Chapter seventeen

“Do you think the guys did something similar to what we did?” Helena asked me as we all walked down the corridor to Cameron’s apartment.

I grimaced and shrugged slightly. I highly doubted that the guys were collaborating to strengthen their abilities and learn from each other’s mistakes. Our group lessened as we passed each of the Elemental’s apartments until there was only me and Helena. We stood outside Cameron’s apartment when I stopped and cocked my head slightly. What was that sound? Helena and I shared a look and pressed our ears to the door. Through the wooden door I could hear the muffled sounds of shouting and whooshing, like something flying through the air. Finally, the scent of smoke caught my nose and I knew something was happening on the other side.

“You don’t think...?” Helena wondered out loud.

“That a certain two boys are trying to kill each other? Yes... yes I do think that” I sighed and turned the doorknob, flinging the door wide open. A ball of ice the size of a soccer ball came hurtling straight towards us, but I easily waved my hand in front of me and the ball of water dropped down to the ground as snow. I looked back up and sighed heavily – what the hell were these guys doing?

Cameron was sitting on the kitchen bench, sipping at a bottle of soda as he watched Derrek and Blake aiming their contrasting flames of fire and ice at each other as though it was nothing new. Which, I had to admit, wasn’t new at all – in fact this was practically a daily routine. Blake had his back to us as he sent fiery blue flames at Derrek. Derrek crossed his forearms in an ‘X’ across his body and as the crystal blue flames hit him his own red flames erupted from his skin, causing steam to fill the air around him.

“What the hell are you two doing?” Helena and I call out at the same time.

Derrek looked up to meet my eyes and I could see the anger filter away from his face. Only after seeing Derrek look away did Blake turn around to face us. My eyes widened and I pursed my lips together to stop the snort of laughter from bubbling its way up my throat. Blake’s shirt was burned, yet again, but this time it looked as though someone had burned a bikini outline through the front, as though they’d used a giant cookie cutter on his shirt. There were other burned edges and holes but the bikini holes in his shirt were impossible to miss.

“Don’t you dare laugh, Val!” Blake grumbled as soon as he saw my face.

“I wasn’t going to...” I lied. I was so close to... it was like trying to hold in a big cough. My eye even twitched.

“It’s all you boyfriend’s fault!” Blake shouted pointing a finger at Derrek, who was lounging against the wall with a proud smirk playing on his lips.

I slid my eyes over to him and he shrugged. “Frosty here should know not to scuff my shoes”

I threw him a deadpanned look. “Really Sparky? Scuffed shoes? Have you seen the state of Cameron’s apartment now because of you two?”

“It was already like this!” Derrek scoffed.

I was about to retort back when Cameron cleared his throat. “Actually Val, he’s not lying. I just... you know, haven’t found it in me to clean up”

I blinked, looked around the apartment then blinked again. Wow.

“Uh... maybe we should concentrate on this a little later” Helena piped in, automatically steering the conversation away. “In case you wanted to know, we had a good and successful time with the rest of the girls. We were able to mix and verse each other’s abilities and even learned from one another”

Being ever so attentive to Helena, Blake grinned, his bikini cut shirt momentarily forgotten, and strode up to her. “That’s great Helena. Learn anything interesting?”

Helena went ahead and began recounting what happened while we were bonding with the Elemental girls. Cameron listened from on top of the bench top. After finishing his soda he unconsciously placed a hand on the top and bottom of the glass bottle and pressed together so quickly that the bottle didn’t shatter, but instead seemed to grind down into sand. He simply leaned over and through the sand outside the balcony and went back to listening to Helena.

“So...” I said quietly, walking to the wall Derrek was leaning against and copied his pose. “I’m starting to think that you enjoy spending time with Blake”

I smirked as his face dropped. “Are you nuts, Tadpole? I can’t stand the guy! Everything he does pisses me off... it’s like he has second ability just for that”

“You’re so dramatic” I chuckled. He rolled on his side slightly so he was closer to me, tapping the side of his nose.

“I’m Fire-abled Tadpole. We Fire-ableds are slightly ruled by our emotions, remember?” He was teasing. I hadn’t seen very much of this teasing side of him for a while and with his golden eyes piercing into mine and a slight smirk resting on his lips, Helena’s talking faded into the background. I cleared my throat and blinked, breaking eye contact with his golden orbs and elbowed him playfully in the ribs.

“I guess that’s why you fell so hard for me” I chuckled. He winked and grabbed my elbow, pulling me to stand in front of him so he could wrap his arms around me while we listened to the rest of what Helena was telling Blake and Cameron.

***

“So what exactly is happening with classes now?” Helena asked as the Elementals, Derrek and I walked together down the hallways alongside the other students. There was an odd buzz of excitement in the air as the loud chatter filled the air around us. There was a memo that had been sent throughout the student body that first classes were being held in the gymnasium; nothing else. There was no explanation, no details about the changes but, of course, we already knew what was going to happen.

I could feel the tension emanating off the Elementals with every step that brought us closer. Michelle and Leah walked in the centre of our group to give them more cover since they weren’t used to the stares and as we turned a corner I glimpsed over at them taking in their attire. Michelle wore a simple jeans and t-shirt combination but wrapped a thick scarf over and around her hair so that, unless you were looking hard, you couldn’t see her hair changing back and forth. Leah wore a pair of sturdy boots over her camouflage pants and a t-shirt under a long jacket with her hood flipped over her head.  Of course, nothing could really hide the leopard spots decorating her face and her slitted eyes.

Evanesce and Chimera seemed at ease next to Bree and Sophia, and I wondered if one of their abilities was just being so prepared for everything, to be calm and not showing any fear. It was an interesting concept because I couldn’t recall seeing them afraid or anything less than ready and collected. Finally, we stepped into the gymnasium. I was hoping we could step in undetected and possibly to sit near the back, but as soon as we walked in Coach Shulk boomed at our direction. “Hurry up you lot! No, not back there... up front and centre!”

Michelle and Leah froze momentarily, while the other Elementals waited a heart beat before raising their chins and sauntering towards the coach. All the students in the gymnasium were sitting on the bleachers that encircled the centre. It was back to the same set up for when we had our exams, minus the giant box of death (that I had permanently named it after I nearly died inside) and every single pair of eyes were on us as we walked through the sea of students.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the dean was also here. When he spotted me he nodded slightly in greeting. While we waited for any stragglers to join the new class I felt as though I was a freak behind bars in a circus act, everyone was staring and whispering, wondering what was going on. I couldn’t imagine how the Elementals felt right now. A warm hand touched my shoulder and I turned to see Mr Obsidian.

“Helena, Derrek and Valerie, please take a seat for the moment, right now we just need the Elementals, we will use your assistance a little later” He spoke quietly to us. We nodded and I was quick to sit on the ground in front of the closest bench.

“Cameron’s not too keen to be guinea pig for these new classes” Derrek whispered as he sat on the ground next to me. “Look at him, he’s practically grinding his teeth to dust”

My eyes swung over to Cameron. He must be feeling exposed and a little nervous even, yet he stood tall and proud with his arms folded across his chest. His jaw was locked tightly and from where I sat, I could see the teeth grinding motions he was making, it really did seem that if he didn’t stop he’d end up toothless. Blake stood on the other side, keeping all the Elemental girls between him and Cameron and the same look of total focus  and apprehension was apparent on all of their faces.

“Okay, everyone! Quiet down, quiet down! Students! Shut up!” Coach Shulk shouted out. Immediately, the buzzing chatter died and everyone’s attention was set on her. “As you all know, classes have been changed. I’m not sure how much all of you know, but for those who don’t know, I think it’s safe to say that focusing and concentrating on your combat skills have never been as important as now!”

Another round of chatter erupted but with a single ‘Oi!’ from Coach Shulk and silence once again pressed on.  “Coach Shulk is right” Mr Obsidian stepped forward. He wore a tidy black suit and bleached grey undershirt that seemed to match his hair. “As you may have noticed, The Control has been spotted around Abled University quite often for the last few months. They’re presence is because they believe that Elementals are dangerous - they believe that they are dangerous to the Abled society-“

“But they’re not!” A familiar voice shouted from the sea of students. All eyes swung around to land on Colin. He was leaning forward with outrage colouring his face before speaking again. “Mr Obsidian, the Elementals are no more of a threat to us than we are to ourselves. I’ve befriended them during classes and they’re not bad or anything or the sort”

I looked back at the Elementals standing behind Mr Obsidian. Clearly Colin’s outburst was a shock to them as well. While they’d received comments and even had a friendly conversation with a few Abled students, apparently they didn’t think they had other Abled friends besides us.

“Yes, Colin, I am aware of that” Mr Obsidian smiled. Colin nodded and leaned back just as the dean continued with a heavy sigh. “The Control also believe these Elementals are not a threat. However... there are other Elementals, other much more dangerous Elementals that are under the control Malum who are a threat. These Elementals are Deviants and don’t have the free will these students do” He waved a hand towards the Elementals.

The dean continued. “The Control and I believe that Malum and his Deviants will come here to Abled University and start, what we can only see as, the next war” Everyone gasped. Outbursts or fear and denial erupted like a wave of sound and only with Coach Shulk shouting for five minutes did everyone quieten down enough to hear the dean once more.

“But why would they come here?!”

“Are they after the Elementals?”

“A war?!”

“Please!” Mr Obsidian stressed. “We have concluded that Malum and his Deviants will attack Abled University because of his connection to the school, and his brazen kidnapping last year. He had only been spotted a few times from what I know of the past many years since the Stinger Eradication and only once outside the school. Something is drawing him here, students, and he is building an army with abilities beyond what we can imagine; abilities you have no idea how to fight and protect yourself against. A war is coming, whether you believe it or not, and these students behind me are the only way we can learn to protect ourselves”

The silence that followed Mr Obsidian’s speech was so heavy it hurt. So now they knew. Everyone at Abled University, and as soon as class was out, the rest of Abled society would know that the next big war in Abled history would take place right here.

“So what do we do?” Colin spoke up, speaking out loud what everyone had on their mind.

Mr Obsidian looked around at all the faces that filled the auditorium and it seemed as though he was able to look everyone in the eye as he spoke. “You need to be brave”

The dean stepped back and nodded at Coach Shulk, who took over. “Alright everyone, for those who are in the same combat class as the Elementals, you know how different and powerful they are. They will take you by surprise, they move and even think differently because they aren’t restricted to the same abilities as we all are. They are all strong. However, for the sake of the others who aren’t in the same class I’ll ask you to demonstrate for them” She spoke the last part to the Elementals and they nodded.  “Let’s show them what you’ve got!”

*******************************************************************************

A/N

I’m sorry! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!!!!!!

I was in between laptops for a while and have been sick and busy. Not the best excuses, but alas I do have a life outside Wattpad. I haven’t even been on WP for weeks so I do apologise for any comments and messages that needed replying to because I haven’t been able to read them yet! Also, Australia has been going under some ridiculously abysmal heat and since I have no air conditioning I was in no mood to write. Seriously, who can sit down in an AVERAGE of 40 C temperature? For those in the US that’s equal to an AVERAGE (because it gets hotter!) of 104 F! I’m a Winter lover, so this kind of Summer makes me irritable hahaha!

Just a bit of a side note, yesterday was my daughter’s 2nd year anniversary since her heart surgery and I was having a mini celebration because January 20 is such a special day to me :) She’s gone through 2 heart surgeries (the first one didn’t work) and a few set backs during her stay at the hospital at the time but now she perfectly healthy and active and her scar will always be something I see as beautiful because it shows her strength. She’s turning 3 in just under 2 weeks so I have a lot of planning to do!!!

So yeah, anyhoo... I know it’s been like a month since I updated so I decided to upload TWO chapters to make up for it. Whoever is still following this story is seriously a champion and I dedicate these two chapters to you because you’re simply the best!!!!

Much love! Sending you all hi5’s, kisses, hugs and some home made cookies,

Nix <3