The Elementalist (3 page)

7

~It Ain't as Easy as it Looks~

Alisa

I closed my eyes—out of habit—and pictured his face, fully expecting to appear at his side, like I used to as his guardian.

It didn’t happen.

Of course, I couldn’t do that now that I was stuck in a human body. I grabbed Claire’s purse. I’d drive to wherever Brecken lived, but first I would have to figure out where Claire lived. I pulled out her wallet as I hurried back outside and noticed her birthday. She was my age. We’d be in the same grade—seniors this year. How did I not remember her?

A rush of nostalgia washed over me, and the pain of what I’d lost and would never have again pierced my heart. Unless… unless I could have it in
this
body. Maybe Raphael was giving me a second chance.

I called out to Claire’s mom from the front porch. “Hey, Mom.” The words felt uncomfortable and strange in my mouth. This woman was not my mother. I’d just have to pretend. “I’m going to… uh…” I couldn’t tell her about Brecken—some strange boy she’d probably never met.

“Katelyn’s house?” her mom asked, her eyebrows rising with a hint of a smile as she walked toward me.

“Yeah. Katelyn’s.” I laughed like I knew I was a ditz.

“You sure you feel all right?”

“Yeah. I’m good.” Hurrying outside, I jumped in a car that sat in the driveway. A light blue VW Volkswagen convertible. Super cute. I knew instinctively it was Claire’s. The key slid in perfectly and the car started with a putter, but died immediately.

“What the…?” I looked down at my feet. Oh no. Three pedals. It was a manual. I’d never learned to drive anything but an automatic. I heaved a sigh of exasperation. This was going to cost time. Pushing down on the clutch, I turned the key and started the car. It came to life and didn’t die. I smiled, satisfied. I was such a quick study.

Releasing the clutch, I pressed the gas. The car jerked forward and almost smashed into the garage door. I screamed in fright, adrenaline spiking all the way to my fingers and toes. Closing my eyes, I tried to remain calm. I could do this. My brother, Derek, had a clutch in his car. I’d driven it—once.

I tried again… with the same results, and then I realized I wasn’t even in reverse.

It took at least fifteen minutes to figure it out, but oh, happy day when I finally backed out of the driveway without the car jerking or dying. I was surprised Claire’s mom hadn’t come out to see what was wrong.

***

It didn’t take long to find my way to Brecken’s house. Everything was as I remembered, right down to the dust-bowl park by his house. It seemed like a million years ago that I was here. I pulled into his driveway and hit the brakes with a screech. The car jerked and died. I hadn’t pushed the clutch in. Not caring in the least, I ran to Brecken’s front door, my heart literally racing in anticipation. This was a moment I had dreamed of for so long. To touch him in the flesh. To feel his lips on mine… finally!

I plowed right into the front door, expecting to slip through the wood like a ghost… out of habit. Pain exploded in my face, and I was temporarily blinded by the stars that danced before my eyes like flashes of lightning.

A warm, sticky fluid immediately began to run from my nose, down over my lips. I caught it in my hands and stared, amazed at the exquisite throbbing in my face. Blood flowed over my fingers, making them slick and red. I stood there, thrilled to see it, to taste the metallic flavor in my mouth, grateful it was there at all.

I had a physical body! And it hurt so badly!

The front door flew open. A cute, young girl of about thirteen, with an expression of horror, stared back at me.
Heidi
! She screamed and then ushered me in, pulling me to the kitchen sink, grabbing paper towels to wipe my face.

“Oh, my gosh! Are you okay? What happened?” she asked. “Brecken! Get up here!”

A moment later, I heard a familiar pounding on the stairs and then saw the most beautiful boy I had ever met, living or dead. His deep blue eyes were full of concern as he took in the scene, grabbed the paper towels, and led me to the couch, pushing me down onto the cushions.

“Are you all right?” He stared into my eyes.

I was positive he recognized me. “It’s me,” I whispered.

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” he said, wiping my chin, his eyes gazing into mine. And then he frowned. “Do I know you?”

“Yeah,” I whispered. “You definitely do.”

8

~Reunited at Last~

Alisa

Brecken stopped wiping my face, the bloody towels still in his hand. Both Heidi and Sophie sat on the coffee table watching as though I was a strange phenomenon blown in by a tornado. The thought made me laugh, and then groan, because laughing really hurt… wonderfully.

“Yeah, I’m okay. I just walked into the door.”

“Why did you do that?” little Sophie asked. Although she wasn’t so little anymore. She had to be at least ten now.

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, the towels pressed to my face. “Habit, I guess.”

Heidi scowled, confused. “You walk into doors a lot?”

Smiling, I gazed at these familiar faces. This was right. This was where I was meant to be, where I was most comfortable. I loved these girls as though they were my own little sisters. Reaching out with one arm, I hugged each of them tight.

When I pulled away, all three stared at me like I was a mental patient. “Uh, sorry. I’m just so glad to be… somewhere I can get cleaned up.” What I really wanted to do was blurt out that it was
me
! That I was back and here to stay. “Um, do you girls mind if I talk to your brother alone?”

They frowned, and I hated to make them leave, but I really needed to talk to Brecken privately. They were polite enough to say yes and leave the room. Brecken watched me, probably thinking I belonged in a straightjacket. I chuckled again, wiping the last stains of blood from my nose since it had finally stopped bleeding. I could still feel my pulse beating there. My pulse! I had a true pulse.

I looked at him squarely and smiled. I knew Claire’s body looked marvelous even though her hair was messed up and windblown. There were bloodstains on her clothes, and her nose was probably red from the hard thwap against the door, but I could tell he found her attractive by the way his gaze lingered on her… body parts.

I leaned forward, dying to reach out and touch him. “It’s me,” I whispered again. “Alisa.”

He pulled back, his eyes narrowing, and then he frowned.

“Really, Brecken. It’s me.”

His hand came up as though he was going to reach out and touch me, but he pulled back instead, in a gesture of denial. “Wait.” He stood and paced before me, stopping for a moment to study my face, search my eyes, and then my expression. His eyebrows pulled down in confusion. I couldn’t help but adore the crease of his dimples as his lips thinned in concentration. Finally, he sat down beside me.

“This voice may be different,” I said. “But listen to me with your heart. It’s really me. Raphael let me come back.” I was breathless, longing to touch him, aching for him to believe me.

“My Alisa? My guardian?” His eyes opened, full of surprise and hope.

My whole body warmed when he said,
my
Alisa
, and a rush of tingles spread over my arms while chills pricked my neck. It was the most wonderful feeling I’d had in this body so far. “Yes,” I whispered.

“I don’t believe you.” He turned away, shaking his head. “This is just like something that… never mind. I think you should leave.”

“What?”

“Please, go.”

I stared at him in alarm. This was not how I’d envisioned our reunion. With my nose still throbbing, I grabbed for his hand, but he jerked away.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Brecken. You’re being stupid.”

His eyes darkened at my words. Oops. I really should consider the harshness of my comments before they flew out of my mouth, but I continued. “You need proof? Fine. The last thing you said to me in Raphael’s office was that you would wait for me forever. You kissed me, and we could actually feel it. I’ll never forget that, Brecken. And after you left, Raphael informed me that you had to get married and have kids… with someone
else
.” I held back the tears that threatened, not wanting to look pathetic just when we’d reunited. “I wanted to die after hearing that. You can’t imagine…”

He rushed to my side, his eyes wide and questioning, as though he still couldn’t quite believe it, but I could see his doubts had been removed. Mostly.

“But… how?” Leaning forward, he grasped my hands and scooted closer. “Why are you in a body? In someone else’s body? This
is
someone else’s body, right?”

“Yeah, and I’m not sure.”

“Is this permanent?” His hands moved over my face, his thumbs traveling over my lips with tenderness.

“I don’t think so.” I closed my eyes and focused on his every touch, placing my hands over his as he traced the lines around my mouth. I leaned into him, and a shaft of sunlight fell on his face, making him glow with an ethereal luminescence. He was so beautiful, more so in this moment then he had ever been. And he was mine. His past, his present, and God willing, his future.

He pulled me to his chest, his hands sinking into my hair as he gasped in surprise. His heart raced against mine. “Alisa… I can’t believe it,” he murmured with a sigh. When he pulled back, it was only slightly, his gaze coming to rest on my mouth. “I can’t believe it,” he said again, and then he pulled my face to his.

I inhaled the scent of him as my arms slid around his neck, my hands entangling in his hair. I drew him closer, our bodies pressed together. The feel of him, the gentleness of his arms, the firm length of his legs, the warm, soapy, aroma of his skin…

He kissed my cheeks, my eyes, and my neck. I was no longer hindered by my past, no longer afraid. I was free to love this boy. This gift. I let my hands rove over his arms, his shoulders, his back, memorizing every muscle.

“Alisa,” he whispered against my mouth. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

“I do.”

Time stood still for us, and our reunion was sweeter, more achingly romantic, more wonderful than any story I had ever read, any movie I had ever seen, or any experience I had ever imagined. My heart burst with emotions I’d never felt before.

When we finally pulled apart, it was to gaze into one another’s eyes. Spellbound, entranced, and locked into this moment by pure magic. Tears glistened in my eyes, and he kissed them away when they began their slow descent down my cheek.

My fingers traced the lines of his face, the feel of him locked into my mind. I would never forget the heat of his skin, the moistness of his lips, the yearning of his hands. No one could take it from me. Ever.

Then our moment of magic was interrupted by Claire’s ringing cell phone.

9

~Lord of Hell~

Bas Iblis

Bas Iblis sat on his throne of obsidian, darkness crowding around his mordant soul as though he himself were a giant black hole. His mood matched his expression as his hands gripped the arms of the stone chair, turning white. His minions cowered back in fear as he roared his outrage.

“Asmoday!” he bellowed.

The demon slinked forward, a wry grin on his face. He didn’t seem the least bit afraid of his master. As the master of Hell, Bas Iblis would soon change that.

“What is the most recent report from Idir Shaol?” Bas Iblis’ voice rang through Gehenna’s great hall, echoing off the black, granite bricks.

Asmoday inclined his head and crossed his arms. “Actually, the news is promising, My Lord. Idir Shaol will soon fall into our hands. The angel Raphael has been captured and will shortly be imprisoned in these very walls. The guardian recruits were easily converted and will be assigned to inhabit the bodies of The Mother’s children. All is going according to plan.”

Bas Iblis reclined in a relaxed pose. “That is good. And what of the Undoer? Have you found him yet?”

“No, My Lord,” Asmoday answered. “We are still searching for him. They have hidden him well.”

“Make Raphael tell you. Torture him!”

“We’ve tried, My Lord, but his will remains unbroken,” Asmoday answered.

“Find him or I will have your head beneath my feet!” Bas Iblis shrieked, his fury exploding in the room like a poisonous gas. It spewed from his mouth and distilled over all. “I will have him back in my clutches, I swear it on your souls,” he growled, his voice low and threatening as he surveyed the chamber of quivering demons.

“Yes, My Lord.”

“And his guardian? Have you done as I commanded?” Bas Iblis questioned, his voice suddenly calm and serene.

“Yes, My Lord. It is done. She is trapped in the Elementalist’s body.”

“Good. Use her. She will lead you to him.” Bas Iblis nodded, lost in thought for a moment. He imagined his fingers around Bretariel’s throat, squeezing, relishing every moment of torture—

“My Lord?” Asmoday’s voice cracked as he addressed his master, which made Bas Iblis’ smile grow wider. “What do you want done once she has led us to the Undoer?”

Bas Iblis waved his hand in the air, dismissing the demon. “We’ll discuss that when the time comes.”

Asmoday nodded and backed away, his eyes never blinking. Did Bas Iblis detect a bit of fear in those dark depths? Yes, he did. Asmoday had better be afraid. They had
all
better be afraid.