"A welcome home present" Aunt Gwen said, clearly proud of herself for coming up with it. "I got it from our last house in Phoenix. I've been waiting to give it to you but I'm so busy... I hope you like it."
It was peculiar since Aunt Gwen, in all the times they had moved, had never given any of them a “homecoming present.”
"Thank you but... You think we're staying at this new house?" Terra asked.
"We don't have a lot of time. The prophecy has to come true soon."
"Aunt Gwen," she sighed. "What if we just stayed in one place? If it's going to happen, won't he or she find us?"
She tapped her long manicured finger against the ceramic mug, a ticking sound in perfect timing to her foot. "I always knew that you and Marissa never took this seriously."
"It's not that…”
"I thought finding Era would have been proof but I guess not," she continued loftily. "Don't get me wrong, I love all three of you very much, but none of you understand the importance of this prophecy. All of our futures depend on it, not just yours. This isn't some game Terra. This is real, and it could be the end of our existence, and when I say 'our' I mean our kind. We're not a common breed anymore, doubt has clouded and genetics has given to a different kind of species. All things were one and biology set us apart. Fear isolated us."
Terra's brows furrowed in concentration, "Why us?"
"You've always been the one to ask too many questions."
"It's not too many questions, if this is important we should know. What is it that we don't understand? None of it makes any sense. What's this danger that we're in and who came up with that prediction in the first place? If we talk with her maybe she could help us understand?"
Aunt Gwen placed a hand over Terra’s, encasing it in the residual heat from the cup. "I want you all to be safe. You won't be until all four of you are together. There are answers to those questions that I can't give you. It's best if you learn them on your own. If you can't trust what is, then trust me. I would never steer you wrong. This is all for your safety.”
Safety! It was such a contradiction, to be kept in the dark and be safe? Wasn't it best if they knew and saw what they were headed towards? As if she picked the thought right from her brain, Aunt Gwen added, “You’re safer not knowing because it would change how this is supposed to end.”
“How is it supposed to end?” Terra questioned.
“With all of you alive”
Ice cascaded down Terra’s spine. Whoever said knowledge was power had never been in their shoes.
Chapter Three
Finding Fire
Marissa ran into the stalls of the bathroom and the ruling of her emotions overtaking her, she melted. Literally, she was a puddle and right then, as all luck would have it, the janitor came in.
An hour of sleep was not enough to function on, but Terra satisfied herself with the thought that once she saw Marissa off to school she could go back to her warm and welcoming bed. Grumpily, she pondered why Marissa couldn't go to her first day of school alone. She was fifteen after all and it seemed rather childish, but that was the way Marissa was. She had to have the company of her family in order to feel safe.
There was that word again: Safe. None of them were safe. With great anger she threw down her toothbrush, clattering in its holder knocking the whole thing over. Maybe they had all been mistaken and she was fire. She was showing a lot of the traits, then again it was her natural earth stubbornness at being uprooted every time that was coming out indirectly. Terra had to straighten her mood out before she was to send Marissa off. Her empathic little sister did not need to feel Marissa’s ill tempered vibes.
She breathed deeply, looked at herself in the mirror and combed her hair with her fingers. She would've taken better care of her appearance but the bags under her eyes showed why she didn't care. She didn't even bother looking at what she was wearing. She simply pulled out any clothes that she first saw and tugged them on.
At the table Marissa was bent over stuffing a final book into her bulging brown backpack. Era was at the sink washing a glass cup with cotton balls stuffed into her ears. It did not stop her from hearing but it helped keep out most of the noise. Even though the noise was muffled and it was like being underwater, Era could still hear Terra’s footsteps.
"I was just about to wake you." Era said.
"No, she wasn't," Marissa argued. "I wasn't going to let her. You can go back to sleep, you are exhausted."
"I'm fine, Issa. I've never missed any of your first days at school and I don't plan to now. Are you ready," Terra yawned.
"Yes, are you?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because your socks don't match…"
She looked down and saw that Marissa was right. She had one green sock on her left and a purple stripped on her right. She shrugged, "ah well. I can say that I raided Era's closet." Terra smiled at her out of the corner of her eye, observing her long white skirt and white button up top.
"I'm matching, mind you." Era furrowed her brow.
"You haven't always."
Daintily Era shrugged. "We need to go now or we'll be late. Is everything packed Marissa?"
"Yeah..."
"I can home school you if you would like, Marissa," Terra offered. Just another one of the many times she had done so.
"No..."
"You're putting yourself through a lot for little," Terra said. "Why do you like it so much? You're bombarded with petty emotions every day when you could just stay here."
"For the same reason Era refuses to stay cooped up in a sound proof room. I want to be normal." Marissa explained.
Terra sighed, spotting Marissa’s Opal stone against the heart of her silk blouse. "Tuck in your stone then. Don't want anyone asking questions."
"No one ever asks questions," Marissa argued, but slipped it inside of her collar anyway. "If someone does ask, it's not all that uncommon. Lots of people wear necklaces."
Era floated by tossing the keys to Terra. "We'll tell them we're gypsies. It's not too far from the truth."
Terra fought the rolling her eyes and followed them out the door to their waiting car. The dirt roads they had passed coated the bottom half of the car. She silently made a note in her head to have it cleaned once she dropped Era off at home.
The school building was a ten minute drive past farm houses with cows and horses.
The school itself was small, not even three stories and the students were cheerfully chattering dressed in jeans and wrinkled t-shirts. A stark comparison to the strict uniforms Marissa had worn previously.
Terra caught sight of Marissa in the backseat looking nervously down at her outfit. She had on what she usually wore, black knee -length skirt and a button white top with a few front pieces of her hair clipped back.
"I'm over dressed," she said letting out a sigh. "I knew I should've worn my regular clothes."
"You look lovely," Era rebuked lightly.
"You do," Terra agreed quickly. "I'll be back to pick you up, okay?"
She moved to the edge of her seat, her hands grasping the armrests. "What if I melt again?"
Era chuckled, remembering what they were all thinking. The last school was extremely strict but Aunt Gwen swore that with Marissa's grades (the one thing she was never nervous about thanks to Era's tutoring), she should go to a prominent school. Thankfully, after what happened, even Aunt Gwen accepted that it would be best to put her back into a public school.
A few stuck-up girls made fun of her for something she could no longer remember, Marissa ran into the stalls of the bathroom, and before she realized what happened, she melted. There she was as a puddle of water when as all luck would have it, the janitor came in. She was mopped up, then once alone in the janitor’s closet, she materialized again, wet and dirty. It took a few hours to get that story out of her, but when they did, no one laughed because they felt so bad for her. It was proof that no matter where they went, they would always be different from everyone else. No one would
understand them or the bond they shared. The teasing from those girls was insignificant as it really wasn’t about her being different, rather it was a reminder, and for that she was grateful they had each other.
Era popped open the glove box. Among scattered papers were three tiny cell phones. She picked up two, handing one to Terra and Marissa. Terra flipped it open to see a picture of a hot air balloon traveling over the screen, the time in the upper right hand corner.
"When did you get these," Marissa asked in awe.
"A few days ago, I figured it was about time we had a way of keeping in touch. If we find fire soon we all need to be there and this is the best way to gather quickly. I programmed all of our numbers in speed dial. I'm one, because I can get there fastest. Terra you're two and Marissa you're three."
"This is brilliant! Thank you, Era!" Marissa hopped up and kissed her cheek. "I'll see you after school?"
"I'll be waiting out here for you," Terra said.
In turn, Marissa kissed her cheek jumped out of the car and walked up to the double front doors, her backpack bouncing on her back. They watched until she was inside, and once she was, they pulled out of the parking lot.
"Doing anything today Terra?" Era asked.
Terra nodded. "I'm going to take this car to the wash and I thought maybe I'd go by the local library. Maybe I can get some books for Marissa."
"That sounds nice."
"Would you like to come Era? It should be fairly quiet, I doubt if anyone will even be there."
Era broke out a wide grin. "It's nice, isn’t it; to be in a small town."
"All we have to do is keep a low profile. As long as none of us uses any of our powers or gets close to anyone we should be okay."
They fell into silence going on with their day. Era had retreated to the corner road when it was time for the car to be put through the car wash. The noises from the car wash brushes were too hard on her sensitive ears.
In comparison, the library was a great reprieve. There were only two other cars which likely belonged to the employees. One was an elderly white haired lady in her sixties and the other was a sour faced boy with a glare that would kill. They both stood behind the counter shuffling books and checking in others.
The library was as small as everything else in the town. It was also old with dull red and blue carpet that was as worn out as the carpeting in their house. It had only two aisles of books which were ancient, creaking and dusty, tickling Era’s nose with every one she opened.
Era disappeared into the mystery section and Terra went off to the fiction. Browsing through all the books was making Terra sleepy. She hadn't slept well. She picked out five random books and left to find Era.
At a small circular table in the farthest nook of the building sat Era, her slate blue eyes wide as she read the newspaper she was holding. Terra approached taking the paper out of Era’s shaking hands.
Without looking she asked, "What is it Era?"
"The headline, its a few years old..."
Just like Era, Terra’s eyes widened, and her hands trembled. She stopped breathing for a moment. The headline read: "Johnston Town High School Fire." She read quickly, catching the emphasis of words like "ablaze," "unknown cause," "rebuilding."
"Wait... the school wasn't really old... It was built out of scraps." She shook her head. "I know what this seems like, Era, but it's not what you think. There are a lot of accidents. Some rebellious teen probably forgot to put out his cigarette. We can't assume that he's here."
Era opened her mouth to say something but quickly snapped it shut and simultaneously the paper was ripped out of Terra's hands. The boy from behind the counter stood in front of her, his eyes burning like the abyss into hers. There was a crackle in the air, Era's face flushed and Terra could suddenly feel herself burning from the heat he was emitting. It was more than she had ever witnessed.
The boy was tall, nearing six foot five, coal black hair that swept down over his brows, his skin naturally tan as if he had been out in the sun. The sun... Burning... Fire... He looked to Era, and she swore there was softening, just a little, but he was still crackling.
"What do you think you're doing?" The boy asked.
"I don't think it's any of your business," Era calmly told him while trying to hide her smile. "This is a library and we're looking at what we would like to check out."
"You can't check this out." He said.
"Why can’t we?" Era questioned.
"None of your business," he then turned and walked away.
"Wait. Can we talk?"
"No," and he kept walking, the aisles hiding him from view.
Terra let out the remainder of her breath, falling into the seat next to Era. "We found him. I can't believe it. We found fire."
"I know..."
Terra felt her keys in her jeans pocket and stood. "Come on, we're taking Marissa out of school."
"What for?"
"Because we need a plan”, Terra explained. “He's not like you; he won't just come with us. He's dangerous."
Era reached behind her in the cabinet lining the short wall, and withdrew another folded newspaper. "A copy," she explained, “I think Marissa will be interested in seeing this too.”
Terra's hand tightened around the keys. It finally came, after all that time, for all their lives waiting for the four to meet, it happened, their future coming together.
It never seemed as though it was true. They knew better than to doubt their aunt and the Kin, but she couldn't wrap her head around such things like prophecies, anything that she couldn't touch, but there it was. It was real.
Era took her hand giving it a gentle squeeze. “What's going to happen Terra?”
Terra laughed quietly. “I think you're asking the wrong person. That's why we have to get Marissa. She'll be able to tell us.”
Chapter Four
Meet, Greet, and Burn
The start of an army. It was hardly a metaphor, for they would be an army.
"We're here for Marissa Webb. We're her sisters, Terra and Era," Terra told the haggard receptionist that clicked rapidly on her worn out keyboard. "We're on her enrollment form."
"Who's her teacher?"
The receptionist glimpsed to Era who held a blank look. "Um, we're not sure. We move a lot, see, and….”
"Don't bother, I can look her up. Is there a reason that you're taking her out of class? Is there an emergency?"
"Our Aunt is sick," Era said airily while inspecting the floral painting over the witch's head. The receptionist then picked up the phone.
"Mr. Elmond, do you have a student named Marissa Webb, I've never heard of her, they say she's new, moves a lot or some such. Oh, you do. Hm. Okay," she grinned like a cat that caught a mouse. "Thank you very much, Mr. Elmond." She hung up the phone with much force causing Era to rub her ear in pain. The receptionist leaned her elbows on her desk. "Your sister is in the principles office. She should be out in a moment. Take a seat."
Terra glared at the obnoxious woman and sat in the rough, scratchy seats with Era. She didn't sit there for long until she stood and leaned against the wall beside her.
"She's never been in trouble before," Era commented. "I wonder what she could've done..."
"I don't know..." She got up and went back to the desk. "Can we go in and see her?"
"No!,” the receptionist squawked.
"Excuse me, miss, but work on your bedside manner. There is no reason why we shouldn't be in there; it's suspicious that the principle wouldn't want to speak to us." Terra scolded.
"Excuse me, young lady, but if you can’t…."
The door opened, promptly causing the woman to shut her mouth. A young and quite short principle walked out, a strict disappointed smile on his face. "I expect that I will see a doctor's note, Miss Weber."
"Yes sir." Marissa said.
His attention locked on Terra and Era who came forward, surprised to see that Marissa didn't have her sunglasses on, her watery blue gaze and streaks wher
e tears still fell. Era proceeded to wrap her arms around her comfortingly.
"Are you Miss Weber's family," the principle asked.
"Yes, sir," Terra answered. "We're her sisters. Our aunt is sick, we're taking her home. What did she do?"
"Oh, nothing too terrible, just a refusal to take off her sunglasses. I can understand if they are prescription but she doesn't have a doctor's note. In order to continue to wear them here, she must have a doctor’s note."
"We understand. We'll have one for you tomorrow."
"Thank you. Hope your aunt gets well soon. Goodbye, Miss Weber. I hope I won't see you here again."
"No, sir," Marissa hiccupped. "Can I please have them back?"
He looked apprehensive. "You broke the rule, Miss Weber."
Terra looked out one of the windows. "It's sunny, she does need them."
Reluctantly he brought them out of his front pocket handed them to her. "There you go. I better see a doctor’s note or not see them at all tomorrow."
"Yes sir."
Terra took Marissa’s clammy hand leading her out to the car. Once outside, Era took a deep breath, having claimed earlier that it smelled like gym socks, an overdose of cologne and perfume. Terra could only smell the sweat and cleaning supplies (the strongest of the scents).
"How am I going to get the prescription by tomorrow?" Marissa worried.
"I'll call Ingrid, she'll write one for you. It won't be here for a couple of days, so unless the next two are cloudy, you'll be at home."
"I guess..."
"You're usually ahead of the class; you have nothing to be concerned about."
Terra unlocked her door and pressed a switch on the inside for the others to unlock as well. "We'll have something to get your mind off of it. Era, show her what we found at the library."
Once inside the car Era picked up the newspaper from the floor and handed it to Marissa. It took mere seconds for the de-wrinkling and the gasp to come. Then there was a disbelieving silence. Terra glimpsed in the overhead mirror to see her brows furrowed in either confusion or distrust.
The Elementals Page 3
