Okay! I can finally rewrite this chapter! I was sooo mad when I couldn't open this chapter up again (especially since I had written a lot and I was at the part of this chapter when it starts getting crucial-Arrgh!) Well, here's one of the chapters that people have been waiting for.
Chapter 9: Eavesdropping and Spies
Erika's POV
Obviously, things aren't always as they seem. Evil can be lurking around every corner and pounce out at you from the darkness if you let your guard down for even an instant. A place where you felt you were safe from all harm can turn out to cause you the most pain. People who you thought were your friends can whisper behind your back, or keep things from you and end up hurting you. Some can even turn out to have never been your friend at all…
Math was so incredibly boring and Erika was glad that Mrs. Kay had finally given them their homework assignment so that she didn't have to keep pretending to pay attention. But still, Mrs. Kay was strict and didn't think that students should be able to talk while working, so there Erika was. Just looking around the classroom to see if there was anything better to pay attention to.
Her eyes passed over Wei, who was to her left and busily working. Erika couldn't help rolling her eyes at the studious girl and looking at Phoebe who was sitting behind Wei. She was chewing on her pen cap and seemed to be pondering something seriously.
Hmm, I wonder if I should see what kind of thoughts are going through her mind. No, I won't. That's just an invasion of privacy.
Erika's deep frown stilled and her face was stony. She could tell that something was…off. For some reason, she was just not happy, a fact that her best friend, Rachel, seemed to notice.
A squared up paper landed on her desk. Startled, Erika picked it up and unfolded it to see Rachel's handwriting.
Hey, you okay? You seem kind of tense.
Erika sighed and ran a hand through her long, dirty blonde hair before writing back and handing the paper to Rachel, being careful that nobody would see.
No, I'm fine. Just thinking.
The paper was then passed back to Erika and a conversation had started.
What about? It's obviously not math homework.
Definitely not. I don't know, lots of things…hey, do you want to go somewhere after school?
Erika watched Rachel's eyes close before she scribbled an answer back.
I'm so sorry! I've got someplace else I need to be.
Rachel's head then turned to Phoebe and something in Erika's head seemed to click.
With the other girls?
Well, yeah. Oh man Eri, I'm sorry. Hey, we can go somewhere together tomorrow, and it can be just us if you want.
Rachel truly did sound like she felt terrible about excluding Erika, but she wasn't really in the mood and she felt a little hurt nonetheless.
Yeah, uh huh, cool.
Erika paused as she wrote and a familiar power tugged at her brain.
She's keeping something from me, she said softly in her head. Is it possible that they have already discovered that they were Guardians? Were they having a meeting after school and that's why Rachel had said that she already had plans.
She was very slightly cheered up until another thought occurred to her.
If she was a Guardian and has her powers, would she tell me?
Erika knew that she wasn't being fair somewhere inside of her, but sensible feelings were somewhere deep in her head at the moment and she finished her sentence before passing it on.
Hey, is there something bothering you? You know that you can tell me anything and trust me.
The answer was scribbled back so fast that a knot formed in Erika's throat as she read what Rachel had written.
No, nothing's wrong at all. I'm fine, nothing to tell.
Heat rose to Erika's face.
Nothing. To. Tell.
She lied to me! Erika was fuming. I can feel it, she can't even look at me!
The bell rang for the next period and Erika grabbed her books and hurried off without a glance at anyone.
"Hey! Erika, wait!" Rachel yelled out in surprise.
Erika didn't stop, she went through the door and almost bumped into Onalia and Eva.
"Whoa, watch it." Eva said as Erika glanced at the two of them and walked off, very irritated. She practically ran around the corner and leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. She looked around the corner and saw Phoebe and Wei walk behind Rachel as they came out of the classroom and grouped up with Ona and Eva.
"What's wrong with Erika? Is she okay, she got out of the classroom pretty fast." Phoebe said.
"She figured out that I was going to be with you guys this afternoon and I think I hurt her feelings." Rachel explained sadly.
Ha! Erika thought. That's not even the half of it. A new wave of anger washed over her.
"Well, does that still mean we're up for practice in the abandoned house?" Phoebe asked.
"Yeah. Well, come on Rachel, we've got to get to English. We can catch up with Erika later." Onalia told her. "And then it's time for P.o.w.e.r. after school, right Phoebe?"
Phoebe smiled and nodded.
"We have Hay Lin to thank for that. See you guys." Phoebe waved and walked off with Wei to their next class and the girls departed. Erika stood still and silent with a heavy heart as their conversation echoed in her head.
P.o.w.e.r….
Erika had never in her life felt so completely alone.
Making sure that nobody was following her, Erika made her way into the old abandoned house. Her footsteps echoed loudly on the floor and she was conscious of every single little noise she made.
Calm down, she told herself. You are just here to make sure that the Guardians' first practice goes alright. Just hurry up and hide already before they get here and see you!
Keeping that in mind, Erika squeaked and ran out the backyard door.
Where to hide, where to hide…
Erika suddenly spotted an old willow tree and around it, a bunch of bushes.
Perfect! I'll just hide in there and quietly observe the girls.
"This isn't real Ona! You probably had a squirt gun in your hand or something. I also probably had too much punch-"
"Yeah right! Too much punch my butt! You turned into a magical being in case you don't remember, Eva!"
Erika gasped and jumped behind the bushes as she noticed the girls were now in plain view. Clearly, Ona and Eva were at it again.
"I have to back Eva up on this one. This is all too weird and it goes against all the rules of physics-"
"Oh, could you stop being smart for just once Wei? You have at least sort of faced the fact. I guess Miss Princess over here needs some more convincing."
"Oh shove it. I really don't have time for this. Help me Phoebe."
"What for? You know what I'm going to say."
"Arrgh! Rachel?"
Erika peered through the leaves and noticed that she hadn't been paying attention at all. They were no longer shouting and Erika couldn't hear what was being said.
That's okay, I don't need to hear everything, Erika concluded.
Rachel laid her hand flat in the air in front of her and blew gently. A sudden draft of visible wisps of air raced forward and soared past Eva, who spun to the side and fell to the ground. Her mouth open, she gasped at the circle of air that was now surrounding them and weaving in and out of the girls with a sense of freedom.
Erika smiled at Rachel, but then she had to remind herself that she was angry at her.
But still, it is nice to see them finally using their powers. I have been waiting so long for all of this to happen…
"Remind me again what we were wanting to do in the backyard of this abandoned house if all we were gonna do was talk?" Eva asked suddenly.
"Eva's right. We came here to practice magic so let's see what we can do!"
Phoebe closed her eyes and her hands clenched into a fist. Her hair started to flow behind her and she opened her hand. A pink light erupted out of her palm and the Heart of Candracar appeared.
"Guardians unite!" she cried.
The girls' teardrops flew to each of them and started spinning around them in a magical transformation.
Erika was in awe of their new Guardian appearances and it was apparent that her friends were too. Erika sat back and relaxed a little as she watched them talk and started practicing.
This is going to take a long time…
Erika shifted uncomfortably in the grass. As interesting as watching the Guardians perform their magical powers, she wished that she didn't have to watch through bushes and sit on the cold ground.
She let out a sigh of relief when Phoebe brought out the Heart of Candracar and changed them all back into the appearances that she was used to. Erika blinked when she realized that the Guardians had slowly ended up a closer to her hiding spot and that she could now easily hear every word they said.
"Okay, I guess you guys are right. I'd like to think that it will be easier for us to go through this because of all that we know from the W.i.t.c.h. universe, but I have the feeling that things are going to be very different."
"Yeah, we need to study, practice, and plan out what we need to do next." Wei said.
"And keep our eyes wide open." Phoebe added.
As if right on cue, Phoebe tripped and fell face forward into the grass.
"Oh my gosh! Are you alright?" Rachel cried as she raced forward to help her.
Ona and Wei started howling with laughter and Ona fell to the ground as Wei held her stomach with tears coming out of her eyes. Rachel looked back at them and gave a warning glance as Phoebe tried to sit up and laugh it off.
"Yeah, I think I need to practice on my coordination skills though. I always seem to fall down." She told them with a laugh of embarrassment.
"Yeah, you do!" Ona half-screamed. "You should have seen your face! You are talking, and walking, and then-splat. That was hilarious!"
"Oh ha ha. Very amusing." Phoebe responded with a roll of her eyes. "I guess I know who's paying for their own cone now."
Ona's eyes came together quickly with a pleading expression.
Erika couldn't help it. It had taken all of her strength not to laugh out loud when Phoebe fell, but now she softly chuckled.
"Oh Ona, why can't you keep your mouth shut." Erika whispered to herself.
"But, but I used all my money for lunch! How am I supposed to-"
"Shhh!" Phoebe suddenly whispered harshly. She was still on the ground, but turned on all fours and stared right at Erika's bushes.
"Did you guys hear that?"
"Hear what?" Wei asked.
"Something, someone in the bushes just said something." Phoebe told her without lifting her gaze. Rachel and Ona looked at each other before kneeling down beside Phoebe and staring inquiringly at the bushes and Erika started to panic.
Ahhh! They're going to find me if I don't do something! Erika looked around hurriedly and she spotted what was to be her savior. Focusing all of her mind powers on the animal, she forced it to come down from the tree and it started wrestle through the bushes, just as she had willed it to.
"Maybe we ought to take a look." Ona said as she moved forward. A sudden shifting in the bushes took her by surprise and she leaped backward with fear.
"Uh oh, I think it's coming out Phoebe!" she cried.
The bush rattled some more, and then a squirrel climbed out, sniffed the air, and darted up the nearby willow tree
"I could swear I heard a voice." She whispered. Rachel nodded and then she looked in the direction her friend was looking in.
This isn't good. They are still suspicious, Erika thought. Another brilliant idea came to her and she tapped into Rachel's mind.
They are only the voices of the wind…
"Come on, Phoebe. Let's get out of here." Rachel said at last, walking to join the other three girls already starting up toward the house. Phoebe shook her head and blinked her eyes and then ran to catch up.
Delighted that her plan was working, Erika decided to continue giving Rachel a message.
It's all in your head…
You aren't alone anymore…
Have trust in your friends and in your power…
"Rachel," Erika whispered.
She slowly stood up. The girls had already gone through the backyard door and were probably heading home after such an exhausting day.
"Well, that was as good as I ever thought it could be." Erika said with an easy shrug. She wiped away all of the dirt on her pants and walked forward with purpose.
This is great! I feel so important! Too bad nobody knows about me, but hey! I can be like the mentor from behind the scenes. Sneaking around and spying and giving good advice, like I did to Rachel.
She opened the screen door and walked toward the front. She peered around and saw that the streets were deserted so she let the door close and set off on the grass toward the next street with her hands in her pockets.
A vibration in the ground shook Erika from the feet up and she gasped aloud with surprise as the roots from a tree that she had been just about to walk by sprouted out of the earth and grabbed her feet. Not a sound came out of her except for a low grunt as her feet suddenly went up behind her and her body collided with the ground.
"Aha! I knew that somebody had been listening in on us!" a familiar voice declared behind her. Erika turned her head and watched each of the five girls gasp and their eyes open in horrified shock.
"Eri-Erika?" Rachel asked. "What are you doing here?"
Oh, there was no getting out of this now.
"Mmm, nothing much. But I could ask you the same question."
Oh, the Council would kill her if they knew that she had messed up so soon.
"Oh, well we, uh…" Rachel turned pink and looked away, as if the grass below her feet was so much more interesting than looking at your best friend wrestling to get free from a tree's roots.
"Did, did you see anything?" Phoebe asked fearfully.
"Well, there's no use lying. Wei would be able to hear what I say anyway."
"Wait, excuse me?" Wei asked.
"You can read minds, you know, hear others' thoughts." Erika explained.
The girls' shock was lost in a mix of looking at Wei in amazement and being puzzled.
"How did you know that?" Wei asked as she narrowed her eyes. Erika shrugged.
There's no getting around it now…
"The same way that I knew that you five were going to be the new Guardians once Phoebe had moved here."
"What! How could you possibly have known that?" Phoebe yelled. "Who are you?"
Erika felt uncomfortable at all of these questions. And there's that weird feeling again, Erika thought as she rubbed her hand.
"Look, I don't have time to explain right here and now. We need to find someplace else-"
Erika stopped as a painful tingling in her hand came. She knew what it meant and quickly turned around to catch Phoebe, who had started to fall toward the ground.
"Hey! What's happening? Why does she keep doing that?" Eva yelled.
Erika held onto Phoebe's wrist as she blinked the dizziness away wearily.
"Some, something's here." she whispered as she stood up.
The winds changed directions as the sun disappeared over the horizon. Erika had been experiencing signs all day, but she had been too selfish in her anger that she hadn't noticed.
Trouble is brewing…
Yeeesss! I can't believe I'm finally done with this chap! I have been wanting to write this for months and now it's done. I hope you guys liked it and please review! And don't forget to keep an eye out for chapter previews for my stories on my profile! (I just changed some of the things on the P.o.w.e.r. character bios too)
Ona: Eeek! What is it? What is it!
Eva: Stop trying to rush things! Everybody will find out soon enough in the next chapter.
Wei: Yep, everything that has been in the story so far was leading up to now. Now the story really begins!
Rachel: Sit in the suspense because there's going to be plenty of it. In case you haven't noticed, Amanda here loves to end in cliffies and torture people who want the next chap
Amanda: (though the wait for this chapter wasn't intentional...and I'm still sorry about it)
Onalia: Oh! We are about to have our first fight! Then someone else finds out about us being Guardians, family and school drama reaches an all time high, Phoebe gets a new boyfriend-
Phoebe: SHUT UP! Way too much info there
Ona: Man! It's like every chapter you guys tell me to shut up about something
Phoebe: Well, just like in every chapter, you talk too much!
Ona: Fine! I'll figure out how to narrate without you guys somehow (shhh! Don't tell them, I'll give you guys a preview of the next chapter later okay?)
Rachel: Well anyway, see you soon!