Rise of the Fallen (5 page)

“Okay,” I mumbled.

“Will you tell me where you are?” Soul said gently.

I looked around at my surroundings. Now that was interesting … I had absolutely no idea where I was. My breathing was getting deeper and the sky was darkening overhead. As I watched the sky, it became obvious that it was only darkening immediately above me.

“Emilie, are you there?” Soul asked.

“I … I don't know where I am … there's something weird going on, Soul.” I backed up against the tree. Common sense told me that in a normal storm you shouldn't stand near a tree, but this wasn't a normal storm. Something or someone generated this storm. A loud crack sounded as lightning struck a tree a few feet away and I screamed.

“What was that?” Soul yelled into the phone.

“What did you do, Soul? Who did you tell?” I pleaded. The sky was only dark above me. Flashes of lightning lit up the sky seconds before exploding on the ground around me in groups of seven.

“What? No one! Just Lilith but she wouldn't do anything to you,” his voice was rushed as he spoke.

“Who the hell is Lilith?” I screamed.

Another bolt struck the earth, sending dirt flying out around me.

“That doesn't matter! Look, I see the lightning from here, I'll be there.” Soul's voice came across breathless, he was obviously moving fast.

I turned and saw Soul running towards me. His eyes were fixed on me.

“Emilie, don't move!”

The second he said that, I looked up and froze. I couldn't even breathe as several bolts of lightning struck the paperbark tree above me. With an ear-splittingly loud crack the tree snapped in half, hitting the ground with a crash, the earth trembling with the aftershock. I slowly turned around. Dark smoke drifted up from the splintered surface of the blackened tree stump. There was a rumble above before rain came pelting down. The thunder and lightning disappeared. I just stood there in silent awe.

Soul approached me hesitantly. The rain was pouring down so heavily that I couldn't hear him speak as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

“Emilie, are you hurt?” Soul was trying to remain calm but he was clearly having trouble.

I shook my head but remained silent as he spoke again.

“I don't know what I'd do if you got hurt,” he sighed.

I didn't understand why he was talking like that. It would have been his fault if I got killed. Killed by a tree, that is. Now that would
make for an interesting obituary.

“Who is Lilith?” I asked, pulling myself from my thoughts. “Emilie, you nearly got killed by a tree and that's the only thing you can say?”

“Well yes, obviously.”

He studied me for a moment, a mixture of amusement and surprise on his face.

“Whatever. Look, we should get back to school before Cael thinks I've kidnapped you or something,” Soul laughed loudly, offering his hand.

My first instinct was to take his hand and walk side by side with him. It seemed the right thing to do. Strangely enough I went with my second instinct. I brushed past him, stepping across the large black dents made by the lightning strikes. I felt Soul's eyes on me as I walked and, for a moment, I thought he wasn't following me. I stopped walking and turned around. He wasn't there so I spun back around and came face to face with him.

“Thought I'd left you?” he said playfully.

I shook my head, “No, not at all.”

He smirked and leaned down to me, stopping just before our lips touched. Soul looked me in the eyes for a moment before moving away.

“You thought I was going to,” he chuckled quietly.

I felt myself go red with embarrassment. I walked behind him, trying to stay out of view. He turned around and faced me, walking backwards for a while, looking me in the eyes. I was convinced he was going to run into a tree or something. That would be unfortunate because I wouldn't be able to stop laughing if that happened.

He looked me up and down for a moment before smiling and turning away.

“What was that?” I asked.

Soul turned back around and smiled. “Don't worry.”

“Okay then,” I said sarcastically. “Are you going to tell me who Lilith is?”

His smile fell a little, “Not right now, no.”

He was being impossible. I wasn't going to let him get away with this, but I realised that any attempts I made to get information from him would be in vain. Then again, I didn't want Cael around for the next few days. My phone vibrated softly in my pocket. I pulled it out and opened the text message.

Crushed by a tree. Not quite the noblest of deaths now is it? How disappointing for me. Nevertheless, an interesting story to tell the others. Oh and Emilie, I am surprised to see you have replaced me already. What makes you so sure Soul is more trustworthy than I am? D.

I looked up from the screen; Soul had turned to look back at me.

“What's wrong, Emilie?” he asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

“Don't worry, Soul. You don't need to know,” I replied with biting sarcasm.

If Soul could mock me, I was certainly allowed to return the favour.

I shut my phone and put it back in my pocket. He was there. Dorian saw me. I knew for a fact that he didn't create that storm; he doesn't have that sort of power. He was harmless for the most part. Unless, of course, you count the endless stalking and breaking into my house while I was sleeping. But I'm not one to judge, now, am I …?

The rain cleared and I realised I was bone dry. The storm wasn't natural.

Up ahead I could see the school, we were only a few minutes away. I pushed in front of Soul and tried to make a run for it, but he grabbed my arm and stopped me.

“I hope you know you are more like Cael than you think you are,” I teased.

“Oh, really, maybe that's why you love me so much,” he retorted.

Now that was an answer that I truly didn't expect. Amazing,

I had no idea that he had such a wide array of sarcastic and witty comebacks. Contrary to popular belief, I didn't think sarcasm was the lowest form of wit. It took a lot of thought to be sarcastic.

“Sorry – that was out of line, as usual. I just needed to talk to you, ask you some questions,” Soul said tenderly.

Oh, that was cute … he was actually pretending to care about his attitude – how pathetic. “What questions?” I asked, pulling my arm away.

“What is it like being an elemental?” Soul asked, his voice and his eyes full of curiosity. For once he seemed relaxed, his posture had changed and his entire personality seemed cheerful. Oh yes, his question. It was actually a good question. What was it like being an elemental? Personally, I loved it and I lived for it; Cael thought otherwise. We were two opposites, Cael and I, in more ways than one. Cael holds the elemental power of water and I hold fire. I'm basically the original pyromaniac, in the flesh, so to speak.

“Oh it's great,” I replied lamely.

Soul laughed loudly. “What element are you again, Emilie? What's Cael? Do you two know who the other elementals are?”

So many questions, so little time.

“I'm fire and Cael's water. No … Cael didn't want to search for anyone else,” I replied instantly. I tried to smile but couldn't.

“Fire,” Soul muttered under his breath. “Powerful.”

I nodded and he smiled. How on earth can he manage to smile so much?

“Emilie, what's wrong?” Soul asked, placing a hand on my shoulder. I pulled away and ran in the direction of the school. I ran fast, but I couldn't lose Soul. He kept up easily, but he didn't try to catch me. I stopped as I reached the car park and turned to Soul who
was standing a metre away, an expression of confusion on his face.

I took a deep breath before running back to him and kissing him. It only lasted a moment, but for that moment the world stood still. One kiss can say so much. I was falling in love with him. I didn't want to admit it but it was the truth and nothing could stop that. I knew that this might just get me killed but it was a risk I was willing to take, for now at least.

“Soul! I am going to pretend I didn't just see that. Emilie! Class. Now.” The sharp voice of the principal made me laugh.

“Sure thing, sir. Coming Soul?”

He burst out laughing as we walked to class. I was a little concerned about what Cael would say when he found out. The whole school would hear about it at the next senior assembly. That was how the principal ran the school.

Soul and I stood at the door of the classroom. Cael looked up from his book and shook his head in what seemed to be disgust, then went straight back to his book. I couldn't help but smirk. Soul nodded, grabbed my hand and pulled me to a desk next to Cael. Soul sat between us, obviously looking for a reaction from Cael – and he got one.

I heard a rip of paper then a small paper plane fell onto my desk. I opened it and laughed out loud. The teacher spun around and gave me a death glare, which only made me laugh louder. I looked back at the note before showing it to Soul who smirked.

When will the price become too high?

CHAPTER 5

I left my phone in the car and walked past the large paperbark trees that surrounded the house. This was going to be fun. There was no point in locking the car, or even going inside the house. I walked quickly, avoiding loose branches, anything that might combust. I smiled as I felt my body temperature rising and looked around. I needed an open space, away from the dry trees. Wouldn't want to hurt anyone now, would we?

The soft wind ruffled the trees around me. The weather was perfect, not too humid. I would be able to use my powers easily. I stepped over a fallen tree trunk and into a large open space. The grass was dry. I wouldn't have to worry about destroying anything here at least.

I walked forward to the centre of the field and I closed my eyes. I let the heat overwhelm me and put my mind at ease. I couldn't afford to think or be distracted if I was going to do this properly. I took a deep breath and held my fists out in front of me. My mind was blank and I was at peace. Slowly I unclenched my hand and opened my eyes.

The skin from my hand all the way up to my forearm was deep red. I stared at it for a moment and waited patiently. Nothing was happening but that was to be expected, I hadn't used my powers in over a century. Cael thought it would be safer if we pretended to be
humans, which meant we couldn't use our powers at all. I could have found a reason to do it, but I didn't.

My hand was now burning; heat waves rose then disappeared into the air above. It wouldn't be long now.

Finally, orange-red flames rose from my hand. They gently flickered across its surface, the heat prickling my skin. It felt right. I'd missed this feeling and I couldn't believe I hadn't done it sooner. I brought my hand to my face for closer inspection. The flames remained intact as I turned my hand over a few times. I had always found flames beautiful. So much power behind them. They're amazing. I stared down at my palm before stretching my arm out in front of me again. I smiled once more as it turned blue-white with pure heat.

With a flick of my wrist flames shot to one of the trees. They hit the dry leaves, turning them deep red and engulfing the entire tree in seconds. I watched in amusement as more trees caught fire. I turned around facing the untouched trees and closed my hand into a fist, placing it by my side.

I kept my hand down and stared ahead intently. It was a matter of seconds before anything happened, but it was magnificent. I only had to stare at the tree before it burst into flames. This time it was white flames that licked the dried bark from the tree. It disintegrated into nothing but a tiny pile of ashes, while the embers blew in the wind setting fire to the surrounding forest.

I decided to stop – after all, I had made my point: my powers were just as strong as they used to be. Of course, I was using my powers against trees; I doubt they would be of any use in combat with demons.

I looked up in shock, as I realised how the fire had spread. I was now standing in a ring of flames. A human stuck in the same predicament would have panicked – even a non-elemental demon
would have freaked out. The loud crackling of burning leaves filled my ears, the heat pleasantly warming my entire body. I walked through the flames, back the way I had come.

The further I walked, the more I began to realise how far the fire had spread. I saw how dangerously close it was to the house, any further and it would be right on the doorstep. As I reached the backyard I looked around and cried out. Everywhere I looked, there were flames … What had I done?

I heard a loud creaking noise behind me. Slowly, I turned to see a large eucalyptus tree crack at the base and plummet directly towards the house, breaking through the roof with a terrifying smash. Flames danced across the roof, small embers floated down, inside the house. I couldn't speak, I couldn't move. I could only watch on as flames engulfed the house in mere seconds.

I ran back to the car and grabbed my phone and keys from the seat. I ran back towards the road and, without thinking, dialled Soul's number. The flames travelled alongside me, of their own free will. The extent of my actions became even more obvious as the flames travelled faster than me. Soul answered the phone just as I was about to hang up.

“Soul! Help me. I didn't … I don't know what to do. I don't know where to go!” I spoke quickly, my voice full of panic.

I had burned down the house and put thousands of humans at risk. I was stupid and I couldn't believe I had been so careless.

“Hey, slow down, Emilie. What happened? Where are you?”

“Soul, I set a fire, a big one. The house … it burnt down,” I replied, my breathing deepened. “I can't even see the sky anymore.” Dark smoke covered the sky and made it impossible to see.

“Shit. Look, I'll come and get you. Don't move, I know where you are.”

Soul hung up. I stopped walking and looked around. I shook my
head in disbelief as I saw the flames had destroyed everything. All the trees, bushes and plants were gone. All lost because of me.