At Water's Edge: An Epic Fantasy (The Last Elentrice Book 1)

by S McPherson

  ‘You know, I realised something,’ he murmurs, working kisses along my collarbone. I lean my head back, eyes closed. ‘Why did we bring two tents?’ His teeth briefly pinch my skin and I tremble. ‘I will most definitely be in yours.’

  I gasp, hanging my head forward, so he can trail kisses along the back of my neck, around my ears and over to my other shoulder.

  The night continues with the four us sitting by the fire, exchanging tales of what we got up to when we were younger and what we would like to get up to after graduation. For all of us, it is only a few months away, mine June, theirs May. Though they call their months ‘sets’, what they call their fifth set is basically May. Two weeks here and only on my last day do I learn this and taste the wonder of their snickleberry root. I sigh inwardly; I have so much more to discover. I glance at the gethamot balanced on Milo’s knee. The arrow is still pointing straight ahead, the denomatrix is an emerald green. I’m relieved; it means I still have a good amount of time before my departure.

  ‘Never mind five sets from now,’ Yvane’s voice pierces my musing, ‘what are you planning to do once you pass the portal?’

  I shrug. ‘Go home I suppose. Make a plan from there.’

  ‘You mean go back to Cuckilbury?’ Milo’s eyes flash.

  ‘Of course.’ I furrow my brow. ‘Just for a day or two, but yes. For one thing, I have nowhere else to go, and secondly, I need to see how things are now.’

  Milo eyes me from where he leans by the fire. ‘When you say “things”, do you mean Drake?’ he asks, his voice brewing with agitated heat.

  I fiddle with my fingers, turn away. ‘I mean things. Plus, that’s the only place I know to look for Nathaniel.’

  Milo hesitates and I’m suddenly glad he knows so little about Corporeal, that he doesn’t ask why I don’t simply call Nathaniel on the phone. I can’t really explain my justification for wanting to return to Cuckilbury, I just know that, after leaving here, the thought of returning to something familiar – good or otherwise – is a little more comforting than the unknown.

  ‘But you can’t go back there,’ Yvane cries. ‘Who knows what would’ve happened if Lexovia hadn’t shown up the last time.’

  ‘I think we all know,’ and I grimace, ‘but I can’t just disappear either.’

  ‘You already have.’ Milo nudges me with his foot and I tense. Though I normally love his touch, the feel of it now just reminds me of how much I’m going to miss it. That all of this is coming to an end and that I never should’ve got so caught up in it anyway.

  ‘That’s not how life works,’ I point out. ‘I’ve had my little fantasy and now it’s time to get back to the real world.’ I move my leg from his reach. ‘It’s time to face reality.’

  ‘Reality doesn’t necessarily mean bad.’

  ‘It actually kind of does in my dictionary.’ I stand, shaking my head and breathing too deeply. ‘I need to get some sleep,’ I mumble, and stalk off to my tent. I don’t want to end the night like this but right now I’m irrationally angry at everything; at Drake, at myself, and I want to hate Milo simply because I don’t. Shirking off the common sense creeping its way to the surface, I stumble into my tent and zip it up behind me.

  Soon, I hear the others saying goodnight and hear Howard cast another spell, returning the fire to a gentle smoulder.

  Not long after, there’s a tap on my tent. I rake my fingers through my hair, trying to smooth it with the rampant beat of my heart, then pull down the zip. Milo enters, placing the gethamot by the entrance – the denomatrix still dark. He narrowly dodges the lantern I’ve placed in the corner as he kneels down in front of me.

  ‘Hey.’ His hand hesitates over mine but he doesn’t put it down, probably afraid I’ll smack it away. ‘What’s wrong?’ he asks, ‘honestly.’

  I let out a shuddery sigh, words stumbling in my mind. I don’t know what to tell him.

  ‘Why are you acting like this is the last time we’re going to see each other?’ he urges.

  ‘Isn’t it?’ I murmur, refusing to meet his gaze.

  ‘No,’ he scoffs.

  When I don’t respond, he grasps my chin between his fingers, tugging me to look at him.

  ‘I will see you again,’ he says, ‘maybe in one set, or five, or more, but this isn’t goodbye.’ He runs his thumb across my lower lip, sending chills up my spine. My whole body feels a surge of electricity and I tell my mind to focus. ‘Dezaray,’ he almost whispers.

  My shoulders sag and with no reply, I groan in frustration.

  ‘You’re so beautiful when you’re snarling like that,’ he grins and rises to sit beside me on the layer of blankets and sleeping bags.

  ‘Oh you,’ I say with strained humour. ‘Where have you been all my life?’ I’m only half joking, but I force a smile to keep from crying.

  ‘Isn’t it obvious?’ He cradles my face in his hand, bringing our noses to meet. ‘I’ve been trying to find you.’ My heart constricts like it’s just been punched. Then our lips meet; his prying mine apart and I soon return his eagerness; a rush of longing surging through me. This isn’t the end. I throw my arms around his neck, forcing myself into optimism. If my time here has taught me anything, it’s that anything can happen.

  THE WAITING GAME

  Lexovia stretches like a cat lounging on a windowsill, only she’s sprawled on a hillside that overlooks the stables, inhaling strong scents of wet grass and cowpat. She gazes up at the blue sky, puzzling at its lack of purple, and manipulates her eyes, tilts her head, so she might see shapes in the clouds.

  She baffles, wondering when she last did this. Last had the freedom to be still without someone rushing to find her or spying on her from some hidden corner—thinking she doesn’t know they’re there, watching and making sure their most powerful weapon is secure.

  Racking her memory, Lexovia realises she probably hasn’t been this free since she first attended Thornton Primary school. Until then, Samantha had raised both Milo and Lexovia in her little hut in Telathrodon sleeping area, and Lexovia had been just like every other child. Samantha was sure to tell Lexovia about her true home, her true parents and how one day they would all return to Taratesia, but to Lexovia, it had felt like nothing more than a distant dream.

  Almost every night, Samantha shared stories of the powerful Elentri empire, telling Lexovia how that same power dwelled in her. She spoke of Lexovia’s adventurous father, of her courageous mother, her voice always stumbling over these stories. And after every tale, she made Milo vow to be Lexovia’s protector when school came around.

  Though Samantha wanted them to stay home—stay hidden—people would notice if two children weren’t attending school and that would have raised more questions, drawn more eyes. They were little more than five years old at the time but Milo stood tall and pressed his fist to his chest.

  ‘Protect her. Protect the last Elentrice,’ he cried and began racing around the room, flapping his arms, as if he had wings.

  ‘Shhh!’ Samantha had hissed, though her eyes smiled. ‘It’s a secret, remember?’

  But that secret was shattered and Lexovia’s quiet existence was hollered from the skies, only days after she set foot in primary school. Samantha had tried to conceal Lexovia’s tell-tale mark—her pointed ears—under Lexovia’s thick black locks but the cover hadn’t lasted long and soon everyone knew. One Elentri still lived.

  The day the Court appeared on Samantha’s doorstep had been one of Lexovia’s worst. The men in green cloaks, Court members, spoke in low but brusque voices. Samantha was in trouble. She’d kept a secret, one that affected them all, perhaps jeopardised their entire existence.

  But Samantha stood tall, head high with a scowl on her face. She pressed Lexovia and Milo behind her as if she could shield them from what was coming, but nothing could. The Court had come to take Lexovia. As Lexovia grew, she thought Samantha was lucky that the Court never sought retribution but she realised they didn’t need to; taking Lexovia had been her punishment.
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br />   Lexovia was given half a day to pack up her things and say goodbye, not just to the Thor’s but to her childhood, her innocence. She was to leave with the men and from then on, live among the Court, learning to harness her power, somewhere she’d be kept safe. It wasn’t long before Lexovia began to hate that word.

  The entire time Lexovia packed, the men stood guard, supervising every move she made as if afraid Samantha or Milo may teleport her away.

  ‘You’re scaring her,’ Samantha had hissed trying to usher the men outside but they’d stood firm. ‘Give the girl some time to gather her thoughts!’

  ‘Our way of life was ruined because those beasts wanted the Elentri,’ one of the men had barked, ‘and you’ve been harbouring one right under our nose. Threatening us all.’

  ‘She was—is my responsibility,’ Samantha snapped.

  ‘Not anymore,’ the man spat, though his expression softened when he spied Milo’s and Lexovia’s frightened stares. He knelt down, donned a thin smile. ‘I know you think we’re the bad guys, taking you away, but we’re the ones who can keep you safe.’

  Lexovia had stepped back into the shield of Samantha’s skirt and the man had looked at Samantha almost pleadingly. It was clear he didn’t want to yank Lexovia away, kicking and screaming, but one way or another, she would be leaving Telathrodon and going with them.

  After what felt like a lifetime, Samantha had gently smoothed Lexovia’s hair, then crouched down to face her.

  ‘Lexovia, you have to go with them now,’ Samantha spoke evenly, her eyes flickering as if she were afraid to stare too closely at Lexovia, to see the hurt in the little girl’s eyes. ‘But you will visit us on the weekends; every weekend,’ she’d glanced at the man then and he’d nodded in agreement.

  Lexovia shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. ‘Don’t make me go,’ she’d whispered. ‘Milo will protect me, remember?’ And as if agreeing, Milo stepped beside her, a hateful glare directed at the two Court members.

  ‘Hey,’ Samantha squeezed Lexovia’s shoulders, her tone firm yet kind, ‘remember when I told you about that power inside you?’

  Lexovia nodded, her hand gripping a silver rattle, crowned with the emblem of the Elentri—it was one of the few things Lexovia still had from when she lived with her parents, among other Elentri.

  ‘These men can teach you how to use it,’ Samantha smiled, ‘they can show you how to defend yourself, just as your mother and father did. Would you like that?’

  Lexovia nodded more vehemently then, recalling the tales of her daredevil parents. She swore one day she’d rage as they had and claim back what the Vildacruz took.

  ‘Well,’ Samantha took a weighted breath, ‘this is how. Just as you go to school to learn about our world, you must go with the Court and learn about your gift.’

  Lexovia had cried as she hugged Milo and Samantha goodbye but they’d waved, donning encouraging smiles and Milo called, ‘I’ll see you at school.’

  Lexovia hadn’t been convinced, but true to their word, the Court did let Lexovia continue her schooling and she was allowed to spend weekends with the Thors. She was always guarded though; always watched from afar.

  Lexovia rubs her hands across her face now, the memories bringing equal joy as they do pain. What would her life have been like if she wasn’t an Elentrice? Or if she simply wasn’t the last Elentrice?

  ‘Penny for your thoughts.’

  She jumps. Either Jude moves like a wraith or she’d let her guard down more than she’d realised. So used to being stalked, Lexovia could usually tell when someone was approaching, long before they came into view—a sort of heightened sense, as if feeling out their energy.

  ‘Now, now,’ Jude holds up his hands, ‘don’t go striking me down or anything.’

  Lexovia frowns then notices the amber sparks jolting from her fingertips; a reflex. Clenching her fists, the power dies.

  ‘You shouldn’t sneak up on people,’ she states, returning her stare to the sky.

  ‘You’d think with all your fancy training, you’d have sensed me coming,’ Jude smirks as he sits beside her and Lexovia scowls. That’s exactly what she’d been thinking.

  ‘It hadn’t been that fancy,’ she murmurs instead. He lifts a brow in question but Lexovia doesn’t elaborate. She’s had enough of reliving the past for one day. ‘How’s Fawn doing with the gethamot?’ she asks without hope.

  Her fortnight in the corporeal world is almost up, yet she’s no closer to returning home. The gethamot is broken and their best hope is to take it to a shop in Feranvil Town where it can be fixed, but that will be after the portal closes, meaning more time away from Coldivor. Fawn has been working meticulously to see if he might fix the device, but so far he hasn’t appeared to be making any progress. By the furrow of Jude’s brow, it seems results haven’t changed.

  Jude leans back on his elbow, pulling up blades of grass and rolling them in his fingers. ‘He’s definitely hardworking, dedicated to fixing it.’

  ‘But?’ Lexovia presses, sensing the word on Jude’s tongue.

  Jude grins, shakes his head. ‘But he’s hopeless. Nearly set the kitchen on fire,’ he shrugs comically, ‘he’s not even using anything flammable.’

  Lexovia laughs but sympathises with Fawns determination. It’s far better to feel useful—even if you aren’t—than idly twiddling your thumbs. ‘Looks like I’ll be staying for new year’s, then.’

  ‘Seems so,’ Jude nods, dusting off his hands and lying on his back.

  ‘I should get a message to Nathaniel,’ Lexovia realises.

  Before leaving the college accommodation, she’d sent him a message from the phone he’d let her borrow. However, having just watched a television show where a woman was stalked and murdered—the killer using something called a tracker which was on the woman’s phone, to find her and listen in on her conversations—Lexovia kept her message intentionally vague. Not saying where she was going or giving any clues to who this helpful stranger might be. She’d then left the phone behind.

  ‘Nathaniel?’

  ‘Yes. He sort of helped me before I met you.’

  Jude turns to her, his interest peaked. ‘He’s the one that told you about Feranvil.’

  Lexovia shakes her head, ‘no, no. That was a premonition. Nathaniel knows very little about other worlds and nothing about this one.’ She plucks a dandelion from the ground, bringing it closer to get a better look, and startles when the wind blows, whisking away its fluff.

  ‘They do that,’ Jude grins at her bemused expression. ‘So, do you have a number for this Nathaniel who knows so little?’

  Lexovia frowns, ‘No. He put it in a phone for me but I left that thing behind.’

  Jude’s eyes gleam with mirth. ‘Why do I get the feeling you aren’t a fan of phones?’

  Lexovia glowers, sensing he’s about to mock her for her Coltis fears. Loads of Corporeals use phones and they haven’t been tracked and killed. But Lexovia barely handled the bus, and a phone felt as daunting as carrying around a bus in her pocket. That show was one of the most terrifying things she’d ever seen. Shoving her hair from her eyes, she murmurs, ‘Long story.’

  ‘My dear, Lexovia,’ Jude stretches, ‘you may not have noticed, but we have a long time to go.’

  HAPPY NEW YEAR

  The denomatrix turns from emerald to lime sooner than we like. We pack up camp, lower the force field and wait expectantly. I’m numb as the smoky arrow continues to point directly upwards.

  ‘Once the denomatrix is at its lightest hue, the portal will open.’ Milo seems to recite the words; they must be from Tranzuta’s book. I inhale deeply; this is it.

  ‘The portal stays awake for naught but a shimmer of a window. Those who wish to pass must pass as one,’ Yvane continues. There’s a sadness in her tone that I’m surprised to hear. I swallow. Am I ready to go back? No, but I never will be. Besides Nathaniel, I have little to go back for.

  Milo slips his hand in mine and I sigh, relieved to have
him pass through the portal with me; there’s no way I can do this alone. My eyes sting and I press them shut, willing my heart to steady, my thoughts to silence.

  ‘And so it ends,’ Howard murmurs wistfully.

  ‘Well, for us. They still have more time.’ Yvane smiles encouragingly and I try to smile back but my cheeks simply bulge as I fight back encroaching sobs. I am grateful for the extra time with Milo but the countdown has well and truly begun.

  Milo exhales. ‘It will never be our end,’ he murmurs softly, and squeezes my fingers. I squeeze back, pressing my palm to his.

  ‘Be careful,’ Yvane cautions as the denomatrix grows lighter. ‘Milo, we’ll be waiting here when the portal reopens.’

  ‘In ninety minutes, mind, not two sets—weeks,’ Howard jokes. We all chuckle half-heartedly.

  ‘Well, best get our hugs in,’ Yvane announces, observing the ever lighter denomatrix, and she startles me further when she crushes me in her grip. ‘I really do wish our realms could coincide more often.’

  ‘Me too,’ I agree, clenching my eyes shut.

  In mid-hug with Howard, a pale lime glow shoots from the gethamot and the portal materializes. Milo seizes my hand and we race through. The shouts of Howard and Yvane yelling ‘Bye’ and ‘Take care’ trail behind me. I glance to my left as we pass and frown. Lexovia doesn’t cross with us.

  ‘She wasn’t there,’ I say once we come out into the wood. There’s the faint murmur of Beatrice brook as it runs along its path but it’s too far away to see.

  ‘I know,’ Milo acknowledges with an uneasy glower. ‘Maybe she set out too late.’

  ‘Maybe.’ I shrug my untroubled shoulder.

  I’m relieved when I push on the gate to the back garden of Storm Manor and it creaks open. Milo follows as we tiptoe across the paved footpath towards the veranda doors leading into the kitchen and we stand to one side. I don’t know what I expect to find when I get inside, but if Drakes not on a tirade, or better yet, if he’s out, then the manor is somewhere warm to stay whilst I think of my next move.