The Last Elemental by Ashley Zimmerman (big ebook reader txt) 📖

the sound of a motorcycle. They always made me nervous. Looking in my side mirror I saw the large chrome Harley with the purple and black flames rumbling up to speed beside me. The driver was tall and lanky, Gothic looking, I couldn't see his face sadly because of the black helmet. Even the visor was black, hiding him from view. He turned his head and a chilling feeling swept through me. I felt as if this man had been watching me for awhile...as if he were awaiting the perfect time to strike. After a moment he pulled on ahead and raced away, even though he quickly left my sight, the pounding in my chest didn't dissipate. My heart and breaths were quick like that of frightened prey. Shaking my head I focused on driving. Who ever that was, I don't know him and I'm just being irrational. No way is some Gothic biker stalking me. Scowling I pressed the gas and quickly entered the town limits off of White Sand Beach. Whoever says living on an island sucks is wrong. Cayo Coco is the most amazing place a person could live, of course I've always just been obsessed with water so it could just be me. Pulling up to the small diner off the beach I quickly parked and turned the key. Shutting off the engine and grabbing my keys I got out of the car and locked the door. Jogging up I quickly opened the door and slid into the ocean diner. Smiling and waving to the regular customers, I practically ran behind the counter to get my pen and writing pad. Coming back around I walked over to a table that two men just sat at and smiled brightly.

“Hi! Welcome to White Ibis Ocean Bar and Grill, I'm Madeline and I will be your waitress. What can I do for you?” Looking between the two men I had to force my smile to stay in place. The man on the right was that biker, I was sure of it. Without his heavy biker jacket and helmet I could see his features, deep wavy bronze hair framed his high set cheek bones and bronze eyes. His deep tan skin seemed to shimmer under the soft florescence lighting. With a full pearly white smile that could melt the coldest part of Antarctica, he spoke in a deep husky voice.

“Just a water for me my dear. How about you Lawrence.” Looking over at the man on the left a shot of relief swept through me. This man had wavy blond hair, tan skin and green eyes. He even looked your typical surfer dude.

“Fried shrimp and a coke please.” When he spoke it was in a foreign accent. Australian maybe? Writing it down I smile brightly and nodded.

“I'll be right out with your drinks sir's.” Twirling around I quickly strolled into the kitchen. Getting the water and soda I placed them on a platter and sauntered back out towards their table. Placing the drinks in front of the designated men I smiled and glanced at 'Lawrence'.

“Your food will be ready in approximately ten minutes.” He nodded and flashed me a small lop sided smile.

“That's 'ight love. I don't mind waiting for a pretty little thing like you.” This flirtatious Australian man had me blushing crimson all the way to the roots of my hair. Clearing my throat I turned and quickly walked away with my head ducked down. Laughter from behind me had me blushing harder with embarrassment. I felt humiliated as if I was the brunt of some huge joke. Stalking into the kitchen I leaned against the counter and took deep breaths to calm myself. For some reason when I got stressed out strange things happened. It's like water would come to my aid and do things to the things that were stressing me. I felt shaky, that pulling feeling in the pit of my stomach getting stronger. Closing my eyes tightly shut I concentrated on solid earth and of puppies, flowers, music. Things that always calmed me down. Within minutes the rushing in my ears, the thumping of my heart and the silent pull of water toned down to a distant rumble, like the far off sea. Opening my eyes I calmly walked to the server counter and picked up the order five. Walking through the double doors I stalked calmly to the table and set the fried shrimp down.

“Enjoy your meal.” I said in a flat tone. Internally I winced at the cold voice I heard from myself, but the man had it coming. The audacity of the man! Treating me and no doubt other woman like that! Stalking off, I went about waiting on other people until my shift's end.

Wiping a table with a cleaning rag I glanced up to see it was a quarter to eight. My shift ended in ten minutes. Sighing tiredly I finished cleaning up the table and stacked the dirty dishes on a trey. Pushing my sweaty bangs from my face I picked up the treys and brought them to the kitchen. Dumping them in the soapy sink I began washing them diligently, practically scrubbing my skin off with the germs. Pulling my hands from the water I dried them and dried off the now clean and rinsed dishes. Stacking them in the designated areas I looked around once more. Everything was spotless and cleaned up for the night. Groaning tiredly I walked out of the kitchen and turned off the light. Walking through the diner I stacked chairs on the table, turning off lights as I went. Walking through the front door I turned and locked it with the set of keys our boss gave me. Exhaustion swept through me making me hate being the manager and a waitress even if it did pay good. Jingling the keys I stalked to my vehicle and began digging through my purse looking for my keys.

“Aha!” I muttered as I finally pulled out my car keys. Stashing the story keys in my purse I turned back to the door intent on unlocking it and getting home.

“Pretty little thing like you shouldn't be out this late at night, love. Perhaps I should make sure ya get home alright.” An Australian voice rumbled from behind me. Freezing I could feel dread pull in my stomach again. I knew that voice, it was the voice of the man in the restaurant. Slowly turning around I raised my jaw and spoke in a stiff voice.

“I am quite sure I will be fine. Thank-you for your concern, sir.” His green eyes suddenly flashed brilliantly in the shadows like lighting in the distance. The smell of Ozone had my hair standing on end. This cruel smirk swept across his features marring his once charming face.

“I do not believe I asked you a question love, nor was it a suggestion.” His accent seemed thicker now, his voice turning gravely and inhuman. His smile no longer resembled a smile, but more like a grin full of fangs, a silent show of the weaponry he held. Each and every tooth in his mouth was a sharp point like shark teeth. Gasping I backed up into my car, my hands coming up to clutch my chest. My heart raced as I watched the man before me deform and shift, it was like watching half of him shift into a fury monkey of some sort. A long tale whipped out behind him and edged toward me. Looking at it, the end suddenly split open into a four digit hand right in front of my face. My eyes widened as I looked up at his face, now fury and more ape like than human like. A scream tore itself from my lips as I shoved my key into the creatures eye. With a supersonic wail the creature lashed back from me, his tale coming up and the little digits yanking the key out. My stomach tried to revolt at the sight of the mangled flesh, oozing purple-red blood dripping down his black and white face. Running past him I made a dash for the restaurant doors only to find them closed. Looking back I saw the keys on the ground by his ape like feet, my purse must have spilled its contents while I stabbed him. Looking around I made a dash for the road and took off in a dead sprint running as fast as I could. After a few seconds I head a hypersonic cry of outrage, then the sound of bare feet smacking the ground. Panting and choking back sobs I looked behind me to see no one there. Stopping under the street light I looked around in fear, a whimper building up in my chest. Tears slowly dripped from the corner of my eyes as I fought the battle against my tears. Turning back around so I could continue my escape I stopped cold. A fury black and white chest was a mere millimeter from my face, warm air brushing my scalp. A tale hand coming into my line of sight and tilting my head up to look into the mutilated face of the creature that had once been Lawrence.

“Going somewhere love?” He rumbled in that deep inhumanly gravely voice, the accent thick and foreign. Stumbling backwards I screamed at the top of my lungs at him.

“What do you want from me!?” His lips pulled back to flash those terrible shark teeth, raw flesh stuck between them. A nauseating feeling swept over me at the thought of it being human. He took a step forward, his tale whipping out and wrapping around me, crushing me tight. Gasping I tried to breath as he lifted me into the air, crushing my rip cage slowly.

“I want your flesh!” He hissed, the stench of death would have gagged me if I could breath. I could hear that familiar rush in my ears, a weightless feeling swept over me and the next thing I knew I was sliding through the creatures tale-hand and to the ground. Dropping onto my feet I stumbled and hit the ground coughing and gasping harshly. I was confused, how had I slipped strait through his clutch? Even the creature seemed confused, but only for a second.

“Young Elemuntum eh? Mmmmm...you shall make a tasty morsel.” He hissed, saliva dripping down his jaws. Dropping down onto all fours he circled around me, tale held high with the hand open and waiting to grab me. Watching him silently I tried to figure out where I had heard that name before, shaking it off I concentrated on the trouble at hand. Taking in a deep breath I winced at the raw feeling of my throat. As the creature circled closer I frantically tried to figure out how to stall it while thinking of an escape plan.

“W-what are you?” I asked weakly, feigning exhaustion. That creepy grin with those teeth filled with rotting flesh were once again bared to me in cruel amusement.

“I, my little Elemuntum, am a Ahuizotl.” That name sounded so familiar to me, but why couldn't I recall it? As the creature circled around behind me I felt a tingle at the base of my neck. Rolling to the side the creature slammed into the ground with a wild yell of pain. Rolling to my feet I screamed the first thing that came to mind.

“

erventibus unda percusserit eum!

” I frowned in confusion after I screamed if for two things.

One: I had no idea what I said, all I knew was that it was in Latin. Two: A boiling wave came roiling up from the water plant beside us and slammed the creature away from me. I didn't have time to ponder on the crazyness of what just happened, I only had time to run. Turning I sprinted down the road, running toward the city limits, to where I felt safe: Home.