Guardian

by Marnie Leighton

  ‘You can?’ I asked genuinely shocked.

  ‘Yes we can,’ he said pointedly. ‘We can create. We can destroy, and as I said, we can generate a human form. But if we do this, we must be careful to act in a way that conforms to human beliefs. Otherwise, we no longer control what they see.’

  I shook my head. ‘I don’t understand what you mean.’

  ‘Well, for example, when we walk amongst them they see someone like themselves, but if we fly, the human mind has to create a visual to explain it, and that is when they see our wings.’

  Isaac paused as though expecting a question.

  ‘I’ll have wings?’

  He flung an arm sideways. ‘See for yourself.’

  I looked to where he indicated. I’m not sure how it happened, but there, standing only a short distance away, was a human, and I instantly knew who she was—she was me, in angel form. Her physical traits were a collection of parts, inspired by many lives. She had full lips, shaped by the hint of a permanent smile. Her pale skin and scattering of freckles complimented the auburn hair curling over her shoulders. She was average height, average size, and she wore a simple white, shoestring dress. I tilted my head, confused by her clothes.

  ‘What is the matter?’ Isaac asked.

  I frowned. ‘Her dress, I mean my dress—it looks modern. I thought angels wore long, flowing gowns.’

  Isaac glanced at my image and laughed. ‘Well, if that is what you wish to wear then change it.’

  ‘Sorry?’

  He looked back at me. ‘Your imagination has created the form you see. It is your subconscious image of yourself. If you choose, you can change anything with merely a thought. Except for your eyes of course.’

  I gave him a quizzical glance. ‘Is that why your eyes were gray in every life?’

  ‘Yes. There is truth in the saying, the eyes are the window to the soul.’

  I returned to my angel. Her eyes were green just like they’d always been, except they now held a slight luminescence. I liked what I saw, and I didn’t want to change a thing, but something was missing.

  ‘Isaac, she…I…have no wings.’

  He smiled. ‘Then stop looking for the human in her.’

  As soon as he said this, my angel lifted and a massive pair of wings extended sideways from my back. At the same time, a glow radiated from my body, like an extension of the light in my eyes. I gasped.

  ‘As you can see Callie, angels are spectacles to behold,’ Isaac said softly. ‘Our appearance alone is enough to inspire, to bring fear, to elicit long-held myths and beliefs. Perhaps now you understand the responsibility that binds us. And there is more. We can travel anywhere, and time has no hold on us. Advanced guardians can visit any soul, at any time in history.’

  I couldn’t stop staring at my angel. ‘We can?’

  ‘Yes, and it has perpetuated the belief in ghosts. People who say they felt the presence of the deceased are often sensing that person, in guardian form, from the future.’ He paused for a moment. ‘Unfortunately, though, we do not account for all the ghosts in the human world.’

  Isaac’s sober words interrupted my wonder, and my angel faded. I looked at him, his expression was troubling. ‘Are you referring to dark ones?’ I asked carefully.

  He sighed. ‘There is more to tell if you are ready to learn.’ I nodded, despite my rising dread. ‘Very well. You remember how I told you humans become dark ones upon their death? Well, I failed to explain how they take a new form.’

  I frowned. ‘They don’t create a form as we do?’

  ‘No, they must claim another body to complete the transition.’

  ‘Another body? Whose body?’

  ‘Other humans. The displaced souls, of those destined to become dark ones, hunt down the lost, the miserable and the desperate. They isolate them, whisper dark thoughts into their minds. They break them slowly till most of them take their own lives. The body is then theirs, and they can change their appearance to suit their needs. Aesthetic beauty is often their focus. Fortunately, it is only the body they claim, the human soul is free to leave. But it is why so many humans go missing, never to be seen again.’

  Isaac paused. I couldn’t help but feel disturbed. ‘But where are their guardians?’

  ‘We are there, suffering alongside them. But if they choose to block us, there is little we can do.’

  My face crumpled. ‘Is there no way to fight?’

  ‘You have to remember these are bodiless souls. It is your ward’s decision who they let in.’

  ‘And once the soul is free, what then?’

  ‘We can usually reach them again. Guide them away before the transition is complete.’

  ‘So once the dark ones have their body, do they then kill humans?’

  ‘They could—they are incredibly strong, inconceivably fast, but that is not where the game lies for them. Their purpose is to encourage more human souls to cause their own demise. The gratification is in the act.’

  ‘So can they hurt angels?’

  ‘Yes, they can and do. But they can only hurt us when we are in human form. We also possess increased strength and speed. However, their strength is greater. But they cannot fly, nor can they take on spirit form. It is essential though that you understand your human form obeys physical laws. If a dark one holds you, you cannot escape. If your body is trapped, then so is your spirit. You can be injured, but we heal quickly. You can be killed, but the injury must be extreme. Unfortunately, dark ones do know how to destroy our bodies, but they cannot harm our souls. Having said that, your soul would need to find its way back to us. Losing your human form is very disorientating, and without it, an angel can forget who they are. If this happens in the presence of a dark one, or worse a leader, they could easily convince you, you belong with them.’

  ‘Do dark ones die?’

  ‘Yes, if they are hurt bad enough.’

  ‘And what happens to their souls?’

  Isaac chewed at his bottom lip. ‘I am not exactly sure. Maybe they are lost forever, maybe they find another body. I have never been told.’

  ‘Who…’

  ‘That is enough for now Callie.’

  ‘But…’

  He frowned. ‘I cannot tell you any more.’

  ‘Why? Why can’t you tell me everything?’

  ‘Because no one should know everything.’ I was lost for words. I’d known Isaac long enough to recognize when a conversation was over. He stepped closer placing his arm around my shoulder. ‘Come Callie. It is time to be a guardian.’

  Chapter 8

  It was an ordinary Sunday morning when the Earth welcomed my Liam back, and I was there to greet him. He was an old soul, very close to finishing his human existence. Born into a loving family, I knew he would grow up in unremarkable circumstances.

  My helpless little boy quickly grew into an unstoppable child with hazel eyes, fat pink cheeks, blond hair and a lust for laughter. His boundless energy and incurable sense of humor made him easy to love, and it left everyone who met him a little better for the experience—including myself.

  Watching a child as their angel, is entirely different to being a parent. Where parents try to protect their children from mistakes, guardians do the opposite. Failure is essential and so is self-forgiveness. Constant misery achieves nothing, but a misery-free life achieves even less. Coming out the other side of heartache is where the lesson lies. Humans are meant to make mistakes; it is why the Earth exists, and all Liam’s mistakes were planned before he was even born.

  As the years passed Liam developed into a carefree teenager. Tall and lanky he never lost his pink cheeks or messy blond hair. He finished school and chose to do chemical engineering at college. The decision took him away from his family, but not from me.

  The first few months of his new life, in a strange town, went well. He made friends quickly, kept up with his studies and didn’t have a care in the world, but what he didn’t know was each passing day brought him closer to his first signi
ficant mistake. I knew he would learn a lot from this event, but I still felt a sense of dread when he received an invitation to the seemly innocent mid-semester party. My role as a guardian was about to be tested.

  ***

  Liam walked into the weather-beaten house and looked around. He had arrived late, but still, no one in the growing crowd seemed familiar. I could feel his discomfort and regret at not bringing a friend with him. The music was loud, and the mounting collection of bottles explained the erratic gait of several guests.

  Wandering around the back, he spotted a small group huddled around a makeshift fire.

  One of them stood up. ‘Liam, my man! Glad ya made it. Come here. Grab one of these. Let’s see what you think of my brew.’

  The voice came from the middle of the group—it was Gerry, the party’s owner.

  Liam waved and headed towards the skinny young man sporting an eyebrow ring. Liam had met Gerry at university, and an uneasy friendship had formed. He’d seen Gerry’s need to belong and felt sorry for him. Liam had begrudgingly accepted tonight’s invitation knowing most of his usual friends wouldn’t come.

  As he neared the fire, the group’s attention stayed fixed on several small, white tablets in Gerry’s hand. Liam’s eyebrows tightened, and he hesitated, unsure if he wanted to go any closer.

  ‘And Liam can tell ya they’re easy to make. Just need a few simple ingredients and a good recipe. That’s the whole point of doing chemical engineering. Ain’t that right Liam?’

  The group’s focus shifted to Liam, waiting for a response.

  Liam returned an uneasy smile. ‘Yeah, sure Gerry. Why else waste all those years studying?’

  Satisfied, all eyes reverted to the drugs.

  Gerry reached into his jeans. ‘Here ya go Liam,’ he quipped, flicking a packet of pills at Liam. ‘Share em round.’

  Liam caught the small projectile neatly, gave Gerry a tight-lipped grin and backed away. ‘Will do Gerry.’

  Once out of sight, Liam slipped the homemade drugs into his pocket. He headed for the house, intent on dumping them in the nearest toilet, but I knew it was only a matter of time and a few drinks before he changed his mind.

  ‘Hey Liam!’

  The voice greeted Liam as he entered the back door. A dark-haired, stumpy man walked towards him. Liam smiled. ‘Pedro. How come you’re here?’

  Pedro grinned. ‘Didn’t have much else on tonight. Thought I’d see if Gerry’s claim of holding the best parties was true. Not impressed so far. I was just about to leave but since you’re here, I might have a few beers and see what happens. There were a couple of nice lookin’ girls on the way in. Give them enough drinks, we might just stand a chance.’

  Liam laughed. ‘Better hope Gerry has a tanker out back to give you half a chance.’ Pedro half-heartedly hit his arm. Liam laughed, rubbing his bicep. ‘All right, stay here, I’ll go get us beers.’

  Liam soon returned with two cans. They popped the tops, toasted each other, and stood in silence surveying the swelling crowd.

  As Pedro and Liam started to relax, I became more and more worried. Unlike them, I knew what the next hour held. Already Gerry’s drugs were taking effect. Pedro and Liam would watch the atmosphere building, see the fun people were having and assume the drugs were harmless. After a few more beers, they’d get braver. Liam would pull the packet out, and they’d dare each other to take one. Liam would point out how heaps of people had taken them already. Pedro would agree and shout out over the music, ‘what could possibly go wrong?’. They would then both down a pill with a single gulp of beer.

  So, what would go wrong? Pedro’s allergic reaction—his airways would swell till he couldn’t breathe, and he would die in Liam’s arms—that’s what would go wrong. And all I could do was watch.

  ‘Woaaaah…who is that?’ Pedro suddenly shouted.

  Liam turned to see what had captured his friend’s attention, and it didn’t take long to find the cause. Near the front door was an unnaturally beautiful woman, tall and graceful she possessed almost feline qualities. Glossy blonde hair fell over her shoulders framing a flawless face and confident azure eyes. An alluring smile curved her pink lips, and a perfectly placed mole highlighted her golden cheek. Walking through the room everyone, both men and women, turned.

  Liam stared a moment longer before facing the bewildered Pedro. ‘Not a chance in hell my friend, there just ain’t enough beer in the world.’

  Pedro stayed slack-jawed. ‘But have you ever seen a girl that hot before?’

  ‘Nope,’ said Liam glancing over his shoulder. ‘Can’t say I have.’

  But I had, and I knew straight away this perfect creature was a dark one. I moved close to Liam. As a guardian, we are never alone, and I could sense every other guardian in the room also drawing closer to their wards. I wasn’t overly worried, dark ones sought the sad and confused, and Liam wasn’t in any real danger, but I knew others here were.

  I watched as she glided through the party casually greeting people. I can’t imagine she actually knew any of them, but this didn’t seem to matter. She assessed each person, hunting for any she desired. So many eyes watched her, and as she drew nearer to Liam, I whispered to him, encouraging him not to look. But as she passed directly behind us, Pedro spotted her again.

  ‘Holy shit,’ he muttered.

  ‘What?’ Liam said, pivoting.

  It was too late. Before I could do anything, he’d run straight into her, sending most of his drink in her direction. She slipped sideways, a little too fast, avoiding even a drop.

  ‘I am so sorry,’ Liam blurted.

  Her eyes narrowed, the analysis of Liam confused him as much as it did me. Then to my horror, a broad smile broke across her impossibly perfect face.

  ‘Not at all,’ she purred with a silky drawl. ‘It was my fault entirely. Please, let me get you another.’

  ‘O…Kay,’ Liam replied as she slid away.

  Pedro looked ready to faint. ‘Holy shit,’ he repeated, as Liam turned back to him. ‘You lucky son of a bitch.’

  Liam’s look of shock turned to a cheeky grin, and a moment later she sidled up beside him with two fresh drinks. She gave one to Liam then held out her hand. ‘Hi. I’m Rosalyn.’

   Liam shook her hand. ‘Um. Hi. I’m, um…Liam.’

  Her smile turned dazzling. ‘Hi, Liam.’

  ‘And this is Pedro,’ Liam added.

  She nodded, barely sparing a glance for his shell-shocked friend.

  She spent the next thirty minutes talking to Liam. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. This wasn’t how tonight was meant to go. They should have taken the drugs by now, and this dark one shouldn’t be interested in Liam. I desperately sought the advice of the other guardians; they were confused too. Why was Rosalyn wasting her time on Liam? It didn’t make sense. A soul as advanced as his would be very hard to take, and there were so many other easy targets.

  ‘Do you want to take a walk, Liam?’ she asked.

  ‘Um. Sure.’ Liam turned to Pedro. ‘See you later.’

  Pedro barely got the chance to nod. Liam smiled one last time at his bewildered friend before leaving with Rosalyn—Pedro did not die that night.

  Liam had dated a few women but never considered himself in love, and this would prove his downfall. By the end of the night, Rosalyn had charmed her way into his affections persuading him to forgo the rough chemical Gerry had brewed, offering him the much more fun Ice…And no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t break her hold.

  Over the next few months, Liam spun more and more out of control. I no longer knew if Rosalyn or the Ice held more persuasion. He dropped out of university turning his back on friends and family. She supplied him with enough of the drug to get him hooked, then cut it off.

  Desperate for money, he started to commit petty crimes, and Rosalyn was always there to encourage him. He was now entirely beyond my influence; his drug-induced haze had completely eroded my ability to reach him. He was blocking me out, and for the
first time since I’d become a guardian, I was tempted to use my human form. But Rosalyn never left Liam’s side, and she would have taken me before Liam even caught a glimpse.

  His petty crime soon turned more serious, and I blamed myself—surely I was supposed to be shielding him from this. I needed Isaacs help, but I didn’t want to leave Liam for even a second. I had been calling Isaac for weeks, but he hadn’t answered my cries. I couldn’t understand why I’d been abandoned, and it wasn’t until I asked one of the few guardians that I came across that I found out why.

  ‘The dark one is blocking you,’ they said. ‘She is strong, and while you are in her sphere of influence, you cannot communicate, or be communicated to.’

  The words left me cold, and I felt isolated and alone. I was responsible for this soul, and it was only a matter of time before I lost him altogether.

  The final night of Liam’s short life came all too fast. He and Rosalyn now lived in a dirty old flat where Liam spent his days sleeping, and his nights stealing.

  Late one afternoon Rosalyn came home. Opening the bedroom door, she slipped in, her lithe figure gliding to the side of his mattress. She watched with a sneer as Liam tossed and turned, his need for drugs torturing both his body and soul. It’d taken her such a short time to get him to this point, and her work was close to completion.

  Tearing her gaze from his ruined form, she cast her eyes around the ceiling.

  ‘I know you’re here angel,’ she whispered. I was stunned; she’d never acknowledged my presence before. ‘He is near the end,’ she continued. ‘What is stopping you from helping him? Perhaps if you show yourself, we can make a deal. How about your soul for his?’

  Her smile grew as she gently licked her lips. I was horrified, angry—the temptation to appear was overwhelming, and if I’d believed for a second she would honor the trade, I would’ve done it.

  ‘Very well,’ she shrugged, looking back at Liam. ‘I’ll just have to settle for this useless creature instead. Liam. Liam. Wake up.’ She kicked his shoulder, and Liam shot upright. ‘Get up, I have a job for you.’