Passage (Akasha Book 1)

by Indie Gantz

  The man says nothing, just turns around and gives Avias the stones he requested.

  “Perhaps I should have asked for more?” Avias asks with a smirk.

  “But you didn’t.” The man looks between Tirigan and I and quirks an eyebrow. “Sure I can’t get you two anything?”

  “Yes,” I reply quickly. “I mean, no. No thank you.”

  With that, Bo leads us back down the row of booths, Tirigan and Avias trailing behind her. Oleander and I take up the rear.

  I fidget with the straps of my backpack as I try to process what just happened. We haven’t even tried to cast into a stone yet and other people our age are casting and trading away stones I wouldn’t even think to make. Plus, now that we know we aren’t one element, but all the elements, who knows if we’ll even be able to cast into any stones. What if none of the stones designated to each element allow us to cast into them because we aren’t truly that element? How are we going to get through this if we can’t even do the things we are supposed to be able to do?

  Calla didn’t leave an infinite supply of the small stones for us to use as currency either, so we’re going to run out of those soon, and then what? How are we going to survive here if we can’t cast into stones? We do still have two Eidikos stones, the ones that have the appearance changing casts in them, but I doubt those are even worth trading.

  Oleander’s voice pulls me out of my own head, his tone so soft and gentle I don’t even understand the meaning of his words until I am looking up at him.

  “You don’t have to lie, you know?”

  When I realize what he’s said, my eyes go wide and my mouth sucks completely dry of moisture. It’s like all of the water in my body has been drained out; which is interesting because I happened to see an Eidikos stone in the man’s bins that seemed to do exactly that.

  “Um- what?” I stammer, already reaching out for Tirigan for help.

  “Don’t worry, Charlie,” Oleander says kindly. “I know the real reason you didn’t trade any stones. You don’t have to hide who you are from us.”

  Interlude IV

  Day Forty-Two: Tirigan

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Matter of France

  If there were ever an advantageous time to wonder about the state of sand and its various uses, this would be it.

  I am surrounded by people wearing very little by way of clothing, covered in black leather straps that hold elemental stones to their exposed skin. Only three are without red. It is rather transparent as to Téssera type by the stones that are donned. Whichever color is least represented is the element that person has control over. At a quick glance, I can see that our group is surrounded by three Fotiáns, three Gyans, two Aérasians, and one very angry looking Néroian. We are encircled, outnumbered, and quite possibly in grave danger, but my mind is focused on sand.

  Sand, and the possible elimination of the only friends I’ve ever known.

  ◆◆◆

  When we arrived at the desert, after passing through Corpus Christi without incident and traveling through Texas uninterrupted, we flew over the wasteland of Oklahoma’s desert at high speed. Our rate of travel created clouds of quartz dust that made its way not only into our vehicle, but into the respiratory systems of its passengers, as well. The coughing was mostly irritating, but it did slow us down.

  Those who were not keeping the car in the air were forced to deal with the dust cloud. Bo convinced Charlie to play some sort of word game with her during her resting period, a game that seemed rather innocuous from my perspective, but Charlie did not agree. She discontinued their play after two rounds, citing the need for focus as she helped alleviate the inconvenient upheaval of sand. The rebuff did not bother Bo. She proceeded to turn towards Calor and began asking him questions about his family and their alliances.

  It was rather improper timing for such a conversation, but my interest was piqued by the time he turned red and shouted at her, “Be quiet! I’m trying not to burn us all to death!”

  Bo was struck silent.

  Upon reaching Tulsa and turning West, our party stopped for a brief time to get out of the car and stretch our legs. I had never been so cramped for such a long period of time. It was a relief to stand and walk around for a short while before returning to our vehicle to travel again. Charlie and I healed quickly from our incommodious accommodations, but the others needed more time to rebound from their muscle ailments.

  Once we were back in Kor’s vehicle and speeding through the air again, Oleander suggested we try to drive on the sand for a while so we could lessen both the dust cloud and the energy we expended on flying and removing said dust cloud. Oleander and Charlie tried using their powers to pave the sand into concrete. But, without enough water, it was useless, and Charlie is still very inconsistent with her transfigurations. She turned the sand into glass, which melted our tires from the high heat of her cast.

  It was the distraction of repairing the tires that left us vulnerable to our antagonist’s approach. The shift in the breeze was the first thing I noticed, followed by an irritating pull at my peripheral vision. There was no vehicle to spot. Instead, it was nine bodies flying through the air.

  Standing sharply from my spot next to the vehicle where I knelt with Oleander to aid in mending the tires, my eyes immediately fell to the group of people coming towards us.

  Open mind: Charlie.

  Look up. South.

  I placed my hand on Oleander’s shoulder, alerting him to the suspicious new arrivals. The touch alone was enough to startle the Gyan into looking up at me and, subsequently, the new arrivals.

  What should we do? Run? Charlie asks.

  They will simply fly after us.

  Close mind.

  Kor sat on the hood of his vehicle, the map open in his lap with Bo at his shoulder looking on. Charlie was frozen to her spot on the other side of the car, eyes on those who were quickly approaching us. Calor and Avias had walked away from the vehicle to stretch their legs, but it required very little effort to find Avias’ mind and inform him of our situation. He and Calor began to run back towards us as soon as he received my message.

  Reaching Kor’s mind would require more focus and energy. I had yet to speak to him telepathically, seeing no need for it up until that point. I didn’t want to shout for him and give away any information to those in pursuit of us. It had only been ten seconds since I first noticed the flying Téssera, and we had no more than eighty seconds before the approaching group was upon us. Telepathy was my best option.

  I closed my eyes and focused on finding Kor’s mind, convincing it to let me in. It had been easy with Avias when I linked with him for the first time. By that time, our bond of friendship was strong enough for his mind to recognize mine and allow me entry without persuasion. It was probable that the process would not be so simple with Kor. Bo would perhaps have been a simpler option, but it was Kor who needed to be warned.

  When I began to concentrate, I immediately picked up Oleander’s mind signature beside me, but ignored it. Charlie’s mind was loud, as always, but I pushed that aside too. On the edges of my consciousness, I could feel Avias’ anxiety, but I did not give it my attention. I focused only on finding Kori Lark’s unique presence and sent out tendrils of my mind to coax his interest.

  Open mind: Kor.

  At first, it seemed as though his mind was entirely nonexistent. I could feel Bo pushing at my periphery, her mind rather persistent, but the man sitting beside her seemed not to have thoughts at all. I collected the energy inside myself that I typically use to manipulate the elements, and pushed it towards Kor’s mind, using my own mind to soften the assault. At that, his shoulders flinched, his head snapping up as he looked around for the source of his discomfort. Upon locking eyes with mine, his eyebrows rose and the invisibility of his mind seemed to lessen. We didn’t have time for me to push further. Instead, I pointed up, and Kor’s eyes followed my gesture.

  Once he saw what was headed our way, his mind opened inst
antly. It wasn’t a violent flood of thoughts and feelings, but more subtle, soft, and completely controlled. Despite the gentleness of how he unlocked his consciousness to me, the vastness of Kor’s mind was immediately overwhelming, the intricate webbing pulsing with more knowledge than I knew one man to be capable of possessing. When he spoke through our connection, his voice sounded exactly as his own, unlike Charlie’s or Avias’.

  Say nothing, Kor instructed. Do nothing when they approach.

  Do you know who they are?

  I have a few ideas. Collect the others and stand behind me.

  Close mind.

  His eyes were on the sky, but I still nodded in agreement. Oleander stood by my side already, and Avias and Calor approached us from behind. Kor climbed off the hood of the vehicle, while Bo clamored behind him.

  Open mind: Charlie.

  Charlie, collect Bo and come stand with us. Kor will stand in front. Say and do nothing.

  How do you… did you just talk to him?

  Yes. Just do as I say.

  I’m coming.

  Close mind.

  As the group’s feet hit the ground not thirty meters from our position, Charlie rounded the car with Bo, her hand on the younger girl’s arm, leading her somewhat forcefully.

  “What the bloody hell is going on?” Bo griped, until her next curse was cut off by her realization of our situation. Then, she fell quiet. Avias stepped in front of her, blocking his sister almost entirely from view.

  The group of Téssera came towards us confidently, wearing cold and calculated expressions. When they were only a meter away from Kor, a woman in the center spoke.

  “What is your business here?” Her voice was much higher than I expected it to be. She had bright green hair, fair skin, and several piercings. Five. Chin, nose, and cheek. Blue. Green, White. Fotián. Black cloth over her chest and pelvis. The rest of her body unclothed. Unconcerned with modesty. Elemental stones littered across her body, black leather straps holding them in place. A black leather cuff around her left arm. Marking indiscernible.

  Kor’s voice was casual, but assertive when he responded.“Heading to a friend’s home in Arizona. The sand issue was quite unexpected. Do you have any suggestions as to how we can travel more efficiently?”

  “Is there not sand where you come from?” A large, dark-skinned man stood beside the green-haired woman. His energy… palpable. Powerful. Red stones lined up along his arms and legs. Not Fotián. No shirt, shorts fall to his knees in long fraying pieces of fabric. Stones extended up his legs and disappeared under his shorts. Mostly white and blue. Gyan.

  “There is, but only near the water,” Kor answered, shrugging. “Mother Earth is rather persnickety with her climates, is she not?” There was no response. The group continued to stare. We’re being evaluated. “Who do you stand for?”

  Kor’s question was met with a few leers and a curse from one of the men on the outskirts of their group. Kor showed no sign of being affected by this.

  “Those in power,” the first woman answered. The corner of her lip twitched. Was it to be a smile or frown? Bright yellow eyes squint inward slightly, narrowing. Body language more defensive than seconds before, her shoulders broader, her neck longer.

  “The High Coven?” Kor asked.

  “Some of them,” the woman answered, her lips curling upwards. A sneer. She must be powerful to have so much confidence. Our group does not incite fear.

  Outwardly, Kor appeared not to react to the woman’s reply, but with his mind still open to me, I could sense his alarm.

  “Dynami or Efforos?” Kor asked, still sounding as if he were inquiring about the weather. The group of Téssera stared back at him, and no one provided him with an answer. Kor waited. After a few more moments of their silent standoff, a woman who was standing towards the end of their semi-circle walked forward with a bag in her hands.

  “Declare and demonstrate your elements.” Her voice was as rough as the skin of her neck and half of her face. Scars. Burns. Hair only covered the right side of her head, a muddy yellow color. Mostly red and blue elemental stones. Green ones in her ears and lip. Aérasian. Gymnast’s clothing. Black, covered in a blue, shimmering lace. Delicate, juxtaposition to her scars. Strips of black and blue lace held stones to her exposed skin.

  She opened the bag she held in her hand and looked at all of us expectantly.

  That was when I knew we would have to fight. I knew what had to lie in that bag, because I had calculated it within seconds of when she held it out to us. If she had wanted us to simply tell her our element and then invoke it, there would have been no need for what I knew must lie in the bag. No. The physical demonstration would be of a different kind.

  Open mind: Kor.

  Charlie and I cannot perform this task without revealing ourselves.

  I know, Kor answered, frustrated.

  I see no other avenue for our escape. Do you?

  No. Prepare the others.

  Close mind.

  I released Kor’s mind to enter Charlie and Avias’. While I have been able to master entering both of their minds simultaneously and receive their thoughts concurrently as well, Kor’s mind would not permit such flexibility. His defenses are far too complex to allow me to read his mind while reading another at the same time.

  Open mind: Charlie, Avias.

  We will have to fight. They want us to cast into stones.

  We can’t do that in front of them, Charlie argued, and Avias immediately agreed. I could feel Avias’ fear. For us, for his family, but not for himself.

  Which is why we will have to fight. Avias, prepare Bo. Charlie, reach out to Oleander and Calor.

  Close mind.

  With no one else in my mind, my thoughts turned to sand.

  ◆◆◆

  The quartz that surrounds us could prove as an ally or a foe, depending on how it’s used. Grain by grain, sand’s impact is miniscule, but in bulk, it could prove cataclysmic to our effort. If we are to battle, we must be aware of the effects our elemental manipulations will have on our battlefield.

  With every move an Aérasian makes, they must be conscious of moving the atmosphere just above the ground so as not to pull the sand into the airflow and blind those who are not to be blinded. Create a baseline.

  Gyans have little to pull from, but what lies beneath the sand (rock bed) and the sand itself, which is largely made of Quartz (silicon-oxygen tetrahedral) and limestone (calcium carbonate.) Transfigurations into various forms of plastic, glass, and cement are possible. Quartz is a Gyan Eidikos. Sand dunes lie close by to our position and further west, but dune sand is well sorted; there is no dust, gravel, or boulders. Extra particles are too heavy for the wind to carry.

  Néroians would be hard-pressed to find water to battle with in this environment, but it would not be completely impossible for a particularly powerful Téssera. They have one, we have none.

  Fotiáns can manipulate the sand into glass shields or even prison cells for the more advanced Téssera. Burns likely.

  Physical altercations are probable, but my knives are around the belt Oleander made for me, which lies in the backseat of our vehicle. One strapped to my ankle. Charlie has taken to wearing her belt of knives whenever we stop and exit the vehicle. She is prepared for physical battle more than I am. I am stronger, she is more resourceful. I do not worry for her safety in a hand to hand fight. Oleander, Avias, and Calor have all proven to be competent battlers, both with elemental power and physically. Bo is the youngest and the weakest by far, but I would not discount her entirely.

  Kor steps closer to the woman, appearing to be ready to perform the task asked of him.

  Open mind: Kor.

  Now that I know what to look for, it isn’t as difficult to find Kor in the mass of minds surrounding me, except I have the added distraction of the new group of Téssera. There are a few weak minds within their group, which could prove useful in battle, but I do not attempt to reach them yet. When Kor’s mind opens to me, it
is every bit as controlled as the first time I entered it, but there are notes of fear that I had not felt before. His children are in danger.

  Each of you come forward and declare your elements,” Kor instructs. Charlie and you will stay back with Bo. On my signal, everyone will spread out and we will battle. Concentrate on incapacitating the Fotiáns first. Remember your shields.

  The Gyan man feels powerful as well.

  Yes, I agree. Concentrate on your shields, let me take the offensive.

  That is unlikely to be successful. We will aid you.

  Shields first.

  Fine.

  Close mind.

  I relay Kor’s instructions to Avias and Charlie, the latter then informing Oleander and Calor. Tension rolls off of the bodies around me like waves, threatening to distract me from our goal.

  Avias is thinking that Bo must not be harmed, his task diluted by his need to protect his sister. Charlie is thinking that Oleander looks too tired to be able to cast for as long as we need him to. Someone else is feeling... ill? Calor. Have I opened my mind to him? No. And yet, I can still feel his nausea. My own stomach turns over. I can also feel fear coming from Bo. Distracting. They are hindering my focus, which is unacceptable.

  Kor steps closer to the woman holding open the bag and reaching inside it. Bo’s fear spikes, Avias’ concern… Focus. Everyone needs to cease with their incessant prattle.

  I attempt to send out a single thought to the minds I can feel pushing against me. I do not open my mind completely, but allow a crack in my defense to relay a message one-way.

  Will you all calm down, please?

  I know I am successful in reaching all the minds I intended when I see Calor, Bo, and Oleander jump slightly.

  Kor pulls out his stone and declares his element. A second later, the stone glows a shimmery white color, and then he attempts to place the stone in his pocket.

  “I will take that,” the woman commands sharply. The hand not holding the bag juts out, palm face up.