Five (Elemental Enmity)

by Christie Rich

  FIVE

  An Elemental Enmity Novel

  by

  Christie L. Rich

  SMASHWORDS EDITION

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  PUBLISHED BY:

  Tarser Publishing

  Five

  An Elemental Enmity Novel

  Copyright © 2011 by Christie L. Rich

  E-book Edition License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

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  FIVE

  An Elemental Enmity Novel

  Prologue

  I nearly turned around when I saw how tired Aunt Grace looked, but I had put this off long enough. The crinkles around her soft brown eyes betrayed years of worry, making her appear slightly older than forty-one. Her upper body slumped over a stack of bills as if they were chained to her neck. She shoved her fingers into her ginger hair at the nape and groaned as she went to work massaging what had to be tight muscles. She didn’t acknowledge me even though I hovered over her shoulder.

  Hoping some of my pent up nerves would escape with my breath, I cleared my throat. “I need to talk to you about something,” I said, settling onto the chair opposite her. Despite my efforts in preparing for this, my voice came out tiny. The worst part was my eyes wanted to roam to the gigantic stack of dishes that looked mysteriously like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I held my breath, worried any sort of errant current would topple our chip-ware onto the dirt-ridden hardwood floor.

  Where was Travis, anyway? Knowing him he was in hiding, trying to get out of his turn—again.

  “Hmm,” she said absently. “Can’t it wait?”

  “Grace,” I stated in the most grown-up tone I could muster. She cocked a brow but still didn’t bother to look up. “I’ve thought this through, and I want to go to St. Mary’s College with Cassie.”

  “You are not Catholic,” she said, placing down her pen. Faster than I could look away she locked her gaze onto mine. Her usually warm eyes roamed over me coldly. Ironically her penetrating stare held no visible emotion, yet her scrutiny could have melted diamonds.

  I frowned. “What does that have to do with it?” She wasn’t acting the way I had imagined. Cassie and I had gone over this a thousand times. I had been sure she would use her old standby—money.

  “The school is based around a religion you do not practice.” She groaned in clear displeasure. “We have discussed this, Rayla. I need you close to home.”

  What she really needed was a free nanny. What a joke. Her idea of discussion had been an emphatic “No” when I mentioned I wanted to check out other schools besides Snow College. “Jenny’s old enough to take care of Sarah,” I pleaded. I was ten when I started watching my cousins after school. Jenny just turned twelve. “Besides, I won’t be here anyway.”

  “I’m relying on you to come home on the weekends. Jenny isn’t ready for that much responsibility.”

  “But—”

  “We each have to do our part. Do you think you should have different obligations than the rest of us?”

  The guilt she flung at me tried to stick. Too bad for her I wasn’t going to change my mind. “I just want to—”

  “None of us get what we want. I can think of better things to do with my time than find ways to pay for you to have shelter over your head.”

  My words came out in a rush. “Don’t you want different for your children?” Too late, I realized my mistake—I was not her child. She made sure I knew that from the day Mom disappeared. Don’t get me wrong. Aunt Grace had shown me unending kindness. She loved me, but she always kept a distance between us that wasn’t present in her relationship with her own kids.

  Her pinched lips turned in a forced smile. “That’s why I’ve agreed to let you go to Snow. I had hoped you would be grateful.” Her eyes narrowed, her breath whooshing out in a gust. “It doesn’t appear either one of us is going to get what we want tonight.”

  How could she be so cold? She wasn’t even willing to hear my side of things. Her expression was steel, the set of her jaw granite. Changing her mind may have been hopeless, but I was going to make certain she understood how I felt. “When have I ever gotten what I wanted—the time you let me go to Disney Land with Cassie?”

  “We couldn’t afford—”

  “Oh wait,” I said, right over the top of her over used excuse. “I didn’t get to go with her because I had to babysit. That’s all I’ve done for the last five years!”

  Her tone dripped ice with a dash of hostility. “I realize you’ve made sacrifices, but no more than any other member of this family.”

  I didn’t deserve to be treated this way. “I would rather work ten hours a day at the pig farm than waste my life taking care of your brats!” I couldn’t stand to be in the same room with her. At this point I would prefer a different continent.

  I bolted out the back door. Aunt Grace stayed right on my heels. She placed a hand on my shoulder, halting me. “I know I expect a lot from you, but I’m only doing what’s best for everyone.”

  I whirled around glaring with every bit of animosity I had in me. She pulled her hand back sharply. “No, Aunt Grace. What you’re doing is ruining my life!” With that said, I took off up the hill.

  She called after me, but I didn’t want to hear it anymore. My skin prickled from the chilly night air. I should have grabbed a jacket, but I wasn’t about to turn around. Hoping it would warm me up, I started into a run. By the time I reached Cassie’s house sweat soaked my shirt, yet my arms could easily have been mistaken for a plucked chicken.

  I rang the bell and bent over, resting my hands on my knees. To my surprise Mr. Lambert opened the door. He wasn’t supposed to be in town this weekend. I stood up and tried to smile, but from his worried expression my attempt fell short of realistic.

  He took one look at me and rushed to my side. “What on Earth? What’s wrong?”

  My voice came out as soft and defeated as I felt. “Is Cassie around? I need to talk to her.”

  He ushered me through the door, briskly rubbing his hand down my arm. The heat of his skin burned. “It must be thirty degrees out there. Where’s your coat?”

  I pulled in a deep breath. “Forgot it.”

  He nodded. “Did you have a fight with Grace again?”

  “She’s the most ridiculous person alive. I didn’t even get to tell her about my scholarship.” A ragged sigh escaped me. “She just said no.” I swiped the moisture out of my eyes and gritted my teeth, determined to not break down in front of him. Even though he hadn’t ever mentioned it, I knew he pulled some strings to get me accepted into St. Mary’s College, not to mention the scholarship that came out of nowhere. If I couldn’t go, it would be a total slap in the face to his generosity.

  He smiled at me and nudged my chin. “Give her time to mull it over. She’ll come around.”

  “Rayla?” Cassie asked, pulling my attention to the ornately carved staircase. Wider than most hallways, it curved gracefully along the wall. “What are you…” Her face turned in a frown when she looked at me.

  I ran over to her and shook my head in response to her unfinished question. Her pale eyes softened with compassion as she placed an arm around my shoulder. “We’ll be upstairs, Dad.”

  Mr. Lambert smiled. “Remember the old saying, Rayla: The world is always darkest just before the dawn.”

  Was that really suppo
sed to make me feel better? My tomorrows had no chance of getting any brighter if I didn’t do something to change my life. I returned his smile then let Cassie guide me to her room.

  She closed her door softly as I flopped on the bed, pulling the covers over me. The TV showed an old rerun of Happy Days. I grunted, wishing my life could be that uncomplicated.

  “Spill,” she said, sitting beside me.

  I tucked my arms around my stomach. “She wouldn’t even listen to me. I hate her!”

  Cassie touched my arm. “Maybe we should just go to Snow our first year. We could transfer to St. Mary’s next year when she’s had time to get used to you being gone.”

  I shook my head. “She wants me home every blasted weekend. Said Jenny couldn’t handle taking care of Sarah.”

  Cassie sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, gazing up at the ceiling as if it were a starlit sky. She shrugged a shoulder after a while. “I just don’t see how we could make it work.”

  “I’m eighteen,” I reminded her. “She can’t make me stay here.”

  She gave me a mournful smile. “She’s the only family you have left. Don’t you think you should just cool off for a bit?”

  “I’ve never wanted to go to Snow anyway.”

  Her smile turned to a light frown. “Everyone we know will be there.”

  Uh-oh. This couldn’t be good. “Everyone?”

  She stood up and began pacing. “Chase is going.”

  My eyes flew wide. I knew it. That weasel still had his teeth in her. “When did you talk to him? I thought you were done getting used.”

  She shrugged. “Can’t seem to get him out of my system.”

  “You deserve better than that jerk. Think about it, Cass. Notre Dame. Real men, not that louse that acts like he’s James Dean reincarnated.” I had her interest. Now it was time to close the deal. “Oh, and don’t forget about football.”

  The corners of her mouth turned up fractionally. She considered me for a moment then bounded over to her laptop, yanked it to her chest then sat beside me again. Her already bright eyes nearly glowed in the dim light.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  She smirked. “Looking up the team roster.”

  My heart beat faster, but it wasn’t because I cared a whit about football. She was in it again, and with her help I could do anything.

  Chapter One

  We spent the next eight months figuring out the details of my escape. I would have never been able to swing it if it hadn’t been for Cassie and her Dad. As far as Aunt Grace was concerned, I would be going to Snow College tomorrow morning. What she didn’t understand wouldn’t hurt me.

  I sat my suitcase down by the bottom of the stairs. Jenny and Sarah waited for me with outstretched arms. I leaned into them, inhaling the scent of cheap strawberry shampoo.

  Sarah wrapped her arms around my waist, gazing up at me with tears in her eyes. “I don’t want you to go,” she said then buried her face into my abdomen.

  I held her tight for a few moments, feeling like the biggest loser but not the good kind. “I’ll be home before you know it, and if you promise to be good for Jenny, I’ll bring you a present.”

  She pulled away from me, her eyes brightening. “Really?”

  “Promise.”

  She ran into the kitchen, her tiny voice raised in excitement. “Rayla’s gonna get me a present, Momma!”

  “Is she now?” Aunt Grace said, stepping into the foyer. Her face was tight with worry. “You call me when you get there.”

  “I will,” I said.

  “I don’t see why you can’t just stay here tonight.”

  Not this again. “I already told you. We have to leave really early. I don’t want to wake anyone up. Cassie’s parents aren’t even in town right now so we won’t be bothering anyone at her house.”

  Jenny hugged me from the back. “You better e-mail me.”

  We were probably the only family on the planet that couldn’t afford a cell plan that included unlimited texting. Once I got a job, I was going to get a new phone and hopefully a new plan.

  I touched her hand that perched on my shoulder. “Promise.”

  She bounded up the stairs yelling for Travis to help her move her stuff into my room. He stopped by the railing, stared down at me and gave me his lopsided grin. He flipped his head to get his dark bangs out of his eyes. “See ya round, Cuz.”

  I tilted my head in an upward nod. “Sure thing.” I pointed my finger at him. “Be good.” I wasn’t that much older than him, but I felt as if we had ten years between us.

  He huffed. “When am I ever not?” Without even a backward glance, he took off around the corner before I could say anything else.

  Sarah had already pulled Aunt Grace into the living room for her bedtime story. I waved goodbye, but neither of them noticed. The ancient door creaked when I pulled it shut. I quickened my step, but no one followed me to the car.

  The tires threw up a cloud of dust as I sped away toward freedom. I gazed at my home through the haze of the rear view mirror. The moon set an eerie cast to the scene. The old Victorian had seen better days. Time had transformed the once stately estate into the humble residence of a working family. It needed a paint job, the porch swing still hung by one chain, and bicycles littered the two week overgrown lawn. It wasn’t anything compared to Cassie’s house, but it would always be special to me. I swiped the tears from my eyes and rolled down the window. Time for crying was over. I was officially on my way.

  Cassie waited outside for me when I pulled up. Her grin couldn’t have gotten much bigger. The handle gave her some trouble, so I reached over and opened the door. Before I knew it she plopped onto the seat. Eyes glowing, she reached into her purse and pulled out a wad of cash. “Dad’s going away present.”

  I kept my cringe to myself. I was tired of feeling guilty for taking advantage of Mr. Lambert’s endless acts of kindness. I needed to figure out a way to pay him back. “You’ve got to have the coolest father on the planet.”

  She smiled brightly. “Yeah. Isn’t he great?”

  “You sure you’re ready for this?” I asked with mock seriousness.

  She laughed. “No backing out now!”

  I waggled my brows before I put the car in gear and lowered her window. The invading night air sucked the moisture from my body like a sponge. She just shook her head at me, but I knew what she was thinking without hearing one word. We would have been much more comfortable in her car.

  “Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t think it would still be this hot when we planned this whole thing.”

  “If you think this is bad, you just wait until you have sweat dripping from you twenty-four-seven.”

  She’d already tried to explain humidity to me, but I didn’t care if I had to take three showers a day. I was on my way to my new life. We had pulled it off without any snags. Nothing short of death would keep me from claiming my dreams.

  We were on a lone stretch of Wyoming highway. The newness of our trip had swiftly worn to raw edged fatigue. I was going to have to wake Cassie up soon. Even if I could manage the weight of my eyelids, I couldn’t shake the dread that had attached to my spine ten miles ago.

  For the second time tonight, icy gooseflesh erupted across my neck and skittered down my entire body like a million frosty spiders. I shrugged off a shiver before I checked the rear view mirror again. No monsters lurked in the back seat with the sole desire of making me their next juicy snack, so why did I feel like Satan himself decided to stalk me?

  Cassie rested against the passenger door, blissfully sleeping away. I stretched my hand toward her, but pulled back just before I touched her shoulder. I had no right to wake her because of my absurd paranoia. This trip didn’t need me complicating it to make it unbearable. My fear of the dark would not cripple me anymore. Hopefully St. Mary’s offered counseling.

  A thunderous rumble shattered the milky silence, sending a quiver through my bones. Even though empty dawn had greeted me in the mir
ror moments before, now a motorcycle rocketed toward us. Where had he come from? I shook my head. It was just a stupid motorcycle. No need to panic.

  I held my breath, expecting him to zoom by, but he matched my pace instead. The bike zigzagged haphazardly in the lane as if the driver was loaded. Great, just what we needed.

  I honestly wouldn’t have cared if he did wheelies behind me if he hadn’t been centimeters from my bumper. Why was he craning his neck in my direction?

  He flashed his lights repeatedly as if I was hogging the entire road. My car wasn’t that big. I rolled my eyes and inched closer to the shoulder. My tires hit the rumble-strip making me jump spastically. He had plenty of room to pass. No other vehicles were in sight. What was he waiting for?

  Even if Aunt Grace had miraculously figured out what I was doing, she wasn’t ridiculous enough to send this lunatic to bring me home. What could he possibly want from me?

  If I had more than noodles for a backbone at the moment, I would have pulled over to see what the heck was wrong with him. I sped up instead. I was weaponless—like it would have helped if I had an entire arsenal in my car. You sort of have to know how to use a gun for it to do you any good. I was not stopping. He could be a rapist or a serial killer.

  The jerk wouldn’t back off no matter what I did. My entire frame quaked under the reality that this man was most certainly trying to get me to stop.

  The thought that he might be in trouble flashed though my mind. Too bad for him this wasn’t the Sixties and I wasn’t that gullible. I clutched the steering wheel harder, hoping to anchor myself and moved the car back where it should have been. I would have sworn on a Bible this dude was secretly weaving puppet-strings around me; it was all I could do to keep my foot on the gas. Worse was the barrage of absurd thoughts swirling in my head about him.

  I hadn’t even really seen him, but in my mind I was neatly tucked in behind him on that beast of a motorcycle. The wind whipped my hair around us. I leaned closer to him, inhaling spice and man. Even the daydream of him smelled divine.