(The New) Power of the 8 Elements: Part One

Chapter Twenty Nine: Secrets

"If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees." - Khalil Gibran
PRESENT DAY
PHOENIX

I return home right on time. It's so perfect that even Mom and Dad hadn't come home from work yet. I want to go right to my room and take a nap. I've a rather interesting day. The rain outside the window sounds so peaceful. I open my door and see Terri sitting on my bed. He has a very upset look. I don't feel intimidated because Terri is not an intimidating person. He's the last thing I would be scared of.

"What happened?" I say, laughing to myself.

"I could ask the same of you."

"Why are you in my room? Can you go? I'm in no mood to pretend to argue with you."

"Not until you answer a few questions." Terri stands up and closes the door. He opens my closet and pulls out my armor—my Arcane Order armor. "What is this? Why is it so small?"

My eye goes wide. Had he been going through my stuff? What was I going to tell him?

"Terri, I can explain-"

"I knew you were hiding something as soon as you got home late. And I'm not leaving until you tell me why you have this."

"You're not going to believe me," I say, crossing my arms in defiance.

"I'll take my chances-"

"-I'm a demigod."

"Say whaaaa?"

"I'm a demigod. I've been alive since the stars were young. I control water and ice, and I am the Guardian of Emotions. I can feel your emotions right now. You're terrified."

"No, I'm just surprised-"

"-you're terrified, but you believe me."

"How can? What the-? A demigod?!"

I nod. I turn into my demigod form and begin laughing awkwardly. "It's a little kooky, don't you think?" I bow. "I am Phoenix of the Frosted Tundra."

Terri falls back on the bed. "If you're a demigod, and I'm not, that means..."

"Terri, I know it looks like things are going to be separate, but you don't have to avoid me or start bowing and getting me cereal every morning. You're not my servant. You're still my brother."

"How? How can we be the same if you're, like, a bajillion years older than me?"

"I don't think age matters. I think it's how I care. I didn't want to tell you or Mom or Dad at first because I didn't want you to get hurt."

"Are there other demigods?!"

I nod. "But I can't tell you their names because they wouldn't like that."

"You've met them?"

I nod again. "They're really nice though, and they're not going to take you away from me." I fly onto the bed and put my hand on Terri's. "We're still brothers—well, I go by she, her now."

"You're..."

"I just have two different forms. However, slowly but surely, I will remain this forever."

"What are Mom and Dad going to say?"

"That might take a little more convincing, but I'm glad I was able to "come out" to you."

Terri pauses. "I've been meaning to talk to you about that. Uh...I wanted to tell you that, you know, since we're talking about being honest with each other."

"Yeah?"

"I know I like girls, but I feel that I like guys."

"Oh, Terri!" I say, hugging him.

"I don't really know what it is."

"Well, you can take however long you want to think about your sexuality while I think about my gender."

Terri smiles, and we hug each other. At that moment, I forgot about everything. It's like here I can finally be myself.