Chapter Two – The Gemstones
The Cafe was quiet the next morning. There was no sight of Claudia and her friends, and just when Cary thought they would never come, the Cafe door opened and Claudia stepped through.
The Cafe was empty, and Cary gave a weak smile.
"Hey, we need to talk." Claudia said, walking up to the counter where Cary sat. The white-gloved girl was hot on her heels.
"I gathered that." Cary replied. Claudia smiled slightly.
"War of the Gemstones; ring any bells?" she asked. Cary shook her head and the gloved-girl sighed.
"My given name is Grace Sense. My chosen name is Electra Tinc. Pleased to meet you, Luna." she said. Claudia rolled her eyes and Cary frowned.
"Pardon?"
"Listen hard, girly. There was once a great sorcerer, who combined the light of a star, grain of blue sand, tear of a unicorn, and ash of a phoenix to create hundreds of Gemstones." Claudia said.
"Gemstones?" Cary asked. Claudia nodded.
"You know – Topaz, Emerald, Ruby --"
"Opal, Garnet, and tons of others. Continue." Cary cut in. Claudia cleared her throat.
"This sorcerer created hundreds of these – all of them holding their own special ability. He released them into the world, and they all fell into the hands of darkness. When the old sorcerer passed away, a war began. The sorcerers with the Gemstones were using their abilities against others – so the only light sorcerer with a Gemstone built up his own army to rebel against them." Claudia ran through the Gemstone history, when the gloved girl broke in.
"You have two names. Your given name, chosen at birth, and your real name. Claudia's real name is Torna Melatra, and mine is Electra Tinc. We both have Gemstones. And so do you." Electra said.
"Well – a quarter of one. The Opal was the most powerful Gemstone out here. It held four individual abilities. In the war it was broken into four pieces, and so it's power increased. It moult the ring to fit only who it chooses to be worthy. And it chose you." Torna said.
"There are three others. You are the fourth of a team known as 'The Four'. Possessors of the Opal Gemstone. Torna and I are part of a team known as 'The Team'." Electra continued.
"But there are more out there. 'The Outcasts' are dark possessors of Gemstones. They use their abilities against others and are what the whole War of the Gemstones was about. We know them all – and they have their minds set to kill all of The Team and use our Gemstones as their own. You are in trouble..." Torna paused and Electra continued for her.
"You have the biggest of the pieces of Opal Gemstone. They will be coming after you shortly – and when Torna saw you take that ring, we had to make a decision. Quickly. We've been hidden from The Outcasts for at least a week now. Our base is this village. You have put us in danger – and The Outcasts are coming for you. They will be here in around two days. You --"
"Wait..." Cary said. She couldn't take in anything. She couldn't believe anything. It was all so... strange. "So – I have one of these Gemstones? I have a special ability? And you expect me to fight off these 'Outcasts' for you, just because I have the biggest quarter of the Opal?" Cary asked, shaking.
"Hey – slow down, Cary. We're not asking you to do anything. We're just noting you of the dangers. Now that you know, the Outcasts will track you down easier. You must stay with us – at our base. It's in --"
"Wait, wait," Cary cut in, stopping Torna in her tracks. "you're asking me to move away from my house, away from my mother and sister?"
"Yes... we're sorry, but you are putting them in danger. The Outcasts will kill anyone they come across, and if they find out where you live, they will kill anyone related or close to you." Electra said carefully. Cary swallowed and felt slightly sick and dizzy.
"What do I say?" she asked, not wanting to take the risk of putting her family in danger. Torna smiled.
"Simple. Tell them everything." she said. Cary raised her eyebrows.
"Your sister knows." Electra said. Cary gasped. She had noticed her sister wearing a ring just like hers, with a red ruby encrusted on the top. "Tell her and she'll tell your mother."
Suddenly, the door burst open and the small, feline-like girl rushed in, her face pale.
"Electra – the Outcasts, they're here..." she sobbed. Cary rushed out from behind the counter, panicking.
"What do I do?" she cried. Torna took a deep breath.
"Cary – tell your sister, and then get her to tell your mum. You must then run. Meet us back here, tonight at around 10-ish. We need to ward them off, somehow..." Torna said quickly. I began to tremble with fear.
"How --" suddenly the door burst open again, Anne and Louise Brook walking into the Cafe. Louise looked at her sister, Cary.
"It's you, isn't it? They've come for your Gemstone! Hide!" she said, tugging at her sisters arm. Anne looked at her daughters.
"What is going on?" she asked. Electra swallowed.
"Erm – Miss. Brook, your daughter needs to talk to you about Gemstones --"
"I already know about them! I have one of my own, thank you very much." she said to Electra, before turning to Cary. "Cary – I don't want you to get hurt. You must go to The Teams base ASAP. " she said.
"Mum – you never told me you had a Gemstone!" Cary exclaimed, forgetting about the Outcasts.
"It is our business to keep the Gemstones out of the ears of humans. I never would have told you without a Gemstone in your possession. Now, get on with it!"
Suddenly, a Cafe window smashed, smoke rising from the shattered pieces of glass. Electra swallowed and turned to Cary, Louise and Anne. "Cary – your real name is Luna Raiyn. Your mother is Eclipse Raiyn and your sister is Sola Raiyn. You must not tell anyone your given name, just your real name. They can use this against you and cast magical curses. There's no time left to run – you must hide behind the counter. Eclipse – Sola, get back to your house and protect anyone else there." Everyone nodded and Cary jumped behind the counter, dropping down and peeping over the edge. She could see everything from here, but could only hear her real name ringing through her ears.
Luna Raiyn.