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

Chapter Sixteen: Plains

July 22nd, 2016

Bristol, NH

"This is incredible. You've found cures to Explicatio mentis?"

Pierce chuckles before nodding. "Yes. But I've heard you've discovered some things on your own."

The Earth Elemental shrugs before sighing softly. "Yeah, Jayceon and I found a few things."

"Jayceon Kline is a good man," Pierce murmurs, "so, the both of you discovered this poison?"

"He discovered the poison after testing some water. And Maya was acting quite odd," he murmurs before sighing softly. Pierce offers him a small, gentle smile before offering him a nod.

The Water Elemental sits down beside the teen, looking through one another's notes, Pierce sighing and shaking his head. "I know this poison," he murmurs, "it can make Elementals go insane. And...it caused a lot of pain back when I was your age."

Ellery studies the Water Elemental as he shrugs. "Why use it?"

"Erika's using it to infect more Elementals with Explicatio mentis, to make her numbers grow without having to wait," Pierce explains before he smiles, seeing a familiar Ice Elemental walking towards them.

"How's it going out here?"

"Sakari, have you met Ellery yet?"

The woman smiles at the teen before shaking hands with him. "It's nice to meet you, Ellery," she murmurs before looking at Pierce, "do you want coffee or tea? You guys have been out here for a while and haven't come in for lunch."

Ellery nods. "I'll get some food in a minute."

"I'll bring the both of you something."

"Sakari-"

She shakes her finger at Pierce. "You and I both know you'll sit here all day without eating. I'll bring you something and make sure you eat," she insists before heading away from the two.

Ellery smiles slightly before looking at Pierce. "She's kind of..."

"Headstrong? Yes, I know. It's one of my favorite qualities about her," Pierce admits, smiling softly as he inhales quietly, "I'm sorry for your loss, Ellery. I understand what it's like. Maybe not in the same way, but losing someone you care about is difficult. When I lost Erika, her love, I felt it. Your soul feels torn apart. But then, over time, it mends," he informs the teen who nods in understanding, "it will take time. Months, years, it's different for everyone."

Ellery nods, his eyes focused on the page in front of him. "You vaccinated yourself without...knowing the consequences?" He asks and Pierce nods. "What were the side-effects?"

"They were minor. Shivers, cold sweats, headaches. Nothing compared to what happens to a person's mind when they get Explicatio mentis," Pierce murmurs, "Sakari wanted me to vaccinate her first, but I refused. I wanted to make sure that if anything happened to me, she could document it. And...if she suffered because of a mistake I'd made..."

Ellery nods. "I can understand..."

Pierce smiles before taking a deep breath. "Thank you for coming so quickly. I needed to know what your research was, see if I could help somehow, but you and Jayceon kept meticulous notes."

Sakari approaches the two, handing them both plates with sandwiches on them. She smiles at Pierce who leans up to press a kiss to her cheek. "Thank you," he murmurs, "would you like to help us?"

She smiles slightly before nodding. "Of course."

A pair of hands cradle a long sword, a face reflected in the blade. Black hair, silver eyes and a grimace reflected back as the teen carefully wiped the sword. A door opens and he glances up before smirking, looking back down at the sword once again.