Keena shoots another coil of water in his direction but Dolby moves faster. He rolls over onto his back, throwing his hands out in front of him. Surrounding Keena in a large ring of fire, he traps her.
For a brief moment, there is a flicker of worry in her eyes. Keena quickly shakes it as she prepares herself for Dolby’s next move.
All he does is raise the flames. They grow to an extreme height, brushing the splashes of her swirling water.
The orange and blue hues create an amazing ripple against each other. The powerful ventilations surrounding the glass above them suck up the thick smoke from the flames, but the smoke isn’t the only thing Glacier sees.
A thin brook of clear white steam rises between the thick clouds of black smoke, blending into grey puffs.
Past the flames and splashing water, you can barely see the crease between Keena’s brows or the parting of her lips as she struggles to catch her breath.
Keena tries to throw some water against the flames, but all Glacier can hear is a loud sizzle. All she can see is an insignificant spit through the flames.
As Dolby’s hands rise higher, the flames widen and flicker dangerously. He walks closer to the sparks of fire and swirls of water, a dark look adorning his features. Keena’s arm weakens and wobbles as she continues to twirl it above her head.
Gluing herself to the glass, Glacier observes Dolby as he watches Keena struggle within the hurricane of water.
Then Keena collapses so quickly that Glacier’s eyes lose focus.
The water cascades around Keena like rain, drenching her uniform entirely. She quivers on the ground in exhaustion, her face a bright pink.
The countdown appears on the glass, but Glacier’s eyes remain trained on Dolby as he approaches Keena’s limp body.
He drags a flame from the outer ring once more, holding it close to his hand. He stands over her threateningly, waiting for her to show any sign of endurance.
Four, three, two, one…
The horn blows loudly, ending the second battle.
Dolby throws his fists into the air in triumph, the small flame evaporating. He shouts his victory before jumping back to his team and completely ignoring his escort as she went to make her way over to him with his jacket.
Tanner quickly shuffles into the ring where Keena is trying to sit up on the floor. Glacier hears a shuffle behind her, so she turns. Neena stands close, watching her twin with worry. Branch also stands, holding Neena’s arm.
“You can’t enter the ring Neena; you have to wait.”
Neena doesn’t seem to hear what Branch says, but she doesn’t move regardless. Her brows are furrowed with concern, her eyes wild with worry.
“She’ll be OK, Neena…”
Neena’s head flicks in Glacier’s direction when she hears her voice. After assessing her for a moment, Neena nods her head in agreement.
“Come on, there’s only one more battle.”
Glacier nods her head despite Branch’s words being directed to Neena.
One more battle means I'm not fighting today.
Tanner helps Keena to her feet, supporting her by her wrists, his arms around her torso. When he finally drags her into the booth, Neena is immediately at her side.
“Keena! Come sit down. Are you OK?”
Glacier resists giving Neena the same dumbfounded look that Keena does give her, “Bit of a silly question, don’t you think, sis?”
Neena ignores her sister’s brash tone. She moves in front of Tanner, taking Keena’s body weight onto her own. They take a seat on the benches, where Keena starts to take deep lungfuls of air, finally settling herself.
Branch and Neena sit beside her asking questions. Aleena and Tric are still sitting at the opposite end of the bench, not having moved a muscle as the defeated Keena approached the box.
Aleena’s sour face clues the team into her thoughts before she has the choice to voice them.
“Great start to the competition, guys.” Her sarcastic tone angers Glacier. Still, she remains silent.
I don’t understand why she cares so much about this stupid tournament anyways…
Glacier watches as Keena continues to swallow long breaths. Neena holds her hand, while Branch pulls her to lean on his shoulder.
“That was a pretty awesome move, Keena…” Glacier looks down at her feet when she speaks, afraid to meet the rougher twin’s eyes. Her voice is soft, almost missed.
What if she calls me a freak as well?
There is an uncomfortable silence for a moment. Glacier can feel the stare of every teammate in the booth.
Some, like Aleena and Tric, send vicious glares in her when she speaks, but the others stare at her curiously. A small tight smile tugs at the corners of Keena’s lips as she waits for her to continue. When she doesn’t, Keena replies, “Thanks.”
Glacier says nothing in return, moving to look past the glass board. Her eyes are hypnotically drawn to the Pyre team, where she once again scopes out for the familiar pair. But the two eyes that seize her attention first are orange and blue.
Her lungs empty as Brink watches her with a strange interest. With his arms folded across his chest, he stands off to the side of his team booth.
Their eyes are locked like glue, her body frozen still. The brow above his blue eye quirks up at her stare, but he doesn’t look away. His eyes smoulder into her body, heating it from the inside out. It is a peculiar feeling, one that Glacier hasn’t felt before. It sets her on edge.
Brink walks towards her, his arms now stiff at his sides. His stride is powerful and tense. Her eyes bulge further from their sockets, as fear blooms in her chest.
Why is he coming this way? What is he doing?
It isn’t until he steps over the flames that Glacier realizes he isn’t walking toward her. Their eyes stay locked as he approaches the centre of the ring. He waits patiently, still watching for her movements. Glacier shuffles uncomfortably under his stare, his eyes scrutinizing her actions.
Wait, he’s in the ring…
Who is he battling?
Just as this thought surrounds her senses, Glacier notices slow movement from her right. Her eyes fortunately release from Brink’s powerful gaze, to see the timid raven-haired girl from Terra team approaching the small bridge leading into the ring, shivering with fear.
They’ve paired him with Care? She has no chance at winning…
Glacier tries her hardest to keep her eyes on Care’s slow approach, but the heavy stare she feels in her chest nags her to turn her head. The relentless magnet in her brain cannot absorb the notion that her only childhood friend sits across the room from her.
Fielder watches with sad curiosity, confusing her. She gives him a grim smile, indicating to the two contenders in the ring with a disheartening frown. His lips thin in acknowledgement before he shrugs his shoulders. He knows as much as Glacier does that they can’t do anything to help Care with her battle against the lava elemental…
Glacier turns back to the two competitors in the centre.
Brink and Care are lowering their hands as Glacier looks over, before they take a few steps back to the skirting’s. Brink sheds his jacket and tosses it boorishly to their team escort, rolling his shoulders back and forth.
Care gingerly hands her coat to the escort, still quivering in terror as she turns to face Brink. Her eyes are wide and wild with panic, her arms are tucked into her sides and her head is craned into her chest.
She looks utterly defenceless…
Taking a step back from the glass, Glacier feels the air start to warm.
She notices the thin ring of controlled fire starting to gloop into puddles of molten sludge on the floor. It travels like a thick glowing stream towards Brink. His head is lowered as he eyes Care with a predatory smirk.
The sound of Sasis’ voice echoing past the stadium walls surprises her. Glacier glances up to see the Chamberman once again standing above the contenders on the glass w
ith his hands high to hush the audience.
“My children, it is time for the final battle of the day. So far, we have a win for the Terra team,” at the mention of their team, the earth elementals go wild with applause, “and a win for the Pyre team. With this last battle, it will determine which team is the frontrunner on the leader board. So without further ado, the final battle of the night, between Brink from the Pyre team, and Care Benns from the Terra team.”
Sasis steps down from the glass, passing by the deadly man who draws Glacier’s gaze.
Thomes smirks down at her, raising his finger and thumb and pinching them together as he refers to how close Glacier had been to battling.
She shoots him a disgruntled lip curl before looking back to the ring. Just as her eyes find the two bodies in the centre of the ring, the loud horn vibrates off the glass roof of the arena.
And less than a second later, violent screaming takes its place.
The second the horn blew, Brink simply flicked his wrist out in Care’s direction, sending the stream of burning lava in her direction. The molten sludge sprays across her skin like thick water. The smell of burning flesh is immediate.
Care writhes on the ground, the hot liquid melting her flesh from her bones. Glacier’s eyes are wide with terror, nose burning with the smell of liquefying skin.
“Bloody hell! Someone get help!”
“One of you, use the damn water to stop her burning!”
“Get the bloody doctor in here!”
Everyone is yelling and screaming around her. All on their feet, they rush to the centre of the arena with hurried movements and panicked expressions. Frozen, Glacier is paralysed with horror and disgust.
Brink did that… He burnt her alive… How could he do something like that?
Her eyes brim with sweltering tears, before pouring over like a flowing river. Care’s constant screams of agony continue, and everyone crowds around her, unsure what to do.
The sudden sensation of a soothing warm hand on her shoulder startles her. Glacier nearly jumps from her skin. She spins around, finding herself facing a familiar boy with curly brown hair and scorching orange eyes.
He’s so tall.
He towers over Glacier, her small frame meeting just below his shoulder. Fielder’s mouth is a grim abhorrent line, his wild eyes blazing with worry.
“Glace…”
At the sound of her name, she comes apart.
She falls into his waiting embrace. He holds her tight to his warm chest.
So warm.
Her chest heaves with rib-racking sobs. Her eyes bleed endless salty water. Soon, Glacier finds it hard to breathe through the heavy cries. The putrid smell of burnt flesh lingers in the air like a potent poison. The yells and screams of the people around deafen her.
Fielder begins stroking her hair as he pulls her tighter against his chest. He hushes her with his soothing voice, one arm around her waist and the other caressing her head.
His hands holding her provide a constant source of soothing warmth. His deep voice shushes in her ear. The smell of burning flesh and the rattling yells slowly cease to exist, fading into a distance Glacier doesn’t care to follow.
“I can’t believe he did that to her…” Glacier’s voice is raspy and bleak, her eyes pinched shut as she buries her nose against his jacket.
His pacifying murmurs soothe her hiccups, as she clutches at the front of his jacket with both hands, to keep him as close as she can. His scent overcomes the hideous smell wafting throughout the arena, as everyone continues to fawn over the burning girl.
He smells like ash, or maybe burnt wood.
Fielder says nothing as he holds her tightly, petting her hair as he calmly shushes her.
Having no memory of him ever holding her like this, her mind briefly wanders back to the past.
He always kept his distance. Always gave me space.
Standing in his temperate embrace, with his chin resting atop her head, it reminds her of when they were younger. The thick fallen snow decorating every tree branch and grass strand. It reminds her of the time when Glacier had a friend.
“Hey, get away from her!”
Suddenly pulled behind Branch, Tric flanks his right closely. Keena and Neena border Glacier’s sides, their stances cautious.
The Pyre team suddenly appears as well. Dolby pulls Fielder back behind Brogan and Pae. Both teams stand in distanced groups, prepared to fight.
Glacier looks over Branch’s shoulder to find Fielder looking lost as well. He towers nearly an entire head above Dolby and Pae, who both stand in front much like Glacier’s team does for her.
Brink strides over to the head of the group, his stance menacing. The fire from the ring crawls closer to him, skulking like an incinerating sludge. His fingers spread, beaconing the hot molten substance towards him like a pet. Glacier cowers from the slow approaching goo as it bubbles and sizzles across the ground.
“Brink, stop!”
Everyone stills at the sound of her frightened words. Branch’s shoulders hunch, and Tric flicks his head back in her direction. Glacier ignores his stare as she watches Brink, her gaze anxious. She feels her eyes swirling, her nerves pounding against her chest, suffocating her.
Would he really throw lava on us like he did to Care?
Brink watches her with curiosity, his head tilted. Dolby’s eyes flicker between the lava and the ice elementals, curious about what will happen next.
Gaze unwavering, Glacier tries to communicate with Brink silently. His head tilts further before his mouth draws to a bleak line. His fingers flex down, and the lava flops to the ground where it hardens instantly, creating a large lump of black rock.
Brink turns his head and walks towards one of the exits from the arena, close to the Pyre team’s booth. Glacier’s eyes follow him until he is submerged in the dark shadows of the corridor. Once he cannot be seen, she whips around to the centre of the arena.
Four people in plain dark green uniforms are surrounding Care’s body, along with her team as they watch her with worry and aversion.
Care.
NINE
FIRST DANCE
“Let’s talk about something else. Are you excited about your first gala?” Glacier knows Lien is only trying to be nice, but her mind is solely absorbed in Care’s condition.
How badly was she burnt? Will she be forced to continue in the competition?
“Miss Wardgrave…”
Her head spins around, “Sorry, what did you say?”
Will she be damaged entirely? Is she ruined?
“I asked if you are excited about your first gala?”
Glacier just shakes her head from side to side, before releasing a small sigh, “Not really.”
“Many of the other competitors won’t be able to dance either, if that is what you are worried about…”
The memory of her father teaching her to dance strikes her chest like a sharp dagger, capturing her breath.
++
“Dad, it’s fine. I won’t be asked anyway…” Glacier’s whining voice does not deter him. Kellen’s hand takes hold of his daughter’s as he moves to dance.
“If any boy has even a miniscule of sense, you will be the first girl asked.”
Her father never acknowledged that others in their region detested her. It doesn’t help that he home-schools her, isolating her from her generation…
Kellen strides across the living room to the small music box sitting on one of the few wall shelves. He had made it using the remaining fragments of his grandmother’s broken music box.
Small and rectangular, the black paint has small white snowflakes decorating the sides. Every night Glacier would listen to the song it plays… When she would hear the melody, she would try to imagine what her mother would have looked like. If she would have enjoyed the sweet sounds it made.
Kellen whines the key a few times before lifting the lid. On the inside is blue and green,
with thin white stripes. A large white, intricate snowflake dances on top a spring, in the centre of the chest, spinning as the dainty music floats through the air between them.
“Dad—” Glacier tries, but he advances forward. He places his free hand on her hip before lifting her onto his toes.
“Now, you must always allow the man to lead. Give them control.”
Glacier replies with a snort.
“When ballroom dancing, the only moves you need to remember are back, left, forward, then right. Just imagine a small square guiding your feet.”
Glacier shakes her head at her dad’s illustration, a small smile adorning her lips.
‘Imagine a small square guiding your feet.’
Her father leads her around the room, between the furniture. He moves backwards then left, forwards then right, repeating the moves for a short while.
“Now, dip…”
Glacier’s limbs tense. As Kellen lowers her down, Glacier grips him for dear life, giggling childishly.
“Dad, no!” She giggles louder, “Don’t drop me!”
Kellen laughs off her worries. “So, there must be a boy you want to ask. Anyone I know of?” His cheeky words cause her heart to squeeze.
I can’t tell him; he’ll be furious.
“No, no boy…” Glacier’s nervous tone is evident. Her father’s movements slow, but don’t entirely stop.
“No boy, huh?” She lowers her head to look at their overlapping feet, afraid to meet his judging stare. Glacier shakes her head, still not looking up.
He releases a sigh, before coming to a standstill. Kellen’s hand tightens where he holds hers, his gaze burning down on her forehead.
“I know that’s not true… It’s that boy you meet outside the wall, isn’t it?”
Glacier’s breath escapes her. Her eyes start to burn, her nose aching with an itching heat.
He’s going to shout at me.
She quickly shakes her head side-to-side, enough to render her dizzy. From her peripherals, Glacier catches her father running a thick-fingered hand through his uneven brown hair.
The Frozen Beginning (Elemental Diamond Book 1) Page 11
