The Beginning: A Natura Elementals Novella Duology

by Sloane Calder

  Okay. She hadn’t expected to see a public feel-up or how a strange mix of shock and desire would shake inside her, fizzing in a heady cocktail.

  Her pulse seemed to keep time with the music, the bass thump alive in her chest. Candles lit this part of the room and gave the space an eerie, golden glow. Incense spiced the air. Musk. Patchouli. Jasmine. Scents her Earth cousin often blended and wore. Another bouncer approached and motioned them forward toward two women, which surprised her, but their don’t-fuck-with-me poses couldn’t be misinterpreted.

  Kazumi pulled her up short. “Ooh. Lookee-likey. Waters.” A satisfied smile pulled her red-lipsticked mouth tight. “Power-wise, size nor gender matters. Either of those two would be a nuclear regen. I cannot wait until I’m twenty-four.”

  “You do know how to commune, right? It’s not all about getting laid.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I’ve got the prayer part down.” Zum gave a prolonged wink. “I prefer the intense study of the sexual over the spiritual.”

  Elspeth rolled her eyes, returning a smile she didn’t feel, having accepted her Passive status a while ago, but being in a room full of powered or about-to-be Naturas left her…sad? Mad? Frustrated?

  Goddess, she was such a downer.

  “Shit. I’m sorry. My mouth’s really getting away from me tonight.” Zum smoothed her hands down her dress. “I’m just freakin’ ecstatic to be here and blabbering instead of thinking.”

  “You don’t have to apologize. I am what I am, and I’m fine with it.”

  Some days were better than others, which was why she’d invited Kim and Jill. They’d caught her at a down moment, which, in retrospect, made her feel foolish. But what was done was done. In less than five minutes, she wouldn’t have to say squat to them for the rest of the night.

  Finally inside the inner sanctum, Elspeth felt her stomach drop to her stilettos.

  “Holy shit.” She grabbed Kazumi’s arm.

  “This is what I’m talking about.” Zum’s head tilted back, and she turned slowly, taking in the pulsing light and swirling smoke and hypnotic music. The front room had been a mix of Naturas. This part?

  Apparently, the hellraisers’ section.

  “We’re getting a drink. Come find us when you spot your brother. I want to meet him,” Jill gushed, shooting her an overbright smile. “You’re so awesome. I can’t believe we weren’t friends until this year.”

  “It takes time to learn to be fake,” Kazumi shouted over the music.

  A guy walked by, high-fived Jill on her way into the crowd, and headed toward Elspeth. Same blond hair, carved features, the whole Nordic vibe. He eyed her much like the guard at the door had, except with more assessment than appreciation.

  He leaned in, his mouth just off her ear. “I’m Karl. Jill’s brother.”

  “Hi.” She arched back, thinking it odd he’d immediately gotten in her personal space like he belonged there.

  “Can I get you a drink? I’ve heard a lot about you and thought we might talk.” His smile went white and full.

  She introduced him to Kazumi, whose expression promptly morphed into the mother of all death glares.

  “Excuse us a sec.” Zum’s hand locked on her wrist. “Follow me.”

  They went down to the end of the bar.

  “That whole thing was weird.” Elspeth cut a glance back to where Karl now stood with Kim and Jill, resting his elbow too casually on the bar, his gaze still on her.

  Zum’s voice was as hard as her glare. “I’ll say this once and directly, so it’s super clear. You’re going to meet a crap-ton of men who just want a baby fuck and that’s it. Ol’ Karl over there is King Baby Fuck.”

  “King Baby…” Well, duh. He suffered from uterus lust. Just freakin’ great. “I’m not even out of high school.”

  “That won’t matter to any of them. As soon as they assumed you started your period, I’m sure families began plotting how they were going to woo you.” Zum’s expression softened. “I hate this for you, but the Ericksen family’s one of the most power-hungry on the planet. Getting to you via Jill is the smartest play they had.”

  “And it worked.” Her chest seemed to cave in like someone had kicked the air out of her. “Goddess, I’m pitiful, and clearly desperate if I couldn’t see through her sudden let’s-be-friends BS.”

  Zum turned her so she couldn’t see Karl. “You have it tougher than most Passives because of Seanair. Sure, he keeps the peace, and his subjects are ‘loyal,’ but behind closed doors, he either has enemies or people wanting to gain his favor. You’re in the middle of a mess you didn’t make, and without power, you can’t sense when people are lying.”

  Without power. Could she hate two words more?

  “You don’t have power yet, and you know they’re lying.”

  “I’ve been around my mother and in the thick of things a lot longer than you. Some tells are obvious when you know what to look for.”

  “I guess I’d better learn fast, or else run away and live somewhere that’s all humans.”

  Zum frowned. “Don’t even joke like that. For now, here comes the blond douche canoe. Send him down the river while I get us drinks.”

  “Oh, I got it, all right.” She bristled, waiting until Karl returned and stopped too damn close.

  “Hey there. Didn’t want you to get away.”

  She hoped her smirk was pure fuck off. “I’m sure. I have to commend your strategy. Getting your little sister to friend me so we could meet. What’d you hope? That I’d be swept off my feet by the whole tall, blond, Alexander Skarsgård thing?”

  He smiled, misinterpreting her sarcasm as flirting. “Sounds good to me.”

  It seemed you could be manipulative and clueless at the same time. “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-six. Alpha Air and heir to a banking fortune.”

  She’d never punched anyone, but her fingers curled into a fist.

  “One, that’s gross. I’m your sister’s age. And two, you should tattoo your forehead with that come-on and save yourself the trouble of speaking.”

  “Sassy little virgin. I’ve never had one of those.”

  “And you’re not going to.”

  Did he think she’d be wowed by the “game” he clearly thought he had?

  When her comment finally registered, his smirk dissolved into a double shot of scorn. “I’d heard you weren’t like the rest of your family. How unfortunate the asshole gene runs true.”

  “I save it for the profoundly unappealing. You’d be wise to leave before I have you tossed out.”

  “There’s the spice that could make things worth the trouble.” Challenge glittered in his eyes. “We’ll have time to talk later after my old man finishes negotiating with your grandfather. We’ll be seeing each other again.”

  Zum returned from the bar just in time to catch Karl’s jab and practically boiled beside her. She gave her bestie’s arm an I-got-this squeeze.

  “Bye, Karl.”

  “Later.” He tossed her a salacious grin. “Though sooner’s more likely.”

  He made his way through the crowd. She downed half her champagne, her eyes watering at the rush of carbonation, then tossed back the rest. She didn’t have time to unpack his not-so-subtle threat and didn’t want the evening ruined, so she shoved off his warning.

  “I’m sorry.” Zum swapped her still-full glass for the empty one.

  “I’m not.” She watched his blond head disappear out the door. “Better to learn this lesson now, as I’m sure he won’t be the last. We should find Lach.”

  The room was an intimate rectangle, the dance floor at the other end, the long, two-sided bar in the center. The crowd had thickened in the half hour they’d been among the throngs of people bouncing and swaying to the heavy electronic beat, hands in the air or on each other, the mass moving in the flash and glitter of the lights. A corner of relative stillness caught her attention, and she found her brother, his get-your-ass-over-here glare unavoidable.

  “The
rumors about your brother and this place are definitely true.” Kazumi tugged her wrist, already heading toward the invitation they couldn’t refuse. “I’ve got to be honest, E. If your brother were a Water or an Earth, it’d be hard for me to control myself.”

  “Take a number. Lach’s charm activated at birth.” Her gaze shifted to Kim and Jill, who’d managed to get to her brother first. Oh no, you don’t. “Let’s go.”

  For someone who didn’t wear heels much, she could move with impressive speed when motivated. Lach’s gaze met hers, and his irises flared red. She stopped behind Kim and Jill, who blabbered and laughed, and Goddess, she was going to puke.

  Her brother sipped at a finger of something dark in his crystal tumbler. Scotch, knowing him. Of course, he’d dressed in an exquisitely tailored tuxedo, a gold crown resting in his dark hair. It was impossible not to notice how many eyes were trained on them, most with desire darkening their expressions. She paid no mind to her brother’s runway-model features. The cheekbones. The brows. The heavier-than-usual five o’clock shadow currently snaring Zum’s now ocean-blue eyes.

  “Ladies.” Lach moved away from the self-absorbed duo to her, winking at Kazumi, who blushed brushfire red.

  She forced herself not to fidget when his crushing gaze landed on her green dress, taking in every inch, from her Louboutins to her thick waterfall of hair. His smile died. “It won’t be much of a party if I have to kill all of my guests. That dress is surefire trouble.”

  She leaned toward her brother, the music making it hard to hear. “I’m at a club. You want me to wear a prairie gown?”

  His oaky breath warmed her face. “You? Yes.” As if suddenly remembering they were behind him, he faced Kim and Jill, adjusting his stance so he held court.

  Always grateful to have Zum at her side, she wished more than ever she hadn’t brought divas one and two.

  “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard Elspeth mention you.” Her toes curled at the menace in his casual tone. “You’re friends of hers from school?” He took a long pull of his drink.

  Was she the only one who could see the move was anything but casual?

  “Yes. We’ve become the fastest friends since January. We were so ridiculous for being afraid to talk to her. We didn’t think she’d hang with us, but she did. We’re so lucky.” Jill batted her eyes at Elspeth and refocused on Lach. “Happy birthday, by the way. Your power’s rumored to be incredible.”

  Shame at her gullibility rose inside her, twisting with the fear something ugly was about to go down.

  Zum’s gaze cut to Lach, her eyes widening as she, too, sensed the rising tension.

  Elspeth realized she was holding her breath when her brother slung his arm over her shoulders. “Ladies, I’m going to let you all in on a little secret tonight. We’ll call it a party favor.”

  “Yes?” Kim practically jumped, champagne sloshing in her glass. “Can you give us a private tour of the club too?”

  “No.” He held his drink out in a toast at Kim and Jill. “I commend you for your fine performance, but you should heed an unspoken truth all powered Naturas know.” He leaned toward the two girls, getting right in their flushed faces. “Airs will flat fuck you up. They read intent, very well.” He inhaled long and deep, and his head gave an exaggerated shake. “You have one minute to find your brother and get out.”

  Jill blinked as if she’d misheard. “Wha—what?”

  “I’ll say it a little slower. Get. Out.”

  She shoved out her jacked-up boobs and gave a haughty huff. “You can’t treat me like that. Do you know who my father is?”

  Lach towered over Jill like Jesus on Judgment Day. “I don’t give a quarter fuck. Don’t you ever talk to my sister again. Don’t spread any rumors about her. Don’t try to get some minion to do your dirty work. Or. I. Will. Know.”

  He jerked his head, and two people in all-black uniforms moved in, escorting Kim and Jill toward the fire exit. He nodded toward the DJ’s booth. The music cranked even louder, eliciting whoops and shrieks from the dance floor.

  Elspeth was all heartbeat. In her ears, her temples, her chest. If she thought she’d gotten the silent treatment at school before, Goddess, no one would even look her way now.

  “We just made an enemy of two powerful families.”

  “You think I only have two enemies? They’re not even top ten. Did you not realize what they were up to?”

  Deep down, yes, but she’d silenced her instincts.

  “I suspected they’d friended me to get in here after your save-the-date Snap went out. I made the invite in a weak moment, then couldn’t figure a way out. Now I know this was never about them. It was about their brother shopping for a Passive.” She folded her arms, which she knew enhanced her overly blessed chest, but she didn’t care. He needed to stop treating her like a kid. “I can fight my own battles.”

  “If I have my way, there’ll be no battles for you to fight. A lot of Naturas are assholes, E.”

  “I know you’re trying to help me, but if I was invisible before, I’ll be a complete reject now.” The song changed, and the crowd roared. She leaned toward him to make her point. “They won’t be the last family to make a play for me. I learned my lesson.”

  She wouldn’t be taken advantage of again. Guard up. From now on.

  “We’ll talk about this later.” He planted a kiss on her forehead, smoothing her ruffled ego.

  Lach could be an overbearing jerk, but he was her overbearing jerk, and she loved him. And she never doubted he loved her.

  Kazumi threw an arm around Elspeth’s shoulders and clinked her champagne flute against Lach’s tumbler. “Nice smackdown, bro. And I’ve decided I definitely need a sibling. Will you adopt me?”

  “You’ve got the top spot on my list.” Lach gave Zum an attagirl nod, then shifted his narrowed gaze between them. “Hate to break it to you, but you have an hour left, and then you’re out. You two aren’t ready for the late-night action.”

  “What? We’re totally made for late-night action,” Zum countered.

  “One more hour, and that’s it.” Lach looked over her shoulder and gave a chin thrust. Two women waltzed up, each taking one of his arms. “Enjoy yourselves. I’m off to put more happy into my birthday.”

  Her brother and his bookend blondes headed toward a door that looked straight out of a dungeon. The private suites, she guessed.

  “Your brother’s my hero.”

  “He’s something.” She watched him kiss the first woman, smile, and do the same with the second, then disappear into his den of hedonism. Good for him. He deserved his party to be perfect, whatever that meant for him.

  Her embarrassment waned, determination dissipating the heat in her face. In a few more months, she’d be a senior. No way was she letting Kim or Jill or anyone take advantage of her again. She needed to channel a little Lach, lay down her own law, and follow it.

  Passive and powerless didn’t mean she was going to be a pushover.

  Manhattan—NYU

  Elspeth’s Sophomore Year

  “I hope you like it.” Eamon’s earnest tone about melted her heart. He turned to the bellman. “Thank you. We won’t be needing the tour.” He slipped their dedicated guest relations manager a tip.

  “Thank you, sir.” The uniformed man bowed slightly and stepped back inside the private elevator.

  What wasn’t to like about her boyfriend of a year? Since elementary school, she’d known Eamon McCarthy, his Earth family loyal to Seanair, his kindness on par with her best friend’s.

  One time. She’d mentioned wanting to stay in the Four Seasons in Midtown once, the views of the city spectacular, and he’d remembered.

  “I love that you brought me here.” Goddess, he was such a great guy.

  “I remember everything you say. It’s nothing but the best for you, tonight and forever.” His kind smile turned his handsome face boyish.

  She almost reached to poke the dimple she’d stuck her finger in as a kid, the mark
on his left cheek still one of her favorite things about him. Well, after his corny sense of humor and brains for days. The man was an electrical and mechanical engineering double major. A total nerd god with tousled blond hair and broad shoulders. Lordess, the man had muscles. Ripped chest and abs. Thighs. Tonight, she’d finally take inside her body the part of him he’d patiently taught her to suck. Her lower body tightened at this new level of their relationship.

  To be fair, he’d done a little learning of his own.

  He held his phone up to the lock. A snick interrupted the posh silence of the hallway. He pushed open the door and motioned her inside.

  “Goddess above.” She gasped, taking in the panorama of a skyline famous around the world.

  Was she really in the $50,000-a-night penthouse suite? Eamon could well afford the best, but she preferred a much simpler existence. Her heart warmed at the lengths he’d gone to for their private dinner, then walking her favorite spots of the city with her afterward and ending at his last surprise of the night.

  “This has been the best evening.” She turned and took in his suit and how he’d tamed his usually unruly hair. Her fingers itched to muss it up for all the right reasons.

  “It’s the start of a new phase of…us. One I was afraid wouldn’t happen.” He smiled, his perfect teeth gleaming at her, his brown eyes glistening with sincerity.

  Goddess, he just might be the one.

  He’d been so patient with her, never pushing to take their relationship to a place she wasn’t comfortable. She hadn’t saved her virginity for anyone in particular, but neither had she wanted to lose it to just anyone. She liked Eamon. A lot. Maybe even loved him, if this skittery feeling in her chest was an indication.

  “Take a look around. There might be more surprises.” He motioned past the exquisite living room.

  She went farther into the breathtaking space. The city’s lights glowed from the unobstructed, 360-degree view. A baby grand piano. The floor-to-ceiling waterfall over a wall of green granite. Magnificent art everywhere. Spotting the doorway to what she assumed was the master bedroom, she walked in, and her heart nearly stopped at the bay windows with the view of Central Park.