The Prophecy

Chapter Nineteen

The next day I woke to find I was the first one awake so I slowly and quietly got dressed for the day, I grabbed a mustard hued flannel button up rolled up the sleeves and a pair of black spandex bicycle shorts and a pair of tattered black Chuck Taylors. One thing I couldn’t stop thinking about were the whispers I’d heard last night. What was this the third time this had happened? And every time it happened some kind of crazy magic had followed, I really wanted to find out what was going on. I slipped out of our little tent house trying not to wake anyone and aimlessly walked through the camp some people were already up sitting around fires in front of their lodgings but mostly the place was peaceful and without the busy loudness we had stumbled into upon our arrival and it was nice. 

I walked to the edge of the housing section and came to the beginning of the quarry that lead down to the dais that would be used for the ceremony that’s to start later that day. I looked down and saw some teenagers gathered around and it looked as though they were practicing, 5 of them in a half moon around one who was manipulating water in waves and spirals while the others oooh’d and awwww’d so I walked closer and sat a few rows from the front to observe.

One brunette girl in a long flowing skirt and white tank top said, “Come on Nate! Do something cool! The Elders aren’t going to be impressed by these parlor tricks they want the good stuff almost anyone can just throw water around if you’re specializing you have to be abele to do something truly awesome!” The others around her all agreed and egged this Nate guy on encouraging him to show them something cooler than the basic magic he had be practicing.

“Alright ya’ll you want flash? I’ll give you flash watch this!” Nate said obviously taking the bait of their encouragements. He stood still for a minute and raised his hands to the sky, I saw his mouth moving as if he were mumbling an incantation of some sort or maybe psyching himself out I couldn’t tell but then he quickly and very forcefully threw his hands down and punched the earth beneath his feet kneeling down and five spouts of water came forth from the earth and sprayed a good eight feel above their heads sending sprinkles all over the ones standing by naan watching causing squeals of delight and fake fear of getting their hair and clothes wet. “I’m not done!” He yelled over the commotion. He then twisted his hands together in a circle and the water stopped coming from the earth and floated together forming an enormous sphere about 8-10 feel wide and he held it steady above his head I saw his balance wavering and he ended up flat on his back and the water came crashing down on his chest and soaking everyone around him. I ran over the steps and knelt as his side.

“Are you ok?” He was sputtering and coughing but he leaned up onto his elbow and smirked up at me.

“Yeah for sure I’m fine that’s not the first time that’s happened, I guess it’s good that I’m not supposed to be up here officially till tomorrow I’m gonna need all the time I can get to practice cause I’ll crawl into a rabbit hole and live there forever if I do that on front of everyone and their momma.” We both laughed and I helped him to his feet. He held out his hand and I gave it a shake as he said, “I’m Nathaniel Reed but everyone calls me Nate and who might you be? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around before.”

“My name is Echo Delaney and you’re right you’ve never seen me before because this is my first time at the gathering.” I said shyly.

He raised his eye brows in surprise and said, “First time?? Holy hell I thought every family came to these at least once a year I think I was two when I got to watch my first ceremony.”

“Yeah my momma and daddy weren’t really social I guess…” I said dragging my feet on the stone feeling anxious and regretting engaging with these people I looked for a way out.

As if reading my mind I saw some of my favorite faces come up over the edge of the quarry and there stood Callen and Waylon. They walked down to stand next to me on the dais and Waylon wrapped his arm around my waist. 

“Well look here! The Whitten brothers are here! And by the looks of it you already know sweet Echo here.” He reached over and slapped Callen hard on the arm as a weird guy greeting and I could see Callens discomfort immediately, he then shook Waylons hand and continued, “You ready Callie? You going today or tomorrow?” 

“Tonight.” Callen winced 

“Callie?,” I whispered into Waylon’s ear confused.

“Just don’t not right now this guy is an ass,” he said back through gritting teeth.

“Well since I’ve never met you before you and seem to be tight with this lot tell me your story Missy, where you from? Whats your gift?” Nate folded his arms over his chest and pressed me for information.

“Not really much to tell,” I paused looking at the others starring waiting for my response and then to Callen and Waylon for help, I couldn’t tell him about my powers Mikhail made me promise to keep it a secret what was I going to do? “My parents died, I moved in with the Whitten’s, they’re old family friends… and my powers…” I faltered.

“You do HAVE powers don’t you? What are you 16? 17?” Nate teased.

“17 yeah… I specialize in water and fire,” I blurted out without thinking. His eyes went wide.

“A double major eh? Care to give us a demonstration? I bet you can’t do anything like I was doing but that’s ok no one is going to judge you I’ve been practicing my whole life with masters just ask Callie here he’s always been jealous of my water gift he never wanted earth but makes sense if you ask me.” 

I didn’t like Nates tone, “yeah, I’ll do a little something.” I said walking past him to stand in the center of the stage. Waylon and Callen came rushing up to me begging me to come back to the camp with them trying to reassure me Nate wasn’t worth our time and we would get in trouble if anyone found out about me. “Guys stop, I got this ok someone need to teach this kid a thing or two about humility and I don’t like the way he talks to you Callen,” I shot back shooing them away and telling everyone to give me space. I looked over and saw a smirk on Nates face he was whispering to the hippy girl who earlier was making fun of him, oh how ironic. I closed my eyes trying to imagine the look on Nates smug face if I could have used all of my powers but instead I wanted to try something I had not yet done. With a snap of my fingers I held a small flame in one hand and an orb of water in the other, a few whispered but Nate said, “I mean it’s cool that you can do them both at once it usually takes a few years to get that down but really? That’s it? I gotta say I was hoping for more but I bet you’ll figure it out by the time your ceremony comes around I wouldn’t worry…”

As he said the last word rage began flow through my veins and I smashed my arms out to my sides sending a flame thrower from my fingertips and raised my other hand to the sky and sent a river of water so powerful it must have gone one hundred feet up. The people watching us were so surprised they tripped and fell on their asses and I smiled with sheer delight. “Echo that’s enough,” I heard Waylon say behind me and I was snapped back to reality realized half the camp had probably seen that water and I was going to be in deep s**t. I dropped my arms and it was gone. Callen came to one side his older brother on the other and they lead me away I could hear them whispering behind us, 

“What the hell was that?”

“Did you see that?”

“What the hell.”

We walked as fast as we could without running up the stone steps I could hear people talking as we rushed by them some mumbling did you see that? And all I could do was look at my feet because I knew people would be talking about me, yes no one knew who I was or what I was but I’d just made a huge spectacle and eyes would be on me from now on the elders would be furious. Aunt Marg rushed to the door when we got there Loretta not far behind and I could already tell by the looks on their faces they knew.

“Get in, go on!” Loretta said to us through gritted teeth gesturing we get in the house immediately.

“Callen your father wants to work with you for the next few hours before you have to take your place on the dais so go find him you tow had better stay out of sight until the gathering I’m to mad to even speak to you right now we will talk about this later.” My Aunt then disappeared out the door and Waylon and I hurried past to go inside.

“What the hell Echo?” He turned to face me and I could tell he was angry.

“I’m sorry ok? He was such an ass! He was teasing Callen and making fun of your family and I can’t stand bullies.” 

“You promised to keep a low profile, Callen has always been teased a little and the three of us have always had each others backs and we have definitely never used our powers to scare anyone and not when so much is at stake. You don’t even have full control of all four of your powers if the wrong person were to find out about you before you could properly defend yourself I’d die trying to protect you do you understand that!!!” It hit me like a ton of bricks what he was saying. I didn’t just put myself in danger but I put us all in danger. I looked up at him and could see the passion burning in his eyes, he grabbed me by the arms and smashed our mouths together. I ripped my arms out of his hands and threw them around his neck and intertwined my hands into his thick black hair and tasted him, just as quickly as it happened it was done and he walked away from me calling over his shoulder “I’m still pissed at you girl, I need a bit but I’ll come get you when it’s time for the gathering you go rest.” And he was gone and I was alone lips swollen head spinning guilt eating me alive.