Water {Elements of Power 2}

Chapter 8: Roxy

Roxy:

The muscles in my arms burned with fatigue, but I didn't mind. Burning was good. Burning was Helian.

Being on the water, on the other hand, definitely wasn't.

The spray of the sea kept hitting me in the face and tangling my hair. It was cold too, being wet in the open air. There was no way—and no point—in getting dry, not when the only thing around me for miles was more water.

I was beginning to understand why Helians avoided the sea. Brizans were incredibly weird to want to spend their whole lives on the water.

Another wave lifted up the boat and my stomach rolled. That was the other problem with the sea: the sickness.

It was all going to be worth it though, when I eventually reached the Arcan Realm.

I had been out here for four days now; I was making really good progress for someone who had never rowed before. After the first night, once I got into the rhythm, there was no stopping me: I was putting as much distance between myself and Cinaer as possible. Well, except for when I had to pause until the sickness passed and the rain yesterday had disorientated me a bit and—okay, so I wasn't quite an unstoppable rowing force yet. But I was doing really, really well—for a Helian.

I pushed my salt tangled hair out of my face and paused to look around, or, more specifically to look up, since it was night and I had only the stars for guidance.

The violet star Vincent had pointed out to me was still twinkling behind my shoulder, reassuring me that I was heading in the right direction.

I rowed through the night. I had been sleeping for odd hours rather than in a set pattern since I left the Helian Realm; I wasn't sure if anyone would follow me and I'd rather not give them the chance to catch me up.

Every now and then, when my hands hurt so much that I couldn't grip the oars any longer, I would put them down and dip my lower arms into the water. I vainly hoped that enough sea salt might make the manacles rust, weakening them so that I could get them off.

Then I could be warm again. I could produce fire to light my way at night. I could be in control. It hadn't worked so far though; they remained as indestructible as ever.

I lifted my arms back out of the water and looked at the cuffs with distaste. If I could get them off...

But even if I couldn't, Brae would take them off for me when I reached the Arcan Realm. Then it would be okay. I only wished that I wasn't arriving quite so... well... helpless. Getting myself there alone should stand in my favour though.

As the faintest glow of sunlight began to appear, I propped up the oars and closed my eyes, allowing myself an hour or so's sleep.

But that also meant giving myself over to the dreams: of Cinaer, hands burning, following me across the water; of Brae, caught in the crossfire, and dead despite everything I had done to save him; of vibrant violet hair, taunting me, mocking me, abandoning me.

I shook myself awake and quickly splashed some water over my face, hoping to wash away the dream. Instead, all I achieved was salt in my eyes and the stinging sensation that accompanied it. I needed clean water. The bottle I had was empty, so I filled it from the sea, then turned to my bag to grab the purifying tablets Vincent had left in the boat for me.

That was when I saw it. The outline of land in the distance.

That's odd, was the first thought that ran through my mind. Perhaps I had lost count of the days and had been sailing for longer than I realised; I thought I had quite a few more days of rowing left.

I wasn't going to complain though. I couldn't wait to stand on solid earth.

Before I started up again, I looked at the land ahead of me: the Arcan Realm. My new home.

I was struck by how green it was. The land was covered in trees, stretching as far as the eye could see, right from the shore line. Not light, cold and airy, as I had been expecting. I had imagined mountains, swirling winds, and the frozen white stuff called snow that I had read about in a book when I was younger. In reality, it was dark, ominous, foreboding.

I suppressed a shudder and started to row.

Every stroke brought me closer to the Realm. To new people, new climate, new social norms. A little part of me was afraid. But that was silly: they should be afraid of me.

Occasionally, I glanced over my shoulder. The trees were old and tall, with thick brown trunks and green leaves. There were other plants too—hundreds, all completely alien to me.

What really got me though, was the darkness; the way the trees seemed to stop the sunlight, so that even when I drifted closer, I could still only see the first row of trees and nothing in the gloom beyond.

By early afternoon, I had made it to the shore. As ominous as the woods looked, my body buzzed with anticipation. Beyond those trees, somewhere, was Brae. Brae. His name filled me like a breath of fresh air. Once I reached Brae, everything would be fine.

No, better than fine.

Perfect.

{A/N: I'm sorry this one is quite short! Maybe while you wait for the next chapter you could check out my futuristic/dystopia novel, Amber & Ice? Sorry for the shameless plug! It's nearly finished and I am very excited!}