Elemental (The Keeper of the elements) (2 page)

Aydan was the only person I spoke to. The only person that I opened up to. For some reason when everyone else left me, Aydan had stayed close. I was still waiting for the day he would leave me too. “Happy Birthday!” He said happily as he hoisted me to his feet and into his arms. I smiled as I breathed in his scent, so uniquely Aydan. He smelled of a warm summer breeze blowing off the ocean. I know it didn’t make sense but it was the best way to describe it. I inhaled deeply feeling a slight wind pick up around us. Warmth spread through me just as usual when Aydan was near. “Would you like your present?” Aydan asked excitedly. I reluctantly let go and took a step back, smiling up at him eagerly. “You bought me a present?” I said, with the slightest hint of awe in my voice.

My birthday was never a good day for me, bringing back the awful memories of my parents’ murder in full force. Somehow Aydan knew I hated acknowledging my birthday and we never really spoke of it. But this year felt a little different; a little easier to breath perhaps. Aydan must have sensed that in me. He handed me a small silver and blue box and my heart leapt at the memory of the colors. Those colors reminded me of pain. I struggled to smile, knowing he didn’t do it on purpose. Aydan’s eyes sparkled as he watched me excitedly. I pulled my thoughts away from the pain and to a happier time. I thought back to the day that I had met Aydan. It was the second day in my first foster home; I can’t even honestly remember their names. I had gone outside to play and much like today, I ran head first into Aydan. He had smiled brightly his face lighting up like he had found his favorite toy. I guess in a sense you can say that he did. Aydan is a year older than me and stood at least a head taller, even back then. The day we met his hair was longer, not much but definitely curlier. My lips twitched into a smile as I finally pealed the ribbon and paper from the package. Lying in my hand was a square velvet box and my heart fluttered excitedly. I glanced up at Aydan who only smiled encouragingly, a slight pink tone creeping into his cheeks. “The box isn’t the actual present Gemma.” He chuckled but I could hear the slight tremble in his voice, almost like he was afraid or nervous that I would reject his gift. He had never before gotten me anything more than a couple pretty flowers. I licked my suddenly dry lips and closed my eyes to breathe in a calming breath. The wind picked up a notch and gently tugged my hair around my face. As I opened my eyes, Aydan was still staring at me with an expression I can only describe as wonderment. I looked back at the box and opened it, the lid making a slight creak noise, and then I gasped.

Lying inside, attached to a delicate silver chain, was a heart shaped amethyst stone. “I hope you like it, I really had hope this would set off the color of your eyes...” His hand moved gently to my cheek and his thumb stroked my jaw line softly. “They are really stunning.” I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. Aydan cleared his throat and smiled, returning the ease and comfort that I normally felt around him. “May I?” He asked, taking the necklace from its resting place inside the box. I could only nod as I turned and lifted my hair for him to clasp it around my neck.

I looked down, unable to tear my eyes away from the gorgeous bauble. No one had ever given me such a gift before. The most I had ever received was a book bag for school. “Thank you Aydan. I love it.” I whispered, unable to trust my voice at its normal pitch. I tried to hide how much the gift meant to me but there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that he didn’t know. I smiled and hoped it would be enough to convey how much I truly loved it. “I’m glad you like it” Aydan’s voice was soft, obviously entertained with my reaction to his gift. I looked down once more at the necklace that now hung around my neck and gently caressed it, surprised to find the stone warm. Aydan stepped forward and wrapped his arms around my shoulders hugging me tightly to him. I would greatly allow him to squeeze the life from me if I could stay this way forever. “I’m really glad you like it Gemma. It looks absolutely stunning on you. I know I don’t say this enough, but I’m really happy you’re in my life.” Aydan said and then he gently kissed my temple and I nearly fainted with enjoyment. This was truly the best birthday I had ever had.

Chapter Two

The blissful feeling I had as I made my way home dissipated the second I walked in the door. I should have known that everything was too good to last. Gabby and Mitchell were sitting in the front hall waiting for me. Mitchell had his arms folded over his b
road chest and Gabby had her hands laced together as she chewed nervously on her bottom lip. The hall was filled with the few belongings that I had and the ever popular Ms. Duncan stood off to the side, her usual scowl in place on her lips. I was being discarded yet again.

I softly closed the door behind me, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes. “I am assuming that you understand why I am here Gemma?” Ms. Duncan announced in her harsh tone. She had lost her nicer nature a long time ago and began viewing me as some sort of reject and treated me as such. I simply nodded, still having never spoken to her. “The Kelly’s have stated that they cannot handle your distant attitude and have requested that we place you in a foster home that is better suited to your special needs.” Her tone was so demeaning and she practically sneered ‘special needs.’ I simply nodded again and stepped forward to pick up my things.

My anger was boiling just as it usually did but still I kept my lips tight, refusing to give them any benefit. “Gemma...” Gabby gently touched my shoulder and I brought my eyes up to hers silently. She stepped back with a shocked expression as if I had slapped her. I didn’t wait for another response as I trudged outside and proceeded to climb inside the van.

The trip was silent, as it usually was, until about ten minutes before arriving to my new but temporary home. I wished so badly for some resemblance of normalcy. I craved stability; of course I would never voice those feelings. “This is a young woman, strange really, but she was the only one that was willing, if not eager, to foster you. I’m pretty sure she even used the term adopt, so perhaps you shouldn’t screw this one up.” Ms. Duncan said coldly. I just stared out the window, watching the streets change and the houses grow smaller. “Alright Gemma, here we are. The woman’s name is Amelie Blackwell.” Ms. Duncan plaster on her salesman smile in hopes of selling this ‘Amelie’ on my adoption. I won’t lie, I was actually hoping for it too. The house was a tall, red brick structure with a covered front porch that looked old but sturdy. On the right side was a creaky porch swing that hung by rusted chains. Old lace curtains hung in the windows and the front door had a large wreath attached to it. Although a bit old, the place had charm and seemed inviting enough.

I followed Ms. Duncan up the stone pathway and onto the porch which creaked under our combined weight. She took a breath, widened her smile and knocked on the door. After a few moments the door opened and for once Ms. Duncan and I had the same shocked expression. A woman looking to be no more than perhaps thirty stood in the doorway. Her long blonde hair pulled over her left shoulder. She wore a light blue sweater that looked to be cashmere and a pair of tight fitting jeans and a pair of black high heels. I’m pretty sure my mouth dropped open. “Oh! Bonjour! You must be Gemma!” She stepped out onto the porch and hugged me tightly. I was too stunned to shy away from her. “Mon nom est Amelie.” I could only assume that she had said her name, so I smiled kindly and my breathing almost stopped. As she pulled away I noticed something. The shade of her eyes was the exact shade as mine.

I sat quietly on the cream couch while Amelie was in the kitchen. I could hear her on the phone but I couldn’t understand what was being said. “Oui, elle est ici. Elle est sure Roland, je vous assure. Je laisserai aucun mal venir a la ele,emtaire. Je suis convaincu que c’est son.” She spoke a few more sentences before I heard her say goodbye and return to me with a smile. She sat down opposite me and continued to smile. It was making me uncomfortable and I shifted my weight on the couch. “ I am so happy to have you here.” She announced, her accent nearly disappearing. “Let me tell you a little about me so you can be more comfortable.” I shrugged and simply waited for her to begin. “My name is Amelie, I was actually born in France, let’s just say a while ago.” She smiled like she had made some kind of joke. “My husband Roland is still in France but will hopefully join us soon. We don’t have any other children.” She finished sadly. “Please? will you tell me about you?” I stared at her for a moment, deciding whether or not I should speak.

My hand clutched the warm stone of my necklace and I could almost feel it pulsating like a heartbeat. It reminded me of Aydan and with a smile, I opened my mouth and started to talk. “My name is Gemma, I’ll be eighteen in eight months” It was the most I had said in nearly ten years to anyone besides Aydan, but the wide smile on Amelie’s face made it clear that she had known that.

That night I lay quietly in my new room. The walls were painted a pale blue and the border was grey. It was like someone was purposely trying to remind me of that painful day. Nothing could have stopped the nightmares that night. They began the very second I closed my eyes. Every aspect of my past came back to haunt me, especially my parents death.  It almost felt similar to what I would assume a searing hot cattle prod would feel as it was shoved into your brain. I tossed and turned and moaned and groaned all night, unable to shake the painful memories. I almost felt like I was being forced to remember. 

I was eight years old again but with a seventeen year old mind. I stood at my bedroom window staring out into the back yard as I watched my parents. Everything was moving in slow motion. I could see myself standing in the yard but instead of witnessing it from that view point it was like I was watching from above. Everything was happening just as it had that day, making me question whether this way a memory or a dream. I suppose it could have been both. So there I floated, watching in slow motion as my father happily twirled my mother and I to the music. Just off in the corner of my vision I could see him. He was crouched behind a bush in our yard, his chocolate skin and dark features blending him into our dark wood fence. My father had stilled and flinched, looking in his direction with panic in his eyes.

I wanted to scream, to save them but my voice refused to come out and I was forced to watch. The man stood staring angrily at my happy family as friends began to trickle in. My father stared, watching him as he stepped from the bushes. Then my father turned, twisting only his spine as he flung me away from them. The dark man flew leapt and it almost looked as though he was flying. A knife held poised and ready to strike above his head. His torso jutted out while his legs were positioned back some, creating almost an arc with his body as he came down against my mother with brutal force. The knife connected with the back of her neck, sending her straight into the ground. My father fought harder, attacking the man and keeping him at bay. My father held his hands, one palm facing up to the sky and the other facing the man while his wrists touched. He would have looked comical had it not been for the situation.

I watched stunned as a round ball of energy formed, spinning in his hands. The ball spun faster and faster, glowing and growing bigger until my father gritted his teeth and released it at the strange man. The man dodged it and the knife came down onto my father where his neck connected with his shoulder, spraying blood everywhere. I watched, horrified and confused at the scene playing before me. The man hurtled towards me and dirty and debris exploded into the air, raining down on my friends. A woman rushed over to me, beautiful with blonde hair and gorgeous indigo eyes.

The dream stopped, nothing more, just stopped, ending in black.