Magic of the Wood House

by Cassandra Gannon

  “Which makes it the place where Elementals would least expect us to go, doesn’t it?” Sullivan retorted. “Besides, I’m not hiding. I’ve done nothing wrong. Neither have you. Why should we hide?”

  That was such a Wood Phase thing to say.

  Teja glowered over at him. “You already have all kinds of mercenaries and assassins after you because they think you have the Happiness box. Now we have the Council on our ass, as well. They’re going to want to know about the Cold Kingdom, Sullivan. Do you really not see the problem?”

  “So, we’ll answer their questions and clear our names.” Sullivan was sitting on his ordinary, neutral-colored sofa, watching her pace. “That’s what innocent people do.”

  Everything in his house was ordinary and neutral-colored. It was a miracle the man hadn’t fallen into a beige-induced coma years ago, surrounded by all this boring, unobjectionable, averageness. She was more convinced than ever that Sullivan didn’t have the Happiness box lying around. His surroundings were simply too empty to overlook it.

  His Spartan lifestyle irritated her even more this time than it had on her last visit to his home. Why didn’t Sullivan hang some pictures on the wall or something? What were his hobbies? What did he care about? Why was he so difficult to figure out?

  The “no private questions” rule of their relationship meant she couldn’t outright ask him anything interesting, so the least he could do was leave some clues lying around. Instead, the only signs of life in the place were garish holiday decorations and abundant houseplants. Of course a Wood Phase would have a green thumb. Aside from that, it was impossible to read anything about the man from his home. How could a human less than four decades old be so hard to spy on?

  “There are hundreds of other realms we could go to.” Teja persisted, refusing to be distracted by how uncooperative Sullivan could be. “Places no one even knows about, except me. My parents used to map unexplored worlds, so we could go someplace uninhabited until…”

  “How is that going to help your cousin?” Sullivan interrupted. He gestured towards the guestroom, where Freya was stretched out on the bed. “Freya’s injured, Teja. She needs a safe place to rest.”

  “You’re just such a Wood Phase.” That whole House lived to help the helpless. Teja wasn’t worried about Freya’s condition. Elementals were pretty hardy, so a little head wound wasn’t too serious. Hopefully. “We should just leave her here and go.” Teja recommended, even though she knew she wasn’t going to abandon her idiot cousin. “She’d leave me, if the situations were reversed.”

  “I doubt that. She looked pretty happy to see you earlier.”

  “She was just happy not to be roasted alive. You don’t know the Cold Phases like I do. They hate me.”

  “If you say so.” Sullivan didn’t sound convinced. “But, we’re still staying put. We’re back on my turf, which means I’m no longer your prisoner, and I like it that way.”

  “You’re going to be the Council’s prisoner, if we get caught. Since Vandal, of the Light House was so recently blown to bits, I think you and I just took his number one spot on the Elemental’s ‘Most Wanted’ list. They’re never going to believe the truth, so I hope you don’t mind living your life on the run.”

  Sullivan still didn’t seem very worried. “I’m not running anywhere.” He reiterated and got to his feet. He headed towards the kitchen. “I’ll go see if the coffee is ready.”

  The man was hard to unsettle. “This could have something to do with those twelve hours you’re missing, you know. Assuming you were in the Cold Kingdom, which isn’t that big an assumption, at this point.”

  “If it’s connected, I don’t remember how.”

  Teja made a face at his caviler attitude. “Job’s for sure arrested Djinn and the others, already.” She tried. “See if that scares you. Because, it means we’ll probably have to break my family out of the Council’s jail cells. Assuming they’re not outright Banished. No way will a jury of their peers ever find them innocent.”

  “Of course they will, because your family is innocent.”

  He was so damn young. “You have a lot more faith in Elementals than I do, Sullivan.”

  “I have faith in justice. It’s why I’m a police officer.” He called back. “Speaking of your family, they might think we were just incinerated in the blast. Should we try to contact them somehow? They could be worried.”

  “Fire Phases don’t worry. We make people worry.” Teja muttered and went back to watching the front lawn for an ambush. “And why is there an army of inflatable snowmen lining your walkway?” She demanded unable to stop herself. She glared at the smiling bastards. Gaia, if she never saw anything wintery again, it would be too soon.

  “They’re Christmas decorations from my grandfather. I put them up to --I don’t know--honor him, I guess. He loved the holidays. Some people visit graves, I hang stockings and buy a tree.”

  Christmas was the human equivalent of Gaianisha Day. Teja knew that much, but she wasn’t about to look like an idiot by asking why celebrating it required plastic Frosties. The Christmas trees were stupid enough. Every year, she endured having a dead spruce dragged into her home, because Hope liked it, but Sullivan should have more sense.

  She glanced over at the poor tree that Sullivan had set up by his fireplace. It was festooned with shiny glass balls and strings of twinkle lights, with an illuminated green star on top. To her eyes, it looked a bit bare without the butcher knives hanging from the branches.

  “Parson participated in this absurdity?” You’d think a Wood Phase would have pitied the gaudy plant, not enshrined it in a place of honor.

  “My grandfather lived for this absurdity. He dressed up like Santa every Christmas Eve. And every Halloween. And pretty much every weekend.” She heard the affection in Sullivan’s voice. “He was the best part of my childhood.”

  “What about your parents?”

  There was a long pause. “I don’t want to talk about my parents.”

  Teja couldn’t quite reign in her frustration. “Why not?” She demanded.

  “Because I don’t want to.”

  “You’re being unreasonable. Matches have to share.”

  “You’re the one who came up with the idea that we keep an emotional distance and not rehash everything that’s ever happened to us. I’m just going by the rules.”

  “I think we need to reconsider the rules.”

  “I don’t. It’ll be much easier to end this if we don’t have such a personal attachment.”

  He really didn’t understand the concept of a Match, did he? “We’re not ending anything, Sullivan. Ever.”

  “If you say so.” Sullivan repeated in that same doubtful tone and came back into the room carrying two mugs of coffee. They had a lizard playing the saxophone painted on their sides, along with the words, “32nd Annual Mayport Beach Gecko Festival.” “You want milk or sugar?”

  “Give me a break. Do look like a Water Phase to you? ” Teja took the mug from him and belted back the black coffee. “We need to focus and come up with a plan.” She decided, getting back to the topic at hand. “I know you believe in truth and innocence and all that crap, but I’d feel a lot better if we had some actual bad guys to kill. Someone attacked the Cold Kingdom to frame the Fire House and we need to figure out who it was.”

  “Luckily, tracking down assholes is a vital part of my job.” Sullivan sat down on the arm of a completely average looking tan chair. “Let’s start with the obvious: How many people could’ve gotten their hands on that bomb?”

  Teja considered that for a beat. “All the warrior Houses would’ve known about the Star of Bethlehem.” She remembered hearing about that weapon, now. The Fire Phases had gone looking for it after the Fall, but someone had beaten them to the punch. “The Light House would be my most likely suspect.”

  “Vandal was a Light Phase.”

  Teja had thought of that, too. It was quite a coincidence. “The Metal House would also be on my short list.”
She continued. “Probably the Heat House and Smoke House. Maybe the Air House. Definitely the Wood House.” Teja hesitated. “The Wood Phases wouldn’t bomb anyone, though.” She belatedly tacked on, in case Sullivan was touchy about her accusing his relatives of terrorism.

  He wasn’t. “Anyone else?”

  “Well, some of the intellectuals Houses might have known about the bomb. The Chemistry House probably had some idea. And the Water House knows everything about everything, so they knew. But, it wasn’t common knowledge in our realm.” She flashed him a sideways look. “How did you know about it?”

  “It was stolen from a military base about three years ago. I was one of the people looking for it.”

  Teja blinked. “You’re a soldier?”

  “I used to be.”

  “Is that where you got the scar?”

  “No.”

  Teja frowned when she realized that was all he planned to say. Her Match was a trained warrior and he hadn’t bothered to mention it? What other kinds of things was he keeping secret? They were definitely going to have to redraft that “no sharing” clause. He was taking advantage of the loopholes to keep her at a distance. Why was he so guarded? Didn’t he like her?

  Teja didn’t have feelings, so they couldn’t be hurt by that thought.

  At least, that’s what she told herself.

  “Of the people you just mentioned, who has the most motive for attacking the Cold Phases?” Sullivan asked before she could press him further.

  Teja cleared her throat. “We do.” She said honestly. “The Fire and Cold Houses are always feuding. Whoever hired the Reflection Phases used us as patsies, because they knew everyone would believe it.”

  Sullivan was quiet for a long moment. “Alright. So, what did this plan really accomplish, then? If someone wanted to hurt you, it would’ve made more sense for them to bomb the Fire House. Instead, the Cold Phases were the target.”

  Teja blew out a long breath. “I have no idea.”

  “Likewise, if someone wanted to eradicate the Cold House, they would’ve just set off the Star of Bethlehem without the Reflection Phases pretending to be you.” Sullivan continued. “The fake Fire Phases actually gave most people a chance to escape.”

  Teja frowned, seeing his point. “So whoever did this didn’t want a lot of Cold Phases killed? Hell, that proves it wasn’t the Fire House.”

  “Maybe the target was just one Cold Phase and the rest of this was a smokescreen.” Sullivan head tilted, thinking out loud. “Or maybe even someone who was just visiting in the Cold Kingdom. Like a patient in the hospital.”

  “Back to Vandal?”

  “Back to Vandal. It seems like he was the highest value target.” Sullivan was quiet for a long moment. “Assuming he wasn’t somehow involved. According to you, he’s the biggest criminal around and he’d know about the bomb, so he’s a pretty obvious suspect. If he was trying to cover his tracks or something…” He trailed off with a shrug.

  “Vandal set it up.” Teja breathed, following his line of thinking. “The bomb was a diversion so he could escape and fake his own death. He’s the one behind this.”

  “If he was faking a coma and hired Reflection Phases, someone else must’ve helped him, though. No way could he have done it all on his own.”

  “Lunatics always have lunatic followers.”

  “Then, we need to start narrowing down your enemies list and cross-referencing it with known lunatics.”

  Teja studied him for a long moment. “You’re good at this.” She finally said.

  “For a human?”

  “No. You’re just… good. I think you’re right about all of it.”

  Sullivan gave her a half smile and Teja felt her heart flip. The man was so handsome it didn’t seem possible that he really belonged to her. For so long, she hadn’t felt anything. She’d been safe from pain. Now, she had this very young, very smart, ex-warrior in her life and she was remembering how dangerous emotions were. But, since there didn’t seem to be anything she could do to stop the thaw inside her chest, Sullivan might as well reciprocate.

  No way was she going to suffer alone.

  “I think that’s the first time you’ve ever agreed with me.” Sullivan mused.

  “No, it’s not.”

  “Pretty sure it is.”

  “No, it’s…” Teja trailed off, realizing that she was just proving him right. “Okay fine. So, things have been a little bumpy for us thus far.”

  “This is a little bumpy? As I understand it, I’m going to be deported from the galaxy, thanks to you.”

  Teja ignored that. “But, you know, I can be a better Match than this.” She gave a determined nod. “All this plotting and running for our lives… it’s not typical. You’re just catching me on a really bad day.”

  “Alright.” Sullivan said.

  Teja wasn’t satisfied with his calm response. “Usually, stuff doesn’t blow up around me.” She paused. “I mean, little stuff does. Granted. Like some appliances or tool sheds or bathrooms. Maybe a train or two. But, that’s only to be expected with my family.”

  “Alright.”

  “A whole palace never blew up before.” Teja pressed. “It’s a total aberration. Generally, I lead a very peaceful life.”

  Sullivan’s expression told her that he highly doubted it. “Alright.” He agreed anyway.

  Teja’s eyes narrowed, seeing his skepticism. “Are you going to renounce me, because of this?” She demanded, automatically jumping to the worse case scenario. “You are, aren’t you?” Why wouldn’t he? Thus far, she’d offered Sullivan very little except a price on his head. That just pissed her off more. “One little manhunt and you’re going to run for the hills. I can tell. Real nice, Sheriff.”

  “I’m a police chief, not a sheriff.”

  “Like it matters.” Teja waved that aside, all her attention focused on averting disaster. She could deal with jail breaks and bombs, but losing Sullivan would be devastating. Just thinking about it sent her froze emotions into turmoil. She had to stop him. “It doesn’t matter what you’re planning. You can’t renounce me.” She arched a smug brow. “You’d need at least three Council members for a quorum and they’ll probably arrest you on sight, so you’re stuck with me.”

  Sullivan shrugged. “I have no idea what ‘renouncing’ even means, so I’m probably not going to do it today, anyway.”

  Teja hesitated. “You don’t know what renouncing means?”

  “Is it like breaking up? Do Elementals have to announce it when they switch boyfriends or girlfriends or Matches or whatever?”

  Teja studied him, trying to translate that question. “Switch Matches?” She repeated cautiously. No one switched Matches any more than they switched heads.

  “Yeah. Do you need permission to start dating someone new? Is that it? Because humans just text a break-up line and move on. It’s a much easier system.”

  Teja blinked. “You’re planning to renounce me without even going to the Council?” Her confusion gave way to anger. “You’re planning to ‘switch’ me for another woman with a text message? You can’t do that! It’s not even legal!”

  “Because, you care so much about the law.” Sullivan scoffed. “You should probably use that argument on someone who isn’t currently being Clyde to your Bonnie.” He rolled his eyes. “But, anyway, no. I’m not planning to do anything…”

  “Damn right, you’re not.” She interrupted, stalking towards him.

  Enough was enough. Sullivan wasn’t going to leave her. The emotions she couldn’t feel all told her that she belonged with him. She and the dumbass human were in this mess together. And there was one way to assure that he didn’t slip away.

  “Take your pants off. We’re settling this right now.”

  He was instantly on guard. “I told you, I’m not going to fall for that trick. Whatever you’re plotting, just…”

  Teja cut him off, because she’d run out of patience for human-y paranoia. “Fine.” She unbuttoned her l
etterman-style cardigan and dropped it onto the floor. Giving him time to think was definitely a bad idea. Sullivan thought too much. “I’ll go first.” Her top came off next.

  Sullivan swallowed. “Damn it, you can’t…”

  Teja dropped her bra and Sullivan stopped talking so fast it was a wonder he didn’t bite off his tongue. His brown gaze traveled over her skin like he was hypnotized.

  “That’s what I thought.” Teja smirked at him.

  “Why are you doing this?” Sullivan asked in a hoarse voice. He was still looking for a trap or some way to escape her. Too bad for him no one escaped a Fire Phase.

  “Take a wild guess as to my motivation, Sheriff.” She kicked off her shoes.

  “I have no idea. Very few women ask me to take off my clothes.” He hesitated. “Well, not counting the insane stalkers, anyhow.”

  Teja really didn’t want to think about all the women trying to steal her Match. “I don’t recall asking you to strip. It was more like an order.” Her hands went to the zipper of her jeans. “Not that you’re paying attention.”

  “Oh, I’m paying extremely close attention, right now.”

  “Good.” Teja tossed her pants aside. Fire Phases didn’t do modesty, so she had no problem standing there in nothing but her underwear. Especially, when Sullivan was staring at her hard enough to leave scorch marks. “Which way’s your bedroom?”

  “Shit.” Her already-defeated-but-too-stubborn-to admit-it Match glowered down at her for a beat, breathing hard. “You don’t play fair.”

  “I’m from the Fire House.” She arched a brow. “Do you want me to put my clothes back or do you want to Phaze? Think hard, because there’s only one right answer.”

  “Shit.” Sullivan squeezed his eyes shut. “I’m going to regret this. I fucking know it.” He was trying to talk himself out of the inevitable. “I know you aren’t telling me things, and I know it’s a mistake to get attached to you, and I know you are just… such a bad idea.”