I don’t know what’s become of my life.
Almost two weeks ago, I was getting ready to start my senior year of high school, trying to figure out the whole college application process, deciding where I wanted my life to go. I was fighting with my brother over who had to load the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, and unload the clean ones. I was enjoying the last summer I would have with my best friend before the first of our adult life started to unfold.
And now?
I’ve kissed a boy.
Kissed two boys.
Watched one of them die before my eyes.
Brought him back to life.
Been to another world, threatened by death, discovered I have magical powers, and learned my mother could still be alive…
No, I don’t know what’s become of my life.
And I’m not sure where it’s going.
The night we get back from the Void Keep, by some divine intervention, my father is still out working late at the university. So Danny and I make it home without any issues. As everyone had assured me, he awakes the next morning with no recollection of the past day’s events.
When I go to sleep, I dream once more about my Prince Charming. I stand at the top of the stairs, the white ballgown flowing around me. And again the lights dim, thunder roars, and I’m trapped, with nothing surrounding me but darkness.
This time, though, the man in the mask heads up the stairs towards me. I stand there grasping the rails, watching him approach. He’s holding a hammer now, the same one I saw my mother wielding in the scrying bowl visions at the mall. He extends his hands, offering it to me. I grab it with my pearlescent-laced gloves, and a beam of light shoots into the sky, fracturing the blackened clouds. He removes his mask, but I can’t see his face from the intensity of the white light. The air stills briefly, and then there’s an explosion.
I jolt awake and push the dream out of my head, something I’ve gotten better at doing. To save face and avoid any suspicion, I manage to drag myself to school for the rest of the week. The days are unproductive, and I don’t remember much, if anything, of what is taught. But Jensen and I spend our free time catching Katie up on what transpired, and talking with Sadie about possible plans and directions we can take.
“Can I see your powers?” Katie says, when she hears about my paladin abilities. “Oh, Jeannie, this is incredible!”
“I don’t even know how to use them.” I sigh.
Since the night in the Void Keep, they haven’t come back. And I’ve tried a few times.
“They’ll come eventually,” Jensen says. “You just have to get proper training.”
“Yeah, well, that’s going to have to happen soon if we plan on rescuing my mother.”
“I also hope Scythe is okay,” Katie says. “I feel bad we didn’t trust him sooner, but…” She sighs. “He’s been through so much.”
“I agree,” Jensen says. “I’m already trying to think of what to say for an apology when I see him next.”
“If you see him again,” I say. “We don’t even know where he is right now.”
a
The weekend arrives, and I spend the majority of time with Dad, preparing for the party we’re having on Labor Day. I sit and tell him about what’s going on with the Formulists and Banewind, but leave out a significant number of details of my recent journeys so he won’t worry too much. I feel okay with him knowing, but don’t think it needs to go any further than that. As Jensen says, it’s risky for others if they find out what’s going on. I don’t need to put any more people in harm’s way than are already there.
“You sure someone’s bringing more ice, Jeannie?” my dad says, from the backyard porch.
It’s already Labor Day afternoon, and we’re working tirelessly to get things ready.
The sound of ice being dumped into a cooler ricochets past my ears.
“This hardly seems to be enough,” he says.
“Yes, stop worrying about it. The Millers are on top of it. Katie has already texted me.” I look down at my new phone, then put it back into my pocket.
“Perfect.” He pulls open the screen door, crumpling the wet plastic bags as he enters the family room. “That should just about do it. Everything’s all set up. Daniel, did you clean the bathroom?”
“Mhm,” my brother says.
He and Nick are sitting on the couch, pounding on their video game controllers.
“Hmm. I better check myself.” Dad opens the freezer drawer and grabs several containers of hamburger patties. “But first, I’ll get these defrosting.”
“And I’m gonna go get ready.” I turn to walk out of the kitchen, and my stomach ties into knots at the thought of Jensen meeting my dad.
He hadn’t remembered him from the funeral, though.
“Let me know if you need anything else.” I head up the stairs.
As I reach out to turn my bedroom’s door handle, I freeze.
A red glow illuminates from under the door, casting across the white carpet. A shiver runs down my spine as I recall the night I saw the same iridescent light back in the mall.
The goosebumps spread as I crack open the door.
I step into my room, the usually bright atmosphere now starkly contrasted by the shadows and red hues that wrap through the air. There’s a tingling sensation on the back of my neck as I close the door behind me.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper.
Ilona hovers at the opposite end of the room. Her maroon cloak quivers against the ground. A black veil still covers her face, staring back at me like a void.
“Genevieve.” Her melodic voice echoes through the room. “Much has changed since last we met.”
“I don’t understand.” I shake my head, “Why are you here? How are you here?”
“The Blazing Vision.” She points to my desk drawer. “I gave the talisman to you. And with it, part of me remains. I am here because we need to talk.”
I let the silence linger.
“I am here because I believe we can save your mother.”
The little composure I’ve maintained falters, and the familiar burning sensation fills my eyes.
“What…”
“You’ve unlocked the truth. Your abilities as a paladin are hidden no more. And I believe that’s enough to bring her back.”
“How?”
“Find Ira of the Jintüroo. She’ll know what to do.”
“What are you talking about? Who is that?”
“I cannot stay long. The magic grows weak.”
“Ilona!” I rush toward her.
As I approach, my legs become heavy, preventing me from moving, as though they were stuck in mud.
“Ira.”
“And what about Isaac Banewind?” I say, remembering the last words spoken by Felyx Crimsley. “Am I supposed to find him, too?”
It’s hard to tell, but I think her head tilts ever so slightly to the side.
Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong.
The doorbell’s high-pitched charm fractures me back to reality.
“Ilona, please. How do I get to my mother?”
She remains frozen, her black-gloved hands hanging at her sides.
“Jeannie!” my father calls. “Someone’s at the door.”
“One second.” My gaze stays fixed on the Formulist. “Please, Ilona—”
“Jeannie!”
“I said hold on!” I turn my head towards the door.
When I look back, Ilona’s gone.
a
Several minutes later, I head downstairs.
But I don’t understand. Ilona seemed different this time. There was a sense of urgency in her voice, concern that had not been there when we first met. It was as though her confidence had been shaken, like something frightened her.
Yeah, something changed. But what?
Never mind, Genevieve. This isn’t the time. I enter the kitchen. Oh, crap!
Now I know who was at the door so early. Jensen is sitting on the stool by the kitchen counter, wearing a broad grin. I hear my dad’s loud laugh tumble through the air.
Katie walks in from the family room as she cracks open a can of soda, and waves when she sees me.
Jensen and my father turn to me.
“Jeannie!” My dad takes a swig of his beer. “Glad you finally decided to join us.”
“Sorry. I was having a hard time finding what I wanted to wear…” I look from my dad to Jensen, and back again.
Scythe’s kiss penetrates my mind, but I dissipate the image.
“So I see you’ve met.”
“You didn’t get the door.” Katie laughs, taking a seat at the kitchen table. “Jensen wanted to come early to meet your dad, so I gave him a ride.” She looks at my father. “My parents are coming with ice later.”
“That’s fine, Katie. Perfect.” His voice light and warm. “And I have to say, Genevieve, I like this new friend of yours so far. He has a strong handshake.”
“Oh, well, thank goodness for that,” I mutter.
Jensen laughs.
“Why don’t you all head outside?” Dad pulls open the oven. “I’ll start to get things ready before the other guests arrive. Daniel! Come and help me with this.”
“Just a sec. We’re at a boss.”
My father sighs and shakes his head.
“Go enjoy yourselves, Jeannie.” He smiles at Jensen. “You and I can continue our conversation later.”
“Looking forward to it,” Jensen says.
He and Katie follow me out onto the deck. I slide closed the patio door.
“Now what’s wrong?” Jensen says.
Ugh. No.
I never told him about my encounter with Ilona at the mall. And I definitely don’t want to bring it up right now.
“Nothing. I just…I’m nervous about everything. I don’t know.”
We descend the wooden steps and enter the backyard. I approach one of the several tables we set up for the party, and sit. A breeze blows past us, ruffling the paper tablecloths. In the distance, I can hear windchimes echo across the trees.
“Well, I have news, Genevieve.” Katie sits beside me. “I already told Jensen, in the car. I couldn’t wait.”
“What is it?”
“You remember the code we found on the flash drive? The Word document that went along with Felyx’s video?”
“Mhm.” I hope I know what she’s about to tell me.
“I figured it out!” she squeaks, and pulls out a piece of paper from her jean pocket. “It took me all week, but I got it.” She lays the paper down in front of me.
It’s covered in her scribbles.
A = 1 x 4 + F = 1 x 3
A = 1, so
A = 1 B = 2, C = 3, D = 4, E = 5, F = 6, G = 7, H = 8, I = 9, J = 10, K = 11, L = 12, M = 13, N = 14, O = 15, P = 16, Q = 17, R = 18, S = 19, T = 20, U = 21, V = 22, W = 23, X = 24, Y = 25, Z = 26
But then what about F?
F = 1 ?
F = 1, G = 2, H = 3, I = 4, J = 5, K = 6, L = 7, M = 8, N = 9, O = 10, P = 11, Q = 12, R = 13, S = 14, T = 15, U = 16, V = 17, W = 18, X = 19, Y = 20, Z = 21, A = 22, B = 23, C = 24, D = 25, E = 26
4
5
9
14
17
6
23
And if A = 1x4, then the first 4 numbers are 4, 5, 9, 14, which correlates to D, E, I, N
And if F = 1x3, then the last 3 numbers are 17, 6, 23, which correlates to V, K, B.
D, E, I, N, V, K B ?
Felyx’s last line is written: 5 2 6 - 7 3 4 1, which if the letters are put into that order:
V, E, K – B, I, N, D
VEK BIND…
Vek’bind! He wants us to know about Vek’bind!
“The letters and numbers correlate. So here,” she points to the paper,” he means A is equivalent to one. So the pattern would continue—B means two, and C means three, and so on. Same with this next part. But instead he shifts it so that F equals one, until you go through the alphabet consecutively and end on E. He wants you to use the A to start for the first four numbers he wrote, and the F for the last three numbers. The letters he leaves are these.” She moves her finger to the corresponding spot on the sheet. “And if you put them in order of the numbers he arranged at the end, it spells Vek’bind, the Jintüroo’s capital city!”
My heart skips a beat. Ilona’s words resonate through my head. Find Ira of the Jintüroo.
“What…then, I mean, why would he want us to know that?”
“That’s what we have to figure out.” Jensen sighs. “There’s another code on the document, but Katie hasn’t been able to get that one yet. Right?”
“Yeah.” She huffs. “It just isn’t making sense to me. I don’t think it follows the same algorithm as this first part.”
“So…” I hand the paper back to Katie, “…we go to Vek’bind. And we figure out what Felyx wanted us to know.”
“Genevieve, that isn’t—”
“Hey, guys.” Floyd opens the backyard gate, wearing a shirt with the periodic table of elements on it. “I hope I’m not too early. I brought…cookies.” He smiles, holding out a box of baked goods. “Hi, Katie.” His grin widens at her name.
He approaches her and kisses her on the cheek.
“Hey.” Her cheeks are rosy red. “I’m glad you were able to make it.”
“We finished our group project early. Where should I put these, Genevieve?” He motions to the cookies.
“Oh, they can go inside.” I point to the patio door. “Go set them down and grab something to drink.”
“Sounds good. Be back in a few.”
When he’s far enough away from us, I turn to Jensen and Katie.
“We know now that my mother isn’t dead, right?” I look to Jensen. “If the letter you told us about—that Mengurion Maldridge wrote to the Council—is true, then we know the Binding Spell locked her away in the Void King’s body. We need to find a way to get her back.”
“But we don’t even know if that’s going to help,” Jensen says. “For all we know, Felyx could be talking about something completely different.”
“Katie already made a good point that the Binding Spell seems related to the Jintüroo’s magic. It can’t be coincidence that Felyx mentioned it, too.”
“I agree with Genevieve,” Katie says. “Maybe they can tell us more about Isaac Banewind. Honestly, anything would be useful to know.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Jensen says. “But I think we should at least wait until my family comes, and we figure out what the Council is going to do to help us. Does that sound good?”
“I like that plan,” I say. “And maybe, in the meantime, you can teach me how the heck to work my powers.”
a
I love the end of summer. The weather is still warm, but by night you can tell the wind’s breeze has cooled. There is a unique smell to the air, with that humid woodsy musk giving way to the faintest hint of autumn leaves. It’s crisp and fresh, calm and stable. It brings with it an exciting horizon of opportunity, from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Years. Although signifying the summer’s end, it is, in many ways, the beginning of everything that makes the year exciting. And Labor Day marks the start of this transition.
As the party continues, soon the evening has blanketed the backyard. The music dances through the air from our outdoor stereo system, and the stringed lights hanging from the tree branches twinkle like hundreds of fireflies above the guests. Laughter and banter mix in beautiful harmony, as the food slowly disappears and the guests’ waistlines expand.
I’m sitting at our table, next to Jensen, with my head resting on his shoulder. Katie and Floyd are leaning into each other, smiling, chatting, and enjoying the tranquility that is this moment. Something I wish could last forever.
Something I’m scared will disappear.
Jensen’s cell phone rings.
“Hello?”
I watch his face, hoping to get a sense of who he may be talking to. He looks at me as he stands from his chair. His face remains expressionless.
One second, he mouths, a finger raised to signal me.
He turns away and heads towards the house.
“Who do you think that is?” Katie looks over her shoulder, at Jensen.
I shrug. “Maybe Sadie? I don’t know.”
My phone vibrates, and I see a text from Jensen.
Come out front.
“I’ll be right back,” I say to Katie and Floyd. “Does anyone need anything?”
“Nope, I’m good. Thanks, Jeannie.” Floyd is playing with Katie’s braids.
She giggles as I proceed around the house, to the front yard.
Jensen is standing on the porch. And Kingston Starmantle is sitting on the stairs next to him. The color drains from my face, as the apparition of the pit in my stomach sucks away the rest of my body’s energy.
“Hello, Genevieve.” Kingston stands, watching me approach. “Nice to see you again.”
I’m caught off-guard by his appearance. And I don’t just mean his presence. Yes, that he is here at my home is startling in itself. But what I’m more intrigued by is that he looks so…normal. He’s wearing a pair of boat shoes and bright-colored shorts, with a polo. The only thing he’s missing to complete the yuppie-boy ensemble is a sweater tied around his neck and a pair of aviator sunglasses. His shoulders are broad, but he’s slender, and his body tapers down into a V-shape at his waist. His white hair remains styled, with just a few loose strands dangling over his forehead. There’s not an ounce of armor to his name.
“Kingston came here to give you something.” Jensen eyes him suspiciously. “At least, that’s what he’s telling me.”
Kingston frowns. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing. Can I have a moment alone with Genevieve?”
“What? Are you serious? You think—”
“It’s okay, Jensen.” I touch his shoulder. “I’ll meet you in the backyard.”
He looks from Kingston to me, and sighs. “Scream if you have to.” He glares at Kingston before opening the front door.
I wait for it to close.
“Why did you kill Scythe!” I pound Kingston on the chest. “You stabbed him!” Punch. “You let him die.” Punch, punch. “You hurt him!” Punch, punch, punch.
“Hey, hey! Stop it.” He tries to grab my fists. “Genevieve, stop it.”
My breathing is rapid, hollow. I shudder and step back from him.
“He isn’t dead, remember? You brought him back. He’s fine.”
“But what if I hadn’t? What if I couldn’t?”
“But you did. And I know that doesn’t make what I did right. But Genevieve…” Kingston sighs, “…I knew he wouldn’t die. I knew you’d be able to bring him back. That was the plan all along.”
“Wha-what?”
Kingston reaches into his pocket and pulls out a folded letter.
“Here.” He hands it to me. “Read it.”
I hesitate before grabbing it from him. I recognize Scythe’s handwriting.
Genevieve,
I hope you’re doing okay. I am so sorry for everything you’re going through. I wish it were different.
Please don’t be mad at Kingston. It isn’t his fault. He did the right thing. It needed to be done.
Magister Maldridge knew the plan would work. I never told you because he had asked me not to, but Kingston was the one who gave me your mother’s note and necklace after Maldridge told him where to find them. I know this doesn’t make a lot of sense, but one day you’ll know more.
Stay safe. Don’t die.
—Scythe
“What the hell is this?” White-hot anger boils deep inside me. “Scythe gave this to you?”
“He thought it would help.”
I laugh. “Help what? Your guilty conscience for sticking a sword through his stomach? Perfect. Glad you can feel better about that.” I stare at the paper again. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t either.” Kingston reaches down to his side. “I also came to give you this.” He hands me a bubblegum-pink gift bag.
On the side of it is a logo of a white heart with bold magenta letters that say, P.J.’s, stamped in the middle of it. Below it is a lip print shimmering with tie-dyed colors, as if someone kissed the bag. Spilling over the top is purple tissue paper, embedded with glitter and sparkles.
“Happy Birthday,” Kingston says, in a gruff tone.
“It isn’t my birthday.”
“Trying to be funny.” He sighs.
I push through the tissue paper, reaching in to grab the contents. I pull out a rectangular box, its color matching that of the bag.
“It’s a portal key,” Kingston says, as I open it.
The octahedral crystal is opaque lavender, dangling from a gold keychain.
“It was made special for you. Requested by Mengurion Maldridge. It has a pre-determined, permanent location loaded onto it. But you can’t get to it yet, as the portal to wherever it goes isn’t functioning. And no, I don’t know where that is. I just told them I would make sure you got it. And here.” He hands me a photo. “The magister also wanted you to have this. The last favor I’m doing for a while.” He brushes past me and starts to walk away.
“Wait!” I turn around and grab his arm.
He pauses in mid-stance, rigid as he looks back at me. I stand there in silence, unsure of what to say, so he keeps on walking.
“Oh, one more thing,” he calls to me, from the sidewalk. “Can you send Nick home?”
“Huh?”
“You know…Nick. Your neighbor.”
“Danny’s friend?”
“Yeah. I’ve been the babysitter for the last few weeks. Surprise.”
I’m lucky I don’t break my jaw at the speed it falls open.
“You’ve been watched and protected by more people than you know, Genevieve.” He turns his back to me and continues down the sidewalk. “I told you, I’m done with favors.”
“You…were you involved in my brother being taken by the Magician?”
My heart is racing, and my nostrils flare as that seething anger boils up in my soul once more.
“It’s in the past, Genevieve. Good night.”
I shove the portal key back into the bag and swing open the front door. I slam it shut with such ferocity that the Labor Day wreath hanging on the outside clamors to the ground.
After I catch my breath, I look down at the photo Kingston gave me, and my eyes widen in disbelief. I rush outside to the table and slam the photo down in front of Jensen and Katie. They jump, startled by the sound.
“What is this?” Jensen picks up the photo.
His eyes flash with befuddlement.
“Exactly.” My voice tremors. “What is this?”
As Katie leans over to see the photo, she gasps.
“What is it?” Floyd also looks at the photo. “Who are those people?”
As the table’s candlelight flickers across the picture, I see my mother smiling back at me, a joyous look spread across her face. She wears a beautiful silver cloak, and her golden pendant hangs around her neck. She’s standing in the center of a group of people. To her right stands my uncle, Felyx Crimsley, raising a glass in a toast, his eyes creased from laughter. His arm is wrapped around a woman’s waist, squeezing her to his side. Her silver hair cascades down her face, her green lips pulled into a vibrant smile—something I’m not used to seeing on Valkryn Salharia.
And to my mother’s left, wearing a bold crimson cloak, is the Magician. His face is clean-shaven, his hair styled back, and he also holds a woman that I don’t recognize, resting her head upon his chest while raising a glass into the air.
“Wait. I recognize that one.” Floyd points to another woman kneeling on the floor next to my mother, holding out her glass. “Isn’t that your teacher?”
Sadie Hawthorne’s face smiles back at us, clinking glasses with a woman kneeling on my mother’s other side.
A breeze flows through the backyard, extinguishing the candle’s flame and the people’s faces along with it.
a
Victor DeWinter places the last of the trash bags onto the tree lawn. The recycling container and garbage can have already been pulled down to the corner of the driveway, but the remnants of the party are too much to fit into the receptacles alone. He stacks the black bags against each other, brushing the dirt from his hands as he heads back up toward the house. He pauses at the top of the driveway, leaning his backside against Genevieve’s Honda Civic.
He lets out a long sigh before reaching into his shirt pocket and pulling out a cigar. He runs the dark brown paper under his nose as he breathes in the sweet, tarry smell that has been an ongoing vice of his for decades. It’s late now, almost midnight, and Genevieve and Daniel have been in bed for a while, not a sound emerging from upstairs as he cleaned up the remainder of the kitchen and backyard.
I deserve this. He nods as he pulls out the lighter from his pants pocket. A cigar every now and then won’t kill me. Especially to celebrate the successful end to Labor Day. Cheers to the end of summer.
He cups the cigar around his hand as he sparks the lighter, rolling the cigar’s end in the ember flames. The pulsating glow brightens with each puff he takes, a stark contrast to the darkness that lines the neighborhood. The black smoke circles around him now, and he closes his eyes as he breathes deeply, lost in the moment of bliss.
Cracckkkkkkk!
The snapping noise forces Victor to open his eyes. An astonished look spreads across his face as he sees the end of his cigar snap, crackle, and fizzle. The fiery glow is snuffed out as suddenly as it had emerged, and a chill crawls down his fingertips and into his hand. His eyes grow wide as he pulls the cigar closer to him, lifting his glasses to examine the tip, which is now frozen solid and covered in ice.
“Addisyn would kill you if she saw you smoking one of those cancer sticks, you know.” Sadie Hawthorne’s voice breaks through the night’s air. “One of the rare things she was never fond of about you.”
Her heels reverberate past Victor, ricocheting between the sides of the houses. She approaches him, with her palms clasped in front of her, resting at her waist. The moonlight catches off the golden strands of her hair.
“Sarah…” Victor steps closer to her.
A forlorn smile spreads across her face. “Nobody’s used my formal name for a long time. It sounds so unfamiliar.”
“Genevieve said you were back. I never thought I’d see you again.”
“I promised Addisyn that I…that we would not continue down the path we were taking. You know as well as I do it was becoming too dangerous. We were passing boundaries we shouldn’t have approached long before that. She was my best friend, Victor. You guys had a family.” She shakes her head. “We couldn’t go on the way we were. Even after she was gone.”
Victor stands inches from her. He takes the back of his hand and brushes it down the side of her face, and stops at her chin, where he places her face between his fingers. She closes her eyes and nuzzles her head into his hand, letting his fingertips touch between her lips.
“It is so good to see you,” Victor whispers, his eyes misty behind his glasses. “It is so, so good.”
Sadie opens her eyes and pulls away, breaking the trance between them.
“Victor.” She straightens and puts her hair back behind her ear. “Victor, it is good to see you, too. But I did not come to pick up the pieces of a fractured fantasy. Believe me, if it weren’t absolutely necessary, you would still think me gone.”
“What is it?”
“Let’s go inside to talk. I think we need to sit down.”