The Beginning: A Natura Elementals Novella Duology Read online

  No, this wasn’t about trimming the shrubs or picking up the pinecones littering the front yard.

  Something wasn’t right.

  Something wasn’t right…at all.

  Aleron settled into one of the two chairs angled toward the fireplace, his mother taking the other. His dad gave a quick nod, and the candles on the mantel lit. Aleron studied his favorite room in the house. Hardwood floors. Large windows. Books on every wall. He’d always admired how a man who hadn’t finished high school had the library of an English lit professor in an otherwise nondescript, ranch-style home.

  His dad walked over to a cabinet beneath a bay of books and took out a bottle of Vicomte single malt. Aleron frowned as he watched the whisky pass his father’s usual modest pour.

  “Ada?” his father asked, nodding toward his drink.

  “No, thank you,” his mom replied, sitting back in the chair and clasping her hands at her stomach.

  “What’s wrong?” He noted the chill in the air, his mother’s Air element dominating the room.

  Glass in hand, his father didn’t turn. His head dropped back, and his sigh killed the quiet.

  “I don’t discuss my role in Elite One for a reason.” His dad faced the bookshelf then turned to Aleron. “I want a different life for you and your brothers.”

  Right. Tulane, then join the family demolition business, helping his uncle and cousins.

  “No worries. I hadn’t planned on joining.”

  His dad huffed a laugh. “You don’t decide to join Elite One. Your service is requested, and you don’t say no.” He slammed back a good portion of the drink. “Son, Seanair has slated you as my replacement.”

  Seanair, aka Alisdair Lennox. Leader of the North American Naturas and the global Fire Magnus. Aleron’s dad had always worked for Elite One, though he’d never discussed his responsibilities.

  Aleron looked to his mom, who didn’t speak but firmed her mouth.

  “I met the man at my power reveal party.” Aleron thought back to that magical night. The only weird part had been shaking Seanair’s hand. The old dude had come off as a wealthy, buttoned-up grandpa, but Aleron’s fingers had tingled after that handshake. The guy was stronger than he looked, and it had felt like he hadn’t let go. “He congratulated me but didn’t say anything about working for him.”

  By the next morning, the creepy, mitten-like grasp on his hand had faded.

  “You were chosen the day of your birth, honey,” his mother said. “As Alphas, we have responsibilities other Naturas don’t. Our futures are somewhat…decided, although we’d hoped change would have come by now and your path would be different.”

  Wait. What? No one was choosing his future. No fuckin’ way.

  “My plans are set. I’m going to college, getting my degree, and I’ll start working with Uncle Maddox. Once I have a steady income, I’m going to ask Caitlin to marry me.” He looked at his dad. “I don’t even know what you do for Seanair.”

  His dad took a seat on the ottoman in front of his mom’s chair. “Seanair’s territory encompasses all of North America, which is why I’m gone so often. Unfortunately, Naturas regularly disagree over territory and inherited responsibilities.” His stare shifted to the floor. “No one’s content with what they have. They all want more. I settle disputes between the families.”

  “Like Judge Judy?” He looked between his parents, and his joke died at their flat expressions.

  His gut turned as his dad threw back the rest of the Vicomte. He thought about his father’s work and their family’s situation, something he’d taken for granted, like most kids. His mom spent all her time chasing after four boys. He knew she was kinda badass in the Natura department, but it seemed all she did was chauffer kids, wash clothes, and cook a mountain of food—which sounded…awful.

  Neither of them complained, which he’d never thought about until now, when he sensed his mom’s power combining with his dad’s. His stomach tightened because—holy afterburners—her energy was freakin’ fierce.

  His dad shifted in his chair. “I try to solve problems through mediation, although the approach doesn’t always work.” His stare strayed from Aleron to the fireplace. “I also eliminate threats to Seanair.”

  Eliminate? His favorite action-movie heroes sprang to mind. Brutal dudes who took no shit but dealt it flat out. He took in his dad’s broad shoulders and big-mitt hands. On looks and height alone, Bill Foussé ranked somewhere between watch out and holy shit. Though the even keel of his voice and his diplomatic smile made him more of a moderator type than a mobster.

  “Are you like a Natura cop or something?” Aleron hedged, not liking the path this conversation was taking.

  Outside their one meeting, he didn’t know Seanair, but he’d heard rumors. The man ran the North American continent like he was a crime boss, with the Lennox family’s reputation being like The Godfather’s Corleones but for Naturas. Still, his dad was no supernatural gangster, so Aleron had chalked up the wilder tales to his friends trying to front.

  “I’m something.” His father subtly shook his head.

  His insides twisted. Something was bad, bad, bad. “I’ll help you. Whatever you need. Just tell me.”

  His dad held his gaze, then blew out an I-don’t-want-to-do-this sigh.

  “Something’s come up that I have to handle quickly.” He rested his forearms on his thighs. “First, I need to explain what I do for Seanair.”

  Sensing the situation’s urgency, Aleron mirrored the position. As the heat from the fireplace pushed through his clothes, something settled inside him. He wouldn’t have power for a while, but even now, flames, heat, and static electricity soothed him.

  His mom slid toward the edge of the chair and stroked a hand over his dad’s back.

  “I can sense the Fire forming in you, son,” he said, staring into the bottom of his glass. “You’ll be even stronger than me, which guarantees Seanair will demand your service.”

  Stronger than his dad? Hell yeah, he’d be a towering fucking inferno, but he didn’t want to be part of some Elite whatever.

  “Do I have to agree?” His whole future kicked off next weekend. Virginity lost. Cait’s love won. Forever.

  “If we can’t fix the problem, yes.” His mom got up and went to the big desk dominating the room.

  “What if I just say no?” He eyed his mom as she retook her seat and placed an intricately carved wooden box in her lap.

  His father put his empty glass on the floor beside the chair and took his mom’s hand.

  “You’ve studied the basics of what we are, but there’s a lot I haven’t told you about how Naturas operate, mainly because your advanced Fire classes will focus on the details.” His dad gave his mom a pained smile.

  “Seanair’s…problematic,” his mother began. “He’s highly effective as a continent president, but not as the Fire Magnus. Long story short, each of the four elements has an ancient cuff that, on the right person, allows our elements to perform as they should. Unfortunately, in recent years, families addicted to the added power provided by the cuffs have failed to pass them on to the proper successors. All four cuffs aren’t where they should be, making it extremely difficult for us to do what we do. Even worse, humans are destroying the environment faster than we can fix it. If your dad can convince Seanair to relinquish his cuff to an emissary, then the search can begin for the rightful bearer.”

  “Seanair will listen to reason, and he knows the strength of the Fire element isn’t what it needs to be. Once the cuff’s removed from the wrong person, the signs of the true guardian reveal themselves. We must fix Fire. It’s our duty,” his dad said, a bit of fight back in his tone.

  The memory came of the handshake on his twelfth birthday. The cuff had peeked from beneath Seanair’s sleeve almost in greeting, the metal a battered gold that gave off an eerie heat and sort of…glowed. Like it held light and fire and life.

  Aleron’s imagination went wild and burned bright. Savior of Fire. He could
already feel the flames of fame’s sweet burn.

  “What do you want me to do?” He eyed his mom’s protective grip on the box. He’d never seen his parents this serious, this concerned, but they needn’t worry. He met his dad’s darkened gaze. “Whatever you need, Dad. Just ask.”

  “Two days from now is Winter’s Hail. Seanair will observe the day alone, as bringing guards sends the message that the Goddess won’t protect him. It’s the one time he won’t be surrounded by Natura security personnel, so I plan to be there. I’m going to ask him to appoint an emissary for the Fire cuff.” The brown in his dad’s gaze turned do-or-die hard. “I need your help getting through the energy fence that’ll surround the chapel.”

  “Okay.” His one-word reply came out like he was some pea-brained dolt. Still, he’d never heard of a Natura electric fence or whatever the thing was.

  Aleron let his head hang and thought through what he’d learned. To date, his training had consisted of the sunny Natura 101: We’re the earth’s stewards, and so on. Intermediate level had been Fire occupations, how to create, wield, and corral heat, and how to use Air energy. No mention of messed-up elements or cuffs on the wrong people or how to bust through energy barriers.

  “You’ll be protected,” his mother declared. “Since you’re pre-powered, Seanair won’t be able to sense your presence.” She opened the lid. “Your father and I cannot touch this relic, but as a pre-powered, you can adhere it to the door of the chapel. The shield will project a counter-energy and create a hole in Seanair’s protective fence.”

  “What is that thing?” Aleron couldn’t take his gaze off the three-ringed disk—the outer ring copper, the middle silver, and the inner one gold.

  “It’s basically a power vacuum.” His mother slid the box toward her knees, keeping hold but putting it the farthest possible distance from her body. “When adhered to a flat surface, the three rings will project straight out and suck up any Natura energy in their paths, creating an energy void. Your father will be able to enter the opened space undetected. Surprise is needed, as Seanair won’t want to have this discussion, but it must happen. It’s time.”

  “But won’t the fence eat his power?” Aleron asked, thinking the thing’s capability was a cross between a mini Roomba and an old-school movie projector.

  His mother slipped a ring from her right hand, the cool one he’d never seen her remove—a black band studded with square sapphires and diamonds.

  “This ring has been in my family for five hundred years. It acts as a power capsule. When we used to be less careful with our powers, humans would capture and put us in their jails. If sentenced to die, a Natura could transfer their power into the ring so another could absorb the energy. It’s how Alpha-level Naturas came to be. Only the pre-powered can wear one and keep the element markers undetected, as their mantle’s still immature enough that the energy won’t seek to escape the ring. If you already had your Alpha Fire, you wouldn’t be able to help, as your father’s energy would bind to yours, making you—”

  “Off-the-charts powerful.” He butted in before he thought better. “Sorry, I just…I just can’t believe you’ve asked for my help. I’m honored.” A thought speared his I’m-fucking-awesome excitement. His dad was going to meet Seanair…defenseless? “Dad can’t go without his powers and ask Seanair to give up his cuff.”

  Whether the speculation about Seanair was rumor or truth, human history had shown that asking a leader to give up power didn’t end well.

  “There’s no risk of violence.” His dad punctuated his reassuring tone with a smile. “Any show of aggression in a holy place or in the presence of the Goddess is an abomination. I’ve known Seanair forty years. If I come to him without my mantle, he’ll know I mean no threat and my intention’s pure. We have to fix our element, and Seanair’s the right leader to take a stand. But he has to give up the cuff.”

  “Are you sure about this?” Aleron’s voice went high like some insecure preteen’s.

  Way to be supportive, a-hole.

  His dad clapped a hand on Aleron’s knee. “Don’t worry. I’ll take back my power once the meeting’s over. All I need you to do is place the relic on the chapel door and keep my energy source tied around your neck. As a future Alpha Fire, you’re the only one who can power-sit my energy. As a Dual, Emeric can’t do it.” His dad cocked a brow. “We don’t know what the twins are yet, but I don’t even trust them with flashlights. You’re responsible. You can handle this.”

  Something steeled inside him at the conviction in his father’s words. The man was… Goddess, love was a feeling, a weight, this warm anchor in his chest. Still, there was an edge to his dad’s tone, something he wasn’t saying.

  “Will I feel the energy?” Uncertainty skittered over his skin like frightened ants. Carrying around someone else’s energy couldn’t be problem-free.

  “No, son. There’s no cost to you. I’ll have to recoup a bit afterward, but I’ve got a great nurse who’ll take extra-special care of me.” His dad wagged his brows at his mom.

  Goddess, there they went again, gazing at each other like Aleron wasn’t in the room.

  Fine. He could place the Roomba relic, bust open Seanair’s Natura electric fence, and babysit his dad’s Alpha-level Fire energy. No problem. But it’d be nice to have a little background other than the Natura basics.

  “Why haven’t pre-powered Naturas been told what’s really happening with the cuffs?” He thought of his classes and Emeric’s training manuals.

  “There’s enough to learn about the power itself without worrying about politics,” his mom said, one hand holding his father’s, the other reaching for Aleron. “Seanair wields tremendous influence and keeps the peace in North America, but he owes much of his success to the way your father runs things.”

  “When dad’s not working with Uncle Maddox,” he said, recalling his dad’s recaps of numerous demolition projects during their Sunday dinners.

  The Foussés had run Bedrock Blasting Corp. for nearly a century and did jobs all over the country. Strategically setting explosive materials to destroy something in a progressive collapse was one of the coolest Fire occupations. Well, the combustion engine and racing-circuit families might be on par, too, but there was something beautiful about using controlled charges to level human-made things, especially ugly-ass strip malls.

  His dad let go of his mom’s hand. “I don’t work with Uncle Maddox. That’s a story your mother and I agreed to so you wouldn’t have to lie to your friends.”

  Aleron let the words sit, shift, and settle in his mind. His dad and his mom had…lied. Not just omitted stuff about Natura politics and Elite One, but actually flat-out lied.

  “How long have you worked for Elite One?” he asked, shock and hurt knifing at his insides.

  “I’ve run the group since I was twenty-six,” his dad replied, turning his face toward the fire.

  The flames hissed and popped. A cool blanket of air draped across Aleron’s shoulders.

  He did the math, subtracting the time served from his dad’s age. He didn’t know what to say, what to feel. His dad had been in Elite One well before Aleron had been born.

  “Where’d you meet Seanair? We’re not the same status,” he asked, noting the Foussés were chicken-fried steak to the Lennoxes’ caviar.

  “Boarding school. Both your grandfather and his father ran Elite One. There are three Alpha-level Fire families in North America. The Lennoxes, another on the East Coast, and us. Foussés have always been the muscle.”

  Humans were easy enough to fool, and the Lennoxes were incredibly powerful. Very few Naturas even spoke of the Lennox family, and the rumors his friends offered were whispered and hardly believable.

  “But why you?”

  “There are disagreements among the families on how to handle certain issues. Unlike other continents, North America was mostly peaceful until the last hundred years. With the onset of the humans’ Industrial Age, our people began to change.”

  Se
riously? His dad just punted the question?

  He turned to his mom. “Why is he not giving me a straight answer?”

  He didn’t want to talk back to his dad or disrespect his parents, but this we’re-the-muscle thing didn’t make sense.

  “Sweetheart, what we are, what we do, is complicated,” his mom replied, her usually sharp blue eyes dulled. “Seanair wasn’t planning to celebrate Winter’s Hail, but he changed his mind. For the foreseeable future, this is our one shot at making things right. We didn’t want to bring you into this, but unlike human parents, we don’t have the luxury of shielding our children from real life once they become adults. Seanair needs to relinquish the Fire cuff, and your father’s the only person likely to get his agreement.”

  “For the plan to work,” his dad continued, “I need to catch him off guard and involve as few people as possible. Keeping the mission in the family is my best hope for being successful, and things need to be business as usual around here. I’ve known Seanair a long time, but he watches everyone, even his most trusted friends. Your mother has volunteered to be a chaperone on the twins’ class trip to Six Flags next week, and Em’s going to spend the weekend with your cousins. To celebrate your progression to advanced-level training, you and I are supposedly going to the Caves to learn about incineration.”

  “Can we go there after the mission?” Aleron asked, his stomach a tangled mass of knots and hell-yeah hope.

  The Caves were like human hell unleashed, but the ultimate X Games for Fire elements. Just a nonstop, VIP throwdown of all things flame. Every pre-powered and powered alike dreamed of getting an invite.

  “I’ll take you. I promise. You need to get to know other Fire families.” His dad looked to the carpet and back. “Naturas have changed. We were once a utopian people focused on service to the planet with everyone willing to do their part. Now, many are power hungry. The only way Betas and the lower levels can rise is by taking down the powerful.” His dad cleared his throat. “Seanair rules with an iron fist. If he didn’t, you’d see more hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters as element families work to overthrow one another. Humans wouldn’t last long either. Many Naturas hate them for what they’re doing to the planet and would love nothing more than to see them go the way of dinosaurs.”