Awakening "How did Johan know that Arine was the elf?" David asked. "It doesn't matter how he knew," said Pierre. "What matters is that Johan has taken the elf captive and is now in possession of both the Red Ruby AND the Blue Sapphire of Alvara." "We have to rescue Arine," said Sam, standing up from his seat. "...And retrieve the Ruby and Sapphire," said Rosette, jumping to her feet as well. All of the Jewel Summoners began speaking their minds, their voices quickly escalating into thunderous white noise. The Clan Leaders in the center of the meeting room looked around, astounded by their subjects speaking all at once. "STAI ZITTI!!!" Lord Giovanni boomed. The clamoring Jewel Summoners turned their heads toward Giovanni, seeing the elderly Italian with a very angry expression on his face. They immediately stopped talking and sat down in their seats. "You do not speak out of turn!" Giovanni yelled. A moment passed and Giovanni regained his composure. "I know you are worried about the situation," he said. "We all are. But we gave to keep our feelings in check if we are to complete our mission as Jewel Summoners." "Lord Giovanni is right," said Alana. "Only with clear mind and sound judgment can we bring the situation under control." There was a pause so that the Clan Leaders could be absolutely sure that their subjects had calmed down. When the Jewel Summoners' calmness was affirmed, Lady Fredrika spoke, "What we must do now is think carefully about the situation. What do we know so far?" At that question, Sam stood up. "Sir Samuel Lancestor," said Alana. "What we know," Sam answered, "is that Johan Mustanen has in his possession the Red Ruby of Alvara, the Blue Sapphire of Alvara, and Arine Sylven." "What would Johan want with those things?" Alana asked. "Well he obviously wants the Ruby and the Sapphire to enhance his elfin powers," said Sam. "What about the elf?" Alana asked. "What would Johan want with her?" That time, Sam did not have an answer. "I don't know," he replied, sitting down. "Does anyone know?" Alana asked. Pierre stood. "Lord Pierre Doulin," said Lord Felix. "When Johan attacked us in California," Pierre said, "he said something about the future of his clan. He said that his uncle had a deadly illness and that the elf was the only one who could cure him." Gabriel Lancestor then stood up. "Sir Gabriel Lancestor," Alana announced. "Johan must be using Arine to help cure his uncle," said Gabriel. "The Ruby and the Sapphire are the keys to unlocking the elf's power. If Johan used the Ruby and the Sapphire to awaken Arine's powers, she would have the power to heal Mustanen's uncle!" "Bon, Bon," said Felix, a slight smile appearing on his face. "We're making some progress." Pierre then said, "I do not believe that awakening Arine's powers is Johan's only motive." "Oh?" asked Felix. "I have witnessed first-hand Johan's hatred toward the Jewel Summoners," Pierre said. "I cannot believe that it would be enough for him to simply bring about the new age of the elves." "Do you suspect that Johan is planning an attack on the Jewel Summoners?" asked Gabriel. "It's a good bet that he is," said Pierre. "The question is 'when?'" Pierre and Gabriel both sat. As they did so, Antonia Valentino stood. "Lady Antonia Valentino," said Giovanni. "Arine is loyal to the Jewel Summoners, is she not?" Antonia asked. "If Johan were planning an attack on us, Arine would undoubtedly use her powers to stop him. She is the Legendary Elf. She would have much more power than Johan." "Nevertheless," Fredrika said, "we need a plan to retrieve Arine AND the Blue Sapphire and Red Ruby of Alvara. We must awaken Arine's powers!" Rosette Doulin stood up. "Madame Rosette Doulin," Felix announced. "But aren't Arine's powers going to be awakened anyway?" Rosette asked. "If Johan's intentions are to awaken the elf, another descendent of the elves would be the best one suited for the job." "That is a good point," said Alana. "The Lancestor Clan will find the Blue Sapphire and Red Ruby with the power of apatite. We will find Alvara's crystals and keep a close eye on the surrounding activity, but we will not intervene. We will let Johan do what he will. But as soon as we believe Arine is in danger, we will take him by surprise and rescue the elf." ---------- ---------- Johan led Arine into another room. As Arine looked around, she noticed that the room they were in now was not nearly as bare as the last one they were in. In the center of the room has a table that seemed to be used for someone to lie down on. In the corner of the room was some kind of machine, consisting of a computer screen and many white sapphires arranged in a very intricate pattern. "What is all this?" the blonde asked. Johan answered, "This is equipment that I will use to awaken your powers. The Mustanen Clan never knew where the elf would show up, so we created machines like this all over the world. Now that the elves are no longer confined to the Scandinavian Peninsula like the purebloods were, we have found sources of corundum much more plentiful than Alvara's Cave." Johan gestured to the machine and said, "These white sapphires will be used to find the gene sequences in your DNA that grant you your elfin powers." "What about the table?" Arine asked, noticing that there were several steel objects corrected to it that looked as if they were meant to restrain a person lying down on it. "The process of awakening your powers involves injecting you with a hypnotic drug," Johan explained. "The reasons for this are two-fold. Firstly, you will need to be under my control if I am to guide you to finding your powers. Secondly, a small part of you already knows how to use your powers. You have used your powers before unintentionally. The hypnotic effect of the drug should help you get in touch with your subconscious, access that part of your mind that knows how to use your powers. While you are under the effects of the drug, you might not be able to control your powers when they awaken, the effects of which could be very violent. The table is meant to restrain you for your safety and that of me and others around you." "I see" "I will need a blood sample. I need to isolate the gene sequences in your DNA that are not found in normal humans. When you use one of your powers, the machine is meant to register the mystical energies that allow you to use that power. That is the reason for all the sapphires. Because it is YOUR blood that the machine reads, it will determine which genes are responsible for which power. Do you understand, Arine?" "Perfectly," said Arine, sitting down on the table. Johan went to his station behind the machine and came back with a small lancing device, an alcohol swab, and a pack of adhesive bandages. "What is that?" Arine said, noticing the lancing device. "A blood-sampling device," the Finn replied. "It is meant to puncture the skin and extract a sample of blood from the subject. The alcohol swab is used to sterilize the area where I will be taking the sample to make sure that the wound does not become infected. Please, hold out your finger." Arine was apprehensive. She had always a had a fear of needles. "I know that the thought of puncturing your skin is unsettling. It will be painful, but it is necessary for the procedure to work." Although Arine did not extend her hand by herself, she did not resist when Johan took her hand in his. Johan extended Arine's index finger and rubbed it with the alcohol swab. He then picked up the lancing device. "Are you ready, Arine?" he asked. Reluctantly, Arine nodded. With Arine's approval, Johan punctured Arine's finger with the lancing device. Arine flinched in pain, but it was not too painful for her to handle. In a matter of seconds, her finger was bandaged and the pain was gone. "There we are," said Johan. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" Johan went back to his station and inserted the blood sample into a small slot on the side of the machine. Arine could hear the hard disk spinning as the machine analyzed the blood sample. After a few moments, six series of lines of differing thickness appeared on the computer screen that Johan was looking at. "Come here, Arine," Johan said. Arine stood up and walked toward Johan's station. "You see this?" said Johan, referring to the lines on the computer screen. "This is you. These are the gene sequences inside your body that separate you from humans. These are the elfin genes that you inherited from your grandmother. The only genes that the Mustanens have inherited from our elfin ancestors are foresight and the pointed ears. But there are only two generations that separate you from the purebloods, so you have inherited much, much more from the elves than my clan has. When your powers activate, the whites sapphires in this machine will pick up the mystical energies that you give off and will relate each of your powers to one of these gene sequences." "It's an impressive machine," Arine said. "What are you going to do once you identify which gene sequences control each power?" "My foresight has allowed me to see how the new age of the elves will begin," said Johan. "It will begin with gene therapy. By injecting these gene sequences into the DNA of other people, they will inherit the powers of the elves, and will become elves themselves. Of course, there are only a select few that are worthy of having these powers. Most humans are greedy and power-hungry. Just look at what has happened in the past century: conflicts over territory, dictatorships in the Middle East, two World Wars. They would use these powers for their own agendas. The Mustanen Clan is the only clan of elfin descent that remembers its origins. Only they know what it means to be an elf, to be in tune with nature, to be one with the elements. They are the ones that will restore peace and order to the world. They will create a utopia, an Eden, where elves rule the land as they did fifteen centuries ago." "So once you have found which gene sequences control which power, you will replicate the gene sequences and inject certain genes into elfin descendants depending on which genes they don't have?" the blonde asked. "That's exactly what I will do," Johan said, smiling. "I'm so happy that you understand what I am trying to accomplish." There was a pause. Arine was still considering whether or not she wanted to go through with the procedure. Eventually, Arine said, "I'm ready." Arine walked back to the table and lied down on top of it. "I'm ready to begin the procedure." ---------- Johan closed the harness over Arine’s body, making sure that she would be unable to move anything except her hands, feet, and head. After rubbing an alcohol swab over a spot on Arine’s arm, Johan picked up a hypodermic needle filled with a yellowish fluid. "Are you ready?" asked the Finn. The blonde simply nodded. Having received Arine’s approval to continue, Johan positioned the needle over the place on Arine’s skin that he had just sterilized. Arine groaned and spasmed in pain as the needle entered her flesh, the yellowish fluid contained within it being injected into her body. As the last of the drug disappeared beneath Arine’s skin, Johan removed the needle from the girl’s arm and quickly bandaged the puncture wound. Arine gasped in relief as the pain started to subside, "The drug should take effect in a few moments," Johan said. "I hope it’s worth the pain," said Arine, still with a hint of recent trauma in her voice. "It's worth it," the man assured Arine. Johan went on to explain, "The initial symptoms of the drug are weakness and inability to move voluntarily. You will remain conscious throughout the procedure, but your conscious mind will not be in control of your body movements. Whatever you do while under the influence will be dictated by me. You will be able to resist my commands just like one is able to resist breathing, but it will cause physical pain. So please, do not try to resist my commands." "I won't," Arine assured. Johan returned to his station at the computer screen. "I will be monitoring the mystical energies from here," he said. As the two of them waited, a strange and unfamiliar feeling began to come over Arine. She felt weakness in her muscles, her vision started to blur, and she felt slightly disconnected from the physical world. "Are you all right, Arine?" Johan asked, noticing Arine's reactions. "I think..." Arine said as best she could, "...the drug's beginning...to take effect. I feel...I feel...weak. Weak all over." "You're finding it difficult to control your body, aren't you?" "Yesh," said Arine, her speech beginning to slur. Arine's eyes began to glaze over as her body succumbed to the hypnotic effects of the drug. "Just relax and let it come over you," Johan said in a soothing voice. "It will be like floating in the ocean, just letting the waves rock you back and forth, the current carrying you where it will." Finally, Arine's expression turned completely blank and she simply stared out into space. "Can you speak?" Johan asked. Arine did not answer or even move. "I guess not," Johan said, knowing that the drug had now completely taken effect. Turning to the computer screen, Johan said, "The first ability I will attempt to awaken will be your foresight." Concentrating his thoughts on Arine, Johan said, "Think back to a time when you anticipated something happening. You sensed that something was going to happen. You had a premonition." Obeying Johan's commands, memories began floating through Arine's mind. Arine remembered the dream she had had on Mia's birthday. Again, the blonde found herself with Mia at the beach. Arine swam as fast as she could toward Mia as the current pulled the brunette out to sea. Arine's back arched and her hair sparkled brilliantly. If it were not for the restraining harness, Arine's convulsions would have launched her off of the table. "That's it, Arine," said Johan sensing a power emerging from deep within Arine's body. The white sapphires of the machine, reacting to Arine's elfin powers, started glowing white. "Let me see that mystical energy," Johan enthused, excited by the prospect of the elf's powers finally awakening. The machine doing what it was designed to do, it analyzed the mystical energies that the sapphires reacted to, relating them to one of the gene sequences, which lit up on the computer screen. "The gene of foresight..." Johan mused. As the memory ended, Arine's body came to rest and the white sapphires stopped glowing. "Now why don't we try physical strength?" said Johan. Again concentrating his thoughts on Arine, Johan said, "Think back to a time when you were able to summon strength that you should not have had." Another memory bubbled to the surface of Arine's hypnotized mind. She remembered the time that she was at Sam's house after her premonition of Mia's danger. She was outside the door to Sam's room. Arine charged toward the door, threw herself against it, breaking the locked door open with one blow with her shoulder. Again, Arine's body started spasming, another power awakening within her. As Arine relived the event, the room started shaking, effected by the ability that Arine had used. "Such power," Johan said, amazed by Arine's use of elfin power. "Could the ability of physical strength be a form of telekinesis?" The white sapphires again glowed white and another gene sequence lit up on the screen. Arine's memory faded and her body came to rest. The room stopped shaking and the glowing of the sapphires stopped. "That was intense, wasn't it, my dear?" Johan said. "You truly are powerful." Moving on, Johan said, "How about we try empathy next. Think back to a time that you sensed what someone was feeling. A time when you could sense someone's emotions." Arine remembered being at the Oceanside Academy medical facility. She was with Sam, waiting for the prognosis after Mia's attack. Sam had told Arine that he was trying to help. Arine could hear the sincerity in Sam's voice and somehow knew that he was telling the truth. Once more, Arine reacted violently to her memory, tremors overtaking her body. The white sapphires lit up, reading Arine's mystical energies. A third gene sequence lit up on the screen. The memory passed and the glowing of the sapphires stopped. "Very nice," Johan said, happy that he had isolated three gene sequences that governed the powers of the elves. "And now," Johan said with a dreamy tone of voice, "for the most important gene of all, the one that can counteract the heart condition that my family suffers from: the gene of biological vigor." Coming out of his reverie, Johan turned again to the hypnotized girl on the table. "Think back to a time when you came in physical contact with someone and helped them recover from an injury or illness." The memory that came to Arine's mind was right after Johan had attempted to abduct Mia outside Pierre Doulin's house. Mia was close to having an attack. Arine and Sam were holding Mia tightly, comforting the brunette, letting her know that they would not let anything happen to her. Arine's body seized up one last time, the white sapphires reacting to her power. "Show me your power, Arine," Johan commanded, his voice overflowing with enthusiasm and excitement. "Show me your ability of healing!" A fourth gene sequence lit up on the computer screen. "There it is," Johan mused, "the gene sequence that would have saved Rikhard if he had possessed it." Arine's body came to rest and the white sapphires stopped glowing. Turning to Arine, Johan said, "Thank you very much, Arine. You did well. I am impressed." Her elfin powers no longer in use, Arine's hair stopped sparkling. "Hm," Johan said, looking back at the computer screen. "There are two genes that did not light up. I will have to look into those later." Finished for the time being, Johan shut down the machine and walked to where Arine was lying. "In the meantime," he said, "rest well. Give your mind a chance to review what has happened here tonight. Rest." Arine, still following Johan's orders, closed her eyes and rested. "It will not be long now, my dear." ---------- Meanwhile, in Zurich, Mia was still asleep. Yvette continued keeping an eye on the weakened girl while Pierre was meeting with the other Jewel Summoners. However, Yvette's gaze turned from Mia to the door when she heard a knocking. The woman went to the door and opened it to see Pierre standing in the doorway. "Pierre," said Yvette. "Hello, Yvette," said Pierre. The middle-aged man then looked at the brunette in bed. "Mia's still asleep," he noticed. "What's wrong with her, Pierre?" asked Yvette. "Why is she so weak?" Now that he was not convened with the other Jewel Summoners, Pierre had a chance to explain to Yvette the story of what was happening. "You must have noticed Mia's pointed ears by now," said the professor. "It's a genetic trait that gives her a weak heart. Because of her heart condition, she tires easily. This day has been one of the most intense she has ever experienced. Without Arine's powers, I do not think Mia will recover any time soon." "Powers?" Yvette asked. "Elfin powers," replied Pierre. "Both Mia and Arine are descended from elves that lived in Scandinavia fifteen hundred years ago. Mia inherited the pointed ears, and Arine inherited the elfin powers that were able to counteract the effects of the weak heart. All of the pureblooded elves were destroyed by Jewel Summoners, the ancestors of everyone that convened today. Ever since then, the Jewel Summoners have devoted their lives to fulfilling a prophecy that was made fifteen hundred years ago: that a legendary elf would be born and would bring about a new age of the elves. That flying machine that I used to bring us here from Paris is a physical manifestation that only high-ranking Jewel Summoners can summon with the power of a spinel crystal." "Elves..." Yvette trailed off, finding it difficult to accept Pierre's story. "I know it’s hard to believe,"Pierre said. "But I swear to you, all that I have said is true." ---------- Arine's head pounded as she came to her senses. She slowly opened her eyes and noticed that the harness that Johan had used to hold her down had been retracted. The blonde tried to sit up, but her body ached so badly that it took her several moments to do so. Arine held her head in her hand, groaning in pain. "Good morning, Arine," someone said, walking into the room. Arine could barely make out Johan's form standing in front of her. "Morning?" she asked. "What time is it?" "It's after eleven AM," Johan replied. Arine closed her eyes and groaned in discomfort. "Are you all right, Arine?" asked Johan. "I have a splitting headache," the girl moaned. "In fact, my whole body hurts. It feels like my body is being crushed." "It sounds similar to a hangover," the Finn remarked. "It's probably a side effect of the drug I gave you last night." "Do you have any Advil nearby?" Arine asked. "You should be able to cure your symptoms yourself," said Johan. "How?" asked Arine. "Just relax. Concentrate. Remember what happened last night. Think about your ability to heal injuries and illness." Arine closed her eyes and thought back to the events that had transpired the night before. Remembering her ability to heal people, she used the ability on herself. "How do you feel now?" Johan asked after Arine opened her eyes. "Better," said the blonde, a smile coming to her face. "A lot better." "Good," Johan said, smiling as well. "Tell me, Arine. What am I feeling right now?" "How do you mean?" "Can you sense my emotions?" Arine was surprised when she realized that she could. "Yes," she answered. "I think so." "What am I feeling?" Johan asked. Arine regarded Johan for a moment, scanning his thoughts. "You feel...happy," said Arine. "You enjoy the fact that I have realized my powers. You are...relieved about something." "I'm relieved that I have finally found someone that has the ability to cure so many of my clan from their heart condition," Johan replied. However, Johan was slightly surprised by what Arine said next. "There is something else. Something hidden very deep within you." Arine concentrated for a moment, attempting to identify the emotions that she was sensing from Johan. Arine then said, "Sadness. Anger. Ill will." "Do you really sense those emotions from me?" asked the man. "They're hidden so deep inside you," Arine explained, "that you might know they are there. But they are." Just then, a thought occurred to Arine. "Johan," she asked, "did something bad happen to you? Possibly a traumatizing event sometime in your life?" "Yes," Johan remembered. "Something did happen to me. I had a twin brother named Rikhard. He had the same heart condition that so many members of my clan have. Twenty years ago, Rikhard met a Jewel Summoner by the name of Erika Dagomar. After the two of them married, Erika killed Rikhard by taking advantage of his heart condition and fucked him. She probably just wanted to have a good come and kill Rikhard at the same time. I followed Erika all over the world until I caught up with her in the Far East. I was about to kill her, but she jumped off of a waterfall before I had the chance." "You hate the Jewel Summoners for the death of your brother," the blonde realized. "And you hate them for depriving you of your revenge." "It's more than that," Johan stated, his voice filling with a mixture of anger and sadness. "They destroyed my ancestors. They depleted the world of the one gene sequence that would have saved my brother, my father, all of my kinsmen that have the disorder!" It was then that Arine put her hand on Johan's shoulder. "Erika Dagomar was just one Jewel Summoner," said Arine. "I have been to their meetings and there were more than a hundred Jewel Summoners in that meeting room. If we attack them now, they'll never see us coming." Johan's expression changed from one of melancholy to one of delight and anticipation. "You're happy to hear me say that, aren't you?" said Arine, sensing that Johan was pleased by what he was hearing. "Very," answered the long-haired man. "I have been anticipating this day for twenty years. Finally, I will have my revenge!" "We will have OUR revenge," Arine corrected. The two elfin descendants looked at one another. Johan produced the Blue Sapphire and Red Ruby of Alvara from his pocket and gave the Sapphire to Arine. Her powers now awakened, Arine could feel the power of the Sapphire flowing through her. She was ready to aid Johan in the destruction of the Jewel Summoners. ---------- That night, Lady Fredrika, Lady Alana, and a small band of Jewel Summoners were gathered in the meeting room, discussing their game plan for retrieving the Red Ruby of Alvara, the Blue Sapphire of Alvara, and the elf. "Don't forget the plan," said Alana. "Once we have found Arine, we watch the area for any information that we can use. We only move in when Arine's powers have awoken or when Arine is in danger." "We were able to sense Arine's powers when the Sapphire reacted to her touch in Paris," said Fredrika. "If we could sense her powers from five hundred miles away, we will definitely be able to sense when she awakens." Fredrika said to her subjects, "Dagomars ready?" The members of the Dagomar Clan answered, "Ready!" "Lancestors ready?" Alana asked. "Ready!" the Lancestors replied. With the operatives ready for their reconnaissance mission, Alana held up an apatite crystal in an attempt to home in on the Blue Sapphire of Alvara. The crystal glowed green and the elderly woman concentrated on it. As she used the power of apatite, a look of surprise came over Alana's face. "Lady Alana?" asked David "What is it?" "The Sapphire," Alana said. "It’s close." "Yes," Fredrika agreed. "I can sense the Sapphire's power." "Do you sense the Ruby as well, Lady Fredrika?" one of the Dagomars asked the clan leader. "No," Fredrika replied. "Only the Sapphire." "If Johan were to attack us," Julia speculated, "he would have taken both the Sapphire AND the Ruby." "Do you think that Arine has escaped?" Alana wondered. "I did sense a lot of unusual mystical energies last night," Fredrika recalled. "The elf must have awoken! She would have easily overpowered Johan if her powers have indeed awoken." "We should go and welcome her back," David suggested. "We don't even know what condition she's in." "It would be best for her to see friendly and familiar faces when she returns," Julia agreed. Fredrika decreed, "Summon Lord Pierre Doulin and Sir David Lancestor. And if she is feeling up to it, summon Miss Mia Carver as well." "Yes, Milady," the other Jewel Summoners responded. ---------- Mia had finally woken up that afternoon. Although awake, Mia refused to get out of bed or talk with anybody. "Won't you say something, Mia?" Yvette pleaded. Still, Mia said nothing. "Lady Alana and Lady Fredrika are sending the Lancestors and the Dagomars to Arine as we speak, Mia," said Pierre, trying to raise the brown-haired girl's spirits. "We'll have her back in no time." Mia finally spoke, but her words were disheartening. "How can they stand up to the power of the Ruby and Sapphire of Alvara?" Not giving up in cheering Mia up, Pierre said, "The Lancestors are very good at finding information and the Dagomars are some of the most powerful of all the Jewel Summoner clans. If anyone can rescue Arine, it's them." Just then, there was a frantic knocking at the door. "Lord Pierre! Mia! Open up!" Sam's voice cried from behind the door. Yvette answered the door to find Sam with a hysterical, but ecstatic, look on his face. "Yvette, Pierre, Mia," Sam exclaimed. "Arine has returned!" Yvette gasped, Pierre jumped to his feet, and Mia sat up in bed. All of their undivided attention was focused on Sam. "My parents just told me," Sam ranted. "Lady Alana homed in on the Sapphire, it’s close by! Fredrika didn't sense the power of the Ruby, which would have been there if Johan was there. It has to be Arine!" "I'm sure Arine would be happy to see your face, Mia," Pierre said, trying to be as composed as possible. Mia's face had suddenly brightened with large, shimmering eyes and a smile overflowing with indescribable happiness. "Arine..." Mia said, getting out of bed. However, in her weakened state, Mia collapsed as soon as she set foot on the floor. "Mia!" Sam cried, rushing to the girl's side. Sam, Pierre, and Yvette helped Mia back into bed. "We'll greet Arine," Yvette said. "We'll bring her to you." "Thank you," said Mia in a weak, but grateful voice. With that, Pierre, Sam, and Yvette exited the room. Unbeknownst to them, the only reason that Fredrika had not sensed the presence of the Ruby of Alvara was because its power was not being used. On the Swiss Plateau, Johan and Arine overlooked Zurich. Arine had used the power of the Sapphire to lure the Jewel Summoners out. Using her power of empathy, Arine could say to Johan with little doubt, "I don't think they know you're here." "Good," the Finn said. "But when we find them, my presence will be felt quite fully." With that, Arine and Johan started their descent into Zurich. To be continued...
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