Part 18 (1/2)

Wow, I said. So much information!

Yes, said Sip. Were going to have trouble sorting through all of it.

Cant we use magic? I asked, wondering if there was a spell to search for my fathers name, or my mothers.

I already tried searching your mothers name, said Sip worriedly. Even that was a risk, because the spell leaves a residue, and if anyone looked they would know what I had done. Bad, because thats not what Im supposed to be doing here.

I nodded. Thanks for trying. And we dont know my dads name, presuming my mom kept her maiden name and didnt take his.

Exactly, said Sip, sighing. Theres nothing to search. I wish your mom had given us something; anything at all would help. Without his name its going to be difficult.

I just wish I could get her box open, I said. I have a feeling theres stuff in there that would help.

Until then, said Sip, lets start looking.

We spent the night searching. I started by checking all the volumes marked e. There was a ton of information on elementals, but it was mostly property records, birth records - again unhelpful without my fathers name - and spell records. We did find one interesting item, though, about elemental artifacts. Along the lines of the Mirror Arcane and Alixar, there were many magical artifacts that were filled with the essence of the paranormals power, and the elementals were no different. The ring I wore was one of those artifacts. I had taken it from the Astra ballroom, where it had been left in a gla.s.s case with the Mirror Arcane.

This is interesting, said Sip, holding up an old sheet of paper to her b.u.t.ton nose and examining it.

Is it about my parents? I asked hopefully.

No, said Sip, its about your ring.

I glanced down at the blue stone; the tiny diamonds were winking in the light.

It says that elementals, more than other paranormals, value a rings power to recognize its true owner. Theres a ring out there thats perfect for you and will make you more powerful.

How do we know this isnt it? I asked.

That ring is for a man, said Sip, pointing. Thats why its so big. You arent a man, are you?

Not last time I checked, I said dryly.

This is fascinating, said Sip, examining the paper. Your ring is relatively new. It was made of older stones, and is considered invaluable.

What about all the other elemental rings? I asked. Whatever happened to them when the elementals died?

Sip looked at me thoughtfully. You know, I bet they were gathered somewhere.

And put away for safekeeping, I said.

And where is safer than an archive? Sip asked quietly.

We looked around. All we saw was stacks of books, but given the importance of magical objects in the paranormal world - the Museum of Masks kept a certain branch of them safe, after all - there had to be more here in the archive, if only we could find them.

Sip and I both jumped to our feet and frantically started looking around.

There were boxes and chests, drawers and more boxes. We tore them apart. I tried to use my magic to sense other elemental magic, but it was useless. Archiving an object dampened or switched off its magic for a long time, so it was going to take more than my calling it to awaken the rings again.

After a while, the initial energy of our inspiration wore out, and we sat down and stared at each other.

Theres another floor, Sip said, pointing upward.

I followed her hand and sighed. It was starting to feel hopeless. But I glanced at my friend and said, I guess weve come this far.

She nodded.

In the middle of the room was a spiral staircase that led up to a loft, and Sip and I headed straight for it. As we carefully climbed upwards the steps creaked and groaned under our weight, as if they hadnt been used for a long time. I felt the layer of dust under my shoes and I reached to grab the railing for support, but it looked even more decrepit than the steps.

Once we were safely off the stairs, Sip lit a candle. The loft very much resembled an attic, and it smelled even more of must and old things than the big room downstairs. It was chock full of stuff.

How are we ever going to find anything in all this mess? I asked.

Over here, said Sip. The boxes are blue and brown.

They might just be brown from dirt, I said skeptically.

No, said Sip eagerly. She moved aside several smaller boxes until one large brown box was all that remained.

She tore it open and held the candle high.

Its a box of rings, she said gleefully. Look at all of them.

They were indeed elemental rings. All of them were dull, and none was as fancy as the ring I wore.

So, she said, someone at Public collected all the elemental rings and kept them. But to what end?

The scary version is that they kept them after the elementals died, in case there were ever more elementals, I whispered. The other option. . . .

Sip and I exchanged grim glances, but we didnt have a chance to discuss it further. Below, I heard the sc.r.a.pe of a door. Then, over the edge of the loft, I saw a light.

We werent alone.

Sip and I held very still. Barely moving, Sip extinguished the candle she held. What had happened to Lough and the warning he was supposed to give was anyones guess. In the darkness, we tried to stay very still and very silent.

I tell you, it has to be here somewhere, said a voice I recognized as Olivas.

And I tell you, he destroyed it before he ran away, said a voice that was definitely President Caids.

Sip and I exchanged glances as both of us tried not to stir. We were barely letting ourselves breathe.

He would never have destroyed something so important, Oliva argued.

He might have, to keep us from having it, said Caid. But at least we still have the Mirror Arcane. I did let it go back into Astra, but it doesnt have to stay there.