“Presenting Elemental Elder of Air, Anastacia Corwin,” the guard on the left spoke as the woman with the freckles stood. She glared at me harshly, her ice eyes shooting daggers that I'm sure she wished pierced my heart.
The male with dark eyes stood next as he was introduced, “Presenting Elemental Elder of Earth, Demetrius Sloane.”
The second woman was introduced next as Gwenyth Monroe, Elder of Fire and lastly, we learned that the man with the green eyes was Marcus Alexander, Elder of Water. After they were all seated and the guards took their positions by their thrones, I wasted no time in making my intentions known by questioning, “Where is my father?”
“How dare you speak when you are not spoken to?!” Demetrius asked in disgust.
I stood my ground and calmly responded, “I do not belong to your community. I do not know of, nor do I need to follow any of your rules. Now where is my father?”
Marcus chuckled before answering, “What makes you so sure that we will release him?”
“I am here, just like you asked. Your note said tha—"
“We know what we said, however that does not mean that we will follow through. We have you now so why should we release your father?”
I seethed inside as I spat, “So I won't kill you right now where you sit.”
“Yet another reason to keep your father here—collateral to keep you from doing anything drastic,” replied Demetrius. He snapped his fingers, and from a hallway to the left of the thrones came two guards half-dragging my dad between them. My hands and jaw clenched in rage as I moved to run towards him, and Gwenyth spoke for the first time, “Don't.”
I froze—not because of her words, but because of what I saw. A large knife, about six inches long, was pressed to my dad's throat. Moisture brimmed on my eyelids as I watched my dad's life being threatened because of me. I inhaled deeply, forcing the tears back down, and steeled myself for what I was about to do. I would not stand here and do nothing. Jace spoke in my head, Don't.
In a heartbeat, I flung out my hand and constructed a force-field around my dad, which knocked the man holding the knife to his throat about five feet away. I gathered my Akasha in the opposite hand and directed it at the Elders. It came easily than I expected it to, feeling as if it were a fluid extension of me. I felt Jace at my back, the heat radiating from him indicating he had lit his hands with his fire, ready to protect me.
Marcus stood up abruptly, “How dare you threaten us?!” he roared.
“Let's just get one thing straight. I am the one with the power here. Let my father go, and I will spare you.”
“No one makes demands of us, abomination! You would be well to know your place,” Anastacia spat, her voice raised in anger.
I sent my Akasha into one of the pillars near the thrones, effectively reducing it to a smoldering pile of ash. The shock mixed with fear on their faces informed me that I had solidified my point. “I know my place. Let us go before your fate matches that of the pillar's.”
“Would you rather us send a small army to capture you once you arrive back at home? Would you like that kind of devastation to be brought upon your family and friends because of you?” Gwenyth asked calculatingly after a few tense moments of silence.
Fuck! I didn't want that. My mind searched for a solution before I spoke it aloud, “Let my father go. As long as his and my family's safety are guaranteed, we will stay willingly.”
“Brielle, no!” my father shouted from inside his protective bubble. I ignored his pleading glance, knowing it would break my resolve. I kept my eyes locked on Gwenyth, the one who had issued the threat. I wondered if she was the leader, or if they made decisions equally.
“Fine. Your family's safety is guaranteed, contingent upon your compliance here.”
“If I find out otherwise, you will regret it,” I warned. She only smirked in response.
“Her father is free to go—no one is to harm him. Understood?” she asked the guards in the room. They all silently nodded. I released my dad's shield, but kept Akasha blazing fiercely in my hand, daring them to make a move against us. My dad ran up to me, tears threatening to spill over his red-rimmed eyes. “Brielle, you don't have to do this. We can protect each other together,” he pleaded.
My own eyes began to mimic his, tears begging to be freed. I needed to be strong. I couldn't let him get hurt. “Daddy, you've protected me my whole life. It's my turn now,” I told him gently.
He pulled me into his arms, hugging my tightly and kissing the tip of my nose, just like he used to when I was little. The gesture caused a rogue tear to escape its watery prison and flee down my cheek. “I love you, Daddy. Now go before they change their minds.”
“I won't leave you,” he cried, tears flowing freely now as he clutched me to him.
“If he doesn't wish to leave, he is more than welcome to stay as prisoner with you,” Gwenyth said heartlessly, a smug expression on her face.
“No!! He's leaving. Daddy, go! Now!” I screamed, trying to push him off me.
“Guards, apprehend our former prisoner. It seems like he would like to extend his stay,” Demetrius instructed.
The guards began to move towards us apprehensively, and I flung them back with my Air as I screamed, “NO!!!”
They started to get back up as I turned to my dad and said, “I'm sorry, Daddy. I love you.”
A confused look crossed his face as I gently forced him from me using my Air. He fought against it, making the tears I'd been holding back pour out onto my flushed cheeks. “Don't Brielle! Please stop. Stop!” he yelled as he continued to struggle against my Element. Even though I wanted to stop and fold myself into his arms, to have him cradle me like he did when I was a baby, I didn't. I forced myself to push him away for his own safety, even though his cries broke my heart. I didn't stop until the two guards by the door grabbed him and escorted him out. Then, I fell to my knees and sobbed into my lap, my hair spilling into my face and exposing my neck.
“What is that?!”Anastacia asked in disbelief. “Bring her here!”
Two guards restrained Jace as another grabbed me. Jace wildly thrashed against the guards, his rage increasing when the guard threw me to my knees in front of the Elders. He broke free, throwing a fireball and narrowly missing Demetrius as two more guards rushed to help the other guards restrain him again. Marcus grabbed my thick mane of curls and pulled it upward to provide a better view of my neck.
“It's not possible,” Marcus spoke, barely above a whisper. He directed his attention to the guards holding Jace, “Bring him here!”
Jace was put in the same position I was, his muscles rigid and tense as he strained against the weight of the guards bearing down on him.
“Obviously they had it tattooed it on themselves. There is no way this abomination is worthy of the Ultimate Unity symbol,” Demetrius speculated.
There was no point in arguing. Nothing we said would change their close-minded views, but the arrogance in me couldn't stay silent as I said, “I am the One, whether you want to believe it or not. This symbol was meant for me and my soul mate.”
They all sucked in a breath of disgust. “Blasphemy! You are not of the same Element, so it is not possible for you to be twin flames. Someone as disrespectful as you could not be the One,” Demetrius retorted.
“I thought there was no such being as the One. Just like there is no Prophecy,” I sarcastically rebutted.
Demetrius slapped me, actually slapped me like some teenage girl would. This sent Jace into an uproar, kicking, screaming, and aimlessly throwing fire balls around the room. His eyes blazed a vibrant orange, his fury evident in every pore of his body. I'm fine, I told him, but it didn't calm him like I wanted. He was already over the edge of rationality.
“Take them both to separate cells,” Anastacia said before pausing a moment. “On opposite sides of the dungeon,” she added.
Jace was too consumed with rage to speak, so I argued, “We can't be apart! We need to be with each other, you know th
at!”
“I do not know what you speak of. Only twin flames need one another to survive, and it is not possible for you two to be twin flames, therefore you will be fine.”
I fought against my guard, but he was at least double my size, his arms the size of my legs. Jace was being dragged to the right hallway, and I was being pulled in the opposite direction.
“No!!! I need to be with him!! We will die without each other!! Please!!” I begged, once again sobbing. I hated being so vulnerable, but they were using my biggest weakness against me. I tried to pry myself free as Jace disappeared around the corner of the hallway. Panic filled me, and I used my fire to burn the guard with my hands. He yelped and instinctively let go, giving me the freedom to run. As I ran past the Elders in the direction of where they had taken Jace, Gwenyth addressed me, “Your dad is still on the premises. Should I have them bring him back?”
I skidded to a halt, deterred from my destination. Fuck! I was getting tired of this ultimatum shit. I rolled my eyes and told myself I would get to Jace later. They couldn't keep me from him. Just like they couldn't keep us here. I just needed to give my dad enough time to get back home safely, which would take at least a day's walk since I'm sure they weren't offering him any form of transportation. Then, we could get out of here, preferably burning this palace to the ground.
I don't know how long I screamed for, but my throat felt like I had swallowed sandpaper. I was like a toddler throwing a tantrum, but I didn't care. When that fucking bastard struck Brielle, I saw red. I had never been so enraged in all my life. Once they threw me in my cell, I set everything on fire before throwing it against the cinderblock walls and cell bars. They are morons for thinking that they can contain Brielle and I in these weak-ass cells. Both of us could melt the bars with our Fire, and Brielle could do God knows what else with her other Elements.
I don't know how long Brielle planned to keep up this game and stay here. I asked my question in her mind, and she responded, Just long enough to make sure my dad is back home safe.
Well, that should take only a day, but in his weakened state it might take two days, depending on how often he rests, and if he gets lost. Hopefully he knows the area well enough so that he doesn't get lost, then we would have another problem on our hands. How will we know he's home?
I sent a text to Kiera to let her know he would be on his way home. She is supposed to text me when he gets there, she replied.
Okay. How are you doing?
I'm in some disgusting cell, but I'm fine. What are we going to do without each other? I'm already starting to feel sick and it's only been about an hour, she said.
I'll find you tonight, I promise. We won't be apart for long.
She didn't reply, but I could feel her worry and sadness. Don't worry, mi amante. I'll find you.
That's not what I'm worried about. There are five guards posted outside my cell.
So? They are no match for you, I reminded her.
Well, one of them has a weird gun I've never seen before, and it doesn't look like a normal human made it.
What does it look like?
Well, it looks like a shotgun, except that the end of the barrel has two points with a yellow light pulsing between them.
Great, now we had to deal with Elemental technology on top of those annoying guards. Brielle may be the One, but she was not impervious to weapons. We needed to be cautious with this new variable thrown in. If anything happens, just erect your shield. It should protect you like always. Or better yet, fry them with your Akasha, I suggested.
We talked for a couple of hours, trying to formulate a plan for our escape. We debated whether we should visit the archives before leaving to gain more insight on the Prophecy and Brielle, and by the time night fell, we were still undecided about if we wanted to take the risk or not. Our conversation was interrupted when one of the guards brought me a measly meal of what looked like stale bread, expired meat, and rotten vegetables. Before the guard left, I said, “I need to see my flame. We can't spend the night apart.”
That dickhead didn't even acknowledge me before he exited the jail, slamming the iron door behind him. Would the Elders even care if we died? If they wanted us dead, they could have done it by now, so why risk it? I had a feeling they wanted to find a way to harness Brielle's power, but transferring Elements had never been possible before. Your Element was engineered to your genetic make-up, and your body wouldn't be capable of sustaining a different Element. But, with the technology nowadays who knows what they could be capable of.
How's your meal? I asked Brielle.
Awful! I'd rather starve. Jace, I don't feel good. I need you, she moaned in discomfort.
I know, baby. Are the guards still there?
Yeah, they haven't left. What are we going to do?
I don't know, but I'll find a way to get to y-
A sudden cramp in my stomach cut off my words. I braced myself against the far wall and slid down, resting my head against it. I didn't know what time it was, but our separation was starting to take full effect. It was worse than when Brielle made us spend the night apart. My head throbbed, like someone was pounding a hammer around the inside of my skull. Another cramp assaulted my stomach, sending a wave of nausea through me. I barely made it to the toilet before I started to vomit, but unlike other times I have vomited, I didn't feel better after it. I felt worse. I lay on the floor, hoping the cool concrete would relieve my now feverish body. I estimated that Brielle and I had been apart for roughly six or seven hours. If the symptoms kept progressing, I don't know how long we could suffer before…I wasn't even going to think about that. It wasn't going to happen.
A pain in between my eyes forced me to shut them in search of relief. Seconds later, a distant, piercing scream shot them open. The voice producing the scream was all too familiar—Brielle. I jumped up, ignoring the pain radiating through my body as I began slamming on the bars, desperate to get to Brielle. Her scream continued, causing me to roar in anger.
I'm coming, baby, hold on! I told her. Her only response was screaming and whimpering in my head, fueling my desperation and rage more. I placed my hands on the hinges of the cell door, the fierce heat melting through the metal. I kicked the door off of the frame and stepped out of the cell, immediately hunching over as a severe jolting pain in my head hit me. I grabbed my head and fell to my knees, my jaw clenched from the pain. I felt as if someone was stabbing a huge, electrified butcher knife in the back of my skull. Another of Brielle's shrill cries pierced the air, forcing me to my feet. I took off running, stumbling and swerving through the hallway I had been dragged down, battling against the constant pain swarming my body. I burst through the foyer we had entered when we arrived, startling two guards by the door, who immediately began to pursue me. I followed Brielle's shrieks down the opposite hallway, her agonizing sounds becoming closer and closer as I ran. I lit the carpet and walls behind me on fire, creating an obstacle to block the guards chasing me. I sped faster through the hall, seeing a door similar to the one that led to my jail. I barreled through the door, the scene before me not what I expected. Brielle was lying on the ground in the fetal position, moaning in pain, however her guards were also on the floor, unconscious. I found the keys on one of the guards and opened her cell, rushing to her side and instantly cradling her in my arms. The pain began to subside as we held each other, and we both sighed in relief.
What happened to the guards? I silently asked after a few moments of blissful relief.
I sucked the oxygen in the room into a shield with me, and they eventually passed out. I was so blinded by pain and fury that I had to make them suffer for keeping us apart.
We sat in silence, enjoying the tingle of our bond as we held each other.
“Jace, that was awful. I thought we were dying,” she finally sobbed into my chest as she clutched the back of my shirt.
“I know, I'm sorry you ever had to feel that. I never planned for us to be apart because of the pain. I don't plan for us
to experience it again. Are you ready to leave?” I asked as I wiped tears from her cheeks.
“Kiera hasn't text me that my dad is back yet. I don't want to risk him being recaptured,” she replied sadly.
“I don't think we can stand another night like this, and they definitely aren't letting us stay together. Maybe we sh—"
“What is the meaning of this?!” the female Elder, Gwenyth asked angrily, her eyes scanning the unmoving bodies of the guards. The other Elders and four more guards stood behind her.
“We already told you we couldn't be separated. I needed to get to her, so I did.”
“This facade of the two of you being twin flames needs to be ended. You will be publicly punished in the courtyard tomorrow for your continuous blasphemy. As for right now, I think I know a suitable consequence for your disregard of our rules. Grab the girl first,” she ordered.
“Don't touch her!” I growled, blocking Brielle with my body.
“Fine, grab him first. Then, he can watch when it's her turn.”
One guard started to come into the cell and I immediately went into my fighting stance as he approached. He lunged for me and I met his advance with a swift right hook, landing it square in his jaw. His eyes rolled back in his head as he plummeted to the cell floor. I kicked his body back to the doorway of the cell, effectively making my point.
“Oh, for heaven's sake, all three of you get him!” the taller male Elder, Demetrius ordered.
The three guards obeyed, stepping over their fallen comrade as I readied my Fire for an attack. A fireball sparked to life in my hand, and I threw it at the guard directly in front, but he dodged it, anticipating my attack. I was flung backwards and pinned to the wall as I watched my fireball smack the second guard square in the chest. He flailed around frantically, fueling the fire and making it spread more rapidly across his body. Dumbass. I tried to free myself from the wall, but I couldn't. Fuck, I hated Air Elementals and their cowardly tactics. I wish they would just fight me like a real man.
Envisioned (The Elemental Prophecy) Page 20
