Elemental Reality (20 page)

“Of course. But we must discuss everything that has happened today with the Elders,” Erika said.

“Oh,” I said nervously. “Do you really have to tell them what happened?”

“Yes. They knew we were training you. They’ll want to know,” Erika explained.

“Okay. Thank you all for everything,” I said and meant it.

She nodded briskly before they hurried off. I sighed in resignation.

“What’s wrong?” Oli asked as he squeezed me closer.

“Erika’s going to tell the Elders about our training. I’m afraid they’re not going to be too happy with us.” I nodded at Lola’s storm.

He rested his chin on top of my head as we waited for Lola to calm down. It was another few minutes before the sky went back to normal, and Lola floated back down to us.

“Feeling better?” I asked.

“Much. I’m sorry for flipping out before.”

“No biggie. At least I didn’t almost die this time.” I chuckled.

“Yeah, that’s a good thing.”

“You really gobsmacked me, Lola. Didn’t think you had it in you,” Oli joked.

“Watch it, Oliver, or I’ll unleash that on you.” She laughed. “Hey, can we go home? I’m kind of tired.”

“Yeah, sure thing.”

“I’m bushed too. Let me walk you two lovely ladies home.” Oli grasped my hand and held out his other arm so Lola could link hers in it and we were off.

Lola chattered on about how she was going to kill the Demons for picking on us and breaking apart our family. She went into great detail with everything, especially when she spoke about Keaton. The chatter didn’t cease until we reached our house. Lola gave Oli a hug and traipsed inside. We stood there wordlessly for a moment. He moved his head and some hair fell in his eyes. I brushed it away leisurely.

“You know,” I started, “I’d really like to continue that kiss.” I bit my lip.

“How about right now?” He waggled his eyebrows.

I gave a breathy laugh. “It was a little too intense to display in public . . . again.”

His mouth moved closer. “I think.” And closer. “All of.” And closer. “Our kisses.” Nose bumping mine. “Will be.” Lips brushing mine. “Intense.”

Our lips locked. He was right. If this was the intensity I’d get with him for the rest of my life I’d never want our kiss to break. Speaking of intensity, I wondered if Oli and I would make sparks if we made love. The thought of it made my heart stop—or maybe it was the fact that Oli pulled me closer as he trailed kisses along my jaw. He killed me the best way possible. A moan escaped my lips. His kisses stopped suddenly.

I opened my eyes and stared at him. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No, Kitten. It’s just that we’re outside and . . . well . . . if you keep making noises like that I may not be able to stop and that would . . . uh . . .”

“Make you crack a fat?” I smiled as I tried holding back a giggle.

His cheeks reddened. “Yeah.”

“You’re so cute when you’re embarrassed.” I kissed his nose.

“Hah. Thanks. So have you . . .?”

“No. Have you?”

“Nope.”

“Great. Glad we didn’t beat around the bush on that conversation.”

“Yeah, short and sweet.”

He laughed.

“So, see you later then?”

“As if I can go hours without seeing you. Come over for dinner?”

“It’s a date.”

He gave me one last kiss and we parted ways. I no sooner walked through the door that Lola called for me.

“Callie?” Her voice floated from the kitchen.

“Yeah?”

“Uh, come here please.”

I proceeded into the kitchen and noticed Apryll by the back door.

“Apryll? What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I came to warn you that it’s Keaton who is controlling Lola, but she informed me that you had already figured it out.”

“We have.”

“I’m sorry to say Keaton has a plan in the making. I wish I knew what it was, but unfortunately I don’t. Please beware. Keaton is very cunning and refuses to let anything stand in his way.”

“How do we get to Palon?” Lola asked abruptly.

“You have to let your fire element guide you,” Apryll answer warily.

“Are you saying you don’t know where it is?” Lola quirked an eyebrow.

“I do know where it is, but I won’t tell you.” Apryll crossed her arms over her chest.

“Why not?” Lola asked, perturbed.

“Because I refuse to lead you to your death,” Apryll stated. Done and done.

It was my turn to ask questions. “Who says it will? You don’t think we can handle ourselves?”

She held her hands up in defense. “I have no doubts in my mind that you two can, but are you prepared for a battle with Demons?”

Silence.

“That’s what I thought. You have no idea how the Demons brawl. You know what, screw Keaton and the Elders. I want you two girls to fight me tomorrow. You need to know how to handle yourselves and get a feel for what it will be like to fight ruthless Demons.”

“So this will be a hands-on exercise?” Lola asked.

“Yes.”

“No holding back?”

“That would be correct.”

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Lola said excitedly.

“Tomorrow afternoon we will fight, but it’ll have to be outside the gates. No need to draw any more attention to myself or your strength.”

“Good idea. See you tomorrow then, and thank you again,” I said.

She nodded and fizzled out of sight.

“Where’s Dad?” I asked.

“He left a note saying he was going out with Joey, and that Lucy would be home if we wanted to hang out over there until he got back.”

“We’re going to Palon.”

“What?” she yelped.

“We’re going to find it.”

“But you heard Apryll.”

“I did, and so did you. Keaton is forming a plan as we speak. Think about it, if we find Palon now it won’t be as hard when we go with everybody else. It makes sense.” At least to me it made sense. We’d be able to pick out certain points along the way and keep them in our memory so we wouldn’t have to solely use our fire.

“No, it doesn’t Callie. It’s a bad idea. Sounds like something I’d come up with, not you. You’re the sensible one.”

“Fine, I’ll go by myself.” I didn’t even hesitate as I brushed past her and out the back door. I unfurled my wings and went to take flight when she called after me.

“Wait.” She ran up to me, wings already outstretched. “Do you really think I’m going to let you have all the fun?”

“I was beginning to wonder. Ready?”

“Yeah.”

We took flight and rose higher. I hoped no one would take notice. I wanted us to fly far enough away, and then take the trek on foot. We flew for a few minutes until we both agreed we had put enough distance between us and Tehokas City then landed.

“You do realize we’ll be screwed when we get home right?” Lola asked.

“Yup.”

“Just making sure. How far do you think Palon is?”

“I have no idea. We’ll just keep walking until we feel heat.”

“No need to continue,” a hiss-like voice came from behind us.

We both turned around quickly and came face-to-face with two female Demons. Both were a few inches shorter than me. One had chestnut hair and green eyes while the other had bronze hair and dark brown, almost black eyes.

“Keaton will be thrilled to finally have both of you in his possession, won’t he, Layla?” said green eyes to brown eyes.

“I do believe you’re correct, Mia.”

We backed away slowly. “Lola,” I whispered, barely moving my mouth. “Do what we were taught. Show our strength.”

“Okay,” she whispered back.

It was now or never if we wanted to get out of this alive.

25

Help

How could I have been so stupid? We weren’t ready to do this alone. Layla and Mia would capture us then possibly—probably—kill us. There were so many reasons we had to get away from them. Oli and I just found each other, and I wasn’t quite ready to be apart from him. And Lola still hadn’t found her soul mate. I wouldn’t allow them to prevent her chances of finding him. Plus, we were finally going to find Mom. If anything, that was worth surviving for. I wasn’t about to let Dad down when we were so close to reuniting them. Not on my watch.
Think, Callie. Think.

“Lola, cause that storm again.”

“What?” She gasped. “No. I can’t.”

“Yes you can. I’ll hold them off.”

“By yourself? Yeah right. We’re better if we stick together.”

“Lola, go.”

“But—”

“Go.”

She let out an aggravated groan before she bolted into the sky. Layla and Mia watched her fly up then each gave me a menacing grin.

“Now you’re all alone,” Mia said all slippery. She looked so smug, as if a snap of her fingers would kill me. She was wrong.

“Actually, it was stupid on your part for thinking this was going to be an easy task for you,” I shot back.

Layla let out a laugh. “You think you’re stronger than us?”

“No, I know I am.”

Gut-busting laughter erupted from both of them. I crossed my arms over my chest and smiled to myself. Glancing up at the darkening sky, I chuckled. Though I was having an internal debate about whether or not Lola would have the control she needed to cause harm.

Mia stopped and glared at me. “What’s so funny?”

“You two are.”

“Are you mocking us?” she snarled.

“No, not at all,” I said sarcastically.

“You better watch yourself. I have no problem killing you where you stand.”

“Nor do I,” Layla chimed in.

“You can’t do anything to me.” I felt the familiar roll of my elements. I just loved how my body naturally prepared me to be battle-ready of its own volition.

“That sounds like a challenge, Mia.”

“It sure does.” Mia chuckled darkly.

“God, you guys aren’t even witty,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “Are we going to insult each other all day or are we going to fight?”

I kept my arms crossed defiantly and stared hard at them, my gaze never breaking. They lifted their hands as if to shoot fire at me, but nothing happened. I felt their fire boil inside me. Was it possible? Their fingers stretched out in an attempt to try again, but still nothing. My fire was stronger as it mixed with theirs and consumed me entirely. My elements happily accepted this new addition as they swam through my veins and surged to my fingertips ready to explode outward. Suddenly, Mia’s face
distorted
in pain as she twitched uncontrollably. The tracks of her veins glowed purple—my purple. Layla’s eyes bugged out as she stared at the scene before her. She didn’t notice the purple glow coming from her veins until it was too late. Layla was the first to fall to her knees as she convulsed violently and cried out in
agony.
Large blisters bubbled on her skin reminding me of a boiling pot of water. This newborn power was awesome.

“What are you doing to us, you bitch?” Mia cried.

I shrugged nonchalantly. I wasn’t going to divulge my new power to my enemies. I was certain I was manipulating the elements and somehow released them inside their bodies, which must have intensified their fire. I was using
their
fire against them. They cried out in agony. Smoke rose from their skin. Their veins lit up from the fire burning through them. Charred marks appeared on their arms and faces. It was a horrific sight to see.

“Please stop. We’ll leave and not bother you again. Just please stop this torture,” Mia screamed.

I couldn’t believe how effortless it was to hurt them. I’d never tortured anyone or anything in my life. It wasn’t in my nature. This should have felt empowering, to be torturing the monsters that took Mom, but it only made me feel guilty. I wished I knew how to make it stop.

“No,” I grounded out. A funnel cloud descended upon us. “Besides, your ride is here.”

My heart swelled with pride for Lola. I was so proud of her for how well she directed her powers to create something of this magnitude. I hoped she could control what she created so it wouldn’t swallow me up with it. I took a few steps back but felt myself being pulled from the ground. What if a Demon is controlling Lola again and she’s actually trying to suck me up? My heart beat wildly in my chest like a caged animal as I watched the funnel cloud lower itself to the ground, ready to chow down on a feast. A Demon feast with Faerie on the side. Fear clenched me like a fist in my stomach, but I managed to run away from the mouth of the funnel just as it surrounded them, lifted them off the ground, and catapulted them into the clouds as it rose back up. Lola darted out of the confines of the funnel and took off like a bullet, away from her storm and back toward Tehokas City. Not sure what was happening, I ran before taking flight and doing my best to catch up to her.

“Lola,” I shouted. “Wait up.”

She didn’t slow down. Something must have freaked her out.
I flew faster, giving my wing muscles a real workout as I pumped them harder for more speed. I was right on her tail. If she was actually possessed, would I have to fight her to loosen the Demon’s grip on her mind? Would I even be able to do that knowing, even though she wasn’t in control of herself, it was still Lola
I was hurting? I reached out my hands and grasped her ankle. She whipped around, hands already glowing in defense and ready to strike, but stopped when she saw it was me.

“Whoa.” I held my hands up. “Easy, Lola. What happened?”

She hovered in front of me, face frozen with wide-eyed horror-movie fear. “That damn darkness tried to eat my brain again. It’s totally zombified. I had to get out of there stat. I heard you calling me, but I was afraid to stop. I didn’t want anything to happen to you if my mind went all creepypalooza.”

“What happened to Layla and Mia?” I asked.

“The last I saw they were getting sucked up into the clouds. I’m just hoping my funnel threw them into oblivion.”

“One can only hope. I have a feeling they’re going back to Palon and then shit will really hit the fan.” I sighed.

“Yeah, I know. So what are we going to do?”

“First, we’ll have to tell Dad what happened.”

Lola sighed, joining my harmonizing of the We’re In Deep Shit orchestra.

“Yeah, I know. I don’t want to tell him either, but we have to. Second, we need to leave for Palon, no matter what Dad says. I don’t want any Demons showing up while we’re in Tehokas City. If someone gets hurt because of us it’ll plague my conscience forever.”

“How the hell are we going to prevent them from coming into Tehokas City?” asked Lola, folding her arms. “Put a big banner up that says ‘No Demons Allowed’? ’Cause that’d go over real well.”

“You’re right.” I sighed again, unable to contain it. “They can clearly waltz right in here like they’re part of the Faerie Pride Parade. Just look at how they were able to get close enough to you yet go undetected by everyone else. There must be someone in Tehokas City helping them.”

“Maybe it’s the guards,” Lola suggested. “I bet the Demons just strolled on up to the entrance with their Demon Torch routine, and their enthralling eyes being all-all enthrally. And-and then they went all special effects on them. Remember Dad saying the guards are only at the gates when they feel threatened? And how they weren’t there when we arrived? The guards might have gone all Dark Side, or they’re all Looneyvilled.”

“Or they’re dead,” I added intelligently.

“Or they’re dead,” she agreed.

“That’s a good possibility. We should tell Dad our theory.”

“I think we’ll have to. Or you’ll have to.” Lola’s face was sweaty and pale, and she looked as scared as I felt.

Was I prepared to tell Dad? No. I was afraid of what he would say—or demand of us. And the look of disappointment that would wash over his features when he heard why we were there in the first place . . . “Fine. I’ll tell him.” But how do you prepare to tell someone something like that? You don’t. That’s how.

“Let’s just get this over with.” Lola bit her lip, a rare gesture of nerves coming from her. She had always been a brave little tractor, just plowing along to her own tilling beat.

“Yeah, we should. Let’s fly back and hope he’s home. I don’t know if I can deal with Lucy and Joey on top of everything else. And Oli.” My stomach bottomed out, and I groaned. “Crap. He’s going to be so mad.”

“He’s your soul mate, not your slave driver,” Lola noted, injecting a bit of commonsense into the conversation.

“Yeah. You’re right,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “Maybe once we tell them we can leave for Palon. The sooner the better.”

“Yeah, cause telling Dad we were almost barbequed into crispy Faeries will give him all the incentive he needs to pull fatherly rank and demand we stay inside the safety of the house,” Lola said bitingly. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he decided to go all Prison Guard on us with visitor hours and bathroom breaks.”

“I don’t care what he says or threatens—I’m going. Nothing’s going to stop me from marching right out that front door, with or without his aid.” The meaning and truth of my words sunk in, and all the fear melted away as determination took its place.

Lola snorted in disbelief, but I knew she would always be on my side in all this.

We flew back to Tehokas City and landed just outside the gates, which were still—not surprisingly—unguarded. I was beginning to believe what Lola had said about the guards conspiring with the Demons true. We were just about to stroll past the entrance when Apryll appeared before us, looking all dark and broody as a Demon should.

Lola did a John Travolta dance move mid-air as she floundered backward with a startled gasp. I would have laughed if the situation had been different. “Can’t you Demons announce your presence first? Like send a memo or something? I’d like to keep my heart intact if you don’t mind.”

“My apologies.” Apryll didn’t sound sorry in the least. She was evil; what did I expect? She cleared her throat. “You girls have been pretty busy since you’ve arrived here. You’ve cause quite the stir in Keaton’s kingdom with all the elements being stirred into the melting pot.”

“Will you just spill it already?” I asked tiredly, so not in the mood to deal with Miss Demon Pants. “Give us the daily gloom and doom news report so we can go home.”

“Very well,” Apryll relented. “Today you went too far, and now legions of Demons are chanting for your heads. It was unwise to go in search of Palon by yourselves.” Her expression was grim and stern. If I didn’t know better I’d say she was acting all protective momma bear who was giving her children a scolding. She crossed her arms in disappointment. “Now you’ve gone and started an uprising.”

“What? But-but-but,” I stuttered, seemingly fresh out of witty repartee.

“I followed you and witnessed the havoc you unleashed. It was quite hard to keep up considering I lost my wings.”

“How’d you do it then?” I asked. “Magic carpet?”

“It was easy to spot the two of you in the distance with the glow you were leaving behind. Haley’s comet has nothing on you. Made it easy for me to find you. Now I’m sure all of Tehokas City is wondering who those two Faeries were flying through the sky.”

“We didn’t see you at all,” I admitted stupidly. “I mean, you couldn’t have been that far from us.”

“I wasn’t,” she confessed with a lilt in her tone. “I stayed invisible so I could fend off any possible attackers.”

I snorted in disbelief.

Apryll, raising her voice above my scoffing, continued. “But once Layla and Mia appeared I had no choice but to back off. They would have sensed me, and right now I’m the only link you have to finding your mother.”

“You saw our fight?” I asked nervously. A light bulb came to life just then. “Wait, did you say you can turn invisible?”

“Yes.”

“That must be how Keaton is entering the city.”

“That very well may be but I didn’t sense him while I stood outside the gates. There might be another way he’s getting in. But back to our original topic. To answer your question, I’m not sure what I saw. You didn’t even have to use your hands in this so-called fight. What did you do?”

“I just used my elements against them.” As if I’d really tell her what I had done.

“It seems to be extremely powerful.” She was shocked.

I shrugged. “I guess.”

“That was nothing compared to my funnel. I totally stole the show,” Lola admitted proudly.

“That was quite incredible.”Apryll opened her mouth to continue but paused. Listening? Sensing? “Girls, go hide,” she said and disappeared from sight before we had a chance to comprehend her words.

We ran to the nearest shrubbery and crouched down as we hid from view. Waiting. For what? We didn’t know. Layla popped into view. She appeared to be searching. For us probably. Her head turned in our direction. My heart jumped into my throat. Did she spot us? She turned and advanced to our hiding spot. I held my breath as my heart fell back into my chest and drummed to its own face-paced song. Lola gripped my wrist, her nails biting into my skin. The pain almost made me yelp but I gulped it back down to the pit of my stomach. Layla was almost to us. My heartbeat now an erratic pounding.