I knocked on the last door in the hall. The other two were filled with scrolls, and chemicals, so I knew he wasn’t in those. “Hello?” “Elly?” He sounded hopeful, it made me sad. “No, Jewel.” “Oh.” “Can we talk?” “I thought you didn’t want to talk to the backstabber.” “You know I never said that.” “Practically.” It was silent for a minute. “I’m sorry. I know you probably have your reasons. I just…” I stopped. I put my back to the door, and sat on the ground. “I just don’t know what to do. I just got my sister back, and I was worried I was going to lose her. I’m scared of the future.” I could feel a tear run down my cheek. “Look, I want to trust you, I really do, but I can't until you prove I can. So can we please talk?” He didn’t respond. “Okay, I’ll-” “Come in.” I stood up and opened the door. He was sitting on a couch, with an empty plate on a side table next to it. “Hey.” “Hey.” He looked at me. “So.” “So.” “You wanted to talk, or…something.” “Yeah.” I sat down next to him. There was a long silence. “Look, I’m sorry. I know there was no good time for you to tell us it’s just…” “It’s okay. I…I understand.” There was another silence before I said, “What was it like?” “What?” “You know…being raised by Harold?” “Uh…well…” He looked down at the ground. “You know how he connected you to that machine?” “Yeah?” “He connected me to the same machine.” I put my hands to my mouth. “Why?” “When…” He sighed. “When he found me, he thought I was a fire, like Mason, Elly, and Abigail.” “Abigail? Do you mean the girl with the decaying powers?” He nodded. “Me and her were both found by him. When we were growing up, we were best friends. Then, when I discovered my powers, Harold was furious. He told Abby to stay away from me, and then he connected me to the machine and…” He closed his eyes. “That machine, it’s powered by the fire gem. The fire gem, when used against other elements, can make you see things. Things that burn into your memory, like branding a cow.” “I know, and I’m so sorry. How did you get out?” “The day after I turned fifteen, Harold decided to put Abigail in charge of the machine.” “Why?” I asked. “That’s how he works. He plays mind games. If you make him angry, he'll do everything in his power to crush you.” He clenched his fist. “And your spirit.” I sat there, looking at him. He had opened his eyes, but looked last in thought. “Abby forgot to turn the machine on. It took me a few hours to regain enough strength, but when I did, I ran. I ran as far as I could.Eventually, I found myself on a beach. A beach where I ran into this girl.” He smiled. “She was lost, just like I was. We decided to stick together.” “You mean Elly.” He nodded. “Her and I didn’t trust each other at first, but soon, nothing could keep us apart.” He wiped a tear from his eye, then his expression changed from joy, to sadness. “Then, one day, it all changed.” Rocks suddenly grew around him. “Sorry.” “Is that your signature, or your U.P.?” “I thought you hated U.P.” I shrugged. “It’s become a thing now.” “He laughed. “Good point. Yeah. It’s my U.P.” “How do you know?” “Well, normal earths can’t grow rocks. Sure, the most trained ones can move them, but not grow.” “That doesn't relate to emotions.” I said. “It does. When I feel really strong emotions, rocks grow around me. If someone is touching me, and has really strong emotions, I can grow rocks.” “That…is…so-” “Weird, I know. It’s not a normal earth U.P.” I put my hand on his shoulder. “I was going to say that it's so awesome!” “Really?” He looked down at his hands. “I always thought I shouldn’t use it.” “Why?” I asked. “That can really come in handy. I bet you could pick locks with that.” “I know but…” He sighed. “When I first discovered my powers, instead of discovering my power, I discovered my U.P. I couldn’t control it. I cut my leg. Bad." He rolled up his pant leg. It had a big red scar. “Harold fixed me up, but…” “I’m sorry.” “It’s okay.” He rolled up his pant leg. It had a big red scar. “Harold fixed me up, but…” “I’m sorry.” “It’s okay.” He rolled up his pant leg. It had a big red scar. “Harold fixed me up, but…” “I’m sorry.” “It’s okay.” “No- I mean, yes, but I’m also sorry I ever called him your father.” “It’s okay.” “No, no it's not.” We sat there in silence. I decided I needed to ask one last question before giving him a little privacy. “I have one last question.” “Okay.” “Why can I see dark fire?” He stared at the floor. “I don't know for sure, but I think I have an idea.” “What?” “I think you may have fire in your blood.” “But, how?” “I mean, Nora’s a fire, you're a water, it would make sense, right?” “I guess.” I said. “But how? You said that Cove chose Edmund, not Harold.” “You know there were other elements, right?” “Good point, but aren’t we related to them?” “How did you know?” “It just makes sense. We’re their heirs, and most of the time heirs are direct descendants.” “You make some good points.” “But then why was I Cove’s heir, and not Elly?”
“I don't know, but we just have to trust they made the right decision.” “Right.” We sat there in silence, then he stood up. “Well, can you make it so I can come out without an angry mob chasing me?” I laughed. “Yeah.” I heard laughing in the kitchen, and when we walked in, the room went silent. “Hello, liar.” Elly said. “Elly, he’s okay. We don’t need to worry about him.” I walked over and whispered to her, “He’s kind of hot.” “You have a crush on my friend?” She asked, disgusted. “Not me.” “Oh, no. No, no, no, and no. There is no way I have a crush on him.” “Okay,” I said, teasingly. “Then am I allowed to ask him out?” “No!” “That’s what I thought.” “Okay, for one,” She said, laughing. “That’s manipulation, and second of all, I don't want you to ask him out because it would be like you were dating my brother.” “Okay. Whatever you say.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think? I know, not very long, and a little depressing, but it felt right so... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sneak Peak! What? Is smoke shooting out of my nose?
