Glistening Embers

Chapter 9: Fire and Ice

Author's Note: Hello, humans! Heads up, I'm also posting a short story today, and it is SUPPOSED TO BE BAD. K? Well, author out.
Glisteen followed the bouncy Sinlivbie down the outrageously long hallways.(Honestly, who needed hallways this long?) Soon they were joined by Yilasia, and Raya, who seemed to be the only one curious about the announcement.

"I wonder what they're talking to us about?" Raya gushed. "Maybe, they're just welcoming us, or maybe they're telling us about the schedule or maybe who we're going to fight."

"It said, 'If you want to fight in the Battle of the Gifted.' not that we had to." Glisteen corrected.

"Well, don't you?" Raya asked.

"No, but I want to know what it is. Also, I wouldn't trust Showda, or Talyah, not to sign us up. How else would they make money? Forcing Gifteds to battle sounds pretty lucrative." Sinlivbie said, becoming solemn.

Glisteen was surprised. She had never seen this side of Sinlivbie. But then, again she had only known her a few days so who knew. "I agree." Glisteen stated.

They had finally reached the living room. The chandelier shined brightly in the twilight. A list of names were put under the words Battle of the Gifted. The four girls walked over to where everyone else was standing. "What's going on?" Glisteen asked.

Sabecary (ugh!) turned around. "Wait and see." he said with what must have been his seductive wink. Argh, why did one guy get under her skin so much?! Glisteen heard an unmuffled gasp from someone who was at the front.

It sounded like Rebeez's high, lilting voice. "Everyone... Everyone has been signed up!" This one sentence caused an uproar. Everyone wanted to know why they were on the list.

"Silence!" Everyone went quiet. Glisteen turned around to find Showda standing behind the mob. "Now, I know all of you are confused, but this is a good thing. I promise you. I get paid."

"What's in it for us?" Telma asked, in her harsh accent.

"Why, you get to either keep your dignity, keep your life, or die. Everybody wins!"

"Die?" Yilasia suddenly looked very pale.

Showda laughed. It was an awful, shrill sound, that filled the room. "Why, yes. Is that a problem?" Showda asked with an underlying edge.

"No." Glisteen interrupted her sister's whimpering. "No problem at all."

"Good. Now, everybody off to bed. The first Battles are in a few days." Showda said, making a shooing motion with her hands.

"Who's fighting who?" Smeko yelled.

"That will be announced in a few days." Talyah said, walking into the room.

Glisteen turned, and herded her scared little sister back to the hallway to recover. "What-what are we going to do?" Yilasia asked, shaking.

"I don't know." Raya replied, walking beside Glisteen.

"I do." Glisteen said. "We're going to practice, fight, and win."

Yilasia whimpered. "I don't want to fight. I don't even know how to use my powers. I don't even know what they are!" They reached the end of the hallway. Raya and Sinlivbie had gone to their rooms with quiet goodbyes.

"We'll find out." Glisteen reassured. She kissed Yilasia on the forehead. "Now, off to bed with you. It's getting late."

"Okay." Yilasia murmured, wrapping her arms around Glisteen. "Love you. Goodnight."

Glisteen smiled. "I love you, too. Goodnight." Glisteen walked back into her room, closing the door behind her.

She picked out some soft red pajamas that made her feel like she was wrapped in a blanket and put them on. She sleepily reminded herself to return the clothes to Sinlivbie and collapsed on the bed.

The next day, Glisteen awoke to the sun shining directly on her face. She got up and went to her closet. Glisteen knew she was going to train today, and she needed the proper clothing. Glisteen picked out a red leather shirt and a pair of black leggings.

She brushed her hair and pulled it back with an elastic band. She went back over to the closet. Over a dozen different types of shoes sat on the floor. After careful selection, she decided on a pair of black combat boots.

She walked out the door and across the hall to Yilasia's room. She knocked on the door. "Sia, are you up yet?" Glisteen asked through the door. She heard shuffling and the door opened. Yilasia was in pajamas, and her hair was messy. She had obviously just woke up.

"Sia, get dressed. We have to get to training." Yilasia nodded sleepily. Glisteen walked into her room, "Sia, get your closet open, choose some reasonable clothes, and brush your hair. We have to get going."

Yilasia opened her closet and got out a green long sleeved shirt and a green, patterned pair of leggings. Yilasia looked a lot more awake after getting dressed and brushing her hair. "Will we eat breakfast first?" Yilasia asked.

Glisteen nodded. "Only if it's light."

Yilasia yawned. "Why do we have to start training now?"

"Because we, or at least I don't want to be unprepared when the time comes. We have to prepare."

Yilasia nodded. They headed down the hallway, where they met up with Sinlivbie and Raya, in a white jumpsuit and grey denim, respectively, and headed down to breakfast.

The cafeteria was a large room with green carpeting with a dark green roof, and white marble tables.

Glisteen had a blueberry muffin, as did Yilasia. Raya and Sinlivbie both had a banana. After that, they got directions from a waitress that worked there to the training room.

Solemnly, they entered the training room. The ceilings must have been 40 feet high, probably for people like Tyvigar and Rebeez, who had the wind Gift. There were several dummies which the few people already there were testing their powers. There were weapons for those who couldn't use powers as weapons. There was a small track on which a guy was running much faster than humanly possible.

The list went on and on. A pool for water powers, plants for nature powers. A big arena that must have been similar to the one they would fight.

Glisteen clenched her fists as she spotted Sabecary using his ice on an unfortunate dummy. Oh great. He must have seen her, too, because he retracted his ice and walked over to the group.

"So we meet again."

"There's only sixteen of us." Glisteen countered.

"True." he said, inspecting his fingers. Wait, was he wearing nail polish?! "And there will be sixteen, then eight, then four, then two, then one. Me."

Glisteen gritted her teeth. Why was he so annoying, so cocky, so... Sabecary?! "Who says?"

He arched an eyebrow. "You think you could beat me?"

A hand tugged on her leather. "Glisteen, back down!" Yilasia's voice whispered.

"Yes, yes I could."

"Fine, then." he said, conjuring up an ice ball and hurling it at her.

Glisteen ducked out of the way just in time. "What is wrong with you?!" she yelled.

"You said you could beat me. I'm just testing it out." He threw another ice ball at her. This one hit her in the shoulder and sent her flying back into the wall.

She heard Yilasia, Sinlivbie and Raya faintly calling her name. Rage built up inside her. Why did Sabecary hate her so much? Why was he so infuriating, yet infuriatingly beautiful? Why did he make her so angry, yet so... peaceful?

With an inhuman scream, she pulled herself off the ground. Any curiosity about her feelings vanished. There was no chance of her ever even thinking about them again. Sabecary was cold, she was warm. He was cruel, she was kind.

He was ice.

She was fire.