The Secrets of the Elements

Chapter 19: On the Beach

Advika hid her face with her scarf and came out from her hiding place. "What do you want from us?"

she questioned, standing in front of the attacker.

"You, you all," he said, walking towards her.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and stamped her foot on the ground. The boy fell on his

knees as the ground beneath them shook slightly.

"Advika, the power of the element Earth," he said as he dusted his black pant and got to his feet.

How does he know my name? Advika thought. She scanned the forest, searching for an escape.

"You can't escape," said the boy.

"Daksh," he heard a voice say. He looked in all directions, searching for the source of the voice.

"Leave them, and leave Azazel's side as well, or else, you will be punished too," said Grantha.

Daksh smirked. "So you've got the book taking now," he said and put his sword back in its sheath.

"Advika, run!" said the book. She, at once, grabbed some dirt on the ground and threw it in his eyes.

Daksh wiped his eyes with his sleeves and ran behind her.

She sped towards the opening of the forest with Daksh following her. He pushed her from behind; she

hit the ground.

"Aah!" she cried. Tears slid from her eyes. She injured herself; blood oozing out from her knee.

Daksh tied her hands and picked her up, dragging her with him.

~~~~

The book opened; air blew violently uprooting the trees, inducing a storm in the forest.

"Aaahh!" cried Zarna holding the trunk of the tree. They clung to the tree, saving themselves from the

wild winds.

The trees, the white rock, and every creature present in the forest began to be sucked up in the book.

Daksh found himself hanging in the air. Advika ran towards her friends, going against the direction of

the wind.

"Leave the tree, Grantha wants us in herself, she's saving us," cried Advika.

"Now who's Grantha?" screamed Ray holding on to the tree. Tej glanced at Advika who, like a leaf was

carried by the winds towards the book.

"Advikaaa!" he screamed and left hold of the tree.

'

One by one, all of them were carried towards the book and into it, as though the book absorbed them

into itself.

~~~~~

"The portal, Rishi, the portal," said Rutuja heading towards the second floor of the library. Her heels

hitting the wooden steps.

"How are you even running wearing those?" said Rishi following her. Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

"The portal can take us to Daksh," she said as she opened the door. "We have to find him before

Master Indra comes to know that he's missing."

~~~~~

Zarna took in the fresh air and spread her arms. "Guys, we landed on the beach again," she said.

Tej rushed towards Advika. "You're bleeding," he said as he touched her knee. Advika removed a band-

aid from her jeans pocket. Tej immediately took it from her and helped her with it.

"Thankfully, you chose to wear shorts today, on my suggestion of course," said Zarna and crossed her

arms smiling.

Ray and Maya tied Daksh against a rock on the beach. "Your powers won't work here, dude," said

Maya and headed towards her friends who sat at the shore. Ray followed.

"Why won't his powers work here?" asked Ray.

"This is our area, our vicinity, the book's I mean. No evil powers allowed," she replied.

"You okay?" said Ray and sat beside Advika. She nodded her head and smiled. Zarna's eyes fell on

Daksh; she started walking towards him.

"What are you up to?" asked Ray.

"Talk," she replied.

"He's not worth it," said Advika. "He didn't listen to the book, Grantha, why will he listen to us?"

"What are you talking about? Who Grantha?" asked Maya.

"The book," replied Advika. Tej helped her get to her feet.

"You're saying that Grantha is the name of the book and she talked with that guy," wondered Tej, still

holding her hand.

"When I hid behind that white rock in the forest, the book talked, no kidding," said Advika.

"Where's the book now?" asked Maya and crossed her arms.

"Technically it absorbed us into it," said Zarna.

"Are we like inside the book then?" wondered Ray.

"He's running away!" cried Maya.

~~~~~

"Ouch!" said Rutuja as she fell on Rishi.

"Luckily, you had a safe landing," he said and smiled.

Rutuja got up and helped Rishi get to his feet. The air blew her hair across her face. Rishi started at

her.

"Rishi," she said and grabbed his jacket stepping closer to him. A crab passed by on the sand beneath.

He tied her hair with a clip.

She smiled, "where'd you get it from?"

"You left it behind the day we parted," said Rishi.

"I was ten," said Rutuja and hugged him. "You kept it all this time?"

"How wouldn't I?" he said and hugged her back, smiling. His smile disappeared when he saw Daksh

running towards them with three people behind him.

Daksh fell on his knees as Ray jumped on him from behind. Maya, at once, punched his nose. Zarna

tied his hands with a rope and threw some sand in his eyes.

"Daksh!" cried Rutuja and ran towards him. Rishi followed.

"O, My God! He's the one, the one who I had a vision about, the guy that fought with Tej," revealed

Maya.

Rutuja saw a ball of fire heading towards her; she ducked. The ball hit Rishi who was running behind

her. "Rishi!" she screamed.