Elements of Power (Council of the Harvest Moon Book 1)

by Kate Stoessel

  “Orph, Perry...you’re late. People are going to be here in 15 minutes,” she stopped when she saw me. “Hello, I’m Vivian Porter.” Her sparkling silver almond-shaped eyes looked from Perry to me. “Tsunami girl,” she said in a way that was not unkind, but still didn’t make me feel great.

  “It’s Khlorie, Viv,” Perry responded with a warning tone.

  “I know,” the witch said, giving Perry a look. There was a kind of comfort and familiarity between the two that only came from knowing someone for a long time. “The trainee. Perry talks about you a lot. It’s great for him to have another elemental on campus,” she continued. “You didn’t you tell me she was coming for dinner.” Perry looked at me guiltily, and Viv moved into the kitchen, pulling out another plate and utensils. Her skin was a deep bronze and her jet-black hair fell down in long braids past her shoulders. She was wearing white strappy heels and a gold sundress, things my mother would never have let me wear. Looking down at my own clothes, I felt a bit self-conscious. I wish I had known I was coming to a party. “We’ll just have to figure out how to fit her in.”

  “It’s a good thing we are witches,” Perry responded, something unspoken passing between them.

  “I’ll take care of it,” Orpheus jumped in. Turning to me, he added. “I hope you are hungry! Perry’s mom sent her famous butternut squash baked ziti.” Viv handed him the plate and utensils. “She is the best gardening witch in the ACC and she always cooks with her own produce.” He walked out on the patio to magic another place setting to the table, while Viv was busy spelling Perry’s furniture away.

  “We’ll need to space for the concert later,” she said in explanation.

  Walking into the kitchen, Perry was ambitiously taking four pitchers out of the refrigerator at once. I ran over and helped him before any crashed to the ground. Following him outside, I placed them along the large wooden table that was set up on a stunning covered patio. Candles sat next to different potted plants as centerpieces and lanterns hung all along the roof of the porch. A white railing surrounded the large area, separating it from the rocky path to the ocean. The view of waves crashing along the shore was absolutely stunning, and I stood there for a moment breathing in the salt air.

  “Khlorie, I did want to invite you,” Perry said quietly from behind me once Orpheus had gone back inside. “I just didn’t…” He trailed off.

  “It’s fine. When I bullied my way into your night, I didn’t consider your plans.” He looked like he was going to protest, but Viv came outside carrying a dish of rolls.

  “How can I help?” I offered. “I’m the reason you are behind schedule.”

  “Would you start bringing the platters of food out from the kitchen?” She asked, and I moved quickly, happy to have something to do.

  We set up the dinner table and then people started arriving; four new arrivals, plus the four of us. Almost all of them were third years, except Anubis and another second year named Tallora, who I recognized from meditation sessions. Viv and Orpheus played hosts and greeted everyone warmly. Perry stayed close to me while people came in. He introduced me to each of his guests as “his trainee” and awkwardly accepted birthday greetings. For someone who seemed so well liked on campus, he hated being the center of attention.

  Viv moved everyone out to the porch and got us seated for dinner. She put me between Perry and Orpheus, across from Anubis and a charming wizard from Texas named Westin.

  “So, you’re the other elemental?” Westin asked in his slow southern drawl. “It’s good to have someone around more powerful than Perry.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “Have you ever stabbed anyone?”

  Choking on my cider, my eyes widened at the question. “Umm...no.” Looking around, Orpheus and Perry laughed, while Anubis rolled his eyes.

  He smiled wide, pushed aside one of the potted plant centerpieces and laid his hand on the table. His other hand held a pocketknife, which he offered to me. “Give it a try!”

  “Give stabbing you a try?” I asked incredulously.

  “Westin, can we not demonstrate at the table? Lavinia, Viv and I work hard on those centerpieces. I don’t want blood on them,” Orpheus joked. “Wes can self-heal,” he added much to the dismay of the Texan.

  “Come on! It is not as impressive to just tell someone what you can do. They need to see it!” He smiled brightly.

  “I’ll happily stab you later, ok?” Viv called from the other side of the table.

  “Promises, promises.” He laughed.

  Across from me, Anubis mouthed “basic,” when Westin wasn’t looking, and I laughed heartily.

  “Everything is so delicious. Did your mother make all of it?” I asked Perry, hoping to move on from talk of stabbing.

  “Yes. She owns a farm here in Maine. She came to the island to have lunch with me today and she brought the spread for this evening. Apparently, she, Viv, and Orpheus have been planning this together. I just found out she was involved this morning.”

  “That was nice of Orph and Viv.” Looking at him and then at the witch down the table, a question came to the forefront of my mind. “Is she your girlfriend?” I tried to make my voice sound casual. They were obviously comfortable together and knew each other well. It didn’t seem unreasonable.

  Perry looked surprised and then laughed. “No,” he said happily. “I’ve known her since grade school. I was lucky that I wasn’t the only Spindlewick-bound student from my Academy. Viv and I got to share that burden.”

  “That is nice,” I replied.

  “Lavinia is my girlfriend,” Viv added, pointing to the pretty brunette witch sitting next to her. She waved up at me shyly before giving Viv a kiss. Seeing them now, I couldn’t believe I had missed that they were together.

  “I don’t have a girlfriend.” Perry whispered, for my ears only. “Do you have someone?” He asked tentatively, smiling when I shook my head. “Honestly, I think this whole party was just a ploy to get my mother to cook,” he said, raising his voice to a faux whisper. Viv and Orpheus both replied in the affirmative.

  “It’s the only reason we talk to you,” Orpheus joked. Soon small conversations popped up all along the table. Anubis, Orpheus, and Westin were excitedly talking about some outing they had planned to the mainland to go shopping. Lavinia and Tallora were explaining to Viv why taking some Artisan magic classes would help her develop her healing skills. That left Perry and me in a bubble all our own.

  “Tell me about your Mom’s farm?” I asked.

  “Well, it started as an orchard,” he began.

  My eyes lit up. “I love apple picking! It’s one of my favorite things to do in the fall.”

  “Well, I would love to take you there.” He paused. It was like he spoke before thinking, surprising even himself. He added quickly, “If you would like to go.”

  “Wouldn’t that be something friends do? I thought you didn’t want me getting attached,” I responded, trying to keep my voice light. As much as I was enjoying this, I wanted to make sure that indifferent Perry wasn’t waiting in the wings, ready to reappear.

  “I shouldn’t have said that,” he apologized. “I’ve felt terrible about it.” Sincerity was clear in his voice and guilt covered his features.

  “He really has,” Orpheus added, letting Anubis and Westin debate whether it was ever okay to wear leather pants.

  “Why did you?” I asked finally.

  “I was worried about getting attached,” he said simply. “My life and my family are complicated. I don’t want you getting caught up in it.” He and Orpheus traded sad looks for a moment. There was a lot more to this story than I was getting.

  “You’re not worried anymore?” I asked quietly.

  “I’m terrified,” he replied seriously, before meeting my eyes with a small smile. “But I’m already attached.”

  “You are?”

  “Yes, I am.” He replied quietly. It felt like my insides were throwing a party. A wild energy danced from the soiree in my stomach, up my chest, and
across my cheeks.

  “Oh, it’s so good that everyone is happy,” he said finally. “It’s about time that you two stopped being angsty.”

  “You know, it would be nice if I was responsible for telling people what I am feeling,” I replied to the empath in mock outrage. Perry laughed and gently placed his hand over mine on the table. He looked at me nervously, waiting to see how I would react. Slowly, I turned my hand over and twined my fingers through his. I could feel the muscles in his arm lose tension and his body visibly relaxed. His thumb rubbed circles on the back of my hand and the small gesture caused tingling sparks on my skin. Inside me, electricity hummed, and I felt the growingly familiar call of my elemental powers. In my mind’s eye, the red line began to move. I yanked my hand back abruptly. Concern creased Perry’s features as I felt the red thread begin to vibrate more actively now. The flames on the porch candles began to flicker before being snuffed out and Perry’s eyes grew wide with recognition. Conversation at the table paused as they were plunged into darkness.

  “Khlorie, will you help me with something inside?” Perry’s voice asked with a calm sense of urgency.

  I nodded. Behind me, I could hear Orpheus lighting the candles again with a simple “Analampō . ” Laughing, he added “Can’t keep a candle lit around Perry.”

  “I didn’t even feel his breeze that time,” someone chimed in happily. With that, the conversation kicked back up and Orpheus followed us inside the house.

  Perry walked me into his living room and put me in front of his fireplace. Taking the cauldron off of the hook and placing it next to the fire. “Ok, Khlorie. Just focus on the logs and push your energy to them.”

  The electricity inside of me was getting more and more intense, and I knew that I was only seconds away from triggering my fire ability. Opening my mind’s eye, I concentrated on the hum of my power moving through my body and the connection with Perry that had set this in motion. Taking a deep breath, I directed the intense energy into my hands. A spark lit between them and then it got larger and larger, until I was holding a fireball the size of a watermelon. The flames danced around the ball and I knew that I couldn’t hold it much longer. With a forward motion towards the hearth, the fire jumped from my hands and engulfed the logs. Relief consumed me and I collapsed on my knees next to the fireplace, tired and embarrassed.

  “You can throw fireballs!” Orpheus’ impressed tone brought me back to reality. “That. Is. So. Cool.”

  Perry knelt down next to me. “That was amazing,” he said quietly. “You controlled it on your first try. We have a lot to work with now for practice- all four elements.” He reached out his hand to help me up, but I didn’t take it.

  Smoothing out my skirts as I stood, I thought about what to say next. The new power surging through me quieted to a faded hum. My emotions swirling, I wanted to get myself under control before anything else happened. “I think I should go,” I said finally.

  “Khlorie, please don’t.” Perry replied. “You barely ate dinner, and I didn’t get to finish telling you about my Mom’s farm.” When I didn’t say anything, he continued, “All of the people here had to trigger their extra powers, and if they realized how well you just handled one of the most destructive elements, they would be as impressed with you as I am. Stay, please.”

  “You know what the trigger is for fire?” I asked. “You saw it in my notes, right?”

  He smiled and his voice dropped low. “I do. I also know that if it was me who was the fire elemental, I would probably have burned down Coventry Hall while I was cutting you out of those herbs.” My cheeks heated and I laughed, relieved to hear him admit his attraction to me. “You are safe here. Please stay.”

  “So, this farm. You said it started as an orchard?” I prompted Perry, walking with him back out to the table.

  “Yes,” he responded as relief shone on his face. “Now she grows all kinds of crops. When she saved up enough for the greenhouses, it changed what she could grow here in Maine.” As he spoke, his voice sounded more and more excited. It was obvious that he was incredibly close to his mom. “She sells the produce by itself, of course, but she also went back to a local academy to study artisan witchery. Now, she also has a farm stand that sells composed dishes, like the butternut squash baked ziti, and drinks, like cider and lemonade.”

  “She sounds like a remarkable woman,” I responded.

  Perry’s gaze was intense as he nodded in agreement. “Her life hasn’t been easy, but she always fights for what she thinks is right and the people she loves.” We took our seats back at the table and I looked out at all of Perry’s friends chatting happily. I sat quietly for the remainder of dinner, taking it all in. What could be more normal than a birthday party? No one at this table was normal, however. There was a comfort in that and I began to relax somewhere between Anubis talking about how he put his teachers in secondary school to sleep frequently to get out of doing work, and Viv telling how Perry convinced her that every cranberry bog held a bog monster.

  “He made me throw carrots into the bog as an appeasement offering!”

  After dinner, Viv led us into the living room for the concert. Orpheus set up an adult beverage station and people helped themselves. It was the first time Perry left my side that night and Orpheus immediately took his place.

  “Are you two taking turns babysitting me now?” I asked the empath.

  “Babysitting is such a strong way of looking at it,” he responded cheekily. “Moving into Viv’s reality projections can be a bit jarring. I figured that I should hang out here to make sure…”

  “I don’t go Tsunami-girl on everyone and ruin the party?” I smiled tightly.

  “I was just going to make sure that you didn’t get sick or something, but now that you mention it…” He laughed. “Although I am wondering what would happen if you hit Westin with a fireball. So, feel free to try that whenever.” I laughed freely at his mischievous grin and ridiculous suggestion, allowing the tension of earlier to dissipate.

  Perry came back over carrying two cider cocktails and eyeing his friend happily, obviously noticing the change in my demeanor. “Khlorie, do you want one?”

  “No thanks,” I replied smiling. “I want to keep my wits about me until we figure out these powers.”

  “Smart.” Perry nodded warmly and handed the other drink to Orpheus. Around us, the air began to shimmer. Perry’s cottage, with his furniture and touches of home began morphing into different shapes.

  “It’s Viv’s powers,” Perry whispered in my ear. His chest was against my back and that touch helped center me a bit as parts of the room swirled and reformed. Orpheus was right when he said it would be a little disorienting at first. Perry’s cottage was completely gone. Perry’s carpet was replaced by a well-worn dance floor. It reminded me a bit of spell traveling, except the space moved instead of me. The dizziness was unreal. I almost fell over, but I called up a tiny gust of wind to push me back up to standing. It was so small that only Perry seemed to have noticed the use of magic.

  “Well, Viv is certainly not ‘basic.’ Score one more for team ‘super scary control.’ I can’t get over this.” I motioned to the space around us. No matter where I looked, 360 degrees around me, this was absolutely an intimate concert hall and we were all on the dancefloor. I wondered if this space came from Viv’s memory or her imagination. On the stage, The Conjuring were walking out and beginning to tune their instruments. Applause and shouting began all around us.

  Perry smiled at me. “I’m glad you are here tonight for a lot of reasons.” He paused and then got closer to my ear as the band started playing their first song of the night. “One of them is that you get to see that when we master our enhanced abilities, it can be extraordinary.”

  He straightened back up and started bobbing around to “Fast Ride.” I liked seeing him like this, acting his age and being happy. It had always struck me before that he seemed like a guy with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Watching him sing along, da
nce, and smile was a real gift.

  A few songs in and the dancing really kicked off. Viv’s powers were incredible. The concert felt every bit as real as the one at my transitioning party, but way rowdier. Viv had to conjure bouncers to keep Westin and Orpheus from going on the stage to sing with the band. Anubis challenged Lavinia to a dance off during “Spell Away” and Orpheus spelled foam into the concert hall because he had seen it once at a human club. I avoided the foam, but I did dance to my heart’s content, leaving me sweaty and completely disheveled. My hair was escaping out of my top knot and my legs were tingling from all of the jumping around. I wished, once again, that I had been given time to change into anything besides a heavy, full length skirt. I really needed to diversify my closet. When The Conjuring started playing one of my favorite slow songs, “Purple Eyes,” people started coupling up to dance. I decided to take it as an opportunity to leave the dancefloor, find the bathroom, and collect myself a bit. However, Perry stepped in my path.

  “Where are you going?” He asked with a big smile on his face. “Won’t you dance with me on my birthday?” His gaze was intense, and I could see that he was also a bit disheveled. He had not entirely avoided the foam, and some was still on his shirt and in his hair. I laughed looking at him and gently removed the foam from his chest.

  “The last time you touched me, I nearly burned the place down,” I whispered.

  “Worth the risk,” he replied smiling. Maybe it was reckless, but brushing my hair out of my face, I walked closer and put my arms around his neck. When Perry’s hand wrapped around my waist and pulled me against him, I sucked in a sharp breath. I had been in his arms before, but that was an emergency. This was different, and it was wonderful. In my mind's eye, my powers laid dormant seemingly as content with the situation as I was, even fire. Perry’s face changed, though, reading the little gasp incorrectly and he began to move to let me go.