The Frozen Beginning (Elemental Diamond Book 1) (21 page)

Her feet feel sensitive against the rough concrete ground, but in her mind she knows that shoes confining her feet will only put more pressure on them.

Time moves as slowly as Glacier does, taking small simpering footsteps in a direction she isn’t sure is the right one. She gazes around the bright city, glass and concrete reaching heights unimaginable. Roads run easily above her, like an easy maze above her. Elemental’s mulling around the streets all send curious stares. Some ask for photos with her, which Glacier uncomfortably smiles for.

“Miss Wardgrave!” Glacier turns to the sound of her name. She finds Lien slamming the driver’s door to his hover closed. His dark tanned features seem annoyed. He moves closer to where she stands, stiff on the footpath. Glacier releases an exhausted sigh, glad that he had found her. Any longer and she may have collapsed with fatigue.

Thank goodness
…

Lien approaches her with his thumb tucked into his waistline and his fingers curling around his belt, his elbow pointed out.

“The hospital called me. Where exactly are you heading?”

Lien’s question surprises her. Confused, she looks around for any indication of where she is. From the height and clustering of the buildings surrounding her, she guesses to be in the heart of the city.

“Um… I was heading back to the hotel.”

Glacier hums quietly to herself, approaching the hover with steady movements.

Her driver shakes his head, “You are heading further into the city, Miss Wardgrave. You’re nearly at the stadium.”

Glacier’s eyes widen with surprise. Nodding her head in acknowledgement, she moves past him. She opens the passenger door, taking care as she climbs into the hover. Lien joins her a short moment later, turning the vehicle around and heading the way she came.

They reach the Persia quickly. Lien drops Glacier off at the bottom of the steps, promising that he will be in the same place to collect her later tonight. After nodding her acknowledgement, Glacier turns to the large glass hotel.

And like an unexpected storm, the sudden noisiness of cameras swarms her like a plague. The questions they ask are loud, meshing with one another.

They ask how she coated an entire arena in ice. How she could create that much ice. Questions about
how
.

Glacier’s body is roughly jostled as the vultures move closer. Her teeth hiss.

Just let me lie down
…

Blindly pushing through the crowd, she clenches her teeth as a hot burn laces through every inch of her body. Her good arm is pulled harshly in front of her, and she shouts in pain.

“Let go of me—” Glacier looks up to find it is one of the hotel guards pulling her forward. Another three workers separate her from the crowd.

“Get back, all of you!”

She is silent as security pulls her into the lobby. After whispering a quite thank you, Glacier escapes to the elevator.

Once inside, Glacier leans against the handrail, staring at the closed elevator doors.

Everything seems to finally catch up on her.

Mr Michaels, her father, Castor, Care, Isaac. Those that has been hurt or killed over the past week suddenly attack her like an anxiously waiting predator, hungry for grief.

Tears spill, her chest heaving with dark sobs. Her loud, pathetic cries reverberate around the small ascending box. Glacier covers her face with her hands, muffling the body-shaking cries.

A loud ding rings loudly in her ears. Hurriedly wiping her cheeks with her wet fingers, she holds her breath. The doors open, and she moves to step out.

Someone stands in her way. Glacier’s eyes roll up, finding concerned orange orbs staring down at her.

“Glace…”

Fielder stands taut on the outside of the elevator, his arms stiff by his sides, his lips tight with worry.

Without thinking, Glacier steps closer until she stands outside the elevator, holding herself to his warm chest. Fielder’s arms wrap around her like thick coils, pulling her tight against his torso.

The aching pain that has been echoing inside of her since the battle slowly dissipates as his warmth seeps into her muscles, soothing her.

“She died…” Glacier stutters, her voice soft and woeful.

She rubs her nose against his shirt, inhaling his smoky smell. The memory of Care’s body wrapped in red- and yellow-stained bandages burns her memory, as the thought of what was beneath them haunts.

He shushes her gently, trying to calm her nerves, “Who died?”

Glacier finds herself hiccupping, her sore cheek rubbing against Fielder’s shirt.

“She-she had been alive one moment, and then dead the next. Just gone—”

Fielder’s hands rest on her shoulders, pushing her back to look at her. He gives her a patient look, “Who?” His hand strokes the back of her head gently as he waits for her to speak.

Glacier takes a deep breath, “Care. She died. She was asleep right beside me, and then her heart stopped.”

Her words are near indistinguishable past her stutter. Her hiccups become uncontrollable as she tries to speak.

She gazes around, her eyes barring away from his. Glancing down the corridor, Glacier realizes she is on the wrong floor.

“Come with me,” he whispers.

She follows him without a word.

Leading her down the corridor, Fielder stops by the door with the number three on it. He pulls away from her hold gently, grasping her arms when he meets her watery eyes.

“Just wait a sec. The door needs to read my Passkey before you enter.”

Glacier nods her head. She remembers the Dormitory Keeper, Melana, explaining to her the first day that if the wrong elemental tries to open your door, they will be electrocuted and the lobby will be notified.

Fielder approaches the door quickly, and it collapses open in the same manner Glacier’s door does. When the door is open, he reaches out for her.

His arms swallow her short frame as he ushers her into his room. She looks around the room identical to her own. The only noticeable differences are the layout and colour scheme.

Glacier notices the neatly made orange bed, with bare stands on either side. The curtains are half drawn, casting a cooling shade over the entrance.

Her hiccups have calmed, as has her heartbeat. Fielder’s warm arms settle the nerves inside her that have been frayed from the day’s events.

“When did you get out of the hospice?” His words sound concerned, his frown is worried.

Glacier shrugs her shoulders, walking further into the room. Fielder follows, the door swishing shut.

“I don’t know… I just couldn’t be in that room anymore…” Her voice is weak, her throat raspy from crying. Glacier hugs her torso with her free arm as the memory of Care’s heartbeat flat-lining sends terrifying shivers down her spine.

Fielder moves to sit on the bed in front of her, his hands outstretched for her to take. The gesture reminds her of the first time Glacier met him.

Hesitating for a moment, she silently wonders if taking his hand will be stepping over a line.

I can’t take his hand…that seems too intimate
…

He seems to realize her hesitation, and lowers his hands awkwardly.

“Did you just get back to the hotel?” He watches her curiously, a lingering sadness haunting his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Glacier steps between his open legs. He seems surprised by her advance, but says nothing. Standing close, she looks down with her arm supported awkwardly between them. Despite his seated position, Fielder’s eyes are level with her own.

“Yeah, I was just heading up to my room…” A sudden thought occurs, “Wait, were you going somewhere?” She remembers him waiting at the elevator doors.

Fielder shakes his head, his eyes never leaving. “I was just going to the lobby… to wait for you…” His deep voice sounds shy, but his face is solemn.

Her heart beats faster at his confession, but he seems confused.

“If you left the hospice an hour ago, why are you only just getting here? Did your driver take you somewhere else?” His words aren’t demanding, just curious.

“No, I just… went for a walk. I didn’t realize how far away the hotel was; it didn’t seem so far away in the Hover…”

His frown tells her that he isn’t happy.

“You
walked
in your condition? Why didn’t they call your driver?” Fielder’s words become angrier, “Is it because you’re different? Did they refuse to—?”

Glacier shakes her head at the question, lowering her gaze to the floor, “I didn’t want them to disturb Lien. I told you, I didn’t think it would be a far walk. But I’m fine,” she tells him, before adding, “I promise.”

Just like at the gala, Fielder doesn’t seem persuaded by her promise.

“Someone could have hurt you! What if the press were hanging around and saw you? They wouldn’t have cared!”

As he runs his strong fingers through his hair, Glacier is momentarily stunned by how handsome he is.

His straight jaw is taut with anger. His pointed nose is flaring. His orange eyes dazzle her with their dark aura. His full lips have never looked so inviting.

“I’m fine, I promise. Nothing happened.” Glacier decides not to mention the press outside of the hotel.

He still seems stressed by the idea of her walking in her trampled state. Fielder’s fingers reach out and lightly brush against her swollen lip where the doctor had applied a gel on before she left. The small cut down the centre of her lower lip isn’t as deep as the one on the corner of her mouth, but it stings harshly. His warm fingertips relive the itchy burn across her chapped lips. She sighs in return. He watches her with deep wonder, his lips slightly parted in response.

“Stay with me tonight.”

Glacier tenses at his request.

Stay with him? Tonight? For the entire night? Stay
here
?

She flounders for something to say, her mouth gaping like a fish as she thinks of how to respond.

“I should probably go back to my room.”

His eyes show panic, “No, stay here. Please,” he begs. “You’ll be safe, I promise. Just
stay
…”

Fielder has never looked at her so desperately, not even when they were kids. His eyes shine with hope, his lips parted slightly.

His thumbs brush the sides of her thighs so lightly. Glacier wouldn’t think he is touching her if she couldn’t feel the warmth heating her legs.

Glacier goes to bite her lip, but his quick hand stops her, “Don’t, you’ll hurt.”

He gently touches the cut on her lip once more. Closing her eyes, she tries to think of an excuse.

Do I really want to leave?

“Please, Glace.”

Don’t call me Glace, I won’t be able to say no if you do that
.

His voice saying her name sends a pleasant shiver down her spine, her back arches slightly. Glacier shakes her head, clearing her misty thoughts.

“Fielder, we—”

The door suddenly collapses open behind them, followed by a loud, angry voice.

“What the hell?”

Glacier swivels on her heels, finding Dolby standing in the doorway, his body tense with shock.

“What the hell are you doing in his room?”

She steps back, further from where Dolby stands. Fielder quickly rises to his feet, guarding her.

“Dolby, get out of my room!”

Fielder takes another step, his arm stretched out at his side, keeping Glacier safely behind him. Ignoring Fielder’s angry demand, Dolby steps further into the room, a manic look snaring his face.

“What are you doing, sneaking around with this freak?” Glacier flinches from his insult. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Get lost, Dolby!” Fielder’s eyes are dark, his scowl unnerving.

Resting her free hand against Fielder’s shoulder blade, Glacier steps to his side. Fielder’s body tightens beneath her touch, muscles taut.

“It’s OK Fielder,
please
. I’ll leave; it’s alright.”

Instead, Fielder gently grabs her wrist and leads her from the room. As they pass Dolby, Fielder makes sure to hold Glacier on his other side.

The moment they leave the room, Glacier’s slung arm is pulled back roughly. The tight squeezing grip on her elbow sends uncomfortable shrills down her spine.

Dolby pulls her close, his eyes burning hot liquid lava. His eyes remind Glacier of the ugly burnt orange colour that she had seen Fielder in, at the Introductions. Her breath sprints from her lungs, her eyes drawing moisture as pain itches across her wrist.

“You are going to get him into a lot of trouble, freak. You better watch yourself…”

She whines quietly when he squeezes her elbow tighter. Fielder surges forward, shoving Dolby back. He stumbles, his arms flailing, before he manages to balance himself.

“Stay away from her,” Fielder hisses.

Dolby cocks an eyebrow, his expression drawl. “I could say the same for you…”

Ignoring Dolby’s taunt, Fielder leads Glacier towards the elevator. His temper flares suddenly, causing him to drive his fist through the corridor wall. Glacier shrieks with surprise, her eyes zeroing in on his bleeding knuckles.

Fielder reaches out and presses the button. It opens immediately. They step in before he selects the forty-fifth level, Glacier’s level.

Once the doors open again, they walk down the corridor until they are close enough to her room. He waits back whilst Glacier approaches it. When the door swings open, Fielder’s hand reaches out to rest against the centre of her back. He smoothly pushes her into the room, and the door collapses behind them.

Glacier glances back, finding him rubbing his hands down his face, his knuckles bleeding slowly.

“Geez Fielder, why did you do that?” Glacier pulls him towards the bed, sitting him on the side facing the bathroom. She searches through the cabinets for a first-aid kit, finding nothing.

I don’t know how to dress a wound anyway…

Instead, Glacier retrieves her father’s healing spray, shaking it on her return to the bedroom. Fielder watches her with wide wondering eyes as he waits on the bed. Gingerly seizing his hand, she shifts to hold it in her sprained hand, his knuckles facing up.

“This may sting a little.” He says nothing in response, watching her silently.