Free The Elementals by Morgan Llywelyn Page A

sleeper.
    Now she regretted even that distance, though keeping space between herself and the others was a well-established habit. She wished she were lying pressed close against Elisbut or Sorcha or even Salmé.
    Her straining eyes made out the dim outline of the approaching head and shoulders. Ladra was actually crawling toward her on his belly, she realized with revulsion. Her hand made a small, convulsive movement, eager to use the knife.
    â€œKesair.” His whisper was so soft she would not have heard it if her senses had not become preternaturally sharp with tension. “Kesair.”
    â€œGet away from me,” she said in a low voice. She was embarrassed; she did not want the others to know.

    â€œI have to talk to you.” He wriggled closer.
    â€œTalk? Talk isn’t what you want from me.”
    â€œOh but it is. Just listen.” Ladra lay down beside her. He made no effort to touch her. “You tried to kill me,” he said in that same insidious whisper. “But I forgive you. I want you to know I forgive you.”
    His unctuous tone infuriated her. “You can’t forgive me for something I didn’t do. I never tried to kill you. But I promise you, if you try to lay a hand on me now, I will.”
    â€œYou should be nicer to me, Kesair. I’m the only one who appreciates you.”
    â€œThey follow me as their leader,” she said proudly.
    â€œIt isn’t the same thing. You are the leader because you’re … different. I understand that, I’m different too, in my own way. I could show you. We could make something very special together.” His voice was soft, insinuating.
    â€œYou’re different because you’re insane,” she said bluntly.
    To her surprise, he chuckled. “Is that what you think? I’m insane because I don’t subscribe to the same behavior as the rest of you? I am the sanest person among us, Kesair. I’m the only one who realizes that everything is different now; none of the old laws and restrictions apply. We can do what we like here, don’t you understand? Don’t you know how wonderful that is? We are free. Free.” The word hissed between them.
    â€œTake advantage of your freedom, Kesair. Don’t limit yourself to that wretched Fintan. Come to me. Be with me. Together we can explore ourselves, each other, this island, the whole world. It’s all ours to take and shape, don’t you see?
    â€œYou’re still tied to the past. You wanted to burn the rubbish, rather than simply walk away from it. You can walk away from everything now. No more responsibilities. Just pleasure. Pleasure …”
    Now he reached for her. Now his fingertips brushed her cheek with a touch as light as cobwebs. A touch as light as the kiss of sea mist …
    She drove the knife into him with all her strength.

6
    The tensile strength of living flesh surprised Kesair. For a moment she was not sure the knife had gone in.
    Then she heard him gasp. Some reflex made
her snatch her hand back as if to undo the deed. Too late, too late. The tug she had to give to remove the knife told her how deeply it had penetrated. She felt it grate against bone as she withdrew it.
    Appalled, she lay frozen.
    Ladra coughed. “You …”
    â€œI warned you!” she said through clenched teeth. She was alternately hot and cold. Her entire body was shaken by the pounding of her heart.
    â€œI …” Ladra stirred, gathered himself, struggled to his hands and knees. His head swung slowly back and forth.
    Warm blood spattered onto Kesair’s hand.
    Ladra began crawling backward, away from her. She lay immobilized by horror. What to say? What to do? She could not think. Her paralysis of mind was more frightening than the menace of Ladra.
    He somehow made his way back to his own bed without awakening anyone else. The wound was deep, his probing fingers discovered, but not close to the heart. Nor did it seem