“Oh, you think,” said Anni, “someone was after us. I didn’t imagine it. I told Egbert, and he acted like I was being stupid. I think he was covering something up. What about these Elofficials? Could they be the ones after us?”
“That’s highly unlikely,” said Brat. “All human travel to Elemental realms requires an E-pass and proof of DeFunkification, which takes six months. Squirt’s right: you’re not in their log, and they don’t even know your name.” Brat looked between them.
“Your Funk bought us time,” said Squirt. “They’ve been busy rebalancing the Zephyr.” Squirt animatedly acted out as he spoke. “It was hilarious. Like a wave hit us. Bam! Electricity—POW! Static blew everyone’s hair straight up. Boing! Mine’s still up. Then a gust of the rotten eggs hit us. Stinky! Some Elementals nearly passed out.” He chortled. “Cleaning crews are everywhere. Even Miranda tripped. Jay said it was priceless.”
The corners of Anni’s mouth lifted as she tried to imagine it.
“I wouldn’t be so pleased,” said Brat. “If you actually followed my instructions, we wouldn’t be here.” He looked like he was feeling sorry for himself. “This is a snozdoddle-sized mess. If the Elofficium arrest us, we won’t see Lexi until we get out.”
“Yugi’s place cloaked your Funk, but our time’s up,” said Squirt. “We—”
The piercing sound of a strangled bird echoed outside. Squirt raced to the window and pulled the curtains aside. Anni followed him.
Through the branches, in a clear patch of light, a flock of birds flew in a V formation. They dropped eighty feet in a matter of seconds, maneuvering like nothing she’d seen before. “Whoa,” said Anni with a gulp. “Is it bad?”
“Oh Moppins! Here we go!”
“No,” said Squirt. “It’s worse.”
DAPHNE
It wasn’t birds but a gang of kids who pierced holes through puffy clouds. Their leader disengaged from the pack and headed down to Yugi’s deck, with something kicking and screaming over his shoulder.
“Quick! Hide by that door,” said Squirt, looking up at the sky. “Trust me. You don’t want them to see you. Half of them have Elofficials for parents. I don’t know why they’re here, but if they land on the deck, open that door and run downstairs. I’ll follow.”
Anni moved to the door close to the window and peeked through the shade, watching the group of teenagers in the sky overhead. “How are they doing that?”
“Skurfing? It’s like skateboarding and surfing the air currents. Can only do that around Zephyrs, not in the Noos―sorry, I mean human cities. Funk destroys the air; it would knock them out of the sky. It looks cool, but it’s not. Makes me puke. That’s why I’ll never be a Wood Elemental. Whispering to the wind and all that stuff, I can’t do it.”
“Would it get me off the Zephyr?”
“I seriously don’t recommend it, but you could try,” said Squirt.
“Don’t fill her brain with nonsense,” huffed Brat. “Skurfing won’t get you off the Zephyr. I would know. LimBough is the only way to catch a TreeTransport if you really want to leave. That’s how we Elementals travel. The Orb over the Lake will take you straight to LimBough, but you’d still need an E-pass and an Opus Stone to cross the bridge.”
“I can’t wait to get my Opus Stone,” said Squirt.
“Hey. I know that guy,” said Anni, looking at the guy hovering over Yugi’s deck.
“That’s Jay,” said Squirt. “He was there when you arrived. He’s cool.”
“James Bartholomew Xavier, put me down now! ” yelled a girl at the top of her lungs, her long, dark hair covering her face. “I don’t have time for your games.”
“Aww, come on, Floppy,” said Jay to the girl, who bucked and squirmed on his shoulder. “That wasn’t nice. You know the rules about name sharing. Hey, Squirt.” Jay waved and seamlessly managed the girl onto the deck without messing up his wild red-orange hair. “There you go, Flopster. Delivered as promised!”
“You’re a jerk! Stop calling me that!” The girl’s curtain of black hair covered her face as she pointed at him. “I told you over the grass, not the sky.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Jay smirked. He winked at Anni and said, “You’re welcome, Daphne. See you later.”
Daphne harrumphed and turned her back as Jay soared up into the sky to meet his friends. She bent her head forward to give it a little shake and whipped her long black hair into a high ponytail. Anni noticed Daphne had two long silver strands hidden in her black mane just over her right temple.
Daphne turned to Squirt and said, “Can you get us out of here unseen?”
“No problem. She’s ready to go. Right, Anni?”
“Oh,” said Daphne, turning red. “I didn’t see you there. Sorry you had to see me get so angry. Jay’s annoying, but I can say that, he’s my third cousin.” She thrust her hand. “I’m Daphne Kim, by the way. Nice to meet you. Sorry to rush you, but we need to go. The Elofficials are doing a house-to-house search. How’s your Funk?”
“I like her style,” said Brat. “Straight to business.”
Daphne moved in closer, and sniffed. “Headache?” she asked, spritzing the air around Anni with something that smelled of lavender and salt.
Anni waved her hand and coughed. “Yeah. It comes and goes.”
“For snozdoddles’ sake! You’ll never get to the Manor at this rate,” said Brat.
Daphne turned to Squirt and handed him a rolled piece of parchment. “Yugi said if she has the slightest headache to follow these instructions exactly. Can you do it quick? We should have left already. Krizia expected us an hour ago.”
Squirt chuckled. “Krizia will give anyone a headache.”
Daphne shot him a look. “Don’t worry, Anni, Krizia’s not that bad.”
Squirt coughed something under his breath that sounded like “liar” as he raced back to his cluttered worktable and studiously referenced Yugi’s list.
“Do you know if my friend Lexi arrived? Is she with Egbert?”
“I’m not sure if she’s here,” said Daphne. “Actually, I don’t know Egbert, but after I read about an early Elemental death date and a stolen artifact, I heard you were coming.”
It was the same news story Anni had seen in Headmistress Turnkey’s office, the same one that claimed Teddy Waterstone was dead. She wasn’t going to start that discussion. Too painful. “Did Yugi speak with Egbert?”
“I was with Yugi,” said Daphne, “when Van’s sister, Zelda―”
“Zelda? You know Zelda?”
“Actually, no, but I know Van. He’s Krizia’s husband. She runs Moon Manor, well, Krizia’s in charge of Moon Zephyr. Egbert didn’t tell you any of this?”
“Egbert never tells me anything. I shouldn’t have trusted him.”
Squirt rushed over with a new mug, filled with an even darker liquid that truly looked like dirt. “Here,” he said to Anni. “You can’t meet Krizia until you drink this.”
Anni took the new mug and gulped it down. She made a face. “If this Krizia person is Egbert’s friend, I’ll pass on meeting her.” She turned to Daphne. “Please, just tell me how to get off this floating Zephyr island thingy. I have to find Lexi.”
Daphne turned pale. Squirt grinned. They said, “Nofcourse,” a combo of Daphne’s “No” and Squirt’s “Of course.”
Daphne turned to Squirt, red-faced. “You can’t help any more than I can. Why would you make a promise like that?” She looked out the window and gasped.
Anni followed her gaze and peeked through the shade. Two extremely tall people wearing long black cloaks, each with big gold badges on their left shoulders, strode across the lawn toward Yugi’s place.
“Els! We have to go. Now! They’re coming.” Daphne turned to Anni. “If they catch you before you get to the Manor, you’ll be—”
“Tossed in the bughouse,” said Brat.
“Or worse. In the Egghouse,” said Squirt.
“Language, Squirt. It’s not so simple,” Daphne sai
d quickly. “A lot was done to get you here, and I can’t undo it. Your Funk, well…if they catch you, you will be locked up for a minimum of six months. It’s imperative that I take you to the Manor. You’ll be safe there. A lot of people could get into trouble if you don’t. Besides, your vouchers, the people who will look out for you while you’re here, are waiting for you at the Manor. They have E-passes for you and your friend Lexi. We need to leave now; otherwise, I can’t help you.”
“They’re expecting Lexi? They have a pass for the both of us?”
Daphne nodded.
“Fine,” said Anni. “Let’s get this over with.”
“At last!” said Brat. “Don’t dawdle. The sooner you get sorted, so will I.”
Squirt ushered the girls to Yugi’s front door. They stopped when they saw the shadows of the Elofficials darken Yugi’s frosted window. Anni stared at the wooden coffered walls. Was this a trap?
“This way,” said Squirt. He pushed on a wall panel, and a door opened. They passed through a passage, which led into a magnificent garden shed. “Phew. That was close.”
Shed was the wrong word. Garden museum or ballroom was a better description. Beautiful glass cupboards lined the walls, filled with garden tools and instruments displayed like objects of art. Anni realized this was the room she’d entered into the Elemental world. There was the glossy, round oak table where Leo had sat hours ago, just before she had passed through the Queen’s Mirror, but there was no mirror in sight.
“Over here,” Squirt said, standing in front of a cabinet in the far corner with a broken door, which bore a sign that said, Caution—Broken.
“Can you take us to the hothouse?” said Daphne. “It’s the shortest walk.”
“No problem.” He pulled the sign away. “Anni, take my hand. And don’t let go.”
Anni took his hand and they were plunged into total darkness. The tunnel was misty and a strange smell of burned hair wafted around her head. When they exited, they were inside yet another shed, which was small and cramped.
“Let me make sure it’s clear,” said Daphne.
Daphne exited first. Squirt followed. They were in the middle of a large garden next to a massive building that looked strangely familiar. Anni needed to do a double take. Whoa! All that this building was missing was the pink paint. Moon Manor was an exact replica of Mabel’s old apartment building, the Edgewater, but how could that be? Things were getting weird. Was this the final proof that Mabel was an Elemental?
“Oh,” Daphne gasped, staring at Anni’s head. “What did you do, Squirt?”
Squirt looked from Daphne to Anni. His eyes popped wide.
“Oh, no,” said Squirt. Daphne stood speechless. “I did it again! What did I do wrong?” Squirt paced, murmuring something that sounded like a list of ingredients.
Anni grabbed a few strands of hair. It took a second to realize what she was seeing. “My hair was brown. Now it’s red. I look like Bozo the clown.”
“Is that good? Does Bozo have rainbow-colored hair?” asked Squirt.
“Eggs! Squirt, is my hair more than one color?”
“Well, yeah,” said Squirt. “Um, but it’s pretty. It’ll be better when it stops changing colors so fast. Don’t be mad, I’m sure it’s a side effect from the Funk.” Squirt pulled out Yugi’s instructions, read, and reread them carefully. “I did all that…what did I miss?”
“Can I see?” asked Daphne, taking the parchment. The very bottom of the scroll was folded and, concealed in the crease, was the last part of Yugi’s instructions, which said:
Squirt saw the fold and clapped a hand to his forehead. “Oh no! No, no, no, no!”
“That means the Funk,” said Daphne, “is trapped in your follicles.”
“I’m so sorry, Anni,” said Squirt, jumping to his feet. “Why did Yugi trust me? I’m a total failure. I should resign my Earth studies. I’m not fit to be an Elemental. I’ll never get my Opus Stone, or be a real Elemental. It’s hopeless.” He plopped to the ground in despair.
“We don’t have time for this,” Daphne whispered to Anni. She put her arm around Squirt. “You are an Elemental, and of course you’ll get your Opus Stone. Don’t be so silly.”
“Yeah,” said Anni. “Lexi’s more important than my hair. It’s…whatever.”
“Really?” Squirt jumped to his feet. “Really, Anni? I won’t let you down again. I’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you. I promise. I’ll help you get back to Chicago, and then we can eat Swiss cheese.”
“Okay,” said Anni, hitching up her backpack, thinking only of Lexi.
They trudged across the lawn toward the Manor. With each step, the grass shriveled under Anni’s feet. Once they crossed Moon Manor’s threshold, an invisible force field blasted all three of them off their feet and onto their backsides.
Grass started to rot underneath them. She could smell it, but she couldn’t move. By the look of it, neither could Daphne or Squirt.
“PURPOSE?” The question bellowed in the air as four blurry, semi-opaque shapes hovered over them.
In a different voice, someone cackled, “Lookie ’ere, mates, I fink we caught ourselves a reekin’ little Eggwit and her two accomplices.”
MOON MANOR
Anni couldn’t move. Her eyes darted everywhere, looking for an escape. She started to feel dizzy and see black spots. There was nowhere to go. These had to be Elofficium guards. She was done for.
“Very funny, Knox,” said Daphne. “I know it’s you. We really don’t have time for this. Krizia knows we’re coming.”
“Whether I am ’oo you fink I am, that ain’t the point. I can’t let a stinkin’ Eggwit reekin’ of Funk in the Manor without an E-pass. Krizia’s orders.”
“Anni has an E-pass. It’s inside. I’m sure Krizia wouldn’t mind bringing it down for you. Should I go and get her? I’m sure she’s not too busy for that.”
“Uh, nah need for that. Fritz, Biancah, eyes on ’em two,” said Knox as he physically materialized along with three other guards, all four dressed like traditional Beefeaters. Knox pointed at Daphne and Squirt. “Fort and I’ll take the Eggwit in.”
Knox nudged Anni. He was as mean as he was ugly, and his hands were clammy, too. She glanced back at Daphne and Squirt, but neither of them looked encouraging.
As Fort and Knox frog-marched Anni into the Manor, she was shocked to see that the building’s exterior was a replica of the Edgewater. Even the atrium’s lobby interior held similarities to Mabel’s apartment building, minus the Elemental flourishes. Real flowers covered every inch of the walls. The honey-chocolate-hued floor spelled something out in golden sparkles under their feet.
“Welcome Minder Knox, Welcome Minder Fort, Welcome Anni Moon.”
Knox pushed her onto a floating silver disk. The fluffy, cloud escalator raised three stories, but there were no handrails. Certain she’d fall through and plummet to the ground, she didn’t notice when they reached the top.
Fort left them in front of two enormous doors covered in intricate carvings she couldn’t read. Knox opened them and shoved Anni inside. The room was so vast, it had at least twelve Persian rugs from one end of the room to the other. A woman sat at a large desk at the farthest end of the room. Anni couldn’t make out the woman’s face; there was a long queue of people waiting a turn to see her. She assumed the woman was Krizia.
Once Anni entered, there wasn’t a welcome reception. Almost all of the queued Elementals turned to look at her, with scowls, and some didn’t even look human. Half of the crowd could pass as people, but the rest were animals, standing upright, and a mixture of insects and aliens, dressed in clothes. Nevertheless, nearly all of them glared at her and several pinched their noses, while a few hissed, scoffed, and tittered.
Anni sniffed her arm and started to wonder how bad she actually smelled. Without much consideration, she made her way toward the line.
“Oh no, you don’t. Come here,” said Knox, pulling her out of the queue and toward a small desk mounte
d with so much paper, Anni could barely see the person behind. “Ah, Verity, funny seein’ you ’ere.”
Verity’s lips pursed. “What do you want, Knox?”
“Half a mo, Verity, ’cause that’s another chinwag entirely.” His face split into a broad smile and revealed several silver-capped teeth. “Nah, if you wanna chat about our lil’ date, you know the one—the one you asked me fer, the one that we ain’t ’ad time ter schedule.”
“Knox,” said Verity, tapping her fingers. “You’re here because?”
“It’s wot I’ve got ’ere that matters.” Knox chuckled to himself. “I’m sure you’ll find it ’ilaaarious. But I’ve bin told, by an unreliable source, mind, that you’ve bin expectin’ this lil’ Eggwit. I have the right mind to giver ’er to the Elofficials.”
Anni flinched when a tall man entered the room behind Knox. This man was dressed in a long gray cloak and top hat; it was the same uniform the Elofficials were wearing when they approached outside Yugi’s door. Was she caught? Verity appeared relieved to see this man, but Knox didn’t notice and assumed her smile was for him.
Knox winked at the secretary. “Course, if yer interested in a lil’ cuppa now, I could bunk off and toss ’er in the Egghouse wif the other nutters—”
“Not necessary,” said the tall, well-dressed man. “You may return to your post.”
“Leach—Maeleachlainn, oh-uh, I mean, Mr. Spongincork…Sir, ’twas—”
“Take your leave,” said Maeleachlainn Spongincork with a look that Anni thought was a sneer until she got a glimpse at his whole face. She shuddered. A scar in the shape of a hook slashed across his left cheek. She wanted to run from the room.
“Maeleachlainn, I should warn you,” said Verity, tilting her head toward the desk at the other end of the room as she handed him papers and a tablet. “Krizia’s in a mood.”
“Indeed,” said Spongincork. He followed her gaze and the long line of impatient Elementals waiting until finally, his eyes settled on Anni. “Box the Funk.”
Anni Moon & The Elemental Artifact: An Elemental Fantasy Adventure Series: Book For Kids Ages 9-12 (Anni Moon Series) Page 10