The Last Elementalist

Chapter 32

Spectators applauded and the new President silenced them for a short word. "I know that this country now seems to be in a time of crisis, and it is, but I have a plan to study until we fully understand the supernatural phenomenon that has fallen upon us until we can use it for our best interests. What happened to Michael Travis tonight is a disaster and we will all mourn and pray that he heals from his near fatal injuries, mourn the loss of his eldest daughter and youngest son whom both died in these uncertain times where anyone and anything might live among us. Let us unite as a country to fight against the problem at hand. A war at our very own White House? It's an outrage! These beings are clearly here to take over our country! We must defend it and prosper. Our very own President's son is affected by this. How do we know who we can trust? This girl may be the one whom kidnapped him!", He yelled, staring pointedly at an astonished Lielle. "Connor Travis may not be corrupted but how do we know who is? Let us stand up to these monsters before they take over us."

Cheers of agreement started slowly while faces of shock appeared on others faces, including the three of them. Soon enough, claps and shouts filled the yard. Reporters stormed President Wence and Connor and his friends, eager for opinions and what was the cause of their abilities. Washington DC began protesting and soon the rest of the world would as well. After a few minutes, Lielle, being the impulsive and stressed person she was, growled in frustration and spread out a force field around them, not helping the doubts that Americans already had about their kind, especially her due to Wence's claim. Leaving only a moment for spectators to stare and gawk, she seized their wrists and left the rest of the world in the dust.

* * * * *

Thrillers on the mend walked around them as they slipped into their small hangout spot through the crack in the wall. Lielle lit the lanterns sloppily before collapsing on the far side of the room. Connor took a breath before asking about her look of realization when the vice president gave his speech earlier. "Well your father should have chosen someone he trusted more as Vice," she muttered under her breath before blocking them out completely.

The next half an hour consisted of much awkward silence while Connor walked around, tracing his newly mended palm on the rough, bumpy wall. Finally, after way too long of this, he fell against the wall where he stood and started, "Are we going to sit like this forever?"

Lielle looked at him confused. "Connor, carefully reach a few inches up and rip that fully open."

Upon seeing his confused expression, Evie nodded and they both rose. He traced his fingers back up the wall only to find a tear in the previously solid rock. When ripping off the wallpaper, he reached into a small compartment until he felt leather brush against his fingertips. He pulled out a small, wrapped notebook. He passed it to Lielle whom gently unbound it and showed it to Evie.

"It was Cassidy's diary. She wrote in it almost every night after we encountered something strange. Even brought it with us to Boston."

She peeled back the front page and out fell a folded paper in the shape of a falcon that lightly landed in his lap. He unfolded the paper and held it up so they could all see. Lielle's scowl remained throughout the letter but Evie teared up right from the start. Connor however was not sure how to feel. He carefully read the note, over and over until it made some sort of sense to him. Inside it said;

To my friends,

I owe you each an apology. When my father sent me to you, my job was clear; feed him information and bring him Lielle. And so I did. But there was one flaw in his plan. He thought that I was his coldhearted minion, loyal to him out of love, the opposite of my brother whom ran off to Maine in hopes of creating a hit squad. Little did he know he was a Thriller. When my father ambushed his team, he explained to me to always be loyal to family. And I was, before I learned the value of friendship and not always being "Daddy's Little Girl", because you were my first friends.

I owe you, Lielle, the biggest apology of all. Starting with all those years back when I spied on you and even went as far as fighting. Even more recently, you saved my life at the farmer's market in Castle Valley, even if I wasn't really in danger. He actually came to find me for an update on my brother, who we may have found alive and well in Europe. We want to help him build his army against my father. But the thing I regret most of all is the one thing that I never told you, but you might have suspected; I killed your last family. I swear it was before I turned, but they're the only deaths that ever made me feel guilty.

You see, I can make my own decisions, so I decided on this. You will probably never trust me again, but we don't get to choose our families, and if you ever need me, you know how to find me. Follow the birds. I am yours and I hope you can be mine.

-Cassidy B. Callahan

"B?" he wondered aloud.

"Beatrice," Evie smirked, anticipating his reaction.

"Beatrice? So now we have an Evelin and a Beatrice. How do I keep ending up with you people?"

She giggled and Connor turned his face to frowning Lielle. "Follow the birds. What sort of nonsense movie hint is this? You can be a bird so let's follow your falcon."

He walked over to her and wrapped her in his arms. "I'm sorry-"

"Don't."

"This note is only a reminder that this is far from over, but no one can win without you."

"And no one can lose without me either, so I should just go so that they don't stupidly start something that they can't finish." She moved her arms around his waist. "Why are the heroes always the ones who don't want to be involved?"

He sighed. "Because it's a cruel world, and we just happen to live in it."