ELEMENTS: Acquiesce

by Kathryn Andrews

  “Where are we going?” asked Cordelia.

  “You’ll see.” Breck held out his hand.

  “What do I need to hold your hand for? Scared I might fall off the edge?”

  “It’s cold up here. Thought I’d keep you warm.”

  “I have pockets thank you.” Cordelia shoved her hands in her pockets.

  Breck smiled. “Suit yourself.”

  ‘Ugh! What did I do that for?’ thought Cordelia. ‘He’ll think I don’t like him.’

  “Have you ever been up here?” asked Breck.

  “No,” said Cordelia, shaking her head.

  “Just be careful near the edge, the grass is slippery.”

  Breck led Cordelia across the brow of George’s Head until they reached the other side. The sheer cliff face curved around to form a perfectly sheltered bay in the rugged coastline. Astonished, Cordelia leaned forward to get a better view. Breck reached out both hands and held her tight.

  “Go steady now,” he said. “You know, you’ll see it better if we lay down.”

  The pair slowly dropped to the ground and lay on their fronts peering over the cliff edge. The sight was enough to make Cordelia giddy.

  “It’s magnificent isn’t it?” said Breck, still holding Cordelia tight.

  Cordelia nodded. “Do they have a name for it?”

  “Chimney Bay. My parents told me they climbed to the bottom and carved their initials on a rock.”

  “Really?!” exclaimed Cordelia. “Were your parents also crazy?”

  Breck didn’t respond.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be daft. Only a madman would climb down there.”

  “Or a mad woman,” replied Cordelia.

  “I’ve no intention of climbing down there to check,” said Breck.

  “Good,” said Cordelia, gazing into Breck’s brown eyes.

  “Would you be worried if I did?”

  Cordelia nodded, still looking into his eyes. She watched as his gaze moved towards her lips and he moved in closer. She felt his warm breath on her face and she watched him close his eyes as his lips met hers. As they embraced, a surge of blue electricity encased them but they were blissfully unaware.

  Cordelia pulled away. “Was that you?”

  “What do you mean, was that me?”

  “Was that you I was kissing?”

  “Um, yeah, who else would it be?”

  “That was amazing.”

  Breck grinned. “Says the girl who didn’t want to hold my hand.”

  Cordelia shoved him gently and they lay on their backs watching the clouds race across the sky, listening to the waves crash against the cliff face below, their hands resting side by side on the grass.

  “Tell me about you,” said Breck.

  “I’m not sure where to start. Though I think Charlotte Bronte would do a good job of telling my life story,” said Cordelia.

  “Charlotte Bronte?”

  “The writer. She wrote a book about a character whose life isn’t dissimilar to mine, though I’m not sure how the story ends. I lost the book.”

  “What was it called?”

  “Jane Eyre.”

  They lay silently, desperately wanting to hold each other but neither wanting to appear too keen. Their fingers edged closer together. Static passed back and forth between them.

  “Do you feel that?” whispered Cordelia.

  “Yes.”

  Resting on their elbows, their fingertips almost touching, they heard the static again. Tiny blue waves of electricity gently flowed between them.

  “Did you see that?!” asked Cordelia.

  “I did.”

  “What is it? Where’s it coming from?”

  “It’s coming from me,” said Breck.

  Cordelia moved her hand away and sat upright. “How can it be coming from you? It’s electricity isn’t it?”

  “What d’you know about electricity?” asked Breck, pushing himself up and resting his forearms on his knees.

  “I know it shouldn’t be coming from you. Has this happened before?”

  Breck hesitated before responding. “A few times. You’re the first I’ve told.”

  “Does it hurt?”

  “No. It feels amazing,” replied Breck, gingerly.

  “Can you control it?”

  Breck shrugged. “Not really.” It just happens. More often since I met you.”

  “Does your family know?”

  Breck shook his head, “No, just you. They’re a fickle bunch. Pretend they care about you one day and the next they go out of their way to make you feel unwelcome.”

  “Have you tried talking to them?”

  “They wouldn’t understand. My aunt’s only interested in talking when she wants to know how much turf I’ve sold.”

  “What about your uncle?”

  “He’s a drunk.”

  “Well I want to know everything.”

  “Everything?”

  “Everything. You said it’s happened more since you met me. Is that only when you’re with me or does it also happen when I’m not there?”

  Breck gazed at Cordelia, stunned that someone was finally taking a genuine interest in him. He realised that since his family had died, this was the first time he’d found someone who cared.

  “Breck?”

  “Oh, sorry. Uh, it’s mostly when I’m with you.”

  “You said it’s happened more since you met me, so when did it start?”

  “Right after I lost them. I was grieving, I felt angry. I kept getting shocks off everything I touched, mostly metal I suppose.”

  “And you get these feelings when you’re with me? Do I make you angry?”

  “No! No, not at all,” replied Breck, reaching forward and putting his hands on the top of Cordelia’s arms. He looked into her sapphire eyes. “The opposite actually.”

  “Well that’s a relief.”

  Breck moved his hands along Cordelia’s arms until he reached her hands and there it was again; blue static between their fingertips, not enough to shock but enough to take their breath away.

  Cordelia gasped. “So, d’you think it might be triggered by emotion?”

  “I guess so.”

  Cordelia bit her bottom lip gently and moved closer to Breck. She placed his arms on her waist and then reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck and slowly pulling his head towards her with her hands. Breck could feel the surge of electricity flowing through his veins. They both kept their eyes open and as soon as their lips met, blue sparks wove around them like a cocoon. Cordelia’s eyes were as wide as saucers, watching the sparks dance around them as they kissed in the balmy breeze. Eventually she pulled away.

  “I was enjoying that,” said Breck, smiling.

  “So was I, but the point is, the sparks are more prominent when - when your emotions are more intense.”

  “I see, so you’re just using me now for your experiments?”

  “Not exactly. Think of it as killing two birds with one stone.”

  “So now what, professor?”

  “Now we teach you to channel your energy and use your power effectively.”

  “Come again?”

  “Your power, you want to put it to good use don’t you?”

  “My power? What do you know about powers?”

  “More than you think.”

  “You’re not a witch are you?” teased Breck.

  “I’ve never been so insulted in my life,” said Cordelia, folding her arms and looking out to sea. She pursed her lips together.

  “Oh so serious,” said Breck, circling her.

  Cordelia maintained her composure.

  “Okay, okay, I believe you, you’re not a witch.”

  “No, I most definitely am not. I’d like to know what you are though.”

  “A man, at least I was the last time I checked.”

  “You can joke all you like Mr, Mr…”

  “Kelly.”

  “The fact of the matter is, Mr Kel
ly, you have a rather unusual gift. Used correctly it could be really quite, wonderful. Right now you’re a loose cannon.”

  “D’you not think you might be getting yourself worked up over nothing?”

  “Nothing? You think electricity running through your veins is nothing? I refuse to be kissed until you learn to control it.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. I can’t run the risk of being electrocuted can I?” Cordelia raised an eyebrow and smirked at Breck.

  Breck sighed. “Very well, but only because I get to spend more time with you.”

  “You know, we should really go somewhere more private. We don’t want the town folk seeing you practise your wizardry skills up here do we?”

  “My wizardry skills?”

  “I’m joking. You called me a witch remember?”

  “I didn’t call you a witch, I asked if you were a witch. There’s a difference.”

  “Hmm, okay, I’ll let you off.”

  “Aren’t you at all phased by this?”

  “It takes more than a little static to phase me,” replied Cordelia and she began walking back to Misty.

  “I thought you’d be surprised at least,” said Breck, catching up with her.

  “Surprised, yes. Phased, no. There’s a difference.”

  “So where is it you’re taking me?”

  “Somewhere secluded, away from prying eyes.”

  “Does this place have a name?”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Is it a date?”

  Cordelia smiled and carried on walking.

  “You don’t give much away do you?”

  “Do you trust me?”

  “Of course.”

  Breck untied Misty and they galloped across the beach towards the West End. Cordelia held on tight, her cheek pressed against Breck’s shoulder blade.

  “Where to?” asked Breck as they left the beach.

  “Left!” cried Cordelia.

  Locals stared and pointed as the pair galloped along the promenade for a short distance before making a sharp turn and galloping out of town. They galloped for several miles until they came to a fork in the track.

  “Which way?” asked Breck.

  “Right.”

  “Are you going to tell me where we’re going yet? Only it won’t be a secret once we’re there, so you may as well tell me.”

  “The Bridges of Ross.”

  “Can’t say I know it.”

  “That’s the point. Not many do.”

  When they arrived, Breck hooked Misty’s rope around a post at the end of a stone wall and they made their way along the slip way towards the sea. Cordelia smiled at Breck’s expression as he watched the rocks glistening in the sun.

  “How did I not know about this place?” he asked. “Ma would have loved it here.”

  “Come on,” said Cordelia, holding out her hand, “it looks better close up.”

  They walked hand in hand across the shimmering rocks until Breck eventually stopped and looked out to sea.

  “Shouldn’t the tide be in now?” he asked.

  “Perhaps.”

  Breck noticed a coyness in Cordelia’s tone. He looked at her and then back out to sea, squinting slightly in an attempt to see more clearly. “The water looks strange don’t you think?”

  “Really? I hadn’t noticed. Come on, we should get on with what we came here for.”

  “And what is that exactly?”

  “To test your powers of course.”

  Breck chuckled. “Powers? Like you said, it’s just a bit of static. Friction. I don’t have powers. Although it’s kinda sweet that you think I do. It’s funny actually.”

  “Funny? Are you kidding? Come on, we have to try.”

  “Try what?”

  “You need to learn to channel your power. You’re all over the place with it. You need to control it. You’re safe here, no one will see.”

  “Have you heard yourself? I spend my days in a bog, covered in mud. There’s nothing special about me. All this wizardry you speak of, it’s beyond me.”

  Cordelia could feel her heart racing frantically beneath her chest, partly because she’d only been joking about wizardry skills and also because Breck wasn’t taking things at all seriously.

  “Then why did we ride all the way out here?!” snapped Cordelia.

  “Because I’d go anywhere with you.”

  Suddenly a great wave came hurtling towards them.

  “Look out!” cried Breck, throwing one arm around Cordelia and the other in the direction of the wave.

  Electricity flew from his fingertips like lightening bolts and struck the arch of one of the bridges. Rocks and soil crumbled into the sea as the wave washed over them. Beneath the water they held onto one another, electricity binding their hands together. They looked around in wonder at the field of electricity that appeared to be holding the water off them as they tumbled gracefully toward the cliff face. Pinpricks of brilliant blue light radiated from the wave like stars in the night sky. Amidst the mesmerising beauty, Cordelia began to panic having realised the imminent danger they faced. She tried desperately to release her hands from Breck’s grasp but she couldn’t. He saw the panic in her eyes. Frustrated by his inability to do anything remotely helpful, electricity surged through his body, unexpectedly propelling them both out of the water and onto the cliff top above. They landed on their backs with a thud. Breck slowly turned his neck to see Cordelia lying on the ground, her elbow bleeding.

  “Cordelia!” he called. “I’m so sorry!” He scrambled to his feet and rushed over to her.

  “No, it’s my fault,” insisted Cordelia, “I wasn’t concentrating.”

  “Don’t be daft,” said Breck, checking her over, “I’ve just catapulted you from the sea and thrown you on your arse on a cliff top. I should have listened to you.”

  “What happened just then wasn’t your fault,” said Cordelia, sitting up.

  “You were right. I’m a loose cannon,” Breck was tense. Angered. “Urrgghh!”

  Cordelia cautiously reached her hand forward.

  “No,” said Breck, “stay back.”

  “You can’t be serious?”

  Breck’s eyes were wild as he gestured towards the collapsed bridge, “Did you not see what I did to the bridge? That could’ve been you.”

  “But it wasn’t,” insisted Cordelia, her voice breaking.

  “Look at you, you’re bleeding. It’s too dangerous. I can’t be responsible for hurting you.”

  “What are you saying?” asked Cordelia, her voice distressed.

  “I’ll take you home, but that’s it. I can’t see you after today.”

  Cordelia sat on the ground in stunned silence watching Breck walk briskly to his horse. Rain began to fall and the clouds eclipsed the sun.

  “Wait!” she cried, chasing after him. “I have to show you something.”

  Misty rose up on her hind legs and Breck tried to calm her.

  “Shhh,” he said, reaching up to stroke her nose, “calm down girl.”

  “Breck! You have to see this!” shouted Cordelia.

  A gust of wind blew so violently he became unsteady on his feet. Breck held on to Misty’s reins and turned to see Cordelia standing on the cliff top with her arms stretched out in front of her. A seething wall of water was building in front of them. He watched in disbelief as Cordelia drew the wall of water closer to them and then sent it hurtling back out to sea.

  “What are you?” he asked breathlessly, his heart racing.

  “A mermaid.” Cordelia gasped like the air was running out. With every inch of her body she hoped and prayed that she hadn’t just made the biggest mistake of her life. “Say something.”

  “What am I?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine.”

  While soft rain continued to fall, the sun peeped out from behind the clouds and a rainbow appeared on the horizon.

  “Still think you’re too dangerous for me?” asked Cordelia, coyly.
<
br />   Breck walked over to Cordelia, put his arms around her waist and pressed his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice hushed.

  “Does this change anything?”

  Breck cleared his throat. “Only that I love you more than I already did.”

  “You love me?” Cordelia’s cheeks flushed and she felt flutters in the pit of her stomach. “Aren’t you scared?” she breathed.

  “Of what?”

  “Me. Of what I am.”

  “Should I be?”

  Cordelia shook her head. “No, but people talk. They whisper in corners and things get muddled. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumours.”

  “Rumours?”

  “It’s quite funny really, considering most people refuse to believe we exist. Those that do think we drown sailors and eat them for supper. That’s why we live in secret.”

  “Do you? Eat sailors?”

  “No, just peat boys,” said Cordelia in her most serious tone.

  “If that were true you’d have done it by now.”

  Cordelia smiled.

  “Will you let me take you home?”

  “You won’t tell anyone what I am will you? Promise you won’t.”

  “I won’t tell a soul, but if I did, you could always tell them about my peculiarities and then we’d end up in a circus exhibit together.”

  “I suppose we should be getting back. They’ll be wondering where I am.”

  “They?”

  “The people I live with.”

  “Are they like you?”

  Cordelia nodded. “You mustn’t tell anyone. I’ve already broken half the rules by revealing myself to you.”

  “I’m glad you did. Don’t worry, I’ve no plans to join the circus in this life.”

  Cordelia and Breck mounted the horse and galloped back to Kilfearagh.

  “Will I see you tomorrow?” asked Breck as Cordelia jumped down from the horse.

  “Maybe,” smiled Cordelia.

  Breck leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “I love you,” he whispered.

  “I love you too.”

  NINE

  THE KELLYS

  When Cordelia returned to the lighthouse, she went straight to the library. She was certain there must be something amongst all those books that would explain what was happening to Breck.

  “I’ve been expecting you,” said Wade, peering through a gap between the books on the shelves.