The Tantalising Taste Of Water (Elemental Awakening, Book 4)

by Nicola Claire

  “She destroys Atlantis. She kills Nero. She is no Aether!” Pisces boomed.

  Fear had me reaching for Earth; my go-to Element. It rose on my command, eager, soothing; a combination that should not exist.

  We are here, it promised. Use us, it offered. Aether, we are yours to command.

  “See!” Pisces shouted. “She calls forth her Stoicheio. Gi to destroy us.”

  Water shot straight out of his mouth, bracketed by lengthening shark-like teeth. Aquarius stood up between us, taking the brunt of Pisces’ wrath, his body growing, morphing, becoming larger and larger still. Tentacles formed on his hands, his arms, down his legs. More grew from his body. I could still see the handsome Nero behind the monster he was becoming, but it was getting harder.

  What the hell were these Ekmetalleftis? I’d never seen any other branch transform like this.

  Fear rode me, held the reins and flicked the whip. I whimpered. Pisces roared. Then over his shoulder, his sister appeared. Capricorn, her mermaid’s tail swishing through the water, her thin face stretched as her jaw unhinged, showing me an impressive row or two of fangs.

  Earth, I cried; it could have been a squeak. Take me deep, keep me safe.

  The ground beneath the marble buckled. More water poured in. Capricorn shifted; an attack stance, a primal part of me recognised immediately. Then Pisces yelled out a furious sound that shook the walls.

  Stop! Aquarius shouted, now a fully formed octopus, his tentacles holding back the enraged horse-fish-man thing. How he managed to stop Pisces storming into my destroyed room, I don’t know. But he hadn’t prevented Capricorn from slipping past their struggles.

  “Gi!” she growled. “Nero will have its vengeance.”

  The ground rolled, the sea churned all around us, the ceiling kept getting closer and closer. I frantically kicked my feet, trying to reach the floor of the Pyrgos, but the more Pisces and Aquarius fought, the more water poured in, and the harder it was to reach Earth beneath me.

  Earth, I screamed inside my head as Capricorn finally reached me. Lava!

  A volcano erupted. Bubbling, burning, superheated rock consumed me, dragging me down as Capricorn’s high pitched scream pierced my eardrums. I covered my ears instinctively as she thrashed and bit and clawed at my arms. Blood pooled around us, mine not hers, although the lava had burnt her skin black in places. Then creatures I never wanted to see ever again slithered through the broken gaps of Atlantis and into my former room.

  I gulped in water, feeling Fire drag me deeper and Earth welcome me home.

  Capricorn screamed. Sagittarius roared. Pisces flung an unconscious Aquarius against the wall. And then all three came toward me at once.

  The sea bubbled and frothed, the taste of charcoal met my tongue, sounds that should not exist invaded my soul. Mournful. Vengeful. Powerful. The Nero Rigas called for order. Maybe it was for sanity. It could have been for pity, for all I could tell.

  Earth cried with Water; Fire hissed with Air. The Elements sang a truly dreadful tune of sorrow and regret and fear.

  I knew this was because of me. I knew I’d caused more damage than good. Aetheros had chosen poorly. The Elements knew. Nero was irate. Aeras was insane with rage. Pyrkagia lashed out in anger. Gi buckled and roiled and shuddered with its fury.

  It all matched mine.

  Enough! No more! You win!

  Aether, they all intoned. Aether, they all pleaded. Oh, Aether.

  I understood. I’d done this. My agony had turned to rage. The Elements had fed off it. Imbalanced as they already were, how could they not?

  I’d done this.

  And as the seabed swallowed me whole, and the sounds of Atlantis dying dimmed, I knew I was no longer Casey Eden, George and Anne Eden’s daughter. I was no longer Marcus Eden’s sister. No longer Gramps’ sweetheart.

  I’d changed.

  My scream mixed with Earth’s cries of pain. Melded with Fire’s hiss of agony. Drowned out Air’s shout of fury. Matched Water’s rage.

  And in the quiet of my chosen haven, stars burst out all around me; blinding, sparking, sending me insane.

  Chapter Five

  And I Felt Everything

  Wake up, Aether, a voice sounded out inside my bruised and battered mind. Aether, wake!

  For a moment I thought it was Aquarius, but this voice meant something to me. Something deeper, more meaningful, something that reached inside and touched a part of me I was sure had been shattered.

  I ignored it. I didn’t want to feel anything. Peace reigned in isolation. Comfort came with seclusion. Sanity lay where nothing could touch me.

  I was alone.

  The Aeras shaman’s voice sounded out inside my head; not exactly unusual. But the words were unexpected. I’d thought now would be the time for my subconscious to provide an “I told you so” moment. But instead, the frail old man whispered, Be strong. Be true. Be well. Be brave. Know this is not the sum of your days.

  He’d said those exact words in Peru. I hadn’t thought I’d ever hear them again, even fabricated inside my fractured mind.

  Aether, Earth called, distracting me from my musings. Wake, Aether.

  I did nothing. Doing nothing doesn’t hurt.

  Aether, Fire urged. Wake, Aether.

  I ignore it. In ignorance lives a kind of bliss.

  Aether, Air demanded. Wake, Aether.

  I turned away because it was easier than facing reality.

  Oh, Aether, they all intoned. Their pity didn’t reach me.

  I’m not sure how long my Stoicheio indulged me, but eventually, they acted of their own accord. An Elemental intervention of sorts. With careful hands, they lifted me from the bottom of the ocean and deposited me on a pristine beach. White sand beckoned under a full moon.

  I looked towards a vast city, barely standing after the wrath of Genesis. Then turned my back on the desolation and stared out at an angry sea. In the distance storm clouds hung suspended in thick air, gulls swooped and dived, while other things best left unsaid tossed and turned, making the waves that washed up on the shore boil and froth with fury.

  In the dark clouds, I could see an island. I had no idea where I was, but from the destruction behind me, I fancied I was looking at the Mediterranean Sea. That devastated city at my back looked Grecian. Which could make the island in front of me any one of many. But I had a feeling, an Earthly feeling, it had not been seen for centuries.

  Atlantis had risen. Forced from the depths of the ocean by my rampage. I stared at the terror-filled creatures that mourned their hidden haven without feeling a single thing.

  Nero were only one of a number to have made me what I was. Let them rue the day they tried to contain an Aether. The day they tried to manipulate me.

  I sank onto the sand; watching, waiting, not really certain why I didn’t run and hide from their rage. Surely they’d move inland, seek me out, exact their revenge. I smiled. It was completely hollow, an empty grin that felt so alien.

  The world was dying, and I was dead along with it.

  Where to, Aether? Air suddenly asked.

  My lips tipped down in a scowl, my forehead furrowed. My Stoicheio surrounded me, I realised. Constantly touching me; stroking, comforting, trying to elicit a reaction. Fuelling me while I simply ignored them. Giving when I gave nothing back.

  I should have felt relieved. I should have felt thankful. Instead, I felt nothing.

  Where to Aether? Air asked again. Patient. Caring. Watchful.

  I shook my head. I could use lightning to go back to Wellington and my friends. I could build a fire and talk to Theo through the flames. I shuddered. The thought of speaking to anyone scared me. Made me retreat further inside the nothingness that had invaded.

  What would I tell them? That Aetheros had made a mistake? That I couldn’t do this? I wasn’t made out for this? That I was broken?

  That the world would end because I was no longer Casey Eden.

  Be at ease, Aether, Earth whispered. We are here.
/>   A tear slowly rolled down my cheek. I’d told my Stoicheio that when I couldn’t reach them during Genesis. I’d told them I was there and I would fix this.

  I’d lied.

  I couldn’t fix this. No one could. Aetheros had abandoned us to our rightful fate.

  “You hear that?” I said softly. Then yelled up to the dark sky, “You hear that, Aetheros! You did this! You doomed the world to fail!”

  You doomed me to fail, too.

  There was no answer. Only nothing. And the distant roar of Pisces’ rage.

  Where to, Aether? Air asked again.

  Aetheros wasn’t here on this deserted beach. Aetheros wasn’t even with his dying Nero children. Aetheros had retreated to the stars. But I knew of one place he might still linger.

  “The Temple of Aetheros,” I said softly. “Take me to the Temple of Aetheros.”

  So be it, Air proclaimed.

  Lightning struck, sand crystallised into glass beneath me, ozone wafted on the air. My hair stood on end, my back bowed, and in a blaze of white light, I disappeared. I landed on two feet on cracked stone; the welcoming scent of charred wood and, obscurely, succulent lamb greeting me.

  It was so out of place I simply stared. This was definitely the Temple of Aetheros; I recognised the broken columns and rubble strewn steps from the painting I’d seen in Theo’s bedroom back in Auckland. But this temple wasn’t abandoned. It also wasn’t overflowing with misplaced Athanatos either. But there were tents and a fire, and someone was cooking something over the flames and muttering in Greek to himself as he stirred it.

  He turned when I made a sound; perhaps one of surprise or shock or fear, I’m uncertain. And kind and familiar amber and jade eyes stared back at me out of a weathered, smiling face.

  “Theodoros,” Aktor called out, voice strong and clear. “She has arrived.”

  He took a step toward me, and I hurriedly shuffled back. Aktor frowned. Theo came running around a haphazardly leaning column from somewhere out of sight, face beaming; relief, concern, such love shining out of gold-rimmed eyes.

  I took another step back.

  Aktor raised his arm to halt Theo’s progress. I watched as if from far away. Theo fought his butler for a second and then logic ruled. He stood statue still and looked right at me, fear replacing relief. But there was still so much love there that I almost hurt.

  “Oraia?” he said, voice low and careful. More people came out from farther back; Aktor hurriedly indicated with a raised hand for them to stop. I could see Nico and Sonya. I could see Isadora.

  My eyes jumped back to Theo and the old man.

  “Miss Eden,” Aktor said. “Are you harmed?”

  Was I harmed? I was broken. But I couldn’t admit that. I shook my head.

  “Casey?” Theo pressed. “What’s wrong?”

  Everything.

  He took a tentative step closer. I held my ground. I wanted to reach for him. I did. I loved him. He loved me. He was my Thisavros. I wanted to reach for him.

  I couldn’t breathe.

  “Casey!” Theo said urgently, crossing the distance between us in a heartbeat. His strong arms wrapped around me and for a moment I felt something.

  Gut wrenching. Soul destroying. So much pain. So much confusion. My legs gave out, and I was up and in his arms in an instant as he held me tight against his chest. Safe.

  “Oraia,” he said, his face buried in my neck, my hair. Hot breath against numb skin. “You’re back.”

  No. I wasn’t. My body was here, but not me. I wasn’t me anymore.

  “It’s OK,” Theo murmured against my temple. “You’re safe. Nothing can harm you here.”

  I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t. I wanted to tell him everything, but the words simply weren’t there. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole, and Earth would have done it. But even in this, I was powerless.

  “Bring her to the Fire, Theodoros,” Aktor said quietly. “The rest of you, give us space, please.”

  “But, Aktor…” Sonya argued.

  “We need a moment, Miss Marin. I’ll call when Cassandra is ready to see you again.”

  “Something’s happened,” Isadora hissed in a faux whisper that carried.

  “Oh, shut up, why don’t you?” Nico offered. “Your unsolicited opinion is not wanted. As usual.”

  Isadora said something snarky in reply, but I couldn’t catch it. They’d moved too far away.

  “Nothing has changed, see?” Theo quipped as he sat down on a broken bit of the temple and cradled me. “Isadora is still sniping at Nico, and my cousin is still defending your honour.”

  I said nothing.

  “Are you hungry, Miss Eden?” Aktor asked.

  I shook my head and felt more than saw Theo glance toward Aktor; sharing a look that spoke volumes.

  “Casey, say something,” Theo urged softly. “You’re scaring me.”

  I couldn’t speak.

  “You know you are safe here with us, Cassandra,” Aktor murmured. “Nothing can harm you at Aetheros’ Temple.”

  I should have felt anger at that. This was Aetheros’ fault, after all. And although anger had consumed me completely so recently, even that emotion was now gone.

  I felt empty. Scoured out. Alone. Even held in Theo’s arms, I was adrift and lost and cold. So cold.

  Silence but for the crackle of the fire for several minutes and then Theo started talking.

  “We followed the Nero Rigas’ trail. Lightning does indeed strike the same spot twice.” He offered a chuckle, but it sounded forced. “He brought you here, as far as we could tell. We knew Atlantis must be close, but having scoured the various islands nearby, we were unable to identify it. Not even a single Nero to prove our theory correct. I’d always known they’d retreated from our world, but with Genesis, I was sure they would have resurfaced.”

  No. That had taken me.

  “We’ve been methodically searching the area ever since, but nothing until tonight. Until you…” His words faded away on a wealth of emotion. I wanted to feel it with him. I wanted to take the pain away.

  But I was drowning in a deep, dark, lonely sea.

  “What happened, Casey?” Theo asked finally. “How did you escape?”

  It was a long time before I spoke, but both Aktor and Theo remained silent; waiting, watching, holding me when I was sure I was about to fall apart.

  “I can’t do this,” I finally whispered.

  “What can’t you do?” Theo asked reasonably.

  I stood up and pushed away from his body, my arms wrapping around my frame immediately. I stared at the flames of the flickering fire, felt Fire lick out to warm me. Air brushed a tendril of hair off my face tenderly. Earth soothed with the scent of forgotten flowers.

  I felt the slow trickle of a tear on my cheek and could have sworn Water reached out to catch it.

  “Casey,” Theo pleaded. I could hear his agony.

  I turned to look at him properly for the first time since I’d arrived here. Really look at him and see the man who meant everything to me. I’d fought so hard to get back to him. I’d destroyed an entire island, laid waste to its people, fought creatures that were simply monstrous.

  It was Theo. This is where I wanted to be. Then why could I not feel anything?

  “I’m broken,” I said on a sob. “They broke me.”

  Theo made a sound of anguish and stood from his seat, reaching out for me. I stepped back. Fire flared. The Earth trembled at our feet. A wind started up; a mournful cry as it whistled past the fallen columns and broken walls of a once peaceful place. Rain began to fall haphazardly, matching the tears that fell down my cheeks.

  I saw my pain reflected in Theo’s face. I saw my fears shining from Aktor’s worried eyes. The heavens opened up, and Aetheros cried inconsolably.

  I stood beside a still roaring fire, the rain unable to douse it. Fire hissed. Air whistled. Earth groaned. And Water was silent.

  “You’re not broken,” Theo finally said, swallowing th
ickly past an obvious lump in his throat. “You’re perfect. Just the way you are. Whatever you are. However, you came to be that way. You’re perfect even if you think you’re not. You’re perfect even if you make mistakes. Perfection, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, Cassandra. And I am looking right now at my Thisavros, and she is perfection to me.”

  I started to shake my head.

  “What happened?” he said, his voice a fraction harder. “Please, tell us, Oraia. What has happened to make you believe you are broken?”

  I let out a slow breath of air and touched the flames of the nearby fire. It licked up my arm and danced across my skin happily. I sank down to sit beside it, my fingers finding Earth eagerly. Air blew the rain away. Where I sat only my Stoicheio touched me.

  “What happened?” I said, a repeat of Theo’s plea.

  He walked closer, lowering himself to a kneeling position, a mere few feet away from me. Aktor hovered, but let his master take the lead. I could no longer hear any of the others.

  “I was so angry,” I whispered. Fire hissed. Air moaned. Earth shuddered.

  “You fought back,” Theo guessed.

  “I struck out,” I corrected.

  “Did they harm you?”

  “They broke me.”

  “Cassandra…”

  “I destroyed Atlantis.”

  Silence, and then the old butler moved into the light of the fire.

  “They broke their word, Miss Eden. The Rigas accepted your Thisavros was accompanying you and went back on the unspoken agreement.”

  “You had every right,” Theo added, “as an Athanatos to strike back.”

  “There are creatures there,” I said numbly. “Monsters of the sea. Nero’s children. Zodiac.”

  Theo and Aktor frowned. I wasn’t making any sense. I knew it. But like me, the words were fractured. Broken. My mind skittering from one image to another and then another in such quick succession my mouth simply couldn’t follow its lead.

  I closed my eyes, let my body sink into my Elements. Let them ground me.

  “I was so angry,” I repeated instead of trying to decipher the horror-filled images inside my head.