Red Sun Rising

Chapter 5: He's Gone Mad

Max:

"Benjin, wait up!" I weaved my way through the crowded tavern, dodging a floating fireball.

The Telementavern was a big enough building to entertain around a hundred people, with a second floor consisting of several rooms for weary travelers. Tables made a circular formation around the center, where according to Benjin, Telementalists could perform or duel. The thick wooden walls and floors would be difficult to damage and any shots that went astray could be easily deflected by other Telementalists.

With everyone here being telekinetic, it was easy for the bartender to serve drinks without moving from his position at the bar near the stairs. There were only two waitresses, whose jobs were to serve meals and clean the tables.

Benjin was striding quickly towards the door, dodging the crowd much more easily than I could. He didn't seem to hear me calling him. I couldn't blame the guy though.

Malachi had just given my cousin permission to beat him up and said he wouldn't even try to stop him. If Steven did decide to do so, I feared for the silver-eyed Traveler. When it came to family, Steven could be pretty harsh. But surely... I mean, Benjin did say that Malachi blamed himself. Steven can't harm Malachi any more than the Traveler already did to himself mentally.

I nearly ran into Benjin. He had opened the tavern door but had frozen in the doorway. Peering over his shoulder I asked, "Uh, changed your mind or somethi—"

"Shh!" He held up a finger.

I frowned. The people walking down the cobblestone street looked as calm as they did when we first arrived. The peddler in the purple cloak was still trying to sell a gold wristwatch to a young couple and the dogs by the fountain were still sniffing about. The only difference was that the sky was darker than usual. We had probably been in the tavern longer than I thought. I pushed past Benjin onto the street. "Come on, Pyriqua. We're blocking the doorway."

"Get down!" Benjin tackled me to the side as a dark energy blast hit the spot I was standing in a few moments ago.

I had failed to notice the shadow looming over the doorstep. Standing on top of the low roof over the doorway was none other than Orange Hood. For the first time, his hood was down, revealing his pale blond hair, glinting green eyes and the smirk his mouth was curled into.

"Jared," I called, getting up from the ground, "don't you ever get tired of following us around and failing attacks?"

Jared's smirk became even wider. He held out a hand wreathed in dark energy, eyes fixated on it as it pulsated with power. "Who says I failed?"

I raised an eyebrow. Had he lost it? "Oh I don't know, maybe the fact that we're still alive and kicking? And what about when you tried to get Crystal's powers and went berserk?"

"That," his eyes flashed towards me and I was momentarily stunned by the deep violet color they had become, "was a minor setback." He curled his fingers into a fist and rolled his neck. He turned to me and Benjin with an unnerving smile. "But no... I didn't fail. My ultimate goal was never to kill you. No, it would've been much better if you were around for the finale."

"He's gone mad," Benjin said beside me, a fireball in one hand. "It's the Chaos in his brain, I'm sure of it."

Even I had to admit that the way Jared was acting was a bit... bizarre. He focused on Benjin and went into a crouch. "Ahh, the Telementalist. I've heard so much about you. You I can kill, most definitely. Yes, he'd like that."

"I don't care what Red Hood likes. Get down here and fight me like a real elemental magician!" Water shot out from the broken fountain and swirled around Benjin's other hand.