Elemental: Steele Stolen: Part 1 and 2

by Cheryll Hastie

  ‘What did you do?’ Jack asked, teeth gritted against the pain.

  The boy did not answer, but his eyes flared to white heat and the bracelet caught fire.

  ‘No!’ Jack shouted. He tried to bat out the flames but he was moving so slowly. Too slowly. The flames would not die. Instead they burnt hotter and the fire began to melt Jacks skin. The pain was agonising and now Jack, no longer attempting to save this last gift from his sister, tried to rip the bracelet from his wrist.

  ‘But you said you’d wear it.’ The voice was soft and high. It was Sophie’s voice that came from the mouth of the boy this time and Jack hated him.

  ‘I can’t, I can’t wear it anymore! Please!’ Jack moaned, trapped between rage for the boy and despair for Sophie. The pain was excruciating and the smell was pungent, climbing into his nose and through his throat.

  ‘You promised,’ Sophie’s voice again, high, sad, desolate. Jack looked up and saw his sister’s eyes imploring him. Her brilliant blue eyes that looked empty.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Jack whispered.

  ‘Please wear it,’ the travesty spoke again in Sophie’s voice, with Sophie’s almost-empty eyes. Jack moaned. ‘Would you like to hear my riddle?’ said the boy and now he was no longer the boy or the Keeper or Sophie but a strange combination of all of them.

  Jack screamed, a scream of pain and rage, as he ripped the bracelet from his arm. Jack could move properly again - the thick, treacly quality of the air gone. He dropped the still-burning bracelet to the ground and with another scream he stamped on it to put out the fire, cradling his burnt arm as he did. The flickering of the weird orange light changed again, became faster still, and Jack glanced back at the dancers – still spinning and whirling - as he bent down to pick up the blackened and burnt band.

  It was gone.

  ‘No!‘ Jack shouted as he searched frantically all around the orange-lit floor. ‘Where is it?’ Jack turned to snarl at the boy but he too was gone.

  Confused, Jack looked again to the dancers. They were moving so quickly that Jack could not make out any individual figures, the orange light flickered faster, almost constant, bathing everything in its warm cloying light.

  He walked towards them. The light made his skin feel dirty, greasy.

  Am I chasing my destiny?

  He reached out. The light hurt his eyes - they felt like they had been stretched to fit his sockets. Jack scrunched his eyes against the light, hoping it would ease the dreadful throbbing that had started behind the lids.

  Six inches away now, his hand began to tremble but it did not stop, three inches and Jack uncurled his fingers slowly, the wind the dancers were creating blew his hair back from his face and cooled the sweat on his brow. He felt their blurred bodies chafe the tip of his finger, burning and …

  A loud banging woke Jack with a start. He sat bolt upright in bed and immediately looked down at his arm, which was unscathed. The bracelet was still there, intact, though a little grubby. Not melted into his skin like a brand.

  ‘What was all that about?’ Jack whispered, though the details had already begun to fade. He could remember a flickering orange light and pain, terrible burning pain. What had the boy from the Keeper’s glade been doing there? Why was he important? And why was Jack’s own face wet? He reached up and wiped it quickly with his arm to get rid of most of the moisture, realising what the strange dampness was almost immediately. He didn’t want anyone knowing that he cried in his sleep.

  ‘Jack?’ a familiar voice called - Cali - and another series of loud bangs as if she were trying to beat the door down with her small fists. Jack felt the tension slowly drain away, along with the dream which was now disjointed and overlaid with an orange blur. With an inkling of guilt he realised that he was grateful that he was forgetting. It was only a dream, after all.

  ‘Jack!’ Cali again; urgent, worried even.

  ‘Yeah, what?’ Jack said loudly, but in no particular direction. His bed, like all the furniture in Five Oaks, grew directly from the tree so it had the annoying habit of shifting as the tree grew. The tree grew at an astonishing rate (he suspected Treelibre had something to do with it) and did most of it’s growing at night. This made waking up confusing and Jack could never work out where the door was.

  He rubbed his eyes, clearing the last sticky threads of sleep, his dream almost forgotten. The only thing that remained were occasional flashes of orange and gold light against Jack’s eyelids. Gold. The gold was important.

  ‘Are you alright?’ Cali asked, her voice muffled. She sounded worried but she was no longer shouting.

  ‘Yeah, I’m fine. Come in. I want to ask you something,’ Jack said distractedly as his brow furrowed, trying to remember his dream. What could be so important about gold? Only moments ago he had been glad the dream was nearly forgotten and now he was sure that he was missing something... Cali would be able to help - she was good at riddles.

  Jack listened as Cali walked in. The door was apparently directly behind his bed, so it was no wonder he had not been able to work out where it was.

  ‘Hurry up Cali, I need to ask you…’ Jack began but stopped suddenly, his mouth ajar. Cali was not alone. Following behind her were Aloysius, Brayden, Gordy and a stranger. A stranger with a smooth, pale face and deep, navy blue eyes. Jack’s mouth snapped shut.

  The stranger was tall. His hair was long and ice white, shining but untamed like froth on the sea. Jack could tell he was an Elemental by his eyes but he did not know if he was in his true shape.

  ‘Need to ask what?’ Cali asked. Jack shook his head. He didn’t want to talk about it in front of the others.

  ‘It was nothing. Maybe later,’ he said. Cali looked intrigued but she nodded.

  ‘Good morning Jack,’ Aloysius said brightly.

  ‘Morning?’ Jack said. The relief he had felt when he woke was being rapidly replaced by an uncomfortable self-consciousness.

  Aloysius raised an eyebrow.

  ‘Right. Yes. Morning,’ Jack said trying to dig himself deeper into the quilt while simultaneously making himself look taller. It didn’t take long to realise he looked even more ridiculous than before and he gave up.

  ‘Sorry for disturbing your sleep. I assumed you would be up and ready, but in these matters one may only speculate,’ Aloysius said. Jack didn’t know what to say so he just mumbled something incoherent.

  Aloysius nodded genially, as if everything Jack said made perfect sense. ‘May I introduce Cain? He will be taking you today to teach you about Glamour. Cain, meet Jack Steele.’

  ‘Good morning Jack,’ Cain said a small smile tugging the corners of his mouth.

  ‘Morning,’ Jack muttered. He was hot and uncomfortable under the heavy duvet.

  ‘Aloysius has spoken of you often. It is a pleasure to finally meet you,’ Cain said and bowed his head, though his eyes remained fixed on Jack. Jack hurried out of bed, relieved to feel the cool air on his skin and stretched out his hand to shake Cain’s. Cain’s large smooth hand had engulfed his own.

  ‘Nice to meet you,’ Jack said knowing he sounded pompous. Cain looked perplexed.

  ‘We’ll be using your room for lessons Jack. Mine are a little too conspicuous,’ Aloysius said. There was a strange smile on his face and Jack saw that Brayden was grinning, Gordy too.

  ‘Oh. Right. No problem,’ said Jack, looking around to see what everyone was smiling at.

  ‘We’ll just wait outside while you …’ Aloysius trailed off. It was as if he could think of nothing to say. Brayden was holding a hand over his mouth and shaking with what looked like uncontrollable laughter. Jack, puzzled, looked at Cali who was staring studiously at the floor as if she had never seen anything so fascinating. Her face was a deep shade of magenta.

  ‘While I what?’ Jack asked.

  ‘Get ready,’ Aloysius said with a nod of his head. Brayden snorted and Cali turned around and ran out of the door. He tried to recall the previous night but he was sure they had parted on good terms, so why
…

  Jack looked down.

  He was standing in front of them all in his boxer shorts. His old tatty grey boxer shorts.

  Jack dived back into bed. The others, Brayden and Gordy still grinning widely, left the room to wait.

  Eventually – when he couldn’t leave it any longer - Jack poked his head out of the door and muttered that he was ready. Cain wasted no time and as soon as everyone was seated he began to speak.

  ‘The art of Glamour is, it is widely believed, one of Nature. However, like your body, which needs good food and water to grow strong, so Glamour must be carefully tended in order that it does not become stunted,’ Cali raised her hand almost before the words were out of Cain’s mouth. He raised his eyebrows.

  ‘Yes Cali?’ he said.

  ‘How can we use Glamour though? It’s not in our nature,’ she asked.

  ‘Yes it is - in every way. Glamour knows all life, though all life does not know Glamour,’ Cain’s deep voice made everything he said sound profound. She raised her hand again.

  ‘Yes Cali?’ Cain said.

  ‘What’s the best way to use it then?’ Cali asked. Cain paused thoughtfully before answering.

  ‘I am a Caregiver so for me it would be its ability to heal. Others, I am sure, have different ideas.’

  ‘Could you show us?’ Cali asked eagerly.

  ‘I was planning to save the practical work for this afternoon although I suppose I may hold your attention for longer if I show you now,’ Cain said, his blue eyes roaming the room.

  ‘How can he give a demonstration? No one’s hurt!’ Jack said quietly to Brayden who just shook his head at Jack.

  ‘You have a lot to learn,’ Brayden said. Cain’s eyes stopped on Jack.

  ‘Give me your hand Jack,’ Cain said. Jack hesitated before holding out his hand warily.

  ‘You’re not going to break it just to mend it are you?’ Jack asked, only half joking.

  ‘Not unless you require a demonstration of that severity, I assure you. Your left hand please,’ Cain said. Cain studied the tip of Jack’s left index finger closely. He raised his eyes to look at Jack and back down again.

  ‘How did you get this?’ he asked so quietly that no one else in the room could hear.

  ‘What?’ Jack asked defensively.

  ‘This graze,’ Cain said staring at Jack again. Jack shrugged. Cain’s navy eyes widened ever so slightly. ‘Can everyone see?’ The others crowded around and nodded, Cali enthusiastically, Gordy and Brayden as if they had seen the same thing a thousand times, which they probably had.

  ‘See what?’ Jack asked again, trying to look at the tip of his finger, but his arm was fully outstretched for the others to see.

  ‘How did you do this?’ Cain asked pressing the tip of Jacks finger. Jack hissed.

  ‘I… I don’t know,’ Jack said, finally pulling his hand back and looking at the spot that Cain had pressed. There was a blister on the tip of his finger. Cain was acting as if he hadn’t already asked Jack the same question less than a minute before.

  ‘It is only minor,’ Cain said.

  ‘How did you know it was there?’ Jack asked. Cain’s strange blue eyes flickered from the tip of Jack’s finger to Jack’s eyes and back again.

  ‘I am a Caregiver. Now, watch,’ Cain said. He took Jack’s hand again and, chanting under his breath, passed his hand over Jack’s injured finger once, twice, three times. Then he pressed the tip again. Jack, expecting a sharp pain, flinched. He was surprised when he felt nothing.

  Cali clapped, beaming at Cain. Gordy and Brayden joined in politely. Jack gaped at his finger. He hadn’t felt a thing.

  ‘What…?’ Jack said.

  ‘That was amazing,’ Cali said. Cain smiled at her.

  ‘And now to work,’ Cain said, waiting for everyone to sit back down before he began speaking. ‘By Nature your body is strong from birth, but it is also fragile. How it is treated, the Nurture it receives, can affect its growth. For example, if you do not take enough calcium your bones and teeth may become weak. So it is with Glamour,’ Cain said.

  ‘How…?’ Jack said, still looking at his finger, bending it backwards and forwards. Everyone else had moved on.

  ‘So it’s Nature and Nurture?’ Cali asked, ignoring Jack.

  ‘The best form of Glamour is created this way, yes,’ Cain said ‘however if the Glamour is naturally occurring, as it is in all Elementals, a form of Glamour may be cultivated without Nurture. In the same way Glamour may be Nurtured in one who is not an Elemental if the person Nurturing the Glamour is skilled enough.’

  It was the most interesting morning Jack had ever had. It flew by so fast that Jack was shocked when Cain suggested they break for lunch, despite the fact that he had not eaten breakfast.

  ‘It’s one o clock. Please return by two,’ Cain said. Gordy and Brayden disappeared. Cali and Jack remained seated.

  ‘But I’m not really hungry…’ Jack began, his stomach emitting a noisy growl as he spoke. Cain smiled, eyes twinkling.

  ‘Me neither,’ Cali said hopefully.

  ‘It’s lucky I am then,’ Cain said as he left the room. Jack looked over at Cali.

  ‘We might as well get something to eat. He’s not coming back,’ Jack said. Cali nodded reluctantly, then a beautiful smile stole over her face.

  ‘That was amazing,’ she said.

  ‘I can’t believe we have to take a whole hour for lunch,’ Jack replied, a big grin on his own face.

  ‘Yeah I know. Can you believe what he did to your finger?’ said Cali as they left Jack’s room. Jack, who had been surreptitiously studying his finger ever since Cain had healed it shook his head.

  ‘Not really,’ he said, the grin fading from his face. He didn’t want to talk about what Cain had done. Not because he had not found it incredible (which he had) but because he didn’t know how the blister had got on his finger and for some reason he found not knowing disturbing. Some part of him kept insisting that it was important so every now and then through lunch he glanced at his fingertip hoping that whatever it was that was niggling him would become clear.

  Apart from that small irritation, Jack was happy. Glamour sounded easier than he thought, although they had only been taught the theory so far. Cain was going to let them try out some basic practical Glamour in the afternoon and Jack couldn’t wait to get started. Cali felt the same, so in the end lunch was a hurried affair and they were back in Jack’s room less than half an hour after leaving it.

  Nobody else was there when they got back, so Jack and Cali settled themselves into seats and began speculating about what they were going to do that afternoon. It didn’t take long to get around to the real reason they were learning about Glamour.

  ‘It’s good that we’re going to be doing some practical work. It’ll be useful for when… well, you know,’ Cali said. Jack nodded.

  ‘At least we’ll have some kind of idea of what we might be up against when we get there,’ Jack said, looking away from Cali. He didn’t want her to see how scared he was.

  ‘I wonder how long it’ll take,’ Cali said tremulously.

  ‘I don’t know. Not too long. I hope.’ They lapsed into thoughtful silence.

  ‘What did you want to talk to me about earlier?’ Cali asked, changing the subject. Jack frowned. He had forgotten all about what had happened that morning.

  ‘I think it was something to do with what happened at the Keeper’s glade. Someone who was there,’ he said uncertainly.

  ‘What, Aloysius? Gordy?’ Cali asked looking surprised. Jack shook his head.

  ‘No, not them. I don’t think so anyway,’ he said.

  ‘But it was only them and us that were there. Are you sure?’ Cali asked smiling at him. Jack nodded then shook his head then nodded. Cali laughed.

  ‘Not really,’ he said helplessly. As he spoke he remembered the gold, it flashed across his memory so quickly he barely had time to notice it before it was gone. Moving gold. His blue eyes widened and his mouth
dropped open.

  ‘Jack are you really alright?’ Cali asked just as Gordy, Brayden and Cain arrived and Jack didn’t have time to answer.

  Everyone settled quickly this time and when Cain spoke he didn’t have any muttering to contend with.

  ‘OK – you know the theory and hopefully, now you’ve had lunch, you have the energy for the practical work to begin,’ he said. ‘The first and most important thing for you to learn is how to disguise yourself. What I can do is show you how to blend. It’s one of the first things our children are taught and although it is one of the simplest uses of glamour it is also one of the most effective,’ Cain said. Cali looked at Jack excitedly and he grinned back at her.

  ‘Excellent!’ he mouthed.

  ‘I want you to divide into pairs, Gordy you pair with Cali, Brayden you’re with Jack. Gordy, Brayden, I want you to first demonstrate to Jack and Cali how we blend in to our surroundings then explain how it is done. I will go between the two of you to help.’

  Brayden waved Jack over to where he was perched on a chair. His toes barely brushed the floor. As Jack sauntered over Brayden vanished.

  ‘What… Where… Urm…’ spluttered Jack. How was he going to explain this to Cain? He looked more closely at the chair and gaped as Brayden reappeared, grinning.

  ‘Good isn’t it? I remember the first time I saw someone blend in front of me. Amazing. Of course, once you get used to it you can spot the signs,’ said Brayden.

  ‘Yeah, it is. Amazing,’ Jack said smiling. ‘What are the signs?’

  ‘Easy. You would have noticed if I was moving that you don’t actually disappear.’

  ‘Yes you do. Believe me, you do,’ Jack said fervently. Brayden laughed.

  ‘It’s the Glamour it mirrors the air. You have to make it reflect back an image of what would be there if you weren’t.’

  ‘What?’ Jack said, bemused.

  ‘The air naturally knows what you want but you have to force it to act. It’s a bit like how the Air Elementals communicate,’ Brayden whispered dramatically and quite loudly enough for everyone else to hear. As he was talking he popped in and out of visibility. It was very distracting.