A Thief's Treasure (5 page)

“Holy shit.
 
Did I just do that?” I asked.

“You sure did sweetie.
 
Well good to know you did definitely get the fire alchemy trait from our clan.
 
Now let’s see the water element,” he replied.

I walked over to the water and focused on making the crazies thing ever.
 
I thought it wouldn’t happen, but soon a huge flash of light came out and a giant dragon came out of the water.
 
It started to skate around and my hands started to follow it, but soon it disappeared again.
 
I placed my hands back at my side and I turned to Anthony, who had a look of complete shock placed on his face.

“Holy crap,” he exclaimed.

I blushed in embarrassment.
 
I didn’t know if what I did was good or bad so I didn’t really understand his reaction.
 
“Was it really that great?” I asked.

“Honey you have a knack for water magic and your fire magic is pretty amazing as well.
 
We need to work on your air and water and I also want to check your iron, but I want to only stick with these elements for right now before we move onto changing metal.
 
That was freaking great though, way better than Darren’s first shot at it.
 
The kid couldn’t even move the rock.
 
Now it’s his
favorite
element though and definitely knows how to control it,” Anthony stated.

“Cool.
 
So what’s next since we tested all of that out?”

“Now you’re going to work on it on your own.
 
We’ll focus on earth today.
 
I want you to cut that rock completely in half.
 
If you can do that then you can take the rest of the day off.
 
Until then, have fun.”
 
With those words he walked away, leaving me alone with the rock in front of me.
 
It was a little bigger than the one I tried to break before, but I wasn’t going to get discouraged.
 
I was going to do this, and I would be dammed if I didn’t.

There was a small pile of rocks off to the side next to the main one I was trying to break.
 
I decided to focus on those first before tackling the project Anthony gave me.
 
I felt like I was getting it, but each time I was only getting a small part of it broken off or maybe just a tiny crack, nothing compared to the size of the rock.
 
It was starting to really aggravate me and I knew it was just the normal frustration I got when I wasn’t able to do something perfect, but even so it was bothering me that I was able to master water and fire alchemy but I can’t move a fucking rock for shit.

The fog had dissipated and soon rain clouds were forming.
 
A few small sprinkles started to form, morphing into pouring rain after about a minute.
 
I hated working out in the rain and this was definitely no exception.
 
I knew I couldn’t quit however and as the rain continued to fall I started to hit the rocks again.
 
I wondered where Anthony and Darren were; neither of them had even bothered to check up on me since he left me with this little project.
 
It didn’t matter though; I needed some time alone to work on this myself.
 
I pulled off my shirt revealing a black sports bra and started to move the rocks again.
 

After about two hours I felt like I was making no progress.
 
I had been doing the same damn thing over and over again.
 
I didn’t really know what to do and the frustration was empowering me so I grabbed my shirt and went to a grove of trees.
 
Sleep was starting to overtake me so I closed my eyes and started to nod off into a little slumber.

Chapter Six

“Wake up Alyssa.
 
You can do this.
 
Don’t give in to your own personal demons.”

I started to rouse.
 
I wasn’t awake but at the same time this wasn’t one of the dreams I normally had.
 
A pale and beautiful woman with black hair and green eyes was looking at me with a look of concern.

“W-who are you?” I asked.

“I’m Erika the alchemic mistress of the earth.
 
I see you’re trying very hard to cut those rocks.
 
How’s it going so far?” she asked warmly.

“Look for yourself.
 
I haven’t even made a
fricken
dent in it,” I retorted.

“Well don’t look down on it sweetie.
 
Just think about how you would move it. Imagine your hands are a spear and you’re cutting through that in order to get to the prize you desire.
 
You can do it and I’m here for you.
 
You’re the chosen one to open the Great Rune and I’m more than willing to help you whenever you need it.
 
Just try that and see how it goes afterwards,” she instructed.

“Okay….so I guess I’ll just have to fall asleep and I’ll be able to see you?”

“You’re going to have to call on me and I’ll be there to help you.
 
I can’t come out into the physical universe but I can contact you in the dream world.
 
Same with the other gods as well.
 
If you need help all you need to do is dream,” she stated.

“Okay.
 
Well I’m going to go back and try what you said.”

“Good.
 
Have fun and good luck,” she replied.
 

I woke up from my dream and sat up.
 
My breathing was a little fast, but after a moment I looked around and I was back under the tree.
 
The rain was coming down a lot harder and I knew I didn’t want to be out in this storm all day.
 
I got up and walked over to the rocks.
 
I closed my eyes and imagined my hand was a sword.
 
Once I did that a shot of light came down and I moved my hands a little.
 
It felt a lot different than the first time I did it and the dozens of other times I had attempted to on the other rocks.
 
I opened my eyes and there was the rock, clean and cut in half like it was a piece of chicken.
 

I was shocked to say the least.
 
I tried it a few more times before trying it on the big rock and the same result was apparent.
 
I then moved to the huge rock that Anthony instructed for me to break and with one
full
swoop I broke the rock not only in half but in quarters as well, and it laid there like a cut pie waiting to be served.
 
I was shocked to say the least; what Erika had said worked wonders and I was able to finally break the rock.
 
I grabbed my shirt and ran through the grove of three to the back of the house where I started my training that morning.
 
Darren was sitting there with my sweatshirt in hand and a smirk on his face.
 
He stood up and walked to the landing by the stairway, obviously interested in how I did.

“So I guess you finally figured out the secret?” he asked.

“Yep.
 
I had to take a little nap but after that it seemed really easy and I was able to finally figure out how to do it without tiring the hell out of yourself,” I replied happily.

“Well good.
 
I’m glad Anthony had you do that and go train until you got it.
 
Plus I get the added benefit of a great view, man you should wear that outfit more often,” he teased.
 

It was at that moment that I realized I was still clad in only my shorts and a sports bra.
 
The rain was cascading down it and it was soaked.
 
What made it even worse was that I was really cod and the rain didn’t help, causing my nipples to harden and be seen through the garment.
 
I fiddled with my shirt and pulled it back on, a look of displeasure present on my face.

“You pervert,” I exclaimed.

“Hey not my fault you forgot about clothing when you were too busy trying to control the elements.
 
It’s not a bad thing, I forget at times too and sometimes my mom has to correct me and tell me to go put on a shirt or some longer pants,” he replied.
 
His teasing
demeanor
was replaced by one of care and my anger started to dissipate.

“Well let’s just go in.
 
I’m fucking cold,” I stated.
 
I walked in and Darren followed suit.
 
Eliza and Anthony were sitting at the table and when I walked in they both had warm smiles on their faces.

“So I guess you figured that out.
 
That was fast.
 
Way faster than Darren’s first time trying to break a rock,” Anthony teased.

“Shut it dad,” he replied.

“Oh whatever.
 
Well that’s all the training we’re going to do for today, so why don’t you take a shower and then come on down.
 
We’ll have some dinner and then after that we’ll let you have some free time.
 
If you want to hang out down here or with Darren you can, but if you want to be alone that’s fine too,” Eliza said.

“Cool.
 
Yeah I’m going to take a shower,” I replied.
 
I trudged upstairs and into my room, which thankfully also had a bathroom to it so I didn’t have to deal with Darren far more than necessary.
 
I grabbed a pair of sweats and a shirt along with a thong and walked into the bathroom.
 
I turned on the showerhead and stepped in, loving the feel of the hot water against my freezing body.
 
After about twenty minutes I got out, drying myself off.
 
I wrapped a towel around me and around my hair and walked back into my room.
 
I needed a moment to dry off before I put my clothes back on again, so I decided to kill it by reading some of the books that were on the table.

I started to read it when I heard a knock on the door.
 
I assumed it was Eliza so I hollered for her to come in.
 
After a moment the door opened and then closed and the figure was in the room.
 
When I looked up, my normal disposition was replaced by one of horror and embarrassment.
 
Darren was in the room with my sweatshirt in hand, and I was only in a skimpy towel that wasn’t really covering a whole lot.

“H-hey.
 
I’m sorry I didn’t say who it was; I didn’t realize I would catch you like this.
 
Here’s your sweatshirt, I kind of forgot it and I didn’t realize it until after I was in my room and took a quick shower.
 
So here you go,” he stated, thrusting the sweatshirt into my hands.

“T-thanks,” I replied.

“No problem.
 
What you studying?”

“Just some of the books.
 
I should probably get dressed and go down for dinner though,” I stated.

“That might be a good idea.
 
Well I guess I’ll see you downstairs,” he replied nervously.
 
After a moment he was gone, leaving me alone and flushing.
 
I couldn’t believe the effect this man was having on me.
 
I’ve had guys see me in a towel before and frankly I’ve even answered the door in one, but I never have acted all nervous and embarrassed at the sheer idea of him seeing me like this.
 
I scrambled back to the bathroom and put the comfort of my clothes on.
 
I brushed my brown hair and dried it with the blow-dryer I was provided.
 
It caused my hair to have little tendrils cascading down, which was how I wanted it to look.
 
Once I was done I walked down to dinner, a warm smile present on my face.