Elemental

The War part 2

                                                                                       Raina's POV

"So... Is something supposed to happen?" Rainas heart was slamming against her chest, and her breathing spiked. Why am I not dead?

The lightning strike tore through the sky, shocking the life out of Bram. He had died almost instantly, trembling in a confusing heap. Finian, Raina, and Emris had scrambled away, but nothing came from Brams lifeless body. No fire. No explosions. Not even a shower of sparks. Auryn shook her head, staring at her brother. "I never thought..." She buried her head in her hands. "None of this was supposed to happen."

Raina's head felt like lead, but she nodded, and carefully made a step towards Brams body. Her brain still felt like somebody had put it in a mixer, and holding everybody's weight on the water made every muscle in her body strain. Still, she leaned down in front of him. Slowly, she felt his wrist for a pulse. Of course, There was none, but she still felt obligated to. Then she patted down his armor, breastplate, and pockets. There was nothing underneath. "I don't understand, I thought there were explosives-"

Emris gave a sharp gasp as she studied the ant-size figures below them through the water. Raina didn't understand how she could see what was happening without the water distorting her vision, so she waved her hands and imagined pulling the water aside. More gasps followed, and Raina's heart sank.

"Oh gods." Raina whispered, grasping Emris's arm. The battle had looked bad enough before. But now there seemed to be triple the amount of Imperial Soldiers. But they weren't on the lower level of battle. They were at the top, where Raina and Emris had risked their lives to stop and soldiers getting. Finian yelped, and Raina realized her panic was making the water under their feet thin. She stomped, and when the water enforced the impact, she slammed another layer of water against it.

"It must have been a distraction. A ruse." Emris whispered. "To get all three of us away from Asher." She pointed to a golden banner flying from the head of the army. "That's Queen Myra. Bram must've been sent to kill Caton."

"Or Finian." Auryn pointed out. "Fire would have worked just as well."

Finian shook his head. "My mother may not be all I once thought of her, but she would not resort to foul play. Especially on me."

His voice sounded as confident and reassuring as always, but she saw Emris tightening her grip on his arm.

Raina allowed the water to droop a little, allowing her a better look. The hoard of warriors had overthrown their measly army, and the Imperials were now marching, unbothered, straight to the heart of their base. Right where Asher sat, content with her promises of safety and protection. Raina wasn't sure how she could live with herself if she broke them. "We have to go down!" She cried, pushing a fist against her ribs. The pain sharpened her senses, and she focused on the ground below them.

"How could we possibly-" Auryn's voice was cut off by a scream as Raina pushed her fingers in front of her, shooting the water out from under them. It only occurred to her when she was seconds away from turning into a Raina-Pancake that knowbody else in their group could survive a full-pressure water drop. But before her scream could even leave her lips, she felt a tug in her gut, and the water slid under their feet once again, mere centimeters away from the ground. Everybody fell around her, hacking and struggling to their feet.

Emris turned to her, stepping off the water platform. "If you ever pull a stunt like that again-"

"I know, I know. I wont."

Emris nodded, unsheathing her long silver sword. She studied the glassy surface, clear of any bloodstains. She hoped it would stay that way, but she had such a feeling of dread that she doubted it was so.