Guardian of the Earth House (13 page)

“I’ll be fine.”  He repeated.  He was the most powerful Elemental in existence.  Did she really think he was going to hide from the Air House?

“I’ll just follow you if you try to leave me.”  Tessie reported.  “I’m the Quintessence.  All-powerful, Divine thingamajig extraordinaire.  You can’t stop me.”

Job stopped at the doorway and turned to frown at her.  “You’re being unreasonable.”

“Probably, but so what?”  She scowled back.  “If you won’t listen to me for your own sake, listen for mine.  I don’t want to stay here without you.”

“Why?”  He demanded in exasperation.  Job was used to everyone following his instructions without questions.

Well, everyone but the Water Phases.

And Cross.

“I don’t feel safe by myself.”  Tessie admitted in a low tone.  “I never feel safe.”  She looked down at the sandwich like it held the mysteries of the universe.  “Except when I’m with you.  You’re the only person I’ve ever felt safe with, Job.  I don’t want to stay here alone.  I want to be with you.”

Job blinked.  Once.  Twice.  “The Air Phases can come and meet with me here.”  He decided.  “Please put a bra on, though, because the thought of other men around you like that will… disturb me.”

Tessie glanced up at him and smiled.  “Deal.”

Before land and sea and the vast sky were made, nature appeared the same

throughout the whole world:
What we call, Chaos a wild and undivided mass… with

warring bits of ill-joined elements pressed together.

Ovid- “The Metamorphoses”

Kay’s house was pink and white, gingerbread covered Victorian that looked completely out of place next to the substantial, gray mass of the Air Palace.  The Air Kingdom had a constant wind whipping through it, so the buildings were almost all made of sturdy materials, like brick and stone.  The vegetation of the kingdom was also affected by the high-powered breeze, so the land was covered in mostly tall, Serengeti-like grasses.  Kay’s lawn was Astroturf green and filled with brightly colored flowers, though.  The wind didn’t touch her Plasticville dream home or garden the way it did everything else.

Kay held Khaos and the Elements couldn’t disrupt her powers.  She was immune to their energies and free of the shackles that bound the Phases.  Mostly, anyway.  Kay couldn’t jump into other kingdoms or to the human realm, anymore.  In fact, she couldn’t leave the Air Kingdom, at all.  That was the real source of her anger.  She had to escape before she went crazy.

Kay hated the Elementals.

Hated the stupid striped hair and their stupid whining about the Fall.  She hated everything about them. Kay had been worshipped as a god.  She controlled more power than anyone else in the universe.  She
should
be ruling the world.  Instead, she was stuck in the podunk Air Kingdom.  That something as glorious and mighty as Khaos should be dependent on
Parald
, of all people… gods!  It was unacceptable.  The Phases were far beneath her and Parald stood as one of the dumbest of their species.  Kay wasn’t sure if she could tolerate the indignity of it all for even another day.

She might possess incredible powers, but even Kay didn’t have the strength to resist killing him for too much longer.

“No, of course you’re correct, dear.”  She agreed sweetly into her pink and gold princess phone.  “We will absolutely have to send some emissaries to the human realm to watch Tritone’s trail.  You need to know all about your Match.  And it’s your
right
.”  Parald’s obsession with Ty gave Kay a lot of her influence over him, but it also meant she had to listen to him carry on like a teenager who didn’t have a date for Friday night.  “Gion would be best choice.  He’s under control, what with the men you have following him, now.”  She smirked.  “Send him as an observer tomorrow.  I’m sure he’d be eager for the trip.”

Kingu made a face.  His animalistic features creased into lines of displeasure and doubt.  “Gion is never under control, Mother.  Sending him into the human realm to watch Ty…”

Kay waved that aside with one dainty gloved hand.  Gion was strong for an Elemental, but Elementals were dust motes compared to her.  “Yes, Parald.  I know you will.  You just need to be patient.  If Gion doesn’t come through, then there are other ways.  When we have the other Tablets, we can simply
take
Tritone for you, no matter where she is.  For now, we wait and plan for your future.  Trust me.”  Kay smiled into the phone when Parald reluctantly settled down.  “Okay, then.  I’ll see you at supper, dear.”  She hung up the gilded phone, looked over at her son, and said in the exact tone a 1950’s sitcom mom would have used, “What a fucking idiot.”

Kingu nodded in agreement.  “How can he possibly think he’s ever getting those Tablets?  If that asshole was in charge of the universe, I’d have to hang myself.”  His red gaze gleamed with something almost like smugness.  “And I thought you said that he’d be gone by now.  That Gion would kill him.  Has something gone
wrong
with that plan?”

Kay’s eyes narrowed.  “Nothing
ever
goes wrong with my plans.”  She assured him softly.  “You of all people should know that.”

“Of course, mother.”

Kay wasn’t mollified by his quick agreement.  Kingu knew better than to openly disobey, but she sometimes spotted a satisfied glint in his expression when things went wrong for her and then she’d make him pay for it.  Sometimes she didn’t even wait to see that glint before she punished him.  When Kay needed to take her frustration out on someone, Kingu was always the handiest target.  Right now, she had bigger concerns, though.

Kay sighed in ladylike dismay at the state of the world in general.  “Anyway, I don’t know
why
Gion doesn’t just finish Parald off.  He detests King Stupidpants.  Anyone can see it.  I thought that he’d do us all a favor and just decapitate Parald two years ago.  Gion’s been a major disappointment to me.”

“Gion isn’t predictable, mother.  He’s smarter than most of their kind and he already senses that something’s not right.  Even if you taunt him into killing Parald, then we’d just have to put up with
Gion
being in charge of this whole House and he won’t be as easy to control.  I don’t think…”

Kay cut him off.  “Did I
ask
you what you think?”  She didn’t like to be questioned, even by her own son.  “Would I
ever
need to know what a big dumb
something
like you
thinks,
Kingu?”

“No, Mother.”

“Exactly right.”  She smiled at his flat tone.  “Come along with mommy, then. I’m not finished with you.”

“Yes, Mother.”  Kingu obediently followed her from the room.  Surrounded by the delicate, curvy French Provincial furniture of Kay’s office, he looked more like an ungainly mammoth than ever.  His unattractiveness only made him more dependent on her.  Kay needed Kingu for his unquestioned obedience, not his profile.

“I’m sorry.”  He murmured.  He knew what happened when he didn’t instantly apologize.

“That’s alright, dear.”  Kay called everyone “dear.”  It was automatic and meaningless.  She stood up and headed back over to the work table.  She’d been trying to find Tessie, when Parald called and interrupted her.  That fool was always causing her problems.  Kay tied a white lace apron around the waistline of her Alice in Wonderland
blue dress and gestured for Kingu to come closer.  “Let’s just continue with this, shall we?”

Kingu moved so he was next to her and extended a wrist.

Kay petted the slightly scaly skin of his hand for a second and then pulled out the knife.  Kingu didn’t even flinch as the blade cut deep into his flesh.  “Do you think this will really work?”

“No.”  Kay shrugged and positioned a Tupperware bowl under his hand to catch the flowing blood.  “I came across the ritual in some new age chatroom and I thought we might as well try it.  I’m sure it’s just juvenile, human rubbish, though.”

If Kingu was annoyed about giving blood for something meaningless, he didn’t show it.  He wouldn’t dare.  “Why does it have to be my blood?”

“Well, it has to be part of Tessie.  You and I are her only blood relatives, so it has to be you.  I’m certainly not going to cut
myself
open.”  Kay chuckled at the very idea and began tossing more ingredients into the bowl.  Tupperware really was a wonder.

Kingu watched impassively as his blood mixed with the other substances and created a small whirlpool effect.  Minutes ticked by.  “Do you see anything, yet?”

“No.”  Kay tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and tilted her head considering.  “Maybe if we used
more
blood, it would work.”  She picked up the knife again and slashed another gash into her son’s arm.  “This is all Tessie’s fault.  Look what she’s making me do to my own little boy.”  Kay ran a hand over Kingu’s dark hair, enjoying his slight flinch at her touch.  “We’ll find her and make her open the Tablets for us.  Then…”

Kay stopped abruptly.  Something shifted in the bowl and she forgot all about “comforting” her son.  “Did you see that?”  Her violet blue eyes widened in wonder and delight.  “Did you see that?!”  She gave a happy giggle and used Kingu’s wounded arm for support as she jumped up and down.  “The ridiculous humans are good for something more than kindling, after all.  It worked!”

Kingu leaned forward so he could peer into the swirling liquid.  “I don’t see anything.”

Kay smiled beautifully.  Her teeth shone with a prefect, prom queen sparkle.  “That’s because you’re just not strong enough to comprehend all that I can behold, Kingu.”  She made sure of that.

“Yes, Mother.”  Kingu agreed automatically.  “So, what do you behold?  Is it Tessie?”

“It’s better.  I can recognize Tessie’s weakness, now.”  Kay clapped her hands together in glee.  “Her energy’s connected to another.  I can feel them.”

“Like the Phases do with their Matches? Tessie has a Match?”  Kingu’s red eyes sparked with something that looked disgustingly like hope.  “Is that even possible?  You always said that Divine beings are above…”

“Tessie’s not Divine.”  Kay snapped.  Her happy mood instantly downshifted at the suggestion that her sister was in any way her equal.  “
I
am Divine.  She is simply the Keeper of the Quintessence.  Her only purpose is to open the Tablets and allow me to fulfill my destiny.” Kay’s mouth curved, again.  “And now, she will.  We have something to use against her.”

“The man?”  Kingu guessed.  “You just killed the last male she wanted.  The stupid knight with the woman’s name.  Andrea or…”  He frowned, trying to remember it.  “Antoine?”

“Who cares?  He was a nobody.  This one,” Kay pointed at the bowl, “this one is really hers, though.  He’s
important
.  If we threaten him, Tessie will give us whatever we want.  I’m sure of it.  She’s always been easily broken.”

“So, what will you do to get to this man away from her, then?  Kidnap him?”

“Ick.  No, dear.  Kidnapping is so excessive.”  Kay gave a slight “why can’t everyone have my level of good taste?” shake of her head.  “We don’t need to resort to that sort of silliness.”  She reached behind her to untie her apron.  “No, I think I have a better idea.  Let’s go get the Health Tablet and try an experiment.  I think it would be poetic if we had the Tablets themselves help us beat Tessie, once and for all.”

Your Honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings…. I said then, and I say now,

that while there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and

while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.

Eugene Debs- Statement to the Court upon being convicted of violating the Sedition Act

The most interesting room in Job’s model home of a home was the nursery.

The walls were covered in a faded blue and red paper with toy soldiers and trumpets.  Shelves were filled with antique toys and every single children’s book ever printed.  Someone had broken free of the tasteful, earth-toned shackles that imprisoned the rest of the palace and tried to make this one spot special.

At first, Tessie thought that it must’ve been Job’s room as a little boy.  Two things made that theory sorta doubtful, though.  First, Job hadn’t been a little boy in over a thousand years and even the Elementals couldn’t have had so much cool stuff available back then.  Tessie would have remembered toy drum sets.  And secondly, this room looked like no one had ever lived in it.

Rooms had memories, just like everything else.  You could tell when someplace had been loved.  The lingering laughter and played-in damage that Tessie would have expected from a child’s room was absent.  The room stood empty and perfect.

That made Tessie sad.

Her fingers trailed along the spines of the fairytales lining the bookcases.

Ismena
.

Tessie pulled it free and flipped through the watercolor illustrations.  Parson had given her a copy of that one.  The most famous Elemental bedtime story.  Her mouth curved and she sat down in the miniature red rocking chair.

She was at the part where Ismena defeated the bad guy when she felt Job’s presence.  Tessie glanced up and saw him in the doorway.  “Hey, honey.  Done welcoming the newbies?”

“I’ve set them up in new homes, yes.”  He looked around the nursery as if he barely recognized it.  “I didn’t expect to find you in here.”

“Whose room is this?  It’s adorable.”  Tessie closed the book.  Job couldn’t have ever had a child.  Not without a Match.  “Did you have a kid living here, once?”

“No.  I just got it ready in case my nephew ever visited. When he was younger, I had hoped that we could have a relationship, but…”  Job trailed off and shrugged.  “It’s no one’s room.”

“He never came?”

“His mother wouldn’t allow that.  My sister, Senti, and I weren’t close.”  Job put his hands behind his back.  “Cross doesn’t like me much, either.  Although, since he’s Matched with Nia, I
have
noticed…”

Tessie cut him off.  “What do you mean he doesn’t like you?”  She could see a tightness to Job’s jaw and hear a stiff note in his voice.  He loved his nephew and the kid’s attitude clearly hurt his feelings.  Tessie felt her temper sparking.  “Why wouldn’t he like you?”  How could anyone not like Job?  Was this Cross guy a moron?

“I’m not an easy man to get close to.”  Job admitted as if he saw her growing anger and felt the need to defend his idiot nephew.  “I make people uncomfortable.”

“No, you don’t.”  Tessie was genuinely stunned that Job could say such a thing.

Job frowned ever so slightly.  “Of course, I do.  Earth Kings don’t promote feelings of companionship.”

Tessie couldn’t imagine how he could believe that.  She’d never met anyone more sweet and selfless than Job.  He gave a hundred and ten percent and asked for nothing in return.  He was the best man she’d ever known.  “Job, for God’s sake, you’re taking in the
Air Phases
.  No one else would dream of doing something so noble.

“That wasn’t nobility. There are a lot of reasons for amnesty.”  He began to helpfully list them for her.  “It will weaken Parald’s forces.  Also, it will ensure that the world survives if the Reprisal ever gets into the Air Kingdom, because at least some Air Phases will escape.  And it’s the right thing to do.  They’re innocent and they don’t…”  He hesitated.

She nodded encouragingly.  “Go ahead.  All of that makes sense to me.”

“It
does
make sense.  I know.  I thought it all out.  I have an entire speech.”  Job focused on a spot two feet to the left of her.  “Do you want to hear the
real
reason I want them to have amnesty?”

Tessie frowned.  “The real reason?”

“Cross.  I did it for my nephew.”  Job cleared his throat.  “I did it because I remember his stepfather, Vice, the last Shadow King.  I did it because I look back and I see that I made a huge mistake in letting that bastard near my nephew.  I didn’t know.   Or I didn’t
want
to know what a terrible, cruel ruler he was.  And innocent people suffered.”

“Job…”

“No.  It’s the truth.  I left Cross there at the mercy of a sadistic bastard and I can’t do that, again.  I think of all the Crosses left abandoned with Parald and I can’t have that happen for a second time.  When Cross Phazed with Nia, I thought about all the wasted years and I knew I had to do something.”  Job met her eyes.  “So, really, I did this for
myself
.  Not because of sacrifice or honor, but because I don’t want to make the same mistakes, again.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that.  Jeez!  How much pressure do you put on yourself?  Not only do you have to do all this incredible stuff, you have to do it for specific reasons or it’s not worthy?”

“Earth Kings have strict standards of behavior.”

Tessie snorted.  “So, is
everything
your responsibility, then?”

He seemed to think that over.  “Most things.  Yes.”

“That’s crazy.”

“No, it’s not.  It’s why I have to make things up with Cross.  I work very hard to make amends to him, but I have a difficult time reaching the boy.”

Tessie was already predisposed to dislike Cross.  Anyone who didn’t appreciate Job pissed her off big time.  “If he doesn’t see how great you are, then it’s his loss.”

Job slanted her a quick glance.  “You don’t like me, either.  You said so.”

“No, I didn’t!”

“Yes, you did.  Last night, when you first arrived.”

Tessie rolled her eyes.  “In your study?  Oh, come
on!
  We’re so passed that.”

“We are?”

“Job, you’ve seen me topless.  That doesn’t happen unless I like you
a lot
.  I don’t care how nifty your energy is.”

Something soft and warm lit his eyes.  “I like you, too.”  Job said, gravely.  “If I don’t like a woman, I don’t allow her sit on my lap.”  He paused.  “At least, I don’t think that I do.  Truthfully, no one except you has ever tried, so my moral stance has yet to be tested.”

“Discriminating.”

“Yes, I’ve broken many hearts.”  Job moved further into the room, drawing closer to her.

Tessie got to her feet so she could meet him halfway.  “So, I guess it’s your
responsibility
that I want to strip your clothes off, huh?”

“That’s the fake Phazing energy.  Not me”

“No, honey.  I think it’s just you.”  Tessie knew what it was to be attracted to a man.  This was more.  The caring feelings were taking over her entire heart.  “When do you get off work?”

His mouth twitched.  “I’m expecting one more Air Phase today, and then we can do something else.”

“Like what?  Almost sex, again?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say
no
to that, obviously.  But, I also just thought we could… do something.”

Tessie beamed.  “Like a date?”

“A date?” Job blinked.  “Well, I suppose…”

“I would love that, Job!”  Excitement filled her.  “Really, love it.”

Another blink.  “You would?”

“Yeah!”  No one had ever asked Tessie on a date before.  Well, no one who knew that she was really a super-freak.  No one like Job.  “Where do you want to go?  The movies?”

“Ummm… yes?”  He seemed baffled by what had happened, as if he hadn’t expected her to agree.  “I’d rather you not leave the Earth Kingdom, but we could watch a movie on TV.”

“Do you have popcorn?”

“If I don’t, I’ll get you some.”  He promised.

“Can I pick the movie?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.  Great.  What time?”

Job checked his watch.  “Five?”

Tessie bounced over to give him a quick kiss.  “Excellent!  You go back to slaving in your office.  I’m unemployed now, so I can spend the afternoon getting pretty for you.”  She started to slip passed him towards the door.

Job’s hand stopped her.  He grabbed her wrist, his palm so much larger and rougher than any guy in a suit should have.  Tessie found herself drawn back against his body.

He just watched her intently, not saying anything for beat.  “You’re already pretty.”  He finally murmured.  His perfect voice washed over her and Tessie’s heartbeat sped up.  In Job-ese, that was poetry.  For a guy who didn’t know how to let people close, he was really trying with her.

Tessie smiled, dazzled by him.  “Thank you.”  She whispered.

Job’s mouth curved and then he was leaning down to press his lips against hers.  The kiss was softer this time, not so hurried, and it had Tessie moaning.  “Job.”  She shifted closer to him, her free arm coming up to wind around his neck.  “Honey, this is all you.”

“Tess, it’s not.  It’s you.”  Job released her hand, so he could cup her face.  “You’re so beautiful and alive.  I can’t believe that…”

A surge of energy went through the palace.

Someone had just jumped into the Earth Kingdom.

“Damn it.”  Tessie pouted.  She’d been having a real nice time.  “I think you got company, hon.”

“It’s the last Air Phase.” 

“Isn’t that a movie?”

“I have no idea.”  He lowered his head and gave her another kiss.  “We can pick this up at five, right?”

Tessie laughed.  “Only you would want to schedule our make out sessions.  If you’re late, I’m docking you something.”

Job actually smiled at that.  “I
really
like you.”

*****

“Not all the Air Phases are
evil.”  Bryony, of the Air House looked over at Job.  “It would be easier for everyone if we were, but we’ve had to endure this, too.”

Job certainly couldn’t argue with that.

He watched as Bryony paced around his office.  Unlike most of the blonde, elegant Air Phases, Bree’s hair was a mass of wild, chestnut brown curls.  Her small, painfully thin body radiated tension.  “The Air Phases need help.”  She continued.  “We suffered in the Fall. 
I
suffered in the Fall.  My parents and my sisters are
gone
.  And now the rest of the universe wants to punish
me
for it.  I’m just a historian!  I had nothing to do with it.”

“That’s why I’ve enacted amnesty.”  Job assured her.  “Because, I know that you’re Parald’s victims, just like the other Phases.”

Bryony shook her head so hard that her hair swung.  “But, he still
wins
.  Don’t you see?  He still has the kingdom and the power.  I just can’t
stand
that he’s still alive and my family’s dead.”

Most people felt that way.

Gion didn’t want any more Phases to die fighting each other.  The universe couldn’t withstand more deaths.  But, sooner or later, someone would get past Parald’s barriers, and guards, and power… and they’d kill him.

Job certainly wouldn’t miss the son-of-a-bitch.

But, he also knew that Parald alone wasn’t the problem.  “Even if Parald is gone, Saxon or Isaacs or Gion would just step up and take his place.  And when
they
inevitably died, it would just be someone else.  All of your rulers…”

“Suck.”  Bryony finished for him.  “Yeah, I noticed that, too.”

The Air Kingdom bred its people to be arrogant, hypercompetitive, and ruthless.  From the cradle, seeds were planted to ensure that the Air Phases grew up self-important and without empathy.

They’d never had a worthy leader.

The former king, Seneca, certainly hadn’t been a man of great genius.  In fact, Job considered him a colossally shortsighted idiot.  Seneca’s ambition had always been outpaced by his staggering lack of talent.  For example, he’d been smart enough to know that Gion was a threat to his own power, but too dumb to realize that Gion wouldn’t appreciate any half-hearted efforts to kill him.

If you wanted to kill Gion, you’d better get it right the first time.

And Seneca had completely missed the danger that Parald posed. 
That
little oversight had gotten his head detached from his body and not many people had even mourned his passing.  In retrospect, though, they’d all been better off with Seneca in charge of the House.