Dark Fire

by Bethany Wicker

  His hair was russet brown and sat neatly on his head. He wore faded blue jeans and a white polo shirt. His pink lips were set in a wide smile as he chatted with the others at the table. As he spoke and moved his arms, an air of confidence surrounded him.

  “So, which one do you like?” Mom asked and successfully scared the heck out of me.

  Not wanting to share my attraction with my mom of all people, I huffed, “None of them are cute. They’re plain, ordinary humans. I pity them. They don’t even know what they’re missing out on.”

  “You shouldn’t be so close-minded, Kyler,” Mom argued. I was certain this was going to be a teaching moment. “Just because they can’t control an element doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy life. There are more important things to cherish instead of power.”

  “Like what?” I questioned sarcastically.

  This was an argument that usually occurred at least once a week whenever I was home. Mom would insist that humans were able to enjoy the small things in life, but I’d argue that who needed the small things when you had an element to do your bidding.

  The hard look she shot me meant she’d caught on to the sarcasm, but thankfully the waitress came and cut off her retort.

  “Are you guys ready to order?”

  As the others ordered their food, I examined the waitress who seemed to be my age too. Her name tag read ‘Nova’ and she had long blonde hair that fell in curls on her shoulders. Her hazel eyes were almost hidden behind her thick, black spectacles, but they suited her. Her smile was dazzling and I blinked back to reality when her eyes turned to me.

  “And what would you like?” she asked in a sweet, gentle tone.

  She was pretty dainty for a human teenager. I expected them all to be rough around the edges like the table of teens who were goofing off behind her.

  “I’d like the Italian chicken wrap with fries,” I answered.

  “That’s my favorite,” she said as her smile widened. “You’re going to love it.”

  I wanted to tell her I knew I’d like it because it was what I always ordered when we used to come here, but held my tongue. Instead, I nodded my head in response with a pathetic smile plastered on my face. Peppy wasn’t really my thing. Her smile faltered, but she seemed to shake it off as she went to put in our orders.

  “How are you supposed to make friends with that attitude?” Ben teased.

  “I’m not here to make friends. I’m here because my mom is forcing me to be.”

  Mom huffed. “You’re here to be an example that we can repair the bridge between elementals and humans, Kyler.”

  “More like an experiment,” I muttered.

  “So, aren’t we here to celebrate the new baby?” Dad intervened, which ended the current conversation and switched it to the prospect of a new baby.

  I ignored all talk, no longer in the mood for it. I mean, I was ecstatic to be having a little baby brother or sister, but I didn’t have to be happy about attending a human school. Mom had raised me to believe that they were no different from us, but that couldn’t be true. We had awesome powers and they had nothing. They got sick and old, but we didn’t. Humans definitely got the shorter end of the stick, so how could they possibly be the same as us?

  My eyes drifted back to the table with the teens. The boy I had been previously checking out met my eyes. His blue ones nearly pierced mine and my stomach flopped. It was a weird sensation, but I disregarded it. It was probably nothing or maybe just hunger. He grinned, but I didn’t return it. Instead, my eyes narrowed and he frowned before turning back to his friends.

  The waitress brought our food after that and I focused on it instead. The wrap was as delicious as I remembered. I inhaled the whole thing before everyone else was finished with their food. Finn raised his eyebrows at me, but I smirked in response. The twins had always made fun of my never-ending appetite and complained that I was just like my mom. That was probably the one thing we had in common: our love for food.

  Guess that was one thing the humans were good at: cooking delicious food. Elementals cooked decently, but they didn’t use the spices and seasonings like humans did, so it was lacking in comparison. We didn’t waste supplies importing them and didn’t see reason to grow them.

  My eyes trailed after the group of teens as they exited the restaurant. On the way out, they made a few snide comments to our waitress and her shoulder slumped. The boy met my eyes one last time, earning a sneer from me, before the door shut behind him.

  Bullying was something I’d never tolerated. It didn’t happen too much at Westville, but I was sure to stop it when I saw it. Mr. Jay used to call me the hall monitor because of it. Sure, I’d caused my good share of trouble, but there were never any victims. The people who were the targets of our pranks usually knew it was in good fun and not specifically picking on them. They would laugh it off with us later. Jenni was probably still talking about it with Jeremiah.

  The waitress visibly pulled herself together as she returned to us with a smile. This smile didn’t hold as much joy as the previous one.

  “How are we doing over here?” she asked.

  “I think we’re ready for the check,” Dad responded with a grin.

  She pulled it out of her pocket and handed it to him. “I figured you guys were about ready since the plates were empty around the table. No dessert, right?”

  “No, thank you. I don’t think I could fit it.” Mom smiled politely. “Are you in high school by any chance?”

  She nodded her head enthusiastically. “Yes ma’am. I’m in my senior year over at the local high school. It’s called Easterly High.”

  Mom’s face brightened. “Kyler is going to be starting there on Monday. Maybe you could show her around?”

  The waitress’s eyes shifted to me and they gleamed like Mom’s. “Of course. I’ll look out for you and help you in any way you need. My name’s Nova by the way, if you didn’t notice by the name tag. It’s nice to meet you Kyler.”

  I mentally cringed as I took her hand in for a shake. Her grip was light, but I’d already established I didn’t want to make friends and that included her.

  After she realized I wasn’t going to say anything, she pulled her hand away and took the check from Dad. “I’ll return with your change, sir.”

  “No need.” Dad waved at her. “The change is yours.”

  “Thank you.” Nova skipped away, but not before shooting me one last smile. “I’ll see you in school.”

  Mom kicked my leg under the table and I bit back my rude comment that was jumping to come out. In her mind, she was doing what she thought was best. In my mind, I was getting sick of her butting in.

  When I got home, I called Jeremiah, who answered immediately. I filled him in on our move and he filled me in on the prank. Mr. Jay tried to be mad, but couldn’t stop laughing, so Jeremiah was let off the hook. Mr. Jay figured the pranks would die down after that one with my absence and he was probably correct. I just hoped Jeremiah wouldn’t get too bored without me.

  My eyes felt heavy as I cuddled into bed. Sleep came quickly, even though I wasn’t looking forward to what my future held at a human school.

  Chapter Three: Remy

  “What’s with you?” Isabelle asked as we made our way to the cars. “You’re quiet which is such a rare thing to see. Have my looks finally taken their toll on you?”

  I raised my eyebrows as I took in her thick, stick-straight blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She was pretty, but narcissistic and not my type. She and her little posse were cool to hang out with, but just as friends. I’d never want to date any of them.

  “Not a chance. Just have other things on my mind.” I brushed her off and went up to Alice.

  She was the most laid-back of the group. It was probably rude to leave Isabelle like that, but I really didn’t feel like dealing with her.

  “We need to find a new place to eat. I’m sick of going to the same one,” I told Alice to spark a conversation. Hopefully, it would deter Isabelle if she
was thinking about following me.

  Alice sighed with a smile. “I’m so happy you said it because I was definitely thinking it. The service sucks anyway.”

  Her dimples poked through. She was gorgeous too with her long raven hair and chocolate brown eyes. Her tanned skin made her appear even more exotic, but she too would only be a friend in my eyes. As corny as it was, I was looking for the one person who called to me. My dad ingrained it in my head since I was a child that only one girl would appease my appetite and I was keeping my eyes open for her. If I didn’t just find her in some hole-in-the-wall diner. Blue eyes flickered in my mind, but I shook them from my head. My dad mentioned that some elementals had mates, but it was crazy to think I’d met mine. I wished he were around to ask.

  “So where should we start going now?” I questioned to keep the conversation up.

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Doesn’t matter to me as long as it’s some place else. Why do you seem so dazed tonight?”

  “Huh? Oh, I guess I’m getting tired. I was thinking about turning in for the day,” I admitted.

  “Think you could bring me home first? I don’t really feel like hanging out with these losers.” She giggled as Ethan came into view.

  “Heard that,” he yelled and threw his arm around my shoulder. “You guys too good for us now or do you have private affairs to attend to?” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. The others wolf-whistled behind us.

  I shoved him roughly off me and saw Alice turn red. “We’re just friends, you loser,” I defended.

  “You’re just jealous that I want to ride home with Remy instead of you.” Alice stuck her tongue out at him.

  “You’re dang right I am,” Ethan huffed.

  Ethan was your typical class clown that always had to be the loudest and most obnoxious of the group. He’d even dyed his hair firetruck red to emphasize his personality. It looked weird against his brown eyes that were so dark they appeared black. He looked a little on the demonic side and he embraced it.

  “Whatever dude. I’m outta here. You still coming Alice?”

  “Heck yeah.” She laughed again at Ethan’s appalled face.

  “You two try not to have too much fun without me,” Ethan called as we walked away.

  “Wait. What about me?” Isabelle shouted from behind us, but we both pretended not to hear and picked up the pace.

  We laughed as we climbed into my car and sped off before Isabelle could catch up.

  “I wish I could’ve seen her face.” Alice cackled.

  “But then she’d know that we heard her,” I reasoned.

  “Ugh, true.”

  “I thought she was your friend.”

  “She is, but even I can only take her in small doses.”

  Silence fell after that and it was only a few minutes later that I was dropping her off at her house. We said our ‘byes’ and I drove off. I was so ready to get home and take a shower that I could’ve busted out in a happy dance when I pulled up to my house.

  I clicked open the door and threw my keys on the small kitchen counter. It was quiet and lonely as usual. A sigh slipped out as I kicked off my shoes. After I grabbed a soda, I planted my butt on the couch. Sinking in, I allowed myself to think back to that girl from the diner.

  She had the most beautiful brown hair that cascaded down in messy waves. But that wasn’t what had me swooning like a girl watching one of those chick flicks. It was her eyes. They were a deep blue and had me sucked in with one glance. Her purple flecks shined through the blue, even from across the room, and it was oddly familiar. The flecks of an elemental.

  Ugh. I needed to pull myself together and stop mulling over some chick. I’d probably never see her again. She had to be an elemental passing through. No elemental wanted to live in a human world willingly other than me and that was only because of my dad.

  I tugged my phone out of my pocket to distract myself. Isabelle had called me twice and even texted ‘what’s up’. That girl didn’t know when to stop. If I wasn’t answering, then I wasn’t interested. Realizing the phone was further annoying me instead of helping, I tossed it onto my other couch.

  That shower was definitely needed now. I was so eager that I stripped down on the way to the bathroom and left a trail of clothes where I walked.

  Before I jumped in, I removed my annoying contacts to reveal my gold eyes with red specks. I hated having to keep them hidden, but it was for my protection. At least that was what my parents had always told me. My dad had worn contacts to hide his golden eyes too, but he’d used green ones.

  Jumping into the shower, I loosed a breath as the warm water rolled down my body and relaxed my muscles. I didn’t realize how tense they really were or how stressed that girl from the diner made me in just a few short hours. Thinking of her made me think of my parents and what they would have to say if they were here. They weren’t that great at being parents, but they were still my mom and dad. I allowed my mind to linger on them for only a few minutes longer before shoving those memories back down into the back of my mind. I mentally locked the key that kept them there.

  I finally brushed the girl completely off my brain and focused on school. Possible mate or not, I wouldn’t see her again. Besides, I had to do an essay tonight and wasn’t looking forward to it. I really needed to stop procrastinating, but at least schoolwork would be the distraction I needed.

  Chapter Four: Kyler

  Boring. That was my first impression of Easterly High School. There were no flashing of elements, no vibrant colors, no gardens or fountains. Just a brick building with a couple trees out front. Students lingered here and there and I was thankful Mom didn’t accompany me. She’d wanted to but I insisted on walking through the woods and luckily she wasn’t too keen on it.

  It was probably a good thing she hadn’t joined me because the trek was rough. I was going to have to get an earth wielder to help clear me a path, or I could burn me one. The latter was probably the easier and faster option.

  Nobody paid me any attention as I walked through the front doors. It was a relief and I entered the doorway in the front that read ‘Office’ like my mom had instructed to do. There was one lady sitting at a desk and she greeted me as I walked in.

  “You must be Kyler Yates, the new girl. It’s not every day we get a new student, so it’s nice to have you.”

  I took in her long silver hair and dark brown eyes. Her plump face was set in a gentle expression, even as she rummaged through the items scattered on her desk. Glasses hung around her neck by a chain and they clinked on the wood when she got low enough.

  “Here it is,” she exclaimed and held up a piece of paper. “This is your schedule for your classes, sweetie.”

  I took it from her and looked it over.

  Why the heck are there numbers by the classes? English? Why is that a class when I can already speak it fluently? And what’s algebra?

  “Everything okay, sweetie? You look a little lost?”

  “Um,” I hesitated. I felt like I should already know but, “what are the numbers by the classes and what type of classes are these?”

  She laughed lightly. “The numbers are the room numbers where the classes are being held and the classes are your basic ones: math, English, science, P.E., and history.”

  The first room number was 102. “There are over a hundred rooms? How am I supposed to find mine?”

  “Oh dear, no. What were classes like at the school before you came here? There are different wings: the one hundred wing all the way to the seven hundred wing. Your first class is room 102 which means it’s the second room of the one hundred wing.”

  “Why couldn’t they just be numbered starting at one? That would make more sense.”

  “I’m not sure, deary, but I can find someone to help show you around if you need it.”

  “That won’t be necessary, Mrs. Hoff,” a familiar voice stated from behind me and I spun around to see Nova. “I’ll show her around the school and make sure she gets to her first cla
ss.”

  “Thank you, Nova. You’re always so kind and helpful. I’ll write you two excuse notes for being late so you can show her around properly.” Mrs. Hoff scribbled on two pieces of paper and handed them both to Nova. “Now, off you go.”

  Nova beckoned me to follow her as we exited the office. “So, let me see your schedule.”

  I handed it over still not saying anything. It was bad enough that I needed help, but none of it made sense. A part of me was glad she’d shown up when she did because I didn’t want to get stuck with some fool showing me around.

  “Okay, so your first class is English with Mr. Callahan. He’s a stickler, but I’m sure you’ll do fine,” she explained.

  “Why do I have to take English? I can speak it just fine.”

  She giggled at the comment, but sobered up when she saw I wasn’t kidding. “Well, the class teaches you grammar with things like essays and letters.”

  “Why do we need to do that? The content always mattered more than anything else in the essays I’ve had to write.”

  “It’s not just grammar. It’s also literature. You have to read these old books and then take tests on them or write papers for some of them. I like reading, but prefer choosing my own books instead of being forced to read one.”

  “A class for reading books? That sounds lame. That’s something you shouldn’t be tested on. This school sucks.”

  “Where did you come from?” she questioned seriously. “We take the standard classes that are required everywhere in the States.”

  “A place much cooler than this,” I mumbled and was missing Westville more and more.

  She either didn’t hear my comment or didn’t have a response to it because she didn’t say anything in return. She stopped in front of two sets of doors. “This is the cafeteria. You have Lunch B, which is at noon.”

  I bobbed my head, letting her know I understood. At least something was familiar.

  Nova continued the tour and showed me the library, different hallways, and gym. Our last stop was English, my first class of the day. It was already halfway through when we got there but the teacher welcomed me with a smile after Nova handed him the note that excused our tardiness.