ELEMENTS: Acquiesce

by Kathryn Andrews

  “This isn’t going to solve anything,” said Lana, distressed.

  Max kicked Breck hard in the ribs. Blue static flowed between Breck’s fingertips, he could feel the power surging through his body.

  “Think of the competition,” said Rafe. “You’ll get yourself disqualified.”

  “I don’t want to fight with you,” said Breck, through gritted teeth.

  “I’ll be honest, it looks like you do,” said Max, shoving his boot into Breck’s chest.

  Breck gasped for air.

  “Stop it!” shouted Cordelia.

  “I’m just having a little fun,” said Max.

  “This isn’t funny,” said Nerissa. “He’s right on the edge.”

  “Leave him alone,” said Flynn, staggering to his feet.

  “Come on, that’s enough,” said Rafe, tugging Max’s arm.

  “Get off me,” said Max, pulling his arm free.

  Breck struggled to his feet and Max lunged towards him. Electricity flew from Breck’s fingertips, throwing Max backwards through the air. Max landed on his back with a thud.

  “Are you okay?” asked Cordelia, rushing to Breck’s side.

  Breck grimaced, wiping the blood from his lip. “I’ll be fine.”

  Rafe helped Max to his feet.

  “Your girlfriend’s a witch!” shouted Max.

  “Take him inside,” said Lana, eyeballing Rafe.

  “I’m sorry,” said Cordelia, “about the horses.”

  “It’s not your fault,” said Lana.

  “Isn’t it?” muttered Masika under her breath.

  “If you have something to say, say it properly so we can all hear it,” said Lana.

  “Maybe Max has a point, that’s all,” said Masika.

  “That’s enough,” said Flynn. “I thought you were friends.”

  “She’s upset,” said Nerissa. “She doesn’t mean it.”

  “I loved the horses too,” said Cordelia, tears welling in her eyes.

  “We’ll need to let Triton know,” said Lana.

  “And now’s your chance.”

  Hearing Mazu’s voice behind her, the colour drained from Lana’s face leaving her strangely pale.

  “What is it you want to tell me?” asked Triton, his green hair a striking contrast against the grey sky.

  Trying to find the right words, Lana turned to face her elders. “It’s Pooka.”

  Mazu studied Flynn and Breck. “Did Pooka do this to you?”

  The group exchanged sideways glances.

  “It’s worse than that,” said Lana. “The horses are gone.”

  “I’m sure they’ll come back,” said Triton.

  “She means they’re dead,” said Masika.

  “Where are they?” asked Triton, his eyes darting about.

  “They washed up on the beach this morning,” said Breck.

  “Then I must go to them,” said Triton.

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” said Breck. “Half the town have turned out to see them. There’s gardai and reporters down there too.”

  Mazu turned to Cordelia. “Take your men to Amatheia,” she said.

  “I’m fine, really,” said Breck. “I need to find Misty.” He trudged across the cliff top, holding his ribs in an attempt to ease the searing pain.

  Cordelia desperately wanted to run after him, to bathe his wounds, to care for him. She felt torn in all directions; between the men she loved, her friends, the horses.

  “Go after him,” said Flynn.

  “What about you?” asked Cordelia.

  “I’ll be grand. Nothing that a good night’s sleep won’t fix.”

  “I should help with the horses,” said Cordelia.

  “We’ll take care of it,” said Lana.

  “Take shelter inside,” said Triton. “There’s a storm coming. Mazu, fetch our strongest swimmers.”

  “Breck!” shouted Cordelia, but he could not hear her over the wind.

  “It’s alright, I’ll go,” said Flynn and he followed after Breck.

  At that very moment, the sky turned eerily dark. In town, the wind whipped the sand into a blizzard, sending the town folk and visitors scurrying up the slip ways and steps, away from the beach. Walking across the cliff top, the sky rumbled in a way that sent chills running through Flynn’s body and the sea began to slop back and forth, building momentum like a pendulum. He diverted his eyes away from the sea; the sight of it brought back too many memories. Heavy rain pelted the town folk, pricking their skin like a thousand needles. Irvin Seymour watched carefully through his telescope until everyone in town had retreated indoors. He hurried down the steps of the lighthouse to Triton who was still standing outside. He opened the door and the force of the wind almost took the door off its hinges.

  “All clear!” shouted Irvin.

  Mazu appeared at the base of the lighthouse with half the swim team.

  “Let us help,” said Lana, running down the stairs with Cordelia.

  “I think she’s done enough already, don’t you?” said Max, glaring at Cordelia.

  “Lana, come with us,” said Triton. “Nerissa and Masika, take over from me. Ease off on the water but keep the sand high by the sea wall, we don’t want any prying eyes. Cordelia, keep watch from the lookout with Mazu.”

  Triton and Irvin led the swim team out of the cove and into the mouth of the bay. They knew their mission; retrieve the horses and save them from being turned into glue. They deserved to end their days in peace.

  Through the telescope, Cordelia tracked the swim team, their colourful tails intermittently emerging from the dark, choppy water. She desperately wanted to be part of that group, though she wished the circumstances were different. Cordelia couldn’t help but feel brushed aside. The feeling of being an outsider was more prominent than ever. She aimed the telescope at the cliff top and saw Flynn and Breck talking in the rain. It seemed intense at first, then they hugged, Flynn slapping Breck on the back.

  Cordelia stepped back from the telescope and turned to Mazu. “I’m sorry about the horses.”

  “It’s a terrible tragedy,” said Mazu. “You’re not to blame.” Tears welled in Mazu’s eyes and Cordelia could tell that she was fighting to hold them back. It didn’t matter what Mazu said, the pain on her face was clear to see. Cordelia anxiously fiddled with her watch causing the release of two silver wings that popped open on either side of the watch face. Goosebumps raced over Cordelia’s skin and she clutched the watch with her hand.

  “I have to go,” she said, and hurried back to her chamber.

  An overwhelming desire to meet her birth parents washed over Cordelia. If ever she needed a sign to move forward then this was it. She rifled through her clothes and pulled out her swimsuit.

  “Where are you off to?” asked Nixie who was perched on Cordelia’s bed.

  Cordelia paused briefly to compose herself. “I’m going diving,” she said.

  “In this weather?”

  “What does it matter if it’s raining?” asked Cordelia. “I’ll get wet anyway.”

  “The wind is wild,” said Nixie.

  “If I let the wind stop me then I won’t win,” said Cordelia.

  “Win?”

  “The diving competition. I’m going to Meren.”

  Nixie squealed with excitement. “I knew you’d come to your senses,” she said.

  “Yes, alright, now if you don’t mind.”

  “Why would I mind?” asked Nixie.

  Cordelia raised her eyebrows and held up her swimsuit.

  “Say no more,” said Nixie and she vanished into thin air.

  Once in her swimsuit, Cordelia grabbed a towel and walked out of the caves onto the rocks by the amphitheatre.

  Battling against the wind, she clambered along the coast until the bay was visible in the distance. Cordelia climbed the rocks of the diving site and waited on the cliff top. She saw the swim team dragging the horses into the water. It was a sight that would have broken the strongest heart.
They swam beneath her, into the deep, taking the horses to their resting place. Cordelia sat on the sopping grass and wailed like a young child. She wondered if she would ever find true happiness in this godforsaken place.

  Unbeknown to her she was being watched. Arna, the Siren who had betrayed Cordelia’s mother had been watching her for years. Isolated on Bishop’s Island, she spent her time alone in the church with little else to do but hunt for fish and observe the girl whose mother had been brutally murdered. She blamed herself, of course, but Cordelia appeared to have inherited her father’s genes and she didn’t think it was her place to interfere, until now. The sleek blond hair caught Arna’s eye and she flew closer. Cordelia had never met the gannets. To her this was just another sea bird scavenging for food. Arna noticed the wounds on Cordelia’s shoulders. She could smell the same sweet scent of Carmen’s blood. Arna cocked her head to the side and stared into Cordelia’s sapphire eyes.

  “What are you looking at?” moaned Cordelia.

  Right there in front of her, Arna morphed from a regular gannet into a beautiful Siren, towering over Cordelia. Cordelia fell back onto her elbows with a horrified look in her eyes.

  “Don’t be afraid,” said Arna. “I mean you no harm.”

  Cordelia couldn’t help but notice Arna’s hair. It bared a canny resemblance to her own.

  “Who are you?” asked Cordelia, using her hands to push herself up.

  “My name is Arna. I knew your mother. You look just like her.”

  Curious to know more, Cordelia stood up, though Arna still towered over her.

  “What do you know about my mother?” asked Cordelia.

  “She was beautiful,” said Arna, “just like you.”

  “Was?” asked Cordelia, her heart sinking.

  “I’m afraid she died the day you were born.”

  “She died because of me?”

  “Not strictly speaking,” said Arna. “she was killed by the ravens. She was a great warrior, your mother. A respected leader.”

  “Why did they kill her?”

  Arna paused. “They found out about you.”

  “They killed her because of me?”

  “No. They killed her because of me. I told them about you.”

  “Why are you telling me this now?” asked Cordelia, tears welling in her eyes.

  “Until now I thought you belonged with the merfolk,” said Arna.

  Cordelia kept quiet, waiting to see what Arna would say next.

  “Look at you now.” Arna toyed with Cordelia’s hair and walked around her, lightly brushing her shoulders with her wing. “You’re becoming one of us.”

  “Appearances don’t mean anything,” said Cordelia. “I’m nothing like my mother. I’m not a killer.”

  “Neither was she,” said Arna. “Your mother loved you and did everything she could to keep you safe.”

  “Tell me what happened, I need to know.”

  “Your mother was the most beautiful of all the gannets but she kept a secret which she guarded with her life. Word got out that she was guarding an egg and Zamira descended on our island with her vicious flock. She was jealous that your mother had won the affection of the King. Zamira believed that she could one day be queen but with you on the way, there was little chance of that happening. She saw you as a threat; not just to the crown but to their way of life. Your mother supported the King’s desire to end the needless killing of sailors but Zamira refused to sign the treaty.”

  “What happened next?” asked Cordelia.

  “The gannets heard the ravens’ angry cries. Armed with shields and daggers, they surrounded the church where your mother was hiding with you. Zamira commanded her army to search the island.”

  “Then what?” asked Cordelia, listening intently.

  “The gannets drew their daggers as the ravens moved closer. Sounds of squawking and clashing metal filled the air yet down on the water, Flynn was unaware of the violent battle high above him; the clouds and sea spray were a smoke screen between him and us. With every clash of daggers and shields came lightening and thunder. Your mother watched anxiously from a tiny window as feathers and blood were shed. She knew that she was trapped in the church. Determined to give you the best chance of survival, she unbolted the door, clenched your shell between her feet and flew into the open air. She dropped you over the side of the cliff as a group of ravens swooped around her. Zamira watched you plummet towards the ocean. She thought you were both dead. Of course, it was all my fault. I told Zamira about your mother, about you.”

  “Where did the gannets go?” asked Cordelia.

  “The rest of the gannets were distraught by the sudden loss of your mother and refused to live in the shadows of the ravens, so they fled. All except for me.”

  Cordelia shuddered, then Arna revealed a silver dagger, decorated with wings and a crown.

  “Take it,” said Arna. “It belonged to your mother, she’d want you to have it.”

  Cordelia picked up the dagger and noticed the letter c engraved on its handle.

  “What does the c stand for?” asked Cordelia.

  “Carmen,” said Arna. “Your mother was called Carmen.”

  “She’s dead because of you,” said Cordelia. “You were just as jealous as Zamira. You’re all as bad as each other.”

  “But now you’re one of us,” said Arna. “Let me help you.”

  “I’m not a Siren, my mother never wanted to be one either, it’s a curse.”

  Cordelia took the dagger and dived head first into the sea.

  TWENTY

  Adjustment

  Standing in front of the mirror in her chamber, Cordelia used the dagger to carve out the feathers. Every time a new one grew she cut it out. She was a mermaid, not a Siren. The pain was unbearable but the thought of being ostracised was worse. Two weeks had passed since Pooka was in town and that ordeal had long been forgotten, thanks to Marilla. Of course, the story was splashed across the front page of every newspaper from Kilfearagh to Dublin and Marilla had waited for those pages to be burned on every fireplace in Ireland before she worked her magic. Cordelia knew it was technically mind power rather than magic but she had been through such a horrid time being shunned by nearly everyone who knew her that what Marilla had achieved was indeed magical. It seemed the entire school had forgotten they’d ever had horses but she couldn’t expect Marilla to keep bailing her out. The town folk were still none the wiser about what had happened that day. They assumed the storm had washed the horses back out to sea and the phrase ‘white horses’ spread amongst the town in reference to white-capped waves which caused orders for Guinness to soar in the tavern.

  Cordelia hadn’t seen Breck or Flynn since she’d spoken with Arna. She’d kept herself hidden away incase she was overcome with a sudden desire to eat them. How could she know what to expect? She couldn’t speak to her friends about it and she wasn’t going to confide in the Siren responsible for her mother’s death. The only other being who really knew what was going on was Nixie.

  “I’m worried about you,” said Nixie as crimson blood trickled down Cordelia’s back in the candlelight.

  “I’m fine,” said Cordelia.

  Nixie raised her eyebrows. “I dread to think what you’d do if you weren’t fine.”

  “There’s no need to worry,” said Cordelia, “everything’s under control.” She wiped the dagger with a towel and lay face down on the bed, reaching behind her back to place strands of dillisk on her wounds.

  “You’ve lost weight,” said Nixie. “At this rate you’ll be too weak to enter the diving competition, never mind win it. How do you expect your powers to work with gaping holes like that in your back?”

  “What do you expect me to do?” asked Cordelia. “I can hardly dive with feathers sprouting from my shoulder blades, can I?”

  “How can you dive like this?” asked Nixie. “How will you explain these wounds?”

  “I’ll cover myself. It’s easier to mask a cut than a pair of wings.” />
  “It’s a little more than a cut,” said Nixie.

  That night, Cordelia was struck with fever. Everything ached, her cheeks flushed red and beads of sweat erupted all over her body. She lay soaking wet in her bed, unable to move. She wanted God to end her pain. If he had taken her life then and there, it wouldn’t have been too soon. She was tired. She’d had enough. Cordelia patiently waited for God to take her. She’d sooner die and gain angel wings than live a life like this. Nixie paced back and forth, wondering what to do. She placed wet towels on Cordelia’s forehead to try and reduce the fever but it didn’t seem to make a difference. Nixie rushed to Amathia’s medical chamber and frantically searched through the bottles until she found a label that read, ‘ointment for infected wounds’. She hurried back to Cordelia and doused her wounds with the remedy. Cordelia flinched as the liquid seeped into her flesh.

  “Sorry,” said Nixie. “I know it hurts but you’ll thank me later.”

  Once she had bathed and dressed Cordelia’s wounds, Nixie lifted Cordelia off the bed and there she remained, suspended in mid air until the bed sheets were changed. Nixie gently lowered Cordelia onto the bed, raising her head just enough to give her some water, and there she stayed, by Cordelia’s side, keeping vigil until morning.

  A sudden knock at the door startled Nixie.

  “Cordelia, are you in there?” called Lana.

  There was no response.

  “Try the handle,” said Nerissa.

  Lana rattled the handle but the door was locked.

  “Keep the noise down,” said Nixie, poking her head through the door.

  Lana and Nerissa jumped.

  “What are you doing?” asked Lana. “Where’s Cordelia?”

  “She’s sleeping,” said Nixie.

  “Then wake her,” said Masika, “she’ll be late for class.”

  “Cordelia won’t be going to class today,” said Nixie, “she’s sick.”

  “Sick?” said Lana. “What’s wrong with her?”

  “She needs to rest,” said Nixie.

  “Let us see her,” said Nerissa, “we might be able to help.”