The reluctant bodyguard

chapter 2

Merek lives a quiet life, he likes his privacy. So needless to say, when he sensed a witch on his property, he wasn't exactly thrilled. When he saw her though, he wasn't sure what to think. That wavey auburn hair, those big emerald green eyes, that porcelain like pale skin. If Arabella hadn't died hundreds or years ago, he could swear he was looking at her right now.

It only took him a moment to shake it off and repeat his question "What do you want?" Alina was quick to muster up some courage and stand confident "The witches need you, to do what you were made for, the demons have returned and-" She doesn't even get a chance to finish as he cuts her off "No." His response was quick, simple, and to the point.

Alina was a little caught off guard, but she kept her composure. "What do you mean no? This is literally what you were made for. You owe it to-" He cuts her off once more. "I owed and paid my debt to Arabella, hence the freedom she awarded me. So, how about you try that again and instead tell me why I should help YOU." Alina wasn't sure what to say at this point, her father basically gave her a script of what to say, so she decided to wing it from here "Arabella wrote about you as if you were a noble heroic warrior. That has to still be in you, we need your help and without it..." she let's out a quiet sigh "without your help I'm afraid we will lose, the demons will run the world and whether you like it or not, they will end up on your doorstep looking for a fight."

Merek had to admit, she did have a point, demons aren't exactly as stupid as you'd think. They will eventually come for him. He is silent as he thinks about his options before casually turning and walking inside his cabin, closing the door. This of course, made Alina sigh in exasperation. "Are you serious?" She was about to stomp up to the door when he came back out carrying a duffel bag which made Alina's expression change to curiosity "Does this mean you are coming with me?" He gave a simple nod slinging the duffel bag over his shoulder "Let's get moving, where exactly are we to be going?" He spoke while walking into the trees, not the direction Alina came from though.

She hesitated for just a second before quickly following him "I'm suppose to bring you to the tower, the covens are meeting there and bringing the other protectors as well." She takes out her map and shows him the spot marked in the mountains "Does that mean the others have already been found?" He asks, referring to the other protectors "Yes. Well sorta, each coven sent someone to retrieve a protector with instructions to bring them to the tower." He does another simple nod, not saying anything else. Alina found the silence a bit unnerving but she wasn't even sure what to say, she didn't want risk annoying him and have him change his mind, so she figured silence was the way to go.

Fortunately, they didn't have to walk for too long when they reached an old abandoned dirt road, it clearly doesn't get used very often. The grass covering most of the road was evidence of that. Alina kept her eyes trained on Merek as he went across the road moving some fallen branches and leaves out of the way to reveal a truck. Alina almost laughed "wait, you drive?" Her eyebrow c****d giving him a curious look, he however looked annoyed "why wouldn't I? Or do you assume since I'm hundreds of years old that I couldn't possibly learn modern things?" when he said it like that Alina felt her cheeks flush, feeling a bit embarrassed by her stupid question. "No. Sorry. I just assumed because the cabin and all." She realizes now how silly that is, but she just shrugs and walks to the truck getting in on the passenger side, while Merek climbed into the driver seat, tossing his duffel bag into the back seat. "I like my privacy, I keep my life simple, but I have made sure to keep up with the times. I even know how to use the internet." He looks at her with a small amused smile before starting the truck and driving down the road. His smile surprised her, did he just make a joke?