The Elemental Sisters: Spirit

Half asleep I rolled over feeling the sting of pain, my eyes shot open and as I gasped for air.

"Are you okay?" Tyr asked, as he jumped up, half asleep.

"Yes, I am fine." I lied, fighting back the tears that threatened. I needed to talk to my sisters, sun shone through the window, lighting the room, I got up carefully and had a quick shower, and got ready for the day. I walked out of the bathroom in my towel and Tyr was pulling his boots on. He turned and smiled at me.

"We will have to speak with my father today. How are you feeling?"

"I am sore, but I will live." I smiled, "I will talk to my sisters and meet you in the throne room in a bit, ok?"

Ela appeared with Karm, "I am so sorry I left. I didn't know the goblins were so close."

"It's fine, I managed, although I would like to know about the two spirits that did help me, they tried to take me over." I said in a whisper.

Ela and Karm exchanged looks, "Did they succeed in any way?"

"I broke the connection as soon as I noticed."

"We will have to keep an eye out, there are a lot of angry spirits here and their anger is aimed at the royal family. They are all happy about the Queen dying."

"The Queen is dying?" I asked, confused. I noticed Tyr move behind me, a look of interest on his face.

Karm nodded, "The healers say she won't last the week."

"What is she dying from?" Tyr asked me.

"I don't know, I can't get any information from the King and the Queen cannot speak to her physicians. She is too weak." Karm supplied.

"They don't know." I told Tyr.

He nodded. "I should go." He said as he stood up and faced me, his eyes captivating me as he pulled me into a gentle kiss before pulling away, "I'll see you soon." "You two are so good together." Ela smiled at me, making me blush.

"So, you aren't angry with me anymore?" I asked her.

"No, but you should have listened to me." She frowned.

"I know I am sorry, but if I had listened to you, I wouldn't have seen my mother."

"You saw her? What did she say?"

"I'll tell you and my sisters at the same time, right now I need to get dressed."

"Very well." Ela and Karm left, and I quickly dressed and headed into the living room area of the suite we were staying in. Gia and Ari were up already and bickering as usual. "Akasha, you're awake."

"So, it would seem." I retorted sarcastically.

"What happened yesterday?" Ari asked, eyes narrowing, not finding my sarcasm funny.

"Are Huricana and Sunama up?" I asked, looking around.

"No, they are still asleep."

"I guess I will fill you in first, I have to go talk to the king."

Ari nodded, "what's up?"

"When I left the hall yesterday, it was because I saw mom." Ela and Karm stood behind Gia who was sitting on the couch.

"What? Is she still here?" Gia interrupted, looking around the room.

"No... she couldn't stay. Because she was murdered, her soul was damaged, so even with the spirit element, she controlled she could not stay. She gave me a message, though."

"What was the message?" Ari asked as Gia sniffled silently, tears streamed from her eyes. I moved and sat beside her and pulled her into a hug.

"She said Taoen is our older brother and the key we need to protect." I told Ari as I stroked Gia's hair. "Gia pulled away from me."

"She confirmed he is our brother?" She asked, wiping her wet face with her sleeve.

I nodded, "Mom left him with his father to protect him from the Goblins, mom also wants me to train him, so he doesn't draw attention from the goblins, he is supposed to help protect us but we also need to protect him. Colonel Delano thinks I am the key, and we are going to keep it that way. We have to keep Taoen away from the enemies, and we will have to all take turns in training him, as he has all elements. It makes sense for each of us to teach him how to control them separately. Mom couldn't risk leaving someone to train him."

"We will do as she asks, she could have told us sooner." Ari snapped.

"I know, but she did what she thought was right."

"Where is she now?" Gia inquired.

"She's moved on to the next phase of existence."

"I hope dad will be with her." Ari put in.

"Me too." I agreed, "I have to go speak with the King regarding the army sis you want to some with or do you want to pass the information on to Huricana and Sunama?"

"You can go, we will let them know."

"Ok, thank you guys."

"I wonder why she never told us that information." Ela asked Karm.

"She probably wasn't ready to." Karm put in.

I got up and headed out to the room, closing the door behind me, I headed down the hallway towards the throne room. Ela and Karm walking beside me. I looked at them questioningly. "After yesterday, no way are we leaving you alone." Karm shared his black eyes, daring me to argue. I

"Thank you. I don't want to face those dark spirits alone if they come back."

I turned the corner and ran into Taoen, bouncing off of him and falling to the floor. Grimacing as my body radiated in pain. "Sorry." I muttered, "Wasn't paying attention." He held his hand out and helped me up.

"Morning, how are you feeling?" He asked in a gruff voice.

"I'm fine. We didn't believe you, I'm sorry." I apologized.

"It is to be expected if you have never heard of me, some stranger declaring themselves as your brother would be a lot to take in. What made you change your mind?"

"I saw my... I mean our mother last night, and she told me."

"She is here?" he asked, looking around. "I would like to meet her."

I shook my head, "Sorry I should have clarified, our mother was murdered a few weeks ago, and I saw her spirit. She was able to let me know the truth before she moved on to wherever we go when we die." "I see." He frowned.

"I'm sorry you didn't get to meet her; she was trying to protect you."

"I know that's what my father has always said."

"I have to meet with King Halamar, but you should come to our room later so I can properly introduce you to everyone."

He nodded, "Very well."

I smiled at him before continuing to the throne room. Tyr was waiting outside the doors for me.

"Heads up, he is in a terrible mood."

"Thanks." I smiled at him.

The doors opened, and we approached the King. Still stiff from my wounds, I awkwardly bowed in front of him to show respect.

"Akasha, we were supposed to talk last night, where were you?" King Halamar asked angrily.

I glanced at Tyr; he had followed me inside. He looked nervous.

"I'm sorry, your Majesty. I was attacked in the courtyard and could not make our meeting until today."

"Such insolence you dare suggest that I would let a guest be attacked in my castle!"

"She did not suggest it, it happened and her sisters, Taoen and Evander and I all saw it."

King Halamar glared at Tyr but said nothing.

I cleared my throat, "I was coming to ask you about our agreement, you had vowed to keep your pledge to our king and queen if my sisters and I proved ourselves as the sisters from prophecy. Will you honor it?"

The King narrowed his eyes at me, "Of course, every King honors his word." He sneered. "Thank..."

"I wasn't finished. I will honor the agreement, but I want your sister and you to help get the Drow off my kingdom's lands, once my kingdom is safe, then I will give you access to my army, and we will work together to defeat the Goblins." "If you refuse to help us, you are breaking the pact you made and you are aware of the consequences, are you not?" I asked, thinking of the scroll.

"Do not threaten me, girl." He warned me.

Tyr had warned me about this, but it still angered me, taking a deep breath to calm my temper I replied, "We will help you with the Drow on the condition that Taoen and his father travel with us when we leave and, in the future, as well." "He is not a slave; you can't just claim him." The King snorted.

"The pixie kingdom has never used slaves, King Halamar." I snipped, annoyed that he would suggest such a thing. "He is important to the prophecy. We need his help." I replied dryly.

"Very well. What part does he have to play in the prophecy?"

"He is the protector of the elemental sister, and he is supposed to help us hide the key." I replied, giving a half truth.

"Do you have this key?" He asked, his eyes brightening.

"It is best that the location of the key remains between my sisters and I."

"Tell me where the key is, or you can forget the army."

"I am the key." I lied. Colonel Delano already thought I was the key, so if a decoy is needed, why not? I trust Tyr, there is no way in hell I trust King Halamar. I thought to Tyr as he moved closer to me.

I couldn't keep anything from him, anyway. He could read every thought in my mind. It was inconvenient and handy.

The king was quiet for a few moments before he smiled widely and declared, "You and your party will leave to fight the Drow in a day's time, gather any equipment you may need. Tyr, you will go with them." "Like I would let her leave without me." he mumbled so only I could hear before saying to the King, "Akasha has been injured. Surely, we can wait for her wounds to heal before we set out." "You will leave tomorrow." He yelled, his face turning red, "I have given my order."

"But..." Tyr argued.

"Don't push me, boy!" he warned, then added, "you will also take your brother Prince Uda as the future king, he needs to see what battle is like."

"He's never held a weapon." Tyr argued.

"You will take him and protect him."

"How am I supposed to fight if I am babysitting?"

"Show some respect to your King and future King. One more word from you I will have you thrown in the dungeons."

I nodded and bowed, grabbing Tyr's arm and turning to leave, when the King added, "And if you or your sisters should fall in battle, this agreement is off."