Water {Elements of Power 2}

Chapter 23: Roxy

Only a few minutes past before I heard the footsteps heading my way.

"Come out, Helian." Erica. I would recognise her voice anywhere.

"What do you want, Sephan?" I snapped back as I stepped out from behind the tree, trying to sound less rattled than I felt.

"Retribution." Erica wasn't alone. She was surrounded by dozens of furious Sephans, most of whom were armed.

"What do you mean?" I glanced around frantically for Tristan. Where had he got to?

"For the fire you started. We are here to make you pay."

"It wasn't me! I can't even use my powers!"

She laughed. "So you say. But can you prove it?"

"Of course I can't, but do you really think that I would still be here if I could?"

"Maybe that was your plan all along—to torch our capital and leave."

As if the Helians would go through all this, just to destroy a Sephan city. If we wanted to strike them, it would be openly. They would know that we were here for them. "Erica, come on! This wasn't me."

She only smirked at me before turning to some of the men beside her.

"Secure the prisoner."

Three of them advanced on me with ropes and I backed towards the tree, readying myself to fight. Even without my powers I could take out a couple of Sephans. But even more of them were milling behind Erica, plus I had no way out of the Realm without Tristan's help.

Tristan. He would help me. He needed me; for now at least. If I let them tie me up now, he would get me out later. That would wipe the smile off Erica's face.

So, instead of fighting, I held my hands out defiantly in front of me, waiting for the Sephans to bind them.

If Erica was surprised, she did well not to show it.

Minutes later I was sitting on the floor, bound to the tree I had hidden behind, waiting for Tristan to come and rescue me. Why did it feel like lately, all I was doing was waiting to be rescued? By useless boys too.

Like Brae, Tristan didn't come.

I sat alone by the tree for hours while the fire was put out in the capital and the Sephans returned to their largely ruined homes. Well, that was what they deserved for living in houses of wood and material. Everything in the Helian Realm was fire resistant—a necessary precaution.

When the smoke finally cleared and the night was dark, I heard him approaching. The leaves crunched under his feet.

"Roxy?"

"Tristan!"

He emerged from the trees on my right. "Hey, sorry I couldn't come sooner. Things have been pretty hectic, I've only just been able to get away."

"That's fine. Now hurry up and cut me loose."

He looked uneasy, transferring his weight from leg to leg and playing with the end of his shirt.

"Roxy, it's not that simple—they're all blaming you for the fire—some of them are calling to 'burn the fire demon'!"

"What the flames, Tris! You can't let them kill me!"

"Of course I won't—I'm talking them round. No one can do anything until after the election and when I win I won't let anything happen to you." I didn't point out that he had a 50:50 chance of winning and his opponent was itching to get her hands on me.

"So what do I do? Sit here, slowly starving and freezing to death until the election?"

"It's only a couple of days away and I'll make sure you are fed. But... Roxy, I won't be able to come and see you again in the meantime."

"What?"

"It's bad for votes; I can't be seen being lenient towards you. You don't want to help Erica win, do you?"

I wasn't surprised; I knew that he was only using me for votes and now that I was an uncertainty he wasn't going to risk his Presidential future by rescuing me.

A rustling sound suddenly came from our left, as though someone was walking towards us. "Look, I'm sorry. I have to go. I'll make sure someone brings you some food though, okay?"

He had vanished into the darkness before I had a chance to respond and moments later Erica emerged through the trees.

"Not so high and mighty now, are we, Helian?" She spat the final word, her face ablaze with anger.

"What do you want, Erica. Have you just come to gloat?" I really wasn't in the mood for her jeers. I was uncomfortable and hungry and I really wanted to go back to sleep.

"I'd watch your tone, Helian; your fate lies in my hands."

"Don't you have to win first?"

She laughed. "Don't worry about that. Your actions tonight will wipe the smile off Terra's face and his voters will come flocking back to me. And when I win—" She smiled gleefully, "I am going to enjoy watching you burn, Helian." She laughed again; a manic, high-pitched laugh, then turned and left, leaving me alone in the dark gloom of the forest.

Alone again and increasingly frustrated, I rested my head against the tree and looked up into the sky. Or tried to, anyway. I could make out the moon through the trees, but the stars were hidden. I was fed up of leaves blocking out the light, keeping me in the cool and shade.

I stared down at the floor in distaste, watching the small patches of moonlight which had made it through the trees.

Something glinted in the leaves to my right and I shuffled over as much as I could, hooking it with my feet to bring it closer.

It was shining, silver and sharp—a knife? In fact, it looked like Tristan's knife. He must have dropped it in his panic to rush away from Erica!

I didn't think twice. I wasn't hanging around here to wait for Erica to win or for Tris to decide that it was better for votes if he turned against me. I grabbed the knife and cut at the ropes, then I was up and running through the woods.

{What do you think? Is Roxy making the right choice? Please vote/comment to let me know}