Four Elements Book 1 - Hidden Powers

Chapter 14 - A new mission - part 2

"I thought that too," Ellie replied thoughtfully. "But she says no one in the drama club even mentioned getting a staff or scepter or anything like that... and it's nothing like the one planned for the musical."

Andie paused by her locker, pretending to look for something while listening. A staff that had appeared out of nowhere...? It sounded too good to be true... only... it fit with what the pendulum had indicated... she dared not move, her heart hammering.

"Really?" Nora asked. "Weird..."

"Well, you know Judy, she's always had too much imagination for her own good," Ellie shrugged. "Come on, I think we've still got time to put up a few more before lunch."

"This year's musical's going to be awesome," Nora said. "I wonder who's going to land the lead role..."

"Probably Vicki Chase. She's good. She only missed out last year because she had the flu or something..."

"Oh, yeah, I remember," Nora replied. "Yeah, if she tries out this time, she'll be great.

Andie had never heard Vicki sing, but didn't particularly care if she could or not.

"That girl they talked about on the radio the other week was good too."

"Oh, you mean Andie Galestone? Yeah. They passed an excerpt of her audition on the radio, and it was amazing! Don't know if she's the performing kind..."

And they walked off. Andie immediately sent a text to Isabelle and Emily to say she had news. She almost sent one to Jessica, but hesitated. After a few moments, she decided not to send it. Jessica had said she didn't want to be involved, and Andie had to respect that. She put her phone back in her pocket and walked off to her next class.

"You're sure?" Isabelle asked.

They had met up at lunchtime, as usual, and her friends immediately asked to know what she'd found out. The room was even noisier than usual, because it was cold, which meant almost everyone was eating inside, so they could admire the trees going red and orange outside through the bay window while staying in the warm cafeteria. They'd even had to add more tables and open the surrounding classrooms, because it was too cold to be outside. Jessica had chosen to sit somewhere else. Andie had tried not to show upset she was by this, but she had a feeling her friends knew what she was thinking. But she put it aside for now. Jessica would have to wait a little.

"Positive. I know it's a long shot, but it's worth a look, right?" Andie asked.

Andie was trying to think logically from now on. She realized now that she might have let her guilt and feelings for Bane get in the way of her reason, and she didn't want that to happen again. Her friends had already taken too many risks.

"Yeah, but how are we going to get anywhere near the staff to see if it's what we think?" Emily asked. "Come in at night?"

Andie shook her head.

"No, not that. I should never have led you into that..." Andie said. "I still can't believe how lucky we were not to get caught..."

"Don't even think about apologizing," Isabelle said. "We all knew it was dangerous."

"I know..." Andie said heavily.

"And besides, how else were you planning on getting it?" Emily said. "Not to mention the most important part."

"What?"

"Well, let's imagine you hadn't got into that museum." Emily said reasonably. "Zorak probably knew about the Caduceus's power like River does, and there's a chance he would have wanted to acquire that too. For good measure, or whatever messed-up reason a demon lord can have for that sort of thing. And if that had happened..."

"He'd have been even more powerful..." Andie said.

"Exactly. And now, we have an advantage. The Caduceus reacts to threat. And since we're not a threat..."

"Does it know that?"

"Yes," Isabelle said at once.

Emily, who had looked a little stumped, and Andie, turned to her.

"Yes, it does. Because Andie held it for several minutes after she pulled it from the statue."

Andie had to admit she hadn't thought of that.

"So it'll flee from Zorak and Zarias, but not us?"

"Not Andie. I don't know about anyone else." Isabelle amended.

"Okay, that's great," Emily said. "But that doesn't solve our problem. How do we get to it?"

Andie's eye was caught by a large poster on the wall.

"I think I have an idea."

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Hmm, I wonder what that idea could be, don't you?

What are your thoughts? Let's hear your ideas on how to get the staff in the comments!

Links to the songs in the descriptions below :-)

Will they find the staff before Zarias intervenes? Will Andie's new idea work? Let's find out in the next chapter!

Thank you again for all your votes and comments! You're all amazing, and let no one tell you different