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

“I doubt that he told anyone about me. He may not even know I exist.” Cordelia rubbed her temples, “Does anyone else know about me?”

Triton cleared his throat, “The staff know. We had to tell them for your own safety.”

“Anyone else?”

“Only Rafe,” said Mazu. “He was the one who brought you to safety when the Sirens attacked you. He noticed the markings on your tail but we’ve sworn him to secrecy.”

“You won’t tell anyone else, will you?”

“Not if you don’t want us to,” said Triton.

“I’m not trying to put pressure on you,” said Mazu, “but if you want us to go to the castle with you, you only have to ask.”

“Not yet,” replied Cordelia.

“You’ve had a lot to take in,” said Mazu. “We’ll leave you to rest. I’ll come and check on you later.”

Triton and Mazu left Cordelia’s chamber and walked briskly to Triton’s office where they hoped to speak in private but Morwen Vanora was waiting outside. She looked as though she was about to burst a blood vessel.

“Morwen,” said Triton. “Are you back to your old self?”

“Less of the old thank you. I was hoping to speak with you.”

“Of course, come in,” said Triton, opening the door to his office with a large brass key. “You don’t mind if Mazu sits in, do you?”

Morwen pursed her lips like a cat’s bottom. “I suppose not.”

“What do you want to speak about?” asked Triton, leaning back in his chair.

Disgruntled by Triton’s casual manner, Morwen took a moment to respond. “I want to share my concerns about that girl.”

Mazu raised an eyebrow but kept quiet.

“There are over one hundred girls in this school,” replied Triton, “which girl in particular are you concerned about?”

“You know full well which girl I’m talking about, that beast you brought in off the sea bed.”

Triton sat forward in his chair, his eyes bulging with anger. “That girl has a name and you’d do well to remember it. Call her a beast again and you’ll find yourself banished from this Kingdom.”

Elegantly poised on her chair, Mazu did well to hold her composure. She had never warmed to Morwen, she found her cold and calculating.

“You can’t banish me!” snapped Morwen. “She’s the one you want to be getting rid of. She’s caused nothing but mayhem since she’s been here. I’ve interviewed…”

“Interrogated,” muttered Mazu under her breath.

Morwen glared at Mazu before continuing, “I’ve interviewed every student in this school apart from Cordelia. None of them know anything. It must have been her.”

“Even if you had proof,” said Triton, “which I’m assuming you don’t, there is nothing you could do about it.”

“Nothing I can do?”

“Have you lost your mind?” asked Triton. “She is of royal blood. Royal, and yet you have the audacity to question her integrity. To question her right to be here.”

“I stand by every word,” said Morwen. “There’s something peculiar about her.”

“Peculiar?” piped Mazu. “I think perhaps you ought to be keeping your opinions to yourself. We have a member of royalty in our care. Our whole purpose is to protect the Kingdom of Meren, is it not?”

“Mazu’s right,” said Triton, firmly. “That girl has royal blood running through her veins and it’s our duty to protect her. Step out of line again and you’re out. Is that clear?!”

“Yes,” muttered Morwen, quietly.

“I didn’t hear you.”

“Yes.”

Morwen stormed out of Triton’s office with a face like thunder.

At that very moment, a visitor was knocking on Cordelia’s door.

“Who is it?” she called.

“Rafe.”

Cordelia paused before responding. Rafe had never knocked at her door before, but then boys weren’t supposed to visit girls in their chambers and vice-versa. She was suspicious but thought it only polite to invite him in after his heroics. Cordelia quickly ran her fingers through her hair and straightened her nightgown.

“Come in.”

Hearing the latch on the door, Cordelia took a deep breath. She never quite knew what to make of Rafe. Her head was all over the place where he was concerned. There was never any consistency. Rafe poked his head round the door and smiled. There was something about his smile that caused Cordelia’s heart to involuntarily skip a beat. She knew he was no good for her but his bad boy antics stirred excitement deep within her soul.

“Quick, close the door,” she said, “you’re not supposed to be here.”

“How are you?” he asked, finally closing the door.

“Improving, thanks to you.”

“Oh, it was nothing,” said Rafe, coyly.

“Seriously, you saved my life. Thank you.”

There was a moment of silence while Rafe stood with his hands in his pockets. Neither wanted to be the first to mention what they both wanted to talk about.

“I never know where I stand with you,” said Cordelia, eventually.

“What d’you mean?”

“I can never tell if you like me or not.”

Rafe chuckled, “Are you serious?”

“Sometimes it seems like you do, but then other times you seem to mock me with Max.”

“That’s just lads messing about.”

Cordelia raised her eyebrows.

“I’m sorry,” said Rafe, “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

There was another silence.

“So what were you doing at Slate Island?” asked Rafe.

“Trying to rescue Flynn.”

“Is he your real father?”

“No, but he raised me. That makes him my father.”

“How did he end up there?”

“The ravens took him the night of the storm. He’s been there ever since.”

“He’s lucky to still be alive.”

“That’s one way to look at it.”

“I’ll go back there with you, if you want.”

“You’d really do that for me?”

“Of course, just don’t mention it to Max.”

“I thought you were friends.”

“We are. He has issues.”

“Issues?”

“He wonders what you plan to do when you rescue Flynn. Where’s he going to live?”

Cordelia didn’t have an answer.

“Might be something to think about,” said Rafe. “Some might be concerned if Flynn comes here, you know, with him not being like the rest of us.”

“Oh,” said Cordelia, her heart sinking. “I hadn’t really thought about it.”

“Who’s Breck?” asked Rafe, changing the subject.

Cordelia wondered where this was going. “A friend.”

“That’s something else