♣

Cade's plan replayed over and over in my head as we exited the diner. He would select a target. I would pose as his girlfriend while he asked for a cellphone and distract the target. Then, if a key was on the person, I would use my telekenesis to snatch them. Aiden said he wouldn't have anything to do with the plan but he didn't put up much of a fight about it.

Our target was a tall male with a dark ponytail and a cigarette between his fingers. His vehicle was a black Audi. He stood next to a newspaper stand, puffing lightly and almost didn't notice when we walked up to him.

"Hi man," Cade slurred and threw his arm around my neck.

"Sup?" Ponytail greeted and drew in an immoderate amount of smoke before his eyes settled on my cleavage.

Don't you just hate men like that?

"We're a bit lost. My car broke down couple miles down the road and my cell is dead. Do you mind lending me yours?" Cade asked.

Ponytail took us in before answering.

"Yeah sure," he fished around in his back pocket for his cellphone. His car keys peeked out.

Bingo.

"Thanks," Cade took it and pretended to dial a number.

"Damn I'm not getting through..."

The man glanced over at me. "Is this your sister?"

"Naa she's my girlfriend," Cade answered tersely.

"Pity." He gave me a lustful grin and puffed on his cigarette.

Cade nudged me when ponytail turned to extinguish the cigarette on the wall.

"Erm... I'm going to try someone else," Cade told him, buying us some time.

I focused on the keys and they slowly rose from his pocket and hung in the air behind him.

"Maybe we can share her," ponytail offered and stepped closer to me.

He reeked.

"No we're ok." Cade handed the phone to him.

"You sure? She looks very juicy..."
I grimaced at his disgusting tone.

Cade gritted his teeth. "I said we.are.ok."

The man grabbed him and held a pocket knife to his neck.

I almost toppled over but kept my focus on the keys so they wouldn't clatter to the stony ground.

"I lent you my cell man. The least you could do is lend me her. Just for an hour. I would pay you." He grabbed my hand, still holding the knife to Cade's neck.

"Let go of me!" I snarled.

"You don't want to do this," Cade warned. He could easily defeat ponytail right there but we couldn't risk anyone seeing.

"Oh yea I do," he grinned and brushed his course thumb across my cheeks. A chill ran up my spine. I wanted to break his neck.

"Dont touch me."

"You're so soft," he grinned," soft and—"

"I think the lady told you not to touch her," a calm voice interrupted. Aiden stood at the side of the wall with his blue eyes blazing.

Uh-oh.

"Who the hell are you?" Ponytail asked and spat black goo on the ground.

Before I knew it, he was pinned by Aiden's elbow against the wall. The knife clattered to the ground.

"Chill man," ponytail gasped and rose his hands in defeat. I didn't waste any time. I grabbed the hovering keys and rushed towards the sleek black Audi.

"Come on!" I cried as the others rushed to the car.

We sped away leaving a mass of whirling dust behind us and a very angry man.

"That was awesome!" I cried and cheered. The others laughed and cheered too. Except Aiden.

"It was awesome that you put yourself in danger?" He asked as we pulled over on the roadside to switch seats.

"Chill man," I imitated ponytail and the car filled with laughter. Aiden didn't laugh. He just kept his eyes on the road and frowned all the way to the town, Arden.

***

When we got to Arden, it was a little after midday. Arden was a much bigger and more commercialized place than the little town we had left behind. There were huge supermarkets,malls,small factories,business places and the only pastry shop in the town: "Flora's Pastries".

The shop was painted in pink and blue and had a small garden out the front. A bell chimed as we pushed the door open to enter. Inside was strangely capacious, a little packed, but not too noisy. Little or no heads turned to look at us as we stepped in. The floors were checkered tiles and so were the table tops and chairs. There was a showcase with all types of pastries imaginable. The air was clean but had a slight herbal scent. We walked up to the showcase and greeted a female who was working there.

"Hello!" She gave us a bright smile. Her hair was a reddish-blonde and was drawn back into a low bun. She had rare violet eyes and was most likely our age. She wasn't gifted.

"Hi," Aiden spoke up, "I would like to see Flora..."

The girl looked at us worriedly and chewed on her bottom lip. "Oh what for?"

Her eyes landed on Cade and never shifted until Aiden addressed her again.

"It's nothing bad. Just business. Trust me." He told her and smiled. She smiled back, looked at Cade again and asked us to have a seat while she fetched the Flora lady.

Minutes later,a lady with red hair (similar to the girl's) and clear blue eyes came over to us. The girl stood behind the counter and watched. I noticed that they had an uncanny resemblance.

"Hi!" Flora cried and extended her flour-covered hand to shake each of ours. I immediately liked her.

"My name is Flora. You must be Sir Sage," she smiled at Aiden," I suggest we talk out back. The walls have ears."

She grinned as we all got up and trailed her to the back of the pastry shop. A small yet beautiful house was behind the shop. It was hers I assumed. There was a huge garden with white,red,yellow and soft pink roses. The arrangement was breathtaking. Lani sucked in her breath at the sight. I glanced over at her but she quickly tore her eyes away from me.

Ouch.

"Come on inside," flora urged us. The interior of the house was as beautiful as the exterior with lime green and pink walls. The couches were plush and clean.

"Please sit," she instructed then asked," Are you guys hungry?"

Starved!

She went into her kitchen and came back with a tray of cupcakes,cookies and tall glasses of milk. Her fingers lightly brushed against the Electi's and she gasped.

Her mouth hung open in surprise. "You must be her."

She bowed and asked the Electi to remove her cape.

Flora stared at the markings in awe then composed herself.

"Well I am honored to have you here," she clapped and a puff of flour flew into the air.

"Sorry about that!" she laughed.

Her aura was blue like Lani's and had a touch of lavender; a color I had never seen in anyone's aura before.

"The headmistress phoned me and told me what happened to the academy. That's terrible!" She shook her head in sadness.

"Anyhow, I am really happy to help. Your rooms are–"

"Mom?" The girl from the showcase stepped into the living room.

I knew it.

"This is my daughter Lily," she smiled at Lily who waved and gave us a big smile.

"But...she's not..." I glanced at Lily, unsure of whether she knew about our kind or not.

"Oh she knows!" Flora laughed and explained, "Her father was a Common..."

It wasn't impossible for a wielder to reproduce with a common. We were basically the same things. It was just that we had magic coursing through our veins. Mating between both parties wasn't uncommon but it wasn't popular either. Wielders preferred their own.

"It was a 50/50 chance that she would have any abilities. I secretly hoped she did but she doesn't. That doesn't mean I love her any less though."

Lily smiled at her mother and took her hand.

"Mom doesn't stop telling me about the Academy though," she rolled her eyes playfully," I know a lot about wielders and the Electi."

She bowed towards Cassia.

"I was about to tell them where their rooms were," Flora told her daughter.

"I will show them," Lily offered and looked at Cade who squirmed uncomfortably.

"Thank you honey," she kissed Lily's cheeks and told us she would be back to check on us soon.

"Any bags?" Lily asked as we climbed the small stairs.

I nodded and took my bag from Cade who had been holding it all along.

My bedroom, well myself and the other girls' bedroom was small but comfy. There was a thick tension between Lani and I but I didn't push it. Lani and I took the bunk bed and gave Cassia the single bed.

Lily carried a fresh lot of laundry to our room and told us we could wear anything in there after we had taken our baths. There were clothes of all sizes in there even for Cassia. I had my own clothes though.

"What's your name?" Lily asked me as I unpacked my bag. Lani was having a bath and Cassia was downstairs with the boys.

"Aeja." I told her.

"Like the continent. That's a pretty name. You're sixteen right?"

"Yup. Will be seventeen soon."

"Oh I'm fifteen. That's a pretty necklace."

"Huh?"

She held up the heart shaped necklace. I hadn't even remembered that it was in the bag. I would have to throw it away soon.

"Lemme put it around your neck," she squealed. It reminded me of Lani.

"No I don't like it," I dismissed as I wrapped my hair.

"Is the cute guy downstairs your boyfriend?" She asked me as she slipped the necklace around my neck. I didn't have time to protest as I was caught offguard by the question.

"Which one? They're both cute."

"The shaggy haired one," she blushed.

"Cade?" I laughed and sat on the bottom bunk.

"That's his name? It's hot! Yes I like him. So he's not your boyfriend?"

"No way... He's my bestfriend." I told her.

"Good!" She giggled and hugged me before running down the stairs to try and win Cade's heart.

Flora Trysten- Lindy Booth
Liliette Trysten- Skyler Samuels

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