by Desi Lin
“Where’s JJ?” I frowned as the words fell in a rough whisper.
“He needed to make a call. He’ll be –” Souta stopped as the door opened, and JJ strolled in.
When Souta shot him a questioning glance, JJ nodded. He turned back to me, smiled then stood up. JJ took his place, gripping my hand gently and running his thumb over my knuckles.
“Tradition dictates upon waking on the morning of their eighteenth year, an Elementum is presented with a physical symbol of their element, so they may proudly proclaim their maturity for all to see.” Brooks deep rumble intoned the ritual words, and I fought a smile back at the picture he made. He stood next to the bed, face serious and dressed up in black slacks and a turquoise button down.
Souta’s mouth twitched, fighting the same impulse as me. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box. The urge to laugh fled, and I suddenly shook. What did they do?
Souta deposited the flat box onto my palm. “An Ignis is passion, strength, bold, and beautiful. They seek attention and act on impulse. They are our light, our life, our need. Without them, we do not burn the way we should. Without them, we are incomplete.” Souta’s eyes twinkled even as he said the traditional words seriously.
“You are Ignis,” JJ whispered the next part as his fingers found the box on my palm. “May your fire ever burn proud and bright for all the world to see.” He pulled the box open. The gaze I fixed on each of them as they spoke fell to the box, and I gasped.
Inside, resting on a bed of velvet, laid the most incredibly beautiful cuff bracelet I ever laid eyes on. Thin, silver curls of flame wove in and out of each other. Deep red stones nestled at varying intervals where the flames came together. At the center, the flames surrounded a larger, brighter red stone cut in the shape of a heart. It sparkled in the sunlight.
My fingers shaking, I reached for it but pulled back at the last moment. Swallowing, I glanced at the boys, who all grinned like idiots. Souta chuckled and took the bracelet from the box, then slipped it on my wrist. The cool metal caressed my skin. It fit perfectly, slipping on with ease. Clearly they put thought into the piece. I started to object then caught the happiness shining on their faces.
“Thank you,” I whispered, swallowing down my objections.
“Good girl. Now come on, breakfast’s waiting, and I’m starving!” Souta bounced on his feet, grabbing Brooks’ hand and tugging him toward the hall.
JJ grinned, then lifted my good hand, kissed it and rose, following the others. I climbed off carefully, mindful of my bruises and my wrist. Unfortunately, I still wore the same clothes from last night, and I knew I must smell ripe. It couldn’t be helped, though.
An older woman, round and rosy cheeked, with her white hair pulled into a bun, bustled into the room, clothes thrown over an arm. “Come now, little one. Time for a right cleaning. I imagine it’ll be nice to get out of those clothes.”
Uncertainty skittering through me, I froze.
She laid the clothes, ones I recognized as mine now, on the bed then took a surprisingly firm grip of my elbow and steered me toward the bathroom. “Into the bath with you. I know a real shower isn’t possible but there’s a cloth and some soap, bathe as best you can, and I’ll be here to help you dress, if you need.”
“Who are you?” I stammered out, entering the bathroom.
“Oh, dear. I’m sorry. I’m Mrs. Hennis, the housekeeper. Now go on, clean up.” She hustled me the rest of the way into the bathroom and I went willingly. Cleaning up proved difficult but I managed it and with Mrs. Hennis’ help got into the simple, black dress the boys pulled from the back of my closet.
As I stepped into the kitchen Mrs. Hennis led me to near the front of the house, a whistle greeted me. “Damn, JJ. You were right. Nice choice.”
Heat rose in my cheeks as Brooks gaze swept over me. My eyes roamed over the kitchen in an effort to avoid his stare. A chef’s dream, or at least mine, the kitchen featured large windows, a center island with a gas stovetop and indoor grill, two ovens, reddish wood cabinets and an expanse of counter I dreamed of baking on. The boys sat at a granite counter, Souta on one side, JJ and Brooks on the other, each with a plate piled with eggs, bacon, toast and hash browns. A fourth plate full of food sat next to Souta. He patted the black leather stool next to him in invitation.
“Come on, hot stuff. Breakfast is served,” he said, shoveling another bite into his mouth.
Part of me still wanted to run, to take off before they could hurt me, but I decided to quit fighting the need to be with these boys. In my head they were already mine, even though I knew that for a lie. Instead of running, I settled onto the stool and ate. The red clock on the wall told me noon came and went already. We barely finished up when a knock sounded on the door. I rinsed my plate as the sound of footsteps entered the kitchen.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
I spun at the sound of May’s voice, a smile spreading over my face. She stepped close, resting a hand on my shoulder and leaning in a bit, her version of hugging me.
“We confess,” Brooks said from behind May. “We got in contact with the Concilium and May. She helped us plan this.”
I pulled back in shock, then laughed at the contrite expression on May’s face. She knew! She knew when she called me!
“Well, now the secret’s out,” May began, “let’s move this celebration to the study, shall we?” The boys moved off, but May held me back, whispering in my ear. “When the Ad Aetatem is over, we’ll discuss these lovely colors marking up your skin, understand?” Steel laced her voice.
The time for confessions would come. Right now, I would enjoy the Ad Aetatem the boys put together for me.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A natural disaster moves in with little warning, blows through your life in moments and leaves a huge mess behind for you to clean up. It feels no remorse, no guilt. It simply comes and then goes, never knowing your life is irrevocably changed by its mere presence. Afterwards, you stand there, lost amid the debris once containing the pieces of your world, wondering how exactly you move on from this. You may pray, or cry, or curse but eventually you accept nothing will ever be the same.
As I crossed the threshold of the study, I imagined myself like one of those people, sitting in front of their television, glued to the news and waiting for the natural disaster to barrel through, unable to do anything to stop it or change its direction. The boys’ actions seemed like a catalyst though I still didn’t know for what. I only knew, deep down, by the end of the day, I would be standing amid the debris of my life and trying to reconcile the changes.
The night before I only caught glimpses of a couple rooms before crashing hard from my aches and the meds Akiko gave me. The study didn’t seem like a study to me. Two small, dark wood shelves contained an array of beautifully bound books and flanked a simple, matching desk and chair. The desk and chair rested in front of a large picture window. A crystal lamp and ivory shade stood like a sentinel on one corner of the desk. The remainder of the room appeared to be given over to the boys. A large screen television mounted on the wall above a low, black shelf containing a gaming console and an array of games gave the little detail away. Two pub style table sets sat opposite the study area. A large, ornate, red and gold rug took up most of the center space without hiding the glossy wood floors underneath. A couple black leather couches and a low coffee table faced the television and completed the room.
Music, a lively, upbeat tune I recognized, drifted softly around the room from a hidden speaker. On one of the pub tables sat a couple wrapped boxes, while the other held a round cake, complete with bright pink icing, castle and... I peered closer. Yep, those were princesses. I made a mental note to kill them later.
May beckoned me over to where she stood near the tables. The boys stood behind her, silent but grinning like fools, the only other people in the room. I shot them a narrow-eyed glare and glanced at the cake. When I glanced back, both JJ and Brooks pointed thumbs at Souta, who grinned braz
enly and shrugged. I tried to make my gaze promise retribution. From the way he grinned, I failed, or he anticipated it. Weirdo.
May grasped my hand, drawing my attention away from the boys. Her soft, brown eyes held mine captive, emotion shining in them.
“Normally, this would be done by a parent but as we all know, it’s not possible. Today I stand In Loco Parentis.”
I swallowed hard. This part of the Ad Aetatem I wanted the least. It could be done at any time on an Elementum’s eighteenth birthday, and I hoped the boys would skip it entirely. How would this work with no parent?
“Eighteen years ago the world changed, simply by virtue of your birth. Ten years ago, the world changed again as your power revealed itself to us. Today, the world changes one more time, as you reach your maturity and begin your search for your Genus.”
Moisture gathered in my eyes, and I tried hard to keep the tears in. I couldn’t imagine the next part of this particular ritual could even occur. With no parent, how could I be given a family symbol to aid me? May released my hand and grasped a small, silver wrapped box on the table. She took my hand again, turning it over and resting the box there, trapped between our hands. I couldn’t breathe.
“Before she passed on, your mother left this in my possession, specifically for this moment. It’s been in your family for generations, and though it didn’t lead your mother to her Genus, it has been a beacon for others. Though family is no indicator of ability, you come from a long line of Ignis on your mother’s side.” She slid her hand away.
I trembled a little at the idea I held something once belonging to my mother. My entire life, I knew only the barest of facts. May didn’t know her on a personal level at all, and I never met anyone who had. Sheer luck made May the Sage closest when it became obvious my mother wouldn’t make it. Now, though, I held something of hers, something she wanted to give to me, something from a family I never knew, but still evidence they once existed.
I pulled the wide, shimmery, silver ribbon and set it aside, intending to reuse it. I unwrapped the rest carefully, not out of a need to preserve the paper but rather because of the fear still warring with the joy inside my stomach. Once the last barrier no longer remained, my fear fled as well, and I lifted the lid on the white box.
Words failed me. Breath failed me. Movement failed me.
Nestled inside the box, a silver heart made to appear like a lock peered back at me. Engraved flames on the face surrounded an orange-red gem with fire shining from its center. The heart was decently sized, not small enough to be considered delicate or dainty but not large enough to be ostentatious or unwieldy. The silver was dulled with age, but the gem shone bright and clear. I picked it up, hands shaking, expecting a chain but finding none. I cast a quizzical gaze at May.
“This is the Embers family symbol and has been for many generations,” she explained. “Ones as old as these were designed so the holder could change its function to their need. Your mother used it as a keychain.”
My gaze swept back to the wide, shimmery, silver ribbon I set aside, resting in a pile on the table. I knew exactly what to do with it. Snatching up the ribbon, I threaded it through the heart lock and tied it around my neck. The heart rested in the hollow of my throat. May smiled in approval as she touched a finger to the piece to finish the ritual.
“May the symbol of Embers shine bright as it leads you to your new home and may it ever remind you of the one you leave behind.”
The traditional words, uttered only once in an Elementum’s lifetime, words I never believed I would get the chance to hear, broke the dam and fuck it all if tears didn’t stream down my cheeks, again!
The boys’ faces fell, their smiles slipped away, and they reached for me, almost as one. It might be funny if I wasn’t embarrassed. Turning away for a moment, I gathered myself and dried my eyes. Stupid emotions, why pick now to make me be like a sissy girl? If I kept this up, the boys would drop me like a hot potato. They liked the strong, independent, smartass girl they originally met. They wouldn’t want anything to do with a sniveling mess. Taking a deep breath, I turned back to them with a smile I hoped seemed reassuring.
The last of the three Ad Aetatem rituals couldn’t be done until the exact time of my birth, 2:43pm. With a little time to kill, the boys lit the candles on the cake. My eyes found the too skinny princesses in their too frilly and fancy dresses, and I shot Souta another glare as he sang Happy Birthday with the others.
The warm press of a palm at my lower back startled me until I realized JJ stood there. On my other side, Souta laced our fingers together. When another hand came to rest at the juncture of my neck and shoulders, I simply leaned into it, not in the least surprised. The boys’ touch warmed me, and I found I didn’t need to make the traditional wish. Finding the boys and becoming friends gave me the best present ever gotten, and I didn’t need more.
A wish to find my Genus quickly flittered through me, but my mother lived without one. If I didn’t find mine, I would be okay as long as the boys stayed my friends.
I blew out my candles and of course they relit, bastards. This time, JJ got outed, and I added him to my mental retaliation list. May laughed and grabbed a conveniently placed glass of water to dunk the candles in. Given the boys’ antics thus far, I hesitated at the presents, unsure if I wanted to find out what they contained. Open them I did, though, and they blew me away with their thoughtfulness.
The first held a stunning crystal heart shaped box. Flames crawled up the sides and curled out to form two small trays. When I noticed the tiny, nearly invisible JJ on the side, surprise raced through me. I knew JJ liked to sculpt but did he make this as well?
He reached out and caressed my cheek with a finger as he answered my unspoken question. “I’m a crystal shaper.”
Since Brooks’ nose seemed always in a book, it came as no surprise to unwrap one from him. My comment about not liking fiction stuck with him, though, because I held a copy of Shaping History: The Elementum Effect. When I made it to Souta’s gift, his wide grin sent nerves skittering through me. The box from him was the smallest by far, and I held my breath as I lifted the lid on the tiny box. Two guitar picks with flames sat inside, cleverly worked into earrings. Picking them up, I exchanged them for the pair I currently wore.
Souta grabbed my face and smacked his lips against mine in the world’s briefest kiss. My fingers drifted up of their own accord, running over where our mouths met.
“And now we have an Ad Aetatem ritual to perform!” May spoke loudly, breaking through my daze.
Everyone began moving the furniture against the walls to make space, refusing to let me help. My mind spun as I watched the boys. Why did the small moment make my lips tingle? I had already concluded Souta, and possibly Brooks, to be bisexual, but I didn’t want to mess things up between them.
Shaking my head, I put the question from my mind.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The time of birth held great significance for Elementum. As closely tied to nature as we were, it was only natural our lives, and our abilities, would be subject to the same rules. Normally, at the time of birth, a sage would be present to bless the child. The blessing left a small birthmark in the shape of the parents’ elements, which would fade over the next eight years until their own element manifested, at the time of their birth in their eighth year.
May was the closest sage when my mother went into labor, which is how I ended up in her custody. At age eighteen, at the time of our birth, when Elementum reached maturity, Iunctura could occur for the first time.
We were told that finding our Genus, being united under Iunctura, was like finally finding the missing pieces of our souls.
My mother never found hers.
I ran my fingers over the heart at my throat, fidgeting as I watched May prep for the last Ad Aetatem ritual, another part only a sage could perform. There were rumors I overheard through the years. Rumors of nothing happening, rumors of evil rising up, rumors of demons and devils and undead. Ru
mors of angels and gods and Quintus. The Quintus tale got retold more than the others. Tales existed in the oldest Elementum storybooks. The fabled Quintus, the fifth element, supposedly existed once, but many believed them mere legends.
Old legends and silly rumors born of fear held no concern for me, though. Instead, the real possibility of being alone for the rest of my life, of never knowing that sense of completeness, of ending up like my mother, dominated my mind. No one ever wanted me. No one ever took the time to care. No one ever stayed or fought for me. I’d been passed along like a hideous set of plates no one dared to toss in the trash.
As if reading the worry on me like the words in his books, Brooks stepped closer, wrapping an arm around my waist, mindful of the myriad of injuries I possessed, and pulling me into his side. He dropped a kiss on the top of my head, a tiny reassuring gesture. I sighed and curled into him for a moment before remembering we stood in the house of his boyfriend. His rich, influential boyfriend.
I pushed away gently, smiling to reassure him.
The boys moved the few furniture pieces easily and rolled the rug up. May crouched on the floor, drawing with a piece of chalk. I didn’t know for sure but it seemed different from regular sidewalk or chalkboard chalk. As she drew, she intoned in Latin words few knew anymore. Before long, she stood and stepped back.
As familiar as my own face, the symbol on the floor could be found in nearly every Elementum run establishment. Those versions however tended to be ornate and colorful. As a plain white chalk drawing the circle and cross making up a simplistic compass, it lacked the beauty of the more elaborate ones. The symbol and the words played the important roles. Fancy ornamentation wouldn't affect the ritual. The cross overlaying the circle created four quadrants. Each quadrant connected to a different element. Any guests with an incomplete Genus stood outside the circle by the quadrant of their element. When the time came if they were part of the Genus they would be pulled into the circle.