It was exceptionally rare— nearly unheard of— for an Elementai to have the ability to cast more than one element. Most could only cast the element of the House they were born into. Sure, there were exceptions, like my mother, who could use both Fire and Spirit magic.
But there'd never, in the history of all the Hawkei, been an elemental who could use both Fire and Water. The elements were total opposites. And I didn't want to be the first anything.
I picked up the idol and shoved it into my bag. "Come on. Let's go."
"Ava!"
Ezekiel protested all the way behind me— even as he struggled to climb the wall that led back out of the cave. When we burst out into the sunlight, he grabbed my shoulders to stop me.
"This isn't something we can hide," he said. "Nor should you."
Ezekiel was stubborn. He wouldn't give up.
"Let's just drop the idol off at Grandpa's," I said with a sigh. "Then we'll talk about it."
Or like, never.
Ezekiel's shoulders sagged. "Okay. We can stop by on the way home."
"Like hell! I need makeup." I could deal with jeans just fine if I was running around in a cave, but any other time of day, I wanted a dress on. Crawling in the mud was no excuse for not looking fabulous— and I was not walking through town with my hair like this.
"Ugh. Fine. I guess I'm hungry, anyway."
"You're always hungry."
The hippogriff herd had returned by this time. They were grazing in the valley beyond. The lead mare lifted her head as I walked toward her. I pulled myself onto her back, and Ezekiel climbed onto the same tawny stallion he'd fallen off of earlier. I nudged my heels into her sides, and the hippogriff spread her wings, taking off into the air.
There was nothing like feeling the wind on your face while you were flying on a hippogriff. I looked down, and as the valley shrank beneath me, I turned my gaze toward the city beyond.
Kinpago was my home, and always would be. I admired the beautiful skyline as the hippogriff tilted in the air, directing us toward an island that sat surrounded by the crystal clear ocean.
The two hippogriffs landed on the sandy beach of the island. Ezekiel and I fed them treats before bidding farewell and walking up the brick pathway to the grand stone mansion beyond.
I loved our house. It was open-concept, decorated in white and blue tones with a crystal chandelier hanging in the main entrance. The kitchen connected to the living room, and the porch doors were open, letting in the breeze from the beach. Some would say it was too big, but I had such a large family, it always felt warm and welcoming to me.
My younger sister sat on the couch, reading, like usual. Her red mane of hair fanned out behind her on the pillows. She looked up as we entered.
"Where've you guys been?" Alana asked. She was only fourteen, but she was fucking sharp— nothing got past her. She got off the couch and threw her book aside as Ezekiel began rummaging through the cupboards to make a sandwich.
I took the idol out of my bag and set it on the counter. "Getting this."
"No way. You found it?" Alana's eyes widened as she took in the statue.
"Yeah. It only took vanquishing an evil spirit out of the statue," Ezekiel said with a mouth full of food.
"Really? How'd you do that?" Alana asked.
I glared at Ezekiel, and he shut up as Alana inspected the idol.
I could hear swear words coming from the garage. I poked my head in.
My eleven-year-old brother, Maverick, was sprawled on the floor, surrounded by tools as he messed around with an old motorbike. The bike was an antique. It had been my grandfather's, passed down to my dad, then passed down to me. I took it to the mainland sometimes to ride it around. Maverick was itching to be old enough to drive it. I'd told him he could tinker with it. He was good with mechanical things. His brown hair was matted with oil as he tightened loose bolts.
"You got it, Mav?" I asked.
Maverick threw a wrench down. "Stupid chains are busted."
"Well, if you need help, ask."
Ez and I took after our dad— Alana and Maverick our mom. Ezekiel and I had tan brown skin, while Alana and Maverick's was lighter. Ez and I looked native, and the other two didn’t— even though we had the same Hawkei blood running through our veins.
I returned to the kitchen. "Where are Mom and Dad?" Ezekiel asked Alana before he chugged a glass of milk.
"Dad's at the office," Alana said. "I guess Mom went with him for some reason."
Thank the ancestors that Mama and Daddy weren't home. Ezekiel had a big mouth.
"If they're both there, it must be important," Ezekiel said.
Alana shrugged. "Maybe."
Daddy was the chief of Toaqua, and responsible for everyone in the Water tribe. Mama was on the Koigni Elder Council, working alongside him to maintain peace amongst the Houses. During the Elementai Civil War twenty years ago, there'd been a prophecy about my mother and how she would save the tribe. I'd only been a baby then, but according to my parents, it'd been a terrible time of war and suffering amongst the Houses. As the chosen one, my mother had led the tribe into a new age of peace— but not without a lot of sacrifice.
Because I was her firstborn, I was expected to live up to her incredible story. And I'd thoroughly disappointed everyone.
As if being the daughter of the Water chief wasn't enough publicity. My parents were tribal heroes. Me being able to cast magic from two different Houses would cause more undue attention to our family.
Like I hadn't done that enough already.
While Ezekiel ate, I ran upstairs. I showered, dried and curled my hair before flinging open my closet door— which was packed to the brim with poofy dresses, bedazzled jean jackets, and six-inch pumps.
I stood at the door and tapped a finger against my chin. What was I in the mood for today?
I had this fabulous pink tulle skirt I'd sewn myself that fell around my knees, with a cut-off cream shirt. They'd go perfect with a white pair of heels. I slipped them on, then sat at my vanity and began applying primer and foundation before working on contouring my cheekbones. I tossed lipsticks and eyeliner around my messy room carelessly, looking for the right one.
I was nothing more than thinly organized chaos. Everything in my room was pink— I loved pink— though you could barely tell under the piles of clothes I had lying around. My bedroom had a theme; unicorns. I had a unicorn bedspread, unicorn posters, and unicorn lamps.
I collected unicorns. I was fricking obsessed with them. I even wanted a unicorn tattoo one day. It was all so pink and girly, and it made me feel fabulous. Anyone who thought my room looked like a five-year-old's could suck a dick, because I liked it, and that's what mattered.
I had a wardrobe full of makeup products. I didn't need them as much anymore... not since I quit my beauty vlog, but it felt like a sin to throw them out.
Mama and Daddy wanted me to pick it back up again. But I hadn't made a video since Monica died. It felt like a betrayal to make one without her.
Thinking of Monica always made a pang run through my chest. I threaded my fingers over the bracelet she'd woven me, which I never took off. Red and green, for Koigni and Nivita.
It was the last piece I had left of her. Sometimes, I still heard her laugh echoing through the house. The memory of her smile got me through my bad days.