The Elementalists

JAMAL

I pull Mark into the cover of the trees and blurt out, "I heard something in Daemon's mind that he probably didn't want me to hear and I'm scared that he knows I found out and he's going to hurt me and I don't wanna die, Mark, and—!"

   Mark cuts me off by thumping me on the head.

   "Ow!" I yell. "What the heck was that for?!"

   "You were babbling," Mark says calmly.

   "You could've told me to shut up instead of hitting me!" I growl. I sigh, and a grin spreads across my face. "I really missed you," I tell my cousin. "We all were worried that you and Robin were... well, you know..."

   Mark nods. "Yeah," he replies, "I thought Robin was dead when I woke up to find her lying in a pool of blood... I didn't know she'd gotten shot..."

   I grimace. "Peter said she did," I say quietly. "To be honest, when he said that, I accepted the fact that both of you were dead. Then Daemon and Angel appeared, and now you're here, and I know that all hope isn't lost." I smile.

   Mark returns my smile before asking, "So, about you hearing something in Daemon's mind... What the heck does that mean?"

   I clap my hands and throw them in the air for dramatic effect, and then I yell, "I can read minds! Isn't that awesome?"

   Mark frowns, and I hear him think, So, you can read minds?

   "Yes, I can," I reply. A new thought comes to mind, and I say, "I wonder if I can communicate telepathically..?" 

   Mark shrugs. "Try it," he says.

   I close my eyes and think, Can you hear me, Mark? Mark stands completely still, waiting for my telepathic message. I try again with, Mark, you there? Can you hear me?

   Mark still shows no sign of having heard me, and I sigh. "I guess I can't send telepathic messages," I say. "You didn't hear me, did you?"

   Mark gives me a sympathetic smile and replies, "Nope, sorry." His expression somewhat hardens as he adds, "I have something to tell you, too. According to Robin, I have 'visions' of what's going to happen in the future. I had a vision of..." Mark shakes his head and quickly says, "Nevermind. What did you hear Daemon say...er, I mean think?"

   I frown. "He was thinking about his family, and...." I stop and look up at Mark as I say, "I feel like I'm invading his privacy."

   "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Mark replies.

   "No," I protest, "I do. I have to tell someone, and I trust you to keep it from the others until it's the right time, if the right time ever comes."

   Mark nods in understanding. "I promise I won't tell anyone." He smiles and adds, "You know I will, I've kept enough of your secrets."

   I blush a little, remembering when I trusted my cousin with everything. To be honest, I still do. He's not only my cousin, he's my best friend, and I don't know what I'd do without him.

   Oh wait, yes I do: I'd go insane and sob hysterically.

   "Okay," I finally say. I look around to make sure that no one is listening, and I whisper, "Daemon lost his little sister. He was thinking about how Angel kind of gave him someone to take care of again, and then.... I heard him think, 'I miss you, Lilly. Robin and I are the only Greens left now that my cousin is dead...'" I look at Mark to see if he understands, but a puzzled look is plastered onto his face. I sigh and explain, "That means he's related to Robin somehow. That's why he's so intent on saving her—Angel and Robin are all he has left."