Chapter 10

"What?" Gabriel asked, trying to get over his surprise.

"My father needs your help," Kimberly repeated.

"Why?" Jennifer asked.

"I do not know the full details but there seem to be several groups around that would rather that people like us either did not exist or were ruling regular people, depending on the group," Kimberly revealed.

"That does not explain why your father needs our help," Gabriel said pointedly.

"No it doesn't. I knew you would be sharp," Kimberly said. "He wants to help those like us but to do that he needs those like us to be on his side. He knows, like you probably do, that no matter what you do in life, eventually you will have to fight. It is a fact of our existence."

"Indeed it is, but you still haven't convinced me as to why we should join him," Gabriel replied.

"I could go on about how he is different from others that would have you fight for them, but you have no reason to believe me. I will only say this, if not him, then who?" Kimberly asked.

"You're right, we have no reason to believe you," Gabriel said. He looked at Jennifer, who nodded almost imperceptivity. "However, we are willing to find out if what you say has any value."

"Are you doing anything after this?" Jennifer asked.

"No, I didn't know how long this would take so I didn't make any plans for the afternoon," Kimberly said.

"Good, we need a bit of a workout and we don't mind you seeing us," Jennifer said. She reached across the table and grasped Kimberly's hand and tugged her to her feet. Kimberly was dazed for a moment but quickly recovered and she walked with Jennifer out of the Food Court. Gabriel followed behind, deep in thought about what Kimberly had said. He remained this way all the way to where they practiced.

"And this is where we practice the use of our abilities," Jennifer said as she walked into the clearing.

"I can tell," Kimberly said as she looked over the scorch marks and lumps of ash that littered the ground. "Why did you want me to come here?"

"As I said, we need a workout and we don't mind you watching us. I can't figure out anyway for you to join us but you can still stay and watch," Jennifer said.

"Thank you," Kimberly said as she moved over and sat against a tree. She watched as Jennifer and Gabriel shucked their bags and emptied their pockets, Jennifer only retaining her lighter. "So, she cannot generate fire and must carry the means to create it, interesting," Kimberly thought. Jennifer used her lighter and drew the flame into her left hand before she pocketed the lighter and split the flame between her hands.

Gabriel just watched and waited for Jennifer to make the first move. He had decided on the way here that he would not go on the offensive today to begin with; he would only retaliate in kind to what Jennifer did. Gabriel knew that Jennifer never actually aimed for either Michael or himself during their previous training and if what Kimberly said was true then the day would come when they had to fight and unless Jennifer realised that she actually had to cause injury to someone, then she and her abilities would be practically useless. "C'mon baby, you can do this," Gabriel thought to Jennifer.

Jennifer stood and waited for Gabriel to move but suddenly got this feeling that he wanted her to do something. Deciding to try something different, she went on the attack and launched 3 fireballs in Gabriel's general direction to try and get him to do something. Jennifer watched as Gabriel just stood still and let the fireballs go past him. Jennifer looked at Gabriel, waiting for him to retaliate but he just continued to stand there and look at her. Confused, Jennifer launched 3 more fireballs in Gabriel's direction but again he ignored them and just stood there.

<She is not going to attack you directly, > Kimberly said to Gabriel.

<Kimberly?> Gabriel said silently. He glanced over at Kimberly and saw her looking intently at Jennifer.

<Yes, just think what you want to say at me and we can talk. Jennifer is not going to attack you directly for fear of hurting you, > Kimberly explained.

<But she has to get over that fear. She has to learn that it may be necessary to hurt people and while we are here, she needs to attack me. I can prevent her attacks from hitting me but she has to aim directly at me, > Gabriel said.

<Would you like me to talk to her?> Kimberly asked.

<Yes. If I said anything then it would make her seem like I don't care. Please speak with her, > Gabriel pleaded. Kimberly shifted her focus to Jennifer and thought how to word what she wanted to say.

Jennifer was trying to figure out why Gabriel hadn't retaliated or even reacted to any of her attacks. Normally by now he would have coated her in a leaf cocoon or something. She couldn't tell why he hadn't done anything yet.

<He wants to you attack him seriously, > Kimberly said.

<Kimberly?> Jennifer asked silently. She glanced over at Kimberly and saw her looking intently at her.

<Yes, just think what you want to say at me and we can talk. Gabriel is not going to attack you until you decide to attack him seriously, > Kimberly explained.

<But I could hurt him. I have almost fried him once and I don't want to go there again, > Jennifer explained. She was remembering what she had almost done.