Hey everybody! Thanks to scottgrub, Periphery, Yuki3x3, and starangel100890 for reviewing! Hope everyone had a great Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza! Here's chapter 13!
Irma: I AM NOT A THEIF! God, why couldn't you have made me a hero? Would that have been SO hard?
Me: Yes. Now read the disclaimer.
Irma: KaNdRaKaRgrl does not own WITCH. If she did, Heatherfield would probably be under the rule of Phobos by now or something…
Me: Hey, I'm not THAT mean. Anyway, on with the show!
Chapter 13
Who I Am Inside
Hay Lin sighed for the entire world to hear…which would have worked, had anyone else been around to hear her. But no one was. She was alone, left alone to stare down the four walls of the guest room of the Hale family's apartment. She lifted her hands and was ready to bury her face in them, to soak them with tears of bitter rage, but something stopped her. Holding her breath, Hay Lin listened to what she thought to be silence smothering her atmosphere like a blanket. She heard nothing…nothing but the small yet insistent humming of words so quiet she could not understand them. Whipping her head to face the doorway, she found her eyes taking in the gentle blue glow of a TV screen gracing the entrance to her temporary home.
Cautious though she was, Hay Lin was a curious girl, and remembering that no televisions had been turned on in the house since the night before, she let herself stand up and walk out and down the staircase into Cornelia's living room, letting the hypnotic blue glow lead her all the way.
As it turned out, the TV was on…how, Hay Lin didn't know. She couldn't remember anyone ever having turned it on…the air princess shook her head to rid herself of the haunting thoughts beginning to plague her exhausted mind and instead turned to the TV screen for some comfort, something to take her mind away for a little while.
The two o' clock news was announcing…that the Silver Dragon had been flooded. Hay Lin sighed. As depressing as it was to relive all over again, the girl sat herself down on the couch and listened as the monotone of this-or-that announcer recounted the events.
"…and just this morning, a vessel was discovered missing from the ruins of the restaurant." Hay Lin's eyes immediately snapped to the screen, her ears waiting to drink in the rest of the story. "It is reported that it contained the ashes of a deceased family member, and was assumedly stolen by one of the family's friends."
Hay Lin's head began to spin. No, she thought. Not grandpa's ashes…who would do something like that? Hay Lin asked herself as her eyes began to fill.
As if in answer to her question, Irma's school yearbook photo popped up onto the screen and the reporter's voice continued Hay Lin's much needed explanation.
"Irma Lair, a close friend of the Lin family, has been accused of stealing the vessel. An eyewitness delivered camcorder footage of the crime to Mr. and Mrs. Lin just this morning. Ms. Lair's whereabouts are currently unknown, and she is being searched for by a police force as we speak. If you have any information on her whereabouts, please contact…"
Hay Lin didn't catch the rest of the conversation. She was too busy trying to sort out reality.
"No," she whispered. "Irma wouldn't have…she couldn't have…"
As if on some invisible cue, wind began to pour through an open window, caressing Hay Lin's shoulders like a mother comforting her child, speaking to her as it blew by.
Oh, she couldn't have? Tell me, child, the water guardian has a temper as large as her big mouth, correct?
"Well…I wouldn't put it like that," Hay Lin whispered in answer. "But…yes."
Then how much sense does it make that she did what she did? She is a type that easily seeks revenge without a second thought…did you really think that she would just let go of your powerful demonstration at practice?
"No…" Hay Lin choked. "No, Irma's my best friend."
Did you really believe that friendship necklaces and words of promise meant anything? Not to her. You have a big heart, Hay Lin, but you open it to the worst of people.
"What do you know?" Hay Lin whispered, but she found herself believing the wind's words.
More than you do. But tell me, dear, are you simply going to sit here while the remains of your grandmother's love are in the hands of a monster?
"I…I shouldn't, should I?"
No, the wind whispered, satisfied. And you should show no mercy to the disgracer of your family.
Before Hay Lin could reply to her element's harsh words, the wind ceased to move, and the sharp buzz of the doorbell cut through her thoughts.
"Come on up," she said into the little intercom without any second thought, thinking that it was probably Will and Taranee or maybe her parents. She simply sat on floor to the side of the door, her hands curling into angry fists as the reality of what Irma had done to her sunk in. She found vile thoughts beginning to run through her head, thoughts of what she would do to Irma when she saw her sorry face again. Bloodlust had just about taken her mind away when she heard a knock in the distance. Straightening herself up and putting on her best happy face, Hay Lin opened the door and came face to face with Irma Lair, wanted criminal.
The air girl's face hardened, and for a second Irma felt afraid, but she quickly shook it off and took the vessel from her purse.
"I found this," Irma said, holding it out to Hay Lin. It's not a complete lie, she thought. I did find it…just not quite the way I'd planned it. "I know how much it means to you. I wanted you to have it back."
Hay Lin stood there for a good minute, not letting any trace of emotion slip itself into her expression. Finally, her hands took the vessel from Irma, placed it gently on the coffee table next to her. Irma smiled, but it soon faded into a thin line of fear as Hay Lin turned back and began to walk towards her until they just inches apart, the air girl looking like she was ready to kill the next person that said two words to her.
"Hay Lin…" Irma began, reaching to place a hand of comfort on her friend's shoulder, about to ask her what was wrong. Hay Lin's hands immediately shot out and shoved the water girl backward so that she landed on the floor, looking up at her best friend's deadly expression.
"How dare you," Hay Lin murmured, reaching down and pulling Irma up by the front of her shirt. "HOW DARE YOU!" she roared. "I know that what I did at power practice was nothing to be proud of, but this?" She paused to shake her head, and the wrinkles of her frown disappeared. "I thought you were my best friend," she whispered. Looking up directly into Irma's eyes, she spoke again, her voice cracking on sobs. "I guess I was wrong. I meant nothing to you."
"Hay Lin, it's not true! I never stole from you! I swear I didn't steal your grandfather's ashes! I thought you knew me better than that!"
Hay Lin raised her other hand and smacked Irma across the face. Gasping at what she had just done, Hay Lin let go of Irma's shirt, breaking down into another crying spell. "I guess…we…don't know each other anymore…now do we?" Hay Lin choked through her tears.
"Hay Lin…" Irma tried again, coming up next to the girl's shaking form.
"JUST GET OUT OF HERE!" Hay Lin cried, shoving Irma out of the apartment and slamming the door in her face. Irma could only stand there, stunned. She didn't know where to go. Her best friend's family and her own father were trying to track her down to throw her in the slammer. As she turned to go, a small cry of pain came from the other side of the door, followed by a growing shadow slipping into view out from under the door…
Irma knew she shouldn't, but honestly, do you think she cared? Yeah, that would be a no. So she turned the knob of the unlocked door, swung it slowly open, and let herself scream at the sight that lay before her.
Lol sorry if that causes suspense but it's getting pretty late & I have to stop. Anyway, hope you liked it & you can expect another update when I get 57 reviews!