Just Passing Time [1]

Chapter Seven

I stirred and finally awoke from light creeping through the window next to my bed. I stretched and yawned. I hadn't slept like that since Alex brought me here, which every time I thought of it, it made me angry. I shook my head and sat up, I looked around, "Did I wake up before Alex?" I muttered. I looked out the window, and squinted, it wasn't as early as Alex always got me up.

I walked out of my room, and looked around the cottage. Maybe Alex had given me the day off? I nodded, feeling as though it made sense. I'd go to the coven and hang around there. I was pretty curious about Asher's weather powers. I was going to ask him if they were his special ability. I also wanted to know more about Violet and Amber.

As I walked the light dirt path from the cottage to the coven, I saw something that caught my eye. There were two forests next to the town, one was darker and scary, the other sunny and welcoming. I saw a huge flash of fire coming from the dark forest. I didn't take that as a good sign, seeing as the fire was joined by other powers of water and electricity, I heard yells and battle cries. This couldn't be good.

I began running to the dark forest, as I had named it just now, and finally reached it, taking a non-hesitant step in. Immediately I was met with a sudden and random strike of pure terror. I looked around and saw fear, absolute fear. I saw the monsters under my bed, I saw ghosts and anything I've ever seen as scary.

Tears began to climb their way up as I watched, frozen, in absolute horror. Suddenly I felt something quickly grip my wrist and pull me out. I looked behind me to find a very angry Violet, with Amber, who was also mad, at her tail. I wiped my tears and shook my head. "What?" I asked, my voice even deeper and sharper than usual. "What exactly do you think you were doing? I get it, you're stupid and new, but shouldn't you know not to go in there? It's a good thing Asher came to get me!" Violet lectured, sounding like a worried mother, though she appeared my age.

"No!" Asher squealed in fright, appearing behind her, "Don't get her ticked at me!" Violet
Ignored him and continued to glare at me. "I could care less 'bout your stupid rules!" I yelled, raising my hand in a fist. "You mean you couldn't care less, half-wit?" Violet shot back. "Nobody likes a grammar Natzi!" I yelled in return. "What the heck is a Natzi?" She asked, suddenly calmer out of confusion. "Never mind." I shook my head.

"And to answer your question, there's a fight going on in there!" I pointed to it, and right on cue came fire and people yelling in a foreign language. "Oh no." Amber gasped quietly and covered her mouth. Asher took a step back, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. "G-Get to the coven." Violet almost whispered out of fear, and when no one moved, she screamed loudly, "Now!"

That got our attention. We all immediately began running. "Gan hem!" A man barked and multiple people came running toward us. My eyes popped open and I smiled a bit, my perfect chance to work at my magic. I went to blast fire at one of them, but only ended up throwing a small flame. It hit him, but he just smirked and narrowed his eyes out of amusement. His hand caught fire and he threw a fireball at us. I screamed, and the others just looked back at me, they seemed really surprised, like they were completely oblivious to the men chasing us.

We followed the road, dodging fireballs and running for our lives. Eventually we got to the coven house. Violet burst in, the doors swinging open faster than a race horse. Everyone stopped talking and looked at her. "Vaxenals!" She screamed. Everyone suddenly went from 'Eyes half closed' to 'Drop a pin and I'll attack.'

Violet slammed the doors shut and pushed a strong looking stick into the door handles to hold the door closed. The doors almost immediately began to be pounded. I wondered why they didn't just use their fire? "Where's Ameeliah?" Violet yelled. I looked around, where the heck was Alex? "Where's Alex?" I asked. "Alex never came in, we assumed she was with you!" A woman with straight brown hair responded, I remembered her name being Fawn.

I shook my head. Amber gasped loudly and Violet turned to her, "What is it?" She asked, alarmed. "F-Fire. There was fire in the forest when we saw people fighting. Alex's power is fire!" Amber quietly said, and I'm pretty sure that was the first time I'd heard her speak. "Well their power was fire, too." Asher mumbled. "Where did you see a fight?" Elric walked over, and I noticed he suddenly had a limp. "The dark forest." I said. "Forest of Shi." Violet corrected.

"Alex never goes on her little runs anymore!" Fawn gasped, surprise clear in her voice. "Surely Alex can handle a few of those guys?" I said, even though butterflies had somehow made their way into my stomach. Amber shook her head, "They only travel in large groups, no individuals. No one is trusted alone. Betrayal or death comes from alone. They don't do that." She explained quietly.

Just then the door finally pounded open, and tons of men burst through. One looked me in the eye and yelled to his adjacent teammates, "Gan hest  coshlen en!" He yelled, and three men came rushing toward me.