The Five Elements

Queen Gabrielle

Suki's PoV:

I rub my nose as consciousness returns to me. I'm enveloped in a familiar warmth. Familiar. Familiar how?

I open my eyes. Before me is a peacefully sleeping Tyler. His arms are loosely wrapped around me, and our legs are tangled together. My hands are resting against his chest.

I blush. This is new. This is very new. This is so new that it's never happened before.

I bury my head into his chest and breathe in his scent. It's reminiscent of the earth after a rainstorm. Soothing, calm, and relaxing.

I soon find myself falling back to sleep.

~~time skip~~

After Tyler and I had our embarrassing moment this morning, he left my room to get ready for our meeting today.

We're now in a limousine with the other Sages heading to the capital.

Haruka is typing away on her laptop, finishing any last minute emails, John is staring aimlessly out the window, Raiden is playing games on his phone, and Tyler and I are chatting about things that have happened while we were separated.

"It was so cool, you should have been there, Suki!" Tyler rambles excitedly on about a recent mission of theirs. They were tasked with busting an underground slave trade. When they got there, a battle broke out. They were luckily able to catch the criminals without any casualties.

Slave trading...despicable.

Yeah...it's awful.

Sometimes I can't believe that people could do such things...then I remember all those wars.

...yeah humans have a horrible track record.

I frown instinctively at mine and Kane's hiden conversation. Unwanted memories flood my mind.

A hue of color turning red in low lighting, my brother's tear stained face, his busted lip, clothes scattered across the floor, my trembling body, and Captain Endo's enraged expression.

I'm snapped out of it by Tyler gently calling my name. His worried expression let's me know that I've been thinking for far too long.

"I'm fine. Just got to thinking about some things," I mumble with a wave of my hand, hoping he'll drop it.

I guess he gets it, for Tyler doesn't speak again until we arrive at the Queen's castle.

The Castle is located in the middle of the capitol, which in turn is located at the center of the world. The castle is over 10 stories tall, over 25 thousand square feet, with over 200 rooms, an enormous Ballroom, dining room, kitchen, a bathroom for each room (plus some), and a multitude of other rooms. All in all, the Castle is beyond gigantic. It's unfathomable.

A concrete wall with ivy growing on it is about 15 feet tall. A pair of giant silver gates mark the entrance. Off to the side is an intercom system with a guard standing by it.

The guards of this castle are mages and non-mages, who are absolutely qualified. They have more training than any officer on the street, and some have more training than a Captain at Lilith M. Academy.

The guard seems bored with his post but is still attentive to his surroundings. His deep brown eyes pierce through me even though I'm sitting comfortably in the limousine.

John, the oldest out of us, steps out of the vehicle and approaches the guard. When the guard sees John, he bows at a 90 degree angle. The two have a short conversation before the guard gets on the intercom and says something into it. John gets back into the limousine. His expression never changed once.

The gates open with a dull shriek.

Our driver takes us up to the front of the castle were she parks then opens the door for us. We thank her and make our way up the stairs.

Tyler knocks on the doors, and a dull sound accompanies it. The large wooden doors open, and out steps four butlers and maids.

"Greetings masters," they say in chorus.

The four other Sages offer greetings to what appears to be their maid and butler.

I look on in curiosity and remember something important. The Sages live with the ruler. That's how it's always been. Tyler and the others live here, in the castle, with the Queen and their own maids and butlers.

I'm a Sage now so does that mean...I'll start living here?

It does indeed.

I gasp. No way. Here?

Amazing!

I hide my grin and look up at the stairs. A figure is elegantly making its way down the steps. The clicking sound of heels echo, silencing us all. The figure is an older woman with completely milky white hair and cream skin. Wrinkles are obviously there but don't take away from the beauty that is her. Her eyes are a striking vibrant icy blue. She's wearing an elegant purple dress that compliments her figure with white heels. The sight of her catches my breath.

That's the Queen!!

I panic and glance over at Tyler who is smilling at her. I look to the others who are all smiling at her, with the exception of John who just nods her way.

Once at the bottom of the steps, the Queen greets each Sage then turns to me. Our eyes meet causing my stomach to turn.

"Nice t-to me..meet you-you your Majesty," I fumble out dumbly.

She suddenly smiles at me. "Nice to finally meet you, Suki. Call me Gabrielle."