Alexandra and the Gods of Earth: Book One

Song of Solomon

"For now she knew what Shalimar knew: If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it." –Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon

~100 years later (give or take)~

To say Jack was irritated would be an understatement. It was the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and where was he? Stuck in Santoff Clausen on official Guardian business. He used the term 'official' lightly. There was nothing official about this. Jack Frost had been a Guardian for nearly four years and the business side of his new title wasn't really something he had to deal with on a regular basis. The children's belief was stronger than ever since the Nightmare King's defeat in 2012.

Though the peace had upheld, Nicholas St. North took the potential for trouble very seriously. The last thing they wanted was for another threat to go unchecked and allowed to grow like Pitch Black had. 'Official' only seemed to happen when someone believed there was a threat to the children or spirit kind.

Since his induction as a Guardian, Jack had attended maybe seven meetings that he could apply the label 'official' to. Spirits would request a meeting with the group and discuss what they believed could be a threat. They mostly dealt with a missing spirit or two or a drop in belief. Each meeting was quick, no longer than half an hour, with the Guardians assuring who ever necessary that they were aware of the situation and would look into it should it develop.

They never developed. As long as the children of the world were safe and their belief unharmed, the business side for the Guardians was less of a hassle than they originally thought it would be.

This, however, was not one that followed the recipe of the others. The meeting had been going on for what seemed like hours now. This small spirit's speech, torture they were all being subjected to, was constantly interrupted by his own stammering and clumsy fingers- ugh,…wings.

Aanka, a saw-whet owl spirit, who stood no taller than Sandy's waist, had flown from his home in central Mexico to the North Pole in order to bring news about…well, Jack wasn't exactly sure what the owl spirit had wanted. Aanka continuously dropped the multiple books, crystals, and scrolls he had brought for his visit just as much as he tripped over his words and his feet. Jack was pretty sure it was because his hands were essentially his wings and his talons were way too big for a bird his size.

Honestly, and though he would never admit it out loud, the tiny bird was cute. Like a bumbling, nervous character in one of the cartoons he had watched while he spent time with Jamie. Speaking of Jamie, Jack really needed to get going. The sun would be rising in North America in a few hours and he had promised the kid a snow day. Jack bounced his foot impatiently. He raised his head off the palm of his hand and glanced around at the others.

Tooth, who sat nearest him, quietly whispered to the five or so mini fairies that had tagged along. She gave out various directions for tooth collection to all four corners of the globe. How she managed to direct a platoon of tiny tooth fairies and still pay attention to the meeting around her was a mystery.

North sat at the head of the table and had remained quiet for the duration of the speech. His large arms were crossed in front of him and his eyes were narrowed at the bird in concentration. Every so often he would take in a large breath and release it through his nose. He seemed to be reconsidering taking the request of audience for the little bird.

The Sandman sat next to North and, despite his eagerness to attend more meetings during his busy schedule, had nodded off long ago. His golden head tipped off to the side every so often. Bunnymund, who sat opposite Jack at the long table, had grown just as impatient as the winter spirit. The large Pooka pinched the bridge of his nose. He let out an agitated huff of air and interrupted the stuttering spirit.

"So, yer saying your were…robbed?"

The small owl snapped his beak shut and nodded vigorously. Jack guessed that explains why he brought so much stuff with him. Leaving it back home could have chanced getting the rest of his items stolen.

Bunny sighed, "Listen, mate. It's terrible that ya got yer stuff stolen, but…ya see…"

He looked around at the other Guardians for help. North unfolded his massive arms from his chest and took over. "We are Guardians of Childhood. Not Guardians of lost things. Perhaps you should build nest in higher tree or keep important rocks locked away."

"I-it wasn't a rock!" Aanka shouted, finally dropping all his items as he threw his wings down in anger. "It was a small, stone obelisk! Put under my protection by Ganesha, himself! H-haven't you been listening?"

"Not really." Jack mumbled under his breath. His chin dropped back onto his palm, as he sensed the bird's speech was starting over.

"My tree was completely trashed! The obelisk was ripped from my hands by those brutish golems! And you're just going to sit there and…and-"

"I'm sorry, did you say golems?" Tooth asked as she brought herself back into the conversation.

"Y-yes! Massive stone golems, w-with eyes like fire, demolished my Home Tree and took off with a very sacred obelisk! Oh, what would Ganesha say?"

Tooth seemed to pity the small creature as he wrung his wings together in a nervous fashion.

"So, who exactly is Ganesha?" Jack asked feeling out of the loop.

Aanka turned his gaze to the youngest Guardian as if just noticing he was there. His already massive yellow eyes grew to unimaginable sizes in disbelief.

"W-who is Ganesha? WHO IS GANESHA! He is the-…Well he was the-…You see-"

Bunny rolled his eyes and audibly groaned. He could feel a headache coming on from how long this was taking.

"Ganesha," Tooth interrupted before someone lost a wing, "Is the spirit of Knowledge-"

"WAS the Spirit of Knowledge" Aanka pointed out.

Tooth turned from Jack and looked at Aanka slightly confused.

"What do you mean, was?" she asked.

Aanka's shoulders dropped and he cast his eyes to the floor. "I-I haven't seen Ganesha in a while, almost two centuries ago. In fact, the last time I saw him was when he passed the stone Obelisk on to me. He bestowed the relic upon me for safe keeping then simply…disappeared. This is why I came to you! You must do something about it!"

Jack sighed and knew he wasn't getting out of there anytime soon. He stretched out his legs and crossed his arms on top of the table. "Ok, let me see if I have this straight. Some guy gives you a special stone and then drops off the face of the Earth." He stops looking to Aanka who nodded at his correct assumptions. "Then 200 years later, these rock things-"

"Golems!"

"Right. Golems… show up and just steal it? What's so special about this stone anyway?"

Aanka opened his beak to answer the question, then snapped it shut.

"I-I am not sure."

Bunny dropped his head to the table with a thud. This whole meeting started to look like a big waste of time.

"B-but it must be of some great importance! Why else would Ganesha give it to me only to have it stolen later by a group of monsters! Perhaps Ganesha left the Obelisk with me because he felt himself in danger. I was his right hand owl, you know. It is possible that there may be some connection between the theft and Ganesha's disappearance… Yes, of course! That has to be it!" He nodded to himself. Then, Aanka gathered his things together with a determination he hadn't shown before and turned from the group. "I have a few pieces of Ganesha's collection in my home, and an answer may be hidden within their pages that solves this mystery. I shall consult my books and get back to you promptly!"

"Oi! Wait!"

The small bird jumped into the air and took off without a glance back.

"Great. Now the bloody pidgeon'll be wanting another talk! Ha, not on your nelly. I refuse to sit through that again. You can count me out, North!"

The mentioned man was quiet during Bunny's mild rant. He had a hand in his beard and seemed to be lost in thought.

"North?" Tooth asked. "What's wrong? Is it something Aanka said?"

"Something is very wrong. Though, I am not sure about stone Aanka is missing…"

"But?" Jack pushed, finally feeling something interesting coming from the meeting.

North pushed away from the table and stood with his back to the group. His eyes caught the massive globe in the center of the room. The lights shined bright as the globe continued in its automatic turning. He quickly turned back to the table with a movement so fast it startled the others. He looked down at the tiny gold man that slept on next to him and patted his shoulder twice.

"Sandy! SANDY WAKE UP!"

The golden spirit jumped awake in his chair and glanced around in confusion. As North stepped away from the small Guardian, Sandy stretched his arms and opened his mouth in a silent yawn.

"When was last time you saw friend Patty?"

Sandy tilted his head, even more confused by the direction of the conversation. A golden four-leaf clover, made of dreamsand, appeared above his head along side a question mark.

"Yes! That Patty!"

Sandy put his finger to his chin and considered the last time he spoke to the Irish Spirit of Fortune. He shrugged after a minute and the question mark reappeared above his head.

"Very long time, yes?" North confirmed.

Sandy quickly nodded.

"Patty? As in St. Patrick, the Leprechaun?" Tooth asked as she flew up from her seat at the table. "North, what's this about?"

The remaining Guardians had risen from the table. Something was up. North turned his back to the Guardians once again and looked over the globe. Not a light flickered or diminished.

"I am not sure. Children are fine and Manny has been quiet for sometime, but something is wrong. I can feel it. I feel it in my-"

"Let me guess, in yer belly?" Bunny snarked as he gestured to his furry stomach.

"Yes! You feel it to?"

"No, but ya always say that. Might wanna get that checked out, mate. That's not normal."

Tooth giggled behind her hand and Sandy made a similar motion. Jack smiled at the pair. He stepped up closer to the group as North turned back to face the Guardians.

"You laugh, but my belly has never failed before." he said as he patted his own stomach.

"So, is something wrong?" Jack asked as he leaned against his wooden staff. "Something …Guardian worthy?"

North sighed and put a hand to his beard. "It may be nothing, or could be something. This is eighth meeting where a spirit is thought to be missing." The large man glanced up towards the ceiling where a large portion opened up the Artic sky. The moon was in its first quarter phase and just out of visible range. No celestial light appeared from the sky and none of the shadows took nefarious shapes.

"Something does not sit right with me. Perhaps I will consult with books as well… Just in case."

"In case of what? Golems start poppin' out of the ground like daisies and takin' all our knick knacks?" Bunny questioned as he scratched the back of his ear. "Christmas is coming up in a couple of weeks and Easter's right around the corner! Ya really wanna spend time goin' through stacks of dusty papers?"

"No, but it does not hurt to be prepared for what ever may be in store. Dingle!" North shouted to one of the elves scurrying by. Four of them skidded to a halt and saluted the man. "Prepare a room! Is time for research!"

The lone outlaw scanned the space around her. He was here somewhere and she would not be caught off guard. Not this time. Scuffed, low-top sneakers took measured steps on the wooden floor beneath her. The place was new and she had yet to learn all of its secrets. One wrong move and a squeaky floorboard would give her position away. She wiped her sweaty palms on her roughly worn, black skinny jeans and put her back towards the main doors. He would not be coming through there; that's against the rules.

She crouched down and took a slow breath in. The only other sound she could make out was the ticking of the clock that hung on the wall. Where else could he be?

SHHHKK!

The closet. She forgot about the closet! Maybe if she kept real still, he would not be able to see her.

Tap, tap, tap.

Cowboy boots echoed across the wooden floor as he stepped farther into the room. He adjusted the wide hat on his head and hooked his thumbs into the leather gun holsters slung around his waist.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Rough Ridin' Gunslinger."

The girl stood and slowly turned to face the one calling her out. Her eyes caught the light reflecting off the shiny silver badge on his vest.

"Sheriff Watts, I presume?"

The sheriff hummed and took a few steps forward. The outlaw stood her ground.

"Got a poster with your face on it back at the jail. Wanted dead or alive." he said.

"You rob a few trains and hold up a few banks and suddenly your face is everywhere. Girl's got to have someway to make her fame."

The two stared each other down for a beat. The sheriff narrowed his eyes and began to frown.

"I don't take to kindly to criminals running through here." he called.

"Oh really? That's a shame, cause I don't take to kindly to goody two shoes sheriffs trying to haul me in to the clink."

The sheriff smirked and cast his head down. The large hat above his head hid his eyes from view.

"Well, I guess this town ain't big enough for the two of us."

The outlaw returned the smirk and put her hands near her waist. Her fingers skimmed across her own leather holster. The sheriff released his thumbs from the band and drew closer to the weapons that hung on both sides. Their fingers twitched in anticipation. The two glared across the space between them as the clock continued to tick down. It was coming down to the wire.

"Draw!" the outlaw shouted.

They drew their guns simultaneously and aimed them straight ahead.

"You'll never take me alive, copper!" she yelled as she fired her guns.

Sheriff Watts dived out of the way of projectiles. He crouched behind a couple of moving boxes as the projectiles continued to pelt the air around him.

"I think that line is a few years ahead of us!" he called to his opponent.

"These aren't the droids you're looking for!" she responded.

The outlaw decorated the Sheriff's hiding spot with her own ammo. Her guns continued to shoot until they finally clicked empty.

"That's not even from this galaxy!" Sheriff Watts called as he slung the top of his body over the boxes.

The outlaw somersaulted across the floor and slid behind the bed. She shoved her arm under the pillows. There was an extra mag hidden somewhere beneath the blankets; she just knew it. Sheriff Watts kept his guns aimed at the girl as he walked around the bed.

"That was a really cool move."

"I know, right." she smiled as a new clip clicked into her gun.

"Benjamin Watts! What are you doing up here!?"

The twelve year old looked away from the empty space next to his bed and to the figure of his mother towering in the frame of his bedroom door. The brown haired woman eyed the Nerf bullets suction-cupped to the wall and then to the empty moving boxes he had piled in the corner.

"Uh," he started as he stowed the orange, plastic guns back into their holsters. "Just playing… Cowboys."

The older woman picked up the empty boxes and moved them out into the hall.

"Let's try to keep it down, okay. We have neighbors now." She cast one last glance around the room. "Honestly it sounds like there's two of you up here. You need to start winding down anyway; it's almost bedtime. You've got a big day coming up tomorrow."

His mother pulled on the brass knob as she left and the door snapped shut behind her. Ben sighed and dropped down onto his bed. He took his cowboy hat off and looked over to the older girl. Her own plastic guns had been shoved into the cloth and leather satchel she always had on her back. She sat on the windowsill across from the bed and looked down at the front lawn a floor below. Her hands fiddled with her long dark hair as she unbraided and re-braided the thick curls into a single rope. It was a nervous habit she had picked up every time a conversation went on and she went unseen. Ben sighed again and flopped onto his back. The girl glanced up towards the dense clouds above the house before she turned back to the boy.

"What's with all the dramatic breathing?"

Ben kicked off his boots and pulled the vest off his western themed, flannel pajamas.

"I don't want to go to school tomorrow."

"Why?" She asked as she got up off the sill and helped him pull the blankets back. "I overheard your mom saying it was a great school district. Something about increased test scores in this region of the country?"

"Alex." the boy whined. "What if I have to eat lunch alone… like a weirdo?"

"Calm down, kid. I know it's not Arizona, but I'm sure it'll be fine."

"Not on the first day! I'll be the new kid. I'm not going to know anyone and no one will want to talk to me." Ben pushed himself under the star-covered comforter and made himself comfortable. "I just….I don't want to go to school."

Alex ruffled his hair until he batted her hand away. She stepped back, turned the bedside lamp off, and made her way back over to the window. She glanced back up and out at the clouds and then to the empty park a block away. The bare branches of naked tree began to sway as the winds started to pick up. She could just make out the beginning trail of frost around the bottom edge of the window's glass.

"I don't think you have to worry much about that. For tomorrow anyway. Looks like snow."

"Really? I've never seen snow before." Ben yawned.

"I know. You kept saying that snow was the only good thing about your mom moving you out here." she smiled.

Ben pulled the yellow glasses off his nose and turned on his side. He watched his friend through drowsy eyes. Alex unlocked the small latch and pushed the window up and open. She sat back on the sill, one leg in the warm air of the newly purchased house and the other hung two stories up and out in the cold, November wind.

"You're coming back, right?" Ben whispered, aware that his mother was only in the other room.

Alex put her hand under the window to keep it from falling on her head. Gold eyes looked back at light green ones.

"Don't I always?" she asked.

"Yeah. I'm just-…Sometimes I'm afraid that you'll go off on some great adventure and never come back."

Alex touched the brown and tan bag on her back and made sure it was closed. She adjusted the single strap that went from her right shoulder and across her chest. Nothing had ever fallen out of it but it had become force of habit to check it right before take off.

"Get some sleep kid, we got a big day tomorrow. I'm talking snow forts and snowball wars. It's your first snow and you're not missing out on anything."

"Goodnight, Alex." the boy whispered.

"Night, Ben."

She pushed her other leg out of the window and quietly closed it behind her. The wind ruffled her light gray hoodie. Alex's sneakered feet pushed off the bricks that made up the Watts' new residence. She flew into the air and up above the clouds.