Silent Storm

Victoria wakes up in a bed, confused, wondering where she is.

Father Joseph walks in.

“I’m happy to see you’re finally up, maybe now you can tell me exactly what you need my help with,” he says.

“I need you to help me control the darkness inside me like you use to do for everyone affected by the Nexus Orb in the village. My anger, Zardon feeds off of it, the stronger he gets, the more likely it is that I’m going to hurt someone.”

“Zardon? That’s the thing inside you?”

“Who are you calling a thing, you damn priest?” asks Zardon.

“Would you be quiet!” yells Victoria.

“Listen I’m just trying to understand what’s going on here, no need to get upset,” says Father Joseph.

“No not you Godfather, I was talking to him.”

Father Joseph stares at Victoria with a confused look on his face. “Vicky, where have you been all these years?” he asks.

“That’s not important,” Victoria replies.

“Why have you come back now?”

“I’m still not entirely sure.”

“How did you survive the attack on Vargos?”

“It’s a very long story.”

Father Joseph is visibly upset at this point. “You show up here after 18 years, asking for help, but refuse to tell me what’s going on?” he says. “I mean my God Victoria, you’re possessed by a Demon.”

“Technically I’m not possessed,” says Victoria. “What Zardon and I have is by mutual consent,” she continues.

Father Joseph looks at her in disbelief. “Why would you agree to share your body with that thing?” he asks.

“I have my reasons Godfather,” says Victoria.

“Is it for revenge?” asks Father Joseph. “If it is, I can assure you that thing is going to kill you long before you achieve your goal,” he warns.

“The next time you refer to me as a thing I’ll rip out your throat and bathe in your blood!” Victoria exclaims as her eyes turn pitch black.

This startles Father Joseph, causing him to fall to the floor.

He grabs his pendant for protection.

Victoria rushes over to him as her eyes return to normal and tries to explain her outburst. “I’m so sorry, that wasn’t me.”

She helps him to his feet then steps a few feet away from him and turns her back.

She partially removes her garments, revealing several tattoos, most noticeably, one of chains wrapping around her body.

An uncomfortable Father Joseph tries to look away.

“Look, you see these tattoos? They’re not really tattoos; I use my magic to conceal almost anything on my body in that form,” she says.

She places a hand on the chain tattoos on her back and removes them from her body. The chains wrap around her arms. “These chains are a symbol of the contract between Zardon and me. They’re both unbreakable,” she says.

Father Joseph holds his head in despair and sits on the bed. “This is too much Vicky,” he says.

“I know Godfather, but I don’t have anyone else, I feel like I’m losing control. I fear I may hurt someone,” she responds.

“Hurt someone again you mean,” Zardon taunts.

Victoria ignores him.

“I understand. I’ll do my best to help you. I pray that peace will be with us all,” says Father Joseph as he nervously massages his pendant and leaves the room.

Victoria dangles the Hourglass pendant before her.

Her eye twitches as a ray of sunlight creeps into the room and the pendant sparkles.

“Make your way to the Storm and all will be revealed,” she says to herself in frustration and lays back on the bed.

***

Lou is helping Gale load a suitcase and a few bags in a car parked by the fountain in the Academy Courtyard.

Marie, Vanessa, Riley and Jason are standing by the steps looking on.

Vanessa glances at Jason. “What’s going on with you and Gale?” she asks.

“Nothing.” Jason responds.

“You’re my son, I know when something’s troubling you, plus I can sense your Aether’s out of balance.”

Jason hesitates for a moment then concedes. “She told me she loved me and I didn’t say it back,” he responds.

“What could you possibly know about love? You’re only 17,” asks Vanessa.

“That’s what I said,” Jason replies.

“You should probably go and say something before she leaves,” urges Vanessa.

Riley turns to Marie. “Mom, where is it that Gale goes all the time?” he asks.

“It’s better for everyone if they don’t know baby, especially you,” she responds.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” asks Riley as Muscle and Brain show up.

Marie glances curiously at them. “Don’t the two of you have class right now?” she asks.

“Don’t Riley and Jason have class?” asks Muscle.

“They’re excused from class until further notice wise guy, we have to get them up to speed with the elements,” Marie responds.

“Can Riley really afford to miss any classes given his current predicament?” asks a concerned Muscle.

Riley laughs sarcastically. “Yeah very funny muscle head.”

Jason walks toward Gale and calls out to her.

She turns around and begins to smile.

Jason smiles back as she walks toward him.

His smile quickly fades when Gale walks past him, seemingly oblivious to his existence, and instead, hugs Brain who is standing right behind him.

Streaks of lightning race across Jason’s eyes.

Marie, Riley and Muscle all grimace in embarrassment for Jason.

“Rest in peace brother,” says Riley.

Gale gets into the car and Lou drives off.

Muscle and Brain head to class.

Jason stands by the fountain, in shock and embarrassment.

Vanessa calls out to him. “Jason get over it, we have more important things to worry about,” she says.

She turns to Riley, “Let’s go,”

“Ok Jason, it’s you and me,” says Marie.

Jason turns around and walks toward the others.

***

Marie and Jason are standing by the garden pond.

Marie steps in and begins to walk on the water. “Now I know Gale has been helping you with your wind control,” says Marie.

“Yea those scrolls her mother left for her are really handy,” Jason responds.

“That’s great, but you’ve been neglecting your water control. That changes from today. Now step in,” she urges.

Jason steps in and sinks into the pond.

Marie laughs. “Maybe that’ll help cool you down after the burn you got from Gale earlier,” she taunts.

“Really Aunt M?

“Sorry baby, try again.”

Jason steps out of the pond, takes a deep breath and tries again. He sinks once more, causing Marie to laugh out even louder than before---

---Vanessa and Riley on the other hand, are in the Training Dome having an interesting interaction.

They stand opposite each other.

“People have started to say that you can’t be taught Riley,” says Vanessa. “How does that make you feel?” she asks.

“Well that’s a bunch of crap, I learned pretty well how to master water control from Mom,” Riley responds defiantly.

“First of all, you haven’t mastered anything,” rebuts Vanessa.

“Yea says you,” Riley rudely interrupts.

Vanessa stares him down.

“Second, whatever you have learned, came naturally to you, M hardly did any teaching.”

Riley nods sarcastically.

“Now I want to prove your doubters wrong Riley, but you have to help me show everyone you’re not the idiot you’ve convinced them you are.”

Vanessa slides her hands across her wrist pad, and an opening suddenly appears in the wall.

Tiny flying bots come rushing out.

“Now watch,” says Vanessa. She proceeds to strike down the bots with bolts of electricity from her hands.

“Now you try, just focus, forget about water, focus on the spark inside you,” she says.

Another wave of bots emerges. Riley destroys them all with his water whip technique which angers Vanessa.

She gives him a slight electric shock.

She then turns away from him and begins speaking to herself. “He can be taught, he can be taught, it’s just a false start---”

---Marie and Jason are both standing comfortably on the water.

Marie is manipulating a ball of water between her hands into different shapes.

Jason mimics her successfully. “Aunt M, how does someone know when they’re in love?” he asks.

Marie is caught off guard by the question and the ball of water collapses into the pond, as she loses concentration.

“Well, all one has to do is try to imagine a life without a particular person and see how it makes them feel,” she responds.

“I can’t imagine a life without Gale,” says Jason.

“Well, there you go,” says Marie.

“Is it really that simple though?” asks Jason.

“Love can be as simple or as complicated as you allow it to be baby,” Marie responds.

“Did you love dad,” asks Jason.

“That man simply played a minor role in you and your brother’s conception. He was never your dad,” Marie snaps.

“Did you love him?” a stubborn Jason persists.

“Well—um—you know—the thing is,” fumbles Marie.

Jason stares, waiting for her answer.

Marie composes herself. “Yes I did, we both did, V and I.”

“But you still killed him.”

“That’s because we had to protect something we loved more than him,”

“What was that?”

“Our unborn babies,” Marie responds.

“Now let’s get back to business shall we,” Marie quickly changes the topic---

---“Riley why can’t you see how important this is? Do you understand that Cordelia could be coming after you and your brother? Do you know how much it would devastate your mother if she were to lose you? Do you know how much it would devastate me if I lost you?”

“Aww, I didn’t know you cared Aunt V.”

“Ofcourse I care you idiot, now let’s try this again.”

The bots come flying out and Riley destroys them with his water whips once again.

Vanessa becomes enraged and starts speaking to herself. “He can’t be taught, they were right.”

An amused Riley starts walking towards Vanessa, as she continues mumbling to herself. “I’m sorry aunt V, but I use water instinctively,” he says.

Vanessa steps back and holds her head, scattering her hair.

“Pa vin tou pre mwen Riley, mwen ta ka touye ou,” she threatens in her native Neustrian tongue.

Riley stops dead in his tracks. “Jeez Aunt V, that was a bit uncalled for don’t you think. ---”

---Marie and Jason seem to be having a grand time, firing balls of water at each other, as the sun prepares to set---

---Back at the Training Dome, Vanessa is lying flat on the floor holding her head. “Riley, Jax has a session with the other students any minute now and we haven’t accomplished anything, it’s been hours,” she says in frustration.

“Look aunt V, relax, I’m fine with just my water control, I’m tired now and I need a bath, let’s call it a day,” says Riley as he begins to walk away.

Vanessa mumbles to herself once again. “He doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to, all he cares about is-----” She suddenly gets an idea and quickly sits up. “That’s it,” she says then stands up in excitement. “Riley wait!” she yells.

Riley turns around.

“You think the girls like you now, think how much they’ll love you when you master the elements and show off how strong you are. You’ll be a lady killer,” says Vanessa.

This catches Riley’s attention. “Lady Killer?” he repeats.

Vanessa begins to smile. “Yes, they won’t be able to resist,” she says.

“Send out more bots,” says a newly invigorated Riley.

“That’s the spirit,” says Vanessa as she sends out more bots. “Now Riley, just be still, feel the electricity running through you, you’re in control. Focus and let it out.”

Riley closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and begins to whisper to himself. “I’m gonna be a lady killer, from Rain Man to Thunder God.”

Riley smiles and opens his eyes.

He lets out a timid bolt of electricity from his hand that barely staggers one of the bots.

Vanessa raises her arms in triumph.

“Why are you so excited, that was pathetic,” says Riley, clearly disappointed with himself.

“It’s a first step in the right direction. Now let’s get out of here, we’ll continue tomorrow,” Vanessa responds.

The remaining bots fly back into the opening in the wall.

An opening appears in the floor, and the damaged bots fall in.

Vanessa and Riley exit the Dome as Jax and the other students walk in.

Jax looks at Vanessa in confusion. “V, what happened to you, you look like hell,” he says.

“Hey uncle Jax,” says Riley.

“Oh you were training Riley, I get it now.”

“Where are the other students?” asks Riley.

“Isabella is starting with the witches at Gaia’s shrine in the morning, and Gregor will be on the floor above us with the rest,” Jax responds.

“Well then get on with it,” says Vanessa.

“Will do,” Jax responds, as Vanessa and Riley leave.

***

Victoria finishes sweeping the Holy Cathedral, the final task on her list of chores for the day.

She places the broom on one of the benches and approaches Father Joseph who is kneeling at the altar, praying by himself.

Father Joseph glances at Victoria and gestures for her to join him in prayer. She obliges and he places a hand on her as they both close their eyes.

***

Later, Marie and Vanessa stand outside the respective doors to Jason and Riley’s rooms, who are both fast asleep after a tiring day.

A ball of water is floating in Marie’s palm and Vanessa’s fist is streaking with electricity.

They enter the rooms.

A splash of water is heard, along with the painful sound of someone being electrocuted.

Jason comes out with water dripping from his face.

Riley comes out twitching, his hair spiked and in a mess.

Marie and Vanessa come out behind them smiling mischievously. “No rest for the wicked, boys,” says Vanessa.

“Back to training,” adds Marie---

---Vanessa and Riley continue their training in the Dome, firing bolts of electricity at the training bots.

While Marie and Jason are back in the Field Garden.

They stand opposite each other under the moonlight.

Marie’s hands turn into water whips.

Jason takes a few seconds but manages to mimic her eventually, causing Marie to smile with accomplishment.