His eyelids were weighted with lead.

Alex forced his eyes open. He was back in his bed on the Camadt’s Bite. He was still wearing the uniform that he had been wearing when he passed out. Judging from the stack of uniforms in his room, he doubted he’d ever wear anything else. Not that he was going to complain. The uniform felt like a second skin, it fit so well.

As Alex tried to sit up, his head was informed of a massive headache. He reached up and massaged his temples. Mettan had been right when he had said that using powers too much would wear one out.

Alex shrugged off the pain and stood up. He glanced down at his watch. It was eight forty-two am. He had slept straight through yesterday afternoon and evening. But worst of all, that meant that today was the day that the Dark Legion Fleet was going to land on Earth.

Alex headed for the door. If the Dark Legion was going to conquer Earth, he was going to check on his brother first.

Alex walked out of his room and onto the bridge. The smell of butter and electrified air assaulted his nostrils. As alarming as it was to not know where anyone was, it was hard to believe that something could be wrong when there was popcorn in the air.

Alex said as he sat down in the pilot’s chair. He brought up the screen and looked at the fleet. Ice cubes danced through his veins as his breath hid. The fleet was moving. In just a few hours it would break the atmosphere and land. The end was beginning.

“What’s wrong?” Paige asked, her voice still groggy as she entered the bridge.

Alex pointed at the screen, “They’re moving.”

Paige’s eyes snapped open. Adrenaline did in a second what coffee would have taken an hour to do. She looked around the bridge, “Where’s Kark?”

“You are the only one I’ve seen so far.” Alex looked up from the screen, “Where’s Andrew?”

“I don’t know, but we need to tell someone about this!” Paige exclaimed,

“I’m sure they already know.” Alex started to get up, “I’m going to check on my brother.”

“I’m right here.” Andrew’s voice came from behind him.

Alex spun around. Andrew was wearing the black High Elf Military uniform that everyone else had adopted. The black of the uniform made his brown hair and tanned skin look lighter. It was a good look for Andrew. Alex had always been jealous of his brother’s looks growing up. The girls had been drawn away from Alex’s thin build towards the younger brother with deep brown eyes and solid features. Alex had eventually filled out, but Andrew would always be the better-looking of the two of them.

“You look good.” Alex said as he eyed his brother

Paige crossed her arms, “I’m fine too, thanks for asking.”

Alex fought back a grin. The girl was too self-centered for his tastes. Part of her attitude drove him crazy; the other part forced him to smile.

“I’m glad you’re okay.” Alex said, “How’s Caleb?”

“He’s behind me.” Andrew said, “Looking at the ship.”

Alex nodded. He hoped someone else would start talking. He had just run out of topics. Until he found Mettan, there wasn’t much to do but wait.

Caleb walked onto the bridge. He waved at the group, then sat down on the couch in the middle of the bridge.

“Well, that’s everyone.” Alex looked around the room, “Anyone need an introduction?”

Silence was the response.

“Ah,” Alex shuffled his feet, “This is awkward.”

Paige moved to the couch next to Caleb, “So what’s your story?”

“Umm,” Caleb scooted away from her. He looked at Alex, “What are we doing here? The file in my room had stuff about Elves and magic and stuff, but what’s the point?”

“I’d like to know that too.” Andrew said from the doorway, “What are we doing here?”

“It’s kind of a long story.” Alex said

“The Dark Legion wants to conquer Earth. Their fleet will land in two hours. You have power that can stop them.” Mettan said as he walked into the room.

“Okay,” Alex said, “Maybe not that long.”

“You know the Fleet is out of the bubble?” Paige asked

“They just broke out.” Mettan said,

“What do we need to do?” Alex asked

Kark walked onto the bridge. He looked Andrew up and down. He turned to Mettan, “This is the one?”

“Yes,” Mettan answered. Alex could tell that his mentor was not pleased.

Kark put his hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “We need your help.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“For what?” Andrew asked

Kark held up his hand, “I need to be sure.”

Mettan dipped his head forward, “Of course.”

There was a flash, then all of them were at the base of Kark’s tower. But it wasn’t just them, there were almost a hundred other humans that were gathered in the garden outside. They were clustered around the trees and sitting on benches. No one looked at ease, and they were keeping to groups of threes and fours. Alex noticed that each cluster had an Elf in it. Despite the heavy population of humans, the garden smelled like roses. Which was strange because of all the flowers that were in the garden, but he didn’t see any roses.

In the center of the garden was a white stone the size of a bowling ball on a three-foot-tall stone pedestal. Ten feet away from the pedestal was a circular reservoir that surrounded the stone. Four bridges connected the island to the rest of the garden.

Dumas walked up. He was leaning heavily on his staff, “This is the one?”

“We believe so.” Kark stepped in between the human and Dumas, “Is everyone here?”

Dumas nodded as he stared at Andrew, “I thought he’d be older.”

“He’s here.” Kark lowered his voice “And the other thing?”

“We are ready if he tries something.” Dumas whispered

Alex turned to Mettan as the three walked to the center of the garden, “What’s going on?”

Mettan pointed to the stone. Kark and Andrew were standing around it, “That is a power stone. It will tell them what powers your brother has.”

“Aren’t powers genetic?” Alex asked, “He’ll have water powers like me.”

“We know,” Mettan didn’t take his eyes off of the scene, “We want to know what other powers he has.”

“Isn’t that rare?” Alex asked, “I thought very few Elves have multiple powers.”

“It is.” Mettan said, “But most humans seem to have multiple powers.”

Alex looked at Andrew, “How many does he have?” They had always competed for everything. Andrew having water powers was a certainty, but for Andrew to have a second power. Well, it was something that Alex wouldn’t be able to compete with. You couldn’t work to get more powers. It was something you were born with. He had a bad feeling that he wasn’t going to like Mettan’s answer.

“All of them.” Mettan said, “They think they’ve found the Triftion.”

That knocked the breath out of Alex. He closed his eyes. Part of him was happy for his brother. It would be a great honor to be the champion of the human race. The rest of him was jealous. There was no way he could compete anywhere on the same level as his brother now. His little brother was playing on a field all by himself.

“This is some sort of trickery!” Feletis shouted as he walked into the garden. “The odds of there being a Triftion in the humans is impossible!” He walked right up to Andrew and stared him down.

“Shouldn’t he be happy?” Alex asked in a hushed whisper, “Isn’t the Triftion supposed to destroy the Dark Legion?”

“Feletis has seen his share of false hope over the centuries.” Mettan whispered, “He doesn’t want to be disappointed again.”

“Oh.”

They both turned back to the Elders. Kark passed the knife to Feletis, then backed away from Andrew. Alex’s muscles tensed as the ancient Elf grabbed Andrew’s hand and held it over the stone. The knife slid across Andrew’s palm in a quick motion and a thin line of blood dripped onto the stone.

The blood began to run down the stone, but nothing happened. Alex wanted to ask, but the silence from the Elders drowned out his question.

The first drop of blood reached the bottom of the stone, then froze. The stone began to glow soft white, then the blood was gone. Feletis curled Andrew’s hand closed and moved it away from the stone. The light pulsed once, twice then three times. On the third pulse, the stone changed from white to a swirl of red, silver, blue, and brown. There was a pop and then the light died and the stone turned back to its marble white.

Alex didn’t know what to say. He was pretty sure what it meant. That was the four colors of the Elemental powers. His brother was the Triftion.

The first person to move was Feletis. The ancient Vita dropped to a knee and bowed before the Triftion. That started a ripple effect. Every Elf fell to their knees and bowed their heads, even Kark.

Alex followed suit when Mettan bowed. He noticed that the humans were puzzled as to what to do. Most were mimicking their Elf teachers. Even Paige was bowing, something that Alex hadn’t thought she would do.

Alex snuck a glance at his brother. Andrew was speechless at the honor he was being given. And his face was the color of the stains on his right hand.

Alex grinned, even with all that power, Andrew still got embarrassed.

“Please,” Andrew motioned his hands up, “Stand up.”

Everyone began standing up. Alex saw Demetrius begin pushing his way toward the Triftion.

“Congratulations!” Demetrius’ voice was sickly sweet.

Kark stepped in between Andrew and Demetrius. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” Demetrius asked innocently

Dumas and Xannah moved behind the bridge. They each had their staffs out and pointed at Demetrius.

“What’s going on?” Alex whispered

“Elf business,” Mettan stepped in front of them, “Stay back.”

“What is this?” Demetrius grinned, “I just want to welcome our redemption.”

“What is going on Kark?” Feletis demanded,

“That’s what I want to know.” Kark said, “We know about Stilas.”

“Stilas is dead.” Demetrius reached for his sleeve.

“Don’t.” Kark pointed at Demetrius, “Hand’s up.”

Demetrius opened his palms and held them up, “I don’t know what you think I did.”

“Stilas got onto Earth with the help of one of the Elders.” Kark flexed his fingers, “We know it was you.”

Demetrius’ face clouded. His voice dropped to a harsh cackle, “Took you long enough.”

The water in the reservoir leaped into the air. Mettan had both hands out, ready to collapse it over the traitor.

“Give up.” Kark said, “You aren’t getting out of here.”

“Not while he’s alive.” Demetrius’ voice darkened. He dropped to his knee and threw a bolt of white light at Andrew.

Kark moved to step in front of the bolt, but it twisted past him.

“NO!” Alex screamed

Mettan sliced his arms in front of him and the water crashed over Demetrius. It would stop a second bolt, but the first would be plenty to kill Andrew.

The bolt hit flesh, but it wasn’t human. Feletis stood defiantly in front of Andrew. His right hand was outstretched. The magic bolt was frozen in his open palm. It began to shrink and melted into his skin, causing it to glow for a moment, then it was gone.

Feletis glared at Demetrius, “You’re dead.”

Demetrius looked around, his magic was blocked by the water that was wrapped around him. He was outgunned. Every one of the hundred-plus people around him was pulling power. It would take one flinch, then he would be dead.

“Until next time.” Demetrius growled. The Space where he had been standing turned into black smoke, then he was gone.

“What happened?” Alex demanded, “Where did he go?”

The water dropped and flowed back into the reservoir. “That was a dimensional portal.” Mettan looked over at his cousin, “He’s gone.”