"We don't know this prophet. She could be crazy." Bryan stated.
"She's been right so far, hasn't she?"
He grunted without a proper argument, and Terra went back to her erratic pacing, from the back of the couch to the edge of the linoleum of the kitchen floor. Back and forth... Back and forth...
"I think that Bryne is right," Era said. "There' can't be a way to plan this."
"What else can we do? Wait like sitting ducks until two?"
"Yes," Bryne emphasized. "This wasn't a plan on his part, he saw Ian leave here and he saw an opportunity. He doesn't know what to expect from us either. We're on even ground."
"They have Ian! This isn't even ground!" Terra screamed.
He waved his hand dismissively. "Aside from that." He patted a space between him and the arm of the sofa. "Sit down, relax. You're doing nothing for your lover by pacing like a mad woman."
Terra felt some urge inside of her to slap him, but she gave in to the other part of her that was begging to listen to him, and took the space, her arms cross over her chest like a tempered child. She could almost feel the furious pounding of her heart against her rib cage, as if it hoped to break its confinements and leap out of her chest. It would have probably tried to come out of her throat, but that was occupied by her stomach.
Nervously, her leg shook, jerking like a twitch. Forcefully, Bryne slammed his hand down on her thigh. She didn't miss the inquisitive look that Era and Marissa threw to each other. Terra nudged his hand off.
"Sorry. Thanks."
"You should sleep."
"I want to be awake."
With his hands on his knees he heaved himself up, the couch jostling slightly from the release of the weight. She didn't look but heard him rummaging in the kitchen, clinking glasses and the fridge closing with a shush.
She stared at the floor, how the grain moved, the knots, and darker pieces. Like when cloud gazing she was able to see pictures. She saw a lion ready to pounce on a defenseless lamb, a pointed hat, a necklace with thirteen links. The pictures were then blocked by legs and a shadowy hand holding a glass of milk under her head. There was a reddish glow that exceeded out from the hand but quickly receded.
She took the warm glass and a sip. It was warm. "So you can warm things up."
"I can do more than that. That's small but quite handy. At home we didn't have a stove or a microwave.”
“Why,” Era asked airily.
“I was the stove and microwave.” He tipped his head at her interestingly. “I thought you were smart.”
“She is, but she can be a bit...” Terra couldn't find the right words. “Airy.” She smiled at Era in kindness; in the distance Terra could see the tiny painted fluffy clouds, the background a baby blue sky.
Curiously she took a glance at her wristwatch but as soon as she brought it up to eye level it was wrenched from her. Bryne grabbed at the face, the clasp breaking, bits of silver scattering. In his fist he squeezed. Bits could be heard cracking, the twisting of metal. He opened his hand up and showed there in his palm the crushed pieces of what used to be her watch. Her only one at that. She could see the inside flakes of what used to be the sun and leaves, the papery green background. There was no repairing it.
“Why did you do that?!”
“Trust my inner clock, the real ones will drive you insane.”
“What, now you expect us to go without stoves, microwaves and watches?”
“You don't have to go without, but it will cause you gray hairs. Haven't you ever heard of the watched pot theory?” Bryan groaned not waiting for an answer, “drink your milk.”
“Are you trying for me to sleep?” Terra chuckled.
“Yes.”
She set the milk on the floor. He grumbled but did not force her, though she saw his hand twitch as if he was thinking about slapping her.
She looked to Era to decipher what he said and while grinning she mouthed, "little tree hugger brat." Terra tried not to laugh feeling a little warmth for the fire-boy.
Laugh. Unfortunately is was the wrong time to show any sign of joy when her friend was being held and possibly hurt. She didn't want to think of the torture he was going through but it was nearly inescapable. Unless Hadrian planned on giving him a herbal drug, there were not many ways of torture for their kind. They were peaceful, and every power that they had was used for good. What if he found a way to use it for evil?
Bryne was right, though she'd never admit it. She was going to go prematurely gray from all of the stress.
Marissa had gotten up and fetched her makeup kits. She sat cross - legged painting Era's face in light blues and silver. Swirls like smoke curled from the corner of her eyes, her lips shimmering pale.
Era in turn painted Marissa. Dark blue and sea green, waves from her eyes. When Terra was next, they both worked on her. The bristles of the brush, their warm and cold hands comforting, relaxing her in a way she didn't expect. It was over too soon, and Marissa held up a small mirror.
Terra caught her reflection. Earthy brown and green, yellows and blue flowers. It was like her eyes had sprouted ivy flowers. It was lovely.
Era placed the brushes in their holders. "It's like preparing for battle. Bryne, do you want us to draw something on you?"
"Over my dead body, feather duster."
She giggled and he smiled at the sound of tinkling bells. "How about black? Like ashes? I could paint them on your neck and chin."
He nodded and she floated over. She quickly sketched red and orange flames from his collarbones to his chin. Dotted over his cheek were the sparks. It was realistically beautiful, and Bryne's statement was a great motivator.
"You're a good artist, Era, how long have you been painting?”
“Seems like forever. When I lived on the street I pulled out broken crayons from the dumpsters and painted the sidewalks. I'd have a block done by midnight, if I worked all day and didn't eat.”
Bryne had the look of pitiful shock on his face. “You lived on the streets?”
“Yes. I can't remember much, how I got there, who my parents were...” She shrugged. “It wasn't so bad. You can't miss what you never had, but you do yearn for it. I was happier than I'd ever been when Marissa and Terra found me. I got to come home.”
He watched her for a few minutes, putting away the kits, contemplation and empathy in his gaze. “I thought you three were always together.”
“None of us has a good past. Marissa and Terra lost their mother when they were young. She died giving birth to Marissa. Aunt Gwen took them but she's awfully busy. Terra raised Marissa.”
“I... I had no idea.”
Terra pretended that she wasn't there. Talking about their mother was a rarity. There was no reason why they didn't speak about her other than there was nothing to say. Terra recalled enough to answer all of Marissa's questions when she was little. At some point, there were no more questions. She remained in their hearts and that was plenty for them.
When the kits were put away, they returned to their spots and thirty minutes later, just what Terra predicted, Marissa fell asleep, her head lolling on Era's shoulder. Era joined her soon after, her head on hers. Of course, Marissa was kicking, her fingers twitching with the dreams she was having. Terra hoped that it wasn't about Ian.
Bryne sat back, his legs stretched out in front of him. It wasn't long after that that his head fell back, his mouth hanging open, and he snored while he slept.
Terra couldn’t get any sleep, and she retreated to her room to sit on her bed and watch her clock. It was very much like waiting for a pot of water to boil.
Pot... To boil... She groaned, hating all of the terrible analogies her mind formed and how it all could be linked together.
Just past one-thirty AM, Terra hopped out of her bed and jogged downstairs. She grabbed all of their jackets and slung it at their sleeping bodies. "Wake up."
Era was already awake at the sound of her clunky footsteps from upstairs, and she prodded the other two to rouse. "It's time."
/>
Groggily they sat up, Bryne wiping a thin trail of drool from the corner of his mouth. They pulled on their jackets and stumbled out the door to the car.
Chapter Twelve
Half a Second
It was Marissa’s worst nightmare, innocents being hurt because of what they were and who they were born to be. The scene would forever haunt her, causing her horrid nightmares…
"You… Drive… Like… a Maniac!" Bryne said measuredly glaring at her wide-eyed and damning from the passenger seat.
Terra paid him no mind, her sights on the school before them. It was eerie at night, there were no children bustling on their way out the doors, or a few sneaking around the grounds to avoid their classes. There was no noise; it was dark and gloomy, like an unfinished castle, won over before its completion.
In the wet pavement their lights bleared, larger than they would have been. They were bright on the doors, glaring over the windows disallowing the view inside where she knew Hadrian and Ian were. She jerked the keys out of the ignition, the lights flickering off.
"This is creepy," Marissa voiced Terra's thoughts.
"No use sitting here. Let’s go inside." Bryne pushed open the door.
The girls followed, him leading the way to the door as any man would. Marissa stayed close to Era's side, the back of Terra's shirt in her grip.
The doors loomed in front of them, drawing closer, closer to the conclusion. Closer to Ian.
"Ready," Bryne asked, ready to pull on the double doors.
Era, Marissa, and Terra all checked with each other. They formed a line behind Bryne, and held each other's hands.
He flung open the doors and they filed in, Bryne falling in step beside Terra, linking their fingers. "I'm with you," he whispered.
Warmth filled her, from her heart to her gut, clenching it tightly, to her limbs until she felt like she was on fire. She was brimming with the strength and sincerity of his words. For the first time in her life, she felt her cheeks heat in what had to be a blush.
They looked ahead, and there in the center of the room was an elder man in a sweeping black cloak, his hood down revealing his tufts of thin white hair, his wrinkled skin, and the heavy dark bags beneath his ice cold blue eyes. He was paper white, like a vampire, a ghost.
At his feet was Ian, his sweatshirt ripped to show a bloody shoulder, a spark of albescent sticking out that appeared to be a bone. His face was ashen and sickly. There was a gash in his leg, blood seeping through his jeans. There was recognition in his eyes, but barely.
What was more disturbing was the recognition that Marissa had when she gazed at Hadrian. It was almost like she had seen him before, and maybe she had, but it was that small notice that would escape her later. In the light of what was happening, it was not something that she would ever think of again, driven out by other more vital worries.
The two caused a mirror image in the black tile floor, stretching taller than they were. They looked small in comparison to their shadows. There were no lights on to dull it, but they could see them clearly because of the parking lights outside, shining through to the floor from the ceiling windows.
"You have finally arrived," Hadrian greeted in a raspy tone, as though he hadn't spoken in centuries.
Terra stopped breathing at the sight of Ian, and broke from her line. Era's hand slipped through hers, but Bryne held tighter pulling her roughly back to him, knocking the wind from her lungs. He held her to him, his arms constricting around her struggling torso like a vice.
"Ah, I see we have hard feelings. I suppose this is your friend. What's your name?"
"Screw you, Hadrian," Bryne spat. "Let him go. You wanted us here and here we are. Ian has nothing to do with this."
"Oh, is this the human’s name? Hmm. I think I'll keep him, for your cooperation."
"You son of a bitch….”
He shook his finger, "we'll have none of that," he reprimanded in a way an adult would do to a naughty child. "We're all on the same page here. We all know the prophecy. We all know how this is going to end. You four are children."
Bryne took a step forward, ahead of the rest of them. His body turned; ready to shelter them from what he thought could be an attack. "Think again, grandpa."
"Are you the only one that can speak, Bryne? Let the others have their turn." Clasping his skeleton hands he deliberately turned to Era and Marissa.
Marissa shook with emotion not taking her eyes off of Ian. It was her worst nightmare, innocents being hurt because of what they were and who they were born to be. The scene would forever haunt her, causing her horrid nightmares.
Era was seemingly calm. "I believe that we can work something out," she compromised serenely.
"Yes, I believe we can. You must be..."
"Air."
"Air. Of course." Hadrian surveyed them as if they were an interesting class project, specifically worms in a jar. "I think... I’ll take one of you, for Ian. You may choose amongst yourselves."
There was no second thought. She would do anything to get Ian back, and she tried to loosen Bryne's grip again, trying to pry his fingers from the lock they had on her. There was no budging him, and she desperately attempted to convey her efforts to Ian, but he didn't look at her, his head bowed, his mouth moving. He was praying.
Bryne jerked her further back. "No. No deal. You let him go and we can fight right here for power."
"Is that the way you want it? Remember what I've done to you, my own son."
Everything stopped. Terra stopped squirming and looked up to Bryne. Through her thick lashes she could see that guard he placed over him. It was impenetrable.
"You didn't tell them." Hadrian chuckled. "Yes, Bryne Spark is my son. I am his only living relative. Do you want to tell them why, son?"
"Go to hell."
"I think you'd do just fine there yourself. After you." He raised his hand lazily, and the vices disappeared off of Terra. She spun and was just in time to see Bryne flying to the opposite wall, crashing against the brick and crumpling to the floor.
Marissa let go of Era's hand and ran forth, falling to her knees beside him. "Bryne?! Bryne!"
Terra knelt next to her. “Don't move him; he might've hit his head.” She felt along his skull, her fingers like a spiders legs, crawling over him, barely touching the sensitive skin beneath his thick hair. She skittered over a few lumps that were growing bigger on the back of Bryan’s head. “That's not a good sign,” she muttered to herself and to anyone else who was listening. Who was bothering to listen? It felt as though her world had fallen the moment Bryne did.
"He's fine," Hadrian said with no real concern. “While you four are gifted in your elements, I am gifted in my ability to push energy. It has come in quite handy and will continue to be so as I fight for my rights. My right to rule this pitiful world and the more pitiful humans in it, I should say. That would be more accounting for the truth.
"Hmm, I do think I should tell you the story since he's vehemently denying. It's a shame; you three have the right to know who your new brother is.”
Terra was gasping, tearing her eyes away from Bryne. “Who is he then?"
"A murderer. He killed his mother and brother. He set them on fire with his temper. Literally."
Bryne trembled; the lack of energy he could give to speak was pathetic and scary. "You... You hurt them..."
"But I didn't pull the trigger. You did. Their blood is on your head."
"Enough," Terra snapped. She stood and took stance beside Era who bravely hadn't broken rank choosing to shield them. "Lets get this over with."
"Oh? Is that what you really want? Tsk, tsk, tsk, I am having such fun with our game, don't you know." Hadrian sighed dramatically and placed a hand on top of Ian's head. "If that is the way you want it."
It happened so fast. Half a second left of life. Half a second to have aided him. Half a second gone. Ian's gray face became devoid of all color, his eyes wide and burning into hers where they would stay for years. He slumped a
nd thudded on his side to the floor, his eyes went blank.
"NOOO!" Terra’s scream erupted from her, but she didn't feel it clawing its way out of her throat. She felt like she was floating somewhere else, everything around her hazy, a picture that had lost its focus.
Era extended her hands and a gust of air pulled and tugged at their clothes, whipping their hair over their faces. Hadrian rose to the ceiling and was thrown down with the loud crunching of broken bones.
Terra started towards Hadrian but Marissa was grabbing her arm stopping her. "We have to get the hell out of here. It can't happen today."
Bryan got up slowly and hobbled past them, taking Terra’s wrist and leading her away from the body. "Let’s get home."
"But what about Ian," Marissa protested.
"Leave him. The janitors will find him. Don't worry, Hadrian will leave him be. He'll come to in time to abandon the scene of the crime." Halfway to the door, he bent and whispered in Terra’s ear, his hot breath sending chills through her.
"I'm here. It'll be okay."
Chapter Thirteen
Undercurrents
There, on the side of the road they huddled together, and grieved for the human they lost.
There was an undercurrent of sadness. It was killing her. The print behind her lids repeated the scene of Ian's death. There was nothing that she could do to turn back time, to erase the image. It was burned into her lids for her to see forever. It didn't need to be every time that she closed her eyes. When they were open she saw it too. She couldn't escape it.
The drive back was silent, Marissa and Era asleep in the backseat. They hadn't said a word since the end of the battle. They kept quiet and close to each other. Those two were nearly inseparable.
Terra didn't drive, relinquishing that control to Bryne. He occasionally asked her questions about where her friend lived, how to contact his parents. She wasn't able to answer any of them. They didn't exactly have a verbal relationship. For that she was ashamed. She should have learned more about him.
She was numb. Her body shutting down from the pain. She told herself that Ian wasn't in any pain, that he was at peace, but she was grieving for herself and it offered little to no comfort. Not then. Not when it was so fresh.
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