“Good. I still have nightmares, but don’t wake up with my hands on fire anymore.”
“Excellent. Today we are going to practice short, controlled bursts of fire to ignite the wood.”
Kayin nodded and waited until Janet set up the six pieces of wood in a circle around him. “How did your case go?”
“Arson. The idiot even used gasoline. You could smell it, and the can with his fingerprints on it in the shed helped a lot too. Now start using your left hand and hit each piece of wood.”
Taking a deep breath Kayin let his power flow. Warmth traveled from his belly and up his spine, when the energy reached the top of his breast bone the fire pendant warmed and a surge of power came from Akasha to mingle with his own energy. Kayin wiggled his fingers calling to the Phoenix Fire. The power flowed along his nerves.
Small flames danced on his fingertips. Kayin could feel the energy wanting to be used and ready to burn, but he held it back. Small controlled fire today, he reminded himself. Focusing on a log, he flicked his fingers sending a flame to the dry wood. The light flickered, Kayin sent a bit more, and the wood began to darken and burn. The flames danced, almost invisible in the morning sunlight.
Turning, he lit the rest of the logs one by one until each had a small flame consuming it. Keeping focused on all of his flames, he kept them small, soothing their desire to grow bigger and devour the wood.
Janet nodded. “Now put them out.”
Kayin raised his left hand and held onto the energy of the flames. Spreading his fingers wide, he saw the flames grow bigger. When he made a tight fist, they disappeared. Gasping when he was done, he blushed.
“You always hold your breath when you put out fire, why is that?” Janet asked as she raised her hand and snuffed out the tiny flicker that escaped Kayin.
“It’s harder. Creating fire, letting all that power flow is easy, but to control and contain it, takes more concentration," Kayin answered.
“Interesting. All I’ve ever been able to do is contain fire, either by moving it or putting it out.” Janet smiled. “My crew at the fire station thought I was a good luck charm. The captain was upset when I became a fire investigator.”
“Why did you change jobs?” Kayin asked, trying to stall before he was made to do the exercise over again.
“A beam broke and crushed my leg. I couldn’t pass the physical even after a year of therapy. And because of my gift, I can intuit how the fire moved through a building, so I’m still considered lucky.” Janet winked at him, trying to hide her sadness. “Now, do it again with your right hand.”
Two hours later, Kayin swayed with exhaustion. Sweat dripped down his face, and his arms shook as he wiped it away. Janet was vigorous in her training. She said because his gift could be dangerous, he needed to be able to control it fully as quickly as possible.
“There,” she said spreading a blanket under the shade of a tree. “Sit and rest.”
Kayin plopped down, wincing as he sat on a rock.
“You have improved so quickly,” Janet said as she unpacked the basket Maggie made for them, “I’ll have to think of more ways to train you so I can keep getting lunch.”
Kayin chugged a bottle of water. “I’m sure you’ll think of something. I’m still not sure how I’m even going to be helpful with my destiny of traveling the world and saving magical creatures.”
Janet filled a plate with potato and fruit salad, egg salad sandwiches and cookies, then passed it to Kayin. “Eat up. Using your powers burns a lot of energy.” She made her own plate as she explained. “From what I’ve heard it takes seven Children of Fire to open the portal—the Jewel, and six others. The portal will open easier and be stronger the more Treasures there are.”
Kayin frowned. “And the Jewel is like the Phoenix King Shamash and Queen Aya’s first children? They will have all of the Phoenix abilities, but a Treasure only has one like their grandchildren, right?”
Janet nodded. “Yes, but a Treasure has the full gift. You can create, control and put out fire, along with being fire-proof, while I can only control fire. And I’m considered to be a powerful Child of Fire. Most have no noticeable gift, or they believe they have only good instincts. I met several other firefighters that were Children of Fire, and they didn’t really have any power. But they did have an understanding or sixth sense about how fires would move and react. One paramedic I met had a tiny bit of Phoenix healing power and could sooth patients and seemed to know exactly what was wrong with them.”
“I wonder why I’m a Treasure,” Kayin said. “I didn’t even know about Children of Fire until I changed.”
“Luck and genetics.” Janet hummed around a bite of potato salad. “Some think that in a past life you must have been one of Shamash and Aya’s grand or great-grandchildren.”
Kayin frowned. He wasn’t sure what to think about that. He’d heard about reincarnation when they studied religion in school, but he wasn’t sure how he felt about the idea of his soul hopping from body to body, lifetime to lifetime, all over the world.
Janet patted his leg. “Relax, it’s only a theory. Eat and don’t think so much, it can’t be good for you.”
Kayin rolled his eyes and took a bite of egg salad.
“So what are your plans for the rest of your Saturday?” Janet asked.
“Well, Gavin and Anali have classes to teach in the afternoon, and I think tonight we’re going out for dinner then to a show.”
“Sounds like fun,” Janet said. “Maybe I’ll see if Maggie is free to go out tonight.”
“She said something about another boring evening in earlier,” Kayin said.
Janet grinned. “Perfect.”
Chapter Six
Tossing a ball behind his back, Kayin smiled when he caught it without losing the rhythm of the pattern.
“Good job, Kayin,” Michael said.
“Thanks.”
“I was wondering if you had thought about taking any of the other classes.”
Kayin frowned. “I’m happy juggling.”
“No, you’re numb juggling.” Michael said. “I love to juggle too, but I have to be careful or I get too lost in the meditative hypnotic lure of juggling. I stop interacting with people, and will stand off in a corner and juggle happily not realizing hours are going by.”
Kayin shrugged. “What does that have to do with me?”
“I’m concerned that you might be depressed with everything that is happening.”
“I’m not happy all the time, but no one is.”
“True, and maybe this is who you are: quiet, introspective and calm, and you do seem to be adjusting to New York,” Michael said.
“I miss home, but New York is a lot of fun,” Kayin said, collecting the beanbags he was using.
“Look, I want you to think about maybe joining another class, or talking to Gavin and Anali, okay?”
Kayin forced down his irritation at another person butting into his personal business. He was taught to respect his elders after all. “Okay, I will.”
Michael patted him on the shoulder. “Thank you.”
* * *
Kayin dipped a fry in ketchup. These were the best he’d eaten yet—crunchy, hot, and salty. Why they called them French fries he had no idea. There didn’t seem to be anything very French about them.
“Is everything okay?” Anali asked. “You seem a bit stressed.”
“How do you always seem to know what I’m feeling?” Kayin asked before taking a bite of his veggie burger.
Anali frowned for a moment, then nodded. “Well, I’m a Child of Fire, like you and Gavin.”
Kayin nodded.
“Gavin’s Phoenix gift is regeneration, your gift is fire, mine is empathy.” Anali smiled at Kayin’s frown. “It means I can sense people’s emotions.”
Kayin sat up and pressed against the seat. His thoughts and feelings are private, he didn’t want anyone poking around in them. How could he block her? “You can feel what I’m feeling all the time?”
Kayin relaxed a bit, that didn’t sound too invasive, then grabbed another fry. “What do you mean, you can sense what I feel but not feel it?”
Anali drank some lemonade as she thought for a moment. “Well it’s like seeing someone’s shirt and it looks soft, or scratchy, or silky, so you know generally how it feels, but you don’t know exactly how soft, scratchy, or silky it is. Does that make sense?”
“I think so. So you know if I’m happy, angry, or whatever but can’t tell how happy, or what kind of happy.”
“You figured her empathy out faster than I did,” Gavin said. “I spent the first week I knew Anali trying to hide how much I loved her.”
Anali rolled her eyes. “You spent your first week in my village with a high fever and vomiting. And the second week you were so focused on blocking me that we thought the fever damaged your brain and you were trying to remember how to walk.”
Gavin winked at Kayin. He picked up Anali’s hand kissing it. “She has to say these things because the power of our souls meeting, recognizing each other and falling helplessly in love is too much for her. It makes her weep to think of our first meeting.”
“So,” Anali said ready to change the subject. She squeezed Gavin’s hand then turned to face Kayin. “Do you have any other questions about my empathy? I want you to feel comfortable around me. I will keep most of what I sense to myself, but if you’re hurting, I want to be able to at least check in with you.”
“That’s fine, it just surprised me.”
“Are you willing to talk about what’s wrong?” Anali asked.
Shrugging, Kayin swirled the straw in his vanilla milkshake. “Michael said he was worried about me. That juggling can become isolating.”
“I’ve seen it,” Gavin said. “Richard, who teaches the advanced juggling classes, is always on the outskirts. He likes to be near people while he practices but he doesn’t talk to anyone else much.”
“But I like juggling.” Kayin frowned.
“And you don’t have to give it up,” Gavin said. “But what about taking one or two other classes?”
“If you take beginning acrobatics with me, that will set you up to take a lot of the more interesting classes later,” Anali suggested.
“Both the yoga and conditioning class will improve your flexibility and strength,” Gavin added.
Anger burned in Kayin’s belly and his chest ached.
“Wait,” Anali frowned. “What’s going on?”
“I just, I’m angry.” Kayin rubbed the tender spot on his chest.
“Do you know why?” Anali asked.
Kayin shrugged then sighed. “It feels like every new thing I do pulls me further from home. And it’s not that I’m not grateful because I am, and I like New York, and all the amazing experiences, it’s just …”
Anali reached across the table and took Kayin’s hand. “I love Gavin, and I feel blessed to have married him, but it still took almost a year before my heart stopped aching for home.”
Kayin blinked to hold back the tears.
“Is there anything we can do?” Gavin asked.
“I don’t know,” Kayin said.
“For me, it was being willing to take steps towards making New York my home, and not just Gavin and our house, but making my own friends and finding my own place here,” Anali said. “Of course, we’ll be leaving for San Francisco in a few months to find the Jewel, so maybe that’s not the best advice.”
“We’ll be going to another circus school. Michael’s brother, Philip, runs the San Francisco Center for the Circus Arts,” Gavin said.
“So maybe if I find my place in the circus school?” Kayin said.
Anali smiled. “I think that would help a lot. Once we find the Jewel, the other Treasures, Sasha and Miu, will come over, and in the spring we’ll tour with the circus Michael is creating.”
“Will we get to perform?” Kayin asked.
“Of course you’ll have the opportunity to try out,” Gavin said. “Michael wants all of his performers to do more than one act, if possible.”
Kayin hummed and took a bite of his burger, more to give himself time to think than from a desire for food. Can I make the circus my home? Will these people become my new family? How can I have a home that moves, that isn’t attached to the land, that my ancestors aren’t buried on? “Maybe I could try a few other classes, some of them look fun and I don’t want to get lazy.”
“It will help I’m sure,” Anali said with a smile.
Kayin smiled back, even though his thoughts raced with doubt and fear.
Chapter Seven
Kayin waved to his friends. They had been jumping rope to steel drum music that faded away as he walked through Central Park. The crisp October breeze made him shiver. Wrapping his scarf around his neck, he kicked at the orange and red leaves that covered the ground. Autumn leaves—another thing he had seen in books but didn’t think he’d ever experience. A bell chimed, and he stepped to the right as a family on bikes rode by.
Taking the phone out of his pocket Kayin flinched at the time, late again. He forced his legs into a run. The paths were crowded, and everyone wanted to enjoy the bright blue sky and autumn leaves. He ran through a group of skateboarders, past a yoga class, carefully around three nuns, and jumped over a toddler who darted into his path to get her ball.
He pushed harder to catch the light, almost running into a group of tourists snapping photos of the park as they walked. Kayin made a face. All good New Yorkers make faces at tourists. Gavin said so. Kayin ran up the stairs and into the house, his shoes squeaking on the wood floor that had been polished last week. He slid to a stop in front of Preston, who sighed and raised an eyebrow.
“Sorry for being late, and running in the house,” Kayin said taking off his jacket and scarf. “Are Gavin and Anali waiting in the dining room?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Marsh are running a little late, but you may go ahead and eat. Maggie is trying out some new recipes.”
Kayin looked at the dining room door and took a deep breath. Lunch smelled good. He opened the door a crack, peeking in to see what awaited him. The polished oak table was set for three people with white plates, gleaming silverware, and cut-glass. A platter of sandwiches sat on the sideboard. Kayin couldn’t tell what kind. There was also a soup tureen, and several pitchers of drinks.
“Are you coming in?” Maggie asked.
Kayin opened the door, peering around the edge. “Everything smells good.”
Maggie huffed. “My dad told you that I was trying a new dish.”
“I’m sure it’s wonderful,” Kayin said sitting and placing the cloth napkin over his lap.
Maggie set a bowl of soup in front of him. “I made one, repeat one, bad dish, and now suddenly a new recipe is a warning.”
“I don’t think halibut is supposed to be made into a chowder.” Kayin held his breath as he dipped his spoon into the rich orange soup. Flecks of green herbs moved here and there as he stirred. It was pumpkin, with a mix of savory and sweet spices. “This is good.”
“Thank you. It’s a pumpkin bisque, and I’m thinking of making it for the Halloween party Janet and I are going to.” Maggie went over to the sideboard and picked up a sandwich. She buttered the outside and placed the sandwich in a small griddle. “I’m also trying roasted vegetable panini with smoked Gouda.”
Kayin blinked. Was he supposed to know what all that meant? “You know I’m willing to try anything you make.”
Maggie grinned. “So have you picked a costume for Halloween?”
“No, I think Gavin and Anali want us all to dress alike, but Gavin wants to be superheroes and Anali wants to be some royal family she read about.”
“Well, what do you want to go as?”
> “I don’t know. I’ve never celebrated Halloween before,” Kayin said.
“Really? Why?”
“In Zimbabwe, spirits and demons are real. You don’t mess with them, and you don’t dress up pretending to be them.” Kayin shrugged. He didn’t see the point of dressing up as a prince or superhero either. “What are you dressing up as?”
“Janet and I are dressing up in steampunk.”
Kayin frowned.
“The idea is imagining what the world would look like if steam was still the main source of power instead being replaced by oil and gas. Have you ever read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth, or The Time Machine?”
“I read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in school last year. I understand what you mean by steam-powered machines.”
“Janet and I both love reading steampunk books and were creating steampunk characters anyway. My character is Victorian and Janet chose Wild West steampunk.” Maggie pulled out her phone and showed him a picture of a woman in a Victorian style dress that ended above the knees. She was wearing goggles, a large black and white cameo of a skull, and holding a strange-looking gun.
“That looks like a lot of fun.”
“It is, and there are other parties, book clubs, and steampunk events where we can wear the outfits other times during the year, not just at Halloween.” Maggie took the panini out of the grill, sliced it in half, and placed it next to Kayin’s half-finished bowl of soup.
He took a bite of the sandwich. The bread crunched in his teeth. The richness from the butter hit his tongue, followed by the smoky gooey cheese and then the crisp flavors of roasted bell peppers, tomatoes, and zucchini. “I like this a lot.” He dipped the sandwich in his soup and took another bite. “Yum, this is a winner.”
Maggie grinned. “Thanks. Now maybe next time you won’t be so nervous when I try something new.”
Kayin took another bite so he wouldn’t have to answer. That halibut chowder had tasted really nasty.
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