Twell and the Army of Powers

By Kate O'Leary

If you lived in a world that decided your future, who you would love...what would you fight for?

Twell lives in the new world of Como, and has always neglected her telekinetic gifts, desiring to be ‘normal.’ Her biggest drama in life is having to be genetically partnered with a boy she doesn’t know or love by her next birthday. Unfortunately she loves her best friend, who loves the girl she hates most, and Twell is left frustrated & heartbroken.

When Twell is requested alongside several other teens to develop her skills for the protection of Como, she reluctantly agrees to the training, and finds herself thrown into all sorts of mental and physical challenges.

Handsome, charismatic Jonaz, is gifted with the power of healing. According to Twell he's an infuriating prat who delights in provoking her. But first impressions have always been her downfall.

When Como is attacked, life as Twell knows it is changed forever, with devastating consequences. With no choice but to fight, Twell risks her life to protect those who have survived, coming up against unexpected dangers she could never anticipate. Will she survive, and if so will she be matched to a stranger when the one she is growing to love is destined to another?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melange Books, LLC
• Release date: Jun 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9781612358932

Kate O'Leary

Kate O'Leary, has loved reading and writing ever since she was young enough to try and get through the back of her cupboard into Narnia, or through her mirror into Wonderland! In high school she entertained her homeroom reading out chapters of her first novel 'Miranda' about a teenage girls adventures with her horse Rusty. After school Kate studied Children's Literature, and her first drafts of Twell were awarded in writing competitions. Kate's writing interest is firmly embedded in dystopian fantasy, being continually fascinated with future direction of our world and the concepts of free will and moral vs. lawful obligations. Twell's adventures will continue to explore these ideas in the Como Chronicles Trilogy. Kate lives in the beautiful Adelaide Hills of Australia, surrounded by rolling hills and wineries and horses, as well as some good rocks to climb when she feels like scaring herself!

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TWELL

AND THE ARMY OF POWERS

by Kate O'Leary

If you lived in a world that decided your future, who you would love...what would you fight for?

Twell lives in the new world of Como, and has always neglected her telekinetic gifts, desiring to be ‘normal.’ Her biggest drama in life is having to be genetically partnered with a boy she doesn’t know or love by her next birthday. Unfortunately she loves her best friend, who loves the girl she hates most, and Twell is left frustrated & heartbroken.

When Twell is requested alongside several other teens to develop her skills for the protection of Como, she reluctantly agrees to the training, and finds herself thrown into all sorts of mental and physical challenges.

Handsome, charismatic Jonaz, is gifted with the power of healing. According to Twell he's an infuriating prat who delights in provoking her. But first impressions have always been her downfall.

When Como is attacked, life as Twell knows it is changed forever, with devastating consequences. With no choice but to fight, Twell risks her life to protect those who have survived, coming up against unexpected dangers she could never anticipate. Will she survive, and if so will she be matched to a stranger when the one she is growing to love is destined to another?

When the new world was established, we declared ourselves civilized.

Evolved past physical violence,

Favouring words to negotiate our desires; protect our lives.

But war is not confined to a place. It resides in the heart.

And when new enemies struck against us,

Instinctively we raised our hands to strike back.

For what use were good intentions against hateful hearts and weapons?

The violence still inside us surprised us. Shaming us. Defiling us.

But it could not be eradicated, passed on to the next generation.

And so with weary hearts under the ancient moon and stars

A new war began.

Chapter One

I wove expertly through the skyways traffic towards Caran High, while our distant sun struggled slowly into the hazy, white sky. It cast a soft, shimmering glow over the city of Caran, and the morning air felt cool as usual, the sun too far away to bring much warmth.

Move it, air waster! I cussed the pod in front of me, which was practically hovering, and making me even later to school. I’d taken too long to decide what to wear, and now my chest was tightening with the mortal fear of missing out on any juicy gossip I’d missed over the break. As I passed the huge audio Billboard on the main air lane, my pod’s speakers automatically transmitted the latest pressing announcement from the Governing Body,

Are you wasting water? Remember, restrictions are YOUR responsibility. A thoughtful Comian equals a better world for all.

Oops. It was like that message was designed exclusively for me. I’d totally taken too long in the shower again. I glanced from my right window over the expanse of endless plains skirting the city. As dull as it looked, the appearance of barren lifelessness was actually a trick of nature; cleverly hiding Como’s best secret for survival. Our underground aqueducts were the main reason the first generation decided to inhabit here, after the warming.

The intruding message effectively delivered the dose of guilt their messages always did, followed by an increasingly familiar sensation of resentment that I couldn’t even get away from their constant presence in the privacy of my own pod.

I pressed my foot down hard on the accelerator in annoyance and darted nimbly around the geriatric driver, making sure they copped my inconvenienced glare as I passed. Directly below me, the pale, moon-rock paved streets whipped by, designed for anyone enthusiastic enough to travel by foot, or solar scooter. The rest of us busy or lazy Comians simply preferred the skyways. Particularly me, as my guardian Shay, had just presented me with my first solar-powered pod. No more public airbus to school, which was so not socially acceptable anymore, especially for a final year student. I would have died of embarrassment if I’d had to keep taking that bus.

That was the first reason Shay had given it to me, simply a reward for making it through four years of upper schooling, and managing not to get myself into too much trouble. Solar-night black and sleek, it tapered in a teardrop shape from front to back, for speed. Inside, the fit-out was silver and white, and could carry three friends and me. It was second generation, one owner before me, but I didn’t mind at all. To me it was the most exciting thing I’d ever been given. The second reason was linked to my impending one hundred and eightieth birthday in a year, or ten moons time. This reason was also much, much worse, but I really preferred not to think about that right now.

As I overtook more traffic, pushing the boundaries of Como’s air speed limits, I glanced into my rear-view mirror to scrutinize my appearance. A pale, oval face with challenging aubergine eyes stared sceptically back, her bottom lip slightly fuller than the top, probably due to too many years of sticking it out in a strop. My fringe was brushed to the side, because I could never decide whether to grow it out into the rest of my long and perpetually tangled hair.

You look okay, I told my reflection rather grudgingly.

I finally reached Caran High and circled over the pod landing, looking for a good place to land. Just as I found a spot and aimed for it, a bright flash whizzed past me, so close I swerved sharply in fright.

What on Como!? I slammed on the brakes and jerked to a stop mid-air, staring in disbelief as a silver pod zipped into the spot I was clearly lining up for. Huffing indignantly, I looked down to see which student here would be so rude. When I recognized him, I narrowed my eyes and hissed with distaste. Jonaz, that arrogant, self -absorbed jerk took my space. Jonaz Maven...so annoyingly good-looking and stereotypically popular, that when every other silly, hormone-addled girl in the school wasn’t carrying on about him, he was probably advertising himself. In fact, he had a posse of brainwashed fans with him right now. Three, perfect looking, wanna-be groupie girls, and some chunky, block-headed guy. They were all laughing at how fabulous they were, totally oblivious to me still seething, mid-air.

That’s it! Swiftly I flew down so that I was positioned just behind the sleek, latest-model pod his toffy parents probably bought him, just for school days. Hovering there, I concentrated on glaring at the back of his stupid, perfect head and took my focus to the outcome.

The humming built slowly in my mind, tingling, as I concentrated. I soon felt the connection. There was a screech of metal; then a shower of sparks as his pod was forced out of the park, grinding across the landing on its belly. I laughed as I saw his eyes pop open in surprise in his rear mirror.

Sailing smoothly into the space, I got out, brushing myself off theatrically. Now normally, I would never use my powers in public; I really did prefer to appear as normal as the next Comian. But when my temper took over, it was too often a case of act now, regret later. At that particular moment the confusion on their faces combined with their soundless shrieking inside the pod, was a hilarious and satisfying pantomime. Jonaz however, recovered himself quickly, taking another spot that he easily could have taken in the first place. Getting out he sauntered past me, carelessly pushing back his dark hair as his posse trailed after him.

If you want my attention Twell, we can always go back to my place after school you know. His mocking, black eyes flicked over me suggestively, despite the impossibility of his ridiculous remark. He flashed his perfect teeth in a provoking sort of smile that made me grind my teeth. So he knew I’d done it... hmmm... that wasn’t quite so funny.

No thanks, Jonaz, I’m not looking to join a harem this year, I snapped. Particularly when on offer from an up-himself, skeezy, little twot like you.

Jonaz stopped, and his handsome face absolutely lit up. Throwing back his head he roared with glee.

Surely you don’t blame me for being so ridiculously good-looking and desirable? I’m just young and having fun Twell, maybe you should try it some time. The girls around him giggled automatically in unison. His mate snickered, smacking Jonaz encouragingly on the back. It was painful to watch. Despite none of them actually understanding what had just happened, they clearly knew their roles as Jonaz Maven’s loyal sidekicks. Amusing, yet pathetic at the same time.

It really was nauseating beyond reason, watching Jonaz preening away in front of me. He seemed to be enjoying our exchange; one muscled arm reaching up to ruffle his wavy hair again, as he grinned away at me. Any minute now he was going to break into a strut, I was sure of it.

Look, I huffed impatiently, can we just get to the part where I tell you to get lost, and you flounce off like the tiresome prat that you are? His smile faltered for a second, he seemed genuinely confused at my lack of desire to throw myself at him.

Sheesh, girl, what did I do to you?

Apart from that rude display of park stealing you just demonstrated, nothing. I sailed past him, nose in air, toward the school grounds. Just witnessing the sobbing, heartbroken casualties of your ever-increasing ego, is enough bad publicity for me. I hurried on, eager to have the last word but his deep delighted laughter caught up with me.

I’m just misunderstood! he called out. Deep down you know that I’m a gem in the rough! His coarse laughter grated against my retreating back as I hurried away.

I snorted. The guy was just infuriatingly, unbelievably arrogant and no, it wasn’t even that I’d been hurt by him, or any of my friends for that matter. It was just that his ability to pop up with a new potential female match every other week was seriously irritating. If people were going to bother disobeying Comian law and be pointlessly dating they could at least; a.) be a little private about it, or b.) display some better taste and choose someone whose ego wasn’t the size of his parents’ empire.

I shook my head, wiping him from my mind as I spotted Chaz Harlen, sitting alone on our favourite table in the morning sun. My heart reacted instantly, beginning to beat a quicker rhythm. I took him in, tall and lean with sandy hair, but mostly it was those eyes that got me. Grey and so deep I often felt like I was falling into them when we made eye contact.

But something was wrong, Mira wasn’t with him, and usually she was surgically attached. My face lit up as I hurried over to take advantage of this rare Mira-free moment.

He smiled when he saw me, his features warm and kind, perfectly expressing his good nature. Chaz was the type of person who seemed to care so naturally about other people before himself; it made you feel sort of selfish. He was always asking what I was thinking, how I felt about things. This quality in a young Comian man was like a miracle or a rare gem...and no, NOT the kind that egotistical Jonaz suggested.

I’d accidently fallen for Chaz at the end of the previous school year, and had been pining away pathetically ever since. When I say it was accidental, I mean, as in the entire time of my upper schooling he was never anything more than a friend. It never even crossed my mind that he could appear in another light to me. Then one day during school break, there I was deep in some lengthy conversation with him, of which the content I cannot recall, when WHAM! All of a sudden my heart was beating so fast when I looked at him, I’m sure he must have heard it. It was all I could do not to throw myself in his lap and declare my undying infatuation right there on the spot. The worst part of it for me was that Chaz was never going to see me in that way. He was already taken, as in off the shelf, spoken for, not a chance in the world, because Chaz Harlen was with my mortal enemy, Mira Raveen.

Mira was, in my opinion, the most annoying girl in the universe. She had that whole ‘I’m better than you’ attitude going on, as well as the ability to look at you in a way that implied you looked, and smelled, like moga poo. Ugh. How he could be with an evil little species like her was forever beyond my understanding. I mean the girl was pure nastiness; I seriously could not fathom what he saw in her. Okay, so sure, she was attractive enough in a dark-haired, red-lipped, pouting sort of way, if you liked that sort of thing. But, her never-ending supply of bad moods and sarcasm was a major turn off for me. That and she was a total fake.

How Chaz put up with our strained tolerance of each other for his sake was even more incomprehensible. But sure enough, my sweet, faithful Chaz rocked our entire group of three, when he not so secretly hooked up with Mira, half way through last year. She wasn’t even part of our original group of friends. She just slithered on in with no groundwork, and as far as I was concerned, zero effort. I still hadn’t gotten over it.

If I were the swooning type, I would have been in trouble as I reached Chaz, but instead we reached out, pressing a palm to each other’s cheek in greeting. His hand was warm and firm and my heart thudded even faster at his touch.

Hey, Twell, his soft voice greeted me. I missed you last night. It was so unfair that he could say things like this to me. Especially when he didn’t mean them the way I wished him to. According to his message last night, he and Mira had gone out to the wetlands to ‘star gaze, and look for new planets.’ He’d also generously included a nice little picture of them; cheeks pressed together, forbidden lovers illuminated by the starry night sky behind them. So sweet, so sickeningly, vomity sweet.

My best friend was sharing something with me that made him happy of course, but I’d felt my face puckering up like I’d sucked on something sour, Mira’s gloating expression producing the outraged scream from me that she was undoubtedly hoping for. Yeah right, gaze at each other, then look for each other’s clothing was more like it. Once again, my overactive imagination was out to get me. Just the thought of them being alone together though...I clenched my fists, feeling sick to the pit of my stomach.

Um, I don’t think Mira would really appreciate me crashing your date, I explained slowly, as if to a child. I wondered if he could possibly be the tiniest bit daft. Mira hated me. I enthusiastically despised her in turn, and we only pretended to get along because we had to. Yet our acting wasn’t that convincing, not even to him surely? No, he probably did believe us, unable to see the worst in people before it was slapping, or even kicking him in the face. He was so sweet... ‘Arghhh stop it Twell!’ I scolded myself silently. I really had to get over this hopeless infatuation. It was just no use; my future was depressingly out of my hands.

Ahhh well, we were just hanging out, you know. He smiled bashfully. I didn’t know. If Mira hadn’t been trying to seduce him from the moment she set her shifty-eyed sights on him, I might have believed him. Chaz stood, and taking my bag swung it easily onto his free shoulder. Such a gentleman. We walked into the school halls in comfortable silence. Students shrieked in reunion around us, an excited buzz of voices filling the air. It raised my own level of enthusiasm to be back, just a little bit.

Where’s Mira? I forced myself to sound like I cared, and not like I wanted her to have been crushed by a crazy pod flyer on the way to school.

Here I am! a high-pitched whiny voice trilled behind me. The petite, dark shape of Mira threw itself squealing at Chaz like she hadn’t seen him for moons, and not just last night.

Oh yay, here she is, I muttered bitterly under my breath. Suddenly, my enthusiasm waned. Mira, with her precise chin length hair and haughty sharp brown eyes, did not even so much as glance in my direction, as she wrapped her clingy arms around Chaz. In response, Chaz did a quick scan for witnesses, and finding none, slid his arms around her scrawny waist. They then proceeded to attack each other’s mouths like it was their last kiss, or like time was running out. Maybe for them it was. I gagged loudly. It was sooooo inappropriate, and taboo. Where was a teacher when you actually needed one? I glanced furtively around, half hoping to see one, yet paranoid on their behalf at the same time.

When they pulled apart, Mira took a moment to flick her springy hair and fix me with an obnoxious look that said, ‘Look! He wants me and not you.’ I smiled sweetly at her.

Hello Mira, did you have a good time last night? I gushed, pulling my face into a very convincing expression of interest. Mira frowned and gave me a dirty look. She hated it when Chaz told me what they got up to. Not before she got the chance to rub it in my face, with all sorts of not so cryptic insinuations of their love life. So rude, so illegal.

We had such a special night, didn’t we Chazzy? she crooned. Deliberately to even the score, she arched up on her tiptoes, managing to rub her nose against his and give him a gooey look in one swift execution. I resisted the urge to slap her and throw up in my mouth at the same time. Apart from hating that she had Chaz sucked right in, it killed me that she’d captured a part of Chaz I’d never had in our friendship. It made me feel uncertain, and on the outside. I used to be his closest friend, but now it felt like Mira was threatening to bump me out of the picture. Yet if I were honest, I knew despite my unrequited feelings, it would hurt so much more if we did hook up, then couldn’t be together in the end.

On Como, it was a huge risk to love before knowing your fate. For that reason, I was concerned for Chaz, as he and Mira grew closer.

According to our laws, they weren’t even supposed to be seeing each other at all. The Governing Body hadn’t approved their partnership, because they hadn’t been genetically tested yet. So they certainly weren’t supposed to be sneaking out to the wetlands for privacy. I couldn’t believe they hadn’t even taken their wristbands off first. As taboo as that idea even was, if the G.B. had decided to trace them, and discovered them out fraternizing in the desert without a guardian... well they would have been hauled in, and definitely punished with solitary confinement or something. Maybe they’d even ban them from seeing each other, claiming it was for their own good. And perhaps it was.

Choosing to date Mira was the most risky decision I’d ever seen Chaz make. What if Mira wasn’t genetically approved to be his partner? Chaz could get really hurt, and I worried for him. As much as I disliked them being together, I didn’t want him to go and get his heart broken. I had to admit, for him to take his chances like this; he had to be pretty taken with her. Maybe, it was just because he wanted the choice, while he could. I could understand that at least.

That’s great, good for you! I said in as patronizing a tone as I thought I could get away with. She pouted while Chaz just smiled, kissing the top of her head. I swear to the realms of the afterlife that I would rather see him full tongue her in a frenzy of passion, than kiss her on her annoying, perky head like that. There was something in that protective gesture that tore a little piece of my heart out. It was all I could do not to throw Miss Smug into a locker while she gazed triumphantly at me. Well! I couldn’t let her get away with having the last expression. I was going to have to use my powers for evil... on Mira.

Chapter Two

The welcoming assembly will now commence. Please make your way to the main hall.

A cool, pleasant female voice filled the halls, sparing Mira’s life. As students began moving obediently towards it, I eagerly followed, glad of any excuse to turn away from their cruel display of happiness.

There were just over a thousand students at Caran. We were once considered a small school, but now there were not many larger on Como. Because the war hurt our population so badly, there simply weren’t many of us in my generation.

The building was quite good looking, as far as schools went. The glass ceilings helped to remove the ‘trapped at school’ feeling, filtering in the soft sunlight. On warmer days, the glass ceilings slid open to allow in more precious vitamin D. Our learning desks were icy-blue glass. Outdoors, were several courtyards where we could sit and absorb the fresh clean air.

When I entered the hall, I spotted our other two closest friends standing towards the back, where the final year students were gathering. Meela Reen was like a breath of fresh air in my somewhat mundane existence. Energetic, short and smiley, Meela truly typified a happy person; the type of person you were drawn to, wanted to be around because they made everyday things seem more fun. Together in classes we usually wound up snickering or laughing hysterically at something unrelated to the teacher’s lecture, then panicking once we realized we had no idea what we were meant to be doing. She looked typically cute today; shoulder length, silvery hair, up in a tiny twist on top of her head.

Dash Nivian was standing at ease, towering over Meela, his hands in the oversized pockets of his pants. He nodded every now and then at Meela as she babbled away. He was tall and wiry, just starting to fit into his last growth spurt, which I couldn’t believe he was still having. Where was the limit? His hair was always messy, and he was always grinning about something. Usually that something came at our expense as Dash was not one to resist the opportunity for a practical joke, teasing mercilessly to get a rise out of us. But he was a good friend, because no matter what sort of a foul, unreasonable mood I launched at him throughout our friendship, he was the only one who could ever joke me out of a tantrum, or have me laughing when a minute ago I’d been sobbing irrationally. He shook his mop of light, brown hair and looking up, caught my eye, and grinned.

Twellodrama, how is it? Dash cried. He smacked me on the shoulder like I was a guy, nearly sending me flying. He and Chaz smacked each other too and did some light sparring, as boys do.

The usual. I ignored his unsuitable nickname for me, so unnecessary, as my life was tragically undramatic. Meela bounced over and gave me a huge hug. Forget the usual hand to cheek greeting. Meela was a hugger, like she was one of our earthling ancestors. She was a bit vintage like that, adopting a few of their old customs we’d learned in universal history.

Love your outfit! Meela grinned as she assessed my look. "Very, mature scholar, yet still has a fashion clue." I’d taken care to look good for the first day of my last year at school, because I liked to express myself through what I wore. In my dressing room, I’d concentrated for a moment, causing a ticklish humming in my brain, until my clothes began to rotate on their racks in response. Finally, I’d decided on a short, moon-rock grey shift dress paired with silver ankle boots. Upon my decision, they’d flown off the hangers, easily down into my hands. I’d also painted my eyes with warm, metallic copper to match my hair, as facial enhancer was the current fashion on Como. I sometimes secretly wished I were a bit curvier, but oh well.

I gushed back appropriately at Meela’s outfit, as we all stood beaming at each other and chatting away. I felt warm and grateful, knowing I had the best group of friends I could ever hope for. Where Meela was bouncy and positive, Dash, despite his name, was laid back and relaxed. Chaz was gentle and loyal, and Mira was a moga.

Greetings students of Caran, a familiar female voice rang overhead, causing the sounds of laughter and backslapping to slowly die down. Welcome to those of you who have returned to us another year, and especially to those of you who are joining us for the first time. The voice began pleasantly enough. We put our lips together, whistling politely. I smirked uncharitably at the first years bunching tighter together, trying to avoid being noticed. Dash, who also noticed their nervous huddling, was snickering quietly, most likely plotting an act of terror for them later.

The voice belonged to the Head Governess, Ms. Zarian. She was speaking from somewhere else in the school, no doubt a reminder that although we couldn’t see her, she could still see us. It was a typical sensation as a citizen of Como. Just like we knew the Governing Body watched our progress closely. They knew everything about us, from our aptitude at school to more disturbingly, our DNA. It was the latter that would shape my future and made my stomach lurch with anxiety.

Anyway, Ms. Zarian was a middle-aged, no nonsense sort of woman, and she quickly got into the usual back to school speech, droning on about team spirit, diligence, and those sorts of things while I tuned out. I let my gaze wander, looking from the frightened new faces, to the bored familiar faces of the older students.

Please listen carefully as we sort you into your classes. Come forward as your name is called, to have your schedules uploaded into your organizers. This was the normal drill. The mandatory wristbands we all wore kept us connected to everything we needed; school curriculums, friends, social and media updates, and of course the Governing Body. We received universal updates frequently, the beep of a new alert coming almost daily. ‘Citizens switching from air