"Are we absolutely sure this magical crystal is going to be here? This is the 20th house we've searched," I complained as I reached the bottom step of the little stairway that led to what I believed was the attic, and last room we needed to search.
It was late in the afternoon with the sun already beginning to set. I glanced at the clock, noticing it was almost six, meaning we'd spent six straight hours searching all the potential houses that could have hosted this crystal, and came out with nothing but dusty clothes and a close encounter with a stray cat.
"Those were the houses I narrowed it down to, and Xerxes' lackeys have been searching the same places. I reviewed the surveillance tapes and that's the only house left on the list," Ethan spoke through our earpieces.
I sighed, pulling my dusty black gloves off so I could remove my hair tie. "Alright, I'll be chilling with the mice up in the attic," I declared with an eye roll, dragging my feet up the small steps. I felt exhausted, making me wonder if it was because of my breakdown earlier with Ethan, or just because of all the manual labor we'd done, just to come up empty. I'd rather chase down criminals and do crazy stunts on bikes than deal with searching old furniture covered in cat hair and who knows what else.
It was just something I disliked and preferred not to do if I had a choice. Situations that got your blood pumping, or the "fun" stuff at least made me feel energized. Probably just the adrenaline, but ya, no more cleaning for Agent Sinclair.
"We'll be there in a sec, Scar," Michael called out. I hummed back. When I reached the top step, I did a quick scan around the old room. It was rather empty for an attic. Aside from a few vintage dressers and boxes, I doubted I'd find anything here.
"Do we have an update on the fire?" Jaxson asked. He was downstairs with Michael, finalizing the search while I looked everywhere else that could possibly hide a crystal we didn't even have an image of.
Christian and Junho were assigned to twenty other houses, but the last one had some weird device that practically self-destructed and they were now dealing with the fire department.
"It's been put out. Junho and Christian investigated what they thought might have been an item of interest, but the outburst seemed to have been triggered from the ground beneath the house. Kendrick's looking into it," Ethan explained.
"Isn't this the fourth fire outburst in three days?" Michael asked. I began doing my search, checking the boxes in the attic first.
"Yes. That's why PINC is getting involved and investigating. It makes no sense. We can't find any evidence that someone was there to initiate a fire spell, and by the time we do get there, any evidence that could be used has already turned to ash," Ethan revealed.
"So someone, or a group of people, are going around and placing spells to cause fire outbursts? Or something along those lines," Jaxson concluded gravely.
"I guess. I don't think Mother Starlight is planning to destroy our realm with fire," Ethan commented with a shrug.
I frowned, wondering what the outbursts were all about and how was someone, or a group of people, were getting into those areas, and out again without a trace. I began looking through the vintage stack of dressers, pulling each drawer out and scanning the contents inside carefully.
I continued my search, zoning out on their conversation as I moved towards the circular window, a white wooden vanity placed to the left of it. I noticed the mirror was cracked, and the top part looked far less dusty than everything else in here.
I ran my bare fingers along the smooth wood, impressed that after many years being up in this dusty attic, the wood still seemed almost new.
I looked through the drawers, finding pearls, beads, and other vintage items that made me wonder just how old these possessions were. It looked like the vanity was more than a few decades old and the items inside appeared to be even older than my great, great, great grandma.
A sigh escaped me and my heart sank, finding nothing yet again. I looked to the mirror, staring into my reflection, my blue-green eyes clearly showing my exhaustion. I think I should call it quits today.
I closed my eyes which had begun to itch, quickly dusting off my right hand to rub my face. I'd left my glasses in the car, seeing as they wouldn't have been much help when I was actually tired.
I opened them again, staring at my reflection. I noticed the bright green glow of my eyes and the tiny bits of gold streaks, which piqued my interest.
"So you're the Elemental."
I turned my head to my right where the sound came from. My eyes grew wide and I gasped; the attic I had been standing in had changed entirely. It was now beautifully decorated like someone lived here. The vintage furniture was polished and looked new. The room was full of life as the sun shone through the window, its warm rays flickering across the polished floor and making some of the antique crafts and knick knacks on the table sparkle in a multitude of colors.
I lifted my gaze and was surprised to see a young woman. Her dark skin was flawless and her beautiful gold eyes sparkled with amusement. Her black hair was in loose curls and her lips were perfectly made up with ruby red lipstick. She wore a beautiful vintage yellow dress and white heels with little sunflowers on top.
I could tell right away she was a shifter from the power leaking off her and the beautiful gold aura that surrounded her. It wasn't a harsh glow that hurt your eyes, but a gentle radiant one that drew your attention.
Even though she had a young appearance, looking like she was in her late twenties, my instincts told me the woman before me had lived centuries. The level of power that gracefully cloaked her body helped to reinforce that guess.
"How do you know who I am? Where am I?" I asked quietly, unsure if this was a vision or some kind of time warp thing.
She smiled, which brightened her face and heightened her already immense beauty. "You, my dear, are in my home in cycle 2055. Pleased to meet you, though it's too bad. We probably don't have enough time to head downstairs and have some Earl Grey."
She came over to where I was in front of the polished vanity, moving to stand on my left and pulling open the top drawer. She hummed quietly as she dug through the various gems and pearls, finally pulling out a small gold velvet bag that would fit in the palm of my hand.
"Ah, here it is," she gleefully announced, walking behind me towards the window.
She looked outside for a moment as if ensuring no one was out there lurking. Then she turned to face me, lifting her hand and gesturing for me to come stand in front of her.
I moved cautiously to where she stood, glancing outside and noticing the vast difference in the neighborhood from what I had seen upon entering the house. It was so beautiful and full of life.
Flowers of all colors blossomed in the garden in front of the house, and though the sun was setting like how it was in the present, this sunset looked spectacular and made the surrounding homes look so exquisite with all their different colors and clean appearances.
I turned my attention back to the woman. She looked pleased that I'd taken the moment to appreciate the view outside. "You've been good to not give up, my dear. This is your reward."
She reached out for my hand, lifting it with hers and placing the velvet bag in my palm. "May you find my sisters and survive the trials that await you,” she blessed. The bag began to feel hot in my hand, but I didn't let go.
She removed her hand, indicating with a sweep of her gaze that I should open it. I slowly nodded, looking at the pouch for a few seconds before finally opening it.
I pulled out a bracelet; the piece of jewelry looked like either a male or a woman could wear it, but the most eye-catching feature was the bright gold jewel embedded into the surface.
It was magnificent and it was difficult for me to even find a word to express just HOW beautiful it looked to me. I could feel the power within it, like a beating heart calling to me. I hadn't realized until that moment that my free hand was resting on top of my chest, right above my own heart.
I felt warm and fuzzy, excited to have the jewel in my possession for safekeeping and to be feeling a little more powerful, even though I had no idea how to use the power within the stone in my hand.
Lifting my eyes to meet the woman's calm expression, I pondered what to say. What could I possibly ask in such limited time, with all these questions flooding my mind?
She smiled, taking a step forward and reached out to brush her hand against my cheek. It reminded me of what a mother would do to calm her child who was scared or worried about something. I sighed in relief at the warm, comforting touch.
"We don't have any more time right now, but my instincts tell me that we will meet again. It doesn't mean I'll be able to answer everything, but I will be able to test if you can handle the trials that await you, young Elemental. May the Starlight gods protect you. Oh, and when you return, move away from the window,” she instructed.
"The window," I whispered, even as the vision began to fade.
"Thank you!" I exclaimed. The woman smiled, her white teeth and beautiful gold eyes reflecting her happiness.
"Scarlet? Hey guys, can you go check on her?" I heard Ethan ask through my earpiece.
I had to blink a few times, feeling disorientated. After a moment, I realized I was back in the old, dusty attic, which I knew to be the once gorgeous room I just visited.
I lowered my gaze to my hand, and spotted the bracelet in its gold velvet pouch. "Wow," I whispered, feeling amazed by what I'd just experienced.
I had no idea what to call it, but I was pleased that I'd found what we were looking for. Oh, the window?
I began to move back, my instincts telling me to stand to the left side of the room. Why did she want me to move from the window? Maybe someone's watching?
"Scarlet?" Ethan asked with a hard tone, which spooked me a little.
I quickly pressed the button to respond. "Ah...sorry, I'm ok-"
I flinched at a sudden loud explosive sound. Less than a second later, my body was sent crashing into a pile of boxes and a scream escaped me. Fuck!
"Scar!" I heard Jaxson and Michael shout, but a wave of heat hit me so fast it made me super dizzy while I tried to scramble to my feet. I groaned, moving to lay on my side and pushing the boxes and furniture out of the way. Then, I noticed the pain in my ankle. Ugh, stupid explosion...WAIT, EXPLOSION!
I quickly looked up, seeing the blaze raging from the middle of the room to where I once stood. The window had shattered, which freaked me out a little. I stared at the fire as it began to creep towards me and was already moving to the stairs, blocking the path for the guys to try to reach me.
My eyes lingered on the blaze, tuning out the guys’ shouts as I bit my lip. However, my heartbeat was rather calm, even though I was in a really heated situation.
I put the bracelet back in its pouch, which I slipped into the inner pocket of my leather jacket. I took a calming breath before taking a step forward, ensuring I didn't put much weight on my left ankle, which throbbed in pain.
The fire blazed with anger but I also felt its sorrow, its pain. I closed my eyes, taking another calming breath and felt my back burned as the tattoo there tingled.
I allowed my body to listen to the elements’ cries as it began to burn the wood, and smoke filled the air.
I could feel the wind's agony for the flames, the smoke a representation of the flame’s pain and a plea of help, not a form of pollution that humans would think had a negative effect on the sky above.
The ground below was calm with understanding and the water that ran through little tunnels of the earth sympathized for the blaze, and would come to my aid to calm its anger.
But I knew I didn't need the other elements. Fire was the hardest to tame, but the easiest to understand. It wasn't summoned to be here. It was triggered by someone's selfishness to destroy, not to heal or conduct something Mother Nature wanted.
This outburst of fire was due to a human's selfish actions and was not of natural cause, which was exactly why the fire burned wildly, because that's all it could do.
I opened my eyes slowly, feeling them burn with power; my hair began to float lightly. The once neon locks began to turn to silver. I lifted my free hand up towards the flow of fire, noticing the markings that ran from my fingers down my hand and arm, the ones that I remembered appeared the first time when I tamed the flames from the bomb explosion.
"Be calm for I am not your enemy. I'm here to aid and help you. Do not let what the man wants you to achieve be what motivates you. Be calm, thy flames, for I only want peace for you, just as the other elements want to comfort your pained heart. Hear my plea and return to a state of slumber until you are needed for good."
The power that had built up within me flowed outward at a slow pace, doing its part to gather the flames into one spot. I watched in awe as the flames formed into what looked like a tall woman; her glowing gold eyes that reminded me of lava stared down at my figure.
My hand remained out as if I was making a peace offering and she stared at it with interest. The smoke surrounded us, but somehow didn't make it hard to breathe.
I felt I was in a state of calm and that the outside world didn't exist. Only the flames and I were here, standing face to face, acknowledging each other's existence in a world where we could coexist without hurting one another.
The woman placed her burning hand on mine and it did nothing to harm me. The warm sensation made me smile, and I gave her a sympathetic look.
"Do not look at the hatred our kind has done. Forgive our errors and may I work towards stopping those who summon your power for selfish endeavors," I pleaded.
She slowly nodded before she closed her eyes, the flames beginning to dissipate. I felt the wind blow past me and I almost missed the three words that drifted to my ears.
"Thank you, Elemental."
I closed my eyes, feeling the heat lessen. The wind took that opportunity to remove the smoke from around me. When I opened my eyes, the fire was gone, leaving only lingering black and gray smoke that moved towards the window and upward into the sky. I could hear the sirens of the firetruck from afar, but paid them no mind, taking a few calming breaths as I urged my own power to retreat within me.
My legs felt weak, trembling as I fought to stay on my feet, but failed. I sighed as I fell back. "Fuck, Scar!" I heard Jaxson call out, just as arms caught me and slowly lowered me to the ground. I moaned, feeling really dizzy and disorientated. It took me a few moments to figure out what was going on.
"I'm...okay," I mumbled, but I had to work to open my tired eyes.
I felt a hand press against my cheek and I finally opened my eyes to see a blurry image of Michael, his eyes glowing brightly as he stared down at me. I knew he was beginning the process of assessing me before he’d see what needed healing. I realized he was the one who caught me. Jaxon lowered to his knees next to me on my left side.
Jaxson didn't say anything else, but I could see the immense worry in those amber jewels. I also caught a glimpse of anger in them.
I reached out my left hand and placed it on his lap. He sighed, grasping my hand supportively in his own.
I waited until I felt a little bit of my strength return, as Michael continued to do his thing. The pain in my ankle slowly dissipated until I didn't feel any discomfort at all. He removed his hand when he was finished, his eyes returning back to normal as he smiled down at me.
"How are you feeling now?" Michael asked.
"Better. Sorry about that."
Michael shook his head. "Don't worry about it."
"Is Scarlet okay?" Ethan asked through the headset, worry lacing his tone, which was a little higher than his normal pitch. I could tell right away he was concerned, just like Jaxson and Michael, and I felt bad that I'd worried him.
Jaxson pressed the button of his earpiece to respond. "She's okay. She was able to put the flames out. Is the fire truck that's closing in from us or the humans?"
"Us. After the incident that happened earlier with Christian and Junho, Kendrick informed all fire departments to dispatch their shifter units if a sudden fire erupted. If this gets out of hand, we’ll have to figure out a way to involve the humans, in order to help tame the flames," Ethan acknowledged.
"We'll deal with that tomorrow. Call Kendrick and let him know Team Seven is calling it a night," Jaxson instructed.
"Can we meet at Scarlet's place?" Ethan asked. I noticed Michael and Jaxson exchange glances before they both looked down at me.
"Scar? You want to go to your place tonight?" Michael inquired.
I gave them a weak smile. "That would be nice," I admitted, missing the comfort being in my place gave me. I also really wanted to gather there so I could explain about the Stone of Awakening. "I don't mind Jaxson's place, but I do miss home."
Jaxson squeezed my hand, leaning in and pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Don't worry, Scar. I understand." He gave me a reassuring smile and I sighed in relief, happy not to have upset him.
He pressed the button of his earpiece to talk. "Fine with us. Tell the others. We’ll talk about what we found when we get there," Jaxson replied.
"Roger that. See you in a few. Scarlet, rest up," Ethan urged. I closed my eyes, placing my head on Michael's chest while picturing the woman morphed by the flames and the feelings that flowed through me in that moment. Are the elements always so sad?
The agony I was currently feeling had really tugged at my heartstrings and it was hard for me to not react. I was angry on behalf of the fire element, and enraged about someone plotting yet another spell to cause destruction to this home that had been here for decades.
I had so many questions and needed answers, but first, we'd have to deal with finding the crystal and what we’d do with it when we did.
When I opened my eyes again, I realized we were in Jaxson's car. I was cradled in Michael's arms. He was looking out the window, his eyes looking like he was deep in thought.
"Michael?" I asked quietly
He looked down at me, giving me a small smile. "Hey, how are you feeling?"
"Uh, a lot better. Not as tired," I admitted, feeling a little more refreshed after what I assumed had been a cat nap.
His smile widened and he glanced forward, exchanging a look with Jaxson who was gazing back at us in the rear view mirror.
"Scar's awake?" Jaxson asked, his eyes returning to the road.
"Yes," Michael answered. "She's fine."
"Good," Jaxson replied and continued to focus on driving. It looked like we were stuck in traffic, but the familiar streets told me we were almost at my place.
Michael nodded before looking back down at me. "Want to rest a bit more?"
"I think I'll take you up on that offer," I admitted as I yawned, making me wonder if there would ever be a time I wouldn't feel so drained from using my powers. It was hard enough dealing with my fainting spells because of all my visions. I really didn't want to add “using my Elemental powers” as another reason why I'd earned the title of “Fainting Lady.”
I closed my eyes, ready to drift off when I remembered about the bracelet in my leather jacket pocket. "Michael?"
"Yes, Scarlet?"
"Inside pocket of my jacket. Right side," I muttered, trying to stay awake long enough to ensure he took it out. I felt his hand move my jacket slightly, slipping in to retrieve the pouch.
"Take it out and wear it for now. It will be safe if you do," I instructed, unsure how I knew that, but it felt like the right thing to do. Michael didn't question it. When I opened my eyes, I saw he'd managed to put the bracelet on his left wrist. I smiled, and slowly closed my eyes as I relaxed against his chest.
"May the Starlight gods bless you and grant you the powers within the Crystal of Dark Revelations. Let it allow you to see the truth from the lies, and reveal the past, present, and future to come. I grant you this role for as long as you shall live, until the day such power will be passed down to the next guardian. In stars, we trust," I proclaimed, feeling a hint of power attached to my words as I completed the vow.
"In stars, we trust," he whispered, his voice reflecting his astonishment.
I couldn't hear anything after that, darkness tugging at my consciousness. All I knew was that something new was brewing and I was now in the center of it.