Elemental Secrets (The Essential Elements Book 1) by Elle Middaugh

Author:Elle Middaugh [Middaugh, Elle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elle Middaugh
Published: 2016-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

“The goal of this partnership,” Mr. Berwyn began softly, “is to discuss and confirm the spin that you’ll be applying to your chosen work of literature.” He licked his papery lips and continued. “At the end of class, you will turn in a short statement of your ideas to me. Good luck, and happy discussions.”

I glanced at Cade, who was practically stone-faced. Happy discussions, my ass. Guess he should have been more specific when he said we needed to talk…

“So…” I began uncertainly. “I chose a poem by John Keats called The Human Seasons. What did you choose?”

He stared at me, emotionless. “The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka.”

“How are you going to spin it?” I asked, curious despite myself.

Cade shrugged. “I think the story would have gone much, much differently if he hadn’t been turned into a cockroach. So, I’m going to play him out as something beautiful. Maybe a bird or something.”

I smiled and tried to imagine it. Gregor probably wouldn’t die at the end of Cade’s story. It would be nice to see a sad tale get a happy reload.

“What about you?” he asked as he eyed me carefully. “What’s your spin on Keats?”

I blanched. I’d made this decision long before I ever knew Elementals were real, and now I wasn’t sure it was appropriate. Of course, average, everyday people had no idea it would be anything more than fiction.

I could always just play dumb. Maybe it’d get a rise out of Cade and force him to talk?

“Well,” I said, tucking a piece of flyaway hair behind my ear. “The Human Seasons deals with sections of a man’s mind. Internal. I thought it would be interesting to apply the four seasons in an external sense.”

Cade’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not sure I follow you…” Read: I sure as shit hope you’re not saying what I think you are.

A nervous giggle bubbled from my lips. “I was thinking…earth for spring, fire for summer, wind for autumn, and water for winter.”

He stared at his hand as he drummed his fingertips on the desk. I could tell he wanted to protest my ideas, but he couldn’t without giving himself away. Instead, he said, “There you go again with the water and winter combination…”

I could’ve easily missed the reference in that statement. It had been forever since our little Q&A at the willow tree—at least it felt like it had—but I didn’t miss it. The reference, that is. I remembered telling him winter was my favorite season, and that I’d choose water if I could control an element. Knowing what I now knew about my family, I wanted to amend that statement and change it to fire.

“Is spring your favorite season, Cade?” I asked sarcastically.

“Why would it be?” he nearly threatened.

I sniffed. “I think we both know what I’m insinuating.”

“I’m more concerned about how you know.”

“Can’t tell,” I teased mockingly.

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Both.”

He growled. “This isn’t a game, Valerie. Whoever told you deserves to be reprimanded.”

“All the more reason for me to never tell you.

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