Fire Flyer: Book 1 Elemental Bonds Series, a YA paranormal romance.

by Cait Vaughn

  Chapter 27

  The rest of the drive went pretty quick. We weren’t allowed to stop for anything else so I really had to pee as we approached the gated community. I really perked up as we drove through San Diego. There were all kinds of tanned blonde bodies everywhere and the city was so beautiful. I could almost imagine it was a vacation. As we got further from the city which was every bit as impressive as Las Vegas I was in awe at the ocean. I couldn’t help but feel very excited about being in my dream beach house for the foreseeable future.

  “Are we going to your house or the compound?” I asked Serenity.

  She smiled, she was basically vibrating with excitement now. She reminded me of the energizer bunny. She turned and I noticed she was all healed. That was so cool. “Both, the compound is about a football field away from our house it’s all our land. My dad is the dean for all intents and purposes of the compound which is really a private high school for our kind. The school actually starts in sixth grade, but most kids come in about 8th grade.”

  We stopped at the gates which were very imposing. The fence itself was about 12 foot high and steel bars from top to bottom. They were intricate like what wealthy people would have. You could see through the fence though, which I thought was strange considering surely they didn’t want people to see what went on here. There was a guard at the gate complete with uniform and radio attached to his shirt. He looked to be maybe in his young 20’s.

  Ri leaned out the window. “Hey, Omar, It’s me, Jason, Serenity, and this is Trinity Mathis.” He said and I blushed thinking please let this guy not have heard of me. Omar gave a huge grin and removed his cap leaning out the window to see past Ri. “Trinity I’m happy to meet you. I heard you had a rough time. I’m sorry about that. Don’t worry you will be safe as can be here and if you need anything you ask for Omar Vasquez. I’ll take care of anything you need.”

  He gave me a little wink and I’m pretty sure my jaw was on the floor. He knew of me and was obviously hitting on me and I was speechless. Ri answered for me. “Trinity has been through a lot and she’s tired. Buzz us in so we can get her settled.” Ri’s voice was firm and seemed kind of dangerous. Omar did not care though he gave me another wink and buzzed the double steel doors open.

  My first encounter was overwhelming but the second was breathtaking. In front there was a never ending expanse of beach. Clear and beautiful the ocean was close enough to touch and on the left of the drive about 30 yards in front was the beach house. I recognized it in a very dejavu kind of way. Serenity wasn’t kidding about the football field because on the right side of the drive about 40 yards out there was a football and track field that ran widthwise between us and the compound I could see on the other side of it. It was an amazing building but not the dark dungeon type place I had imagined. It was very modern with sloping roofs and glass walls and sky walk ways it was beautiful.

  More overwhelming than all of that were the bodies. Everywhere you looked there were bodies and a lot of those bodies were on display. There were people on the track, people playing volleyball, people sunbathing, people in the ocean. They were everywhere and I couldn’t believe it. Was I about to be lynch mobbed?

  Ri’s voice cut off my musings. “Sorry about Omar Trinity. The Supe community is not overly huge so every unbonded male within the area is going to wonder if you’re his missing mate. Considering that we do all know about you in one way or another they will all be hoping you belong to them.”

  My heart spiked in fear at that. “But I belong to you.” I told him. His eyebrows raised and he got a puzzled look on his face like he didn’t want to hear that. “We can’t know that for sure. Besides even if it’s true we’re the only four people that know that,” He gestured to the four of us. I was way to overwhelmed to argue with his very poor choice of words there. I would deal with that later. The whole linking thing had me freaking out enough already. Mainly because there was a part of my heart that screamed “mine” every time I looked at Ri. I wasn’t about to contemplate linking with anyone else and I wouldn’t be doing it with Ri for a long time as it was.

  I turned to Serenity, “I can’t accidentally link with someone, right?” She giggled. “Nooo it’s a very on purpose kind of thing, you have nothing to worry about.” This didn’t reassure me very much. From my way of thinking I had a 17 year old girl side of myself that I didn’t know, clawing to come out of me. Who knew what that part of myself was capable of.

  I noticed we had pulled into a large eight car garage. It seemed to be filled with very expensive vehicles of all kinds. The garage door was shutting behind us and the overhead fluorescence was clicking on. Serenity got out. “Home sweet home, come on I’m putting you in the guest room next to me.” Everyone got out but I noticed Ri was setting my two massive suitcases down like he had no intention of carrying them. Then an honest to goodness butler, I assumed he was a butler because of his attire, came out to greet us.

  “Welcome home Ms. Holden, how may I assist you?” Serenity smiled at him. “Hi Bugsy, this is Trinity” He nodded his grey head towards me, “Please put her things in the guest room next to mine. If we need anything else we’ll let you know.” He nodded his head again. “Very good miss.” With that he took off into the house and my luggage magically followed behind him levitating through the air.

  It was at this point I realized I may be in over my head here. I turned to Ri. Jason was obviously saying goodbye to Serenity if the mouth action was any indication. “You’re not coming with us?” He obviously wasn’t but I didn’t know what to say. “I need to meet with Marcus and debrief. There is a completely impenetrable force field around all 100 acres. You’re safe but if anything happens call for me in your mind.”

  “Does that mean you can read my mind all the time?” I was very worried about this possibility. He gave me the Ri smirk and said, “wouldn’t you love to know?” Then he revved the engine backed out and took off without another glance at me.

  I. Saw. Red. It was so typical of him. It was like he was saying ‘Hi I’m your soulmate, but I don’t even care. I saved your life and got you to safety and now I can’t get away fast enough.’

  I wanted to kick his butt so bad. Obviously I had misread him, how shocking. He certainly never made anything easy for me. Serenity noticed my sadness she gave me a side arm hug. “It’s ok, on the outside he may be Mr. Macho but I promise on the inside he is all Trinity all the time. Now let’s go put you in a barely there bikini and make him regret that whole taking off without a thought thing.” I looked into the eyes of a girl who knew how to make a guy feel sorry for his actions and I was very happy she was on my side.

  “Lead the way.” I said grinning.

  Chapter 28

  The garage was bigger than most. We went up six steps and walked into the largest kitchen I had ever seen. It was extra-long with pristine white cabinets on both sides. There was a generous center island. The cabinets were white and the walls were a sky blue. There were sail boats and sea shells on the walls it looked very beachy. On the right wall there were two double ovens. This seemed extreme until I glanced into the dining room.

  It was huge. Off the kitchen on the left there was a half bath that was definitely the most beautiful I had ever seen if for no other reason than I desperately needed to relieve myself, which I did. After that we entered the dining room. Where the kitchen was all beachy clean the dining room was nothing but opulence. Deep mahogany table and dark crimson walls and a table that set 20 easily. A very wide multi-tiered chandelier showed that this house was most certainly lifestyles of the rich and famous. From there we went around into the living room which was also very large and elegant. It was more neutral with beige furniture and walls. It had French doors leading out onto the wrap around porch and it was very light and sunny. There was a huge 70 inch t.v. There were also four teenage boys playing wii.

  It was nice to see the normalcy in this intimidating house. The boys were wearing shorts t shirts or swimming trunks and they were sur
rounded with soda cans and pizza. I wasn’t unused to rich people. I knew about having money. I never went without anything I wanted but I knew that wasn’t the norm and I had never lived anywhere so fancy. My friends were of the hard working middle class variety too, so I was from both worlds.

  Serenity walked up to them. “Trinity meet my fourteen year old brother, dufus.” He gave her a scowl and then jumped up slapped my hand and crushed me in a man hug patting my back. “Sup Trinity,” He sat back down, “I’m Blake Everyone’s buzzing about you. Is it true you can fly?”

  Another boy said, “I heard you can spit venom that boils your enemies flesh.”

  I blushed from the attention. “Actually I don’t have my powers yet until my grandmother unbinds them.” He nodded. “Yeah I heard dad on the phone with her earlier. She’ll probably be here tonight but if not definitely tomorrow.”

  “Oh, should I meet her at the airport?” I looked to Serenity for information. Then Blake stood up disappeared and reappeared behind me and said in my ear “That’s not how we roll.” His friends bust out laughing and I blushed harder hating my ignorance in all of this and then Serenity turned into the scariest thing ever, a big sister. She used her telekinesis to pick up a soda and dump in on Blake's head.

  I thought that was bad but then he used his telekinesis to somehow grab every drop of soda off of himself and form it into a ball which he taunted Serenity with. “Way to go Blake, make her feel welcome why don’t you? If you hit me with that I won’t take you driving this weekend.” With than he deflated and floated the soda back into the can. She nodded at him and grabbed my hand. We went around the corner and up a beautiful turning floating staircase down a large hallway and then we entered mecca.

  Other than being very pink, Serenity’s room was perfect. Big and spacious with a bed fit for a princess all thick and plush. She had large French doors that opened to her own balcony that overlooked the ocean. She had two sunbathing chairs on the balcony. It was bright and feminine with an amazing view. There was also a large t.v. with no game system so I knew mine would feel right at home there. There was a sitting area with reclining loveseat by the t.v. but after all the crazy going on I wanted to lay on the bed that reminded me so much of my room.

  Flopping myself on the big bed I moaned, “There is a God.” She giggled and sat down by me. Then she got a serious look on her face which she really should never do because it looked all wrong on her. “So, how are you holding up, really?” She sat indian style and I rolled on my side facing her propping my head with my hand. “It’s ok really. If I actually processed any of this I think I would explode. As it is, everything is happening so fast and it is overwhelming and scary but also amazing.” She grinned at me. I continued. “How could anyone not love all of this? It’s really, well, just amazing.”

  She nodded. “I know what you mean. You only feel ok with it because you’re one of us though. I’ve heard stories of humans accidentally seeing things and they do not take it well at all. We didn’t know what to expect with you.”

  “Why what happens?”

  “It depends but it usually involves wanting to study us like lab rats, thinking we’re an abomination, wanting to kill us, you know, the usual. You do seem to be handling it well but I imagine it’s crazy to you.”

  “It is. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to the magic and then of course there’s “Ri”. We both said his name at the same time her with a sneaky grin and me with a pout of frustration.

  I groaned, “Oh, he makes me crazy. He doesn’t ever let his defenses down even to me and I’m his bond mate and he acts like he doesn’t even care about that.” She got up from the bed. “Here let me show you this.” She came back with a photo album. I sat up so she could put it in my lap. I opened it the first page was her 8th birthday party. I could tell from the candle on the cake. In front of the cake was a young Serenity and two boys. Even though they were younger I could tell it was Ri and Jason. As I flipped through the book there were more clips throughout her life. At the beach, birthday party, learning to drive. Everything and it was always her, Jason, and Ri.

  “I actually started this book for you when I was eight. Because you were the sister I never had and I knew we’d be together one day. For as long as I can remember it’s been me Jason and Ri. I always felt connected to Ri but not in a bond mate way and I never understood it until he came to me about 3 months ago telling me about the dreams. He recognized you from family photos we have. We’ve kept track of you guys in our own special way all these years. I think I knew, before he did, that you guys were meant to be.”

  I understood she was saying she had spied on me which didn’t bother me. I was stuck on a picture of Ri in a school cafeteria. He was probably 14 and even though he had his smirk on his face I could tell he was far too serious even then. It hurt my heart a little. I was seeing how bond mates grew up together sharing everything. Literally sharing a lifetime with someone and he never had that. I thought maybe that was why he didn’t want it because maybe he didn’t feel as connected to it as the others did or maybe he just didn’t feel connected to me.

  I slammed the book shut depressed with my thoughts. “Then why does he fight me on everything?” I asked. She giggled, getting off the bed and throwing open the double doors that I thought went to her bathroom but really opened to the most tricked out walk in closet I had ever seen. As she rummaged in the back she was saying,

  “Ri is a fighter but he doesn’t have a clue what we ladies keep in our arsenals.” With that she held up a red ball of string. I think it was a bikini but I could only see string. She had a very mischievous look on her face and I definitely loved her in that moment. It was good to not feel alone anymore and she was growing on me fast and then my tummy growled loudly.

  We both laughed. “Ok we will revisit ‘operation blow Ri’s mind’ later. First we have to check out your room and then we will eat but then we are going to the beach, got it? I can tell you want to crawl in a hole but supes are like wolves if you show weakness they will go for the kill. You don’t know what a big deal you are yet but I do and I’m telling you that you have to act composed and confident at all times.”

  Then she walked out and I followed her across the hall and into an empty room. There was nothing in this room it was just white walls. “umm,” I said as the butler Bugsy came in the room. “What can I do for you miss?” I had no idea how she had summoned him but she held up her hands and three photos zapped into her fingers somehow. I couldn’t see them and then she said, “I need a glamour, please, Bugsy.” He studied the photos and then snapped his fingers and I was standing in my bedroom! My mouth hit the floor.

  It was my room exactly every detail everything was there too which means I had two ps4s now which was awesome because I was going to get Serenity in on the action. Even my bathroom was there but the door was still busted off the hinges. “How does this work, is it real?” I asked Serenity. She smiled, “Definitely real. Everything from the photos will be in here too. Bugsy’s gift is if he can see it then he can duplicate it and the photos came from those real things so his power can sense every detail to match it exactly. So now you have doubles of some things. There is also a spell that will let you carry it all around with you if you want. People don’t do that much because we just shimmer everywhere so there isn’t really a homesickness thing. However, for times like this, it’s perfect.” She turned to Bugsy, “Thank you, Bugsy.”

  I leapt on him in an awkward but needed hug of gratitude. “Yes, thank you so much!” He seemed embarrassed and nodded saying it was his pleasure and quickly left the room.

  I wanted to leap on my bed but my stomach grumbled again so we made our way to the kitchen. We made ham sandwiches and ate in the kitchen. You could see the beach out the window and how very crowded and busy it was. I was not looking forward to becoming the center of attention. That was why my best friend was Courtney, I did not like the spotlight. Serenity was so happy to share everything with me so I knew I needed t
o go but I was so glad my room was here so I wouldn’t have to wear the ball of string she suggested as my swimming suit.

  Serenity inhaled her sandwich and then walked into the dining room and returned with her brothers leftover pizza.

  It was always amazing watching this girl with a model perfect body shove in so much food. The pizza was gone in seconds and then we split up to get ready for the beach. I wondered about Ri and when I would see him again. Then I rolled my eyes at myself. We hadn’t been apart for two hours and here I was thinking about him. I wondered if I would feel this obsessed in a human situation, or if it was because of the bond. Then I wondered if he could hear me thinking about him. My powers could not get here soon enough. I chose my green tankini. It was a rich green color with a gold swirl pattern that really made my eyes stand out. It also covered a great deal more than the one Serenity had suggested. My favorite part of the suit was that it complimented my small figure in not drawing attention to my assets or lack thereof but holding and lifting appropriately to give me a feminine silhouette. Even I knew it was modest for California but who cared? Comfort was the number one priority here.