They blinked at me for a moment, my first words to them, but they did turn in their chairs, doing as I had asked. I didn’t bother, since there wasn’t a lump in my white leather chair this time.
The man seated four chairs down on my left, cleared his throat, and pulled the remote from his chair’s depths. “Got it.” His eyes scanned my face. “You’ve been here before?”
“Of course,” I stated evenly, apparently he not having heard about my entrance here not too long ago in the Royal Hall.
His brows quirked, glancing down to my hot pink top, swinging to Leric’s and my joined hands, then back to my eyes. “You should stay longer this time.”
My lips lifted. “I’ll be here any time my One, or my people, need me.”
He held my gaze for a long moment, gauging me, before he dipped his head in a respectful manner, then handed the remote to Mr. Damon.
Leric’s voice in my mind. “Nicely played. And worded.”
Back at him. “Thank you.”
Mr. Damon hit a button on the remote, and I tried not to gape as an enormous thin computer screen descended behind the table, Elder Samson and King Zeller moving fluidly as it lowered from above them, easily repositioning themselves. Another button pressed and the screen lit with a map of the Temple, which looked nothing like Earth now. I knew this would confuse my Lajaks, so I would have to explain later we were in…a spirit space…within the ether. It was Earth, but like a smaller version, and Pangaea, when the continents were one, a step above, or even turned, depending on how you viewed it, a Mystical safe location reserved for the fifth Element, the spirit.
Little red dots showed on the map, and Mr. Damon stated again, “As I said, Cullo and Jeria,” names lit by the dots on the east coastline, “are rioting while Eski and Nosa,” two more dots lit, heading south down the coast with their names listed, “are on the verge.” He clicked the remote, and pictures of towns that reminded me of Greece were shown, except for the destruction and chaos pictured with spirits rioting, signs and graffiti left behind with the word “Chosen” written with slashes or daggers or even what appeared to be blood splashed over it. “The elite Guardians in those realms are dead, the cities completely overtaken, and the ones on Eski and Nosa are barely keeping things civil.”
When the screen went blank, I continued staring, having seen spirits dead on the street, my heart beating a crazy rhythm. “What is their true issue with me?”
Setting the remote down, Mr. Damon stated bluntly, “They believe you are the tie that will break the balance, since you have forsaken the Temple.”
I stared wide-eyed. “They cannot truly believe that.”
He nodded once. “They do.”
I ran a hand over my face, utter disbelief making my hands shake, Leric’s grip tightening on mine supportively, but letting me speak. “It would kill all of us. Including myself. How in the hell do they believe this?” I barely even noticed the instant quietness in my Lajaks around the room, the way every single one went predatory still.
“They are frantic with worry,” a lean, beautiful spirit woman stated simply, leaning forward at the far end of the table. “You are an unknown to them. All they have heard is that you are the Prodigy Elemental when you never should have been. You deny the Temple, live outside where it is safe for you, so many think you clinically insane. How far a stretch do you think it is they would think you the one to doom us all?”
My lips pinched into a thin line. “I am not the only spirit Elemental living outside the Temple, surely they are intelligent enough to reason that out.”
“But,” she flicked a finger at me, “they are not one of our Rulers.”
“So they’re angry, not just frightened.”
She nodded once, sitting back on her chair. “A dangerous combination.”
Leric’s free hand’s fingers tapped. “Do we know who took their fear and flamed it into violence?”
Mr. Damon shook his head. “We believe the elite Guardian overseeing Jeria was close to the truth, but she was killed before she was able to communicate with us.”
“Her friends. Her family. Anyone left alive in that area I want questioned immediately,” Leric stated simply, and instantly notes were being taken by his elite Guardian. “Dad, you’ll lead this investigation and report back to me directly.” His thumb tapped on the table. “I want two other elite Guardians named from the ranks. Send one to Eski, the other to Nosa, to assist the other two, their destinations eventually Cullo and Jeria.” More thumb tapping, and he growled quietly in his throat, a tiger sound, everyone freezing at the table, since this was proof positive I was exactly who I said I was. “And send in two damn troops of Guardians into Cullo and Jeria. I’m officially naming those two cities Dead Zones.” I was pretty sure no one at the table breathed. “The Guardians have my permission to use lethal force without charging. Anyone who is deemed a threat, are to be taken out.”
I swallowed, and asked through our connection, “Isn’t that a little…extreme?”
An instant growling push back. “Not if they are killing innocents on the fucking streets.”
Oh. My mind had been a bit pre-occupied still about their unbelievable issue with me. “How will you handle the press of this?”
“Shit…” He ran a hand over his face, and started speaking aloud, “And ideas for the press on this?” No one spoke, still appearing a bit shell-shocked about him calling a “Dead Zone”, and I made a mental note to look that up and see what it really meant. “Come on, people. Snap the hell out of it and give me your thoughts.”
The man to my left’s hands flexed then fisted, and he peered around me, stating, “Broadcast it through the papers.” Yeah, no television here, exactly why I had been surprised about the remote control. “Let them see what happens when they turn against their own kind like rapid animals.”
“I don’t agree,” another man on my right stated quickly, clearing his throat and running a hand through his hair. “For those who don’t know about it, it could only create an issue where none exists. And, for those who do know, they may believe the Chosen has…inflicted…the One with her,” he glanced at me nervously, his gaze apologetic before turning his eyes back to the man he was speaking with, “less than ideal views, since she does live in a harsh world she shouldn’t.”
I…let that one pass, because I agreed with his other points.
Leric didn’t, stating instantly, “It is her choice, just as we all have that choice.”
“And almost everyone thinks it’s crazy to choose as she did,” the man with the point I liked stated, gaining his confidence back. “She will have a lot of ground to gain, even in the cities not fighting.” He shook his head. “Word is spreading fast, so we do need to stop it some way.” His gaze raked over me. “Possibly change her appearance, then start making regular stops in the cities together, but in those cities where word has already spread, it’s like a poison that will simmer until it’s boiled again in their veins, and I don’t believe broadcasting it to the other cities,” a flicked narrowed gaze to the man next to me, then back to Leric, “is the wisest choice currently.”
Leric stated, “I agree.”
This produced a quiet smug expression from the man with a semi-valid argument.
“Is there anything else we need to know about right now?” Leric asked.
When shakes of heads were given, the lean woman at the end of the table flicked her hand, stating, “I don’t have any news to give you, but I do have a question that I’m sure we’re all wondering.” When Leric dipped his head for her to continue, she leaned forward, spoke calmly, and bluntly, “I don’t believe the rioters’ views to be completely unwarranted. Somehow, the Chosen slipped under your radar for protection against becoming a ruler. Her views are unconventional, even if she does appear sane, but if she should go insane, and she does become pregnant with a Commoner by rape, or lust, then how will you know this, if she’s escaped you once already?”
I had to hand it my Lajaks. Not one o
f them even flinched at that bomb. And it was the biggest, the one I couldn’t even speak on, magic tying a Mystical outside the Temple for that information. Instead, they stood utterly still, and stayed silent, even as I knew their minds were flying, trying to reason that out.
“I’ll answer that one.” I squeezed Leric’s hand, and he sat back on his chair, appearing damn lazy while I sat forward, and repeated what he had once said, “While it may be true his protection wasn’t given to me, which was of no fault to his own,” I shrugged a shoulder, “the magic of the Chosen would not have been gifted to me if I couldn’t handle it. I won’t crack under the pressure of the Barren or the Shadows. I’ve dealt with both, and although I am new to fighting in the Barren with the mass amounts of evil I did recently, my first time, I handled it far better than I believe anyone else would have. I never quit. I didn’t stop. Four hours on end. Even when I was killing a pedophile, his memories racing through my mind, I turned and sliced into a child molester, his memories condensing on top of the others, only to turn and place my back to my One’s and guard it against the serial killer about to bite into him, his memories rushing when I ended him as we faced hundreds more, all just as dark.” I raised my brows, staring steadily at the strong woman, even as the individual next to her’s face turned ashen. “That night, I actually went to sleep. It may have taken a while, but I actually slept. Peacefully.” I shrugged a shoulder, sitting back on my chair. “Like I said, the power wouldn’t have been gifted to me if I couldn’t handle it.”
She hummed quietly, tilting her head, evaluating me. “I believe you.” She sat back, eyes going to Leric. “But it’s not just us in this room you’ll have to convince.”
I kind of liked her.
Suddenly, the man’s head next to me, and half his body, was slammed onto the white marble table, the sound of what had to be ribs cracking crunched loudly as Elder Merrick held him down with a forearm against his back and a fist gripped tightly in his white hair, Elder Farrar now directly behind me, a gripping hand on my shoulder, even as Elder Merrick’s power instantaneously erupted down at the man as he began to glow, producing a pained grunt from the man, and his wolf growled loudly, even as he barked, “Drop it or I end you.”
Instantly, I felt something fall onto my lap. My heartbeat didn’t know what to do, stuttering and stopping not knowing what the hell was going on, just like my thoughts as I stared wide-eyed as Elder Merrick crushed the man even harder, yanking his head back brutally, growling, “Now get your fucking hands above the table.”
Glowing hands instantly appeared above the table as the man grunted again in pain.
“Elder Merrick…care to explain?” Leric drawled casually.
His wolf growled quietly. “Other than he was about to stab her?”
“Blade,” Elder Farrar murmured absently, watching the man Elder Merrick held down, still keeping his hand on my shoulder. “On her lap.”
I blinked slowly, then scooted my chair back a smidge, staring down…and lifted a long, wickedly curved diamond blade, and I muttered, “That would have hurt.” I liked the blade, so I quickly stashed it into my treasure trove. “Mine now.” My heart rate was slowing knowing Elder Merrick wasn’t just attacking the guy, and I tilted my head, glancing to Leric. “Thoughts?”
His lips curved the barest bit. “Yes.” Nothing more.
I stared pointedly.
Silver eyes flared the barest bit on whatever he was thinking. “I’ll save them for later.” He flicked a finger to the man who had argued with the would-be-assassin earlier, ordering him politely. “If you would, please take him to a cell and silver him. I’ll be down shortly.” All very calm words, even though he had a damn death grip on my hand.
Not wanting the guy to have a chance to escape between here and the cell, I murmured, “Elder Merrick, render him unconscious.” Instantly, Elder Merrick bashed the man’s face onto the marble table, and there was definite blood coming from some part of his head as he stopped glowing, his body going slack. “Thank you.” My gaze went to the man who was blinking out of his shock. “It should make the journey easier for you.”
He nodded once, his expression blanking. “Yes. Thank you.” He stood, quickly moving with that fluid grace all these elite Guardians did. When Elder Merrick moved back, he grabbed the man by the back of his neck, and easily pulled him back, bending to slip him over his shoulder, and carried him from the room.
I reached a hand over the table, and sent a pulse of my magic, making the blood disintegrate, glancing to Leric, smiling cheekily. “So, what’s next?”
His lips trembled. “I was thinking dinner before torture?”
I nodded approvingly. “Strong stomach…you know those entrails always smell disgusting.”
I heard a choked noise somewhere down the table, but Leric only grinned. “Yes, my Chosen. They certainly do.” He waved a hand at the table. “You’re all dismissed, but make note to find three new elite Guardians, instead of two.” It was implied where the third was going, even as they each wrote a quick note down, then bobbed their heads, quickly leaving the room. “Roselle, why don’t you show my Chosen and her Lajaks to their rooms, so they can drop their luggage off.” He stared at me with knowledge in his gaze. “And don’t feel bad about missing dinner with me.”
I nodded once, standing, I had some explaining to do with my Lajaks. “Make sure you get all the information you can out of him before you make him dead.”
“Always,” he murmured, silver eyes scanning my person slowly. “I’ll be stopping by your room afterward.”
I huffed a chuckle. “I’m sure you will.”
Chapter Eighteen
My room at the Temple was directly next to Leric’s, if I remembered correctly from when I had stolen into it years ago. My Lajaks’ rooms ran up and down the hallways to the left if you stepped outside the door, making me wonder whose rooms were to the right of Leric’s. Possibly his Lajaks? I would have to ask, since Roselle had stated these were their rooms for as long as they were in my service, reserved for them. She had also brought me a book on “Dead Zones” and platters of sandwiches, arriving with them just before my Lajaks had entered my room for our nightly meeting—King Collins having stayed in the room with me, guarding me, while they were gone, none of us tired since it wasn’t even noon yet where we came from.
I sat on the white bamboo dresser while they sprawled about my room, eyeing every inch of it while munching absently on sandwiches. “So…fire away.”
I ate a bite of my own sandwich.
“Spirit Elementals can have children with Commoners?” Elder Bridges asked very carefully, very slowly, watching me for my reaction as he sat on the edge of a sofa.
I knew that would be the first question. “Technically, yes.”
“Why do you say technically?” Elder Farrar asked, sitting on the floor, his back to my bed, head tipped up to view me.
I sighed heavily. “Because technically, we can. But,” I pointed at my Core, then my forehead, “we’re spirit Elementals. We keep the balance between not only Mysticals, but also Commoners. The fifth Element. Inside, we are pure. None of us want to have children with Commoners because of the consequences. And I mean, we do not,” I thumped my chest, “want to have children with them. It’s in us. A part of us.” I shook my head. “But, if a spirit goes insane, which can happen when fighting the battle against the dark, the evil, then that part of us, that drive not to have a child with a Commoner, could diminish because,” I shrugged a shoulder, “because we would be insane, forgetting who we are, uncaring of the consequences.”
Elder Merrick sat on my bed, propping his back against the white tiki headboard, prompting, “The consequences are?”
Simple. And the most terrifying part of us. I eyed everyone warily. “Really…we don’t want to have children with Commoners.”
“I know you’re not lying.” Elder Merrick rolled a finger, voice gravelly, appearing damn comfortable on my bed. “Answer the question.”
; “Annihilation.” My words were soft. “All Mysticals would instantly, and magically, die with the birth of one male and one female, produced directly from a spirit and a Commoner. As I said, we are the balance. Although we have Commoner tendencies, some of their weaknesses that make us compatible, we are Mystical. We were gifted with the longer lifespan, given the magic that allows us to keep Mysticals and Commoners safe, but breed with a Commoner, and we…” I picked at my sandwich, “we create an entire new species, a new race, with altered DNA from the Commoner, but with a spirits—a Mysticals—genes dominating the Commoners, making the new species Mystical, so therefore, the balance is ruined, and the only way to offset it, is to take another away.”
King Collins’ voice was choked. “Elder Merrick?”
One guttural word. “Truth.”
The silence was deafening.
I cleared my throat. “Now ask me why you shouldn’t bring an atomic bomb here and annihilate every spirit.”
King Samson’s tone was deadly from where he sat on a windowsill. “Why?”
“As I’ve said, we are the balance. We are the light, the pure. We are needed to fight the dark, the evil, of the world, by Shadow or by Barren, which is the area Leric and I went into the other day, a space between the living to the dead, a holding area for the evil beings of the world that long to be released to their bodies to live again, which we end before they can. If you kill us, then what do you think happens to the world? Not only the Commoners will be killed, but so will the Mysticals, or even, the species created by Com/Mys conception, eventually the dark infecting all until you kill each other off, complete apocalypse. We are a necessary evil. We are the balance, the light and pure.” I flicked my eyes to Elder Merrick’s stony, blank expression.
Guttural. “Truth.”
Elder Samson continued his line of questioning, his thoughts obvious. “How often are spirits actually outside the Temple to fight the Shadows?” And, apparently, he must have read the file before coming here.
Chosen One Page 25
