The next day, Gina let me off early after I had finished all my side work, since the restaurant was completely devoid of customers by 1:45 p.m. Before I left, I Googled the address listed on Savannah’s business card using Gina’s computer. It was in a relatively seedy part of the city, about twenty-five minutes away – twenty minutes, if you’re travelling by motorcycle. By 2:00 p.m., I was flying down the highway, something I usually tried to avoid by taking back roads instead. I won’t lie; I was nervous. But more than that, I was determined to start taking my life into my own hands.
Just before 2:30, I arrived at the address. It took me a little extra time to find, because the location wasn’t at all what I expected, e.g., an impressive storefront, a fancy office building – in other words, something official-looking, imposing, or substantial. No, 191 Pierce Street was actually an old, sixth-story brick building, with lush vines crawling up the front of it. The windows on the ground floor had boards nailed over them, and thick, drawn drapes hung in the windows in the stories above. From the outside, the ramshackle building looked like a repurposed, though somewhat neglected, apartment complex. It was located on the outskirts of an old neighborhood with towering oak trees and run-down houses, most of which had bars on the windows. Apart from a yowling orange tabby cat rubbing itself against the bark of a nearby oak tree, no one was outside or on the street.
I parked my bike on the sidewalk just outside the building’s old wrought iron fence. There was no sign or any indication of who dwelled within; only a street number posted above a rusted call box. I won’t lie; I seriously considered turning around and speeding home at this point. But then I remembered Strauss sitting on Evelyn’s couch with his smug, oily demeanor and so I gritted my teeth, knowing I had only one choice.
I pressed the black button on the weathered call box, half-expecting it not to work. It made a sharp buzzing sound and an instant later a woman’s voice sounded.
“How can I help you?” she trilled pleasantly.
A voice in my head screamed at me to turn around.
“I’m – I’m here to see Savannah Clarke.” I answered awkwardly into the speaker.
“Ah yes, of course,” she answered. “Just a moment.”
A second later the buzzer sounded again and the wrought iron gate swung open, surprising me. I hadn’t realized it was motorized.
Unstrapping my helmet and pulling it off my head, I trudged up the long, cracked sidewalk that led to the front door. It was tucked under a nondescript maroon awning and had no window on either side of it; the black paint of the door was weathered and peeling. Apprehensively, I pulled the metal handle, anticipating some sordid prospect waiting for me on the other side. But as I warily entered the squalid building, I was immediately awestruck by what I saw inside.
The entryway was a large, brightly lit, dome-ceilinged salon, with resplendent white marble columns on either side and a floor comprised of immaculately polished three-foot diagonal black and white stone tiles. A few yards in front of the door, which on this side had been painted an opulent white and sported an ornate crystal handle, was a great marble fountain. Streams of water shot above it in wide, synchronized arcs across a sparkling pool. A few yards behind the fountain was a large, circular desk, made from deep cherry-colored mahogany wood and topped by a round slab of black-and-white speckled granite.
Sitting behind the oversized welcome desk was a young woman in a form-fitting white dress. She had her perfectly-manicured hands clasped in front of her and smiled warmly when I approached. I caught what looked to be a purple, triangle-shaped tattoo on the inside of her left forearm.
“You must be Aspen,” she said in the same high, trilling voice I had heard through the call box. “Welcome to the Asterian Order’s Denver Chapter!”
Dumbfounded, I simply nodded.
“Savannah’s been expecting you. Please take a seat for just a moment and someone will come retrieve you once she’s ready,” she gestured to a plush white couch against the wall. “Can I get you anything to drink? Sparkling water? A cappuccino?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you,” I said, finally overcoming my inability to speak. I took a seat on the edge of the immaculately white couch, feeling vaguely underdressed and out of place in my black leggings, riding boots, and second-hand leather jacket. I very carefully set my helmet on the cushion next to me, making sure I didn’t smudge it with dirt.
It was less than a minute before a sharply-dressed, middle-aged man in a navy-blue suit came to greet me. His brown hair was combed back and he had a small diamond earring in one ear. I stood up, taking my helmet under my left arm.
“Aspen!” he said enthusiastically, clasping my hand in his. “It is just a pleasure to meet you. My name is Walter. I’m one of the Community Activity Leaders here. Please follow me this way; Savannah is ready to see you now.”
He strolled down a short corridor to the right of the welcome desk while I followed just behind. It too had large black and white tiles on the floor, with cherry wood panels that met a marble stone border and pristinely-white paint halfway up the wall. Four elevators were located at the end of the short hallway, and we stepped into the nearest one just as it opened. Light jazz saxophone drifted through the elevator speakers. Walter pressed the button for the fifth floor and we ascended smoothly to the top floor of the building. He glanced over at me and smiled, but said nothing more.
When the doors opened, we walked through a small, circular salon with four doors leading into what looked like four offices. Distinctly different from the ground level, it was sparsely adorned, save for a floor lamp and a small gray loveseat against the left side of the round waiting room, with two potted spider plants sitting on low tables on either side. Walter led me to the first office on the left, a half-open, dark wooden door with a polished brass placard that read, Regional Aggregator. After a quick rap on the door, Walter pushed it open from the side and motioned me in. He didn’t follow.
The office was large, and though the heavy curtains were drawn shut like the rest of the building’s windows, three large skylights in the high ceiling let in copious amounts of bright sunlight. The room was simply decorated, save for some ornately-framed paintings, also in stark contrast to the downstairs parlor. A woman sat behind the desk, reading a thick file inside a black folder. She had looked up when Walter knocked, then rose, smiling widely, when I entered the room.
“Aspen!” Savannah welcomed me brightly, walking forward to greet me. “It is such a pleasure to meet you; I’ve heard so much about you!” I narrowed my eyes at that, but she didn’t seem to notice.
She had chin-length short black hair, almost as dark as mine, though hers was straight and severely cut, and small green eyes with eyelids coated by heavy green eyeshadow. She wore a form-fitting, long-sleeved white blouse, tucked into a high-waisted black pencil skirt. I guessed she was somewhere in her mid-thirties.
Walking right up to me, she gave me a tight hug. I stiffened at her forwardness.
“You are absolutely gorgeous!” she enthused, taking a step back to look me up and down. “You must be a model.”
Finding my voice, I pulled away from her.
“How do you know my name?” I asked, not bothering to try to sound polite anymore. “Why does everyone here know my name? Why did a man I’ve never met before manipulate his way into my neighbor’s house and lie to her, on your behalf?”
Her smile dampened slightly.
“Oh, I am so sorry about that,” she said ruefully, turning to walk back to her desk. She motioned to Walter to close the door. He nodded, then did so, leaving the two of us alone in her office. “I did hear that you were very upset about Mr. Strauss visiting your neighbor, and I have reprimanded him about that.” She took a seat at her desk while I remained standing near the door. “Please come take a seat, we have so much to talk about. I know you must be bursting with questions.” She gestured to one of the chairs in front of her cluttered desk.
I hesitated, then walked over and took a seat, placing my helmet on the chair next to mine. Slouching, I crossed my arms in front of my chest, glaring at her.
Savannah smiled and laced her fingers together in front of her. “I don’t want to patronize you by beating around the bush, Aspen. So, let me get right to the point. You are very special, and it’s true that we’ve had our eye on you for the last week or so, but please don’t be alarmed or feel threatened by that. If anything, our aim is to protect you.”
“‘Our?’” I asked, straightening a little. “And just who exactly are you? What is this place?”
Savannah sighed. “I just feel so badly. It’s not supposed to be like this. You see, Aspen, almost everyone who possesses extraordinary gifts such as yours are introduced to us at a very young age. Most are born into the Community since children fairly typically inherit these special traits from their parents. I’m so sorry you’ve been alone all this time, that we couldn’t find you sooner.” She tilted her head slightly and gave me a small, sympathetic smile from across the desk. It made me uncomfortable.
“But how do you know so much about me?” I pressed. “How did you know what I was, or where to find me?”
“We here in the Asterian Order are all Elementalists – people who possess the rare gift of being able to control certain elements. Because we all share in these abilities, we’re able to sense other Elementalists when they use their powers, and therefore help guide them to our Community. Now, normally we have to be in very close proximity in order to feel the presence of these talents. But when you used Auromancy last week – when you controlled the wind in order to protect yourself from that truck,” she clarified, “You released a tremendous amount of energy, alerting several of us to your predicament. We tried to come to your aid right away, but you had already left. I’m just so glad to see that you’re alright.”
I ignored the perfunctory sentiment. “And what do you want with me now?”
“Want with you?” she repeated with a surprised look. “We don’t want anything, Aspen, except to provide you with a safe place. It’s such a difficult world out there when you’re alone, surrounded by people you aren’t sure if you can trust, people who pry, who might want to exploit you for the special gifts you have. At the Order, we provide a sanctuary for Elementalists all over the world. We have established chapters in twenty-five countries,” she emphasized that last part, “and we’re growing every day.
“Being an Elementalist is the greatest gift one can be born with,” she continued fervently, “but when alone and untrained, these abilities can feel like a burden. They can seem frightening.” She leaned forward, a sympathetic expression on her face. “Aspen, now that we’ve finally found you, you don’t have to be alone anymore. We can help you hone your talents so they won’t feel so daunting and unfamiliar. We can understand you like no one else out there can because we’re just like you. And we can help you – whatever identification you need, we can get that for you. If you want a better job, you can work here. The Order employs nearly 5,000 Elementalists through our various chapters worldwide, placing them in as many different exciting careers paths as you can think of.”
Savannah stood then, stepping around the desk to pull up a chair next to mine. She leaned forward and took my hand in hers. I regarded her hand uneasily, not used at all to being touched.
“We are so fortunate to live here; the Denver Chapter is the second-largest Asterian chapter in the U.S., after D.C. If you ever get hurt again, you won’t have to suffer alone. We have doctors here; doctors who won’t ask prying or suspicious questions, because they themselves are just like you.” She smiled widely. “We have therapists who can actually empathize and give you relevant advice about whatever problems you might face as you navigate through the hardships of the unforgiving world outside of these doors. We’ve all been there, and together, as a family, we help each other through any difficulty we face out there. Like the Asterian proverb says: As the five roots support the oak, the five branches are stronger, together.”
I didn’t know what to say. Savannah’s pontification was a bit theatrical, sure, and her obviously-practiced speech came across as both astute and overwhelming; but I had to admit, her words were effective, reaching those vulnerable parts of me I long had tried to push away and ignore. I had been alone and afraid for so long, never belonging to anything, never relying on anyone, except for Evelyn. But that this community – this ‘Asterian Order’ – would be the answer to everything… Well, that frankly seemed a little too good to be true.
Savannah patted my hand gently, then walked back around to the other side of her desk. She sat down and picked up the thick black file folder she was reading when I entered and flipped it open to a page near the back. “Now, Aspen, I wanted to ask you, because I’m a little confused about something. It says here that it’s been determined that you’ve recently used both Auromancy as well as Electromancy. Do you know what those terms mean?”
“Wind and Electricity?” I asked. Suddenly, I stiffened. How did they know about the lights at the university?
“Yes, that’s exactly right.” She regarded me carefully over the top of the file. The hair on the back of my neck was standing on end. “Electromancy is a very rare talent to possess to begin with. But, on top of that, I also see here that it’s been noted that unauthorized Terramancy was used yesterday at approximately 4:30 p.m. Was that you?”
My face must have betrayed my apprehension, because she swiftly added, “I want to assure you that everything is perfectly okay, you are in absolutely no trouble because you obviously can’t possibly be expected to know the rules of the Order, having no prior idea of our existence. We’ll get into those rules a little later. But for now, let me just explain that, for the sake of keeping our gifts secret from the rest of the world – and I’ll go into why that’s so important later – we do require that all Elementalists who are practicing outside of designated Chapters or their own home notify us in advance of any planned use of powers.” She smiled, crinkling her nose slightly. “I know it seems like a pesky rule, but there are good reasons for it.
“Anyway,” she continued, “It seems that no one in our Chapter submitted any requests for outside Terramancy during that time yesterday, so am I to assume correctly that that was also you?”
I nodded.
“I see,” she said, setting down the file on the desk. “Aspen, this report states that the Terramantic activity detected was perceived to be quite formidable. So then… am I to understand that you can control Earth, Wind, and Electricity in equal measures?”
I hesitated slightly before answering. “I’ve only begun experimenting, but that does seem to be the case,” I said, with a twinge of self-consciousness. Even in this organization I’m an oddity. I briefly considered mentioning the fireplace and the bathtub, but some small doubt made me reconsider, at least for the moment.
Savannah nodded thoughtfully. “We’ll have to perform an assessment to be sure, but if what you say is true – and I believe that it is – I can only think of a small handful of others in the world who can wield more than two elements, and I don’t think any of them can control all three with equal-parts power – save for the Magistrate, of course.” She looked at me then, her face composed, though I saw a growing fervor illuminating her green eyes.
“I think we can expect extraordinary things from you, Aspen.”
I swallowed, doing my best to meet her eager gaze as a single, painful question formed in my throat.
“Can you help me find my family?” I asked, emotion straining against my words. “You said these abilities tend to run among children and their parents. Is it possible my parents are members of the Community, part of… of the Asterians?”
Savannah sat back in her chair, heavily. “Oh, Aspen, I’m so sorry. I actually looked through the Archives ahead of your arrival, hoping I might be able to find some information on just that, but I didn’t see any report filed in this Chapter or any others that gave any indication of a missing child or a separated family.”
I nodded quickly, looking down at my hands in disappointment. Still, I couldn’t help but think that something about the way she answered my question bothered me, almost like her words sounded rehearsed. Perhaps it was the twitch in her mouth, the quick glance to her left. Whatever it was that tipped me off, I was pretty sure at that moment that Savannah was lying to me, and I made it my mission from that moment on to find out why.