Elemental Reality (16 page)

“Ow. But it’s true, Mum. Either Callie or Lola can become an Elder and make them step down.”

“We did not come here to destroy our Elders. We came here to save Scarlett. Do not veer off that path,” Lucy scolded.

“Not yet, at least,” Joey said under his breath, trailing behind us.

I looked back at him. He raised his eyebrows and mouthed, “It’s true.”

“Well, this is it,” Dad said.

I turned my head just as we stopped in front of a cute redbrick house. It was a lot smaller than our house back in Ardmore, but it was still a decent size.

“We’re going to head back to our house and let you three get settled in. Just come over when you’ve been well rested,” Lucy said.

“Okay, see you later,” Dad replied.

Dad and Lola began to walk toward the house. Lucy and Joey veered down the street to their house, which, conveniently, was next to ours. That left Oli and me standing in the middle of the cobblestone road. There was silence between us, and he was looking everywhere but at me. He was mad; I knew it. I looked down at my feet instead of saying something. He placed his fingers under my chin and lifted my face to look at him.

“You did the right thing, Kitten. I should be mad at you for not telling me, but I’m not. I would have done the same thing if it were my mum that needed rescuing.”

“I didn’t think you’d believe me. I mean, you wouldn’t even look at me a few seconds ago,” I said sheepishly.

“Please don’t doubt me. You know you can tell me anything.”

“From now on I will. I promise. Can I ask you some things?”

“Anything.”

“Did you really work with farmers in Tasmania?”

“I did. I was more useful to them than they realized.”

“And you used your elements to help them?”

“Sometimes. I mainly helped out when it came to cultivating so their crops wouldn’t drown when we had heavy rains. When you become more in tune with your elements, you’ll no longer have to use your physical senses. Your elements will be your senses.”

“That’s pretty cool,” I said with a yawn.

Oli let out a little chuckle before he leaned closer and kissed my forehead. “Go rest, Kitten. I’ll see you later.”

“Thanks.” I gave him a smile and turned around just as the front door of our house slammed shut. I shook my head. Lola must have really pissed Dad off with her snippiness. I warily walked to the front door, dreading the argument I knew was occurring on the other side. When I approached the door, sure enough, I heard muffled yelling. I let out a sigh and walked in. I caught Lola stomping up the stairs and heard her pound her feet down the hallway before slamming another door. Then she opened it and slammed it again. Dad stood next to the staircase, head down and arms folded across his chest.

“Was that because of me?” I asked as I closed the door.

“No. I have no idea what brought on the sudden mood swing. Maybe it’s being here.”

“Maybe she just needs to calm down. The rest will probably do her good. It’ll do us all some good. Lola likes to play it cool, but she’s just as stressed as the rest of us. She just puts on a brave face.”

“I agree,” he said with a yawn. “Come on, I’ll show you to your room.”

I followed him up the stairs and stopped outside the first room on the left.

“This is it. I know it’s not your room back home, but it’ll have to do for now.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I gave him a hug. “Rest well.”

“You too, sweetie.” He retreated down the stairs instead of down the hall to the last bedroom.

Even though we were here to rescue Mom, it was probably still hard for him to face the memories that bedroom held. For his sake I hoped we’d find her quickly.

I stood in the doorway of my bedroom. It was a tiny room, maybe about half the size of my room back home, but it was adorable and brightly colored. The walls were a pretty blue with white stripes. The dressers were wooden and stained a deep brown. The bed, which was against the far wall, was dressed in white. I was surprised to find it dustless. I wondered if someone took care of it all the years we’d been gone. I closed the door and walked over to the bed. I took my backpack off and placed it on the floor, took my shoes off, and flopped onto bed. The moment my head hit the pillow my body relaxed, and I fell into a peaceful sleep.

21

The test

I woke up to the sound of my phone beeping from my backpack. I fumbled around until I pulled it out and saw a text from Ady. I was surprised to find that my cell actually worked here. I replied to let her know we arrived safely and would start our training that day. I sat up, swung my legs over the side of the bed, and stretched. I felt refreshed and ready to explore. I quickly changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top before opening the bedroom door. I kept my fingers crossed in hopes it wouldn’t creak. When it didn’t, I poked my head out and saw Lola’s door was closed as well as the door that led to my parents’ room. Dad must have caved and slept in his memory-filled room.

Since everyone was still asleep, I decided to venture out alone and get a feel for Tehokas City. I tiptoed down the stairs, stepped outside into the warm afternoon air, and basked in it. The warmth was a pleasant change from the cold air back home. The streets were empty, and I wanted to find out why. What was going on that nobody was out? I wondered if this place was like Ardmore. Did people have jobs and places to hang out? Or maybe they traveled to another state to live out their façade of a human life. The only good thing about the streets being empty was that no one would be staring at me. As I walked down the street, opposite of the way we came, the houses grew scarce, and eventually the neighborhood turned into beautiful, lush flora. I had never seen plant life so vibrant. Even the sky was much bluer than back home.

To my left was a meadow full of brightly colored flowers. I walked into it and inhaled deeply. I took in the rich aroma of the nature around me; it smelled so fresh and pure. A small breeze stirred. I took my hair out of its ponytail and closed my eyes, tilting my head back to soak up the rays of the sun that shone down on me. I smiled, stretched my arms back, and relaxed in the comfort nature gave me. The breeze whirled through the field and blew my hair around. I wondered if I mentally controlled the breeze to put myself more at ease.

“Well, well, well, look who we have here, Mace. A runaway,” I heard a woman speak from my right.

It startled me out of my relaxation. I looked over to see a man and woman who both looked to be in their sixties staring at me. The woman was as tall as me with long silver hair pulled back into a braid and blue-violet eyes. Her lips were tight, and she had a look of disgust on her face. The one I assumed was Mace snorted. And if he was Mace she must have been Nevaeh. They
must have been the Elders. He was an inch or so taller than her, and his grey eyes scowled at me. I didn’t understand the emotion.

“You look just like Scarlett,” said Nevaeh. There was something very sophisticated about her. I knew Mom and I were similar in appearance, but I hadn’t realized how alike we actually looked.

“Are you the Elders?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

Mace nodded. “I’m Mace, and this is Nevaeh. And you must be Callista, the Pierce’s eldest daughter. Welcome to Tehokas City.” His voice was polite, but his furious expression unnerved me.

“Callie,” I corrected him, stepping back.

“And why have you come here, Callista?” Nevaeh asked, her smile twisting into something that made me squirm.

“I’ve come to train so I can find and rescue my mom.” I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes in irritation. Their expressions completely ruined the niceties they spouted.

“Such a pity,” Mace said in his scabrous voice. “Can’t believe she gave herself to the Palo Demons. Such an awful thing to happen, wasn’t it, Nevaeh?”

“If you two would have protected us it would have never happened,” I uttered through gritted teeth.

“We offered,” Mace said with a shrug of his shoulders.

“She did have the choice to stay here under our protection. Your parents decided to leave,” Nevaeh said sweetly, an ugly sneer on her face.

“It was a lose-lose situation you backed us into.” It was Dad, and his voice sounded tired. I hadn’t realized he had joined us, and, from the surprise on both Nevaeh’s and Mace’s faces, they hadn’t either. “I don’t disagree that we would have been protected, but at the price of losing Callie? It wasn’t worth it.”

“And was losing Scarlett worth it?” Nevaeh goaded with a smirk befitting the devil.

Dad looked cowed and shifted his eyes. “No, it wasn’t. At the time it seemed like the right thing to do. What parent in their right mind would sacrifice their child?”

Nevaeh scoffed. “How do you expect an Alkuaine Faerie who has no training and a weakened Conjurer to survive a hoard of Palo Demons?”

“I have enough energy left in me to fight for my wife. Plus, we won’t be alone.” Dad’s lip curled in anger, an expression I rarely saw in him.

Mace’s eyes peered past my father, and his face crinkled in disgust. He didn’t wipe the look off his face fast enough before I caught it. He gave me a genial smile that I didn’t believe or trust. “This must be backup. We aren’t the enemy,” said Mace. “We only want to keep you safe. Going after Scarlett is going to get your daughters killed.”

Dad’s jaw tightened, restraining himself as best as he could.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Lola, Oli, and his parents stalking toward us. Lola looked furious. Her nostrils flared and her eyes narrowed, reminiscent of Dad when he was angry. I half expected to see steam start rising from her.
She stomped right past us and stood inches from Nevaeh’s face. Nevaeh didn’t flinch or act surprised.

“Back off,” Lola fumed, stabbing a finger into Nevaeh’s chest. “Or you will find out exactly how powerful we are.”

“Lola, don’t,” I pleaded, placing my hand on her shoulder. She shrugged it off.

“I’m going to say this one more time. Back. Off.” Lola didn’t even sound like herself.

Nevaeh laughed in her face. “Who is this cute little pistol?”

Lola grew angrier—I could tell by the purplish glow emitting from her hands—and I feared she would do something we would all regret.

“This cute little pistol is going to destroy you both,” she snarled. The wind
wooshed
through the field and caused her hair to dip and dive in a wild storm.

I regarded Dad. His eyes were fixed on Lola’s clenched fists. He must have been thinking the same thing I was.

“You’re going to destroy
us
?” Mace snorted. “Little girl, you don’t harness enough power to do that.”

“That’s what you think.”

Nevaeh placed a hand on Mace’s shoulder. “She’s possessed,” she said. “The Demons have gotten to her.”

Then it was as if everything happened in slow motion. Lola’s entire body shone brighter. Dad lunged for her, but she threw him off so hard he flew backward into Joey. Lola was about to throw both fists into Nevaeh’s chest when I wrapped my arms around her waist and, with all my strength, flung her to ground. Nevaeh and Mace took several steps back, their faces horror-stricken. Lola, pinned to the ground, looked around, confused. Her glow faded, and with each blink of her eyes the darkness melted away.

“What happened?” she asked, flustered.

“You attacked the Elders. You don’t remember?” I whispered.

“No.” Her head tilted back to see Nevaeh and Mace. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened.” Tears pooled in her eyes.

Mace cleared his throat. “Demons,” he barely choked out. “This can’t be good.” The Elders turned brusquely and walked off.

I unpinned Lola and helped her stand. Dad rushed over and grabbed her shoulders. “You’ve been arrogant and snappy since we got here. When did these bad moods start?”

“I–I don’t know, Dad. It wasn’t me. I mean, it was me, but my words and actions weren’t me. Darkness came over me.” More tears filled her eyes along with terror.

“I know,” he said softly. Comfortingly.

“There was . . .
is
a Demon here,” I whispered-yelled.

We all looked around cautiously, but we couldn’t see anyone.

“We need to talk about this,” Oli whispered.

Back at the house, we headed straight for the living room. Oli and I sat on the love seat. Dad, Joey, and Lucy took the couch, and Lola sat on the floor in front of the coffee table, still looking ashen and shaken.

“Lola, when did this start happening?” Dad asked, concerned.

Lola thought about it. “It wasn’t until you asked Callie about the whole Cayden thing. My thoughts were my own, but my words and actions weren’t.” She sounded a tad hysterical. I didn’t blame her—I knew exactly what it was like to not have any control.

“It was definitely a Demon,” I said. “You heard the Elders. Even they were spooked.”

“Do you think it was Cayden?” Joey asked.

“After our last conversation,” I said, “I doubt it was him.”

“How can you be so sure?” Oli asked.

“Would you believe me if I say it’s a gut feeling?” I asked sheepishly.

Oli looked unsure, as did the others.

“But it could have been Cayden?” Dad asked and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’m gonna say no.” I sighed. “He was genuinely freaked out when he came to me the other night. For him to tell me to come here ASAP and then ruin it by controlling Lola to hurt the Elders makes no sense. It has to be a Demon who wants us powerless against them.”

“Or Cayden wants Lola to kill the Elders,” Oli added as if injecting a note of commonsense.”

“There’s also the possibility that Cayden wants to cause a rift between you and the Elders,” added Lucy.

“No.” I shook my head. “Please trust me when I say it wasn’t him doing this,” I pleaded. “And of all people to be on the Cayden bus, I’d be the first to jump off that one. There was just something in his eyes . . . like it took everything in him to come to me and beg for me to leave.”

“It must be Keaton,” Dad said furiously. “He either found out that Cayden went to you, or Cayden told him. But either way
my
gut tells me Keaton.”

“Keaton?” There was that name again. Where had I heard that before outside of the Demons? The proverbial light bulb flickered on above my head. “Cayden said he worked for Keaton Industries and it was like a prison. Doesn’t that sound like he’s warning us? I’d never admit something like that if I were a Demon,” I noted.

“Keaton’s the one that wanted the both of you,” Dad went on. “For all we know he could have followed Apryll here and hid from us, making sure he was within reach to control Lola.” His voice went low and feral. “He’s not taking you two on my watch.”

“Let’s get these girls ready to fight, mate.” Joey’s voice boomed throughout the living room followed by a fierce elemental wind of energy.

“Agreed,” Lucy said gaily.

With everyone in agreement and on high alert for a trespassing Demon, we made our way to the training field. Once we reached the field, I was startled as to how different it was compared to everything else around us. It wasn’t vibrant, lush, or even green. It was a field of dead grass, some of it burnt to a crisp and some of it too overwatered.

“Why is it so dead here?” I wondered.

“This is where all the new trainees come. The Elders don’t want to destroy something beautiful so the trainers and trainees continue to use this field, not allowing it to refurbish itself,” Lucy answered.

“Dead or not, they’re still destroying something beautiful,” I responded.

“I agree with you, sweetie,” Lucy replied sadly.

“Hello, everyone,” Erika called from behind us. “How are you all feeling today?”

We turned to acknowledge Erika’s presence.

“I feel like myself again,” Lola joked, though we were the only ones who understood the true meaning.

“Wonderful. Shall we get started?” Erika asked enthusiastically.

“Yes,” Lola and I said in unison.

“Perfect. Now you all—” she turned to Dad, Oli, and his parents “—go catch up. I’ll send the girls home when we’re finished.”

“Okay,” Lucy said before they left.

“Now,” Erika said as she clapped her hands, “let’s start your test. First, I want you to both conjure each of the elements.”

“Which one first?” Lola asked me.

“Earth?” I responded, glancing toward Erika for approval. She nodded and smiled encouragingly.

I inhaled deeply through my nose, held it, and exhaled slowly to relax my tensed muscles. The elements buzzed inside me. I focused my thoughts on nature and the fresh smell it produced. I opened my eyes as a chill raced through my body. I lifted my arms and held my hands up as my skin glowed yellow, and a tiny ball of yellow light formed between my palms. It grew to the size of a baseball. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I did it effortlessly. I peeked at Lola who had the same yellow ball between her hands and an enormous smile on her face. This all felt so natural, as if we had a sixth sense for the elements.

“Amazing, girls,” Erika complimented, her voice breathy. “This test is more on how to hone your abilities rather than manifestation.”

“Why is earth yellow?” I wondered.

“Each element has its own color. Yellow represents the soothing and nurturing side of earth.”