Silent Storm

In the Field Garden, Marie, Vanessa, Riley and Jason are on their hands and knees preparing for a race.

Riley looks at Marie. “No offense mom, but you’re out of your league here.”

“A few weeks with V and you think you’re all that, huh sweetie?”

“Ok we’re ready,” says Vanessa.

A sphere-shaped bot comes hovering in front them and begins to speak. “Ready, set, go!!!!” it says slowly.

They all take off at great speed, with Vanessa, Riley and Jason leaving streaks of electricity behind them.

Marie’s body flickers as she moves, making her almost invisible at times.

They pass the Garden Pond, causing the water to ripple and splash violently, disturbing the birds peacefully feeding on the crumbs laid out for them by Naveen.

Marie and Riley are behind, with Jason and Vanessa ahead of them.

Marie starts to pull away from everyone as they approach another sphere waiting at the finish line.

A bolt of lightning descends from the sky upon Vanessa, invigorating her, causing her to race past Marie with ease.

She crosses the virtual finish line generated by the sphere bot.

Marie crosses a few seconds later with Jason and Riley not far behind.

“You thought you had me there didn’t you M.”

Marie, panting, rolls her eyes and lies flat on the ground.

“Aunt V, after all that training, how is mom still faster than me?” asks a confused Riley.

“M may not be the Quin of Lightning, but she’s pretty adept at using the Accendo technique. Which she knows should only be used to cover short distances, hence why she’s so exhausted now,” Vanessa responds.

“That was pretty cool Aunt M,” says an impressed Jason.

Vanessa scoffs. “I’m the one that won boy.”

An immobile Marie giggles on the floor.

Riley’s wrist pad begins to alarm. “Time to go people,” he says.

“What was that?” asks Jason.

“My alarm for the Ivy Rose concert.”

“Isn’t that like four hours from now?”

“Yea, so? I have to prepare.”

“You’re obsessed.”

“Alright, alright, that’s enough for today, you can go,” says Vanessa.

Riley smiles and speeds off.

Vanessa stoops and allows Marie to climb onto her back and they all head inside.

***

Several students and faculty members are seated in front a giant screen stretching from one end of the Entertainment Room wall to the next.

Patty overlooks as members of the kitchen crew walk around serving finger foods and drinks.

Marie and Vanessa are drinking and laughing with Jax and Henry.

Ivan is seated with a sad look on his face as he stares at a photograph of a young man with blond hair.

Isabella places a soothing hand on his shoulder.

He smiles and stares at her. “Word around the Academy is that you’re really putting your students through it,” he says.

They both glance over at the Cirrus III Witches, who seem jaded, and barely able to keep their eyes opened.

“They have to be ready Ivan. It’s up to us to ensure they’re all ready.”

Ivan lowers his head and stares at the photo once again.

“We’ll get him back Ivan, if Cordelia has him, we’ll get him back,” says Isabella.

Ivan puts the photo away and they join the other teachers for a drink.

Riley is seated closest to the screen with an anxious look on his face.

Mikey, JJ and Miranda are next to him, along with Jason, Muscle and Brain.

Jason and Brain exchange nasty looks at each other.

“Finally, she’s about to come on,” says Riley, bursting with anticipation.

Everyone in the room focuses on the screen---

---A massive crowd with people of all ages and walks of life listens on as an announcer comes on over the speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. The queen of entertainment, the Goddess of music, the number one selling artiste in the world, Miss ‘DivaLution’ herself, the one, the only, IVY ROSE!!!!!!!”

The crowd erupts and begins to scream in unison, almost deafening.

All of the lights begin to flicker as smoke builds up on the stage.

A platform emerges from beneath the stage.

The smoke clears. Ivy Rose appears and immediately begins to sing.

“No strings on me, I do what I want. Always looking my best, can’t afford to be like the rest. I got that fire in me so I can never back down. So don’t come to me with your propositions, cuz its time for the Divalution!”

She delivers a sensational performance, dancing and singing some of her hit songs.

After the performance, Ivy thanks the crowd for their support and she turns around and proceeds with her trademark stage exit, index finger up on her left hand, index and middle fingers up on the other, disappearing into bright red smoke. The crowd chants her name.

---Everyone is clapping and cheering, none more than Riley, who has a huge smile on his face.

Ike enters the entertainment room.

“Grandpa!” says an excited Riley.

Ike looks around the room in disgust.

“You missed the entire performance Grandpa,” Riley continues.

“What is this?” Ike mutters under his breath.

“Wait a minute, I thought you were supposed to be in the infirmary, are you feeling better?” asks a concerned Riley.

“What is this?” Ike says louder.

“Father, what is it?” asks Marie, who moves toward him.

“A concert?” he asks the room, growing angrier by the second.

“Father, calm down.”

“How can I calm down when I see members of the faculty frolicking like imbeciles while Cordelia is out there kidnapping Awakenings?”

“This is good for everyone father; the students have been working really hard.”

“And how hard have the two of you been working?” he asks, pointing at Marie and Vanessa. “You must be quite exhausted from your pointless race in the Field Garden,” he continues.

“Ti Kochon!,” Vanessa insults, in her native tongue, much to Ike’s displeasure.

“You people tainted the language we taught you to such an extent it sickens me,” says Ike.

“You mean the language your people forced on us you bigot?” Vanessa rebuts.

An enraged Ike throws a table with incredible force, enough to place a large dent in the wall, startling the students.

“Grandpa, what’s happening to you,” asks Riley.

“Everyone leave us,” commands Marie.

The entire room stares at her.

“Leave us now,” she yells, much to everyone’s surprise.

The students and faculty, with the exception of Vanessa leave the room.

Marie stares at Vanessa.

Vanessa stares back fiercely.

“V please, I can handle this.”

A reluctant Vanessa finally leaves, but not before shooting Ike a nasty stare.

“You seem determined to hold on to the flawed beliefs of our ancestors, father.”

“And what do you know of our ancest---,” Ike attempts to respond but begins to cough.

“Did Nurse May release you?” asks a concerned Marie.

“I couldn’t stay in that blasted infirmary, with you and that bitch running my Academy into the ground.”

Marie tries desperately to contain her anger.

“What did the nurse tell you?” she asks.

“It’s the damn Transference.”

“But father, given your unnecessary display of strength a few minutes ago, I think it’s safe to say that no longer being a Quin hasn’t affected you that much.”

“Yea well, it took almost all my Aether to throw that table. This thing seems to finally be catching up with me.”

“I’m so sorry father.”

“This is the life of the Quin child, don’t you dare apologize to me.”

“But father.”

“I promise you, on your mother’s grave, I’m going to make Cordelia pay for her crimes, or die trying.”

“You think that’s what mom would want? For you to die a meaningless death?”

Ike beings to cough once more.

“Leave me be girl, focus on doing what you were appointed to do,” he says and walks away, leaving Marie standing at the center of the room, as a tear drop runs down her face.

***

Sasha and Silo are seated on the floor of their bedroom, directly facing each other.

“Something just doesn’t seem right about those pods, I’m still not entirely sure what they do,” says Sasha.

“The pods are powered by a unique blend of science and witchcraft. Once inside, Coredelia’s treatment is administered, and the pod monitors your vitals and keeps you alive.

“What is this treatment exactly?”

“It doesn’t matter what it is, I just know it works, it stabilizes our Aether and stops us from going berserk.”

“Silo, the mere fact you need such a machine to keep you alive during treatment suggests it isn’t entirely safe.”

“Not everyone reacts well to it.”

“What happens to them?”

“Cordelia takes them to the lower level for advanced treatment.”

“And what’s down at the lower level?”

“Why are you entertaining all these unnecessary questions hombre?” an agitated Ronald interrupts, with a pale and disoriented Christian struggling behind him, scratching his forearm.

“If you people expect me to go in one of those things for this so-called treatment, my questions are anything but unnecessary,” Sasha rebuts.

“Oh you think you have a choice here huh Chica?” says Ronald.

“Excuse me?”

“Alright, everyone just calm down,” urges Silo.

Sasha stares at Christian, and notices his flaking lips.

“Christian, are you ok?” she asks, as she stands up to get a closer look.

“Don’t worry about him,” says Ronald, blocking her path.

Silo gently grabs Sasha’s arm and turns her toward him.

“You can trust me Sasha,” he says.

Sasha stares into his kind and piercing eyes, convincing herself of his genuineness.

“Once your treatment is successful, you’ll be free to leave,” Silo continues.

“So why are you guys still here then?” asks the inquisitive Sasha.

“Because our parents don’t want us. Cordelia is the only one who accepted us, gave us a home,” says a coughing Christian.

“I can’t imagine my mother ever rejecting me. She’s my whole world,” Sasha responds.

“Lucky you,” says Ronald.

“But aside from you guys, what about the others? Were they reunited with their families?”

“Yea they were, my buddy Reggie, he’s the most recent departure. It was painful seeing him go, but I’m happy for him you know,” Ronald responds.

Sasha stares at him and smiles.

The dorm room door slides open, and Cordelia enters. “I see you’re finally settling in darling,” she says.

“I’m really sorry about before, but you did kind of kidnap me,” says Sasha.

“No prisoners here darling, everyone’s free to leave when they’re no longer a danger to themselves or others.”

Cordelia glances at Christian struggling for breath. “Christian darling, come closer so I can have a better look at you.”

Christian stumbles toward Cordelia, and she grabs his face, turning it left and right, examining him closely.

She reaches for a necklace around his neck with a vial pendant.

She notices the vial is empty. “Empty already, someone’s been a bit of a glut I see.”

Cordelia stares at an embarrassed Christian, refusing to allow his eyes to meet her own.

“Come with me boy,” she commands, grabbing his hand and leading him out of the room.

“Silo, Ronald, go make sure all the vitals in the pods are stable,” she adds.

She then stares at a confused Sasha. “And you, get some rest, your treatment starts in the morning.”

***

Victoria folds the tablecloth at the center of the Holy Cathedral podium.

She then proceeds to pick up all the Hymn Books from the respective benches and packs them neatly on a table by the entrance.

She begins to blow out the candles around the hall one by one but is interrupted by a middle-aged woman with a young boy.

“Sorry lady, you just missed the service,” Victoria informs her.

“Where’s Father Joseph,” asks the woman.

“Is he expecting you or something?”

“It’s ok child,” says Father Joseph as he approaches. “Thanks for tidying up, you can retire for the night,” he continues.

Victoria examines the woman and the boy, then glances at Father Joseph who is staring back at her, waiting for her to leave.

“Ok fine, whatever padre,” she says and heads upstairs.

She makes her way to the balcony overlooking the hall, to eavesdrop on Father Joseph’s exchange with the woman.

She opens the door slightly and positions herself so as not to be spotted.

She looks on at Father Joseph and the woman, unable to make out their words, but still able to tell they are having an argument.

The boy becomes restless and agitated and the woman picks him up to calm him down.

The boy glances over in Victoria’s direction.

“What are you looking at you little insect,” says Zardon.

Victoria’s eyes blacken, startling the boy and causing him to cry.

Father Joseph glances over at the balcony and Victoria quickly closes the door.

“Why did you have to go and do that Zardon?”

“I hate kids,” Zardon replies.

“You hate humans in general,” says Victoria.

“You got me there Vicky,” a laughing Zardon replies.

“Must be a real bummer for you to be stuck inside one then huh?”

“Oh Vicky, I’m so going to enjoy the day I get to kill you.”

“Not if I kill you first.”

Zardon laughs as Victoria heads to her room.