ELEMENTS: Acquiesce Kathryn Andrews (guided reading books .TXT) 📖

The class was silent.

“Well don’t just sit there gawping,” said Marilla, “use your powers to put the snow back into your bowls. It’s all in the mind.”

One by one the students commanded great heaps of snow into the air and guided them into their bowls.

“It won’t all fit,” said Max.

“I was hoping to save this skill until the next lesson but I suppose now is as good a time as any,” said Marilla. “If we melt the snow we’ll fit more in. Rub your hands together, hold them over your bowl and think of a warm fire. You should see the snow start to melt.”

“It’s a good job this is a double lesson,” whispered Lana.

“I’ve enjoyed it though,” said Cordelia. “Haven’t you?”

“Yes. Although we didn’t actually turn anything to ice,” said Lana as she continued to clear snow from the floor.

“It can’t be that difficult,” said Cordelia. She looked around for something she could freeze. ‘That’s it,’ she thought. As her classmates busied themselves clearing away the snow, Cordelia held out her hands, palms facing the door. She closed her eyes tightly and thought about nothing but ice. As the door handle began to freeze, the door flung open and Morwen, who was standing on the other side was instantly encased in ice.

SEVEN

FIRST KISS

Cordelia stared in disbelief at Morwen whose dreadful features stood frozen in time.

“What’ve you done?” exclaimed Lana who was first to notice Cordelia’s predicament.

Cordelia’s wide eyes remained on the statue. “I didn’t mean to do it.”

Lana scanned the chamber. Everyone else was still preoccupied with snow. “Well don’t just stand there,” said Lana, “do something.”

Cordelia followed Morwen’s eye line.

“What are you doing?” asked Lana.

“She was looking at the door handle,” said Cordelia, relieved. “I don’t think she saw me.”

“But I did,” said Max, his voice rigid. “Looks like you’ll be leaving sooner than we thought.”

Cordelia glanced at Rafe who simply shrugged his shoulders and gestured towards Morwen.

“Seriously, what is your problem?” snapped Lana. The rest of the students stopped what they were doing and turned to see what was going on.

“What’s all the commotion?” Marilla sternly called from the front of the class.

Gradually the students stepped aside, creating a clearing between Marilla and Morwen.

“I see we’ve had a little accident,” said Marilla. She walked calmly between the silent students who closed in around her as she made her way towards Morwen. She studied the statue closely, just as Cordelia had done. “Leave it with me,” she said chirpily, turning to face the students. “I’ll finish up here, just be careful on your way out.”

“It was…”

“Stop.” Interrupted Marilla. “Nobody likes a conk, Maxwell.”

“Can we watch you defrost her?” asked Rafe.

“I think you’ve all seen quite enough for one day,” said Marilla.

One by one the students cautiously squeezed past Morwen on their way to lunch.

The silence didn’t last long. Laughter and roused voices echoed in the tunnel and students sniggered as they glanced over their shoulders at Cordelia who had stopped walking.

“Come on!” called Lana. “You don’t want to be around here when Morwen comes out.”

Cordelia didn’t budge. “No,” she said, shaking her head, “I have to go back.”

“Go back?!” exclaimed Nerissa.

“I have to. Morwen’s going to find out one way or another.”

“Marilla said she’d sort it,” said Masika.

“Even if she did, I’m not sure I can trust everyone else to keep that sort of secret. You go on, I’ll be fine.” Cordelia turned to head back to the chamber.

“Wait!” said Lana. “We’re coming with you.”

“We are?” said Masika.

The four girls walked the short distance back to the chamber, their hearts beating fast beneath their chests. To their surprise, Morwen was still frozen, she hadn’t moved an inch. Over her shoulder they could see Marilla sitting on the edge of a desk. Cordelia squeezed through the gap into the chamber.

“Are you alright?” asked Cordelia.

“Oh yes, I’m fine,” replied Marilla. “I’m just enjoying the peace and quiet really.”

Lana, Nerissa and Masika joined them in the chamber.

“Fascinating really, isn’t she?” said Marilla. “It’s not often we get to study one of our own in such detail.”

“Are you going to defrost her?” asked Lana.

“Eventually.”

The girls exchanged puzzled expressions.

“Eventually?” asked Cordelia.

“Yes. Eventually. I don’t see the need to rush. Do you?”

“Won’t people realise she’s missing?” asked Lana with concern.

“I’m sure they will,” smiled Marilla. “If she’s missing, Triton and Mazu will have to come back. One of them, both, whatever they do it has to be better than having Morwen in charge.”

Mischievous smiles emerged on the girls’ faces.

“I’m not sure about this,” said Lana. “The class saw what happened.”

“They’ll soon forget,” said Marilla in a matter-of-fact tone.

“I don’t think they’ll forget this in a hurry,” said Lana.

“This is my doing,” said Cordelia. “You have to let me take the blame.”

“You’re not responsible for what happens to her after this,” said Marilla. “Leave it with me. You girls have done nothing wrong. It’s best you don’t get involved.”

“We already are,” said Cordelia looking to her friends for support.

They all nodded.

“She isn’t dead, is she?” asked Nerissa.

“Heaven’s no!” exclaimed Marilla. “Just think of it as preservation. She ought to be thanking us really.”

“Can she hear us?” asked Masika curiously.

“Not a sound,” said Marilla. “She’s sleeping like a baby.”

“With her eyes open?” asked Cordelia.

“Won’t she be angry when she realises what we’ve done?” asked Lana.

“Calm down. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it but from my experience she won’t remember a thing.”

“You’ve done this before?” asked Lana.

“Once or twice.” said Marilla as though she was talking about something completely ordinary.

The girls looked at her warily.

“Don’t look so worried,” she said. “It was all part of my training. Things were a little less strict back then.”

“So where do we hide her?” asked Cordelia.

“Never you mind,” said Marilla. “The less you know the better. You can’t lie about Morwen’s whereabouts if you don’t know where she is.”

“I thought we were in this together,” said Cordelia.

“You said that, not me. Now be gone with you before I make you clear up the rest of