The Elemental Diaries - Complete Series

by Andrea Lamoureux

  The water elemental put on a strong face most of the time, but when no one watched, she let herself fall apart over and over again. I knew what it was to be broken. Her pain was a mirror. Looking at her was like staring at my own reflection.

  I tried to shut Blaise out from my memory during the day, but I’d dreamed of her every night since her death. I dreamed of our kiss the night she’d been bitten by the corandor, I dreamed of her asking me to dance, and each time I refused her. I woke up hating myself more and more each morning, cursing every sunrise. If only I’d told her how perfect I’d thought she was… how beautiful. If only I’d told her how much I… I didn’t let myself finish the thought.

  The landscape changed the further we rode. Plains turned to rolling hills. Hills turned to mountains. Grass became sparse, a thing of the past. And when we reached the dusty, red sandstone cliffs surrounding the kingdom of fire twenty some sunrises later, Zephyra’s back had stiffened, her chin tilted higher.

  She was a royal, and she was home.

  Chapter 22

  As soon as Zephyra showed her face, we were admitted into the palace. The guards immediately recognized her. They knew Queen Adelaide had been searching for her since the day she’d left. Two guards escorted us to the Solis queen, fearing punishment if there were to be any delay in reuniting the cousins.

  With our horses taken from us to be cared for, we rushed down corridors lined with red drapes and tapestries of Celestia and her first elementals. We were ushered through an ornate, golden door. I stepped inside after the others. I marveled at the impressive stone throne with a red velvet seat and celestial suns etched upon its surface. A pair of gold dragons made up the arms of the mighty throne. Slender, pale hands rested on each of their polished, triangular heads.

  Percifal, Chel and I all bowed before the young queen dressed in a red and ivory gown. A golden crown rested upon her twisted, sunny blond curls.

  Queen Adelaide let out a choked, very unqueenly, sound before rushing from her throne to embrace Zephyra tightly. “Zephy! It’s really you!”

  “I’ve missed you too, Addy,” Zephyra managed to get out, returning the embrace.

  When Queen Adelaide released her, Zephyra passed her hand down the sore state of her dress. “Apologies, we weren’t given time to clean ourselves up before visiting you.”

  Queen Adelaide waved her off. “I don’t care how filthy you are. I’m just happy you’re here.”

  “Is Peyton… Are you…” Zephyra began.

  “He is king. We married shortly after my coronation,” she said, beaming.

  “How wonderful! I’m so happy for you.” Zephyra smiled at her cousin before her expression turned somber. “I wish I could’ve been here for you.”

  The queen’s smile faded, but she quickly replaced it with a new one. “You are here now, that’s all that matters.”

  “I’m afraid I come bearing dire information.” The fire elemental folded her hands in front of her.

  Queen Adelaide waited for her to continue.

  “I know this is going to sound insane, but King Zaeden has found a way to join forces with Vesirus. He’s trying to conquer all of Sarantoa. And if he succeeds, Vesirus will bring his dark world here.” Zephyra paused to study her cousin, who remained unwavering, and then added, “You don’t believe me, do you?”

  The queen looked away before she huffed. “I believe you. I’m already aware of King Zaeden’s plans. I was told when I visited Aquila for Noctis De Celestia. Someone slipped a note into my dessert. I don’t know who or how. And no, I didn’t believe it at first, but I knew something wasn’t right when we were told King Zaeden was having his mother host Noctis this spring because he’d fallen ill. And not only was King Zaeden absent, King Corbin didn’t attend either.

  “The note stated King Zaeden had gone to attempt to conquer Terra. I left before dawn. I told the queen of Ventosa she should leave if she knew what was good for her kingdom. I don’t know if she received a note or not. We didn’t have time to speak more, and I was worried about being overheard.”

  “We plan to travel there next,” Percifal said, stepping up beside Zephyra. “We came here first to warn you, and to ask for your aid in this war.”

  Queen Adelaide inclined her head at him. “You have no need to ask. Anything you need is yours. We must all come together if we are to win this war.”

  Zephyra beamed at her cousin. “I knew you’d help us.”

  “Always,” the queen answered. “Some of Terra’s subjects have already arrived here in seek of refuge. We’ve accepted their soldiers into our own army and have given everyone else a place to stay. But enough of this for now,” she said, running her hands down the length of her scarlet skirts. “We can catch up over dinner. You’ve all come a long way. I’ll have some of the maids assist you and meet you in my private dining chamber for third meal.”

  “That sounds lovely,” Zephyra replied.

  Once we all had a chance to bathe and were given fresh attire, we were taken to Queen Adelaide’s chambers, where we were formally introduced. Queen Adelaide was ecstatic to learn Percifal and Zephyra were lovers, as was King Peyton. The king with short flaxen hair and kind eyes questioned the pair about where and how they’d met as we devoured our meal of roasted venison, buttered potatoes and glazed vegetables.

  Chel beckoned the servant to bring her more wine off the small cart parked in the corner of the burgundy carpeted chamber. She’d downed the first goblet of red wine as if it were water and, when he poured the second, she took such a big sip that I thought she’d finish it too and ask for a third. I believe the only reason she held back was due to the royals’ presence. Caught up in conversation, no one appeared to notice, except for me. Her pale cheeks already flushed pink from the wine.

  She nudged me and pointed at my still full goblet. “Aren’t you going to drink that?”

  I swallowed the last bit of my food and answered, “No. I don’t drink wine.”

  “Pah!” She tossed her dark, glossy hair over her shoulder. “That’s preposterous.”

  “You drink it,” I slid the crystal goblet closer to her.

  “I want you to drink it.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest. She wore an elaborate silk peach gown with a bodice that pushed up her perfect bosom.

  Zephyra cleared her throat, clearly upset by the interruption.

  Chel remained with her arms crossed and a dark eyebrow cocked at me. Everyone had stopped talking to watch us.

  I sighed and snatched the goblet off the table. I took a long sip and set the goblet down. “Happy?”

  Chel feigned a smile and then went back to her own wine. By the time I’d finished mine, she was on her third. Some people liked to drown their sorrows. She was one of them.

  We had finished our supper and were enjoying fruit tarts when Queen Adelaide grabbed a hold of Zephyra’s hand from across the table. “I have some exciting news to tell you.”

  Zephyra swallowed her tart and asked. “What is it?”

  “You’re an aunt. We had twins!”

  Zephyra bounced up off her seat. “Truly?”

  “Yes,” Queen Adelaide said with a bright smile. “Two girls. They are with their nurse.”

  Zephyra sat back down. “My—my vision! It was true. I knew it. Oh! Did you receive my letter? Did you find the man named Algor?” She peered down at her hands, clasping her yellow skirts. Percifal put a comforting hand on her back. “He—he was horrible.”

  “Did he hurt you?” Lightning sparked in the queen’s eyes. “I knew something bad happened.”

  “He did, but—but Percifal helped me… Percifal and Celestia.” She gave her cousin a small smile.

  Queen Adelaide pursed her lips and replied, “We found him burned to death. We also found the dungeons you spoke of in your letter and the remains of four women. Our guards arrested his staff. They’re living out the rest of their lives in the dungeon here.”

  “He burned to death?” Zephyra’s eyes widened almost
as big as the plates now being cleared away from the table.

  Chel had the male servant refill her goblet, as well as mine.

  “Yes, it was the strangest thing,” Queen Adelaide said. “Only he burned, and no one could explain why.”

  “Because of me,” Zephyra confessed.

  King Peyton gasped. “You set a man on fire?”

  “Well… yes. I didn’t mean to, but he was about to hurt me. You see, I—I’m a fire elemental.”

  The queen and king exchanged a look as though they could read each other’s minds.

  Chel set her goblet down and grinned at the royals. “And I am a water elemental.”

  When I didn’t say anything, Chel kicked me under the table.

  “Ah! I’m the earth elemental,” I confessed. I scowled at Chel, who had turned her attention back to her wine.

  “Well, this is unexpected. But good, this is very good for Sarantoa,” the queen mused.

  “Indeed,” King Peyton added, rubbing the scruff on his chin. “We may have a fighting chance against King Zaeden with the three of you.”

  “You believe us? Just like that?” Chel looked skeptically at our hosts.

  The golden queen set her regal gaze on the water elemental and said plainly, “My cousin wouldn’t lie to me.”

  Chel simply shrugged as the queen dismissed her to turn back to Zephyra and Percifal. “What about air?” She tucked a piece of blond hair behind her ear.

  “We believe she’sss-in Ventosa,” Chel slurred and shot Zephyra a glare. “Where we need to go.”

  Percifal shut Chel out and appealed to Queen Adelaide. “We plan to find her once we leave here. We need a few things from you, if you will, before we make the journey north.”

  “What do you need?” The queen spread her hands.

  “Warm clothes, tents, food, coin and good horses,” he replied.

  “Done.”

  “What about you?” Zephyra asked the queen. “What if King Zaeden attacks Solis while we are off searching for the air elemental. We should stay and help you fight.”

  I finally spoke up, the wine already going to my head. It was an effort not to slur like Chel. I focused on the words, refusing to appear like a bumbling fool. “The three of us couldn’t stop him in Terra. Surely we can’t do so here.”

  “What’s one more elemental going to do?” Zephyra argued. “If three can’t stop him, how will four?”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “You’re the one who receives visions from our dear goddess. You tell me.”

  Chel smirked into her goblet. “I agree with him.”

  “Enough!” Queen Adelaide sliced the air with her hand. She was a queen through and through. Authority rang clear in her voice. “Celestia created the four elementals for a reason. We would not be here without all four. I will give you what you need for your journey to Ventosa. In the meantime, I am preparing my army for battle. We don’t even know if King Zaeden will come here first.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” everyone except King Peyton mumbled simultaneously, put in our places.

  “Good. We are finished here. You must all be tired. We will meet again tomorrow to go over our plans with my constable.”

  “One more question.” Zephyra’s eyes searched her cousin’s face. “My parents…”

  The queen grimaced. “I’m sorry. Your father left with his mistress after you ran away. Your mother… I gave your mother an estate on the outskirts of the kingdom. It keeps her out of my way.”

  Zephyra’s lips pulled up pleasantly. “I’m glad my father found someone who makes him happy.” She didn’t have anything to say about her mother. I guessed their relationship wasn’t a good one. I could relate to that.

  I was surprised Chel could walk mostly straight when we left the queen’s chambers for our own for the rest of the night. I, myself, had a difficult time not stumbling, and I’d drunk only half as much as she.

  Zephyra knew her way around the palace, having grown up within its walls. She and Percifal found their own way to their bedchamber. A maid led Chel and I down a corridor to a separate wing. Her frizzy, orange hair bounced with each clipped step. She stopped at a closed door and motioned us to wait outside while she bustled into the guest chamber and lit half a dozen candles. Motes of dust still hung in the air as she returned to us, offering the room to Chel for the evening.

  She was about to take me to my own temporary sanctuary when Chel grabbed my wrist. “Stay with me,” she said, peering through thick lashes. I was about to refuse, but she pouted and added, “Oh, come on. I’m simply not ready for slumber. Don’t flatter yourself.”

  I moved to leave. Her face fell and she softened her tone. “Please. I don’t wish to be alone with my thoughts.”

  I considered her, the haunted look in those sea blue eyes. Maybe I wanted a challenge. Or maybe I wanted to forget my own ghosts for a while. I couldn’t explain why I chose to go with her. Perhaps it was the wine.

  The maid shrugged, keeping her thoughts to herself, and said, “There’s another chamber across the corridor if you please.” She strode away, leaving the two of us alone.

  I stepped onto the fluffy peach coloured carpet inside the guest chamber. The bed sat in the center, covered in ivory blankets. A small unlit hearth faced the foot of the large bed. No fire burned within. Nearly summer; the nights at Solis were warm.

  Chel bounced onto the bed, landing on her stomach. Her grin appeared from behind her curtain of cobalt-black hair.

  I took a seat on the lounger placed at the end of the bed.

  “Tell me how you discovered your power,” she urged, brushing her hair off her face.

  “I had a dream about it. When I woke up, I had power,” I replied flatly.

  “That’s it? Seems so simple… too easy.”

  I leaned over to take my boots off. May as well get comfortable. When I didn’t answer, she revealed, “I was only a child when I discovered my power. I fell into the sea… discovered I could breathe underwater. I spent many seasons searching for answers. I didn’t find them until I met a sorceress. She taught me how to control my power. Do you know how to control yours, Sepheus?”

  “Of course,” I lied. Mostly, I knew what to expect when I called upon my magic. The split in the ground though, that had been unexpected.

  She rolled over onto her side to lie closer to me. So close she could play with one of the gold buttons on the crimson doublet I’d been given to wear to dinner. “Not a man of many words, are you? Here I thought it’d be less boring with you in my chamber.”

  I bent my chin to peer down at her. She was bold, but that could’ve been the wine. “You’re drunk.”

  She stopped fiddling with the button to stare up at me with those big, sapphire eyes. “I once fell in love with a mermaid, you know?”

  I raised my brows. “A mermaid…”

  “Yes, she wanted to keep me there under the big, beautiful blue sea, but I couldn’t stay. I had to come back to Sarantoa to help Phyra save the world. If only I’d have stayed at sea, maybe I wouldn’t have ended up killing the man I loved even more than the mermaid I deserted. So yes, I’m drunk. Actually, more wine would be fantastic right about now.” She scanned the chamber as though she expected a decanter to be waiting for her.

  “I didn’t know mermaids were real,” I said, ignoring the rest of her rant. I certainly wasn’t fetching more wine.

  “As real as you and I.” She turned her attention back to me. “And I wonder, if you have as much control over your power as you say you do, why did you create the crack which killed some of your own comrades?”

  The question caught me off guard, and I stuttered, “I—I… that was different. My power always produced itself in vines before. I didn’t know it could do that.”

  “Maybe you could use a sorceress too. Or perhaps you lost the one person you cared most about.” She sat up so close to me I could smell the perfumed soap she’d been washed with. I glanced at her full, pink lips. She leaned in closer, as if to pres
s them against my own. She was intoxicating… dangerous.

  I pulled back within a heartbeat, my head spinning from the wine, from her closeness. “I’m not here to replace your dead lover.” The bitterness in my voice surprised me.

  She stared at me for a moment before lying back down and turning her back to me. If she thought she could make me feel bad, she was mistaken. I owed her nothing. I let myself out, carrying my boots with me, and entered the bedchamber across from hers.

  Sleep eluded me for most of the night, visions of Blaise plaguing me. Maybe I should’ve let myself be lured beneath the sheets by the water elemental. Instead, we were both condemned to spend the night with our memories.

  Chapter 23

  After copious amounts of water, my head still pounded from the wine the next morning. Chel didn’t seem to be suffering at all when we met with the queen and the leader of her army, Constable Creighton, to discuss strategies against King Zaeden and his possessed soldiers.

  “Perhaps we can lure them away from Terra—away from the innocents so Zephyra can extinguish them all with her fire,” the young constable, with coppery hair and a freckled nose, suggested. Queen Adelaide had already filled him in on all of the details about who we were and what King Zaeden was doing.

  “Perhaps Zephyra can also use her fire to melt some of the ice around Seph’s heart,” Chel drawled from the other side of the round table.

  Everyone glanced at me. Another might have turned red, but I wasn’t so easily embarrassed. I brushed her words off like lint on a tunic and replied to the Solis constable. “We have agreed to go to Ventosa to find the air elemental first.”

  “That’s preposterous,” Constable Creighton exclaimed. “By the time you find them, King Zaeden might already succeed in crushing all of Sarantoa.”

  “We are not strong enough to beat him without the fourth elemental,” Chel argued, placing her hand on the map unfolded on the center of the table. “And how exactly are we supposed to lure him out?”

  “Maybe not lure him out, but we could meet him on his way here, catch him off guard.” The constable held Chel’s gaze. His own soldiers would have yielded, but she wasn’t backing down.