The Elemental Realms - Book One

Chapter 6.

"Where are you taking me?" I yell above the wind. We've been flying for what seems like hours.

He doesn't answer. We just continue to fly high above the sea with a sense of determination. I look down and gulp at the crashing waves below. Eventually, I see lights in the distance, and we soon approach a small island. Boreas circles and begins his descent down towards the top of a gothic looking manor house, situated high up on a hill, in the centre of the island. He lands gracefully and gently places me down, holding me steady as my feet reunite with the ground.

"Look, I don't know what's going on with you or Tempest or your Court, but I'm getting pretty sick of being abducted!" I huff with annoyance.

He looks astonished.

"I remember you from the Temple." Boreas says, raising an accusatory eyebrow at me.

How could he not? I vaguely remember pointing in his direction and saying they should all be ashamed to call themselves members of the Court. It's no wonder I'm in this mess.

"Yes, and I've had nothing but trouble since." I reply, not bothering to hide the distain in my voice.

I watch as his eyes roam over my body from head to toe. If he is, as Aya once said, the Commander of the Army of Wind, then I'm sure he is well acquainted with what a prisoner looks like. If not, then my dirty and dishevelled appearance should give it away quite easily.

"Where are we?" I ask, wrapping my arms around my body to protect myself from the gusty wind and his intrusive gaze.

He takes a step back, giving me the space I need to feel more comfortable and less threatened by his impressive yet intimidating presence.

"This is my home." He finally says. "You will be safe here."

He leads the way, escorting me through several doors and down multiple staircases. It's very dark in here, with a lonely and sombre atmosphere. I get the impression Boreas doesn't spend much time here as everything is covered in a thin layer of dust and the furniture and décor is outdated. There is a sense of grandeur though. I'm sure this was a fine and opulent residence in its former glory, but I imagine this manor house is largely unoccupied with Boreas spending most of his time at the Court of Breeze.

It's deathly quiet as we walk into a large drawing room on what I think is the ground floor. He walks over to the fireplace and lights it, allowing warmth and a gentle orange glow of light to fill the dark room. I gravitate towards the fire, having almost forgotten what it feels like to be warm and dry.

"If you're planning on killing me, then now is your chance." I say with my back to him.

"Why would I want to kill you, Briar?"

"You remember my name?" I ask, turning to face him.

"It's hard to forget a woman who causes such chaos." He replies with the slightest hint of a smirk on his lips.

"If you're not going to kill me, then why have you brought me here?"

"As well as being Commander of the Army of Wind, I am also the Guardian of the North border. I was patrolling overhead when I saw someone running towards the coastline. I was simply carrying out my duties." He explains with rehearsed lines.

"You're a terrible liar, do you know that?" I smirk.

"I'm not lying." He says, defensively. "Do you care to explain what you were doing running around on your own in the middle of the night?" He fires back.

"Escaping from prison." I say with a shrug.

"Who imprisoned you?" He asks, stepping towards me as concern floods his perfect features.