The Elementals #2 by Kiki XoXo (books for new readers .txt) 📕

"Tatum...he was there with you in the human world." He scratches the back of his neck, and I know where he is going with this.

"Yeah. He was trying to get me to fall in love with him." I admit, without any hesitation. Everyone knows that, I just wonder what he thinks about it now. Tatum says he just wants to be friends. And it's been awhile and Tracy hasn't sent me any threats or anythig around that area. 

"You didn't." he says, not really asking. Still watching him, I can see the unsureness in his eyes. Jealousy? 

"I don't think I did. I think that we did become good friends, we are good friends." I say jumbling up my thoughts. I look at him looking down at his food. "I'm gonna be hoenst with you Thayer. I'm guessing that if I would've been then for another month or so eventually I we would've dated. Maybe fallen in love with each other." I sigh. Dating has gone to the garbage though. All this place has is forced marriages and partners.  I guess Sebastien and I had a relationship, but it was practically hidden. I also don't remember it  so to me it doesn't count. Although Chaston and Chase, and Sierra and Frederick.  I also think there is something going on between Jannessa and Theodore too. That day in the training room, when she spoke to him she sounded jealous. Although he wasn't to worried. 

"That's understandable." He speaks, and I glance at him again. "Spending three years with him obviously trying to charm you.  He isn't bad looking either." I smile. "I'm not gay either!" he points at me, and I bust up laughing. He doesn't ask any more questions after that, and we chat about the movies we watched. After we have finished eating, we both do the dishes. I dry and put away while he washes.  I hate washing dishes. I just don't like my fingers getting pruney I guess. 

"What time do we have to go back?" I ask, looking out a window and seeing the horse grazing in the yard. I don't want to go, yet I do. I hate being here and thinking  this place is perfect whlie other people are suffering somewhere. But I'm not suffering here. I'm happy here why leave when you are happy? But Thayer  and I have duties now being royalty and all.  In fact we have class today which is why we have to go back today. We only got one day off for this little break.  It was a nice break though, quiet  and easy. A little to quick for my taste, but hey I can't complain at least we got the break. 

"We have another hour." he sighs, leaning against the counter handing me the last dish. Another hour, what can we do for another hour? There is the canoe or boat thing, although only an hour might not be enough time. Stacking the last plate into in the cupboard, I lean against the counter next to him. "What do you want to do?" he asks, crossinghis arms. 

"What is there to do?" I ask him. 

"Hmmm there is board games. The canoe outside." he starts naming off lists of things to do, and I listen intently to his rambling. 

"Could we walk through the trails? I don't feel like flipping a canoe.." I reply to him, and he hold out his hand. 

"Of course. Follow me!" he acts like a tour guide. Making our way through he points out flowers to me and tells me their names, along with trees and birds that are up in the tree. I wonder if this is stuff he had learned in school, or maybe he just likes knowing this kind of stuff. It's neat to know. Including he is also telling me which ones are edible and which ones aren't. I actually listen in asking questions, and remembering certain edible and non edible plants.  "That milady, is the end of our tour today." He gushes as we break out of the forest and are back in the clearing with the cottage and lake. 

"Time to pack isn't it?" I sigh, and he nods. We head into the cottage, packing our things, and then we sadle up our horses. I feel bad leaving, but it's time to go back to the real world. The ride back feels like it only took five minutes even though it wasn't. once we're back we put the horses back in the stable, giving them carrotes and apples. Then we head inside and we got into our room. 

Leaning against the door I let out a breath. Throwing all my dirty close into my hamper, and putting away all of my other belongings. Sitting at my desk once I finished I see the letter from my parents. Next to it is another plank piece of paper with a pencil resting on top of it. I spot the sticky note hanging from my lamp, from Tatum. I read it crumpling it up. He wants me to write to my family, I don't know why he is pushing this so much. It's not like he has anything to do with my family! Shoving the letter and blank piece of paper into the bottom drawer of my desk, I get up and leave my room. I go to the kitchen asking the cooks if they could make me a quick peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The cooks here aren't like the cooks in Spridge. In Spridge, the cooks were never there to cook other then main meals. But here they never leave the kitchen, and wont let me cook anything. Which also felt nice this morning cooking a breakfast. The smile scurrying on their way all, all three of them spreading half a jar of jelly and peanut butter on a piece of bread. Then they mash them together and a bunch oozes out from the sides. Gladly taking it, loving how it's overflowing... I like PB&J... good  easy snacks. 

After about thirty minutes of sitting in the kitchen and talking with the cooks, I leave letting them get back to their work. Supper is gonna be here in about 3 hours, so they should probably get preparing the food. Running through the halls to my room I grab a blanket, and my notebook for school. I'm gonna be late. I didn't realize we got back that late, even though the ride felt like it was only 5 minutes! Rushing into my seat next to Thayer, who is watching me with humor, I open my note book and realize I shoved my pencil in the desk drawer with the letter. I smack my forehead on the table. Thayer knudges me holding out a pencil, I smile greatfully. Then stand up and wrap my blanket around me like a towel. It's not tha the school room is cold, it's just comfier with the wooden chairs. Also the chairs rock, they're like those weird wooden desk chairs not rocking chairs. Although if they were rocking chairs, I don't think I'd get anything done. I wood rock myself to sleep. These chairs aren't comfy enough to do that though.

"Thayer?! Lyra?! Are you in here?" Mrs. West flies in the room in a panic. We both sit up and stop laughing at my lame joke about cats. "Come, we must eat supper." She calms down leaving the room. I glance at the clock. It's only been 15 minutes since I left the kitchen, and they hadn't started supper yet. 

"What's wrong?" Thayer asks, as the two of us run after her. What could be so important? 

"We have to eat then pack for a couple days trip." She whispers, as we get to the dinning room. Supper is already served and ready to eat. It's steak with mashed potatos. I scratch my forehead. I know they couldn't have cooked that in the past 15 minutes, and I know it wasnt cooked before I came in I would have smelled it. Sitting in my seat, we all eat in 5 minutes in which I get a stomach ache from eating to much and eating to fast. I keep up easily though, running to my room and packing for a weeks stay. Somewhere we still haven't been told where.

With the four of us loaded in the car, and already on the street the first couple minutes are quiet. I notice Mr. and Mrs. West holding hands tightly and looking at each other with a love so strong that nothing could tear them apart. It makes me smile knowing they're that happy. But they look sad as well. What could make them sad like that? We could make us all rush through a normal night? 

"Are you going to tell us where we're going?" Thayer asks, breaking the silence. He sits up leaning between the driver and passenger seats. I'm still wrapped in my blanket, and looking out the window. I hope it's not a lonig car ride. If it is though I'm gonna sleep.  

"We're going to Spridge." Mr. West says, without turning and looking back. I sit up, leaning just like Thayer is. We're going to Spridge?!  "There is a funeral." He adds, and my heart stops. Oh god! My parents!? The other elementals?! Sebastien?! Chaston!? ELIJAH!? 

"Who's?" Thayer asks grabbing my hand, I squeeze his. Why didn't they tell us this right away? It must be one of my family members!

"Edmund Holt." He says, and my world goes blank. The Queen. This is her doing. 

 "Lyra." I feel a knudge in my shoulder. I mumble something, I'm not sure wht even. Then go right back into my zone of sleep. "Hey, we're here." Thayer's voice breaks in again. My eyes fly open, and I see we are sitting in the caslte driveway. I don't see anybody waiting for us, but inside those doors are my parents and friends. And Elijah. I left without even saying goodbye to him. I left without that kiss. Grabbing Thayers hand we get out, but I can't go in yet. I mean I know it's not about me, Sebastien and Chaston dad is dead! But still I can't help but wonder what they will say to me. We're staying for a week, so they're bound to ask why I never wrote... and Elijah and I are bound to have one time when we're alone. I show him through one of the many gardens, trying to push back time. I hope no one spots us through a window but I'd rather that then actually seeing in person. Sitting at on the the benches I lay my head on his shoulder, he knows I'm not comfortable here.  We sit for twenty minutes or so not saying anything just sitting.

"We should get up there you know.." he whispers kissing the top of my my head. I nod, even though I don't want to. Taking a deep breath I stand up gripping Thayer's hand we find our way out of the garden. 

Walking through the castle now, I smile at all the good memories, and it make my heart ache more. Before we actually go to the throne