Elemental (The Keeper of the elements) (12 page)

Ronnie stared at me with a stunned expression, water dripping from her hair. My heart was thumping violently in my chest, my anger still rolling through my veins. “Thanks for the training. I’m pretty sure I have water down.” I spit, turning my back on her and walking away. Things were changing and I realized that I had no one. There was no one I could depend on except myself.

Chapter Twenty One

“Why are you doing this? Why won’t you listen?” Aydan pleaded. He sat across from me, his hands linked together and his forearms propped on his bent knees. It was one of those perfect moments in my dreams that Aydan and I can spend with each other. He sighs and rubs a hand through his hair and looks at me sadly. “Gemma…you cannot come to save me. Why won’t you listen? I don’t want you to die and Blaze wants to kill you. Please…” His voice holds a pleading tone and it stabs through me like a knife. I want to give in and give him whatever he wants but I cant. I need him so much.

“Aydan…” He cuts me off and shakes his head. “Come here.” He whispers and my walls come crumbling down. I slowly crawl to where he is sitting and lean my back against his chest. I shifted in his arms, anxious to be closer. I missed his feel and his smell. Aydan tightened his arms around my waist and nuzzled his chin into my neck. “Please, please don’t come for me. I can’t stand the thought of you being hurt.” He whispered into my ear, his breath sending shivers down my spine. I closed my eyes and relaxed into his embrace. “I want to stay here forever.” I sighed. I felt Aydan’s chest rumble as he chuckled. His fingers traced small lines up and down my arms. “I want to be selfish and let you, but we both know it’s not possible…” He sounded sad and the tone forced me to turn around and face him. “Blaze is getting closer. I have less and less memories of you. It was a struggle today. I only remembered you five minutes before we came here. It’s like my mind can’t remember but my heart does.” He avoided my gaze and I softly touched his cheek, gently guiding his eyes to my face.  “Then we have to rely on your heart not to forget me.” He smiled his lopsided grin that always melted my heart.

He sighed and nodded, “I can feel Blaze coming…we don’t have much longer.” I felt the familiar bubble of panic rise in my chest. “No please! I’m not ready!” I cried as I gripped his shoulders tightly. “Please don’t make me leave.” I begged. The thought of being apart a moment longer made me sick to my stomach.

Aydan held my face in his hands and smiled. “It’s okay
.” He whispered as he stood up. My heart was beating frantically in my chest. I watched in horror as he turned slowly, looking behind him briefly, just as he turned red blood began to seep through his white shirt. He faced me acting as though nothing was happening. His body began to shimmer and soon he was gone. I sobbed painfully and loudly as my heart felt like it was shredding.

There was always an adjustment period when I would wake up after spending time with him. It was hard to remember that we weren’t together. It had been about a month since Aydan and I really spent any time together. It was in between those moments of sleep and waking up that my mind would twist the reverie into reality and I’d wake up in confusion because Aydan was nowhere to be found. During my thoughts lately I begin wondering if we were ever really friends or if we had always been more and I just wasn’t mature enough to accept it.

I opened my eyes and instantly the crippling pain hit. With every breath I took my chest quivered with pain, my heart almost to broken to beat. It’s early morning and the pink afterglow of sunrise paints the mountain in beautiful colors, but I’m in too much pain to be able to appreciate it. I struggle to get out of bed, my legs shaking as they try to hold me upright. Tonight has to be the night. I have to save Aydan because if I don’t I’m going to die. Slowly, and agonizingly painfully I dress in a pair of black skinny jeans and a red tank. Purple circles are more noticeable under my eyes this morning since sleep has been pretty much nonexistent lately.

I’ve barely spoken to anyone over the last few days and have been steadily avoiding Roland. If I was going to die I didn’t want him to upset; perhaps if I distanced myself than it wouldn’t hurt as much. I sighed and looked at myself in the mirror. I wanted to remember what I use to be, what I use to look at before my awakening. Before I was the keeper. I wasn’t even sure I truly understood what that meant. Amelie and Aydan explained it meant that I was a pure blood, but everyone was acting like it was something much more important than that. I pulled my hair up and sighed. I desperately needed more answers and I knew just who was angry enough to give them to me.

After over an hour of looking I finally ran across Darrington. I don’t know how it took me so long to find him in such a small area. “Darrington?” I asked, gathering his attention. He glanced over and I flinched. He had ended up losing one eye and now wore a black patch. He smiled and I noticed it didn’t light up his face like it used to. “Yes Gemma, what can I do for you?” His voice was even different, softer I guess. I looked down, twisting my fingers nervously. “I just want the truth. I think I deserve that much don’t you? I deserve to know what is so special that everyone is fighting for me. Dying…” I whispered quietly. Darrington sighed and rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. “You’re the keeper. The last true pure blood.” I noticed he had hesitated, a sure sign of lying. “Okay fine. You want the truth? I’m not sure that you can handle it Gem.” I licked my lips and thought about it for a moment. Could I handle it? “I deserve to know.” I decided firmly. Darrington nodded and gestured to a path way off on the side of the house.

I followed him and we walked along the twisted side of the mountain. Birds were singing and a soft breeze rustled the trees, overall it was absolutely a gorgeous day. After a few minutes Darrington started. “Your parents were royalty. They were the Keepers, in other words the king and queen. As they’ve told you the elementals are only part of the fae community. Your parents ruled over all the fae. Some of the fae didn’t agree with their rule, especially the Dhamirs. This is the creature you saw that killed your parents.” My head was swimming with all the information and I was starting to feel sick to my stomach.  I wanted information and I was finally getting it. “What is a Dhamir?” I asked curiously. Darrington glanced back, almost as if hearing someone following us but then dismissed it. “A dhamir is part vampire and part human. They have since your parents death been killed off.” I nodded slowly, “Vampire?” Darrington chuckled loudly, his deep bellow bouncing off the rock walls. “Forget what you thought you knew Gemma. Throw everything that you were taught was just fairy tales to the wind, because it’s all real.”  We didn’t talk much after that and Darrington let me walk back quiet and lost in my own thoughts.

I was technically a princess. That’s why I have always had a guard, why I have always had Aydan. I was a princess and that was why so many had died and why so much effort was put forth to keep me alive.

Chapter Twenty Two

The house was dark and silent.
No one else was going to die. I had overheard that they would be going in for Aydan in the morning. There would be no need because I would be going in tonight. I pulled my hair into a tight ponytail and stuffed a few more things into a small bag. “Get in, Get Aydan, Get out.” I whispered. Those three little phrases had become my mantra. My heart pounded nervously as I opened and closed my hands. The energy sparked causing the tips of my fingers to glow blue. I smiled slightly, turning them over to watch the blue color in the dark.

I looked out the window and took a slow and deep breath. The moon was high and full; it was time to go. I tiptoed through the house, quietly. My heart hammering painfully in my chest; almost as if Aydan knew I was coming and was trying to force me away with the beating of his own heart. I was nervous and my hands were trembling as I tip toed down the stairs and quietly out the front door.

Once outside I closed my eyes and called to the wind. I glanced back at the house silently saying my goodbyes. With any luck I would be back by morning and Aydan would be with me. I had to hold on to the hope that would happen. I felt the wind brush against me and light tug me into the air. It felt freeing and gently as the wind wrapped me softly in it’s embraced.  I prayed, begging to whomever was above me that I would not fail. I wanted Aydan back and I wanted Blaze dead for all the harm he inflicted.

Gently I landed among fragrant rose bushes and a dark house. I pleaded with my pounding heart to quiet. It was so loud I swear someone could hear it. I licked my lips nervously and glanced around. Things were too quiet. Being so close to Blaze’s house made me edgy and I found myself anxiously shifting my weight and sighing more than usual. My hand touched the door knob and slowly turned, letting out a soft click that in the silence sounded like the clanging of the liberty bell.  I could feel the energy pulsating in my body, ready to strike. The tension was thick and my nerves were on high alert. I waited a moment before pushing the door open praying that it didn’t creak. Thankfully nothing happened and I stepped quietly into the dark kitchen. “Gemma.” A harsh whisper startled me and I squeaked, spinning quickly. “Roland!” I answered. Roland stood behind me, a worried look on his face. “I won’t let you do this alone.” I sighed, knowing it was useless to argue. I simply nodded and continued forward.

I crept quickly through the dark house. I couldn’t let my nerves get to me, Aydan depended on me. I kept my jaw tight and my ears open as I moved quietly and swiftly. Energy was pounding through my body, anxious to be released. I could feel Roland closely behind me as I stepped into another room.

Suddenly the light went on, nearly blinding me and sending my heart into a heart attack. Aydan stood in a doorway, bruised, broken and looking like a completely different man. Even with the anger, pain and exhaustion, his beautiful eyes sent butterflies through my stomach. “Can I help you?” He asked. My heart sunk instantly. “Do you know who I am?” I asked, terror icing over my heart. Aydan studied me angrily, “I know the two of you are breaking and entering.” I felt the tears burn. He didn’t know who I was. The tear slipped down my cheek and Aydan’s look switched from anger to confusion. “Am I supposed to know you? You do seem a little familiar but I’m not sure how I know you. “  My heart was aching painfully in my chest being so close to Aydan. I watched as he winced in pain and gripped his heart. “Are you okay?” I asked cautiously, he looked up and a spark flashed in his eyes, “Yes, I’ve just been having chest pains. Enough about that though, why.. do you seem so familiar?” I thought back to what he said in one of our reveries, even if his mind didn’t remember me, his heart would. I moved quickly , before I lost my nerve. I came up in front of him quickly and grabbed his face before I could change my mind or before he could back away. I pressed my lips firmly to his. I could feel the shock in his firm lips, his confusion and his uncertainty. Gently I wound my hand up to the back of his neck and softly threaded my fingers through his hair. His lips softened, accepting mine and molding with them. They parted and his tongue caressed my top lip. Suddenly I felt like I was on fire but in a good way. Something broke inside of me and I felt a surge of energy in my body and I gasped into Aydan’s mouth. “Gemma…” Aydan whispered against my swollen lips. I groaned and pressed myself tighter against him. “I told you not to come.” He said suddenly, pushing me gently away.