It’s dark outside when I wake. For the first time in days I am well-rested – no nightmares. I sit up, rather stiffly, and realise that I am still on the couch. I’m wearing only my pants, Breeze’s glove, and a sling. My eyes adjust to the lack of light, and I can see I am alone in the room, and there is no one in the adjoining kitchen either. Sitting in front of me, evidently unopened, are both the diaries. I use the moonlight to hop up, enter the kitchen and find both a candle and a glass of water for my seriously dry throat. With a match, I light the candle.
And I open the diaries.
The Earth diary is very thin. Despite having an identical exterior, this is not my friend’s diary, but rather a brief account of those who followed.
Michael, the last bearer of the glove, was the final in the line of true-bloods. With his death, the infinite knowledge of the bloodline was lost, and we are forced to learn from the beginning. I am endeavouring to do this, step by step.
I flick forward through the pages. After two pages, the handwriting changes, and then again after another dozen.
I’ve never kept a diary, but I am beginning to understand the importance of them. It is my hope that soon I can find the Stone Michael’s diary, so that I can uncover the secrets of the glove. I’ve never borne it, never felt it, have no experience with it. I need all the help I can get.
These are the current Stone’s words. The difference between the tone of the writing and the boy I met is slightly curious, but I won’t learn anything from this diary. The Guardian made short work of Stone’s predecessors, and Stone himself clearly knows nothing. I close the diary and instead open the Guardian’s. Right at the beginning there is mention of my family.
The Colter family and the Peterson family are settling in nicely together. John and I had become tentative friends, attracted by some deeper knowledge of what we are. When I suggested the house, he thought it perfect. His son and the Colter boy have become friends, just as I planned.
Instinct tells me that the Peterson’s are the next guardians. I can feel it in John and his son Andreas. Neither myself, nor my brother, Daniel, have a family. Daniel is gay. I have no interest in women, or men, or a family. The guardianship will change bloodlines when my brother and I pass.
Despite the fact that my brother is the guardian, not me, I recognised the Colter’s for what they are. They are controllers, a family of true-bloods, exceptionally rare and exceptionally powerful. I imagine, and I hope, that when I act, I will be able to see the differences immediately. More earthquakes, big ones, at the very least. Having the Peterson and Colter families so close gives me the advantage. I will need surprise. The Colter’s, to a degree, recognise what we are, and welcome the close relationship, especially between their sons. It is their hope that the boys will, together, become powerful enough to bring peace to the elements.
I intend to bring chaos and wipe the human plague from our Earth before they destroy her.
I have their trust. I must eliminate my brother and the two families in quick succession. Once I have killed the most powerful, and taken the most powerful glove, I will pursue the others. I will have them all, and I will create chaos.
Annoyingly, the flame on my candle snuffs out. I sigh and go to rise, but before I can, the flame resurrects itself. I stare at it for a moment before realising Flame is silhouetted in the door way, leaning casually against it. His hand is next to his hip, clad in his glove, and he is pointing at the candle.
‘You did that?’
‘Yes.’
‘So you can create fire?’
‘No, not really. We all need the element to be present to utilise it. The residual embers were enough for me, in this case.’
‘I am definitely taking you camping.’
Flame grins and enters the room properly. ‘I’m not very good at using my powers yet. I did have the glove once, before the Guardian took it, and I have the previous diary, but I’ve had no practice and it takes time.’
‘This diary, the Guardian’s, says that there are “true-blood” controllers.’ I mime the quotation marks.
‘It is my understanding that true-blood controllers are families who have held the gloves for over five generations. I’m certainly not one of them. So, you have found information?’
I’m struck again by how low Flame’s voice is, and it must show in my face.
‘Why are you looking at me like that?’
‘Your face doesn’t match your voice.’ Neither does his laugh, I discover, which is a rich, deep, baritone.
‘So you knew the previous Stone,’ the current Stone says, drawn into the room by Flame’s laugh.
‘Yes.’
‘And the Guardian knew you.’
‘He was aware of my family. He’d set us all up to die before he even became the Guardian.’
‘Oh. Do you know where the old Earth diary is? I assume you read my diary. I need any information I can find.’
‘Earth is the most powerful controller, Stone. It is always around us, no matter what. Same can be said for Air and Water, but Earth packs more of a punch,’ Flame says, patting Stone on the back.
‘I still need to know how to use it,’ Stone says.
‘Give me a moment,’ I say, looking pointedly down at the diary. Both boys back out of my light as I read the end of the diary page.
It is time. With the help of some less than desirable friends, I have killed my brother. I felt nothing. Now I am going to the Colter’s, before they realise that the gauntlet has been passed to me.
The diary is gone, along with the Peterson boy! The boy has nowhere to go. I will find him and the diary, and I will finish him and claim the diary. I have the glove, but I want the true-bloods diary.
I stop reading and close my eyes. For the first time, I try to remember what I did when I began to run. Evidently, the Guardian never got the diary, and he did eventually forget about me. I remember running from Michael’s house to my own, diary in my hoodie, thanks to Michael, and glove on my hand. The glove must have slipped off when I saw my parents, because I remember running to a large train station with only the clothes on my back, no glove. I had sought shelter in the familiar train station but, as the panic finally settled, I remembered instructions from my father. In an emergency, if all else fails, I am to go to another train station. Inside I will find a locker. I am to take the contents and leave whatever I have behind.
I’d taken a train, hidden from the ticket guards by rush hour. I’d gotten into the locker, dumped the diary and taken the contents. Dad had always said not to worry, I’d find direction in the locker, and even though I shouldn’t have had the glove or diary, Dad knew it was a possibility. He was prepared, my Dad, for any eventuality. I even had instructions for my sister.
I tear up slightly, eyes still closed, remembering the snippets of my life more and more easily.
In that locker was the start of my new life. There was no ID, but there was cash, some clothing, a backpack and basic essentials. I used most of the cash on food and a sleeping bag, for the colder nights, and then I disappeared onto the streets.
The diary stayed, forgotten, in the locker.
‘I left the diary in a locker. The glove was lost at my parent’s home – at their crime scene,’ I say, opening my eyes again.
‘You left it?’ Flame asks, incredulous.
‘Yeah. I was the last one left. My father told me to swap anything I had for the survival gear and cash he had left in the locker.’
‘So he knew you were important,’ Flame says.
‘Apparently.’ I shrug.
‘Or he just wanted to save his son’s life,’ Stone says. We have one thing in common – we are all orphans. ‘Could the diary still be in that locker?’
‘Possibly. It isn’t in this country, though.’
‘It may have moved itself. Fate has a tendency to intervene, to try and get the equipment to the new bearers. Nature wants to be in balance. Of course, with a guardian, the diary, glove and all available information is supposed to be passed on. Didn’t happen for me, though,’ Stone says the last few words bitterly.
‘You’re nuts, you know that? You’ve never used your glove, you have no idea how, and yet you decide to take the Guardian, a murderer, on?’
‘To be fair, I didn’t think he’d be a monstrous fridge of a man! I’m not exactly small, you know.’
‘You’re a typical teenager, thinking you’re bigger and stronger than everyone,’ I say, a slight smile playing on my face.
‘Like you can talk. Without your stubble, you can’t be older than me.’
I rub my face in surprise. June must have shaved my stubble when she was taking care of my bloody face and Stone is right – it takes years from my age. Stone is older than me, I think, maybe 18, but I don’t need to know so I don’t ask.
‘So, what’s the plan now?’ I look at the others. It is the wee hours of the morning, but, by the looks of it, none of us are the least bit tired.
‘Let’s make one, shall we? You’ve seen inside the Guardian’s hideout, and now we know what you can do, Andy. Stopping an element – that’s priceless,’ Flame says. I nod.
‘Shouldn’t we wake Spark?’ I ask.
‘No need. You boys are not as quiet as you think you are. I was only in the next room. The adults are upstairs, asleep, and there are uniforms on the door,’ Spark says as she limps in. She is moving more freely, despite her injuries.
‘I was going to say that you need the rest, but whatever,’ Stone says, rolling his eyes. He’s taken a liking to Spark. She grins in response.
‘One question. What of the water controller?’ I ask.
‘I haven’t managed to get into contact with him. If we do this, it’ll be us four vs the Guardian – at least until we free Breeze!’ Spark says.
We settle into the chairs, and we plan. No adults. Just us four, and for some reason, it feels completely natural.
*
I swear and toss the eggs around in the frypan to hide my mistake. Flame notices and giggles. Spark and Stone are at the table, making toast. This is Flame’s idea, breakfast for the adults, to “soften them up”. Especially June. We need to approach the Guardian without supervision, if we’re to succeed with minimum injuries.
‘You must be concussed if you are cooking,’ Mac says. I hadn’t heard him enter.
‘Shut up. I can cook! The ship’s chef has been teaching me, in return for being his dish pig.’
‘Not that it helped much,’ Flame says. I poke my tongue out at him and throw some herbs into the now-scrambled eggs.
Mac touches my shoulder gently. ‘How are you?’
‘Better than any time in the last few days. Seriously, I feel decent.’
My mentor nods and steps back as I swing the hot pan towards him. I’m not lying, either. It’s been a few days since the initial injury and my shoulder is moving pretty well, though it still aches. My head should ache, too, but it doesn’t, thanks to whatever pain medication it was that June gave me.
‘Is everyone else up?’ Spark asks Mac.
‘Coming down shortly. Why?’
‘We’re ready to go.’
‘Wait, I still want to hear what June has to say. About my case.’ Spark nods to me and Mac speaks.
‘Are you in on this, Andy? You know about yourself now. What more is there?’
‘Flame, hold out your hand,’ I say. Flame nods and holds out a gloved fist. I look at Mac. ‘Try to take it off.’
Mac gives me a quizzical glance, but he tries anyway. He tries sliding it off and, when that fails, he attempts to peel it away where it meets Flame’s skin, before finally trying to pry Flame’s fingers open. I nod once to Flame, who opens his hand and holds it flat. Mac unsuccessfully tries for a fourth time, his frustration increasing. I finally step forward, wrap my hand gently around Flame’s gloved hand and simply slide the offending garment off. Flame can barely contain a smirk at Mac’s irritated expression.
‘Even the other controllers cannot remove each other’s gloves. Do you see? I have to go. No one can strip the Guardian of the Water glove otherwise. Stone can retake his glove but the Guardian has to be completely powerless for us to win.’
‘You just said for us to win. . . You aren’t one of them, Andy. No offence to the rest of you.’
‘None taken,’ Spark says. ‘But he is one of us. Even though he isn’t an elemental controller, he is connected to our powers.’
‘That’s not only it, though, Mac. I left Breeze in there. I have to go back for her. I won’t forgive myself if something happens to her. Everyone else has the choice to go in there, but she doesn’t, she’s stuck.’ It’s the truth. I now carry guilt for the incident all those years ago and I’m quite certain that I don’t need anymore.
We’re interrupted by June and Hayden coming downstairs. June is in uniform, Hayden is not. He looks at our group, lingering in the kitchen – Stone and Flame eating, me beside the oven and Mac and Spark are looking at each other, having some kind of silent exchange.
‘Ok. . .’ Hayden says, hesitating in the doorway. ‘I feel we’ve missed a major development here.’
There is a long, awkward silence as everyone waits for someone else to explain. These two, being cops, are going to be the hardest sell. Short of running away, we’re under their protective custody, and it is their duty to protect us from doing something stupid – like walking straight into the enemy’s lair. Mac still looks unconvinced, though he is staying silent.
‘Well, if no one is going to say anything, can I have some of that breakfast?’ Hayden says, relieving the tension in an instant.
‘Andy, shall we speak?’ June asks in a surprisingly soft tone.
‘Please.’ I follow as June walks to the front bedroom. She takes a seat on the bed, with a view out the window, and I take a seat on a small lounge in the corner. She doesn’t let me settle before beginning.
‘Your name is Andreas Peterson. Your 16th birthday is in three weeks. Five and a half years ago, you were declared dead.’ Mac makes himself known in the doorway, a small smile showing that he had heard the leading sentence. June looks at me and I nod for her to continue.
‘Your home isn’t in this country, but the brutality of the unsolved crime surrounding you and your family made worldwide news.’
‘One day I’d enjoy hearing the story of how you, as a 10 year old, managed to survive on the streets.’ Hayden says as he enters the room too. Great, I think silently, let’s go for the full audience.
‘Since everyone thought you were dead, no one looked for you. Though you must have been skilled, or lucky, to remain in hiding,’ June says, continuing as though she wasn’t interrupted. ‘It was theorised that those within your house and the neighbouring house were killed, judged by the body positions. You have now confirmed this. The reason it was only a theory is that a particularly violent fire tore through your house, your neighbours, and several others. It was compared to a firestorm. There was enough DNA evidence in the house to conclude that both you and your toddler sister were killed, despite no bodies being found.’
‘So my sister could be alive?’
‘Unlikely. It is more likely that, due to her supple bones and her proximity to the ignition source, there was simply nothing left. The motive was also undetermined. Stephen became a suspect after he disappeared. His brother was shot dead four days before the inferno. A year later, he was linked to another tragic house fire. No one has managed to track him down since.’
‘That’s what you have?’ Mac asks, while I stare at June with an open mouth.
‘Yes. We can do a DNA test to confirm Andy’s identity, to make the will available to him. It has been held indefinitely, as is the law in your country when a case of presumed death arises. The state will continue to hold it, until ten years have passed from the time of death, waiting for a claim.’
There is a long silence as I try to digest the information. I can’t find the words for what I am thinking, but it is somewhere between ‘I don’t need the help’ and ‘I don’t want money that my parents had to die for’. Luckily, Mac seems to notice my struggle.
‘Does Andy need to claim the will?’
‘Of course not. It is entirely up to him.’
‘Do I need to claim my identity?’ I ask, then realise that the question doesn’t quite make sense. ‘I mean, I’m Andy. Andrew McPherson, in the last year. Not Andreas. I don’t know Andreas.’
‘We would keep your identity confidential, but we would like to confirm it with the DNA tests.’
‘It’s a matter of time before the media picks up that there was a survivor of this great tragedy you speak of.’ Mac says. He has a lovely distrust of anyone in the media.
‘You wouldn’t need to reclaim the name, or will, or anything you don’t wish to. We could set you up with witness protection, considering Stephen is after you and will possibly continue to be for as long as he survives. You’d be able to stay with Mac,’ Hayden says, sensing my discomfort. After living so long without an identity, I am quickly discovering that I prefer the freedom. Especially considering how much baggage my memories have brought with them.
‘I don’t want my DNA taken,’ I say suddenly. I don’t want to know. If I remember everything, fine. I can cross that bridge when I come to it. But I’ve realised that I don’t want someone else telling me my past.
‘Too late. I sent the bloody cloth from your face to the lab last night.’
I stare at June, my mouth open again. Both Hayden and Mac are glaring at her.
‘What? Being able to solve an old, horrific murder case is the best thing to come out of babysitting these damn kids with their crazy stories!’
‘Out. Now,’ Hayden says. June matches his glare and stalks from the room. ‘I’m sorry, Andy,’ Hayden says to me. I nod.
‘Can you tell us this big plan of yours?’ Mac asks, trying to distract me. I welcome it and rise to me feet, brushing by the two men and walking back to the kitchen. The controllers all take a look at my face, avert their eyes and remain silent. If my expression is anything like I feel, I don’t blame them.
Hayden and Mac have followed me into the room. Spark waits a moment before asking, ‘Is June coming?’
Hayden simply shakes his head.
‘Right. Well, I’ll cut straight to the chase. We don’t want, nor need, any of you adults present.’
‘What?’ Mac asks, shocked.
‘We are controllers. If we are to win, we need the space to operate freely. Andy is essential in this, as he is the only one who can strip the Guardian of his gloves.’
‘Ok. Tell me the basics of your plan, if you want me to agree,’ Hayden says, leaving Mac gaping.
‘You can’t seriously be thinking. . .’
‘Shhh, Mac, let them speak.’
‘Andy can nullify powers, so the Guardian will want to go for him first. Wearing the Air glove, Andy will enter last, so that myself and Flame can distract the Guardian. He’ll try to free Breeze, and Stone can recover her while the Guardian goes for Andy. Even if Andy doesn’t free Breeze immediately, we want Stephen to go for him, so Andy can get close enough to strip the Earth glove from him. We’ll be nearing full strength then, and will try to immobilise him while Andy strips the final glove. With no gloves, the Guardian will be powerless, and we will make a tactful retreat or seal him so that you can have him.’
‘You’re using my boy as bait! We won’t allow it!’
‘How do your powers work?’ Hayden looks at Spark as he asks. ‘Do you create the element?’
‘No. Like our name suggests, we merely control it.’
Hayden rubs his chin as he looks from Spark to me. ‘We will create a perimeter around the centre of the caves. Mac will be inside, not with you in the fight, but close. When you complete your part of the mission, we will move in. If all fails, Mac can summon us to move in early. I will accept you entering alone only if you allow this, and only if I can give you a present.’
‘You’d let them in alone?’
‘Yes, Mac. That Guardian has already defeated us. Twice. These kids, like him, have a power we don’t understand. We must trust them.’
‘What is the gift?’ Spark asks. Hayden grins.
‘You will have to wait and see. Gather what you need and I’ll give you a ride to the caves as soon as I organise my men.’
