Free The Elementals by Annalynne Thorne Page B

supposed to make all of this easier."
                "They warned us it wouldn't," Era sighed.
                They fell into silence once more. It was that heavy blanket all over again, smothering them. It was like they were at the death bed of a loved one, no one wanting to speak, to disturb the peace someone was having, or to disturb the search someone was having for coping.
                The muteness was broken then by a sharp knock.   All of them looked up peculiarly. No one ever came to their door, not since their first day in the house.
                “I'll get it,” Terra volunteered.
                “No, wait,” Marissa exclaimed. “What if...” Tears proceeded to roll, dripping off of her chin. She didn't finish the thought, ostensibly too horrible to complete. It wasn't needed; Terra knew what she was imagining. Whatever danger there was, it was aware that they were near the last element.
                “Stay here,” Terra ordered. She hurriedly went to the door in case they protested, but they followed at her side.
                With a huge breath, she opened the door, and to her surprise it was Bryne.
                “May I come in,” he requested roughly.
                She was not the only one who was startled by his sudden presence. Marissa had gasped and Era had seemed to become lighter, her feet hovering very slightly from where Terra's were next to hers.
                Silently, still in shock, she moved out of the way giving him a pathway into the living room. He stepped in, and she noticed that he had a worn and holey backpack thrown over his shoulder. He dropped it behind Marissa propping it against the wall. It wasn't just that that she took note of.
                Over his neck was a long thin scab, dried blood flaking under it. The new scar started from under the lobe of his ear and disappeared under his shirt that was bloodied. She didn't want to think about how it happened, but she would have loved to know who caused it.
                “Thanks,” he growled.
                “We're so glad you came,” Marissa said happily, her tears turning to big smiles.
                “Yeah...” Bryan seemed a lot less enthusiastic.
                Marissa’s gaze landed on the scar, the blood, and she covered her gaped mouth. “What happened?”
                “Nothing.”
                “It's not that bad,” Era commented, “I can clean that for you if you'd like.”
                He beamed at her, true light in his face. Not the angry fire, but like lights on Christmas trees. Like the sun. “That'd be great.” Bryan replied.
                Era floated ahead of him, to lead the way upstairs. Terra and Marissa followed them and stood outside of the bathroom doorway. Bryne sat on the edge of the tub as Era rummaged through the medicine cabinet.
                "What happened," Terra asked sternly.
                He groaned but gave in. “The elder….”
                “Give us a name.”
                “No. Not now. I told the elder that I told you all to get out of here. I thought it would be okay then, that we being separated would give him an advantage and he wouldn't go after you. He was angry though. I didn't see it coming, I should have. He wants us all destroyed. There's no getting past it, as long as he's alive...”
                “A he?”
                “Stop it,” Bryne ordered. “Don't try to guess, I'll tell you, but not tonight nor tomorrow. I need to figure things out.”
                “We're in this together.” Terra said.
                “Sure we are, tree hugger. The point is I got personal beef with this man. I will draw first blood. He's mine.” Bryan explained with rage in his eyes.