Earth Elemental

Kendal followed behind Sean along with the rest of the group, Gordan walking at her side. He’d been silent on the car ride and she was still too freaked out and confused herself to attempt conversation. The group had gone back to the bar and piled into their cars. She’d ridden with Gordan because he’d gotten her into this but also because no one else had offered. They’d taken a zig-zag route through downtown and then had taken the highway for about forty minutes into a city she didn’t recognize. They’d parked in an underground garage in the business district and walked the rest of the way. Although Gordan occasionally looked over his shoulder, the rest of the group didn't seem concerned that anyone was following them.

They stopped outside of what looked like a paper shredding company. Kendal watched as Sean mumbled underneath his breath and passed his hands over the door. A red light flashed and then the door hissed open. Together he and Thomas tugged it wider and the rest of them passed through. Kendal looked at the door as she walked by. It was easily five or six inches thick of what looked to be stone.

Inside, a desk sat to the right against the wall, empty at this time of night. To the left was the waiting area, lined with potted plants and filled with cozy seating arrangements. There was a coffee station set along the back wall and as they walked by, she stared longingly at the empty carafe.

Through the lobby, they took a commercial sized elevator which barely fit all of them. Kendal found herself pressed into the back corner with Jaz, the girl who’d called her candy, next to her.

Jess sniffed and turned her head away. Fine with her. Kendal didn’t want to be friends, especially not with one so judgmental.

At the ding, the doors opened and they filed out. Gordan took her hand and tugged her to the right, following after Sean. The rest of them went left and disappeared around the corner.

Double doors stood at the end of the hall and Sean knocked and then walked in. Gordan pulled her to sit in the chairs along the walls.

“Jacob’s a good guy,” he told her. “Don’t worry about it.”

“I’m not worried about anything,” she replied, “mainly because I don’t know enough about anything tonight to be worried.”

He patted her leg and nodded.

“I’m sorry,” he said suddenly, and she looked at him. He was staring down at his hands in his lap. “I shouldn’t have asked you to come tonight.”

She opened her mouth to remind him he’d never actually asked her, when the doors opened and Sean stepped out.

“Come in,” he nodded to her.

They both stood up and Sean held his hand out.

“He just wants to see her right now. Stay here though, Gordan. I’m sure he’ll want to talk to you afterwards.”

Kendal walked into the office. The walls were made of windows and there was a beautiful view of nighttime downtown. The desk sat to her left, where the man behind it could enjoy the sight.

She walked over as he came around the desk, hand extended. He was mid-fifties, she’d guess, his black hair touched with salt at his temples but his eyes, a dark blue, were shrewd as he took her hand.

“Pleasure to meet you. I’m told you’ve had an eventful night.”

Kendal snorted out a laugh.

“Guess you could say that, yeah. I’m Kendal, by the way.” She nodded back at Sean where he remained by the door. “IT just occurred to me that he probably didn’t know my name to tell you.”

“Jacob,” he replied, shaking her hand and then leading her to one of the chairs in front of his desk. He surprised her when he took the seat next to her. “Names have their importance, to be sure, but not necessarily on nights like tonight.”

She frowned at him.

“I’m going to tell you a story.” He patted her hand which she realized he’d never released. She tried to pull away and a small smile curved his mouth when his hold tightened. “Relax and hopefully everything will be explained.”

Her frown deepened but she took a deep breath and leaned back. She was okay with story time.

“Thousands and thousands of years ago, before the earth had been created, there were two ancient gods, Apsu and Tiamet. These gods gave birth to a horde of children, all gods as well, and for a time, their parents were pleased. Their children, however, were loud and noisy, as children can be, and disturbed their father when he tried to sleep. In his anger and frustration, Apsu went to his priest, Mummu, to seek council. Mummu told him to kill the younger gods. Tiamet, the mother, warned her children and the eldest of them, Enki, spelled Apsu into sleep and killed him. Tiamet, in her grief over the loss of her mate, created a monster to help her battle her children. Tiamet and her children fought for years until one of them, Marduk, defeated her monster and slew Tiamet. From her eyes, rivers flowed and from her body, Marduk created the earth.”

Jacob sat silently as Kendal digested this bit of legend. It was a heartbreaking tale, yes, but what did it have to do with her?

She must’ve spoken her thought out loud, because Jacob smiled.

“That story, those gods, are the foundation of our organization. Sean told you that we fight a battle many are not aware of.”

She nodded in agreement.

“What if I told you that it wasn’t just a story, but fact. When Enki killed Apsu, he used his remains to build his home. Apsu’s priest, Mummu, has been trying for millennium to retrieve those remains and bring his god back to life. He’s been searching for the scrolls where Marduk documented the location of Enki’s home.” He paused. “We have those scrolls. Our organization was created to keep them hidden, to fight against the acolytes of Mummu. His plan is to bring Apsu back to life and in doing so, will mean the end of life on earth.”

“What do you mean, the end of life?” She gasped at the thought. “How?”

“If Apsu comes back to life, he’ll be full of rage and grief over what happened to Tiamet. Remember, they were the creator gods. What do you think he would do to bring her back to life with him?”

He watched her as she thought it through, those dark eyes studying her as if he could read her mind.

“Are you saying-” She took a deep breath, unable to believe what she was about to say. “Do you mean that he would destroy the earth to get her remains back? You said Marduk used her body to make the earth, her tears to create the rivers. If Apsu were to take those away…”

She trailed off in horror, shocked at the enormity of what he was saying..

Jacob nodded.

“Exactly. He would destroy the earth to bring his mate back.”

Kendal sat there, her mind churning. Finally, she looked back at Jacob.

“Can I help?” she asked. “What can I do? I don’t have any magic.”

He squeezed her hand and smiled.

“You have more than you know,” he told her. “I’ve been sensing it this whole time.” He lifted their joined hands. “Touch makes it easier to read people.”

She jerked her hand back and he let her this time.

“What do you mean, read people? Can you read my mind?”

He shook his head.

“Not your thoughts, just a general sense. Your aura, if you like. I can tell you have suppressed powers. And yes, to answer your question. You can help. You’ll just have to train first.”

“Yes,” she nodded, “I want to learn. I don’t think I have any powers, at least not right now, but I’ll try.”

He stood up and gestured her to follow him. They left his office and Gordan followed them down a hall. The room they entered was dark until Jacob whispered something and candles lit, surrounding the room with softly flickering light.

“The first element most begin with, the easiest for most to learn, is fire,” Jacob said as he led them deeper into the room where a small stand held unlit candles. “We’ll start there and see where we go.”

He took her hands and placed them around one of the candles.

“Close your eyes,” he instructed so Kendal did. “Now, picture the flame, see the candle lit. Feel the heat, hear the crackling as it burns.”

Kendal focused, drawing the picture in her mind until she could see a lit candle. Her thoughts were jumbled, disturbed still by the story he’d told her, and she kept losing sight of it, but she forced herself to calm. She took deep breaths, steadied her heartbeats.

“Good,” Jacob’s voice startled her and she twitched, nearly dropping the candle in her hands. “Relax. Deep breaths, feel the warmth. Can you feel it? In here?”

His hand landed on her belly and she focused where he touched. Warmth yes, a small pool of heat.

“Yes,” she whispered the word, afraid to break her concentration.

“Very good.” His voice was in her ear. “Now pull it up.”

His hand moved up her stomach, between her breasts, and centered in the middle of her breastbone.

She pictured the small flame in her belly, coaxed it up, up, till her chest grew warm. She felt sweat break out on her forehead, drip down her cheeks, as if she stood in front of a fire. She heard voices behind her but ignored them, focused on the heat inside.

“Let it out, Kendal,” Jacob voice seemed to come from inside her head. “Let it move down your arms, into your hands, and then the candle.”

His hands moved as he spoke, stroking her arms and the backs of her hands where she held the candle. She took a deep breath and pushed, her mind holding the picture of the flame as it traveled as he instructed. She heard someone gasp, another curse, and blinked open her eyes.

“Did it not work? Did I do something wrong? Oh,” she exclaimed as she saw the candle alight in her hands. She let out a delighted laugh. “Look” She lifted it. “Look what I did!”

In her hands, the flame flickered but it was green. Green light glowed from the wick, coloring the room in a green tinge. Holding the candle, she spun and held it out to Jacob, Sean, and Gordan. Her grin wavered when she saw their shocked faces.

Lowering the candle, she frowned.

“Did I do something wrong? It’s green but I still lit it by myself.” She looked down at the green light, proud of herself despite their reactions. “I did this.”

Jacob recovered and stepped towards her. He studied her face and then looked down at the softly flickering green light.

“Never have I seen someone light a green flame,” he told her. “You must be an earth sign, but I’ve worked with them before and still, their flames are red. They also need a lot more practice to even light the candles.” He shook his head. “For you to light the candle so easily and it to be green…” His voice trailed off.

“What does it mean?” Kendal asked when he’d been silent a minute.

He studied the candle, the green light casting his face in eerie shadows.

“I’m not sure,” he whispered. He lifted his eyes to hers. “I’ve only read about this, never seen it,” he repeated. “From what I’ve read, it means you should be able to harness all elements equally and if that’s true,” a grin appeared and the green light made it sinister. “If that’s true, then you’ll be our greatest weapon.”