Casters [Extraordinary Series 1: Ongoing]

5.05 ✡ Walkers

3:13 PM
Vivienne's POV

    We went to see the sights of Goult for a couple of hours before heading back to Roussillon. But instead of going home straight, we took a detour, heading towards the Lavender Farm as my brother suggested.
    As we arrived at the field, my jaw dropped in awe. It was quite the sight. The lavenders themselves were divine; a delicate, sweet smell gliding in the air. The farm exceeded my expectations.
    Gen suddenly jumped from the bike pegs and ran towards the field in delight, which made Eli stop the bike abruptly. "Gen!" He called out. Lucky for Gen, Eli's reaction was not as upsetting as it should be. Gen ignored his call and continued to run.
    "Viv! This place is exquisite!" She exclaimed as she spun around with her arms wide open, accepting the breeze's embrace. She knelt on the ground and leaned closer to the flowers, smelling them.
    I could only smile. The Lavender Farm has enchanted us with its breathtaking beauty. But she was twice enchanted than I was. Eli turned to my direction and when our eyes met, I shrugged.
    "Shall we?" He asked with a soft smile.
    Well, what else was I supposed to do? I grinned and nodded.
    We dropped our bikes to the ground – leaving it by the side as we went and ran after Gen, who was already in the middle of the field.
    "Wait up!" He called out, laughing.
    I let Eli run ahead so I could grab the camera from my bag. Their laughter took over the tranquility of the field, accompanied by the sound of the shutter button that took a photo of them running.
    I continued to snap shots of the farm when suddenly, I felt a bit lightweight. Something felt wrong. I slowly sat on the ground, trying not to interrupt their moment. But as each second passed, the uncertainty grew.
    I see you, young one.
    There it was again. The voice. But it wasn't the same one I was hearing back in Louisiana. I looked around, trying to see where the voice was coming from. My worries only deepened as I was able to confirm that we were the only ones in the field. I tried to shake it off, but my pendant began to glow faintly under my shirt once again.
    And you will see us soon...
    Chills ran up my spine as the wind blew in my direction. "You okay there, Viv?" I heard Eli ask, shifting my thoughts from the voice. I looked up and saw him walking towards me. Behind him was Gen, who was busy with the bird sitting on her palm. Eli kept staring at me, almost as if he was trying to study my face. I decided to look away to hide my uneasiness.
    "I'm fine, Eli. Just enjoying the solitude," I said. My arms folded in front of my knees, attempting to calm myself. In reality, I wanted to leave. Something was telling me to leave.
    "You don't look okay," Gen said as she sat beside me.
    "I'm okay," I said, trying to sound as reassuring as I could. I finally acknowledged the bird that was sitting comfortably on her shoulders, as if they had become best of friends. Back in Louisiana, Gen would make friends with any animal found in our backyard. "Made new friends?" I asked, extending my arm in attempts of petting it. Gen only smiled and nodded. But before the bird could reach my fingers, it immediately landed on the ground.
    Petrified.
    Breathing, but barely moving.
    From the corner of my eyes, I could see Eli and Gen exchange looks. I imagine Gen would be more horrified than her current reaction but by the looks of it, her mind was somewhere else. Before they could speak up, a girl's voice caught our attention.
    "Are you alright, Vivienne?" the girl asked. "You look like you needed something to drink."
    Eli immediately turned around and a sigh of relief escaped his lips. "Addie! It's you!" He exclaimed with arms wide open as Addie walked towards our direction. Of course, this is the 'friend' Eli mentioned. But friend? I doubt.
    Addie looked confused and said, "What do you mean by that?"
    "Nothing," Eli laughed awkwardly. "I thought you were someone else."
    While they exchanged greetings, I decided to stand up and move around, completely forgetting what I originally felt. I turned to Gen, whose face was a blank canvas. Her eyes may be on the petrified bird, but her facial expression wasn't her typical reaction.
    As Gen finally raised her head to meet my gaze, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me aside. She was shaking. With fear or with anger, I was unsure.
    "Hey, it's okay," I said, trying my best to comfort her. "Maybe he's just sick or something."
    "That's not it," she whispered while her eyes never left Addie. I was confused with what she meant, but I encouraged her to talk to me more. Yet despite my efforts to get some information out of her, she was unfazed.
    "Where is your friend?" I heard Eli ask, catching my attention. I didn't know we were about to meet two. Addie smiled sweetly and said, "Oh, he's not here yet."
    Eli's smile slowly disappeared and he turned in our direction. He met Gen's eyes, as if they were sending each other signals. Their demeanors immediately shifted and the atmosphere felt uneasy once again. "Gen..." I whispered, but her hand on my wrist only tightened. The concern I felt grew as Gen wasn't responding with her usual reactions. Eli placed his hands in his pockets while he slowly backed away from Addie.
    That's not her.
    "Did you say something, Gen?" I asked. I felt her grip on my wrist move, as if she was telling me to be quiet.
    Eli, that's not her. I heard again. The voice I kept hearing sounded like Genevieve, which was why I kept looking at her. But this time, it was almost as if Eli and Gen were talking in my head.
    I know. Eli's voice said. But he wasn't looking at us. The voices began to make me feel uneasy about myself, almost as if I was turning into a nutcase. I opened my mouth to speak but to my surprise, I was petrified. Cold and frozen, I could only feel the breeze touch my skin.
    I couldn't speak.
    I couldn't move.
    I was dead frozen while everything else around me moved. Screaming became an option, but it was no use. My scream could only be heard by myself. Addie met my eyes and for a second, her eyes glimmered red. Eli cleared his throat, shifting Addie's gaze towards him. I studied Eli, who crossed his arms in front of him. The smile on his face was taken over by the look of contempt.
    "When did your sisters arrive?" Addie asked with a sweet smile. Only this time, the sweetness almost looked bitter.
    "Why do you ask?" Eli asked with a cautious tone, his voice deep.
    "Why, can't your friend be interested in your sisters?" She said with a smirk. Eli's brows furrowed as he took a step back. "You know, Elias, I feel sorry for your sisters. I wonder how were they able to cope after your parents were killed." She continued to talk with a mocking frown.
    My eyes widened... or I felt it did. Killed? What did she mean by killed?
    "Eli!" I tried to scream but to no avail.
    "Next time you pretend to be someone, keep your facts straight Adeline," Eli taunted.
    Addie laughed wickedly, her laugh ringing in my ears. The sky began to darken as the clouds gathered above us. "Well, teach me then. What gave me away?"
    "A lot of things, 'babe'," Eli said while he kept walking to the side. Soon enough, he was already standing in between Addie and I, his stance protective. "Adeline's friend was never a he."
    Addie smirked as she took a step back. "I guess I should have investigated further than make things up!"
    Suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed, hitting the spot Gen and I stood on. "No!" Eli exclaimed. But to all of our surprise, we weren't hit. My breathing halted in shock as the lightning revealed a dome of force field around us, unable to penetrate it.
    I looked at Eli, who was relieved and shocked at the same time. He was eyeing the necklace.
    The pendant was glowing brightly, forming the dome. "Oh no." I heard Genevieve gasp. My fight-or-flight instincts made me try to move physically despite knowing I couldn't. "My," Addie smirked in amusement, "The oracle has been busy. Now, it makes me wonder how powerful she really is."
    Eli!!
    I attempted once again. This time, Eli's eyes widened.
    Viv?!
    Did... Did he hear me? Eli continued to stare and finally knew something was wrong with me. "She couldn't move," he whispered to himself, realizing the situation I was in. His eyes darkened as he turned towards Addie's way.
    "I never knew Shadow Walkers learned to shapeshift." I heard him say.
    Addie's laughter echoed through the field as she stood upright and her face turned to dust, blown by the wind. I finally felt fear as the scene unfolding in front of my eyes was beyond belief – unthinkable and unimaginable. Her whole body shifted into someone I once again do not recognize.
    "Nerissa." Addie, now Nerissa, curtsied mockingly as she reintroduced herself. "And no, you're wrong. I'm the only Shadow Walker who can shapeshift."
    "Of course, I believe you," Eli sarcastically said as his fist clenched.
    "You can't protect her forever, boy," she said as her arm lit up, the flames crawling up her skin. "...not when she's involved with the prophecy." Fear washed over me. Prophecy? What was she talking about? Was this another dream?
    There are three of them.
    I heard Gen's voice again. But my body began to tighten as I tried to gasp for air. It was getting harder to breathe and I was starting to feel exhausted. From my peripherals, I saw Genevieve's eyes glow gold.
    One of them is a crimson. He is the one controlling Viv. Eli's voice said. The light-bearer casted the lightning and of course, the obscurious – her. Think you can you locate the other two, Gen?
    Gen did not respond. "Look, Elias," Nerissa spoke up. My eyes shifted from my sister towards Nerissa, who was batting her eyes playfully. "We don't need to fight. I just wanted to meet your sister." Yet, the fire burning on her arms said otherwise.
    Hello? I said. But I only heard Gen shush me through my head.
    "Hand her over."
    "Not a chance," Eli sneered and a burst of light appeared on the palm of his hands, forming a spear. Spear of Horus? Gen starred in awe. That's amazing.
    Gungnir. Eli replied.
    Nerissa smirked as she eyed the spear. "Alright then, we'll take the hard route." She extended her arms to the side and almost immediately, a blazing spear appeared from thin air. "You think you're the only one with gifts?"
    Eli pointed the Gungnir at Nerissa, warning her to take a step back. "Well, I guess the Celestials wouldn't mind if we put their weapons to the test. After all," he smirked, "Hades' Bident doesn't disappoint."
    Hello?! I'm still here? I said through my mind. Gen knelt on the ground with her palms touching the grass as she chanted incomprehensible words under her breath. Later, Viv. Gen's voice responded. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, gaining composure as if the next thing she was about to do was going to drain her with everything she has.
    In a split second, her eyes opened and it glowed green. She pushed to the ground and whispered, "Sepio."
     Suddenly, the ground shook. Although I couldn't move, I panicked now more than ever. Yet, I was appalled when massive pillars sprung from the ground one after another, forming fences around the force field that was surrounding us.
    Now, Eli! I heard her shout in my head.
    Eli flew across the field, clashing weapons with Nerissa. Orbs of light appeared out of nowhere and circled them. With every swing he made, Nerissa effortlessly blocked. "Percutio!" Eli exclaimed as Nerissa jumped backward. The orbs of light instantly flew in her direction.
    Nerissa laughed and waved her hand across the air, summoning the sheet of darkness. "Obice!" The sheet swiftly moved in front of her, blocking the piercing orbs. "Is that the best you can do?" She taunted. The wind began to blow as red dust formed in the air. "My children, aid me!" She called out.
    Lycans began to appear from dust, growling at Eli.
    This time, Gen joined the battle. "Contego," she whispered, her hands outstretched whilst her fingers pointed at Nerissa.
     In a spur of the moment, hands made of boulders punched through the ground – the earth breaking as the creatures broke free. One after another, Golems stood from where they came from. Nerissa's vicious laugh filled the air. "I see... A future tamer. We have so much potential together, little girl."
    "I doubt that," Gen said, her eyes never leaving Nerissa.
    Nerissa then turned towards Eli's direction and met his gaze. Her eyes suddenly turned red.
    "My turn."