Upon arriving in Bavaria, they quickly learned that would not be the case here. Earth’s family were being rounded up home by home. The guards knew exactly what evidence to look for and where to find it. It was the same as what had happened to Fire’s people. Leena watched in horror as Earth and her descendants were locked away awaiting sentencing that would be far from fair. They had to act fast if they hoped to save any of them.
Once they made it down from the cities above to the cover of the trees safely, Leena would help with the escape. Marcus had feared taking her with them and asked her to wait on lookout instead. This is where Leena stayed even now hoping for some sign of their arrival soon. She had no indication of what was happening. Marcus had blocked his mind from everyone because of the unknown threat trying to take the Elementals out.
Water’s tribes were the only ones to escape unscathed. The wolves were being hunted by the towns that dotted the countryside, but their reluctance to stay in any one place for long had saved them this time. The tribes that had settled the area had already moved on before the persecution began.
She tried again with her mind to hear something. Any small sign that the rescue party would be making their way to the checkpoint safely. It was no use. She could sense nothing. There was one other option that she had been trying to convince herself to avoid. Three days had passed since Marcus and Fire left her behind to aid Earth. ‘It was time,’ she decided.
Leena sat beneath several tall spruce trees and closed her eyes to concentrate. This had to be done delicately and was dangerous to do alone which made it even more necessary for her to practice extreme caution. Emptying her mind of everything, she tried to project herself into the future where they would join her in the forest. There was nothing on her first attempt. The only imagery she saw was her continued wait with very little variation between the pathways.
It frustrated her to see nothing new and only her continued wait in the future. It gave her no information to determine what was happening in the village on the ridge above her. The only thing she would be able to foresee was their return, and that would only be shown to her if it happened swiftly enough before the pathways pulled her down drowning her in her mind and trapping her there. It had happened to one other before her. Their son Otto had met this fate many years ago.
The only way for her to see how the others were faring would be if she scried a future where she went to their aide. It would be far riskier, but she felt there was no other choice. It was this or leave the shelter of the forest and actually seek them out. This would have to be brief, and she would have to plot it carefully. If only she could pick up on the other Elements or their people, it would be much easier.
Leena shook her head. If I could pick up on the other Elements, this wouldn’t be necessary. She needed a plan since she didn’t know where to look inside the village. The least risk would be if she first ventured in her mind to get the layout of the area. Then she could try again once she knew where to concentrate her efforts. Stick to the shadows and survey the landscape, so you will know where to look for them next time she plotted hoping she may stumble on some clue that would lead her to them.
After trying to reach Marcus again without success, she closed her eyes and saw into a future where she went to find him. The ripples into the timelines were minimal as she saw herself begin to make her way to the village. There along the cobblestone streets the ripples became more frequent, but she had nothing yet. Not one indication of what was happening to her love and their companions. Leena continued to search the village hoping for something that would direct her on where to look for them.
A carriage came careening out from a side street onto the road near her. The horses were out of control, and the buggy tipped to the side. The occupants cried out, and the horse dragged the driver away through the street. His blood curdling screams stopped forever after hitting a statue as the horse made a sharp turn sending him flying to the side.
There had been a torch ablaze near where the carriage toppled, and it caught fire quickly. Soon chaos was everywhere as those inside scrambled to get free. Leena saw every version of these events including ones where the carriage managed to make the curve even with the runaway horses leading the way. The pathways spread around her like wildfire. It began as only a few then one fleeting moment created a number so vast and so quickly, she couldn’t return to her body in time. In her mind she saw herself standing on the edge of the cobblestone street where her form was deteriorating as it broke apart being wrenched down all the different timelines at once. It was growing more shadowy and the rate would increase by the minute as new offshoots continued to branch along each one creating an endless array of possibilities.
In the woods, her body convulsed and thrashed along a spruce root that stuck up through the ground. It would be minutes before she lost consciousness and lay on the forest floor in a virtual sleep. By morning, they would learn if his undefined immortality extended to her as his match, or if there were in fact limits on her as there were on their children. That is of course unless Marcus found her first.
Marcus tried to reach his wife to let her know they would soon be nearing the forest, but he couldn’t make contact. He motioned for everyone to stop while he tried again. He was leading the way for Earth’s coven with Fire bringing up the rear. Their efforts would be in vain if the woods were found to be compromised when they arrived. Taking a moment to make sure his mind was clear, he focused and tried again. Leena couldn’t be located anywhere.
A tremble went through his lower lip, and he clamped his mouth tightly to suppress the scream building in his throat. As an Element, he could not be blocked by his family the same as they could each other. There were only three souls on this earth whose thoughts were safe from him, and two of them were behind him trying to reach the woods before they were all caught. If he couldn’t find Leena in his mind’s eye, there were only two explanations. Either she was unconscious, or she were dead.
He balled his fists and place one in his mouth biting his hand until he drew blood to avoid releasing the cries that would lead to their capture. An empty rage ignited within him, and he raced to the tree line to see what became of his beloved. Twenty yards from where the road curved along the edge of the forest, he went sprawling to the ground knocked down by an unknown force. It held him tight as he bucked and fought to break free.
“Be still,” Fire bellowed in a hushed voice. “You are behaving like a madman.”
“It’s Leena,” Marcus gasped.
Footfalls were just behind them when Earth breathlessly said, “Why didn’t you say something Marcus. We will help. What do you need us to do?”
Fire began to lift his weight, and Marcus sprung into motion headed to the trees again. There was no time to explain what was happening. He needed to act. He could hear Fire directly behind him, and he was sure Earth was following as fast as she could manage.
Inside the cover of trees, Marcus scanned the area looking for a sign of what befell his wife. There had to be a clue.
“Marcus-”
“Find her!” he interrupted Fire.
Fire’s eyes filled with knowing as Earth caught up to them. Marcus headed farther into the woods while Fire told Earth to help look for Leena.
It didn’t take long to find her laying on the ground convulsing. Her condition could only be the result of one thing. Marcus let out a low whistle for his companions to trace to him, and he collapsed onto his knees. He had only seen this once before with Otto, and his fate had not been pleasant nor did it end well. They knew the risks of looking into the future which is why they only did it when absolutely necessary.
“What happened?” Earth asked.
“She’s trapped in mind’s eye,” replied Marcus as he rubbed his forehead trying to think of a plan.
“Mind’s eye? Trapped?” Fire asked.
“It can happen if we’re not careful when we try to see the future.”
“What can happen?”
Eart
h stepped forward and knelt by Leena lifting her head to her lap. “This,” Earth told him.
Fire didn’t have the gift of sight like Marcus and couldn’t use any other powers of divination like Earth. He didn’t understand that the future was never a solid line one must follow. It was a labyrinth of maze like paths ever bending and changing.
“We will save her,” she told Marcus.
“I might be able to reach her if I...” his voice trailed off.
“If you what?” Fire was ever the pesky curious one.
Marcus shook his head. “I’m not sure it can be done.”
“Go to her, Marcus,” Earth guided. “You have to try.”
Holding Leena’s hands in his own, he leaned his head down to hers. Before his head touched hers, he paused and looked at Earth. “If my light dims, pull me back.”
Earth nodded.
“What light? Will someone explain this to me?” Fired demanded, but as he finished asking his questions, he saw it. A blue light began to shine from Marcus’ forehead where he rested it against Leena’s. Slowly it grew brighter until it was a ball of blue electric waves about the size of his head.
Fire dropped to the ground and raised a knee in front of him resting his arm on it. “Now I’ve seen everything,” he said to no one at all.
“Not quite everything,” Earth told him. “Come. Help us hold her legs, so she doesn’t knock him off of her.”
He did as Earth instructed kneeling by Leena’s feet and holding both ankles steady being careful not to apply too much pressure. “Do you know what is going on here?” he asked her.
“Yes.”
A moment passed while he waited. “Would you be so kind as to fill me in?” he asked with growing impatience and crossness.
“What don’t you understand?” she asked, genuinely unsure because matters like these were more commonplace in her experience.
“Oh, I don’t know. Why does Leena act as though she is possessed by an evil spirit? And perhaps you could explain why our friend is glowing like the lights of the north? All of it, woman! I don’t understand any of it.”
Earth glared at him. “When Leena tried to see into the future, she went too far. There were too many alternate timelines. This is what happens to them.”
“How does he get her back?”
“He doesn’t,” Earth said solemnly. “At least there is no known way to save her.”
“Is he seeing into the future then?” Fire tried to understand.
“The future she saw...the place where she is trapped...it is now the past. There is no way to reach her except through her mind. It may work...” Earth didn’t sound hopeful.
“What will happen to her?”
Earth looked over the top of Marcus’ head and even in the darkness, she was able to meet Fire’s eyes. “If he can’t bring her back, she will die.”
“But she is immortal.”
“Yes, but she is not an Element like you or I. There are ways in which she can perish.”
“She can die like their children,” Fire understood all too well that the Element’s limitless immortality didn’t carry over to their people.
“No one knows for sure if she can. No one wants to find out.” Earth corrected him.
“Will this work?” he asked fascinated by the light surrounding Marcus and Leena.
“It has never been attempted.”
Marcus’ voice rang out. “I see her! She is stuck!”
“Where?” Fire asked.
“In the village near the fountain.”
“Stay!” Earth ordered before Fire had a chance to react to the news.
“I can get there in no time,” he insisted.
“Her body is here, you fool! What is trapped is her consciousness.”
The light started to reduce in size. “I’m not sure I can get her to snap out of it,” Marcus told them.
“His light,” Fire looked at Earth worried.
“There’s still a little time left.”
“A little time for what?” Fire yelled.
“Time for him to try before I separate him from her.”
“What would happen if you don’t?”
Earth looked at Marcus. The light was now half the size it had been. “Marcus will become trapped in her mind alongside her.”
“But Marcus cannot die. This we know,” Fire declared, growing more agitated at his lack of understanding of the situation.
“True, but he will be trapped until she does.”
Fire watched the ball of light reduce smaller and smaller. In slow motion, he saw Earth’s hand begin to raise to push Marcus back from his wife. He took action.
In a blink, he hit Marcus off of Leena hard sending him sprawling into the trunk of a nearby tree knocking him out. He bit into his wrist and pulled Leena’s head back dripping his blood into her mouth until he was sure it had flowed down her throat. Then he grabbed her head and twisted it hard breaking her neck. All of this before Earth could react to him jumping up from the ground.
“What have you done?” she screamed as she looked at Marcus and Leena both lying perfectly still on the ground.
“I found a different solution.”
Earth put both hands over her mouth, and her breathing quickened to a near hyperventilation state. “Marcus will never forgive you.”
“I beg to differ. I think he will be quite pleased with the end result.”
Earth rose to her feet and squared off against Fire making him laugh that she actually thought he could be a threat to her. “He will never forgive you turning his wife into a vampire,” she hissed.
“Marcus will never know unless you tell him.”
The laughter that flowed from Earth’s mouth was hysterical as one would sound who had gone insane. “I won’t have to tell him! I’m pretty sure he will figure it out.”
“Would you think it through? A broken neck can’t kill Air. I saved her and got her out of wherever it was that had her trapped by doing it.”
Earth’s eyes lowered, and she circled around trying to decide if it was possible. “Then why feed her first? Why give her your blood?”
“You said it would kill her if she stayed trapped. It happened before. To Otto, right?” he nodded. “I know about Otto although I never truly understand what happened. I gave her my blood in case whatever was happening was too far gone for her to come back from it.”
“And if it was? What then? She is still a vampire,” Earth spat as she paced around worried about her friends.
Fire shook his head. “Only if she were human. In our kind,” he said, motioning to all of them, “The vampirism has to be triggered.”
Earth stopped walking. It was true. Leena would have to feed again for it to trigger. Humans would wake from their death needing blood to survive the transformation. Immortals did not. She would survive the transformation if there was in fact one taking place without the need for blood. Fire wouldn’t be triggered in her until she drank blood, and not just any blood. She would have to drink again from Fire himself to make the transformation complete.
He could see that Earth was realizing what he already knew. “You see? A different solution.”
“But Marcus can read her mind.”
“Leena has no memory of it. There is nothing for him to discover.”
“And he can’t read us because we’re Elements,” Earth began to understand.
“Exactly. Marcus will never know unless you tell him like I already said.”
“Tell me what?” Marcus groaned from the ground nearby.
Fire’s eyes pleaded with Earth not to say a word.
“This fool,” Earth said as she bent to assist Marcus into a sitting position. “He panicked when you started to move away from Leena, and his sudden jerking sent you flying into the tree.”
Marcus looked up at Fire, “You what?”
He played along. “When you moved, I thought you were starting to convulse. I tried to grab you back, but...I panicked and forgot my strength.”
It looked like Marcus wasn’t believing their ruse then Leena groaned. All else was forgotten. He went to her side and lifted her up until her head was to her chest. “Shh, my love. Be still. Don’t move,” he told her.
Leena’s eyelids batted several times before opening for good. She looked around vaguely unsure of what had happened.
Earth and Fire stood over her with baited breath to see how it would play out.
“You’re going to be fine, my love.”
“What happened? I remember the village.” She gasped and turned up to see her husband’s face. Tears fell as she said, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I brought you back.”
Leena clung to him staining his shirt with her tears. Her mouth was parched, and she licked her lips. She grimaced, “I taste blood.”
Fire sucked in his breath waiting to be discovered so soon.
Marcus pulled his wife’s chin down gently and looked into her mouth by the light of the moon. “You probably bit your tongue during your ordeal. No bother. If that is the worst you suffer, we are fortunate.”
Earth shot Fire a glance and leaned in to whisper, “You lucky devil.”
“What was that?” Marcus asked.
“I was saying we are lucky,” Earth told him.
Fire smiled impishly, “How very true.”
Leena said up, and rubbed the back of her neck moaning in pain. “I feel like my head has been cut off and reattached.”
“You were thrashing about quite violently,” Marcus offered as an explanation.
“I’m going to go check on my family,” Earth made her exit.
Fire stood awkwardly feeling like Marcus could see into his soul. “I think I should go too in case there’s trouble,” he told him then followed her out of the woods.
Chapter Twenty
Everyone was already out of sight before they got their coats and jumped into Jackson’s truck. “I get to be a part of this now, right?” he asked, pulling out of the driveway.
Lilah looked at him confused.
Air: The Elementals: Book One Page 24
