Free Evan Elemental (The Evan Elemental Series) by Crystal Groszek Page A

and I can move on with my life." I
start to walk away when something occurs to me. I backtrack my steps and stop
in front of Lex who is still standing where I left
him. His expression is glazed over, as if he's trying to work out something
really complicated. " Lex , tell me
something." He blinks and his expression clears. He nods once, letting me
know he's listening. "If you knew I had that, then wouldn't Magda have
known I had that?"
    His
eyes widen slightly, and it becomes clear what he was just thinking about so
hard. "I would be more surprised if she didn't," Lex says finally, his voice quiet and tinged with defeat.
    "And
you said before that there were rumors about some object, some magical object.
Is that it?" I ask, gesturing again to the necklace. He starts to shake
his head no, but stops, his mouth falling slightly open.
    I can't
stop the panic that fills my chest and the tears that fill my eyes.
    "Do
you think," I choke out, the tears falling freely, "do you think that
she knew, that Magda knew that my parents were going to..." I trail off,
unable to finish the sentence. The taste of salt washes over
my lips and the soft sunlight that's shining over us is cut off by a black
cloud that's wandering by, leaving us enshrouded in shadow .
    "I
don't see how that's possible." Lex replies
softly. He takes a tentative step toward me. When I don't move he wraps his arm
around my shoulders and pulls me close. "Besides, the rumors all indicated
that it would happen in December. A lot of it is fishy, but everything I heard
was very clear that Magda was expecting something to come on December 18 th ."
    I grow
still, my body suddenly ice cold. I slowly start to
shake my head but it doesn't stop the thought from forming.
    "Evan?" Lex asks gently. He places his finger under my chin
and tilts my head so that I'm forced to look into his eyes.
    "December
18 th is my eighteenth birthday," I whisper. "What does
that mean Lex ?"
    When he
doesn't respond, I pull away from him and begin backing away. Without so much
as a backward glance, or a second thought, I turn and break into a run. I'm not
exactly sure what it is I'm running from, but I desperately need to think and
running is the only way I can anymore. The world rushes by in a blur and I tune
out all sound except for the crush of dirt beneath my feet and the echo of my
footsteps.
    I don't
stop until I reach the edge of the lake. There isn't a single swimming pool at
the estate, but it does have its own lake, and it's the color of green glass in
some spots and turquoise in others. There's a handy little plaque that explains
how the coloring is caused by bacteria but, with recent
developments, I'm not so sure if I believe that.
    I can
feel Lex's presence nearby, even though I didn't hear him come after me, but I
don't acknowledge him. Instead, I close my eyes and inhale, easily pulling the
energy in the air toward me until I can feel it vibrate against my skin, aching
to come inside. I remember that I'm no longer wearing the necklace; I'm doing
this all on my own. With a sharp intake of breath, I let the energy flow in to
me in one controlled, intense, rush. I am overcome with the heady feeling of
oneness.
    My eyes
close as I allow myself to feel everything. In my mind I conjure a scene of
white-pink petals raining down on me. I feel the breeze begin to pick up and I
concentrate harder on the image. My heart thrums against my rib cage as the
power inside me swells and erupts.
    The
scent of apple blossoms fills the air and my eyes snap open. The air around me
is consumed in a cyclone of delicate flower petals. I can almost hear them
whisper to me; can almost feel their delight. I take another deep breath and,
exhaling, pitch my arms forward sending the blossoms scattering over the
surface of the lake.
    The
power I feel evaporates slightly, but I can still feel it there, a gentle
vibration just below the surface of my consciousness, and it's like nothing
I've experienced. I turn to look