The Elementalist

31. Breathless

BreathlessStrangely enough, conversation from this point continued with exceptional ease—at least until Voi’s urges struck again. Every word—every glance, innocent or otherwise—that came from Andre whispered to Voi’s aetheric senses, coaxing out hidden longings and threatening her composure. The precise way his lips formed around his breath-propelled words, the measured way he sipped his wine…

Voi found herself watching Andre with great interest, her chin propped on her fist.

“Do you find me engrossing?” he asked, smiling.

“What? Oh, no.” She dropped her hand. “It’s just… well, maybe.” She blushed.

He laughed. “Fair enough. Where were we?”

Voi sighed, half-relieved. “We were discussing the lamb.”

“Ah, yes. I do love a bit of lamb—rubbed with sage and coffee grinds, seared lightly on both sides…” He took in air through his nose. “Delicious.” The captain also enjoyed basil, preferably with his lamb, but what he really loved were oysters—something Voi had yet to try. “Perhaps another evening,” he told her when they pondered whether to order the delicacy; they weren’t on the ‘humble’ cafe’s menu anyway.

Unwittingly, Voi resumed her observation of Andre’s dining ritual.

In that moment, it didn’t matter that she was a disgraced pilot or he an affluent, admired member of society as he stared at her with such intense longing so as to intangibly graze Voi with his repressed desires, causing her face to involuntarily flush. She hung on his every movement holding back her breath as she watched his lips carefully envelop a mouthful of raspberry mousse cake, taking in energy which would be converted into fuel for the essence she found so alluring.

However, it was not merely the physical aspect of Andre’s conduct which Voi found attractive. She held an idea that a certain kind of energy passed through the portal of one’s lips, taking in that invaluable breath of life—a thing she now held a sizeable amount of power over, she realized.

Andre sat there amused yet entirely ignorant.

Suddenly, he cleared his throat then looked at her plate, gesturing to it with his fork. “You’ve barely touched your dessert, Voi. Or your lamb, for that matter.” He frowned. “Is there something wrong with the food?”

Shocked out of her trance, she blinked then looked down. She put her fork aside, wringing her napkin over her lap. “No, no… the food is wonderful.”

Andre searched her face with skepticism.

“I… I suppose I’m not as hungry as I thought I was.”

Andre aggressively chewed on a raspberry, mulling this apparently puzzling piece of information over in his shrewd mind. “I see.” He dabbed his mouth with his napkin. “Well, then, should we leave?” His tone was tame, though disappointment lent his eyes an undeniable leaden quality.

Voi pressed her hands to the table, short of breath.

“Voi?”

Her gaze snapped back to Andre’s on command, inciting unwelcome temptation. All she knew was that if she didn’t leave, her composure would fail her and she’d do something uncharacteristically rash.

“Voi, your pupils are—”

“I should go,” she said, abruptly rising from the table and snatching up her clutch.

Andre matched her actions out of reflex. “Right now? But it’s barely into the twentieth—” he looked at his wristwatch then tapped it as if it’d stopped working, “the twenty-first hour!”

Oh dear. Have I really spent that much time alone with him? Appalled by the implications, she spun on her heels then dodged for the exit.

“Voi!”

She threw the door open. A cold gust assaulted her uncovered face, freezing her nerves and her movements. However, Andre’s not-so-distant pleading quickly snuffed her inaction as she charged across the street.

She’d run all the way home if she had to. Anything to escape him.

“Voi! Where are you going? I don’t understand why you’re—”

The blare of a horn drowned the sound of his voice.

Don’t look back, don’t look back. Never mind if he got hit by a car. Milia had been right to warn her about Andre; he was an absolute menace to her senses. Of course, she couldn’t rightly fault him for this, though neither could she keep denying it.

Voi hadn’t realized how quickly he’d caught up to her until she found herself standing face-to-face with him on the opposite side of the street. She shrieked and came to a full stop. “Andre, please, just leave me alone!”

He threw up his hands, perplexed and out of breath—more from almost getting run over than being out of shape, she presumed. “Why are you running away from me?”

“I’m not running from you.”

“I had to jog to keep up with you. That’s practically running.”

“Actually, it’s jogging.” Semantics.

Andre doubled over, placing his hands on his knees. “Whatever.” He took a few seconds to catch his breath. “That’s not how I meant it.”

Voi stared back at him in horror before whirling and fleeing down the sidewalk.

Andre laughed. “Voi!” It wasn’t long before he was back at her side again, laboring to maintain a similar pace. “Look, I’m sorry if I came on too strong. We can take things slower, if that’s what has you spooked. I know we Borellians are a bit more direct when it comes to romance… I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Voi stopped and shot him a glare. “Romance? You accuse me of conspiring against you then ask me on a second date. I mean I hardly know what to make of you!” Disoriented, she refocused her sights on the path ahead then began pacing, frowning in deep thought. Her townhouse was too many blocks to count from their current location. I can’t keep running in these damn heels. More determined than ever, Voi searched the streets for a trolley.

Dammit! Being flustered, she’d forgotten that Du Mon was not like Chandra City in this regard. Instead, a rickshaw rolled by. “Ey, ey!” Voi shouted, flagging it down. “Esperilí!” By heaven above, she would not stop running until she caught up to that cyclist. Heels be damned.

Hearing her call, the man circled to a full stop and waited.

On her way over, Voi sifted through her clutch, hoping to pay for the fare in advance. “A’vuilí, a’vuilí!” she said, shoving money into the cyclist’s hands as she scrambled into the rolling rickshaw.

Not asking questions, the man took off at full speed.

Unfortunately, Andre hadn’t fallen as far behind as Voi had hoped. A hand clutched onto the rim of the carriage. “Voi, will you stop this nonsense so we can talk?” he yelled in exasperation, his legs pumping to keep up.

Voi ignored him, spouting off directions to her townhome in rapid Borellian.

Andre, much to her annoyance, offered to pay the man triple her offer—if only he’d slow enough for Andre to hop in; they could take ‘the scenic route,’ he said.

Not surprisingly, the cyclist stopped and took the money, allowing Andre onboard. Damn millionaires. Voi didn’t bother to stop him, as she was too winded to spare any chastisement. Rather, she pulled a loose strand of hair from her mouth then turned in the opposite direction, scowling under the rickshaw’s canopy.

The driver started pedaling again. No discussion followed for the next few minutes. However, Andre was the first to break the standoff. “Voi.” He spoke to her in Windi to discourage the driver from getting involved. “Must I really point out how absurd this is?”

She said nothing.

After a moment, Voi felt him shift beside her, leaning back on their shared seat with a long exhalation. Curious, she cast a glance over her shoulder, though Andre was looking in the other direction. She turned back around, partly relieved though also somewhat guilty. She buried this with a sigh, pondering on the city’s night scene.

Couples sporadically huddled in the cold—a sight Voi felt she ought to ignore though ultimately failed to do. Some, she noticed, ambled together down the sidewalk while others nuzzled and kissed on benches beside the river. The water receded from view as the cyclist led the rickshaw deeper into the city. A few solitary figures and friendly groups also walked the streets, bundled in wools and leathers and furs. They peered into boutique windows set in limestone buildings with ancient Trysteese arches and bulging columns.

Somewhere in the distance was a guitarist strumming a pensive, melancholy tune.

The rickshaw passed an idle bell tower as a foghorn resounded from an unseen vessel on the river, though the freshwater dew that dampened their surroundings still lingered heavily in the air. The silhouettes of ‘double-dolloped’ domes and spindly spires lined the starlit horizon beyond, defining the city’s unique skyline.

A warm hand settled on Voi’s unexpectedly, startling her back to their immediate circumstances. She pulled away with a gasp, whipping her head around.

Andre’s dark eyes stared into hers, the corner of his mouth quirking. “Did you really think I’d let you get away so easily?”

Voi breathed faster, her nose twitching like a helpless rabbit’s.

He reached for her hand again. Stunned into submission, she allowed him to take it. He ran his thumb over her skin, his hands unexpectedly warm in the chill of the night. “You can run all you want, Voi, but as for me,” he shook his head, his face troubled, “I couldn’t resist you if I wanted to.”

She forced down the lump in her throat.

“Whatever it takes—more time, more space—I’ll grant it if it means having another chance to win your affections.” He continued stroking her hand, calming and exciting Voi all at once.

She closed her eyes, biting her lip until it stung. On one hand—on a very primal, elemental level—Voi’s instincts insisted that this man was a superb match for her physically. On the other hand, there was something else about his essence, something unusual… She couldn’t put it into words but was certain the answer lay in his energy—something she wouldn’t be able to assess unless she mingled with it.

A less sensible part of Voi sought to rebel against Milia, if only for the sheer thrill of doing so. After all, why should the government or a League representative dictate the terms of her life when they’d already done so much to manipulate it? Despite Voi’s hesitation, Andre smiled, and his hand crept up to her cheek, bumping against her softly as their carriage rumbled over potholes in the pavement. His thumb brushed thoughtfully over her lips, his imploring eyes scanning her face. “You have no idea how exquisite you are… do you?”

Voi’s lips parted as her tongue sought to taste the tip of his thumb. Andre mimicked this, his mouth also opening slightly as he continued teasing her lips. She rested her hands on his wrist and forearm, unsure whether to push his hand away or encourage it. The decision was made for her, however, when the rickshaw started to slow.

Andre pulled his hand back, and they looked up, seeing they’d reached Voi’s townhome. Still, having been paid more than was considered fair, the cyclist waited for the pair to leave without a complaint.

Voi remained mooning in the rickshaw for a while as Andre left the carriage. He came around then offered his hand. She took it gratefully but wobbled, her legs becoming frail and unreliable. The captain guided her down with a powerful grasp around her waist. She bit her lip nervously before turning to thank the driver.

The man bid them a simple “Benieux” with a nod, then he peddled away.

Voi and Andre faced one another, staring in uncertainty before averting their gazes to the ground. She pushed her hair behind her ear, wondering what might come next. Andre awkwardly led them to the door with Voi trailing behind.

The scent of roses greeted her from the withering flowerbeds, and she sighed in recollection of her mother. In the brief time she’d spent living in this home, Voi had already fallen in love with it. She kept her gaze low when they paused at the door. Without the lights on, there was only the scant moonlight to illuminate their forms.

Voi said apologetically, “Andre, I’m not sure how to explain this to you, but with my condition… I’m not sure if it’s safe to—I mean I’m not confident I’m able to fully control my abilities. That is, if we were to—”

Gently, he shushed her, placing a finger on her lips. “Not to worry.” He retracted his hand. “We can figure things out along the way, but for now, let’s just keep things simple, ouele?”

Not having an answer, Voi stared at him briefly then nodded. “I suppose I should thank you for taking me to dinner.” She looked down, playing with her hands.

Andre nudged her chin, urging Voi to lift her face.

She held still as her senses grew receptive to the aetheric energy surrounding them. She knew it would be best to hurry inside, but her curiosity was strong. Seeing her hesitate, Andre took the lead and leaned in gradually. Before she knew it, their lips were touching.

Although it was cautious, the kiss sent shivers through Voi—much akin to the thrill she received when channeling her powers. A jolt of hot energy traveled between them and quickly cooled, exciting Voi’s senses.

She closed her eyes, reflecting on the evanescent moment.

Andre kissed her again, longer this time, and she felt the phenomenon more intensely. His fiery essence beckoned to hers without inhibition. It grew the longer they kissed, his ungentlemanly hands grasping her rear. As fire consumed the air’s oxygen to burn, so did his passion ignite, seeking to devour her presence whole.

Voi took his face in her hands then plunged herself fully into the kiss, causing him to grunt. Their lips parted, and his tongue found its way to hers. She opened her eyes, realizing she had direct access to the exhilarating energy she’d been craving, hungry for the air he breathed. She closed her eyes again then drank her desire from his mouth.

Unwittingly siphoning air from Andre’s lungs, the mixture of their warring energies excited Voi. One sip simply wasn’t enough.

Suddenly, he made a faint strangling noise. When he tried to pull away, Voi clung to him, grunting her disapproval. With a more forceful shove, Andre managed to wrench himself free then stared at her, breathing wildly.

Voi also breathed heavily though for different reasons. She laughed, experiencing the insatiable high that came from channeling the aether. However, her joy faded as she recognized the horror in Andre’s bulging eyes.

“My gods, Voi, what the hell was that?”

“What was what?”

“I mean look at your pupils; they’re ginormous!” Andre wiped off his mouth with the back of his hand. He coughed a few times then glanced at her. “I suppose that’s what you were trying to warn me about before, isn’t it? Your inability to control yourself.”

He was right: just as Milia feared, Voi had lost control of herself. “I…” Anything she said would make it worse. Looking for something to do with her hands, she began rummaging through her clutch for the house key.

Andre stopped her, turning her to face him squarely. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be shaming you. It’s just you just caught me off guard, that’s all.”

She avoided making eye contact with him.

“Perhaps,” he said, “that was Faera speaking through you.”

Voi looked up, knitting her eyebrows. “What?”

Andre touched his chest. “I felt the flames of Piroch, my patron god, when we kissed. Surely you felt it, too?”

She blinked, doubting the influence of a Borellian deity, though she couldn’t deny the hot sensation that had passed between them. “Speak plainly, Andre. What do you mean?”

He took her gently by the shoulders. “In my experience, Voi, things like this only happen when the gods have something to say. When you… latched yourself onto me, for lack of better terminology, I felt the breath of Faera leave my body. It could’ve been in response to Piroch’s influence. This could mean that Faera is your patron goddess. She’s protective of you, to say the least.”

Voi stared at him, bewildered that a man trained in various sciences would choose to believe in the superstitions of a polytheistic religion.

“The gods have spoken through us, Voi.” Andre took a step back. “We may not be ready for each other yet, but our fates are most certainly intertwined.”

Voi was not a believer in the Borellian pantheon, though she’d studied the religion in school. She understood the appeal of such a belief—that the extraordinary could be explained by a host of supernatural entities—though she couldn’t buy into the philosophy herself. For now, she shook her head and put the matter aside, accepting that a unique ‘chemistry’ existed between herself and Andre.

He watched her unlock the door. Once opened, she turned and spoke apprehensively. “You should probably talk to the café about the unattended bill.” She smiled, hoping to dissolve the tension between them.

Andre laughed. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. Well, I’ll retrieve our coats while I’m at it and bring yours to the air base. How’s that sound?”

Voi nodded, holding his gaze. He seemed… hopeful. I shouldn’t lead him on. Still, it was rare to find approval—genuine approval—in a man’s eyes, and she’d be lying if she told herself she didn’t covet the attention. “Well, I should get going. Goodnight, Andre.”

“Benieux, Vwah.” He leaned in, faltering momentarily before kissing her on the cheek.

Voi gave him a modest smile before closing and locking the door. She stood there briefly, resting her forehead against the wood, listening to her breath as it lapped against the surface. Andre’s footsteps didn’t recede for another ten seconds or so. Convinced he was gone, she closed her eyes and gave an exaggerated sigh. “Why can’t things just be simple?”

Suddenly, Voi sensed another presence in the house—an aetheric signature quite familiar to her by now.

She opened her eyes.

Even in the distance, she could hear him breathing.