The Elementals (12 page)

           
Terra’s lucid alarm clock read that it was four in the morning. She kicked off her blanket and climbed over Marissa. Taking her pillow and blanket she continued down to the living room to sleep on the couch. The old thing was springy and uncomfortable, but it didn't fight and threaten to overthrow her to the floor and that was enough for her.

           
However, in her way, she saw on the sofa was Bryne. He laid sprawled over it flicking his lighter to blow out the flame. Naturally, his shirt was undone, his necklace hanging and not to mention his abs showing. He may not have been the epitome of modesty, but he kept his jeans on, which was a positive and also needed in a houseful of girls. He was less bothersome than she anticipated.

           
"How long have you been here," Terra questioned.

           
Without looking at her he answered, "Hours. I don't like water's room, it feels like I'm drowning. Why are you up?"

           
"Marissa kicks,” Terra explicated. "I'll have you stay in Era's room. Hers will make you thrive. You know, air with fire."

           
He nodded, continuing to idly flick the lighter, the small flame popping to life. "I get that from her. There's certainly spark. It's funny."

           
"How so?"

           
"I thought air would be for me. We fit; I can't stay alive without her." His thumb lifted, and the flame died to show his point.

           
"You thought about that?" Terra asked.

           
"Growing up the way I did, it was nice to think of someone like me, who'd understand. The thing is, air doesn't need fire."

           
"Do I have to keep telling you? Our powers are the elements, not us."

           
He responded by settling himself to a sitting position, swinging his bare feet to the floor. "I'll let you sleep here."
           
"I'm not putting you out." Terra responded.

           
"You're not. I'm not moving. Here," he patted beside him, "curl up."

           
Hesitantly she moved. She
was
tired. "I don't know if this is appropriate."

           
He shrugged. "Who cares?"

           
Terra could have answered that her family probably cared, but she didn't, and instead did as he suggested, and curled up beside him, her knees to her chest. A loose spring dug into her side, but it was better than being kicked by Marissa.

           
"I'm apart of you," he breathed.

           
"What?"

           
"Inside of you, there is a fire. Earth is centered in fire. Without it, the world couldn't exist. I may destroy the outside of you, but inside, you live. Just like air does for me."

           
"And Marissa?"

           
"Marissa flows in you. She's apart of you. She needs you. She needs the sky to fall down. She needs the clouds, which is why she is so emotional."

           
She looked up to him, and smiled. Since they met, she had never smiled at him. "You've had many years to think about this. But you're wrong."

           
"We can agree to disagree."
Bryan
chuckled.

           
Grazing her fingertips on his knee she laid her head on his leg. "Whether you're right, or I am, we need each other."

           
"That's what scares me."

           
"It scares me too."

           
He touched her hair. It was short, and she barely felt it. “Then I guess it's a good thing, that we have each other.”

           
She yawned, her jaw opening as wide as her bones would permit. “Now that we can agree. It took a long time to find you, Bryne.”

           
“Yeah, I waited a long time for you too, Terra.” His hand rested on her head, feeling the strands of her hair, right down to her shoulder, where he brushed over her arm. “I waited too and hoped for too long.”

           
Terra’s surroundings grew foggy as she started to fall asleep.

           
It could have been her dream-like state, but she swore that he said, “the flower child has saved me.”

           
Her dreams began once again....

           
The pot of boiling water on the ground. It soaked the brown grass and the embers that smoked in recognition of the dead life that had once been ablaze. It was all dead and gone. Out of her reach to help. She wanted to right the wrong. Even if the water had been boiling it was there to be of use to the hungry. Now, none of it had purpose.

           
The elements were expended. For whatever reason it was, she felt that she was at fault. She failed.

           
Like she had in the car, she sat upright, gasping for breath. A warm hand kneaded her shoulder, to unload the tenseness. Slowly, the reality came forth. She was on the couch with Bryne. She had fallen asleep. She was safe, and the world was still right.

           
For conformation she glimpsed to the hand, to the arm, to the shoulder, neck, and face of the man helping her. Unexpected as it was, she was grateful.

           
"Bad dream." It wasn't a question but a statement. The next words were strung into an inquiry. "Isn't it Mari that sees things?"

           
Terra sighed. "Yeah, but we are humans."

           
"Humans, is a loose term."
Bryan
scoffed.

           
She shrugged, not to be deterred of her explanation. He had much to learn. "I have dreams too…nightmares actually. It happens to everyone. While Marissa sees other things, feels other things, I see my own worries." She raked her hand through her hair, pulling gently. "I'm afraid of losing my family. The danger is closer than ever. If I lose them..."

           
He stopped her. "Hey, hey, none of that. You're putting your destiny on your shoulders."

           
"Like you?" Terra replied.

           
"I was alone, I had no choice. Look, they need you in one piece. Don't fall apart now, not when we need you most. It'll be alright, Terra. We'll get through this. Together. I'll carry some of the burden…I'm used to it. You're not alone, you never were."

           
"Why are you being nice now?" Terra questioned.

           
"If I lose my life, he wins, and I won't allow that to happen. I'm going to help you win this thing. And... I want a family. I told you, I've been waiting a long time for this."

           
"I have too."

           
"Terra!"

           
Both Terra and Bryne jerked at the sudden noise made from Marissa, who stood as still as stone at the bottom of the staircase. It came to their attention of their placement. Terra was half covering Bryne, her face too close for nonchalant conversation. They promptly moved from each other, Terra spryly to her feet, straightening her robe over her fully covered pajamas.

           
"What are you doing?" Marissa's voice was squeaky, reeling from the scene she had unsuspectingly witnessed.

           
"It's not what it looks like," Terra assured her.

           
“I
saw
this, but I didn't... It had to be wrong...”

           
“It wasn't,” Bryne resolved curtly. “It wasn't anything, Mari, you kick in your sleep.”

           
“What does that have to do with anything?”

           
“Issa, please calm down. I couldn't sleep in the same bed with you, and Bryne felt suppressed in your room. Look, Era will share with me, she floats off her bed half the time anyway. He'll take her room and you'll have yours back.”

           
She heaved out a breeze. “I know you're telling the truth, but... Bryne?”

           
“He's family.”

           
“I know, Terra...” She bit her lip to keep from saying any more, surveying the situation although she had seen it in her dreams, she had to be sure that she hadn't missed anything.

           
Growing up she thought that Marissa would have made a great detective. That was if she could keep her emotions out of it, which was nearly impossible. Questioning herself and doubting was wonderful in retrospect, but crying every time something bad happened would set her to the drawing board.

           
Then Era came floating down the staircase, but unlike Marissa, she didn't stop. She didn't appear to see them. She stood in front of the fridge, observing their options for breakfast as if there was nothing out of the ordinary. Then again, Era lived in her own world most of the time. There was no need to bring it to her attention. She wouldn't have had anything to say about it, she wasn't one to care about trivial things.

           
"Eggs," Marissa required hopefully.

           
"Home," Bryne muttered.

           
Terra grinned up at him. It was getting easier and easier to do so. In truth, he did belong with them. “I’m thinking French toast.”

           
“Bacon.”

           
“Pancakes.”

           
“Cereal,” Era piped up.

           
“That's plain.”

           
“It's all we have.”

           
Bryne approached her to shoo her out of the way. “I'll cook. I can make anything out of nothing.” He dipped his head in the empty refrigerator. “But... I could be wrong. I'll have to go to the store. You girls wait here.”

           
Marissa radiated happiness. “Maybe a man around here is just what we needed.”

           
“Don't get used to it.”

           
The three sisters winked at one another.

In the driveway of her home was a gold-toned Mercedes, one that Terra instantly recognized. She rushed inside, hoping against every fiber of her being that it wasn't who she thought it was.

           
It was true. Bryne did know how to cook, and well. Marissa exclaimed that he should be a chef, but he threw that compliment away, saying that he preferred to be a firefighter. There was little to be concerned about in a field where he couldn't be burned. Other than humans finding out, that is.

           
He cooked up a fantastic meal of mashed potatoes, green beans, and a small turkey. It took him most of the day, but it was delicious. He seemed very pleased with himself at the looks of satisfaction on their faces.