“I don’t know the answer to that one. It has been months since Wesley has been able to summon Dawn. The last we knew she was recruiting along the banks of the Rio Grande. However, the groups showing up here have come from all over the country, even stretching into the Canadian provinces. I wish I could answer that question, but without a spy, I cannot be certain.” My mother looked at me, and I instantly looked away. I didn’t want to think of the last time I saw him, the changes that had occurred in him, and the way he denied ever being changed.
“You don’t seem to have many answers,” Matilda huffed. My eyes turned toward her, and I growled.
“Why are you such a bitch?” I bit. Her eyes widened; her lips turned up into a grin.
“Listen. I am not here to be your best friend. I am here to protect my family, nothing less. I don’t need a group of teenage hooligans leading my family into some battle they might not make it through. I will fight, but that does not mean I have to be your friend.” She spoke eloquently, yet her words still managed to piss me off more than she already had.
I stared at her, wishing I could set her on fire. The room was in complete silence, and I sat there, unable to speak because I knew what would come out of my mouth.
“When do you want to begin training?” Edmund asked, glaring at Matilda, who had her arms crossed. She was looking around the room, a smug expression on her face.
“Today if at all possible. We want the girls to meet their troops and start preparations. We do not know when we will be needed,” my father stated, nodding at the tall vampire. The tension had passed.
“Then I suggest we end this question and answer session and let the Wardens do what they are on this Earth to do.” He smiled at Matilda, and she shot him a go-to-hell look.
“I second the motion,” Max declared, standing up and winking at me. “Let’s let the Wardens show us what they are made of.”
“Sounds good. Girls let’s get you outside to meet your troops,” my mother said.
It was not required of those living in the compound to fight, so it was no shock that most of them were standing outside, split into groups depending on their gifts. It was unorganized, yes, but it was beautiful. It’s hard to explain the emotion that came over me. It was a bit of delight mixed with a deep dread. These people were going to lay down their lives for us. Ok, so I thought more of those willing to sacrifice their own mortal lives for me, an eighteen-year-old confused girl. How could I ever live up the expectations that they had of me and the others?
Krista looped her arm with mine and skipped along beside me as we came up on the line of the multi-talented. There were about fifty of them in total. Out of all the creatures that had taken refuge in our back yard, this group was the most talented. I really shouldn’t say that, but I couldn’t control the wind, water, or earth, so I felt those who were able to master two elements were on a playing field above us. The only difference between them and us was the fact that our blood was from the Creators.
“We should train together.” She smiled at me, and I raised an eyebrow. “You know, like spar. We need to learn their weapon proficiency, right?”
I laughed and nudged her a little. “Yes, that we definitely need to do.”
Her eyes became wide with excitement.
“Then it’s settled. Wind and fire will work together.” She giggled like a schoolgirl.
“What about Helen and Rose?” I nodded toward the two older girls talking in hushed whispers, looking over at us. Rose’s jaw was still set when she looked at me. For some reason, she had serious issues. Issues that did not even form until we had made it to Harrisville.
I guess I was to blame for the predicament we were in. If I had not jumped her ass that first-day things would have gone a bit differently. Then again, had I known standing up to her was going to cause this much of a problem I might have handled the situation a little differently.
“I think they have become fast friends.” Krista interrupted my thoughts. “Their dislike of everything going on draws them together. I mean, Helen is nice and all, but she has this bitterness to her. Rose, I think her affections for Adam have clouded her judgment.” Krista sighed and turned her back to the girls. I could tell the last thing she wanted was for them to think we were talking about them.
“You could very well be right.” I nodded at Rose, and she frowned back at me. “I wish I knew what her problem with me was.”
“Apparently it has to do with John. It bothered her that she was powerless against him, but you stood confident.” Krista shrugged. “It was just something I overheard her talking to Adam about.”
“Great. So, because I came to her rescue, she now dislikes me for it,” I groaned. I was going to have to stop saving people. Well, at least people who didn’t want to be saved. So, it wasn’t so much the confrontation the day before. That should have been comforting, but it wasn’t.
“I think she expected Adam to have more power than he did. She didn’t realize that a Protector’s power grows over time. A newbie is not going to be as strong as one who has been around for several years,” Krista explained. “Adam didn’t know either.”
“I suppose that makes sense. I mean, he was incognito; there was no way for her to know. She reached out to the first person she knew. Does Rose know about the history that Adam has with Helen?” I questioned, taking my eyes off the other two Wardens.
“I’m sure she does. Adam told her this morning that he and Helen had something. She asked him if anything had happened with you. He seemed confused but told her no, you were just his best friend.” Krista shook her head. How was she finding out all this information? At the same time, I was glad to hear that Shawn’s favor for me had been successful.
“Ok, you have to tell me how you know all of this.” I laughed as I watched Rose and Helen approach the line of multi-talented first.
She pointed to her ears. “For some reason, over the last few weeks, I have been able to hear any conversation I want to. All I have to is home in on it, and then I know what people are saying.” She smiled, apparently proud of her super skill.
“I can read the minds of the possessed and nervous,” I giggled. “We make one hell of a pair.”
“That we do. Let’s get talking to these guys and see who they want to assist.” I pulled her to the front of the line. Rose and Helen had taken ten of the multi-gifted with them, so we had less to discuss with.
It took us only a few minutes to make our way through the line. Out of the thirty left, I managed twenty while Krista pulled ten. I groaned when I saw how many I had compared to the others. Of course, this would give both Rose and Helen more of a reason to dislike me. My mother split us off into four directions, making sure we each had about fifty acres between us. I had quite a few fire wielders as opposed to the others. It seemed out of all the elements; fire was the most prominent, or at least the most desired.
“Good morning,” I yelled loudly, hoping they could hear me in the back of the formation. “We have a lot to cover and not a lot of time to do it in. The first thing I need is for you to split into how many of you are dark and how many are light. This will give me an idea of what we are working with here.”
There was a shuffle of feet as everyone moved from one side to the other. By the time it was said and done, I had a pretty even number. I sighed with relief; this wasn’t what I had been expecting. It was better than I had hoped.
“Fantastic, we are evenly matched.” I clapped my hands together. “Those that are weapon proficient please step forward.”
Just over half moved to the front. I had been hoping for more. I saw my brother smiling in the corner and Minerva on the other side, her hands on her hips as she looked at the rest that stayed back. Just by watching, I already knew who my co-leaders were. The sad thing was I had a feeling those in my multitude already knew as well.
“This is good. I need one proficient to take one or two that are not and find what they feel most comfortable with,” I said, rubbing my nose. I ha
dn’t realized how much work this was going to be. I needed to make sure I had a notebook to write everything down. Notes would be necessary if I was going to formulate any plans.
If your computer would stay charged, you could use that. I looked around, wondering who I had just heard. Then I realized it was Shawn, judging by the smug look on his face.
You would think that would be the most logical way. I might have to though. The only way I’m going to learn everyone’s name is to have it typed into a spreadsheet. I winced as those with weapons skills started working with those that were unskilled.
“Why aren’t our powers enough?” asked a young woman over the crowd.
“I wish I could say they were, however, even I have to know how to use a weapon to fight in a battle,” I answered her, glancing at Shawn as he smiled.
“What do you use?” one of my unskilled questioned.
I bit my bottom lip. I felt my explanation required more than just a verbal answer.
“Shawn? Do you mind a spar?” I asked, eyeing him wickedly. He had been the one that trained me, found my weapon of choice. I had been waiting for this day for what felt like forever.
“Of course.” He reached behind his back and pulled his long sword out. Minerva shot him a smile, and he set the blade on fire. I glanced at her again as she rolled her eyes.
“Shawn’s proficiency is the longsword; mine is the broadsword.” I pulled mine out and instantly it burst into its smooth white flame.
The rest of my fire wielders started to circle us so that everyone could see. Shawn’s sword swung first, but I blocked. It was an even match if you ask me. My blood knew what to do just as much as his. After twenty minutes of sparring, we both fell over laughing. The applause shook me from my hysterics, and I remembered we had been watched.
“Can we all do that with our weapons?” a teenage girl asked with a smile on her face.
“Yes, Minerva and I can show you how.” Shawn looked at the pretty blonde, and she rolled her eyes again. My brother had a heart-stopping moment with Helen the day he met her, but there was something stronger going on between him and Minerva.
“Awesome,” she said, her eyes lighting up. I pulled the fire from my weapon and smiled at her.
“Come here.” I beckoned to her, and she stepped forward nervously.
“What’s your name?” I asked as I handed her my sword.
“Kelly,” she stammered. Her earlier confidence was waning.
“How old are you, Kelly?” I asked. “Now, truthfully, none of us are going to be shocked.” I winked.
“Two hundred years old,” she grinned softly. My eyes went wide.
“I wasn’t expecting that old,” I laughed. “May I ask what you are?”
“I am a pureblood were. I age super slow. Puberty has been a bitch,” she joked, holding my sword awkwardly in her hands. According to one of the were leaders that I had met, those that were born of pureblood parents aged at a much slower pace than a human who had been bitten.
I laughed at the girl and looked around the group at all the approving stares. Nobody was looking at me like they wanted to kill me; they all looked like they wanted to learn.
“How does it feel in your hands?” I asked, looking at Shawn.
“Amazingly light.” She flipped the sword once in her hand.
“Have you ever held a weapon before in your life?” I asked, watching as she spun it smoothly.
“Yeah. My mother gave me a baseball bat. It’s what saved me from being taken.” She frowned. “It didn’t save my mother.”
“Sorry to hear that.” I wasn’t the only one that looked sad at the odd conversation. “How did you come to become inhabited with the fire shard?”
“Apparently, I was blessed. My parents didn’t know how it happened. However, every few generations, a group of pups tend to have extraordinary powers,” Kelly shouted. She was proud of who she was. I would be too, honestly, knowing I was sanctified with extraordinary powers. Wait! I am blessed with exceptional supremacies. Why couldn’t I be as confident as this young woman?
“First, I want you to think of what triggers your fire,” Shawn said softly. “Don’t worry if you get it wrong at first. Dawn burnt about an acre of grass to the ground on her first try.” The crowd laughed, and I took a bow.
She closed her eyes and started to shimmer as her hands turned white.
“Well done,” he praised her. “Now, think of the sword as an extension of your hand. Feel it as another piece of you.” The flame wavered and slowly crawled from the handle to the blade. She had managed to create a fire from her wrist to the tip of the sword. It was quite impressive. “Very nice.”
Kelly opened her eyes and looked at the sword. Suddenly she jumped as if the weapon had burnt her. She was spooked by the amount of power that was in her. She dropped the weapon to the ground, and it instantly went out.
“Did I do that?” She looked at me, amazed, her eyes still holding quite a bit of fear.
“Yes, you did. You did very well.” I leaned in to where only she could hear me. “You did better than I did on my first try.” She smiled and blushed. Shawn gave her a pat on the back, and Kelly returned to the circle.
“I expect everyone to have a weapon figured out by tomorrow. For now, get with a proficient fighter and figure out what you feel is the best fit for you.” I watched the circle break as Shawn stood next to me.
“They love you,” He said softly, putting his longsword back in its holster.
“How do you know?” I asked stupidly, instantly wanting to smack myself.
“Why do you even ask anymore?” he laughed, patting me on the back.
“Habit, I guess.” I shook my head. “Hey, thanks for doing that favor for me. I wish that now I could patch things up with Helen and Rose. They seem to have some bad blood for me.”
“It was never said that the Wardens would get along. It was only said they were more powerful together.” He shot me a smile and rejoined the crowd.
Chapter 18
Choices
“How was it?” Adam asked as I dragged myself through the back door of the manor. My hair had twigs in it, and I smelled of sweat and ash.
“Quite well. I would like to take a shower and go to bed,” I groaned, rubbing my right shoulder with my left hand.
“You were out there for a while. Rose and Helen came back about four hours ago, Krista beat you by about an hour, and now you walk through the door half dead.” He laughed.
“Yeah, well I have one thing that they don’t.” I tried to grin by even my face was hurting.
“What’s that?” he asked as he looked at me for an answer.
“I have the fire wielders, four hundred beings with fire to be exact. I could have fifty of them producing light at a time,” I moaned, longing for my bed.
“Well at least eat something.” He motioned toward the kitchen. “There is some leftover chicken that Rose made.”
“I have a feeling if I eat anything Rose made it will only start a fight. I’m good, Adam. I will eat an extra breakfast in the morning.” I started walking toward the stairs.
“I’m confused as to what is going on with the two of you. There was no sign of an issue in Dallas. Now all of a sudden, she wants to drown you, and you want to sacrifice her to the God of Fire.” He didn’t seem so happy about the tension between his girlfriend and me. How could I blame the man? If he had any idea what had gone on, maybe, just maybe, he would understand.
“I don’t know what it is. I hope it fizzles out before we have to go into battle. She might sacrifice me to the Queen just to get rid of me.” I looked at him apologetically. I didn’t want to speak ill of Rose. I didn’t have any real issues with her. The only problem I had was standing right in front of me. He had lost that softness, and I had to admit I missed it. Right now, he was just Adam, the boy I met in choir class.
“I thought it funny. She asked if you and I ever had anything. I told her not just no, but hell no. We are too much like sibli
ngs; it would be like kissing my sister.’” Adam laughed. I joined in, knowing full well of the short past we shared that he could not remember.
“Yeah, that’s funny.” My voice trailed off. Shawn had done better work than I had thought. He wiped out every memory of how he felt about me.
“I wish you would eat,” he pleaded.
“I am not hungry,” I lied. I could feel my stomach aching, wanting to eat something.
“I know you better than you know yourself sometimes. Please, if anything eat a sandwich.” He wasn’t going to give up on this.
“If I feel like eating after my bath, I will.” I smiled at him. “I promise.”
“All right, well I’m headed to bed. I have an early morning. Nick is teaching me how to work this Protector magic I have.” He patted me on the shoulder and left me standing by the back door.
I trudged painfully up the stairs to the bathroom. Turning on the hot water, I peeled the clothes from my body. I was amazed at how much of me hurt. I hurt in places that I didn’t even know I had muscles in. I got into the hot water and groaned at the fantastic feeling that overcame me. I felt the muscles loosen, and I sighed.
I heard muffled voices through the door, and I opened my senses to listen to what the conversation was about.
“You’re kidding me, right?” It was Rose’s voice. “She seriously just got in. I figured she would be the first one to call it quits today. She’s not as strong as she thinks she is, you know.” There was anger in her voice.
“Why do you say such mean things about her?” Adam’s voice was harsh. He didn’t like how she talked about me.
“I’m not saying mean things. She’s eighteen years old, Adam.” She was hellbent on swaying him; I could hear it in her voice.
“I’m eighteen years old, Rose.” He sounded upset.
“You are different,” she said softly, her voice failing her. She didn’t realize what she said was going to be thrown back at her.
“Dawn has been through more in the last year than you could fathom,” Adam defended me.
“Oh, please. She ran like a scared child from most of that shit. Do you seriously expect me to believe that she stood up against demons at your high school?” Rose was probably my worst critic when it came to the things I had gone through.
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