Heart of the Guardians: Adoring Destiny

by Adrianna Adore

Dana frowned. “What about fingerprints, can you track him by them?”

  “No.” Chad said. “I can’t hack a police database but I have something better.”

  He clicked the mouse, brought up another screen and there was James in hundreds of different photos.

  “Facial recognition software.” He beamed. “The beard made it a little harder but I found him. It seems our Professor Gardner was just slumming. He’s like this super rich playboy prince and heir to the throne of some little country nobody’s ever heard of over in Europe.”

  “Oh my God.” Dana said. “Claire said he was from some place called Gandor or something. I thought it was the name of a town.”

  “Galador.” Chad corrected. “And he’s a big cheese over there. Their king got killed recently, that’s why he bailed. He had to go back to his real life.”

  “His father was a king? She asked, her hand going to her mouth.

  “No, an Uncle I think. I can’t find out much about his family history. It’s all kind of secretive.

  “Is he married?” Dana asked, looking at the pictures of a handsome, clean shaven man on yachts, behind the wheel of expensive looking cars, at parties and festivals and most of the time with a beautiful woman on his arm.

  “Noooo.” Chad said “But from the pictures, I’d say he wasn’t looking either. He’s with a different girl in almost every one.”

  “Does anyone else know?” she asked, her mind racing on a half-baked plan she was starting to put together.

  “Nope.” He smiled broadly. “I’m going to write an article for the paper. I don’t want anyone scooping me on it so I’m keeping everything quiet for now until after he is coroneted. I’ll make the front page.”

  He held up his hands, imagining the headline. “European royalty teaches at local college. An exclusive story by Chad Winters.”

  “When does he get crowned?” Dana asked, ignoring his dreams of a Pulitzer.

  “Two weeks.” Chad replied. “After the funeral. The old king was pretty popular apparently. There are ceremonies and parades and he’ll lie in state at the palace. It sounds like half the country is going to the viewing plus all kinds of dignitaries and such.”

  “Thanks, Chad,” she said and gave him a kiss on the cheek, “you’ve been great.”

  She hurried out, her mind racing in a hundred different directions. This changed everything. Maybe he’d been telling the truth, maybe he really loved her but duty had called him away, not a wife. It had sure seemed that way to her when she’d confronted him on the stairs. Claire certainly thought he’d been sincere, that was why she was so broken up about it. She hadn’t taken that necklace off, a constant reminder that she was always touching. If someone would have done her that way, she would have tossed it in the garbage. Claire said it gave her comfort. Should she tell her? Would she go see him? Probably not, she decided. Claire had too much pride to go chasing after a man. That was okay. She was a matchmaker and this particular problem just needed a little more effort. She smiled as she hurried across the campus. She had plans to implement.

  3

  Guile

  “Dana, we can’t just pack up and leave!” Claire exclaimed. “I have classes. Can’t you put it off until Thanksgiving break?”

  “No.” Dana explained again. “The only reason Geoffrey gave me all those airline miles is because they’re ready to expire. I told you, his dad flies all over the world for his job, he’s been saving them up for years and gave them to Geoff but he can’t afford to take any time off. Unlike us, he’s barely passing half his classes and his parents will cut off his allowance if he gets another F. Come on, be spontaneous, it’ll be fun! I’ve already booked the flights; you can’t say no! Besides, your teachers will let you make up the work and don’t even try to tell me you have a big exam, I know none of the professors are testing. Most of the classes are already half empty.”

  “I don’t know.” Claire said. “We leave tomorrow? We didn’t plan anything, where will we stay? Europe is expensive, do you even know what the exchange rate is?”

  “What part of all expenses paid do you not understand?” Dana asked, knowing she had won the argument. Claire’s resolve was weakening. “He had like a zillion miles to cash in. The package includes airfare, hotels and they even give us meal vouchers to restaurants. I put the rest of the miles on a prepaid card, we have plenty of money that has to be spent. Besides, all we need cash for is the bars and if a couple of hot American girls like us can’t get the local guys to buy us drinks then we might as well go check into a nursing home, our life is over.”

  “I don’t have anything to wear.” Claire complained but Dana grabbed her hands and started dancing around the living room.

  “It’s going to be soooo fun!” she yelled and jumped up and down. “Europe here we come!”

  They started packing, shouting back and forth from their rooms about what to take and what the weather would be like and Dana felt good. She supposed she should probably feel guilty, after all she had technically stolen James’s BMW but he deserved it and definitely could afford it. She’d been surprised when she’d taken it to the dealer to see how much it was worth. The salesman’s eyes got wide when he saw it and was eager to write her a check. It was some kind of special car, he kept calling it an M5 and she didn’t even try to negotiate the price when he offered her eighty thousand dollars. She would come clean with Claire once they were in Galador, once it was too late to for her to back out. Until then, she’d keep the little charade going about one of her boyfriends’ giving her sky miles and they would spend James’ money like they were rock stars. She didn’t really have a plan beyond landing in Europe. She’d figure it out as they went along.

  4

  Misconceptions

  They stood in the portal room, James and Frank in their tailored suits, Dimitri in his worn leathers. The safe cracker hadn’t done much damage, he’d drilled through the tumblers until he was able to spin the oversized wheel but now the door was sealed with chains. The bodies were all gone but the broken table, splintered chairs and dried pools of blood were still there. There were elongated footprints, misshapen handprints and claw marks all over the stone floor, too many to count.

  “Something was waiting when they opened it.” Dimitri said. “They were probably attracted to the noise.”

  He stared at the massive steel vault door, put a hand to it and felt the slightest hum of wrongness. It was a barrier between dimensions, the only thing that kept the devils of the old world out of the new one. The fallen angels or demons or Jinn or whatever you wanted to call them were real and twisted and had not changed since they were last documented and written about some four thousand years ago. The world was enlightened now, they didn’t believe in the supernatural things written in the Hebrew bible, the book of Enoch or the Dead Sea scrolls. Creatures from another dimension didn’t exist, it was all children’s stories.

  “If you’re through sightseeing, let’s track these things. We have a job to do, put your dog nose to work and let’s get this done.” James said.

  Dimitri didn’t dignify him with a reply but turned his dark eyes to the blood trails as they led out of the cave.

  “Frank, can you get me a change of clothes?” James asked. “We’ll meet you on the grounds.”

  “Of course,” he said, and hurried off.

  “Didn’t know your kind still had slaves.”

  “We don’t.” James said through gritted teeth. “Frank is a friend and a trusted advisor.”

  Dimitri scoffed.

  “You have no idea do you? You really are as ignorant as they say.”

  James ignored the jibe and swept an arm towards the bloody footprints leading out of the cavern.

  “The trail is already a day old, maybe you should do what you came for. Use your dog nose and start tracking,” he said.

  “We should check inside the portal.” Dimitri replied.

  “I’m not opening that door.” James said. “As soon as I’m king, I’ll h
ave it welded shut. Nobody is ever going through it again.”

  “Won’t do any good. Due to your countries pride and ineptness, it is not unknown. Too many people know of its existence.” Dimitri said. “Who knows how many diaries mention it, even tell the location. It’s not a secret among our kind and even if you dynamited the cave and buried it under tons of rock, a hundred years from now someone would dig it out.”

  He placed his hand on the thick, steel door, felt the thrum of wrongness and cocked his head to listen.

  “I believe your cousin is inside,” he said, “there are no bear prints leading out, no human either.”

  James checked the passage and realized it might be true. Unless the wolves were carrying Stig, he hadn’t left the chamber.

  “If he’s inside, he’s probably dead.” James said.

  “Or just beyond the door, injured and unable to return since its chained shut.”

  James only hesitated for a moment, it wouldn’t hurt to look. He ought to wait for backup but he could beat back the creatures if any tried to come through, he was a Guardian. It was his job. He wasn’t a frightened teenager just learning about his abilities like the last time he entered. He had years of training, he could shift into his bear form in a matter of seconds and he towered over the misshapen wretches from the other side.

  Dimitri pulled the door closed behind them as they stepped through the membrane that was thicker and denser than normal air. The passage between worlds was thin and glowed faintly from the inside. It was a light in the gloom. There were more blood stains on the ground and piles of torn bodies. The bent and broken half human creatures already looked old and dried out, their blood long soaked up by the sandy soil. The wind moaned through the standing stones and heavy clouds dulled the feeble glow of the sickly yellow sun. The bear prints and claw marks were everywhere in the churned-up dirt, evidence of a vicious and prolonged battle. The tracks moved off across the twisted landscape, sets of oversized wolf prints beside them. Dimitri sniffed and shook his head.

  “This doesn’t make sense; they are weeks old,” he said and looked towards the dark forest, “I can track them but the scent is faint and fading.”

  “You said time is funny here.” James whispered, some of his animosity fading. In a dangerous land where death was lurking everywhere, petty squabbles were set aside. “You think they’re doing it? Trying to find the other open portal?”

  “Looks like it,” Dimitri said and stood. “Only two of the wolves were fit enough to keep up, the injured they sent back.”

  They followed the trail until they were in the shadows of the trees, the dim sun casting a light more like a pale moon in the haze.

  James was starting to believe Dimitri’s version of the events. Maybe the wolves hadn’t slaughtered the guards and the king. Maybe things had gotten out of hand, the dark creatures had been drawn by the noises of the drill and had burst out of the door as soon as the locks were released. Maybe the King had seen the wolves open the portal, and in his rage, had attacked from behind. Maybe that had allowed the monsters to get through and into the world of light.

  “We should go back, deal with the demons on our world.” James said. “If they’re searching for your open portal, we’ll never catch them, they have too much of a head start. Let’s go clean up the mess they left in Galador.”

  When they returned to the faintly shimmering light of the door, scavengers gnawing on the bones of the dead hissed and ran off, hid among the rocks. The steel door only moved an inch when James pushed on it. They heard the rattle of chains on the other side and gave each other quizzical looks. They’d only been in the nether world for a few minutes, there hadn’t been time for someone to reseal it.

  “Who is there?” came a muffled voice from the other side. “Identify yourself!”

  “It is I.” James shouted into the crack “Stephen von Galador. Why have you locked us in?”

  “A moment, sir,” the voice said and they heard the chains clanking as they were removed.

  They stepped through and were surprised to see the guardsmen with their weapons at the ready. Silver tipped spears and emerald bladed arrows knocked in crossbows. Battle swords dipped in gold. Ancient weapons that were designed to kill ancient beings with the elements of this world.

  “Welcome back, sir,” one of the guards said, “Frank left you a change of clothes if you’d like them now. We’ve been tracking the creatures that escaped and have ran most of them to ground. The Guardians have been having difficulty with a few, they could use your help.”

  James was puzzled. “We’ve only been gone for a few minutes,” he said, as he looked around at the gathered men.

  “No, sir,” the man said and indicated the guard house where he could get out of his suit and into his other clothes, “it’s been days and they urge you to hurry.”

  5

  Arriving in Europe

  “I can’t believe we’re here!” Claire said as they stood on the balcony of the Shangri-La hotel, taking in the night time view of the Eiffel Tower. “It’s soooo beautiful!”

  Dana had to agree. She had been to Europe before on an economy package tour that consisted of hostels, a bus tour and eating a lot of baguettes to stretch her meager funds, but this time was different. This time they were living it up thanks to the prince of Galador. Fine dining, five-star hotels and shopping with the intent to purchase, not just look. She almost felt bad about tricking Claire into coming. Almost, but not quite. James deserved it and could afford it. They toasted the glittering Paris skyline and browsed the guidebooks. They had a whole month to explore and wander, visit museums and ride bicycles along the river paths. Dana was determined to spend the rest of the James money on the trip, she didn’t want to return with a penny of it. When they got off the airplane back home, the whole situation would be settled, the money would be gone and all of it used to try to get them back together. If it didn’t work out, she wouldn’t feel bad in the least. She had tried. They had over two thousand dollars a day to spend and whatever was left they’d blow on a shopping spree before they boarded the flight home. She wanted Claire take back enough memories to crowd out the ones of her brief fling with James if things didn’t work out.

  After nearly a week in the city of lights, they boarded a train and sped along in style east across Europe. They crossed through Switzerland and Lichtenstein, spending a few days in each. They roamed the ancient, cobblestone streets, visited castles and museums, ate sumptuous local foods and indulged themselves with hot stone massages. They had their hair and nails done at a boutique salon, bought expensive sunglasses and didn’t balk at the cost.

  “We have to spend it all.” Dana said. “The points don’t transfer back to cash. This card has to be on zero before we go back!”

  In Vienna they explored and shopped, sent gift packages home so they wouldn’t have to carry them on the plane and threw away the last of the clothes they had brought with them. Their new wardrobe hadn’t come from Walmart and thrift stores. It was all beautiful designer labels that looked and felt wonderful. They spent a cozy evening watching a quartet in period costumes perform Mozart’s music on his original instruments. Afterwards they were invited to an underground disco complete with mirror balls, live DJ and a flashing dance floor. They danced long into the night, drank a little too much and collapsed into their beds at four in the morning. After only an hours sleep, Dana forced herself up and roused Claire. It was time to implement the devious part of her plan.

  “Get up, we can crash out on the train,” she said and hit Claire with a pillow. “I got us a sleeper car.”

  The taxi dropped two exhausted women off at the station and Claire stayed with their bags as Dana purchased the tickets.

  “Where are we going again?” Claire asked as she slid into her new Dior pajamas, soft as a horse’s nose, she’d giggled when she bought them, then closed the blinds on the private car.

  “Budapest.” Dana said as she pulled down her bed. “We’ll get there in time fo
r a festival this weekend. It’ll be fun.”

  “Okay.” Claire mumbled and pulled the blankets over her head then let the train rock her to sleep.

  Dana waited until the conductor came for the tickets before she let herself lay down.

  “Two for Galador,” the man said as he punched their tickets, “going for the king’s coronation?”

  “Yes.” she said and looked over her shoulder, hoping Claire hadn’t heard.

  “It should be lovely,” he said. “Terrible thing about King Karsten. Terrible. He was a good man.”

  As he moved off to the next door, she started having second thoughts about her plan. She really hadn’t thought this part through, she had thought once they were in country they could visit him or maybe run into him at the market. It was ridiculous now that she considered it. He was going to be the new king. Security would be tight, somebody had just murdered the old one. There was no way they’d even get close to him. She sighed and slid into the gently rocking bed. Before she could try to figure out a better plan, she had drifted off into dreamland.

  “This isn’t Budapest.” Claire said as she stopped in the middle of a bustling crowd exiting the train station.

  They had their suitcases and were on the way to the taxi stand when she’d spotted the “Welcome to Galador” sign over the exit. Dana stopped beside her as the crowd parted to stream around them.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, “but you never would have come if I told you. There’s a lot you don’t know, but I’ll come clean if you let me. Please don’t be mad, Claire.”

  “Let’s go,” she said and turned towards the ticket booth, “I’m not staying here. We’re taking the first train out, I don’t care where it’s going.”

  Tourists jostled them, gave them dirty looks for going against the flow and muttered things in a dozen different languages. The station was packed, unlike anything they’d come across in their travels. People were hurrying, talking into phones, looking harried and rushed.