I had a lot of those.
I rummaged through my vanity drawer, looking for the final touch. If Uncle Jonah had taught me one thing, there was never enough glitter. I dusted a tiny bottle of it over my arms and cheeks before I posed in the mirror.
I looked so hot. Looks were everything. People judged with their eyes. I loved makeup, because there was nothing you couldn't hide with it.
Ezekiel was messing around with his guitar when I came downstairs. "Finally."
He put his guitar aside. Alana gave a wave as we headed out. We'd asked her to come with us, but she was an introvert and liked her alone time.
We took the motorboat into town. I watched as dolphins and whales swam between hippocampi— half-horse, half-mermaid creatures. Their scales sparkled in the water, making me wish to reach out and brush my fingers over their spiny manes. Everything about my world was magical, and I savored each moment of it.
We docked the boat before walking up the winding path to Kinpago. As we entered the city, another invigorating sense of home struck me. I watched from the streets as dragons flew overhead, twirling with griffins and birds with rainbow feathers that were bigger than buildings. The streets were packed with Elementai walking side by side with direwolves, basilisks and three-headed animals like chimeras.
The perytons were always my favorite. The winged deer had such spirits as they bounded through the streets, bobbing their antlered heads.
The Elementai had the most important job in the world— protecting and defending magical creatures. We were their caretakers as designated by the ancestors themselves, and the creatures depended on us for survival. Every magical creature imaginable that existed in the world had a species based here in Kinpago. More often than not, we were the only thing that prevented them from going extinct. As a result, many of them became our Familiars.
A Familiar was an Elementai's soul, the part of their spirit that existed outside of their body. Every Elementai was bonded to one, and you usually met them sometime after you got your powers. Elementai couldn't live without their Familiars, as they were the source of our magic, our life energy. If you died, so did they.
I hadn't gotten my Familiar yet. I'd desperately looked for one the first day I could cast my element, but I hadn't found them. Somewhere, I knew my soul was out there waiting for me, and the longing to join the pieces of myself together was almost like an obsession. What would they be, and what would my Familiar mean to me?
There were so many colors in Kinpago. Streamers hung from buildings, and Hawkei music played as people danced in the streets beneath the skyscrapers and shops. I smelled fry bread, cinnamon, and freshly baked pizza. Vendors on the street sold beads for making jewelry, white sage and woven baskets.
I wanted to stop and look— shopping was my favorite activity— but Ezekiel pulled me along in the direction of my grandfather's house. He knew once I went on a shopping spree, I wouldn't stop until I was flat broke.
In the distance, I saw the spires of a white castle rise into the clouds, and my heart thudded with just a little bit of magic.
Ezekiel nudged me knowingly. "Are you ready? Just a few more days now."
Excitement welled in my chest. I couldn't wait to attend Orenda Academy of Magical Creatures. I'd heard so many stories from my parents about how amazing it was when I was growing up. I wanted to have those incredible experiences, too.
"I'm glad I'm going with you," I told Ez. I'd taken a year off after graduating from high school and postponed my enrollment because... well, Monica.
And something else I didn't want to think about.
But now I was ready. I was sure of it. And Ez would be there, right alongside me in the same grade. I could handle it.
Ezekiel came to an abrupt halt. I nearly slammed into him, but held myself back at the last minute.
An annoying laugh caused a twinge of irritation to pass me by. I saw the bleached blonde mane of hair before anything else. Ezekiel's mouth became thin, though I felt the hints of desperation oozing out from him.
I grabbed Ezekiel's arm and steered him in a different direction. "Just ignore her. She's not worth it."
His eyes remained glued to the back of blondie's head. I took another glance back. When I saw who she was talking to, my mouth ran dry.
I really didn't like Rosary, but it was the sight of the person beside her that churned my gut. I took a short look before I set my eyes forward. The small movement was just enough to make a smirk cross John's face.
Fuck him. I hated him.
I forced my hand not to shake on Ezekiel's arm, and we took a different path. Even when we were well out of John's sight, I still felt sick to my stomach.
I wouldn't acknowledge it. I'd forgotten. That was that.
Ezekiel hadn't noticed my momentary panic. He was still miserable. "Do you think there's a chance she'll take me back?"
I focused on the conversation with Ezekiel, to redirect my nauseated feelings. "You've gotta let her go, Ez. She's no good for you."
"I know." His shoulders slumped. "Just wish things would've turned out different."
Rosary had completely broken my brother's heart. He'd never been the same after she dumped him.
Good riddance. I thought of wrapping my hands around her neck and squeezing, and a smile crossed my face. "She was abusive. You can do so much better."
Rosary had hit my brother once. I'd made sure she'd never do it again. The burns were so bad she still had a scar on her arm. Nobody fucked with my little brother.
"I'm sure things would've worked out." He dropped his head. "If the baby would've survived."
Okay, Ezekiel was a goody-goody until it came to one thing— girls. He thought with what was in his pants instead of in his head. I guess the condom broke one time. Not gonna lie, it was kind of nice when Daddy and Mama found out. They'd grilled Ezekiel's ass instead of mine, for once. He and Rosary were set to become teen parents— until Rosary had lost the pregnancy last year, and dumped him right off the bat.
My brother had taken the miscarriage harder than Rosary had. Ez had such a sweet heart— he'd cried for days. My whole family had just managed to bring him out of it. And as much as I despised her, I felt sorry for Rosary. No one should lose a baby, but the way she'd treated Ez after the fact was just plain cruel.
I felt the tension in the air alter as Ezekiel changed the subject. "Maybe you should try talking to Johnny again. I know you guys had a falling out after Monica died, but you two were really close. It's sad you don't talk anymore."
A pit in my stomach opened up and devoured me. He wasn't Johnny anymore. He was John. And Ezekiel didn't know what happened between us. Nobody did.
Thoughts came rushing back. I tried so hard to push them out of my head, but they kept coming, pouring over me like an endless waterfall. I literally felt the color from my face drain. I let go of Ezekiel's arm, so he could no longer feel my hands quiver.
"Ava, are you okay?" Ezekiel noticed my pale expression. "Did you take your pills this morning?"
"I always take my pills." Not that they helped. I was still three fries short of a Happy Meal.
Ezekiel watched me carefully. "Are you sure you'll make it to Grandpa's? Maybe you should go back home."
"You're probably right. I'm not feeling great," I mumbled. I reached into my purse and gave him the idol. "Take this to Grandpa's. I'll meet you later."