The Chronicles of William Wilde Boxset 1

by Davis Ashura

  “As long as you don’t burn the woda to a crisp, the rules are pretty open to interpretaiton. You can even use Earth to trip a person or Air to leap over obstacles.” Lien smirked. “You should try that if you ever decide to play,” she said. “The higher you go, the harder the fall when someone smacks you down.”

  Serena grimaced. “I think I’ll pass,” she said. “How do you win?”

  “The game goes on for thirty-five minutes, or until one team scores twenty-five points.” Lien fully faced her. “For the record, I’m only talking to you for courtesy’s sake. Don’t think I’m doing this out of friendship. You burned that bridge to ashes.”

  Serena suddenly noticed others standing nearby, listening in on her conversation with Lien. She felt the weight of their stares and flicked a glance at them. They eyed her with faces full of mistrust, revulsion, and in some cases, contempt.

  Anger flared through Serena. The hell with them. Who were they to judge her? They hadn’t grown up on Sinskrill or been forced to survive and thrive by any means necessary. Laughter and joy were easy when life was offered up on a platter.

  Disgust also coursed through Serena, disgust with herself. How could she have thought that a few conversations with strangers, some smiles and laughs, would change the opinions of these people? It was like Selene said. The people of Arylyn lied. They weren’t open-hearted enough to make friends out of strangers, at least not to a mahavan of Sinskrill. They’d never offered her a second chance.

  Serena tried not to flush as she stood, and focused instead on hardening the armor around her heart. No weakness would touch her. “I understand,” she said to Lien. “I won’t bother you again.” She paused before leaving. “And for the record, I wasn’t looking for a friend.”

  Only then did she stalk away, ignoring the stares of those who dared judge her and find her wanting.

  “Play is every day,” Lien called to her. “Show up if you want to.”

  With Lien’s offer, Serena’s heart unclenched slightly. She nodded over her shoulder, but made no deeper acknowledgement.

  “Your face used to look weird when you smiled,” Selene told Serena later that same afternoon, as they walked home through Clifftop. “It looks normal now.”

  Serena’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean? What was weird about it?”

  “On Sinskrill, when you smiled it would be like this.” Selene mimicked the dull affect of a drone and added a grotesque smile, a lip-curling sneer that made her appear constipated.

  Serena broke out in laughter.

  “See? That looks normal. Now you don’t look weird.”

  Serena continued laughing as they crossed the Village Green. After Selene’s classes, they’d taken a long hike through Janaki Valley, the place where most of the island’s farms could be found. Now they headed home, with the sun hanging low over the Pacific, as orange and large as a pumpkin, and shadows collecting. Both of them were sweaty and in need of a shower, and Serena briefly flirted with the notion of standing beneath one of the numerous waterfalls splitting Lilith’s escarpment in order to wash off some of the dirt.

  They reached the gazebo centered in the Green and ran across Jason. He appeared to be in a hurry, but he slowed down to match their pace. Serena wished he hadn’t. In most cases, he treated her more poorly than William and Jake did.

  “I hear you’re finally starting to settle in here,” Jason said.

  “William suggested I try to make some friends,” Serena said as they crossed the Village Green.

  “You had friends,” Jason noted. “At least, we thought you were a friend. We would have stood with you against anyone, even Sinskrill.”

  Annoyance flared within Serena. Not this again. All the people she’d known in Cincinnati—William, Jason, Lien, Daniel, and Jake—insisted on throwing her failures back in her face. No more. She’d had enough, especially after today’s conversation with Lien.

  “Go home,” Serena said to Selene, keeping her voice calm and controlled. “I’ll catch up in a bit.” She waited until Selene was out of earshot. “I’m done apologizing to you,” she said to Jason, glaring at him. “If you don’t like me, I don’t care. It’s a big island and a large village. You stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours.”

  “Fine by me,” Jason replied with an arrogant sneer. “As far as I’m concerned, after I’m done teaching you, we never have to talk again. And just so we're clear, you never apologized. Not to me and certainly not to William or Jake.”

  Serena snorted. “That’s what has you upset? That I hurt your little feelings by not saying sorry?”

  “Nothing about you upsets me.”

  Serena scoffed. “Sure it doesn’t.”

  “It’s the truth,” Jason said. “And if the truth bothers you, maybe you should figure out why.”

  “It doesn’t bother me,” Serena lied. “Faced with the same situation, I wouldn’t have done anything different. Selene’s life depended on it.”

  “And you wonder why I keep reminding you of what you did,” Jason said with a derisive snort. “You’d let Arylyn burn as long as you could justify it later by claiming victimhood.”

  “I’m not a victim,” Serena snapped, wondering how the conversation had gotten away from her.

  Jason shook his head in disgust. “Listen. If you ever figure out the world isn’t about you, let me know. You might be worth talking to again.”

  “I don’t need or want to talk you.”

  “And I don’t forgive assholes who’re too stupid and arrogant to apologize for what they did.” Jason pushed past her. “You have a nice life.”

  Serena stared after him, flushed and fuming with rage and shame. Who was he to talk to her like that? She drew on her lorethasra as her anger grew ever hotter. Her vision seemed to redden as she watched Jason walk away, and she silently snarled. Almost without thinking, she formed the braid known as Pain, a more severe form of the one Fiona had occasionally used on William and Jake.

  Jason deserved it. They all did.

  The notion grew ever more seductive, and Serena prepared to unleash her braid. But before she could do so, an unbidden image arose in her mind, one of her mother, Cinnamon, lying bleeding and dying. She remembered her mother’s pain at the hands of mahavan society, and a dawning sense of horror overcame Serena as she realized what she’d almost done. She let go of the braid and panted as if she’d climbed a thousand stairs.

  “That could have gone better,” William said.

  Serena started. William approached from the Main Stairs. “You heard everything?” she asked, leaning on her mahavan training to suppress the horror she still felt. She also prayed that William hadn’t seen the braid she’d held. She couldn’t imagine his reaction if he understood its purpose.

  “Most of it,” William said with a chuckle.

  Serena breathed out her relief. Apparently, William hadn’t seen her braid or he didn’t understand what it was meant to do.

  “Selene tried to eavesdrop,” William continued, “but I sent her home before Jason reached the good parts and told you off. You do deserve it, after all.”

  Serena’s relief ebbed. Here it comes. More insults. “I suppose you’re going to tell me I should beg for forgiveness, too.”

  William surprised her by shaking his head. “What would be the point? I might as well bang my head against a brick wall. You’re too stubborn to listen to anyone but yourself.”

  “Maybe if others had something worth listening to, I’d pay attention.”

  William scowled. “Forget it. Jason was right. A few smiles and nods don’t change anything. You’re still the same idiot you were on Sinskrill.”

  “You’re still the weak little baby, crying out because your pacifier fell out.”

  “And where has your strength led you?” William asked. “I’ve got friends here, family in a lot of ways. Who do you have, other than Selene?”

  His words stung, but Serena wouldn’t admit it. She wouldn’t back down, either.
Weaknesses could never be accepted. “I don’t need your help.”

  “I wasn’t offering it.”

  Frustration mounted inside her, too quickly to contain. It burst like a lanced boil. “What do you want from me?” she shouted.

  “I hate you for what you did to me,” William said in a quiet tone, “but I love you for the friendship we had, and a part of me hurts to see you hurt. If you want to be strong and alone, you can be, but I don’t think that’s the truth.”

  She rocked back. His words caught her off guard. “You don’t know me,” she muttered a moment later as her anger deflated.

  “Maybe not, but whose fault is that? You lied about everything.”

  Not everything, she wanted to say. She had genuinely liked William, enjoyed being around him. Even now, seeing him with a lock of hair curled over an eye, she wanted to reach up and push it off his forehead. “I told you before, everyone lies. Get over it.”

  “They don’t lie in the way you mean,” William said. “Besides which, I may not know you very well, but I know you well enough. You don’t want to be alone. Otherwise, you wouldn’t care so much about Selene, or be willing to help save Travail and Fiona.”

  Serena stared at William, anguish warring with the need to suppress weakness. “What do you want from me?” she asked again.

  “I want you to be happy,” William replied, before marching away from her.

  SINSKRILL

  * * *

  Adam Paradiso often used his physicality, his intimidating build to impress his will upon others. It didn’t matter if they were mahavans or drones. All it generally took was his silent, imposing presence to convince others of their folly, especially if it consisted of opposing Adam’s will. It also helped that he was a powerful wielder of lorethasra, skilled in Fire, Earth, and Air. That, too, could be intimidating.

  Only his brother, Axel—the Servitor—had stood immune to Adam’s unique brand of diplomacy.

  Now there was another.

  He stood chained upon Seminal, the world of gods and legends. The place Adam’s spirit had traveled when he’d gripped the Spear and tapped his lorethasra. Axel had insisted upon this venture, and Adam hated him for it. He hated how fearful this place made him. Already he’d seen all manner of fearsome creatures: dragons, ghouls, necrosed, unformed, and even elegant vampires in their dark courts. Deadly monsters all, alive and ruling this world.

  But this place was the worst. Here, where high-peaked, snow-capped mountains carried a wind bitter with ice and ruin. Here, where the sun itself seemed loathe to touch the land. Here, where inky shadows crawled liquid and purposeful across menacing valleys. Here, one mountain loomed above all others and held a ledge that jutted forth like the blade of an axe. Upon that narrow slip of rock stood a single being: Lord Shet.

  Adam’s spirit floated high above Sinskrill’s true master, but nevertheless, he felt as if he was staring up. While thick, smoky chains—slack now, but powerful enough to keep a battleship in place—reached from deep in the heart of the mountain and bound Sinskrill’s god, they did nothing to diminish the lord’s sense of power, his terrifying presence.

  Adam wanted to flee and hide.

  But he couldn’t.

  “Come closer, child,” Shet said with a smile made grotesque by the burn ruining the right side of his face. “Tell me what news you know of Sinskrill. What of the two females who insulted me.”

  Serena and Selene. It had to be the ones to whom Shet referred.

  Adam and his brother had already rehearsed what to say if Shet asked such a question. But to lying to a god? Could it be done? And was it wise?

  Adam shook off his thoughts. “They have been dealt with, my Lord,” he said, his tone firm and with no hint of a quaver.

  “Dealt with?” Shet seemed to draw out the words. “Exactly how were they dealt with?”

  “Drowned at sea when they sought to flee justice,” Adam answered.

  “So your brother answered as well,” Shet said. The god smiled again, and Adam found himself wishing he wouldn’t. His smile was terrifying. “It is good to know I have such loyal servants awaiting my return.”

  “Yes, my Lord,” Adam said, not allowing the relief to show on his face. Shet had believed his lie.

  “It is good to have met you.” Shet pronounced. “I’ll have much more to say to you in the coming months and years.”

  Adam couldn’t help it. He swallowed heavily. The lord’s words hung like an unsheathed dagger.

  “You may leave,” Shet said, with a noble dip of his head.

  Adam bowed before departing. He moved at a sedate pace, not wanting to give any hint of his fear or guilt. However, as soon as he could no longer see Shet’s mountain, Adam raced for the anchor line. He wanted to to get away from Seminal as swiftly as possible.

  Shet was coming. The True God save them all.

  SEMINAL

  * * *

  Shet watched as the mahavan slowly left and smiled when the man sprinted for the anchor line.

  Proof of the mahavan’s perfidy, which meant Adam Paradiso and the Servitor had been lying.

  It was as Shet had always suspected. Those two girls who had spoken to him several months ago. The ones who had dared to claim ignorance of who he was—the gravest insult—they lived. Of this, Shet was certain, but it didn’t matter.

  He would end their shameful lives soon enough. He would end all their shameful lives, every asrasin on Earth. All would fall. None would be spared. After all, it had been on their behalfs—magi and mahavan alike—that the ancient Elementals, the Lord of the Sword and the Lady of Fury, had fought.

  As a result, all would pay.

  Shet only wished that his oldest of enemies still lived so he could kill them anew. He would burn them, destroy them utterly this time, in the same way his daughter and her legions had laid waste to the Lord and Lady’s home of Arisa.

  Mr. Zeus droned on and on about Arylyn’s founding, a topic William had already been told about. As a result, his mind wandered.

  Another perfect day awaited, one in which he should be exploring Arylyn, playing in the ocean, or doing anything more interesting than sitting in the small courtyard behind Mr. Zeus’ house, alongside Serena and listening to a lesson he already knew. Jason had told him and Jake all about it a couple of days ago.

  Speaking of Jake, where was he? He should be here, too.

  Somehow he’d gotten out of today’s lecture. William wished he’d been able to manage that slick trick.

  Serena, on the other hand, had apparently never learned about Arylyn’s founding. She sat next to William on a couch beneath the jasmine-wreathed pergola in the rear courtyard, listening intently to Mr. Zeus’ droning. She wore the air of disconcerting intensity William had often noticed back when she’d pretended to be his friend at St. Francis High.

  William’s mind drifted again, and his gaze flickered to the courtyard. Thirty feet back, the ruddy-veined, dark granite of Arylyn's cliffs rose up like the sheer walls of a fortress. It formed the back border of Mr. Zeus’ property, and the remnant of one of River Namaste’s cascades seeped down its stony face. From there, the water became a meandering stream that cut through the front yard. A narrow strip of grass and a flagstone patio containing a firepit and several chairs filled out the rest of the space.

  Serena shifted next to him, and William eyed her askance. He wondered what she might be thinking, other than her obvious interest in Arylyn’s history.

  Since their argument a few days ago at Clifftop, she hadn’t said much to him. In fact, other than their classes he hardly saw her at all. As upset as she’d been, he figured she was probably avoiding him.

  A few months ago the idea of upsetting her, of causing her emotional pain, would have left him unmoved, but since she’d helped him and Jake escape Sinskrill, and especially since their arrival in Arylyn, those feelings had slowly withered.

  “Next week you’ll meet the Memories,” Mr. Zeus said loudly. “Right, William?”

&
nbsp; William’s attention riveted back to the here and now. “Yes, sir,” he snapped.

  Mr. Zeus rolled his eyes. “You can pretend you were actually listening, but we both know you weren’t.”

  William deflated. He hadn’t been as subtle about his inattentiveness as he should have been.

  “Next time, don’t disrespect my teachings with your obvious boredom.” Mr. Zeus’ voice crackled with irritation.

  “Yes, sir.”

  William caught Serena glance at him. Her face might have held empathy, and William stared at her, wondering if he’d actually seen it.

  “Any questions?” Mr. Zeus asked.

  “These Memories and this tour I keep hearing about,” Serena said. “Do I really have to go through with it?”

  “All citizens of Arylyn have to, including you.”

  Serena brightened. “If I’m a citizen, can I have a stronger voice in my future?”

  William mentally rolled his eyes at her audacity. Idiot.

  Mr. Zeus glowered. “Don’t push it,” he warned. “You live amongst us, but it doesn’t mean we trust you.”

  Serena shrugged. “Returning to the notion of these Memories, I still don’t understand what they are.”

  Neither did William, no matter how many times it had been explained to him.

  “What don’t you understand?” Mr. Zeus asked.

  “Everything. I understood what you said about how several races inhabiting Arylyn left a part of themselves behind. What I don’t get is how they did it, or why.”

  “Think of them like this. Memories aren’t ghosts or souls,” Mr. Zeus said. “They’re more like the afterimages of those who once lived, but because of their magic they left a portion of what they had once been upon the soil of the land.”

  “Like a fossil?” William asked, interested in the direction the lecture had taken.

  “More like the hollowed shape a fossil leaves behind in the rocks surrounding it,” Mr. Zeus said.

  “Why did you only save the elves and the dwarves?” Serena asked. “Were there no other races worthy of being made into Memories?”