The fire in Chris’s stomach finally stopped burning. He opened his eyes and blinked, surprised to find he was still in Mistress Obsidian’s office. She and Malcolm were both peering at him. His whole body had flopped over onto the table. He pulled himself to sitting.
“Is it over?” he asked, hearing his voice come out frustratingly timid.
Mistress Obsidian folded her hands in front of her. “It is. How do you feel? Different?”
Christopher looked down at his hands, turning them over and back again. They looked normal. He touched his body. Nothing felt any different.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “Not really.”
“It may take a little while before they come into effect,” Mistress Obsidian said. “While we’re waiting, let’s talk about your mission.”
The door opened then, and in came a group of students. They took the empty seats around Chris.
“This is your team,” Mistress Obsidian announced.
“My team?” Chris repeated. “You mean I get to be leader?”
But Malcolm interjected immediately. “Whoever’s strongest leads. That’s how it works at Obsidian’s.”
“That’s correct,” the headmistress replied. “Malcolm is our top student. He’ll be orchestrating this mission.”
Chris felt immediately put out. He’d always been the strongest in every group he’d led. He was a natural leader. People revered him and feared him, the two most important components of leadership. And if it was case of just showing his strength to take over the top dog position, well then, Chris would have to make sure he put Malcolm in his place sooner rather than later. There was no way he was letting that weirdo tell him what to do.
“Your mission,” Mistress Obsidian continued, “will take place in 1690. London.”
An excited whisper went around the room. Chris felt his mouth drop open.
“Wait. You mean… we’ll be traveling in time?”
He caught sight of Malcolm’s superior expression, like Chris was dumb for not realizing their mission would involve time travel. Chris’s hatred toward him grew even stronger. He couldn’t wait for his powers to kick in. Then he’d show him who was really superior.
“Yes,” Mistress Obsidian said. “I’ve prepared the portal for you. Your mission is to track down Oliver Blue and destroy him once and for all.”
“Sounds good to me,” Chris said. “Let’s go.”
He pushed up from the table. All at once, his head began to swim. He staggered, feeling a wave of nausea overcome him.
“Errr…” he groaned, “I don’t feel so good.”
The room was swimming. Chris grabbed the table to steady himself. But where his hands gripped onto the sides, the wood melted.
He gasped and pulled his hands back, staring at them with shock. The imprint of his hands was left behind as the wood dripped to the floor.
“Did I do that?” he stammered.
“Your powers are kicking in,” Mistress Obsidian said with a menacing smile.
“I changed the wood from solid to liquid!” Chris exclaimed.
He turned and put his hands on his chair. The same thing happened. The wood turned into a viscous goo and pooled onto the floor. Chris let out a manic laugh.
“That’s brilliant!”
“You’ll be able to do a lot more than melt things soon,” Mistress Obsidian told him. “Now come on, all of you. It’s time to go.”
Chris was still staring at his hands in disbelief. The power was intoxicating. And this was just the start of it? What would happen when he got all his powers? It would be amazing! He’d be invisible!
He realized almost everyone had left the room and hurried to catch up.
Mistress Obsidian was up ahead, striding through the corridors, her cloak billowing out behind her. All the students stopped and stared as she passed. They looked at Malcolm and the rest of the elite students she’d picked for this task with evident envy.
Chris welled with pride. Finally, his one talent in life—pounding Oliver—was being rewarded. He couldn’t wait to get back in time and see the look on his sappy little brother’s face when he realized what was happening! It would be priceless.
Mistress Obsidian waltzed into a chamber and everyone hurried in after her. Chris saw a large ancient-looking archway standing in the room, with a strange black and purple swirling vortex in the middle of it.
His mouth dropped open. “What’s that…?”
“A transportation portal,” Malcolm told him, like it was obvious.
Chris decided he truly hated Malcolm. The boy was snooty. Self-important. Chris was determined to usurp him and take his position as leader of the group. It ought to be him anyway, he was the one who had a direct link to Oliver, after all. This mission was made for him!
“In you go,” Mistress Obsidian said. “Remember, destroy Oliver Blue. That’s what you need to do.”
Chris stepped up to the portal. He saluted Mistress Obsidian. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll get Oliver for you. I won’t let you down.”
She smiled devilishly.
And Chris stepped into the portal.