Tower Between Worlds

The first thing Elaris noticed when he stepped into the Garden was that the atmosphere was different. A heaviness in the air that most commonly meant that Rhee was in a very bad mood. He supposed that he couldn't blame her. Lately, his duties had kept him away for long periods of time. She was by herself here, which was a little unfair to her. However, she should be used to it by now.
"Rhee?" He called. "I'm back."
She didn't answer, although he hadn't really expected her to. If she was angry with him, she'd make him look for her.
He started up the path, towards the lake. Something crunched underneath his boot. He looked down to see the remnants of a marble statue. Yep, she was definitely mad at him. He had been hoping to avoid that. She was unpredictable when she was upset.
The head of the statue had rolled into some bushes, and he stooped to pick it up. Ah, she had destroyed the goddess statue that he'd brought back for her some time ago. The lovely, flawless face of Aelia had remained untouched by Rhee's temper tantrum, thankfully. The desecration of the goddess was bad enough. To mar her sculpted cheek would have been even worse. Aelia did not forgive lightly.
He tucked the head of the goddess under his left arm, carrying her as he continued down the path to the lake. He would have to reprimand Rhee when he found her. Something he really didn't like doing. The poor girl certainly had every right to be angry with the gods, and with himself.
Rhee wouldn't be pleased when she found out that he had to go right back, either. He'd just come to check up on her. In a couple of days, he had a debriefing. He'd more than likely be sent back out on a Mission soon after that.
As he walked in the direction that he was sure he'd find her, he began to feel uneasy. Not only the atmosphere seemed unbalanced, but even the shadows seemed darker and deeper. Was she really in that bad of a mood?
Something was watching him. He could sense it's malevolent stare between his shoulder blades. And for some reason, it didn't seem like it was Rhee. How was that possible? This Garden was sealed. No one could come here, not even animals.
He glanced around warily, reaching for the gun at his hip that he'd left behind in his office. He shook his head, a long strand of dark hair falling into his eyes. He'd been in the field too long. There was nothing here. There couldn't be. He brushed the strand back, wishing he'd thought to bring something to tie back his locks. He felt like he was going into battle. If Rhee was angry enough, he might be doing just that.
A butterfly tickled his nose as it flew past. Wait...what? A butterfly? Frowning, he watched as its blue and green wings fluttered through the trees. There was only one way for the insect to have come here. "Rhee!" He shouted, his voice ringing out over the emptiness. The Garden was so still and silent that he could hear his own heartbeat. How did she--? "Rhee!"
Carefully, he quickly walked up the path to the lake. He had to find her quickly. If she'd brought the butterfly here, he could be in serious trouble. She wasn't supposed to be able to do things like that! His mind went completely blank, as he watched a small rabbit hop it's way across the path. A feeling of impending doom clenched his stomach. This...was not good! What else could she have done?!
Something of a much darker nature was here, besides the butterfly and the rabbit. It's eyes followed his every move, and even though he hadn't seen it yet, he knew it was there. What evil has she brought into the Garden? He wondered a little anxiously. He shouldn't have left her by herself for so long!
Cursing at his stupidity, he finally came to the lake. Rhee's back was to him, her knee-length silver-blue hair blowing in the light, impossible breeze that flowed around her. She wasn't staring into the water as he'd expected, though. Instead, she was looking at a thick, ornate door that stood on the opposite bank of the lake.
"They've been coming through for a while now." She told him without facing him.
Elaris took a deep breath, trying to relax. "They?" He asked. He could see the smooth curve of her cheek through the thick hair that blew around her face. "Rhee, where did that door come from?"
"The door has always been here. But, until now, it had been inactive."
"I would have seen it." He protested.
"Then maybe it just got here." She said, her voice no more than a gentle sigh. "Just like them."
"Rhee..." He walked over to her, gently taking her elbow with his free hand. She shook him off, evading the contact. She still wouldn't look at him, but that was no big surprise. She never did. She was cursed with the ability to see through the masks that people wore, and often that was reflected back at the person through her eyes. Sometimes, a person became insane after seeing themselves for what they really were. At times, he wondered what she would see, if she ever looked at him. He knew that she saw herself as some sort of hideous monster. She'd even told him as much.
He'd seen her image reflected in the water, but had never seen such a thing. Although, that was the only way he'd ever seen her eyes, which were a strange kaleidoscope of colors that swirled with the light of thousands of stars. He was no poet, but beauty like hers was something to sing about, not hide away.
"How did the butterfly and the rabbit get here, Rhee? Through that door?"
"The butterfly? And the rabbit...?" She wondered vaguely, still staring at the door. "They were here before they arrived."
"Who are they?" He asked again.
"The monsters." She whispered, wrapping her arms over her chest, as if she were chilled.
He spun her around, and she lowered her eyes immediately. "Monsters?" He demanded.
"Monsters." She repeated. "They came through the door."
"Rhee, did you murder the goddess statue?" He had the oddest feeling that she was telling the truth. He'd felt something on his way here, even if he couldn't say what it was.
"I tried to fix her, but they kept breaking her." She told him, staring at the goddess' head in the crook of his arm. "I came here, because I thought I could stop them from coming through the door. I can't. I don't have the power."
"What kind of monsters are they?" He asked her.
"Their teeth are sharp, and their claws can slice through marble. They killed the deer, and ate it"
"The deer? What deer?"
She pointed to the carcass of a fallen deer near the tree in the shade. "It had been here for a while. I needed company."
Company? "Rhee, are you bringing animals here?" He asked, uncomfortably. If she was, he had to do something to stop her. Rhee was very dangerous to living creatures. One moment, she could be sweet and loving. The next, she would rip them asunder with her bare hands. This was part of the reason that she'd become a prisoner within the Garden. She was more than a little mad.
She turned away from him. "I did not really bring them. They didn't exist before."
"Didn't--" He ran a hand through his hair. He understood what she was saying, but it was impossible! "Rhee, you know your powers are sealed, right?"
"Gone." She whispered.
"Yes. Gone. You can't create things any more. I don't like it when you lie to me. Where did the animals come from? And that door? What kind of monsters came through it? Give me a straight answer, Rhee. Not riddles."
"Which question is most important?"
"Rhee!" His frustration was growing. "Fine! Tell me about the monsters first. I have to know what we're dealing with here. How do I kill them? Is that a direct enough question for you?!"
She sighed, sitting on the grass beside the lake. "You're no fun any more, Elaris. You kill them with light, as they come from the dark."
"The name of the monsters, Rhee."
"Ghosts. Specters. Call them what you will. They're here for me. They're always here, whispering to me, telling me the things that they wish would happen to me. They curse me for still being alive, while they're dead. That's the extent of their power."
"How long have they been here?"
"Since the door activated itself. I don't know how long. Since the last time you came."
"Are they--were they human, Rhee?"
"Human?" She didn't seem to know the term. He didn't know why he'd thought she would. Humans were something she'd never seen, so she wouldn't know what he meant. Luckily, he could pass as one, so he could move amongst them without suspect. However, if a medical doctor had examined him thoroughly, they would find that he was as alien as Rhee was.
"Never mind." He said. "It doesn't matter. I know you don't understand what I'm talking about. They're not really a threat, then?"
"Not really." She replied. "They just don't like me."
"They're not even supposed to be here! I don't understand." He complained. "Alright. How about the other thing? The animals."
"The animals came from the stars, and fell into the Garden." She replied. "I needed company, and you're gone all the time."
"You created them." Elaris confirmed weakly. "That's what you're telling me. You're powers have returned."
"Gone." She shook her head.
"Not if you're creating again!" He retorted. "Rhee, do you realize how dangerous you are?! You should have told me sooner!"
"I'm sorry."
He sat down beside her. "I have important things I'm doing out in the world, you know. I can't be here all the time."
"I know."
"You don't have to be so understanding! I'd rather you were angry with me. Maybe, anyway. I don't know. Depends upon how far that anger extends. I'm here to help you."
"I know that."
"But I haven't. Instead, I've been neglecting what is most important. You--"
"Elaris, why are you berating yourself? You couldn't have known this would happen."
"I should have! This Garden--this entire Tower--is the central point. If something happens here, it could be catastrophic! I have to pay more attention to what is going on!" He stood up abruptly, walking over to the lake. He stared at his reflection, his jaw set. "I can't go back. Not now. Maybe not ever."
She came up behind him, her hand gently touching his shoulder. "You have things you need to do out there." She told him. "Important things, remember? I'm fine." She dropped her hand, realizing that she'd touched him of her own accord. She moved away from him quickly, before he had the chance to react.
"Rhee--" Inside his skull, a voice screamed out Dr. Elaris! Dr. Elaris! Open the damn door! He gasped, clutching his head. So, it begins. The call back to that other world was almost too strong to ignore. He'd almost forgotten about the debriefing. Time within the Tower and the Garden was different than out there.
"Elaris?" Rhee asked, concerned.
"It's nothing." He assured her, the pain inside his head intensifying. He heard a fist striking hollow metal as LaLei pounded on the door to his office insistently. Dr. Elaris! Hurry up! I don't have all day! "Oh, gods." He muttered. "Go away, LaLei, before you kill me."
"LaLei?" Rhee asked him.
"The Cada. I told you about her, right? She's the leader of the group I work with. She--" Dr. Elaris! You're pissing me off! You're already running late! The knocking on the metal and the LaLei's shrill voice pierced his brain, making it difficult to think.
"Can you shut her out?"
"No." He said wryly. "Half of me is there still. That's why I can hear her. Being in two places at once is fairly taxing. If she opened the door, she'd see me asleep at my desk. She wouldn't be able to wake me up, which would probably scare her."
"Then you need to go back."
"I can't. I have to find a way to reseal your abilities."
"But--"
"Rhee, this is more important." He interrupted. "I can't let you do whatever you wish. That's not why I was chosen as your Guardian. You're my top priority. The stuff I'm doing out there is going to have to wait."
"Take me with you." She suggested in a whisper.
"What?!" He couldn't believe that he'd heard her correctly.
"Take me with you." She said in a stronger voice. "What better way to keep an eye on me? You can say that I'm your sister or something."
"I can't do that!" He exclaimed, appalled. "If I took you out of here, I don't know what you'd do!"
"I'll behave." She promised.
"You're asking for something beyond my control, Rhee." He snapped. "It's not my decision!"
She bowed her head, her long hair covering her face. "I hate it here now." She said softly. "The ghosts won't leave me alone. They keep reminding me of things that I've done. Why I'm here. I can't take it any more! Elaris, I have to get out!"
He stared at her for a long moment, pitying her. She hadn't done anything lately that would make him doubt her. In fact, at the moment, she was behaving relatively sanely. With her gifts, she might actually be able to help. Open the door, or I'll break the damn thing down! LaLei threatened.
Elaris reached into the top pocket of his white shirt. "Close your eyes and look at me." He told Rhee. Reluctantly, she lifted her head. He settled a pair of glasses on her nose with dark lenses. "Open your eyes, Rhee. Don't--" She looked away. "Don't look away." He grasped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "What do you see?"
"What?" She asked, bemused.
"What do you see?" He repeated. "Do you see anything?"
"Y-yes." She answered. A sinking feeling entered the pit of his stomach. He'd been hoping that the lenses would prevent her from seeing what she shouldn't. He supposed that was too much to ask. However, at least his own reflection was normal in the dark lenses. If Rhee could keep herself from blurting out the truth of a person's soul, they might be able to pull it off. "I see--I see only you." She smiled at him. "Are these something you made, Elaris?"
He shook his head, relieved. "No, they're sunglasses. They use them out there to protect their eyes from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. You don't see any monsters or anything?"
"No."
"You can look at me, and not see my darkness?"
"Darkness?" She sounded confused. "You have no darkness, Elaris. At least, I've never seen any."
"But--" Now, it was his turn to be confused. He knew Rhee had always watched him when he entered the Garden. She'd never let him see her eyes directly, and he'd always been afraid to look. But, how could she not see any darkness within him? Unless, because he was her jailor--that had to be it! She couldn't see any darkness, because she wasn't supposed to be able to. She could use that against him, if she'd wanted.
"Alright." He said. "You can come with me, but you're not to leave my side. Understand? And you're not to take those off." He indicated the sunglasses. "But--your hair, Rhee." He'd forgotten how different she was from humans. "Your hair will mark you as different. We'll have to cover it up or something."
"Your color is normal?" She asked.
"Yes. It's common." He answered.
"Then by the time we arrive, my hair will be the same color as yours." She told him with a mischievous grin.
"Rhee--" He said warningly.
"Don't worry. It's just a small change."

LaLei was furious. She'd been standing outside Dr. Elaris' office for hours! It wasn't like him to keep the Committee waiting. What the hell was going on?! "Dr. Elaris!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. To her surprise, the door finally swung open.
"Oh. LaLei." Dr. Elaris greeted with a wry smile. "I guess I lost track of time. My sister came to visit me, and we were just catching up." His long, dark hair was tied back from his face with a black ribbon, but a few strands fell across his face, as if he'd tied it back in a hurry. He was also carrying something that curiously looked like the head of a statue.
"Dr. Elaris." LaLei said with a grimace. "What is that?"
"Huh?"
"What are you holding?"
He glanced down at the head in surprise. "It's--well..."
"I broke it accidentally." A sweet-sounding voice came from somewhere behind Dr. Elaris, and LaLei peered behind his tall frame at the young woman that stood in the doorway adjacent to the office. "You must be LaLei. I've heard so much about you."
The girl's black hair was very long, and flowed in waves across her shoulders. Curiously, she wore a pair of overlarge sunglasses that prevented LaLei from getting a close look at her face. She didn't look much like Dr. Elaris, LaLei decided. She must be just a half sister. LaLei skirted around Dr. Elaris, who tried to block her path. LaLei wanted a good look at the girl to be sure. Besides, this was the first time she'd ever heard of Dr. Elaris having any kind of family member, and she was extremely curious.
"You're the Doc's sister?" LaLei asked her. True, the girl was tall like her brother, but her features were very different. Her face was very elvish in nature; all curves and angles.
"LaLei." Dr. Elaris said, taking her elbow. "My sister is very tired from her trip. She doesn't need to be cross-examined right now."
LaLei ignored him. "You know me, but I'm afraid I don't know your name."
"Rhiioeahh." The girl told her. "But my brother calls me Rhee." She smiled sweetly. "I'm sorry to have come at such a bad time, but I just had to see him. It's been so long, you know."
"It's all right, but we have a debriefing to attend." LaLei told her. "Maybe we can get together afterwards?"
"Sure."
"No." Dr. Elaris said coldly. "I mean, I'd like some time with my sister by ourselves."
"But, El!" Rhee protested, pouting. "It would be fun!"
"No." He said firmly. "'El?'"
"You call me 'Rhee'." She said, grinning.
"Hmph!" He sounded annoyed. "How long before the debriefing begins?" He asked LaLei.
"It was supposed to start three hours ago." She told him, irritated.
"Three hours ago?!" His dark eyebrow raised. "Later than I thought! I suppose we'd better get moving, then. Rhee, remember what I said."
"I remember." She told him. "I'm not to leave your side."
"And keep quiet."
"Yes, El."
"And don't call me 'El'!"
"Are you planning to take that thing, too?" LaLei asked, pointing to the head that Dr. Elaris still hadn't put down.
"What?!" He dropped the head like it was hot coals, and it crashed to the floor, exploding into a thousand tiny fragments. He sighed, and glanced at Rhee. "So much for that." He muttered to himself.
Rhee kneeled upon the floor. "I can fix it." She said softly.
Elaris quickly grabbed her by her elbow, hauling her to her feet. 'Fix' it?! Not in front of LaLei! He knew he'd never be able to explain that! "I'll clean it up later!" He growled at her fiercely.
LaLei frowned at him. "She was just trying to help." She protested. "You don't have to be so rude to her."
Rhee shook her arm out of Dr. Elaris' harsh grasp. "It's all right." She assured LaLei. "I shouldn't have brought it with me. I'm the one that broke it in the first place." She shrugged wryly. "El just finished the job for me."