by Tamara White
That’s all I want to take, apart from toiletries, but I’ll get those. I don’t really want the guys going through my feminine products. Talk about embarrassing.
“Oh, and if one of you wouldn’t mind going in to the office and getting my birth certificate, please? I might need it, and I doubt my parents will give it to me if I ask for it.”
I can’t believe I’m actually going to stay with the guys. I’m feeling happier than I have in a long time. I have never been more grateful that I met the guys.
“I’ll go look for your birth certificate, Evie. You and the others head to your bedroom and start packing,” Mike says to us.
Kylan, Teddy, Dane, and I all go down the hall to my bedroom. The guys are all standing outside my room, clearly they don’t want to go in first.
“Guys, you can just go in. It’s not like I leave my bras and panties all over the room,” I laugh at the looks on their face. They’re all blushing and trying to not look at me. I walk into my room and start pulling a couple of bags out. Opening the smallest bag, I go to my underwear drawer and pull all my panties and bras out and pack them away. I throw in the two sets of bikini’s I own just in case we go for a swim.
I call out “All safe, guys. No chance of you finding any underwear,” I’m still chuckling when they come into the room.
They’re all looking around at my room, taking everything in. There isn’t much to notice. I barely keep anything that my parents might use against me. I used to have posters, but my mom would tear them down and throw them away. My small bed is pushed up against the window with plain purple cotton sheets. I think the sheets are the only colour in my room, apart from my clothes that I have. Dane and Kylan are in the closet pulling clothes off the hangers and folding them neatly before they put them in the bag. At least they are looking after what little possessions I have. Teddy is by my dresser getting the clothes out and packing them into the bag at his feet.
I go into the bathroom to pack up my toiletries. Better grab my razor and toothbrush just in case, besides I don’t want to spend money on things that I already have. I head back in my bedroom and put my toiletries bag in with my underwear. I hear running from down the hall before Mike bursts in looking panicked.
“We have to leave. Now!”
Mike
I watch Evie and the guys go down the hall. I love watching her tease them. She gets this mischievous sparkle in her eyes and it’s the hottest thing I’ve seen.
Sure, I’ve been with other girls, but with Evie it’s different, and not just because of the bond. She has been through so much and worries more about us than herself coming back here. And she may not admit it, but even though her parents have hurt so much she still loves them.
Making my way down the hall, I notice there are two rooms at this end of the house. How sad. Evie’s room is at the opposite end of the house, whereas her parents’ room and her dad’s office are next to each other. You would think Evie’s room and her parents’ room would be next to each other and that the office would be at the other end. They really must be cruel to isolate her so much.
I head into the first room and see a bed and dresser, so this must be her parents’ room. Wow, it’s so bleak. No colour anywhere. Even the clothes hanging in the closet are blacks, greys and whites.
I snoop around to see what I can find out about her parents, but there’s nothing to find. Her parents’ room is so drab. They must not allow colours in the house, or something. Poor Evie would have been so isolated here. I leave the room and head into the office instead. They have an office next to their bedroom, rather than their daughter’s room. I project to the guys so they know what I’ve found so far.
Ky is the one to respond, It’s the same in Evie’s room. Her walls are a pale grey colour and there is nothing with colour on it except her sheets. She has pale purple sheets on her bed. It’s so cute, like an act of defiance against her parent’s colour choices. Have you found the birth certificate yet?
Our poor Evie. No haven’t found it yet, just looking in the office now.
I go to the desk and look through the papers, but don’t find it. I look through the drawers in the desk and still can’t find it. There are a few cupboards on the back wall. I go through them all and almost give up when I get to the last cupboard. Of course, it would be in the last place I look. It’s locked so I know it must be in this one, next time I look for something I’ll try the locked cabinet first.
I jimmy the lock open and see a box in the cupboard. I pull it out and sit down on the floor with it. It’s filled with papers and what looks like journals. I see Evie’s birth certificate and pull it out and set it aside. I wonder what these other papers are. It looks like letters so I pull one out and read it
Marcia and Charles,
I hope everything is progressing as normal with Evelyn. Please update as new developments emerge.
R
I pull out another
Marcia and Charles,
We have decided that it’s time to increase the pressure on Evelyn. You said she has shown no known ability yet, so we would like you to start instrumenting harsher punishments to see if anything will trigger her element. We are giving you permission to use any means necessary to make her elements come forth. The sooner her abilities reveal themselves, the sooner you will be rewarded. We will be waiting for updates on your progress.
R
Holy shit! These sick people were hurting her to get her abilities to activate early. It’s not unheard of for powers to activate before you turn eighteen, but one must be powerful for it to happen. The youngest we know of was Teddy when he turned fifteen. I dig through the rest and pull out another letter.
Marcia and Charles,
You must move immediately. We’ve received information that Evie’s father is well and truly alive and he’s coming for her. Relocate and isolate her. Break her, if you have to. Her father must not find her.
R
Seriously what the hell was wrong with these people?! To hurt someone to force their powers to activate?! And who is this R person signing the letters?
I pull out letter after letter looking for a recent one. Hopefully we can figure out why they wanted her powers to activate. Finally, I find one in an envelope that is postmarked from two days ago. It looks rushed and it’s hard to read, but I manage to figure it out
Marcia and Charles
Break her! Her father knows where she is and that she is alive. If you can’t break her, destroy her. She must never know who her father is…….
Shit! I get up and run down to Evie’s room. “We have to leave. Now!” I demand.
It’s taken me a few minutes to get my head around it all, but someone knows Evie is an elemental. They placed her with these parents on purpose, with the intent to force her powers, and they did that by abusing her. And it’s highly unlikely that they would place her with human parents, so that means they must be elementals. And we aren’t prepared to deal with them.
“Your parents were hired to take you in and I think they’re Elementals,” I’m looking at Evie, but I can tell the guys know what this means.
Chapter 14
Kylan
Fuck! We were almost finished packing, when Mike comes in telling us we need to leave. I grab the rest of Evie’s clothes and toss them into the bags and zip them up.
“Sorry Evie, but we’re out of time. If your parents are elementals that means they’re working for someone powerful. Possibly even the Shaded and you aren’t trained to face them yet. I grabbed everything except your bracelet.”
I watch her walk to the dresser and pick up her bracelet and put it in her pocket. “Ok guys let’s go.”
We all grab a bag as Mike walks down the hall to the office and comes back out carrying a box.
“It has her birth certificate and letters about her in it,” Mike says to us.
As we reach the front door, I hear a car coming down the drive. Oh, this is so not good.
Evie
I�
��m operating on autopilot, still in shock from Mike saying my parents are most likely Elementals. We almost make it out the door, when we hear a car coming up the drive. I look over at the clock on the wall. It’s after 3pm so most likely it’s my mom, but dad has been known to come home early too.
“Come on guys, there’s nothing to do to avoid them now. The sooner we get this stuff in the car the sooner I can leave,” I tell them.
As we get to the car, I hear my mom and dad calling me. I guess they car pooled today, because I don’t see mom’s car anywhere. “Evie, what do you think you’re doing? Get away from those men!” My mom is standing at the car looking shocked that the guys are here.
I walk over to my parents until I’m a few feet away while the guys stuff my bags in the back “I’m sorry mom, but I’ve decided it’s time for me to move out. I’ve taken my belongings so I won’t need to come back. I’m eighteen now so I can legally make my own decisions,” I turn away from her and head back towards the guy’s car.
I’ve taken two steps away from my parents when a wall of fire erupts between me and the guys. I yelp and jump back. What’s Kylan doing? I look up at him about to ask him what the hell he’s thinking when I see the guys staring at my parents. Then I hear why.
My dad’s laughing. I turn around and I’m sure I look as shocked as I feel.
“Really Evie? Did you think we would just let you leave? Now say goodbye to your little friends over there and get inside the house!” By the time my dad finishes he’s shouting.
Part of me is terrified but I just can’t leave the guys. Even though the bonds haven’t formed, I care for all of them.
“No.” I refuse to let my parents push me around anymore.
“Have it your way then.” The wall of fire disappears before balls of fire are being thrown towards each of the guys.
They all jump into action dodging the fireballs and throwing their own powers. I’m just standing here frozen. My mother has started using Air against the guys. I’m in complete shock. My parents are Elementals. Why didn’t they tell me? Why?!
Dane’s voice breaks through my shock. Evie, sweetie, can you hear me? We need you to snap out of it and head to the car so you’re safe. I know you’re scared and in shock, but we need you to be safe. You don’t have full control of your powers yet, and we don’t want you to get hurt.
Dane is helping Kylan fight off my father while Mike and Teddy fend off my mother. Ok, but please stay safe. I’m getting the hang of sending thoughts now.
I’m almost at the guy’s car when I hear one of them cry out in pain, I know I should keep going, but my powers are telling me to turn around and help.
Mike, Dane, and Kylan are standing in front of Teddy protecting him, he’s on the ground with blood running down his temple.
How dare they hurt Teddy?! They hurt me for so long, but never will they hurt someone I love! I start heading towards them and I feel my elements starting to rise. I look up and feel the power I have. Focusing all my anger on my parents I shout at them, “How dare you attack one of my bonded? You have abused me all my life, and I accepted it thinking it was your way of showing love and keeping in control, but I will not stand by while you hurt those I care about!”
Focusing all my rage into a ball I aim for the dirt in front of them. I may be angry, but I can’t kill someone. I unleash the power and lightning fills the sky and hits where I was aiming.
How did I do that? My parents are both staring at me with shock. They back away and I’m happy to see fear on their faces. They both get in their car and drive off leaving me and the guys here.
I turn to look at the guys and make sure Teddy is ok. The guys are all staring at me with looks similar to my parents.
“What?” I ask them confused why they are staring. I understand my parents looking shocked because they must have assumed I didn’t have an element, but why would the guys be shocked? They know I can use all four elements.
“Evie, you just called lightning,” Kylan states.
“Yeah so?” I don’t get it. Surely Dane has called lightning in front of the guys before. I turn to Dane “Have you never called lightning in front of the guys or something?” he looks at me shocked.
“Evie, I can’t call lightning. No Elemental can. What you just did, has never been done before,” Dane is looking at me less shocked now and more proud. Now I’m shocked. If it’s never been done before how did I do it?
Dane
I can’t believe Evie just used lightning to strike at her parent’s feet. Not just that she called lightning, but she stood up to her parents after everything they’ve done to her.
Yes, I told her to go to the car, but she saw Teddy hurt and wanted to protect him. She even said she cared about us. I know that this might be the wrong time to discuss this, but did anyone notice she said she cared about us? And that her powers seem to take control when one of us is injured? I doubt that would happen if we weren’t meant to bond.
The others turn to look at Evie while she sits there. She’s sitting on the ground with her arms wrapped around her knees. I think she’s in shock.
“Hey, Evie, why don’t we take you home now ok?” I talk gently to her so she doesn’t freak out. She just nods so I don’t know how much is coming through.
I reach down and scoop her into my arms and start walking her to the car before sending a thought back to the guys. Let’s get her home so she can rest and absorb everything. Once she’s ok, we’ll start looking into the lightning. I climb in to the back of the car and settle Evie in my lap while I wait for the guys to climb in.
Mike
Evie’s nestled in Dane’s lap when we pull up so I walk around and grab her from Dane and carry her into the house. Walking through the house unit we get to the living room where I place her on the couch before going to the closet and pulling out a few pillows and blankets and placing them around her.
I’m having mixed feelings about the bond. It’s not that I don’t want Evie, because I really do, but is it possible for all four of us to bond with her and have it work out? I’ve seen binding with two males constantly jealous so how will it work for four of us? I leave her to just think things through while we try to regroup.
All the guys are at the doorway waiting for me, so I walk down to the kitchen so we can talk without disturbing Evie. “Did anyone bring in the box of papers I found?” I ask.
“Yep it’s right here,” Ky puts the box on the table for us to see.
“We need to go through the letters and find out as much as we can. In one of the letters it said Evie’s father is alive.”
Evie
I had planned to stay here and think everything over, but my stomach had other ideas.
Not only have I been told I’m a freak elemental that can use all elements, but now I can use lightning?!
I can hear the guys talking down in the kitchen but I pay no mind to what they are saying.
I step in the kitchen just as Mike is saying “In one of the letters it said Evie’s father is alive.” What?! Today has been hard enough and now my real father might be alive?!
“Show me!” I demand.
Mike mustn’t have heard me coming because he whips around so fast I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t have whiplash.
“Evie, are you ok? What do you need?”
“Mike, I’m fine, but I want to see the letter you’re talking about.”
Why would my parents tell me he was dead if he wasn’t? And if he is alive is my mother? Where has he been all my life? Why can’t life just come with all the answers?! Mike is looking through the box and pulls out a letter, he looks at the other guys before handing it to me. I don’t think they realize that I can tell when they are talking mind to mind now. Besides, I don’t think I want to know. I read the letter
Marcia and Charles
Break her! Her father knows where she is and that she is alive. If you can’t break her, destroy her. She must never know who her father is…….
They
knew my father was alive?! What does it mean destroy me? It’s not bad enough that they abused me, but they wanted to destroy me?! Fuck this shit! I am sick and tired of everyone knowing more than me!!!
Teddy
Poor Evie. Mike had told us what the letter said, and I knew she would be sad, but I don’t think any of us expected what happened next.
It started out soft, but you could feel the earth rumbling with the beginnings of an earthquake and see the sky darkening followed by the sounds of thunder.
Evie herself seemed to be glowing as if a light was shining from within her and her hair started blowing around her with the air she was using. It was both amazing and terrifying. Slowly I approach her so I won’t startle her. All new elementals can react badly if spooked.
“Evie, we need you to calm down, sweetie. If you use more power, you risk exposing us all and hurting innocent people.”
“I’m so angry Teddy I don’t know how to let it go. My parents had orders to destroy me so my real father couldn’t find me. What does that mean? Are they supposed to kill me? Is that what destroy means? I’ve never done anything but love them. I stopped defying them. I did everything for them. What did I do to deserve this life?!” Our poor girl is crying by the time she finishes yelling out her frustrations.
We can feel her heart breaking and we can see it in the elements that are charging around her. I reach for her and pull her into my arms while she sobs all her frustrations out.
She holds on tight to me, but her elements are still raging around us.
What do we do? Her elements aren’t easing if anything they’re getting stronger. I’m hoping one of the guys will have an idea because I have nothing.
I feel Evie gasp and tense before whispering “Who are you?” Leaning back, I look down at her confused. She has a vacant expression on her face much like we do when we communicate with our minds. I wonder who she’s talking to.
