by C. Louis S.
His family was gathered around the table with a stranger at the head of it. Everyone’s head twisted sharply as Leon burst through the door. Father and Mother looked at him helplessly, while Aidan bubbled with excitement. The light above the dining room table was on, but it felt dampened, subdued. Leon rubbed his eyes. It felt like he were wearing sunglasses. He squinted, trying to see why the whole house felt wrong.
Leon had never met the stranger, but he was familiar. He had white wisps in his hair, but he looked young. Leon had seen his face many times, but not this close, not this real. I think I’ve seen him in videos online or TV or something.
Leon cautiously passed through the living room into the dining room. The stranger stood to shake his hand. He was tall with broad shoulders and he looked commanding in his business suit. He smiled abundantly, but his touch was icy. Leon shuddered. Before the man could introduce himself, Aidan did it for him.
“It’s Kaz Warwick, Leon! Kaz Warwick himself … in our house!”
“Kaz Warwick?” asked Leon slowly. What is he doing in our house?
“That’s right my boy. I’m Kaz Warwick. I’ve come to talk to you, Leon.”
“Me?”
Leon looked at Father. Father was nervously rubbing his forearms. He looked pale and took short breaths. Leon laughed within himself at Father’s plight. It was pretty obvious that having Kaz Warwick at his kitchen table was taking a toll on him.
Mother was rubbing Father’s back with one hand and fidgeting with her earrings with the other. She stared at Kaz with frightful eyes.
Aidan was almost bouncing in his chair. He had to hold himself down by gripping the sides of his chair with both hands. He was asking question after question.
Kali walked in. Everyone turned to look at her. Surprise showed on her face before she bolted for the stairs.
“It’s a shame she doesn’t want to join us. Oh well. Now Leon, please sit. Don’t be intimidated. You’re getting as pale as your father. I often have this effect on people.”
Aidan asked, “Do you remember, sir, when you were behind by ten in the last 17 seconds of the final 4 years ago? And—”
“Please, Aaron, I’m trying to talk to your brother.”
“Aidan”
“Aidan. Whatever. Now as I was trying to say, I’m sure you know, Leon, about the videos of you that are practically going viral. That’s how I heard of you myself. People have been calling you a monster or a fraud or a god. I hope that your videos were not altered because they are very intriguing.”
He paused, but hearing no response he impatiently asked, “They weren’t altered were they, boy?”
“No. No, sir.”
“So you really can do what it shows in the video? Amazing.” Kaz sat back in his chair with a pleased smile on his face, rubbing his chin.
Leon timidly sat next to Aidan who was still beaming. Up close, Leon could see signs of aging on Kaz’s face, but he was fit and strong. He carried himself with poise, looking down on Leon’s family with an upturned nose.
“Show me something.”
Leon was caught off guard. He was at a loss. His family looked at him. Kaz looked at him.
“Umm, okay. Just anything?”
“Yes, just make something. No one has ever done what you can. I just want to see it. Make one of those green … things for me.”
Leon stood up. His hands shook. What could I make that will impress him? Not a table or a couch. Not a dog or a shield. Just make something simple.
He held out his right hand and thought about a shadowball ball. Leon was too befuddled to realize that he had no reserve of green energy.
Nothing happened.
He tried again. He looked at his hand and tried to will a green shadowball ball there. He gritted his teeth and squinted his eyes.
Nothing.
“It’s okay, honey,” Mother started.
“He’s been recovering for a couple weeks. His ribs were broken. He was in the hospital,” said Father.
“That’s okay. Let the boy show me,” said Kaz. He turned back to Leon and nodded with a slight smile.
Suddenly he remembered that the fruit from the Tree of Life had drained his reserves of energy, even dark energy.
“What is it, honey?” Mother asked.
“Nothing. It’s just that … I haven’t … I haven’t done this since … the fight. I must be rusty.”
If it hadn’t been for Micaela, I could dazzle Kaz Warwick with my awesome powers. Why did I even go to that castle with her? It’s all her fault. I’m going to look like a liar to Kaz Warwick. Not only am I a loser to everyone at school, but now Kaz Warwick thinks I’m lame.
“Hmmm,” Kaz sat back in his chair, rubbing his chin. “No matter,” he finally said. “I know you’re still recovering and I’ve seen your abilities on video. I guess I can see it another time. I came to discuss an arrangement and here I’ve gotten so excited about seeing your powers that I’ve forgotten why I came. Forgive me. I’m sure you’ve heard of my Firebolts, yes?”
“Do you remember two years ago in that one game where Derrick Finnburn made that amazing catch? He flew into the air with like a double somersault half spin and the crowd was going wild?” Aidan asked.
Leon was grateful that Aidan had interrupted. It gave Leon a chance to gather his wits. Aidan continued with several stories of amazing plays he could remember.
“Please, please, Aaron. I must continue with your brother.”
“Aidan,” said Aidan, not losing an ounce of enthusiasm.
“Yes, yes. It’s Aidan. Okay.”
When Kaz finally got Aidan calmed down, he continued. “I would have liked your whole family to be present for this, boy,” he said, nodding to Kali upstairs, “but I’m forming another team. Not really another team, but a junior team. You’re obviously not old enough to be on the Firebolts, otherwise I’d recruit you straight to that team. But I want to start a junior Firebolts team for individuals such as yourself with outstanding potential. I will carefully train them so that when they are of age, they will be part of the best generation of Fireboats that the world has ever seen.”
“You’re already the best,” Aidan chuckled.
Kaz looked in his direction and then back at Leon. “I think you have something special, boy. I want you to train with me. What do you say?”
Leon was speechless. The Junior Firebolts! I’ll be the first member of a new team. I’m special. He thinks I’m special. He thinks I have ‘outstanding potential.’
“What about school?” Mother asked before Leon could say anything.
“While the summer lasts we can get a head start on his training,” Kaz said. “We can talk about school when we cross that bridge.”
“He can’t have a job. He’s too young. You can’t hire him,” said Father.
Kaz chuckled. “I didn’t plan on paying him. I thought—”
“You weren’t going to pay him? What is this, slave labor?”
“Think of this as an apprenticeship. Your son will be working closely with a skilled mentor for the summer. Surely that has value enough for you, yes?”
“Where will I train?”
“That’s the spirit, boy. Why you’ll be with me and my Firebolts in Idumea.”
“But that’s hours away. It’s almost all the way to Arizona,” Father said.
Kaz smiled wryly. “It’s only a few minutes if you’re flying.”
“I’m sure I could learn to fly quickly, Dad.”
Father didn’t answer. He stared at Leon with concern in his eyes. Leon knew that meant Father was going to say no. He quickly turned back to Kaz and asked whatever came to mind to give Father more time to get comfortable with the idea before he answered.
“You haven’t invited Randall to join the team, have you?”
“Who is Randall?”
“The boy I fought with.”
“That fat, cowardly kid who wouldn’t fight you man to man? Never.”
Leon smiled. Now is my chance. I’ll be better than
Randall in no time. He doesn’t have a coach like Kaz Warwick. I’ll be able to crush him and his puny friends. I will learn all the superpowers and Randall won’t stand a chance against me.
“He’s still recovering from some bad injuries. It might be months before he’s okay to train and then school will start again. I don’t think this is a good time for him. Thank you, Mr. Warwick, but maybe next year,” said Mother.
Leon’s mouth dropped open. Aidan was just as surprised.
“This is an opportunity he may not want to pass up, you see? It might be too late by next year,” said Kaz. “What do you think, boy?”
Leon looked at Aidan, who was nodding so fast his head was going to come off. Leon looked over to Mother and Father. Neither looked happy with this, but neither had said no explicitly. Since they hadn’t decided yet, it was up to Leon.
“I’m in. I’m so in.”
chapter 19
Idumea