Earth(97)

Shawn's blue eyes practically glowed in the otherwise darkened room. "Show me."

The pair went outside, followed by an Air, Water, and Fire.

"There." The Earth pointed southeast. They peered through two tall buildings and could just see the rise of the Tivoli center tower.

The Fire stepped forward. "My element was raging there just before the earthquake." He squinted into the night sky. "But I don't see any smoke."

"All right, let's go check it out." Shawn started for the Center.

"Sir?" the Earth asked.

"What?" Shawn snapped at her, barely turning his head.

"Your pants."





Chapter 58





Groupies


I pushed my way out of the building, taking a deep breath of cold air. It bit at my lungs, but felt wonderful after a steamy fight in the catacombs. I stretched, trying to reinvigorate exhausted muscles. A cold wind blew; the air tasted of snow. The sweat beading my body would turn to icicles soon. I looked toward our observation tower. Around it, grey smoke from several cooking fires rose steadily upward. Against the pitch black sky, you wouldn't see the smoke unless you were looking for it.

I wonder if there will be meat tonight. My stomach growled, and I started for the amusement park.

"Artemis, wait!"

I cocked my ear. Artemis? Oh yeah. I smiled. Goddess of the Hunt. I turned, and waited for a small group of Fires to approach. "The name's Lucy."

"Right," the one in the front said. Three of them stopped in front of me. "Look." He scratched his neck, glancing behind him as if to ensure the others were there. "We were sort of…Dragon groupies. For a long time. And now he is…"

A loser, I thought.

"…trapped behind stone, at least until someone frees him."

I glared at him. Some groupies they were.

"Hey, I'm just a Fire. Fire can't burn through stone – not very quickly, anyway."

I sighed, glancing at the doors. Am I going to have to undo what I just did?

"Don't worry," he said. "We'll take care of it. Anyway, in the meantime—"

"For crying out loud." The girl behind him pushed him aside. "What he’s trying to do is ask if there is anything you need."

My gaze shifted to her. Her eyes went to her shoes as she fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.

Why are they all so nervous?

"Because, you know – we can get it for you."

"Now that you mentioned it," I began. All three heads snapped up. "There is something you can do for me. Do you know what Akasha is?"

The boy in the back, who had to be two heads taller than everyone else, spoke up, "Shawn mentioned it. Said it was the key to bringing power back to the world."

"He told you that?" the girl asked, eyebrows raised.

He shrugged. "I take care of his hands. He's always burning them."

I stuck my bandaged hand behind me, hoping no one noticed.

"I thought nuclear was his plan," said the girl.

"Yes but, without a way to get more Uranium, something has got to power the plants."

I thought of Arnold, suddenly, wondering if this would convince even him. Accessing nuclear power without the risk of a radioactive byproduct. I furrowed my eyebrows. Does using Akasha create radioactive waste? I raised my good hand, wiggling my fingers. Not glowing yet.

The girl cleared her throat. They were all staring at me. "So, what is it you needed?" she asked.

"I need you to do something for me if you see Akasha," I said.

"What?" she asked.

"Run away."





Chapter 59


The Messenger

"You there, stop!" Shawn marched his way up the stairs with his small entourage of Elementals.

The Fire, in the process of padlocking the door, turned and did a double take as the chief of One Less approached. The Fire dropped the chain on the ground.

Shawn picked it up, slowly wrapping it around his fist. "Who are you?"

The Fire reached in his pocket, producing the blue armband.

"I see," Shawn said, continuing to wrap the chain around his hand. "The camp is on lockdown, no one is supposed to be out past dark."

Chattering and laughs broke the tension as a group of women rounded the corner. Each bore a blue band on their arm. They stopped in their tracks at the sight of Shawn, then turned tail, disappearing back the same way.

Shawn glared at the Fire. "What happened here tonight? How many were here?"

The Fire wiped his forehead with his sleeve, which came away damp. Shawn had to look up to talk to him, but the Fire was thin and gangly. The scar running down his face curled his mouth into a permanent smile.

The only thing scars prove is that their bearers had experienced a moment of weakness, Shawn told himself.