ELEMENTS: Acquiesce by Kathryn Andrews (snow like ashes series .TXT) 📕

“Are we going to die?” asked Cordelia, her breathing heavy.

“You’ll be grand,” said Flynn and he held her tighter.

The anchor kept the boat from striking the Duggerna rocks but the ferocious Atlantic Ocean was cruel and it threw the wooden boat between the waves as far as the chain would allow, until midnight when a wave broke so violently over the boat, it disappeared beneath the waves, rising a short while later only to be battered by another great breaker which shattered the boat into a thousand pieces and buried it in a valley of foam.

Flynn fought to cling on to Cordelia as they were cast into the freezing water but she was ripped from his grasp, their stretched out fingers torn away from each other. The water was painfully cold and spears of ice seared through Flynn’s body. As he tried to reach the surface, larger waves continued to roll in above him, putting his next breath at a greater distance. No matter how hard he kicked, it seemed he was never coming up for air. Terrified, Flynn closed his eyes and tumbled head over heels beneath the waves. Cordelia sank further, far down to the bottom of the ocean. Still as a statue, her cold, delicate body nestled amongst the black rocks which stretched across the seabed at the mouth of the bay; the town’s saving grace from total destruction. There she rested, suspended in the water like an angel floating in the sky. Her silver hair swayed gently with the calm current, a striking contrast to the powerful energy above her. Little did she know that her life was soon to change and everything she thought she knew about the ocean would be turned on its head.

Cordelia awoke to find herself in an unfamiliar bed, much more comfortable than she had been used to on the boat. Her eyes traced the contours of her surroundings, which glowed in the candlelight. Stalactites clung from the ceiling and drops of water glistened as they trickled down the walls. Cordelia slowly swung her legs round and sat on the edge of the bed. She was wearing a nightgown but it wasn’t hers. Her bare foot touched something cold under the bed. She reached down and pulled out a porcelain chamber pot, then quickly pushed it back again. Cordelia’s eyes continued to survey the room. Her own nightgown and some of her clothes were draped over a wooden chair next to a small fire and beside it was a wooden barrel. Before she’d had a chance to consider what time of day it might be there came a knock at the door. Unsure of who or what to expect, Cordelia stayed on the bed and pulled the covers around her. The knock came again.

“Cordelia,” said a reassuring voice.

The door opened ever so slightly and a friendly face emerged.

“My name’s Mazu. May I come in?”

Cordelia nodded cautiously.

“I’ve brought you soda bread and water.”

Mazu was a water goddess and protector of sailors who, when she wasn’t attending to urgent, top secret matters such as this, preferred to spend her time in the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean where she enjoyed collecting precious gem stones from the sea bed. Coming from such an exotic climate, Mazu’s skin was a perfect golden-brown and she had long dark hair which she normally wore in a fancy up do to match her impeccable dress sense.

“Where’s Flynn?” asked Cordelia.

Mazu paused. “I’m sorry, we never found him.”

Cordelia stared at Mazu, not wanting to believe what she was hearing. “You rescued my clothes but not Flynn?”

Mazu struggled to respond.

“Where are we?” asked Cordelia.

“We’re in the caves beneath the lighthouse.”

Cordelia knew of the lighthouse but she didn’t know there were caves beneath it, certainly not caves that people lived in.

“I have to find him,” said Cordelia, fetching her clothes from beside the fire.

“I’ll come with you.”

Mazu waited outside Cordelia’s chamber while she dressed, then Cordelia opened the door and stepped into a narrow, candle lit tunnel. The walls were wet and the air was damp.

“Which way?” she asked.

“Follow me.”

Mazu led Cordelia through a maze of tunnels below the lighthouse, all the while walking uphill. Cordelia didn’t see anyone else. They came to a door that led to a spiral staircase and climbed part way to another door. Cordelia could see daylight seeping through. Mazu unlocked the door with a large brass key and they stepped outside. Through squinted eyes Cordelia counted twelve beautiful white horses grazing on the grass beside the lighthouse. It felt surreal, like an enchanted scene from a fairytale. Cordelia was confused about the whole thing but she had more important questions.

“Where did you find me? Flynn must be nearby.”

“He could be anywhere Cordelia. We’ll head towards the beach and search along the coast as we go.”

Cordelia studied Mazu with curiosity. “How do you know my name?”

“It’s understandable that you have a lot of questions,” said Mazu. “Right now we need to find Flynn.”

Cordelia and Mazu walked briskly to a secluded cove where a small rowing boat sat waiting. They rowed close to the rocks, looking in every crevice, calling his name. There were portions of wreck all over the place but no sign of Flynn. Cordelia could feel a sickening, wrenching feeling in her stomach; she could not imagine life without Flynn.

“Perhaps he made it to the beach,” said Cordelia. “He’s probably been looking all over for me.”

As they rowed closer to the bay, they could see the town folk clearing the mess. Cordelia’s eyes glazed over as she recognised pieces of their boat scattered across the beach. Stepping out of the rowing boat, Cordelia noticed someone making off with fishing baskets.

“Hey!” she shouted. “Stop!”

There were people everywhere and the culprit ran off before she could stop him.

“He took our baskets!” exclaimed Cordelia.

Mazu put her arms around the young girl. “It’s okay. We’ve more important things to worry about.”

Mazu and Cordelia searched all along the beach,