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

turned to see Cordelia standing on the cliff top with her arms stretched out in front of her. A seething wall of water was building in front of them. He watched in disbelief as Cordelia drew the wall of water closer to them and then sent it hurtling back out to sea.

“What are you?” he asked breathlessly, his heart racing.

“A mermaid.” Cordelia gasped like the air was running out. With every inch of her body she hoped and prayed that she hadn’t just made the biggest mistake of her life. “Say something.”

“What am I?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

While soft rain continued to fall, the sun peeped out from behind the clouds and a rainbow appeared on the horizon.

“Still think you’re too dangerous for me?” asked Cordelia, coyly.

Breck walked over to Cordelia, put his arms around her waist and pressed his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice hushed.

“Does this change anything?”

Breck cleared his throat. “Only that I love you more than I already did.”

“You love me?” Cordelia’s cheeks flushed and she felt flutters in the pit of her stomach. “Aren’t you scared?” she breathed.

“Of what?”

“Me. Of what I am.”

“Should I be?”

Cordelia shook her head. “No, but people talk. They whisper in corners and things get muddled. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumours.”

“Rumours?”

“It’s quite funny really, considering most people refuse to believe we exist. Those that do think we drown sailors and eat them for supper. That’s why we live in secret.”

“Do you? Eat sailors?”

“No, just peat boys,” said Cordelia in her most serious tone.

“If that were true you’d have done it by now.”

Cordelia smiled.

“Will you let me take you home?”

“You won’t tell anyone what I am will you? Promise you won’t.”

“I won’t tell a soul, but if I did, you could always tell them about my peculiarities and then we’d end up in a circus exhibit together.”

“I suppose we should be getting back. They’ll be wondering where I am.”

“They?”

“The people I live with.”

“Are they like you?”

Cordelia nodded. “You mustn’t tell anyone. I’ve already broken half the rules by revealing myself to you.”

“I’m glad you did. Don’t worry, I’ve no plans to join the circus in this life.”

Cordelia and Breck mounted the horse and galloped back to Kilfearagh.

“Will I see you tomorrow?” asked Breck as Cordelia jumped down from the horse.

“Maybe,” smiled Cordelia.

Breck leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you too.”

NINE

THE KELLYS

When Cordelia returned to the lighthouse, she went straight to the library. She was certain there must be something amongst all those books that would explain what was happening to Breck.

“I’ve been expecting you,” said Wade, peering through a gap between the books on the shelves.

Startled, Cordelia asked, “Why were you expecting me?”

“You won’t find anything in here.”

Cordelia moved slowly along the first stretch of books, gliding her fingers along the edge of the shelf. Wade walked beside her on the other side of the shelves, watching her through the gaps at every opportunity. Cordelia could tell he was up to something. As she approached the end of the aisle, Wade quickened his pace and darted around to Cordelia’s side of the bookshelves where he threw his back against the books.

“What are you doing?” asked Cordelia, puzzled by Wade’s behavior.

“I might ask you the same question.”

“I’m looking for a book, of course.”

“Have you finished reading the books Lana lent you?”

“No, not yet.”

“Well then I can’t lend you anything until you’ve read the basics. These are all far too advanced.”

“You’ve lent books to me before.”

“That was different.”

“How so?”

“It just was.”

Cordelia looked Wade in the eyes and he held her stare.

“You know what I’m looking for, don’t you? I bet the book I’m looking for is right there behind you.”

“It’s for your own protection,” said Wade still guarding the books.

“My protection? What do I need protecting from in a library?”

“Knowledge isn’t everything Cordelia. In order to move forward, some things are best unknown.”

“You speak in riddles. Are you referring to Breck?”

“You’ll thank me one day. Now come along, the library is closing.” Wade ushered Cordelia into the tunnel.

“The library never closes,” complained Cordelia.

“It does now,” replied Wade, bolting the door and turning the key in the lock.

“Wait! I don’t understand,” said Cordelia, banging the door with the palm of her hand.

She soon realised that Wade was not going to open the door, not tonight at least. Cordelia skulked back to her chamber and slumped down on her bed. She lay in the candlelight daydreaming about Breck who at this very moment was having problems of his own.

Keeva had been watching from the upstairs window, waiting for Breck to return home. While her mother darned socks and looked after her younger siblings, her father managed the bar and her brothers had been out working with a team of men repairing and extending the sea wall. They were now gathered around the kitchen table, waiting for their mother to serve the broth that had been bubbling away on the range for hours. Keeva had spent the day perfecting her hair and admiring herself in the mirror, experimenting with the embellishments on her mother’s dressing table. As soon as she saw Misty come around the corner, she raced downstairs and flung open the door to the yard.

“Will you not thump down the stairs like that child?” called her mother. “Sounds like an elephant loose in the house.”

Keeva ignored her mother and playfully toyed with her hair as she leaned against the ivy growing around the door. It was the golden hour before dusk and the evening sun bathed the entire street in a soft, golden glow. Keeva watched Breck unhitch Misty from the cart and lead her into the yard. He picked up a few pieces of turf from the wagon that he’d brought back for the fire. He hadn’t noticed his cousin watching him. Keeva waited patiently, adjusting her posture, making sure she looked her best. Then he walked towards her, smiling. Keeva smiled back, still twirling