Treasure of the Fire Kingdom (The Elemental Phases Book 4)

by Cassandra Gannon

Memory sharing.

  All Matches had them, so she didn’t know why she was so surprised when it began. Memory sharings allowed Matches to see key images from each other’s pasts. It was just another part of Phazing. But, Hope hadn’t even had a chance to convince her Match that they were a Match, let alone think of all the implications of what it meant. The scenes flashing in front of her eyes didn’t really give her time to adjust, either.

  She stood in the dead center of Hell.

  Memory sharings put Phases right back into the middle of events and let them see everything that had happened. It was so clear --like a virtual do over of the past-- and there was nothing she could do to change any of it.

  “Oh, God.” Hope whispered.

  Kingu’s life was an unrelenting barrage of pain and hopeless despair. Hope had lived every day of her one hundred and fourteen years knowing she was loved and protected. Kingu had apparently spent a thousand times that many days in agony.

  There was nothing good here. Not one single happy memory. He’d been beaten, starved, and forgotten in the basement for decades at a time. He’d been forced to do the most horrible, degrading, soul crushing things. His powers had been stripped from him. His own mother had laughed while she hurt him. Told him that he was nothing and that no one would ever care for him or help him. Told him he was forsaken and soulless.

  He’d endure more than any other warrior could ever endure and he’d done it while maintaining such a stoic dignity and gentleness. She’d watched him open a window to free a butterfly while he had three broken ribs and a bloody nose, for God’s sake. Kingu had lived terrible life, but he’d lived it with so much honor. He was sarcastic and resigned and hated everyone, but he’d never hurt anything weaker than himself.

  Not even once. Not even if it meant getting hurt himself.

  Hope slowly crossed the stone floor of Kay’s dungeon and crouched down next to his still form. “Monster?” He looked like he’d been beaten with a club and left for dead. In fact, he had been beaten with a club and left for dead. “It’s alright.” She soothed, even though it wasn’t alright, at all. “I’m here.” He couldn’t feel it, but she smoothed a hand over his hair. “I will never leave you.”

  A great deal of wailing sounded outside the barred windows of his cell. It was like hundreds of people all crying at once.

  Hope frowned and got to her feet to peer outside, afraid that something was about to burst in and attack Kingu while he was vulnerable. Out the small window she Kay in a pink plastic lawn chair, shaded by a large sunhat tied with a polka dot scarf.

  The primordial Khaos dressed like a refugee from a 1950s sitcom, from the tips of her cotton candy painted toenails to the bouncy blonde hair on her head. She was one of the oldest beings in the universe, but, in human terms, she looked about twenty-five.

  “Funny, aren’t they?” She giggled to no one in particular and sipped her Shirley Temple through a twisty straw. “So much better than anything on TV. At least, today. Wheel of Fortune is a rerun, you know.”

  Hope had the bizarre feeling that the woman was talking to Kingu. That she’d forgotten that he wasn’t there beside her. There was something more unsettling about that than the beating itself. Like Kay just didn’t care enough to even recall torturing her son and locking him in a cage. Like she was so uninterested in Kingu as a person that she didn’t even process when he wasn’t there.

  Behind Hope, Kingu groaned and opened his eyes.

  “Monster, no.” Hope hurried to his side. “Just lay there. You don’t need to see what’s happening.”

  Hope had never been to Southern Africa, but she’d seen pictures of the vast savannas there. Endless fields of rolling, brown vegetation. The Air Kingdom looked like that, only without the amazing array of animals or the ancient echoes of life. The wind always blew, the tall grass always waved. Infinite and unchanging.

  But, stacks of corpses were new. As were the teams of men digging the mass graves.

  This memory was taking place during the Fall.

  Kay sat in her Astroturf green backyard, enjoying the show going on beyond her picket fence. Her home was untouched by Elemental powers. The pink and white gingerbread house sat safely amid the stone fortresses of the kingdom. Immune.

  “The bodies do stink a bit, don’t they? But it’s not like they smelled all that good when they were alive.” Kay tittered at her own joke and adjusted the sparkly sunglasses covering her eyes.

  Kingu pulled himself to his feet and staggered over to the window. Some Air Phases, dirty and beaten, many of them coughing, pulled a litter past Kay’s home. One of the dead women on the makeshift sled had partially fallen off. Her arm and shoulder dragged along in the dirt. Her painted fingernails dug into the ground leaving small marks in soil.

  For some reason, Hope couldn’t look away from the sight.

  Neither could Kingu. He expelled a long breath that was almost a moan.

  “There’s nothing you could so to stop this.” She told him forcefully. “You were unconscious for most of it. You’re not to blame for what she and Parald have done.”

  His mother was a demon straight from hell. Kay brought the plague down on the Elementals and she’d brutalized her own son for millennia.

  Oberon’s death was Kay’s fault. Kingu’s suffering was Kay’s fault.

  The two people Hope loved most in the world had been attacked by this woman. Kay held so much power. Too much for anyone to release without it having untold consequences, so she lived on. No one would kill her knowing that the world might end because of it. Tessie had sent her into a coma to incapacitate her, but that did nothing to calm Hope’s mounting fury.

  What if Kay woke-up and came after Kingu, again? Who could stop her this time? How could Hope protect him? Kay was one of the most powerful creatures in the universe and Hope… wasn’t.

  Kingu dropped his head for a long moment. When he looked up again, it was to gaze off at the horizon. At the trail of black smoke in the distance that could only be coming from the pyres of the Fire House. Everything in him seemed to still and he moved as close to the window as he could, given the chains.

  Of course there were chains. Kingu was chained. every. single. day.

  And Hope had honestly considered using rule seventy-seven to tie him up, again?

  It made her sick to think about it. She was the worst Match in the world. Also, she now had a real good idea as to why Kingu had panicked when they stopped Phazing long enough for him to process that he’d restrained her and that she was sobbing.

  Oh dear…

  “Monster, how could you even think for a second that what you and I shared was anything like this?” If he wasn’t already so hurt, she’d whack him upside the head.

  She watched as Kingu’s brows tugged downward, his attention still on the column of smoke. He stared at it for a long time and then he started slowly shaking his head. Started working to get the magically imbued chains off of his body. Started fighting to get free, even though there didn’t seem to be a clear reason why.

  Where did he think he could go, beaten to a pulp and with his evil mother right outside? It didn’t make any sense… And then, suddenly, Hope knew what day this must be.

  The fourth day of the Fall.

  The day Oberon died.

  “Oh God.” Hope whispered and realized what was happening.

  She’d been distraught beyond all comprehension that day and Kingu had felt it. Of course he did. They were a Match. He didn’t know what he felt or why, but he was sensing their connection and automatically trying to get to her.

  “Kingu, stop!” She cringed as he tried to remove the restraints through brute strength.

  “Fuck!” He roared in defeat when the manacle stayed tight on his wrist. All he’d succeed in doing was ripping off his skin straight down to the bone. He didn’t seem to notice the additional blood and pain. His gaze went back to the window. Back to watching the smoke. He stood there breathing hard, looking frustrated and confused and furiou
s. “What the hell am I doing?” He whispered.

  Looking for her.

  When Hope had been at her darkest point, Kingu had tried to reach her. No one had ever tried to help him or ease his agony. But, without even knowing that she was real, he’d tried to take off his own arm to find her. To be there for her.

  This was why Oberon had picked this man for her.

  This was why Hope would never ever give up on Kingu and their Match.

  This was why she would protect him if it meant ending the universe itself.

  Something moved inside of her and Hope glanced down in surprise. She abruptly knew why Teja had been so surprised earlier. Now it all made sense. Hope smiled.

  From out of nowhere, she thought of Oberon’s final words. The very last thing he said to her was to remember the first rule of their House. The primary source for everything they did, the law had been imprinted into Hope’s brain from birth and now she knew why. So, at this very moment, she would know exactly what to do.

  Thank you, grandfather.

  *****

  “Hope!” Kingu slammed back into her bedroom, Job, Tessie and Qadesh following along behind. He scanned around desperately, looking for her familiar blonde head and only finding dark haired Elementals from the Fire House milling around.

  Five of them stared at him with various degrees of interest and antipathy.

  “Oooooohhh.” A female in a blue poofy dress smiled widely. “He is a monster.”

  Kingu didn’t have time for this. “Who the fuck are you people? Where’s Hope?”

  “Swearing.” Qadesh intoned from behind him.

  The Fire Phases all looked at Qadesh and then back at Kingu. Maybe he was going crazy, but that one word seemed to ratchet down the automatic hostility he felt coming from most of them. As if Qadesh including him in the stupid swearing contest was a mark of approval telling the others that he belonged.

  But, Hope said her family was playing that game. Unless…

  Shit! Kingu squeezed his eyes shut, frustrated by his own stupidity.

  Hope was a Fire Phase.

  Of course she was. How had he not seen it before? He’d known that Color House story made no sense. He should’ve realized that she’d been raised by fucking warriors. She’d told him so enough times. She’d kept bringing up the Fire Kingdom and he’d kept insisting it was filled with lunatics. It was filled with lunatics… but apparently they were the lunatics who loved his Match.

  Kingu took back every “eating their dead” comment as he looked around the room. Somehow these people had raised Hope to be Hope, so how the hell could be anything but grateful to them? Hope was right. They must be the greatest of all of Houses.

  He turned to the oldest male, who he had a sneaking suspicion was Djinn, the Fire House king. “I’m Hope’s Match.” He would never, ever get tired of saying that. “Where is she?”

  Djinn stepped closer to Kingu, sizing him up. “She left. She’s a little upset.”

  Kingu’s heart stopped.

  “Hang on! You can’t just take Hope from Kingu.” Tessie shoved her way up beside him. “Job and I won’t allow it.”

  Kingu looked down at her in surprise.

  “Stay out of it, Quintessence.” Another man snapped. “This is Fire House business and he’s ours, now.” He pointed at Kingu. “It’s a matrilineal society. I had to memorize that in school and it means that Hope’s Match automatically becomes a Fire Phase. Asking anyone in third grade civics.”

  “Alder has a point…” Another woman began.

  “No, he’s doesn’t have a point, Pele! You took my nephew’s Match and you’re going to give her back to him, right now!”

  Tessie was on his side against the Elementals. She was trying to get Hope back for him. Kingu stopped hating his aunt so fast he had to wonder if he’d ever really hated her at all or if he’d just been pissed at the world.

  Suddenly having a destiny of his own erased so much of his anger and pain.

  “Alright, everyone calm down.” Job held up his hands. “Djinn, did Hope leave willingly or did you take her?”

  “She wanted to go!”

  Kingu couldn’t breathe. “She’s gone?” He whispered.

  “Yeah.” Djinn shrugged like he didn’t see what the big deal was. “But, she’ll be back in –like-- ten minutes. Everybody chill.” He rolled his eyes and looked over at Pele. “You see the kinda drama Job’s always stirring up?”

  “Totally. Have we even gotten to say hello to Hope’s gigantic god guy, yet? Nope.” She shook her head. “It’s always all about Job.”

  Job sighed in resigned annoyance. “Where is Hope?”

  “With Teja. She’s fine.” Djinn waved a dismissive hand and focused on Kingu’s taunt face. “We need to have a little talk, pally.”

  “Say what you like, just know that I won’t give up Hope.”

  Djinn’s eyes narrowed. “Okay, here’s what you gotta know about me, then. Day before the Fall, our family had nine people. Day after the Fall, we still had eight. Over ninety percent of Elementals died, so those numbers should be completely flipped.” He slowly shook his head. “We lost Oberon, but the rest of my family made it. No other Phase still has his Match and all his children. Just me. You think that’s because God just loves me the most?”

  “I think Hope protected you without even knowing she was doing it.” Kingu said honestly. “I think her powers were stronger than my mother’s plague.”

  “I think so, too.” Djinn leaned closer to him. “My baby cousin was born a Star Phase and she somehow saved my kids. She saved my Match. She saved Teja and me. She brings our family nothing but joy and love. Hope, of the Fire House can ask me for any-fucking-thing she wants from here until the end of time and I’ll kill for her right to have it, understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “So when she tells me she wants you, --well-- you see where the decisions already been made. You will be a knight in shining goddamn armor for her, if I have to solder the stupid helmet to your head. We clear?”

  “I don’t know how to be a knight. I only know how to be the monster.”

  “I don’t give a shit if you’re used to being the horse, just so you learn to take real good care of her. Fast. Otherwise we’re going to have a problem.”

  Kingu firmed his jaw. “Hope is mine. You have a claim on her, too, and I respect that. I won’t take her from you and I am in your debt for caring for her. But, Gaia gave her to me. I will be with Hope until the world crumbles to ash, whether you like it or not. If anyone tries to keep me from her… I will stop them.”

  Just to show he had the power to back-up that statement, Kingu snapped his fingers and turned the whole fortress into a tiki hut around them.

  “Jesus!” Tessie jolted at the display of energy, her eyes on the suddenly thatched roof. “Kingu, I had no idea you could do something like that.”

  “And I’m only getting stronger.” Kingu kept his gaze locked on Djinn. “We want the same thing: Hope’s happiness. I know what she brings to your family, because she also brings it to me. I will care for her and, if you allow it, I stand with your House. Forever. I give you my word.”

  Djinn looked around at the bamboo and hammocks that had appeared out of thin air. He gave a slow smile. “I’m suddenly liking the idea of having a god around my castle. Hey, how do feel about turning the Cold Kingdom into a sewer?”

  “I know nothing about the place, but I’m sure it can be done by tomorrow.”

  “No!” Job roared. “Djinn, you’re not using him as your own personal Death Star and Kingu, you know better.”

  “I do?”

  “Yes, you do.” Job said firmly.

  Kingu and Djinn exchanged a long suffering glance and subsided. Job had that way about him. Still, Kingu felt like he’d reached an accord with the Fire King and that was the important thing. He wanted no conflict with Hope’s family. He looked over at Tessie.

  …Or his own.

  Kingu quickly glanced away when Tess
ie smiled at him, not sure what to think about how quickly his world was changing. All he wanted was his Match.

  “Now, will you tell me where Hope is, now?” He demanded.

  Djinn rolled his eyes. “I already told you she’s with Teja.”

  Kingu had no idea who Teja was, but he didn’t see where it mattered. “Fine. Where is Teja, then?”

  “Air Kingdom.” Djinn said as if it should be obvious. “Hope went to visit your mom.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  By day or star-light, thus from by first dawn

  Of childhood didst thou intertwine for me

  The passions that build up in our human soul…

  With life and nature, purifying thus

  The elements of feeling and of thought

  William Wordsworth- “Influence of Natural Objects”

  “They say killing her will end the world.” Teja remarked conversationally.

  Hope stared down at Kay’s sleeping form and snorted. “If all the things that were supposed to end the world actually ended the world, none of us would be here.”

  “Touché.”

  Hope pulled her eyes from her mother-in-law and looked around the nightmarish pink interior of Kay’s froufrou bedroom. Her eyes fell on the manacles on the far wall and the horrible bloodstained carpet beneath them.

  “Kingu was kept here for centuries, Teja. What would you do if you were me? What would any Fire Phase do if their Match was threatened and abused?”

  Teja glanced at her sharply. “I would kill anyone who touched my Match. Even if it did end the world.”

  “It won’t end the world.” Hope knew that with a certainty she couldn’t explain. Her usually nonexistent powers moved inside of her, the same way they had when Oberon died and she willed him to open his eyes. She felt the energy within her waiting to be harnessed. “But Kay’s finished. She will never wake-up. She will never release another plague that attacks our family. She will never hurt my Match, again.” Hope met her cousin’s gaze. “I can do this. We can do this.”

  Teja slowly nodded. A woman who believed in nothing stepped back and put the fate of the world into Hope’s hands on pure faith. “Alright.” She shrugged. “Do it, then.”