by T. L. Clarke
"Today’s lesson is…" She tapped her laptop, resulting in a 3-D image of words hovering in the air.
The Eternals vs. the Banished
And the winner is?
They all smiled broadly nodding with approval.
"Last thing, I’ll be grading you."
They all groaned painfully.
"All right, stop the whining." She clapped her hands. "So, let’s recap the last topic that we covered. Who can tell me all the names of the Royal Elementi Conclaves and the associated element that they control and wield?"
She pointed to a red-faced Neophyte. The Neophyte looked at her, startled.
"The Conclave of Euros controls the element of air. The Conclave of Noteos controls the element of fire. The Conclave of Zephyros controls the element of water and the Conclave of Boreus controls the element of earth," she stammered.
Aceso smiled proudly. "Tatiana, that’s correct."
She looked around the class like a hawk. "Now, let’s talk Elementi. The Elementi created the first Eternals centuries ago by granting favored Normals supernatural gifts and powers in exchange for their service as protectors and Guardians of the Gates." She looked around the class quickly. "The first Eternals vowed their service and loyalty to them via a blood oath, and there was relative peace in our world for centuries, until…?"
An NA blurted out, "Some high-ranking Eternals started to grumble about serving the Elementi, and that’s when the fighting started."
She gave them a penetrating stare. "Correct, that’s when the Eternal war began. What are these rebels called?"
"The Banished," an NC shouted proudly.
Aceso responded quickly, "That’s correct. Their unfortunate alliance with the Underworld only makes our duty of keeping the balance of this planet even harder. Hunting down Daemons and the Banished is a nasty business."
I blinked quickly because of how easy the words "hunting down" rolled off her tongue—it was like she was talking about going to the mall and picking up some super cute skinny jeans. Like, no biggie.
I raised my hand cautiously. "Um—hunting down? You do mean kill, right?"
She gave me real cold glare. "Yes, sometimes, but war is a very nasty business, Neophytes. And death is inevitable, but you all will learn that soon enough."
I looked back at her with wide eyes. Whoa—Eternals are hard-core.
Aceso cleared her throat and smiled warmly. "Class, my duty as your professor is to prepare you for your new path. There is no time to test the waters in our world; we push you in. Those that swim, great, and those that don’t…" She paused and arched her well-shaped eyebrow delicately. "So, let’s continue. Now, who can tell me the name of the leader of the rebelling Eternals?"
She quickly stepped off the platform and walked over to tap Dylan’s shoulder gently.
He turned three shades of red as he fiddled with his book nervously. "Pallas."
My breath caught in my throat. It was as if, just by the mere mention of his name, my body went into instant panic and flight mode.
Aceso walked calmly behind me and touched my shoulder. I felt a warm oozing feeling spread through my chest, then the rest of my body, soothing me. She strolled away as if nothing had happened between us.
"Correct, Pallas. Before his fall, he was a very respected and powerful Eternal." She smiled sadly. "The war was a long and bloody one, but ultimately ended with Pallas and his Warriors defeated." She nodded at Brooklyn. "What was their punishment?"
Brooklyn scratched her head before answering, "As punishment for their betrayal, the Elementi stripped the rebelling Eternals of their gifts and powers, then cast them to the Underworld for eternity."
She walked to the front of the class and looked at them shrewdly. "Regardless of what others might like to believe—we need the Elementi. This is a fact! And someday, you might even decide to take an Elementi as a mate, but that’s your choice. It’s all about free choice."
I sat up attentively. Was she actually talking about sex?
There were snickers and embarrassed looks on almost everyone’s face at the word "mate." It was like it was some sort of dirty code word.
She looked over at the clock sharply. "Okay, it’s coming to the end of class. Let’s talk homework."
Everyone groaned.
She sighed. "Like I said, homework, read chapters five through ten of Eternals vs. The Banished then summarize. Then read chapters one through ten of Goddesses and You and focus on the law-and-order goddesses. Now, class is dismissed."
She smiled warmly. "Neophytes Jessica, Gabrielle, Zora, and Rosalinda, you wait here." She walked over and handed us each a heavy piece of paper. "Here are your assigned mentors. Now scoot!"
We quickly walked out of the building and stopped in the middle of the crowded C-Yard as Neophytes milled around us in the rush to get to their next class.
Anxious, I looked at my paper, in a flash reading it.
Circle Mentor—Veda
Ares Mentor—Chaos
I gulped nervously. "Wait, what?"
Brooklyn looked over my shoulder, reading it quickly. "Oh, you’re so lucky. You got Chaos!"
I looked at her glumly. How in the world had I gotten stuck with him? It was going to be real cool having Veda as a mentor, but Chaos? He absolutely hated me.
Brooklyn looked at me like I was crazy. "Wait, you’re not excited about having Chaos as your mentor? I mean, he’s the número uno Ares. Seems like a win-win situation to me, staring into his gorgeous gray eyes as he shows some moves." She grinned.
I pumped my hand in the air with fake enthusiasm. "Um, yay."
Brooklyn rolled her eyes. "Anyway, we’ve got a break right now. You want to grab something to eat or just hang?"
Jessica looked at her watch. "Thanks, but I’m meeting my grandmother. Catch you later." She rushed off across the courtyard.
I looked over and saw a very familiar person striding quickly toward me. It was Grandma Celeste. "You guys go ahead. I’ll see you later." I ran excitedly over to her.
Grandma Celeste smiled warmly, her eyes twinkling with humor.
"Good order, justice, and peace."
"Good order, justice, and peace," I responded happily.
She chuckled huskily, pulling me into a big bear hug. "That’s very good, Neophyte. So, tell me, how’s the birthday girl?"
I hugged her back tightly. "Great now that you’re here. I missed you, like, a whole lot." I paused, looking at her with hurt eyes. "I mean, I saw you last night, but you didn’t even talk to me at all."
She sighed, giving me another big squeeze. "I missed you too.
More than you’ll ever know." She ruffled my hair. "Let’s take a walk and catch up a bit?"
It was a very sunny day, the birds were chirping, and students were milling around in clusters or just hanging out. We walked across the expansive courtyard, into the lushly green garden as a huge fountain splashed water deliciously. We weaved our way through the labyrinth of green-hedged pathways, passing a group of Neophytes.
They quickly stopped talking as we approached. "Good order, justice, and peace, Circle Celeste."
She smiled warmly. "Good order, justice, and peace to you, Neophytes." She looked over at one of them curiously. "Tabitha, how is your training progressing? Did that hold I taught you work in the match?" she asked.
"Absolutely, I pulverized him. I won, score five to one," Tabitha gushed.
Grandma Celeste laughed. "That’s good. Keep practicing, because I’m sure he’s waiting for a rematch. See you later, Neophytes."
We continued walking slowly through the gardens in a comfortable silence. Everyone waved or nodded at her respectfully.
I smiled at her proudly. "Wow. How do you know everyone?"
"I come here quite often. Plus, I was a Circle professor years ago, but retired when I left to come back to raise you. But they ask me to teach special classes from time to time, which I’m always happy to do."
She stopped at a secluded area surround
ed by lush trees.
"Let’s sit here; it has always been my favorite spot. I found it eons ago, when I was just a Neophyte like you." She looked around with appreciation. "I can’t count the number of times that I would come here just get to get away or just to keep my sanity."
She chuckled warmly. "So tell me, what did you think about the meeting and then the ceremony last night?" she asked with a twinkle in her eyes.
I huffed with frustration. "Honestly, I’m just so confused right now. Everything seems to be just a black hole of a whole lot of crazy."
She looked at me quickly before ruffling my hair.
"First, let’s start with the fact that the Eternal Council meeting was not typical. Let’s just say that everyone is a bit rattled after the attack on Vineswell and there are very big decisions that the Eternals have to make." She frowned unhappily. "And that ridiculous rule of not allowing Neophytes to attend meetings, it’s just simply ridiculous given the fact that the upcoming voting affects the Neophytes in a very big way."
"What was that all about anyway? The twin queens looked really pissed at each other."
Celeste shook her head with dismay. "There is an uprising brewing that is about to turn everything as we know it upside down. In a nutshell, some members of the council want to change our relationship with the Elementi. And they want to change our strategy for fighting the Banished and Daemons. The big problem is that the twin queens are our balance of reign in the Circles, and now I sense a shift in their relationship that will ultimately tear them, and us, apart."
Something about her statement made me very anxious.
"So what’s going to happen? This voting thing seems like a real big deal."
"Put it this way, in all my years as a Circle, I have never seen anything of this kind. That’s why it’s so important that I stay here to organize it, to ensure that it is done honestly and fairly."
She looked at me solemn expression. "Never mind all that dull business. Did they tell you who your mentors are?" She smiled. "Oh, I remember when I was a Neophyte. I was so nervous about working with my mentors, especially with my Ares mentor. So I walked into the Warrior training hall, ready to prove to him that I belonged and that I was worthy, and at our first sparring, he took me to task. That night I went to bed battered and bruised, but not just my body, my pride. But in time, I earned his respect, and now he and I are very close."
"Veda and Chaos," I blurted.
She smiled mysteriously. "Excellent! They have very strong skills, and both of them are next in line for leadership positions. Veda will make high priestess very soon, and Chaos will someday be the leader of the Ares. You are very lucky to be selected as their choice."
"I thought this was a random pick. You mean I was chosen?" My voice squeaked with apprehension.
"The reincarnation ignited a chain of reactions by the gods. You, the Akasha, are very important to them, and your protection is of the utmost importance, hence the Rite of Spirit ceremony. Goddess Ananke was sent to find and mark your Guardian bonds. That’s where Veda and Chaos come into the picture. Somehow your spirit is marked with a connection to them. The Guardian bond between you and Veda and you and Chaos has been deemed very important by the gods."
"So these Guardians are way more important than just mentors?"
"Yes. This Guardian bond is a commitment for life."
I gasped, "Wait, I’m stuck with them, like, forever?" Forever? I mean, I felt sick just knowing how deep this unbreakable commitment was. I could only imagine how they felt.
She paused. "There is also another. There are three Guardians marked by the gods: one Ares Warrior, that’s Chaos; one Circle Warrior, which is Veda; and another has been marked, an Elementi. He or she shall be revealed soon enough."
She went on to tell me that not only were the Guardians there to protect me and to watch over me to ensure that I didn’t turn to the Underworld, but if they even suspected that I was inclined to do so, they would do what was necessary. Grandma Celeste looked at me darkly. Then I knew that "necessary" meant—that they would have to kill me. Obviously, this whole situation was not good. I would have babysitters for the rest of my life—that is, if I made it past eighteen. And that probability seemed highly unlikely.
Grandma Celeste looked at me solemnly. "But the most important part of the ceremony was to find out if the Akasha prophecy was true."
"What in the world is the Akasha? It sounds like the title to some creepy horror movie that I happen to be the star of—unfortunately." Like an annoying itch, my inky mark slightly slithered, then stopped as if it resented the mere mention of the name.
She looked at me deeply. "Everyone’s interpretation of the Akasha prophecy varies from the sublime to the ridiculous, with no one agreeing on which one is actually correct. Some say that the Akasha is a weapon that could destroy the Eternals and Elementi, and some say that she could unite us all. On the other hand, some translated the prophecy differently, that the Akasha could be used as a weapon that would bring about the destruction of the Underworld and the cleansing of the Banished."
I pulled my hands back with fright. This was too much responsibility for a sixteen-year-old too handle. "Well, that’s definitely not me. Goddess Ananke made a mistake. I can’t do any of those things, and frankly, I don’t want to."
"Listen to me, Gabi." She grabbed my hands quickly. "You must remember everything that I’m telling you. Your life and the lives of everyone in our world depend on it. You are the Akasha; this is the path that you were destined to walk. Goddess Ananke would not have appeared to us if it were not true. That’s why we conducted the Rite of Spirit, to prove that the prophecy of the Akasha was not a myth."
I looked at her anxiously. "But why even do the ceremony? I mean, everything was fine until the attack at Vineswell."
Her eyes narrowed coldly. "That’s exactly what started everything, the attack at Vineswell and when Pallas came sniffing around, looking for the Akasha. We knew then that the prophecy had to be true. Some members of the Eternal Council quickly requested that the Rite of Spirit be conducted to prove that the prophecy was a hoax, and to everyone’s surprise it was not, especially when Ananke, the spirit of chance and fate, appeared."
I blew out a fuming breath. "Great! More pressure."
Grandma Celeste touched my face softly. "Not pressure, Gabi, but destiny. Nothing in our world happens by accident, nothing—like my relationship with Queen Harmonia. Years ago, I was selected as her mentor, and for years I have continued to guide her. I know that she needs me, and I need her. It is how it has been written; it’s a connection that will never break, even in the embrace of Hallowed Eternity."
I traced the infinity mark on my neck. "What about this? Does it have anything to do with that weird dream with those horrible girls going on and on about me being the Akasha and some battle?"
Grandma Celeste touched my neck softly. "That was no dream. That was the second part of the rite." She looked at me with penetrating eyes. "Those girls are the personification of Destiny, and they summoned you to their world to see if you were the Akasha. Obviously, they believed that you are the Akasha, the fifth, the spirit element—the key to fate—and that’s why they marked you."
Her brows were now damp with trickles of sweat, which she wiped away impatiently. I stared at her solemnly, quickly grabbing her hand.
"Grandma Celeste, you are going to think that I’m crazy, but lately, I’ve been feeling like something bad is going to happen." I looked deeply into her eyes. "And it seems to surround you."
She looked at me approvingly. "You are using your gifts well. I also sense that darkness surrounds me."
I was worried, real worried. Then I picked up that real queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. That’s when I knew. "You’re sick. You never get sick. What’s wrong? And please don’t tell me it’s nothing."
She smiled quickly. "I’ve never lied to you, and I’m not going to start now. I fear that someone has cast a very dark spell on my spirit, a
nd I cannot break away from it. Morpheus, the immortal, appeared in my dreams last night, warning me that someone was trying to destroy my spirit, but that I must stay the course."
I looked at her fearfully. "No, we can stop it. Let’s go the Circles now; they’ll know how to fix this."
"It is not that easy, and I cannot hide or stray from what has already been written." She looked at me solemnly. "Gabi, I am not afraid of the darkness, and no matter what happens to me, promise me that you will do what is necessary for the Eternals and Elementi. It is important that emotions don’t get in the way of doing what is right." She looked at me pointedly. "And if sacrifices must be made, then so be it."
I knew what Grandma Celeste was asking, but could I make that ultimate sacrifice and choose the Eternals and Elementi over her? I felt confused, lost.
Suddenly my body was infused with a burst of power that washed over me, comforting me, somehow making me whole.
Grandma Celeste smiled at me knowingly. "There, the spirit has decided to comfort you and stand by your side. This is a very good omen, Gabi. You will go far in your journey; after all, you are the Akasha."
I pressed my head against her shoulder, inhaling her familiar lavender scent that had comforted me on many occasions, but this time it did not. Somehow, I knew that the times ahead were going to be very hard and very lonely.
"Um, Grandma Celeste, there is one more thing. I, uh, had this weird dream right before the Vineswell attack."
She looked at me with narrowed eyes. "Really? Go on."
I anxiously plucked a huge red flower from a strange trailing vine and twirled it in my hands distractedly. "Okay, so there was this cute blond guy with two swords that kept going on and on about how I’m not the Akasha, then something about breaking some curse." I looked at her hopefully. Maybe she could sort this whole mess out, because I couldn’t.
