Max and the Citadel of Light: Secrets of the Twilight Djinn, #3

By John Peragine

 

In this third installment of the Secrets of the Twilight Djinn series, Max Daybreaker finds himself stranded on the Isle of Sanctus. The Spice Pirate ship, the Saucy Pig, is broken and burnt, and Captain Cinn and his crew are marooned. Max begins school at the Academy of Elemental Magic, overseen by a powerful witch, Mistress Pandora. Max uncovers the dark secrets about the island with its ominous tower, The Citadel of Light, at its center. Max must trust his friends, both old and new, to survive the darkness invading his world, free his best friend Mesha, and escape the island before he is trapped there forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crumblebee Books
• Release date: Jul 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9781735091754

John Peragine

John dreamt of being a writer since he was a little boy. He became a symphony musician, a social worker, even a Naturopath before returning to his love of writing. Now, he spends his days banging keys, tending his vineyard, and spending time with his family. John has ghostwritten hundreds of books, authored over 13 non-fiction books, is a journalist who writes for the NYT and other magazines, and is now an Award-Winning Middle Grade Fantasy Author. His award-winning series, Secrets of the Twilight Djinn has gained critical acclaim all over the world.

Book preview

Chapter One

I knew in my gut that this wouldn’t be a good day. Even though the sun was shining in an almost cloudless sky, and seagulls hovered over the beach looking for their next meal, I felt dread. It was Sanctus—an island that was supposed to provide my mother and my sanctuary. We were supposed to be safe from the Djinn and their terrifying Twilight army, but it had only been a day since one of the Djinn stood on the very shore I stood now.

The infamous Spice Pirate vessel, the Saucy Pig, lay like a sun-bleached whale carcass on the offshore sandbar. It was charred and broken, a sharp reminder of the two-headed dragon that had destroyed it. My sisters, Liana and Machrees, were under the control of the evil Djinn, Nephu Malamud, and she ordered them to transform and burn the Pig.

The twins weren’t really my sisters—they were constructs of the Djinn—but even with that knowledge, I still missed them. In the end, they had turned on their master to protect me and had paid the price for their defiance: their life.

Mom was missing from her bedroll when I woke. She was probably planning to travel to the island’s interior. It was all happening too fast. I had come so far to finally find her. I wanted to spend time and catch up with her, but there were other plans—ones made without me.

Nephu, the youngest of the three Djinn, had fooled me into believing she was my mother, but thankfully I had seen through her deception before it was too late. Well, almost before it was too late. The crew of the Saucy Pig was piling up what they could salvage from the ship. Some of the crew had lost their lives helping me on my journey, but I could never repay them for their sacrifice. I wanted to stay and help them rebuild the Saucy Pig, but Mom had different plans for me.

I’d spent so many months as part of the crew of the Saucy Pig that I had never considered a time that I wouldn’t be sailing with them anymore. Even if I didn’t have school and could have taken my place as the cabin boy—a Spice Pirate in training—there was no more Saucy Pig. I suppose that’s what broke my heart more than anything else.

The Midnight Men, a strange collection of black robbed protectors of the island, brought supplies to the crew, who were busy assessing what they had and setting up shelters.

Mom was in deep conversation with a group of Midnight Men when she caught my eye and motioned me over.

Are you ready to go, Max? Mom asked.

Yes, Mom, I didn’t have much left of our original bags from Paradisi. I have everything packed.

"You won’t need much, as they will supply robes and anything else you need at the Elemental Magic Academy, Mom assured me. Be ready to go in an hour. We’re heading out."

So it had a name—the Elemental Magic Academy. Why had no one in Paradisi ever heard of it? It wasn’t as if I got out too much, but I’d think someone would have mentioned it in passing. Sanctus was always talked about as if it were a wild, untamed place, not the home of a magic school.

I should be excited about meeting others with magic powers whom I could learn from, but the concept of school, in general, didn’t sound like fun at all. Since my journey began, I’d felt everything would be normal again once I found my mom, but it wasn’t. The mother I had known my whole life was not the woman coordinating the supplies now. She was a stranger, and I had so many questions I had lost count. I only hoped that once we settled down, we would be able to talk. I had little choice but to obey Mom’s wishes at the moment, but the first chance I got, I would return to my crew and take my place among them. Surely Mom, of all people, would understand. According to Cinn, she was a secret pirate herself.

I understand, I said. Do you know where Captain Cinn is?

I think I saw him lamenting over his pots and pans there.

Mom pointed toward a makeshift camp the pirates had set up. I grabbed a pack I had tucked under my other belongings and ran to the campsite to find him.

There ye be, Master Max, said Cinn looking up from the half-melted pot he’d been examining. Can ye believe this is all I have left of me beautiful kitchen?

Before him, lay the pot and two bent pans in the sand. Next to that was a broken chopping knife and a small cube of blue salt.

That’s all you could recover? I asked.

Aye, I’m afraid so. That dragon did a nasty bit of work on me ship. Destroyed me kitchen. Cinn dropped the pot, which clanged against one of the pans, and sighed.

Do you think you can rebuild it? I asked.

Aye, but I feel like we be starting over from scratch, Cinn said as he stroked his beard. "Them Midnight Men said they would give us a hand, but they don’t have no cut boards to use. We’ll have to rebuild Saucy the old-fashioned way—choppin’ logs and nailin’ boards."

I’m so sorry, I began.

No, Master Max, Cinn interrupted, clapping my shoulder with his heavy hand. We all knew what we be risking by helping ye find yer mom. Sure there be some unfortunate losses, but we wouldn’t change a thing.

I was at a loss for what to say. These pirates and my other friends had put their lives in danger to protect me, and not one of them hesitated to do it. I just had to get back to help them rebuild.

I need a favor, Cinn. I handed him my pack. I need you to keep this for me.

Cinn took it and frowned. What be this? he asked, shaking the pack a little.

It’s my Snow Bear coat, I replied. I need you to keep it safe. I don’t know if they would take it from me when I go to the school, and I can’t lose it.

Aye, said Cinn. I will take good care of it.

It seemed odd that Cinn was in the care of the Snow Bear coat again. He had given it to me the day the Glass Whale swallowed me, and it saved my life a couple of times. I was reluctant to leave it behind, but I couldn’t take the risk of someone taking it from me.

I need to go soon, I said quietly, looking at my feet. I hated goodbyes. When my father left as a Spice Guild captain the last time, I was sulking because he had barely been home, and I refused to say goodbye. By the time Mom convinced me I would regret it, I ran all the way down to the docks—but he was already gone. Then his ship vanished, and everyone was convinced he was gone after a month. I held heavy guilt in my heart that I might never see him again, but I never gave up hope.

I didn’t want to say goodbye to Cinn and the crew, but if something happened, the guilt would be even worse if I didn't.

I hugged Cinn tight. I don’t like goodbyes, so can we just promise to see each other soon?

My sudden outburst of emotion flustered Cinn. He hugged me back and then held me at arm’s length.

Ye will be fine, Master Max, Cinn said. Ye have discovered that ye have some mighty magic inside ye. And ye know how I feel about magic…but ye have saved us more than once. This is all new to ye, and ye should learn how to control it.

Cinn was right. Almost a year ago, I was sitting in my farmhouse on Paradisi island, utterly naive to the world, magic, and monsters. I thought Dad was just the captain of a merchant ship and Mom was the dutiful wife who stayed home and tended to the farm. It had all been a lie—one told me to protect me. And for many years, it had.

I had recently discovered my magic and had used it, but Cinn was correct: I couldn’t control it. I knew I needed to learn and understood that the magic school could teach me. Still, I didn’t want to be separated from everyone again in a new place with people I had never met.

Have you seen Anya and Sal? I asked, changing the subject. I doubted I could say goodbye to the two women who had protected me and acted like crazy aunts. I never had any aunts, but if I did, I’d want them to be like Sal and Anya.

Anya was a deadly and stealthy assassin. She rescued my dad and me from the clutches of a tyrannical sultan. Sal was a sassy three-eyed seer, a Norn as the Witch Queen had called her, who could see into the past and the future. She was the last female of her kind and had died. And then the Witch Queen resurrected her. Sal wasn’t happy about being back and even less agreeable that she had lost her ability to see through time. Even in her grumpy state, she cared for and protected me.

I haven’t seen them, Master Max, said Cinn, shaking his head. Not since last evening.

That seemed strange. There was no way off the island; even if there was, where would they go? They were hunted by the Sultan and the Djinn, just as I was, and they had nowhere safe to run, which was why they had journeyed to Sanctus with us.

I’m going to go look for them, I said. Cinn nodded and returned to considering the cookware he’d salvaged from the Saucy Pig.

I walked farther into the pirates’ camp, looking for a familiar face. Piers was sawing wood with some of the other pirates. He was a giant compared to the rest, and I always felt safe around him. As the ship’s first mate, he kept the rest of the crew in order, but he did it calmly and without malice.

Piers, have you seen Anya or Sal? I asked.

He stopped sawing and turned his head, but not before I caught the strange look on his face.

Come with me, Master Max, Piers said in his rumbling baritone.

One of the other crew members took over the sawing, and I followed Piers to a stack of food crates that the Midnight Men had brought the night before. We stood behind them, away from the other men.

They left early this morning, said Piers.

How? Where?

I don’t know how or where, Master Max, Piers reached into his pocket and produced a folded piece of paper, but they wanted me to give you this.

It was a letter:

Dearest Max,

We are sorry we left without saying goodbye and felt it was better this way. You have found your mother and are safe on Sanctus.

Your father has called us—he requires our assistance in Arctus. There is a war growing on all borders, and we are committed to help in any way we can.

Sal says our destinies are woven with yours, and we will see you again. Be brave and learn all that you can. You are needed in the upcoming battles, so be your best.

With all of our love,

Anya and Sal

Tears snuck out of my eyes before I could stop them. How was it even possible? If we couldn’t leave, how could they? I guess it was a question that would have to wait until I saw them again.

They’re gone, Piers. They’ve gone north to meet up with my father, I said. I still need them. I need all of you, too.

Max. Piers placed his hands on my shoulders and knelt down to my level. "We aren’t going anywhere without you. We will rebuild the Saucy Pig, and she will be faster and grander than before. He smiled, and his teeth were the color of polished alabaster. In the meantime, you must go with your mother and learn to control and wield your magic. You will learn much from the teachers at the school."

How can you be sure, Piers? I said. I might learn nothing. We should sail to Arctus and join my father.

Max, if your father felt he needed you there, he would have sent for you as well, said Piers.

Piers had a point. The father I thought I knew would want me to be safe and insist that I stay on Sanctus and avoid trouble. But my father, Nicolas Daybreaker, wasn’t a simple merchant captain who worked for the Spice Guild, whose job was to protect shipments of spices to royal families around the Three Seas. That’s what I thought, but it wasn’t the whole truth.

It was true that he was a ship captain, but secretly, he was working with Captain Cinn to bring spices to those who were forbidden to have them because the Sultan or the Spice Guild didn’t favor them. Only the wealthiest families could purchase and use spices, and I grew up believing that was the way of the world. Then I discovered my father was a Spice Pirate.

That realization would have been challenging enough to wrap my mind around, but I learned he wasn’t even fully human. He was an immortal being who gave up his power to marry my mother and to have me.

Piers wasn’t immune to being more than he appeared. I thought of him as the faithful first mate of the Saucy Pig. Upon reaching the Isle of Sanctus, Piers revealed he was something more. Something much more. He was the prince of the Midnight Men—the sworn protectors of the island.

Growing up, I heard stories of the Midnight Men, except in the versions I heard, they hid in the jungle on Sanctus and liked to eat children. Now I had actually met them; I wasn’t sure whether they were any less scary than my young childhood imaginings. They were large, like Piers, and carried fearsome weapons. And if that weren’t enough, they could perform special magic through singing.

A thought popped into my head.

Piers, you said you’re the prince of the Midnight Men, right?

Yes, Master Max.

"I don’t see how going to school will help you and the crew. I’m supposed to be this chosen protector—the Midnight Jewel. What good am I going to be sitting and doing magic lessons? You must have the ability as royalty to…I don’t know something like a decree to allow me to stay here and help rebuild the Pig?"

You have done more in the past few months than some men do in a lifetime. You have faced monsters, stood up to the Sea Gods, and defeated two Djinn. But you still lack life experience and knowledge of magic. You can gain that at the Citadel School, trust me. Even if I could keep you here, I wouldn’t. It is far more important you go with Bettina and attend the Elemental Magic Academy.

But, Piers…

Piers face might as well be chiseled from stone. His gaze was locked on me, without expression. Arguing with Piers would be no use, and I had to trust what he was saying. Besides, what choice did I have? I conceded.

I’ll go to this stupid school, I protested. I’ll try it out. But if I’m not learning anything, I’m coming straight back to the beach to help you and the crew. Savvy!

I tried to sound tough, but Piers’s unbreakable stare had me quivering.

"Once we rebuild the Pig, we will sail to Arctus and help Dad, I added. He needs us."

I had to look closely to determine if Piers was still breathing, and he was standing so still. After a long pause, Piers spat on his palm and offered it to me. I swear, I will never get used to how pirates and thieves seal pacts. I spat on my hand, and his enormous hand swallowed mine.

Piers nodded. Aye, Master Max. When you’re ready, we will sail. But you must promise to stay at the school until we call for you. Savvy? Piers snapped back at me, and his grip didn’t allow me to pull away.

I don’t know… I began.

Promise it, Piers said in his commanding voice.

Fine…fine…I promise already.

Piers released his grip. You need to go now. The group is almost ready to enter the jungle.

Aye, Aye, I saluted.

I returned to our makeshift campsite and grabbed my two remaining packs. Even though I wanted to stay and help rebuild the Saucy Pig, I had made a pact with Piers, and I fully intended to hold up my end.

There you are, Mom said. Did you say your goodbyes?

Not really. I hate saying goodbye. Are you sure I can’t stay with Cinn and his crew instead of going to that dumb magic school?

I know, Max, this is tough…

Mom didn’t finish her sentence. Her eyes focused on the jungle behind me.

I turned and saw a black blur streak from the jungle, heading straight for us. Midnight Men and the crew were pointing and shouting.

Three Midnight Men between us and whatever was coming stood in a row to block its way. With raised hands and a humming sound like angry bees, white lighting shot from their fingers, and the dark thing vanished in a puff of black smoke.

I held up my hand to block out the sun and scanned the area for where it had gone. I didn’t have to wait long as another puff of black smoke appeared before us. The largest, most terrifying dog I had ever seen opened its oversized mouth and sunk its long sharp-looking teeth into the leg of one of the Midnight Men.

I had learned that several women filled their ranks even though they were referred to as the Midnight Men. It was difficult to tell them apart because of their deep cowls. The scream that emanated from the injured person was very female.

My mom turned to me and cried. Run, Max! Run now!

But I…

No buts. That thing is using dark magic. I can feel it, Mom said.

Piers appeared next to us.

Take him and protect him, Piers.

Of course, he replied.

Mom, you don’t have a weapon to even defend yourself. I have magic, at least.

Mom’s eyes turned a silver gray, and her pupils were tiny pinprick holes. Terror gripped my chest. Was Mom a Djinn or some other kind of monster? Had I made another error in identifying my own mother?

Max! Do as I say, she said. I’m quite able to defend myself.

I watched, in horror, as the black fiend took down the other two nearby Midnight Men. Every time lightning shot from their fingers, the creature would vanish and reappear close enough to bite them. If she was my mother, and her eye change was the weird light effect, what chance did Mom have against them?

Piers gripped my arm and began dragging me toward the jungle. I can protect you better in there, Max, he yelled.

Shouts and screams followed us, and even though I knew it would slow us down, I had to look. My magic was like a hot ember in my belly. I had to break free of Piers’s vise-like grip and help her.

The dog monster was running straight for Piers and me, and there were no more Midnight Men to block its way. Behind it, I could see Mom positioned in a crouch with her hands outstretched toward the monster pursuing us. I was no longer resisting Piers. I was running for my life. I didn’t have time to stop and unleash my