The bed was a mess. Sheets were turned in complete disorder, pillows were thrown on the ground, and she was at the other end of the bed. Tevolia Nightingale was sound asleep, clutching an old, stuffed jackrabbit. A peculiar sleeping friend, but that’s what made it special. That, and it was from her parents.
This way of sleeping was normal for her. Her body lost all control when she slept.
“Do you think she’s alive?” A voice whispered.
“Of course, she is.” Another one snapped. “She sleeps like this almost every day.”
“Tev? Tevvvv! Tev!” A third voice yelled in her ear.
Her eyes opened at once and she shot up. Her white hair draped down her back as three people stepped back to not get hit.
She rubbed her eyes tiredly and looked around with a yawn. Six out of the ten adoptive siblings she had were crowded around her. She blinked at them.
“See, I told you she wasn’t dead.” Said her ten-year-old sister Aella. Caelus, a short nine-year-old boy rolled his eyes.
“Why would I be dead?” Tev asked as she sat up and stretched, her voice soft and airy.
“You were in a weird position again.” Celestine whispered, she was shy compared to her twin, Caelus, even to family.
When Tev was in a ‘weird position’ it was because she was sprawled out in her bed or in the air. Sometimes she seemed possessed. It was unusual to her family as Air’s are typically soft sleepers, whether in the air or on a bed.
“Oh, I just can’t stay still.” Tev said as she started to make her bed. “Why are you all here? Is me sleeping really that interesting?” she asked with a smile. “I was sent up here with Era to get everyone up.” Kalani replied.
Kalani had light brown skin with long waves of white hair. Her eyes a misty match to her hair. Tev and Kalani were remarkably close. Mainly because Kalani was thirteen, making her the closest to age with Tev who was fourteen.
Tev looked around the room and saw Era on Kalani’s back with Tempest standing next to them. To the left of her bed were four other beds, to the right were three more. Each spaced out by a wooden nightstand with two drawers. Some beds were made, some were not. Tev’s was placed in the center of all the beds.
There were two dressers on the front wall with a window to the side. A couple desks lingered on the opposite wall and paintings were hanging above the beds. When Tev had made her bed and her siblings had dispersed around the room, Vega ran in. “Mama’s making pancakes!” Vega squealed, her small seven-year-old body bouncing.
Everyone looked at her with big eyes. Then, they all ran down the stairs, pushing past each other to be the first to the table and to eat. “Slow pokes!” Tev laughed as she flew down the stairs past her shouting siblings.
The smell of pancakes and syrup filled Tev's lungs as she smiled.
They all crowded around the large dining table. It could fit fourteen people, one extra chair for when the kid’s grandmother came over. Three of Tev’s siblings were already there, the two eldest and the youngest. “Be careful kids.” Warned their mother, Lyra.
“Sorry,” They chorused as they settled down. Abel was squealing in delight as Lyra put cut-up pancakes in front of the small two-year-old. “Remember kids, its Saturday so put on your meet clothes.” She reminded them as they all settled down.
“Mama, mine are all crinkled.” Vega said with a frown. “You can borrow my extra ones!” Peeped Tempest before Lyra could speak. “Thank you!” She said, her voice muffled by pancakes.
Once the kids finished, they were sent to change. Tev made sure to eat fast, wanting to be the first to the bathroom. She quickly grabbed the wrapped clothes labeled Tev from one of the dressers. She ran to the bathroom and locked it. Smiling to herself as she heard the groans of her siblings.
She opened the package wrapped in white cloth stamped by the Air symbol, a gust of wind. And, if you look closely, you can see a hidden bird, wings spread. She traced it lightly, then took her dress out.
Meetings were important. Everyone in town gathered for important announcements, changes, and to say any complaints that the people had. It was mandatory for most families.
Her dress was like any common Air dress. A white top with a grey skirt sewn together neatly. Hers had a pattern on it, wind traveled up it, starting dark grey then fading into an invisible white as it reached her shoulders. Then she put on her basic white sweater as it was getting chilly around this time of year. She slipped on her white flats.
Tev looked in the mirror, her hair was okay, but it could use some work. She opened the top drawer where many brushes were found. She pulled out hers and started brushing.
It would not go down.
She groaned and brushed her teeth first along with the rest of her bathroom needs. Then Tev turned back to the mirror.
She glared at herself.
Tev hated her hair sometimes. She would’ve been fine with just pulling it up in a ponytail if she wasn’t going in public. She didn’t like putting water on her brush because it never really dried or got all her hair wet enough to improve it, but not too wet that it doesn’t dry before anyone sees it.
I mean. . .No! I should just ask Mom. But she’s probably busy. . .
Tev’s mental battle was disturbed by banging on the door. “Hurry up Tev!” Fei, the oldest girl of sixteen, yelled.
“Sorry!” She called back. She looked at her hair firmly.
I can do this. She told herself.
Tev didn’t have a lot of opportunities to practice her other abilities. She let her breath out and flipped her long hair over the sink. Then she hovered her hand above it, she felt the cold sensation of water hit her skin. She smiled to herself in relief.
Once it was soaked, she focused on feeling hot. Not too hot, but hot enough to dry wet hair. She had read about the basics before in school when she had skipped ahead of the history studies to the basics of how the elements are controlled.
It worked! Her hair was heating up and she could see the dripping slowing.
“Ow!” She yelped and flipped her hair up, it was a fiery red. She had gotten too excited. A sudden burning sensation had hit her neck. She turned in the mirror to see a red mark on her skin.
At least her hair was dry. She made a gust of wind and her hair turned back white. She understood just enough of her weird abilities to know how to hide the evidence of her using her elements.
She quickly brushed it and smiled proudly in the mirror. Her hair was flat and silky, laying beautifully against her neck and back. She was glad it covered her burn; she knew she would be in trouble for using any element but Air.
She walked out of the bathroom and Fei quickly went in.
Tev walked down the stairs. Her parents were talking as Caelus was chasing a petrified Celestine. She yelped as Neven picked her up just as Caelus almost grabbed her. She clung to him as if her life would end if she let go.
Neven was the only biological kid of the Nightingales, making him the oldest at seventeen. Caelus let out an annoyed huff with his arms crossed. Tev could see Celestine visibly shaking. “Stop scaring your poor sister.” He said as he set her down. She hid behind his legs.
“I’m just having fun.” Caelus grumbled.
Tev walked to them. “Common Caelus let’s go brush your hair.” she said as she looked at the short, ruffled hair he had. He was wearing a white button-up shirt with grey pants.
“But I already brushed it.” he said, patting his hair to smooth it out but it puffed back up. Tev laughed lightly and grabbed his hand, pulling him to the downstairs bathroom. Which was surprisingly open.
She put him in front of her. She pulled a brush out and started brushing it.
“Tev?” Caelus started. “Yes?” She said as she added a little water from the sink to his hair. “Do you miss your parents?” He asked, “Like your real parents.” He added. She stopped brushing for a moment but then continued to.
“I... Sometimes.” She answered honestly. Her parents had died in a fire when she was too young to clearly remember them. She was sent to an orphanage in the Water town she was living in, then moved to an Earth town, then finally at the age of four, she was sent to an orphanage in the Air town she lives in now. She was adopted five days after her arrival. She grew up as Tevolia Nightingale ever since.
“Do you wish they were still alive?” he asked, looking at her in the mirror.
“Yes. . .and no.” She said, but before she could explain, her mother called the kids. “Done.” she said with a smile as Caelus looked with wide eyes at his now flat hair.
“Thank you!” He said and hugged her waist. “You’re welcome.” She said and hugged him back lightly. He then ran out of the bathroom and Tev followed.
Rabi, their father, was waiting outside for the family. They all joined him, and Tev saw Neven carrying Celestine again. Her hair was tied back with a white bow.
They started walking, the area was close enough to walk so they did, no use wasting energy on flying. Tev saw other families walking too.
Then she saw the Kaze’s, she loathed them with every ounce of her being. They were a family of three; the mother Amaya, the father Moe, and finally, the son Zeru.
Tev used to be close with the small family. Zeru and Tev used to date for a year before Zeru decided one day that it was over. Tev had become a jumble of emotions and didn’t leave home for a while. It was mainly because with her emotions so out of control, her elements were too. But she was glad about the time away from everyone.
Her heartbreak was worse with the addition of not knowing why it was over. All Zeru said was, “It just isn’t working anymore.” The more she had spent thinking of signs she missed she was left more befumbled than before. It was only the day before that he showed any sign that he had lost feelings, and that was that he was a little distant.
He had been distracted and there had been an awkward space between them. Tev hadn’t thought anything of it at the time. He may just be tired. We had a lot of homework to do yesterday. She didn’t know that he was probably thinking about how to not cause a lot of drama by breaking up with her.
After she returned to school, Zeru ignored her and any instance they had contact he was cold. But Tev returned it. She was venomous to him, and her siblings stood by her. If Tev became the topic in a negative way in anyone’s conversations-especially Zeru’s-they shut it down if she wasn’t there.
It made her feel safe knowing she didn’t need to worry with her family there.
Tev watched him for a second, and for a small, heart-pounding moment, she thought their eyes locked, and an emotion passed through. She didn’t know which, but no matter how much she told herself otherwise, it wasn’t hate or an emotion alike.
While Tev tried her hardest not to dwell on the possible small contact-she doubted it truly happened-the large family walked along with other families.
Soon they reached an open, grassy area with a small stage lined with rows of white chairs. There was a small shed next to the stage that held the chairs and a man with a round stomach and no hair was standing on the stage as he did almost every Saturday. The Nightingale’s sat down in the middle rows, they took up one and a part of another, Tev at the end of the second.
Tev had busied herself with making faces at Abel when she smelled a familiar scent of honey and rosemary. She didn’t want to think about the chances of it being who she thought, but she also had to see if she was right. Pretending to adjust in her seat, she shifted forward and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Kaze’s filling the seats right next to her.
The smell that she knew well was of Amaya, the only person she didn’t completely hate in their family. The only reason she didn’t like her was because she didn’t like Zeru. Other than that, Amaya was something like a hero to her. She was kind, an amazing cook-that was part of the reason she smelled of honey and rosemary, she cooked often-and was always willing to help Tev and her family. She still smiled at Tev when she walked past Amaya in town.
But Amaya wasn’t next to Tev. Zeru was. Of course he had to sit next to Tev. Must be to annoy me, Tev thought bitterly. She tried to relax her body to look unaffected, but it wasn’t working.
But soon, the man-Tev could never remember his name-started to talk.
“Hello families,” he started, and the people quieted. “We only have a couple of announcements. First off, trade season is upon us. If you plan to buy something, save up. And if you will be the one traveling, pack up. Second, thank you to all the families who help set this up every week. That is all. If you have complaints, speak up now.” The bald man finished.
No one spoke up. He nodded in dismissal. She was annoyed, yet relieved, that the meeting was short. She couldn’t stand being this close to Zeru.
“Tev, can you hold Abel’s hand?” Her mother asked and handed the boy to her as she nodded. She grabbed the small boy’s hand and pushed her hair behind her ear. Tev had looked down at him and ended up running into a tall man. He had greying hair with faint yellow tips.
It was Zeru’s dad. Why? Just why? She thought as she leveled eyes with him.
He scowled at her. “Watch where you’re going.” He grumbled roughly.
“Sorry.” Tev mumbled, glancing down at the squirming Abel. “What? I didn’t hear you.” He hissed. Tev glared up at him, her mouth open, ready to say something that could get her in trouble.
“Leave her alone, Dad. She’s not worth your time.” She looked over to see Zeru’s grey eyes with yellow specks looking at his father with no emotion. He grumbled in response and Moe turned around and walked to Amaya.
“You’re welcome.” Zeru met her pearl white eyes.
“Oh, wow. Thank you so much, Zeru. You’re my hero.” she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. Zeru looked at her for a moment and then the corners of his lips tipped up into a smug smile.
He smiled. Tev hid her confusion and just looked at him with annoyance in her eyes. “You’re welcome.” He said again. Tev glared at him; he has such a big ego. She thought as she arms crossed.
Then something tugged at her mind. And just as Zeru yelled the same, Tev screamed, “ABEL!” The small boy was hobbling away. Zeru moved to get him, but Tev was one step ahead. She put her hand out and flicked her fingers. Abel laughed madly as he flew into the air and down next to Tev who grabbed ahold of Abel quickly.
Tev smirked at Zeru’s astonished face. “Since when could you do that?” He asks in disbelief. “Tev!” Lyra called her. “I have always been more advanced than you.” With that she turned and walked to her family, thankful that Abel followed and didn’t ruin her dramatic exit.
When they got home, everyone changed to normal clothes. Tev was one of the last in the bathroom.
When she got in, she looked at the dark red burn on her neck. It hurt bad. But she couldn’t tell anyone.
Only her parents and the Counsel’s know she has all four elements. No one else does. Tears formed in her eyes as she lightly touched it, but her hand recoiled at the pain that surged through her with the connection. She could put some cream on it later.
She suddenly put her hair back down and quickly changed, wanting to forget about it.
When she came back out, she went downstairs to the living room. Vega was sitting in her father’s lap. “Please don’t go, daddy.” she said and wiped tears from her big eyes. At least the tears in her eyes would look normal.
“I’m sorry Sugar, but I have to go.” He had nicknames for everyone. Rabi called Tev his ‘Little Dove’ because when she was only four, she could fly.
Vega sniffled and Tev saw everyone was there. Nevon had Celestine and Caelus on his lap while Lyra had Tempest and Era. Fei had Abel and Aella.
Tev went and sat next to Kalani.
“Why?” Tempest asked from her mother’s lap, her eyes also filled with tears. This was how it always was. The little ones would cry and not want him to go, and everyone else would comfort them until he left. Tev didn’t want him to leave either, but Lyra said she had to be tough so the little ones would too. “So that you can go to school, and we can pay for food.” He said softly, Tempest only sniffled in reply.
“Tev, Kalani, can you go to the market please?” Lyra asked a little later. The girls looked at each other excitedly and nodded vigorously.
Once they had gotten their shoes on, they headed out with pouches of coins. Their coins were grey with a yellow marking of wind. It was known as Gusts. Each element had its own currency.
They walked down the dirt path that soon faded into cobble as they neared the market. Shops lined the streets. Some were open to view, and some you had to walk in to see the items it owned.
Kalani opened the list their mother had given her before they left.
“First let’s go to Gale’s Herbs.” she said as she read the list. Tev nodded and adjusted the basket in her arms, and they descended the road.
Soon they reached a building. It was two stories; the first had no windows, the second was almost all windows. You could see various plants on the top.
They opened the door and walked in. The smell of plants and dirt reached their lungs. It was shaded and the only light was dull lamps that hung around and some glowing plants.
“Gale?” Tev, called as Kalani, looked at the house plants.
A tall man with grey hair and a small grey beard walked out. He was the owner of the shop, a kind man. “Ah, Tev, Kalani, the usual I presume?” He said with a smile.
“Yep.” Kalani said with a nodded. He took the basket then went to the counter and walked behind it.
Tev squinted to see the plants. Some were hanging, some were on the ground, some were big, some small. There were varieties of plants, and these were just the ones that grew in the dark.
Tev walked over to a shelf with jars. She tapped a luminescent jar and it glowed brightly “Can we get some of this?” she asked as he walked over to Tev, handing her the bag with herbs and other vegetation.
“Ah, Glow Foam.” He said and took the jar, then added it to the basket. “Got this last trading season from a Water man.” He seemed to disappear into the memory for a moment.
“What was he like?” Tev asked, intrigued. “Oh... I don’t know, we didn’t talk much.”
Their normal order would be ten Gusts, but plus the Glow Foam, it was twelve Gusts. When they paid, they said their farewells to Gale and went on to the next shop.
Once they finished the list, they started home. When they reached it, there was a horse and carriage in the front. Kalani gave her a confused look and Tev shrugged. They walked past it and to the slightly ajar door.
They hesitantly walked in. "Mum?" Kalani called. "In here darling." Their mother’s voice called from the living room. Tev went to the kitchen as Kalani went to their mother. Tev set the basket on the counter and started to take some of the items out.
"Uh, Tev?" Kalani said as she entered. "I think they need you." She looked at her sister with a confused expression but followed her. In the living room were five people. Her parents, two men dressed in black, and a tall woman.
It took only moments for her to recognize them.
The woman was from the High Counsel. The same who knew about her secret elements. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieBSn2REH6
---(AUTHORS NOTE)---96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3z2iLDgK4
Hello!96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJXEILzPIc
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that I see you in the next!96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXfyL2YxSX
I can't think of anything else to say, so, have a great day/night/endless abyss.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OEF23giOr
---(AUTHORS NOTE)---
