by R. Lynn
“The walls of this gym are protected from powers, so you cannot harm them. I want to start by focusing on basic attack. Sollara has already demonstrated how to summon fire and project it from her body. Kai, you will focus on water, Oya you will focus on propelling wind, and Iresh....” Before she could finish Iresh interrupted her.
“This is an unfair playing ground for me; there is no nature in here.”
“Iresh, what is under this room?” Phoebe asked as she snapped her head at him and glared.
“Earth,” he replied nonchalantly.
“Then try to use what you have even if that is less than you are used to.”
Iresh closed his eyes to focus. His face contorted and his fists clenched so tightly that he was losing circulation in his hands. The room started to shake, really shake, and the tree carved into Iresh’s body began to glow. Sollara could see it shine through his shirt, and she began to wonder if all Elementals had a mark that represented their gift.
“Earthquake? Amazing!” Hannah squealed.
“See Iresh, you always have access to your gifts. Now to continue, Sollara tell us how it feels to summon your fire.”
“I always feel electricity running through my blood. If I try really hard, I can somehow single out the electricity and direct its course.” She turned up the palm of her hand and summoned the red flames. “I mentally picture my electricity to appear as flames in my hand. It’s easier than you would think.” The mark on her wrist glowed as the flames appeared, and her theory that the marks related to their gifts seemed to prove true.
“Kai, Oya, and Iresh, what do you feel in your blood? Andrew and Hannah, there is no reason why you cannot try as well. Often times Dark Ones can have a trace of a gift within,” Phoebe instructed.
“It kind of feels like cold or ice,” Kai said.
“That's good. Concentrate on that feeling and try to direct it to your hand like Sollara did. Anyone else?” Phoebe asked.
“I don't know how to describe what I feel. It’s as though it tickles,” Oya admitted as she hung her head, embarrassed by what she had confessed.
“Concentrate on that. Iresh, you keep working on commanding the ground to move. Have either of you two been able to sense anything?” Phoebe directed to Hannah and Andrew.
“I don't feel anything, like absolutely nothing. It’s weirdshouldn't I at least be able to feel my blood moving?” Hannah asked.
“I’m not sure, Hannah, keep trying. Maybe focus on the feeling of nothing, and something will come,” Phoebe suggested offhandedly.
“Yeah, I’m not sensing anything but hunger,” Andrew joked. Phoebe sent him a glare before turning back to the group.
Kai was deep in thought trying to summon water. Wanting to help him, Sollara went to his side and rested her hand on his shoulder. “You’re thinking too hard. Just feel itit’s a part of you.” She offered him a smile of encouragement before leaving him alone to his gift.
“Iresh, the marks on you and Oya, are they the same as this?” Sollara held up her wrist as she approached him.
“Yes. It’s simple really. Just your body confirming that you have activated your gifts. Every Elemental gets one when they first use their abilities,” he explained.
“But Kai doesn’t have one.”
“He will.”
He was confident in his words and that sparked a deeper curiosity in Sollara. Agonizing screams filled the gym and she turned to see Kai cradling his arm and screaming for Phoebe.
“Phoebe, what’s happening?” he called out as he clutched his left forearm and rolled on the floor. Sollara ran to his side. The first thing she noticed was that his arms were covered in ice-like crystal. Kai had finally figured out how to activated his gift.
“Where does it hurt?” she asked. By this point, everyone else was crowded around him trying to see what had happened.
“My arm,” he said as he held it up.
Sollara began picking the cold ice crystals away from his flesh. Everyone stared in anticipation at Kai.
“Told ya,” Iresh said nonchalantly as he shrugged and turned to leave.
Kai stared at his throbbing arm. His eyes fixated on the image of a tidal wave that wrapped around from wrist to elbow. After a few moments he looked up at the group in astonishment.
“I’m the only one who has to have the mark on my face!” Oya muttered, but no one paid any attention to her; they were all too busy examining Kai’s mark.
“Kai,” Sollara cut in. “You did it!” She ran her hand over his ice-covered arm.
“Yes, I finally did.” He held up his hands for Phoebe to see.
“Good, Kai. And how about you, Oya?” Phoebe asked.
Oya turned around and the feather on her face glowed. The shimmering mark distracted Sollara at first. But when she followed Oya’s eyes to her hand, a miniature tornado danced between her fingers and swirled around her palm.
Phoebe next instructed the four to project their powers at the wall. “Focus on hitting a target.”
It took them all a few tries, but soon they were actively shooting their gifts at imaginary targets. Sollara looked around and noticed that Andrew seemed distracted in the corner and that Hannah was missing.
“Andrew, where did Hannah go?”
“She was just here. We must have missed her slip out.”
“You guys are hilarious,” Hannah said.
“Hey, who said that?” Andrew whirled around.
“I said that! Why are you guys acting like I’m not standing right here?” Hannah asked.
“Because you’re not standing right here. Where the heck are you?” Andrew asked.
“Hannah, stop focusing on your blood,” Phoebe directed.
Instantly, Hannah materialized out of thin air.
Sollara stared wide-eyed at her friend blinking multiple times. “You can make yourself invisible?”
“I guess when you said you felt a void in your blood, you weren’t joking,” Andrew snickered.
“Darn,” Sollara grumbled. “Now I will never be able to sense you coming up behind me.”
-41-
Mari paced back in forth in her chambers. “Where the hell are the scouts? They have been gone for weeks and no word. They should be here by now. Do we have news of their plane landing yet? I want that Elemental bitch and I want her now!”
“Patience my love. We will have word soon,” Sugoi purred in her ear as he greedily watched the young servant girl bend over to pick something up.
“I am thirsty. Bring me something young,” she demanded as she plopped into her chair.
“We just finished off a village to the south and you’re still thirsty?” Sugoi questioned.
“Thoughts of Sollara whet my appetitefor more than just blood.” She traced her finger across his lips.
Ever since drinking Aurora’s blood, Mari had felt strong, invincible. Her skin was tighter, her flesh fuller. She never had to sleep, and her powers wereimmense.
Dark Ones from around the area had heard of her enhanced capabilities and sought refuge in the Deep Kingdom. It had become alive with energy and power, attracting servants and allies. Sugoi and Mari were their King and Queen. Everyone within the Deep Kingdom’s walls believed all humans should die.
When the maid returned with a young man no more than sixteen years old, Mari smiled in satisfaction. Even though he was in a new place and held captive, he stood tall and looked her straight in the eyes.
“Child, come closer,” she beckoned. “Do I not scare you?”
“No ma'am, you do not scare me. In fact I volunteered as I want to be like you… you know a Dark One, ma’am.” He held his head high as he responded.
“You volunteered? Do you know what that means? Sugoi did you hear this child? How amusing. In all my years the first to not fear me is a stupid boy.”
She walked up to the fascinating boy and ran her fingers down his cheek. He was plump and he smelt sickly sweet. She knew she would enjoy this meal.
“Mari, do not play with your food. It makes me sick,” Sugoi whined.
“I have no intention of eating this boy, not until he fears me. Remember how I told you thirst was not all I am hungry for?” she turned to the maid. “See this boy to my bed chambers. I will have fun with him tonight. Sugoi you will join us.” She was not askingit was a summons.
This newly acquired strength had gone straight to her head. Sugoi, grit his teeth as he imagined what she had planned for the boy. He would only have to put up with Mari a little longer until he could find a way to overtake her.
He had not stopped thinking about Atlanticus. In fact, he dreamed of ruling it every day. But she set her sights elsewhereshe set her sights on the world. He knew he would have to entertain her until he could think of something else. She was gaining favor with some of the SOD houses, not to mention that most of the Descendants felt she should rightfully gain the Seat of Empowerment. He begrudgingly followed her to her room. Sitting blindfolded in a chair in front of the bed was the boy.
“I want you to be a good boy and do everything I tell you. Do you understand?” she asked.
“Yes ma'am,” he replied.
If he cared more about humans, Sugoi would have put a stop to her games. But his curiosity to her plan with this boy got the better of him.
“Child, come over here,” she demanded.
The boy hesitantly walked over using his hands to guide him along the bed to where they stood.
“I am going to bite you, and it will hurt, but I want you to stand here and let me drink of your blood. If you do not move, I promise I will not kill you. But I will grant you your request and make you great like us.” She whispered this last part into his ear.
The trembling boy did not bolt but nodded his understanding. Mari bit the young man’s neck, sinking her teeth deep into his flesh and suckling his warm blood. His face contorted with pain, but he obeyed and did not move and did not make a sound. Occasionally, she would release from drinking of him to let escape a deep-throated moan of ecstasy. The rosy blush in his cheeks turned chalky as his life drained from his body.
“Mari, release him. If you drink any more, he will be beyond recovery,” Sugoi said.
She looked at him and smiled, then turned to the boy and sliced his neck with her long sharp nails. Sugoi watched him choke trying to get air as blood oozed from his wound. When none was found, his head rolled back and he collapsed, dead.
“Do you want some?” she offered as she held his broken body up to his mouth.
At first Sugoi was disgusted by her actions, but when the scent of sweet blood filled his nostrils, he could not refuse. “No use letting such fresh blood go to waste,” he said as he took the body into his hands and drank.
When he was fully drained, Sugoi threw the body to the floor and turned to making love with Mari. Soon they were covered in blood, a mixture between their own and the boy’s. When they had finally concluded, they lay in panting heaps on the floor.
He couldn’t even remember how they ended up on the floor. Ever since drinking from Aurora's blood, their lovemaking did not end in bruises or dislocated bones. It had strengthened their bodies and fueled their need for darkness.
“That was fantastic,” Mari purred into his ear as she gently twisted his nipples.
“And you were magnificent!”
A knock at the door caused Mari to growl in anger. “How is it that every time we require privacy we are interrupted?”
“Sorry miss, but the scouts have returned and await you in the auditorium,” a frightened voice said through the door.
“Sugoi, they are here!” Mari jumped up quickly and found clothes to put on.
They dressed hurriedly and washed the blood off of their faces. The excitement of having Sollara in their grasp spurred them on, and they practically ran to meet the scouts.
…“What is this?” Mari yelled when she saw only two men in the room. “Where are the others and where is Sollara?”
“Mistress Mari, we had complications. We lost many men and Sollara has gotten away. Plans were in place, as we discussed, to distract her and then attack at night. But before we could attack, she and her small group fled.” Sasha’s voice was begging for mercy, something Mari wasn't sure she was willing to grant just yet. He had served the Deep Kingdom faithfully over the years. He even had taught Sollara hand-to-hand combat skills and math.
“What do you mean you lost the girl?” Mari snapped.
Both men looked at their feet, too scared to have their gaze meet her eyes.
“Please Mistress, give us another chance. I will find her and bring her back to you. I need more men, more supplies. Then I will be gone,” Sasha pleaded. “Also…” he paused hoping to find the strength to continue. “One of the students stumbled across where we had been camping, so we had to kill her. I do not know if they figured out who killed her or why. I do not think they suspected our plans. But to be safe I moved the team.”
Mari’s eyes practically bulged out of her head. Not only had he lost Sollara, but he had also changed plans without asking her first. “Take some of the Spawns of Darkness and whatever else you need. You have one month to bring her back to me, or I will have your head.” With that she turned and left.
The men gathered supplies and recruited volunteers. Over forty Dark Ones volunteered to hunt Sollara with Sasha. There was no way that she would be able to escape that many powerful beings, and this thought brought pleasure to Mari.
One of the volunteers was a young SOD named Laora. Mari liked her mostly because she had a dark streak, similar to her own. But Laora was also special. She could take the image of any person. Most gifted could only shift into animals. Since drinking blood Sugoi discovered he could shift into reptiles. That had come as a shock one night when they were making love. But other than Laora, there had only been knowledge of one other who could take the form of people, Aurora. But Aurora wouldn’t be any trouble for her now. No, Aurora was flowing through her veins.
“Laora darling, I heard you have signed up for the hunt,” she began, summoning with her hand for Laora to take the seat next to her. She was a very pretty girl, and as far as Mari was concerned, she was lucky. Laora could shift and become any man’s favorite fantasy.
“Yes I have, Mistress Mari.”
“Such formalities, child. Please call me Mari.” She needed the girl’s complete loyalty, so she forced herself to be nice. Normally Mari would never tolerate a simple slave addressing her so casually.
“Thank you Mari. What is it you have summoned me here for?” she asked.
Straight to the point. Mari liked that.
“I want you to do something special for me.”
“Yes, anything Mari. What would you like?” Laora sat up straight, eager to hear her assignment.
“I want you to make Sollara suffer. Really suffer. If she has a man, I want you to assume her form and seduce him.” Mari stood and slammed a fist into the palm of her other hand. The idea of hurting Sollara excited her, and she had to calm her breathing. She would not scare away Laora.
“You want me to look like Sollara and sleep with her boyfriend?” she asked.
“Yes, can you do that for me?” Laora’s crooked smile lifted in the corners, and by her response Mari knew how evil Laora really was.
“Gladly,” she said.
“Good, now run along child.” She watched as Laora stood and left the room. Feeling confident that she was alone, she began to laugh. “Sollara, I will take everything from you!”
-42-
Days passed as the four Elementals worked hard perfecting their gifts. They had been practicing the ability to project their powers outward. Now, more often than not, they could all hit their targets with accuracy.
Phoebe had been devoting extra hours teaching Kai how to use his shifting skill. It was difficult learning as none of his teachers had the same ability as he. They focused on what it felt like to change from form into the lark and used that to help him take other a
nimal forms.
After many failed attempts and his occasional phasing into hybrid crossbreeds of the target animal, he finally was getting the hang of it. Kai could now, almost every time, phase into any creature of the air and any creature of the sea.
Manipulating the elements came easier to him than changing his form. Kai could bend and manipulate water in its solid or liquid forms. He often found delight in playing pranks on the guys. One time he even went as far as freezing the toilet water in the community bathroom.
At lunch it became an event where the whole school gathered around to see what sort of ice sculptures Kai would create. He was good with his gifts now, confident even. But his best power, the one he was most proud of, was his ability to make Sollara smile.
Whenever she crinkled her little nose and turned up her lips just enough for him to see a sliver of teeth, his heart melted. He never thought that he would be this happy. All he wanted to do was hold her and kiss her and keep her safe forever.
Tonight, Hannah would be leaving for the evening, repaying the boys for the blood she took for Sollara by attending their bachelor party. This would mean Sollara would have the room to herself. Kai didn’t know why the rugby team wanted Hannah, but he didn’t care. Especially if it meant he would have Sollara to himself for the night.
“Where are you going Kai?” Iresh asked as he crossed his arms and stomped his foot.
“If there is anything wrong with the bathroom, I swear it wasn’t me!” he replied as he raised his arms in surrender and backed away.
Iresh raised his eyebrows as though he didn’t buy Kai’s story. “No seriously, where are you going?”
“I have Sollara to myself tonight. I’m heading to the library to meet her now.”
“What’s the deal with you two. Are you getting serious?” he asked.
“Serious? It is said that the Fates use one soul and carve it into two bodies. They then separate the bodies and send the soul into two different places on earth. Some spend lifetimes feeling incomplete, while others spend lifetimes searching for their other half. I never thought I would be lucky enough to find the completion of my soul. But someone must have shined down upon me because I found her. She is beautiful and perfect, and I am going to treasure her forever. That serious enough for you?” Kai patted his friend on the back.