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

The girls reluctantly left Marilla alone with Morwen.

“I need some air,” said Lana.

The four friends skipped lunch and headed outside where the warm sun proved a striking contrast to the morning’s wintery blizzards. For a fleeting moment Cordelia felt at ease. Safe. Relieved that one of her demons had been spectacularly removed from her increasingly complicated life, for the time being at least.

“D’you think we’ll be able to enter the diving competition now?” asked Cordelia, sitting on the rocks with her feet in the water.

“I don’t see why not,” said Lana. “I’ll check with my father. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Masika hitched her dress above the knee and unraveled her bandage.

“That still looks sore,” said Lana.

“It’s not as bad as it was,” replied Masika, scooping salt water onto the wound with her hand.

“You’ll be fixed in no time,” said Nerissa. “Amatheia will see to that.”

“I hope so,” said Masika. “I don’t really want another episode like this morning, especially if those ravens come back.”

“D’you think they will?” asked Cordelia.

Masika shrugged her shoulders. “Who knows. It depends what they want I suppose.”

“Zamira’s very focused when she has her mind set on something,” said Lana.

“But why is she interested in us?” asked Nerissa.

“She’s not,” said Cordelia. “It’s me and I intend to find out why.”

“How d’you plan to do that?” asked Lana.

“I’m going to the islands.”

“Are you crazy?!” asked Lana.

“I really wouldn’t advise it,” said Nerissa.

“I didn’t realise I needed your permission,” said Cordelia.

“You don’t,” said Lana. “We care about what happens to you.”

“You’re not ready,” said Masika. “If you’re serious about going to the islands you need to be physically ready.”

“Are you saying I’m not fit enough?”

“Your tail,” said Lana, “you need your tail. Your powers function at less than half their capacity until you have your tail.”

“When do you turn sixteen?” asked Masika.

“May.”

“That’s less than two months away,” said Nerissa. “Until then we’ll help you practise your skills.”

“You need to discover your power,” said Lana.

“My power?”

“All mermaids have a power that’s stronger than the others,” replied Lana. “If you know what it is you can learn to use it to your advantage.”

“D’you know yours?” asked Cordelia.

Lana and the twins smiled.

“Are you ready?” asked Lana.

Cordelia nodded, wondering what they were about to do that she hadn’t seen already.

Lana focused on the water, the gentle ripples flowing to the right.

“Watch carefully,” whispered Masika.

The direction of the ripples changed from right to left. Lana remained focused and the water level began to fall. Their feet were no longer submerged. Just as quickly the tide turned and their feet were covered again.

“You control the tide,” said Cordelia.

“The only mermaid to do so this side of the hemisphere,” said Masika.

“Overpowering the moon is pretty impressive don’t you think?” asked Nerissa enthusiastically.

“Very,” said Cordelia. “So the tides will always be in your favour.”

“Only in times of trouble,” explained Lana. “We don’t interfere with the natural world unnecessarily.”

“So come on then,” said Cordelia, “what magic tricks have you two got up your sleeves?”

“It’s not magic Cordelia, it’s mind control,” said Masika.

“Magic’s for witches and wizards, that’s if you believe they exist,” said Nerissa.

Lana and the twins giggled.

“The sixth sense is something that many fail to acknowledge,” said Masika. “Especially the town folk, they think it makes them sound daft. Tricks of the mind they call it and that’s the polite version.”

“What else do they say?” asked Cordelia.

“They call them crazy and lock them away,” said Lana. “It’s stupid if you ask me. Limiting one’s brainpower because you’re scared of what people might think. Likewise, refusing to acknowledge someone’s gift just because you’ve never explored your own potential is equally as stupid. It’s one thing I’ve never understood about humans.”

“It is rather complex,” said Nerissa. “I think that’s why people tend not to understand it.”

“How so?” asked Cordelia.

“There’s many different aspects to it,” said Masika, “intuition, telepathy, premonitions, communicating with those who have passed, there’s a list of different elements as long as my arm. People like to fit in. Even if they did tap into their sixth sense, they’d never admit it. It would be viewed as taboo.”

“Just like we’re taboo,” said Nerissa. “We exist, but we’re also a myth. We’re blamed by some for all manner of deaths at sea yet people are also thought to be crazy if they say they’ve seen us.”

“It all sounds ridiculous to me,” said Cordelia. “Why can’t people be honest?”

“Unfortunately, you will never sway public opinion,” said Lana.

Cordelia had been listening intently, wondering what she was capable of. After all, Lana had said her powers were currently working at less than half their potential. The thought of what she could achieve with enough practise filled her with excitement.

“Come on Nerissa, you’re keeping me in suspense,” she said.

“Ok, feet out of the water,” said Nerissa.

She focused on the water for only a few seconds and a whirlpool emerged, tiny at first, then rapidly growing larger and spinning faster. “I’ve never found much use for it.” said Nerissa. “We’re protectors of sailors so I’d hardly want to drag a sailing boat to the bottom of the sea, unless they were hunting whales, that would be different.”

“I’m afraid I’ll have to demonstrate mine another day,” said Masika, re-bandaging her wound. “My skills are way off at the moment.”

“Can you tell me what it is?” asked Cordelia.

“And spoil the surprise?” teased Masika.

“Fine. I won’t beg,” said Cordelia, sticking her nose in the air and turning away, quietly confident that Masika would give in.

“Okay, there’s no need to get all huffy. I can read minds,” revealed Masika.

Cordelia glanced back at Masika with wide eyes. “So you know what I’m thinking?”

“Not right now,” said Masika. “Like I said, my skills are a little patchy at the moment.”

“But usually, when you’re well, you can read my thoughts?”

“Not exactly, I have to tune in.”

“Have you read any of my thoughts?” asked Cordelia.

“Maybe, some.” Masika paused. “I was just interested to know who you are. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have.”

“Tell me, who am I?”

“I don’t