Guardian of the Sacred Fire

Land of Faerie

I walked out to the arena.  Rhea and Anemoi were sparring with swords.  Asherah was practicing her manipulation over water.  It was something that I couldn’t do.  I could only control the fire that came from me, but any other fire I couldn’t.  It was a weakness to me.  Cedar told me Anemoi couldn’t control wind, only the wind that came from her body.  Good to know I wasn’t the only one.

            Cedar was leaving to go back to his home.  Midael had convinced him that his sister was safe with Beast.  I thought it was a good idea as well.  One less person to have to protect if things go bad here.  He was a human with no powers, just a brother protecting his sister.

            I went up to Asherah and was doused with water when I accidentally startled her.

            “Sorry.” She said.

            “It’s fine.” I said and watched as she was making separate spheres of water float in the air.  Her task was to try and turn them to ice.

            “Ice is a different element.” She said as she gritted her teeth.

            “No, ice is just frozen water.  Try to control the temperature of the water.” I said.

            “Easier said.” She said quietly.  I did notice when she was concentrating too hard she cussed like a sailor under her breath.  I never said a word to her about it.  I knew a ten year old shouldn’t cuss, but when I was ten, I cussed like a sailor when I was alone. What ten year old didn’t?  I had toned it down as I grew up but I still had my faults.

            Adrian came up to me, he laid a kiss on my temple and handed me a sword.

            “Teach me oh wise one.” He said to me.  I had surpassed him in swordsmanship along with many of the others except Midael.  He could still knock me off my feet.

            “I want to try something else.  Why use swords when there are guns, why not take them out at a distance and take out the risk of being wounded early?” I asked.

            “Midael wouldn’t go for it.”

            “Wouldn’t go for what?” Midael asked and came up to us.

            “Guns.” I said and told him what I just told Adrian.

            “Bullets don’t take down demons, I have seen it.” He said.

            “What about blessed bullets?” I asked.

            “Blessed?”

            “Melt down crosses; soak them in holy water-whatever to make them blessed.”

            “I never thought of that.” He said.

            “Ever watch modern movies?” I asked.

            “I don’t like television.” He answered.

            “Don’t like TV?” Rhea asked in surprise.

            “Well for an invention that’s only been around for less than a hundred years, I never really watched it.” He answered.

            “But how do you keep up with the world?” Anemoi asked.

            “If it doesn’t involve me or mine it doesn’t matter.” Midael answered.

            “So what do you do in your free time?” I asked.

            “I read. There are so many books that can take you to other worlds that I would never have dreamed of.”

            “I hear ya on that.” I said.

            “I will get to work on the bullets.  But how do we test the theory?” He asked.

            “Well it looks like we’re going to have to capture us a demon.” I answered.

            “I can do that.” Oriel said.  “I can summon a lesser demon, but I will need someone to be bait so he or she will answer the call.”

            “What kind of bait?” I asked.

            “The promise of s*x, blood, and power.  They prefer someone powerful.” He said and his eyes glanced to Asherah.

            “Oh hell no!” I said.

            “Why can’t I do it Anna?” she asked.

            “Because you’re too young.” I answered

            “But I’m not too young to fight the devil?” She retorted.

            That shut me up. She did have a point.  “Fine.” I said, but as long as Midael and Bernael are there for protection, Permaz as well.” I said.

            “Aye.” Permaz said.

            “What about me?” Adrian asked.

            “You’re not immortal.” I answered.  “If something happens, they can heal it. We don’t know your limits and I don’t want to lose someone I love over a theory that might not even work.”

            “What if it doesn’t work?” Anemoi asked. “What will we do with the demon? We can’t just set it free.”

            “We’ll kill it.” Bernael said walking up.  His skin glinted in the sunlight.  He was more than just obsidian black; he had shades of blue and purple in his skin.

            “I’ll get started then.” Midael said.

            “Do we even have a gun here?” I asked.

            “I have one.” Rhea said.  “Don’t judge me. I’m not always touching natural earth.” She said as we all gave her a look of surprise.

            “I will need it so I know what millimeter of bullets to make.”

            “It’s a Smith and Wesson .9mm.” She answered.

            “How many rounds?”

            “17 plus one in the chamber.”

            “Anyone else know how to shoot?” Midael asked.

            I watched the others shake their heads.  They looked at me.  “Don’t look at me, my father taught me how to protect myself, not how to shoot.” I said.

            “So you can’t actually do something?” Rhea said.  “I was given Americans from the south can do pretty much anything.”

            “I can’t knit or crochet. I also can’t cook chicken.”

            “Chicken?” Adrian said and c****d an eyebrow.

            “I’m too impatient and you have to cook chicken thoroughly.”

            “I see.” He said with a smile.

            “I will need your gun Rhea.” Midael said and I watched the two walk off together.  I had a sudden pang of anger when I saw that she put her hand on the small of his back.

            Adrian came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

            “I heard you got pretty slammed last night.” He said.

            “You heard correctly.” I answered.

            “Anna, may I talk to you privately?” Oriel asked.

I nodded and followed Oriel to the mansion leaving the others behind.  I will be honest; I watched the golden man’s ass along the way.  I had to say he had the nicest one here.  I followed him to the kitchen where it was absolutely quiet.  I didn’t know if any of the faeries were there or not.  I sat on the table and grabbed an apple.  I tossed it in the air a couple of times and watched Oriel cross the room.  He opened a cabinet door and I saw something that amazed me.  It wasn’t a cabinet like I thought it was.  It was another part of the mansion not ever seen.  I set the apple down and hopped off the table and went to the cabinet.  The difference with this was there were flowers and grass growing from the floor.  The walls had been overrun with vines and a large tree grew at the end of the hall.

            “What is it?” I asked.

            “It’s where my people that work here sleep during the day.” He answered.  He took my hand and we went inside the cabinet.  He closed and locked the door behind us.

            “Only Bernael knows about this place.” Oriel said.

            “Why are you showing me this?”

            “You didn’t shy away from Drop.  You treated her with kindness and respect.  Most others treat them like children and play things.  Drop wanted to welcome you here.” He answered.

            “Where is she?”

            “They’re sleeping for now in the Tree of Peace.” He answered and motioned towards the tree at the end of the hall.

            He led me a little ways down the hall.  It was fairly long for a hall.  It was larger than it appeared.  “If you are not welcomed personally by a faerie, this hallway can become a nightmare.  You would die of thirst before you ever reached the tree.”

            “But you said-.”

            “She hasn’t welcomed you yet.” He answered and led me into a bedroom.  My heart was hammering for some reason.  I was starting to become scared and I didn’t know why.

            “Why are we here then?” I asked.  He closed the door behind us as I moved across the room to the other side of the room. The room was exactly the same as the ones upstairs but this had no windows and the lights seemed to be glowing blue orbs in the vine covered ceiling.  “Is this another realm?” I asked.

            “You’re very smart Anna.” He said and came towards me.  I backed completely against the wall and I squealed as the vines moved behind me.  I moved away quickly and looked back at the wall.  The vines were reaching out towards me and I squealed again.  Oriel grabbed my arms and I moved my head up to see his face.

            He lowered his face towards mine and jerked away from him.  I stumbled back into the wall and the vines didn’t hesitate this time.  They wrapped around my waist and arms.  I fought at them and they strained tighter.

            “Don’t fight it Anastasia.” Oriel said.  “They will break you if you do.”  The vines moved on the other side and I saw skeletons of small faeries and animals as well as one human sized one.  I screamed.

            Oriel clasped his hand over my mouth with a motion I couldn’t follow.  Tears started to burn my eyes as Oriel went to his knees in front of me.  He lifted my shirt and kissed my stomach. 

            “Why are you doing this?” I asked quietly.

            “I want to share your power.  I want our aura’s to meld like yours and Adrian’s and Midael’s.  I want that power.”

            “And r**e solves this?” I asked.  “You won’t know the difference.” He said and stood back up.  He brought his face close to mine and just stared into my eyes.  They gradually became swirling depths of molten gold.  It felt like I was falling for an instant and I actually did.  The vines let go of me.  Oriel caught me and carried me to the flower petal covered bed.  His eyes never left mine.  I couldn’t seem to look away even as he unbuttoned my jeans.

            “Be mine Anna.” He whispered in my head.

            In that moment I wanted to be his.  My body ached for his touch.  All I wanted was him and him alone.  Midael and Adrian didn’t matter.  Saving the world didn’t matter.  Just Oriel and I in this moment is what mattered.  My body seemed to weigh a ton and yet felt weightless at the same time.  I couldn’t explain it if you asked me.

            I felt Oriel enter me and I cried out.  The ruby on my neck began to glow.  Oriel snatched it and threw it into the vines.  It vanished in an instant.  It didn’t matter.  I wrapped my arms around Oriel’s neck and my legs around his waist.  When our auras finally melded the air became heavy for just an instant and I snapped back to reality.

            Something hit Oriel over the head and he fell off the bed.  I glanced over and a tall slender woman was standing next to the bed with a frying pan in her hand.

            “Oh Anna.” She said.  “I never meant for this to happen.”

            “Drop?” I asked.

            “Yes my love.” She answered and picked me up.  She was stronger than her frail figure made her look.  She carried me out to the hall and a spring was there.  I tried to concentrate to remember if it was there before.  I couldn’t remember.  She took off my shirt and bra and walked into the water with me.  It was warm water.  Bathwater warm.

            “Drop? Where am I?” I asked.

            “This is a piece of my kingdom that I have moved here for us to live while we serve the Guardians.  I gave a blood oath to serve all of the Guardians to Dana.” She said.

            “Dana?”

            “The mother of course.” She said it like I knew.  “You have your God, we have our Goddess.” She answered.

            “I see.” I said as my head started to clear.  I began to realize what just happened and hot fresh tears rolled down my cheek.  I went to clutch my amulet and just grasped air. “It glowed.” I said.

            “It’s what woke me.  You see, it used to be mine.  Who has the other?”

            “Adrian.” I answered.  “We found it in the bottom of the pond.”

            “Then you were meant to find it.  Only those worthy of the Amulets of Hope can find them.  I thought it was lost a long time ago.  I guess it wasn’t meant to be mine anymore. If it is truly yours it will return to you.” She said.  “Let’s get you out of here and dressed.”

            She led me out of the water and took me to a vine covered wall.  The vines shuddered and revealed a door.  Faeries were flying about like large butterflies.  I was awed at their beauty.  We walked down another hall and none of them seemed to notice us, or they just ignored us.  I suddenly realized I was naked.  I wanted to hide.

            “Do not hide yourself Anna.  Clothes are not natural.  You see?” She said and pointed up at the ceiling.  I noticed almost all the faeries were naked.  She took me into a room and a golden gown was laid across a bed.  She went to it and handed it to me.  I slipped it on.

            “You need to be presentable when you leave here.”

            “What about my clothes?” I asked.

Faeries flew in with my clothes.  I noticed they were ripped in places.

            “The vines aren’t so nice to humans.” She answered.

            “I can tell that.” I said and slipped on the gown.  I went to a mirror and looked at myself.  Bruises were blossoming on my arms where the vines had restrained me.

            “What do you want us to do to Oriel?  We are a kind and gentle people.  What he did was an act punishable by death.” Drop said and sat on the edge of the bed.

            “Unfortunately we need him.  He is supposed to summon a demon for us to test a theory I came up with.”

            “I see.” She said.

            I looked at her through the mirror.  She was staring at her hands.

            “Is something wrong?” I asked.

            “I can’t apologize enough.” She said.

            “It’s not your place to apologize.” I said and went to her.  I went my knees in front of her and grasped her hands.

            “It is. I raised my son better than that.” She said.

            “Oriel is your son?”

            “They call me the Great Mother because I am queen, but Oriel is my biological son.” She answered.  “He became an Elder when Sofiel was a Guardian.  She was a Guardian of Light and he loved her.  He became mad when she died.  It couldn’t be helped.  Age kills most humans.

            “How long were they together?” I asked.

            “She was 17 when they first met, and 85 when she died.  68 years is long for a human, but a blink for us.  He knew that.  He tried to find any way to make her immortal.  There are spells but they involve the darkest of magic and we are creatures of the earth.  We do not use dark magic, it corrupts us.”

            I sat silent for a second looking into her green eyes.  I didn’t want to say it out loud, but what if he had used dark magic?

            “What exactly is dark magic?” I asked.  “How does it corrupt?”

            “A lot of things use dark magic.  Death, destruction, and even simple things that you wouldn’t think. Why do you ask?”

            “How about teleporting?”

            “Only using mirrors, why?”

            He had used dark magic to take me to see my mother.  I stood up and went back to the mirror.  I touch it and it was cold under my fingertips.

            “He did it for me.” I said quietly.

            “Did what?” Drop asked and got up.

            “He took me to see my mother using a mirror.” I answered and looked at her.

            She stopped and I watched her golden skin actually pale.

            “I didn’t ask him to do it.  I didn’t even know he could do it. I’m still new to this life.  If I knew what would have happened I would have told him not to.” I said.

            “Take her back to the door.” She said up at the floating faeries near the ceiling.  She rushed out of the room and two naked faeries came down to me.

            “Follow us.” The male said and I did.