BATTLE SCARS: (Indigo Symbols Book II)

Chapter Nine: ice Fans

KITANA:
    "You stand like this." I got in the properly stance, feet spread, weight balanced, "Let the fans be a part of you, an extension of your arms, much like wings." Sarah stood, her long blonde hair in a tail, her blue eyes filled with concentration. She held black bamboo practice fans. "Hold your arms out slightly, like a bird." She did and took deep breaths. "What I learn is to master your body, to remember that your mind nd body are one and to know how each position is supposed to feel." Sarah began to breathe deep and slow. I turned to Diana, 'Music please?" She rolled her eyes, but music began to play from her iPhone. 'Listen to the music, follow the beat, move as I move." The song started out slow, smooth cellos, singing violins, and most important, over it all, chanting Erhu. I began to slowly bring my right fan up, Sarah mirrored the move. I extended it then turned as the Erhu sung up, then lilted down into a soothing cry that I matched with a slow downward stroke that Sarah mirrored. "This feels strange." She commented with a smile. I saw the light in her eyes, the cheerful gleam and the laughter as she continued, "It's like a dance, just like dancing." Taking it upon herself, she twisted and slashed upward as the cellos rose with the violins. I wanted to tell her to focus, to stay with the Erhu, but Sarah kept moving and I paused, watching. In her, in her movements there was a power, a kind of ruthless energy that made her. I looked to Diana who nodded. She changed the song and the one that came on was powerful, and heavy with distortion. Sarah paused, "Flow with the music." I said. "These dances, these are the way that you'll learn to fight with the fans." Sarah took another moment, then slashed out hard to the left, then spun on her heel. She slowed as the guitar made a cry, then, as if pushed by a gust of wind, Sarah righted her body, then spun in a roundhouse kick that would've taken a man's head right off.
    I continued to watch, letting her feel, impressed with how fast she learned, with how easy she felt with the fans. The black fans spun and without thinking she threw one up in the air and allowing her body to feel, she caught it and brought it down in a deadly ark. Her eyes filled with that concentration, with that light and she moved with deadly grace as she followed the beat of the song. When it ended she stopped, then bowed. "Well shit." I muttered. 'You have it in your blood Sarah." "I did good?" She asked. "You looked like a demon out there." Diana called. "I'm proud of you. I don't think I was that graceful or deadly when I started." I said. "Damn, when you get praise like that, then you know you're good." Diana commented. I rolled my eyes. Why don't you and I go then." Sarah asked. "You and me, here." She gestured. "You still have things to learn." I said. "You're amazing, graceful and swift. You have it down, following the beat of the dance, feeling the heart of it, following the beat of a fight, but before you spar, there are a few other things you gotta know." So saying, I showed her.
    After an hour of practicing I had Sarah go shower and we'd take a dive in the pool. After showering I entered the Sector to find Wenzi and four other people in the circle, using powers I never seen before. Wenzi, who was engulfed in flames, dove in and our of two boys, they touched hands and were gone. Then appeared behind Wenzi. She lashed out with a whip of fire, but they were gone. "Teleportation." Alexandra answered my question as she walked to stand next to me. The other two boys wove with ease through it all. "The teleporting pair, that's John and Eliot. The other two are Brandon and Creed." 'Creed?" I asked. She shrugged. "Those two are masters at sensing airwaves and using said airwaves against their opponents. Probably as close to airbending as you'll ever get." "Interesting." I commented. Then I turned and saw Sarah coming over in a black swim suit. I waved to Alexandra and gestured to the deep side. "How good are you?" In answer, she dove. I watched as she cut through the water, again, with a force and vengeance I never seen before. She did four laps before gliding over, "Aren't you gonna join me?" She asked. I smiled but before I dove in, I saw Beth, out of the corner of my eye. She darted over to the climbing wall and began to scale it. I watched, seeing her immortal strength and speed. Like a flash of color, she darted up, down, then back up. I turned, and dove into the cold water, feeling it shock my system, then moving pssed it.Sarah soon was beside me and we cut to one end, then back. I allowed the pace of the motion sooth tired muscles, refresh the mind, and ease the soul. After forty laps I pulled myself on the side and caught my breath. Sarah didn't seem to be winded, that was good. She traced her fingers over the water, watching the ripples dance their own dance. "Everything's like a dance." She muttered. I watched, interested. "Everything. Everything has it's own order, it's own way, it's own style. Look, even the ripples have their own dance." She sighed and as she did, the water dropped in temperature. I sat up straighter as my legs absorbed the frigid water. "Sarah?" I cautioned. She didn't seem to hear me. She breathed in and the water dropped another several degrees. "Sarah." I called. She traced her palm over the water and ice began to web out, the water flash freezing, crackling and popping. She began to sway, as if she was listening to music in her head. "Shit, SARAH." I shouted. Fear went through me as I remembered the heavy metal song we, or, Sarah, danced to. I pulled myself out of the water as she threw her head back, her wet hair flying as shethrew up her palms. Ice danced across the pool and she spun artistically through the freezing water. "Shit, shit shit shit, damn it, SARAH." I shouted. But she didn't or couldn't hear me above the music in her mind. I leaped onto the ice and began to run towards her. Sarah turned in my direction, her eyes were closed, but she seemed to sense someone because she threw out her palm and i felt the ice under me shift.
    I front rolled as a huge barb of ice shot out of nowhere for me. "SARAH." I yelled. I spun and landed ten feet from her. She rose on an ice platform and raised her arms. Two sharp ice fans flew from the pool. "Shit." I cursed as I realized that Sarah wouldn't be able to hear me, and if she attacked with those fans, she'd kill. "SARAH." I yelled, running towards her. But she threw up one fan and a large wave rose and I had to dodge, rolling over the churning ice. Sarah laughed and the sound was high, and very, very cold. Then I heard singing, a deep voice that song slowly, slow and clear. I got to my feet and saw Kendra, her eyes were on Sarah, and she held out her hand to her. Sarah paused, as if listening to the new song. I actually saw Sarah's whole body change with Kendra singing. "Come to me, come to me and see, see what I see, be who I be." Sarah relaxed and the water began to warm, melting under me. "Feel the sun kiss, feel the hot sands, she was missed, she, from the sacred lands." Sarah wove her way towards Ken, as she moved, the water warmed, until I fell in warm soothing water. "She opened her eyes, she was home, she was found, she waved bye, to the world she once known, to the one who kept her bound." Sarah breathed and I saw that shift, that change as she was centered into herself, and that moment when she realized. "Oh, my, God." I swam over she she began sobbing.