Story #169 - Elemental

Elemental

“It is time.”

Jess Gruston had been waiting for those words for the better part of a decade, but they still sent a shiver of frightened anticipation through her. When she had received the summons this morning from a red-faced page at her chamber doors, she had a strong suspicion that her day had finally come.

Now, standing in front of Cabalist Mikroth, his arms held high and his face contorted in the typical snarl that came with trance-magic, she found it hard to believe that the moment had actually arrived. She had studied, learned, and kept herself as near to the path as she could manage, despite protestations from her parents and a swath of suitors that had fallen behind her.

Jess was well aware of her beauty, something she often wished she could leave behind. She knew she was fortunate to be proportionate in face and lithe in body, and that many of the women around her were stomach-chunrningly jealous. By making a point to always be as polite as possible to everyone she encountered, Jess had hoped to curb some of this negative reaction, but all it had done was stir up rumors that she was a “fake”, and that she spoke ill of other women behind their backs.

Eventually, she had given up altogether on women, but had no better luck with men. Each time she believed she had found a suitable mate, a massively marring flaw was revealed. Some thought to control or dominate her for their own ends, some thought to be the ones that carried her on their arm – a trophy of sorts to their manliness. One had almost persuaded her to marry him, until she found out what he had been saying about her when she was not around. To this day, her anger had known no match, and the young man had been fortunate that she had not been carrying weapons at the moment she discovered his treacherous lechery.

Dealing with those around her had led only to sorrow, and so she had focused all of her energy and beauty on attaining her first goal – elemental communion. The District took only three applicants a year for the position, and each was required to undergo extensive training. Even then, the chances of coming back from the elemental plane with a partner or consort were low; most supplicants were lost and never seen again in the mortal realm.

She glanced at the cabalist; he was still lost in his trance. Now was her moment to choose, to leave and never return if she so chose. Once the elemental link was established and she was made a part of it, there was no going back, no turning around and heading for the mortal exit. Jess would be committed to whatever the next stage of her development brought – no matter how grand or how foul it might be.

Straightening, she tugged her robe into place. She was no quitter, and she had to look her best for the elemental she was about to meet. Her fate and treatment at his hands was uncertain, but she was determined to discover it. She was ready.

“Are you ready?” Mikroth's eyes were on her now, and she nodded.

“I am.” As the words left her mouth, the cabalist gestured toward her, and she could feel an icy chill surround her body, clasping her legs and crushing down on her chest. She tried to cry out, but ice filled her veins, slowing her thought and preventing anything more than a choked gurgle. Her eyes remained open but saw nothing; her mortal form slipped from the realm.

***

A deep breath streamed out of her, and Jess fell to her knees, her hands scraping along the rough ice below. She took a long moment to compose herself, then glanced up at the plane of the element to which she had been sent.

Ice. Water. Everywhere.

To the ends of her vision, cascading waterfalls bordered by slabs of steaming ice were spread, each one a unique piece of shining art. Some appeared to be hot springs, steaming great gouts of vapor into the air, but the ice around them did not melt. Above, the sky was a pale blue, but seemed far more like ocean than firmament; she was sure she could see breaking waves churning on the horizon.

“Hello,” a voice said, and she scrambled to her feet, noticing to her dismay that she was naked. Jess made no attempt to cover herself; her body was not a source of shame, and she did not feel a chill in the air, but she wished, fleetingly, that the Lord of this place would have asked her permission before undressing her.

“I apologize for your clothing,” the voice went on, smooth and confident. She was sure it was getting closer. “But items from your mortal realm do not survive the transition.”

She said nothing, but stood patiently waiting, hands at her sides. In a moment she was rewarded; a man came striding around the corner of the nearest waterfall, a broad smile on his face. He was handsome, though Jess had seen humans that were his equal, and he was muscular, but not so much that it was unwieldy. It was his blue-tinged skin that drew her attention, along with his glowing white eyes. An aura of power surrounded him, one that needed no announcement. He was lord here, and without doubt.

He too was naked, and Jess felt a nervous shudder at the base of her spine. It was said that many elemental Lords took what the wanted in the first moments of communion, often when their mortal counterparts were not prepared. She was willing to endure whatever was required, but would prefer a more cordial introduction.

“Speak, little one, and do not fear me,” he came to a halt ten feet from her, his eyes fixed on her own, “I have no interest in your mortal flesh.”

“But...” she hesitated, “then why -”

“Do I ask for your kind?” He finished. “Because I believe you have potential. I will admit, my last several humans have proven...disappointing, but at this moment I can sense more in you than in any one of them, even after months in my presence. Come,” he extended an arm, and Jess stepped forward to take it, “let me show your new home.”

- D