by Lela Grayce
I stilled, frozen in place as my last thoughts echoed, repeating over and over again. This was how it had started when I met Brayson. I fell fast and hard for him. I loved him and I sacrificed so much during our relationship to make him happy, but it wasn’t enough. It was never enough. I was only just finding myself again. I wouldn’t jump into something with someone else when I was still broken inside.
Elara? Eian asked. Concern laced his words and I couldn’t bring myself to look into his eyes, terrified all I would see was pity in their green depths. I couldn’t handle that. No, Elara, never pity. I’m concerned for you, because you are hurting.
Tears flooded my eyes and shame choked me. Nuri wrapped an arm around my shoulder, but did nothing more than let me know he was there. Why do either of you care? I’m not anyone special and I just met you guys, for goodness sake.
I care, because you are a friend of Nuri’s, Eian said, but I got the distinct impression that he wasn’t being completely truthful.
I care, Elara, because you and Eian are my only friends and you belong together, Nuri stated.
Nodding at the friend statement, warmth spread through me. It had been a long time since I had made new friends. Quite suddenly, the other half of Nuri’s declaration filtered in and the warm feeling was gone.
What do you mean, Nuri? I asked calmly.
It is one of the gifts of my race that we find people who belong together. I have been searching for years for the one Eian belongs to and I finally found you, he said, pride lacing his words.
I see. Nuri the most literal person, being, whatever, I had ever met was playing his hand at matchmaker? On one hand, it was sweet that he wanted his friend to find someone and be happy, but on the other, I was pretty pissed. Was this the only reason he was nice to me? Why he healed me? Was his friendship even real?
Elara, it wasn’t like that. I saved Nuri’s life years ago and he was repaying me, Eian said urgently.
That statement didn’t make my thoughts any better. Nuri had pretended to be a friend and then matched me up so that he could repay a debt. I wasn’t sure what was worse, my current heartache or the fact that I had just been used as repayment.
Elara, please let us explain, Eian pleaded, but I forced myself not to look at him or listen to his pleading.
It was nice meeting you, Eian, but I have to go, I said, heart hurting from more than just a broken heart.
I kicked hard and propelled myself up and away, angling so that I was headed back the way Nuri and I had come. Two distinctly male voices thundered in my thoughts, but I pushed them away, too hurt to acknowledge that I heard them. When I was close to the surface, I broke my connection to water and instantly missed it. Pushing all that aside, I surfaced, breathed deeply, and then pulled myself out of the pool, carefully making my way back to my spot.
“Elara, please wait. I don’t understand why you are upset.” Nuri’s pleading voice sounded from behind me.
My hurt had turned to anger and I whipped around, furious. “I’m upset, Nuri, because I thought you were my friend, but I just found out that you never were. No, you were just matching me up with some guy to repay him for saving your life. I know my worth, Nuri. I figured it out when I left Brayson, and I deserve to be more than repayment.”
“That was never my intention. I want both of my friends to be happy and I know you will be. Together,” Nuri said with conviction.
“You can’t know that, Nuri,” I replied, shivering. When I severed my connection to water, it took the warmth away and returned it to its frigid state.
“I do know it, Elara. I’m a kelpie. I can see your soul when you are connected to water and it is connected to Eian’s. He is exactly what your soul needs and wants. I know you felt it, because I saw it when you connected to him.”
“Nuri you can’t just go around matching people up. It’s not what people do. It was rude and inconsiderate. I’m hurt by your blatant disregard for my feelings. You knew I was hurting and you took advantage,” I said before turning and walking away.
He didn’t say anything else as I climbed onto the bank, shivering. My teeth chattered against each other making my jaw ache. I did my best to wring my hair and clothes out so I wasn’t soaking wet on my walk to the car.
“Elara, I know you are upset and with good reason. I’ve handled all of this badly, but when you are ready, please come back. You might not see it, but I can. You and Eian belong together,” Nuri said softly from behind me.
I ignored him, too angry and hurt to respond. I hustled back to my car, intent on driving home and forgetting all about today.
Chapter 7
*~ Elara ~*
* * *
Kaelyn and I decided to skip classes for the rest of the week and go to my parents’ house. There was just something comforting about being in a familiar place. The scents and sounds of home calmed my anxiety and put me at ease in a way that, until recently, only the falls could do. Just the thought of them made me sad, followed swiftly by anger and hurt.
I could only manage a couple of lazy days at my parents’ house before thoughts of Nuri and Eian invaded my mind. The most memorable was connecting to water with Nuri’s help and getting to experience that. I was grateful to Nuri for guiding me and for his support during that initial connection. He was being a great friend up until the point when he tried to offer me as some sort of repayment to Eian.
Which brought me to the green-eyed man himself. My heart beat faster and butterflies erupted in my stomach when I recalled him floating across from me. His dark hair floating about his head and his confident stature were very appealing. Not to mention the gentle way he spoke to me and the calming presence he exuded. I had wanted to wrap myself up in that feeling, and still did if I was being completely honest with myself. When I was connected to water with Nuri and Eian, I had felt safe. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t looking over my shoulder terrified that I would see Brayson.
So the question was not if I should forgive Nuri, but when I should. Before I could even think about forgiveness, I needed answers. There were things that Nuri wasn’t telling me and now that he had introduced me to Eian, it was time to get the truth from both of them. However, that meant I’d have to return to my spot at Kadence Falls and hope that Nuri and Eian would be there willing to answer my questions. But first, I needed to speak to my dad.
“Hey, Ellie cakes, we’re back,” my dad’s voice boomed from the mud room.
“I’m in the living room,” I called back.
Kaelyn walked into the living room first, dressed in workout clothes. Her face was flushed from the workout she and my dad had just gotten back from. Kaelyn plopped down on the love seat next to me and stretched her long legs out, placing her feet on the coffee table and resting her head on the overstuffed pillows. Smiling, I stretched out my much shorter legs across Kaelyn’s lap, leaning my head on the armrest as my dad made his way into the room.
“You missed a good workout, kiddo,” he announced with an amused gleam in his eyes.
Rolling my eyes, I replied, “I’m glad it was a good workout and I’m glad I wasn’t there for it.”
“One day you’ll cave and come out with your dad and your bestie. We’ll show you a good time,” he said, chuckling as I grimaced.
I’d seen Kaelyn’s workouts, I lived with her, and they were so far above anything I’d ever done or would ever want to do. I was continually in awe of her strength and discipline; it just wasn’t for me.
“I’m going to go hop in the shower,” Kaelyn said before lifting my legs, standing, and dropping them back onto the cushions.
I waited until I heard the bathroom door shut before asking my question. “Hey dad, do you remember what you used to say to me when you tucked me into bed when I was little?”
“I said a lot of things to you when I tucked you in bed,” he replied while bending down to untie his shoes.
“You used to tell me that water never lied and that if I needed it, I should just ask. What
did you mean?” I asked.
My dad stilled in the process of untying his shoes. He straightened slowly, and leaned his forearms on his knees as he watched me his face unreadable. “It was something my mother used to say to me before tucking me in and I told it to you a couple times. Why do you want to know?”
I was slow to respond, conflicted on what I should say. He had been extra worried about me since the breakup and I didn’t want to worry him more. “I’ve been going to Kadence Falls after school. Being near it helps me. A few days ago, I met a man there and he told me that water never lies. It reminded me of when you used to say it to me.”
His face had gone pale at my words. “This man, have you seen him since then?” His tone was very serious.
“I saw him the next day,” I said, suddenly apprehensive.
“Hmm, that is strange. It was something people used to say when I was growing up. I wonder where he’s from,” he said curiously.
“I don’t know, Dad. I only saw him a couple times.”
“Well if you see him again, ask for me.” His expression was thoughtful.
“I will for sure,” I replied, watching an array of emotions flit across his face.
“I’m going to go get cleaned up before your mom gets home,” he stated. He stood and made his way to their room across the house. He paused by the doorway and asked, “You’ll be careful, won’t you, Elara?”
“I always am, Dad.”
“Good. Love you, kiddo,” he said, turning to walk down the hall.
“Love you too, Daddy,” I called after him.
Later that afternoon, Kaelyn and I packed up and drove the hour or so back to Kadence Falls. It had been nice to get away for a bit. Kaelyn had talked to my dad about the agent lady at her last fight and he promised to look into it for her and get more information. The talk I had with my dad was a bit strange looking back at it, but most talks with my dad were. He didn’t seem to understand why things were done so differently from how he grew up. It was almost like he’d been sheltered from the rest of the world. Random things would fascinate him as if he had never seen them before. It was really noticeable when I was younger, but not so much anymore. He didn’t talk about his childhood or his life before he met mom.
As we pulled into the condo complex, I pushed thoughts of my parents aside and decided that there was plenty of time left before it got dark for me to visit the falls. It was time to get some answers out of Nuri and, if he was there, Eian. After tossing my bags into my room, I yelled at Kaelyn that I was heading to the falls. She yelled back her understanding as I grabbed my keys.
The drive was full of me giving myself a mental pep talk about how I was going to get answers. Nuri was going to answer my questions or something bad would happen. To him, obviously. I just wasn’t sure exactly what, but it would be bad, and possibly painful.
I really need to get more imaginative with my threats. Rejecting another lame threat idea, I thought, Oh well, I guess I’ll have to wing it.
My spot was exactly as I left it, which was comforting. I settled myself down, the sun warming my back as I took in the familiar sights and sounds of my haven. The world was quiet. Birds chirped softly in the background, the pounding of the water was still there, but the most noticeable sound was the water’s song. I felt connected to it, but not like I was before. This was different, a gentle humming on the edges of my mind, calming yet full of strength.
Several minutes passed with no sudden appearances of mythical beings. Sighing and readjusting my seat to ease my ever-numbing butt, inspiration struck. Excited, I reached my hand tentatively toward the water thinking I could connect to it and then reach out to Nuri. The water was cold and I couldn’t immediately connect to it, but once I did, I first tried to warm it up. It took a couple of tries, but I managed to warm the water that surrounded my hand. Ecstatic over my accomplishment, I did a fist pump in the air. It was then that I saw Nuri sitting in the water as usual, watching me with those strange, exotic eyes.
“Hey, Nuri,” I said, the smile from my earlier excitement fading from my face as I noticed him watching me.
“You connected to water without guidance,” he said. His tone gave nothing about his feelings away.
“I had a good teacher.”
He cocked his head still watching me intently. “You came back.”
“Yes, Mr. Literal, I came back.” I grinned at him.
“Why?” he asked curiously.
“Because you’re my friend Nuri, and friends make mistakes sometimes, but that is what makes us human.”
“I am not human, Elara. I’m a kelpie. I may look human in this form, but I am not,” he said plainly.
“I know that, but being a kelpie doesn't make you perfect. You are more human than you give yourself credit for,” I said, watching for his reaction at me classifying him as human.
His lips curved up at the corners in a ghost of a smile. “The friends that I have help me feel more human.”
Nodding, I twisted my legs around, doing my best to keep my hand in the water. I awkwardly removed my socks and shoes. Once done, I walked out into the shallow water toward Nuri, who hadn’t moved. Carefully, I lowered myself into the water and sat cross-legged in front of him.
“I need answers, Nuri,” I said with a note of pleading in my voice. “Help me to understand.”
Green-yellow eyes searched my face, vulnerability clearly seen in his eyes, his face and body language showing nervousness. “I handled things badly with you in regards to Eian. He has always been patient with me, though he is not a patient person. He was very upset afterwards. He did eventually explain to me how my actions and words came across and I am deeply sorry. Human emotions aren’t new to me, but they are incredibly complex and I’m trying, Elara.”
“I know you are, Nuri,” I said patting his hand. “So tell me about you, and about Eian.”
Smiling a genuine smile, Nuri settled down into the shallow water and began to talk. He told me of his world and how it was once a part of Earth. Then it split, becoming two different worlds, but it was still intimately connected to this one. He told me of the Great War that happened twenty-some years ago and how his world had become shrouded in darkness. People now lived in secret villages, hiding from soldiers made of shadows. He told me how he met Eian and how Eian saved his life by cutting him free. He explained the lore and history behind his people and how that lore had driven him to try and repay his friend for his kindness. He then explained about soul mates and how he had learned to search for souls, how he had followed Eian’s soul to this place and finally to me.
“But how do you know that Eian’s soul is connected to mine?”
“I can see it. When connected to water, I can see your soul and his reaching out for each other,” he answered.
“Can you show me?”
Nodding, Nuri stood and offered me his hand. Grasping it, he pulled me up and we plunged into the pool, making our way to the same stone arch and the man waiting on the other side.
Eian’s face lit up at the sight of us and I smiled tentatively at him, extra aware of my attraction to him. Even though I didn’t know him well, I couldn’t deny that on an instinctual level, I knew his soul and he knew mine. There was an undeniable connection. Following Nuri’s whispered instructions, I delved into my connection to water, and once fully submerged in it, I opened my eyes only to get lost in Eian’s light green ones. With some gentle prodding from Nuri, I tore my gaze away and tried to see our souls reach for each other. It took time lots of patience from Nuri, lots of frustration from me and Eian’s amusement before I finally saw it.
Can you see it? I asked Eian, in awe of the sight.
I saw it the first time I laid eyes on you. His deep, familiar voice resonated inside me, his tone serious.
What now? Where do we go from here? I asked. My insides quivered, affected by his eyes on me and hearing his voice.
I’m new at this, but I think we should get to know each other. Start out as friends an
d then work our way toward more.
We take this slow?
Yes, slow. We have plenty of time.
Chapter 8
*~ Elara ~*
* * *
Days and weeks flew by. My school schedule was demanding and took up a ton of my time, especially around midterms, but I was able to bear it knowing that I would see my friends at the falls afterward. I wished people would get over my break-up with Brayson. It was really old news, but people kept making snide comments toward me. Some didn’t feel that rude commentary was good enough for my transgressions. They would knock books from my hands, try to trip me while exiting a room, block my path and get in my face. Kaelyn was there for the majority of the physical altercations and was able to defuse the situations. For the ones she wasn’t around for, I would go to the haven I had created for myself in my mind; it included the falls, Nuri, and most importantly Eian. Just the thought of Eian brought a smile to my face, made my heart beat faster, and made my stomach swoop in a delicious way.
Unfortunately, my days were haunted by Brayson’s presence. I would see him leaning against walls, sitting in the cafeteria, and loitering by his vehicle in the parking lot. I did my best to ignore him and enter my mental haven, but I could feel his eyes on me, making my skin crawl and stomach twist with unease. A couple times, I thought I was being followed in my car, but just when the feeling solidified, the car would turn off and I’d chalk it up to paranoia on my part.
My mood after visiting the falls continued to improve considerably and Kaelyn, who had become so good at reading me, became suspicious. Not in a bad way, but she wanted to know why I was acting strangely. Usually when I came home from the falls, I was calmer and my energy evened out. Now when I got home, I was in even greater spirits, maybe even giddy. I had finally come clean to her a couple weeks ago about Nuri and Eian, the new friends I had met at the falls. I didn’t tell her the supernatural nature of Nuri, but I’m sure she’d figure it out when she met him. She had been insisting on doing so, but our schedules had never quite meshed, until today.
