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

Chapter Fifteen: Erosion

July 19th, 2016

Palarios, Greece

The cool, gentle breeze from the ocean maneuvered over the beach and up over a large hill overlooking the sea. A pair of mismatched eyes stared down the ground, watching the flowers bend in the breeze as the sun shone through the clouds.

"I'm so sorry," the teen whispers before taking a deep breath, "I promise, I'll try to save as many people as I can, Maya."

He kneels down and carefully revives some of the dead flowers, smiling slightly when color returns to the petals. "I'm uh, leaving for the States. There are some people I have to help, and I don't know when I'll return. I just wanted to tell you I'll see you again, and be at peace."

The Earth Elemental takes a deep breath before standing once again, and turns away from the grave, treading down the high hill as he heads towards the Grecian city.

As he enters the house, he notices his adoptive father in the entryway. "You didn't have to wait."

"Yes, I did. Ellery...you've suffered a loss. I'm not sure how I can help you through it..."

"I need to do things for myself, for others," the teen admits, "that's why I've agreed to help Shaye and her friends. I need to get away from here...as much as I don't want to..."

"You don't have to," Jayceon murmurs, "Ellery...you should deal with this before you head to America. You need to grieve first before starting on a new adventure," the man insists and Ellery shakes his head.

"I need to do this. I know you don't completely understand why, but-"

"I do, actually. You loved that girl. She broke your heart, but you still loved her. When she got sick, you took responsibility although, it should've been me taking care of her. You were too close and you had to watch her die. It shouldn't have happened that way."

The teen smiles slightly before shaking his head. "You're the one who reminds me that the past is the past. We can't change it, no matter how much we'd like to," he reminds the older man who chuckles in response.

"At least you listen to a few things I've said. Please, be careful when you go. I can't have someone I care for be killed," Jayceon murmurs and Ellery nods in response, "you are my son, for all intents and purposes, and if you die..."

"It won't be your fault if I die," he tells the man, "just keep in touch with the Elemental Council. Once they get wind of what we're doing, they might not be too happy about it."

"They're never happy."

Ellery smiles slightly as he looks at the floor. "I'm leaving tonight. I'll call you when the plane lands," he assures the older man, "our research here could help others like us around the world."

"And it will," Jayceon murmurs, smiling fondly before shaking his head, "I understand what you've been through, Ellery. And I know it may sound like I'm just saying that, but it's the truth. I lost someone during the Civil War. It's why I shut most of the world out and became a Councilmember. Becoming part of the Council helped...in a way, although not positively."

Ellery shrugs. "How? I mean, you're a Councilmember...you aren't happy?"

"Having power doesn't bring everyone happiness. Just remember that," he murmurs and Ellery nods in response.

"I will."

Above the clouds, everything looked small. The Earth Elemental gazed out the window, seeing the brilliant colors staining the evening sky, a picturesque scene right before his eyes. He inhales deeply before closing his eyes, then hears the pilot announcing their arrival into Boston-Logan airport.

The teen sighs softly, feeling the plane touch down on ground once again, feeling a sense of relief flood him.

Upon exiting the plane, he immediately pulls his phone from his pocket and searches through his contacts, finding the one he's looking for.

"Hey dad, I um...you're probably getting ready for bed right now, just wanted to let you know I've landed," he murmurs into the phone before hanging up.

He exits the airport, then finds the bus he's looking for, loading his luggage onto the bus before stepping inside. He finds a seat and sighs softly as he looks at his hands, leaning his head against the window as he stares out at the night.

His phone begins to ring and he takes it out, smiling when he sees a familiar name on the screen. "Hey Shaye, I just landed."

"Good. We'll be waiting for you at the station. How was the flight?"

"It was alright. I hate flying," he admits, smiling when the girl laughs, "I assume you do as well."

"You're right about that. I hate when my feet aren't touching the ground."

He chuckles before nodding. "I'll see you guys soon. And I brought my research with me."

"Right, you told me about that. People were being poisoned in Palarios?"

"Yes. I brought my research with me...you said you have someone there who has been doing research on...Explicatio mentis?" He asks quietly.

"Yeah. Lyria's father. We'll explain everything when you get here. And...I'm really sorry about your friend. She sounded like a wonderful person."

Ellery smiles slightly before nodding. "She was."

"She was the one you told me about...the one who broke up with you?"

He smiles slightly before chuckling. "How'd you know?"

"It was in your voice. Ellery, take a nap. You'll wake up when you get to the station."

"Will do," he murmurs, "see you soon." He hangs up and pushes his phone back into his pocket before closing his eyes.

"Hey Ellery, it's been a minute," Lance says when he sees the Earth Elemental walks through the door, "how are you?"

Ellery shrugs before smiling slightly. "I'm good, how about you? And your anxiety?" He asks quietly and Lance smiles slightly before nodding.

"It's getting better, thanks."

Shaye smiles as she gently rests a hand on Ellery's arm. "You'll have to sleep downstairs. We made some arrangements for you down there," she tells him, "I'll show you."

The two teens head downstairs together, and Shaye shows him into a small room with a single bed, nightstand, lamp and a desk. Ellery steps into the room before looking at his friend.

"A desk?"

She shrugs before offering him a smile. "I suggested you'd need it for your research," she tells him before sighing softly, "I'm so sorry about Maya," she murmurs and he nods before taking a deep breath, "you told me how she died...you didn't deserve to see that."

He sighs softly before shaking his head. "It's okay," he murmurs as she approaches him.

"It's not. What was she like?" Shaye asks softly and Ellery releases a breathless laugh before shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I know I'm prying-"

"It's alright," he assured her, "she was confident, playful. She was a Water Elemental, too. And she was so beautiful. I loved her, but she broke it off because of her family. They'd never allow us to be together," he murmurs, clasping his hands together, "but we still cared for each other. That's why I tried to cure her...but..."

Shaye swallows thickly before nodding once. "Ellery...I..."

He offers the Earth Elemental a smile as he sits on the bed. "Don't apologize again," he murmurs, "it's getting tiresome."

Shaye smiles softly before sitting beside him. "I'll try not to. When you're ready, we'll introduce you to Pierce and the two of you can share your research," she murmurs, her emerald orbs studying the boy beside her. His lovely chocolate skin and hair contrasted with hers. She rests a hand on his arm, her hand squeezing in reassurance. "You should sleep."

"I'll try," he murmurs before she stands, looking at him one more time before leaving the room. He sighs before lying down on the mattress, closing his eyes as he tries to fall asleep, the deafening silence his only companion.