Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-39642964-20190812191411/@comment-209.163.111.60-20191210195222

realized I haven't posted on here--sorry. I just wanted to say goodbye--I'm leaving fandom. It's for the best... here's the rest of it. fEll free to write more onto it.

--Trista

Chapter 1

Trista smiled. Not a real smile. But a smile.

"Of course I will go! I've always wanted to meet more Hydrokinetics! When is the party?" Inwardly, she groaned. The Elements party consisted of Hydrokinetics, Pyrokinetics, Gusters, and recently added Shades and Flashers. Shades for shadowflux, Flashers for quintessence. (Trista still didn't understand why Flashers where in the party, they couldn't control quintessence.) And she really didn't want to meet more Hydrokinetics, the last time she had tried that it had gone wrong.

Lady Linh grinned. "In five Saturday s. At noon. Shall we begin our Hydrokinesis lesson?"

Linh took out a leaping crystal. It was purple, it looked like the leaping crystals Trista used to get to Atlantis. "Shall we get started on our test?"

Trista groaned for real. She had enjoyed dancing in the opening ceremonies the night before inn her White Level Five Uniform, but this was probably the worst part about the beginning of the Foxfire year. They tested you on how powerful you were. It wasn't usually fun. One year, when she had had Sir Swaanley as her Hydrokinesis Mentor, it had been fun. But when she had had Lady Jaju, it was the worst thing she had ever experienced. But this year was new, Trista reminded herself.

"I guess," Trista mumbled. Lady Linh took Trista's hand and they stepped into the light.

* *********************

They lapped to a small, deserted, island with three palm trees and a star fish. Trista grimaced as soon as she realized that they were surrounded by water. Nothing would ever help the strong pull she felt when she was around water. It sorta gave her a headache. She had to lock her hands together just so she wouldn't make a wave crash down on them both.

"Sorry. I should have warned you. But this will make you stronger, in the end." Lady Linh brushed imaginary dust off her cape. "Your test is levitating."

Trista blinked. "Excuse me, what?"

Lady Linh smiled. "I should have explained. Watch."

She floated up in the air and over the ocean. Higher and higher she went, until she was very high in the air. Then, suddenly, she let go of her hold and plummeted towards the ocean.

Suddenly, a wave came out of nowhere, catching Linh right before she hit the water. The wave carried her back to the island, dropping her in a wet mess to the ground. lady Linh spoke a Hydrokinesis word and her clothes and hair were dry. Swilsh, Trista remembered from last year. Sir Swaanley had made her memorize all the Hydrokinesis words.

Trista couldn't speak, which was probably a good thing, otherwise she would have thrown up.

"Your turn," she said with something that looked suspiciously way to much like a smirk.

Trista looked at Lady Linh’s eyes. She was going to make Trista do it whether Trista wanted to or not.

Trista reluctantly floated in the air, very, very slowly out above the ocean.

Then, she let go of her hold and plummeted towards the ocean.

Trista screamed. She was sure that Linh was hiding her smirk behind her hand.

she fell another hundred feet before she called a wave to catch her. Five feet flew away before the wave caught her, and then she was underwater, crashing and tumbling nowhere in particular. Trista was having trouble finding air, and she was beginning to panic.

Calm down, she told herself. She looked up to the surface. There is air. Right there. Swim UP!

She calmed down. Then she swam up. As soon as she hit the surface, she took a deep gulp of air. Then she told the water tip carry her to the island.

Soggy and wet and dripping, Trista sank to the ground. This was going to be a loooongg day. But, admittedly, it was fun.

Lady Linh grinned. "It was fun, wasn't it?"

Trista pulled the water out of her clothes. "Yes."

"Well then, do it again. But this time, I think it should be higher up. More of a challenge. No screaming, either."

Trista smirked. "Bring it on." And as she floated up in the air, she could swear that Linh looked proud.

* ***********************************************

Trista was so tired; she needed to go to Elwin. She couldn't light leap like this. But she waited until after school.

Mostly it was because she needed to leap home with Uncle Elwin, he was eating dinner with them. But maybe, hopefully, Flynn would be there. She sighed, adjusting her brunette hair with blonde highlights before walking in the door to Elwin’s office.

Flynn was there, wrapping up a Level One's hand before he turned around. "You're Trista, right?"

Trista was glad she could blame her red cheeks f or the running. "Yes."

He pointed to Elwin's office. "Elwin is in there doing paperwork. He said you might stop by."

She walked in the door and shut it. "Hi Uncle Elwin ."

He looked up. "Triss! How's my girl?"

She sank into a chair. " Fine."

He got up and moved to chair next to her. "You can't lie to me. I know when you’re tired."

She decided to go for a quick subject change. "You look tired. What have you been doing today? "

Elwin snapped his fingers and an orange orb appeared. He put his glasses on. "Level Ones and Elementism don't go. And nice subject change, but I caught that. "

Trista shrugged. "I figured it was worth a go."

Elwin snapped his fingers and a blue orb appeared. He flashed it around her face. "You're tired. And dehydrated. You know as a Hydrokinetic -"

"-I need more water than the rest of you. I know, you've told me before," Trista finished for him.

" I supposed I have. I guess Flynn left, so we should go to your house. But first, " he handed her three vials, "drink these"

She chugged them.

She felt so much better after.

And then, they light leaped to Trista's house.

Trista went to bed that night, sleepy as she could be. But she had an awful headache. Her head hurt so badly, so she took a sedative.

But that didn't help. It made it worse. Finally, she gave up on sleep. So she took out a pencil and turned on the light, drawing until her head drooped and she finally fell asleep.

Trista had awful dreams that night. But nothing was worse than the repeating nightmare: her dad holding a scalding stick with an eye symbol on it, ready to press it to her back.

********

The next morning, Trista did not feel refreshed. Not at all. But the yummy smell of mallowmelt kinda made it better.

Her mom, Lady Chanda, was waiting downstairs and drinking tea with her dad, Lord Rile.

"Mallowmelt?" her mom asked.

Mmm, mallowmelt, she thought. That was weird. It felt different, like she had pushed it out of her brain.

Her dad's head snapped up. "What?"

She looked at him. "W-what?"

He looked at her. "I heard your voice. In my head. May I have permission to enter your mind?"

" Yes... "

He walked over and pressed his fingers over her temples. He said nothing for five minutes. On the sixth, he said, "That is a mind of a Telepath. Think something; try to push it out of your brain."

I love you? She tried.

Her father grinned. "You’re a Hydrokinetic and a Telepath! Just think about it! You will be the first person ever to have that mix of abilities!"

Trista did. And she fainted. But before she blacked out, she felt extreme pain in her head, and then she fell into the nothingness.

Chapter two:

Trista woke up and got out of bed. She was going to be late for Foxfire.

Wait. Why was she in her Foxfire uniform?

Oh no. No, no, no, no. She flopped back on her bed and pulled the covers over her face.

She never asked to be a Telepath. Why was it that everything she did to try to fit in, she always had to be different? The first year of Foxfire, she had wanted to manifest as a Cryokinetic. Everyone had made fun of her.

The second year of Foxfire, she had manifested as a Hydrokinetic, and Wichita Heks had had a very fun time teasing Trista about it.

The third year, Trista accidentally flooded her top floor, so she had lived with Uncle Elwin until they had gotten it cleaned up,  and that was when she had met Flynn.

Before Trista could finish her train of thought, her mother opened the door.

"Hi honey. Do you have a headache?"

Now that she mentioned it... "Yes."

" Elwin says to drink those before he comes in. You must be hungry. " she pointed to a tray of vials.

Trista drank them all as her mom explained that Trista had hit her head on the book shelf when she fainted.

But she had a feeling her mom was hiding something. "How long have i been out?"

her mom hesitated. "Well... Um... Forty-eight hours."

Trista almost spit out a disgusting elixir. "WHAT?"

*******

Trista fumed for the rest of the day. She was stuck on bed rest. Which was also how she found out that when she was angry, water swirled around her wrist in runes, spelling out words she couldn't understand nor could anyone else.

She knew from experience that it also happened when she was nervous or excited. It kinda stunk.

Trista was about to fall asleep when her dad's head peeked through the door.

"I have to go discuss possible Mentors for you. Love you." He turned to go out the door.

"Wait!"

" What? "

"I just... Wanted to know my possible Mentors?"

" Oh. I was thinking about Lord Fitzroy or Sir Caspian. Lord Fitzroy lacks experience, but he is an excellent Telepath, and I thought it would help to ha ave it be someone you know personally. Anyway, goodbye, i love you, and stay in bed! "

"Yes, dad." He closed the door.

Trista missed her dad when he was gone, which was often.

Trista wasn't sure what to think about Lord Fitzroy. She wasn't that familiar with her famous cousin. She had been to a few of the Vackers banquets

But she didn't know them that well besides Aunt Della, who was her dad's sister.

Trista shivered under the covers. She buried herself deep in the covers, and practiced Hydrokinesis. She would think something she wanted to make, try to make it while closing her eyes, and then opened them. She wasn't very good at it, but she was getting better.

Soon enough, she fell asleep.

Trista felt sick to her stomach. Her dad wouldn't tell her who her Telepathy Mentor was. But that wasn't even the worst part. He had told her that everyone knew she was a Telepath, which scared her. She was going to have to lay lower than usual. But laying low when everyone knew wasn't going to happen, so instead she braided her thick hair into the fattest braid she had ever seen. It took a while, but finally her knee length hair was up to her waist in a braid.

She considered putting earrings in, but that would be going to far.

When she finally got downstairs for breakfast, her mom and dad were gone, and there was a note.

'be back by Sunday. Love u, bye'

Trista sighed. Her mother and father where always going out on dates. Sometimes they were gone for hours, minutes, or sometimes three days. It was really random. But they knew she could take care of herself, so she sucked it up and reminded herself that they still loved her.

Breakfast was jujasnin berry, a yummy spicy fruit that was purple. She stuffed it in her mouth and went up to the Leapmaster 900.

"Foxfire!" she yelled. She was going to be late. On th e first week of school.

a single crystal dropped down, catching the light.

Trista took a deep breath, and stepped into the light.

Trista heard whispers as she walked into the first floor for orientation.

"There's the Telepath"

"I heard she had two abilities before.'

"I heard she had three," one replied back

"Wait, I thought she was a Hydrokinetic. "

"Isn't she in Level Five? I thought people stopped manifesting at level four!"

''“Cool. I always wanted to be a Telepath. I’m stuck with Empath.”''

''“Talk about it. I’m stuck with lame Hydrokinesis.”''

“Water is cool,”

“Says the Technopath.”

“Uh, it’s not that cool.”

“Is to.”

“You guys, stop arguing.”

“Fine.”

“Anyways, what’s her name?”

“I think it’s Trisha…”

“Nah, that doesn’t sound right.”

''“True. I wonder what her name is, then.”''

''“Meh. I’ll ask her to sit with us at lunch.”''

“Yeet!”

“What does yeet even mean?”

''“I don’t know? I think it means ‘physic’  but I also think it means to ‘throw someone violently or disturbingly off a cliff’”''

“I would snort, but I don’t want to attract unwanted attention.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I think the Shade is listening to us.”

“What Shade?”

''“No one knows her name or what she looks like. She always is covered in shadows, but I think I can see her outline watching us sometimes.”''

“Creepy.”

''“Shades are creepy. It’s a fact.”''

''“Yeah. I heard Lady Linh had a brother once who was a Shade.”''

''“I did to. I wonder what happened to him.”''

“Me to.”

Trista bloomed with pride inside. People were jealous of her?

That had never happened before.

They went on and on until Magnate Leto called for attention.

Even then, they went on. Trista was glad when orientation was over. When she finally got to the atrium, a note was pinned to her locker.

'Instead of alchemy, you will be attending Telepathy session with Lord Fitzroy

Sophie’s Point Of View

She couldn't decide.

Keefe.

Or Fitz.

Fitz, or Keefe.

Fitz had proposed first.

Keefe had proposed hours later.

She hated that she had to tell them both she would think about it.

Hours ago. Fitz had proposed to her. An hour ago, Keefe had proposed.

The obvious choice would be Fitz.

But... Keefe needed her.

Sophie couldn't decide. And she had a feeling it would be that way for a long time.



Trista hurried out of t he atrium. She was going to be late.

But when she got to the door, she froze, to s cared to open it.

Lord Fitzroy opened the door.

"Hello, Trista. I’m sorry you had an interesting week."

She noticed that he took no notice she was late. Maybe he was just being nice, but most likely he hadn't noticed.

"Take a seat. We have a few things to talk about. Do you know any Telepath rules? "

"Never enter a person's mind without asking their permission and don't keep anything from the Council?"

“Good. I will tell you the rest and then i will teach you how to shield. "

He then launched into a deep lecture about Telepath rules. It only took thirty minutes, but it felt like forever.

Then he pulled out a blue leaping crystal. "I will teach you how to shield now.'

He took her hand, and they stepped into the light.

They leaped to a Forbidden City. Trista shouldn't have been surprised; she knew that shielding was essential for learning Telepathy, but still. She was in a Forbidden City.

Then the headache came. She clutched her head.

"I'm sorry. Here, let me t teach you how to-"

He was interrupted  by a particularly loud thought.

' Telepaths! I know you can hear me! Get out of my heeeeeeeaaaaaadddddd!'

Lord Fitzroy turned pale. "A-amy? Is that you?"

“Who’s Amy?”

"Sophie's human half sister. It must be her daughter. But I don't know-"

Maybe that was a stupid idea. No one can hear me. But better be safer than sorry.

Lord Fitzroy breathed. "Okay, new plan. You’re going to make friends with her."

He pointed to a girl with pale skin, brown hair, and green eyes. She was going up and down on a board with chain s attached to it. The atrocious things humans did.

"What about my clothes?" She looked down at her c ape, blouse, mini skirt, and leggings.

"Take off your cape. The rest just looks like a school uniform.

She took off her cape and stuck it in her bag.

Trista reluctantly sat on a chain board. She was getting up the courage to introduce herself when the  girl said, " hi! I’m Livvy! Who are you? "

''Lord Fitzroy? What am I?''

''First of all, you're Alicia. Second of all, please just call me Fitz. I am not that into that type of formalities. I’m impressed with your transmitting skills. ''

Thank you.

"I'm Alicia."

" Cool! How old are you? "

In human years you are fourteen, Fitz transmitted  before Trista could as k.

"I'm fourteen, you?"

" I’m fourteen. But I talk really, really fast so you have to listen to me. "

Trista giggled.

''Wait a minute. She just spoke to you in the enlightened language. ''

She did?

Yes. Ask her who her mom is.

"Who is your mom?"

"Amy Freeman. Why?"

She heard a string of thoughts come in.

''Oh geez. She's  pretty. I wonder if she is a model. Wait a minute. Mom said elves where pretty. I should...''

''If you can hear me, I know you are an elf. You look like one. Are all elves Telepaths or is it just you and Aunt  Sophie?''

Now what?

I am an elf, I am a Telepath, but… I’m a hydrokinetic to. She transmitted before she could change her mind.

Livvy’s eyes widened in surprise. “THAT’S NEVER WORKED BEFORE! COOOOOL!”

''Trista! Oh well. Ask her to take us to her mom.''

"Can you take us to your mom? "

" Yes. "

"Okay! Come on!"

Livvy led them to a small street, where all the houses where tiny and looked exactly the same.

She walked up a small path to a door that led to a small house. It was blue, but it looked really squished.

"Let me go tell my mom she has visitors." Livvy opened the door and cam e back out a minute later

Amy was washing dishes when they came in.

She looked up and dropped a plate. "F - fitz?"

The plate floated back up to the counter. Trista hadn't done it. Fit z must have. But he looked just as surprised as she was. But there weren't any other elves in the room, so who else would have done it?

"We have much to talk about," Fitz said to Trista, and something about the look in his eyes said, go away. if you would like to know how to shield, imagine a invisible wall around your mind.

So Livvy and Trista went upstairs.

"Okay, first of all, what's your real name. Alicia is human. So tell me your real one."

"Sorry. It's Trista. Trista Logner."

" Ok! Do you have siblings? I have one. He's four and his name is Quinlin. He's soooooooo cute.”

"No. Quinlin?"

" Yeah. Apparently my mom was taken care of by these people in the elvin world named Quinlin and Livvy. Don't ask I don't know. "

She took Trista's hand and didn't let go. For a few minutes she said nothing.

Trista flicked the water away from her wrist. She wasn't going to do this. Not now.

" I think we were made to be friends, " Livvy said suddenly, her green emerald eyes meeting Trista 's. Trista hadn't noticed the cobalt blue flecks in them before.

"Really? Why?"

“I… don’t really know how to tell you. Are you blocking me, or do you already know?”

“I would never violate your privacy. I actually just came here to learn how to shield and I heard you…”

“Oh. You heard that, did you? Heh heh. I’m kind of weird. I’m always reading books about Telepaths. It kind of helps with my descrying.”

Livvy’s eyes widened and she put her hand over her mouth.

"You’re a descryer?"

" Um...  I’m…”

Trista realized she was missing something. Something vital.

"Livvy... Who's your father?"

"Umm..."

But she knew. She knew why her pale skin and brown hair looked so familiar. Even the cobalt blue flecks.

But it wasn't possible. It wasn't logical.

But someone had used telekinesis. And it hadn't been Trista or her Mentor.

But... Councilors weren't supposed to get married.

apparently, one had. One thought he wouldn't get caught. One who was one of the most trusted members of the Council.

Oh no. No. No. No. No. No.

This... Would change everything.

Chapter  4

"It's Councilor Terik, isn't it. "

It wasn't a question. And Livvy didn't answer.

"Isn't it?"

" Yes. I’m going to get in so much trouble if you tell. Mom says we might die. So promise me you won't tell. "​

"Of course not. But... How is he here. When he is supposed to be at the Council? How would that even work? "

"He... Left."

"What do you mean?"

"He knew the Council suspected something. So he said 'bye, I love you, and take care of your soon to be brother. He will need it. See you soon.' I wish i knew why he said see you soon. I haven't seen him in four and a half years."

"I'm sorry. But... Why did you trust me at the chain board?"

She snorted a laugh. " You mean the swing? Because... I kinda had this idea i should trust you.  Maybe its just because I'm a Descryer. But... I don't know. Wanna see Quinlin? "

"Um...sure."

Livvy took five steps and opened the door. What a tiny house. Five steps more and she was at Quinlin's room.

"Quinlin."

A small boy looked up.

If they were trying to hide the fact that Terik was his dad, they weren't doing a good job. Ri ght down to his broad chin and cobalt blue eyes, they might as well have been twins.

"What? Im plawing with my cwas. Who is that?"

" Quinlin, this is Trista. Trista, this is Quinlin."

She gripped Trista's hand. Trista wasn't sure why.

"Did you just... ?"

" Yes. Not in front of Quin. It’s to... Interesting, " Livvy said in an ominous tone.

"What is THAT supposed to mean?"

"Not in front of Quinlin."

Livvy led Trista back to her room.

"Don’t freak.'

"I won’t."

She took a deep breath. "Don't trust anyone you love. They... They will betray you, Triss. If you trust them, darkness will come. Darkness you can never even imagine. Darkness... It won't end. You would be evil. Evil, Trista. But I see hope. If you listen to me. Listen to me! A group of people, the Rebelhearts. They will be there, if you try to get up, into the light. If you try to save your loved ones, you will die. S o don't, for the sake of you and a ll the earth."

Trista couldn't speak. What came out of her mouth was, "Tahw?"

( which was what backwards.)

"I know freaked you out. I'm sorry. But that's your destiny. Choose to save yourself."

Fitz walked in the door before she cou ld reply. " It's time to go. Don't forget your cape. "

Trista looked longingly at Livvy before she closed the door.

Fitz held the crystal up to a tiny window, and they stepped into the light.

Trista couldn't  get over it. She was shakin g, she was so scared. But she sucked it up.

At lunch she took a tray and took random food, wanting to get out of the cafeteria as soon as she could. But a girl with teal hair, teal eyes, and dark brown skin stopped her before she walked to her empty table.

"Hi! I'm Azule! You're Trista, right?"

" Um... Yes? "

" I was wondering if you would like to sit with us!We're all Hydrokinetics! Well, except we have a Guster and an Empath, but ya know most of us are! Come on! "

"Ok... Wait. Are you a Vacker?"

"I get that. A lot. But no. I'm a Sencen. My fourteenth cousin is Keefe! Way back I have a Vacker great-something.”

She led Trista to a table filled with people.

"Hi!" said one of the girls.

Trista knew who they were. Well, she knew the girl (not Azule, this was someone named Shaynia) who had spoken to her. Her twin (Trista had nothing against twins) Tia, was sitting at another table.

“Ok, so, this is us,” Azule said, gesturing at the table. She stared at one of the boys until he spoke.

He smoothed his black hair. “Oh. Hi. I’m Shrac. You’re Trista, right?”

“Yeah. Trista.”

One by one, they introduced themselves. A girl with red hair was named Ritt, another with almost-black eyes named Alimya. A girl who seemed to be Azule’s closest friend was named Lumy (her name was Luner, but she preferred Lumy.)  A boy with blue stripes in his hair was named Ashiletar, he was a Hydrokinetic. They all were, except the Guster and Empath. The Guster was a girl named WJ (Wim Jayne) and the Empath was a boy named Sim. Both of them were brother and sister, but they seemed to have a Hydrokinetic sister they never talked about.

This was fine with Trista.

Everyone talked and chatted, and Trista to.

This had to be the absolute best day of her life.



Trista was sitting underwater. Meditating. Practicing keeping air bubbles underwater so she could breathe.

She was just about to swim up when a giant water hand grabbed her out and put a cloth over her mouth.

"Are you sure...?" He asked as Trista fought the sleep coming. No. She trusted Livvy. But she never would have thought it would be her dad.

" I'm sure. This the only way to get to my snobby little brother Fitz. And the only way to prove your trustworthiness. Blindfold her. "

Rough hands (her father's, she assumed) put a blindfold on her. She couldn't fight the darkness anymore.

She was falling, falling into the darkness. Then her registration pendant was cut off her neck, making her head throb and her falling deeper.

She knew she would never get out.

Chapter 5

Trista was in and out. Out and in. The world didn't make sense. Nothing and everything made sense all at the same time. But Trista couldn't get rid of the o ne question running through her head.

Who was she?

She knew her name was Trista. But that was all she knew. Was she a she? Or a he? What even was a he?

Trista coughed, breaking her out of her haze.

I'm Trista. The Hydrokinetic. A girl. Trista Logner, who had just been kidnapped by her own parent. Or is mom involved to?

She honestly didn't want to know.

Her attempt to open her eyes failed.

So she tried.

And tried

And tried.

It took a long time. But she finally did it.

She never thought she would celebrate over such a little feat.

But she did.

But as soon as she opened them, her eyes hurt so much. They felt like they were being ripped off.

Trista kept them open.

The room she was in was a dark, dreary cell. Chains covered her hands, wrists, and feet. A gag was covering her mouth.

And she had a circlet around her head. It hurt. And she couldn't even use Hydrokinesis to keep herself entertained.

Something was blocking it.

Something like a Telepathy restrictor.

But her telepathy worked.

She checked. She could hear thoughts of one person who admittedly sounded like her dad.

It took all her energy to check if her telepathy still worked.

Slowly, she let the sleep take her away.

Trista woke up to quiet whispers.

"She needs food," her mother said in a hushed voice.

" we don't have the funds to feed her every meal. I can do one meal every two days,' said a woman with high heels on- Trista could hear them clicking in a circle.

"I know what you are goin g through. I had the same problem with my.son. Now my son thinks I'm dead. But still. It's okay to have a tiny bit of mercu. But don't give to much. You know what will happen if you do."

" i do. But... Is she awake? " her mom asked when Trista accidentally made a scuffling noise.

Trista let her body fall limp as (she assumed it was lady Gisela) walked over. She tried to feel emotionless, but that was hard, so she just thought of all the boring memories she had.

Lady Gisela touched her arm.

"No."

They walked out of the room.

Now.

Trista needed to find a way to get out of this mess.

But how?

Her hands had metal over them. She couldn't even move her fingers, much less pick a lock.

she forced her eyes open. the room made her cough, it was so damp. She started coughing uncontrollably.

"She'sssssss awake.” Someone hissed.

"Took her long enough," an accented voice said.

She assumed it was Alvar's, her stupid cousin.

"Trista. Answer us. Are you awake? "

Her coughing was horrible. Her gag stopped her from coughing. It didn't feel good.

"Which one of you idiots didn't take the gag off!"

Rough hands grabbed the gag an d ripped it off. Trista coughed and felt better. But she couldn't stop coughing.

"Leave her alone with me." The creepy tone said.

Feet shuffled out the door.

A person kneeled down and tilted her chin up with his hand.

"I'm sorry we have to do this, my dear. Feel free to roam around and be as comfortable as possible."

He laughed. Trista was angry.

She told the water it was boiling as she gathered it out of the air. It hurt to use Hydrokinesis, but she did it anyways. What she was about to do to Alvar would wipe the smirk off his face.

“You know, you would get food if you cooperate.”

“Never,” she hissed through her teeth.

She told the water it was scalding.

“Positive? Our side is the side that will win.”

“She’ll defeat you,” she said through clenched teeth. The water was heating up.

“Who, exactly? The Moonlark? Yeah, I don’t think so. She obviously didn’t do a good job of getting rid of us last time.”

She was shaking with anger. He didn’t know what he was talking about. “SPLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” she shouted through clenched teeth.

Alvar turned pale as the water aimed at his face. She told the water it was volcanic, then she splashed it in his face.

She smiled when he screamed with agony.

One small victory, for now.

He vanished and the door slammed. She could swear he hissed, “You’ll regret this.”



Trista shook with fear as a creepy voice added, "no one understands the Neverseen or the Ever eyes or whatever you may like to call u s. So we figured we should make them know we are still here. Our cause is to get rid of humans - that's why we fight. The only thing that could stop us is the Moonlark and her bratty friends. The only way to get to the Moonlark is through her friends -"

Trista wasn't sure off this was a good idea, but she did it anyways. "Blah blah, reveal sec ret evil plan, yawn,  can't you guys do anything without bragging??"

T he person snapped his or her fingers and the room became brighter with just the right amount of creepiness.

The person was shown more clearly now.

It wasn't anyone she knew personally.

But she knew who it was.

No.

She was dead.

It wasn't possible.

But lots of things were impossible.

Most them had happened to Trista.

She had heard myths they never found the body.

She knew they were true now.

She laughed. " I don't believe we've met. Hello. My name is Trix. "

Trista felt her head spin. Why was the world turning?

Blackness.

She was floating.

in blackness. Why is there an empty void?

Trista practiced Hydrokinesis.

She swirled water around her.

Her head.

Her waist.

Her legs.

Water danced at her finger tips.

She started coughing.

it kind of ruined the sense of aw and wonder.

She coughed and coughed until it hurt and she couldn't breathe.

She was sick.

She would die.

She.knew.it.

The air was to damp. She had caught a bug.

Something bad.

She might as well just die.

Trista woke up coughing. Her chains around her hand s were gone. She was in the same room, but in a corner. It was dark. And much damper than before. The air stank. It was horrid. She was cold.

She knew she would die.

Trista woke up.

How long had she been asleep?

She didn't remember falling asleep.

She was still in the corner, but voices were talking.

"What do we do with her? She's sick. But we need her," said a creepy accented voice that was probably Alvar's.

"We need a doctor,” said Lady Gisela.

"Not one to important. An apprentice, maybe?"

"There is that boy. The one whose parents are Dex and Marella. Is his name Flynn?"

" Yes. We should talk about it to Trix. "

"I'll do it."

"Thank you."

Trista had struggled for hours trying to get out of her chains.

She hadn't had any luck. Flynn was going to get kidnapped... Because of her. Now he would never like her back.

Silently, she sobbed. Why did everything in her life go wrong?

She sighed and rubbed her knuckles.

She coughed. It was going to be a long day.

==

Dex wasn't ready to send his son off to get kidnapped. It reminded him way to much of when he and Sophie w ere little.

Flynn seemed ready. Maybe slightly to ready. Overly confident. Like his mom.

Dex sighed and fiddled with a vial on the counter. Marella was making sure Flynn would be ready to go at all times, Samantha was playing with Oceana, and Flynn was with Marella. He had no idea where Thorne was.

Omi (his niece) walked in.

"Where is Sama?"

“playing with Ocea. "

"Where?"

"Upstairs, in their room."

Dex sighed again. Why couldn't someone else be kidnapped?

""""""""

Trista waited for Flynn. Well, she tried anyway. It was hard to not fall asleep.

Then she heard his familiar voice.

She was on a bed. Still the same room. But on a bed, nonetheless! She saw bright lights flashing around her.

But she didn't really see them

She was gone in an instant.

Trista woke up to an argument.

"It's to damp in here! It has made her sick!"

" just tell us what elixirs you need. "

"I need her to be MOVED TO A DIFFERENT ROOM!"

"Fiiine."

Trista pretended to be asleep as the person unlocked her chains and picked her up. She knew she should probably punch him in the face, but she was tired.

So she pretended to wake up.

She opened her eyes. " Mmmmffff. "

"Shut up," said the man. “I wouldn’t recommend struggling. Your boyfriend will suffer if you do.”

She held still and closed her eyes.

The air was better here. Much better here.



Fitz paced back and forth. He knew they had kidnapped Trista because they wanted to get to him.

Irritability, they had been right.

Worse, Sophie still hadn't answered him. He thought she had wanted this. He thought that was kind of the point of them dating.

Honestly, she was ignoring him.

So he decided to reach out.

He called and called for her. But it didn't work. She must be blocking him. He didn't even think she knew about Trista.

He tried hailing her.

Nothing.

Again.

Nothing.

And again.

Nothing.



“Trista. Wake up,”

She didn’t listen. She was happy here.

Safe.

Content.

Wherever “here” was, it was perfect.

Bright light flashed in her eyes.

“Trista!” came a louder voice.

“Mmpf,” she said, wondering who woke her up.

It was Flynn. “I need you to open up your thoughts to mine,” he whispered.

She did.

I need you to send a message to Lord Fitzroy, said his voice  in his head.

“tired.”

''Please… tell him anything. Sophie will be able to track us down if you can.''

“I will… try.”

Ok.

She mustered up all her energy to send a loud transmission.

''Fitz! ''She tried. F'I'TZ! she tried louder. No answer.

She only had one try left before her energy was gone.

FITZ!

This time, there was an answer.

''Trista? Is that really you?''

''Yes. ''

Hope was powerful. She had at least a little more strength.

''Trista! Are you ok? Who kidnapped you? Where are you?''

I’m… fine.

Father… is he…

Alright?

No, is he right there.

 

 

''Um, no. He is investigating your disappearance. Also you may want to stop sending such… loud transmissions. It probably drains your mental energy.''

''Call off the dumb search. I know who kidnapped me…''

''Trista? ''Fitz asked when she didn’t continue. Who kidnapped you?

Punch my father in the face when you… see… him.

What???

Mhm.

''Okay, now this changes things. First, I’m going to get you with Sophie. Now I have some… business to attend to.''

He was silent after that.

A sweet, rather overly concerned voice filled Trista’s head.

Are you positive you are alright?

… sure… Trista was tired. Maybe if she rested for a tiny bit….

''Trista! Please, don’t break the-''

To late.

Trista slipped back into the void.



Water was splashing… again.

Diving.

Singing.

Splashing.

No one knew it sang. When the ripples rippled, a song of quietness was sung. Peace. When droplets fell, they were singing sad songs. Songs of the people who had died. People who were never meant to die.

People who were ''special. ''

She could feel the water. No – understand the water. It was amazing.

Why hadn’t she felt this before?

In a yard, a girl laughed as a tiny stream tickled her feet. The stream laughed to, but it wasn’t heard.

On a shore, a little boy shrieked with joy as a wave splashed over him, hugging him and feeling… loved?

A current took a turtle around the ocean. The current thought it was fun to give rides – and it was helpful for the sea turtle.

A log slowly drifted down a river.

A person was splashing in water.

A baby was stomping in puddles. A human one.

A deer was sipping water from a stream.

A fish was swimming upstream.

And finally, a boy was walking around the river. He got closer and closer… and he fell in.

“NO!” screamed Trista

She controlled the water. Why shouldn’t she save him?

“RIVER!” she shouted. “PUT HIM BACK”

Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine, said the river. Snaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.

“No,” she said. “NOT YUMMY!”

''Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees. Scruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuumptious… like fiiiiiiiiiiiiishy''

“Icky,” she tried. “Flesh icky.”

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee wannnnnnnnnnnnnnnts snaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

“No snack. That is little boy.”

Booooooooooooooooy?

“Human boy! Yes!”

Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmman maddddde me.

“Yes. Human made you. Do you really think you should eat a human boy?”

Nooooooooooooooooo…

“Spit him out, then,” she said, feeling her shoulders relax.

The river spit him out.

“Fishy are snack,” she tried, “not humans. Not ever humans.”

Ever?

“Ever. Go… munch on some fishy,” she said feeling horrible about herself. Fish were better  than a human, though.

The river happily munched on some fish.

Trista was rather pleased with herself.

Who else could do that?

But… how had she done that?

A dream. She’d had a strange dream a few… hours ago? Days? Weeks?

“Trista.”

“Yes?”

“Are you alive?”

“Ummmm… I don’t know.”

''“Trista. Do you know why your middle name is Perpetua?”''

“It’s what my parents named me,” she said softly.

''“No. It’s what we named you.”''

“Who is we?”

“Us.”

Trista knew better than to question whoever this was further.

''“Your name comes from a human saint. She was a hero, even in death.”''

“What does… what are ‘we’ telling me?”

“You are not ready to die.”

“I like it here.”

''“YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE. WAKE UP, TRISTA, WAKE UP FROM YOUR DREAMS.”''

''“Um… fine. Will I talk to ‘we’ again?”''

“Many times.”

“Goodbye.”

''“Goodbye, Trista. We bless you with true Hydrokinesis.”''

She couldn’t help wondering who We was.



Trista bolted awake. She couldn’t see. She couldn’t feel.

Well. She could hear. At least she wasn’t useless.

Oh, the headache. It hurt so much.

Each breathe was a fight. Each breathe she had to make herself breathe.

Soft hands picked her up.

Told her, “Trista… breathe.”

She took one deep breath.

“Wake up.”

She was awake. She was currently stuck doing nothing.

Nothing at all.

And she heard an enormous fight.

“Trista, can you carry your own weight? I know you are awake. I can hear you.”

Can’t, she told the person who could “hear” her.

“Okay.”

The person sighed. “Get some rest. You need it. Don’t die though.”

******************************************

Drifting. She was drifting. Floating, watching, observing, swimming, breathing.

Drifting.

It was a funny word, drifting was. It could literaly describe many things.

Water streamed off of a waterfall. Not gushing, really. Just... Streaming.

Currents flooded around the earth. She could feel them. Sort of see them. It was weird.

Waves danced. Like, really danced. No one else could see that they were actually dancing. But they were. Sweeping moves, gushing moves, moves that Trista couldn’t describe.

It was amazing.

Really, truly amazing.

Nothing could stop Trista. Not the Rebelhearts, not the Neverseen, not her parents. She was unstoppable. And it...

Was going to stay that way.



Moving water.

Churning water.

Runic water spelling words that seemed to disappear.from trista's memory the second she read them. Why was it all so... Foggy.

Somewhere, she knew she was dreaming and she needed to wake up. But that somewhere wasn't quite there yet. Yet. Not yet. Weird word, yet was.

Why...

Why was she wet.

She was soaking.

Drenched.

She jolted awake and screamed.

Elwin's startled face looked at her.

Then he grinned. “You're awake! Finally! YOU SCARED ME!” He buried his face in his hands as he sank into a chair. "Don't... Do that again."

" What? "

"Trista, do you have any idea how long you were asleep?"

"No."

" ​​Two weeks. Not counting how long you have been missing. I just... Nope. Not going there. "

“How… long have I been,” she coughed, “…missing.”

“Auru?”

A green-toothed gnome smiled at Elwin. “Yes?”

“Could you get some water and food?”

She looked at Trista. “Of course.”

The gnome hobbled out of the room.

Auru was a gnome that worked at Elwin’s house, which meant she was probably in his house. She wasn’t in a room she recognized.

Elwin turned back around. “Trista. You’ve been missing for over two months. We’d thought we’d lost you.”

“Two months…” she said, trying to wrap her mind around it.

She was out… for a long time.

Elwin sat down and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Don’t ever do that again.”

She had a feeling he wasn’t talking about getting kidnapped. “What?”

He looked at her. “Flynn said you stopped breathing for five hours.”

Trista looked up at him.

She wasn’t really sure what to say to that. “Is Flynn okay?”

“Mhm. Untouched, mostly.”

“How… how am I here?”

Elwin shook his head. “Are you sure you want to go there?”

She nodded.

“It’s… a long story. The Black Swan knew Flynn was going to get kidnapped. So they sewed some trackers in his clothes. But when he finally did, the signal from the trackers was completely gone, no trace of it ever existing. When you transmitted to Fitz, Sophie had a basic idea of where you were, but we still couldn’t find you. Our best Technopath hacked the area searching for any technology signals, and we found on from a null. The Technopath hacked the null and approved the tracking signals. We found you after that.”

Trista shuddered.

Elwin took her hand in his. “Don’t ever get sick again. Promise me.”

She could tell he meant it. “I promise, but I don’t know if I can keep.”

“For me, right now, that is enough for me.”

Chapter 6

One Month Later…

Trista woke up and stretched. Water swirled around her wrists and she tried (and failed) to flick it away. The water wouldn’t go away. Not when Lady Linh tried, not when she tried, not when her friends tried.

It was always there.

Every.

Single.

Day.

She could only read one of the runes. “Powerful.”

Whatever that meant.

And the water-dreams. Yeah, they were there every time she went to sleep.

They were kind of cool, actually. They were her escape from the world.

Like today. Fitz wanted to see her memory of her kidnapping. Trista had put it off and escaped it for a long time, but he kept insisting. So today was going to be a awful day.

Maybe if she…

Nah.

Might as well do it today and get it over with.



“You ready?” Fitz asked as he placed his hands on her temples.

Not even remotely, she thought at him.

You’re probably correct. Fitz transmitted.

She smiled slightly. Then she brought the memory up, one she had hidden deep in her mind.



Fitz was overwhelmed by Trista’s memories. Every. Single. Detail. Perfect.

She must have photographic memory, which reminded him of Sophie way more than he would like to admit. It was also extra terrifying – considering which memory he was looking at.

So, at first Trista was practicing Hydrokinesis underwater. What type was a mystery.

Then hands grabbed her out of the water – so, there had to be a Hydrokinetic with the Neverseen because that was like fifty feet under the water. It wasn’t Trista’s dad – he was a Polyglot.

Trista struggled- but it was no use, and eventually she gave up. She tried not breathing the cloth in, but the cloth kept getting pressed tighter against her mouth.

But she heard one thing before she passed out.

“Alvar.”

Great. He was alive.

For a while… she was stuck in a void? Well, at least she wasn’t in pain.

Then he heard the voice he wished he could forget. Lady Gisela. Poor Keefe. He was going to be devastated.

Trista’s mom was there to.

He smiled when she splashed Alvar in the face with scalding water. He so deserved it.

The rest of the memory played – and Fitz drew shaking fingers away from her temples. He felt like there was a part missing - or two. He didn’t question her.

He also found it strange she was wearing gloves, but it was winter, so he let it go.

“That was far closer a call than I had been led to believe,” he commented and Trista looked anywhere but at him.

“I guess.”

“What did Livvy warn you about?”

“Um… nothing!” she said – a little too quickly.

“Okay. Let’s try this again, honestly this time.”

Trista slumped. “Fine. But it’s really, really hard to explain…”

“So… what did she warn you about?” he asked when she didn’t say anything else.

“Livvy… she’s half elf.”

As the words took place in his mind, Fitz struggled to understand them. “How… how is that even… how is that even possible?”

“It’s… easier for you to see.”

She transmitted the memory to him.

“You… are getting better at telepathy.”

As the memory replayed in his head, Fitz was more than overwhelmed.

Terik… he was a Councilor. If anyone ever found out about this, he would surely be kicked off the council.

And Livvy was a Descryer. How on earth would they ever hide that?

And… the most important question.

Did Sophie know?

And if she did… was she hiding it from him?



Trista looked at the blue leaping crystal Fitz had given her. It only had one facet, but that was enough.

Enough to get to Livvy’s house.

He’d said not to use it to often or the Council might get suspicious.

Whatever.

She was going to use now.

But first, she leaped to Everglen, her house.

Yup, her ''house. ''For now, at least. Elwin had offered, but Della insisted that she stayed here, so…

“Hey, Aunt Della?” She shouted down the stairs.

“Yes?”

“I’m going somewhere. I’ll be back in a few hours, okay?”

“That’s fine, but be back by supper,” Della shouted back.

Trista loved Della. She never really questioned her, just told her to be back by supper. Alden… eh. He just didn’t really feel like an uncle, more of like an old family friend who was overly concerned.

Trista put on some legging and a boring waist-length tunic and leaped to America.

She stopped at a human store and bought some clothes - the cashier had looked suspicious, but maybe that was just because of Trista’s strange accent. She could tell she had one, because every time she spoke the words came out weird and everyone looked at her strangely.

After, she walked back to Livvy’s house, not daring to light leap with so many humans around. Fitz was going to teach her how to be a Washer, but she had only learned basic skills and didn’t want to risk it.

She knocked on the door.

Livvy opened it. “I’m not interested, don’t come back,” she said, and slammed the door after she muttered, “dumb solicitors.”

Solicitor?

Trista knocked again.

“What is wrong with you people? I told you to go away, I’m not interested in your stuff.”

“Livvy,” she whisper-yelled, “It’s me!”

“Who?”

“IT’S TRISTA!”

“WHAT! Oh, hi Trista! I missed you sooooo much! Also, really sorry, but people have been knocking on my door all day and I was soooo tired of it!”

Trista rolled her eyes as Livvy led her up to her room.

“Ok, first of all. Why do you have human clothes in your hand and a thousand dollars?”

Trista looked down at the seemingly meaningless money in her hand. “Isn’t this… kind of normal?”

“NO! It’s so not normal! How did you even walk out of the store with that amount?”

“I… don’t know?”

Livvy snorted. “You elves are weird.”

“You’re one to, you know.”

“Not really. I mean, I’m half human. I doubt the indefinite lifespan comes with being half-human.”

“I can look up people who were half-elf, if you want. There might even still be some in the lost cities, but I have to do a lot of digging to find out.”

“Thanks?”

Trista rolled her eyes. “Anyways. What’s up with you?”

“Meh. Boring stuff. I got to see my dad, or I thought it was my dad, because he was sitting in a car staring at my house for like, five minutes. It might not have been him, though.”

“That’s cool.”

Livvy looked at her. “Did my warning…?”

Trista slumped. “I might need to sit down if I’m going to tell you this.”

“Fine with me. I don’t really care where you sit, as long as you don’t sit on Quinlin.”

Trista smiled halfheartedly. She sat down in one of the chairs, which was tiny.

“So… what happened? Was it…” Livvy’s voice trailed off.

Trista launched into a lengthy explanation, which wore her out way more than she had expected.

Livvy put her hand on Trista’s shoulder. “I’m… so sorry. If only my power could prevent…”

“It’s fine,” Trista interrupted.

Livvy fingered her necklace with a crystal around it. It looked like a home crystal, but with more facets.

“Where’d you get that?”

“It was a gift from my mother. Do you mind if I try another one?”

Trista held her hand out. “I guess.”

Livvy closed her eyes. “It’s still a little of the same. Don’t try to save them, only betrayal comes,” she said, the last two words a whisper. “There’s something else, though. Something your destiny was uncertain of before. You’ll be… powerful. Perhaps more powerful than anyone else. But beware,” ominously, “It can turn against you and you’ll become thirsty for power. Then you-”

She stopped.

“What?” Trista asked, afraid of the answer.

“You’ll become so thirsty for power that you will cease to exist. I don’t know how. Wait,” she said as Trista tried to pull her hand away. “There’s more. Those… letters.”

“Runes? Around my wrist?”

“Runes. Whatever. They’ll go away if you join the wrong side. Your powers will go away if you join the wrong side. Completely.”

“Like, no Hydrokinesis?”

“Maybe like, a little. But basically none.”

Trista’s runes slipped away, like they melted. And then they came back. “That’s not Descrying, Livvy.”

She was to… prophetic. Ok, maybe it was a little more powerful descrying. “Well, it’s not like any descrying I’ve ever seen.”

Livvy stared silently at the floor. “I’ve suspected before that my power is different. It may be because I’m half human. But I have reasons to suspect that there might be another reason. I just have to find out what that reason is.”

None of them really knew what to say to that. Livvy twisted the necklace she was wearing.

“That looks like a leaping crystal. Do you mind if I try it?”

“We try it.”

Trista held the crystal up to a nearby window. “Focus. I’ll try to spare some of my concentration, but make sure you concentrate really hard.”

Livvy took Trista’s hand, and they stepped into the light.

Chapter 7 

“Is this… Havenfield?” Trista asked, staring at the lush pastures filled with all sorts of creatures.

“IS THAT A DINOSAUR???”

“Yes, shhh. The goblins might hear you.”

“GOBLINS??”

“Shhh! Whisper! Yes, that’s a dinosaur. I believe they call her Verdi.”

“What’s Havenfield?”

“You’re aunt’s home, I think. Cool, look at the Panakes tree.”

“Pancakes?”

Trista laughed softly. “No, Panakes. A long time ago, the ogres threatened the gnomes with a plague. The only way to stop it was to sacrifice a gnome. The gnome’s name was Calla. She was really brave,” she whispered softly.

Livvy looked like she was fighting the urge to scream, “OGRE’S AND GNOMES AND GOBLINS AND DINOSAURS AND PANAKES?” Instead, she said, “I feel a whisper from that tree.”

“Which one?”

“The Panakes. It’s kind of… a song.”

Trista raised her eyebrow. “Interesting. Now, we should get back before someone notices us.”

Livvy held up her necklace. “My dad taught me how to light leap. I have a nexus. Go home.”

Trista eyed her warily. “Okay, but hail me when you get home.”

“Hail you?”

She face palmed. “Oh, yeah. I’ll get you an Imparter. Go home now.”

“Okay. I’m assuming an imparter is like a cell phone?”

“Yeah.”

Livvy said goodbye, and leaped away.

Trista pulled out her home crystal, but she saw Lady Sophie and Fitz, and was too curious to look away.

They walked towards the Panakes tree, and Trista hid herself in the bushes. They kind of looked like they were going to kiss, ew, so Trista held her home crystal up to the light and leaped away before they could notice.



“Big day?” Della asked during supper. They were eating grinlri radish with some pitgfall fruit.

“Yeah,” Trista said. She didn’t care to elaborate. “Where is Alden?”

“Trying to get the Council to find you a bodyguard. I think he’s trying to get Lovise.”

“Bodyguard?”

“Yup. And some self-defense class called karate.”

“Isn’t that a human thing?”

“M-hm, which is why he needs the Council’s permission.”

“Oh.”

Trista picked at her food, reminding herself she could shield and wouldn’t have a headache. But somehow the thought of being around so many humans gave her an immediate headache.

She went to bed that night, but she couldn’t sleep. And when she did, she had nightmarish water-dreams, so bad she got up and went to Everglen’s gardens, and stared at the moon, questioning it silently in her head.



Della peeked in the crack of the door. She was so worried about Trista. She’d only said ten words during dinner, and usually Trista was very talkative. She wondered what Trista had done that afternoon.

“Are you awake, Trista?” she said, her accent thicker than she really wanted it to be.

Silence.

Della opened the door and vanished, heaving herself over to Trista’s bed, which was Biana’s old room. The place didn’t really have very many decorations. A photo here, a drawing there, and… books.

So.

Many.

Books.

Books on the shelves, on every spare table, on Trista’s bed, on top of Trista’s bed, in half-open drawers. Most of them were on Hydrokinesis or Telepathy… but there were albums, too. Pictures of Trista, her mom, her dad, and—

Suddenly, she noticed something.

The bed was unmade, and Trista wasn’t in it.

“Trista, are you in here?”

Silence.

Della vanished again, opening the door to the balcony.

She scanned the gardens, pleading her eyes to find a small, fragile shape among the gardens.

And she did.

Trista was just staring at the moon.

Not doing anything… just staring.

Della turned to go, but then Trista took some throwing stars out of her pocket. Della could see them gleaming in the full moon.

She watched.

Slowly, Trista put them down. But she seemed to be talking to someone. Della hurried out to the gardens, trying to hold her vanish and walk silently at the same time.

“What are you?” said Trista’s voice, barely above a whisper.

Silence.

“But-”

She seemed to have been interrupted.

Della drew a knife.

“Spirit?”

Trista seemed a little panicked.

“Spirit!” she said louder.

“Swilm?”

No one was there.

“Swilm??”

Della drew four goblin throwing stars.

There was silence for a while.

Then, “What did you do to her?”

Della looked around, trying to find who Trista was talking to.

And when she turned back, Trista was knocked out on heap in the grass.

·         *   *

Trista stared at the moon—demanding that it pay attention.

“You can’t save everything from water, you know. Some things were meant to be,” said a soft, high voice.

“Who’s there?” Trista asked, drawing her throwing stars.

“The trees, the birds, the water, the air. Everything is here.”

“Who are you?” Trista asked, trying to be a little more specific.

“Why would you care?”

Trista looked, trying to find the source of the voice. “Because you sound like… water?”

It laughed. “I suppose I do. But no, I’m not water. I’m simply a spirit.”

“A water spirit?” Trista clarified. She was still ready to throw her stars.

“Yes. My name is Swilm. Yours is Trista, correct?”

“Yes…” Trista said suspiciously. This sounded like some sort of prank.

“The water told me about you.”

“Oh.”

The spirit’s voice seemed to be directly in front of her. “Can you see me?”

“No.”

“Here, I’ll try harder.”

Suddenly, a ghostly figure was standing over her. Runes were swirling around her, and she was transparent. Her face was kindly and pretty, but she looked old and worn.

“What are you?” Trista asked, her voice barely audible.

“I already told you. A spirit. But I’m not sure how you can hear me at the moment. Much less see me. You are special. I can feel it.”

“But-”

“You were meant to change the world, Trista Logner,” she said as Trista cringed at her last name, “and I know you want to say you don’t want that kind of responsibility. But-”

Swilm disappeared.

A ghostly scream.

“Spirit?”

A flame moved around Trista.

A flame saying, “I found you,” in a raspy, creepy voice.

“Spirit!” Trista yelled.

“Change the world, Trista, change it… or this will be your doom,” Swilm warned, her voice raspy, like it was her final breaths.

“Swilm?” Trista asked quietly.

No answer.

“Swilm??”

Swilm appeared on the ground, and the water that leaked out of her chest looked sickeningly like blood. “Change the world… or this is your fate.”

Swilm let a cough, a final breath, and her chest fell still.

Trista tried to reach her—tried to stop the blood.

Swilm slowly faded away.

“What did you do to her,” Trista spat at the flame.

The flame hissed. “Nothing we won’t do to you, foolish water-child.”

It danced around her, making fun of her. “Water is weak, child. Join us.”

Trista stayed silent.

“You’ll find true strength in things that burn.”

Silent is better, Trista told herself.

“BURN WITH US!”

“Never,” Trista said quietly. But it was fierce.

“THEN YOU SHALL BURN!”

Trista was bonked on the head with something—she didn’t know what.

Then the world was black.



Trista woke up in her bed. That was a weird dream.

She slipped on a blue tunic and some leggings. Her hair was a tangled knot, but she finally got through it with a brush and put it up in a bun.

Her sapphire heels sparkled as she walked—but for once she didn’t care that her balance was a little off.

Today was a banquet—and Della said she was going to announce something—and Flynn was going to be there.

And blue was the best possible color Trista could wear.

Especially because of… last night. Ugh, Trista wasn’t going to be wearing red or orange anytime soon.

And her head kind of hurt…

“Can I ask you to help me with something?” a tiny gnome said.

“Uh… sure?”

“Can you help me water the gardens? Lil and Mitui are off on vacation today, and I’m the only one working in the gardens.”

“Of course!” Trista said, hating that her voice had a trace of an accent. The Vacker accent was famous, of course, but she wasn’t a Vacker. Alden and Della hadn’t even…

Nope, not going there.

“You will?” Sharn asked.

“Yeah, sorry. What do you want me to do?”

Sharn fiddled with her fingers. “Could you make it rain?”

Trista didn’t respo

Chapter 1

Trista smiled. Not a real smile. But a smile.

"Of course I will go! I've always wanted to meet more Hydrokinetics! When is the party?" Inwardly, she groaned. The Elements party consisted of Hydrokinetics, Pyrokinetics, Gusters, and recently added Shades and Flashers. Shades for shadowflux, Flashers for quintessence. (Trista still didn't understand why Flashers where in the party, they couldn't control quintessence.) And she really didn't want to meet more Hydrokinetics, the last time she had tried that it had gone wrong.

Lady Linh grinned. "In five Saturday s. At noon. Shall we begin our Hydrokinesis lesson?"

Linh took out a leaping crystal. It was purple, it looked like the leaping crystals Trista used to get to Atlantis. "Shall we get started on our test?"

Trista groaned for real. She had enjoyed dancing in the opening ceremonies the night before inn her White Level Five Uniform, but this was probably the worst part about the beginning of the Foxfire year. They tested you on how powerful you were. It wasn't usually fun. One year, when she had had Sir Swaanley as her Hydrokinesis Mentor, it had been fun. But when she had had Lady Jaju, it was the worst thing she had ever experienced. But this year was new, Trista reminded herself.

"I guess," Trista mumbled. Lady Linh took Trista's hand and they stepped into the light.

* *********************

They lapped to a small, deserted, island with three palm trees and a star fish. Trista grimaced as soon as she realized that they were surrounded by water. Nothing would ever help the strong pull she felt when she was around water. It sorta gave her a headache. She had to lock her hands together just so she wouldn't make a wave crash down on them both.

"Sorry. I should have warned you. But this will make you stronger, in the end." Lady Linh brushed imaginary dust off her cape. "Your test is levitating."

Trista blinked. "Excuse me, what?"

Lady Linh smiled. "I should have explained. Watch."

She floated up in the air and over the ocean. Higher and higher she went, until she was very high in the air. Then, suddenly, she let go of her hold and plummeted towards the ocean.

Suddenly, a wave came out of nowhere, catching Linh right before she hit the water. The wave carried her back to the island, dropping her in a wet mess to the ground. lady Linh spoke a Hydrokinesis word and her clothes and hair were dry. Swilsh, Trista remembered from last year. Sir Swaanley had made her memorize all the Hydrokinesis words.

Trista couldn't speak, which was probably a good thing, otherwise she would have thrown up.

"Your turn," she said with something that looked suspiciously way to much like a smirk.

Trista looked at Lady Linh’s eyes. She was going to make Trista do it whether Trista wanted to or not.

Trista reluctantly floated in the air, very, very slowly out above the ocean.

Then, she let go of her hold and plummeted towards the ocean.

Trista screamed. She was sure that Linh was hiding her smirk behind her hand.

she fell another hundred feet before she called a wave to catch her. Five feet flew away before the wave caught her, and then she was underwater, crashing and tumbling nowhere in particular. Trista was having trouble finding air, and she was beginning to panic.

Calm down, she told herself. She looked up to the surface. There is air. Right there. Swim UP!

She calmed down. Then she swam up. As soon as she hit the surface, she took a deep gulp of air. Then she told the water tip carry her to the island.

Soggy and wet and dripping, Trista sank to the ground. This was going to be a loooongg day. But, admittedly, it was fun.

Lady Linh grinned. "It was fun, wasn't it?"

Trista pulled the water out of her clothes. "Yes."

"Well then, do it again. But this time, I think it should be higher up. More of a challenge. No screaming, either."

Trista smirked. "Bring it on." And as she floated up in the air, she could swear that Linh looked proud.

* ***********************************************

Trista was so tired; she needed to go to Elwin. She couldn't light leap like this. But she waited until after school.

Mostly it was because she needed to leap home with Uncle Elwin, he was eating dinner with them. But maybe, hopefully, Flynn would be there. She sighed, adjusting her brunette hair with blonde highlights before walking in the door to Elwin’s office.

Flynn was there, wrapping up a Level One's hand before he turned around. "You're Trista, right?"

Trista was glad she could blame her red cheeks f or the running. "Yes."

He pointed to Elwin's office. "Elwin is in there doing paperwork. He said you might stop by."

She walked in the door and shut it. "Hi Uncle Elwin ."

He looked up. "Triss! How's my girl?"

She sank into a chair. " Fine."

He got up and moved to chair next to her. "You can't lie to me. I know when you’re tired."

She decided to go for a quick subject change. "You look tired. What have you been doing today? "

Elwin snapped his fingers and an orange orb appeared. He put his glasses on. "Level Ones and Elementism don't go. And nice subject change, but I caught that. "

Trista shrugged. "I figured it was worth a go."

Elwin snapped his fingers and a blue orb appeared. He flashed it around her face. "You're tired. And dehydrated. You know as a Hydrokinetic -"

"-I need more water than the rest of you. I know, you've told me before," Trista finished for him.

" I supposed I have. I guess Flynn left, so we should go to your house. But first, " he handed her three vials, "drink these"

She chugged them.

She felt so much better after.

And then, they light leaped to Trista's house.

Trista went to bed that night, sleepy as she could be. But she had an awful headache. Her head hurt so badly, so she took a sedative.

But that didn't help. It made it worse. Finally, she gave up on sleep. So she took out a pencil and turned on the light, drawing until her head drooped and she finally fell asleep.

Trista had awful dreams that night. But nothing was worse than the repeating nightmare: her dad holding a scalding stick with an eye symbol on it, ready to press it to her back.

********

The next morning, Trista did not feel refreshed. Not at all. But the yummy smell of mallowmelt kinda made it better.

Her mom, Lady Chanda, was waiting downstairs and drinking tea with her dad, Lord Rile.

"Mallowmelt?" her mom asked.

Mmm, mallowmelt, she thought. That was weird. It felt different, like she had pushed it out of her brain.

Her dad's head snapped up. "What?"

She looked at him. "W-what?"

He looked at her. "I heard your voice. In my head. May I have permission to enter your mind?"

" Yes... "

He walked over and pressed his fingers over her temples. He said nothing for five minutes. On the sixth, he said, "That is a mind of a Telepath. Think something; try to push it out of your brain."

I love you? She tried.

Her father grinned. "You’re a Hydrokinetic and a Telepath! Just think about it! You will be the first person ever to have that mix of abilities!"

Trista did. And she fainted. But before she blacked out, she felt extreme pain in her head, and then she fell into the nothingness.

Chapter two:

Trista woke up and got out of bed. She was going to be late for Foxfire.

Wait. Why was she in her Foxfire uniform?

Oh no. No, no, no, no. She flopped back on her bed and pulled the covers over her face.

She never asked to be a Telepath. Why was it that everything she did to try to fit in, she always had to be different? The first year of Foxfire, she had wanted to manifest as a Cryokinetic. Everyone had made fun of her.

The second year of Foxfire, she had manifested as a Hydrokinetic, and Wichita Heks had had a very fun time teasing Trista about it.

The third year, Trista accidentally flooded her top floor, so she had lived with Uncle Elwin until they had gotten it cleaned up,  and that was when she had met Flynn.

Before Trista could finish her train of thought, her mother opened the door.

"Hi honey. Do you have a headache?"

Now that she mentioned it... "Yes."

" Elwin says to drink those before he comes in. You must be hungry. " she pointed to a tray of vials.

Trista drank them all as her mom explained that Trista had hit her head on the book shelf when she fainted.

But she had a feeling her mom was hiding something. "How long have i been out?"

her mom hesitated. "Well... Um... Forty-eight hours."

Trista almost spit out a disgusting elixir. "WHAT?"

*******

Trista fumed for the rest of the day. She was stuck on bed rest. Which was also how she found out that when she was angry, water swirled around her wrist in runes, spelling out words she couldn't understand nor could anyone else.

She knew from experience that it also happened when she was nervous or excited. It kinda stunk.

Trista was about to fall asleep when her dad's head peeked through the door.

"I have to go discuss possible Mentors for you. Love you." He turned to go out the door.

"Wait!"

" What? "

"I just... Wanted to know my possible Mentors?"

" Oh. I was thinking about Lord Fitzroy or Sir Caspian. Lord Fitzroy lacks experience, but he is an excellent Telepath, and I thought it would help to ha ave it be someone you know personally. Anyway, goodbye, i love you, and stay in bed! "

"Yes, dad." He closed the door.

Trista missed her dad when he was gone, which was often.

Trista wasn't sure what to think about Lord Fitzroy. She wasn't that familiar with her famous cousin. She had been to a few of the Vackers banquets

But she didn't know them that well besides Aunt Della, who was her dad's sister.

Trista shivered under the covers. She buried herself deep in the covers, and practiced Hydrokinesis. She would think something she wanted to make, try to make it while closing her eyes, and then opened them. She wasn't very good at it, but she was getting better.

Soon enough, she fell asleep.

Trista felt sick to her stomach. Her dad wouldn't tell her who her Telepathy Mentor was. But that wasn't even the worst part. He had told her that everyone knew she was a Telepath, which scared her. She was going to have to lay lower than usual. But laying low when everyone knew wasn't going to happen, so instead she braided her thick hair into the fattest braid she had ever seen. It took a while, but finally her knee length hair was up to her waist in a braid.

She considered putting earrings in, but that would be going to far.

When she finally got downstairs for breakfast, her mom and dad were gone, and there was a note.

'be back by Sunday. Love u, bye'

Trista sighed. Her mother and father where always going out on dates. Sometimes they were gone for hours, minutes, or sometimes three days. It was really random. But they knew she could take care of herself, so she sucked it up and reminded herself that they still loved her.

Breakfast was jujasnin berry, a yummy spicy fruit that was purple. She stuffed it in her mouth and went up to the Leapmaster 900.

"Foxfire!" she yelled. She was going to be late. On th e first week of school.

a single crystal dropped down, catching the light.

Trista took a deep breath, and stepped into the light.

Trista heard whispers as she walked into the first floor for orientation.

"There's the Telepath"

"I heard she had two abilities before.'

"I heard she had three," one replied back

"Wait, I thought she was a Hydrokinetic. "

"Isn't she in Level Five? I thought people stopped manifesting at level four!"

''“Cool. I always wanted to be a Telepath. I’m stuck with Empath.”''

''“Talk about it. I’m stuck with lame Hydrokinesis.”''

“Water is cool,”

“Says the Technopath.”

“Uh, it’s not that cool.”

“Is to.”

“You guys, stop arguing.”

“Fine.”

“Anyways, what’s her name?”

“I think it’s Trisha…”

“Nah, that doesn’t sound right.”

''“True. I wonder what her name is, then.”''

''“Meh. I’ll ask her to sit with us at lunch.”''

“Yeet!”

“What does yeet even mean?”

''“I don’t know? I think it means ‘physic’  but I also think it means to ‘throw someone violently or disturbingly off a cliff’”''

“I would snort, but I don’t want to attract unwanted attention.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I think the Shade is listening to us.”

“What Shade?”

''“No one knows her name or what she looks like. She always is covered in shadows, but I think I can see her outline watching us sometimes.”''

“Creepy.”

''“Shades are creepy. It’s a fact.”''

''“Yeah. I heard Lady Linh had a brother once who was a Shade.”''

''“I did to. I wonder what happened to him.”''

“Me to.”

Trista bloomed with pride inside. People were jealous of her?

That had never happened before.

They went on and on until Magnate Leto called for attention.

Even then, they went on. Trista was glad when orientation was over. When she finally got to the atrium, a note was pinned to her locker.

'Instead of alchemy, you will be attending Telepathy session with Lord Fitzroy

Sophie’s Point Of View

She couldn't decide.

Keefe.

Or Fitz.

Fitz, or Keefe.

Fitz had proposed first.

Keefe had proposed hours later.

She hated that she had to tell them both she would think about it.

Hours ago. Fitz had proposed to her. An hour ago, Keefe had proposed.

The obvious choice would be Fitz.

But... Keefe needed her.

Sophie couldn't decide. And she had a feeling it would be that way for a long time.



Trista hurried out of t he atrium. She was going to be late.

But when she got to the door, she froze, to s cared to open it.

Lord Fitzroy opened the door.

"Hello, Trista. I’m sorry you had an interesting week."

She noticed that he took no notice she was late. Maybe he was just being nice, but most likely he hadn't noticed.

"Take a seat. We have a few things to talk about. Do you know any Telepath rules? "

"Never enter a person's mind without asking their permission and don't keep anything from the Council?"

“Good. I will tell you the rest and then i will teach you how to shield. "

He then launched into a deep lecture about Telepath rules. It only took thirty minutes, but it felt like forever.

Then he pulled out a blue leaping crystal. "I will teach you how to shield now.'

He took her hand, and they stepped into the light.

They leaped to a Forbidden City. Trista shouldn't have been surprised; she knew that shielding was essential for learning Telepathy, but still. She was in a Forbidden City.

Then the headache came. She clutched her head.

"I'm sorry. Here, let me t teach you how to-"

He was interrupted  by a particularly loud thought.

' Telepaths! I know you can hear me! Get out of my heeeeeeeaaaaaadddddd!'

Lord Fitzroy turned pale. "A-amy? Is that you?"

“Who’s Amy?”

"Sophie's human half sister. It must be her daughter. But I don't know-"

Maybe that was a stupid idea. No one can hear me. But better be safer than sorry.

Lord Fitzroy breathed. "Okay, new plan. You’re going to make friends with her."

He pointed to a girl with pale skin, brown hair, and green eyes. She was going up and down on a board with chain s attached to it. The atrocious things humans did.

"What about my clothes?" She looked down at her c ape, blouse, mini skirt, and leggings.

"Take off your cape. The rest just looks like a school uniform.

She took off her cape and stuck it in her bag.

Trista reluctantly sat on a chain board. She was getting up the courage to introduce herself when the  girl said, " hi! I’m Livvy! Who are you? "

''Lord Fitzroy? What am I?''

''First of all, you're Alicia. Second of all, please just call me Fitz. I am not that into that type of formalities. I’m impressed with your transmitting skills. ''

Thank you.

"I'm Alicia."

" Cool! How old are you? "

In human years you are fourteen, Fitz transmitted  before Trista could as k.

"I'm fourteen, you?"

" I’m fourteen. But I talk really, really fast so you have to listen to me. "

Trista giggled.

''Wait a minute. She just spoke to you in the enlightened language. ''

She did?

Yes. Ask her who her mom is.

"Who is your mom?"

"Amy Freeman. Why?"

She heard a string of thoughts come in.

''Oh geez. She's  pretty. I wonder if she is a model. Wait a minute. Mom said elves where pretty. I should...''

''If you can hear me, I know you are an elf. You look like one. Are all elves Telepaths or is it just you and Aunt  Sophie?''

Now what?

I am an elf, I am a Telepath, but… I’m a hydrokinetic to. She transmitted before she could change her mind.

Livvy’s eyes widened in surprise. “THAT’S NEVER WORKED BEFORE! COOOOOL!”

''Trista! Oh well. Ask her to take us to her mom.''

"Can you take us to your mom? "

" Yes. "

"Okay! Come on!"

Livvy led them to a small street, where all the houses where tiny and looked exactly the same.

She walked up a small path to a door that led to a small house. It was blue, but it looked really squished.

"Let me go tell my mom she has visitors." Livvy opened the door and cam e back out a minute later

Amy was washing dishes when they came in.

She looked up and dropped a plate. "F - fitz?"

The plate floated back up to the counter. Trista hadn't done it. Fit z must have. But he looked just as surprised as she was. But there weren't any other elves in the room, so who else would have done it?

"We have much to talk about," Fitz said to Trista, and something about the look in his eyes said, go away. if you would like to know how to shield, imagine a invisible wall around your mind.

So Livvy and Trista went upstairs.

"Okay, first of all, what's your real name. Alicia is human. So tell me your real one."

"Sorry. It's Trista. Trista Logner."

" Ok! Do you have siblings? I have one. He's four and his name is Quinlin. He's soooooooo cute.”

"No. Quinlin?"

" Yeah. Apparently my mom was taken care of by these people in the elvin world named Quinlin and Livvy. Don't ask I don't know. "

She took Trista's hand and didn't let go. For a few minutes she said nothing.

Trista flicked the water away from her wrist. She wasn't going to do this. Not now.

" I think we were made to be friends, " Livvy said suddenly, her green emerald eyes meeting Trista 's. Trista hadn't noticed the cobalt blue flecks in them before.

"Really? Why?"

“I… don’t really know how to tell you. Are you blocking me, or do you already know?”

“I would never violate your privacy. I actually just came here to learn how to shield and I heard you…”

“Oh. You heard that, did you? Heh heh. I’m kind of weird. I’m always reading books about Telepaths. It kind of helps with my descrying.”

Livvy’s eyes widened and she put her hand over her mouth.

"You’re a descryer?"

" Um...  I’m…”

Trista realized she was missing something. Something vital.

"Livvy... Who's your father?"

"Umm..."

But she knew. She knew why her pale skin and brown hair looked so familiar. Even the cobalt blue flecks.

But it wasn't possible. It wasn't logical.

But someone had used telekinesis. And it hadn't been Trista or her Mentor.

But... Councilors weren't supposed to get married.

apparently, one had. One thought he wouldn't get caught. One who was one of the most trusted members of the Council.

Oh no. No. No. No. No. No.

This... Would change everything.

Chapter  4

"It's Councilor Terik, isn't it. "

It wasn't a question. And Livvy didn't answer.

"Isn't it?"

" Yes. I’m going to get in so much trouble if you tell. Mom says we might die. So promise me you won't tell. "​

"Of course not. But... How is he here. When he is supposed to be at the Council? How would that even work? "

"He... Left."

"What do you mean?"

"He knew the Council suspected something. So he said 'bye, I love you, and take care of your soon to be brother. He will need it. See you soon.' I wish i knew why he said see you soon. I haven't seen him in four and a half years."

"I'm sorry. But... Why did you trust me at the chain board?"

She snorted a laugh. " You mean the swing? Because... I kinda had this idea i should trust you.  Maybe its just because I'm a Descryer. But... I don't know. Wanna see Quinlin? "

"Um...sure."

Livvy took five steps and opened the door. What a tiny house. Five steps more and she was at Quinlin's room.

"Quinlin."

A small boy looked up.

If they were trying to hide the fact that Terik was his dad, they weren't doing a good job. Ri ght down to his broad chin and cobalt blue eyes, they might as well have been twins.

"What? Im plawing with my cwas. Who is that?"

" Quinlin, this is Trista. Trista, this is Quinlin."

She gripped Trista's hand. Trista wasn't sure why.

"Did you just... ?"

" Yes. Not in front of Quin. It’s to... Interesting, " Livvy said in an ominous tone.

"What is THAT supposed to mean?"

"Not in front of Quinlin."

Livvy led Trista back to her room.

"Don’t freak.'

"I won’t."

She took a deep breath. "Don't trust anyone you love. They... They will betray you, Triss. If you trust them, darkness will come. Darkness you can never even imagine. Darkness... It won't end. You would be evil. Evil, Trista. But I see hope. If you listen to me. Listen to me! A group of people, the Rebelhearts. They will be there, if you try to get up, into the light. If you try to save your loved ones, you will die. S o don't, for the sake of you and a ll the earth."

Trista couldn't speak. What came out of her mouth was, "Tahw?"

( which was what backwards.)

"I know freaked you out. I'm sorry. But that's your destiny. Choose to save yourself."

Fitz walked in the door before she cou ld reply. " It's time to go. Don't forget your cape. "

Trista looked longingly at Livvy before she closed the door.

Fitz held the crystal up to a tiny window, and they stepped into the light.

Trista couldn't  get over it. She was shakin g, she was so scared. But she sucked it up.

At lunch she took a tray and took random food, wanting to get out of the cafeteria as soon as she could. But a girl with teal hair, teal eyes, and dark brown skin stopped her before she walked to her empty table.

"Hi! I'm Azule! You're Trista, right?"

" Um... Yes? "

" I was wondering if you would like to sit with us!We're all Hydrokinetics! Well, except we have a Guster and an Empath, but ya know most of us are! Come on! "

"Ok... Wait. Are you a Vacker?"

"I get that. A lot. But no. I'm a Sencen. My fourteenth cousin is Keefe! Way back I have a Vacker great-something.”

She led Trista to a table filled with people.

"Hi!" said one of the girls.

Trista knew who they were. Well, she knew the girl (not Azule, this was someone named Shaynia) who had spoken to her. Her twin (Trista had nothing against twins) Tia, was sitting at another table.

“Ok, so, this is us,” Azule said, gesturing at the table. She stared at one of the boys until he spoke.

He smoothed his black hair. “Oh. Hi. I’m Shrac. You’re Trista, right?”

“Yeah. Trista.”

One by one, they introduced themselves. A girl with red hair was named Ritt, another with almost-black eyes named Alimya. A girl who seemed to be Azule’s closest friend was named Lumy (her name was Luner, but she preferred Lumy.)  A boy with blue stripes in his hair was named Ashiletar, he was a Hydrokinetic. They all were, except the Guster and Empath. The Guster was a girl named WJ (Wim Jayne) and the Empath was a boy named Sim. Both of them were brother and sister, but they seemed to have a Hydrokinetic sister they never talked about.

This was fine with Trista.

Everyone talked and chatted, and Trista to.

This had to be the absolute best day of her life.



Trista was sitting underwater. Meditating. Practicing keeping air bubbles underwater so she could breathe.

She was just about to swim up when a giant water hand grabbed her out and put a cloth over her mouth.

"Are you sure...?" He asked as Trista fought the sleep coming. No. She trusted Livvy. But she never would have thought it would be her dad.

" I'm sure. This the only way to get to my snobby little brother Fitz. And the only way to prove your trustworthiness. Blindfold her. "

Rough hands (her father's, she assumed) put a blindfold on her. She couldn't fight the darkness anymore.

She was falling, falling into the darkness. Then her registration pendant was cut off her neck, making her head throb and her falling deeper.

She knew she would never get out.

Chapter 5

Trista was in and out. Out and in. The world didn't make sense. Nothing and everything made sense all at the same time. But Trista couldn't get rid of the o ne question running through her head.

Who was she?

She knew her name was Trista. But that was all she knew. Was she a she? Or a he? What even was a he?

Trista coughed, breaking her out of her haze.

I'm Trista. The Hydrokinetic. A girl. Trista Logner, who had just been kidnapped by her own parent. Or is mom involved to?

She honestly didn't want to know.

Her attempt to open her eyes failed.

So she tried.

And tried

And tried.

It took a long time. But she finally did it.

She never thought she would celebrate over such a little feat.

But she did.

But as soon as she opened them, her eyes hurt so much. They felt like they were being ripped off.

Trista kept them open.

The room she was in was a dark, dreary cell. Chains covered her hands, wrists, and feet. A gag was covering her mouth.

And she had a circlet around her head. It hurt. And she couldn't even use Hydrokinesis to keep herself entertained.

Something was blocking it.

Something like a Telepathy restrictor.

But her telepathy worked.

She checked. She could hear thoughts of one person who admittedly sounded like her dad.

It took all her energy to check if her telepathy still worked.

Slowly, she let the sleep take her away.

Trista woke up to quiet whispers.

"She needs food," her mother said in a hushed voice.

" we don't have the funds to feed her every meal. I can do one meal every two days,' said a woman with high heels on- Trista could hear them clicking in a circle.

"I know what you are goin g through. I had the same problem with my.son. Now my son thinks I'm dead. But still. It's okay to have a tiny bit of mercu. But don't give to much. You know what will happen if you do."

" i do. But... Is she awake? " her mom asked when Trista accidentally made a scuffling noise.

Trista let her body fall limp as (she assumed it was lady Gisela) walked over. She tried to feel emotionless, but that was hard, so she just thought of all the boring memories she had.

Lady Gisela touched her arm.

"No."

They walked out of the room.

Now.

Trista needed to find a way to get out of this mess.

But how?

Her hands had metal over them. She couldn't even move her fingers, much less pick a lock.

she forced her eyes open. the room made her cough, it was so damp. She started coughing uncontrollably.

"She'sssssss awake.” Someone hissed.

"Took her long enough," an accented voice said.

She assumed it was Alvar's, her stupid cousin.

"Trista. Answer us. Are you awake? "

Her coughing was horrible. Her gag stopped her from coughing. It didn't feel good.

"Which one of you idiots didn't take the gag off!"

Rough hands grabbed the gag an d ripped it off. Trista coughed and felt better. But she couldn't stop coughing.

"Leave her alone with me." The creepy tone said.

Feet shuffled out the door.

A person kneeled down and tilted her chin up with his hand.

"I'm sorry we have to do this, my dear. Feel free to roam around and be as comfortable as possible."

He laughed. Trista was angry.

She told the water it was boiling as she gathered it out of the air. It hurt to use Hydrokinesis, but she did it anyways. What she was about to do to Alvar would wipe the smirk off his face.

“You know, you would get food if you cooperate.”

“Never,” she hissed through her teeth.

She told the water it was scalding.

“Positive? Our side is the side that will win.”

“She’ll defeat you,” she said through clenched teeth. The water was heating up.

“Who, exactly? The Moonlark? Yeah, I don’t think so. She obviously didn’t do a good job of getting rid of us last time.”

She was shaking with anger. He didn’t know what he was talking about. “SPLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” she shouted through clenched teeth.

Alvar turned pale as the water aimed at his face. She told the water it was volcanic, then she splashed it in his face.

She smiled when he screamed with agony.

One small victory, for now.

He vanished and the door slammed. She could swear he hissed, “You’ll regret this.”



Trista shook with fear as a creepy voice added, "no one understands the Neverseen or the Ever eyes or whatever you may like to call u s. So we figured we should make them know we are still here. Our cause is to get rid of humans - that's why we fight. The only thing that could stop us is the Moonlark and her bratty friends. The only way to get to the Moonlark is through her friends -"

Trista wasn't sure off this was a good idea, but she did it anyways. "Blah blah, reveal sec ret evil plan, yawn,  can't you guys do anything without bragging??"

T he person snapped his or her fingers and the room became brighter with just the right amount of creepiness.

The person was shown more clearly now.

It wasn't anyone she knew personally.

But she knew who it was.

No.

She was dead.

It wasn't possible.

But lots of things were impossible.

Most them had happened to Trista.

She had heard myths they never found the body.

She knew they were true now.

She laughed. " I don't believe we've met. Hello. My name is Trix. "

Trista felt her head spin. Why was the world turning?

Blackness.

She was floating.

in blackness. Why is there an empty void?

Trista practiced Hydrokinesis.

She swirled water around her.

Her head.

Her waist.

Her legs.

Water danced at her finger tips.

She started coughing.

it kind of ruined the sense of aw and wonder.

She coughed and coughed until it hurt and she couldn't breathe.

She was sick.

She would die.

She.knew.it.

The air was to damp. She had caught a bug.

Something bad.

She might as well just die.

Trista woke up coughing. Her chains around her hand s were gone. She was in the same room, but in a corner. It was dark. And much damper than before. The air stank. It was horrid. She was cold.

She knew she would die.

Trista woke up.

How long had she been asleep?

She didn't remember falling asleep.

She was still in the corner, but voices were talking.

"What do we do with her? She's sick. But we need her," said a creepy accented voice that was probably Alvar's.

"We need a doctor,” said Lady Gisela.

"Not one to important. An apprentice, maybe?"

"There is that boy. The one whose parents are Dex and Marella. Is his name Flynn?"

" Yes. We should talk about it to Trix. "

"I'll do it."

"Thank you."

Trista had struggled for hours trying to get out of her chains.

She hadn't had any luck. Flynn was going to get kidnapped... Because of her. Now he would never like her back.

Silently, she sobbed. Why did everything in her life go wrong?

She sighed and rubbed her knuckles.

She coughed. It was going to be a long day.

==

Dex wasn't ready to send his son off to get kidnapped. It reminded him way to much of when he and Sophie w ere little.

Flynn seemed ready. Maybe slightly to ready. Overly confident. Like his mom.

Dex sighed and fiddled with a vial on the counter. Marella was making sure Flynn would be ready to go at all times, Samantha was playing with Oceana, and Flynn was with Marella. He had no idea where Thorne was.

Omi (his niece) walked in.

"Where is Sama?"

“playing with Ocea. "

"Where?"

"Upstairs, in their room."

Dex sighed again. Why couldn't someone else be kidnapped?

""""""""

Trista waited for Flynn. Well, she tried anyway. It was hard to not fall asleep.

Then she heard his familiar voice.

She was on a bed. Still the same room. But on a bed, nonetheless! She saw bright lights flashing around her.

But she didn't really see them

She was gone in an instant.

Trista woke up to an argument.

"It's to damp in here! It has made her sick!"

" just tell us what elixirs you need. "

"I need her to be MOVED TO A DIFFERENT ROOM!"

"Fiiine."

Trista pretended to be asleep as the person unlocked her chains and picked her up. She knew she should probably punch him in the face, but she was tired.

So she pretended to wake up.

She opened her eyes. " Mmmmffff. "

"Shut up," said the man. “I wouldn’t recommend struggling. Your boyfriend will suffer if you do.”

She held still and closed her eyes.

The air was better here. Much better here.



Fitz paced back and forth. He knew they had kidnapped Trista because they wanted to get to him.

Irritability, they had been right.

Worse, Sophie still hadn't answered him. He thought she had wanted this. He thought that was kind of the point of them dating.

Honestly, she was ignoring him.

So he decided to reach out.

He called and called for her. But it didn't work. She must be blocking him. He didn't even think she knew about Trista.

He tried hailing her.

Nothing.

Again.

Nothing.

And again.

Nothing.



“Trista. Wake up,”

She didn’t listen. She was happy here.

Safe.

Content.

Wherever “here” was, it was perfect.

Bright light flashed in her eyes.

“Trista!” came a louder voice.

“Mmpf,” she said, wondering who woke her up.

It was Flynn. “I need you to open up your thoughts to mine,” he whispered.

She did.

I need you to send a message to Lord Fitzroy, said his voice  in his head.

“tired.”

''Please… tell him anything. Sophie will be able to track us down if you can.''

“I will… try.”

Ok.

She mustered up all her energy to send a loud transmission.

''Fitz! ''She tried. F'I'TZ! she tried louder. No answer.

She only had one try left before her energy was gone.

FITZ!

This time, there was an answer.

''Trista? Is that really you?''

''Yes. ''

Hope was powerful. She had at least a little more strength.

''Trista! Are you ok? Who kidnapped you? Where are you?''

I’m… fine.

Father… is he…

Alright?

No, is he right there.

 

 

''Um, no. He is investigating your disappearance. Also you may want to stop sending such… loud transmissions. It probably drains your mental energy.''

''Call off the dumb search. I know who kidnapped me…''

''Trista? ''Fitz asked when she didn’t continue. Who kidnapped you?

Punch my father in the face when you… see… him.

What???

Mhm.

''Okay, now this changes things. First, I’m going to get you with Sophie. Now I have some… business to attend to.''

He was silent after that.

A sweet, rather overly concerned voice filled Trista’s head.

Are you positive you are alright?

… sure… Trista was tired. Maybe if she rested for a tiny bit….

''Trista! Please, don’t break the-''

To late.

Trista slipped back into the void.



Water was splashing… again.

Diving.

Singing.

Splashing.

No one knew it sang. When the ripples rippled, a song of quietness was sung. Peace. When droplets fell, they were singing sad songs. Songs of the people who had died. People who were never meant to die.

People who were ''special. ''

She could feel the water. No – understand the water. It was amazing.

Why hadn’t she felt this before?

In a yard, a girl laughed as a tiny stream tickled her feet. The stream laughed to, but it wasn’t heard.

On a shore, a little boy shrieked with joy as a wave splashed over him, hugging him and feeling… loved?

A current took a turtle around the ocean. The current thought it was fun to give rides – and it was helpful for the sea turtle.

A log slowly drifted down a river.

A person was splashing in water.

A baby was stomping in puddles. A human one.

A deer was sipping water from a stream.

A fish was swimming upstream.

And finally, a boy was walking around the river. He got closer and closer… and he fell in.

“NO!” screamed Trista

She controlled the water. Why shouldn’t she save him?

“RIVER!” she shouted. “PUT HIM BACK”

Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine, said the river. Snaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.

“No,” she said. “NOT YUMMY!”

''Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees. Scruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuumptious… like fiiiiiiiiiiiiishy''

“Icky,” she tried. “Flesh icky.”

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee wannnnnnnnnnnnnnnts snaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

“No snack. That is little boy.”

Booooooooooooooooy?

“Human boy! Yes!”

Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmman maddddde me.

“Yes. Human made you. Do you really think you should eat a human boy?”

Nooooooooooooooooo…

“Spit him out, then,” she said, feeling her shoulders relax.

The river spit him out.

“Fishy are snack,” she tried, “not humans. Not ever humans.”

Ever?

“Ever. Go… munch on some fishy,” she said feeling horrible about herself. Fish were better  than a human, though.

The river happily munched on some fish.

Trista was rather pleased with herself.

Who else could do that?

But… how had she done that?

A dream. She’d had a strange dream a few… hours ago? Days? Weeks?

“Trista.”

“Yes?”

“Are you alive?”

“Ummmm… I don’t know.”

''“Trista. Do you know why your middle name is Perpetua?”''

“It’s what my parents named me,” she said softly.

''“No. It’s what we named you.”''

“Who is we?”

“Us.”

Trista knew better than to question whoever this was further.

''“Your name comes from a human saint. She was a hero, even in death.”''

“What does… what are ‘we’ telling me?”

“You are not ready to die.”

“I like it here.”

''“YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE. WAKE UP, TRISTA, WAKE UP FROM YOUR DREAMS.”''

''“Um… fine. Will I talk to ‘we’ again?”''

“Many times.”

“Goodbye.”

''“Goodbye, Trista. We bless you with true Hydrokinesis.”''

She couldn’t help wondering who We was.



Trista bolted awake. She couldn’t see. She couldn’t feel.

Well. She could hear. At least she wasn’t useless.

Oh, the headache. It hurt so much.

Each breathe was a fight. Each breathe she had to make herself breathe.

Soft hands picked her up.

Told her, “Trista… breathe.”

She took one deep breath.

“Wake up.”

She was awake. She was currently stuck doing nothing.

Nothing at all.

And she heard an enormous fight.

“Trista, can you carry your own weight? I know you are awake. I can hear you.”

Can’t, she told the person who could “hear” her.

“Okay.”

The person sighed. “Get some rest. You need it. Don’t die though.”

******************************************

Drifting. She was drifting. Floating, watching, observing, swimming, breathing.

Drifting.

It was a funny word, drifting was. It could literaly describe many things.

Water streamed off of a waterfall. Not gushing, really. Just... Streaming.

Currents flooded around the earth. She could feel them. Sort of see them. It was weird.

Waves danced. Like, really danced. No one else could see that they were actually dancing. But they were. Sweeping moves, gushing moves, moves that Trista couldn’t describe.

It was amazing.

Really, truly amazing.

Nothing could stop Trista. Not the Rebelhearts, not the Neverseen, not her parents. She was unstoppable. And it...

Was going to stay that way.



Moving water.

Churning water.

Runic water spelling words that seemed to disappear.from trista's memory the second she read them. Why was it all so... Foggy.

Somewhere, she knew she was dreaming and she needed to wake up. But that somewhere wasn't quite there yet. Yet. Not yet. Weird word, yet was.

Why...

Why was she wet.

She was soaking.

Drenched.

She jolted awake and screamed.

Elwin's startled face looked at her.

Then he grinned. “You're awake! Finally! YOU SCARED ME!” He buried his face in his hands as he sank into a chair. "Don't... Do that again."

" What? "

"Trista, do you have any idea how long you were asleep?"

"No."

" ​​Two weeks. Not counting how long you have been missing. I just... Nope. Not going there. "

“How… long have I been,” she coughed, “…missing.”

“Auru?”

A green-toothed gnome smiled at Elwin. “Yes?”

“Could you get some water and food?”

She looked at Trista. “Of course.”

The gnome hobbled out of the room.

Auru was a gnome that worked at Elwin’s house, which meant she was probably in his house. She wasn’t in a room she recognized.

Elwin turned back around. “Trista. You’ve been missing for over two months. We’d thought we’d lost you.”

“Two months…” she said, trying to wrap her mind around it.

She was out… for a long time.

Elwin sat down and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Don’t ever do that again.”

She had a feeling he wasn’t talking about getting kidnapped. “What?”

He looked at her. “Flynn said you stopped breathing for five hours.”

Trista looked up at him.

She wasn’t really sure what to say to that. “Is Flynn okay?”

“Mhm. Untouched, mostly.”

“How… how am I here?”

Elwin shook his head. “Are you sure you want to go there?”

She nodded.

“It’s… a long story. The Black Swan knew Flynn was going to get kidnapped. So they sewed some trackers in his clothes. But when he finally did, the signal from the trackers was completely gone, no trace of it ever existing. When you transmitted to Fitz, Sophie had a basic idea of where you were, but we still couldn’t find you. Our best Technopath hacked the area searching for any technology signals, and we found on from a null. The Technopath hacked the null and approved the tracking signals. We found you after that.”

Trista shuddered.

Elwin took her hand in his. “Don’t ever get sick again. Promise me.”

She could tell he meant it. “I promise, but I don’t know if I can keep.”

“For me, right now, that is enough for me.”

Chapter 6

One Month Later…

Trista woke up and stretched. Water swirled around her wrists and she tried (and failed) to flick it away. The water wouldn’t go away. Not when Lady Linh tried, not when she tried, not when her friends tried.

It was always there.

Every.

Single.

Day.

She could only read one of the runes. “Powerful.”

Whatever that meant.

And the water-dreams. Yeah, they were there every time she went to sleep.

They were kind of cool, actually. They were her escape from the world.

Like today. Fitz wanted to see her memory of her kidnapping. Trista had put it off and escaped it for a long time, but he kept insisting. So today was going to be a awful day.

Maybe if she…

Nah.

Might as well do it today and get it over with.



“You ready?” Fitz asked as he placed his hands on her temples.

Not even remotely, she thought at him.

You’re probably correct. Fitz transmitted.

She smiled slightly. Then she brought the memory up, one she had hidden deep in her mind.



Fitz was overwhelmed by Trista’s memories. Every. Single. Detail. Perfect.

She must have photographic memory, which reminded him of Sophie way more than he would like to admit. It was also extra terrifying – considering which memory he was looking at.

So, at first Trista was practicing Hydrokinesis underwater. What type was a mystery.

Then hands grabbed her out of the water – so, there had to be a Hydrokinetic with the Neverseen because that was like fifty feet under the water. It wasn’t Trista’s dad – he was a Polyglot.

Trista struggled- but it was no use, and eventually she gave up. She tried not breathing the cloth in, but the cloth kept getting pressed tighter against her mouth.

But she heard one thing before she passed out.

“Alvar.”

Great. He was alive.

For a while… she was stuck in a void? Well, at least she wasn’t in pain.

Then he heard the voice he wished he could forget. Lady Gisela. Poor Keefe. He was going to be devastated.

Trista’s mom was there to.

He smiled when she splashed Alvar in the face with scalding water. He so deserved it.

The rest of the memory played – and Fitz drew shaking fingers away from her temples. He felt like there was a part missing - or two. He didn’t question her.

He also found it strange she was wearing gloves, but it was winter, so he let it go.

“That was far closer a call than I had been led to believe,” he commented and Trista looked anywhere but at him.

“I guess.”

“What did Livvy warn you about?”

“Um… nothing!” she said – a little too quickly.

“Okay. Let’s try this again, honestly this time.”

Trista slumped. “Fine. But it’s really, really hard to explain…”

“So… what did she warn you about?” he asked when she didn’t say anything else.

“Livvy… she’s half elf.”

As the words took place in his mind, Fitz struggled to understand them. “How… how is that even… how is that even possible?”

“It’s… easier for you to see.”

She transmitted the memory to him.

“You… are getting better at telepathy.”

As the memory replayed in his head, Fitz was more than overwhelmed.

Terik… he was a Councilor. If anyone ever found out about this, he would surely be kicked off the council.

And Livvy was a Descryer. How on earth would they ever hide that?

And… the most important question.

Did Sophie know?

And if she did… was she hiding it from him?



Trista looked at the blue leaping crystal Fitz had given her. It only had one facet, but that was enough.

Enough to get to Livvy’s house.

He’d said not to use it to often or the Council might get suspicious.

Whatever.

She was going to use now.

But first, she leaped to Everglen, her house.

Yup, her ''house. ''For now, at least. Elwin had offered, but Della insisted that she stayed here, so…

“Hey, Aunt Della?” She shouted down the stairs.

“Yes?”

“I’m going somewhere. I’ll be back in a few hours, okay?”

“That’s fine, but be back by supper,” Della shouted back.

Trista loved Della. She never really questioned her, just told her to be back by supper. Alden… eh. He just didn’t really feel like an uncle, more of like an old family friend who was overly concerned.

Trista put on some legging and a boring waist-length tunic and leaped to America.

She stopped at a human store and bought some clothes - the cashier had looked suspicious, but maybe that was just because of Trista’s strange accent. She could tell she had one, because every time she spoke the words came out weird and everyone looked at her strangely.

After, she walked back to Livvy’s house, not daring to light leap with so many humans around. Fitz was going to teach her how to be a Washer, but she had only learned basic skills and didn’t want to risk it.

She knocked on the door.

Livvy opened it. “I’m not interested, don’t come back,” she said, and slammed the door after she muttered, “dumb solicitors.”

Solicitor?

Trista knocked again.

“What is wrong with you people? I told you to go away, I’m not interested in your stuff.”

“Livvy,” she whisper-yelled, “It’s me!”

“Who?”

“IT’S TRISTA!”

“WHAT! Oh, hi Trista! I missed you sooooo much! Also, really sorry, but people have been knocking on my door all day and I was soooo tired of it!”

Trista rolled her eyes as Livvy led her up to her room.

“Ok, first of all. Why do you have human clothes in your hand and a thousand dollars?”

Trista looked down at the seemingly meaningless money in her hand. “Isn’t this… kind of normal?”

“NO! It’s so not normal! How did you even walk out of the store with that amount?”

“I… don’t know?”

Livvy snorted. “You elves are weird.”

“You’re one to, you know.”

“Not really. I mean, I’m half human. I doubt the indefinite lifespan comes with being half-human.”

“I can look up people who were half-elf, if you want. There might even still be some in the lost cities, but I have to do a lot of digging to find out.”

“Thanks?”

Trista rolled her eyes. “Anyways. What’s up with you?”

“Meh. Boring stuff. I got to see my dad, or I thought it was my dad, because he was sitting in a car staring at my house for like, five minutes. It might not have been him, though.”

“That’s cool.”

Livvy looked at her. “Did my warning…?”

Trista slumped. “I might need to sit down if I’m going to tell you this.”

“Fine with me. I don’t really care where you sit, as long as you don’t sit on Quinlin.”

Trista smiled halfheartedly. She sat down in one of the chairs, which was tiny.

“So… what happened? Was it…” Livvy’s voice trailed off.

Trista launched into a lengthy explanation, which wore her out way more than she had expected.

Livvy put her hand on Trista’s shoulder. “I’m… so sorry. If only my power could prevent…”

“It’s fine,” Trista interrupted.

Livvy fingered her necklace with a crystal around it. It looked like a home crystal, but with more facets.

“Where’d you get that?”

“It was a gift from my mother. Do you mind if I try another one?”

Trista held her hand out. “I guess.”

Livvy closed her eyes. “It’s still a little of the same. Don’t try to save them, only betrayal comes,” she said, the last two words a whisper. “There’s something else, though. Something your destiny was uncertain of before. You’ll be… powerful. Perhaps more powerful than anyone else. But beware,” ominously, “It can turn against you and you’ll become thirsty for power. Then you-”

She stopped.

“What?” Trista asked, afraid of the answer.

“You’ll become so thirsty for power that you will cease to exist. I don’t know how. Wait,” she said as Trista tried to pull her hand away. “There’s more. Those… letters.”

“Runes? Around my wrist?”

“Runes. Whatever. They’ll go away if you join the wrong side. Your powers will go away if you join the wrong side. Completely.”

“Like, no Hydrokinesis?”

“Maybe like, a little. But basically none.”

Trista’s runes slipped away, like they melted. And then they came back. “That’s not Descrying, Livvy.”

She was to… prophetic. Ok, maybe it was a little more powerful descrying. “Well, it’s not like any descrying I’ve ever seen.”

Livvy stared silently at the floor. “I’ve suspected before that my power is different. It may be because I’m half human. But I have reasons to suspect that there might be another reason. I just have to find out what that reason is.”

None of them really knew what to say to that. Livvy twisted the necklace she was wearing.

“That looks like a leaping crystal. Do you mind if I try it?”

“We try it.”

Trista held the crystal up to a nearby window. “Focus. I’ll try to spare some of my concentration, but make sure you concentrate really hard.”

Livvy took Trista’s hand, and they stepped into the light.

Chapter 7 

“Is this… Havenfield?” Trista asked, staring at the lush pastures filled with all sorts of creatures.

“IS THAT A DINOSAUR???”

“Yes, shhh. The goblins might hear you.”

“GOBLINS??”

“Shhh! Whisper! Yes, that’s a dinosaur. I believe they call her Verdi.”

“What’s Havenfield?”

“You’re aunt’s home, I think. Cool, look at the Panakes tree.”

“Pancakes?”

Trista laughed softly. “No, Panakes. A long time ago, the ogres threatened the gnomes with a plague. The only way to stop it was to sacrifice a gnome. The gnome’s name was Calla. She was really brave,” she whispered softly.

Livvy looked like she was fighting the urge to scream, “OGRE’S AND GNOMES AND GOBLINS AND DINOSAURS AND PANAKES?” Instead, she said, “I feel a whisper from that tree.”

“Which one?”

“The Panakes. It’s kind of… a song.”

Trista raised her eyebrow. “Interesting. Now, we should get back before someone notices us.”

Livvy held up her necklace. “My dad taught me how to light leap. I have a nexus. Go home.”

Trista eyed her warily. “Okay, but hail me when you get home.”

“Hail you?”

She face palmed. “Oh, yeah. I’ll get you an Imparter. Go home now.”

“Okay. I’m assuming an imparter is like a cell phone?”

“Yeah.”

Livvy said goodbye, and leaped away.

Trista pulled out her home crystal, but she saw Lady Sophie and Fitz, and was too curious to look away.

They walked towards the Panakes tree, and Trista hid herself in the bushes. They kind of looked like they were going to kiss, ew, so Trista held her home crystal up to the light and leaped away before they could notice.



“Big day?” Della asked during supper. They were eating grinlri radish with some pitgfall fruit.

“Yeah,” Trista said. She didn’t care to elaborate. “Where is Alden?”

“Trying to get the Council to find you a bodyguard. I think he’s trying to get Lovise.”

“Bodyguard?”

“Yup. And some self-defense class called karate.”

“Isn’t that a human thing?”

“M-hm, which is why he needs the Council’s permission.”

“Oh.”

Trista picked at her food, reminding herself she could shield and wouldn’t have a headache. But somehow the thought of being around so many humans gave her an immediate headache.

She went to bed that night, but she couldn’t sleep. And when she did, she had nightmarish water-dreams, so bad she got up and went to Everglen’s gardens, and stared at the moon, questioning it silently in her head.



Della peeked in the crack of the door. She was so worried about Trista. She’d only said ten words during dinner, and usually Trista was very talkative. She wondered what Trista had done that afternoon.

“Are you awake, Trista?” she said, her accent thicker than she really wanted it to be.

Silence.

Della opened the door and vanished, heaving herself over to Trista’s bed, which was Biana’s old room. The place didn’t really have very many decorations. A photo here, a drawing there, and… books.

So.

Many.

Books.

Books on the shelves, on every spare table, on Trista’s bed, on top of Trista’s bed, in half-open drawers. Most of them were on Hydrokinesis or Telepathy… but there were albums, too. Pictures of Trista, her mom, her dad, and—

Suddenly, she noticed something.

The bed was unmade, and Trista wasn’t in it.

“Trista, are you in here?”

Silence.

Della vanished again, opening the door to the balcony.

She scanned the gardens, pleading her eyes to find a small, fragile shape among the gardens.

And she did.

Trista was just staring at the moon.

Not doing anything… just staring.

Della turned to go, but then Trista took some throwing stars out of her pocket. Della could see them gleaming in the full moon.

She watched.

Slowly, Trista put them down. But she seemed to be talking to someone. Della hurried out to the gardens, trying to hold her vanish and walk silently at the same time.

“What are you?” said Trista’s voice, barely above a whisper.

Silence.

“But-”

She seemed to have been interrupted.

Della drew a knife.

“Spirit?”

Trista seemed a little panicked.

“Spirit!” she said louder.

“Swilm?”

No one was there.

“Swilm??”

Della drew four goblin throwing stars.

There was silence for a while.

Then, “What did you do to her?”

Della looked around, trying to find who Trista was talking to.

And when she turned back, Trista was knocked out on heap in the grass.

·         *   *

Trista stared at the moon—demanding that it pay attention.

“You can’t save everything from water, you know. Some things were meant to be,” said a soft, high voice.

“Who’s there?” Trista asked, drawing her throwing stars.

“The trees, the birds, the water, the air. Everything is here.”

“Who are you?” Trista asked, trying to be a little more specific.

“Why would you care?”

Trista looked, trying to find the source of the voice. “Because you sound like… water?”

It laughed. “I suppose I do. But no, I’m not water. I’m simply a spirit.”

“A water spirit?” Trista clarified. She was still ready to throw her stars.

“Yes. My name is Swilm. Yours is Trista, correct?”

“Yes…” Trista said suspiciously. This sounded like some sort of prank.

“The water told me about you.”

“Oh.”

The spirit’s voice seemed to be directly in front of her. “Can you see me?”

“No.”

“Here, I’ll try harder.”

Suddenly, a ghostly figure was standing over her. Runes were swirling around her, and she was transparent. Her face was kindly and pretty, but she looked old and worn.

“What are you?” Trista asked, her voice barely audible.

“I already told you. A spirit. But I’m not sure how you can hear me at the moment. Much less see me. You are special. I can feel it.”

“But-”

“You were meant to change the world, Trista Logner,” she said as Trista cringed at her last name, “and I know you want to say you don’t want that kind of responsibility. But-”

Swilm disappeared.

A ghostly scream.

“Spirit?”

A flame moved around Trista.

A flame saying, “I found you,” in a raspy, creepy voice.

“Spirit!” Trista yelled.

“Change the world, Trista, change it… or this will be your doom,” Swilm warned, her voice raspy, like it was her final breaths.

“Swilm?” Trista asked quietly.

No answer.

“Swilm??”

Swilm appeared on the ground, and the water that leaked out of her chest looked sickeningly like blood. “Change the world… or this is your fate.”

Swilm let a cough, a final breath, and her chest fell still.

Trista tried to reach her—tried to stop the blood.

Swilm slowly faded away.

“What did you do to her,” Trista spat at the flame.

The flame hissed. “Nothing we won’t do to you, foolish water-child.”

It danced around her, making fun of her. “Water is weak, child. Join us.”

Trista stayed silent.

“You’ll find true strength in things that burn.”

Silent is better, Trista told herself.

“BURN WITH US!”

“Never,” Trista said quietly. But it was fierce.

“THEN YOU SHALL BURN!”

Trista was bonked on the head with something—she didn’t know what.

Then the world was black.



Trista woke up in her bed. That was a weird dream.

She slipped on a blue tunic and some leggings. Her hair was a tangled knot, but she finally got through it with a brush and put it up in a bun.

Her sapphire heels sparkled as she walked—but for once she didn’t care that her balance was a little off.

Today was a banquet—and Della said she was going to announce something—and Flynn was going to be there.

And blue was the best possible color Trista could wear.

Especially because of… last night. Ugh, Trista wasn’t going to be wearing red or orange anytime soon.

And her head kind of hurt…

“Can I ask you to help me with something?” a tiny gnome said.

“Uh… sure?”

“Can you help me water the gardens? Lil and Mitui are off on vacation today, and I’m the only one working in the gardens.”

“Of course!” Trista said, hating that her voice had a trace of an accent. The Vacker accent was famous, of course, but she wasn’t a Vacker. Alden and Della hadn’t even…

Nope, not going there.

“You will?” Sharn asked.

“Yeah, sorry. What do you want me to do?”

Sharn fiddled with her fingers. “Could you make it rain?”

Trista didn’t respond, to busy trying to make the clouds come near. They rolled in over the gardens. Trista waved her hand down, and it started to downpour.

Sharn motioned for her to stop. “Thank you.”

“No problem. I have to go; otherwise I’d help you more.”

Sharn smiled. Trista took a flower on the way back inside.

“So the myths are true,” said an accented voice behind her. “You really do live here.”

Trista dropped the flower.

“Who are you?”

The pretty, flowery-haired girl smiled evily. “You don’t know? My name is Biana.”

nd, to busy trying to make the clouds come near. They rolled in over the gardens. Trista waved her hand down, and it started to downpour.

Sharn motioned for her to stop. “Thank you.”

“No problem. I have to go; otherwise I’d help you more.”

Sharn smiled. Trista took a flower on the way back inside.

“So the myths are true,” said an accented voice behind her. “You really do live here.”

Trista dropped the flower.

“Who are you?”

The pretty, flowery-haired girl smiled evily. “You don’t know? My name is Biana.”