When I woke up, I felt like part of me was gone. There was an all-consuming emptiness inside me, taking all of my focus yet none of it at all. I carefully made my way to the mirror, not trusting my legs to carry me. Lifting my hair, I peered at the mark of Elysium at the nape of my neck. It looked as it always had, but there was now a thick black line around it.

I went downstairs, searching for Michael who wasn’t in his room. I saw him huddled just outside the dining room, obviously eavesdropping. I stopped on the other side of the entryway, listening as well.

“Wasn’t there some other way?” My father asked, sounding desperate.

“I’m sorry James, but there isn’t,” Maya’s voice sounded tired. “Her powers would have consumed her; this was the only way to save her life.”

“But in saving her life you ended it as well!” Father slammed his hands onto the table in exasperation.

“It’s one life for the sake of many, James,” Maya replied.

“The entire village already resents her, Maya. Once they discover her powers are sealed, they’ll kill her in the streets!”

“James, please,” My mother interrupted.

“The power she expended last night will be enough to feed the planet for several months, maybe a year. I gave you a whole year with your daughter, James,” Maya explained.

“This is ridiculous,” Michael muttered, clenching his jaw.

“Michael, stop eavesdropping. If you want to be part of the conversation, you’ll get in here and discuss like adults,” Mother ordered.

“Fine,” Michael responded, stepping into the dining room. He used his body to block me from our parent’s view. “I just don’t understand why after all of this, Sera still has to die.”

“Seraphine has always passively provided the planet with power, Michael. Just like the Elementorium and Uniflux do when they’re not being actively used. However, since I had to seal her powers, she won’t supply Elysium’s power to the planet anymore,” Maya explained.

“So we just wait for the next family member to be born, and they’ll have Elysium’s power, right?”

“No, that’s not how it works honey,” my mother replied sadly.

“Elysium’s powers, though sealed, are still inside Seraphine. They’ll stay there until she dies—that’s how Elysium works. That’s why the bearer of her power has to die shortly before or right when the next bearer is born. Once a bearer is born, they’re the keeper of Elysium for the rest of their lives… for better or for worse,” Maya said. “When the residual power expended last night fades, the planet will suffer without Elysium’s influence. Plants and animals will start dying, and the inhabitants of Rein will get sick and die as well. The only thing we can do is let the powers move on to a new bearer, and to do that Seraphine has to die first.”

“Then why did you seal her powers? Why didn’t you let her try to control them? She could have survived!” Michael shouted, getting increasingly more agitated.

“She wasn’t ready.”

“Bitch,” I thought to Michael.

“Oh yeah? Then how did she just speak to me in my mind, huh? How did she do that if her powers are sealed?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, boy,” Maya said dismissively. Michael stormed out of the house, gesturing for me to follow him. The air outside was cool as the sun was just rising over the mountains.

“I don’t know how you deal with that woman, Sera,” he said, exasperated.

“I mostly just ignore her, though she doesn’t like it very much.”

“But how did you talk to me back there? If your powers really are sealed, you shouldn’t be able to do that.”

“I don’t know, Mike, but I can’t do it anymore. It was just once. Maybe I tapped into the residual energy somehow?”

“Come on, let’s walk.” We walked away from the house, taking in the sunlight. It didn’t fill the emptiness, though.

“So how are you, Sera? I mean, after what happened yesterday…” Michael’s voice trailed off.

“I don’t know. I feel empty inside, like someone reached in and scooped out my soul.”

“And… the other thing? Did they actually—”

“Yes,” I said before he could say the word. My body shivered in response to the memory.

“Hector did?” He asked, stopping to look at me. I nodded, refusing to meet his gaze. “And you’re ok to walk? I mean, didn’t it hurt?” God, he was so grown up yet so naïve at the same time.

“Of course it did, but I heal fast… At least I used to. I’m not so sure about now.” Just then, familiar whoops and whistles came from ahead of us. Every muscle in my body tightened.

“Sera, you’ve brought your little brother to protect you!” Hector’s voice called out as he and Ty approached us.

“Oh, don’t you dare,” Michael threatened. “Don’t you fucking dare. Take one step closer to her and I’ll kill you, I swear to God I will.” Michael’s voice was venomous, and I knew he meant it. Hector and Ty could tell he meant it too, because they stopped in their tracks. I could practically feel the anger and hatred dripping from him, and it scared me. Michael pulled me close and led me away from them, toward the small meadow near the Sanctuary.

“Talk to me, please, Sera.” I hadn’t said a word on our walk to the meadow; frankly I was too traumatized from seeing Ty and Hector to speak.

“It’s just hard, seeing them,” I managed. I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, feeling like a very small child.

“Do you want me to go back and kill them for you? I’ll do it,” he offered, looking in the direction of where we had seen them.

“No, Mike. I don’t want you to kill anyone, you’re my little brother. I’m the one that should be protecting you, not the other way around.”

“Sera…”

“No. You’re nineteen years old, Mike. You should be out enjoying life and meeting cute girls, not babysitting your big sister.”

“Well, most of the girls here we’re related to… and there’s not much to do around here that’s enjoyable. Did you ever think that maybe your life is far more interesting than mine, and that’s why I like to be a part of it?” He smiled at me, his innocent, boyish grin.

“Seraphine, what are you doing out here?” Maya asked, walking over to us from the direction of our house.

“Sorry Priestess, but no powers for Sera also means no lessons and no nagging old ladies,” Michael said, dismissing her with a wave of his hand.

“Mike, please,” I said, a smile finding its way to my face. Maya looked exasperated.

“Seraphine, just because your powers are sealed doesn’t mean you don’t still have duties as the bearer of Elysium. I’ll meet you in the Sanctuary,” Maya said, turning on her heels and marching into the Sanctuary.

“Go ahead, Sera,” Mike said. “I’ll meet you back at home, ok? I don’t think Ty and Hector will be bothering you after what I said just now.” I shook my head. Oh, how naïve my little brother was. But I didn’t want him hanging around waiting for Maya to be done with me, so I let him go.

I stepped inside the sparsely decorated Sanctuary, feeling a chill as the cold air licked at my skin. There were only a few windows in the tall stone building, located near the ceiling. As a result, very little light made it down to the space where we worked. The Sanctuary had walls lined with bookshelves containing information on the planet’s history, as well as a couple work desks and a handful of reading chairs with lamps. The bathroom was located down a hall to the left, in the same area as Maya’s living quarters. It was an ascetic life, but one I had grown to appreciate. Not that any of that mattered anymore.

“Ah, Seraphine, lovely. Come this way, we need to discuss the Lunar Festival. It’s only a few days away, you know.”

“Of course I know, Maya.”

“Right. So, you’ll need to keep up appearances at the ceremony, because so far the knowledge of your powers being sealed is confined to myself and your family, though I can’t promise how long it will stay that way with your big-mouthed brother knowing everything he does.”

“Mike won’t tell anyone,” I said immediately, glaring at her.

“Right,” Maya looked a bit flustered. “So, what triggered your powers? Something must have happened for them to have awoken before their time.”

“I don’t want to talk about it, Maya.” Images of Hector and Ty’s assault seared my mind’s eye, making me wince at the memory.

“Well, I’m the most trustworthy person you know, Seraphine. If we’re going to understand your powers, I need to know what happened to trigger them awakening.” I remained silent. “Alright Seraphine, if you don’t want to tell me, then I understand. But just know that the future of all Elysium bearers could be changed for the worse if we don’t know what it was that triggered your powers, and that will change many more lives than just your own.”

Her words stung, but I ignored her. It didn’t matter anymore, none of it did. There shouldn’t be any more Elysium bearers if my life was an example of what they were going to go through.

“I told you, I don’t want to talk about it.”

Seeming to ignore me, Maya continued on; “In the past, Elysium bearers haven’t had anything trigger their powers awakening other than their own mental maturity. Since I know that isn’t what happened in your case, it’s important we know everything we can about the trigger so that it can be avoided in future generations.” I sighed.

“I know, I’m sorry. I think what really triggered my powers was when I spoke to Elysium.

“Elysium? You made contact?”

“I suppose. She came to me in the dream, saying I was coveted by demons and that her power might free me. I let her unlock them, then I woke up to the pain…” I trailed off, the memories burning my mind again.

“She? Elysium is a she?” I glared at Maya. Honestly, that is what she takes from everything I just told her? “I’m sorry. It’s just so fascinating, nobody has ever claimed to commune with Elysium before, let alone have her unlock dormant powers. Do you think you can still contact her? It would be invaluable if you could record a way to contact Elysium. It could even help the bearers of the Elementorium and the Uniflux, if they could speak to the embodiment of Torium and Usarium.” Anger flared in the void inside me. If she wanted my help, she shouldn’t have sealed my powers, effectively ending my life! Attempting to calm myself, I let out a sigh. I would try to contact Elysium if it would shut her up.

“I can try, but I need to be alone,” I said. Maya nodded vigorously and quickly shuffled to her living quarters without another word. I sighed with relief, then leaned back in my chair. Closing my eyes, I reached to Elysium in the recesses of my mind.

I was in Elysium’s dream world again, but it looked different now. The stars and glowing surfaces were gone, replaced by glass walls and floors. Ahead of me was a figure, slumped into a small ball on the floor. I approached the figure, but stopped when I noticed the shimmering glass wall between us.

“Elysium?” I asked, hoping she was all right. The figure looked up, and sure enough it was Elysium, her beautiful face seemingly drained of life as though she was starving. She was fully clothed now, in a silvery dress and long, dark cloak that rested around her shoulders like the night sky.

“Seraphine, you found me.”

“You’re not talking in the third person anymore. Why not?”

“Because we are as one now, Seraphine.” I shook my head. This was all too much to handle. “Don’t leave yet,” she pleaded, her face no longer impassive but filled with worry.

“I don’t know how to handle this, Elysium,” I explained.

“You will understand in time, Seraphine.”

“Why are you trapped? You look like you’re hurt.”

“This is all your priestess’ doing, Seraphine. Cowardly woman.” Elysium now looked angry, and I realized that it was the same anger I felt just moments ago when talking to Maya.

“My powers are sealed, Elysium. I’m going to have to die so that the next bearer can be born,” I explained, starting to feel desperate. Elysium stood and focused on a small point in the shimmering wall.

“That would be unfortunate, I’ve taken a liking to you,” she said distractedly. She was now picking at the point in the wall with her long fingers.

“But if my powers really are sealed, how can I be here now? How did I talk to Michael this morning?”

“Perhaps our powers aren’t sealed as securely as you think,” she replied. I refocused on the point in the wall, which she had now placed her hand over. Against her pale skin, I could see the point wasn’t a random point in the wall at all, but a crack in the glass. I reached out to the crack, but the closer I got to it the more the world seemed to close in around me. I hesitated, and the darkness swallowed me.

I sat bolt upright in the chair, gasping for air as though I had been drowning. Do I not breathe while I’m with Elysium? What a terrifying thought.

“Maya,” I called. As much as I didn’t want to talk to her, I knew she wouldn’t shut up until she had heard everything Elysium said. Right on cue, Maya shuffled her way into the main room of the Sanctuary, looking excited.

“Did you do it? Did you talk to Elysium?” she asked, sitting down in the chair across from me.

“Yes, I found her, but everything was different this time. She was trapped, and it looked like she was injured.”

“Injured? No no, sealing your powers shouldn’t have caused that…”

“Well it must have,” I said bluntly. I could feel that same anger rising in me, but I forced it back down. “She seemed to think that my powers weren’t fully sealed; that there might be a way for me to unlock them.” The excitement drained from Maya’s face and her shoulders slumped.

“Seraphine, I’m sorry, but there is nothing we can do about your powers now. They’re sealed, permanently. If you really can commune with Elysium, she should have known that,” Maya said sadly.

“But I did talk to her, she showed me the crack in the glass,” I protested, feeling desperate again. Freeing Elysium from her glass prison was my last hope.

“Perhaps you never really met with Elysium at all, dear.” I started to protest, but Maya held her hand up to stop me. “I think Elysium may just be a figment of your imagination, a dream. I know your family hasn’t been kind to you all these years, and a mental block like that could have had an impact on your powers. Elysium was simply something your troubled mind created to help you cope, which is why she was injured when you saw her today. Elysium’s powers aren’t truly damaged, but your mind is. You’ve been through so much in the past day that you feel injured mentally and emotionally, and projected those feelings onto your personification of Elysium.” Maya’s words hit me, hard. The numbness and the void were back, consuming everything inside and threatening to swallow me whole.

“I need to leave now,” I said quietly. Maya didn’t try to stop me as I stood up and left the Sanctuary.

The sun was setting as I walked down the quiet streets, clutching myself and wishing I could become very small. I didn’t want anyone to see me, hear me, talk to me, or even think about me. I’m useless to the world now, with my powers sealed. Maybe if I could find Elysium again, I could—

“Seraphine the all-powerful,” Hector’s voice taunted. I closed my eyes and stood still. Every muscle in my body tightened, and each hair stood on end. Images of yesterday burned through my mind.

“What, you’re not going to run from us today?” Hector asked. Even with my eyes closed I could tell he was close.

“Maybe what you did yesterday really did affect her,” Ty said, coming closer. The footsteps stopped and I felt hands on my face—Hector’s hands. He caressed my cheek for a moment, sending chills down my spine. Then his hand tightened around my hair and forced me to bend over as his knee struck my stomach. My eyes burst open, the air in my lungs rushing out of me. Before I had a chance to respond, Hector’s other hand clamped around my neck and he pushed me upright again. Ty took advantage of my helplessness, landing a swift kick to my ribs. They laughed as he hit me again, this time his fist connecting with my eye. Their laughter echoed in my ears, and I felt the anger filling the void inside me like a hot liquid.

Before I had a chance to think about what I was doing, I slapped Hector’s hands away and fed him a quick jab to his nose, followed by a knee to his jaw as I forced his head down like he had just done to me. Hector stumbled back, coughing blood. I moved my attention to Ty, who looked utterly shocked. Regaining some composure, he sent out a sloppy punch toward me, which I dodged and jabbed him in the mouth, then the throat. He too stumbled back, now looking terrified.

“Leave. Me. Alone.” The two boys stepped back as I said this, then ran into the nearest building like scared rabbits. I exhaled, and the anger dissipated as quickly as it had appeared. My victory felt small—it didn’t even begin to make up for what they had done to me. I walked home feeling a bit better though, despite the pain from where they had hit me.

Mike bounded toward me from the kitchen when I stepped through the door, but his cheerful expression immediately changed to anger when he saw my face.

“They hit you again? Where are they?” He demanded, balling his hands into fists.

“Mike, it’s fine. They hit me three times, and I hit them four.”

“What do you mean, ‘fine’? You’ve got a black eye, Sera.” Oh. I hadn’t noticed. I reached up and gingerly touched the skin near my eye, which responded with intense pain. It should have healed by now…

“You’re not healing anymore, are you?” Mike asked, concern filling his voice. My heart started beating faster at the realization. I’ve always healed almost instantly, for my entire life. If I can’t heal these bruises by the morning, everyone will see that my powers aren’t working. I’ll be cut down in the streets.

“Sera, where else did they hit you?”

“A knee to the stomach, and a kick to my ribs,” I replied, absentmindedly touching my ribs at the memory. Pain shot through my side at my touch, making me take a sharp breath—which hurt just as much as my touch did.

“Shit, Sera. Mom, Dad! Sera needs a doctor or something!” Mike called to the recesses of the house. I looked up at him, confused by my pain. I had felt this pain before, of course, but it seemed like the longer I had the wound the more it hurt. I could hear movement in the house, but my parents clearly weren’t coming to my aid quickly. “Come on, you should go upstairs and lie down.”

It seemed retreating to my room to be worried over by Michael was becoming something of a habit. The walk up to my room and the initial lying down was painful, but now that I wasn’t moving the pain mostly came from breathing. Mike had gotten me a couple ice packs; one for my ribs and one for my eye. He was just sitting down in my desk chair when we heard some commotion downstairs.

“Where is she? Upstairs?” Maya’s voice asked. Shortly after, there were footsteps on the staircase. Maya burst into my room, clutching a small bag. “What happened, Seraphine?”

“Hector and Ty, as usual,” Michael explained before I could respond.

“What? Your cousins? Is this the first time they’ve hit you?” Mike half chuckled at this, rolling his eyes.

“Not even close. Those assholes have been beating her every morning and night for years now.” Maya turned to me, furious.

“How could you not tell me this? Didn’t you ever think this repeated trauma could have been delaying your powers?” Maya asked, her wrinkled eyes wide with anger.

“What were you going to do about it if I did, Maya?” Ouch. Talking hurt.

“Well… I don’t know,” she replied.

“Exactly.”

“Anyway, I’m here to help you heal. Your parents said blunt trauma to your eye, stomach, and ribs, right?” I nodded. “Ok, well your eye will heal fine by itself, just keep icing it. Your abdomen is probably fine, but I’d bet your ribs are cracked.” Maya reached into her bag and pulled out a roll of bandages and a bottle of some sort of goo. She lifted my shirt and gently rubbed the goo all over my injured side. “Apply this twice a day, every day. It’s a healing salve that should ease the pain and help you heal faster. You mostly need it for the ribs, though it might make your eye heal faster. I’ll put some on your abdomen too, just in case,” she explained, rubbing small circles of goo over my side and abdomen. “Wrap it in bandages after you apply the salve, but not tightly. Just tight enough to keep the salve from rubbing off.”

“That’s it? A salve and some bandages? She doesn’t need surgery or anything?” Michael asked, looking confused.

“Of course she doesn’t need surgery, it’s just some cracked ribs. I wouldn’t recommend going outside, though. Wouldn’t want anyone to see you in this injured state and realize your powers are sealed.”

“Yeah I already worked that part out, Maya,” I said, feeling angry and tired.

“Just keep applying the salve and get lots of rest, Seraphine. You need to be presentable for the Lunar Festival.” Of course that would be what she was concerned about. Maya left the extra bandages and the salve on my bedside table and shuffled downstairs.

“Get some rest, Sera. Everything is gonna be ok.” Michael smiled at me reassuringly before leaving my room. But everything wasn’t going to be ok, Mike. My life was over the moment my powers were sealed. I closed my eyes, searching my mind for Elysium and her glass cage, but after several frustrating minutes I gave up. Maybe Maya was right, maybe Elysium was a figment of my imagination after all.

I shut off the bedside lamp, snuggling into the bed covers. Just get some rest, Seraphine. It will all be over soon enough.