by Aspose
She needed it. Her thoughts raced in time with her heart, and she trembled with the knowledge that she was forever different. There was no going back; there was no going home.
Her companion seemed to have infinite patience. He didn’t try to rush her, merely monitored her while she struggled for control. When she was reasonably recovered, he suggested, “My home is in the valley. Walk with me and we can rest in safety.” At her blank stare, he added, “I could use assistance.”
Shock was her friend. She had a goal; she would take Nitro where he needed to go. It was solid, immediate, and would help her to block the panic threatening to consume her. Everything else could wait.
Somehow she doubted her help was critical, but it was something to do. She helped him up. “I bet you’d make it without me. You don’t look like the type to let a little thing like being trapped in ice stop you.”
He smiled faintly. “You make it easier.” They made their way down the mountain carefully. Despite her words, he was obviously not at full power.
The unmelting, dry snow reminded her of sand dunes. “A sled would make this easier,” she said wistfully.
“Flying would make it easier,” he said dryly. “It’s also beyond me at the moment, though you might manage.”
She stumbled. “What?”
He looked at her patiently. “You are an air elemental.”
“For all of an hour! Are you saying I can fly? How?” she demanded.
He smiled faintly. “Under the circumstances, maybe I should demonstrate later. For now, I can show you how to make a wind construct. A sled,” he clarified when she looked baffled. “The wolves will pull it.”
She thought about it, and nodded. It was no more crazy than everything else that had happened today. At this point little could shock her. “Okay. How do we do this?”
He touched her face, his gaze weary. He truly was at his limit. “What is your name?” he asked softly.
“Gale,” she whispered as he pulled her into his mind. It was like a galaxy, expansive beyond belief. He was deeply intelligent, knew so much. She shivered as she understood how incredibly old he was, how powerful he could be. It was a good thing he’d decided to help her, because she was way out of her league.
“Nitro,” she breathed, and he showed her how to tame the wind. Once he showed her how to shape air molecules, it was simple. In no time at all, they had created a sleigh.
Nitro slid to the ground. She tugged at him, but he was twice her size. How could someone made of air be so heavy?
“Give me a moment,” he murmured, exhausted. Time passed, but he didn’t seem to grow stronger.
A wolf nosed her, and she looked at it warily. “What?”
It nosed Nitro and whined.
Gale sighed. “Okay. Get under his arm. I’ll brace the other side.” Between them, they managed to get Nitro onto the floor of the sleigh. She didn’t even try to get him on the seat; he was heavy for a wind elemental. She curled his long legs inside and took a seat. “Okay, wolf. Mush.”
The wolves took up positions in front. She saw no sign of a harness, but the sleigh moved as if there were, gliding over the snow and then into the air as smoothly as Santa’s sleigh. She peered warily over the side and reminded herself of her feathery glide from the plane earlier. With the wolves help, it took only minutes to reach the valley. As they descended, a mansion appeared. It glittered with rainbows as light played over the crystal facets. The gates opened at their approach, and she couldn’t decide if they resembled ice or glass more.
The sleigh slid to a smooth stop on the tiled entrance hall and she took a moment to stare. A glass bridge flanked by corkscrew slides arched over the entrance hall, glowing in the light of the stained glass windows. Balconies lined the walls, overlooking a glass throne on a raised dais. This was his home?
She looked around, but the place seemed deserted. She glanced at Nitro, but he was clearly done. Since he didn’t look comfortable bunched in the sleigh bottom, she hopped out and frowned at the glass tiles. Using what he’d taught her, she formed a bed next to the sleigh and dragged him onto it. He wasn’t much help as she pushed and shoved, but finally she had him settled. She covered him with a blanket out of habit, not sure if he needed one. It couldn’t hurt.
With the wolves guarding him, Nitro seemed safe enough, so she explored. She didn’t know how long he’d been imprisoned, but his house was pristine, if empty. There were three floors in the mansion with pillared balconies overlooking the throne room. She counted eighteen bedrooms, six of which were suites. There were servants’ quarters, a kitchen, two parlors, a music room and a dojo with attached armory. She didn't linger over her inspection, and the third time she checked on Nitro she found he had visitors. The woman had long sable hair, and was dressed in spring green and pink robes, vaguely Thai in style. The man's dark green tunic seemed more Nordic, similar to Nitro's. It had gold embroidery around the neck and arms and was belted with braided leather. A dagger hung from his belt and he carried a gold-inlaid staff. His black velvet pants were tucked into his tooled-leather boots. His long white hair was braided.
“You must be Gale,” the woman said with a smile. “My name is Cherry Blossom, and my brother is Hoarfrost. We are Nitro's children.”
Gale glanced uncertainly at Nitro. She noticed he was dressed in a simple cream tunic and pants, his long hair loose and seeming freshly combed. The humble blanket was now pale green velvet and the pillows on the daybed were more numerous and plumper. When he gave her a weary nod, she relaxed. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Frost said, sizing her up. “We are pleased to have our father free again.”
“Would you like a cup of Jasmine vapor tea or cloudberry juice? Perhaps some nitrogen wine?” Blossom gestured to a small table and chairs next her father's bed. “We have so much to discuss.”
The sleigh was nowhere in sight, and Gale wondered if it had dissolved. She considered the drinks and opted for the juice. “Thank you. I was wondering if either of you knew how to find Fairbanks, Alaska. I have family there and I need to talk to them as soon as possible. They're going to be very worried.”
In fact, by now they probably thought she was dead. She winced and tried not to picture her parent’s reaction when they were told. She could fix it. Things were weird, but it would be better when she let them know she was okay. One step at a time.
The siblings exchanged looks. “We do, but we would like to hear what happened to you,” Frost said firmly. “Our father has been able to tell us a little, but it doesn't sound as if you had time to talk about it in detail.”
Gale quickly summed up her experience, in a hurry to leave. “So you see, I need to get back and tell the Guard and my family what happened.” Her speech slowed as she thought about what she was saying. There were a number of problems with trying to explain what happened to the Guard.
Frost picked up on her hesitation. “Had you thought about how you’re going to explain your new state to them?”
Gale blew out a breath. “Yeah, that's problematic. I don't know what I would say to the Guard, but I need to tell my family. My parents will be so worried.”
Frost seemed to relax. “We can help you with that. Meanwhile, have you learned how to feed on raw elements?” When Gale frowned, he added, “You might give some thought to learning the dangers here, too.”
“We feel responsible for you,” Blossom said earnestly. “We made the wedding jewelry, hoping to free our father one day. We had no way of knowing a human would be chosen, or changed in such a violent manner. I am sorry.”
“We were angry and desperate. Our father was punished, but our mother wasn’t. She was the one who was unfaithful. Anyone would have been angry,” Frost said grimly.
“Not everyone can freeze the Northern Hemisphere,” Gale said dryly.
“True.” Frost drew a deep breath. “Perhaps I could have been more forgiving, but Mother hasn’t been easy to deal with in centuries.” He looked solemnly at his fath
er. “She is dead now, sir.”
Nitro’s expression didn’t change. He simply nodded.
Gale wasn’t certain what to think. “How long were you imprisoned? You guys talk about centuries as if they were nothing.”
“I’m sorry, we didn’t tell him the year,” Blossom said softly. “It was 800 years, I’m afraid.”
Nitro closed his eyes.
Gale sat back, stunned. She reviewed what they said, line by line, and realized she’d missed an important point. “What’s this about wedding jewelry?” The question was loaded with suspicion.
“That is for you and our father to work out,” Frost said diplomatically. “It worked, and he’s free. That’s all we wanted.”
“Then you can have your jewelry back,” Gale said firmly. She tried to remove the ring and found it wouldn’t budge.
Blossom made an apologetic face. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to remove it. These things are designed to be permanent. At the time, we thought it would go to a woman who would be glad of it.”
Great. Gale tapped her fingers, but silently acknowledged the jewelry was the least of her problems. “Fine. Just get me home, please, and I’ll deal with the rest.”
“It would be my pleasure. I can show you how to feed properly on the way,” Frost said as he rose.
“Wait! We can't send her home like that.” Blossom gestured to the tunic Gale wore. “Her family will think we didn't take proper care of her.” She frowned in concentration and the tunic became a white silk tunic with floral quilting. Of vaguely medieval styling, it had long sleeves that widened at the wrist, and the hem ended just below her knee. It was slit on the side to reveal sky blue silk trousers and cute little half-boots. A gold sash cinched her waist, completing the ensemble.
“There! Would you like me to change anything?” Blossom formed a mirror so Gale could give her opinion.
Gale blinked. Her hair had always been black, but now it was long and glossy with silver tips. Her eyes had been pale blue but now they glowed like a piece of summer sky. Even her nails gleamed like polished glass. “Is that me?” She touched the mirror, disconcerted. “What did they do to me?”
Blossom touched her arm and made a comforting noise. “I am sorry for your distress. Please know I'm here to listen and help if you need me.”
Gale shook her head. Somehow she doubted that regaining her humanity was something Blossom could help her with, but saying so would seem ungrateful. She needed the Fates for that. Somehow, she would find them and make them fix it.
Frost glanced at his father. “I will return soon.”
“Thank you, I appreciate your help,” Nitro said, inclining his head to indicate both Frost and Gale. “I hope it goes well with your family, but you are welcome here as well,” Nitro said formally, but his gaze was intense. She got the impression she would see him again soon.
Blossom waited until they left, then quietly pressed her father’s hand to her face. “I missed you, Daddy. I’m so glad you’re home.”
Nitro’s gaze softened as he drew her into a hug. “Sweetheart. I love you, too.” He bitterly regretted the time he’d missed with his children. His absence had hurt them, and if he could do things over… There is no point thinking about it. What he needed to do was focus on now, on the future.
Gale would be part of that future. He would give her the freedom to make her own choices, but he had no doubt she would return. She would need him, but he had to let her find that out for herself.
“The first thing you must learn is to draw upon the wind. It's easy and it should be instinctive,” Frost explained as they left the building and stepped outside onto the snowy plain. He demonstrated how to draw on the wind currents, pulling specific elements to her. “Helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon are some of the elements we command. There are others of course, and all of them have different value to us. Some are for feeding and others are for shaping. Also the different gases that we can eat have different nutritional value. For instance, it would be a bad idea to try to live on nitrogen alone.” He smiled as if that were an understatement.
If it was a joke, it went over Gale’s head. She didn't find it amusing when he levitated them without warning, either. She stiffened and her eyes went wide as he swiftly rose above the mansion.
“Easy,” Frost advised. “This is as natural as breathing.”
“I'm going to fall!”
“If you did, you would simply drift to the ground. Remember, you're no longer as dense as a human. Gravity does not affect you the same way.” His tone was sympathetic, but she sensed he was enjoying himself.
“You don't like me, do you?” Gale searched frantically for a way down. She imagined herself slowly drifting to earth and sighed with relief as her body obliged.
Frost watched with approval as her feet gently touched the snow. “I've never had a stepmother to torment before. It's fun.”
She glared at him. “I refuse to be your stepmother; you’re centuries older than I am.”
“Don't let my seniority upset you. I promise not to comment on your age…much.” He alighted next to her. “Ready to return to Fairbanks? I'll open a portal.”
She took a step back in surprise as an oval portal opened in the middle of downtown Fairbanks. “How did you do that? I thought we were going to fly!”
He shook his head. “A KC-135 has a top speed of 530 mph (853 km) at 30,000 feet. A category five hurricane, on the other hand, is a storm wind exceeding 156 mph, or 136 knots (251 km). Even if you traveled at hurricane velocity, which I doubt you can do for long, it would take you a while to get back home.
“Fortunately, you have an old elemental at your disposal that can open portals.” He bowed.
She looked at him suspiciously. “Can all air elementals rattle off numbers like that?”
He shrugged. “I bet you can tell me how many miles you can travel in your car on a gallon of gas, the average road speeds, and the general mileage on your vehicle. We remember numbers we use often, like anyone else.”
She studied the familiar landmarks, noting that it was later than she’d realized. Her parents must have been notified about her “death” by now. She couldn’t imagine what they were feeling. Had they called the family?
Realizing she was stalling, Gale stepped through the portal. Relieved to arrive in one piece, she looked around. They were in a busy Sam’s Club parking lot, but no one glanced at them. “Can they see us?” she asked uneasily.
“No. It takes effort to become visible to the human eye. You have to learn to bend light rays, and it’s not easy. Which way?” He levitated both of them, looking at her for directions.
She gave him instructions, then asked, “But my family will see me, right? You can help, can’t you?”
He took a long time to answer. “I know the theory, but I’ve never wished to make myself known to a human. My father can, of course, but he’s far older than I.”
Her shoulders slumped. She’d never imagined it would be this difficult. “I wanted to give my parents a hug, tell them I’m fine. They’ve got to be worried.”
Frost halted their forward motion, hovering as he stared at her sympathetically. “You won’t be able to touch them, Gale. Even if I manage to make you visible, your touch will feel like a gentle breeze, your voice that of the wind, very soft…if they can make it out.”
Gale held very still as she absorbed the news. As far as humans were concerned, she was a ghost.
Frost didn’t rush her. He floated in front of her as if he had all the time in the world.
Gale finally stirred. “I want to see them.” She felt numb as Frost continued on. She dimly realized she was in shock, and as the landscape blurred, she realized she was silently weeping.
Her parent’s cars were in the driveway. Frost found a tiny crack under the door where the weather stripping had peeled away and flowed into the house, pulling her with him. She shivered at the sensation of becoming wind, but forgot it as she saw he
r parents grieving on the couch. “Mom! Dad! I’m okay,” she cried, then checked as she realized they couldn’t hear her. Grief stricken, she fell to her knees beside them and hugged their knees. “Mom…” she choked, unable to go on.
Frost remained silently supportive as she vented her grief, telling her parents she loved them, that she was okay. Their grief finally calmed, and she thought for a moment they sensed her.
“We need to call her grandparents,” her mom finally said. “The family needs to know.”
Her dad gulped, swallowing a fresh wave of tears. “Our baby. My little girl.”
Gale hugged her mother’s knees, pressing hard with her brow. “I’m still here, Dad. I love you.”
Her dad took a shuddering breath and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed. “Hello, Dad? I have bad news.”
Gale stood and hugged her belly, unable to bear it, but unable to leave them in their grief. She stayed as relatives arrived full of tears and questions. She took no joy as the ripples of grief spread. She’d known she was loved and the family was close. Her parents wouldn’t be alone.
But she was. She was an outsider now, and the knowledge burned a hole in her gut. The pain wanted to bury her, and she finally retreated to her apartment over the family’s company air freight office. Being alone helped (she chose to ignore Frost), but as she looked around at the things she could no longer touch, she felt hollow. The contents of her kitchen, her clothes, her things, were no longer relevant. She couldn’t take a hot bath or eat ice cream. She couldn’t surf the net or watch her favorite DVDs. Her usual coping mechanisms were denied her. Her home, her old life was gone as surely as if a hurricane had ripped it away.
“I wish I could take the pictures,” she said, looking forlornly at the framed photos on the wall and trailing her fingers over the photo albums and scrapbooks. Her computer had hundreds of photos, too.
“That I can do,” Frost said firmly. “I’ll have my staff make copies and return the originals. We can even duplicate the electronic files.”