(Valkyrie Cain and Dexter Vex love story)The Descendants

China's Revenge

"No. Our answer is no. Now get out and never come back." China ordered. Alice shrugged and moved her arms to slide off the table but Skulduggery stood up.

"China, these two have a point. Take the deal," he told her.

"Skulduggery, they're children." China shook her head.

"Valkyrie was only twelve when she was brought into this. People underestimated her and now look where she is. They're seventeen and have amazing magic never seen before. If they join the other side, they're a threat." Skulduggery persisted. China seemed to be mulling things over. Ellion had remained quiet throughout the whole meeting but he thought it was appropriate to say something now.

"China, imagine them as the enemy. You weren't there when Valkyrie was dying and Alice stitched her back together piece by piece. With proper training, they could be the difference between winning this war or being defeated. I imagine it's a lot easier breaking something than fixing it." Ellion tried to hint it to China that at every move they make to push the girls further away it's a step closer to them joining the other side like in the vision. China seemed to get the message and she went quiet, dreading having to contradict her original decision.

"So I suppose we have a deal?" Alice smiled sweetly just to rub it in and China gave up.

"Apparently so. If I knew that the Grand Mage was merely a figurehead while the real power players were behind all the decisions I would never have taken this job. Luckily it's not like this all the time or I would have quit a long time ago." China had a thunderous look on her face.

"So where do we begin?" Alice asked, clapping her hands together in delight.

"First things first, you need to be trained. Then tested. After and if you have proved yourselves worthy, then we'll talk business. We'll send a few Cleavers to escort you to your...rooms, to show how things are in our world and line of work. Tomorrow you will start your week's worth of training with us. At the end of the week, you will be put to a stimulation test where you will show us everything you have learnt. If you pass, then you will be accepted as an agent and briefed on the current situation. Fail, and you leave and don't come back, we'll have to cut you off from your magic so you won't pose a threat to us, so you'd better try your very best." China said firmly. A series of frowns spread through the table at China's conditions but Alice didn't seem to be fazed. After all, there wasn't a test she'd ever taken that she had failed at and a rare few that she had gotten below the eighty percent mark. How hard could it be anyway?

Alice suddenly hopped up and strolled casually over to Valkyrie, placing her hands on either side of Valkyrie's head. She stared straight into Valkyrie's confused face.

"Hey! What are you-" Valkyrie began but her eyes glazed over and she stopped abruptly. Movement erupted over the table. Before Dexter - who was sitting in the chair next to Valkyrie - could do anything to push Alice off of Valkyrie the curly-haired girl held one of her hands up in his direction and he was held back by a barrier of condensed air. After a few short moments, Alice pulled back and Valkyrie shook her head and stared at her sister in bewilderment.

"What the hell did you just do?" Dexter cursed and looked at Alice like she was a freak.

"My sister and I just shared a nice conversation." Alice smiled and her look turned icy cold when her eyes landed back to Valkyrie. The older girl had gone quiet.

"How on earth did you do that? You can heal wounds, control the wind element and now you can...what? Talk inside people's minds?" Gracious mused in awe. "This is just like when Jean Grey discovered that she could do so much more than what she had been limited to! What if we're all like Jean Grey!"

"Gracious, you may like to see yourself as a woman, but I am one hundred percent man." Donegan snorted.

"Well, to answer your question, I can manipulate atoms. But I'm also part physic. I can't do many things, but I can communicate in minds if I try really hard. I guess, I kind of have dreams about things that haven't happened yet. But I have no idea how to control it or know when it's going to happen, it could happen in twenty years, or in a few hours. And just when I'm asleep. I'm not really sure what else I can do. The truth is, I've never been able to use much magic without passing out or feeling weak afterwards but the more I use magic the more abilities I unlock. I think I must be getting more powerful." Alice tilted her head in deep thought.

"And what about that charming young woman over there?" Tanith nodded to Vivi with a cheeky grin on her face.

"Vivi can manipulate space. Like area. She can open up voids or portals that are created by ripping open the very fabric of reality into nothingness. Like an empty room, waiting to be decorated. Another thing she has discovered is that she can bring life to inanimate objects."

"What, like she can make a candlestick grow eyes, a mouth and a nose and start singing be our guest?" Saracen laughed.

"No, but she if she chooses to bring life to that particular item, and the candlestick decides it doesn't like you, it could fly through the air and hit you in the head," Alice replied with a sassy smile.

"I swear that lipstick ran away from me!" Vivi shouted from the corner.

"And, uh, what about Vivi's..." China paused as if pondering on which words were the best to describe what she wanted to express. "Police record. We already know she has a habit of stealing. What about murder or any crimes like that?"

"Oh, she only murdered one kid! I mean, come on, it was days ago! Don't hold it against her!" Alice shrugged nonchalantly, and Tanith's eyes widened.

"I'm joking! She's just your average, insane, super-powered teenager." Alice rolled her eyes. "Okay, so if you don't have any other questions...? None? Okay, well I guess we're finished here. So where are these rooms you guys were talking about?"

"Oh, yes, your rooms. Cleavers, would you please take these two girls down to the jail cells for the night. Regrettably, we don't have anything big enough for you." China smiled and motioned for the two Cleavers at the door.

"Hey! We had a deal!" Alice yelled.

"Yes, but unfortunately - although clearly, it was on purpose - we didn't discuss the matter of your jail time. I'm sure the magic bounding cells in the tunnels of the old sanctuary near the accelerator room will do nicely. Good night, Miss Edgley." China said smugly. This was why Tanith and Ellion shared a distaste for China Sorrows. She was unfair, ridiculously stubborn, and will never let anyone play her a fool without getting her revenge.