27 | WATER, FIRE, AIR, EARTH...
On the morning of the fifth, I’m sitting in the woods on the edges of the Cai’s property with Zoe. The vampire’s completely recovered by now, but even she isn’t willing to risk getting any closer to the Cai’s house without a good reason - not that I blame her. After everything we’ve discussed the last few days - including the information Blue managed to dig up from the ancient tomes in the Coven library - we’ve got a rough plan in place.
Zoe and I are just going to be camped out here in case the Cai’s have too much trouble trying to bind Eyre - if she needs it. But considering her track record on the matter, it seems she will need to be fore the night’s though. Zoe and I decided we’d just jump in and provide muscle or extra hands - that kind of support. It’s really all we can bring to the table considering how strong the Elementals have proven to be.
We stay at within the tree line, however. Technically, we’re allowed to be around the property thanks to the invitation the Cai’s gave me last time, but neither of us feel like hovering around the manor. Something about the air feels…*off*. Claustrophobic - almost. Not in the general feel of the air - though even that’s oppressive and smothering. There’s an almost primal or instinctual unease I’m getting. I just haven’t been able to place for the last few hours of silent waiting.
“I know it’s September, but I didn’t think it’d be so humid,” Zoe grumbles, tugging at the collar of her black, leather jacket. I shrug, something in the back of my mind agreeing with the vampire’s statement. My Wolven’s just as restless, making me want to pace the edges of the tree line rather than hold absolutely still - as my vampiric side seems to want. The warring instincts are starting to fray at my nerves.
“I don’t think it’s natural.” I agree softly, rolling my shoulders as I refuse to remove the light jacket I’m wearing. Considering the power Mrs. Cai showed with cold, Zoe and I decided to try and be prepared with an extra layer. I’m starting to regret it now. Though we’re covered by the trees, there’s a heat and heaviness that’s odd for this time of year. At the same time, the temperature keeps fluctuating. One second it’s too hot, then just this side of chilly. Crisp and nice, then swelteringly humid.
“We thought this might happen.” Zoe huffs, squirming more than I’ve seen a vampire squirm before. In fact, it’s something I’ve very rarely seen from the normally stoic creatures. I’d find it funny if I weren’t doing the exact same thing.
“I know, still.” I mutter, my left eye twitching as my nerves keep fraying and a quiet worry begins scratching at the back of my mind. Something I feel like I’ve over looked…but every time I try to think back and mentally examine it, it slips away like smoke through my fingers. I’m sitting beside the vampire at the edge of the property, my right knee bouncing and left hand drumming on my left knee as I try to think. “We’re missing something.” I mutter aloud, finally staying my hand on my jiggling knee as I try to - again - focus on the thing nagging at me.
“What?” Zoe asks me, tilting her head at me and examining my face with a speculative narrowing of her dark eyes.
“We’ve been thinking about this from an outsider’s stand point. Maybe we should be trying to think like them.” I finally say, sitting up straight as the itching ebbs a little at my line of thought. I nod to myself and take a deep breath. “Okay. Say I’m an Elemental. Like Eyre, I’m super strong and know my powers are a liability. And yet,” I gesture around the serene forest and encompass the whole area where the temperature’s been fluctuating. “I can not only control heat, but water and cold.”
“Sure, that explains the weird temperatures.” Zoe nods slowly, following my line of thought and looking around “You said her parents told you this was the result of her power over the years?” She waves at the creepy area and the lake and the manor in the center. I nod, recalling what the Cai’s told me. “Is it just me, or is the terrain like unnaturally level and lush?” Zoe points out, looking at the land. I follow her gaze and have to agree with her. The forest around us is pocked and irregular in it’s surface, but the odd circular field of grass is completely flat.
“So that’s water, fire, and possibly air and earth…” I tick off on my right hand. Four elements. Somehow, it doesn’t sound right in my head. “But it’s not just that is it?” I breathe as the weird intuition pulls my reluctant thoughts in another direction. The silence. “It’s so quiet.” I whisper. A few paths made by game a few yards back give the whole manor a wide berth. Too coincidental for my liking. It nags at my head again, that specifically. “Animals?” I ask aloud, looking around as a mental lightbulb goes off in my head and dread fills my stomach. “Th-that’s not an element. Creatures can’t be controlled by an Elemental - right?” Zoe’s gone still beside me, her skin slightly grey-ish with how pale she looks right now. Maybe even a little green.
“No… It can’t be…” Zoe breathes, staring straight at the house as a high-pitching sound erupts from the manor.
