by J. J. Melvin
“Right this way, miss.”
I smiled at the others before leaving to follow Nicholas. I could feel their eyes on me as we walked up the stairs, but no matter how hard I concentrated I could not read their minds.
My room was beautiful. A fireplace created a warm red glow against the king size canopy bed, which had white sheer curtains encompassing its alluring invite. The room looked like it was made for a princess.
“Is everything to your liking, miss?” Nicholas placed my bags in the closet.
“Yes, it’s absolutely beautiful.” I felt like a child seeing Disneyland for the first time. “Thank you. Oh, and Nicholas, you can just call me Erika, okay?”
“Yes, miss. Thank you.” Nicholas exited the room.
My room was massive, complete with a walk-in closet, my own bathroom, and separate powder room. It was larger than my family’s whole apartment back home.
I walked into the bathroom where a large stone shower beckoned my use. I stood under the shower and a powerful cascade of water poured directly over me. I hadn’t realized how exhausted I was until that point. I think it wasn’t just the traveling, but information overload— my mind was tired.
I got out of the shower, wrapped my hair in a towel, put on my nightgown, and covered myself with a fluffy white robe I found in my closet. I put my red, swollen shower-roasted feet into the slippers that were emblazoned with my initials: E.M.
A knock at the door came just as I was about to lay down. I inched open the door. Peeking out, I saw Liam.
“Yes?” I whispered through the cracked door.
“Sorry to bother you, Erika. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, that you were comfortable and to let you know that I am just down the hall if you need anything.”
“I’m fine, thank you. The room is beautiful, Liam. It is more than I need.”
“Are you sure you don’t need anything? Are you hungry, thirsty?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you. I’m just really tired.”
“Okay then, goodnight. Oh, and one more thing, Mr. Blithe wanted me to tell you to be up and ready by 7am tomorrow. It’ll be your first day of training.”
“Okay, thanks, I will. Goodnight.” I shut the door. Laying on the bed I let exhaustion take over my body.
I woke up the next morning realizing that last night I hadn’t dreamed— or at least, I didn’t remember if I had. I was happy that the nightmares had stopped at least for one night.
I made my way down the stairs, following the voices and alluring smell of bacon to the dining hall where everyone sat before a massive feast. Liam sat next to Sofia and Mr. Blithe was at the head of the table, which left me a seat next to Jayson.
I sat down and said good morning to everyone. I was seated across from Sofia, and had to endure her dirty looks all throughout breakfast. What the heck is your problem, why do you keep staring at me? I wanted to scream, but I refrained.
It was obvious Sofia did not like me, but why? What had I ever done to her?
“Erika, how did you sleep last night?” Mr. Blithe asked.
“Good, thank you,” I replied.
“Today, we are going to take you through some training exercises, and then from 1pm-5pm you will go to your classes.” Mr. Blithe was buttering an English muffin as he spoke.
“What are we going to start her off with first?” Jayson asked excitedly.
“She’s strong, let’s do the strength test! She picked up Mr. Blithe’s car on her first try,” Liam said, beaming.
I looked at Liam as if to say, Why did you bring that up? Now Mr. Blithe was going to know I broke his windows.
Liam lifted his shoulders and looked at me apologetically, realizing what he had just done. Mr. Blithe looked in my direction, but I ignored him, instead I played with my food.
“Hmmm, I know, why don’t we start her off with sparring? I can be her opponent,” Sofia suggested nauseatingly.
This girl is crazy! I just met her and she already wants to fight me. Is she related to Joanne from Riverton? What is wrong with her?
“Sofiaaa!” Mr. Blithe reprimanded. He turned to me and suggested, “Erika, let’s start you off with some speed exercises.”
“That sounds… good,” I agreed reluctantly.
After breakfast we went into the back yard. The morning breeze caught me off guard. Its bitter bite crisped the air, making me oblivious to my surroundings until I looked around. The back yard was more like a massive park. It included a river, gardens, pools (yes, multiple), tennis courts, and a track.
“Holy shit!” I stood on the porch above the colossal domain that Liam called a back yard.
“Oh, so the sweet innocent girl has a foul mouth!” Jason teased.
“I know this is forward, but if the lotto you won was 475 million minus taxes, which leaves you with probably around $275 million… did you spend the whole thing on this house?” I gazed around in wonderment.
Liam laughed. “Well, I’m probably worth in the billion range now.”
“What, how…?”
But before Liam could answer, Sofia decided to pipe in. “Have you ever heard of investments? When you win that much money you don’t just spend it, you invest it to make more, and when you can see the future… let’s just say investments aren’t very speculative or risky.”
“Oh, of course.” I felt stupid, and I was sure that was exactly the way Sofia wanted me to feel.
“Come on Liam, I want to show you something.” Sofia pulled at his arm, pulling him down the steps as he looked over his shoulder back at me.
Mr. Blithe followed and Jayson and I lingered at the top of the steps for a moment.
“You know why she doesn’t like you, don’t you?” Jayson asked, his question seeming eerily familiar.
“Because she’s…” I paused. I wanted to say bitch, but instead I said, “Because she has problems?”
“Well, kind of,” Jayson laughed. “She likes Liam and obviously he likes you. I like her, but she won’t give me the time of day— which means you have to like me now, right?”
I laughed at Jayson’s explanation. It made sense that Sofia would like Liam, what girl wouldn’t? And I did like Jayson, just not in that way. I walked away down the steps.
“Well, someone is supposed to like me!” Jayson yelled to my back.
I turned around. “Come on Jayson, let’s catch up to the rest. And just so you know, Liam does not like me.” I skipped down the stairs.
“Whatever you say, my blind young, sweet, innocent Erika.”
I ignored Jayson’s last comment, but I couldn’t help let a thought penetrate my mind: Does Liam have feelings for me?
When we caught up to the other three, Sofia was showing Mr. Blithe and Liam how she could control the river. She parted the water, making a glistening clear wall of liquid on two sides, then she stood in between as if it were a walkway.
“See?” Sofia’s arms were raised, her palms faced the sky in announcement of her accomplishment.
“That is so cool,” I blurted out while standing on the riverbank gazing in utter disbelief. The water wall was beautiful, and I was in awe of Sofia’s powers.
Sofia looked at me and rolled her eyes. She turned her gaze to Liam. “Liam, what do you think?” It seemed he was the only one who she wished to impress.
“I think it’s amazing Sofia, really great.”
“Come on, come in.” She waved at Liam to join her in standing between the two ten-foot geysers she had created.
“No, I better not. I don’t want the water collapsing on me.”
“Don’t you trust me, Liam?” Sofia asked flirtatiously. She walked back onto the bank, allowing the water to crash behind her.
“Absolutely remarkable, Sofia, remarkable,” Mr. Blithe said as he applauded.
“Your powers are getting stronger every day,” he continued praising Sofia. “Okay all, let’s make our way to the track.”
Mr. Blithe led the way, and I followed a few steps behind. Liam came up and
bumped his shoulder into mine.
“Hey stranger, are you avoiding me?”
“No,” I lied, “just walking.”
Jayson and Sofia caught up to us. Liam gave Jayson a look that insinuated he wanted some one-on-one time alone with me, but Jayson shrugged it off, seemingly clueless. We arrived at the track. I watched as Liam took off like a bolt of lightning, completing the track in less than a second.
“Show off,” Jayson accused.
“Okay, let’s race!” Liam challenged Jayson.
“You got it, but don’t cry when I make you lose in front of your girlfriend.”
Sofia gave me a dirty look at the end of Jayson’s statement.
“Ha ha, Jayson.” Liam took off after an already running Jayson.
“I win!” Jayson announced as he crossed the finish line.
“Cuz you cheated,” Liam said as he nudged Jayson.
Jayson and Liam were hilarious, like two brothers trying to outdo each other.
“Okay, students. Let’s do this right.” Mr. Blithe had a whistle around his neck. “Everyone on your marks— you too, Erika. When I blow the whistle, run. Erika, the trick to this is to see yourself running. See the finish line and just let yourself go. Are you ready?” I wasn’t, but Mr. Blithe nodded his head at me reassuringly.
“I guess,” I answered, not understanding how his directions were supposed to help me. There is no way I can do this; these people are faster than the freaking speed of light. I did what the others did, mimicking their Olympic runner’s stance. I was still looking at them when I heard the whistle.
I was crouched in the same position when Sofia, Jayson, and Liam rounded the track.
“You’re supposed to run when the whistle’s blown, not just stand there. Are you sure she’s our Fourth Point?” Sofia smirked.
“Sofia, lay off. This is all new to her.”
“Oh, I’m sorry Liam, does the baby need you to protect her?” Sofia was pacing in her lane, her arms cupped on each side of her waist. Her strong athletic legs flexed with each step she took.
“What’s your problem, Sofia?” Liam asked from his lane on the track.
“It’s okay, Liam. I don’t need anyone to protect me, especially from her.” I turned angrily, glaring at Sofia.
“Okay everyone, let’s settle down. You are all going to have to learn to get along, or you will not win against the Collectors.” Mr. Blithe motioned calmly, pushing the air down with his hands, trying to defuse the situation. “How about we take a ten-minute break?”
“Mr. Blithe, I’d like to try again now, if that’s okay.” I was angry and determined to put Sofia in her place.
“So I just need to visualize where I want to go, then run, right?” I asked.
“Yup, it’s that simple,” Jayson answered. “Just be careful not to get in my way, though. I am the fastest.”
“We’ll see about that Jayson.”
“Ooooh Erika, getting a little cocky now, aren’t we?” Jayson teased back.
“Okay, is everyone ready? Runners, please take your marks!” Mr. Blithe yelled through his megaphone.
I knew my anger had in the past been the catalyst of my powers, so I gathered the anger that Sofia had produced in me. Mr. Blithe blew the whistle, and this time I ran as hard and fast as I could. I came in second, losing to Jayson. He was right, he was fast.
“Woohoooo!” Jayson screamed. “I gotta admit Erika, you had me worried. I was doubting that you were the Fourth, but that proves it. But still, no one can beat the magnificent Jayson Moon.” Jayson’s hands were in the air in celebration.
“This was just my first time, Jayson. Next time I will beat you.”
“Erika, I never doubted you for a second.” Liam came up to me nudging my arm.
“Good, Erika, that was very good.” Mr. Blithe walked towards me beaming with delight.
Sofia came in third and she was fuming. I tried not to gloat… but I couldn’t help but smile.
“Let’s do the next challenge, the strength test.” The determination showed in Sofia’s voice. She wanted to prove that she was better than me. I couldn’t help wonder why. She was beautiful, her powers were amazing. What did she have to prove?
“Erika did pick up a car on her first try. I wouldn’t challenge her at strength,” Liam warned Sofia. “It took me weeks before I could do that,” he added.
“Yeah right. What does she weigh, like 80lbs?” Sofia spoke to Liam as if I weren’t even there.
“Okay, let’s do it! What do we do?” I asked eagerly.
“Look at you go! A little confidence brings out your true nature; you’re a natural competitor,” Jayson said, continuing to tease me.
We all walked over to a big sand field, where weights were stacked. The stacks ranged from 100 lb. weights all the way to 1,000 lbs.
“Erika, on this course you see how far you can throw the weight,” Mr. Blithe explained. “Who volunteers to demonstrate to Erika how to do this exercise?”
“I’ll do it.” Liam stepped forward.
“Of course he will,” Sofia muttered under her breath, but loud enough for us all to hear.
Liam picked up the max weight of 1,000 lbs. and threw it with ease. Sofia chose the 800 lb. weight. The weight was less than Liam’s, but she was able to throw it about an inch further. Jayson grabbed the 1,000 lb. weight, but his didn’t make it as far as Liam’s.
“Bow down to your superior,” Liam said in an exaggerated deep voice.
It was my turn. I picked up the 400 lb. weight. I set it down, then I picked up the five. I knew I had to match Sofia’s throw so she would shut up about my size. Setting the 500 lb. weight down, I hesitantly picked up the 800. It was heavy and I strained walking forward, I threw the enormous weight.
It landed a little short of Sofia’s.
“Erika, you are doing so well. Much faster and better than I had anticipated.” Mr. Blithe walked over to me grabbing my shoulder squeezing me into a sideways bear hug.
Still, I was disappointed that I did not throw my weight farther than Sofia’s. Sofia was reveling in her victory.
We took a rest from training and had lunch on the terrace. Our lunch consisted of cucumber sandwiches, zesty bean and corn salad, and an assortment of fruit along with cold iced tea.
“Mr. Blithe,” I said, interrupting the chewing silence, “you never exactly told me what the plan is. You got me here, you’re training me… I know we are supposed to trap the Collectors and put them back in the black diamonds, but when will we do this? When can we go back to just being normal and put all this behind us?”
The silence increased into an awkward tension. The thick air hung like a large rain cloud ready to burst. Thunder and lightning threatened to erupt.
“Erika, this is your life now. There really is no putting it all behind you, you have been chosen just like all of us to be the protectors of this century. It will always be your duty as it is ours to protect the world from whatever evil threatens it.” When Liam finished talking, he wiped his mouth with the silk napkin that was on his lap.
“Wait, I didn’t sign up for a lifetime of this stuff. You told me I just had to help trap these so-called evil spirits and then I was done.” I knew my frustration showed in my voice, but I didn’t care. I had not been told that fighting evil would be my life-long job.
“Erika, I did ask you to help us trap the Collectors, and if we are successful and you want to be done, then you can leave.” Mr. Blithe placed his sandwich back on his plate.
“What! How selfish can one person be? I don’t even understand why someone like you would be chosen as a Point anyways. We are supposed to help people. Why do you think you were given your powers? It wasn’t to help yourself!” Sofia bellowed.
I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t thought about anything past helping Liam and Mr. Blithe trap the evil spirits and put them back in the black diamonds. I thought that was it. I assumed I could stay in England, graduate from Oxford and live a normal life.
“Great, sticking up for the selfish baby, again. Maybe if she did something in her life worth recognition like the rest of the Diamonds, we would have found her sooner. I’m outta here, I have class.” Sofia threw her napkin down on the table and stormed off.
“I’m sorry Mr. Blithe, I didn’t mean to make everyone upset. I just didn’t think about the future and what being a Point means, at least what it means to all of you. I still don’t know if I can be who you all want me to be. I never wanted to be a hero. I think the universe chose wrong.” I looked down. I couldn’t stand the thought of my whole life being lived with other people being dependent on me.
“Erika, it’s okay to feel this way now. You have been thrown into all of this, while the others have been primed since they were young. The universe always chooses right. The reasons may not be evident to you now. The desire to be who you are destined to be may just be hidden a little deeper within you, we just have to access it.” Mr. Blithe seemed confident that I would accept my supposed destiny.
“I can access it,” Jayson joked inappropriately.
Liam punched Jayson in the shoulder. “That’s not funny. Don’t talk to her that way.”
“Jeez, I was just joking. Everyone is so serious. I was just trying to lighten things up, calm down man. I’m gonna get to class too, I’ll see you guys later.” Jayson’s voice sounded deflated.
Mr. Blithe decided to postpone my academic classes for the day. I would start my classes tomorrow. Instead, Liam and Mr. Blithe brought me to the library in the castle to explain more about the history of the Diamonds. There were thousands of books on shelves towering at least three stories high. Mr. Blithe pulled out a book titled Who are the Diamonds? He skimmed through and explained that the Diamonds are people who are destined for greatness: scholars, artists, adventurers, scientists, writers, singers, poets, humanitarians. They could be anyone, but they were usually people who were pioneers in their craft.
