The Secrets of the Elements novel Chapter 19

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.

"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.

"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.