The Elemental Diaries - Complete Series

by Andrea Lamoureux

  She tilted her head at me, causing her loose, dark curls to fall off her pale, bare shoulder. “I don’t believe darkness is the only thing filling your heart, not really.”

  “No?”

  She smiled. “No. Even the smallest of sparks can ignite in the dark.”

  Her words, the way she was looking at me… I felt that spark as the bond between us flickered and came to life. This time, I leaned forward and brushed my lips against hers. She responded by pressing her lips closer and returning the kiss. But this time it was she who pulled back. A tear fell off her cheek like a single rain drop.

  “Not the reaction a man hopes for when he kisses a lady,” I said as she brushed away the wetness left from the tear.

  She looked away and shook her head. “I’m sorry. It’s just that—that I’ve been so sad for so long. I never thought I’d feel this way again.” Tears filled her sapphire eyes.

  “What way?” I asked with curiosity. It was so strange to see her like this. So vulnerable.

  “Alive,” she breathed.

  I raised a brow. “I make you feel alive?”

  She laughed at that. “Shut up.”

  A little bit of the darkness lifted as she watched me with those glittering eyes. “What was he like?” I asked. “Thaimis, I mean.”

  She ran both hands through her hair and then shook her head. “He was an ass.” Her lips lifted a little at the corners. “But he was so much more than that. He was a good man, and I loved him. I loved him and I killed him.” She looked down, but not before I saw the shame written on her face… shame and regret.

  I touched her hand and tried to understand. “I’m sure you had no other choice.”

  “I didn’t mean to.” Her voice cracked as she lifted her face back up to meet my eyes. “He was possessed by one of those dark spirits. If I didn’t stop him, he would’ve—he would’ve killed me and then he would’ve moved on to more innocent people.”

  Nothing I could have said would’ve made her feel better, so I offered her the only thing I could think of, a secret of my own. “The only woman I’ve ever loved—maybe the only person—died never knowing how I felt about her.”

  Chel leaned back, thoughtful. “I’m sure she knew.”

  “No, she didn’t… because I never told her. I believed she deserved better than me. I let my belief get in the way. And when King Zaeden brought his army of possessed soldiers to Terra, she died right before my eyes. She died, and I couldn’t save her.” I should’ve saved her. I realized then, finally admitted to myself, that I felt responsible for her death. It was foolish, but there it was. Maybe I had been right. I never deserved her love. I set my jaw and grabbed the flask off the mattress and took another drink.

  “What was her name?”

  “Blaise,” I offered in a strained voice. I hadn’t spoken her name since the battle in Terra. I hadn’t even had the chance to tell Ger of her death. I hoped he was safe where he had gone with Queen Nicola. I didn’t let myself consider the fact they could both be dead too.

  Chel smirked. “I suppose we have something in common.”

  “That’s not funny.”

  She tossed her locks over her shoulder and got up off the bed. “Come on. Let’s not spend the night wallowing in our regrets. I’m tired of trying to drink the pain away. It’s a vicious circle of misery, exhaustion and pounding headaches. Revenge will taste much sweeter.”

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “You still smell of that wretched forest, and there’s a lake just outside. I’m not sleeping in this bed with you until you’ve dunked yourself in fresh water.”

  “Someone may see you in your under-garments,” I warned.

  She waved her hand. “Pff. It’s late. Everyone’s inside their rooms.”

  I set the flask on the table and grinned. “As you wish, Lady Water.”

  It turned out everyone had retired for the night except for the innkeeper, who sat at his desk behind a pile of paperwork. He gaped at Chel as she strutted passed him and out the door. If she’d noticed his gawking stare, she didn’t care.

  We strolled through the grass and down a packed dirt path to the nearby lake. We had to watch our steps to avoid stumbling down the steep, rocky beach. The warm summer air was still that night, but when Chel walked into the water she yelped and giggled. I discovered the lake was indeed cold as I dove in further to catch up to her. My body quickly became used to the temperature.

  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so refreshed. Glittering starlight reflected off the dark surface surrounding us. Chel beamed at me as she treaded water into the middle of the lake. I’d never seen anyone so delighted. This was her element. I couldn’t imagine how she managed being so far from the ocean she’d been raised next to.

  I stayed where my feet could touch the bottom of the lake. I wasn’t a good swimmer and didn’t want to embarrass myself.

  “Oh, I’ve missed this,” Chel exclaimed, spinning in a circle. She sunk deeper and dunked her head into the water. She didn’t come back up right away. If I didn’t know she could breathe underwater, I’d have panicked, believing her to be drowning.

  A loon wailed from somewhere on the other side of the lake. An eerie, yet beautiful song. So peaceful there in that part of Sarantoa while darkness consumed the land in the south… changing into a place which resembled the dark world of Mnyama.

  Chel broke the surface, water droplets flying from her slick, black hair like tiny, iridescent crystals. She brushed the water off her face and lifted her gaze to the stars.

  My blood warmed as she studied me from the middle of the lake. I needed to keep Vesirus from taking Sarantoa from us all. Not only for my unborn cousin, the heir to my kingdom, but for Chel, and for the other elementals whom I’d begun to care about. They were the only ones who understood what it was like to be different… to have great power. I’d lost Blaise. I wouldn’t lose them too.

  When my fingers were wrinkled, Chel had finally had her fill of the lake and reluctantly agreed to go back inside. The innkeeper was gone from his desk when we’d returned.

  I peeled off my sopping wet clothes, leaving only my undergarments on and crawled under the not so soft blanket. Chel was perfectly happy sleeping in her dampened undergarments with no blanket. Her lips curved into a soft smile as she drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 26

  Something landed on my legs, startling me awake.

  “Get up, lazy ass.” Chel stood at the edge of the bed, dressed in black trousers and a loose blue tunic cinched around the waist with a leather belt.

  I sat up and picked up the clothing draped over my legs. I blinked at Chel. “You went shopping?”

  “Yes, I figured we could use some new clothing and you were sleeping like an infant so I left you and went to a merchant’s shop. I hope it fits,” she added the last part playfully.

  Once I’d donned the simple white tunic and brown trousers, we met Zephyra in the dining room to break our fast. She wore new clothing as well. Though, her new attire was a pale pink riding dress. Her royal self wouldn’t be caught dead in trousers.

  “How’s Percifal?” Chel prodded as she nibbled on a puffy pastry.

  “Rest has helped, but the wound on his ribs is still a bit sore.”

  “We mustn’t waste time,” Chel replied. “If he’s not well enough to travel by tomorrow, we leave without him.”

  Zephyra shot her a dark stare. “We will not be leaving him behind. We need him.”

  Chel’s dark brows drew down. “And Sarantoa needs us. He’s my brother. I don’t want him risking his life more than he has to.”

  “I don’t either, but it’s his decision.”

  “Fine. We’ll ask him tomorrow,” Chel relented, though the way she stabbed her slice of pork told me she wasn’t happy about it.

  I smiled cautiously. “Ladies, I’d love to stay and listen to you bicker, but I’d like to purchase a sword before we continue on.”

  “Merchant shops are
that way,” Chel pointed, not bothering to glance up from her food.

  I welcomed the silence as I ambled along the pathway behind the inn, passing by a line of little wooden shops. I peered in each window. Jewelry sparkled from behind the polished glass of one shop. Another displayed the colourful works of a local weaver. Silver glinted, catching my eye from one of the windows near the end of the pathway. I entered and an eager merchant met me with a blade in his hand. A thick, white polishing cloth dangled from his other hand. “Welcome, warrior. This blade is waiting for a man like you to slay enemies with.” The merchant held the long sword out for me to get a closer look.

  The blade was indeed a fine piece of craftsmanship. I pressed my finger against the edge to test its sharpness. A line of blood appeared on my skin where the blade had touched. I studied the solid gold hilt with the unique twisted design. I would’ve loved to own a sword like that, but I couldn’t be greedy and spend all our coin when we needed it for more practical items. So I politely declined. “Not this time, but do you have something simpler?”

  The merchant’s face dropped with disappointment, but he fetched another sword and brought it to me. “This one is sturdy and sharp. She’ll do well by you.”

  I accepted the sword from the merchant and turned to take a practice swing. The blade was well weighted, and the leather wrapped, iron hilt felt comfortable in my palm. “How much?”

  “Two golds, one silver.”

  I dropped the coins into the merchant’s hand and left the shop with my new blade.

  I returned to the inn to find Percifal downstairs sipping on a bowl of soup. I raised my forehead at him. “You’re out of bed.”

  “I need to keep up my strength. It seems my sister will leave me behind if I’m not ready to leave tomorrow.”

  “Will you be ready to leave tomorrow?” I eyed him suspiciously.

  “Is that concern you have for me, Seph?” Percifal jested. When I just stared at him he added, “I’m fine.”

  “Honestly, I’m glad it won’t just be me and those two. Sometimes I worry they’ll kill each other before Vesirus even gets his chance.”

  That got a laugh out of him, though he couldn’t hide the wince at the pain in his ribs. He was a stubborn fool for wanting to stay on this journey. I couldn’t have said I wouldn’t have done the same if I were in his position. As soldiers, we couldn’t stand by and watch while others went to war. We’d rather die than sit idly by while our friends fought.

  Zephyra entered the dining room with Chel behind her. “You’re back,” the fire elemental commented. “Come and pray with us. There’s a Temple not far from here.”

  I looked at Chel. Her face seemed to say, ‘if I have to, so do you.’

  “What about him?” I gesture to Percifal, who focused on drinking his water.

  “He has not been gifted by the goddess, and he needs as much rest as he can get before we leave tomorrow,” Zephyra said.

  “All right,” I agreed. “If only to pass the time.”

  Zephyra scowled. “Do you even remember the last time you prayed?”

  I thought for a moment before answering her. “No. Sometime when I was a child and my father had taken me to Terra’s Temple.”

  Chel’s brows rose as Zephyra said, “It is time you reunite with our goddess then. We need Celestia’s guidance more than ever.”

  I held out my arm. “Lead the way.”

  “Not a devoted follower either, are you?” Chel whispered as we followed Zephyra out of the inn and down the pathway leading past the shops.

  “No, I never believed the goddess cared much for a torturer’s son.”

  “You’re more than that now,” Chel assured me.

  Zephyra’s braid bounced like a rope of fire with each of her bouncy steps. “She’s right. If Celestia didn’t care about you, she wouldn’t have given you earth magic. No wonder the goddess has only chosen to visit me and not the two of you. You’ve both been ungrateful.”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t feel thankful Celestia chose me to fight her brother of darkness in this war,” Chel shot.

  “Well, she did,” Zephyra countered.

  I sighed loudly through my nose and asked, “Will you two ever get along?”

  They both gave me a look that could turn stone to ash, so I shut my mouth and we walked the rest of the way in silence.

  The Temple wasn’t as magnificent as the one in Terra, but it had still been beautifully built. Its long diamond-shaped windows were filled with clear glass that was cut to send prisms along the inner walls when the sunlight hit from the right angle.

  We stepped inside and were met by a priestess with long, white hair. Her pale skin crinkled as she smiled at us. I couldn’t guess how many Noctis’ she’d lived through, but she had aged with grace and still moved like water. “Good day, my friends,” the priestess welcomed us in a soft voice, barely above a whisper.

  “Good day, Priestess,” Zephyra replied, bowing her head to the elderly woman. “We’ve come to pray. Do you have offerings available for us to give?” She held a gold coin out to the priestess.

  The priestess accepted the coin and nodded. “I do, please wait here.”

  We did as told, removing our boots while we waited for her to return. Bare feet were custom when making an offering to the goddess. It allowed the devotee to be closer to her with nothing between skin and earth.

  The graceful priestess returned with a cup of water and a cup of soil in one hand, a candle and incense clasped in the other. She handed the items to Zephyra and said gently, “Celestia is ready to hear your prayers.”

  We stepped into the main part of the Temple to where a statue of Celestia rested with both hands out as if waiting to welcome her followers in a loving embrace. Zephyra handed the cup of water to Chel and the cup of soil to me. She kept the candle and the incense and bowed her head, closing her eyes. “Celestia, hear me now. I am here to thank you for the gifts you’ve bestowed upon me and upon all of your children. I thank you for the fire that burns inside my veins, and for giving me the chance to fight in this war against darkness.” She opened her eyes and the candle’s wick flickered to life, the glowing flame burning bright and steady.

  When no one said anything, she nudged Chel, who kneeled beside her. Chel closed her eyes and spoke to the goddess. “I kneel before you and offer my thanks for the gift you’ve given me, and for the gift of life given to your children. Please accept my offering and give us aid in this war.” The water swirled up out of the cup and shot in a spiral to the statues feet, soaking the ground beneath the white marble.

  I closed my eyes and tried not to feel awkward as I spoke to a statue. “Celestia, I thank you for the gift of earth magic, and for the life you’ve given us all. Please accept my offering.” I opened my eyes and focused on the cup of soil in my hands. A tiny vine sprouted from the center of the cup, growing until it budded and bloomed into a white flower. I lay the cup before the statue, and then I sat back on my heels.

  “As air is not yet with us,” Zephyra started. “I would like to thank you on their behalf. Please accept this offering for the gift of air.” An ember glowed on the tip of the incense she held, a stream of scented smoke floating from the stick and filling the Temple with the scent of sandalwood. “Please guide us with your light in this war against darkness,” she whispered as she set down the incense into the holder at the statue’s feet.

  We rose and made our way back to the front of the Temple to fetch our boots.

  “May Celestia be with you,” the priestess offered as we left.

  “May Celestia be with you,” Zephyra replied, bowing her head.

  It was true, I hadn’t prayed to Celestia like that since I was a boy. It started by making excuses about having no time but, in the end, I didn’t believe myself a worthy enough follower. Somehow, she still believed in me enough to give me her gift. Perhaps she regretted that decision, but Zephyra’s devotion had been inspirational. I’d try to be worthy of the magic I’d been given
.

  As dawn lit the sky through the window with brilliant shades of liquid gold and fuchsia, Zephyra burst into the room Chel and I shared with a smile on her face. “Celestia came to me last night,” she beamed.

  Chel rubbed her tired eyes and yawned. “Did she?”

  “Yes,” Zephyra confirmed, ripping the blanket off Chel. I had already dressed in my new clothing and straightened from tying up my leather boots. “She said to find the air elemental. She said they are the key to stopping her brother.”

  “Isn’t that what we’re doing?” I put in from a corner of the room.

  “Yes,” Zephyra said, “but it means it isn’t all for naught. We’re on the right path.”

  “Did she happen to tell you where exactly this air elemental is?” Chel asked, rolling to sit up and comb out her mass of dark hair with her fingers.

  “No.” Zephyra bit her lip. “But she has to be somewhere in Ventosa. It only makes sense.”

  “Of course she didn’t,” I muttered. “She can’t even give us clear answers never mind come fight her brother herself.”

  Zephyra crossed her arms. “I’m sure she would if she could. Vesirus is only here because of King Zaeden.”

  “Let’s go find us an air elemental then,” Chel stated, reaching for her trousers.

  Percifal was waiting for us at the front of the inn by the time we were ready to leave. The innkeeper sat at his desk playing a game of solitaire and sipping on a cup of tea.

  “Do you know what’s been happening in the rest of Sarantoa?” I decided to ask him. A lot of those smaller villages were a fair distance from any kingdom and didn’t know much of what went on outside of their little community. All they worried about was paying taxes to the kingdom closest to their village.

  The innkeeper peered up from his card game. “There’s been word that King Zaeden of Aquila has conquered Terra. We belong to Ventosa though.” He shrugged.

  I cleared my throat before informing him, “King Zaeden has also conquered Solis and will be coming for Ventosa next.”