Empyreal (The Earthborn Series Book 1)

by Spencer Helsel

  “I thought so. So, you and Airlea, huh?”

  “Dani,” he chided, “keep it down. And why all the interest? Jealous?”

  “No.” She switched subjects. “Well, then, can you tell me what the hell ‘vespertide’ is?”

  Ethan tensed, gritting his teeth. “Nazir shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “It wasn’t just him. Some of the gifted mentioned it.”

  He shook his head. “Someone is going to get us in trouble one day.”

  “And will I know what it is that one day?”

  He smirked. “Maybe.”

  They walked, eating their fruit until Dani was down to the core. When they were both done, they tossed them onto the grass. As she watched, the grass curled up around it and began to consume what was left.

  “Nothing goes to waste.” He told her. “Empyrean is more alive than you might imagine.”

  That was the truth. She wiped her hands and face. “So, how do I make money up here? If you don’t have something to trade, do you just live on the bare necessities?”

  Ethan shrugged. “Well, Novice Village is always stocked with food, but you don’t live there. Some Numen do favors for the gifted and vice versa. There’s no one way to get anything. You can look for plants or minerals to trade. Or,” he shrugged, “there’s always Earth stuff people might want.”

  “Earth stuff?”

  “Things we aren’t supposed to have up here. Judah runs a thriving black market. And that reminds me.” He stopped and reached into his tunic. From beneath the folds, he withdrew a small chain and pendant. “I believe this is yours.”

  “My necklace!” she took it back. “Where did you get it?”

  “I went back for the bag you left the night we met. You’ll find it in your village.”

  She blushed gratefully. “Why?” And then, almost immediately, she hated how giddy she got. “Uh, thanks. I, um, appreciate it.” She quickly switched subjects. “You mentioned Judah. Has he ever been here?”

  “From time to time to see his pet.”

  “His pet?”

  “Tigris.”

  She stared at him. “You’re joking. That’s his pet? What, they were all out of kittens at the store?”

  He shrugged. “Some people on Earth keep ostriches.”

  “That’s totally not the same thing!”

  Ethan led her up the steps. Dani remarked, “You’re not carrying your sword.”

  “Should I be?”

  “I just thought you would. I don’t know much about swords.”

  “You’ll learn. Most Numen don’t carry weapons around the city. There’s no point. We might carry a knife or dagger, but here we don’t need to protect ourselves constantly.”

  “Maybe you don’t.” Dani grumbled, thinking of some of the hostility she’d already encountered.

  “The Gatekeepers are the only ones armed and armored. Most Guardians will carry a knife.” He patted the one on his belt. “I’m sure Mastema has shown you his.”

  “He has.” She could still feel the edge against her neck.

  He led her to the Anthenaeum. The large library was filled with people. Dani looked for the Novices and spotted them a few stories up on a massive pedestal at the center of the chamber.

  She cursed. “I hate climbing.”

  He put an arm around her. “May I?”

  She blushed. Then she hated herself for blushing. Then she hated him for making her blush. “Fine.”

  “Don’t sound so excited.”

  They lifted from the ground. Ethan flew her upwards, passing walkways and staring Numen as they rose, until they floated over the railing of the square lecture platform the aeries occupied. She got more than a few looks as they descended, her in his arms. The moment they touched down, she quickly separated herself.

  “Thanks.” She mumbled.

  Elder Atid led the session from a lectern at the center. He bowed. Ethan returned the gesture. Atid was a dark-skinned Middle Eastern man with grey hair and spectacles. I thought Numen didn’t need glasses… Nathaniel didn’t anymore. It would suck to be nearly-immortal and nearlyblind at the same time.

  She saw Lester’s and Andreas’ smirks when they spotted her with Ethan. Bouden was happy to see her. Dink less so. But what surprised her was the look Nathaniel gave her: upset.

  “Novice Daniella,” Elder Atid greeted, gesturing to a chair, “please join us. Guardian Ethan, thank you for bringing her.”

  “Of course, Elder. I apologize for her tardiness. It was my fault.”

  Dani couldn’t sit fast enough across from Nathaniel, who softened enough to whisper, “Hey.”

  “Hey. Have I missed anything?”

  “No.” Bouden muttered next to him. “But apparently we missed a lot.” He glanced at Ethan. Again, Nathaniel grimaced.

  Dani squinted her best glare. “Shut it.”

  Atid introduced himself. He began explaining the history of the Anthenaeum and Empyrean. He talked about Gabriel the Archangel and about the duties of the Numen to protect humanity. Basically, he explained a lot that Dani didn’t listen to. She tuned him out. She hadn’t left Earth just to end up in another classroom.

  She sat behind Dink, who didn’t look at her. At least, not right away. As Atid spoke, she saw him glance back once or twice. When she caught him looking, he quickly turned around. She didn’t say anything; she was too angry to deal with him right now.

  After the third or fourth time, he steeled his courage and faced her. Dani had never seen someone so guilt stricken.

  “Dani…” his voice was barely a whisper. “I—I’m sorry.”

  She purposefully ignored him.

  “I can’t imagine what you think of me.”

  “You’re right. You can’t.”

  His face was so pained it was hard to look at him, so she didn’t.

  “You’re right to be angry.” He told her. “What I did…I shouldn’t have done.”

  “You’re right again. You shouldn’t.”

  Tears welled in his eyes. He shook his head, “I’m so sorry. If there’s any way—.”

  “To make up for giving me to wolves for dinner?” she finally did look at him and let a lot of rage sit in that glare. “I’m pretty sure there isn’t.”

  His mouth dipped around the edges. “I understand if you don’t want to talk to me. I just wanted you to know how sorry I was. If I could take it back, if I could make it up to you, if I could somehow repay you, I would. I’d do it in a heartbeat. I want you to know that. I won’t bother you again.” He looked at Nathaniel and Bouden, who both dismissed him without looking back. He turned back around. “I’ll leave you alone.”

  Dink visibly shook. Andreas gave him a derisive, disgusted snort. Then he looked at her and smirked, shaking his head.

  “Wimp.” He muttered.

  That, she decided, she wouldn’t tolerate. She could be angry at Dink all she wanted, but that—what word did Ethan use? Codpiece?—didn’t get to pass judgment.

  “Hey.” She put a hand on Dink’s shoulder, leaning forward and whispering into his ear. “I never said I didn’t want to talk to you again.”

  Dink sniffed, turning towards her a fraction. “What?”

  “I never said that.” He assured him. “I’m angry, but I’ll get over it.”

  “You will?”

  “You were captured by five monsters who you thought wanted to eat you.”

  He sniffed again. “Six.”

  She chuckled a little, patting his shoulder. “Right. Six. All the more reason.”

  “You—you’re not mad?”

  “Oh I’m mad.” She told him. “But I think I can get more joy out of messing with you from now on than leaving you in the doghouse.”

  He heard the humor in her voice and exhaled in relief. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” She patted his shoulder again. “And don’t think for one second I’m going to be easy on you. I’m mean to people I mess with. Just ask Nate.”

  “Please stop call
ing me that.” Nathaniel murmured.

  “Deal?” Dani asked Dink.

  He nodded gratefully. “Deal. Thanks Dani.”

  “Don’t mention it,” she sat back, “Ailbe.”

  He laughed. Both Nathaniel and Bouden smiled. Andreas looked annoyed. Maybe he didn’t like tearful reunions. Maybe he just didn’t like Dink and Dani.

  Maybe it didn’t matter and he was a little codpiece for sure. ______________________

  Studies were just that: studies. Atid taught the types of demons they’d face, spells and charms they could use, even history. Dani wasn’t certain how a history lesson could save her life.

  The next lesson was Erthe training in the Gardens under Elder Tertullian. It was more of the same: growing plants by thinking about it. Again, Dani felt useless. Then she went to a stream to learn Water.

  This was getting ridiculous.

  She was with Halcyon and Aether for water. She wasn’t very hopeful about this session. In fact, the only interesting thing about it was Mastema, who appeared after an entire day of absence.

  “Where the hell have you been?” she demanded.

  He waited for her by the side of a stream flowing through the Garden. Everyone either avoided them or stared from afar. He didn’t look concerned by it.

  “I was away.”

  “Thank you for such a detailed excuse. You were supposed to be with me this morning!”

  “I was not with you.”

  “Dear God, are you that dumb?”

  His usual scowl deepened. “Do not insult me.”

  “Insult you? I—I—!” she couldn’t even put it into words. She stamped her foot in the stream, splashing them. “You little sard nugget! And yes, I used that on purpose! The only good thing about this place is that I can cuss you out with different words!” Dani promised herself, I am so learning every insult and cuss word up here for him. “Where were you?”

  “The Elder Council called me.” He told her. “I could not refuse.”

  He stepped past her without an explanation. He was usually stone faced, but he looked bothered by his meeting with the Elders. What did they say to him?

  The lesson, like the ones before it, wasn’t very helpful. Dani did learn that water could be used to heal, which is what many healers used to treat wounds; manipulating the water in the bodies of others to heal them. But like before, Dani struggled with her new powers.

  Dani and Mastema returned to the Keep for the final lesson and climbed the stairs to one of the highest rooms. Elder Harut was the final Elder to see for a power Dani was most interested in learning.

  “Aether; the veil,” Harut explained in a darkened tower room so packed everyone stood shoulder to shoulder. “It pervades this world and yet, we know so little about it.”

  Curtains drawn over the windows, enclosing them in gloom, Harut spoke with only soft lanterns to light the space.

  “The veil is rumored to have existed since the beginning of time. Every supernatural creature—the centaurs, the cynocephali, even demons themselves—are hidden by its power. A mandanus will not see them, or see them as something else. We the Numen, however, can control it. But do not mistake me: you cannot make a demon or a mandanus do what you want, for free will exists, but they can be tricked. You can make someone not see you.”

  Harut disappeared. Every Novice backed away. Dani didn’t. She’d seen this show a lot. A moment later, Harut appeared again, but then quickly so did a double of him.

  The twin Haruts spoke simultaneously. “The veil is near limitless.”

  One Harut disappeared and the chamber around them transformed. Suddenly, instead of the cramped room, they were standing in a large, flowering field.

  “When you make your enemy question their existence, you break them.”

  Dani reached out to where a wall had been moments earlier. Her fingers passed through air. Then the chamber reformed, but now much wider than it had been before.

  “This is the room as it is,” Harut chuckled playfully, “or is it? Your confusion is a testament to how quickly your minds can be manipulated. We will learn how to do this, but first you must learn to resist it. Form ranks.”

  The Novices got into two lines. Harut waved to the first two to come forward.

  “What I will do is exert influence on you; manipulate the Aether and attempt to make you see what you most desire. You must resist. Focus. Remember who you are. Remember what you are. The veil is powerful because a lie is preferable. Do not give into such a lie.”

  The Novices stepped forward one at a time. Harut did nothing but stand in front of them. But as she watched, the first swayed a bit. He smiled. His eyes glazed, looking around him. It was clear that what he saw and what was there were two separate things.

  The boy giggled, “Mommy?”

  Harut slapped one hand across his face. He staggered and came to. The others laughed.

  “Do not jeer.” Harut told them. “To master oneself takes time.”

  The boy came to the back of the line. Everyone was snickering as he passed, repeating mommy, but Dani could see his face. If it were possible, he looked like someone who saw the greatest thing in his life and then had it snatched away. He was beyond devastated.

  What did Dink say? Most Novices were orphans or runaways? She didn’t laugh. It scared her someone could do that to a person.

  The laugher died more and more as more Novices had their turn. Each one was slapped out of their vision by Harut. Each one returned to line a little shaken.

  It came to Dani’s turn. She stepped in front of Harut, hands at her sides, and waited.

  Focus. Focus. Focus.

  Then suddenly, she wasn’t in the tower anymore. She was in Ricky’s living room. Everything was the same; same dingy furniture, same pile of cigarettes in the ashtray on the coffee table, same usual drink in her mom’s hand.

  Her mother stood in front of her.

  “Mama?” she couldn’t believe it.

  “Dani? Dani, what’s wrong?”

  Dani shook her head. She felt dizzy; like she drank cough syrup. But she had mind enough to say, “You’re not real.”

  “What?” Her mom gave her a concerned look. “Dani, are you okay?”

  “You’re not real.” Dani shook her head, closing her eyes. It’s not. It’s not real. But when she opened them, her mom was still there.

  “Dani, it’s me.” Yvette put a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. She felt it. It made Dani flinch. “Honey, please, you’re scaring me.”

  “What’s happening?”

  “Honey, don’t you remember? You went to the store to get us drinks. The eclipse party?” she sipped from her glass. “I swear, you’re getting more forgetful by the day. Are you alright?”

  “You’re not real.” Dani insisted.

  “Honey, please, you just walked in. Is Nathaniel coming to the party?”

  “Party?”

  “The eclipse party. Don’t you remember?”

  The eclipse party. Dani did remember walking in. In fact, the longer she thought about it, the more she could remember. Walking up the steps to the house. Leaving the house earlier.

  Leaving the house…

  “There were people here.” She shook her head slowly. “When I left, there were people. And I didn’t go to the store. I went to the gym. Nathaniel was there…”

  Wraiths. Running for her life. Ethan.

  She glared at her mother. “You’re not real.”

  A hand slapped her face. Hard. Dani blinked. Laughter. As if waking from a dream, she came to, standing in front of Harut surrounded by laughing Novices, except for Nathaniel.

  “Silence!” Harut commanded. The crowd died down. “Very good, Novice. Most don’t reject the vision the first time. Though it took you several seconds.”

  That earned her more than a few jealous, ugly stares when she turned around to rejoin the line. Andreas leaned against the wall, arms folded and snickering.

  “You got something to say?”

  H
e shrugged. “Depends. Do you miss your Mama?”

  The entire day Dani felt the urge to hit someone. Now, she gave into that urge. She punched Andreas hard enough to send him down.

  The chamber exploded in chaos. Andreas scrambled to his feet, but before he could hit her, Mastema appeared in the way.

  “Get off me!” he shoved the larger man. Dani’s Guardian didn’t fight back. He waited until more people parted them.

  “Enough!” Harut barked. “That is enough! We are here to learn to control the mind, not act like animals! Listen when I give you an order, Novice Daniella!”

  “She will.” Mastema promised.

  “The lesson is concluded.” Harut announced. “Our day is ending. Depart with your Guardians.”

  Andreas wasn’t bleeding; Dani didn’t hit him that hard. But he glared at her as he stalked off with Lester.

  She noticed Mastema looking at her funny. “What? Are you going to lecture me?”

  “Why did you hit him?”

  “So he knew I could.”

  “Then no, I will not lecture.” He followed the others out. No explanation needed.

  Dani flexed her aching knuckles and followed too.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  A rhythm. It was what she needed and what she got.

  The first day of training was nothing compared to the following month. Mastema’s morning workouts remained brutal and his evening training sessions continued. In addition, he set up a modest tent next to her house. This meant he was around most of the time. He cooked over an open fire pit, but used other tools to make a better variety of food. Other than meals, though, they didn’t talk much.

  Combatives in the morning got easier. Some things came naturally. Ethan commented she was a natural striker. Unfortunately, she was smaller than most of the boys so wrestling—what they called grappling—was less easier to learn.

  She hadn’t won many admirers. Ever since her stunts with Andreas and Michael, she got more hostile looks from the others. Bouden, Dink and Nathaniel stuck by her, but she ruffled some feathers.

  Aer, Fyre, Erthe and Water training continued to be difficult. And after a little under a month in the celestial city, the one training every Novice wanted to learn arrived.

  “Flight.” Caspar said. “The power over Aer to defy gravity. Flight can save you. Flight can give you an edge in battle.”