In Her Element
Chapter 20

Too upset to converse with anyone in a polite and proper manner, Almyra attempted to make her way around the ballroom unnoticeable to others. She stayed close to the wall as much as possible, practically hugging it, ducking her head when she saw someone turning in her direction, and swerving around decorations that hid her momentarily until she was on the move again. To avoid people in a room that was so utterly full of them required pulling up years of experience for a skill that was a bit in need of oiling due to lack of use, as well as Almyra’s full concentration—a great relief, for otherwise her mind would be on matters that were incomprehensible.

That damn Frederick! the profanity slipped into her thoughts shamelessly.

Then she mentally chastised herself for losing her concentration and allowing her thoughts to wander into thought chambers that she wanted to keep closed and possibly locked for as long as she possibly could.

Almyra.

She stopped short as the thought of her name hit her. So cold…so sad…. She doubled over as whatever Frederick was feeling seeped through her and she felt it too. She was losing control of her mind… The pain…

Oh, Goddess!

Almyra hugged herself tight and took deep breaths; she had to steady her nerves, she had to go help him. He needed her desperately—he was hurting! She was helpless—whatever it was hurting him was strong; she felt it in his call. But she had to try, even if it was only something she had thought of in theory and had never tested it out. She would try.

In her hiding place behind an extra-large pedestal with a flowerpot on it, Almyra gathered herself and cast out a thought of his name. She was practically shouting in her mind as she focused on the thin, fading echo of him in her mind, of his call. She felt him, vaguely, and she reached further, heedless of the sweat that wet her forehead in the effort to grasp his mind. She saw nothing.

Just…darkness.

The distress of the vast emptiness caused Almyra to lose her hold on Frederick and fall forward, her arm hitting the base of the pedestal behind which she had crouched. Thankfully she was still hidden by a table that was in front of the plinth for she let out a small gasp of pain. But no one heard her. No one heard anything.

Because everyone was suddenly screaming.

Samuel stood there at the door with his hands on the doorknobs and his head hanging as he caught his breath and gathered his thoughts. This had not exactly gone according to plan; Frederick was not supposed to have been a liability. The corner of his mouth tugged up when he felt Frederick struggle with the knobs on the other side of the doors. He felt frustration through the wood, then confusion, and a complacent smile settled on his face as he turned to face the room. The Master would take care of that fool. Now it was his time to shine.

His eyes scanned the room, searching for the girl who he needed. As time passed with her nowhere in sight, the frustration he felt bcame his own. He became more and more tense, rudely brushing away the girls who were brave enough, or perhaps foolish, to try to get him to dance with them—those who were not intimidated by the look on his face. Many a girl was rejected before one girl was bold enough to touch him. The hand on his shoulder brought him back to the dance, and the smell let him know whom he was dealing with as he faced the hand’s owner.

“I noticed you were looking for me, so I thought I could spare you any further effort.” The lady in front of him spoke with her fan covering her face in a coy manner. Samuel nearly scoffed out loud at that—shyness was not something that Serena was capable of pulling off. She held her presence in a way that demanded—and commanded—everyone’s attention. Now she sought for him to pay her heed; she wanted his attention.

Had he had the time, Samuel would have loved to amuse himself with this girl. This obtuse girl who dared insult the Goddess of the Elements deserved the pain. He would toy with her and her feelings; raise her slowly, only to bring upon her an excruciating downfall. It would be only too easy, what with her setting herself up for it, and with her ever-present lackeys ready to bear witness.

But this girl was lucky. Samuel had only enough time to do this to her quickly.

“Frankly, I cannot see why anyone would deliberately choose to seek you out. I would assume, however, that if, in a moment of temporary insanity, someone did need you for something or the other it would not be so difficult to spot you.” He looked her up and down quickly with a grimace so pronounced on his face, stopping his gaze intentionally at her waist (for it was common knowledge that this was a sore point for young women and it disgusted him; the Goddess would never be so vain). He felt immense pleasure when Serena’s face turned the color of puce. Her “friends” whispered urgently, almost violently behind her; chances were Serena would never live this down.

He swept her a deep, mocking bow and strode away. The anger that rolled off her fed his energy and spurred him on. A shame her humiliation was not as public as he would have liked it to be, especially since it was hard enough to make sure her minions heard every word over the music and chatting, but… one cannot win them all.

With this thought in mind, Samuel reached the center of the ballroom and swept the hood of his cloak over his head.

It was time.