Power of the 8 Elements

Chapter Twenty One

"You ready?" Skrael asked the next day.

"Yes and no. I told my parents I was going out with friends, and I paid Terri to keep a secret and not tell anyone. What do you think they'll say when they find out?"

"Hold on, Nix, if they find out."

"Nix?"

"I've been calling you that in my head," Skrael said. He took his staff and raised it to the sky. The two of us teleported into a dense forest. Suddenly all the memories began flooding back.

"Oh, by the way," Skrael said.

He handed me the top jaw of a deer skull, it also had antlers. The antlers had diamond patterns in them.

"What's this?" I asked.

"You know how I always called you little deer?"

I nodded.

"Try it on. See if you like it."

I shrugged. Worth a shot. I put on the deer skull.

"Since Bellroc and I have a skull, I figured you'd want one."

"I love it," I said, "The smell of the dead doesn't bother me."

Skrael laughed a little. We stared at each other for a while. Skrael and I smiled. We both turned to face the streets. Various people were walking down the road or driving going about their normal lives. I narrowed my eyes when I saw someone smoking.

"So you do get it?" Skrael said.

"Sort of. I mean, I've always grown to develop a–how do I say this–unsociable side. And sometimes I hate what others are doing, but I never knew why until now."

"Does it scare you? Well, do we scare you?"

"No, I quite like being around you. I mean—the Order. I like being around all of you."

'That was ridiculous.'

"So...what are we here to do?" I said, "Punish someone?"

"Not yet," Skrael said with a grin, "First we must observe. Meet me here in two hours?"

I nodded. Then we split up. I disguised myself as a human with dark brown hair and walked among the streets like a regular person.

"Are you new?" a voice said.

I turned suddenly and faced him. A robust kid holding a burrito was standing behind me.

"To Arcadia?"

"Yes," I said.

"Oh, then welcome to Arcadia. I'd love to give you a tour."

I noticed a small metallic object in his pocket. I reached and grabbed it.

"What is this?" I asked.

"Oh, that, it's just a...uh...device for my braces," he said, "Nothing, too."

I examined it all over.

"Uh, don't touch-"

Apparently, I activated whatever that thing was, and it whacked me in the face pretty darn good. I brought my hand to my nose.

"Oh, man, I'm so sorry. I...uh..." he grabbed the object.

It wasn't a device for braces. It was a hammer! He grabbed the hammer.

"I can explai-whaaat?!" He stared open mouthed as a cold light blue liquid ran down my nose.

I gasped, "Hold on, this is just-"