Empyreal

by Helsel, Spencer

  A smile curled her lips. She raised the sword, “From now on, this sword will be known as,” she suppressed a laugh, “Pointyend. And this dagger will be called Pigsticker!”

  The room went silent. If Alecto expected her to be serious, she was sorely mistaken. One hand flew to her mouth, choking down a laugh.

  The rest of the room was quiet as a tomb. Stunned faces of hardened warriors and proud Elders waited, expecting her to get serious and change the names. But she liked them. They suited her.

  Mastema looked on the verge of a stroke.

  “I, uh,” Alecto managed to keep a straight face, “I then, by the power of the City of Dis, the forces of Asphodel, and in the name of Empyrean,” she lay her fingertips to the blades, “name these weapons Pointyend and,” she could barely say it, “Pigsticker. May demons fear to speak of them for ages to come.”

  People applauded; awkwardly, but applauded. Shea and Roxelana were dying of laughter out of earshot in the corner. Dani resheathed her weapons and returned to the Novices with a wide grin.

  Her Guardian murmured, “I will never let you speak in public again.”

  “Fat chance of that happening.”

  Castus stood. “With no more honors, let us welcome our newest members and let us celebrate tonight a great victory!”

  The Novices departed, first through the ranks of congratulatory Numen, and then into the gifted outside. Shea and Roxelana joined her, both of them hugging her fiercely. More gifted came forward, having heard what she did. Nathaniel and the other boys inserted themselves between Dani and her sudden throng of admirers.

  “Alright, alright, back up! Back up!” Dink yelled at them. “No autographs! No flash photography! You’ll all get your commemorative Dani is a Total Badass Tshirts in the mail!”

  She rolled her eyes and giggled happily. Life was good. Life was finally, freaking good.

  ______________________

  “And that’s pretty much it.” Dani told them, passing the plate of food across to Bouden as she finished her story. “We survived.”

  “Survived?” Dink grinned widely. “You ruled!”

  “Ay de mi! I’m so famous! Hopefully it won’t go to my head!”

  The boys laughed.

  They decided to eat at Dani’s place. Her food, her cups that flavored water; it was all better than Novice Village. Caesar roosted above them on the roof, nibbling her own meal. She was among friends and felt happily accepted.

  “I can’t believe you took down over a dozen demons.” Bouden raised a cup in toast.

  She raised hers too, joking. “To Pointyend and Pigsticker! Maybe people pee themselves laughing when they see it in history books!”

  “To Pointyend and Pigsticker!” the whole lot of them dissolved into cackles.

  “Thanks.” She swigged down the sweet water. “So, the Port of Los Angeles? What happened?”

  “We hunted down a nest where wraiths stored people in a container for food.” Bouden said. “They were mostly homeless runaways; kids, not much older than us.”

  Nathaniel shivered. “Horrible. And what’s weird: it wasn’t just wraiths. Those things—imps or whatever—were working with them. And they had weapons of their own.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.” Dink looked like he wanted to gag. “Disgusting things. I swear I’m never going to get the stink off. They’re like the world’s worst Port-a-John, if it had been clogged up and—.”

  “Dude, I am eating.” Nathaniel reminded him.

  More laughter.

  “You know,” Dani said, finishing a piece of bread, “I’m surprised there were more than just wraiths on our hunts.”

  Bouden shrugged. “There’ve always been other types of demons. They’re rarer than wraiths, but they’re still around. Besides, it was just a couple imps. Nothing to write home about.”

  “Didn’t Aerial fight some kind of demonic birds?”

  “Strixes.” Nathaniel nodded. “A flock of them. And Pinnacle fought off some type of water demons.”

  “Tannin. A type of sea demon from a…I don’t know…some old country or other.”

  “Canaan.” Bouden reminded him.

  “So what’s with all the variety all of a sudden?” Dani asked.

  Bouden chewed thoughtfully, “What are you getting at?”

  “I just got this strange feeling on my hunt. Those demons worked together, which they never do. And they had that idol.”

  “You think something is up?”

  She was warned by an Archangel that something was. And the stories Numen told only added to it. “Can I tell you all something? Something I didn’t tell anyone else?”

  But before she could, she felt the familiar change in the air. Ethan and Kleos appeared from the sky.

  “Are you all ready?” Ethan asked, landing.

  “Ready for…?”

  He smirked. “Vespertide.”

  “You’re finally going to tell us what that is?”

  “Better. We’re going to show you.” Ethan smirked. “Come on. Unless you don’t want to go.”

  They left their food and followed the Guardians to the ledge. “Where are we going?”

  He pointed to the river gate. “Follow us.”

  Ethan shot into the sky with Kleos, turning towards the end of the river. The boys followed. Dani was right behind.

  Empyrean, the Vale and Sanctuary Hills dotted with fires; a mirror to the stars above. They aimed for the river gate. Ethan was in the lead, followed by Kleos, then the others. Just below, dozens assembled before the gate.

  “Hey! I see Shea and Roxelana!” she called.

  Below, in the dark along the bank, she spotted the two familiar shapes who waved to her. The river gate opened ahead of them. The spillway increased as the river gushed outward.

  Dani put on speed, catching up with Ethan. “What are we doing?”

  He grinned ear to ear. “It’s a back door into Empyrean! The ladder is another way down to Earth!”

  “What ladder?”

  “Just watch!”

  Ahead, one of the Numen on the bank of the river stirred the air with magic; casting a charm on the water. The raging, gushing waters frothed and rose off the ground. The falls churned up and formed bands of liquid crystal. Beams of water laced together into a pattern of interlocking rungs. The rungs formed a square-like ladder that shot downward. The river coursed through them, adding more to the lattice until not a falls but a single tube extended into the clouds below.

  Numen and gifted jumped through the middle and dropped out of sight.

  “Hang on!” Ethan yelled, dropping lower. “The ride gets bumpy!”

  They shot over the heads of the crowd and then just as they were about to splatter on the river wall, Ethan and Dani and the rest shot left and through. Light burst around them as the moonlight hit the water, making a kaleidoscope of silvery luminescence. Dani and the others shot out of Empyrean. Dani’s stomach dropped.

  She screamed.

  ______________________

  They fell. The water beams turned to clouds. Her vision blurred. And then she hit the ground.

  Dani’s boots touched down and she fell right into a pair of legs, nearly knocking someone over.

  “Hey! Watch it!” growled a voice. “You made me spill my drink!”

  Dani looked up and came face to face with a wolf-cynocephali dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, talking to a jinn.

  Dani looked past him. If she hadn’t seen lions the size of houses, waterfalls appearing from the sky and angels, then the single column of cloud depositing Numen and gifted into the parking lot would have looked weird. Instead, it was the new normal. People fell from it, landing more gracefully than she did and walking away as if it were an everyday occurrence. It was night. The world was in sepia again. She was on Earth.

  Dani got up amongst the grumble of party-goers and turned to see the neon sign of the Hellfire Club blazing over the building’s back lot. The familiar sounds of L.A. filled her
ears; cars, music, and the yelling of a golem bouncer as he tossed a drunk dogman from the bar.

  “Hard landing?” Ethan asked. “The first time is always hard.” She glanced at the sky. “A ladder? Seriously?”

  “It’s a portal to the city. We use it when we come for recreation.” “Recreation?”

  “You seriously think a city of men just hangs out up there all the time? By the Lady of Dawn, no. Judah allows us to use the ladder to come to the club.”

  “Why?”

  “To have fun; socialize with the gifted here and in Empyrean without the Elders knowing. Let’s go. I’ll buy you a drink.”

  The Hellfire Club’s back entrance led them to the main floor. Golem bartenders served up drinks to the newly arrived Earthborn and gifted. It was easy to see what attracted Numen here. The club thrummed with the sound of that medieval-like house music and they quickly found female company to occupy them.

  Shea and Roxelana wandered around the bar, dressed exotically; their clothes a mixture of medieval fantasy and modern chic. She gleefully hugged her friend.

  “I’m so proud of you!” she gushed. “Dani, you did it!”

  “Thanks!”

  “I love the hair, by the way.” She touched Dani’s braids.

  “Oh, you know, I got them styled by a friend.”

  The two girls hugged again.

  “Judah!” Ethan exclaimed, shaking hands with the bar owner as he approached, dressed in a dazzling white suit. He looked like the State-Puff Marshmallow Man, if the Marshmallow Man could lift a truck.

  “Merry vespertide my friend!” Judah exclaimed, extending his hand to Dani to take and kiss the back of. “My lady, it is so wonderful to see you. I told you this was tradition.”

  “Tradition?”

  “After the Trials, the new Novices participate in vespertide for the first time.” Ethan told her. “Some of us come down here almost every month.”

  “That explains Airlea.” She gave him a look.

  He blushed. “Yeah. But that’s been over for a while.”

  “Hmm.” She blushed, liking that.

  “Our boy here was quite enamored with the idea of bringing you along.” Judah told her.

  Ethan blushed this time.

  “Let me show you to your table.” The big man led Ethan, Dani and her friends to a booth. “Drinks are on the house for newcomers. Stay away from the galenicals for your first time. The belladonna is quite deadly. Might I suggest the Cantillation? It is a wonderful drink. You will not regret it. And Ethan ordered you something special from our dinner menu. Now, I must excuse myself. The rowdiness of your fellow Numen can get out of hand.” The big man bowed and left, yelling across the bar. “Rudolf! God’s blood, get those two jinn out of my club! I don’t want to see their fiery faces here again!”

  The drink he suggested arrived. It came in a martini glass, swirling with beautiful oranges, reds and yellows like a sunset in a glass.

  “Is it alcoholic?” she asked.

  “No.” Roxelana assured her. “Hellfire doesn’t serve alcohol. It makes drinks from different elixirs to cause sensations.”

  “Sensations?”

  “Try it.”

  Dani sipped. When she did, she heard the most beautiful music. A chorus of voices, the strumming of the instruments, and the full ensemble of drums and flutes mixed mesmerizingly with an explosion of flavors.

  “Vaya!” She savored the taste and softening music.

  “Judah is incredible with elixirs.” Ethan said, arm across the seat behind her. “He makes healing potions, compounds and charms to sell, but most of his elixirs are for fun.”

  A golem arrived with a plate loaded with fish tacos. The smell was intoxicating. Dani smiled at Ethan. “You ordered this?”

  “You said you missed them.”

  Roxelana and Shea gave her knowing looks over their glasses.

  They ate, drank and talked. It was the most relaxed she’d been in months. Across the table, Dink threw his best moves at Roxelana; which meant he was awkward and she teased him. Shea split off, hanging out near the bar with Kleos. On the floor, some Numen started a floor show. Using Fyre, Aer, Water and Erthe they danced and manipulated the elements to the beat of the music. The crowd cheered them on like a supernatural dance circle.

  Dani enjoyed her drink and food happily. “So?” she asked, taking a sip of her drink to another soft chorus. “Stormthrower? Am I to assume that’s your sword, or is that just what all the ladies call you in bed?”

  Ethan blushed deeply. “It’s a gift of mine.”

  “What kind of gift?”

  “You’ll see one of these days. So, do you feel any different?”

  She ran her fingertip around the rim of the glass. “A little. I don’t feel at home here anymore,” she took a bite of fish taco and smiled, “but it’s still familiar. Does that make sense?”

  “You’ve been in Empyrean for a while. It’s your new home, but you grew up here. It’s natural.”

  “It’s more than that, though.”

  “What is it?” Ethan asked.

  She bit her lower lip, taking a sip from her glass. The music sounded sad; beautiful, but sad. “Can I see my mom?”

  Ethan didn’t seem surprised. “Is that what you want?”

  “Kind of. The last time I saw her, she kicked me out of the house, but it feels like something I need to do.”

  “There’s rules against it,” he admitted, “especially since we aren’t supposed to reveal ourselves to mundani. But we aren’t supposed to be here, either. If we went, you couldn’t allow her to see you. If you’re okay with that, why don’t we go?”

  “We? Are you coming with me?”

  “Just because we killed a bunch of wraiths, doesn’t mean there are more out there. Staying away from our former lives protects anyone we might have left behind as much as ourselves. And, yes, I’d feel better if I went with you.” He quickly held up a hand. “I’m not trying to be sexist. I would just feel better if I went, too.”

  Dani didn’t find it insulting. It was sort of sweet…and also incredibly sexist, but she could let that go for now. “You would do that?”

  “Of course.” His hand was still on the back of her palm. He laced his fingers into hers.

  Dink and Roxelana went to dance. Nathaniel and Bouden were left to their own devices. Together, holding hands, Dani and Ethan left the booth. He spoke briefly to Kleos to tell them where they were going. He grinned at Dani with a very knowing smile, nodding to whatever Ethan said and then jokingly pushed him back in Dani’s direction.

  “He says we need to be back within the next two hours.”

  She gave him a look. “Is that all he said?”

  “No. He also told me not to try anything.”

  “Is Kleos going to stand up for my honor?”

  “No, he said if I tried anything you might kick my ass.”

  Dani grinned. Following him, they left Hellfire and headed out into the city.

  ______________________

  They took a bus. The fight with demons took a toll on them. Flight was difficult. Using the Five, they headed up north into Sun Valley and got off at her old stop. Stepping off, the once-familiar streets seemed oddly unnerving. Together they headed down her street.

  Ricky’s house was dark except for the glow of a TV through the window. Dani stood just outside the gate, paralyzed by the idea of being here again. They hid behind the veil and she knew no one could see her, but she still felt exposed. The familiar panic surged back. She even faltered a little, feeling the veil slip. Ethan took her hand. The comfort took the edge off.

  “Are you alright?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  The front door opened and out stepped her mother. Dani couldn’t believe she could see her again. Her eyes were sunken and dark. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. The perfume of cigarettes hung thickly around her, which she added to when she lit up.

  Dani’s mother didn’t look good.

&nbs
p; She stood only feet from her, but Dani felt like there should have been miles. Her mom kicked her out of her life. She left her only child out on the streets. But right now, that didn’t matter. Right now, all she wanted to do was hug her and tell her she was alive.

  Which she couldn’t. And she didn’t.

  Yvette sucked down a lungful of acrid smoke, taking out her cell phone and dialing a number.

  Dani whispered softly. “Can she hear us?”

  “Not unless you want her to.”

  She didn’t. Dani hesitantly stepped away from him, letting go of his hand. The comforting warmth still clung to her palm, but she was fine. The ringing on the other end of her mom’s cell phone continued in the dark.

  The other person didn’t pick up. The voicemail kicked in.

  “Hey,” her mother said, voice shaky, “it’s me. Call me back please.”

  Is she calling Ricky? Dani wondered.

  “I,” her mom hesitated, “I miss you. I try calling every day. I don’t know if you still have this phone or if you got my messages. I’m worried. Please call me back.”

  Who is she talking to?

  “I’m sorry about what happened.” Yvette’s hand went to her mouth. The cigarette shook. “I’m so sorry Daniella. God, you don’t know how sorry I am.” The first few tears streamed down her cheeks. “I messed up. I was drunk. I just need you to call me. Just let me know you’re okay. I need to hear your voice.” She wept. “Please cariño.”

  The automated message clicked on to tell her she talked too long. Her mother cried, dropping her phone and sagging against the door.

  Dani’s chest tightened. She literally stood in front of her. All she had to do was drop the veil and tell her she was alright. Then she wouldn’t torture her mother. The things her mom did, the times she hooked up with the wrong guy, even what happened with Ricky; it didn’t matter anymore. Watching her mother cry broke her heart.

  But she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t let her know. There were rules, but it was more than that. As much as her new world was dangerous, Dani fit better into it now; not this one.

  Ethan placed a hand on her shoulder. “Are you alright?”

  “I don’t know.” She shook her head. “She’ll always be my mom and I’ll always want to see her but,” she bit back tears, “I’m not ready to let everything go. I love her, but I just can’t be around her. I’m not ready to talk to her again.” She looked up at him. “Does that make me bad person?”