No. 12: Elementals

No. 12: Elementals

Cliff and Venn were still a little mad at Brandon, so they weren't to happy when he showed up on their door step the next morning. In fact they had half a mind to slam the door on his face when Kaleigh called from her bed room.
"Let him in or I'll punch you both."
They groaned, but let him in, though their hostility was all too evident.
"Kaleigh we really need to have a talk about your boyfriends." Venn said, leaning against the door frame of her room.
Kaleigh pulled on her converse and shoved her arms into a jacket. She shot him a look as she ran a brush through her raven black hair.
"He's not my boyfriend, and you need to lighten up."
She stated, ducking past him.
Venn sighed and turned around.
"We'll be back soon. What are you guys going to do?" She asked as she poured her freshly made hot chocolate into a silver and pink thermos.
"I'm going car hunting. I can't stand having to borrow the Professor's. It stinks like tobacco." Venn answered, wrinkling up his nose.
Kale smiled at him and nodded. Brandon's ears perked up at the word 'car'.
"There's some sales going on at a small dealer just down Eleventh. He's got some pretty good deals, but they'll be some fixer-upers." He said.
Venn nodded methodically, taking in his words, but still giving off the air that he didn't like him much.
"What about you Cliff?" Kale asked, leaning against the counter and sipping on the hot drink. Cliff shrugged from the couch. He had papers scattered all around him, and the wastebasket was full of discarded pieces of paper that proved his artistic talent wasn't flowing the way he wanted it too.
"I've got a paper to write, and I'm trying to get back everything I lost in that notebook I had back there."
She smiled apologetically, knowing it would take a lot to get all of that back.
"Well good luck! I'll see you guys a bit later." She called, zipping up the front of her jacket.
"Do you have your phone?!" Cliff called after her. She turned around and waved it at him in answer before setting off.

.:+++:.

Kaleigh repositioned her striped beanie.
"So what are we doing?" She asked, as they moved up to the campus.
"Like I said," Brandon stated, with his usual grin. "You've got to learn about us and figure out how those whacked out power of yours work."
"And...I'm going to learn this at a boarding school...?"
Brandon looked up at her with twinkling eyes.
"You should know that not everything is what it seems." He said as he held the door open for her.
"Right..." She let out a sigh and moved inside the mansion.

It was the weekend, so it was mostly empty. However the kids were still here, or at least the ones who didn't want to go home over the small break, or their families lived far off so it wasn't worth the trip for just two days.
However, there was one familiar face.
"Kaleigh!" Crystal cried, bounding up to her and wrapping her up in a warm hug.
"Hey..." Kale smiled at the small girl as she pulled away gently. "How have you been adjusting to school?" She asked.
Crystal swept her blond hair over her shoulder with a flick of her wrist.
"It's been great! Professor Wallace has been helping me out and making sure I feel welcome, and all the teachers are really nice. Thanks for asking."
Kaleigh smiled as she met the girls bright green eyes.
"Don't worry about it. Oh!" She had caught a glimpse of Brandon in her peripheral vision, and remembered her manners.
"This is Brandon," Kale introduced, gesturing to him. He smiled and shook Crystal's dainty hand. "Brandon this is Crystal."
"Nice to meet you." Crystal said in her small voice. Then she turned back to Kaleigh. "I really have to go right now. But I'd love to hang out!"
Kaleigh nodded and waved bye as the girl ran out the door.
"Who was that?" Brandon asked after she left.
"Crystal. She's new."
"Even newer then you?"
Kale nodded.
"Huh..." Was all he said, before taking off down the maze of halls, leaving her gapping.
"Whoa, wait a minute!" She cried, running after him in a full sprint so she could catch up.
"What do you mean 'huh?'" Asked, Kale breathlessly.
Brandon shrugged.
"'Huh' means 'huh'. I don't know what you're talking about."
Kaleigh shot him a look.
"She just looked familiar, that's all."
"Oh..."
"Now should I ask what that meant? Or did it just mean 'oh'?"
Kaleigh chuckled and could help the smile that spread across her face.
"Oh shut up." She teased.

As they were talking, Kaleigh realized he was taking her towards the Professor's office.
"Brandon why are we here? I thought..."
"Like I said, not everything is as it seems. Come on."
He gestured up the stairs that lead to the Professor's office. She took a deep breath and walked up the stairs, knocking softly on the door.
"If you ever want to get any attention, you have to be louder than that." Brandon said, coming up behind her.
"Well what if I don't want attention?" She hissed, waiting anxiously for the Professor to let them in. She didn't like Brandon being so close.

When the Professor did let them in, Kale moved through the door as fast as she could.
"Am I really that bad of a guy you just can't wait to get rid of me?" He asked as he waltzed in after her.
Kale rolled her eyes and turned her attention to Professor Wallace.
"Good morning Professor." She said with a kind smile.
Professor Wallace looked up at her with tender eyes and a kind smile.
"Ah, Kaleigh. It's good to see you again." He moved the paper he had been working on, across the dark, mahogany desk.
"So, to what do I owe this pleasure?" He asked.
Kaleigh sighed and plopped down on one of the chairs, crossing her arms over her chest, looking at Brandon to explain.
Professor Wallace saw the exchanged and settled in for a long talk.
"She knows." Brandon stated simply.
The Professor nodded and waited for a minute, looking at the two of them.
"So, you know of the Elementals then Kaleigh?" He asked.
Kale nodded. "And Ordinaries, and how I can't make a toaster work with out it blowing up in my face."
Professor Wallace chuckled quietly.
"Yes. One's power can always get out of hand even if you had years of experience." He said wisely. "Now, I see you have questions floating around in your eyes. Let me do my best to enlighten you."
He rose from his chair and walked over to one of the many book shelves lining his walls.
Picking up an old volume, he handed it Kaleigh, who took it gently.
She gazed down at it. The book was old, an intricate design covered the front, the title was made up of fancy, flowing letters, caressed by silver, blue, green, and brown.
The letters formed only one single word.
Elemental.

"This...is a book..." The Professor started. "About our race. In it, every recorded history of us is right there for you to read. And it includes, why only a selected few have silver around their eyes. Eight to be more specific. These chosen Elementals, are known as Guardians."
Kaleigh's head snapped up.
"Whoa, wait, what do you mean 'Guardians'? Guardians of what? And why us?"
Wallace flipped the book open on her lap and turned to a well worn page.
"Guardians of this, the Savior."
Kale read the description, her eyebrows raising into her hairline as she did and her eyes getting huge.
"What....?"
"Yeah it was a bit hard to digest when I read it the first time too." Brandon said, breaking the ice.
"Okay, could you explain this a bit better Professor?" She asked quietly.
The Professor nodded and sat down in his chair again.
"We Elementals have existed ever since the beginning. We have kept peace in different parts of the world, and tried to keep from all the Ordinaries getting caught up in our conflicts. And yes, we do have conflicts amongst ourselves. Elementals are complex beings. Not only are we human, and have the feelings and emotions humans do, we also have added feelings and emotions because of our connection with the elements. With me so far?"
Kaleigh nodded.
"Yeah. Keep going." She encouraged.
The Professor nodded and continued.
"Elementals are usually very prideful. They hate working with each other, and when they do, it doesn't usually end well."
"But," Kale interrupted. "I like working with my brothers, and Brandon."
"Yes, and that is partial to your upbringing." He sighed sadly when he saw her flinch at the term. "But also because you have an open mind. This is probably why you are all Guardians. Guardians are to protect the Savior, which means they have to work together. So naturally, they have to have open minds and be willing to put aside their pride for the sake of the whole world."
He paused a moment, as his words sunk in.
"Why? What would happen if they didn't?" She asked. She glanced down at the book then back up at him. "I mean the book says the Savior will be sent to save the world, that part was obvious, but from what?"
"The apocalypse." He answered plainly. "I know it's usually one of those topics that are made fun of, or overused in fantasy novels. But the world is always on the verge of an apocalypse, and it's the Savior's job to keep it from happening if needed. Usually a Savior is born into every generation, but sometimes they are not needed, so they go on with their life as usual Elementals. But sometimes they are needed and therefore, they have to have Guardians to help them on their quest to keep the world safe."
Kaleigh was nodding in understanding as he explained the purpose behind her existence. She didn't resent it, didn't question God as to why he had given it to her. She just accepted it. Wallace was impressed by her strength, and understood why she was one of the chosen Guardians.
"So, you said there was eight of us..." She left her sentence hanging.
"Ah yes! Now here's the interesting thing of Elementals. One Elemental, himself, maybe part of Air. Yet he will not control the whole aspect of Air. Just like the two of you." He gestured to the youngsters. "Kaleigh, you control Lightening, which is part of Air in a whole. And Brandon controls Wind. Together, the two of you make up the whole. Just like the fraction, two halves make one whole." He smiled at his own wit, but the other two just looked at him before glancing at each other.
Feeling that the wit was lost on them, he cleared his throat and continued.
"Elementals may be prideful, but when they are of the same Element, and agree to work together, they become stronger then just the two alone."
He reached over and motioned for Kaleigh to put the book on the desk.
Once she did, he flipped back to another page. On it was a diagram that showed two silhouettes alone, and apart. Their Element marked by a dull glow around them.
But on the opposite page it showed them together, hands linked, and their usual glow, shinning brighter then when they were alone.
"So...what you're saying is that the eight is made up of two people per Element?" Kaleigh asked, looking up at the Professor.
"Exactly! I'm so glad you've caught on so quickly." He said with a kind smile.
Kaleigh nodded absently as she studied the diagram.
"Huh...So what does that...make us...?" She looked back to Brandon, then the Professor.
"Partners. Of a sort. As Guardians of the same Element, you will have to perform the Bonding, which will make you even stronger then the usual Elemental on your own, and also even more so when you're together."
Both Brandon and Kaleigh leaned forward with a look of shock on their faces.
"What Bonding?!" They cried in unison.
Instead of answering, the Professor turned to another page.
This showed four symbols, which Kaleigh assumed stood for each Element.
"Each set of Guardians, has come up with their own symbol that associates with their Element." He went on to explain. "These were the first recorded ones. You two, are to choose a symbol and then use your Element to..." He hesitated not sure how to put it.
"To...?" Brandon encouraged, though agitatedly.
"To...I suppose 'brand' would be a correct word, though it wouldn't be the one I would choose." He mumbled.
"Brand?!" Kaleigh nearly screeched.
"What do you mean, 'brand'?" Brandon asked more calmly.
"I simply mean you place the mark on your partner using your side of the Element." The Professor explained. "So Kaleigh, you would place the mark on Brandon using your electricity, and Brandon, you would place it on her using the wind."
"Okay first off how the heck would I use the wind to place a mark on her?" He asked.
The Professor just looked at him.
"This is also a test." He stated. Brandon sighed and leaned back in the chair. "It's confusing, yes I know. But the result of the Bonding will long out last the momentary pain."
Kaleigh let out a small groan as she too leaned back.
"Do we have to?" She knew she was acting childish, but she figured after all she had been through she had a right to be childish once.
The Professor looked at her with sad eyes and shrugged.
"If you chose not to, there will be consequences, but also if you chose to, there will be sacrifices. But it's up to you to decide whether the benefits out weight the costs."