A jolt of electricity raced up my arm, lighting up my brands.
What are you?
A Thunderbird. It fluffed its feathers proudly.
You came for Joseph?
And to see you.
Why?
Its massive, curved beak clicked. I can bring tears to your eyes; resurrect the dead, make you smile and reverse time. I form in an instant but last a lifetime.
Was that an answer?
“It talks in riddles.” Joseph tilted his head in a shrug.
“I assume you answer riddles?”
“I eat them for breakfast.”
I rolled my eyes. “Do you know what It’s saying then?”
“The answer is memory. I imagine you somehow remind it of a memory.”
I turned back to the bird. That didn’t answer my question.
Not all questions were meant to be answered.
Must Great Beasts always speak in riddles?
Ask me what you really want to ask me.
I’d never thought to pose my question to the Kraken. Maybe I’d been waiting for this. Joseph seemed intrigued as he waited for me to speak.
What happened to the God of Air?
He died.
Then how is Joseph here?
It cocked Its head at me, entirely bird-like in manner. How are any of us here?
The heels of my palms smashed to my eyes in frustration.
Magic doesn’t die, the Thunderbird intoned, bland as ever. Magic is incomprehensible in its complexity. It’s constantly flexing and warping and twisting and reimagining itself. What happened then was…unspeakable. But magic has a way of persisting. As evidenced by you standing here before me despite your turbulent history—and for Joseph, chosen for who he will become.
Beware what you don’t know, God of Water. And know that what you do know might not be so.
The open line I’d tapped between us snapped. The Thunderbird fluttered Its wings but was clearly done with the conversation on that wonderfully foreboding line.
“Good luck with that,” I said to Joseph, flipping my thumb at the bird. It preened.
“I told you, I like riddles. We’ll get along just grand.” He sifted so he was in front of me again, that blinding smile back in place. “Do you have a plan yet? Or are you still playing this game by ear? Because I really don’t have a clue what’s supposed to happen here.”
I returned his smile. “Getting impatient?”
“I’ve only waited my whole life for this. Who wouldn’t?” He shoved the sleeve of his shirt up, revealing the birthmark branding him as the God of Air — a single gust of wind with an arrow underneath. It pulsed red-hot under my scrutiny, and my magic stirred to life as my own marks burned on my arm. I still had so many questions, so many concerns about what the past would reveal and what the future would bring, but for now…
“Do you trust me?” I said.
“No.”
I smiled again at his honesty as I extended my hand. Ripples of blue and red energy raced through my veins, looping around my skin. “Good. I don’t trust you either.”
Then I grabbed his hand, our bond snapping into place like two perfect puzzle pieces.
Welcome back, God of Air.
Blinding light of all shades and colors flared from our hands, absorbing both of us in a ball of light and mist. Thunder roared overhead and lightning shot from the skies, striking both of us in a blazing electrical jolt. I struggled to maintain my grip, stepping closer to wrap an arm around him as he stood, a beacon of sun-white energy, head thrown back as he pulled from me and the sky. As the light flared even brighter, I knew our journey had just begun.
Epilogue
Geoffrey
They’d pulled me from the water, the few soldiers still alive. The few still somehow loyal to me.
They’d rushed us away from that awful lake, toward helicopters waiting to return to headquarters.
They thought they’d saved me.
But I was more broken than they knew.
Heat surged through my head.
I didn’t move.
Three elements activated.
I didn’t feel the pain.
It was nothing compared to the void in my chest.
Betrayed by my best friend.
Attacked by the one I’d tried to help.
And bombarded by magic that I didn’t want.
And it didn’t want me.
You want to fight to the death, God of Water?
You found it.
About the Author
When September Thomas isn’t writing, she’s often lost in her own head, dreaming about new universes she can’t wait to share with the world. As far back as she can remember she’s always told stories, and she can’t envision a world where that isn’t the case.
The Elemental Gods is her debut series. Walk on Water is the first of four planned novels.
September lives in Omaha, Neb. with her rescued Australian Cattle dog, Sydney, who she believes was her twin in another life. She also boasts a large collection of owls that some (many) consider amusingly ridiculous.
You can connect with me on:
https://www.septemberthomas.com
https://twitter.com/SeptemberAuthor
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https://www.instagram.com/september.thomas
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