The Protectors

I Love You Mummy.

Gemma had brought us back to the feild with the ancient willow tree. We all stood to take a breath of fresh air before we went into the haven. I took my bag off my shoulders and sat on the grass, while mum sat next to me, making sure i was ok. Silents just sat stail in the air, Maria- Hope sat, a little away from the rest of us, probably feeling sorry for herself, Gemma and Jessica came to sit with me and mum Gemma decided to flake out on the grass to watch the swift moving clouds float by, for relaxation.

mum asked "are any if you going to try and reconsile with Maria-Hope?" Gemma huffed and looked away, Jessica looked at mum and said "to be honest Jenny, i think she's going to have to earn everyones trust again, given the fact she has just tried to kill us all".

Mum became confused as if she had forgoten some of the stuff that happened down there, this came apparent when she told us "but i thought she was possessed?". I tried to explain to her "Maria-Hope knew exactly what she was doing, she wanted world domination but she failed, it didn't turn out the way she had hoped". Confused again mum asked "but why did we save her then?" Gemma stared me dead in the eye intrested to know what my answer would be, Gemma exclaimed "yeah come on them smart arse why did we?" i tried to explain somemore "because the soul keeper took and ate her magic to crench his hunger, she has no powers anymore she can't do any harm to anyone, we had to destroy the soul keeper, otherwise he would have tried himself to take over and cause havoc". a suddem thought enyered my head, i pointed at Maria-Hope and said "AND if she tries anything, well we have 2 very powerful witches here who can stop her", i leaned to mum and joked "well, and a half witch". Mum looked at me and smiled, and said "i'm sorry Brendon, for everything".

Gemma told mum "yeah, Jenny if theres witchcraft to be done for whatever reason, you leave it to me and Jess to handle, you've offically retired from witchcraft" Jess smiled and asked "do you mean i can stay?" Gemma laughed and replied "of course you can stay, you nugget".

Mum told us "i'm not a witch anyway, well, not anymore, Maria took what little magic i had when she had me hostage, but then of course the keeper took her magic, so yeah, there we are".

I looked over at Gemma trying to break the tension, i told her "so then, your now the new boss of the safe haven?" Gemma looked at me with daggers in the eyes, as if i need more daggers.

We decided that it was time now that we started sorting stuff out i went with Gemma and mum went off with Maria and Jessica. We all walked over to the willow and Gemma held her hands up and chanted the incantation to gain access to the haven.

We all decended down the stairs and through the big metal doors and split into our groups, Gemma and My intentions were to take the chalis, dagger and book to the library, while Maria, Mum and Jessica went to see if the vampires were ok.

Gemma and me entered the libray, but as we looked and found the book entitled "inus within" to gain access to the libray of dark magic i forgot i could not go in. Gemma took the bag from me and took the artifacts to the back and beyond of the libray, while i waited for her to return.

I watched as she slowly appeared from the shadows of the bookshelves. Gemma had a smiled as she walked out of the libray and closed the disguised book shelf door.

Intreaged i asked "what's tickled your pickle?" "everyone overlooked something, even Maria". She paused to build the tension, in the style of a competition host, getting impatient, i asked "well, what was it?" Gemma giggle with relief "well, there was 4 things needed to carry out the ritual and take control of the soul keeper, theres this necklace that was needed to control the keeper, its made of emerald and silver, which when the correct spell is used stores a mind control thing with in the emerald".

Shocked of Gemma's discovery i asked "how'd you know that?" "i read it in the book just then i was reading it as i was walking down the aisle to put it all away".

I smiled and told her "it's a good thing she didn't read it then". We both smiled, but i had this overwhelming erge, the erge to kiss Gemma, the butterflies within me were fluttering, and i lent in and to my joy, surprise, shock, she kissed me, we both met in the middle, her lips touched mine and the butterflies went even more crazy.

As we were getting comfortable and getting into a nice warm kiss, my mum walked through the door, we both jumped out of our skin and pulled away. Mum realised what she had just walked into, as she looked at us with shock and joy all in one. Gemma grabbed my hand and pulled me in closer. Meanwhile Mum walked out the libray apologising, and grinning like the cheshire cat, leaving me and Gemma in the room alone.

Gemma said "we need to go". We walked out the libray, but before we met up with the others, my nerves went flying but i had to do it, i stopped Gemma and told her "I've got, i've got strong feelings for you, the time we spent together made me see the loveably side to you, would there ever be a chance, well, you know". Gemma smiled and replied "yes, i will go out with you, i have had these strong feelings about you, your the only one ive ever really cared for, and i think its needless to say, i would die for you". overcome with absolute joy, i told her "i would die for you". Grmma laughed and replied "you did".

The joy between us was obviouly noticable to the others.

As the day drawed on and sleeping arrangments were sorted for the night, me, Gemma, mum, Jessica and even Maria-Hope, all started settling in for the evening, we sat in the great hall with a nice hot cup of tea, as we sat there we heard a voice coming from the otherside of the room. We turned to see who it was, it was one of the young vampires stood in the doorway.

I asked Gemma "which vampire is that?" With a look of care in her eyes and a sound of ove her voice she answered "thats Tommy, he died when he was 9 yrs old, the only way we could save him was to feed him vampire blood, his father got possessed by a demon, the demon killed his older brother and younger sister, we got him just in time, and when the father realised what had happened, he comited suicide, not realising the Tommy was still alive, all be it barely".

But this is what this place is for to help individuals, and protect them from the supernatural forces that tangle themselves into our mortal relm for torture, and there own selfish means.

I turned to Gemma and asked " so are we the new generation of of protectors selecting the valnerable ones".

Gemma and Maria sat quietly and looked at each other, Gemma started to tear up. I asked "what's the problem?" Gemma cried "you can't stay here". Upset with her answer, in desperation i quizzed "what? but why?" Maria-Hope explained "when our mother created this place she created it to protect me and Gemma from evil supernatural beings, but also from your kind". Angered by this, i shouted a Maria "oh and you were trust worthy weren't you, she wasn't even your bloody mother, or was that another one of your, evil little lies to get at Gemma too".

Maria cried "I'm sorry Gemma, but yes it was, my head was in a dark place we are sisters, Tina was my mother too". Anger even more i argued "who you killed", my digging at Maria got to Gemma, she waved her hands as she screamed and cried "SHUT UP". By her waving her hands Maria-Hope's and my lips became sealed shut, it felt like someone had just glued my mouth shut.

Gemma sat crying, so little Tommy sat on her lap and gave her a really big hug. But the most shocking moment was when Tommy said "i love you mummy". All faces around the table dropped with shock, except Maria's. I tried to say something, anything really such as, ask how old she relly was because she only looks like a teenager, 17 at the oldest.

As Gemma freed mine and Maria's mouths, she explained and the truth was spilt Gemma told us "I was married for 5 years, but we were together for 6 years before we tied the knot, on the second year, i got pregnant with Tommy." I interupted and asked "how old are you to have had 3 kids at the age of 17?" Although i wasn't sure i was going to like the answer. Gemma answered my question by saying "Maria is actually 219 years old and i'm 217 years old" Maria interupted and added "what i told you about our dad was 200 years ago, that was when he turned against us, i was 19 when i realised i had magic powers, but Gemma was only 17 so she got them earlier then me". Gemma continued "Tommy died when he was 9, but if he was alive today he would be 195 yrs old now". Completely shocked and taken back by this story i asked "why did you never say anything? you, your, i don't believe it". Gemma started to cry again, and said "i'm sorry i never told you, but i had feelings for you, when you were doing your dopey act, trying to get my attention and be friends, something in me just clicked, but i didn't want to admit it, you see Henry, my husband was human, i didn't want history repeating it's self so i tried to hide it, i didn't want to admit that i fell for another human".

Just then Gemmas face dropped in realisation, as if she had seen a ghost, and she exclaimed "oh my god, no, oh my god". Gemma told Jessica to take Tommy to Gemma's bedroom.

It suddenly dawned on Gemma that it was Maria-Hope that had possessed her husband Henry to kill Gemma's small family. Gemma cried in disbelief and used her powers to choke Maria off her seat and to the floor. By this time Maria was on her knees at deaths door, when Gemma released her, she used her powers to slap Maria around the floor like a rag doll.

As Gemma continued to throw Maria around in anger and revenge, Maria started to beg for her life, but there was no sympathy this time for her from me or my mum, so we let Gemma do whatever she wanted to do to her.

Maria-Hope waa all battered and beaten, so Gemma came to a stop and collapsed to the floor on dispair, she screamed as her entire world had fallen apart once again. Immediatly i ran to her aid and held her tight as she screamed and sobbed into my shoulder.

Mum went over to check that Maria was still breathing, but she gave me the look that Gemma may have killed Maria.

I helped Gemma up and started walking her to her bedroom, she lent onto my shoulder, and walked across the great hall, down the shadowy corridor towards her bedroom.

I opened Gemma's bedroom door and went over to Gemma's bed. I helped Gemma into bed and sat next to her, stroking her hair hoping that it would relax her more. Gemma pushed her face into her pillows.

I lent over to her and gave her a kiss on the head, before getting up to leave her in peace. I walked out of the bedroom door and made my way back to the great hall to rejoin mum. I saw mum sat next to Maria, when mum said "shes breathing again, we need to get her into a bed so we can start trwating her". Worried that it would anger Gemma more that we were helping a murderous crow like Maria-Hope, and leaving her to die on the floor, i asked mum "are you sure thats wise?

With thoughts of Mother knows best, i put my trust into my mothers judgment and helped her get Maria up off the floor and taken to a cell where she would have a bed, but, would also still be locked up, for Gemma to decide what to do with her in the morning.

After we dropped Maria-Hope off at the cell, i was reluctant to leave Gemma on her own, so i quickly checked on Jessica and Tommy. Jessica was asleep on the bed, while Tommy was playing with toys on the floor.

I told Tommy to remember to go back to his coffin, to which he knew he's done it so many times now it's all second nature to the poor little lad now.

Happy with his response, i smiled and closed the door, and made my way to Gemma's room. I lightly tapped on the door and slowly entered the room, Gemma was still laying in the same position, laid on her side, chewing her nails, with her eyes all red from where she had been crying so hard.

I sat next to her on the bed, and told her " Maria-Hope is still alive, but unconcious, we've put her into a cell and locked the door for now. I gave her another kiss on the head and told her "try and get some sleep".

As i approached the door, i heard Gemmas, sad, choked up voice from behind me ask "can you stay with me tonight please? i don't want to be alone". A proud moment of joy was in my body, although it was abit inappropriate, given the current situation. Still i was happy to be the shoulder to cry on, for the woman that i love, although she is 217 years old.

I laid down on my back next to her, and she cuddled right into me, and placed her head on my shoulder, she started to cry again but i think she wanted a shoulder to cry on, and have someone to talk too if she wanted too.

I laid there as she cried, i gently rubbed her arms, shoulders and from nowhere as though it just came as second nature to me, i told her "i love you". Which to my complete and utter shock and surprise, she responded "i love you too".