Chapter 21

     I begin to open my eyes, but the voices around me make me stop. Okay, so it's not the voices that make me stop. It's what they are saying.

     "I don't care about the rest of the prophecy. Chris needs to go," Aaron says angrily at his counterpart.

     "Look, we can't just get rid of him. You know what the prophecy said about him and Ivy. Hopefully it won't come true, but if it does, I don't want her to be alone. Chris is the only other person she would be with, and you know it. Do you really want her to live without anyone?" Wyatt's voice says right back to Aaron, but with more calm.

     "Look I'm not going to let him just pr-"

     "Wait, I think she's waking up," says Wyatt interrupting Aaron, and the information that I really want to know. What is up with them and keeping things from me? I'm a big girl, I can take it.

     I make a dramatic show of fluttering my eyes open, trying to look groggy and a little unfocused like I just woke up. I don't want them to know that I was eavesdropping. If they know, then they will be more careful in the future, which would make it harder for me to learn their secrets.

     "I'm so glad you're awake," Wyatt says looking genuinely happy that I am okay.

     I look at Aaron causing him to flush a little, "Yeah, m-me too. I'm happy you're awake now," he eventually stutters out.

     "Um, Aaron? Can I talk to Wyatt alone for a little while?"

     Aaron looks at me searching my face for something. I don't know what he is looking for, but he finally seems satisfied and nods his head before exiting out of the living room. Biting my lip, I gaze at Wyatt under my eyelashes. How am I supposed to ask him this? It definitely isn't going to be an easy task.

     "Come on, Ivy. Just spit it out. Nobody can hear us unless the door is open, and it's not."

     "What if I love someone else?" I whisper not really wanting an answer. Holding my breath, I dread him telling me that it is useless. That no matter how much I love someone else, I will always end up with Aaron.

     Wyatt lets out a sigh and begins speaking, "Let me explain exactly how it works. With us non-elementals, which are everyone except Aaron, Clay, Blayze and you, there is only ever one person that you will love. It's your soul-mate. The person that you are made for; you're completely compatible with that person. You will be happy with them, sure every once in a while you fight, but no matter what, you never have feelings that go past brotherly love for someone else."

     He stares at me making sure I completely understand. I nod my head at him signaling for him to continue, "With the elementals, it's not you that is compatible with Aaron. It's not you that feels the attraction towards him. It's your fire. Fire with Air. It will never change. No, matter how much you feel like you hate Aaron and love Chris, you will never feel an attraction for someone else. It's your fire that decides on air, not you deciding on Aaron. Also, Ivy.  Yours is the first case that I've ever heard of where the people didn't love eachoter.  I think you should just give Aaron a chance. You know after we hunt down Blayze and finally get that bracelet off of you."

     "There's no other way?" I ask. He glances at me with sympathy in his green eyes.

     "The only way would be for one of you to pass your powers to someone else."

     Hope builds in me, "Does that mean I could just give my power to someone else? Then, me and Chris could be together."

     "No, Ivy. First of all, what happens when Chris finds his soul-mate? All his feelings for you will disappear. Secondly, the only way you can pass your power off to someone is if you're dying. That's why it usually skips a generation. Grandparents pass it to their grandchildren when their time has come."

     His answer makes me want to break down crying, but I don't. Showing such weakness doesn't seem like a good idea when I'm supposed to be a leader. A leader who has people around her that likes to keep secrets. I glare at Wyatt mentally. I'll give him two days to tell me, if in two days I still don't know the rest of the prophecy, then I'll confront him.

     Right now though, I just want to make sure that Chris is okay with my own eyes. I stand with a new found determination. If they want a leader, I am going to start showing them a leader.

     "Where's Chris at? I want to make sure he is fine for our next mission," I say keeping all emotion out of my voice.

     Wyatt looks at me with widened eyes as if he is expecting me to start screaming and crying, "He's in the bedroom upstairs three doors down to the left."

     I nod at him and start walking out the door with confidence. I open it, and see Aaron standing outside leaning against the wall opposite me, "I want to talk to you later, but right now, I need to make sure everyone is okay," I tell him then walk up the stairs without a backwards glance. I didn't feel like dealing with him and his selfishness now. I used to think that I was starting to love him, but lately for some reason, I feel nothing towards him. 

     Step by step, I climb the stairs getting closer to my destination. One, two, three, I stop at the third door and don't even hesitate before throwing it open. Chris lays there on the bed looking considerably better than he did before.

     His head snaps in my direction and a large smile spreads on his once again tan face, "Ivy," he says my name with such love that it makes my heart break even more.

     "Hey, Chris."   'No emotion. No emotion.' I chant to myself mentally.

     He looks confused by my indifference before his expression turns slightly hurt. I didn't want to be the cause of that hurt. What I really want to do is run up to him and cry on his chest, telling him how much I was afraid when I thought he was going to die. None of that happens though, nope. I just stand there looking at him. I memorize his face; it's something I need to do.

     "What's wrong?" He asks me with that hurt expression still on his face.

     "Nothing just came to make sure you were okay and up for our next mission. We're leaving tomorrow."

     "Yeah, I'll be ready. Please, Ivy. Just tell me why you're acting like this. Please, tell me. I saw it in your eyes, you can't deny it. You love me to." His voice is pleading and the vulnerability in it makes me want to comfort him. I can't do that though, he belongs to someone else just like I do.

     "We can't be together," I whisper half hoping he doesn't hear what I say. My luck has run out though, and he hears every word.

     "How can you say that? We love each other, Ivy. You don't feel this way towards Aaron. You want to strangle him half the time, and the other half you just barely tolerate him. I love you; please don't do this to me." His eyes are glassy and I know that they are filled with tears.

     "How long?" I ask him.

     His eyebrows scrunch together adorably, "What do you mean how long?"

     "How long will you love me? Until, you find your soul mate? After that you will just forget me, Chris! You won't love me anymore, and where am I? Broken, having to watch you be happy everyday while I'm miserable." Finally emotion is in my voice, and my green eyes are equally as watery as his.

     Understanding flashes over his face, and he lets out a harsh laugh, "They didn't tell you did they? They didn't tell you the rest of the prophecy?"

     His words bring back memories from earlier. Wyatt and Aaron were talking about the prophecy. It is my turn to be confused.

     "I don't understand," I tell him honestly.

     "They didn't. I thought all along your friends," he spat the word out with harshness, "would have told you the rest."

     "Please just tell me. I want to know."

     "Answer me this first. Do you love me, Ivy? Do you really love me? Or do you just think you do?"

     I know the answer to his question instantly. I tried to deny it in the past, but I love Chris. Yeah, it's rushed and way to soon, but there is just something in me that calls to him. Something in me that wants him by my side for the rest of my life.

     "Yes," I whisper.

     He smirks, obviously hearing my answer, but wanting to hear the actual words, "I didn't hear you."

     "Yes. Yes, okay. I love you," I say without any catch or hesitation in my voice. I know for a fact that I am in love with this boy. There is nothing that will ever change that. "Now, tell me what you know."

     He grimaces slightly, "I can only tell you one thing, and before you complain. I honestly cannot tell you anything else. Not will not, can not."

     I nod my head and gesture to get on with it already. What is up with guys and always putting you in suspense?

     "I will never love anybody else, Ivy. There is no one else out there that can be my soul-mate."

     I look at him even more confused than before, "That's it? That's all you're going to tell me?" I ask stomping my foot like a small child.

     He flashes me a smile, "Sorry, honey. That's all."

     I send him a glare and walk to the door with exaggerated steps. I pull the door open and step out. Throwing one last glance at him over my shoulder, I close the door behind me.