Iron Cyclone Bonus Chapter 1

Xander

Sophomore Year

               “Have you seen Steven?” I ask Tony as we enter the cafeteria.

               “No. Which is odd. He’s never late for lunch.”

               I scan the room while we head toward our usual table, but I don’t see our obnoxious friend anywhere. Usually, you hear his voice long before you see him so his absence would explain why it’s abnormally quiet today.

               Where could he be?

               Tony and I just sit down when the sound of someone screaming echoes through the space. My hands instantly clench into fists when I realize the voice sounds a lot like Steven’s.

               I ignore the worried faces of my classmates as I look for Nikolai. When I don’t see him sitting at any of the tables, I know immediately where Steven is. Or rather, who he’s with.

               “It sounds like the screams are coming from the roof,” Tony says while grabbing my arm. I feel a tingling sensation spread throughout my body as his gift teleports us to the top of the Capitol Building.

               Seconds later, I see Nikolai and his friends dangling Steven over the side of the building. He’s screaming while they act like they’re going to drop him. They keep repeating the motion, laughing hysterically, while my friend’s screams get louder each time. 

               My anger’s practically boiling at this point, ready to explode. “What the hell are you doing?” I shout at Nikolai as electricity sparks in my eyes. Steven stops screaming when he hears me, but I still see fear in his eyes when they dart between me and Tony.

               Nikolai’s friends immediately stop what they’re doing and let go of Steven. Their bodies lock in terror when I focus my attention on them. The General’s heir appears unbothered, though, while he turns to me with a relaxed smile. He’s now the only one holding onto Steven, keeping him from dropping the four stories to the ground. 

               “Calm down, Thyellas. Geez. We’re just giving your earth-bending friend a little flying lesson,” he states with a smirk. “He’s always flapping his mouth, so I thought we’d put it to better use.”

               “How you doing, Steven?” Tony asks with daggers drawn next to me. His eyes scan the space, looking for a way to save Steven.

               “Oh, you know, just hanging around,” Steven responds, pretending what’s happening is totally normal.

               The hoarseness in his reply has lightning spreading up my arms. “Let him go, Ischyros. Now.”

               Nikolai shrugs his shoulders and says, “If you insist.”

               I watch in horror as he lets go of Steven’s ankle and Steven drops out of sight. Tony immediately teleports after him while I get in Nikolai’s face. “You’re going to regret that, asshole.”

               The prick smiles a wicked grin while the sound of Steven’s ragged breathing now comes from behind me. He was clearly terrified, and it has me seeing red.

               “What? I knew Telos would save him,” Nikolai states, feigning innocence. “It’s not like I was trying to kill Gi. I just wanted to shut him up for a bit.”

               The wind blowing around us picks up speed as I snarl, “I’m going to shut you up, Ischyros. Permanently.”

               Nikolai’s hands fist at his side, preparing for a fight. Good.

               “Theyllas! Ischyros! What are you boys doing?” shouts a voice from the stairwell. I know instantly that it belongs to Ms. Clary, our math teacher. I ignore her as my electricity sparks along the tips of my fingers, ready to strike the prick in front of me.

               Before I can do anything, though, the distance between me and Nikolai grows as my body is pulled away from him by Ms. Clary’s telekinetic powers. I’m dragged until I’m standing next to Tony and Steven in the middle of the roof.

               “I don’t know what you boys are doing up here, but it ends now. Everyone better get back to class before I report this to the principal.”