Maidens

Failure

I desperately tried to call into the ocean waves, searching for some kind of response.

"This is a waste of time! How much longer do you think your precious mother is going to hold up that spell? We should go! Brenden is safe where he is!" Ravini grumbled, tugging at my arm.

I shook her off. "I'm not leaving until I get Brenden out safely. Ugh! Why aren't my powers working?"

"Because you aren't as powerful as you think! Just because you have power over the five elements doesn't mean you're invincible. Cut yourself some slack, and let's get out of here!"

"No!"

"Yes, and I'll read your mind or use your name if I have to!"

I bristled. "Oh, so you'll go that far, will you?"

"Yeah, I will. You had no problems!"

"For the last time, it was an accident!"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!"

"YOU SHUT UP! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT FRIENDSHIP! I'M SAVING BRENDEN AND THAT'S THAT!"

"FINE! GO DO THAT. I'M LEAVING!"

And that was the end of our argument. Ravini stomped off with her brown hair fluttering in the wind while I desperately willed the ocean to part. Why wouldn't it work? I didn't care if I died. I wanted to save Brenden. Maybe it was because we were twins, but I couldn't just leave him. It felt so wrong after all he'd been through. I let out a cry of frustration, before kicking the water and falling flat into the freezing cold. I was useless, hopeless, and stupid. Why did I think I could do anything?

Suddenly, a hand pulled me from behind, after what seemed like hours. "Are you getting up, or what?"

I struggled to keep my head up, but I managed somehow. "Ravini? Why'd you come back?"

She shrugged and attempted to dry me off. "Well, have you figured it out?"

I shook my head dejectedly and kicked the sand. My mind was filled with a thousand worries and not a single happy thought. What happened to my mother? Was she okay? How was Brenden? Was he safe from Artio's murderous hands?

"Hey, calm down, okay? Your mom will be okay, I can sorta feel some mind connection to her. I'm confident she's still alive, but we have to get out of here. I know you want to help Brenden, but your helping no one if you die. So let's get the hell out of here. Please. Or else you leave me no choice but to leave you," Ravini said.

I looked up at her, still defeated, but not hopeless. "I'm not leaving. Go save yourself. We aren't friends anyway."

She looked hurt and I instantly regretted what I'd said. She bit her lip, turned around and watched the camp, but turned back to me, holding out her hand.

"Cayden, I command you to leave the camp with me."

I stared at her, horror struck that she would do this in full conscience. Why? But even though my mind resisted her pull on me, my body obeyed her words. I promptly stood, wet and shaking, with a jammed finger of course, but I followed her swiftly out of camp. Getting in was difficult, but slipping out of the camp was quite easy. We found the curtain of undergrowth and leaves, pushed it aside and bounded away. Once we left, I felt Ravini's pull on me ease away.

"What the hell was that for?" I fiercely whispered.

Ravini gave me a hard look and tried to hold my hands, but I shook them away. "Did you do this for revenge--"

"No, I--"

"Stop! I needed to save Brenden--"

"Please, just listen--"