"Aw, how cute!" Called an all too familiar voice. I broke away from Leo's embrace, just as a cold laugh sounded at the other end of the balcony.
My euphoria about Leo's feelings, however unexpected—really I still don't understand how I didn't see it coming—was drowned out by the sound of Hope's cold laugh. My powers kicked in immediately, and both Leo and I were shielded. Completely.
Sometimes my power to copy any other power was really useful, sometimes it was just a pain in the neck. Right now it was both. Hope was only after me because of my power, but then again, my power kept me safe from her. Annoying.
Leo looked ready to change. Leo could change into a huge bear made of ice and fire at will, but it usually only happened when he got angry. His power was no use at the time. Hope lifted her hand and lightning shot out of it, hitting my impenetrable shield. It bounced off and hit her. I lifted my hand and shot more lightning at her, it passed through my shield harmlessly, then hit Hope hard. She wobbled backward. I sent a gust of wind to push her further. Then I made a wall of fire around her. After a second of thought, I changed that. Fire is not a good idea in a palace. I changed it to be a box of bedrock. I heard crashes from within. Hope was trying to blast her way out. I laughed darkly.
Leo laughed too, and pulled me into another embrace. Well, tried to. Luke appeared in the doorway at that instant, so I broke away, giggling at Luke's murderous look. Then he turned his attention to the stone box, with the lightning trying to break it apart. Hope was failing, obviously. Luke laughed. Me and Leo managed to slip away before he noticed. We went straight to the dance floor. Luke came after us many times, but I just turned us invisible to him. It was fun. I think I danced more than I ever had in my life before in that one night.
When I woke up in the morning, I regretted it all. Especially the drinks. That punch was defiantly spiked with alcohol. I sat up with a groan. Hangover, hangover. Clutching my head I stood up. My side still hurt from landing yesterday. I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was in a sloppy plait, my clothes were ruffled and crumpled. The bruises on my side were red. Apart from that, I looked fine. My cheeks were slightly flushed, but in a nice way. The sea scented perfume I wore the night before still fragranced my skin. My eyes were bright, skin tanned, lips full and pink. I smiled at my reflection.
I changed out of my pyjamas into a pair of blue jeans and purple top with a bubble design. I dug my bow and arrows out of my bag and slung the quiver over my shoulder, leaving the bow inside. I tucked my little purse on to one of the belt hooks on my jeans. It was tiny, but held infinite items, and was easy to carry, unlike Leo's huge backpack. I smiled as I walked out of my room, having laced up my new boots. This castle was nice, it was truly a shame we had to leave. But I really didn't want to live in a castle or palace or anything like that. I'd be perfectly content in a little cottage with some tricks for space inside. Lottie gave me that idea unintentionally. She always knew about Dernom, but couldn't get there alone.
On my way down to the dining hall, I thought about it. I would leave Lottie in charge of Dernom, like a vice president of something. I'd check up on her every now and then. Yeah, that sounded about right.
I went into the dining room and grabbed some cereal. I dumped some milk on top and took a spoon. I sat down at an empty table. Well all the tables were empty. I picked up one of the empty goblets, wishing there was some water inside. Suddenly there was. I took an experimental sip. Magic cups. I thought it was such an irrelevant idea. Magic cups, I mean what in the world!? Why can't there be a magic map to show me where the Golden Cure was!? I laughed quietly. Then I heard a shout. I ran out of the hall, still clutching the goblet to find out what was going on.
Leo stood on the stairs looking around frantically.
"Leo! What's going on?" I panted. He spun on his heel and sighed in relief. He pulled me into a tight embrace.
"I couldn't find you. Don't so that to me!" I recognised what I told him yesterday when he snuck up on me. I laughed, still breathless.
"Did it ever cross your mind that I might have gone down to breakfast? It is already nine. We should go soon, we've got to find the cure remember?" I shook with suppressed laughter. I could imagine Leo scowling. We went back down to the breakfast hall. I sat down while Leo grabbed some food. I started shovelling cereal into my mouth. It was soggy, but still fine.
When we had both finished eating, Trish stomped into the hall. I shook my hands out nervously. Seeing her expression, Leo took my hand under the table. I squeezed it lightly, knowing she was going to explode at him for shouting and waking her up. Then she groaned, surprising us both.
"So you finally told her, Leo?" she asked, grinning. I raised an eyebrow.
"Finally? Just how long have you been waiting to tell me?" I looked at Leo. He flushed bright red.
"A long time. I realised when we were captured by the Spirit Hunters actually…" he grinned at my livid expression. He waited how long to tell me!? I frowned.
"Well, come on. We have a Golden Cure to find, don't we?" I said, fed up of this conversation already.
"Yes ma'am!" Leo said with a salute. We all laughed.
I looked up. The food hall had a glass ceiling. I could see Blaze the phoenix and Griffy, my gryphon, playing together in the air. I could hear faint yaps, as if Madison, my metalfang, wanted to play as well. I chuckled. Leo looked up and smiled. We all adored the animals. They had helped us through the mortal world, and would hopefully help us through Dernom. Trish finished her breakfast quickly. We headed out to saddle up the animals.
I put a saddle on Griffy and Madison. They badly needed it. Both saddles were large enough to seat two, so we would be fine no matter the arrangement. We got on, just as I remembered something. Whitney commented last night that she wanted a MP3 player, and all the songs by her favourite artist, Sam Smith. Apparently she also love Beyoncé and Chris Brown . And I did owe her after she taught me two mind tricks that had pretty much save my life. With a wave of my hand, one appeared on the ground, programmed with all Sam Smith, Chris Brown and Beyoncé's songs. I wrapped it and added a tag with my powers and left it on the doorstep for Whitney. I urged Griffy into the air. I made Madison fly with us over the palace walls.
Then I dropped her and Trish to the ground. Leo held my waist tighter. As we soared high above the ground, I stretched out my arms with a whoop. Leo dug his head into my shoulder. I laughed into the rushing air. Absorbing my excitement, Leo lifted his head and looked around.
"You scared of heights? Or just Griffy?" I asked with a giggle. He put on a mock scowl.
"Both. I barely trust this monster!" He grinned. I suppressed a smile. "What are you planning? Ali?" His voice shook lightly. I patted Griffy's side, unlike with Madison, this was a signal to go faster, add some fun. With a squawk, Griffy launched into a smooth loop-the-loop. Then he started a weaving, looping, almost dancing routine that had even me clutching his feathers. But I loved the rush. Leo dug his head back into my shoulder, screaming into my back. I laughed and patted Griffy's side again. With a slight whimper, he slowed to his normal speed. Leo lifted his head and I could feel his glare on my face. I kept grinning.
"You will pay for that, eventually." He said. I chuckled.
"Like at Lily Lake? Where you couldn't even catch me? Or are you going to try, and then end up just making me laugh? You choose!" I said light-heartedly.
He growled in frustration, right in my ear. I laughed again. Then I scanned the horizon. All I could see was blue-green-grey water. Griffy dropped into a sudden nose dive. I flattened against his feathers. Leo lay against my back.
Madison and Trish pounced out of the forest just as I was getting off of Griffy. Every time, my grace improved. Unfortunately, every time Leo got off, his grace was much worse. Much worse. This time, as he scrambled to get off, he landed, face first, in the white sand of the beach. I laughed, a few metres away already. I walked down the beach, hugging the coastline. Trish helped Leo up and they followed me, straying back on the soft sand. I looked out at the sea. I would have to go scouting, since I was the fastest.
In a flash of ecru light (the light was slightly off, probably because we were in a different world), I was in a pair of fabric shorts and a tight top that clung to my figure. My feet were bare. Perfect for swimming. I took a deep breath and broke into a run, letting the seawater lick my feet. I continued on. I dived once I was in deep enough water. It was warm enough. I swam on. Leo and Trish waited at the edge of the water. Leo looked anxious. Trish grinned widely.
"Where are you going, Ali?" Leo called out. I laughed warmly.
"Exploring! It's just noon, so we need a scout. I'm the fastest!" I called back, then I disappeared under the water. I swam off, looking for any signs of underwater caves. I searched the east coast first. There I found a slight indent in the rock. It was made of bedrock, instead of the standard slate. I pressed against it lightly, wondering.
It opened, revealing a cave. I swam inside, breathing in the cool water. Nothing happened. I continued deeper, unable to see. Then I heard a garbled yell.
"Get out of here!" Or that's what I think was said. A bang echoed through the cave and pain shot through my shoulder, tendrils of the white fire spreading through my body. It was obviously coated in something.
I cried out, my shoulder stinging and throbbing from the impact of the bullet and the salt of the water surrounding me. I swam back, my shoulder rendering my right arm useless. I tried to keep going, but I knew I was about to collapse. After a quick thought, I surrounded myself with an air bubble, as the darkness closed in on me.
For once, I was in a dreamless dream, wandering around the darkness aimlessly.
My eyes flickered open of their own accord. A unfamiliar face peered down at me.
Short cropped brown hair covered his head, and wild blue eyes watched me carefully. Full lips pursed, and a long thin nose. But in some way it was elegant, I think. He was about 17, only a year older than myself.
"Are you okay?" He asked, almost straight away. Pushing him back, I sat up, dizzy. I glanced around the room. The back wall was covered in weapons—guns, swords, daggers, spears, tridents, axes, if it was a weapon, it was there. There was a door leading to… somewhere. It was underwater, but we were in a sort of air pocket. On the other wall was another indent of bedrock buried in the slate. My head and shoulder throbbed, my shoulder also producing a deep ache. Ignoring the boy's question, I stood up, slower than usual. I wished there was something to tell me the time. Leo and Trish might be worried, or they might not. I had no clue how long I'd been there.
The boy moved to block my way as I tried to get a closer look at the bedrock. It was a sign about the Golden Cure, I knew it. I just did. I felt myself glaring at him, unintentionally.
"Excuse me," I said quietly, "May I see that? It's weird to see bedrock among this slate." I explained. It was true, so even if he was like Trish and could detect secrets, I wasn't technically lying.
"No. You can't. Yet." He replied smoothly, gently pushing my right shoulder, sending spikes of pain through it. I winced and stumbled back, dark spots dancing across my vision. I bit down on my tongue to keep from groaning.
Then I realised; this boy was the one who shot me. I gritted my teeth, and swiped my hand forwards. A piece of sharpened and whittled coral sprung out of my shoulder, landing on the floor. It was barbed. I pressed my hand to the wound, hard, to stop the blood flow. The boy started forwards, then stopped, his hand only an inch from mine. He looked like he wanted to help me, but my glare made it quite clear that I didn't want his help. I needed to get back to Leo. He had the only medical kit.
I looked down at myself, willing my little purse to appear. My shorts changed to denim and the bag appeared. I scrutinised it for a second before I noticed that it was now made of a waterproof fabric. I opened it and some sterile white bandage appeared, with a bottle of water, warm and soothing. I took another step back, so I pressed against the door at the other side of the room. I slid down to the floor, and, ignoring the boy, tended to my shoulder. I took out a piece of ragged cloth to wipe away the blood. It was a long and tedious task, but it was necessary. After that I did my best to wrap it up, tying it loosely, then adding a loop around my chest to keep it secure.
The boy just stood there, watching me. Then I heard a screech from behind me. I turned around, recognising it immediately. Griffy. I smiled and threw open the door, holding the water back with my power. I dived into it and slammed the door behind me. I swam with my left arm and legs, keeping my right pressed against my side. I swam to the edge of the cave and found the bedrock. I pressed my hand against it, opening the path. I kicked relentlessly, gathering speed and bursting out of the water. Leo urged Griffy into action, swooping down and catching me himself. He wrapped his arm around my waist and hoisted me into the saddle behind him. I wrapped my left arm around him.
Looking down, I saw the boy, glaring up at Griffy. I patted his side gently, and Griffy flipped backwards and skimmed the water in front of the boy, splashing him madly.
"That's for shooting at me!" I yelled. Then we headed back to the beach, where Trish waited, pacing.