Elemental Release

Chapter Eleven

I didn't wait for Gabby to get up from the couch. "I did it," I said, too excited to sit. I paced in front of her balcony door. "He was mad; he wouldn't let me apologize, but I said it anyway. Three times!" I laughed again. "He hates me, I think, but I couldn't feel any of that toward him. All I felt was sadness. You should see him." I finally glanced at Gabby, who had reseated herself on the couch. She wore a sexy smile that made me want to kiss her.

"What?" I asked.

She waved at me. "I've just never seen you like this."

I took a deep breath, enjoying the adrenaline rush that came from releasing the pent-up fear, anger, and hatred I'd been harboring against my brother. I felt so free—much like I had when I'd given up the guilt over Hanai's death.

"I'm going to request another visit in a few weeks. See what he does."

Gabby's smiled faded. "How did he look?"

Tornadoes. I hadn't considered how Gabby might feel because of Felix's injuries—which she had caused.

"He's healing well," I said evasively.

"You're not as good at lying as you used to be," she said, standing. She went into her kitchen and threw away her banana peel. "I got some lunch for you."

We settled at her table, and I started eating the curried shrimp she'd taken from the dining hall. "Thank you," I said after a few minutes of silence.

She covered my hand with hers. "I'm glad you're not as good at lying to me anymore." She smiled, but she kept her face turned toward the tabletop.

"Me too," I admitted.

She looked up, and I saw the determination in her eyes before she closed them, and then closed the distance between us. Her initiating our kiss made me so happy, I almost couldn't contain the joyful laugh inching its way through my throat.

#

Monday morning, Airmaster Rusk was not in his office. I sat in the chair to wait for him. He'd been late a handful of times before, so I wasn't concerned. When Shane walked into the room wearing the black robes of a mentor, I stood.

"Where's Rusk?" I asked, alarm singing through me.

"He and Jones are investigating another Airmaster," he said. "He asked me to fill in as your trainer for the week."

"Where did they go?" The situation must be serious if Davison had sent his personal Airmaster.

"Rhyss," Shane said.

Panic streamed through me, and the air outside the window reacted violently. "Rhyss?"

"Yeah, why?" Shane peered at me like I was acting crazy.

"My Unmanifested is on her way to Rhyss next week."

Shane watched me for a moment. Then he said, "Davison wouldn't send her if it wasn't safe." He stepped to the balcony. "Come on. Rusk said to take you to the beach for lessons." He launched himself into the sky, his black mentor robes flapping in the wind. The sharp, whipping sound actually soothed me.

I remembered the peace I'd felt in Hesterton as I'd laid next to the stream. I remembered the release of hatred and anger I'd experienced when facing my brother. I couldn't control what was happening in Rhyss, a city-state nearly one thousand miles away.

I could control what happened here, in Tarpulin, at the beach with Shane. I could control how I treated Liz and Gabby, how I confided in them, how I advanced my training to help them.

Airmaster Rusk's words floated through my mind. You must learn to let go of what you cannot control. Only then will your true power over air be awakened.