Academy of Elements: Water

Chapter 22: Escape

The cold air chilled my face. I let out a breath it spiraling away in the air. The cold wall of the cave stung my back.

"When can we leave!?" Whined Aira.

"When its dark." Replied Denen.

"And why then?" Sneered Aira.

"Because its safer." Denen retorted.

"His name is Darkness, he controls the dark!"

"His followers can't see us though!!"

"Just shut up! I'm sorry for the other four of us who have to be near you!"

"I'm sorry for myself for telling you what to do, it must be that time of the month again."

"Both of you shut up!!!" Ella whispered. A figure stalked below us, their face looking around, sniffing like a dog.

The sky was painted with fire, oranges and reds streaking across the horizon, the bloody sun sinking behind us. After crossing the river we had made our way towards the edge of the forest, where cliffs rose into the sky, trees standing atop it.

Aira,, and I had wanted to keep going, the fact of the Followers finding us was just to risky, but Ella, Hailey, Brennen, and Denen had wanted to wait till darkness took over the skies. Night lasted for twenty or so hours this high up north. The moon appeared in the sky, the silver orb floating in the infinite sea of inky darkness.

"Lets go." Whispered Denen.

Denen made his hand crackle with lightning, allowing a small trickle of light to show us the way down from the cliff. The rocky cliff chafed at my hands as I climbed down first. The forest was alive with whispers of the wind, carrying forbidden secrets. My feet landed on the ground followed by Denen, Aira, Ella, Hailey, and Brennen.

"Where should we go?" Aira whispered.

"I have an idea, follow me." I told them.

The dark forest was like a canvas of darkness, the trees and sky were the same color, the night cloaking everything. Denen led the way beside me, his golden electricity casting shadowy figures to hide behind the bone like trees. A branch snapped. Spinning around I blasted Ice at the sound hitting nothing.

"John!?" Ella whispered running towards him. John stepped from the darkness, the veils of ink flowing off of him. John and Ella kissed their lips forcing together. "What's happening? Why are darkness's followers here!?"

"Because of me." He whispered. "Adornaz."

The forest lit up, the trees around us igniting on fire.The man whom wore the robes with the staff stepped into the golden light. The mans cloak was draped over his head. The mans bony fingers pushed back the cloak.

The world lit on fire. Flames soared from the sky landing in various places in the forest. Lightning and Fire flew at us as we ran. Denen let the energy disappear, the golden light of fire strong enough. I darted behind trees, my tattoo glowed a frozen blue. A woman Dark Follower jumped from a tree. She held a dagger. Quickly I raised my hands sending a blast of ice at her. She twirled around like an assassin and sent a blast of Lightning at me. Ducking the tree fell over landing onto the ground. I blasted Ice at her and she intercepted it with lightning. Our blasts hit with an explosion of light. She may have been better trained, but I was stronger. With a grunt I put my left hand behind my right to support it. My ice reached her hands and she flew back into the inferno of fire.

The forest was ablaze with orange, gold, red and yellow danced upon the trees, plumes of smoke filling the air like a perfume. Ella stayed with John, glued to his side, for he was her protector. As Brennen, Denen, Aira, Hailey, Ella and John joined my side we ran, bolts of various powers blasting behind us.

The fire seamed to follow us, trying to consume us in its arms. As we neared the cliff that the village stood on we stopped. We were trapped. The fire had closed us in to a small circle, the only way out to jump. Darkness swirled a few feet away from us Adornaz, the warlock, I assumed, stepped from it, the inky blotches dissipating.

As Adornaz neared we backed onto the rocks of the cliffs. "Jump." Whispered Brennen loud enough for everyone to her. Everyone nodded but Ella, whom stepped back frightened.

"What is it?" I whispered to her.

"I hate falling."

But no one but me heard. A screeching sound came and a skeletal dragon flew from the dark sky, fire inside of its bones. I had read about them in Magical Plants and Animals. They were referred to as Skleires. A Skleire flew from the sky towards us, the fire in its chest caveating swirling in a rage of furry. Its mouth spread a storm of furious flames blasting at us.

"Jump!" Brennen and we turned and ran. The inferno of flame blasted after us as we ran towards the edge. Brennen, Denen, Hailey, Aira, and John flew from the cliff leaving Ella and I behind.

"Come on!" I screamed.

Ella looked at me helplessly, her strong eyes of fire smoldering to an ember. I pulled Ella the flame liking at our back. As I jumped Ella's hand slipped from mine and I fell, the air like icy daggers prickling against my face. Ella wasn't with me. Ella; hadn't escaped.

***

I feel so bad for Ella, I put her through so much freaking pain! First she doesn't have a family who loves her, then she almost gets raped, then her powers don't work, and finally she is kidnapped a dude with a weird name that I'm to lazy to scroll up the page to remember (its 3:30 am)

Any ways Question of the Chapter:

What is your dream job??

An author of course, with a job as an architect until I can live off my book funds, and if architecture doesn't work out then a photographer, chef, literature teacher, acting teacher... yeah... I am way to prepared... I'm only 13...