Chapter 15d
Isabel made her way down the hallway after hearing the announcement. She knew they were going to meet today, but it just seemed too early. As she made her way out the Home Economics Dept. of the school she turn the corner and saw Alex coming from straight ahead and Michael and Maria coming from the hallway to her left. They all met up with each other in the center, where all their hallways joined.
“So, any idea why we were called so early?” Maria asked.
“That’s my question, too.” Isabel said.
Alex shrugged, “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”
They looked towards the hallway to the right of them and walked down it together. As they reached the doors they all looked at each other, each not knowing what to expect, and walked through.
*~*~*~*~*~
Liz was relieved when she saw Maria, Michael, Isabel, and Alex walk through the library doors. She hopped off the study table, where she had moved to sit away from Max, and went up to them.
“I’m sure you’re all wondering why you’re here so early?”
They all nodded.
“Well, the answer is over there in the book cage…” She said sitting back in her previous spot.
As they all turned their heads they saw the Michael dupe lying unconscious.
“Oh my god!” Maria and Isabel both gasped.
“Th-that’s me?” Michael said.
Everyone turned to look at him as he went up to look at the body. His wall was coming undone and he knew that so he quickly shook it off and turned to all of them calmly.
“I always knew I was hot, but never that hot.”
Liz smirked knowing that she felt the same way he was feeling in the beginning, too.
“So, I’m sorry if this sounds annoying, but what do we do now?” Alex asked pulling out a chair by Liz.
All eyes turned to Liz and Max.
“Guess we’re gonna start to play follow the leader, huh?” She said.
They all grinned at her.
Alex chimed in, “If we have no ideas, we can always play ‘Weekend at Bernies’ with him’!”
Everyone smiled and laughed.
Liz smiled at Alex and said, “That’s was my idea, too!”
“Well, great minds do think alike.”
Valenti walked over into the group and hated to break up the laughter, but they needed to get down to business.
“I hate to stop this, but in all seriousness, this is a danger. These shapeshifters and Tess can be anyone and come into daylight.”
“Tess… Last night you and her mentioned something about the Granolith. What do you know?” Max asked curious to see the Watcher’s knowledge.
Valenti looked at the book he had brought with him and looked at Max.
“Well, from my readings, the Granolith is a tool that holds a vast amount of energy and power. If fallen into the wrong hands, it could cause mayhem and, possibly, the end of the world, as we know it.”
Liz rolled her eyes and mumbled, “What else is new?”
Valenti gave a look and continued, reading from the book; “ It has, also, been told to have been evoked here under the guided stars by the space man. The space man shall bring the Granolith to life and, from the energy, create the guardian from the rightful owners of the Granolith, the Royal Four.”
Isabel stepped closer to the table.
“What does that mean exactly?”
“I’m not sure, but maybe that if any of you were to have children, one might be the guardian of the Granolith.”
‘… and, from the energy, create the guardian from the rightful owners of the Granolith, the Royal Four.’ Rang in Max’s head over and over. ‘Does this mean we need Tess? Or does it mean that we can be with whom we choose to be with? I guess I’ll just have to ask.’
As Max opened his mouth to say something, Liz beat him and spoke first.
“So, does that mean that they have to be with their own kind, or, can branch out?”
Valenti looked back down to his book and flipped through some pages and then back again.
“It doesn’t say, but I might have a book at my house that may have something.”
“Like you don’t have enough books here?” Liz said.
“They’re of my private collection.”
“So, who stays and who goes?” Maria asked, wanting to help.
Valenti put the book away on the shelf, stood, and thought.
“Well, your good with books, and I’m going to need assistance… So, you, Max, and Liz, if, that is, you can get out of class.” Valenti looked at the other three. “ Someone should stay here and look after the dupe, and the rest go back to class.”
“I’ll stay.” Alex said.
“Me, too.” Isabel said quickly.
The rest of the group made faces to each other, then went and did what they were assigned to do.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As Max, Liz, and Maria went with Valenti to his car, Maria turned to Liz.
“So, how did Jeanie ride this morning?”
“Jeanie?”
Maria laughed, “That’s the name Alex dubbed the Jetta, all because I was addicted to the song, “Genie in a Bottle”, by Christina Aguliera.”
Liz laughed.
“It was okay, but I was really late this morning.”
“Why?”
Liz grimaced.
“Well, I was rudely awakened by a freaky dream I had, which I have to tell Valenti about, and then, was forgotten about since my darling, little, sister was starting school today, then, I had to get all my stuff ready, find the keys, and get in the Jetta. And I did that all twenty minutes after school started!”
Max choked back a laugh and Liz noticed it.
“It’s not funny, Max!”
Max turned to look at her.
“I’m not laughing at what happened, just imagining what your reaction to your ‘hectic morning’.”
Max turned back around and got into the passenger’s seat of Valenti’s Cruiser.
“I approve.” Maria said opening the car’s white door and getting into the back.
Liz followed Maria in and closed the door.
“So, Natalie’s in school today?”
“Yup.”
“God, just imagine if she has a class with Michael, the way she’d do anything for him…”
Just then, something clicked in Liz’s head.
“Oh my god,” she gasped.
Liz quickly opened up the back door and ran out back towards the school.
“Liz!” Maria yelled as she hopped out of the back seat to follow her. She turned to Max and Valenti, “Come on!”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ten Minutes Ago
Natalie sat in Study Hall bored out of her mind. Five minutes ago when she heard familiar names being called to the library, she didn’t really think of anything, but now it was bothering her and she was wondering why they didn’t call her name, too.
“I wonder what it’s about? Duh, Nat, try last night…” She whispered to herself.
She looked around the room and her eyes fell on the teacher who wasn’t paying any attention. She smiled as an idea popped in her head.
“Pssss…. Alexis,” she called to her new friend.
Alexis turned around and looked at Natalie.
“What?”
“Where’s the library?”
“Down the hall and to the left, why?”
“No reason.”
Natalie stood up with her backpack and went up to Mr. G’nade.
“May I please go to the bathroom?”
He nodded and waved his hand toward the door. Feeling left out, Nat quickly slipped out and walked towards the library.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Alex still sat in the same place after everyone left.
“So, what do you want to do?” He asked Isabel.
“I think we should try and look for more information, maybe about shapeshifters, instead of the Granolith.”
“Well, I saw Valenti go into the stacks to get his ‘special’ books, maybe something is there.”
As they went up the stairs they searched in the first row of books.
“Anything?” Alex asked.
“No, just the normal stuff.” Isabel replied picked up another book and looking at it.
Suddenly they heard a rattle in the book cage, but before they could look out of the row and see what or who made the noise, a sudden blast hit the bookcase and it fell down on both Isabel and Alex. Before they even knew what happened, it all went black.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Natalie heard a crash and ran faster to the library. As she opened the doors she saw that some of the stacks up top had fallen over. As she walked in further she saw a familiar face all locked up. The person looked at her and smiled.
“Natty, thank god you here. Could you help me out of here?”
“You locked yourself in a book cage? Can’t you just use your powers?”
“Yeah, and, well, I’m not really good at controlling my powers, so when I tried, the book cases fell.”
Natalie stepped closer.
“But, even if I was to help you, I don’t know where the keys are.”
“Try behind the counter.”
“Okay.” She said heading behind the counter.
The dupe Michael smirked in success as Natalie crouched looking for the keys and pulled them out.
“How did you manage to lock yourself in there in the first place?”
“Valenti was telling me about weapons for your sister…so I thought I’d check them out. Since guys like stuff like this.”
Natalie stopped and looked really hard at Michael.
“Natty… what are you doing? Help me.”
‘Natty? Where have I heard someone call me that before?’ she thought.
Then, it came to her.
“And you are just the darlin'-est thing I ever did see in my life. What's your name, honey?”
“Natalie.” She said looking at Liz and her cute guy friend.
“ Natalie? I bet you know a lot of your sister’s life don’t you Natty?”
“Your not Michael!” She said.
The dupe smirked and pushed the door so hard that it came off its hinges and hit the ground.
“Yup, and guess what you are…”
Natalie tensed up.
“…breakfast.” He said putting on his game face and lunging at her.
~Natty
