Elemental: Chapter Eleven, Part 6

I chose to forego my sleep—not that I had been sleeping much anyway—and seek Drei. It was quite a hike to where Valetta guaranteed I would find him. The pine trees relented to my passage, almost in assurance I would get there.

The sun fell daintily though the branches and pine leaves, scattering light across a rocky ledge. Drei sat in the dappled light, gazing across the hilly landscape where black birds took flight in search for unfortunate mice and insects, or new nesting grounds.

“I’m sorry,” I said, standing a few yards away, “for scaring you.”

His gaze swiveled around as if searching for the source of the sound. When his amethyst eyes met mine, he shook his head gently, sighing. “I should apologize;” he seemed to search for the words to say, unable to hold my gaze for long. “You saw Nick as a person with a heart instead of a disagreeable occupation.”

“What happened to him?” I was timorous at the possible answers running through my mind. Depending on whose idea it had been, the options seemed to range from bad to worse, not finding any happy medium.

“I offered him a place with us, under our protection,” Drei said. “He turned me down, and I will not pretend I was not somewhat joyous. It would be too suspicious following us afterwards, he reasoned. Then he proposed his plan.”

“His plan?” If it had come from Nick, I was almost too afraid to ask. It was worse than if it had been Drei’s plan. In my imaginings, at least.

“He had us beat him, a real thrashing. Valetta ensured we avoided beating him senseless—it was a wondrous feeling,” he admitted, his features lighting up. I shook my head; I couldn’t help it. They were my guys and I should have known there would be violence somewhere in the plot. Okay, I did know, but I was hoping there wouldn’t be. “Then we hogtied him and left him afloat on the lake in a boat he found behind one of the cabins.”

“That sounds like Nick,” I admitted, a slight smile playing across my lips. “He always liked the big twist of surprise and huge impressions.”

Drei seemed like he was about to say something—he would turn to me, or part his lips slightly—but he didn’t for a while.

“What?” I asked, sitting next to him.

“We know why the government killed his family.”

“I know,” I replied, quietly. When he gazed at me with wide eyes and raised eyebrows, I continued, “He told me—I don’t think he meant to—when he told me he was—you know.”

“Are you still upset with him?” Drei looked away again.

A sigh escaped me; I had known this was inevitable, just as he had known this conversation was coming sooner or later. “I won’t lie. I miss him—a lot more than I thought I would.”

“Do not fret;” Drei smiled at me. “Nick is bound to show up somewhere down the road.”

“Did he say anything…before we left?” I asked, unable to help myself. I knew he had talked to me, but what would he have said to Drei or anyone else? And did he tell them something he didn’t tell me? Like I really wasn’t going to see him again? I knew Drei said I would, and Nick, too, but that didn’t mean they weren’t conspiring together; I could see Drei agreeing to go along with it.

“How about you watch?” Drei suggested, as he settled back. I sat across from him and watched as he closed his eyes, summoning the memory; I viewed it as it played above his head.

“You may join us,” Drei offered, hands buried in his pockets.

Nick chuckled. “It’s polite of you to ask, but you know I can’t.”

“It would be for her. Not for me.” Drei paused, struggling with the words. “She needs you.”

Nick shook his head, a slight curve to his lips. “We both know she only needed me as a substitute. A temp, if you will. And we both know,” he added, “that the unknown risks of me following outweigh any good I may or may not do.”

“I thought I would offer;” Drei shrugged.

“That’s a good thing, man;” Nick smiled. “It means you’re noticing her as a person, not just as another elemental needing to be saved from the oppressor’s inexplicable wrath.”

“I will take that as a compliment…?” Drei said, furrowing his brow.

“That’s what it is. Look, just don’t leave her lonely again, or I may just have to pop back in.”

“You can be sure she will be well accommodated on that front.” Drei stood taller—if that was even possible—as if to emphasize his point.

“Good.” Nick turned to leave but whirled around again, an index finger raised skyward, a devilish grin on his lips. “One more thing. We have to make this look believable….”

Drei sat up again, his eyes open, cutting me off from whatever came next.

“He has a good heart,” he said good-humoredly, sincerely.

“Yeah,” I agreed, beginning to feel sleepy.

“You have yet to achieve a good day’s rest.”

How did he always know? Then I remembered what Valetta had said. The two of them, they see everything. I should have expected as much.

Scooting over so I was next to him, I leaned against Drei—too tired to even fathom the walk back—and he smoothed my hair back from my face, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. His embrace really was comforting. And there was that luscious scent again. Smelling it now made me realize I had begun to miss it.

“Sleep is important,” he whispered, pulling me under whatever spell he had over me. I didn’t fight it; it was pointless to try. Besides, sleep sounded amazingly wonderful. And Drei made the comfiest pillow.