Gates of Eden: Starter Library

by Theophilus Monroe

  As I stumbled into my bedroom, I was pleasantly greeted by Indie… Apparently I had sinned against him and hadn’t given him his evening meal on time. He was none too pleased, so he greeted me with a piercing meow, followed by a headbutt-nuzzle to my shin in order to reaffirm that I was his property. He was putting me in my place.

  Still, there was something comforting about having him beside me. Ever since my Druid abilities began to manifest, I could swear he could read my mind. He seemed to respond to me more willingly than in the past. I was sure my Druidry had something to do with it… I was more aware of his presence than ever as he nuzzled between my legs as I tucked myself into bed.

  Tap. Tap. Tap.

  I looked around. It sounded like something was tapping against the window. Maybe a stray tree branch.

  Tap. Tap. Tap.

  I got up and opened the curtains. Joni stared back at me. I opened the window. “What are you doing here?”

  “Hun, we shouldn’t be apart. My dad is at the hospital, and I’m literally all alone in that place. Plus, I was worried about you.”

  “I’m fine… but okay. Come on in.”

  Joni climbed in easily. “You say you’re fine… but honey, you just found out your twin sister is out there. We’re going to find her.”

  “I know where she is.”

  “Where, hun?”

  “At the Wayward Tree… She’s waiting for me. She wants me to come.”

  “You can’t…”

  “I know. Still, it’s like she just came back from the dead. Do you know how hard it is to tell her no?”

  “I could only imagine,” Joni said as she slipped into bed beside me. “We’ll bring her back. You can be redeemed from red magic… I’ve seen it happen. There has to be a way.”

  “I don’t know that there is. But yes… I want to try. Anything I can do to save her, I will.”

  We each lay on our backs, staring at the ceiling. “That’s why I love you, Elijah.”

  “Um, excuse me?”

  “It’s why I love you. You look at any situation, something impossible, and you overcome the impossible with sheer determination. It’s why you’ll be a great Druid. And it’s one reason amongst a thousand as to why I’m falling in love with you.”

  “I love you, too.” I said it… but I second-guessed myself even as the words came out. I was falling in love with her, but was I there yet? I didn’t know. Would I ever be? Maybe if I said it… maybe I’d believe it.

  Joni rolled on top of me, kissing me passionately. My lips responded in kind as I reached around her back, pulling her tightly into me. She removed her shirt and began tugging at mine. It wasn’t long before all our clothes were removed. Each of our hands explored the other’s body as we thrust against each other. A tingle consumed my body, and I felt a release of energy as a green glow illuminated the room. Joni inhaled deeply, absorbing my magical energies… and channeled them right back into me. Every kiss, every touch, every thrust into the other was accompanied by a release of energy, uncontrolled and uncontrollable. Joni could feel it too, each exchange of energy drawing us deeper into our lusts and passions. There was no going back… I didn’t want to go back. We tried to restrain our voices—the last thing we wanted to do was alert anyone else in the house—but we quickly put that out of mind. Every thought, every passion, every touch… mine was hers, and hers was mine. We were one. She collapsed on me, our sweaty bodies stuck together… A final kiss, and she fell asleep in my arms. I kissed the top of her head. Her hair smelled like strawberries.

  I looked to my nightstand. A framed picture of Emilie and me from this year’s prom stared back at me. I set the picture over on its face. I was happy… Joni was amazing. She was everything I needed at this point in my life. Still, I couldn’t get Emilie out of my mind. I needed to move on. I needed to forget about her, accept the fact that we were forever going to be friends. Or were we? Now my duties at the Shire would keep me in Missouri… On account of my inheritance, a career was hardly a priority. Would it be possible? I mean, Emilie would have to realize it wasn’t her who was keeping me here. Maybe she’d give us a chance… I felt horrible thinking it. I was falling for Joni. The passions we had just exchanged were real… It was the kind of encounter that no other two people on Earth could experience. We were one of a kind. I’d told her I loved her, which wasn’t entirely wrong. I wanted to mean it. But how can you really love two women at once? I closed my eyes, resolving that it was time to move on from Emilie. If I couldn’t resolve these feelings, I’d not only lose Joni, I might lose Emilie, too. Plus, Joni was who I needed right now. We needed each other. We all needed each other. I closed my eyes, draped my arm over Joni, and drifted off to sleep. There was no point in worrying about what might be, or what could have been… If I did that, I’d risk the amazing possibilities that rested here, in my arms.

  Rap, rap, rap.

  The loud knock jarred me awake.

  “Dude, you awake? We need to be out of here in five minutes.”

  Dammit. I just wanted to sleep. “Um… Yeah, Tyler. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  I shook Joni. “Hey, Joni. Babe, you gotta get up. We have to go to school.”

  She opened her eyes, smiling widely as she saw me. “Come here…” She wrapped her hands around the back of my head and pulled me in for a kiss. I kissed back. “Good mornin’, sugar.”

  “How did you get here last night, anyway? I thought you didn’t drive…”

  “I took the Metro.”

  “Seriously… you took the Metro?”

  “It wasn’t like I could call our driver. He was at the hospital with Dad. Not like he’d agree to take me over to my boyfriend’s to spend the night.”

  I sighed. “Okay, I guess you’ll have to ride with us.” We quickly fumbled around the room. Joni’s clothes were on the opposite side of the room. “Are you really going to wear the same clothes again?”

  “It’s not like I have an option…”

  “Sure you do. Here, wear this.” I tossed her an old Saint Louis Rams t-shirt. It was out of date, but it was still one of my favorites. The team had abandoned our town, but I was a loyal fan regardless. I smiled and looked at Joni. “I’ve never see you go to school so… un-primped.”

  “Honey, I have my man. Now I can let myself go,” she said as she embraced me, stealing another kiss.

  I grinned. “You do have your man… But… you know what? It suits you. You’re more beautiful today than ever.”

  “Aw, thanks hon.” She kissed me again.

  “Okay, I think I’m ready. Here’s the plan. I’ll go out like normal and grab us a couple granola bars. Sneak out the window and meet us at the Escort.”

  “Got it.”

  Tyler and I made our way to the car just as Joni was making her way around the side of the house.

  “Dude… really? You did, didn’t you?”

  I just smiled with a nod.

  Tyler extended his hand. I instinctively slapped him five before opening the car door and allowing Joni to slide into the back. I almost took my place back in the copilot’s position before Joni interrupted me.

  “Oh hell no, honey. You’re coming back here with me.” Joni grabbed my hand and pulled me into the cramped back seat. She rested her hand on my inner thigh as I buckled up.

  “You guys are out of control,” Tyler said.

  “Oh, honey… I’m always in control,” Joni said, winking at me.

  I blushed a little… As I thought about it, as much as I felt like a take-charge sort of guy, Joni was in control. She’d pursued me… She’d initiated everything last night. And she really had taken control, in all the best ways.

  Tyler snickered as he pulled away.

  We picked up Emilie as usual, and she seemed somewhat annoyed that I had occupied her back-seat position… and that Joni was already there, in the car.

  “What’s going on, Bear?” Emilie asked as she put her violin in the trunk, right beside the other one that Nesbitt had given her
.

  Joni spoke before I could answer. “We just thought it best that I ride with y’all today. You know, in case anything happens. I can channel his energies, keep him focused.”

  “Oh, okay. Good idea,” Emilie said, though she seemed to suspect more was afoot than that. Joni’s hair was still a bit disheveled, at least in comparison to how she normally wore it… and Emilie wasn’t dumb.

  We weren’t about to abandon our normal routine, though. We made our obligatory Kaldi’s stop before arriving at school, newly invigorated. I carried Emilie’s violin like usual, and we all walked together through the halls. Emilie and I exchanged hugs as she retrieved her violin from my hand. “Remember,” Tyler said, “keep your phones on today.”

  “It’s against school policy, you know,” I told him, knowing that it would get under his skin.

  Tyler cringed. “I know… You are such a negative influence in my life. Today, I’m breaking the school cell-phone policy. Tomorrow, I’ll be peddling drugs on the street. And it’ll be all your fault.”

  “No worries, man. There’s no way you could sell drugs. Have you looked in the mirror lately? They’d all think you were an undercover cop.”

  “Yeah, you have a point.”

  “Alright, well enjoy your statistics class… I’m not sure how it’s possible to like that… but you’d better eat it up. Only a few days left.”

  “Oh, I will. Try not to burn anything in Home Ec.”

  “We won’t,” Joni added. “The only thing burning is our passion.” Joni pinched my butt, causing me to jump a little.

  “I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth,” Tyler added.

  I laughed. “See you, man.”

  We made our way to class and resumed our normal routine as much as possible. The class was consumed with make-up projects. Do-overs. We had the option to cook whatever we wanted. Since we were both running on granola bars, we decided to make something simple: omelets. Eggs and cheese would have to do; our supplies were limited.

  No sooner did we finish our eggs than the school fire alarm went off.

  “Really?” I said. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “It’s probably just a drill,” Joni said.

  Then the loudspeaker went off, and Principal Shields clarified, “Attention all students and staff. A fire has been reported in the building. I repeat, a fire has been reported in the building. This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill. Please proceed to your determined escape routes and exit the building.”

  Joni and I each felt a buzz in our pockets. It was a text from Emilie. Elijah, it’s Lily. She’s here, in the orchestra room.

  I replied quickly, We’ll be right there.

  Joni and I darted out of the hall, ignoring our teacher’s plea to form a single-file line and leave in an orderly manner. Screw that. Joni and I ran toward the orchestra room, the smell of smoke growing stronger. I checked my pocket to be sure I had my staff. I did. I pulled it out and willed it to its proper form. Joni retrieved her wand as well.

  Flames consumed the hallway just outside the doors to the orchestra room.

  “Emilie is inside,” I said urgently. I looked up and saw the fire sprinklers pitifully attempting to douse the flames, but it wasn’t enough. The fire was raging, spreading quickly. I took my staff firmly in my hand and located the familiar river-shaped sigil. I nodded at Joni. “I might need your help with this.”

  “I’m ready.”

  I removed the inhibitor necklace and shoved it into my pocket as I directed my staff at the water pipes above. “Mereflod!” I shouted.

  The pipes burst suddenly, water swirling around the room. Before I could respond, Joni placed her hand on my staff and extended her wand. “Mereflod!” she shouted. The waters came under her control as she targeted a forceful stream at the base of the flames, blocking the orchestra doors.

  Tyler arrived, his gauntlet fastened to his left hand, just as the fires extinguished.

  “The fires are out. It’s all clear out here!” I shouted. One by one, students began filing out of the room. No Emilie.

  Mr. McInnis, the orchestra conductor, pulled me aside as he made his way out. “Thank you. You busted the pipes? Great thinking… but don’t go in there.”

  “Is Emilie in there?”

  “She is… Some girl with red hair… she started the fire. She’s holding her hostage… Come, follow me, we need to get out of here.”

  “Thank you, Mr. McInnis… but I know who the red-haired girl is. I need to go in there. She came here for me. She’s just using Emilie to get to me.”

  “Mr. Wadsworth, I can’t let you…”

  “I insist, sir. I have to save Emilie. This is my responsibility.”

  “Very well, but Mr. Royce and Miss Campbell, I must insist…”

  “No, sir,” Tyler said. “We’re with Elijah.”

  Mr. McInnis threw his hands into the air. “Just don’t do anything foolish. This girl is dangerous. The police will be here soon.”

  “Understood, sir. Just make sure everyone else gets out of the building safely.”

  Mr. McInnis nodded and caught up with the rest of his class, already making their way through the fire exit at the end of the hall.

  I pressed open the door and stepped inside, gripping my staff tightly. Lily was standing there in the back of the room. She held a staff not unlike my own, but more crooked and made of a lighter, white wood. It was decorated with blackened sigils burned into its surface, none of which I could decipher from a distance. She held her staff tightly in one hand, directed toward Emilie, who was bound by thorny vines on the floor. Emilie’s eyes met mine… I saw fear, anxiety, desperation. Tyler extended his hand, illuminating their auras. Emilie’s remained purple as before, but Lily’s was a dark, blood red. A single green hue settled just over her heart. There was life in her, something good still there… but so much red. So much devotion to the Wayward Tree.

  I had to do something.

  “Lily,” I shouted. “She has nothing to do with this. Let her go.”

  “Brother… I will gladly let her go. But you know what you must do.”

  “Lily, I will go to the Wayward Tree…”

  “The All-Knowing Tree… do not blaspheme it as such.”

  “Whatever, Lily. Just let Emilie go. I’ll come to the tree, I promise.”

  “If you want to see your Bard again, you will find her there, at the tree in Samhuinn.”

  “Lily, no! This isn’t you. Your mind has been warped. Please, not like this… I can see it, there is still a good spirit in your heart. The Tree of Life has not abandoned you. Give this up, Lily. Come home. I can help you.”

  Lily laughed. “You think you can help me?” she asked. “I have come to help you, brother. I gave you an opportunity to come willingly before. This was your choice.”

  I gripped my staff… What could I do? I didn’t know what most of these sigils were. I chose the only one I knew was safe… “Gwynt!” My staff glowed, and Joni aimed her wand at the energy gathering at its end.

  “Gwynt!” Joni shouted.

  A powerful gust of wind shot out toward Lily, who quickly raised her hand, forming a red, translucent shield of energy around her.

  “You cannot overcome me, brother. Our blood is the same. Our powers, identical. But I have a lot more practice and training, and a much stronger source from the All-Knowing Tree guides me.” Lily focused her wand again at Emilie; the vines binding her responded, constricting tighter. Emilie gasped for air. Blood soaked her clothes where the thorns pierced her skin.

  “Lily, please don’t!”

  “You know where you will find me. Your Bard may live or die—the choice is yours.” Lily extended her staff overhead, gripping it with both hands and twirling it in a circle. A golden halo formed above her, spiraling into a cone of red and gold energies that enveloped her and Emilie. And they were gone.

  19. Traversing Worlds

  “COME ON. GRAB your things. We’re going after her,
” I said.

  “You can’t be serious,” Tyler said. “It’s clearly a trap.”

  “But it’s Emilie,” Joni said. “We have to go.”

  “Look, I have to show you something,” Tyler said. He extended his gauntlet toward me, revealing my aura. “Look, your aura is just like your sister’s, but in reverse. It’s mostly green, but at your heart there is a deep red… Your sister has already planted the Wayward Tree’s energies within you. If we go…”

  “If we don’t go, she’ll die,” I said.

  “Then, we have to wait until Nesbitt gets back,” he said. “He’ll know what to do.”

  “We don’t have time, Tyler. We have to go now.”

  Tyler nodded. He was right… something of Lily’s temptation did stir in my heart. There was something about what she’d said that appealed to me. I was tired of being manipulated by forces outside my control. I wanted to master it all, I wanted to control my destiny. But I also knew it was wrong. And Lily was right… I didn’t have a choice. If giving myself over to the Wayward Tree was what it would take to free Emilie… I’d do what I had to do.

  “We will go,” Joni said. “But remember what the Dryad said—you’ll bring death upon us all. We will go, we will save Emilie… but you cannot give in to your sister. I won’t allow you to give yourself to her… If you do, it isn’t just Emilie’s life that’s at stake… it’s life as we know it.”

  “I know, Joni. Still, we have to try.”

  I resized and re-pocketed my staff as we made our way outside. Fire trucks, ambulances, and police were there.