The Surien Series Blood Guardian (16 page)

CHAPTER 11

“Are you sure you don't want to join us, Daire?” Duncan asked, as he and Kassie sat on the couch playing video games. They had taken turns playing
The
Legend of Zelda
earlier and now they were playing
Call of Duty
.

“No, I'm not into video games; I'll be on the patio if you need me,” Daire said, as he headed out of the room.

“There goes Mr. Moody.” Duncan shook his head.

“Symarah hasn't been much better,” Kassie replied. “I don't know why they both have to be so bull-headed and stubborn.”

“Maybe you should use your magic on them, make them get back together.”

“I don't think that's a good idea, they need to work through this on their own. Don't worry, it'll all work itself out in the end, you'll see.”

“How can you be so sure?” Duncan asked.

“Love always finds a way.” She winked at him and turned her attention back to the screen, just in time to execute an enemy player who was trying to kill her while repeatedly hitting the jump button to avoid her bullets.

“Ha, I can jump shot too, ya bastard!” she yelled at the player as she ran off toward the enemy objective.

As Daire stood on the patio, looking out into the darkness, he couldn't help but worry. His thoughts were racing and he couldn't seem to quiet his mind. It had been a month since he and Athena had visited the fates, and he had done his best to stay away from Symarah, but tomorrow was the wedding that he and Jareth had to attend. Conner and Duncan would be there as well; they needed as much back up as possible in case Vaiden decided to attack. He knew it was necessary for him to attend the wedding, but he was not looking forward to it. It was torture being so close to her and having to keep his distance. The worst part was seeing the hurt in her eyes. It killed him to know that she was in pain and that he was the cause of it, but he knew he was making the right decision, knew that if he stayed with Symarah she was destined to die and she would not be reincarnated; the fates had made that very clear. What they hadn't been clear about is how long it would be before she would die. Jareth's argument was that it was possible that she wouldn't die right away and that she could live to be a hundred and die of old age, but even if that were true she still wouldn't be reincarnated again, so while he may not be making this life any shorter for her he would still be taking away the rest of her lives. Besides, the thought of watching her grow old and slowly die was more than he could bear.

“You should be more careful, especially when someone is trying to kill you,” the familiar voice came from behind.

Daire turned to face Dacian. “Please tell me you have information about where Vaiden is hiding.”

“Yes, but I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you,” Dacian answered as he handed Daire a hand-written note.

“What is this?” Daire asked, staring at the paper.

“I asked Farkas where Vaiden was hiding; apparently he thought it would be funny to answer my question with a riddle written by Vaiden,” Dacian replied. “I thought it would be even more amusing to turn him into a weasel and let Sybris eat him.”

“Sybris ate Farkas?” Daire was shocked, Dacian usually didn't kill anyone unless they were an immediate threat. Although Farkas was working for Vaiden, he was too stupid to be of any real danger.

“No, he just chased him for a few minutes and then let him go; he did take a chunk out of his right ear though,” Dacian smirked.

Daire actually let out a chuckle. “So what does this riddle mean?” he said, turning his attention to the piece of paper. The handwriting was barely legible.

“I'm not sure, I thought maybe between the two of us we could figure it out.”

Dacian read the riddle out loud.

“Beyond the sea of demons am I, below the earth and above the sky.

Heed these words if you so wish to seek me out if you dare try.

Once you see clearly what cannot be, then you will know what you once did not see.

Be one with yourself, only then are you able to save truest love from thine dread enemy.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Daire growled.

“It sounds like he's ready to make his move. I think it is imperative that you stay as close to Symarah as possible,” Dacian advised.

“She's at the gym with Jareth, she is safe.”

“The gym, at 10 o’clock at night?” Dacian said.

“She says it helps her relax,” Daire explained.

“I think you should check on them just in case. Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, I'm sure they're fine, I can handle it on my own. Thanks for the info.”

“Not a problem, call me if you need me.” Dacian flashed himself out.

Daire flashed himself to the back lot behind Symarah's gym. He walked inside and searched for her with his mind but he couldn't sense her anywhere. He tried to sense Jareth but there was no trace of him either. He walked back out to the empty back lot, he was beginning to panic now. What if Vaiden had somehow managed to get through Jareth to get to Symarah? What if he already had her, what if she was already dead? No he couldn't think that way, this was no time to give in to panic. Daire tried to sense her again, this time widening his search. After a few seconds he finally found her. It was very faint but it was definitely her. She was at Jareth's house, thank the gods she was safe. He flashed himself to Jareth's living room, which was empty. He headed toward the dining room, thinking that she had gotten hungry after her workout, but on the way he heard a loud yell coming from Jareth's training area on the lower level of the house. He flashed himself to Jareth's personal training room, expecting to see Vaiden and his minions attacking, but instead he saw Jareth laying on the floor with Symarah straddling him.

“Ha! I've got you exactly where I want you,” Symarah laughed. She was so proud of herself; she had finally been able to knock Jareth on his ass. “I've been looking forward to this for a long time, it's nice to have you flat on your back for a change.”

“And it only took you a month to get me here; I'm impressed.” Jareth smiled, pleased with how quickly she was learning. Symarah stood up and extended a hand to Jareth to help him off the floor but as he reached for her hand, his face turned pale. Symarah turned to see what Jareth was looking at. Her heart sank when she saw Daire standing behind her looking as if he had just been punched in the gut.

“Daire, I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I knew you wouldn't approve,” Symarah started to explain, but before she could finish, Daire lunged at Jareth, pinning him against the wall with one hand around his throat.

“How could you betray me like this?” Daire asked in a low deadly tone. “I should kill you where you stand.”

“I think you're overreacting just a bit don't you?” Symarah said as she tried to pull him off of Jareth.

Daire shrugged her hand off and tightened his grip on Jareth's throat. Jareth threw Daire across the room with a wave of his hand.

“It's not what you think Daire,” Jareth tried to explain.

“Wait, what do you think we were doing?” Symarah asked.

“You were on top of him, it's pretty obvious what you were doing.” Daire glared at her.

“Wow, that's what you think of me?”

“I heard you talking, saying it was nice to have him on the floor for a change. I guess this has been going on for a while.”

“Sometimes you can be a real ass, ya know that?” Symarah said as she stormed out of the room.

She was hurt that Daire would think she would ever do something like that. She walked up the stairs and right out the front door, slamming it behind her. She started to cry as she headed toward home; she was so angry at him she didn't even think about how much danger she was putting herself in.

Jareth walked over to where Daire landed and extended a hand to him.

“Don't fucking touch me,” Daire growled at him, as he got up off the floor.

“Daire, you know me better than that and what's more you know her better.”

“I know what I saw and what I heard,” Daire said.

“Sometimes things are not as they seem old friend.”

“Well then, why don't you explain it to me?” Daire challenged.

“That would take time, a luxury that you don't have at the moment. Symarah is out there in the dark, alone and unprotected. I will say this though, you are acting awfully jealous for someone who has no intention of sticking around after this is all over. You can't ignore her and then get angry when she seemingly shows interest in someone else, it's not fair. You can't have it both ways.”

“This isn't over,” Daire hissed, as he flashed himself to Symarah's side.

“Take my hand, I'll flash you home,” Daire ordered.

“Don't touch me, and don't tell me what to do,” she snapped as she jerked her hand away.

“That's right, you prefer to be touched by Jareth now,” Daire scolded.

“What do you care?” Symarah said defiantly. “You don't want me, you've been avoiding me for over a month now. You got what you wanted and now you're done with me. You don't have the right to tell me who I should or should not sleep with. You can't have it both ways Daire.”

She knew he hadn't used her for sex, but she was so hurt and angry that she couldn't help but lash out at him to try to hurt him back.

Daire was crushed to know that she thought he had used her for sex. If the situation was different he would leave her to walk home, but no matter how pissed off he was he couldn't let Vaiden get to her.

“You can't walk home alone, it's not safe.”

“I don't care, leave me alone.”

“Vaiden will kill you.”

“Let him try, I'm not as weak and helpless as you think I am.” She shot him a dirty look.

“I don't have time for this,” Daire said as he placed his hand on her shoulder and flashed her back home.

“I told you not to touch me.”

“Believe me, that will be the last time I do,” Daire said.

“Go to hell!” she yelled at him as she headed for her bedroom.

“I'm already there,” he shot back as he headed to the guest room on the lower level.

CHAPTER 12

“I don't see why I have to be here,” Conner groused.

“Because we need all the backup we can get in case Vaiden attacks,” Duncan reminded him. “Just smile, and try to have a good time.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Look, the wedding only lasts what, an hour, and then we get to spend the rest of the night dancing and having fun.”

“That's easy for you to say, you somehow convinced Kassie to be your date for the evening,” Conner complained.

“Just because you don't have a date doesn't mean you can't have fun. Look around, there are lots of beautiful women here, some of them are bound to be single,” Duncan encouraged.

“That's true. Where are Daire and Jareth?” Conner asked.

“After they flashed themselves in, they scanned the place for signs of trouble, and then decided to sit up in the second floor balcony where there are no windows,” Duncan explained, gesturing toward the balcony. “When we get to the reception hall we are to text Daire on his cell when the restroom is empty, and he and Jareth will flash in. There are no windows inside the hall, so they should be fine till sundown.”

The wedding was fairly short, but beautiful. The bride wore a gorgeous gown with cap sleeves, a sweetheart neckline, and an empire waist. The beading was exquisite, and the hem line fell in a small arch over the bride’s feet, to show off her shoes, which were absolutely stunning. The groom and groomsmen all wore black, with crimson to match the bridesmaids, whose dresses were much the same as the brides, only without the beading. After the ceremony was over and the reception was in full swing, Kassie and Symarah excused themselves from the rest of the wedding party to go sit with Duncan and the guys.

“This must be the sexy table,” Kassie said as she sat down next to Duncan, “look at all these gorgeous guys.”

Symarah sat between Kassie and Conner, with Daire and Jareth sitting across from her.

“You look beautiful,” Duncan said, as he kissed Kassie on the cheek.

“Is there something you're not telling us?” Jareth asked.

“We wanted to wait till things calmed down before we told you but, we are a couple,” Duncan confirmed.

“I knew there was something going on between you two,” Conner said.

“How could you have known? We were very careful,” Duncan said.

“I know you well brother, I recognize the signs.”

“Did you know?” Kassie asked Symarah.

“I suspected, but I wasn't sure.” Symarah smiled. “I'm very happy for you both, you really are perfect for each other.”

“Thanks,” Kassie said as she hugged Symarah. “Okay, enough of the sappy stuff; my sister rented the hall for the entire night so let's party.”

“Aren't you two going to dance?” Duncan asked Conner and Jareth.

“I'm not dancing with him, he never lets me lead,” Conner said with a smirk.

“You're not my type anyway,” Jareth shot back, “I prefer brunettes.”

“Yeah, you're both freaking hilarious,” Duncan said sarcastically.

“Funny, I thought you preferred black hair,” Daire muttered. He knew he shouldn't have said it but he couldn't help himself. He was still angry at them both for their betrayal. Jareth had sworn there was nothing going on between them but if that was true, then why couldn't he explain what was really going on, and why didn't Symarah deny it? All she had said was that he had no right to tell her who she could or could not sleep with.

“Now is not the time to discuss this,” Jareth warned.

“I think I found the girl for you Conner,” Kassie said, changing the subject, hoping to avoid a scene. “She's smart and funny. Plus she's hot and she loves a guy that can make her laugh. She's over there by the bar, in the blue dress, her name is Fiona.”

Symarah was grateful to Kassie for trying to keep the peace. She was still angry at Daire for his insulting accusations, but Jareth was right, this was neither the time nor the place for such things.

“I've found someone for you as well Jareth,” Kassie said, pointing toward the brides table.

“Your sister? Correct me if I'm wrong but I think she might be married,” Jareth joked.

“Not Adalind, smart ass, the one she's talking to. That is Ava, she's the perfect girl for you.”

“He's already found the perfect girl,” Daire interrupted, looking straight at Symarah. He didn't know what was wrong with him, he knew he shouldn't be saying these things right now. He didn't want to ruin Kassie's sister's wedding but he couldn't seem to stop himself.

Symarah got up and ran from the table in the direction of the ladies room. It tore her apart to know how little he thought of her. How could he think that everything they had shared meant nothing to her, that he meant nothing to her?

“That is it!” Kassie declared, as she grabbed Daire by the arm and dragged him off toward the bathrooms. “What is your problem?” She demanded an explanation.

“I guess you don't know what's going on between Symarah and Jareth,” Daire replied.

“Oh, I know exactly what's going on between them; nothing that's what.”

“You weren't there. I saw them, she was on top of him. They were both covered in sweat from …”

“Training,” Kassie interrupted him, “they were sweaty from training. Symarah asked Jareth to train her to fight like the day walkers so that she could defend herself against the unden and maybe even the demmic. She felt really guilty about what happened to Conner, and if anything would have happened to those kids she could never have forgiven herself.”

“She was on top of him, I thought...”

“You never thought to ask, did you?” Kassie interrupted again. “You just assumed the worst about her, and your own best friend. I think you should know them both better than that. And just to set the record straight, the only reason she was on top of him is because she was finally able to counter his attack and knock him on his ass, which is exactly what I should be doing to you right now, you bullheaded, arrogant, jerk.”

“Why didn't she tell me?”

“She shouldn't have to, should she?” Kassie scolded, as she stormed off toward her table.

Daire felt awful. He was relieved that there was nothing going on between Jareth and Symarah but Kassie was right, he should have known them both better than that. He just got so jealous when he saw them together. He felt like such an idiot.

“Symarah was right, I am an ass,” Daire muttered to himself as he walked over and knocked on the door to the ladies room. “Can I come in?”

“It's not like I can stop you,” Symarah replied.

Daire pushed open the door and stepped inside. “Kassie told me what really happened.”

Symarah was quiet.

“I'm sorry,” Daire said.

Still she said nothing.

“You were right, I am an ass. I don't know why I got so jealous, I was just so angry and hurt when I saw you with him.”

“You were hurt, what about me? You basically called me a whore Daire, not to mention what you did to Jareth,” Symarah scolded him. “You should have...”

“Known better, I know,” Daire finished her sentence. “It was just so hard avoiding you, being so close to you and not being able to talk to you, feel your touch, taste your sweet kiss. It was torture watching you talk and laugh with everyone else. And then when I saw you with him I just...”

“Went bat crap crazy? Yeah, I noticed,” Symarah interrupted. “Look Daire, I know there's more to what's going on than what you and Jareth are telling me, I'm not stupid. You've been avoiding me like the plague since you found out about the necklace. You already knew that Vaiden was using me to try and get to you, you can't expect me to believe that finding out he used the necklace to do it is what's causing your little change of heart.”

“I'm trying to protect you.”

“Well stop trying. You can't protect me from everything Daire.”

“I just don't want you to get hurt,” Daire said.

“I'm not made of glass, I don't break that easy. I'm a lot stronger than you give me credit for. I know you are avoiding me because you don't plan on sticking around after Vaiden is dead, but I would rather spend what little time we have left together making amazing memories that I can cherish when you're gone, than to lose you now and have nothing to show for it when you do leave. Why can't we just enjoy the time we have left? If you could spend just one more day with Meissen, would you say no to avoid the pain of losing her again or would you take that day and fill it with as much joy as you could? If it were me, I would take that day and I would cherish it above all things.”

She had no idea how close to the truth she was. Daire knew she was right, she was always right; he knew that he was just being selfish, avoiding her out of fear, fear of the pain he would feel when he had to leave her. She was willing to endure the pain of lost love just to be with him, even if only for a few more days, but yet he was so selfish that he would deprive himself of the one thing he had longed for since the day she died, just to avoid the pain of losing her again.

“You are right, I was being selfish. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”

“And a coward,” Symarah chided.

“Yes, and a coward,” Daire agreed.

“And apparently a bullheaded, arrogant, jerk.” Symarah smiled a little.

“So you heard that did you?”

“It was hard not to, she really let you have it,” Symarah said, facing him for the first time since he had entered the room, but still not looking him in the eye.

“I deserved everything she said, and more, so much more. I may be a god Symarah but I am far from perfect.” He walked over to her; placing his finger under her chin, he raised her gaze to his. He looked deep into her stunning blue eyes, “I beg of you, please forgive me.”

“No,” she said as she smiled and lightly punched his arm. “Jerk.”

He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “Now, to quote a wonderful lady and an amazing friend, enough of the sappy stuff, let's party,” Daire joked, repeating what Kassie had said earlier that evening.

Daire and Symarah went back to join Kassie and the others at their table.

“Are we all good now?” Duncan asked.

“We're good,” Symarah said. “Thank you Kassie.”

“Hey, someone had to set him straight, and you know me.” Kassie smiled.

“I'm sorry I...”

“Tried to kill me,” Jareth finished Daire's sentence for him. “Don't worry about it.”

“No, I should have known that you would never betray me. We have been friends for far too long. I was acting like a...”

“Bullheaded, arrogant, jerk,” Jareth interrupted with a smirk, “I know.”

“Is there no one who didn't hear me get my ass chewed out by an 80 pound girl?”

“I weigh a hundred and twenty pounds I'll have you know. What do I look like, a stick figure?” Kassie groused.

“So I take it I'm forgiven?” Daire asked.

“Of course you are forgiven,” Jareth replied.

“I hate to break up this little bro-mance you two have got going on here but I have some dancing to do,” Kassie said, as she got up from the table and took Duncan's hand.

“I could never stay mad at you, I love you man,” Daire said in a sappy girl voice.

“I love you too man,” Jareth replied in that same voice.

“Get a room,” Kassie teased, rolling her eyes and leading Duncan off toward the dance floor.