Five

An Elemental Enmity Novel

By Chistie Rich

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Smashwords Edition

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FIVE

An Elemental Enmity Novel

Copyright © 2011 by Christie L. Rich

Formatting by JT Formatting

Published by Tarser Publishing

ISBN-13:

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the above author of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

About the Author

Personal Note from Christie

I nearly turned around when I saw how tired Aunt Grace looked, but I had put this off long enough. The crinkles around her soft brown eyes betrayed years of worry, making her appear slightly older than forty-one. Her upper body slumped over a stack of bills as if they were chained to her neck. She shoved her fingers into her ginger hair at the nape and groaned as she went to work massaging what had to be tight muscles. Even though I hovered over her shoulder, she didn’t acknowledge me.

Hoping some of my pent up nerves would escape with my breath, I cleared my throat. I need to talk to you about something, I said, settling onto the chair opposite her. Despite my efforts in preparing for this confrontation, my voice came out tiny. The worst part was that my eyes wanted to roam to the gigantic stack of dishes that had mysteriously taken on the appearance of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I held my breath, worried that any sort of errant current would topple our chip-ware onto the dirt-ridden hardwood floor.

Where was Travis, anyway? Knowing him he was in hiding, trying to get out of his turn—again.

Hmm, she said absently, scanning the bill in her hand. Can’t it wait?

Grace, I stated in the most grown-up tone I could muster. She cocked a brow but still didn’t bother to look up. I’ve thought this through, and I want to go to St. Mary’s College with Cassie.

You are not Catholic, she said, placing down her pen. Faster than I could look away she locked her gaze onto mine. Her usually warm brown eyes roamed over me, coating me with a frosty mist.

I frowned. "What does that have to do with it?" She wasn’t acting the way I had imagined. Cassie and I had gone over this a thousand times. I had been sure she would use her old standby—money.

The school is based around a religion you do not practice. She groaned in clear displeasure. We have discussed this, Rayla. I need you close to home.

What she really needed was a free nanny. What a joke. Her idea of discussion had been an emphatic No when I mentioned I wanted to check out other schools besides Snow College. Jenny’s old enough to take care of Sarah, I pleaded. I was ten when I started watching my cousins after school. Jenny just turned twelve. Besides, I won’t be here anyway.

I’m relying on you to come home on the weekends. Jenny isn’t ready for that much responsibility.

But—

We each have to do our part. Do you think you should have different obligations than the rest of us?

The guilt she flung at me tried to stick. Too bad for her I wasn’t going to change my mind. I just want to—

None of us get exactly what we want. I can think of better things to do with my time than find ways to pay for you to have shelter over your head.

My words came out in a rush. Don’t you want different for your children? Too late, I realized my mistake—I was not her child. She made sure I knew that from the day Mom disappeared. Don’t get me wrong. Aunt Grace had shown me unending kindness. She loved me, but she always kept a distance between us that wasn’t present in her relationship with her own kids.

Her pinched lips turned in a forced smile. That’s why I’ve agreed to let you go to Snow. I had hoped you would be grateful. Her eyes narrowed, her breath whooshing out in a gust. It doesn’t appear that either one of us is going to get what we want tonight.

How could she be so cold? She wasn’t even willing to hear my side of things. Her expression was steel, the set of her jaw granite. Changing her mind may have been hopeless, but I was going to make certain she understood how I felt. When have I ever gotten what I wanted—the time you let me go to Disney Land with Cassie?

We couldn’t afford—

Oh wait, I said, right over the top of her tired excuse. I didn’t get to go with her because I had to babysit. That’s all I’ve done for the last five years!

Her tone dripped ice with a dash of hostility. I realize you’ve made sacrifices, but no more than any other member of this family.

She had no right to treat me this way. I’d given up every bit of a social life to help her. I’d more than earned a four year leave of absence. I would rather work ten hours a day at the pig farm than waste my life taking care of your brats! I couldn’t stand to be in the same room with her. At this point I would have preferred a different continent.

Letting out a disgusted groan, I bolted out the back door. Aunt Grace stayed right on my heels. Rigid fingers slammed agains my shoulder, halting me. I know I expect a lot from you, but I’m only doing what’s best for everyone.

I whirled around, glaring with every bit of animosity I had in me. A sharp gasp escaped her lips before she pulled her hand back. No, Aunt Grace. What you’re doing is ruining my life! With that said, I took off up the hill.

She called after me, but I didn’t want to hear it anymore. My skin prickled from the chilly night air. I should have grabbed a jacket, but I wasn’t about to turn around. Hoping it would warm me up, I started into a run. By the time I reached Cassie’s house, sweat soaked my shirt, yet my arms could easily have been mistaken for a plucked chicken.

I rang the bell and bent over, resting my hands on my knees, panting. To my surprise Mr. Lambert opened the door. He wasn’t supposed to be in town this weekend. I stood up and tried to smile, but from his worried expression, my attempt fell short of realistic.

He took one look at me and rushed to my side. What on Earth? What’s wrong?

My voice came out soft, defeated. Is Cassie around? I need to talk to her.

He ushered me through the door, briskly rubbing his hand over my arm. The heat of his skin burned. It must be thirty degrees out there. Where’s your coat?

I pulled in a deep breath. Forgot it.

He nodded. Did you have a fight with Grace again?

She’s the most ridiculous person alive. I didn’t even get to tell her about my scholarship. A ragged sigh escaped me. She just said no. I swiped the moisture out of my eyes and gritted my teeth, determined to not break down in front of him. Even though he hadn’t ever mentioned it, he had to have pulled some strings to get me accepted into St. Mary’s College, not to mention the scholarship that came out of nowhere. If I couldn’t go, it would be a total slap in the face to his generosity.

He smiled at me, nudging my chin. Give her time to mull it over. She’ll come around.

Rayla? Cassie asked, pulling my attention to the ornately carved staircase. Wider than most hallways, it curved gracefully along the rich paneled wall. What are you… Her face turned in a frown when our eyes met.

I ran over to her and shook my head in response to her unfinished question. Her pale eyes softened with compassion as she placed an arm around my shoulder. We’ll be upstairs, Dad.

Mr. Lambert smiled. Remember the old saying, Rayla: The world is always darkest just before the dawn.

Was that really supposed to make me feel better? My tomorrows had no chance of getting any brighter if I didn’t do something to change my life. I returned his smile then let Cassie guide me to her room.

She pressed her door closed as I flopped on the bed, pulling the covers over me. The TV showed an old rerun of Happy Days. I grunted, wishing my life could be that uncomplicated.

Spill, she said, sitting beside me.

Blinking away more tears, I tucked my arms around my stomach. She wouldn’t even listen to me. I hate her!

Cassie touched my arm. Maybe we should just go to Snow our first year. We could transfer to St. Mary’s next year when she’s had time to get used to you being gone.

I shook my head. She wants me home every blasted weekend. Said Jenny couldn’t handle taking care of Sarah.

Cassie sucked on her bottom lip, gazing up at the ceiling as if it were a starlit sky. She shrugged after a while. I just don’t see how we could make it work.

I’m eighteen, I reminded her. She can’t make me stay here.

She gave me a mournful smile. Grace is the only family you have left. Don’t you think you should just cool off for a bit?

I’ve never wanted to go to Snow anyway.

Her smile turned to a light frown. Everyone we know will be there.

Uh-oh. This couldn’t be good. Everyone?

She stood up and paced in front of me. Chase is going.

My eyes flew wide. I knew it. That weasel still had his teeth in her. When did you talk to him? I thought you were done getting used.

She shrugged. Can’t seem to get him out of my system.

You deserve better than that jerk. Think about it, Cass. Notre Dame. Real men, not that louse who acts like he’s James Dean reincarnated. Her wide eyed gaze told me I had her interest. Now was time to close the deal. St. Mary’s College not only offered an amazing art program I craved to explore, but it was only minutes away from the one thing Cassie would die to see on a regular basis. Oh, and don’t forget about football.

The corners of her mouth turned up fractionally. She considered me for a moment then bounded over to her laptop, yanked it to her chest then sat beside me again. Her already bright eyes nearly glowed in the dim light.

What are you doing? I asked.

She smirked. Looking up the team roster.

My heart beat faster, but it wasn’t because I cared a whit about football. She was in it again, and with her help I could do anything.

We spent the next eight months figuring out the details of my escape. I would have never been able to swing it if it hadn’t been for Cassie and her dad. As far as Aunt Grace was concerned, I would be going to Snow College tomorrow morning. What she didn’t understand wouldn’t hurt me.

I sat my suitcase down by the bottom of the stairs. Jenny and Sarah waited for me with outstretched arms. I leaned into them, inhaling the scent of cheap strawberry shampoo.

Sarah wrapped her arms around my waist, gazing up at me with tears in her eyes. I don’t want you to go, she said then buried her face into my abdomen.

I held her tight for a few moments, feeling like the biggest loser but not the good kind. I’ll be home before you know it, and if you promise to be good for Jenny, I’ll bring you a present.

She pulled away from me, her eyes brightening. Really?

Promise.

She raced into the kitchen, her tiny voice raised in excitement. Rayla’s gonna get me a present, Momma!

Is she now? Aunt Grace said, stepping into the foyer. Her face was tight with worry as she wiped her hands on her apron. You call me when you get there.

I will, I said, shifting my gaze back to Sarah, who smiled at me.

Aunt Grace walked closer. I don’t see why you can’t just stay here tonight.

Not this again. I’d already explained this ten times. We have to leave really early. I don’t want to wake anyone up. To counteract my tendency to rush my words when I was nervous, I counted to three before continuing. Cassie’s parents aren’t even in town right now so we won’t be bothering anyone at her house.

Jenny hugged me from the back. You better e-mail me.

We were probably the only family on the planet that couldn’t afford a cell plan that included unlimited texting. Once I got a job, I was going to get a new phone and hopefully a new plan.

I touched her hand perched on my shoulder. Promise.

She bounded up the stairs yelling for Travis to help her move her stuff into my room. He stopped by the railing, stared down at me. Giving me his lopsided grin, he flipped his head to get his blond bangs out of his dark eyes. See ya round, Cuz.

I tilted my head in an upward nod. Sure thing. I pointed my finger at him. Be good. I wasn’t that much older than him, but I felt as if we had ten years between us.

He huffed. When am I ever not? Without even a backward glance, he took off around the corner before I could say anything else.

Sarah had already pulled Aunt Grace into the living room for her bedtime story. I waved goodbye, but neither of them noticed. The ancient door creaked when I pulled it shut. Not wasting any time, I quickened my step, but no one followed me to the car.

The tires threw up a cloud of dust as I sped away toward freedom. I gazed at my home through the haze of the rear view mirror. The moon set an eerie cast to the scene. The old Victorian had seen better days. Time had transformed the once stately manor into the humble residence of a working family. It needed a paint job. The porch swing still hung by one chain, flopping around in the breeze, and bicycles littered the two week overgrown lawn. It wasn’t anything compared to Cassie’s house, but it would always be special to me. I swiped the tears from my eyes and rolled down the window. The time for crying was over. I was officially on my way.

Cassie waited outside for me when I pulled up. Her grin couldn’t have gotten much bigger. The handle gave her some trouble, so I reached over and opened the door. Before I knew it she plopped onto the seat. Eyes glowing, she reached into her purse and pulled out a wad of cash. Dad’s going away present.

I kept my cringe to myself. I was tired of feeling guilty for taking advantage of Mr. Lambert’s endless acts of kindness. He’d done so much for me, especially where college was concerned. I needed to figure out a way to pay him back. You’ve got to have the coolest father on the planet.

She grinned, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. Yeah. Isn’t he great?

Taking the gearshift, I put the car in gear. Cassie still smiled when I glanced at her. You sure you’re ready for this?

She laughed, nudging my shoulder with the tips of her fingers. No backing out now!

One day I would tell her how much she meant to me. She’d given up her plans for mine. She’d helped me figure out everything and handled some of the details with St. Mary’s I could never have managed from home.

I waggled my brows before I lowered her window. The invading night air sucked the moisture from my body like a sponge. She just shook her head at me, smiling, but I knew what she was thinking without hearing one word. We would have been much more comfortable in her car.

Sorry, I said. I didn’t think it would still be this hot when we planned this whole thing.

If you think this is bad, you just wait until you have sweat dripping from you twenty-four-seven.

She’d already tried to explain humidity to me, but I didn’t care if I had to take three showers a day. I was on my way to my new life. We had pulled it off without any snags. Nothing short of death would keep me from claiming my dreams.

We trudged along a lone stretch of Wyoming highway. The newness of our trip had swiftly worn to raw-edged fatigue. I was going to have to wake Cassie up soon. Even if I could manage the weight of my eyelids, I couldn’t shake the dread that had attached to my spine ten miles ago.

Icy gooseflesh erupted across my neck, skittering down my entire body like a million frosty spiders. I shrugged off a shiver before I checked the rear view mirror again. No monsters lurked in the back seat with the sole desire of making me their next juicy snack, so why did I feel like Satan himself was stalking me? And to make things even better, my horrendous scar picked this exact moment to sprout sensation. I found it odd that the usually—void of any kind of feeling—jagged patch of skin suddenly wouldn’t stop itching. Having the thing erupt with sensitivity for the first time since my horse riding accident seven years ago was more than a little weird, but it wasn’t as though I had a doctor on hand to do an impromptu exam.

Cassie rested against the passenger door, blissfully sleeping away. I stretched my hand toward her, but pulled back just before I touched her shoulder. No way was I going to wake her again because of my absurd paranoia. This trip didn’t need me complicating it to make it unbearable. My fear of the dark would not cripple me anymore. Hopefully St. Mary’s offered counseling.

Out of nowhere, a thunderous rumble shattered the milky silence, sending a quiver through my bones. Even though the empty dawn had greeted me in the mirror moments before, a motorcycle rocketed toward us. Where had he come from? I shook my head and took a calming breath. It was just a stupid motorcycle. No need to panic.

I expected him to zoom by, but he matched my pace instead. The bike zigzagged haphazardly in the lane as if the driver was loaded. Great, just what we needed.

I honestly wouldn’t have cared if he did wheelies behind me if he hadn’t been centimeters from my bumper. Why was he craning his neck in my direction?

He flashed his lights repeatedly as if I was hogging the entire road. My car wasn’t that big. I rolled my eyes and inched closer to the shoulder. When my tires hit the rumble-strip, I jumped. He had plenty of room to pass. No other vehicles were in sight. What was he waiting for?

Even if Aunt Grace had miraculously figured out what I was doing, she wasn’t ridiculous enough to send this lunatic to bring me home. What could he possibly want from me?

If I had more than noodles for a backbone at the moment, I would have pulled over to see what the heck was wrong with him. I sped up instead. I was weaponless—like it would have helped if I had an entire arsenal in my car. You sort of have to know how to use a gun for it to do you any good. I was not stopping. He could be a rapist or a serial killer.

My entire frame quaked under the reality that this man was most certainly trying to get me to stop. I shook my head and motioned for him to go around me. I slowed down, sped up, gunned it, took the other lane, but the jerk wouldn’t back off no matter what I did.

Something I hadn’t considered hit me. What if he was in trouble?

After a moment of hesitation, I shoved the thought aside. It was too risky to stop. This wasn’t the Sixties. Besides, his bike worked fine from where I sat.

I took a deep breath then clutched the steering wheel harder, and moved the car back into the center of the lane where it belonged. Biker dude would just have to pass me. Eventually he’d get sick of hanging onto my tail end. All I had to do was wait him out.

I just wished the butterflies in my stomach would chill. A strange urge to stop the car bombarded me like a repeating alarm. I would have sworn on a Bible this dude was secretly weaving puppet-strings around me; it was all I could do to keep my foot on the gas. Worse was the barrage of absurd thoughts swirling in my head about the stranger.

I hadn’t even really seen him, but in my mind I was neatly tucked behind him on that beast of a motorcycle. The vision grew into something almost tangible. The heat from his body warmed me while the wind whipped my hair around us. I leaned closer to him, inhaling spice and man. Even the daydream of him smelled divine.

My foot tapped the brake, slowing the car down. Cassie gave a slight groan, snapping me back to reality.

What was I doing? Vivid couldn’t come close to describing this fantasy. No one should have that kind of power over me.

My back stiffened automatically, determination welling up in my heart. He wasn’t going to terrorize me an instant longer. A calming sensation washed over me, threatening to steal my will. Something about this guy was off.

I stomped the brakes, hard. He was either going around me—or over the car.

He was next to me in a nanosecond.

Cassie woke up with a startled yelp. Rayla, what are you—what the hell? She jumped away from me as though I were ablaze.

I turned toward bike guy to see what had freaked her out so badly. He should have been six miles ahead of us by now from the speed he’d been going. Maybe she had the same tantalizing snapshots rolling around her mind and wanted to call him back?

The minute my eyes locked with the scene next to me, I screamed. Instinctively, I jerked away from the thing, no longer resembling a motorcycle, next to my car. The back end fishtailed, but I managed to correct us before I gunned it. I looked again, sure I had imagined whatever that was.

It was still there. I blinked several times to dislodge the image. Nothing changed.

Instead of seeing chrome and leather, flank and sinew of what looked like horseflesh rode beside me, black as midnight, taut as a cord. The low flap of an enormous, obsidian feathered wing sent a shudder through me. I was losing it. I was totally losing it. Was I dreaming? Had I fallen asleep at the wheel, and was I even now careening toward a gruesome death?

The only sound louder than the roar of the motorcycle was Cassie’s chant of, It is not there, which oddly enough did not comfort me. She gave a final scream before she covered her eyes with trembling fingers. I wished I had that option.

The creature was colossal, bigger than all the horses I had ever seen. He was the stuff of legend.

A pegasus was supposed to be white. This monstrosity was deeper black than a bottomless pit. Smoke billowed forth from his nostrils as though he had a fiery furnace for innards, while a purplish-black glow radiated from him.

After every thrust of his gargantuan wings, my car veered. I had been going nearly a hundred miles-per-hour, yet the thing kept up as if we were out for a scenic drive.

The rider was a mammoth of a man, suited in what looked like leather armor. His jacket strained under bulging muscles as though the seams would burst. A helmet blocked any view of his face, but his head was turned toward me. Ghostly white knuckles gripped the handlebars.

Wait, what happened to the pegasus? A breath before, a mythical beast rode next to us: one that could have only escaped from the depths of Hades. Now, an ordinary motorcycle flanked my car.

Well, ordinary was not right. The chrome gleamed in the dim light as though it were alive. Once again absurd thoughts about that man and motorcycle stole my mind. I ached to settle into the supple black leather while I curled my fingers around the high-set handlebars. Even from here, the rumble of the powerful engine shook my entire frame. Still, it was only a bike.

I refused to analyze the intrusive images of the mysterious stranger, especially because I wouldn’t have minded if he scooted back a bit to give me some room.

I reacted to him on a cellular level, as if he was a new source of gravity and I a wayward comet. An emotion I didn’t want to recognize stirred underneath my overpowering fear: undeniable need. My mind screamed at me to pull a one-eighty to get away from him yet my body craved to get closer to the stranger. I felt as though I were his somehow.

I didn’t like it one bit. I was not the type of girl to lose her brain over a guy. I couldn’t even see his face, but I wanted to. In fact, the curiosity left me feeling cheated.

Cassie kept her gaze locked blindly forward as if nothing abnormal was happening. I wished I could be so calm. The specter of insanity loomed close by me, ready to strike at any moment.

The man cocked his head to the side, saluted me.

Then bike, rider…everything just disappeared into the hot night air.

This time when I hit the brakes, the car skidded wildly to a stop. I craned my neck in all the unnatural angles I could manage. He was gone. What the heck? Had a trap door in the road swallowed him?

I pummeled the steering wheel to ease the tension welling in my heart. The loss of him surrounded me still. How could I lose something I never had? How could a stranger cause such a deep reaction from me? What was that thing he’d been riding? Where did he go? Was he there in the darkness, waiting for me?

Bum-scum! I shouted into the night. My shrill words hung momentarily in the air before shattering into silence. I shoved my hands through my hair and squeezed my eyes shut.

Cassie shifted in her seat. The aged leather let out a shadow of the groan I currently had caged. I glanced over at her.

Her gaze locked onto mine before she licked the side of her mouth and sighed. I wish you’d swear like a normal person, Rayla. Her tone held and irritation that conflicted with her placid expression. That is so disgusting.

I gawked at her. Are you really razzing me about my cursing habits now?

Her full lips pursed before she gave me a faint smile. This seems as good of a time as any.

Wait. What was going on here? She saw him, and she saw that thing. There was no way she would have screamed the way she did from seeing an ordinary guy. What was she doing? This was the worst time I could think of for her to start messing with me. I shook my head. Maybe she was in shock. Maybe she needed a little reminder. You don’t find anything odd about being run down by a man on a motorcycle that turns into a pegasus and back again just before he disappears? I frantically searched the sky again. Where did he go?

She seemed to be trying for casual indifference, but fear transmuted her normally delicate features into a mousy mask. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

I smirked, narrowing my eyes at her. I could only guess what was going through her mind right now, but there was no way she was going to make me think I hallucinated that thing. So when did ‘it is not there’ become your new mantra?

Her fingers worried the bright white seam of her dark designer jeans. She shot a glance at me but barely made eye contact before she looked out the window again. Rayla, drop it. We’re fine. He’s gone. She shrugged. You should be happy.

Happy? I choked out. I just had a real hell’s angel chase me down, and you’re acting as if he was a dorky date! A maelstrom of emotions swirled throughout my body. My heart pummeled my ribs. My breath came in halted gasps. Rivulets of sweat trickled down my back as though I had run twenty miles. If that wasn’t bad enough, my right front tire perched on the gravel