The Ruby (The Hidden Gems Book 1)

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The Ruby (The Hidden Gems Book 1) Page 4

by R. Getsee

They formed a cult called the Elementals—totally original name, I know. They started a war to break the Accords—a treaty that clan elders signed over a millennium ago to never reveal our existence to humans for our protection… probably to stop getting stabbed with pointy wood in our sleep or burned out of our homes.

  Instead, we now must integrate ourselves into human society, keeping our existence hidden and blend in. To the human world, St. Vladimir’s Academy was just another incredibly prestigious private school that was near impossible to get into and only for the children of super-rich families. To us, it was a school to help young vampires control their abilities and acclimate into the human world to avoid detection.

  As Professor Carlisle finished his lecture, the knot in the pit of my stomach returned as the testing began and one by one, each member of the class was called to the front of the room to find out their gifts.

  The knot in my stomach felt like lead as I watched as each student in the room was called up to the desk, spoke with Mr. Carlisle and tried each element. I joined in on the polite applause that rose each time someone found their affinity and caused some reaction to the objects on the desk, and my breath caught in my throat every time it took someone a while to get to theirs.

  I slouched low in my seat as the guy sitting at the desk in front of me rose up, already looking as if he was going to blow chunks as he made slow progress to the stern-looking professor. Wincing at the soft chuckles and snorts that arose as he went through each of the items, with nothing happening as he focused on them in turn.

  I really thought this guy was going to pass out as the laughter rose, his pale, freckled face coated in a light sheen of sweat and his eyes narrowed, before finally, a tiny handful of dust rose from the bowl containing earth. Mr. Carlisle declared him connected to earth in an extremely bored tone before he allowed him to sink back down into his chair, his pale skin taking on a sickly green hue as the class barely contained their amusement at his display as more peoples’ names were called out.

  Emi gave me a nervous smile as she stood and walked on shaky legs to the front of the class. I watched as Professor Carlisle pressed something into her hand and murmured the words of the blessing before he stepped back.

  She managed to make the water rise past the rim of the bowl before it sloshed back down with a loud splash. She then proceeded to create a large gust of wind which rustled papers around the room, and Professor Carlisle announced that she had a strong connection with Air and a secondary connection to Water, meaning she would be offered a place in the advanced class, before he shooed the excited girl back to her seat.

  I grinned at her in support before I heard my name and rose with shaking legs. The journey to the desk felt like it took a million years before I was finally, yet too quickly, in front of the teacher.

  “Okay, Miss Morgan, I will proceed with the blessing, then you must close your eyes and feel for the elements around you. If you feel a connection, hold it, try to command it before letting go and moving along to the next.”

  I nodded, trying to control the terror that was making my heart race as he pressed a black small stone with what looked like an intricate pentagram carved in the center into my clammy palm. He began to speak in a low voice.

  “I invoke the Ancient, the Original, the Ancestor, bless your descendant with the power deem.”

  I gasped as color flooded behind my eyes and suddenly, I wasn’t in the class. Well, I could feel my physical body in the room, but in my mind, I was standing in a place which filled me with peace. I could see lines of energy crisscross the world in front of me and realized that I was standing on a path that forked into four trails of different colored energy just ahead of me.

  One was a rich ruby red, calling to me like a comforting hug. The next was a cool sapphire blue, radiating calm and serenity. The third was a deep emerald green, sending earthy scents to me from where I stood.

  I cringed back from the last path of energy. It was the darkest black I’d ever seen, completely void of color or light, and made me feel cold, like dark slime was writhing over my soul. It was twisted and creepy, emitting weird shadows which seemed to wriggle their way toward me.

  The hair on the back of my neck stood up as I felt eyes watching me. I looked around, but saw nothing except the energy that surrounded me before I stepped up to the different paths.

  Something inside me knew I had to choose, and the moment I stepped onto the red path of energy, I felt enveloped in warmth and comfort. Immediately, the coldness squirming over me was warded off and I knew exactly what to do.

  Opening my eyes, I found the class staring at me expectantly, and I lifted my hands slowly, looking into each of the bowls.

  The water from the first dripped into the second, nourishing the little seed that I somehow knew was there. As I pushed the energy, it suddenly filled me and the seed grew, blooming into a full-blown rose bush in front of me. The next bowl was empty, but I felt the air that filled it as a small tornado grew.

  I was panting, sweat dripped down my nose and my head pounded as I looked at the last bowl with a single candle and felt every particle in the room vibrate. The friction which I drew from to produce a flame in my hand that I directed to the wick, lighting the candle once again.

  Looking back at the stunned silence of the room, I barely comprehended the words Professor Carlisle spoke as I swayed. My ears rang as I took a step forward and the ground rushed up to meet me before warm hands caught my body. I smiled at the beautiful electric-blue eyes filled with concern, but the ringing in my head intensified, creating a sound like metal snapping under force. And then my world went black.

  6

  Alex

  I stirred as a warm hand squeezed mine. I groaned, the jackhammer in my skull making my ears ring as I tried to open my eyes. Blinking away the dark spots in my vision, I stared at the unfamiliar white ceiling before my eyes found my mom sitting in a plastic chair beside the equally unfamiliar bed.

  “Mom?” I cringed as my voice cracked, clearing it before I tried again. “What happened?”

  Relief flashed across my mom’s face as she jerked up, standing over me in a hovering manner only a mom could pull off. “Oh, Alex, thank God you’re awake.”

  Crap, if Mom was calling me Alex instead of Alexia then shit must be real. I struggled to sit up in the uncomfortable, lumpy hospital bed, feeling heavy-limbed like I waded through quicksand. Wait, why the hell am I in the hospital?

  Memories flashed through my mind and I cringed. “Did I really pass out in front of the whole class?”

  Mom nodded, her expression leaking concern. “You finally came into your powers and used too much too quickly, honey. You burned yourself out and collapsed. No one could wake you, so Jared and his friend brought you to the emergency room.”

  “Well, damn,” I said before I shot up, instantly regretting the action as a wave of nausea rolled in my stomach. “I manifested! Mom, I have powers! I’m not Void!”

  Tear’s pooled in my eyes. I wasn’t a freak! I wouldn’t have to deal with forced segregation or be hated for bringing my family’s reputation down. My eyes widened. “I used all four elements… what does that mean?”

  Mom smiled. “It means that you’re even more special than I thought you were.”

  A grin spread across my face despite my utter mortification that I collapsed in front of like fifty vamps who smell weakness like a shark smells blood in the water before it attacks. The memory of the haunting sound that filled my head right before I passed out sent a chill through me. It sounded like metal chains rattling and screeching almost like they were being pulled apart.

  Shaking myself out of my daze, I looked back to Mom. “So, seeing as I’m officially not a complete social outcast anymore, how did I do on the test?”

  “Well, everyone seemed pretty stunned that you connected with all four powers, but you need to be careful and learn more control to make sure you don’t risk using too much and burning out again,” Mom said before she sat
back in her seat. “And, apparently, you showed equal amounts of power in each affinity, meaning you don’t have a dominant and must study all of them to mastery.”

  I didn’t have a dominant connection? Again, that was unheard of, but now I felt deeply connected to each of them equally, so it must be true.

  “Does that mean I get to be placed in the AP class with Jare?” I asked hopefully.

  Mom smiled, nodding her affirmative. “Yes, Mr. Carlisle has said you hold immense potential, and as soon as you’re fully recovered, you will be transferred into the AP class.”

  I squealed in excitement. I wasn’t a Void, and I was going to be in the same class as my favorite sibling and Emi. Warmth bloomed in my chest and spread to my cheeks when I realized I would also be in the same class as him.

  “So, apart from making a complete fool of myself by fainting in front of the whole room and worrying you guys, it seems like this has actually been a really good day…” I took in Mom’s drawn features as I trailed off, apprehension curling in my gut. “Mom? What’s wr—”

  A loud screech cut me off, and I whipped my head to the door to find Emi rushing in with Jared on her tail, two cups of coffee gripped in his hands.

  “Oh! My! God!” Emi rushed over to my side and threw herself at me as she gripped me in a tight hug. “Thank God, you’re awake! You scared the crap out of me. I thought I was going to lose my new BFF! No more fainting. Ever.”

  I chuckled softly and grinned when I realized I had just gained best friend status. I’d barely ever even had acquaintance level friends before, and it almost brought tears to my eyes to hear her say that. Damn, I’m emotional today.

  “Don’t worry. I think you’re stuck with me for a while. So what did I miss?” I asked with a smile still on my face.

  Emi grinned; a sparkle lit her eyes as she relayed the details of what happened to me. “Well, after your crazy power display—which was totally not Void-like, so you owe me one for my amazing powers of prediction—you missed Roman’s act of heroics as he caught you right before you hit the ground. That probably means you’ll be on every jealous straight girl at school’s hit-list. Then when Jare, Roman, and I couldn’t wake you up, we rushed you to the hospital.”

  “Wait… Roman caught me?” I squeaked.

  “Yep.” She nodded. “Anyway, it was a good thing he came with, cause he knew one of the doctors who was on call, which made it easier to find out what the hell was wrong with you as it was a supernatural thing that no human doctor knows about. Then, he stayed at the hospital to make sure you were okay… He actually only left like twenty minutes ago.”

  “Damn,” I chuckled, “I sure know how to make a day interesting.”

  Emi’s face fell. “Oh, sweetie, you haven’t been out a day… You were unconscious for like three days.”

  It was another day before they allowed me to leave the hospital—the kind vamp doctor wouldn’t let me go until she was a hundred percent sure my energy levels were okay.

  I was still in shock that I’d been under for three whole days due to the extent of my power surge, considering I went into the day believing I wouldn’t have any to begin with.

  Since our power came from our life energy, it took time for vamps to learn how to control our powers to avoid causing harm to ourselves. It was like a muscle that could be exercised to eventually be able to lift more weight, but if you lifted too much too soon, you’d only end up hurting yourself.

  Even after four days of rest, I was still exhausted. Luckily, the kind doc had made sure that my parents didn’t let me go back to school for the rest of the week. By Saturday, I was finally feeling better, and my mom announced we would be going out.

  I sighed as I surveyed the contents of my closet as I got ready for dinner. My family decided that tonight would be a great way to celebrate both my achievement during the testing and my return to full health before I had to get back to school on Monday.

  I was not looking forward to this. While Rhea had been studiously ignoring me since I got back from the hospital, Torah had become increasingly catty toward me, though I’m pretty sure that was just because I held more power than her. But honestly, who the hell knows with her?

  My eyes fell on a garment bag that hung on the door of my closet and I rolled my eyes at my mom’s latest attempt to nudge me into fashion.

  Torah’s voice from earlier floated across my mind. “Mom said we’re going out to Giovanni’s for your ‘celebration,’” she snarked and actually used finger quotes, “try not to embarrass us by looking like a wet paper bag, yeah?”

  My fingers itched toward the zipper. One look wouldn’t hurt. At least I could tell Mom that I tried it, and if I hate it, I just won’t wear it. Slowly, my fingers inched the zipper down as if a pile of snakes was about to jump out and attack me.

  I gasped as the dress fell out of its enclosure. It was gorgeous. The base was a pretty simple deep burgundy color. The strapless dress had a sweetheart neckline with a layer of sheer black lace over it, which created beautiful sleeves and a high neck before the fabric fell in a beautiful A-line skirt that skimmed the middle of my thighs.

  The dress was too pretty not to wear, so I added a little makeup—just some subtle shadow, eyeliner, and mascara which made my green eyes pop and some burgundy lipstick that matched the base of the dress.

  I pulled my hair in a loose knot at the base of my neck—once again getting frustrated with the length—before slipping on black ankle boots with a modest heel and my leather jacket. With one last look in the mirror, I grabbed my phone and purse before trudging downstairs.

  7

  Alex

  I slammed my bedroom door and kicked it hard, cursing as pain radiated from where my foot made contact with the heavy wood.

  The family dinner had taken a turn for the worst as soon as I reached the bottom of the staircase. Rhea and Torah were already waiting downstairs, both looking gorgeous as ever. Rhea wore a beautiful purple wrap dress and Torah wore a skin-tight, white, lace number which left very little to the imagination.

  Torah scowled as soon as she noticed me. “I guess the freak finally took our fashion advice.” she sneered.

  Ever the loyal subject, Rhea let out her usual mocking laugh, as Torah continued, “Oh, I know why you decided to dress up… Hell, you were all over him the second you saw him. You know, desperation really isn’t a good look for you, Alex.”

  I was about to ask what the mother-effing hell she was talking about when I heard the doorbell chime. Torah shoved her chest up, making her already ample cleavage almost spill out of her dress.

  “Just to let you know, freak, he’s mine, so hands off,” she warned before she strutted off in heels so high I couldn’t help but be impressed that she could walk in them.

  “So I guess she has a new boyfriend?” I asked Rhea, who nodded mutely.

  I sighed. Torah always got super possessive when she started to date some guy, usually going completely psychotic on any girl who so much as looked at him, until she found a shinier new toy and dropped the poor fool in the dirt.

  I heard the telltale click of heels in the hall and braced myself for the return of momma crazy, and my heart sank at the sight of who she clutched in her talons.

  “Alex, you look beautiful,” Roman said, his jaw slightly slack.

  I smiled back, despite the death glare my sister sent my way and the weird ache that bloomed in my chest like my heart wasn’t pumping enough blood.

  “Ah, Roman, so glad you could make it.” My dad’s booming voice sliced through the awkward silence that had been consuming the room.

  Roman smiled at Dad, extracting himself from Torah’s vice-like grip as he went to shake my father’s hand. “Thanks again for inviting me, Mr. Morgan. It’s great to see you again.”

  Huh? It took me a second to realize where they had met before I remembered. The hospital, where Roman had apparently camped out for three days to make sure I was okay, according to Emi and Jared.

  Of course,
he wanted to make sure his girlfriend’s sister was okay. I almost laughed at the thought; he obviously didn’t know her well enough to understand she probably wouldn’t care or notice if I was still there.

  “Well, we should get going if we want to make our reservation. Alex, will you go with Jared and Roman, and the twins can come with us?” Mom asked, appearing beside my dad with Jared in tow.

  “Actually, Roman just promised to give me a ride. Alex can go with you guys and Rhea,” Torah said quickly.

  Rhea stiffened, obviously not liking the idea. Typical. She always gave our sister her undying affection and loyalty, due to the ‘twin-bond’ they shared, yet Torah barely considered her at all.

  “Alex is coming with us,” Jared said firmly, looping an arm around my shoulder. I smiled at him in gratitude. We may not have been twins, but Jare and I always had each other’s backs.

  Steam practically billowed out of Torah’s nose, but she pasted on a fake smile before she reached out to clutch Roman’s arm as she adopted a sugary-sweet tone. “Fine, come on then, little sister. We’ll see you at the restaurant, Rhea.”

  I shot her twin an apologetic smile as I made my way out to the car, following my sister and her boyfriend.

  I was feeling slightly better by the time we got to the restaurant. Granted, the sight of Torah hanging off Roman made me feel oddly ill, but Jared’s constant chatter eventually did what it always did—took my mind off my evil sister.

  Jare groaned as he watched her try to get out of the car without accidentally flashing the valet. The only reason she was trying so hard was that he was human and below what she valued as her paygrade.

  “Jesus, Tor, we’re going to dinner, not a strip club. Could you have at least a little modesty?” he asked.

  She glared at him as she tugged the skimpy fabric down, which did nothing more than lower her neckline more. “Suck it, Jared,” she said, flipping him the bird.

 

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