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

“It isn’t safe.”

“Where is he Nixie?!”

Explosions of fire continued to spew from the burning candles. Nixie darted around the chamber in a frenzy, wondering what to do for the best.

“Slate Island!” she shouted.

Without delay, the storm left as quickly as it arrived and all the water disappeared. Cordelia opened the door and hurried along the tunnel, leaving behind The Book of Tails.

“Wait!” cried Nixie. “It’s not safe. You’re putting yourself in grave danger!”

Cordelia carried on running and as she turned a corner she bumped straight into Lana and the twins.

“Whoa, wait there,” said Lana, unable to ignore her friend’s distress.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” asked Nerissa.

“Oh, so you care about me now do you?”

“Of course we care.”

“I have to go,” said Cordelia, trying to squeeze past.

“Stop her!” said Nixie. “She’s going to Slate Island.

“Why would you want to go there?” asked Lana.

“That’s where Flynn is,” explained Nixie. “The ravens have him.”

The mermaids heard footsteps coming towards them, it was Mr Seymour. Cordelia turned her face towards the wall so he wouldn’t see that she’d been crying.

“Everything alright girls?”

“Couldn’t be better,” said Lana.

“Good, well get a move on. Don’t you have a lesson to get to?”

The girls slowly walked in the opposite direction to Mr Seymour whose footsteps soon faded to nothing.

“It’s too dangerous,” said Nerissa.

“I don’t care, I can’t leave him,” said Cordelia with a look of unwavering determination.

Masika gasped, raising a hand to her mouth.

“What is it?” asked Lana.

“She’s grown her tail,” said Masika, wide eyed.

Cordelia subconsciously held her breath as she waited for her friends’ reactions to the news.

“Are you serious?” asked Lana excitedly.

Cordelia smiled and nodded.

“That’s brilliant, but we weren’t expecting it yet, were we?” said Lana.

“No. Look, I need to get going,” said Cordelia, impatiently, “Flynn needs me.”

“If you’re set on going, at least let us help you,” said Lana.

Nixie looked surprised by Lana’s suggestion and darted around worriedly.

“Nixie, calm down,” said Nerissa.

“What about Breck? Aren’t you still mad about that?” enquired Cordelia.

“Sometimes it’s best to move on,” said Lana.

Cordelia studied each of her friends, who all looked sincere enough. “Okay.”

“We’ll wait until dark,” said Masika, “we’ll have a better chance then.”

“The island goes strangely quiet after sunset,” said Nerissa.

“We need to get to class,” said Lana.

“Amatheia’s excused me from classes for the day,” said Cordelia, “time to get used to the tail I suppose.”

“Well that wouldn’t be a bad idea,” said Masika.

“Promise you won’t leave without us,” pleaded Nerissa.

“Cross my heart,” smiled Cordelia, crossing her heart with her finger.

“We’ll meet you at the cove after lessons,” said Lana. “Nixie, look after her while we’re gone.”

“I don’t like this,” said Nixie, when the others had gone.

“It’ll be fine,” said Cordelia, “the islands aren’t even that far from the mainland.”

“The distance may be short Cordelia, but it’s still a dangerous journey.”

“It doesn’t matter. If I don’t try I’ll never forgive myself.”

Cordelia began to walk away.

“Where are you going?” asked Nixie.

“To the reef,” said Cordelia, “I need all the practise I can get.”

“The reef?” questioned Nixie.

“What’s wrong with that?”

“What about Breck? What if Keeva’s told the whole town about you?”

“Don’t you think they’d be out looking for us by now if she had? I refuse to hide away and live in fear of something that may never happen.”

“But…”

“No buts Nixie, the only people who go anywhere near the reef are Breck and Keeva and they already know about me. At least if I go there I’ll be able to see Flynn in the mirror pool.”

The tide was fairly high when Cordelia reached the rock pools and the rocks surrounding the first pool were only just beginning to show. There was no sign of Breck or his horse. She willed the sea to show her Flynn but the water continued to ripple across the rocks. Feeling impatient, Cordelia used her powers to control the tide, exposing all three pools. Standing on the edge of the mirror pool she tried again. As expected, white sea mist crawled across the rocks and rose up high around her.

Meanwhile, Breck was at the tavern trying to persuade Connal and William not to join him at the peat bog.

“I swear you’ll be wasting your time,” he said, “I’ve dug that bog a thousand times over and never found anything worth writing home about. You’d be better off sticking with the relief work, at least you’ll get paid for that.”

“Is that right?” asked Connal. “Sounds to me like you’re hiding something.”

“Wants to keep it all for himself,” said William.

“All the more reason to send you lads along,” said Mr Kelly. “Keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn’t pocket any for himself. The treasures that come out of that bog are gonna change this family’s lives.”

Keeva was leaning against the wall with her arms folded as the young men left the tavern. She looked at Breck sternly, raising her eyebrows when he looked in her direction.

“You wouldn’t do anything daft, would ye Breck?” she said, bitingly.

Breck chose to ignore his cousin’s comment. Ducking under the door frame he placed his flat cap on his head and stepped into the yard. As he prepared the horse and wagon, Breck couldn’t help but wonder about Cordelia and silently prayed that he wouldn’t see her at the rock pools.

“What’s wrong with you?” asked Connal. “You’ve a face like a slapped arse. You’d think you’d be grateful for the company.”

“He’s right,” said William, “it must get lonely back there in solitude all day.”

“I dunno, I like it that way.”

Breck climbed onto the cart. “Are you getting on or what?”

The three young men rode through the town and along the seafront. The air was cool but the sun shone gloriously in the blue sky.

“I don’t like the look of that storm coming in,” said William as they approached the bog.

Behind them the town was bathed in sunlight so bright that the light bouncing off the buildings caused them to squint. Ahead of them, dark