Fighting for Power (Howl of the Elements: Book One)

Chapter 19

***picture of Rhea***

Chapter 19:

While the commotion was going on, nobody noticed that there were onlookers crouched in the brush off to the side of the clearing. Nobody heard the sudden gasp that had escaped Gabriella's mouth as she watched Layla being thrown into the water.

Gabriella was mortified. She had felt close to Layla, and she couldn't imagine her friend dying. The boy that was crouched next to her reached out and clasped his hand over Gabriella's mouth to muffle the sound of her gasp. Glancing over at him, she saw his index finger pressed against his full lips-the signal that everyone knew as to shut up.

She nodded at him and he released his hand from her mouth. Turning her attention back to what was going on in the clearing, she saw the alpha walking away behind two of the men that Gabriella was very familiar with. They were two of the usual men that worked the people that were held captive by the pack. Now, they were dragging Logan away, and Callie was linking arms with the alpha, Rocco.

Gabriella and the others waited a few more moments in silence, waiting to make sure that they were far enough away not to hear them anymore. Wiggling her way out of the brush, Gabriella rushed towards the bubbling water.

"What are you doing? Do you want to get yourself hurt as well?" one of the other girls, Rhea, screeched in horror.

"I'm not going to let her die. She is my friend. Do you really expect me to just sit around and do nothing?" she snapped back, barely glancing behind her shoulder at the blonde-haired girl.

"Wait up, I'll help, but you have to be smart about this," Neil, the boy that had quieted her earlier, jogged up beside her and put his hand on her arm to stop her.

Huffing, Gabriella narrowed her eyes at him, "I'm not stupid. I can handle myself."

"I never said you couldn't. I just thought I'd offer my help, but whatever. Forget I even said anything," pulling his hand back, Neil turned his back to her to walk away.

"Ugh, I'm sorry I snapped at you. Don't leave," crossing her arms, she rolled her eyes at herself for reacting the way she had.

Turning around, Neil tilted his head at her, "Fine, but are you going to listen to me then without jumping down my throat?"

"Yeah, sure, but we do need to hurry. She already looked in bad enough shape before they tried making a soup out of her," she was getting frustrated the more the time passed.

"Okay, well since we both have the affinity for water, we should be able to combine our energy and calm the water to stop it from boiling."

"I don't know if I can. I haven't used my element in so long," biting her lip, she hoped she could help save Layla, but she couldn't help but doubt her skills.

"Can you guys come over and give us a hand with this?" Neil motioned for the other three people to come over.

They looked hesitant, but began walking closer. Rhea shrugged her shoulders, "Me and Zachary aren't from your pack, though. We don't deal with water."

"Yeah, but maybe you could figure something out with air to help. Think of something. If you could try anything, it would help at this point," Neil responded.

Ignoring their conversation, Gabriella stepped closer to the water and closed her eyes. Trying to concentrate the best she could, she took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of the water. I beg of you, please stop boiling. Please be still. Cool her wounds. She showed me kindness, don't let her die.

The others noticed what she was doing, and stopped talking. Neil walked over to her and reached down to hold her hand before mimicking her actions. The other girl in the group, Jacqueline, was also from the Tallulah pack, so she walked up and reached for Gabriella's other hand as well.

Rhea looked at Zachary. He looked uncertain of what to do, also. She scrambled her brain, trying to think of what air could possibly do to help Gabriella's friend in this situation, but still came up with nothing.

While those two stood there dumbfounded, Gabriella began to feel a trickle of goose-bumps flow up her arms. She peeked her eyes open to see that the water was actually beginning to settle.

"It's working," she said so quietly that it was almost a whisper, but nonetheless the others still heard what she had said.

"Oh Mylanta," Jacqueline sucked in her breath and her eyes enlarged.

"Don't stop concentrating. She's not in the clear yet. She was still badly injured, not to mention the fact that she's still underwater," Neil said in a stern voice. He didn't want to sound mean, but he didn't want them to break their connection to their element.

Water, raise her up. Bring her to the surface and release yourself from her lungs.

Slowly, Layla's naked body began to rise up from the depths of the water. When she reached the surface, water began to drip out of the side of her mouth and her nostrils.

Push her gently towards us.

A very small and smooth wave formed, and slowly slid Layla towards the others and up onto the sand. Breaking her hands free from Neil's and Jacqueline's, Gabriella knelt down by Layla's body to examine her.

"She's not breathing. Rhea-Zachary-get over here. Give her some air somehow," starting to panic, Gabriella's words came out sounding almost as if it was just one long word.

The two rushed over and knelt down in the sand. Rhea placed one of her hands on Layla's chest and looked at Zachary, "Put your hand over her lungs."

He scrunched up his eyebrows, "But she's naked."

"No duh, dipshit. Get over it and put your damn hand on her chest. I'm pretty sure she would rather breathe," Rhea said sarcastically, but her voice still held enough command that Zachary did as she told him to do.

Air, fill her lungs. Let this poor girl be able to breathe.

Nothing happened.

I know I haven't used you in a while, but please don't abandon me now. We really need your help.

Still, Layla's chest laid flat. No movement of airflow. Tears began to trickle down Gabriella's cheeks, "She can't die. She was too nice, and so brave. I've seen grown men who wouldn't stand up to the Hadan pack the way that she did."

Gabriella lifted her hands up to wipe away the tears. Neil lowered himself down to her level and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him.

Rhea lowered her head in defeat. Gabriella, Neil, and Jacqueline had been able to bring Layla out of that boiling water, but she and Zachary must just not be strong enough to control the air anymore. They removed their hands from her chest.

As Rhea was about to stand up, though, a cough erupted from the body laying on the ground. Layla continued coughing a few times as her lungs started working again.

"Layla! You're okay," Gabriella squealed, and moved to squeeze her into a hug.

"Ouch," Layla's voice was hoarse.

"Oh, sorry. I wasn't thinking," Gabriella replied as she released Layla and inched back.

Slowly opening her eyes, Layla glanced around her, "Where am I? What happened?"

A/N: There were a few new characters introduced in this chapter. What do you think of them so far? Who are your guys' favorite characters in the story?

Anyways, I hope this chapter met your expectations :)