Elemental Reality (10 page)

14

Genocide Intent

Psychotic Demons

I couldn’t stop staring at my wings. They were absolutely amazing, and they matched my personality perfectly. Was this all a dream? I pulled the sleeves of my hoodie up and glanced down at my skin, which still had a glow to it. I gasped, shocked. Dad and Oli laughed.
I’m glad they think this is so funny
, I thought sarcastically. My anger flared up even more.

I clenched my teeth as I spoke. “You made it seem like I was going to die. Why?” I asked.

“It was the only way,” Oli said quickly. “We had to get you mad enough to make your powers come out. For now, your emotions control your powers. Eventually, you’ll be able to control them on your own.”

“Gee, you guys are awesome at not being jerks. Why didn’t my wings rip my hoodie to shreds?” I asked, crossing my arms.

“Your wings may be a little harder to explain,” Dad threw in.

“I’ll try to keep up,” I said wryly.

“All right. I’m going to explain this in the simplest fashion possible. Your wings are like ghosts. They’re transparent—not solid.”

I reached back and pulled on one of my wings. “It feels pretty solid to me.”

“Well, they would to you because you’re not human. Look at it this way: when ghosts are in their own realm, they’re solid to others like them, but when they enter the human realm they become an apparition. That’s what your wings are—an apparition to humans, but solid to others like us. Because your hoodie is manmade they were able to pass directly through it.”

“Uh, freaky m-much? A-and why am I glowing?” My voice wavered.

“It happens.” Oli laughed. “At least you’re glowing instead of bursting into flames. You would have really been gobsmacked.”

“What do you mean ‘on fire’?” I asked.

He turned to Dad who nodded in approval, then back to me with a playful smile on his face. He flexed his fingers and fire roared to life from his hands.

“Oh my God.” Lola and I gasped.

“That’s so cool. I want powers. Help me get my powers. I don’t want to be the oddball here.” Lola pouted. Oli closed his fists and extinguished the flames.

“Releasing your powers might be tricky, sweetie,” Dad said. “You haven’t shown any signs yet.”

“How do the powers work?” she asked. “Do you just think of it and it happens?”

“In a way,” Oli said.

“Interesting.” She looked at her hand and snapped her fingers. The crackling of electricity sounded. She did it again, and the sound reappeared.

“Did you hear that?” she said excitedly. The three of us nodded. She stared harder at her fingers and snapped again. This time a tiny spark of electricity showed itself.

“Did you see that?” she squealed. She held her hand up and stretched her fingers. “I want sparks of electricity to form on my fingertips.”

Sure enough, her fingertips glowed white, and electrical sparks appeared, making her fingertips look like sparklers on the fourth of July. Everyone was so interested in the sparks she had formed on her fingers, no one else had taken notice of her wings, except for me. They uncurled behind her back and were so huge, they almost touched the ground. They were teal with an opalescent shimmer and beautifully woven like strands of the finest of ribbons. The ends were curled and flowing.

“Lola,” I said. She closed her fist to stop the glowing and sparks and focused her attention on me. “Your, uh . . . your wings.” I pointed behind her. She looked over her shoulder and let out a joyful squeal, then turned to look at them in the sliding glass door.

“How cool. Guess I didn’t need the training to get my powers after all. Callie, let’s fly.”

“Fly?” I snorted. “I can’t even control this glow coming from me.” You might as well call me Violet Beauregarde minus being round like a blueberry.

“Just don’t think about it,” Lola said.

“How can I
not
think about it?” I said. “And why are you so accepting of this?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “It makes me different. Just one more thing to add to my already awesome personality.”

“Lola, we aren’t even human. This whole thing has completely warped our reality.” Was Lola in her own little world? How did she not see this whole Faerie thing being a problem with our human interactions?

“We weren’t human before and managed just fine,” she noted patiently. “It hasn’t changed anything.”

“Uh, hello? Shiny purple girl with wings in front of you.” I went all Vanna White to showcase myself.

“Kitten,” Oli interjected. “Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Try to calm your anger. That’s what’s flaring it up: you’re still angry with us.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, held it, and exhaled slowly. I felt substantially calmer and a lot cooler. Just to be safe, I kept my eyes closed a fraction longer then carefully peeked with one eye to see if I had stopped glowing. I saw that I had but also took notice to something I hadn’t seen before. Starting just below the heel of my left palm, encircling my wrist and ending at my elbow, were five symbols that appeared to be scarred into my skin. I recognized four of the symbols as earth, fire, wind, and water because of Oli’s necklace, and the other one, I assumed, represented electricity.

“Does everyone have these markings?” I asked Dad.

“Yes, but they’re usually in different places. Mine are down the left side of my ribcage and your mother’s were around her right wrist.”

“Where are yours, Oli?”

“Mine are across my back. They go from shoulder blade to shoulder blade.”

“Lola, check your arms.” She rolled up her sleeves, and covering the length of her left forearm were all five symbols in the exact same order as mine.

“Holy crap. How awesome is that?” she exclaimed. “Now I don’t have to spend money on inking myself up.”

I walked back onto the patio and took a seat, the weight of everything pressing down on me. Did this mean we could rescue Mom after training? I wondered if there was a fast-track course. Call me impatient.

“Dad, where is Tehokas City?” I asked.

“It’s between two vast mountains in a place where the elements thrive the most,” he explained.

Lola’s laughter broke through our conversation. She was pointing at me and laughing.

“What?” I said, irritated.

“You . . . totally . . . forgot . . . your . . . wings,” she said between laughs. “They’re sticking out of the back of the chair. The chair has wings. It had a Red Bull.” She bent over with her hands on her knees as she cackled insanely. Oh, the things that could amuse my sister.

I glared at her.

She let out one last laughing snort and composed herself. “Okay, so it wasn’t that funny to anyone else but me apparently.”

I huffed. “Lola, do you realize what this all means?”

She thought for a moment. “Uh, we can fly?”

“That’s beside the point. We can go after Mom now.”

“Girls,” Dad interrupted, “it’s not going to be that simple.”

“Why?” we asked at the same time.

“Well, she’s most likely in Palon. No one knows exactly where that is. And you can’t see it because it’s underground. However, you two will be able to feel it because your fire element is heightened since it’s new.”

“That sounds pretty simple to me, Dad,” Lola said.

“Hah.” I snorted. “Are you going to walk over thousands of miles of earth to find them? Besides, there’s more to it than that, isn’t there Dad?”

He nodded. “They’ll know we’re there, and they’ll fight back. You both need training first.”

“Take us to Tehokas City so we can train,” I demanded.

“We can’t go until you can fly,” Dad hedged.

“So teach us, Dad,” Lola demanded. Dad and Oli looked at her, eyebrows raised in question. “What?”

“We”—he motioned between him and Oli—“can’t fly. No Conjurer can.”

“So how do you and the others get there?” I asked, curious.

“Well.” Oli laughed. “It’s pretty troppo . . . I mean crazy. In order for us to transport—”

I cut him off. “What do you mean ‘transport’?”

“Well we can’t just use a plane, train, or car to get there.”

“What about a boat, Oliver?” Lola asked with humor.

“No,” Oli replied in exasperation. “Please let me explain. In order for Conjurers to transport to Tehokas City, we must first encounter an element we possess—not that every time we come in contact with that element does it mean we’ll transport. Bugger me.” He sighed in frustration, rubbing at his neck.

“Hey, you’re doing fine. I’m keeping up with you. For the most part,” I said soothingly.

He nodded. “So once that occurs, we must think about Tehokas City then our bodies start to glow and break down into tiny molecules and basically snap out of existence and into Tehokas City. Being ‘transported’ there is the easy part because our molecules are drawn to it. Leaving Tehokas City is tricky. In order to leave, we have to envision the place we want to travel and
not
let that image leave our minds because there’s a slim chance our molecules can separate and that’s not a good thing. We can be tracked that way.”

“Wait. Rewind. What the hell are you talking about?” Lola asked and crossed her arms.

“Yeah, I’m with Lola. Explain more.”

“Conjurers have to ‘dissolve’ because we’re wingless,” Dad explained using air quotes.

“And Faeries do what, exactly?” I asked. “Fly there on their own?” I asked. “Tap our shoes three times and say ‘There’s no place like home’?”

“No,” he said with a smile. “You also dissolve, but your wings are your guide.”

“Well, that seems unfair,” Lola complained. “We have to actually work to get there, and all you have to do is dissolve? What the hell?”

“I hardly see flying as being work, Lola,” Oli said with patience. “But maybe my mum can explain it better.”

“Would you be able to go get her, Oli?” Dad asked. He sounded eager. “I’d appreciate it if she’d explain the things we can’t.”

“Sure thing, mate.” He glanced at his watch. “But it’ll have to be tomorrow since it’s already so late.”

Dad glanced at his watch. “Ah, so it is. My, how time flies when you’re preparing to battle genocide intent psychotic Demons bent on killing your daughters first.”

“We have to stay like this until tomorrow?” I screeched. “How am I supposed to sleep? Go outside? Work? Nuh huh, these wings need to disappear. Now.”

“We can hang you from the tree like a piñata if you want,” Lola said.

I glared at her. “Whatever. I’ll just sleep on my stomach.”

“Or give your bed wings,” she continued with a grin.

“I’ll call work tomorrow and tell them we’re both sick,” Dad said, shaking his head at our sisterly banter. He turned to Lola. “You’re skipping class tomorrow.”

“Sweet,” she said excitedly. Dad gave her the stink-eye. “I mean, awe shucks.”

My mind and body grew tired. We headed into the house, said goodnight for the evening, and headed to bed.

15

The Transition

The next day my body ached from sleeping in one position all night. I knew my wings could just go through the bed, but that didn’t stop my mind from unconsciously keeping my body still. Then again, I was probably aching from running for my life yesterday, along with everything else that happened. Few words were shared between the three of us during breakfast. After we cleaned up from breakfast, we changed and went outside to wait for Oli and his parents. I was left in stunned silence as I tried to digest everything from the day before. I really just wanted to learn how to fly so we could rescue Mom. To have her home again would be undoubtedly wonderful. I heard Lola pipe up and begin prattling off questions to Dad about how to use her powers.

“This is cool as shit,” Lola exclaimed. “I’m like Wonder Woman . . . Wait. Should I have been able to get my powers?”

“Everyone is different,” Dad answered.

“Trippy.” Lola had obviously drank a pot of coffee or three that morning. “Can you teach me some neat tricks?”

He seemed happy to help. Dad’s water and fire elements seemed to be much duller than Lola’s. I wondered if it was because Lola’s powers were new or if being away from Mom for so long had decreased his energy. I opened my mouth to ask but stopped myself when I heard the glass door slide open behind me. I peered over my shoulder, but my wings blocked my sight. I stood up and turned as Oli walked toward me with his mom and dad following behind.

I smiled. “Thanks for coming over, Lucy.”

“My pleasure, dear,” Lucy said sweetly. “I’m more than happy to help. This is my husband, Oli’s father, Joey.”

Joey extended his hand, and I placed mine in his for a formal handshake. “G’day, Callie. I’ve heard a lot about you because of Oli’s non-stop pining over his soul mate. I’m extremely happy to finally meet the sheila that stole my boy’s heart,” he said in his silky-smooth Australian accent. He and Oli shared the same facial features and hair color, but their sense of style was completely different.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. “It’s nice to finally meet you too, and I’m honored to be that sheila.” I glanced at Oli who stared at the ground. He grinned goofily, and his cheeks were rosy from embarrassment. He was adorable.

“Joey? Lucy? Is that you?” Dad asked as he peered around my wings.

“Can someone tell me how to voodoo my wings away?” I asked, annoyed. They were beautiful but completely impractical on the ground.

“It is, mate,” Joey replied excitedly, ignoring my question.

Oli grabbed my hand and pulled me next to him carefully so as not to hit anyone with my wings. He snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. I smiled, happy to be close to him, and he returned the gesture. He leaned down to kiss my forehead but stopped. He seemed nervous. Apprehensive almost. He glanced at the others before he kissed my forehead. How adorkable.

I watched the surprisingly joyful interactions between Oli’s parents and Dad. It reminded me of how Ady, Emery, and I were with each other—as if they’d known each other their entire lives. I had never heard my parents talk about them, but apparently there was a lot I didn’t know.

“Did you know about them?” I whispered to Oli.

“Yes. I had heard of your family. There are many Pierce family rumors. My oldies used to tell me stories about their life in Tehokas City before we moved to Tasmania. Knew all about their two best mates, Rorey and Scarlett, who they did everything with, even traveled to Tasmania together. My mum and yours were pregnant at the same time, but Scarlett was due a month after my mum. When we were little tykes, my mum and dad would visit all the time, but one day the house was deserted. My oldies were devastated and asked to be relocated to Tasmania shortly after. For them, living in Tehokas City was a constant reminder of how lost they were without their best mates. When I moved out, my parents went back to T. City, hoping your parents would return.”

“So why didn’t you bring them over when you realized who I was?” I asked, truly curious.

“They weren’t sure how the reception would have gone,” he admitted. “Your oldies fled without telling anyone, even their best mates.”

My eyebrows rose in realization. “That’s what she stopped herself from saying the night I came over?”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “She told my dad, and they were both ready to show up on your porch that night. But I told them you didn’t know what you were yet. I told them I was being cautious with what I said to you.”

“But how did you know what I was when
I
didn’t even know?” My eyebrows scrunched in confusion.

“Our connection is strong, Kitten.” His voice was gentle. Tender. “Your elements flaring up was like a honing device for me.”

“So I’m an even bigger freak?” I joked.

“Yeah. Sorry to be the one to break the news about your freakiness.” He chuckled.

I nudged him in the ribcage with my elbow. He squeezed me closer. As I relaxed into him, we stared in awe at the spectacular reunion happening in front of us. An abundance of tears and hugs trickled down on the group. Not to mention the cornucopia of “I missed you,” “How are you?” “Why’d you disappear without a warning?”

“Kitten?”

“Yeah?” I said without tearing my eyes away from the reunion.

“My oldies and I want to help save your mum.”

I whipped my head up and locked eyes with him. “Really?” I said excitedly.

“Yes.”

I smiled from ear to ear, glad to know that Oli and his parents were ready to help with our dangerous rescue mission. I wanted to learn how to fly so we could go to Tehokas City and receive the training we needed right this instant. Not that I was impatient or anything. On the other hand, I didn’t want to break up the reunion because I knew Dad needed it. My attention went to Lola who was in her own little world playing with her powers. I sighed. There was a tinge of jealousy laced in it.

That jealousy must have contorted my features because Lucy frowned and came over. “What’s the matter, dear?” she asked.

“Everything is so easy for Lola,” I admitted grudgingly.

She looked at me with sympathy and turned her gaze to Oli. “Can you give the two of us a minute?” Oli nodded and walked over to Joey and Dad. “Are you saying you don’t accept what’s going on?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying,” I bit back. Lucy’s question angered me. “I accept the change to my reality. I don’t accept the fact we had to wait so long for it.”

“I understand completely. When your parents left, it was a big change to our reality. We tried to escape our loss, but the memories always haunted us. I agree it isn’t fair, but your dad was just going by your mum’s wishes. There’s a good reason behind all of it.”

I was frustrated now. “And what’s the reason?”

“I don’t know. I’m sorry.” She frowned.

I breathed out a heavy sigh. “It’s not your fault. I didn’t mean to get snippy with you. I’m just frustrated and angry that Lola isn’t questioning this like I am.”

“No worries,” she said with a smile.

“I do have one question though. You and Joey are the same age as my parents, right?”

“Yes.” She eyed me warily. “Why?”

“Why does my dad look so much older?”

“He’s been away from your mum for far too long. He grows weaker the longer they’re apart. And part of that makes him appear more aged. We don’t physically age as fast as humans as long as we’re not separated from our soul mate. Our Elders are four hundred and sixty years old, but they appear to be in their mid-sixties. Once your parents are reunited you’ll see the physical change.”

“So when will my physical features stop aging?” I wondered.

“In a few years time you’ll see the difference,” she said. “Or lack of one, if you will. I can’t explain it, but you’ll know.”

“Rock on then.” I laughed.

Lucy joined in. “What do you say I teach you and Lola to fly so we can rescue your mum?” She sounded just as eager as I felt.

“I say let’s do it.”

“I don’t think so,” Dad interrupted.

“What?” I said angrily.

“I told her I’d save her. She left to protect you. It’s not your place to put yourself in danger again. I won’t allow it.” He was tight-lipped and serious. He meant business.

“Dad, it’s our turn to protect her. Lola and I have been without Mom for too long. I want her back.
We
want her back.” I crossed my arms tightly.

Lola, who had a stream of water hovering between her palms, let it drop when she heard the argument between Dad and me. She made her way over, crossed her arms, and cocked her hip defiantly.

“Get as angry as you want, but I still said no,” Dad said to the both of us, his tone ringing with finality.

I stepped forward and placed a hand on my hip. Jutting my finger toward him, I yelled, “You are not allowed to go all fatherly on us over this. Not only are we adults who can make our own decisions, but have you forgotten the little fun fact of not telling us anything
for twelve years? You’re too weak to do this on your own. We lost Mom. We can’t afford to lose you too. We’re helping you save her. All of us.” I motioned to the others around me.

Dad shook his hand. “Out of the question. This is not your responsibility.”

“You’re right. It’s our duty.” I glared at my father, my fury over his lie boiling beneath the surface.

“No,” he ordered stubbornly.

“Then we’ll find our own way to Tehokas City,” Lola said.

“With or without your help,” I finished.

Dad’s shoulders slumped in defeat as he swiped a hand through his curly hair. “Why’d you have to be so stubborn like me when it comes to arguments?”

“So we’re saving her then? All of us?” I asked. Shocked I actually won the fight and so quickly.

“This will be a never-ending argument. We’ll all go on one condition.” I perked up. “You listen to what I have to say when we get there. Tehokas City will be a new place for you both, and you don’t need to step out of line there.”

“Deal,” I said as I stuck my hand out to shake on it.

Dad gripped mine firmly. “Okay then. Go for it, Lucy.”

“Great.” Lucy prattled on about the anatomy of our wings before she got to the good stuff. “Before you can actually fly, you have to make your muscles stronger. It shouldn’t take long. Your wings are like a horse standing after its birth. They’re shaking at first but quick to stand. In your case: fly. Especially since you’re both young. You’ll be flying in no time.”

As Lucy spoke her wings unfurled behind her. They weren’t as big as ours in width or height, but they were just as beautiful and silky, as if they were woven from delicate iridescent white silk strands. When the sunlight hit them in the right spot you could see a hint of lavender.

“Now, the first thing I want you girls to do is flutter your wings without moving your arms,” she ordered. “Concentrate on flexing your back muscles.”

I closed my eyes and concentrated on just tightening and retracting the muscles next to my shoulder blades. It was hard to flex them without moving my arms or shoulders, but I soon got the hang of it. A soft breeze rolled across me from my fluttering wings. The more I pumped my muscles, the stronger they felt, and in no time I was able to flutter my wings without much thought. It was so natural.

“This is amazing,” I exclaimed. “I want to fly.”

“Does floating above the ground count?” Lola asked, eyebrow cocked.

“What?” I peered downward. I hovered just feet above the ground. “Oh, wow.” My voice was full of wonder.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” Lola hollered, working her wings even harder.

“In due time, girls. You first need the rundown on how this all works,” Lucy added with a pleased grin. “Oli told me he already explained how Conjurers get to and from Tehokas City. The way Faeries get there is kind of the same concept, and to leave from there is exactly the same except we fly. For us to get to Tehokas City we must
be airborne.”

“Like a butterfly,” I said, grinning like a fool. But a happy fool.

“Or a fighter jet,” Lola added. I raised my eyebrows, and she shrugged.

Lucy bit her lip to hide a smile. “Yes. Once we are airborne, we have to have Tehokas City in our mind, then our molecules are pulled toward it.”

“Like a homing device on a fighter jet,” Lola cut in as she stuck her tongue out at me.

“You can call it that,” Lucy agreed. “You can actually feel your elements being pulled on during the transition. You could say our wings are more of an autopilot for us as they guide us in the right direction.”

“That’s kick ass,” Lola squealed. “Definitely like fighter jets.”

“How do we, um, retract our wings?” I asked.

“You have to will them to retract. Once you’re more adept with your powers, they will retract and expand on their own. In order to do it now, you must imagine them curling back up and disappearing. It’s a lot harder than it sounds, but try.”

I closed my eyes again and pictured myself with my wings outstretched. The colors danced in the sunlight as they stretched to their fullest. The tips of them dissolved into sparkling glitter; the rainbow assorted kind. A giggle escaped my lips as the glitter swirled around me, leaving a glowing trail in its wake. My wings had completely turned into the swirling glitter before exploding like a firework above me. My wings vibrated, and I was excited because I had a feeling I was making them retract. It felt as if an invisible rope pulled them into my back. I thought it was going great until I heard the sliding glass door shut.