Chapter 4

       Groaning, I roll in bed and stretch my arms and legs with a sigh of satisfaction. I haven’t slept this peacefully in weeks. I don’t remember the last time I slept without waking up from nightmares I can never recall.     

    Opening my eyes slowly, I frown when once again I realize I’m in unfamiliar surroundings, and in unfamiliar clothes, only this time panic is starting to build in my chest because I honestly and have no idea where the hell I am. Sitting upright I scan the blue room and wonder who brought me here, the last thing I remember is Steven and a ball of fire.

     Getting out of bed, I hurry out of the room and pause as the sight of a railing comes into view. Slowly stepping closer, I rest my hand on the wooden handrail to stare at what appears to be a living room and an open kitchen. There’s a dining table set with steaming plates situated between the kitchen and the living room and the aroma of a freshly cooked meal makes my mouth water.

     From here, I have a full view of Steven’s back as he stands before the sink and relaxes a little when it becomes clear I’m not in a hostage situation. Seeing him makes me remember everything that occurred yesterday, the things he’d told me and the things I’d seen for myself.

    I remember the panicked feeling I felt when I saw those flames, how suffocated and scared I was, the horrifying memories spilling out of my pandora box and assaulting my mind in various flashes before I passed out when it all became too much.

    Stepping away from the handrail, I move in the direction of the stairs and make my way down, wrapping my hands around my body I softly clear my throat as I draw closer to the kitchen. Looking over his shoulder, he smiles in greeting. “Hey, your up already.”

     “Yeah, kind of had a mini freak out when I woke in different clothes and an unfamiliar room,” I say, raising a hand to run it through my tangled bed hair.

    “Sorry if you got startled. It's just, after you passed out I could only bring you here. I didn’t think you’d want to wake up in the infirmary again.” He shrugs, his face apologetic before he turns his attention back to the dishes.

    Quickly rinsing out the last of it, he turns to give me his full attention, taking out the hand towel tucked in the pocket of his apron to wipe his hands. The aroma of food makes my stomach rumble and I press my hands to it in embarrassment. “Come on,” He chuckles, amused. Stepping out of the kitchen he places a hand on my back and guides me towards the table. “I was just about to go get you but you’ve saved me the trip.”

    I settle across from him and stare at the large plate with wide eyes, he’d made scrambled eggs with bacon and sausages, toasted bread sliced in triangular form with a spread of butter layered on top, canned baked beans and a glass of orange juice. “I don’t think I’d be able to finish it all,” I say, surprised that he can even cook, and he smiles in reassurance.

     “It’s okay, just make sure to eat your fill though.” He jokes, winking. “I don’t want you passing out again.”

     Biting down on my lip, I ponder on whether or not to explain it to him but decided to just go ahead considering he’ll most likely find out sooner or later.

      Picking up my spoon, I keep my head down as I say. “I suffer from anxiety when faced with the sight of fire.”

     Silence settles between the two of us and I slowly raise my head to gauge his thoughts, and to my surprise, I see nothing but a knowing look in his eyes. “I kind of figured when you all but swooned back at the academy.”

    “Okay,” I swallow, feeling awkward, before glancing back down at my food. Taking a bite of the beans I let it warm my tongue a little before chewing. “If you're aware then why am I still here?”

     “What do you mean?”

     “I mean, I remember everything you told me yesterday and I think I have an idea of where that conversation was heading to. If my guess is right, I have no business being in this school.”

     “I think you already know that isn’t true Coral,” He tilts his head, staring at me calmly. “As my daughter, you’re an elemental conjurer. Being elemental is hereditary, and there is no way the blood-”

    “I’m not talking about me inheriting your abilities, I’m talking about me being here in my condition. If I am an elemental conjurer like you, I’ll most likely be a fire or air conjurer.” I frown, staring at the tattoos on his bare hands.

     The familiar tattoo of a flaming dragon is coiled around one wrist, while on the other is a tattoo of a white bird resting on the top of his palm, underneath the bird is a white line of strings flowing down to coil three times around his wrist before moving up to connect with the rotating white ball on the inside of his palm.

      “Or you could be an earth conjurer.” frowning, even more, I raise a brow in confusion. “I’m sure your mum never told you but, she was a conjurer herself. An earth conjurer. We met here in the academy as freshmen.”

     Shocked, I sit in silence for several seconds as his words replay in my head repeatedly. I knew she'd met Steven in high school and after they graduated, she had me, but it never fully occurred to me until now that she was one of them.

    She never liked to talk about her past, especially when I asked about her relationship with my biological father. It was one of the things that ticked me off as a kid, but thinking about it now this explains a lot of her odd behaviours. Like her decision to always wear custom made hand gloves, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her pull it off once, and whenever people questioned her about it she always seemed tense and her answers were always evasive.

      Swallowing, I clench my hands around my utensils as I fought to let my shock and anger go before deciding to continue with our conversation. “So, if there’s a possibility I could somehow develop one of these abilities, which one do you think is highly likely for me to inherit?”

      He pauses for a second, understanding settling on his face, before responding. “Fire.”

    “Well, do you now see the dilemma?”

~*~*~*~

      I’d thought since the school is surrounded by large forestation, there would be nothing but the academy and the dorms would be located somewhere inside the building, but to my surprise, they’re not.

      After breakfast, Steven thought it would be best if he toured me around the academy, that way I’d be able to receive some fresh air and he could better explain things to me. In a white cart, he drove through a double lane past a series of houses all painted in similar colours, though only he had a garden on the front yard.

      Steven explained that the houses are occupied by the academy’s working staff, and he shares his little 2-story house with Dana. Though she left early to work. He explained that since it’s just two weeks before classes officially start for a new term, I wouldn’t have to worry about school for the time being. Most students present in the academy are here to take exams to make up for not meeting up with their credit scores during the last term, while the rest just prefer arriving early to practice their abilities before the rush of students crowd the large compound.

      Through the tour I got to know that past these houses when you take a right turn down the road, there’s an entrance to a park popular among students and on the opposite side is a hidden but large clearing was occasional late-night parties and bonfires are thrown.

      I was surprised he let such activity occur within school grounds, but he explained that these parties are always supervised and only thrown within reason. Meaning seniors have to submit pretty hefty reports on why a party should be authorized. A mile from the clearing I spotted what looks like a brick building but Steven made a U-turn and completely avoided that area, stating it's authorized to everyone but a select few. I asked why and his specific response was, “it’s a training centre for students being recruited under the guidance of society’s ruling council.”

     Once we made our way back to where we started, he took me down a road full of activity. There were coffee shops, small diners, a large building with the name C&K Mall at the top, public libraries, a small 2-story building with a large parking lot stretched out by its side. The lot is filled with different coloured carts, and I wonder just how eco-friendly Steven is.

       I was a bit impressed he thought to provide all these for the students, making it easier and more bearable to live in a boarding school.

      Down ahead, on the opposite lane are 3 modest looking book stores, a gym and a spa centre. Turning down the lane to the right, a couple of complex buildings built completely with glass stand tall and magnificent. I become curious when I notice a flag with an emblem of a roaring fire breathing dragon hanging off a white railing in-between 2 buildings to the left, and then a flag with the emblem of a swimming green turtle in-between another 2 to the right. This followed by 2 more flags with an emblem of a flying white bird and a large black rock covered by green moss.

      I asked Steven about them and he explained that the flags identify the dorms for students who are pure elemental conjurers. We settled in one of the cafe’s and then he proceeded to explain things better, the dorms with the dragon flag are called House of Fire, the dorms with the swimming green turtle flag are called House of Water, the dorms with the flying white bird flag are called House of Air, and the dorms with the large black rock covered by green moss flag are called House of Earth.

      Each house is divided into various subs or has he called them, sub-elemental conjurers, and they all possess a unique ability thatt relates to one main element.

      For example, there are subs with the ability to control ice for water elementals or green vines for earth elemental’s. A sub is an elemental who comes from a family of mixed blood, so their abilities are a lot less strong than a pure-blood elemental. There is also a group called defects who, unlike the subs simply do not have any elemental ability. And the cause of these failures is a result of copulating with humans.

      Their dorm is a small 2-story cabin at the end of the road. Currently, we’re seated in one of the less populated cafe’s, facing each other as we nursed our coffee’s and dessert. “What happens if I inherit nothing, I mean I don’t even have a tattoo yet?” I ask, taking a sip of my ice coffee as I fix my gaze on the imposing man attracting quite a lot of attention by just being here.

     “That isn’t possible, like I said earlier your mother had been a very strong earth, elemental conjurer before she passed and I inherited both my parent’s elements.” He rests his elbows on the table to show off his tattoos and I bite down on my lower lip as the tattoo’s come to life when he runs his fingers gently over them.

    It’s even freakier to watch up close as his eyes take on that unnatural glow, the left eye glowing white while the right eye glows fiery red. “Usually, elemental’s only inherit a single element depending on which is more dominant in their blood, but our family has a case of being special. This is why I have two rather than one elements. Young elemental’s don’t come into their powers until they’re 15, and I know you're already 15. On every young elemental’s birthday a tattoo is imprinted on their hands, and from that day on they will go through a process where their bodies start to experience changes. First, you’ll develop a sweet tooth, anything loaded with carbs becomes your addiction. Because our abilities are drawn from our bodies and not an external force it takes quite a toll on us, even using your abilities for the smallest things quickly deteriorates your energy. So carbs provide fuel to our central nervous system and energy for working muscles, with time as you begin training it will become easier for you to cope with the changes and your abilities will make you more agile and stronger.”

      Nodding, I run a hand through my hair and let out a long sigh. “So, what exactly are my options here?”

     Staring straight into my eyes, he states simply. “Your going to have to see a psychiatrist, have you seen one in regards to your panic attacks?” I grimace at the mention of the profession, my left eye twitching when I grumble out a reply.

     “No, I was too busy dealing with the fact that I’m uprooting my life and travelling across the world to live in a completely new country to do that.”

“Well, you're here now and you need to see one.

     “Can I not?” I plead and he vehemently shakes his head.

     “Coral, you have to. Think about it, now the population of students in the academy are few, but when classes begin this place is going to be flooded by elemental’s. You will have to face your worst fears every day, and at some point freshmen students will begin training.”

     “Look,” I hold up a hand, taking a deep breath. “I get what you're trying to say. But seeing a therapist-”

     “Is imperative. Raise your shirt.” I bulk at his request and stare at him as if he’s nuts, seeing my expression he rolls his eyes and phrases his words. “I meant your sleeve. Raise it.”

    Relaxing, I stare at him in suspicion. “Why?”

     “You know why?”

    Settling back with a sigh, I do as he asks and he stares at the triquetra symbol on my elbow for a long minute before looking away. Running a hand through his hair he leans forward and stares into my eyes when he says. “Do you know what that tattoo means?”

     Shaking my head, I offer no response even though a part of me knew what he was going to say next. “That tattoo means you have a whole lot more problems on your plate. Only one elemental has ever had a tattoo like that, and I think you already know who I’m talking about. Which means-”

      Taking in a deep breath, I finish his sentence before he does. “It means I’m going to possess not one, but all four abilities.”

     “Exactly, which is why you not seeing a therapist is not an option.” A small beeping noise interrupts our conversation and my brows raise in surprise when he leans back to pull out a small beeper from the pocket of his jeans. Just what century does he live in? He stares at it with a sigh of annoyance, before turning to fix an apologetic gaze at me. “I have to head back to my office and deal with a problem?”

     “It’s fine,” I sigh, shaking my head. “You go and deal with whatever it is you have to deal with and I’ll take a look around in one of the book stores.”

      Nodding, he rises to his feet and grabs his coffee. “I’ll return in an hour, just wait over there and I’ll come back for you.”