Evan Elemental (The Evan Elemental Series) (4 page)

Weeks
pass before Magda arrives. I spend my time wandering about the estate, either
trying to memorize each hallway and staircase or running through the estate's
immense gardens and orchards.

It
rains steadily during those weeks, and the dark clouds and endless moisture, as
I cut through the unusual spring heat in a rhythmic jog, is a welcome reprieve
from my thoughts. I haven't seen
Lex
since that first
time and I do my best to avoid the neat little cottage set deep in the garden
that must be the guesthouse. I need to get my shit together before I can face
him again. The idea of seeing him again unnerves me completely.

The
first time I see Magda, I'm coming in through the main entry soaked from head
to toe in a pair of black spandex tights and a black cotton tank top. She takes
one look at me, turns, and leaves without saying a word. Greta stays behind to
tell me that once I get dressed my grandmother would like to see me in the
library.

The
library is the only room beside my own that I feel comfortable in. The idea of
some sort of confrontation there makes me feel sick, but I head up to my room
and change into the black dress I wore on my first day here. I tuck the pendant
just below the collar and comb my hair into a neat ponytail before going down
to face Magda.

.

My
grandmother has a way of sucking all the oxygen out of a room. Up until now, I
still held on to some hope that maybe she's a nice little old lady who would
bake me cookies and ask me about boys. That is not the kind of grandmother that
Magda Price is.

When I
enter the library, I find her sitting stoically behind the big old mahogany
desk that I usually sit at with my laptop or one of the thousand dusty old
books on the surrounding shelves. My skin itches as I stand in front of her
while she scrutinizes every inch of me, but I force myself to stay still. It's
almost like meeting
Lex
, but without all the haunting
sexual tension. I stifle a grin at the thought.

"Evangeline,"
Magda says finally, offering a small smile. It's not an unkind smile, but it's
certainly not inviting. I don't bother asking her to call me Evan. My mother
told me once that Magda had a hand in picking out my name, so I don't think she
would appreciate the alteration.

"I
apologize that I couldn't be here sooner," Magda says in a cool, even
voice that doesn't sound at all apologetic. "My business is very
demanding. So much so, that I may stay only a few days before I must depart
again."

She
pauses, obviously waiting for me to say something. I wonder if I should be
sorry that she
won't
be here longer. I know Aunt
Lilian
would be pissed to know she's planning on leaving
again. I've been lying to her enough as it is, telling her Magda was busy when
she asked for her.
Lilian
has no idea Magda has been
gone for three weeks, and she never will.

"Oh,"
I say lamely. "I'm so sorry to hear you won't staying longer. I had been
looking forward to us getting to know each other better." I punctuate my
lie with a polite smile and force myself to keep eye contact.

"I
know that this has not been easy for you," she says, standing, "but I
hope that you've found your arrangements comfortable and to your liking."

I shift
uncomfortably under her piercing stare and merely nod in response. Suddenly,
her gaze flicks to some point over my left shoulder and her mouth turns up in
what appears to be a genuine smile. Her eyes even glimmer a bit.

"Ah.
Alexander," she croons. "So glad you could join us."

"Magda,
dear, it's
Lex
. Remember?"

Magda
rolls her eyes, but amusement paints her face. She looks about ten years
younger and I'm vaguely reminded of the painting I saw on my first day at the
estate. I glance over my shoulder to see
Lex
standing
in the doorway. He's wearing a black, well-tailored suit and an arrogant smile.
I'm surprised to find that he looks way older than when I first laid eyes on
him. Still, he's hot and it takes all my powers of restraint not to go to him.
Plus, he's kind of flirting with my grandmother and that grosses me out.

"Of
course. Evangeline," Magda says in a pleased voice, "I'd like to
introduce you to Alexander Monroe. He works for us at Price Industries."

I feel
him suddenly at my side. Hesitantly, I turn and allow him to take my hand in
his.
Lex
draws my hand to his mouth slowly and places
a gentle kiss on the back. He pauses before letting go, that same strange look
he had when he touched me before passing almost indiscernibly across his face.
When he finally drops my hand, I again feel a pang of loss.

"So
good to meet you,"
Lex
says, his voice dark and
smooth.

"You
as well," I reply and quickly look away. I can already feel a blush
creeping up my chest and onto my face.

I'm not
sure why he doesn't mention us having met before, but I don't bother to say
anything. I'm sure he has his reasons. I feel Magda's eyes on me, so I chance a
glance at her. The amusement is gone from her face and is replaced by that
stern piercing expression from before. She sits back down and turns her
attention to the screen of the laptop sitting in front of her.

"Since
I will be leaving so soon," she says in a clipped voice without looking at
either one of us, "and I am not sure how long I must be gone for, I've
asked Alexander to keep an eye on you. He will be taking you into town this
week. I understand that you've been spending too much time moping about and
it's time you assimilate yourself with this town."

I open
my mouth to argue but she gives me a hard look over her computer that silences
me. "Our family is very important to this town and you must represent us,
whether you feel up to it or not. I, too, grieve over the loss of your
mother..."

"And
my father."

She
takes a deep breath and ignores what I said. "But, we cannot let our grief
consume us. We have a duty to this town that I expect you to uphold in my
absence. I have arranged for you to attend tea at the Ladies Council next
Tuesday. Alexander will take you shopping to find something suitable to wear,
won't you Alexander?"

"Yes,
Ms. Price."

She
gives him a satisfied smile and begins typing. "You may be excused,
Evangeline," she says without looking up again.

Unsure
of myself, I stand awkwardly for a moment before turning to leave. I try to
avoid looking at
Lex
, but he manages to catch my eye.
He offers me a small smile, a glint of amusement in his eyes, and something
else, something that causes a slow burn to start in the pit of my stomach and
spread through my body, warming my skin. My pendant tingles softly.

The
feeling unnerves me and I practically jog out of the room. I make it halfway
down the hallway before I hear footsteps close behind me. I slow but don't
stop.

"Evan?
May I walk with you?"
Lex
asks softly.

I open
my mouth to respond, but he's already beside me. I give him a weary glance and
nod.

"Thank
you," he says after a moment.

My
forehead wrinkles in confusion. "For what?"

Lex
gives me a half smile, his eyes
flitting momentarily to my lips. "Not mentioning that we had met
before."

I laugh
wryly. "Ah, yes. I thought my grandmother had sent you to check up on me
already? I mean
,
that's what you said."

Lex
cringes. "I may
have..."

"Lied?"
I reply, cutting him off.

He
presses his lips together to suppress a smile. "Yes, I may have lied a
bit. I had some personal business that I needed to see about that I'd rather
your grandmother not know of."

I stop
walking and so does he. "What kind of business?" I ask, facing him.
"Besides, if it was such a secret, why did you even bother talking to me
in the first place?"

Lex
lets out a soft laugh as he
takes me in. With his eyes on me I'm starting to lose track of myself, fast.
"Curiosity?" he exhales.

I roll
my eyes and start to walk away, even though every cell in my body begs me to
stay put. He places his hand on my elbow, stopping me.

Lex
takes a step closer so that I'm
forced to look up at him. His eyes wash over me; when he speaks, his voice is a
deadly whisper. "How could I see a pretty girl standing in a hallway,
gazing intently at a painting, and not want to speak with her?"

Our
eyes meet with a crackle of electricity.

"You
didn't have to lie," I whisper. There's a slight tremor in my hand as I
raise it and trace my finger along his smooth, hard jawline.

The
amusement fades from Lex's eyes. It's replaced by a burning intensity I've
never seen before, not in a look meant for me. He lays his hand gently on the
curve of my waist and guides me closer to him. My breath picks up and I feel my
heart begin to frantically beat itself against my ribs, as though it wants
nothing more than to mesh with his.

I feel
a wall crumble, letting loose a flood of feeling that's been locked inside of
me, begging for release. My soul vibrates with the sensation, it takes hold of
me and, suddenly, I know what I'm feeling: power. There's no other word for it.
Pure and untamed power rips through me and alters me right down to my DNA.

"Alexander?"
Magda's voice rings out, breaking the spell.
Lex
drops his hands from my body and pulls away in a slow fluid movement that does
nothing to belie his reluctance to let go. I look away for a second, trying to
find the words to express what's going through me. A slight breeze stirs the
air. When I look back, he's gone.

It was
Monday when Magda came. By Wednesday afternoon, she's gone. I had the pleasure
of only seeing her one more time before she leaves. We had dinner the night
before she left and spoke little during, which was fine since all my thoughts
were preoccupied with the moment I had shared with
Lex
,
who was mysteriously absent.
Or maybe not mysteriously.
It's possible he just wasn't invited.

Every
time I looked up and my eyes found my grandmother sitting stoically at the head
of the table, eating or making conversation with Greta, I wanted to cry. It
wasn't because she seemed to like ignoring me, but because she was in no way my
mother. I had a terrible time trying to reconcile with the fact that my mother
somehow came from this woman, this life. I wanted so badly to have my mother
there instead so I could tell her about
Lex
, so I
could ask her about the weird necklace. I never liked to confide in my parents
before, and now I'll never get the chance again.

When I
had gotten to Price, I had hoped that my grandmother would give me some sort of
explanation, would expel some of the doubt and fear that had come from my
parents' decision to send me here. At the very least, I had hoped she would
give me some insight in to why my mother left Price after I was born and never
came back. The only insight I get is that my grandmother, her mother, is a cold
disinterested woman more focused on running her business and keeping up her
public image than properly grieving her daughter or caring for her
granddaughter.

I had
half a mind to throw a tantrum and insist she stay with me out of spite, but
the idea of spending in indefinite amount of time alone with
Lex
was just too alluring. It was clear my Grandmother had
no interest in getting to know me and I decided I had no interest in her,
either.

Halfway
through dinner one of the maids- and yes there are several "servants"
employed at the "estate"- came in to let Magda know she had a
phone-call. Magda excused herself and, when it became clear she wasn't coming
back, I excused myself as well. Greta barely looked up as I left.

That
night, the steady drizzle of the weeks before culminated in a rolling
thunderstorm. I opened the French doors in my room and sat on the floor just
outside of the storm's reach. Thunder cracked in the clouds unseen and
lightning split the sky, casting eerie shadows on the landscape.

I
watched it unfold from the darkness of my room. I had always loved
thunderstorms and this particular storm seemed like it was made for me; it felt
like the perfect expression of my own inner turmoil.

The
stone on my necklace felt heavy on my chest. I reached behind my neck and
unclasped it, holding it before me. At that moment, an electric blue bolt of
lightning shot across the sky. The stone took the bolt of lightning and held it
deep inside. I expected it to let go after a second, like it did back in my old
room, but it held on tight. The light danced and flickered inside the heart,
seeming to multiply and double in brightness.

I held
my breath, mesmerized by the sight. Though I held it stock still, the stone
seemed to drift toward me, as if I had some sort of magnetic pull. With shaking
hands, I threaded the chain under my hair and re-clasped it around my neck. The
stone seemed to float down before it rested back on my chest.

When my
skin connected with the smooth surface of the heart it felt like my entire body
was consumed by the fevered electricity that pulsed through the night. I felt
that same stirring of feeling inside of me that I had felt before when
Lex
touched me, only stronger. Power like I had never known
could be possible flowed through me, detaching me from the world I existed in
and pulling me somewhere in-between life and death.

I was a
part of the night and yet, wholly separate. Peace settled over my spirit,
making me feel a wholeness that I had never felt in all my short life. I closed
my eyes tight and allowed the feeling to pulse through me and make its home
inside of me.

When I
opened my eyes again, I was in my bed and it was morning and Magda had left
without saying goodbye.

Now
that she's gone, I feel a sense of relief. I know I should process what
happened during the storm last night, but I decide to file it away with the
rest of my problems, because
Lex
is coming over. He's
supposed to take me into town to find something to wear to tea with the Ladies
Council.

When he
arrives, I expect there to be some awkwardness between us, but there isn't. We
drive along Main Street in an easy silence. I decide, after some consideration,
that there isn't any point in trying to discuss what happened, what seems to
still be happening, between us. It'll unfold on its own, I assure myself.

Just
before we enter town I spot a tree that has been split down the middle,
probably from lightning. The sight causes the memory of last night to come
rushing back. Since I woke up in bed, I'm not entirely sure that it wasn't a
dream. Despite my mind's doubt, my heart knows that what happened was real.
Somehow, I know I could tell
Lex
about it, but I'm
not sure how to begin. So, I don't mention it.

Lex
takes me around to some pricey
boutiques that don't carry anything that suits my taste. Unfortunately, it
doesn't matter what my tastes are. The point of the trip is to find something
that will make me appear acceptable to a bunch of stuffy rich ladies, whose
opinion my grandmother feels is deeply important.

After
several hours of searching, I end up with a few dresses that are almost all
floral prints and lace collars. I even pick out a couple pairs of standard
pumps with unflattering kitten heels and a pearl necklace with matching
earrings.

While I
shop,
Lex
keeps his distance and makes polite
conversation with the salespeople. I can tell he's bored, and so am I, but we
both put up a cheerful front until it's over. Before heading back to the estate,
we stop at a little coffee shop where we're finally able to relax and talk
freely. I sit while
Lex
orders us drinks, which I
think is ridiculous, but he insisted.

When
we're both finally sitting, our drinks in front of us, I feel the awkwardness
finally start to creep in, making me blush and
Lex
shift uncomfortably. I want to ask him about himself but my tongue stays
stubbornly stuck to the roof of my mouth. The caffeine only serves to make me
more nervous.

I
glance around, trying to focus on anything other than him. The crowd is sparse,
it being a weekday. The décor is average coffee shop décor: tasteful art
prints, a few overstuffed couches, and shiny lacquer tables surrounded by
spindly iron chairs. The girl behind the counter texts rapidly on her cell
phone, while casting furtive glances at
Lex
.

"I
think you have a fan," I say in an overly nonchalant voice. I immediately
regret saying it.

Lex
, who has been intently studying
his palms, looks up, his eyes flooded with confusion. I shake my head trying to
play it off, but he turns and catches the girl eyeing him. She meets his gaze
steadily, the corner of her lips quirking up in a seductive half smile.
Lex
turns back to me, his eyes lit up. My face heats and I
contemplate making a run for the door.

"Does
that bother you?" he asks in a playful voice.

I shake
my head, not able to meet his eyes. "No, why would it?"

He
doesn't say anything else for a moment and I'm overcome with the need to fill
in the empty silence. "So, uh, how long have you worked for Mag- my
grandmother?"

I
glance up and find him watching me with curiosity. "Some years," he
replies vaguely.

"Years?"
I laugh. "You seem kind of young to have been working anywhere for 'some
years.'"

"Evan,"
he says, leaning forward and taking my hand in his, "I don't want to lie
to you again, so let's not talk about this."

My jaw
drops slightly in surprise. I shake my head. This is not how I was hoping this
afternoon would go. "Then, what are we supposed to talk about? Because
sitting here in silence is just awkward and confusing," I blurt out.

Lex
smirks. He squeezes my hand
slightly before letting go. "I know," he says gently, "but I'm
finding it difficult to come up with a topic of conversation that would both
interest you and allow me to speak freely."

My
eyebrows shoot up until they practically touch my hairline. Who exactly was
this guy? I know most people find a little mystery exciting, but he crossed the
line of "a little" a long time ago and I'm not sure how I feel about
it. I've discovered too many secrets lately, and I don't know if I can handle
anymore. But, I'm a glutton for punishment and the idea of brushing him off
because something about him scares me seems like a terrible idea. I want him
around and I want to know him, as much of him as he'll let me, anyway.

Lex
bites down on his full bottom
lip, considering his words. "I would like for us to be friends. I know
that I'm supposed to be here in a strictly professional capacity, but I
wouldn't be able to stand it if I had to keep myself separate from you. I know
this is very forward of me, and I can't offer you an explanation as to why I am
so compelled to speak to you this way, honestly, because I don't know why
but..."

"Stop,"
I interject, letting out a shaky breath, "you don't have to say anything.
I understand completely. I feel that way too." I feel myself blushing
deeply, but I don't care.

Lex
relaxes visibly and takes my
hand again. I take a moment to revel in the sensation that skin-to-skin contact
with him stirs within me. There's something different about his touch. He feels
cool in a way that seems to burn. My mind begins to wander to a place where it
isn't just our hands touching.

I know
it's impossible, but the way he looks up at me as the thought crosses my mind,
his eyes full of wonder and, if I'm not mistaken, desire, makes me think that
he can sense my thoughts or, at least, the feelings that course through my
body.

Gingerly,
he lets go of my hand. He offers me a smile that's loaded with meaning that I
can't decipher. I try not to let disappointment at the loss of his touch show
in my face.

"Shall
we head back?" he asks in a quiet, thoughtful voice.

I nod
slightly and stand, following
Lex
out to the car. We
drive back in silence, my eyes unfocused as I watch the town fade into forest.
When we reach the estate,
Lex
walks me to the door
but doesn't come inside. Instead, he says goodbye and leaves without a backward
glance. I don't see him again for five more days.

I try
not to be mad or anxious about his absence, but it's difficult. I want to yell
at him and throw a fit when he shows his face again, but all that is forgotten
when he finally does.

It's a
quiet sunny morning when I hear a soft knock on the door that stirs me from my
thoughts. I push myself up from the balcony where I'm sitting with a book in my
lap, and pad to my bedroom door. When I open it, I'm expecting to find Thelma,
who's basically in charge when Magda is gone, with tea, though it's a little
early. Even though I've been here for almost a month I still can't get used to
the idea of having a staff of people to wait on me in my own home twenty-four
hours a day.

At
first, I argued against it and insisted I could get my own food and do my own
laundry. It caused too much tension since all the employees were worried Magda would
find out that they haven't been doing their job properly. I didn't want to get
anyone in trouble so I relented and stopped complaining. Still, afternoon tea
delivered to me every day is a little much.

Instead
of Thelma, I find
Lex
standing on the other side of
the door. He's wearing a soft grey long-sleeved t-shirt with the sleeves pushed
up to his elbows and a pair of fitted black leather pants and the same scuffed
motorcycle boots from before. His hair has that perfect messy done-ness to it
and he smells fantastic. In his hand, he holds a bouquet of freshly cut lilac
that he most likely got from the bushes in the garden that have just begun to
blossom.

"Evan,"
he says, trying and failing to suppress a grin. My heart swells and heat pools
in all the right places at the sound of my name coming from his mouth. I really
need to get a grip.
Lex
hands me the bouquet and I
fumble with it for a second, unsure what to do with the flowers since I don't
have a vase. Eventually, I decide to set them on the coffee table, but not
before pressing them to my face and inhaling the sweet, heady scent.

I turn
to look at
Lex
who's lingering on the threshold,
watching me. I can't tell if it's curiosity or amusement that colors his
expression. Maybe it's both.

"Um,
would you like to come in?" I ask hesitantly.

Lex
glances at the bed and lets out
a small laugh causing me to turn a deep shade of pink. Internally, I cringe at
my own embarrassment; I didn't used to be like this. Normally, nothing fazes
me, not even bad boys with messy hair and crooked smiles.