Fire Elemental: Jakob1

[teardropdangel]

Fire Elemental
teardropdangel
Author's Note: Okay, *draws in deep breath*, this is a sample out of one of my old stories. It's been a long while since I've actually revised them, so there won't be a very high chance of me posting updates of this story. Enjoy and please post any comments that might help the story.

I am Jakob. Funny, how that sounds. ''I am Jakob'. I really don't know who I am, by the way. I'm just settling on 'Jacob'. Though I'm called Jakob, but his birth name is Kain. I am a witch. I was in a gang called the Marked Ones, also known as the Craven. The name is supposed to mean the broken, the weak, the lost, and used ones. It consists of members of the Shadow society who wish only ill on those who cross them or Shadows who have given up on hope and have nothing to lose.

I was born with jet black hair, which is always, no matter what, slightly spiked. I have blue eyes. My height is 5'6. I'm eighteen years old and I'm presumed to look a great deal like his father, since I look nothing like his mother. I wouldn't know, though. I've never seen him.

My mother is a slut. I say this without even the slightest hesitation, nor the least remorse. I know and have come to accept what his mother is with no pride from my end of the unfortunate relationship. Delilah is a slut, a liar, and the worst mother that had the grace to walk this Earth. Delilah got landed with me when she was fifteen and makes it very much clear that she didn't want me. I doubt she even knows who his father was. She says, when she's too drunk to realize it, that I look alot like his father. But still, I don't know for sure.

Well, getting back to me, as of recently I wear a sliver lip ring, I have a pierced tongue, a pierced ear and a pierced eyebrow. The Craven symbol is tattooed on his shoulder. Delilah had a fit over the pierced tongue, but I didn't give a damn. The Gang demands that sort of garb. I really actually like the look by the way, sad as it may seem. Humans look at me and they think 'Bad Boy' and run off in the opposite direction. In the past, they might have been in the total right of it. The Gang was my life, my life was the Gang.

But now the Gang can't save me now, or they just plain won't. Danger is abroad and They've taken away what's most precious to me. They've taken the only person I've loved in order to spite me, in order to demonstrate Their power. I was out of control, I can own up to that much. I was blind to the obvious danger that followed my path. If I'd only seen what would happen, if I'd taken the time to do things right maybe, maybe, things would've turned out different.
But they didn't.
? Jakob Konal


Death demanded attention.

A sharp, stark sour stench filled the small shaded room, the odor hung in the air like a heavy woolen blanket oppressively. Drying blood encrusted itself on the once white walls as if clinging despretely in search of a new niche in the tiny pores found there.

Jakob Konal observed the grotesque scene with practiced detachment and a mask of empathy. A girl sat listless on a reclining white chair, the single piece of furniture in the room. She had worn party clothing that night, a magenta halter top a black-flared pants. The brown eyes that stared into his cool, blue ones were devoid of expression, empty spaces that perceived nothing. Her chin, delicately curved, hinted at a soft, sweet disposition and her exposed neck was a stretch of long and slender milky chocolate of skin. Upon that neck were two linear gashes that left broken flesh rooted up. The full pink lips of the girl's were parted slightly, a blot of crimson red gathered at the edges of them.

This girl was dead because of him.

The scenery crumbled, leaving him in a barren space, a pitch dark black void.

You know why she is dead.

You killed her.

You can stop him.

You must stop him.

His hands tightened, balled into useless fists. Too late.

The black vortex sucked him in. When his mind swarmed with nothing but darkness, he did nothing. He let go...and fell.
* * * * * *

* * * *

"What's the matter, Narieth? Can't keep up?" Jake yelled over the beating wind, which whipped his black hair back. His motorcycle screamed down the lane.

"In your dreams, Jake!" Narieth shouted as he accelerated.

Jake laughed, shortly. Sure, he thought, smugly. His hand tightened on black handles as he threw his energy out to surround his body and the bike. To outside eyes, he knew it would seem as if the bike and he were glowing sliver. His eyes would appear as a sliver haze. The surrounding desert disappeared and nothing but the speed and the rode remained in his mind. None of the shit that relentlessly plagued his life mattered. Lips pinched, his bike zipped past the finish mark.

"Shit, Jake. What's your problem?" Narieth demanded. "You said we weren't supposed to use powers."

He leaped off the bike and shook his ebony hair. "I lied" he said, simply.

"You're wrong, man. Let's go again," Narieth said, punching him on the arm.

"No." His eyes surveyed the area. "Where are the others? I told them to wait on this Side."

Narieth shrugged. "I guess they left without us."

He rolled his eyes in annoyance. "It doesn't matter. I know where they're going. Their going to the Human World. Let's move."

Jake led the way across the Border and Narieth followed. He was ahead of Narieth and the wheels of his bike skidded to a unforeseen stop. He would've almost tumbled off if it hadn't been for the energy holding him up. Jake looked up quickly and saw Seth.

"Sonofabitch," was his courteous greeting, knowing immediately that Seth had manuplated his fall.

"That's no way to talk to someone who just saved your neck," he replied.

Jake growled and struggled Seth's invisible hold on him. "Release me!"

"As you wish," Seth said and Jake promptly fell onto the ground.

He put a fist to his forehead and glared at Seth. Seth was a vampire, which made them enemies by nature. Witch and vampire relations are not very good in the Magical World.

"What the hell are you doing, Seth?" Narieth piped up after a long, tight silence.

"This has nothing to do with you. If you want to live, I suggest that you leave here now," Seth said.

Narieth didn't like the sound of that at all. For a moment, his pride took place of his fear and he tried to take a mental swing at Seth. His power lashed out in a fury.

Vampires are naturally strong. But Seth was New Breed, which made him even stronger. Narieth's attempt only seemed to agitate the vampire. He looked at Narieth in scorn. "This is your last chance to leave here in one piece."

The threat was clear as a sunny day without a cloud in sight to Narieth and what little loyalty he'd had immediately dissipated. He ran, leaving his motorcycle, and Jake, behind.

Jake wasn't very surprised. Number one rule in the Craven was to look out for your ass before anyone else's. He watched Seth captiously. "Was that really necessary, Seth? He probably pissed his pants."

Seth shrugged and clasped Jake's hand to assist his getting up. "Does it matter? We got rid of him."

"What do you want? We didn't have a meeting tonight."

"I found another one. A girl this time."

"Where?"

Jake and Seth were in league. He had allied with him a couple of months ago. He couldn't let the Craven know that, of course. They'd probably skin him alive for that kind of betrayal, which explains the act for Narieth.

There are some individuals in the Human World who had no clue about their magical abilities. This usual occurs when the parents are runaways from the Magickal World, or the parents died without explaining the power to their offspring. They're called Betweens. Jake and Seth were searching for those few with the powers, and He say few because most of our kind cannot survive very long without proper magical attention unless they are liberated by one of their kind. Jake and Seth search for Betweens and fill them in on their powers. Seth had already established a secret organization, the Circle, consisting of Betweens. The organization also had another role. To put a stop to an evil force led by a witch named Kaiven of the infamous Kaemen Family. The force, the Moloch had only one objective. To stamp out all humans and take control of the Human World, as well as the Magickal World.

"In the park," Seth answered his question. "Follow me and make yourself invisible. This girl is going to be a hard sell."

It was hard to see through the dark, but Seth moved with ease; his vampiric gift made him positively addicted to the Night. Jake did his best to keep up with Seth's pace and tried not to stumble in the darkness. He had begrudged Seth for his graceful disposition a long time ago and was filled with senseless envy at his dominating posture. His black eyes were sparkled with the Night and the forest and his stride was self-confident. Jake could have summoned up the element fire, but he didn't dare, not while Seth was like this.

In the past months, Jake'd learn about Seth's moods. While they weren't exactly the best of friiends, they were comfortable in eah other company, more or less. One of his moods was the big, bad wolf mood. That usually comes about when he's facing an enehis. He goes smug and dogmatic, with a touch of menace which is barely able to read until it's too late. Another is his hissterious mood, which is when he doesn't want people to know things about himself and his face goes totally blank. Jake knew that one personally, though. The calm and patient mood was used when explaining to Betweens their powers. The expression that presently displayed on his face was the one reserved for moments when he was amongst the Night and her children.

Seth seemed to come back to himself and his voice sent Jake a start. "We're almost there."

Dimly, he heard some music being played. No, not Mozart or Chopin. Hard-core alternative rock. The instruments raged and he heard a feminine voice exercise it's dominance of the onslaught of instruments. They moved further into the Park, through countless trees before he could catch a glimpse at the girl singing. He noticed that there were two singing, although the male counterpart of the pair was merely backing up the female. The girl had red long hair that flowed down the sides of her face. Her voice was strong and steady, yet held a confusing silkiness to it. It reminded him indirectly of a siren's song. There were two others in the group besides the two singing, one on the drums and he other on a guitar.

"That her?" he whispered, his eyes still transfixed on the fire goddess.

"Yeah. Now be quiet. I don't want her to get suspicious."

They continued to walk and the girl stopped when she saw them-Seth- coming. The others did the same. She demanded that Seth tell her who he was and his business there. She appeared very mad at his reply. But Jake wasn't listening.

Russel, he though hotly, that low down, son of a bitchin' sleaze bag. Russel had been a member the Craven, before he decided to split. He left without even giving them an explanation, just some crappy letter. If he wanted to go, they would have let him, more or less. They weren't like those human gangs where when you join, you join for life. But if you betray them, well that worth killing for.

The girl, Ember, commanded Seth to sit on the side. Seth, amazingly, did just that. They did a couple of songs, then they were finished. They began to leave. Jake observed Ember quietly. She didn't have the demeanor of a witch, but most Betweens don't, having the misfortune of being raised on the human Side.

Seth followed her when the last one, Russel, left. he followed him. Ember, probably hearing him, picked up her pace. To Seth, Jake knew, this was child's play, but he kept his stride easy. She turned to them abruptly. By the surprised look on her face, he'd thought she had seen him, though he hadn't uttered a word.

They began to talk, Seth and Ember. She made her dislike for him very much clear. Seth was intent on pressing, probing softly in his own trademark way. However, the conversation turned to a cold note when Seth called her by her real name, Blair. Ember freaked out and Seth struggled with her.

"I could use alittle help here, Jake!" Seth admonished.

Jake relaxed his invisibility shield. Needless to say, Ember was more than alittle shocked; her eyes went wide as saucers.

"Where did he come from?!"

"This is his friend, Jacob. He's a witch, like you are."

"You're crazy!" she screamed. She had backed away from them, fists raised and prepared to do some damage.

"Look." Jake said, waving his hand a few times, silver light sprung forth from his finger tips. A feeble attempt at convincing her.

"Nice trick," she said. Her eyes searched for an escape route.

Seth took this as an opportunity and nimbly touched her forehead. Her eyes went blank and inexpressive.

Jake watched, waited. He knew the girl was being Awakened, her powers being revealed onto her subconscious. He'd watched many others before her go trough the same Awakening process and knew that this girl would not remember what had happened. Someone would have to explain to her what she was. Jake would be that person.

"Can you handle it from here?" Seth asked, distractedly.

"Yeah. Where're you going?"

"I have other business to attend to," he said,vaguely. "When she lapses back, bring her home. It just down this block, 454."

"Okay."

Seth disappeared and he was left with Ember.

Jake brought her home and when they reached the veranda, he felt a distinct feeling that they were being watched. It was not the people inside the house. No, he knew they were watching. It was outside in the shadows, hovering there, just watching them, observing. Glowing eyes radiated mischief in the dark bushes and he felt a sudden rush of forboding. He quickly shook it off and left Ember on the porch.

Jittery walking alone in the dark, he hunched his shoulders and shoved his hands down his jacket pockets. Deviant breeze brushed against his skin and he knew he was not alone. He stopped abruptly and cursed. Someone was playing a game with him, and he knew it. Who's there? he asked, sending the silent question into the air. Sabrie? he thought with an overwhelming sense of dread.

He heard a bitter laughter, a mocking laughter. A dark silhouette of a person solidified slowly into vision and Jake heart stopped.

The figure slowly became a boy with blond hair and Jake knew that his eyes were black as midnight. The boy smiled. "Hello, Kain. Miss me?"

Jake waited a minute before he spoke, allowing his heart some time to regain some semblance of an normal rhythm. "Cade?"

"Long time no see." The older boy took his time closing the distance between them, leisurely strolling toward Jake with hands imbedded in his pockets, seemingly oblivious to the anxiety of his companion.

"Yeah. It's been a real long time," Jake returned, cautiously. He watched Cade warily, looking for any signs that he was not here for the simple sake of saying hellos.

"So, how's the Craven doing nowadays without me?" Cade asked lightly.

Jake sensed acutely the false levity in Cade's words and picked his own carefully. "Same as always."

Cade snorted. "No need to be obscure with me, Jake. I'm an Outcast, but I was once your friend."

Yeah, he thought, before you left abandoned me. Cade had been a member of the Craven in the past, but was kicked out on 'undisclosed charges'.

But Cade was continuing. "I saw you with that girl back there, you got a fix on her?"

What was he getting at? Had he seen Seth? "No."

"No?" He seemed genuinely shocked. "I'm surprised. She's really pretty. Mind if I-"

"No, Cade. Leave her alone." Jake met Cade's gaze head on.

"So, you really do like her? I thought so."

Jake chose not to entertain the question with an answer. "Cade, what's this all about? You've vanished for over a year and now you want to pop up and say 'hey, how've you been, Jake?' just like that. Don't insult my intelligence. What are you really here for?"

Cade nodded, appreciatively. "I didn't expect that you'd buy into it, but I figured it was worth a shot." He let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Man, I miss the old days, the two of us wrecking havoc wherever we wished. Do you still do that trick with the fire-"

"Get to the point, Cade," Jake bit off, edgily.

Cade raised his hands in defense, palms outward. "No need to get loud. It's just that I couldn't help noticing that Seth was back there."

So, he had seen Seth.

"Don't get me wrong or anything, but I just think it's odd that you're hanging with Seth nowadays," Cade said. He waited for Jake to respond, but when it became apparent that he wasn't going to get a reply, Cade continued. "The Craven isn't going to be to happy if they find out about your, ah, association with Seth."

"If they find out?"

"I have a proposition-"

Jake sneered. "You have got to be kidding me. You're here to blackmail me?" His laugh was almost as bitter as it was disbelieving.

"Blackmail? No way," Cade protested. "I want to strike a deal with you."

"A deal? What, you want me to put in a good word for you with the Craven?"

"No. I want to join the Circle."

Temporarily robbed of his speech, Jake just stared at his friend. "You," he said finally, "want to join the Circle?"

"Why, is that a problem?" Cade looked indignant.

Jake shook his head, incredulity still swarming in his thoughts. "You want to join the Circle," he said slowly, as if repeating it would somehow make sense of what Cade was saying. "Why the hell didn't you just say that instead of trying to scare me half to death?"

Jerking a shoulder, he said, "My lack of finesse, I guess. So, are you gong to let me join?"

"I don't know. First of all, you have to be a Between."

"You're not a Between," Cade pointed out.

"That's different. I'm a recruiter."

"Then, I'll be a recruiter, too. It can't be that hard."

Jake gave a short laugh. "You wish. Besides, you'll have to talk with Seth first."

"Fine, no problem with me." Cade thought for a moment. "Hey, you still got that problem with Sabrie?"

Jake's face tightened at the mention of the name, his body immediately defensive. "Look, I don't want to talk about it right now, okay? Now about the Circle, Seth's not going to be available until tomorrow. You got a place to crash for the night? You can spend the night at the Center."

"I'm temporary living on the streets. Thanks."

"Sure. No problem."