Discovering Synergy, page 7
As I went from question to question, I started to second guess myself at every turn. I would mark one bubble then erase it and try again. When I was finally down to the last three questions, someone cleared their throat above me. I looked up to find the TA, Hudson.
“I just wanted to make sure you knew there were only five minutes left for the class,” he informed me.
I looked around and I was the only person left in the classroom, everyone else had finished and left. Are you kidding me? It has taken me almost an hour to do this stupid twenty question quiz!
“Thanks for the heads up, I’ll be done in time.” I returned to my test, randomly picking the answers to the last two questions.
I collected my things and walked quickly up to the front and dropped my test off in the box. I gave Hudson a small smile and bolted out of the room humiliated that I had taken so long over a simple quiz. God, could I have looked any more stupid?
Done with classes for the day, I headed to the cafeteria on the main campus that had simple foods premade. I was so thankful that my scholarship covered everything, even the food. I just had to let them scan the special card they sent me, and it was taken care of. I grabbed a turkey sandwich and headed to the open seating. The routine Cami and I had fallen into was meeting here to do homework we didn’t want to suffer through alone. Glancing down at my watch seeing it was already past four, I was surprised that she wasn’t already here waiting for me.
‘Hey, I’m at the cafeteria if you want to join me’ I texted her just in case she had lost track of time.
Not wanting to give anyone an excuse to come pester me, I pulled out my schoolbooks. I started on my Psych homework since I was excited about that. After that embarrassing moment with the quiz, I was going to need something fun. Lost in my work, I didn’t notice how much time had passed. When I looked outside the sun was already setting and the students were now eating dinner. I looked at my phone surprised that Cami hadn’t called me. Sure enough, my phone had been on silent and I didn’t notice her texts come through.
‘My sisters decided they wanted to make a night out of it, so we went into town.
Sorry, I forgot to text you sooner.
Please don’t be mad at me I LOVE YOU!’
Apparently, she hadn’t taken my silence well...
‘I’m not mad calm down, I left my phone on silent and didn’t see them till now.’
‘DON’T DO THAT TO ME!!!!!!!’ Cami texted back seconds later. ‘Text me if you need anything, you know it won’t take me long to drive back.’
I smiled, knowing Cami would love the excuse to drive like a bat out of hell to come to my aid.
‘I’ll be fine, I have to learn how to do this on my own sometime.’
‘My baby’s all grown up!’
I grabbed a power bar to eat later while I searched through the library. Now would be the perfect time to go since everyone would be at dinner and I could find a good spot to camp out. I pulled out my map for dummies that Cami made me, with everything written in landmark references that I would understand. Lucky me, the library was close by just behind the building I took Algebra in. I headed off confident I could manage the rest of the night on my own.
I managed to find the library with ease. I mentally patted myself on the back for a job well done. I pushed open the heavy wooden doors to the hush of the world with in. I loved how reverent every library was, the hushed tones of people, the smell of books, and the calm that came over you in the silent world.
I walked up to the information desk in the front of the lobby area. “Hello, I’m looking for a book in the reference library.”
“Do you have written permission from a teacher?” the woman asked peering over her computer at me.
I pulled the note out and handed it to her. The woman slipped on a pair of glasses and read over the note. Then she picked up the phone and spoke softly into it. “Someone will be with you shortly to escort you into the room.” she said looking back at me.
“Thank you,” I said thrown off by all this extra effort for a room full of books.
I looked over at the section of books by the front door. Moments later an older man walked up to me in his loafers and a Mr. Rogers button down.
“Are you looking to get into the special archives?” he asked.
“I think so. Mr. Phillips gave me a note for the reference section. Is that the same thing?” I asked.
“Hmm, I see. Follow me then,” he said and walked away.
I trailed after him, even more curious to see what could be stored in the special archives. We walked to the very back of the library and down a short hall. At the end of the hall was a metal accordion gate blocking the way to the room beyond. There was a soft glow emitting from the room, making it seem like something out of Harry Potter.
The gentleman pulled an old iron skeleton key out of his pocket and opened the gate for me. “You will have one hour to use the books, there is to be no food, drinks, or flashes to be used on or near the books. These are priceless archives that are irreplaceable. Handle them with care.”
I nodded agreement to the instructions, “I understand. I will be very careful with the books.”
“I will be back in an hour to let you out unless you are done sooner. In which case, there is a phone in the room that connects to the front desk. Let them know you're done, and I will let you out,” he said frowning at me as if he wasn’t sure he should let me into the room.
I walked into the room and he pulled the gate closed behind me, locking it. It made me wonder if kids at some point had gotten permission to be here and let others in who weren’t supposed to be. I looked around the room unsure of where to start. Everything in the room was made of dark glossy wood that made the room feel comforting. There were two levels to check out and I was so drawn to the metal wrap-around staircase, I couldn’t help but start on the top floor.
Once on the second floor, I looked at the shelves to see if they were labeled. Plaques on the top section of the bookcase provided guidance as to what each column held. I found that the columns were ordered by date, back to the twelfth century. I worked my way around to the sixteen hundreds, until I could find the right year. Finally locating the appropriate area, I started to look through the books to find something that would help in my research. I found logbooks from different artists at the time filled with clients and commissions. Finally, I found a book filled with letters going back and forth with the builders of the chapel.
I sat down on the floor resting against the wrought iron railing, flipping through the letters. Although super interesting, I didn’t find anything that I could use for my project. Slipping the book back on the shelf I tried a few others, getting some good information that I copied down in my notebook. I checked the next few years to see if there was anything there I could use, but decided I had gotten all the history on the subject these books held. I then decided to look at what they could possibly have dated back to the twelfth century.
I found documentation of major events during the time Renaissance art was on the rise, medieval universities were being founded, and the Knights Templar were founded. I continued to pick randomly from the section since so many fascinating things happened during this time in history. Then I picked up a book on the Knights Templar and their history. As I was flipping through, I stumbled upon the first mention of the Elementi I’d seen. The passage made a small mention of it being a branch of the Templars after the Battle of Hattin during the decline of the Knights.
I googled the date of the battle and scanned the books to find something closer to that time. I pulled a few books that looked promising, but they were much older than what I’d been reading before, and were hard to read in the soft lighting. I looked at the lower floor and found a couch with a lamp next to it. I noticed it was darker in the lower section as I hurried down the steps and over to the couch. I set the stack of books gently on the coffee table and grabbed the top one to start on first. I was so excited, I flopped onto the couch and instead of landing on the couch cushion, I landed on a person. Before I could stand up, I was already in motion toward the floor.
“What the fuck?! Don’t you look before you decide to sit on someone?” a male voice said, as he pushed me off him and the couch.
Unable to think fast enough, I thumped to the floor in a heap slapping myself in the face with the book. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know anyone else was in here!” I looked up rubbing my nose to find angry sapphire eyes glaring at me.
“Who the hell are you, and what are you doing here?” he barked.
I looked at him wide-eyed, shocked by the angry words directed at me. His long dark brown hair was all mussed from sleeping on the couch, making it stand up in all different directions. He was handsome to be sure, even with the scowl scrunching up his face. His deep blue eyes seemed to sear right into me as he waited for my answer. The contrast of his overbearing demeanor to his wild hair style struck something inside me and I couldn’t help but laugh. That reaction caught him off guard. He frowned deeper at me swinging his feet off the couch so he was sitting directly in front of me and leaning close enough I could feel his warm breath on my skin.
“What the hell are you laughing at? Do you have any idea what deep shit you’re in right now?” he demanded trying to intimidate me. “How the hell did you even get into this room?”
“I’m sorry, I truly am. I didn’t mean to laugh, it’s just this whole situation caught me off guard, and to see you so angry, and your hair,” I said gesturing how crazy it looked. “It just struck me as funny and I couldn’t help myself,” I said, wiping my eyes with my sleeve having laughed so hard I had teared up.
“Are you mental?” he asked, combing his fingers through his hair and trapping it away in a man-bun.
“I don’t think so,” I said still unsure how to handle this whole situation. “Wait! How long have you been in this room? The man who let me in here didn’t tell me that anyone else was here,” I challenged.
“It doesn’t matter how I got in. Why are you here?” he asked waving off my question.
“I got permission from one of my teachers to be here. I’m going to assume that you didn’t or why else would you be hiding on the couch?” I said pointing a finger in his face.
“I wasn’t hiding, I was napping. There’s a difference. Whatever. I don’t need to justify myself to you or anyone else. Just make sure you look before you sit on someone else.” He knocked my hand out of his way as he stood up. “What an idiot.”
“What did you call me?” I snapped clambering to my feet. “Why am I an idiot for sitting on someone I didn’t know was there?”
“Who jumps on a couch like a little kid? Only an idiot wouldn’t turn the light on in a room this dark to make sure they didn’t sit on something. It’s only logical,” he said, glaring at me before he turned and started walking away again.
Normally things like this wouldn’t bother me, I always let stuff like this roll off not wanting conflict. Yet for some reason, there was something about this guy that set my emotions on overdrive. It was as if he’d shocked me into action, and I could feel emotions building up inside me. How dare he treat me like I’m some bug on his shoe! I apologized for sitting on him, he doesn't have to be a dick about it.
I watched him walk across the room to a door I hadn’t seen before. While I was glaring at him, I felt my anger slowly fade as my brain absorbed the drool-worthy body he had. I’d never been one to check out a dude, but I think it’s because I hadn’t seen anyone with such a great ass before. Letting my gaze wander up past his muscular ass, I noticed the snug t-shirt that showed off his toned back. My hands clenched with a desire to run them across his skin to make sure what I saw was real. My train of thought came to a screeching halt when I realized he’d stopped and looked back at me from the door, catching me checking him out. His face grimaced at me as if my appreciation of him was unwelcome. Saying nothing, he pulled open the door and left heading outside.
“Well that couldn’t have been any worse,” I muttered to the empty room.
Chapter 9 Micah
Holy shit! They found Synergy.
Synergy is real, and a woman.
I never thought the day would come that we truly would have all six of us together. I knew the stories and the history we were taught, but I never really believed that the sixth element was real.
I stopped in the path outside the library and punched the wall to my right. I took my hand away to see I’d cracked the stone and the skin on my hand. Why did it have to be a woman? None of the Five before us had ever been female. It always passed to a male of the family line. How can we do our jobs if we’re worried about some silly woman who was clueless enough to sit on me? I punched the wall again this time knocking off a chunk of stone as I remembered the rush of power that I felt when she touched me. I could tell she didn’t feel it with the same intensity I had. Could it be that she has no idea what or who she is?
Why did I, of all people, have to be the first one to meet her? I know for sure the others would have said something if they’d stumbled across her first. They believe in the fairy tale we’ve been fed all these years. Damn it, why is my power reacting like this? I didn’t spend the last five years learning to manage it for one woman to ruin it.
I thought back to the archive room. I’d felt my power flare reaching out towards something it was drawn to. I assumed it was sensing one of the lesser demons that we’ve been hunting nearby so I ignored the response. It wasn’t until seconds before she sat on me that I knew someone was in the room with me. No one other than the Elementi used this obscure records room and students needed permission from one of the Elementi to get access. So, imagine my surprise when the fragrance of rose wafted into my nose. The aroma was light and delicate, pure almost. I took another deep breath and this time the scent was stronger, as if the source had gotten closer to me. That’s when it crashed onto my chest knocking the air and the crap out of me.
I shook my head trying to get the memory of her crystal blue eyes looking at me out of my head. I knew it was futile, I would be dreaming about those eyes for days. Even just thinking about her I could still feel the current of power flowing between us as if she were still here. I had to fight the urge to go back and talk to her again, just to see if I’d dreamed the whole thing up.
What the hell is happening to me?
“Damn, Micah! Larry is going to be pissed that you damaged a four hundred-year-old building. What’s up?” Brayden asked pulling me out of my thoughts.
I looked up to see my best friend leaning against the wall in front of me. He must’ve seen me punching the wall. It wasn’t an especially normal activity.
“I think I might have just met the infamous sixth element,” I said, brushing the stone chips from my bleeding knuckles.
Hearing the news, Brayden’s brows shot up his eyes widened with surprise. He pushed away from the wall and walked over to me. “What makes you say that?”
“A strange girl was in the special archive and managed to sit on me,” I said wrapping the cloth hanky Brayden always kept on him around my bleeding hand.
“I can’t say that would be enough to qualify her as Synergy. As entertaining as that is to hear, it happened to you of all people,” Brayden teased.
When my parents died when I was twelve, I moved in with the Doltens. Our families had always been close, so it worked out for the best. I was an only child and my extended family wasn’t really interested in raising a kid that wasn’t their own. Brayden’s family was so welcoming to me. So, believe it when I say that Brayden knew just how much I didn’t care for social interaction and took great joy in this happening to me.
“Har, har, har. Let's poke fun at the antisocial orphan. Nice move, asshole,” I said with mock anger.
Brayden shrugged his shoulders. “So, I’m assuming something else happened for you of all people to think this person could be Synergy.”
“I can’t explain it, but when her body made contact with mine, it was like I was sixteen again just having my powers manifest. It was wild, out of control. It was all I could do to keep from setting the room on fire,” I said trying to explain the experience.
Brayden, who seemed to finally be taking me seriously about this, was tapping his pointer finger on his chin. He always did this when his brain worked overtime figuring out a problem. “Out of all five of us you have the greatest control over your powers, so for you to have that ripped away from you is something significant to consider.”
“Why don’t you ponder the universe later with Hudson? We have demons to kill. The sun has finally set, and I want to find them before they end up on the campus grounds,” I said walking toward the parking lot where my car was waiting.
“What section did Beth give us tonight?” Brayden asked walking alongside me.
I pulled out my phone to double-check the text I’d gotten earlier. “Looks like the pasture lands between Aiden House and Ashfall Hall. Christ, that’s a huge area! What does she think we are?”
“Magically gifted descendants of the Knights Templar,” Brayden answered for me.
“Looks who’s a funny man tonight,” I said frowning at him and mumbling under my breath. “Dick.”
We walked up to my bright, fire red Bugatti Veyron and slid into the low sports car.
“Remind me again why we can’t take my car? It’s much less conspicuous than this,” Brayden said giving me a reproachful look.
“Because I’m not riding in that futuristic egg you call a car. I don’t care if BMW made it, I’m still not going to ride in it,” I said pushing the button and letting the engine roar to life.
“At least mine isn't killing the earth one hit of a button at a time,” Brayden grumbled.
“None of that! If you start on that bullshit with me again, I am going to kick you out of my car, best friend or not. I let you talk me into a reusable straw, and a bamboo toothbrush, but do not diss my car while you’re in it,” I snapped as I slammed down on the gas pedal, letting the rear wheels smoke before we launched forward.
