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(KELLAN Speaking)

I'd been pretty much staring at an empty seat in front of me for the past forty minutes, with only one thought in my mind. Where is she? I looked up at the clock on the far wall for the millionth time. It just sat there ticking away defiantly, slowly driving me crazy with its tiny ticking sound echoing inside my head. For a being that could exist for thousands of years, this last hour had felt like an eternity in itself. I'd already tried asking for a hall pass twice, but I guess my rep had finally gotten the better of me today, with a solid "No," from Mrs. Turner, the English teacher. When I arrived late to class, I didn't get the chance to talk to Sage.

I tried chucking a note onto her desk, but Mrs. Turner marched over with her hand held out requesting the paper from Sage. "Just a reminder class," she said turning to look at me, "notes and other conversations should wait until the class break." Sage just shrugged, then turned back to the front of the room.

I couldn't help but think Wren was with him. Tick, tick, tick. I could feel my emotions build. There was no way I was letting this room keep me hostage any longer, then about two seconds later the silence of the classroom was broken.

"Brrring...!" The fire alarm's loud shrill echoed around the room while the sprinkler system poured water everywhere. Students were jumping up screaming. Others held their binders and book bags over their heads while they tried to pack their bags. It was complete chaos. I just smirked and let the water wash over me, and calmly picked up my already packed bag and tossed it over my shoulder.

"All right everyone," Mrs. Turner hollered over the screaming students trying to get control of the room, "calm down. It's only water." I could see her look overhead at the busted sprinkler pipes raining down across her classroom. "Class dismissed. Everyone out, maintenance will have come and fix the pipes, before we can have another class in here."

As I walked by Sage heading towards the door, I nudged her. "Come on." I grinned and clasped my hands cracking my fingers.

"Kellan!" Sage yelled at me from behind when she got outside of the room. "What the hell?"

I waved her on to following me while I kept moving towards the exit doors next to the gym when she finally caught up to me grabbing my arm.

"I know the water works display was totally your doing. Couldn't you just wait ten minutes for class to finish? Seriously, the sloppy wet look isn't the one I was aiming for when I left Wren's this morning."

Well, she had that part right. Her strawberry blond hair clung to her face, and her makeup was running, streaking across the tiny freckles on her cheeks. I tried not to laugh, as I watched the water drip off of her clothes and forming a large puddle beneath her. "Then, as you can probably guess, I'm a little more than impatient to know where Wren might be. For some reason, I have a pretty good idea you know."

"Were you dropped on your head as a child? That's why you just gave the entire class a cold shower? While I might know," she said crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm not sure I'm in the mood to share with you. You know, after the soaking you just gave me. Besides, you don't have any claims on Wren, but for some reason, I'm sure you already know who does."

I groaned and pursed my lips. "You told her about Jaxon's fire ring. Didn't you?" I said with a little more anger behind my words than was intended. I could feel the tension in me start to tighten, and my hands begin to shake.

"What? You don't think she has the right to know what the ring means?" she said with a fierce determination to defend her friend.

"Yeah, you're right. She has every right to know," I said running my hand through my hair in frustration. I couldn't believe I was still standing here while Jaxon was with her. "I was just hoping to explain a few things to her before Jaxon got in the way, as usual."

"What do you mean as usual?" Then she looked at me like a piece of a puzzle just clicked into place for her. She gasped and pointed a finger at me. "You know her from Acklemar, don't you?"

"All right Sherlock, yes, of course, I know her from Acklemar. What's important right now is that Wren knows what the ring means. Let me guess you didn't quite explain it all to her, did you."

"Well, I sort of left most of that part up to Jaxon to explain. It's his ring, right?"

"Ughhhh," I grumbled in frustration. Jaxon would only tell one side of the story, and would very likely leave out some important details. I could feel the tension in me rise making me just want to break something. "Watch out," I said, as I pulled Sage in behind me, pushing her towards the orange double doors that led outside. A second later the pipes to the water fountain, we were standing next to, burst apart and pumped water down the hallway.

She looked back through the doors at the water spewing all over the floor. "What's the big deal? Most people on Acklemar get promised eventually."

"Well, last time I checked, it's a pretty big deal when it's the Fire Circle's Second claiming a promised."

"Backup, are you saying Jaxon, like the Jaxon here in Swallow Falls is..." she paused like she was thinking of what it actually meant.

"Second in his Circle," I said slowly.

"No way, you can't possibly know that. Only the inner circle of each of realms know the ranks of the court." I stood there stoned faced in front of her with my arms crossed waiting for her to place together the final pieces of the puzzle. I could tell she was deciding whether or not to believe me, and then as if in shock she responded, "B-b-but that would mean, you..."

Ding, ding, give the girl a prize. "Finally. Now, that I have your attention, can we focus on helping Wren?"

***

(Wren Speaking)

I was sure I was the color of a white piece of paper. In line for the throne? Seriously? For a girl who liked her private life kept that way, I started to panic just thinking about it. Then, as if he hadn't seen my reaction, Jaxon pulled me as if he was about to kiss me again.

Hey, beautiful. Kellan's voice intruded into my thoughts. So, I'm looking at my watch, and it seems like you're late for our date. I jerked my head in response to Kellan's words raiding my mind and bumped my nose hard against Jaxon's. Wren, I know you can hear me. Wow, not only did he have crappy timing, his assault on my mind whenever the hell he felt like it, was more than irritating.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. That was super clumsy of me. I guess my blacking out still has a bit of a hold on me," I said looking up at Jaxon rubbing his nose.

So, it's a beautiful day for the picnic lunch I packed this morning, and I'm up for some conversation. Preferably in person, but if I need just to keep talking until you say you're on your way, no problem, Kellan continued.

I was going to punch him in the head next time I saw him. He was going to wear that lunch by the time I was through with him. My anger flared through me. It was bad enough he could just dump himself into my thoughts whenever he felt so inclined, but now he wasn't going shut up? —Super awesome. I was starting to hyperventilate. "Is there a washroom close? I think I need to splash some cold wash on my face. I'm still feeling a little faint," I said as calmly while I attempted to ignore Kellan spew random statements in my head. Jaxon offered me his arm helping me up. Good thing too, or I probably would have fallen over when Kellan blurted out his next comment.

Just wondering if you knew that your mother is still alive, he said in a very factually manner as he continued babbling. My hands started to go numb and tingle as Jaxon lead me down around a corner to a small ornately decorated washroom. A golden hand carved mirror hung over the pedestal sink. No sooner than I closed the door, I put my hand on the mark over my chest.

"Kellan. Knock it off," I said in hushed tones so that Jaxon couldn't hear. But all I wanted to do is scream at him. Unfortunately, he kept nattering on like he hadn't heard me, making me angrier by the second. My whole body felt itchy and prickly. I turned on the faucet and splashed some water on my face, then tried one more time. This time, I could feel the water flourish grab hold of my wet fingers, scaring the crap out of me when it did. "Kellan..." for some reason, I knew he could hear me now. I was mad. I could feel every once of me just want to be in front of him and shake him till he couldn't see straight. Then the walls and mirror washed away like a chalk drawing on a rainy day, swirling into a rainbow mess then reforming to dump me unceremoniously on my butt outside of the school in front of Kellan and Sage.

"Do you hate me? Get out of my head!" I said, getting to my feet taking a swing at him.

"Wow, that was super impressive to see," Sage piped in completely ignoring my attempt to maim Kellan. "I know you told me about it before, but I never heard of anyone having the ability to leap like that. Well, there are the Travelers of course, but even they need more than one person to open a portal, not to mention they can only do it on certain nights with phases of the moon or something. That was so cool to have witnessed!" she exclaimed like she had just met a rock star. I just realized she looked like she had showered with her clothes on as she started rummaging through her bag for something.

Kellan had gotten hold of my arms when I was trying to pummel him and now had me in some wicked arm lock behind my back, "Now, if you promise to be good, I'll let you go," he said to me like I was a child.

"Fine," I spat. He cautiously let go of my arms when Sage turned in front of me holding out a felt pen. "What's this for?" I said looking completely confused as to why she was even here with Kellan, let alone holding out the pen.

"To sign my shirt of course," she said turning around like she wanted me to autograph the back of it. "In Acklemar, if you pulled that little trick that you just did, you'd be famous!"

"Sign your shirt? Famous? Ugh. You know I'm beginning to think you really are crazy." I sighed handing back her pen.

"So, Kellan. Care to explain your continuous assault of ramblings inside my head? Because right now I'm pretty sure I still want to punch you."

"Oh, that was my idea!" Sage piped in.

Kellan gave her a pointed look, then gave an apologetic one to me. "Sorry about that. When I found out the Sage had told you about the fire ring, I was pretty sure she neglected to tell you a few things."

"Hey, that's not exactly fair," she said defending herself. "How was I supposed to know he's Second in the Circle? It's not a fact everyone goes around advertising in Acklemar do they? I would have told her if I had known."

Ignoring her outburst, he continued, "Well, I recall that you were crazy mad at me the last time you leapt. We figured that if I could get you angry enough, you might be able to tap into your emotions and do your little traveling trick again."

"Glad to see you're concerned, but I already know he's Second in the Circle and that he's in line for the Fire Circle throne."

"Let me guess. He probably failed to mention that after your little disappearance, your mother was taken in to face the Fire Circle throne to answer for you not fulfilling the ring contract. She's been in their dungeon ever since then, waiting for her sentence to be carried out."

"But, my mother died in an accident," I mumbled starting to feel faint. That was what I was told for the past three years. It was hard not to believe it when it had been said to me so many times. I could feel myself contemplate what he was saying when one of the stones on my necklace started to glow white. The moment stone reached a blinding brightness—I knew deep in my core that he was telling the truth. "That seems like a pretty far-fetched story, but for some reason, I believe you." I paused, trying take in everything he just said. "What was her sentence?" I held my breath waiting for his answer.

"Well, let's just say Jaxon's father is known for his cruel and unusual punishment. Quite frankly, he's a sick twisted..." he stopped himself from finishing his sentence. "Anyway, he had all of Acklemar searched for you, demanding that the contract be fulfilled. When you weren't found, and he got a hold of your mother and decided that she'd pay for her part in your disappearance," Kellan grimaced and paused not knowing if he should continue. It was clear whatever he had to say wasn't going to be good. "She is currently being held in the Scintillation's dungeon waiting for the ring contract to be fulfilled. The throne has declared that after your pairing with Jaxon is complete, that you are to watch her be put to death, just to ensure that you know the price of crossing a contract with the Fire Circle."

I felt the blood drain from my face, and the world around me go a deafening quiet when I dropped to my knees trying to grasp everything he had just told me. A wave of nausea swept over me with the thought of having to watch my mother not only die in front of me— but because of me. I couldn't even imagine marrying into a family that would execute my mother, but what if I didn't?

Oh God, what kind of demented torture would they think up? Then I remembered the flash in Jaxon's eyes when I even suggested that possibility. I motioned Sage to grab the garbage can by the door, "I think I'm going to be sick."

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