Empyreal (The Earthborn Series Book 1)

by Spencer Helsel

  She grumbled. “You’re aggravating.”

  “And you are acting like a child.” He finally opened his eyes and he looked bored doing it. “You failed the first Trial.”

  “I was so close! And, in case you forgot, I was alone!”

  “I saw. And yet, you did not reach the bell.” He stood. “The next Trial is soon. We must prepare for the duels.”

  “I just got out of the Ward! I nearly collapsed a lung!”

  “Yes. Do you not remember that you must achieve one Trial victory?”

  She gave him a dirty look. “Yeah, I do. I also remember that if I don’t win, I’m not the only one who gets the ax. Literally.”

  If the revelation shocked Mastema, he didn’t show it. “You face incredible odds. Training will prepare you. And in this Trial, your friend the caladrius will not be able to aid you.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Mastema gave her a knowing look and then glanced into her house. On a perch, Caesar waited.

  “Do not take me for a simpleton. I saw you call on her.”

  “How’d you see that?”

  “The Trials are heavily monitored; not to mention, a favorite entertainment of the gifted.” Mastema said. “You manifested a very unique gift. You were wise to keep it to yourself.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You were also a fool. You cannot allow others to fight your battles.”

  She steamed. “Did you miss the part where I was on my own? Or the part where that coward Chase led me into a trap? Would you have rather watched what they had planned? Would that have been entertaining?! Yeah, Caesar and Nessus helped. So what?”

  “I do not approve of weakness.”

  Her fists balled. “No matter what you say, having friends is not a weakness.”

  “It is if they fight your battles for you. Eventually, they will not.”

  “Screw you!” she screamed. “What is wrong with you? Did your mother not love you or something? Ethan and Kleos keep telling me what a good teacher you are, but I don’t see it!”

  “You did not notice you survived most of the Vale thanks to my teachings?”

  “Look you pompous,” she searched for the word, “culus! You might be good at telling me how to fight, but you suck when it comes to the other part of being a teacher.”

  “Such as?”

  “Giving a crap! Not being a complete bloodhole when it comes to helping me! At least Caesar and Nessus did! I’m doing the best I can!”

  “One of those is a bird.” He said, her rant having no effect. “The other is charged with favoritism.”

  “So?”

  “So why do you think the Elders are sending him into Hell as punishment?”

  The question made her go silent for a moment. She stared at him. “Excuse me?”

  “Nessus is a great warrior. You think you are the only Numen to ever befriend a centaur? I have known him for many centuries.” Mastema’s face was a blank slate. “He is an excellent commander, a fierce warrior and a proud centaur. He has never once showed favoritism to any Novice or Numen. He gives no quarter. But now the Elders question him. What changed?”

  Dani’s eyes widened. “Do they know—?”

  “Of course they know. This house, your alliance in the Vale; they know all. Now a Novice is dead at his hands. It is the excuse they need to punish him. They will send him to the frontlines of Hell in a matter of months.” His eyes narrowed. “But they do it not because of him, or the Novice he killed. By now the entire city knows Nessus’s punishment. The Elders need not tell them. The blonde haired Novice he ran down most likely spread rumors of it already.”

  “Chase? He led me into a trap where they… where Michael wanted to…” She still couldn’t say it. Even now, her stomach tightened at the thought of their leering eyes.

  “It matters not. The gifted, the centaurs, other Novices; the message is sent. You will have allies no longer.”

  Help me and there are consequences. Help me and there are punishments. The message was pretty clear. “That’s unfair.”

  “What have you learned of fairness?”

  Dani groaned loudly and spun on her heel.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Anywhere but here!”

  She left her house and marched across the stones. She didn’t care what he did or didn’t do. She nearly died in the Vale and he didn’t trouble himself to be concerned. So now, neither did she.

  Mastema appeared, blocking her path.

  “Consarn it!” she cursed. “Leave me alone!”

  “It is not my duty to leave you alone.” He said emotionlessly.

  “Back off!” Couldn’t he see she was upset?

  “You are my charge. I will not send you into another Trial unprepared.”

  “Unprepared?” she demanded. “I went in there prepared! Look what it got me!”

  “Do not act like a child.”

  She slapped him. Hard. Her hand connected squarely with the side of his face. When he turned back to face her, he glared. “Finished?”

  “Get out of my face.” And she pushed past him.

  He could have stopped her. He chose not to.

  She left the Arn.

  ______________________

  Dani didn’t know where she was going. She just walked. The sun set, casting shadows across Empyrean’s crater. The lights of Sanctuary Hills bloomed in the darkness. Gifted gathered at their houses; warm, cozy, at home. She saw families. Children. They were safe.

  She crested the hill near Novice Village; another community she’d never be a part of. Dink was practicing his archery. She could see Nathaniel and Bouden sitting by the fountain, talking.

  She felt like they were miles away.

  “Looky, looky,” Andreas sneered, appearing downhill. “A murderer taking a stroll.” Lantern in one hand, basket in the other, he came up with Lester and Michael. Of course they’re friends, she didn’t say. They had baskets full of fruit and vegetables, foraging the hills for dinner. “Aren’t you a little far from your village?”

  “Buzz off.” She noticed Michael’s shoulder was still bandaged where Nessus sliced it open. “How’s the arm?”

  He snarled. “Better than you’ll be if I ever go sword to sword with you.”

  “I doubt you’ll get that chance during the Trials.”

  “Who said anything about Trials?”

  A threat. It was sad she expected them now.

  “She’s baiting you.” Andreas told him. He jutted his chin toward Dani. “See, unlike you, you baseborn coward, Michael fights his own battles. You get murderous centaurs to do your bidding.”

  “I didn’t kill Damien.”

  “Don’t say his name.” Lester warned. “You don’t get to.”

  What else was new: unfair blame. But instead of fighting, she wearily left them behind. She had enough fighting for one day.

  “Don’t think for one second we don’t see what you’re doing!” Andreas called after her. “We all know how get those Guardians to help you! There’s only one thing they’d want from you and we’re pretty sure you’re giving it to them!”

  She froze. Halfway down the slope her feet slammed into the ground. Her anger burned in the pit of her stomach. They said all this stuff to her. They accused her of all these things that weren’t her fault. And now he says something like that?

  “Everybody knows.” Andreas crowed. “They can’t get it on the regular from the gifted. You know, rules and all. Is that how you got the centaur? I wouldn’t put it past you. Everybody knows you’ve used that path plenty of times. Why not a centaur?” The guys at his back chuckled in agreement. “What is it now, boys? There’s Kleos, the bearded guy. Though to be honest, I didn’t think girls were his thing. Then there’s her Guardian, obviously.”

  Her fists clenched at her sides. Painfully. When she looked back, the boys had big, fat grins on their faces; ones she wanted to wipe off. “Don’t forget the Novices she’s putting out for.” Michael pointed out. “Espec
ially Nathaniel. He’s got it bad. You done him yet?” Her hands shook. She tried her best to keep them at her sides.

  Lester smirked. “And then there’s Ethan. Everybody knows they’ve been doing it since she got here.”

  She snapped. Her mind went blank. Dani heard herself scream. She barely remembered charging uphill. It was a stupid move. She was outnumbered. They had size and weight on her, not to mention she was hurt.

  She was also pissed.

  She didn’t attack smart. She didn’t think about it. If she had, she wouldn’t take a blind swing at Andreas. He jumped back from her sloppy attack, laughing, but his own confidence made him stupid. She spun and delivered a swift kick to the groin. He dropped.

  Michael hit her first. His basket dropped and he connected with her jaw, knocking her to the dirt. She rolled, recovered, and swung for a kick. Her heel connected with his ribs, then she rose and put her fist through his jaw.

  Lester seized her around the waist. “You little—!” he pulled her back, but she grabbed at his face, lashing with her fingernails. He screamed.

  It didn’t last long. Another pair of arms pulled Lester off. Andreas and Michael came at her, but Guardians suddenly swarmed down on them; Aether, Corona, every person in Novice Village hearing the fight.

  One pulled Dani to her feet. She nearly hit him.

  “Dani! Whoa! Calm down!” Ethan cautioned, pinning one arm behind her to stop her. “Dani! Stop!” He pushed her to her knees.

  “Get off of me!” she screamed ferally.

  A crowd gathered to watch. They had an audience.

  She heard Andreas, “She attacked us!”

  Kleos restrained him. She least got some satisfaction watching him cradle his junk in pain.

  “I did not!”

  “She did!” Lester insisted. “That bloody quim went crazy!”

  “Call me that again!” she dared, spittle flying angrily down her chin she was so furious. “Call me that again! I dare you!”

  “Qui—”

  “What is the meaning of this?”

  Everyone went silent. Standing at the edge of the crowd was Mastema. Her Guardian’s presence made everyone back away. He strode forward, lanterns splashing orange and yellow patterns across his obsidian skin. He was terrifying; partially because of his expression.

  “I demand to know what transpired. Answer me!” he glared at Ethan. “Release my Novice.”

  Ethan did without question. Dani stood. “They insulted me. They said I—”

  “Quiet.” Mastema didn’t bother to look at her. “Return to the Arn.”

  “You let her go?” Michael demanded. “She attacked us!”

  “Unprovoked?”

  “Yeah! She came out of nowhere!”

  There were a few murmurs of agreement, but Mastema’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. He stalked over to Michael, who cowered in his presence. “It is my experience, one does not attack unprovoked unless they are demonic. Is she a demon?”

  “No.”

  “Then I’ll ask again: was it unprovoked?”

  He scowled, looking away.

  “Look when I am speaking to you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because those who are guilty cannot meet the eyes of their accuser.”

  Michael shifted his gaze, getting that look Dani saw a hundred times. He jutted out his chin defiantly, staring Mastema down. The Novices next to him, even a few Guardians, stepped away like he would spontaneously catch fire.

  “I’m looking at you,” Michael grunted, “so?”

  “I’m not your accuser. She is.” He pointed to Dani. “You look at her and tell me it was unprovoked.”

  He couldn’t. The moment Michael did, he avoided her gaze.

  “That is what I thought.”

  If Mastema was even a fraction nicer, Dani would've felt grateful. But when he looked at her, the scorn was just as strong.

  “Do not let me see you near my Novice again.” He told Michael. “Do you understand me?”

  He nodded.

  “Leave.”

  He turned and walked off, close to pissing his trousers. He was terrified. Any person in their right mind would be. But even as her Guardian turned away, he snarled silently in Dani’s direction. Everyone was brave when no one was looking.

  “Everyone back to your quarters!” Ethan announced. “That goes double for Aether! If I see even one of my Novices out of the village, you’ll be scrubbing the latrine!”

  Dani spotted the boys—Nathaniel, Dink and Bouden—standing off to one side. Nathaniel mouthed silently to her, Are you okay? Dani shook him off and said nothing.

  Ethan touched her arm, like he had before her Trial. Dani shrunk back from it. Mastema interrupted them.

  “Novice, what were you thinking?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “That was unwise.”

  “Unwise? Unwise? Are you sarding kidding right now? Do you know what they just accused me of?”

  “It matters not.”

  “It matters quite a damn bit!” she shrieked. “I am sick and tired of this! I’m tired of every person I meet telling me they think I’m evil or a danger or a whore! What? Am I just supposed to take it?”

  Ethan spoke up on her behalf. “She has a point.”

  “And what will it change?” he asked him. “The Elder Council already believes she is not worthy. Her fellow Novices turn more and more against her. What will coddling do?”

  “Well I’d like at least one person to finally stand up for me! Isn’t that your job?”

  “My job is to help you stay alive, which is difficult to do when you act imprudently!”

  “You’re the one that’s difficult!” she just wanted to hit him so badly it physically hurt to stop herself. She got up in his face, which was hard to do since he was several inches taller. “Every day—EVERY DAY—people say stuff to me! Every day I hear them talk about me behind my back! What am I supposed to do? What Mastema? Am I just supposed to be a good little girl and keep my mouth shut? Because I sure as hell am not going to do that!” She had it up to here. No more, she thought. No more. “I can’t take this! You want me to pass a Trial? I can’t do that if everyone is stacking the deck against me!”

  Her Guardian was silent. He made no expression. Ethan’s face was equally blank, though she could see the sympathetic pain in his eyes.

  After a few seconds, Mastema asked calmly, “Do you feel better?”

  Her nails dug into the palms of her hands. “No.”

  “Precisely. Nothing changes. You attacked them and nothing changed. You vented your frustrations and nothing changed. But you still failed your Trial. You must still complete in two others. So no matter how unfair you feel your situation is, nothing changes.”

  She wanted to throw up. On him. In his face. Her anger was like a furnace.

  “Forget you.” She stalked past him. “You don’t care.”

  At her back, Ethan called out to her. “Dani—!”

  “Let her be.” Mastema told her. “She must learn for herself.”

  And she planned on doing just that. Without him.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The following week, Mastema was a no-show. It gave her time to cool off. She didn’t do much during that time; she went to lessons, she went to Studies, and she went back to the Arn. No friends, no Roxelana, no Ethan, no one. Korë once stopped her in the market to cheer her up with another grass doll, but Dani kept on walking. It hurt to see the disappointment on the little girl’s face, but she didn’t want to be around people.

  Caesar was there. Her friend insisted on hunting for her food. She brought back dead squirrels, rabbits, even a turkey-like bird. Dani cooked them on the fire, but even roadkill didn’t cheer her up.

  She did spend time practicing with swords. She envisioned gutting Lester, Andreas and Michael, then skewering their heads on spikes. It was very Vlad the Impaler, but sometimes anger brought out the worst in her.

  Nathaniel, Bouden, and Dink tried vis
iting, but she didn’t come out of her house. None of them were bold enough or stupid enough to try to come in. Ethan was the only one she couldn’t avoid for long.

  It was a week after when she came out during Vespers. The sun was setting. No one was there. Or so she thought.

  “So, sulking?”

  She glanced up. Ethan perched on her roof, legs dangling over the side. He tossed her a small sack with honeybread baked in cinnamon, paired with strawberries.

  “Bought these for you.”

  “From Adare’s. They’re my favorite.”

  Ethan shrugged off the ledge and floated down like a graceful angel. “I’d ask if you were okay, but I’m not stupid.”

  “Smart man.” She put the fruit into the bread and took a bite. “Thanks.”

  “I find food helps.”

  “I’ve lost weight up here. There’s no junk food.” She chewed. “You know what I could go for? A fish taco. Fish tacos always hit the spot when I was pissed off.”

  Ethan’s eyes widened a little. “Fish tacos?”

  “They’re my favorite. Did they have fast food back in the day?”

  He smirked. “What do you mean ‘back in the day?’ I had a burger a few weeks ago when I went to Earth. It’s a perk of being a Guardian.”

  “Vespertide, you mean?” She was guessing. She handed him breadedfruit. “Do you think you could take me next time?”

  Ethan regarded it in his hand solemnly. “Trust me. The first trip down won’t be pleasant.” He took a bite. “Anyway, that’s not why I’m here.”

  Dani sulked towards the fountain. “Let me guess: you’re here to tell me I’m being stupid to mope around?”

  “To tell you that you’re wrong about Mastema.”

  She sat. So did he. “How am I wrong?”

  “He cares.”

  “He has a funny way of showing it.”

  “He’s not like you, Dani. He’s not even like me.”

  “Yeah. He’s a Pod-Person. Did the Wizard forget to give him a heart or something?”

  “I think he was born without it, but that’s not what I mean.” Ethan told her. “Mastema has never been warm and cuddly, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. He’s trying to help.”

  “By doing what?”

  “By training you. He knows what I know: no one is going to give you a break. He knows the Council has it out for him since his failure and they want to use you to hurt you both. He knows the other Novices aren’t going to accept you. More than a few of them are dangerous. Instead of trying to make you feel better, he’s trying to toughen you up.”