Elemental Awakening Book Bundle

by Nicola Claire

  The large SUV seemed too small for the awkward silence that blanketed it. I kept my eyes shut, avoided looking at either of them, and willed our journey to be over.

  The beautiful streets of Manaus flashed by, whether there were Gi walking them or not, I didn't know. But at some stage I felt comfortable enough to open my eyes, and let them drift over the tops of the buildings that I could see from where I still lay, as they whizzed past my rear window. Lush greens of the rainforest were slowly overcome by concrete and brightly coloured shop awnings. The odd church spire and then a rash of bright yellow, blue and red houses one after the other.

  The road widened and tall palm trees lined the central island of a multi-lane highway. I sat up when the struts of a large bridge started to rhythmically flicker past the windows, indicating we'd made it onto the Manaus-Iranduba Bridge. No one spoke until the tyres ka-thunked over the final section, signifying our successful escape out of the Gi's most populated city.

  "We've made it," I said, sounding as surprised at our near miss as I felt.

  Theo turned and offered me a smile, while Isadora tapped her finger on the steering wheel and announced, "Just three thousand and eighty-eight kilometres left to go."

  But her agitated and clearly unhappy mood couldn't dull the excitement at having evaded Gi capture. The more distance between me and that beautiful rainforest, the better. Even if the Earth cried silent tears inside my head; a sensation of loss, more than a sound of heartache.

  It won't be forever, I promised, not sure if it could hear me when I wasn't touching the soil with bare feet. "I'll be back," I whispered, unaware I'd say those words, that vow, aloud until I did.

  Theo twisted in his seat again and searched my face, an obvious question in his intense hazel eyes.

  I gave him a small smile and a shrug of my shoulders, then said, "I just have a feeling I'm meant to come back, that's all." And I did, deep down inside I knew my role here had not been fulfilled.

  He held my gaze for several seconds and nodded, just when Isadora made a disgruntled sound. Theo ignored her completely and reached for my hand, giving a soft squeeze as soon as my fingers slipped in to his.

  Giving me, without request, what Isadora had tried to force. I hadn't meant to raise my gaze to the rear view mirror, but I did it all the same.

  And watched the hatred bleed into the gold haze that coated Isadora's eyes, as they sent a clear message of challenge back at me.

  I think Theo was mistaken. Isadora wasn't a rival anymore. She was a full-fledged enemy.

  An enemy helping us traverse another enemy's land. But was she dodging the landmines with us, or was she going to plant them?

  Chapter Fourteen

  The Earth Made A Sound Of Sadness And Frustration On My Behalf

  "You should eat something," Theo said gently, bringing me out of my daze. I'd been staring out of the roadside diner’s windows we were at, watching the rush of traffic as it zoomed past in the twilight. Muted colours that the low setting sun turned into softly shining jewels instead of cars.

  I lifted my eyes to his and nodded my head in agreement, but the mouthful of feijoada that reached my lips failed to taste as good as it smelled. The fork clattered back onto my almost full plate.

  "Casey," Theo said, reaching for my hand across the small table. "What's wrong?"

  I glanced up towards the bathrooms Isadora had just gone to use, and frowned. For the past day she'd behaved herself. Never overstepping the mark again since we left Manaus. She'd been courteous, pleasant and even contained her smirks. I absolutely did not trust her change of mannerisms at all.

  But that wasn't what had put me off my food. We'd taken a route away from the rainforest to begin with. The first part of our journey today had gone without mishap. But now, the BR-230 had brought us back towards the Amazon, nearer still to Santarém and the Gi. That alone should have been enough to keep me on edge. But it was more than that. So much more.

  "I can feel it," I whispered, my voice cracking through the dryness of my throat. I licked my lips and then reached for the glass of water on the table, swallowing twice before I could go on. "The Earth is calling to me," I admitted, a shiver of disquiet tracing down my spine. Theo frowned.

  "What do you mean?"

  My hand left the glass and settled over my chest, right above my heart, and rubbed.

  "It's in pain," I said, my tone relaying the agony I could feel through Earth's call. "It says I'm the only one who can save it. Theo," I said on an almost whimper. "I don't know if I can ignore its call forever."

  "How long has this been going on?" he demanded, as though I'd been hiding vital information from him and he felt let down.

  "The past two hours."

  "Cassandra," he chastised. "Why didn't you say something?"

  I glared back at him, matching his increased anger with ease.

  "Maybe because of the company we're keeping?" I said a little sarcastically.

  "This is not something that we can keep from Isadora. It affects all of us. It could be a trap."

  I hadn't thought of that, but he was right. The Gi could use the Earth to trick me. Hell, they'd done it enough in the past. I wondered if I were to use my Pyrkagia Stoicheio, if I could tell whether this was true or not. But using my Pyrkagia Stoicheio in front of Isadora brought me back to the reason why I hadn't said a thing about the Earth's constant pull until now.

  "I can't be sure it's not," I admitted reluctantly. "But I might be able to tell if I use my Fire."

  Theo raised a brow, surprise etching itself on his face. "Well," he said. "That is interesting. Have you used the two Stoicheio in conjunction like that before?"

  I nodded, just as I saw Isadora emerge from the toilets at the back of the diner. Theo followed my gaze, then returned intense eyes to mine.

  "We say nothing for now," he murmured, somehow making it easier to breathe. "We'll be finding a place soon, to stay at tonight, and once alone we'll see what we can do." He squeezed my fingers and then withdrew his hand as Isadora approached the table.

  I realised, uncomfortably, that he'd been doing that all day. Maintaining a distance between himself and me whenever Isadora was watching. His way of keeping the peace. Her way of placing a wedge between us.

  I sat back sullenly in my chair and crossed my arms over my chest, my eyes boring into Theo, ignoring Isadora completely. He refused to look back at me, just returned his attention to his meal. Ignoring us both.

  I hadn't taken Theo Peters for a coward. But right now I was astounded to see that's how he appeared.

  Isadora made a fuss of sliding gracefully into her chair, but didn't comment on Theo's behaviour, or mine. She was behaving herself, all right. Which only made me fume more. I had a horrible feeling that she was winning this battle, and I couldn't even identify the target in order to fight back.

  I played with my food, the silence at the table deafening. And all the while the Earth cried out for me in my head, in the trees outside the window, on the sweet scent of the air.

  Aether, it called. We need you, it stated. Save us.

  A single tear trickled down my cheek and I turned away from the table to brush at it. I did not want Isadora to see me crying and think it was for something else. Familiar feelings of isolation welled up inside me. Feelings I hadn't felt since I fell into Theo's arms back in Manaus. Feelings I thought I'd be able to forget, never have to experience again. Yet here they were; taunting me, terrifying me. Alone.

  The Earth continued its plea inside my mind, the noise of the diner filled the space around us, as Isadora started up a casual conversation about Pyrkagia issues with Theo, leaving me out in the cold. I tried to concentrate on what she was saying; I was Pyrkagia now too, and a small part of me had a whimsical hope that I would be accepted in their society one day. So I should pay attention. But the Earth's call escalated, as the noise in the diner became a throbbing beat, and Isadora's voice provided the high pitched string section of an orchestra hell bent on making me b
reak.

  I stood up abruptly from the table, making the conversation stop and the Earth hold its breath. The diner noise continued, giving me some relief that I wasn't losing it just yet.

  "I'm going to freshen up," I advised, sliding out of my seat.

  "I'll come with you," Theo suggested, standing up as well.

  "No," both Isadora and I said in unison, but for entirely different reasons. I needed to be alone, ironically. God knows she didn't want Theo alone with me.

  I stared at Isadora as she stared at Theo, a mask of friendly concern on her face.

  "Women always go together to the bathroom, Theodoros," she stated, getting to her feet as well, so now we were all standing around the table staring at each other. I think my mouth had fallen open.

  "You went on your own before," Theo pointed out.

  "I'm not being hunted by the Gi." Good point, bitch. "And you can't follow her into the women's bathroom," she added with a delicate laugh. "But I can."

  "There's no need," I said, sure I could handle myself for a few minutes of solitude.

  "I insist," she replied, casually. "Or had you forgotten, Theodoros," she added, steel suddenly coating each word. "That I am the expert in this territory."

  Theo considered her words for a moment and then to my horror, turned apologetic eyes to me.

  "She's right, Casey," he said, cajolingly.

  Oh God, crap, freaking hell.

  "Safety first," he added. I stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. Safety first. What the...?

  "Whatever," I said without much conviction. "Stay, come, go fuck yourself for all I care." Then I stormed off towards the bathroom, hoping I could lock myself in a fully closed-in stall and block the wicked witch out.

  I didn't wait to see if she was following. I tore into the ladies toilets and came to an abrupt halt at the cubicle style stalls. Even when I locked myself inside one, she could peer over the top, look in from underneath the sides, or just plain listen to me do my business. Which meant...

  I locked the stall as Isadora's voice reached me through the too many gaps.

  "You really have gotten yourself quite an attitude, Gi. Did they teach you that at the fortress? Harden you up? Condition you to snap and snarl like a child, wear your emotions on your sleeve."

  I sucked in a fortifying breath, determined not to reply, and sat down on the closed lid of the toilet, head in hands, elbows to knees.

  "I expected more from Theodoros' Thisavros," she murmured. "He deserves someone who knows how to play the game."

  Oh, it was tempting to ask, wasn't it? I bit my lip, tasting blood.

  "Of course, with you he could just mould you into whatever he needs. A blank canvas. It's early days, he's probably only just started. Coaxing you to reach beyond your comfort zone, but never going so far you can see what his ultimate goal is. He hides it behind a façade of tenderness, making you think he's holding back to protect you, but he's just setting the trap."

  Oh, what an evil woman she was.

  "False sense of security," she added on a laugh. "Has he started yet? Tempting you, but not letting you fall too far? It's one of the things I admire most about him. When you let go, he handles the rest. Your place in his world. Your place in his bed. His needs become your needs, and before you know it he's defiling your body, your mind, your soul, and making you think it was your idea."

  My hands fisted so tightly in my lap I felt the skin break and blood begin to well beneath my nails.

  "Take it from someone who's been there, Cassandra. Let him. It's worth it to taste his hunger without restraint. Oh, how he must still be holding back with you; his sweet little Gi." How dare she use his term of endearment. How dare she know it. "But of course," she added, casually. "You can never completely be what he desires, what he needs. A Pyrkagia Prince with a Gi... what? What are you exactly? You're not royalty, so I hear. You're nothing to the Gi but something to torment and torture. An imposter to their eyes."

  If that's what she thought, she didn't know half of the truth yet. A relief I'd cling to.

  "You are so far out of his league, little girl, you might as well admit defeat now. He needs a woman with Fire. Someone who could match his passion with a Fiery passion of their own. You lack in every way it counts, poor thing. In experience. In the boundaries that lack of experience imprisons you within. Even in your Stoicheio. Earth and Fire, how do you really think that works? You are grounded in the soil of life itself. He's free to float on the embers of Fire. To your settled, controlled mind he is but a too hot spark, forever just outside of your reach."

  The longer I sat mute in that stall the worse it became. I thought silence was the way to go. Ignore her, she'd eventually give up. But the woman was tenacious. Hell, two thousand years of taking what he gave and then accepting his retreat, again and again, only to offer him open arms whenever he returned, was definitely the epitome of not giving up. This woman would never give up on Theo. To her, I was a blip in the long eternal road map of their lives.

  I had to play this carefully. Losing my temper and showing her just who I was now, would be a disastrous mistake. I had thought silence was the answer, but like Theo had mentioned, Athanatos are predators, and at the moment my silence was making me look weak.

  I stood up, smoothed down my hair and then my singlet top, and opened the toilet stall. My green blazing eyes met Isadora's. They immediately flashed gold back at me.

  OK, I couldn't blast her with a wall of Fire, but I could remind her just how powerful a Gi actually is.

  "Is that the best you can do, Isadora?" I asked, fingering a small pot plant that rested on the bench between two sinks. Gi Stoicheio surged through me, welcoming me, soothing me, lifting my spirits up. "Reminding me of the differences between Theo and myself. When it's those differences he's told me he craves."

  And all right, so I was stretching things slightly, but so was she. Two could play at this game.

  She sneered at me, but I felt no swell of Fire, just the glare of gold from her eyes as she tracked my movements, watched the plant sway in the still air of the bathroom. Took in the vibrancy of green in my eyes.

  "Has it not occurred to your very old mind," I said, enjoying her small grimace at my reference to her age, "that Theo has tired of the burn? He seeks something more soothing, less temperamental, to settle with permanently. Someone he can envisage caring for throughout the rest of his life. Or are you so stuck in your ancient ways you cannot understand the needs of a man like Theo? His natural instinct to protect what is his."

  "What would you know of our kind?" she snapped back. "You're just a baby. You haven't even lived yet."

  "You think knowledge is restricted to experience? It's not," I replied, keeping my voice steady, making sure all she saw was a Gi at complete ease. "From the moment I woke up in that pit of Earth I felt it," I whispered, making the leaves on the pot plant tinkle as they brushed their edges together.

  It was a light, ethereal sound, all I could achieve with such a small object. But Theo had told me my touch was so delicate, so exquisite, compared to most Ekmetalleftis. I was counting on Isadora seeing my talents for strengths instead of the party trick it felt like right now.

  "I felt the power that thrummed through my veins, fed my soul," I continued to whisper. "I felt what it was capable of. And I felt Theo's desire to claim it as soon as my Stoicheio brushed his. I didn't need thousands of years to see in his eyes the hunger, the need. All it took was one look at his face to know he'd stop at nothing to have me."

  Oh, this was uncharted territory. I could feel the blush of my audacity and embarrassment rising up my chest. I prayed it never reached my neck, where Isadora would see the ruse for what it was. Yes, Theo wanted me, but I'd initially never thought I was anything more than just a passing intrigue. Every word out of my mouth was my own desire, my own reaction to him. Not his for me. I made it sound real, because I felt it. But I was not the recipient of that fervent hunger, I was the hunger itself. For him.

&nbs
p; "You play a dangerous game, Gi," she purred, enjoying the altercation a little too much. "You are but a passing fad, something to break the boredom. Something disposable when the desire burns itself out."

  Her words were too close to what Theo had said only this morning. Not about us, but about Athanatos in general. "Our very long lives offer little in the way of a challenge at times; we greedily grasp any chance to alleviate that boredom." Too close.

  I bit back.

  "I'm his Thisavros," I spat. "Or had you forgotten that too?"

  She laughed, it was a sound of pure amusement, laced with the bitter tinge of satisfaction.

  My back stiffened at the tone it relayed.

  "Cassandra," she sighed, really laying the superior attitude on thick now. "He's had a Thisavros before."

  No. She was lying. She had to be.

  "I don't believe you," I said, aware the words gave her more ground and buried me.

  "Fifteen hundred years ago," she said, giving me facts I didn't want to hear. Giving her lie credence. "Her name was Melita," she added, and a weight settled over my heart. My hands fisted, the pot plant forgotten. "A Pyrkagia with such beautiful passion, yet such a tender touch. I had thought I'd lost him then, too. But I was patient. And Melita was cast aside, returning him to me."

  Truth echoed in each word, in the pain she voiced when she mentioned her feelings of loss. A true sensation she relived in the telling of this story. I didn't want to acknowledge that the words held any reality at all, but how could I not, when she braced herself through the memory. Fortified her expression and tried to hide the agony she felt.

  She'd failed. I saw her pain. I saw the truth. So in fact, she'd succeeded in the end. Because I believed what she was telling me was the truth.

  I sucked in a shaky breath of air and felt the grip on my emotions slip. Theo was old. Three thousand years old. I knew he'd had lovers before. Even Nico had warned me that Theo had lost those he treasured in the past. His exact words. Those he'd treasured. Thisavros means treasure. Had Nico been referring to Melita, and had the loss been a choice Theo had made?