ELEMENTS: Acquiesce Read online

  “D’you have any family?” asked Cordelia eventually.

  “I’ve an uncle and aunt who took me in, five cousins. It gets kinda crowded mind. They run the local tavern, it’s only a small place. That’s why I like to get out. Gets me outta their hair and them outta mine. Still, I shouldn’t complain. I should count myself lucky really.”

  “They say salt water heals all wounds,” said Cordelia.

  Breck paused for a moment before clearing his throat, “Ah, I’m not much of a swimmer. What about you? Do you have family?”

  Thoughts of Flynn rushed into Cordelia’s head. “I’ve people to take care of me. I should be going, they’ll be wondering where I am.” Cordelia dried her feet with yesterday’s clothes and slipped her boots on. “Load me up,” she said, holding her arms out.

  “Won’t you let me walk you home?”

  “I can manage. Thanks all the same.”

  “Will I see you again?” asked Breck when they reached the track.

  “I hope so.” Cordelia turned and walked towards the cliffs.

  “Where are you going?” asked Breck. “There isn’t anything that way for miles. Only the lighthouse.”

  “I’ll see you later!” called Cordelia, quickening her pace.

  Back at the lighthouse, the smell of breakfast filled the air. Cordelia put the clothes in her chamber and joined her friends who were sitting in their usual spot.

  “Where’ve you been?” asked Lana.

  “Retrieving our clothes.”

  “You went back there on your own?”

  “Yes,” said Cordelia abruptly. “Anyway, enough about me, how’s your leg Masika?”

  “I think I’ll live to see another day,” she smiled. “I need to get going actually. Amatheia wants to change this dressing.”

  “I’ll come with you,” said Nerissa, clearing their plates away.

  “Did you see any ravens this morning?” whispered Lana.

  “No. Not a single one,” said Cordelia.

  “I haven’t had a chance to speak to my father yet.”

  “Maybe it’s for the best.”

  “What d’you mean? You want to be on the diving team don’t you?”

  “Yes, but maybe it’s best if you don’t mention the ravens. Won’t he ask what we were doing there?”

  “It’s just a reef,” said Lana. “Nobody else goes there. It’s really only Morwen who’d take issue with it.”

  Cordelia noticed Rafe watching her from across the room. His eyes were intense. She stared back, waiting for him acknowledge her. He didn’t. He turned to Max, they cleared their plates and left. Cordelia tapped her feet under the table as she felt the anger simmering away inside. Angered by the arrogance, annoyed that she allowed herself to feel this way about a boy - a boy who she didn’t even like, Cordelia placed her hands on the edge of the table and scraped the wooden bench across the floor as she stood up.

  “Wait for me,” said Lana, still chewing a mouthful of food as she followed Cordelia out of the dining hall.

  Lana’s quickening footsteps echoed in Cordelia’s ears as she navigated her way through the bustling tunnel to their morning lesson with Marilla.

  “Cordelia, slow down,” said Lana. “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong? Was it something I said?”

  Cordelia stopped in the tunnel and turned to face Lana. “It’s not you,” she said quietly.

  “I’ve told you I’ll speak to…”

  “It’s not the competition,” interrupted Cordelia.

  “Come on girls,” called Marilla. She was standing in the doorway to her snow dome, the rest of the class already seated at their desks. “I’m sure whatever it is can wait.”

  Lana eyeballed Cordelia as they walked into class.

  “Meet me in the library at lunch,” whispered Cordelia.

  The girls took their seats while Marilla wrote the title of the lesson on the board.

  “Deposition,” said Marilla excitedly, underlining the word.

  The screech of chalk on the board sent shivers through Cordelia’s body. She rubbed her arms gently until the goosebumps disappeared.

  “Today we’ll be learning how to change water into frost, ice and snow,” continued Marilla.

  Shrills of excitement rippled around the chamber and Cordelia was quietly pleased that she was finally taking part in a lesson that the rest of her class hadn’t already completed.

  “First we need to understand why we might want to use this power,” explained Marilla. “We’re not about turning innocent creatures into ice statues or turning the sea into a skating rink in the height of summer just for the fun of it.”

  Sniggers could be heard coming from Max’s direction.

  “You need to take this seriously Mr Jordan,” said Marilla. “Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes Miss,” mumbled Max.

  “Good, now make yourself useful by handing out these bowls of water. One bowl for every student.”

  Max reluctantly followed orders.

  “Now who can tell me why we might need to turn water into ice?”

  Luna volunteered first.

  “Yes?”

  “For defense?”

  “Very good Luna,” smiled Marilla. “You may wish to create a wall of ice as a form of defense. Anyone other ideas?”

  The room was deathly quiet.

  “Mr Hurley, what about you? Can you think of any uses for ice?”

  He shrugged his shoulders, “Maybe a path to walk on?”

  “Excellent! You may want to create a path or a bridge of ice to help others who may be in danger. Don’t forget, we are protectors of sailors, you could help a sailor escape along a path of ice while you ward off any danger.”

  Lana put her hand up.

  “Yes dear?”

  “You said we couldn’t turn innocent creatures into statues but what about less innocent creatures? Could we freeze them as a form of defense?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Masika and Nerissa entered the room just in time to witness something spectacular. As Max approached Cordelia’s desk he thought it would be entertaining to spill an entire bowl of water in her lap but he was not expecting such quick reflexes. As Cordelia looked at the bowl of water in Max’s hands, the water seemed to fall in slow motion. She looked at the smug grin on his face as the water continued to fall and within a split second she had controlled the water with one swift swoop of her hand, sending the water straight up into Max’s face. Half the class gasped while the others laughed as Max scowled at Cordelia and wiped his face with his sleeve.

  “Well deflected Cordelia,” smiled Marilla before Max had a chance to retaliate. “Maybe next time you could send the water back to the bowl.”

  Marilla and Cordelia exchanged a look of understanding. Cordelia felt an enormous sense of relief to know that someone had her back while Mazu and Triton were away. Nerissa took the bowl from Max and summoned the puddle of water back into the bowl before making her way to her seat.

  “Thank you,” said Cordelia.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Now, before we continue,” said Marilla, “who can tell me the advantage of creating a blizzard?”

  Lana’s hand shot up. “To create a screen, so they don’t see you!”

  “So who don’t see you?”

  “Sirens?”

  “Very good. Make it difficult for them to see you. They won’t like flying in that either. Now, watch closely.”

  Marilla closed her eyes and held her hands out in front of her, palms facing downwards. She gently wiggled the tips of her fingers and delicate spikes of frost raced across the floor and up the walls until the whole chamber was covered.

  “Wow!” mouthed Masika.

  The students were all stunned as they looked at the frost patterns glistening in the candle light.

  “It’s beautiful,” whispered Nerissa.

  Marilla smiled at the students’ delight. Then she raised her hands so they were in front of her face. Stil
l wiggling the tips of her fingers she lowered her hands. Gentle snowflakes began to fall from the ceiling and floated all around the chamber. In this moment, Cordelia forgot about everything else that was on her mind. She’d never seen anything so beautiful in all her life.

  “That’s insane!” cried Rafe.

  “It’s just the moisture in the air. Let your mind control it,” said Marilla. “Try it with the water in front of you. All you have to do is think of snow.”

  The students immediately started practising their own skills with some picking it up quicker than others. Gradually, snow started drifting out of water bowls on the students’ desks and perfect flakes of ice danced around the room. Masika was not finding it so easy.

  “It’s not doing anything,” she moaned.

  “Concentrate,” said Nerissa.

  “I am.”

  Suddenly a flurry of snow sped out of Masika’s bowl and hurtled around the chamber. The snowflakes became larger and began to fill the air.

  “Make it stop!” said Lana.

  “I can’t!” said Masika.

  “It’s your injury,” said Marilla. “It’s affecting your powers.”

  The students watched in amazement as snow began to settle on the ground and rapidly rose to their knees.

  “Nerissa, you can make it stop!” cried Cordelia who could barely see her own hands in front of her face. “Control it for her!”

  “Cordelia’s right,” said Marilla. “You can do this.”

  Gradually, Nerissa calmed the blizzard until it stopped.

  The class was silent.

  “Well don’t just sit there gawping,” said Marilla, “use your powers to put the snow back into your bowls. It’s all in the mind.”

  One by one the students commanded great heaps of snow into the air and guided them into their bowls.

  “It won’t all fit,” said Max.

  “I was hoping to save this skill until the next lesson but I suppose now is as good a time as any,” said Marilla. “If we melt the snow we’ll fit more in. Rub your hands together, hold them over your bowl and think of a warm fire. You should see the snow start to melt.”

  “It’s a good job this is a double lesson,” whispered Lana.

  “I’ve enjoyed it though,” said Cordelia. “Haven’t you?”

  “Yes. Although we didn’t actually turn anything to ice,” said Lana as she continued to clear snow from the floor.

  “It can’t be that difficult,” said Cordelia. She looked around for something she could freeze. ‘That’s it,’ she thought. As her classmates busied themselves clearing away the snow, Cordelia held out her hands, palms facing the door. She closed her eyes tightly and thought about nothing but ice. As the door handle began to freeze, the door flung open and Morwen, who was standing on the other side was instantly encased in ice.

  SEVEN

  FIRST KISS

  Cordelia stared in disbelief at Morwen whose dreadful features stood frozen in time.

  “What’ve you done?” exclaimed Lana who was first to notice Cordelia’s predicament.

  Cordelia’s wide eyes remained on the statue. “I didn’t mean to do it.”

  Lana scanned the chamber. Everyone else was still preoccupied with snow. “Well don’t just stand there,” said Lana, “do something.”

  Cordelia followed Morwen’s eye line.

  “What are you doing?” asked Lana.

  “She was looking at the door handle,” said Cordelia, relieved. “I don’t think she saw me.”

  “But I did,” said Max, his voice rigid. “Looks like you’ll be leaving sooner than we thought.”

  Cordelia glanced at Rafe who simply shrugged his shoulders and gestured towards Morwen.

  “Seriously, what is your problem?” snapped Lana. The rest of the students stopped what they were doing and turned to see what was going on.

  “What’s all the commotion?” Marilla sternly called from the front of the class.

  Gradually the students stepped aside, creating a clearing between Marilla and Morwen.

  “I see we’ve had a little accident,” said Marilla. She walked calmly between the silent students who closed in around her as she made her way towards Morwen. She studied the statue closely, just as Cordelia had done. “Leave it with me,” she said chirpily, turning to face the students. “I’ll finish up here, just be careful on your way out.”

  “It was…”

  “Stop.” Interrupted Marilla. “Nobody likes a conk, Maxwell.”

  “Can we watch you defrost her?” asked Rafe.

  “I think you’ve all seen quite enough for one day,” said Marilla.

  One by one the students cautiously squeezed past Morwen on their way to lunch.

  The silence didn’t last long. Laughter and roused voices echoed in the tunnel and students sniggered as they glanced over their shoulders at Cordelia who had stopped walking.

  “Come on!” called Lana. “You don’t want to be around here when Morwen comes out.”

  Cordelia didn’t budge. “No,” she said, shaking her head, “I have to go back.”

  “Go back?!” exclaimed Nerissa.

  “I have to. Morwen’s going to find out one way or another.”

  “Marilla said she’d sort it,” said Masika.

  “Even if she did, I’m not sure I can trust everyone else to keep that sort of secret. You go on, I’ll be fine.” Cordelia turned to head back to the chamber.

  “Wait!” said Lana. “We’re coming with you.”

  “We are?” said Masika.

  The four girls walked the short distance back to the chamber, their hearts beating fast beneath their chests. To their surprise, Morwen was still frozen, she hadn’t moved an inch. Over her shoulder they could see Marilla sitting on the edge of a desk. Cordelia squeezed through the gap into the chamber.

  “Are you alright?” asked Cordelia.

  “Oh yes, I’m fine,” replied Marilla. “I’m just enjoying the peace and quiet really.”

  Lana, Nerissa and Masika joined them in the chamber.

  “Fascinating really, isn’t she?” said Marilla. “It’s not often we get to study one of our own in such detail.”

  “Are you going to defrost her?” asked Lana.

  “Eventually.”

  The girls exchanged puzzled expressions.

  “Eventually?” asked Cordelia.

  “Yes. Eventually. I don’t see the need to rush. Do you?”

  “Won’t people realise she’s missing?” asked Lana with concern.

  “I’m sure they will,” smiled Marilla. “If she’s missing, Triton and Mazu will have to come back. One of them, both, whatever they do it has to be better than having Morwen in charge.”

  Mischievous smiles emerged on the girls’ faces.

  “I’m not sure about this,” said Lana. “The class saw what happened.”

  “They’ll soon forget,” said Marilla in a matter-of-fact tone.

  “I don’t think they’ll forget this in a hurry,” said Lana.

  “This is my doing,” said Cordelia. “You have to let me take the blame.”

  “You’re not responsible for what happens to her after this,” said Marilla. “Leave it with me. You girls have done nothing wrong. It’s best you don’t get involved.”

  “We already are,” said Cordelia looking to her friends for support.

  They all nodded.

  “She isn’t dead, is she?” asked Nerissa.

  “Heaven’s no!” exclaimed Marilla. “Just think of it as preservation. She ought to be thanking us really.”

  “Can she hear us?” asked Masika curiously.

  “Not a sound,” said Marilla. “She’s sleeping like a baby.”

  “With her eyes open?” asked Cordelia.

  “Won’t she be angry when she realises what we’ve done?” asked Lana.

  “Calm down. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it but from my experience she won’t remember a thing.”

  “You’ve done this bef
ore?” asked Lana.

  “Once or twice.” said Marilla as though she was talking about something completely ordinary.

  The girls looked at her warily.

  “Don’t look so worried,” she said. “It was all part of my training. Things were a little less strict back then.”

  “So where do we hide her?” asked Cordelia.

  “Never you mind,” said Marilla. “The less you know the better. You can’t lie about Morwen’s whereabouts if you don’t know where she is.”

  “I thought we were in this together,” said Cordelia.

  “You said that, not me. Now be gone with you before I make you clear up the rest of this snow.”

  The girls reluctantly left Marilla alone with Morwen.

  “I need some air,” said Lana.

  The four friends skipped lunch and headed outside where the warm sun proved a striking contrast to the morning’s wintery blizzards. For a fleeting moment Cordelia felt at ease. Safe. Relieved that one of her demons had been spectacularly removed from her increasingly complicated life, for the time being at least.

  “D’you think we’ll be able to enter the diving competition now?” asked Cordelia, sitting on the rocks with her feet in the water.

  “I don’t see why not,” said Lana. “I’ll check with my father. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

  Masika hitched her dress above the knee and unraveled her bandage.

  “That still looks sore,” said Lana.

  “It’s not as bad as it was,” replied Masika, scooping salt water onto the wound with her hand.

  “You’ll be fixed in no time,” said Nerissa. “Amatheia will see to that.”

  “I hope so,” said Masika. “I don’t really want another episode like this morning, especially if those ravens come back.”

  “D’you think they will?” asked Cordelia.

  Masika shrugged her shoulders. “Who knows. It depends what they want I suppose.”

  “Zamira’s very focused when she has her mind set on something,” said Lana.

  “But why is she interested in us?” asked Nerissa.

  “She’s not,” said Cordelia. “It’s me and I intend to find out why.”

  “How d’you plan to do that?” asked Lana.

  “I’m going to the islands.”