The Elementals #1, Kiki XoXo [book club suggestions txt] 📗

I wonder where he was. "I can only stay for a seco- Lyra, who is that?" She stops mid-sentence, and points at a girl  a couple feet away. Looking at her  costume, I don't recognize her. The dress looks old style though, like 1800s. . .  Melanie? Looking more in the eyes, I can tell it's her. Wow, she really did it tonight.

 

"That's Melanie, she is one of my best friends. I haven't seen her all night until now!" I reply, still amazed at her dress. I don't thin kshe found that, in the costume store in town. Glancing at Flora, I can see her face is dark, scared almost. "Flora?" I ask.

 

"I must go. Lyra you need to leave now!" She whispers, and runs off. I still spot her when she pulls out the traveling stone, and she disappears. I need to leave? I sigh, if she is warning me maybe there is like an earthquake coming. We don't get earthquakes in Nebraska, at least none that I know off. I wish I knew where Sophie was. I start walking over to Melanie, it wouldn't be nice of me to not warn her. Then I freeze. Why was Flora perfectly okay . . . until she saw Melanie? I step taking mini steps backwards. I don't think Melanie saw me yet, but what is wrong? It's just Melanie! I sigh, I begin making my way through the house. Just leave. That's what my insides are telling me.

 

"Lyra." A boys voice says behind, Tatum's voice says behind me. Tatum! I haven't seen him all night! I turn, and I'm surprised to see The Phantom of the Opera. At least a costume on it. He knows how to work it to.  "You look lovely." He says, bowing and holding out his hand for me to take. LEAVE! My insides start yelling, why? It's Tatum, the boy you like! I yell back. Sighing with a smile I take his hand.  "You're dress is beautiful, it must've costed you a fortune for all the peacock feathers." He says leading me back outside, to the dancing area.

 

"Oh, I don't dance." I whispers, stopping. He smiles at me. "Two left feet, I'll break a bone." I laugh slightly.

 

"Come along, we must dance." He says, pulling me. "If you have two step on my feet." He whispers, and I nod. I'll be doing that. "Anyways, the peacock feathers?" he asks again. Jeepers what do I say?

 

"Melanie and Sophie, found them at that costume store in town. Said theye came with the dress, that was like 50-60  bucks." I sigh, "Are they real?" I ask him, and he nods. Looking around the dance floor a second. Well, I know Chaston likes exspensive things.  We dance, more like Tatum dances with me on his feet. He has no troubles, so I must not be to heavy! He doesn't even trip over my skirt!

 

"Lyra, I just wanted to say, I rea-" He begins, and my gut clenches. What could he be saying?

 

"Is this thing on? Melanies voice drifts over the music, which quickly mutes it's self. "Hello?" She says, and then the microphone squeeks a little. She clears her throat then hold up two envelopes. The crowning! Sean told me about this.

 

"Here we go." I here Tatum beside me, glancing at him I see his smile. He knows who it is, since it's his party I'm sure he does know.

 

"This years costume king is, the Phantom of the Opera!" She cheers in the microphone. I look at Tatum, that's him.

 

"What?" he says, and then looks around everyone looking at us. People must know that it's Tatum, the mask only covers a little more then 1/4 of his face. I clap and cheer for him as he makes his way to the stage, slowly. Telling everyone that he isn't suposed to win these things since he throws the parties.  Once he is up there,  he grabs the crown, and holds it in his hand. He doesn't look like he's putting it on. I laugh.

 

"Hush," Melanie says into the microphone, and everys cheering comes to a halt. I bet it's her who won, or maybe Daniel. I seen her costume when I first arrived, she was very pretty to. Her dress is red, and mermaid styled, and her mask looks like flames. It reminds me of Katniss Everdeens red dress she wears that has those fake flames. Accept Daniel's dress doesn't have the fake flames, if it did I'm sure was garuanted to win though.

 

"This years costume queen is," She takes a second longer then needed to open the envelope, keep suspense in the air.  "The Peacock Princess." she cheers, I look around, I wonder who that is. Then a bright light shines in my face. Oh, that's me! No, oh no no no!  All of a sudden selfconcious, I try and back away from the light. I hear people cheering for me to go up.  I catch Tatum's eyes, which are dazzling with excitement. I send him a look, and he shrugs with a smile. He planned this! Making my way up the little, stage I hold up my skirt a liitle.  Last thing I need is to trip, walking in front of everyone! Once I'm there, Melanie puts the crown on my head. She winks at me. I try not to frown at her. She hasn't talked to me since I got to the party, I wonder why? I mean I didn't see her until a little while ago, but from what Sophie said... I don't know I guess. Wow, I'm royalty for a night!

 

"What are the odds?" Tatum laughs. I look at him, and he smiles again.

 

"Now it's time for the King and Queens dance!"  Melanies cheers. Oh no.  I look at Tatum, and he understands. He grabs Melanies hand and whispers something to her. Melanie should no I can't dance though.  "How about we don't do the dance this year?" She asks the crowd, and there isn't a response. So Tatum and I don't have to do anything? Good!  "How about we do. . .  King and Queens kiss!" She yes, and the crowd erupts into a roar of cheers. I'm happy I have a mask, no one can see me blush. I'm not kissing Tatum, no matter how much I want to. I glare at him, I bet he planned all of this.

 

"I didn't do that! I asked her if we could just pose for the pictures, because my foot is bugging me." He says, pleadingly.  I sigh. The crowd starts chanting kiss her over and over again.  I look at Melanie for help, but she is chanting as well. Oh, fiddle sticks! "We don't have to... " Tatum says.

 

"No, then we'll get made fun of." I reply. It's still my first kiss, . . . well probably not for real. I probably kissed Frederick. NOT THE TIME! I yell at myself, it will be my first kiss I remember. I sigh, stepping closer to Tatum. He is relaxed, and calm. I'm the oposite. He's probably kiss dozens of girls.  He places his hands on my waist, and I put mine on his shoulders. He is tall, I have to be on my tippy toes to make eye contact.

 

"Ready?" he whispers, pulling me in a little closer.  I give a brief nod, leaning in. That's when the shriek comes from the crowd, and then more. Then people appear, in armor suits and wepons from old days. Tatum nexts to me tenses, and I can hear him swear under his breath. How did all those people just appear out of know where? . . . Traveling stones. Another group appears, and I recognize some of the people. Flora, Sierra, and couple other girls. One has flame red hair, and the other has jet black hair with the britghest blue eyes. The other elementals?!

 

Tatums grip on my tightens, and the soldiers stand in ready to fight positions. People are clearing out. Accept there are a couple people here and there who stay put,  and the watch the soldier. Melanie being one of the people who stays put, and I spot Sean running up the stage.  The other who stayed start making there way closer to the stage. I spot Molly and Garret next to Flora, and I take a step what are they doing here?  " I need you to stay put Lyra." Tatum scolds, pulling me back.

 

"But  I know them." I say, and he looks at me for a second. His face darkens, and he snaps his fingers. Sean appears at his side.

 

"Sean, have you not been watching."  He scolds, smacking him upside the head. Sean's nose splatters out blood, I gasp, jumping away.  What is this?  The king appears, and yells for the soldiers to march on.

 

"Lyra is up there!" Flora yells, and I catch her eye

 

"Tatum, let me go." I say trying to push through his grip.

 

"You couldn't have waited three more minutes." Tatum says, to the king.  "Well, you are still to late. She is mine now." He says, electricity starts knocking down my classmates. Sierra! I'm almost crying. I want to use Tatums body as a shield so I don't have to look, but from what I've heard he doesn't seem to be the good guy!

 

"I'm sorry, drarkal prince. But the girl, will be coming with us."  The king smiles, and disappears. Did he just say drarkal prince?  I struggle in his grip.

 

"Now now Lyra, we were just having a moment!" He sighs, still holding me.

 

"You! You kidnapped me!" I begin.

 

"It wasn't me personally. Melanie and Sean where the ones who actually kidnapped you."  He says, like he is teaching me a lesson. MELANIE! Melanie, who I thought was my best friend, kidnapped me!

 

"What happened.... to me? My memories?" I whisper, and Tatum put his chin on my head. 

 

"Now that wasn't us, we found you like that. Of course we used it to our advantage." He says, I thought there was some big battle that I got hurt in?!  The fountain in the garden bursts, and it starts raining everywhere. Then lightening starts falling and coming from everywhere, It's a full on battle field! I knife swings by my face, and  hits Tatum in the shoulder. I cover my mouth with my hand. Screaming.  Looking for who through the knife I spot Frederick, who is ready to throw another.  "That hurts." Tatum growls, pulling the knife out thats cover in black goo. Not red, black.  Another one buzzes by but Tatum dodges it, letting go of me in the process.  I run, and Sean  reaches for me. Tripping over my skirt, now of all times, I hold my hands up to try and push Sean away. He flies backward, with snow following him. On my but now, I scurry to get up. Tatum is walking towards me, and I hold up my hands again. Nothing happens.  A knife connects into his side, and he jerks it out again. How many can he be hit by a knife and not die?! Black goo oozing from there now two places, he reaches down for me.

 

"No! Don't touch me!" I scream, and  wild gust of wind comes from behind me. Also sending him flying. Then out of know where Flora appears in front of me, and then I fell  tingly and that pull. I"m in a room, a bedroom.  "Where am I?" I ask her. I'm still on my but.

 

"Your house." She replies. Oh yeah, this is my bedroom. . . at Molly and Garrets house. I open my mouth with a bazilion questions. "Not now." She replies, and vanishes. Leaving me alone. Bringing my knees to my chest, I cry.