One Last Time

10. The Elders

Stella basked in the compliments and the praise showered on her. Taya went as far as even asking her for the recipe, when Taya herself couldn't distinguish between all-purpose flour and cornflour. 

Matt licked his spoon thoughtfully, "It's time I tell you what we saw. There was a house on fire near the North Bridge." 

Stella gasped and Theo patted her hand, looking worried. Matt continued, "The fire was definitely black magic, it died down by itself. Though it's main purpose was not to destroy, I am sure it was a great side effect for whoever or 'whatever' put it in the first place. The ashes formed a message." 

He paused and looked at Casey's, Stella's and Theo's face, who all looked like they would pounce on him if he didn't complete his sentence at once. 

He continued, his lips forming a small grin, "It said, 'Your world will end'." "How pleasant." Muttered Theo. 

Casey spoke up, "That's why you were on the roof." Matt gave her a nod. 

Stella frowned, "Who was it?"

 Matt shrugged delicately, "I don't know. That's for us to find out." 

Theo pulled his lower lip, "Kai." He said to nobody in particular. 

Taya looked at him curiously. Stella gave a small sigh, "Care to elaborate, Theodore?" 

He looked surprised that anybody had heard him at all. "Uhh, elaborate what exactly?" 

Matt interrupted, "Kai." 

"Oh, yes. Kai. He was a Sotíra once. He was a perfect dude. Strong, smart and handsome. Everyone adored him. Later he got obsessed with all the attention, sort of like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. There was one person who disliked him and that was Alice. She found him obnoxious and she hated him.

 He found out about her and went around looking for her. The moment he found her she cursed him with holy water, that unless he started being a nice human being, he would never find peace in his life. Or something like that. And the curse worked, of course. Kyle was the only one who sided with Alice. Apparently Alice thought there was something wrong with Kai." Theo took another bite of his cake. 

"He became the villain, or so it is said. No one has caught him doing anything wrong, but everyone knows that it is him. There are rumors that he knows how to summon demons and that he plans to take over the Earth and the usual bullshit." 

Matt raised an eyebrow at him, "How do you know this?"

 Theo blinked, "Not everyone naps during legends lessons."

 Matt scowled. 

Unexpectedly Casey asked a question, "So, you think it's Kai behind this fiasco?" 

Matt turned towards her, "No, he just thought it made a good bedtime story."

 "You don't have to be so rude." Taya snapped. He gave her a grimace. 

"Maybe. We have to find out somehow." Stella snapped her fingers, "We can go to the Council. The Council of the Elders." She added for Taya's and Casey's benefit, as if that cleared anything.
Matt ran his hands through his hair, making it stand up messily. Taya's hand itched to smooth it down. 

"I don't think that's a good idea, love." Theo answered. Matt opened his mouth, but lapsed back into an uncharacteristic silence. Stella turned towards him, "It's a great idea. They always know something about everything. They can help. We don't have to tell them everything, just ask about Kai." 

Matt chewed his lip thoughtfully, "I hate to say this, but I agree with my little sister. We will go there tomorrow. Get ready at the crack of dawn." He got up and ruffled Stella's hair as he left.