Legend of the Guardians

Chapter 2

Chapter 2Taisia Romanova lay on a velvety blanket of green moss with an old, tattered paperback in her hands and a gentle smile on her lips.

She spent every summer with her babushka in a remote village of the Arkhangelsk Oblast' called Vershinino. It was a cluster of old, weather-beaten cottages that dotted the evergreen countryside and stretched along the shore of Lake Kenozero.

To pass time, Taisia spent countless hours with her nose in books. It was too cold to swim in the lake and the only TV her babushka owned got damaged a year ago from the roof leakage.

Taisia closed the book and gave out a deep sigh.

She loved romance novels, and like many others, this one ended on a happy note. The two lovers rode off into the sunset and lived happily ever after.

She rolled over on her back and watched streaks of gold and copper stream through the tall, dense trees. Then, she folded her hands behind her head and listened to the chirping of the birds, the buzzing of bees among the sea of wildflowers and the rustle of the leaves.

Her imagination ran wild.

She closed her eyes and envisioned herself as a dragon slayer. Then, as a princess that embarked on a dangerous quest to regain her kingdom, and finally as a superhero that used her powers to save the world from an evil warlord.

Quickly, she cracked an eyelid open, propped up on her elbows and cast a surreptitious glance around the forest.

There was no one in sight.

She rolled over on her stomach, ripped off a plantain leaf and placed it in the palm of her hand.

A warm, tingly sensation rushed through her veins and pooled into her fingertips. The leaf suddenly levitated; then it twisted and turned as though it were alive.

Taisia giggled quietly.

At the age of three, she learned to grow flowers, and at the age of four, she could heal wounded animals. It was a gift that her mother feared and her babushka admired.

But with the good came the bad.

When Taisia turned six, she asked for a collectible Barbie doll for her birthday. Instead, she received a Teddy Bear. For the first time in her life, she threw a tantrum, and it resulted in a small earthquake. Not the kind that could shatter windows and disintegrate buildings, but the kind that could split the sidewalks and render her mother speechless.

Later on, Taisia apologized to her mother and promised to behave.

Her mother didn't make much money. She could barely make ends meet. Taisia knew that she worked three jobs in order to keep the food on the table and clothes on her back.

Taisia knew little of her father; only that he met her mother at the People's Friendship University of Russia (PFUR). According to the tale, he was tall, dark and devilishly handsome and she was blonde, bubbly and curvy.

It was love at first sight and it bound their hearts together, but a death in his family tore them apart. He never made it back home to Abeokuta, Nigeria. His plane crashed and the next day her mother discovered that she was pregnant.

Aside from the strange, supernatural power, Taisia knew that she was different from the other kids when she first stepped inside her kindergarten. While the other kids had fine, blonde hair and milky-white complexions, her skin was the shade of caramel and her hair was a mane of dark, corkscrew curls.

As a child, she hated her reflection in the mirror. She wanted to look like the other girls in class but as she got older and wiser, she fell in love with her unique beauty. It set her apart from the rest.

“Taisia!” A familiar voice cut through the tall trees.

Taisia jerked her chin up and dropped the leaf on the ground. She quickly grabbed her book, stood up and sprinted across the green forest.

In the middle of the road stood a short, buxom woman. She had a headful of short, silvery hair and a pair of steel-grey eyes that burned with fierceness.

Taisia halted at the sight of her babushka.

Babushka dipped her chin and gave Taisia's floral, spaghetti-strap dress a look of disapproval.

“What is that?”

“A summer dress,” Taisia replied with a smile.

“That flimsy fabric is a dress? It barely covers your lady parts! When I was your age I used to wear that under my dress, and back then it was called a slip. It's no wonder why teenage girls are getting pregnant by the minute nowadays.”

“Babushka…” Taisia groaned. “That's what girls wear nowadays.”

“Where's your jacket?” Babushka handed one of the mesh tote bags to Taisia.

“I didn't bring one.”

Babushka sighed. “How many times must I tell you to bring a blanket or a jacket when you lie on the cold ground? Honestly, child, do you want to have back problems before you're even twenty?”

Taisia chose to remain quiet as she followed babushka down the dirt road towards the wooden cottages that loomed in the distance. Babushka lived in a house that her father built during the Soviet era, and despite its shabby appearance, it was warm and cozy inside.

Taisia nudged the old, wooden gate with her foot and it swung open with a loud creak. The front yard bloomed with green, leafy vegetables that she helped grow. She paused on the porch when she heard a familiar voice behind them.

“Nina! Nina!”

It was Matvei, the local postman. Sadly, he was the only link to the outside world in a rural village like Vershinino.

He wore a camouflage jacket over a striped tank top, puke-green pants and black, rubber boots. He held down the mailbag that slung over his shoulder and hurried through the tall grass outside of Babushka's cottage.

“Nina!” He waved a white envelope high in the air.

Babushka swept a curious glance over his flustered, red face. “What is the matter with you? You'll burst your old lungs if you continue to scream like that! Did you step on the rake and hit yourself on the head again?”

Matvei gasped for air. “You got a letter—”

“So?”

“From America!” He exclaimed. His usual dull, listless eyes glowed with excitement. “It's for your grand-daughter!”

Taisia dropped the avoska on the front porch and rushed over to the gate. Her curiosity made her forget her manners as she snatched the envelope from Matvei.

“San Francisco?” She whispered breathlessly.

“California.”

Taisia bubbled with excitement. Her heart pounded inside of her chest as she lightly traced her finger over the embossed symbol. It read Aditus High school inside of the scarlet banner that circled the golden shield.

“Open it,” Matvei whispered impatiently.

With trembling hands, she tore open the envelope and pulled out a letter.

It read:

Aditus High School

…built on a vast pool of knowledge and bravery.

Dear Miss Taisia Romanova,

We are pleased to inform you that based on your outstanding Academic achievements, award-winning dance recitals and compassionate volunteer service at the animal shelter in the Arkhangelsk Oblast' you have been selected to attend Aditus High School.

Unfortunately, and I deeply regret to inform you, this year the school cannot provide you with housing. However, you have been given placement at the residence of one of our esteemed members of the Youth and Progress Committee (YPC), Miss Natalie Sharp. She is eager to welcome you to San Francisco and house you for the full school term.

Enclosed is a first-class ticket to San Francisco and a student Visa.

Term begins on September 1st. The students and professors at Aditus High School are excited to meet you.

Sincerely,

Adlai Mendela

Headmistress