Convulsion

♔ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴇɴ ♔

Gwendolyn

Delmasia. My second home. It's become like a home to me, rather than the ocean. I haven't been able to stand walking on the ocean floor without my mother beside me. Mostly because I can't bear watching my father going crazy all day. I can't bear my father at all. He's not the same. Nobody's been the same.

I can't stand being called by the name Gwendolyn either, even though it's my real name. My mother was the one who called me Gwendolyn the most affectionately, even when everyone else called me Gwen. And now my mother is... gone. And ever since her death, nobody has earned the right to call me by my real name. Except for Richard, of course. The boy I'm not allowed to love and the boy who isn't allowed to love me.

Like that stops him. He still tries. I, on the other hand, have forbidden myself from breaking the rules. My title as Head Guardian has been all that has kept me going. It gives me things to do, people to help. And now Lily is here, and she'll be here for a very long time. She's a tough girl, so I think she'll do just fine. But I don't know what I'll do when I have to bring her to my "home." The Representatives of the Council declared that she is to dwell with me when away from the Keep of the Elementals, and their word is practically the law. It will have to happen. I will have to find a way, even if my home is under the ocean. Even if I hate my supposed home.

I turn to the others, making sure they're all here before I make the call that will open the huge wooden doors before me. We've all been transported to the Keep of the Elementals by the Representatives of the Council, so I'm assuming that we're done for the day. As I make the strange gurgling noise that will unlock the doors I notice that Steven keeps glancing at Lily while Richard talks to them, and it doesn't surprise me much. After The Damsel left, going to Earth to watch over Lily started to give him a sense of purpose. It shows.

Steven has banned me from saying The Damsel's real name out loud, lest he blast his strongest forces of wind against my face. It truly is a shame The Damsel is gone. A shame for her, and no one else. If she ever steps foot here again, Steven won't be the only one unleashing his rage. I've been ordered to kill her on the spot if I ever see her again, especially with our current situations. Right now, Lily is staring at the huge doors as they open like they contain her worst fears. She needs to become my main priority.

"So what are you gonna do for the rest of the evening? Some more secret orders?" I turn to Richard as he walks over to me, taking in the familiar dips and waves of his handsome blonde hair and frigid blue eyes before turning away again. I dig my fingernails into the palm of my hands, reminding myself of my personal duties. I can't let this boy get to me. I can't let Richard break my walls. Lily's arrival just has me a bit distracted, that's all. I ignore Richard's question and I turn back to the tall rosewood doors, making my way inside. I smile when I see the marble floors and walls and the gems set inside of them. This place feels so familiar every time I step inside, it's like everything is waiting here just to greet me. I really do love this place.

"Um..." I turn around when I hear Lily whisper. She looks so... lost. Her peach-colored blouse has a few tears here and there, and she still has scratches on her arms and on her face from the bird attack. Her long hair was once shiny and dazzling in the light, but now it looks a bit tangled and wild because of the horrid birds that mauled her. I have to keep myself from shuddering when I think about it, even though it must have been much more mortifying on the receiving end. I wish I could've helped her instead of just sitting and watching. "Where am I supposed to stay?" Lily finishes her question, speaking a bit louder.

"Right. Just follow me. Steven, Richard, let's show her Grandcrest Cover." When I'm done speaking I grumble under my breath, cursing my voice. My voice sounds regal and high pitched at the weirdest times, and it makes me sound like one of the Representatives of the Council. I glare at Richard when I catch him smirking because of it. He always teases me mercilessly about my "elemental accent" being stronger than his.