“Amnesty is going to happen, even if I have to do it alone.” Job said for the benefit of the entire Council. “I already drew up the proclamation and it’s ready to be sent out. You see a copy of it right there in front of you. It’s the best choice for us all. I believe it and the Earth House doesn’t need any other support to see it through.”
“You’re such a fucking idealist, Job.” Story, of the Wave House shook her head and didn’t look up from her vintage Gameboy. “Always crusading for the downtrodden and outcasts. Outcasts are usually
cast out
for a reason, ya know.”
The Wave House was apolitical about every issue except their video game and Blu-ray collections, so Job didn’t bother to argue with that. Story would abstain from giving a real opinion about anything, so there wasn’t any point in a debate. Honestly, Job wasn’t sure why the Wave House even showed up at Council meetings
“Maybe. But I want to make it very clear that I will not tolerate any violence against the Air Phases who I allow into my kingdom.” Job fixed his attention on Raj, again. The boy’s kamikaze hatred towards the Air House could get people killed. “Once I give them amnesty, they’re members of the Earth House. Anyone who attacks them, will be attacking me.”
Raj looked apoplectic. He went storming out of the chamber without bothering to reply. So, the Seats of several other Houses, including Raisa.
Before she left, though, Raisa stopped to pin Job with a look full of fanatical zeal. “One day you’ll understand Gaia’s purpose in this cleansing, Job. You’ll be Awakened, as I was, to the truth.” Her finger shook with passionate conviction as she pointed at him. “Gaia withdrew her light because of our sins and now we walk in darkness. This is a time of testing. Forget your arrogance and bend your thoughts to first and last things, before it’s too late for you.”
Job sighed as Raisa swept out. Great. Now, she was paraphrasing Camus, apparently without the slightest bit of irony. Only a Radiation Phase could preach for their crazy religion using quotes from existentialist literature, which -by definition- questioned the meaning of everything.
“What a bitch.” Story muttered to no one in particular.
“The Water House will give amnesty.” Nia put-in, quietly. “So long as I make
real
sure the Air Phases petitioning for it aren’t going to hurt Ty.” Parald was still obsessed with Ty. No one would put it past him to send spies to infiltrate the Water Kingdom and try to kidnap her.
“Brokk will watch out for Ty.” Abram, of the Wood House interjected, firmly. “He’s very dedicated to his new job. Do not worry about that.”
Job resisted the urge to roll his eyes at that understatement. Since Uriel found his Match, Ty had been given a new bodyguard. Brokk, of the Wood House took crazy, rule following, protectiveness to new heights of paranoid mania. There had never been a Wood Phase so determined to live up to every stereotype of fanatical glory and honor, do-or-die Wood Phase-ness.
“The Shadow House will give amnesty, as well.” Nia sent her Match a pointed look. “Right, Cross?”
“Oh, baby, come
on
.” Cross groaned. “We’re not going to really…”
Nia cut him off. “It’s the right thing to do. It will help Ty stay safe.”
The arguing continued on all sides.
Job tuned out all the shouting and checked the time.
This could take a while.
The Magnet House, Smoke House, Air House, and Cloud House no longer had representatives on the Council. Their chairs were tipped forward against the table. Now it seemed liked the Crystal House’s spokesperson would be gone forever, too. Plus, several Houses had just stormed out. Even with all the empty seats around the Council table, though, there were still plenty of Houses all with something to say.
Which was good. Job didn’t want to stifle people’s opinions. Usually. Right now, he really wished they’d all shut up, so he could get back to Tessie.
Job found himself doodling the same cheerful house and palm trees on his legal pad, surrounding it with the same large heart. He wondered what Tessie was doing. If she was still naked… Maybe in the shower, thinking of him, and…
“Who’s that woman?” Nia whispered from beside him. “You got a girlfriend?”
For a second, Job’s mind went blank. How had she known…?
Then, he saw what he’d drawn. Amidst the flowers and trees on the neatly drawn lawn, there was a girl with dark hair and Tessie’s infectious smile, holding hands with… Job.
Shit.
“Ummm.” He looked at Nia out of the corner of his eyes. His first instinct was to deny that the woman existed, at all. Nia was the closest thing that Job had to a friend, though. She was his niece-in-law, technically, but, before she’d even met Cross, she’d been important to Job. Nia had grown up in that seat beside him, sitting on her uncle’s knee and pestering Job with questions. He trusted Nia more than anyone.
“She’s my houseguest.” He said, warily.
“Oh yeah? Who is she? An Earth Phase?”
Job shrugged. “Not exactly.”
Nia smiled. “Alright, be secretive. This is good, though. Really. What’s she like?”
Divine. Beautiful. Alive.
“She made me watch
Days of Our Lives
.”
Nia laughed, then quickly lowered her voice, again. “Seriously? That’s fantastic! You must really like her to go so far in the name of romance.”
“It wasn’t that bad.” Job said, truthfully. Herod, of the Gravity House was pontificating on the importance of something or other and Job found himself not caring. At all. “Nia, can we discuss something personal or would it make you uncomfortable?”
“We’re family, Job. We’re allowed to make each other uncomfortable. It’s a package deal.”
He appreciated that. Truthfully, if Job could have only saved one House in the universe, it would have been the Water Kingdom. Although it was probably wrong to admit it, he loved them more than even the Earth Phases. Nia, Ty and Tharsis were treasures. They gave so much to the world.
They gave Job and Cross a family.
“How did Cross get you to…
like
him?” Job kept his attention on his legal pad. “Was it because you were a Match?”
“No. Well,
yes
. But, I think it was more that I… knew him. I don’t know how to explain it. I looked at him and I just
knew
him. I wasn’t alone, anymore.”
Job would have given anything to have that. If the feeling of wholeness he felt with Tessie was actually real, it would be the answer to all his prayers.
“Job, you want this woman to like you?” Nia pressed when he remained quiet. “Is that what you’re saying? You want advice?”
Pride gave way to the overwhelming desire to win Tessie over. “Yes.”
“Be yourself and buy her something pretty, Casanova.” Nia winked. “She won’t know what hit her.”
Spies are a most important element in war
Sun Tzu- “The Art of War”
Reaction to Job’s mass email hit the Air Kingdom like an atom bomb, obliterating the precarious sense of eye-of-the-hurricane calm most Air Phases lived in and changing the landscape forever. It sent Parald into a manic fit and most Air Phases into quiet soul-searching as they contemplated the future.
Amnesty.
The promise of it was going to rip the shaky foundations of the Air Kingdom apart. Gion could see it coming. Parald was not a popular ruler and a lot of people wanted to escape him.
Job was respected enough that even the arrogant, cynical Air Phases were going to believe his word and make a grab for a clean slate. Like all immigrants, Air Phases were going to risk it all for the chance for a better life. It was just a matter of time.
Amnesty.
The official Council proclamation was formal, filled with caveats and regulations. Only certain Houses would participate and they could screen all applications however they saw fit. Air Phases would have to break all ties with the Air House and follow the rules of their new home. Spies would be dealt with harshly. Violence would not be tolerated.
Blah, blah, blah.
For Gion, the majority of the document was the meaningless legalize that Job reveled in. The first sentence was all that mattered and his eyes traced over it again and again.
The Council of All Houses offers general amnesty and sanctuary for all Air Phases who wish to leave the Air House and denounce Parald.
Amnesty.
The word was like a balm to whatever remained of his soul.
Freedom.
“Do you believe this shit?” Isaacs crumpled up his printout of the letter and snorted in total disgust. “Like I need to logon to my computer and read that the Council is finally willing to forgive me for being born.”
Isaacs usually radiated congenial madness; a smiling sociopath who could whistle cheerily while cutting off his enemies’ fingers one knuckle at a time. But Job’s letter had definitely unsettled his normal equilibrium. “I’m just trying to get by and look at some internet porn. Where the hell do they get off emailing me daily affirmations of their damn self-righteous pity?”
Gion’s thumb unconsciously rubbed over the names of the Houses offering sanctuary. The second one listed was the Water Kingdom. He was torn between extreme annoyance that those idiots were so trusting and a desperate, unfamiliar surge of hope.
“They’re trying to undermine me!” Parald slammed a fist against the arm of his throne. “Throne” really was the only word for it. Tall back, lots of gilding, red velvet seat… It just couldn’t have been more of an overcompensating eyesore unless Parald invested in neon lighting of some kind. Gion was careful never to give him the idea. “The Council is trying to steal my people away!”
“Well, they’re wasting their time, sire.” Gion finally dragged his attention from his own printout and looked at Parald. The King of the Air House looked like a Ken doll; a perfect, plastic representation of non-threatening masculinity. But, his artificial blond wholesomeness masked an empty soul.
Parald was evil in the truest sense of the word.
“We won’t lose many people over this.” Gion continued. “No one worthy, anyway. Why would any Phase choose to live under the Council, when they could stay here and enjoy all the benefits that
you’ve
provided?” There was a thin line between simply lying and utter sarcasm. Gion knew he was edging towards the latter, but Parald was too much of a megalomaniac to notice.
In fact, he nodded in agreement with Gion’s facetious drawl. “Gaia knows, I am a
much
stronger leader than that asshole Job.” Parald tore up the email into tiny, vengeful pieces. “But you’re forgetting how weak Phases can be. They could be seduced away with pretty promises. Our numbers will be decreased.” The shredded bits of paper were thrown into the air like confetti; a small ticker tape parade to Parald’s fury. “They already took my Match! Isn’t that enough?”
Gion’s jaw tightened. Any time that Parald mentioned Ty, it set his teeth on edge. “Yes, it’s an inspiration how you bear up so mightily under Job’s constant plots.” Sarcasm became outright sneering, but Gion still couldn’t make himself modulate his tone.
Isaacs flashed Gion a frown.
Parald merely nodded. “Job’s always been duplicitous.” He muttered.
“Exactly. He’s trying to antagonize you, sire. Job’s desperate.” Gion carefully folded his amnesty letter into quarters and tucked it into his pocket. “I don’t think we should even give the Council the satisfaction of responding to this blatant and pitiful attempt to goad you.”
Parald frowned as if he was actually thinking that over.
“Are you serious, Gion?” Isaacs demanded. “If we ignore this, the Council will…” He broke off suddenly as Saxon came swaggering into the room.
“Finally, someone I can depend on!” Parald chortled. “What do you have to report?”
Isaacs sent Gion a look from the corner of his eye.
The two of them spent countless hours plotting how to murder the other, but at least Gion and Isaacs maintained a working relationship based on professionalism. They’d been trained as soldiers and stood as numbers one and two in Parald’s army.
Saxon, on the other hand, was a just a sadistic fuck with big ambitions.
Saxon was being fast-tracked as Gion’s replacement and the Air House didn’t do retirement plans. There wasn’t a doubt in Gion’s mind that his head was already on the chopping block.
Literally.
Gion pretended not to notice the writing on the wall, even though Parald’s stupidity annoyed him. Did the moron think Gion wouldn’t sense his looming execution? He wasn’t buying that his new security force was anything other than a roving guard. Plus, it didn’t take Machiavelli to deduce that, once Gion was out of the way, Saxon would set his sights on Parald’s tacky throne. Parald’s ego always made him underestimate others.
Still, Gion had no intention of letting Saxon kill him and it suited his purposes to keep Parald alive, so Saxon had some tough career setbacks on his horizon.
His face remained impassive as Saxon came closer.
“Sire, we’ve lost twelve Phases to the enemy’s side, so far.” Saxon reported. “Seven evaded us. Five, I executed trying to escape.”
Meaning Parald and Saxon just found a convenient excuse to murder anyone who had caused them problems this week.
“Who did we lose to the Council?” Isaacs demanded.
“No one important.” Saxon shrugged as if the question was beneath his notice.
Idiot.
Physically, Saxon was the strongest Air Phase. Seven and a half feet of muscle, he wore his short blond hair in a spiked, punk rock style. He also possessed a crafty sort of intelligence and a sadistic streak that would have done Gacy proud.
“A few weaklings left, who we’re better off without. Norse, Eira, Bryony…”
“Bryony left?” Parald scowled. “She’s always been a troublemaker. I should have executed her long ago. This is the thanks I get for being merciful. Hunt her down and kill her.”
Saxon’s pale eyes gleamed. “Of course, sire. I’ll track down all the traitors and see that they’re dealt with.”
“Good. And Gion?” Parald got right in his face. “You focus on getting me my Match. For two years, I’ve told you that I want her here and now I’m telling you that this is your
last chance
. Her damn human trial’s tomorrow and that will be the perfect opportunity.”
“We need to get Ty away from the humans.” Saxon put in. “Parson’s grandson is down there and all the women want to try Phazing with him, so…”
“It’s a disgrace!” Parald interrupted, righteously. He did a lot of interrupting. Psychopaths weren’t the best listeners. They didn’t care much what other people had to say. “A half-breed touching one of our women. I can’t think of anything more disgusting.” He hesitated. “Ty hasn’t gone to this human, has she?” He slanted Gion a suspicious frown. “You’ve been watching her? I don’t want that fucking monkey touching my Match.”
“Neither do I.” Gion assured him truthfully.
Gion had no real prejudice against humans and he couldn’t care less if basically anyone else in the world wanted to Phaze with one.
But, not Ty.
Ever since he’d first seen them together, Gion had nursed the low-grade fear that Ty might experiment with Sullivan. After all, no one really knew how Phazing with a human worked. Parald was Ty’s one and only Match, but she’d renounced his ass. Normally, that meant that neither one of them could Phaze with anyone else. But, humans were different. Maybe Ty
could
Phaze with Sullivan, with his mixture of Elemental and human DNA.
Ty possessed a brilliant, unpredictable, scientific mind. She just might give it a try. What did she have to lose? Especially, since every female Phase in existence wanted to see that human cop out of his uniform.
Worse, Sullivan Pryce
liked
Ty.
A lot.
Gion saw it when Ty got arrested by the humans. While Ty worked through her panic attack, Sullivan had petted her soft, red hair. Gion had watched from outside Ty’s jail cell as the human’s palm caressed her curls; the bright strands sliding between his fingers and caressing his skin.
That pretty much put Sullivan Pryce on Gion’s shit-list for life.
“
GET. ME. MY. MATCH.
” Parald bit off. “Understand?”
Gion wasn’t a good man.
He would never be Parson, of the Wood House and he’d certainly never be Job.
On the plus side, being a selfish bastard made him an excellent liar. That helped Gion a lot when dealing with Parald. This was one time, though, where he could tell the absolute truth.
“Oh, I’ll get Ty.” Gion said calmly. “I give you my word. I am utterly committed to it.”