“Er, I know I’m human. What’s an Elemental? And who’s this message from?”
“Moppins! That’s classified information! And I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to.” Brat’s eyes widened with a look of shock. “Besides, answering questions is not a part of my job title. I’m no common scandaroon! Only your reply will suffice. You are Anni Moon, twelve years old, at Waterstone Academy for Girls—correct?”
“Thirteen…in a week. Why should I listen to some random anonymous person I don’t even know, or you, a bat-rat thing that calls itself an Elemental? Why is that classified, anyway?”
“Oh, moppins, not again,” Brat swayed. “I’m feeling mopple-toppined.” He put his hand to his head and shook it. He mumbled, “Must be down to all the Funk.”
“Funk? What’s Funk?”
“Oh, no, never you mind. Back to business. Can you, Anni Moon, please confirm that you successfully received your message and that you’ll stay put?”
“Yeah, I got your message. What are you exactly?”
The creature stood proudly on its little feet. “Don’t you listen? I told you. It’s your message, not mine. And I’m Brat, First Order Elservice Fleet, messengers of messages.”
“What does that even mean?”
“Confirmation of delivery. Check. I’ll be on my way now.”
It seemed like a stupid question, but she had to ask, “You haven’t seen or delivered a message thingy to someone named Lexi, have you?”
Brat circled overhead and said, “Of course I’ve seen Lexi. I delivered her message two days ago.” And he was off.
LEXI WATERSTONE
Lexi Waterstone opened her eyes, but everything was dark. She panicked as muffled voices echoed around her. Flat on her back, she flung her hands against the surrounding walls; it felt like she was in a coffin.
It took Lexi a minute before she realized she had fallen asleep inside a cupboard within the Headmistress’s office. This knowledge didn’t quell her anxiety. How did she get there? With a deep breath, she wiped away her tears and the cold sweat from her brow. Clueless of the time or how long she had slept, Lexi forced her brain to remember.
It was just before midnight when she had been locked out of her room. She went downstairs, and when someone—she didn’t know who—crept down the main hall, she dashed into the only unlocked room she could find, which unfortunately happened to be the Headmistress’s office. Once inside, Lexi froze at the sight of the spiral staircase in the far corner; the door at the top of the stairs was the Headmistress’s personal quarters and the faint beam of light casting a glow from beneath it meant the Headmistress was still awake. At any minute, she could open her door and see Lexi standing below in the middle of the room.
Terrified of being caught, Lexi ran to the tall bookcases and hid inside the nearest empty cupboard. It was the only safe place she could think of; back when Anni’s Aunt Mabel was Headmistress of Waterstone Academy, they used it to play hide and seek. Lexi was lucky that it was empty. Otherwise, she never would have fit inside.
She planned to wait in there until the Headmistress’s light went out and sneak away when the coast was clear. She didn’t plan to fall asleep.
“Close the door,” said Headmistress Turnkey.
Lexi jumped as the Headmistress’s voice brought her back to the present. There was nothing she could do now; it was too late to leave, and she was stuck. Her fingers fiddled with a small pearl pendant that hung from her necklace. It was worse than she imagined; someone else was inside the office with the Headmistress. It wasn’t like she could just pop out of the cupboard right then and explain to the woman why she was hidden in there. She wasn’t sure if she could even trust Charity Turnkey, Headmistress or not.
Things were not as carefree as they once had been back when Teddy Waterstone and Mabel Moon ran Waterstone Academy for Girls; back then, the halls seemed brighter, more full of life and fun. Teddy was Lexi’s legal guardian, just as Mabel had been Anni’s. Neither of the girls knew anything about their real parents, but to them, Teddy and Mabel were all the family they needed. But even then, Lexi had a secret, one she couldn’t tell anyone, including Anni. Teddy assured Lexi that it was for an important reason and he would explain everything to her on her thirteenth birthday.
Lexi preferred to remember Waterstone Academy when it was a happy place, but after Mabel left, all the life seemed to slowly drain away from the school. The strain was physically visible on Teddy, too. A once jovial, stalwart man had turned serious, worried, and gaunt. However, when Teddy vanished nine months ago, just as Mabel had three years earlier, Lexi tried to pretend everything was all right, that he would come back, but the Murdrock takeover changed her mind. These last couple days, she kept replaying the last time she saw him. Teddy’s weary eyes had peered deeply into hers as he said, “If I do not come back, no matter what happens, you must keep your secret. Don’t forget what I taught you, and know that I love you. You will hear from me one more time.” That was the same day Teddy gave Lexi the pearl pendant necklace she now had twisted so tight around her index finger, it was cutting off the blood supply.
It made Lexi sick to think about Teddy, and her hands always started to tremble when she did. She focused instead on the cupboard doors. If memory served, there was a small hole in the knotted wood that was just big enough to peep an eye through and see into the room. Her fingers fumbled over the door until she found a piece of masking tape covering what she hoped was the hole. As she peeled it off, a blinding blast of blue light pierced through. Her head snapped backward and thumped against the cabinet wall. The room went quiet. Terrified, she held her breath, but the silence seemed endless.
When the Headmistress spoke again, Lexi raised her eye toward the hole.
“Have you heard any news? And don’t make it glossy for my sake.”
“Nothing official,” said a man’s voice. Lexi knew at once it was Egbert Frode Moon. Not only was he Anni’s guardian, but in Teddy’s absence, he had been named Lexi’s temporary guardian as well. “I assume you saw the latest. It doesn’t look good—”
Before Egbert could finish, another blinding flash of blue light engulfed the room. Once Lexi’s eye settled, she saw a projected news article floating against the back wall, but it was too far to read the print.
“Clearly, the speculation has started. You know me, Egbert. I don’t care for idle chitter chatter. I want to know what you think. Have you heard from Teddy? Or is it true that his Opus stone has been found cracked?”
Lexi gasped.
“It’s true.” Egbert paused. “It’s Mabel all over again. I warned Teddy. Charity, you were there when I told him not to go. Join S.E.C. and you end up dead, but he wouldn’t listen to reason. Teddy said he was the only S.E.C. member that could go and finish Mabel’s work. Teddy’s not coming back. He’s gone for good, and I’m left to clean up another mess.”
Lexi’s heart pinched and a small whimper escaped her lips. Fortunately, they didn’t hear her. Even though her heart tried to tell her she was wrong, deep down she knew that what Egbert said was true. If she needed further proof, she had it when Brat delivered a message two days ago: “My dearest Lexi, if you are hearing this message, it means that I have gone. You must prepare yourself for changes ahead and guard your secret with vigor. Do not fear what is to come. Embrace it. Your life has its own destiny, and as such, I have made provisions for you. Above all else, know that I love you. Follow the signs.” Lexi knew it was from Teddy, even though Brat didn’t say who it was from and the message didn’t include his name.
“Ah, I see,” Charity said in a shaky voice. “I suppose in my heart, I was hoping for a different answer. Egbert, I wouldn’t discredit the S.E.C. After so many Elementals were lost, the Council was the one thing that helped them move on. I’m surprised you never joined–”
“Finnegan has found more pockets of Funk lingering around the school. He can’t find the source of how it’s getting in,” said Egbert. “Have you felt it?”
“Yes, i
t’s been making me ill. By the look of me, I’m sure you’ve noticed, but I haven’t had time to deal with it, given the Murdrock acquisition. I still can’t believe that this school is passing into another family’s hands. The Waterstones have been around for as long as I can remember. Egbert, what about the girls? What do you plan to do?”
Lexi’s pulse pounded so loudly that she nearly missed what Egbert said next.
“Nothing’s set in stone. Zelda is trying to convince Krizia to let them stay with her. I’m working on getting E-passes.”
“I hope you have a better plan than that. Or are you expecting a miracle? Human transport’s a six-month DeFunkification process, and that’s if Krizia says yes! What are you going to say to the girls? As far as I know, they don’t know anything about our world. And I certainly hope you do a better job than you did last time. Anni hasn’t been the same since Mabel—”
Something crashed upstairs inside the Headmistress’s room. The noise stopped their conversation cold. The Headmistress turned to Egbert. “What was that?”
Charity and Egbert rushed up the spiral stairs into her personal residence.
For a second Lexi couldn’t move, as their words ran laps in her head. It sounded like Egbert planned on taking her and Anni into the Elemental Realm. The problem was that Anni didn’t know anything about that world. Lexi knew she couldn’t worry about that; she needed to get out of the Headmistress’s office fast, before Charity and Egbert returned.
With trembling anxiety, Lexi forced her way out of the cupboard. She darted out of the office and down the corridor. Her feet moved faster than she ever let them go—until she plowed right into something that felt like a brick wall.
A shower of letters scattered across the foyer’s floor. The mailman, a grumpy fellow, judging by his scowl, yelled at Lexi for being a whipper-something, how she had ruined his day because he had a bad back, and that he most certainly had no intention of picking up the letters that fell under the furniture.
Mortified that she nearly flattened the elderly mailman, Lexi’s emotions caught up with her. She frantically collected the strewn mail between huge, heaping sobs.
The mailman looked very uncomfortable when he said, “Don’t cry,” in a softer tone than he used before. “I know. How would you like to sign for a package? Would that cheer you up?”
“Sign?” hiccupped Lexi as she handed back the last handful of the letters.
“Yes. I’ve got a package here. Came all the way from Brazil!” He opened his shoulder bag and quickly pulled out an orange card. “I'll need you to sign here.” He pointed. “You don’t happen to know a…let me see here…a Lexi Waterstone, do you?”
Lexi swallowed. “That’s me,” she said, half-smiling.
“Oh, well, there you go. Lucky, isn’t it?”
Lexi signed for the package as the mailman eagerly released it into her care. He tipped his hat before he left. “Hope it’s a good one.”
Lexi stared at the tight scroll on the package. The handwriting looked messy and rushed, but she was positive she knew who it was from. All packages were supposed to go through the office first, but she just couldn’t do that, not if it was from Teddy. Instead, she tore up the stairs, taking them two at a time, but her nerves got the better of her when she saw a teacher heading down the stairs one flight above her.
Lexi looked at the package with desperation. She couldn’t risk it. She ran back down the stairs to the foyer. Thankfully, it was deserted. She shoved her package behind the floor-length tapestry, double-checking that no one could see it, and just as she made her way back to the stairs, there was Vivian Sugar.
“Lexi dear! There you are. I’ve tried your room twice now. I’ve been very concerned about you with…Have you been crying?”
“I…” said Lexi, flushed and praying that Miss Sugar hadn’t seen her hide the package. Vivian was nice enough, but Lexi felt unnerved by her intense stare, which was why she said, “I got locked out of my room last night.”
“Oh, no!” Vivian patted her on the shoulder. “That sounds dreadful. Have you not eaten? Wait, I know. Let’s go to my office. You can tell me about it, and I can put you at ease. I just had a tray sent up with all kinds of goodies.”
It pained Lexi to say yes. She didn’t want to leave her package behind, nor did she want to talk about her feelings with Vivian. She knew that dodging Waterstone’s school counselor was wrong, but she also knew she couldn’t put it off much longer, what with the letter she got telling her she had to move out of the tower, or the glaring, ubiquitous news that the Murdrocks were officially taking over Waterstone. Besides, Anni adored Vivian, so Lexi agreed. It couldn’t be that bad.
A small but sunny little room with walls in warm buttery shades greeted them. Miss Sugar relaxed her perfect posture into one of two salmon-colored armchairs next to a round coffee table that was brimming with a beautiful tea service, including cookies, scones, and tiny saucers loaded with different jams.
Miss Sugar ushered Lexi to sit and handed her a plate with two chocolate chip cookies. “Here you go. This will make you feel a million times better.”
Lexi sat precariously, trying to relax but finding it difficult. She took the plate of cookies but didn’t touch them. “Miss Sugar—”
“It’s Vivian, dear. Go on, take a nibble.”
Lexi took a bite. The flaky, buttery goodness with an added dash of melting chocolate hit the spot. She finally understood why Anni had been raving about her visits with Vivian—food being one of her favorite pastimes. With cookies and tea and no Brunhild, the school cook, looming about, it made sense why Anni enjoyed this.
“Forgive me if this sounds indelicate, but the news about the Murdrock acquisition must have upset you a great deal. I’ll admit, even Anni has been tight-lipped about the issue.”
Lexi steeled herself as best she could.
“Yes,” Lexi said quietly. “I don’t know. Guess I’m like Anni; I don’t talk about it much…Mabel was like a mother to her and an auntie to me.”
“Yes, that’s very true. When we first spoke, Anni had a hard time saying Mabel’s name,” said Vivian gently. “I don’t expect you to do that, either. It’s just that, with everything going on, I want you to know that I’m here if you ever want to talk. After all, Mabel and Teddy’s families have run this school for generations. I would be surprised if you weren’t bothered by everything.”
Lexi nodded, feeling faint. She wasn’t ready to discuss Teddy, even though that was a leading comment. Not yet. They sat in silence for a few more seconds. Suddenly, Lexi became unexpectedly angry with Vivian. At the same time, she was startled by some kind of gray mist, almost invisible, creeping up from the corner floorboards. Lexi’s skin prickled as if a dead, clammy hand grasped the back of her neck while an unbearable weight fell onto her shoulders. A cauldron of guilt bubbled in her stomach as her secrets flooded her mind and emotions. Vivian appeared oblivious as the yellow walls turned a sallow green.
She knew she wasn’t really mad at Vivian. This was Funk; Teddy had told her about it years ago. He said that Funk was a nefarious force, an invisible shadow to most humans, that was capable of creating all kinds of mayhem, making people feel angry, sad or afraid, but he never told Lexi that she would be able see it. Poor Vivian raised a hand to her forehead, without a clue as to what was going on. Or did she? Lexi always wondered about the teachers at Waterstone, trying to guess who was an Elemental or a human. It didn’t matter, because she had made Teddy a promise that she would never talk about it.
“Lexi? Oh, my. Are you unwell?” asked Vivian.
“Um, tired, I think. I didn’t sleep well.”
“You should go upstairs and lay down. I’ll send a nurse to your room. We can talk another time. I think you should rest now. Will you promise to go straight upstairs?”
Lexi nodded as Vivian walked her to the door.
When her foot hit the slate floor, Lexi felt fine. She turned back to glance at Vivian’s room, and it, too, returned to i
ts previous cheery state. All the strange visions and unpleasant sensations of the Funk disappeared. Everything went back to normal—everything was fine except Lexi couldn’t shake one thought.
The realization came fast and quick. What had she been thinking? How was she going to explain all the secrets she had been keeping without destroying her friendship with Anni?
CUCLOCKEYBEE
Anni stood rooted to the spot. The talking bat…rat…thing shot into the air and was gone without a trace. Did that just happen? She shook her head. Surely Lexi would have told her if a talking rat/bat thing left her a message, wouldn’t she? No, this was crazy. Just a figment of her imagination, that’s all. However, the raindrops hitting the top of her head were not.
She dashed across the school grounds and took shelter under the awning of Waterstone Academy’s front door. She wondered whether she should tell Lexi about Brat. But if she burst out and said it, Lexi might think she had lost her mind. Did she really want to start a conversation about a talking rat/bat? She didn’t. She had to find Lexi.
She peered into a window next to the school’s front doors and saw Ms. Downsnout placing the mail into the proper slots for the staff and students. Anni paced by the door, wishing the woman would hurry it up.
Her plan was simple: she had an hour before lunch duty to slip inside, run upstairs, and find Lexi. Finnegan was skulking across the lawn toward the kitchen. He didn’t seem to see her, but he was far too close for comfort. Finally, Ms. Downsnout finished sorting the mail and walked around the corner to her desk.
Stealthily, Anni entered the empty foyer. Then she headed for the stairs.
“Looking for someone?” asked the self-proclaimed queen bee, Miranda Firestone, her square jaw jutting forward, looking like it worked too hard to get the words out. Anni wasn’t sure what flounced down the stairs harder: Miranda’s red hair or her two cronies.
“Eggs,” Anni muttered.
“Do you even know what you’re saying?” Miranda sneered at her. “We missed your terrible breakfast service this morning. Did you get fired? When the Murdrocks take over, they won’t keep silly little hum—orphans like you around.”
Anni Moon & The Elemental Artifact: An Elemental Fantasy Adventure Series: Book For Kids Ages 9-12 (Anni Moon Series) Page 2
