Elevator Conspiracy
"I'm surprised you're up so early. You are usually just snoring your way in bed back at home." Adrian said, lifting an open book off his face and smiling towards her. "And I thought you were asleep. Why on earth would you put a book on your face anyways? You aren't the reading type." Adrian laughed, throwing the book behind accidentally hitting Lucy and waking her up. She let out a loud groan and banged her fists on the seat in front of her. "Who threw that book!" she shouted, clenching her fists and awaiting for a confession almost in preparation for attack. Adrian looked towards Claire and pretended to go to sleep by putting his two hands together and resting his head on them closing his eyes and gestured a cheeky smile.
Lucy looked towards Claire, seeing the girl laughing at Adrian, as it seemed as if he was mocking her. "You!" she pointed her finger, "Why did you throw the book at me?" Adrian ignored her, looking at Claire and rolling his eyes continuing his entertaining ways of mocking Lucy. Lucy, frustrated, got up from her seat and confronted Adrian, blocking Claire's sight from his facial gestures. "Young man, explain yourself about the book!" Adrian looked up to Lucy who stood tall compared to him sitting down. He looked into her face with an innocent gaze and shook his head. "I'm sorry grandmother. I promise I wont do that again," he said in an immature and youthful voice. Claire's laughter grew and Lucy with the book closed it and threatened to strike it on Adrian. "There's nothing funny about this Claire. I was struck by a book because of recklessness," she said, turning her gaze on Claire who was still laughing. She then looked back at Adrian, who still preserved his innocent look towards her and hiding under his jacket to cover himself from a likely attack, his face just barely peering out from under the jacket. "That's right, don't hit old ladies. It's the wrong thing to do!"
Lucy grew more furious after the comment. "Why you!" The raised her hands in the air with the book on hold until she heard Claire's laughter growing even more. Adrian got out of his jacket watching Lucy's angry face turn into a small grin. She nodded her head and smiled. "Isn't it great that someone in this bus is finally smiling?"
"Yeah it's been a while since someone's done that. With all the negativity that happened in Mexico."
"It was so sad to hear about Ricardo and Maria. When they confronted each other, there was just so many arguments and struggles. And with that little boy's death…"
"Hey… They'll make it and we need moments like these… So we'll make it."
Lucy nodded her head. But when looking at Adrian, he seemed to give peculiar stares towards the book that she was holding onto. Lucy then gazed at the cover of the book, noticing a picture of a baby and written in rainbow colours and inside coloured blocks was: ABC's: Learning English For Babies.
Claire's laugh grew more loudly and Adrian started chuckling on his own, watching Lucy's embarrassment and her reaction.
The woman looked towards Adrian, more irritated than she was the first time. "Why you? Was this all a plan to humiliate me?"
Adrian and Lucy then started to shout at each other, almost like a contest to see who was the loudest and most abrasive.
"Here we go again… It's going to be another long one." Said a spirit of Adrian that suddenly appeared sitting himself next to Claire. "H-how did you get here?" the girl spoken in a worrisome tone, curious yet fearing that she may have saw her guardian in a ghostly form.
"Don't worry, I'm just triggering your memories of me with my powers that's all. Just channelling my presence in your mind."
Claire looked down at her amulet, comparing this to the times that Mystic used to torment her in her dreams. She saw a similarity, but shuddered and tried to draw any more comparisons. She fiddled with her amulet and then looked to Adrian leaning on his shoulder. She was surprised, as she didn't fall right through his spirit. "Amazing isn't it? I've always tried to refine this skill, but never was able to do it completely."
"Adrian… Why do some people like us have the power of magic? While everyone else doesn't?"
Adrian looked towards Claire. "I guess you never lost your curiousity in this journey." The man laughed. "Magic is given to those from higher order spiritual and magical beings called Sages or Mystics. These beings bestow power to those that have a promise or make a pact to them. This pact then allows the person making the pact power that they desire. The purpose must be approved upon by the Sage or Mystic in order for the power to be transferred."
"Then if it's just a process of requesting for the magic, then why doesn't everyone have magic?"
"The race of Sages and Mystics died out thousands of years ago. Their race was killed and their powers were destroyed, as it seemed wicked. There are only a few of us with extraordinary powers, thanks to our ancestors and families who have survived from all this time. And as a person with such power myself, this way is probably the best."
"Why?" Claire asked. "Wouldn't have been better to embrace magic so that everyone is capable of more things?"
"During the time where Sages and Mystics still existed. Many sought for much power and even falsely promised the beings of their intentions. Those who gained the power created wars and tried to rule the world to their favour. That's the setback with power. Those that have it, do their best to make sure that they are recognised and worshipped for it."
"And that means the people in this journey are those that were born by ancestors who have previously made a pact with a sage or mystic before…"
"That's correct. But of course, as magic is passed down by hereditary means, there is some alterations, giving us different abilities from our ancestors. Magical prowess can also skip generations, so be very fortunate that you have the abilities that you have. "
"Wow! I never knew that. But I'm wondering who might have made a pact with a Sage or Mystic with my family? I hardly ever knew them… And I don't know if they are ever coming back since they seem like they are always too busy for me and since I'm on this journey at the same time..." The atmosphere changed as Claire fell silent peering at the windows passing other cars. They were near the airport, she was sure of it. The sky looked bleak, only barely shining, but mostly a dark blue with some heavy clouds, while at some other parts of the sky, Claire could see a light blue as if light was to be seen at that part of land at the moment. "Did you… Did you know my parents well?" Claire asked in quiet, almost mumbling.
Adrian took his time to answer this question, looking up and bending his neck to face the bus at an angle. "I only really knew them as they told me to take care of you. My parents and your parents were friends and as my parents passed away, they asked me to take care of you when I was older. That's how I became your guardian. Though that was the only time I really associated with them."
"Wow your parents must have been pretty lenient when they allowed you to travel the world saving people with your powers and letting you go to such a big adventure."
Adrian then stared into space, looking towards Claire with a questionable face and gradually smiled, nodding his head. "You know, you're right about that."
Claire could hear Lucy yelling at Adrian in the background of Adrian's spirit at the same time with her yelling in the bus right next to her. "My powers have gone awry… Well at least I got to have some enjoyment out of not entirely being there to hear Lucy yelling at me." He got his index finger and circulated it directly next to his head. Claire laughed as he did this, until his spectre faded.
"What is with all the commotion? Honestly people are trying to sleep!" May shouted out, with her eyes closed and her body fatigued to move. "And you are making it better by shouting at your lungs out?" Andre said, waking up to all the noise.
"It's just annoying, it doesn't seem like I've got enough of my beauty sleep!" Andre scoffed. "Well I'm sorry your majesty!" he said in reply. May ignored this comment, and turned her head to the other side for some rest, squinty her eyes tightly.
"Why they never built different sectors on buses is beyond me." Lisa said, rubbing her eyes and putting her thick black spectacles that had seem to fall on the floor back on.
"You were asleep Lisa? I thought you were awake cause you observed that big black book all night. Interesting read?" Socrates spoke. "Yes, it was quite an interesting read… Very interesting" Lisa looked towards Claire, with interest. Claire was frightened and turned away once she saw Lisa observing her from afar.
"What does it take to get an honest apology from a man? Honestly." Lucy said. "Well it takes something to be apologizing for to get an apology." Adrian smartly replied back. "I think the question answers itself, especially to indecent people like you!" Lucy said with a grin and a wink.
"Oooooooooh" both May and Andre jeered. "Shut up the both of you!" Adrian shouted.
"Enough of your nonsense everyone! Here we are at the airport!" Socrates announced. "Finally we're here! Show us your money maker Socrates." Lucy celebrated. Of course she was referring to his money making spell, but everyone else thought otherwise as they blankly stared at Lucy because of her comment.
"What?" she yelled out in question of their reaction.
"Don't worry honey, I get what you mean. I'll show you my money once you show me your goods." Socrates said flirting with her.
"But I don't have any with me at the moment."
"Oh you got plenty of it!" Lucy looked around. "But I'm not carrying any goods at all. I mean we haven't been grocery shopping for ages!" The woman was confused and terrified. "Is it something that I can't see?"
Socrates sighed heavily. "Don't worry, once we go shopping someone's got to buy you a brain."
Lucy laughed, "You dirty cat! Why don't you just go lick yourself in the corner! Oops." Everybody gasped. "Or why don't we just go to the airport and board for our plane silently" Lucy said to her embarrassment.
"But what's going to happen to the bus?" Claire asked.
"Don't worry, either someone's going to steal it or they are going to tow it away to the dump." Socrates stated, hopping himself out of the bus, it didn't take long for the others to leave the bus too, carrying belongings and walking towards the receptionist counter to buy some tickets.
Lisa hurriedly found herself a remote spot where she had observed the large black book in private. Everyone could see her eyes flinging about inspecting every page with haste, but also with comprehension and understanding. May spent her time rushing to the any clothes outlet that was in the airport, basking herself to extravagant pleasures by trying the most expensive clothes in each store and eating in the most expensive foods. Her favourite beverage being ice tea and her meal to combat the fluids: sushi.
Adrian spent much of his time sitting and resting in the chairs waiting for the arriving plane, but also rarely stepping in bookstores and reading a few blurbs to his interest. Andre was often bossed to follow May around, as a servant to her needs. Even with much complaint on his behalf, he was submissive and went along with her orders. While Lucy and Claire walked around the airport, in awe of it's space and watching the elevator numbers increase or decrease from the flashing numbers. Whenever someone got to the floor from where they were staring, people would often think weirdly of them. The two of them would giggle at their reactions, but on one occasion, an affectionate man hugged them both for their eccentricities. "I'm getting married at California, by the beach." He said. As that man passed, both Claire and Lucy put their heads together. "What a sweet man." They both said at the same time. "All the more better for the honeymoon!" Lucy blurted out. Claire raised her head in question. "For the honeymoon? What do you mean?"
Lucy slapped herself. "What is with all these innuendoes that I'm casting of?" she grunted. Claire was still confused. "Innuendoes?"
Mark approached Lisa without any implication, surprising her with his presence. "What are you doing here?" she asked, in fury. "Can't I get a moments worth of privacy without someone being suspicious of my behaviour?"
"It's because your suspicious that's why you've got no privacy. You've been staring at the book for ages and I've seen you staring at that Claire girl…"
"Making assumptions isn't smart Mark. Especially on how easily beaten up you were when we confronted Mystic. Your recklessness nearly got yourself killed."
"That may be so, but I'm not complaining. Not as much as you are."
"Be that it may. But I wish for my personal space thank you." Lisa said, trying to dominate the situation.
"I know you're up to something… And you are not going to harm a living soul with that book. Not even that Claire girl."
Mark moved away, suspiciously staring at Lisa.
Claire and Lucy were never bored, checking the elevators and watching the numbers flash.
"Oh Lucy was it always this fun at your last adventure?"
"It was nothing like this, these adults guided us and we had to be polite!"
Claire grew even more curious, as Lucy just blurted out details of the journey before. "How did you get into the group? Do you know how it was formed?"
"Gosh! You're asking a lot of questions. Well… When I was younger, I was recognised for my talents with magic, although I rarely use it myself. I don't know really! It seems like a blur."
"Surely you remember!"
"Well I'm trying to… The group formed as two people went across the world looking for those gifted in the arts of magic and then they had me. I can't really remember who they were or what they were but I remember being so amazed from their talents. They were powerful people, very powerful. I don't know what happened to them either. After we finished our journey, they sort of disappeared."
"They went around the world to gather people with magical powers? That's such a commitment."
Something suspicious then happened to the numbers flashing. The terminal near the area where Lucy and Claire were standing lights were flashing and the elevators started going up and down in an erratic manner.
"Claire, activate the wand… Now!" Lucy was serious, getting her bladed fan out and opening it up.
The girl was confused on what was going on, but decided to follow through Lucy's advice. "Is there an astral beast around here? We just defeated Taurus a few days ago!"
"No, but there's something dangerous. Someone is summoning powerful magic."
The elevators then stopped… Opening up was a dark sphere of shadow that was rapidly spreading making what was inside the elevator shrouded in darkness. Mutilated and animals that were inside out appeared striking towards the two. Lucy furiously attacked the monsters with upfront with her bladed fan, cutting them apart while Claire hit them with her wand with no success.
"What are all these monsters doing here?" Claire asked, yelling at every hit she made at a monster.
"Someone with powerful dark arts magic is summoning the powerful creatures of the dark to this airport."
"Summoning?" Claire thought. "It has to be Mystic!"
"I don't who it may be, but this is the source of where it's coming from and we've got to destroy it before it spreads throughout the whole airport."
Lucy put her fan away and clasped her hands together. "What are you doing? You are going to get killed if you don't attack them."
But the woman ignored her. As she released her hands, a little orb of light flew on chest level and expanding into a huge light beam, hitting and destroying the monsters and the shadows itself."
Lucy raised both of her hands, drawing the light beams and the darkness to her arms. Claire was amazed at this power. It was a mind-blowing experience to see Lucy's extraordinary powers. As she drew in all the light and darkness to her body, the elevators turned back to normal and the airport was functioning properly again.
"That was surely a detour, I bet our plane's coming soon." Lucy walked away, almost as if nothing happened. While Claire was standing in awe, "No wonder why she never uses her powers all the time."
The group eventually waited in the resting terminal, resting for the time their flight to Peru was coming. While May, sneaked off, renting a hotel room for herself for a day. The next day, was when the plane arrived.