Elemental (The Keeper of the elements) (14 page)

I continued to fight, even when my blood loss had weakened me into a pathetic state. I fought like hell, calling Aydan’s name in a desperate hope that something would change and he would remember me. I watched the fire consume what was left of the building, engulfing it in thick black smoke. As I watched, I cried, my heart and soul reaching out in a futile attempt to connect with Aydan. My breathing was ragged and broken and my face was blotchy, red and wet from tears. Roland held me gently as we glided softly through the air. Any other time, this feeling would be incredible, but right now I was unfixable. My sobbing began to slow into tiny hiccups but it didn’t erase the mind numbing pain.

I had truly lost everything. My mother and father were murdered. My adoptive mother and friend, murdered. And my best friend, the love of my entire life was brutally taken from me. His mind altered and erased of every good thing we shared.

I was only mildly aware when we touched back down. In and out of consciousness from both shock and blood loss. Roland carried me into the safe house and back into my room. I could hear voices but I was just too broken to pay attention. I felt someone slide next to me and when I looked up it was into Ronnie’s sympathetic eyes. Her fingers gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ears and she smiled sadly. Instantly I burst into tears and it wasn’t long before she joined me. “ I couldn’t save him.” I whispered through broken sobs. “It’s okay, Gemma.” She soothed as I continued to sink deeper in to my depressive state.

The next few hours I was in and out of sleep and at some point someone had come in and tended to my wound. Honestly I didn’t care if they would have left me to die at this point. At one point when I woke, Ronnie and Roland were adamantly discussing something. She was waving her hands wildly and gesturing towards me while she spoke. I simply pulled the pillow over my head and drifted back into sleep.

“We will get him back Gemma. He loves you so…” I cut her off angrily as I woke the next time. “Loved Ronnie. He loved me. Aydan is gone
and I failed him. Do you not get that? You were the first one to cast the stone when Eli died. You were right. I have caused so much pain and sorrow lately. No more.” I growled as uncontrollable anger bled into my soul. It took everything that was good and turned it away from me. “Enough Gemma. Ronnie is only trying to help.” Roland scolded. My anger only escalated. I stared at him, my anger growing. “We will prepare, this time more effectively than before. We will rescue him.” Roland commanded. “Why?” I asked firmly as I glared at him. “Why what Gemma?” Roland sounded defeated, but I felt defeated so I honestly didn’t care. “Why rescue him? He is nothing now. He doesn’t remember me.” Roland sighed sadly and looked around at what was left of our small group. “Because Gemma we don’t have a choice. We he kissed you, he bound himself to you. In Elemental standards you have completed the beginning of the binding ceremony of the entwined. Your energies work as one, you need each other. Without him, you will be unable to survive.” I felt my stomach drop. As if my day wasn’t bad enough already.

Chapter Twenty Four

It had been a week and the pain was nearly unbearable. I struggled to focus as I watched Roland pacing in front of the small group of people we had left. “We need to heal, to grow and to train more.” He announced. “Blaze knows were coming and thanks to the link between Gemma and Aydan there is really no hope of hiding for long.” My heart sent a fresh wave of pain coursing through my already broken body.

“I want us all to split up into groups. I want us all to go into hiding, and to train. Do not lose touch.” He commanded. I watched through foggy eyes as he went over a few more tactical measures. Things were about to get very difficult. I glanced over at Ronnie who watched sadly. I felt awful that she had lost Eli.

“Gemma, will be hiding with me. Of course.” I glanced up at the mention of my name and noticed Roland watching me carefully. “I am not sure if Aydan will use their connection to track her down, I can only assume that he will. I would rather no one else be directly involved if that were to happen.” We would be going into hiding. I knew this already but it didn’t stop the soul-crushing sadness from enveloping me.

I exhaled deeply, fighting the pain into the pit of my stomach. I felt Ronnie’s delicate hand softly touch my shoulder. She smiled sadly when I looked up. Darrington stood next to her and waited patiently. The two of them would be hiding together with a young girl name Tibby. I struggled to smile but after a moment gave up. “I can come with you if you want.” Ronnie offered quietly. I shook my head and pushed down the fresh wave of pain. “No… that’s okay, honestly I’d rather go alone but Roland is having no part in that.” I said sarcastically.  “That’s because in Roland’s eyes, you are his daughter. Would you expect him to leave his daughter?” Darrington explained gruffly, I studied his face and the large black patch that covered one eye now. That was my fault, like everyone else’s pain. I couldn’t even blame anyone else for the pain I was in because it was my fault I could rescue Aydan.

Roland approached us and smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes and I blamed myself for that to. I looked up at Ronnie and our eyes locked. She reached forward and took my hands. Her touch shot a thousand shooting pains through my body and I fought the urge to pull back. “I’ll see you soon.” She whispered sadly. I could only nod. Darrington gave a brief nod and turned away, following Ronnie and Tibby out the door. “It’s time for us to go Princess.” Roland said softly. His voice made my skin crawl, the unwelcome title forcing me to shiver. It was because of that title that so many people were dead.

I didn’t remember what came next, I could only remember the dream.

His back was turned away from me. Slowly I walked up and touched his shoulder. I gasped when he face
d me. “Aydan, “ His name felt so good on my lips that I nearly burst into tears. He smiled that goofy lopsided smile and I shivered. “Do I know you?” He asked curiously. I smiled and shrugged. Aydan laughed and pushed a hand through his hair, pushing it up and out of his eyes. “I feel like I should, like I know you but just can’t seem to remember your name.” He walked around slowly. “Where are we?”

I looked around the sparse area. It was nothing more than an all-white room. “It’s called a reverie.” Aydan smiled slowly and returned his gaze to mine. “My brother Blaze told me about these. He said that only the entwined can have them. Are we entwined?” He asked excitedly. I laughed, “I guess we could be.” Was the answer I provided him. His smile was so wide his dimples showed. “I knew I felt like I loved you.” He sighed and sat down, pulling his knees up to rest his forearms on. I joined him.

We sat in silence for a few minutes before he spoke, startling me and causing me to jump. “My brother and I are Dhampir. Do you know what that means?” He asked quietly. I nodded, my voice unable to work. “The king and queen want us all dead. They don’t believe any dhampir can be good. I’m good though. I don’t want to hurt people.” His voice was heavy and sad, and listening to it broke my heart all over again. “ I went to them once, the king and queen, did you know they have a daughter?” He smiled and it was infectious. “Their daughter is really beautiful, I felt something when I looked at her. But they wouldn’t let me speak to her because I am dhampir. They’ve ordered me killed. Blaze says we will kill them before they can kill us. Is it bad that I hope he is right?” I felt the tears burn my eyes, blurring my vision. Aydan noticed and immediately his face twisted in panic. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to make you cry. Please don’t…” His thumbs gently brushed my cheeks and caused my heart to beat wildly. “I miss you…” I whispered unintentionally. “What?” The confusion was evident and instantly I regretted saying it. I couldn’t help it though, I did miss him.

I ignored his questions and stood up, brushing myself off unnecessarily. “You just said you missed me, which means you know who I am…” He reached out and grabbed my arm, his eyes searching mine for some sort of answers. “I can’t tell you, “ I whispered.

I opened my eyes and looked around, my chest heaving with panic. Aydan still had no idea who I was but maybe there was hope. There had to be hope. 

Note From the Author

Thank you for everyone that has stuck by me du
ring this process. Elemental is so important to me and I truly hope that everyone enjoys it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I hope that you will take the time to leave a review.

I really want to thank the love of my life. Without him, there would be no Aydan, no Caleb, no Ryker and no Shane. He is the inspiration to every handsome hero in my stories and I will love him endlessly.

Thank you to all my fans that have left me such s
weet messages, it is wonderful to know that you enjoy my stories. Please look me up on twitter @AuthShayDonovan or check out my website for some awesome giveaways! Shaynedonovan.weebly.com or shoot me an email at
[email protected]
I am a frequent giver and love giving away free books!!

Happy reading and be sure to check out other works by me now available on amazon

The Forgotten

The Curse of Wonderland

The Experiment

The Wishing Well

And watch for book two of the Elemental series, told by Aydan’s point of view!!!