by G. K. DeRosa
“I am not sure to be honest,” said Stellan. “I have never seen a guardian do anything like that.”
“So it wasn’t the Wilder sword?” asked Roman.
“No. Celeste’s father Kristof never wielded that power.”
Roman’s eyebrows shot up. “So you’re saying it came from Celeste?”
“Yes, it would appear so. We will have to take a look back in the guardian journals to see if anything like it was ever recorded in the past.”
Dani appeared around the corner. “Whoa, what in the world happened in here?”
“Fabian happened,” said Nico. “Where have you been?”
“I was hiding in my room. I heard all the commotion up here and I got scared.” She stared down at the floor.
“They took Celeste,” growled Roman.
“Oh no! What are we going to do?”
“We are working on it.”
Stellan moved toward Dani. “Actually, if you’d like to help, you could do a little research for me.”
“Sure, I’ll do anything.”
“Very good. I am going to contact the Council right now, and then work on a tracking spell to find where Celeste has been taken. Roman, find me an article of her clothing to use for the spell.”
“I have something better than that – I have the Wilder key.” He lifted it up in the air, the sapphire sparkling.
Celeste opened her heavy eyelids and looked around. She was surrounded by impenetrable rocks and towering mineral formations. Damp, chilly air seeped into her bones. She was in some sort of subterranean cave. But exactly where, she had no clue.
Are those stalactites or stalagmites? I should have paid more attention in geology class.
Celeste stood up and frantically searched for a way out, but the only exit was blocked by an enormous boulder. She pushed against the cold, rough surface with all her strength, summoning her newfound powers, but it was no use. It wouldn’t budge. She suddenly remembered the flash that had emanated from her sword before Fabian had forced her through the portal and began searching for it. It was gone. Celeste had no idea what had caused the flash of light, but whatever it was, it was powerful enough to have stunned both Fabian and Alek.
Too bad it ended up backfiring on me and getting me captured. But it was worth it if Roman and Nico are safe.
As she searched around the cave, she found nothing but a few rocks and a torch to provide some light. Not finding anything she could use as a weapon, she slumped down on the ground hopelessness setting in.
“Oh wonderful, Fabian will be so happy to hear that you are awake.” Alek appeared where the boulder had been just seconds ago. Peering at him closely for the first time, Celeste noticed how young he appeared. Had he not been the apprentice of an insane wizard, he might have even been attractive. His platinum hair contrasted his dark sparkling eyes and his mischievous grin was quite appealing—in a frightening way.
“What does he want with me?” Celeste quickly got back on her feet. She stared at the young man contemptuously, his platinum hair slicked back perfectly not a single hair out of place.
“Originally, you were simply a means to an end. But after that light show that your sword produced, he has some questions for you.”
“I have no idea what that was.”
“Right.” He motioned for her to follow. “Come this way, then, we don’t want to keep Fabian waiting.”
Celeste’s footsteps echoed through the cave as she followed Alek through a dark passageway, which opened up into another cavernous chamber similar to the one where she had woken up. Seated before her on an impressive throne carved out of the rock was Fabian. A smug smile crossed his face at her approach.
Fabian lifted his arms, palm up. “Please excuse our humble abode. I would have taken you to our motel but I couldn’t risk you being tracked there. Not that it was any better than this honestly.”
“They’ll find me wherever I am.” Defiance sparkled in her light eyes. She surveyed the cave, determined to find a way out or at least a weapon of some sort.
“She’s got spunk,” said Alek, amused.
“I am counting on them to do just that. I only needed to buy some time to figure out what it is that you are.”
“She is something special, it’s clear.” Alek caressed her cheek, making Celeste’s skin crawl.
She whipped her head out of his grasp before he could continue. Glaring at Fabian in disgust, she asked, “What do you want with me?”
“My initial purpose for you was simply to lure out the Constantins. Our mutual friend, Patrick, discovered their fondness for you from the beginning. I always found it quite curious, and it wasn’t until seeing you in action today that I am beginning to understand it.”
“Yes, no wonder they were protecting her.” Alek’s dark eyes filled with excitement.
Fabian’s gaze flitted over her. “You must be the one, the new Guardian.”
Celeste considered denying it, but figured it would be pointless. She threw her shoulders back and continued glaring at Fabian.
“Why are you with the Constantins?” asked Alek. “Aren’t you supposed to kill their kind?”
Fabian sat forward in his throne. “And why are they protecting you? It seems that there must be more to this story, don’t you think Alek?”
He nodded and looked questioningly at Celeste.
“I’m not telling you anything.” She crossed her arms over her chest and pressed her lips together.
“What did the Council say?” Roman stopped his anxious pacing when Stellan finally appeared at the top of the steps. Celeste had only been gone an hour, but it felt like a lifetime to him.
“They are using their considerable resources to track Fabian down. An overt act of aggression like this against the newly chosen Guardian will surely unleash a furious retribution on them.”
“Fabian had to know that this would happen.” Nico’s brows knitted. “What could he be up to that he would be willing to risk all of that for?”
“That question is precisely what worries me.” Stellan descended the stairs, joining the boys in the living room.
“So what are we supposed to do in the meantime, just sit around and wait?” Roman resumed pacing.
“Technically yes, that is exactly what we are supposed to do. Now that the Council is involved, they will want us to stay out of it—especially the two of you.”
“Well, I certainly can’t sit around here doing nothing,” said Roman.
“I agree,” said Stellan. “That is why I started a tracking spell, and we should have some results shortly. Fabian has been blocking my magic, but I think I’ve found a way around it.”
“Please hurry, Stellan. If anything happens to Celeste—”
Stellan threw his hand up, stopping him. “Nothing is going to happen to her.”
“We need a plan,” said Nico. “When Stellan finds her, we can’t just go in there blind.”
“I want to help.” Dani came down the stairs with a pile of books in her arms. “I read through some of these journals, but they’re so long and there are so many of them. I couldn’t find anything about a sword that shoots light out of it. Isn’t there anything else I can do?”
Nico eyed her. “We could take her with us. At the very least, she could be a distraction.”
“Sure, why not.” Roman turned to his brother. “Nico I want you to understand something—I won’t hesitate to give up my life for Celeste’s. It is us that Fabian wants after all, but I don’t expect you to do the same.”
“I would do it for her anyway.” Nico’s dark eyes blazed.
“You know there are ways we can make you talk.” Alek stroked the dagger on his hip.
“Don’t threaten her,” Fabian hissed, shoving Alek aside. “I will handle this.”
“You are no fun at all,” he whined like a spoiled child.
“Celeste, I apologize for how we’ve been treating you,” Fabian whispered soothingly as he took a few steps toward her. “Perhaps I have
gone about this the wrong way. You know, I too was once part of the Council.”
“You were?” Her eyes widened. She so did not expect that.
“Yes, I was head of the Council for many years in fact. That is how Stellan and I first met. I oversaw the wellbeing of all the guardians in the world at one time.”
“And what happened?”
“My colleagues and I had a difference in philosophy. I believed that guardians were no longer needed in this world, and that supernatural beings should no longer have to hide in the shadows. I wanted humans, guardians and all supernaturals to co-exist and share the world.”
“But wouldn’t they just kill each other?”
He shrugged. “Maybe at first, but I believed that over the long term we could have reached a balance of power.”
“Meaning all the humans would have been dead and the supernaturals would have taken over?”
Fabian’s lip curled into a sneer. “Obviously you are just as closed minded as my colleagues at the time were. As a result of this disagreement, they banned me from the Council and sought to strip me of my powers. But I was too strong for them. I escaped with my powers intact, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
“I’m pretty sure the Council won’t be happy when they find out you’ve kidnapped me.”
Fabian let out a sinister chuckle. “Of that I’m certain you are correct. But the Council rarely intervenes and even if they would, they have become old and weak. While I have only grown in strength; they will be no match for me.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“I see that trying to rationalize with you is getting me nowhere so I will have to try a more invasive approach.” He stretched out his long gangly arms and grabbed hold of her head.
Celeste struggled to break free of his grasp, but he was surprisingly strong. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see red light surging from his hands as he squeezed her head with an iron grip. It felt like thousands of volts of electricity were shooting through her skull. She bit her lower lip to suppress a scream, not wanting to give him the satisfaction.
When he finally let go, the cave spun before her. She collapsed to the hard rocky ground.
“What did you see?” asked Alek.
“Nothing.” Fabian’s brows drew together. “It cannot be. No one can close their mind off to my influence.”
“She is a Guardian: doesn’t that make her immune?”
“Maybe to you or some vampire, but not to me.”
“And yet, here we are…” Alek said with a sarcastic smirk.
Celeste’s head had stopped throbbing, and she managed to pick herself off the ground along with a jagged rock that she clenched tightly in her fist.
“No matter. Whatever the reason is that the Constantins are protecting you, they should be here soon, and it will mean their imminent demise.”
“I’ve discovered her location!” Stellan raced down the stairs, his robe floating behind him.
“Finally, let’s go!” said Roman. “Are you ready little brother?”
“Of course,” he said with a smile.
Roman took the Wilder family key out of his pocket and hung it around his neck for safekeeping.
“Don’t forget about me!” Dani ran after them.
Stellan waved his arms, and an enormous portal opened in front of them.
“Whoa, that’s pretty cool.” Dani’s eyes grew wide.
“Is everyone ready?” asked Stellan.
“Yes,” they said in unison, and they disappeared through the portal.
Chapter 23
“Ouch!” cried Dani as she skidded to a stop on the rocky ground. She landed on her backside and was grimacing in discomfort. Stellan had managed to land on his feet, as he always did when portal jumping. Roman and Nico were already inspecting their new surroundings trying to get their bearings.
“Where are we?” asked Nico.
“It appears to be an underground cavern.” Stellan scanned the area. “The tracking spell had us hovering somewhere over the Ural Mountains right before we left.”
“We’re in Russia?” asked Roman.
Dani’s eyes lit up. “Cool, I’ve never even left the United States!”
“Well, there’s no time for sightseeing now. Which way do we go?”
“Follow me.” Stellan led the way through the dark, dank passage.
They trudged along in silence as the blackness enveloped them. The only sound was the echo of their footsteps and occasional pitter-patter of water droplets from melted ice seeping in through the cracks.
“So what’s the plan?” asked Dani, breaking the eerie stillness.
“There is no plan,” muttered Roman. “We are going to surrender ourselves in exchange for Celeste.”
“And let him kill you?” She stopped abruptly to face him.
“If that’s what he wants. It doesn’t matter as long as she is safe.”
“Geez, maybe I shouldn’t have come,” she mumbled. “How do you know he won’t double cross us and kill us all? That’s always what happens in the movies with these evil villains.”
Nico cracked a smile. “We don’t really know what’s going to happen.”
“So don’t you think we should have a back-up plan at least?”
“Dani, that’s enough!” Roman roared. “No one said you had to come. You can still turn back.”
With an exasperated sigh, Dani shrugged her shoulders and followed Stellan further into the darkness.
“They’re here,” announced Alek. “A portal was opened at the mouth of the cave. They should arrive momentarily.”
Fabian grunted. “That was quicker than I thought. Stellan’s magic must not be as weak as I had imagined.”
Celeste thought she saw a flash of concern in Fabian’s hard eyes, but it was gone now. He reached for her and grabbing her by the arm shoved her toward Alek.
“Do something with her so that she doesn’t interfere.”
“My pleasure,” said Alek with a wicked grin.
With a flick of his wrist, Celeste landed in some sort of invisible cage. She banged against the clear walls and felt a lapse of hysteria set in as she pictured a pantomime she had once seen as a child. She paced around the cage determined to find a way out, no matter how ridiculous she looked. She still held the rock she had picked up earlier and tightened her hold on it. Roman and the others would be here soon and the thought of what Fabian might do to them terrified her.
A loud explosion rocked the chamber sending debris crumbling down at the edge of the cave. Through the rubble came Stellan followed by Roman, Nico and Dani trailing behind. Celeste’s heart plummeted.
“Finally! I thought you would never get here.” Fabian wore a malicious grin and his eyes twinkled in the torchlight as he slowly walked toward them.
“Have you come to join the party?” asked Alek with his usual glibness.
“We are here for Celeste,” announced Stellan, his stern eyes unblinking.
Celeste caught Stellan’s eye and tried to send him a wordless warning from her invisible prison, but to no avail. They were stepping right into a trap, and she was helpless to stop them.
“Ah yes, your precious little Guardian. Well as you can see, she is perfectly fine.” Fabian nodded toward Celeste.
“Fabian, don’t be a fool,” said Stellan. “Now that you know who she is, you would be wise to let her go immediately.”
“What would be the point of that? I’ve come so far; I don’t think I can turn back now. Besides, having the Guardian under my power could prove to be quite useful.”
“This was never about her.” Roman stepped forward. “You came for us, and here we are. Let her go with Stellan, and my brother and I promise not to put up a fight.”
“As if you could,” added Alek. What he lacked in height, he more than made up for in bravado.
Celeste desperately looked to Roman. Darkness clouded his steely eyes as he returned her gaze. She couldn’t let him do this. She wished she had her swor
d more than anything.
“Fine, it’s a deal,” Fabian said extending his hand. “Alek, put the Constantins in the cell with Celeste.”
“Let her out first,” said Stellan, ignoring his outstretched hand.
“But why? I thought they would want to have a moment to say goodbye. And besides she is my insurance policy that the boys behave. You, Stellan, I have no further use for.”
With a wave of his hand, he flung Stellan like a ragdoll against the side of the cave. He landed on the floor with a crash. Roman’s fangs extended, and he let out a vicious snarl.
“Uh, uh, uh.” Fabian wagged his finger at Roman. “You promised you would not fight me. Stellan will be fine, he just needed a little time out.”
Celeste stared in horror as Alek escorted Roman and Nico toward her. Opening an invisible door, he shoved them in. Celeste ran to Roman wrapping her arms around him. As she did, her fingertips grazed the leather string around his neck. The Wilder key was tucked under his shirt. Her eyes met his and he nodded to her imperceptibly. Pretending to hold the hug for a few more moments, Celeste slipped the cord over her head. She clasped the key in her hand, and focused her power into summoning the Council as Dante had taught her. She just hoped it would work.
“Roman, I won’t let you do this. I won’t let you both die for me.” She cupped his face between her shaking hands.
“It’s not up to you, Celeste. It is our choice, and this is what we have decided. We’ve both lived very long lives. Your life has just begun, and I want you to live it to the fullest.” His voice was thick with emotion.
Nico nodded in agreement.
“But I can’t imagine a life without you in it.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “I don’t want to live without you. I can’t.”
Their private moment was shattered by a burst of laughter from Fabian. He had moved across the room and his loathsome face hovered just inches from them. “Oh Alek, aren’t we dense? All this time we were searching for a hidden reason as to why the Constantins protected her, and we missed out on the most obvious one of all. Roman is in love with her!”