Elemental Heroes: The Battle for Acruxia

Chapter 6 - Kite

Chapter 6 - Kite

“We got to go now, I mean right now.” Iain demanded, grabbing me by the wrist. My eyes flashed as one eye yellow, another turned blue. 

“Why, what's so bad about Zoey going Black Gold?” I asked while being dragged throughout the party. 

“You don't understand. There's a reason why we don't see a lot of people who do what Zoey can do. There's 24 karat gold, what Zoey uses, then there's black gold. People don't know what it is but, there are ‘consequences’ to using black gold.” Iain barked at me. 

“What kind of consequences?”

Iain paused in his tracks. “She could die from overusing her magic if she doesn't from the stress she's putting herself under. Yes it can make her stronger, but it'll fuck up her mind and judgment. We must move before she ends up killing her.”

I nodded and while we were leaving the Omega Party, we see Carnie, locked in a cage like a prisoner outside in the snow. He was clanging the bars with a coffee mug. 

“Iain, you gotta spring me! They locked me in her, all alone without food! He said I couldn’t come in.” Carnie panicked. 

“Him and whose army?” Iain asked, definitely pissed. 

Carnie pointed up. On the second floor, there were at least three dozen kids with water guns and makeshift grenades with beer bottles as well as slingshots. 

“Look, I'm in a hurry, so let's make this quick. I understand that the Omega dorm love hybrids and hate pure elementals but keeping Carnie locked in a cage in the cold isn't going to solve anyone's case so can you just let the boy go?” Iain pleaded. 

“Not a chance. Carnie's a junior right? That means Noah and Jace are leaving the dorm to a pure elemental!” A boy shouted. 

“If he freezes to death, the slot is open for any capable hybrid to succeed them.” Another boy yelled. 

Before we could do anything, Lizzie Shards casually whistles and unlocks Carnie’s cage. She then takes Carnie by the hand to the dorm. 

As anti-climactic as that was, we headed towards the barrier. 

“Any ideas Iain?” I asked him. 

“There are tunnels under the city that go under the barrier. If I'm right, there should be one in Jeannette's bar.” Iain admitted, knocked on the locked down door. 

Cast opened up. “Yes?”

“We need to use the secret tunnel under the bar. It's for an emergency.” Iain confessed. 

“Iain, I swear if Shadow or Ice Storm come out of that hole, I'll kill you myself.” Aldo declared. He opened up the trapdoor and we went under. 

Iain pulled out a lighter with a purple flame. It lit any torches we were close to, and disappeared when we left. 

I gulped when we came up the other trapdoor inside a tree. We were on the other side of the barrier, the warmer side. We threw off our coats and went closer to the camp. 

“Do any of these tents seem familiar?” Iain whispered. 

“They do… I think I see Zoey's.” I admitted. We managed to sneak into Zoey’s lone tent. Battle plans, chess pieces, and other stuff were on her table. Her gloves were turned completely gold. She was sound asleep as we crept in. 

“It's worse than we thought.” Iain paused. “Any day now she'll be as mad as a dog and as dead as a doornail. Alec is pushing her beyond her limits.”

I tapped her awake and backed away. Zoey was half awake, her eyes still shut closed. 

“Who's there?” Zoey dared to question. 

“Zoey, It's Iain. We know you're using Black Gold magic.” 

Zoey rubbed her eyes. “I don't see the problem with that, Alec said it was ok. He assured me I'd be fine.”

Iain gripped her by the shoulders. “You won't be fine if you keep using it. Zoey you'll die if you keep using it.”

“No I won't, I'm strong enough to take it. Alec himself said so.” Zoey yawned. Right now she was in her 24k mode but had small traces of Black Gold mode. She had golden skin on her neck and cheek. She even still had the black gold necklace on her neckline. 

“Zoey, you got to listen. I know the power seems great but it's not worth it. Trust me, Alec might seem like a great guy but there's a reason he's called the radical hero.” Iain explained to her.

Zoey seemed a bit more awake at that last comment. “I know what this is… you're just like this, you want me to back to the way I used to be. Weak and helpless Zoey, you're just like this cause you finally found someone weaker than you and now that I'm stronger than you, you're scared of me.”

“Zoey this isn't the time, we can talk about this after we go home and-”

“No!” Zoey shouted, desperation in her voice. “Alec actually cares about me, I'm actually making a difference here, and you want to take it away from me! You say that we'll work things out, but at least with Alec I don't get raped!”

Suddenly Black gold formed around us. 

Iain sighed. “Zoey, I'm not kidding. We're going home where your normal and where your mind is not fucked up.”

Tears got in Zoey's eyes. She covered her eyes as suddenly my legs were turned to Black Gold. Suddenly, they were crushed upon solidification.

When Zoey realized what she did, she stopped and undid the Black Gold  but it was too late. My legs were completely broken. 

Tears were running down her cheeks, burning her golden parts. 

“Oh my God… what have I done?” Zoey whimpered. She tried to help but I backed away. 

“Just stay away from me!” I yelled. Suddenly Zoey ran away, crying buckets. 

“Zoey wait! I didn't mean it!” I pleaded. Soon were were surrounded by Ice Storm soldiers and the cloaked woman.