Chapter One

Before the storm

I am ready to scream. I've been on my walk for less than five minutes and already three drivers nearly hit me! Pedestrians should have the right of way but every time I try crossing the main street to continue my walk, another car turns and traps me back on the median. Who would have thought that a city with a population of 300,000 would have such a traffic problem?

After waiting three more light changes, I finally managed to slip between a pair of stopped mini-vans and get to the gas station on the other side. I really hate college rush hour traffic, and I ain't even in a car or in college! It doesn't seem fair that I have to suffer because of others...

That's life, I suppose... I continue past the gas station to the path that leads down to the beach. It goes right next to this little crick that leads from Lake Okajiba to the ocean. It babbles along side me and sometime makes loud splooshes when little kids toss rocks in. I look around to make sure there are no adults to ruin my fun by figuring out what I’m going to do.

I pull into the reserves of power I dare not show anyone who would understand what it is. Another little kid, a boy who is being picked on for being unable to skip a rock, tosses a rock into the water. It hits the surface of the water and bounces off. The little kids stare in awe as it bounces high up into the air and continues across like a bouncy ball.

I walk off before the kids notice me, although they are absorbed by the bouncing rock. I chuckle as I kept along the beaten path. A simple protect cast a few times and the rock magically bounces along. Wait... Yeah, it does bounce magically. My own little secret.

I have been forced to hide my birthright from everyone. I hate it with all my heart. It’s like being Superman and being unable to go out and save the day for fear that if anyone saw you, you would be kicked out of society and into a government research lab. I don’t want to go and be a test subject for who know what! So I hide my weak black and strong white magical abilities and train inside with the shades shut.

But I still get to enjoy them if I can get away with it. A protect spell here, a cure on scrapes on my arm, and sometimes even ice to trip up annoying people. I just wish I would be able to show others without having to fear betrayal. A sharp wind blows across my face and I snap out of my magic mindset. I didn't come out here to moan about how I bitter life is. I came out here to meet friends, eat pizza, and go drown at the beach and no mental problems are gonna stop me!

It's a pretty fast trip. It's downhill with a clear, open path. I push myself at a hurried walk. I promised Mike that I would meet him at the Godfather's down by the beach. He works there and always gives me a good deal on pizza. I love having friends with perks.

Nothing more delays my trip and I soon find myself at the little strip mall where the store is located. There are a few little stores next to it, including a Starbucks. There's a little park next to it and there are big elm trees that are just beautiful in the fall. The park is one of my favorite places to eat lunch on most days. Overall, it is normally pretty quiet around here.

Normally. Today there is a major crowd surrounding the entrance of Godfather's and I've got a nasty feeling Mike has something to do with this. He's rather short-tempered and prone to violent outbreaks. I push and shove my way to the big pane windows and sigh.

There's Mike in the center of the room with someone laying on the ground bleeding. Mike's face is contorted with bloodlust and he's showing all of his teeth in a feral grin. His arm is held back as he readies another punch to bloody the fallen man. Oh boy, this is going to be ugly.

I push my way into the restaurant and into the clear area. Mike doesn't seem to notice as I approach the empty area the crowd has given him. I think I can hear his manager yelling in the background for him to stop and he's fired but it doesn't seem to have any effect. I run up and grab him by his collar before he starts to seriously hurt the man.

Faster than I can realize, he spins around and punches me dead in the jaw. I can feel my head swoon and I almost fall to my feet from the pain. I manage to shrug off most of the pain and raise my hands to ward off another blow.

“Damn it, Anthony, warn me before you sneak up.” He says, lowering his arm. I grab his arm and start to clear the crowd away from the door to escape. I finally get him out the door and down to the path to the beach.

“You know, Mike, I was really looking forward to pizza today.” I say. I really was and having to drag him off someone and pop a few Advil is not what I had planned.

He sighs and shrugs my remark off as if it were nothing, as he always does. “He grabbed Lyss's ass. What should I have done?”

“Called over the manager who just fired you? I know she's your sis, man. Next time, try to get it solved with words before fists.”

“Ughhhh. Words never get anything done. You're indecisive.”

I don't bother to remark to this true statement. It doesn't matter what he says. I just know there are better ways to solve problems rather than send a man to the hospital and get stuck with multiple assault charges. Everyone thinks he's some sort of gangster with his baggy clothes, violent attitude, and shaved head but he's just your average bully. Sad fact is, I know he has at least thirty points more on the IQ test and I scored a 164.

We walk along, not really saying anything. What should I say? You're a moron for even getting into that fight? I understand why the guy grabbed her? Because your sister is hot and that was her boyfriend? I hate violence and saving your butt every time you get in trouble. I don't say any of these things. Not for fear of my life but because... I just don't want to talk about it.