--Act Two--

Whirlpool

Jack took in his surroundings. The colors were all wrong; too bright, almost fluorescent. The halo of yellow hair with blue eyes bent over him said “Hey” as his eyes moved back and forth, frequently centering on the girl. Kim? The fact that Jack's thoughts were a mess showed in his face and so Jack rose carefully to his elbows as the girl slowly retreated. As she moved, the contrast on the world came down and Jack looked toward the man who stood opposite her. Dark hair and pointed features gave him a look that some would say resembled a predator, but Jack took unexpected comfort in it. He knew the look given him was not malicious, very much not a threat... yet every instinct in him screamed to find a bearing and strike where the enemy was weakest.

The man repeated his greeting, more quietly and extending an arm to help Jack up.

“Welcome to Sanctuary.”

A small gathering of people circled him, and as he looked around, still entirely lost, the girl spoke her own greeting. “Welcome. I know you're confused, but that's ok. You're among friends here.” Jack's fight against his instincts was still apparent as she gave a small shrug to the man.

“Who are you?” Jack's voice shook too much for his own comfort.

“The name is Alexander Davan,” his voice strong and confident as he again extended his hand. “Most people just call me Davan, though.”

“Jack. Jack Winters.” Jack's shaking hand missed Davan's, corrected as he gave his full name.

Jack took a deep breath and let it out slowly, taking some of the stress and adrenaline with it. Davan spoke again. “Jack, then. You have no idea where you are, am I right?” Jack gave an absent-minded nod as he met the smiles and studious looks of the others around him. A dozen in all. A welcoming committee or a guard detail, seemingly the former. “Well, you've made it to a small dimension beyond the place you were just a minute ago. Your inner power brought you here. It brought all of us here at one time or another... But I digress. We call this place Sanctuary.”

“Inner power...” Jack thought he might collapse from shock before, but now he was thinking again and steadied his nerves accordingly. There was no need to be on-alert if there were no immediate threats.

“Yes, your ability to control the elements. It's the only way you could have come here.” Davan gave him a knowing smile. “Once your power reaches a certain maturity,” he stressed the word as though implying Jack was a bit young, “it will then bring you here.”

“You're an Elementalist?”

“Ah... yes I am.” Jack took a half-step backward to turn and face Davan more squarely. “My specialty is air. Mariah over there controls fire. Aaron, behind you, controls earth.” He gestured to encompass the group. “Each of us has an element we can control. We have yet to see what yours is, though.”

Davan's speech came to a complete stop without signs of continuing and all eyes centered on Jack. “Um... I control electricity.” Signs of recognition and understanding reverberated across the group. Some gave smiles showing teeth, others remained expressionless, others rolled their eyes and shifted from foot to foot.

An arm shot up from the back of the group and waved to Jack. The man's effort at moving through the now growing crowd of passersby was only slightly evident in his voice. “I just... want to say hi... to another from my group.” The last word was tinged with protectiveness, even possessiveness. He broke through the group a moment later. “Hey.” He extended a hand. “The name's Tom Simmons. We're the same. Welcome to the clique known as Arc-users.” Jack gave what, by now, was an almost permanently confused look. Tom leaned closer and whispered far too loudly for it to be taken as such. “They didn't like saying 'Electricity' all the time, so they just shortened it.” More eyes rolled, even a few sneered. Then his voice dropped to a real whisper. “Don't worry, you'll do fine. They already like you enough, just be a little more...” he struggled for a moment to find the word. “... Interactive.” Jack's expression quickly took on a frown. “That's better.” Tom chuckled as he disappeared back through the group.

Jack's expression softened as he looked to the girl called Mariah. Their eyes locked. As if on cue, she and several others began to approach Jack. After the lightning round of names and the group dispersed, Mariah took over as official tour guide for Jack. She lead him to the five great wonders of Sanctuary, each representing an element, a symbol of their power and providing a place to congregate. The Halls of the Burning Dawn were made entirely of stone and flame. The Caves, a hollow mountain, carved like an ant colony with massive caverns an almost every turn. The Lake is an expanse of water crowned by a dome of ice, malleable by any of the students of water. The Spire, to the East, a great skeleton tower and the source of the winds of Sanctuary. That left only the Meadow for the Arc-users. They did not have a building of their own, but clouds and thunder rolled overhead, almost reaching for the trees. As Jack walked among the trees and the grass, he recalled how he loved the storms of his parent's home as the clouds rolled in, darkening the skies. His thoughts wandered until a bolt crossed the sky. In that moment, a thrill ran through him, the thunder roaring in challenge and Jack nearly roared back. Lightning flashed again and this time he could hear a cry in it, wordless and guttural. His response was the same, eyes locked on the heavens, hands raised in fists. Mariah, standing a distance behind him, couldn't help but smile.

*

“Well, we're done!” Her eyes lingered a moment longer than necessary on Jack as she turned to take a seat on the stairway to the Halls. Jack sat behind her with a reluctant sigh.

“This place is huge... and amazing... and...” Jack let his voice die. Mariah gave a short chuckle as Jack's wide eyes conveyed what his voice could not. Mariah's hair had turned from blonde to brilliant, fiery red and was rising in waves from her shoulders. “What are you...?” Jack's natural tendency to avoid fire made him flinch.

This time, a true laugh emerged. “Jack, ” she paused, rising to her feet. “Care to have some fun?” Her smile took over her face as her arms spread wide and the fire consumed her entirely. Jack's shock combined with the surge in heat made him take a few more steps backward, but he knew this game. Dropping into a defensive Krav stance, Jack took a deep breath and did as his grandfather told him, accelerating the flow of power through his body.

Mariah seemed somewhat impressed as Jack took on a bluish hue. Not nearly as impressive as her aura of fire, but something noticeable. He's no newbie. He's definitely been trained. She cranked her power up a notch and flared the flames outward, showing off for the boy, but his eyes were the giveaway: he was prepared to fight and he wanted it. Shall I give him what he wants? She weighed the decision as she adjusted the flames, walking down the few stairs to the open courtyard.

“I don't know the rules for this particular game. Care to teach?” His voice was guarded, an eyebrow raised.

“Just don't inflict a permanent injury.” A pause, a sidelong glance. “And see if you can win.” She gave a feral smile and her fire leapt forward. Jack dodged aside, carefully avoiding the flames, letting the power build toward his limbs. As his arms took on a brighter shade of blue, Mariah circled and let loose a small fireball. Jack's hair smoked as he closed the gap between them, power focused in his fists. He didn't exactly want to hit a girl, but this was a fight, the rules already decided.

Jack's fist came from her right, near the edge of her vision. He had managed to get beside her, a fatal mistake on her part as Jack saw it. Suddenly, just as her eyes darted to the side, the fire coalesced, and Jack's punch was brought to a very quick halt. It didn't help that, from what he could tell, the only thing saving his hand from third-degree burns was the thin blue bubble surrounding it. Jack didn't have time to sightsee, turning again for another quick blow, hoping she might not stop the second one. She didn't have to.

In an instant, her eyes dropped to Jack's very open midsection and her fire again obeyed her, rushing forward in a burst of pure strength. As Jack flew backward through the air, he regained a sense of smell along with his breath and noticed his shirt was on fire. Uttering a sound of shock, he patted out the flames. Mariah was standing there, watching the entire thing. Okay... plan one didn't work. What's plan two?

Jack rose to his feet, shaking slightly. A combination of what felt like adrenaline and the beginnings of shock ran through him. Jack closed his eyes. He pictured his core, the power he knew he had, flaring, growing, expanding to cradle and protect him. His power stalked out with a growl only he could hear, arcs flowing along his limbs. As he opened his eyes, they caught Mariah's. Jack took another deep breath and as he exhaled, the aura of blue lightning grew more solid. He saw her eyes widen ever so slightly as it coalesced and withdrew into his skin. Jack then gave himself over to the thrill of the fight...

*

Mariah knew the signs of an adept. People who were new to the experience weren't supposed to be able to call on that much power. And he was fast. She should have been faster than he was, yet she barely had time to block his attacks. Maybe there's something to this- Mariah's thoughts were cut short as Jack burst forward again. She called her fire around her, a defensive posture, and summoned fire to Jack's feet. It seared the ground, but Jack was already beyond it, a fraction of a second from being too close for her comfort. She then ran the fire along her arm, shooting it right at Jack, a row of heat and light hot enough to leave blackened scars wherever it touched. In an instant, Jack spun on his axis, moving a hair to her right, facing her as he did before. He continued to spin, with speed and subtlety she couldn't counter, and brushed her shoulders. At that moment, Jack released the pulse of blue and kept moving away, gaining distance in case the gambit didn't work. He knew it worked when Mariah's fire shot in random directions, her body seizing and falling to the ground. The uncontrolled flame soon gained coherence as Mariah drew up to her knees. She stood and turned towards Jack, her face black with rage. “How dare you...” she growled. Her fire flared higher, exploding around her, and grew so intense her features were beginning to blur behind the maelstrom of light. Jack met her eyes with all the dignity and sternness he could muster.

A long moment later, she lowered her head and the fire retreated. Jack waited for the explosion to come, and was surprised to see Mariah smiling. “Nice shot!” Jack was taken aback. “You did well. Are you sure you're new at this?” Her giggle turned to laughter before he could respond. Jack tucked away his power too, but remained where he was. “Uh...” Jack's confidence finally hit him. He knew this dance. He'd won. Now he had to meet his opponent. “Thank you for the fight. That was amazing.” He took two long strides forward and extended a hand. Mariah followed suit and took the hand. She broke the handshake and spun on her heel. “Come with me.” She turned, calling over her shoulder. “There's someone I want you to meet!”

*

As Jack followed Mariah toward the only “building” in the entirety of Sanctuary, he ran the battle over in his mind. He saw his mistakes, knew how to correct them, and made the resolve to do better in a fraction of a moment. The vast majority of his time was then spent watching Mariah. He couldn't explain it. He could almost feel the tension between them. But this was not tension brought on by vengeance, pity, or a number of other emotions; this was something else. It was as though someone had fastened hooks in his skin and was pulling him to her...

His internal monologue was cut short as Jack took notice of the construction of the building aptly named “the Star-Council Chambers.” The floor was arranged in the way of a five-pointed star: each point ending with a roman-style seat, wide enough to sit cross-legged or lay down, but lacking a back rest. Behind the seats were pillars rising to the ceiling to form a larger pattern in the light, each pillar being adorned with symbols of their respective element. Proceeding clockwise around the star sat Earth, Fire, Electricity, Water, and Air, with each seat in front containing a man or woman of middle to late age.

As Mariah entered, Jack took in the room and watched her for his cues. Though he was perhaps only a step behind, he knew that could be seen as a sign of submissiveness, one he didn't intend to give. His attention faltered a moment as he saw her visibly relax when she reached the circle around the edge of the star. He thought for a split second that she has been tired from their fight, but was only more confused when thin tendrils of flame played up and down her body. As Jack crossed the threshold, she whispered back “Don't fight it, let your power do what it needs to.” The moment he was entirely within the circle, Jack could feel and see his power ooze out from his fingers slowly. He fought for a moment before he remembered to let go and when he did, the blue lines swelled and flowed over his skin. The far pillar with a lightning bolt emitted a faint glow, but to Jack it seemed as brilliant as an over-decorated Christmas tree. Jack took measure of the five people in their seats, one or two of which were sitting in a meditative position. Jack's first glance was at the nearest and the most surprising, Alexander Davan. So, he's one of the Elders? The thought was quickly answered and set aside as more information flooded in. The next three middle-aged women sat in their respective seats, the other man seated in the middle pillar opposite the entrance. The Elder of Fire gave Mariah a careful but tender smile, as a proud teacher would give her student.

In seconds, Jack had already taken in the scene and followed Mariah to the center of the star. Once they had stopped, both the Fire and Arc Elders rose and announced themselves. “I am Peter Hobson” spoke the Arc Elder. “And I am Kira Roberts” followed the Fire Elder. Mariah gave Jack a discreet nudge and he spoke, loudly enough for all to hear. “I am Jack Winters.” At that, all of the pillars glowed, the Arc pillar remaining brightest among them. As the glow faded and the tendrils of light retreated into Jack's skin, Peter Hobson rose and approached, extending a hand only as he entered the center pentagon.

“It's nice to meet you, Jack.”

“Same.” A small nod.

“And you, miss Allister, are expected.” He gestured toward Kira and she rose.

As soon as she had gone, Peter turned to face Jack. Jack saw that he was entirely open to attack, but something about him spoke of a reserved power and Jack considered his instructor's words: “Only those who are stronger intentionally leave themselves open.”

“So, it seems you are a new addition to the group. I'd like to learn more about you” he said as they began walking outside.

Jack saw his function as both protector and diplomat and thought it would be better to do as he'd asked. He related his tale of learning about his powers and arrival at Sanctuary, carefully leaving out anything identifiable aside from first names from his stories. When he'd finished, he subtly added “And, might I ask what you do here, sir?” The respect in his voice evidently made an impression and Peter smiled. “Why, I'm the Elder of the Arc-users. I am here to guide those who have our talent and act as an authority of sorts when something happens to my charges. That's why I'm speaking with you; you and I both will be seeing much, much more of each other.” He paused, thinking about something, when he turned quickly to Jack and asked in a half-panic “how long have you been here?”

“Not long. Maybe a day?” The shock on Peter's face was not encouraging.

“Are you meditating somewhere safe? How long were you meditating before you arrived?”

“Yes, and I was meditating for maybe two or three hours beforehand? Is there something wrong?”

The strain eased from Peter's face, whether by true relief or force of will, Jack couldn't tell.

“Jack, I need you to return to your body. Break your meditation soon. When you get back, you will be rather weak, as you haven't had food in...” his eyes were hooded only a moment. “14 hours.”

“But-”

“No.” The word was said without force, but felt like a hammer-blow to Jack's reason. “You have to take care of yourself in the real world. You are wandering here, free from the body's needs, but you will die if you don't take care of yourself before you come here.”

“Alright.” Jack didn't like the sound of defeat in his voice. He felt like he was being scolded for letting a pet fish die. He knew Peter was right, but he didn't like having someone claim authority over him so soon. “Uh...” Peter stopped and turned to face Jack again. “How do I get out of here? Is there something special I have to do?” Peter's curt response did nothing but hasten his exit. “No. Just withdraw as you have done before. It just might take a little longer.”

“Thank you, sir” he added as he hurried toward where he remembered seeing Mariah.

“Come back soon!” Peter called back as Jack quickly sped away.

Jack jogged back into the building, wary as he crossed the threshold, but nothing happened as he hurried toward Mariah. She turned from Kira as he approached. Mariah gave out a hand and Jack took it without looking, his focus on the Elder at that moment. “Ma'am?” He gave his other question silently. A half-smile and a nod from her answered it and he turned to Mariah. “I just wanted to say goodbye. I have to go eat something, according to Peter.” His slight sneer showed his disapproval of Peter's priorities. Mariah's face took on a wistful look, but then turned to an almost caring smile. “Take what time you need, Jack. I'll be here. I usually am.”

Jack flashed a smile in return, nodded to Kira with a slight bow, and their hands parted. At that very instant, a small spark leapt between the two, blue and red. Kira's gaze sharpened only a moment, but Jack had already turned and popped out of existence. The surprise on Mariah's face was quickly replaced with calm as she turned to her mentor.

“Well, I guess that makes sense.” Kira had taken on the same piercing gaze again.

“I suppose that means something, Elder?”

“Only if you let it.”

And with that, Kira's brow flared with the symbol of Fire, the gemstone of a spreading circlet of fire. Mariah immediately gave a low bow, arms spread wide, backing away as she did so.

“I submit myself to the wisdom of Fire.” Mariah's words echoed, but only to their ears. Her fire grew along her arms, circling her head, and seemed drawn toward the other woman.

“Take this knowledge, Child of the Flame. Do great works in the name of rebirth.”

Kira then extended a hand, palm out, toward Mariah. Mariah extended an upturned palm and fire leapt between them, a rapid exchange of heat and light. She closed her eyes, as though reading the inside of her eyelids, and when they opened, she looked at the world with a new perspective. She and her teacher had done this few times before, but each time there had been important knowledge to pass on. Mariah thought this must be something different, something nowhere related to Jack's arrival, and yet when she tried to access these thoughts, she found they were all linked to Jack.

Incomprehension creped into her face and Kira's expression faltered. A quick glance around the room and she found all the other Elders occupied with their own endeavors. Two graceful steps closed the distance between them. The circle of flame died and the symbol faded as Kira hugged her apprentice. This was no longer master and apprentice, but friend and comforter.

“It's okay. Take your time.” A pause. “We can go to the Halls, if you wish.”

Kira made no move to release the embrace and Mariah shook her head within Kira's hold.

“I just didn't expect that, is all...” her voice smaller than it should have been. They parted and Mariah's face was dry. That didn't stop Kira from noticing the nearly invisible steam rising from her eyes...

*

Jack had initiated the process as soon as he let go of Mariah's hand and followed the familiar path back to his body. What he didn't expect was a multitude of minds watching him go. Once he was beyond Sanctuary a split-second later, he broke meditation immediately. Now, he almost wished he hadn't.

The shock of jump-starting his system after not moving for most of the day had nearly made him pass out. The water he had brought with him into the room gave him a scant few minutes of strength to grab some chocolate pudding from the fridge. That disappeared in three mouthfuls and he immediately proceeded to make a sandwich. “It's nothing new, I just pushed myself again” he thought as his body screamed for nutrients.

He completed his sandwich and sat down on the couch. After the hunger stopped screaming in his mind, he checked the clock. “Holy crap!” He had been in meditation for nearly twenty hours. Jack didn't like the idea that he was talking to himself, but he needed the sound to keep his focus. “Okay, next time, I'm leaving a Gatorade in the room and getting a nice mat,” his pain evident in his voice. He checked the clock once more, grabbed his keys and drove to his grandfather's house.

*

Michael had already started making coffee when Jack called. It may have been 8 o'clock at night, but coffee was what they both needed to stay awake. Jack hadn't said much over the phone, but Michael could always tell when he was needed. He paused for a moment before putting the Irish cream away unused. Having anything but coffee right now would mean he couldn't help Jack, despite how much he wanted a cup. Kim's death had hit him just as hard, if not more so than Jack. He and Kim had spoken not a week before her death, but they had been more distant than he intended. Now, he was steeling himself against his emotions, setting himself up for the worst. His entire world was helping Jack right then and, moments later, Jack knocked at the door.

*

Mariah made the all-too-familiar leap back to her body and opened her eyes. She didn't have the time to regret her decision. The tears fell and fell, a flood of emotion and pain. After a few minutes, the sobs ceased and she stood, passing a hand over the dark spots on her clothes and the floor. The only sign of her discomfort was her eyes. She focused her fire to her face and turned the wetness to steam. It would have bothered her before, the intense heat required to do that. Now it seemed a comfort of sorts. She put on a face and left her room, all trace of her pain gone as she went downstairs and prepared for work.

*

Kira remained in her chair after her apprentice left. She did not have the same limitations as the others: she only broke meditation twice a week. That would be unthinkable to anyone else, but the fires sustained her. She also knew her room was safe, warded as it was to both defend and warn her if anything was amiss. She had only a flitting thought of how horrible that would be if it were different. Right now, she needed to focus on the newcomer, Jack.

She whispered into her hand, then cupped it and discreetly set a budding flame on the floor as it snaked its way out of sight toward the Arc Elder. When Peter rose and walked out of the room, Kira began her count. When she reached 500, she stood and also left, turning toward the Halls of the Burning Dawn. She found Peter ten minutes later, casually leaning against a tree.

“Greetings upon you, Peter.” Her voice set the tone of the conversation to something just this side of formal.

“Lapsing into old rituals again, Kira?” The amusement in his voice and his slack posture did not amuse her. She gave a cool look that sent small shivers down Peter’s spine. The look and her unwillingness to make this a more pleasant encounter made Peter leave the tree and approach.

He was no more than an arm’s length away when she said “We need to talk…”

*

Jack stepped across the threshold of the doorway and was at once assaulted with the smell of coffee. That grabbed his interest and forced his brain out of its rut in a way that nothing else could. Michael said nothing as he checked Jack’s presence, then went back to get two cups. Seeing that he was stressed and his grandfather could tell he was stressed, neither of them spoke. Jack assumed the couch, took his cup, and paused. The smells wound their way through his head, clearing the underbrush and wiping away the clouds of confusion and doubt. “God, I needed this” he thought as he took a few careful sips, enjoying the sunlight in his mind, and then set down the cup. As his expression changed to a happier demeanor, he noticed his grandfather’s remained guarded, yet helpful, as a wizened grandparent should. This was their dance, and Jack simply had to take the first step.

“I… found something… new.” A hesitant step, but Michael let him take it, answering with a slow nod. Jack never liked these things, so he decided that since he couldn’t dance, he might as well do it with gusto. “I was meditating and ended up somewhere I’ve never heard of before.” A pause, then a rush. “I ended up in a place called ‘Sanctuary.’ It’s a place where there are lots of people, just like us.” At this, Michael’s eyes widened, leaning forward nearly out of his chair. Michael still said nothing but listened like a student to a teacher. Jack’s hesitation merited response then, and Michael’s voice strained as he whispered “Please. Go on.”

After nearly half an hour had passed, Michael’s coffee was gone, Jack’s was cold, and neither of them noticed. Jack sank back into the couch. He’d related the entirety of his story as he saw it, and now he would have to answer questions. “One thing I don’t understand is how I missed finding this place.” A curl of wistfulness wound itself through Michael’s voice. “You said it has to do with your power ‘maturing’ to a certain point?” The conversation had been one-sided for so long, Jack couldn’t help but simply nod. “Well,” Michael began as his face slowly broke into a prideful smile, “it seems I was right when I said you were stronger than me.” A creeping arrogance, then “yet, I still put you on your ass…” A bellowing laugh erupted and Jack laughed with him.

The foul mood was broken, turning to a happier tune instead. Spirits were lifted and the grief quelled, if but for a short while. Grandfather and grandson, both going through the new experiences together, seemed to Michael like he was a father again and Jack felt a connection there that he hadn’t seen in far too long. After another hour, Jack’s eyelids threatened to smother him and Michael gave him a last cup of coffee, urging him home shortly after.

As the door closed, Michael let go a ragged sigh. He’d been reminded so much of his talks with Kim that he had to bury the pain. He felt the same feeling when his wife had died, but he never dreamed he’d outlive a grandchild. Anger and resentment filled him, then a helpless sadness working its way to despair. His face set in such glaring hatred and pain that he wondered if he could face his card-playing buddies the next day. “This is what it’s like to be old” he growled at the house, but he had a feeling it already knew exactly how he felt.

*

Peter walked across the fields of Sanctuary, following a wandering path to a vacant spot where no one would think to find him. With a voice that did not shake, he answered every hail and even smiled, when appropriate. Truth be told, he just needed some time alone to think. The discussion with Kira had done nothing to help his mood and now he was thinking that maybe “just thinking” wouldn’t be enough.

As the Meadow fanned out before him, he found a space to its edge with a small cluster of trees. He’d always liked the trees. It felt as though the rough bark and unyielding wood were a source of strength and resilience. Prune a tree, it keeps growing. Send it through a storm, it rarely loses branches. The only way to end a tree is to cut straight to its heart. That was how Peter felt just now. He’d maybe lost a few leaves to the breeze, but he knew he would endure the storm to come. He stepped away from the cluster of trees, so as to keep their beauty intact, and let his power build. Lack of exercise had made him restless and more than willing to play, if given the chance. Usually, that was Kira’s job, but sometimes, things just got in the way. That meant he had to find another outlet, since most of the others didn’t indulge his urge to spar.

The air around him took on small sparks as he relaxed his grip on his power. The sparks came, faster and faster, and his hands glowed with a pulse that could not only burn, but kill. Peter hadn’t turned his power entirely loose just yet, but he’d opened the doors of its cage. He knew what his power was capable of in moments like these. The rush filled his veins and it flowed, roiled, boiled. He took only a moment to pause, to feel this as he hadn’t in weeks. He turned to a small boulder, no different from any other rock around, and assaulted it with a shock of brute force.

The splintered rock arced into the air, halfway turned to slag, the boulder’s grounded remains melting into the grass and dirt below. He thought the rock must have had parts of iron in it because he caught the splintering shards before they could tear his face and stopped them, dropping them harmlessly to the ground. Peter breathed… This wasn’t enough, but it would do for now. The slightly tacky feeling in his muscles told him he’d at least exerted himself. As he turned back to the Council room, he couldn’t help but delight in the match he and Kira were going to have. Two minutes later, his thoughts and his mood fouled again, but this time he could handle it with a smile.

*

The repeated buzzing turned to an annoying tune as Jack blindly reached for his phone. It was a Saturday morning and he had very little he needed to do today. This thought alone made him stir from the comfortably warm blankets draped over his bed. Several incoherent mumbles and grunts accompanied his rise and silencing of the phone. He would have used his alarm clock, but he knew it wouldn't wake him properly. Besides, 6am on a Saturday was something he hadn't done in almost a decade.

A shower, comfortable clothes, and a bowl of cereal later, Jack sat in his living room on the inch-thick foam mat he had bought the night before. He hadn't had a chance to meditate since Thursday and he was anxious to visit Sanctuary again. The door was locked, the lights off, everything in its place, yet Jack was unnerved as he closed his eyes and slowed his heart.

The transition was nearly instantaneous and he appeared where he had the first time, minus the welcoming party and landing on his back. This time he could see the collections of people sparring, teaching, learning new applications to their powers, all scattered from this arrival point. Before he'd even had a chance to move, a hand clapped his shoulder. Jack didn't think, he simply reacted. As Peter fell to the ground, Jack regained his senses.

“I'm so sorry!” he half-shouted as he grabbed Peter's forearm and pulled him up.

“It's okay, kiddo. You didn't hurt me anyway.” Jack couldn't meet his smile. “Those are some good reflexes” he continued, Jack turning with the praise. “Not as smooth as Jiu-jitsu or even Judo... it's too raw. What style to do you use?”

Jack couldn't help but smile. He'd found someone with both the perception and the knowledge he yearned to have himself. “I'm trained in Krav Maga... it's Israeli.” he added as Peter's eyebrows rose.

“Interesting...” was Peter's only comment. “So, let me ask you something” he said, turning toward the mountainous part of Sanctuary.

“Sure,” Jack clipped. A brisk walk brought him to Peter's side.

“Have you been feeling on-edge lately? Feeling a bit antsy or anxious?”

“Actually, yes,” irony and amusement tainting his voice, “I've been restless... it's like an itch I can't scratch.”

Peter smiled, veering left toward the forested part of the meadow. “I see.” A moment's pause. “That's a normal thing, Jack. I hate to say it like this, but your powers are going through their own version of adolescence.”

Jack's scoff only made Peter smile wider. “Your power has to grow because you've come here, and now it has attuned itself to this place. You remember the room where we gave our introductions?” Peter paused before reaching the forest and waited for recognition from Jack.

He nodded. “So, my power being drawn out was... what, exactly?”

“That was your power coming out to sniff the air, essentially.” Jack clearly didn't understand the reference. Peter turned and leaned against a nearby tree. “Look, you've had this power within you for how many years? You've just now learned to recognize it and work with it instead of it forcing itself out. And believe it or not, your power has a mind of its own. It wants to play too.”

Jack couldn't help the cynicism tugging at him. “So, I need to have fun?”

“No, you need to have fun with your powers. Exercise it, do things with it, let it out.” Like Jack, Peter couldn't help the passion in his voice.

“I assume you know what to do, then?” Jack moved a little closer.

“Follow me” were his only words as Peter turned and moved quickly into the forest. Jack half-jogged to keep up as his mind raced to assimilate the concept. With so much new information and this anxious tension building, it made him willing to listen to everything he could. Catching up to Peter didn't take long.

Peter stopped in a small clearing, perhaps sixty feet across, surrounded by thick trees. In the center, two boulders of nearly equal size sat, sunken into the soil.

“I had Aaron put this together." He gestured to the rocks. "These were made specifically for us.” A single raised eyebrow was Jack's only comment. “Well, let's start. Just follow me.”

Peter extended a hand, closed his eyes, and breathed. With the first breath, the closest rock shook. Then, the trembling grew and as Peter raised his hand, the boulder began to rise. His arm remained centered on the boulder as he opened his eyes, the rock hovering eight feet above the grass.

Jack's response only made Peter frown. “I can't do that.”

“What do you mean? They're made mostly of iron.”

“No, it's just that I have no idea what you just did. That pretty much makes it impossible for me to do that” Jack replied with a dose of sarcasm and unrelenting patience. He'd had teachers like this one too. They give you a taste of what's to come, then start you on the basics to motivate you. Jack didn't mind, though, annoying as it was and he wanted the training.

Peter didn't dare tell Jack what he was planning. To tell him would ruin his desire to join the dueling competition and Jack was far too talented to leave his strength unmeasured. I'd better do what I can to keep him interested.

“Well, I guess we'd better change that” Peter replied and the training began in earnest...

*

Davan rose smoothly from the grass, gathering currents of air beneath him. Few were capable of making themselves light enough to fly and summoning winds strong enough to lift a body was beyond all but the most experienced. Higher and higher, riding a constantly shifting bubble of air, Davan surveyed Sanctuary. Looking down from this height, he could see why his ancestors were feared. Perhaps if – No! He knew where that line of thought would lead. He closed his eyes and carefully tucked that thought away. He could not allow himself to be distracted by meaningless thoughts of the past, especially now. A ghost of a voice echoed in his head "Focus... you need that now."

He nudged a breeze at his back and began floating toward the northern part of Sanctuary. “The North...” Davan's chuckle was but a breath beyond his lips as a sneer took its place. His amusement at the little things kept him sane. He had long since accepted that the new arrivals needed bits of their old life to survive the change. They were weak, but the adage still stuck with him: “Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” The sneer became a smirk and Davan broke from his revellie as he came to a stop over his target. Kira and Mariah were training, sparring with one another. His eyes lingered for a few moments on Mariah before he sensed a presence and his gaze sharpened. The newest arrival was approaching, but kept his distance. It had been several weeks since his arrival, but Davan hadn't seen the point of speaking with him more than he already had. Jack was his name, Davan remembered. “Such a common name for common folk” he thought as another chuckle escaped. Despite his small efforts, Kira and Mariah both noticed Jack immediately and stopped to talk to him. The thought to charm the air and bring their words to him flitted across his mind, but he quietly squashed the impulse. “Better to leave this alone,” he thought and the others gave silent agreement. His work cut short, he turned and flew silently back to the council room.

*

Jack didn't mean to interrupt her training, but Kira knew her apprentice would try too hard with him around. Her concentration would falter and waste the day's work. Better to end it now -- “Hello, Jack!” she called as Mariah's head turned with perfect composure. Despite the act, she didn't miss the quick expression of giddiness before her charge slipped on the mask. At this point, she knew better than to interfere. She had already “interfered” as much as she dared. Now was the time to sit back, watch, and keep a safety net below the tightrope.

Kira quietly made her exit and left the two alone. As she made her way out of sight inside the Burning Halls, her walking slowed, then stopped. Fine tremors and closed eyes were the only sign of her distress. Finally, a sigh escaped her lips, shallow, but full of force. Her face set, she looked to the flames overhead. In them, she saw power, purity, certainty. The fire had been something she'd embraced when it came to her. It called to her and she to it. Everything had an end and the fire saw to it, but also it lead to rebirth and change. “A certainty of change” as she once put it.

Come. Her will reached out and commanded the fire to her. A tendril of flame flew from the ceiling, racing around her like a pet dog before retreating just as quickly. The little flame that remained she knew was minimally sentient, but ready to serve. “Be her guardian. Alert me if she is in danger. If I fall, take my power and protect her." Her command made the fire in the room flare, a response of strength as if to say You doubt me? A smirk crossed her face before she added "do not be seen.” The little flame flared white, then shot down the hall and out of sight.

She hadn't needed to speak, as the fire knew her very soul, but speaking helped her cement her actions in her mind. Kira was no mother and though she'd considered it, children couldn't fit in the life she'd built for herself. Luckily for her, she found an apprentice. Over the years, the scared and naïve girl she'd found had grown into a strong and confident woman, ready to take on almost any challenge. What most people would never know was that the girl remained. Then again, mothers are supposed to know that. Kira smiled and the room around her brightened as something deep within her finally became content. Her composure regained, she strode with her head held high to the private chambers and closed the door.

*

“You're doing what?” Mariah's tone made Jack wince.

“I'm joining in the dueling competition.” He really didn't want this to be an argument, especially with her.

“Have you already told them you're participating?” Shock had given way to a scolding, Jack noticed.

“Yes, 'everything is already in place,' they said. Besides, it'll give me a chance to see how good I am. If I get my ass handed to me, so be it.”

A frustrated sigh was all she gave. Then she turned and lightly laid a hand on his shoulder. “Just don't get yourself hurt, okay?” Her face and tone had softened just a bit, but Jack took the gesture for what it was worth.

“Alright...” He couldn't help the mild blush rising to his face. He also was completely unaware of the humming charge as it shot up Mariah's arm. Mariah made a stifled noise as she quickly withdrew her arm.

“God, I'm sorry!” Jack looked for signs of discomfort, but found a smile instead. “It's okay. Sometimes those things happen.” She laughed lightly as she shook out her arm.

Jack’s face distorted into a nervous smile. The silence between them was stifling. Jack could feel the tension like a vice in his chest. He couldn’t take it anymore. “So, would you have any suggestions as to who I should practice with?” One more turn of the vice.

“Hmm… I’d say Tom is your best bet. I believe you’ve met him before?”

“Ah, yes, I did.” Jack had to reach back almost a week to remember someone he’d spoken to for little more than five seconds, but the memory was there.

“He’s one of the best. Great at dueling and I’m sure he can teach you the finer points of our duels, since you've got less than a week before it starts.” There. The vice was loosening.

“Eh… where would he be?”

“He usually hangs out with Aaron. Head for the Mountains, to the west. Ask for him or Aaron when you get there.”

“Thanks.” Jack oriented himself and began his trek. He hadn’t taken three steps when he heard her call again.

“Jack.” He turned back, head lolling to one side as he looked over a shoulder. “If you need an opponent in fire...” She lifted an arm as it erupted in flames. It became a fist and grew to a brilliant light. She gave only a smile, one that held pride and strength and glee all in one instant. Jack couldn’t help but return it. He inclined his head in a small bow, turned, and walked away feeling a little lighter than before.

*

Mariah willed the flames to die. The fire in her hand winked out, but the flames didn’t disappear. Small flames eked out of her shoulders, her hair, fires raced along her arms and legs. Every one she killed spawned more. Panic filled her mind. Why won’t it stop? Her eyes, wide and flitting back and forth, betrayed all her fears as she uttered a soundless scream. Help me! Her mind did what her voice could not. She screamed and screamed in her mind for help. A pillar of fire rose, enveloping her body as she stumbled and tried to stay upright and conscious.

From the shadows, a trace of flame shot toward the room Kira had disappeared into and passed through the door. Then, the door winked out of existence, a roar of flame passing at incredible speed through and beyond it. A moment later, Kira was at her side, adorned with a cloak and circlet of fire as brilliant as the sun. She passed through Mariah’s flames as though they weren’t there and held her up as she placed a hand to her chest. They locked eyes as flames of blue spread from Kira’s palm and the pillar of fire shrank, retreating entirely, though Mariah remained in shock. Wrapped in blue, Mariah’s eyes calmed. Kira removed her hand, the blue flames flashed and flared, then faded like fog in the sun. When they had passed, Mariah collapsed.

Kira wasted no time. Fire flooded her limbs and she lifted Mariah’s unconscious body as the circlet faded and the cloak retreated. She grabbed the reins of her powers, as she hadn’t had to do this in years, and willed the fires to her muscles and nerves. She ran. She moved as a streak of fire, a mote of light brilliant enough that all could see it across Sanctuary. She stopped in the center of the Star-Council Room, disturbing all the elders, their own powers worked up in response. All of them rose, mindful of the state of things. No one had done this in quite a long time and the situation was dire. Kira kneeled, her adornments appearing as she placed Mariah in the center of the pentagon, then backed away, standing opposite the pillar of Fire. Her cloak and circlet wavered. The pillar of Fire began to shine, as all the others did, and all of the elders stood in front of their seats. Each of them, their elements whipping about them, were ready to act at a moment’s notice if they were needed. This was not a crisis for only the Fire-users, but for them all.

Kira’s voice was clear and boomed, framing her power in her plea as her fires flared. “I call upon the Fires to cleanse this Child of the Flame! Grant me the strength to work the wonders of rebirth!” The pillar erupted in flames, white hot and pure. Kira’s circlet became a crown of fire and her cloak, an enormous pair of feathered wings of white flame. Kira took a step and the wings of fire carried her effortlessly to Mariah. With a single unconscious thought, Kira’s eyes blazed as she saw through Mariah and looked directly at her soul. She knew what the problem was now. Mariah’s soul was torn. She was at war with herself and her spirit couldn’t take the stress. That was why her fires spread and why it nearly consumed her. Had Kira not acted when she did, the damage might have been beyond repair. She knelt and reached out to Mariah as the wings curled and enveloped Mariah in a shifting bubble of flame. The bubble whirled and pulsed as Kira set the fires to work. Almost unconsciously, she willed them to press further, to innervate her soul, let them consume it and change it. As the bubble shrank, compressed, it swirled faster and faster. Kira's eyes blazed brighter and she continued the work until the bubble whirled into nothingness. All around her were silent, their powers somewhat calmed in respect and reverence. Kira paused, checking for signs of any remaining damage to her soul. The wings reappeared and Kira did what she knew was the last thing before her work was complete. Using only a finger, she touched Mariah's brow and a small fire flashed before sinking into her skin.

Mariah awoke with a gasp, the tension of the room easing as collective sighs joined Kira's. “It's okay, Mariah. You're safe.” As Mariah checked herself, Kira helped her up. Only a moment before had the crown and wings faded into nothingness and the pillar's light died. All of the elders, seeing that she was okay, reined their powers and resumed their meditations. Kira guided Mariah with her out of the room and turned toward the Halls. Mariah couldn't see herself, but she had changed with the healing process. Her hair was a more vivid red and her eyes were brighter than before. Her skin was almost glowing, but that was due more to the fires still churning within.

“Do you know what happened?” She remained silent and shook her head. “You lost control. I knew it would happen eventually. I just didn't expect it to be this soon.” Mariah turned, eyes filled with a mix of betrayal and fear. “No, no, I didn't mean it like that. It's just that... well, you'll do fine on your own now. You've been healed.”

“What did you do?” Kira barely heard her.

Kira paused, deciding between a lie and the truth. The truth won. “I repaired a tear in your soul. What you were going through was so powerful that it actually wounded your core. Your fire tried to escape because of that. It tried to keep you from harm the best way it knew how.”

“So, how am I better? Nothing's changed.”

Kira smirked. “Break meditation. You'll see the differences then.” Her smirk became a smile and reassured Mariah.

“Okay. I assume I need to rest?”

“Not really, but take your time.” She held her tongue from saying more. Better to let Mariah find out those things on her own.

“I'll be back soon, I hope.” Mariah stopped, took two steps to the side, and disappeared. Kira sighed. It had been a rough day and she knew there would be many questions when her ch-... her apprentice returned. She'll be fine, just be there for her when she needs it. By the time she reached her chambers, she was exhausted. “Fine, I need my rest too.” She left a sentry flame in a chalice above the door and broke meditation. As she left, the fires on the wall flickered, then dimmed...

*

Mariah woke and stood slowly. She checked the floor and the room for burn marks, then walked to her mirror. At first, she thought she was seeing things, but she soon realized it wasn't an illusion. Her hair was now an auburn color instead of the flat red-brown she'd had before. And her eyes, they were green. That's impossible... At that moment, her thoughts fragmented into a thousand pieces. I can pass off my hair as a dye-job, but what about my eyes? What will everyone say? What kinds of rumors will others spread and how can I lie to my family and friends? Hundreds of other thoughts fought for attention, but those were the most insistent. In the midst of her panic, one other thought made its entrance like a Judge in a courtroom. STOP. Think... Who knew about this before you did? The question might have been rhetorical, but she was thinking to herself and sometimes an internal debate was all one needed. She smiled at the thought and congratulated herself as she sat back down, bowed her head, and zipped back to Sanctuary.

*

Kira arrived at her home, inside the heavily warded room. Lit torches lined the stone walls. A rather comfortable chair was its center and the door remained closed and locked, despite the lack of either a lock or handle. What most would never know is that the door could not be opened by anyone without powers and that it responded, for the moment, only to Kira. If they tried, the door would burst into flame, yet not be consumed. Usually, that would be enough to deter intruders, but the torches on either side of the door were also at her command. They acted as sentries and she used them as cameras of sorts, linked to her mind as they were. At her slightest whim, they would lash out and destroy whatever she deemed a threat with the force of a solar flare. They burned low to keep from heating the room outside too much and soot wasn't a problem as these were spiritual flames, not like a normal candle. Beyond the room lay the rest of her home. It was spartan in nature, much like Kira herself. A couch, a television, a laptop for her work, and a small kitchen open to the living room. Sure, the house was listed as being all that on the blueprints, but Kira had called on her friend Alexis to construct her meditation room. They were good friends outside of Sanctuary and lived rather close compared to the others. She was the only one who would have the amount of finesse and strength to move past the door into Kira's chambers. It was that very reason that Kira felt safe here. This was her home. No one could take it from her. Being as old as she was, she also had a few legal bits written into the deed of the house so that when she had to “die” and return again as another woman, it wouldn't be too difficult to take back ownership. Here was safe. Here was home and hearth and security. Here she truly could relax.

Kira rose from her chair. She gave a small push with her mind and the door opened as she strode over the threshold. It didn't take her long to find the leftovers and throw them in the microwave. The fires kept her alive and healthy, but eventually she needed food as all other human beings did. The fires purified her blood, sustained her body, kept her free of sickness. She had such a hard time fathoming what her life would be like without them, being constantly taken from her students and her duties. The microwave dinged and she set the plate on the table. Just as she was about to take the first bite, a ward twanged in her head. The sentry fire she had left in Sanctuary was tugging at her consciousness. She put down her fork, closed her eyes, and made the connection blossom in her mind. It was Mariah. My, that girl is fast... The flames flattened and formed her face as she spoke from them to her apprentice. “What do you need?”

“I saw what was different. I need you to help me find out what I should do now. How soon will you be back?”

“Let me finish this bit of a meal I've scrounged up, then I'll be in. And, don't worry, I'll find you.” She added quickly. Then she cut the connection, grimacing as she did so. Again, she'd been forced to cut her break short. Well, Mariah could wait a little longer. She needed this break too and her apprentice also knew how infrequent her breaks really were. She opened the connection again, seeing that Mariah wasn't far off, she called to her. “I'll be a few hours, if you can wait that long. Is that acceptable?” As was customary between them, Mariah carefully considered those words, then answered truthfully: “yes. I'll go visit Jack instead.” Kira relaxed a bit more. “I'll see you soon.” The connection closed again. That gave her roughly five hours and she was determined to use every last one. A good shower, new clothes, the rest of her food, and a light dreaming nap were all she needed to be refreshed. She wolfed down her food and began her routine in earnest.

*

Mariah took the shortest route she knew to find Jack. When she reached the Caves, it didn't take long to find him. There were few rooms close by large enough to duel and Tom had taken him and Aaron to the first one. She heard the grunts and yells long before she saw the two. Jack was running around, trying to get close enough to land a punch, but never did. All Aaron had had to do was shift the ground beneath his feet or draw up a small wall and he was slapped back down. Tom was standing off to the side, watching the fight very carefully. None of them noticed as she entered, so she remained quiet and out of sight. Then, Tom ended the fight.

“Hold!” His voice carried above the din and both combatants stopped immediately. “Jack, did Peter not teach you how to use your powers at range? Or are you just being a dolt?”

“He tried, but I can't do that in battle. It takes much more concentration than I have.” Jack's breathing was hard and shallow, but his words were clear. Mariah felt a tightness grow in her chest as she watched Jack, primed from the fight as he was. Her gaze didn't move from him during the entire exchange and she barely heard Tom or Aaron's words as they tried to lecture Jack. She came to her senses when Tom and Jack stepped aside.

“Jack, I'm going to help you. Since you are completely out of your league in this duel, I'll teach you myself. Aaron, I need you to leave. Thank you for humoring him, though.” A smile broke between the two and Aaron left without another word. He saw Mariah, but still said nothing. She was grateful and moved completely out of sight until she heard more whispering inside. She couldn't hear all of it, but her jaw dropped as Tom brought himself to full power and Jack did the same. She could see them both clearly and Tom was stronger, but Jack wasn't far behind. Her gaze sharpened as Tom extended a finger and Jack did the same. When they connected, both auras warped and rolled around them. After a moment, they parted again. Jack blinked, his voice barely loud enough to carry. “Holy... shit...”

Tom took a step back and gave a wide grin. “Jack, don't tell anyone I did that.” He nodded dumbly. “No one is supposed to do that unless they have an apprentice, but you needed it more than I thought.”

“My thoughts are a mess right now...” He breathed the words as he sat heavily in the dirt.

“You'll be fine. It's the first time you've done this before. It just happens. You'll recover in a few minutes.” Tom turned and caught Mariah's eyes. His own narrowed, but he and Mariah knew each other well enough that no words needed to be spoken. He turned back to Jack. “The duels won't start for a couple days. We'll meet tomorrow after I go have a rest.” He walked straight to Mariah and the unspoken agreement was affirmed as they locked eyes again. “I like the new look” he said as he passed. “It suits you...” he whispered with a smile, a hint of lust creeping into the words, and wandered off to find Aaron.

Mariah was all too aware of Tom's advances, but he knew the line and never crossed it. So long as he didn't, she didn't give it much credence. More interesting was Jack, now that he'd had knowledge shared. The tightness in her chest was forgotten until now, as she turned and carefully entered the room. This feels... odd... An itch formed underneath her skin, but she could handle it. A few steps into the room, Jack looked up. “Who... Mariah?”

“Hey, stranger. I only saw you a while ago. Am I really that forgettable?”

“Err... no, no... you're just different. Why? What happened?”

Damn your perceptiveness, Jack she growled as her hopes of surprising him died. None of that showed when her plans turned to being coy. “Oh? How have I changed?”

“Maybe it's just me,” he prefaced, eyes glancing to the side, “but your hair seems brighter now... and your eyes...” He looked closer. “They're green...” his voice trailed off.

She edged closer. “My eyes are a different color?” A small nod. “Are you sure?” The last words drew slowly from her lips as she leaned into Jack's face, eyes locked on his. Jack fought the urge to fall over as his eyes jumped back and forth between hers. Mariah saw all the signs. His breath was shallow, his movements jerky, even his pupils began to dilate. Mariah purred inside.

She quickly drew back, completely composed. “Well?” Jack was caught so off-guard that he nearly did fall over. “Ahm... yes. Very sure.” The words were clipped. There it is... she thought. She leaned closer again. “Jack,” she whispered in his ear, “I saw what you did with Tom, and no, I won't tell.” Jack looked prepared for the catch. “What I would like to do is spar with you a bit.” Jack's face dropped. A little tension eased from his face. “Alright,” he said with a half-smile, “I think I can do that.”

*

Jack had already recovered by the time they exited the caves. Mariah led him to an open area with trees to one side. They separated, circling as they found their places. Jack knew the ritual now. It was ingrained in his soul and now he knew where to look for it.

When they reached their places, they paused. “Ready?”

“Yes,” she replied. Another pause.

A small sound escapes his lips as Jack tenses. His aura of power explodes and lightning arcs all along his body. The challenge is issued. Mariah came to a boil without effort, then climbed to the height of her power, her fires leaping and slinking around her like a cat. The response, accepted. Mariah had the first move, yet she took no step, her fire had seemingly calmed. Slowly, she drew her fingers across her arm. As they left the end of her hand, half-foot long claws of flame extended, coating her hand in flame.

Then, she moved. A dash to his left, then right, Jack dodged as the claws maimed the ground where he stood. As she swung, again and again, the claws extended each time, sweeping rock and blackened dirt into the air. Jack responded in kind. Flinging thin bolts of lightning as he rolled, they bounced harmlessly against her shields. Jack was faced with a decision: either stay away and lose, or risk getting close to those claws. He flung more bolts, distracting her as he moved, edging closer and closer. Mariah hardly had to move, her range and shields of flame making her seem unreachable. When Jack threw his last bolt, she stepped aside and ran forward. As Mariah tossed fire to his sides, Jack was unable to dodge. A split-second later, he was flying through the air, Mariah's fire a fist knocking him aside.

Mariah could feel her victorious smile until Jack didn't stir. “Oh, god!”

She ran to him, rolled him on his back, and tried to wake him. “Jack?” No response. “Jack? Jack!” There were few external signs he was hurt, but she knew he wasn't playing. A groan and a shallow breath later, Jack's eyes opened.

“Oww...” He tried to smile, but the pain stopped it before it got far.

“Jack?” Tears flooded her eyes as her mantra changed its tone. “Oh god, Jack, are you okay? What's wrong?”

“Everything hurts. A lot.” Close as she was, she hugged him. “Ow! Ow. Oww... See, that hurts.” He could smile slightly there.

“I'll get help.” She threw an arm to the sky and a flare flew from her hand. “They'll be here soon. They'll know what to do.” Their gazes locked and an odd feeling pulled at them both. A heartbeat later, Mariah bent further and they kissed. It broke all too quickly for them both, but she was taking the risk and silently asked his approval. “See, that doesn't hurt...” he said as he reached up to pull her closer. They kissed again with passion, each wanting the other, pressing close until Jack winced. Mariah pulled barely an inch from him before she sensed them.

The rush of air and movement as the elders and students arrived made them break apart immediately, only a scant second before they could see them beyond the treeline.

*

As three or four hurried to them, only one of the elders walked without hurry to the two of them. Davan seemed to be taking the entire scene in, watching the others and their concerned mutterings. It seemed rather clear that, though the boy had been hurt, he was going to survive. It did show that he was weak, but that didn't really matter either. He was more concerned with the odd tingling sensation he got from the air currents. They talked to Davan in half-whispers and riddles, the precursors to fate and prophecy the overtones in their silent symphony. Seeing Mariah and Jack together, now with the air nagging at his consciousness, only made him wish he'd been a little more aggressive in watching them both. A breath, a whisper away from the others, and a stream of air emerged. A phantom dragon appeared, but only for a moment, then vanished like a light fog. Short-lived as it was, its icy eyes told him exactly what he needed to know. He was special, this Jack. He not only had potential, he was quite capable already. He turned back to the group. “Well, seeing as you all don't need me, and it appears our Jack will recover, allow me to retreat.” He gave a little bow and took two steps backwards, a torrent of air sweeping him up at incredible speed back to the council room.

He arrived moments later, scanned the room for others, then briskly strode out of the Council Chambers and wandered toward the Spire. As he neared the entrance, a student approached. "Rick, what do you need?" he called out to him. The boy's face was set and he moved closer.

"So, what did you find out?" Rick was anxious and even though he tried to not show it, Davan knew him well enough.

"Jack ended up getting stupid in a duel. He'll live." Davan couldn't tell if the sigh Rick gave was one of relief or irritation.

"Well, you're here..." Rick edged closer. "Does that mean we're going to train more?" The words were almost a whisper.

Davan's voice carried a stranglehold of irritation. "Rook, you will receive your training when I say. Do not ask for it again." Rick's face went ashen. Davan knew how much the nickname hurt and he knew that he looked rather intimidating at the moment. Intimidation works far too well on this breed. Another voice. Davan carefully put that voice back in its place and silenced it.

Rick bowed his head and mumbled "I'm sorry... it won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't." Davan turned away and took a step away. "Now, " he paused as his voice changed to a kinder tone, "I'm here to bring you a gift." Rick's eyes flashed with hope. "You've tried to weasel and whine your way toward gaining power. While I disapprove of such efforts, I see why you would try." Davan rounded on him and moved closer as Rick stumbled backwards, as though he'd been backhanded. "Despite your laziness, your failings," he continued, stalking closer and closer, "your utter incompetence, I give you a gift..."

*

Jack broke his meditation, no longer hurting, but definitely exhausted from his ordeal in Sanctuary. He reached for the Gatorade stuck in a box of now-melted ice and downed it in a few giant gulps. He had been told to rest and recuperate, especially before the duels. Though he wanted to, he had to deal with class and work as well. Jack's room was dark and only a few small lights and the clock on the nightstand gave him any illumination. At two in the morning with nothing to do tomorrow, all he had to do was sleep until Monday. He rose from his padded mat, checked his phone and email, and then very carefully collapsed into his bed. He set the alarm for late in the evening on Saturday and proceeded to slip into unconsciousness, all the while wondering where he might end up in the coming week.

Jack floated through the emptiness of his dream, peaceful, yet wary. Far beneath him, a black sea flowed, swelling and rolling in an unseen storm. He couldn't tell what it was, but he could feel it and he knew it could feel him. A maliciousness snapped at him as the black sea swelled more and waves began to crash higher and higher. A steadily mounting fear grew to panic as the waves crashed higher and higher above him. He looked to the sea below, the source of his fear, and all he could see were the vengeful, resentful glowing eyes as a beastly face flew at him. A feral growl echoed in his mind as Jack's eyes snapped open. He flew out of his bed, throwing his sheets and pillow across the room in his panic, falling entirely out of bed. Drenched in sweat, he found his alarm ringing and quickly silenced it. "A nightmare. How fortunate..." His voice dripping with sarcasm as he gathered his sweat-soaked sheets and made for the washer. As he went through the routine, the dream nagged at him again and when he couldn't take it any more, he had to get out.

He wandered down the fairly uncrowded sidewalks of downtown, passing the closed stores, lights still blazing outside, bathing the streets in a shifting neon glow. As he neared a particular entrance, he paused. "At least the bar is still open," he mumbled as he pulled the heavy oaken door wide and stepped into the haze. The lights were dim and though the smoke moved to the vents quickly, the room was still blurred by it all. He carefully dodged waitresses and patrons alike, making his way to an empty stretch of seats at the bar as he ordered a rum and coke. He had to half-yell to be heard, but he didn't mind it so much. The noise was appealing to Jack. Not quite overwhelming, but enough noise to distract and drown out the individual conversations in the bar. The drink came back and Jack took a few large gulps before setting the glass back down. Light on the alcohol, he thought. Good fortune. Jack didn't need to drink so much as to get out and immerse himself, so not being inebriated was a plus. He was lost in the emptiness of his thoughts and the noise of the bar when something pulled him from his reverie.

The woman was certainly beautiful, he noticed, as she slid into a seat further down from Jack. Her hair fell about her shoulders, a golden accent to her black dress, flowing forward as she bent over her drink, lazily pulling the fruity contents down. "Wow" was Jack's only response, internal though it was. A few seconds later, an obviously drunk man in his mid-twenties wandered up to talk to the lady, and Jack turned his eyes from it trying to immerse himself again in the noise. His ears wouldn't be so easily fooled. "Why'd ya run off, babe" half-mumbled the drunkard, obviously trying his failing charm. "To be left alone" came a voice carrying an angry threat. The drunkard called out a parting shot as he wheeled away. "That's all you had to say!"

Jack figured that situation was over, the tension leaving his shoulders as he and the woman both relaxed. His thoughts wandered back into his own head and Jack was lost for another hour before he realized his drink was gone and so was a good portion of the bar. He paid his tab, turned toward the door, and carefully picked his way to the door around the jumble of tables and chairs. As he made his way to the street, the sights and sounds came back to him and he turned for home. He hadn't gone a block when he heard a rising voice behind him. "--said No, Matt!" He looked over his shoulder and paused. It was the same girl from the bar... and the drunk. Jack knew this scene well enough, the only question for him was whether or not he'd involve himself. Before he had a chance to think, his feet were already moving, closing the distance with a walking swiftness that surprised him. He was utterly calm, externally, yet something within him was tearing its way out. "Hey," he half-yelled to get the man's attention. He paused and they both looked at him. Jack could smell the alcohol from here. "Is there a problem?" Jack kept his hands out of his pockets, his training in Krav Maga whispering instructions to him while his brain kept track of the woman and the drunk. The man was a good six feet tall, a medium build, exactly what Jack had trained for. At least that was what his mind whispered to comfort him as the rest of him tensed, adrenaline oozing into his system. "I think the lady wanted to be left alone," he nodded at the woman as her eyes locked on his. Her fear only spurred Jack forward. "Who the fuck are you?" yelled Matt all too loudly and the woman winced as he squeezed her arm tighter. When Jack didn't respond, Matt stepped forward as he let go of the woman. "She asked to be left alone" growled Jack, no longer concerned about keeping emotional control. "-- and I think you need to take a walk" he added as the drunk started to square up to Jack.

"Last warning," Jack whispered as Matt gave a wordless snarl. By the time the drunk threw his punch, Jack had already turned it aside and moved forward. His one step carried him behind the drunk, his left arm grabbing his face, Jack's fingers finding grooves instantly. Jack planted and yanked Matt's head backward with furious strength. The drunk's overbalanced momentum brought his lower body forward as his anchored head pulled his chest level with the pavement. An instant later, Jack's right came over and down like a hammer. His entire body put force behind the fist as he yelled in primal fury. Matt's chest caved slightly in the middle of his ribs and Jack could feel the electric shock unconsciously adding power to his strike, all as he threw Matt's head toward the ground. Matt collided with the sidewalk and the sickening crack of bone on concrete seemed loudest to Jack's ears.

In a moment the fight was over. Patrons from the bar heard the scuffle and came rushing out, ready to separate drunken brawlers. They didn't expect Jack, standing between the beautiful woman and a spasming, unconscious Matt bleeding from a head wound. "Get him help!" Jack nearly screamed at them. Two of them rushed to the woman to guide her away and three more half-ran to Matt. "His pulse is thready" he heard them whisper as they bent over him. Jack heard the sound of sirens not too far away and the bar owner forced his way out to see what was going on. Another bar-attendant came over and nearly cornered Jack. "What happened?" he asked tensely. Jack paused a minute to think, to take a breath. "He was harassing that woman there." He gestured to the woman in the dress. "I told him to leave her alone and he attacked me." Jack breathed again. "Doesn't look much like he attacked you as you attacked him" the man muttered, turning toward the fast approaching patrol cars with an ambulance a few blocks away.

As the ambulance came to a quick halt, those gathered around Matt stepped back, letting the professionals do their work. As two of them hunched over, Jack turned and watched them checking for breaks, neck trauma... In an instant, Jack flew back to Kim, her body motionless on the ground, paramedics lifting her to the ambulance. And before that, the crash... The blood drained from Jack's face. His eyes frozen, seeing all of it with his mind's eye, mouth half open in a soundless scream. A single tear rolled down each cheek before the man next to him shook him lightly from his torment. "Hey, hey buddy. You okay?" Only then did Jack breathe again. A ragged breath, air coming in short bursts as he tried to calm himself. The patrol officer was moving toward him now. Calm. Calm. Calm, Jack. The patrol officer slowed to a canter, taking in the scene, sizing Jack up. "You were a part of this" he asked carefully. "Yes," Jack replied. Give them nothing unless it helps your cause... Jack mentally paused. Where did that thought come from? The shift in his eyes nearly betrayed him to the patrolman. "Alright, I'm going to have to ask you some questions..." he drawled, pulling up a clipboard. The statement went as it happened, Jack saying he acted in self-defense after telling the man to leave the girl alone. He left out the part about stunning him. The officer made various noises of understanding, asked a few benign questions about where they were standing, etc. It was all over in five minutes and Jack was told he could go. Only then did Jack catch a glimpse of the woman, leaning against the hood of the patrol car. Her face seemed caught between shock and tears. Jack almost walked away from it all without saying a word, but that didn't seem fair. He carefully walked to her, being as non-threatening as possible. She looked at him and her face twisted. A moment later she had replaced it with a mask of control, slipping a little to sadness. "You didn't have to do that. You didn't have to hurt him." She paused, fighting for control. "He gets like that. I know how to deal with him." Another breath. She turned to look him square in the eye, her face hardening in anger. "You had no right." Jack took an involuntary step backwards. "I- I just... wanted to say I'm sorry that this had to happen" his voice as low and calm as he could make it. Her face contorted again, the mask breaking and falling to the floor, her quiet sobs squeezing Jack's heart as he turned and walked away.

*

Jack very carefully closed the door and turned the lock, removed his shoes, and stood still. What is this? He felt the room around him, the hairs on his arms waving slightly in a breeze that didn't exist. His thoughts were forced back through the night. Waking up, washing the sheets, walking down the street, sitting at the bar, ignoring the idiot, back out on the street-- Suddenly, everything in him tensed, his hands became fists, face breaking into a snarl. The rage, the hatred boiled up in him, roaring to the surface. Jack barely had the presence of mind to restrain himself and relax his hands. He could see blue lines dancing along his arms, feel them coursing along his torso, through his legs. He wanted to break something, hurt someone... stop it... control it. Jack closed his eyes. He looked into himself and gathered up the anger, red hot and boiling in his vision. He studied its intensity, its power, and saw its potential. Then he dropped a waterfall on it. It cooled as the water flowed and Jack calmed. He tied chains around it, weighted it, and dropped it in the pool of water at his mental feet. He watched it descend from view and felt the anger subside, the world coming back under his control as he opened his eyes. A test of his hand and, yes, everything was better now.

A short nod of confidence and Jack wandered back to his bed, devoid of all but a quilt and a pillow, and he collapsed, vainly thinking this would be a better sleep than the last.

*

Jack sat down on the meditation mat and relaxed. The week had been long, today even longer. Time itself seemed to enter a "no passing" zone the closer he got to today and now... now the minutes flew past as the excitement grew. Calm down, boy. You've got work to do.

Jack paused only a few moments to look out at the ethereal plane, seeing all those who thought they had gained enlightenment when they arrived there. How little they know of us, he thought with a chuckle. He passed on, speeding through to Sanctuary. The minds that watched him enter this time felt oddly comforting, as though they were security guards, carefully registering his arrival and passing him on. The rush of sensation made him wobble slightly. It was the same place he always appeared in Sanctuary, but this time no one was around. Were it any other day, the scene would send chills down his spine. He made his way as quickly as he could toward the prearranged location on the beach near the Lake. There was a definite crowd gathered in small clumps around a raised platform on the beach. Jack had never realized how many people belonged in sanctuary until he saw them all in once place. There had to be at least three hundred people milling around, some watching the current fight, others talking or playing amongst themselves. No one minded so long as they weren't interfering with the fight. Jack sought out Peter among the masses and threw a high sign to him as the current fight ended.

“Did I miss anything?” He inquired carefully.

“No, you're still up for a match. These are some of the earlier contestants.” He pointed to the victor of the last match. “They're mostly using martial arts. I figured you'd like a fight between powers more.”

A mix of anticipation, fear, and betrayal flashed across Jack's face before he could squash the impulses. “Fair enough.” He said with a shrug as he crossed his arms.

“Right now, however,” Peter grunted as he cleared his throat and brushed some invisible lint from his person, “I am up for an exhibition match.”

Jack reached out to grab Peter's shoulder and stopped him. “Wait, with who?”

With a glint in his eyes, Peter's face broke into a grin as he said “who else?”

It was then Jack noticed Kira climb onto the platform. Her cloak of fire was ablaze and everyone gave her a wide berth. Peter took the raised step carefully, a blue haze slowly growing around him. Everyone around took a few steps back to give the fighters all the space they needed. They knew this wouldn't be confined to just the ring when it came down to it.

The heat swelled as the flames grew hotter and the blue glow intensified. Jack couldn't help but smile at the sheer joy of seeing two fighters in their prime, ready to duke it out in front of him. “Well, how should we play this one out, my dear?” called Peter. “Let's give them a good show, yes?” she shot back. A beat. At the same moment, each raised their right arm and fire met electricity in an explosion that moved everyone back another step. They dodged and danced, Kira guiding balls of fire through the air, Peter sending bolts in crazy loops to get past her defenses. They circled in, closer and faster, moving in insane loops as Peter pressed closer while Kira moved away. The movement built to a flurry of running, rolling, and flying arms... and then it stopped. In an instant, fire and arcs of blue shot past their faces. Less than a minute after they started, they had stopped, and somehow that bothered Jack.

“You're playing,” Peter whispered.

“So are you.”

And then their faces set. Peter rose from his crouch as Kira's cloak drew in. Peter closed his eyes and Kira's back erupted in great wings of flame. A collective gasp took Jack by surprise and he dumbly asked “what's that” to a guy standing next to him. “You've never heard of Kira's Phoenix Wings?!” came the hushed response, as though being too loud might attract unwanted attention. “What rock have you been hiding under?” Jack didn't bother answering, but his face carried enough meaning. The man took pity and explained in an annoyed tone. “It's the sign of the Elder of Fire. It's said to be a gift from one Elder to the next, an ultimate manifestation of the will of fire... only she can do it and she's extremely good with it.” A whip of flame uncoiled from Kira's hand as the crowd sat in awed silence. Peter opened his eyes and took a breath. “Well, you're not playing anymore, I see.” He sighed and held his hand straight out from his body, thumb up, as though he were holding something. Arcs of blue ran along his frame, streaking toward his extended hand. His muscles tensed and the blue arcs began to coalesce. They moved faster and faster until the blue ball imploded. As the light subsided, everyone stared at the almost ethereal war hammer in his hands. It was clouded and translucent, made from what seemed to be pure energy. Its handle was short, its head abnormally large, yet it seemed menacing and powerful.

“Jesus Christ, why are they bringing those out here?!” Mariah's voice made Jack nearly jump out of his skin.