"We can help you. Together as four we're stronger. Did Marissa tell…."
"She told me everything, the prophet, the elements, everything. Listen." Bryne grimaced, "please. You have to move. It's for your own safety. As long as we're apart it will not harm you. I swear on my families graves that it won't."
"Why?" Terra asked as she touched his shoulder. It felt as though he was running a temperature, but she held on. "Because it's here with you? It's hurting you, isn't it? Look, Bryne, it doesn't have to be this way. Come home with me and we'll all be ok."
He shrugged her hand off. "Mari said the exact same thing."
"Because it's true." Terra explained.
"The prophet said that, sure, but don't you know that it's ever that simple? You three have been safe your whole lives because the danger was with me. I'm a prisoner here, and yeah, I can easily give you over, we can all fight this together. But why? Why fight and lose four when we can surrender and lose one?"
Terra shivered at the prospect, but it was nothing that she hadn't known. "Why lose one when we can win as four?"
"Because, I'm damaged. Remember, I'm fire. Don't you get it, Terra? I'm not air, or water, or earth. You three will always be around, but fire... Fire will always be extinguished in the end. Water can end me, without air I can't survive, and I will destroy you. I am meant to die."
"We are not the elements, our powers are." She touched his arm hoping to convey the strength in Era's words that she had taken. "See? I'm not physically hurting you. So see? We can beat this. Together. Please, come with me and we can get started."
"This is very screwed up. Our freedom has been stolen from us because of what we can do. We are the freaks of the freaks. It's all so cliché, teenagers saving the world. It's a collect all four and rule the world."
A cord struck within her. "What?"
He raised a thick brow. "What aren’t you understanding?"
"What did you say? Rule the world?" Terra asked.
"Yeah, what about it?"
She went cold, ice pouring over her stomach. "That's what this is about? Power?"
"That's the most important thing, right?" Bryan replied.
She disagreed and she knew he disagreed too. She never thought... Never tried to guess what the danger was... It was power; someone was trying to gain power. "One of the Kin?"
"An old one, yes." Bryan looked out the window, seeing a place that was not there. He was remembering.
"You know this person." Terra questioned.
"Terra, I thought that Mari would've told you."
"I sent her to school."
"Yes. I know the person. He's of the Kin. An elder." Stated Bryan.
Of everything she had heard growing up, the threats on their lives, that right there, was the scariest thing Terra ever heard. An elder of their community was putting four children in danger, and it was likely that that wasn't all. What other acts of sins had they committed?
"Bryne, I want to see the scars. Please?"
He assessed her for a few seconds, and then nodded. He twisted facing the window, and unbuttoned his shirt. It took her breath away. They were not scars of an awry fire like she had guessed, but a free-handed brand, the block words "this" scrawled in paper-white over the blades of his shoulders.
"What does it mean?"
Turning back to her he held out his forearms. Written across them in the same fashion was a word for each. "Remember" and "warning."
"Bryne..."
"Don't say you're sorry. Mari started bawling on me, I don't want you to do it too."
"Marissa's an empath," Terra choked in explanation. She went to touch the words, compelled somehow to make certain they were real, but he jerked from her. "Remember this warning?"
"It doesn't matter….”
"It does!" She noticed his necklace hanging low on his chest, a large Carnelian stone.
"Remember this, flower child. I am protecting you, taking the place of the elements that have to exist."
"So do you. Without you, there'd be no warmth, no sun." Terra insisted.
"Without you, there'd be nothing at all." Bryan placed his hand on top of her hair, like an older brother would do to a favored sister. "Good luck. Keep them safe."
"You're being a coward."
"You're being stubborn." He laughed and before she could argue he was ducking out of the car.
There was no real argument anyway. He was right, she was stubborn. She wasn't going to give in that easily, she wasn't done trying to convince him. They were far from done, and especially then, when she saw what it was doing to him.
She would have never anticipated it when she met him. His demeanor was cold as ice. He hated them, but she was wrong, and she wondered if Marissa had known or seen it all before. It was like her to not say anything, to let things run their course.
It was part of the great scheme of things, for irony to exist in their lives. He was mean because he was protecting them. He was giving his life to save three strangers with whom he had to team with. He had and was giving up everything.
Terra wouldn't have it. She wouldn't let him do it. They were in it together, if one of them failed, they all did. They would endure. She would make sure of it, because no leader was going to abandon their troops in the battle field. It was bad enough that the war had begun without their knowledge...
Chapter Eight
A Complete Puzzle
They fell into silence once more. It was that heavy blanket all over again, smothering them. It was like they were at the death bed of a loved one, no one wanting to speak, to disturb the peace someone was having, or to disturb the search someone was having for coping.
In their silk bathrobes, Era's of baby blue, Terra's of green, and Marissa's of indigo, they sat at the table with their hot chocolate. It became a custom that whatever problem they had would be discussed at the kitchen table over a mutual preferred drink. However, their discussions began in silence, contemplating what the exact problem was, each of them brainstorming ways to solve it.
"Is kidnapping out of the equation," Era pondered.
"It's out." Terra finalized, then thought of the scars again, no doubt what Era was thinking about. "Let’s call that plan 'b’.” It was a daunting prospect, to not know if they had any boundaries. If kidnapping wasn't out of the equation, what wasn't?
Marissa dabbed her watery eyes. "Don't we have to have a plan 'a', first?"
"Lets not get into an intellectual discussion of planning tonight, we have more to worry about. We need to focus on Bryne." Terra finalized once again.
"How? How can any of this end well? I….I always thought that….that he would want to be here. He….he…. does….doesn't he? He hates us." Marissa’s words garbled as she went on, then grabbed a tissue from the center of the table to blow her nose.
Era rubbed her back comfortingly. "If we lose hope we lose the fight," Era told her.
It was a domino effect. Lose hope, lose the fight, lose their lives, lose the world, lose the light, and lose everything. There would be nothing left for anyone else to fight for. It was not a quest to be handed off to anyone else. No, it had to be them.
Marissa sniffled sadly. "Have you alerted the Kin?"
"I called Aunt Gwen before I came home. She said that the Kin will keep an eye out, but to not expect any results." She picked at a splintered wood by her mug. "I thought having family within the elders was supposed to make all of this easier."
"They warned us it wouldn't," Era sighed.
They fell into silence once more. It was that heavy blanket all over again, smothering them. It was like they were at the death bed of a loved one, no one wanting to speak, to disturb the peace someone was having, or to disturb the search someone was having for coping.
The muteness was broken then by a sharp knock. All of them looked up peculiarly. No one ever came to their door, not since their first day in the house.
“I'll get it,” Terra volunteered.
“No, wait,” Marissa
exclaimed. “What if...” Tears proceeded to roll, dripping off of her chin. She didn't finish the thought, ostensibly too horrible to complete. It wasn't needed; Terra knew what she was imagining. Whatever danger there was, it was aware that they were near the last element.
“Stay here,” Terra ordered. She hurriedly went to the door in case they protested, but they followed at her side.
With a huge breath, she opened the door, and to her surprise it was Bryne.
“May I come in,” he requested roughly.
She was not the only one who was startled by his sudden presence. Marissa had gasped and Era had seemed to become lighter, her feet hovering very slightly from where Terra's were next to hers.
Silently, still in shock, she moved out of the way giving him a pathway into the living room. He stepped in, and she noticed that he had a worn and holey backpack thrown over his shoulder. He dropped it behind Marissa propping it against the wall. It wasn't just that that she took note of.
Over his neck was a long thin scab, dried blood flaking under it. The new scar started from under the lobe of his ear and disappeared under his shirt that was bloodied. She didn't want to think about how it happened, but she would have loved to know who caused it.
“Thanks,” he growled.
“We're so glad you came,” Marissa said happily, her tears turning to big smiles.
“Yeah...” Bryan seemed a lot less enthusiastic.
Marissa’s gaze landed on the scar, the blood, and she covered her gaped mouth. “What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“It's not that bad,” Era commented, “I can clean that for you if you'd like.”
He beamed at her, true light in his face. Not the angry fire, but like lights on Christmas trees. Like the sun. “That'd be great.” Bryan replied.
Era floated ahead of him, to lead the way upstairs. Terra and Marissa followed them and stood outside of the bathroom doorway. Bryne sat on the edge of the tub as Era rummaged through the medicine cabinet.
"What happened," Terra asked sternly.
He groaned but gave in. “The elder….”
“Give us a name.”
“No. Not now. I told the elder that I told you all to get out of here. I thought it would be okay then, that we being separated would give him an advantage and he wouldn't go after you. He was angry though. I didn't see it coming, I should have. He wants us all destroyed. There's no getting past it, as long as he's alive...”
“A he?”
“Stop it,” Bryne ordered. “Don't try to guess, I'll tell you, but not tonight nor tomorrow. I need to figure things out.”
“We're in this together.” Terra said.
“Sure we are, tree hugger. The point is I got personal beef with this man. I will draw first blood. He's mine.” Bryan explained with rage in his eyes.
Marissa looked to him and to Terra, horror sketched over her features. "We're going to have to kill this person, aren't we? We're going to be murderers?"
In all the time they had to prepare, to get used to the idea of what they would have to do, none of them had put it in those terms. It wasn’t saving; they were saviors, not murderers. Suddenly, it seemed wrong.
"Only one of us…. in which case, it’ll be me." Bryne gleamed skeptically at the ointment and wet washcloth that Era held.
"Strip the shirt, please?" Era ordered.
"Ah, so you like to see the brawn too,” he grinned, taking off his shirt proudly.
Without batting an eye or lingering on the sinews that defined him she cleaned the cut. Gently she traced it and he didn't so much as wince, being too obviously brave. She then unscrewed the top of the container to reveal a white paste that she dipped her index finger in and coated the wound.
"Where will I be staying?"
Terra gave it little thought. "Marissa can stay with me and you in her room."
"Why my room," she asked.
"Because you decided to talk to him without us. I told you specifically to stay here and you disobeyed. Anyway, you're the youngest, it's only fair."
Marissa pouted, her lip sticking slightly out, but she didn't argue further.
It was then that Terra took stock of the moment. Bryne had finally come home, Era taking care of healing his past, Marissa and her talking as casually as could be allowed. They were all together, their family joined at last. It was like having a puzzle with one missing piece. It didn't matter how beautiful the rest was, or if you ignored that gaping hole, it would never be absolute without that critical part, whether it was the corner of a barn house, or the fluff of a cloud.
The puzzle was done, and it was more beautiful than anything Terra could have imagined. Her family was complete.
Chapter Nine
Tin Man
Terra was half covering Bryne, her face too close for nonchalant conversation.
When Terra said that Marissa could stay in her bed, she didn't foresee how difficult it would have been. The bed was a twin, and Marissa moved a lot. Though they were fluid and not liable to cause much damage, it was uncomfortable and restless.
Terra’s lucid alarm clock read that it was four in the morning. She kicked off her blanket and climbed over Marissa. Taking her pillow and blanket she continued down to the living room to sleep on the couch. The old thing was springy and uncomfortable, but it didn't fight and threaten to overthrow her to the floor and that was enough for her.
However, in her way, she saw on the sofa was Bryne. He laid sprawled over it flicking his lighter to blow out the flame. Naturally, his shirt was undone, his necklace hanging and not to mention his abs showing. He may not have been the epitome of modesty, but he kept his jeans on, which was a positive and also needed in a houseful of girls. He was less bothersome than she anticipated.
"How long have you been here," Terra questioned.
Without looking at her he answered, "Hours. I don't like water's room, it feels like I'm drowning. Why are you up?"
"Marissa kicks,” Terra explicated. "I'll have you stay in Era's room. Hers will make you thrive. You know, air with fire."
He nodded, continuing to idly flick the lighter, the small flame popping to life. "I get that from her. There's certainly spark. It's funny."
"How so?"
"I thought air would be for me. We fit; I can't stay alive without her." His thumb lifted, and the flame died to show his point.
"You thought about that?" Terra asked.
"Growing up the way I did, it was nice to think of someone like me, who'd understand. The thing is, air doesn't need fire."
"Do I have to keep telling you? Our powers are the elements, not us."
He responded by settling himself to a sitting position, swinging his bare feet to the floor. "I'll let you sleep here."
"I'm not putting you out." Terra responded.
"You're not. I'm not moving. Here," he patted beside him, "curl up."
Hesitantly she moved. She was tired. "I don't know if this is appropriate."
He shrugged. "Who cares?"
Terra could have answered that her family probably cared, but she didn't, and instead did as he suggested, and curled up beside him, her knees to her chest. A loose spring dug into her side, but it was better than being kicked by Marissa.
"I'm apart of you," he breathed.
"What?"
"Inside of you, there is a fire. Earth is centered in fire. Without it, the world couldn't exist. I may destroy the outside of you, but inside, you live. Just like air does for me."
"And Marissa?"
"Marissa flows in you. She's apart of you. She needs you. She needs the sky to fall down. She needs the clouds, which is why she is so emotional."
She looked up to him, and smiled. Since they met, she had never smiled at him. "You've had many years to think about this. But you're wrong."
"We can agree to disagree." Bryan chuckled.
Grazing her fingertips on his knee she laid her head on his leg. "Whether you're right, or I am, we need each other."
&nb
sp; "That's what scares me."
"It scares me too."
He touched her hair. It was short, and she barely felt it. “Then I guess it's a good thing, that we have each other.”
She yawned, her jaw opening as wide as her bones would permit. “Now that we can agree. It took a long time to find you, Bryne.”
“Yeah, I waited a long time for you too, Terra.” His hand rested on her head, feeling the strands of her hair, right down to her shoulder, where he brushed over her arm. “I waited too and hoped for too long.”
Terra’s surroundings grew foggy as she started to fall asleep.
It could have been her dream-like state, but she swore that he said, “the flower child has saved me.”
Her dreams began once again....
The pot of boiling water on the ground. It soaked the brown grass and the embers that smoked in recognition of the dead life that had once been ablaze. It was all dead and gone. Out of her reach to help. She wanted to right the wrong. Even if the water had been boiling it was there to be of use to the hungry. Now, none of it had purpose.
The elements were expended. For whatever reason it was, she felt that she was at fault. She failed.
Like she had in the car, she sat upright, gasping for breath. A warm hand kneaded her shoulder, to unload the tenseness. Slowly, the reality came forth. She was on the couch with Bryne. She had fallen asleep. She was safe, and the world was still right.
For conformation she glimpsed to the hand, to the arm, to the shoulder, neck, and face of the man helping her. Unexpected as it was, she was grateful.
"Bad dream." It wasn't a question but a statement. The next words were strung into an inquiry. "Isn't it Mari that sees things?"
Terra sighed. "Yeah, but we are humans."
"Humans, is a loose term." Bryan scoffed.
She shrugged, not to be deterred of her explanation. He had much to learn. "I have dreams too…nightmares actually. It happens to everyone. While Marissa sees other things, feels other things, I see my own worries." She raked her hand through her hair, pulling gently. "I'm afraid of losing my family. The danger is closer than ever. If I lose them..."
The Elementals Page 6