Air: Elementalist Book 1

by Rebecca Wolf

  Penny nodded in understanding, but I could see from her expression that she wasn’t convinced.

  Chapter 5

  A few days passed, everything seemed back to normal. Late nights at work, early morning crashing, bickering and laughing with Penny in between. Saturday night rolled around, and the bar was especially crowded. A man sat on my bar stool early in the night. He never flagged me for a drink, he just sat there casing the place, and occasionally giving me side glances. I thought maybe he was just a shy first timer, so I gave him some space. Several hours passed, and I waited expectantly, but he never ordered a mercury either. I normally wouldn’t have minded, but I was still shook up from the motorcycle incident, plus I was expecting a special customer who still hadn’t shown.

  I stalked over to him, finally saying firmly but not unkindly, “we reserve these seats for paying customers sir, there is a two drink minimum. Either honor it, or it is time to leave.”

  The man looked up at me and sneered. Grabbing my arm in a grip that was a little too tight, he pulled me close and said in a harsh growl, “tell Penny it’s time to leave town, It’s kind isn’t welcome here.” He let me go as I pulled away, causing me to stumble back. “Oh, and let Penny know that Ben sends his regards,” He added. I raised my hand to call over Allan, the bouncer, but the guy was already making his way to the exit. I shook off my unease and went back to serving customers. I hoped no one told Penny about the unwanted visitor before I could speak to her about it privately. That guy had clearly been waiting for me to approach him, maybe hoping I would make a scene. It looked like Penny had been right after all about Ben hiring people to harass us. I sighed, we probably needed to come up with a plan soon before things got out of hand.

  Ten minutes later Jerry Donovan sat down in the reserved seat. Jerry acted as a notorious middleman for anyone who would pay him well enough. He had been doing this since middle school, and the only thing that had changed since then was his scraggly facial hair. It was possible that Ben had paid him to come harass us as well.

  I muttered in exasperation before briskly walking over. “Are you ordering a shot?” I demanded, “or are you also here on behalf of Ben?”

  “Who’s Ben?” Jerry asked curiously. Jerry was always eager for pieces of information.

   “Nobody likes a busybody,” I responded irritably.

  “I’d like a shot of mercury.”

  I stopped wiping down the bar counter and looked at him more closely. “Who are you representing?” I asked finally. I didn’t like dealing with Jerry. He had no loyalty to anyone but himself.

  “He wants to remain anonymous, and besides, nobody likes a busybody,” he said with a grin “or at least that’s what some people tell me.”

  “Cute,” I said rolling my eyes, “but I don’t do business unless I know who I’m dealing with.”

  “Jerry Donovan,” he said, reaching out his hand.

  “I know who you are, Jerry, you idiot,” I said ignoring his hand. “Who are you representing, and what do they want?”

  “I’m representing Mr. X.”

   Mr. X was one of the elementalists who occasionally used my business to trade with people he didn’t have formal agreements with.

  “Can I see your hand?” I asked, albeit slightly less suspiciously. Mr. X stamped all of his employees with a holographic mark of an x that only revealed when illuminated by Blacklight. I pulled my Blacklight pen out of my back pocket and shined it on his hand. A silver x popped up. “You seem to check out,” I said finally, while sliding my blacklight back into my pocket. I poured Jerry a shot of vodka and waited for him to talk.

  “So,” Jerry began conversationally, “word is that the elusive smuggler you work for is an air elementalist."

  “My boss likes her privacy,” I said, caution filling my tone. While I actually owned and ran the smuggling business, it didn’t pay to have word getting out that I was an air elementalist, or the actual owner. I preferred people to believe that I was only an employee.

  It was always good to keep the clientele guessing who, as well as just how powerful their potential contractor actually was. If they knew it was just little old me behind the curtain, I had a distinct feeling they would be more likely to try to take advantage. Plus, I didn't want word getting back to the elementalist community that there was an independant air elemental in town.

   “Well,” Jerry continued, “be that as it may, my boss asked me to offer her an arrangement. He is a fire elemental that is looking for a spouse.”

  “Good for him,” I said non-committally.

  “He’s twenty-four. He needs to marry an air elemental or as a fire elemental he will die in the next year or so.” He said this slowly, as though explaining the ways of the world to a three-year-old.

  “That’s sad for him, because she’s not interested.”

  There was an awkward pause.

  “How would you know that?” Jerry asked. “You didn’t even ask her.”

  “I don’t need to ask her. If an elementalist conducts business here in this shit hole it would most probably be to avoid douchebags like this fire elemental you represent.”

  “That seems a bit harsh, you don’t even know him.”

  “I don’t need to know him personally. In my experience, when other elementalists deign to grace our rundown neighborhood, they come to take what they want, from whoever they want. They seem to live by that age old ‘right of might’ philosophy.”

   “It sounds like you have something personal against elementalists .”

   “Oh, I do,” I said bitterly. “A fire elementalist raped my mother, so you can see why I might be protective of my friend.”

  Jerry went silent for a beat, apparently at a loss of words at my abrupt admission. He finally regrouped, saying, “That fire elemental is the exception, most of the elementalist community are quite civilized in my experience."

  “Are you an elementalist?” I challenged.

  “No.”

  “Well little minion, I highly doubt they air their dirty underbelly to a mere employee.”

  “Will you consider just telling your boss about my employer’s interest?” Jerry queried.

  “Oh, I’ll consider it, and while I do, you can tell Mr. X to go fuck himself.”

  “Did you know Mr. X was an elementalist before now?” Jerry asked.

   “Yes. I knew,” I said tersely.

  “It doesn’t sound like you like that fact, yet your boss still chooses to do business with him.”

  “What’s it to you, Jerry?” I asked, feeling angry indignation rise up in my middle. This conversation should have ended a while ago.

  “Hey, I just work for the guy,” Jerry said, hands up in the universal move for surrender, “don’t get your panties in a twist. All I’m saying is, you might not know your boss as well as you think you do... you being a mere minion and all.”

  I tightened my grip on the bar, trying to keep myself calm.

  “Oh, and, just so you know,” he continued, “if she doesn’t form the alliance, she might start losing customers.”

  My control teetered on the edge.

  Just then Boy-Penny appeared at my shoulder, grabbed Jerry by the lapels, and lifted him off the floor. She smiled benignly up at him while giving him a couple of bone jarring shakes.

  Deep breathing, I reminded myself, grateful my friend had come along before I lost my temper completely. Sometimes intense emotions made me lose control of my element, and when I did, bad things happened. The last thing I needed right now was for everyone, including Jerry, to figure out what I was.

  “Listen buddy,” I said, poking him with my index finger, “I’ve had a shitty day. The last thing I need is a two-faced moron casing my boss’s territory. I’m going to say this once real slow, so you remember exactly what to tell your employer. My smuggler boss is not interested in an alliance with one of her kind. She does not want to waste time sipping tea and plotting diabolical ways to keep the man down. If he pursues
this matter instead of settling for one of his own despicable ilk, she will rain down a shit storm the likes of which he has never seen before.”

  Jerry’s face was flushed either from anger, or from being partly strangled, I didn’t really care. Penny switched her grip, so that she held Jerry up with one hand and used the two fingers from the other hand to pinch the pressure point right between his shoulder and neck.

  “AhHHahha, I think I see your point now,” Jerry said, his voice at a slightly higher pitch, “it was nice doing business with you. I, uhhh, appreciate the clarity.” Penny, still holding him in a firm grip, looked over at me for approval before lowering him to the floor “I think I need to change my underwear,” Jerry muttered.

  “Whoops,” said Penny with an insincere smile. “I didn’t mean to take it that far, I guess I was just a little triggered seeing you antagonize my friend here.” She let go of Jerry and brushed imaginary dust off his shoulders. “You take care now, buddy.”

  Jerry beat a hasty retreat out the door, glancing nervously over his shoulder to make sure Penny didn’t follow him. Penny feinted towards him and let out a deep belly laugh when Jerry scurried away faster.

  “Thanks for that, Zephy,” Penny said, giving me a side hug, “I needed that for stress relief.” Penny skipped down to the basement to get more alcohol, whistling while she went. I shook my head in amusement. There was something truly bizarre about watching a six-foot five man skip.

  I was feeling really unsettled by Mr. X propositioning my boss. All my life I had been avoiding other elementalists. The fact that he knew that the owner of my smuggling business was an air elemental felt too close to home. It seemed like it was only one step away from them finding out that the actual owner of the business was me.

  I had spent my life avoiding notice. My Mom was the best, but her cerebral palsy nulled her power. While she didn’t know how to guide me in controlling the fine details of my element, she knew enough about the family politics to caution me to hide, and to always have an escape plan. But I had built a life for myself here. I had a job, and friends, and I knew the neighborhood like the back of my hand. Even though I had always had a plan in place, I had never had to use it. Besides, Penny and Brian were the only ones who knew about my element. I convinced myself that for now I was safe. I would be cautious, but optimistic.

  Chapter 6

  It was Wednesday, my day off from the bar, and the day that I volunteered with Brian at the local soup kitchen. Brian had been my mom’s best friend growing up, and I viewed him as a surrogate father. I loved the time we spent together, and even though he was forever threatening to retire, I knew for a fact he would never really leave. Honestly, Brian was the only man that I felt like I could trust. Between my mother’s rape and my one disaster of a relationship in high school, I had learned my lesson about boys. I trusted Penny obviously, but in my head Penny wasn’t a real man. Not that I would tell her that.

  I hurried to get to the soup kitchen, cursing the traffic for making me later than I already was. Brian was a stickler for punctuality. He wouldn’t yell at me for being late, but his disappointment was a far worse punishment,

  “Sorry I’m late, Brian,” I called out smiling breathlessly as I opened the door, where I assumed Brian was already waiting. “You won’t believe the day I ha-" I stopped abruptly as I noticed that Brian wasn’t alone in the kitchen. I couldn’t remember the last time another person had joined us during Wednesday night bonding.

  “Hey Zeph, don’t worry about being late, I’ve got something real special to tell you,” Brian said smiling at me excitedly. “Meet our newest recruit, and my eventual replacement!” Brian’s kind eyes twinkled with excitement. “I finally found someone to fill my spot so that I can take that retirement adventure that I kept talking about!”

  I could tell from Brian face that he was ecstatic, and I tried to smile in response. I just couldn’t quite figure out how to hide the lump that had suddenly formed in my throat.

  “Meet Aiden!” Brian continued obliviously. “He’s volunteering to come on Wednesdays, and he is willing to donate several crates of whatever is left over each week from his home-grown produce!” I studied Aiden cautiously. He was tall and built, his eyebrows diagonal slashes over piercing eyes so dark they looked black. He had a strong angular jaw and a mouth that was both generous and severe. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where I might have met him. Maybe at the bar? Aiden looked me up and down with a penetrating stare.

  “Hello Zephyr,” he said, putting out his hand.

  I tentatively put my hand in his to shake. “Hello.”

  His hand was warm and large, and nearly dwarfed mine as he held it in his grasp. There was a long silence as he kept hold of my hand. Could this get anymore awkward? I thought to myself, wondering how to politely remove my hand from his.

  “Zephyr is currently single,” Brian blurted out suddenly.

  Oh my God, kill me now, I thought, mortified.

  “Is that so?” Aiden said, an amused grin forming on his face. I pulled my hand away from his abruptly, not liking the tingling feeling that his smile seemed to invoke.

  “I don’t date.” I blurted out slightly red faced, and then seeing the skeptical look on Aiden’s face, I continued, “and if I did date, I still wouldn’t be available for you.” I turned back to Brian, hoping to divert the conversation. “I’m so happy for you,” I said, while quietly trying to remind myself that he didn’t owe me anything, including an advanced notice.

  “Come on Aiden, Zephyr and I will show you how it’s done here,” Brian said, taking out a big pot and filling it with water.

  “We find soup is the most cost-effective way to feed the most people, especially if we throw in some cheap grains, or egg noodles,” Brian explained. Aiden nodded, his face serious as he listened to the way we organized everyone for the food distribution. By the time we got everything set up the first people were trickling into the room.

  “You better not flake on me,” I said to Aiden when the two of us were standing next to each other, serving food. “These people depend on this soup kitchen.”

   “Trust me when I say, I’m in this for the long haul, Sweetheart.” Something about the way he said it made me feel uneasy, maybe it was time to end this little visit before he really set his claws in. Brian wouldn’t be so brokenhearted if Aiden quit after the first day...

  “So, Brian,” Aiden said conversationally, as he started handing out the bowls of soup I was ladling, “how do you guys know each other?”

  “Oh, I’ve known Zephyr since she was in her mom’s stomach,” Brian answered. “We lived together in a group home.”

  “Wow, that’s a long time,” said Aiden.

  “Oh yeah, I know everything there is to know about Zephyr,” said Brian, passing behind me and giving my shoulder a squeeze.

  “Yup, that’s me,” I said in a syrupy sweet tone, “I’m like an open book.”

   “An open book of obtuse poetry,” Aiden countered.

  “Ohohoho, this one’s just met you, and he’s already got your number, Zephyr!” chortled Brian.

  “If he does, it’s only because YOU gave it to him.”

  “You’ll have to forgive Zephyr,” apologized Brian. “She takes a little bit of time to warm up to new people.” He gave me a hard stare and mouthed “be nice.”

   Just then Rusty walked in. Oh, THIS should be good, I thought gleefully. Rusty will definitely scare him off. Rusty approached with his usual shifty-eyed side shuffle.

  “Hey Rusty,” I said with a genuine smile. Rusty kept walking right up to the table, and gave Aiden the death stare.

  “Hi,” Aiden smiled, and then held out a bowl of soup for Rusty to take. Rusty didn’t take it. Rusty didn’t like changes or new people. Sometimes he didn’t even like old people. From the way Rusty was posturing, it seemed like he was aiming to intimidate. He was a head shorter than Aiden and his nose only came up to Aiden’s chest, however, this didn’t deter him.


  He leaned forward and said without breaking eye contact with Aiden, “Is this guy bothering you, Zephyr?”

  “This guy is named Aiden, he is going to be replacing Brian,” I explained.

  “REPLACING BRIAN??” Rusty exclaimed, he grabbed Aiden by the shirtfront and hauled him over the tabletop, the soup in Aiden’s hand went flying, luckily splashing harmlessly against the back wall.

  “WHAT’VE YOU DONE WITH OUR BRIAN??” Rusty yelled, spit flying onto Aiden’s face, Rusty began gnashing his teeth and growling, as his hands went around Aiden’s throat. “OUCH!” said Rusty, suddenly letting go and shaking out his hands. “What the hell was THAT??”

  Just then Brian ran out of the kitchen. “Hey Rusty, buddy, what’s going on?” Rusty looked back and forth between them. “This guy is trying to usurp your position in the soup kitchen!! Did you know that? Don’t let him take over for you!! He’s got demon eyes, devil hands!” Rusty poked at his own eyes and waved around his hands to articulate his meaning. “ Don’t let him replace you!!!”

  “Now Rusty, Aiden is a very nice man,” Brian tried gently, “I’m sure he will do an even better job than I ever could.”

  This was apparently the wrong thing to say. Rusty started shaking his head back and forth pointing at Aiden and yelling “devil man, devil man” over and over . He reached down into his pants and from seemingly nowhere, pulled out an electric cattle prod, which he sparked with a manic gleam in his eye. Pointing it at Aiden he shook it menacingly, but after a few moments of seeing that Aiden wasn’t moving from his spot on the floor he inched over to Brian, to say hello.

  I stared on in shock. Well, that had gone way better than expected. Apparently, I had underestimated Rusty’s level of crazy. I looked over at Aiden to assess how he was doing. To my surprise, he didn’t look ready to throw in the towel. Looks could be deceiving though, maybe he was in shock.