The Elemental Sisters: Spirit

I looked at the man that had just declared Taoen as our brother; they shared a lot of similarities. They had the same green-grey eyes and black hair only the mans had begun to turn grey, they both had the same build.

"Let me guess, you're his father?" I asked the man. "I'm sorry, but we don't have a brother."

He nodded, "I am Evander, and Taoen is your brother."

"Our mother would have told us." Gia defended.

"Your mother Valda had Taoen before she met your father, and she had given him to me to raise and to keep him safe."

Ignoring the fact that he knew my mother's name, I asked, "And how do you know she is our mother?"

"You are the spitting image of her Akasha."

"Why would she need to keep Taoen safe?" Sunama asked skeptically, "She wouldn't have left him without a trainer."

Something caught the corner of my eye pulling me from the conversation, I followed where I thought it went and saw my mother. Ignoring the group.

"Akasha, where are you going?" Tyr asked as I got up from the table. Ignoring him, I walked into the crowd and weaved clumsily through the room until I reached the other side. My mother walked outside into the attached courtyard; I slowly made my way outside, doing my best to walk normally. I looked around and spotted her by the fountain and went to her.

"Mother, what took you so long?" I asked when I approached her.

"I'm sorry, dear, I had trouble finding you. Unfortunately, I can't stay. I just need to pass on a message."

"Why can't you stay, your element is spirit. You can stay as long as you want." I laughed.

She shook her head, "It doesn't work that way, if I had died a natural death, I would've been able to stay and help you, but I was murdered and the only reason I am even here is because of who you are, they are letting me bring a message to you before I continue on."

"I need you." As tears fell, I sniffed and wiped them away.

"You do not need me; you are strong and an outstanding leader. I believe you can take over from here. I have faith in you."

"Your wrong, I do not know what I am doing. There has to be a way for you to stay." I begged as tears streamed down my face.

"I can't I am being pulled to the other side. You know how this works better than anyone, Akasha."

"I understand." I sniffed and asked, "What is the message?"

"Taoen is your brother and the key you need to protect."

"What? Why did you tell us sooner?"

"I was trying to protect him from the Goblins. They need him to go to the human realm. I also need you to help train him, I couldn't risk leaving someone to train him." "You didn't want any attention drawn to him."

"Yes."

"Isn't that exactly what happened though, he has no control now and is a loose cannon."

"That is why you must train him; he may be the key, but he is also supposed to help protect you and you him. Evander will help you. He is a good man."

"I will do my best. I have already told him I would."

"Thank you." She smiled before adding, “And Akasha, be careful of who you trust."

"I will."

"It looks like my time is up. Tell your sisters I love them." She smiled as she began to fade.

"Please don't go, we need you." I blurted in a sob.

"I'm sorry, dear, I don't have a choice. I love you." She smiled, and she was gone.

Crying, I sat on the side of the fountain, trying to regain my composure before going back into the dining hall.

I felt like I was being watched. I wiped my eyes and stood looking around in the surrounding darkness for the threat I was sensing. Colonel Delano walked out from behind a tree with a smile on his face.

"That was quite the fight you put up today." He looked over at me and chuckled, "Looks like you're injured."

"What are you doing here?" I spat as I backed away from him. "How were you able to watch the battle?"

"I have my ways." He smirked. "I have allies of my own."

"So, you have a spy among the elves?" I guessed.

"Like I would tell you." he sneered.

"Why even bother revealing yourself to me?"

"I had to because you are coming with me." he stated as he moved towards me. I dodged his advance, wincing when my wound pulled painfully. He went to punch me, but I pivoted, so he struck air before turning so I was facing him again and this time he caught me off guard, his fist connected with my stomach. I doubled over trying not to vomit on the ground, he kicked my face, causing my vision to blur with the dizziness that followed. I crumpled to the ground and looked up at him, willing my vision to clear.

Shakily, I stood and summoned whatever spirit was near to help fight him off; Two spirits that I had not seen around appeared and I willed them the ability to pick up objects and the spirits started fighting Colonel Delano punching him with evil grins on their faces, unlike the spirits I usually used these were completely black and felt wrong somehow. Ignoring the warning in my head, I commanded one spirit to pick up a rock; it flew by, hitting him in the head. I smirked as it made contact.

Alarm shot through me as I felt the darkness from the spirits taking over me. I quickly severed the connection to stop the invasion of darkness. I wished I knew where Ela and Karm were.

"You little bitch!" he yelled as he kicked out at my injured leg, I moved to dodge but his foot connected before I could move, sending me to the ground. I hissed in a breath at the pain, but refused to let him see it.

I couldn't focus and was struggling to stay awake. Colonel Delano's face paled as he looked behind me. Confused, I followed his gaze and saw Tyr and Taoen standing in the doorway.

"Touch her again and you will die here." Tyr yelled at him, as my sisters came to stand beside him.

Tyr moved towards me as Colonel Delano backed up. Tyr scooped me off the ground.

"See you later, Akasha." Colonel Delano smiled before he jumped into the darkness and disappeared. "Put me down, please." I asked Tyr.

"No, you're injured." He said as he wiped blood from my bottom lip. "Let's get you back to your room." "I'm fine, okay, just put me down."

I didn't want anyone to see me as weak and the place was crowded. Luckily, no one had been outside. Tyr looked at me and frowned, but put me down. "Come on, you need rest."

I nodded and followed them back inside. Luckily, I managed to stay upright until we got to the hallway. My sisters and Taoen stayed behind to not raise suspicion.

The minute we were alone in the hallway Tyr picked me up and carried me to my sisters and my suite with every step he took I got dizzier and dizzier. Tyr walked through the sitting area and took me to my bedroom, and laid me on my bed. "Akasha? Are you okay?"

"I feel funny."

His brows furrowed together as he looked at me, without warning he ripped my dress open and took the bandage off my wound and inspected my belly.

"What are you doing?" I asked, surprised.

"I think you have been poisoned. Can you call Gia?"

I nodded and sent Gia a message through our psychic link. A few minutes later, Gia came into the room.

"What's up?" she asked, opening the door and averting her gaze.

"Really, you call me up here to catch you in a kinky situation? That's just sick." she joked, noticing my wound.

"I think Colonel Delano poisoned her." Tyr said, ignoring her comment.

Suddenly serious, she walked towards me and inspected the same spot Tyr had.

"There is a puncture wound." Gia stated more to herself.

"Can you tell what it was from?" I slurred.

"Akasha, was he wearing a ring?"

"Don't know, I didn't see." I replied, fighting sleep. "Don't think he'd kill me, though." "Why not?" Tyr questioned.

"He thinks I am the key... jokes on him." I chuckled before everything went black.