Power Revealed (The Elementers) (10 page)

The guy clearly liked his car a little too much, but Justin walked around the car and opened the door. As he slid into the soft leather seat that seemed to fit him perfectly, Justin immediately took back his judgment about Alexei and his car. This wasn’t a car, it was a creation. Every detail was sleek and graceful. “Wow,” was all he needed to say.

“Are you sure you don’t want a ride home?” Alexei asked, enjoying Justin’s appreciation for the car.

Justin thought about all the questions running through his mind needing answers. He needed to find someone who could help answer them. “I guess I can go running later.”

“Want to take a spin before I drop you off?”

“Sure.”

Justin closed his door and buckled up before Alexei peeled out of the parking lot like a horse at the start of a race. By the time they reached the empty rural roads at the northeast side of town, Alexei was flying around corners at crazy speeds. Justin expected the car to tip over from turning so fast, but the car hugged tightly to the road. Alexei often swerved into the opposite lane with complete abandon to pass cars causing Justin to unconsciously grab tightly onto the door handle. But despite his fear, Justin couldn’t help but enjoy the thrill just a little.

Suddenly, Alexei turned the car sharply in the middle of the road spinning them 180 degrees so that the car stopped in the other lane ready to head in that direction. Justin’s heart pounded as quickly as if he had been running home. A grin spread across his face. “Wow. That was something else.”

“You liked it?”

“You’re a great driver.”

“I’d better get you back home so that I’m not late for my meeting. I’m in town just for the day so I can’t miss it. Where do you live?”

As they headed back into Bellingham at somewhat less dangerous speeds, Justin took the opportunity to try to get answers to his questions. “Alexei, did you know Henry O’Malley?”

“Every Wind Elementer knew Henry. He was the Head Wind Elementer on the Council. He was your grandpa, wasn’t he?”

“Yes. What do you know about his death?”

“What?” Alexei seemed to stiffen up for a moment, but then his smooth demeanor quickly returned. “I heard he died in a car accident.”

“Yes. It’s just that I’ve heard things.”

“Things?”

Justin didn’t want to sound ridiculous suggesting some conspiracy theory that his grandpa had been murdered, but the conversation he overhead certainly suggested he had been. “Did anyone not like my grandpa?”

Alexei looked at Justin for a moment and then back at the road. “He was a brave and brilliant man. He always stood up for what he believed in even when others disagreed with him. Even those in power.”

“What do you mean? Who did he stand up against?” Justin asked.

“Oh, they won’t want me talking about it,” Alexei said.

“Who won’t? I need to know about my Grandpa,” Justin insisted.

“Some of the people in power wouldn’t want me talking about this. You’ve already met one of them.”

“You mean Rex, don’t you? I don’t care what he wants. They can’t push me around.”

“Ah, you sound just like Henry. He wouldn’t let Rex or any of the other Council members tell him what to do or say. I can’t help but think that his accident was—” Alexei turned away from the road and looked at Justin.

“What? What were you going to say?” Justin asked.

“I’m sorry, Justin. It’s just speculation.”

“Tell me,” Justin said.

“There’s just been talk about the fact that Henry and Rex had been at serious odds about some issues important to the Council. Your Grandpa had half of the members behind him and Rex had the other half. Rex ‘The Tex’ doesn’t like people getting in his way.”

“Yeah, I can see that.”

“So the thing is, they were going to be having an important vote coming up and it looked like Henry’s position would win by a single vote. The day before the vote, your Grandpa agreed to go to a meeting at Rex’s ranch. The story is that Henry and Rex had a huge argument, Henry left, and he had the accident after leaving Rex’s ranch,” Alexei said.

“What are you saying? You don’t think my grandpa’s death was an accident?” Justin asked nearly choking on the words.

“I’m not saying anything. But other people are talking. A Wind Elementer could easily create a gust strong enough to push that gasoline truck into Henry’s car in the oncoming lane. It must have happened very quickly because otherwise Henry would have diverted it away with his powers. He was one of the best Wind Elementers I know. But even though people are saying these things, I question it. I don’t like Rex, but I have a hard time believing he’d do such a thing. It’s probably just talk. I’m sorry. I’ve upset you. I shouldn’t have said anything.” Alexei pulled up in front of Justin’s house.

“I’m glad you did. I want to know the truth,” Justin said.

“I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.” Alexei pulled a business card out of his wallet and handed it to Justin. “Here’s my card. Give me a call if you need anything.”

Justin took the card. “Thanks for the ride. It was wild.” He climbed out of the soft, leather seat and leaned down to see Alexei. “And informative. I hope we see each other again soon.”

“I have some business I’m doing up here in the area, so I’m sure we will. Enjoy yourself and watch your back,” Alexei said and then sped away.

Justin watched the car speed around the corner wondering if there really was a need to be careful.

Chapter 14

Justin told himself he shouldn’t feel nervous. He was just bringing Raven notes from class. It was no big deal. But he couldn’t stop fidgeting as he stood waiting at the door. He had been comfortable when he called her at lunch after not seeing her in English class. He wanted to make sure her injury from the microburst yesterday wasn’t worse than she let on. She assured him she was okay, but Marcela, her cook-housekeeper-fill-in-mom, had insisted she rest today.

A short, older Hispanic woman opened the door. “Ah, you must be Justeen. Adelante.” She ushered him into the entry room and smiled warmly. Turning toward a large, ornate circular staircase, she called out, “Raven. Justeen is here for you.”

Justin scanned the massive living room and the stunning view of the ocean and the San Juan Islands that the floor to ceiling windows afforded. A door opened upstairs and the sound of footsteps approached. “Hi, Justin.” Raven seemed to fit in with the amazing surroundings as she descended the staircase.

“Hi. How are you doing?” Justin asked.

“I’m fine. It’s nothing but a little headache. But my sweet Marcela is such a mother hen.” Raven sidled up next to Marcela and gave her a hug. “She kept me prisoner in the upper tower all day long. Admittedly, I don’t know many prisoners who get fed treats and are forced to watch movies all day long.”

“This is an amazing house.”

“Thanks. The view is nice, but my favorite part is the garden on the side of the house. I’ll have to show it to you sometime when I’m allowed outdoors,” Raven said.

“You kids sit down. I bring drinks.”

“Thanks, Marcela,” Raven led Justin into the living room and sat down on a couch motioning for him to join her. “So how was the charming Ms. Chalmers?”

“Boring as ever. But I took decent notes since I knew you’d need some.” Justin unzipped his backpack and rummaged through it till he pulled out a few papers and handed them to Raven.

“Thanks, Justin. Not only do I get notes, but I get them hand delivered instead of by email. That’s service.”

“I guess I wanted to make sure you really were okay and not just saying you were fine to make me feel less guilty. I really am sorry for tossing that tree at you.”

Raven chuckled.

“What?” Justin said.

“I may be the only person who has ever heard that apology. Life is going to be more dramatic with you around, isn’t it?”

“Hopefully, in a good way. I promise to never again need to apologize for throwing a tree at you. Deal?”

“Deal. So anything interesting happen while I was under house arrest?”

The conversation he overheard at the hotel between Rex and Alexei came to Justin’s mind, but he didn’t know how to tell Raven about it. While he didn’t hear the whole conversation, the pieces he did catch were pretty clear. But accusing Rex of murdering his grandpa seemed a few levels beyond melodramatic. During his run over here, he thought about how he could tell Raven about what he heard, but for every scenario he came up with, he quickly considered all the things someone would say to counteract his accusations. All he had were a few broken sentences and some gossip from Alexei. But deep down, Justin felt like there really was something suspect about Henry’s death and Justin could believe Rex would do just about anything to get what he wanted. Justin simply needed some proof first.

Marcela came in and handed them both some lemonade. She seemed to give Justin a quick examination, smiled with approval, and left without saying anything. Justin turned his attention back to Raven. “No, nothing too exciting. I did meet Alexei Novokov, a Wind Elementer that’s here in town on business. Do you know him?”

“I’ve never met him, but I’ve heard of him.”

“What do you know about him?” Justin tried not to seem too interested.

“I’ve heard he’s one of those Elementers that are always crossing the line. The Elementer Council doesn’t like him. That much I know. I’d be careful around him.”

“I don’t think the Elementer Council likes me either. At least one of the Council members doesn’t,” Justin didn’t need to say Rex’s name.

“I know Rex was being a jerk yesterday, but please try to get along with him.”

Yeah right,
Justin thought.
Like I’m going to hang out and be buddy-buddy with my grandpa’s killer, or at least possible killer.

When Justin didn’t say anything, Raven continued, “The Council could make life difficult for you. I just don’t want to see you hurt. Please try. Okay?”

Justin didn’t want to talk about Rex anymore. As he looked away, he noticed a group of photos on a nearby table. He stood up to get a closer look. He picked up a frame containing a picture of a man and a little girl with two long black braids sitting in a two-seater bi-plane. “Is that you?”

Raven smiled shyly, “Yes, that’s me and my Dad. I was seven. The picture was taken the very first time I got to help fly the plane.”

“You flew a plane at age seven?”

Raven stood up and came over to view the picture. “Helped fly a plane. My dad is a pilot and I always begged him to let me come up with him. That’s how I got my nickname.”

“What? Raven isn’t your real name?”

“No, it’s actually Raylen. But between my black hair and my love of flying, when I was six, my dad started calling me Raven, like the bird, and it stuck.”

“You like to fly?”

“I love it!” Justin noticed that Raven’s face lit up. “There’s nothing like soaring like a bird.”

“And you’re the one telling me to be careful?”

“Flying is very safe as long as you have a plan and follow it.”

“Come on. Weather is seriously unpredictable. Even my grandpa, who I called the walking weather vane, couldn’t always predict it. And you’re not a Wind Elementer, so you can’t influence it.”

“A good pilot has a plan for every possible situation. I’ll be getting my pilot’s license soon. I can’t wait. If I pass and get enough flight time in, Dad promised to get me a share in a plane when I turn seventeen.”

“A plane? Most kids get a car.”

“Well, I do get one of those soon when I turn sixteen. But the plane is way more exciting.”

“Must be nice,” Justin said looking again at the fancy furnishings in the house.

“Don’t be jealous. I get a car and part of a plane, but that’s it. I met your mom. I’d trade with you any day, even if it meant giving up the plane.”

“What do you mean?”

“My dad lives down in California and I see him once a year and my mom plays at being a mom. She’s gone half the time on trips or helping with one of her causes. Even when she’s here, she’s not really here. Marcela is the closest thing I have to family,” Raven looked down at the carpet.

“Yeah, but think of all the freedom you have. No parents around to tell you what to do. Marcela seems like a softie. She isn’t much of a prison warden, is she?”

Raven looked up and gave a one-sided smile. “Okay, so she really is a bit of a push over. She is good at sending me on guilt trips when she’s worried about me. But freedom isn’t that great. You’d grow tired of being able to do whatever you want. It loses some its value without having people to share it with.”

Justin looked concerned and Raven seemed to realize she had shared a little too much. “Anyway, once I get my pilot’s license, I’ll have to take you up some time. Well, once you’ve gained greater control of your Wind powers. I wouldn’t want your powers causing too much drama while we’re up in the air.”

“Oh, thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“I said
when
you gain control, not
if
. I know you’ll learn to manage your powers and you’re going to be amazing. My particular talent is being able to acutely sense other Elementers. But it isn’t just sensing when they’re nearby. I can sense their strength—and other things—within them.” Justin could feel a slightest buzz of energy. Was she sensing him now? After a short moment she considered him intently. “Mr. Hamilton is training us tomorrow and I know you’ll do great. Just wait and see.”