“Honey, what you're doing out there, I have never seen or felt anything like it. You are out-of-this-world. I'm so proud,” Dad says with his own twinkle in his eyes. I rest my head on his shoulder and leave it there. Silas brings his hand forward to squeeze my knee. “Really, Scar. You’re awesome,” he says, with his own compliment. I see the camera around his neck, and I know he’s capturing these moments for us. “Thanks, guys. I love you.” I thank them as my eyes find Dimitri again. He isn't paying much attention to me anymore. “What’s going on with him? Why is he acting so weird?” I ask, full of concern. “Ever since he came back with Lenora, he has been noticeably different. At times he’ll speak with you like the Dimitri we know, then he’ll get this faraway look, as if you aren't even there next to him,” Silas answers.
Demi nods her head rapidly, agreeing with her husband. “Yes. I have never seen him so obsessed before. And they’ve only just met. There’s something about her, Scar. I can’t pinpoint it. I just know there’s something strange with her. You’ll see for yourself when you meet her,” Demi tells me, as we all watch my uncle, who is normally so energetic and focused. He hasn't heard anything we’ve said, and I'm now getting worried. “Dimitri?” I attempt to get his attention. He slowly turns his head towards me with no expression on his face. “Dimitri?” I try again. A slow smile begins to form on his face, but it looks more like a grimace. It is a look I have never in my life seen on his usual easy-going face. He turns his head back to the front and returns to his daydream. “We’re not sure what to do,” Dad says, as a look of sadness fills his eyes. Nodding my head, I stand to transport myself to the Elders’ area. “I will see if I can go home for a little bit, so I can meet this Lenora,” I say with conviction. “Love you, guys. See you after the last Match,” I tell them, before attempting my transport cast.
I successfully transport to the Elders’ area and focusing on Ava, She asks, full of concern. I dramatically take a seat and shrug my shoulders. “I'm really not sure. I’ve been so busy that I haven't had the chance to speak with my uncle. He seems off kilter. None of us have ever seen him like this before, ever. I want to investigate on my own what’s going on with him, but my time is so limited with all of this prophecy stuff. I'm hoping maybe you can help us?” I say. She takes a seat next to me and nods her head, encouraging me to continue. “Dimitri met a woman when he went to Quisqueya on the mission with my dad.” I see her back straighten and a look of surprise, and pain fills her eyes. I slowly continue. “Well, he brought her back to New York with him, and he is acting all love struck. But he looks like he’s confused or not fully coherent. We’re worried about him,” I say seriously.
Ava’s eye twitches as she reaches over to take my hand in hers. “Maybe it’s just his time to be with someone. He deserves all the happiness and love in the world,” she says simply. She looks like the wind has been knocked out of her. “While I agree with you, I just don't think this Lenora is the one to give it to him. Even Dad says he doesn't think it’s healthy.” I attempt to convince her. “I will meet with Rick after the Matches. Your turn is up in a few minutes. Let’s return to the arena and discuss this further with your family when we arrive back at the estate,” she tells me with a small smile. She has sad eyes, and I can’t help but wonder why she looks heartbroken. I wish someone would tell me Ava and Dimitri's history. Maybe I could bribe Hunter with my desserts in exchange for some information.
I hear the sound of the blast and know my turn is up next. Ava snaps her fingers, and I appear in front of the event. Evan is jogging out of the Match to wait with the others. I decide to focus on what’s remaining of the Matches and get more information later from whatever source I can. There isn't much I can do when it was I who volunteered to compete, so I won’t give up now. The blast sounds in the air, and I run up to my roulette. The other casters did their casts one at a time. But now that I have urgent things to do outside of these Matches, I want to end the day sooner. So finding my power instantly and willing it to my fingertips, with my palms up, I cast five balls of my power. I see the electricity pumping inside of them, making them look galactic. I throw my hands forward, and each ball flies into the waiting roulette. It begins to spin at a dizzying speed, and I have to look away. Finally, it slows down, and five separate casts appear above the roulette; “Pendulum of Emotions” “Sleeping Spell” “Cat Connection” “Crystal Ball” “Memory Bank”.
They seem pretty self-explanatory, so I'm going to wing it and try my best. Again, because I want to help my uncle, I want to get through the next two matches quickly. It takes me a full three minutes to come up with an effective strategy. I sit down in the grass and close my eyes. Blocking out the concerned thoughts of Dimitri and focusing on the casts that I have to complete, I find my power instantly. It seems to be coming to me more and more quickly, as I progress with each event in the Matches. I lead it to my fingers, thinking of a black and white striped kitten. I didn't know if it was common or even possible for a caster to create life, but I wanted to try. I can feel how much strength I needed, and I knew that I had to fully let my power out for this cast. And only for a moment I set it free. Feeling my body get lighter, everything became clearer. I snapped my fingers, and a black kitten with one single white stripe going down its entire back appears at my feet. I pet its head and instantly feel our undeniable connection. He looks into my eyes, and I gasp when I see how silver and metallic they are. They look like comets racing across the sky at night. Comet is what I’ll call you. The kitten purrs as it continues to stare into my eyes. Did it just react to what I said in my mind?
The kitten purrs again. And as much shock that I'm in, I have to continue with the event. With Comet in my lap, and my eyes closed again. I think of a collar for him, black and purple with white stars on it, with the name “Comet” etched into the top. I snap my fingers, and the collar appears around its neck. Thinking of the next cast, I focus on the thought of a small clear crystal. I flick my wrist, and a crystal the size of my pinky dangles from the bottom of Comet’s collar. And I watch as a bright orange color begins to fill the inside of the crystal-like smoke. When Demi and I were growing up, Dad would teach us that each emotion had its own color. And from what I remember, bright orange was matched with curiosity. I move on to the next cast, closing my eyes, and thinking up a temporary sleeping spell. I place my hand atop Comet’s head and whisper sweet dreams to his tiny ears. With a kiss to seal the cast, I place my lips on his soft fur.
Comet goes limp, and I gently place him on the floor, next to my side. The bright orange color that just filled the pendulum is now turning a royal blue. Melancholy is what matches that blue. I smile to myself, knowing I successfully casted a pendulum linked with the cat’s emotions. I clap my hands in pride and move on to the last two casts. Closing my eyes and concentrating, I think of the cliché crystal balls you would see in the movies, only with a little more elegance. I think of a small golden base the size of a hockey puck and four thick silver and gold poles that meet on top of the gold base. The four poles spread out in a perfect diamond shape. I snap my fingers and set the holder to the side. As I form my hands into a ball shape, I think of the clearest glass as I move my hands around in a circular motion. And I feel the empty space in between getting heavier and heavier. I clap my hands together, and a smooth round crystal ball that fits in both of my hands carefully falls into them.
I gently place the ball in the golden base that sits atop of the four silver and gold poles. Taking a deep breath, I hurry to complete the last cast. With a single touch to the top of the ball, I place a minuscule portion of my power inside of it while thinking of past times. The second I felt my power escape my fingertips, the loud blast sounds in the arena, signifying the end of my turn. I stand up, and Ava appears in front of me with Hunter by her side, again. With wide eyes, Hunter walks up and lifts Comet into her hands. “Heavens, Scarlet. Casters can’t bring new life out of nothing like you just did. And they definitely can’t do it by themselves. Can you wake
it up?” She asks, with awe clear in her tone. I bend down and kiss the top of Comet’s head. “Wake up, Comet,” I whisper. His eyes flutter open, and the pendulum around his neck fills with a dark orange color of suspicion. I didn't think Hunter’s eyes could get any bigger than they just did.
“Really, Scarlet. None of us can hardly believe our eyes,” Ava says, as she bends to retrieve the crystal ball I casted. She brings it up to our eye level, and the second her finger touches the ball. A picture of Dimitri at her door appears in the center. Ava turns red as we watch Dimitri follow her through the door, and I snap my fingers to end the memory. Ava clears her throat and attempts to gather her wits. She nods to me once and turns to walk towards the waiting competitors. Hunter comes to stand by my side with Comet still in her arms. “Your uncle has always been a sore subject with her. You threw her a curveball when you told her he’s seeing someone.” She admits to me. “I didn't know they were a thing. I suspected it, but didn’t know for sure. I went to her because I was worried about him. I didn't mean to hurt her feelings,” I say sadly, although I am slightly proud. Go, Dimitri! Dating the head Elder is definitely something to brag about. But why hasn't he ever spoken of her in a romantic way? Why are they so secretive?
Hunter nods her head and pats me on the back. “We know. But now you know, tread lightly when talking about Dimitri. They're not each other’s Anima Partem, but they are damn near perfect for each other. Neither of them can really see that. Stubborn casters, they are.” She shrugs her shoulders. “We’re keeping Comet, by the way.” She says, before transporting herself to her seat. I watch them as they crowd around Hunter to give Comet some love. Ava's voice booms in the arena, as she announces the last event of the day. And as much fun as this day has been, I'm glad it’s almost over.
Jogging over to the entrance of the last match, I watch Ava as she still holds my crystal ball, steering clear of touching its surface full of deep hidden secrets. “Congratulations, casters! You have all made it to the last event, Fight Box! It is a common event we see when we’re wrapping up the day. There is a small box waiting for you in your designated areas ahead. Tap the tip of your wand to the top of the box and back away. Await the creature you are destined to defeat. Cast as much as you like. Your turn is only complete when you use your wand to return your creature back into the box. Time is not on your side in this event. With only five minutes to finish, your multitasking skill has to be at its best. Good luck and let us end this day with a bang.” Ava nods her head and disappears before our eyes.
Evan wraps his arms around me and encases me in a warm hug. “I’ve missed you. You were phenomenal out there, again. I’ve never seen a caster create life like that, especially on their own.” He brings his lips down to mine and places a soft and loving kiss on them. My spine tingles, and I shiver with goosebumps rising on my skin. The blast sounds in the background, and the first set of casters from each location runs up to their box. Not paying attention to them, I keep my eyes on Evan’s gorgeous hazel ones.
“I love you, Evan,” I tell him before bringing up the Dimitri dilemma. “I miss my family. I feel like I'm so out of the loop now. Something looks wrong with Dimitri, and I hate that I'm not there helping them find a solution. And Hunter just pretty much confirmed any thought we ever had of Ava and Dimitri together, which is amazing. But then why is he so hooked on this new woman? I have to meet her.” I declare. Evan brings his hand up to cradle my cheek.
“I know you miss your family, love. And I know how much they're missing you, too. I’ll see if we can go back to your dad’s house after the Matches are over.” He says, comfortingly. I nod my head in thanks and rest it on his chest. His deep voice rumbles in my ear, as he continues to talk. “As for Dimitri and Ava, good for him. But you're right. Why would he trade her for someone else? I’ll look into it, too.” he says, as he plants a kiss on the top of my head. “Thank you, Evan. You're the best.” He squeezes me into a tighter hug and let’s go as we listen to the third set of blasts sounding in the arena. I lift my head off of his chest and watch the caster from Greece run up to the box that is meant for her. She snaps her fingers, and her wand quickly appears in her hand. She brings it down to the top of the box and taps it once then runs a few feet away and gets into position. The woman is slightly bent at the knees, with one hand pointing her wand towards the now shaking box and the other hand raised next to her, with an electric ball of her power at the ready.
Her box quivers on the floor then stands eerily still. The lid snaps open, and black smoke rises out of it. The black smoke stills and forms a large body that is becoming clearer and clearer. I bring my hand up to my mouth, as I watch the form complete its terrifying transformation, standing tall before the stricken Grecian caster is a very scary clown. And if it is terrifying me, I can only imagine what it is doing to the caster about to fight it. She looks as white as a ghost, and it doesn't look like she’s breathing. I see a tear fall out of her eye as she takes a deep breath, throwing the ball of her power to the clown’s face. It bends as it writhes in pain. She takes the moment to run towards it. And just before she gets too close, she jumps in the air and kicks out her leg. Her foot connects with the clown’s jaw, and it falls to the ground, grabbing at its face.
She looks pleased with herself and looks up to see if I'm watching, but the clown was waiting for a moment to strike. It went from whining about his broken jaw to a loud and creepy cackle. It looks up into the caster’s face with its jaw hanging by a thread. Blood drips down its neck, as it brings its arm back to slap the caster. She goes flying back and screams when the clown makes contact, but I can see her get angry. She slams her fists into the ground and lifts her wand high above her head. She chants words in her Greek language, and a glowing blue string of light strikes out of the tip of her wand. Like a whip, she brings it back then swings it forward. It grabs the clown by the neck, and I see her twist her wrist. The blue light tightens around the clown’s neck as the clown lift its blood-smeared gloves to pull at it.
When she realizes she’s got him, she raises the wand up and then slams it towards the box. The clown literally squeezes into the box, spraying blood and guts all over the area around it. The caster claps her hands and turns to look at me. With a nod and a wink, she jogs off of the event and into the waiting area, where there are refreshments awaiting the casters that have finished their day. I turn back towards Evan and hear the blast sound the air, indicating their turn being over. “You like her,” he says. He must have been watching me while I watched her. “I do. I hope she’s in the coven,” I admit.
We spend the rest of our time watching the other casters defeat their deepest fears. And after watching how fast Evan defeated the enormous dragon he was given, it gave me a new sense of strength. I hear the blast go off and run up to the box. Closing my eyes, I focus on the beautiful wand that I just received the other day and flick my wrist, as it appears in my waiting hands. Tapping the top of the box, I take a few steps back, conjuring up a basket of my own electric power balls. I watch the box shake violently, then still, as the black smoke rises out. Curious as to what is going to appear, I attempt to ready myself. I watch as the smoke begins to form something the same size as me. Beginning from the bottom, I freeze when I realize what I have to defeat. Finally, reaching the top, the smoke dissipates and my face stares back at me. An exact replica of myself stands before me, ready to fight.
What the hell? Trying to stay focused, I make the first move, throwing one of my power balls at her stomach. But she sees it coming and rolls out of the way. Great. I hope she doesn't fight like me, too. I throw another one at her, and she moves out of the way again. This time, though, she makes her move. Running straight at me with fists raised, I can see she is aiming for my face. I can see all of her focus is solely on punching me. So just before she can make contact, I bend at the knees, and I extend my foot. She trips over it and falls to the ground. I quickly take my wand and cast four invisible ropes to tie each hand and each foot to the gro
und. Then wave my wand and watch as her arms and legs get stretched out around her, as if she’s in a medieval torture rack. She squirms, trying to get out of the bindings. But even I know my power is too strong for her to set herself free, unless she retains the same power that I have. I stand above her and bend down to get a better look. She is me, every birth mark, every strand of hair, and every inch of skin is mine. Too focused on her features, I didn't notice when she smirked at me. She lifts her legs from under me and pushes them up as she takes a hold of my neck and flips me over. Now laying on my back with her arms around my throat, it’s my turn to struggle. Adrenaline takes over, and I set my power free. I feel it as it escapes my body and embraces the freedom. My evil twin slightly flinches, and it’s enough for me to counterattack. I bring my legs up and flip myself back over, so I'm standing above her again. I take her hair in my hands and bring my wand to her throat, cutting a clean slice directly across. I hear her choke and gurgle on her blood. I let go of her hair and twirl my wand in a round motion. Her body rises off of the ground and painfully twists and bends into a small tiny ball. I levitate it back into the box and close the lid, shakily walking off of the event grounds.
Evan runs up to me and takes my hand. “That was intense. Are you okay?” He asks, with concern and pride. Still slightly shaky, I only nod my head. With understanding Evan drops it and leads me to the table for a cool fresh drink. Ava and the other Sisters appear in front of the tables, clapping their hands, applauding us all for a good day of competition. “Well done, casters. Dinner will be ready for you when you return to the estate. Get some rest and recharge yourself for Day Two tomorrow,” she turns and walks towards the exit. The other Elders stay behind to help us back to the busses and back to the estate. I didn't realize how exhausted I was, until I sat on the comfortable chair on the bus. I rest my head on Evan’s shoulder as we take the quick ride to the estate. And in my numb state of mind, I connect my thoughts to Evan, “Shower with me?” I ask. I feel his arms embrace me just a little tighter, as he concurs with my exhausted request. “I will never say no to that, love.”
Winter's Awakening (Light Coven Chronicles Book 1) Page 34
