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

Chapter Seven: High Tide

June 30th, 2016

Palairos, Greece

"Ellery."

The Earth Elemental glances up from his workspace, seeing his adoptive father stepping inside the greenhouse. The teen sighs softly as he looks at the notes in front of him, rubbing his eyes as Jayceon stops beside the table.

"How's Maya?" Ellery asks quietly.

Jayceon sighs softly before shaking his head. "Sedated. She'll wake again in an hour or so. And now another Elemental is showing signs of being sleep deprived. Did you stay up all night?" Jayceon asks and Ellery shrugs.

"I took a nap here and there...I'm still trying to figure out what's causing the sleep deprivation," he says as he studies the natural wrinkles in the palm of his hand, "it's hurting her. She's my friend, I-"

"I know," Jayceon murmurs, "we'll figure it out. What theories do you have?"

"Well, it can't be something in the air, or else you and I would have it too. I was thinking maybe the water supply. What if someone is putting something into the water and causing Elementals to become sleep deprived?"

"Humans would get it too," Jayceon murmurs before sighing softly, "I don't know, son...it could be anything."

Ellery shakes his head. "I don't think so. It has to be the water supply or...maybe someone's influencing her?" Ellery asks hesitantly, looking through his notebook. "I only thought of the water supply because we have a natural well here, and we use that. We don't use the town's water supply."

Jaycoen cocks his head slightly before nodding. "You could be right. I'll have to test the water, see if there's something in the water causing this. But it would harm humans too...don't you think?"

"Not necessarily. Elementals react differently to human drugs. Or it could be one designed for Elementals only. We won't know unless we test the water...maybe find someone who knows about drugs," Ellery points out.

The older male nods before opening a drawer and taking out some empty vials, then offers a smile to his adoptive son. "I'll take samples of the water, label each one so we can see where the problem is. You stay here and look after Maya."

Ellery nods before taking a deep breath. "Alright. I'll try and get this place cleaned up while you're gone."

Jayceon chuckles. "You can try. I'll be back later," he says as he picks up a satchel, then heads out of the greenhouse, Ellery watching as he turns onto the street.

The teen sighs softly as he looks through his notes once more, then quickly shuts the notebook, the sound echoing through the room. He sighs softly before turning his hand slightly, his fingers sweeping down as some vines crawl through the greenhouse. He smiles as the vines begin to pick things up; a sideways pot, some pencils and other miscellaneous items. They place each item back carefully before Ellery flicks his wrist, the vines retreating.

He takes a deep breath before pushing his curly hair back from his face, then he heads into the house. He heads down into the basement, walking over to the closest door and looking inside. Seeing his friend strapped down made his breath hitch. Maya laid on an old, uncomfortable bed in the middle of a padded room, her eyes closed as she slept.

Ellery sighs softly and closes his eyes before shaking his head. "I'm gonna find who did this to you, I swear," he murmurs before moving away from the door, finding a place to sit as he watches the door with his heterochromial gaze. One brown, one silver, both watching the door together.

Jayceon enters his home once again, smiling slightly when he sees Isla dusting off a small end table. "Isla, take the rest of the day off, please," he tells her.