Page 207 of The Call of Crimson
He was quiet for several moments before his eyes lit. “Fine, but only after you try something with me first.”
“What do I have to do?” I questioned softly.
Elijah got out of bed, pulling on his boots and a cloak. “You have to trust me.”
He handed me a pair of slippers and wrapped a spare cloak around my shoulders.
“I trust you, E, but you’ve got to give me more than that.”
Tugging me out of his room and down the hall, he said, “I’m going to teach you to associate a positive emotion with what you fear.”
“Okay,” I said, my voice unsteady as we approached the servants’ exit.
Turning to me, Elijah asked, “Do you really trust me, Breyla?”
I took a deep breath before responding, “Yes.”
He gripped both of my hands in his, keeping his eyes on me as he opened the door. “You can do this.”
I nodded, never taking my eyes from his.
Walking backward, he took a step outside. Behind him, lightning struck, freezing me in place.
“You are stronger than the storm, Breyla.” His voice was reassuring and full of confidence.
“I am stronger than the storm,” I repeated back, taking a step with him.
One step at a time, we worked our way outside into the onslaught of rain until we stood ten feet from the castle door.
Thunder rolled again, and I cried out, clinging to him.
Without hesitation, Elijah pulled me into his arms, whispering, “Shhh, I’ve got you, B. You’re okay.”
Tears streamed down my face, mixing with the rain covering every inch of me.
Elijah’s hand came to rest on my hip, his other clasping with mine as he held them out to the side. “Dance with me.”
“There’s no music,” I protested.
“We don’t need music,” he responded, dragging me into the steps we had memorized.
Muscle memory took over, my body moving with his, despite the paralyzing fear. The more we danced and swayed, the more I felt my body relax.
Thunder sounded again, causing me to jump and look around in panic.
“Eyes on me, B. Ignore everything else. Just feel the dance, feel the safety of my arms, the cool touch of rain on your skin.”
My eyes found his brown ones and stayed there. We continued dancing, my eyes locked with his as we swayed.
After several more minutes, I no longer even noticed when thunder sounded. All I knew was the comfort of Eli’s arms, the joy of doing something I loved, and the feel of the rain on my skin.
Throwing my arms out to the side, my head flung back, I savored the moment.
“Never forget to dance in the rain,” Elijah whispered.
Returning to the present, I say, “You told me I was stronger than the storm.”
He smiles at me. “I also told you to never forget to dance in the rain.”
