Garth's POV
This morning, I woke up feeling like I had only slept a few minutes. Ugh… I force myself to get up. We all slept at Athènia's apartment. I move faster when I hear noises coming from her room, not even bothering to put on a T-shirt. Well, what? I like sleeping shirtless. I rush into her room and see the others already there, looking worried.
Garth: What's going on?
Mara points with her finger. I follow her gaze. No way… Athènia is floating in the air, surrounded by a yellow light. The awakening! Damn, this is a mess. Her whole room is about to collapse. It calms down a little and she slowly comes back down to her bed. We walk into her room. She opens her eyes, gasping. And let me tell you, we're all stunned: I've never heard of a physical transformation after an awakening.
MJ asks if she's okay, especially since she's pregnant, even though her pregnancy is still hidden. She answers yes and asks why we're staring at her. MJ hands her a mirror. After she fixes her furniture, her bed, and the window, we all go to eat.
The conversation turns to the supreme, Im, and his identity. She tells us that JinKing Storm might still be alive, since only a hybrid can kill another hybrid. Their ancestor wasn't one, as far as we know.
Once the meal is over, we leave the apartment. Downstairs, my father's car is waiting for us.
Kevin: Well, kids, I've got a meeting in Europe. Don't do anything stupid. And Garth, watch over your cousin. You know what can happen the first time we get powers.
Garth: Yes, father.
Kevin: Goodbye, children.
We all answer in unison. He gets into his car, and we into ours, heading for the university. Classes go smoothly. As I expected, Lis doesn't pay much attention to the two ex-Allies. At the end, the professor dismisses us. We pack our things.
Athènia: Are you staying?
Mara: Yes.
Lis hands her car keys and apartment keys to Mara. I raise an eyebrow.
Garth: Why are you giving me that?
Athènia: You can take my car. I'm going to walk for a bit. Those are the spare keys to my place.
Mara: But Lis, we can walk with you. And in your condition, that's not really recommended.
Athènia: MJ, I'll be fine. It'll do me good.
Mara: All right… see you later then.
Athènia: See you.
She heads in the opposite direction.
Mara: I don't feel good about leaving her alone.
Garth: She'll be fine. After all, she's the strongest of us all.
We arrive in front of the library. And no, not by walking—I just used my teleportation power.
Mara: Seriously, Garth?
Garth: Can't help it.
We step inside.
Mara: And what exactly are we looking for here?
Garth: Anything about hybrids.
Asher: Okay… but how are we going to find it? There are thousands of books in here.
I close my eyes, then open them again.
Garth: Localisatus.
There. My localization power highlights the right books, glowing yellow. I pull them toward us and drop them on the table: about ten volumes.
Asher: I'd forgotten you were a sorcerer.
We sit down and start reading. Oh, interesting… Hasrland, a country in Europe, nicknamed the "land of evil." They say anyone who enters without the supreme's permission never comes out.
Mara: Uh… Garth?
I look up at her.
Mara: I think we've got a picture of the supreme.
She lays a book on the table. Asher and I look at it.
Asher: Not bad. Pretty handsome guy.
Mara: Shut up if that's all you've got to say.
I take the book and flip through it, frowning.
Mara: What? What is it?
Garth: This book talks about the supremes of Hasrland.
Asher: Where's Hasrland?
Garth: In Europe. A country ruled by a supreme. Those who enter without permission never come back.
Mara: And the picture?
Garth: The person in it is the only one recorded as supreme.
Asher and Mara look shocked.
Asher: What? That means…
Mara: This guy is over 3000 years old.
I nod.
Mara: Lis could be right. This might be JinKing.
Asher: Impossible! JinKing died in 1319, in the Middle Ages. He was only six years old!
Garth: More like his supposed death…
Mara: What do you mean?
Garth: A hybrid can only be killed by another hybrid. My ancestor wasn't one, since he was entrusted with killing JinKing. A six-year-old child, watching his father die mercilessly in front of him, could become worse than the devil… especially when he later learns he's the product of a rape.
Silence falls.
Mara: It's getting late. We should head back.
Garth: Of course… but before that. Doublius.
I duplicate the books and put the originals back. The copies go straight into my bag.
Asher: Having powers really comes in handy.
I teleport us back to the car.
Mara: Could you at least warn us before doing that?!
I roll my eyes and start the engine. Ten minutes later, we're at the building.
Garth: Get ready.
I teleport us straight to the top floor.
Mara: You're pushing it, Garth. What if a human had seen us?
Garth: Oh, come on. There are only supernaturals here anyway. (…) Wait… why is the door still locked?
MJ, panicking, pulls out her keys and opens the door. The apartment is empty.
Mara: Lis, stop hiding. This isn't funny!
No answer. Panic starts to rise. We search every room—nothing.
Back in the living room:
Asher: Damn it… where is she?
A sharp pain shoots through my stomach. No! Lis is in danger! Thanks to the masking spell I put on her, I can feel her pain.
MJ looks at me, terrified.
Mara: Garth… the park!
I teleport us instantly.
Mara: LIS!!
Her belongings are lying on the ground. I pick them up, heart pounding.
Garth: Split up. She's still in the park.
We search everywhere. Nothing.
Mara: We'll have to search the whole city. Each of us takes a direction, meet back in front of the building.
We nod and separate. Anxiety squeezes my chest. If my cousin isn't found, I'll never forgive myself. She's pregnant, and I let her walk alone…
{Blaze: Calm down.}
Garth: I can't. Lis is in danger!
{Blaze: We'll find her.}
Garth: Oh yeah? How?
{Blaze: Trust me. I'm your guardian and your demon. But if you panic, you'll block my powers.}
I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. But it's already been two hours of searching… nothing. As if the earth had swallowed her whole. We'll have to notify the police. Normally, you need to wait 24 hours, but with my father, we can push things faster. Even if it means telling him Lis has disappeared…
I refuse to believe it. We will find her. And soon.