Elemental

Chapter Eighteen

Slipping in to what I can only describe as my she-warrior combat outfit, I joined Charlie in the basement for our next training session. We took our places on the floor, and prepared ourselves for battle. "You ready?" I laughed.

"Always." He replied squinting his eyes. I cast an orb and sent it his way, he set it aside with less than no effort, widening my eyes. He struck me once, a low blow, sending me backwards; I flipped over and landed feet first, regaining my pose. He smiled, impressed with his teaching. Winds went back and forth between us, both deflecting each hit with ease, barely scraping the other one. I closed my eyes, and felt a rush of air pass through my hair. I conjured up the best I could, wind blew my hair around my face, and I sent a blow to Charlie, hitting him straight on. He was down for the count.

"Charlie?!" I ran to his side. "Charlie, I'm sorry, are you okay?" He lay there, his eyes closed, still. "Oh God. Oh shit. Oh God." I pulled him close to me, panicked, and rocked back and forth. His eyes softly fluttered open as he regained consciousness.

"Ella?" I lifted my head from his chest and stared into his moonlight eyes. "I don't think I was ready for that..." He chuckled softly, and I pulled him close. "El, having a little trouble breathing here." I laughed back, and he grinned. "What exactly were you saying about not being strong enough?" I smiled, blushing slightly. From upstairs the phone rang, blaring it's shrill buzz.

'I'd better get that, let you rest a bit.' I smiled and jumped up.

Picking the phone up, I placed it to my ear, 'Hello.' I chirped.

'Hey El!' Ash chimed.

'To what do I owe the pleasure?' 

'Is it okay for me and the Prince of Evil to come over today?' I laughed at his brand new nickname for Alexander. 'I've found some stuff.' 

'Yeah sure,' I smiled, 'we're here all day.'

'I'll be over at four.' He paused. 'I love you.'

'I love you too.' Click. 

Four o'clock hit very quickly, considering the mounds homework I had to get through. It's odd, I'm a princess, and I still have deal with the basic torture of your regular teenager. Though, I suppose I am a secret princess, so I can't really expect special treatment for something they don't know about?

I kissed Ash's cheek as he walked through the door, he looked effortlessly perfect as he always does, his hair messy just long enough to frame his emerald eyes. Green eyes have always been my favourite. I led them through the hallway, Ash holding my hand, into the kitchen and we sat across from each other, with Charlie and Alexander on either side of us. The glass table was cold beneath my finger tips, Ash reached down, and from his bag, he produced a number of images. 

'This is what I've found so far.' He looked up at my face softly, as I studied the images of my unscathed mother sat peacefully with the enemy. This rang caution within me, surely they would have attempted to get information from her, and if they had wouldn't they have let her go? My mind felt liek a whirlwind. 'What do you think we should do now?'

'Extraction, maybe?' Charlie mused.

'Maybe we should leave her there. She isn't being harmed, she's just there as bait to lure in the princess.' Alexander replied.

'How long would she be kept?' I quizzed, weighing up my options.

'Only until the war.' He told me. 'We'd send a team in to infiltrate and destroy them. May as well send an extraction team. They'd work well as back up for them too.'

'I guess that it could work. I mean, she looks okay, right? No harm looks to have come to her.' I looked down at my hands in thought. Is it right for me to leave me own mother alone with th fire clan? But what good would rescuing her do for the rest of my people? She's my mother and not theirs, nor does she possess any powers. I can't jeopardize my people. I felt a hand on my back, I looked up at Charlie's reassuring smile and relaxed a little. 'We'll wait until the war.' I said strongly, 'It's for the good of the people.' I frowned as the words left my mouth, I knew that Ash wouldn't understand, and I was right, his jaw dropped and his eyes darkened at my coldness.

'You're just going to leave her there.' He asked the astonishment shining through his voice.

'You'd do the same Ash. If you were me, you'd do the same.' I lowered my eyes and licked my lips, swallowing hard.

'Actually,' he countered, standing up abruptly, an uncommon movement for him, being so naturally calm and laid back. 'I left my people for you.' He swung round and left the house, slamming the door. Moments later, I heard the tyres screech and then silence. We sat there for a moment, Charlie, Alexander and I. Exchanging glances as the uncomfortable atmosphere crept upon us.

'You've made a good decision. A hard one, but the right one for the majority.' Alexander broke the silence, he too rose to his feet, bowed his head slightly, and started for the door. As he got there, he turned slightly, 'Ella, it's only a matter of days now. We're all ready. Are you?' Before I could answer, Alexander was out of the door, leaving me sat motionless with so many questions circling in my head.

'Am I ready?' I meant it to be rhetorical, and also to stay in my head, but as I uttered the words out Charlie turned to me and smiled.

'More than we'd hoped you would be.' He smiled cheerfully. He dropped his gaze a moment, and kept going to start to speak.

'What is it?' I asked, confused and trying to help him out.

'Are you okay? I mean... Ashton. You know? Are you okay?' He scratched his forehead and bit his lip nervously. 'I'm not all that great with relationship advice, as you can tell, I don't have much experience.' He blushed and avoided eye contact.

'Charlie, don't worry, things like this happen. I'm sure he'll come around.' I hope. 'Let's go watch some telly, I could do with relaxing after all that training!' He nodded and smiled at me, following me into the kitchen.

As we sat watching a rerun of some tacky sitcom, I felt my phone buzz on the coffee table. I unlocked it and read the message,

From: Unknown number

You can't trust him.
I frowned and looked over at Charlie who was smiling and laughing at the screen. Who sent me that text? And why can't he be trusted?

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Yo yo yo, guess who's back! I'm so sorry I was gone for so long (A year and a half) but I'm back and writing to de-stress myself!

Love you allllllllllllll <3

 PS, new cover is made by Sinderellah :-*