Run To Earth (Power of Four)

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Run To Earth (Power of Four) Page 21

by Mazhar, S


  “From their attitude, it doesn’t look like the mages embrace their human side,” Rose said.

  Aaron couldn’t imagine Skyler or Ella or even Drake admitting they were part human.

  “There’s something you should see,” Rose said. She picked up another book, one that was already open and lying face down next to her. She turned it over and pushed it closer to Aaron. It was a flow chart, taking over both pages. “Aric and Angela had six children.” Rose pointed to the top of the page.

  Aaron leant closer, staring at the names inked on the paper. It was a family tree, starting with Aric. A cross linked him to Angela. A horizontal line connected to both names split into six descending lines. Aaron read the names under each one.

  ‘Aedus, Afton, Avira, Adams–’

  Aaron stopped on his own surname, eyes widening in shock. He looked up at Rose, who was staring at him.

  “Since Aric married a human, his children were unable to take on all of his powers,” Rose continued. “The eldest four got one power of the elements each. The youngest two,” she pointed to the last two names on the chart, Aargon and Athona, “while still being mages and having some power over the elements, didn’t get complete power over any.”

  “Complete power?” Aaron asked, his head spinning at the information. “What does that mean?”

  “I’m not sure,” Rose replied. “I’ve not read that far yet.” She moved closer, sitting shoulder to shoulder with Aaron while studying the pages. “But I think it means that the eldest four got ultimate control over one elemental power each, but the last two got a weaker version of their siblings’ powers.”

  “You know what I think?” Sam said. “I think the youngest two got cheated. They’re still mages, but they don’t have power of the likes of their father or older siblings. All because their father hooked up with a human.”

  Aaron stared at his surname, sitting with the others. Aedus, Afton, Avira. A memory flashed in his mind. Skyler, standing tall and proud. Skyler Avira. His voice echoed in Aaron’s head.

  “The Elementals,” he said in realisation. “That’s why we’re called that.” He held up the book, staring at the names. “The eldest four – Aedus, Afton, Avira and Adams – they got complete power over one element each,” Aaron said. “Skyler’s last name is Avira and he’s referred to as an Elemental. My name’s Adams and I’m referred to as an Elemental. I bet you Ella’s surname is either Aedus or Afton.” Aaron was talking fast, voicing his thoughts out loud as they came tumbling out in a mess. “That’s why Skyler and Ella couldn’t be defeated in the ring. That’s why they seemed more skilled than the rest – ’cause they are more skilled than the rest.”

  “So you reckon the rest of the mages–” Sam started.

  “Must have come from Aargon and Athona,” Aaron finished. “They were just mages, whereas the other four got complete power over one of each element, so their future generations are referred to as the Elementals.”

  “Whoa,” Sam said, “Aargon and Athona must have been busy. Have you seen how many mages there are compared to Elementals?”

  “One power of the elements each,” Rose repeated, staring at the names in the book. “Adams?” She looked up at Aaron. “So your family has the power of...” She paused, but Aaron could tell from her expression alone that she was remembering their last day in their world. The way the ground had split open to stop that car.

  Skyler’s angry taunt came back to Aaron. Go on, show me, Adams. Let out some power. Snatch the ground out from under my feet!

  “Earth,” Aaron said quietly. “My elemental power is Earth.”

  ***

  It was time for dinner. True to her intentions, Mother Mary went all out preparing countless dishes, similar to the feast they had the night before. Rose had left to go to help, leaving only Sam and Aaron with the books. Aaron tried to read, but his mind was on one thing: Aric. The first mage. Sent to the world to protect humankind from demons. The mage who chose to forsake Heaven in the name of love. Love with a human girl. It was like a strange fairy tale, but with mages, humans and demons instead of princes, princesses and evil witches.

  Sitting on his bed, book open in his lap, Aaron read one sentence over and over again.

  Aric was created for the sole purpose of protecting mankind.

  There it was, written down, forever immortalising it. Mages were created to protect humans. Yet the attitude of some, like Skyler, was as if humans were not worth their time. Aaron wondered how mages got like that From Aric to Skyler. Did the passage of time really change the mindset of mages so much?

  “Hey, listen to this.” Sam sat up, holding a leather-bound book in his hands. “The effect elemental power has on the human realm was not discovered until almost five years after Aric’s army had come to Earth,” he read. “It’s a well-known story that, one day, Aric happened to come across the effects of elemental power on the mortal realm when he was passing from the human realm to his own. He experienced the start of an earthquake as he was passing through one of the tears. When he came to this realm, he found two of his brothers growing apple trees from the ground.” He paused to look over at Aaron. “Aric realised the tears in the barrier, left by the ferocious prolonged attacks by the demons, were allowing the flow of elemental energy to seep through and disrupt the human realm.” Sam paused, licking his lips nervously before reading on. “Aric tried to mend it for days on end, but the damage done to the fabric of the barrier was irreparable. Nothing could fix the tears, so Aric blocked them. He set up what are now known as the famous Gates of Resistance.”

  Aaron’s eyes went wide. “The Gates,” he said. “The ones Scott was talking about, like the one we saw when we first arrived.” The image of the towering white door with strange glowing symbols and numbers came to his mind. “That Gate was set up by Aric?”

  Sam nodded. “All the Gates were set up by him.”

  Aaron let out a long breath, brow furrowed as he worked the information out. “Scott said they set up the Gates once they take over a zone.” He recalled the map, with its red- and blue-coloured zones. “So Aric initially set up all the Gates, protecting the human world from the destructive power of mages.”

  “Plugging the holes, so to speak,” Sam said.

  “Right, but somewhere down the line of history the Gates were destroyed,” Aaron deduced. “The mages are now trying to do what their ancestor once did: hunt down demons and set up Gates to protect the human world.”

  “Talk about history repeating itself,” Sam said.

  “Strange history, huh?” said Aaron.

  They fell into silence, until chatter from outside filtered in through the window.

  “Sounds like the table’s being set,” Sam said.

  Aaron could make out the sound of plates clattering and the tinkle of cutlery hitting the wooden table. His stomach grumbled in response. They got up and made their way out, but Aaron paused next to Kyran’s door. Sam waited at the top of the stairs, frowning at him as Aaron gently knocked on the door. There was no reply.

  “What are you doing?” Sam asked, as Aaron reached for the doorknob.

  Aaron didn’t answer but opened the door. The room was lit with the orangey glow of the setting sun shining in from the window. The corners of the room were already shadowed. Kyran was still sleeping, lying on his stomach, clad in his long coat and boots. His soft breaths sounded slightly muffled against the duvet. Aaron stepped inside.

  “Kyran?” he called, quietly at first.

  There was no response.

  “Kyran?” Aaron tried a little louder. “Erm, it’s...it’s time for dinner.”

  Kyran grunted and shifted a little, but didn’t get up.

  Aaron waited for a moment before stepping closer and calling to him again.

  “Aren’t you hungry?” he asked. Breakfast was the last time he had seen Kyran eat anything. “Kyran? You don’t want dinner?”

  Kyran lifted his head, rubbed at his eyes and turned over. His eyes were still shut b
ut he grunted out, “Aaron?”

  “Yeah?” Aaron replied.

  “Disturb my sleep, I’ll disturb your breathing. Got it?”

  Aaron smiled, finding the murmured threat funny rather than alarming. He chuckled and turned to go. “Okay. Night, Kyran.”

  There was no reply.

  ***

  It seemed Kyran wasn’t the only one skipping dinner. All of Salvador’s Hunters were missing from the table, which was a shame really as Mary had prepared a feast fit for a king. There were so many dishes lined along the table, Aaron didn’t know where to start.

  “Which ones did you make?” Sam asked his sister as she sat down.

  “None of them,” Rose replied a little tightly. “I’ve not really got the cooking bit down yet. I helped peel the potatoes and carrots.”

  “Oh.” Sam paused. “You know you don’t have to work in the kitchen if you don’t want to.”

  Rose didn’t say anything and quietly started on her dinner.

  Aaron couldn’t help but watch Zulf as he tore his way through almost an entire lamb’s leg. Zulf, although busy eating, eventually noticed Aaron’s unwavering gaze.

  “Somefin’ w’ong?” he asked through a mouthful.

  Aaron shook his head. “Sorry, didn’t mean to stare.”

  Zulf waved a hand at him before swallowing. His eyes twinkled with amusement. “Don’t worry about it.” He smiled. “You impressed with my eating habits?”

  Aaron grinned. “I’ve never seen anyone eat so fast or...so much.”

  Zulf laughed. “I have only two rules that I live by,” he said, holding up two meat-stained fingers. “Eat till you’re fed and fight till they’re dead.”

  Aaron laughed. “Nice rules.”

  “Thank you.” Zulf inclined his head. He took another mouthful of rice and lamb, glancing at Aaron. He leant over the table towards him. “Hey, about last night,” he started. “I’m real sorry, man. I didn’t mean to give Skyler an excuse.”

  “It’s okay,” Aaron said. “You were only curious.” Aaron looked over to the cottages. “It’s so quiet when Skyler’s not at the table.”

  Zulf and a few of the others chuckled.

  “Ah, that’s the Skyler effect,” a Hunter commented. “You notice when he’s not here.”

  “Seems like a lot of people aren’t here today,” Aaron said.

  “They’re asleep,” Scott informed him.

  “That must have been some battle in the Q-Zone,” Aaron remarked, playing with the potatoes in his plate, “to make the Hunters skip out on dinner to sleep instead.”

  “It’s not that,” Zulf said. “The Hunters are wiped ’cause they’re not of age yet.” At Aaron’s confused look, he elaborated. “You have to use a substantial amount of power in a Q-Zone, so it tires you out – drains you. It gets easier once you come into your full powers.”

  “Full powers?” Aaron asked. “When does that happen?

  “When you’re nineteen.” Zulf grinned. “Like I am.”

  “So the Hunters of Salvador, they’re all under nineteen?” Aaron asked.

  “Pretty much,” Zulf said. “Kyran, Skyler, Julian, Omar and Ryan just turned eighteen a few months ago. Ella, Zhi-Jiya, Sarah, Jean and Danielle are all seventeen. The rest are sixteen.”

  “Sixteen?” Sam exclaimed. “They’re only sixteen?” he asked, flabbergasted that mages the same age as him were out fighting demons.

  “A mage comes into their power at the age of thirteen,” Zulf explained. “Their core continues to grow and develop until they turn nineteen. That’s when they come of age, meaning that their core matures. Then they can use their powers with much more ease. They don’t get fatigued by excessive use and a fully developed core means precise and accurate control.” He scooped up another spoonful before adding, “Oh, and they heal faster too.”

  “If that’s the case, then why don’t they wait until they’re nineteen to start hunting?” Aaron asked.

  Zulf’s smile faded. A strange silence fell across the table, with most of the occupants staring at their plates.

  “Because,” Zulf said, “we don’t have the time.” He smiled wryly. “Waiting to grow up is a luxury we can’t afford.”

  15

  Flesh Memories

  The days were getting warmer. The sun was blazing overhead; the heat so intense it reduced many to stripping out of their tops and swapping their jeans for shorts. Aaron and Sam struggled in the warmth, carrying their baskets of fruit to the Stove. As they got closer, they saw the table being set with a wide assortment of food, despite breakfast being served only two hours before. Ever since the Hunters returned from their Q-Zone hunt three days ago, Mary had ensured the table was always laid for them. It was just as well, seeing how the majority of Hunters seemed to have divided their time between their beds and the table.

  Having delivered the fruit to the Stove, Sam and Aaron made their way back to the orchard, empty baskets in hand. By the time they got to the lake, they were covered in sticky sweat, their faces reddened by the scorching heat. Both boys stopped for a rest and sat down at the bank of the lake. They peeled off their thin, sleeveless tops and lay back on the grass. Aaron propped himself up on his elbows, legs stretched out before him. The grass felt pleasantly cool against his bare back. His gaze followed a group of mages in the distance, walking down to the lake and carrying fishing nets.

  “You know what I was thinking?” Sam asked.

  “How do they fish with no rods?” Aaron said.

  “What?” Sam’s brow knitted in confusion. His eyes followed Aaron’s. “No, not them,” he said, shaking his head at the mages. “I was thinking about the day we met Alan for the first time.”

  Aaron turned to him, eyes squinting in the harsh sunlight. “Yeah?”

  “Alan said something about Skyler and Ella having Salvador’s allegiance, but he mentioned them giving you back your share. What do you reckon he was on about?” Sam asked.

  “No idea,” Aaron replied. “I had forgotten about that, actually.”

  “Here’s the thing,” Sam said, turning so he was facing Aaron. “What if Alan meant it in a literal sense. As in, you own a part of Salvador or the mages’ loyalty? Maybe with the Elementals being more powerful that an average mage–” He paused and then grinned. “Can you believe I just said that? An average mage?” He chuckled. “They can make fireballs from thin air, fight demons and ride motorbikes through portals or whatever, but yeah, they’re just average.”

  “Makes me more than worried what Elementals can do,” Aaron confessed.

  Sam nodded in agreement before squeezing his eyes shut and shaking his head. “Going off topic. What was I saying? Oh yeah.” He looked back at Aaron. “What if the Elementals being more powerful than the rest of the mages means that the Elementals rule the mage realm?”

  Aaron was taken aback by the suggestion. “You reckon?”

  “Yeah, think about it,” said Sam. “Skyler practically walks around like he owns the place. Ella does the same, although,” he grinned, his eyes softening, “she looks damn hot strutting around.” His eyes glazed and he smiled dreamily.

  Aaron rolled his eyes. “Focus, Sammy.”

  “Sorry,” Sam said. “So that’s two Elementals. You’re the third and the fourth must be that Neriah bloke everyone’s always talking about.”

  Aaron felt an uncomfortable churn in his stomach at the mention of Neriah. “He’s the one my mum and dad have gone to meet. Zulf said they had to answer to Neriah, explain to him why they went missing.” His fingers brushed against his trouser pocket, feeling the edges of the folded letter resting inside. “It’s been three weeks since they left,” Aaron said. “Shouldn’t they be back by now?”

  Sam didn’t say anything, but his darkened expression and clenched jaw told Aaron his parents were the last thing Sam wanted to talk about. Aaron couldn’t really blame him. He knew Sam and Rose held his parents accountable for everything that had happened to them. It was his parents’ decision to
keep the truth from him, about his identity and his capabilities, that had led to all of them ending up here.

  Something caught Sam’s attention just as it entered Aaron’s peripheral vision. Eyes widening, Sam opened his mouth to cry out. He made a sudden move to jump to his feet, but didn’t make it in time. Aaron had just turned his head when he saw it: the huge wall of water collapsing on them.

  For a blinding moment, Aaron was suffocating. His involuntary gasp when the cold water hit him made him swallow. The force of the water slammed him and Sam into the ground and pulled them forward, sliding them to the very edge of the bank. Somehow, both of them managed to not go over. The water spilt back, taking the boys’ baskets and shirts with it, running down the bank, filling the lake once again.

  Drenched in cold water, coughing and spluttering, both Aaron and Sam pulled themselves up. The soft, muddy ground squished under their shoes. They stared in incredulous shock as the mages pulled the nets back filled with squirming fish. Aaron saw the ginger-haired kitchen helper, Henry, roll one of his sleeves back up in place before holding out both hands, waiting. Another net was set up and Henry pulled up his shoulders, and leant back on one foot before slamming it down, pushing his hands out. His power hit the lake and the water lifted back and up into a towering wave. The net swept through the pool, collecting the small, ivory fish that had been exposed. The net floated back to its two owners and the wave of water crashed backwards, spilling out.

  Sam cursed as they were hit once again.

  ***

  Their shoes made odd squelching sounds as both boys walked back to their cottage. Every step pressed more moisture out of their soaked shoes, leaving water marks of their soles on the cobbled ground. Droplets fell from their hair, some trailing down their bare backs. It was a testament to how hot the day was that both boys were almost dry by the time they reached the cottage fence.

  “My, my,” Ella chuckled, stepping out of her house, running a hand through her messy hair. “Trying to drown yourselves already?”

  Sam pulled a face. “You lot can’t even fish properly,” he grouched. “Fishing is supposed to be a calm and relaxing activity, not a game of ‘Dodge the Tsunami’!”

 

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