Elemental Genesis

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Chapter 19: First Encounters

"Do you sense it, Cami?"

"Yeah," the blind girl responded. "It's not that far away. Probably in the next alley."

One doubtlessly would be wondering why four fifteen year-olds would be wandering in the back streets of a notoriously shady London neighborhood. They had good reason to though. After all, the thing they were looking for was something that would hang out in such a dingy and dirty place. That said something was almost certainly a thing that most people would take great care to avoid. But then being asked a favor by a goddess who saved your live would certainly make Dudley Dursley far from normal.

Dudley Dursley and Jerry Maplethorpe lead the way between the dark shadows formed by the two crumbling brick tenements. Behind them was a collected Cami Weaver, flanked by her faithful canine, and an alert Alyce Whitbaker. They were being guided by both the exceptional senses of Cami and the device given by the Shadow Goddess.

How he found out about his friends' talents was a complete accident. Already he had mastered summoning his spirit energy and was using different forms of it. One was the sword, which had a lot of force behind it. Another was a shield that he could use to defend himself against long-range or magical attacks. One of his favorites was the gun. So far, he had three concentrated shots. There were more manifestations of spirit energy, but Dudley decided to stick with the basics right now and as he grew stronger, learn more complex techniques. Cami found out first. According to the book, normal humans had trouble seeing or sensing spirit energy unless a great deal of it was gathered in one area. Having this knowledge, Dudley practiced in his backyard. The cinder blocks he used vaporized into dust with every attack. He figured that he would be done before his friends arrived. Dudley had invited them over to his house to play some video games. However, Cami came early.

At first, he didn't think it was much of a problem. But then she asked what were the bright flashes of light that came from his hands. She also said that those bright lights could be seen a mile away. That had been quite a shock to him.

In the end (with help from Spirit Energy: A Guide), they figured out that Cami was very 'spiritually aware'. That meant that she could sense demons, ghosts, and powerful humans though the spirit energy produced by them. "I never knew that was what it was," Cami said when they found their answer. She had been doing it since she was young and it was her way of recognizing people. It was soon after she said that did they realize that Jerry and Alyce were also there, but didn't announce their presence. After the initial confusion (and denial), he had to explain everything that was going on INCLUDING Harry, the wizarding world, and the Shadow Goddess. Again, he was relatively certain that they would abandon him, if not for being weird but also insane.

Surprisingly, they had been eager to help him out. They said a lot of things that happened in the world were explained. Though Dudley did wonder if he would get in trouble for telling regular people about the existence of wizards, but it was necessary to. Jerry said that it certainly clarified several animals under examination that had soundly stumped his parents (he recalled when some crazy chap named Aberforth Dumbledore brought in a very strange goat). Alyce was just relieved that the cloaked guy who came into Culinary Delights everyday for the marble cake wasn't insane. No matter how much he tried to convince them not to get involved, they insisted on taking part in his mission.

So now, he wasn't alone in his task to take out aggressive demons. Alyce discovered she had spirit power herself, but most of it was of the healing or defensive variety. As for Jerry, he had plenty of offensive spiritual power, almost as much as Dudley. Not to mention that he was the best out of all of them when using the Mancer.

The Mancer was a gift from the Shadow Goddess to help them. It was sort of like a portable computer modified with magic. In its normal form, it resembled a small laptop with the symbol of a silver winged dragon on its black casing. However, it could also be turned into a silver tinted visor that went over the eyes. The Mancer could detect demons (on a very wide range), measure how strong they were, give valuable information on demons and other things that dealt with magic, and could transport them places. He had to admit that the experimental trip they took to Loch Ness in Scotland was fun and that the monster in the lake was fortunately a friendly demon that was just camera-shy. Dudley considered the Mancer a blessing since he doubted he could do his job without that handy little device. After he had told his friends about what was going on and they promised to help, he found four watch-like objects on the kitchen counter in the morning. The 'MiniMancers' as Alyce had dubbed them could do what the regular Mancer did, except on a smaller range, acted as communicators, and told time. They were highly useful.

Cami murmured, "Around the corner." Peeking around the deteriorating building, they saw a scene that they wished they hadn't.

The sidewalk was covered in furry bodies. There had to be hundreds of rats scurrying around an even larger shape that had to be the demon. It was a hunching gray figure standing on two legs, its forearms ending in sharp claws. Dudley could see bright red eyes in its elongated head and its ears pricked every which way as it sniffed the air.

"Okay guys, I've got the info," said Jerry quietly. He had switched the Mancer to its visor form. "It's a rat demon and it's pretty close to our own level of power. We have to avoid its teeth and claws because not only are they sharp, but they're disease-ridden. Disgusting...oh and we have to be careful of the rats." He gestured to the vermin with disgust. "Mancer says that he can control them."

Cami scowled, "It's descriptions like those that make me happy I can't see."

"At the moment, I wish I can say the same," admitted Alyce. Dudley noticed that she did look a little green.

"Okay," whispered Dudley hastily. "Jerry and I will take care of our 'little' friend there. Can you guys cover us?"

Alyce grimly nodded and Cami kept looking unseeingly at the demon behind her dark glasses. It was with this plan that Dudley and Jerry went forward, the girls close behind in the shadows. They were immediately met with a rolling red gaze.

"So," it squeaked in a high voice. "Humans have come to Gogingo? Good, Gogingo and his friends are still hungry." The rats around them seemed to grow in number.

"I'm afraid you won't be eating us," announced Dudley. "You are ordered to return to the demon world. If you don't comply, then you will be exterminated. Well?"

Gogingo laughed. "Gogingo leave? Never! Food here! Never leave! No human can stop demon!"

Dudley could help but stifle a laugh as he heard Jerry mutter, "Why do they always saw no and that we can't beat them?"

Alyce dryly replied, "Because they don't know any better."

The rats attacked at once in a wave. Alyce, with help from Cami, put up a shield around them to defend against it. The rats were violently thrown back. After they had landed, they then fled in obvious terror. Alyce took down the shield once Cami verified that they had all left. How loyal, Dudley couldn't help but sarcastically think. Screaming in rage, Gogingo himself lunged at them.

Jerry managed to quickly create a spear of spirit energy and sent it at the giant rat. Gogingo went flying towards the brick wall. The demon flipped out of it though, panting and bleeding, but grinning happily. Dudley didn't wait for it to attack again. He formed a ball of spirit energy in his right hand and aimed. Gogingo made a feral growl and launched himself at them again. Dudley then threw the energy ob and with a flash of light and a high-pitched scream, Gogingo was gone. But why was he smiling? It wasn't as if he were proving anything by not flying into that wall.

"Guys, something's not-"

But he was cut off by Cami's exclamation of, "Jerry, your leg!"

Jerry gave her a confused look. "What?" He looked down at his legs. "What's wrong with my legs?"

"That demon got you somehow in your right leg. I think it was a stray rat. The energy around it seems - warped."

Dudley swiftly asked, "Did you feel anything after Gogingo went flying?"

"Just something like a sting-"

"Sit," interrupted Alyce.

"What?!"

"Sit and let me heal you! Cami's probably sensing a disease and we're not losing you."

Dudley and Cami laughed as Jerry grumbled under Alyce's ministrations. I hope that we're doing well. I don't want the Shadow Goddess to be disappointed.

As they finished healing Jerry and teleported home via Mancer, none of them noticed the violet eyes watching them, not even Cami.

<><><>

He hoped he could sneak in without waking up his mother. Sneaking out and returning home past three in the morning wouldn't look good. The others had similar problems. Jerry (the group's techie) and Alyce (the frustrated one) were both trying to set their MiniMancers to teleport them into their rooms. Not progress thus far, though.

Dudley doubted his mother would be angry if she knew what he was doing. Actually, he knew that she would be quite proud of him. But he didn't want to worry her. With Harry's disappearance, wizards, making an income, and Vernon, he didn't want to add concern over if he was going to come home alive to that. She had enough to deal with.

I wonder if the wizards found Harry yet. I guess not or else we would have been told. He hoped his cousin was all right. Dudley knew he was safe, but what if he hated them now. Well, he thought grimly, it's not as if we ever did anything to discourage that. He could still remember the palpable fury and power that radiated from Sirius Black when he arrived at number 4 Privet Drive. Terrifying really.

When Dudley looked back on that memory, he wondered why Black held back his power. He was also curious why Severus Snape did the same. When he concentrated hard enough on that recollection, he could dimly see their auras. And the auras that belonged to those two weren't like normal wizards. He was now able to sense wizards with his new spirit power, and many of their auras had purple tints in them. Black's was redder than the scarlet robe he wore then, almost like fire. It looked like a layer of thick bright violet was containing it. Snape was the same, except his locked up power was a deep watery blue. Why they suppressed this power was beyond him.

Hmm...speaking of wizards. Gathered in his front yard were about twenty black-cloaked figures. And Dudley doubted they came for breakfast. Boldly striding into the orange halo of streetlight, he called out to them, "Can I help you gentlemen? Because I don't appreciate you stepping all over my lawn."

The wizards turned around and to Dudley's immense amusement, looked shocked. But the apparent leader stepped forward towards him. "So, you're Potter's cousin? Why are you out so late? I guess you don't know that dangerous things come out at night," he sneered. One of the black robes stood over to the side, for some reason separating himself from the others. But he was distracted when the leader started speaking again.

"Tell us where Harry Potter is, muggle."

"Even if I knew I wouldn't tell you."

"Answer us, muggle. Or did you not realize by now that we're wizards?"

Dudley laughed heartily, a stark noise searing the otherwise still night air. "How can I not?! You're wearing robes, walking around as if you own the world, and are hiding behind masks! You can only be wizards!"

The leader bristled visibly at that veiled insult. "Well, too bad, muggle. We were going to let you have a relatively painless death."

Dudley just smirked back. "Really? How kind of you. But somehow I don't think I'll be kicking the bucket tonight." Acting quickly, he put up a spirit shield. Which was pretty lucky for him. Because as soon as he finished speaking, the wizards raised their wands and started to fire spells at him. None of their attacks went through the blue-white dome of energy.

Several of the wizards dropped their wands in astonishment. I can see what the Shadow Goddess meant when she said they would be blinded. If this is how they react to this magic, then they'd be too distracted to deal with other types, including demons. Focusing on the structure of his shield, he compressed it into a ring of energy that circled around him. Smiling pleasantly at the shell-shocked black-robed men, he let the ring explode around him with a sharp motion of his hands.

When the dust cleared, nineteen wizards lay unconscious in grass that was turning from burnt yellow to fresh green.

Dudley approached the separate wizard without fear. "On which side are you really on Professor Snape? This doesn't look like a study session that you decided to host at my home."

"I don't think it matters to you, Mr. Dursley. I assume that was a different kind of magic?" Dudley noticed that curiosity tinged his usually neutral voice.

"Yes."

"Then keep it secret. It would work to your advantage. I advise you to play along with this farce. Black!"

Dudley turned around and saw a group of dark-blue robed wizards appearing with sharp pops in front of the house. He then noticed the familiar scarlet wizard, whose red aura was barely being kept in by the violet. Snape's aura as well was just kept in control. Black was scowling in obvious dislike. "Party, Snape?"

"Funny, Black, funny. Would you care to apprehend these men and actually keep them in custody? We wouldn't want another escape, now would we?"

Snape and Black continued to bicker, but Dudley's attention was drawn to the bushes by the door. There was a small animal there with...a human aura? He guessed whoever this was; it wasn't a person worth knowing. His aura was a sickly yellow with pale lavender sparks, a weak wizard. Moving past the arguing pair, he quickly grabbed the white rat. It possessed a silver paw so it was obviously magical. "Excuse me? Mr. Black? Professor Snape?" He held up the rat when they looked towards him.

It was at this that Sirius Black grinned in an evil way. His red aura was now pulsating, straining against the deep purple. "Well! I didn't think I'd meet an old 'friend' here at this little get-together!" Dudley deduced that whoever this rat was, he would soon be dead.

<><><>

"No," Night said disbelievingly.

"Yes."

"No."

Zylle sighed loudly over her spaghetti. They had been like this for about ten minutes, her mother and Hans watching with enjoyment. Gran said with a smile, "You know he could pass as your son. He acts just like you did when you were his age."

"Quiet, mum, you're encouraging him. Yes, you are and it's final."

"You can't do this to me!" It had to deal with his elemental training. He was to have other teachers help him learn to channel earth and water. Zylle was already covering wind with her Windcaller Jin technique and Gran was tutoring him in fire in preparation in learning the Hellfire Inferno, but both were not very strong in the remaining two elements. Hans was to help him with earth. Night had no problem with this. Hans would certainly make it fun and he was wondering what his Gaia Kybele technique could do. Gran had spoken of it highly. But it was his teacher for the water element that worried him.

"Nuitari Thomas Hawking, you are going to be tutored in the water element by Lavinia Coulter. No discussion, young man." When Zylle spoke in that tone, Night knew it was hopeless. But he didn't bother to hold back his groan.

Night knew that Professor Coulter would be nothing short of a terror. You could just tell by looking at her that she was tough. He and Bran met Mirabelle Diamante just the other day on Sky Lane and heard quite the tale. Mirabelle had Professor Coulter just last term. According to her, she graded on MUCH higher standards than other teachers and even the state. She demanded nothing short of perfection. She favored those with ambition and determination, but the perks were mixed blessings. Professor Coulter did treat you with more respect than the normal student, but she worked you harder. Detentions were spoken of with dread. Also, if you weren't paying attention, then she'd encase your feet in extremely cold ice that wouldn't melt unless she undid the magic.

At least he had a day of hanging out with Bran tomorrow. Over the past few days, they had become inseparable. Bran was very composed and reserved, with a funny sarcastic nature. He had another friend, a girl named Triana, who he was to meet tomorrow. Gran and Zylle were happy that he had found a friend. They liked the redhead and had known him for a long time.

Gran had said when he told them over his late dinner, "Bran Ravencroft? Nice boy, if on the bookish side. But it's to be expected considering that Conrad was the same way." Gran remembered Bran's grandfather very well since he was the Green Dragon during the Phantom Wars. "It was a real pity that he moved to Italy. Eloped with a witch by the name of Lara. I forgot her last name, but she had quite the mane of red hair. The older members of the family were completely against her marriage to a 'muggle' and Conrad doesn't take insult lightly. He insulted them back and those old crones forbid the marriage from taking place. So they left on their own." There they had started a large family, but only one son, Anthony (Bran's father), came back to the clan. "The Ravencrofts have been a part of the Arashi-Tenku for centuries. There almost as old as our family, you know."

He smiled evilly as he thought about what they were planning to do. Ahh...sweet revenge...

Zylle interrupted his musings. "So, you're smiling because you want her to teach you two techniques? I thought you didn't want her to tutor you at all, but here you are agreeing to see her at least two hours every Tuesday and Thursday! I'm happy you're being so mature about this."

"What?!" I didn't agree to anything! "No! Wait! Zylle! Remember, you're upset with me! I'm immature and rebellious!"

Zylle and the other adults at the table just laughed at his indignation.

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Pheta had a hard day. She walked up the bright marble steps of her palace, lurid pink flowers growing in vines all over the structure. Elysium was considered to be the most beautiful of all the realms excepting Heaven and she did nothing do try to change that widely held opinion.

She had to be all nice and sunny to the other gods. Lying and putting on a good face took a lot of work. She handed out blessings to those who worshipped her. Pheta would never admit that the favors she handed out to her worshippers were weak and useless, she knew it was so. But the other gods and the mortals themselves felt that she was granting large and generous boons. It was amazing what one could do when they acted a certain way. And of course, she slandered the dark gods, especially Melania.

Melania. She'd have her revenge on the dark goddess soon enough. What she did long ago while they were both present in the mortal realm was unforgivable. They didn't get along then, but after that, it was war. He loved me and she took him away! But there was no point in brooding over it now. Her plan for payback was nearly perfect. And she was going to use Tartarus itself to do all the work. Once those souls were released, then everything would be dead. Naturally, she would deflect all the blame onto the dark gods. With the backing of the other light gods, Pheta would finally be rid of those annoying deities.

Only two x-factors remained: the last two mortal descendants of Melania. She had carefully taken out all the others through either careful manipulation of their lives to ensure them only pain and death or her own personal favorite: insanity. But this time around, Melania made sure that she wouldn't get her hands on those two.

She almost had Tom Riddle. Unfortunately, some reaper had reported what was happening to him and she came immediately to his aid. The dark goddess managed to save the soul, but the body was won over by that weakling hell-demon. Even if she was managing to throw mud on the line of Melania by ordering that demon to start a killing massacre, she still hadn't won. Pheta could not claim victory if she had not destroyed his soul. And she had worked very hard at ruining that boy's life. She made sure that Calandra Raye Silver-Riddle had died after childbirth from complications (that was hard task for the heritage that Calandra inherited from Melania was very strong). She influenced Thomas Riddle to abandon both his wife and child after finding out that they were of magical blood. The state placed young Tom in a particular awful orphanage whose owner was abusive. Pheta made Hogwarts supply him with plenty of trouble. And Voldemort made certain that he was in constant pain. And it all went to waste with one spell from Melania.

Then there was Harry Potter. There was also a great deal of effort that resulted in nothing. Voldemort killing the boy's parents accomplished two things: making his life harder and taking out James Potter. Then she had to hide the truth about the Secret-Keeper and Sirius Black so that he wouldn't go to his beloved godfather. She didn't have to do much work with the werewolf since people are naturally prejudiced. Then making sure that Dumbledore would take him to the Dursleys. Finally Hogwarts, where he would encounter nothing but danger in the form of ridicule, fame, and strategic events placed by her. The kid certainly had the luck of a dark god though: he survived every encounter that she had put in his way. After the Third Task, she was certain he would be dead by the hand of that worthless Vernon Dursley. But no, Melania just had to intervene and rescue him. He was still alive and well. She couldn't get at him either, not even in dreams. Melania had gone to great lengths to hide and protect him from her. No one could hide forever though, so she would wait.

Smiling to herself, she walked into her pure white rooms.

Except they weren't white.

Everywhere she looked, there were dark colors. Black, dark blue, deep red, shady greens, and murky browns: all the colors that she hated. There was only one article of white in the room and that was a piece of paper lying on a once honey-colored, but now ebony, table.

Pheta! How are you?! I hope you don't mind, but I dropped in for a bit and found you weren't there. So I made myself comfortable. You like?

With extreme amusement, Thanatos.

Birds flew out of the trees at the sound of a woman screaming in rage. "THANATOS!"

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