by J A S Bennet
“Are you saying it is the job of us three to protect all of the grounds—land, sea, and sky—from all outside forces?” Jenny wasn’t sure she was awake right now; all of the information she was receiving seemed unreal, like a very bizarre dream.
“Yes, but you are not alone. The guardians of the woods will help you and I’ll help you. You’ll receive the training you need. The power is rising within you even now to help you excel in your strongest areas of defense.” Fergus seemed giddy about this point.
“Who are the guardians of the woods?” Sheridan had sat quietly absorbing all this information. She had a feeling the answer to this question was the most important piece of information she would hear all day. And on a day like today, that was saying a whole hell of a lot.
“You’ve met Deaglan? He’s one of them. So is anyone else who works at the pub. Rosin is our technology guardian. She is always around here or at the pub. She will be debriefing you on your pieces of electronic equipment and their functionality going forward. The sous chef in the kitchen is a guardian, pretty much everyone you meet on the grounds outside of the castle.” Fergus happily listed these people off like they were the friends he was most proud to have.
Sheridan heard Deaglan was one of them and everything else was tuned out. She was in self-preservation mode. She got up from where she was sitting and made her way back to her suite. Nobody followed her, they must have sensed she needed some space. Gazing out the window at the woods made her ache to get her hands dirty. She figured there had to be a way to get to the gardens on the roof and she was determined to find it.
She had done more than enough peopling today and it was time for some nature-therapy. It didn’t take long for her to find a stairway in the hall. Bursting out of the door at the top into the bright sunlight felt like taking her bra off after a long day. The breaths of fresh air were exactly what her nature-starved body needed after yesterday on an airplane all day and the last twelve hours in the castle of unbelievable mysticism. She took several deep ones, practically meditated on them.
Looking around at all the plants made her long to get to know them. Toeing off her shoes, she sunk her feet down into the earth and cherished how it felt. A bench made from the root of a nearby tree called to her and she listened. Sitting down, she thanked the tree for its service by offering a hug. She felt at home here. Not just at the castle, but in its garden with her feet in the soil and her mind at peace. Given everything she’d learned today, that was quite an accomplishment.
It felt like hours later, and indeed the sun had begun its afternoon journey downward, when Ava and Jenny found her lying on the ground her fingers tangled in some wild grass.
Jenny spoke gently, softly, “We found the book which seems to have some answers about our tattoo and its meaning. It didn’t seem right to read it without you and we knew you needed some time, but if you’re up for it now—”
She left her question dangle there, unasked.
Sheridan sat up and nodded. Ava and Jenny joined her on the ground. Opening the book felt like a big step forward toward the discussion they were going to have to have about what the next year of their life looked like. Were they staying or were they going? It was too soon to make decisions that big, so instead they searched for an answer about their mark.
They found it eventually. First, they learned about the mark Shawn had when he passed away—a basic oval. He had mentioned he was alone in the castle, there was no mark tying his power to another, but also nobody multiplying his power. The next level was the basic oval with a circle over it and that mentioned a bond was necessary to complete it. Shawn never got that, so as far as castle protectors go, when he died he was the weakest there was. Next, was an infinity symbol—the regular figure eight.
The protector level of one and one. An additional step up could be completed if one bonded forming a semi-circle, further up was possible if each one bonded completing the full circle overlaying the symbol for eternity.
Turning the page gave them exactly what they were looking for: the triquetra. Expecting to see protector level of one and one and one, they were surprised to see new verbiage.
The protector level of three is the highest basic level signified by a unique marking of the triquetra. Once this appears, the three begin to feel advancements in their powers, three times as much as a basic circle would feel. Lifting these powers higher can be hazardous if training is not completed, as bonding can invoke a shifter ability beyond the control of any non-guardian or non-guardian bondmate. Upon completing one-third of a circle with each bond, a double-edged circle will appear, granting full power of the dragon. The highest possible power.
“Guess what. I don’t even speak Greek, but that is what that sounded like to me. Does anybody know anything about what that was just talking about?” Ava closed the book, disgusted at their lack of more knowledge.
“Remember when Shawn was talking about his brothers? I think he was saying that he started at level one, moved up through one and one to the power of three. Then one brother bonded before they started dying and leaving, landing him at basic once again. It’s really sad. He lived for centuries after that and never got to experience the full power status. Didn’t it seem like he longed for that? But at least he knew we were alive, descendants of his two brothers. Maybe that gave him some peace before he died.” Jenny stopped talking to take deep breath. The quiet got to her so she started up again. “Do you guys feel any of that power Fergus was telling us about? I feel a buzzing in my veins, but that could just be excitement at being here and learning all about this castle, even though I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around what they are talking about. Did you guys know we were going to be asked to stay a year? I didn’t. I only packed for a couple weeks. What are we going to do?”
“I’m going to get a drink.” Ava turned to go to the library, the only sure place she knew to get some alcohol.
“Deaglan invited us to the pub tonight for some live music. I am totally up for that, if y’all are.” Sheridan was ready to have more than a few drinks and let her mind rest instead of trying to make sense out of all this nonsense.
“Wouldn’t that be so much fun? I just love live music. It’s so wonderful to watch people pluck, strum, and beat things that make such unexpected beautiful noises in return. It’s like its own kind of magic, isn’t it?” Jenny was losing grip with reality along with the rest of them, evidently.
“Yeah, I’m in. Let’s go.” Ava would never admit she was hoping Cian was there so she could have a rematch of wits, but she was.
“Top of the stairs in thirty minutes.” Sheridan was brushing herself off, so she didn’t see the confused look on Ava’s face. What was going to take her so long to be ready?
11
Guardians
Ava was used to getting her way. In all aspects of her life, she was in control. When times of trouble arrived in strange packages, like staying in Ireland for a year without BOB, she adjusted her lifestyle to accommodate. Relationships were a no-go for her. She had been down that ridiculous path too many times to even care anymore. Hookups, on the other hand, were always appreciated. There were most likely several guardians in the pub and one of them was going to fill BOB’s role for the night. She didn’t even care which one.
She didn’t want to worry about how she was going to handle work situations from Ireland if she chose to stay. She didn’t want to worry about this tattoo on her arm. She didn’t want to worry about maintaining her professional persona. For a change, she decided to keep her hair down, which is something she never did in LA or NYC. She didn’t even care what everyone in the pub would think. In the same sense of letting one’s hair down she decided to exchange her heels for a pair of flat dress sandals. Now things were really getting laid back for her. She smiled broadly as she exited her room to meet back up with Jenny and Sheridan.
Jenny didn’t have much to do to get ready to go to the pub. The amount of makeup she wore on any special occasion was minimal—a
little eye liner, mascara, and some color for her lips. That took her less than five minutes. Her current outfit was already set for dancing, so all she did was use the flat iron on her hair and she was ready to go.
The one who requested a full half hour to get ready was taking every minute. Jenny and Ava wanted to give her the time and space she needed, so they agreed. While Sheridan was doing whatever it was she needed to do, Jenny tried to convince Ava to borrow some clothes. Who goes out drinking and dancing wearing a business suit and sandals?
“Ava, I have a lot of clothes that will make it easier for you to move. Just come see what I have.” With twenty minutes to spare, she couldn’t really object. But her mind was made up, she had let her hair down and put on sandals, that was enough.
When Sheridan emerged from her room both Jenny and Ava had one of those moments in cartoons when their eyes bulge out of their heads. Sheridan always rocked some serious curves, but her cleavage had never quite been out on such display. The simple scoop-neck white T she’d put on did a great job of highlighting that feature. She had matched it with a flowy hippy skirt full of all the colors of the forest. The jewelry she had finished her look with was made of natural stones in every color.
“Holy boobies, Batgirl!” Ava made a scene out of using her hand to close her jaw that fell open at the sight.
“Va va voom.” Jenny whistled. “Who knew those were hiding in there?”
Sheridan gave a look, then slapped her hands on the side of her legs, before smiling. “Well, I did. Is it too much?”
“If you change, I will be pissed. You look amazing!” Jenny headed for the door.
As the women came down the stairs, Fergus started to speak and stopped when his eyes met Sheridan’s chest.
“Eyes up here.” Ava wiggled her fingers in his face to keep him from staring. When it didn’t work she added, “Don’t be rude. Those aren’t for chewing on.” She walked by him and popped him in the back of the head for good measure.
“Going to the pub, I presume? I can show you the way.” Fergus held out his arm like an escort. Jenny took it, but soon found a reason to let go.
The Auld Triangle was much busier than it had been the day before. Of course, they were arriving at a much later hour tonight. People were streaming in and out the door. The wood building itself blended with its surroundings perfectly. The roof was a natural-looking stone and moss grew upon it. You could smell the welcoming aroma as the scents of roasting meats flowed out around them. Sheridan’s stomach growled and she realized that she hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
Cian stopped them at the door and asked for IDs. That was his job as a bouncer, but he knew exactly who they were and that they were allowed in there. Basically, he was just being an asshole.
Jenny flashed her ID in Cian’s face as she walked past. She wanted to get in and see when the live band was going to start playing. Sheridan just walked past him with her head down. Cian blocked Ava with his body.
“Where do you think you’re going, babe?” Cian had the look of enjoyment on his face that Ava was sure she could smack right off with one good swing.
“You know that we’ve had the reading of the will and I know what my role is here, maybe you should know your role and let me pass.” She gave him a know-it-all look.
“My job is to check IDs and to keep the peace in this bar. That’s my role right now. What’s the matter, princess, don’t think you have to play by the rules?” He turned his head to the side.
Ava turned her head in the opposite direction as his, “Did you just call me princess?” She wasn’t going to stop the conversation, but the more she thought about it the better being called princess sounded to her ears. She started to smile.
“It wasn’t a compliment.” He gave a little chuckle and Ava saw red.
“Listen here, pumpkin, you think you’re cute and let me be the first female in history to say that you are not. I mean, you’re easy on the eyes, that’s a fact, but you are ugly because you make me insane. Women don’t like it when you get on their damn nerves. Just a public service announcement you should know for future reference. Now, if you don’t mind, let me pass, this princess needs a fucking drink.”
Cian saw that there were several layers to this woman before him; he didn’t know if he could handle them all. At the same moment he realized that, he also thought about how fun it would be to peel them all back to see what was inside. He stepped up closer to her as she tried to move around him and ended up right in her face. “I will do my job, therefore I insist that you show me your ID, princess. Or else no drinking for ye, tonight. Do I make myself clear or do you want me to write it down for you?”
He was standing so close to her that she could feel his warm breath on her face. He smelled of leather and some kind of spice that she couldn’t identify. All she knew was that he smelled like she wanted to roll around in his clothes for a while. She shook all thoughts of man smells out of her head and lowered her chin so that she had to look at him through her eyelashes.
“Here it is.” She reached into her back pocket and produced the ID he was bitching about. When she gave it to him she had it situated so that when he took it she was giving him the finger underneath. She gave him a huge smile when he chuckled and handed it back to her.
“Enjoy your night, princess.” She went walking off with an extra wiggle in her step that she was sure he was watching. When she turned back around after she reached the bar she was fully prepared to throw his staring face a huge “come and get me” smile, but he was talking to another woman who was standing by the door the whole time. She decided right then and there that there was no way in hell he was going to be her’s tonight, or any other night for that matter. Screw that shit.
Jenny and Sheridan had walked right up to the bar. It took them that long to realize the place had gone quiet upon their entry. Sheridan didn’t care, there was nothing that would cause her to turn around and acknowledge that anything was out of the ordinary. She snuck a peek at the mirror behind the bar and knew it was because of her and Jenny and maybe even Ava causing a scene at the door, but she would live in her cocoon of denial as long as necessary.
“Who’s acting the maggot?” Deaglan angrily shouted as he came rushing out of the backroom to see what in the hell was going on. He stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of Sheridan, or maybe it was her tits.
“Tadhg?” Deaglan called over his shoulder into the backroom, without taking his eyes off Sheridan. “Let’s get the music on. The rest of ye better stop your staring before I cut you off for a month.”
The bar burst into noise again. A few moments later, the band entered the main room and made their way to a small stage in the corner.
Jenny found herself looking around the room and noticed something off. Every single person in the place was hotter than the surface of the sun. Like there was a model call or some shit and beautiful people from around the globe were sitting here waiting for their chance at being on the cover of Hotties Weekly or whatever.
“Sheridan,” Jenny spoke out of the side of her mouth. “Did you notice how fucking hot everyone in here is?”
Sheridan squeaked. What did Jenny expect? There was zero percent chance that she was going to turn around and put herself even more on display. The only eyes Sheridan was interested in were the green ones behind the bar.
Deaglan leaned over the bar and spoke quietly to Sheridan. She replied, “Maker’s Mark. Double.”
Deaglan winked as the band began playing and funnily enough the first song they played was one of Jenny’s favorites, Ed Sheeran’s Galway Girl. She actually giggled at the appropriateness of it before getting out of her stool and making her way to the front of the stage to check out the lead singer. He had a voice that hit all the right notes in exactly the right way, not to mention his beauty. He had caught her eye with his strong bone structure and his trendy short haircut on the sides and back, but curly and floppy on the top style. She was content to dance to his music and watch him
all night.
When Ava finished seething over Cian, she ordered a drink. She needed it and she downed it quickly. This day had been hell. She looked around for the other two; she wasn’t used to having people with her. She took care of herself. When it came down to it she could only rely on that, nothing more. She located Jenny on the dance floor having some kind of seizure to the rhythm of the song the band was playing. She waved at Eoghan sitting alone at his small table in the corner, he smiled warmly at her. Then she stopped searching when she saw Sheridan sitting at the other end of the bar nursing a drink, no green-eyed bartender in sight.
Ava was sure Deaglan would have been by her side, or at least on the other side of the bar keeping her company. It was all the same to Ava. Her hatred of all men had been duly refreshed thanks to Cian being a major fuck nugget at the door.
Her face had just settled into an official scowl when she turned her head and caught Eoghan struggling to bend over and pick up a napkin that had fallen on the floor. Ava quickly took several long strides over to where the old man was struggling and just before she bent over to pick up the napkin she caught Eoghan’s eye. Eoghan gave her a wink as he allowed her to place the wayward napkin on the table.
Ava quickly looked around the room as if she had committed a crime. To her delight everyone seemed to be occupied with their drinks and conversation. Ava casually walked back over to where she was before and immediately returned the scowl to its rightful place on her face as if the last few minutes had never happened. Ava was back to herself.
Settling into the seat beside Sheridan, Ava ordered three shots. Then she waved Jenny over. Everything they believed to be true had been shaken to the core. They were shook. Which reminded her, she had a question for Deaglan. Calling him over, she asked, “Hey, Deaglan, were you able to catch Sheridan’s fine ass from all the way across the room yesterday because of your guardian powers?”