The Fire Keeper

by J. C. Cervantes

  After dinner, Ren and I walked Pacific back to the sea.

  “You’re the one who helped Ren get here,” I said.

  Pacific nodded, pulling her leopard hood over her locs. “I knew you would need her. And she would need you.”

  “You saw the future?” Ren asked.

  “Only a glimpse,” Pacific said. “It was enough.” She wrapped a slim gold watch around Ren’s wrist. “We’re supposed to wait until the claiming ceremony to bestow our gifts, but”—she smiled—“I’m too impatient for that. This will keep the right time—the true time for you.” She dipped her toes into the sea. “You, being my daughter, might disturb the threads of time. Nothing too big, just a few lost minutes here and there.”

  That’s when I remembered Ixtab’s broken watch, the stopped clock at the church, and the busted one in Cabo. And in San Miguel, Quinn had thought more time should have passed. Had that all been Ren’s doing? Then there was the waterfall in the underworld that froze for a nanosecond, and my mind skidded right into the moment we tumbled over the cliff and the world had seemed to slow.

  When I mentioned all this, Pacific nodded. “And the absence seizures…” She looked at Ren. “Trances are the gateway to your godborn power.”

  Ren blinked slowly, her gaze on the sand like she was taking it all in. “That’s how I always know what time it is.” She looked up at Pacific. “Can I like…” She hesitated. “Can I control time?”

  “Not yet. Maybe never. But one thing is certain. You are deeply connected to time, and with training you will no doubt learn some powerful skills, but we’ll know more soon.” And with that Pacific walked into the waves and disappeared.

  I guess she’d gotten used to living there after all these years.

  “Now I get why I love the sky and aliens and stuff,” Ren said, still staring at the sea. “My mom’s the great sky-watcher. She taught the people how to read the stars. She said she’ll teach me, too.”

  “Did she tell you if aliens are real?”

  “I haven’t had a chance to ask her yet.” Ren danced excitedly. “I can’t wait to find out!”

  The claiming ceremony was planned for June, a few months from now, to allow enough time to find any other godborns before the twins did. I knew Ixtab wouldn’t stop looking until she found her offspring.

  I finally understood. She had told me about the godborns all those months ago because she knew I’d go looking for them—she knew I would lead her right to her daughter. Except I hadn’t done that, and now I wanted to. I wanted to help find each and every godborn still out there. It was hard to imagine what it would be like to train side by side with them, to see all their powers emerge, and to work with the gods instead of against them.

  * * *

  For me, the story ends here. Or at least what I would consider the “public” part. But after I finished writing, Itzamna’s paper added more sentences. It was like there was some ghost looking over my shoulder and, if I left out a detail, whish—the words appeared on the page. So annoying.

  Anyhow, I’d rather the whole story, even the private stuff, come from me and not some controlling paper (it is controlling, Itzamna). So, if you’re interested, here’s how this story really ends….

  POSTSCRIPT

  Rosie and I took a hike that night (it felt great having Fuego again), going all the way to the beach on the east side of the island. The sky was moonless, and even the stars seemed too far away.

  “You were a real champ on this quest,” I told her.

  She walked slowly beside me, and at first I thought she was ignoring my comment. Then she looked at me out of the corner of her eye, snorted, and nudged me with her nose, as if to say You weren’t so bad yourself.

  It was one of those moments you know you’ll never forget, all warm and fuzzy and PERSONAL. “Love you, girl.”

  Rosie raised up on her hind legs and whined like a puppy. I laughed and high-fived her paw as she came down. She might never go back to being the dog I had found all those years ago, but I realized that underneath her tough hellhound exterior she was still Rosie, just as my being a godborn didn’t change who I was deep down.

  I peered across the beach and saw a small beam of light.

  Brooks was sitting on the sand with a flashlight. She had a book in her hands. My book.

  Crap!

  I was backing up, intending to leave before she saw me, when Rosie took off toward her, tongue hanging out the side of her mouth.

  Brooks looked up and smiled. “Hey, girl.” She scratched Rosie’s leg. She’d already seen me by then, so I couldn’t slink back into the dark and pretend I wasn’t there.

  “Hey,” I said, gripping Fuego as Brooks tossed a stick into the waves for Rosie. My hellhound took off after it.

  Brooks’s eyes fell to my cane/spear. “You got it back.”

  Eager to see what this 2.0 version could do, I launched Fuego over the waves. It streaked blue across the sky and appeared back in my hand before I could blink twice. I stared down, catching my breath. “Whoa!”

  “Yeah,” Brooks said as she stood and came closer to inspect him. “Whoa! Even faster than”—she held up the book—“before.”

  I felt pressure in my chest like I’d just run up a mountain. Why was it so hard to breathe? “Pretty boring, huh?”

  “It reminded me of how nasty Ah-Puch was back then. And now he’s…”

  “Yeah.”

  “It was hard to see you take off with him.”

  “I know. But I needed his help.”

  “I get it.” She shrugged. “I would have done the same thing.”

  “Really?”

  “Well, no. I would have told you—not left a worthless note.” Her amber eyes flashed. “You should have trusted me.”

  “You wouldn’t have let me go alone.”

  She paced. “It makes sense now.”

  Oh gods—was she going to call me out on all the other reckless things she’d read about? I groaned inwardly, thinking of the PRIVATE thoughts she’d seen by now, about her being beautiful, and her smile, and…Stupid truth paper! Heat rushed into my face. Man, I hoped my skin wasn’t glowing with fire.

  “‘All roads lead to the gods’ angry wrath,’” she quoted. “The ancestors’ message—they meant the Mexica gods.”

  I let out a tense breath. “Not the Maya.”

  She nodded, clutching the book. “It’s not bad.”

  I didn’t know if she was talking about the message or the book, and if she was talking about the book, I wanted to change the subject. “I didn’t get to tell you, but that was a good move, ripping off Jordan’s and Bird’s masks, and then—”

  “Saving you?”

  “Again.”

  “Too bad I didn’t get in more clawing.” She smiled, adding, “Next time you take off and don’t want to be found, you might want to erase your Google search history.”

  “That’s why you went to the volcano?”

  “We saw the images and figured if you went back to New Mexico you might start at the Beast. Thankfully, we found a nearby gateway.”

  I toed the sand, thinking Brooks would make an excellent spy. Then my mind drifted back to Jordan and Bird. “Do you think the gods will find the twins?”

  Brooks frowned. “I don’t know. Those guys are pretty shrewd, and now they’re getting help from their mom. And that creepy Zotz….”

  “But we have all the Maya gods on our side.”

  “No, Zane—we’re on their side. Don’t forget who’s boss.”

  We stood like that, staring at the ocean, neither one of us knowing what to say next. She reached for my hand. Things are going to get…

  Dangerous?

  Serious.

  Then she a took a deep breath and said, “Zane, I…” She hesitated and dropped my hand.

  “What?”

  “I have to go.”

  “Like, back to the house?”

  Her words came out in a single rush. “Back to where I came from. To be with my s
ister. And…” She hesitated and took a deep breath. “My dad is sick.”

  Her dad? The guy who had left her and Quinn for some new family? I wanted to ask that, but I knew this wasn’t the right time. “What kind of sick?”

  “When Hurakan renewed the Maya magic, my dad’s nawal power didn’t come back all the way. Quinn thinks it’s because he was already sick. Anyways, he needs our help.” She squeezed her hands together. “I can’t just leave him alone.”

  So that’s what the sisters had been talking about over dinner.

  I felt like a giant fist had punched a hole in my chest. Brooks gone? I was so used to her being here, bossing me around. Telling it to me straight. Being my best friend. I wanted to beg her to stay, but I’d be a world-class jerk to hold her back. She belonged with her family.

  “It’s not for forever,” she said. “Ixtab is letting me train with the godborns this summer. I’ll see you then, right?”“

  I turned to face her. “In the Tree.”

  She looked up at me, pushing a stray curl from her face. “In the Tree.”

  The waves rolled. The sea breeze wound between us. I stepped closer to her, holding my breath. She didn’t punch me. I found myself tilting my face toward her, getting near enough to…

  Brooks closed her eyes.

  A burst of flame startled us and pulled us apart. Rosie’s fireball rolled to my feet.

  Stepping back, Brooks laughed. “Want to play some fire fetch, girl?”

  I picked up the fireball and tossed it down the beach. Rosie tore after it. When I turned back, Brooks socked me in the arm and said, “Your face is kind of on fire.” And then she shifted into hawk form and took off, flying directly over my hellhound like she wanted to race.

  My hands flew to my cheeks. Yep, they were blazing hot. With Fuego in hand, I raced into the sea and dove beneath the breakers, where the only sound was the pounding surf. I launched myself to the surface and looked up to see Brooks soaring overhead in a wide circle. Watching her, my heart pretty much expanded three sizes. “You’re still a show-off!” I hollered, smiling.

  I knew these moments of peace wouldn’t last. Jordan, Bird, and Camazotz wouldn’t stay gone forever. They’d been plotting revenge for hundreds of years, and they weren’t about to stop now. They’d try to raise the Mexica gods, and monsters, and who knew what else.

  But the difference this time? I had the fire. I still had a lot to learn, but I’d be ready. We’d be ready. Me, the godborns, the sobrenaturals, and the Maya gods. For whenever that someday might come.

  For now? I’d count the days till summer.

  One…

  EL FIN

  GLOSSARY

  Dear Reader:

  This glossary is meant to provide some context for Zane’s story. It in no way represents the many Maya mythologies, cultures, languages, pronunciations, and geographies. That would take an entire library. Instead, this offers a snapshot of how I understand the myths and terms, and what I learned during my research for this book. Simply put, myths are stories handed down from one generation to the next. While growing up near the Tijuana border, I was fascinated by the Maya (as well as the Aztec) mythologies, and I was absolutely sure that my ancestors were related to the gods. Each time I’ve visited the Maya pyramids in Yucatán, I’ve listened for whispers in the breeze (and I just might’ve heard them). My grandmother used to speak of spirits, brujos, gods, and the magic of ancient civilizations, further igniting my curiosity for and love of myth and magic. I hope this is the beginning (or continuation) of your own curiosity and journey.

  Ah-Puch (ah-POOCH) god of death, darkness, and destruction. Sometimes he’s called the Stinking One or Flatulent One (Oy!). He is often depicted as a skeleton wearing a collar of dangling eyeballs from those he’s killed. No wonder he doesn’t have any friends.

  Ahuitzotl (ah-WEET-so-tul) a Mexica water monster with a lopsided face, spiked fur along its spine, and a lizard tail with a hand at the end to drag around its screaming victims. It eats humans.

  Alom (ah-LOME) god of the sky

  alux (ah-LOOSH) a knee-high dwarf-like creature molded out of clay or stone for a specific purpose. The creator of an alux must provide offerings to it. Otherwise it might get mad and take revenge on its owner. Sounds kind of risky, if you ask me.

  Aztec (AZ-tek) a group of people indigenous to Mexico before the Spanish conquest of the sixteenth century. The word means coming from Aztlán, their legendary place of origin.

  Bakab (bah-KAHB) four divine brothers who hold up the corners of the world, and all without complaining about having tired arms

  Camazotz (KAH-mah-sots) a Maya bat god who, before he was exiled, lived in the House of Bats in Xib’alb’a, where his job was to bite off travelers’ heads

  Ceiba Tree (SAY-bah) the World Tree or Tree of Life. Its roots begin in the underworld, grow up through the earth, and continue into paradise.

  Chaac (CHAHK) the Maya rain god

  Hurakan (hoor-ah-KAHN) god of wind, storm, and fire. Also known as Heart of the Sky and One Leg. Hurakan is one of the gods who helped create humans four different times. Some believe he is responsible for giving humans the gift of fire.

  Itzamna (IT-sahm-na) a Maya creator god associated with writing

  Itzam-yée’ (eet-sahm-YEE) a bird deity that sits atop the World Tree and can see all three planes: the underworld, earth, and paradise. Imagine the stories he could tell.

  Ixkakaw (eesh-ka-KOW) goddess of the cacao tree and chocolate

  Ixkik’ (sh-KEEK) mother of the hero twins, Jun’ajpu’ and Xb’alamkej; also known as the Blood Moon goddess and Blood Maiden. She is the daughter of one of the lords of the underworld.

  Ixtab (eesh-TAHB) goddess (and often caretaker) of people who were sacrificed or died a violent death

  Jun’ajpu’ (HOON-ah-POO) one of the hero twins; his brother is Xb’alamkej. These brothers were the second generation of hero twins. They were raised by their mother (Ixkik’) and grandmother. They were really good ballplayers, and one day they played so loudly, the lords of the underworld got annoyed and asked them to come down to Xib’alb’a for a visit (no thanks!). They accepted the invitation and had to face a series of tests and trials. Luckily for them, they were clever and passed each test, eventually avenging their father and uncle, whom the lords of the underworld had killed.

  K’ukumatz (koo-koo-MATS) (also known as Kukuulkaan) one of the creator gods. He is said to have come from the sea to teach humans his knowledge. Then he went back to the ocean, promising to return one day. As Kukuulkaan, he is known as the Feathered Serpent. According to legend, he slithers down the steps of the great pyramid El Castillo at Chichén Itzá in Yucatán, Mexico, on the spring and autumn equinoxes; festivals are held in his honor there to this day. El Castillo is definitely a cool—but also hair-raising and bone-chilling—place to visit.

  Kukuulkaan (koo-kool-KAHN) see K’UKUMATZ

  Mexica (meh-SHEE-ka) a Nahuatl-speaking group of people indigenous to Mexico before the Spanish conquest of the sixteenth century. Also referred to as the rulers of the Aztec empire.

  Muwan (moo-AHN) a screech owl that Ah-Puch used to send messages from the underworld (good thing she couldn’t text!)

  Nakon (nah-CONE) god of war

  nawal (nah-WAHL) a human with the ability to change into an animal, sometimes called a shape-shifter

  nik’ wachinel (nikh watch-een-EL) a Maya seer, a diviner who can forecast the future

  Tlaltecuhtli (tlah-tek-OOT-lee) the Mexica earth goddess, whose name means the one who gives and devours life

  Xb’alamkej (sh-bah-lam-KEH) one of the hero twins; see JUN’AJPU’

  Xib’alb’a (shee-bahl-BAH) the Maya underworld, a land of darkness and fear where the soul has to travel before reaching paradise. If the soul fails, it must stay in the underworld and hang out with demons. Yikes!

  Yum Balam (YOOM bah-LAHM) Lord Jaguar in Mayan; a wildlife preserve in tropical Mexico

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 
Writing is a solitary act, but bringing a book to life takes an entire team. Heartfelt thanks to my amazing agent, Holly Root. Your guidance, wisdom, and support are more grounding than you know. To Steph Lurie for your mad editing skills and brilliant sound effects; you’ve got the brass key to unlocking stories. To the incredible Disney Hyperion team: from copyediting, book design, school and library marketing, publicity, and everything in between—I appreciate and admire each of you and your imaginations. To Irvin Rodriguez, who creates mesmerizing, on-point cover art. To Rick Riordan, your enthusiasm is unparalleled. It is such an honor to work with you.

  No writer shines (or stays composed) without outstanding, generous, brilliant crit/readers. I’m looking at you, Janet Fox, Lucia DiStefano, and the ever-shining AMC. And to David Bowles. Your mind is a world all its own. Gracias for your expertise.

  To my father, who trained me night and day. Yes, I won the jacket, but in the end, I got something better: resilience and a stubborn spirit. I am incredibly blessed to have the unwavering support of my parents, who are always more excited than I am for each new bend in the road. And to my forever loyal, big-hearted family: Joe, Alex, Bella, and Jules. You four are the moon and the stars and my everything.

  To all the teachers and librarians who put books into the hands of kids and nurture their love of story. To my readers: There are no words to thank you enough for choosing to follow Zane on his adventures. (Both he and Rosie are beyond grateful, too.)

  And as always, I thank God for this incredible journey.

  Coming in Fall 2020

  The Shadow Crosser

  A Storm Runner Novel Book 3

  is the New York Times best-selling author of The Storm Runner, the first book in a fantasy adventure trilogy. She grew up in San Diego, California, near the Tijuana border, where she fed her fascination with the Maya and Aztec mythologies. Now she lives with her husband, Joseph, in New Mexico. She is the mother of three daughters, the youngest of whom inspired her critically acclaimed first novel, Tortilla Sun. Her wish is that children everywhere see themselves reflected in the pages of the books that inspire them and that they learn to see beyond their own lives, recognizing and celebrating others. She believes in magic, always roots for the underdog, and eats salsa with nearly every meal. For more information, go to www.jennifercervantes.com or follow her on Twitter (@jencerv) and Instagram (@authorjcervantes).