Elemental (3 page)

“Oh,
God, did I hurt you? Let me see your arm.” She was horrified that she might
have really hurt him, but her concern only made him laugh harder.

“Don’t
sweat it, I’m only teasing you,” he brushed an errant curl behind her ear and
closed the door after she climbed into the vehicle.

Only
minutes passed before they were off and driving up the winding mountain roads.
The views were positively breathtaking. Fields and streams, valleys and lakes
were all blanketed in snow, and looking up at the white-capped mountain peaks,
shrouded in wispy clouds, she fell in love. It was the most beautiful place
she’d ever seen.

The
village came into view, and instantly, she thought of the old fairytales she’d
read as a child. The buildings along the main road were old—bordering on
ancient—while newer structures could also be seen. The roads were cobblestone,
rather than concrete, and it felt like going back in time, which only added to
the charm.

“We’ll
stop here and pick up a few things,” Jonathan said as he parked in front of a
small indoor market. “You definitely need a thicker coat. I’m sorry I didn’t
think about it before we left.”

“It’s
fine, really, I can wear two sweaters and be plenty warm enough.”

“Not
here. I want you to be comfortable and you’ll need some good snow boots as
well. They’ll help to prevent you from slipping in the icy slush and provide me
with some peace of mind.” He grinned and quickly exited the vehicle before she
could even draw a breath to argue.

Almost
an hour later, they made their way back to the car with their purchases in tow.
Mandy was beginning to suspect Jonathan of having a shopping problem. If she
even glanced at an item, he was there, asking if she liked it and insisting she
have it.

Now
she was the proud owner of a fluffy new parka, a pair of snow boots, several
pairs of thick socks, and a few sweaters. He had taken one look at an emerald
green sweater, insisted she try it on, and then announced that she would be
wearing it out. True, it was a little high-handed on his part, but she really
did like the sweater. It hugged her body like it had been made for her alone, and
was the softest thing she’d ever felt.

“It’s
a good thing that we’re just friends, or I would be hard pressed to tolerate
all of the looks you’re getting in that top,” he teased.

Mandy
simply shook her head, “They’re looking at you, silly. You turn heads no matter
where you go. You really are too good-looking for your own good.”

“Sweetheart,
look around. These people are staring at you. You’re beautiful, Mandy.”

Mandy
felt herself blush. She wasn’t used to compliments, and was startled to
discover he was right, they were staring at her. The men in the market were
looking her over as if she were one of the most delectable treats they’d ever
seen. Women were gazing at her in a mixture of admiration and…envy?

“See?
I told you, you’re beautiful, and the color of that sweater looks amazing
against your hair and makes your eyes shine,” Jonathan whispered in her ear.
“You’re with me, so there’s nothing to worry about. The people in this village
won’t bother you. They know better than to mess with my brother and me.”

That
last remark sounded rather cryptic, and left Mandy wondering what exactly it
could mean. Were the villagers scared of the brothers? Why?

“We’d
better get going because it will be dark very soon. It’s not safe to be out
after dark, Mandy,” he warned. “There are many wild animals in the surrounding
woods that wouldn’t hesitate to make a meal out of anyone who was foolish
enough to venture out into the night.”

“Trying
to tell me that there are monsters in the mountains?” she teased.

Jonathan
regarded her for a moment, as if considering his answer, before he replied.
“There are many things in these woods, and monsters are only as dangerous as
you allow them to be. We’ve been trying to keep the lands around the village
safe for years, but it’s impossible to keep every dangerous creature at bay.”

Mandy
briefly wondered if he would consider her dangerous if he knew of her extra…talents.
She had been fascinated by her ability to move objects with her mind as a
child, and there was a reason why she studied the more mythical and magical
aspects of literature. She was looking for more people with a talent like hers,
but the only leads she’d been able to find had led her to magicians, folklore,
and horror movies. Telekinesis was something that seemed to freak most people
out. The movie Carrie, for instance, had become a widely popular horror film
that featured a young girl with the gift of telekinesis who ended up killing
most of the students in her school after being endlessly bullied.

The
fact that Mandy was certain people would look upon her with fear kept her from
using her talent publicly. She still used it in the privacy of her own
apartment, fine-tuning her skills and strengthening her talent, but she never
let others know.

Would
Jonathan be able to handle the truth? Would his brother?

“You’re
awfully quiet over there. What’s wrong?”

Startled
out of her thoughts, Mandy looked over at Jonathan as he drove. “I’m fine. I
just got lost in thought for a moment.”

“More
like the last ten minutes,” he teased. “We’re almost there.”

Mandy
focused her eyes ahead as they turned the corner, and gasped at the sight
before her. “You live in a castle?”

The
dark gray stone walls rose before her, towers occupying both corners.
Forbidding was the first thing that popped into her mind. This was no Disney
Princess’ castle. This was more along the lines of Dracula. The landscaping was
sparse at best, but it was winter, so maybe the grounds were more inviting in
the summer months. Tall arching windows added to the gothic look, with only the
beautiful colors of stained glass softening the feel of the structure. Just how
big was this place? It appeared to have two stories, judging by the windows,
but it was so high the ceilings inside must be over ten feet tall!
And the towers?
Yeah, those were cool, and definitely
something to check out while she was here.

“This
is a joke, right? You’re just bringing me here to have a laugh before we head
to your house.” She turned to Jonathan to see him blushing.

Blushing!

“I’ll
admit it’s unusual for most people to discover that I live in a castle, but
it’s been in our family for centuries.” Jonathan shrugged and climbed out of
the SUV. “Here comes Garrett.”

“Garrett?
I thought your brother’s name was Nicolas?”

“Garrett
is our butler. He keeps this place running like a well-oiled machine,” he
explained as the man approached them. “Hey, Garrett, it’s good to see you.”

“It’s
good to have you home, Jonathan. Nicolas has asked that you come to the study
immediately, as he has an urgent matter he wishes to discuss with you.” The man
turned his chiseled face in her direction and smiled. “And you must be Ms.
Mandy,” he extended his hand in greeting and she accepted.

“Just
Mandy is fine, thank you.”

“As
you wish.
I’ll be showing you to your room while
the boys handle their business, if you are ready.” Garrett was a very handsome
man himself. What was it about this part of the world? Did they have some
magical well water that made all the men super attractive? He had to be in his
late forties, early fifties, but moved with a grace reserved for the young and
fit.

Mandy
looked to Jonathan. He gave her an apologetic smile and came to her side. “I’m
sorry, but if it’s important enough for him to insist, then I need to go and
see what’s going on.”

“
It’s
fine, Jonathan, really. I could use a minute to freshen
up anyway.” She wanted to make sure that she looked her best when she met his
brother. With the way he’d gone on and on about how they would get along great,
she figured he had probably done the same to Nicolas as well. The last thing
she wanted to do was come across looking like she’d spent the last twenty-four
hours on a plane…even though she had.

“Don’t
worry about the bags right now. I’ll come back out as soon as I’m done talking
to Nicolas and bring them up.”

“Are
you sure? I could just bring my bags in now and be done with it,” Mandy
offered.

“No,
you just go on ahead with Garrett, then you can explore if you’d like. I’ll
come and find you when we’re done.”

Mandy
gazed up at the intimidating gray stone walls that made up the front of the
castle. The place was huge, and she feared if she were to explore she would
only end up lost. “I think I’ll just wait and let you guys give me the grand
tour when you’re able.”

Jonathan
smiled. “This place has been modernized, so don’t worry about getting lost. We
have intercoms throughout the rooms otherwise Garrett would never know where we
were hiding,” he winked at her when Garrett rolled his eyes. “Go on, I’ll find
you in a bit.”

“This
way, Ms. Mandy,” Garrett turned and led the way through the massive wooden
doors and into a large room filled with antiques as far as the eye could see.
“This is the main living area. Through there,” he gestured to the left, and a
large arching door, “is the dining room which then leads to the kitchen.”

“It’s
beautiful,” Mandy couldn’t help but gawk like some sort of cheesy tourist. But,
seriously, how often did someone get to say they spent Christmas vacation in a
genuine castle?

There
were suits of armor standing in the corners of the room, a large fireplace
dominating most of one wall, and tapestries that looked at least a couple
hundred years old adorned the walls, while large rugs covered the floor where
an arrangement of turn-of-the-century furniture rested. It was just like
stepping into the past, and Mandy was instantly charmed.

This
was someplace that would be easy to fall in love with. She could just picture a
handsome prince descending the grand staircase and sweeping his lover into his
arms, before carrying her back up.

Yes,
she was a hopeless romantic, but it was all she had. At nearly twenty-two years
old, she was probably the only virgin on their college campus. Unfortunately,
her ability manifested when her emotions were heightened, so she was afraid of
what could happen if she was to succumb to the physical aspects of love. Not
that she had much to worry about. The guys on campus weren’t exactly knocking
her door down for a date.

At
the top of the stairs, Garrett turned right and led her down a long corridor,
stopping at the third door on the left, and gesturing for her to enter. “This
will be your suite while you are here, ma’am. If there is anything that you
find yourself in need of, simply press the intercom and let me know.”

“Thank
you,” Mandy replied absently as she took in her surroundings. The room she
stood in was bigger than her entire apartment! A large fireplace was on one
wall with a small seating area situated in front of it. The furniture here was
just as beautiful as downstairs, and the antiques made her feel like she’d
stepped into the
Middle
Ages.

An
ornately carved, four-poster bed stood to the side, draped with sheer curtains
tied to the posts with satiny cords. This room was decorated in rich burgundies
and
golds
that made the room look more suitable for
royalty than a visiting guest.

Mandy
crossed the room, removed her parka, and sat on the side of the bed, the plush
mattress hugging her hips as she sank into the bedding. It was the softest
thing she’d ever had the pleasure of resting on. As she lay back, Mandy felt
the effects of jet lag taking over.

Refusing
to allow herself to fall asleep before meeting Nicolas, she made her way into
the bathroom and froze. There were candlesticks mounted to the walls as well as
soft recessed lighting in the ceiling. An enormous claw-footed bathtub sat in
the corner with a padded stool situated next to it, while a stone-tiled shower
stall, with two glass walls, stood beside it. This room was quite large as
well, boasting a marble countertop that held three sinks. What in the world
would you need three sinks in one bathroom for?

Mandy
took a moment to splash cool water on her face in an effort to revive
herself
, and decided that some make-up would be a very good
thing right now. Unfortunately, her bags were still in the car.

Deciding
she’d just grab her purse and her toiletries bag, Mandy quickly made her way
back down the hall and stairs, before heading out the front door. The cold air
nearly stole her breath reminding her that she’d left her new jacket inside,
but Mandy was only going to be out for a moment, so she hurried over to the SUV
and quickly opened the back to dig out her bag.

She
was just reaching for her toiletry bag when someone yelled, “Oh, no! Run!” A
woman came crashing out of the woods in a long ice-blue dress, startling Mandy.
“Run! He’s coming!” she wailed, heading for the castle doors.

A
ferocious snarl drew Mandy’s attention back to the woods, and she watched in
horror as a humungous black wolf emerged. The massive animal regarded both
women, before he began to slowly prowl closer.