Chapter Twenty Six
For English weather, it was surprisingly perfect. The warm sun beat down on us from the clear, blue sky. It made a nice change from the usual grey cold and damp days that we were accustomed to. And everyone at the boat show seemed to enjoy it. They sauntered around, cheerfully inspecting row after row of powerful looking motorboats and sailboats and other boats that I had absolutely no idea about. I didn’t even know that this many people owned a boat! It was pretty crazy! The place was heaving with people from all over the world, filling up every pier, dock and pavement as far as the eye could see. There was a huge warehouse filled with magnificent boats, but because of the warm weather, most people were outside, basking in the sunshine, and watching the demonstrations taking place in the sea. Almost everyone was having a great day out.
I wasn’t. My legs were like jelly and my heart was thudding rapidly like a pneumonic drill. Seeing parents and their children merrily skipping past me made me want to grab a hold of them and tell them to run, to get as far away from here as possible. But I didn’t. I should’ve, but didn’t. I wanted to leap into one of the boats, somehow magically knowing how to drive it, and make my escape. I didn’t know what Valeska had planned, but the thought of it was crippling my senses. My eyes blurred, my throat dried, my ears deafened. At any moment she could drop a bomb on this whole area, and wipe us all out in one go. I was hoping that that wasn’t Valeska’s style. The camera crews were all here, jostling with the crowds to make local and regional news. Little did they suspect quite how important their presence was.
I fought through rows of people, most of whom were standing completely still, watching the boats in the water, or walking at a very leisurely pace. I had to keep up with Niyol and Aura. They promised me that we would all stick together. I was trying my hardest to be both polite and persistent, but I was finding it incredibly difficult. People didn’t care about this tiny teenager pushing past them. They were just minding their own business, doing what they wanted to do. Normally I wouldn’t mind, but today I was stressed out to my eyeballs, and my patience was wearing thin. My whole life I had been accused by Aura of being one of these people: those who have absolutely no clue about what is going on around them, who wonder around, aimlessly staring at things and paying no attention to anybody else. I had never thought it to be a bad thing, until now. Until I was completely swallowed by the crowd, and could no longer see Aura or Niyol.
I stopped in my tracks, on the long pier that twisted along the side of the beach. People shoved into me aggressively, but I didn’t move. I clenched my fists and regulated my breathing. I tried my best not to panic, or cry. This situation was too overwhelming, and I wanted to scream. I considered using my powers to throw people out of the way, but that wouldn’t help. Sure, it would make me feel better, but a terrified stampede of wailing bystanders would only make things worse. I closed my eyes, and felt through the space around me to lock onto Aura or Niyol. But there were too many people crashing into the air. It was way too difficult to get a lock on them, or anyone else for that matter. My breathing began to get heavier as I started to panic. I couldn’t even use my powers! What on earth was I going to do when Valeska arrived? I was as good as useless to everyone here! I wasn’t going to be able to protect anyone, even myself!
And that’s when I heard it. A fanfare of trumpets cutting through the roaring crowd. Silencing them all. A dark knot emerged in the pit of my stomach. I felt like I was going to retch. This had to be it. It had to be now.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” a person announced, “the winner of the Boat Show Lottery will be chosen in five minutes in the main hall.”
And that was it. I exhaled, happily, but the feeling of tension didn’t leave my body with my breath. I decided to keep moving, keep working my way through the crowd until I found my siblings, or Valeska. That’s all I could do.
So I did. I kept going. I was now sweating profusely, as the heat emanating from the mass of boiling bodies and the warmth radiating from the sun began to take its toll on me. I stopped again, to reach into the rucksack on my back. I pulled out a water bottle and drank the contents. The cool liquid made me feel refreshed, and somehow whole. I didn’t want to pass out. Not now. Not when so many people’s lives depended on it.
The trumpets sounded again, but this time most people ignored it. I struggled to hear what the voice was saying, but I was able to make out a few words. I froze, as did everyone around me. The entire beach front went silent, except for the whirring of the boat engines. Everyone paused to listen to the announcement again, deciding that they must not have heard it correctly.
“That is right!” Valeska’s menacing voice boomed, “Everyone here, for your crimes against the environment, will be harshly punished. Please make your way to the main hall to receive your penalty.”
Everyone looked at one another in shock. Most people seemed to think it was a joke, but others didn’t. I decided to act now, before this went any further.
“Please, Ladies and Gentlemen,” I screeched at the top of my lungs, “We are experiencing some technical difficulties. If you would like to make your way towards the exits…”
Some people gawped at me as if I was mad. Others listened, and began ushering their friends and families towards the large exit signs. Most people just ignored me.
“This is not a joke!” I screamed, but was cut off by the sudden explosion that ripped through the sky. Everyone screamed in horror as a huge fireball launched itself out of the main hall and into the air. After several seconds of gazing up at the bright orange flames and dark grey smoke, panic set in, and people began to run.
I pushed myself to the edge of the pier, trying to avoid the general public as they made their escape. I found myself being able to hover slightly, ensuring that I didn’t get pushed or crushed by those taller than myself. Within a minute or two, the pier was almost completely empty. Almost. There were still some members of the press, recording and savouring every moment through their lenses, and there were still about three hundred people left, all dressed like civilians. Only, they were not real members of the press, or civilians.
I turned to see Valeska, followed by hundreds of armed guards, appear from behind one of the huge warehouses, all in tight black leather looking body suits. Only they weren’t made of leather. They were the suits that were specifically designed not to be affected by ours powers. And even though we knew that, we were still going to try our hardest to defeat them. Team Ventus was going to try their very best to stop the Inimicus. And having over three hundred soldiers, who we had dress up as members of the public and the press, was surely going to tip the balance in our favour. At least, I hoped that it would.
As Valeska strutted down the pier, holding an electronic notepad in her arms, she looked around at the crowds who continued to watch her.
“Fools!” I heard her cry out, though it was faint. “You all had the chance to escape, but instead you will be killed!”
I wanted to see the look on her face when she realised what was going on. It was mostly Niyol’s idea, but with help from Aura and Captain Harris, he managed to persuade Assistant Director Ayres that it would be fool proof. You see, the Elementus Populas didn’t want us to come here alone because they knew there was nothing we could do. But we couldn’t stay away. So instead we came up with a solution: to bring the Elementus Populas Army with us, disguised of course. That way, Valeska would think that we came by ourselves, and wouldn’t expect anyone else with us. We made Ayres send information out to all the Elementus Populas to say that we were going solo, and weren’t working with them anymore. We hoped that this would allow us to flush out anymore moles, as we monitored who would send the information to any unknown source. That was my idea. Two birds, one stone. So now that Valeska had presumably been told that we would turn up alone, she brought her army with her to eradicate us. Or kidnap us. But she wouldn’t win. We couldn’t allow her to.
I watched as our soldiers pretended to be terrified, and run away from V
aleska and her army. Some of them hid, some took pictures and filmed her, and others ran in circles. Most of them were very convincing. It was easy to see why they were handpicked to work for us. But Valeska instantly spotted Niyol and Aura, as did I, so I began to run after them.
Valeska stopped in the middle of the large outdoor square, adjacent to the building that she has just destroyed. Dark flames continued to lick the clear sky, as thick smoke funnelled through the air. Niyol and Aura arrived there to greet her. I hurried behind, my feet clattering along the planks of the pier walkway.
“I see you discovered my plan. How convenient for both of us.” Valeska’s voice was cold and harsh.
I finally reached my brother and sister to gape at the rows and rows of armed soldiers standing behind our enemy. I didn’t like the fact that they had guns, and I silently prayed that all of our powers were strong enough to dodge bullets.
“Oh, the runt of the litter,” she said meanly, looking at me as she waltzed towards us, “It’s funny how I always thought that was you, Niyol, until I realised that she was the most worthless waste of space an Elemental team could ever have!”
I wanted to cry, but didn’t. I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break down into sobbing tears. So I hardened my face, concentrating on how we would wipe that smug look off of her perfect face once she realised our plan.
Niyol stepped forward, towards Valeska.
“Please, Valeska, This is your last chance. You don’t have to do this.”
“Oh but I do,” she replied instantly, “I have bombs rigged over the entire city. This whole port will soon recede into the sea, and the world will be a better place for it.”
“You don’t mean that!”
“Yes I do, my sweet. I tried it the other way, the way where nothing gets done. I played by the rules, I worked hard and for what? Nothing! But the Inimicus understand that. They see that the world we live in doesn’t work. And that is why they want a new system. One where the Elementals are in charge.”
“You mean one where they control the Elementals in charge?”
Valeska shook her head sincerely. “No. They believe in you. They believe you can change the world.”
“They also believe in murder.” Niyol retorted, and Valeska’s face hardened again.
“Collateral damage,” she insisted evilly. She lifted up her notepad and began to type into it.
“Don’t!” Aura shouted out, and was answered by all of Valeska’s guards aiming their guns at her.
“I’m going to blow this place off the face of the earth, and there is nothing you can do about it.”
“Because of your suits?” Niyol pointed at them.
“Wonderful, aren’t they? They’re made from a very special material. I won’t give you the details, but let’s just say that they’re wind resistant.”
I locked onto the notepad by ushering the wind, and called it to me. But it didn’t shift. Valeska continued to grip it tightly. She looked towards me, seeing me stare at what she was holding in her hands.
“This is made of the same stuff, darling,” she announced, “so I won’t be misplacing it. Seems like you really are a redundant member of the team now.”
I was furious. And devastated. But I tried my best not to let it show. She was right though. The only thing I could do was throw things, catch things and block things. And now I couldn’t do any of these select skills against her or her army. I was going to die, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it. I was utterly defenceless.
“What are all these people still doing here?” Valeska wailed, “Are they mad?” She threw her head back towards her men. “Hoods up!”
All of the Inimicus army placed hoods over their faces, completely covering them, including Valeska. They looked like a group of monsters, with black heads and no eyes, waiting to maul us.
It was time. I saw Niyol nod to Aura, then to me. We couldn’t let Valeska destroy anything else. Aura looked up at the beautiful blue sky above, which suddenly began to turn dark and cloudy. Wind started to blow from the sea across towards us. I felt Aura calling me, telling me to help her and Niyol blow the breeze strong and harshly. I grabbed onto it with all my might and threw it towards Valeska, but she remained unmoved. Small raindrops began to fall, and thunder rumbled in the sky. Niyol was going to call down his lightning, regardless.
Valeska suddenly burst into fits of laughter, as she pressed something on her notepad another explosion ripped through the air. Boats down by the docks shot out of the water, flying across the sea and the shore, landing with loud thuds. Some of them almost hit our army members, who continued to pretend to be normal people, and run around screaming.
“You don’t scare me!” Valeska screeched, and it was then that Niyol shot a bolt of lightning through her head. I expected to hear her scream, and then see her smouldering body hit the floor, but it didn’t. She just stood there, as if nothing had happened, rubbing her eyes.
“Wow! That really is bright! But I’m grounded, you see, so lightning won’t harm me, or anyone else here.”
Niyol looked unfazed, but I knew he was furious. Aura didn’t bother trying to use the rain as a weapon. It wouldn’t work. The suits were too well designed. There was nothing any of us three could do. So we went to Plan B…
“Now!” Niyol called, as the three of us sprinted away from Valeska and her team. Bullets began to fire in our direction as we ran as fast as we could. I felt the ripples in the air where the bullets bee lined their way towards us, and grabbed a hold of them, tossing them to one side. I wasn’t going to die by getting shot, that was certain. And neither would my siblings. I silently said a prayer of thanks that the bullets weren’t also made of the same material as Valeska’s suit, or else we would have been torn to shreds. That confirmed one thing: she didn’t want us dead. Yet.
We found a safe place to hide, and turned to watch the soldiers from the Elementus Populas rush towards the villains, pull out their own weapons, and open fire. Valeska really was completely aghast. She didn’t see it coming, but she ran for cover as soon as she could. Another explosion occurred, this time further down the marina. I heard the screams of people who had witnessed it, hoping that they were fine. The sound of gun fire was deafening, but one thing was certain: the suits worn by Valeska and her army may be wind, water and lightning proof, but they weren’t bulletproof. Dozens of soldiers fell to the floor, and it looked as if they might begin to retreat. I beamed in pride, thinking that we could be able to get through this with as little causalities as possible, if the Inimicus gave up. But they didn’t.
Pretty soon, it became apparent that both sides were out of ammunition. I stared at Niyol and Aura, wondering what we should do. Sure, the weather was bad and the sea was choppy, but that wasn’t going to do anything to affect the outcome. As members of both sides began to hurl themselves at one another, and began hand to hand combat, we knew that we couldn’t just sit there and watch.
“Try to strip them naked!” Niyol ordered as he dashed off into the fray.
I considered this for about a split second, before deciding that it would be incredibly difficult for me, or any of us, to pin down an incredibly strong, well trained and vicious soldier, and try to pull his or her suit off. If this had been any other moment in my life, the thought of it would have made me burst out laughing. But I didn’t. I knew I was going to have to use my hand to hand combat skills. And I knew they were awful. At least compared to everyone else.
Niyol and Aura were both quick to begin fighting. They kicked and punched and slashed through enemies. But I couldn’t. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I tried to put a shield up around my brother and sister to protect them, but the enemies’ fists and feet pushed straight through them. As much as I didn’t want to, something compelled me to get up and fight. Valeska was nowhere to be seen. She had probably dashed off in the confusion, escaping to victory. Then she would blow us all sky high. But then I noticed that Niyol was rushing towards som
eone, someone who looked a lot like Valeska, and he managed to rugby tackle her to the floor.
I felt so weak and pathetic as I watched everyone fighting one another, unable and unwilling to do anything. I really was the weakest link in this team. I provided nothing. I watched as a man in black punched Aura in the face, and another kicked her in the stomach, making her double over in pain. I had to do something. I began to run towards them, hoping that by throwing myself on top of one of her attackers she might be able to fend off the other, and then take out more. As I was just about to reach them, I felt a searing pain in the back of my head, and was thrown backwards to the floor. All of the air left my lungs as every ounce of my body racked in pain. My attacker then pulled me up, by my hair, so that I was hanging in his grip. I screamed and shrieked and struggled but he wouldn’t let go, and pretty soon he had pressed me by my neck against his thick chest. I kicked and bit and slapped and punched but he wouldn’t let go. He continued to pull me tighter the more I fought, and pretty soon I thought that he would choke me to death. I stopped, reluctantly accepting my fate. I had been easily caught and taken down. I was pathetic, and weak, and there was nothing I could do about it.
Then everything, except for the whistling of the gusty wind, went suddenly quiet. All of the fighting stopped, and everyone stood still, like statues. The knot in the pit of my stomach grew bigger and tighter. I knew that something awful was going on. I looked around, noticing that another soldier had Aura captured too, and then I saw what everyone was gawping at. Valeska had a knife to Niyol’s throat and pressed it firmly against his skin. Even though he was a lot taller and bigger than her, she had somehow managed to pin him against her, and hold him hostage.
“All of you, leave at once!” Valeska was clearly addressing the Elementus Populas forces, who didn’t know whether or not they should retreat. They were sworn to protect us all with their lives, and if they didn’t do as Valeska said, she would surely slit my brother’s throat.
“Just go!” I screamed out, my voiced strained by the thick arm pushing against my throat.
The guards decided to back off, slowly, making sure that no harm would come to them or to us. I caught Timothy, glaring at Aura in pitiful desperation, as she remained frozen in her captor’s grip. She didn’t want anything to happen to Niyol, and neither did I. Soon it was just Valeska and her remaining warriors, who had fortunately been thinned out. But there were still plenty of them.
“You fool!” Valeska screamed at Niyol, digging the knife in deeper. “Did you really think you could win against us? It was hopeless for you from the beginning! I will ask you one last time: join us. Join the Inimicus. It is the only way you will survive.”
“I’d rather…” he began, but Valeska cut him short.
“More Ventus will be born when you die. We can wait for the next generation to rise up and replace you! If I kill you now, I will kill your sisters too, because without you, they’re powerless anyway!”
The man holding me squeezed me tighter, hoping that I would scream, which I did. I heard Aura wail too, and saw the look of terror across Niyol’s face. He had no choice.
“But you couldn’t trust us…” He stated.
“We would have to make you trust us. We’d make an incentive for you all to work with us. Right now, people are already on their way to collect your father and grandparents. With their lives on the line, you’ll do whatever we say.”
Niyol roared in fury as huge bolts of lightning crashed down onto him and Valeska. The knot in my stomach was getting even larger, and a surge of fury was beginning within me. The thought that anyone would kidnap my family was driving me insane. I hated her, as I hated all bullies. The scorching white rage was beginning to seep up my gullet, and into my arms and legs. I tried to fight it off, but it was taking me over. I struggled against it, but the man holding me just pulled me tighter, making the frenzy grow further.
Valeska laughed. “What a beautiful display! I’ll take that as a no. But I won’t kill you, not yet. Not until I’ve made your sisters watch you beg for mercy. Then, and only then, will you die.”
Valeska threw him to the floor. He clattered against it like a rag doll, and she ran towards him and booted him in the stomach. He coughed and choked and then spat out a large wad of blood. Tears streamed down my cheeks. This was not how it was going to end for us. I would make sure of it.
Valeska giggled as she circled Niyol wickedly, like a buzzard waiting for its prey to die.
“Men are so easy to manipulate, aren’t they Aura?” Valeska took the long thin knife in her hands and let it dangle tentatively above Niyol’s head. “But what I enjoy the most from men is watching them squirm.” She kicked him again, this time in the face. Niyol began to crawl away, trying to avoid being hurt any further. The wind began to howl as Aura and I pushed it to its limit. But the gale force winds had no effect on anyone.
Niyol looked over at both of us, almost as if he were saying goodbye. I felt the anger uncurling through me as I imagined what witnessing his death would feel like. Part of me wanted to cry, but the other part wanted to… to kill…
I wasn’t going to let anyone hurt my brother.
Valeska approached him, and crouched next to him, wiggling the knife around playfully. “But there’s one thing I love about men even more. It’s watching them bleed.” She pushed the knife into his stomach. Niyol cried out in pain as blood gushed from his wound. Valeska pulled the knife out, and stood up straight, cackling.
The sight of Niyol being stabbed awakened something within me. Something I wasn’t accustomed to dealing with. Rage. Fury. Vengeance. And that’s when I stopped being able to keep the searing temper locked away. It exploded within me, and I could no longer control how it was affecting me. I wanted justice. And I was going to get it.