by Lela Grayce
Nuri threw his head back and laughed. “If I was the unfriendly sort, I would have just let you stay in my allure.”
“That's true.” I was embarrassed a bit for even asking. Nuri had been nothing but kind and helpful to me. “So can you change into a horse?”
Nuri’s amused smile lessened at my question. “Yes, it's my easily-maintained and versatile form.”
“Can you turn into a horse now?”
He shifted in the water, looking uncomfortable. “Yes, I can, but I'm not going to.”
“Why not?” I asked, prodding just a bit.
He sighed and his gaze met mine, his expression conflicted. “You are not ready to see my other form, Elara, and I'm not ready to reveal it to you. I know you've discovered and learned much since meeting me, but please trust me when I say that it is not something you can prepare for. Plus, I prefer this form over the other.”
I could see his discomfort with the topic in his body language, so I did us both a favor and dropped it. “Nuri, you said you connected me to water. What does that mean?”
The twinkle returned to his eye and he talked for the next hour about magic and what exactly it was. Magic was energy that all living things had; it was what binds everything together on a molecular level. There was no division when it came to this energy. It was in everything, so it could be tapped into and borrowed or changed at will. The downside was that when someone changed something permanently, they had to give a piece of themselves, their essence, and leave it with whatever they had changed. There was a balance in everything, a type of give and take; one couldn’t take something and change it without giving back in return.
“Okay, that makes sense. Sort of like yin and yang, one pushes while the other pulls. Darkness exists in the light just like light exists in darkness.”
“This yin and yang is very wise. I would like to meet them,” Nuri said, completely serious.
“Yin and yang aren’t people, Nuri. It’s more a system of beliefs.”
“I do not know what a system of beliefs is, but this is the way of the worlds, and there is a balance that must be maintained. The light is the opposite of darkness just as darkness is the opposite of light. You cannot have one without the other.”
“Yes, well, not everyone sees it so black and white. There are grey areas that some find and then stay in,” I started to say, but recalled something he said. “Wait a minute. You said worlds, as in plural, more than one?”
“There are other worlds besides this one. I’m technically from another world,” Nuri replied coolly, like he was discussing the weather, not ruining everything I had ever known.
“We need to work on your delivery.” I rolled my eyes at him, but it just went right over his head. I sighed, resigned. “Everything you have told me is difficult for me to accept. I mean, if there were other worlds, wouldn’t we know about them?”
Nuri shook his head. “The people of Earth have forgotten. The true history of this world has been lost to time and memory. What was once common knowledge has become myths and legends here. Where I am from, our memories are long. We remember and teach the younger generations about the past.”
“They teach us history,” I said, a tad defensively.
“Yes, but not everything. They don’t teach you how the worlds split or how the ability to do magic was once universal, although dying here while thriving in others. After the split, the gods withdrew from this plane. They realized their ridiculous meddling was upsetting the balance of things. So they left staying out of the affairs of mortals. Humans used to befriend other creatures and beings, understanding their purpose. Now there are stories of monsters and witches designed to scare children into behaving.” Nuri paused, frustration clear in his voice. “The patterns of the past help to shape a brighter, unified future. We must learn from the mistakes of the past, adapt and teach younger generations so they may make better decisions.”
Note to self, history is a touchy subject with Nuri. In the future, proceed with caution. “Changing the subject completely since everything is energy and magic is manipulating that energy and willing it to become my reality, how do you connect to water? You said that you connected me so that I wouldn’t feel the cold anymore.”
“It’s connecting to the energy that is in the water. Water is everywhere and in everything, so if you can tap into that energy, you get information and it will lend you power. Here, come with me.” He grabbed my hand, tugging me forward.
“Wait, Nuri. I don’t want to get my shoes wet.” Wet shoes were the worst. I could deal with my pants or even my shirt getting wet, but if my shoes got wet, it was just miserable.
I quickly untied my shoes with one hand, keeping the other in the water so I didn’t get all goo-goo eyes on Nuri again. Once my shoes and socks were off, I put my feet in the water and wiggled my toes at the pleasant temperature. I rolled up my pant legs, attempting to stay as dry as possible.
Nuri waited patiently as I did my thing, but he shifted his weight from foot to foot, looking apprehensive. Finally, with my task completed, he helped me to stand and we slowly made our way toward the pool he had climbed out of earlier.
“Connecting to water on your own for the first time is easier when there is plenty around you. The shallow water back there would have been difficult for you,” Nuri explained, answering my question before I could ask it.
“Now close your eyes and quiet your mind,” he demanded. I peered at him skeptically, but he just looked back expectantly. I sighed and shot him a quick glare from the corner of my eye before closing them as instructed. “Concentrate inward. Feel the air entering and exiting your lungs. Good, now find your heartbeat. Feel its steady rhythm pulsing throughout your body.”
I tried to do as he asked, but it was hard to concentrate inwardly and quiet my mind when random thoughts kept popping up about everything we had talked about. He was a kelpie, which wasn’t human, other worlds existed besides this one, and now I was trying to connect to energy or magic that was found in water. I had officially gone insane.
“You aren’t concentrating,” Nuri chided in a low voice.
I sighed heavily. “I know. I’m trying, but my mind just won’t quiet.”
“Try listening to the sounds of the water and matching your heartbeat to it,” he suggested, like it was supposed to make total sense to me.
I sighed again and tried to do what he suggested. I breathed in through my nose then out through my mouth and listened to the sounds around me. The pounding of the falls was the most noticeable, and I could faintly make out the chirping of birds. Instead of straining to hear all the sounds, I turned my attention to the sounds closer to me. The trickling of water was slow in coming, because I had to tune out the more noticeable, distracting sounds to find the softer one.
The tension in my shoulders relaxed and I breathed in the familiar scents of this place. The place I had claimed as my own safe haven that brought me serenity and peace. This shouldn’t have been so difficult. I had been coming here for months, addicted to the feelings it invoked in me.
“Well done, Elara. You’ve quieted your mind. Now match your heartbeat to the sounds around you. The blood rushing through your veins to the water cascading over the rocks,” Nuri whispered softly by my ear.
I tried again, but after a few minutes of frustration, I decided on a different approach. I visualized my blood trickling through my veins, bringing oxygen and nutrients to the cells of my body. The water rushing along its own path had a similar task, bringing elements downstream for those who needed it. It was all a balance, just like my life’s blood was to me. Balanced in such a way that it brought with it life.
“Nicely done, Elara. Now reach out to the water around you. One life-giving liquid to another. Each individually different, but fundamentally the same.”
I reached for it just like Nuri said. I imagined the connection, of my blood joining the water on its journey and the water joining the journey of mine.
My blood started to str
um through my veins, matching the trickling rhythm of the water around me. The tempo picked up, my body nearly vibrating. My connection to water flared and I could feel it deep in my core. I followed the connection, pulling my awareness along, feeling for it, reaching for it, straining for it. Finally, I touched it, but before I could do anything more than marvel at its song, a firm shove from behind propelled me forward and I fell.
Chapter 6
*~ Elara ~*
* * *
The fall lasted only seconds before I began sinking through the water. My eyes were still closed and suddenly the connection snapped into place. I was bombarded by sensations, the feel of the water against my skin. I could feel it flowing over and around me, caressing me. The water was warm and comforting. The connection was loving and accepting, embracing me like a long-lost friend, and I could feel joy thrumming through me. I smiled, enjoying the experience. The feelings were freeing and I never wanted it to end.
A surge of water startled me and my eyes flew open just in time to see Nuri sinking down to float in front of me with a pleased grin upon his face. I beamed at him as he drew closer. I knew you could do it, Elara. Well done.
I tried to gasp, but there was no air to gasp on. Did he just speak to me? I hadn’t seen his lips move at all, so how could I have heard him?
I am a creature of water, Elara. You are connected to water and by extension me, which allows for telepathic communication.
“What?” I said out loud and a deluge of bubbles escaped my mouth.
Try not to speak. When connected to water, your need for air has lessened, but best not to waste what you have. Just direct your thoughts at me and I will hear them.
That strangely made sense. “I did it? I connected to water?” I asked, directing my thoughts to Nuri floating before me.
Yes! You did it, Elara. I’m so proud of you, he said with a huge smile on his face. I then noticed his teeth appeared sharp.
I shook off my random thought and tried to focus. What now? I asked him, swirling my hand through the water, enjoying the way water felt to me now.
There is much I can teach and show you, but first I’d like you to meet someone if you’re up to it.
I shrugged and nodded my assent. It was probably a kelpie friend of his. He reached for my hand and I grasped his without hesitation, completely trusting Nuri as he began to swim deeper into the pool.
The water was clear and easy to see through. I glanced around, distracted by the underwater sights. The rock formations were incredible. They rose up from deep below and reached for the surface, only to be bombarded by the falling water. Nuri went around an especially big boulder and I saw a natural rock arch. We headed toward the arch. Nuri pulling me along with powerful strokes, and we reached it within seconds.
We floated there in the still clear water, just gazing at the arch. It appeared to be a natural stone arch formed by the waterfall nearby. Almost giddy with my new connection to water, I reached out. The water had a song that was a low humming. At first, I mistook the sound for the waterfall, but when I concentrated harder, I could hear the arch singing faintly. If I focused harder, I could hear more of its song, but it began to get drowned out by the other pulsing sounds that the water was exuding.
Nuri turned to me, a bright smile on his angular features that seemed more prominent underwater. He’s coming.
I nodded my understanding, letting my focus and awareness drift with the water around me. The feeling of being connected to water was addicting and I found the thought of leaving the connection unsettling, so I pushed such thoughts aside and just enjoyed the moment. The water flowed around me like a warm embrace and I welcomed it.
A soft tug on my hand drew me back to the present. Nuri was pulling me closer to the archway. The song continued its melody as we approached and I found myself wanting to start humming along with it. Nuri pointed through the arch and I squinted, looking for whatever he was pointing to, but I couldn’t see anything.
At my look of confusion, Nuri pulled me forward by the hand until I was floating in front of him, his arm came up beside my head and I followed his pointing finger until I saw a blurry something. Squinting again, I focused on the blur and watched it slowly take shape into the figure of a human. It drew closer and I suddenly felt exposed. A trickle of unease skittered down my spine and I quivered.
Are you still cold? Nuri asked.
I shook my head and watched warily as the man, I could see enough now to make the distinction, swam progressively closer.
It’s alright, Elara. This is my friend. The man was closer now and floated across from us on the other side of the arch. He came closer, within a couple of feet, and his features came into clear view. Elara, meet my friend Eian.
He was a couple of years older than me in looks but his light green eyes framed by dark lashes told a different story. His skin was deeply tanned, his features hard and rugged. He was wearing jeans and a simple white T-shirt that clung to his sculpted chest and shoulders.
I gave a little wave, then flushed with embarrassment at my lame attempt at communication. The grim line of his lips quirked up on the edges into a ghost of a smile and his eyes sparked with amusement as he studied me.
Eian quickly glanced at Nuri before returning his gaze to my face. She’s nervous. Give her a break, Nuri’s voice whispered through my mind.
What? I asked, peeking at Nuri, but keeping Eian in my peripheral.
Eian asked me why you were tense...
You can speak to him like this, too? I asked curiously.
When connected to water, I can, Nuri responded. I nodded like that made complete sense. I grabbed my hair and started running my fingers through the blonde locks in nervousness.
The silence that followed was deafening and more than a little strange. Well, this is awkward.
This is a bit, actually. Nuri whispered through my thoughts, making me jolt.
Are all my thoughts open to you? I asked, irritated.
No, but for someone so new to water, you won’t know how to shield your thoughts from those around you yet.
You’ll need to teach me that little trick. I eyed Nuri’s friend who was patiently watching us, but I had the sinking suspicion that he was following the conversation. The spark in his eye proved it.
Nuri, can he hear our conversation? I asked, keeping my mental voice at a whisper.
He can hear my side of the conversation, but if you’d like to connect to him, you can talk to him, too.
How do I connect to him? I asked nervously. I didn’t know this guy or Nuri very well. A little voice in the back of my head was advising caution, but I was sick and tired of always proceeding with caution. Not everyone was like Brayson and I wanted, no I needed, to trust people again.
Remember how you focused inward when you were trying to connect to water? Nuri asked calmly, and if he heard my inner thoughts, he refrained from commenting. At my nod, he continued instructing. Instead of reaching for water, reach for Eian. Connect what you are to what he is.
Closing my eyes, I tried to recall exactly what I had done when I connected to water before. Focusing on my heartbeat, I listened to it and slowly reached for where my connection to water was deep in my core. Once I found it, I visualized the cord that connected me to water branching off and connecting to Eian. It wasn’t easy. Nuri had connected me to water earlier, so it was simpler to follow the path he had already created, but creating a connection on my own was proving to be difficult.
You’re doing great, Elara. Nuri’s voice whispered through my thoughts.
I growled in frustration. It was easier when connecting to water. I had your beginning connection as a guide, but I’m feeling around blindly for this.
Nuri’s reply was slow in coming and seemed to be from far away. Eian is going to reach out and guide you, Elara. I paused in my search and waited.
For several minutes, I waited in the calming silence that made up my connection to water. The connection was easy to maintain and I wond
ered how I had lived without it. Now that I had found it, there was no way I could go back. Water was life. It was connected to everything and was a fundamental element of all things. The link that I now had was not limited to rivers, lakes, or ponds. I could feel just how massive and complicated the element was and I was honored to be part of it, even if I didn’t understand how exactly I could be.
Lost in my reverie, I didn’t notice the branched off link connecting. At first, I couldn’t feel anything, but ever so softly, a warmth enveloped me and then spread. It felt nice, like a big hug, and my unease fled at the gentle touch.
Elara? A whisper softly traveled through my mind. I stilled, mind and body. If I had still been breathing, I would have held it in anticipation.
Elara. The whisper was louder this time and my heart stuttered in my chest. The voice was deep, with an accented inflection that was exotic and strangely comforting.
Eian? I tentatively asked, hoping he could hear me.
A warm chuckle echoed, full of amusement. Yes, it’s me. You can open your eyes.
I flushed, berating myself for forgetting that my eyes were closed the whole time. My eyes blinked open and immediately found Eian’s beautiful, gleaming green eyes.
Hi, I thought at him, my inner voice sounding breathless even to me. He was attractive in a rugged sort of way. He had the look and aura of a man that worked hard and with his hands daily. He seemed sure of himself, confident even, and it was sexy on him.
Hi, Elara. His inner voice was husky and yummy. An uncontrollable urge to hear his voice out loud came over me, but I squashed it quickly. Never having spoken this way, I wasn’t sure how much of my thoughts were private or if he could listen to everything I was thinking.
I’m trying not to listen, but you are thinking really loudly. He said as a small grin spread across his face. You are beautiful.
My face turned beet red and if I wasn’t many feet underwater, I would have been sweating. Thank you. I whispered as butterflies erupted in my stomach. It was all I could do not to swoon on the spot. This guy was under my skin and I had only just met him.
