by Nathan Howe
Burning still saw him slightly. He was what he’d seen at Miss Watson’s farm off in the distance. “You can’t go completely invisible so why bother.”
Dark Son used his staff and reached like a serpent to strike them. Burning barely avoided it. Dark Son hissed. High-Powered jerked to the side, and in the next moment, Burning realized Dark Son stood between them. He whirled the staff around him, moving faster than Burning could track. The staff struck both Burning and High-Powered knocking them to the ground. Burning rolled away.
“I told you to fear me,” Dark Son leaped into the sky, raising the staff above his head. He was hard to see with his partial invisibility, aiming the pole at Burning’s head.
Burning realized Dark Son wanted to split his head open.
Behind Dark Son, High-Powered stood. He focused his powers and sent a focused burst of energy at Dark Son. Hitting him as right before Dark Son’s own strike hit Burning. Thank God. He saw that Burning was off his game. The presence of Elixir had rattled him.
Dark Son dropped to the ground beside Burning. He rolled, but Burning stomped on him. Dark Son screamed. He tried to move more.
High-Powered walked over to him. He charged another burst and punched.
“Ahhh!” Dark Son stopped moving.
For good measure, Burning placed his katana next to his neck. “Move. You die.”
“I can’t fail,” he shifted his lower body, but High-Powered used his ability to draw kinetic energy. It slowed Dark Son to the point that he stopped trying.
Burning kept one eye on Elixir. She hadn’t moved an inch.
“I failed my last test. They’ll never let me in,” moaned Dark Son.
“Wait. You were trying to join Diablo Island?” Burning asked.
“Of course. Only the best get in. And I was certain I was.”
“Apparently not,” High-Powered said.
The ground violently shook around them. Great. Elixir joined the fight. Burning had read her file. She controlled the earth around her. Her appearance shifted. A darkness surrounded her, like she sucked in the light. Or rather energy around her, it boasted her powers to extreme levels. Nearly undefeatable powers when Ardents learned to do it. But it came with a steep cost, one most wouldn’t dare take. To Burnings knowledge, only Ashes and his inner circle did. And Ashes was the only one able to do it permanently. The only chance they stood was Elixir losing concentration and the power she had.
From the ground, rock burst, encasing both Burning and High-Powered. There was nothing they could do. Stuck and at the mercy of one of the evilest Ardents alive. She walked toward them. Her eyes ate away at Burning’s soul. She had no life in them. Like she cared for nothing but power. For death. To terrorize those around her. She hated the world around her.
She kneeled next to Dark Son. “You failed.”
“Please let me try again. Another test.”
She peered into his eyes. “You knew the rules going in. We give a test. You pass you’re in. You fail you die.”
“But this test. It was harder than I heard–.”
Elixir stabbed him with a stone knife right in the eye. Blood oozed out.
He died.
Burning feared he’d be next. She stood and turned to Burning and High-Powered. “He was pathetic. Taunting and killing ordinary people. But you two. You have real power. You’d be a great asset to my master.”
There was no way Burning would serve Ashes. But he wasn’t about to say that. He’d say anything to get out of this alive. “We would?”
High-Powered glared at him.
Elixir smiled. “I understand you work for the Coalition and we’re sworn enemies. But think about it.” She left casually, walking away like nothing in the world happened.
The nonchalant attitude of the encounter scared Burning as much as the power she leaked. The way she killed without hesitation or worry. She was soulless. And she was at ease with it.
The stone that held them loosened and fell to the ground when Elixir was no longer visible.
Burning shivered. His muscles ached. His body covered in sweat. “Wow. Just wow.”
“I can’t believe she let us live,” High-Powered said. His body shook. Not a dry spot on him too. He was just as frightened as Burning.
Both sweated more than running a marathon.
“I know. Let’s get out of here. We have to tell the captain and Inferno about this.”
“Anything. I don’t want to step in this part of town ever again.”
Weeks later, Burning worked his regular shift at the shop. It took a while, but he finally felt safe here again. It was tough knowing he’d been found. Since Dark Son died, things in Amaranthine returned to normal, almost peaceful. The same couldn’t be said for everywhere else.
Halfway through his shift, an attractive blond woman sat at a table in his section. She ordered a small coffee black and nursed it for a while. She gave Burning the chills. Like she’d kill him without a second thought. She reminded him of the murderous look Elixir gave.
She apparently waited for someone to join her. After an hour and one cup, Burning went over to her. He bent over the front of the table being as polite as possible. “Would you like another cup?”
“No thanks.”
Burning nodded and walked back to the counter with the news on the TV. Still continuous coverage of the assassination of the Elf prince. The news these days had been awful. The attack on Cynosure, which Burning was thankful he’d left when he did, then the news of the Ardents missing in Lenience City. The way things were going Burning half expected breaking news invasion from Diablo Island. With the run in with Elixir, he figured it would happen. Amaranthine and Azure City would be consumed first, being on the west coast not that far from Diablo Island. Once of the disadvantages of moving to the other coast. It was a risk. He’d worried about it at first but had gotten over it.
When Burning turned around, the woman had left. Thank God. She put the fear into him. For whatever reason, she scared him as much as Elixir. Burning’s shift was nearly over. He was looking forward to a night to himself. Maybe get yoga in. He could use a good workout and stretch. Working both the coffee shop and with High-Powered took up most of his time. He had few days to himself recently. That needed to be remediated.
The Ascension of Natalia
Curled up on the couch with a mint chocolate milkshake, Natalia watched the reality TV show centered on young Ardents learning to control their superpowers. She’d never admit to watching it to anyone at school. Way too embarrassing. But it was a guilty pleasure she shared with Abby, her best friend. They were sophomores at East Port Sinclair High School. Complete opposites in appearance. Natalia was a petite girl with short red hair that offset her angular face. While Abby, an athlete, had a full figure and long flowing brown hair that framed her sculpted face.
“Are you ever going to ask him out?” Abby asked between gulps of her shake.
“Who?” Natalia did her best blank face.
Abby rolled her eyes. “Please. You know who I'm talking about. You ogle at him every day.”
Natalia froze, shocked. Her fingers slipped on her shake. She barely kept it from spilling over her lap and staining her pants, two fingers from a mess. “I do not ogle.”
Abby turned to face her with an amused expression. “Fine. Politely stare at him.”
“Oh. No. No, I don't.” Natalia blushed.
Abby smiled. “One of these days I'll get you to ask him.”
Natalia bit her lower lip. “I don't know. I don't think I'm his type.”
Jacob, Natalia's older brother, walked into the room. He stood a hair under six feet and was lean. He dressed to impress every day. Today his bright blue shirt brought out the color of his eyes. “I can't believe you watch this rubbish,” he said disapprovingly.
Abby sighed. She turned back to the TV. “It's better than some of the stuff you watch,” she said.
He shrugged. “Doubtful. This stuff will rot your brain.”
�
��Right,” Abby said. “Like that test yourself against an Ardent gladiator show is so much better.”
“At least you see if you can keep up with an Ardent. Not just follow their lives.”
“Jacob, what do you want?” Natalia asked. He never talked to her anymore, not since he started dating Victoria.
“I wanted to show you my letter.” He handed her the paper he carried. The only thing they did talk about these days was his college search. He was a senior and had applied to five different colleges across the country.
“Which one is this from?”
“Just read it.”
Natalia opened the folded paper.
Mr. Jacob Aura,
Congratulations on your acceptance to Cynosure University in the honors program for Engineering.
Natalia dropped the letter. The letter was longer, but that was all she needed to read. “Way to go!” She leaped to her feet and hugged her brother.
“Thanks.”
“Way to go, nerd,” Abby said.
While he seemed pleased, he didn’t appear as excited as Natalia thought he’d be. “I thought you'd be stoked. They have the best program in the country.”
“I know. I am. It's just Victoria is staying here. And I'll be six hundred miles away.”
Cynosure was the largest city in Ensurift. It was located on the east coast like Port Sinclair but further south. “At least one of you isn't going to Azure City,” Natalia said.
Jacob shrugged. “A small blessing, I guess.”
Even though it was still years away for Natalia, she dreamed of the day of getting her acceptance letter to a top tier college. She had a list she was still narrowing down. Every few months she went back to it and debated about the schools on it. Barely able to take any off. Natalia told herself she had time.
“Thanks, Nat. I'm going to go celebrate with Victoria.” Jacob was proud of himself, rightfully so. Even Abby was happy for him.
“Gratz again. Have fun.”
The next morning at school Natalia walked next to Abby, hugging her books in front of her chest. They were headed to Calculus.
Abby playfully nudged Natalia with her elbow. “You going to ask him today?”
Natalia sighed. “I,” she hesitated unsure what she would do today. “Maybe?”
“Yes, this again.” Abby's eyes widen at the maybe.
“Aren't the guys supposed to ask the girls out?”
“Stop being so old fashioned.”
The books in her arms suddenly felt as heavy as a car. “I'm not old-fashioned.”
“Well it's that, or you're a chicken.”
“Yup. You solved it. I'm a big chicken.”
They walked into the classroom; it was stark white like the rest of them. It had the familiar green chalkboard covering two of the walls. The room held roughly thirty desks. Natalia took her assigned seat in the middle. She took out her supplies and watched Brandon walk in. He played on the football and baseball teams and his physique showed it, unlike most of the other guys in the school. He was a year older than Natalia too, a junior. He'd be the star of both teams next year. If he wasn't in Natalia's Calculus class, she'd never be in the same room as him.
At that moment, Natalia realized Abby was right. She did ogle. She looked away but not in time. Brandon's eyes had met hers. Her heart fluttered. She blushed. In her peripheral, she saw Abby laugh. Their teacher walked in just before the bell rang. Natalia did her best to not look at either Abby or Brandon. It wasn't easy. Instead, she dug her head into her book. At times, she'd take her eyes off the book, and her gaze would venture to Brandon or Abby. Each time she quickly returned to the book. Natalia enjoyed Calculus so much, she didn't need to listen to the teacher. She went ahead today to take her mind off her embarrassment.
When the bell sounded to end class, Natalia picked up her books and dashed out faster than normal. Not even waiting for Abby. She beelined it to her locker. Abby was right about her wanting to be with Brandon. She wanted to just spend time with him. Her heart raced thinking about it. The idea was preposterous. But she wanted him.
With her head buried in her locker like an ostrich, she breathed in. At this moment, she didn't care what the people around her thought. “What are you doing?” Abby leaned next to her locker.
“Nothing.”
Abby laughed playfully. “You got caught ogling. It was only a matter of time.”
“Yeah.” Natalia's face was flushed. Her heart raced. “I feel so stupid.”
“Please, you want crazy? I can tell you stupid. Remember that time at Leah's house?”
Natalia smiled. “That was a crazy night.”
“That is one way to put it. Look, ask him out,” Abby said.
As much as Natalia wanted to, she feared she’d lost her chance. “I can't. Not now.”
“Sure, you can. You don't want to be your brother. Waste time before you do it. Then once you do you only have a few months.”
Pulling her head out of her locker, Natalia sighed. Abby was right once again. Jacob waited until six months ago before asking Victoria. And now they'd be going their separate ways. “I'll think about it.
“Finally.” Abby walked next to Natalia. “You hear that Invincible might be coming here again?”
Abby was obsessed with him. He was one of the most famous Ardents in the world. The leader of the Hero Coalition. Everyone had heard of him. “Nope.”
“He's such a hunk.” Abby was doing her own ogling now. She was in awe of Invincible.
Natalia rolled her eyes. Only Abby would be thinking about this right now. “He's like forty.”
“And still hot.” Abby licked her lips and hugged her books to her chest.
“If you say so.”
“I'm so going to meet him this time.”
“You do that.” Natalia let it go. If she let her, Abby would talk on and on about him. And how powerful he was.
That evening Natalia sat at the dining room table fretting over whether she should talk to Brandon or not. She fiddled with her food, lost in her own thoughts. Besides her, only her brother and mom sat at the table. It had been that way since the divorce. Natalia had only seen her father once since he moved out. She missed him. He was the one she went to with her problems. Her mom, being a doctor, looked at things differently. Natalia appreciated it when her mom tried to help, but it wasn’t the kind of help she needed. Especially right now. She sighed.
“You all right?” her mom asked.
“Yeah.”
“You don't look fine.”
Natalia didn't want to talk to her about it at all. She'd think she was stupid and childish. Like she always did. It would evolve into another lecture about life stuff. Not what she wanted. Her dad would say the right things.
Jacob finished his plate. “Does this have anything to do with you burying your head in your locker this morning?”
He saw that. Of course, he did. Natalia crossed her arms and coughed. “No…” she stuttered. “That was nothing.”
He laughed. “Nothing. Okay.”
“Jacob, be nice. She's a young lady going through changes.”
“Mom!” Natalia cringed. This is exactly what she feared. “I'm done. I'm going to my room to study.”
Natalia left the dining room without even putting her plate away. She dashed up the stairs two at a time. She quickly shut the door to her room and flopped on her bed, covering her face with a pillow. She wanted to forget about today.
She rolled over and took out her cell phone. She found her dad's number and called. He should be off work. He moved to Azure City and worked as a District Attorney there.
“Sweetie,” he answered on the first ring.
“Dad,” Natalia paused. At the sound of his voice, Natalia felt her throat tightened. The familiar ache in her chest reminded her of how much her life had changed since he moved across the country. It was hard being happy when the one person who really understood her was so far away.
“You okay?” Natalia told him abou
t her day. “It'll be okay. We all have days like that.”
“I know. I just…”
“You know what I think? Abby is right. You should just try and see. Maybe if it goes well, you will completely forget about today.”
Her mouth agape. Her heart skipped a beat. “You're kidding. Right?”
He cleared his throat. “Not at all. I've told you the story about how your mom and I started dating.”
Natalia was silent for a moment, thinking about the story. Her parents had met in college, where they’d shared a few classes together. Natalia didn’t remember all the details, but the one thing she did remember made her burst into giggles. “Oh! That’s right. Mom caught you checking her out.”
“More than once.” Natalia imagined her dad smiling with joy. How he seemed to be happy with what happened, even though a nearly identical incident had made Natalia embarrassed and terrified.
Natalia laughed. “And she still said yes.”
“That she did. It's not all bad. Follow Abby's advice and ask this Brandon out. What's the worst he can say? No. Big deal. You move on to the next.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“Because it is, dear.” He was right. It was only words and talking. She didn’t have to do anything dangerous or out there. It was simple.
“Thank you, Dad.”
“You’re welcome.”
Natalia hung up feeling better. A weight off her chest. She went to studying as she said, without the distraction of the day she had.
Natalia sat in Calculus class a few days later. She hadn't worked up the nerve to ask Brandon out yet, but she kept telling herself she'd do it. Absentmindedly, she tapped her pencil against her palm and looked at the clock above the chalkboard. Only five minutes left in class. Natalia stole another glance at Brandon and took a deep breath. She made up her mind, today she would do it. Now or never. Her dad never steered her wrong. Well, that wasn't entirely true, but it helped her gather the nerve.
Buzz. The bell sounded; her classmates filed out of the room. Natalia hung back, letting a few kids pass so she could approach Brandon as he left the room. “Brandon,” she said.