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.
My brows lifted. “Killing every spirit off, except for Leric and I is not an option. Spirits are outside the Temple way more than you realize. Guardians are there all the time, fighting the Shadows.” I shrugged a shoulder. “You just don’t remember.” I blinked, holding a finger up. “Also, any spirit who chooses to be a Guardian is sterilized magically—no children, just in case they lose it during battle.”
“Truth,” Elder Merrick murmured. “The woman you interacted with at the meeting. She mentioned her worries that the One wouldn’t be able to find you if you became pregnant from a Commoner, as if, he should be able to…”
I nodded once, pleased he had caught that. “Yes. I will also eventually have this power, but the One can feel when a child has been conceived between a Com and Mys, when conception occurs inside the womb.” My lips thinned, this part I didn’t care for. “He, and I—when I’m powerful enough—are sent to take care of the issue before birth.”
My nostrils flared when everyone became mute, understanding what I was saying. “It’s not a part of the job I relish, but I will do it. We are not Gods. Those on the planet, are meant to be. Any new species of higher living, should not be derived from evil, and that would be the case to kill so many innocents.”
King Zeller flopped heavily on the other side of my bed, his gaze carefully neutral. “Would he be able to know if you were pregnant from a Com with the protection surrounding you?”
I went for the brutal truth. “Honestly, I don’t believe so. My body would be the shell, anything inside protected.” I eyed each of them. “But I would terminate a pregnancy such as that in a heartbeat. I’m not insane.” I pointed to my chest. “I am still a spirit Elemental, the pure driving me. I am strong. Honestly, stronger than I ever knew, handling the Barren as I did, because as I explained in the meeting, when Leric and I end them, their evil, twisted memories flash through our minds. It’s only a job for the strongest willed and minded, a job until we die. I won’t go insane.”
Brann’s lips were thinned, not hiding his emotions as well. “It still may be wise for you to have your tubes tied magically, in case you were ever spelled by someone more powerful to continue on a pregnancy from rape.”
Elder Samson snorted. “What would be wise is for every spirit Elemental to never leave the fucking Temple, unless they were Guardians.”
King Collins flashed him a look. “She is my Prodigy.”
Dry words from Elder Samson. “And, that, is your misfortune.”
I waved my hands before this escalated, King Collins appearing extremely irritated. “Hold it. I’ll answer these questions.” I glanced to Brann. “I have thought about tying my tubes magically as any spirit considers with the threat. That is an option, although, I will state, I do want children eventually.” I glanced to Elder Samson. “As for spirits leaving the Temple,” my head teetered, “it’s all about the balance. Where dark and light correlate, everyone, except for a spirit, has the option of being evil or good. It is their choice. But where we are concerned, we are the pure; we fight the evil offspring others choose. It is not a choice, it is a part of us, it compels us, so therefore, balance must be made. Where choice is taken away in one area, it is gifted in another.”
“Your choice of the Temple,” Elder Farrar stated, listening closely.
I nodded once. “Everything is based on choice here, even our Laws derive from a choice.”
Sin was sitting with his head cocked on his hand on the vanity chair, leaning causally on the stand. “And you chose…me.”
My lips curved softly, and I nodded. “Yes, I chose love.”
“Over all the risks…” King Zeller stated slowly. “You chose Sin.”
An immediate snort from Elder Samson. “Now, that sounds insane.”
Sin immediate shot him a cold, calculated stare. “Then you, Elder Samson, have never experienced unconditional love.” Emerald green eyes flicked over the Elder’s face. “Have you?”
I stared at the Elder’s neutral face as he eyed Sin mutely. “A life without Sin isn’t a life I wish to lead.”
Golden eyes flicked to me, gaze instantly incredulously. “Do you realize how contradictory that sounds with your blathering of being pure?”
I waved an absent hand. “It’s just his name.” My head teetered. “Besides, every pure needs,” head tilted to Sin, “a not-so-pure.”
Humored words from Sin. “Thank you, love.”
“It worked, huh?” I rolled pointed fingers around each other. “With the whole balancing?”
“Definitely.”
I nodded once. “I thought so.”
“While your love for each other is endearing,” Elder Bridges murmured, then instantly rubbed his nose, his forehead crinkling, “actually, it’s irritating the shit out of me,” more rubbing, “I’d like to move on for now, and ask how often children are conceived by Mys and Com.”
Ah…I had hoped they wouldn’t ask that one. “Not often.”
“Explain,” Elder Merrick instantly demanded, and I could feel his navy eyes gauging me heavily.
Dammit.
I sighed. “There have only ever been a few in recorded history. Within the last thousand years there have only been two.” The few before that, I hadn’t paid too much attention to.
He rolled a finger. “Continue.” Damn wolf on the fucking hunt.