Earth: The Elementals Book Two

by Jennifer Lush

  When her grandma made her way in to join the others, she was clutching her rubino pendant in her hand. Words weren’t necessary. Grandma Eloise’s face gave the answer of whether the Return had been a success.

  “Water again?” asked Aunt Meredith.

  It was the obvious choice. Water had never shown for a Return in the last millennium. Water was the reason it had never been successful. There were many years, as many as half if not more, where Fire went rogue and skipped out. It didn’t make a difference since Water never showed either.

  Grandma Eloise solemnly lifted her face to meet Meredith’s eyes than cast her eyes around the living room at everyone. “Fire.”

  That’s it. One word was more than enough. Grandma gave no more explanation than that. It was all that needed to be said.

  A collective gasp went through the group. There would be much to discuss as the night wore on. It was not unheard of for Fire to be absent, but the three Elements had made a pack last year. They resolved to see to it that Water be located and brought to the Return regardless of whatever it might take to accomplish the feat.

  There was an uneasy foreboding that cast a shadow over the mood in the room. It was known by all present that the vampires were being hunted with members of Earth soon to follow. Fire had vowed to help bring Water to the Return. The absence left the fear that something had befallen Fire. Fire’s immortality was not limited, but detainment could be a possibility.

  Grandma Eloise walked into the hall placing her pendant on the end table near the sofa as she went. An act that did not go unnoticed.

  “Get ahold of Jackson. Now, Everleigh,” Aunt Meredith ordered.

  Everleigh already had her cell phone in hand sending a text to Lilah that the Return failed. That was all the information she was giving out until she was told otherwise. After the trouble she caused inviting Lilah over tonight, she wasn’t taking any risks. It struck a guilty note promising to let Lilah know if she learned more when there was already information she was withholding from her.

  Next she messaged Jackson telling him the same thing without divulging it was Fire who didn’t show. He would be home alone, and it would be hard to say what would happen when he lost control from the news. They wouldn’t be able to keep him from finding out for long, but it bought them some time to figure out what to do.

  While she was looking at her phone, she didn’t see what had happened until the screaming started. The shock made her jump so hard her phone almost went flying. Everleigh looked up just in time to see Grandma Eloise violently yanking her pendant out of Aunt Meredith’s hands.

  “Bold move considering how thin the ice is beneath your feet around me, Meredith!” Grandma Eloise bellowed.

  “I’m sorry,” Aunt Meredith began. “My curiosity got the better of me. No one knows anything about Water.”

  “Save it. Your words are meaningless. You know better than to touch this stone.”

  Something about what Eloise said to her struck a nerve. “You know better than to forget some of us know more of your secrets than others,” Meredith threatened.

  “Get out!” Eloise screamed, pointing to the door.

  Meredith stood motionless. Her mouth gaped open as though she honestly hadn’t expected her actions to come to this result.

  “Now!” Eloise cried out again.

  Meredith began gathering her belongings to leave. “You know what to do,” she said to Everleigh, before heading to the front door.

  “I’ll go to him,” she promised her aunt, hoping her grandma would allow it.

  “No. It has to be Lilah.”

  “Are you sure?” Everleigh had every reason to doubt it was a good idea. Lilah was still in the dark about too much.

  Aunt Meredith paused with her hand on the front door and looked directly at her niece. “She’s his anchor.”

  Everleigh nodded, and she began to understand what her aunt meant by it. She fervently began texting her friends. There was no way she would be allowed out of the house this evening. Not only was it supposed to be a time of celebration, but her grandma would surely try to prevent her from running after her aunt.

  She let Lilah know it was Fire who didn’t show to the Return then invited her out again. Figuring Lilah’s family would be hard pressed to let her go to her boyfriend’s on the night of a failed Return, Everleigh invited her over to her house. If Air thought she was coming here, they may allow it hoping for shared updates on the events. Her plan worked.

  Next, she had to send Jackson to pick her up with specific instructions to follow. They needed a way to make sure her thoughts were blocked without letting on that Jackson knew anything about Lilah’s abilities. This secret keeping was becoming exhausting. Lilah needed to tell him about her family soon. There were worlds of information that couldn’t be discussed around her until she made the first move by opening up to him.

  Once everything was arranged, she looked at the spot where her grandma had set the pendant down not long ago. Thinking her grandma had gone upstairs, she walked closer and pictured the pendant as grandma had placed it. It was too perfect. The pendant had never left her grandma’s neck before tonight. It was certainly not something she would casually set down and walk away. Catching Meredith red handed. It was like a perfectly baited trap, but to what end? Grandma could kick her aunt out at any time. In fact, she has kicked her out too many times to count.

  There had to be a reason for this display of odd events tonight. Everleigh tried hard to decipher the clues. It could be something Meredith needed to see in the pendant. Maybe there was something grandma didn’t want the others to know yet. The only other place her aunt has to go is the farmhouse. Todd was her only ally in town. It could have been a plan to get her over there, but why?

  Grandma Eloise’s voice jumped into her thoughts. “Haven’t I told you? No sense worrying over what you don’t know. All will reveal itself in time.”

  “Grandma, I didn’t see you,” Everleigh muttered, throwing her hand to her chest where her heart was beating fast from being startled. It confirmed what she had been thinking. There was more to it than what lay on the surface.

  “Obviously,” her grandma said wryly.

  “I thought you went upstairs,” Everleigh told her.

  “What? And miss the party?” Grandma waved an arm around the room where everyone’s tone had turned serious discussing the news of the Return and Meredith’s departure.

  Everleigh snickered. “It’s certainly one to remember.”

  “Are they together?”

  It was a strange question, and it took a moment for Everleigh to understand who she meant. “Yes, or will be soon if not.”

  “Good. It won’t be long until Jackson learns for himself. He will need her.”

  “What if she’s not there when he finds out?”

  Grandma Eloise watched her family and coven members as they tried to work out what the night’s events could mean. “We better pray no one is nearby if that happens.”

  Everleigh’s eyes widened hearing it said so directly. It was the one thing she feared most, but she knew her grandma was not wrong.

  “I’m going to bed. It’s been a long day and an even longer night. You might want to wrap the party up early. I don’t think anyone would really mind this year.”

  “Good night, grandma,” Everleigh forced a smile, hugging her.

  Meredith arrived at the farmhouse and went to the shed where Luke had been living since Eloise forced her to move him out of the attic. No one had ordered him to stay out of the house like this. It was suggested by Luke when they first arrived here asking for help. The house was too crowded already, and it would probably be better all-around for him to keep a little distance from them just to keep everyone calm about their new guest. Luke hadn’t been too keen about coming here anyway given past relations between Fire and Air.

  Bygones should stay bygones, but it’s never easy to forget. It had been an uneventful couple of days for him. Everyone had been pleasant eve
n inviting him inside for meals. It didn’t change anything. Luke wanted this over as soon as possible. They had been moving quite often to keep him safe. The plan had originally been to leave after the Return attempt, but with the news Meredith now had, it wouldn’t be so easy.

  The shed was empty. Meredith called out quietly, but there was no answer. Looking around, it appeared like he had a better deal than the others in the house. At least he had more privacy then the rest of them.

  Meredith emerged from the shed, but paused when she recognized a familiar sound. It was Jackson’s pickup she heard even though he was probably still at the edge of town. The one item in the vamp’s toolbox she’s most thankful for besides immortality is heightened senses. She stepped back inside the shed relieved Everleigh had been able to get these two together tonight.

  Jackson didn’t know yet any of the details about the Return attempt. If he saw her, he’d know it had come to pass already. There’d be no reason for Meredith to not be at Eloise’s otherwise. Meredith couldn’t risk him asking questions. The boy had trouble keeping control of his emotions on a good day, and the news about Fire and Water would certainly upset him.

  The farmhouse would honestly be the best location for him to lose it now that she considered it. The hoard of Air out of here would be able to contain him. If their psychic strength couldn’t do it, then their shapeshifting abilities would allow them to turn into something far fiercer than he could ward off.

  Lilah needs to tell him the truth already. It’s like ripping off a band aid. Do it and get it over with, so no one has to walk on eggshells any longer. Jackson already knows. He knows exactly who Lilah is and everything about Air. Everyone has to do a song and dance routine around her because Lilah just came into her abilities full strength. Her family is worried about what would happen if she got too upset since she has not yet learned how to control them. All hail, Lilah, the delicate flower.

  Jackson pulled up to the house, and it didn’t take long before they were on their way. Lilah bounded out the door before he even made it to the steps. Meredith left the cover of the shed and headed to the house sending Everleigh a text as she went. It wouldn’t be long before the young lovebirds were at Jackson’s house. He needed to learn what happened while Lilah was there. Their connection would keep him subdued.

  Meredith didn’t have a chance to knock on the door before it swung open.

  “Took you long enough,” Luke smiled at her. “I was beginning to think you were going to wait in the shed for me all night.”

  “I wanted to wait until Jackson left, so he didn’t ask any questions about the Return,” Meredith explained, walking inside.

  Luke led her toward the kitchen where he had been chatting with Todd at the table. “Yeah, I heard about Fire and Water.”

  “There’s more to it than that,” she said, pulling out a chair to join them.

  Both men watched her waiting to hear what she had to say. “What happened?” Luke asked when she didn’t volunteer any additional updates.

  “Even though Fire didn’t show, there were still four people present,” she said, nodding at Todd who was hand-signaling to ask if she wanted anything to drink.

  Todd poured his guest a glass of tea and set it in front of her. “Four?” he repeated, wanting to make sure he heard right.

  “Five if you count Leena,” she told him.

  The mouths on both of them gaped opened and their eyes widened. Meredith could hear the gasps from the other room where Air was paying close attention to their conversation either eavesdropping or reading Todd’s mind. She didn’t mind. It would be better for everyone to hear it all at once than have to answer a lot of questions later.

  “I don’t know who the other person was. I didn’t get a good look, but it wasn’t anyone I’ve ever seen.”

  “Wait. What look? You weren’t there, were you?” Luke asked.

  “No,” Meredith exhaled and leaned back in her chair, tapping her coffee cup with her fingernail. “Eloise left her pendant unattended.”

  Todd’s head jerked sharply. “That’s not typical of Eloise.”

  “I know. That’s how I knew she wanted me to look,” Meredith agreed. “But she didn’t give me enough time before she pretended to catch me and kick me out.”

  “What did you see?” Luke asked.

  Meredith sipped her coffee and shook her head. “Only a snippet. I saw Marcus and Leena, Anya, and the one I assume was Water. They were discussing Fire’s absence, and Water was angry because there was something that had been kept secret. I’m not sure. Like I said, it was only a quick glance.”

  “You said there were five people,” Todd urged.

  “Yeah, that’s when the fifth came from nowhere and grabbed Water. Marcus and Leena moved in to help then all four of them disappeared through the same portal leaving Anya on her own. The portal closed before Anya could go through it.”

  Luke’s gaze never left the table, but he tilted his chin toward her. “What happened to Anya? Is she stuck there?

  Meredith and Todd looked at each other knowingly. “Each Element has their own portal,” Todd explained.

  “That would provide reason for Marcus’ absence,” Luke thought out loud. “If he went through a different portal, then who knows where he wound up.”

  “I didn’t see what happened because that’s when Eloise snatched the pendant from me,” Meredith added.

  “Then she kicked you out,” Todd nodded, “knowing you would come here.”

  “Exactly. I would come here to update Luke about Fire, and your family about Marcus and Leena,” Meredith said softly.

  “Thank you, Meredith,” Todd crossed his arms on the table. “Unfortunately, this leaves us with more questions than answers.”

  Luke sat up in his chair, “Hold on. Before we get to the heavy hitting stuff, why was Leena there? I didn’t know the Elements could bring guests.”

  Meredith snickered than bit her lip. His oblivious nature helped to lighten the mood.

  Todd sighed and shrugged. “I’m not sure they are allowed, but we’ve long believed that Leena would want to join Marcus when the Return occurred. That is why she was present, I’m sure.”

  “The real question is this mystery person. Who could it possibly be?” Meredith wondered.

  “That, and does this have anything to do with the halt of the wolf movement. Did whether Water made the Return or not have anything to do with their plans?” Todd said with conviction.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Now what?” Luke asked, following Meredith onto the porch of the farmhouse later that night.

  “We have to find Fire.”

  Luke nodded slowly and turned his face to her while staring at the road at the end of the driveway. Something had caught his eye, but he couldn’t see anything out of place. Probably just an animal. The property was so overrun with wildlife, and the squirrels were almost friendly. “Yes, but how?”

  “You can’t sense him?”

  “No. I’m not from his line.”

  Meredith stopped and stared at him perplexed. “He is the first vampire to ever actually exist. You’re a natural, not created. How can you not be from his line?”

  “You know what I mean. I’m too far down the line to be considered a close descendant of his. Biologically speaking, he’s like my great times five grandfather. We’re too distant.”

  They walked toward the shed hesitantly. Both feeling the urge to leave and do something to find out more, but neither quite sure as to what.

  “Do you think something happened to him?” Meredith asked. It was on everyone’s mind. It had to be. Fire had shunned the Return attempts many times before. Maybe he didn’t know Water had been found. It wasn’t hard to assume Fire just bailed on it again.

  “Of course something happened to him. What kind of question is that?” Luke sneered.

  Meredith sighed and sat on the hand me down furniture that had been scavenged to make Luke’s home in the shed more comfortable. “How sur
e are you he was planning on attending this year?”

  “I talked to him a few days ago. He told me Water had been located. It looked like it was pretty certain Marcus would manage to get Water to the Return. This was to be the year.”

  Meredith was shocked. He’d never told her about this until now. It almost hurt that he’d keep something so monumental from her.

  “Don’t look at me like that. Fire made me vow to keep it to myself just in case.”

  “Just in case?”

  Luke walked over to a basket by his mattress, digging through his clothes. Pulling out a sweatshirt, he gave it a sniff and shrugged. It’d have to do. “Yeah,” he said, yanking the sweatshirt over his head. The night had grown considerably colder since he went up to the house earlier. “In case the wrong person found out.”

  It was the worst between the Elementals now than Meredith could remember. No one knew who to trust anymore.

  “Not saying you,” Luke told her directly, worried her silence meant she took it personally.

  “No, not me,” she took his hand. “But people do talk. I would’ve told Eloise and Everleigh.”

  “And they would’ve told others. Well, maybe not Eloise,” Luke smiled to ease the mood.

  “Let’s figure this out then. We know the wolves are involved. There are eye witness accounts from some of the attacks clearly accusing them, but Water was at the Return.”

  “And Fire wasn’t,” Luke dug into the dirt floor with his shoe. “What about Jackson?”

  She raised her eyebrows. “What about him?” There was no way Luke could think he was behind this.

  “Couldn’t you do your itchy witchy voodoo on Fire to find out anything?”

  Meredith rolled her eyes so hard she thought she pulled a muscle. It irritated her when he made light of it even after all these years, and even though she knew he was playing around.

  Suddenly, she sat up straight. “Wait. You might be on to something.”