Life and Water: The Elementals: Book One

by Melanie Gilbert

  “You mean we haven’t been mindlessly walking in this forest getting lost?” Paul asked. Good question Paul.

  “Where are we? There’s nothing here but trees,” Isla complained. She was too tired to be scared now.

  “There’s more than trees here, gal,” the normally quiet Dalton quipped from beside her. He pointed forward. “Walk that way, and don’t worry. You’re safe.”

  Dalton was my favorite Lanshay. He was nice. Well Jeff was too, but Dalton was the nicest.

  I watched as Isla walked cautiously around Drew and Carmon, giving them a wide berth, and deeper into the woods. Suddenly, she vanished. My family gasped and my heart stopped.

  “Where is she?” Mom cried.

  “Follow her,” came Dalton’s calm reply.

  We moved forward. The Lanshay boys followed us. I called them boys because they did not qualify as men. Maybe Dalton did, but I would bet my next meal he could be as bad as his brothers at times.

  One by one my family members disappeared along with Lanshay’s. Unfortunately, I was second to last with my new husband bringing up the rear. I slowed before stepping where everyone else had vanished. How would it feel? Where would I go? I was surprised by the light touch at the small of my back. I turned to look over my shoulder at him.

  “It’s okay. Go on.” His voice was the kindest I’d heard him use. The ice in his eyes had even melted and were a sparkling sea of blue. He put pressure on my lower back, and I stepped forward. The scenery changed in a blink from forest to a small clearing with a tiny house. I gasped and smelled a meal cooking, along with warm bread. It was heaven.

  “Whose house is this?” my father asked.

  “There’s a reason, sir, that this forest is called Bard’s Forest,” Dalton answered. “You see, Bard is the caretaker of these woods, and this is his home. Now, let’s go see what is for dinner.”

  How did he know that information?

  Chapter Three

  Carmon

  “Wait, there’s an actual guy named Bard?” Paul asked in shock. His mouth was pretty much hanging open.

  “How did you know this was here?” Sylee turned to ask me.

  “We spent a good chunk of our childhood here with Bard in the forest,” I replied. It was the most civil we had been to each other since we met. It wasn’t as exhausting as fighting with her. Not that the fights were entirely my fault. She picked enough of them to share the blame, but she could give me a couple more minutes of this attitude and I wouldn’t mind.

  I was more exhausted than I let on. It took everything I had not to let her see my muscles tremble with fatigue. I hadn’t slept last night as the creatures roamed our campsite. They weren’t dangerous, just little pixies and miniature elves, but I needed to make sure they didn’t wake anyone, or there would be loud, frightened Hamilton’s.

  “Do you expect me to believe that?” She obviously didn’t, but it was the truth. I frowned at her. I really had hoped civility would last longer.

  “Let’s get inside,” Drew stood at the front of our group, rubbing his belly. “I’m hungry, and that food smells to die for.”

  My brothers moved forward, and the Hamilton’s followed slowly behind. I could tell they were uncomfortable with entering the house without an invitation.

  “Are you sure this is okay?” Isla asked, confirming my thoughts.

  “Yes.” My answer was clipped, and I received a glare from her sister. I couldn’t wait for this job to end, but then realized that because of my earlier choice, the job would never have an end. That thought was a little overwhelming and I found myself in a worse mood, if that were possible. “Inside. Now.”

  “Are we still in danger?” Ruby asked Adam.

  Adam led the way into the building. “No. Bard will protect us while we are here.”

  The tiny house hadn’t changed since we were little children when our mother would leave us for months at a time. It hadn’t bothered us. Bard had been an excellent teacher, helping us learn to control our powers. When our mom returned, she would take us home to train with our uncles. Our uncles, Leo, Marcus, Zhaine, and Alex were brutal, but because of them we were now the best assassins the Light had. No matter the job, we could do it.

  I looked to the fireplace, which was in the middle of the wall on the right, to find a pot of stew hanging over the coals. Bread rested on a counter in the corner next to the fireplace. It had been a couple of days since I had eaten, and I found I was starving, but being a good commander, I waited for the others to get their food first, starting with the women. Chivalry isn’t dead, right? There was a small table in the center of the room with six chairs. The Hamilton’s took the table, and my brothers took various seats around the room.

  On the wall, opposite of the door, was a bed in a small alcove. It had a window looking out into the yard. It was my bed from my childhood, and the place I settled for my meal. I ate quickly and when I was done, placed my dishes in the sink. Bard would take care of the dishes later. He always did.

  When everyone had finished, I sent them to bed. There was a loft for everyone else to sleep. I blocked Sylee before she could reach the ladder leading to the loft.

  “Oh no. Not again. I’m sleeping where I want. I don’t care if you’re my husband, or whatever you call yourself. I refuse to be anywhere near you.”

  “You’re sleeping with me. Don’t make me carry you again,” I threatened calmly. Sylee glared daggers at me. I chose to ignore her glare, but her next words sent fire through my blood, and I was not responsible for my actions after that.

  “I did not choose you. I would never choose you. I had prospects for a wonderful husband who would be kind, loving, and sweet. You are none of those! You are rude, conceited, and a humongous jerk! So no, no Commander I will not be sharing a bed with you.”

  She tried moving past me, but I would have none of that. My blood was pumping hard as I picked her up and threw her over my shoulder again amidst her complaints. I had told her it was for her safety that I slept by her. Why did she insist on giving me a hard time? I dumped her on the bed without a care for how she landed. I was surprised I didn’t have steam flowing out of my ears. She had pushed me too far in my exhausted state.

  “I warned you. Now, lay still. You are mine. You belong here with me.” I crawled over my mate to lay behind her again. Her words had angered me, and yes, I was taking it out on her.

  “This isn’t fair,” I heard Sylee whisper softly to herself. I was shocked when a soft sniffle followed it. I didn’t know what to do, so I kept my arm around her waist. She ended up crying herself to sleep, and I followed soon after the noise from it had stopped.

  ******

  It was well past sunrise when Sylee stirred. The others had eaten and gone outside so as not to wake her. I had kept my eyes closed so I wouldn’t have to see the disapproving stares thrown my way by her family. Not that I cared. I was just tired of the looks when I was trying to save their lives.

  Sylee stretched next to me, coming out of sleep, but froze when she felt me next to her. “I was hoping it was a nightmare.”

  “I admit, I could have handled last night better, but I was tired, and so were you.” I was in an uncharacteristically good mood from a good night’s sleep.

  Sylee turned and leaned on her elbow to look at me.

  “And here I thought you were this horrible creature with no feelings. Did you just attempt an apology, and admit to a weakness all in the same sentence?”

  “I guess I did, but I need you to remember what I told you. The reason I have you sleep beside me is not for my own enjoyment.” She quirked an eyebrow at me, not believing what I said, and she was right. I was only human after all, and a guy on top of that. I also had to admit she was a little attractive when she wasn’t glaring at me, or being obstinate. I wouldn’t tell her that, of course. I hated admitting it to myself. “I do it because it keeps you safe.”

  “How on earth can sleeping by you keep me safe?” Sylee rolled her eyes. I hadn’t fooled
her at all with my innocent sleeping arrangements claim, but I was telling her the truth about her safety.

  “You smell like me.”

  “That’s the best you’ve got?” Sylee asked. “You bit me when all you had to do was sleep beside me, so I smell like you?”

  “No, I bit you to also keep you safe,” I closed my eyes and tried to gather my thoughts. I couldn’t believe how badly this was going. This was the first time I’d ever tried communicating with someone like this. I had no idea what I was doing, and I was failing. I did not like failing.

  “You know what? Never mind. When you’re ready to tell me the truth, I’ll be outside.” Sylee rolled out of bed and left the house.

  I groaned and lay in bed for a while longer, and only got up when I heard the clanking of dishes. Looking over, I saw a short, old man at the sink. He had wispy, gray hair that looked a bit disheveled, and he was starting to go bald. His face was covered in wrinkles, and his skin was tan. I observed him as I sat on the edge of the bed, preparing for the inevitable conversation.

  “So, you’ve gotten yourself hitched since last I saw you,” Bard said.

  “Yeah.”

  “I know why you did it, I know she doesn’t understand because you have not explained it all to her properly, and I know that in a relationship, trust and honesty are needed to keep both parties happy. She doesn’t trust you, and you’ve done nothing to earn it,” Bard scolded while still washing dishes.

  “I don’t want a relationship. I just need to get her through this forest.” He knew from the years he had watched over me that I wanted a relationship as much as I wanted a case of hives.

  “And what about her? Are you planning to leave her lonely her whole life?” Bard turned to look at me, disappointment in his eyes. I didn’t want to tell him that, yes, that was my plan. He probably already knew it.

  “Women cause a lot of trouble, Bard. Plus, she and I didn’t get along before I created the bond.”

  “Make your excuses, Carmon.” Bard came over and sat on a chair in front of me. “Your mother did you boys no favors in how she raised you. I had hoped that by letting you spend time here, you would learn to open your hearts, but it seems that it didn’t happen. You have no idea how to love.” Bard shook his head sadly.

  “I love my brothers,” I shot back. I was not the unfeeling monster Sylee thought I was.

  “Yes, I know, but life is about opening your heart to more than the few around you. It will take time, and a lot of effort on your part, but you need to try to love her.” I couldn’t believe what Bard was telling me. Love her? How? And even more importantly, why? I kept my face clear of my confusion as Bard grabbed a plate of food off the table and gave it to me. “You can start by feeding her. She’s down by the pond.”

  I reluctantly took the plate and left the house. I had no idea what Bard wanted from me. Being tied down to a mate wasn’t at the top of my to-do list. I liked the freedom I had to go on missions and be gone for as long as I wanted. Though, I had to admit, I had enjoyed her warmth the past two nights. Maybe that was a start to what Bard wanted? But what about what I wanted? All I knew was that I needed to give the food to Sylee so Bard would lay off my back.

  I found her where Bard said she would be. I sat down beside her next to the pond and held the plate out for her. “Here. Bard asked me to bring this to you.” She looked over at me, then back at the lake.

  “No, thanks. I’m fine.”

  I sat the plate between us. Adam and Chris, how are you guys feeling?

  We’re good, Adam replied.

  How about you go dispose of some of those witches that were following us. We should take this time to lower their numbers. Drew asked the forest to continue eliminating their numbers, but we should do what we can as well.

  On it, boss. Chris probably would have saluted had he been present. I wanted to roll my eyes.

  “You need to eat something,” I told Sylee when she continued to ignore the food next to her.

  “No, I don’t. I need you to leave me alone.”

  “If that will make you happy. I’ll leave you alone, and check on you when I collect the plate.” I stood and walked away, but didn’t leave her. Instead, I climbed a tree to sit and watch. If I was going to get her to obey my orders, I needed to know more about my mate, like what motivated her. Learning a weakness or two would help as well. She was always guarded around me, always on the offense. I needed to know what she was like when her defenses were down, and maybe I could make Bard happy somehow as well.

  Once I was out of sight, she picked up the plate of food and began eating. I found her entertaining to watch. She loved different food combinations and hardly ever put just one food in her mouth, whether it be bacon plus egg, toast plus bacon, or toast plus egg.

  I had spent a lot of time in my life watching people, mostly my targets. I usually watched them to discover how best to end their existence. Sylee was easier to study. My life wasn’t in danger if I missed a miniscule clue. I watched her skip rocks across the pond and walk on fallen logs to prove she wouldn’t fall into the water.

  After an hour, I decided to try talking with her again. When I reached the pond and she didn’t turn or acknowledge me, I changed my mind. Instead, I grabbed her plate and left, not wanting to make her angry again because I didn’t need the stress. When I took the plate back to Bard’s, I left it in the sink.

  The morning was over and lunch had passed so I grabbed an apple off the counter and ate it in a few bites. I then decided to take a nap, something very much out of my character, but since Bard was protecting us, I would take advantage of the extra sleep. It might give me extra patience with my charges. I lay down on my bed and within minutes was fast asleep.

  ******

  I had never had a dream so vivid before, and I rarely had nightmares. Nothing in the world scared me enough, but the nightmare I was having now, terrified me. I was in a battle against one of the creatures I was protecting Sylee from, and I was losing, badly. In my dream, I took another hit that left me lying uselessly on the ground, a position I was unaccustomed to. The vampire then proceeded to hurt my mate while I lay helpless, unable to do anything. Where were my brothers? She kept screaming my name, “Carmon! Carmon!”

  “Carmon! Carmon, wake up!” It was her voice, but it was coming from somewhere far away. I followed her voice until my eyes opened and I stared into her brown, worried eyes. My mate was before me, but how badly was she injured? My body shook, and there were tears on my cheeks, but otherwise I was fine.

  “Are you okay?” Sylee asked me.

  “I’m sorry.” My voice shook. I’d never failed at a duty so miserably, and to fail right after taking a mate made it worse, but I couldn’t understand why I felt that way.

  “For what?” Sylee’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Without thinking, she reached out and wiped a few tears from my face. Her touch was soft and kind, which made what I had to say harder.

  “For not saving you.” I couldn’t meet her eyes.

  “Commander, it was a dream. I’m okay.” She rubbed my arms, trying to stop the shaking.

  It took me a few more minutes to comprehend her words. I closed my eyes and took a couple deep breaths to calm myself. The shaking eventually subsided and my body relaxed into the bed.

  “I don’t know what you dreamt of,” she spoke to me again, “but I’m alive and well, and you are too.” Her voice was tender while she continued to help my body calm. No one had been this kind to me in so long. Even my brothers would have told me to “walk it off”. I found I dreaded when the moment would be over.

  When my nerves had settled a bit more, I sat up and rested my back against the wall at the head of the bed so I could see her. As I took a closer look at my mate, I realized she had bed head and her eyes were puffy from just waking up. She also had my blanket covering her legs.

  She noticed what I was looking at. “You gave me your reason for sharing a bed with me. I did listen. Even if you were being a jerk and lied
to me, I still don’t want to chance my life.”

  “I did not lie to you. Outside of this house it is safer for you to smell like me. A lot of the creatures out there have a great sense of smell. They will leave you alone because you smell like a male that you are unrelated to.” After I paused for a moment, I added, “Thank you for waking me. I’m sorry I also woke you.”

  “There’s no need to apologize, Commander. You started to thrash a little and whimper. I wasn’t really worried until you started crying. Then I tried harder to wake you. You don’t seem like the type to cry and it really scared me. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  “Do you want to go back to sleep?” I was not in the mood to sleep yet. I did not want to enter that dream world again where that vial creature had drained Sylee of her blood and her life after hurting her.

  “No, I’m not really tired anymore.”

  Just then Dalton came in. He gave us an odd expression then said, “Bard has a campfire going out back. We’re going to have hot dogs for dinner if you want to join us.”

  “How long was I sleeping?” I asked him.

  “A few hours. Adam and Chris made it back and are fine. They’ll go out in the morning again. Bard said we are welcome to stay as long as we need.”

  “Thanks,” I replied and Dalton waved his acknowledgement as he left. Turning to my mate, I asked, “Hungry?”

  “Yeah, you?” I nodded. “Then let’s go sleepy head.”

  We got up and Sylee ran her fingers through her long hair to rid it of the bed head look. I watched her from where I stood by the sink taking a drink of water. She had long, thin fingers that raked gracefully through her dark hair. I suddenly longed to run my own fingers through it. Taking a moment to check the rest of her out, I saw she had changed into new clothes, like everyone else, that Bard had provided. The shirt and jeans clung to her in just the right places. I wondered what it would feel like to place my hands on her hips and pull her to me. What would her soft hair feel like in my hands? Those thoughts were so new to me, but I found I wasn’t uncomfortable with them.