Free Playing With Fire (Power of Four Book 2) by SF Mazhar Page B

Neriah’s lost his mind, sending kids out to face down demons, doesn’t mean I’ll let you do the same!”
    “Those kids are the ones who have been protecting not only this realm but the human one too,” Aaron said, unable to hold back his growing anger. “And they’ve been doing it for the last fourteen years.”
    “It’s going to be different now,” Michael said. “With Hadrian back–” He paused, sucking in a breath. “Aaron, you have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”
    Aaron held his anxious gaze. “I guess I’ll find out.”
    “You can say what you want,” Kate said in her usual end-of-matter tone. “You’re not leaving.”
    Aaron stilled for a moment, before reaching out to pick up his bag. “Yes I am,” he said.
    Kate stared at him and Aaron could see the realisation hit her then, that she could no longer force him into obedience. Her lips thinned and eyes started to water.
    “Aaron, please ,” she begged.
    “I know you’re scared, Mum,” Aaron said. “Truth is, I am too. But we don’t get to sit this out. We’re not the only ones to have lost family. It’s happened to the others too but they’re fighting back and that’s what we should do.” He turned to look at his dad. “We’re Elementals. We need to help. We should help.” Chris didn’t say anything. Aaron stepped towards him. “Come with me.” This time, it was Aaron that was pleading. “We can all go back, all of us join the fight.” He took another step forward, inching closer to Chris. “Please, Dad, don’t fight me on this. You can teach me–”
    “No,” Chris said. “You’re not fighting. You’re staying here.”
    Aaron stared at him. His mum had yelled the same words minutes ago, but it was his dad’s quietly spoken command that tore his heart open. Aaron swallowed the rest of his words, pushing them deep down. He stepped back, not trusting himself to speak. The hurt was quickly turning to fury and he knew if he didn’t leave right now, he would say something all of them would later regret. He shifted the heavy bag in his hands and turned.
    “Don’t you dare, Aaron!” Kate called after him.
    “Sorry, Mum,” Aaron said quietly. “Come with me or not, I’m leaving.” He walked away.
    Sam and Rose followed him.
    “Where are you two going?” Michael asked.
    Sam paused and looked back at him. “With Aaron.”
    Aaron and the twins headed to the front door. They stepped out to find Neriah waiting for them.
    Aaron was taken aback at the sight of the leader of the mages, standing at his gate, waiting for him with a smile on his lips and a look of triumph in his eyes. It only served to further annoy Aaron.
    “What are you doing?” he asked, as he made his way towards Neriah.
    “Waiting for you,” Neriah replied simply.
    “You were that sure I would come?” Aaron asked.
    “I was sure that the boy who fought his way into a Q-Zone, a mere few months after coming to this realm, wouldn’t give up the chance to fight.”
    Aaron stopped just before the gate. “Scott told you?”
    “He had to tell me.”
    Aaron shifted under the intense gaze. “You should know I didn’t go into that Q-Zone to fight. I went because–”
    “Because your friends were there.” Neriah glanced at the twins before looking back at Aaron. “Yes, Scott told me that too.” He didn’t look mad. If anything, he looked rather amused. He didn’t say any more on the subject, though. He moved to allow the gate to swing open. “Come, we should leave.”
    Aaron held on to the metal gate but turned back to look at the house. The door was firmly shut. No one had come out after him. They were actually going to let him walk away like this, angry and hurt.
    Aaron caught Sam’s eye; his friend simply nodded his encouragement. They had spent the whole night discussing this decision. They had all agreed that no matter what happened, they were taking part in the fight against demons, against vamages – against Hadrian. Sam