Water's Threshold

by Jillian Jacobs

  His heart still beat. She hadn’t failed him. Not yet. “Terran, don’t go. Please. I can’t do this without you.” Sobs racked her body, and she shook against him.

  She sent a mental message to Mother to come—to save him. Prayed the Goddess Isis would hear her call. She would sacrifice anything. Give all she had if they saved him.

  Her life meant nothing. She was nothing.

  “Terran, I’m so sorry. I wish I’d never brought you into this. I should have walked away. If that’s what it takes, then I’ll do it. Please, Mother, haven’t I given you enough? Don’t let him die now. Take him. Transform him. I don’t know how the conversion is done, but he can’t survive much longer.”

  Maya lifted her shirt’s neckline, wiped the tears from her face, and listened. Silence. Only silence reigned. No one called. No one comforted or soothed her worried soul. No team of Elementals communicated plans for rescue. Alone, trapped in a cave with the only man she’d ever love. No matter how long her peri-mortal life lasted, Maya was certain her heart would remain sealed in this dirt casket.

  She dug through Terran’s pockets, found his phone, and flipped on the power. A faint light source, but the glow allowed her to see his face. “Do you know that? Do you understand how much you mean to me? How much I need you? I’ve waited so long.” She buried her head against his shoulder and breathed in his scent of balsam and cedar. His heartbeat brought a slither of relief. “I need you to wake up. Tell me how to get out of this pit. I can’t think straight. I need your rational mind. Please, Terran.” Between her desperate pleas, Maya delivered small sips of water into his mouth.

  Dizziness waved and she blinked again and again to regain focus. She licked her dry lips. Needing more liquid, she placed a hand against the floor of the dirt cave and drew water from the earth.

  Her tank only half full, Maya ran a hand through Terran’s hair, brushing out dirt clumps. “Damn it, why aren’t you waking? I don’t know how much more water I can give you and still journey to the surface to get help.”

  His left arm lay broken at his side, the bone in his forearm sliced through his skin. A deep gash on his temple was matted with blood, likely due to striking a tree root during his fall. The warm, red gush of blood had spread down his shirt, leaving a copper stain. Her healing blue flowed with his red pulse and meshed in a swirl of violet through his battered body.

  Terran did not speak. His mind remained locked in a quiet place, empty of all thought, of all pain. How long can humans remain unconscious?

  Over and over, she drew water from the earth, giving him every drop she could muster. Her arms started to look like the dried apricots he’d once compared her to. Her tongue shriveled and her eyes were too dry to blink.

  The dried earth began to crumble around them. A cave-in seemed likely.

  No more tears fell down her face. They’d been wasted earlier when she could have given the liquid to Terran. Only one option remained.

  His breath rasped out as she placed her dry, crackling lips upon his, and gave him a final pour of her healing elixir until her needle hovered above empty. Her efforts had kept him alive thus far, but drawing moisture from the ground around them was no longer safe.

  She croaked a whisper against his ear, “Terran, I have to go. I’ll come back. Love you.” She kissed his lips and forced herself to leave. Taking one last look at his handsome face, she tattooed the memory in blue ink across her heart.

  A trickle was all she had left. She transformed then wiggled up a tiny fissure, traveling back and forth in an underground maze, like a slinking worm inching toward the surface.

  Fear she wouldn’t return in time to save him increased her pace.

  Finally at the surface, she let her senses stretch, keeping alert for danger. Water lay ahead. She coalesced into her human form and stumbled forward. Her knees buckled, and she fell against the rocky bank. Only a short distance remained so she crawled forward on her hands and knees. For him. Make it for him.

  Water lapped against her fingers and she released her human form into the river and let gravity have its way.

  The cool water cleansed her mind and body, re-hydrating every pore. “Goddess Isis, grant me your guidance and strength.” Would Terran survive in that cave alone? A thought struck. Where did I surface?

  Half healed, she rushed out and marked the spot by stabbing sticks into the crack where she’d emerged.

  Back in the water, she floated on the bottom, not allowing the current to carry her away. Her body re-hydrated, her vision cleared, and the sediment of Quint’s debris and Terran’s injuries flushed out of her system. She surfaced as the sun set across the eastern sky. Too much time had passed. Water was closing in from all sides and for the first time a drowning sensation overwhelmed her. Her reliance on water was a prison that kept her from Terran.

  What is he doing down there? Is he conscious? Oh please, don’t let him wake until I return.

  Alarmed at his reaction to being buried alive, she gulped down water over and over.

  The wind picked up and the river’s calm flow suddenly became a raging rapid. She shot out of the water and shook dry.

  Nodin stood on the shore. “What happened? How did you—”

  “There isn’t time. I have to get back.” She scurried over to her stick marker and trickled down, faster, stronger, but when she arrived at the dirt coffin—Terran was gone.

  The only evidence was their filthy clothing left like a rag pile in a corner.

  She swished around and around, searching, seeking, backtracking as a ripple of water, gliding, sliding through the earth.

  No. No. He is here somewhere.

  She spread out in an ever-widening circle around the cave’s perimeter, but he was nowhere to be found. She slithered back to the top.

  Flint stood with Nodin. “Maya—”

  “No. Help me look.” She weaved through evergreens, splashed into the river all the while calling for Terran. No answer. She dropped to her knees and dug at the small crack in the earth where her solitary stick still stood.

  “I know it was here.” She sat back on her ankles and glanced around the area. “Or maybe… maybe I surfaced over there, you’ll see, I was just looking in the wrong place.” She scrambled over a few feet and dug a new spot.

  Flint wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Maya, calm down.”

  Nodin crouched at her front and pried the stick from her fingers. Her nails were covered in dirt. She wiped at her cheeks, welcoming the smear of earth. No need to cry. She would find him. She had to.

  “Maya, look at me.”

  The concern in Nodin’s eyes pushed her over the edge. “No. Don’t look at me like that.” She beat against his chest in agony over the futility of fighting destiny.

  Flint pulled her from Nodin and rocked her against his chest. He crooned soft words until her sobs quieted. “Maya, stay with us. We’ll find him.”

  Maya steadied her breathing and clenched her jaw against the wrenching vice locked around her heart. “We can’t leave him in that dirt grave. What happens when he comes out? He won’t understand. He’ll need our help, our guidance.”

  Nodin covered her hands with his and squeezed, transferring his strength. “Maya, the earth shifts. He may not come back to this spot.”

  “Of course, he’ll come back. It can’t end this way.” She pushed Nodin away and untangled from Flint’s arms. “He’ll come back and when he does, I’ll be waiting.” With those words, she grabbed another stick, and stabbed it into the dirt.

  The wood splintered.

  Nodin knelt beside her and brushed the remaining wood slivers from her hand. “Mother had no choice but to begin his transformation. She will guide him during the dawn of his new life as an Elemental. You must be patient. The earth will take its time to heal him.”

  Maya stared at her empty hand and whispered, “If he doesn’t come back, who will heal me?”

  Chapter 37

  While waiting inside an ancient relic on the outskir
ts of town, Quint propped his feet on the kitchen table and contemplated his next move. He folded both hands across his stomach and felt heat emanating from the hole. A hole put there by a backstabbing female. Guess those classic country songs were right. He’d underestimated Pillar. She’d slipped right under his radar. He’d enjoy making her pay, but not all at once. He would go slowly and enjoy each ear-piercing scream.

  Was no one loyal anymore? Would he have to bring everyone to heel? Pillar had turned his beautiful Violet against him. But no matter, everyone had a breaking point and he’d find Violet’s. She was the most amazing human he’d ever seen. Of course, he could appreciate her gifts, after the fact. All her raw power would be his, but he’d have to contain her in a roundabout way since she was capable of destroying him. As evidenced by the glaring hole IN HIS CHEST!

  Quint had no intention of returning to the vacuum of darkness, the never-ending abyss. He would stay here—on earth. At this very moment, Terran was undergoing his transformation into Earthman. Quint had laughed with glee as Terran tumbled into the dirt pit. What a fortunate string of events. Sometimes these creatures needed just the slightest nudge. Once he rooted into Earthman’s body, he’d glory in his newfound Elemental gifts and rule over Violet for as long as her heart beat.

  Speaking of pounding hearts, his partner was finally home. The key clicked in the lock then another lock slid open. Quint heard four beeps from the security pad. Silly fool. It wasn’t the people who could set off the alarm he needed to worry about—it was those who didn’t.

  “Good evening, Schwarz.”

  “Waaah. Goodness. Mr. Aether? You frightened me.” Quint noticed Schwarz’s German accent went thick during excitable moments. “How did you get inside?”

  “Don’t be coy, Schwarzy. It doesn’t suit you.”

  “Where have you been? We’ve been trying to reestablish Aether Pharmaceuticals.” Schwarz turned on the light and gasped as he took in Quint’s appearance. “What happened to you?”

  “Are you referring to my general state or this enormous hole in my chest?” Quint sank back in the chair; aware he looked a mess and didn’t care. He wanted to see this vision each time he looked in a mirror so he wouldn’t forget. The daily reminder of deceit fueled his rage. “This is what happens when you grant a sweet violet access to your heart. She shoots a bullet through your chest. And you, of all people, know the theory that a high-energy magnetic field can convert dark matter into a photon within the visible spectrum. Well guess what, Schwarzy, the theory is correct.”

  “Dark matter?”

  “Had you ever truly believed anything about me was human?” Quint kicked a kitchen chair across the room. It slammed and splintered against the wall. “Stop acting like an incoherent idiot. I’m not in the mood for your mousy snivel.”

  “But wh-what can I d-do?” Schwarz stammered.

  Quint stood and grabbed him by the throat. “What can I do?” He mocked. “Are you nothing without me? Can you not find your own path? Must I do it all?” The man under his hand gasped, and his face turned blue. Interesting how they all opened their mouths and stuck out their tongues. Quint dropped his hand as he got a whiff of Schwarz’s breath.

  Schwarz crumbled to the floor.

  “Get some water.” He kicked Schwarz’s heaving side. “Quit hacking all over. Who knows what vile germs you’ve exposed yourself to during your experiments, you sick fuck.”

  “What are you doing here?” Schwarz stood with his back against the kitchen cabinets. He held one hand at his throat and the other dug through his pocket. “What do you want?”

  “Oh no, my little rodent, what is in your hand? A utility knife?” These ridiculous humans, would they never learn? “Go ahead. Stab me.”

  Schwarz lunged and stabbed him in the heart. And once again, he removed the knife and plunged. His eyes went wide, and he backed away when nothing happened. No wound appeared. No blood poured.

  “My turn.” Quint took the knife, pushed Schwarz into a kitchen chair, and then slammed the blade into his thigh.

  “Aaaarrghhh…Verpiss dich, du hurensohn!”

  “Shut up, you German fool, or I’ll remove the knife and stab your other leg.”

  The fool whimpered and breathed heavily.

  “What did you eat? Your breath smells like someone took a rotten coffee shit in your mouth. No wonder you never get laid. Even I use a toothbrush.” Quint leaned against the kitchen counter as far away from the foul-smelling man as he could get. “Now, have we established the hierarchy? Or would you like to test me again?” Quint paused a beat until Schwarz shook his head. “Good. You work solely for me, regardless of what sick practices you have going on in the basement of this house. All your twisted fun becomes a side project. I have a time-sensitive makeover I’m entangled in at the moment. So you, my sneaky little rodent, will do reconnaissance.”

  As he held a hand over his bleeding leg, Schwarz chuffed out, “What are you?”

  “I’m undetectable darkness. I’m the monster that hides in dark corners. Your worst nightmare.” Quint pulled a long knife from the butcher’s block on the counter and ran his finger along the blade. “Are you through with your irrelevant questions? You should be asking what do you need, my master? How can I serve you? Those questions are more to my liking.”

  Schwarz stared at the blood drying on his hand before meeting his gaze. “What’s in it for me?”

  “Now that’s the Schwarz I know and love. My plan is simple. Find Violet Levina and in the process, discover all you can about her family, her life, her job, then report back.”

  “Again, what’s in it for me?” Now the mouse began to squeak. Very good. He didn’t need weak players on his team.

  “Once we have Violet, we’ll be able to fund your science experiments ad infinitum.” Quint tapped the blade’s tip against his lower lip.

  “What are you, really?”

  “I see that little nose twitching. Keep your vials and needles for your basement creatures.”

  Schwarz hobbled to the sink and poured a glass of water. “Where should I start?”

  Quint buttoned his white dress shirt, and then tucked the shirt into his pants. Sulk time was over. Retaliation was the new order of the day.

  “You’re the one who enlightened me, my dear Schwarzy. Remember? Go back to where Violet’s history began. Where the first witch was burned alive at the stake—Kilkenny, Ireland.”

  Chapter 38

  Maya leaned against an old barn’s faded red planks. Anticipation raced through her body, because an outlet for her misery was on the horizon. Her mission to find and destroy all Quint’s vaccine vials would end very soon. Unfortunate, as this assignment had kept her miserable mind occupied.

  Flint and Nodin burned diseased cattle in an empty field, miles from where she stood. The white-gray smoke billowed in the distance—must be one hell of a barbeque. No doubt, they waited for her to join them, but completing her duty without a bit of a brawl wasn’t as much fun.

  The ranch vet headed to his office in the newly constructed pole barn, funded with a bribe from Aether Pharmaceuticals.

  Apparently, research subjects didn’t come cheap.

  Maya left her spy post and headed across the pasture. Her feet crunched in the tall grass and curious cows snuffed out their greetings. At the open barn door, she passed cardboard boxes stamped with the familiar logo of Quint’s now-defunct drug company.

  She stood at the vet’s office door, her lips curving as he gave her a very blatant once-over. Oh, he’ll be a fun one. “How’s it hanging, cowboy? I noticed you have a few boxes of Aether’s unapproved vaccine. I’m afraid I don’t take too kindly to your conduct.”

  The vet propped his feet on his desk. “We’ve heard about other ranches being hit by vandals who come in and destroy the vaccine. Glad to see you took the bait. I imagine the boys and I will take kindly to you. Did you think we wouldn’t be prepared?”

  Maya gleaned the energy patterns of three men making their way
to the barn. Their minds pumped for a fight, rifles loaded in their hands. “Three men, is that what you call prepared? All that firepower won’t work against me, cowboy, but please feel free to try.”

  A shot of water against the vet’s chest knocked him out of his chair. Maya slammed shut the office door to block out his sputtering and cursing.

  As a cloud of vapor, she circled above the ranch hands as they rushed to the vet’s office after hearing his shouts.

  Eeny, meeny, miney, moe. After peering through their minds, she picked the blond with a penchant for mistreating horses and women.

  Maya rained a heavy stream over his head, which knocked the shotgun from his hands. She drifted around them as a dense fog.

  His partners scrambled to his side with their guns lifted at the ready. The youngest of the crew shouted and wildly swung his shotgun. He fired a single shot that struck the box of vaccines. The buckshot ripped through the cardboard and the sound of shattering crystal vials filled the air.

  The soaking wet blond cupped his hands over his ears that were no doubt ringing from the percussion of the youngster’s ill-advised shot. Her foggy fingers wrapped around his neck, and she lifted him while the others stood frozen in fear.

  The blond choked and gasped for breath, clawing at his neck

  “What is it you thought to do? I am fog, mist. A clear, unending stream. You cannot stop me with your human weapons. I will rain down upon you until you beg for mercy at my feet.”

  A massive wave from her body flowed out and knocked down the stunned ranch hands.

  The vet opened his office door, but after surveying the scene, he shut it again.

  The boy in her hand turned an interesting shade of blue.

  Violent winds pummeled her and knocked loose her grip on the ranch hand’s neck.

  Nodin stood in front of the boy, who had fallen to his knees and was clutching his throat, gasping for air. “Enough, Maya. Go. I’ll take care of this.”