Elemental Release (5 page)

He nodded at me encouragingly. “I believe you have. Near Cornish, the currents tell me.”

Tornadoes,
I thought.
He already knows.

He moved closer to me, the childishness about him fading until a sterner version of my mentor stood before me. “I know many things,” he said. “Things about people I wish I didn’t. This is the curse of an Airmaster. You have not experienced it fully yet, but when you master your ability, you will be unable to keep the air from telling you all its secrets.”

He tapped my forehead. “This is why you must clear your mind each day. You, more than any other on the Council, must be level-headed and centered. For it is you that will know the heinous acts of mankind.”

I could only stare at him. “Isaiah seems to be a better fit for that job,” I finally said. “He’s already calm and collected. I’m….” I didn’t know what I was.
Not strong enough
came to mind.

“Not all are,” he murmured. He turned away, studying the cloudless sky. “But I think you are.” He spun to face me again, a smile back in place. “Yes, you definitely are.”

“Airmaster?” I took two steps toward him, more nervous now than before I’d taken my first assassination shot. “Can you read my mind?”

The grin slipped from his face; his eyes became pools of sympathy. “Yes,” he said simply. “It is a curse that sometimes comes with the airmaking ability, though not everyone is endowed with it. I do not listen to everyone. Only those I cannot resist.”

My heart rippled. Did he know I could read minds too?

“I didn’t until just now,” he said, his face turning a shade whiter. “I have not met another Airmaster with this talent in my lifetime.”

“Is it bad?” I asked as he swayed on his feet.

“Simply remarkable,” he said. “I thought the gene to be recessive, perhaps extinct.” He peered at me. “Who was your father?”

“I—I don’t know,” I said. “My parents died when I was a baby, crossing the plains. I know they came from Gregorio, and I know my father had been given a new assignment in Tarpulin.”

“Do you know their names?”

I hadn’t thought of my parents in a very long time. My mind constantly circled Felix, and if he considered my choices wise, my life successful.

“That is another item for your list,” Airmaster Rusk said, a sad look in his eye.

I nodded, the emotion I’d allowed to well in my throat solidifying into anger. “William and Shirley Gillman,” I said, my voice rough.

“Hm,” he said, and though I tried to find his thoughts, I could not.

“Sir,” I said. “Why can’t I hear your mind?”

“I have learned how to protect myself.” He moved away from me, kicking up dust with the hem of his robes.

“How can I do that?” I followed him, sure he was about to put me through another test I would fail.

“By mastering your Element,” he said over his shoulder. “It is only then that you can lead a truly meaningful—and private—life.”

I limped to lunch, feeling windblown and chapped. I collapsed into the chair next to Liz, who was the only Councilmember at our table. She gaped at me with her mouth open. “Do you want me to get your lunch?” she asked. “You look terrible.”

“Thanks,” I said, not even caring that she’d insulted me. “As much food as you can get, please.”

She returned with a tray full of food—and Gabby, Cat, and Isaiah.

“Adam,” Cat gasped. “What happened to you?”

I put my head on the table, but the throbbing didn’t cease. “I suck at creating air,” I mumbled. Airmaster Rusk had thrown current after current at me, and I was supposed to create the air I needed to deflect his attacks. I had succeeded only once.

Cat began humming, and I felt the pain in my feet ease. When Gabby laced her hot fingers through mine, I didn’t care how badly my body hurt.

My mornings of
tortuous, failure-filled excursions became routine. I collected Liz for breakfast each morning, and after the first week, she stopped acting so awkward around me. She had my lunch waiting for me when I arrived air-beaten and emotionally spent.

Afternoons blended together, first with sessions with Liz, and then Gabby, as the three of us worked closely together. After dinner, I escaped to be alone, sometimes going to the beach, other times simply flying until I found a tall tree in which to sit.

I slept in my own bed maybe twice a week. Other than that, I found myself on Gabby’s couch, falling asleep to the beautiful sound of her steady breathing. Because I had to wait for her to fall asleep, and with my need to be out of her room by dawn, I was exhausted most of the time. By fall, I needed a break—soon.

I met with Airmaster Rusk, who agreed that I could have a week off. “Go somewhere else,” he said. “Another city-state. You need the release of more than just your training. You need an Elemental release.”

I agreed. “Liz has been assigned the city-state of Rhyss for her diplomacy training,” I said. “Should I go there?”

Airmaster Rusk considered my proposal for a moment. “I don’t think so. She might think you find her incapable of accomplishing her task there. Perhaps you have somewhere you enjoy? Gregorio is close to the Eastern Shore. Crylon boasts of a simple life among the forests of the Territories.”

But I already knew I wouldn’t vacation to Gregorio or Crylon. “Hesterton,” I said. “I love the mountains.”

My mentor smiled. “I won’t expect to see you until next Monday, then.”

For the first time since my Elemental training had begun, I left his office with a smile on my face. That night at dinner, I announced to my Council that I’d been given permission to take a vacation to Hesterton.

Gabby paused, her fork halfway to her mouth. She’d gained a few pounds since April. Eating three full meals a day had only made her face more beautiful, her curves more distracting. I glanced away as I realized I’d been staring at her.

“You’re leaving?” she asked, something close to panic in her voice.

“Just for a week. I’m wiped out. I need a break.”

“I didn’t even know we got breaks,” Liz said. “I’m going to ask for one before I have to leave for Rhyss.”

I watched her with a rush of pride. She’d worked so hard over the past few months, learning geography, reading, writing, history, government, and politics. “You have lots of time,” I said. “And I’ll be back in time to make plans with you beforehand if you do take a vacation.”

“Lots of time?” she said, her eyebrows raised. She looked at Gabby. “He thinks he’s funny.” She stabbed at her chicken. “Twenty-five days, Adam. I have to leave in twenty-five days.”

I realized then that she was more concerned about her internship than I knew. Than any of us knew. We spent the lunch hour comforting Liz, and reminding her that she made top marks in all her classes, that our training sessions had gone without a hitch.

That night, I awoke to the sharp sound of a gasp. I sat up, trying to find Gabby before she slugged me.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, shielding my face.

The silence felt so loud. Then she laughed, and her bedroom light flared on. “You should see yourself.”

I squinted into the light as she entered her living room. Though she’d laughed, she didn’t look happy. “What are you doing here?”

“Sleeping?” I tried.

“Obviously.” She crossed her arms. “The real question is why?”

“My room is very…stressful,” I said. “And often occupied.”

“Often?” Her voice pitched into the rafters.

Tornadoes.
I scrubbed the back of my head. “Uh, I’m leaving for Hesterton in the morning. I won’t bother you for at least a week.”

She exhaled as she sat on the couch opposite from me. “You don’t bother me,” she said. “If you needed somewhere to sleep, you should’ve said something.”

“I didn’t need anywhere to sleep,” I said. “Your balcony door was always open.”

She glanced at the glass like it was to blame for me being here in the dead of night.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” I said. “I thought you’d be mad if you found out I’d been staying over.”

“What time do you have to wake up to get out of here?” she asked. “I mean, I’ve been getting up—”

“By five o’clock,” I said, yawning. “I know.”

She watched me, a look I couldn’t read in her eyes. I settled back into the pillows, wishing I could go back to sleep.

“I didn’t even go to bed until midnight,” she said.

“I know,” I repeated, closing my eyes. “And you should probably start locking your balcony door while I’m gone.”

I heard the couch squeak, heard her footsteps come closer. But I didn’t connect the dots until she slid onto the couch next to me, forming her back to my chest. I shifted so she’d have more room, and then I placed my hand over her waist. She felt so hot, I almost complained. But I didn’t. I hadn’t initiated anything romantic between us for a long time, knowing that she needed time. More importantly,
I
needed time. Time to grieve, time to find my center, time to heal.

“I don’t know what I’ll do without you,” she whispered.

My heart swelled; my throat felt too dry. “You’ll be fine,” I said. “I’m just taking a vacation, not leaving forever.”

“I know,” she said. “But….”

“You’ll miss me,” I supplied for her, surprised when she snuggled closer and nodded against my chest.

“I’ll miss you too,” I said, my lips dangerously close to her ear. I pressed my mouth to her neck and enjoyed the way she arched into me, a clear invitation for me to kiss her again. I wanted to do that—and a lot more.

She twisted in my arms, and I found her mouth waiting for mine. We kissed for a few minutes, my heart pounding harder every time she broke contact and remade it. I ducked my head, searching for the soft skin on her neck.

She tilted her head back, a soft rush of air escaping her mouth. My name immediately followed, and I’d never heard her say “Adam,” with such love.

The skin along her lower back felt like liquid fire, as did her breath as it cascaded across my forehead. I didn’t dare stop to ask her if she’d like to go into her bedroom, where we’d have much more room to explore each other. For now, the couch would have to do.

I brought my mouth to hers again, and then I touched my nose to hers. “Tornadoes, Gabby.” My breath came unevenly; my chest rose and fell pressed tight against hers.

She laughed, a light giggle that only fueled my desire. Still, I didn’t dare ask anything more. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to handle the rejection if it came. I didn’t listen to her thoughts, because I didn’t need to. I could tell in the way she held her body still against mine, the way she twirled her fingers through my hair, that this was as far as she wanted to go tonight.

We inhaled at the same time, a deep breath that calmed me from the inside out. Gabby had always had that affect on me. I touched my lips to hers for one, two, three heartbeats. “I love you,” I whispered.

She didn’t say it back.

The road to
Hesterton felt deserted. No one left Tarpulin when I did; no one passed me going into the city. The city-state of Junction sat between Tarpulin and Henderson, only a day’s walk away. I should’ve seen merchants, traders, and trappers on the road. It was nearing September, and the summer spoils should be displayed in markets for the fall festivals within the week.