Wilder: The Guardian Series (30 page)

I can do this. I must
be strong.

Magnus peeked out of the rusted warehouse door looking
perplexed. “What are you doing here, you silly girl?”

Celeste knew her act had to be convincing for them to
succeed. She put on her most sincere face and bravely continued. “Roman and
Nico are missing, and I know you took them. I’m here to surrender myself, just
please let them go.”

Magnus knew Fabian had been after the brothers, but was it
possible that he was here in Oak Bluffs and had captured them already? A chill
went down his spine. Double-crossing Fabian was never a good idea, especially
if he was close by, but Magnus pushed the thought aside. He had to find out for
certain if this impetuous human girl was indeed the new Guardian.

“Fine, I admit that I do have them. They are inside. Come
with me and I’ll show you.”

Celeste could feel every nerve in her body on edge, but on
the outside she remained calm. Like a duck swimming on a still lake, outwardly
she seemed unflustered but just underneath the surface, her feet paddled
furiously. This is what it meant to be a Guardian; this is what she had been
training for. She felt the heavy weight of her sword in her backpack, and its
presence lessened her fear.

“Nice place,” she said.

“I was attempting to remain inconspicuous, which I’ve
obviously failed at since you’ve found me.” He paused dramatically. “How did
you find me anyway?”

“We all have our secrets,” she said. He chuckled, but did not
pursue his questioning.

Celeste followed him deeper into the dark, empty warehouse,
taking note as she walked hoping she could find her way back out if necessary.
Finally they reached a dark room with no windows and only crude furnishings
– a couple of folding chairs and a cot on the floor with a drab blanket
tossed aside.

Magnus cocked his head arrogantly, and held the door open for
her to enter. As she slid by him, her eye caught the glimmer of the amber
amulet hanging from his neck. There was something about it that caught her
attention. Magnus noticed her interest and swiftly tucked it away under his
shirt.

“Please have a seat,” he said motioning to the chair.

“No thanks, I’d rather stand,” she said, arms crossed
obstinately over her chest. “Now where are Roman and Nico?”

“Patience, little girl. I have a few questions for you
first.”

Magnus eyed her up and down suspiciously and apparently
unable to come to a satisfactory conclusion, he continued, “What are you?”

“What do you mean what am I?”

“You associate yourself with vampires and a wizard, so I
hardly believe that you are an ordinary mortal girl.”

“Think what you want Magnus, but I’m not telling you
anything.”

Annoyed by her obstinacy, Magnus turned away from her
contemplating his options. Celeste looked around anxiously eyeing the
blacked-out skylight above her head.
 
Suddenly, Magnus spun
around,
inches from her
face, with a crazed look in his eyes and fangs protruding. She jumped back,
startled, but quickly regained her composure. She unsheathed her sword from her
backpack, pointing it at him menacingly.

“Oh my, this is just wonderful!” he said with a sinister
chuckle. “I was right! You are the new Guardian. I would recognize that symbol
anywhere.”

Without flinching Celeste asked, “You know my family symbol?
Have you met others like me?”

“Of course, little Guardian. I have undoubtedly killed many
of your family members along with countless other guardians.”

Celeste’s head was spinning, but she couldn’t stop now. “Were
you the one who killed my father?”

“I suppose I might have. It’s hard to keep track these days,
I’ve killed so many people in my thousands of years on this earth. What did he
look like?” he asked with an evil glimmer in his black eyes.

A blinding anger swelled through Celeste and she lunged at
Magnus with her sword. He effortlessly batted her aside, as easily as a horse
swats a pesky fly with its tail. But she got back up and charged at him once
again. Instinctively, she reached for the amulet around his neck and tore it
off the chain. The look of alarm on his face confirmed its importance; although
why it was significant Celeste still had no clue. As he was preoccupied with
retrieving the jewel, which had clattered onto the floor, Roman and Nico came
crashing through the skylight above and landed on top of him.

Magnus was momentarily dazed by the impact, and he struggled
beneath the weight of the pair. The bright morning sun filled the dark room,
and Magnus shrieked as the scorching rays burned his white flesh.

“The amber amulet is what protects him from the sun! Don’t
let him get it!” yelled Celeste.

She rushed toward them and plunged her sword into Magnus’
chest, but missed his heart. With a howl, he fought off his attackers and broke
free to escape into the shadows as the sword clanged to the floor. The burns
and wound had slowed him down though, and as he tried to transform, Roman
tackled him to the ground. Nico was right behind him about to pounce when
Magnus’ strength returned and he flung Roman off of him like a rag doll.

“Valiant effort boys,” Magnus said mockingly.

His wound was almost healed, and without that advantage it
was unlikely they would take him down. Celeste watched wide-eyed as Magnus ran
straight toward her. She stood unmoving with sword drawn, the sun bouncing off
of her golden curls.

“Ha! You really are the Guardian aren’t you?” he said pausing
in front of her with a look of admiration. “It will be my pleasure to kill
you.”

He lunged toward her with fangs bared, pushing her out of the
light and knocking her sword to the ground. Out of the corner of her eye, she
saw Roman and Nico just a few feet behind him. She hesitated for a moment, and
then resolutely shut her eyes and let his fangs clamp down on her neck.
Distracted by the frenzy of the bloodlust, he didn’t hear the brothers close in
on him from behind. Roman hurled himself on top of Magnus who was forced to
release his grip on Celeste. She squirmed free and ripped the sleeve from her
shirt to staunch the blood flowing from her neck. Roman pinned Magnus’ torso to
the floor while Nico held his lower half down in the sunlight.

Magnus shrieked in anger.

“Now!” yelled Roman.

With one fierce stab, Celeste ran her glimmering sword
straight through Magnus’ heart. His black eyes bulged out in shock as he
realized imminent death was upon him. He convulsed hideously for a moment and
then disintegrated into a pile of ash.

“Wow, that was disgusting,” said Nico, covered in dust.

“Are you all right?” Roman asked Celeste.

“I think so. I just need to sit down,” Celeste said
collapsing to the ground.

Roman sat down on the floor cradling her as a single tear
rolled down her cheek. He gently wiped it away.

“Excellent job my dear,” said Stellan, appearing out
of
nowhere with a fiercely proud look in his eye.

“Nice of you to finally show up,” said Nico, dusting himself
off.

Stellan offered his hand, and Celeste took it, picking
herself up off the ground. She looked up at him and couldn’t help the smile
that spread across her face.

“Well the good part about killing ancient vampires is that
there is no body to get rid of,” said Nico, stretching out lazily on Stellan’s
couch.

“Way to look on the bright side,” said Celeste.

“We should all be celebrating,” said Dani. “Magnus is dead,
and I can finally come out of the basement!”

Dani’s giddiness was contagious and soon they were all
laughing, but in the back of their minds they knew that killing Magnus was only
a temporary reprieve. Fabian was still out there.

“Dani is right, let’s enjoy our moment of victory,” said
Stellan. “I believe I have a bottle of champagne I’ve been saving for a special
occasion such as this.” Stellan returned quickly with a tray of elaborate
champagne flutes, and Celeste helped him pass them out.

“To Celeste,” toasted Stellan, “our new Guardian. May she
have a long and blessed life and may all of her victories be as successful as
this one.”

“To Celeste,” they all said in unison, clinking their
glasses.

“You know, Magnus killed my father,” said Celeste, as she and
Roman lay in her bed in the quiet darkness.

“He admitted it?” he asked, turning toward her.

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“I’m so sorry, Celeste. But now I understand why you attacked
him like that. You were incredible!”

“I lost it when he said that. He was so snide about it too,
like killing my father was too insignificant for him to even remember. I felt
this overwhelming urge to rip his head off. It was much worse than when I was
around you or Nico when I first became a Guardian. It was scary,” she said.

“It’s all part of being a Guardian, I believe. Your powers
seem to be fueled by your emotions. But that’s a good thing, Celeste. You feel
everything so intensely, and if you can focus that energy, you’ll be
unstoppable.”

Celeste rolled over to face him. “Thanks for always making me
feel better, Roman. Sometimes I worry that I won’t live up to everyone’s
expectations though.”

“You already have,” he said kissing her sweetly.

She smiled looking into his deep blue eyes feeling as though
she were being swallowed up inside of them – wanting to be.

“You were unbelievable today. It took a lot of courage to do
what you did, and you didn’t even think twice about doing it. You have the
heart of a hero, and I know you are going to be greater than anyone could ever
imagine.”

“I love you Roman,” she whispered.

“I love you more than you will ever know,” he responded.

With Fabian’s impending arrival looming over them, Stellan
had thought it best for everyone to remain at his house for a few more weeks.
When Celeste had told her mom that she would be extending her stay, she hadn’t
taken it well. Celeste tried to spare her most of the details; she didn’t want
to give her mother more to be concerned about.

“I promise I’ll be home soon,” she said to her mom on the
phone.

“I miss you sweetie, and I know that you’re doing very
important things, but spending your last summer before college with your
friends is important too.”

“I know Mom, which is why I was thinking about coming home
for the day. Stellan is really happy with my progress, and he said I deserved a
break.”

“That’s wonderful news! I know you’ll want to see Brian and
Natalie, but do you think you can spare some time for your mother?”

“Of course, Mom. I’ll be home around noon, and we can have
lunch together.”

“Perfect! I’m so happy I’m going to see you!”

“Me too, Mom. See you in a few hours,” she said. After she
hung up the phone, she realized she was nervous about returning home. She had
changed so much in the last few weeks, and she wasn’t sure she would fit back
into her old life anymore.
 

“It’s not fair that I can’t go with you guys,” said Dani
pouting. She had strategically positioned herself in front of the door with her
jaw clenched and arms crossed.
 

“I’m sorry you can’t come Dani, but you know that if you go
out in the sunlight you’ll burst into flames,” said Celeste, trying to sound
sincere.

“This sucks! Being a vampire is no fun at all. I can’t go out
in the daylight, I can’t see my friends or family, and you won’t even let me
bite people!”

Nico attempted to suppress the smile that was forming at the
edge of his lips. “Well maybe if you’re a good vampire, Stellan will work on a
spell to let you walk in the daylight,” he said.

“You can do that?” she asked.

“There are many things that I can do, but sometimes there are
things that I shouldn’t,” responded Stellan with a reproachful glance at Nico.

Dani crossed the room in an instant, imploring Stellan with
hands pressed together tightly in supplication. “Oh please Stellan, if you can
make it possible for me to go outside in the day, I promise I will never drink
blood from a human again. I’ll even try to survive off of squirrels, birds, or
even rats – I’ll do anything!”

“I don’t doubt your intentions Dani,” he said, pausing to pry
his hands away from her iron grip, “but your instincts concern me. Bloodlust is
a very powerful thing that most vampires are not strong enough to overcome.”

“But look, I’ve been around Celeste for days and I haven’t
tried to bite her, not once!” claimed Dani.

“Yes, but Celeste can cut your head off with a single move,”
said Nico. Dani looked over at Celeste in desperation, but she only shook her
head discouragingly.

“I’m sorry Dani, it is simply too soon. You are still a very
young vampire, and you need to get a handle on your emotions before I give you
the ability to
daywalk
,” concluded Stellan.

“And besides Dani, even if you could come back with us, what
would we do if someone in Oak Bluffs recognized you?” asked Celeste.

“I’m never going to get out of this stupid house!” Dani said
in frustration as she stormed down the stairs.

Pulling into her driveway, Celeste was overcome with
nostalgia at the sight of her home. She had only been gone for two months, and
yet so much had happened that it felt more like years. She sat unmoving for a
moment taking in all the emotions. Roman leaned across her and unbuckled her
seat belt bringing her back to the present. Celeste turned to him, giving him a
quick kiss and hopped out of the car.

“Mom! I’m home!” Celeste stepped inside and was greeted by
the familiar scents of her childhood home. The smell of chocolate chip cookies
came wafting out of the kitchen followed by her mother. She smiled at her
wistfully and raced into her open arms.