The Elementalist (25 page)

69

~Another Get-together~

Claire

Claire talked with Jamie long into the evening, explaining everything and tying up any questions he might have had, which honestly, she didn’t mind. She didn’t want him to go home anyway. He never did make it home in time for dinner.

Their budding romance was still fresh in the air and very noticeable when their other friends showed up at nine o’clock that night. She’d called them all, inviting them over for something very important, remaining cryptic as usual, to pique their curiosity.

Claire studied them, feeling like everything had come full circle, and instead of hiding with them down in her basement, away from the prying eyes of her mother, they sat in the living room
with
her mother.

Angela walked around the room, lighting candles and incense, arranging things perfectly. Kaden and Wade sat side by side on the love seat looking uncomfortable. Kaden had his arms crossed over his chest and wore his defiance as though it were battle armor, but at least he was there. Wade picked at a loose thread in the couch’s upholstery, not making eye contact with anyone.

Katelyn sat on the couch alone, watching every move Claire and Jamie made as they held hands, leaned together, and stole kisses. Katelyn told them to get a room, making everyone laugh, but a strange ambiance still permeated the air.

When Angela finished with the candles, she turned to Claire’s friends. “I am so glad you could all come over, on this very special, very holy day.”

Claire watched her mom, so proud and excited that she was willing and eager to be a part of this, which was what she always wanted and wished for… for her mother to teach her.

“I don’t see what’s so great about it,” Kaden said. “It’s just a normal Saturday night, just like any other.”

Claire frowned. He did not seem to have gotten over everything that had happened lately, and the very fact that Kaden was still angry and hostile worried her. Everyone participating today needed to have love in their hearts or the ceremony wouldn’t work.

“Kaden,” Claire pleaded. “Please keep an open mind.”

Angela smiled at Kaden and the rest of them. “Yes. Please have an open mind. Today is the eve of the Fourth Blood Moon, which is a unique string of four lunar and two solar eclipses that have happened over the past two years. It ends at dawn tomorrow.”

Katelyn shifted and stared at Angela, her long, blonde hair tumbling over her shoulders, As usual, she looked like a Greek goddess, sitting there with her legs crossed. “So, we’re having a slumber party then? We’re staying the night to do this ceremony thing?”

Angela nodded. “In a sense. There is much to do during the night to prepare. You did clear it with your parents, right?”

The kids nodded. Some reluctantly. Angela gave a sigh and smiled, seeming relieved.

“I wish I would have brought my pillow.” Katelyn smirked and took out her phone, pulling up the internet. “So, let’s see what the internet has to say about this fourth blood moon thing.”

“I can explain it faster and easier,” Angela said, walking over to the couch to sit beside Katelyn. “These Blood Moons have been the source of a lot of speculation and prophecy. Some say the end of the world will happen on this day, and that Armageddon will begin. In my studies, I have learned that it is a day when a war will be fought between good and evil. No one is quite sure which prophesies are true and which aren’t, but one thing is the same in all of them.”

“And what’s that?” Wade asked, piping up for the first time. He always felt like an afterthought, and it made Claire feel sad that she felt that way. He was always quiet, unassuming, and a pleaser, but she liked him a lot. Maybe the most, after Jamie.

Angela glanced at him with kind eyes. “It’s said that the Earth will groan under the weight of evil, mountains will fall down into valleys, earthquakes will rend the continents, and rivers will become oceans.”

Kaden glanced out of the window and laughed. “Looks like you’re all wrong. It’s going to be a clear night with no clouds and a full moon. In fact, I think I’ll go now, so I can enjoy the rest of my evening. Later, losers.” He stood, shaking his head, saluting on his way out of the door.

Claire’s heart dropped as he slammed out, and she glanced over to Wade, worried that he would leave too. “You guys can’t leave,” she said to everyone. “We need you all.”

“I’ll stay,” Wade said, but he didn’t sound very convinced or excited about it.

“You couldn’t
make
me leave,” Katelyn said, scrolling through the links on her phone. “From what it says here, it’s going to be huge, with all sorts of cosmic catastrophes and global earthquakes. It also says that another planet is going to pass by Earth so closely that we may collide with it, ending our existence for good! Oh, my gosh! Wait, supposedly, there will be survivors. You should read this stuff! Okay, on this page, it says Christians believe Jesus will come back on this day. Hey, I’m a Christian, and I didn’t even know this. Today could be our last day on Earth ever! Do you believe that?” she asked Angela.

“I reserve the right to wait and see,” Angela answered with a soft smile. “But it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”

“Yeah,” Katelyn answered. “But I don’t see how we can do anything that would make a difference.”

“Of course we can make a difference. Every choice we make makes a difference,” Claire said, squeezing Jamie’s hand. “Mom?” she said. “Can’t we begin? Please?” A sense of urgency grew inside of her. The room grew dark as night descended and goose bumps erupted on Claire’s arms.

“It says on this link that the lunar eclipse will make the moon turn red.” Katelyn strained to look up at the sky from the front window. “I didn’t even know we’d have an eclipse tonight. We are so uninformed.”

All four kids knelt on the couch to look out of the window.

“The moon would be in the eastern sky at this time of night,” Angela said, and they all ran from the living room, through the kitchen, and out of the back door. Sure enough, there was a full moon, high in the sky, clearly visible. Clouds had begun to accumulate and the wind began to blow, causing Claire’s hair to whip into her face. Kaden was wrong. A storm
was
coming.

“Let’s go back in,” she said, tugging on Jamie’s hand.

“Wait,” he said, holding her back. “What time is the eclipse supposed to be again, Kate?”

“Hmm. Let me see.” She took a second to scroll through her phone’s browser, all of them watching and waiting in silence. The wind grew stronger and colder by the second. “It says here it will happen at five o’clock AM.”

They all glanced at one another, their tension and excitement mounting.

Angela walked back toward the house and held the door open. “Then we better get started.”

70

~Raging Battle~

Alisa

When we appeared at the gates of Idir Shaol, the clanging of swords and other weaponry reverberated so loud I had to cover my ears, but it did no good. The screams of the wounded carried on the breeze and penetrated deep into my soul.

I couldn’t believe this was happening.

Grasping the handle of my sword, I slid it from the scabbard. The tip clanged to the ground, too heavy for me to lift. This did not bode well, but I followed the surge of people through the gates, seeing all the familiar buildings, the places where I learned to become a guardian, the different structures where I spent time visiting with Raphael, Natty, Gram, and my old roommates.

All those happy memories were washed away with the destruction I saw. And then I noticed that the library… my favorite place of all, where any dreams could come true… was now alive with flames that burst from the windows and crawled over the roof. They weren’t ordinary flames though, but black, with dark purple centers, and the smoke that rose from them was a deep, raging violet.

Stopping, I stared, awestruck at the malevolent beauty of the blaze from hell, but I was pulled from my astonishment as a demon stepped before me, his weapon raised, his eyes solid black. I jumped back, startled, and stumbled over my feet, dragging the sword with me.

The demon laughed at my ineptness, licking his lips with a thin, black tongue, more like a serpent’s, than a man’s. “This is going to be too easy,” he said, his voice a deep growl at the back of his throat.

Fumbling with my weapon, I held it as best I could. It wobbled in my grasp, and I knew I looked like a complete idiot. I couldn’t fight like this. I was never meant to, so I did something absolutely crazy and suicidal. I let the sword drop from my fingers to the cobblestone street at my feet.

“Giving up so quickly?” My enemy balanced on the balls of his feet, shifting his weight back and forth.

“No. I’m just not going to fight like this.”

“In a battle, my dear, there is no other way to fight.” His slimy smile spread from ear to ear, or it would have if he’d had ears. His skin was smooth and gray, and he had pointed, jagged teeth, which glistened with spittle. For some reason, I was mesmerized by his inhuman appearance. I reached out, unafraid, to touch his skin to see what it felt like, because it looked like stretched leather. He was so surprised that he didn’t even stop me or try to get away, just flinched and jerked as though I’d burned him with my touch, his eyes opening wide in surprise.

His body was corporeal! Amazing. I hadn’t anticipated that. He must be one of the higher-up demons. A tremor of fear zinged through me at the thought of battling someone who potentially had more power. When he saw I was about to reach out and touch him again—I figured if it had worked the first time, it could work again—he took a couple of steps back. His heavy brows furrowed and he used his free hand to push me away, but he cried out in agony when his hand touched my shoulder. “Who
are
you?”

“I’m nobody. Just a guardian.”

“No,” he said. “I don’t believe that.” Shaking his head, he backed up slowly, and then turned, sprinting away. I laughed in spite of myself. All this time, I’d been so worried about being capable enough to handle a weapon, and I didn’t need one at all. I’d had a weapon inside me all along, but just as my self-confidence began to grow, a familiar face appeared before me, and my newfound hope was dashed against the rocks.

“Hello, Guardian.”

“Lamia,” I breathed softly, my belly aching with dread.

“It’s been a long time.” She still wore red, like before, except this time, she had long, crimson robes instead of a pencil skirt and stilettos. Her hair was still coiffed into a perfect blonde bob. She was striking… and terrifying.

“Not long enough,” I answered. “Where have you been?” I asked, wishing she were still there.

“You don’t know?” Her voice was as smooth as melted caramel, and almost as hypnotizing.

“Um… no.”

“Ever heard of Gehenna?” She watched me, completely unafraid. She didn’t even hold a weapon.

I took a step back. “Maybe.”

She smiled slowly, stepping forward. “You’d fit right in there.”

“Actually, I wouldn’t. Been there. Done that.”

She stopped midstride, and a frown graced her porcelain brow. “You were locked up in Gehenna?”

“For a while.”

“Why didn’t I know this?”

“My guess would be a lack of communication in the ranks.” Smiling, I took another step back, and even though people surrounded us, they didn’t seem to take any notice of us. At least, nobody came to my rescue, which was what I was hoping for.

“How did you escape?” she asked.

“Very carefully.” I couldn’t help the smile that came to my face, even though I was terrified of this woman. She’d nearly killed Brecken and caused all sorts of horror for the people of my hometown, including my own brother. I let those memories wash over me, so I could hold onto my righteous anger. I couldn’t let her see my terror or the way she made me quake inside. I raised my fists in a defensive position for some kind of physical manifestation of courage. It didn’t help.

“What are you going to do? Karate chop me?” Lamia threw her head back and laughed with incredulity.

“Maybe.” Hoping to make her back off, I gave her my best glare.

“Go ahead and try that,” she said with soft eyes, regarding me with new appreciation. “You still don’t even know who I am, do you?” she asked, obviously not afraid.

Why would she ask such a question? Of course I knew who she was. “You’re Lamia, a ditzy, blonde demon, who hates me, if I’m not mistaken.”

Laughing again, she shook her head and sighed. “That’s not what I mean.” She stepped closer. Suddenly, my nerves began tingling, and I became mesmerized, unable to move as her gaze locked with mine. Her hand caressed my cheek, her fingers grazing over my lips. A heavy ache developed in my belly and I found myself leaning into her touch. The feelings she elicited were not unfamiliar, but I knew they didn’t belong here, in a battleground. I still couldn’t make myself move or pull away from her.

“You are lovely,” she said. “It would be a shame to completely destroy you. You have so much potential after all.”

In my mind, I heard a voice screaming for me to get away from her, but her touch felt so good, so seductive on so many levels.

“Do you know what I am known for?” she asked me so lovingly that I merely shook my head.

“They accused me of devouring children, but that’s not true. I don’t devour them. I never have. I
love
them. They become mine. I love children even though I’ve never had any of my own.” Her other hand cupped my cheek and she brought her face close to mine. She smelled like rain and something else… slightly unpleasant, but not terrible. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from hers. They pierced deep into my mind, caressing all the insecurities I’d ever had. She communicated without words, embracing me without arms. “I could be your mother, too.”

I didn’t want her to let go. More than anything, I wanted to stay with her, and I was filled with the fear that she would leave me and walk away.

“Do you feel that?” she asked with a loving smile, her thumb caressing my cheek.

“Yes,” I answered in a hushed tone, my eyes closed.

“Do you want to keep this feeling forever?”

“Yes.”

“Then we shall seal it with a kiss.” She leaned forward… oh, so slowly, never blinking. She was so beautiful, so warm, and so perfect. Nothing else mattered. People cried out around me, but the cacophony was only a whisper. I heard my name called, but I couldn’t look away from Lamia. My whole world was
her
. Her eyes, her smile, her touch.

Her face was only a breath away when I saw someone running toward us from the corner of my eye, but it was all erased when her lips pressed savagely against mine. Energy exploded inside of me, shooting through my veins like super-powered adrenaline, zinging to my fingers and toes, making my chest pound. I may not have had a physical body, but every cell of my spirit surged with power.

I grasped Lamia’s arms, unable to break our embrace. My heart told me to sever the bond, but my mind yearned to drink from her like a starving child, because she
was
my mother now. I couldn’t reconcile the two conflicting emotions, so instead of doing something, I froze.

Suddenly, I was thrust away. An icy chill resided inside me, and I cried out in dismay. Lamia wiped her mouth with a cackle, glaring at a man with long, dark, flowing hair, his armor so bright it burned my eyes.

“Raphael,” she spat. “You’re too late!” Still chuckling, she stepped back from him. “She’s mine now.”

He turned to me, his lovely green eyes filled with horror and despair. “Alisa?”

Even as I looked at him and took in his beauty, I felt only a detached interest. I knew this man, but I couldn’t seem to dredge up any feelings for him. With a howl of rage, he sprang for Lamia, who wore the most enchanting robes of magic and power I’d ever seen.

“Stop!” I screamed. The man was huge, but I was nimble. I latched onto him, trying to scratch his eyes. I shrieked, my voice sounding foreign to my ears. He pushed me away, and I jumped back up, kicking his legs and biting his arms.

He smacked me hard and I fell down, my head spinning. Lamia was easy to spot in the crowd as she effortlessly escaped his grasp and ran away. Her laughter charged the air with static, but I couldn’t let her get too far away. I had to stay close, to protect her, to help her, to be with her. Getting to my feet, I took one last look at the handsome warrior.

A soft breeze blew through his hair, lifting the tendrils around his chin. His eyes hardened as he watched Lamia escape. He didn’t go after her, which surprised me. I thought he wanted to kill her. Instead, he turned his gaze on me. I should run away and follow my new mother, but something in his eyes stopped me.

“Alisa,” he said in a commanding tone. “You are not to follow Lamia. She has no power over you.” He stepped forward and reached for me, but I jumped back, afraid, smacking his arm away. Trembling, I held my hand up as though it would keep him at bay.

He gave me a sad smile and said, “I’m sorry,” as he roughly grabbed my arm and yanked me toward him. His grip burned as if his fingers were coated in acid. I cried out in pain, trying to pry his thick fingers from my wrist, but it was no use. He would not let go, and the hardness in his eyes as he stared down at my quivering form made me yearn to shrivel up and die right there. The burning of his touch raced through me like wildfire, scorching every bit of matter in my soul, and I completely expected to burst at any moment.

I was dying, and I shrieked for Lamia to come back for me, to rescue me, but she had disappeared from sight without a second thought, abandoning me to this green-eyed devil. The burning traveled through my entire soul and finally coalesced in my chest like a nuclear bomb. I fell to my knees, sobbing, as pain and anguish collected like dew on the ground beneath me. The warrior still held my arm, but when it was all over and I glanced up, I recognized my captor for who he really was.

“Raphael.” His name formed in my mouth like a prayer, and my weeping turned from despair to relief. I fell into his arms, holding him around the neck as though he were a life preserver, which, technically, he was.

He had expelled Lamia’s poison.