Guardian (7 page)

“They know our every move. There are no secrets with the Nightenbows, Macy.” His voice left my heart pounding and my eyes moist. I swallowed hard to fight back the tears.

A soft knock on my bedroom door tore my eyes from Trey’s face. “Sorry to bother you two, but Aria is here to see you, sweetheart.”

I smiled as despair crept quietly across the room, the maddening answers I still needed not spoken.

“I should go. You two should chat. I’ll call you later, okay?” Trey stood, kissing the top of my head before turning to leave.

“Aria, nice to see you,” he said coolly.

“You as well, Trey,” she replied before taking a seat on the edge of my bed, her eyes following his departure.

“I’ll leave you two alone. Just call if you need anything.” Mom shut my bedroom door, her footsteps growing quiet leaving the two of us alone.

“He’s really something, Macy. I mean he really seems to care about you. You are so lucky, you know that?” Her chestnut eyes sparkled. I knew that she had always been infatuated with Trey. Most of the young women of the Guardians were or had been at some point.

“Yeah, he’s really something,” I replied, a grin pulling at the corners of my lips.

“So tell me, is he as good of a kisser as I’ve heard?”

I rolled my eyes at her and laughed. “You may be my best friend, but this girl doesn’t kiss and tell…sorry.”

The conversation between the two of us remained lighthearted with no mention of what happened or who had beaten the crud out of me. She left my injuries, my suspicious beating on the sidelines. The distraction was nice as the sun faded and fell from the crimson sky.

After Aria left, the shadows crept across my bedroom floor; night hung her dark tapestry beautifully outside of my bedroom window. My head was swimming with a thousand thoughts; my soul was overflowing with waves of worry and self-doubt as I watched the stars sparkle aimlessly in the clear sky.

As I fell asleep, my dreams were filled with indescribable beauty. A long, crimson dress hugged my body tightly, my curves displayed ever so tastefully as his eyes wandered aimlessly over my figure. His hair was blowing ever so gently in the warm summer wind, black tapered pants and a white linen shirt unbuttoned at the top gave a subtle hint to the perfect chest that lay beneath it.

Taking his hand in mine, my wings outstretched, delicate white feathers washed the backdrop of the city as we swiftly flew to the top of the Statue of Liberty, away from the prying eyes of society and the rules that lay heavy on my shoulders. Taking a seat on the edge of her elegant crown, we watched the fireworks soar before us. His arm held me tightly as the illuminating bursts reflected off of his perfect features. This had to be what heaven felt like.

Leaning over, he said the sweetest words a woman could ever hear, “My life is your life. Marry me, Macy.”

My eyes tore away from the colorful images in front of us and stared intently at the seductive smile that spilled across his face instead. I ran my fingers through his locks and across his stubbled cheeks before kissing him ever so gently on the lips. “Yes, Evan. Yes…I’ll marry you.”

Chapter Ten

Summon

Finally, I heard his heartbeat…his signal of needing me. It had been over a month since last seeing him. As the drum of his being swept over me, desire overstepped its boundaries. My mark seethed with scorching heat as I walked out of the coffee shop on Broadway and into the alleyway, away from the scores of morning commuters. As I stepped into the depths of absence, images of his fist, his nauseating breath, sent my stomach churning. I hadn’t been alone in weeks, allowing fear to grasp my wrists tightly as I glanced in all directions for any sign of him. I knew Aaron was watching me, even from a distance. But I had to do this despite the pit of fear that grew within my belly.

“Get a grip, Macy.” I pushed myself forward with valid reassurance that I was alone. My breath was quick as I closed my eyes and sped forward through the fog-filled blackness, dematerializing with rapid speed as I felt my body being twisted from the inside out. Moments later, I found myself standing alone in the shadows, watching his pen scribble words onto a blank sheet of paper. It was obvious that I was within the confines of his apartment, as I slid down the wall, taking a seat on my heels. I watched the golden shimmer of his soul spinning an intricate web around his figure. It was stronger, more beautiful this time, my eyes taking in every ounce of its delicacy.

His eyes rose, as I remained silent and hidden from sight despite my sincere desire to walk over to him, sit down, and talk intimately about life. Setting his pen down, he stood up from his chair and walked into the living room, scanning his apartment for signs of life, her life…my life.

“I know you are here, angel. Where are you?”

His voice left me breathless as I felt myself rise up, remaining a piece of the backdrop, vowing to remain unseen by his captivating eyes. He haunted my dreams, making my insides tingle with desire whenever I thought of his face. Standing in front of him now made me want him even more.

Moving swiftly to where he stood, I found myself only inches away from the heat that radiated from his body. Oh, how I longed to feel his skin beneath my fingertips, his lips on mine once more.

He seemed to sense my presence, his eyes closing and the words falling relentlessly from his mouth, causing waves of rapture to stir deep within. “I long to see you again, Macy. That’s why I have brought you here. Only this time, I didn’t summon you here to save me, but to show me that what I feel is real.”

My hand rose to his lips, the fever of his longing touching the ends of my fingertips. As desperate as I was to allow him to witness reality, to speak of the dreams that floated through my head each night, I watched my hand fall away. It wasn’t right; perhaps I wasn’t right. Allowing my feelings to even surface was utterly wrong. But my hunger grew, and I longed to fall within his arms. I needed him, wanted him like no other.

His soft eyes opened slowly, stinging the inner pieces of my soul, and he sighed in regret at not seeing his angel standing before him. He longed to embrace me once more, and I longed to embrace him as well. Yet in this lifetime, my touch was only meant to be as a savior, not a seductive reply. This left me hollow as I faded fast from his presence and back into the world of who I was meant to be. I stood within the dank alleyway alone and saddened, deciding to trudge home, guilt tugging at my heartstrings.

Chapter Eleven

Convene

“What do you mean,
a meeting
? With who?” My tone was somewhat high-pitched and uncertain as I laid my fork down and fell back against my chair.

“There are things you need to know…should know about us, Macy. We have reason to believe someone…” I watched my father glance over at my mother; she nodded her head in agreement before he continued. “A group of individuals are against the Guardians, and although we never speak of them, it’s time to come together as a society to stop them.”

I knew exactly whom my father was speaking of, causing a shudder of terror to dig itself deep within the facets of my mind. Trey and I had spoken of them only once, neither of us finding the time or perhaps the courage to speak their name again. All I knew was that they longed to flush the world clean of our kind, but the secret would remain safely hidden within, as I listened to the words of my father intently.

“Mac, you’ve always wondered what your dear old dad has done all these years. When you’d ask about my job, well…I always pushed the matter aside. There’s a reason for that. You’ll learn the meaning behind my secrecy later.” His face grew serious, and he took a swig of his bourbon.

I knew he was strained, uncertain about speaking of the ones we were meant to fear. Those who knew what I had done…who wanted to put their hands around my throat and choke the life out of me.

“Nightenbows,” he continued, only slightly above a whisper. He shook his head and removed his glasses, rubbing his eyelids. “They want to kill the Guardians, Mac. There is no doubt in my mind that they want to kill you. You were so close to death just a few weeks ago…” He didn’t continue this time, my mother wrapping her arm around his shoulders, as I watched my father try and remain composed. He was not one to show emotion often, even in times of grief, or in this case…fear.

“We’ll be meeting with the Guardian council tonight, Mac. Baron and Empress Griland have expressed an urgent need to convene and discuss the matter at hand. We must be on high alert from this point forward as the numbers of Nightenbows continue to increase. They are not only a threat to us, but to our Shomers as well.” My mother laid her hand upon the table, before staring into my eyes with extreme intensity. “Keep this with you. Never speak of the ones we are meant to fear to anyone outside of the Guardians. Follow your vow to uphold the promises of our society, always.”

My mother’s hand lifted slowly, revealing a platinum ring set with a strikingly beautiful amethyst. “For protection. It was your grandmother’s ring, now it’s yours.”

I gasped at the gorgeous piece, lifting it from the table and slipping it onto my ring finger on my right hand.

“It’s beautiful, Mom.” I wiggled my finger around, the light of the stone reflecting wildly within my eyes. “How does it protect the one who wears it?”

“If you sense danger, summon the ring to hide you within its veil,” she said swiftly.

“How do I summon it?”

“Ask it. It now views you as its matriarch. It’s that simple.” My mother rose from her chair, clearing the plates from the dinner table. “We leave in fifteen minutes, make haste.”

I followed my mother into the kitchen as I mulled over the ring and the immense power it held. As I loaded the dirty dishes into the dishwasher, I meditated on the belief that now he could no longer touch me. Neither Aaron’s filthy hands nor the likes of the Nightenbows could ever touch me again. Perhaps explaining things to Evan was no longer a sin, but a reason to live. I longed for him to need me once more. My hunger grew as the image of his face surfaced, flooding my world with his perfection and allure, for what had to be…the millionth time. I was more than willing to continue to risk my life for him…and for the sake of love.

*****

A sea of faces sat in the Great Hall of the Grilands’ home. Quiet swept its way around each of us, everyone choosing to focus on the matter at hand rather than extending friendly conversation to one another. Anxiety filled the room as we waited for Baron Griland to enter and address our society about the looming battle at hand.

The same string quartet that had played the beautiful melodies of the Guardians during my
Aisle of Namesake
was now playing quietly in the corner; a hauntingly majestic tune that reminded me more of a funeral than a meeting. Trey and his mother Deidra walked through the door only moments before the quartet switched its melody, playing
March of the Guardians
to announce the entrance of the Baron and Empress. As everyone stood, Trey left his mother’s side, her face growing bitter at his haste. He made his way over to where I sat with my parents and Aria, taking the empty seat beside me, grabbing a hold of my hand in the process.

“How are you, my sweets?” he whispered ever so softly in my ear.

I glanced over at him and smiled. “Wonderful now that you are here,” I replied, turning my attention back to the matter at hand.

It was becoming increasingly difficult to hide my infatuation with Evan. I adored Trey, but the feelings I had for him seemed to grow dimmer and dimmer as the days passed. The touch of his hand, the taste of his kiss, the gentle caresses he brushed across my cheeks had always caused a fiery response, but only a single ember remained. It was wrong of me to lead him on, but my relationship with him kept my obsession with Evan a deeply hidden enigma that I vowed would never emerge…at least not to the world of the Guardians. Not now.

Baron Griland took his place behind his marble podium before speaking. “You may all be seated.”

Empress Griland took her seat in an enormous dark oak chair, each of the massive arms carved into the shape of angel wings, and the cushions covered in a deep plum colored velvet. She smoothed out the wrinkles in her white charmeuse gown as she looked lovingly at her husband; her face somewhat scarred with disbelief, and alarm hidden beneath a radiant smile.

“I have gathered all of you here today to discuss a disturbing matter at hand, one which leaves me gravely distraught and without sleep. Some of you already know what I am speaking of, and others of you are unaware of the darkness that swirls around our society.” He shifted his weight, uneasiness hanging in the air, suffocating our society with trepidation.

“The Nightenbows: a society outside of our own. They are angels, yes…but of darkness, not of the light like us. They have always despised our purpose, but they lay quiet for decades…until now. Recently there was an attack on one of our very own. An attack that portrayed the handiwork of the Nightenbows society.”

My heartbeat quickened at his words. Several people turned to stare, leaving me feeling ashamed and hurt at what I had done. Trey squeezed my hand, trying to reassure me that I had done nothing to cause the violent encounter. If they only knew the truth about what had really transpired. I knew the truth, and my shoulders suddenly felt weighted by the burden that I had given my commonwealth to carry. If only I hadn’t been so careless, we wouldn’t be sitting here today contemplating our safety and survival as a whole.

He continued his address. “They are looking for failure within the Guardians. For failure gives them a right to steal life. The life of a Shomer…the life of a Guardian.”

A hushed gasp emerged from the throats of several Guardians in the room. The news, the danger that lurked outside the walls was real and undeniable to the ears that listened intently. My eyes remained glued to the Baron, a distraction to keep me from crying out in guilt.