The first excerpt from my new book, The Elementals. Here it is: The non-Fires filed out of the opposite changing room. Carri was wearing a pale green swimsuit with little frogs on it. It looked cute. Agni looked over at Hugo, but was surprised to see that he was staying a good two metres back from the pool’s edge, unlike the other Fires, who were perched at the very edge. The boy looked tense. The Fire teacher walked up. “Okay, everyone, I won’t make you wait any longer! Jump in!” On the other side of the room, the Water woman was saying the same thing. Everyone cheered and obeyed. Some leapt in (including Alastair), some sat down and slid gracefully into the water (including Carri), some did elegant dives (including Monroe), some bellyflopped after slipping (actually, that was just Eden) and some (including Agni) whooped and cannonballed in. Soon enough, the only person left at the poolside was Hugo, who was now slowly backing away from the lava pool. “I- I feel sick…” he said, and excused himself. The teachers exchanged confused glances, but let him leave. Meanwhile, Agni and the other Fires splashed around and dunked each other. The “teachers” stood back and watched. This, it seemed, was less of a lesson and more of a Fun Activity- but Agni wasn’t complaining. It felt so good to be surrounded by warmth again, but two things were still on his mind. One, he needed to write to his mother, and two, what was wrong with Hugo?
