Exile

In
the

Water
Kingdom

The
Elemental Phases

Book
Three

Cassandra
Gannon

Text
copyright © 2012 Cassandra Gannon

Cover Image © 2012 Cassandra Gannon

All
Rights Reserved

Published
by Star Turtle Publishing

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Also by Cassandra Gannon

The Elemental Phases Series

Warrior from the Shadowland

Guardian of the Earth House

Exile in the Water Kingdom

Treasure of the Fire Kingdom

Queen of the Magnetland

Magic of the Wood House

Coming Soon:  Destiny of the
Time House

A Kinda Fairytale Series

Wicked Ugly Bad

Beast in Shining Armor

Coming Soon:  Happily Ever
Witch

Other Books

Not Another Vampire Book

Love in the Time of Zombies

Vampire Charming

Cowboy from the Future

Once Upon a Caveman

If you enjoy Cassandra’s books, you may
also enjoy books by her sister, Elizabeth Gannon:

The Consortium of Chaos series

Yesterday’s Heroes

The Son of Sun and Sand

The Guy Your Friends Warned You About

Electrical Hazard

The Only Fish in the Sea

Other Books

The Snow Queen

Travels with a Fairytale Monster

For
Mom-Mom,

Who
coached me to the fourth grade jacks championship,

Who
made me soup and read me Heidi when I was sick,

And
who understood the importance of finding the perfect nail polish.

Hopefully,
you’d like this book… even with the swearing.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Epilogue

Prologue

Ye
unbeliever!  Learn a wiser part,

Distrust your erring
senses, and search your heart

Jeanne
Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon-
‘The Nativity’

Chaos.

The
world had fallen into chaos around him.

Gion,
of the Air House fought his way through the main gallery of the Air Palace,
stepping over a dead body without even noticing its wide, staring eyes.  There
were too many dead bodies for him to process just one.  In less than thirty-six
hours, Gion’s world had been reduced to nothing but sickness, and war, and the
paralyzing knowledge that he stood at the edge of oblivion.

Parald
had doomed them all.

An
Electricity Phase, his face bright with fever and his eyes filled with rage,
came at Gion with a broad sword.  It swung out, the man’s fury and desperation
giving him strength.  Gion ducked sideways as the blade swished past his head.
He felt the vibration of it in the air.  The sword missed him by half an inch
and imbedded itself in the wall.

“The
Air House murdered my family!”  The anonymous Electricity Phase screamed.  “My
Match and children are dead!”  He tried to pry the blade free for another go at
Gion’s throat.  “I will fucking kill you!”

“Yeah.
I get that a lot.”  Gion agreed and raised his solid black sword.  The blade
sailed out, more from instinct than any real plan, and took off the other man’s
head in one clean slice.

Gion
watched his unknown adversary fall to the stone floor and firmed his jaw.  The
man had been dying, anyway; sick from the pestilence that Parald had unleashed
into world.

This
plague without a name had struck the Phases the day before with unstoppable,
unpredictable force.  It spread like ripples in a pond, one person after
another falling ill and dying.  The bodies grew hot with fevers, their bodies
shook with chills.  Their skin took on a ghastly, shriveled grayness, like they
were being sucked dry from the inside out.  The sick coughed and coughed, until
finally sinking into a deep coma-like sleep that they’d never awake from.  Most
of the patients felt only relief when they reached that stage.

Gion
had undoubtedly done the Electricity Phase a favor.  The decapitation had been
fast and painless, while wasting away from the plague left Phases shrunken
shells of their former selves.  The man died honorably, fighting for his
family.

If
someone had to die, they should always die fighting for something they believed
in.

Gion
had searched for that all his life.

A
vision.

Something
to truly believe in.

In
the five hundred sixty years he’d been alive, Gion had only ever found one
clear vision, though.  Only one person, place or thing ever gave him hope and
let him see past beyond the invisible bars of his fate.  She meant everything
to him.  Now, at the end of the all things, he had to somehow keep her safe.

First,
he had to reach her, though.

Gion
pushed his way through the battle raging around him.  The exactingly formal
interior of the Air Palace had been obliterated under the solid mass of
fighting and death.  Blood coated the elegant Oriental carpets.  The antique
furniture lay in splintered pieces.  The priceless artwork had been ripped from
the walls.  All the ornate trappings of the palace lay in ruins.

Just
like the rest of the Air House.

Gion
plowed his fist into a Weather Phase’s larynx and then used his powers to slam
a Dust Phase into the wall.  Gion might have even struck down an Air Phase or
two as he fought towards his goal.  He didn’t care who had to die, he would get
to those fucking stairs.

The
Air House was under attack from the rest of the Elemental realm.

Since,
the beginning of time, the Elemental Phases had held together the
interconnected processes of nature.  They controlled everything from Fire, to
Earth, to Weather.  Each House depended on the others and each Phase held a bit
of the whole.  They supported the very pillars of life.  Without them the
entire world would topple into nothingness.

The
universe simply couldn’t exist without the Elemental Houses.

But,
now they were falling, poisoned by an invisible killer.  A germ, of all
things.  Set loose as revenge against the Water House, this plague was already
spreading too fast to stop.  It was merciless, killing the guilty and innocent
alike.  And there was absolutely no way to stop it.  In thirty-six hours, it
had already killed hundreds and thousands more were sick.

Gion
still felt healthy.  So did a handful of others.  That gave people hope.  Maybe
a genetic immunity would kick in.  Maybe some of the Phases would be saved from
the plague.  Even if Gion wasn’t one of them in the end, he hoped that some
would be spared.  If the illness continued its wild burn through the Elementals
ranks, the Phases would be extinct in a matter of days.

And
they’d drag the rest of the creation down with them.

Total
blackout.

Another
Phase attacked him and Gion didn’t even take the time to check the man’s House
designation before he lopped his head off.

Every
Elemental was born with a colored streak at their temple.  The different shades
designated the different Houses.  The Air House’s color was yellowish gold and
it sliced through Gion’s dark hair, marking him as an enemy of the free world.

The
severed head rolled slightly, hitting the wall, the mouth sagging open in an
expression of accusation and horror.  Gion grabbed the man’s sword and stabbed
into the midsection of a Water Phase as he passed.  Water Phases had turquoise
blue at their temple.  Gion deliberately ensured that this attack wasn’t a
death blow.  He didn’t like killing Water Phases, even ones who’d soon die from
the plague.  Truthfully, he didn’t relishing any of these deaths because the
invaders were right.

The
Air House was to blame.

Or,
more specifically, the blame fell on Parald, the Air House’s false king.  His
vengeance against the Council of All Houses and against Tritone, of the Water
House would end the world.  Parald’s germ warfare could exterminate everything
in every realm.

Gion
had always hated that asshole.

Parald
wanted Tritone for his queen.  When she’d denied him, Parald’s megalomania
festered into mass murder.  Ty renounced Parald to the entire Elemental world,
refusing the Match.  Dooming them both to be alone for eternity, rather than
join with him.  Then, her family had whisked her away, keeping Ty safe from
Parald’s clutches in her beautiful homeland of graceful waterfalls and crystal clear
pools.  Enraged that Ty was beyond his reach, Parald called on the primordial
Khaos to strike out at his enemies.  One tiny microbe slipped past the Water
House’s barriers and, within hours, the deaths had begun.

Except
this plague wouldn’t be satisfied until it had consumed them all.  The deaths
were speeding up, like a freight train building momentum as it roared towards
its final destination.

Parald
had finally confessed about the plague in a panicked, rambling speech to Gion that
went on for far too long.  By that time, everyone already suspected who was
responsible and it was too late.  Parald had begged Gion for help.  He’d
ordered it.  He’d denied his own guilt.  He’d blamed Ty and Kay and Job.  He’d
cried and screamed and generally made an ass of himself.

Then,
the invasion had begun.

Scenes
played out around Gion as he wrestled his way through the fray.  Limbs hacked
off.  Blood spewed forth, coating the floor.  Bodies stepped on as Phases fought
to destroy one another.

Alder,
of the Fire House fought three Air Phases at once, his blade swinging around
like a baton.

Europa,
of the Sound House was shoved backwards by her opponent and hit the ground.
She swept out her sword, loping off the Air Phase’s leg at the knee and then slicing
the man’s throat as he fell.

Saxon,
of the Air House decapitated a Magnet Phase and then kicked the body hard
enough to send the corpse flying into an Energy Phase.  At which point, Saxon
killed that guy, too.

Suddenly,
a Gravity Phase attacked Gion.  His sword rose, ready to chop off Gion’s head,
and Gion didn’t hesitate.  Air slammed out like a cannon.

Gion
could control Air.  Most Elementals wouldn’t use their Element to inflict
damage on one another.  It took a lot of power and the vast majority of Phases
just weren’t strong enough.  Also, it wasn’t an honorable way to fight; the
equivalent of challenging someone to a fencing match and then shooting them
before the first “en guard!”

But,
Gion was incredibly powerful and he’d never been mistaken for an honorable sort
of guy.  Cheater, liar, moral reprobate… Whatever.  Just so he won.  Gion drove
his energy straight through the guy’s midsection, leaving a hole the size of a
bowling ball.

Nobody
could recover from a wound like that.

Another
corpse for the pyre.

Usually,
Phases couldn’t travel into other Houses’ territory without permission.  But,
the confusion created by the pestilence and the deaths of so many Phases meant
that barriers were weak.  Vulnerable to attack.  And so many people
wanted to attack the Air House for what Parald had done.  As the stacks of
bodies grew larger, hundreds of sick and dying focused their attention on
revenge.

From
the corner of his eye, Gion saw a Smoke Phase wrench a woman around by her
hair.  Gion vaguely processed that the victim was an Air Phase.  Amarna, the
niece of the old Air King, Seneca.  The old, dead Air King, thanks to
Gion and Parald’s successful usurpation plot the year before.

Shit.

Gion
was nobody’s hero and, since at least five or six of the people who’d attacked
him today had been women, he certainly wasn’t working off of some “save the
damsel in distress” ego trip.  In fact, his instincts told him to press onward
and ignore the Smoke Phase’s attack.  It didn’t concern him.  Urgency pounded
through Gion, insisting that he get the hell out of there and find Ty.

Except,
Amarna was about to die and the girl didn’t deserve that.  This plague had
nothing to do with her.  Most Air Phases were victims, too.  Victims of Parald,
since they were dying of the Fall, and victims of other Elementals, since they
were now under siege.  Amarna shouldn’t suffer for the mistakes of others.

Besides,
the Smoke Phases annoyed the hell out of Gion.

He
took quick detour, twirling his sword around in his hand as he shoved his way
towards Amarna.  The Smoke Phase had his back to Gion, Amarna’s blonde hair
fisted in one of his palms as he tore at her clothing with the other.  Amarna
attempted to wrestle free, her body turning so she faced Gion.  She saw him
coming over the Smoke Phase’s shoulder.  Gion watched her pale blue eyes widen
in an, “Oh great, is he going to try and kill me, now, too?” sort of expression.

His
reputation really did precede him.

“Duck.”
Gion ordered flatly.  He wasn’t particularly surprised when she listened and
instantly crouched down even though it must’ve wrenched at the roots of her
hair.  The girl had always been the brains in her family.

The
Smoke Phase never had the chance to see Gion, at all.

One
of the best parts of being a conscienceless bastard was not caring too much
about playing fair.  For instance, Gion didn’t even blink when he decapitated
the Smoke Phase from behind.  Giving the other guy a sporting chance didn’t
exactly rank high on his list of priories.  Anyone who whined about the ethics
of killing enemies while their backs were turned had never really had an
enemy.

Amarna
cringed as the Smoke Phase’s blood sprayed across her.  The weight of his body
pulled her to the ground, her long hair tangled around the corpse.  She cried
out and tried to extricate herself before she was trampled by the battling
throng around her.  “Gion!”

Shit.

He
didn’t have time for this.

Gion
used his sword to quickly cut her hair free, hacking the strands away from the
Smoke Phase’s carcass.  “Move.”  He seized Amarna by the arm and yanked her to
her feet.  “Just get the hell out of here.”  He grabbed the Smoke Phase’s
fallen sword and shoved the hilt into her hand.  The girl looked like she was
in a fog.  “Focus!”  He gave Amarna a shake and she finally seemed to hear him.

Stricken
blue eyes met his.  “What?”

“Anybody
gets too close, take off their head, alright?  I don’t care what House they’re
from.”  Aside from this plague, decapitation was the surest way to kill an
Elemental.

Amarna
looked down at the sword as if she had no idea how it had appeared in her palm.
“Are you crazy?  I don’t know how to use this!”

“It’s
fucking sharp.”  Gion snapped.  “It cuts things.  I’m fairly sure
you can figure out how it works.”

Gion
didn’t wait for Amarna to react to that pronouncement.  His sense of
desperation grew stronger.  He had to get to Ty.

Swords
and combat surrounded him as Gion headed upstairs.  Intruders, fighting for
what they’d lost, clashed with any Air Phase they saw.  The entire palace was
filled with the sounds of horrible conflict and dying.  Screaming, metal
clanging, cursing, and the relentless coughing that signaled the plague.

Gion
didn’t have time to kill any more Phases.  He didn’t even want to.  Blood and
gore clung to the edges of his cape as he took the steps two at a time.

“Gion!”
He heard someone shouting his name and instinctively looked back over his
shoulder.

Isaacs,
one of Parald’s top soldiers, second only to Gion, pushed aside a dead man.  He
scowled at Gion.  Like most Air Phases, Isaacs sported blond hair and
aristocratic features.

Gion’s
own hair was licorice black and fell past his shoulders.  He’d always been a
little bit different than the rest of the Air House.

Of
course, Isaacs was nobody’s poster-child for blending in, either.  Blood
smeared his face, giving him the look of some demonic savage, which actually
wasn’t far off.  Isaacs had been born a mean son-of-a-bitch.  He just usually
hid it behind an affable, toothpaste ad smile.  Now, the maniacal grin had been
replaced with grim focus.  “Where the hell are you going, Gion?!  We’re at
war!”

“It’s
not my war.”  Gion snapped and kept climbing upward.  Damn if he’d ever
go to war for Parald’s idiocy.  Especially, not when Parald himself was locked
up in his chambers, hiding from the conflict.  Gion had far more important
things to focus on.

Ty
needed him.

She
wasn’t sick.  He’d know, somehow, if the plague had struck her.  But, something
was very, very wrong.

He
could feel it.

Gion
had always known that the universe would end bloody.  There was really no other
way for the curtain to close, but on a scene of misery and suffering.  And, for
himself, Gion could accept that.

He
didn’t want to die.  Why he cared he wasn’t entirely certain, but he’d
put a lot of effort into staying alive.  Still, Gion could accept a death like
this, with war and plague falling like a shroud across the face of the evil
world.

He
was not a good man.

Arrogant,
cynical, and apathetic to the point of cruelty, Gion had long suspected that
his death would come in some painful and probably entirely justified way.
Gion’s father had been a part of the Wood House, so he’d been indoctrinated in
religious conviction since childhood.  Not zealotry, but just a deep certainty
in the existence of God, or Gaia, or what term you wanted to use for the
ultimate source of Good.

Gion
always retained that faith.  More than even he’d realized.  Because, here at
the dawn of the dystopia, he knew there could only be two camps: the righteous
and the damned.  And he also knew what side of the battle he’d be cast on.
When the final judgment came down, Gion, of the Air House would burn with the
other villains of the world.

Gion
was a murderer.

Certainly,
it didn’t thrill him, but Gion had skated on the edge of disaster since he was
a boy.  The odds of a happily-ever-after had always been stacked against him,
anyway.  His own choices had seen to that and he could accept it.

But
he could never accept innocents suffering for the sins of the wicked.

Ty,
of the Water House was an innocent and, right now, she needed him.

Unless
the plague got him first, Gion’s fascination with that woman would one day get
him killed.  Ty would never be his, so the obsession registered high on the
hopeless, pathetic, and crazy scales.  But, Gion could accept that, too.
Because, Ty was the only thing in his life worth dying for.  The only thing
he’d ever believed in.

“Gion!”
Isaacs bellowed, again.  “It fucking is your war, you bastard!  Do you
want the Air House to fall?”

“The
plague made us all fall.”  Gion roared back.  “It is the fall!”

He
really didn’t think about the words before he shouted them, which was unusual.
Gion normally considered every sentence he uttered.  He certainly never
expected his retort to become the name of the entire epidemic.  Later,
he could never be sure how anyone else in the battle even heard his shout or
why it had caught on so quickly, but the nameless plague had its official
moniker: the Fall.

Someone
tackled Gion from behind, driving him to his knees and sending him sliding
backwards down several steps.  Gion whipped his sword around, aiming for his
attacker’s head and encountering another blade.  The other guy was fast.
Sparks flew out as their swords slammed against each other.

Gion’s
icy blue gaze flashed up to his opponent as he scrambled to his feet.

Uriel,
of the Wood House glared back at him.  “What have you done?”  Uriel demanded.
His brown eyes flashed.  Dirt and blood covered the mahogany streak at the
temple of his military style crew cut.  “What the hell have you done to
us?”

“I
don’t want to hurt you, Uriel.”  Gion warned.  “Just back off.”  Uriel’s
grandmother had been Gion’s fourth cousin.  Gion wasn’t sure how that made them
related, but he didn’t relish the idea of killing him.  Uriel, like most Wood
Phases, was honorable and righteous; committed to fighting the good fight and
following the rules of both the Elementals and Gaia.  Wood Phases might have
been the best soldiers in the Elemental realm, but they were essentially
innocents.

“‘Back
off’?!”  Uriel echoed furiously.  Their swords spun together in a quick
successions of thrusts and parries.  Uriel took the offensive, driving Gion up
several steps.  “Vonner is dead because of this disease!  My baby brother is
dead because of you!”

Shit.

Vonner
had been a child.  Barely twenty years old, Vonner was the youngest Wood Phase
and the apple of everyone’s eye.  Even Gion felt a pang of sorrow at the news and
he’d barely known the kid.

“I
never hurt that boy.”  Gion deflected a sword strike and resisted the urge to
stab his distant cousin, or whatever Uriel’s DNA made him, right through his
thick skull.  “I’d never hurt any child.”

At
least, not deliberately.

Not
that the distinction mattered.

“This
disease is killing everyone.”  Uriel took another swing and nearly
detached Gion’s left ear.  “You’re fucking standing with murderers and you want
me to just back off?!”

Murderer.

The
truth about what he was echoed in Gion’s mind.

He
didn’t have a choice about where he stood, though.  Phases couldn’t just switch
Houses on a whim.  Gion had been born an Air Phase.  That was the only Element
he controlled and the only place he’d be welcomed as an adult.  When the Council
Banished Parald for attacking Ty and Job, they’d consigned all the Air Phases
to hell.  Most other Houses refused to allow any Air Phase in and no one
would ever open their door for Gion.

He
was too dangerous.

Another
massive blow arced out.  This time, Uriel actually made contact.  Gion felt the
pain of it sing up his arm as the blade cut deep into his flesh.  Gion
staggered to the side and gave up trying to protect Uriel.  It had been a
stupid impulse, anyway.  God, only knew why he’d bothered.

Gion
drew on his power, again; something that would severely piss off Uriel, jus
in bello stickler that he was.  Blasting out his energy, Gion used it like
a battering ram.  Not killing Uriel, but shoving him away hard enough to send
the younger Phase flying across the room.  Gion ignored Uriel’s outraged
bellows and continued his race up the stairs.

He
had to jump to the Water Kingdom and, to do that, he needed a clear space and
about three seconds of time where no one was trying to kill him.  Not so very
easy to achieve down in the midst of battle.  He had to get to his room and…

From
out of nowhere he heard Ty’s voice.  Suddenly and without warning, it filled
his head with frantic cries.

“Help!
Help!  Help!  Help!  Help!”

Gion
froze, panic eating through him like acid.

Ty
was in danger.  Frightening.  Calling for him.  Gion had no idea how such a
thing was possible.  Phases weren’t psychic.  None of them could project
thoughts ESP style.  Except, that it was Ty and he knew with an absolute
certainly that he had to get to her.

Now.

Everyone
within fifteen feet of Gion found themselves blown backwards by hurricane force
gales.  The rush of Air scoured the room, so that even Phases locked in mortal
battles turned to gape as the wind screamed passed them.  Gion didn’t notice or
care.  He’d created his own space for the jump and that was all that mattered.

Gion
locked on Ty in his mind and jumped right to her.  Ripping through the Water
House’s barriers, he landed in the dead center of the Water Palace’s courtyard.

And
right in the middle of another war.

The
sick Water Phases were rioting.  They shrieked at Ty, blaming her for
renouncing Parald and causing him to release the Fall.  The riot filled the
kingdom with the smells of death and the twisting of flames.  Buildings burned.
The funeral pyres of the Fire House lit up the distant sky.  In the pitch black
of the night, the mob’s torches glowed.  Their hysterical voices rose and
fell.  Their eyes glowed with mad frenzy as they attacked their target: their
queen.

Ty
lay on the ground.  Not moving.  Barely breathing.

Dying.

Gion’s
vision narrowed like something from the movie Jaws.  A zoom in, pull out
sensation that made him dizzy and unaware of everything else around him.  He no
longer saw anything but Ty.  The world became black and white, so that the only
color he could perceive was the vibrant red of the blood pooling around her.
He didn’t hear anything but Ty’s fading voice inside his head whispering for
help.

They’d
tried to decapitate her.

Ty,
of the Water House, a woman who’d never spoken a single word to Gion and who
belonged to Parald, a man Gion despised.

A
woman who feared and hated Gion and all that he stood for.

Who
Gion was four hundred years and a million lifetimes older than.

…And
who was his entire world.

This
tiny, stubborn, inscrutable woman was the only thing that Gion gave a damn
about and her own people had tried to decapitate her.  Gion couldn’t lose Ty.
Everything in him howled at the thought.  Without Ty, he’d have nothing, at
all.

Gion’s
powers detonated like an atom bomb.  For the first time since boyhood, the Air
energy slipped past his control.

Cyclones
of power exploded outward, spinning Ty’s attackers into the sky and dropping
them who-the-hell-knew where.  People cried out in terror as they were tossed
aside like kindling.  A few tried to strike back at him, but none of them had
even a fraction of Gion’s power.  The mob might have been able to attack a
small girl, barely out of childhood, but they were helpless against Gion’s
wrath.

Bones
snapped.  Bodies fell.  Phases screamed.

It
was all white noise to Gion.

He
was already moving towards Ty, his heart pounding in his throat.  Gion
collapsed to his knees next to her.  His cape floated out, covering Ty’s body
as he leaned over her.  “Oh Gaia, please.”  Terror became a living thing inside
of him.

Ty’s
blood filled the cracks between the cobblestones, her breath coming in
irregular gasps.  The gash in her neck was fatal.  Not even a Phase could survive
it.  Especially not one who was just ninety-three years old.  That was the year
that Elementals came of age.  Ty’s life had barely begun.  She didn’t have her
full powers, yet.

“Ty!”
He tried not to call her by the nickname.  “Tritone” was more formal.  It kept
a safer distance between them, but Gion was beyond giving a shit about that,
now.  “Angel, open your eyes.  Ty!  Stay with me.  Open your eyes and stay with
me.”

To
Gion’s shock, she actually obeyed.  Turquoise eyes fluttered open and dazedly focused
on him.

Ty
was gorgeous.

Granted,
Gion’s opinion tipped towards biased-ness, but he truly thought that it
would’ve been impossible for anyone to deny her appeal.  Where most Elementals
were tall and slim, Ty was an exotic mix of softness and curves.  Her red hair
was a wild tangle of curls around a pixie face, her eyes framed by blue cat’s
eye glasses.  She was always so beautiful.

But,
right now, Ty looked like a battered, bloody mess.  Her clothes were ripped,
her body a mass of lacerations and bruises.  Gion felt tears burning the back
of his eyes.

This
was a blasphemy.

At
this point in his life, nothing affected Gion.  Nothing, but this gentle,
little creature in front of him.  Why the fuck would anyone harm this girl?  Ty
was a baby.  So young and innocent that it was wrong for Gion to even want her
so much.  She was sweet, shy, bookish and as lovely as her kingdom.

The
Water Kingdom was the center of culture and art in the Elemental world.  Its
perfect, fairytale castle overlooked a shining azure sea.  Gion could hear the
roar of the magnificent fountain at the courtyard’s center.  It seemed
impossible that so many bodies could litter the ground of this serene haven.
Or that one of them was Ty.

She
couldn’t die.  Not here.  Not now.  Gion wouldn’t allow it.

He
kept his gaze locked on hers.  “Ty, stay with me.  Don’t you leave me here
alone.”  He folded one of his palms around hers.  God, her hands were small.
How could someone so small possibly survive this?  Gion didn’t even notice when
tears started falling down his face.  Without Ty, the world was empty.

“Angel,
I’m serious.  You’d better hang on or…”  Actually, Gion had no idea what he
could possibly threaten her with.  His mind couldn’t really focus on anything
except Ty’s wounds and chanting half-remembered prayers from his boyhood.  “Hang
on or I’m just gonna follow you wherever the hell you go.  Think about that.
Is that what you want, Ty?  Me, stalking you into eternity?”

Her
eyes fluttered closed, again.  Her throat had been cut.  There was no way Ty
could’ve answered him.  Gion doubted that she even knew where she was.  She had
to be going into shock from the trauma and blood loss.

But,
Ty’s hand still tightened around his fingers.

Then,
Gion felt something that couldn’t possibly exist.

Ty’s
energy touched his and grabbed on, anchoring her to him.  Locking them
together.

Gion’s
breath caught.

That
could only happen between Phase-Matches.  Gion knew that.  And Parald
was Ty’s Match.  He knew that, too.  She could only have one Match.  Everybody
only had one.  A single person they could combine their energies with, so their
separate powers built into one greater, symbolic whole.  That all happened
during Phazing, a sexual explosion that only occurred between Matches.  That
was the bedrock, biological foundation of Elemental life.  Phazing allowed
Phases to have children and unite with their other halves.

When
Ty renounced Parald and refused to Phaze with him, she’d turned her back on all
of that forever.  She could never connect her energy with anyone else’s,
again.  Not even this small brush of powers.

It
was impossible.

But,
Gion still felt her energy touch his and snap into place like a puzzle piece.
Hope surged through him.  He could never be Ty’s Match, but this exceeded his
wildest expectations.  It felt… right.  Ordinarily, Gion wouldn’t have a chance
with Ty, but this was something new.  Something special.  A foot into the door
of her life.  More importantly, if Ty could do something like this, she could
certainly survive a partial decapitation.

Gion’s
powers seized hers as hard as he could.  He closed his eyes, concentrating all
his energies on Ty, sweeping through all the visible and invisible parts of
her.  The Air powers were sensitive.  They could feel things that Gion could
never see with his eyes.  He could sense the flow of her blood disrupting the
Air’s course, pinpointing exactly what arteries had been severed.

There
wasn’t time to get her to a doctor.  Assuming he could even find one in the
middle of a plague.  Ty would die in a matter of minutes if Gion didn’t try something.

Gion
was one of the most powerful Elementals alive.  He could accomplish things that
no one else had the strength to even attempt.  Gion had always pushed against
the rules of the universe.  And he’d never before, in his entire life, been
more committed to shoving all the known boundaries of the world right the hell
down.

“You’re
strong, Ty.  Just hang on and prove it.”  He whispered and then surrendered
everything he had in him to his powers.

In
was much harder for Gion to hit a tiny target with his energies than it was to
mow down a whole group of slack-jawed idiots.  It required more control and
precision.  Not a great prerequisite for someone whose hands were shaking as
they touched Ty’s face and whose perspective had slowed down to match her faint
pulse.

Gion
focused all his energy on the worst of Ty’s wounds, rushing Air across it as
fast as he possibly could.  Keeping the blood from pouring out her neck.
Keeping oxygen in her lungs.  Keeping the laceration cauterized with
microscopic concentrations of air pressure.  Gion couldn’t heal her, but he
could keep Ty breathing until he found and/or captured a doctor.  He’d fucking
tranq-dart one if necessary.

The
steady, continuous use of powers drained him, though.  It seemed so small, but
it took measured, meticulous strength.  Like doing a chin-up and then holding
it for several hours without moving at all, or keeping one sustained note in an
opera going on forever.  It wasn’t just difficult, it was also exhausting.
Keeping Ty alive consumed every drop of Gion’s energy.

So,
it was a real pain in the ass when the Water Phases decided to attack him.

A
new wave of Ty’s sick and dying subjects rushed Gion, grabbing at him with
their fevered hands and trying to pull him away from Ty.  The first ones lost
their arms and heads and anything else he could reach with his sword.
Normally, Gion’s training allowed him to be a hell of a lot neater about his
kills, but he couldn’t really do his best work with all his attention on Ty.
In fact, it didn’t take long for their overwhelming numbers and Gion’s immense
distraction to turn the tide of battle in the crowd’s favor.

Gion
realized that he two alternatives: He could fight like the warrior he’d been
raised to be and survive… or he could stop Ty from bleeding.  One way, he’d
live while Ty perished.  The other, Gion would die at the hands of these
knock-off French Revolutionaries, but he’d keep Ty alive for a few more minutes.

The
choice came at Gion in a rush and he instantly made it.

There
was no option.  No option, at all.

The
girl was the only vision he’d ever found.

Gion had always
known that Ty, of the Water House would be the death of him.

Chapter
One

Two Years Later

Although the elements
of this world constantly batter and crash against her,

she offers a safe
harbor of salvation for all those who are suffering.

St. Ambrose of Milan-
in a letter to Coxstaxtius

Ty’s fingers tightened on the edge of the podium, trying to hide
the shaking in her hands.  Getting passed the introduction was the hardest
part.  She was sure of it.  She’d actually managed to stutter out her name and
now the rest of the group waited patiently for her to find the courage to go
on.  She could do this.  She had to.  If she was ever going to heal, she needed
to confront the paralyzing fear and panic attacks.  She had to be strong.

Ty was the Queen of the Water House and, even if it there were
only three Water Phases left, that still meant something.

“I… um…” she tried to calm her mind and focus, “I started coming
here because the judge told me to.  But, that’s not why I stay.”

Several people in the crowd nodded, either in encouragement or
because they also attended the drug counseling group by court ordered
invitation.

For months, Ty had been pushing herself outside her comfort zone.
She refused to spend her life hiding from life.  And tonight, that meant
facing her fear of sharing with the group.  Except, it was turning out to be
something even harder than she’d anticipated.

Ty tried to come up with something else to say, but the words were
an anxious fog in her mind.  She wondered hazily if the people in the front row
could hear her heart thudding.  They must.  The sound of it filled her ears,
drowning out her thoughts.  She felt the tips of her fingers go numb, the edges
of her vision waver, and her throat tighten.

She couldn’t get enough air.

She was suffocating.

All signs of a panic attack.

No, no, no.

Ty struggled for control.

This couldn’t happen.  She had to fight the vortex of terror
trying to suck her under and trap her in her memories.  Ty squeezed her eyes
shut and concentrated on her breathing.

In and out.

In and out.

This had been a mistake.  She should never have stood up to share
at the meeting.  She was too weak to speak in front of a crowd.

Always too weak.

Ty swallowed hard, preparing to choke out some faltering apology
and slink back to her seat before she embarrassed herself any further.

When she opened her eyes, though, her gaze instantly went to the
back of the room and landed right on Gion.

Parald’s right-hand-Phase stood with his shoulder against the
wall, his black cape falling behind him like a shroud.  Gion’s savagely
beautiful face reflected nothing except polite interest, but Ty knew that it
could turn to chilling disgust with very little provocation.  Gion’s perpetual,
sarcastic dissatisfaction could slice though a target like steel.  And if that
didn’t work, he also carried a really big sword.

One dark eyebrow arched as Gion stared at her.  Since Ty very much
doubted that Gion was battling a drug problem, she could only assume that he
was there to observe her like some live and in person reality show.  To watch
her fail.  Gion had already seen her in the midst of a panic attack twice and
Ty hoped it never happened again.

In fact, he tapped into every defiant instinct she possessed.

Ty’s spine got straighter.  Her eyes cut away from Gion, but she
started talking, again.  “I come here --To this meeting-- because I’m looking
for strength.  I was… engaged to a man.  And it was a mistake.  Everything
changed inside of me.  I knew even when it was happening that it was wrong.  I
could feel it.  But, I ignored my instincts and things got bad so quickly.”
She slowly shook her head.  “I don’t even know how it happened.  I just lost
myself.”

More nods from the crowd.

“My fiancée was angry when I finally left him.  He said and did
things that hurt too many people.  So much of that was my fault, for not being
stronger.”  Ty glanced back at Gion and found him watching her intently.  He
didn’t look pleased by her words.  In fact, he seemed seriously annoyed by what
she’d just said.

Too bad.

“I hid myself in fear.  And behind locked doors.  And in the
past.  And I took useless pills, just because I was too weak not to.”  Ty let
out a shaking breath.  The anxiety pills couldn’t help her.  She needed to do
this on her own.  “Every day, I fight to be stronger and every day it’s hard.”
Ty kept her eyes on Gion.  “But, I won’t be weak forever.  I’m committed to
this and to being well.  And I won’t hide anymore.”

People applauded.

Applauded for her.

Ty knew it was silly to feel so proud of that, but she couldn’t
help her small grin or the flush in her cheeks as she stepped away from the
podium.

She’d done it.

Her triumphant gaze went to Gion and found him clapping in his own
arrogant way.  Ty blinked, shocked that he didn’t seem to be mocking her for
once.  Gion’s mouth curved upward as he took in her surprised expression.  He
inclined his head slightly.

Ty had actually never been addicted to human drugs.  But when Ty,
her cousin Tharsis, and her Council appointed bodyguard Uriel were caught
breaking into the hospital in Mayport Beach, Florida, the police just assumed
they’d been after narcotics and arrested them.

Really, being sentenced to drug counseling turned out to be a
blessing in disguise.  Since the Fall, Ty had been suffering from panic attacks
and various symptoms of post-traumatic stress.  Being with these human, who
were also trying to free themselves from something horrible, helped Ty.

Flushed with success at her sharing, she moved up the aisle
towards Gion.

Gion worked for her ex-Match and Ty knew that Parald was obsessed
with getting her back.  She no longer worried that Gion would kidnap her and
take her to the Air Kingdom, though.  If that was his end-game, he would have
done it long ago.  In fact, when Parald’s men had captured her last week, Gion
was the one who let her go.  He’d hacked the plastic manacles from her wrists
and set her free.

Gion had his own agenda, which meant that he sometimes crossed the
fence and helped the good guys.  Ty had dealt with Gion twice now and lived to
tell the tale.  She could do it, again.

Probably.

Stopping directly in front of him, she adjusted her cat’s eye
glasses and endeavored not to notice how big he was.  Like most Elementals,
Gion stood tall and trim; a beautiful, elegant specimen of genetic
superiority.  Ty hated being small.  It reinforced her sense of powerlessness.

“If you’re here for the free coffee and donuts, they’re over
there.”  That was the mouthiest thing Ty had ever said to him.  Hell, it was
the mouthiest thing she’d said to anyone in a very long time.

She was pleased with herself.

Ty wasn’t sure what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t for Gion’s
smile to stretch wider.  Gion, of the Air House was not a Phase who spent a lot
of time smiling, even if there was still something watchful lurking behind his
icy blue eyes.  “I may take you up on that, Tritone.  Would you care to join
me?”  He made a gallant sweeping motion towards the folding table on the far
side of the room.

Ty crossed her arms over her chest, suspicious of his mood.
“Why?  Have you poisoned the crullers or are you up to something even worse?”

“I’m sure there are a great many who would say that it’s far
worse, actually.”  He murmured.  “I’d like to speak with you about it, if you
have the time.”

She hesitated, the glow of her public speaking triumph dimming and
her usual apprehension of Gion returning.  He made her uneasy, no matter why
he’d come to visit.

“This will only take a minute.”  He assured her softly.  “You’re
in no danger.”

Ty debated that for a second longer and then gave a regal sort of
nod.  “Alright.”  She marched over to the refreshment table, conscious of
Gion’s looming shape sweeping along next to her.  The other members at the
meeting were studying him curiously.

It was the cape.

Gion knew it looked out of place in the human realm.  It looked
out of place everywhere, as a matter of fact.  But, still he kept
wearing it.  Worse, he always looked right in the silly thing.  Anyone
else would seem like a refugee from a Halloween party or like he was trying too
hard.  But, Gion looked… imperial.  When Gion walked into a room, he
automatically became the center of attention; the dark authority.  Gion
dominated everyplace he went.  It was just something in his DNA.

Ty busied herself pouring coffee into a foam cup.  “Is this about
the promise I owe you?”

“It is.”

When Ty’s cousin Nia had been abducted by the Reprisal, Ty had
offered herself in exchange for Gion’s help.  It was a straightforward deal:
If he would save her cousin, she’d go with him to the Air Kingdom.  Only, he’d
turned her down.  Instead, Gion joined the Nia Rescue Effort in trade for an
unspecified promise from Ty.  A blank check that he’d yet to cash in.  Whatever
he’d demand, it was a small price for Nia’s safety, so Ty still considered the
deal a personal victory.

Even if it did annoy her to remember Gion’s lousy, un-heroic
attitude that day.

Gion’s mouth twitched when Ty took a sip of the coffee without
offering him any.  When the Queen of the Water House had a lapse in manners, it
was deliberate.  “You look well, Tritione.  New glasses and everything.
Probation obviously agrees with you.”

“I’m stronger.”  Or at least she was trying to be.  “These
meetings help me.”

“Yes, well, I did tell you those human anxiety pills were a waste
of time, didn’t I?”

Ty slanted him a frown.  She should have known that he’d be an “I
told ya so”-er.

Gion ignored her irritation and fixed his own coffee.  Ty had
never considered what kind of coffee Gion might drink.  If she had, Ty
probably would have guessed that he took it black, though.  That seemed like
the way that all villains would prefer their coffee.  Instead, Gion dumped six
sugar packets and three creamers into the cup, then he swirled it around with a
little wooden stirrer.  Apparently still unsatisfied, he added two more little
containers of milk.

Ty had absolutely no idea why, but she found that sort of
charming.

She scowled at the thought.

Gion could drink his coffee with cute paper parasols in the mug
and it wouldn’t make him any less her enemy.  With a flick of his evil wrist,
he could destroy her and then be home in time to practice his patronizing
sneer.  Whatever Gion wanted from her, it wouldn’t be good.  Not that he was in
a hurry to tell her about his undoubtedly terrible scheme, anyway.  He just
stood beside her, stirring his coffee and observing the world around him with
utter indifference.

Gion always enjoyed biding his time.  It added to the drama.  If
he wasn’t a nefarious henchman, he’d have made a wonderful thespian.

Ty tucked an errant curl behind her ear and glanced up at him.
“Did I mention the meeting only lasts another half-an-hour?”  She prompted.

Gion’s eyes went to her pink Hello Kitty watch and then to
the platinum Cartier timepiece that he had fastened to his own wrist.  Ty
expected some nasty comment.  Instead, Gion surreptitiously shoved his hand
into his pocket, so his antique watch was hidden from view.

That subtle movement caused Ty’s jaw to drop.  It was almost…
unsure.  Except, Gion never felt unsure.  Why would he?

Gion could do anything.

He was one of the strongest Phases alive and he certainly didn’t
give a damn what anyone else thought of him.  The guy redefined the word
“self-confidence” for the ages.  So, why had he concealed the tasteful
timepiece as if he didn’t want her to see that it was so much different than
her own?

He didn’t seem to notice her confusion, which was also weird.
Gion usually noticed everything.  Was he edgy about something?

“What happened with Parald wasn’t you fault.”  He gestured towards
the front of the room where she’d spoken about her past.  “Blaming yourself for
not stopping the Fall is pointless.  Parald’s never listened to anyone and he
certainly wouldn’t have started with you.  You aren’t his favorite person, his
obsessive stalking of you notwithstanding.”

“He released the Fall because I renounced him.”

“He released the Fall because he’s a sociopath.”  Gion retorted
harshly.

Ty met his intent gaze for a moment and then looked away.  She
concentrated on her coffee.  “Why are you here?”

A tense pause and then she heard him sigh.  “As I said, I need
that promise you gave me.”

The liquid in her cup continued to spiral around in small
whirlpool.  Ty kept stirring it just to keep her hands busy.  “Alright.  Tell
me, what do you want and I’ll arrange it.”

Gion snorted as if that answer frustrated him.  “My God, but
you’re naive.  Anyone with an ounce of self-preservation would tell me to fuck
off.”

Ty wasn’t sure how to respond to that.  “I gave you my word that
I’d…”

“So what?”  Gion interrupted.  “So what if you promised?  There’s
nothing that will make you live up to it, is there?  Think about it.  Nia is
safe.  What can I possibly do if you decided to renege, at this point?  Take
her back to Chason?”

“I honestly wouldn’t put anything past you.”  Especially not if
Gion felt that he’d been cheated.  He wasn’t a man who played fair.

Gion’s jaw ticked.  He set his coffee cup down hard enough to send
the liquid sloshing over the edge.  “I have to go.”

He turned and Ty realized that Gion really was about to leave.
Whatever he wanted, he didn’t want to want it.  That was obvious.  Gion
wasn’t someone who was used to asking for things.  This wasn’t just him being
his normal provoking self.  He must genuinely need help.

“Gion.”  The word was out before Ty thought better of it.

Ty had only called him by name a few times before.  And, just as
it had on those occasions, the sound of it caused Gion’s attention to instantly
fix on her.  He stopped short and looked back at Ty.  “Yes?”

She floundered for a beat, with no idea what to say.  Ty usually
had a difficult time maintaining eye contact with people, anyway.  But, with
Gion, it was flat out impossible to hold his gaze for more than a second.  Icy
blue eyes burned into hers, straight through to Ty’s soul, and she glanced
away, again.

Gion sighed.

“Ty.”  Ashley, Ty’s sponsor, came over, a huge grin on her face.
Her honey colored hair was tied back in a ponytail and her t-shirt featured a sequined
palm tree.  “Sweetie, you were great up there.”

Ashley was a warm and caring human, nine years and seven months
sober from her addiction to cocaine.  She liked mothering everyone in the
group, which Ty found sort of endearing since Ashley was only forty-one.  In
Elemental terms, she was still a baby herself.  “You were open and honest, and
I know how hard that must have been.”  Ashley moved forward as if she planned
on sharing a hug.

Ty experienced a surge of alarm.  She didn’t like touching people.
In fact, she shied away from all contact.  Ashley wasn’t dangerous.  Ty knew
that, but she couldn’t help her automatic recoil.  Ty instinctively stepped
back to avoid the hug.

And ran right into Gion.

She hadn’t heard him come up behind her, but he was standing right
there when Ty retreated.  One of his graceful hands came down and caught hold
of her arm, steadying her.

Supporting her.

Ty tiled her face back in surprise, even as she felt her energy
tune towards his.  Gion’s powers brushed against hers and Ty felt a spark deep
inside of her.  Her heart started pounding, again, and this time it had nothing
to do with her fear of public speaking.  A rush of heat and light moved through
her and Ty found herself gasping in surprise.

With Gion, Ty’s usual aversion to touching didn’t materialize.
Instead, it seemed exciting and inexplicably pleasant.  For some reason, Gion
touching her didn’t feel… wrong.  Ty didn’t have the panicked need to instantly
jerk away.

Which caused her to panic and instantly jerk away.

It was insane.

Gion released his hold on her, but not before his thumb stroked
the inside of her elbow as if he just wanted to feel her skin under his
fingers.

He’d experienced it, too.

Ty knew that she looked shocked.  Gaia knew, she felt
shocked.  That energy had happened the last time she touched Gion, too, and it
still shocked the bejesus out of her.

Phases weren’t supposed to experience anything like that pulse of
energy outside of a Match.  Except, Ty never felt anything close to that
with Parald.  His powers always felt… dirty.  Parald was her Match.  Ty
knew that.  She’d never have another one.  Truthfully, she didn’t even want
another one.

Unlike the rest of the Elemental realm, Ty remained unconvinced
about the greatness of Phase-Matches.  As far as she could tell, they just
sucked independence from people and forced them into situations beyond their
control.  The human way of finding mates was so much better.  They chose based
on their own hearts.

Freewill.

For Ty, freewill always won out over blindly accepting whatever
fate offered.

Gion didn’t look nearly so rattled by their brief contact.  He
didn’t even step back out of her personal space bubble.  Instead, he arched a
brow at her.  “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend, Tritone?”

“Hi!  I’m Ashley.”  Ashley sent Ty an understanding smile about
the hug-avoidance and held her palm out to Gion.  “I’m Ty’s sponsor.  Are you
her boyfriend?  I think that’s great.  It’s really helpful to have the support
of family and friends, ya know?”

Ty shook her head emphatically and edged away from Gion.  “No,
he’s…”

“I am Gion… Peterson.”  He actually shook Ashley’s hand.  “From
Delaware.”

Ty rolled her eyes and waited for lightening to strike him down.
Why were Elementals always so terrible at interacting with humans?

“Yeah?  I drove through Dover a few years ago.”  Ashley exclaimed
as if that was an amazing coincidence.  “Great cape.”

“I like it.”  Gion smirked down at Ty.  “Don’t you?”

“Well, definitely it suits you.”  She murmured.

Jackass.

Gion’s eyes gleamed as if he heard her mental name calling and
found it amusing.

“Super.”  Ashley beamed at Ty.  “Anyhow, I know that you don’t
like getting the chips in front of the group and I didn’t want to push you
anymore this evening.  So here.”  She held out an orange token.  “Thirty days
clean, sweetie.  That’s quite an accomplishment.”  She grinned at Gion.  “You
should be proud of her.”

Ty stared down at her chip admiringly and, for no reason in the
universe, glanced up at Gion for a reaction.

“I’m always proud of Tritone.”  He said seriously.

Ty decided to ignore that and focused on her chip, again.  “Thank
you, Ashley.”

“Sweetie, I didn’t do anything.  It’s all you.”  Ashley winked at
her and headed back into the midst of the group.

Ty rubbed her chip between her fingers, admiring the feel of it.
“So, weren’t you leaving?”  She prompted when Gion continued silently standing
there.

“I should.  But, it turns out that I’m a selfish bastard.”  He
snorted.  “I’m not surprised.  There’s certainly ample evidence of it, isn’t
there?”  He changed positions so that he could face her.  “I can’t walk away.
I need that promise from you.”

Ty studied him through length of her lashes.  “Alright.”

His jaw went tight.  “I…”  For the first time ever, Ty saw Gion
struggle for what to say.  Usually, he was one of the most articulate people
she’d ever met.  Now, he seemed nervous.  He trailed off and then started over,
again, as if he just couldn’t find the words.  “The…”  He blew out a frustrated
breath.  “Fine.  Here.”  He dug a folded piece of paper out of his back pocket
and presented it to her.

Ty had a real, visceral sense of déjà vu.

Like she’d lived this moment before or had been waiting for it for
a long time.

Ty was a scientist and she absolutely didn’t believe in ESP or
premonitions.  Still, her hand shook slightly as she took the paper from Gion.
It was the email that Job had sent out offering amnesty to the Air Phases.

In an effort to reduce Parald’s number and throw a life preserver
to the Air Phases trapped behind enemy lines, the Council of All Houses had
offered them amnesty.  Any Air Phase who promised to denounce Parald was
eligible, so long as they could find a new House that would take them in.

That was harder than it sounded, since most Phases hated the Air
House, blaming all the Air Phases for the Fall.  The plague had killed so many
people that the Elementals teetered on extinction.  No one came through it
without scars and no one wanted to let the Air Phases into their kingdoms.

The Water House had been one of the only kingdoms that agreed to
take in Air House refugees, even though none had actually moved in yet.  Still,
Ty had certainly never expected Gion to want to jump ship.  That didn’t
make any sense.

Ty blinked down at the email.  “I don’t understand.”  Her gaze cut
back up to Gion.  “You seriously want to switch Houses?”

Gion couldn’t possibly want to leave the Air Kingdom.  He was the
most powerful Air Phase alive.  Within the Air Kingdom, he was feared and
respected.  If Gion walked away from his House, he’d be vulnerable to everyone
in the vast universe who already wanted him dead, plus he’d have
to face Parald’s fury.  He’d still have all his powers, but without the
protection of the House, he’d be on his own.  “Why would you…”?

Gion cut her off.  “It doesn’t matter why.”  He’d clearly regained
his verbal aptitude, because his expression became more arrogant than ever.  “I
have to get out of the Air Kingdom and you owe me that promise.  The Water
House needs to give me amnesty.  Starting now.”

“Me?!”  Ty squeaked.  Why wouldn’t he go to the Earth House?  Job
would let him in.  Tessie would make him.  Job’s Match and the elusive keeper
of the Quintessence, Tessie had her own weird friendship with Gion.   He’d
spent a few decades reluctantly protecting her.  “You want to come to my
kingdom?”

“No, I’m going to come to your kingdom.”  Gion corrected
mercilessly.  “I’ve considered my options, because, obviously, I’m a citizen
that so many Houses would love to welcome with open arms.  But, I find that
I’ve developed a real desire to immigrate to some sweet, little Munchkin Land
of pastel castles and rainbow waterfalls.  Also with very few people to get in
my way.”  He crossed his arms over his chest.  “That means that the Water
Kingdom is the lucky destination spot for me to fulfill my manifest destiny.”

Ty had no idea how to respond to that.  She just gaped at him.

Gion arched his brows.  “Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to help
me move.  I’ve already packed.”

“You really want to live in the Water Kingdom?”  Ty translated,
too amazement to know what to feel.  Her homeland was a peaceful, gentle place
filled with magical pools and seaside beauty.  She just couldn’t imagine the
Darth Vader of the Elemental realm tolerating the pastel serenity of the Water
Kingdom for more than half-an-hour with cracking.  “Gion, have you thought
about this?  I don’t think you’ll like it there, at all.”

He laughed and it wasn’t a pleasant sound.  In fact, it sounded
utterly devoid of humor.  “‘Have I thought about it?’  It’s all I ever
think about.  Escape.  Freedom.  I have to have amnesty now or it’ll be
too late.  I’m slipping.”

Ty wasn’t sure what that meant, but she believed him.  Had
something gone wrong for Gion in the Air House?  Did Parald know that he’d
saved her from the dungeon?  Whatever it was, Gion was apparently desperate.

Ty’s mind finally started catching up with the conversation.
“I…”  She shook her head, trying to organize her thoughts.  “My cousins live in
the Water Kingdom.  I mean, Nia’s the Shadow Queen now, but she and Cross spend
a lot of time back home with Tharsis and me.”  Ty was babbling, but she didn’t
care.  “I can’t endanger my cousins.  I own you the favor, but…”

“I’m not a danger to Tharsis and Nia.”  Gion interrupted.  “If I
was going to hurt them, I would have done it long ago.  But, what would be the
point?  I have no interest in them, at all.”

Ty frowned at his dismissive tone.  “My cousins…”

“Are your life.”  He finished for her.  “I know that.  Everyone
knows it.  That’s why, if I ever had any intention of taking you to
Parald, I would have targeted your cousins and used them to draw you out.  You
should be more careful about revealing weaknesses.”

Ty’s eyes narrowed dangerously.  “I’ll bear that in mind.”

Gion kept talking.  “I never went near Nia and Tharsis.  Not even
when they made it incredibly easy.  In fact, I saved Nia for you, when you
asked me to, didn’t I?”

“Yes.”  Ty admitted.  “For a price.”

Gion leaned closer to her, pressing his sale.  “I can be of use to
you, Tritone.  Because, I can make sure that no one else targets your family,
either.  If you give me sanctuary, I’ll guard what’s yours.  I swear it.”

Ty’s brows drew together, considering that.  Everyone knew that
another Elemental war brewed on the horizon.  Sooner or later, Chason and
Parald would take their conflict to another level.  Since both men hated Ty and
her family, Gion would be a nice addition to the Water House’s side.

In theory.

Gion kept his attention on her face.  “I’m not a threat to you.
You have to sense that somewhere inside.”

Ty thought about the feeling of his energy touching hers.  The
strange rightness of it.

Instinct.

There were fifty thousand reasons why this was a bad idea and Ty
wasn’t sure what she would have said next, if she hadn’t looked up at Gion at
that moment.

For the first time since she’d known him, Ty saw Gion.
Really saw him as more than an invincible robot out to upset her life.  Gion
looked tired.  Somehow tense and resigned, at the same time.  Like someone who
knew they were about die and just wanted to go out fighting.  His face might
have been an implacable mask of superior indifference, but Gion thought that Ty
would turn him down and that he’d be on his own.

She could see it in his eyes.

Gion might have had a spot with Tessie in the Earth Kingdom, but
he’d never take it.  He needed to come to the Water Kingdom because of the
promise.  It gave him some control.  It wasn’t charity.  It was a trade.  Gion,
arrogant bastard that he was, needed that.  He seemed positive that Ty would back
out of the deal and leave him stranded, but he was desperate enough to try,
anyway.

Ty knew what it felt like to be trapped by Parald.  She knew what
that kind of desperation felt like and how far someone would go to escape.  How
helpless it could make you feel.

And, for some reason, Ty couldn’t stand to think of Gion, the man
who terrified her and everyone else in the world, suffering alone.

“Alright.”  She heard herself say and immediately winced.  Lord,
how was she going to explain this to her cousins?  Cross would flip out for
sure.  Ty sighed and frowned at Gion in annoyance.  “You’ll have to sleep in
the palace, though.  None of the other houses in the kingdom are habitable
right, now.”  All their owners had been dead since the Fall.  She wasn’t about
to build Gion a new seaside cottage on top of everything else.

Gion froze.  “You’re agreeing to this?”  He demanded angrily
and actually started to try and talk her out of it.  “Are you nuts?  I’m a
dangerous person, you know.”

“Yes, I know.”  Ty agreed quietly.  Gion was the most dangerous
person she’d ever met.  If this was some kind of trick, he could wipe her out
like chalk on a board.  Of course, if that was really Gion’s scheme, he
could’ve attacked her right there.  Ty was basically alone and far too weak to
stop him from doing anything he wanted.  As counterintuitive as it seemed, Gion
didn’t want to hurt her.

Still…

“Just don’t harm my family.”  She reiterated.  “I’m trusting you
on that.”  Why she was trusting him remained a mystery.

Damn instincts.

Gion blinked.  “I’ll protect your family.”  He seemed dazed.  “I
give you my word.”

Ty remembered her feelings after she’d renounced Parald.  Relief
mixed with, “Oh shit, now what am I going to do?”  Gion looked the same way.

“I have to…”  He trailed off as if he had no idea what to say
next.

Ty had the strange sensation that he was going to pull out of the
deal.  Gion might panic and call the whole thing off, since this hadn’t gone
according to the pessimistic script he’d written in his head.

Suddenly, Ty didn’t want that to happen.  Gion was in trouble or
he wouldn’t be asking her for amnesty.  Ty wouldn’t let him down.  She
couldn’t.

“Gion, you saved my cousin.  You saved me.  You’re welcome in the
Water Kingdom for as long as you want to stay.”  Ty garnered enough courage to
very carefully reach over and touch his hand.  “Don’t go back out there alone.
You need help.  Come with me.”

It was just the brush of her fingers against his wrist, but Gion
jerked like he’s been stabbed.  Ty felt the pulse of power go through Gion’s
body and travel back into hers.  Energy arched between them and Ty quickly pulled
her hand back.  Gion wasn’t manipulating the powers.  He hadn’t done anything
to instigate that pulse.  Whatever the energy was, it had come from her that
time.

What was going on?

Gion let out a long breath.  “I need you.”  He must’ve gotten back
on board with his own plan, because he nodded wearily.  “I can’t deny that,
anymore.  I’m tired and I need you so much.”

“Alright.”  Ty nodded in relief.  “Let me finish my meeting and
we’ll go home, then.”

The word “home” got her a strange look, like Gion wasn’t sure what
language she was speaking.  “To the Water Kingdom?”  He verified as if
searching for a trap.

“Yes, to the Water Kingdom.”  Ty rolled her eyes.  “Where else
would home be?”

“I don’t know.”  Gion said softly.  “I don’t think I’ve ever had
one.”

Chapter Two

And by the voice of all its elements

To preach the general doom.  When were the winds

Let slip with such a warrant to destroy?

William Cowper- ‘The Task’

Morale wise, the news that Gion defected to the Water House created feelings similar to what the Confederacy might’ve experienced if Robert E. Lee moved up North.

Isaacs,
of the Air House felt a pall over the entire kingdom as he stalked through the
palace.  People spoke in frightened whispers and cast him concerned looks.
Without Gion to hold the center, most Phases thought that the Air House would
collapse under Parald’s growing instability.  Hell, even Isaacs suspected as
much.  Something had to be done.

And
it looked like he’d have to be the one to do it.

With
Gion gone, Isaacs stood as the top general in Parald’s army.  For centuries,
Isaacs dreamed of that.  He’d worked tirelessly and without conscience.  He’d
done things that he hoped never saw the light of day.  Every second of his
life, Isaacs drove himself to be the best.  He did everything to succeed
in the Air House ranks.

But,
Gion always surpassed him.

Gion.

Perfect
fucking Gion.

In
his youth, Isaacs hero-worshipped Gion.  He was a hundred and fifty years older
than Isaacs and his powers were close to invincible.  To a young solider, Gion
represented the ideal.  Always the strongest.  Always so calm.  Always in
control.  No one could live up to Gion.  No one could compete with him.  No one
could touch him.  He didn’t have any weaknesses.

Except
one.

As
the years went on, Gion’s superiority began to grate on Isaacs.  Gion’s cold
indifference and cutting sarcasm fed into Isaacs own feelings of self-doubt.
He’d never be able to live up to Gion and everyone knew it.  That arrogant
prick had always stood in Isaacs’ way.

And
now Gion was gone.

It
was just what Isaacs wanted.

Only
Isaacs didn’t feel triumph.  He felt fear.

Gion
could turn the Air Kingdom into dust if he got mad enough.  Isaacs believed
that. God only knew what would happen if Gion discovered the truth.  In a fight
between Gion and Parald, Isaacs already knew that he was trapped on the losing
side.  He had no faith in Parald.  None.  If Isaacs didn’t find a way out of this,
he’d be dead within a week.

Goddamn
it, why hadn’t Gion just killed Parald before he left?

Isaacs
slammed into the throne room without knocking.  “Sire, I can confirm it, now.
Gion’s definitely with Ty.”

Parald
gave a scream of pure fury.

The
King of the Air House looked like one of the Beach Boys.  His wholesomeness
fooled most people when they first met him.  If Hollywood ever saw him, Parald
would’ve been cast as the hero in any summer blockbuster.  With sunshine hair
and guileless grey eyes, Parald could’ve played a noble lawyer fighting for
justice or the single father trying to save his kidnapped children.

He
should’ve been the good guy.

But,
under Parald’s movie star exterior there lurked a vicious, amoral mind and an
empty soul.

Isaac
knew himself.  He accepted the fact that he was evil bastard.  Nature and
nurture worked together and ensured that he’d always be a villain.  Honestly,
none of the Air Phases who’d survived the Fall and then the dog-eat-dog life in
the Air House would win any popularity contests, at this point.

Compared
to Parald, though, even Gion was a friggin’ Mouseketeer.

“That
fucking bastard!”   Parald picked up an inlaid table and flung it
against the wall.

Isaacs
didn’t even flinch at the explosion of mahogany.  “Sire…”

“Saxon
was supposed to find Gion and kill him!”

“Well,
he’s failed, sire.”  Isaacs never missed an opportunity to tear Saxon down.
The guy wanted Isaacs and Gion dead.  Probably Parald, too.  The megalomaniacal
piece of shit plotted constantly.  Since Gion was gone, now Isaacs was Saxon’s
main target… unless, Isaacs of rid of him first.

Goddamn
it, why hadn’t Gion killed Parald and Saxon before he left?

It
really would have simplified Isaacs’ life.

“I
want Ty back!”  Parald roared.  “Gion isn’t going to steal my Match.
Ty’s mine!  The Water House is mine!”  He jabbed a finger at Isaacs.
“I’d have Ty right now, if you hadn’t put her in the dungeon.  If you’d brought
her right to me, Gion never would have gotten the chance to set her free.”

Isaacs
really didn’t want the conversation to head in that direction.  The last time
Parald “discussed” Ty’s escape, Isaacs had been beaten to within an inch of his
life.  With Ty safe behind the Water House’s barriers and Gion vanishing into
the vast universe, Parald had taken all his frustration out on Isaacs.
Elementals healed fast and still Isaacs carried livid bruises and horrible
lacerations from the whip.  “How could any of us have known Gion would turn
against you, sire?”

“Fucking
bastard.”  Parald repeated furiously.  “There’s a special ring of Hell for
traitors.”

And
for mass murdering kidnappers.  But, Isaacs didn’t see the advantage in
pointing that out to his beloved king.  “The price on his head seems to have
driven Gion right into Ty’s orbit.  The enemy of your enemy, and all that.”

Parald
scraped a hand through his hair.  “Gion needs to be stopped.  Now.”

Isaacs
nearly rolled his eyes at that brilliant strategy.  If Gion died easy, someone
would’ve picked him off long ago.  The guy collected enemies like a dog
gathered fleas.  “Gion can be formidable, sire.  I don’t think any of our men
will be able to kill him outright.  Especially, if he stays securely barricaded
the Water Kingdom.”

“Well,
you’d better figure something out!”  Parald spat.  “I want Gion dead and I want
Ty brought to me.  I want her on her fucking knees in front of me, Isaacs!”

Isaacs
glanced away.  He didn’t give a shit what happened to Gion, but Ty was an
innocent victim of this mess.  When she’d been Parald’s Match, Isaacs spent a
lot of time babysitting the girl.  Ty was always nice to him.  Most people
ignored guards, expecting them to just open doors and jump in front of any
assassination plots.  But, Ty always said “thank you” and smiled sweetly, even
if Isaacs just got her a glass of water.

He
didn’t relish the idea of hurting her.  Bringing Ty to Parald would definitely
end up with the girl suffering and that sucked.  The last time he’d captured her,
Isaacs had known that Gion would set her free again within ten minutes.  Tops.
This time, abducting her would be a hell of a lot more serious.

Isaacs
would do it, though, because he always did what he had to in order to survive.
If it meant saving his own life, Isaacs would fasten a bow around the girl and
dump her onto Parald’s bed himself.

Probably.

And
no matter what he did, it would be all Gion’s fault.

Who
was supposed to stop him from doing terrible shit, now?  Had Gion even
considered that?  Selfish asshole.

“If
we kidnap Ty, Gion will come after us.”  Isaacs said.  “Obviously, he’s become
attached to the girl.”

Gion
would walk straight into Hell to get to Ty.

In
all the centuries that Isaacs had known him, Gion had only ever revealed one
weakness and that was the pretty, little Water Queen.  Gion’s armor slipped
when it came to her.  As far as Isaacs could tell, that was their only
advantage.

Parald
stared off at nothing for a beat.  “Do you think he’ll touch Ty?”

Shit.

Isaacs
really didn’t want to answer that.  “I don’t know, sire.”  He hedged.

Parald
flashed him a dangerous look.  “Answer me.  Do you think he’ll touch my Match?
Do you think Gion will fuck her?  The truth.”

“Yes.”
Isaacs said simply.  There really wasn’t a doubt in his mind that Gion planned
to have Ty naked and under him as soon as possible.  Why wouldn’t he?  The guy
wasn’t an idiot.  Gion had wanted Ty for years and now she was right there in
front of him.

It
was simple logic.

Most
male Phases prized the Water House women’s unique beauty.  Ty’s red hair was
the exact color of an expensive sports car and her soft, curvy body was a rare
treasure in the Elemental world.  Honestly, Parald must’ve been in deep denial
to even question Gion’s intentions.  Of course, Gion would sleep with
Ty.  Hell, other different circumstances, Isaacs would’ve jumped at the
chance to take her himself.

Parald’s
jaw tightened.  “Gion’s obsessed with her.  He risked his life for Ty.  He
betrayed me and stole her away from my palace.  And now he’s in the Water
Kingdom.  He won’t stop until he’s bent her over and taken what’s mine.”

“Yes.”
Isaacs couldn’t blame Gion, either.

Not
for that, anyway.

“No
one will have Ty but me.”  Parald’s voice got calmer, which was never a good
sign.  That usually meant that the Air House’s fearless leader had some new
idea.  “We need to separate them before it’s too late.”

“Certainly,
sire.”  Isaacs nodded agreeably.  “How should we do that?”

Parald
glowered at him.  “You work on getting Ty.  I’ll deal with Gion.”

“You’ll
deal with Gion?”  Isaacs tried to keep the skepticism from his tone.  Parald
was powerful, but the guy wasn’t known for doing any heavy lifting.  “Alone?
How?”

“Never
fucking mind how.  Just bring my Match to me.”  Parald stalked over and
flung himself down on his ostentatious throne.  “I know how to cure Gion’s
obsession.  He’ll leave Ty for good after I’m done.  He’ll walk right fucking
away from what’s mine.”

Chapter Three

I have come to the
terrifying conclusion that I am the decisive element….

If we treat people as they
are, we only make them worse.  If we treat people as

they ought to be, we help
make them all they are capable of becoming.

Johann Wolfgang von
Goethe

Since
the Fall, the King’s Chamber in the Water Palace stood empty.  Good manners and
expediency meant that it was the perfect place for Gion, though.

There
were plenty of bedrooms in the palace, but this one was the nicest and Ty had
the impulse to show off the Water Kingdom’s beauty.  For some reason, Ty cared
if Gion found his new home impressive.  She wanted him to like it.

Plus,
the King’s Chamber was one of the few extra bedrooms that consistently stayed
made up, so it took no preparations for Gion to move right it.  Nia and Tharsis
were in the Shadow Kingdom for the night, but Brokk would be looking for her.  Ty
only had a limited window of time to think about sleeping arrangements.  She all
but shoved her new citizen through the double doors and then sighed.

Typical.

Gion
looked oddly right in the serene space.

Which
was ridiculous, given his Jack the Ripper fashion sense.

Like
most of the Water Palace’s rooms, the King’s Chamber overlooked the sea.  The
large four poster bed in the center of the room was draped in gauzy blue
fabrics. Pastel, Minoan style murals decorated the walls.  White stone tiles
covered the floor.  Everything was designed to be light and airy, and to draw
attention to the spectacular view.

Dark
and imposing, Gion moved over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and stared out at
the moonlit waves.  Glass doors along the exterior wall led to a balcony that
overlooked the Water Kingdom’s highest waterfall.  From the bed, you could see
nothing but the endless pouring of the waterfall into the ocean far below.

Ty
had seen the sight all her life and she still thought it was stunning.

Gion
didn’t react for a long moment.  Then, he glanced at her over his shoulder.
“Whose room is this?”

“Yours.”
She bit her lower lip.  “Listen, could you possibly stay in here for a little
bit?  I’ll need to explain this to Brokk and…”

“No,
I mean, whose room is it really?  Is this the King’s Chamber?”

“It
was.  Before my parents died.”

“Well,
why don’t you sleep here, then?  You’re the queen, now.”

Ty
shook her head.  “I have my own bedroom.”  This was her parents’ room; the real
king and queen of the Water House.  “So, will this do, for now?  If you aren’t
happy here, you can pick your own room tomorrow, but I have to…”

“You
should be in the King’s Chamber, Tritone.”  Gion looked genuinely annoyed.

Ty
didn’t want to argue.  She never wanted to argue.  “That really isn’t any of
your business.”

Gion
turned back towards the window.  “Very well.”  He brooded quietly for a beat.
“Before you go, then, we need to discuss restrictions.  Are there any places in
this kingdom that you’d rather I not go?”

Ty
frowned.  “Well, knock before you go into other people’s bedrooms.  Tharsis
isn’t going to like it if you just burst in on him.  And I think Brokk has his
door booby-trapped, so that could be dangerous.”

Gion
shot her another look.  “I meant other than the occupied bedrooms,
obviously.”

“Oh.”
Ty thought about that.  “No.”

“Do
you have a list of laws for the kingdom?”

“I
don’t think so.”  Ty’s frown got deeper.  “I guess we did before the Fall.
But, since it’s just the three Water Phases left now –me, Nia and Thar-- we
don’t really enforce any laws.”

“Brokk
lives here, now, and so do I.”

“Brokk’s
a Wood Phase.  They never do anything wrong.”  Wood Phases were notoriously
good at following rules.

The
Council had assigned Brokk to Ty as a bodyguard due to the high number of
people who wanted her dead on any given day.  He took his job hyper-serious, so
he really wasn’t going to like her bringing Gion home with her.  In fact, he
wouldn’t be thrilled that she’d left the human realm, at all.  Brokk was
supposed to be picking Ty up from her drug counseling, but she’d skipped out on
him.  Better to have Gion’s arrival a fait accompli.  Less chance of Brokk
trying to decapitate the guy.

“My
father was a Wood Phase.”  Gion remarked.

“Really?”
Ty hadn’t known that.  It was hard to imagine Gion being half Wood Phase.  They
were so… good.  “Were you close to him?”  Ty had adored both her parents.  She
missed them every day.

“I’ve
never been close to anyone.”  Gion carried a bag with him and he tossed it onto
the bed.  Ty briefly though how sad it was that Gion’s whole life fit into a
single satchel.  “I’d feel more comfortable if we established some ground rules
about living here.  I like to know where I stand.”

“Don’t
hurt my family.  I told you, that’s all I care about.”  Ty wondered what Gion
was expecting her to say.  Given what she knew about the Air Kingdom, probably
the show times and seating charts for tomorrow’s public executions.  “Just use
your own best judgment about the rest.  We don’t have dungeons in the Water
House, so I promise you won’t get chained-up for jaywalking.”

Gion
glanced at her sharply.  “Was that an actual joke, Tritone?”

“No.”
Yes.  “Um… I have to go call Brokk, before he finds me missing from the
meeting.”

Gion
wasn’t done grilling her.  “What should I do here, though?”

Ty
looked over at the bed.  “Sleep?”

“Not
in the bedroom.  In the kingdom.  What should my function be?”

“Um…
I don’t know.”  Ty blinked.  “Can you cook?  We usually take turns doing that.”

“No.”

“Oh.
Well, that’s okay.  You can buy us takeout on your nights, I guess.  Pizza is
very popular.”

Gion
wasn’t satisfied with that.  “What do the rest of you do all day?”  The Air
House fostered a super competitive, Gordon Gekko-ish drive.  Gion looked
confused that Ty wouldn’t assign him some high-pressure, “complete-them-or-don’t-come-back”
tasks.

“Well…
Nia lives in the Shadow Kingdom most of the time, so she’s fixing it up to her
liking.  Plus, she works with the Council.  And Tharsis, he…”  Ty trailed off
because she had no idea what Tharsis really did day-to-day, anymore.  “He
watches TV, a lot.  He likes that show with the humans trying to be fashion
models.”

“Uh-huh.”
Gion crossed his arms over his chest.  “And what do you do?”

“I
work on my projects on the computer.  I’m helping Job find humans with
Elemental DNA markers.”  Locating human Matches was the only way the Elementals
could stave off extinction.  “And I do research on the missing Tablets of
Fate.  Trying to discover where they’re hidden.”

Gion
rolled his eyes.  “Looking for those damn boxes is a waste of time.”

“I
wasn’t asking you to help.”  Ty assured him, a little annoyed.  “Do whatever
you want, alright?  The Water Kingdom allows everyone to find their own path.
We always have.  What do you like doing?  Do that.”

Gion
stared down at the bedspread.

Ty
suddenly realized that he had no idea what he liked to do.

None.

Ty’s
heart broke a little.  Gion terrified her, but that was partly because she had
boundless respect for him.  Gion could do anything.  Next to Job, he was the
most gifted Phase in the universe.  Beautiful, untouchable, powerful, he stood
in the King’s Chamber filling the entire space with his presence.

…And
he looked utterly lost.

“Gion,
you don’t have to figure everything out today.  And you never have to worry about
making yourself useful.  No one will kick you out, even if you just want to
spend your days doing jigsaw puzzles.”

He
didn’t believe that.  She could see it the set of his brow.  Gion thought that
he needed to be contributing to the bottom line every second.  The idea that
he’d be welcomed even without exceeding the highest performance standards
seemed utterly foreign to him.

The
Water House didn’t force people into boxes or demand results from its Phases,
though.  They were the artists and intellectuals of the Elemental realm.  They
believed in personal autonomy and the pursuit of happiness.  How could Ty
explain that to a man who grew up in the Air Kingdom, where any lapse in
perfect, gold-star achievement meant scorn and ostracism?

“Don’t
you have any hobbies?”  Ty suggested, searching for something that would ease
his transition.  “You could focus on those.”

“Like
what?  Stamp collecting?”  Gion snorted.  “You don’t want to hear what I
usually do for fun, Tritone.  Trust me.”

She
checked her watch, again.  Brokk would be worried.  Especially since Parald had
kidnapped her last week.  Poor Brokk blamed himself for that, even though Ty
was the one who’d wandered away without protection.

Obviously,
if Ty didn’t give Gion a concrete role, he wouldn’t be able to adjust properly,
though.  She could see that.  Gion was a Water Phase now, but the “your-best
is-still-not-good-enough” attitude of the Air Kingdom continued weighing him
down.

Ty
had a responsibility to her subjects.  She wanted Gion content and fulfilled
and, most importantly, secure in his new home.  If he felt like he didn’t
belong, Gion might leave.  If he left, Ty had the horrible feeling that Gion
wouldn’t survive.  “How do you usually occupy yourself in the Air Kingdom?
Can’t you just keep…?”

“I
kill people.”  Gion interrupted flatly.

“Oh
God.”  Ty shook her head.  “No.  Please, don’t do that here.”

“Mostly,
I listen to Parald’s endless, fucking yammering.”  Gion continued, almost to
himself.  “And I think of ways to undermine him.  I want to kill him, but I
can’t.  So, I start saying things or doing things that I know I shouldn’t.  I
know that they bring too much attention, but I almost want Parald to
understand how much I hate him, so I say and do them anyway.”

“I
see.”  And she did.  Ty knew what it was to endure Parald.

“Then,
I go to the library to get away from the other Air Phases, because I can’t
breathe with them around me.  And I try to focus on,” Gion hesitated, “something
better.  I think about ways that I might be able to have it.  To steal it, even
though it’s not mine.  I plot and strategize and wait.  It’s hopeless, but I do
it anyway.  Because, without that vision, I would have died long ago.”

There
was nothing Ty could say to that.  She stared at him for a long moment.

Gion
finally glanced at her, again.  “I’m not a good man, but I’m not useless.  I’ll
help you and your kingdom if you’ll let me.”

Ty
bit down on her lower lip.  What job could she assign him that would fit his
skill set and keep him occupied?  Something with security?  A new idea raised
its hand in her brain.  “Can you keep a secret?”

“Yes.”
The word was unequivocal.

Ty
debated for a beat and then gave into her instincts.  “My cousin Nia is going
to have a baby.”  Excitement filled Ty as she thought about it.  “No one except
the family knows that she’s pregnant, but we won’t be able to keep it quiet for
long.”

Gion
blinked.  “A child?”  He looked shocked.  It would be the first birth of any
Elemental since the Fall.  The first new life after all the countless deaths.
“Are you sure?”

Ty
bobbed her head.  “Chances are, it will be a Water Phase, too.”  Ninety-two
percent of children were born into their mother’s House.  “The baby will be the
heir Water Kingdom.  I can’t have children.”  Not without Phazing with Parald,
anyway.  Since that would never happen, Ty knew she won’t have a child of her
own.  “So, my niece will probably take the throne after I’m gone.”

“You’re
not going to die.”  Gion told her.  “And how do you know it’s a girl?”

“One
day, Parald will kill me.”

Ty
knew that and she liked to make sure that the people around her did, too.  Few
Phases understood that beneath the surface of his stupidity and arrogance,
Parald had a craftiness that never rested.  His schemes seemed to
succeed on pure luck or the talents of others, but it was really Parald’s own
flair for cruelty.  He lulled you in, until you thought that he was useless or
beaten.  Then, he struck at your weakest point and smiled as you lost
everything.

Sooner
or later, Parald would catch her and then one of them would die.  Odds seemed
good that it would be Ty.  After it happened, she wanted everyone
to remember that she’d accepted her fate and no one was to blame.

Well,
except Parald, of course.

“Parald
is not going to kill you, Tritone.  I won’t allow it.”

Ty
disregarded Gion’s emphatic tone.  “Anyway, I just have a feeling that the
baby’s a girl.  It’s not scientific, but I just think it’s female.”  She
hesitated.  “I’m worried, though, that Parald will come after her.  He hates
the Water House.  He’ll do anything to hurt me, including killing my niece.”

Gion
silently considered that.

“So,
if you could help me make sure that the baby’s safe --That the Water Kingdom
and the Shadowland are completely secure-- I would really appreciate
it.”  Ty tilted her head.  “You and I understand Parald better than anyone, I
think.”

Gion
nodded.  “We do.”  He agreed.  “I’ll protect your niece.  I give you my word.”

“Thank
you.”  The baby had become the most important thing to Ty, so whatever Gion
wanted to do to keep her niece safe was fine.  “Fix anything you think it’ll
take to,” Ty waved a hand, “up the security or whatever.”

“That’s
a very broad mandate.  Do you want reports?”

“Reports?”
Ty almost said “no.”  She was a scientist, not a security expert.  Gion would
know better than her what needed to be done.  Why should he waste time telling
her about it?  Honestly, Ty felt pretty confident in the Water House’s barriers
most of the time, anyway.  And Brokk was there to bodyguard her, so she
couldn’t imagine Gion finding too many problems.

Still,
getting reports would add another task to the job and give him something extra
to do.  Gion needed to feel productive.  “Um… sure.  Yeah.  Reports are good.”  Ty
was pleased with herself for her thinking of this.

Gion’s
mouth curved.  “Excellent.  I can do that.”

He
had a lovely smile.  It surprised Ty how it softened the sharp edges of his
face and made Gion so much more approachable.  Such a shame he didn’t seem to
know how to have fun.

Such
a shame that she was too broken to teach him.

Ty
dropped her gaze and nervously cleared her throat.  “Right.  So, I’m going to
call Brokk, then.  You just get comfortable.”  She edged towards the door.
“Um… If you’re hungry, I can get you some food.  Or you could go down to the
kitchen yourself.  Just let me break the news to Brokk first, so he doesn’t
flip out when he sees you.”

“The
man works for you, Tritone.  You don’t have to worry about his reactions to
your decisions.  Tell him what to do and demand that he comply.”

Ty
couldn’t imagine even attempting such thing.  “It’s not like that with Brokk.
He’s my friend.”

Gion’s
jaw tightened.  “Friendships depend on loyalty, not self-preservation.”  He
clearly disapproved of her attitude.  “You’ll get further with people if they fear
you.  Believe me.  Better that they’re afraid to cross you, rather than
you just relying on them to be your trusty pal.”

“I
don’t think you’ll get further that way, at all.  At least, not down any road
that I want to be on.”  Ty feared far too much in her life to try and scare
anyone else.  Not that she even could, but still…  “If you have to
intimidate everyone, then I think you’ll always be alone.”

“But,
you’ll be alive.”

“Maybe.
But at what cost?”  She shook her head.  “Some things have to be given willingly,
Gion, or they’re worthless.  Loyalty is one of them.”

“And
sex.”

“What?”
Ty’s voice went high at the calm non sequitur.

“The
woman has to be willing or it’s worthless.”  He looked right at her.  “You have
to wait for consent.”

Ty
winced, memories assaulting her.

She
deliberately focused on Gion, trying to stay in control.  He was so beautiful
and his hypnotic tone washed over her, soothing away the beginnings of a panic
attack.  Ty’s energy instinctively tuned itself so that it could brush against
his.

This
time, Gion’s energy pushed back.  His massive powers slid against hers in a
very deliberate caress that had Ty’s entire body jolting.  The Air energy swept
over her, lighting up her system and causing her mind to go blank with
pleasure.

Ty’s
gaze slammed into Gion’s, her mouth falling open in shock.

“Did
you think that you’re the only one who feels the energy between us, Tritone?”

“I…”
She looked away from his stunning face and swallowed hard.  Gion’s powers felt
incredible against hers.  Better than Ty imagined anything could feel.  How was
it possible that they could do this?  “I don’t think we should…”  She trailed
off with a slight whimper as the Air energy licked its way through her.
“Stop.”

“Good.
I don’t think we should stop, either.”

“No.
I mean, you have to stop.”  Ty shook her head desperately.  “Something’s
wrong, if we can do this.  It’s not normal.”

“Oh,
I consider us so much better than normal.”  The Air energy pressed against the
Water powers, massaging on some frequency that Ty hadn’t known existed.

Ty
grabbed for control, seizing onto Gion’s earlier words.  “I’m not giving
consent.”  She declared at little too loudly.

Everything
paused and then Gion pulled his powers back.  “Then, I’ll wait.”

Just
like that, his energy stopped touching Ty.

She
let out a shaky breath and tried to think.  He’d listened to her, even when he
hadn’t wanted to.  Even when he was strong enough that he didn’t have
to.  The man was the most frightening, fascinating Phase alive.

“I
have to go.”  Ty whispered.  She backed out of the room and into the hall.
“You’ll stay here, right?”

“I’ll
stay here.”  Gion agreed.  Icy blue eyes solemnly watched her.  Ty had the
feeling that he meant something more than just remaining in the room for
half-an-hour.

Queens
didn’t run away.

Absolutely
not.

But,
Ty did move quite a bit faster than usual as she hurried away from the King’s
Chamber.  Her own room was right next door.  She really should have considered
the proximity, because it wasn’t great for evading.

Ty
closed herself into her bedroom.  Like the King’s Chamber, Ty lived in a white
and blue paradise.  Soft, pale colors and sweeping views of the ocean dominated
the space.  A gilded fresco of clouds decorated the ceiling.  Her area rugs all
featured frolicking sea life.  Ty hadn’t changed a single picture frame in her
room for years.  Its consistency made her feel safe.

Sitting
down at her desk, Ty carefully punched Brokk’s number into her cell phone.  Her
hand wasn’t shaking.  And even if it was, it had nothing to do with
Gion.

Brokk
answered on the first ring.  “Where the hell are you, Ty?”

“I’m
in my bedroom.  I… ”

He
jumped right to her.  One second he was on the other end of the line.  The next
the lights flickered and Brokk stood right in front of her.

That
was one of the frustrating things about Brokk.

Most
Elementals couldn’t come and go in the human realm alone.  They needed to
combine their energy with one or two other Phases to make the jump.  Brokk
wasn’t the oldest or the strongest Phase, but he got the gold medal in
jumping.  Somehow, his powers let him enter and exit the human realm by
himself.  For someone like Ty, whose own energy could barely fill a water glass,
Brokk’s effortless skill ranked high on the “unfairness” charts.

Like
most Wood Phases, Brokk favored neat crew cuts and commando-style clothing.  A
bronze highlight colored his temple.  Wood Phases stood as the soldiers of the
Elemental realm.  Most Elementals were fine with spending their free time
watching reruns and eating Hershey Bars, but Wood Phases were trained to
protect and serve.  Committed to duty and honor, they gave selflessly.

In
return, they simply expected everyone else to follow their orders and fall into
line with whatever they thought was right.

Ty
liked all the Wood Phases.  She especially cared for Brokk, who’d always been a
little less formal and a little bit more extreme than the rest.  But, she
absolutely dreaded explaining Gion moving into the Water Palace.

Brokk
would not be a happy bodyguard.

“What
in the name of Gaia is going on?”  One of his hands came over to rest on the
top of Ty’s head, assuring himself that she was real and solid and okay.  Ty
had gotten used to Brokk touching her.  He was a physical sort of Phase.  Two
swords were crisscrossed on his back and there was a Crocodile Dundee
knife strapped to his thigh.  “How did you get back…?”  He trailed off
suspiciously.  “Wait.  What is that energy?”

Ty
cringed.  Gion’s powers still charged the air.  He’d jumped them both back to
the Water Palace earlier, the barriers not even slowing him down.  Ty hadn’t
done anything but hang on.  The massive power it took still lingered.  There
was no way that Brokk would miss that.

“Um…”
She cleared her throat.  Think queenly thought.  Think queenly thoughts.  “I’ve
granted amnesty to an Air Phase.  He’s just moved in.”

“You
what?”  Brokk gaped at her.  “Who did you let in?”

Ty
tried to look more confident than she felt.  “Gion.”

“Gion!”
Brokk roared.  “Are you insane?!  He can’t stay here!  He’s fucking evil!”

“No,
he’s not.”  Ty retorted.  She knew evil.  Parald was evil.  Gion wasn’t.
“He’s…”

“Back
in school, Gion exploded some kid’s lungs for his science project.”

“I
highly doubt that.”

“They
used to call him ‘The Black Hole’ ‘cause so many people just disappeared around
him.”

“I
don’t think that’s fair.  The cape just gives a bad impression.”

“He
once sent Stover, of the Dust House four hundred feet in the air and then
dropped him, just to see how big a splat he made.”  Brokk grimly reported.
“They had to power-wash the pavement for two weeks.”

Ty
actually remembered hearing about that one.  There were a lot of horror stories
about Gion, though, so they all sort of ran together into one long death roll.
“I think that there must’ve been some extenuating circumstances.  Stover was
always…”

Brokk
cut her off, again.  “Gion’s eaten three children that I know of.”

“Oh,
for God’s sake…”  Brokk could be utterly impossible.  “No one really believes
that one.”

“I
do!”

“Well,
I don’t.”

“Alright,
how about this, then.  It’s a fact that Gion’s betrayed every ruler he’s
ever followed.”  Brokk began counting them off on his fingers.  “First, he and
Parald overthrew King Seneca.  They seized control of the Air House and that’s
really what set the Fall into motion.  Then, Gion left Parald, betraying him.
The damn Air House has a bounty on his head and half the universe hunting for
him.  Now, he’s come here to you.  So, how long do you think before…?”

“What?”
Ty interrupted.

“How
long do you think it will be before Gion turns on you, too?”

“No,
not that.  What do you mean Parald has a bounty on Gion’s head.  Since, when?”

“What
do you live in a box?”

Actually,
Ty did live in a box called the Water Kingdom most of the time.  Besides
her drug counseling in the human realm, she spent almost all of her time safe
in her homeland, hiding from her countless enemies.  “Why does Parald want Gion
dead?”  She hadn’t expected that.  At least, not yet.  How could Parald even
know Gion was gone, so soon?

“Because,
Gion helped you escape, of course.  Everyone’s been talking about it.  The
crazy bastard walked into the Air House dungeon and set you free.”  Brokk made
a considering face.  “They say that Parald went supernova when he found out.
Which must have been a nice show, but still…”

Brokk
kept talking, but Ty stopped listening.

Gion
had rescued Ty from the Air House.  Letting prisoners go wouldn’t exactly help
Gion with his long term job prospects, but he’d done it anyway and he must’ve
been caught.

Which
meant that Gion had been forced to leave the Air House because of Ty.

Because
he’d been doing her a favor.

Only
he hadn’t mentioned that.  Even when Gion thought that she’d refuse him, he’d
never mentioned how saving Ty could cost him his life.  All Gion wanted was the
promise Ty had made him and the only thing that he seemed concerned about now was
how he’d fit into the Water House.

Ty
considered that for a long moment, reconciling the absolute arrogance of the
man, with his unexpected consideration.  The cold sarcasm, contrasted with the
warmth of the Air energy.  Gion’s terrible reputation, mixed with the fact that
he’d almost died to help her.

Then,
Ty looked over at the wall separating her room from Gion’s…

…
And realized, that under the façade of black clothes and pessimistic sneering,
the Water Kingdom’s newest citizen was a good man.

Chapter Four

Nature that
framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach
us all to have aspiring minds

Christopher
Marlowe- ‘Tamburlaine’

Gion
found Ty in the library.

She
sat at a long table, frowning intently at her computer screen.  Stacks of books
were piled around her and there was a pencil caught behind her ear.  Chewing on
her thumbnail, she scrolled down the page on her laptop in deep concentration.

He
hesitated in the doorway, watching her.

The
morning light came through the windows of the vast room, brilliant and clean.  Back
in the Air Kingdom everything was always dim.  The other Elementals couldn’t
sever their link to it entirely, just as Parald couldn’t escape giving them
Air.  The Elements were all interconnected.  Still, the Electricity House
didn’t work real hard to make sure that the Air Phases got their share of the
power.

It
was so much brighter here in the Water Palace.  So much easier to breathe.

The
sun highlighted Ty’s hair, washing her in a golden glow.  She looked like a
human college recruitment poster for dedicated, conscientious co-eds.  She
looked young and pure and full of life.  She looked like every dream he’d ever
had.

Gion
wanted to shove everything off the table and take her right there.  If she let
him, he would have had them both naked in fifteen seconds flat.  His eyes
automatically went to the buttons of her yellow sweater, gauging how best to
get her out of it.  Not that he planned to try, because she’d never give him
consent, but mentally undressing Ty was the current extend of Gion’s love life.

Since
the day he’d met Ty, all other women became obsolete, which meant that Gion had
close to a dozen years of celibacy under his belt.  Literally.  He was more
than ready to end the drought.

Unfortunately,
unless Ty had a severe change of heart and suddenly realized that Gion didn’t
repulse her, it seemed unlikely that she’d let him unfasten so much as one of
her hair barrettes.  Which was too bad, because they were intriguing little
things shaped like daisies.

Gion’s
gaze traced over Ty’s red curls.

The
daisy barrette held back the turquoise streak at her temple, so it mixed in with
the rest of the messy style.  If Ty offered him a chance to really touch her
hair, Gion would have eagerly met any price she asked.  He loved it.  The
brilliant color, and the way the curls went in every direction, and the soft
shine of it.  The cut ended at her jawline, but if the mass of curls was
straightened out, Gion hypothesized that it would be longer than his own
shoulder length hair.

The
Air House didn’t produce redheads.  Even Gion’s licorice black color was an
anomaly.  Nearly all the Air Phases were blondes, their hair neatly arranged in
straight, preppy styles.  Gion relished every untamed, colorful, unique curl on
Ty’s head.

She
was beautiful.

As
much as he hated Parald, he understood the man’s wild desperation to claim her.
Gion would have destroyed the world if he lost Ty, too.  The Air powers stirred,
trying to connect with her.

Ty
must’ve felt them, because she turned to look at him.  She blinked as if trying
to reorient herself to the world outside her computer.  “Gion.  Hi.”

And
then the most amazing thing happened.

Ty
smiled at him.

The
breath froze in his lungs.  For a minute, Gion wondered if he was about to
become the only Air Phase in history to die of suffocation.  Ty smiled at him.
Honest to God smiled.  Her eyes didn’t fill with dread like most Phases’
did when they discovered Gion standing behind them.  Instead, Ty looked happy
to see him.

As
pitiful as it sounded, that alone was worth dying for.

Everything
he’d endured to keep her safe…  The insults and the plots.  Parald’s cruelty.
The years of near captivity in the Air Kingdom.  Never being able to relax or
trust anyone.  The constant fear that he’d slip.  The execution order on his
head…  It all meant nothing compared to Ty.

Gion
would have done absolutely anything for this woman.

Not
as a sacrifice, but because he loved her so deeply that there weren’t words for
it.

He
dropped his eyes, before he made a complete ass out of himself.  “I finished my
first preliminary report.”  He held up the folder he’d prepared for her.

“Oh.
Excellent.  Wow, that was fast.”

No,
it wasn’t.  Gion almost looked down at his wrist to confirm that, but he didn’t
want to draw attention to his platinum timepiece.  For some reason, the
contrast between Ty’s eccentric, plastic Hello Kitty watch and his own made
him uneasy.  Like she’d see him as so completely foreign to her quirky,
feminine world that she’d never let him in.

Ty
made a sweeping motion with her hand, beckoning him closer.  “Did you sleep
alright?”

“Yes.”
Gion forced his legs forward, crossing the room.  He never slept well, always
prepared for an attack.  For the last week, he’d been moving around constantly to
elude Saxon and the other men that Parald had sent after him.  Last night,
surrounded by the serenity and magic of Ty’s kingdom, though, Gion felt almost
peaceful.

For
the first time ever, he was free.

“This
is a nice room.”  It was the most innocuous thing he could think to say.  “I
like libraries.”  Gion actually lived in the Air House library most of the
time, unable to bear his life in the palace.  The Water Kingdom’s library
remained one the best in the Elemental realm.  Books lined shelves two stories
high.

The
mild comment had Ty smiling, again.  “I like libraries, too.  The first book I
ever read was right over there.”  She gestured towards a pillow laden sofa.  “Ismena.
The fairytale.  I was about four.  Everyone said I was very advanced for my
age, but I think that I’d just memorized the book and recited it back to
myself.  I’d made everyone read it to me so many times, you see.”

Gion
had never read a fairytale in his life, but he’d suffer on the rack before he
admitted that to Ty.  “The first book I ever read was called Be the Perfect
Air Phase.  A boy named Disappointment wasn’t the perfect Air Phase
and suffered for a dozen or so illustrated pages.  Very graphic, yet subtle in
its metaphors.  Conformity sounds so much better when ‘laziness’ is poorly
rhymed with ‘his parents’ sadness.’”

“Why
would you read something so dreadful?”

“All
Air House children read it.  Then, they’re tested on it.  I got an ‘A.’”

“It’s
a wonder you wanted read anything, ever again.”  Ty adjusted her glasses.
“But, if you like books, I’m pleased about that.  It’s good that you enjoy
something.  Finally.  Spend as much time as you want here in the library.”

Gion
didn’t understand her sometimes.  Most of the time.  Why did she care
what he liked?

Ty
patted the seat beside her.  “Show me the report.”

Gion
carefully took the seat next to her at the table.  He never sat beside Ty
before.  It was… nice.  “I made you a copy.”  He slid it over to her.  “It’s
still preliminary.”  He added, again, in case she found something that wasn’t
thorough enough.  “I just think we should have a starting point.  I’ll be checking
the rooms, next.  One by one.”

Ty
picked up the thick stack of papers, weighing them with her hand.  “Wow.”  She repeated.
She flipped through the report, looking at the maps, graphs, suggestions, and
categorized chapters of information.  “You did all this morning?”

Gion
couldn’t read her expression.  In the Air Kingdom, when he’d prepared reports
for Seneca or Parald, it was always a bad sign when they didn’t just accept
them and dismiss him.  Asking questions or looking at the report in front of
him usually meant they were dissatisfied.

“It’s
preliminary.”  He should have made sure it was perfect before he gave it to
her.  He thought that he had, but, if Ty was disappointed, then Gion
would do better.  “If you give me until this evening, I can do a more complete
job.”

“I
don’t see how.”  Ty glanced at him over the top of her glasses.  “I am really…
impressed.”  She gave a breathy sort of laugh.  “You did all this this
morning?”

Gion
blinked.  “Of course.”  Impressed?  Why would she be impressed with a security
report?  He’d been doing them every day for four hundred years.  Well, not
counting the week of the Fall.  That had been his one and only “vacation.”

“I
wish I could get this much work done in --like-- two hours.”  Ty murmured.
“Okay, I’m going to level with you.  I don’t know anything about security.
Could you just,” she held up the folder, “walk me through this?”

It
disturbed Gion that Ty was putting so much in his hands.  It wasn’t safe.
“Well, I could, but don’t you think that would remove an extra layer of
review?”

“Review?”

“Yes.
I prepared that report.  What if I’m plotting against you?”  Gion couldn’t
believe that a brilliant woman would miss the obvious.  “If I’m the one who’s
going over the report with you, then who will spot any inaccuracies?  There
should be someone else reviewing it.  They can look for mistakes, whether intentional
or merely careless.”

“I
don’t think you’re ever careless, Gion.  So, all of that isn’t really
necessary.”

“Yes,
it is.”

“Well,
I’m the queen and I say it’s not.”  Ty turned to page one.  “I’m going
to assume that you’re not planning to kill me.  If you were, I don’t
think you’d need an indexed report to complete the job.”

“That’s
not the point.  It keeps people on edge to know that their work is constantly
scrutinized by their rivals and leaders.”  It helped guarantee that no one
screwed up.

“Why
would I want to keep you edgy?”  Ty made a face.

“Because,
then I’d have more incentive to do adequate work.”  He explained as patiently
as he could.  “Go over it with Brokk or Nia.”

“Yeah…
I don’t think that’s a great idea.”  Ty glanced over her shoulder towards the
door and lowered her voice.  “My cousins are not happy to hear that you’re
here.  Brokk told them and I just spent all morning calming them down.”

Gion’s
jaw tightened.  “Am I leaving?”

Ty’s
eyebrows climbed up her forehead.  “No.  Not unless you want to.  I told you,
no one’s going to kick you out.  Please don’t worry about that.  This is your
home, now.”

Gion
didn’t entirely believe her.  Sooner or later, things would go bad and he’d be
out.  He accepted that.  He just wanted to hold on as long as he could.

“You’re
safe here.”  Ty continued, apparently picking up on his doubts.  “Worrying
constantly is a terrible way to live.  Believe me, I know.  I live every day
paranoid about Parald.”

“Not
paranoid enough, obviously.”  Gion retorted.  “I could be a spy and you gave me
access to your entire kingdom.  Have you thought about that?”

“Of
course.”  She said simply.  “But, I think you’re a better man than that, Gion.
If I didn’t know that I could trust you, I never would have told you about
Nia’s baby.  I never would have let you in, at all.”  She looked back at the
report.  “Let’s start at the beginning, okay?”

Gion
stared at her for a long moment, utterly baffled by this woman.  Why would she
give him any trust?  He’d spent years as her enemy.  “I won’t betray you.”  He
vowed softly.

Ty’s
mouth curved.  “I know.  I thought it all out, so I could convince my cousins
of that, actually.”  She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.  “Want to
crib from me?  Just in case they corner you, too?  I’ll let you copy my
arguments.”

“Yes.”
Hear what she’d said to Nia and Tharsis about him?  Of course, Gion wanted
to hear that.

Ty
leaned closer to him.  The mischievous sparkle in her face captivated Gion.  No
one ever looked at Gion with a playful sort of expression.  No one cared about
him enough to want to include him in anything lighthearted.  The fact that Ty
would ever, ever, smile at him like that made Gion’s world so much…
better.

She
made everything better.

“Start
with the obvious.”  She told him conspiratorially.  “Where else would you go if
you killed me?  It’s either here or the Air Kingdom for you and you’re too
smart to want to go back there.  What with Parald having that price on your
head for helping me.”

Gion
hadn’t known that Ty knew about that.  She hadn’t last night.  Brokk or one of
the others must have told her.  “You make a good point.  I don’t think he’ll
let me collect the reward on myself, so what would be the advantage in
surrendering?”

“Right.”
She nodded.

Her
shampoo smelled like strawberries.

Ty
didn’t seem to notice his helpless desire for her.  “So then, Nia said that
maybe there isn’t a price on your head.  Maybe you and Parald are just
pretending to have a falling out in order to get close to me.”

Gion
probably should have been insulted by that, but he was just pleased that
someone else put some thought into Ty’s safety.  “Another intelligent observation.”

“But,
logically, what would be the point of all that?  I was already in the
Air Kingdom and Parald already had me.  I was chained to a wall,” her eyes slid
over to his, again, “and you let me go.”

“Yes.”
Gion still felt a surge of fear when he thought about how close it had been,
though.  Parald came within minutes of having Ty.

“You
saved me.”  She continued.  “I was so relieved to see you when you come into
the dungeon and found me.  I knew you’d help me, even though you didn’t have
to.”

“I
did have to.”  That was as essential to Gion as Air itself.  “You don’t
want Parald, so he will not put his hands on you.  Not for even a
second.  I give you my word.”

Gion
would never forget the day Ty that had been scheduled to stand before the
Council and accept Parald as her Match.  It had been an incredible mix of
emotions for him.  Despair and fury…

And
finally hope.

Gion
had thought that he was about to lose Ty forever.  He’d been so angry and
anguished.  So crazily, out of his mind, enraged and desolate.  He’d hated
Parald more than he’d ever hated anyone.  Gion never thought that he’d ever be
able to feel anything else, ever again.  He’d wanted to die and he probably
would have.

Then,
Ty renounced Parald.

And,
Gion’s felt nothing but staggering relief.

She’d
refused the Phase-Match right there in front of the Council.  Gion knew, at
that moment, that he still had a chance with her.

Gion
could never be Ty’s Match, but he could Bind with her.  A Binding was basically
a marriage by the Council.  Without being a Match, they couldn’t Phaze or share
memories or have children, but a Binding was the next best thing.  It would
allow Gion to have a real claim on Ty.  For the past two and a half years, it
had been the overriding, albeit desperate, dream of his life.

Ty
met his eyes.  “The others don’t understand why I feel… safe with you, now.
They think you pressured me into this.”  She actually held his gaze for three
full heartbeats, which might have been a record.

Gion
still scared Ty.  He knew that.  Hell, he’d encouraged it for years; trying to
hide his feelings for her and protect her.  But, he still wished she’d maintain
eye contact for more than a second at a time.  He wished that she’d just see
him.

No
one ever saw Gion.  They looked at him, but they never saw him.

Gion
always had the horrible feeling that Ty would be able to read every thought in
his head if she looked into his eyes and really saw him.  As much as he dreaded
that, a bigger part of him wanted it to happen.  Even if Ty only saw darkness
inside of him, at least she’d know that he really existed.

“I
did pressure you.  I forced you to let me into your kingdom, if you recall.”

“That’s
not true.”

Gion
snorted.

“You
were invited here, Gion.”  Ty insisted.  “My family will accept that.
They just need more time.  They don’t feel this energy between us like I do.”
She bit her bottom lip, which pretty much killed him.  “Like we do.”

Gion
heard the question in the slight hitch of her voice.  “We both feel the energy,
Tritone.”  His gaze dropped to the buttons of her sweater.  “I’ve felt it for a
long time.”

“Right.”
She nervously exhaled.  “Anyway, you wouldn’t have helped me if you weren’t a
better man than people believe.”

Gion
should let her think that.  It worked to his advantage.  “I’m not a good man.”
He heard himself say, anyway.

Ty
shook her head.  “Last night, you could have killed me at the meeting or taken
me back to him.  Heck, you could kidnap me, right now, if you want to.”

“Probably.”

“But,
you aren’t.  In fact, I can’t think of a single rational explanation for all
that, except that you’re genuine about wanting amnesty.”  She shrugged.
“Neither could Nia and Thar, but they still aren’t happy.”  Irate cousins
obviously didn’t worry Ty overly much.  She was utterly secure in their love
and support.

“I
do want amnesty.”  Gion said truthfully.  “I want to be in the Water Kingdom.”
Being here in the Water House with Ty meant everything to him.  “That’s not why
I won’t betray you, though.”  His hand eased closer to Ty’s and his fingers
brushed over hers.  “And that’s not why I protected you from Parald.”

Gion
expected her to draw back, but she didn’t.  Instead, Ty shifted slightly, so his
thumb slid under her palm.

And,
just like that, Gion was holding her hand.  It was so much different than when
he’d gripped her palm as she lay dying in the courtyard during the Fall.  This
time she was… aware.  His heart stopped.  It felt better than Phazing with any
other woman possibly could have.  Happiness filled Gion.  It was the first time
that Ty didn’t recoil or stiffen when he touched her.

Fascinated,
he measured the difference in their fingers.  Her skin was softer than his, her
bones much more fragile.  Gion’s hand was twice her size.  Ty’s thumb was
smaller than his pinky.  Pink polish decorated her nails.

Gion
found all of it mesmerizing.

Ty
allowed his thumb to caress the inside of her wrist for a long moment.  Gion
felt her pulse hammering, but Ty still didn’t pull away.  The Water energy hit
against him.  Ty was too young to have his control or maybe just too
inexperienced to understand what she was doing.

Gion
tried to hold his powers back from her most of the time.  The two of them
touching powers was odd enough and he didn’t want to frighten her with the full
weight of the Air energy.  It got progressively harder to keep control,
though.  The Air powers fought to get to her.  Ty didn’t seem to realize what
the Water energy did to him.  Did she think he couldn’t feel it or that it was
too slight to matter?

Well,
he could feel it and it definitely mattered.

Her
powers weren’t strong, but they flowed over him, soft and warm and perfect.
They touched everything.  Ty just let the energy go wherever it wanted, so Gion
stayed in a constant state of arousal.

His
grip tightened on her hand as the Air energy tugged at the end of its leash.
He’d always had too much power.  If Ty felt exactly how much, she’d panic.
Gion released as much as he dared, more than he’d ever let touch her before.

Ty’s
eyes widened in pleasure and surprise.  “Wow.”  Her hand squeezed his.  Hard.
“Gion, how are you…?”  She trailed off with a whimper.  The Water powers
swirled to meet his Air energy.  “Oh.  Yes.”  Her eyes drifted shut.

Gion’s
jaw dropped, his own desire spiking to new heights.

She’d
consented.

Maybe
he scared her and maybe Ty would never feel comfortable around him, but Gion could
truly make her want him.

That
was a fucking triumph.

Emboldened,
Gion’s other hand moved to touch Ty’s hair, flicking the barrette free.  Silky
curls slid through his fingers and Gion actually groaned.  He could have come just
from the feel of her hair.

He’d
waited so long.

He
wanted her so badly.

Brilliant
red tresses overflowed his palm, tangling around his hand.  More Air energy
slipped, wrenching free of Gion’s restraints and finding Ty.  It was too much.
He knew that immediately.  Too much power.  It scared her.

Ty
gave a gasp and pulled back.  Turquoise eyes flashed up to his in shock.

Gion
released his hold on her hand.  “I’m sorry.”  His fingers reluctantly fell from
her hair.  “It just got away from me for a second.  I wouldn’t have hurt you,
though.”  He watched her intently.  “My energy would never hurt you.”
Even if he lost complete control, the Air powers wouldn’t harm Ty.  He was sure
of that.  The energy wanted to get closer to her, not to do any damage.

“But,
how much power do you have?”  She asked.  “More than even that?”

He
should have lied, except being near Ty gave him a conscious.  “Yes.”  Telling the
truth was damn inconvenient, but Gion didn’t have a choice with her.

Ty
studied him.  “I knew you were powerful, but… Gion, you’re very
powerful.”

He
was going to lose what little ground he’d gained with her.  Ty wouldn’t want
him touching her, now.  Frustration ate at him.

“You
think I don’t know that?  I’ve been different from everyone else from the day I
was born.”  Gion got to his feet.  “I know it’s abnormal.”

Only
Job’s incredible powers exceed Gion’s.  The two of them had been the undisputed
heavyweights of the Elemental World for centuries.  But, Job was Job and Gion
was Gion.  Job was loved and respected.  Looked to for advice and protection.

Gion
was dangerous.

Gion’s
powers made him a commodity.  A useful and deadly tool.  People always treated
him with fear and suspicion.  And with good reason.  How could you trust
someone who could blow you into pieces with an arch of his eyebrow?  What if he
lost control?  Again.

Murderer.

The
taunt from his boyhood popped into his head and he had the horrible sensation
that Ty heard it, too.  Feelings of shame and self-disgust filled him.  Gion flinched,
backing away from her.

Ty’s
head tilted, her hair still mussed from his fingers.  “Where are you going?”

“Somewhere
else.”  He started for the door, pocketing the daisy barrette; stealing it from
her, because he was selfish and wanted something of Ty’s.

“Gion.”

As
always, the word stopped him cold.  Gion loved hearing his name on her lips.
He’d waited years for Ty to speak to him directly and the very first word she’d
ever said to him was “Gion.”

He’d
never forget that.

It
pulled him back to her like a fish on a line.  “Yes?”

“Next
time, don’t keep your energy away from mine.”  She shook her head.  “I don’t
understand what’s happening between us, but it feels wrong for one of us to
only participate halfway.”

Next
time.

Gion
felt dizzy with gratitude.

Unfortunately,
Ty kept talking and ruined his relief.

“Also,
I think I should do some research and find out why we feel this way, don’t
you?  The energy isn’t normal.  There must be an explanation.”

Gion’s
eyes narrowed.  “You going to --What?-- try and cure us?”  That was the
last thing he wanted.  In fact, his temper ignited at the very idea.

“No,
but…”

“Do
not fuck with our energy.”  Gion interrupted harshly.  “Don’t do anything
to sever this connection we have.”

If
Ty “fixed” whatever this aberration was between them, Gion would be lost.  It
was all that he had.  Unless he could coax her in with his powers, Ty
would leave him forever.

“I
just want to do some research.”  Ty insisted.  Apparently she startled that he
wasn’t jumping on board with plan “Destroy Gion’s World.”

If
she set her mind to it, Ty could stop her energy from touching his.  She was a
genius.  A scientist.  Ordinarily, Gion loved her complicated, brilliant mind.
Now, fear took hold in him.  Ty might be able to cut her energy off from his.
Gion would never tolerate that.  He’d die first.

He
had to stop her.

Gion
stalked back over to the table, automatically falling back on five hundred
years of success through intimidation.  People rarely crossed you when they
thought you might explode their lungs.

Gion
didn’t want to frighten Ty.  Not at all.  It undermined his entire goal
in life.  He wanted Ty smiling when she saw him.  He wanted her believing that
he was a good man.  But, at that moment, Gion preferred Ty’s fear over the risk
of her going ahead with her research.

“Leave
it alone.”  He ordered.  “I’m satisfied with our energies touching and I don’t
want it changed.”

Ty’s
eyes widened as he loomed over her.  “I just want to know why.  I have
to understand the reasons for it.”

“You
need to pay attention and understand this.”  Gion braced his hand on the
back of her chair, trapping her with his body.  “I’m more powerful than you
are.  If you try to get rid of me, I will stop you.”

As
he anticipated, Ty shrank back from him.  Gion had a Ph.D. in terrifying people
shitless and Ty never did well with direct confrontation.  She wouldn’t fight
with him.

He
wanted that.

Except,
he hated it.

Ty
had to stop her research.  There was no choice.  Gion needed Ty and he
couldn’t let her rip free of his life.  But, he still hated it when she
shut him out.  No more smiling or touching.  Ty just stared up with emotionless
turquoise eyes and didn’t say a word.

Gion’s
jaw went rigid.

Ty
always did this.  She just stopped talking to him and it drove him insane.

When
Gion felt powerless and annoyed, he got sarcastic and cold.  When he got
sarcastic and cold, Ty got quiet.  Then, he’d get more annoyed that she
was ignoring him and get more sarcastic and pretty soon Ty wasn’t even
in the same room with him.  Oh, she still stood there physically, but she
withdrew somehow and Gion couldn’t reach her, at all.

That
really bothered him.

Once,
Gion accidently sent Ty into a panic attack, trying to get her to respond.
He’d wanted her to remember the mob attacking her, partly to scare some sense
into her and partly because he just wanted her to recall his presence.  Ty
didn’t seem to have any real memories of that night during the Fall.  Whatever
sensory fragments she did retain obviously still terrified her, though.  Gion
hadn’t even known that Elementals could have panic attacks, but when Ty crumbled
right in front of him, his whole world stopped.

Gion
still hadn’t forgiven himself for that.

Now,
he watched in frustration as Ty pulled back into herself.  She just vanished
into her mind and he couldn’t read her, at all.  Plus, Ty still hadn’t promised
him that she’d back off the research.  She’d stopped fighting him outright, but
Ty hadn’t given in.

She
was so damn stubborn.

Shit.

Gion
closed his eyes and moved away from her.  For a few minutes, she’d trusted him
and he’d ruined it.  He screwed up everything important.

He
always had.

“Ty.”
Gion whispered her nickname without even thinking about it.

Amazingly,
that got her eyes snapping back up to his.  Gion realized that he’d never
called her “Ty” before.  Not to her face.  He always stayed safe behind the
formality of her full name.

It
got her attention and, once he regained that, Gion couldn’t bear to lose it,
again.  Even though he knew he should keep pushing her, he found himself
softening.  “Ty, please.”  He crouched down next to her chair and tried a new
tactic.  “I… like the energy.  Don’t take it away.”

What
Gion felt for Ty, kept him alive.  Like gravity, it anchored him.  Without it,
he’d just float off into nothing.

She
chewed on her bottom lip, again.  “You like the energy?”  She remained distant,
but at least they were back to a verbal exchange.

“Of
course, I like it.”  Gion scoffed.  “God, I certainly don’t blame you for wanting
me out of your life, but what I feel between us is real.  It’s the only
real thing I have.”

“It
feels like Phazing energy.”

“I
know.”

“That’s
not normal.  It’s not real.”

“It’s
close enough.”

“What
if you find your actual Match?  Wouldn’t you want to know how to stop the
energy between us?”

“No.”
The word was unequivocal.  “I don’t want a Match.”  Gion just wanted Ty.

Ty
frowned.  “Everyone wants their Match.”

“Really?”
Gion arched a brow.  “Did you?”

“That
was different.”  She turned in her chair so she could face him.  “Most Matches
love each other.  What if you love this woman, but you’re still tied to me?  Then
wouldn’t you want me to fix this connection?”

“No.”
The idea that he’d ever want somebody else struck Gion as ludicrous.  No other
woman held the slightest interest for him.

“Well,
I guarantee that your Match really won’t like your energy touching
another woman’s.”

“Too
bad.”

“That’s
a terrible attitude.”

Gion
barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes.  “Why don’t we worry about all the
‘what ifs’ later?”  He didn’t see the point in debating his troubled
relationship some fictitious Phase-Match.  “Will you leave the energy between
us alone?”  This time he phrased it as a question.

She
considered him for a long moment.

“At
least for now, Ty, just leave it alone.  Promise me.”

She
pursed her lips.  “I won’t disrupt the energy without discussing it with you.”
She finally allowed.

Okay,
that was something.  “Unless, I agree.”  Gion pressed.  “Don’t disrupt
it unless I agree.  I should have a vote.  The connection is half mine.”

And
he’d never fucking agree to get rid of it.

Ever.

So,
her promise meant that their connection was safe.  Gion watched Ty, closely,
willing her not to notice that small detail.

Another
long pause.  “You won’t get rid of the energy without me agreeing to it,
either?”

“I
won’t.”  It was the firmest guarantee ever made.

“Alright.”
She murmured.  “That’s reasonable.”

Relief
flooded him.  Not just because she’d agreed to forget about her research, but
at his new discovery.   Ty shut him out when Gion pushed and threatened.  When
he asked her, though, she compromised.

That
was huge a breakthrough.

Gion
smiled.  “Thank you.”

“Just
don’t try to intimidate me into getting your own way, again.”  She warned.  “I
don’t like it and it won’t work.”

“I
know.  I’m sorry.  Give me some time and I’ll adjust to life here.  I can be
right for you.”

“I
don’t want you to be ‘right.’  I want you to be Gion.  I want you to be
the better man that I see in you.”

He
had no idea what that meant, but he nodded anyway.

Ty
sighed, apparently picking up on his total lack of comprehension.  “Come back
over here.”  She gestured to his chair.  “We can go over the report.”

Gion
debated that.  Not that it was much of an internal struggle.  His obsession
with Ty made the outcome pretty easy to predict.  “Very well.”  He took his
seat.  “If you’re sure you want to do this with me instead of an independent
third party.”

“I’m
sure.”  Ty said gravely and moved the report so it sat between them.  “I
wouldn’t trust anyone else to do this as well as you can.”

Gion
shot her a sideways look and cleared his throat.  “Right.  Well,” he focused on
the neatly typed pages, “I am concerned about a few areas.”  He frowned.
“Actually, I’m concerned about a lot of areas, but these eight on
page one are the top priorities.  That’s the immediate action section.  I go
into more detail about each problem in their individual chapters, but we should
start at the beginning.  Here, I brought a highlighter for the bullet points.”

Ty
glanced up at him and smiled.

Chapter Five

These
elemental furies are coming at him with a purpose of malice, with a strength
beyond

control,
with an unbridled cruelty that means to tear out of him his hope and his fear,
the

pain of
his fatigue and his longing for rest

Joseph
Conrad- ‘Lord Jim’

Chason,
of the Magnet House stared at his Match’s grave.

The
white marble sepulcher stood in pristine silence amid his decaying world.  The
Magnet Kingdom had fallen into a deep, gray gloom since the Fall.  The
buildings and grounds wasted away under Chason’s neglect, but Mara’s tomb
remained surrounded by roses and lavished with attention.

Chason
saw to it personally.

Everything
here had been done to his exacting specifications.  He’d forced Stone Phase
artisans to redo the structure three times until he was satisfied that it was
perfect for Mara.  The craftsmen created beautiful Art Deco carvings on the
mausoleum’s surface.  Languid women in flowing dresses danced among weeping
willow trees.  Their lovely faces reflected the joy and life that his Match had
brought to the world.  Every figure held a different instrument: harps and
flutes and Elemental lutes.  Mara loved music and, in death, Chason made sure
that it surrounded her.  The crypt truly was a work of art.

Chason
hated it.

Hated
envisioning his beautiful bride trapped inside of it for eternity.  Hated the
marble walls that separated them.  Hated that he couldn’t yet join her in
endless silence.  But, the tomb was all he had left of Mara, now, so he came
here every day.  It drew him.  In the entire Magnet Kingdom, it was the only
spot that held any meaning.  The only spot where he could still feel his Match.

Chason
no longer cared what happened to the rest of his homeland.

He
no longer cared about anything but revenge.

Once,
Chason had been a good man.  He’d been raised as an officer and a gentleman.
He sacrificed for his people and followed the Council’s laws without question.
He protected anyone weaker than himself.  He believed in honor, truth, and
justice.  He was a dutiful son and a pious follower of Gaia.  Cason had tried
so hard to do everything expected of him.

Chason
had thought that God rewarded his efforts when he found his Match.  Mara gave
Chason’s strict, disciplined life meaning.  She played music and made him
laugh.  She warmed him and made him better.  Everything he’d ever wanted was
because of her.

Mara
was the light in his world.

Then,
the Air House killed her and the world went dark.

Parald
released the Fall and destroyed Chason’s soul.  Watching Mara die had
extinguished every drop of compassion and reason he’d ever possessed.  Chason
was a shell, now, existing purely on rage and bitter hatred.  His faith was
gone, burned out of him.  Nothing remained of the man he’d been, except a
gaping hole where his heart had once beat.

Chason
wanted to follow Mara into the next world.  Every second without his Match ate
at him like acid.  But, he couldn’t leave, yet.  Couldn’t allow the Air House
to get away with their treachery.  Chason planned to kill himself, but, when he
did, he’d take the rest of universe down with him.  Every Air Phase needed to
die.  Without Air, the world would end, but Chason didn’t care.

All
he cared about was revenge.

Once
everything blinked out like a porch light, Chason could finally rest.

“Commander.”
Lansing, of the Dust House walked towards him across the dusty, gray soil.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, but we have news.”

Chason
left strict instructions that no one was to bother him when he was with Mara.
He turned away from the tomb, frowning at his second-in-command.  “What?”

Chason
had an army of followers, now.  The Reprisal.  Phases who’d survived the Fall and
despaired at what they saw.  Phases who knew that the world would never be
right, again.  Men and women from nearly every House joined Chason’s war on the
Air Kingdom.  It was only a matter of time before they succeed in destroying
the universe.

Only
a matter of time.

…Time
that he might not have.

“Sir,
we know where Gion is.”  Lansing nervously cleared his throat.  “The Water
House gave him amnesty yesterday.”

Chason
heard a roaring in his ears and a terrible rage filled him.  From childhood,
he’d possessed a horrible temper and he’d tried to master it.  Since the Fall,
though, it had been slipping beyond his control more often.  Everything
was slipping beyond his control, now.  One day, Chason knew that he’d lose his
grip completely and careen into total madness.  He could see the bottomless pit
looming ahead of him; the laughing, merciless specter of insanity ready to pull
him under.  If he didn’t kill Parald soon, Chason feared that it would be too
late for him.

Chason
was going crazy.

Not
metaphorically crazy.  Honest-to-God, straightjacket and rubber room crazy.
He could feel the blackness spreading in his mind.  Sense it
shadowing his movements and clouding his thoughts, luring him towards the edge
of oblivion.

But,
he no longer cared.

Chason
had just enough awareness left to realize that he was running out of time.

The
Magnet powers jerked free of his restraints and slammed out over the kingdom.
The magnetized rocks beneath his feet shifted and groaned from the strain.
“The Water House took Gion in?”  He ground out.

“Yes,
sir.”  Lansing warily glanced down at the shaking ground.  “Parald put that
price on his head last week, so it looks like Gion went to Ty for help.”

Next
to Parald himself, Chason hated Gion more than anyone who’d ever existed in the
history of creation.  Parald never would have seized control of the Air House if
not for Gion.  That bastard paved the road to Hell.  And now fucking Nia,
Tharsis, and Ty wanted to adopt the son-of-a-bitch?!

Chason
squeezed his eyes shut, trying to reign in his fury.  It was Job’s fault.  The
Elemental’s own Dr. Manhattan thought he could control everyone; make them all
play nice and make peace.  He was wrong.  Job’s fucking amnesty idea had incensed
Chason to begin with and now, to see it applied to Gion, of all people…. Gion,
who stood at Parald’s side while Mara rotted in a tomb…

No.

It
was intolerable. Gion couldn’t just walk away from the misery he’d created.  He
had to pay.  There had to be justice.

“Why
would Gion go to the Water House?”

That
question was delivered in a distinctive raspy tone.  Raiden, of the Radiation
House had his throat slit in the Fall.  The untreated wound hadn’t healed
properly and it affected his voice.

Chason
hadn’t heard him come up, but that wasn’t unusual.  Nobody noticed Raiden
unless he wanted them, too.  His dark hair was shaved close to his head in an
effort to obliterate the gamma ray green streak at his temple.  His vibrant
chartreuse eyes glowed with madness and sorrow and something approaching the
divine.

Chason
no longer believed in God, but he believed that Raiden saw things beyond the
physical world.  Whatever else existed out there, the guy had it on speed
dial.  That was one of the reasons that the Radiation House wanted him dead.

Of
all of the Reprisal soldiers, Chason trusted Raiden both the most and the least.

“Well,
not many Houses are stupid enough to let the Air Phases in.”  Lansing shook his
head.  “Damn do-gooding Water Phases have always been soft.”

“Why
would Gion choose the Water House, though?  He knows the Quintessence.  She’d
accept him.”  Raiden came closer, his large hand brushing against the pedals of
one of Mara’s white roses.  “Why not go to the Earth House with Tessie?”

Chason
didn’t appreciate anyone else touching his Match’s flowers.  Even through his
anger, he saw Raiden’s point, though.  His brows came together and he glanced
over at Lansing.  “Did Job refuse to give Gion amnesty?”

“Job
would never refuse Tessie.”  Raiden intoned.  “If Gion wanted to be there, the
Earth House would have let him in.”

“Perhaps,
Gion didn’t want to compete with Job for power.”  Lansing suggested.  “In the
Water House, he’ll be the strongest and he won’t have to worry about Job
crushing him.”

That
made sense, except Gion was too arrogant to be concerned about Job.  The
asshole would never think that anyone could stop him.  Why would Gion choose
the peaceful, quirky, Water Kingdom?  Even before the Fall, it had been a place
of grace and eccentric charm.  Gion would fit in like a shark in a school of
tropical fish.  Nia would never let him have any real influence.  None of the
Water Phases could possibly trust him.

Why
would Gion go there?

Gion
was an evil dick, but he was powerful.  Chason wouldn’t have been surprised if
one of the Houses agreed to take him on as their ultimate super weapon.  Or
–Hell-- he could’ve even killed Parald, if he wanted to.  Chason would have bet
on Gion in just about any fight.  The guy cheated and played for keeps.  As
smart and ruthless as Gion was, Parald wouldn’t have stood a chance if Gion
pulled an Ides of March on his ass.

Gion
could be in charge of the Air House, right now.

So
why was Gion with the Water Phases?

“They
say he broke Ty out of the Air House dungeon.”  Raiden put-in.  “She owed him.”

Lansing
scowled at the mention of her name.  “Ty owes us all.”

Like
many in the Reprisal, Lansing hated Ty, blaming her for triggering Parald’s
wrath and, with it, the Fall.  Chason himself had nothing against the girl.
She hurt Parald more deeply than anyone else when she renounced him.  That
pretty much made Ty and Chason even, in his book.

Raiden’s
glowing eyes watched Lansing.  “Ty, of the Water House is vital to our world.”

Chason
had no idea what that meant and he didn’t bother ask.  Half of what Raiden said
was like something out of a Nostradamus quatrain.  It
only became clear after the event already happened.  None of Raiden’s
soothsaying made much sense and, yet, he was somehow always right.

“She’s
a fucking bitch.”  Lansing shot back.  “Ty and Gion deserve each other.”

“Perhaps
they do.”  Raiden’s head tilted as if something was whispering in his own
fractured mind.

That
was one of the reasons that Chason relied on Raiden.  No matter how crazy
Chason was, Raiden was worse.

For
now.

Chason’s
gaze went back to his Match’s grave.

“Look,
I just don’t understand any of this.”  Lansing shook his head.  He was a man
who preferred neat and tidy explanations for everything around him.  “What
triggered Gion to switch sides?  Why would he want out of the Air House when he
was the strongest?  Why would he betray Parald for Ty?  What can she do
for him?”

Ty
and Gion deserve each other.

Chason’s
head tilted, too.

The
writing over Mara’s sepulcher was simple and to the point:

Mara,
of the Magnet House.

Beloved,

Forever
and Then Some.

His
amethyst eyes traced over the words.

Why
would a Phase do things that made no sense?  Why would he leave his home and
risk his life?  Why would he free his enemy from a dungeon?  Why would he
abandon everything and ask for amnesty from a House where he’d never fit in?

A
woman.

The
right woman made everything else fall away.  Made you do whatever it took to
have her and keep her forever.  No one knew that better than Chason.  If you
loved a woman, logic meant nothing.

Chason’s
mouth parted as he realized the truth.

If
he’d still believed in God, he would’ve sworn a heavenly choir of angelic
voices soared in a prefect, revelatory “laaaaaaaaaaaaaaa” all around him.  For
once, the reminder of music didn’t cut through him, though.  Chason stood at
the feet of true inspiration and looked upward at the answer to all his empty prayers.

Gion
had a woman.

Gion
had a weakness.

Ty.

It
had to be Ty.

It
seemed so obvious, now.

Killing
Ty to punish Parald would have been pointless.  The man was incapable of
love.  Ty was just a possession to him.  But, Match or not, if Gion really loved
Ty, then losing her would destroy him.  That sweet, little redhead was the key
to bringing Gion to his knees.

If
this was true, Chason could do to Gion exactly what had been done to him
when Mara died.  He could rip out Gion’s heart and leave him alone in an empty
world.

He’d
have justice for his Match.

He’d
finally have revenge.

Chason
very slowly smiled as the blackness in his head pulled him ever deeper into
madness.

Chapter Six

I have
already moved too long in an environment that is not my own.

Flying
fish can live for a time in the air; but soon they must splash back into the
water.

I, too,
must swim in my own element.

Ivan
Turgenev's ‘Fathers and Children’

“You
son-of-a-bitch!”  Cross, of the Shadow House did not possess a calm and
soothing voice.  It rumbled with Shadows most of the time and, when he started
yelling, it went into complete darkness.  “What the hell are doing, coming
here?”  He stalked forward interrupting Gion’s security check, his mercury eyes
glowing with rage.

Dressed
in cargo pants and a sleeveless t-shirt, Cross looked out of place in the Water
Palace.  Water Phases gravitated towards cheerful seaside tones for their
attire.  Cross gravitated towards black.

Gion
didn’t entirely blame the boy.

After
all, Gion still wore one of his Air House uniforms.  First of all, because he
didn’t own any other styles of clothes.  Secondly, because he was comfortable
in the austere color.  And, finally, because it was his.

Gion’s
world was upside down, now.  Most of that was because of his own choices.
Hell, most of it was part of his own plan.  But, it still freaked him
out.  For so long, he’d wanted to be in the Water Kingdom.  He’d wanted to
escape Parald and be free.  He’d wanted to be with Ty and he’d done everything
in his power to make that happen.

Still,
the sudden transition from his old life in the Air Kingdom, constantly
expecting betrayal and death, to life in the relatively peaceful Water House
was jolting.  People still wanted him dead here in the Water Palace, but they
were a lot more open about it.

So
far today, he’d had Nia, Brokk, and Tharsis all threatening him with bodily
harm if he so much as made Ty stub her toe.  None of them had actually tried to
harm Gion, though.  In the eighteen hours that Gion had been an honorary Water
Phase, he hadn’t once been attacked from behind.  Certainly that was a pleasant
change, but it took some getting used to.

“Cross.
Come to welcome me into the fold?”

“I’ve
come to fucking kill you, you bastard.  Blackmailing poor Ty is a new all-time
low for you and that is really saying…”

“I
never blackmailed Tritone.”  Gion interrupted.  “She and I made a deal.
Concerning me heroically saving your Match, as I recall.”  He shifted so
he’d be able to draw his sword more easily if it came to that.  Not that he wanted
to kill Cross.  The last Shadow Phase alive, Cross’ death would automatically
end the universe.  That was almost always a bad thing.

Even
more importantly, though, Cross was Nia’s Match.  Ty idolized her cousins.
Tharsis and Nia were the most important people in her world.

Gion
wasn’t an idiot.

He’d
never get anywhere with Ty if he decapitated her beloved cousin-in-law right
there in the family’s living room.  Especially, since Cross was the happy
father-to-be to Ty’s niece.

“You
extorted her out of that promise.”  Cross roared.  “I was there when it
happened, dickhead, so I know how it went down.  You refused to help Nia
without Ty buying you off.”

Gion
would have helped Nia even without the promise.

He
wasn’t exactly advertising that, but it was the truth.  Ty loved her.  Nia was
her sister, in every way that mattered.  Ty wanted Nia alive, so Gion kept Nia
alive.  It was as simple as that.

Gion
checked off “south windows- second floor, living room” from the master list in
his hand and turned the page on his clipboard.  “I expected you sooner.”  He
told Cross.  “I could have worked my nefarious ways last night, stealing the
palace’s silverware and vandalizing all the empty rooms.  You should have been
here to stop my evil schemes.  Or did ruling over all your loyal
subjects tire you out for the day?”

“If
I’d heard about it sooner, I woulda been here to kick you out sooner.  I was
with Job this morning.  When Ty decided to turn crazy, she didn’t exactly
advertise…”

Gion’s
head snapped around.  “Watch what you say about Ty.”  He warned flatly.

Cross
stopped his ranting short and squinted at Gion.  “What?”

Gion
looked back at his clipboard.  He didn’t have a family.  He certainly wasn’t
used to dealing with anyone else’s.  In fact, he’d told himself that it would
be best if he just stayed out of Ty’s personal life.  Her cousins were a pain
in the ass, but they were none of his business.  Gion had no intention of even
talking to anyone in his new kingdom.

Except
his new queen.

Cross
was harmless.  At least towards Ty.  Gion knew that.  Still…

“Tritone’s
done nothing wrong.  Leave her out of it.”  He clicked his pen and headed over
to the other side of the vast room.

Cross
stared after him, an incredulous expression on his face.  “Are you kidding
me?  I fucking love that kid.  You’re the one manipulating her, forcing
Ty to take you in like stray cat.  Bringing the Air House down on her head…”

“The
Air House was already after Ty.”

Parald
wouldn’t rest until he’d reclaimed her.

Or
Gion killed him.  Unfortunately, Gion calculated that he had another hundred
years or so before that was possible.

At
this point, Ty would be safer with Gion in the Water Palace.  For a long time,
he’d done her more good by staying with Parald.  That way, Gion could see
everything that happened in the Air Kingdom and sabotage all of Parald’s
abduction efforts.

But
things were passed that now.

“Ty
would be a lot better off if you would just…”  Cross trailed off, watching as
Gion tested the French doors leading to the balcony, one by one.  “Alright,
seriously, what the hell are you doing?”

The
entire eastern wall was covered in a row of the glass doors leading out to an
open veranda.  In Gion’s estimation, the Water Palace contained more balconies
than any other building in the Elemental realm.  The outdoor living areas nearly
equaled the massive interior space.

All
in all, it was a beautiful, scenic, security nightmare.

“I’m
checking access points, obviously.”  Every one of the doors consisted of
breakable glass panels.  Gion spared a frustrated look towards the ceiling.
Gaia, this was bleak.  It was a wonder that any Water Phases survived, at all,
if they insisted on living in a greenhouse.

Gion
blew-out an aggravated breath and looked back at his clipboard.  Item number
sixteen on Gion’s master list was “replace all windows with Plexiglas.”
Elementals couldn’t manipulate plastic and it was a lot harder to break.  “Tell
me what is it that Brokk does around here?  Isn’t he supposed to be in charge
of security?”

“He’s
Ty’s bodyguard.”

“Well,
where was he last night at Ty’s narcotics counseling?”

“Ty
doesn’t like anyone with her in the meetings.  She says they’re private.  And
then you jumped her home afterwards, so…”

“Private?
How can they be private?  They’re crawling with humans.”

“Ty
won’t let Brokk sit in.”  Cross stated flatly.  “She won’t let any Phases in
there with her.”

Gion
blinked.  Once.  Twice.  “And you and Brokk allow this?”  He clarified.

“Look,
you wanna try reasoning with Ty… be my guest.  Nia and Tharsis talked to her, but
she was adamant, so they gave in.  Ty’s been doing better and they don’t want
to do anything to screw up her progress.”  Cross gave an “everybody’s a lunatic
but me” shrug.  “It’s just inside the meeting itself that she wants privacy.”

“Someone
will be with Ty every single second that she’s outside of the Water
Kingdom.”  Gion said unequivocally.  “Or Ty won’t leave the Water Kingdom, at
all.”

Cross’
eyebrows shot upward.

“Gion?”

He
turned and spotted Ty hovering in the doorway.  The world shrunk down, so it
became nothing but her.  It was always like that when he saw her.  “Yes?”

“Are
you… alright?”  She shot Cross a slight frown as if she was worried that her
cousin-in-law might be torturing him.

“Your
new immigrant here isn’t happy.”  Cross informed her and waved a hand at Gion.
“He doesn’t think you pay enough attention to security and he’s actually right,
for once.  If you and Thar just came to the Shadow Kingdom, permanently, you’d
be better off.  I told you that.”

“This
was my parents’ House.”  Ty said quietly.  She cast a quick glance at Gion.  “I
had the feeling you wouldn’t enjoy being here.”  She looked worried.  “Would
you like to go to the Shadowland, instead?”

“Oh,
hell, no!”  Cross protested.  “He’s not coming near my House.”

“I’m
satisfied with the Water Kingdom.”  Gion would willingly trade body parts to
stay here with Ty.  “Your security is insufficient, however.  I’m creating the
complete report.”  He forced himself to look away from her.  “And you can’t be
by yourself in the human realm, anymore.  Not even for the meetings.”

Ty
came closer to him and Gion felt himself getting tenser.  The Air energy went
nuts every time she came near him, but it was worse than ever.  Following her
request, he’d stopped trying to hold the energy back from her.  Now, even
without touching her, the Air powers muddled his thinking.  Every halfway
intelligent thought in Gion’s head vanished.

Ty
could feel his energy against hers.  Her breathing got faster and she swallowed
as if she was trying to focus.  “My meetings are private.  I don’t want anyone
else there.”

“So
I’ve heard.  Tell me, do you consider being kidnapped, raped and murdered private,
as well?”  Gion tapped the clipboard against his palm, irritated by her
casualness and by general sexual frustration.  “Last I checked, the Air House,
the Reprisal, and a high percentage of the overall, pissed-off Phase population
wanted your pretty little head on a platter.  Or are you just betting that the
mercenaries will play fair and call ahead before attacking you?”

Turquoise
eyes fluttered up to his face for a beat and then away, again.

Gion
sighed.  He never considered himself a people person, but around Ty his social
skills hit rock bottom.

Every
time he thought about how easily she could have died at the hands of that mob
during the Fall, he got furious.  Not at Ty, but at the world at large.  At all
the people who could hurt her and at how easily it could happen.  Ty didn’t
seem to process how important she was and it drove him crazy.

Ty
gave his life meaning and she was the most vulnerable creature in the universe.

Gion
took a deep breath, reminding himself of what he’d learned in the library.  If
he pushed her too hard, Ty would close down.  Tritone, of the Water House
wasn’t a woman you could bend to your will.  She’d break first.  She seemed
fragile, but really she was obstinate.  If you wanted something from her, you
had to coax her into freely giving it.

Gion
wanted quite a bit from Ty.

So,
he could be patient.

“I
could have hurt you yesterday at that meeting.”  He told her seriously.  Ty was
a scientist.  She liked explanations and logic.  “If I’d wanted to, I could
have captured you and taken you to Parald.  You said it yourself.”

“But,
you didn’t.  You won’t.”

“No,
I won’t.  But, others will try to harm you when they realize that you’re
regularly alone in the human realm.  It’s a pattern.  It’s dangerous.”

“The
meetings are private.”  She stubbornly repeated.

“When
I was in the Air Kingdom, if something happened and Parald sent men after you,
I could get you out, again.”  Gion continued undaunted.  “You know
that.  What would happen if Isaacs got you, now, though?  Now, that I’m not
in the Air Kingdom?”

Ty
studied the closest wall mural.  Mermaids and dolphins swam among tall strands
of seaweed.  “I suppose, I’d have to get out of the Air Kingdom by myself.  I’m
not helpless, you know.”

“What
would happen,” Gion corrected, “is that I would have to go in after
you.  Since I’m surprisingly unsentimental about leaving my homeland,
I’m not in a great hurry to journey back.”

Ty
didn’t appreciate that response.  “No one’s asking you to go back to the Air
Kingdom.”

“I
am.”  Cross raised a hand.

They
ignored him.

“You
asked me to look over your security, Tritone.”  Even though Gion was fairly
sure she’d only given him the job to keep him out of trouble, he intended to
see that it was done properly.  Nothing was more important to him than Ty’s
safety.

“But,
Brokk’s my bodyguard and he said…”

“Brokk’s
your friend.  Therefore, he’s obviously a great deal more willing to let
you do idiotic things than I am.”  Gion understood that distinction, since he’d
never had a friend in his life.  Unless you counted Tessie.

Phases
didn’t have the humans’ tolerance for casual touching.  It annoyed the hell out
of Gion to see Brokk’s absent affection for Ty.  It wasn’t sexual, it was just…
friendly.  Ordinary bodyguards didn’t ruffle the hair of the protectees, like
Brokk regularly did with Ty.  Gion had certainly never ruffled anyone’s hair
back at the Air House.

Ty’s
mouth parted in astonishment.  “Did you just call me an idiot?”

“No,
of course not.”

“Yes,
he did.”  Cross volunteered.

They
ignored him.

“I
don’t think anyone’s ever called me an idiot before.”  Ty mused.  She didn’t
look insulted, just bemused.

“I
didn’t call you an idiot.”

Jesus,
Ty was the smartest Phase alive.  Gion knew that empirically because he’d
stolen all of her school records.  He’d read every word ever written by or
about the girl, including a complicated thesis she’d published on some DNA
thing that Gion didn’t completely understand.  Every one of her teachers agreed
that Ty, of the Water House was a genius.  One of the Elementals’ greatest
treasures.

It
amazed Gion that a woman with a stratospherically high IQ could make such poor
choices, though.  Ty stubbornly ignored the fact that she was young, and small,
and gentle… and the target of many determined killers.

“You
can’t just go into the human realm and…”

For
the first time ever, Ty interrupted him.  “At the very least, you implied
that I was an idiot.  You must admit that.”

Gion
was absolutely shocked by her apparent willingness to argue with him about
this.  Ty never argued with him.  She never cared enough about anything
that he said.  He’d been thrilled just to have her talking to him.  Gion never
thought she’d stand up to him.

It
was an incredible turn-on to hear her mounting indignation.

He
cleared his throat.  “I didn’t call you an idiot, but, if it sounded that way,
I apologize.”

She
didn’t seem appeased.  “Would you have called Parald an idiot when you were an
Air Phase?”

Gion
snorted.  “To his face?  No.  Behind his back, I called him quite a bit worse,
though, so I think it all evens out.”  He held up the clipboard.  “Also, I
didn’t put so much paperwork into keeping him alive.”  He tapped the master
list with the pen.  “Mostly because, I never gave a shit if he lived or not.  You,
on the other hand, are someone who I’d rather not see decapitated.”

“Really?”
Ty’s voice lost some of its annoyance.

“If
you never believe another word I say, believe that I want you around and
breathing for a very long time, Tritone.”

“That’s
because he knows the rest of us would kick him out of here in a second without
your bleeding heart.”  Cross muttered.  “You’re his meal ticket, Ty.”

They
ignored that.

“Will
you not go into the human realm by yourself?”  Gion prompted.  “Or are
you going to make my job harder?  Because, I won’t let you commit suicide by
Air House.  I can’t.”

Silence.

“Alright.”
She finally allowed.

“What?”
Cross scowled.  “Brokk and the rest of us you brush off, but him you
listen to?”

They
ignored that, too.

Gion
hadn’t expected Ty to agree with him.  At least, not so quickly.  “You’ll let
Brokk into the meetings with you?”  He stipulated, looking for a trap.

“You
heard me sharing at the meeting,” Ty murmured, “even though it was private.”

It
wasn’t a question, but Gion could tell that she wanted a reply.  “I did.”

“You
know what it’s like to have Parald try and steal your freedom.  And to feel
like he’s made you less than you are.”

Gion
regarded her steadily.  “I do.”

Ty
glanced up at Gion through her lashes and then quickly away, again.  “Maybe you
can come with me to the next meeting, then?”  This time it was a
question.  “Because, you would understand.”

Gion
felt something twist in his chest.  Something soft and warm.  Ty had just
invited him to go somewhere with her.  He’d willingly spend the evening in
Chernobyl’s reactor core, if she asked.  “I’d like that.”

“Really?
You don’t have to, if you’re busy.”

“I’m
fairly sure that I’ll be free.  Besides, I enjoy human coffee in Styrofoam
cups.  So few Elementals serve it at the proper lukewarm temperature.”

Ty’s
eyes flashed up to his, again, and Gion swore that she was amused by that.

Gion’s
mouth curved.

“Okay.
Good.”  Ty fiddled with the pin on her sweater.  Aquamarine stones formed a
circle of small flowers.  Dressed in sunny yellow dots, she looked… clean.  Her
shoes had bows on them.  For some reason, Gion found that fascinating.  “Um,
so, I came in here to tell you that I’m going to be working in my office for
the rest of the afternoon.  If you need me.”  Cross got another pointed frown.

He
didn’t seem intimidated.  “Nia and Tharsis said they wanted to talk to you
about Mr. Personality here.”  He jerked a thumb in Gion’s direction.

“We
did talk.  Several times.”

“And?”

“I’m
the Queen of the Water House.  Gion can stay as long as he wants.  Anyone who
wants to escape Parald can come here.  Especially, after they saved my cousin
from the Reprisal and cut me free from manacles in the Air House dungeon.”

“Oh
Jesus.”  Cross threw his hands up.  “We’re back to that, again?  He was
probably in on kidnapping you in the first place, Ty!”

Gion
slanted him an icy glare.

“Gion
saved me.  When no one else came… he did.”  Ty’s voice got firmer, even
as it started shaking slightly.  “You have your own kingdom, Cross.  But the
Water House is mine and I want Gion here.  That’s the end of it.”  She turned
on her bowed heel and headed out of the room.

Gion
took an unconscious step after her.

Cross
grabbed his arm.

Living
in the Air Kingdom had given Gion good reflexes and a willingness to cheat.
Instincts took over when Cross touched him and Gion slammed him backwards with
a blast of Air.  It sent Cross crashing through the French door in a shower of
glass.

Cross
hit the pavement outside, swearing a blue-streak.

Gion
felt his stomach drop as he realized that he’d just attacked Ty’s
cousin-in-law.

After
he promised her that he wouldn’t harm her family.

Oh…
shit.

Cross
looked up at Gion and gave his head a clearing shake.  “Fucking hell!”

“Oh
my God!”  Ty came dashing back over.  “Cross, are you okay?”  Her gaze flew
from Cross to Gion and back again.  “What happened?”

Gion
slowly shook his head.

He
always prided himself on doing everything well; carefully planning and then
following through.  He’d survived in the Air House, where any misstep meant
certain death.  But, this time, he’d blown it completely.  When it most
mattered to him, Gion always ruined things.

He’d
lost control.

Ty
would send him away.

He
knew it.

Murderer.

“Whatever
broke, it wasn’t me who…”  Tharsis came jogging in from the side door.  Tall
and muscular, Thar favored Converse sneakers and Armani suits.  His turquoise
eyes widened when he saw his brother-in-law lying on his back.  “Cross!  Oh
man, if you’re hurt, Nia’s gonna have an embolism.”

“Gion
pushed me with his powers!”  Cross reported righteously, sounding only slightly
like a third-grader.  He hopped to his feet, brushing off the glass.  “The
guy’s a menace.”

Ty
looked up at Gion.  “You pushed Cross?  Why?”

“You
attacked Cross!”  Tharsis shouted at the same time.

“It
was an accident.”  Gion heard his voice from a long way off.  “I…”  He kept
staring at Ty’s perfect face.  “It just happened.”  He waited for her
expression to fill with betrayal.  Now she would never, ever want him.

Cross
snorted.  “Bastard.  If we’re gonna play that way, I can do this really kickass
vaporizing thing with the Shadows that I would just love to show ya…”  He
stopped short, apparently noticing that Gion wasn’t defending himself.

Gion
didn’t even glance his way.  There was nothing he could tell Ty that wouldn’t
sound like a pathetic excuse, but he still said, “I’m sorry.  I’ll go.”

She
blinked.  “Go?”

Cross’
eyes cut back over to Ty.  “Wait, you’re going to kick him out over this?”

“If
Gion attacked you, he should run.”  Tharsis advised.  “Do you know what Nia
will do to him?”  He arched a brow at Gion.  “Seriously, dude.  Hide.”

“Stop.”
Ty cried.  “I’m not…”

“Shit.”
Cross cut her off, looking aggravated at the world in general.  “Listen, I
grabbed him first.  He didn’t start it, except by being here.”  He jabbed a
finger at Gion.  “And I can’t believe that you’re making me stick up for
you.”  He muttered out a few more oaths and ducked his way back into the room.

“Oh
great.”  Tharsis muttered.  “Nice, Cross.  Thanks a bunch.”

“Blame
Job.  I swear, can hear his damn good influence in my head, telling me not to
throw Gion to the wolves.”

“Gion
isn’t going anywhere.”  Ty insisted, holding up her hands for quiet.  “All I
want to know is what happened.”  She turned back to Gion.  “Are you alright?”

He
started down at her uncomprehendingly.  “What?”  Why wasn’t she screaming at
him?  Why wasn’t she evicting him?

“Did
Cross hurt you?  You look very pale.”  Ty’s hand came over to carefully touch
his arm and Gion felt the punch of it like a sledgehammer.  The Air energy went
wild.

Ty
yanked her hand back.  Her eyes jumped up to his for two heartbeats this time.

Cross
shot Gion a frown, feeling the charge in the air.  Cross held a lot of power.
“What was that?”

Tharsis
felt it, too, but he was a bit more astute.  Sudden comprehension lit his face
as he realized the energy came from Gion and Ty.  “Holy crap.”  He blurted out
in astonishment.

Gion
couldn’t blame him.  He’d been feeling the energy between Ty and himself for
years now and he still didn’t understand it.

Ty,
meanwhile, quickly rallied herself and added another talent to her resume:
Lecturing.  “I asked you not to bother Gion while he adjusts, Cross.  He’s
endured so much under Parald and you’ve gone and traumatized him even more.”

“No.”
Gion shook his head, dazed by the fact that Ty wasn’t expelling him from her
kingdom.  That she was standing up for him.  “No.  Cross… uh… It was my fault.
When he grabbed me, it was an automatic reflex to push him back.  The other Air
Phases sometimes…. Well, I’m just used to being prepared for attacks.”

Tharsis
flopped down on the umbrella striped sofa, watching Gion closely.  “Like a
deranged boy scout.”

Ty
sighed and adjusted her glasses.  “I understand what it’s like to not feel
safe.”

“I
know.  I’m sorry.”  Gion said, again, this time for not being able to provide
her with a better fate.  It gutted him that Ty didn’t feel secure.  Gion would
have gladly given his life to change things for her.  In fact, there was
nothing he wouldn’t trade, say, or do for this woman’s happiness.

Ty
was his Match.

Not
according to destiny, maybe.  But, for Gion there was only Ty.  In his heart,
he’d known that from the first second he saw her.

“Gion.”
She leaned closer to him.  “You’re a Water Phase, now.  It’ll take time, but
you’ll be okay.  We’re protecting you.  Alright?”

No
one had ever wanted to protect Gion before.  He didn’t say anything, because
everything that came to mind sounded like the pitiful dialogue from a one of
Tessie’s maudlin soap operas.  What Gion felt for Ty was more than just an
obsession.

This
woman owned whatever remained of his soul.

Tharsis
tilted his head to one side, taking in Gion’s expression.

Ty
apparently took Gion’s silence for agreement, because she gave an encouraging
nod.  “Okay then, I’m going to go back to work.”  She glanced over at Cross.
“Play nice.”  She warned and went gliding out of the room, again.

Gion
briefly closed his eyes.

“She’s
already had a Match, you know.”  Tharsis said.

Gion’s
jaw tightened.  “She doesn’t anymore.”  And that was all that mattered.

“Yeah,
well, she was right to renounce Parald’s ass.  The guy’s a psychotic murderer.
Girl certainly has a type, it seems.”  Tharsis shrugged.  “But if you think
you’re gonna strike back at Parald by trying to get Ty into bed...”

This
time, Gion didn’t bother to use his powers.  He just reached over and seized Tharsis
by the lapel of his sports coat.  “You say another fucking word about Ty and, I
swear to Gaia, I will…”

“You’ll
what?”  Tharsis interrupted.  He didn’t even bother to shove Gion back.
“Nothing.  You can’t touch me and you know it, genius.  Not if you ever
wanna be the good guy in Ty’s eyes.”  He arched a brow.  “And that is
what you want, isn’t it?”

“Get
your hands off of him.”  Cross wrenched Gion away from the sofa.  “Nia told me
not to kill you, yet.  But, I can and will if you touch Tharsis.  Or Ty.
Or my uncle.  Or especially my Match.”  He gave Gion a shove.  “I’m
holding an entire fucking House.  In a fight, I’ll win.  Because, even if you
kill me, I’ll just take you out along with everyone else when the Shadow House
falls.”

Cross
had a point.

Gion
vividly recalled the last time the Shadow House collapsed.  As the end of the
world spiraled closer, Gion’s last thought had been of Ty.

Tharsis
crossed his arms over his chest and smirked.  “So… Let’s talk about my little
cousin.”  He suggested with cheerful menace.

Tharsis
knew.

Gion
could see it in the younger man’s face.  Thar knew that Gion wanted Ty.  Damn
it, that was the last thing Gion needed.  Tharsis seemed like a slacking
workaphobe, but the guy had a vicious streak and an IQ frighteningly close to
his cousin’s.  Thar could severely screw-up Gion’s life.  If Tharsis drew a
line in the sand between Gion and himself, Ty would stand on Thar’s side.
There wasn’t a doubt in Gion’s mind.

Which
meant that Gion couldn’t underestimate the kid.

“I
have no intention of discussing Tritone with anyone.”  He cautiously said.

“Oh,
but we have to.  Because, I see it allllll now.”  Tharsis drew out the
word.  “Why you never jumped into the Water Kingdom and just tried to steal Ty
for Parald.  Why you freaked out that time in the jail when she had the panic
attack.  Why you set her free when the Air House kidnapped her.  Why you’re
even here.”

Not
being able to simply kill assholes was a frustrating drawback of Gion’s new
life.

He
glanced down at the clipboard and decided to pick his battles.  “I’m going to
go check the windows in the throne room.”

“I
don’t think so.”  Tharsis patted the sofa cushion.  His wristwatch had the Ghostbusters
logo on its face.  “Sit down and let’s watch some TV.”

Gion
couldn’t have been more shocked if Tharsis suggested that they try out for the
Olympics together.  “I beg your pardon?”

“Oh,
no.”  Cross groaned.  “Not those damn models.”

“I
DVRed this week’s episode.”  Tharsis clicked on the flat screen TV via remote
and settled back on the couch.  “Did you ever see this show, Guy?  Tyra’s hot,
isn’t she?”

“Who?”
The Elemental realm received hundreds of television channels, but Gion
certainly never watched any of them.  He didn’t have the time or
inclination.  Watching TV required a level of relaxation that Gion never
achieved.

He
never relaxed.

Ever.

“I’m
not going to endure some idiotic human prattling.  I’m conducting a security…”

“Sit
down or I’ll have to go find someone else to watch my show with me.”
Tharsis propped his feet up on the coffee table.  “And that someone will be
Ty.  Who do you think we’ll talk about, Romeo?”

Fuck.

Gion
glanced over at Cross, although he seriously doubted that Cross was in the mood
to lend him a hand, what with the throwing him through the glass door and all.

Cross
was already ducking back through the broken doorway and making his escape.
“I’m gonna go check on Nia.”

Fuck.

Gion
drummed the clipboard against his leg and grudgingly headed over to the sofa.
“You really don’t want to make an enemy out of me, boy.”

Tharsis
snickered.  The massive sapphire stud in his earlobe flashed deep blue in the
light.  “Guy, you stopped intimidating me back when Ty and I were in those jail
cells.  You didn’t even try to kidnap Ty for your boss.  I knew right
then that you weren’t going to hurt her.”

“That
doesn’t mean I won’t hurt you.”

“Please.”
Tharsis rolled his eyes.  “Just shut up and stop with the Cobra Commander-ing.”

Gion
didn’t know what that meant, exactly, but Tharsis’ total lack of fear
disconcerted him.

Gion
scared people.  Since he was eight years old, other Phases avoided him or
looked at him with wary frowns.  Parald and Seneca had been terrified of Gion’s
power.  Not even Isaacs rolled his eyes and told him to shut-up.  For some
reason, Gion actually found Tharsis’ unintimated attitude… interesting.

“Sit.”
Thar repeated.

Gion
didn’t know what else to do, so he sat.  Chairs in the Air Kingdom promoted
good posture and attentiveness.  The Water Kingdom only decorated with
overstuffed furniture suitable for slouching.  It took Gion several tries to
position himself so his feet stayed flat on the floor and his back remained
straight.

Tharsis
puffed out a “God in heaven” sort of breath and turned his attention back to
the TV.  “So, now, I get why you’ve been doing such a suck-y job of stealing Ty
for Parald, at least.  I figured you were attracted to her, but I didn’t
realize how deep it went.”

Gion
stared fixedly at the television.  Thin humans screamed at each other.

“How
long have you been in love with her?”  Tharsis persisted.

Gion
rarely thought about Ty in terms of love.  The word seemed too pretty and
innocuous for what he felt.  Not that he had any intention of discussing that
with Tharsis.

Silence
hummed between them for a long moment.

“Ty’s
my baby cousin.”  Tharsis persisted.  “And she’s been through enough.  If you
even want a chance at her, I’m gonna need some assurances here, Guy.  You’d be
saying the same thing to me if our positions were reversed.”

It
was irritating that Tharsis had a point.  Only Gion wouldn’t let someone like
himself near Ty, at all.  She deserved a better man.  What assurances could he
possibly offer?  “My name is Gion.”  He corrected while he tried to
figure out what to say.

“God,
loosen up and stop being such an Air Phase.”  Tharsis pointed at the screen.
“See that blonde girl?”

“They’re
all blonde.”

“No,
that one.  She’s such an evil bitch.  I love her.  See?”  Tharsis
made an expansive hand gesture.  “I’m willing to share my deep feelings about
what’s-her-name with you.  Now, it’s your turn to open up with me.”

The
keeper of Tharsis’ heart wept mascara-y tears at being told her body language
was too stiff to properly sell the sexiness of deodorant.

Gion’s
eyes narrowed at the screen.  “What am I watching?”  The question was part
conversational placeholder and part appalled curiosity.  The show had been on
for two seconds and it was already hurting his brain.

Tharsis
grinned.  “Oh, come on.  You know that you like this.  Tessie said you used to
watch Days of Our Lives with her all the time.”

“That
was part of my job.  The Quintessence forced me to endure that drivel.”
The blonde woman explained to the camera that a modeling career meant the
difference between languishing in mediocrity versus a life full of deep meaning
and designer handbags.  “And, amazingly, soap operas have more artistic merit
than this.”  Something worse than Days of Our Lives.  Who would have
thought that even the humans could create such a thing?

A
photographer told another blonde that she didn’t “own her sexy” and was
therefore doomed to be “merely pretty” instead of “wha-wham!”  More tears
ensured.

Gion
found the horrible spectacle of it slightly hypnotic.

He
stared at the screen until the next commercial break.  “I’ve been in love with
Ty for eleven years, three month and six days.”  He finally said when it became
apparent that Tharsis planned to wait him out.

“She
wasn’t even of age eleven years ago.”  Thar didn’t seem surprised, though.  He
just fast-forwarded until the half-naked humans returned.

“I
know.”

“You
loved her before Ty discovered that she was Parald’s Match?”

“Yes.”

Tharsis
considered that.  “So, why didn’t you kill that son-of-a-bitch a long time
ago?”

“Ty’s
too young.  Even though they never Phazed, I’m concerned that killing Parald
will pull her down, too.”  Matches life spans usually coincided.  That had
contributed to the huge death toll in the Fall.  Some immune Phases couldn’t
live without their Matches and just faded away.

Tharsis
scowled.  “Shit.  I never thought of that.  Parald would abso-fucking-lutley
try to take her with him.  Bastard.”

“When
Ty’s two hundred, I’ll kill Parald.  She’ll be stronger, then.”  Gion watched
as one of the interchangeable models craned her neck like a barn owl for her photo
shoot.  “In the meantime, I’ll keep her safe from him.  I have nothing in my
life except her.  You won’t believe that, but it’s true.”

“Sure
I believe it.”

Gion
wasn’t sure if that was sarcasm or not.

Tharsis
gave another smirk.  “So, you figure that you really have a chance with
Ty, huh?  Even with the whole ‘you being a super-villain’ thing, you think you
can win her over?”

“When
I require advice on women, I’ll ask somebody who actually has one.”

“Let’s
just get right to the bottom line here, okay?”  Tharsis turned away from the TV
and studied Gion for a long moment.  “You hurt my cousin and I’ll kill you in
your sleep.”

“That
seems fair.”

Tharsis
nodded.  “Just so we agree.”

It
took Gion a moment to realize that Thar had just given him his blessing.  That
shocked Gion so deeply that he stared at Tharsis speechlessly for a moment.
“Why?”  He finally asked.  “Why aren’t you kicking me out of here or telling me
to stay away from Ty?”

“Well,
for one thing, you saved my cousin and my sister, so I don’t think you’re as
nefarious a guy as your wardrobe suggests.”

Gion
nearly snorted at that.  Aside from the Fall, he was personally responsible for
more graves than any other disaster in the Elemental realm.

“And
because, good or bad, Ty always reacts to you.”

It
was beneath Gion to ask for details on that.  Completely adolescent and
pointless.  “How so?”  He demanded, anyway.

“She
just acts different around you.  She always has.  Even back when she wasn’t
talking to you, at all, there was a ‘rot in hell’ defiance about it.”

Yeah,
like Gion hadn’t picked up on that by himself.  Ty’s silence was always spoke
volumes.  Reaching into his pocket, he absently touched the hair barrette he’d
stolen from her, his finger rubbing over the plastic daisy pedals.

“Ty’s
not defiant.”  Tharsis went on.  “Not usually.  Only about things that really
matter to her.  I always thought it was odd, the way you two interacted.”

Gion
glanced at Tharsis out of the corner of his eyes.  He’d never been able to talk
about Ty with anyone before.  “She just argued with me.”  He was proud of
that.  “Interrupted me and everything.”

“Did
she?”  Tharsis made a considering face.  “Impressive.  You bring her out of her
shell.  That’s important to me, Gion.  You make her bolder.  Maybe, it’s
because of the energy between you.  That has to mean something.  I don’t know what,
but something.”

“I
want Ty to Bind with me.”  Gion needed Ty’s family on board with his plan and
he wasn’t great at breaking news to people gently.  The sooner Nia and Tharsis
accepted his intentions, the sooner he could gauge how big a fight they’d mount
against him.

“Huh.”
Tharsis turned back to the TV.  “Parald will come after you, you know.”

“I’ll
deal with Parald.  Will you try and stop the Binding?”

Tharsis
sat there quietly for a full minute.  “Let’s put it this way: You’re the
meanest, plotting-est, most selfish bastard in the universe.  I’m betting that
you’d wipe out every innocent orphan in the world for a parking spot.”

“I
don’t own a car.”

“I
know.”  Thar agreed pointedly.  “And now you want Ty.”

“I
do.”

“Right.
So, while I don’t really like you all that much… I’d still rather have you
guarding her, than some nice, sensitive, guy with a conscience.  No one will
touch her, with you around.”

Gion
met his eyes levelly.  “No one.”  He vowed.

“So,
if Ty agrees, --And if you try to pressure her, I’ll stop you-- but, if she
willingly agrees, I’ll support a Binding.  You’re like me getting a
round-the-clock SEAL team for my cousin’s security.  I can tolerate the rest of
your intolerable-ness.”

Gion
was honestly touched by the vote confidence.  “I appreciate that.”

“You’re
welcome.”  Tharsis gestured to the television.  “Now, pay attention, or you’ll
miss the elimination round.”

Chapter Seven

The low'ring element
Scowls o'er the darken'd landscape.

John Milton-
‘Paradise Lost’

Since
Ty escaped the Air House dungeons, Parald had been compensating by fucking as
many women as he could on the stone floor of her cell, imagining that they were
his errant Match.

As
always, he made sure that his partner faced away from him.  It made it so much
easier to pretend that he was really taking Ty.  The current woman was too thin
and lifeless to be a satisfactory substitute.  Her straight, dark hair was a
far cry from the Water House’s lush red.  But, he made do until he could have
the real prize under him.  Parald had to compromise on so much and he hated
compromising.

His
hand twisted in the offending locks and pounded into her from behind.  “Did you
let Gion touch you like this, Ty?”

“No,
sire.”

“I
think you did.  I think you let him take what’s mine, didn’t you, you bitch?”

“No,
sire.”

Parald
glanced over to the open doorway where he’d ordered Isaacs to stand.  Parald
liked demonstrating his power to his men.  Liked them to watch.

Gion
had been a total wash out at it.  The one time Parald had tried forcing him to
watch, the son-of-a-bitch had looked Parald up and down, flashed that cold,
derisive smirk, and walked out of the room.  That had ruined the mood, as far as
Parald was concerned.

Saxon,
on the other hand, enjoyed the shows.  His cruel face always reflected pleasure
as Parald fucked some woman into submission.  He actually got off on it.  But,
that bastard had let Gion get away, so Parald wouldn’t be rewarding him anytime
soon.

Isaacs
did as he was commanded and stayed put, but his obvious hatred for the shows
came through loud and clear.  His shoulders hunched, his eyes focused on a spot
three feet to the left of the action, he just stood there and endured.  In a
way, Parald liked that reaction best of all.

It
gave him power over Isaacs and the girl.

Parald
sped up, gripping the woman’s hideous hair tighter.  Phases from different
Houses were in the Air Kingdom for various reasons, but they were never worthy.
This one should be grateful he’d noticed her, at all.  If he could only find an
authentic redhead, he would have accepted her, no matter where she came from.
And, if she already had a Match who he could take her from, it would be
so much the better.  He loved the idea of taking anything from weaker
men.  Parald was the King.  He could have anything he wanted.

“Who
do you belong to, Ty?”  He demanded.

“You,
sire.”

“I
didn’t hear you.”

“You,
sire!”

“Who’s
your Match?”

The
woman was new, but she was already used to his demands.  “Parald, King of the
Air House.”

He
slammed into her savagely.  “You’re mine, Ty!  Mine.”  He came hard,
roaring out his release.

In
the doorway, Isaacs cringed in disgust.

Sedated
and out of breath, Parald got to his feet, again, leaving the woman on the
floor.  He didn’t bother to even glance in her direction as she meekly gathered
her clothes.  She’d served her purpose.

“So,
why haven’t you brought me my Match, yet, Isaacs?”  Parald hadn’t removed his
pants, so he just zipped them back up as he marched forward.  “Do you think I
like fucking whores, when I should have a queen?”

Isaacs
glanced over at the woman and then away, again.  “I’m working on it, sire.  Ty
rarely leaves the Water Kingdom.  And, since we grabbed her in the human realm,
her security’s been better when she’s there, too.  The only other spot she ever
goes is the Agora…”

“So,
get her there, then!”  Parald interrupted.

“Sire,
we can’t.”  Isaacs looked shocked.  “The Agora is a safe zone.  There’s been no
fighting there since Vandal, of the Light House six hundred years ago.  Job
will…”

“I’m
the King of the Air House!  I can do anything I want!”  Parald screamed the
words.  “I want my Match and I want her, now!  I don’t give a shit about Job!”

Isaacs
sighed.  “Yes, sire.”

“And
once I have her.”  Parald continued dreamily.  “I’m going to take Ty right
there in the great hall, where every one of my soldiers can watch me break
her.  Won’t you enjoy that?”

Silence.

“I
said, won’t you enjoy that, Isaacs?”

“Yes,
sire.”

The
grudging words filled Parald with satisfaction.  He had no idea why so many
people disliked the idea of “yes men.”  Personally, he reveled in the power to
force everyone to agree with him, even if they didn’t want to.  “What else do
you have to report?”  Parald despised Gion, but, he had to admit, the
son-of-a-bitch wrote a hell of a security report.  Isaacs wasn’t nearly so
skilled.

“There’s
some rumbling about the rebels that I’m concerned about.”

Parald
rolled his eyes and made his way out of the dungeon.  There were always
rumblings about the so-called “rebels.”  Some mythical band of freedom
fighters, poised to bring down the Air House from within.

It
was all horseshit.

Parald
had scoured the kingdom from top to bottom and never discovered a single one.
He’d even tried torturing the information out of people, looking for anyone who
might secretly oppose him.  He’d found nothing.  In fact, he’d found so much
nothing that Gion made him feel like an idiot for even continuing the search.

Frankly,
it amused Parald that anyone would try to rebel against him.  He was the King.
No one could possibly overthrow him.  He regularly executed suspected traitors,
mainly just to scare the others, but a few whiny malcontents weren’t something
that he took seriously.

“Gion
was never concerned about the piss-ant rebels.”  Parald recognized Isaacs’
insecurity when it came to Gion and used every opportunity to throw him up in
Isaacs’ face.  “Gion actually had some balls.”

“Well,
since Gion betrayed you, sire, I’m not sure he’s the greatest authority what’s
best for the kingdom.”

Parald
turned to pin him with a dark look.  He hated it when anyone questioned him.

Isaacs
jaw clenched and he looked away.  “Kingu also asks that you come to the house
when you have a moment.  He wouldn’t tell me why.”

Excellent.

Parald
trotted up the steps and into the main section of the Air Palace, dismissing
Isaacs from his mind.  His subjects bowed their heads as he passed them.
Parald savored their fearful respect.  As a boy, he’d been one of them; one of
the faceless nobodies huddling in corners as the king walked by.

Seneca.

That
arrogant bastard had lorded his powers over everyone.  In his youth, Parald had
worked in the Air House kitchens.  Even then, he’d known he was made for
something better and he never let anything stop his rise.  He’d seen what it
meant it have real control over people.  Now, he was the one in command.

Walking
out into the high grass plains of the Air Kingdom, Parald made his way to Kay’s
house.  The holder of the primordial Khaos, Kay had been trapped in the Air
Kingdom by her sister, Tessie.  Kay’s imprisonment became Parald’s good luck.
With Kay’s help, he’d begun gathering the fabled Tablets of Fate.

For
millennia, the Tablets of Fate had been an Elemental fairytale.  Liberty,
Health, Love, Happiness, Compassion, Justice, Valor, Peace, and Reason;
nine small boxes that spelled out the fate of the world.
Neither good nor bad, each one had its own
powers.  The individual Tablets were sealed into boxes.  Separate, they packed
a wallop that could end the world.  But, put together, the Tablets were the greatest
force in the universe.

Since
Parald discovered their existence, he’d been determined to possess them all.
So far, he’d had two and they’d both been pretty fucking useful.  Without the
Health Tablet, for instance, he never would have been able to create the Fall.

Unfortunately,
for Parald’s plans, Tessie also knew how to use the Health Tablet.  That whore
of Job’s put Kay into a supernatural coma and stole the Health box for herself.
Without Kay, he lost his most important ally.  By himself, Parald wasn’t sure
how to manipulate the one Tablet he had left and he needed to pull a rabbit out
of his ass if he was going to get Ty away from Gion.

Kay’s
home was a grotesque Minnie Mouse concoction of pink gingerbread.  Parald hated
looking at it from the windows of his castle every day.  Even with Kay in the
coma, though, he feared her too deeply to order it torn down.

Something
else he had to compromise on.

He
didn’t bother to knock on the front door.  He just walked inside.  “Kingu?  Did
you solve it?”

“I
solved it.”  Kay’s son came into the foyer.  Parald preferred surrounding
himself with beautiful things, but he’d had to compromise with the Dragon Man,
too.  Kingu’s monstrous body towered over him, which annoyed Parald, and the
guy’s hideous, slightly reptilian features gave everyone the creeps.  At least,
he wasn’t entirely useless, though.

For
years, everyone assumed that Kingu didn’t have any powers of his own.  Now,
Parald wasn’t so sure.  The unnatural bastard obviously understood some
of how the Tablets worked.  He was egotistical and weird, but, since Kay was
down for the count, Kingu was Parald’s only option.

God
knew, none of his idiot subjects could have lent a hand.  Sometime Parald felt
like he ruled over the biggest bunch of nimrods in the universe.

“Well,
it’s about time.”  He kept his eyes off of Kingu’s vaguely snake-like skin.  “I
thought I’d have to write the damn thing myself.”

“I
have the translation we’ll need.”  Kingu said flatly.

Parald’s
boyish face creased into a smile as Kingu placed the box into his hand.  The
size of a Rubic’s Cube, its mirrored sides were covered in archaic writing.  It
seemed impossible that something so small held so much power.  “I found the
bait, too.”  The woman he’d been screwing earlier had actually been the one to
help with that.  Who would have guessed that the stupid bitch could serve an
actual purpose off of her knees?

Kingu
nodded.  “Then, we’re ready to begin.”

Parald
tossed the box into the air and caught it in one hand.  “Let’s go get my Match
back.”

Chapter Eight

The feminine
element in the brilliant audience seemed curiously puzzled.

Gaston
Leroux-‘The Phantom of Opera’

Ty
didn’t sleep well.

Most
nights her insomnia kept her awake until the wee hours of the morning.  Ty
dreaded closing her eyes, because she knew the horrible scenes that waited for
her in the recesses of her mind.  Her nightmares were infected with
frightening, half-remembered images from her past.  Worse, laying alone in the
darkness left Ty feeling incredibly vulnerable.  She jumped at every sound, tense
and waiting for an attack.

Night
was her enemy.

Through
experience, Ty found that it was better if she worked from of midnight to five
am.  Once Ty saw the sun coming up she felt safer.  Childish and silly as it
seemed, she’d rather live on three hours of sleep a night than surrender to her
memories.  Besides, that meant she had more time to focus on her projects.

Currently,
the energy she felt with Gion took most of Ty’s considerable attention.  Why
did they feel it?  How could it possibly be explained?  Gion might not be
interested in the answers, but Ty certainly was.  Since she had no intention of
stopping the connection, Ty didn’t see how researching the phenomena
would break her promise to him.

Ty
was looking for explanations on her laptop, when she heard the music.

Continuous
silence was a mixed blessing of living in a kingdom devoid of people.  On the
one hand, it was usually pretty peaceful.  But, on the other, when something
did make noise, it tended to catch her attention.  Ty had gotten used to the
quiet.

She
pulled herself out of research-mode and blinked over at the clock in the lower
right hand corner of the computer screen.  Who the heck was playing music at
2:47 in the morning?

Actually,
that was sort of a rhetorical question.  Gion, Brokk, and Tharsis were the only
other fulltime residences of the Water Kingdom, now.  And violin concertos
weren’t exactly in her cousin or Brokk’s repertoires.  That dramatically narrowed
the suspects.

Ty
hesitated for a beat, then gave into impulse.  Saving her data, she stood up
and went to investigate.  The tile was cool under her feet, but she didn’t
pause to find her shoes.  Ty hurried for the door, grabbing up her robe as she
went.  The soft white fabric fell against her legs as she headed down the hall.

She
recognized the song, now.  Ashokan Farewell.  The sweet, melancholy
sound on it filled the corridor, drawing her forward.

It
could only be coming from one spot.  The music hall housed all of the Water
Kingdom’s instruments, including the violins.  Before the Fall, the Water
Palace had put on legendary concerts in the large, acoustically designed
chamber.  Ty vividly remembered sitting next to her parents, listening to the
greatest performers in the Elemental realm.  Those were some of the happiest
days of her life.

It
had been so long since she’d heard instruments played in the palace.  All the
best Elemental musicians died in the Fall, their voices and harmonies silenced
forever.  Not even the Sound Phases held concerts anymore and they were all
incredibly gifted performers.  Ty had never thought that the Water Palace would
echo with music, again.  She played the piano, but she certainly didn’t consider
herself a great talent.

Not
like this.

Not
like Gion.

Utterly
enchanted, Ty made her way to the music room’s door.  It stood open, so she
could peer in at him.  With one violin, in a darkened room, without an audience
or sheet music, Gion put all the sad longing of the world into a single melody.

Ty
felt eyes sting the back of her eyes.

All
the Elemental’s musicians hadn’t passed to the next world, after all.

Gion
remained.

The
notes wept from the violin as he played.  Ashokan Farewell was a modern
composition.  A romantic lament.  Ty loved the song, but she wouldn’t have
thought that it suited Gion’s tastes, at all.  It seemed like he should have
selected something heavier to amuse himself.  Wagner, maybe.  This lonely,
bittersweet tune seemed like the complete antithesis of Gion’s sinister image.

And
yet he played it beautifully.

It
took Ty a second to realize that his accomplishment went beyond musical
virtuosity, though.  Gion held the violin, but he hadn’t picked up the bow.
His fingers held down the notes, while he moved his Air powers to move back and
forth over the strings.  He was playing the song with nothing by his energy and
imagination.

No
one should be able to do that.  The concentration of power that it must’ve
taken to carefully manipulate the pressure against the strings, the precision
of the Air sliding at just the right angles to produce the notes, it was…
amazing.  Impossible.  Except, somehow, Gion was doing it.  Not another single
Phase in the universe could’ve accomplished it.

Just
Gion, of the Water House.

Ty
felt stupendously proud of that.

She
might have ruled over a tiny kingdom, but now she had an artist as one
of her subjects.  How many other queens could say that?  Ty hadn’t exactly
known what to do with Gion the mercenary, but Gion the musician
was a real boon for her.  Her parents had always taken pride in the Water
Kingdom’s commitment to culture.  Finally, she’d accomplished something
that lived up to their example.  Finally, her tenure as queen had
produced something worthwhile.

With
one inadvertent recital, a lot of Ty’s paralyzing fear about how this amnesty
thing could possibly work, faded.  Far from plotting to harm anyone or trying
to cause trouble, Gion was already making a place for himself.

Ty
started smiling.

The
song ended far too soon.  The final haunting notes faded away and Gion lowered
the violin.  There really wasn’t anything left to do, but applaud.  Ty didn’t
even think about it.  She just started clapping.

Gion’s
head snapped around like she’d fired off a canon.  Apparently, not many people
ever snuck up on Gion.  His mouth sagged open in shock as he spotted her
standing there.

“That
was incredible.”  Ty felt the dazzled grin on her face.  “I had no idea you
were a musician.”

“I’m
not.”  Gion said instantly.  His eyes stayed fixed on her face.  He’d looked
that way when she smiled at him in the library, too.  Like her expression
fascinated him.  He set the violin down.  “I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t even be in
here.  I wasn’t stealing anything or…”

“Of
course, you should be in here.”  Ty interrupted.  “The music hall belongs to
everyone.  To all the citizens of the Water Kingdom.”  She edged further into
the room.  “Really, you’re the only musician left now, so this is all yours, by
default.”

“I’m
not a musician.”  He repeated.  For the first time ever, Gion looked
embarrassed. “It’s just an exercise to direct my powers.  I have to keep them
under control.”

Ty
ignored that.  The last thing Gion needed was stronger powers.  Besides which,
she’d never heard of a single exercise program that featured violins.  He made
music because he loved it.  “Where did you learn to play?”

“Parson,
of the Wood House taught me.”  He watched her warily.  “I didn’t mean to wake
you.  I couldn’t sleep and I was making sure the palace was secure.  And then I
saw the…”

“Secure?”
Ty interrupted.  “Again?  Didn’t you do that earlier? And then again
before that?”  All Gion ever did was worry about security.  He was taking his
assignment very, very seriously.

“I
did check earlier.”  He agreed in a humoring tone.  “But, you have too many
places here that can’t be properly secured.  Too many doors and access
points.  Like that, for instance.”  He gestured towards the exterior wall,
which was composed entirely of glass panels that could slide out of the way and
make the room open to the outside.  The music hall connected to an exterior
balcony that overlooked the sea.  The large space had always been a favorite
concert spot in the summer.  “Why doesn’t that door lock, Tritone?”

“Lock
against what?”  Alone in her room, Ty often gave into her fears and barricaded
doors, but, here with Gion, she felt secure enough to shrug at the
pointlessness of it.  “Nobody left in the kingdom would hurt me.  And if anyone
else is strong enough to get through our barriers, I really don’t think that a
locked door will stymie their plans, do you?”

Gion
scowled.  “You need to be more careful.”  He insisted, not backing down.

Ty
didn’t want to argue with him.  She tuned out his grumbling and ran an absent
hand over a harp.  The strings made an enchanting sound as she trailed her
fingers along them.  Gion must’ve been digging around the in storage area,
because he’d unearthed a lot of different instruments.  Flutes and cellos and
some Elemental instruments that only a few people left alive could even play.
The thought struck Ty as tragic.  “We had recitals here, you know.  Phases came
from all over the realm to enjoy them.”

“I
remember.”

Ty
couldn’t exactly describe his tone, but she knew instinctively that Gion must’ve
attended one.  “Really?”  She glanced over at him, pleased.  “Which concert
were you here for?”

“I…uh,”
he cleared his throat, “I went to several.  The first time I ever saw you was
here in this room.  Clea, of the Sound House gave a performance.  You wore a
white dress.”  Gion briefly met her eyes and then shrugged.  “You wouldn’t
remember.  You were very young.”

Ty
considered that for a beat and realized that she didn’t recall a time when Gion
wasn’t a part of her life.  She didn’t remember when she’d formally met
him, because she’d always known he was there.  Even before they spoken
or interacted, Gion had never seemed like a stranger.

And
she vividly recollected Clea’s concert.  The woman had possessed the most
beautiful voice in the universe.  Everyone who heard it was spellbound.  Clea’s
talent was a gift from Gaia.

She’d
died the third afternoon of the Fall.

“Clea
sang Puccini.  My dress was eyelet with a blue sash.  I remember that night.”
Ty shook her head.  “I thought I looked very grown-up.  I’d just turned
eighty-four.”

Gion
glanced at her sharply.  “You were only eighty-four?”

Ty
nodded.

“Of
course, you were.  Jesus.”  He muttered.  “I’m going straight to Hell.”  Gion
was quiet for a beat.  Then, he actually chuckled.  “You did look very
grown-up in that dress, though.”  He agreed dryly.  “I thought that, too.”

Ty
blinked at his unprecedented show of amusement.  Gion’s laugh sounded rusty and
dark, but it vibrated something deep inside of her.  It actually took Ty a
second to understand that he’d just paid her a compliment… sort of.  Ty loved
compliments.

“I
was going to apologize for not remembering you being there, but I think it’s
probably good that I don’t.  Lecherous old man.”

Instantly,
Ty wished that she could take the words back.  That was the closest she’d ever
come to teasing Gion.  Really, it was the closest she’d come to teasing anyone
but her family since the Fall.  Ty liked to keep her distance from people and
joking with them didn’t facilitate that goal.  Besides, she was never confident
that anyone else understood her sense of humor.  Parald used to look at her
like she was from Neptune whenever she’d shared something funny with him.
Either that or he took her seriously and demanded that she explain what she
meant by that remark.

Ty’s
body tensed up, waiting for some outraged complaint.

Instead,
Gion’s mouth curved.  “Yes, well, even if I did break a few decency laws with
my admiration of you, I still don’t repent.”

Ty
let out a breath, relaxing, again.  Gion got it.  He was bantering
back.  She felt a stab of relief and delight.  The Darth Vader of the Elemental
realm had a sense of humor.  In one day, he’d already jumped about
three-hundred places on Ty’s “Why did he have to survive the Fall?”
list.

She
flashed him another grin and her hand slid over a trumpet.  Gion had the
instruments set up here and there on the music hall’s white chairs.  “Well,
maybe you came to ogle little girls, but I mostly remember the music.  That’s
all I really cared about at any concert.  I was never good at socializing.”

“Neither
am I.”

“No,
but you have so many other talents.”  Ty sighed.  “I wish my parents were
here.  We had an entire artists’ community, at one time.”  She looked around
the music hall and seeing it as it once was: alive and full of magic.  “I wish
they could have heard you, just now.  They would have been so proud that you’re
part of the Water Kingdom.”

Gion’s
expression reflected such astonishment that Ty almost grinned, again.  He
watched her as if he expected her to burst out laughing and proclaim that
statement a ridiculous joke.  “Are you kidding?”  He prompted when Ty remained
silent.

“No.
I’m entirely serious.”

“Well,
I don’t think that your parents would want me here, at all.”  He finally got
out.  “God, what sort of family would want me near you?  Just because I know
which end of the violin is up?  I kill people, for God’s sake.”  Now, he
sounded insulted on her parents’ behalf.  Like she’d disparaged their memory by
suggesting that they might admire anything about him.

Ty’s
eyes narrowed thoughtfully.  Gion wasn’t being modest or fishing for some
compliments of his own.  He truly didn’t believe that anyone would be impressed
with his abilities.  “Gion, Clea had an amazing talent.  Listening to her was
spiritual.”

He
frowned over that non sequitur.  “I know.”

“Well,
you have that the same sort of gift.  You aren’t supposed to be a warrior.
You’re an artist.”

Gion
snorted.  “You’re still too young.”  He said flatly.  “Just go back to bed,
Tritone.”  He headed for the door, but Ty moved into his path intercepting him.

She
had no idea where she found the courage for that, and she really had no
idea why Gion stopped short instead of just shoving past her.  But, Ty had the
horrible thought that, if she let him walk away, he might never pick up an
instrument, again.  Gion needed to understand his talent.  She felt it.  If he
refused to listen to her, it would be disastrous, somehow.  Another terrible
loss for a world that had already endured too much.

“Play
something else.”  She ordered.

“No.”

Ty
faltered at the unequivocal refusal, not sure what to say next.  “Well, I’m the
queen so you have to do what I want.”

Gion
looked utterly unimpressed with that logic.  “Or what?  You’ll put me in the
stocks?”

That
image actually held a certain appeal.  “Just don’t push me.  I’ll go out and
build some just for you.”  Crossing her arms over her chest, she met his eyes.
“One song.  Please.  This is important.”

Gion’s
jaw tightened.  He looked over at the tuba.  Ty felt his powers slam out
hitting the keys and rushing Air through the instrument.  The fastest version
of Mary had a Little Lamb ever preformed anywhere in the universe echoed
through the room.

Gion
meant it as some kind of wiseass statement, but Ty didn’t care.  It dazzled her
that he could achieve something like that with his energy.  Her own powers were
so slight.  She’d always been too weak to do anything special with them.  Ty
overcompensated by developing her mind instead of her energy, figuring that, if
she couldn’t be powerful, at least she could be smart.  But, Gion’s energy was
limitless.  Without even trying, he awed her.

Instead
of conceit at his skill, Gion just looked discomforted, though.  Ty couldn’t understand
it.

He
arched a brow as the hurried tune ended.  “Satisfied?”  Gion didn’t wait for an
answer.  He started past her, again.

This
time Ty let him go.  She didn’t have the backbone to keep pushing him about
this, even though she knew that her parents would expect her to encourage her
subject’s talents.

Always
too weak.

Ty
pressed her lips together.

She
stared out at the night beyond the glass wall for a long moment.  Then, against
her will, her eyes slid over to the piano.  It was the only instrument she knew
how to play.  Moving closer to it, she brushed her thumb over the keys, checked
the doorway to make sure that Gion was really gone.  Then, she carefully sat
down so she could work the pedals.

Another
quick look over her shoulder ensured that she was still alone.  Ty checked the
sheet music that she’d left on the stand the last time she’d played.  Strauss’s
Blue Danube.  Ty’s favorite song in the world.

Okay,
she could do this.

Maybe.

Ty
bit her lower lip and concentrated on the keys.  Her energy always seemed so
hard to focus.  She drew some of the water vapor from air and tried to force it
against the piano.  Her face creased into lines of deep focus, struggling to
play the first notes by using her powers to press the key.

It
didn’t work.

Not
that she’d really been expecting it to.  The water vapor was too heavy.  It
slammed against the keyboard, jarring the notes together as several keys went
flat.  Ty winced at the noise.

Damn
it.

She
tried, again.  For twenty minutes, she worked on the hitting just one key,
again and again, over and over.  And again and again, over and over, she
failed.  The Water energy just wouldn’t cooperate.

She
obviously didn’t have Gion’s talent, but Ty had hoped that she could practice
and eventually produce something.  The Water forces weren’t going to let
her, though.  She could tell.  Gion’s Air energy seemed so fluid and light and
powerful.  Ty couldn’t come close to that control, no matter how much she
wanted to.

Too
weak.

Ty
sat back in defeat and ran a hand through her hair.

She
was always too weak.

Suddenly,
the keys started moving.  All by themselves they went up and down, playing the
opening of the Blue Danube in effortless perfection.  Ty’s lips parted.
She glanced under the grand piano, although she had no idea what she was
searching for.  No one else was lurking beneath her.  And Ty, clearly,
wasn’t creating the music, even if she did automatically move her bare feet
against the pedals to match the keys.

In
fact, there was only one way in the universe that the waltz could be playing.
Ty looked back over her shoulder and saw Gion leaning against the doorframe.
She didn’t want to say anything to spoil the music, so she just beamed at him.

Gion
regarded her seriously as the song got faster.  He was too far away to see the
sheet music, so he had to be playing it from memory.  But, he didn’t miss a
note.  Ty turned back to the piano, enjoying the way the keys danced under his
powers.  She could feel the Air energy rushing around her as it hit the notes.

More
instruments joined in.

Ty
head swam as Gion seamlessly incorporated a woodwind and brass accompaniment.
Strings and percussion came next.  All the different instruments she’d been
examining earlier came to life under Gion’s massive talents.  It wasn’t even
close to a full orchestra, but he somehow made the music swell so it seemed
like the waltz filled every piece of the room and palace and world.

Moisture
filmed Ty’s vision.

It
was magical.  He’d brought magic back into the room.

Gion
kept watching her.  His impassive face revealed nothing.  It was as if he
didn’t even notice that he was achieving unheard of artistic heights.  How
could Gion possibly do this?  How could he use his energy to play so many different
instruments at once?  How could he make it sound so… right?  No one
should be that powerful.

Gion
created something so incredibly beautiful that there were just no words for it.

Ty
looked back at him and realized that the Water Palace was hosting its greatest
concert ever.  The music rose and twirled in the air.  The joyous passion of it
rushed through her and Ty started laughing even through her tears.  Her parents
would have loved this.

Her
eyes closed as the beautiful waltz and Gion’s powers swept around her.  Deep
inside, Ty experienced the deepest feeling of peace and joy she’d had since her
ninety-third birthday.  Still on the piano stool, her body swayed in time to
the bright, clean melody.  The Blue Danube became a part of her.

As
the final crescendo of notes poured over her, Ty opened her eyes, again, and
Gion finally moved.  He stalked into the room and his gliding rhythm matched
the song’s exuberant flourish.  Even his cape seemed like it was dancing.  Icy
blue eyes fixed on Ty and she felt her breath catch.

Gion’s
gaze swept over her modest white nightgown like Ty was wearing nothing, at
all.  That should have frightened her.  Gion always frightened her.
But, it was hard to be frightened of a man who’d just played a waltz for her.
Ty didn’t move as he prowled closer.  She felt her heart beat speed up and her
stomach clench in excitement.

The
music stopped and Ty didn’t even notice.

All
she could hear now was the buzzing in her head as Gion reached for her, jerking
her off the piano stool.  Ty gasped, her body coming up against his.  Oh God.
Oh God.  Oh God.  He was big.  He towered over her, swamping her senses.

Ty
waited for a panic attack to kick in, but all she felt the thudding of her pulse.

And
Gion.

His
colossal powers slid against Ty’s, his palm holding her elbow, anchoring her to
him.  Gion pressed her back against the keyboard.  Ty’s eyes locked with his,
reading the intent in harsh expression.  All the things about Gion that usually
terrified her became beautiful.

His
body kept her trapped.  The stance was aggressive, but he didn’t go any further
with his hands.  Gion’s powers continued caressing her, though, touching places
no one else had ever touched.  Ty had no idea how he could do that.  Only
Matches should be able to feel each other’s energy so completely.

Except,
Gion could do anything.

Ty’s
eyes drifted shut under the erotic pressure of his powers stroking hers.

Gion
shifted closer, not touching her any further physically, but radiating energy.
He wasn’t going to force her.  Gion, the supposed pinnacle of selfish, “take
what you can carry and then burn the rest” evil-ness, was trying to coax her.

And
it was working.

He
wanted consent.

Ty
gaze fluttered back up to Gion’s savagely refined face, giving it to him
without saying a word.  Neither of them had spoken since he’d come back into
the room, because they simply didn’t have to.  At this moment, they were on the
same exact page.

Triumph
flashed across Gion’s features and then his mouth was covering hers.  A
whirlwind of power swirled around them.  The delicate fabric of her
nightclothes drifted against the black of his cape as Gion pulled her against
him.  Ty’s world became nothing except heat, and want, and sensation.

She’d
never been a big fan of kissing before, but now Ty realized that her earlier
experiments had been faulty.  She hadn’t tested a large enough sample to render
a legitimate, scientific opinion.  Parald’s lips had been wet and disgusting,
but Gion was a very different subject.  His mouth felt incredible.

Surrendering
to the moment, Ty gripped the front of his shirt and kissed him back.  Her bare
feet went on tiptoe, so she could reach his lips.  And then she wasn’t touching
the ground, at all.  Ty found herself lifted up off the ground, so that Gion
could set her right down on the piano.  The cacophony of noise from the keys
barely even registered.  Ty’s energy felt like a band, pulling tighter and
tighter.

She
moaned as Gion threaded his fingers through her hair, angling her head for
deeper penetration.  Even sitting on the keyboard, he dwarfed her.  Gion
must’ve liked the submissive sound Ty made, because his free hand grew more
insistent.  The tie of her robe was yanked free, with an erotic jerk.  He pulled
back to stare at the neckline of her nightgown, his fingers very deliberately going
to the pink bow at the neck.

He
pulled the ribbon loose as if he had every right to.

And
Ty let him.

This
couldn’t happen naturally outside of Phazing.  All her research confirmed that.
The urgency was too overwhelming.  Too consuming.  It swamped Ty’s senses.

And
it couldn’t be Phazing.

Ty
couldn’t Phaze with anyone, except Parald and she would never do that.
No matter what, she’d never let her energy combine with that sociopath’s.  So,
that meant Ty was immune to all Phazing energy.  She’d never feel it.
So, why was this happening with Gion?  She couldn’t think straight.

Oh
God.

The
buttons of Ty’s nightgown gave way, exposing her breasts to his view.  She lost
her frenzied train of thought at Gion’s hungry expression.  Ty had never been
half-naked in front of a man before.  Most Elemental men liked curvy women
best, but what if Gion didn’t?  Ty wasn’t thin.  She uncertainly moved to cover
herself with her arm, but Gion caught her wrist, holding her back.  His full
attention was on her bare skin and Ty’s nipples got even harder under his gaze.

Oh
God.

Even
after his exertion with the music, Gion had so much energy.  Ty felt it cascade
over her as Gion’s desire grew.  She didn’t tug her wrist free, even though she
could have.  His grip wasn’t that tight.  Instead, Ty just let him look at
her.  And touch her.  He released her wrist and carefully brushed her nipple
like he expected her to retreat.

Only
she didn’t.

Ty
was spellbound.

Gion
created a symphony inside of her.

His
touch grew firmer at her acceptance, but he was still so gentle.  He had the
hands of a musician.  Long, elegant fingers tested the weight of her breast and
Ty felt the Water energy swirling to get free.  It wanted to find Gion.  To
combine with the Air forces.

And
he wanted her, too.  A lot.  Ty could feel it all around her, inside and out.
As amazing at it seemed, Gion wanted her with a focused, primal reverence.
Pent up desire went into every stroke as he explored her breasts, seeming to
memorize them.  There wasn’t a spot Gion didn’t touch and claim.  He found her
nipple, again, tugging at it gently and Ty gasped.

Gion
let out a long, shaking breath at the sound.  He looked as if he’d been
suffocating for a long time and someone had just given him oxygen.  Wonder and
greed and gratitude were reflected on his face.  Like Ty was precious.  Like he
couldn’t believe she was letting him touch her.  Like he never, ever wanted to
stop.

Ty
felt something melt inside of her.

She
leaned forward and very softy kissed the underside of Gion’s jaw as he caressed
her.  That move was --without a doubt-- the most forward thing that Ty had ever
done in her life.  It was the first time she’d ever instigated anything
with a man.  Gion wanting her, his obvious admiration, made Ty braver than ever
before.

She
absolutely couldn’t have found a more appreciative recipient of boldness.

Gion’s
icy blue eyes went molten.  His turned his head to capture her lips, again, his
dominant mouth slanting across hers.  His energy slammed out and drove their
passion to new heights.  Ty’s nightgown was already hitched up and he found the
inside of her knee, pushing her legs open so he could stand between them.

Ty
wasn’t so sure about that maneuver.

She
gave an anxious whimper as she felt him pressed against the thin material of
her panties.  She broke contact with his mouth.  “Gion?”

The
energy drowned her in pleasure.  She didn’t want to stop, but visions from her
past temporarily took over and Ty felt vulnerable.  Gion was so much stronger
than her.  He could do anything he wanted and Ty would never be able to stop
him.

She
wanted Gion.  And she’d never wanted anyone before.  But, memories were
crowding in on her desire, overtaking her pleasure and causing Ty to panic.  Or
maybe she was just expecting to panic and creating it herself.  Ty
hadn’t been this close to a man since Parald and Parald hadn’t felt this way.
When Parald touched her, it had felt wrong.  Tainted.  She’d always fought
against it.

But
being near Gion was a drunk, syrupy pleasure.  Ty absolutely didn’t want to
resist him or the pulse of his energy.  When he touched her thigh like that, though,
it set off alarm bells.

Turquoise
eyes nervously found his.

Gion
might not have understood the back story, but he knew what she wanted.  He
didn’t step away from Ty, but he did remove his hand from her leg.  Gion’s
intense blue gaze regarded her solemnly and Ty flushed.  She didn’t want to explain
that having someone forcibly spread her legs apart panicked her, so she didn’t
say anything.

A
few seconds passed and then Gion bent down to kiss her, again.  He moved very
slowly, as if he expected her to recoil.

Ty
smiled in relief and leaned up to meet his lips.  She really didn’t want this
to end.  Scientifically speaking, sex was the closest she’d ever get to Phazing
and Gion was the only man she ever felt any desire for.  She didn’t really
understand it, but Ty had spent her entire life being practical and safe.  Look
where that had gotten her.  Just once she was going to enjoying doing
something impulsive and illogical.

Gion
had obviously been expecting Ty to call a halt to their session.  When she
kissed him back, he groaned out something that sounded like, “Thank you.”  Ty
wasn’t sure if he was addressing her or Gaia, but she supposed it didn’t
matter.  Caught up in the hazy, pink cloud of unexpected longing, she was
willing to follow Gion as far as he wanted to go.

His
energy got faster, pulling her, tempting her and Ty didn’t resist.

She
let more of her own powers go.  Lowering the barriers between them seemed
natural.  For Matches, that would have been the next step before her energy
combined with Gion’s and made them one symbiotic whole.  Ty wasn’t sure how
regular sex worked, but it just seemed like the thing to do.  A biological
imperative.

Except,
the Water energy abruptly faltered as if it hit against the walls of a cage.

Too
much.

Suddenly,
it was too much.

Something
was wrong.

Ty
pulled back with a gasp.  “No, wait.”  Trying to break free of whatever spell
Gion’s powers had cast, Ty dropped her gaze to his shirtfront.  Her breath came
in quick pants, from fear and an unfamiliar wash of lust.  “I can’t.  Something’s
wrong.  I’m… I’m sorry.”

Gion
was breathing hard, too.  Next to her, on the piano, his hand clenched so
tightly that his knuckles went white as he struggled to pull his energy back
under control.  Gion’s powers had created an orchestra without straining, but
now he seemed stretched to the breaking point.

And
the worst part was, Ty wanted to keep going, too.  She could have dealt with
the panic.  It was already receding.  Her memories had threatened to pull her
under, but just so Gion kept waiting for consent, Ty would have edged out to
meet him.

But,
something else inside of her was wrong.

She
sensed it.

Knew
it.

The
further they went and the more their energy connected, the more her powers
seemed blocked.  Like Ty needed a password to access anything beyond a certain
point.  Her not-so-spectacular energy felt bigger and trapped.  Caught in a web
or something.  That couldn’t be right.  She’d never heard other Phases who’d
had sex talking about their powers being hindered, so this wasn’t normal.  She
and Gion had to stop until Ty figured out the problem.

Ty
certainly wasn’t going to ask Gion for his opinion, though.  He didn’t like
talking about their connection, at all.  And he didn’t seem to notice the Water
power’s sudden problem.  Which either meant that Ty was broken internally or
that she was the most inexperienced idiot outside of a Victorian novel.

Damn
it.

“It
wasn’t wrong.  Just… unexpected.”  Gion got out raggedly.  “Your energy
touching mine… I mean, it’s always unusual that we can do that.  But, I
didn’t anticipate the kind of… combustion it would set off when we were
kissing.  Not without a Phase-Match.”  His jaw clenched.  “Just give me a
second here.”

Ty
braced for some kind of furious outburst.  He didn’t want to stop.  She could
tell.  If it was up to Gion, they would have had sex.  “I’m sorry.”  She
repeated, faintly, pulling the edges of her nightgown back together.  “I got
scared.”

Gion
reached over to touch the side of her face and Ty reflexively cringed sideways,
anticipating a blow.

He
froze.

For
a second, neither of them moved.  Ty might have almost died at the hands of
that mob during the Fall, but this was a more intimate retreat than she would
have had from a flashback of that attack.  It was the small, instinctive recoil
of a woman who’d been hurt by another man.

“Son-of-a-bitch.”
Gion bit off harshly.  His palm fell away from her face and seized her arm,
instead.  “Who the fuck hit you?”

Ty’s
eyes widened at his incensed tone.  Gion never sounded like that.  He was
always so cold and reserved.  “It doesn’t matter.  I’m sorry.  You weren’t
going to strike me.  I know.  I just…”

“Who
hit you?”  Gion interrupted, giving her a small shake.

Ty
tugged against his hold.  “Let me go.”  Gion wasn’t hurting, but that didn’t
mean he could manhandle her to get his own way.  “I told you to stop trying to
intimidate me.”

He
carefully released Ty’s arm and pushed away from the piano, giving her room.
“Was it Parald?”

“Parald
is the only other man I ever kissed and he once got very angry when I told him
to stop.”  Ty grudgingly admitted.  “Not that it’s any of your business.”

Gion
studied her for a beat as if he needed to get his emotions in check.  Since
when did he even have emotions, anyway?  “Angel, did Parald…?”

“No.”
She shook her head, knowing what he was about to ask and not wanting to hear
the words.  “He didn’t rape me.”

Gion
relaxed slightly, but he didn’t let it go.  “Did he try?”

Ty
flinched.

Gion
must’ve understood her reaction, because his power slipped.  A windstorm
crashed against the walls, sending paintings and artwork falling to the marble
floor.

Ty
jolted, more from his loss of control than from the noise.

Gion
snarled another oath and pulled back on his energy like he was worried that
he’d frighten her.  “So, you stopped him from raping you and he beat you for
it?”

“I
don’t want to talk about it.”  Ty didn’t like remembering this.  She busied
herself by fixing the neckline of her nightgown, rebuttoning the tiny pearl
buttons.  “It’s over.”  She’d never shared what happened with anyone before.
Not even Nia.

Gion’s
gaze went to Ty’s lap as if recalling her sudden tension when he touched her
thigh.  “Parald tried to pry your legs apart, didn’t he?”  It wasn’t a really
question.

Ty’s
lips firmed together.  “I don’t want to talk about it.”  She repeated.  “It’s over.”

“Obviously,
it’s not if you’re still terrified of him.”  Gion retorted, repressed
fury in his tone.  “You should have told me this back then.  I would have
protected you.”

“You
were an Air Phase.”  Ty’s own temper sparked.  “You worked for him.  And,
most of the time, you act like a snide, heartless, jerk towards me.  Why would
I come to you for help?  You were on his side, not mine!”

Gion
didn’t respond to that, but his body went stiff.

Ty
had the strangest sensation that she’d just injured his feelings.  “I’m
sorry.”  She said, again, her flash of irritation fading.  She didn’t want to
hurt Gion.  It wasn’t his fault that Parald brought out the worst in her.  “I’m
just going to go back to bed and…”

Gion
sighed, cutting her off.  “Angel, you never have to be sorry for anything.”

The
nickname got Ty to look at him faster than anything else could have.  For so
long, Gion had been her enemy.  Things were changing so fast, she couldn’t keep
up.

Pale
blue eyes caught hers, burning into her soul.  “I wanted you when you were
eighty-four.”  He continued conversationally.  His voice became a calm contrast
to the intensity of his face.  “I was serious earlier.  The first time I saw
you in that damn white dress, I wanted you.  I came to every concert that the
Water House held, just so I could see you.  I wanted you for myself, before
Parald even knew your name.”

The
words poured over Ty like a balm, soothing places inside of her that she hadn’t
even known were sore.

“I
didn’t know your exact age.”  Gion shrugged.  “But, I knew that you were too
young.  You weren’t ninety-three yet and it went against our laws.  I knew
that.  And I wanted you, anyway.”  His gaze slid over the folds of her
nightgown as if amazed to be living out his “white dress” fantasy, at last.  “I
would have traded all my powers to have you, just for one night.  I still
would.  Gladly.”

Ty
swallowed.

Gion
seemed to take her silence as a good sign, because he kept going.  “I waited
over a decade to touch you.  And it was worth it.”  He quietly murmured.  “I’ll
wait another eleven years to do it again, if that’s what it takes.  I’m
surprisingly patient when it comes to you.  And I won’t ever, ever, hurt
you.  So, don’t be sorry.  I’m sure as hell not.”

Ty’s
mind stayed utterly blank for a long moment, just staring at him.  In her
entire life, she’d never been so surprised.  This was Gion.  The man who’d
tormented her for years.

Only
he was an artist.

And
he had a sense of humor.

And
he said such beautiful things to her.

How
could she have never seen this side of him?

Gion’s
mouth quirked upward at her bafflement.  He carefully adjusted the edges of her
robe, retying it, and then lifting her off the piano.  “Go back to bed, now.”
The colored stripes at Phases’ temples were always more sensitive that the rest
of their hair.  He lifted a hand and brushed her turquoise streak, giving her
plenty of time to avoid his touch.

Once
before, he’d touched the highlight at her temple.  Last time had been in the
Air House dungeon, when Gion was trying to snap her out of a panic attack.  Ty
had told him to stop touching her and he’d dropped his hand.  Now, Ty didn’t
move as his thumb slid against her curls.  Pleasure hummed through her at the
brief contact and she leaned her head into his palm.

Gion’s
expression softened and his fingers slowly fell away.  “Goodnight, Ty.”  He
turned and headed out of the music hall, again.

She
bit her lower lip.  “Gion?”

As
always, when Ty called his name he instantly stopped.  “Yes?”

“Maybe
tomorrow, you could play something else for me.”  It took all of her courage to
get the words out.  “I like Handel almost as much as Strauss, you know.”

Gion’s
gaze flared with some warm emotion that she couldn’t identify.  “Water Music?”
He guessed.

“I’m
very fond of Water Music.  And you can do the Air part of the
first suite, if you feel like having fair representation.”  That quiet flash of
humor was as close as Ty could come to encouragement.  It took all of her nerve
to be even that bold.

Luckily,
Gion didn’t need any more encouragement than a small, tentative smile.  He
stalked back to her, gripped the lapel of her robe and slammed his lips down
onto hers, again.  His mouth opened against hers, demanding everything that she
had.

Gion
was obviously a “give an inch take a mile” sort of guy.  Now that he’d kissed
her once, he thought he could do it whenever he felt like it.

Her
cousins were not going to like that.

Ty
found she was fine with the idea, though.

She
positively loved that Gion wanted her.  It gave her so much more
confidence.  For the first time in her life, Ty felt strong and beautiful.

Gion’s
mouth marked her like a brand.  Hard and hot and possessive, it burned away
whatever lingering negative, mental associations Ty still held towards
kissing.  Kissing Parald always left her vaguely repulsed.  But, amazingly, she
liked the feel of Gion’s mouth on hers.  It wasn’t just the energy and
passion sweeping her up in the moment.  She genuinely enjoyed the taste of him.

Ty’s
lips softened beneath his, accepting.

She
was just convincing herself that they should try the whole sex thing again,
when Gion pulled back, leaving Ty dizzy.

“I’ll
play you anything that you want.”  He told her gravely, stepping away.  “Except
disco music and Dolly Parton.”  Gion turned on his heel and went prowling out,
again.  “Make sure your bedroom windows are locked and secure.”  He ordered
over his shoulder.

Ty
blinked.

He’d
already checked her windows twice before she went to bed.  He was just making
an escape, because she’d been scared earlier.

Damn
it.

Was
Gion really serious about waiting ten years before touching her, again?

Ty
pouted slightly.

…And
she liked Dolly Parton.

Chapter Nine

Soft yielding Minds to Water
glide away,

And sip, with Nymphs, their
elemental Tea.

Alexander Pope- ‘Rape of
the Lock’

Ty
took a sip of her morning tea and tried to look as innocent as possible.
“Cross, can I speak with you privately after breakfast?”  She smiled
artlessly.  “It’s nothing important.  I just have a little question.”

Ty
was actually a better actress than people gave her credit for.  In public,
she’d managed to hide her panic and social anxiety behind a queenly mask of
indifference for years.  She thought she’s delivered that casual invitation to
Cross with the perfect amount of “just another day at the office” boredom.

Unfortunately,
her cousin saw right through her.

“What
do you want to ask him?”  Nia demanded.  She hated to be left out of anything.
“Why can’t you ask me?”

Nia
and Cross were back in the Water Kingdom today.  Certainly, that wasn’t
unusual.  Nia spent at least half her time in the Water Kingdom and she still
represented the Water House on the Council.  A big part of Ty saw Nia as the
real ruler of the Water Kingdom.  Her cousin was a hundred years older and a
thousand times more qualified than Ty.  The Water House was Nia’s home and she
was always welcomed there.  Ty adored Nia.  Loved her more than her own
life.

But,
she still came very close to pegging an English muffin at her precious cousin’s
big, dumb head.

“It’s
a private question for Cross.”  Ty said firmly.  She glanced towards the dining
room door for the fifteenth time since breakfast started.  Gion hadn’t come
down, yet.  “And maybe for Tharsis.”

“Me?”
Tharsis looked up from his Cap’n Crunch.

“Tharsis
and Cross, but not me.”  Nia scowled over at her Match.  “What does Ty want to
ask you about that I can’t hear?”

“I
don’t know, baby.  She hasn’t asked me, yet.”  Cross drank some orange juice
and shrugged.  “Playing the odds, though, I’m betting it has something to do
with the Phantom of the Air House.  He’s her new pet project.”

It
annoyed Ty that everyone was so negative about Gion.  Granted, his past
remained a bit checkered, but he did plenty of wonderful things, too, and he had
staggering talents.

Gion
was a good man.

“We’re
getting more inquiries from Air Phases wanting to come here, because of Gion.”
Tharsis chimed in.  “Before, they all went to Job and the Earth House, but, now
that Guy’s here, they’re petitioning us.  They seem to feel safer with
him clearing the path.”

Brokk
frowned.  “More of them?  Don’t we have quotas?”

“No,
we don’t.”  Ty shook her head.  “Anyone who wants to come here is welcome.”
She poured herself some more tea, stirring it with unnecessary force.  “And
yes, as a matter of fact, my question for Cross does concern Gion.  But, it’s private.”

“What
could Cross possibly know about Gion that’s private?”  Tharsis wanted to know.
“Anything you wanna share with the rest of the class, brother-in-law?”

“Shut
it, Thar.  She wants to talk to you, too.”  Cross glowered over at Ty.  “Look,
whatever you ask me, you might as well do it now.  You know that Nia will just
get it out of me later, anyhow.”

Nia
shrugged.  “He’s right.  I will.”

Ty
considered that.  She looked over her shoulder, again.  Still, no Gion.  “Um… it’s
sort of awkward to talk about over breakfast, so…”

“Just
spit it out, Ty.”  Tharsis interrupted.  “Whatever it is, I’m sure Cross will
take it like a man.”

Ty
glanced at Nia, who nodded encouragingly.  “Um… alright.”  Ty let out a long
breath and turned to Cross.  “So, when you slept with women before Nia, did you
experience any strange sensations?”

Cross
choked on his orange juice.

Ty
cringed slightly as he coughed.  Cross gave a hacking sort of wheeze, trying to
breathe.  He face went red from lack of oxygen.

Brokk’s
eyebrows climbed up his forehead.

Tharsis
started snickering.

Nia
whacked Cross on the back.  “Honey?  Are you okay?”

“Shit!”
Cross gasped.  “Ty… fuck.  I’m not talking about that with you!”

She
adjusted her glasses.  “I don’t mean it as anything that might embarrass you…”

“I’m
not embarrassed!”  He lied.

“…It’s
a completely scientific inquiry, I assure you.  Nothing prurient.”  Ty
continued swiftly.  “I just don’t know who else to ask.  Nia waited for you, I
know.  Really, I just need to know about the Phazing energy.”

“He
didn’t feel Phazing energy with other women.”  Nia insisted.  “Only with me.”
She considered that and flashed Cross a glare.  “Right?”

“Of
course!”

“But,
how did your energy react?”  Ty pressed.  “Was it –like-- blocked or…?”

“No,
I didn’t feel it, at all.  It wasn’t there.  There was no energy, because the
other women weren’t my Match.”  He looked at Nia as if she’d suggested
otherwise.  “No one else is my Match.”  He repeated.  “You know that.”

“Sure,
I know it.”  Nia fluttered her lashes.  “Just so you know it, too.”

Cross
relaxed, smiling slightly.  He leaned over to kiss her.  “Baby, it’s not
something I’m liable to forget.”  His hand went down to caress her stomach.

Nia
winked at him.

Ty
wasn’t satisfied.  “Thar?”

Tharsis
slumped down farther in his seat.  “Yeah?”  He asked warily.

“What
about you?”

Tharsis
slid so far south that Ty could barely see his eyes over the table.  “You’re
not supposed to be with anyone but your Match.”  He hedged.  “That’s not the
way we were raised.  It goes against the teachings of Gaia and ruins the…
magical… something.”

Ty
sighed.  “Yes, I know that.  But, I also know that you very rarely do what
you’re supposed to do.”

A
lot of Phases slept with people they weren’t Matched with, but the strict ruler
followers and the faithful romantics both stayed steadfast in the belief that
everyone should wait.  The Water House fell into the latter group.  At least
publically.  “For God’s sake, Thar, I don’t care if you had sex with some
woman.  I just need to know if you felt any energy.”

Tharsis
looked like a pouty child being called in front of the principal.  “No.”  He
muttered.

That
wasn’t what Ty wanted to hear.  “Nothing seemed… blocked?”

“Nope.”
Tharsis developed a faraway expression.  “Everything went real fluidly, in
fact.”

Nia
rolled her eyes.

Damn
it.  Ty’s fingers drummed against table in consternation.  Her gaze slid over
to Brokk.  “What about you?”

Brokk’s
handsome face creased into outraged lines.  “I would never have intercourse
with some random woman.  I am awaiting my Match.”  He gave a righteous, Eagle
Scout sort of nod. “She deserves no less.”

Cross
and Tharsis both turned to glower at him.

Ty
had figured as much.  Wood Phases never colored outside the lines.  “When you
touch other people, though, you never feel any energy?”

“It’s
impossible to feel energy with someone who isn’t your Match.”  Brokk smiled
condescendingly.

Tharsis’s
head snapped up.  “Ohhhhhh… The energy.”  His attention zeroed in on Ty,
again.  “Now, I get it.”

“What?”
Nia leaned forward.  “What are these questions really about?”

Ty
frowned down at her muffin and didn’t answer.

“She
and Gion have some kind of energy between them.”  Tharsis explained.  “I felt
it from four feet away when they touched.  It just zapped.”

“You
can’t feel energy with someone who isn’t your Match.”  Brokk stubbornly
repeated.  “It’s impossible.”

“Well,
I am feeling it.”  Ty retorted.  “So, impossible or not, it’s
happening.”

Nia
frowned.

“Grandpa
Munster must’ve put the whammy on you, then.”  Cross surmised, proving that
he’d been spending way too much time with Tharsis.  Not only did Cross feel
more comfortable talking to the Water Phases, now, but human television
contaminated his vocabulary.  God only knew what her cousin’s pop-culture
influence would do to poor Gion.  “Who knows why, but Gion’s gotta be
plotting something.”  Cross ate another mouthful of cereal.  “You should see
Freya about it.  See if you can’t get it fixed, before his evil spell spreads.”

Ty
hadn’t considered going to a doctor.  She should have.  Obviously, an expert on
biology and Phazing energy would be the best place to continue her research.
Ty was more determined than ever to find out what was happening to her.

Ty
didn’t just accept things.  Not anymore.  She solved problems and found
solutions.  Until she found the answer, she’d keep searching through the
confusion.  And Gion confused her.  What Ty felt with him wasn’t natural.  It
couldn’t be.

Except,
it felt incredibly… right.

The
energy didn’t come from Ty or Gion.  It came from both of them together.
She and Gion generated something very much like Phazing energy.  The books and
computer research all agreed with Brokk and said it was impossible.  Interviewing
her family was another dead end.  Freya was clearly the next best step in
finding out why Ty’s life persisted in becoming such an anomaly.

Ty
slowly nodded.  “That’s a very good idea, Cross.”  She looked over her
shoulder, again.

He
gave a little bow of his head.  “My kid’s gonna be a genius.  Just wait and
see.”

“Ty,”
Tharsis began, “sweetheart, I don’t think Freya will be able to…”

Brokk
cut him off.  “If you’re looking for Gion, he’s not here.”  He told Ty.  “The
Black Hole left twenty minutes ago.”

“Left?”
Ty felt a jolt of panic.  “Where did he go?  Will he be back?”  If Gion moved
out, Ty didn’t know what she should do.  She liked having him here.  He
couldn’t just leave.

Nia
frowned at her alarmed words.

“Relax.”
Brokk ate a bite of toast with Emily Post approved manners.  “He just went to
the human realm.  He’ll be back.”

“Shit.”
Cross muttered.

“It’s
not safe for Gion to be out there alone.”  Ty insisted.  “He shouldn’t have
gone.  What does he even want in the human realm?”

“I
don’t know, but he brought that clipboard with him.”

Chapter Ten

When the elements were separated by Hate, what caused the Earth to keep its place?

Aristotle- ‘On the Heavens’

The human teenager wore a nametag that read “Steve” and a bright orange vest.  Clearly not the smartest member of his species, he frowned like Gion spoke in Linear A.  “What?’

Gion drummed his fingers on the counter and tried again, slower this time.  “Plexiglas.  I wish to order some.  This is a home supply store, I believe.”

“Yeah, I got that part.  But –like-- how much did you say you wanted?”

“All of it.”

“In the whole store?”

“No.  I told you, in the whole Plexiglas factory.  All of it.”  Jesus, it couldn’t be any clearer and still Steve looked baffled.

“I think I need to call my manager.”

“I don’t care if you have to call your president, just do it.”  Gion waved an imperious hand at the boy and then checked his new watch.  He wanted to get back to Water Kingdom and see Ty.  After last night in the music hall, he didn’t want her out of his sight for long.  Not only because Gion wanted Ty so badly that it was only a matter of time before he spontaneously combusted, either.  The belated news that Parald had tried to rape her clouded Gion’s vision in red every time he thought about it.

That sadistic bastard put his hands on Ty.  Traumatized her so badly that she’d flinched away from Gion, anticipating a blow.  He’d never forgive himself for not protecting her better.  During the period before Ty and Parald’s official Matching ceremony, Gion had been out of his mind with fury and anguish.  He’d done his best to avoid them both, scared of what he might do.

And Ty had paid for it.  She still feared that Parald would attack her.

Gion was already considering some new justifications for moving up that asshole’s execution date.  Maybe it would be safe to kill Parald when Ty was only a hundred and fifty.  That was a scant fifty-four years away.  She might be strong enough by then to handle losing her Match without a big risk, especially if Gion worked with her to strengthen her powers.  Ty wouldn’t feel secure until Parald was dead, so the sooner Gion decapitated him the better.

“Um, manager to customer service.”  Steve said into the microphone.  The words echoed through the store.  “Some guy in a cape wants a special order.”  He sent Gion a wary look.

Gion rolled his eyes.  You’d think he was trying to buy uranium.  If only Elementals could create plastics, replacing the Water Palace’s windows would be so much easier.  Dealing with humans gave him a headache.  He’d never been inside a Home Depot before and he didn’t like it.  All the open aisles behind him left Gion feeling exposed.

Truthfully, Gion didn’t like much about the human realm.  He’d picked the outskirts of Mayport Beach for his shopping this morning, mostly because it was the only human village he knew.  Since the small town was infested with Elementals, though, Gion stayed tensed for an attack.

Sullivan Pryce, the only known part human/part Elemental male in the universe, lived here.  A constant parade of desperate Phase women followed that surly, half-breed around.  Pretty much every available female who’d survived the Fall, saw Sullivan as their last, best hope for the Phazing.  Personally, Gion would rather face extinction than deal with that miserable cop, but all the women lusted after him.

The guy was a jackass.

Ty was the only Elemental Sullivan seemed comfortable with, which was the real source of Gion’s antipathy.  She doted on the human and Sullivan had actually touched her hair before Gion had.  The human petted her soft, red curls and comforted Ty through a panic attack, while Gion could do nothing but watch.

Sullivan might have been Parson, of the Wood House’s grandson, but Gion still wished the human nothing but horrible, disfiguring illnesses.

He checked his watch, again.  Gaia, the humans were slow.  If Gion had been this incompetent in the Air House, he never would have survived his childhood.  Air Phases weeded out the weak and stupid.

He glanced over at Steve.  Which, given the alternative, actually may have been the right choice.

A small human carrying a set of paintbrushes stopped to stare up at Gion wide eyed.

Gion scowled at it.  “Yes?”  He demanded.

The child edged closer to him.  “Are you Darth Vader?”

Fucking George Lucas.  Gion hissed out an annoyed breath.  “I have been wearing this uniform for three hundred years.  If anything, that idiotic movie copied me.  I was here first.”

The little boy frowned.  “You’re the real Darth Vader, then?”

“Yes.”  Gion said flatly.  “Go away.”  He looked back over at Steve.  “Is your manager in Beirut and commuting here?  Shall we expect him sometime today?”

Laughter sounded behind him.

Gion turned around and saw the Quintessence standing there.

She grinned up at him.  “You are such a people person, hon.  Seriously, you should host your own talk show.  See how many guests you can drive to suicide every week.”

Tessie, Keeper of the Quintessence and Queen of the Earth House, annoyed Gion.  For over twenty years, he’d had the shit-job of protecting her and she never once listened to him.  Instead, Tessie made him watch soap operas and almost got herself killed a lot.  It frustrated him that, despite it all, she somehow made him sort of… like her.  Tessie was the closest thing Gion had to a friend, which was a sad commentary on his social life.

Thankfully, he’d passed the unrewarding task of watching her off to her Match.  The High Seat of the Council and the leader of the Elementals, Job pretty much cleared Tessie’s path to do whatever she wanted.  The guy a thousand years old and the most powerful Phase alive, but Tessie had him wrapped around her little finger.

He might have scoffed at Job’s besotted indulgence, except Gion felt the same way about Ty.

As it was, Gion knew that it was only a matter of time before Job showed up and started pressuring him to leave the Water Kingdom.  The Water Phases were the teacher’s pets of the Elemental world.  To Job, they could do no wrong.  He watched over them like a mother hen and he wasn’t going to like Gion moving into the homestead.  Especially, since Cross was his nephew.

Tessie hoisted herself up onto the counter and looked around the store.  “So, what are we buying?”  She wore torn jeans and a black camisole top.  A skull and crossbones decorated the front of it, made up of sparkly rhinestones.  There was a pink, bedazzled bow on the skull’s head.  “Never figured you for the DYI type, Guy.”

Only Tharsis and Tessie ever called him that.  Gion had long since given up dissuading her from the nickname, but he still held out hope that Thar could be stopped.  “What are you doing here, Quintessence?”  He didn’t bother to ask how she tracked him down.  One of the many downsides to guarding the Quintessence was that she could always find you.

“She came with me.”  Nia announced joining the fun.  “Tessie knows you better than anyone.  I thought maybe she could talk some sense into you.”

Gion jaw tightened.  Perfect.  He’d been doing his damnedest to steer clear of Nia, so far.  She’d cornered him and threatened him up one side and down the other when she first found out about his new status as adopted Water Phase, but Gion knew that wouldn’t be the last of it.  Nia was just biding her time before she pulled out the big guns.

Ty may have been the queen, but Nia ruled the Water House.

Of all Ty’s relatives, Nia was the only one who worried Gion.  Pregnant or not, she was powerful, unpredictable, and fiercely protective of her little cousin.

Nia could be a problem.

Gion glanced back over at Tessie.  “You’ll need to show me some certified proof that you even have any sense before I let you talk it into me.”

“Oh please.”  Tessie made a face.  “I’m not the one sharing a house with my mortal enemies.  You got blackmailed promises being cashed in, and people getting tossed through windows, and now this thing about sex and energy… It’s like you joined the cast of Jersey Shore, for God’s sake.”

“I didn’t throw Cross through a window.”  Gion stated truthfully.  It had been a door.  He looked over at Nia, trying to do some damage control.  With Nia and Job on his side, Cross was basically untouchable.  “It was an accident.”

“Yeah, Cross told me.”  Nia smiled sweetly, looking remarkably like Ty.  Not as beautiful or captivating, but similar.  They shared the same red hair and turquoise eyes.  Nia didn’t wear glasses, though.  Her unobstructed gaze reflected determination and mistrust.  “You have another accident like that and I’ll accidently drown you where you stand, got it?”

Gion arched a brow at that and refocused on Tessie.  “The Water House isn’t my enemy, either.  At least, not on my part.  And there was no blackmail between Ty and myself.  We had a legitimate deal.  As for the energy I feel with her… that’s none of your business.  Have we covered all you concerns?”

Tessie stuck out her tongue.

Gion couldn’t escape this whole nightmarish experience fast enough.  He turned to Steve.  “Would it be best for me use some of aisle three’s plywood to build myself a temporary shelter while I wait for the manager?  Will I have to live here, now?”

“Better here than in my House.”  Nia put in sourly, while Steve went scurrying off to call for his boss, again.

“What are you doing at Home Depot, Gion?”  Tessie repeated.  “It’s really not your scene.  You’re really big and mean, and there’s the cape, and the whole ‘crazed serial killer on the loose’ glint you have goin’ on in your eyes… I mean, you’re not blending in with the locals.”

“Believe me, I realize that.”  A woman with a shopping cart full of hideous lighting fixtures gaped at him as she went by.  Gion pinned her with “Don’t test me” look and she darted up the power tool aisle.  “I’m trying to buy Plexiglas.  Apparently that requires an entire team of humans.”

“Buying Plexiglas?”  Nia’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.  “Why?”

“I collect it.”  Gion sneered.  “It’s beautiful.”

Tessie snickered and reached over to pick up his clipboard.  She flipped through the pages of measurements and calculations.  “Windows, huh?”

“I feel it advisable to actually secure the Water Palace.  Dying horribly sound fun, too, but we might as well add a small bit of challenge for our adversaries.  Keep things fair.”

Nia craned her neck and studied the clipboard along with Tessie.  Turquoise eyes flicked over to Gion.  “Ty said you were looking after our security, now.”

“I’ve
actually handled the Water Kingdom’s security for a long while.  Now, it’s just
official.”

She ignored that.  “Encasing us in plastic is taking things to Fort Knox-ian levels of paranoia, don’t you think?”

“Not to be trite, but it’s hardly paranoia if someone’s legitimately out to kill you.”

“The glass in the Water Palace was made by the best Dust Phases.”  Nia argued.  “It’s priceless.”  Dust Phases controlled small bits of sand like no other House.  The glass they created was perfect; the clear panels like the purest crystal and the stained glass arranged in magical mosaics of color.  Most of the Dust House’s greatest craftsmen died in the Fall, though, so their art couldn’t be replaced.  What remained in the Water Palace might well be the last surviving examples of their greatest craftsmanship.

Gion didn’t care.

“You know what else is priceless?  Ty.  I value her life more highly than sheets of glass, so it’s all being replaced.”  He wouldn’t risk Ty for anything, especially not useless memorials to the damn Dust Phases.  Gion never liked any of those idiots.

“You think Ty will let you rip apart our home, like this?”  Nia gestured to the clipboard.  “No Elemental House has plastic windows.  That’s crazy.”

“Ty said I could improve security as I saw fit.”  Gion had no intention of budging on the matter.  “If Parald or Chason gets into the Water Kingdom, the extra minutes it will take them to break through the Plexiglas could be the difference between your family living or dying.”

“Well, if it’s so logical and important, why didn’t you put plastic windows in the Air House, then?”

“I did have them in my room.  The rest of the Air Phases were on their own.  I’m a bit more committed to protecting the Water House.”

“Why?”

“Ty asked me to.”

Nia wasn’t a woman to back away from a fight.  Gion expected her to keep arguing.  Instead, she looked down at the clipboard and sighed.  “Well, try not to break the windows when you switch them out, at least.  They should be saved for future generations.  It’s important to remember what we lost in the Fall.”

He looked over at her.

Nia stared back.

A long moment passed.

“What sort of energy do you feel with Ty?”  She finally asked.  “She’s my cousin and that is my business.  Tharsis tells me that you’re in love with her.  And now I have Ty saying that the two of you have some kind of Phazing energy between you.”

“He does love Ty.”  Tessie interjected and it dawned on Gion that she was mainly there to protect him from Nia.  Amazingly, Tessie was on his side.  “Gion almost killed Parald when the dude went after Ty at their Matching ceremony.  She renounced him, Parald tried to attack her and Gion stepped between them, reaching for his sword.  I saw it.”

Gion frowned at her.  “You weren’t there that day.”

“Yeah, but Job was.”

Memory sharing.

Phase-Matches saw bits and pieces of their partner’s pasts.  They experienced the key moments, again, in a virtual rewind.  Tessie must’ve relived the day Ty renounced Parald in front of the Council.

Nia blinked.  “I didn’t see that.”

“You were kinda distracted.”  Tessie shrugged.  “It happened, though.  Trust me.  Right then, I knew Gion was sweet on Ty.  No other explanation.”

“I love Ty.”  Gion said.  There was no benefit in denying it.  “I always have.”

“Yeah, well, you’ve got a funny way of showing it.”  Nia shot back.  “You scared the hell out of Ty for years.”

It aggravated Gion all over again that Ty had ever feared him.  “I wanted Ty safe, so I did what I thought was best.  I felt worse about my methods than you did, I guarantee it.  I didn’t want her looking at me like I was a monster and refusing to talk to me, at all.  Do you honestly think I enjoyed her hating me?”

“Are
you actually claiming that you’ve been protecting my cousin by being a
dick?”

“Do
Chason or the Air House have her, right now?  Has Parald even seen Ty since she
renounced him?  Has any deranged Reprisal crackpot gotten within ten feet of
her without me beheading him?  Have I ever done one thing to hurt her, ever?”

Nia
didn’t answer that.

“No.”
Gion answered for her.  “So, if my methods are crude, at least they’ve kept Ty
alive.”

“You always do things the hard way.”  Tessie muttered.  She swung her legs back and forth.  “Thank God, I’m here now to offer you dating advice.  Tip number one:  When it comes to gifts, girls like jewelry, not sheets of high grade plastic.”

“Dating?”  Gion echoed blankly.

“What about the energy?”  Nia pointed a finger at him.  “Did you cook that up?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“If I created the energy, I’d be a lot less worried that something might go wrong with it.  Right now, it connects me to Ty, but I don’t know why.  If it stops, I’ll have to kill myself.”  That was the stark truth, because Gion didn’t see any profit in lying to Nia.  He wanted her on his side.  Without Nia’s support, Ty would never agree to a Binding.

Nia pursed her lips.  “What about Parald?”

“Fuck him.”  Gion intoned.  “He’ll be dead soon.  No matter what else happens, I’ll see that bastard’s head on a pike for what he’s done to her.”

Another long pause.

“You love Ty.”  Nia said as if she was testing the concept.

“Yes.”

“Really love her?”

“For me, there’s only Ty.  I give you my word on it.”

Tessie made an “awww” sound.

Nia still didn’t look convinced.  “I’d like you to go to the Earth Kingdom, then, Gion.”  She announced.  “Job said that he’ll give you a home, there.”

“How charitable.”  Gion drawled, not the least bit impressed with this new tactic.  “The man’s always been like a Santa Claus, hasn’t he?”

“Oh, he’s way better looking than Santa.”  Tessie complained good-naturedly.  “Come on, Guy, think about it.  If you move in with me, I’ll get you your own room.  We can stay up late, braiding each other’s hair and watching soaps all night.  It’ll be like we joined a sorority together!”

He flashed her a feral look.  Killing Tessie would end the world.

It just might be worth it.

“It would be better for Ty if you left the Water House.”  Nia insisted.  “You’ll be fine with Job.  And nobody’s saying that you can’t see Ty, at all.  If Ty wants to see you, she can visit.  But, you going to the Earth House would give her some distance, so she can think.”

“So, you can undermine me to her.”

“Oh please.”  Nia rolled her eyes.  “Have you met you?  It wouldn’t take much undermining!”

“Gion.”  Tessie leaned forward and lowered her voice.  “Seriously, I think you should stay with Ty.  I know that you love her.  But, you really can stay in the Earth Palace, if you want.  No strings attached.  You saved my ass plenty of times.  You’re welcomed in the Earth Kingdom with Job and me.”

“Being roommates with Job is a heady thought.  We’ve always been close.  Oh, except when he Banished me.”

“He Banished Parald!”  Nia defended.  “You and the other Air Phases just got caught in middle.”

“Yes, that important distinction made my exile so much more tolerable.”

“Job’s the one who enacted the amnesty law to take care of the Air Phases trapped over there with Parald!”

“Amnesty which I have accepted.”  Gion spread his hands.  “Never let it be said that I don’t build bridges.”

Nia crossed her arms over her chest.  “I Don’t.  Want you.  In.  The Water Kingdom.”  She ground out slowly.

“Well, it’s lucky for me that you’re not the queen, then, isn’t it?”  Gion snapped, losing his patience.  He wasn’t about to me muscled out of Ty’s life.  Not even to appease her overprotective family.  “Ty’s in charge of the Water House.  She says I can stay, so I’m damn well staying.  Get used to it.”

Water Powers swelled, not a gentle wash of energy like Ty’s, but a great torrent rushing around them.  Gion’s powers couldn’t connect with Nia’s, of course.  However, Nia could break the “fair play” rules and use the Water like a weapon.

Nia was still young, but she was strong.  Only two Phases had ever successfully jacked a House: Gion and Nia.  He didn’t underestimate what the girl could do if she got pissed enough.

Gion actually felt his body’s liquids evaporating, drying him out from the inside, shriveling his organs and starving him of water.

If she kept it up, Nia could kill him.

“I will absolutely see you dead before I let you endanger Ty.”  She warned coldly.  “I have been looking out for my family since I was little girl.  Tharsis says to give you a chance and Ty’s become fixated on you, but I’m not so easy to win over.”

Gion didn’t fight back against Nia.  He couldn’t have, even if he wanted to, since he’d promised Ty that he wouldn’t harm her cousin or her niece.  “I’m not a danger to you and your family, Nia.  Especially not to Ty.”

“So, prove it and go away.”

His skin dehydrated like a mummy’s.  Gion could see it shrinking against the bones of his hand.  “I won’t leave the Water Kingdom, unless Ty herself asks to me to go.  Not for anything.  No threat, or promise, or prize would even be worth a chance of losing Ty.  It will never happen.”

“Did you miss the part where your blood is vaporizing in your veins?”

“Did you miss the part where I’ll die before I give her up?”

Tessie frowned, her eyes going from Nia to Gion and back again.  “Nia,” she said worriedly, “don’t hurt him.”

“She won’t.”  Gion had confidence in that.  He’d never been more thirsty in his life and his eyes burned like they’d been rubbed with sandpaper, but Nia would stop before she did any damage.  Water Phases weren’t warriors.  They were a peaceful, artistic House.  Nia might throw her weight around, testing him, but she wouldn’t really harm him without a legitimate reason.

Good people always got trapped by their principles.

Nia glowered at him and pulled back on her powers.  “If you want Ty, you’re gonna have to prove that you’re a better man than the thousands of eyewitness reports and character witnesses suggest.”

Gion felt the liquid rushing back into his parched system, his body gratefully soaking it up.  “Then, that’s what I’ll do.”  He inclined his head.

She snorted skeptically.  Her absolute faith in his depravity coming through like a satellite feed.

Murderer.

The childhood taunt echoed in Gion’s mind.  The horrible disgusting truth of it.

Nia hadn’t said it.  She hadn’t even been alive when Gion was a boy, but he still heard the word and it made him glance away.

Suddenly, the electricity flickered.  The florescent lights sparked overhead.

Gion swore, feeling the charge in the air that signaled an Elemental jump.  “Stay back.”  He ordered harshly.

The computer behind the counter exploded, sending black smoke into the air.

“What the hell?!”  Steve yelped.

Tessie’s eyed widened.  “Chason.”   Electronics always went haywire around Magnet Phases.  She hopped to the floor.  “Gion, it’s Chason.”

“Stay back.”  Gion stepped in front of them and pulled his sword free.  People constantly asked why Gion wore the cape.  Apparently, he was the only one smart enough to realize that capes both disguised any weapons you might have strapped to your back and also allowed you to pull them free easily.

“Whoa!”  Steve’s voice went high with panic as he took in the solid black blade.  “Dude, you can’t have that in…”  He broke off with a squeal as Chason, of the Magnet House appeared right in the middle of the Home Depot.

Nia’s hand came down to protectively cover her stomach.

The years since the Fall drained away everything healthy from Chason.  And, in the past few months, he’d hit rock bottom.  His gaunt face and gray Reprisal uniform gave him the look of a vengeful specter.  Even his dark hair appeared faded, the purple streak at his temple less vibrant than it had once been.  The rage and bitterness in Chason consumed him from the inside out, eating away at his vitality.  The man was in a downward spiral that could only end in death

“Word of advice, Gion.  When you sneak into the human realm, don’t pick a spot where there are so many Phases waiting to call the Reprisal the second they see your famous face.”  Chason’s amethyst gaze glowed with a triumphant, not-quite-sane light.  He held broadsword in one hand and a grim smile curved his mouth.

It took Gion less than a second to know that Chason was up to something bigger than his ordinary “ending the world” bullshit.

They guy’s temper usually detonated like an A-bomb when he saw Gion.  That lack of control had always been Chason’s biggest weakness.  Now, Chason looked smug and in command of his emotions.  Still crazy and dangerous, he wore a new, “I know something you don’t know” smirk.

Gion didn’t like this.  “Chason.  Where are your Merry Men?”  Normally, a phalanx of Reprisal soldiers surrounded Chason at all times.  If he was here alone, then it was a personal mission.  “Shouldn’t you be off with them, saving the universe so you can destroy it?”  Gion extended his free hand, making sure that Nia stayed behind him.  He could feel her wanting to push right into the center of the dispute.

“Chase, for God’s sake!”  She snapped.  “Are you honestly going to do this in front of the humans?!”

Steve cowered behind the counter, peering at Chason with ‘holy shit!’ written all over his face.

“Oh man.”  Tessie sighed.  “Job’s gonna flip out when he hears about this.”

“I don’t care about the humans.”  Chason kept his attention on Gion.  “Or Job.  All I’ve ever cared about is my Match.”  He arched a brow.  “Do you know what it’s like, Gion, to love a woman and have her stolen from you?  I remember we talked about this before, didn’t we?”

“I remember that I stabbed you through the chest.”  Gion shifted slightly, so he’d have a clear shot at Chason with the Air powers.

“Cross stabbed me, actually.  And I forgive him.  Anyone with a woman of their own would have done the same.”  Chason watched Gion move, but he didn’t change positions himself.  Purple eyes gleamed.  “Now that you have Ty, I imagine that you understand.”

Nia drew in a sharp breath.

Gion’s gaze narrowed.  “Parald is Ty’s Match.  Not me.”

“You want Ty.”  Chason continued undaunted.  “I know it and so do you.  You moved into her House.  You protected her from my men.  You saved her from Parald.”  He arched a brow.  “Do you really think I’ll let you keep her, though?  That I’ll ever let you have your woman, when the Air House took mine?”

Gion’s mind went blank with shock.  That insane bastard just openly threatened Ty’s life.  He hadn’t believed that even Chason was that stupid.  As far Gion was concerned, it carried death sentence.  No one would take Ty from him.

Gion focused on killing Chason with a savage intensity.  Raising the black sword, he took a step forward, preparing to decapitate the bastard.

“Not today.”  The Magnet powers struck out and ripped the weapon right from Gion’s hand.  It flew across the room, spinning in the air.  Chason caught it by the hilt and laughed.  It wasn’t a pleasant sound.  “I want you to wake up every morning and realize that you have to get through another day with no hope, at all.  None, Gion.  Because, that’s what you did to me.”

Gion didn’t bother to point out that he had nothing to do with the Fall.  Chason wouldn’t care.  “You should have just followed your Match, you fucking coward.”  That’s what Gion would have done if he lost Ty.  He could never face the world alone.  There just wouldn’t be any point.

“Oh, I will.  But, first, you’re going experience what it feels like to have your soul ripped out.”  Chason shouted back.  “Your heart stolen.  To design a tomb for your woman’s body, because that’s all you have left of her.  To know that you won’t see her smile, or hear her voice, or touch her hair ever, ever, again.”

Something horrible howled in Gion’s mind as Chason talked.

“Chason, stop!”  Nia shouted.  “You go near Ty, and I swear to Gaia…”

Gion slammed the Air energy into Chason hard enough to blast a hole straight through him.  It was more energy than he’d ever used on anyone.  The incredible concentration of power had Tessie cringing and blew Chason right off his feet.  He hit the cement floor like debit from a F5.

“Oh God.”  Nia cried.  There was no way Chason could have survived that.  She started forward as if she wanted to help him, somehow.

Gion grabbed her arm, hauling her back.  “We’re leaving.”  Not even the humans would be able to miss this one.  They had to get out of here before the Action News trucks showed up.

“You killed him!”  She tried to shake him off.  “You just killed Chase!”

“He threatened Ty!  What the fuck did you expect me to do?!”  Nia had some picture in her mind of how Chason used to be, but that man had died with his Mara.  Chason was an example what Gion feared might happen to Ty if Parald died before she was strong enough to handle it.  Matches weren’t supposed to live without each other.  The surviving partner rarely fared well.

Gion didn’t exactly blame Chason for his wrath.  If he lost Ty, Gion would throw himself into kamikaze rage, too.  He’d kill himself anyway he possibly could.  Anything to escape a reality without her in it.  But, that sure as hell didn’t mean that he’d let Chason live long enough to strike out at Ty.  Gion didn’t care how many charities the guy had once volunteered for.

“He wouldn’t have really hurt Ty!  He wouldn’t have really done that!”

“Of course, he would’ve!”  Gion roared back.  “He lost his mind in the Fall.  The man was a suicidal lunatic.”

Off kilter laughter sounded, again.

“I think the man is a suicidal lunatic.”  Tessie whispered, her eyes on Gion’s surprisingly alive victim.

Chason sat up, chuckling like a Batman villain.  “Son-of-a-bitch.  You really do love Ty.  I thought I had a 50/50 shot at being right, but – Jesus!-- that’s beautiful.”  He got to feet.  “After all this time, I can finally, really, hurt you.”  He grinned like a kid with a new puppy.

Gion had no idea how Chason could have survived that blast of Air.  He was more than willing to try again, though.  After five hundred years of ruining everything important, Gion refused to fail at the only thing in life that mattered.

Chason felt the Air energy gathering and snorted.  “Don’t bother.”  He tapped his chest.  “You want to know what Kevlar is made of?  It’s a polymer.  Completely synthetic.  Elemental powers don’t do jack-shit to it, hero.”

Gion mentally cursed.  Human bulletproof vests stopped Elemental energy?  Damn it, why hadn’t he ever thought of that?

“What goes on between you and Gion has nothing to do with Ty.”  Nia jabbed a finger at Chason.  “You have no business bringing her into this.”

“Gion brought her into it.”  Chason looked right at him.  “Enjoy Ty while you can.  You have no idea how empty the world can be until your woman is gone from it.”

“If you come near Ty, I will burn your Match’s sepulcher to the ground.”  As far as Gion knew that was the only thing Chason gave a damn about.  In his racing mind, it was the one threat he could think of.  How could you intimidate a man who had nothing left to lose?

Chason’s eyes swirled like the epicenter of madness itself.  “Then, I’ll build her another one.  I’ve got nothing but fucking time on my hands, now.”

“What the hell kind of solider targets an innocent girl?”  Nia demanded.

“I thought the same thing when the Air House murdered my Match.”  Chason glanced at her.  “I’ll let you in on something I learned the hard way, though:  Only textbooks care about the rules of war.  In the real world, you do whatever it takes to win.  Just ask Gion.”

“Guy, aim for his head.”  Tessie helpfully suggested.

Chason dropped Gion sword, so it clattered to the ground like a taunt.  “Tell Ty I’ll see her soon.”  He jumped, again, vanishing right in front of their eyes.

Gion snarled out a furious curse as Chason disappeared back into the Elemental realm.

He stalked over to pick up his sword and pinned Nia with a dark look.  “Go home.”  He glanced at Tessie.  “Both of you.”

“Where are you going?”  They coursed.

“To the Magnet Kingdom, so I can kill that asshole.  Where do you think?”  Chason might have been strong enough to jump with manufactured polymers on his body, but Gion was strong enough to crash right through the Magnet House’s barriers.

“You can’t go after Chason alone.”  Tessie shook her head.  “Are you nuts?  The Magnet Kingdom is knee deep in Reprisal goombas who want you dead.  They’re probably waiting for you!”

“He threatened Ty!”  For Gion that was all that really mattered.  “You think I’ll let that pass?”

Steve peered up over the counter.  “Is the crazy guy gone?”

“No.”  Nia gestured at Gion.  “He’s right there.”

“I’m gonna call the cops.”  Steve’s hand shook as he dialed the phone.  “And my manager.”

“Yeah, the manager’s been a big help so far.”  Gion put his sword away and prepared to jump.

“Oh Lord.  Sully will just love this one.”  Tessie groaned as she watched Steve call 911.  “I really hope Chason’s Magnet mojo shorted out the security cameras or we’re all gonna be supermarket tabloid headlines this time tomorrow.”

Nia ignored that.  “Gion, think about this.  Don’t just go after Chason without a plan or anything.  Come back to the Water Kingdom and…”

Gion didn’t hear the rest of that.

He abruptly knew that Ty was in danger.  He could feel her distress vibrating along the connection they shared.  Hear her voice was in his head.

“Help me!”

Panic and urgency filled him.  He always heard her when she was in real trouble.  He didn’t know why and it didn’t matter.  Ty needed him.  That was all he cared about.

Ty needed him.

Now.

Blocking out everything else, Gion locked onto Ty’s location in his mind and jumped right to her.

Chapter Eleven

There can be no substitute for the elemental virtues, for the elemental qualities

to which we allude when we speak of a man, as not only a good man, but as emphatically a man.

Theodore Roosevelt- ‘The Labor Question’

“Well,
this might sound crazy, but maybe you have two Matches.”  Freya, of the
Cold House eyed Ty over the width of her desk.  “It’s rare, but there have been
cases of it.”

“Two
Matches?”  Ty frowned.  “How would that even be possible?”

“Well
--and I’m just speculating here-- but,” Freya hesitated, “sometimes one Match
outlives another.  And there have been a few instances of the surviving
partner finding another Match.  I think the last one was Green, of the Stone
House.  His first Match died when their daughter was born and…”

“Where
is he?”  Ty interrupted.  Freya had a habit of talking in fast, never ending
blocks, so if you wanted to get a word in edgewise you had to be aggressive.
“Is he still alive?”  Ty had never heard of Green, but, if he was around, she’d
go and ask him some questions.

“He
died fourteen hundred years ago.”  Freya shrugged.  “It’s all documented,
though.  It did happen.  We keep excellent accounts of Matches.  They go
back to the beginning of time itself.  Basically, every Match that’s ever been
made is catalogued, so I’m confident that Green experienced the double-Match.
I can’t really find a lot of the symptoms he experienced.  That’s not in the
records.  But, the double-Match itself definitely existed.”

Great.

Ty
blew out a frustrated breath.  “Alright, let’s say that this energy that I feel
is the super-rare, double-Matching thing.  Parald’s not dead.  Neither
am I.  And neither is… the other man.  Why can I feel his energy like this?”

“Well.”
Freya said “well” a lot.  She said everything a lot.  “There are a few
possibilities.”

Ty
was very fond of Freya.  The doctor had basically reattached her head after the
Fall.  But, it would have been nice to have straight answer.  Like Ty, Freya
was a scientist, though.  She would never diagnose Ty’s problem without
considering every variable.  The greatest doctor in the Elemental realm, Freya
took her responsibilities seriously.  Plus, she was a Cold Phase.  Cold Phases
were always rational sorts of people.

Freya
was actually very pretty, but she hid it well.  From her practical brown flats
to her tasteful beige suit, Freya was the girl that the teachers always called
on to be in charge of the class when they stepped out of the room.  She even
wore her blonde hair pulled back in a bun, emphasizing the periwinkle streak at
her temple.  Only her eyes gave away the restless vitality trapped inside of her.
Wide and hazel, they shone with youthful excitement at being handed a new
challenge.

“Maybe,
this really isn’t Phazing energy.  Maybe it’s just lust on steroids.  I mean,
you’re a virgin, Ty.  How can you be sure that this isn’t normal…?”

“It’s
not normal.  Even he says it’s not normal and I don’t think he’s a
virgin.”  Ty frowned at the idea of Gion with other women.  Last night in the
music hall pretty much showed that he wasn’t worried about waiting for his
Match, though.  Was Ty the only one paying attention when they were taught
about respecting Gaia’s grand plan?

“Alright,
well, maybe this man is doing something to manufacture the connection, then.
You said that he’s smart and strong.  There are some drugs that work on
Elementals and you’re not the healthiest Phase.  Ever since the Fall, you’ve
been having panic attacks and…”

“He
wouldn’t do that.”  Ty believed it implicitly.  Gion was powerful enough to do
anything, but he’d never lie to her about their connection.  He treasured it.
“This energy comes from both of us.  I can feel it inside me.  And what about
the blocking of my powers when I try to reach for him fully?  Why would he
manufacture that?”

Freya
leaned back in her chair and thought for a long moment.

Minutes
ticked by as she stared off at nothing in deep concentration.

“Right
now, then, I think the most likely explanation is that Parald isn’t dead yet.
We don’t know what would happen if someone with two possible Matches met them both
at the same time.  We only know what happens after one of the possible
Matches passes away.  You see?”  She spread her hands.  “So, maybe, you can
feel the potential of Matching with this other man.  But, that potential
is blocked until Parald actually dies.”

Ty
blinked.  That actually made some sense.  “What can we do to test the theory?”  She
flushed.  “Because…  I mean…  I don’t think we’ll be able to resist this
connection forever.  It’s… urgent.  I…  I feel very attracted to him and…”

“You
want to have sex with him.”  Freya bluntly translated.  Her fingers tapped against
the desktop and she considered that.  “Well, I think that would be okay.  Just
go slow to be safe.”

“Go
slow?  Not stop?”  Ty’s eyebrows shot up.

“Well,
you say the energy is strong and pulling you together.  There’s gotta be a
reason for that.  Phazing energy --even if this isn’t exactly normal
Phazing energy-- is a physiological fact of life.  We’re not supposed to resist
it.”

Ty
bit down on her lower lip.

“You
could just avoid him, if you don’t want to feel the attraction, though.  That
will help keep the connection at bay.”

“I
can’t do that.”  Gion lived in her home.  Besides, Ty didn’t want to avoid
him.  Already she was getting antsy to see him, again.

“I
don’t want to overstep, but,” Freya shrugged, “Phazing energy isn’t dangerous.  At
its essence, it’s really fairly basic biology.  Why don’t you just,” she
cleared her throat, “be with this man and see what happens?”

Ty
was actually thinking the same thing.  Practically, it seemed like the next
logical step to her research.  And, on a less scientific note, Ty was just
dying to strip Gion’s clothes off and jump him.

She
wasn’t waiting another ten years.

Freya
dropped some of her doctor-y façade.  “Parald’s a dickwad.  You don’t want
him.  You never have.  This other guy, you say you do want.  So, why not
accept it?  Go with the working theory that Gaia sent you a
‘sorry-I-screwed-you-over-with-the-first Match’ consolation prize.”

Ty
did want Gion.  More and more, the longer she was around him.  He drew her with
his carefully highlighted bullet points, and odd sense of humor, and unexpected
gentleness.  Plus, he was gorgeous and kissed like something out of Gone
With the Wind.  “What if the working theory is wrong, though?  What if the
block is something else?”

“I
can run tests, but I don’t see anything physically wrong with you.  Maybe, if
you brought the man in, I could examine him and…”

“He
won’t come.”  Try knew better than to even ask.

Freya
didn’t like that.  “Isn’t he curious about this energy?”

He
probably was, but Gion was more afraid of losing it than anything else.  The
man spent his whole life writing security reports and waiting for the other
shoe to drop.  Which, now that Ty thought about it, really amounted to the same
thing.  He’d never believed anything good might happen.  Ty could relate, but
it still made her sad.

“What
if…?”  Ty hesitated and then confronted her biggest concern.  “What if he
gets another Match?  What if he finds the woman he’s destined for and he wants
to stop the energy between us?”

Ty
hated that idea.  Hated the thought of Gion leaving the Water Kingdom and being
with someone else.  His small smiles, and incredible energy, and music would
all go away from her forever.  It would kill Ty to lose him, now.

Gion
was hers.

Looking
back, Ty saw that she’d always thought of Gion as hers.  Even as
enemies, she’d held all of Gion’s attention.  If she was around, he never
noticed anyone else.  He would speak to other people, but he still watched
her.  Ty had gotten used to that.  Tessie was the only other woman Gion had
ever focused on when Ty was in the room.  Ty had been so furious when she first
saw them together.  She hadn’t known about their friendship.  All she’d seen
was Gion looking at another woman and she couldn’t stand it.

Ty
realized that she could become insanely possessive where Gion was concerned.

“Well,”
Freya admitted, “if I don’t know why the energy’s between you, in the first
place, I can’t make it go away.  Especially, not if it is some kind of
Phazing energy.  Nothing can undo that.”

A
surge of relief went through Ty.  “So, he’s stuck with me?”

“‘Stuck?’
You said that he wanted you.”

“He
does.”  Ty felt that every time Gion came near her.  Heck, he told her as
much.  She might not understand all the ins-and-outs of the connection yet, but
she absolutely knew that Gion desired her, too.  It was an exhilarating
feeling.  “What if he falls in love with someone else, though?  Or finds his
Match?  The woman won’t like him connecting with me.”

Ty
already hated that hypothetical home-wrecker.

“If
he finds another Match, then I guess our double-Match theory is wrong and we’ll
have to start over.”  Freya allowed.  “I mean, I can accept that you
might have two Matches, but there has never been a case of two double-Matches
who just happened to be double-Matched with each other.”  She made a face.
“The odds would be… incalculably remote.”

It
wasn’t that Ty didn’t like Freya’s theory.  Parts of it made a lot of sense.
Still, it didn’t seem quite right.  “I just think this is something… broken
inside of me.  This block feels wrong and I don’t think that’s because of a
double-Match.”

Freya
narrowed her hazel eyes in consideration.  “Let’s run the tests.”

Forty-five
minutes later, Ty left Freya’s office.  Her arm hurt from being stuck with
needles and she lost about a gallon of blood into various vials.  On the plus
side, Freya had given her a lollypop.  Ty headed back into the waiting room to
find Brokk.

He
sat on one of the padded orange seats reading Highlights for Kids.  The
magazine had to be a least two years old.  Barely any Elemental children
survived the Fall, so Freya wouldn’t have any use for a current subscription.

Brokk
spared her a quick glance and then looked back at the page.  “Hang on.  I have
to find one more ironing board in this drawing.”

Ty’s
mouth curved.  She tilted her head so she could study the picture of an
evergreen forest liberally decorated with hidden objects.  “Right there.”  She
pointed to the ironing board in the root system of a large tree.

Brokk
made a smug “Ha!” of a sound.  “Human puzzles aren’t very difficult.  They’re a
primitive species.”

“Well,
the magazine is for human five year olds.”

“They
are primitive five year olds.”  Brokk tossed the puzzle aside and stood up.
“Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah.
Freya’s going to run some tests to see if I’m broken.  We might know something
tomorrow.”

“You
question too much.”  Brokk led her over to the door, holding it open so Ty
could go outside.  “Sometimes Gaia has a plan that we don’t understand.  That
doesn’t mean the plan isn’t there, though, just that we aren’t supposed to see
it.”

Ty
adored Brokk, but his deep faith confused her.  How could anyone still believe
in a divine plan after so many senseless deaths?   Brokk’s entire family had
perished in the Fall.  “Why would Gaia want me to have a connection with Gion?”

“Perhaps,
She thought you needed it.”

Ty
sighed.

Freya’s
office was in the Agora, the Elementals’ free space.  The university, stores,
theater and Council Hall were all located in the Agora, but Ty didn’t like
spending time there.  Under Council law, fighting was outlawed in the Agora.
Still, far too many Phases hated Ty for her ever to feel safe.  All the Houses
came and went there.  Well, except the Air Phases.  Since Parald’s Banishment
and the Fall, they weren’t exactly welcomed among the rest of the Elementals.

In
her youth, she’d loved the Agora.  Now, though, Ty saw all the hostile eyes of
people who blamed her for the Fall.  Too many Phases thought that, if she’d
just accepted Parald as her Match, none of the horrors of the plague would have
happened.  Sometimes Ty wanted to scream at them that she’d lost her parents,
too.  She’s seen the darkness at the end of the world better than anyone.

If
she could go back, she never would have renounced Parald.  As much as she hated
him, Ty would have Phazed with him rather than see so many dead.  Ty would have
Phazed with Parald and then killed him herself, no matter what the
consequences.

She
couldn’t change that, though.  It could never be undone and she could never
make amends.  Nobody understood the gravity of the Fall more than Ty, but she
wouldn’t be dragged back into the past by Parald or anyone.

Wouldn’t
go back into weakness.

Ty
was getting stronger and she wouldn’t live her life in fear.

Maybe
that’s why she identified with Gion.  Both of them were trying to live down
Parald’s legacy and find themselves, now.  Neither one of them could let the
hatred of society stop them from moving forward.  Ty and Gion were on the same
road, discovering who they were and what they really wanted out of life.

She
smiled at that thought.

“Gion
is connected with you.”  Brokk put in as if reading her mind.

“You
don’t even like him.”

“No.
But, I believe that Gion likes you.  He worries about your safety.”  Brokk
glanced down at her thoughtfully.  “His reports are very thorough.  I reviewed
his suggestions and they are… interesting.  I never considered plastic
windows.  I should have.”  He looked disappointed in himself.

Ty
pursed her lips around her lollypop.  “Well, Gion’s much older than you.  He’s
had more time to think of new ideas.  His father was a Wood Phase, though, just
like you.  That’s probably where Gion got his skill at security work.”

Brokk
perked up at that.  “My House has always produced the greatest soldiers.”

“Yes,
I know.”  Gion’s paternal DNA told Ty a lot about him.  His quiet sense of duty
and protectiveness weren’t Air House traits.  That was all the honorable,
passionate Wood Phases.  “Thank you for giving Gion some room to make his
reports and everything.  I know that you’re supposed to be my bodyguard, but he
needs to contribute.”

“Wood
Phases always contribute.”  Brokk agreed.  “I am unthreatened by his arrival.
He works under me, correct?”

“Um…”
Ty hadn’t really considered that.  She couldn’t demote Brokk.  He worked too
hard and he loved his job.  It would crush his feelings.  “I suppose
–technically-- you’re the head of my personal security.”  She tried to figure
out how that would work.  Gion would never follow Brokk.  It just wouldn’t
happen.  Besides the security job seemed to be the only thing that Gion wanted
to do.  Until Ty could convince him that he was a musician and not a warrior,
those detailed reports kept Gion happy and occupied.  “Really, I see you as
fulfilling two different roles.”  She tried.  “You guard me and he guards the
Palace.  Very… separate.”

Brokk
nodded wisely.  “But, I’m in charge.”

“Well…”

“Ty.”
Job, of the Earth House came striding over, interrupting her hedging.  “Good.
Tharsis said that you’d be here.  I’d like a word with you, if you have a
moment.”

Oh…
drat.

Ty
barely stifled a wince.  Job was like God.  When God said he wanted a word with
you, it wasn’t just gonna be, “Hi.”

She
sent Brokk a “help me” glance which he blithely ignored.  “Job!”  He beamed.
“How is Tessie, my friend?”

Wood
Phases loved Job.  Everyone loved Job.  Even Ty loved Job.

But,
she really didn’t want to talk to him.

Over
a thousand years old and more powerful than any Phase in the universe, Job
looked like a banker.  He kept his white blond hair in a neat ponytail, so even
the vivid green streak at his temple seemed patrician.  His suits were all a
tailored navy or black.  His ties were all subdued and carefully Windsor
knotted.  Job could have walked into any Fortune 500 meeting and no one would
have blinked.

Ty
couldn’t imagine how he and Tessie managed to share a home.  Job was so neat
and elegant.  Tessie wore flip flops and played her iPod at full blast.  Job’s
powers rivaled anything known in the history of universe.  Tessie couldn’t do
much except bypass supernatural barriers and understand the Tablets of Fate.
Job wanted to meticulously micromanage the world.  Tessie wanted to watch Days
of Our Lives.

And
they were crazy about each other.  A perfect Match.

Ty
envied them.

“Tessie’s
fine.  She and Nia are up to something.  I felt it best not to ask what.”  Job
arched a brow.  “So, I was talking to Cross...”  He began.

Ty
cringed at that ominous statement.  Job adored his nephew.  Cross was Job’s
only blood relative and the apple of his eye.  If Cross started tossing Molotov
cocktails at pedestrians, Job would smile and compliment his aim.

She
immediately started defending Gion, anticipating Job’s forthcoming complaints.
“Gion didn’t mean to throw Cross through that window.  It was an accident.  I
spoke to them both about it and…”

“Gion
did what?”  Job interrupted.  “He touched Cross?  My Cross?”

Oh
no.

Job
hadn’t known about that.

Crap.

“It
was an accident.”  Ty repeated.  “They were both fine.”

Job
exhaled heavily.  He stared up at the brilliant blue sky as if looking for
inspiration.

He
wouldn’t find it.

The
clouds were flat and lifeless, now.  All the Cloud Phases, who had once given
them their ever changing shapes, had passed from this world and left the skies
empty of hidden pictures.  Job surely thought of that when he stared at them.
Ty knew that she did.  The world would never fully recover from Parald.  All
you had to do what look up and you saw what he’d wrought.

“I
cannot stress enough how unwise it is to give amnesty to someone like Gion.”
Job finally said with strained patience.  “He shouldn’t be in your House.”

Ty
hated arguing.  She was terrible at it.  But, she didn’t back down.  “Gion is a
Water Phase, now.”

“No,
honey, he’s not.”  Job insisted.  “I know Tess likes Gion.  He’s helped
us all.  I know that, too.  Maybe he even legitimately wants to get away from
Parald.  I don’t blame him.  But, do you really think you can trust him?”

“Yes.”
The answer came instantly.

“I
see.  What about Nia and the baby?”  Job’s great-niece already occupied about
ninety-nine percent of his “non-Tessie specific” attention.  He loved the
baby.  Not just because she gave him hope that the Elementals might survive extinction,
but because Job just loved the baby.  She was his family, too.

Ty
had known that he’d confront her about this.  “Gion” plus “baby” would equal
“DEFCON 1” to Job.  He wouldn’t want Mary Poppins around his great-niece, let
alone an Air Phase.

“Do
you really think that you can trust Gion with the baby?”  He pressed.

“Yes.”
Ty met Job’s lawn green eyes.  It wasn’t even a question for her.  “I trust
Gion.”

Job’s
rugged face shifted slightly, revealing his exasperation.  “Why?”

“Because…”
All the rational, logical arguments fell away and Ty just spoke the truth.
“Because, when he smiles at me, I can see that he’s a better man.  Someone just
needs to give him a chance and he’ll accomplish great things.  Gion has so many
talents.  So much to give and he needs a home.  He can do anything, if
he just has support.”

“Ty,
he’s killed hundreds of people.  Not the Fall.  Just Gion, by himself.”

“I told her that, too.”  Brokk interjected.  “She doesn’t believe it.”

Job
muttered something about the Water Houses’ stubborn, soft hearted-ness and
shook his head.  “Alright.  I’m going to tell you something and I want you to
think about it, alright?  This happened a very long time ago.  I’m using it as
an example as why you can’t fix Gion.  He’s too broken, Ty.  It’s too late to
save him.”

That
was an interesting choice of words.

Ty’s
brows drew together over her glasses.  She and Gion were both broken.  Maybe
that’s why they had this connection.  Maybe it wasn’t too late to save either
of them.  Maybe they were supposed to fix each other.

Job
didn’t notice her distraction.  “I was around five hundred years old when Gion
was a boy and I remember him very clearly.  I wasn’t the head of the Council,
yet, but I was already being groomed for the job.  I spent time in all the
Houses, preparing to be the High Seat.”

Ty
liked picturing Gion as a little boy.  She wondered if he’d worn a cape.

“Gion
was too strong, Ty.  He got too much power, too early.  There’s a reason
we take ninety-three years to come of age.  Why our powers keep developing more
as we grow older.  Because, if they’re all dumped on you at once, it’s too
much.”

“You
think that’s what happened to Gion?”

“I
know that’s what happened to Gion.  I saw it.  He was eight when he
exploded someone’s lungs.  Another boy on the playground.  Gion killed him on
the spot.”

Ty’s
mouth parted in shock.

“It
was an accident.”  Job said.  “Gion didn’t mean to go that far.  He was just
too powerful.”

“I
told you that happened, Ty.”  Brokk arched a pointed, “thank- God-we’re-here-to-think-for-her”
sort of brow at Job.  “I told her that Gion exploded someone’s lungs.
She didn’t believe that, either.”

“Job
just said it was an accident.”  Ty protested.  “Gion was only a baby.”

“He
was.  And he was so damn sorry.”  Job gazed at her.  “But, how do you
think the rest of the Air Phases treated Gion after that?”

Ty
flinched at the very idea.

“They
called him a murderer and he called himself worse.”  Job went on.  “I know what
that’s like.  During the Fall, you remember how someone spray-painted ‘Your
Fault!’ on my garden wall?  I know how you start questioning everything
you did, convincing yourself it was really was your fault people died.”

“The
Fall wasn’t you fault, Job.  You know that.”  Aside from Parald, the only person
to blame for the Fall was Ty.

“I
was over a thousand years old and I still had problems.  Gion was eight.
He wasn’t old enough to forgive himself and now it’s too late.  He never came
back from that playground in a lot of ways.  It tainted how Gion saw himself
forever.”

“That’s
not fair.”  Ty blinked back tears.  “He’s not a murderer.”

“I
know.”  Job paused.  “Well, at least, not because of that.”

“He’s
not a murderer.”  Ty repeated firmly.  “Gion’s killed people, but that’s not
who he is.  Uriel killed Reprisal soldiers when they attacked me.  So did
Cross.  That doesn’t make them murderers.  It makes them warriors.”

“Wood
Phases are always warriors.”  Brokk volunteered.  “Even when they’re Air Phases.”

“The
Wood Phases did help take care of Gion after the accident.”  Job allowed.
“Parson spent years with him, helping Gion control his powers.”  He looked
uncharacteristically puzzled.  “I recently came to realized that Gion…
respected Parson very much.  That’s a positive sign for the boy, I suppose.”

Parson,
of the Wood House was the one who taught Gion to play music.

Taught
him how to be an honorable man.

“So,
I’m not blaming Gion for the accident.”  Job reiterated.  “All Elemental
children get zapped by each other’s powers.  It’s how we learn to control them
and how not to use them against each other.  This was tragic, because
Gion’s energy was too big for him to control.  But, he wasn’t to blame.
It was just… Gaia’s will, for lack of a better term.”

“Well,
tell him that!”

“I
did.  I told Gion again and again that it wasn’t his fault.  He doesn’t believe
me.”  Job put his hands behind his back, military “at rest” style.  “That is
the entire point of this story.  This isn’t about how I see him.  Gion
thinks he’s a killer and that’s what he’s made himself.  It’s become his entire
identity.”

Ty
closed her eyes, remembering what Gion answered when she asked what he did in
the Air House.

I
kill people.

Oh
God.

“You
can’t change five hundred years of Gion thinking that he’s the villain of the
world.”  Job continued.  “Because, in his head, he’ll always be that kid on the
playground and he’ll always see himself as a murderer.”

Ty’s
chest ached for Gion.

“It’s
just not safe to be around him.  It hasn’t been for a long time.”  Job sounded
strangely sorrowful.  “When you think you’re a killer, you kill people.
It’s all you know.”

Ty
stayed quiet.

“You
can’t change him, Ty.”  Job reached over to touch her arm, even though he
really shouldn’t have, since he had a Match.  Phases didn’t like other people
touching their Matches.  Tessie wasn’t an Elemental, and years of living with
the humans gave her a much more casual tolerance for touching, so she wouldn’t
mind.  But, Job adhered to protocol like a shipwreck survivor clinging to a
barrel.  The fact that Job was breaking the rules of etiquette said a lot about
his determination to get through to Ty.  “You can’t change Gion into a good
man.”

“I
don’t have to change him.”  Ty whispered.  “He already is a good man.
All he needs is someone to see that.”

“Sweetheart,
I’m telling you, Gion cannot stay at the Water House.”

“You’re
not in charge of the Water Kingdom, Job.”  Ty’s voice shook, but she looked
right at him.  “You can’t tell me who I allow in my House.”

“I
know, but Nia and I talked about it and we have a plan.”  Job insisted.  “I’ll
allow Gion into the Earth Kingdom.  Alright?  That would solve everything.  He
won’t hurt Tess and I can watch him to make sure that he doesn’t harm anyone
else…”

“Nia’s
not in charge of the Water House, either.  I am.”  Ty interrupted.
“Gion will stay right where he is.  With me.”

Job’s
eyebrows raised a fraction of an inch, which pretty much told Ty that he was
flabbergasted by her stubbornness.  For years, he and Nia had been pressing Ty
to take control of the Water House.  To be the queen.  And the first time she’d
ever exerted her power, it was to defy them.

“No
one is trying to usurp you position, Ty.”

“I
know.”  Job and Nia really did mean well.  They were used to taking charge,
because Ty always encouraged them to deal with the nuts-and-bolts of ruling the
Water Kingdom.  She never felt like the queen.  Nia was so much better at it.
It was easy for Ty to just step back.  It wasn’t fair to Nia, though.  Her
cousin had her own responsibilities.

Ty
was always too weak.

And
now she was snapping at Job.

“Look,
you can ask Gion if he’d like to become an Earth Phase.”  Because she
loved Job, Ty softened her tone.  “I won’t hold him against his will or
anything.  I should warn you, though, he says he’s very content in the Water
Kingdom.  I don’t think he’ll want to leave.”

Job
regarded her thoughtfully, disregarding that suggestion.  “It’s good news that
you’re taking an interest in ruling.  I don’t agree with you, but at least
you’re making the decision.  You need to keep this up.  Nia can sit for the
Shadow House from now on, and you can be on the Council for the Water House.
How’s that?”

Ty’s
eyes widened as she realized what Job up to.

He
and Nia both wanted Ty to sit for the Water House during the Council meetings.
Nia had always done it, but now she was the Shadow Queen.  As long as Nia
continued to represent the Water Kingdom, Cross got stuck sitting for the
Shadow House.

Cross
hated dealing with the Council.

He
did it, but Cross’s puppy-dog pout of dismay at being trapped in endless
meetings clearly tugged at Job’s heartstrings.  If Ty sat for the Water House,
like she was supposed to, Cross would be off the hook.

The
idea of being at Council meeting scared the hell out of Ty, though.  Just the
thought of being surrounded by so many other Phases, most of whom hated her,
filled Ty with panic.  How had Job turned this around on her so fast?  “Yes,
but…”

“You
can do this, sweetheart.”  Job gave her an encouraging nod.  “I’m very proud of
you.  You’re still wrong about Gion, so I will talk to him about coming
to the Earth Kingdom.  But, still…”

Whatever
Job said next was lost by the invasion.

For
the first time in six hundred years, warriors filled the Agora.  Endless rows
of Air House soldiers jumped into Elemental’s free space.  With their black
uniforms and blond hair, they looked like an army of nightmarish death.

Ty’s
entire vision was filled with Parald’s men…

…And
they were all looking right back at her.

Chapter Twelve

Water
is a perverse sort of element at the best of times

Charles
Dickens- ‘Mudfog and Other Sketches’

Job shoved Ty behind him as the Air Phases surrounded them.

He
never carried a weapon, but then he didn’t really need to.  Elementals weren’t
supposed to use their powers against each other and Job’s did enjoy
following the rules.  However, Job’s massive energy didn’t have to touch anyone
to make a point.  The man could cause a tectonic event with an arch of his
brow.

The
entire Agora shook, knocking the Air Phases down like rows of dominoes.

Ty
fell into Brokk.  “Job!”

“Go.”
He barked and the entire world descended into war.

Phases
started falling, limbs and blood scattering on the ground.  Glass crashed,
people ran, and everywhere there was the gleam of hate filled eyes.  Ty could
hear people shouting, other Phases in the Agora cried out in fury and fear,
screaming into their cellphones for the Reprisal, attacking the Air Phases,
steel swords clanging against each other.

The
chaos of it swirled the edge of her vision.  Ty’s heartbeat sped up, her
fingers going numb.

So,
much like the mob coming at her after the Fall.  Screaming and raging, pulling
at her, coming for her.

She
couldn’t breathe.

Throat
closing off.

Couldn’t
breathe.

Ty
fought against the panic threatening to pull her under and covered her ears
with her palms.  She didn’t remember much of that night, but whenever something
triggered her damaged recollections, they sent her into an anxiety attack.

No,
no, no, no, no.

“Ty!”
Brokk grabbed her and maneuvered her against a building.

They
needed a clear spot and about three seconds of time to jump and that wasn’t
happening.  They were in serious trouble.  Somewhere in her, Ty knew that, but
she couldn’t calm down enough to start panicking about that happy news.

Fractured
memories of her near decapitation blinded her.  The Fire House pyres burning in
the distance.  The roar of the fountain.  Screaming for help.  Trying to reach
for someone.  So many people pulling at her.  Knowing that she was about to
die.

A
new piece of information stirred in her mind.

Something
ripping the mob away from her.

A…

…Tornado?

Brokk
shoved Ty to the ground, standing in front of her as the Air Phases fought to
get to her.  “Stay down!”  His duel swords swung like extensions of his arms.
No one fought like the Wood Phases.  In battle, they were pure poetry.  Brokk’s
movements would have been beautiful, if it weren’t for the horrible sights that
they left in their wake.

Bodies
toppled around them and Ty squeezed her eyes shut.

Too
weak.

Always
too weak.

Stop!

She
had to stop her panic.

She
couldn’t give into weakness.

“Brokk?”
The word was a whisper, but he heard it.  “Help Job.”  Not even Job could hold
off so many Air Phases forever.  Ty tried to focus.  “We have to help Job.”

Wood
Phases loved battle.  She could see the glow of it lighting Brokk’s eyes.  “We
have to get you out of here first.”  He snapped.  “Try and…”

The
Reprisal arrived in the Agora with warriors’ yells that echoed from one end of
the Elemental realm to the other.

Ty
staggered to her feet as Chason’s army jumped into the fight.  Literally.  So
many Reprisal soldiers that they might have even outnumbered the Air Phases
appeared in the middle of the battle.  Alerted to the invasion by all those
frantic calls, they arrived eager to kill as many Air Phases as possible.

For
some people, that might have been good news.  The Reprisal’s appearance meant
that the battle just got a whole lot fairer.  Unfortunately, the Reprisal hated
Ty, too.

Now,
there were two armies after her.

Brokk’s
eyes widened.  “Ty, stay behind me.”

Job
shoved his way towards her.  “Get out of here!”  He bellowed.

Reprisal
soldiers clashed with Air Phases.  Air Phases clashed with everyone.  Brokk’s
swords cut down anybody they could reach.  Job disappeared from view.

A
swell of men came from the side, knocking Ty to the ground.

Brokk
grabbed for her, missed, and then got attacked from behind.  He was swept under
by a wave of men and Ty lost sight of him.

“Brokk!”
Oh God, if anything happened to him, she’d never forgive herself.  Ty tried to get
back up, searching for him.

Lansing,
of the Dust House got to her first.

Chason’s
second-in-command seized her arm, spinning Ty around.  His fingers bit into her
flesh.

Brokk
and Uriel had drilled self-defense into her head.  Instincts kicked in.  Ty
slammed her knee into Lansing’s groin, just the way the Wood Phases taught her.

“Bitch!”
He doubled over, his grip loosening enough for Ty to struggle free.  Lansing
wasn’t done, though.  He kept coming.  Something must’ve happened, because he
seemed intent on killing her.  Most of the time, Reprisal soldiers just wanted
to capture her and maybe use her for bait to lure Parald out of the Air Kingdom.

Lansing
wanted her dead.  His sword slashed at her.

Ty
leapt back, avoiding the blade, and ran straight into Isaacs, of the Air House.

Oh,
shit!

Parald’s
top general grabbed Ty from behind, lifting her off the ground.

Lansing
continued advancing.

Caught
in a tug-of-war between the golden boys of Air House and the Reprisal was the
very worse place in the world.  Ty tried to struggle free of Isaacs’ hold.
“Let me go!”

“Sorry,
kid.  The boss really wouldn’t like that.  Don’t worry, though.  Gion will save
you, again, by tonight.”

Lansing
lunged at them with sword.

Isaacs
hadn’t expected the Reprisal to try and stab Ty.  He swore viciously.

The
sword would have gone right through Ty’s chest, except Isaacs shifted her out
of range.  The Air Phase ignored every rule of warfare and twisted his back
towards the enemy.  Maybe he didn’t want to risk surviving and having to
explain to Parald why Ty had been shish-kabobed on his watch.  Or maybe he just
reacted automatically, remembering his period as her bodyguard.

Whatever
the reason, the blade missed Ty, sinking deep into Isaacs’ side.

If
he’d been human it would have killed him.

Isaacs
staggered, keeping Ty against his chest.  “Son-of-a-BITCH!”  Air powers
blasted out, a trick he could only have learned from watching Gion.  Lansing
slammed backwards into the side of the building.  Windows broke from the force
of the impact, the cascade of glass adding more jarring noises to the battle.

Isaacs
went after Lansing, brandishing his own sword.

He
dropped Ty, so her feet touched the ground, but he didn’t let go of her.  “Are
you fucking out of you mind, trying to kill this girl!”  Isaacs screamed at
Lansing.  “I thought you Reprisal assholes were supposed to be the good guys?!”

Ty’s
eyebrows shot up, sensing an opening.  “Isaacs, if you help me, I can get you
out of the Air House.”  She whispered fiercely.  “I’ll give you amnesty in the
Water Kingdom.”  It was the only thing Ty had to offer and, if there was even a
small chance that he’d bargain, she’d give it a shot.

Isaacs’
head whipped around to gape at Ty, but he still didn’t let her go.

“She’s
Gion’s whore.”  Lansing shouted.  “She can die with the rest of the Air Phase
trash.”  He came at them, again, and Isaacs turned to face him.

Blades
crashed, the two of them trying to slaughter each other, and Ty had the
horrible feeling that Lansing would win.  His eyes were glazed with a righteous
frenzy, his Reprisal training almost the equivalent of the Wood Phases’.

And
Isaacs was really hurt.

Of
the two men, one was trying to stab her and the other was trying to kidnap her,
so it was hard to pick a side.  Even if Isaacs wasn’t really on her team, at
least he didn’t plan to murder her, though.

Ty
stopped fighting Isaacs’ hold and threw in with Air House over the Reprisal.

Water
energy couldn’t do a lot offensively; especially not Ty’s limited powers.  But
she could slow the flow of blood leaking from Isaacs’ side.  Plasma contained a
lot of water.

Isaacs
sent her a glance, feeling Ty’s energy helping him, and then went back to
fighting Lansing.  He released her arm, so he could hold his broadsword with
both hands.  “Ty’s Parald’s Match, now, not Gion’s.”

“Like
that’s so much fucking better.  She can die for both of them, for all I
care.”  Lansing was a Dust Phase and, apparently, he was willing to cheat along
with everyone else.  A dust storm blew up, sending particles of sand and shards
of the broken glass into Isaacs’ eyes, blinding him.

“Shit!”
Isaacs reared back, clutching his eyes.

Lansing
smirked.  His sword arched out, towards Isaacs’ neck.  For no reason at all, Ty
pulled her new frenemy away.  The blade missed Isaacs’ neck and hit his shoulder,
instead.  The impact knocked them both off balance.  Ty’s skull whacked against
the pavement as she fell.  It left her stunned and seeing dots.

Isaacs
wasn’t moving, at all.

“This
is all your fault!”  Lansing bellowed at her.  He kicked her and Ty rolled
sideways, her arms protectively covering her stomach.  “The Fall was all
because of you and now you’re fucking that bastard Gion!  Giving him amnesty!”

Ty
looked right at him, breathing hard.  “Gion, of the Water House is a better man
than you will ever be.”

His
eyes narrowed.

Lansing
was going to kill her.

An
odd calm came over Ty as her brain accepted the inevitable.  He was a trained
soldier and she was a scientist.  He was armed and she wasn’t.  He was on his feet
and she was on the ground.  He was really going to kill her, unless she did
something within the next heartbeat of time.

Panic
receded, leaving nothing but the absolute conviction that she wasn’t ready to
die.

Ty’s
mind went to Gion and The Blue Danube Waltz.

No,
she wasn’t ready to die.

The
Water powers slid under Lansing’s boot, before Ty even consciously planned the
action.  It was such a small thing.  Ty really couldn’t do a lot.  But, even a
Water Phase child could have created that tiny square of ice, barely the size
of a playing card.  Ty froze the Water vapor beneath him and Lansing fell like
a stone.  His foot slipped out from under him, his eyes going wide in
astonishment.

Lansing
hacked the sword at her as he toppled, screaming out a furious stream of oaths.

Ty
scrambled backwards, narrowly avoiding a decapitation.  Gathering her energy,
again, she prepared to fight back as best she could.  Ty wasn’t ready to die
and she wasn’t going to make it easy for Lansing.

She
wasn’t weak.

Before
Ty could give freezing Lansing’s lungs a try, a new contender entered the ring.

Raiden,
of the Radiation House.  A towering mountain of unstoppable craziness.

Ty’s
eyes traveled up the massive length of his Reprisal uniform, her dread reaching
new levels.  All the stories she’d heard about Raiden rushed back from her
memories.

Blessed.
Cursed.  Prophet.  Assassin.

Insane.

Ice
tricks weren’t gonna cut it this time.

Raiden’s
own mother tried to behead him and he was somehow still walking around.
Nothing that Ty could possibly do would even slow him down.  Ty stared
at Raiden’s impassive expression and knew that she could never, ever
stop him from chopping her into tiny pieces.

Except,
Raiden didn’t seem eager to dice up her body and disguise himself in her peeled
off skin.  Instead, he stepped directly in front of Ty.  His blade swept
forward and blocked Lansing’s next assault.  Sparks flew as their swords
clanged together.

Raiden,
untouchable loner of the Reprisal and the Elemental voted most likely to
wind-up in a straitjacket according to most objective opinion polls,
had just protected Ty against one of his own.

Why?

Lansing’s
roar of outrage nearly broke her eardrums.  “What the fuck are you doing,
Raiden?!  You heard Chason!  She belongs to Gion.”

“Ty,
of the Water House is vital to our world.”  Raiden’s ruined voice sandpapered
over the words.  “I told you that.”  A massive hand grabbed her, pulling her to
her feet.  Raiden was one of the largest Phases in any House.  He topped Ty by
two feet of solid muscle.  “Let’s go, woman.”

Blood
ran from Ty’s forehead.  She felt dizzy.  “What?”  She automatically tried to
check on Isaacs.  He was breathing, but she didn’t see much more than that before
Raiden dragged her away.

Lansing
stopped his attack, apparently unwilling to fight Raiden, but more soldiers
were charging their way.  There were just too many.  Confusion swirled in her
pounding head.

Ty
didn’t want to be with Raiden.  She didn’t trust him and she didn’t like him
touching her.  What was he planning?  How could she possibly fight him?  Where
was Brokk?  Where was Job?

What
was she going to do?

Help
me!

The
words were in her head without Ty even thinking about them.

Raiden
shot her a surprised look.  “What kind of power do you have?”

“Power?
Not a lot.”

“You
have enough.  Now, he’ll come.  We don’t have time.”  People died around them,
but one look at Raiden had most would be attackers halting mid-step.  “You need
to get the box from Parald.”

Ty’s
head hurt.  “The box?”  She repeated blankly.

“Yes,
for all of our sakes.”  Raiden’s face was less menacing in close-up, possibly
because she could see the strained edges of his handsome profile.  Day-Glo
green eyes gleamed with all the secrets of the world.  “I’m counting on you,
Ty.  We share similar experiences, don’t we?”

Ty
started at him, understanding exactly what he meant.  She’d never really
considered it before --Why would she?-- but, he was actually right.  Like Ty,
Raiden had nearly been murdered by his own House during the Fall.  Raiden’s scar
was an external, untreated slice across his neck and she carried hers on the
inside, but Ty still understood what he’d gone through.  Raiden was crazy.
Everyone knew that.  Sometimes, Ty thought that she’d lost her mind, too, so
she could identify with that.

They
were tragically alike, weren’t they?

That
didn’t mean that Ty was okay with letting him kill her, though.

A
colossal Wham! of energy shockwaved over the Agora.

“Gion.”
Ty actually said his name out loud like a prayer.  She looked around for him desperately,
feeling him nearby.  Only Gion had the power to scour the Air like that.

Raiden
held onto her and continued talking in his strangely hypnotic tone.  “Others
can’t understand what it is to see the darkness.  Unless, they know what it is
to look into that abyss, they don’t see how closely we’re all connected.  How
events synchronize.
But, you and I have touched the other side.  I know now that you’re the only
one who can do this.”

“What
are you talking about?”  Ty’s head ached and she wanted Gion.

“Find
the box.  It will be behind him.”

“Ty!”
Cyclones of power sent everyone around her flying.  Parting the crowd like
Chuck Heston in the Ten Commandments, Gion swept forwards.  People on
all three sides of the war twirled into the air as he searched for her.

Something
flashed through Ty’s memories, again, but it was gone before she could grasp
hold of it.  It didn’t matter.

Nothing
mattered except getting to Gion.

Ty
ripped free from Raiden and ran for him.  All the Phases who should have
been in her way went airborne.  Not a single person tried to stop her.  Gion
just cleared the path and Ty barely noticed.

All
she saw was him.

Icy
blue eyes fixed on her, locking on her face as he pushed forward.  Ty
registered Gion’s surprise, although whether it was because of the battle
raging, the blood covering her, or the idea of Ty throwing herself into his
arms was anyone’s guess.

Ty
didn’t care.

She
only cared about reaching him.

“Gion!”
He looked perfect.  The invincible destroyers of worlds.  The most unlikely
savior in the universe.  The only person she wanted in the midst of this
nightmare.  “You’re here.”  Ty catapulted herself against his chest, clinging
to Gion’s neck.  If she could have, she would’ve crawled right inside of him.
He held her, strong arms encircling her, sheltering her, and Ty knew she was
safe.

“Thank
God.”  He exhaled hard enough to part her hair.  “I’ve got you, angel.  Are you
hurt?  Are you okay?  Let me see.”  He pulled back to study her.  A hand ran
over her face, assessing her injuries.  “You’re cut.”  Gion looked at Raiden
over the top of her head, his gaze deadly.  “You touched her?”

Raiden
stared back.  “The woman is yours.”  It wasn’t a question.

“The
woman is mine.”  Gion’s tone could’ve stopped hearts from beating.  “And no one
fucking touches her.”

“He
didn’t do this.”   Ty wiped at the blood and tried to focus.  “I can’t find
Brokk or Job.  I think I got them killed.  Please, help me find them.”

Gion
glanced at Raiden, again, and then dismissed the other man entirely.  He
touched Ty’s hair and nodded.  “I will.  I’ll find them for you.  I have to
take you home, first, and then I’ll…”

“Find
them now!  I can’t just leave them here!”

Gion
wanted to ignore her.  Ty could see that in his face.  He wanted to force her
back to the Water Kingdom.  She couldn’t let him do that.  “I’m begging you, Gion.”
More firefly like dots swam over her vision and Ty had to close her eyes.  Her
head ached so badly.  “Please help me.”

He
swore in defeat.  “Hold on.”

A
gigantic geyser of power lifted them both up into the sky.  Gion could fly.  Sort
of.  Ty’s mouth fell open as the Air energy shot them right onto the roof of
the theater.  No one else could do anything even close to that.  Only Gion.
The flat surface of the roof was solid under her feet as Gion set her down.
Safe above the battle, Ty could see the fighting stretch out in every
direction.

“Can
I trust you to stay here?”  He demanded.  “Because, if I can’t, I’ll
leave Brokk and Job to rot and…”

“Find
them.  I’ll stay here.  I swear.”

Gion
hesitated, staring into her eyes.  “Don’t move.”  He ordered, again.  “Just don’t.”
He vanished.

*****

Not
even Gion could jump from one spot to another in the same kingdom, but he could
jump to the human realm and then back again, changing his return position each
time.  It was hard to accomplish in the midst of the battle, because Phases
needed room to jump.  Gion was perfectly okay with using his powers to create a
space for himself, though.  He just blew the crowd back, disregarding their
shouts and swords.

All
these Phases were Ty’s enemies.  If he picked off a dozen or so as he searched,
so much the better.

Gion
jumped back and forth from the Florida beach to the Agora, looking for Brokk or
Job.  He probably confused the hell out of a lot of people.  Air Phases gaped
at him, shocked to see their defector back from his self-imposed exile and in
the midst of battle.  The Reprisal kept taking swings at him every time he
appeared.  And the humans in Mayport Beach wouldn’t know what the hell was
happening.  That damn town was gonna think someone dumped LSD into their water
supply after today.

Gion
didn’t care.

This
was such a waste of time.

Gion
didn’t even like Job and Brokk.  The two of them could look after themselves
and neither man was exactly leading the “Hooray for Gion” parade.  All he
really wanted was to get Ty away from the fight and back home.

He
wasn’t sure when the Water Kingdom became “home,” but that’s what it was for
him, now.  Ty was hurt, bleeding, and Gion wanted her safe in her pastel castle
as quickly as possible.  The words, “I’m begging you, Gion.  Please help me.”
pretty much left him out of options, though.  If Ty wanted Job and Brokk, then
he’d find them for her.  End of story.

As
long as it didn’t take more than five minutes.

Gion
was timing it.

He
located Brokk first.  It wasn’t hard.  Most of the civilians had fled, leaving
a sea of black and grey uniforms.  Brokk was the only one dressed like Indiana
Jones.  The guy fought like a warrior.  There were piles of bodies around him
and still he battled.

“Gion!”
Even as Brokk stabbed a Reprisal soldier through the neck, his attention was on
Gion.  “I lost Ty!  Help me find her!”

Gion
ignored that.  He seized Brokk’s forearm, strong enough to drag the Wood Phase
with him as he jumped.  A quick flash of the Gulf of Mexico and then Gion was
back on the theater roof.  The whole Brokk search took him less than two
minutes.

So
far so good.

Ty’s
face lit up when she saw her bodyguard.  “You did it!”  She beamed at Gion and
threw her arms around him.  “Thank you.”

He
closed his eyes and breathed in the strawberry scent of her hair.  “You’re
welcome, angel.”

Gion
would never forget Ty’s expression when she’d spotted him wading through the
battle.  She’d been overjoyed.  No one had ever been so glad to see him
before.  No one had ever run for him, either, usually it was away.
When Ty leapt into his arms, Gion felt triumphant.

For
the first time in his life, Gion, of the Air House was a hero.

“Ty!”
Brokk was visibly relieved to see her.  “Next time, I put you behind me, don’t
move!  Gaia!  I looked, and you were gone, and I almost had a heart attack.”

“I’m
fine.”  Ty moved to happily squeeze him.  “Gion saved me.”

Brokk
didn’t hug her back.  He held his hands up and away from Ty, even as he kissed
the top of her head.

Phases
didn’t touch each other’s Matches.

Gion
blinked.

It
sure wasn’t Parald’s claim that Brokk was respecting.  No one gave a shit about
that bastard, and Ty had already renounced the Match.  Wood Phases were
extremely uptight when it came to following rules, but Parald was exempt from
all civilized conduct.  Until now, Brokk had touched Ty all the time.

But,
suddenly Brokk’s hands were off of Ty because… Brokk considered her Gion’s.

Brown
eyes fixed on Gion over the top of Ty’s head.  Match or not, in Brokk’s mind,
Ty belonged to Gion and he wouldn’t touch her without permission.  Gion hadn’t
been expecting that.  No one had ever acknowledged his claim on Ty before.
Well, unless you counted that nut-job Raiden.

Gion
felt himself nodding consent, actually sort of… proud.  Someone besides himself
saw Ty, of the Water House as his.  “Watch her.”  He told Brokk.  The
other man finally hugged Ty and, for once, Gion didn’t mind.  “I’ll be right
back.”

“I’m
not going to sit out the battle up here.”  Brokk protested.  “Wood Phases
don’t…”

“The
battle’s about to end.”  Gion interrupted.  “Guard Ty.”  He jumped, again.

It
took him another minute to find Job.  The leader of the Elementals was clearing
the Agora of fighters by sending them blasting right back to their homelands.

Gion
figured he’d do that.

That’s
how Job stopped the Battle of the Fall.  After days of Phases attacking the Air
Kingdom, so many Elementals had died that it began to endanger all of
existence.  And the plague killed even more.

Job
refused to waste more lives.  The siege ended when Job arrived in the Air
Kingdom and evicted all the non-Air Phases with his incredible powers.  Gion
wasn’t sure how he’d accomplished it.  Job’s energy was so vast, not even Gion
could understand it.

As
a boy, Job had been everything Gion wanted to be.  He and Parson, of the Wood
House were the only role models in Gion’s life.  Heroic and honorable, people
looked at them with respect and smiles.  Parson had been the greatest man Gion
ever knew.  Wise and compassionate, he’d saved Gion’s life by just being there.

Gion’s
parents had turned their backs on him when they realized he was a murderer.  He
didn’t really blame them or even miss them much.  After he killed Addom on the
playground, Gion never saw them, again.  No great loss.  Gion lived with the
Wood Phases for the next hundred and twenty years and he’d been satisfied.
Parson had been his father in every way that mattered.

But,
Job would always be the ideal.  In Gion’s mind, Job, of the Earth House
represented the absolute epitome of Elemental manhood.

It
was so damn easy to hate him for it.

Job
glanced over when he sensed Gion behind him.  Three more Phases went
involuntarily jumping back to their own kingdoms, their eyes rolling back in
their heads.  “Have you seen Ty?”  He asked in his perfectly modulated voice.
The edges of his lawn green eyes looked tense, which, for Job, was an emotional
meltdown.

“I’ve
got Ty.  She’s upset.  She wants you out of the fighting.”

“When
I’m finished.”  Job sent four more unconscious men flashing away.  “We also
need to discuss you moving to the Earth Kingdom, Gion.”

“I’d
sooner live with the humans.”  Mostly because Gion wanted the battle finished
within the next minute and a half, he asked, “Do you want help with this?”

Job
really focused on him for the first time.

A
Metal Phase in a Reprisal uniformed charged at Job from behind and then went
zapping away, unconscious.  Job didn’t bother to turn around.  “Alright.”  He
said slowly and reached over to take Gion by the wrist.  “Just don’t kill
anyone.”

Gion
sighed and released his powers for Job.  The quicker they stopped the fighting
the quicker he could get back to Ty.  Gion didn’t love the idea of Job
accessing his energy, but it didn’t actually hurt.  He just allowed Job to use
the weight of the Air powers.  Job couldn’t control Air energy, but the force
of it behind the Earth powers made the two of them pretty much unstoppable.

Together,
their incredible powers exponentially increased.  Not even Gion expected the
energy to get so big, so fast.  For a fraction of a second, they could do the
impossible.  Gion still couldn’t follow what Job did, but –somehow-- the Earth
energy just detonated.  Every Phase fighting in the Agora vanished back into
their kingdoms.

The
reverberating crash of power made Gion squint.  “Fuck!”  His head swam
and he actually went down on one knee, close to blacking out.

Even
Job staggered backwards.  “Holy Gaia.”  He looked pale.  “Well,” Job swallowed,
“that worked better than I anticipated.”  He looked over at Gion.  “You have a
lot of power.  More than I knew.”

Somehow
Gion doubted that Job meant that as a compliment.  He got to his feet, again,
slightly nauseous from the whiplash of energy.  All around them, dead Phases
stared up at the flat sky.  “I need to find Freya.  Ty hurt her forehead.  I
need to make sure she’s okay and take her home.”  Gion’s powers were too
scattered, though.  Breathing hard, he looked up at the theater.

Ty
waved back.

Job
followed Gion’s gaze and lifted a hand to her.  “Thank God, she’s okay.  So
many aren’t…”  He scanned the rows of fallen Elementals for a long moment.  “So
much waste.  Why do we do this to ourselves?”

“It’s
our nature.”  Gion said flatly.

“Do
you really believe that?”  Job looked at him, again.  “Do you believe it’s our
destiny to mindlessly destroy?  Someone just told me that you can be better than
that.”

Ty.

Gion’s
nose was bleeding.  He absently swiped a hand under it.  “She’s young.”  Gion
kept his tone even, even as his heart pounded.  Job had been there when Addom
died.  Gion remembered sobbing in Job’s arms, that perfect voice assuring him
that it wasn’t his fault.  He glanced away.  “What did you tell her?”

“I
told her that most of your problems come from inside of you.  I told her she
couldn’t fix you, because you won’t let yourself heal.  I told her to let you
go.”

“What
did she say?”

“She
said you are a good man.”

Gion
closed his eyes.  Inside his pocket, his hand found the barrette he’d stolen
from Ty, gripping it like a talisman.

Job
bent down and felt the still pulse of a Weather Phase.  The boy couldn’t have
been more than a hundred years old.  Job sighed like the weariest man in the
universe.  “So, do you know why Parald did this?  Why would he invade the Agora
after all this time?  Something must have pushed him.”

“Me.”
Gion straightened.  “He knows that I’m with Ty and he’s trying to get her away
from me.”

“Why?”

“Someone
probably told him that I’m in love with her.”

Job’s
eyebrows climbed.  “I see.  And what do you plan to do about that?”

“Eventually,
I’m going to kill that abusive, stalking asshole.”  Gion’s energy was nearly
back under control.  “Right now, I have to take care of Ty, though.”

“You
could be a help in this war.  You could help us stop Parald, now, before
he ruins more lives.”  Job gestured around him.  “Before he tries this, again.”

No
one would harm Parald until Gion was sure that Ty was safe.  Not even Job.  “Or
I could just keep Ty out of the Agora from now on.”  Gion retorted.  If the
Reprisal and Air House butchered each other, it just meant fewer Phases Gion
would have to deal with himself.  “This is your problem, Councilor.  All I care
about is Ty.”

“Ty
isn’t your Match.  Have you thought about what will happen to her if she gets
close to you and then you find your real Match?”

“Ty
is my real Match.  I don’t care what fate says about it.  There’s no one
else for me.”

Job
shook his head.  “If you disappoint that girl, I’ll kill you, Gion.  I won’t
have a choice.”

Gion
looked at him sharply.  Job didn’t make idle threats.  The calm promise lay
between them for a second.

“I’ve
seen too much death and waste and misery.”  Job went back to surveying the
bodies, vainly searching for survivors.  “We all have.  Sometimes, the Water
House was all that got me through.  They’re my family.  The best parts of our
world.  I won’t see them hurt.”

The
Water Phases were Job’s favorites.  He’d always been protective of them.

Gion
wasn’t worthy of Ty and they both knew it.

But,
it didn’t matter.

“I
won’t give her up.  Not for you or Parald or Nia or the good of the universe.”
Gion waved a hand around at the fallen armies.  Phases who had fought to
destroy the only thing that he’d ever loved.  “These deaths mean nothing to
me.  You want to see real destruction, Job, you try and keep me from Ty.  I’ll
bring creation itself to its knees before I lose her.”

“I
won’t take her from you unless I have to.”  Job said quietly.  “Don’t force me,
Gion.  We both have enough enemies.  Just be the man that she sees in you.  Be
what Ty deserves.”

Job
might as well have asked him to be a palm tree.  “How the hell could I possibly
do that?  You know what I am.  I’ll never be what she deserves and I don’t
fucking care.”

“Of
course, you care.  You’ve always cared too much.  That’s what’s kept you broken
for so long.  Bury Addom or you’ll ruin your last chance.”

Gion
barely stifled his flinch.  He stabbed a finger at Job.  “Just stay out of my
way.  I don’t feel like listening to Tessie bitch at me if I have to decapitate
you.”

The
Air powers swelled beneath him, lifting Gion away from Job, and the bodies of
the dead, and towards the theater roof.

Up.

Towards
Ty.

Chapter Thirteen

Whatever
conditions belong to the elements before they are united,

must
reappear in the offspring of such union.

Henry C
Wright- ‘Marriage and Parentage’

“So,
while I was heroically battling in the Home Depot, I thought I’d get some paint
samples.”  Nia taped the last one to the wall and stepped back.  “What do you
think?”

She
and Cross stood side-by-side in the large, sunny space that Nia had already
commandeered for her daughter.  The baby would need a room here in the Water
Palace and Nia wanted it to be perfect.  It was never too early to start
preparing for her little miracle.

Besides,
the Fall taught most Phases the importance of distractions for mental health
and focusing on the baby helped keep Nia from nervously pacing.

Nia
was so worried about Ty.  In the last few days, her normally introverted cousin
had become the Water Kingdom’s wild-child.  Ty suddenly liked Gion of
all people.  Gion!  The man was living in their friggin’ House,
now.  Refusing to move out, doing some kind of evil Bob Vila impersonation, and
wooing Ty towards his bed.

Nia
was pretty much ready to let Cross Shadow-erase the bastard.

Except,
when Ty needed him, Gion had jumped right to her.

He
loved Ty.

Nia
almost believed that.

Damn
it.

Adding
to Nia’s concerns, the Air House was stepping up their attacks against Ty.  Dozens
and dozens of Phases, more than they could afford to lose, lay dead in the
Agora, victims of Parald’s fixation on Ty.  His cruel and demented desire to
reclaim her would just never stop.

Then,
there was Chason…

Nia
actually didn’t want to consider Chason too closely.  She had a horrible suspicion
what they’d need to do about him and it would be one of the saddest days of her
life.

Cross
surveyed the little blocks of color for a long moment.  “They’re all pink.”

“I
know, they’re pink.  Girls like pink.”

“But,
how do we know it’s a girl?”

“Of
course, she’s a girl.”  Nia said absently.  She tried to envision the inch long
pieces of paper as entire walls full of color.  She’d never actually painted
anything before.  Color Phases usually got hired for that.  They could create
such beautiful, magical shades.  Most of the Color House’s artists had died in
the Fall, though, and the rest weren’t exactly huge Water House fans, so Nia
was painting this room on her own.  Decorating took a lot of work.

For
the nursery in the Shadow Kingdom, Nia had already settled on underwater
mermaid décor.  In this one, Nia wanted something a little more… shadowy.  That
way the baby would always remember both her Houses.

Unfortunately,
the shifting mists and shrouded moors of Cross’s homeland didn’t give Nia much
to work with in the way of cheerful baby room themes.  Maybe something sort of
medieval, Scottish princess-ish would be best.  The Shadowland always looked
medieval and Scottish-y.  That seemed like a good compromise.  Princesses lived
in big grey castles, didn’t they?  She remembered endlessly reading Ismena,
the Elementals’ most famous fairytale, to Ty when she was baby.  Ismena lived
in a big gray castle.

Nia
squinted in deep concentration.

Did
medieval Scotland have a lot of pink, though?

Cross
gave up on the paint selection process.  He moved behind Nia, his hands coming
down to caress her stomach.  “You’re positive that you’re okay, baby?”  Cross
was always protective, but, since she’d become pregnant, he was on constant
alert for Nia to spontaneously drop-dead or something.  He kissed her temple.
“You sure you don’t want Freya to look you over?”

“I’m
fine.”  Nia craned her neck back to smile at him.  “Don’t worry about that.
Chason didn’t get within ten feet of me.”

Thanks
partly to Gion.  Nia wasn’t sure what to make of that.

“Fucking
Reprisal.”  Cross’s voice rumbled with Shadows.  Nia loved the sound of them,
even when Cross was swearing out death threats on people.  “You and Job always
want to play nice with them and offer them grief counseling for their sad
little lives.  Meanwhile, they’re trying to kill you.”  One large palm
stretched out over her abdomen, cradling their baby inside of her.  “It’s over,
Nia.  They have to be stopped.”

“It’s
not about the Reprisal.  It’s Chason who I wanted to help.”  Nia
knew most of the Reprisal soldiers were vicious, amoral, sons-of-bitches.  At
this point, their festering hatred had turned the vast majority into something
nearly as bad as Parald himself.  Putting down individual members of the
Reprisal didn’t bother her a bit.

But,
Chason was different.

Once
upon a time, Chase had been the kindest, most admirable Phase in the world.  He
could be that, again.  Nia knew it.  He’d recently saved her life against one
of his own Reprisal soldiers, in fact.  Nia remembered the honorable Chason,
and she believed that that man was still trapped, somewhere, inside this mad
Chason’s gaunt, bitter shell.

Now
that she had Cross, Nia actually understood Chason’s bottomless sorrow.  Losing
a Match must be the worse pain in the universe.  She couldn’t go on without
Cross.  She wouldn’t want to.

Mara
had been Chason’s soul.

Nia
had seen them together.  She’d attended the party that the Magnet Kingdom threw
to celebrate Chason and Mara’s Phazing Day.  Usually, the Magnet House made
Sparta look frivolous and carefree.  That night, though, the entire dreary
place had been alight with fireworks and music.

I’ll
Be With You in Apple Blossom Time played while Chason
danced with his Match, smiling down into Mara’s animated face as she talked to
him.  When Nia thought of Chason, that was still the first image that came into
her mind.  The Andrew Sisters singing and Mara’s purple robes floating around
her, while Chason’s love for his Match shone from his eyes.

It
broke Nia’s heart.

“Even
Job’s on my side, now.”  Cross insisted, still holding her against him.
“Chason’s gone too far.  I don’t care that he used to help cute animals and
little old ladies.  He went into the human realm and put on a lightshow in a
hardware store, for Christ’s sake.  He’s completely deranged.  He’s targeting Ty.
We need to help Gion kill him.  Now.”

Nia
and Job had both retained hope that Chason might return to the man he’d once
been.  Cross was right, about that.  The Council did give Chason a lot
of rope, because many of them thought that he might eventually come out of his
grief and rage.  That he might eventually exit the tunnel and return to the
light.  Now, it looked like Chason intended to die in the tunnel and use the
rope he’d received to hang himself.

It
annoyed Nia that Gion had made a legitimate point about Chason earlier.

Chase
had lost his mind.

He
genuinely might be capable of hurting Ty.

Chason
might threaten to capture Ty.  Hell, he had captured Nia, once.  And Chase
constantly had some scheme against Parald.  Everyone knew that.  His plans to
destroy the Air House just went on and on and on.  But, Nia never thought that
Chason would actually hurt Ty or endanger the world.

Not
for real.

He’d
never outright threatened Ty’s life, until now.   Mara had used to babysit
Ty, for crying out loud.  Chason plotting to kill her was flat-out insane.  Not
just because Ty was a gentle, sweet, brilliant woman who deserved so much more
than she’d been given in life.  Nia was willing to concede that Chason was too
far into his dark hole to realize that, anymore.

No.
He shouldn’t want to kill her, because Ty was one of the last three Water
Phases alive.

The
Water House was one of the most important pillars of creation and Ty supported
a third of it.  Without Nia, Tharsis, and Ty, the world imploded.  No matter
how much he wanted to hurt Gion, even Chason should know better than to target
Ty for death.  It would sink all of creation that much closer to extinction.
How could he honestly want to end the universe?  How could he really be
capable of that?

He
was totally out of control.  Nia could see that now, like never before.  Chason
wasn’t getting better.  He was getting worse.  In a choice between Chason and
Ty, Nia wouldn’t hesitate.  Her beautiful, loving cousin had to
survive.  Nia couldn’t bear life without Ty, so there was just no alternative,
really.

Very
soon, they’d have to kill Chason.

Nia
closed her eyes against the thought.

“Nia?”
Tharsis came into the room.  “We got a weird email.”

She
turned and looked at him, trying to shake herself out of her depressing
thoughts.  “If it’s a Nairobian prince asking us to give him ten thousand
dollars so he can free his billions from the bank, I told you…”

“No,
it’s not another entertaining internet scam, sad to say.  It’s from the Air
House.”  Thar handed her a printout and thoughtfully studied the paint samples.
“I like that middle one.”

“What
about the Air House?”  Cross demanded, reading the page over Nia’s shoulder.
“Damn it, if Ty lets any more of them in here, I’m gonna get seriously pissed.
I don’t want my unborn son corrupted by their asshole-ness.”

“It’s
our unborn daughter.”  Nia corrected and scanned the email Tharsis had
given her.

Writing
to you endangers my life, so please be discrete.  I ask permission to enter
your lands for a short meeting this evening.  I will come unarmed and in peace.
I wish to speak with you about Gion.  He cannot stay in the Water Kingdom. –
Amarna, of the Air House.

Nia
glanced over at Tharsis.  “Amarna?

“She
was Seneca’s niece.”

“You
remember, baby.  The other king Gion betrayed.”  Cross rolled his eyes.
“Shit.  This is all we need.”

Thar
shrugged.  “Amarna’s harmless.  I talked to Job and he says that she’s okay… for
an Air Phase, anyhow.  She’s Bryony’s cousin.”

Nia
frowned down at Gion’s name.  “What does she mean, he can’t stay here?  Do you
think Gion’s plotting something?”

“Guy
loves Ty.  I’m sure of that.”  Tharsis sounded confident.  “But, I’m kinda
concerned that the Air Phases are up to something.  Maybe Amarna knows what
Parald’s next move is.”

“Or
maybe she’s trying to Trojan Horse us.”  Cross offered in his normal optimistic
way.

Nia
shook her head.  “I’ve heard of Amarna.  If Parald was gone, she’d be Queen of
the Air House.  I don’t see her loving the guy.”

“Rumor
has it she’s the Princess Leia of the oh-so-underground Air House rebels.”
Tharsis volunteered.

Nia
blinked.  “How do you know that?  Job?”

“We’re
talking about giving the Air Phases amnesty.  You think I’m not gonna
track down every rumor I can on them, before they start sharing our
bathrooms?”  Tharsis arched a brow and Nia was suddenly reminded that her
brother had once been one of the greatest researchers in the realm.  “I think we
should hear Amarna out.”

Nia
slowly nodded.  “Alright.  Let her come.”

Chapter Fourteen

I have left almost to
the last the magic of water, an element which owing to its

changefulness of form
and mood and colour… has, like music, a mysterious

influence over the
mind.

Sir
George Sitwell- ‘On the Making of
Gardens’

Ty
watched from her bed as Gion fitted the new sheets of Plexiglas over her
windows.  “You really think that’s necessary?”  Ty’s head was feeling much
better and it annoyed her that Freya said she had to stay in bed for the rest
of the day.

Still
the view was nice.

Gion
had taken his cape off, so he looked leaner.  Ty could see the muscles outlined
under his shirt.  His black hair was tied back, highlighting the strong line of
his jaw.  He had a screwdriver in his hand.

It
was absolutely wrong to find him standing there with tools so incredibly
attractive.

Very,
very wrong.

Ty
licked her bottom lip.

“It’s
extremely necessary, because I don’t feel like attending your funeral.”  Gion
retorted.  This was the first room where he was installing the Plexiglas.  “An entire
afternoon will be wasted, listening to people lie about how wonderful you
were.”

“But,
you already own so many black clothes.”  Ty thought that remark was actually
sort of clever.

Gion
apparently didn’t agree.  He adjusted the screwdriver and attacked the window
frame, fastening the plastic into place with violent twists of his wrist.

Ty
would have preferred to keep her own handmade glass windows, but Gion seemed
obsessed with the plastic.  It wasn’t worth arguing about.  Besides, this
project gave Gion something to occupy himself while he angrily brooded.

He
really wasn’t pleased that she’d been in the Agora investigating their
connection.  His jaw stayed set like granite as he worked, his voice
vacillating between frigidly sarcastic and outright accusatory.

Gion
was furious.

For
the life of her, Ty couldn’t imagine why that had always scared her before.

He’d
been incensed with her for over an hour now and she wasn’t least bit
intimidated.  Ty sat crossed legged on her mattress, wearing nothing but a
nightgown and a Hello Kitty Band-Aid on her forehead, and felt completely
safe surrounded by his obvious rotten mood.

She’d
become immune to Gion’s badassery.  In fact, it was sort of… cute.

Truthfully,
Ty took it as a good sign that Gion was so open about his unhappiness.  He must
feel fairly secure with his position in the Water Kingdom.  Nobody who thought
they might get evicted from a palace would be so snappy with its queen.

“Do
you want to hear about what Freya and I discussed?”

“No.”
He said flatly.

Ty
made a face.  “You’re being unreasonable.  I explained what happened.”

Gion
positioned the plastic onto its track and did his damnedest to ignore her.

“I
didn’t break my promise to you.  I told you that.  I did not, and will
not, try to sever our connection.  I was just doing research.”

Nothing.

Ty
began to have a real understanding of how Gion must’ve felt when she refused to
talk with him for so many years.

“Gion?”
That always worked to get his attention.

He
paused for a moment, his shoulders tightening.  Swearing, he flashed her an
aggravated look.  “Yes?”

“I’ll
think you’ll like what I discovered in my research.  You shouldn’t be so
pessimistic.”  Ty adjusted her glasses.  “Besides, I know you’re curious.”

He
grunted and turned back to the window.

Ty
bit the inside of her lip to keep from smiling and waited.

“Alright.”
Gion turned back around.  “What?”  Icy blue eyes had gone molten with
temper and Ty was once again struck by how stunning he was.  Standing in her
pastel bedroom of gauzy fabrics and mosaic pillars, he looked like the villain
from an old black and white movie.  Someone mysterious and deadly, who lured
the heroine into the deepening shadows.

And
who the hell would blame the girl for following such a man?

“Freya
doesn’t know why we have the connections.”  Ty reported.  Her gaze measured the
width of his chest.  Gion was so gorgeous.  “She has some theories, but nothing
concrete, yet.”

“Wonderful.
A thrilling advance for medical science.”

Ty
leaned back on her hands, so that her body was pushed forward.  Her breasts
pressed against the silk of her nightgown.  Gion’s gaze flicked down and she
saw his throat working.  Ty really, really loved that he wanted her.

“Freya
doesn’t think she can fix it.”  Ty continued.  “That’s the bottom line.  Even
if one of us wanted the connection gone, what’s between us probably can’t be
changed.”

Gion
dragged his eyes back to her face.  “Good.”  He intoned.

Ty’s
body clenched at the darkly erotic tone.  “In her medical opinion --and this is
a direct quote-- we should accept it.”

“I
have accepted it.  You’re the one who’s trying to take the connection
away.”

“I
am not!  I told you.  I feel like something’s wrong and I’m trying to find out
what it is.  I just want to understand.”

“There’s
nothing wrong with the energy, Ty.”

“There’s
something wrong inside of me.  I feel it.  There’s a block.”

He
looked down at the screwdriver and Ty saw his jaw tighten, again.  “So, what
are you going to do, now?”

“Well,
Freya suggests that we try… being with each other and see what happens.”

Gion’s
attention snapped back up to hers.  “‘Be with each other?’  Sex?”

“Doctor’s
orders.  If you’re willing, we just need to go slow.”

He
digested that for a long moment.  “That is a fantastic prescription.”

“I
had a feeling you’d gain a new appreciation for Freya’s skills as a physician.”

“The
woman’s a medical genius.”  Gion gave his head a quick shake and went back to
installing the window.  He started sealing the steel screws into place with
silicone caulk, probably incase Chason decided to “visit.”  “Of course, you’ll no
doubt want to test the ‘sex for science’ hypothesis on someone who doesn’t feel
wrong.”

Ty
watched the wide width of Gion’s back and thought of what Job had told her.
How no one had ever wanted this man for more than just his talent for killing.
How could so many people not see how desperate Gion was to have someone care
for him?  How could Ty have not seen it for so long?

“You
don’t feel wrong, Gion.  The block in my head feels wrong.”  She shifted
trying to see his face.  “You’re the only man who feels right.  Don’t be mad at
me.”

Gion
stopped working.  “I need you, Ty.”  He whirled back around.  “What the hell
would have happened if Freya could’ve separated us?”

“Nothing.
I told you, I wouldn’t have severed the connection.  Why would I ever want
that?”

“Why
wouldn’t you?”  He shot back.  “You’re scared of me, so…”

“Not
anymore.  Now, I think we’re… friends.”  That was a massive understatement,
really.  Ty was coming to care for this man on a level she didn’t understand.

He
gaped at her.  “Friends?!”

“Well,
don’t you think that?”  She asked tentatively.  Aside from desiring her, Ty really
didn’t know how Gion felt.

“I
don’t have any friends.”

Ty
glanced away, hurt by his cold answer.  “I think you’re just being a jerk,
right now.”  She accused.  “I’m mostly doing the research for you, ya
know.”

“For
me?”  He scoffed.  “Oh, this should be good.”

“You
refuse to listen when I explain this to you.  You.  Could.  Have.  A.  Match.”
Ty carefully spaced out each word.  “When that happens, you won’t want this
connection.  You won’t want me.  You’ll want her.  And unless we can
figure this out…”

“I
don’t want a Match, Ty.  I can’t be any plainer than that.  I’ll always
want you.”

Ty
didn’t believe him.  Right now, Gion thought that he didn’t want a Match, but
he’d change his mind once she actually showed up.  All Phases wanted their
Match.

Except
Ty.

She
was always the one left standing alone when the music stopped.

Gion
stared at her for a long moment, taking in her doubtful expression.  Then, he
sighed and most of his anger seemed to fade.  “It’s just… you promised
me that you wouldn’t fuck with our connection.”

“I
didn’t.  I was researching.  Researching isn’t… messing with.”  Ty had a
hard time really swearing.  It didn’t sound right when she did it.  In order to
curse properly, you had to say the words without hesitation.  Ty always
faltered, making the language sound stilted and thereby ruining its
effectiveness.

Gion’s
eyebrow arched at the word substitution.  Through his lingering sardonic
annoyance, she saw amusement appear.  His mouth curved in that reluctant way Ty
loved.

Ty
seized the opening and pushed forward.  “I made you a promise and I won’t break
it.”  She told him earnestly.  “Unless we both agree, the energy will stay just
as it is.”  She sniffed.  “Even if we’re not friends.”

“We’re
not friends.”  Gion stared at her.  “If I had friends, I probably wouldn’t
spend so much time picturing them naked.  What you and I have is… more.”

More.

Ty
liked that.

She
tilted her head, so her hair fell back and watched his pupils dilate.  “You
picture me naked?”  She asked enticingly.

“Absolutely,
I do.”

Ty
smiled, as Gion’s gaze traced over her.  She wasn’t an aggressive person by
nature.  Even before the Fall, she’d been painfully shy.  With Gion, though, Ty
felt different.  He made her bolder, drawing out further and further.  Maybe it
was because Ty knew they were both wary and broken.  She and Gion had so much
in common.

And
he wanted her.

That
was Ty’s safety net, making her feel more secure.  Even when Gion was angry,
their connection was pure and strong.  That gave her courage.  Ty could feel
his desire for her in the Air itself.

“Gion?”
Ty wasn’t exactly sure what to say next.  For once, she didn’t drop her eyes
away from his, though.

She
felt the Air energy move as his focus got more intense.  “Yes?”  He leaned a
shoulder against one of the pillars and watched her.

“Can
you come here?”  Ty restlessly shifted.  “Please?”

His
mouth curved, again.  “I’m working, Tritone.”

Ty
frowned, thinking that Gion wanted to keep the argument going.  For a second,
she just blinked at him in disappointment.  Then, she noticed the gleam in his
eye.  “You’re teasing me.”  He’d never done that before.

Ty
realized she like that, too.

“If
you want something, you’re going to have to give me some incentive.”  Gion
absently tossed the screwdriver, so it twirled in the air, and caught it,
again.  “I have a tight schedule.”

“I’m
your boss.  You don’t have to keep to the schedule.  You can take a break”

“And
what would we do on this break?”

Ty
wasn’t sure how to play this game, but the energy was driving her crazy.
“Well, what do you want to do?”

“You.”

Ty
swallowed.  “Good answer.”  Her eyes cut over to the open door.

Air
powers blew it closed and it was just the two of them.

“You’re
not well enough for much.”  Gion said softly.

“Yes,
I am.”

“No,
angel, you’re not.  I’ll take care of you, though.  Lose the nightgown and I’ll
do the rest.”

Ty
had never taken her clothes off in front of a man before.  She bit her lower
lip in consideration.  Gion had already seen her partially naked last night and
she wanted him really, really badly.  She could do this.

Gion
crossed his arms over his chest and waited.

Gathering
her nerve, Ty started unbuttoning the white lace.  “You’re really just gonna
stand over there?”

“If
I get close to you, right now, it might go too far.  You’re still hurt.”  He
studied her progress with hooded eyes.  “Freya said go slow, remember?”

“I’m
fine.”  In a fit of flustered annoyance, Ty gave up on the buttons and just
pulled the nightgown over her head.  Her bare breasts tightened in the open air,
mostly from the weight of Gion’s gaze.  Kneeling on her mattress, Ty faced him.

Gion
exhaled loudly.  “Do the hair thing, again.”

It
took Ty a second to figure out what he wanted and then she obligingly tossed
her head back.  She even added a new step and threaded her fingers through it,
fluffing the curls.  The turquoise streak slid against her cheek.

Gion
made an appreciate sound.  “I love your hair.”  His body was stiff with
arousal, his eyes sliding over her skin like a caress.  The Air energy pulled
at her.  Ty closed her eyes at the feel of it.

“No.”
Gion commanded.  “Keep looking right at me.  Take off the panties and lie back
on the bed.”

Ty
opened her eyes.  “You just love giving orders.”  She began stripping off her
underwear.  “If this turns out to be a trick or something, I really will put
you in the stocks.”

“I
have never been more serious, in my life.”  Gion’s gaze went down to the
junction of her thighs, as Ty slowly removed the white silk.  “That’s it.”  His
jaw clenched so tight Ty wondered how his teeth didn’t crack.  “God, I knew
you’d be beautiful.”

Ty
flushed and tossed the panties aside.  “Now what?”

“I
told you, lay back and then open your legs so I can see.”

Ty
eyed him warily.

“It
won’t hurt you, angel.  Trust me.”

Ty
was nervous, but she did trust him.  She trusted Gion with her life.

Throwing
herself into the game, Ty lay down, angling her body so she could still see his
face.  She carefully parted her thighs, exposing herself to Gion’s view.
Stretching her arms up over her head like a pagan sacrifice, she cleared her
throat.  “I expect some very nice return on this, since, so far, I’ve done all
the work.”

“I
thought I was on break.”  Gion’s breath sawed in and out as he watched her.
“Jesus, do you know how many times I imagined you like this?”

She
grinned, suddenly feeling very much in control despite their positions.  “Are
we counting all the perverted fantasies you had when I was an innocent minor?”

“If
I could’ve gotten away with it, you wouldn’t have stayed innocent for long.”

“If
you’d have introduced yourself and been nice, maybe you could’ve gotten
away with it.”  Ty couldn’t imagine ever be unresponsive to Gion.  Even at
eighty-four, she’d been adult enough to recognize the energy between them.

If
he’d been a different sort of man, one not so good, Gion would have approached
Ty that first night.  Ty had been idealistic in her youth.  Romantic.  Gion
probably could’ve talked her out of that white dress with nothing more than one
of his slow smiles and a “please.”  Ty hadn’t known Parald, back then.  She
would’ve assumed that Gion was her Match.

Gion
should have been her Match.

The
thought filled her head and Ty didn’t try to fight it.

“Jailbait.”
He dragged his gaze away from her body and smiled.  “Ready?”

“For
what?”

Air,
hot and strong, blew right across the core of her.

Ty
arched off the bed, her mouth falling open in shock.  “Oh my God!”

Gion
made a sound halfway between a laugh and groan.  “Damn, I knew that would
work.”

Ty’s
hand twisted in the sheets as she rocked against the energy flowing over her.
“Gion.”

“Yes?”
He sounded hoarse.

She
made a whimpering noise.  “It feels really, really good.”

“I
know, angel.  Keep your legs open.”  The Air energy got harder and more
instant.  “The only upside to not having you for eleven years is I stored up a
lot of ideas of what I’d do to your body when I finally got you.  I’m
incredibly creative.”

“Most
Water Phases are.”  Ty looked over at him, her eyes glazed.  The Air sucked and
pressed and kissed places no one had ever touched.  “Can you make it go up a
little bit?”

The
Air instantly shifted and her head fell back.  “Oh Gaia.  Yes.  Right there.”
Ty’s heels dug into the mattress.  She moved her body, allowing the Air to
stroke her fully.  “You invented this just for me?”

“Everything
I do is for you, Ty.”

“Thank
you.”  She whispered breathlessly.

“Believe
me, it’s no trouble, at all.”  Gion watched the Air sliding over the core of
her.  “Of all the things I can do with my powers, this is the only one I’ve
ever really enjoyed.”

Ty
tried to focus.  “Your powers are wonderful, Gion.”  His childhood still
haunted him.  She wanted him to know that the Air energy was something good.
“They’re gentle and wonderful.  Don’t think otherwise.”  The words came out
choppy as he drove her even higher.

“You’re
the only gentle, wonderful thing in my life.  You’re beautiful.”

“And
you are just… soooo talented.”  Ty bit her lip, helpless against his
words and energy.  “It’s amazing how talented you are.”

He
smirked.  “I can do better.  Do you want it steady or pulsed?”

“What?”

“Steady
or pulsed?”  He demonstrated the difference and Ty gasped.

“Pulsed.”
Her body twisted in pleasure.  “Oh Gaia, pulsed.  Harder.”  The pressure
built up to unbearable levels.  She had never heard of any Air Phase being able
to do this.  Gion needed to patent his idea for the good of the world.  “Please.”

He
looked strained.  “You like that?”

“Yes,
yes, yes, yes, yes.”

“Just
let go, angel.”

“Gion!”
Ty came in a rush of heat and energy.  It was incredible.  Just how Ty imagined
Phazing with the right person would be.  She felt the Air energy caressing
her.  Saw how the jagged pieces of Gion would fit perfectly with the missing
parts of her.  For a moment, Ty’s world was exactly how it should be.

Then,
the Water powers went wild, trying to get free and encountering that immovable
block.  The energy slammed against the bars of its invisible cage, ricocheting
inside her head.  It screamed for release.  Screamed for the Air powers.

Ty
cried out, her hands going to her temples.

“Shit!”
Gion dropped the screwdriver and raced for the bed.  “Ty!  Damn it.  I knew you
were too sick for this.  Look at me.”  He grabbed her up in his arms, examining
her face.  “Are you alright?  What happened?”

“I
don’t know.”  Ty looked up him with damp eyes.  “Something’s wrong.”

“What?”
His hands skimmed over her, looking for injuries.  “Do you need Freya?”

“No.
It’s not from the attack.  It’s me.  I’m just… broken, I think.
Inside.”

Gion
shook his head.  “You’re not broken.”  He pulled her against his chest and
leaned back against the headboard.  Painted dolphins and seahorses frolicked on
the towering, antique surface.  “You’re hurt, but you’re not broken.”  He
hugged her and let out a shaky breath.  “You scared me.  All day, all you’ve
done is scare me.  Getting in the middle of a war.  Going to Freya to erase our
connection.  And now this.”

Ty
cuddled closer to him, pulling the sheets up around her.  “Something’s wrong
with me.”  She repeated.  “My energy isn’t right.  It’s blocked or something.”

“You’re
positive?”

“I’m
a genius.  I can tell.”

“Alright.”
Gion’s voice was calm, but she felt his heart slamming against his ribcage.
“What are we going to do?”

He’d
said “we.”

Ty
felt herself melt.  She tilted her head back to look at him.  “We’re going to
fix it.”  She felt the need to reassure him.  “Don’t worry.  I’m pretty
talented myself.”

“You
won’t sever our connection, though.”  Gion studied her.  “Not unless…”  He
trailed off.  “Not unless you have to in order to feel… fixed.”  He
sighed like a man who’d just bet everything on a long shot.  “I’ll agree.  I
will.  I’ll agree to sever it and let you go, but only if you really
have to.”  He looked tortured.  “Please.”

Ty
kissed the side of his jaw.  “If it comes between my energy not being right and
giving up my connection to you… I promise, my energy will just stay broken.”

Gion
glanced at her sharply.

Ty
smiled.  “I like your energy.  A lot.”

His
mouth curved, relief filling his face.  “My energy likes you, too.”  One of his
hands came over to touch her cheek.  “Everything about me likes you, angel.”

Ty
leaned against his palm.  “Gion?”

“Yes?”

“You’re
a very good man.”

He
met her eyes and something moved across his expression, something infinite and
tender.  “I’m not.  But, you make me a better man.”

Ty
was quiet for a long moment.  “So, when I was in that jail cell in Mayport
Beach, you had already invented different ways to touch my body, huh?”  She
asked, trying to lighten the mood.  “Did you –like-- picture them when I was
refusing to talk to you?”

“I
always picture them.  I’ve imagined taking you in so many ways that there
aren’t numbers high enough to count them all.”

It
was crazy, but Ty found that very arousing.  “Always?  When you were being a
jerk to me just now, you were still envisioning me naked?”

“Oh,
yeah.  I love it when you argue with me.  Even when I mad, I’m hard as a rock.”

“When
I was in human court that time?”

“I
had some incredible brainstorms about ripping that neat little suit right off
your body.”

“When
I was in the Air House dungeon?”

“You
were in handcuffs, Tritone.  Even a good man would have had fantasies about
that.”

Ty
laughed.

Gion
gave her one of his rare, beautiful smiles.  “You like hearing about how much I
wanted you all these years.”

“I
do.  Your perversions are contagious, I guess.”  Ty reached up and stroked the
golden streak in his hair.  Pulling it free of his ponytail, she wrapped the
brilliant highlight around her finger, tugging slightly.

Gion
jolted.  “I always wanted you to touch me.”  His eyes drifted shut.  “That was
always featured front and center in my daydreams.”

Ty
leaned forward to kiss him.

He
liked that.  Ty had a feeling that he would.  She grinned against his lips as
Gion threaded his fingers through her hair, angling her head.

Ty
pressed closer, her mouth opening under his.  She loosened her grip on the
sheet, letting it fall from around her.

“Stop,
angel.”  He pulled back.  “Your energy isn’t well enough to do this right,
now.”  Even as he said it, Gion’s free palm traced downward, caressing the
curve of her waist.  He didn’t put his hands anywhere near her thighs, as if he
was concerned about triggering any memories of the attempted rape.  The
situations were so completely different that Ty didn’t give Parald a thought,
though.

Gion’s
fingers brushed against the bruise Lansing left on her side when he kicked
her.  His jaw got tight, again.

“Tell
me some more about how pretty you think I am, then.”  Ty suggested playfully,
not wanting to talk about the Agora attack.  “You said you like my hair.”

“I
love your hair.  It was the first thing I noticed about you.  The rest of the
music hall turned gray, somehow, and all I saw was the color of your red
curls.  Like a vision.”

“A
vision.”  Ty soaked up the compliment like a sponge.  Around Gion, Ty
remembered the romantic eighty-four year old she’d once been.  No man had ever
said something so poetic to her.  Especially not a man who mattered like Gion
did.  Actually, Gion was the only man who’d ever mattered.  “Anything else you
like about me?”

“Everything
else.”  His hand came up to tenderly brush the pink bandage on her
forehead.  “I like every single thing about you, Ty.  I would sack kingdoms for
you.”

“Aw,
would you really?”  Ty fluttered her eyelashes, not believing his flirting, but
enjoying it none-the-less.

“Yes,”
Gion solemnly intoned, “without a second thought.”

“And?”
Ty toyed with the ends of his golden streak, getting into spirit of this.
“Keep going.”

“You
want more sad stories of my hopeless desire?”

“Not
so hopeless, apparently.”

He
chuckled.  “Well, before I left for the human realm today, I left a letter for
you in this room.  I saw this fairytale bed.”  Gion’s gaze went to the draping
fabric above their heads.  “And I pictured us like this.  But, I still never
thought it could happen.  Not really.”

“I’m
keeping that note.”

“No,
you aren’t.”

“Yes,
I am, too.  I was worried that you might not come back.  Then, I saw your note
and it made me smile.  I think I’m going to frame it.”  Ty reached over so she
could open the drawer of her nightstand.  She’d already read it fifty times.
She held up the thick sheet of paper for him.  “Ta-da.”

Gion
took the page from her and stared at it.

Try
not to die while I’m gone.  – G

“You
write a lovely note.”  Ty teased.  “Very concise, but filled with provocative
subtext.”

He
shrugged.  “It seemed like a fair request.  I should have known that you’d find
it nearly impossible to comply, though.  I can’t take my eyes off of you for a
second.”  That statement was accompanied by a slow sweep of her body.

“Well,
you should have asked me to come with you, then.  I would have.  I like the
humans.”

He
set the letter back on her nightstand.  “I’ve noticed.  Especially that cop
grandson of Parson’s.”

“Sullivan’s
my friend.”  Ty could tell from his face that Gion was pulling back from her
somehow.  “He’s very sweet under his grouchiness.”

“Yeah,
he’s a prince of his species and ours.”  Gion’s tone went flat.  “All the women
seem to think so.”

Ty
tilted her head.  “Sullivan’s my friend.  Not like you and I are
friends, of course.  Not more, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

Gion
grunted.

Was
he honestly jealous of Sullivan?  Ty blinked.  “Gion, if I was
interested in Sullivan, do you really think that I’d be here with you?”

Silence.

“Maybe,
your energy would be right with him.”  Gion finally suggested without
expression.  “We don’t know how Phazing with humans works, exactly.  He might
be able to offer you more.”

“That’s
not how it is between Sullivan and me.”

Gion
snorted.  “The human would try Phazing with you, if you let him.  He’s not
blind.”

“I
won’t let him.  And he doesn’t think of me that way.  I guarantee it.”
Ty didn’t know how to reassure him, but she knew that it was imperative that Gion
understand.  He was very sensitive.  Ty went with the quickest method she could
think of to show Gion that he was the one that she wanted.  She found
Gion’s wrist and tugged it against her breast.  “You’re the only man I’ve ever
desired.  I think that would be obvious.”

Ty
would have been too embarrassed to do that with anyone else, not matter what
the circumstances.  But, with Gion, she was safe.  His desire and teasing
compliments gave her confidence.  Here, alone with Gion, she could be brave.

Ty’s
fingers threaded through his, holding him in place.  His hand was so much
bigger than hers and wonderfully strong.  The delicate skin of her fingers
rubbed between his, her nipple rasping against the callous of his palm.  This
seemed more intimate than their encounter in the music hall.  More deliberate
and meaningful.  There was something primal about the way Gion’s hand covered
her naked flesh.  Ty felt very vulnerable and still very protected.

Gion
kept his eyes locked on hers as he massaged her breast.

Territorial.

That
was the word for how he watched her.  How he kneaded her flesh.

Territorial.

His
elegant, musician’s hand squeezed with just the right pressure.  Tossing her
hair was completely involuntary this time.  Ty’s neck just went back as she gasped.
“Do that again.”

“I’ve
waited so long.”  Gion sounded out of breath as he instantly complied.  “And, I
swear to God, I’ll have you if it’s the last thing I ever do in my
life.  But, you’re not well, yet.  We can’t.”

“This
counts as going slow.  I promise.”

“No,
it doesn’t.”  But, the hand on her waist pulled her forward.  “Gaia, you’re
soft.  Come here.”

Ty
whimpered as his mouth found her other breast.  The man could do magical things
with his tongue.  Her body moved against his.  “Gion.”

“You
make me insane.”  Gion’s voice got rougher.  “I’ll kill the human if he touches
you, again, Ty.  I wouldn’t be able to stand it.”  Catching her nipple between
his teeth, Gion bit down with gentle possession.

“Oh
God.”  The Water energy swirled again, tingling everywhere as it hit against
the Air powers and Ty tried to think.  “No, don’t hurt Sullivan.  He never…”
She broke off with a protesting moan as Gion stopped the attention to her
breast.  “Hey!”

“I
won’t hurt the human, so long as he keeps his hands off of you.”  Gion held his
mouth away from her skin and frowned at her.  “But, I don’t ever want him
touching your hair, again.  Ever, Ty.  I can’t believe you let
him do that.”

“Sullivan
never touched my hair.”

“Yes,
he did!  I was standing right there and he put his hands on you in that jail
cell.  If I hadn’t been afraid to scare you even worse, I would’ve chopped off
both his arms.”

Usually
Matches were the only ones to say things like that.  Instead of informing Gion
that he had no say in who touched her, Ty found herself soothing him the same
way she would have if they were Matches and Gion was throwing a fit.  “Well, if
he touched me, I don’t remember it.  I swear.  I was having a panic attack.”

Gion
grunted, unappeased.

It
was insane, but she liked that maybe Gion experienced some of the same emotions
she did.  Ty felt so possessive of him. Maybe he felt that way about her, too.

Territorial.

“So,
is this just about Sullivan?”  She tested.  “Can other men touch me?”

“Only
if you want them to die.”

Ty
hummed with pleasure at that erotic threat.  She cupped her breast, pressing it
back to his lips.  “I don’t want anyone touching me, but you.”   She whispered.
“Please, touch me, Gion.”

He
made an animalistic sound and the suction resumed on her nipple.  The strong
pulls sent heat racing through her whole system.

“Don’t…
be with another woman, either, though.”  Ty got out.  “Just… don’t do that,
without telling me first.”

“I
don’t want another woman, Ty.  I want you.  God, how I want you.”  His teeth
nipped in small punishment.

Ty
sighed dreamily.  She really, really liked this.  “If I’d known that you could
do these things to me, I would’ve seduced you long ago.”

“You’re
seducing me?”  He switched to the other nipple.

“Of
course.”  As far as Ty could see that was obvious.  Left up to Gion, they’d
still be arguing.  “If you’d been just a little more pleasant to me years ago,
it would have happened sooner.  We would have met and wanted each other.  You
could’ve gotten through the Water House barriers right from the beginning,
couldn’t you?”

The
suckling paused.  “Yes, but I never took advantage of that.”  The words
were adamant.  “I never came inside your home uninvited.”

“I
know.”  He was such a good man.  Ty pulled his head back to her breast.  “But,
you could have.  You could’ve come into my room anytime you wanted.  Did
you think of that?”

“Yes.”
He breathed the word against her nipple.  “Constantly.  Every night, even when
you were too young.”

That
was scandalously wrong.  Ty loved it.  “There were so many times I felt like I
needed something.  Like I was tight and waiting.  Even when I was younger, I
think that I felt you out there wanting me.  The connection.  You could have
come to me.”  Her imagination took over.  “One summer night, you show up and
just climbed into my bed.  I’m sleeping, naked and wanting.  Not knowing that
it was you who I was missing.  So restless.  My body aching and hot…”  She
hesitated as the Air powers twirled faster with every word.

Ty
lived most of her life in her own head and, as a result, she had an incredibly
vivid imagination.  That was why she liked hearing about how much Gion had
desired her in the past.  She could picture it all.  Revisit those moments and
fix them.  See how they could have gone differently and how she might have
found him sooner.

Basically,
Ty had been spinning one of her fantasies out loud, not even thinking about it.

Only
now she realized that Gion liked fantasies, too.  He liked listening to Ty talk
about them.

Of
course, he would.  For all his biting sarcasm, Gion was as introverted as she
was.  He lived in his head, too, not sharing his thoughts with anyone.  Of
course, he’d respond to stories.  He liked books and libraries and ideas as
much as Ty.  They had so much in common.

A
very bold, scary idea came into her head.

Ty
opened her mouth.  Closed it again.  Then, forced herself to ask, “Gion, would
you let me touch you… more?”

He
froze for a beat.  Then, he lifted his head.  “What?”

“It’s
your turn.”  Ty pointed out.  “I can’t do what you did with your powers, but I
could,” she dropped her eyes, “I could use my hand.  Would you let me do that?”

“Oh
God.”  The words were a prayer.

Taking
that as a “yes,” she began unbuttoning his shirt, pretending she knew what the
heck she was doing.  “Think of it as another test.  Let’s see what my energy
does when I’m making you come.”

Gion’s
whole body jerked like it had been hit with an electrical current.  “I don’t
think it’s safe for you.”

“Nonsense.”
Ty stripped off his shirt.  “Experimentation is a key component of any research
plan.”  She ran a hand over his skin and smiled smugly when the Air energy got
heavier.  This was actually working.  “You have a very impressive chest.”

“Thanks.”
He cleared his throat.  Gion looked a little nervous.  “You don’t have to…”

“But,
I want to.  I’m new at it, is all.  Just help me and I’ll get it right.”  She
unzipped his pants and tugged them off, gathering her courage.  “You’re giving
consent, aren’t you?”  She asked, mainly just to stall for time.

Gion’s
answer was to grip her hand and slowly draw it down.  Ty’s eyes went wide as
she found the solid length of him.  He wrapped her fingers around his erection,
holding them in place for a beat, and then Gion let go.

“I’m
all yours.”  He got out.

Ty
liked that.  Like being in control.

Gion
could overpower her so easily, but he let her take charge.  His fists clenched
against the mattress, but he allowed her do whatever she wanted to his body.  Ty
was nothing if not thorough.  Her fingers traced over every inch of him, exploring
his shape.  Learning him.

“Jesus…”
His head fell back in surrender.

Ty
felt stupendously proud.  “It’s for science, Gion.”  She teased.

“So
you’ve said.  Marie Curie would do the same thing, I’m sure.  But, are you
feeling…?  Oh shit.”  The last of his resistance fell away like rain as
she tightened her grip on his manhood.  “Don’t stop.  Ty, don’t stop.”

“You
said that you fantasized about me touching you.”  Ty went on instinct, stroking
him up and down.  “Tell me how.”

Icy
blue eyes met hers.  “I just want you to see me.  Touch me and just… see
me.  That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

Ty
looked right at him.  “I see you.”  Her gaze stayed locked on him.  “Am I doing
this right?”

“God,
yes.”  His hand reverently smoothed over her hair.  “You’re sure that you don’t
want the human?”  Gion sounded like he still wasn’t convinced.

“I’m
very sure.  I only want you.”  Ty was interested in watching her hand move on
him, but she didn’t take her eyes off of Gion’s face.  She knew she
could make this next part work.  She knew she could make Gion want her
more than he’d ever wanted anyone.  Ty didn’t have a lot, but she’d always been
creative.  “Do know when I first knew that wanted you?  Honestly?”

His
mouth curved.  “Ten minutes ago, when I showed you that Air trick I invented?”

“No,
it was when the Reprisal attacked me in the police station… And you were just there.
You stood over me, so handsome and strong, and I wanted you.  It scared me, but
I wanted you.”

“I
wanted you, too.  You wouldn’t even touch me when I tried to help you up, but I
wanted you so badly.”

“I’m
touching you, now.”  Her grip got even tighter.

“You
are.”  Gion slammed a hand against the mattress, his jaw clenched.  “Ty, yes.
Just like that.”

Ty
was really, really enjoying this.  “I think I’m gonna make that my new
fantasy.  You saved me from the Reprisal and then you backed me up against the
wall, remember?”

“Yes.”
The tendons stood out in his neck.

“I’m
just going to pretend all the rest of people weren’t there and there wasn’t any
real danger.”  Ty’s love of racy novels took over.  “I’m going to pretend that
you pin against that wall and I let you.  I’m nervous, but I want you so much.
I know you’re going to take me.  I know you’re going claim me right there.  You
fought for me and protected me and now I’m yours.”

Gion
stared into her eyes.  “I would fucking die for you.”

“You’re
so big.”  Ty continued, spurred on by his obvious enjoyment.  “And you’re going
to take me against the wall, because you can.  No one can stop you.  I won’t
stop you.  You can have me whenever you want and I’ll let you.  You pull off my
clothes and I tell you to hurry.  I know you won’t stop until you’re deep
inside of me.”

Gion
swore dazedly.  “Where the hell did you learn to do this?”

Ty
hesitated, coming out of the safe, more aggressive, persona that the story gave
her.  “I just read a lot.  Not all of it’s textbooks.  Do you like it?”

“Are
you kidding?  Jesus, I knew I loved your brain.  Keep going.”

Ty
grinned, as turned on as he was.  She lowered her voice and sped up her hand.
“So, you lift me up and my legs go open.  I’m so ready.  I can’t move on my
own, because you have me trapped.  But, that okay.  I don’t want to get away.
I need you.  You’re pushing hard against me and I whisper, ‘Gion, take me.
Please.’”

“Fuck.”
His hand came up to clench in her hair and Ty knew he was close.  “Holy fuck,
you’re incredible.”

Learning
as she went, Ty responded to that positive review.  “I unzip your pants and
it’s taking so long.  I can’t wait.  I cry, ‘Gion, please.’  And you
finally tear my underwear off.  I’m wet and throbbing.  You watch me, seeing
how much I want you.  I’m pressed between the wall and you.  Hot and panting
and begging you to hurry.”

His
body arched towards her.  “Gaia.”  He was going to lose control any second.

Ty
pulled out the big guns.  “Then, you pause, right at the entrance to me.
Suddenly, you say that you’ll stop.  You say that you’ll find me someone else,
if I want.  I can have any man in the universe and he’ll take me against
the wall, hard and fast, just like I’m aching for.”

“Hold
on.”  Gion swallowed.  “Your fantasy can’t have…”

She
interrupted his complaint.  “And I say, ‘Gion, I only want you.  No one else
will ever do for me.  Only you.’”  Her fingernails grazed across him in
an erotic scratch and his whole body shook.  “And you sink into me, as deep as
you can go.  So deep.  I’m so tight and you’re so thick.  You’re taking
everything, marking me as yours.  I’m screaming your name, promising you
anything if only...”

“Ty.”
Gion came in a rush, his eyes squeezing shut.

The
Air energy slammed against her and Ty gasped in pleasure.  The Water powers
swirled under the pressure, lighting up her system like a Christmas tree.  Ty
felt Gion’s energy everywhere.  She let out a contented sigh as his power
pulled at her sensuously, whipping around her, inside and out.  The problem was
better with him coming, rather than her.  The Water powers didn’t feel so
chaotic and trapped.

But,
the block stayed in place.

“Jesus.”
Gion lay there for a second, breathing hard.  “I felt it that time.  When my
powers reached for you, something was in the way.”

“I
know.”  Ty felt wonderful despite the problems with her energy.  She was
utterly pleased with herself and her innate talent for sexual play.

For
once she hadn’t been too weak.

She’d
been brave enough to try seduction and it had worked.  She’d just driven the
biggest bogeyman in the Elemental realm to a rocketing orgasm.  With Gion around,
she could do anything.

“We
can fix the block.”  Ty had total confidence as she smiled at him.

Gion
didn’t respond to that.  He ran a palm through her hair.  Ty could read the
concern behind his eyes and decided to distract him, again.

“You’re
supposed to be telling me what a natural skill I have for seduction.”

He
gave her a baffled look, still trying to get oxygen.  “You can’t possibly
have any doubts about that.”

Ty
nodded.  “Sure, I can.  I never did that before.  I’d like some feedback.”

Gion
gave a short, beautiful laugh.  “God, you do love compliments.

“I
was an exceptional student in school.”  Ty retorted.  “All overachievers like
to hear what a good job they’ve done.  That’s why they’re overachievers.  You
should know that.   You’re the biggest perfectionist in the world.”

“No,
I’m not.”

“Of
course, you are!  And don’t distract me.  Come on, out with the flowering
praising.”

“Alright.
On a scale of one to ten, you were about a four.”  He kissed her nose.  “Sadly,
I think I’ll have to spend a lot of time tutoring you.  Don’t worry, I’m up for
it.”

“Be
serious.”

“Just
think up some more stories for me to enjoy.  Jesus, I can’t believe how good
that was.”  He wiped a palm over his face.  “I never imagined you could do
that.  You have a gift, Ty.  If you ever share it with anyone else, I’ll send a
pack of tornados and they will rip him apart.  I swear to Christ.”

That
was better.  “And?”

“Well…”
Gion ran his hands over her body as if memorizing the feel of her skin.  “I
believe I already used the word ‘incredible.’”

“And?”

Gion
arched a brow.  “Very incredible?”

Ty
rolled her eyes.  “Forget it.”  She flopped her head back down on his chest and
sighed.  “You’re impossible.”

Gion
rubbed his chin against her curls.  “If I could have any woman in the universe,
I’d still only want you.”  He paraphrased soberly.  “And that’s the truth.  No
one else will ever do for me.  You don’t need to worry about that, Ty.
There’s only you.  For me, there is only you.”

“Really?”
Ty drew back to stare at him.

He
gazed at her, dark, and solemn, and unwittingly the most romantic man Ty ever
knew.  “Really.”

Ty
realized that what she felt for Gion was growing to fill her entire soul.
“Would you just lay here with me?”  She asked, confused by this huge twist in
her lonely, predictable life.  “Would you just hold me, for a while?”

Gion
dropped his forehead against hers.  “Forever.”

Chapter Fifteen

There has never been
any great talent without an element of madness.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca-
‘On Tranquility of Mind’

Chason
only said one word when Raiden entered his study: “Why?”

“Ty,
of the Water House is vital to our world.”

Chason
ground his jaw together.  He looked over at Lansing, taking in his furious,
betrayed expression.  By saving Ty, Raiden had just become enemy number one on
the Reprisal’s internal shit-list.  Why did all the best soldiers have to be so
crazy?

“Since
we plan to destroy the world any day now, I’ll need a better explanation than
that.”  Chason told Raiden through clenched teeth.

Raiden’s
face revealed nothing.  “Another reason?  I would never dishonor my Match, and
kill a defenseless woman.  No matter what.”

His
Match.

Chason
gasped in a lungful of air at the words.

Inside
Chason, there was an empty spot where Mara lived.  His heart was gone, but he
could sometimes still feel it like a phantom limb.  Sometimes, he remembered
his Match and the man he was with her.  In those moments, Chason saw through
his fog of grief and rage.  It hurt like a physical blow to remember, but he
could feel her where his heart had once been.

As
the insanity pulled him further down, the small movements of Chason’s missing
heart grew less and less frequent.  Silence echoed, beckoning him to forget
her.  At one time Chason would have welcomed the stillness.  Now, he knew that
the tiny connection to Mara was all that kept him sane.

When
a Phase was decapitated their head sometimes stayed alive for a period of
seconds afterwards.  Disconnected from the body, the nerve endings in the brain
still retained the impulses to blink and move.  Maybe even to think and see and
hear.  To live for a heartbeat of time after death.  To feel everything and
nothing.

It
was impossible for most people to understand what the head experienced.

But,
Chason knew.

That’s
what his entire life was, now.

He
was the severed head, realizing that it was already dead, but still moving.
His heart had detonated like a supernova after Mara’s death.  The light and
force of it lasting long after the star itself was gone.  Once the remnants of
the explosion faded, Chason’s heart would go completely still.  The decapitated
head would join the rest of the body.

The
time for that drew closer.  The darkness of insanity loomed beneath him,
crawling under his feet.  It kept pace with him, staying out of sight, but
always there, peering through the floorboards… waiting.  A skeleton of bleached
bones and terribly empty smiles.

When
the phantom beats of Chason’s heart finally stopped --when Mara went away-- the
skeleton would drag him down into the pit.

But,
it wouldn’t be today.

For
better or worse, today Chason still felt her.

Raiden’s
blunt words caused something to happen inside Chason’s chest.  Memories.  His
Match and Ty, of the Water House reading Ismena under a tree.  Ty, so
young she fit on Mara’s lap, as the pages of the book turned.  Mara laughing
and hugging her close.  Happy.

Fuck.

“This
is war!”  Lansing bellowed.  “You don’t even have a Match, Raiden!  You’ve never
had one.”

“I
have a Match.”  The words were simple and flat.  “Everyone does.  I’ll never be
with her, but I won’t be a man who she’d hate.”

Chason
heard the music, again.  The Andrew Sisters, singing in perfect three part
harmony, filled his head.  I’ll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time.
Mara’s favorite song.  It cut through him like screams from Hell.

Chason’s
eyes squeezed shut.

“You
disobeyed a direct order.”  Lansing insisted.  “Chason said that Ty was to be
brought to him and, instead, you gave her back to Gion!”

“Ty
belongs with Gion.  I saw that today.”

“You
deserve execution, you traitor!”  Lansing turned to Chason, clearly expecting
his commander to order Raiden dragged away in plastic restraints.

Chason
looked at Raiden, wondering if he even could execute him.  The Radiation
House certainly hadn’t had much luck.  “What did you see?”

Radioactive
green eyes caught his.  “I’ve seen us at a crossroads.”  Raiden’s voice took on
the far-away tone of someone gazing onto a vast well of secrets.  “If Ty, of
the Water House dies in this battle, the universe will fall.”

“That’s
the fucking plan, you idiot!”  Lansing roared.

“If
the woman survives, though, you’ll have what you really want.” Raiden kept his
attention on Chason.  “I don’t understand the vision, but it’s there.”

“Parald
dies, if Ty lives?”  Chason would spare Ty if it meant destroying Parald.  He
didn’t really want Ty hurt, anyway.  If Raiden said they couldn’t kill Ty and
Parald, then Chason believed him.  Raiden’s prophesies were always right.
Given a choice, Chason would rather Parald suffer than punish Gion.

“I
don’t know what happens to the Air House.  Not exactly.”  Raiden shook his
head.  “But, I’ve seen what you really want.  The only way to have it is to
keep Ty alive.”

“The
only thing I want is Parald dead.”

“No.”
Raiden intoned.  “It’s not.  Ty is vital to our world.  She’s the key for you
and you’re needed in the coming war.”

“The
fucking war’s about to end!”  Lansing screamed.

Raiden
snorted, totally without humor.  “There’s always another war.”

Chason
ignored that.  The empty place in his chest pounded with some emotion he didn’t
recall as he surveyed Raiden’s utter assurance.  Raiden:  Fucking insane maniac
and the only Phase Chason listened to.  “What did you see?”  He whispered,
again.

Raiden
met his eyes dead-on.  “I’ve seen your Match returned to you.”

Seven
words that changed everything.

Chapter Sixteen

It is a strange thought, how
many of us had been storing up the elements of this catastrophe,

for how long a time, and
with how blind an ignorance of what we did.

Robert Louis Stevenson- ‘The
Master of Ballantrae’

Isaacs hurt and it scared him.

He’d lost a lot of blood.  The
sword wounds in his side and shoulder would take weeks to heal properly without
a doctor.  Since medical professionals weren’t exactly lying thick on the
ground in the Air Kingdom these days, there was no way he was going to have a
real high standard of care.  Isaacs had stitched himself up before, though.  He
could have handled that part.

This was far worse.

Isaacs couldn’t see.

When Lansing had blown the dirt and
glass particles into his eyes, it had caused real damage.  That sociopathic
Dust Phase had done something extra with the glass.  It wasn’t coming out.  It
scratched and throbbed every time Isaacs blinked.  A sense of panic filled him,
more horrifying than the pain.

His sight was all screwed up and,
in the Air House, that meant he was fucked.

Everything in his field of vision
had an unfocused halo around it.  He couldn’t possibly fight like this.  And,
if Isaacs couldn’t fight, then he didn’t have a place in Parald’s kingdom.

Amarna shined a light into his left
eye and Isaacs did his best not to cringe.  It felt like a hat pin sinking
through his pupil and straight into his brain.

“Isaacs, can you tell how many
fingers I’m holding up, right now?”

No.  He couldn’t.  He saw nothing
by a flesh colored blur.

Shit.

Shit.

Shit.

“Two.”  He said, keeping his voice
confident despite the pounding of his heart.

Isaacs knew from her total silence
that he’d guessed wrong.

An
annoyed sigh came from the doorway, telling Isaacs that Parald was still
lurking around.  “Gion never went blind.”  He announced sourly.

“I’m
not blind!”

“Isaacs, I think that you’re really in trouble here.”
Amarna murmured.

He locked his jaw against the
string of vicious curses.  Amarna wasn’t an expert.  She was a fucking maid.
Her uncle might’ve been the old king, Seneca, but that hardly made her an
ophthalmologist.

He needed a real doctor.

Isaacs sure wasn’t going to call up
Freya for medical attention, though, so his options were pretty damn limited.
Why the hell had so many doctors died in the Fall?  Why the hell didn’t the Air
House have anyone qualified to help him?

Shit!

He got to his feet, shoving passed
Amarna and heading back towards his bathroom.  He tripped over something as he
went.  It might have been a boot.  Isaacs couldn’t see it.  The sink was still
filled with water from his last attempt to flush out the glass.  He dunked his
head in the basin, again, rapidly blinking his aching eyes, praying that
something would happen.

Even before the Fall, he’d never
had any faith.  Not in God, or Gaia.  Certainly, not in Parald.  Not even in
himself.  But, still he prayed.

Isaacs had nothing but his work.
He was a solider and if he couldn’t do that, then he was nothing.  He
wouldn’t have anything left.  The Air House didn’t tolerate weakness or Phases
that couldn’t pull their own weight.

And it wasn’t like anyone was going
to keep him around for his damn charm.

Isaacs pulled his head out of the
water and ran a palm over his face.  He tried to focus in the mirror.  Tried to
see himself.  Tried to see anything except the blur of colors.

Oh… shit.

Ty should have let him die.  If the
Water energy hadn’t helped him --If she hadn’t pulled him away from Lansing’s
blade-- then, this would be over.  Isaacs would be dead.  He’d rather be dead
than useless.

Which was pretty convenient,
because his fearless leader was going to kill him.

“Can he be fixed?”  Parald demanded
from the outer room.  The son-of-a-bitch didn’t even bother to lower his voice.

“I don’t know, sire.”  Amarna
pitched her tone at a stage whisper, but Isaacs still heard her.  Maybe his
other senses were already kicking into hyper-drive.  “He needs a real doctor.
We heal quickly, but it’s only been a few hours…”

“I don’t want to hear fucking excuses!”
Parald interrupted.  “Jesus, this is the Air House!  We don’t baby our
warriors.  If he can’t even get his eyes to work, he’s a fucking disgrace to
his uniform!”

“He needs help, sire.  A few days
rest might…”

“I don’t run a fucking charity
ward.  If he can’t pull his weight as a soldier, he can work in the kitchens.
Send him downstairs.  I’ll find a way to get my Match without his bungling.”
The door slammed as Parald stomped off, screaming for Saxon.

Isaacs dropped his head forward.
Water dripped from his blond hair down the line of his jaw.

This was the end.

Not only had Isaacs not
brought Ty to Parald… not only had Job and Gion sent all their asses packing…
not only had they pissed off the entire Elemental realm to an even deeper
extent with the raid on the Agora… but now Isaacs was useless, too.

Parald didn’t tolerate useless
people around him.

Sooner or later, Parald would have
him killed.  Until then, Isaacs would be relegated to the kitchens, serving the
men who should have been following his commands.

Humiliated, hurting, blind… And
soon dead.

In
the Air House, there was no feeling sorry for yourself or asking for a
timeout.  You had to take the hit, stand up, and keep going.  Somehow, Isaacs would
regain his sight, but he knew better than to try and tell Parald that.  He had
to think of a way out of this all on his own.

Isaacs didn’t want to die.

He especially didn’t want to give
that asshole Parald the satisfaction of killing him.  He would see,
again.  Isaacs wouldn’t die with nothing but distorted shadows around him.  He
wanted to die like a soldier.  He wanted to die killing Lansing, of the Dust
House.

And possibly Gion.

In a way, Gion had really
done this to him.  And now that bastard was living the
sweet life with eyes that fucking worked.  Safe in the Water Kingdom,
Gion could kick back and raft around swimming pools or whatever the hell they
did in that bohemian Shangri-la.

Isaacs
had never actually been to the Water Kingdom, but he envisioned it as something
out of a “Visit the Mediterranean” travel poster.  Sun bleached blue sky, breezy
cabanas on the sand, and perfect ocean views in every direction.  Gion could From
Here to Eternity up and down the beach with his curvy little red head and,
meanwhile, Isaacs would be scrubbing dishes.

Or
maybe even worse.

Parald
might not let a blind guy near the Air House china.  Who the hell knew what
kind of degrading plans were in store for Isaacs, now.

No.

He
squeezed his useless eyes shut and took a deep breath.

No.

Parald
wouldn’t get away with that.

Isaacs’
mind went to murder.  Killing Parald would solve his most immediate problem,
but there would certainly be some real challenges with it, too.  Not being able
to see well enough to aim for Parald’s neck, for instance.  Also, if
decapitating that asshole was really an option, Gion would have already done
it, right?  The fact that Parald still had his head attached made Isaacs
suspicious that he’d missed a memo somewhere along the line.

So
how else could he get through this?

Isaacs
thought back to the question he’d asked himself sixty times a day as a young
warrior: What would Gion do?

What
would Gion do if he’d been blinded and humiliated and marked for death?

Easy.

He’d
survive.  He’d get the hell away from the Air Kingdom.

Amnesty.

From
out of nowhere, Isaacs heard Ty’s voice back in the Agora:

Isaacs,
if you help me, I can get you out of the Air House.  I’ll give you amnesty in
the Water Kingdom.

Well,
he had helped her, right?  And he had information he could offer her,
too.

The
Water Phases were a bunch of bleeding heart, Kumbaya-ing, “let’s give our food
to crippled orphans,” do-gooders.  Like something out of the It’s a Small
World ride, where all the little robots sang in ear bleedingly cheerful
unison.  While the Air House children drilled on mathematics and memorized that
damn Be the Perfect Air Phase book, the Water Phase kids probably went
on nature hikes for pretty seashells and danced around maypoles.

Isaacs
had always found the Water House pathetic.  After suddenly becoming a
crippled orphan, though, they suddenly seemed a hell of a lot more useful.

He
pushed away from the sink and stalked back into his bedroom.

Amarna
was still in there, cleaning up the eye care supplies.  Isaacs felt her looking
at him when he entered the room.  Felt her pity.

Fuck
her.

The
world was about to find out that Isaacs, of the Air House still had some tricks
up his sleeve.

“We’re
gonna talk.”  He said flatly.  “Now.  I’ve been in charge of security
here for a week and I already know about the rebels.”  Which meant that Gion
must’ve known about them, too.  Under other circumstances, Isaacs would have
held that against the dickhead.  Now, it seemed like Gion’s switching loyalties
had done him a favor.

“The
rebels?”

Damn,
she was a cool little thing.  “The rebels that you’re organizing against
Parald.”

“I
think the pain must be confusing…”

“Shut-up,
alright?  Jesus!  Do you think I give a rat’s ass about you and your crusade?
Kill Parald, don’t kill him, I don’t care anymore.  This is about me.”

Silence.

“You’re
gonna help me.”  Isaacs continued, spurred on by her stillness.  “Because, if
you don’t, I’ll tell him who the leader of the rebels is and we’ll see which of
us he kills first.”

“You’re
not his favorite person right now.”

“Maybe,
but at least I’m not a servant.”  Yet.  “Which one of us do you think
he’ll believe?  I mean, do you really think he’ll even take a chance
that I might be right?”

More
silence.

“What
do you want?”  Amarna asked after another long pause.

Isaacs
smiled grimly.  “I want to talk to Ty, of the Water House.”

Chapter Seventeen

To find
the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating;

to be
refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... these are some of the

rewards of
the simple life.

John
Burroughs- ‘Leaf and Tendril’

“So,
once we get rid of all those houses there,” Gion pointed out over the edge of
the porch to the empty town beyond, “we open up our line of sight.  You see?
No one will be able to use the buildings as cover, if they try to get into the
palace.”

Brokk
followed Gion’s gaze and then looked down at the map of the Water Kingdom
spread out over the wrought iron picnic table.  “Your father was a Wood Phase?”

Gion
frowned at the question.  “Yes.”

“I
can tell.”  Brokk stepped back from the table.  “You are very skilled at
security.”

Gion
didn’t know what to make of that.  No one in the Air House gave compliments for
simply doing an adequate job.

Behind
them, the balcony doors stood open.  Someone was playing Guns N’ Roses’ Welcome
to the Jungle inside the palace.  The sound of it blasted out amid the
gently billowing curtains.  Anywhere else, rock music and pastel castles would
have seemed strange.  Since he’d come to the Water Kingdom, though, Gion had
become immune to odd.

“It’s
good that you’re here.”  Brokk allowed.  “I can’t conceive of the many defensive
measures for the House that you can.”  He shook his head.  “It takes so much
tedious planning.  That’s difficult for me.  I am more… direct.”

“You
helped protect Ty.”  To Gion, that was all that mattered.

“I
try to protect Ty.  She makes it very difficult.”

Gion
certainly couldn’t dispute that.  “You just keep doing what you’re doing and
I’ll do the rest.”

“Agreed.
I’ll continue installing more of the plastic windows, while you do this boring
paperwork, then.”  Brokk smiled.  “It’s a pleasure to have you working for me,
Gion.”  He gave a thumbs-up sign and headed back into the palace.

Working
for him?

Gion
scowled.

Like
hell.

Muttering
to himself, Gion went back to his “tedious planning.”  Using a ruler, he
ruthlessly crossed out half the buildings on the map.  With three Water Phases
left in the universe, the deserted town was a liability.  The music switched to
I Will Survive and Gion rolled his eyes.  Disco.  Of course.  Muttering
to himself, he marked through all the obsolete structures with thick, black
strokes of his marker.

“That’s
the church you just obliterated.”  Ty said from beside him in a dry voice.

Gion’s
head jerked around to stare at her in surprise.  This tiny woman was the only
creature in the universe who could sneak up on him.  “You’re supposed to be in
bed.”  He’d left Ty sleeping in her room.  Well, first he’d held her for an hour,
just watching her sleep.  Then, he’d forced himself to get back to work.

Gion
had never taken a break in the afternoon before, but he didn’t regret the lapse
in duty one little bit.  Seeing Ty stretched open on her bed like that, crying
out his name as the Air powers rocked her to completion had been the greatest
moment of his life.

“Are
you busy?”  She asked nervously.  “I mean, if I’m interrupting...”

“No,
you’re not interrupting.  But, Freya said not supposed to get up for the rest
of the day.  You have a head injury, Ty.”

Ty
murmured something he didn’t quite catch.

“I
beg your pardon?  What’s your wonderful excuse for ignoring doctor’s
orders to stay in safely horizontal?”

“I
said, I missed you.”

Gion’s
brows soared.  No one had ever said that to him before.

Turquoise
eyes flicked up to him and then away.

The
girl was a mass of contradictions.

It
amazed Gion that Ty could’ve been so bold in the bedroom and so shy out of it.
Before, naked and smiling, she’d been talking Gion through a personalized
sexual fantasy and now she wasn’t meeting his gaze.

Gion
had spent the past few months reading everything he could on psychology.  He’d
been researching the best ways to help Ty with her panic attacks, but he’d also
learned quite a bit about how people thought.

Ty’s
self-confidence was shot and she constantly second guessed herself.  Her
insecurities made her pull back, for fear of rejection.

Gion
could relate to that.  He used cold sarcasm to keep people away, because they
never accepted him.  Ty used her shyness to keep people away because her
self-esteem was so damaged.  It amounted to the same thing.  But, he’d be
damned if he let Ty hide in her shell.  If Gion was working to be less
autocratic and cold, then she had to keep talking and moving forward,
towards him.

It
was only fair.

“I
missed you, too.”  Gion said truthfully.  And not just today, either.  Gion had
missed Ty desperately every day since Clea’s recital eleven years before.  Ty
had been too young to approach, then.  Not even Gion would break that law.
But, walking away when he knew Ty was his had just about killed him.
“You’re supposed to stay in bed, though.”  He wanted her resting and healing.

The
block with her energy worried him.

A
lot.

Ty
didn’t respond to that, but she edged closer to him.  She’d changed back into
her clothes, but she hadn’t put her shoes on.  Even her toenails were feminine,
decorated with peppermint colored polish.  The woman must stay up nights, thinking
of ways to torture him.

“How
do you feel, angel?”

“Fine.”

“Do
you want to see what I’m doing?”  Gion suggested, pulling out a patio chair for
her.  Whenever he saw Ty, Gion’s had the overpowering instinct to lure her
closer.

Plus,
maybe this way he could get her to sit down.  Whatever was going on her with
her powers scared the hell out of him.  He needed to talk with Freya himself
and, until then, Gion considered Ty more delicate than spun glass.

Ty
slipped past him, taking the seat.  She studied the map.  “You want to raze my
kingdom, huh?”

“It’ll
all be in my report.”  Gion couldn’t stop himself from running a hand over the
streak at her temple.  “You sure you’re alright?”

“Yes.
I’m just tired of being in bed.”  She leaned into his palm and Gion’s heart
melted.

“Alright.”
He relented.  At least, here he could keep an eye on her.  He took the chair
next to her and began explaining his intentions to control-burn half the houses
in the Water Kingdom.

Ty
clearly wasn’t convinced.  “Most of these buildings are millennia old.  The
Elemental historians will hate you if you tear them down.”

“They
all hate me, anyway.”

“But,
these buildings are part of our heritage.  They’re art.”

“Well,
they’re artistically blocking my line of sight.”

“We
can’t destroy art, Gion.”  The sun shone off her hair, making the color an indescribable
shade of golden fire.  “Not even for security.”

“The
houses will probably be destroyed, anyway, if the kingdom’s invaded.  Which is
what my plan will help prevent.”

“Maybe,
but the ends don’t always justify the means.”

Gion
absolutely didn’t believe that.  And he wasn’t giving up on his perfectly
reasonable plan to improve the Water House defenses.  “No one even lives in
those buildings, Ty.”

“Not
right now, but I have high hopes that more Air Phases will come here for
amnesty.  We could fix those houses and…”

“More
Air Phases?”  Gion didn’t like the sound of that.  “Who?”

“I
don’t know all their names.  Tharsis is handling their emails.”

“No
one comes here without me clearing them.”  Gion added a note of that on his
clipboard.  “Anyway, those houses will need a lot of work before anyone can
live in them.  It would be easier to tear them down and start over, at this
point.”

“Easier
isn’t necessarily better.  The buildings are special.  They were here before us
and they have a right to exist.”

God,
she was sentimental little thing.  Gion leaned forward and gestured with the
marker, tapping it against the map.  “Look, you get to keep all this over
here.”

Ty
frowned.  “Those buildings weren’t built by my ancestors, three thousand years
ago.  Burn them down, if you want to remodel so badly.  Let me have
these,” she gestured to the neat row of  X-ed out Elemental landmarks, “and you
can destroy all the newer buildings over there.”

“The
newer ones aren’t in my line of sight, though.  That won’t do me any good.”

“Well,
leave all of them alone, then.”

Gion
eyed her in exasperation.  “The novelty of having you argue with me is wearing
off.”

Ty
blinked, obviously unsure whether he was serious or not.

“I’m
teasing you, angel.”  Gion’s mouth curved.

“Oh.”
She relaxed.  “Good.  Because, I won’t just let you have your way all the
time.”

“Most
of the time?”

She
laughed.  It was a beautiful sound.  “Not about torching my historic
architecture.  No.”  Ty looked out over the deserted kingdom for a moment and
shook her head.  “My parents would never forgive me.  They treasured our
commitment to art and culture.  This used to be such a beautiful land.”

“It
still is.”

“I
know, but it used to be alive.  It’s hard to see it so quiet, now, instead of
vital and energetic.  The baby will help bring some of that back.”  Ty smiled
at him.  “Thank you, for watching over Nia at the Home Depot, by the way.  I
knew that I could trust you to protect my family.”

Gion
lifted a shoulder in a shrug, embarrassed by the praise.  He still needed to go
kill Chason, but he didn’t want to spoil the mood by bringing that up.  He
wouldn’t leave Ty alone until he was sure she was well, so it could wait.
Every time the girl wandered out of his sight, she got into trouble.

“It’s
not all quiet.”  He pointed out.  The song inside the palace had changed
to Kiss the Girl from The Little Mermaid.  Never let it be said
that the Water Phases didn’t have eclectic tastes.

Nia
was probably playing DJ.  Gion had checked on her earlier and she’d been
painting a room upstairs a shocking shade of Barbie’s Acid-Trip Pink.  Nia
wanted him dead, but Gion didn’t let that stop him from doing his job.  Ty
asked him to watch out for her family, so once an hour they all got head-counted,
whether they liked it or not.

“Well,
compared to what it was like once, the silence is like a tomb sometime.”  Ty
endeavored to look innocent.  “You know, we could hold concerts here, again.
Live music would liven things up and you could play…”

“No.”

“But,
you have such a gift…”

“No.”
Gion would eat razor blades for the woman, but he wasn’t going to do that.  No
way in hell.

Ty
made an exasperated face.  “Fine.  Be a jerk.  Anyway, I’m not going to rip
down huge chucks of my niece’s kingdom, before she even gets here, so….”  The
fountain in the courtyard was visible from the patio and it seemed to catch
Ty’s attention.

It
was the fountain that she’d almost died in front of.

Gion
glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his heartbeat speeding up.  He
wasn’t sure what Ty remembered about the mob attacking her during the Fall, but
she clearly didn’t recall his presence.

Gion
was sort of relieved by that.

He
didn’t really want Ty to know he’d been there.  At one time, he’d thought that
she might remember and realize that he wasn’t entirely bad.  But, now that Ty
seemed comfortable with him, Gion didn’t want to bring up any memories that
might rock the boat.  The way she just stared at the cascading water broke his
heart.

“Ty.”
He said quietly.

She
jolted, her head whipping around to face him.  “I’m sorry, what?”

“I
can get rid of that fountain for you, too.”  He’d blow the damn thing into dust
if it bothered her.

Silence
for a beat and then, “I was almost decapitated next to the fountain.  I thought
it would be the last thing I’d ever see in this world.”  Ty sounded far away.
“It was night, and water was pouring down, and I thought, ‘I used to play in
that fountain when I was little girl.’  I wish those were still the memories I
had when I looked at it.  Nia and I playing in the water.”

Gion
jaw tightened, wanting to kill those fucking rioters, all over again.  About
fifty mental health textbooks agreed that discussing traumatic memories was the
best way to deal with them, though, so Gion took her suddenly willingness to
share with him as a very positive sign.  He tried to give her an even bigger
opening.  “What happened to you during the Fall was…”

“I
don’t want to talk about it, anymore.”  Ty interrupted, giving her head a
clearing shake.

“It’ll
only get better if you share with someone, though, angel.”

“It’s
over and I don’t want talk about it.”  Ty repeated.  She’d done the same thing
when he asked about Parald trying to rape her.  Just completely shut down.

Gion
couldn’t push.  He had to coax and that would take time.

Ty
watched him stubbornly.

He
let out a frustrated breath.  “Alright.”  Gion went back to his security
plans.  “Well, in other news, I replaced that door I accidently broke with
Cross’ thick head.”

“Does
it match the others?”  She seized on the subject change.

“Others
what?”

“The
other French doors in the living room.”

“No,
but they’re all getting switched out, too.  The new doors are composite, three
inches thick.  There’s no way any Elemental can get passed them.”

Ty’s
eyebrows climbed.  “Can you see through them?  Are they French doors?”

“No.
I think they’re black.”  Or grey.  Gion didn’t care about the color, so he
couldn’t really remember.

“We’re
not putting big, black doors in my living room!  How will the sun get in?”

“That’s
the least of my worries.  They’ll keep Chason out.  That’s what’s
important.”

“No,
Gion.  Lord.”  Ty’s cheek came over to rest on his shoulder as she chuckled.
“To think, I was hoping this security job would keep you out of trouble.”
She jerked back as if she suddenly realized what she’d done.  “I’m sorry.  Do
you mind if I put my head on you?”

“No.”
Gion tugged even closer to him.

Smiling,
she settled against him, again.

All
These Things That I’ve Done played from Nia’s
stereo.  Gion preferred classical music, but this song he almost liked.  He
rubbed his jaw against the top of Ty’s hair, quiet for a long moment.  He never
thought he could have this with her.

Since
he discovered the energy connection, Gion had fostered the hope that he could
make her want him.  But, this was a whole different kind of intimacy.

How
could she ever think that he wouldn’t want her touching him?

Ty
liked the security of actually hearing everything out loud.   She wanted
assurances that she was making the right moves and that their relationship was
reciprocal.  Which meant that Gion had to be more open with her about his
feelings.

A
basketball with a low IQ would have noticed by now that Gion was insanely in love
with her, but Ty apparently needed more than that.  Maybe she’d feel more
secure if he explained that this connection went so much deeper than his desire
for her.  Sex was only a part of his yearning for Ty.

Just
the fact that she’d come looking for him on the patio was Ty reaching out.

Now,
Gion had to do the same.

“Ty?”

“Umm?”

“You
make me feel peaceful.”  He inhaled the strawberry scent of her hair.  “Even
when you’re a pain-in-the-ass.”

Ty
turned her face to look up at him.  “Really?”

“It’s
not just about me wanting to take you right here on this table.  Which I do.
It’s about me just wanting to be near you.  Being with you makes me happy.
Everything about you makes me happy.”

It
went beyond happiness, really, to joy.  She made Gion whole.  For eleven years,
Ty gave Gion a sense of purpose and contentment.  Before Ty, he’d been alone.
Even when she’d been completely beyond his reach, Ty remained the tranquil,
clean place in his mind.  At moments when he was tired and lost, Gion thought
of Ty and he kept going.

She
looked so impossibly beautiful when she smiled.  Innocence and mischief and
pleasure.  “I like being with you, too.”

“Good.”
Outstanding, actually.  That was his whole mission in life.  But, Gion
was trying to keep this simple and clear, so there’d be no misunderstandings.
“Don’t ever be worried that I don’t want you near me.  You always
have consent to touch me, understand?”

“Yeah,
but…”

“Always,
Ty.  And I’ll always be glad to see you.”  He continued firmly.  “When
you come looking for me, I want to be found.  No matter what I’m doing,
I’d rather be doing it with you.”  He hesitated.  “Except fighting.  Especially
with swords.  If I’m doing that with someone, stay back.  And, well, Tharsis
tells me that it’s my night to cook dinner.  That will be mortifying, so I’d
rather you not see it.”

Ty
gazed at him for a beat.  Then, she leaned up to kiss him, her mouth gliding
against his like a gentle rain.

Gion
groaned at the taste of her and resisted the urge to take the kiss to another
level.  Whenever Ty initiated things, Gion’s Air energy went particularly nuts.
She wanted him.  He reveled in that.  And this was the first time she’d ever
kissed him in public, where people might see.  Ty wasn’t trying to hide their
connection.  That sent heat rushing through Gion like a cyclone.

“Ty.”
He whispered, when she pulled back.

“Yes?”

He
fingered her vibrant hair, at ease for the first time in his life.  With Ty
sitting here next to him, Gion could finally relax.  “Nothing.  I just wanted
to say your name.”

Something
warm lit her face.  “You are such a romantic man.  I love that about you.”

No
one, in the entire known and unknown universes combined, had ever claimed such
an insane thing about Gion, of the Air House.  It was so completely
out-of-the-blue bizarre that he just gaped at her for a second.  “Romantic?”

Ty
bobbed her head.  “You say such gorgeous things to me.  You’re not just a
musician, you’re also a poet.”  She beamed like she really believed that.

For
Ty, Gion wished that he actually could be those things.  He wished he was the
good man that she longed for.  “Angel,” he said, sadly, “I’m not really like
that.  I’m sorry.  It’s too late for me.”

She
looked right into his eyes and Gion realized that Ty saw him.

His
pulse started pounding in panic.  He’d always dreamed that she’d actually see,
but now it terrified him.  What if she didn’t like what she saw?  How could
she like what she saw?  What if she’d only accept some romantic, musician guy?
What the hell would Gion do, then?

Besides
kill that poetical bastard.

Gion
automatically tried to look away from the crystal clear purity of her eyes.

Ty’s
hand came up to touch his jaw, keeping his gaze locked on hers.  “What do you
think you’re like, Gion?”  She asked gently.

“A
murderer.”  The word was out before he could censor it.

“You
are not a murderer.”  Her tone was unequivocal.

“I
kill people.”

“That
doesn’t make you a murderer.”

“Of
course, it does.”  Jesus, did she want to discuss semantics?  “Do you have any
idea how many bodies I’ve left in my wake?  You haven’t seen what I’ve done.”
The one good part of not being Ty’s Match was there would never be a
memory exchange.  She’d never look into his past and witness his sins
firsthand.

“You’ve
killed men to protect me, Gion.  Reprisal soldiers.  I’ve seen that.”

“They
deserved it, though.”  Anyone who touched Ty deserved an even worse death than
Gion gave them.  He didn’t regret killing them, at all.  “Too many people didn’t
deserve what I did to them.”  Addom, eternally nine years old and standing
on that playground, flashed into his mind.  The kid’s body falling to the dirt.

Gion
cringed.

Ty
made a soft sound.  “You can’t keep punishing yourself for mistakes you’ve
made.  I don’t see you as a killer.  I never will.  I see something better
in you.  I see who you really are, not what you did.  Can’t you try and
see that, too?”

Gion
would do anything for her, but he had no idea how to do that.  “The ‘better’
that you see in me is all you.  It’s the feelings that you create
inside me.”

“No,
they’re your feelings, Gion.  They come from inside of you.”  She
laid a palm flat on his chest.  “There’s a sweet, romantic part of you that you
share with me and no one else.  Not even yourself.”

Gion
would have kept trying to get her to see reason, but Tharsis came wondering out
interrupting them.

“Guy,
dude, I’m starving.  Shouldn’t you be slaving over a hot stove?”

Gion
flashed him a glare, jolting out of the spell that Ty had been casting around
him.  “Go away.”

Nia
was playing 9 to 5, now.  First disco and now Dolly Parton.  Ty must
have told Nia about Gion’s musical aversions.  The Shadow Queen was not a
subtle woman.

Thar
ignored Gion’s less than enthusiastic welcome.  He hoisted himself onto the
railing around the patio.  “So, what are we doing that can’t wait until after
dinner?”

“Gion
and I are arguing.”  Ty cheerfully announced.  “He’s being stubborn.  He’ll see
that I’m right, though.”

Gion
made an “umm” sound.  “Tharsis, before you get distracted by anything shiny, I
need to review all the amnesty requests from the Air House.”

“I’m
doing the reviews.”

“I’ll
do them better.”

Tharsis
arched a brow.

“Thar
always does a good job with researching things like that.”  Ty volunteered
loyally.  “He was the top professor at the university before the Fall.  He
understands people.”

There
was an insult in there someplace.  “And I don’t?”

“Truthfully?”
Ty scrunched up her face.  “No.  You’ll just deny everybody who asks for
amnesty and not even try to understand them.”

Gion’s
eyes narrowed.  She actually had a point with that.  He didn’t want anyone else
coming into his new home.  It wasn’t safe.  What if Parald sent some Air Phase
spies to the Water Kingdom and they tried to steal Ty?  Gion didn’t see a
single upside to inviting more people here.  “Giving amnesty is an unnecessary
risk.”

“Tell
me about it.”  Tharsis deadpanned.  “But, I’ll be ruthlessly discriminating
with visas.  Not to worry, Guy.  Air Phases will be sobbing and hating me
forever for heartlessly excluding their tired, poor, yearning to breathe free
asses.  And my real goal is to break up some families.”

“Air
Phases don’t have families.  At least not the way you understand the concept.”
Gion saw that Tharsis wasn’t going to hand over the vetting job to him,
though.  Not when Ty was backing the idea that Gion lacked empathy or
compassion or whatever.  Pick your battles.  “Before you start giving
anyone amnesty, at least let me see the final list of names, then.”  He’d still
make sure no one even slightly objectionable got into the Water Kingdom.  He’d
just veto them at the end of the process.

Tharsis
snorted.

Ty
was a lot more encouraging.  “That seems fair.  See, Gion?  You can compromise
with me and we’re both happy.”

Gion
wasn’t impressed with that subtle segue.  “I’m not compromising about those
buildings, Tritone.  They all need to come down.”

She
pouted, which was astonishingly adorable.  “Gion wants to rip out all the
historic buildings in the square, Thar.  He has it all planned out.  That
should make you happy.”

“Seriously?”
Tharsis glanced at the map.  “Great!  If you get rid of those God-awful ugly
houses for me, you’re gonna be my favorite Water Phase in town.”

Finally,
a voice of reason.

Gion
forgot about his urge to send Tharsis right of the edge of the porch with one
strong gust of Air and wound up nodding at the asshole.  “Exactly.  Notice how
they block the line of sight.”  Gion sent Ty a pointed look.  “You see?  He
understands that I’m right.”

“We’re
not getting rid of those buildings.”  She reiterated.

“What
about just the big ones?”  Gion tried.

“No!”

Gion
sighed.

“Aaannnnd...
He’s already whipped.”  Tharsis rolled his eyes.  “I can’t believe you have so
little influence on the ladies, Guy.  Seriously.  It’s sad.”

Gion
had the bizarre realization that Tharsis was… joking with him.  He didn’t know
exactly what to say, so he looked over at Ty.

She
came to his rescue.  “Come on.”  Ty got to her feet and grabbed hold of his
hand.  “I’m done debating with you on an empty stomach.  Let’s go.”

Gion
willingly got to his feet, ready to follow Ty anyplace.  Especially, if it was
away from Tharsis.  “Where?”

“To
the kitchen.  Everyone’s hungry.  You said that you have no idea how to cook,
so I’ll help you.”

His
stomach dropped at the idea of producing edible food.  Gion hated doing
a less than a perfect job.  He had no idea how he could possibly pull this off
without looking like an idiot.  Air House soldiers didn’t cook.  Parald worked
in the kitchens when he was younger, so he considered any assignment there to
be a punishment worse than death.  Only the lowest servants handled the food
preparation.

That
was probably why Amarna always met with the Air House rebels in the kitchens.

She
thought it would be safe and she was right.  Oh, Gion knew that they gathered
there after dinners, Patrick Henry-ing about their oppression.  He just didn’t
really care what the anti-Parald factions plotted, so long as they never
actually endangered his waste-of-oxygen life.  At least, not for the next fifty
years or so.

Here
in the Water House cooking clearly wasn’t a punishment.  They seemed to take it
all in stride, so Gion didn’t see his new assignment as degrading, just…
scary.  Anything more complicated than bowls of tap water for dinner was out of
his culinary skill set.  He should have done the takeout thing.

“I
told you that I don’t want you to see me making an ass of myself, Ty.”

“Oh,
you’ll be fine.  I’ll be sous chef.”  She winked at him.  “It’ll be fun.”

Gion’s
resistance melted away under her smile.  Making an ass of himself meant
absolutely nothing compared to having Ty want to spend time with him.  Over the
past eleven years, there had been many moments where Gion would have gladly
given his life to have her sit next to him for just five minutes.

“Hey,
Guy.”  Tharsis called as Ty lead him away.  “Probably should set an extra
place, too.  We’re expecting a guest.”

Wonderful.

Job
must be arriving with a prepared audio-visual presentation on why Gion sucked.

“Really?”
Ty asked.  “Who’s coming?  Job?”

Tharsis
looked right at Gion and smirked.  “It’s a surprise.”

Chapter Eighteen

There can be but one element of human power; and that
element is man himself.

Monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy, are but creatures
of imagination.

Thomas Paine- ‘Rights of Man’

“I
don’t want him to just to die.  I want him to feel that he’s dying.”
Parald paced around the throne room.  “I want him to suffer for what he’s done
to me.”

“Of
course, sire.”  Saxon said obediently.  “Gion deserves to pay for all his
crimes and I’ll see that it’s done.”

Parald
gave a skeptical snort.

With
Isaacs stupid enough to go blind and Gion off fucking Parald’s Match,
Saxon was the only general left.  Lacking Gion’s powers or Isaacs’ hardnosed
loyalty, though, Saxon was definitely a step down on the flunky roaster.  Saxon
kept the other Air Phases in line, but against Gion…?  Not even Parald was
feeling confident about the outcome of that fight.

The
plan to separate Ty and Gion would work, though.  It had to.  Parald was
convinced about that.

But,
Parald still wanted Gion dead for his traitorous actions against the Air
Kingdom.  Parald enjoyed Saxon’s cruel streak.  No one came up with more
creative execution methods than that vicious son-of-a-bitch.  He had high hopes
that Saxon could redeem himself for not killing Gion yet, by killing
Gion in some horrific, nightmarish way now.

Parald
wanted Gion ripped apart by rabid tigers, or hacked to pieces by chainsaws, or chained
in plastic and left to starve to death.

He
frowned thoughtfully at that last idea.

Phases
could starve, given enough time.  Gion could be wrapped in thick plastic chains
and shackled to a wall for months of excruciating torment.  People could heckle
him and pelt him with rotten vegetable.  That would be lovely.  That smug
dickhead deserved to be brought down to size.

To
learn who the real King was.

“I
always told you that Gion was dangerous.”  Saxon put in.  “He’s been plotting
against you from the beginning.  Once he helped get rid of Seneca, you should
have executed Gion.  He’s a threat to all of us.  You were a fool to think that
you could control him.”

Saxon
was probably right.  That galled Parald.  Yes, Gion had been a diabolical
turncoat, but Parald still couldn’t stand some subordinate questioning
his decisions.

“Shut
the hell up!”  He picked up the closest object at hand, which happened to be a
liquor decanter, and hurled it at Saxon’s head.  Parald had good aim.  He’d
been throwing things at his minions for years.

Saxon
had to dodge to the side, so it narrowly missed his face.

Glass
and brandy sprayed out in a violent explosion as the bottle hit the wall.
Actually, it hit a portrait of Parald posing like Napoleon.  It amused him to
fill the Air Palace with pictures of himself as dressed like human leaders.
Canvases of Parald as George Washington, Alexander the Great, Caligula, and
Elvis filled the throne room.

Parald
wasn’t exactly certain what land Elvis had conquered.  He didn’t give a shit
about human history, actually.  But, Elvis had definitely been the king of
something and Parald approved of the man’s uniform.  That was Parald’s favorite
portrait of himself.  The gold sunglasses and gemstones on his jumpsuit were
regal.  Even Gion had admitted that Parald looked like the King of the Whole
Wide World in the painting.  Something about the gleam in the guy’s eyes
when he said it made Parald suspicious, but he couldn’t really disagree with
the sentiment.

Luckily,
none of his stunning artwork was damaged by Parald’s reaction to Saxon’s
stupidity.

Saxon
swore as the flying glass cut his cheek.  He turned to pin Parald with a feral
look.  For a second, Parald thought the man would openly challenge him, which
was almost amusing.

Physically,
Saxon was one of the biggest Air Phases, seven and a half feet of craftiness
and muscle.  His short blond hair was spiked into a short punk style that
Parald had always found unbecoming for an Air House solider.  Hate glowed out
of his pale blue eyes.

Parald
smirked at him, almost hoping for a chance to teach Saxon his place.

For
all his upper body strength, Saxon didn’t have what really mattered.  His
energy was only a fraction of Parald’s.  Gion might have been the most powerful
Air Phase, but Parald wasn’t a friggin’ lightweight.  And he was always on
guard, waiting for one of his men to try and stab him in the back.  He wouldn’t
kill Saxon.  He needed the asshole, right now.

But,
he’d make Saxon beg.

It
gave Parald a perverse sense of satisfaction to know that his men hated him,
but that they still had to do what he told them.  He’d loved taunting Gion with
Ty for that reason.  He knew that the arrogant prick wanted her.  Parald had
just never thought that Gion would desert the Air House and steal her for
himself.  Disloyal bastard.

And
now he wouldn’t be able to force Isaacs to watch him fuck women, either.  The
inconsiderate jackass decided to go blind and that took away Parald’s favorite
pastime.  Sex wouldn’t be nearly so enjoyable without Isaacs silently and
miserably enduring the show.  Parald got off on the power that gave him and now
his pleasure had vanished along with Isaacs’ eyesight.

Parald’s
frustration at both of his top men had him looking forward to crushing Saxon’s
pride.  Before they could see if Saxon really had the balls to try and take his
spot as king, a new force entered the palace, though.

The
walls of the throne room came alive with light.  Words, spelled out in glowing
cursive letters, just appeared on the gently curved walls.  Three sentences,
repeated again and again:

Six
o’clock.

Be
ready to move.

The
Revolution is coming.

Saxon
seemed to forget about his possible plot to overthrow his king.  “Where the
hell did that come from?”

“It’s
Job.”  Parald slowly got to his feet, his panicky gaze sweeping around the
room. Not even Gion could have pulled of something on that scale.  It had to be
Job.  “He’s declaring war on me, now!”  He spat out the words as if he couldn’t
imagine why he wasn’t the most popular kid on the playground.  “You see?  You
see?  Job passed that fucking amnesty law to steal my people.  He let Ty
renounce me.  And now he wants war.  He won’t be happy until he takes everything
that’s mine.”

“But,
we’re already at war with the Council.”  Saxon reminded him.

Parald
ignored that inanity.  He took a step closer to the blazing writing.  His eyes
went to the domed ceiling, looking for the source of the illumination.

Nothing.

His
eyes narrowed.

Would
Job do such a thing?  Someone was projecting the image from a distance, right
through the Air House’s dense barriers.  That took incredible power.  Job was
the logical suspect, but it really wasn’t that pantywaist’s style.  He was all
about hiding in his damn Council Hall, shuffling papers in his heroic quest to
save the world.

So
what was it?  A challenge?  A rallying cry?  A warning?

Some
kind of… help?

Parald’s
head tilted, reading the words more closely.

The
Revolution?

“You
think it’s a Light Phase?”  Saxon guessed.

The
Light House could certainly manipulate all sorts of illumination, but Parald
couldn’t think of any Light Phases advanced enough to pull of something on this
scale.  Granted the throne room doors were open, which negated his personal security,
but how did they get passed the kingdom’s shields?  This little trick was on
the level of a doctoral thesis, while most of the Light Phases barely passed
superpowers 101.  They were a bunch of mindless barbarians.

On
the other hand, it was definitely Elemental in origin and no other House could
control Light to this level.  So, now that he really considered it, it almost had
to be the work of a Light Phase.

It
didn’t make any sense.

A
Revolution.

Some
make-believe plot of those fictional Air House rebels, perhaps?  It had
to be something more important than that.  But, the only thing that Parald might
want to revolt against was… the Council.

He
slowly smiled.

“Probably,
a Light Phase.”  Saxon decided, answering his own question.  “But, which one?
Rysimer?  Kahn?  Not exactly their style.  And who’s this message aimed at?”

“Me,
obviously.”  Fucking moron.  Did Saxon really think that someone would go
through all the trouble of light writing some message on the walls of his
throne room if they didn’t mean for the message to reach him.

Jesus.

He
actually missed Gion, right now.  The guy was a wiseass, but at least he wasn’t
an idiot.  Of course, this Light Phase wanted Parald on his side for the
Revolution.  Who wouldn’t want to join forces with a king?  The
King.

Saxon
shook his head in bafflement.  “Well, if the next message says, ‘Surrender
Dorothy,’ I say we hand the bitch over.”

Parald
had no idea what that meant.

It
didn’t matter.

The
more he considered it, the more he realized that the writing was a good
thing.  The graffiti came from an ally.  Someone who could tell that he was the
real King.  Someone who wanted the help him recover what had been stolen
from him.

It
was time.

He
slowly reached over to flatten a hand against the wall, feeling the slight heat
of the lighted word “revolution.”  He looked over at Saxon.  “Start gathering
the men.  We need to be ready by six.”

“For
what?”

“For
me to reclaim everything that’s mine.”

Chapter Nineteen

And with
strong flight did forcibly diuide

The yielding
aire, which nigh too feeble found

Her
flitting partes, and element vnsound,

To beare
so great a weight

Edmund
Spenser- ‘The Faerie Queene’

“Then,
you add the pasta to the water and –Voila!-- dinner.”  Ty turned to smile at
Gion.  “You see how simple it is?”

He
nodded, his intent gaze on the boiling spaghetti.  Ty had the feeling he really
wanted to take some notes on it, but she’d confiscated his clipboard.  That was
another thing she and Gion had in common.  They were both serious students.  Ty
found his studious concentration and repressed bookwormyness adorable.

Under
the badass black and the male model angles of his face, Gion was sort of a
nerd.

Just
like her.

Ty
leaned up to kiss the side of his jaw.

Gion
flashed her a surprised glance, his mouth curving.  He always looked so shocked
and pleased when Ty initiated even the tiniest thing between them.  “You’re
distracting me from my cooking.”  He said gravely.

“Well,
since I’ve done most of ‘your cooking,’ so far, I don’t think dinner will be
effected.”

“Well,
you had to cook it, angel.  Otherwise, Cross would need to hire a food
taster before we could eat.  He’s already been in here six times looking for
any poison I might be slipping into the pasta.”

“Oh,
he has not.”  Yes, he had.  Ty glanced up at Gion through her lashes and
bit down on another grin.

Gion
gave a skeptical arch of his brow and went over to check on his microwaving
sauce.  As he passed, his hand came over to caress her hair.

Ty’s
gaze fell on his wrist.

He’d
changed his watch.

Her
lips parted.  Gion had gotten rid of the elegant, un-Water House-ish, Cartier
timepiece that he’d been so uneasy about at Ty’s narcotics meeting.  In its
place was a Timex with a blue dial and a rubberized band.  For some reason,
that small show of insecurity had tears stinging the back of her eyes.

Gion
could do anything, but he’d changed his watch in an effort to fit in better with
her family.  A man who wore a cape every day of his life without an ounce of
self-consciousness had switched his watch because he wanted to belong.

She
stared at Gion and felt her whole world reorient itself around him.

In
that second, Ty, of the Water House fell completely in love with the Darth
Vader of the Elemental realm.  So totally, madly in love that she knew she’d never
recover.

It
actually happened so fast that Ty felt dizzy.

This
wasn’t just the energy.  This was so much more.  This connection she felt with
Gion went straight through to her heart.

Without
warning, terror filled her.

What
was she going to do, now?  Ty’s fingertips tingled as she realized what she’d
done.  Gion wouldn’t want her.  Not really.  He had a Match someplace.

The
edges of her vision waivered.

This
wouldn’t work.  She couldn’t tell him.  He wouldn’t want her.  He’d leave.

Ty’s
throat closed off.

Just
when she was trying to get stronger she went and did something so pathetically,
hopelessly stupid.

Why
was she so weak?

Always
too weak.  Too weak for Gion.  Too weak for everyone.

She
couldn’t breathe.

Ty
backed up, right into the stove, not even noticing the heat of the burner
against her arm.

“Ty!”
Gion grabbed her, yanking her away before she scorched more than just her
sleeve.  “Ty look at me!”

She
didn’t hear him.

Panic
attack.

Panic
attack.

Panic
attack.

Fragmented
memories filled her head.

Screaming.
The roar of the fountain.  Running.  Hands grabbing her.  Fire House pyres
burning in the distance.  Falling.  Screaming for help.  Swords and pain and
screaming for help, help, help.  Her energy grabbing for someone and
finding him.  The mob shouting as they were torn away from her by…

…Air.

Ty’s
sightless eyes went wide.

Gion.

“Ty!”
He cradled her close.  “Focus on me.  You’re fine.  I’m here.  You’re safe,
angel.  Calm down.  Keep breathing.  You’re fine.”

Her
hands grasped the front of his shirt, giving him most of her weight as she
shook.

In
Ty’s jumbled memories of the attack, Gion was there with her.  Talking to her.
Ice blue eyes crying.  Begging her to stay.  Holding her hand.  Her energy
trying to reach him.  Gion and so much power.  More power than anyone should
have.  Flowing through her.  Keeping her alive.

Gion.

Ty’s
knees gave out completely.

“Shit!”
Gion picked her up.  “Ty, angel, try and focus on my voice.  You’re safe.
You’re safe with me.  Nothing in the past can hurt you.  I will never let anything
hurt you.”

In
the midst of Ty’s panic, the Water energy grabbed for his, again.  Ty had the
impression of Air powers surrounding her.  Protecting her.

Connected.

And
then she was pulling him down.

…Into
darkness.

Chapter Twenty

Dreams are not without meaning
wherever they may come from- from fantasy, from the

elements, or from other inspiration…. Dreams must be heeded and accepted.  For a great

many of
them come true.

Paracelsus-
‘Spagyrical Writings’

What…
the… hell…?

Gion
was not a man easily shocked, but his mind just went utterly blank as he looked
around.

He
was looking at a scene from the Fall.  It was like time travel, every detail of
the scene perfect and complete.  A virtual instant replay of that summer night,
two years before.  The darkened clouds overhead still had their imagined
shapes.  Gion hadn’t seen pictures in them since the Cloud House fell and he’d
forgotten how magical they were.  The courtyard of the Water House was
illuminated by the twisting of flames.  He could smell the smoke in the air.

The
semi-insane idea that he’d been swept into some kind of memory sharing with Ty
popped into his head.  That was impossible, but it was the only thing Gion
could think of.  What the hell was going on?

First
of all, only Matches engaged in a memory sharings.  And secondly, memory
sharings only had one person reliving the memories of another.  Right
now, Gion was standing with his feet planted on the cobblestones holding Ty in
his arms.

The
real Ty.

They
were both in this memory.  Somehow, during her panic attack, Ty’s energy had
dragged him into this with her.

So,
what the hell was happening?

Gion
was so completely baffled that he didn’t protest when Ty struggled free of his
hold.  He hadn’t even processing what was happening in the actual memory until
he saw the fountain.

They
were standing right in the middle of the night that Ty almost died.

Witnessing
that mob attack her all over, again.

No.

Gion’s
heart started pounding.  He didn’t want to see this.  He didn’t want Ty to see
it.

The
mob screamed and coughed.  Moving in waves of hate, they charged across the
courtyard towards the small figure running from them.

Ty.

No.

This
was obviously some kind of memory.  Gion couldn’t do anything to change
what had already happened.  He couldn’t interact with the people here or
actually touch anything.  But, he still raced for the helpless, past version of
Ty as the crowd pulled her down, slamming her into the pavement.

“Shit!
Ty!”  They had weapons and torches and he couldn’t do a damn thing.  Gion’s
powers couldn’t help her.  He tried to get between Ty and the mob, but it
wasn’t doing any good.  Gion felt like he was losing his mind.  He dropped to
his knees next to her, on autopilot, trying to get to her.  “Ty!”  One of the
rioters raised a broadsword, aiming it as Ty’s bleeding face.

“NO!”
Gion couldn’t watch.  He should’ve been strong enough to stop the attack.  Or,
at least, strong enough endure this with her.  But, he couldn’t.  Rage and
horror had him turning away.  He couldn’t bear to see what he knew would
happen.

Arms
came around him.

Ty.

The
real-Ty held him and Gion turned into her grasp.  Oh God.  The noises were
killing him.  The soft, wet sounds of the blade hitting the memory-Ty’s body.
Oh God.  He gripped real-Ty desperately, breathing in the scent of her
hair.

She
was okay.  She was okay.  She was okay.

Ty
watched the attack on her past self with unreadable turquoise eyes.  He felt
the tension in her body and not just from witnessing her own near-death.  Ty
was waiting for something…

Gion
lifted his head from her hair and looked at her.

She
knew.

“Ty…”
His voice was hoarse.  “Please.”

Wham!

The
explosion of Air energy shook the ground like a sonic boom.

Against
his better judgment, Gion turned to see his own arrival.  He hadn’t wanted Ty
to remember this.  He didn’t remember all of it himself, just his frantic
prayers and his determination not to lose the only vision he’d ever had.

Cyclones
sent the mob flying.  Gion’s eyebrows soared.  Even he was startled by the
amount of energy that had slammed out.  He’d lost control.  Gion could read the
panic on his own face as he dashed for Ty.  Dead Phases fell like stones all
around them and he didn’t even notice.

Gion
warily glanced at Ty, again.

All
her attention was on memory-Gion as he collapsed to knees next to her.  His
cape floated out, covering memory-Ty’s body as he leaned over her.  “Oh Gaia,
please.”  Gion heard his voice break on the prayer.  “Ty!  Angel, open your
eyes.  Ty!  Stay with me.  Open your eyes and stay with me.”

Turquoise
eyes fluttered open and dazedly focused on him.

Memory-Gion
was babbling, crying.  Real-Gion certainly didn’t blame him.  “Ty, stay with
me.  Don’t you leave me here alone.”  He folded one of his palms around hers.
“Angel, I’m serious.  You’d better hang on or…  Hang on or I’m just gonna follow
you wherever the hell you go.  Think about that.  Is that what you want, Ty?  Me,
stalking you into eternity?”

Real-Ty
started sobbing.  Her shoulders shook with the force of her quiet weeping.

Tessie
once claimed that Gion had been born with a heart two sizes too small.  He knew
now that that was impossible.  Gion felt it rip apart in his chest and it left
a huge, gaping hole.  “Ty?”  He held her closer, rocking her.  “Don’t cry,
angel.”

Memory-Ty’s
hand tightened around memory-Gion’s fingers.

Water
energy stirred, reaching for him, and Memory-Gion’s powers seized hers like a
falling man who’d been handed a parachute.  “You’re strong, Ty.  Just hang on
and prove it.”  He whispered and then surrendered everything he had into his
powers.

Real-Ty
slowly nodded as she felt the Air energy sustaining her past self, stopping the
flow of blood.  “I knew this.”  She said quietly.  “I knew you were here.  I
remember this, now.”  She looked up at him, her eyes moist.  “You saved me.”

“You
saved me.”  Gion whispered back.  “Every day for eleven years.  Maybe even
before that.”

She
leaned up to kiss him and he could taste the tears.  “I’m sorry.”  She
whispered.

“You
didn’t do anything to be sorry for.”

“I
did.  I was so scared of you, for so long.  And you saved me.”

“I
made you scared of me.”  Memory-Gion looked pale and strained.  Gion
could feel the drain of energy as he used microscopic jets of Air to stop the
bleeding.  He dreaded her seeing even one more second of this.  “Ty, your
energy somehow triggered a memory-sharing or something.  The panic attack and
our connection, I don’t know… You just need to get us out of here.”

“I
didn’t do this.”  Ty let go of him and moved closer to the memory-Gion.
“You’re pushing too hard.”  She shook her head and Gion wasn’t sure which
“Gion” she was talking to.  “Not even your energy can keep this up.  Connecting
with me like that could kill you.  If I died, I’d pull you under, too.”

Gion
shrugged.  “I know.”  He just didn’t care.  Without Ty, there was nothing for
him in this world, anyway.

The
Water Phases were regrouping.

Memory-Gion
didn’t notice, but Real-Gion did.  “Ty.”  He reached for her, pulling her away
from her furious subjects.  “Angel, come here.”  She willingly sat in his lap
and Gion brushed his palms over her damp cheeks.  “Don’t watch this.”

“What…?”
She trailed off with a scream as the Water Phases attacked.

Men
and women, sick with the Fall and running on helpless anger, rushed at his
former self.  Grabbing at him with their fevered hands, they tried to wrench
him away from Ty.  Memory-Gion fought back, his sword flashing out and cutting
them down.

But
it wasn’t enough.  There were just too many of them and his energy was entirely
focused on Ty’s welfare.

His
distraction cost him and Memory-Gion fell.

Ty
gasped.  “Stop!”  She tried to stand up, but Gion held her still.  It was
stupid, since the crowd couldn’t hurt her, anymore.  They weren’t real.  But,
he didn’t want her near the mob.  “Gion, fight back!”

“I
can’t.”  He remembered the sudden realization that had come over him.  Knowing
that, if he took his attention off of Ty, she could bleed out.  Knowing that he
had to survive long enough for her to get help.  Knowing that he’d die in the
process, unable to fight back.

“Gion,
stop them!”  She shouted.  “You could stop them.  I know you could.  Send them
flying up into the air and…”

“I
can’t.”  He interrupted, keeping her from watching.  “I wouldn’t, even if I
could.”

“It’s
me.”  She ran a hand under her nose.  “You’re keeping me alive and it’s going
to kill you.  How can you be such an idiot?!”

“I’m
not going to die.  You see me sitting right here.”

“That’s
not excuse!”  She struggled against his hold and tried to wade into the mob.
“That one’s Alastair.  He ran the bakery.  He’s hitting you.  Make him stop!  Please!”

“I
can’t.”  When she cried, he felt like a monster.  “Listen to me, I can’t do
anything.  This has already happened.”

Ty
buried her face against his shoulder and sobbed.

“Gaia,
please.”  Gion closed his eyes and prayed for strength.  His former self was on
the ground, bleeding and beaten.   And at that moment Gion would have switched
places with the guy in a second.  Anything would have been preferable to Ty’s
tears.  “Angel…”

“I’m
sorry.”  She repeated.  “I’m so sorry.”

His
jaw tightened.  “Ty, I’m fine.  Look at me.”  Gion pried her head up so
he could meet her dazed eyes.  “I knew exactly what I was doing.  I knew exactly
what the risks were.  This was my choice and I don’t regret it.  Don’t
apologize to me.  Not for anything.”

Ty
hand came up to touch the side of his face.  “Gion.”  She swallowed, her voice
firm and her damp eyes level.  “Do not ever –Ever!-- tell me that you’re
a murderer, again.  That man,” she pointed at his former self, “is a hero.  That
is the man who should have been my Match.”

Gion’s
mouth parted.

He’d
never expected Ty to say that to him.  Truthfully, he’d never even dreamed
she’d look at him that way.  As a hero.  As a Match.  It was the most
beautiful thing that Gion had ever heard.

“In
my heart, you’ve been my Match since the first second I saw you.”  He finally
murmured.  “For me, there is only you.”

She
smiled at him through her tears.

In
the background, he saw memory-Gion pulled away from memory-Ty.  Saw his own
body tossed by the crowd.  In retrospect, he wondered how he’d survived this.
Just pure determination to keep Ty alive.

Across
the courtyard, Tharsis leapt over the edge of the patio and sprinted towards
the fountain.  “Ty!”  He bellowed.  “Damn it, Ty!”

“Poor
Thar.”  Ty whispered.  “His father just died.  I should have stayed in the
palace and they never would have got me.  I wasn’t thinking.  When my uncle
died, I just…”  She trailed off with a sigh.  “It was my fault.”

“No,
it’s not your fault.”

Tharsis
didn’t even notice Gion’s prone form amid all the other bodies.  He ignored
everything but Ty.  Most of the mob was working to kill Gion, now, but a few
had made their way back to Ty.  Shoving his way through the crowd with his
Water powers, Tharsis dove for her.

Gion
had no idea the guy had so much power.  Thar’s energy rolled out like a bowling
ball, knocking the other Phases down in a perfect strike.  Who could have
predicted that Tharsis had such remarkable control?

Swearing
and panting for breath, Tharsis grabbed Ty up and ran for the palace.

That
made Gion’s job harder.  He’d had to keep Ty alive from a distance, which was
incredibly difficult.  Gion had actually blacked out for a bit, almost losing
her.  Ty stopped breathing.  He’d felt it and it jarred him back to
consciousness.  Somehow, he’d kept her alive until her cousins got her to
Freya.

When
Ty was finally safe, he’d used what little energy he could muster and jumped to
the Air House library.  Then, he’d passed out on the floor for the next thirty-nine
hours.

“This
is why I would have panic attacks around you.”  Ty held onto his shirtfront.
“You were such a big trigger for me, and I thought it was just because…”

“Because,
I was a frightening, condescending jackass?”  Gion suggested when she stopped.

“Sort
of.  Yeah.”  Ty admitted.  “But, I was trying to remember you being here.  My
mind was trying to remind me and I didn’t understand.  I’m sorry.”

“Stop.
Apologizing.”

The
scene changed.

Gion
thought that maybe this memory thing would stop now that Ty had calmed down.

Instead,
he recognized the Air Palace dungeon.

Seneca.

Oh
Jesus.

This
definitely wasn’t a memory sharing.  This was just further proof that
something very weird was happening.  The memories in a sharing were almost
always shown in chronological order.  They usually showed Matches key scenes of
their partner’s life in order to get them to know and trust each other as
quickly as possible.

Not
only had this particular memory happen a year before the Fall, but it
absolutely wasn’t gonna promote trust and tender feelings.

What
the hell was going on?

This
was his memory.  Ty’s energy couldn’t be doing this.  This was him.

Somehow.

Gion
vainly tried to stop the scene from playing out; tried to wake them up.

Ty
gasped as she saw where they were.  It was hard to miss what with the stone
walls and the plastic manacles.  Elementals would have been able to manipulate
metal shackles, but the thick white plastic held prisoners captive.

“Gion?
You really were down here?  I know you said that when you rescued me from the
Air House, but…”

“I
was down here.”  Shit.  Why couldn’t he show her some good memories?
Did he even have any good memories?  Gion wracked his brain for a second
and came up with Ty in a white dress at Clea’s recital.  The most important
moment of his life.  Why couldn’t they be looking at that?

“Why
are we seeing this?”  Ty looked as baffled as he felt.  “Is it a memory
sharing?”

“It
can’t be.  We’re not a Match.”

“Yes,
but Freya thought… Oh my God.  Gion, are you chained?”

Gion
sighed in annoyance as the former him tried to rip the plastic shackles right
out of the wall.  “Seneca thought that I planned to overthrow him.  At the
time, I wasn’t really planning to, but, after a night in the dungeon, it was
pretty high on my ‘to do’ list.”

Seneca
had dumped him in the dungeon after it occurred to the bastard that Gion’s
powers far exceeded his own.

Seneca
had never found his Match.  He had no heirs, except Amarna and his niece had never
been his favorite person.  Amarna could pretend to be a mousy little thing, but
more and more Gion saw that the girl was sharp.  She was a leader.  Seneca saw
that before Gion had.  He had to give the guy some credit for noticing the
girl’s potential.

Unfortunately,
once Seneca saw Amarna’s potential, he also saw the threat that she posed.  In
his later years, Seneca saw everyone as a threat.  Tossing Gion, Amarna,
Isaacs, and dozens of other into the dungeons had been his way of dealing with
the problem.

He’d
wanted to execute them.  He’d been trying to get the Council to sanction it.  Really,
though, all he’d done was create an insurrection.  By default, all the Air
Phases awaiting their beheadings were suddenly on the same side.

“Perfect.”
Isaacs sat slumped in the corner.  They’d been locked in the same cell.  “I
pushed hard to become a soldier and then King Insaniac locks me up for it.  I
should’ve gone to college and learned computer repair.”

“Shut-up.”
Memory-Gion ordered.  The plastic was cutting into his flesh as he tried to pry
it off his hand.  “I’m not going to die here.”

“How
did Seneca capture you?”  Ty asked as if she couldn’t imagine such a thing.

“I
was asleep.  There were twelve of them, with plastic restraints.”  After that
Gion slept a lot lighter, with Plexiglas over his windows and three bolts on
his doors.  Or in the Air House library, isolated from the other Air Phases and
with a sword lying across his chest.

Isaacs
was looking for a target for his anger and Gion just provided it for him.  “No,
genius, we’re not going to die here.  We’re going to die in front of the
palace, drawn and quartered Braveheart style.  It’ll be a fucking
inspiration for all the little kiddies.”  He pumped a chained fist in the air.
“Freeeedooommm!”

“Asshole.”
Both Gions muttered in unison.

Ty
actually gave a startled laugh.

“This
is your fault.”  Isaacs continued, undaunted.  “If you really had
overthrown that shithead, we wouldn’t be in this mess.  You’re powerful enough
to jack the House.  I know it.”

“I
don’t want to rule this House.”  Gion retorted.  “I’m not getting stuck with
the Air House crown.”

Jacking
the House involved ripping the Element away from the other Phases in the
House.  Dragging the weight of the Air from Phases who opposed them, the person
jacking the House would shoulder all the powers, redistributing the energy over
their own side of the dispute.  The other Phases wouldn’t die, but they’d no
longer be able to control the Air.  It was incredibly difficult and dangerous.
No one had ever successfully jacked a House before.

Until
Gion.

“Are
you ready to admit your crimes?”  Seneca demanded from the other side of the cell
door.  “I might show leniency if you confess.  Your deaths will be quicker,
traitors.”

“Fuck
off.”  Isaacs shouted back.

“No
one is plotting against you, sire.”  Gion got out from between clenched teeth.
“I don’t want your throne and I can prove it.  My Match is in the Water Kingdom
and I’m going there to be with her when she’s of age.  I won’t be staying in
the Air House, anyway.”

Isaacs
shot him a stunned look.

Ty’s
jaw dropped.  “Did you mean me?”

“Of
course, I meant you.”  Gion kept his attention on his former self.  “This was
before you knew Parald.  I thought you were mine.”

“You
could have the woman and my kingdom.”  Seneca retorted.

“No,
I couldn’t.  She has her own crown.”

Elemental
Houses went by matrilineal descent.  If they came from different Houses, men
usually went to the women’s kingdom, unless the man was the king of his own
House.  If both Matches ruled their kingdom, they had to choose one.  Parald
had agreed to rule the Water Kingdom with Ty after their Phazing.

Anyone
paying attention would have chosen the Water Kingdom over the Air House.  The
Water Kingdom was the epicenter of Elemental culture.  Their Athens.  The Air
House didn’t engender nearly that level of respect, no matter how hard they
tried.  The Water Kingdom was definitely the better real estate.

Knowing
Parald, he probably had some plan to keep both kingdoms.  Gion saw that now.
The man would never give up power.

Gion
had zero interest in ruling the Air Kingdom, though.  All he’d ever wanted was
a chance to be with Ty.  The choice between her or some stupid crown was a no
brainer.  “I’d rather have my Match than the Air House.  I give you my word.”

Ty’s
fingers wound around his.  “You’d give up a kingdom for me?  That’s a beautiful
thing to say.”  She beamed up at him.  “You’re such a romantic man.”

Gion
grunted.  “Yeah, watch how well my softer side goes over.”

“Dude,
how much Lifetime have you been watching?”  Isaacs scoffed.

“Enough
of your lies!”  Seneca roared.  “I don’t need Job to tell me how to run my own
lands.  You die first, Gion.  One hour!”  He went stomping off, yelling for his
guard.

“Looks
like you should have majored in something other than soldiering, too, boyo.”
Isaacs drawled.  “If you weren’t about to lose a head, I’d totally suggest that
you choose a new career in hostage negotiation.  You have a real talent for
reaching out to people.  It’s incredible.”

“I’m
not letting Seneca kill me.”  Gion snapped.  “Not without my Match even saying
my name.”  He looked down at his wrist and Gion remembered how he’d considered
ways to chop off his hand.

Ty
rested her head against his shoulder.  “You have a beautiful name.”  She
whispered.  “It’s holy.  The masculine form of Gaia.  I think your parents knew
you’d be special.”

“My
father named me ‘Gion’ because it was his name.  He lived to regret it, once I
became an incredible disappointment, of course.”

“You
are not a disappointment.”  Ty gave him a small shove, moving away from him.
“What did I just tell you?  You saved me, Gion.  Again and again you’ve saved
me.  I don’t mean to sound egotistical here, but, as far as I’m concerned, that
makes up for any horrible things that you think you’ve done.  Whatever happened
to you, it brought you to me and that’s all that matters, now.”

Gion
stared down at her, considering that.  What he’d done was bleak.  Addom and all
the other lives he’d taken.  Gion would never forgive himself.  But, if he went
back and changed any of it, would he have missed meeting Ty?  Would he have
been less powerful?  Less ruthless?  Would he have been unable to save her from
the mob or from the Air House dungeons?

In
the end, keeping Ty alive was all he cared about.

Was
everything he’d done just leading him to her?

Key
jangled outside the cell door.

Gion
swore, recalling this next part with crystal clarity.  “It’s Parald, Ty.
Don’t…”

The
door swung opened.  Parald stood there with a bloody sword in his hand and a
demonic smile on his face.  “We’re gonna make a deal, boys.”

Ty
sucked in a horrified breath at seeing her ex-Match.  She backed up rapidly,
colliding with Gion.  He could tell from her panicked look that she was about
to fall into another attack.

“Angel.”
Gion caught her against him, holding her so Ty’s back was to his front.
Enveloping her with his body.  “I’ve got you.  This is just a memory.  He’s not
even going to see

you.  You’re okay.  He’ll
never touch you, again.”

Ty
turned in his grasp, burying her face against Gion’s chest.  “I can’t stand
being around him.  He’s always felt wrong.  Even in the memory I can
feel it.  He’s evil.”  Shudders wracked her.

“I
know.  He won’t hurt you.  I won’t allow it.”  It was a vow.

Ty’s
arms wrapped around him.  “I won’t let him hurt you, either.”

Gion’s
heart turned over in his chest at the promise.

“Aren’t
you the dishwasher?”  Isaacs demanded as Parald came into their cell.

“I’m
about to become king.”  Parald held up the keys.  “I’ll let you go, and in
return you follow me.  I’m in control of the Air House, now.  Seneca’s
dead.”  He honest-to-God licked the blood off his sword and smirked.  “It wasn’t
much of a fight.”

Memory-Gion’s
eyebrows soared.  “His guards will be sad to hear that.”

“Most
of them are already with me.”  Parald stalked forward.  “The rest, I need you
to deal with.  I’m your only way out of here.  You help me jack the House and
I’ll make you my second-in-command.”

“That
seems reasonable.”  Gion allowed calmly.  He would have joined up with Jason
Voorhees to get out of the dungeon.

“You
stay loyal to me or you’ll regret it.”  Parald warned.  “What happened to
Seneca can happen to you.”

“Of
course.”  Gion agreed, already thinking of ways to kill him.

“Hail
to King Whoever-You-Are.”  Isaacs chimed in.  “Let’s not forget about me, here,
okay?”  He rattled his shackles.  “I can be incredibly loyal to people who save
my life.”

The
scene changed, again, this time to the Council Hall.  Gion recognized one of
the private waiting rooms where Phases cooled their heels before their time in
front of the Council.  It looked like the sitting room of a really nice hotel;
marble pillars and streamlined furniture, all in neutral shades.

This
one wasn’t Gion’s memory.  This one had to come from Ty.

She
stiffened beside him.  “Oh, no.”  Ty backed up.  “No.  Gion, I don’t want you
seeing this.”

“Are
you kidding me?”  After what he’d had to show her?  “What’s…?”  He
stopped short, seeing memory-Ty enter the room.

“Wait
here.”  She said to someone and Gion realized that it was Isaacs.

“I
forgot he was your bodyguard.”  Gion hadn’t been able to bear the idea of
watching over her before her Phazing with Parald.  Isaacs, bastard that he was,
had been the next best choice.  Parald had been all for the idea.

“I
don’t want you to see this.”  Ty’s voice got higher.  “Don’t watch.”

Gion
ignored that.  Ty was dressed in her formal turquoise robes.  Usually, Phases
only wore those on their Phazing Day or other ceremonial events.  This memory happened
the morning that Ty renounced Parald; the day of her ninety-third birthday.

In
the memory, Ty crossed the tiled floor and knocked on the door to the connected
bathroom.  “Parald, I’d like to speak with you.”

Parald
was a pansy, but even he wouldn’t shriek like a woman.  The high-pitched squeal
of panic came from inside the bathroom.

It
was hard to say who was more shocked as Ty pushed opened the door.

Gion.

Memory-Ty.

Parald.

Or
the naked woman struggling to get her bra back on.

Real-Ty
sighed.  “What an embarrassing cliché.”

“Darling.”
Parald flashed his politician’s smile, even as he grabbed for his pants.  God,
that was more of Parald than Gion ever wanted to see.  “I can explain.”

“Explain?”
Memory-Ty’s mouth barely moved.  “You’re sleeping with another woman on our
Phazing Day.  I don’t see what there is to explain.”  She turned towards the
door, a blank look on her face.  Gion sincerely hoped that Ty never used that
tone with him.  It was scarily cold.  Not hurt or angry.  Just… done.

“Darling,
this woman is nothing.”  Parald finally got his pants on and he chased after
her.  “A useless whore.”

“Hey!”
The woman yelped.  She was a Heat Phase.

“Shut-up.”
He roared.  Backtracking, he seized her arm and yanked her half-naked body
across the room.  “Get the fuck out of here!”  He shoved her out into the hall,
straight into Isaacs’ arms.

Gion
read the shock on Isaacs’ face.  “Sire?”  When Isaacs, of the Air House, a man
who’d once ripped off his enemy’s arms with a chain and a Toyota pickup truck,
seemed astonished by someone’s actions, you knew you’d hit the big time.  Phases
didn’t cheat on their Matches.  It was… crazy.

“Get
rid of her.”  Parald snapped and slammed the door, again.  He turned back to
Ty.  “Darling, this was nothing.  A last moment of bachelorhood, before I
commit myself to you.”  He held out his hands peacemaker style, but a
watchfulness stayed in his eyes.  “You wanted to wait for our Phazing Day and I
agreed, but I still have needs…”

“I
wanted to wait,” Ty interrupted, “because, when you touch me, it makes my skin
crawl.  Now, I see why.  You’re not a good man and I won’t have you as my
Match.”

Parald’s
eyes narrowed.  “What the hell are you talking about?  You are my
Match!”

Tension
grew in Gion’s body.  Ty was pissing Parald off and that was never a smart
thing to do.  Parald was bigger than she was, more powerful, and he was
standing between Ty and the door.

“Ty.”
He said softly.  “Just get out of there.”

“Please,
don’t watch.”  Real-Ty repeated.

“I
won’t have you, Parald.”  Memory-Ty insisted.  “I won’t have my life dictated
to me by some force beyond my control.  I could have put up with just not
loving you, but this…”

“I
don’t give a shit if you love me or not!”  Parald roared.  “You’re mine.
I’m the fucking King of the Air House and I can have whatever I want!”

Ty
looked right at him.  “No.”

The
word was unequivocal.  Gion knew from the stubborn look on her face that she
wouldn’t back down.  Ty looked fragile, but the woman had a core of solid
steel.

Ty
swept up the hem of her robes and started for the door

Parald
stepped directly into her path.

Gion
automatically reached for his sword.  He could feel the situation
deteriorating.

“What
do you think you’re going to do, huh, Ty?”  Parald loomed over her.  “You think
this is that fucking fairytale where the girl gives up her Match for true
love?”

“Ismena
happens to be my favorite story.  Not that you’d know that, because you
couldn’t care less about me.”  Ty gave her hair a toss.  “I’m actually happy
that this happened.  Finally, I have a valid reason to get rid of you.”

“I
own you.  You can’t get rid of me!”

Ty
leaned closer to him, her eyes bright with triumph.  “You’re renounced,
you asshole.”

Under
any other circumstances Gion would have laughed at that, but this was getting
very, very bad.  Parald’s face went purple with anger and Gion’s apprehension
grew.  “Ty, don’t…”

“You
stupid bitch!”  Parald lunged at her.  “No one fucking renounces me!”  He shook
her.  “You should be on your knees, grateful that I chose you!”  He tried to smash
his lips over hers.

“Stop!”
Memory-Ty pushed him away and Parald hit her.

His
fist slammed into her face and the blow sent Ty flying to the floor.  The back
of her head struck against the tile, leaving her dazed.

Gion
swore viciously.  “I will fucking kill him!”

“Stop
watching!  Stop watching!  Stop watching!”  Real-Ty grabbed his arm as Gion
automatically tried to help the past her.

“You’re
lucky I decided to have you as my Match.”  Parald stalked over and
dragged memory-Ty up onto the sofa, pinning her beneath him.  “I can have
anyone I want!”

Memory-Ty
cried out in fear as Parald tore at her clothes.

Gion’s
fury was a living thing inside him.  “You son-of-a-BITCH!”

“Please,
Gion.  Please, stop watching.  I can’t bear it.”  Real-Ty tugged at his arm.  “Please.”

Gion
glanced down at her, his eyes wild.  “I can’t do anything!  He’s… And I can’t…”

“Wait.”
Ty beseeched.  “He doesn’t rape me.  Just wait.  Please don’t watch.”

“What?”
Gion’s mind buzzed with rage and frustration.  He couldn’t focus.  Parald’s
palm was covering Memory-Ty’s mouth and her muffled screaming slashed through
him like jagged nails.  “Ty.  Oh my God.”  Parald pried her legs apart and Gion
doubled over in physical pain.  “Oh my God.”

“I’m
sorry.”  Real-Ty’s voice broke on a sob.  “I tried to stop him.  I swear.  I
feel so dirty, having you see this.  I didn’t want him.”  A tear went sliding
down her cheek.  “I fought, but I was just too weak.  I’m always too weak.”

“You…”
That actually penetrated his haze.  “What?  No.  Ty, no.”  He shook his
head and tried to concentrate on her, instead of the frenzy threatening to
consume him.  “Listen to me.  Nothing he does is your fault.  Nothing.
If he forced you, it still wouldn’t be your fault.  And it wouldn’t
change a damn thing about how I feel about you.  Understand?”  His voice was
harsher then he’d intended.

She
looked up at him and Gion forced himself to calm down.

“Understand?”
He repeated in a softer tone.

Ty
gave a jerky nod.

Gion
turned away from the sofa.  It gutted him, but he did it and opened his arms.
That was all it took for Ty to burrow against his chest, clinging to him.  Gion
exhaled into her hair.  It wasn’t about him.  It was about Ty and what she needed.
“I won’t watch.  I’m here and I won’t watch, alright?”

“Thank
you.”  Ty swallowed audibly.  “It’ll be over in a minute.”

“When
the hell…?”

A
loud pounding on the door interrupted his demand for an exact ETA on her
rescue.

“Sire,
the Council is ready to see you.”

Gion
blinked as he recognized his own cold voice.

“I
wasn’t strong enough to stop him.”  Ty smiled in relief.  “But, I didn’t have to
be.  You stopped him for me.”

“I…?”
Gion glanced over his shoulder and saw Parald sit up.  His face had a harsh,
calculating glow.  He wasn’t out of control, which was somehow even
worse.  Parald wasn’t crazy.  Ty was right.  He was just evil.

“Sire?”
Gion heard himself say, again.  “Isaacs isn’t out here, but Job’s ready.”

“Just
a moment.”  Parald called, sounding out of breath.  He leaned over Ty, again.
Her eyes were wide and glassy.  “Get up.”  He hissed and quickly rearranged her
clothes.  Ty tried to push him away and Parald gave her another hard shake.
“We’re going to the stand before that fucking Council and you’re going to say
the words to make me your Match, ya got it?  You do what I say or you’ll regret
it.”

Memory-Ty
looked over the side of the couch.  Her hand moved, reaching out for the door…

Towards
Gion.

In
her traumatized state, Ty automatically reached for him and Parald stopped her.
The bastard grabbed her wrist and yanked her to her feet.

Gion
hated the man.

He
hated Parald so much that it burned straight through to his soul.  Gion pressed
the heels of his palms into his eyes.  Maybe it would be safe to kill Parald
when Ty was a hundred.  That was only four years away.  Somehow, he could
endure four more years of Parald being alive.

Parald
kept talking.  “You think Gion’s gonna help you, Ty?  Huh?”  Another shake.
“What have I told you about him?  Gion thinks you’re weak and useless.  He told
me that.  He’ll laugh if you start whining at him.”

Gion’s
anger made the Air energy crackle around him.  “I didn’t tell him anything.”
He shook his head.  “Parald’s lying.  I never would have let him hurt
you.  He knew that.”

“He
always said things like that about you.”  Ty murmured.  “He wanted me scared of
you.  He wanted us separated.”

Gion
considered that.  Was Parald savvy enough to have felt their connection?  No
Match would want his woman’s energy linking with another man’s.  Was that the
source of Parald’s scheming?

Once
Ty looked presentable, Parald dragged her towards the door.  “Just get out
there and keep your mouth shut.  You don’t know what the hell you’re doing.
When Job asks you if you accept the Match, you just bob your head or I’ll make
you sorry.”

Ty
ripped free of his hold and didn’t say a word.  Gion recognized the ‘rot in
Hell’ gleam to her eyes, but Parald apparently didn’t notice.

He
opened the door and smiled at Gion.  “Here’s the happy bride.  Take her to
Job.”  He patted the top of Ty’s hair and the mask of a loving Match fell over
his face.  “See you soon, darling.”

Gion
remembered this day.  He’d been crazed.  Thinking of Ty Phazing with Parald
left him desolate.  He couldn’t even bear to look at Ty, for fear of what he
might say.  He wouldn’t have noticed a parade of aliens dancing down the hall,
let alone the quiet appeal in her eyes.

Memory-Ty
looked up at him and Gion saw himself stare at a spot two feet above her head.
“Ready?”  He asked flatly and started walking without waiting for a response.

Shit.

Ty
had needed help and he’d been completely oblivious.

He’d
screwed up.  He always screwed up when it really mattered.

“I’m
sorry.”  Real-Gion glanced down at her and wondered how she could ever forgive
him.  “Angel, I’m so sorry.  I wanted you so badly and I was so upset about
your Match that I didn’t see…”

Ty
cut him off.  “Wait.”  She instructed and followed the two other thems out into
the hall.

The
Classical elegance of the Council Hall surrounded them as they made their way
towards the main chamber.  Memory-Ty looked shell-shocked.  Gion wanted to
punch his former self.  Oblivious moron.

“You
should have said something to me, Ty.”  He snapped.  “I would have…”

“Wait.”

Memory-Gion
reached the doors to the Council Chamber.  He started to pull them open, then hesitated
and slammed them shut, again.  He finally focused on Ty.  “Tritone?  I can’t do
this without…”

She
looked up at him with damp turquoise eyes and Gion saw himself lose his
original train of thought.

“Just
know yourself and be happy.”  He said, instead.  “You deserve that.  I wish… I
wish things could have been different.  I wish…”  He stopped and glanced away.
“Damn it, I wish we didn’t have fucking Matches.”  Gion jerked the door open
and stalked into the Council Chamber without giving Ty a chance to reply.

He
had no idea what Memory-Ty gazed after him like he said something amazing.

Real-Ty
sighed contentedly.  “Thank you, Gion.”

“For
what?  Saying that?”  It wasn’t exactly Shakespeare.  “Why?”

“You
never read Ismena, did you?”

Gion
didn’t see a way to skate around that question.  “No.”  He admitted.

“Parald
was actually right.  It’s about a woman who renounces her Match for true love.
I always adored that book.  I named all my dolls ‘Ismena’ as a girl.”  She
smiled.  “I never understood why a story so antithetical to the Elementals’
basic laws would be so popular with Phases, until now.  I think it’s because a
lot of us secretly want what the humans have.  We want the freedom to choose
our own destinies.”

“And
you did it.”

“I
did.”

It
stuck Gion how much courage that must have taken.  On the very day that she
came of age, Ty rebelled against every Elemental tradition and renounced her
Match.  In fact, Memory-Ty was about to go into the Council Chamber, look right
at Parald and tell him she’d rather die than be his queen.

“Ty,
how can you ever say that you’re weak?  No one else would have had the strength
to go in there and renounce Parald like that.  No one, but you.”

Her
mouth curved.  “I was inspired.”  Ty slipped her arm thorough his.  “The last
words of Ismena are, ‘know yourself and be happy.”

“Really?”
That was… amazing.

“Yes.
When you said that to me, I knew what I had to do.”  Ty stood on tiptoe to kiss
the side of his jaw.  “I just absolutely knew.”

Chapter Twenty-One

It is a citizen of both elements-- air and water.

F. H. Laing- ‘A Reassuring Thought…’

Ty
came back to the present with a gasp.

She
was on the kitchen floor with Gion’s arms around her.  The digital clock on the
microwave told her that no time had passed since the beginning of their
experience.  Just like in a genuine memory-sharing, it had all happened
instantly.

Ty
smiled.

Her
residual panic faded and excitement filled her.  What she and Gion just saw was
extraordinary.  Everything about their connection was a little bizarre,
but this proved that what they had was really special.

Freya’s
double-Match theory had to be right.

Only
Matches had memory sharings.

And
that mental trip into the past had to have been some kind of memory
sharing.  Scientifically, there was just nothing else that it could be.  That
meant that Gion didn’t have another Match.  He wouldn’t leave her.  He really
was hers.

All
Ty had to do was kill Parald and she could have Gion.  She’d only have one
Match.  Her real Match: Gion.  Just like things were supposed to be.

Ty
gave an excited “squee” and kissed him full on the lips.  “Did you see that?
You did, right?  You were really there with me?”

“Yes.”
Gion didn’t look thrilled.  He seemed baffled.  “You’re the genius, here.  What
the hell was that?”

Ty
bounced to her feet.  “Well, I think it’ll take more research to be sure, but
I’m very hopeful that it’s good news.”

“More
with the research.  Great.”

“Ty?”
Nia came wandering in.  Red eyebrows climbed as she took in Gion’s position on
the floor.  “Right.”  She shook her head and looked over at her cousin.  “So,
someone’s here to see Gion.”

“I’m
not eager to visit with Job.”  Gion muttered, standing up.  He still looked
immaculate.  “It’ll be a complete waste of time.  I can already give a Ghost of
Christmas Future summary of the conversation yet to come.  ‘If Gion doesn’t
change his ways, I predict a sad and…’”

“It’s
not Job, wiseass.”  Nia headed over to the stove to check on the spaghetti.
“It’s some Air Phases, actually.  Come to visit you.”

“What?”
Gion scowled.  “Damn it, I told Tharsis not to let anyone in here until I
checked their names.  Are Water Phases genetically incapable of understanding
security?”

“Well,
if we’re too slow for you, you could always move out.”  Nia poured the pasta
through the strainer in the sink and endeavored to look innocent.  “I wouldn’t
mind.”

“Nia.”
Ty frowned at her cousin.  “What are you doing?”

“Helping
with dinner.”  She transferred the spaghetti in to a bowl and handed it to Ty.
“I’ll get the sauce and then we can eat.”

Gion
went sweeping out of the kitchen like a storm cloud.

“I
asked you to be nice to him.”  Ty hissed.

“I
am being nice.  This is me being nice to the vampire who’s bewitched my
little cousin.  Note how I haven’t sent him over the waterfall in a barrel.”

“He’s
not a vampire.  He’s my…”  Ty stopped, not wanting to share Freya’s theory of
the double-Match just yet.  It was like a birthday candle wish.  If she said
the words out loud, it might not come true.

“He’s
your what?”  Nia pressed.

Ty
bit her lower lip.  “I love him.”  She whispered and then dashed out of the
room before her cousin started lecturing.

Nia
could be overprotective.  Ty was used to that and she even appreciated it.  Nia
had always doted on her.  Ty was the baby of the family, born a hundred and
fifty-eight years after the twins.  All her life, Nia and Thar looked out for
Ty and spoiled her.  They loved Ty and, occasionally, they thought that gave
them the right to rule her life.  She accepted that.

But,
Ty still wasn’t giving Gion up.

She
hurried towards the dining room just in time to hear Gion’s voice snap out like
whip.

“No.
You aren’t welcomed here.  Get out.  Now.”

It
wasn’t so much the words as it was the deadly serious quality of his tone that
had Ty breaking into a run.  Gion was about to kill their houseguests.  That
would not be a great way to endear him to her family.

“Gion!”
She went skidding into the room.  “Don’t…”  She stopped abruptly, spotting the
target of his wrath.  “Isaacs.”

Parald’s
new number one Phase stood in her dining room between Cross and Brokk,
sunglasses over his eyes and a scowl on his face.

“How
could you let Isaacs come within three kingdoms of Ty?”  Gion demanded, glaring
over at Tharsis.  “Do you have a brain injury?”

“I
didn’t invite him.”  Tharsis held up his palms “not my fault” style.  “Amarna
brought him.”

“Isaacs
isn’t going to hurt her.”  Amarna volunteered.  “He needs Ty’s help.”

Ty’s
mind went blank for a beat.  “Alright.”  If he was planning to kidnap her,
Isaacs probably would have had a better plan that just… showing up, so Ty was
at a loss on how to act.  Good breeding had her falling back on politeness.
“Um.  I’m glad to see that you’re okay after the Agora fight, Isaacs.  I tried
to check on you, but…”

“I’m
not okay!”  Isaacs roared.  He ripped the sunglasses off of his face and
pointed at his eyes.  “I can’t fucking see, Ty.  I can’t see, and it’s
your fault, and I want amnesty.”

Ty
sucked in a breath as she took in the milky blue sheen to gaze.  “You’re
blind?!  Oh my God, Isaacs.  I’m so sorry.  Have you seen Freya?”  She
instantly winced over that phrasing.  “I mean, have you gone to…”

Gion
cut her off.  “I don’t care if his eyes were eaten by wolves.  Isaacs isn’t
moving in, Ty.  That’s the end of the discussion.”  He glared over at Amarna.
“And what the hell are you doing here?”

“She
brought Isaacs, of course.”  Ignoring Gion’s bad mood, Ty moved closer to
Isaacs and pulled out a chair for him.  The man had kidnapped her once, but she
couldn’t just let him suffer.  “Here, Isaacs.  Have a seat.  What can I do?”

“He
blackmailed me into letting him tag along.”  Amarna reported dismissively.  She
kept her attention on Gion.  “I really came to see you.”

“What
kind of food do you have?”  Isaacs sat down and put his hands on the tabletop
as if testing the solidity of the wood.  “I like steak.”

“Seriously,
we’re not really gonna feed this asshole, right?”  Cross looked over at
Tharsis.  “He’s a bad guy.  Do we all remember that?”

Brokk
nodded.  “I remember that.”

Gion
frowned at Amarna.  “We have nothing to discuss.  And Isaacs,” he pointed a
finger at him, “you’re leaving.  You’re not eating here.  You’re not living
here.  I’ll get you a German Sheppard to lead you around, if you’re that hard
up.”

“I’m
allergic to dogs.”  Tharsis protested.

“Elementals
don’t have allergies.”  Brokk spun the chair around so he straddled the back.
“And I like dogs.”

“Isaacs
has been injured.  You’re all being unreasonable.”  Ty put some spaghetti on
Isaacs’ plate.  “Here’s some pasta, Isaacs.  Hang on, we have tomato sauce,
too.  And don’t worry.  I’ll call a doctor for you.”

“Pasta?”
Isaacs’ face creased in distaste.  “You don’t have steak?”

“No.”
Nia came in, slapping the tureen of spaghetti sauce onto the table.  She shot
Amarna an aggravated look.  “You were supposed to come here alone.”

“I
know.  I apologize.  I knew Gion could handle him, so I wasn’t worried.”  She
moved closer to Gion, the intensity of her eyes belying her subdued exterior.
“And we do have something to discuss.  Parald.  Now’s the time to
defeat him.”

“I
know you’re in command of the rebels, Marna, but that has nothing to do with
me.”  Gion assured her.  “I’ve left the Air Kingdom.”

“But,
you have to come back.  We need your help.  I know that you’re better than the
rest of Parald’s men.”

“Hey!”
Isaacs protested.

“Gion
is better than other men.”  Ty was pleased that Amarna noticed that.  “He’s
a hero.”

Isaacs
scoffed.

So
did Gion.

“Gion
saved me during the Fall.”  Amarna nodded at Ty.  “He was loyal to my uncle,
even though Seneca was too stupid to notice.  The Air Kingdom can’t afford to
lose him.”

“Well,
you can’t have him back.”  Ty flashed Gion a worried look.  “Do you want to go
back to the Air Kingdom?”

“Hell
no.”

“I’m
just going eat.”  Cross sat down and started piling spaghetti onto his plate.
“I should make the Black Hole taste all this first, just to be safe, but I’m
hungry and this is gonna take a while.  I can tell.”

“Stop
calling Gion that.”  Ty chided.

Amarna
ignored them.  “Saxon is strong, but he’s not as strong as you.”  She met
Gion’s gaze.  “You’ve left the Air House and now Isaacs is incapacitated, as
well.  Parald is vulnerable.  Now’s the time to strike.”

“I’ll
be fine.  I just need some time to heal without Parald trying to kill
me.”  Isaacs grabbed the fork out of Ty’s hand and struggled to get the pasta
to twirl around the tines.

He
didn’t look fine.

He
was trying to brazen it out, but it he was having trouble finding the food on
his plate.  Ty watched him worriedly.  They needed to call Freya.  “Isaacs.”
She lowered her voice.  “You have to go to a doctor.  Come with me and…”

“After
dinner.”  His damaged eyes shifted in Gion’s direction and Ty realized that
Isaacs didn’t want to show any weakness in front of his former general.  For
all his snarky-ness, Isaacs wanted Gion’s respect.

Ty
relented with a concerned sigh.  She subtly shifted the position of the plate,
so his fork found the pasta.

“Thank
you.”  The words were almost inaudible.

“Parald’s
weak.”  Amarna pressed, not giving up on her “steal Gion from Ty” plan.
“Nearly, all of his top soldiers are gone.  He’s never been so weak,
Gion.  This is our chance to free our people from his oppression.”

Gion
shook his head.  “Very stirring, but I’m not leaving the Water House and I’m
not killing Parald.  You’re wasting your time.”

Cross
rolled his eyes.  “Why aren’t we killing him?”

“Because
Gion isn’t a soldier, anymore.”  Ty beamed proudly.  “He’s a musician.”

Nia
and Tharsis exchanged a look.

“Oh,
perfect.  Well, I’m not joining his fabulous boy-band.”  Isaacs made a face.
“I’d rather take my chances in the Air House kitchens.”  He chewed morosely on
his spaghetti.  “Jesus, who made this crap?”

“You’ll
have plenty of time to enjoy the wonders of the Air House,” Gion snapped, “because,
you’re not staying here.”

Isaacs’
jaw tightened.

“No,
seriously, why hasn’t Gion killed Parald?”  Nia asked.  “I don’t care if he’s
got a secret identity as Beethoven, I know that Gion’s not a pacifist.”

“Gion’s
afraid that Parald might drag Ty down with him.”  Tharsis arched a brow.
“They’re a Match.  Their energies are connected.  And she’s very young.”

Ty
blinked.  That was… crazy.  Her energy had never connected with anyone but
Gion.  What she felt with Parald had been wrong.  If he died, the
biggest risk to her would be a hangover after the not-so-mournful funeral
celebration she planned to throw.

No
one else seemed to believe that.

Cross
leaned his head back to stare at the ceiling.  “Shit.”  He sighed.

“I
hadn’t thought of that.”  Nia looked over at Gion in amazement.  “You’re
right.”

Gion
inclined his head.

“Parald
is dangerous to everyone, as long as he’s alive,” Amarna insisted, “especially
to Ty.  Gion, you’re an Air Phase.  You need to come back to the Air
Kingdom and help us stop him.”

“I
don’t give a damn about the Air Kingdom.  I won’t let anybody harm Parald, if
there’s even a chance that it might endanger Ty.”

“Gion
is a Water Phase, now.”  Ty corrected firmly.  “Anyway, no one has to
worry about Parald’s death killing me.”  The very idea was ludicrous.  Sweet,
but ludicrous.  “I don’t feel a connection to Parald.  Not at all.”

“You
have to.”  Brokk began dumping pasta onto his own plate.  The man ate more food
than any Phase Ty had ever seen.  “You’re a Match.”

“Well,
there’s been a glitch then, because I’ve never felt anything but wrongness
around him.”  Ty turned to Gion.  “This is why you haven’t killed Parald?
Because, you were worried about me?”

“Yes.”

Ty’s
heart melted.  His expression didn’t change, but she could feel the underlying
frustration in the word.  Gion detested Parald, but he’d endured life under the
man’s thumb for three years to keep her safe.  How could she not love a guy
like that?

Isaacs
frowned.

Ty
headed over to stand directly in front of Gion.  “Thank you.”  She stood on
tiptoe to press her lips against his.

Gion
couldn’t believe that she’d do that in front of her family.  She saw the
surprise on his face as he gently returned the kiss.

“Did
she just kiss him?”  Isaacs asked no one in particular.  “Figures.  I knew that
he’d get her, anyway.  Perfect fucking Gion.”

“I
don’t think he’s perfect.”  Cross and Nia chorused.

Ty
pulled back to smile up at Gion.  “You’re such a good man.”

Isaacs
dropped his fork.  “Aaaaand there goes my appetite.  No matter where I go, it’s
–like-- Gion Land.  Can someone explain to me why he always gets everything?”

“He’s
a Wood Phase.”  Brokk said wisely.  “We’re very special people.”

“He’s
a Water Phase.”  Ty repeated.

“He’s
an Air Phase!”  Amarna waved the others aside.  “Gion, the Air House rebels can
bring Parald down, with or without you.  Job’s already agreed to help us.  With
you it will be easier and cost fewer lives, but it’ll happen either way.”

Gion
dragged his attention away from Ty.  “Marna, if you try and kill Parald, I will
stop you.”  He stated flatly.

Amarna’s
eyes narrowed.

A
surge of energy charged through the palace.

Job.

Only
he had that much power.

Gion’s
head snapped towards the door.  “Perfect.  Now what?”  He headed towards the
living room.

Nia,
Cross, Ty and Tharsis followed him.

Job
stood next to the French doors, squinting at the one that Gion had replaced.
The black plastic looked slightly out of place next to the sunny colors
and stained glass.  The sight of it made Ty grin, despite herself.

Her
smile faded when she spotted the woman hovering behind Job, though.  Dread
filled her.  Somehow, Ty already knew this would be bad.

“Job?”
Nia blinked.  “Hi.  What’s going on?  You want some dinner?”

“No,
I brought…”  He cleared his throat uncomfortably.  “I brought… uh…”

“Randa.”
The stunning creature from the planet Supermodel batted her eyes at Gion.  “I
had to come.  I had to meet you, Gion.”

“Really?”
He arched a brow, visibly unimpressed.  “Why?”

“Because,”
she gave a tremulous smile, “I’m your Match.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

The
bitterest tragic element in life to be derived from an intellectual source

is the
belief in a brute Fate or Destiny.

Ralph
Waldo Emerson- ‘Natural History of intellect’

Gion
looked the woman up and down.  “I beg your pardon?”  His voice could’ve flash
frozen the Fire Kingdom.

“I’m
your Match.”  She gazed at him with liquid brown eyes.  “I’m Randa, of the
Stone House.”

Randa
was a beautiful.  A stunning example of tall and slender femininity.  Dressed
in a gauzy white dress, and with a perceptible aura of power surrounding her,
she was exactly the type of woman who Gion belonged with.

Ty’s
heart took a nose dive.

There
was an olive colored streak in Randa’s chocolate tresses, a trembling smile on
her glossy red lips.  “I’ve searched for you for so long, Gion.”

“Searched?”
Gion arched a sardonic brow.  “Because I keep such a low profile that
it’s always been impossible to know where I lived, until now, right?”  The
sarcasm would have felled a lesser target.

Randa
pushed onward.  “No, I knew of you.  I did, but,” her manicured hand
came up and briefly touched her temple, “but it was like Gaia spoke to me
today.  Like she was telling me that you were about to be lost to me forever
and I just somehow suddenly knew that you were my Match.  That I had to
find you.”

“How
nice for you.”  Nia snarked.  She moved closer to Ty and glared over at Gion as
if this was his fault.

“Ty
honey, don’t freak out.”  Tharsis whispered worriedly, taking position on her
other side.  “No panic attacks.  Breathe nice and slow.”

Ty
nodded, not trusting herself to speak.  She didn’t feel a rush of anxiety or
terror that preceded her panic attacks, though.  All she felt a bone deep sense
of resignation and misery, which was somehow even worse.  She’d known that
Gion’s Match could still be out there, able to offer him all the things that Ty
couldn’t.  Of course, he’d have one.  Why wouldn’t he?  He deserved all the joy
that a Match could bring.

Ty’s
vision filmed over and she clenched her jaw to keep from crying.

“Randa
came to me and asked me to bring her here.”  Job said uncomfortably.  “She says
that she had a very strong feeling come over her, drawing her to Gion, and…uh…”
Job looked over at Cross as if expecting some social awkwardness life-line.

Unfortunately,
Cross seemed thrilled by the turn of events.  In fact, he and Randa were the
only two people in the room who weren’t frowning, scowling, or close to tears.
“She’s Gion’s Match!  She says she is and you can feel their energies lining
up.  And, it’s just a great day to be alive, isn’t it?”  Cross grinned
over at Ty.  “Now, he can drag his gloomy ass off to the Stone Kingdom and
we’ll never have to see him, again.”  He eagerly slapped his hands together.
“I’ll help him pack.  Does he have luggage or can I just shove everything in
some trash bags?”

Nia
gave her Match a kick in the ankle.

“Ow!”

Cross
was right.  Ty might never see Gion, again.

Her
thoughts ran together in a confused mass of heartbreak and self-disgust.
Obviously, Randa was better for Gion than Ty.  What in the universe could Ty
ever offer him?  Nothing, besides an almost empty kingdom, a crazy woman
struggling to put her life back together, and a mass murderer trying to kill
him for just looking at her.  Gion would have to be nuts to want that kind of
life.

With
Randa, he’d have a beautiful Match and a secure home with all the Stone Phases
as his new family.  This would probably even take him off Parald’s Most Wanted
List, since it would prove that Gion wasn’t interested in Ty.  Plus, Randa was
older than Ty.  More powerful.  Not so weak.  Randa could Phaze with Gion and
give him children.  Already, Ty could feel Gion’s energy hitting against Randa’s
at some special frequency.

They
were a perfect Match.

Gaia
had selected this woman just for him.  Only someone incredibly selfish would
begrudge him that miracle.  Anyone who loved Gion --really loved him--
would let him go find happiness.

Ty
wanted to throw something, or scream that Gion was hers, or pull the
lovely olive streak from Randa’s hair one strand at a time.  Instead, she edged
backwards towards the door.

Gion’s
eyes snapped over to her at the small retreat.  “Ty?”

She
swallowed hard.  “Congratulations.”  She got out softly and slipped from the
room before she started bawling.

“Ty!”

She
ignored Gion’s shout and headed up the stairs.  A real queen would have made a
more dignified exit.  She would’ve majestically swept from the room after
wishing them both a blessed life together and all that other “Happy Phazing
Day” garbage.  Ty didn’t have it in her to be gracious, though.

Not
about this.

She
marched into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her loud enough to rattle
the Plexiglas windows.  Wiping at her eyes, she stalked out onto the balcony
and braced her hands on the railing.  Misery gave way to anger.

This
was her own fault.  She’d known that getting so attached to Gion was a mistake.

And
it was Gion’s fault for making her care.  He’d gone out of his way to be
appealing.

And
it was Randa fault for even existing in the first place.  Bitch.

Ty
stared out over her kingdom and had never felt so alone.

Matches.

For
everyone else, they were a gift.  But Matches had been cursed for Ty since the
day she met Parald.  First, her own Match turned out to be a murdering lunatic
and now the man she loved was given to someone else.

It
wasn’t fair.

The
childish thought caused more tears to fall.

Ty
never should have gotten her hopes up about the energy being a potential double-Match
and the memory sharing meaning something special.  She’d wanted it to be true.
Wanted this claim she felt on Gion to be real.

He
was hers.

It
wasn’t fair that Gion didn’t belong to her.  It was just… wrong.

“Ty.”
Gion came up beside her although she had no idea how he’d gotten into the room
with her hearing him.  He certainly hadn’t knocked.  Huge surprise there.
Maybe his new House could teach him some manners.

She
sent him a glare and sniffed in a not-particularly-queenly fashion.  Decorum
wasn’t her main focus at the moment.  “Your children will be Stone Phases, you
know.  They can solidify anything they touch.  You’ll never be able to keep any
pets.”

“That
was my first thought downstairs, as well.”  He said gravely.  “Being a kids and
dogs type of guy, it’s definitely a concern.”

Ty
actually smiled slightly at his tone.  Randa had better appreciate his warped
sense of humor.  Her anger faded as she looked up at him, leaving only an empty
spot where her heart had been.  Ty didn’t want their last moments together
spoiled by crying or arguing.

“I’m
sorry.”  She cleared her throat and tried to get a hold of her emotions.
“Gion, I want you to be happy.  And it’s wonderful that…”  Ty trailed off,
unable to go on without lying.  It wasn’t wonderful that he’d found a Match.

It
was wrong.

“I
want you to be happy.”  Ty finally repeated.  “You’ll do what you have to do
and I understand.”

“There’s
only one decision that would ever make me happy.”  He reached out to touch her
hair.  “Only one decision that I could ever make.  You should know that
by now, Tritone.”

“I
do.  I’ll be alright.”  Ty wanted to reassure him, but some definite
“I-told-you-so”-ing was in order.  “I knew this day would come, though.  I
did.  You wouldn’t listen, but I knew your Match would come for you.”

“You
definitely worried about it.”

“Of
course, I did!  I wanted you, and I still do, and now this is woman taking you
away.”  Ty sounded bitter and she didn’t care.  “I always knew that our
connection would be a problem for you, but you said, ‘No, no, no.’  It was my
own fault for wanting you so much that I let myself hope that you’d like it
here and want to…”  Ty stopped before she brought up how much she loved him.
She wouldn’t put that kind of guilt on Gion.  “I’ll just… try to research
something that might sever our energy, alright?”

She
sure wouldn’t work real hard on it, though.  In fact, it had a permanent last
place position on Ty’s to-do list, after alphabetizing the entire Water
Palace library and then putting all the thousands of books back into their
original order, again.

Just
for fun.

Gion
stood beside her, looking out over the Water Kingdom.  “I do like it
here, you know.”  He murmured.  “I love it.”  For a second, Ty thought he might
be fishing for her to ask him to stay, but that didn’t make any sense.  Gion
knew that she wanted him desperately.  She’d stripped naked and told him so.
“This is a beautiful land.”  He continued.  “Even with those empty buildings
you’re so fond of.”

Better
focus to on the endless vista rather than the woman downstairs preparing to
steal Ty’s whole universe.  “It is.  But, the Stone Kingdom has…” Ty tried to
think of one specific, positive feature of that rocky, mountainous place and
came up blank, “many charms.  You’ll like it there, too.”

“I
doubt that.”

Ty
disregarded his attitude.  “And maybe, you could come back and visit the Water
Kingdom…and me.  Maybe.”  Ty tried to put some polite detachment into the
words, even when she was anxious for some assurance that she’d see him, again.

Gion
shook his head.  “I don’t think an occasional visit is the best choice for me.”

No,
he was probably right.

Randa
would never let him come back here.  Ty wouldn’t, if their situations were
reversed.  No woman would want the Match near some crazy, lovesick idiot who
might try to lure him away.  Not that Gion would leave Randa, anyway.  Why
would he?  But still, it hurt.  Ty understood, but it hurt like a stake through
the heart.

She
glanced up at Gion’s granite profile and blinked back more tears.  “I’ll miss
you.”

Gion
finally glanced down at her.  “Will you?”

“Of
course I will!”  Ty wiped at her eyes.  “You have no idea how much.  I know
it’s selfish, but I…”  She let out a long breath.  “I just wish that Randa
hadn’t shown up.  I wish you could stay here with me.”

There.
She’d said it.

Ty
waited for Gion to get annoyed about that.  Very few Phases would appreciate
someone else wishing their Match out of existence.

Instead,
Gion’s mouth curved.  He arched a brow.  “When I heard you were Matched with
Parald, I went crazy.  I could have killed him.  I wanted to.  I knew that the
Match was wrong.  I knew that you were mine.”

She
met his eyes, again.  “I should have been yours and you should have been mine.
Destiny made a mistake.  We both know that.”

But,
it wasn’t enough.

“I’ve
always been yours, Ty.”  Gion said seriously.  “Since the day I first saw you,
there’s never been a doubt in my mind.”

Ty
squeezed her eyes shut as tears rolled down her cheeks.  “If we could just be
like the humans, and pick our own partners, it would be so much better.”
She slammed her palms against the railing.  “Matches take everything
from me.  My freedom and my self-respect and my future and now you.  I hate
fucking Matches!  I don’t even think there is a Gaia anymore.  Why would
She do this?”

“There’s
a Gaia or I never would have found you, at all.”  Gion leaned closer to her and
kissed her temple.  “And I find it adorable that you actually said the word
‘fuck.’”

He
was obviously trying to distract her.  It worked.  Just for a second, Ty’s
world went back to normal.  “That’s the worst compliment you’ve given me.”  She
gave a watery laugh.  “Say something nice about my hair, instead.”

“I
love your hair, angel.  It makes me feel alive just to see it.  Some nights,
alone in the dark, remembering the color was all that got me through.”

“Thank
you.”  There was no one else like Gion.  He gave her music and poetry.  That
skanky Stone Phase would never love him, enough.  This was the worst day of
Ty’s life.  Even worse than her ninety-third birthday.

“It’s
probably pointless to mention this, but I was going to ask you…”  Gion stopped
and shrugged.  “Nothing.  Never mind.”

“No.”
Ty sniffed back more tears.  “Go ahead.  What do you want to ask?”  Anything
Gion wanted, he could have.  Ty would gladly give him the world, so she
couldn’t imagine why he looked nervous.

“Well,
before that woman arrived,” he looked away, again, “I was thinking of ways to
ask you if you’d Bind with me.”  Gion glanced at her from the corner of his
eye.

Ty
sucked in a quick breath.  “Really?”

Gion
nodded.

That
was wonderful… and horrible.  Ty felt the shattered remnants of her heart break
some more.  But, at the same time, a feeling of bittersweet happiness filled
her.  “If you could have, you would’ve chosen me?”

That
was more important to Ty than a Match.  Gion wanted her, just for herself.  If
he could follow his heart, it would have led to her.

That
meant everything.

“There
is no choice for me.  No matter what.  There never has been.”  He met
her gaze, again.  “Would you have said yes?”

Ty
didn’t trust her voice to answer that.  She just bobbed her head.

Something
moved behind Gion’s eyes.  Something like triumph.  “So, without the woman
downstairs, you’d Bind with me?”  He clarified.  “If I asked, you’d say yes.  I
have your word on that?”

Why
was he doing this?  “Yes.”

Gion
reached over to grab the front of her blouse, dragging her closer to him.  Ty
should’ve stopped it, but she didn’t.  She leaned up to meet his mouth as
lowered his head towards her.  She didn’t care that Gion had a Match.  For this
one last instant, he was still hers.

Ty
poured everything she had into the kiss.  Wrapping her arms around his neck,
she gave every drop of love she possessed to Gion.  He wasn’t her Match, but no
one would ever love him like Ty did and she wanted him to know that.
Her mouth opened beneath his, demanding everything that he had.

Gion
bent her backwards so her hair dangled over the edge of the balcony.  He pulled
her even closer to him as if he’d never get enough of her.  Ty lost herself in
the warmth and taste of him.  This reluctantly good man was the only one she’d
ever love or want.

Gion
pulled back suddenly, leaving Ty bereft.

She
almost apologized for allowing the kiss to happen.  But, Ty wasn’t sorry, so
why bother pretending?  Her real regret was that they’d never gone further.
Once Gion left, all the heat and boldness and desire inside of her would
vanish.  He had Randa, now, but Ty would die a virgin.  She’d never be able to
give herself to anyone else.

Shit.

Ty
dropped her head onto his shirtfront and saw she was getting it wet with
tears.  “You should go.”  Before she completely broke down.

“Come
with me downstairs.”  Gion latched on to her arm, tugging her towards the door.

“No.”
Ty shook her head vehemently.  “I don’t want to see that woman, again.  I don’t
want to see you leave with her and…”

Gion
jumped them.

For
one split second, Ty realized they were in Mayport Beach and then Gion was
jumping them back to the Water Kingdom… Right into the center of the living
room.

Ty
swore and batted Gion with her free hand.  “Jackass.”

Everyone
else just gaped at them.

Gion
smiled.  “Manda.”  He took a step towards the woman, not letting go of Ty.
“It’s been…”

“It’s
Randa, you clod.”  Ty interrupted, furious that he was going to make her
see this.

Gion
obligingly started again.  “Randa, it’s been very nice meeting you.”  He said
calmly.  “But, you’re renounced.”

Dead
silence filled the room.

Randa’s
lovely brown eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.

Ty’s
mouth dropped open.  “Are you crazy?!  Gion,” she tugged him around to
face her, “what are you doing?!”

“I’m
renouncing her.  We have three Council members right here,” he nodded towards
Job, Cross and Nia who all looked shocked, “that’s a quorum.  So, it’s nice and
official.”

“But,”
Ty shook her head, “you can’t just renounce your Match like this!”

“Now,
let’s not be a hypocrite, Tritone.  You did the same thing, as I recall.”

“That
was for a reason, you blockhead!”

“I
have a reason, too.”  Gion retorted.  “I.  Don’t.  Want.  Her.”  He
carefully spaced each word.  “I don’t care if she’s my Match, or Thar’s Match,
or the lost princess Anastasia.  I don’t want her.  I won’t have her.  Ever.
She’s renounced.”  He glanced over at Randa.  “No offence.”

Randa
mutely shook her head.

Cross
looked up at the ceiling.  “Shit.  I shoulda seen this coming.”

“Uh…
Gion?”  Job cleared his throat.  “Now, I’m not trying to influence you, but I’m
going to give you the same advice that I’d give anyone in this position.
Renouncing your Match is a huge step and I really think you should consider…”

Gion
cut him off.  “There’s nothing to consider.  I told Ty and I’ll tell you, there
is no other option for me.  I will never Phaze with that woman or with anyone
else.”

“Is
he a monk, now?”  Tharsis guessed.  “Is that it?”

“It’s
Ty.”  Nia whispered.

“It’s
always been Ty.”  Gion kept his attention on Ty’s pale face.  “Always.”

“No.”
Ty’s heart pounded in her chest.  Gion was about to ruin his life.  Throw away
all his chances at happiness.  “Gion, you’re being impulsive.  I know that you
feel a connection to me.  I feel it, too, but…”

“I
love you.”  Gion interrupted.  “I’ve loved you since you were eighty-four years
old and nothing will ever change that.”  He met her gaze steadily.  “I won’t
accept any other woman.”

Ty’s
lips parted.

Icy
blue eyes burned into hers.  “I don’t care what destiny says about Matches.
You’re the only woman I want.”  Gion’s words hypnotized her and still he kept
going.  “For me, there’s only you, Ty.  Only you.”

Ty
started shaking her head.  “I can’t give you what you really deserve, though.”
She whispered.  “I can’t give you children or Phaze with you.  Not because I
don’t want to, because I can’t.”  Tears started falling, again.
“I’d be your Match, if I could.  I swear it.  But I’m not.”

“Stop.”
He leaned forward to touch the side of her face.  “I don’t care about having a
Match.  I care about having you.”

Ty
bit down on her lower lip.  “You don’t mean that.”

“I’m
a liar, but not about this.”  Gion rubbed his thumb over her cheek, brushing
away tears.  “We have a deal.  If I didn’t have a Match, you said that you’d
Bind with me.  If I asked, you promised to say yes.  Well, I’ve gotten rid of
the Match and now I want you to keep your word.”

“You
have to take Randa back, though.  That’s the whole point!”

“I
won’t.”  There was absolute finality in his tone.  “Not even if you ask me to.
That’s the one thing I can’t do, Ty.  Not even for you.”

“She’s
your Match!”  Ty pointed at Randa.  “Phases wait forever to find that.”

“I’ve
waited for you.  I don’t see why this comes as such a surprise.  I have it on
good authority that they write books about Phases giving up their Matches for
true love.”

“You’ve
never even read Ismena.  Don’t try that.”  Ty looked over at her
cousin.  “Nia, tell him this is nuts!”

Nia
shrugged helplessly.  “Loving you isn’t nuts.”

“Nia!”

“Alright!”
Nia held up her palms in surrender.  “Fine.  Gion, maybe you should listen to
Ty.  Having a Match can be a wonderful thing.”

“I
am listening to her.  No one’s listening to me.”  Gion pointed at
his chest.  “All my life I’ve endured.  I’ve survived.  I’ve waited.
And I didn’t do all that so I could be stuck with some woman who I don’t love.
I endure and survived and waited for Ty.  I love Ty.  Manda is
nothing to me.”  He glanced at Randa, again.  “No offence.”

“Many
Matches have to learn to care for each other.”  Randa put in, looking
surprisingly unoffended.

“Yes,
you could learn to love her.”  Ty grabbed hold of Gion’s wrist and gave him a
shake.  “And her name is Randa.”

“Who
cares what her name is?  I don’t love her.  I won’t love her.  And
fucking destiny isn’t going to force her on me.”

Cross
glanced down at Nia.  “I wouldn’t trade you for another woman, either, baby.”
He reluctantly volunteered.  “If a different Match showed up for me, I’d
renounce her.  I’ve told you that before.  I want you, not just someone
to Phaze with.  Gion’s actually right for once.”

“But,
Nia is your Match, Cross.”  Ty shot back.

“It
wouldn’t matter if she wasn’t.  That’s what I’m saying.”  Cross looked
over at Job.  “Would it matter to you if Tessie wasn’t your Match?”

“No.
I love Tess.”  Job turned to Gion.  “Do you love Ty enough to be certain of
this?”

“Ty’s
the only thing in this universe that I am certain of.”

“That’s
impossible!”  Ty insisted desperately.  “Why would you want me over
Randa?  She’s perfect for you!”

“She’s
not.”

“How
would you know?  You haven’t said anything to the poor woman except, ‘you’re
renounced.’”

“What
else should I say?”

“That’ll
you’ll accept the Match, of course!”

“Which
would be a lie.  I won’t have her.  I think I’ve been very clear on the
subject.”

Ty
tried a new tactic.  “Alright, well what about the rest of the world, then?
With Elementals on the edge of extinction, don’t you think it’s irresponsible
to give up a chance to have more children?”

Gion
seemed amused by that.  “What are you expecting here, angel?  Me to give some
Humphrey Bogart, ‘our problems don’t amount to a hill of beans’ speech?”  He
snorted.  “Bad news.  I’m a selfish bastard and I thought Casablanca was
overrated.”

“But,
you could help sustain the universe by Phazing with Randa.”  Even if the image
of it made Ty sick.  “You could help ensure another generation of Stone
Phases.”

“I
don’t care.  I don’t even like the Stone Phases.”  Gion waved a dismissive
hand. “Without you, the whole world can burn to ashes and I wouldn’t miss it.”

Tharsis
chuckled.  “He seems pretty certain of this, Ty.  I think you’re stuck with the
guy.  No pun intended.”  Thar leaned a shoulder against the wall.  “Honestly,
you could do worse than Guy.  Hell, you have.”

“Gion
is better than Parald.”  Nia admitted.

Gion
inclined his head in their direction.  “So nice to have supportive in-laws.”

“Job.”
Ty switched strategies, again.  “You’re the High Seat.  You can stop him from
doing this.”

“No,
he can’t.”  Gion corrected confidently.

“Gion
has a right to renounce his Match, Ty.  You, of all people, know that.  It’s
the law.”  To Job, that said it all.  The law was always paramount.

Gion
honest-to-God smirked at having Job side with him.  He arched his brows at Ty
with a “now what?” sort of smugness.

Ty
made a frustrated sound.  “But, Job, he’s overwrought and not thinking straight!
He’ll regret doing this.”

“I’m
utterly lucid and capable of making up my own mind.”  Gion regarded Ty with
inflexible arrogance.  “I won’t give you up.  That’s my decision.”

“Alright,
how about this?”  Ty pulled out the big guns.  “I could kick you out of this
kingdom and refuse to see you, ever again.”  Even as she said that, Ty knew it
would never happen.  “Then, would you accept her, Gion?”

“No.”

It
was bizarre that a man calmly saying “no” like that would make Ty love him more
than ever.

But
it did.

And,
because she loved him, Ty felt like she had to make last effort to change his
mind.  “You believe in Gaia.  I know that you do.  This woman was chosen for
you by God.  Are you sure…”

“I
believe in you.”  Gion interrupted.  “You’re the only vision I’ve ever
had.  If I leave you, I won’t just regret it, it will kill me.  Literally.  I’d
rather die than exist without you.  Now, we can go on like this --back and
forth-- forever, but the woman will still be renounced.  It’s done.”

“But,
if you just gave it a day or so…”

“No.”

Ty
yielded beneath the word.  He just wasn’t going to budge.  Once Gion made up
his mind, he was like a brick wall.

And,
honestly, Ty saw no reason to continue arguing against what they both wanted.
In fact, why the hell was she trying to talk him out of this?  A smile curved
her lips.  Gion said that he loved her.  He said that he didn’t care that they
weren’t a Match.  He said that he just wanted her.  For Ty, that was all
that really mattered.  Freewill always trumped fate.

“Maybe
you should actually ask me to Bind with you, then.”  She challenged.

Gion
sensed a trap.  He studied her warily.  “You already promised me, remember?
You promised that you’d say yes.”

“I
said if you asked, though, didn’t I?”

“Gion,
wait.”  Randa chimed in, again, as if she realized that Ty was done making all
her arguments for her.  If Ty had been in her position she would have been
throwing a fit.  Randa just looked suddenly scared.  “You’re not really
going to do this, are you?”

Gion
spared her a quick look.  “What you want, I can’t give you.  Find someone
else.”  He looked back at Ty and his jaw tightened.  “Will you accept the
Binding, Ty?”

“Yes.”

“You
can’t just…”  Gion was apparently expecting a refusal, because he stopped his next
argument short.  The instant agreement knocked him off balance.  “Yes?”  He
echoed.

Ty
nodded.

“You’ll
Bind with me?”  Gion still didn’t look convinced.

“Yes.”

“Oh.”
Gion seemed dazed.  “Well… good.”   He hesitated, again.  “Why?”

Ty
grinned at his suspicious tone.  “It could be because I love you, too, I
guess.”

Gion
blinked rapidly.  “You do?”

“Yes.”

“That
doesn’t seem possible after everything I’ve done.”

Ty
shifted closer to him.  “Well, I guess you should try to be less lovable.”

Cross
snorted.  “I don’t see how he could manage that.”

Nia
made a “shhh!” sound.

Gion
ignored them.  “Ty, I didn’t think that… uh…”  He trailed off as she stood on
tiptoe and pressed her lips against his.

“I
love you.”  Ty said very distinctly.  “Don’t ruin the moment.”

Blue
eyes met hers, so filled with hope and wonder that Ty could’ve cried.  “You’re
really going to Bind with me?  Just like that?”

“Yes,
I really am.”

“Oh
thank Gaia.”  Gion smiled the most beautiful smile Ty had ever seen.  He caught
her up in his arms, lifting Ty right off the ground and holding her close.  “Right
now.  We have to do this right now, before you change your mind.”

“You’re
such an idiot.”  Ty buried her face in the curve of his neck.  “You’re the one
who should be backing out.  Please don’t, though.”

He
started laughing.  “Are you insane?  Do you have any what I’d risk for just a chance
at this?  I’m not going anywhere.”

“But,”
Randa shook her head, “this isn’t how it’s supposed to be!”

Ty’s
happiness dimmed, guilt taking its place.  The poor woman.  Gion couldn’t be
with someone that he didn’t love.  It would be wrong for everyone.  But, still,
this had to be so hard on Randa.

“I’m
sorry.”  Ty tried to let go of Gion, but he wasn’t cooperating.  “Randa, I…”

“Randa?”
Isaacs’ voice came from the doorway.  “What the hell is she doing here?”

Job
squinted.  “Isaacs is visiting?  Why?”

Randa’s
beautiful face went slack with shock.  “Isaacs!”  Her eyes widened in something
like horror.  “No.”  She backed up away from the doorway.  “What are you doing
here?”

“I
live here.”

“No,
he doesn’t.”  Cross and Gion chorused.

“You
can’t be here!”  Randa started crying.  “Why is this happening to me?  Why does
everything always go wrong for me?  Why is my life such a disaster?  Job,” she
sank to the ground, “please help me.  Don’t make go back.  I can’t.”

Job’s
eyebrows climbed.  “I see.”  He said, even though he clearly didn’t have a clue
what was going on.

“Isaacs,
do you know her?”  Nia gestured to Randa.

Randa
started sobbing.  Her hands covered her face as she rocked.

“I
know her.”  Isaacs smirked.  “You people ready to talk amnesty, yet?”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Happiness
cannot be passed around like cake, for in

almost
every case it is the product of two elements

Frank
Chapman Sharp- ‘The Aesthetic Element in Morality and Its Place in a
Utilitarian Theory of Morals’

“I’ll
give you amnesty, Isaacs.”  Ty said.  “Of course, I will.”

“Oh,
come on.”  Cross looked over at his uncle.  “Job, would you talk to her,
please?  Binding with Gion is crazy enough, but now she’s starting a halfway
house for the whole friggin’ Air Phase army.”

Job
shrugged.  “I’m certainly not advocating this plan, but I do think we need to
find out what’s going on with Randa and I don’t think she’s capable of talking,
right now.”

The
woman continued to weep like a silent movie heroine.

Only
she wasn’t silent.

“We’re
not granting Isaacs amnesty.”  Gion couldn’t believe Ty would even suggest it.
“Isaacs will tell us what he knows without us having to give him a damn thing.”

Isaacs
glared at him.  “Bite me.”  He used the wall to steady himself, his eyes trying
to focus on Gion.  “I’m not telling you anything.  It’s a deal between me and
her.  Ty knows I’m good for my part.”

“I
do.”  Ty agreed.  “Isaacs can stay.”

“Angel…”

“He’s
wounded, Gion.”

“So?”

“So,
you know as well as I do that Parald will kill Isaacs if we leave him out there
on his own.”

“So?”

“So,
if nothing else, I won’t give Parald the satisfaction of destroying another
life.  Especially, not on a day where I’m so happy.”  Ty kissed him.  “I love
you and I’m so happy.  I won’t do anything to spoil that.”

Looking
into her glowing face, Gion forgot what they’d been arguing about.

Ty
loved him.

She’d
agreed to Bind him.

The
hell with the rest of it.

He
could always kill Isaacs later, when Ty wasn’t smiling at him like he’d
arranged all the stars just for her.  “I love you, too.”  Gion kissed the
turquoise streak at her temple.  “You can have whatever you want, angel.  Even
if it’s something insane.”

Nia
snorted.  “Great.  And now he’s making me like him.”

“Amnesty,
then?”  Isaacs pressed.  His face looked strained and Gion realized that the
smug son-of-a-bitch was actually worried.  He’d never seen Isaacs worried
before.  Usually, the guy was all crazy smiles and wiseass remarks.

“Amnesty.”
Ty nodded.  “Welcome, Isaacs.”

“Don’t
screw up or we’ll have Gion explode you like a balloon.”  Tharsis chimed in.

“He’ll
try.”  Isaacs crossed his arms over his chest and nodded towards Randa.
“Parald sent her.”

Randa
cried harder.

“She’s
Gion’s Match.”  Job had the remarkable ability to raise his voice without
actually raising his voice.  The perfectly modulated tone was still audible
over the loud weeping.  “She’s from the Stone House.”

“Bullshit.
She might be a Stone Phase, but she’s from the Air House.”  Isaacs’ jaw
ticked.  “Trust me.  I had to watch Parald with her yesterday, down in the
dungeons.”

Gion
blinked, believing that.  Parald enjoyed voyeurism and, if he discovered Gion’s
Match, he’d absolutely sleep with the woman.  He was just that kind of guy.

“He
makes them watch?”  Tharsis stage whispered at Cross.

Cross
gave an elaborate shudder.  “I changed my mind.  They all deserve
amnesty.”

“He
forces all of us to play parts in these degrading little shows.”  Randa got out.
“Isaacs, most of all.  How many times a day does he make you to stand there and
watch him, Isaacs?  Two?  Three?  Five?”

Isaacs
cringed and didn’t answer her.

Gion
swore under his breath.

“I
just wanted to get away from Parald.”  Randa continued.  “I just wanted to
escape.  He’s so horrible and I thought…”  She gave a hysterical laugh.  “I
thought this was my chance to start over.  Gion’s stronger than the rest of the
men.  Parald’s scared of him.”

Ty
looked up Gion like he really was a hero.

Randa
kept babbling, so the words came out in an unstoppable rush.  “I thought I’d be
safe with Gion.  And I knew he wouldn’t love me, but I thought that he could
love anyone.  I thought Parald just wanted Gion out of the Water House.
But, it’s because Gion loves Ty.  Of course!  I should have known it was about
Ty.  Everything’s about Ty with that bastard.”

“I’m
confused.”  Nia headed over to crouch down next to Randa.  “If Gion’s your
Match, why would you…?”

“He’s
not my Match!  My Match died in the Fall.  That’s why I’m at the Air House.”
Randa cringed away from her.  “I left the Stone House for him and my family
wouldn’t take me back.  Then, Parald just showed up at my home last week and…”
She trailed off with whimper.  “I just wanted out of the Air House.”

“Gion
has to be your Match.”  Job insisted.  “I can feel your energy lining up.”

Randa
shook her head and went back to sobbing.

“You
so owe me, right now, Gion.”  Isaacs muttered.  “You’re not smart enough to put
this together on your own.  She’s not your Match, genius.  No way in
hell is that energy real.  Remember, Parald’s still got that other God Code
that he can use to cheat his way through the difficult levels.”

Ty’s
head tilted.  Her eyes went from Gion, to Randa, then over to Isaacs.  She
stared at him silently for a moment and then gasped.  “Oh Gaia.”

Gion
watched her pale.  “Ty?”

She
shook her head, backing away from him.  “Isaacs?”  Her voice was shrill.
“You’re wrong.”

“I’m
not wrong.  He did it once and I’ll bet my life that he’s done it, again.”
Isaacs sighed.  “Look, I’m sorry about this, Ty.  I didn’t know you, back
then.  And I hated Gion.  So, I focused on being a loyal soldier, following
orders, not questioning…”

“What
are you talking about?”  Nia interrupted.

Ty
squeezed her eyes shut.

“Parald
has a Tablet of Fate.”  Isaacs kept his attention on Ty.  “The Love Tablet.  He
can disrupt Matches.  Make them appear where they shouldn’t be and hide the
natural ones.  He can make himself, or someone else, seem like a Match,
when it’s all just… fake.”

Tharsis’
jaw dropped as the implications of that sunk in.

“He
did something to me.”  Ty turned to Gion, her expression stark.  “Parald did
something to me.  That’s the block.  He tried to block our energy.  He’s not
really my Match.”

Gion
heard a rushing sound in his ears as the truth of it hit him.  He was moving
before he even thought about it, grabbing Isaacs by the front of his shirt.
“Is Ty my Match?”  He bellowed.  “Did Parald fuck with our connection?!  Is
she my Match?”

“Yes!”
Isaacs shouted back.  “Jesus, how could you miss it?  I’ve been dropping hints
forever, thinking you’d catch on and kill him.  Do us all a favor.”

“Gaia.”
Job looked up at the heavens as if praying for strength.

Nia
hurried over to wrap her arms around Ty.  “Honey, it’s alright.  It’s alright.”

“I
knew it was wrong.  I told you he felt wrong.”  Ty leaned against her cousin.
“Parald’s not my Match.  I’m free.”

Nia
hugged her tight.

Gion’s
world went upside down.  “Ty’s mine?”  He wheezed.  “She’s mine?”

“Ty’s
yours.”  Isaacs squinted up at Gion.  “Parald knew it.  He heard you in the
dungeon with Seneca, saying how your Match was going to have the Water House
crown.  I mean, it had to be Ty, right?  Parald’s obsessed with being
the Big Man on Campus and your Match was a damn princess.  Look at her.  Of course,
he wanted her.  Once he had the Love Tablet it was… easy, I guess.  I don’t
know.  He didn’t let me in on the details.”

Gion
dropped his hold on Isaacs and stepped away.  He doubled over, the roar of his
fury filling his head and swamping his senses.

“He’s
going to flip out.”  Cross diagnosed.  “I don’t blame him.  On the plus side,
we can kill Parald now, right?  No more waiting.”

Job
disregarded that.  “Gion,” he began worriedly, “son, take a deep breath…”

The
Air energy escaped Gion’s control, blowing the glass out of every French door
like a hurricane.

“Gion!”

He
heard Ty screaming for him, but he was incapable of a response.  The rage
consumed him.  He’d never been so angry in his life.  He hadn’t even known it
was possible for one person to generate anger on that scale.  It blinded him,
driving out every thought and every ounce of sanity.

Parald
had stolen his Match.

Parald
had stolen Ty.

And
Gion had just… let him.

“Gion!”
Ty pulled free of Nia and moved closer to him.  “Gion, stop!”

He
held up a palm, warding her off.  “Stay away.”  He got out.  “Just…”  He shook
his head.  “I can’t.”  His powers were out of control.  For the first time
ever, Gion feared he could accidently hurt her.  He stumbled out onto the
balcony, trying to regain some balance.

“Job.”
Ty called desperately.  “Talk to him.”

“Stay
in here.  All of you.”  Job ordered.  “Nia, especially you and the baby.”

“She’s
not going near the maniac.  I guarantee it.”  Cross assured him.

“Baby?”
Isaacs echoed.  “No way.  You’re pregnant?!  That’s the first pregnancy
since the Fall, right?”

Everyone
ignored that.

Job
ducked through the shattered door and edged closer to Gion.  Slowly.  Like a
man approaching a rabid cougar.  “Gion.  It’s alright.  It’ll be alright.”

“How?”

“Job,
don’t get too close to him.”  Cross followed them on the balcony.  “Brokk!”  He
quickly glanced back into the palace.  “Get in here!  Keep Isaacs away from
Nia.”  He crunched across the shards of glass on the pavement, heading for his
uncle.  “Job, seriously, he’s out of his mind.  Stay back.”

Gion
moved to the far side of the balcony, away from the eyes and ears of the
others.  He braced his hands on the railing and ground his teeth together.
“Both of you back off.”

Job
kept coming.  “You’re upset.  I understand that…”

“Upset?!”
Gion interrupted harshly.  Gale force winds whipped around them.  “He stole my
Match, Job!  Would you be upset if Parald took Tessie?  What would you
do, huh?”

“Truthfully?
I’d kill him.  But, first you have to calm down.”

Cross
nodded, coming up beside his uncle.  “That’s what I’ve been saying.  Now, we
can kill Parald with no waiting period.”  He moved so he could grab Job out of
range if Gion detonated.  “We can fix this.  Don’t do anything insane.”

Gion
was past hearing their assurances.  “Parald went into Ty’s mind and poisoned
our connection.  And when that didn’t work --when she still
wouldn’t have him-- he tried to fucking rape her.  I saw it in her memories.”

Cross
swore savagely.

Job
let out a long breath.

“He
hit her.”  Gion continued.  The wind howled, like a dying animal.  “She
flinched away from me, the first time I touched her.  Ty flinched from me,
because he hit her and tried to rape her.  How can you fix that?!”

“Well,
she’s obviously not flinching from you, now.”  Cross retorted.  “Not yet.
But, you’re gonna scare Ty with this wind tunnel thing, if you don’t cut it
out.”

Job
kept his voice “talking someone off the ledge” reasonable.  “Gion, you can help
Ty get passed what happened.  She trusts you.”

“She
trusted me and I let her down.”  Down below, the roof blew off one of the
houses.  Luckily, it seemed like part of the non-historic district.  “Parald
made her question everything that she did.  He tried to destroy Ty.  He
released the Fall and then blamed her for renouncing him.”

“That
wasn’t your fault.”

“Parald
stole three years of her life.”  Gion looked over at Job, his eyes glowing with
rage.  “He made my own Match afraid of me!”

“She’s
not afraid of you, anymore.  Which is why you need to…”

“I
knew she was mine.  I felt it.  And didn’t trust my instincts.  I just let him
take her.”  Gion dropped his head.  “I thought I was delusional for ever
believing that I could have Ty.  I said, obviously Gaia wouldn’t give
her to me.  I just accepted that I’d lost her.  I didn’t question it, enough.
It was my fault.”

Cross
shrugged.  “Well, if it’s any consolation, it strikes everyone as
unbelievable that Ty would be your Match.”

Job
sent his nephew a “not helping” sort of frown.

“Alright.
Alright.  Gion?”  Cross cleared his throat and tried, again.  “It took me two
years to find Nia.  I knew I had a Match, but I didn’t know who she was.  I
went out of my mind wanting her.”

“I
knew that Ty was my Match.  I just… screwed up.”

“You
couldn’t have known.”  Job insisted.  “I was there with Ty and Parald, in the
same room as them, and I didn’t think that their Match was fake.”

“But,
I should have.  I just left her with him.”  It killed Gion to think of
it.  “I abandoned my Match with a rapist and I didn’t even know.”  Ty hadn’t
even been of age when Parald met her and began his manipulations.  Innocent and
helpless against that kind of evil.  Gion had just thrown her to the wolves.
“I screwed up.”

“Gion,
no.  The Tablets of Fate are the most powerful objects in the universe.
They can be twisted.  They created the Fall.  They nearly killed me.  They’re
not some stupid trick you should have seen through.”  Job leaned closer to
him.  “They altered the Phazing energy.  You were a victim, as much as Ty.
God, Parald just did the same maneuver with you and Randa and none of us picked
up on it.”

“Parald’s
copying his own arch-criminal plots.”  Cross muttered.  “It’s just lazy.”

“I
can handle Randa.  That’s hardly the problem here.”  Gion’s energy connected
with that woman, but it just felt… wrong.  He wasn’t worried about it.  He
could deal with whatever Parald threw at him.  Not even Gion could kill some
woman while she wept at him, but he could get rid of their connection somehow.
All he could think about right now was Ty.

Job
wasn’t giving up on his intervention.  “You aren’t to blame.”

“I
screwed up.  I let Ty down.  She’s not going to forgive me for this.”

“There’s
nothing to forgive.  Ty didn’t detect the fake Matching, either.”

“No,
she’s been saying all along that’s something’s off.  I didn’t pay close enough
attention.”  Gion pressed the heels of his palms into his eye-sockets.  “She
was a baby, Job.  Barely ninety-three and she knew that Parald was wrong.  And
I didn’t.”

“You
did know that it was wrong.”  Cross nodded.  “I’ve never even heard
of anyone faking a Phazing before, so how could you think up that part?  But,
you felt that Ty was yours and you focused on getting her to Bind with you.
That actually makes sense.  I would’ve done the same thing.”

All
Gion could see was Ty looking up at him in the Council Hall, wanting him to do
something to save her from Parald… and Gion being completely oblivious.

She’d
had to save herself.

He’d
screwed up and his Match had suffered.

The
Air powers started twisting into a tornado.

“Gion.”
Job’s voice rapped out like hammer.  The total authority in it had Gion
instinctively looking at him like he was eight years old, again.

Job
put his hands behind his back, military “at rest” style.  “Shit happens.”  He
said succinctly.

Gion
blinked.  Job didn’t swear very often.  The novelty alone had him paying
attention.

Cross
snorted in amusement.  “Oh man.  You’re so getting a ‘Shit Happens’ t-shirt for
your birthday, Job.  Be ready.”

Job
ignored that promise.  “Life’s not fair, Gion.  But, there’s nothing you can do
about it.  I waited a thousand years for Tess and, when she got here, I didn’t
even recognize her as my Match.  You think that I didn’t call myself an idiot?”

Gion
couldn’t imagine Job ever questioning himself.  A big part of him would always
see Job as infallible.  A paragon of Elemental manhood.   The kind of Match
that Ty should have had.

“Focus
on the present.”  Job instructed.  “You have a Match, now.  And not just a
Match.  You have Ty.”

The
cyclonic funnel eased.

“The
woman’s a gift, Gion.  Do you love her?”

“Of
course, I do.”

“Then,
this is good news.  Didn’t you always want Ty as your Match?”

“Yes.”
Gion had only ever prayed for two things in his life: forgiveness and Ty.

Maybe
they were the same thing, actually.  If Addom was up there holding a grudge,
Gaia wouldn’t have given Ty to Gion.  Ty wouldn’t be Matched with a murderer.
He should have seen that before.  Gion believed in God, and no force for Good
would give someone like Ty to Parald.  It was a blasphemy to even think
it… and yet, Gaia had Matched Ty to Gion.  Wasn’t that proof that he’d been
forgiven?

Job
was right.  Ty was a gift and, amazingly, she’s been given to him.

“You
have what you want.  She agreed to Bind with you and she’s your Match.
Ty loves you.  You said that you’ve been waiting for her for eleven years and
now you have her.”

Gion
shook his head.  “Yeah, but…”

Job
cut him off.  “No.  Don’t get bogged down in the rest, right now.  Don’t do what
you did when Addom died and start blaming yourself for what might have been.
You don’t have the luxury of self-indulgence, anymore.  You have a Match to
take care of.  That’s a lot of responsibility.”

Cross
grunted.  “You scare me when you pull out the duty and honor lecture, Job.  I
always wanna salute.”

“I
wouldn’t mind.”

Cross
chuckled.

Gion
reached into his pocket and found Ty’s hair barrette.  He felt the Air energy
coming back under control.  “This is real.  No one can ever take Ty from me,
again.”

“Exactly.
Now, go and be a Match to her.”  Job’s hand came over and thumped Gion on the
shoulder.  “Ty needs you.”

Gion’s
thumb traced over the plastic daisies.  “Ty’s my Match.”  He couldn’t let her
down, again.  Job was right.  This was actually… good news.  “Ty’s really
mine.”

“She
is.  And I’m glad.  You deserve to be happy.  That’s all you have to worry
about screwing up, understand?  Don’t sabotage this.”

Ice
blue eyes met lawn green.  “Thank you.”  That was the first time Gion had ever
thanked Job for anything.

Job
looked shocked.  As shocked at Job could look, anyway.  Both eyebrows
shifted upward slightly and he paused for a beat.  “Well… you’re welcome.”

Cross
pointed towards the house.  “Are we done holding hands, now?  Can you go
comfort your Match?”

Gion
shot him a glower and stalked back into the living room.  He hesitated at the
doorway, his eyes going to Ty.  She was sitting on one of the striped sofas,
between her cousins, sobbing against Tharsis’ shoulder.

Shit.

Gion
had the very real feeling that he wouldn’t be welcomed in the family circle.
“Ty?”

Her
head snapped around.  “Gion, that’s the block!  The Tablet put the block
inside me.”  She scrubbed at her cheeks.  “I told you there was something
stopping my energy.  He did something to me.  It’s not natural.”

“I
know, angel.”  Gion crossed the room, kneeling down in front of her.  “We’ll
fix it.”   He promised, plagiarizing Cross.  “We’ll fix everything.”

“That’s
why our memory sharing was so weird.  It was reacting to the… whatever that
Parald did and it was trying to show us the truth as best it could.”  Ty made
frustrated gesture with her hand.  “I thought there was a double-Match.  I knew
my connection to you was Phazing energy, somehow.  I just didn’t put it
together quick enough.  I’m sorry.”

“Stop
apologizing to me.  God, Ty!  I’m the one who’s sorry.  And I can’t
stand that you’re crying.  I can’t even imagine how traumatized you must feel,
but…”

“I’m
not crying because I’m traumatized.”  She interrupted with an amazed expression.
“I’m happy.”

That
stopped Gion for a beat.  “You’re… happy?”

“Yes.”
She gave a laugh.  “I’m happy, you dummy.  What do you think?”  Ty
pushed herself off the sofa cushions and landed right in his arms.  “I knew you
were supposed to be my Match.”  She kissed the side of his jaw.  “I’m happy to
be free of Parald.  And I’m happy that you would have wanted me, anyway.  You
make me so happy.”

Gion
felt the back of his eyes burning.  “You make me happy, too.”  He whispered.

He
had Ty.  After eleven years, he finally had her.  Gion was holding her too
tightly, but she didn’t seem to mind.  Job was right.  He wouldn’t sabotage
that.  It was more than he’d ever hoped for.  Over the top of Ty’s head, Gion
met Nia’s gaze.

“I’ve
decided to keep you on as King of the Water House.”  Nia told him seriously.
“Congratulations.”

Gion
had never considered that part of being Ty’s Match.  “King?  I don’t want to be
king.”

“Well,
you have to be.”  Ty pulled back to grin at him.  “Otherwise, I’ll have to step
down as queen and then Thar will be king.  He doesn’t want that.”

“Nope.”
Tharsis chimed in.  “Not gonna happen.  I called it first, Guy.”

Ty
nodded.  “He really did.  Don’t worry you’ll be a fine king.  People always
respect your leadership abilities… Hey!”  Her expression lit up.  “I know!
Wouldn’t you like to sit for the Water House on the Council?  Then, Nia could
sit for the Shadow House.  Thar and I just dread the idea of Council meetings,
but you’d be great at it, Gion!”

Gion
realized that he’d been a Match for four minutes and he was already in over his
head.  “Whatever you want, angel.”  He didn’t really care.  Whatever she wanted
was fine with him.  He’d never seen Ty so excited.  Not even when he played the
Blue Danube for her.  She was crying and laughing and hugging him.  Gion
would dig ditches if she asked.

“If
Guy’s gonna go to the Council meetings, Nia, you need to videotape it for me.”
Tharsis drawled.

Gion
stroked Ty’s red curls.  “I love you.”  He said quietly, mostly just she would
say it back to him.  He wanted to hear the words, again.

“I
love you, too.”  She gave her hair a toss, because she knew that he liked it.
Gion could tell from the gleam in her eyes.  “Can we still do the Binding
ceremony?  It’s so important to me that we chose each other, before we knew we
were a Match.”

“Yes.
We can do that.”  He would have died for her.

“I
don’t want to stand in front of the Council, again, either.  For our Phazing
Day, I want it to be just you and me and our family…”  She trailed off.  Gion
could actually see reality coming back into her gaze.  “Gion?  What if whatever
Parald did is permanent?  What if the block won’t go away and can’t I Phaze
with you?  What would happen, then?”

Gion
watched her gravely.  “Then, I’d leave you for another woman.  I’d miss you,
though.”

Ty’s
mouth parted.  For a second, she just gaped at him.  Then, she started
laughing, again.  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she giggled like crazy.
“You have a terrible sense of humor.  You’re lucky you found me.  No one else
would have you without a supernatural spell getting involved.”

Nia
and Tharsis rolled their eyes in perfect unison.

Gion’s
mouth curved.  His gaze slipped over to Isaacs.  He detested the bastard, but
they had worked together for the past century.  It was automatic.  In the other
man’s milky eyes he could see the knowledge of what was about to happen.

“You
want me to get Amarna?”  Isaacs mouthed as if he could feel Gion’s attention
fix on him.  Maybe he was used to working with Gion, as well.

“Yes.”
Gion said emphatically.

The
Air House rebels just got themselves a brand new member.  Parald was about to
learn that he’d made a big fucking mistake when he targeted Gion’s Match.
There had never been a deader Phase in the annals of Elemental history.

“Yes?”
Ty repeated blankly.  “Yes, what?”

“We
need Tessie.”  Gion decided, instead of answering.  “She knows the Tablets
better than anyone.  She can tell us how to fix the block.  Don’t you think?”

Ty
bobbed her head.  “Good idea.  Tessie can help.”

“I’ll
call her.”  Job volunteered from the doorway.  “Something tells me that she’ll
want to be involved.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

She works
by charms, by spells, by the figure, and such daubery as this is, beyond our
element

William
Shakespeare-‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’

“You
want to put Plexiglas in the Earth Palace?”  Uriel, of the Wood House glanced
over at Tessie.  “You’ve heard the rumors that this structure inspired the
human Renaissance, correct?  They copied it, even though it predates…”

“I
so don’t care about the history lesson.”  Tessie interrupted.  “I lived
through the Renaissance and it was boring enough the first time.  Now, Gion’s
replacing the windows in the Water Palace and I want some plastic here, too.
It’s a damn good idea.  He’s going to put them in the Shadowland, next, I
think.”

Uriel
frowned.  “Cross will not like that.”  He’d been Ty’s bodyguard for years,
until he was Matched with Sullivan’s cousin, Melanie.  He still had a
proprietary interest in all Water House goings on.

Nobody
wanted one of the only Phase-Matches in the universe risking his life as a body
guard, so Uriel had been forced into early retirement by the Council.  Being a
Wood Phase, he couldn’t stop his soldiering completely, though.  Uriel spent
his time doing freelance consulting work, complaining that Melanie refused to
quit her job as a policewoman, and looking for any trouble that he could
“accidently” engage in.

He’d
already missed the Battle in the Agora today, so Uriel was eager for some new
fight.  Gion proved an irresistible target.

“And
I do not think Gion is the best Phase to take advice from, Quintessence.  I
know him.  He is my kin, so I have some understanding of the man.”

“You’re
related to Gion?”  Tessie liked Guy, but she’d been picturing a “born
from a jackal” kind of back story for him.

“My
grandmother was his cousin.”  In the Wood House, that qualified as family.
Especially, since there were only a five Wood Phases left.  “He is… troubled.”

“He’s
doin’ better, now.”  Tessie enjoyed gossip more than anything, except soap
operas and sleeping with Job.  “He’s with Ty.”

“Yes,
I know.  It is unsafe to have him at the Water House.  I do not know why Brokk
allows...”

“No,
blockhead.  He’s with her.  Gion loves Ty.”

“Ty?”
Uriel held up a hand at chest level.  “Little and…”

“Is
there another, Ty?”

Uriel
actually thought about that as if it might be a trick question.  Apparently,
Gion’s “family” wouldn’t be forming a line to fill up his side of the Council
Hall come the Binding Day.  ‘Cause there would be a Binding.  Tessie had
known Gion for almost thirty years.  The guy didn’t know how to fail.

Tessie
gave up on explaining romance to a Wood Phase.  “Just measure my windows for
the Plexiglas, please.”  She should have just done it herself, rather than use
it as an opportunity to alleviate some of Uriel’s boredom.  Maybe she could get
the guy interested in golf or something.  That would be a less aggravating way
to amuse Mr. Unemployed.

He
obligingly pulled out a tape measure and began his work.  “Does Job know about
this plastic idea?”

“No.”

Uriel
nodded.  “When he becomes the first Phase in history to succumb to a massive
heart attack, remember that this was not my idea.”

Tessie
rolled her eyes.  First of all, she was right to replace the windows.  Secondly,
she was the Earth Queen, now, so this was her home, too.  And finally, her
Match adored her.  If there was one thing that Tessie absolutely didn’t worry
about, it was Job freaking out on her.

Tessie
started to explain that she could’ve blown up the Earth House, just for kicks,
and Job would only wince a little.  Before she could do more than open her
mouth, though, she felt a surge on energy.

Job.

Tessie
turned, a bright smile on her face, as her Match appeared in the nursery.

The
room had been prepared for Cross, back when he was a boy.  Not that Job’s bitch
of a sister had ever let the kid come and visit Job.  Instead, the cute little
space, filled with tin soldier wallpaper and every toy imaginable, had been
sitting empty for two hundred years.

It
was Tessie’s favorite spot in the house.  She was working hard to bring color
and life into the subdued, tasteful Earth Palace, but this room was already
perfect.  It was like a peek into Job’s wishes and dreams.

“Hey,
honey.”  She went on tiptoe to kiss him.  “Back from the trenches?”

“The
Water House, actually.”  Job looked over at Uriel, his eyebrows rising ever so
slightly in surprise.  “Uriel.”  He glanced down at the tape measure, obviously
wondering what the Wood Phase was doing, but too polite to ask.  “How are you?”

“It
was Tessie’s idea.”  Uriel pointed at her.  “She asked me to do it.  I told her
you wouldn’t want plastic windows, but she insisted.”

“I
see.”  Job murmured, even though he clearly didn’t.

“Plexiglas
is a good idea.”  Tessie repeated stubbornly.  “For security.”

Job
caught up pretty fast.  “You want to replace our windows with plastic?”
Jumping on board with Gion’s plan really didn’t thrill him.  Job was used to
being the one with all the good ideas.  Tessie thought that his pout was
adorable.  “I maintain excellent security.  No one has ever gotten past my
barriers.”  Job complained and then paused.  “Well, except you, Tess.”

She
batted her eyelashes.  “There’s a next time for everything and I believe in
being prepared.”

“Well,
why are you preparing this room?”  Job looked around the nursery and
then back at her.  “No one ever comes in here.”

“Well,
I’m not pregnant, yet.  But, I figure it’s just a matter of time, don’t
you think?”

Job
blinked.

Tessie
grinned.  “And I want to make sure our unconceived baby is super protected.
This is his room and it needs to be secure.  I’m not taking any chances.”

“Oh.”
Job’s eyes had gone wide.  He glanced down at her bare midriff, peeking out
from under her camisole top.  “I would love a child.”  The words were almost
inaudible, but Tessie still heard the wistful yearning in them.  Job would
never think that he was worthy of a family, but he’d make such a wonderful
father.

Tessie
leaned forward to hug him, resting her head against his shoulder.  “And in the
meantime, Nia’s daughter could stay in here when she comes to visit.  That’s
our niece, after all.  Plexiglas is such a simple thing and it could
keep her just a tiny bit safer.”

Job
turned back to Uriel.  “Rip out the windows.  All of them.  Anything she
wants.”  He looked down at Tessie.  “Of course.  Yes.  Plastic.”  He touched
the side of her face and gave her one of his almost smiles.  “Thank you.”

“You’re
welcome.”  Tessie kissed him, again.

Uriel
rolled his eyes.  “Melanie and I will have children, but I do not want them
sealed in plastic.  You must let the young have freedom.  That is why I am not
stricter with Sullivan.”

The
Wood House treated their thirty-five year old, part-human member like a four
year old at Christmas time.  Lots of indulgent smiles and not telling him
things for his own good.  The poor guy had no idea that Elementals even
existed, let alone that the Wood House thought that he was now under their overprotective
protection.

Tessie
liked Sullivan.  It was so, so wrong to enjoy the Wood House’s absently
condescending attitude towards him.

But,
she couldn’t help it.

She
bit back a snicker and glanced at her Match.  “So, why are you home so early,
Joby?  I figured you’d be late, what with the fight in the Agora and everything.”
She usually nagged Job into a strict nine to five schedule.  Left to his own
devices, he’d work thirty hours a day.  He needed her to regulate his goof-off
time.

Tonight
they were supposed to be watching Manos: The Hands of Fate, because Job
loved bad sci-fi movies.  Tessie had been willing to give him a rain
check, seeing as how much had happened in the realm that day.  But, if he’d
blown off working late… so much the better.  Maybe her bad influence was
finally rubbing off on him.

He
flashed her an exasperated look at the nickname.  He didn’t like it when she
called him “Joby,” except he kind of did.  For all his senatorial taste
in clothes, Job loved to play.  Teasing him always brought a warm glow to his
lawn green eyes.  “I need your help.”

“Really?”
That was a change of pace.  Usually, it was Job fishing her out of trouble.
“Sure.  Anything, honey.”

“Would
you come and examine Ty?  We think Parald did something to her with the Love
Box and you’re the only one who can tell us how to fix it.”  No one understood
the Tablets better than Tessie.

“Parald
hurt Ty?”  Uriel dropped the tape measure and shoved his way into the
conversation.  “Is she alright?”

“Physically,
she’s fine.  Parald,” Job’s mouth tightened, a sure sign that he was seriously
pissed, “he did something to her energy.”

Uriel’s
jaw dropped as Job explained that Parald had disrupted Gion and Ty’s Match.
“He did that to my cousin!?  To the Wood House!”

“Ohhhhh.”
Tessie drew out the word, her mind going back to Gion’s uncharacteristic besotted-ness
around the redheaded Water Queen.  “Well, that explains a lot.”

Of course,
Ty was Gion’s.

She
was the only person who ever got past Gion’s icy guards.  The only thing that
he even openly loved.  In the three decades that she’d known the arrogant
bastard, Tessie had never seen Gion wear his heart on his sleeve the way he did
with Ty.

Tessie
cared for Gion a lot and it worried her that he was so isolated.  She’d often
thought that, one day, he’d just… quit, unless someone came and saved him.  And
now she knew why it had taken such a long time for his rescuer to show up.

Parald
had basically kidnapped the girl.

Jesus!
He could’ve killed Gion.  A Phase deprived of his Match was capable of
all sorts of crazy, suicidal shit.  Look at Chason.  If Parald’s plan had
actually worked, Gion could have imploded.  Ty Phazing with another man would
have driven him insane.  And he was already nutty, enough.

Tessie
shook her head, annoyed that she’d missed the obvious and that Parald had
endangered her oldest friend.  “Parald stole Gion’s Match, huh?”  She snorted
and looked on the bright side.  “Well, that asshole’s as good as dead.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

I think he has much improved; the sea
air is his native element

Thomas Bailey Aldrich- ‘Majorie Daw’

Ty
had stolen Gion’s clipboard and busily made notes about their Binding ceremony.

“The
entire Wood House should come, don’t you think?”  She asked her pacing groom.
“I mean, they’re your family, correct?  Unless you count the other Air Phases.”

“I
don’t count the Air Phases.”  Gion muttered.  “Or the Wood House.  You’re
my family.  You and your idiot relatives.  In fact, I don’t care who else is
invited.”  He hesitated.  “Maybe Tessie.  She can come.”

Ty
already had Tessie’s name on their guest list.

While
Nia and Cross were dealing with Randa, the rest of them were waiting for Job to
get back with the Quintessence.  Ty was also using the time to distract Gion
from his rage.

She
looked over at Isaacs, who continued to brazen through his eye injury.  Amarna
and Brokk were discussing attack strategies on the other side of the room.
Having Gion join the Air House rebels made Amarna’s century.  She was
cheerfully plotting ways to bring down Parald and Brokk was thrilled to help
plan the carnage.

But,
Isaacs still stood by the doorway.  He kept his back to the wall and hand on
the hilt of his sword.

“Would
you be Gion’s best man, Isaacs?”  Ty offered.  She could tell that he
desperately wanted Gion’s approval, despite the dark scowls he kept leveling in
her Match’s direction.  “That’s a human thing, but wouldn’t it be a wonderful new
tradition for us to adapt?”

The
Water House had never held a Binding Ceremony before.  At least, none that she
remembered, so Ty felt free to create her own customs.  Binding created the
equivalent of husband and wife.  Bound Phases even called each other by those
titles.  It made total sense to pilfer the human rituals.  With flowers and
rings and wedding attendants.  It would be fun.  They all needed to focus on
something fun, rather than more bloodshed.

Isaacs
rubbed at his eyes.  Every time Ty brought up going to Freya, Isaacs closed
down and muttered, “Later.”  Ty would give him another hour or so and then
she’d call a doctor herself.  Isaacs was running on pride and an absolute
refusal to show weakness in front of Gion, but enough was enough.  Ty had been
raised to be a queen.  She respected the need for appearances.  Now, Isaacs was
part of the Water House, though.  She had a responsibility to look after him,
whether he liked it or not.

“Best
man?”  Isaacs frowned and squinted over at her.  “What would I have to do?”

“Stand
up with Gion as we say our vows and help him get ready for our ceremony.  It’s
very important.”

“Isaacs
isn’t the ‘best man’ at anything.”  Gion scoffed.

Isaacs
responded to that with an impolite hand gesture.

“Gion,
be nice.”  Ty chided.  “If you have any genuine input for our Binding Day, then
feel free to jump in.  But, if you’re just going to be negative, I’ll plan it
all myself.”

He
flashed her frustrated look.

Ty
pretended not to notice.  It was becoming very obvious that her first job as a
real Match would be to distract Gion from doing something crazy.  He was so
angry she could feel the vibrations of it in his energy.  He was trying to hide
it from her, but Gion wanted to hunt Parald down now.

Ty
wanted to kill that bastard, too, but she liked to have all the facts before
she rushed into anything.  She wanted Tessie to tell them how to fix the block
and to make sure that getting rid of Parald was all they needed to do to undo
the fake Matches.  Basically, Ty needed assurances that Parald had no more
tricks up his sleeve before she committed to executing that son-of-a-bitch.

Ty
wouldn’t risk Gion or their connection.

Not
for anything.

“Gion?”
She said softly and his attention snapped back over to her.

“Yes?”

“I
love you, but you’re making me dizzy.  Calm down.”

He
stopped his restless prowling and came over to stand in front of her.  Icy blue
eyes met hers solemnly and she knew exactly what he wanted.

“I
love you.”  She repeated firmly.  It hadn’t taken Ty more than a minute or two
to see that Gion would need to constantly hear the words.  Odds seemed good
that no one had ever told him that before.  Damn Air House.  “Please calm
down.”

Gion
nodded.  “I’m sorry.  I will.  I love you, too.”  But, he resumed pacing.

Ty
sighed and went back to planning her Binding ceremony.  “Let’s see… Nia will be
my Matron of Honor, obviously.  But, I’m not wearing the whole formal robes
thing, again.  What do human brides wear?  Ball gowns, right?”  She aimed that
question at Thar, since he was someone else in desperate need of a distraction.

At
the other end of the couch, Tharsis was pretending to watch that silly modeling
show, but his eyes focused on a spot two feet below the screen.

Her
family was happy for her.  Happy that she was free from Parald.  Ty could
already tell they were starting to blame themselves for what had happened,
though.  Tharsis rarely let her see behind his lazy smile, anymore.  But, Ty
still remembered his festering hatred of Parald and how it had actually
frightened her to see it.  Tharsis had a brutal streak inside of him that the rest
of the Water House lacked.

A…
hardness.

Ty
had been grateful when she’d woken up from her injuries on the sixth day of the
Fall and discovered that the Air Kingdom’s barriers were impenetrable.  No one
could get through them, which was very, very lucky.

Once
he saw that Ty would live, Tharsis was freed from his bedside vigil.  His first
thought had been to go after Parald.  If Thar went into the Air Kingdom, either
he or Parald would die.  She’d seen that in the glow of his eyes.  Risking her
cousin --her brother-- was the last thing Ty wanted.  Tharsis had never
gotten over his failure to kill Parald, though.

“Thar?”
Ty said quietly, giving up on subtlety.  “Remember the night before my
ninety-third birthday?”

His
turquoise gaze flicked over to her.  “Yeah.”

Even
when everyone else had assumed that Ty would be thrilled to find her Match and
happy to Phaze with him, Tharsis had despised Parald.  Ty had always seen
that.  He’d told her so, in fact.  That was another reason that she
always held herself back from Parald.  Ty trusted Tharsis with every bit of her
heart and soul.  More than she trusted herself.  Thar didn’t like Parald and it
just added to Ty’s own suspicions that something was very wrong with her
“Match.”

Tharsis
understood people.

“You
remember what you said to me?”  She prompted when Thar didn’t say anything
else.

Tharsis
nodded.  He’d been the only person who’d looked at the bride the day before the
Phazing Ceremony and counseled her to “dump his ass.”

“Thank
you for giving me such good advice.”  Ty told him seriously.  “I should have
said that before.”

His
mouth tightened and Ty saw her actual cousin for a beat.  The real Tharsis
who existed behind the “What, Me Worry?” smile.

“I
hate that piece of shit, Ty.  I hated him right from the beginning.  And the
thought of you wasting yourself on someone like him…”  Tharsis shook his head.
“I should have known he’d done something to fake the Match.  I could feel that
he was wrong for you.  Just… feel it.  It was my fault.”

“No,
it wasn’t your fault.  You were completely right about everything.”  Ty
reached over to touch his hand.  “I promise, from now on, if you don’t get a
good feeling about someone, that’s it, Thar.  End of story for me.”

Gion
glanced over at Tharsis, a concerned expression on his face.

“Not
you, dear.”  Ty assured him.  “We all adore you.”

Gion
blinked at the endearment.

Isaacs
snorted.

“Yeah,
don’t worry, Guy.  I’m not gonna try to submarine ya.”  Tharsis gave Ty’s
fingers a squeeze.  “You don’t deserve my cousin, either, but at least you’re
smart enough to know it.”  He focused on the TV, again.  “Oh, hot damn!  Look
at that.  Tyra’s goin’ strapless, today.”

And
just like that, Tharsis was back behind his mask.

In
his own way, Thar was an even bigger perfectionist than Ty.  Or he had been… once.
Since the end of the world, Thar had fallen off the wagon big time.

When
Tharsis failed at something, it weighed on him.  And so much had failed during
the Fall.  So much that could never be replaced or fixed.  Perfectionists
everywhere were faced with a world that could never be right, again.  At a
certain point, Tharsis stopped even trying.

He’d
never recovered from the Fall.

None
of them had, but it had changed Thar so much.  Ty looked over at her cousin and
realized how different Tharsis was, now.  At one time, he’d been a professor.
A scholar.  Thar was the Elementals foremost authority on human culture and the
smartest person Ty ever met.  Ty might have edged him out with the raw numbers
of their IQ tests, but Thar was so damn clever.  His ideas were so
unpredictable and brilliant that no one could compete with him when he applied
himself.

Students
at the university had lined up for his courses.  He’d written stacks of books
and articles.  He’d charmed everyone he’d ever met, because he instinctively
understood people.  …And he made it all look easy.  Before the Fall, he’d
been outgoing and popular and passionate about life.

Now,
the highlight of his week was arguing at the judges on America’s Next Top
Model.

He
never even talked about teaching, anymore.  Nia had pressed him about it the
year before and Tharsis had just laughed at her over the breakfast table.

“Who
the hell’s left to teach, Nia?  All that’s over.  Forget it.  Everything’s…
over.”  Then, he went back to solving the junior word jumble on the side of his
Cocoa Puffs cereal box, while Nia and Ty just stared at him sadly.

Ty
was letting her cousin down.  Letting him slip further and further into that
lackadaisical persona that hid all his deeper qualities.  She loved Tharsis
more than her own life and all she did was take from him, giving him nothing in
return.  Not even a proper queen.  Somehow, she had to help Thar find himself,
again.

Ty
glanced at Gion and had the feeling that he understood her concern.

His
gaze slid back over to Tharsis.  Ty’s efforts to distract Gion finally succeed
as he rallied himself to help her distract Tharsis.  “Why do the humans starve
their women?”  He asked, gesturing towards the TV.  “It’s frightening.  Like
skeletons in swimwear.”

“That’s
a terrible thing to say.”  Ty did appreciate the sentiment, though, since she
was nowhere near the emaciated stage.

Tharsis
arched a brow.  “I’d have thought you’d like these little girls, Guy.  Hell,
they’re all barely of age for the humans and you go for the younger chicks.”

“‘Younger
chick.’  Singular.”  Ty corrected, batting her eyelashes at her Match.
“There’s no one but me dragging you back from the door of the retirement
home, is there, dear?”

Gion
paused in his aggravated stalking to kiss her firmly.  His lips sealed over
hers, one large hand tangling in Ty’s hair as he leaned over her.  “There’s no
one but you, at all.”  He whispered.

That
was the first time he’d done anything physical in front of her family.
Usually, Ty had to instigate everything that happened to between them when they
were in public.  Gion never seemed sure if she would accept him when other
people were around.  Their Match must have increased his confidence.  Ty was
glad.

She
laid a hand against his cheek and smiled at him.  She had no idea how she ever
could have thought that Gion’s eyes were cold.  Every warm, real emotion in the
world shone back at her.  “Gion, I’m so happy with our Binding.  Be happy with
me.”

As
trite as it sounded, having Gion as her Match was a dream come true.  It made
Ty so, so happy.

But,
freewill always meant more.

Gion
loved her.  That was the most important thing.  If they never Phazed, he’d
still love her.  He’d chosen Ty.  He’d been willing to renounce Randa
for her and he’d believed the other woman was his real Match.

Ty
cared about their Match.  She really did.  But, she cared a lot more
about the fact that Gion would have wanted her, anyway.  A Binding was better
than a Phase-Match.  It was just about her and Gion and their love.  That was
what Ty really wanted.  Not just a Match, but a husband.

“I
don’t want to be miserable.  I want to plan our Binding ceremony and I want you
to help me.”  She pressed her lips against his.  “Please calm down and be
happy.”

Gion’s
expression grew even softer.  “I am happy.  You have no idea how happy
you make me.  We can do whatever you want.”

“God,
you’re whipped.”  Isaacs muttered.

“You’re
just jealous that I have a Match and you’ll die alone, asshole.”

Isaacs’
jaw locked.

Ty
gave Gion a chiding frown.

He
lifted a shoulder in a shrug.  “What?  It’s true, angel.  No one can stand
him.”

“Yeah,
like you’re such a fucking charmer, right?”  Isaacs shot back.

“Human
brides wear white dresses, Ty.”  Tharsis reported, forestalling an argument.
“With poufy stuff and flowers.”

That
got Gion’s attention.  “Another white dress?”  He arched a brow at Ty.
“Alright, I’m ready to plan our Binding, now.  I vote for the white dress.  I love
white dresses.”  He plucked the clipboard out of her hand and actually made
a note of it for her.  “You should definitely wear that.”

She
started giggling.

Gion’s
mouth curved.

A
surge of power went through the palace and Job and Tessie appeared.

…
With Uriel.

“Cousin.”
He stomped towards Gion.  “I have heard the news.  When Parald took your Match,
it was an affront to the entire Wood House.  Although you tried to kill me, I
am here to help you avenge this outrage.”

“I
never tried to kill you, Uriel.  Notice, how you’re not dead.”  Gion retorted,
his attention on Tessie.  He tossed the clipboard aside.  “It’s about time you
got here, Quintessence.  Parald did something to Ty with those damn boxes.  Fix
it.”

Ty
got to her feet.  “Gion, you’re not being calm.”

“Believe
me, angel, this is me being extremely calm.”

“This
is him being calm.”  Tessie and Isaacs chorused at the same time.

Brokk
bounded over to Uriel.  “I think we should call Abram and rally the others.
All the Wood Phases should be ready for this attack on the Air House.”

“All
five of you guys, huh?”  Isaacs taunted.  “Wow.  What an army.”

“There
are seven Wood Phases, now that we have Melanie and Sullivan.”  Uriel
corrected.  “Seven and a half, with Gion.”

Gion
flashed them an annoyed look.

Brokk
nodded.  “And seven and a half Wood Phases are better than hundreds of
fighters from any other House.”

“Except
Melanie’s not fighting the Air Phases.”  Uriel crossed his arms over his
chest.  “Neither is Sullivan.  My family is still too human.  Humans are breakable.
I will not risk them.”

Brokk
made a “good point” sort of face.  “Of course, you are forbidden from warring, too,
Uriel.  Four and a half of us will bring down the Air House, then.  That
can be done.  We are Wood Phases.”

“I
won’t sit out this fight!  I was at the Battle of the Fall and I will be at
this one, as well.”

“Your
side lost the Battle of the Fall.”  Isaacs reminded them.

Brokk
and Uriel turned to scowl at him.  “We didn’t lose!”  They roared in unison.

“We’ve
never lost a war.”  Brokk stabbed at finger at him.

“Job
merely cheated us out of our victory!”  Uriel agreed.  “He sent everyone home,
before the Air House had been destroyed.”

Job
pinched the bridge of his nose.

“The
Air House isn’t the enemy.”  Amarna insisted passionately.  “Parald is
the enemy.”

Tharsis
upped the volume on the TV.

“He
poisoned my connection with Ty.”  Gion loomed over Tessie.  “Parald’s going to
die today, but first I have to make sure that my Match is okay.  Do
something.”

“I
will.  I will.”  Tessie crunched across the broken glass from the shattered
French doors.  “Nice work on your DYI project, here, Guy.  Seriously, I think
you missed some of the instructions from the helpful Home Depot folks.”

“You’re
hilarious, Quintessence.  Stop the comedy show and help Ty.”

Tessie
stuck her tongue out at him, but her hand patted his shoulder as she passed.
“I should have known this girl was your Match.  No one else could put up with
you.”

Ty
frowned slightly at having another woman touch Gion.  Tessie was Gion’s friend
and Job’s Match.  There was nothing seductive about move, but it still made her
stiffen.

“Oh
geez.”  Tessie grinned at her, noting Ty’s face.  “You Elementals are so
wacky.  I’ve been touching Gion for years.  But, I’ve got –like-- zero interest
in stealing him away from you.  I promise.  Okay?”

Ty
flushed.  “Yes.  Of course.  I know.  I’m sorry.”

Gion’s
eyebrows soared.  He seemed astonished by the idea that Ty might feel
possessive towards him.  “Ty, I’m not attracted to Tessie.”  He stated
bluntly.  “Not at all.  I haven’t even looked at another woman since the
day I first saw you.”

“Thanks
a lot.”  Tessie chuckled.

Ty
gazed at her Match.  “You haven’t been with anyone else since the night of that
concert?”  That was the most romantic thing she’d ever heard.  “You waited
eleven years?  For me?”

“Yes.”

“Eleven
years?!”  Isaacs choked out.

“Yes.”
The word was inflexible.

Ty
sighed, falling even deeper in love with this man.  “Thank you.”

Gion
lifted a shoulder in an arrogant shrug.

“I
knew Guy even before that and we didn’t fool around, either.”  Tessie
apparently wanted to cover all her bases.  “Completely platonic, from day one.”

“Tess,
can we not talk about you and Gion being together in any way?”  Job
requested in a long suffering voice.  “Please?  It… bothers me.”  He looked
around.  “And where’s Cross?”  If Job had his way, his nephew would have been
constantly followed around by satellite surveillance.

Ty
was certainly willing to change the subject.  “Randa was very upset and we gave
her a sedative.  She’s been through so much.  Cross and Nia took her upstairs
to rest in one of the guest rooms.”

After
that, Ty hoped to get Nia to agree to let Randa stay in the Shadow Kingdom.  Ty
wasn’t looking forward to having Randa live in the Water Palace.  She couldn’t
kick Randa out.  The poor woman obviously needed help.  And Ty felt very guilty
about Randa getting dragged into Parald’s scheme.  But, Randa’s energy still
connected to Gion’s and she’d been planning to take him away from Ty.

That
was kinda hard to get over.

Ty
retreated a bit as Tessie started experimentally poking at her.  Ty didn’t like
to be touched.  It made her uncomfortable.  She cared for Tessie, but general
unease had her stepping back.

Gion
caught Ty against him, her back to his front, and made a soothing sound in her
ear.  “It’s okay.  I got you.”

Ty
relaxed against him.  “I’m sorry.”  She held herself still as the Quintessence
resumed her prodding.  “Tessie, do you know what you’re doing?”

“Nope.”

That
was encouraging.

“So,
I’m gonna get a room, too, right?”  Isaacs prompted.  “Any large,
opulent space will do.  Don’t worry about the view.”

“Of
course, you’ll have your own space…”  Ty began.

“We’re
giving him a room?”  Gion interrupted incredulously.

“No,
I’ll sleep in the kitchen cabinets, dickhead.  What do you think?”

Gion
arched a brow.  “I think you’re a liability and we don’t need you in
this House, at all.  Especially not if it means you get a bedroom in my home.”

Isaacs
jaw clenched.  “King for five damn minutes and you’re already back to giving
orders, huh?  This should be fun.”  He snorted.  “Even Parald gave me my own
room.”

“Isaacs
is a Water Phase, now?”  Uriel stage whispered to Brokk.  “Can we trust him in
the coming battle?”

“No.”
Amarna chimed in.  “He’s always been loyal to Parald.”

“That
was before I became Helen fucking Keller, honey.”  Isaacs sneered.  “You think
the Air House has a kick ass disability plan waiting for me?  No.  I’m staying
here.  In a room.  Ty and I have a deal.”

Gion
shook his head.  “She never promised you a room.”

“It
was implied!”

Gion
made a scoffing sound.

“He
has to have a room, dear.”  Ty said gently.

“It
wasn’t part of the agreement, Ty.  He’s making up new clauses.  Next thing you
know, we’ll have to give him an allowance and coach his softball games.”

Isaacs
called out the big guns in the world of Elemental contract negotiations.  “Job,
you were there.  Tell good King Arthur here that my own room was obviously
part of this arrangement.”

“Everybody
shut-up!”  Tessie shouted over the noise.  “God, let me work, huh?”  She
stepped back from Ty, her examination complete.  “Genius of my caliber needs
some respectful silence.”

Gion
promptly forgot about Isaacs’ living arrangements.  He actually nodded.
“Right.  Right.”  He moved to stand behind Tessie, watching Ty worriedly over
his shoulder.  “Tessie, there has to be a way to cure this.”

“Don’t
get your hopes up too high, yet.  Let me just figure this out.”  Tessie toyed
with her silver pendant.  “Sometimes the Tablets of Fate do things that can’t
be undone, Guy.”

Everyone
knew that she meant the Fall.  The Health Tablet had created the plague and
nothing could change that, now.

Tessie’s
cautioning words were not what Gion wanted to hear.  “Fix it.”  He
repeated harshly.  “Ty is my Match.  Not Parald’s.  Mine.”

Tessie
rolled her eyes, completely unimpressed with Gion’s ax murderer scowl.  “Oh
please.  Like I’m sure poor Ty’s just thrilled about this mess, right?
Stop with the Tarzan bullshit and focus on her.  The actual victim.”

Job
had stiffened at Gion’s vicious tone.  He shifted closer to his Match, far from
appeased.  “Gion…”

“Stay
out of it, Job!  It had nothing to do with you.”  Gion snapped and then swore
as if suddenly recalling that Tessie was Job’s Match, now.  “Shit.”  Gion held
up his hand in a gesture of apology.  “You’re right.  I’m not mad at Tessie.  I
just…”  He exhaled heavily.  “I screw up everything important and Ty’s
the only thing that’s ever really mattered.  I can’t ruin this.”

Isaacs
gave him a mystified look.  He clearly couldn’t believe that Gion would ever doubt
himself, even for a moment.

“This
won’t be screwed up.”  Ty assured Gion.  “I’m not going anywhere.”  She glanced
back at Tessie.  “And I’m not the only victim.  Parald gave Gion a fake-Match,
too.  We need to get rid of that.  I really don’t want Randa connecting with
Gion.  He’s,” she tried to think of another way to phrase it, but he’d pretty
much hit the nail on its proprietary little head, “mine.”

Gion
liked that.  His pale blue gaze gleamed.  “Parald’s energy will not touch her,
again.”  He addressed that statement to Tessie, but his attention stayed on
Ty.  His voice grew gentler.  “It’s a violation of her and I won’t tolerate
it.”

Ty
smiled at him.

“Yeah,
yeah.”  Tessie rewound the conversation to Ty’s previous statement.  “Anyway, I
would flip the hell out if Job’s powers got linked to another woman.”  She
commiserated.  “So, I get where you’re coming from and I want to mojo you back
to normal.  Believe me.  If I had the Love Box, I think I could try some
stuff.  But…”

“You
need the actual Tablet?”  Gion interrupted.  “That would help?”

“Well,
yeah.  If I had the Tablet in my hand, I think maybe I could do something.
But, without it, I’m kinda stuck, to be honest.”

Gion
nodded, more to himself than to Tessie.  “Then, I’ll find it.  I’ll get it for
you.”

The
determination on his face worried Ty.  “Gion, he’ll have it locked up somewhere
and…”

A
tremendous explosion of power cut her off.

More
energy than Ty had ever felt in her life blasted across the Elemental realm
like an earthquake of the atmosphere.  Everything shook.  Paintings fell from
the walls. The shattered glass vibrated against the tiles.  A large stack of Plexiglas
panels that had been leaning against the wall toppled over, the bottoms sheets
cracking into jagged slivers.  A terrible roaring sound filled the air.

It
was like nothing that Ty had ever experienced before.

Like
nothing she’d even heard about.

Gion
lunged for Ty, pushing her to the ground and covering her head with his arms.
“Stay down!”  His gaze went to the swaying chandeliers, gauging if they’d drop.

“Shit!”
Isaacs braced himself against the doorframe.  “What the fuck is that?”

“I
don’t know.”  Job pulled Tessie against his chest.  His own powers surged out,
trying to still the vibrations and not finding a source.  “This isn’t good.”
He said it mildly, but there was an undercurrent of steel in his voice.

“It’s
Parald!”  Amarna shouted over the noise.  “It has to be!”

Tharsis
stood up.  “This is too big for Parald.  It’s something worse.”  He steadied
himself of the back of the sofa.

Brokk
and Uriel staggered towards the French doors, looking up at the sky for an
outside threat.

Ty
gripped the edges of Gion’s cape, holding tight.  She couldn’t imagine anything
worse than Parald.  “Did we cover this situation in the security reports?”

“It’s
a Tablet!”  Tessie yelled.  “They’re the only things that could…”

A
shockwave boom, boom, boom, boom, boomed in series of concussive blows
to the world itself.

“Jesus!”
Gion roared.  “Hold on.”

Ty’s
eyes widened as she felt the barriers begin to fall.  Not just the Water
Kingdom’s barriers.  All the barriers.  The protective shields around
every kingdom collapsed, one after another, opening all the lands of the
Elemental realm to each other.  For the first time ever, all the
powerful fences came down, leaving nothing but one wide open landscape.

The
horrible shaking stopped, but now anyone could come into the kingdom.

Anyone
could jump into the kingdom.

Gion
cursed and released his grip on Ty.  “Stay down.”  He repeated, getting to his
feet.  “Thar get over here.  Both of you, stay behind me and stay down.”
Gion extracted his sword and made his way closer to Job.  “Can you get the
barriers back up?”

Lawn
green eyes met Gion’s and there was real shock reflected in them.  “No.”

Gion
blinked as if Job’s simple answer caught him off guard.  If Job couldn’t undo
whatever had just happened, then no one could.

“It’s
the Liberty Box.”  Tessie looked pale.  “It can create and destroy all kinds of
barriers.  Someone just used it to rip down the supernatural boundaries.  Every
single one.”

Gion
glanced at her sharply.  “Kay?”

“No.
I’d know if my sister woke up.  I don’t know who could have done this.”  She
shook her head.  “There were barriers in place that are supposed to be
in place.  Somebody just let loose a lot of things that were better off caged.”

“That’s
just how Jurassic Park started.”  Tharsis volunteered.  Thar was always
like that, even before the Fall.  In serious situations, he started cracking jokes.
Ignoring Gion, he headed for the door.  “I’ll check on Nia.”

Ty
bobbed her head.  “Good idea.  I think we should all be together.  It’s safer.”

“Nothing
will happen to your family, Ty.”  Gion made it a vow.  “We’re leaving.  All of
us.  Now.”  Ty could actually see his mind whirling as he tried to come up with
a destination, though.  With all the barriers down, there weren’t many options
that seemed safe.

“We
don’t know what’s happening, so we shouldn’t rashly decide anything.”  Job kept
his voice level, but he was scanning for danger.  Ty could feel the ripples of
his massive powers as he tried to find the source of the energy earthquake.  “I
do want Cross and Nia down here, though.”

Amarna
pinned Gion with a fervent sort of look.  “If Parald had the Love Tablet
secured in some magical safe or whatever… I think someone just picked the lock
for you.  We need to go to the Air Kingdom.”

Gion’s
eyes narrowed.  “That’s the last place I’d take my Match.”  He stabbed a finger
at Tharsis.  “I said, stay behind me and don’t move.”  He stalked
towards Isaacs.  “Does Parald have the Liberty Box?  Did he knock down the barriers?
What’s he planning?”

“I
don’t know.”

“Tell
me the truth!”

“I
don’t know!”

Tharsis
wasn’t impressed with Gion’s skills at giving orders.  “Dude, no one’s telling
me what to do in my own House.”  He kept heading for the exit.

Gion
let out a frustrated sound.  “Tharsis. Do. Not. Move.  And Isaacs, I
swear to Christ, if you’re trying to sabotage us…”

“Are
you deranged?  Why would I want the barriers down?”  Isaacs positioned
himself for a fight and kept bellowing.  “You think I’m planning a grand tour
of the realm or something?”  He gestured towards his milky eyes.
“Sightseeing?”

“You’ve
always wanted to be the fucking d’Artagnan of the Air House.  So, let’s just
say, I think you’ve picked a real convenient time to join up with the white
hats.”

Tessie
snorted.  “Good point.”

Tharsis
left to go upstairs.  “Ty, stay with Gion.”

“Thar,
be careful.”

“Hey,
I’m a loyal soldier!”  Isaacs’ expression turned outraged as he jabbed a finger
at Gion.  “When I commit, it’s solid.  But, I’m not an idiot.  Now that
Parald’s planning to have me killed, I’m not exactly rooting for the home team,
anymore.”

Amarna
stepped between them.  “Isaacs has nothing to do with this.  Parald and Saxon
are behind it all.  Trust me.”

“Marna,
no offense, but there’s only one person I trust and it’s not you.  It’s that redhead
over there, who kept a promise to me when there was nothing in it for
her.  So, don’t push me, right now.  Ty is all I’m focusing on.”

Ty’s
mouth parted.  All those times people had asked her if she trusted Gion and
she’d said yes… she’d never really thought that he’d ever give her that trust back.
Gion wasn’t a man who gave love or trust easily.  The fact that he gave them
both to Ty so openly felt… good.

Really,
really good.

Job
shook his head.  “Parald and Saxon aren’t smart enough to do this alone.  If
it’s them, someone else is lending a hand.  Or this could be Chason’s doing, so
he can invade the Air Kingdom.  Damn it, if he attacks them, it could end the
world, again.”

“It
doesn’t matter if Parald’s the mastermind or not.  He’ll use the opportunity to
make a grab for my Match.”  Gion gave up on questioning Isaacs and headed back
towards Ty, again, apparently coming to a decision.  “Angel, were going to the
human realm.  You’ll stay with your buddy Sullivan while I…”  He stopped,
looking around.  “Where’s Tharsis?”

“He
went to find Nia.  He doesn’t follow instructions well and neither do I.”  Ty
frowned up at him.  “I’m not going to the human realm without you.  I
don’t want us to be separated.  Who knows what you’ll do, if I leave you
alone.”

Uriel
joined Ty’s side of the debate.  “Sullivan cannot be endangered.  He is
Melanie’s beloved cousin.”

“This
is taking too long.”  Brokk insisted.  “No one would drop the barriers unless
they wanted to get into someplace.  It’s the Reprisal or the Air House trying
to attack us…”

He
was cut off by the invasion.

Chapter Twenty-Six

War broke
out with such elemental violence, and with such resort to all means for

leading or
misleading public opinion, that no time was available for reflection and

consideration.

Hjalmar
Branting- Nobel Peace Prize Lecture

Saxon
hated the Water Kingdom.

The
whole damn place was like a Smufs’ cartoon.  Happy and colorful, probably
filled with little dancing flowers and singing butterflies or whatever.

What
a fucking nightmare.

He
slammed his powers out, just because he could.  A stained glass window in the
Water House’s church fell into thousands of pieces under the burst of energy.
The delicate picture of seahorses and sunbeams shattered into nothing.

Saxon
smirked and kept walking up the crushed shell street.  All around him, the Air
Phase army moved into position.  Men under his command.

Isaacs
and Gion were history, now.  Parald would fall next.  Saxon would see to that.
Then, there would be nothing standing in his way of becoming the King of the
Air House.

If
he wanted it, he could take the Water House, too.  His army outnumbered the
Water Phases and their allies twenty to one.  The Water Phases were nobody’s
favorites these days and, since the Fall, it was every Phase for themselves in
most Houses.  Even Gion couldn’t win against these odds.  Job was the only one
who might be able to stop this and the old man wasn’t omnipotent.  No matter
how much he liked to pretend otherwise.

Yeah,
Smurf Village could all be Saxon’s.

Except
he really didn’t want it.

A
big part of Saxon thought that the real punishment would be leaving Gion
in this hellhole.  It seemed like leveling the place would be doing him a
favor.  No Air Phase soldier could possibly want to stay here.

“The
Water Palace is surrounded, sir.”  Hoff, one his lieutenants, jogged over.  “But,
they could still just jump out of there.  Even if we hold the kingdom, we can’t
keep them here.”

“Gion
won’t run from this.”  Saxon stared up at the castle.  “He’ll fight.”

“We’re
supposed to be after the woman, though.”  Hoff reminded him.  “Parald sent us
for Ty and she’ll get away.  We’ve lost the element of surprise.”

Saxon
shoved Hoff to the ground.  “Shut the fuck up!”  He was the top general,
now, and he didn’t have to tolerate insubordination from his followers.

Saxon
knew what he was doing.  It didn’t matter where Ty went, now.  With the
barriers down, there was nowhere that she could hide.  This wasn’t about
kidnapping some girl for Parald so that stupid bastard could get his rocks
off….

This
was about making a point.  A real point, about who the really ran
the Elemental realm.  The Council was a bunch of old ladies and those whiny
Reprisal bastards were do-nothing pussies.  The Air House had the most Phases
and the only genuine army.

The
Wood House was all but gone.

The
Metal Phases were mindless thugs.

The
Smoke Kingdom was in chaos.

The
Fire Phases were killers, but they were too crazy to be genuine soldiers.

The
Light House had been mostly feral even before the Fall.

Of
all the great Elemental armies, only the Air House’s remained.  It was only right
that they ruled.  The rest of the Elementals needed to see that.  To see what
Saxon would do to anyone who stood in his way.

With
the barriers down, there was nothing to stop him.  Every single kingdom was
wide open, thanks to the anonymous author of that light message to Parald.
Saxon owed that mysterious guy a favor.

This
was the first step in Saxon’s destiny.  He’d bring Ty to Parald eventually, but
the girl and the Water House were really just ways for him to make his point.
To show everyone he was the big dog of the Air House, now.

Not
Gion.  Not Parald.  Him.

After
the example he made of the Water House, no one would dare to stand in his way.

Saxon
glanced over at Hoff, who was struggling to his feet, again.  “Bring the whole
fucking building down.”

*****

Gion
swore savagely.  The entire Air Phase army surrounded the Water Palace.  He
could feel them swarming in normally deserted landscape.  Too many for even him
to wipe out easily.  Especially from this distance.  And, if he went down there
and started picking them off one by one, he’d leave Ty wide open.  What if
that’s what they were waiting for him to do?  For Gion to leave her side, so they
could swoop in and steal her?

Shit.

Shit.

Shit.

It
was so much harder to play defense.

“You
see why we need a line of sight, Ty?”  He turned to arch a brow at her, hiding
his agitation.  “Tomorrow those buildings come down.  End of discussion.”

“You
may be the king now, but I still outrank you.”  Ty’s fingers dug into his arm.
Her voice stayed steady, though.  “Those poor buildings stay right where they
are.  Really, how much better do you need to see the invading hoards?”

Gion
nearly smiled at that, even as great bursts of Air energy began pelting the
palace.  The soldiers were slamming fierce explosions of Air into the building
like missiles, one volley after another in rapid succession.  He felt the whole
castle shaking from the force of it.

Shit.

Gion
ushered Ty sideways so she stood behind the black composite door that he’d
replaced.  It was the only door that hadn’t been broken from his out of control
powers earlier.  The only effective shield from the energy.  “Job?  Up for
another fight, today?”

“Do
I have a choice?”

“I’ll
get my people.  Hang on.”  Amarna jumped back to the Air Kingdom to rally her
rebels.  She was possibly the only one there eager for a battle.

Well,
besides the Wood Phases.

Uriel
and Brokk moved to stand on either side of Ty, swords at the ready.

“We
need to get the hell outta here.”  Tessie looked up at Job.  “We’re not
fighting them.  I mean it.  We can just go.”

“Go
where?”  Isaacs retorted.  “All the Elemental kingdoms are vulnerable, now.  I
know that you’re okay with hiding in the human realm, Quintessence, but
I’m not loving the idea of living in some suburban condo with the rest of you
idiots for the next three or four millennia.  I’d rather light my head on
fire.”

“Look,
I get that you guys think that you’re all hot shit, top gun, Elemental bad asses,
but there’s –like-- a lot of soldiers out there.”  Tessie shot back.
“They’re gonna bring down the whole damn palace.”

Gion
loved the Water Kingdom.  Loved its peace and beauty.  Loved the sanctuary it
offered to the hopeless and exiled and lost.  He loved that the Water Phases
valued music and art over efficiency.  He loved that they’d given him a place
to belong.  And, most of all, he loved the Water Queen.

He
was not about to lose this House.

It
would never happen.

He
didn’t give a damn how outnumbered they were, as long as he could ensure Ty’s
safety while he fought, Gion would battle over every grain of sand on the
beach.

Tessie
kept talking, apparently sensing his resolve.  “Parald is a psycho.  He’s
setting the parameters.  If we retreat now, we can fight later on our terms.
Preferably without a pregnant lady and blind guy in the house.”

“Hey!”
Isaacs yelped.  “I can fight!”

Ty
cleared her throat.  “I think that Tessie makes some good...”

“I’m
not running from that son-of-a-bitch.”  Gion interrupted.  “This is your
home.”  He swore as the building shook hard enough knock some of the tiny
mosaic tiles off the wall.  “This is our home, Ty.  You think
I’ll ever surrender it to Parald?”

She
grabbed hold of his hand.  “The Water Kingdom is just a place.  You and my
cousins and the people in this room are my home.  That’s all I care about.  I’d
destroy the palace myself rather than risk you.”

Gion’s
heart melted.  No one but Ty had ever worried about him.  “Angel, I’ll be fine.”
He leaned down to kiss her briefly.  “And I’ll protect you and Nia and Thar,
alright?  I’ll put you three somewhere safe and then I’ll…”

“I
won’t leave you here to face an army alone!  Are you insane?”

“He’s
insane.”  Tessie nodded sagely.  “See?  Ty gets it.”

Job
touched Tessie’s hair and nudged her behind him.  “Stay back, Tess.  Don’t get
near the windows.”  He swept towards the French doors, looking down at the Air
Phases below.  “Why do we do this?”  He whispered.

Gion
thought back to his answer the last time Job had asked that in the Agora.  Was
it really in their nature or was it even simpler than that?  “You have to
believe in something,” he finally murmured, “or you go crazy.  And it’s hard to
believe in anything, anymore.”

There
was a long pause.  Then, Job sighed.  “And sometimes, you have to set aside
what you believe.  It’s a new world and, without the barriers, nothing will
keep Parald away from here.  Even if we retreat this time, they’ll just come
back and back and back.”  His lawn green eyes met Gion’s.  “Can you and Isaacs
support the Air House alone?  With just yourselves and the rebels?”

The
meaning behind that question struck Gion at once.

Job,
who made Nobel Peace Prize recipients look like militant Nazis half the time,
was preparing to eradicate the majority of the Air House.  Job didn’t approve
of war.  The guy was a pacifist.  An optimist.  A boy scout.

But,
God only knew what Job could do once he reached the end of his seemingly
limitless patience.  And nothing pissed him off faster than a threat to his
family.  Cross, Tessie, and Nia’s unborn baby were in the palace.  Toss in the
three Water Phases and that was the pretty much the extent of Job’s loved ones.

The
Air Phases had picked a real bad day to come visiting.

Gion’s
mouth curved.  “We can hold the Air House.”  There wasn’t a doubt in Gion’s
mind.  If need be, he’d support the whole damn thing himself.  If Cross could
do it, then he could do it.

Isaacs
paled, understanding Job’s words, too.  “Shit.  Did I pick the right time to
move or what?”

*****

“The
barriers are down!”  Lansing dashed through the Magnet Fortress towards
Chason’s office.  “Commander, this is our chance to get into the Air Kingdom!”

Other
Houses had the same idea.  Without the barriers, Lansing could feel power
echoing across the Elemental realm.  Phases were jumping to new destinations.  A
lot of Phases.

Headed
for the Air Kingdom.

Headed
for the Water Kingdom.

Headed
for places that might be safe from the fighting.

The
Reprisal had to strike, now.

Lansing
needed revenge and this was the moment for it.  He wouldn’t rest until
he had vengeance for his family.  He’d always thought that Chason felt the same
way, but recently he’d begun to doubt Chason’s commitment.

He’d
always had total faith in Chason.  The man was an inspiration.  The ideal.  For
all the angry, bitter Phases who’d lost everything in the Fall, Chason
represented hope.  He gave them a mission to fight for.  Lansing had always
tried to model himself after the Magnet King.

After
Chason’s inexplicable decision to not execute Raiden, though, Lansing wasn’t
sure what to think.  Everyone knew that Raiden was insane.  Why the hell would
Chason believe that bullshit about Mara being returned to him?

It
was impossible.

Nothing
could unmurder Parald’s victims.

Lansing
had shouted that.  He’d tried to get Chason to understand that Raiden was
wrong.  Tried to get him to order Raiden’s punishment or even explode in
violence over the lie. Tried to get Chason to listen.

Only
he wasn’t sure if he’d been successful or not.

After
Raiden’s revelation that Mara might be returned to Chason, and that Ty was
somehow connected to the vision, the Magnet King had grown utterly silent.  The
last time Lansing checked, Chason had been staring at nothing for over two
hours.

Ty,
of the Water House needed to die.

Lansing
believed that.  If she’d just submitted to Parald and accepted her Match, none
of this would have happened.  Once Parald was dead, Ty of the Water House was
next.  And then, the rest of the Air Phases, starting with Gion and Isaacs.

Fucking
Isaacs.

Ty
would have been dead in the Agora before Raiden even arrived if it wasn’t for
that bastard.  Lansing hoped that he really had blinded him.

“Commander!
The barriers have fallen.”  Lansing burst into the office.  “We have to…”  He stopped
short, his eyes cutting around the space in anger and confusion.

Chason
was already gone.

*****

Gion
glowered as Tharsis, Cross and Nia came dashing into the living room.  “Next
time I tell you to stay put, you damn well stay put, Thar.”

“God,
you’re bossy.”  Tharsis muttered, utterly unimpressed with Gion’s assassin
scowl.  “Shouldn’t you be disintegrating our enemies, rather than lecturing
me?”

Despite
the circumstances, Ty almost smiled at Gion’s expression.  This was more than
just a security job for him or some promise that he’d made her.  Gion cared
about Ty’s headstrong relatives.  She could tell from the utter irritation on
his face.

Cross
didn’t look much happier.  “Why is the whole world constantly trying to kill
us?”  He marched over to stand next to Job.  “I think we’re friggin’ nice.
Don’t you think we’re friggin’ nice?  Why are there so many mercenaries who
miss that?”

“To
be fair, the Water Kingdom’s always been a tourist destination.”  Even with an
invasion on her doorstep, Ty wasn’t scared.  She didn’t have any feelings of an
impending panic attack.  The entire Air Phase army might have been outside, but
Gion and Job pretty much evened the odds, as far as she was concerned.

And
if things got too dangerous, they could just jump someplace else.  Ty loved the
Water Kingdom, but she’d abandon it forever before she endangered her family
just to hold onto it.

Nia
looked out the shattered French doors at the army gathered below.  “Why don’t
they just jump right into the palace?”

“Intimidation
and showing-off.”  Isaacs snorted.  “Saxon’s all about overcompensation.”

“So
evil cretins are bombing my house as some kind of Freudian thing?  Great.
Cross honey?”  Nia glanced at him.  “Now would be a super time for you to
practice your Shadow erasing trick on a whole army of deserving guinea pigs.”

Ty
liked the sound of that.  Cross’ powers allowed him to manipulate Shadows so
they swallowed people up, never to be heard from again.  She wasn’t sure if he
could vanish anything even close to this scale, but she was willing to let him
try.  Ty wanted the booming and shaking to stop.  At this rate, the whole place
would come down.

She
frowned as mosaic tiles fell from the walls.  Randa was a stone Phase.  Maybe
later she’d agree to fix the damage.

Cross
glanced over at Job for his vote on the Shadow erasing thing, but his uncle was
deep in silent thought.

“Nia,
are you, okay?”  Ty’s worried gaze went to her cousin’s stomach as the building
shuddered from the impacts.  The Water Palace was solidly built, but she really
was getting concerned about how much more the structure could take.  “You and
the baby need to get out of here.”

“I’m
fine.  The Air House isn’t going to drive me out of my ancestral home.  Randa’s
actually sleeping through this pathetic mess, so… Hey!”  Nia trailed off with
an outraged yelp as Gion grabbed her arm and forced her behind the black
composite door.

“Get
your fucking hands off my Match!”  Cross roared.  “Are you out of your mind?!”

Gion
deposited Nia next to Ty, making a production of removing his palms and holding
them up “not my fault” style.  “Ty told me to guard Nia and that’s what I’m
doing.  She stays behind the plastic.  It’ll stop the Air energy.”

Nia
rolled her eyes.  “What the hell kinda protecting the womenfolk bullshit is
this?”

“You’re
pregnant, Tessie’s basically a human, and Ty’s only ninety-six.”  Gion
retorted.  “That’s not chauvinism, that’s logic.  Uriel and Thar, you need to
come over here, too.  Uriel’s not supposed to be in any danger, and Water Phases
aren’t soldiers.  I don’t want Thar fighting.”

“Dude,
it ain’t gonna happen.”  Tharsis good naturedly flicked him off and stayed
where he was.

“I
am not the only one here with a Match!”  Uriel protested.  “Why am I always
singled out?”

“We
should so be leaving.”  Tessie muttered.  She sat behind the door, her
legs crossed and her chin in her palm.  “Discretion’s the better part of
valor.”

“The
rest of valor is actually killing people, though.”  Brokk’s eyes
gleamed, loving this.  “As soon as the rebels get here, we should attack the
invaders and drive them from our lands.”

Gion
snorted.  “Thank you, Pickett, but I think we’ll pass on the charge.”  He
looked over at Job.  “Between you, me and Cross can we get rid of them from
here?”

Silence.

Job
continued to stand by the broken French doors, his hands behind his back
military “at rest” style, not saying a word.  Ty realized that he was gathering
energy.

Preparing.

“Gion!”
Saxon’s voice was projected through a megaphone.  “Hand over Parald’s Match,
give up the palace, and we’ll be merciful towards the rest of you.”

Gion
focused for a second and then there was a great swell of power.  Ty didn’t even
have to look to know that a massive tornado had just struck the Air House
lines.  She could tell from the screaming.

“Was
that the sound of one of my historic building collapsing on Saxon?”

“Of
course not, angel.  I think it was just the bakery.”

Uriel
slapped a palm on his shoulder.  “You are a true Wood Phase, cousin.”

For
once, Gion seemed to appreciate that.

Job
finally looked over at Gion as the cannon blasts of Air powers fired at them
even more aggressively.  “Save your energy for the real fighting.”  He seemed
unfazed as a bone crushing rush of Air torpedoed past him and crashed against
the opposite wall.  His white blond hair blew in the rushing winds, falling
around the hard planes of his face.  “We’re waiting for the rebels and then
we’re going to kill a lot of Air Phases.  Let me do most of the work, understand?”
His beautiful voice sounded determined and sad.  “It’ll be an avalanche of
power.  Isaacs and the rebels can take some, but you’ll need to support most of
it, at first.  I don’t know that the others can balance it so fast.”

“Job?”
Tessie glanced up at him in concern.  “Don’t do anything that you’ll regret,
honey.”

Ty
felt herself nodding.  She wasn’t certain that Job had ever killed anyone
before.  He respected life too deeply, especially since the Fall.  Wiping out
scores and scores of Phases would break his heart.  Even if they were bad guys.

“I
can kill the Air Phases.”  Cross volunteered.  “I won’t regret it and then Job
won’t have to…”

“No.”
Job cut him off, shaking his head.  “It’s too big.  I’ll do it.  I’ll be
alright.”

Tessie
didn’t look convinced.

Neither
did Cross.  “Yeah, but…”

The
loud whistling sound of an incoming volley interrupted him.

“Ty!”
She heard Gion shout her name a second before a blast of energy smashed into
the composite door.  Ty felt the power of the impact and then the force
dissipated into nothing, the energy unable to penetrate the plastic.

It
worked!

Ty’s
excited eyes met Gion’s.  His security measure had actually worked!

It
wasn’t that she’d doubted his expertise, but seeing all his carefully laid out
plans --plans that she’d griped about--  save lives… Wow!  That was pretty
amazing work for an ex-soldier who was now a king and destined to become a
musician.

Gion
was truly a renaissance man.

“Are
you hurt?”  He demanded, starting for her.

“No.”
Ty waved him back.  “I’m fine.”

All
of them were fine.  Cross and Job were already reaching for Nia and Tessie,
pulling then to their feet, searching for injuries.

“Oh
come on!  What were the odds of that happening?”  Nia pointed at Gion.  “You
set that up.  Admit it.”

To
Ty’s amazement, Gion actually grinned, his cape swirling in the onrushing Air.
“I’m never going to let you forget this moment, Nia.  It’ll be the bedtime story
that I tell my niece as she’s safely tucked into her Plexiglas bedroom each
night.”

In
the middle of the war, with pieces of the gilded ceiling raining down on her,
Nia started laughing.

Amarna
jumped into the room with a small army of her rebels.  “We’re ready for the
war.”

The
Air Phases raised their swords above their heads as they cheered at her words.

Ty
shifted sideways to give them more room, her hand coming down on a jagged
sliver of Plexiglas.  It must’ve broken when the barriers collapsed and the
stack of panels fell.  The small cut it left on her hand stung more than it
should have and she automatically picked up the shard to figure out why.  Because
it was plastic, maybe?  The stuff just didn’t agree with the Elementals’
systems.

“Parald’s
not out there, of course.”  Marna sounded out of breath.  “Coward.  We’ll get him
later.  He’s locked himself in his throne room, just like he did in the Battle
of the Fall.”

Job
turned to look at her sharply.  “Locks aren’t working today.”

“His
rooms are lined in plastic net.  You can’t jump into it.  I think Gion did that
for him.”

Gion
made a face.  “No, I didn’t.  Someone saw the Plexiglas I had over my
own bedroom window and stole the idea.”

“Jesus,
I thought it was a good security measure, okay?”  Isaacs protested.  “You
should take that as a compliment!”

“Parald
can’t stay in there forever…”

Whatever
Amarna planned to say next was lost for Ty.  One moment she was wishing there
was some way to just kill Parald outright so Job wouldn’t have to have so many
deaths on his conscious.  The next, someone was jumping into the room and grabbing
her.

Ty
cried out in surprise as Chason, of the Magnet House seized her arm and pulled
her to her feet.  The Commander of the Reprisal looked more disheveled than
she’d ever seen him, his purple eyes glowing with wild resolve.

“Chase,
stop!”  Ty pushed against him, but he towered over her, outweighing her two to
one.

“I’m
just borrowing you.”  Chason swung Ty around, him forearm anchoring her
shoulders to his chest.  “I’ll return you when I’m done.”  He pulled her
backwards, giving himself room to jump.  He only needed that and three seconds,
and he’d be gone.

Not
even the dozens of Air Phases in the room distracted him from his drive-by
kidnapping.  And, if Chason missed an opportunity to kill Air Phases, you knew
he was pretty damn focused.

Gion
started forward at a run.  His powers swelled like a maelstrom, unable to find
a clear target with Chason holding Ty in front of him.

Everything
seemed to happen at once.  Ty saw Thar’s eyes widen in horror; heard Nia shout
in panic.  Cross lunged for Ty.  Even Isaacs swore, loudly.

“Chason,
let her go.”  Job ordered.

“I
can’t.  I’m sorry.  It’s time.”

“You
son-of-a-bitch!”  Gion roared and then Chason was jumping, again, dragging
Ty along with him.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Nor will
this overwhelming tendency to do wrong for the wrong's sake, admit of analysis,
or

resolution
into ulterior elements. It is a radical, a primitive impulse.

Edgar Allan Poe- ‘The Imp
of the Perverse’

Gion’s
powers screamed in his head as absolute terror filled him.  “Fuck!”
Every other thought or sensation vanished under the cloud of horror.  He’d
ruined it.  Screwed up.  Allowed Chason to steal the bright center of the
world.

Ty
was gone.

Gion
had to get her back.

Find
her.

Nothing
else mattered.

Job
grabbed his arm, preventing Gion from jumping right after Chason.  “Stop and
think.”

Gion
shoved him away.  “I have to go!”

“This
is probably just what Chason’s hoping that you’ll do.  React without a
plan.”

“I
don’t care!”

And
he didn’t.

Gion
had the frenzied thought that this is how Cross must have felt when the
Reprisal took Nia that time in Mayport Beach.  Back then, Gion had tried to use
logic on Cross and it had been like reasoning with a cement wall on meth.  The
guy had been stubbornly berserk and now Gion understood why.

No
one could function through this kind of fear.

The
panic he felt was as bad as when the mob attacked Ty.  Worse.  Because now Gion
loved her so much more.  Before, Ty had been a vision.  Now she was real,
though.  His Match.  His wife.  The woman who made faces at his security
reports, and spun sensual stories in bed, and argued with him over the artistic
merits of old buildings, and absently stuck pencils in her hair as she worked
on her laptop.

Ty
was everything.

Job
held up his hands “listen to me” style.  “You’re not thinking straight.  I will
help you do this so no one gets hurt.  But, you’re rushing in on pure emotion.”

“I
don’t care!”

For
once, Job looked frustrated.  “It’s reckless!  Chason wants to kill
you.  With Ty, he’ll hesitate.  I’m sure of it.  But, with you…”

“I
DON’T CARE!”

“Gion.”
Nia seized the front of his shirt.  “Job’s right.  I know that he’s right, but I
don’t care.  Just get my cousin back.  It doesn’t matter what you have to
do just get her back!”

Gion
met her eyes.  “Even if no else in the world survives today… Ty will.”
That was more for his own benefit than Nia’s.  He stepped back from her,
glancing over at Job.  “I’m going.  Do what you can here.  Don’t let Ty’s House
fall.”

He
jumped without giving Job a chance to reply and landed in the Magnet Fortress,
right in Chason’s office.

The
Reprisal must’ve already been on the move, because the place seemed deserted,
except for the sounds of running downstairs and some muffled shouting outside.
Gion instinctively looked out of the window.  Chason’s shithole homeland
stretched out around him, gray and desolate.  Below, someone stood by Mara’s
sepulcher, but he didn’t see Ty anywhere.

Gion
had never really thought of the Magnet Kingdom as large, but now it seemed
impossibly vast.  Ty could be anywhere.  He couldn’t find her unless she did
that screaming thing in his head, calling him to her.

Why
wasn’t she doing that?  Had Chason already done something to her?  Or did she
just not understand that Gion could hear her?  He’d never explained it to her.
How could Ty possibly know?  Why hadn’t he taken three damn seconds to tell
her…?

Energy
surged and Brook and Tharsis appeared beside him.

Gion
glanced at them distractedly.  He should order them to go home.  Ty wouldn’t
want them put at risk, but, at the moment, he was just grateful to have more
eyes.  “Split up.”  He commanded, already heading for the door.  “Find her.
Anybody gets in your way, kill them, call me, or jump around them.  Don’t get
dead or I’ll never hear the end of it.  Understand?”

“He’s
hiding her.”  Tharsis ran a hand through his hair.  “They don’t even have to be
in this kingdom, for God’s sake.  With the barriers down, Chason could have
taken her anywhere.”

Brokk
handed one of his swords to Tharsis.  “Chase only needs Ty to get to Gion.  He
has no reason to hide.  He’ll want Gion to see…” he glanced at Tharsis’
strained face, “everything.  Otherwise, there’s no value his revenge.”

“Well,
I’m fucking here, so where the hell is he?”  Gion snapped.

If
possible, his anxiety level jacked even higher, because Brokk was right.  If
Gion was Chason’s real target, then there was no reason to take Ty, at all.
Chason could have decapitated Ty right in front of Gion and accomplished his
goal.

Gion
couldn’t survive without Ty.

He
wouldn’t even want to.

Better
than anyone, Chason understood the utter desolation of losing the woman you
loved.  And, God knew, Chase had never been a subtle bastard.  If he wanted to
destroy Gion, the best way to do it was to kill Ty fast, before Gion had a
chance to retaliate.  Not kidnap her.  What would be the point?

A
thought occurred to Gion, dark and horrible, born from his years serving
Parald.  The most likely reason to take your enemy’s woman was to rape her and then
kill her.  Would Chason do that?  Parald would, with a grin on his
simpering face.  But, would a recovering choirboy like Chason go that far?

Of
course not.

No.

No.

…Maybe.

Before
today, Gion had never thought that Chason would really threaten to kill Ty, so
who the hell knew what he was capable of?

Shit.

Gion
had to find her.

Now.

Chason
must know that Gion would come for Ty.  He must know that there was a
timeline, here.  A small window before Gion caught up with him.  He was more
powerful than Chason and Gion would brutally cheat without a second thought.
In a fight, the safe bet would always be on Gion.  Even crazy as a loon, Chason
lacked Gion’s cruel streak.

To
get Ty back, there was nothing Gion wouldn’t do.

Nothing,
at all.

So
why was Chason risking this?  Why not kill her outright?  What was he planning?

And
where the hell had he taken Ty?

*****

Chason
zipped Ty’s sweater up so forcefully that the back of his hand knocked against
her chin.  “You’ll be fine.  Just stay out of my path.”

“I’m
not going along with this.”   She hissed, batting his arm away.

Chason
ignored that, not releasing his grip on her as he tugged her along.  Ty
couldn’t jump herself with Chason so close and she wasn’t strong enough to pull
him along with her.  For all practical purposes she was stuck with him until he
let her go.

…
Or she stabbed him.

A
shard of Plexiglas stayed clutched in Ty’s hand.  She wasn’t certain what might
happen to an Elemental impaled with plastic, but she was positive that it would
hurt.  So, she kept it hidden in her grasp.  She didn’t want to do anything
drastic, yet

Ty
still didn’t think Chason would hurt her.  It seemed fairly clear that he
wasn’t planning her grisly death, at the moment.  And she’d loved Mara so much,
that it was hard for Ty to contemplate killing her Match unless there was just
no other alternative.  Mara had been the first one to give her a copy of Ismena.

Also,
no matter how much Ty didn’t want to be there, she felt like something… bigger
was at work.  That synchronicity Raiden spoke of, as events came to a head.
Chason had inadvertently brought her to the one spot where she might be able do
some good for her kingdom and family.

The
Air Palace.

Just
being there sent Ty into the first hyperventilating stages of a panic attack.
She could feel Parald in the castle.  Just feel the miasma of his evil
seeping through the mortar and stone.  In so many of her nightmares, Ty was
trapped in the Air Palace, running down its endless, tackily decorated
hallways, unable to escape.

But,
if Parald was here, then this was her chance to kill him.  If Parald was dead,
his army would stop attacking the Water House and Job wouldn’t have to kill
anyone.

Plus,
the Love Tablet was in Air Kingdom.  In order to undo the… whatever that
Parald had done, Tessie said she needed the box.  This was Ty’s chance to find
it.  To help fix Parald’s treachery and remove the block from inside of her.  Raiden’s
words from the Agora came back to her.

I
know now that you’re the only one who can do this.  Find
the box.  It will be behind him.

And,
amazingly, she knew exactly what that gibberish meant.

Granted,
Raiden was a nut.  But, for some crazy reason, in the midst of all this war and
deceit, Ty believed him.  She believed that she was the only one who could do
this.  She had to get the tablet or Gion would come here and try to find it
himself.  Probably alone.  Ty would rather risk herself that her Match.

And
she’d rather risk Chason than either of them.

Ty
wasn’t a hero.  Let Chase deal with the first hail of castle guards, if he was
so determined to be an idiot.  All she wanted was to kill Parald, find the box
and to make it out of this alive.

Chason
dragged her along in his wake, his sword slashing through fleshy obstacles as
he neared the throne room.  The noise of the battle was everywhere, metal and
shouting and the pounding of running feet.

Phases
from other Houses were arriving in the Air Kingdom; some Reprisal, some
civilians, and all of them eager for Parald’s head.  Everyone who’d waited two
years for revenge against the Air House had just been waved through the toll.
With most of the Air House army in the Water Kingdom, the remaining soldiers
were outnumbered so heavily that none of the invaders were meeting much
resistance.

Chason
cut a swath through everyone, unconcerned about the fighting.  He was focused
like a Doberman on his prey, moving towards Parald with relentless
determination.

From
the corner of her eye, Ty saw Yuan, of the Reflection House, one of the most
powerful Elementals alive.

At
least, she thought it was him.

It
was definitely a Reflection Phase, but that House had the annoying ability to
look however they wanted, so it was always difficult to identify them by their
appearance.  There was a white streak at his temple and a savage glow to his
colorless eyes as he fought Air Phases.

“There
are only two sides in this, Ty.”  Chason told her in a conversational tone.  “You
can be with me or against me.  Either way, I’ll be leaving here with Parald’s
head, so I don’t care which you choose.”

“This
isn’t that kind of war.”  Ty glowered up at him.  “You want me dead.  Parald
wants me dead.  Whose side am I supposed to be on?”

“I
don’t want you dead.”  He looked surprised that she’d say such a thing.
“You’re just a means to an end.  Collateral damage.  Raiden said that I can’t
use you to get at Gion, so I’ll use you against Parald, instead.  It’s nothing
personal.”

Okay,
that was just insulting.  “I take the invasion of my kingdom and my subsequent
kidnapping quite personally, as a matter of fact.”  Ty dug her heels in and did
her very best to halt him entirely.  “I’m not just a pawn, Chase.  I’m a real
person!”

He
didn’t respond to that, just continued forward march, pulling her along.

To
her left Alder, of the Fire House arrived, jumping right into the middle of a
cadre of Air House guards.  Grinning like a maniac, he cheerfully began
battling them, six against one.  Ty wasn’t even a teensy bit concerned over
who’d win that fight.  Fire Phases lived to skewer their enemies.

She
recognized more and more warriors from the various Houses, now.

Rysimer
and Abram and Europa and Djinn and Pele.

There
was no way the Air House could win this.

Bodies
fell.  People screamed.  It sounded like the Fall, all over again.

Except
there was no coughing.

Across
the room, she saw Mara’s cousin, Kahn, of the Light House.  Black-red gore
covered the side of his face as he savaged his way through the Air Phases.
There was a desperate frenzy on all sides of the fight.  As if everyone knew
that they only had a few moments before Job arrived and reigned in the carnage,
so they needed to hack apart as many of their enemies as they could.

Chason’s
own sword flashed out, cutting down an Air Phase who stepped into his path.  He
didn’t even hesitate as he stepped over the body.  He didn’t notice Kahn.  He
didn’t notice anything.  Ty had the feeling the entire world was white noise to
Chason, now.  Just meaningless distractions as he headed for his goal.

Ty
averted her gaze, executing a graceless leap over the corpse on the floor so
the pooling blood didn’t touch her.  She was still in her bare feet.  “This is
insane.”

“Insane.”
That actually got his full attention.  Chason chuckled in a completely
inappropriate and off-kilter way.  “Insaaaane.  That word is haunting
me, you know.  A specter.  I think only people who really understand it,
should be allowed to use it, though.  Everyone just throws it around, but it
has a visceral component that you hyperbolic dilettantes can’t possibly
appreciate.”

There
was absolutely nothing Ty could say to that.

“Insanity
is not just a state of mind.”  Chason continued as if he thought she was
going to argue the point.  “It’s a living thing.  Organic.  It follows you
everywhere.  Believe me.  I know.”

“This
has been a nightmare for you.  Okay?  I’ve only just come to see how much.”
Losing Gion would kill her.  No wonder Chason was so distraught.  Ty had no
idea how he’d even hung on this long without his Match.  “I miss Mara, too.  I
was at your Phazing Day.  She let me hold her flowers and…”

“Don’t
say my Match’s name!”

His
volume had her cringing, but Ty still didn’t back down.  “Or what?
You’ll jump me into the middle of a battle?  Rip me from my home?  Drag me
around against my will?”  She snorted.  “You’re not going to do a damn thing
more to me, until I get you what you want, and we both know it.”

Chason
scowled.  “Gion has brought out a particularly bitchy side of you.”

Ty
actually took that as a compliment.  People never called weak women “bitchy.”
It was only the ones who stood up for themselves.

“At
least, Gion never abducted anyone.  In fact, he rescued me from the dungeons
here.”  And he’d come for her, again.  There wasn’t a doubt in Ty’s mind.

“Gion
is a fucking maniac!”

“Gion
is a better man than you are, by any objective standard.  Face it, no matter
what happened in the past, today Gion is the hero of the piece.  Guess
what that makes you?”

“You
have no right to judge me, Ty.  None.”

“As
your victim, I’d say I definitely have a…”

“You’re
not a victim!  You won’t be hurt.  I told you that.  Not unless I have no
choice.  Just stay out of my way and it’ll be fine.”  They reached the massive
double doors of the throne room.  Chason must have memorized maps of the Air
Palace, because he hadn’t made a single wrong turn getting there.

Two
Air Phases stood guard at the door.  One look at Chason had them bolting in the
opposite direction.

Chason
barely seemed to notice.  He pounded a fist against the massive fortified door,
positioning Ty in front of the peephole.

“Chason,
don’t so this.”  She hissed, bracing herself as he laid his sword across her
throat.  Ty tightened her grip on the plastic shard, the edges of it digging
into her hand.

“I’m
sorry.  This the only way to get my Match back.  Don’t worry.  I’m not going to
hurt you.”

“Get
her back?  That’s… impossible.”  Ty wasn’t going to use the word
“insane,” again, but that was pretty much the definition of it.  “Mar… I mean, your
Match is dead.  Remember?”  She tried for a humoring tone.  “If you…”

“I
know she’s dead!  Raiden had a vision and said I could get her back,
though, if I had you with me.  Alive.”  He shook his head like the words were
jumbled.  “Or something.  So…”

A
roar came from inside the locked throne room.

Parald.

“Ty!
Give her to me!”

The
sound of his voice had Ty’s vision wavering and her heart rate speeding up.
She leaned backwards against Chason as fear threatened to suck her under.

Panic
attack.

Panic
attack.

Panic
attack.

Ty
squeezed her eyes shut and fought for control.

No.

She
wasn’t too weak.  She never had been.

She
could do this.

“Let
me in or you can watch her die!”  Chason shouted back.  “I want to make a
deal.”

Silence.

Then,
“What sort of deal?”

“Open
the door and find out.”

“It’s
a trick.  You think I’m an idiot?”

“Hell
yes.  I also think that you’re an asshole with delusions of grandeur.  I think
I have the only thing that you really want and I’m pretty sure that
you’ll be stupid enough to believe that you can take me in a fight.  So, I
think you’ll open the door and try to prove it.”

“I
can take you in a fight.  The Magnet House is nothing compared to
the Air Kingdom!”

“This
isn’t about Houses.  This is about the qualities of men.  I was bred to
be great and you were bred to be a servant in the kitchen.”

Ty
swallowed hard, trying to maintain control.  There was just no way Chason would
make a deal with Parald.  None.  There was nothing in the universe Chason
wanted from the man except vengeance.  Chason was pushing his buttons in a
completely unsubtle way.  Was Parald honestly egotistical enough to fall
for his taunting?

Yes.
Apparently, he was.

Thank
God, this moron wasn’t her Match.

“I’m
the King!  Not because my pussy of a father was king before me, because
I fought for my throne.  It’s all me!  I’m the ruler of this
kingdom by right, not luck.  Talent, not bloodlines.”

“Congratulations.”
Chason intoned.  “So, you were born a dishwasher.”

That
sounded so much like something Gion would snark that Ty gave an amazed burst of
nervous laughter, despite her careening emotions.

The
door slammed open a Parald stood there, a sword pointed at Chason.  “I was born
a king!”

Ty
only had a second to react to seeing Parald again, and then Chason was shoving
her out of the way.  She staggered to the side as Chason used his Magnet powers
to rip the sword right out of Parald’s hand.  It flew across the room, crashing
into the wall behind them, and Chason advanced.

Parald’s
eyes widened.  Obviously, he hadn’t expected Chason to cheat quite so fast.

Ty
could feel the slimy touch of his powers against her and shuddered.  She had to
find that box and fix this.

“You
killed my Match, you son-of-a-bitch.”  Chason spun his own sword around in his
hand.  “I’ve been preparing for this moment for two years.  I had a whole
speech and everything.  I dreamed of hearing you beg.”  He tilted his
head.  “And now that we’re finally here… I don’t even care.  I’m going to kill
you, right now.  Because, I simply don’t fucking care what else
you have to say.”

“All
I wanted was Ty!  It’s her fault, not mine!  All I wanted was my Match!”

Ty’s
lingering panic dissipated under a cloud of rage.  She wasn’t scared anymore.
She was angry.  So out of her mind furious that she just shoved her way into
the throne room and jabbed a finger at Parald.  “You conniving bastard!  You
aren’t my Match.  You never were!”  Portraits of Parald dressed like human
kings seemed to follow her with their beady eyes as she advanced.  “Gion
is my Match and you know it.  This is all because you tried to destroy
my connection to him and it didn’t work!”

Chason’s
head snapped around to gape at her.  “What?”

“Parald
used the Love Tablet to do something to our Phazing energy.  I was never supposed
to be with him.  It’s always been Gion.”

“I
chose you.  You should be fucking grateful, you little whore.”

“You’re
so useless, I can’t believe I ever thought Gaia would punish me and connect
my energy to yours.”  The words poured out of her.  “I am so much better than
you.  So much stronger.  You are nothing but a murderer and I will never ever
let you beat me.”

“You’re
my Match!  You don’t have a choice…”

“Gion
is my Match.  Gion is King of the Water House.  Gion is the man I
love.  We make each other happy and whole.  Nothing can change that.
Certainly not you.”

“I’m
the King!”

“Keep
saying it while you can.”  Ty smirked at him with utter confidence.  “The
barriers are gone and there’s a big target painted on your forehead.  Without
Gion and Isaacs helping to protect you, you’re already dead.  And, since
they’re both playing on my team, I’d say the best you can hope for now
is a nice royal funeral, your majesty.”

“You
bitch!”

Chason
blinked.  Ty could see him processing that information behind his crazed purple
eyes.  “Parald doesn’t even have a Match?  He’s done all this and you’re
not even his?”

“Ty
belongs to me!  I can have whatever I want!”

Ty
looked over at Chason.  “I’m not his.  If he had a Match out there --A real
Match--  odds are he killed her in the Fall.”  The poor woman might have been
better off.

Parald
made a face as if he couldn’t imagine what Ty was talking about.  “So what?
Natural or not, I have you for my Match.  It’s done and that bond isn’t
going away.  You and I will be together forever.”

Not
once Ty got that Love Tablet.  She’d see to that.

Chason’s
energy went wild as he fully assimilated the news.  “He murdered Mara and
you weren’t even a real Match?!”

Ty
gasped as Mara’s name burned in the air.

Parald
cringed.

Since
the Fall, Chason hadn’t even whispered her name out loud.  Hearing his
own voice screaming it seemed to snap whatever control he might’ve still
possessed.  Ty felt Chason’s powers dragging all the metal in the Air Kingdom
towards the throne room.

Parald
retreated a step.  “I told you, that was all Ty’s fault…”

Chason
went for him.  His sword swung like an ax, aiming for Parald’s head.

Parald
ducked out of the way.  His Air energy slammed out, catching Chason in the
chest.  The incredible blast of Air lifted Chason up and backwards, but it wasn’t
enough to slow him down.

Parald
swore as Chason kept coming.  “Guards, now!”  He bellowed.  “Help me!”

And
that’s when eight armed Air Phases came charging out from behind a hidden panel
in the wall… and headed straight for Chason.

*****

Isaacs
pushed forward to stand next to Job.  “If Gion can’t hold the Air Element while
he’s off playing Lancelot, I can do it.”

Job
glanced at him.  Even with Isaacs’ damaged sight, he could pick up the tension
on Job’s face.  “Are you sure?”

“Between
me, Amarna and the others… Yeah.  The Air House won’t fall.”

“Alright.”
Job nodded as if convincing himself.  “Alright.  This is happening now,
then.  So, I can go help Ty as quickly as possible.”

“Let
the Water Kingdom fall and go help Ty, now.”  Nia urged.  “I know that
Gion’s powerful, but no one could stop you.  I want my cousin safe and…”

Job
cut her off.  “Chason won’t hurt her.  No matter what even he thinks.
And this is our best chance to stop the Air House army, so Parald won’t ever come
after any of you, again.”

“Let’s
just get it over with.”  Amarna’s voice was filled with anticipation.  “First
the soldiers.  Then Parald.  Today, we reclaim our homeland!”

Her
pronouncement brought another round of cheers from her followers.  They jumped
out of the Water Palace, no doubt heading down into the battle.

Isaacs
rolled his useless eyes.

Fucking
sycophants.

He
might not enjoy his new status as a Water House refugee, but he didn’t love the
Air Phases so much, either.  Centuries of following orders and trying to be
perfect… And where had it gotten him?  Blind and ostracized, with his own
troops trying to kill him.  Isaacs felt like he’d suddenly noticed that the
emperor had no clothes.

Even
if he had been a loyal Air Phase, though, he’d still know how this would
end.  Not even the greatest patriot in the universe would think that Saxon was
going to win the day and plant the Air House standard on the Water Palace
roof.  Nia was right.  No one could stop Job.  For once, Isaacs was on the side
of the angels.

Which
was lucky, ‘cause the good guys were about to kick ass.

Cross
reached over grab Job’s arm, lending the strength of his powers to his uncle.

Tessie
closed her eyes as if she couldn’t bear to watch her Match do something that
would haunt him forever.

Because
the Big Guy was really gonna clean house.

Isaacs
felt the entire world shake, the ground moved in an earthquake that sent the
soldiers below tumbling like dominoes.  He couldn’t see them toppling over, but
he could feel their energy falter.

The
barrage of Air powers stopped.

By
this point, the Reprisal and various pissed-off Phases had arrived in the Water
Kingdom, following the oh-so-subtle surging Air House powers.  Not that anyone
wanted to help the Water House particularly, but everybody wanted to
kill Air Phases and it was suddenly open season.  Saxon must not have thought
of that.

Arrogant
prick.

Fighting
had broken out at various points on the Air Phase lines.  None of the newcomers
were affected by Job’s tectonic event, though.  Their energy stayed steady.  It
was like Job took the vibrations from the ground and sent them up into the
enemy Air Phases themselves, jarring them from the inside out.

Job
was going to rip them apart without even touching them.  Without leaving a mark
on their bodies.  They’d die by seismic activity of their internal systems.

Isaacs
had never even heard of anything like it.

“Job.”
Raiden, of the Radiation House appeared, jumping into the room.  “Don’t do
this.  There’s another way.”

Job
glanced over at him.  “Where’s Ty?”  The resonate quaking didn’t stop, but
Raiden had his attention.  “If anything happens to her, the Reprisal will be
the next group I deal with.  That’s a promise.”

“Chason
took her to Parald.”

Uriel
swore and Wood Phases weren’t a group given to casual obscenities.

“Shit!”
Nia stabbed a finger at Raiden.  “You’d better pray that Gion kills your boss and
Parald.  Because, if I get my hands on Chason, I swear to God…”

“He’s
not going to give Ty to Parald.”  Raiden interrupted as if that was crazy
talk.  “He’s just trying to draw Parald out.”

“Chason
told you that?”  Cross demanded skeptically.

“No.
But, I know it to be true.”

Tessie
focused on Job.  “Raiden’s right.  Parald’s the head of this snake.  If you cut
off the head, then you don’t need to worry about the rest of the body.”  She
seemed eager to find a way out of Job’s “kill ‘em all” plan.  The Quintessence
would never want Job to have to do something like that.  She knew him too
well.  “Look, if we get rid of him, all this will stop.  The army will
fall apart on its own.”

Job
looked at his Match.  “Just kill Parald, you mean?”

“Kill
one.  Save hundreds.  Seems fair.”  Tessie stood up.  “Try this first,
Job.  Be sure that all this death is the only way or you’ll be second guessing
yourself forever.”

“Chason
will get into that throne room.”  Raiden assured them.  “I’ve seen it.  What
happens after that is uncertain, but Parald is vulnerable and Ty’s there.  This
is our shot.”

“Why
is Ty being there important?”  Isaacs wanted to know.  “‘Cause Gion’s gonna
follow her?  Gion gets to finish Parald off, doesn’t he?”

Typical.

Gion
always got all the breaks.

Raiden
glanced at him.  Mostly blind or not, Isaacs could still see the vivid gamma
ray green of his eyes.  “Ty, of the Water House is vital to our world.  She’s
ensuring that Chason is right where he needs to be for the coming war.”

“No
more wars.”  Job pulled back on his powers and shook his head.  “There’s been
enough death.”

Isaacs
felt himself stagger a bit at the sudden succession of energy.  The percussive
echoes of powers stopped, leaving a yawning silence.  For one beat there was
nothing… Then, Isaacs felt most of the gasping, aching Air House soldiers
jumping the hell outta Dodge.

They
ran.

And
who could blame them?

“There’s
always another war.”  Raiden said quietly.  “Let’s just win one at a time.”

*****

Saxon’s
army deserted him.

Fucking
traitors.

Rage
filled him as his men jumped into any kingdom and realm they could lock onto.
Cowards.  Deserting the field rather than stand up to Job.  That evil
son-of-a-bitch wanted to steal everything for himself.  The most power,
control of the Council, and a Match who was the damn Quintessence… Job wouldn’t
be happy until he ran everything, changed everything, so it suited his
own agenda.

And
now he was stealing Saxon’s destiny!

“Stop!”
He bellowed at the stampede of retreating troops.  “Stop!  Stay and fight, you
bastards!”  Jesus, he would kill every single one of them when this was over.

Every.
Single.  One.

Amarna,
the bitch niece of Seneca, smirked at him across the fields of broken glass and
panicked soldiers.  Saxon’s jaw tightened in fury as she waved at him.  The
snotty, little whore actually waved at him, surrounded by Air Phases who
weren’t fleeing with their tails between their legs.

Rebels.

Those
pussies did exist.

Shit.

Saxon
wasn’t a fool.  With Job, the rebels, and the Reprisal against him, there was
no way he could win.  Not alone.  And more people who hated him were showing up
all the time.  It was like a convention of the assholes.  No matter how hated
the Water House was, it seemed like it still beat out the Air Phases in a
popularity contest.

Shit.

Saxon
barely ducked in time to avoid decapitation as Campbel, of the Heat House
lunged at him.  Saxon blasted out some Air energy, pushing him back, but more
enemies were headed his way.  All of them armed and pissed.

Lansing,
of the Dust House gave a battle cry and came right at Saxon, his broad sword
swinging over his head.  All around him dead Air Phases stared up at the flat
clouds and anyone strong enough was going or already gone.

Saxon
gave up trying to fight the battle on his own.

He’d
have his due… But, it wouldn’t be today.

He
had nowhere to go, now.  Nowhere where he’d be welcomed.

Amnesty
seemed like a long shot.

Ty
probably wasn’t going to open the doors to him, and Job suddenly seemed pretty
darkside for a Mr. Nice Guy.  Saxon wasn’t even sure he wanted to be
neighbors with somebody who could vibrate his organs into microscopic particles
the second he stepped out of line.  And, since the Air House was about to have
a severe change of management, going home seemed like a real bad idea.

But,
Saxon would figure something out.  He was a survivor.  He’d get by.

…And
wait for his day to come around.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

A
person, who was a little of a seer, a combined symbol of elemental air and
elemental water

W.
B. Yeats- ‘Ideas of Good and Evil’

Ty
wasn’t in the Magnet Kingdom.

She
wasn’t anywhere.

In
his entire life, Gion had never been so scared.

He
wasn’t used to being scared.  No one could do that to him except Ty.  Loving
somebody with every bit of his being --all the previously empty pieces of his
soul filling up with her-- wasn’t just about good times.  Playing in bed
and watching the sunset with her head on his shoulder.  No, it meant that Ty
had the ability to crush him into millions of irreparable pieces.  If he lost
her, Gion would die.  Simple as that.  When he got Ty back, he was going to
handcuff himself to the woman.  She was never leaving his sight, again.

God,
please let him get her back.

Gion
closed his eyes and tried to think through his panic.  Where had Chason taken
her?  What was he doing to her?  Gion had to put himself in that vengeful
sociopath’s place.

Chason’s
entire focus was Mara.

The
more Gion thought about it, the more he convinced himself that Chason wouldn’t
rape Ty.  The Clean Marine didn’t see Ty as a woman.  Didn’t even see her as a
person.  All Chason’s perceptions and beliefs had been eradicated in the Fall.
There wasn’t room for anyone in his world now, except his dead Match.  He’d see
touching Ty in any kind of personal way as an affront to Mara’s memory.  Odds
seemed good that Chason wouldn’t have sex with a willing woman, let alone rape
an unwilling one.

So
what was he planning?

Ty
was a means to an end.  Whatever Chason’s plot was, the same logic as before
applied.  This had nothing to do with Ty herself.  Chason liked Ty.  Her
only value was as a weapon against Gion.

…Or
Parald.

Gion’s
eyes widened as he realized that this wasn’t necessarily about him.

He’d
just assumed that taking Ty was a way to get to him because of the FX
extravaganza at the Home Depot.  But, really Gion would always be second
place on the Reprisal’s hit list.  If Chason could use Ty against Parald, of
course he’d try that first.

Chason
still thought that Ty was Parald’s Match.

She
was an absolute surefire golden ticket into Parald’s throne room.  An all-access
pass.  The Air House’s fearless leader wouldn’t open that door for anybody… except
for the one person that he wanted more than anything in the universe.

Ty.

*****

Parald
grabbed Ty and yanked her around to face him.

Chason
was fighting the eight Air House soldiers and doing an admirable job.  Ty was pretty
annoyed with the guy and even she had to admit that he’d rock at Ultimate
Fighting Championships.

Parald
wasn’t fighting, at all.  He just stalked around the sword play and seized Ty
by the arm.

“You
slut!  You’ve been letting Gion screw you!  Admit it!”

“Gion’s
my Match.”  Ty shot back.  “My real Match.  Ordained by Gaia and chosen
by me.  I’ll let him do anything he wants with a smile on my face.”

“I’m
your Match!”  He gave her a violent shake.

“You’re
nothing.  You couldn’t get the Air House without stealing.  You couldn’t
get me without manipulating my energy.  And even then, I wouldn’t have
you.”  Ty’s eyes gleamed with triumph, no longer afraid of Parald, at all.  He
seemed so much smaller in person.  So much weaker.  “You could never be
my Match.”

His
fingers bit into his arms, his boyish face darkening with fury.  “You think
I’ll just let you walk away from me?  Let you make me a laughingstock?  You’re mine!”

“You’ve
lost, you moron.  You killed thousands of people and abused the Tablets
of Fate trying to get your own way… and still you’ve lost.”  Parald
could never beat her.  Ty saw that so clearly, all of a sudden.  She was
smarter than him.  Stronger.  He hadn’t defeated her on her ninety-third
birthday and he wouldn’t do it, now.  “Even if you kill me, Gion’s going to see
you dead.  It’s over.”

Pale
gray eyes narrowed.  “You bitch!”  Parald drew back his arm, ready to
strike her; to hit her like he had before.

Only
this time, Ty was ready for him.

She
lifted the shard of Plexiglas still clutched in her hand and sunk it into his
arm as deeply as she could.

Parald
let out a scream of agony and panic as the very unElemental plastic
reacted with his system.  Judging by the cut on her hand, Ty was betting that
it burned and throbbed like someone had shoved a curling iron beneath his skin.

Not
to mention the pain from the stab wound itself.

He
released her, stumbling backwards and clutching his arm to his chest.  “I’ll
fucking kill you!  Gion will never have you.  I’ll see you dead first!”  He
slammed his Air powers out, crashing them into her hard enough to break her
bones and crush her internal organs.

Ty
went flying backwards, hitting the ground and gasping for breath.

…
But completely unhurt.

“Ty!”
Chason bellowed.

She
should have been dead.  Ty slowly sat up, unzipping her sweater to stare down
at the Kevlar vest that Chason had strapped onto her at the beginning of this
misadventure.  Human bulletproof vests worked against Elemental powers?

Why
hadn’t she thought of that?

“What
the hell…?”  Parald gaped at her.  “How’d you do that?”

Ty
looked up at him and smiled smugly.  “Science.”

Chason
slashed through another guard and tried to get to Parald.  Chason had killed
five of them, so far, through a combination of skill, cheating, and not caring
about the numerous cuts and bruises covering his body.  He had complete tunnel
vision, all his focus locked onto Parald.

“Help!”
Parald called towards the door, searching for more soldiers to come to his
aid.  Blood continued to seep from his arm and he pulled the Plexiglas shard
loose with a grimace.  “Guards!”

No
one came to protect him.

Instead,
Gion arrived with a crash of energy that sent the overhead lights dimming.

He
jumped right into the throne room.  With the door standing open, there was a
broken spot in the ring of plastic netting attached to the walls.  That gave
Gion all the access he needed.  His icy gaze swept the room and landed on Ty,
who was still sprawled on the floor.

She’d
never seen him so strained.  Gion looked like he was on the verge of a nervous
breakdown, his knuckles white around the hilt of his sword.

“Ty.”
The word came out as a prayer and then he was on his knees in front of her.
“God, angel.  Are you, okay?  Are you hurt?”  His hands found her face, petting
her hair, as she nodded.

“I’m
fine.”  He laid his forehead against hers for a beat, breathing hard, and Ty
instinctively tried to sooth him.  “I knew you’d come.”

“When
we get home, remind me to explain some things to you.  Like how your energy
lets you call me when you’re in real danger.”

“I
was handling things.”  Ty allowed Gion to hoist her to her feet.  “I know where
the Tablet is.”

“Good.
Great.”  Gion nodded vaguely, his attention already swinging towards Parald.
“Just stay behind me.”  Gion started across the room, his eyes burning into his
old boss.

Parald
took a step back.  “You’re an Air Phase, Gion.  Remember that.”

“I’m
a Water Phase, now.”  Gion snarled.  “And what I remember is that
you tried to rape my Match.”

Chason’s
head snapped around to Ty as if scanning for injuries.  “That wasn’t on my
watch.”

“She’s
a fucking tease!”  Parlad screamed.

Gion
didn’t see it that way.  “You hit her.  Blocked our energy.  Killed her
parents.  Almost got her beheaded.  Kidnapped her.  Attacked her kingdom.  Made
sure that she was scared of me.  Kept her from me for three years.  And then
you tried to stick me with some other woman, so I’d never know the truth.”  The
black blade of his sword glinted like death.  “Your sorry reign is fucking over.”

“No!”
Chason screamed the command.  “Don’t you touch him!  He’s mine!”  His fury gave
him a burst of adrenalin and he killed two more guards, bending their swords in
half with his powers.  Chason didn’t even wince as the last one sliced his arm
clear down to the bone.  “He murdered my Match!”

“And
he stole mine!”  Gion bellowed back.  “I’m gonna deal with you next, so stay
out of it!”

Chason
swung his sword into the final soldier, taking his head off with one clean
blow.  “I’ll kill you myself before I let you take this vengeance away from me,
Gion!”

“You’ll
have to.”

Chason
charged towards Gion, their blades clashing together in a rainbow of sparks.

“Stop!”
Ty ordered.  “Chason, stop!”

Parald
got a crafty look on his face.  Ty could feel him gathering the energy to jump
while Gion and Chason were distracted with their fighting.

“I
don’t think so.”  She slammed the throne room door closed, so he couldn’t
escape.  The plastic netting that had protected Parald from invaders now
trapped him in the room.  Ty suddenly understood why Gion wasn’t staple-gunning
it to the Water Palace’s walls.  It kept Phases out… and it kept Phases in.

The
throne room was a cage.

Parald
swore.  “Bitch.”  He snarled, again, starting for her.  Ty stood between him
and the door.  Between him and freedom.  If he didn’t get that door open,
Chason and/or Gion would execute him.  Regicide was eminent.  By keeping Parald
in the room, Ty was ensuring that he died.  She might as well wield the sword
herself.

And
she was okay with that.

Ty
met his eyes dead on.

Parald
wasn’t impressed.  “You think you can stop me, Ty?  That you…?”

A
targeted cyclone of Air hit Parald, interrupting his taunts and sending him
flying straight up into the roof.  He ricocheted off the domed ceiling and then
tumbled to the ground in a daze.

Ty
looked over at her Match.  “Thank you, dear.”

Gion
shoved free of Chason long enough to send her an exasperated look.  “Angel, get
out of here.”

“Not
unless you come with me.”  Ty couldn’t leave Gion.  He was incredibly powerful,
and she knew he’d win, but he was her world.  If he died, Ty would have
nothing.  She loved him so much that her life before Gion was already a blur.
“I need you.  So, if you’re going to risk yourself, then so am I.”

Gion
blinked.  “You can’t do that.”

“Of
course I can!  You’re my Match.  Let Chason kill Parald.”

“I
promised you that Parald wouldn’t touch you again and, because of
Chason, he did.”  Gion sounded anguished.  “It’s Chason’s fault.  So, he
doesn’t get to finish this.”

“I
don’t care about Parald.”  Ty insisted.  “I care about you.”

“I
told you that I’d bring Ty home.”  Chason retorted.  He used the Magnet energy
to rip the sword from Gion.  “Just keep out of my way.”  He swept towards
Parald with two swords clutched in his hands.

Gion
stalked after him, seizing Chason by the arm and slamming him back around.

Parald
wasn’t going down without a fight, either.  He grabbed the sword of a fallen
guard and staggered to his feet.

“Son-of-a-bitch.”
Ty started for him, again.

Only,
instead of using the blade against Gion or Chason, Parald sliced it against the
wall.  The sharpened steel went through the top of a painting of Parald dressed
like Napoleon and across a large section of the stone behind it… Through the
concealed, plastic netting that was attached to every surface like wallpaper.
Parald ripped it down, pulling on the jagged tear he’d created with one hand
and hacking through the plastic with the other.  In less than fifteen seconds,
he had a large section loose.

“Gion!”
Ty called.

Gion’s
head whipped around to look at her, just in time for Parald to hurl his
makeshift net gladiator-style.  Chason and Gion were standing so close together
that it covered both of them.  Not so much trapping them as slowing them down
and blocking their energy while Parald used his Air powers to start hurling
swords in their direction.  The dead guard’s weapons hurtled across the room
like spears.  He was trying to incapacitate Gion and Chason before they could
fight back.

Ty’s
heart stopped.

For
the first time in her life, her powers slammed out without any conscious
thought.  Every drop of water vapor in the room swelled towards her.  With a
great push, she sent it all slamming into Parald like a wrecking ball.  It
drove him backwards into the wall, flat against a portrait of himself dressed
like Elvis.  He dislodged the heavy gold frame, sending it toppling to the
ground, much to the relief of art lovers everywhere.

And
revealing a safe hidden in the wall the painting.

Just
as Ty thought.

It
will be behind him.

“Holy
shit!”  To Ty’s amazement, Gion positively beamed at her and forgot about his
fight with Chason.  “Ty, that was beautiful!”  Chason cut them free of
the net and Gion didn’t seem to notice.  He dashed over to Ty, grabbing her up
in his arms.  “I’m so proud of you!”  He lifted her right off the ground.
“How’d you do that?”

“You
taught me.”  Ty clung to him.  “Same principle as playing the piano with
powers, except… bigger.  Nia and Thar can use water vapor to move things.  You
can do it with Air energy.  I guess I can do it, too.”

“Of
course you can!  I told you, you weren’t weak.”  His cape enveloped her as he
hugged her tight.  “My Match.”  Gion kissed her lavishly.  “Don’t do anything
like that, again, though.  I could have handled it.”

Ty
smiled.

Chason
prowled over to Parald, still clutching the two swords:  Gion’s and his own.

Gion
stiffened slightly as if he was preparing to stop him.

“Don’t.”
Ty whispered.  “Chase needs this.”

“I
need it, too!  Parald hurt you and I have a right...”

“He
killed Mara.”  Ty laid her head against his chest.  “We still have each other
and Chason only has this.”

Gion
cursed, but he stopped arguing with her.

Parald
ripped one of the swords out of the wall, where it had been stuck like a dart,
and swung it at Chason.  “You’re fucking crazy, you know that?!”

“I
know.”  Chason intoned.  “You made me this way.”  The sword went flying out of
Parald’s grasp as Chason advanced.  “You took my heart and my soul and my
mind.”  Magnet powers lifted Parald by the metal adornments of his tacky uniform,
pushing him up the wall so he couldn’t escape.  “You took my light.”

“I
wasn’t my fault!  I didn’t intend to hurt her!  I barely knew the woman, for
Christ’s sake.  What happened to Mara was an accident!

“Don’t.
Say.  My.  Match’s.  Name.”

Parald
switched to a new strategy.  “You’re an honorable guy, Chase.  You always have
been.  If you kill me like this, it’ll be in cold blood.  Is that what she’d
want?  A murderer for a Match?  Is that the man she Phazed with?”

“No.”
Chason said quietly.  “That man died with her.”

Then,
he swung the two swords out together, one in each hand, so they scissored
across Parald’s throat.

Ty’s
mouth dropped open in shock as Parald’s head slid off his neck and bounced to
the floor.  His body actually stayed upright for a timeless moment and then it
sunk to the ground in a clumsy heap.  Blood and tissue seeped between the
stones, coating Chason’s boots.

Ty
turned away, burying her face against Gion.

…And
that was before Chason started hacking the body into pieces.

“Jesus.”
Gion eased Ty behind him and headed for Chase.  “He’s dead.  Chason, he’s
dead.”

The
blades continued to fall, leaving castoff blood trails up and down the walls as
Chason worked.  Gion muttered another curse and tried to grab Chason’s arm.  Chason
shook him loose and kept going as if in a trance.

There
was a pulse of power and Job arrived in the room along with Cross, Nia, Isaacs,
and Tessie.

“Ty!”
Nia ran for her cousin.  “Are you hurt?”

“No.”
Ty wrapped her arms around Nia in relief.  “Parald’s dead.”

“Hallelujah.”
Cross smirked down at Parald’s head.  “Is it wrong to want a camera for this?”

Isaacs
must have made out Parald’s remains and the grisly mess covering Chason,
because glanced over at Job.  “Do we need at a straitjacket and butterfly nets
here?”

“Tess,
stay back.”  Job was already heading for Chason.  “Chase?”

“He’s
out of it.”  Gion muttered.  “Just let him finish.”

“How
many more pieces does he want?”  Job touched Chason’s shoulder, holding tight
when the other man tried to get free.  “Chase, stop.”

Job’s
perfect voice kept talking, saying Chason’s name over and over, until something
finally clicked and Chason looked at him.  Tears were streaming down his face, cutting
paths in the fresh blood, as he looked at Job.

“He
killed Mara.”  The voice was eerie.  Not sane.

“I
know.”

“He
killed Mara and I thought, if I killed him, it would be better.”

“I
know, son.”

“It’s
not better, though.”  Chason’s voice broke on the agonized words.  “It’s not
better, at all.  Raiden was wrong.  Mara’s not coming back.  She’s not.”
Chason covered his eyes.  “Fuck!”  He started laughing through his tears
in that off-kilter way.  The notes of it too high and slightly demonic.  “Fuck,
Job.  You were right.  As usual.  Nothing can fix this.”  He scrubbed at his
face and shook his head.  “This is all there is… and it’s nothing.”

That
wasn’t what Job wanted to hear.  “If you could just…”

“I’m
sorry.”  Chason interrupted.  “I’m sorry that I took the Justice box from you.
All I wanted was Mara back and for things to be better.”

“I
know.  I forgive you.  Just try and breathe.  It’s over.”

“Over.”
Chason repeated.  “Yes.  It’s finally over.”  He visibly relaxed.  “The end of
the road.”  He was quiet for a beat and then he glanced at Ty.  “Mara loved
you.”

Ty
blinked at the non sequitur.  “I loved her, too.  When I was young, she always
took the time to play with me.”  Maybe some happy memories would snap him out
of this.  Chason’s sudden calm frightened her more than the rage.  “You would
watch us, sometimes, while you worked.  Mara and I would sit under the trees
and read storybooks, remember?”

Chason
didn’t scream at her for saying his Match’s name.  Ty couldn’t read the
expression on his face.  “I do remember.  Ismena.  I should have sat with
you and listened.  She loved fairytales.  I never sat and listened.  Now, the
trees are dead.”

“Okkkkaayyy.”
Isaacs drew out the word, so it meant, “psycho.”

Ty
started for Chason, but Gion blocked her path, keeping her behind him.  Ty
flashed him a quick look, which he ignored.  She settled for trying to get
through to Chason from a distance.  “Trees can come back, if you care for
them.  I can help you with that, if you’ll let me.”

Chason
almost smiled.  As if he was sad for her.  “I apologize, Ty.  I shouldn’t have
brought you here.  And I shouldn’t have called you ‘bitchy.’  You deserve
better.  So did Mara.  I’m not myself, anymore.  I don’t have a self, anymore.”

“Chason…”

“I
won’t bother you, again.”  He jumped out of the room, leaving the swords behind
him.

Tessie
sighed.  “Damn, but that guy’s a weirdo.”

Gion
scowled down at Ty.  “He called you a bitch?”

“No.
Well, not exactly.  He was very upset.”

“He’s
lost his mind.”  Nia shook her head.  “Chason’s gone.”

Ty
stared at the spot he’d vanished from.  “I think you’re wrong.  I think there’s
still hope for him.  He’s just needs for Raiden to be right about something.”
She gave her head a clearing shake.  “Anyway, I have good news.  I found the
box.”  She hurried over to the wall safe.  “Gion, help me.”  She studied the
electronic keypad.  “The Love Tablet’s in here.”

“Tessie?”
Gion crooked a finger at her.  “Come remind me why I put up with so many years
of daytime TV.”

She
flicked him off and headed closer to the safe.  “One day Elementals will figure
out that your locks are soooo unsafe around all of us gifted with superpowers.
Do you guys have banks?  ‘Cause, I would pwn at being all Dillinger-y.”  She
casually opened the safe by just turning the level.  “Look upon the mighty
Quintessence with wonder and awe, mortals.”

Job
smiled.

“Shut-up.”
Gion muttered, but his mouth twitched at her theatrics.  He reached into the
safe, quickly sorting through half of the Air House’s gold treasures and DVDs
full of hardcore porn.  “We should have gloves for this.”

Nia
glanced at the movie titles and rolled her eyes.  “Where’s Thar, by the way?”

“Shit.
I left him and Brokk in the Magnet Kingdom.”

“I’ll
get him.”  Cross kissed Nia and jumped out of the room.

Isaacs
nudged the fallen painting of Parald with his toe.  “Is this the one where he’s
Elvis?  Anybody mind if I take it?”

Job
glanced at him.  “Souvenir?”

“Bonfire.
Didn’t you see this thing?  Because, I’m actually glad I can’t,
anymore.”

Gion
finally found what they were looking for.  Hidden in the very back of the safe
sat a mirrored box the size of a Rubik’s Cube that was covered with white
writing.

The
Love Tablet.

“It
was behind him.”  Ty murmured.  Behind the portrait, behind the throne.

Raiden
was right.

“Eureka.”
Tessie snatched it out of Gion’s hand.  “Allow me to work more of my magic.
Those of you in the first three rows might want to avert your eyes from the
shiny.”  She took the silver pendant from her neck and slid it across the
surface of the box.

“Damn.”
Even Isaacs squinted against the light that the Tablet gave off as it opened.
The sides of the box started shifting, the words lining up and moving.  It was
still only the size of a notebook, but there were –somehow-- extra dimensions
to the Tablet, now.

It
was so much deeper than its physical size.

Countless,
shimmering layers of data flowed from the surface.  So much information, in so
many languages, that Ty felt hypnotized just looking at it.  She’d never felt
anything even close to the energy radiating from the box.  Scorching and
metallic, like something radioactive, it charged the air and filled her mind
with a buzzing discharge.  Vast and unknowable, the data would have filled
every library in the universe and still overflowed.  Ty was a scientist and
even she was frightened by the concentrated display of… everything.

Who
had made these Tablets?

Why?

It
was like trying to bottle God.

More
power than should even be harnessed.

Gion
watched the Tablet, icy eyes burning hot.  “Tessie, can you undo the fake
Phazing energy, now?”  He demanded.

“Great
thing about hooking into the universe’s ultimate search engine, I can do pretty
much anything.”  She focused for a second and then smiled.  “Ta-da!  Right
there.  She pointed at a series of words that Ty couldn’t read.  “Damn, I’m
good.  Okay, hold hands.”  She gestured at them.  “Hurry up.”

Ty
obediently grabbed Gion’s palm. “You really know how to fix this?”  It seemed
impossible to her that anyone could understand the amount of data swirling
there.

“Watch
and learn.”  Tessie closed her eyes.  There was a brief pulse of energy amid
the terrible rush of the Tablet’s power.  Something healing swept through Ty
like a cool breeze over water.  So small and simple and pure.  She actually
felt it washing her free of Parald’s taint; cleansing her so she felt…right.

And
dizzy.

Ty
stumbled sideways and Gion caught her.  Arms wrapped around her, steadying her
and Ty felt her energy touch his.  Unobstructed and free.  No Parald.  No
Randa.  Just Ty and Gion.  Water and Air powers connected.

Healed.

“Oh
God.”  Gion whispered and Ty knew that he felt it, too.

It
wasn’t like Phazing energy.

It
was Phazing energy.

Untainted,
and beautiful, and… everywhere.

Gion
let out a long sigh.  “I always knew it was supposed to be this way.”  He
buried his face in her hair.  “You and me.”

“You
and me.”  Ty agreed softly.

Tessie
beamed at them.  “Not to worry.  My rates are very competitive for a
supernatural heroine.  Guy, you just have to watch Days of Our Lives
with me… every day… forever.”

Ty
started laughing, happier than she’d ever been.  “That seems fair.  Gion does
love television.”  She leaned up to kiss her Match.  “Let’s go home.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The elements of happiness no longer existed here for her husband;

or, if they did exist, he had not the skill to find them

T.S. Arthur- ‘The Good Time Coming’

Chason had come to the end of his road.

For
two years, the thought of killing Parald had given him purpose and he’d focused
on the goal.  He’d told himself that once he had justice, he’d have what he
wanted.

And
now Chason had his vengeance.

Parald
was dead.

But,
justice still hadn’t come and Chason still didn’t have what he wanted.

Mara
was still gone.

It
wasn’t that he’d believed that killing Parald would restore his Match.  Not
exactly.  But, Chason had won.  It seemed like he should get something
for that.  He’d beaten Parald and now Mara should be returned.  It was only fair.

Raiden
told him that it would happen and Raiden was always right.

Except
this time he wasn’t.

It
was over.

Chason’s
heart was still missing and insanity still beckoned.  He was tired.  He was so
tired.  And, without Parald to fight, he had nothing left in the universe to
keep him here.

It
was the end of his road.

Chason
made his way across the darkened landscape of the Magnet Kingdom towards the
pure white sepulcher.  Generally, he had no use for humans, but the poet Poe he
actually approved of.  Nia had introduced him to the man’s writings and Chason…
understood them.  Or maybe he felt that Poe understood him.  His pain
and loss was all right there on the page.

And so, all the night-tide, I lie
down by the side

Of my darling -my darling -my life
and my bride,

In the sepulchre there by the sea –

In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Chason
read the last four lines of Annabel Lee incessantly, trying to figure
out what Poe was trying to tell him.

Did
the man dream of his wife each night?  Chason could certainly relate to that.
His nightmares featured all the ways that he’d failed Mara.  Not just letting
her die, but the thousands of small thing he could have done to make her
happier.  Chason had never been the Match that she deserved.

Or
perhaps, Poe was feeling the ghost of the woman.  Sometimes Chason felt Mara’s
presence.  He heard the music she loved or saw a flash from the corner of his
eye and thought, for a second, that it was her.  He especially experienced the
sensations near her tomb, which was why he both hated and loved it there.

Finally,
though, Chason had pieced together the real meaning of those last
four lines.  It came upon him slowly, which probably showed how far gone he was
into madness.  Poe’s message was so obvious that Chason wasn’t sure why
he didn’t see the truth of it right away.  Only someone crazy would miss the
point.

Poe
was planning to kill himself, right there at Annabel’s grave.

He
wanted to lie forever beside his bride.

So
did Chason.

He’d
planned to finally rest when he ended the world and killed all the Air
Phases, but now he saw the truth.

It
wouldn’t matter.

Nothing
he did would bring Mara back, so what was the point in doing anything?

Nothing
mattered, at all.

It
was hard for a Phase to commit suicide.  Chason actually wasn’t sure how to go
about it, so he figured that it would be much easier if Raiden just chopped off
his head for him.  He’d expected Raiden to balk at the order, but the other man
had just nodded, pulled out his sword, and followed Chason outside.

Raiden
was a good friend.

Chason
began humming I’ll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time as they walked
towards the sepulcher.  The song was the funeral dirge of his old life, many
and many a year ago.  Chason hated music, now, but it only seemed fitting that
it play at his execution.

It
was such a shame there was no God or heaven.  He wanted to see Mara, again.  To
hear her singing.  To see her smile.  To sit down and listen to her read
fairytales or play one of the games that he’d never had time for.  She’d asked
him to play checkers once and he’d said no.  He’d been so busy trying to please
his father.  Trying to be perfect.  He’d thought that he could play later.
He’d thought that there would be time.  But, she’d never asked him to play
again and time ran out.

He
wished that he could ask her for forgiveness.

He
wished that he could go back and just play one game with her.

Just
one.

He’d
give anything for that.

“What
should we do about the barriers being down?”  Raiden asked as they neared the
tomb.  “Sooner or later someone will invade.”

“I
don’t care.”  Chason told him truthfully.  Nothing mattered, now.  “After I’m
dead, put me inside of it.”  He gestured towards the tomb.

Raiden
surveyed the sepulcher with a thoughtful frown.  “I don’t think another coffin
will fit in there.”

“So,
just put me on the floor next to her crypt or something.  What difference does
it make?”  It wasn’t like Phases needed to be embalmed.

Raiden
lifted a shoulder in a half shrug.  “It seems pretty permanent.  Probably, want
it to be right.”

Chason
frowned.  Was he crazy or did that make sense?

Probably
both.

Yes.
This was important.  The only important thing left.  He needed to make
sure that Raiden didn’t screw it up.

“Alright.
Hang on.”  Chason headed over to push open the doors to the vault, so he could
figure out how to arrange his own body.

Inside
the sepulcher sat Mara’s crypt, also composed of white marble.  Scenes of
songbirds and garlands of apple blossoms decorated the sides of it.  Chason
hadn’t been this close to Mara’s vault since her funeral.  He always had the
overwhelming feeling of suffocation when he thought of his Match trapped in
that long, pretty box.

Still,
it only took one step inside the sepulcher to know that something was wrong.

He
didn’t feel Mara.

He
didn’t feel his Match.

A
terrible wrongness griped him.  A desperate agonizing certainty that Mara
missing.  She was gone.  Not just from his mind, but genuinely gone.

No,
no, no, no, no.

Chason
lunged at the coffin.  “Raiden!”  He shouted the name.  “Help me!”  He pried at
the massive stone lid, his panic and mounting fury giving him strength.

Two
seconds later, Raiden was seizing the other side of the crypt.  Grabbing the
opposite end, he heaved it upward.  He didn’t even ask what they were doing.
He just helped Chason topple the lid onto the ground.  It crashed to the floor,
the corner of the marble chipping, marring the perfect carving it had taken
three master Stone Phase craftsmen to create.

Chason
didn’t notice.

He
peered into the darkened interior of the grave and felt the oxygen leave his
body.

Empty.

Empty.

Empty.

The
word roared through him like a tidal wave, starting with a quake inside of his
missing heart and growing so big that it obliterated everything else in his
senses.

Empty.

Empty.

Empty!

His
Match had been stolen from him.

Her
body carted away.

Chason’s
powers detonated like a bomb, the shockwave of it slamming out across the
entire Elemental realm as he bellowed in rage.  His energy was out of control
and more powerful than it had ever been.  Computers in all the Houses went down
from the magnetic pulse.  For one horrible moment, every metal object in the
universe pulled towards the Magnet Kingdom.

Chason’s
hands fisted around the edge of the defiled crypt, his eyes wild as his mind
raced.

He
couldn’t lay down by the side of a life and bride who’d been fucking
kidnapped!

All
thoughts of suicide vanished as the tsunami hit the shores of his
consciousness, wiping them clean of debris for the first time since the Fall.  For
several seconds, the specter of insanity was washed away and Chason saw the
world clearly.

He
would have known if Mara had been missing before today.  Someone took his Match
while the barriers were down.  They wouldn’t have done that just to piss him
off.  Not if they went and put the lid back on the coffin, hiding their
tracks.  How could they be sure that Chason would even notice?

No,
they’d stolen Mara as a bargaining chip.  They planned to use her body to get
something from Chason.  They’d targeted her because they knew she was the only
leverage anyone could possibly have over him.

Someone
had violated his Match’s resting place so they could extort him.

The
black and red swirl of madness returned to his mind, clouding everything.
Whoever did this was going to suffer so badly, they’d still be feeling it a
week after they were dead.  He wouldn’t stop until he had Mara back and the
people who did this were roasting in the Hell that Chason no longer really
believed in.

Dead
or alive, no one touched his Match!

Chason’s
glowing eyes flashed over to Raiden, too furious to say anything.  The frenzy
of his powers made the door hinges of the sepulcher pop loose and twist into
modern art sculptures in midair.

Raiden
stared back impassively.  “So, am I not killing you tonight, then?

Chason
took in his calm face.  “You knew that she was gone.”  He accused wrathfully.

“Of
course.  How else could she be returned to you?”

Chason
nearly killed the man for his composure.  “Who has her?”

“I
don’t know.  I can’t see that part.  The future’s become too clouded.”  Raiden
tilted his head in puzzlement, his eyes staring at something far away.  “It’s
like everything is… changing.”

Chapter Thirty

Water is the noblest of elements

Pindar- ‘First Olympic Ode’

“In
some Houses, Matches don’t sleep in the same room.”

Gion
looked around sharply at that pointed remark.

Ty
stood in the doorway of the King’s Chamber, a frown on her face.  It was night,
and things had grown quiet, but he still felt tense.

Restless.

“The
Light Phases usually have separate beds, if I remember my cultural history
classes correctly.  Which I do.”  She continued, strolling inside.
“But, they’re just too paranoid to sleep with someone else in the room, I
think.”

“Do
they even have rooms in the Light Kingdom?”  Gion arched a brow, not
knowing where she was going with this, but willing to play along.  “Don’t they
live in caves and swing from trees over there?”

Ty
twirled the belt of her white robe, Gypsy Rose Lee style and ignored that.
“The Magnet Kingdom has separate beds for Matches, a lot of the time.  That, I
think, is just their general uptightness, though.”

“Well,
Air Phases sleep next to their Matches.”  Gion said flatly, just in case she
had any ideas to the contrary.

“So
do Water Phases.”  Ty tilted her head.  “Interesting that my Match, born
an Air Phase and the new King of the Water House, is in here all by himself,
then.”

God,
he loved it when she called him her Match.  “I thought you might want time
alone to adjust to everything.  To me.”  That was the real reason he’d been
avoiding her for the past hour or so.  What the hell could she be thinking of
him, now?  “You have to be traumatized by what happened, Ty.  You were attacked
twice today.”

“Nope.
I feel fine.  I always feel safe with you.”  Ty shut the door behind her and
engaged the lock.  “I usually barricade my door at night, you know.  Sometimes I
even push the dresser in front of it and just wait for morning to come.”

Gion
glanced over at the armoire standing on the wall beside her.  Air powers blew
it sideways, blocking the door.  “Better?”  He’d nail the damn thing shut if it
she wanted.

“Thank
you.”  Ty smiled at him in total adoration.  “I don’t need to do that anymore,
though.  Even with all the barriers down, I’m not worried when I’m with you.”
She edged closer to him.  “What do you think happened to the barriers, anyway?
Parald didn’t have the Liberty Tablet, so he’s not responsible.  Who did this?”

“Someone
new must have come to town with their own agenda.  And if it were anyone we
were gonna like, they wouldn’t be hiding.”

Ty
sighed.  “I thought with Parald dead, things would be… normal, again.  That’s
never going to happen, obviously.  But, I…”  She trailed off.  “Remember when
you told me that you wanted me to share things with you?  That that was the
best way for me to deal with my panic attacks?”

“Yes.”
Gion wanted to hear every thought in Ty’s head.  Not just because it would help
her heal, but because he just wanted her to talk to him about anything and
everything.

“Well,
when I saw Parald, again, I was scared.  I didn’t want to be, but I was.”

“That
was my fault.  I screwed up.”

“No,
you didn’t.  Just let me finish, okay?”  She took a deep breath.  “I was scared
and then I was angry.  I was so angry, Gion.  I hated him.  I hated him
so much for what he did to us.  He took you away from me.  On my ninety-third
birthday, I should have Phazed with you.  My parents never got to meet
you, because of Parald.  We could have had a baby, by now.  We lost three years
for nothing.  He stole that.”

Gion
didn’t say anything, because there was nothing he could offer that wasn’t another
useless apology.

“He
was evil.  He would have raped me.  In a way, he did rape Randa.  She
wasn’t willing.  Not really.  Neither was Isaacs.  Parald apparently forced him
to witness all kinds of things.  He used his power to humiliate and to subjugate
and he enjoyed it.”

“I
know.”

“He
even ruined my first kiss.  That should have been with you.”

Gion
flinched.  “Angel…”

Ty
kept going.  “He hurt people.  He released the Fall and killed my family.  He
tried to execute you.  He enslaved the entire Air House.  He almost ended the
world.  I hated him, Gion.  I helped to kill him and I’m not sorry.”

“Why
would you be?”

“Do
you see me differently?  Do you love me less because I’m capable of helping to
kill someone…?”

“No!”
Gion interrupted unequivocally.  “Jesus, Ty.  No.  How can you even ask
that?”

“You
ask me that all the time.  You say that you’re a murderer and that I
shouldn’t love you.  What are you doing in here, if not avoiding me because
you’re blaming yourself for something?”

“I
screwed up and you almost died!”

“That’s
not what happened and you know it.”  Ty scoffed.  “You’re such a control
freak.  Everything isn’t because of you, Gion.  Sometimes other people
screw-up, all by themselves.”

He
turned away from her, again, and decided to disregard that.  “How does your
head feel?”

“My
head feels fine.  Don’t change the subject.”  She crossed her arms over her
chest.  “Even if you did screw-up --Which you haven’t-- But, even if you
did… so what?  I’m alive and you’re alive and we’re a Match.  You’re
supposed to be with me.  Especially at night.  I can’t sleep.  I get scared and
lonely and you need to fix that.  It’s your job.”

That
got his gaze slipping back to her.  “I can’t sleep, either.  All night, every
night I just… wait.”

“I’ve
waited, too.  For you, Gion.  I didn’t even know who I was waiting for,
but I still waited for you.  I’m tired of waiting.”

Gion’s
chest tightened.  “So am I.”

“You
love me, no matter what?”

“Of
course, I do.”

“And
I love you, no matter what.  So, can we just be happy?  Hasn’t he taken enough
from us?  All the things that have gone wrong, all the injustice and confusion…
And we’re together.  Regardless of what else happens, I have you and I’m
so happy.  Can’t that be enough for you, too?”

For
some reason, Gion thought of Chason.  The man’s crazed tears for his Match and
Gion’s own anguish when Ty had been missing.

Things
could have been so much worse.

Nothing
was screwed-up.  Not really.  He had Ty.  That was all that mattered.  She was right.
Absolutely right.

“Yes.”
He moved away from the window and started for her.

Ty
blinked as if she was expecting more of an argument.  “Yes?”

“Yes,
it’s more than enough.  You’re everything to me, Ty and I still can’t
believe you’d let me into your life.”  Another woman might have just accepted
any Match that Gaia stuck her with, but Ty, of the Water House would have
renounced someone she didn’t love.  She chose Gion.  Ty was right.  That
made their relationship so much better.  “Thank you for having me as your
Match.”

“Thank
you for wanting me, even when I wasn’t your Match.  And we’re still
having that Binding Ceremony, by the way.  I expect great things from your
vows.”

“Angels
will weep.  I guarantee it.”  Gion assured her.  “Let me preview on some key
themes, right now.  You never have to be lonely or scared at night.  Since,
we’re the King and Queen of the Water House, this is our room.  So, get
into bed, because you’re sleeping next to me from now on.”

Ty
looked around the King’s Chamber and slowly nodded.  “I’d like for this to be
our room.  But, I’m not ready to go to sleep, yet.”

Gion’s
body leapt to attention.  “Ummm… are you sure that you’re up for more than
that, right now?”

“I’m
pretty sure.”  Ty dropped the rope and smirked at him.  “How about you?”

She
was wearing a white dress.

The
white
dress.

The
one she’d been wearing the first time he’d ever seen her.

The
one that had starred in thousands of his very, very graphic fantasies.

Gion’s
eyes swept over her, the blood pooling out of his head and heading south.

Ty’s
mouth curved.  “Just something that I found in the back of my closet.  Nice
that it still fits, hmmm?”  She did a little twirl.  “A tiny bit tight across
the chest, but otherwise perfect.  Be honest.  Do you think my breasts have
gotten bigger since I was eighty-four?”

“I
think that you’re playing with fire.”  Gion stalked closer to her.  “Come here,
Tritone.”

“Noooo…
I don’t trust that gleam in your eye.”  She backed away from him, grinning
innocently.  “Why, I’m wearing this pretty dress just for you, but you look
like you’re going to tear it.”

“I’m
about to rip it right off of your body.”  Gion agreed.  “Come here.”

“If
you ruin the dress, how can I wear it for you, again?”  Ty came up against the
floor to ceiling window overlooking the waterfall.  “Think about it logically.”

Gion
moved directly in front of her, boxing her in.  “Take it off for me, then.”

“But,
I can’t.”  Ty’s lashes fluttered down with impish modesty.  “I don’t have
anything on under it.”

Gion
did what he’d wanted to do eleven years before and gripped the edge of the
strapless neckline.  “Nothing?”

“You
can’t wear anything under this dress, silly.  The lines show.”

Gion
let out a long breath.  “It’s a really good thing that I didn’t know that at
the concert.”  His thumb brushed against the softness of her skin.  “If I had,
I wouldn’t have been able to walk away.”  He tugged the neckline down so Ty’s
breasts were exposed, popping out over the lacy top.  God, she was beautiful.
“I could never walk away from you, Ty.”

“If
you try it, I’ll hunt you down.”  Ty promised.  Her head fell back against the
glass as Gion began massaging her nipples.  “Your mine and I’m keeping you.”

“I’m
yours.”  He’d belonged to Ty since the first second he saw her.

She
smiled, cat like, her tongue touching the corner of her mouth.  “Some
compliments would be nice, right about now.”  She teased, arching into his
palms.

“Well,”
Gion watched his hands squeezing her flesh, reveling in the fact that Ty let
him touch her, “you’re much prettier than my last Match.”

Ty
snickered at that.  “Liar.  Randa’s stunning and you know it.”

Gion
couldn’t have picked Randa out of a lineup, but he remembered exactly what Ty
had been wearing every time he’d ever seen her.  That pretty much summed up the
truth of the matter, as far as he was concerned.

“I
prefer redheads.”  He hitched her up against the glass wall so her breasts were
at mouth level.

“Oh
God.”  She whimpered as he bit down on her nipple.  “I love it when you do
that.”

“Thank
Gaia, because I plan on doing it a lot.”  He switched to her other breast.
“Tell me another one of those fantasies.”

“Well,
I can be eighty-four, obviously, ravished on the balcony of the music hall.”
Her fingers twisted in his hair.  “Trying not to cry in pleasure out as you
take me, because everyone inside will hear.  It’s dangerous and I don’t care.
I want you so badly.”

Gion’s
mouth curved against her skin, liking that story.  He slid Ty down so he could
kiss her, his mouth slanting across hers.  “You think I’m the kind of Phase
who’d take advantage of an innocent girl?”  He asked when they finally came up
for air.  “I’m a good man.”

“Oh,
you are.  And you tried to resist me.”  Ty assured him breathlessly.
“You know how wrong it is and that we should wait.  But, I’m determined and
shameless.”

“Tart.”
Gion agreed and nipped her neck.

Ty
giggled.  “So, I lure you outside, while everyone else is listening to the
music.  And I move your hand right where I want it.”  She found his wrist and
pulled it forward, so it touched the inside of her thigh.  “And I say ‘please,
Gion.’  I’m naked under the dress, hot and needing you.  Are you going to say
no and leave me aching?”

He
swallowed and inched his palm up to stroke the core of her.  “Have I ever said
no to you about anything?”

“Why
would you?  I’m always right.”  Ty’s eyes widened and not just from his
fingers.  A new idea struck her.  “Hey!  I guess you’ll perform a concert for
my family if I ask you to, then, won’t you?”

Gion
hesitated, seeing that she’d just trapped him.

Ty’s
eyebrows rose sweetly, even as her cheeks grew flushed and her eyes went darker
at his caress.  “For our Binding Day, dear.”

Damn
it.

That
“dear” ate through his resistance like water through sand.  No one but Ty had
ever called him by an endearment.  “Fine.  Unfair, though.”  He
separated the folds of her and tracing the damp flesh.  “You’ll owe me another
favor, though and you know how much I like to collect favors from you.”

“Fair
enough.”  It was a gasp.  “I’m sure that I must have something you
want.”

That
made Gion chuckle.  “Keep going with the story and I’ll bet we can make a
deal.”  He pressed his finger deep inside of her, admiring the way she felt
around him and the image of the white dress draping across his arm.  He was
going to Phaze with this woman and nothing was going to stop him this time.

“Well.”
Ty rocked against his hand and bit her lower lip.  “Obviously, you’re helpless
against my wiles.  What can you do, but give into my seduction?”

“I
struggled hard to get free of your web, I’m sure.”  If he could have, Gion
would have super-glued himself to her side.

“Oh,
you did.”  She caressed the golden streak at his temple and Gion’s teeth ground
together in need.  When she touched him, the Air energy went wild and it was already
going wild, so it was a wonder his knees didn’t buckle.  “I’m determined to
lead you astray, though.”  Ty tugged at his hair enticingly.  “You try to escape,
in fact.  But, I tell you that if you leave me panting and unsatisfied, I’ll
just go to someone else and he’ll give me what I need.”

“The
hell you will.”

Ty
gasped as Gion pushed a second finger into her.  “I know that lie will work
to stop you.  I belong to you and you’re sooo territorial.”

“Fucking
right I am.”

“Well,
so am I.  And I’m going to take you, and Phaze with you, and make sure that you
never even look at another woman.”

“Angel,
there are no other women.”

Ty
made an “hmmm” sound of pleasure.  “The door’s right there and we have to
hurry, though.  Anyone could walk out and see us.  So, I unzip your pants and
find you.”  Her hand went to his belt buckle, tugging it open.  “And you yank
my skirt up, and I’m so ready.  Hot and tight and the energy is getting bigger
and bigger…”  She trailed off and met his eyes.  “Gion, I’m so ready.  Please.”

Gion
had never played with his powers.  In fact, he took them very, very seriously.
So, removing his hand from inside of her and then sweeping Ty up with the Air
was just instinctive.  She went flying across the room in a carefully
controlled cyclone.  Gion’s eyebrows soared, shocked that he’d done such a
thing, even as he dropped her onto the mattress.

Ty
landed on the bed, laughing madly.  Everyone else in the universe was terrified
of his energy.  Ty saw his casual use of power as a game.  Gion smiled.  With
Ty it was a game.  He wouldn’t hurt her and she knew it.  He gave her
another bounce, just because he could.

“When
I’m your age, I’ll be super powerful, too, I’ll bet.  Then, I’ll get back at
you for that.”  She gave her hair a toss and Gion thought that he could die
happy.  “I’ll whoosh you up in a tsunami or something.”

Gion
looked forward to teaching Ty anything she wanted to know about developing her
energy.  The woman had talents and untapped resources.  He could feel it.  “No
matter how old you get, I’ll still have four centuries on you, angel.  So, I’m
not intimidated.”  He pulled his shirt over his head, not bothering to unbutton
it.

“You
should be.”  Ty’s gaze traced over his bare chest.  “I have a very big Match.
He’ll protect me.  He can do anything.”

“For
you, your Match would do anything.”  Gion told her truthfully.

Ty’s
face grew more serious.  “I would do anything for you, too, Gion.  Anything to
keep you safe.”

Gion
jerked his boots off.  “Do not endanger your life for me, again.  I mean it.”

“I
love you.”  Ty said simply.  “I don’t deserve you, but I love you more than
anything.”

Gion
stopped and stared at her for a beat.  “You don’t deserve me.  You
deserve so much more than me, it’s almost tragic that I’m never going to let
you go.”

“You
can be so maudlin.”  Ty smiled.  “Do you see me asking to escape your
evil grasp?  I like being in your nefarious clutches.”

“I
can’t imagine why.”

“You’re
just a super good catch.”

“Oh,
obviously.”  Gion scoffed.

“You
are.”  Ty insisted.  “Want me to list some reasons why I love you?  You’ll
see.  Compliments are fun.”  She started ticking some off, without waiting for
a response.  “If anyone gets on my nerves, I can just threaten them with you.
That’ll come in handy.  You terrify people.”

“I
did.  Before my musical career.”

Ty
ignored that.  “You watch TV with my cousin, even when I deeply suspect that
you have no interest in fashion model reality shows.”

“It’s
an acquired taste.”

“You
protect Nia, even when she calls you The Prince of Darkness.”

“I’m
an acquired taste, too.”

“When
I need you, I’m always –always-- sure that you’ll be there.”  She arched
a brow.  “Right now, I need you in this bed.”

Gion’s
mouth curved, letting the Air energy glide over every inch of her.  “Not so
fast.  I’m not done hearing about my virtues, yet.”  He held onto the bottom
post of the bed and watched her spread out before him.  “Turns out, I do
like compliments.  Continue.”

Ty
bit her lower lip, her eyes sparkling.  “Let’s see… You do incredible things
with you your powers.  Things I’m positive they didn’t teach you in any
dreary Air Phase classroom.”

“Dear
God.  I would have been an honor roll student.”

“You
were already an honor roll student.  I find your bookworm-y leanings
amazingly sexy.”

“All
the women do.”

“And
yet you can still do manly home improvement projects with tools and plastic
sheeting.”  Her body arched up into the rush of his powers, her voice getting
breathless.  “Very useful around the house.”

“Especially,
when it comes to repairing slightly battle-damaged antique buildings for crazy
women.”

“You’ve
proven that you really would sack kingdoms for me.”

“Just
little ones.”  The Water powers glided over him like music; pulling taunt,
reaching for his energy.  Gion increased the Air pressure and enjoyed the view
as Ty gave a shriek of pleasure.

“Okay,
wrapping up, so we can really concentrate here.”  Ty continued, panting, now.
“I feel like myself with you.  Like I’m whole.  You tell me I’m beautiful and
that you want me.  You’re gentle and you make me laugh.  You give me music and
poetry.  You make me happy, even when you drive me nuts.  Now, get into bed!”

“I’m
not writing any poems, Ty.  I’m serious.”  Not unless she really asked
nicely, anyway.  Obeying commands, he went back to stripping.  His pants came
off and Ty’s eyebrows rose at the sight of his naked body.  Perfect, pink lips
parted and Gion realized that he’d speak in nothing but iambic pentameter if
she wanted.  “And you are beautiful.”

“You’re
so handsome sometimes I can’t believe that you’re real.  Even when you tried to
frighten me, I thought that you were gorgeous.  But, when you smile, I know
that you’re the most attractive man in the world.”

“I
never meant to frighten you.”

“Liar.”
She said, again, her eyes sparkling.

Gion
had to concede that one.  “Alright.  I was a mean son-of-a-bitch, but I always
wanted you to like me, Ty.  To see me.  It killed me when you wouldn’t even
look at me.  I don’t even exist without you.”

“For
a mean son-of-a-bitch, you’re incredibly romantic.”

No,
he wasn’t.  He never had been.  The Air House didn’t exactly encourage flowery
prose.  Except when he was with Ty, Gion found himself unabashedly saying every
sappy thought in his head.  Just because he knew that she wanted to hear it.
His Match was a dreamy, passionate little thing, who liked waltzes and fairytales
and analyzing genomes on her laptop.

Gion
loved that.

Loved
her.

Ty
wanted compliments and he enjoyed giving them to her.  Actually telling Ty how
he felt after eleven years of having to hide his emotions was a gift.
Especially since, for some reason, she loved him back.

“Did
I ever apologize for frightening you?  Would that help you forgive me for not
professing my undying love the second we met?”  Gion moved forward, tugging the
dress all the way off and exhaling heavily as he took in her curvy body.
“Because, I could have told you that first night that you were my reason for
life.  I’m sorry that I waited so long to say it.”  He tossed her dress over
his shoulder.  “I would’ve known you anywhere, Ty.  Not my Match.  You.”

Ty
held out a hand and Gion grabbed it.  “I’m ready to Phaze with you, now.”  She
shifted restlessly.  “Right now.”  She pulled him forward.

Gion
was all for that.  Except… “Phazing Days really should be a little less…
eventful.”  He climbed onto the bed, though, slowly moving up over her body.
“We could wait and try to make it more special…”

“I
told you, I’m not waiting, anymore.”  Her free palm caressed his cheek.  “You
make it special, Gion.  I’m ready, if you’re ready.”

Thank
God.

He
wasn’t sure he could have survived if she said that she wanted to wait.  Gion
eased down on top of her, groaning slightly at the feel of her beneath him.  He
would have given anything –anything-- to have this.

“Oh,
I’m ready.”  Urgency beat at him, but he didn’t want to rush this.  Gion buried
his face in her hair and inhaled the strawberry scent.  “I’ve been ready for
eleven years.  I waited, because I knew that for me there was only you.”

“I’ve
waited longer than that.”  Ty’s hand slid down to grip his shoulder.  “I haven’t
done this before, at all.”

Gion
met her eyes and saw that she looked nervous.  His heart turned over.  “I know,
angel.”  He kept talking, soothing her.  Ty was the only person in the world
he’d ever been able to talk to and she seemed less anxious when he kept the
conversation going, so it worked for both of them.  “Don’t worry.  I’ve never
Phazed with anyone, either, so we’re both learning as we go.”  He bent his
head, so he could kiss her.  “I’ll let you know if you fall behind the learning
curve.”

That
got her giggling.

He
loved it when Ty laughed.  It lit up her whole face.  Gion’s mouth curved.
“You lose demerits for not taking this seriously.”

“Sorry.
I’ll try to keep up with the rest of the class.”  Ty’s lips found the underside
of his jaw and Gion forgot about teasing her.

The
seductive pull of her energy drove him to the edge of sanity.  Every rotten
thing he’d ever done should be forgiven after this.  He’d suffered enough.
Going slow for her was like being on the rack.

Ty’s
arms slid up to wind around his neck, tugging him even closer.  God, she was
soft everywhere, except for the hardened points of her breasts.  They
rubbed against his chest as she moved against him and Gion knew he would lose
control if he didn’t have her soon.

His
hand swept down, starting to part her legs… and then he remembered.

Parald
had tried to pry her thighs open.

“Shit!”
Gion reared back so fast that he jerked completely free of her grasp.  “I’m
sorry.  I’m sorry.”  He held up his palms, kneeling on the mattress.  “Ty, I
would never…”

“It’s
alright.”  Ty sat up.  Red hair danced as she scooted closer to him, closing
the distance he’d created.  “It doesn’t bother me when you touch my legs,
Gion.  Not at all.  I know that you’re not going to hurt me.”

Relief
filled him as Gion realized that he was the only one panicking.  He was an
emotional wreck, but Ty was fine.  “Ya know, I used to be very cool and
ruthless, until I hooked up with you.”

“Awww.
I think you’re still very bad ass-y.  In an adorable way.”  She positioned
herself on his lap, her mouth finding his, again.  “And I love that you worry
about me.”

Gion’s
eyed drifted shut as Ty kissed him.  “I would die for you.”

“I
know.”  Ty moved over him like water itself.  Fluid and warm and sacred.
“Please don’t, though.  I need you alive.”

His
palm came up to cover her breast, toying with her nipple even as the harsh
truth of her teasing statement hit him.  “We can’t go back once we do this,
Ty.  You can’t undo a Phazing, even if you renounce me.  Your energy will be
fully connected to mine and, if I die, I’ll drag you down with me.”

“So,
don’t die.  I thought I was clear on that.”  Her hands were sliding
everywhere.  “And I’m not going to renounce you.  You’re mine, remember?”

Gion
tried to concentrate, letting her do most of the work.  Ty needed to set the
pace.  A virgin who’d almost been raped by her last “Match.”  Yeah…  Gion
wasn’t moving until she felt a hundred percent secure.

And
Ty wasn’t making it easy for him.

Her
energy and her skin and her hair…

“I’m
not hurting you, am I?”  She rubbed his arm, feeling the iron bands of tension.

“No.”
Gion lied.  “Ty, listen, I’m older than you, and I have…”  He hesitated,
because there was really no delicate way to phrase it.  “I have a lot of people
who want me dead.  A lot.  With the barriers down, there’s going to be a
risk to you.”

Gion
should refuse the full Phazing for Ty’s own good, but he couldn’t.  And
now that everyone knew she was his Match, there didn’t seem much of a chance of
creating a believable distance between them, anyway.  No one would buy it.
Even if Gion could have parted with Ty, a possibility that stood at
about zero percent on all likelihood scales, just being his Match, at all, put
her in danger.

“Well,
I guess that you’ll just have to work extra hard at staying alive for me, won’t
you?”  Ty ran her fingers along the side of his neck.  “Besides, legions of
people hate me, too.  You and I need to watch out for each other.”  Ty nuzzled
his jaw.  “At least, the guest list for our Binding Ceremony will be short.”

Gion
realized that Ty had a point.  Even with Parald dead, Phases wouldn’t stop
blaming her for the Fall.  He and Ty would always be targets.  Confidence
returned to him as Ty bit down on his earlobe.  Any enemy Phases holding a
grudge were going to be real damn sorry they’d interrupted Gion, King of the
Water House’s happily-ever-after.

“Popularity’s
overrated.  So many more phone calls to return.”

She
chuckled at that.  “So, let’s stop talking, then.  I know that you’re trying to
make me feel comfortable and I appreciate that, but I’m going to brain you if
you don’t hurry up.”  She released more of her energy so it enflaming him.

They
had to do this.

Now.

There
was just no way Gion could stop, short of sudden death or Ty flat out asking
him to leave the room.  And if she did that, he’d probably cry.  He finally had
everything that he’d ever wanted.  Ty could have anyone and she’d chosen
him.  This was the most important moment of his life and he wasn’t going to
ruin it.

Gion
was still hesitant to touch her thighs, so he moved slowly, giving her time.
Ty kept her eyes on his, biting down on her lip as Gion separated her legs, so
one was on either side of him.  That put the core of her directly over him,
just touching.

Air
energy went wild.

“Oh!”
Ty’s head went back.  “That’s so good.”

“I
know.”  Jesus, did he know.  “Ease down, angel.”  She’d feel safer if she was
in control.  Despite her assurances, Gion didn’t want to do anything that might
make her flashback to Parald’s attack.  He wanted everything to be perfect for
her.  “Just slide down and…”  He trailed off with a groan.

Ty’s
hands gripped his shoulders and she slowly lowered herself on him.  Gion expected
her to be hesitant or anxious, but she looked right at him, trusting him, as
she took him deeper and deeper… Until Gion thought he just might die from the
sensation, even though he knew she still wasn’t taking all of him.

His
jaws locked together, trying to hold still and let her adjust.  Trying to grab
onto the edges of his control.  Gion sucked in a sharp breath at the feel of
her and started reciting Be the Perfect Air Phase in his head.
Stupid, terrible rhymes about blindly following orders and how no single Phase
mattered.  All of it bullshit.

If
and when he and Ty had children, Gion would ban that stupid book from the
kingdom.

Unfortunately,
it also really wasn’t working to distract him, right now.

Gion
briefly squeezed his eyes shut, but then he found his attention helplessly
returning to Ty’s breasts.  Watching them bounce with her movements.

God,
she was gorgeous.

“Are
you okay?”  He asked hoarsely.

“Oh,
yes.”  Ty’s body glided in a sensual wave.  Turquoise eyes had gone
bright with feminine triumph.  She liked this.  She really liked this.
Thank God, he hadn’t screwed it up for her.

Yet.

“Gion?”
Ty hesitated, even as she gave a seductive hum of pleasure.  “Are you
okay?”

His
fingers tightened on her hip.  “Yeah.”  Just saying the word was agony.

“Your
energy’s getting really tight.  You can let it go, you know.”

“I’m
fine.  Take your time.”

“You’re
so noble.”  The woman actually grinned and then released the Water powers
completely.  The energy fell over Gion like a tidal wave of fireworks and heat
and life.  It filled him, driving his arousal higher than it had ever been,
drowning him in the purity of her powers.

Oh,
shit.

The
Air energy slipped, almost escaping his control.  “Ty.  Fuck.”  The
reality of her was better than any fantasy could ever be.  Clean and bright and
healing.  There was nothing he wouldn’t do for this woman.  Nothing, at all.
But, he was going to snap, if she kept this up.  “You’re torturing me, now.
It’s cruel.”

“I
love you, too.”  She adjusted herself, gliding upward and sinking back down,
again.  “My God.  I soooo would have let you do this when I was
eighty-four.”

“I
can’t hold on much longer.”

“So
let go.”  Her tongue traced along the edge of his jaw.  “I’ll catch you.”

Gion
wanted to be gentle, but it was almost beyond him, now.  “Tell me if I scare
you.”

Ty
was experimenting like a good little scientist; learning by doing.  She leaned
back a bit and hit some magic spot that caused Gion to see stars.  “You won’t…”
Her words stopped with a gasp as Gion took control.

He
flipped her around so Ty was flat on the bed.  Pillows went flying and Gion
didn’t care.  He pushed into her fully, the oxygen leaving his lungs in a
rush.  Catching Ty’s leg, he pressed it up, so he was locked inside of her as
deep as he could go.  His other hand was planted by her head, trapping her
beneath him.  It was instinctive.  Territorial.  She wasn’t going anywhere.

Not
that she was trying.

Ty’s
eyes widened at the predatory move.  “Wow.”  She breathed.  Her body arched and
she made a whimpering sound.  “Oh, wow.”

If
Gion hadn’t been so far gone, he might have been amused by that.  As it was,
all he could process was the Air energy roaring for release and his frantic
desire for her.

“Hold
on.”  Gion braced himself and released the Air energy.  All of it.  This was
the part where he was really afraid that Ty would balk.  Gion had so much
power.  It was going to frighten her when it combined with her own.

He
knew it.

And
then Gion couldn’t think of anything else, because the Phazing wiped away every
thought in his head.  Everything but Ty vanished in the incredible rush of
power.  Water and Air energies combining, building and building to form a new
whole. Something better and stronger was created.

Whole
and welcoming.

Gion
had always believed in Gaia and now he knew that he’d been correct.  Nothing
else could explain the sense of reverence he felt.  Of completion.  Of absolute
faith in something greater than himself.  His energy connected with Ty’s,
fitting with hers so there was no beginning and no end, and he wasn’t alone,
anymore.  He wasn’t worried about being good enough, or screwing up, or being
the perfect Air Phase.

All
that mattered was his Match

His
vision.

His
wife.

Ty.

“Oh
God, oh God, oh God!”  Ty’s heels dug into the mattress.  “Gion, please.”

He
moved inside of her, giving her everything that he had, body, heart and soul.

Ty
screamed, convulsing around him and dragging him over the edge.  Gion didn’t
want it to end, even as he surrendered to the pleasure beckoning him.  “Ty!”
He came with a brilliant pulse of color and power, reaching a place he’d never
even dreamed existed.

Tritone,
of the Water House really was a miracle.

His
own private angel.

With
the mind of a scholar and soul of a seductress.

“Shit.”
He collapsed, supporting his weight with his elbows so he didn’t crush her.

Gion
had no idea how such a small woman could wring him so totally dry and make him
so utterly content.  His forehead dropped down to hers, not wanting to break
contact even as he tried to remember how to breathe.

Glazed,
wicked eyes met his.  “Good news, dear.  The block is definitely gone.”

“Definitely.”
Ty’s energy touched every piece of him, connecting them.  Gion felt a
ridiculous smile on his face.  Even in his most outrageous, four in the
morning, desperate longings, he’d never thought he’d ever be here like this
with Ty.  It was magical.  “I can’t feel my arms and legs, though, so working
tomorrow might be a problem.  And I do need to start replacing the windows…
Again.”

“Luckily
kings are self-employed.  So much easier to clock in late.”

“And
I have a beautiful queen in my bed every night.  And the same beautiful queen
to keep me on my toes every day.  And a new Home Depot credit card to retrofit
our palace.  It’s a dream job, really.”

“You’re
so cute.”  She somehow snuggled even closer to him and Gion swallowed down
emotion.  No one but Ty would ever cuddle in his arms.  It was intimate.
Sweet.  Only she saw him that way.  Granted, Gion wouldn’t allow anyone but Ty
to even touch him in a sweet, intimate way.

Or
call him cute.

Hell
no.

Still,
he was absolutely charmed by her.  Ty remained pinned beneath him, but Gion was
the one captivated.  And he’d never willingly go free.  There was nowhere else in
the universe he’d rather be.

Gion
lifted his head to kiss Ty’s temple.  “I really don’t intimidate you, anymore,
do I?”

“Nope.”
She stretched against him in a smug, feline way.  “The next time you start
being grouchy, I can literally picture you naked.  Think about that.  Cuts way
down on your menace.”

“Good.
Imagine me naked all you can.  I insist.”  And still he had to ask.  “I didn’t
scare you with my energy?  It wasn’t too much?”

“I
told you before, I like your energy, Gion.  It’s so big and warm.”  Ty
gave a satisfied sigh.  “Phazing is nice.  You did very well for a novice.  A
solid ‘A’ for effort.”

“I
tried my best.”  He started moving down her body, his lips skimming across her
skin.  “Clearly, I can only improve with time.”

“I
promise to help you practice.”  Ty agreed generously.  “I think that the
obvious needs to be stated here, though.  You completely didn’t screw-up
or scare me.  I don’t feel weak or second guess-y.  Together, our insecurities
are… fine.  You and I were made for each other.”

His
mouth curved.  “I know.”  Gion’s tongue touched the base of her throat.  She
even tasted like strawberries.  He wondered if he ever had to leave this bed.

“Gion?”
She said, after a long moment.

“Yes?”
His teeth grazed her shoulder.

“Don’t
you have something else to say to me?”

“Yeah.
The fantasy was wrong.”  Gion infused his voice with clinical certainty.
“There’s no way we could have done this outside on the music hall balcony.
You’re way too loud.”

Ty
whacked his arm.  “I meant, I want some compliments, you jerk!  Or you don’t
get to hear anymore fantasies, at all.”

“Alright.
Alright.”  Gion explored the valley between her breasts.  “I’m glad that you’re
my Match.”

“Thank
you.”

“You’re
welcome.”

“Is
that it?”  Ty prompted when he didn’t continue.  She moved so he could find her
nipple, pressing it to his mouth.

“That’s
it.”  Gion obediently kissed the pink peak and then met her gaze.  “Without
you, I’d be lost.  There’d be no moon or sun or stars in the sky.  You’re my
vision, Ty.”  He touched her hair.  “You saved me.  You gave me a home, and a
purpose, and a family.  You’re my heart and soul.  My hopes and dreams.  The
love of my life.  So, I’m very glad that you’re my Match.  That’s it.
Simple truth.”

“How
can you say that you’re not a poet?”  She beamed at him, her eyes growing
moist.  “You are such a good man.  I’m glad that you’re my Match, too.
And even if you weren’t, I would still be right here and still completely
in love with you.  For me, there is only you, Gion.”

He
grinned at her, feeling young for the first time in his life.  “You inspire me,
angel.  When I’m with you, I know myself and I’m happy.”

Epilogue

The more you study our history, the more you see the
thousands of little cat shit choices that had to be made for the Elementals to
reach the Dark War.  All the roads not taken and all the choices unmade.  All
the guys who could’ve helped changed our path, but they were left
sitting on the sidelines, just waiting for someone to tag them into the match.
It wasn’t “destiny” that brought us to this point… it was morons.

Daphne, of the Time House- “After the Fall: A History
of the Dark War”

Kingu
had been trapped in the Air Kingdom for twelve hundred, sixty-four years, and
nine days when the barriers finally fell.

Whether
physical or mental, the boundaries of his existence had always been defined by
others.  Kingu had never been free.  He survived in a day-to-day monotony of
servitude.  He no longer really remembered life beyond the invisible walls that
Tessie erected to keep Kingu and his mother contained, but he knew that it
hadn’t been much better.  No matter where he went, it was all the same.

Kingu
had always been a slave.

Doing
what Kay told him.  Never having a thought for himself or a plan of his own.
At least, none that he’d dared to share.  He just… existed.  Then, Tessie put
Kay into that coma and Kingu suddenly had to start making decisions by himself.

Only,
he didn’t know how to start.

Kingu
stared at his sleeping mother.  Thanks to the Health Tablet, the all-powerful
primordial Khaos was trapped in her own body.  Kay slept on, comatose, while
her long held dream of freedom finally came true for Kingu.  It should have
pleased him more than it did.  He’d always dreamed of seeing Kay defeated and
he’d always wanted to escape.  Nothing could stop Kingu from traveling anywhere
he wanted, now.  Every realm was wide open to him…

Only,
he had no idea where to go.

He
sat on the floor of Kay’s bedroom with his back against the wall, careful not
to look at the manacles that she’d once chained him in, sometimes for years at
a time.  Kingu spent every day like that, now.  Just… waiting for the end.

And,
since he was immortal, he would have a very long wait.

When
the Elemental jumped into Kay’s room, Kingu didn’t bother to stand up.  He
wasn’t worried.  Why would he be?  The Phases were insects and he was a god.
Forsaken and nearly powerless, but a god none the less.  He had nothing anyone
could steal and it would take something greater than some pitiful Phase to kill
him.

Kingu
had no respect for the Elementals.  He’d watched his mother manipulate Parald
for far too long to view any of them as a threat.  He’d helped Parald with the
Love Tablet earlier, manufacturing the Match between Gion and Randa, but Kingu
certainly didn’t give a shit about their little plots and schemes.

Maybe
the stranger was there to try and kill Kay.  His mother’s death would end the
world, but so what?  Hell, Kingu had considered killing her himself, except he
didn’t want the universe to blink out of existence.  Not while some part of him
still stubbornly clung to… hope.

If
he could’ve, Kingu would’ve cut out that tainted part of himself like a cancer.
It poisoned him.  Hope told him not to destroy the universe.  Hope whispered
that something special was out there, beyond the Air Kingdom, waiting for him.
Hope poisoned him with the promise of…

Her.

Some
nameless, faceless woman who didn’t even exist outside the most secret recesses
of his mind.  He’d never believed Kay when she’d said that Divine beings were
above mates.  Even the highest gods must long for someone to share eternity
with.  Even so, Kingu knew that no one would ever send him a woman.  As
his mother had delighted in telling him, Kingu was created, not born.  He had
no soul and was therefore outside the dominion of Gaia.  Unnatural monsters
weren’t given treasures from the gods.

He
knew that.

And
still he dreamed of that woman.  The hopeless hope wore Kingu down like Chinese
water torture.  Nothing would ever change for him and he hated that an endless
lifetime of misery still hadn’t taught him that.  That he still
hung on, because he longed for some female who didn’t even exist.

Gods,
how he longed for her.

Kingu
was too tired to even care when the Smoke Phase stood over Kay’s still form.

The
man looked like one of the vacuous male models in Kay’s fashion magazines,
except his dark hair was haphazardly falling into his eyes and it appeared that
he’d gotten dressed in the dark.  A cigarette dangled from his mouth and
various piercings studded his eyebrows, completing the “broke art major who
sits in coffee houses and complains that no one else is smart enough to really
get his self-important poetry” aesthetic.

Kingu
rolled his eyes.

Just
when he thought his life couldn’t become any more wretched, this jackass shows
up.  Leave it to the Elementals to always find new depths of annoying.

“Are
you the one who collapsed the barriers?”  Kingu asked.  If this idiot was
behind it, then he must have had help.  The boy obviously wasn’t capable of
working the Liberty box by himself and nothing else could have destroyed all
those fences.

“Let’s
just say, I knew it would happen.”  The Smoke Phase smiled like a TV
infomercial host.  “I’m more of a… facilitator.  I’m here because I have an
exciting plan that I know you’ll want to be a part of.”

Oh,
that was all Kingu needed.  To be dragged into another tedious Elemental
“plan.”  Their endless bickering and infighting gave him a headache.  It was
like listening to chimps chattering in their trees.

“I’m
busy.”  He said flatly.  “Very, very busy for the next few millennia.”

“Oh
obviously.”  The Smoke Phase made of show of looking around the stagnant room
and at the comatose woman on the bed.  “You’re really living the high life, big
guy.”  He held up his palms when Kingu’s eyes narrowed.  “Hey, hey!  Don’t
shoot the messenger, now.  I’m here to make your life better.  You and me can
make a deal.”

“A
deal?”  Kingu had the mental image of being offered some stunning bananas as payment.
“You and I?”

“Yep.
In fact, I think we have a lot in common, Kingu.”

Okay,
now that assertion was just insulting.

The
Smoke Phase moved closer to him and extended a hand.  “I’m Zakkery, by the
way.”

The
back of his palm was marked with a Banishment symbol.  When a Phase was
expelled from his or her House, they were usually seared with that mark so
everyone would know to stay away from them.  Even his own people didn’t want
this guy around.

What
a fucking surprise.

“I
don’t care who you are, Elemental,” Kingu slowly explained, “because I am not
one of you termites.  I am a god.  Shaking hands with you would be like
shaking hands with a grub that just squirmed out of the soil.”

“Riiiight.”
Zakkery dropped his palm and arched a brow.  “But no offense, right?”

“On
the contrary, feel free to take a great deal of offense.  I insist.”

Zakkery
snorted.  “Look, we don’t have to like each other.  All we have to do is work
together on this deal.  At least, hear me out, grub to god.”

Was
Kingu really so desperate and bored and that he’d waste precious seconds of his
eternity listening to this creature?

Yes,
apparently, he was.

“Alright.”
He sighed out despite his better judgment.  “Amuse me with your pointless idea.”

A
surprising amount of intelligence glinted in Zakkery’s smile.  “Well, I’m
working on this tiny little project.  And, in order to iron out some of the
kinks, I need to borrow your mom’s necklace.  I’ll totally bring it back when
I’m done.  I swear.  But, since you’re the only one who can actually take the
pendant off her,” he made a back and forth rocking motion with his head, “well,
you see why I need you for a partner.”

Kingu
arched a brow.  His mother’s pendant held nearly unlimited power.  Giving it to
a Phase would be like entrusting a fighter jet to an otter.  Sure they’d have
a deadly weapon, but what could they actually do with it?

“Gods
don’t have partners.”  He told Zakkery.  “Gods have worshippers.  What could
someone like you possibly offer me, besides fearful prayers?”

“Well,
I don’t know.”  He crouched down beside Kingu, who was still sitting on the
floor with his back to the wall.  “What is it you want?”

Kingu
frowned.  “What do I want?”  He repeated blankly.  No one had ever asked
him that before.  Not ever.  Even the words sounded foreign to him.  Slaves
didn’t get to think about what they wanted.  They just… existed.  “I don’t want
anything.”

“Nothing?
Not money?  Power?  A really fast car?”  Zakkery tilted his head.  “A woman?”

Kingu’s
gaze jumped to his, that fucking spark of hope lighting up.

The
Smoke Phase suddenly had Kingu’s full attention and they both knew it.

Zakkery
smirked, sensing an opening.  “Because, I have a real talent for
matchmaking.”

Was
Zakkery mocking him?  “No woman will give herself to a monster.”  Kingu knew
what he was.  He saw his red eyes and dragon-like features every time he looked
in a mirror.  In order to have a woman touch him, Kingu would have to force
her.  “If I intended to rape some poor girl, I’d hardly need your
help.”  He snapped.

“If
you had to rape her, she wouldn’t be yours.”  Zakkery retorted.  “I’m
not talking about a victim.  I’m talking about your woman.”

Kingu
hesitated, the words sinking in.  “My woman?”

It
was impossible.  He knew that.

If
Kingu was smart, he’d ignore that gods awful spark and, sooner or later, it
would fade away and leave him in peace.  He should just kill this irritating
Phase and go back to sitting quietly in the dark.  The hope was a lie.

…Except,
he longed for that woman.

If
Kingu had had a soul, he would’ve sworn his need for her went straight down to the
core of it.

“I
can get you a woman.”  The Smoke Phase pointed at him like car salesman in a
year end clearance commercial.  “Guaranteed.”

Kingu’s
mind whirled.  “How?”

“Well,
I don’t like to brag, but I know a little something about romance.  It’s
like a super-power.”

“If
you’re thinking of just hiring a prostitute…”

“No,”
Zakkery interrupted, “I’m thinking of finding your,” he paused as if searching
for the right word, “your one.”

His
one.

Kingu
blinked, fascinated with that idea.  There was no way the boy could pull
off something so impossible.  He knew that.  Still, for better or worse,
that probably imaginary woman was all that kept Kingu hanging on.  If he could
just see her, any deal would be worth it.  Even a doomed chance was
worth trying.

Kingu
made his decision.

For
the first time in his life, he felt a sense of direction that came solely from
his own mind and heart and desires.  He suddenly knew what to do with the rest
of eternity.  It seemed so obvious.  If the higher gods wouldn’t give
him his woman, he’d just find her and take her for himself.

“Come
on, give me a shot.”  Zakkery shrugged expansively.  “Seriously, what do you
have to lose?”

That
was actually a fair point.  After twelve hundred years trapped in the Air
Kingdom, Kingu had no idea where to start his search.  Someone would
have to help him and there weren’t a lot of volunteers lining up at his door.  If
Zakkery was incompetent or lying to him, he could always just kill the boy and
Kingu would have lost nothing.

“I
don’t want a woman.”  He said very clearly, just so they’d understand each
other.

“No?”

“No.
I want the woman.  My woman.”

“Your
one.”  Zakkery agreed.  “Great.  I’ll find you a selection and you pick the
girl you want.  Easy.  Trust me.  I can do it.”

Kingu
got to his feet.  “You get me her and I’ll give you the necklace in
return.  But,” he grabbed the front of Zakkery’s hideous punk rock t-shirt and
lifted him right off the ground, “you screw me over and they’ll be finding your
body smeared all over three galaxies.”

Zakkery’s
Union Jack patterned high-tops dangled a foot in the air, but he kept smiling.
“Hey, you have my word.  Everything’s gonna work out.  I have a plan.”

A
plan.

Kingu
dropped the boy, casting a long suffering look towards the ceiling.
Wonderful.  Finding his woman depended on a Phase whose planning abilities had
thus far gotten the strategic genius Banished.  And choosing that
haircut.  “Your ‘plan’ doesn’t revolve around those stupid Tablets, does it?”

“Little
bit.”  Zakkery shrugged.  “But, mostly, it just depends on how willing you are
to leave the Air Kingdom.”

“You
have no idea how willing I am to leave this dismal place and never see
it, again.”

“Good,
because all the contestants who were voted off the island?”  Zakkery pointed to
the Banishment mark on the back of his palm.  “We’ve got ourselves a brand new
kingdom, of our very own, and it’s filled with desperate women.”  He
nodded wisely.  “I think ‘desperate’ is your type, big guy.”

Kingu
grunted.  “If that’s the case, at least she and I will have something in common.”
Only someone completely desperate would agree to this bargain.  “How long will
it take you to find her?”

“Are
you kidding?”  Zakkery waved a dismissive hand.  “It’ll be simple!  What
desperate girl wouldn’t jump at the chance to be Mrs. Kingu
God-Monster?”

Sneak Peek

Here’s
a preview of the next book in the Elemental Phases’ series:

Treasure
of the Fire Kingdom

Prologue

Whatever
our souls are made of, his and mine are the same

Emily
Bronte- “Wuthering Heights”

“What
the hell is she reading him?  I hate this book.  I don’t understand what’s
going on.”

“Stop
interrupting her, Alder.”  Djinn jabbed a finger at his son, who was pacing
around the perimeter of the dim room with sharp, agitated movements.  “None of
us understand it.  But, she’s not reading it for us.  It’s for Oberon.”

“Well,
I’m sure he doesn’t like it, either.  The book’s driving me nuts, trying to
prop up these losers like their love is so great.  He’s a lunatic sadist.
She’s a frivolous bitch... And dead.  Fucking deal with it and move the
hell on.”

Alder
absently kicked a red footstool into the wall as he past it.  He didn’t bother
glancing after it as it hit a table and knocked three framed photographs of the
family at Disney World, a candy dish full of bullets, and a TV remote onto the
floor.  Oberon’s room was large, but even it couldn’t contain the restless
energy of so many Fire Phases.

“I
don’t understand why Cathy didn’t just marry Linton and then behead him on
their wedding night while he slept.”  Missy mused as if the whole concept of
not committing murder-for-profit was beyond her.  “It only makes sense.  Then,
she’d get the money and she could marry Heathcliff.  Problem
solved.”

“Exactly!”
Alder raised his hand at his sister and let it fall in a “finally
someone else sees!” sort of gesture.  “Or Heathcliff could have just killed
whozits-the-rich-guy, himself.  How hard is it to kill one human!?
That’s what I’d do if some other guy tried to steal my Match.”

“What
does it matter what we read?”  The weariness in Teja’s voice made it totally
unrecognizable.  She was slumped in a chair, her eyes unfocused as she watched
her grandfather’s chest slowly move up and down.  “Do you really think anything
matters, now?”

Alder
glowered over at his aunt.  “Well, I wanna make sure Oberon enjoys this
story, okay, Teja?”  He was trying to keep his voice low, but it was difficult
for any Fire Phase to whisper.  Their personalities were just too big to dial
down, even when surrounded by death and despair.  “What if this is the last
book he ever reads, huh?”  His jaw tightened and he quickly shook that idea
away.  “No.  I mean, it won’t be, because he’ll recover from this.  But
still...”

“He’s
in a coma.”  Even for a Fire Phase, Satour was a blunt,
the-glass-is-half-empty-and-probably-broken kind of guy.  From the time Oberon
got sick, his pessimism had been worse than ever before.  This level of bitter
resignation was the equivalent of someone else sobbing on the floor.  “Oberon
can’t hear it, anyway.”

“I
know he’s in a fucking coma, but he’s not fucking dead!”  Unlike his brother,
Alder wouldn’t give up on Oberon until the man drew his final breath.  “He can
still hear, jackass.  Maybe, anyway.  The doctor said so.  So, why can’t
she read him something he’d actually pick for himself, huh?  Like porn or
something?”

“She’s
his granddaughter, you moron.”  Satour shot back.  “You think he wants to hear
his granddaughter reading him porn?”

Alder
wasn’t backing down.  “Oh, so now he can hear, huh?  I thought he
was...”

“Both
of you stop it.”  Pele interjected before her sons came to blows.  On their
most agreeable days, they weren’t above a fist fight.  Or sword fight.  Or
setting each other on fire.  At the moment, with tensions running so high, they
might actually do some real damage.  “Satour, you’re being a bigger
pain-in-the-ass than usual.  And Alder, you know the doctor said that voices
are what’s important, not fast paced plotlines.”

The
two of them looked poised to continue the argument, but a dark voice came from
the furthest corner of the room and cut them off.

“Let
her read what she wants.  If Oberon can hear anything, it’ll be Hope.”

Everyone
turned to look at Qadesh in surprise.

That
was the first thing he’d said since the beginning of the plague.  It was also
the first time in hours his parents and siblings had thought to include the
subject of their arguments in the actual conversations.  In unison, their focus
shifted to Hope, of the Fire House, who sat on the edge of Oberon’s mattress,
the book in her hands.

“Okay.
Right.  So…  What do you wanna read, Hope?”  Pele sounded surprised that
Hope would even have an opinion.

The
Fire House sort of expected Hope to just go along with whatever they decided.
Probably because she always did.  They were always so confident and
self-assured in their path that it seemed crazy to stop and ask for directions.

The
Fire Phases were Hope’s idols.  Her role models.  From the time she was a
little girl, Hope had been overwhelmed with the greatness of the Fire Phases.
She’d come to them an orphan and Oberon had accepted her as part of his family.

Frankie,
of the Heat House, Pele’s uncle, had found Hope one summer morning, a hundred
and twelve years before.  At a few days old, she’d been abandoned in the Agora,
the Elementals’ free space.  No one knew exactly where she came from or who her
parents were.  Frankie had scooped her up, brought her to the Fire Kingdom,
handed her to Oberon and said, “This one says she belongs with you.”

Since
Hope was an infant at the time, she was fairly certain she’d told him no such
thing.  But, then Frankie was nuts.  That was a well-known, often lamented,
fact.  Who knew what kind of voices he heard?  Who even wanted to know?
Still, Frankie, was one of the few people that Oberon respected.

Oberon
had taken Hope from Frankie and squinted down at her.  He was a gigantic man,
with an intimidating glower and hands the size of catchers’ mitts.  According
to all the stories she’d been told later, Oberon lifted Hope up so they were
face-to-face and scowled.  Hope’s response was to smile at him.  Her midnight
blue eyes had locked with Oberon’s brown gaze and they’d just... clicked.

“Of
course she belongs here.”  He authoritatively declared and gave her a little
bounce in his arms.

And
that was that.

Oberon
simply kept her.  He moved her into the gothic Fire Palace and gave her
everything he’d given to his biological grandchildren.  All the training and
attention and blind stubborn devotion.  He’d never even insinuated that she
wasn’t a full-fledged member of the Fire Kingdom.  And it wasn’t like anyone
else was lining up to claim Hope for their House or fighting Oberon for
custody.  Hope wasn’t just an orphan, she was a genetic anomaly.

A
freak.

All
Phases had a colored streak of hair at their temple, designating their House.
For the Fire Phases the marker was red, for the Water Phases it was turquoise,
for the Heat Phases it was orange and so on.  Only Hope didn’t have a
distinguishing stripe in her ordinary blonde curls.

She’d
been born without a House.

Without
powers.

At
least, no powers she could control.  The only thing she’d ever managed to
accomplish with her nonexistent “energy” was jumping from one kingdom to
another.  And even then, there was only a slim chance that she’d land in the
right spot.  When it came to harnessing any real powers, she was as helpless as
a human.  In fact, sometimes other Phases confused her with one.

By
any objective standard, she was a useless addition to her House.  Her horrible
birth defect was no doubt why her parents had abandoned her in the first
place.  No one wanted a deformed child.  But, the Fire Kingdom had given her a
home and a name.  Food, shelter, love, acceptance.  In her heart, Oberon was
her grandfather.  Teja and Djinn, Oberon’s biological grandchildren, were her
family, too.  So were Djinn’s kids and Pele, his Match.

She
loved them all beyond anything.

Granted,
some of the other –no doubt jealous-- Houses compared her family to the human
mafia, just because they got into a few small fights and occasionally wound up
on the wrong side of the Council.

Sure,
the Fire Phases were a bit outspoken and sometimes got pushed into
confrontations, but they weren’t to blame for every violent crime in the
realm, like so many people seemed to believe.  Every time there was a
mysterious disappearance or a horrific murder or some unexplained arson, the
rest of the Elementals were quick to point the finger at the poor Fire House.
Even when there was no – or, okay, circumstantial-- proof.

Because
of their blackened reputation, Hope felt fiercely protective of her family.
The Fire Phases were an upstanding and honorable House.  Warriors, not
mobsters.  Hope would have died for them.  Traded her life for any of them in a
heartbeat.

If
only someone had given her a choice.

Hope
looked down at Oberon’s calm, sleeping face and felt moisture burning the back
of her eyelids.  How could her grandfather be dying like this?  Fire Phases
should go out gloriously, battling for some beautiful lost cause or saving the
universe from evil alien overlords.  They ought to have some fantastical end
that people would remember forever and write odes about.  They deserved
to go out like the heroes they were.  Not like this.  Not succumbing to this
terrible illness.

The
Fall.

How
could this tiny microbe rob him of all that vitality?  Shrink his skin against
his bones and devour him from the inside out?  Oberon was so always powerful
and so alive.  How could this be happening?

The
plague had begun three days before, released by Parald, of the Air House.  He’d
meant it as germ warfare against his enemies, but the disease quickly spread
through all the Houses, infecting indiscriminately.  In the Elemental realm,
the dead now outnumbered the living ten to one and the illness kept spreading.

It
wasn’t just Oberon who was dying; it was everyone.  All the Elementals Phases.
Or at least, most of them.  Hope felt fine and she didn’t see any symptoms in
the rest of her family, yet.  But, even if they were somehow immune, it
wouldn’t matter.

Without
the Elementals, the world would end.

Intellectually,
Hope knew that every living thing in the universe was real close to winking out
like a light.  All she could really focus on, though, was willing her
grandfather to get well.  He’d gotten sick so fast.  Just a few hours before
he’d been his normal boisterous self.  To see him like this, so still and
gray…  It was like someone had ripped out her heart.

There
was nothing she could do for the dying world, but she could try and comfort her
grandfather with the sound of her voice.  If it was the end and she
died, too… Well, there was nowhere else she’d rather be than sitting with her
family, arguing about what book to read.

Nowhere
in the universe.

Hope
cleared her throat, against another bout of tears.  “This is... um... Wuthering
Heights.”  She held up the leather bound tome for Alder to see.  Hope
actually liked the story.  “I could switch to Valley of the Dolls, if
you’d rather.  I have it here, too.  I just grabbed two books from the library,
earlier.  I didn’t check the titles.  I don’t want to go and get different
ones, though, because he might not...”  She trailed off, blinking hard,
unwilling to finish the thought.

She
didn’t want to leave the room, because Oberon might not be there when she
returned.

Oh
God...

Against
her will, tears started falling, again.  The book tumbled from Hope’s hand.
Her palm grabbed the edge of the Star Wars bed sheets, bringing it up to
her mouth to muffle her weeping, just in case Oberon really could still hear
her somehow.  Alder was right.  The last doctor they tried had said was it was
possible that he was somehow aware of his surroundings, even deep inside the
coma.  Her grandfather wouldn’t want to listen to her sob.

Satour
glared over at his brother, blaming him for Hope’s emotional outburst.
“Idiot.  Now look what you did.”

Alder
gasped in outrage.  “How is it my fault!?”

“It’s
my fault.”  Hope whispered, her doubts eating away at her.  “He wouldn’t be
dying if it wasn’t for me.”

She
knew it.

Hope
was a jinx.  She always had been.

Random
crazy accidents just befell her.  Socks went missing.  Refrigerators fell
through floors.  Alder got stuck in unexplored realms for two weeks with no
food.  Microphones shorted out during Job’s Council speeches and electrified
him.  (Granted, Oberon had thought that was hilarious, but Hope was still
mortified that she’d zapped the Phases’ leader, just by standing too close to
him.)  Once buffalo had stampeded through the living room and there weren’t
any buffalo in the Elemental Realm.

If
something terrible and bizarre was going to happen, it was going to happen to
her.

Somehow
she’d brought this plague down on the Fire House.

“He
never should have adopted me.  I’m bad luck.  You know I am, no matter
what the books say.  I’ve told him that so many times and now this happened
and…”  She trailed off unable to go on because of the lump in her throat.

“It’s
not your fault, Hope.”  Pele had said that about fifty times already.  “Fucking
Parald did this.  But, even if you were somehow to blame… Oberon still
would have brought you here.  Knowing everything that would happen, he’d do it
all again.  Because, you’re ours.”

Pele
was probably right about Oberon’s decisions and that made it all the worse.
“Maybe… But, maybe I shouldn’t be in here, right now.  Maybe, I’m jinxing his
recovery by sitting next to him.”  The thought circled in her mind like a
vulture and yet she couldn’t bring herself to leave his bedside.  What if he
died and she wasn’t there?  She couldn’t leave him.

“This
is where you belong.”  Qadesh intoned.  “Stay right where you are.”

Hope
looked over at him, unable to see his face through the shadows.  In a family
that bred assassins, Qadesh was like the sniper.  Quiet and watchful, he was
more at home in the darkness than the light.  He didn’t say anything unless he
meant it and he’d always treated Hope like his baby sister.

Hope
ran a hand under her nose as the rest of the family nodded in agreement,
genuinely touched by the show of support.  “I love you guys.”  She swallowed
and more tears fell.  “If we all die today, I want you to know that.  I love
you so much.”

“Ooooohh.
There, there.  No one’s dead, yet.”  Missy sat down next to Hope and gave her a
comforting pat on the shoulder.  “And, you know, rule number ten says that Fire
Phases really shouldn’t cry.”

She
stage whispered that advice, not in a mean or pointed way, but as if Hope might
have forgotten that rule.  The family never got past the idea that Hope was a
wee bit slow.  Of course, Masaya, of the Fire House talked to everyone
like they were about four steps behind her, so Hope didn’t take her prompting
personally.  Missy just thought she was the cleverest person in the room.

Usually
she was right.

“I
know.  I know.  I’m sorry.”  Hope drew in a deep breath, scrubbing at her
cheeks.  “I’m sorry.  I…  Look, whatever you guys want me to read, is fine.
Just tell me which book you’d prefer.”  She swallowed hard and looked over at
Teja, expecting a ruling on the literature debate.

Hope
was used to her adopted cousin taking control of things.  Teja was one of the
most powerful Elementals alive and, more importantly, the steadiest member of
the Fire House.  Unflappable and pragmatic, she was usually the voice of
authority in the kingdom.  Even Oberon listened to her.

Now,
though, Teja just sat by her grandfather’s bedside and stared at nothing.  She
wasn’t even in the room, anymore.  Not really.  It was like Teja had
disconnected from her body and was just… gone.  A chill went through Hope as
she stared at the beautiful, vacant face.  Teja was still physically present,
but she might as well have been a ghost.

“Djinn?”
Hope whispered when she saw Teja wasn’t going to say anything.

With
Oberon dying, Djinn was next in line for the Fire House throne.  And with Teja
out of commission, he actually had to lead.  It had to be a huge adjustment
for the poor man.  Djinn wasn’t used to that kind of responsibility.

He
glanced over at his unresponsive cousin with a worried frown and then cleared
his throat.  “I’d rather hear Valley of the Dolls.  That’s got a lot of
sex in it, right?  Then, Alder would be happy and we could get more than two
sentences read.”

“Sounds
good.”  Pele nodded, apparently thinking her Match’s bold talent for compromise
made him the next King Solomon.  Only wiser.

Pele
and Djinn were so in tune with each other.  So in love.  The goal of every
Elemental was to find their other half.  Their Phase-Match:  The one person who
could complete them on a fundamental level.  Once a Phase found that person,
they went through a process called Phazing, which was sort of a sexually induced
merging of their powers.  It took two separate entities and made them one
cohesive whole.  Hope had never in her life seen a more perfect Match than Pele
and Djinn.  They were made for each other.

Even
before all these deaths, Hope had known that she’d never find a Match for
herself, though.  No man from any House was going to want her.  With such
limited powers, there was no way she’d ever be able to Phaze and very few
Elementals would accept less from a mate.  Hope had accepted that years before.

Still,
being with Pele and Djinn always made her sort of wistful.  They were just so
lovely together.

Of
course, they were also lovely separately.  All the Fire Phases were
stunning, with dark hair and exotic features.  All of them, except Hope, of
course.  She didn’t even rate as “ordinary” on the Phase attractiveness meter.
She’d always been just sort of… there.  Too rounded, even by Elemental
standards, too short, and with blonde hair that looked positively empty without
a streak of color at the temple.

The
Fire Phases were also wonderfully tall.  Pele was one of the tallest, topping
even Djinn by several inches.  She absently twirled her double bladed axe
around like a baton, a release of nervous energy that was completely unlike
her.  Fire Phases were warriors.  Nothing rattled them.

Usually.

“Satisfied,
Alder?”  Pele arched a brow in her son’s direction.  “Hope’s gonna read your
precious porn.  Now will you shut the hell up?  Or do you wanna take a hammer
to a few kittens while you’re at it?”  She waved a hand at Hope’s still
brimming eyes.

“I’m
fine.”  Hope set Bronte aside and picked up Suzanne.  The silver charm bracelet
she always wore jingled with her movement, the sound depressingly cheerful.
She wasn’t going to take it off, though.  Oberon had given it to her.  “I can…”

A
knock sounded at the door, interrupting her.  Satour reached over to open it,
Djinn, Alder and Pele automatically moving into defensive positions around
Oberon’s bed.  The Fall might take the Fire King, but nothing else was going to
make it past his family.

“Teja?”
Freya, of the Cold House, Teja’s paternal cousin and the Elementals’ best
doctor stood on the other side of the threshold.  She looked exhausted and
resigned.  God only knew how many patients she’d already lost today.  She was
usually such a neat and tidy woman, but it looked like she’d been through a
war… and lost.  “You called about Oberon.  I’m here.  Let me see him.”

Everyone’s
head swung around to gape at Teja.  The Cold and Fire Kingdoms had been feuding
for years.  Teja knew that better than anyone, since she was the only member of
both Houses.  The Cold Phases had never forgiven her for choosing the Fire
House over them.  They generally didn’t speak to her, at all.  Teja never
would have called Freya if she didn’t believe that Oberon was truly going to
die without some kind of medical miracle.

Hope
felt more tears well as the truth of it cut into her heart.  Teja’s powers were
vast.  She could do anything.  If she was this desperate, then there was
no hope, at all.

Teja
dully focused on Freya and got to her feet.  “He has the Fall.  Have you been
able to do anything to stop it with any of the other victims, yet?”

Freya
stepped into the room… and Satour let her.  More evidence of how frantic the
situation was becoming.  Ordinarily, the Fire Phases would die before they let
a Cold Phase into their house, now Satour practically propelled Freya towards
the bed.

“No.
I’ll do what I can, but –as I said-- there’s no cure for this disease.  I’m
sorry.”  Freya eyed Djinn nervously.

Not
surprising since he had his hand on his sword.

And
he was… well… Djinn.

Still,
he moved back to give her room to work.

Freya
laid a hand on Oberon’s pulse and opened her doctor bag.  “Hope, have you taken
your medication today?”  She asked automatically.  Distaste for the Fire Phases
aside, Freya had a working knowledge of the health of everyone in the Elemental
realm.

She
was kind of nosey.

“Yes,
I took it.”

Satour
had all but shoved the inhaler at her about an hour before.  When he resigned
himself to Oberon’s death, he began preparing the rest of them for it.  For
Hope, that meant taking her asthma medicine, just in case she had an attack.
Usually, she only got them when she was under a lot of stress or around
something she was allergic to, in particular red frogs.

The
Fire Phases didn’t like to acknowledge the exact triggers for her asthma, not
even to the doctor.  Very, very rarely a Phase might have asthma, but
Elementals never had allergies.  Humans had allergies.  If an
Elemental had a human disease, then she probably wasn’t entirely an Elemental.
Following that line of reasoning could lead to a lot of sticky questions about
Hope’s DNA.

“Good.”
Freya absently nodded.  “Make sure you take care of yourself.  I already have
too many patients.”  For the next few minutes there was nothing but the
clicking of instruments and the glow of a small flashlight she’d brought.

Electricity
had gone down the second day of the Fall, so the Fire Phases had been making do
with candles.  They’d also left the bedroom windows open, so that provided
light, as well.  That wasn’t the primary reason the curtains were torn aside,
though.  They’d done it so Oberon could look out over his lands as he lay
there.  That was one of the fundamental lessons that all Fire Phases were
taught or just instinctively knew.

Rule
number four of being a Fire Phase:  If you’re going to die, try and make it
home.

Of
course, rule number three was, “Don’t die,” and rule number fifty-nine was, “As
you’re dying, take down as many enemies as you can,” so you kind of had to pick
and choose what ones to follow on any given day.

Still
Oberon had seemed almost peaceful as he fell asleep looking at the Fire Kingdom
spread out beyond the glass.  Even in the daytime, the Fire Kingdom glowed in
volcanic shades of orange and red.  The black mountains that surrounded the
land were lit with streams of flowing lava and explosions of sparks from deep
within the steaming ground.  It was a stark and terrifying place.  A labyrinth
of odd shaped rock and molten magma.  The kind of spot where humans would
envision dinosaurs roaming or continents collapsing.  It was a world like no
other; unforgiving and beautiful.  It was a place you really didn’t want
to get lost.

It
was home.

Freya
let out a long sigh after she was done her exam.  She looked over at her cousin
helplessly.  “Teja…”

“Do
anything.”  Teja interrupted.  “I don’t care what.  Any crazy,
experimental, long shot idea you have… do it.  Just save him.  I’m
begging you.”  Her voice broke.  “Please.”

Freya
squeezed her eyes shut.  “He’s going to die, Teja.”  She whispered.  “He is.
I’m truly am sorry.  I’ll try… something.  I don’t know what, but
I will try something if you want me to.  It won’t work, though.”  Her
tone was hollow with defeat.  “There’s really nothing I can do for him.  I’ve
seen this again, and again, and again.  You have no idea what I’ve seen it do
to our realm.”

“I
don’t care about the fucking realm!”  Teja shouted.  It was the first emotion
she’d shown in hours.  “I care about my grandfather!  Fix him!”

“I
can’t.”  Freya insisted.  “Don’t you think I would if I could?”

“No.”
Teja snapped icily.  “You hate us.  All the Cold Phases do.  I never should
have fucking called you.”  She raked both hands through her hair so hard that
the pale flesh on her face pulled tight.

“I’m
a doctor.  If I can, I save lives, no matter who they are.  I
swear to you, I would do anything I could for Oberon, but this plague is bigger
than all our medicine.  It’s hopeless.”  Freya’s weariness gave way to anger.
“I told you that on the phone, Teja.  I told you the Fall was incurable.  But,
I still came here because you asked.”

“Yeah,
and you’ve done such an incredible job of helping me, too.  I would have done
better calling a cable repairman to save Oberon.”

“I
would help him if I could, but I can’t!”  Freya shouted back, her frustration
with Teja and the world at large coming through loud and clear.  Freya always
had been known for saying too much at the wrong moments and Hope had the
feeling a lot people had blamed her for failing them today.  “I’m
telling you, Oberon’s got less than an hour left and there’s nothing anybody
can do to save him.”

Hope
felt the words like a deathblow.  She actually doubled over in physical pain.

Freya
shook her head at Teja.  “Now, stop blaming me and focus.  Do you want me to
stay here and just give him random shots of things, hoping that one might
magically work, or do you want to spend these last moments alone with him?
I’ll do either.  It’s your choice.”

Teja
didn’t have an answer for that and Teja always had an answer.  She
blinked rapidly and melted back into her chair.  It was eerie how uncoordinated
she suddenly seemed.  Like some internal support just gave way and she no
longer had control.  Teja always had control.

“Teja?”
Djinn called sharply and Hope saw the concern on his face.

Teja
dropped her head into her hands and didn’t say anything.  Her breathing was too
fast, almost hyperventilation.  Her body began rocking and she made a low
moaning sound.  It was the worst noise Hope had ever heard.  It made the small
hairs on her arms stand up.

Freya
bit her bottom lip, apparently regretting her blunt words.  “Teja?”

Nothing.

Hope
felt another chill.  Teja was breaking.  She could see the cracks in the other
woman’s façade and it frightened her.  Everyone leaned on Teja for support, but
this plague had been too much.  Teja had tried everything to save Oberon; used
every drop of power she had.  She had nothing left.

Hope
looked over at Djinn for some kind of guidance on how to proceed.

“Freya,
get out.”  He ordered, moving to Teja’s side.  One massive palm came down onto
her shoulder.  “Tej?  Look at me.”  He knelt down in front of her and gave her
a gentle shake, trying to get a response.  “We’ll find another doctor.  A better
one.  We have time to save him.”

Hope
could tell from his face that not even he believed that.

Teja
kept rocking, her eyes glazed and her pupils like tiny dots even in the
semi-dark room.

Hope
got to her feet, her heart pounding wilding.  Teja was slipping someplace they
couldn’t reach.  If she didn’t come back on her own, none of the rest of them
had the power to save her.

“Djinn?”
Hope’s voice was too high.  They were already going to lose Oberon.  She
couldn’t lose Teja, too.  “Djinn, what’s happening to her?”

“She’s
in shock.”  Freya sounded amazed, like it hadn’t occurred to her that the
cousin she’d spent centuries arguing with could have any kind of
vulnerability.  “Teja?”  She took a step closer to her, apparently ready to
administer care.  “Djinn, move.  Let me check her over.”

“Get
out.”  Djinn repeated harshly.  He picked Teja up and she didn’t appear
to notice.  She didn’t even move to grip his neck for support.  Her arms just
fell to her sides at limp, awkward angles as her body shook.  “Don’t touch my
cousin.”  His arms protectively cradled Teja as if Freya might try to snatch
her away.

Not
such a farfetched thought, given the determined glow in Freya’s eyes.  “She’s
my cousin, too!  Let me see her.”

“It’s
your fault she’s like this!  I’m not letting you near her.”  Djinn carried Teja
towards the door.  “Hope, Pele, help me with Tej.  Satour, get that doctor off
my lands.”  He marched out of the room, with Pele hot on his heels.

“Where
is he taking her?”  Freya tried to follow, but Satour blocked her path.  Her
mouth firmed.  “This is ridiculous.  I can help her.”  She waved a hand at
Djinn’s retreating back.  “He has to bring her back.”

“Yeah,
‘cause you’ve been such a huge savior so far, right?”  Alder sneered.

Hope
hesitated for a beat, torn between following Djinn’s instructions and staying
to ensure no one accidently stabbed Freya.  Her eyes automatically cut over to
Oberon as if he could play tie breaker.

Freya
continued to argue with Satour and Alder.  Missy already had her sword out.
Qadesh was moving to flank the doctor, so Freya couldn’t dart around his
brothers.

Hope
was the only one who actually saw Oberon let out a raspy final breath
and still.

Her
chest clutched in panic and her lungs constricted just as they did before she
fell into an asthma attack.  Only this was so much worse.

“Grandfather!”
The scream came from the very depths of her soul.  “Qadesh, he stopped
breathing!  He’s not breathing!”

Freya
spun back around to the bed and swore softly.  Later, Hope would always think
that it had been witnessing Teja’s emotional meltdown that drove the doctor
towards the mattress.  Freya didn’t want to give up on Oberon, because she knew
what he meant to her cousin.  She knew it was hopeless and still she tried.

“Move!”
Freya bellowed at Alder and climbed up onto the bed.  Her fist came down on
Oberon’s chest with a sharp blow, trying to restart his heart.

The
Fire Phases stood there as she worked, shock on their faces.  As if, even after
seeing Oberon fade right before their eyes, they couldn’t process the fact that
he might actually die.  None of them had experienced real defeat
before.  They won the battles they fought.  Always.  They had no idea
how to handle a loss of this magnitude.  Hope had never seen them without a
plan to press forward and sweep the field.  Now, they looked lost.

That
scared Hope more than anything.

They
were her rock.  They had to know what to do.

Hope’s
gaze whipped around helplessly.  Someone had to fix this.

But,
nobody could.  Time ticked by, so slowly and yet way too fast.

Satour
backed up so he was against the wall and then slid down it in a slow-mo
collapse.  Qadesh’s eyes closed in sorrow.  For the first time since Hope had
known her, Missy started to cry.  So did Alder.

So
did everyone else.

Regardless
of whether or not the Fire Phases were supposed to weep, every single
one of them broke down as Oberon left them.  Only Hope stared at her
grandfather dry eyed, too frozen for tears.

Oberon
was dead.

No,
no, no, no, no.

Hope
moved trace like towards the bed as Freya continued giving him mouth-to-mouth.

If
the doctor was afraid of catching the Fall herself, she gave no sign of it as
she pushed air into his lungs.  “You stupid, stubborn bastard.  Breathe!  Prove
me wrong and live.  You’re the only one crazy enough to beat this disease, just
to spite me.”

Hope
hand came over and grabbed Oberon’s palm, squeezing tight.  “Grandfather?”  She
whispered.  “Don’t go.  Not without saying good-bye.  Please come back.”

No
one was exactly sure what happened next.  Hope fingers bit into his flesh, her
nonexistent energy swelling within her, willing him to look at her…

…And
he did.

Freya
moved to resume chest compressions and Oberon’s eyes just flew open.

“Hang
on.”  He said quite clearly.  “Ain’t ready, yet.”

The
doctor gave a yelp of alarm and tumbled backwards off the bed.

“Holy
shit!”  Alder caught her, his attention on his grandfather.  “Oberon?”

“What
the hell just happened?”  Freya asked the world at large.  She pushed back a handful
of pale hair that had escaped its orderly bun and gaped at Oberon like he’d
risen from the dead.  Which he kinda had.  “That’s impossible.  He can’t be
awake.  No other patient woke up after they went into the coma.”  She started
forward to take Oberon’s vitals, but Qadesh caught her wrist, stopping her.

“Let
him be.”  His voice was reverent.  “He didn’t come back to stay.  He came back
for Hope.”

No
one had expected Oberon to wake-up, even for this brief moment.  But then Fire
Phases never did what you expected.

Brown
eyes fixed on Hope, just like they had when he’d first seen her, a hundred and
twelve years before.  Now, they were filled with endless love and such wisdom
that Hope realized Oberon had seen something far beyond what the rest of them
knew.

“Good-bye,
my star.”  He murmured with a weaker version of his usual slanting grin.

He’d
always called her that.  Hope let out a shaky breath and tried to smile back at
him.  “Good-bye, grandfather.”  But she couldn’t just let him go with that.
She couldn’t.  The strength left her knees and she sank to the floor
beside the bed.  “Please, wait for me when you get to heaven.  Please remember
me and I’ll find you as soon as I get there.  It’ll be very soon.”  So far she
seemed immune to the Fall, but that would change.  With her luck, it was a
given.  “We’ll be together again and be taking over the whole boring, celestial
place in no time.  You’ll love that.”  A tear trailed down her cheek, imaging
the glorious time they’d have, and she wiped it away.  “We can have so much
fun.  I promise.”

“I
don’t think you’re coming with me this trip.”  He whispered.

“But
I want to.  Please.  Don’t leave me here alone.”

Hope
was terrified at being abandoned and Oberon knew it.  His eyes were gentle.
“You’re not alone.”  He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.  “I’m
leaving you with our family.  With your Match.  I saw him.  Just now.  I picked
him out for you myself.”

He
was delirious.  “Thank you, Grandfather, but I don’t actually have a Match.”
She corrected softly.

This
time his grin was smug.  “Not yet.  But he’s there.  You can save him.  You can
do anything.  You’re a Fire Phase.  Remember that.”

No
one had ever needed Hope, but that mistake seemed so trivial compared to
the rest of his words.  “I’m a Fire Phase.”  She agreed, her heart swelling at
his praise.  “I will never forget that.  I promise.”

“Good
girl.”  His eyes drifted shut.  “You’ll like him, baby.  You always did vote
for the monsters at the movies.  Always did think they just needed love.  Well,
this one’s your monster.  He’s waiting for you to set him free.”

“My
monster?”  She repeated blankly.

“He
has a good soul, just like you.”  Oberon snorted at some joke only he
understood.  “He just… needs some help finding it…”  He trailed off with a contented
sigh, only to open his eyes again and look at her intently.  “You take care of
Teja and the others.”  Urgency entered his voice.  “You take care of them for
me.”

He’d
gotten that mixed up.  The Fire Phases took care of her.  “I will.”  She
said anyway, just to appease him.  If she had any control over her powers at
all, she’d use them to protect her family.

He
was fading now.  “Promise me something else, my star.”

“Of
course.  Anything.”  She’d do anything in the world for this man.

“Remember
rule one.”

Her
eyebrows compressed.  “What…?  Grandfather?  Grandfather!”

But
Oberon was already gone, off on some new adventure.

…And
Hope was left behind.

Chapter One

Two
Years Later

I had cast
off all feeling, subdued all anguish to riot in the excess of my despair.

Evil
thenceforth became my good.  Urged thus far, I had no choice but to adapt

my nature
to an element I had willingly chosen.

Mary Shelley- “Frankenstein”

“They
won’t do.”  Kingu glared over at Zakkery, of the Smoke House.  “None of them
are acceptable.”  He turned and stalked away from the latest row of stunning
woman that the Phase had assembled for him, shaking his head in disgust at how
tedious this was becoming.

Gods
but he grew sick of Zakkery’s total incompetence.  He should have known that
this was beyond the capabilities of an Elemental.  The entire species had the
collective brainpower of a chicken.  Was it really so difficult to find the one
small thing he’d asked for?  So perplexing a challenge, even for Zakkery’s
pathetic mind?

All
he wanted was a simple, solitary woman.  Just one.  He hadn’t even specified a species,
for fuck’s sake.  And the Smoke Phase still couldn’t manage to get it
right.  Idiot.  Once he regained his full powers, Kingu should eradicate this
entire realm and put all the Elementals out of their misery, once and for all.

“Come
on!”  Zakkery marched after him, his face set in lines of frustration.
“What the hell’s wrong with this batch, huh?”  He waved a hand at the cadre of
supermodels.  “According to you, that last six were all unworthy because
they were –Let’s see,“ he began checking off Kingu’s previous complaints,
“boring, stupid, stupid and boring, too shrill, too blonde --Gaia knows
you hate blondes-- and what else?”  He snapped his fingers.  “Oh wait, I remember:
Too thin.”  He ran hand through his dark hair.  “Well, this group is none
of those things.  I made sure of it.  So why can’t you just pick one of these
girls and we get this over with?”

Kingu
scowled over at the women and then down at Zakkery.  “They’re too pretty.”  He
declared flatly.

“What?
How can they be too pretty?!  How is that even a criteria, now?”

“Because
I just made it one, Elemental.”  Kingu loomed over him, not the least bit
put-out by Zakkery’s infuriated glare.  After so many centuries of being a
slave to one of the cruelest, most terrifying beings in creation, some
insignificant Phase getting pissy with him didn’t even register.  “You and I
have a deal.  I get a woman of my choosing and you get Kay’s necklace.  Are you
thinking to change that?”

Now
that his mother was in the coma, only Kingu could remove the pendant from her
throat and he didn’t plan on doing that without some quid pro quo.  The
necklace was just a thin, straight hunk of metal decorated with a barcode of
black enamel lines.  To most people, it was simply a piece of not-so-attractive
jewelry.  And it was ugly.  But it was also imbued with some serious
cosmic powers.  In the right hands, the necklace could inflict damage.

And
Kingu had seen enough apocalypses to know what “damage” really meant.

He
had no idea what Zakkery wanted with the pendant specifically, but it didn’t
seem worth asking him about the details.  The jackass would probably spend
several hours explaining them all and none of it would be true anyway.

Honestly,
Kingu couldn’t have cared less about the Phases and their petty plots and
schemes.  Zakkery was undoubtedly working with someone and they were
undoubtedly plotting to attack their enemies with the necklace, but what
possible difference did it make which Phases killed the others?  They were all
equally useless.  Kingu might as well take sides in a war between grasshoppers.

Elementals
were beneath his notice.

“I
know what the deal is and I’m not trying to change anything, but you’re being…”

Kingu
cut off Zakkery’s complaint.  “Good.  Because, until I get my woman, you get nothing
from me.  I’m immortal.  I have time for generations of females to be
born and for me to look them over, if that’s the way you want to play it.  But,
I get the feeling you’re in a bit more of a hurry.”

“So
what the hell do you want me to do, then?”  Zakkery demanded.  “Bring you every
woman in the universe who isn’t pretty?”

Perpetually
dressed in torn jeans and hightops decorated with one of the human flags, Zakkery’s
incessant casualness annoyed Kingu.  So did the fact that the Phase looked like
a matinee idol.  It wasn’t that Kingu was envious of some pathetic
Elemental, of course.  But, it irritated him that someone so obnoxious would be
gifted with such uncanny good looks.  Especially, since Zakkery didn’t even
seem to appreciate what a genetic blessing he’d received.  Women loved this
asshole.  It was dumbfounding.

The
Smoke Phase basically seemed like he rolled out of bed, randomly tossed on
whatever semi-clean clothing he scrounged up off the floor, scraped his hands
through his too long hair and began a hard day of chain smoking.  It aggravated
Kingu to be around someone so… chaotic.

On
Zakkery’s right hand, he wore a bicycle chain for a bracelet and sported a
Banishment mark.  It was seared into the skin on the back of his palm.  It took
a lot for a Phase to scar, so Zakkery’s House had really made sure that the
branding went deep enough to last.

Hopefully
the process had hurt.

A
lot.

“I
want you to listen to what I’m telling you.” Kingu snarled.  This whole
misadventure had started two weeks before and so far they’d gotten nowhere.
Immortal or not, he was losing his patience.  “I want one woman.  Just
one.  Who isn’t brainless, grating, high-pitched, skeletal, or blonde.  Or
breakable.”  He tacked on the last one because he worried about accidently
hurting a woman.  He didn’t want her bones snapping because of his size.  And
on a related note… “I would also prefer one doesn’t back away when she sees
me.”

“That
condition’s gonna be tough.”  Zakkery muttered.

No
doubt he was right.  In fact, Kingu had yet to meet a woman who didn’t move
away when she first spotted him.  Not that it mattered.  “I don’t give a shit
what you have to do.”  Kingu said truthfully.  “All I want is my woman.”

“Well,
pick one and she’ll be yours.  Christ!  Is there really that big a difference
for someone like you?  Pick the one you most want to fuck and let’s move the
hell on.”

Kingu
rolled his eyes.  It was impossible to explain to his motivations to a lesser
creature.  Zakkery wasn’t capable of understanding what it meant to desire a
woman for more than just breeding.  The Phases were a base species, ruled by
their biological impulses.  Kingu wasn’t even sure himself why it mattered so
much that he find this one specific girl, just that his powers would let him
know when he finally located her.

“Perhaps,
interchangeable women are suitable for you.  I have higher standards.
None of these cookie-cutter Phases you keep offering me are even close to my
specifications.  I want one plain, uncomplicated, quiet female.  Stretch the
limits of your capabilities and see if you can complete this herculean
task.”

Zakkery’s
eyes narrowed at the sarcasm.  “Why don’t we come at this from a different
angle?”  He suggested tightly.  “Tell me something specific.  Not what you don’t
want this girl to be or this vague crap about how you want someone ‘quiet’ and
‘efficient.’  I want something real.”

“Efficiency
is real.”  Kingu insisted.  “That’s a vital quality.”  He didn’t want
someone chaotic.  He’d had far too much chaos in his life.

Zakkery
disregarded that.  “Give me something concrete to go on.  A tangible thing to
look for.  Like double D’s, or her SAT scores, or how about just one word
to describe this impossible girl?  What do you want her to give you?”

“Hope.”

The
word was out before Kingu could censor it and he immediately wished he could
call it back.  Not just because Zakkery’s usual sardonic expression sagged in
utter shock at the uncharacteristically whimsical answer, but because Kingu
knew it was such an impossible request.

He
was used to not having hope.

When
you didn’t have a soul, you eventually reached a point where you just accepted
what you were and you stopped thinking you could ever be something more.  You had
to do that, or you went insane.  A kind of numbness set in.  A deep knowledge
that you were completely and totally on your own.

That
was the hardest part to come to grips with.  Realizing that even your prayers
went unheard.  It had taken Kingu millennia to accept that whatever bigger,
stronger gods might be out there, they had no interest in a creature they hadn’t
had a hand in making.  He was outside the natural scope.  Beyond their
jurisdiction.

Created,
not born.

When
you didn’t have a soul, it also seemed pointless to try and to squeeze your
behavior into some bedtime story box of morality.  Good and bad meant nothing.
How could they?  Regardless of the outcome, it wasn’t like there was anything
to look forward to on the back-end.  You could save the world or end it, and
the outcome would be the same when you finally died.  No holy white light
pulling you upward.  No punishing fire dragging you down.

Nothing
but the same kind of funeral a broken chair might finally have, after its owner
chopped it to bits and tossed it out for the trash.  No one mourned the chair.
It wasn’t rewarded or punished for the kind of life it had led.  It didn’t go to
Chair Heaven or Chair Hell.

It
just… ceased to exist.

With
that kind of happy destiny looming on the horizon, it was little wonder that
Kingu always concentrated on the present far more than the future.  He’d
endured for countless centuries focusing no further than the next afternoon.
He lived his life in day long blocks, not really caring what happened.

Perhaps
things would have been different if he’d been allowed to fulfill his actual
potential in the universe.  Perhaps he would have tried harder to make a
difference in the world.  Perhaps he could have found some purpose beyond
routine survival.

After
all, Kingu was a god.

He
held more energy than any ludicrous Phase could imagine.  He wasn’t as powerful
as his mother, of course, but few people were.  Kay was the primordial Khaos.
She controlled all the formless, destructive nothingness in existence, which
–sadly-- was so much scarier than it sounded.  She’d killed so many weaker,
more breakable beings that she’d eventually manufactured Kingu to be her
permanent captive audience.

Literally
captive.

Kingu
had been a slave to his mother from the day he’d been created.  He was the only
one strong enough to withstand her endless torture.  She’d made sure of that.
Made sure he was immortal and healed quickly from the wounds she loved to
inflict.  And she made sure that Kingu couldn’t access any of his own powers
and that he did every single thing she asked.  Made sure she controlled him,
inside and out.

Then
Kay’s sister, Tessie, had sent Kay into a coma, and Kingu found that he was
suddenly free.  Free to do and have what he’d always wanted.  Free to find the
one tiny spark of hope that always burned in the deepest recess of his being.
A tiny flame that represented her.

A
woman of his own.

She
was the only dream he’d been able to retain in captivity, buried deep in the
rebellious corners of his mind that Kay couldn’t touch.  His future remained a
bleak blur of meaningless days, but the idea of this woman calmed him.  The
horrific memories, and the constant fear that Kay might one day awaken,
lessened when he concentrated on the woman.

He
had to find her and the pitiful, brain-dead Phases were going to help
him.

Even
if he had to kill them, one by one, to gain their cooperation.

“You
want a woman who will bring you hope?”  Zakkery’s tone made it sound
like syphilis.  His dark brows climbed up his forehead so far that they reached
his hairline.  “Holy shit.  You’re not looking for a quick lay… You’re
looking for your Match!”

Kingu’s
eyes narrowed like death.  “Elementals have Matches.  I’m above that
kind of sentimental bullshit, because I’m not one of you amoebas.  I am a god.”

Zakkery
gave his head a mystified shake, gray eyes alight with dawning comprehension.
“I know you keep saying that you want this one special girl.  I just figured
this was about you not knowing what the hell you were doing and trying to
stall.  I mean, obviously you wouldn’t be a ladies’ man.”  He waved an
all-encompassing hand at Kingu’s face and body.  “But, this isn’t about you
getting your rocks off, at all.”  He grinned.  “This really is about you
wanting a fucking bride!”

Kingu
regarded him emotionlessly.

Elementals
were pests.  Ungrateful and small.  Like all insects they served an invisible,
if important purpose, of course.  Phases balanced the Elements; Water, Air,
Time, Stone and all the rest of the endless boring list.  The different Houses
ensured that that Fires burned and Light shone and that nature herself remained
afloat.  Without them, the universe would collapse.

But
then, cockroaches surely had some bigger function, too.  Some fundamental,
indiscernible cog in the Circle of Life that kept the higher species spinning
on.  You still didn’t want them skiddering around you all the time.

Kingu
stepped closer to Zakkery.  He would never allow himself to be goaded by some
piss ant Phase, but he certainly wasn’t going to tolerate insubordination,
either.  Zakkery was supposed to be finding Kingu’s woman.  That was the deal
they made when Zakkery sought him out.  If the Elemental couldn’t do that,
there would be one less Smoke Phase in the universe.

Either
way, it was win/win.

Still,
it would be faster to just teach Zakkery a lesson about his place.  Perhaps
that would serve as motivation for the little shit.  Kingu hand whipped out,
catching Zakkery by the throat.

It
happened so fast Zakkery didn’t have time to do anything but curse, before he
was being tossed fifteen feet across the lawn into one of the distinctive rounded
trees.  He hit it hard enough to send the damn thing toppled right over.

That
was one of the problems with this accursed realm.

Everything
was so small.

Kingu
nearly rolled his eyes.  He hadn’t anticipated the destruction and it annoyed
him that Zakkery had now ruined the symmetry of the shaded path.  Kingu liked
his surroundings neat, balanced and orderly.  He snapped his fingers, instantly
replacing the broken stump with a new, meticulously shaped, identical puff-ball
of a tree.  Better.  Still not great, but considering the asinine
vegetation he was surrounded by, it would have to do.

Meanwhile,
the assembled women gave shrieks of panic at the unintentional lumberjacking.
Or maybe it was at his casual show of powers.  Most of the females were Phases,
so you couldn’t really expect much backbone.  Such a weak species.  Not a
warrior among them.  They dashed out of range, their high heels sinking into
the pale pink grass of the park, casting him terrified looks over their
shoulders.

One
woman met his gaze and he saw her openly cringe.

Kingu
was used to horrified expressions.

Kay’s
home had been full of mirrors.  There’d been no way for Kingu to miss his own
face staring back at him every day.  Even without the mirrors, though, he
could’ve seen his reflection in the reactions of the people around him.  The
widening of their eyes.  Their quick steps back.  The indrawn gasps of fright.
Most of the time, he didn’t care.  He even enjoyed their shock.

He
knew what they saw.

Kingu
didn’t look like his mother, which had no doubt been her intention.  Kay went
out of her way to ensure that Kingu would never be accepted anywhere else.  His
face wasn’t normal.  Not entirely hideous, but like his features were a mix of
a man and a dragon.  Black hair hit his shoulders, so dark it shone blue.  His
crimson eyes had a sinister glow, his jaw was fierce and hard, and the skin of
his hands was textured like a snake.  Kingu towered over the humans and the
Phases, his body built along far more substantial lines.  No one in this realm
matched his size.

How
could they, given what he was?

Every
century or so, Kay experienced an intermittent period where she decided she
liked some small part of human culture.  She’d been a great Louisa May Alcott
fan back in the nineteenth century, forcing Kingu to read her Little Women
at least a dozen times and always squeezing out meaningless tears as Beth
died.  Then, she’d grown bored with the novel and burned it.  Her attention
span was fickle and short.

For
several weeks in the 1930s, her fleeting fixation had been Universal horror
movies and they’d inadvertently shown Kingu the truth about himself.  One
afternoon, she’d watched Bride of Frankenstein on a pull down, white
screen in the living room.  It was the first motion picture Kingu had ever
seen.  The projector illuminated the dust particles in the air as the
flickering images hypnotized him.  He’d never forgotten that moment of
awakening.  That ridiculous film, created by even lesser beings that the
Phases, finally told him what he truly was.

He
was the fulfillment of Dr. Pretorius’ toast.

The
horrible realization of that new world of gods and monsters.

A
god and a monster.

“You
son-of-a-bitch.”  Zakkery sat up, fingering his cut lip.  “I’m trying to
fucking help you.”

“Well,
your tries are obviously not good enough.”  Kingu watched impassively as
Zakkery staggered to his feet.  “How long will it take you to find me another
batch of women to evaluate?”

“Oh,
no time at all, Romeo.  They’re lining up to meet you.”  Zakkery spat
out a mouthful of blood.  “Seriously, in case you hadn’t noticed, we’ve gone
through pretty much every volunteer in the Cloud Kingdom.  The next step is drafting
you some potential girlfriends and I’m not eager to take point on that.”

“Draft?”

“Kidnap.”
Zakkery translated, with fake cheer.  “And I don’t think anybody needs your
skill with the ladies to know how well that’s gonna go.  Nothing a girl
likes better than having Prince Charming abduct her and chain her to a wall.”

Kingu
felt himself pale.  “I’m not going to fucking chain her!”  He roared.  Visions
of his mother shackling him stabbed into his brain and he turned away with an
agonized flinch.  “No.”  He pushed the memories away and tried to
focus.  “The woman needs to be willing.”  He got out hoarsely.  Anything less
would turn him into Kay.  He’d rather be nothing at all than to be like his
mother.

Zakkery
squinted at him like Kingu was deranged.  “Hang on, you think this girl is
gonna want to be with you?  Really?  You?”

Killing
Zakkery would yield nothing.  Kingu reminded himself of that on an hourly
basis.  “Given time, I’m confident I can win her over.”

“Oh
yeah?”  Zakkery smirked.  “With what?  Poetry?”

Kingu
snapped his fingers, again.  He wasn’t sure why he needed that little tic in
order to access his burgeoning powers, but it worked so he didn’t complain.  He
was just happy they’d started to return, at all.  In her coma, Kay had lost
most of her control over him.

At
the small sound of the finger snap, a massive treasure chest appeared in the
pastel grass beside him.  Made of gold, it overflowed with gemstone encrusted
jewelry, stacks of glittering coins and several elaborate tiaras.

Zakkery’s
eyebrows shot up, again.

Kingu
didn’t even bother to glance at the fortune worth of pirate loot.  He snapped
his fingers and the sparkling mound became a jet black Lamborghini.  Snapped
them again and it turned into a crystalline greenhouse filled with impossibly
beautiful flowers of every description.  Then, into a silver filigree coach pulled
by a rose-colored unicorn.

“Alright,
I get the picture.”  Zakkery muttered.  “Very subtle.  You wanna buy yourself a
girl.”

“It
seems like the most expedient route, yes.”  The sparkly unicorn disappeared and
Kingu crossed his arms over his massive chest.  “Does this make your job
easier?”

“Maybe.”
Zakkery still didn’t sound overly hopeful.  “It’d still be best if you snapped
yourself up a Halloween mask when you meet your destined sweetheart, though.”

“I
don’t have a destiny.”  Kingu said flatly.  How could he without a soul?  “I’m
a god.  I shape fate to suit my purposes.  It’s part of the job
description.  Right now, it suits my purposes to have you and you vile little
Phase buddies do what I tell you to do.  And I’m telling you to find my
woman.”

Zakkery
gave a mocking salute and jumped off, probably to find more cigarettes.

Kingu
absently flexed his fingers.  So far, creating simple objects was the extent of
his manifested powers and just that small show had drained him.  He was careful
not to let the Phases see that he was still recovering, but he knew that it
might take decades for him to fully heal.  It was unacceptable and the weakness
infuriated him.

Until
he was recovered, he needed to stay out of sight here in the Cloudland.  He
didn’t have a choice, if he wanted to survive.  There would be beings looking
for him, far more dangerous than these incompetent Phases.

Not
the least of which was his aunt.

Kingu’s
jaw ticked.  He hated this fucking kingdom, but, thanks to Aunt Tessie, he had
nowhere else to go.

The
Cloud Kingdom was an undeniably beautiful place.  No one could dispute that.
But Kingu never had much use for beautiful things.  He didn’t trust them,
because he so obviously didn’t fit into their world.

Not
that he disliked it here.  Honestly, anywhere was better than
life with Kay.  He just didn’t feel comfortable in the Cloudland.  All the
Elemental Kingdoms looked different and this one was kind of… fluffy.  It
didn’t suit him or any of the current residents.  The edges were too soft, the
colors too muted and pink.  Even the trees were sort of rounded and
Wonderland-ish.  You just had the feeling that the Phases who lived here were all
into yoga and tea parties.

Instead,
it was blood sports and brothels.

Of
course, it hadn’t always been so misleading.  The Cloud Phases who had once
inhabited it were a bunch a happy hippies or whatever.  They were all dead,
now.  Most of them perished in the Fall and the final few stragglers died in
some kind of sophomoric dune buggy crash.  They’d left their sunset colored
land empty and the impractical circular buildings deserted.  The whole place
had just been sitting there, waiting for someone new to move in.

Eventually,
they did…  And there went the neighborhood.

The
Dr. Seussian Cloudland was now a waylay station for all the Elemental
riffraff.  All the Phases who had no place in polite society.  All the lunatics
and killers.  All the people who’d been cast out of their Houses over the
centuries.

All
the Phases who had been Banished.

Banishment
was the main way that the Council dealt with Phases who broke their most sacred
laws, like murder, rape, insurrection, and generally being a criminally
inclined asshole.  Anyone Banished was cast out of the Elemental kingdoms and
left to fend for themselves or die.  Most of them died.  But apparently some of
them didn’t and they’d all started a little “we hate law abiding
society” club here in the deserted Cloudland.

When
the barriers between the realms fell, all the bad guys took it as an open
invitation to move back to the right side of the tracks.  Eminent domain and
finders keepers and all that.  Anyone could travel to any land now that the supernatural
fences had toppled.  In a few short weeks, the Cloud Kingdom had become the
Wild West meets ancient Rome, filled with all sorts of infamous law breakers.
The Cloudland’s stupid round houses were taken over by saloons and their once
lush flowers gardens now grew substances not even Kingu recognized.  Any kind
of debauchery or illicit substance in the universe was available from these
lowlifes for a shockingly low price.

But
could they find one lone woman?

Of
course not.

Kingu
shook his head in disgust and turned back towards the blood red castle he’d
appropriated for himself.  When he’d first moved in, it had been a gingerbread
cottage painted cloud pink and sky blue.  It reminded him so much of his
mother’s Barbie colored mansion that he couldn’t stand even walking through its
candy cane striped door.

It
was the first thing he’d changed about his new life.  The first time he’d used
his powers just because he’d wanted to.

Even
with his weakened energy, it had taken less than a second to turn the
cupcake-ish structure into an ominous, demonic tower of slick crimson stone and
jagged plastic spikes.  It loomed over the Cloud Kingdom’s landscape like a
curse.

Then,
to add to the curb appeal, Kingu tossed in an acid moat and dozens of heavy
black gates.  Also made of plastic, naturally.  Elementals could manipulate
natural products, but they couldn’t do jack shit to anything synthetic.  They
couldn’t get through plastic, couldn’t break it, and couldn’t create it.  Kingu
didn’t have that problem and he wanted them to know it.  Every day or so, he
tacked another story onto his home, along with some more instruments of plastic
impalement. Redesigning the fortress was his only hobby.

The
Phases now walked four blocks out of their way, so as not to pass too close to
his house of horrors.

For
that alone, the tower delighted him.

Kingu
never allowed anyone past his front door.  Well, actually it was less of a
“door” and more of a fifteen foot high portcullis.  Just because he could,
Kingu had added a suburban, flowered welcome mat at the foot of it.  Not even
the Phases were dumb enough to take him at his word.

He
snapped his fingers as he crossed the drawbridge, removing the supernatural
locks he’d put in place to keep out any guests, and…

The
“wham!” of energy took him by surprise.  Kingu had thought he was incapable of
feeling surprise, but he’d been wrong.  He was completely shocked when someone
jumped into the Cloudland, almost on top of him.  He felt them slam into his
side, knocking his gigantic body off-balance through some kind of bizarre luck
or incredible plan.

“Oh
dear!”  He heard distinctly and then Kingu was tumbling into space.  One second
he was stalking across the cauldron-y moat of boiling yellow-green acid… The
next he was falling into the cauldron-y moat of boiling yellow-green
acid.  He hit it with a splash that sent the caustic liquid a dozen feet in the
air.

From
somewhere close by, he heard people start bellowing that they were under
attack.  The Banished Phases lived in constant fear of Job or the Council
sweeping and killing them all.  If only Kingu would get so lucky… Gods, even
with his ears filled with acid, he could hear their panicked shrieking.

Imbeciles.

Kingu
surfaced, feeling more than a little pissed off at himself for getting caught
unaware, and at the Phases for being Phases, and –most of all-- at the soon to
be deceased creature who’d knocked him into the bubbling moat to begin with.
Acid itself didn’t affect him, but now he was all wet and he’d liked
this gods damned suit.

“Fuck.”
He wiped a hand over his face, dispelling the liquid with an impatient shake of
his palm.  Someone was about to die.

“Oh
wow.  I am so sorry.”

Kingu
focused on the female voice and felt himself still.

He’d
been pushed into roiling acid by a cartoon character.

Kingu
knew for a fact that there were no aliens in this galaxy, but the woman was
like something from another planet.  Vibrantly colorful, she blinked down at
him with an innocent face and a rounded, rosy shape that no Phase was capable
of possessing.

What
the hell…?

His
astounded gazed scanned her.  All the Elementals were scrawny.  It was one of
the more depressing facts about life among them.  This girl’s shape was…
better, though.  Much, much better.  Kingu came of age in a time when women
aspired to be more than runway waifs.  When the gods and monsters of the world
cared about maintaining strength and creating life with their bodies.

The
curves of this female were so much closer to his ideal than any of the stick
figures Zakkery had selected for him.  An unfamiliar sensation of lust pooled
in his lower body as he stared up at her.

He
had to be losing his mind.  Had to be.

This
woman was probably some incompetent assassin sent to kill him.  Plus, she was
blonde and he couldn’t stand blondes.  That should trump everything.  To
counteract the crazed thoughts, he tried to concentrate on her clothing, which
was… distracting.  She was dressed a bizarre mishmash of patterns and colors
that made his eyes cross.  A tie-dyed sweater over a leopard print skirt.
Rainbow striped tights and gold sequined tennis shoes, all of it topped off
with a plastic polka dot headband.

She
was so… chaotic.

And
still he couldn’t look away from her.

A
pair of heart-shaped rhinestone sunglasses covered her eyes, but he could feel
her staring at him.  Processing what he was.  She crouched down onto the
surface of the drawbridge as if in a trace.  Her perfect lips parted as she
studied the cruel, inhuman lines of his face.

Kingu
waited for her to cringe.  To scream and run.

To
back away from him.

Instead,
she held out a hand as if she thought she could help him up.  “Are you okay?”
She asked softly.

Kingu
blinked.  That was the only response he could muster.  No one had ever, ever,
spontaneously tried to help him before.  It was… amazing.  A part of him wanted
to grab her outstretched palm in dazed wonder, but he quickly suppressed that
illogical thought with a swell outrage.  Did she really think someone like him
needed assistance from someone like her?  That he was some object of
pity?  He was a god and she was a… whatever she was.  Certainly not a
god.  He didn’t feel any coming power from her, at all.

What
was a woman so…  Blind?  Naive?  Stupid?... doing trespassing this shithole
kingdom, anyway?  Where had she come from?  She looked like she belonged in the
damn kitty cat and bubblegum store.  And why wasn’t she running away from him?
He had to scare her.  He scared everyone.  How could this irrational
creature be immune?  Seriously, what the hell was she?  An
Elemental or… Kingu’s eyes widened.

Dear
gods, was she human?

If
any creatures were even less important than the Phases, it was the humans.
They were the algae in the food chain.  Powerless, plentiful, and undoubtedly
slimy, they fed along the bottom, too stupid to even notice they weren’t alone
in the pool.

She
didn’t have the telltale streak at her temple, marking her as a Phase, so human
seemed like the next safest bet.  But she had jumped into the Cloudland and
humans couldn’t usually do that.  And what would a human be doing in this
realm, especially by herself?  Where had her protectors gone?  This woman was
used to having someone look after her.  He could see it every smooth, pampered
inch of her skin.

“Yoo-hoo.”
She waggled her fingers at Kingu, apparently stumped as to why he was regarding
her incredulously and not grasping hold of her hand.

A
charm bracelet jingled on her wrist.  Made of silver, it was weighed down with
dangling Ferris wheels, enameled butterflies, and assorted fanciful shapes.  It
was so feminine and dainty that he could only imagine it had been a gift from
some male admirer.

His
jaw tightened.

“Wow,
is that acid I pushed you in?  I’ve never done that before.”  Her
nose wrinkled.  “Does it hurt?  It probably hurts.  Shoot, I’m really sorry.
I’m not sure what happened.  I have trouble aiming jumps and…”

Kingu
cut off her rambling by leaping out of the moat.  It was a simple enough thing
to do.  He sprang straight upward and easily landed on the thick plastic
drawbridge.  The whole surface rocked under his weight, sending the girl
stumbling to her feet, trying to maintain her balance.  Kingu ignored her.

He
snapped his fingers, instantaneously replacing his suit with a dry one.
General distaste for mortals aside, Kingu always wore human style suits.
Unlike certain miscellaneous creatures, he liked looking presentable.

Satisfied
he was once again in control of the situation, he glared down at the female.
Standing next to her, he topped her by almost three feet of solid muscle.  With
no effort at all, he could have lifted her over his head and thrown her right
into the acid.  No matter what species she was, it wouldn’t have been real
pleasant.  She had to realize that.  Crimson colored eyes burned into
her with enough fury to send the little fluff-ball up in smoke.

And
still she didn’t run.

“Monster.”
She whispered in awe.

Kingu
leaned closer to her.  “God.”  He corrected flatly.

Her
lips parted again and she breathed something that sounded like, “Oberon,” but
Kingu couldn’t be sure.

He
hesitated, not wanting to kill the girl before she told him why she’d come to
attack him.  Did she work for Tessie?  It didn’t seem possible that his aunt
would pick a hired killer this inept, but then Tessie was half human and she’d
willingly Matched with a Phase, so her IQ couldn’t have been that high.

He
loomed over the curvy little whatzit, trying not to notice how appealing she
was beneath her every-item-at-the-yard-sale fashion sense.  Up close, the girl
smelled like sunshine.  He couldn’t really describe it except it was the warm,
clean, scent of freedom.  An altogether foreign rush of feelings came over
him:  Anger and anticipation and shame and possession and lust.

Mostly
lust.

She
called him a monster, right to his face.  He wanted to drag her into his house
and prove her right.  “Why are you here?”  He ground out instead.

“I
think my grandfather sent me.”  She gazed up at him, fearless in the face of
imminent death.  “He told me that…”

Whatever
else she planned to say was lost when Galen, of the Stone House came charging
over, leading his brigade of lack wit guards.  “There she is!  The invader!
Get her!”

The
spell around them broke.

Kingu’s
head snapped up to glower at the Elementals.  “It’s about time you got here,
Galen.  Aren’t you supposed to be in charge of this damn place?”  The Stone
Phase had appointed himself dictator of the Cloudland.  “Why am I being
attacked right outside my own home?”

“I
didn’t attack you.  Honestly, this is all a mistake.”  Rebecca of Sunnybrook
Farm spun around to face the onslaught.  “Oh dear.”  She murmured like she
suddenly realized she was in deep trouble.  “Okay, wait.  There’s been a
mistake here.”  She held out both palms traffic cop- style, as if she really
expected the armed men to stop heading her way.  “This is not the
library.”