Balancer's Soul (40 page)

An hour after they ate and his new
in-laws finished their intense conversing, the tests
resumed.

Looking much better, Jillian stood
behind Connor like last time and Jack issued this test. “Connor,
the next test is my element, Fire. Use the candle and take the
flame away from the wick and use only your energy to supply the
necessary fuel to keep it from dying.”

Jillian trickled energy
through her hands on his back as he shut his eyes. Connor held the
candle holder in his left hand as he held his palm to the side of
the open flame. He didn’t want to make too big a big flame so he
pictured it the same size as he did with the water. The energy
flowed as commanded again from his chest and headed to his right
palm. Instead of a cool flow of cold water, this felt like a stream
of warm water flowing to his hand. Connor opened his eyes and saw
the flame travel away from the wick and wax and went to the center
of his hand. It seemed so small and it needed to grow bigger. Jack
had said to fuel the flame with energy
.
He wanted it as big as the water
ball and the energy obeyed his will without question or delay. The
continuous stream of energy from his chest flowed from a small,
steady stream into a controllable rushing current. The small flame
grew bigger and bigger until it became a fireball. He was able to
stop it from going any bigger, but only just.

“Very good, Connor.” Jack said, but
something in his words sounded off. “Light the wick back and stem
the flow of energy.” Connor did as asked and sat the candle back.
“How did it feel?”

“It felt like the water; only much
warmer.” He nodded knowing what was meant.

“Ok so you can use Fire as well.” He
sighed. “Fire is life… It can be helpful for warmth or light, but
it is also the deadliest element. If uncontrolled, people will die.
It has only a single purpose, to consume. But without fire many
more will die.” Jack looked at him directly. “Fire also has another
use. It has the ability to take away heat and freeze any object.
The problem is, not only does it use a lot of your stamina, it is
uncontrollable. If a solid object’s heat is forcibly and quickly
removed it will explode or shatter.

“Now it’s time for your final test.
Metal is the densest of the elements. It requires the most energy
to manipulate… As far as I have been told. I have seen a Metal
Balancer only fifteen times within my life use their ability in
front of me. My other daughter Amber is one of them. She is able to
change the form of the metal she carries and made it into any
weapon her imagination desired. Metal is an element of change.”
Jack stood up and handed over the cube of metal.

“Jack, if what you say is true, I know
that if I can use this affinity, I can feel it in my chest that it
is going to require a massive amount of energy.” He nodded and
stood in front of Connor placing his hands over his bare
shoulder.

“Connor, something isn’t right!” Sarah
said quietly looking at the piece of metal in his hand.

“What’s the problem?” He went
instantly on the defensive.

“Sarah, be quiet... We need to see if
it’s even possible.” Jillian said from behind, still transferring
energy in his back.

“Sarah, what is the problem? Are you
alright?” he felt her concern flowing through their
bond.

“Connor, just
finish
this affinity
test, and then we will explain after Sarah takes her own test.”
Jack stated, still pouring his energy inside. Connor looked at
Sarah and she nodded to continue.

“Alright.” But he didn’t like how
worried Sarah felt.

Holding the metal cube in his hand
Connor closed his eyes yet again and concentrated on the image of
the metal. In his mind he saw it change. The cube became circular,
then elongate into a cylinder. One end started to flatten and
become the tip. Half of the cylinder flattened and it finally took
the shape of a small knife.

Watching all of this within
his mind he finally opened his eyes and felt the power flow forth.
It became the same feeling when the rock cracked in two, only this
time instead of one solid, huge burst of energy it was a continuous
and massive current. Too much to be sustained for long. Looking
down at the cube in his hand he watched it gently hover over his
palm and it started to change shape. It played out liked it did
within his mind, but the only thing that looked different was that
the metal gave off incredible waves of heat as it morphed into the
small, fix bladed, knife. As it finished transforming and cooling
the handle gently fell in his hand. Connor felt like he was as weak
as the time when Jack made him go unconscious, but his voice
remained strong. “Now
that
is a handy little trick!”

Jillian and Jack took their hands off
and from behind, Jillian said “Well isn’t this an interesting turn
of events.”

Setting the newly formed knife down
Connor demanded “Alright what is going on around here? Tell
me.”

“Not just yet Connor. We need to test
our daughter now.” Jack said in a way that he didn’t have any room
to complain.

“Sarah, please tell me what
they are hiding.”

“I can’t, at least not
until I know for sure myself.”

***

“Will I have to wait
long?”
He asked with piercing
eyes.

“I doubt it.”
Sarah thought sincerely while trying to guard her
emotions.

She reached to grab the lit candle,
but Connor caught her wrist. He held it in his hand instead. He
looked at Sarah’s mother. “Jillian will Sarah need energy like I
did?” She nodded to him. “Ok. Now how do I pour my energy into her
like you did with me?” Jillian looked at him like a cat ready to
chase a mouse.

“Well since you know how to call on
your elements, it is even easier than that. All you need is to
picture in your mind giving energy over to your mate from wherever
your skin touches. Mates can transfer power between themselves
easier than how Jack and I worked together to pour our powers into
you.”

“Thanks Jillian. Wait…” Connor has a
slow growing smile over his face. And it meant Sarah is in trouble.
His exciting emotions caused her dread.

“Connor what are you up t…” He turned
quickly to Sarah on the sofa.

“Do you trust me?” He said with a
boyish smile.

“Completely…
Why
?” She didn’t get a
vocal answer, but what she did get was Connor standing quickly,
dragging her up with him. With the candle in one hand and her in
the other, he let her hand drop as Sarah began standing under her
own power. He quickly pushed the couch back with one hand and
dropped to the hardwood floor, sitting cross legged. “Connor, what
are you doing!?” Sarah probably looked hysterical, asking the
question.

“He is doing what is known as a
Balancer’s Chair.” It came from her father who looked at Connor
with wide eyes like he’s one of the new wonders of the
world.

“What’s a
Balancer’s Chair
?” Sarah
asked while glaring at her father. “Why have I never heard of it
before?” Jack ignored her and kept staring at Connor who sat on the
floor shirtless. “How did you know the best way to transfer
energy?”

“It just felt right.
Jillian said
skin contact
and I figured that this was the best way for me
to touch with as much skin as I could.” Connor retorted.

“Sarah, come with me. You
need to change into something
better
.” Jillian grabbed her hand
and led her into her bedroom. She sounded serious and yet ecstatic
which only meant that Sarah is in some form of imminent danger.
“Mother, what is really going on in there?” Sarah pointed at the
wall that separated her room from the silent living
room.

Jillian opened up her dresser drawer
and rummaged in the clothing. As she did, she explained “Sarah,
what you need to know about the basic technique of sharing energy
with your mate is difficult to explain.” She stood up straight and
turned, holding some skimpy red clothing in her hand. “When enough
skin is touched between mates their power increases two fold. If
your father needed more energy over what he can use, I can be like
an extra battery.” She shook her head trying to find the right
words. “Look my dear, take off your clothes and put these on.” She
handed over what was in her hand and shut the door as she left to
give some privacy.

Sarah tried to
telepathically talk with her new mate but all she saw were her
green eyes fixed in Connor’s mind. He was probably trying to block
her parents. Lucky he was blocking because her next thought could
have scared him.
“How was Connor able to
manipulate all of the elements? I thought…”

In her hand sat a rose red, two piece
bikini. She had to look again to be sure her imagination wasn’t
playing tricks. Sarah put them on, under extreme protest. As she
finished putting on the scandalous garments Sarah walked back into
the living room, feeling fully self-conscious.

Jack’s eyes were shut tight with his
back turned. Jillian looked at her daughter and smiled. “Well don’t
those look sexy on you!” and Connor’s expression was firmly fixated
in her mind. He said nothing, but his eyes explained that he
thought he might die a happy man.

“So what do I need to do?” Sarah
looked her mother and she answered “Let’s see how he does by
himself.” Jillian pointed to the still seated Connor. The burning
candle sat a foot away from his left knee, on the floor.

“What do I need to do?” She asked her
ogling mate.

“Come over here and sit down.” He
lifted his hand as a gentle offering. Sarah walked over and took
it. He turned her by grasping her hips as he guided her down to sit
on his lap. “We need our skin to touch as much as possible. Cross
your legs on top of mine… Good now lean back into my chest.” and as
she did he felt like the best seat she has ever sat on; firm yet
perfectly comforting. His body heat seeped into hers and his
breathing, along with his delicious smell became tantalizing. “Here
Princess… hold this.” He handed her the candle. “After knowing how
much energy it took for each element, I am going to try and
regulate the flow of energy you will need.” Connor’s right hand
wrapped around her abdomen and around to her lower back in an
embrace. His left arm wrapped over her left collar bone, between
her breasts and wrapped around to hold her bottom. It was an
intimate embrace. He put his face down and laid it on her right
collar bone and he kissed the side of her neck. Excitement shot
through her. He whispered in her ear “Good luck. I love you.” It
did more than simply give Goosebumps.

“Very good Connor, that’s the best
position to achieve perfect energy transfer. Ok Sarah, let’s get
started.” Jack said while finally glancing at his
youngest.

Sarah felt Connor’s strength slowly
pour into her from everywhere they touched. Slow and steady. She
made her very first non-migraine fireball. “Liquid!” Connor looked
up at her mother. And Jillian grabbed the cup of water while
handing it to Sarah and taking an unlit candle away.

Sarah said to her loving Connor “Fire
was my affinity before we became one. I was used to it. Can you
give me any pointers for this test?”

“I can do you one better.
Read my thoughts on how I did it.”

“Ok. Let me in!”
She wanted in, but Connor still had his defenses
up.
“Let me
all
the way in.”

“Oh… Sorry.”
Apparently he didn’t realize he was blocking
unintentionally.
“Thanks…”
and she read every detail about how he was able
to instantly manipulate water and every element on his first
try.

Sarah easily made her first
water ball. For the first time she felt a little petty. Since her
mother soaked her mate,
“It’s only fair
right?”
Before Jillian could react this
time Sarah threw the water ball at her father. He can’t control
water so he was defenseless and an easy target. It hit dead center
between his shoulder blades because his back was turned for a
moment. He jumped like a gazelle that just got spooked by a hungry
lion. Jack turned around looking for the culprit, but all he
received was laughter from everyone.

Next came the balloon Pressure test.
Thanks to Connor’s energy and his idea she was able to make it
rupture.

Then came the Terra try. As her mother
handed her the stone Connor whispered in her ear “Sarah, please do
not try and crack it. We will need the energy for the final trial.
Trust me.”

“Connor why do you sound
and feel worried?”

“Just please only float the
rocks.”
She did as asked and it worked,
Connor increased the flow for every trial, she finally noticed. And
why did he worry about Metal?

“Ok now for the last test.” Jillian’s
face became impassive and Sarah understood what she was thinking
about, without even reading her mind. They were all realizing what
was miraculously happening, except for her loving mate.