Page 68 of Glass and Bone
I stare up at the distorted ceiling as I wait. My chest is burning, my eyes stinging from the oily water. I want to breathe, I want to lift my head, but I force myself to wait. I can feel my ears pop as the water infiltrates every part of me.Just hold on, Elaenor.I hold onto the edges as my mouth opens. I exhale and watch as the air bubbles rise to the surface, breaking through just as my eyes close.
I know where I am the second my eyes open. The bright green trees surround me, the forest floor pressing into my naked flesh. I can smell the humid air that tells me I’m home. I turn and look around, waiting for him to appear, but he doesn't. I start walking through the trees, carefully stepping over branches and rocks. I can hear the soft lapping of the water that tells me I’m near the lake. I step through the tree line and feel the soft white granules of sand my feet sink into. The lake is calm, the sky clear for once. I walk forward until my toes meet the icy water. I smile and close my eyes as I remember how this feels. My eyes open again as I sense him appear, an awareness creeping over me. He’s here. I don’t hesitate to turn around and face him.
He’s shirtless, his olive skin shining in the sunlight. His muscular stature is flexed as he watches me. His hands tightly in fists. He’s wearing black trousers that loosely hang from his hips as he stares. His green eyes look like mirrors reflecting the trees behind him. His jaw is tense, his black hair tucked behind his ears with just a bit of the white streak peeking through. He looks angry.
“What are you doing, Elaenor?” His voice is deep, melodic, enchanting and familiar all at the same time.
“Will you please tell me who you are?” He sighs and thinks for a moment before he opens his mouth to speak.
“You know what I am.” I shake my head.
“No I don’t. You’ve never told me.” I respond. I try to keep the irritation out of my voice, but it sneaks through. He runs his hand through his hair before taking a step towards me.
“If you haven’t figured it out, then you aren’t paying attention.” He’s sad as if me not knowing who he is upsets him.
“Please, enough with these riddles and the games. I need to know.” I walk towards him, my wet feet sticking to the soft sand.
“I can’t. I can’t tell you.” He reaches forward and brushes my cheek with his thumb, electricity buzzing between us.
“Why, why can’t you just tell me?”
“You have to figure it out yourself. It is the way of the Gods. If I could tell you, I would.” He sighs and drops his arms.
“Why can’t I see you in person, and why do you only appear when I’m underwater?” He laughs, surprisingly.
“It’s not the water, Elaenor. It’s how you reach out to me that brings me to you.” I stare at him, not truly understanding what he means. “I am with you. Every day. Every moment. I am there. I have been for years. I will always be there; you just need to ask for me and I’ll come–”
“Come then. Come to me in person.” I reach forward and grab his arms. I yelp as he shocks me. “What is that?” He smiles again but ignores me. His white teeth shining in the sun.
“I am not located in Noterra, but you and I will meet soon. I promise. I can’t tell you anymore.”
“My dream. Can you tell me if it’s real?” He shakes his head. “Does that mean it’s not real? Or that you can’t tell me.” He just smiles again. I throw my arms up and groan. “I can’t get anything out of you!” His strong arms wrap around me. He smells like home. Like Chatis.
“I promise you that we will meet, but I need you to wake up.”
“No, I’m not ready.”
“It doesn’t matter, you need to wake up now or we won’t be able to meet.” He squeezes his arms around me as if he’s mimicking a heartbeat. Short, hard pulses. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
“Please, my love. Not again.” Crying. He’s crying. I can’t get my eyes to open, but I can feel the cold marble floors pressed into my back. Two hands rhythmically press on my chest, beating my heart for me.
“Your Grace.” I hear Master Pakin, Apollo. He’s trying to soothe Tobias. “It’s been too long. It’s been nearly thirty minutes, Your Grace.”Thirty minutes?
“No!” He yells as he continues to press onto my chest.Open your eyes!I tell myself, over and over again, but they won’t open. My throat is burning, my head spinning.
“Your Grace. I am sorry. There is nothing to be done.” His voice is soft, but I can hear the pain in his words. Tobias’s hands still and I can hear his heart wrenching broken sobs as he cries over my body. Am I dead?
Elaenor, breathe.His voice is in my head, pulling me back to reality even more. I try to inhale, but something is blocking my way.Water.I force myself to cough and feel the water bubble out of my mouth. I sit up as fast as I can as it cascades out of my lungs and onto the floor.
“Ela!” Tobias yells as his arms wrap around me. I frantically inhale, trying to get as much oxygen as possible. “Breathe, Ela.” My eyes open and I’m blinded by the bright lights reflecting off the marble.
“Your Grace, can you look at me?” Apollo’s hands are warm as they touch my face. “Can you speak?” I nod and he smiles. “Okay, then say something.”
“I’m okay.” My voice is hoarse, croaking. A combination of last night and this morning. Tobias rocks me against his chest while he frantically kisses the top of my head. My whole body feels as if it's been shocked, like I am being electrocuted.
“Why do you keep doing this?” He’s crying as he speaks.
“I’m sorry.” I whisper, my eyes closed.
