The Silver Moon Elm

by MaryJanice Davidson

  “The venerables,” she whispered. Grandpa’s up there!

  Xavier’s voice sounded thin and stretched. “I can’t believe it. Seraphina’s Isle really does exist.”

  They approached the volcanic crater cautiously. The dark isle was a mile in diameter and half a mile high, which meant they had to fly up the rocky side rather than climb. Closer and closer they came to the crest, with Jennifer more and more certain that what she saw at the top…

  …was a tree.

  Impossible, part of her mind told her. It’s too big.

  It was a moon elm of spectacular size, several stories tall. There were thousands of branches, and every branch had hundreds of gleaming leaves. The ground around the tree was lush with strange grasses and wildflowers. Jennifer thought immediately of the wild gardens back at the Scales farm. The vegetation clung to the tip of the volcanic isle the way snow might grip the upper heights of a mountain.

  Once they were only a few hundred yards away, Jennifer spotted the source of the movement she had seen from the ocean. An endless fountain of green snakes was cascading down the tree, from branch to branch, leaping at the small white butterflies that rose like confused snow from the flowers below. As the snakes reached the very lowest branches, they launched themselves into the air, flattening their thin bellies and gently coasting into the wildflower fields. From there, they replenished the fountain by climbing up the tree’s enormous trunk again.

  This is it, she guessed. The moon elm Dad told me about that appeared before him and Mom. It seemed impossible that this plant could have been anywhere but right here, ever.

  “Since we’ve found Seraphina’s Isle,” she asked Xavier, “perhaps you could tell me who Seraphina is? Because I’ll bet we’re likely to meet her now.”

  “We are indeed.”

  Before Xavier even spoke the words, the entire tree shivered. Something deep within the branches was uncoiling, disturbing the creatures around it with a long, soulful hiss.

  “Behold Seraphina,” Xavier continued, “daughter of Brigida, the first perfect dragon.”

  “How can that be?” Jennifer asked as the coils within the tree continued to unravel. She still couldn’t see either end of the creature. “Grandpa told me Brigida lived more than two thousand years ago.”

  “More like two thousand five hundred. Seraphina was born over two thousand years ago, about the time Brigida disappeared. The daughter lived an incredibly long time, hundreds of years, during which time she is said to have created Crescent Valley. After giving birth to the first Ancient Furnace, Seraphina left the valley she created and promised she would tend to the venerables. Most dragons took that to mean she died and joined them.”

  “But instead, she created this place.” At last, Jennifer thought she could see a head rustling the upper leaves, working its way down.

  “That’s right. A Crescent Valley beneath Crescent Valley. A place that no one could reach, except for us. A place to keep things secure, if Crescent Valley should ever fall. It was a pleasant legend in my mother’s mind, one I always hoped was true—but no one could ever prove it.”

  “You needed the Ancient Furnace.”

  “We needed the Ancient Furnace.”

  “I’m sorry. I showed up twenty years too late to help you.”

  His eyes did not leave the serpentine shape that now emerged from the moon elm. “Time is not over yet, Jennifer Scum.”

  “It’s Jennifer Sca—Oh, never mind.”

  Seraphina was a cobra as black as the sea that surrounded them, as long as the trunk of the tree she nested in, and as quick as the wind that whistled through her branches. Two wings, feathered midnight, were folded up against her body. An ancient, powerful scent swirled around her like burial spices. Jennifer was absolutely unsure if what she saw before her was living, dead…or something else.

  “Welcome, Ancient Furnace,” the creature said in a low, guarded alto, and raised its head high enough to affect a slight bow. “You have come to set things right and restore balance to the universe.”

  Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief. No poetry, and we don’t have to explain a damn thing. Thank heavens. “Sonakshi sent us here. Can you help us?”

  The feathers whispered to each other as Seraphina’s coils drew closer. “If you move quickly, there may be time. This is the sole place left untouched by the sorcery of the Quadrivium. Like a distant limb on the far side of the body from where a poison enters, the muscle spasms have not reached here yet. But they will. Only by finding Sonakshi and following the trail left by the venerables have you kept alive our hope that you can keep this place pure and restore the silver moon elm.”

  Restore? It looks fine. Then: Okay, don’t argue! “I’ll do all of that and more. But you have to help us figure a few things out.”

  “Sonakshi spoke in rhyme.”

  “It was a little cryptic,” Jennifer admitted. “He said you’d give us strength, and that I’d have to find my own strength, and that I’d have to heal the world by poisoning poison and setting the moon elm’s roots in stone.” She looked up at the tree behind Seraphina. “No offense, ma’am, but I have no idea how to move that thing. Couldn’t we just leave it where it is?”

  “If you do everything else, the tree will take care of itself. First, you will need strength. I can give you that.”

  Jennifer looked up and down the massive coils of Seraphina. “You’ll do great! I’ll bet you can whip the Quadrivium with one wing tied behind your back.”

  The hissing sound might have been laughter or impatience. “Not me. My place is here. Your help will come from above.” Her hooded head gently lilted toward the crescent moon, where the eternal parade of venerables flew on.

  “Grandpa?” Jennifer felt a surge of excitement. “You can bring Grandpa Crawford back to help me?”

  “Grandpa Crawford?” Xavier’s voice seemed far away to Jennifer. “Your grandfather is Crawford Scales? But how can—”

  Seraphina ignored him. “Reach out, Jennifer Scales. You will find what you need.”

  “Reach out how?” As she had when Xavier grilled her about her nearly nonexistent Elder skills, Jennifer felt inadequate. “I have no idea how to do this.”

  The tip of Seraphina’s tail slid over her wing, wrapped itself around the claw, and squeezed gently. “You are the Ancient Furnace, child. Have faith in yourself. Look to the crescent moon, and seek what you need. You will find it.”

  Jennifer stared at the bright sliver. He’s up there! He’s really up there! She let her vision relax and take in the moon’s surface. The crescent rushed down to greet her, and in an instant she could see them—see them so closely, it felt as if she were among them.

  Her gaze floated over dozens, hundreds, thousands of them. They were an endless legion, pale and silent shadows of cerulean, violet, and jade. On translucent wings, they soared over stark stone craters. Every one of them charged at the horizon, with not even a glance to either side.

  Grandpa? Are you out here?

  The dragon host continued, more and more rushing past her in silence, even though many had jaws open in what could have been terrible roars. It was unbearably cold, Jennifer realized. She wouldn’t be able to stay here much longer.

  Grandpa! I need your help! Please!

  Niffer.

  His term of endearment made her shiver. She spoke aloud now, frantically searching for his image among the multitude. “Yes, it’s me! Grandpa, I’m alone! I need to get back! I need your help.”

  You need family.

  “Yes.”

  You need strength.

  “Yes!”

  He did not hesitate.

  You’ll have it.

  A gentle chill ran up her spine to the top of her skull. Before she realized it was him, his unseen wing had pressed her gently but firmly down, away from the host and the moon. She gathered speed as she rushed back to herself, until she suddenly found herself rolling backward upon the rocks below the giant moon elm.

  As if ch
asing her, a ball of flame came tumbling down from the moon. It hit the elm with the force of a meteor, sending up a terrific explosion of sparks, splinters, and startled snakes. The fire consumed the massive plant in a matter of seconds, turning each branch into a withered, burning arm. Moments later, the trunk cracked and sent a shudder across the rocky island before it collapsed upon itself in a torrent of cinders.

  It was a while before any of the three of them dared approach the burning remains of what had once been the silver moon elm. Instead of rising, the heat seemed to cascade down the sides of the island and push them back. Not even their dragon skin could bear the radiation.

  Finally, the flames died down enough for Seraphina to slither up the stones and examine the wreckage. Her horn probed the ashes and coals.

  “It worked,” the ancient dragon confirmed. “A new presence is here. But—”

  “Grandpa!” Jennifer charged up the hill, desperate to see him again. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed his face, his stories, even his somewhat short temper. But now that he was back—

  No, Jennifer. Not Grandpa.

  The familiar voice wrapped around Jennifer’s mind and spine, stopping her dead in her tracks. The tone was full of spite and dark amusement.

  Murk seeped up through the smoldering ashes, pulling up an unseen head and torso. Out of this shadow, six black legs and two tattered wings rediscovered their balance, shoving aside the revered figure of Seraphina as the new arrival turned and faced them.

  “You have got to be kidding,” Jennifer snarled.

  Sister!

  So let me get this straight, dear sister.

  Evangelina’s voice hummed inside their minds with gleeful irony.

  You’re abandoned and alone in this strange, dangerous world. No family, no friends, no apparent way out…

  “Correct.” Jennifer was back in human shape, gritting her teeth, hugging her knees, and rocking back and forth. How could Grandpa send her? This isn’t help! We nearly killed each other last week!

  …and you need me—me!—to get out. Why, that’s…delicious, sister. Absolutely delectable.

  “Forget it.” Jennifer abruptly stood up and walked away, back toward the shore. She had no idea what she would do when she got down there, but there was no way she was staying up here. “I’ll do it alone.”

  “Wait, Jennifer!” Xavier scrambled down the rocks after her. “I’m not sure what’s happening here, but—”

  “She’s my sister!” Jennifer spat. “My horrible, awful Half-Sister From Hell! Half-dragon, half-spider, completely insane. If Grandpa ever comes back from the dead, I’ll kill him…” She clenched her fists and screamed up at the moon. “This is not funny!”

  Grandfather sends his regrets.

  Jennifer tried to push the voice out of her skull, but Evangelina was too powerful to deny. Communication was on her sister’s terms.

  He felt I was the better choice.

  “How. How? How!?” She turned and stormed back up the hill, spittle flying in outrage. “How could you possibly be the better choice? A rabid orangutan would be a better choice than you!”

  Evangelina’s reaction surprised Jennifer. There was anger, of course, but also genuine hurt there, before her sister thought to cloak her emotions.

  You asked for strength. I have strength. More than Grandfather has. He knows it. So do you.

  “This is so unfair!”

  Evangelina’s thoughts simmered with discontent.

  I couldn’t agree more. But Grandfather asked, so I am here. He thought this would be appropriate penance for me.

  Jennifer kicked a rock. Penance? Hmmph. She couldn’t argue with that: Evangelina had done some fairly awful things not long ago, murdering her grandfather among them. If he saw fit to send her back, who was Jennifer to argue?

  “You’ll really help me?”

  Deep within the shadow, Evangelina allowed a thoughtful pause.

  Yes.

  “You’ll do what I say?”

  A sound like escaping steam filled her mind.

  Don’t push me. I’ll help you.

  Jennifer jutted her chin out at the smoking, monstrous shape. “Change back.”

  Change back?

  “To the way you were the last time I saw you.”

  Evangelina was clearly confused at the request, but within seconds the shape softened, the darkness dissipated, and there stood the young woman from a parking ramp a world away. If she dyed her own hair black ten years from now, Jennifer knew this is what she would look like. The gray eyes and the pale skin were definitely Scales trademarks. Come to think of it, she realized, the dark hair is, too. It was only because of her mother that Jennifer was a blonde.

  Thinking of her parents made her tremble. Would she ever see her family again? She was beginning to dare to hope. After all, wasn’t family standing in front of her?

  “Talk to me.” Jennifer stepped closer.

  Evangelina’s head cocked to one side.

  I don’t know what you want me to—

  “No. Open your mouth and talk to me.” They were face-to-face now, sister to sister.

  Evangelina flipped back her dark bangs in irritation. Her vocal chords, bitter from disuse, scraped the words out. “You’re a lousy fighter.”

  Jennifer couldn’t help it. She reached out, grabbed the bitch by the shoulders, and hugged her.

  CHAPTER 14

  Saturday

  While Seraphina slithered over the rocky surface of her isle, surveying the remains of the moon elm and tallying the few surviving creatures, Jennifer and Xavier tried to get some sleep under the dubious watch of Evangelina. It had been days since Jennifer had slept without jitters or horrific dreams, but she finally did so here, where she felt nothing bad could reach her.

  Well, there was the half-sister who had tried to kill her. But other than that.

  The sleep was deep but short. She woke up before Xavier did, to see Evangelina and Seraphina huddled over something. Their two black, scaly shapes seemed to fit together, as if one were the descendant of the other.

  And she is, isn’t she? She’s Dad’s daughter, just like me. And if I’m an Ancient Furnace, and Seraphina gave birth to the first Ancient Furnace, then she’s our great-great-great-hundreds-of-times-over-grandmother.

  They were talking, the two of them. Jennifer sharpened her ears and began to track the topic, which appeared to be on the ground in front of them.

  “And you call it what again?” Evangelina’s voice was still gravelly and impatient.

  “Paradise tree snake,” came the smooth reply. “My favorite, really, from my old travels through Southeast Asia. They’re friendly, observant, and wonderful conversationalists. Handy if you’ve secluded yourself on a magically remote island for thousands of years. And it gives me peace, to watch them glide from tree to air to land.”

  “And they land on top of…” Evangelina trailed off. “What? People?” Clearly, she was not as charmed by the species.

  Again, Seraphina’s mysterious hiss preceded her answer. “They are only dangerous to the butterflies, and perhaps to the gentleman’s gecko.”

  Jennifer quickly checked over the sleeping form of Xavier. Fortunately, Goodwin was alive, asleep, and tightly tucked inside his master’s wing.

  “I don’t trust them,” Evangelina’s voice grated. “Snakes don’t fly.”

  “She didn’t say they flew,” Jennifer corrected her sister as she walked up to them. “She said they glided. And is your voice ever going to get better?”

  “I’m only using it because I have to,” Evangelina spat. She motioned to Seraphina without taking her gaze off of the wounded paradise tree snake that struggled to return to the splintered trunk of the silver elm. “I can’t enter her mind.”

  Seraphina’s hood rippled, and Jennifer thought she caught a small rise at the corner of the giant cobra’s mouth. “My mind is not a playground for your amusement, child. You will need to save your talents for the other world, w
here they will help your sister.”

  “Fine.” Evangelina turned, and while Jennifer couldn’t see the face inside that dark cloud, she was sure the expression was a bit nasty. She, of course, heard her sister’s telepathic jab loudly and clearly.

  FINE.

  She ignored the provocation. “So where are your brothers? You look like you have their qualities in this shape, but they didn’t show up when you took human form last night.”

  The shroud around Evangelina’s head and shoulders fell a bit, revealing an outline of sadness. “None of them were strong enough on their own to endure as venerables. To persist at all, they had to join with me one last time on our way to the crescent moon.”

  That’s a shame, Jennifer thought. One of the brothers had been rather cute and had seemed to have a thing for Susan Elmsmith. But Jennifer supposed that match was never going to work, anyway. “So what’s it like up there?”

  Evangelina snorted. “You were just there.”

  “It felt cold.”

  “It is next to the moon.”

  “Is every conversation with you going to be like this?”

  “No. Most will be shorter, and quieter.” Evangelina’s shadow extended again, and her body turned toward Seraphina. “I’m hungry. What do you have down here to eat?”

  Seraphina motioned to the wounded tree snake. “It will die soon, anyway. Better to serve as nourishment.”

  “It’s young.” Evangelina’s comment gave Jennifer goose bumps. It had been the unearthly hunger for young prey that had tested her half-sister’s sanity in the inhospitable dimension where she grew up. “Are there more?”

  “Help yourself.” Seraphina’s detached voice surprised Jennifer. Weren’t these snakes her companions? She couldn’t imagine summoning a bunch of black mambas just for food. If they weren’t going to show up to help her fight in Pinegrove, they certainly weren’t going to show up to serve as hors d’oeuvres on her crazy sister’s buffet.