Magic of the Wood House

by Cassandra Gannon

  “I was mostly shouting, actually.”

  “But, I heard you. Maybe not the exact words, but I felt you there. And then you used your powers to make that moss, too?” She ran a hand through her hair. “It’s just impossible. It’s not a matter of being strong. No one can do what you did.”

  “Hey, you don’t have to convince me it’s weird. I already know.”

  “No, I don’t think you do know. Maybe that’s why you could do it.” She sounded like she was reasoning it all out to herself. “You can accomplish what most Elementals wouldn’t even dream of trying, because you’re outside our box. You never had any formal training with your powers, so you use them in unique ways. Backdoors and new ideas. No one ever told you what was supposed to be impossible.”

  Sullivan shook his head. “This whole thing seems impossible.”

  She stared at him for a long moment. “I saw my grandfather in your memories, you know. He was talking to Parson. Oberon said you glowed brighter than the ordinary Phases.”

  Sullivan snorted at that.

  “He was right, Sullivan.” She continued quietly. “It’s impossible to stay frozen in the past when you’re around. You change everything. Just as I think I’m getting used to how special you are, I’m amazed all over again.”

  “Anything special that happens to me, happens because I’m mixed up with you.”

  “I didn’t save me from that fall. You did.”

  “I know I did, but…” He trailed off.

  …But, he didn’t want to consider the ramifications of how he’d done it. It would lead to answers and he wasn’t sure he wanted to ask the questions. Something had changed inside of him. Walls were missing and now there was something unleashed.

  Goddamn it.

  He struggled to his feet and the whole room spun. “Jesus.” He steadied himself on the fireplace mantle. “Okay, so let’s say I’ve been infected with this Elemental energy.”

  “It’s not sexually transmitted, moron. You were born with it.”

  Deep down, Sullivan knew she was right. Forgotten scenes from his own life were coming back to him, as if the memory sharing had unlocked them.

  Memories of magic.

  Goddamn it.

  “Even if that’s true, I’m not sure I’m supposed to be using this power.” He muttered. “When I tried, I knocked myself out. I still feel like crap.”

  “That’s completely normal.”

  Sullivan gave a harsh laugh. “Oh, yeah. Totally fucking normal.”

  “For an Elemental, it is. I’m guessing you redlined every drop of power you have. That always washed us out. No wonder you were out cold. It’s amazing you’re conscious, at all.”

  “Again, not to nag, but it was hard to sleep through you hitting me.” He massaged the base of his neck, trying to relieve the tension in his head. “And I’m not an Elemental.”

  “You sure about that?”

  No, he wasn’t sure. If fact, he was pretty positive of just the opposite.

  Damn it, damn it, damn it.

  Teja stood up and moved closer to him. “Thank you.” She said, stopping right in front of him. “I would’ve died without your help and I didn’t want to die.”

  Sullivan froze, pulled from his mental freak out. His eyes met hers, his mouth slowly curving. The woman was so damn beautiful it hurt his heart. “I didn’t want you to die, either. I’m getting a little attached to your weirdness.

  He would die himself, a thousand times over, before he saw her hurt.

  Jesus, what the fuck was he upset about? The whole Elemental DNA thing he could figure out later. The truth of that had been sneaking up on his for so long that Sullivan wasn’t even that surprised, just… uncomfortable. It didn’t fit with how he saw himself. But, whatever Sullivan was and whatever he’d done, it had saved Teja. That was the only part of this mess that mattered.

  She was the only part of anything that mattered.

  He took a deep breath. “So being a Match means we’re married, huh?”

  Teja was instantly on the defensive. “How was I supposed to know that you didn’t know that? Everybody knows that, Sullivan.”

  “Oh obviously. It was all so clear.”

  “It was.” Hazel eyes narrowed at him. “I told you having a Match was a permanent thing.”

  “Then you dumped me.” He retorted. It pissed him off that she would try to get rid of him when he loved her so much. “So, what are we divorced now?”

  Teja blinked. “I have no idea what that word means.”

  “It means, are you still planning to walk away for my own good?”

  “Renouncement?” Teja crossed her arms over her chest. “Funny you should mention that. I’ve got a new theory about what went wrong last night.” She arched a brow. “You know how I said that maybe I wasn’t your Match, because our energies didn’t connect? Or maybe you were somehow not choosing me, because you’re human and you didn’t want me?”

  “Do you seriously think that insane conversation slipped my mind?”

  “Well, there is another possibility: A Phazing can’t happen if one half of the equation is so strong that he’s blocking all his powers.”

  Sullivan saw where this was headed. “Teja, I’m telling you I didn’t…”

  She cut him off. “You didn’t let go, that’s what you didn’t do. And that’s why we didn’t Phaze, Sullivan. You didn’t trust…”

  “Found it.” Randa came back in carrying a bottle of aspirin. She gave the pills a rattle in their plastic container. “These are the kind you use at the office, when you say the Cult is giving you a headache.”

  “Which is every damn day.” Sullivan took the bottle that Randa handed him and popped the lid off. “Thanks.” He dry swallowed two pills, then took another just for good measure. Talking to Teja just made his headache worse. She was apparently still fixated on the idea that he’d done something to screw-up their Phazing. Or didn’t do something. She wanted to walk away. He had to change her mind. He couldn’t lose Teja.

  She was where he belonged.

  Teja flashed Randa a scowl. “Why are you still here, anyway? Shouldn’t you be off typing something?”

  “Chief Pryce and I are friends. I’m here to help him deal with his fugitive status.” She arched a neatly shaped brow. “And to make sure that the Fire House doesn’t harm the poor boy.”

  Teja made a face. “I’m hardly going to hurt my own Match.”

  Randa gave a humorless smile. “People do all kinds of things to their Matches.” She looked back at Sullivan. “You do know that you’re a Wood Phase, correct? Before you go any farther with her, you should think hard about your future. You come from a very good bloodline. Some of the noblest warriors and greatest leaders in our realm. …And the Fire House are basically just mobsters.”

  Sullivan snorted at the idea that he was somehow a great catch for Teja, the supernatural supermodel. “Yeah, but they make a hell of an eggnog.”

  Teja chuckled at that deadpan remark. “God, I love your sense of humor.”

  It was the first time he’d heard her laugh and the sound hit him like a sledgehammer. All his life, he’d thought it was his instincts talking to him. Maybe the Elementals would tell him it was actually his powers at work. But, Sullivan now knew it was more than both of those explanations. The whispers were the very deepest part of him.

  And they told him that his connection to Teja went straight through to his soul.

  “Teja?” They all turned to see Freya standing in the bedroom doorway. The doctor looked rumpled and annoyed, but she was on her feet. “What in the world is going on?”

  “You brother is framing the Fire House for blowing up the Cold Palace.” Teja told her. The woman wasn’t great at breaking news gently. “To be fair, though, I don’t think he intended for you to get caught in the crossfire.”

  Freya blinked. “What?” It took her a second to process that and then she was shaking her head. “No. That’s impossible.”

  Sullivan
frowned, pinching the bridge of his nose, more memories flooding back. “Shit. I was in the Cold Kingdom.” He could recall everything, now. “That Eian guy said he was going to attack you, Teja. Or you were going to attack him, but…”

  “That’s impossible.” Freya insisted, cutting him off. Her hazel eyes were wide. “Eian would never attack our own kingdom and he certainly wouldn’t frame the Fire House for it. Why would he?”

  “Because, he hates me.” Teja explained. “Because, he wanted to steal my Match and give Sullivan to you. Because he’s working with Vandal, of the Light House.”

  “Vandal’s in a coma. In fact, he’s probably dead, unless you got him out of the hospital.” Freya looked around, like maybe Vandal was sleeping on the couch. “Did you get him out of the hospital?”

  “No, I didn’t get him out of the hospital.” Teja snapped. “I’m betting he wasn’t even in the hospital, by the time we showed up. Vandal and Eian planned this whole thing to cover his escape. They probably thought you’d turn Vandal in the second he ‘woke-up.’”

  Freya shook her head harder, still not believing it. “Well, of course I’d notify Job when Vandal was well, but that’s the law. Hospitals can only give sanctuary until someone is healed.”

  “Exactly. So, he and Eian had to come up with an exit that would stop people from looking for him.”

  “Eian is many things, but he’d never…” She trailed off, finally catching up with Teja’s earlier complaint. “Wait. My brother wants me to have Sullivan? I mean, he’s always nagging me about introducing myself to the human, but that’s ridiculous. I don’t want him.” She waved a hand at Sullivan and then paused. “Oh.” She glanced his way. “No offense.”

  “None taken.” He assured her. “Teja, seriously, your cousin and I are not interested in each other.” Ever since he met Teja, all other women ceased to matter.

  “That’s not the point!” She shot back in frustration. “God knows, I have enough problems convincing you to we’re a Match without Eian throwing pretty blondes in your path, but I’m rising above that part.” She didn’t sound like she was rising above it. “More importantly, though, he drugged you, Sullivan. He stole your memories. He locked you in a cell. You think I’ll just ignore all that?”

  “You locked me in a cell, darlin’.”

  She gave a disgruntled frown. “Still not the point. Eian has to pay.”

  Sullivan had no love for Eian, but he didn’t want Teja starting a war with her cousin over him. The woman loved her family, even when they didn’t deserve it. Killing Eian would destroy her. “We can deal with him the legal way, Teja.”

  “Yes.” Freya nodded enthusiastically. “If you suspect that Eian is behind this --which is impossible-- you can take him before the Council. They can investigate my brother and get to the bottom of it. You don’t have to do anything violent and Fire House-y.”

  “No one has the right to steal someone else’s freedom.” Randa interjected, her eyes fixed on the neutral-colored wall. “People who do that --who steal and drug and lie and kill-- can’t be redeemed. Teja’s right to want to stop Eian, now.”

  “Thank you.” Teja waved a hand at her. “At least, someone is living in reality. You two --What?-- wanna carve a roast beast with that frosty prick?”

  “It’s good that they retain so much innocence.” Randa murmured. “Some people can move out of the darkness and back into the light. The rest of us never break free of the shadows.” She glanced at Teja, her eyes level. “Don’t be hard on them because they’re cleaner than we are.”

  Teja sighed. “You’re right.” She said simply.

  The two of them must have decided they could deal with each other, because they were suddenly on the same side. Which was good, except Sullivan didn’t like that Teja and Randa would ever think they were someone tainted.

  “You are perfect the way you are.” He told Teja firmly. He looked over at Randa. “Both of you.”

  She gave him a sad smile.

  “I’m awesome.” Teja agreed, using Sullivan’s earlier words. “And that jackass Eian is going to be really fucking sorry he crossed my awesome self. I wanted to live in peace, but I’ll be damned if I let him try to steal my Match, frame my family, and ruin my goddamn Christmas. We’re going to settle this today.”

  “Yes, I’d try and clear it up soon.” Randa agreed, gracefully settling on a beige armchair. “I hesitated to mention, but I checked on the status of Chief Pryce’s legal entanglements while I was in the kitchen. The Fire House is going to be Banished this evening.”

  Teja seemed confused. “Job would never agree to that. Not without talking to me.”

  “I don’t think Job’s in charge of the trial. Twitter is saying that Eian organized it. He got a majority of Houses to agree and vetoed Job’s decision.”

  “You guys are on Twitter?” Sullivan rolled his eyes. “I knew we needed better internet regulations.”

  The others ignored him.

  “Eian.” Teja’s mouth tightened and she shot Freya a pointed glance. “See?”

  “That doesn’t prove anything.” But Freya looked pale. She fumbled in her pocket for her phone. “It’s a mistake. All of this is just a mistake. Let me call him and we can figure this out.”

  “If that phone is anything like ours, he might be able to trace it.” Sullivan hoped the aspirin kicked in soon, because his head was about to split open. “That’s what I’d do, if I was staging a kangaroo court and looking for the one person who could stop me.” He jerked a thumb at Teja. “I’m against hiding, but it’s a bad idea to tip our hand.”

  “Son-of-a-bitch.” Teja stalked over to grab the phone from Freya.

  “Hey!”

  “Just sit over there and stay out of trouble.” She gestured towards the sofa. “You don’t want to be in the middle of this.”

  “If you and Eian are trying to slaughter each other, I’m already in the middle of it. You two are the only family I have.”

  Teja sent her a sideways look and Sullivan saw her soften. How could this woman ever believe she didn’t have feelings? “I’m sorry, Freya.” She said. “I didn’t want this. Really.”

  “I know, just…” Freya swallowed. “Just give my brother a chance, Teja. Promise me.”

  The lights dimmed before Teja could answer that. All the lamps in the room flickered for a beat and then an electric charge filled the air.

  “Fucking hell.” Teja reached over to grab her sword from beside the couch. “Everybody stay behind me.”

  Sullivan snorted at that idea. He was about to demand that she return that future-gun, when five men appeared in the center of the living room.

  They were dressed in deep green, their golden hair tied back in intricate braids. Most of them had tribal-style tattoos on their forearms and they all sported black streaks at their temples. Vandal had the same kind of ebony marker, which meant these guys must be Light Phases.

  Sullivan had no clue what they were doing in his home.

  “Rysimer.” Teja eyed the one in the middle, still gripping her sword. “Is there a reason that you’ve come visiting this morning or are you boys lost?”

  Sullivan smiled. Christ, he loved that woman.

  “We need to talk.” Rysimer said curtly.

  The other Light Phases moved away, checking the house for intruders, explosives, or God knew what else. They moved with the practiced synchronization of a SEAL team, poking through Sullivan’s belonging. He made a face as they stopped to microscopically examine a poinsettia like it was some alien species. All Elementals were weird, but these guys seemed particularly out-of-touch.

  Teja kept her eyes on Rysimer. “How did you find us?”

  “We’re the best trackers in the realm.”

  Teja scoffed at that pronouncement.

  Sullivan didn’t even have to ask why. The Fire House was nothing if not competitive. “What do you want to talk about?” He asked Rysimer before Teja could launch into a detailed explanation of why the Light House suc
ked at everything compared to her family.

  “We know that the Fire House didn’t set off that bomb.” Rysimer related that earth-shattering news in a tone usually reserved for cliffhanger reveals on afternoon soap operas.

  Teja snorted. “No kidding. It was the Light House’s prodigal nut job.”

  Rysimer glowered at her, annoyed that she’d ruined his big announcement. “Vandal’s not part of my kingdom. He was cast out centuries ago.”

  “Well, he’s back in town and really pissed.” Teja lowered her sword. “He’s working with Eian, of the Cold House to frame my family.”

  “We don’t know that for sure.” Freya put in, loyally. “And, hang on, what bomb? Bombs don’t even work in the Elemental realm, do they?”

  Rysimer disregarded that, his attention on Teja. “Vandal was the one who stole the Star of Bethlehem from the humans two years ago. He’s been planning something like this, trying to trigger another war.” His jaw ticked. “That asshole is not dragging my House down with him.”

  “As if anyone’s ever had to drag your House into war.” Randa warily watched the gigantic Light Phases move through the house, her body poised for some kind of fight-or-flight response. “And, even if all this is true, how does it help Teja or Chief Pryce? They’re still wanted criminals.”

  One of the men stopped behind her chair and silently leaned in over her shoulder. “There are worse things to be.” He growled and Randa jumped in surprise.

  Sullivan and Teja both stepped forward as Randa shrank away from the bigger man. She panicked whenever people got too close and he was doing his damnedest to intimidate her.

  “Back off.” Sullivan demanded, his eyes on the Light Phase. “Now.”

  “Leave her alone.” Teja ordered at the same time. “Randa works for Sullivan, which means she belongs to the Fire House, now.”

  Randa looked baffled by that news, but she still sent them both a grateful look.

  “Kahn,” Rysimer rapped out, scowling over at the other man, “don’t start.”