Just Breathe Part 4

Westbrook rolled his eyes. "They're convinced Lana is the right woman for the Archelemental job, but I disagree. I'm pretty sure you do, too."

Zoe swallowed hard and nodded. "Forgive me for eavesdropping, but I heard you talking. You said you couldn't understand the whales. But I can. I'm a translator."

All three Elementals flanking Westbrook exchanged amused glances and laughed.

She quirked a brow. "You don't believe me?"

Heads wagged back and forth, arms folded across chests, and patronizing grins spread across faces.

Smug b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. She mirrored their poses. "I'll prove it."

The biggest guy gestured to the ocean behind him. "By all means. Call the whale we just heard."

Zoe straightened her back, and her ponytail swished against her shoulders. She sent her thoughts through the portal, into Realis, to the ocean beyond. A whale's voice caught her attention.

h.e.l.lo, friend, she sang. I'm Zoe. I have some Waeter Elementals here at the sh.o.r.eline who don't believe I can communicate with you. Would you mind helping me out?

The whale's tune changed to an uplifting lilt. You're the one who came for Lily. What have you got to prove?

That she's the rightful heir to the Archelemental throne.

She is. What would you like for me to do?

Zoe smiled. Come closer and wave h.e.l.lo.

The Elementals looked expectantly at Zoe. She nodded behind them, and they turned around. A blow clouded the air several hundred meters away. A black back broke the moon-dappled ocean's surface. The humpback rolled over, the shock of her white belly bright against the darkness. A flipper came up, then crashed hard on the waves three times in succession.

Zoe picked at her nails. "She says hi. Want me to ask her to perform any other tricks?"

The leader smirked. "That was just luck. Tell her to do a headstand."

A laugh escaped her. "Okay."

They want you to stand on your head, she told the humpback.

Silly humans. How about this? The whale lifted her back end high above the water, flapped her flukes like a fan in the air, then smacked them to the surface with a huge splash.

Zoe shrugged. "Good enough?"

"Ask her what she thinks about Lana," the female Waeter said, stepping closer to the door.

Zoe returned her attention to the whale. Do you have any thoughts you'd like to share about Lana?

Something akin to a snicker shot back. Lana's Water is strong, but she is impulsive. She lacks the wisdom and restraint that a leader needs to be great. Youth is her biggest enemy. With age, she will cultivate more discerning judgment.

Zoe relayed what the whale said. The comments were greeted with mixed reactions.

A familiar, high-pitched call struggled through the waves further up the sh.o.r.e. The hairs on Zoe's arms stiffened. The calf.

"I'm sorry. I have to go. I need to escort someone to his mother." She replaced her hood, smoothed the night fabric down her front, and gathered it tight against her skin. "Think about what this humpback told you. If you're interested and willing to support the whale candidate, come back here tomorrow night. We can talk more then."

That would give her a chance to test a theory about the strength of the Veil between Realis and the Dreaming. She slid her hand over the cool marble door. A wall was only as strong as its weakest link.

"I'll be here." Westbrook raised his chin, pride beaming from his eyes.

"Me, too," the female said.

The others maintained guarded expressions, but Zoe caught hints of uncertainty beneath. Every rebellion started with one person. If just one more joined her, together they'd have twice the strength she had before.

A quiver in her lip fumbled her smile. "Thank you."

Mummy? Desperation stained the tiny voice.

A deeper song farther out bled into the sea. It must be his mother. Thank G.o.d.

"Tomorrow." She nodded to Westbrook and the female Waeter, then dove into the dream ocean to lead the baby home to his mother.

Let the revolution begin.

Chapter Six.

September 2 Warm rays of sun dazzled the aqua blue ocean, highlighted the currents, and scattered beams of dancing light. Despite the beautiful day and calm water, Lily carried a heavy weight in her heart. The calf in Sydney died yesterday. She had sensed the terrible pain of his loneliness at the loss of his mother and the pangs of hunger swallowing him from the inside out.

At least Zoe had been with him through the end. Though Lily couldn't get into the Dreaming, cries of elation reached her last night from the other side of the Veil when mother and calf were reunited. Zoe had done well, especially under the difficult circ.u.mstances.

Lily leaned to the side and stared up through the water column to the throbbing sun overhead. The Fyres had wreaked so much havoc, both here and in the Dreaming.

Mum, I'm tired. Her calf, Araluen, had put on a brave face since orca whales attacked him a couple of days ago, but his wounds were not healing as they should. The journey to Hervey Bay had been a harsh one.

Let's have a rest, then. Surrounded by twenty other humpbacks, Lily caressed Araluen's b.u.mpy rostrum with her pectoral flipper.

One of the other Elementals swam up and lowered his barnacled head. Lily, we know you don't wish to ascend to the throne, but won't you consider taking the position temporarily? If there's no Archelemental in place by the spring equinox in a few weeks, Aqua will be displeased. Worse, the Elements will fall out of alignment. The Fyres will gain control, and it will be even harder to regain Balance once they have momentum.

All true. But the tragedy in Sydney proved how much Araluen needed his mother. Fyres sought both her and her calf with the express intention of murder. There was no way Lily would give up Araluen. And playing dual roles of mother and Archelemental simultaneously was out of the question. She could barely care for the baby as it was, let alone tend to Archelemental responsibilities right before a t.i.the.

Yes, the needs of the many were important, but she was a mother. Her child had to come first. Once Lana took office, the pressure from the Fyres would be off Lily.

Thank you for helping Araluen and me, but I cannot risk my baby's life, even for a temporary position. Lana is the only choice.

Another whale joined the conversation. But Lana's followers plot against you. They tried to get rid of Zoe with threats of harm. They cannot be trusted.

Lana had nothing to do with it, Lily said. She is a good person who does not condone such behavior. Yes, it's unfortunate that some of the human Elementals resorted to bullying, but do not judge Lana by their actions.

Lily believed in Lana's innocence. The woman didn't play dirty politics. Though she couldn't read minds or understand human language, Lily sensed sincerity in Lana's Water. And a genuine desire to advocate for the Waeters as a whole-even the non-human ones.

Another humpback swam up. We believe you are making a grave mistake by not taking up the mantle. Many Waeters-and human Wyldlings-could suffer if the wrong candidate becomes Archelemental.

Lily closed her eyes. Your objection is noted. My decision stands.

Mum, are you fighting about me? Did I do something wrong? Araluen asked.

Lily's exasperation eased, and she tucked him under her pec fin. No, little one. You did nothing wrong. In fact, you did everything right. Are you ready to continue onward?

The wrinkles around his eye tightened. She sensed the pain flaring in his tail again, and her heart ached. Her being an Archelemental candidate had put his life in danger. He'd be an even bigger target if she took the position. This had to end.

Stay in my slipstream, just behind my flipper. It'll be easier to swim there, and hopefully, less painful for you. Lily turned to the small mob of humpbacks surrounding her in the water column. No more talk of this appointment. My son doesn't need to be involved any more than he is.

They collectively lowered their heads.

She wished they'd stop that. She was no better than any of them.

Tired of fighting, Lily continued onward toward Hervey Bay, and her escorts followed. They wrapped her and Araluen in a web of song to ward off any Fyre Elementals that might venture close. The music helped pa.s.s the time, but it also provided adequate cover for a long distance conversation.

Zoe, she called out.

Lily. I'm here, came Zoe's response.

My calf and I will be in Hervey Bay in less than two weeks. Can you find Lana for me and invite her to a meeting? We have much to discuss, and I'll need you to translate.

A long, heavy pause. All right. Are you and your baby okay?

We will be fine. I heard about the calf in Sydney. I'm very sorry I couldn't get to him. We had a small...incident. Nothing to worry about.

I'm not sure you could have helped anyway, Zoe said. He was emaciated and dehydrated. He's with his mother now in the Dreaming.

Thank you for making his transition an easy one. We will meet soon.

Safe journey, Lily. I can't wait to see you.

The weight of scrutiny fell on Lily's back. She glanced around. The entire pod stared at her. Disappointment, worry, and regret leaked from their Water.

If any of you wish to go, I will not be offended. Lana needs your support and t.i.thes, so pledge them to her. Keep Water close to your heart. She will need every bit you can spare to sacrifice to Aqua on the equinox.

Lily swam onward for a few minutes. Silence followed.

In the uncharacteristic absence of song, she snuck a glance back, expecting to be alone.

Not a single whale had left the group. And four new humpbacks had joined them.

That night, Gavin rang Zoe as soon as he got in his car at the Hervey Bay Airport.

"You get in okay?" She sounded tired, distant. Cold.

"Yeah. How are things?" He navigated the parking lot and pointed his car toward Zoe's house.

"Busy. Got a lot on my plate at the moment with the whales. How'd it go in Sydney? Did you find out anything from Whetu?"

"Still no progress on breaking down the mental wall she put in place. Jack stole an out-of-service ambulance, had some Elemental friends rip out the GPS, and fixed it up. They should get here tomorrow with Whetu."

Zoe laughed softly. "I don't even want to ask how he stole an ambulance."

"He's a sight, your dad." Felt so weird to say that, having known Jack and Zoe separately for about the same length of time, but together only recently.

"Yeah."

Conversation stilled for a few moments-just long enough for the ever-present hint of Scarlet's smell to creep out of his pores and fill his head with more guilt.

"I need to see you tonight, Zed."

Another long pause and a sigh. "It's kinda late, and six o'clock comes mighty early."

He squeezed the phone tighter in his grip. "If not tonight, then when?" He was getting the feeling no matter when he asked to see her, she'd have an excuse to say no.

"I'm not sure. Since the whales are so active and the days are getting longer, we'll probably stay out later from now on."

Bingo. "So, I have to wait for a bad weather day to see you?"

"I don't know. Maybe." Her exasperation cut through the line and headed straight for his throat. "I heard from her today. She'll be here by the fifteenth. How about we talk then? It'll give you time to figure out what's going on with Whetu, and maybe I'll have sorted through my...feelings by then."

He rubbed his spiked hair. He f.u.c.king hated this plan. "Okay. If that's what you want."

"It's not what I want. I think it's best."

Best for whom? Neither of them. She had no idea how much he needed her now-not two weeks from now. He'd struggled to maintain a hold on the slippery tether to her heart, and she just cut the one string that kept him from flying away.

"Whatever, Zed. You've got my number. Ring me when you're ready to talk."

"I'm sorry," she said in a small voice.

"Yeah, so am I." He hit the end b.u.t.ton on the phone and tossed it into the seat beside him.

His ribs constricted around his lungs like a vise. Scarlet's revolting smell rose from his skin again and choked him.

What the h.e.l.l would he do without his muse?

Do what you did before you met Zoe. Take that defeated, broken, lost soul of yours and bury it deep inside where no one can hurt it. You have too much Water. Remove the emotion from your situation, and you'll be an efficient, Balanced Sentinel machine. Just what the Council needs. Just what the Wyldlings need.

The Water he'd fought so hard to reclaim protested.