Free Fate of Elements by M. Stratton, Skeleton Key Page A

seems so incomparable. Hearing about her world with her words instead of the Librarian’s. They both saw things so differently.”
    “Did she say she wanted to go back?”
    “Funny, I asked her if she would go back given the opportunity.”
    “And…”
    “She didn’t answer.”
    “That means she’s staying.”
    “I’m not so sure. I think it means she’s on the fence, waiting to see how this whole thing plays out. It made me wonder if maybe there’s something she isn’t telling us. The prophecy never said the god would stay, only that peace would be brought to our world. We always assumed the door would only open once, for the god to come through it, but maybe she can open it and go back home again.”
    “That would be wonderful.” I tapped my finger against my lips, wondering if I could make her leave sooner rather than later. My plan would be much easier if she left. The amount of power running through my veins now was intoxicating. I wanted more.
    “Aren’t you worried about Erion?”
    I barely held back a sigh. I was done with that conversation. “He’s a big boy. I’m sure he’s thinking by hiding from the battle, his people will be safe up in the clouds.” I looked up at the sky. I knew they used to hide themselves up there from us down here. I wanted to fly up and let them know who was really in charge.
    “He’s never backed down from a fight before.”
    “There’s always a first.” I shrugged. “Who knows what goes on in his head? He doesn’t confide in me.”
    “We used to be close, all of us.”
    She wasn’t going to help me. I stood up and dusted the sand off my legs. “Life changes, nothing can ever stay the same. You deal, you adapt, or you die. Go back to your water.”
    “I miss you. I miss what we had as children.”
    “I don’t. I’m stronger now. I’ll never be that weak again. It’s better this way.”
    “I remember a little girl who used to cry when animals were hurt. You never wanted to see anyone die.”
    “You see enough death, and it desensitizes you.”
    Naida shook her head. “Then I hope I never get used to it.”
    “Don’t worry, sister, you won’t.” I smiled. She wasn’t going to have the chance. I needed her power, just like Erion’s.

Raina
    T he morning dawned , a cool mist covering the ground, spilling over the side of the canyon, filling it. It was mythical in appearance, the silence, eerie. Something about this still didn’t seem real to me. I had to wonder if maybe I had been in a car accident on the way to my uncle’s house, and I was actually dreaming this while I was in a coma. I loved to read, and became completely engrossed in the story. Maybe I went further this time.
    I felt Hallet approaching. As my powers grew, so did his. It would seem we were forever linked, and as far as we knew, no one but Ronin knew how strong he really was.
    “Where’s Naida?” I asked Hallet.
    He frowned. “I don’t know. This isn’t like her. This means too much to her for her to not show up. Ronin…”
    “Give me a few,” Ronin replied. He whisked out. I assumed he knew where she might be.
    For the first time since this all started, the reality of this adventure hit me. This wasn’t a book I was getting lost in. I wasn’t curled up on my couch on a rainy Sunday afternoon. I was here, in Aimsir, trying to figure out how I could bring peace to their world when we were standing here waiting for battle.
    I began to feel a vibration through the ground. A rhythmic thud, thud, thud . A mass of troops marched toward us. We had the fire elements with us, but there were no water ones to join us. No one had been able to get ahold of Erion, so we had no idea if he was with Dayna’s troops or not. While both Hallet and I could control all of the elements, which would give us an advantage, if they had more troops for the battle, we may not be able to hold them off. I was hoping I could somehow talk to Dayna, to make this all stop, but I knew she wouldn’t