Guardian of the Sacred Fire

Truth

            I was shown to a room that was going to be mine.  I was going to be trained by all of the Elders it seemed.  The faerie would teach me magic, the dwarf hand to hand combat, the beautiful one would teach me to control my aura, the dark one would teach me how to take that control and use it as a weapon, and Adrian would teach me how to unlock my “inner beast” which he explained was my primal rage.  Kind of like a person on PCP was how it was explained to me. Each one would teach me on separate days and on the two left over days I was to meditate.  Felt like high school all over again. But bloodier. The first thing I was going to try and learn the next morning was hand to hand combat with the dwarf.  Permaz the dwarf-or troll- whatever. 

The rest of the day I walked the grounds.  In my room I found everything for me.  Clothes, shoes, you name it.  I traded my dress for jeans and a t shirt.  I had to bandage my chest.  There was a large gash extending from my collar bone to between my breasts.  I finally got it to stop bleeding after I took a shower and washed the hair spray and make up off of me. The shower was large and like one I always dreamed of.  It was like its own little room sealed off with a glass door.  It had four shower heads.  Two in the side of the walls and two above.  I had my own bathroom. That part rocked. The only sad part was they made Azrael and Beast leave.  They could not be a part of my training. So I was here alone with a house full of otherworldly being that all seemed to hate me.  Well all but Adrian.  At least I hoped he didn’t hate me.

            I found a small cave that was in a meadow surrounded by trees.  You couldn’t spot it unless you were right on top of it.  I found a rock and threw it inside just in case anything rattled or hissed.  Just what I need, to be bitten by a snake or attacked by an animal.  I heard nothing and got on my hands and knees and went into the cave.  It was shallow and there was nothing inside of it.  A wave of relief washed over me.  I backed out of it and stood up.  I brushed my knees off and looked around.  I think I found a meditation spot.  It was quiet and I loved being outside. And no one could find me.  That was my main focus.

            My eyes caught something moving in the trees.  I’m a country girl, in movies you see people go into the woods and check it out.  You really don’t do that.  The thing moving could possibly kill you. Usually if you left it alone, it would leave you alone.  Usually.  In this case I was wrong.  A wolf came into the clearing and I slowly backed away.  Do not run away from predators, they will see you as prey.  I did what came to mind.  I sat down and lowered my head, try to appear non threatening.  I closed my eyes and let my mind wander for a second, my heart pounding in my chest as my overactive imagination got the best of me and I pictured myself wolf food.

            When I lifted my head again I had to choke back a startled squeal. Adrian sat in front of me.  He was staring at me with a curious expression.

            “Why didn’t you run?” he asked.

            “I’m not as stupid as I may appear.”

            “I never said you were stupid, just asking why you didn’t run.”

            “Discovery Channel.” I said and smiled.

            Adrian started laughing.  It was a good laugh.  Contagious as well as I started to laugh with him.  The laughter died quickly but it still showed in his eyes.

            “So how did you become an Elder?” I asked.

            “I can shape shift into most animals.  No one else can do that. So they made me an Elder.  I’m the youngest one ever.  I count it as cheating though, I didn’t earn the spot. I’m only 26 and counted as the most powerful of my species just because I can shift into different animals.”

            “Your aura says different.” I said.

            “Oh? What does it say?” he asked with a smile.

            “It says powerful, I can see most of the animals and they look like they are at battle with each other.  It seems as though one of them wants to be king of all of them.”

            “Well I see you have already mastered aura reading.  My question is, why aren’t you doing the poor pitiful “why me” act?”

            “It has to be someone right? If not me, then it would be someone else. I just accepted it.  No point in pouting over it. I can’t change what or who I am.”

            “Wise words for such a young woman.” He said and I looked him in the eyes.  Such a lovely green.  Like pale jade.

            “You are only four years older than me.” I said and crossed my arms.

            “Ah, but four years can make a hell of a difference.”

            “How the hell did you become a doctor so young?” I asked.

            “I graduated high school at 15, started college at 16.” He answered.

            “Well that makes you incredibly smart.” I said.

He stood up and I followed his lead.  I looked at him now, closely. He was wearing a black on black suit and shiny black dress shoes. His face was masculine but soft around the edges. His chestnut hair fell to his shoulders in waves.  He had thick lashes and eyebrows that matched his hair color.  He picked a daffodil and placed it in my hair.  Maybe I was looking too much into this, but wouldn’t that be considered flirting?

            I watched him walk away and change fluidly back into a wolf.  His clothes melded with the change.  He looked back at me than ran off.

            I placed the daffodil on my nightstand in a glass of water.  I walked over to the window and watched the sun set.  I had a beautiful view of the red, gold, pinks, and purples.  I watched as it turned into a dark blue until it was black.  Stars glittered in the sky like diamonds and fireflies were flashing throughout the grounds.  I went to the bed and lied down, already in new shorts and a spaghetti strap.  It was my usual sleep attire.  I wonder who shopped for me.  Everything was almost an exact copy of what I had back home.  They even bought a fan, which I couldn’t sleep without.

            The room was grand; it even had chandelier and a real Persian rug. A four poster bed made out of cherry wood, actual wood.  Red curtains were on each of the posts.  The walls were red with gold designs painted into it.  I felt like a princess in the room honestly. 

            Try as hard as I could I just couldn’t fall asleep.  The alarm clock read three a.m. when I finally decided to get up.  I opened my door and looked down the hall, it seemed empty. I stepped out into the moonlit hallway and tip toed down to the stairs.  The marble steps were cold on my feet, but shoes make unnecessary noise.

  I poked my head around an open door and quickly flattened myself against the wall.  The beautiful one was standing in front of a massive fireplace.  He didn’t see me.  I looked again and he was still facing the fire.  I tip toed slowly and almost reached the other side.

“Come in Anna, I won’t harm you.” He said.

“I thought I was being silent.” I said apologetically.

“You were, but I didn’t become and Elder for no reason.  You have yet to learn to control your energy.  I felt you leave your room.”

“Should I apologize?”

“No child.” He said.  “Please sit.” He said and motioned to a chair.  I suddenly felt underdressed.  I sat down and crossed my legs and arms.

“I have a couple of questions for you.” I said.

“Ask and you will get an answer.”

“First.  What is your name?”

“Midael.” He answered quickly.

“Second, what are you?”

“Can you not tell? I am one of the Fallen.  I was once a mighty angel, leader of the celestial army, but I chose Ariella’s side during the last revolution.  I was cast down to Earth. Upon her death I swore that I would find the next Guardians. I would teach them to be strong and powerful.  Tomorrow we will choose who your Sentinel will be.  The one to watch over you and guard you until the time comes that you are needed.  I have someone in mind already.”

“Azrael?” I asked.

“No. He showed his worth and was the one who killed Ariella. She was beloved by all.”

“But he loved her.”

“Yes, he did. But he chose to kill her because she did not love him back.”

“He told me she was cursed.”

“He lied to you. She was never cursed. Yes I admit it was the time he was changed into a vampire; he lost control over his hunger and killed her.  There was no curse, nothing of the sort.  He was hungry, that was all.  Azrael made it seem heroic of what he done?”

“He told me he gave up his soul to try and save her, that Uriel had complete control of him.”

“Uriel was his maker.  You have lots to learn.  Vampires are bound to their maker until they are freed or the maker dies. You on the other hand freed his entire coven.  He was a cruel master yes, but he protected them.  But no, Azrael is not the hero he made himself out to be.” Midael said.

I was pissed suddenly.  The bastard lied to me.

“Control your anger little one.” Midael said and came around and touched my shoulder.

I took in a deep breath and looked at my hands.  I could see flames just underneath my skin licking at the surface.  It didn’t hurt at all; it did make my heart thunder in my veins.