’s the reaction like?’
Trina shrugs. ‘Mixed at the moment – a lot of scepticism, but that’s to be expected. Still, you’re so convincing that people are sharing widely. At least they know you’re working on the cure. Wow – it’s going up by almost a thousand views a minute! This video is really going viral.’
I close my eyes for a second and wait for the fear to pass. I can’t think about it. I don’t have time to worry about people believing me. It’s time for me to make sure I can turn the promise of a cure into an actual working potion.
Arjun’s voice brings me back. ‘Okay, you have your own boots, right? I’ve packed pick-axes, headlamps, gloves, hats, several coils of rope, the heatproof and specially sealed pots to collect the fire, the ribbon for the fire-traps, icy-powder in case of lava lizards, goggles, gas masks—’
‘Gas masks?’ I interrupt.
‘Well, we are going into the heart of a volcano. Who knows what we’re going to find down there. What else am I missing?’
‘Snacks?’ I ask.
‘Got them,’ says Anita, dumping out a series of enhanced nutrition bars on the table. I wrinkle my nose at the crinkled packets – they tend to taste like slud
ge rather than actual food. ‘Hey, don’t turn your nose up at these! They’ll keep you from going hungry and they could basically survive any kind of disaster – natural or magical.’
‘Mei’s trail mix looked much nicer.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ve got that too.’
‘Okay. I’ll eat them. In fact, pack a few more than you think we’ll need.’ I remember being stuck up on the mountain with Zain after the avalanche and how much we would have killed for a nutrition bar at that point. I wish he was here to help with this.
‘I’ll stuff them in your bags wherever I can,’ Anita says with a smile. ‘Can’t do with you getting hangry.’
I mock-snarl back at her, and we laugh. It feels good to break the tension. The muscles in my shoulders are so tightly knotted together I feel like they have more in common with stones than flesh. The laughter eases the pain.
‘Do you miss him?’ Anita asks, reading my thoughts in the way only a best friend can.
I give her a small smile, but she’s not convinced. She grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. That breaks my resolve to put on a brave face. ‘I know it’s so much better having him working with ZA – but I wish he was here. I’m worried for him. I’m worried for Mum. For everyone.’
‘I know what you mean. This is big, huh?’
‘Really big. Maybe the biggest thing we’ve ever faced.’
She nods, her mouth set in a firm line.
Trina speaks up next. ‘Okay, I’m scrambling all the electronic signals leaving here so that our location can’t be tracked. And I hacked the FollowMe to place you in a different part of the world every time you upload. That should throw everyone off for now.’
Anita has fashioned a hands-free mount for my FollowMe out of elastic hairbands and a watch strap. It fits around the strap of my backpack, so it should capture everything that I see on the journey. I want to have irrefutable proof that I’ve been working to help Nova.
