Chapter 3

"It's not happening, Sam" Andy said, shaking his head in refusal. "No way, no how".

School was over for the day and Sam had insisted on dragging Jake and Andy over to the skate park so that he could teach them how to skate. Jake, always up for a challenge, had agreed in a heartbeat but with Andy it was another story.

"What's the matter? Are you worried about getting your uniform dirty?" Sam laughed.

"Well, actually..." Andy began.

Jake interrupted. "Because, if you are, there is something called a washing machine, you know."

"It's not that!" Andy snapped as his hands flew up in frustration. "I just don't like the idea of falling and smashing my head open!"

Sam rolled his eyes, sighing. "Andy, I promise, skating isn't that dangerous!"

"That's easy for you to say!" Andy retorted. "You're a professional!"

Sam's face went bright red and a huge grin spread across his face. "Oh, you're too kind."

"That wasn't a compliment, doofus" Jake chuckled. "Hey, look who decided to show up!" he suddenly said, causing his friends to turn their heads in the direction he was facing. Felix and Ellen were approaching with Eden walking along beside them.

"Who's that with them?" Andy asked, pointing at Eden.

"Only one way to find out. Come on" Jake said, running over to meet them.

Once Felix and Ellen were face to face with Jake, Sam and Andy, they introduced their new friend.

"Guys, meet Eden. She's new here" said Felix.

Jake and Andy greeted her politely but all Sam could say was "Whoa! Who's funeral did you just come from?"

Jake gave him a sharp nudge while the others frowned at him.

"Hey! I happen to like wearing black!" Eden said defensively. "Got a problem with that?" she added, her voice now low and dangerous.

"No! No, no problem" Sam quickly answered. He had hardly known Eden for a minute and already he was beginning to think that she and Ellen were twins; they were so alike.

"So, Eden," Andy said, deciding to change the subject quickly before things got ugly. "Judging by your accent, I'm assuming you're not Australian. Am I right?"

Eden nodded. "Yes you are."

"Where are you from, then?" asked Jake.

"England."

Sam's eyes grew wide with interest. "You're British?"

Eden, who thought this couldn't be more obvious, sighed loudly. "No, I'm American. I just happen to be good at accents."

Yep, she and Ellen were definitely related. Unfortunately, Sam was not deterred by her sarcasm. "So, what's England like? Is the weather always bad?" he asked.

"It is often" she replied.

"Do all people in England have posh accents?"

"No"

"Which part of England are you from?"

"London"

"That's the capital, isn't it?"

"Yes"

"Have you ever seen the Queen?"

"Only on TV"

"What's she like?"

"Do you always ask this many questions?" Eden asked, slightly exhausted.

Felix apologised to Eden on Sam's behalf and gave Sam a dark stare. But he didn't seem to get the message. "Just one more question, please?" he begged. "I promise it'll be the last."

Eden huffed, annoyed. "Go ahead"

"What brings you here to Bremin?"

When he said this, Eden instantly forgot about her frustration and felt herself become anxious and claustrophobic. How was she supposed to explain that? But she needn't have bothered worrying because, before she could answer, Andy said "What's that around your neck?"

Everyone looked at Eden's talisman and, upon doing so, their eyes filled with wonder and surprised. Felix reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a talisman that looked exactly like the one Eden was wearing. "Impossible!" he breathed.

"Where did you get that?" Jake asked, gazing at Eden's talisman in amazement.

"More importantly," Felix added, "why does it look just like mine?"

Well, this was awkward.

"Look!" Andy suddenly gasped, pointing at the talismans. They were both emitting a dull yellow light, just as Eden's had done before.

Sam coughed nervously. "Um...people"

Everyone turned in Sam's direction. He was pointing to all the other people in the skate park. They were all standing, bent backward so that their heads were turned up towards the sky and were shaking violently. Then they straightened up and turned to face the group. "Order must be restored" they hissed in unison, their eyes glowing blood-red.

"The Restoring Demon!" Eden whispered, trembling with fear.

Everyone looked at her, confused.

"How the hell do you know about that?" Sam asked.

"Who cares? Do something, Felix!" Ellen cried.

Felix immediately went into full Exorcist mode, holding his talisman out in front of him like it was a crucifix as he began to chant "Divinity of the elements, I summon thee. Earth, Water, Air..." Then he fell silent. Something in the distance seemed to have drawn his gaze.

"What are you waiting for?!" Jake shouted.

Felix lowered his talisman, slowly. "We have to get out of here."

"Why?" Andy inquired. He soon got his answer when a loud buzzing sound and the beating of wings invaded their ears. A swarm of angry bees, accompanied by a large flock of crows, was heading straight towards them.

"That's why. Run!" Felix screamed. They didn't wait to be told twice.

The group set off at once, sprinting away from the skate park with all the other possessed people, as well as the bees and crows, close behind. None of them cared where they went. They just wanted to get away from there, alive and, preferably, unharmed.

"Do you think we can outrun them?" Andy panted as he ran.

"Idon't need to outrun them. I just need to outrun you guys!" said Jake.

"Oh, thanks a lot, so-called friend!" Felix yelled from the back.

"You're welcome, Freak!" Jake yelled back.

"I TOLD YOU TO STOP CALLING ME THAT!" a furious Felix screamed as they rounded a corner and dashed through a quiet neighbourhood, the sound of buzzing, wings flapping and feet approaching ever present in their ears.

They had just reached the end of the street and were beginning to think they might escape when Andy tripped on an uneven paving stone and fell, twisting his ankle. The others tried to help him up but the movement made him yelp in pain. "You guys go on without me" he said.

"We're not leaving you!" Ellen insisted.

By this time, the people from the skate park were starting to catch up with them. Their eyes glowed demonically as they approached the group, looking as if they were hell-bent on tearing them to shreds, despite their blank expressions. Everyone braced themselves for the worst. They were goners. They were dead.

Just then, a familiar green and white van pulled up next to them. The boys instantly recognised the driver. It was Phoebe, older sister of the witch Alice and creepy magic shop owner.

"Need a ride?" Phoebe asked, leaning out the window.

Relieved, the boys sprang towards the van, only to be stopped by Eden. "Guys, aren't you forgetting someone?" she said.

Andy! How could they forget?! With the help of the girls, Felix Jake and Sam lifted Andy off the ground and carried him into the van. "Ow! That hurts!" Andy whined as they picked him up.

"Stop complaining, you big sissy!" Jake scolded as he slammed the door of the van once everyone had piled inside.

"Go, go, go!" yelled Ellen who was riding shotgun with Phoebe. And they went, went, went. Phoebe slammed her foot down on the gas pedal. The wheels of the van screeched as they tore out of the neighbourhood. Before the smoke cleared, they were gone. But still the demon continued the chase.

"They're gaining on us!" Phoebe cried, glancing into the rear-view mirror.

Sam, who was sitting in the back with Felix, Andy, Jake and Eden, was beside himself. "What if they catch us? What will they do?"

Phoebe looked over her shoulder at him. "They're possessed by a demon that's hell-bent on murder. What do you think they'll do?"

"Eyes on the road! EYES ON THE ROAD!" Ellen shrieked, gripping the dashboard as the van swerved onto the sidewalk. Phoebe turned back to the windscreen and jerked the van to the right, narrowly escaping a collision with a tree.

"We've got to do something!" Jake cried, looking at Felix as if he expected him to have an answer.

"I'm thinking, I'm thinking!" said Felix. He looked over at Eden's talisman which suddenly gave him an idea. "Eden, I need your help."

"I'm listening" Eden replied.

"This is a really powerful demon we're dealing with" Felix explained. "Well, with both of our talismans, we might be able to cast a protection spell that's twice as powerful."

Eden considered this for a moment. There were no other options so she agreed. "Ok. What do you need me to do?"

"Just hold your talisman in your hand and repeat what I say" Felix instructed.

Eden complied. Holding their talismans in their hands, the two teens began to chant:

"Divinity of the elements, I summon thee.

Earth, Water, Air, Fire.

Within this stone, I invoke ye place,

your greatest strength, your kindest grace.

And while this stone remains at hand,

thou shalt be safe throughout this land."

The talismans flashed brightly.

"Look!" Andy shouted.

The van skidded to a halt and everyone turned to look out of the rear window. The bees and crows had disappeared and the people looked (more or less) normal again. They stood looking around them, confused. After a while, they must have decided to forget about how they had gotten where they were because they then left, much to the relief of the others.

Sam let out a deep sigh. "That was intense!"

Everyone mumbled in agreement. Jake smiled at Felix and Eden. "Good job, you guys" he said, clapping them on the back.

Ellen turned to Phoebe. "Would now be a good time to ask how you found us?"

Phoebe rolled her eyes. "My sister is a witch. Need I say more?"

"Actually, a little more would be helpful" Ellen said.

Phoebe sighed as if her answer couldn't have been more sufficient. Nevertheless, she was nice enough to elaborate on her response. "All I know is that somehow Alice is able to tell when there's an elemental attack going on. Now, perhaps you'd like to tell me who your new friend is."

Ellen took it upon herself to direct the introduction. "Phoebe, Eden. Eden, Phoebe" she said, making vague gestures to the two of them.

"Pleasure" said Phoebe, eyeing Eden suspiciously. "You know, it's kind of weird that you would just happen to be around when the attack happened, don't you think?"

Eden's face went red with embarrassment as Felix turned to look at her. Phoebe was right. It did seem a bit odd. He looked back at Phoebe. "Take us to Alice" he ordered. "There are a few things I think we should discuss."

Phoebe frowned, narrowing her eyes. "Fine" she grunted reluctantly.

Andy piped up from the back. "My ankle still hurts, if anyone cares."