Paranormal Public: Elemental Darkness Part 12

I sat down at the table, where three kinds of jam were waiting for us to try: one was red, either strawberry or raspberry, another was either blueberry or grape, and the third I very much suspected of being orange marmalade.

Hes fine, I said, picking up a piece of toast and b.u.t.tering it before turning to the jams.

Did you tell him anything? Sip asked. I knew she was being careful, because so far I had always refused to say anything to Ricky about our parents, or about the fact that that Carl might not be his real father. What surprised me most was that Carl himself somehow knew that, and knew that Ricky could be in danger; he had told me as much when I had been home last winter.

No, I said, putting what I thought was the grape jam on my toast and taking a bite. There was never a good time. Besides, he isnt showing magic.

Well, said Sip dryly, it would make it easier if he burned a house down, wouldnt it?

Just then Lough staggered in, still looking as bleary-eyed as he had a few minutes ago. But he brightened up immediately at the sight of the toast.

Leaving the subject of Ricky aside for the moment, I filled my friends in on what had happened with Nick and Nicole.

What do you think they were doing there? Lough asked nervously. I dont like that at all.

I think they came for Ricky and me, I said grimly. Cale said the Nocturns and their allies are now determined to eliminate the Power of Five once and for all. Leaving him this time was the hardest thing Ive ever done.

Well, thats just another day of college for you, said Sip off-handedly.

Yeah, I said. Ever since Malle put that bounty on my head when we were at Vampire Locke, Ive been looking over my shoulder.

Youve been glaring over your shoulder, said Sip, and no one from the forces of darkness has glared back yet.

Nick and Nicole wont quit, I said. I just wish I knew more about them.

We can find that out once we get to Public, said Sip.

We can? I asked skeptically.

Public keeps amazing records, Sip explained. They have an archive.

Yeah, weve all been in the library, Sip, said Lough. Its cool, but its not that cool.

Sip fixed Lough with a death stare and said, I wasnt talking about the library. I was talking about the archive.

Well excuse me, Ms. Im Number One in Our Cla.s.s, said Lough.

Sip sniffed and spooned eggs onto plates for each of us, and we barely spoke after that, nor did Hyder and Helen join us. I had an odd feeling that Hyder was avoiding me, but I pushed it away since I had no reason to think such a thing.

After we had finished eating, Sip went up to her room and frantically started to pack for school. The ship was expected to dock near Public the next day and drop all the students off, and Sip hadnt even begun to gather her things.

Most of my stuffs still at Airlee, she explained, but I did bring a couple of suitcases home.

Girls, said Lough. They think they need all sorts of clothes that theyre never even going to wear.

You never know what you might want to do or what the weather will be like, said Sip, sniffing again. Its good to be prepared.

Lough had nothing to say to that.

Once we were ready we headed out to the Quests second car, in which Sip intended to drive us to the port. Looking around, I marveled at the jewel-like green of the gra.s.s; it had obviously been a good summer there. Trees and hills stretched for miles into the distance, and the sun shone brightly on all of it, with barely any wind to rustle the leaves. I felt no darkness anywhere near us. Sip, for her part, was quiet.

I dont know why we have to go to this meeting anyway, Lough grumbled. Were just going to watch the adults make a few bad choices and then go home.

Were going because they want to include us, said Sip. And its about time.

Please dont tell me youre thinking of speaking at this thing, said Lough, with worry in his tone.

I might, said Sip. As a founding member of the Sign of Six I feel its my right.

What exactly is the Sign of Six doing? Lough asked. And wheres Nolan these days?

The Sign of Six is attempting to find ways to bring the paranormal defenses up to standards that will repel demons. Barring that, we are fighting. Unlike Caid, who invites Malle to his summer home to try and talk her around to not killing us, we hold no delusions that we can talk Malle or the demons into or out of anything. We can only use force.

For such a smart girl Im surprised youve decided that war is the only option, said Lough skeptically.

Its not the only option, Sip argued. Its just the only option left. I think losing Lisabelle proved that.

Lisabelle made a choice, I said quietly.

Yeah, said Sip, her fingers gripping the steering wheel tighter, and why? Because they took her friend. Whyd they do that? Partly because of the Sign of Six. They might have hoped that theyd also get Lisabelle out of the deal, but theyre afraid of the organization Ive started, and thats a good thing for the paranormals.

Its a good thing that youre at risk of getting killed? Lough muttered. News to me.

And Nolan went home for the summer, said Sip. Hes trying to work on things from his end, but they wouldnt let him stay at Public either. He doesnt really know what he can do since Golden Falls is no longer recognized as a paranormal university.

Why not? Because theyre a murdering bunch of kidnappers? Lough demanded. Or a kidnapping bunch of murderers?

Pretty much, said Sip. She bounced up a little straighter in her seat. Oh, were almost there.

The wind had started to pick up, and I could feel that we were heading toward water. Then, all of a sudden, the ocean was right in front of us. As Sip rounded a bend in the road and we cleared the trees, it spread out in every direction in all its mid-morning, sparkling glory.

Beautiful, said Lough. But wheres the ship?

He had a point. We saw the water and the empty beach, with not another human or paranormal in view.

Just be patient, said Sip. She turned off the main road so that we were driving alongside the sh.o.r.eline. Soon we made another turn, and there in front of us was a parking lot filled with cars. At the entrance was a roadblock, and in front of that stood a paranormal dressed just like Cale had been, all in black with colored stripes on the sleeves of his shirt.

The Paranormal Police Academy, I breathed. This should be interesting. We pulled up alongside the roadblock and the Police Academy graduate came to Sips window as she rolled it down.

Morning, he said, eyeing us. He did not look cheerful.

Rings, please, he said. It wasnt a question. We each held out our rings for him to scan with his own. His was green, but he was bigger like Cale. The Academy probably didnt take small pixies.

When he got to me I saw him start as my ring blazed blue, the pink demons around it lighting up. He glanced at me sharply but said nothing, and I tried hard to keep my composure. Even if I liked Cale and I had liked Kia at the end, it was hard for me not to resent the pixies.

Continue, he said, waving us through.

There were two cars waiting behind us as Sip slowly drove into the lot. Out of the gathering cars streamed paranormals. I didnt recognize most of them, and there were many more than I had been expecting.

Shouldnt they be coming in via flying and brooms and whatnot? Lough asked suspiciously.

Many have, said Sip. These are the others. Besides, some, like me, chose to drive, maybe because of who they were coming with, or because they had luggage, or because driving draws less attention than flying on a broom.

We parked at the end of the lot next to Helen and Hyders other car. They were nowhere in sight, so I decided that they must already be on the ship. Sip waved to a couple of the paranormals nearby, but I didnt know them. I looked around for Professor Dacer, or Vanni, or Trafton and Rake, but I saw none of them.

Are we early or late? I asked.

Sip shrugged. Paranormals have been arriving for the last twelve hours. My brothers stayed on the ship last night. I think Trafton and Rake are already there.

Hey, a woman cried, glaring at us. HEY! How dare you show your face here after what your friend did?

We stared at the woman in surprise. She was short and plump, with wisps of gray hair and a blazing silver ring. Get back to wherever you came from, she yelled.

Then she started toward us, but the man she was with, taller and thinner and wearing spectacles that reminded me of Sigils, tugged her away, whispering frantically in her ear.

Whats she talking about? I asked, shocked. Lisabelle?

Sip nodded grimly. Mound has been reporting for weeks, ever since Lisabelle traded for me, that shes been leading the attacks on paranormals all along the East coast.

How would he know what shes up to? I demanded. We didnt know what she was up to when you lived with her and we saw her every day.

Lough snorted. So true.

Id still like to know where this ship is, I said. There was a long dock stretching into the water, but nothing at the end of it. Meanwhile, paranormals were gathering all along it, and we joined the waiting throng.

Is it invisible or under the water? Lough asked, squinting.

Nope, said Sip.

There it is, cried a paranormal child, pointing upward. We all craned our necks to look. Sure enough, a ma.s.sive form was descending from the sky, slowly and with purpose, blotting out the sun.

I hate heights, I muttered. I just hate them. Why does that have to go hand in hand with being a paranormal?

Sip looked at me in amus.e.m.e.nt. Dont worry. Once were all on board were going to stay in the water.

Small blessings, I muttered.

The other paranormals seemed to be just as impressed as we were, and many of them oohed and gasped appropriately. When the ship was about to land in the water, those closest to that side of the dock stepped back to give it room. I had thought thered be a ma.s.sive splash, but it set down on the surface without so much as disturbing the waves.

Awesome, said Lough.

Isnt it? said Dobrov from behind us. He stood alone, his hands stuffed into his pockets.

We all turned around to stare at him in horror. His black hair and eyes looked gold in the sun. He wore a white shirt and jeans. I looked for Daisy, but I didnt see her.

Howd you get through the gates? Sip demanded.

Im a paranormal, Dobrov pointed out. They have to let me through. The government insisted we all be here, after all.

They really dont have to let you through, Sip said bitterly. Youre darkness.

Just show me to the water spirits, said Dobrov, c.o.c.king his head to the side. Ive never met one before.

What makes you think they want to meet you? Sip demanded.

Dobrov shrugged. I havent done anything wrong.

That we know of, said Lough.

Yet, I added. Daisy?

Dobrov shook his head. She didnt come. Something about a hostile environment.

But youre going to report everything back to her? Sip demanded. Is she off with Faci?

Dobrov shrugged. I dont keep tabs on my sister.

Nonsense, Sip scoffed.

Come along, she said to Lough and me as she led us away.

I took a deep breath. The Conclave was about to start.

Chapter Seventeen.

We followed Sip to the ship, and Dobrov didnt try to follow us. But as we left him behind I found myself feeling almost bad for him. We had been friends once, and now he stood all alone, watching us leave.

The ship itself was almost too incredible to be believed. It was made all of dark wood, with silver masts that seemed to sway slightly in the ocean breeze. I turned my face up to the sun as I stepped onto the plank that would take me into the belly of the Conclave. Then, as if bringing myself back down to reality, I started to look around curiously at my fellow travelers. This was one of the few times, along with Lancas coronation, that Id been around so many paranormals who werent of college age. Most of them didnt look back at me.

If were not all together, what are we fighting for, anyway? I wondered. Maybe Caid would address that question once we were all on board.

Its a relief to know that Facis not here, said Lough. Id hate to try and commit murder with so many witnesses.

He cant possibly be returning to Public this fall, can he? Sip asked worriedly.

Lough shrugged. Stranger things have happened.

We just dont know what they are, I said dryly.

Inside, the ship was nothing like a ship. Entering it was like walking into a palace. There was a wide foyer with a spiraling staircase covered in plush gold carpet swooping upward from the middle of it.