by Autumn Dawn
“Okay.” His voice held the quiet tone one would use to gentle the mentally infirm. “We’ll get you cleaned up…” Her glare made him change tack. “You must want a bath after all you’ve been through, and of course your room needs work. You’ll rest better surrounded by familiar things.”
“I’d rest better back on land.”
“We’ll discuss that later. You may have noticed your need for the sea; it will take time for you to adjust.”
“Why did you drain this place? It was under water a long time,” Alicia asked, suddenly curious. “Not that I want the water back,” she said quickly. She didn’t know if she could adjust to that. It would probably be the thing that finally drove her crazy.
He hesitated. “It seemed natural to clean it thoroughly after I came back.”
“Good,” she said shortly. She hesitated. “Why were you gone?”
“We’ll talk about that later. Let me show you how to fill your pool.” He pressure washed the pool and showed her the decorative tiles to press to make the tub fill from the bottom with fresh seawater. He seemed pained when she stuck her hands in and absorbed the water.
“What?”
“One doesn’t usually drink one’s sleeping pool.”
“You shouldn’t expect good manners from your pet monster,” she said curtly.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “You aren’t a monster.”
“But you had something to do with my making,” she accused. “The women who drowned me called you “my future husband”, and the mermen who stuck me in a jar said I was your bride. I’m not your wife!”
“On that we agree, but I can’t let you leave until you can control your power. Do you realize you nearly wiped out the West Coast?”
She flinched. “Like a monster.”
He shook his head. “Like a young elemental, a powerful one. You share my abilities, but not my control. You have a lot to learn before it will be safe to roam alone.” There was a tense silence.
He stood before she could ask more questions. “This can wait. Let’s make your room comfortable for now. Why don’t you have a bath while I find you clothes? I’m sure you’d like a change of garments, something more suitable to your environment.”
“There’s no soap or shampoo,” she said, too weary to argue. She could grill him later.
He hesitated, and finally nodded. “I’ll fetch some.”
She didn’t want to take a bath, but she needed to soak, so she entered fully clothed. There was no telling what would enter the room next.
He wasted no time finding his butler. He was easily found, lounging in the kitchen with most of the staff. Surge couldn’t help noticing the room was clean and comfortable. When the man smiled at him, Surge grabbed his shirt and slammed him up against the wall. “She was bleeding!” he snarled. “She spent the night on stone smeared in her own blood in a room full of garbage. I found my WIFE dying in the hallway, too weak to even get to the throne room. Where the hell were you?”
The staff stared.
“M-my lord, I didn’t know…” the butler protested.
Disgusted, Surge threw him aside like trash. He pointed to a sturdy looking young man. “You! You’re in charge. Get that hellhole cleaned up, and see to my wife. Don’t disappoint me, or I will kill you.”
The staff stared at each other in shock, then made a frenzied rush for cleaning supplies. Satisfied, Surge stomped out. He had an errand to run.
Chapter 2
“I need a favor.” Surge hated to ask, but these were desperate times.
Raze blinked in surprise at the unprecedented request but waved a hand to a chair on the deck overlooking the ocean. His home on Maui wasn’t far from Surge’s submerged palace, and they were old friends.
“The Fates put my wedding tokens on a mortal,” Surge said with barely suppressed rage, ignoring the chair. “She needs things, human things. I need to borrow Losee to deal with her. I need you to restore the lava line to the Old Palace so he can travel there.” As he understood it, Losee had been helpful settling Kira, but he was also Raze’s right hand man, and he knew Raze was unlikely to lend him for long. He needed a Losee of his own.
“The fire cat is escorting my wife through the elemental shops at this time,” Raze pointed out. “Though I’m sure Kira will come immediately when she learns another human was changed. How is your bride?”
Surge paced. “The Octo clan is still intent on securing the palace. I wouldn’t want your wife endangered. As for the girl…Alicia needs to be by the water at all times right now. We had a close call with dehydration this morning, and I don’t want a repeat.” Because she was his responsibility, of course. She may have been foisted on him, but he wouldn’t let her suffer needlessly.
“I will personally escort Kira to the palace,” Raze promised. “She will be far more help with your wife than Losee, and the girl will need comfort. The transformation is traumatic; Kira still has nightmares.”
Surge felt the sea rise with his anger at the thought of Kira drowning and calmed it with a thought, though he still seethed. “I wanted to marry a natural elemental. Even a mer would have sufficed. The last thing I wanted was a terrorized human.” Humans had imprisoned him and Raze, along with their friend Tremor, for 800 years. He didn’t want to touch one, much less make one his wife. He wanted them wiped off the face of the Earth.
“I understand,” Raze said calmly. He’d once been vocal about his hatred for humans, and look at him now: married to an ex-human who was expecting his child.
The thought terrified Surge. “Fine. I have to return to the palace. One more thing,” he hesitated. “Do you have any shampoo?”
Alicia didn’t mean to fall asleep, but she woke from her nap with her arms on the rim and her neck cricked from using them as a pillow. There was a bottle of shampoo and a bar of soap next to her.
Her room was transformed. The stone was scrubbed, the stench gone. Well, there was still a fishy smell wafting from the open door, but it was much better.
She saw sea grass rugs, and two couches faced each other over a polished driftwood coffee table, flanked by recliners. There was an enormous wooden wardrobe along the wall and a vanity table, and artwork decorated the walls. Decorative candles glowed, lighting the place with a warm glow to supplement the white light from the ceiling.
She wanted to weep with relief, but controlled the urge. A woman rose from the couch, smiling as she approached, and Alicia caught a whiff of smoke.
“Hello,” the redhead said, her blue eyes full of welcome and sympathy. A gold and ruby nose ring glinted, matching her ruby necklace and bracelet. She wore normal jeans and a t-shirt. “I heard you had a rough week. I brought you a goody basket and some clothes.” She grimaced. “Surge vetoed most of it; he’s got his own picks for you. There are some cute bikinis and saris, though, and I brought sandals. They’re in the wardrobe.”
Dazed, Alicia rose from the pool. “You’re an angel.”
She grinned. “No, I’m Kira. Surge said your name is Alicia? Glad to meet you. May I help you wash your hair? It looks as if they put you through the wringer, poor girl.”
Alicia let Kira coax her into the water and lather her hair; Kira did something to protect her hands that made them glow, explaining, “I’m a fire elemental, and it’s best that I don’t get wet.” She didn’t let Alicia pull away, gently massaging her scalp. “So you met the Fates. Cara and I want to take turns torturing them.”
Alicia groaned. “You mean the women who drowned me.”
Kira called them a very bad name. “I’m so sorry it happened to you. They lit me on fire and dissolved Cara in mud to make an earth elemental. I still have nightmares.”
“Why are they doing this?” Alicia said plaintively. “What did I do wrong?”
Kira directed her to rinse, then handed her a bar of soap as she explained, “It’s not you. Water (that’s Surge), Fire (my man) and Earth (that’s Cara’s husband, Tremor) made wedding jewelry eons ago and gave them to the Fates f
or safekeeping. Don’t ask me why. Apparently they were on better terms back then. Anyway, the Fates have used them to transform human women into brides for the guys, which they do not like. At least, at first. Things are great between the Earth’s and Raze and I now. You might say sparks flew in the beginning.” She smiled wryly.
“I don’t get it. Why not give them an elemental? Why torture us?”
“Well…I guess they’re trying to promote peace between elementals and humans. The guys were in prison for some stuff.”
“What stuff?” Alicia’s eyes narrowed.
“Um, in Surge’s case, I believe it was Atlantis.”
Alicia frowned, not understanding.
“He submerged it,” Kira said apologetically.
“What!”
Kira gestured with a brush. “Don’t worry, he’s reformed now. Raze buried Pompeii in ash, but look at him now; he’s a lamb.”
Alicia gaped. She’d been drowned so she could be given to a criminal? Surge was a mass murderer?
“I can see that’s not helping,” Kira muttered. “Why don’t you get out so I can brush your hair? I can only stand the water so long.”
Dazed, Alicia complied.
“You have amazing hair,” Kira said approvingly as the strands absorbed the water, leaving them dry. It had regrown to her shoulders. “Guys really love long hair. At least Raze does.”
“I don’t care what Surge likes,” Alicia insisted. “I hate him.”
“He arranged all this for you,” Kira said mildly.
“I hate him! This wouldn’t have happened if not for him.”
“Did you leave anyone behind? Family?” Kira asked gently.
“No one I acknowledge. I’m alone.” Her mother was dead and she didn’t intend to visit her hillbilly relations ever again. That part of her life was over.
Kira nodded and didn’t say anything stupid, like that would make it easier. Nothing made this better.
Alicia selected shorts and a t-shirt and settled on the couch, running a hand through her hair. “I want to dye this.”
“Probably won’t take,” Kira advised. She nudged a basket on the coffee table. “This might help. You can’t eat much human food now, and you can live on seawater and tidal power forever, but a change of pace is always welcome. Raze advised me which treats you can have.”
The basket held saltwater taffy, a loose tea that smelled fishy, yet strangely divine, salted cod and nori wrapped dried shrimp. Her mouth watered. “Is it weird that this smells good? Mm.” Her eyes closed as she savored a shrimp.
“Your tastes have changed. It’s to be expected.”
Alicia’s eyes popped open as she regarded Kira with a piercing stare. “Will you help me escape?”
Kira smiled sadly. “I can show you the way out, and I suspect you could even make it to the shore. I’m afraid it’s your new self that chains you here, however. You can’t survive without Surge’s help. If it makes you feel better, I think he’s eager to make up for his screw ups.”
“I don’t care how he feels. Can you help me?”
Kira sighed. “I’m a fire elemental, totally useless as a teacher. Surge knows things I never will, simply because I can’t manipulate his element. I can’t even touch it with my bare hands.”
She drew a steadying breath. “In fact, I nearly killed myself trying to feed off lightning in a thunderstorm after the transformation. I was running from Raze, from the idea of what I was and what had been done to me. He saved me from snuffing out in the ocean and lectured me when I discovered what “lightning drunk” was. I found out he wasn’t so bad.” She smiled with bittersweet memory.
So much for that. Kira obviously had good reasons why she wouldn’t help Alicia run, but their situations weren’t the same. She slid a look around, admitting that Kira had at least made the place livable. “Did you clean this room?”
Kira grinned. “I think Surge pressure washed it before I got here, but I sterilized it with fire before we set up shop. The furniture is waterproof, from the elemental market. I’d be happy to show you where it is; this room has potential, but I only brought enough stuff for a living area, and it’s so empty.”
Kira brightened. “You’ll love the elemental mall. You can come along on our next girl’s night out. Cara and I eat junk food and watch girlie stuff our husbands can’t stand.”
Alicia offered a noncommittal smile. Kira was nice, but Alicia wasn’t one of the girls. She wasn’t married, either. “Have you ever found a way to turn back? To become human again?”
“If there’s a way, we haven’t found it, but I understand why you need to search for it.” Kira stood and smiled at someone in the doorway. “Raze! Is it time to go already? Come meet Alicia first.”
Raze glowed with shifting shades of orange like a living coal. His short, yellow-white hair flickered as a hot breeze preceded him. She could practically hear him crackling with fire, and his eyes glowed blue flame. A wide, armored belt wrapped his stomach to his sternum, holding the blue sarong in place, and an enormous square cut ruby hung from a thick chain on his neck.
Alicia very gingerly accepted his hand, flinching when he bowed over it formally. Thankfully, his touch didn’t burn, as she’d feared it might.
Surge followed behind, his eyes flicking over Alicia with a frown. Maybe he didn’t like her clothes? Too bad. She didn’t like his pinkie ring or the stupid anklet, either, but they refused to come off. “I appreciate your wife’s help. She made the room seem more normal. I can’t wait to sleep on the couch; it’s so much better than a stone floor.”
Surge glowered. “You need to sleep in the pool.”
She bared her teeth. “There are things in the pool. I sleep in a bed.”
Surge smiled, but his eyes said they weren’t done.
Raze seemed amused. “Do come and visit soon. Surge will show you the way. I’m sure you’ll need a break from each other from time to time, and our guest house is always open.”
“I’ll do that,” Alicia said quickly, making her wishes known before Surge could do anything about it. “I’ll visit soon, maybe tomorrow.”
Surge crossed his arms, but didn’t gainsay her.
“You’ll love Maui,” Kira said as she hugged her goodbye. “I’ll have fun showing you around.” Then she turned to sparks and zipped off.
Fire elemental. Right. Alicia closed her mouth with a snap. She stared, but all she said was, “They live in Hawaii?”
“Yes. You can’t go unescorted, however. It’s too dangerous, and you need someone familiar with the needs of a young water elemental.”
“Why is it dangerous?”
He ticked off reasons. “Olan would love to get his hands on you, some humans actively hunt our kind and you have a tendency to dry out like a beached eel.” He raised his brows, silently inquiring if that was enough.
It was, actually. It was depressing, too, because she wasn’t deluded that she was still human. “Monster hunters, great.”
“Did Kira seem like a monster, or is this about you?” When she remained sullenly silent, he prodded, “Speaking of your new status as an elemental,” he made sure to emphasize his point, “you’ll need appropriate clothing.”
“I like these clothes,” Alicia growled, looking for a fight. It was either that or cry, and she refused to do that.
He looked her over slowly, taking his time, until she shifted uncomfortably. “I can see why, but they aren’t going to preserve your modesty after a shift. Not that any man would object, but flashing breasts is an invitation in any culture. You might not care for the attention.”
She crossed her arms, feeling her face heat. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
There was no warning. One moment she was solid, the next, mist. She panicked as her being spread out, very like the sensation she’d had when drowning. She had no way to orient, her senses flailing for safe, solid surfaces. She wailed in terror and suddenly solidified, crouching to press her hands against the reassuring sto
ne. She closed her eyes, fighting the vertigo.
Surge pressed a hand to her naked back. “It’s all right; I helped you shift to your mist form. I’d locked your abilities so you wouldn’t cause havoc when I wasn’t near to supervise, but it’s time you became accustomed to them.”
She shrugged away his touch, slapping the floor to remain upright. “Leave me alone! Don’t do that again.” She hadn’t needed more proof that she was a freak.
He remained crouched beside her. “It will happen; it’s instinct, and it’s a handy form for covert travel. I knew you weren’t ready for it before. Also, you’ll notice you’re naked. Only water elemental clothes will make the shift with you.” He brought her a pink sari from the wardrobe and wrapped it around her, supporting her weight as she wobbled to her feet, assisting her to a couch. “We’ll look at the wardrobe when the dizziness fades.”
Alicia spoke through her teeth. “I hate this.” Monster, monster, monster, her thoughts whimpered.
He sat on the couch but didn’t crowd her. “The sleeping pool is important, too. Not only does it provide optimal comfort and safety while resting for a water elemental, it’s vital. You’ll have noticed that you dehydrate while sleeping anywhere else.”
“I thought I wasn’t supposed to drink the sleeping pool,” she gritted, determined to take charge of her emotions.
He smiled with a touch of indulgence. “Well, you are a very young elemental. You look like an adult, but allowances must be made.”
It was too much, to have fought so hard and be reduced to the status of novice, of a child. “Maybe it would be better if I did dry out. Solve a lot of problems.” She closed her eyes, fighting for control, until the odd thought occurred that she might not have control, but she could have calm. It didn’t feel like her thought, and it was cool and refreshing.
Surge put an arm on the back of the couch and stared into the distance. “No, drying out doesn’t help. I spent hundreds of years as a dried husk, so I should know. I don’t want that for you.”