“You can’t be serious.” Two face’s mirroring the same expression regarded Elaina as if she had just grown a second head.“Oh but I am.” Elaina said solemnly.  “But first.” She turned to Chase.  “I am still waiting on that apology.”“What about an apology for slapping me?” Chase countered crossing his arms. “I think that is a lot worse than doubting someone.”“It’s your fault for coming at me from behind.” Elaina lifted herself to her full height, which to be honest wasn’t much compared to Chase.  “You have no one but yourself to blame for that.”Chase raised his eyebrows.  “I still don’t even know what you were so mad about.”“I do.” Charise called happily from behind Elaina.  “I’ll explain it to you some other time.” She added catching the look Elaina was gi

“There has to be something else in there.” Charise snapped pacing the room.  “Any other passage explaining how to counter their attacks.”“No, I scanned the pages and there isn’t anything in it.” Chase said quietly.Chase and Charise had been arguing like that for the past hour.  Elaina too numb to say anything just let their words drift in and out of her consciousness.  If she could push away the shock she would honestly say that she was pretty proud of Charise.  Of all people she hadn’t expected her to be the one that wouldn’t give up and would want to find a way to fight back and destroy the enemy.“I refuse to accept this.” Charise snapped.  “It is just a stupid book, only reality can determine what will really happen.”“The elders wrote that book.” Chase pointed out.  “They have that mystical power thing going for them

Later Elaina and Chase sat on the hood of the car watching as the remains of the burlack beasts burned before them.Elaina’s leg throbbed but she tried to ignore it, instead she looked to Chase who still looked green in the face.  She was pretty sure that he was going to end up throwing up at some point, but he just stared ahead stoically.  Since stitching her leg up he had refused to look at her and she was beginning to wonder if his little crush on her was finally gone.  A twinge of disappointment tugged at her, but she insisted that it was for the best.A crackling sounded from the fire as the flames burst brighter, swirls of green and purple overtaking the whole thing. Elaina had never seen anything like it.The flames roared loudly and Elaina found herself sweating from the heat.Then just as quickly as it happened it was over, nothing left now except a small smolder.Elaina looked to Chase now who was stil

Elaina didn’t know exactly how to get back to the Northern temple, but she drove letting her instincts tell her where to go.  On and on she drove taking no notice to anything passing by her.  Night turned into day and then day turned back into night.  Adrenaline pumping she continued to push forward.  The only thing keeping her going was her need to make sure that there was still time to save everyone that meant the most to her.Only stopping long enough to fill up on gas she arrived in familiar territory early on the second day.  She pushed her car for all it was worth urging it to go faster even knowing that it couldn’t.Finally she reached her destination, skidding to a stop she took in the scene before her.  No longer stood the temple of the white, instead flames roared towards the sky.  People ran in horror trying their best to alert anyone who didn’t already know.Elaina jumped ou

Oliver sent word to the Brothers from the West and South the next morning hoping it would get to all of them in time.  He explained to all about the attack and Rathial’s warning.  After sending off his letters he made plans to visit the elders personally.Samantha hadn’t been happy about the idea wanting her family to stay together through this, but in the end rationale won out over emotion.  Elaina watched numbly as they had a teary good bye, Samantha standing in the road for a long time watching as Oliver drove off.Plans had been made to stay underground in a secret facility built specifically for emergencies.  Brother Benjamin had managed to tell Samantha where to find it before his death.Digging around in the rubble left over from the fire they were able to find the secret hatch.  Musty air greeted them as they descended down stairs so old they felt like they could collapse at any minute.  T