Chapter Four The Elders

The days that followed went by quickly, they went back to Marcus’s Valley to pick up some last minute supplies, Katy and Deen had used most of their potion supplies since they were not supposed to practice new spells, so they got double the amount normally needed. Katy thought it was good to focus on potion ingredients and passed on a couple books they had seen, even though they contained some more difficult spells, but she did pick up a beginner’s wand maker guide. She had spent a couple of days with Riley as they read his old wand history books, she found the history quite interesting. Katy never wanted to make wands but she wanted to find out how they were made, how her own was made. Maybe even who might have made it, so many years before she was born, before the people she loved were even born.

One morning Edgar came and got them all up, they had a trial in front of the Elders. Riley did as well, as he had requested to have a change in Guardians or to be declared an adult. They all teleported to an unknown location, only Edgar knew, so they held on him. Only high level Guardians knew where the Elders convened. “Now behave!” Edgar said sternly, he knew how these children spoke their mind, and he did not need the blowing up at the Elders.

“Fine, but why did we all have to come?” Deen said as he tried to hide a yawn.

“Because your presence was requested.” Edgar responded. “Now behave, and be quiet until you are spoken too.” Edgar finished and they walked into the Elder’s court room.

Katy did not know what to expect, but she did not expect the simple set up. There were five tables; the only thing unique about them was the fact they appeared to be made out of the element of their owner. Katy looked in wonderment at them, there was a table that seemed to be nothing but wisps of Air, the women behind it had the coldest eyes she had ever seen, they seemed to be made of Blue Lace Agate, and she also had a light bluish colored hair. She stood up to introduce herself.

“Welcome.” She said in a sing song type voice. “I am Karamila. And we are the Elders.”

Another woman stood up from a desk made of flames. She had eyes the color of dark garnets and hair to match, her voice was however cold as ice. “I am Nova. Welcome.” She sat back down, and Katy caught a glimpse of her thoughts “she can’t be! She is so small, but so powerful; the elements are burning around her, but so small, so young.” Nova’s thoughts had a sad tone to them, but before Katy could try to hear more another Elder stood up and Nova’s thoughts were lost to her.

     His desk was made of the smallest trees she had ever seen. His hair was black as coal and his eyes were the color of brown Jaspers. “I am Desmond.” He sat back down and another stood up to welcome them.

     His desk was made of lightning bolts. His hair was navy blue and his eyes were like opals. “I am Edwin.”

     The last Elder was truly an elder warlock, he stood up slowly from a desk made of the bluest waves Katy had ever seen, and she thought the waves of the school’s lake was blue, but they were no match for his desk. His eyes were like Amazonites sparkling in water, and his white hair was streaked with a color to match. “I am Austen. We adjourn here for two reasons: The custody of Katherine Lillian Solomon, also known as Katherine Lillian Fitz, as well as Riley James Solomon’s request to be declared an adult. We will listen to final arguments and decide today. Please sit.” He stated and then held open his hands and twelve chairs appeared.

     Katy wondered who the other four chairs were for, but did not have to wait long for an answer, because as soon as the warlock sat down in came Headmaster Oeric O’Cuinn and Assistant Headmistress Lua Notte-Preto. They sat down without a word, and all waited for the trail to begin.

A moment later in followed Richard Solomon, with a woman who had to be his wife. She had ice for eyes and white blonde hair put back in a tight, severe bun. Katy knew she was just as dark as the man that stood beside her. Behind them was a young woman, she looked so tired, her brown mousey hair was a mess and at any moment it looked as if tears would fall from her brown eyes, she held on to two small boys. The boys must be Alexander and Nathan, the twins. Katy felt fear for them and the young women and felt the need to run to them and teleport them away from here. But a voice whispered now was not the time. But, she wanted to fight the voice.

The fear must have shown in her eyes because Antonio’s voice suddenly sounded in her head. “Katy Lily, remain seated. There is nothing you can do for now. We have nothing to bring to the Elders to take away Alexander and Nathan from Cora Solomon.”

“But Richard Solomon lives with them, he is so evil.” Katy sent to him.

“I know, and we will bring it up to the Elders, but they are unlikely to side against the mother, no matter how dark her husband has proven to be.”

“But…”

“No buts, Katy Lily. We will be patient, do not worry. Everything will work out.”

Katy let it drop and sat silently and waited for the hearing to begin. She knew that she would run, that Riley would run, if either one of them had to go back with Richard Solomon.

     Karamila stood up. “Now we have heard from Oeric O’Cuinn, he of course declines his right to lay claim to his niece and nephew, and, of course, the MacCathmhaoils and Guardian Hepburn, are the guardians he recommends. Now we wish to hear from Katherine Lillian and Riley James, as well as well as the rest of the Hepburn family. And Lua Notte-Preto, aunt to Katherine Lillian and Riley James Solomon, would like to make a statement.” She sat back down. “We shall also hear from Richard and Cora Solomon.” Katy could not help to notice the disdain in her voice, when she stated Richard and Cora’s names.

     “We will ask all, but Katherine Lillian, to please leave the room at this time while we speak with her.” Nova stated.

     Everybody but Katy got up and left the room. Katy sat there nervous. These were the most powerful witches and warlocks of their world. And she was alone with them. She knew they had to be powerful, they looked so young, but in their world looks can be deceiving. She waited, she did not know what they would ask, but she knew she would say almost anything to stay with the MacCathmhaoils.

     “Katherine Lillian Solomon…” Nova started, but Katy interrupted

     “Fitz. I have never called myself a Solomon.”

     “Fine, Katherine Lillian Fitz, you have been living with the MacCathmhaoils since you reentered our world, have you not?” Nova asked.

     “Yes,” Katy responded.

     “But you have spent a lot of time with the Hepburns?” Desmond asked.

     “Yes, Deen is by best friend.” Katy responded.

     “But, you ran from them?” Nova asked.

     “Yes…” Katy started.

     “Why?” Nova asked.

     “Because, I felt I needed to protect them, I had learned some false information, and it scared me so I ran.”

     “I assume you are talking about when you snuck into the Air dorm and overheard Riley telling his cousins that your father had a vision you would be evil.” Karamila stated, with a tone that said she was full of pride. “Ha, I told the others she was the one, after all…”

     Katy tried not to listen to their thoughts, so she blocked Karamila before she could finish the thought. “Yes.” It should not have shocked Katy they knew about that, but it did.

     “I must go off topic, Katherine Lillian, but you killed Wesley Solomon. Did you do that because you wanted to stay with the MacCathmhaoils or did you do that because you had to?” Austen asked.

     “Because I had to. I would never take a life on purpose. I don’t know how I made that shield, or why my power sent his curse back to him. It made logical sense in that dungeon of death, so I didn’t fight it, in fact at that moment I supported it.  It happened, I never planned on taking his life, and I must live with that, but he was dark. He killed so many. But I will have to learn to live with the fact that I used my power to take his life.”

     “Good.” Austen said and he said nothing more for the rest of the interview.

     The Elders continued to ask her simple questions and she answered them honestly, they also called in Deen as well as Riley and Jerome. Antonio and Sandra were called in together as was Edgar and Jane. The longest interview was with Lua and Oeric, one could hear yelling that came from the room, but nobody could quite make out what was said.

     Soon it was Richard and Cora Solomon’s turn to enter, they left Alexander and Nathan and their nanny outside in the waiting area and Katy took the chance to meet her two baby brothers. “Hello. My name is Katy. What is yours?” Katy asked the nanny.

     “My name is Angel.” Even Angel’s voice was tired.

     “Are they a lot of trouble? You seem so tired.”

     “Alex and Nate? No, they are angels, their parents are horrible. Not only do I have to watch the boys, but I have to clean the house and help Mrs. Solomon. She is horrible.”

     “Why don’t you tell the Elders…?” Katy started.

     “I owe them a life debt; I gave my freedom for my brother’s. It was worth the cost. I am only free from my bond if they die. And part of my bond is to not tell the Elders.”

     Katy is shocked that this is allowed, she made a note to ask Edgar about it, and then she looked down at the boys as they played on the floor. “Hello…” She said to them.

     They looked up to her and smiled. “Hi!” Katy could see they were about three years old.

     “How old are you two?” Katy could not help but smile as she sat down next to them.

     “We are three.” One of the twins stated, he had deep brown hair and blue eyes, the other twin had black hair and brown eyes. “What’s your name?”

     “Katy. What is yours?”

     “I am Nate, and this is Alex.” The one with blue eyes stated. Besides the contrast in eye and hair color they looked identical.

     “Nice to meet you both. What are you doing?” Katy asked.

     “We are building our home.” Alex answered and handed her some plastic blocks he was playing with.

     “Oh…” Katy was at a loss, because she looked at the house they were building and it looked nothing like the mansion that she knew they lived in. “Is that where you live now?”

     “Oh, no.” Nate answered.

     “We know that is not our true home. We have started to get our powers.”

     “We have a lot of visions!” Nate answered Katy’s unanswered question, of what powers they had shown.

     Katy looked over at Angel. “Are you sure they are three?”

     “They are, but way advanced for their age, even for young warlocks, they have even started to show signs of their power. I haven’t told the Solomons yet, it doesn’t look like they are going to be Airs,” Angel answered.

     “What do you mean?”

     “Well, Alex and Nate, though they have gotten visions, have not shown any Air powers. Well, their powers are so small, if they were normal born they would be considered nightmares instead of visions. And tricks of light instead of the sparks of energy they give off, and it may be a trick of the light, but their sparks don’t look yellow. Of course, one never knows for sure until they receive their wand. But most can tell by the sparks a child gives off, what element runs through their soul.”

     “Wow…” Katy wanted to ask more but she felt a tug on each of her sleeves.

     “Hey. You want to see our home?” Alex asked.

     “Sure.” Katy stated and looked back at the house they made, of course, being magical blocks it really looked like a house. It was three stories, it was actually a double house, with an outside made of bricks that seemed to glow from the elements within. All of the elemental colors could be seen inside, Earth, Fire, Air, Water, and Spirit.

     “Look inside!” Nate stated and opened the house. And it looked like a home, very lived in, a very happy home.

     “This does not look like your house.” Katy said before she could stop herself.

     “No.” Alex started.

     “It’s our real home.” Nate said.

     “When we leave our bad parents.” Alex said.

     “And live with you.” Nate finished.

     Katy did not know what to say. She wanted them away from Richard Solomon, and now Cora Solomon, but she did not see that happening soon. “How do you know?”

     “We saw a vision,” Nate said.

     “You should go now. Mother and Father will not be happy we talked with you.” Alex stated.

     “I will see you again.” Katy stated and walked back over by Deen. Katy told Deen about the conversation, but he did not say anything, his mind was on the trial at hand. He was scared Solomon would want Katy, that Solomon would kill her, Deen was afraid he would lose her. Katy let it drop and waited in silence.

     After what seemed like forever, but was only a few hours, everybody was called in again. The Elders had made their choice. They all went in and sat down. Nova stood to speak. “Lua Notte-Preto wants to make a statement.”

     Lua stood up. “Though I would rather Katherine and Riley stay with me, I concede there are circumstances beyond my control that require that Katherine stay within reach of a Guardian. At this time the Hepburns and the MacCathmhaoils are close. I will allow Katherine to remain with them, but I reserve the right to visit, and that she and Riley are allowed to visit me.” She sat back down and Desmond stood up.

     “With that said, we grant that request, and grant custody of Katherine Lillian Fitz and Riley James Solomon to the MacCathmhaoils, as there was no challenge from the Solomons. In fact they signed away their rights. Since Riley James Solomon is not yet eighteen, he still needs a guardian. There is the condition that Lua Notte-Preto requested as well as the condition that Guardian Hepburn is always allowed in the home for visitations and inspections.  This is the final decision of the Elders.”

Nobody said anything as the Elders disappeared, and they all teleported home. The rest of the break was spent in quiet celebration. And Katy worried about Alex and Nate.

She spoke often with Riley about how they can protect and save the twins. In the end they would sneak out of the at three in the morning and do a blood protection ritual. It would protect them from physical and magical harm caused by a family member, until they were eleven, they it would have to be done once again. Which they were caught doing by Edgar, who let them finish, but made them promise to talk to the adults before doing any more ritual.