by Rachel Rener
As another knock sounded at the door, Aiden took my hand in his. “Dr. Shirvani was certainly right about one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“You are indeed a mighty force to be reckoned with.”
Before I could reply, the door swung open and the President of the United States strode in. “Madam Minister,” he declared, giving me a small bow as he did, “I can’t thank you enough for your devotion and unwavering service to this country. It is abundantly clear that none of us would be here if it weren’t for you and your people. And on that subject, I think it’s high time we discuss how our two governments may properly support and serve one another.”
My mouth was as dry as parchment paper as I answered, “Y-Yes, Mr. President… I’d like that very much.”
Chapter 36
Tuesday, April 5th
onald, my sweet,
Forgive me for my lapse in writing. Robert has been practically pushing a pen and paper into my hand for weeks now, knowing how much the journaling helps this old, addled brain of mine. (It also gives him the chance to sneak cookies from the kitchen but I pretend not to notice.) With so much going on, it’s taken me some time to catch my breath, but I’ll start with the most important news: the kids finally tied the knot!! Oh, and Aspen could not have looked more breathtaking. She was wearing the same beautiful white gown her mother wore when she and David got married some thirty years ago, if you can believe it’s been that long! I had to take the waist in since the poor girl hasn’t been eating well with that nonstop schedule of hers. But I was pleased to see her cheeks rosy and plump, all traces of those nasty bruises and burns healed by time, good quality salve, and my patented homemade chicken soup. Ted walked her down the aisle in David’s honor after we all said a little family prayer for the two of you, which I’m sure you heard.
When Aiden saw her coming down the aisle, the jubilant smile that broke across his face made it seem like he was witnessing a miracle. Which, in a way, he was. How had she managed to keep a handsome face like that waiting for so many years? Why, if I were forty years younger (and didn’t already have a fine looker of my own at the time, don’t you worry!) I’d have dragged him to a church halfway through the first date. Oh, Don. After losing you, and then our sweet David, finding a true gentleman in this world seemed like an impossible feat. But this young man loves our granddaughter with an intensity that almost rivals my own. He loves her for her beauty and kindness – after all, who couldn’t? – but he loves all the rest of her as well: her stubbornness, her conviction, her intelligence, her complete inability to cook, not to mention her unwavering sense of duty, which compels her to right all the wrongs of the world. Yes, Aiden loves every part of our grand-daughter with everything he has, and then some. He frankly reminds me of you. With a good, charming dash of Robert, to boot.
Anyway, I confess I don’t remember the vows they exchanged (for the second time, I might add, since it didn’t take a brain surgeon like Dr. Shirvani to figure out that they’d already run off and eloped!). No, I was too busy blotting my eyes on Robert’s last handkerchief after soaking through the first two. Those two love each other something fierce, and the thought alone makes me weep with joy after the years of solitude my poor Aspen had to endure.
Good gracious, I’d better change the subject before these maudlin tears blot out every word on this page.
You’ll be pleased to hear that Ori brought Savannah Clarke’s little sister to the wedding. You should have seen the dress Eileen and Sophia helped her pick out! Oh, how I wanted to reach forward and pinch those precious cheeks of hers! She’s been going to Dr. Shirvani’s clinic – the one that was named in honor of her big sister, bless her soul – several times a week for nearly two months now, receiving some sort of cutting-edge treatment that he and Aspen spent years developing. I can’t begin to understand what exactly it entails, even though both Aspen and Robert have explained it to me many times. Something about “targeted electrical stimulation” in certain brain structures, and promoting “plasticity” in alternate neural pathways(?), which doesn’t make any sense to me because as far as I know there’s no plastic in most human brains. But scientific and Electromantic mumbo-jumbo aside, the results have been nothing short of miraculous. As God is my witness, Emily has started speaking! And laughing and singing too! She’s venturing out into the world as a fine, mature young woman who simply had to wait a few extra years for the right treatment to come along, Praise the Lord (and our Aspen)! At the dedication service, when they named Dr. Shirvani’s new clinic in Savannah’s honor, Emily made a speech that reduced every single person in that room to tears. And… well, I really didn’t know how to explain it, darling, short of saying that the ‘joie de vivre’ she exudes is infectious. Particularly as far as Ori is concerned. You should see how their friendship has blossomed over the last three months! What began as daily check-ins eventually became daily checker games, and routine meal runs turned into two-hour picnics at the park. He’s even started teaching her Hebrew and is currently helping her enroll at the local community college. But the most shocking part of all is that he’s been so patient and nurturing and protective. Not a single off-color joke or lewd expression. It seems that he truly wants what’s best for her and nothing more. And she adores him for it.
I doubt even Ori knows he’s falling in love with her, but I’m certainly not going to spoil the sweet surprise for either one of them.
Anyway, sweets, I have to get going. The president himself is coming to visit our granddaughter, and I already told her that no president of mine is going to eat over-salted cafeteria food at the Asterian Order. He’ll come here for a proper supper while the two of them discuss how their relationship might look in the future. It makes me sad to think that if this had happened fifty years earlier, you and I could have enjoyed a marriage without any secrets. My heart swells, however, for the changes that are coming. After all, Aspen’s already created a task force that’s focused entirely on Elemental initiatives to help protect the planet. Dinners have become nonstop discussions about Pyromantic squadrons to combat forest fires, Terramantic teams to assist with soil and crops in third world countries, Auromancer reserves for pollution control, Hydromantic committees to refreeze melting polar caps… and of course, there’s her Electromantic medical team that’s already made tremendous progress on neurological disorders. Just ask Emily! Oh, Don, when the world sees the true gift of Elementalism, they’ll welcome the entire community with open arms. Aspen keeps reminding me that it won’t happen all at once – she says small incremental changes over the next few years or so is most likely – but in my heart, I believe our great-grandchildren will be able to live in a world where they are not just accepted, but celebrated for their extraordinary gifts.
On that note, when I asked Aspen if she wanted red or white wine with dinner, her face flushed, and she replied, “Oh, I think I’ll just stick with juice tonight.” I’m so excited I could burst! When she makes the official announcement, you’ll be the first one I tell (after Robert, of course, who sends his fond regards)!
Always and forever,
Epilogue
spen and Aiden strolled hand in hand while their young son stopped every so often to examine a dandelion or pill bug, his hazel eyes lighting up with excitement as he knelt to peer at each newfound treasure. On the other side of the street, just across the full parking lot, dozens of children and parents had gathered at the redbrick school building for a momentous occasion – the first day of kindergarten. Upon seeing the crowd, the little boy tugged at one of his dark curls anxiously, his brows creased with worry.
“What’s the matter, Son?” Aiden asked, kneeling beside him.
“What if they don’t like me?” the boy whimpered. “But what if they all have friends already and I’m too late?”
“There’s no limit to how many friends a person can have,” his mother laughed, bending down to kiss his forehead.
“But I’m different. They’ll think I’m w
eird.”
“No one would ever think that.” She gently smoothed away the curls that had fallen into his eyes, just like his father’s always did. “Your great-grandma Evelyn, who you’re named after, knew you were different, just like Mommy and Daddy. And she didn’t think you were weird, not for one second. In fact, she used to say that you were the most extraordinary little human she’d ever met. She loved you with all her heart, just like Daddy and me and Grandma Lizzie and Grandpa Ted and all your aunties. Speaking of which,” she added with a smile, “your cousin Hannah will be right next door since she’s starting preschool, remember? Uncle Ori and Aunt Emily are just running a little late.”
“Okay…” Evan nodded, still looking uncertain.
As they approached the school, Aiden pointed to the schoolyard. “Look, Ev, all the kids are playing. Do you want to go join them?”
The little boy hesitated, his wide eyes darting over his shoulder as though he wanted to turn back.
“Look, honey,” Aspen said, pointing just ahead.
Evan’s curious gaze followed her finger, stopping at the little girl who was making an ice sculpture from a puddle of fresh rainwater. Her small fingers hovered over her creation, a miniature pony that glittered by the light of the parting summer clouds. With a gentle nudge from his mother, Evan shyly ambled over to her, plopping down beside the puddle to watch. The girl gave him a shy smile as he did.
“Can I try?” he asked, pointing to the pony. She nodded. Evan pinched his eyebrows together in concentration, pulling more liquid from the puddle to create a set of wings for the horse’s back. The little girl’s face filled with joy. “See?” he said, smiling widely. “Now it’s a Pegasus. My Auntie Sophia taught me that.”
Aspen gripped her husband’s hand as a group of children wandered over to Evan and his new friend to see what they were doing.
“It’s okay,” Aiden murmured, wrapping a reassuring arm around her shoulder. But he too had to remind himself to exhale as one of the boys, at least a head taller than Evan, crouched to inspect the sculpture, his eyes growing wide.
“Whoa!” he cried. “That’s so cool!”
The other children quickly chimed in:
“Is that a unicorn?”
“Can you make a turtle?”
“I love ponies! What’s its name?”
After a few more minutes of inquisitive observation, the bigger boy grew bored with the Hydromantic demonstration and abruptly stood up. “Do you two wanna play foursquare with us?”
“Sure!” Evan exclaimed, dusting off his corduroy pants before helping the little girl to her feet. “Let’s go!”
Aspen scrubbed away a stray tear as she watched him race away with his new friends.
“You see?” Aiden chuckled in relief. “Nothing to worry about. Playing in the sandbox, Hydromantic ice figures, foursquare – it’s all the same in their young eyes. And that’s all because of you.”
“Well, I’ve had a little help,” she smiled, nuzzling her head against his shoulder as they turned to leave.
“Uh-huh.”
“I forgot to ask – will you be able to stop by the clinic and have lunch with me today?”
“What? No Asterian duties for you this afternoon, Dr. Fulman?”
She shook her head. “Nope! I’ve cleared my entire schedule to help Kevin finish our proposal for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. They were so happy with the results of our last trial, they’ve asked to formalize our partnership.”
“I’m so damn proud of you,” he kissed the top of her head, then abruptly lurched to a stop.
“What?” Aspen asked, following his startled gaze back to the playground. “Aiden, what’s wrong? I …Oh, no!” she let out a gasp.
Without another word, she and Aiden sprinted toward the playground. Two steps ahead of her, he was the first to leap over the chain-link fence, waving a hand as he did. “Evan, no!”
Their son’s face broke into a pout as the little ball of blue Fire disappeared from his hands. Likewise, his entranced audience of five-year-olds let out disappointed groans.
“Children, give us a minute, please!” Aiden called to them just as Melinda, one of the teacher’s aides, came running over. He recognized her as one of the summer daycare supervisors at the Denver Asterian Chapter.
“Evan!” Aspen dropped to one knee, taking her son’s hand in hers. “Where on earth did you learn to do that?”
“Well, I saw Daddy—”
“No, I mean, since when have you been able to manipulate Fire?”
The little boy looked thoughtful. “Ummm… since this morning, I guess?”
“This morning?” Aiden repeated incredulously.
The teacher’s aide stifled a laugh while Aspen squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
“Not to worry, Madam Minister,” Melinda smiled, flashing the red tattoo on her forearm as she did. “I’ll keep a close eye on him.”
“Oh, thank God,” Aspen breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much, Mel.”
Aiden knelt in front of his son, placing gentle hands on the boy’s shoulders. “Now, Ev, you listen to me… we don’t play with Fire.”
“But, Daddy—”
“No buts, little man! When I pick you up from school today, we’re going to have a long talk about Fire safety. In the meantime, if Miss Melinda sees you playing with Fire at school, I’m sending you over to Grandpa Robert’s to help him sort his book collection again. And you know how he loves to talk about his big, dusty history books…”
The boy’s eyes grew as wide as hazel saucers. “I won’t play with Fire again Dad, promise!”
“Cross your heart?”
He nodded solemnly, drawing an invisible cross over his chest with a trembling finger.
“Alright,” Aiden said, rising. “Now go play.”
“Okay! Bye Mom, bye Dad!” he yelled over his shoulder as he ran back to his friends on the foursquare court.
Aspen buried her face in her husband’s shoulder. “Why did I have to marry a Pyromancer?” she muttered into his shirt.
He laughed. “Oh, right, like it’s my fault!”
Melinda chuckled. “It looks like the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree, ma’am. How many does that make now?”
“Four,” Aspen swallowed.
“Well, if he’s anything like his mother, he’ll be extraordinary. You folks don’t worry about a thing,” she added as she turned to head back to the playground. “If it makes you feel any better, our assistant principle is a Hydromancer.”
Aspen waved a feeble goodbye as she and Aiden once more made their way to the parking lot, casting anxious glances over their shoulders the whole time.
“Do you think he’ll be okay?” Aspen asked, worrying a hangnail.
“Oh, you heard Melinda, he’ll be—”
“No. I mean… in general. Lightning is the only Element left, Aiden. If he develops an aptitude for it…” she sighed, shoulders slumping. “I just don’t want that life for him… the responsibility, the hardships, the scrutiny…”
“The world isn’t what it was five years ago,” Aiden gently reminded her. “Our son is going to have a bright and wonderful future ahead of him, whether he’s a Quadromancer, a Pentamancer, or just like everyone else… and it’s all because of you.”
She frowned. “You really think so?”
“Yes. So instead of worrying about the burdens he may have or the challenges he may or may not face, I recommend we just focus on one thing.”
She frowned. “What’s that?”
“Trading in our cabin for a fireproof house.”
Aspen let out a loud groan, eliciting a hearty laugh from her husband.
“All jokes aside,” he said, pulling her closer to kiss her forehead, “I know he’s going to be okay because he’s got one thing that makes him virtually impervious to all the trials and tribulations of the world.”
“What’s that?”
“A loving family to help him with ab
solutely anything and everything that may come his way. Our son is surrounded by a devoted army of grandparents and aunts and a doting uncle who would literally jump in front of a train for him – speaking of which, there he is now,” he grinned as Ori and Emily chased after their four-year-old, one smoothing Hannah’s dark pigtails while the other waved a princess-themed lunchbox after her.
Aspen’s throat caught. Aiden was right. No matter what happened or which path their son would eventually take, he’d always be surrounded by love.
And that was by far the strongest element of all.
A Note from the Author
The story of Aspen began with nothing more than a vivid picture in my mind: a young, nameless woman, all alone in an unfamiliar cabin, with strange eyes and even stranger abilties. At that time, I had no idea her story would come so far or that we would grow so much, together.
And yet here we are: exactly 3 years, 4 books, 2,000 pages, and nearly half a million words later.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for taking a chance on a small time author like myself and reading The Lightning Conjurer series! It means the world to me that you’ve stuck by Aspen’s side until the very end.
Here’s to all the adventures we’ve had together, and all the adventures to come.
With love,
The Girl Who Talks to Ashes
Things change around Lilah. Like actually change.
An apple disintegrates. People age.
Dogs transform into puppies.
Or bones.
These changes seem to be tied to her epileptic seizures which is why she has to take that daily little blue pill. In fact, the pill works so well that Lilah seems like any other normal teenager.
Until the day she chooses not to take the pill. That day changes everything and Lilah begins to wonder what could happen if she let the seizures happen. But can she control them or will they control her?