“How many Wardens have you met?” I asked.
“Just the one really. After her, I couldn’t stand to watch another die. It’s one thing to be there when a Carrier is taken down, but it’s quite another when it is the Master.”
“I understand that,” I said. “However, that doesn’t answer why you should find it so funny.”
“The girl’s companion was a young man, mortal. He was knowledgeable about everything. I think he even knew history in more detail than the professors at any college I ever attended. With her traveled another master element. I want to say it was Earth, but I’m not sure anymore. The Prophet was a woman, a rather old woman who must have received her calling long into her life. Either that or she decided to ignore it till she could ignore it no more. The pureblood that traveled with her was exquisite. He had a smile that could light up a room.” Shawn looked lost in memories. “I just find it funny how the last time I was in the presence of the master flame the same type of companions were present.”
“What are you saying?” my mother asked.
“History has a silly way of repeating itself,” Shawn answered, a smile forming on his lips. That sealed it for me; seeing that smile reminded me so much of my father it was uncanny.
“So, what do you intend to do?” I asked.
“Well, to my understanding your friend has a plan. I’m not saying that it will work, but it is a good start. I have connections with both sides. I know that the Carriers I find will be willing to learn some arts of survival. I also know a White Carrier who can show you how to harness Heaven’s flame, and I would like to think that I have mastered Hell’s fire,” he said, looking at my mother. “That is if all this is okay with you.”
She nodded. So that meant more people were coming. Where were we going to put all these new guests?
“First things first,” Shawn continued, switching his attention to Nick. “You have to raise the third Warden before you can find the fourth? You will only ever be able to find one at a time. Your third isn’t here. Therefore you cannot find your fourth. You were able to bypass the originating order due to Krista’s infliction. Earth is always found first, wind is second, fire is third, and water is last. Do not think for one minute that this is listed from strongest to weakest. However, you know who Wind is, so this is the Creator’s way of saying figure it out.”
“That’s good to know.” Nick looked at Helen. “You see? My visions aren’t flawed. I just have to get Krista above ground before we find Water.”
“I never questioned your ability,” Helen protested. “I just said that you were having difficulty.” She laughed and punched him playfully on the arm. She seemed to enjoy abusing the Prophet.
“So, when is the resurrection to be?” Shawn asked me.
“Two weeks. They are adamant that I go to my senior prom,” I said slowly, feeling the misery sink in. I really didn’t want to go.
“Just think of it this way,” Shawn replied. “The longer it takes for you to bring her back, the longer your Water has before she’s found.” He smiled at me like that was really something I needed to hear.
“So, Water’s life is resting on me going to prom. That seems kind of half-assed backward to me.” I groaned.
****
“How are you doing with all of this?” Adam asked me that night.
We were lying on my bed listening to music. His father had called, saying that he had found a place for them to stay, so this was Adam’s last night with us.
“I don’t know. It seems like I’m lost in some dream. I have thought over and over again that this isn’t real.” I sighed and turned my head to look at him.
“You’re telling me.” He laughed. “I never would have thought I would be mixed up with the likes of angels and demons.”
“There is a whole other world out there now, Adam. It looks like you and I will be traveling it together.” I rolled onto my side.
“I couldn’t think of anyone better to travel it with though,” he murmured. That softness was back in his eyes as he reached over and touched my face.
I smiled at him and felt my heart pounding.
“So, I heard you and Aaron are going in for a limo for the prom,” I said, trying to change the subject. His expression altered and my heart slowed back to normal.
“Yeah, it was his idea really. He wanted you to have this wonderful experience. That boy has it bad for you just so you know.” He blinked, and the softness was gone.
“Yeah, that I know,” I mumbled.
“Explain this claim thing to me,” he said, squinting at me. “You mentioned it briefly, and everyone else seems to understand what it is, but I don’t have a clue.”
“Well, it isn’t complicated. Dad said that it’s simply someone giving themselves to you. So, I would beware of phrases like ‘I would sell my soul for that,’ because in a way that means you’re handing your soul over to me. From what I gather, it usually happens in a sexual context — intimacy, romance, heat-of-the-moment type stuff. Wesley was different for me because from the moment he kissed me till the second it happened, I wanted to devour him. I wanted his soul, his breath, his everything. When he willed
