Elemental Reality (13 page)

My eyebrows came together. I believed him. Why? Why did I believe him? My heart slammed into my chest.

“Promise me,” he demanded, his tone fierce. When I didn’t say anything, he pulled on his hair in frustration. “Promise!”

“Yes. Yes. I promise.”

He nodded briskly, relieved. “Good. Save them.” He turned to leave but spun around at the last second. “Oh, and Callie, I’m sorry for forcing that kiss on you. If I can be brutally honest, I’m glad it didn’t break your bond with Oli.” Then he fizzled away.

I sat there, shocked, until I was finally able to gather my thoughts. What was really going on with him? Why was he being so friendly? There was no way Emery was right when he said Cayden was among the friendly-variety of Demons. There was no such thing. Was there? This was turning out to be one big mess.

18

Grim Goodbye

My eyes fluttered and blinked a few times as I woke from my remarkably relaxed sleep. I hadn’t had a truly peaceful night of sleep in a long time. As my meeting with Cayden replayed in my head, I knew I couldn’t keep this to myself. But who could I tell? Surely not Oli or Dad. They’d dismiss it as more of a rouse from Cayden and not an actual warning. Lucy and Joey were out because they’d also inform Dad. I had to tell Lola. She wouldn’t tell anyone.

I got out of bed and darted—as quietly as possible—to Lola’s room. I opened the door and peeked in to see if she was awake. Luckily, she was lounging on her bed and watching TV. She must have heard me because she looked over, ready to say something. I put my finger to my lips, signaling her to be quiet. I stepped inside her room and closed the door softly.

“What’s up?” she asked, not looking away from the show she was watching.

“After you went inside last night, Cayden showed up.”

She whipped her head around to look at me, her eyes wide in terror. “What happened?” she asked anxiously, flipping off the TV and sitting up.

“He told me we had to go to Tehokas City as soon as possible. That Mom and Dad are in ‘grave danger,’ and if we don’t train we’ll be in trouble.”

She gasped. “Was that a threat?”

“I don’t think so. He sounded really scared and sincere. Plus, he didn’t seclude my thoughts. From the couple of encounters I’ve had with him he always clouded my thoughts with his darkness, but last night he didn’t. He knows something he’s not permitted to tell us. We need to show everyone we can fly so we can go to Tehokas City. Today.”

“What if it’s a trap?” she asked. “Cayden seems pretty whack.”

“And what if he’s telling the truth? Are we just going to sit around twiddling our thumbs until something major happens?”

“No, but can we even trust him?” She crossed her arms tightly.

“We can’t. Yet. But it shouldn’t stop us from going to Tehokas City to get training.”

She nodded. “I guess you’re right.”

“So what do you say then?”

“I say let’s show them the Pierce girls are the best damn Faeries ever!”

We headed downstairs and into the kitchen. Lucy sat at the island across from Dad having a hushed conversation. Dad noticed us, and they ceased conversation. He put on a bright smile, but it was forced.

“Good morning, girls,” Dad greeted. “I was just about to come up and wake you both. Do you want me to make you anything for breakfast?”

“We’ll just have some cereal,” Lola replied.

After gathering food, we sat across from Lucy and Dad and ate.

“Are you girls excited to get your first flying lesson today?” Lucy asked, excited and smiling brightly.

“Very excited!” I said too quickly, my smile forced. “Do you think if we’re able to fly we can head to Tehokas City today?”

Lucy and Dad looked at each other then back at me.

“It’s never happened before; you won’t be able to fly during your first lesson. When young Faeries first start their training, usually whenever they first show signs of conjuring their elements, they learn how to manipulate their elements. It’s a few years before they even start the lessons on unfurling their wings and flying. In your case we’re doing everything backwards. I don’t see how you’d be able to fly today, but maybe in a couple days.” The last sentence was said reluctantly, as if she was saying it to placate us.

I couldn’t hide my smile. Lola and I had already broken their expectations in just one night. Yay us. If we were actually in school, all our peers would envy us and hate us when we ruined the grading curve. If Faeries were graded.

“Let’s say, hypothetically speaking of course, we were able to fly today; could we go then?” Lola and I exchanged a knowing look. “Hypothetically,” I reiterated.

“Hypothetically speaking, yes,” Lucy answered as her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“Cool. So, uh, how do you expect us to fly during the day?” Lola asked. “Won’t people see us?”

“We can’t be seen when we fly,” Lucy explained patiently. “While in flight, we’re not in the human realm anymore.”

“Let’s get started,” Lola shouted enthusiastically, clapping her hands.

Upstairs, Lola and I had a hushed conversation over the events of the previous night. We decided not to tell Lucy of our escapades. Mainly because we didn’t want to be scolded, and secondly we wanted to see her face when we took off without issue. Lucy animatedly gave us a rundown on things we should know before flying, though we had already figured most of it out last night. The one thing we didn’t already know was how to land.

“Landing without falling is quite tricky. You must decrease the movements of your wings, but at a gradual pace. Your wings are like a sail on a boat. You must move them against the wind to help direct your landing and slow your speed. Otherwise you’ll fall. Make sure that as you move closer to the ground you position your body vertically so you land feet first. Once you’re close enough you can just stop your wings and land.”

“Sounds simple,” Lola said and gave me a wink when Lucy wasn’t looking.

“It’s really not, swee—” Is all Lucy was able to say before Lola shot into the air with more ease than she had last night.

She was such a brat, but I had to admit the sight of her during the day was breathtaking. I waited for Lucy to start yelling, but all that rolled from her mouth was a laugh.

“Looks like you have a mini Scarlett on your hands,” she said to Dad.

“It appears that way.” He chuckled.

I watched Lola flying carefree. I should
not
have been an observer; I should have been up there with her, doing flips or something. I edged forward, away from Lucy and Dad so I could unfold my wings and join Lola in the sky but was stopped.

“Callie?” Dad asked. “Where are you going?”

I turned around and let my wings unfold. “I, uh”—I pointed up—“should . . . Bye!” I cannonballed into the sky.

The clean, fresh smell of rain hung in the air. I caught up to Lola, and we flew in silence for a couple minutes before she finally broke it. “They’re going to be angry aren’t they?”

“Pretty much.” I grinned. “Lucy did say you were like a mini version of Mom though.”

“Mom was a badass?”

“She created me, didn’t she?” I giggled.

“That’s awesome.” Lola did a cartwheel in the air. “Think we should head back?”

“Probably,” I said reluctantly. “Think we can land this time without tucking and rolling? And with preferably no broken bones.”

“I sure hope so. Though that was one of my best ideas, if I do say so myself,” Lola said self-importantly.

“It was fun, wasn’t it? C’mon.” I whizzed through the air, weaving back and forth, up and down like a deflating balloon.

We headed back to the house and landed semi-accurately with some slight stumbling. Lucy stood with hands on her hips and lips pursed, just as a mother does before scolding her children. Dad had his arms crossed over his broad chest. Lola and I strode to them confidently, ready for whatever wrath they were going to lay on us.

“Girls.” Lucy’s tone was displeased and accusatory, then she completely changed her tone to a more gleeful one. “That was extraordinary. I’ve never seen a Faerie fly on their first attempt.”

“So we’ll be able to go to Tehokas City now?” Lola asked impatiently, stealing the words directly from my thoughts.

“Well, I don’t see why not,” Dad said. “Put together a backpack and make sure to only bring the essentials.” He quirked an eyebrow my direction.

“Dad, makeup is essential.” I feigned horror. He wasn’t impressed and narrowed his eyes. “Okay, fine, I’ll pack only what I need.” Which might include
some
makeup. “Who’s going to watch the house while we’re gone? How long will we be gone? I can always ask Ady and Emery if they would mind, which I’m sure they won’t.”

Dad held his hands up to stop my questions. “Sure. Our length of stay is unknown, though. If they’re willing to stay until we return that’s fine. Go pack up, and we’ll leave as soon as everyone is ready.”

Lola and I squealed in excitement as we lunged ourselves at Dad and Lucy, hugging them until they couldn’t breathe.

Inside, I called Ady. Her phone rang twice before Emery answered.

“Hey, good lookin’. You’re on speakerphone. Ady is getting dressed.” This was a normal occurrence since Ady and Emery lived together.

“Hi, Callie,” Ady yelled in the background.

“Hey guys. Listen: we’re leaving for Tehokas City today,” I announced.

I heard the bed squeak and assumed it was Ady lunging for her phone. “What?” she shrieked, ignoring the rest. “You can’t leave yet!”

“I know, but the sooner we get there and train, the sooner we’ll be able to find my mom and come home.”

“I’m going to miss you so much.” Her voice quavered, and I knew she was about to cry. My own throat tightened, and I blinked away tears. Ady and I have never been apart for more than a day, but I knew that wasn’t the reason for the tears. The possibility of me never coming home again stuck out like a sore thumb.

“You have no idea how much I’ll miss you both. Come over so I can see you?” My voice sounded desperate.

“Duh, of course,” Emery said.

“We’re leaving right now,” Ady finished.

I grabbed my backpack—one I hadn’t used since the day I graduated from college—from the far corner of my closest and collected what I needed from my makeup drawer and bathroom. I pulled a mound of clothes from my closet and drawers then compacted them into my backpack. I had just enough room to shove in two pair of sneakers. Before I zipped it up, I went to my nightstand, grabbed the family picture, and placed it gently into my bag.

“We’re going to save you, Mom,” I whispered to the picture as I zipped the bag. I grabbed my lightning bolt necklace from the jewelry case and fastened it around my neck. Pausing in the doorway I slowly turned around and inventoried my room again. I wasn’t ready for this to be the last time I’d ever be in my room. I bit back tears that threatened to escape. No, I wouldn’t allow this to be the last time. With one last look around my room to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything, I walked out my door without glancing back. Dad was still in his room. I was curious as to what was going to happen with his business while we were away.

I knocked on the door. “Dad?”

“Yeah?” he asked without looking up from packing.

“What’s going to happen with work?”

“I put Kevin in charge until we get home.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I said we had a death in the family and needed to take care of the estate in Epirus, Greece.”

“And he believed that?” I was shocked.

“I think he did.” He shrugged dismissively.

“That’s good then. I’ll let you finish packing. I’m going down to wait for Ady and Emery.”

“Okay.” He seemed distracted. “Lucy told Joey and Oli the news; they’ll be over shortly.” He finally glanced away from his packing. “Oli said, ‘I always knew she was a feisty kitten.’ ” Dad raised his eyebrows. “Do I want to know what that means?”

I laughed. “No, probably not.”

He smiled good-naturedly. “I’ll be down in a bit.”

I left Dad to his packing and headed downstairs. Placing my backpack on the floor next to the couch, I fell onto the squishy cushions and waited. With some alone time to spare I thought about Mom. What she must have gone through knowing the Demons were coming to take her away from us. I wondered if she was scared of what was going to happen to her or if she was brave, knowing that she was saving us. I bet she was brave.

“Callie?” Ady’s usually melodic voice was frantic and startled me from my thoughts.

“In here,” I called.

Ady and Emery dashed into the living room as if announcing the world was going to end. Emery vaulted over the back of the couch and landed next to me. Ady ran around it and collapsed on the other side. Their arms flew around me in unison, and they each held me tight. I rested my chin on their arms, and we sat embraced for the longest time.

“Can I ask you guys a favor?”

“Anything,” Emery responded.

“Can you guys watch the house? You can stay here until we get back. If anyone asks, tell them Dad and I had to go on a business trip, and Lola is in Philly for school.”

“We can do that,” Emery agreed. “Unless you want us to tell them it’s Faerie business. Then they might start asking questions.”

“It’s true,” said Ady seriously. “Your dad does wear that pink shirt sometimes.”

“And he has impeccable shrubbery,” added Emery.

I playfully slapped their arms. “The messenger bag doesn’t help.”

We laughed, but the humor faded as the real world crashed back in.