The Elementals: Lost in a Turbulent Sea (Book 3 in Elementals Series)

Chapter One: Mist

June 18th, 2016

Château du Taureau, France

"Pierce?" Karina asks as she stares at her older brother in astonishment. "You're alive?" She whispers, almost undetectable to the three people standing before her. "How...you-"

"I'm sorry. I never meant to deceive you or our family. I...I hid for several years. And whatever questions you have...I'll try to answer them," he tells her, "but there's something we need to ask you about."

"Delilah told us you closed up part of the castle," Lyria steps in, looking up at her aunt, "she said there was something you were protecting in there."

"I'm protecting my children from getting hurt," Karina says before shaking her head and turning to look at Pierce once again, "I should murder you myself for what you've put our family through," she threatens, "but then I'd get in trouble with the Council and that's too much of a hassle."

Pierce winks at her. "You wouldn't do that to me, would you Skip?"

"Don't call me that," Karina says, "just get in here."

The three step inside the castle before she shuts the door, then leads them through the corridor. "Karina, who was that?"

She sighs softly as she enters a large hall. "My brother," she says as she approaches her husband, "remember I told you he had died? Well, I guess that wasn't true."

The man blinks in surprise before looking at the group of three. "Well, it's nice to meet you, I'm Damon."

Pierce smiles slightly. "I know. I remember you," Pierce says before walking over and shaking his hand, "I remember you constantly hanging around Karina. Seems she couldn't get rid of you."

Karina shakes her head before glaring at her brother. "You and I need to talk," she says and Pierce nods in agreement.

"Karina, maybe they should sit and eat?" Damon asks.

"You can feed my niece and her boyfriend but I need to speak with my brother. There are many questions he needs to answer," she says as she walks past her brother, "come on."

Pierce takes a deep breath before offering his daughter a smile. "I'll see you two later on."

Lyria offers him an encouraging smile before nodding. "See you," she murmurs as he begins to follow his sister out of the large dining hall, "so...you're my uncle then?"

Damon chuckles before nodding. "By marriage, yes. You're the famous Lyria, I assume?" He asks and she smiles before nodding. "Kids! Dinner is ready!" He says.

A moment later, a boy and a girl enter the room. "Who are they?" The boy asks, throwing his thumb over his shoulder at them.

"This is your cousin, Lyria. And..."

"My boyfriend, Dartanian," Lyria introduces him before smiling at the Metal Elemental.

"I thought you were dead," the boy says as he sits at the table with his sister, "I'm Sander by the way."

Lyria sighs softly as she sits down as well. "Well, it's nice to meet you," she says before looking at his sister, "hi there."

The young girl smiles before answering. "Hi...I'm Celeste."

"It's nice to meet you Celeste."

"Where have you been all this time? All of us were sure that you had been killed. And if it wasn't you, who was actually killed? How could you?" Karina asks as she stares her brother down.