Part 4

Tess stood her ground, trying to stare down Liz Parker.

“Why did you bring me here?” she demands.

Liz did nothing but chuckle. She slowly traced a pattern in the air with her fingers. Tess eyed her with suspicion.

*What is she doing?* Giving Tess a small smile, Liz blew gently in the air where she had traced the design.

Suddenly, a bright light exploded before Tess’ eyes and floating in the middle of the room was the design. It was the same symbol from the orbs they had activated. The only difference was that the design was in flames and was expanding with every air blew by Liz. Tess’ blue eyes widened, she stared at the flaming design with her mouth opened.

“How did you do that?” she whispered.

Liz didn’t answer her; she was gazing at the floating symbol with a smirk. She blew at it again. The symbol was now as big as Liz, and it was slowly growing some more. Liz raised her hand to the ceiling, closing her eyes but her smile stayed the same. The lights began to flick on and off, and the wind began to pick up. Tess made her way to the windows only to find them locked.

“Who are you?” Tess shouted. Fear crept into her stomach and surged into her heart. Her mind raced, her hands shaking. The symbol came closer, and Tess could feel the heat on her skin, scorching them. She could smell something burning, and her mind registered that it was her own skin.

With a cry, she backed into the wall and desperately tried to put get away from the licking flames. She kneels to the ground, coughing as the smoke invaded her lungs. Even with the thick smoke in her face, she yelled, “I’m not afraid of you! You’re only human!”

“Are you sure?” Tess blinks her eyes, and sees Liz walking to her. Liz walks through the flames without a moment’s hesitation and the smoke parted as she went through it, as if she was their master and they were her slaves. Liz clothes weren’t burning and her hair wasn’t disarranged like Tess’. A glow settles inches above Liz’s skin. At that moment, Tess could’ve sworn that Liz wasn’t human.

“You have stolen my love,” Liz began, her voice booming as if it was two voice mixed into one, “you have killed without mercy. You are cold hearted and does not know about love - ”

“Love? I do know about love!” Tess interrupted, “Max loves me. Not you. That’s why he came to me last night, and not to you.”

Liz continued, pretending that Tess had not spoken, “You will burn at the stake and no one will come to save you. You are but a puppet to Nasedo and Kivar. In the end, you will be alone. And alone you should be. I will kill you here right now if I have to, but unlike you, I will feel guilt and remorse. Your life is spared today, but you will not always be that lucky. Know this and get out of my sight!”

Liz made a quick gesture with her hands and the smoke disappeared, as did the symbol, and the door opened. Tess stumbles out of the room and into Max’s arms.

“Where have you been?” Max asks, “You weren’t in any of your classes today.”

*Today? But I was only gone for at most 10 minutes.*

“Why do you care?” she shot back.

“I don’t,” said Max, dropping his arms, “you were suppose to help Michael with his powers remember?”

Tess edged closer to Max, “I remember. The question is, do you remember about last night?”

Max pushed her away, “I do and you know what? That was a mistake.”

“A mistake?” Tess’ anger was boiling.

“Yes, a mistake,” Max repeated, “oh, and what happened to you? How come you look like you just crawled out of a hole?”

Tess looked down at her clothing and saw black marks and holes where the flames had touched. Her face, arms, and legs were covered with cuts and bruises too.

“Liz!” she exclaimed out loud.

“What about Liz?” Concern gripped onto Max.

“She tried to kill me!”

“Kill you?” Max looks at Tess as if she’s gone crazy, “what are you talking about?”

“In that room!” she yelled into his face, pointing to the door where she had just came out of.

“Nonsense. Why would she try to kill you?”

“She just did okay! If you don’t believe me, ask her yourself.”

“Fine, I will.”

Max turned the doorknob and pushed the door in. Tess held her breath, thinking that Liz would be caught red-handed.

*Max will then be mine!*

But her hopes suddenly crashed. The room was empty and there was no sign of any fire or any indication of a fight.

“She was just here! I swear!” *Where did she go?”

“Who was just there?” a voice said from behind them.

<<   Home   >>