“YOU MET ZEPHYR?!!!”
Elen pops the spoonful of her hot fudge sundae into her mouth while the other girls stare at her expectantly. Once she swallows and she has no excuse to stall without being rude, she tells them, “Yes. And she’s…” What’s a diplomatic way of saying it? “…a lot.”
“But still! You met a famous person! It must’ve been exciting! Anyone would be posting about it on MyFace.”
She sighs at Áine and scoops her ice cream again. “Just wait until you meet her. I’m not saying anything more than that.”
“What about the cards? Were they glowing?”
Elen looks at Salacia and purses her lips. “Yes.” Salacia has just as smug an expression as she’d expected. “We exchanged numbers, so it’ll be easy to get ahold of her.”
Māra swallows her sandwich and wipes the mustard from her lips. “So we can make up an excuse to get to her. Maybe tell her that we’re her fans and want to meet her?”
“Nah. That sounds exploitative.” Before she could say another word, Elen’s phone goes off. She checks it, and sees that it’s a text from Iris.
Iris
“Hello Elen. I’m sorry our conversation was cut short the other day. If you have the time tomorrow, do you think we can meet up for a coffee? Zephyr will also join us.”
Elen presses her tongue to her mouth. She can feel the desperation in the text. And Iris mentioned Zephyr as if it’d be an incentive for her to accept the invitation. Elen shuts her eyes tightly before opening them and typing back,
Elen
“I’d love to. Would it be okay if I invite my friends to meet you?”
Almost as soon as she sends it, Elen receives,
Iris
“That’s fine. Let’s meet up at the Bean There Café near the hospital at 11.”
Elen
“Sounds great. See you there.”
When the conversation ends, Elen puts the phone down and looks up. “Looks like I won’t have to call Zephyr myself. Her cousin just invited all of us and she’ll be there.”
There are squeals of excitement so loud that Elen is surprised that nobody else in the restaurant is looking at them. This is probably the first time she’s seen Áine and Māra looking like proper teenagers, the way they’re gushing over meeting Zephyr with Salacia. It’s kind of cute.
‘Let’s see how long it lasts.’
“Stop fidgeting. If you’re uncomfortable, everyone else will be too.”
Iris stills the twisting of her hexafoil ring and instead clenches her hands, allowing Zephyr to continue scrolling through her phone to look at how high she is on the charts after releasing her latest single. An impish grin spreads on her face when she sees her place is still high.
She glances over to Iris and huffs. If only she had more of a personality, she’d have more friends. ‘I guess this is the result of being in and out of the hospital for years. Can’t even ask someone out without mentioning my name. Why am I always her keeper?’
At least Elen was gracious enough to accept her invitation. And she’s even bringing her friends. There better not be boys, though. Zephyr doesn’t want to catch hell with Uncle Boris if some gadjo decided to hang out with them. Especially with their talks about Iris’ engagement.
*Ring*
Zephyr looks up to see Elen coming in with three other girls. ‘Good. No boys.’ As soon as she sees her, she licks her lips. As soon as she saw Elen, Zephyr was struck with awe at her voice and her dancing. It was so free and wild, and every inch of her body was lit with white-hot passion and desire. As if everything was screaming to take her for herself and keep her away from everyone else in the world.
The elders don’t give a damn one way or another about what she does since her brother is going to take over the clan. So she can do just about anything she wants so long as it doesn’t impact the clan’s reputation. Pursuing a gadji won’t even make them bat an eye.
‘I’ll make you mine soon enough, Elen.’
The coffee shop is quite small and intimate for being one of Gaia’s national chains. It’s not as fast-paced as some other locations Elen has been to, and instead has that almost old-time diner feel. It has a similar atmosphere to her hometown’s pub she and her family had frequented for dinner.
Elen scans the shop until her eyes land on Iris and Zephyr occupying the table next to the windows. She points over to them and they all go over. Áine and Salacia are vibrating in excitement while Māra is doing her best not to run over.
“Stay cool, guys,” she whispers to them. “Remember we have a mission to complete.” With affirming nods, they arrive at the table. “Hey. Hope you weren’t waiting too long.”
“It’s no problem,” Zephyr replies with a grin. “We just got here ourselves.”
Elen bites the inside of her lip when she sees Iris shutting her mouth like she was about to say something first. ‘Iris is the one who asked us out. Can’t you let her speak for once?’ She takes a half-second to rein in her emotions, and instead introduces, “This is Salacia Jordan Sonnen, Áine Freesia Daher, and Māra Ailbe Dzib.”
They each wave before taking their seats, Elen opting to take the one next to Iris. Zephyr taps the middle of the table to summon the screen so they can put in their orders, and they each tap on what they want as it turns around. Iris doesn’t order anything, but Elen sees that there’s already food under her name. Did Zephyr put it in for her?
“I can’t believe we’re meeting the Zephyr!” Salacia nearly howls. “You have no idea how many of my skating routines I’ve done to your songs.”
“I like to listen to you when I bake.”
“And you’ve inspired a few of my drawings.”
Zephy preens like a peacock under everyone’s attention. ‘Yup. Just like Kathy.’ It’s not long after that a very frazzled barista comes over with several drinks and plates of food and sets them down in front of them. Now sufficiently quiet, Elen sips at her smoothie while wishing it were a nice cappuccino. But, no. Doctor Blake said that she should abstain from caffeine until she gets her sleep schedule in order.
“Uh… Um…” Elen looks over to Iris who is swirling the ice in her water. “What’s your school like?”
Elen doesn’t think too much before answering, “It’s pretty cool. I get to focus on my singing and dancing, and the students and teachers are decent. Well, except for Jessie. But she’ll be out of my hair at least for a while when we get our grades back this Friday. What about you? What school do you go to?”
“I don’t.” At Elen’s raised eyebrow, Iris elaborates, “My father doesn’t want me to go, so I’m homeschooled. Just as well. I’m alway staying at the hospital for treatments. I got leukemia as a child and it metastasized to my spinal cord, so I had to have surgery. I’m in remission, but I’m getting experimental treatments to get me to walk again.”
“I’m sorry you’re going through that.” Iris smiles, and Elen is taken aback by how genuine it is. “So what’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get better?”
Her smile widens and her eyes sparkle. “I want to enroll in flight school to become a pilot. I’m going to save money so I can buy my own plane and travel all around the world. Then I’ll write about my adventures for everyone to read.”
Elen’s heart beats quicker and warmth as gentle and strong as the autumn winds courses through her body. She has every confidence that Iris will make it happen. “What a wonderful dream. I hope it comes true.”
“Hey! Did you reconsider my offer?”
Zephyr, that manic glint once again in her eyes, leans over Iris who simply deflates in her seat. From one look at everyone else, Elen sees them squirming in their seats and looking in any direction but to them. Having focused more on Iris, she can only assume that Zephyr had said something very untoward to them.
‘Don’t let your emotions show, Magdelene. Don’t let your emotions show.’ She clears her throat. “I really am flattered that you think I’m good enough, but that’s not for me.”
The look in Zephyr’s eyes change in an instant to something that causes a chill to go down Elen’s spine. In a flash, she sees violet eyes and the air freezes in her lungs. She doesn’t realize she’d squeezed her smoothie cup so hard until it spills onto her hand. The cold brings her around and Elen quickly wipes her hand, cup, and table. When she looks back up, she sees only Zephyr again and her heart starts to calm.
Elen feels a soft kick under the table and looks to Māra. She’s leaning on the table, her hand covering her face so it’s hidden from Zephyr. Her eyes flick between her and Zephyr, clearly indicating what needs to be done.
With a deep breath and shaking hands, Elen opens her purse to take out the glowing cards. She stops for a moment. Is this the right thing? Zephyr is one of the most unpleasant people she’s met outside of her hometown. Almost as unpleasant as the cops who’d arrested her. And something tells her that there’s something wrong.
‘But if we want to get rid of these demons as soon as possible, we’re going to need the fifth Apostle.’ With her heart stuck like a bur in her throat, Elen places the cards on the table. “We’re not just here to hang out. Do you know about those cosplayers that have been in the news lately?”
Zephyr, now with a more normal expression and fully in her seat, cocks her head. “Yeah, I have. Why do you bring them up?”
Elen looks around the café to see the barista had gone to the back, then glances at Iris who is staring at the cards. One, the triple moon with a yellow gem, and the other of an octahedron on a windy background. Both are glowing even brighter now.
“They’re actually known as the Apostles. Warriors sent by the gods in order to fight some evil that’s threatening this world. And…” Elen breathes in, “Māra, Áine, Salacia and I are actually them.”
“SO THOSE WEREN’T PUBLICITY STUN—Hmph!!!”
Áine growls, “No, now be quiet.”
Zephyr does, probably more because Áine is looking at her in that “mom way” that reminds Māra of Itzel.
When Áine takes her hands off of Zephyr’s mouth, sits down, and confirms that the barista is still in the back, Elen continues, “We’re doing our best in battle and have beaten back those beasts that have been attacking. But we’re also looking for our fifth member. We believe that that person is you, Zephyr.”
Elen pushes the cards closer to Zephyr. She stares at them with a stupefied look, then breaks out in a cheshire cat grin. “You’re asking me to join you?” There are nods all around the table. “Well… I’m flattered but I don’t think it’s for me.”
‘This bitch…’ Elen breathes in. Breathes out. “This, unfortunately, is not something we can ignore. It’s not a matter of pawning it off to someone else and hoping for the best. We’re the only ones who can fight these things.”
“That’s right!” Salacia chirps as she raises a hand, “It’s our destiny to battle this evil!”
“After all,” Áine continues, “we started this in our past life. We need to finish this once and for all.”
Māra nods, and Elen glances at Iris. She hasn’t said a single word. Doesn’t look like she has any kind of opinion on the matter. All Iris is doing is staring at the cards with a far-off look.
“Those look like ordinary cards to me.”
Those words bring Elen back to the conversation. The cards themselves are still glowing. In fact, they’re brighter now than before she’d taken them out. The others had also seen their cards glowing, and she can also see their Marks shining from under their shirts. Elen glances to Zephyr’s chest, and sees that there’s no glow at all.
“Could you please touch the cards?” As soon as Zephyr does, there’s a crackle of electricity that throws her back into her seat. Her hand is smoking and there are burns Elen immediately stands to heal. ‘The cards rejected her? But then why are the cards and our Marks…?’
*SHING*
The flash of light turns everyone’s attention to Iris. She’s touching the cards with no problems. When she takes the card in her hand, it morphs into the Brooch that lands in the palm of her hand. From below her shirt, Elen sees that there's a light in the shape of a triangle with a line through the top point.
‘The symbol for air.’
With a flapping mouth, Māra whispers, “But… Isn’t ‘Iris’ a flower? Not a goddess?”
Iris’ face grows red, but she clenches her hands and refuses to lower her head. “Actually, ‘Iris’ is a Greek messenger goddess. She was known to be so fast, she could fly from Olympus to the ocean, the underworld, and back at the speed of the wind, and is also the goddess of rainbows. She’s… not as well-known as Hermes, so not a lot of people realize it.”
Everyone’s faces instantly light up. They really have found the final Apostle!
The only one not thrilled is Zephyr, who’s frantically glancing between Iris and Elen. “W-wait! Iris can’t fight! I mean, she’s paralyzed! She can barely push the wheelchair around herself.” She reaches over to grab at the Brooch. “Why don’t I take it? I’ll be the one to help you guys.”
Elen has to clench her teeth to stop herself from saying anything. ‘How could anyone say such things and think they’re being helpful?’ The Brooch responds in the same manner, and Zephyr flinches away with another burn. “This isn’t your decision to make,” Elen tells her with all the authority she can muster. “This is Iris’.”
When was the last time someone told Iris that she had a say in anything? It must’ve been when she’d agreed to do the treatments to get her legs functioning again all those years ago. And that was also because she was somewhat coaxed into it.
Her health. Her schooling. Even her marriage and where and with whom she spends her time are dictated by other people. It took all of her courage to even tell her parents about Elen and how she wanted to hang out with her. It was a minor miracle that they gave her permission.
That feeling Iris had when she’d heard Elen sing for the first time was both foreign and familiar. It was so… freeing. She had the urge to stand on her own two feet and join her in that dance like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“This isn’t your decision to make. This is Iris'.”
‘She says that like it’s so obvious.’
Iris clenches the Brooch in her hands, the points of the waning and waxing moons digging into her palm. This is her decision. Not anyone else’s. This is about what she wants and not about anyone else’s expectations. There are so many, many things she wants to say. Wants to express, but she can’t find the words for it.
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