Finally, Charlie walked back to the table. She reached out a hand to touch Reiem's arm, but a flinch stopped her hand mid-air. His eyes finally met hers.
"You forgive me?" he whispered, sounding almost confused.
"Reiem, I really don't know what you're expecting me to do, but… I just don't know. You did what you did. You saved me, and I'm thankful for that, okay? That's what matters…to me, anyway."
Reiem still looked incredibly uncomfortable, but the visible fear seemed to have passed. He looked at her for a long moment, and the gratitude in his eyes was obvious. But there was something else there too, something that made her stomach twist up into a painful knot. She couldn't quite define it—wonder, maybe? Whatever it was, it vanished in an instant when Griff poked his head in through the door.
"Uh, hey? There's something weird out here."
She turned to him, an expression of concern on her face. "What do you mean 'weird'?"
"The apples," Ignis said from out of sight. "They're glowing."
Reiem was at the door before Charlie even had time to process the words.
‡ † ‡
Charlie scanned her property and confusion immediately lined her face. There was a faint pulsing light, like some sort of enormous heartbeat. Every tree in the southern section lit up like giant fireflies, seeming to communicate with one another in some language humans couldn't understand.
"Something shrieked out there," Ignis said.
"An unwelcomed intruder." Reiem descended the steps, walking towards the trees with a deadly focus on his face. "Charlotte, please go inside. I will handle this."
That was all he said before he vanished into a literal cloak of shadow. A faint sound of clinking chains accompanied a horrid shriek that belonged more in a nightmare than it did reality. With that lighting fire under their feet, the three went inside.
Charlie was silent as she stared through the glass. The pulsing flashed brighter, jumping from section to section with more hellish shrieks accompanying it. She was unable to look away, pressing on the glass with limp fingers.
"You don't have to watch," Griff urged, gently placing his hand onto her lower back. "Reiem's got this."
"You don't know that. He just woke up! He…he couldn't even see a few hours ago!" Charlie turned around swiftly, eyes scanning the room for anything she could use as a weapon. Ignis caught onto this and stepped to block the door.
"Charlie, no," he hissed.
"I can't just leave him alone!"
"Don't be reckless! You don't know how to fight! Or what's even out there!"
"But, I—"
"He's coming back."
She spun at Griff's voice. Reiem's pale form came into view from the darkness, the same scowl as before on his now blood-spattered face. At least, Charlie thought it was blood. In the light, it looked more purple than red. The same substance coated the set of spike-tipped chains wrapped around his arms.
"All is quiet once more." His voice was devoid of inflection.
"What even was… I'm glad you're okay."
His eyes momentarily lingered on her face, a faint light of curiosity within them. It faded as he spoke again. "Tomorrow I will go into Forest West and work on strengthening the barrier. It has weakened during my lengthy slumber. Please forgive me, Master," he added, turning to her and kneeling with a clenched fist raised over his heart. He aimed his gaze to the floor.
"Don't. Call. Me. Master," she griped. "J-just— Ooh, just stand up and be normal? Please?"
"Force of habit," he muttered quietly.
"What was that out there, anyways?"
"A shadow."
"And it…broke through the barrier?"
Reiem nodded.
"Well," she sighed. "Guess that settles it." The guys looked at her—Griff curious, Reiem understanding, and Ignis seeming upset at what she was about to say. "What? They don't care that there's a new Guardian. There's just no changing their nature, right?"
Reiem nodded once more. "I will keep you safe, Miss Charlotte."
"No, you're not. If I'm gonna live here, then I need to learn to defend myself. I'm not going to have you do everything. It's not fair."
"Why do you insist—"
"Drop it! I'm the Guardian, and you guys are my friends. I'd feel terrible if I had someone else saving my ass!"
As if sensing her resolve in that very moment, the immortal sighed. "Very well. Allow me time to recuperate, and I shall begin teaching you everything you need to know."
Looking to Griff, then to Ignis, Charlie turned back to Reiem. "You staying here tonight?"
"No. My tower."
"Okay." She wanted to ask further on the whole shadow thing, but decided it was too late to make an issue out of it. "Just…be safe."
He didn't reply.
Offering their goodnights, the guys each claimed a bedroom upstairs, outright refusing to venture out despite the shadows being dead. Shaking her head, Charlie saw Reiem out the door. In silence, he ripped open a portal—the sucking winds and peal of thunder took Charlie by surprise but it quickly faded as the immortal vanished within.
Alone, she stood still and silent, eyes scanning the trees for even the slightest hint of light. Finding none, she went back inside and made sure the door was locked.
V
The next two weeks were weird.
While a kinder side of Reiem had emerged, he was an unabashed slave driver of an instructor. Charlie knew it was for all the right reasons, seeing as combatting shadows born from the overflow of a sealed-up god hellbent on world destruction was just a little more important than studying for some crap business degree.
But it did feel like she was back in college, except mixed with the secretive world of real magic. Thick, incomprehensible tomes to pour over, notes to take, and grueling assignments that kept her attention far into the wee hours of the morning.
And exercise.
Dear Astrals, the exercise routine was sheer torture. She understood she needed to be in shape, but she wasn't a superhero! Thankfully, Griff was down to accompany her. On their first run he explained he started getting into shape right after the incident.
Walking up the mountain was fine, but running the trail into town and back again was a complete nightmare. Griff helped, but the combination of bad eating habits, lack of motivation, and excessive drinking prior to her return home had her convinced that she was going to perish on the return trip. Only after a tremendous amount of guilt-tripping herself—and a little cheering from Griff—did she finally make it back to the house.
Charlie took a moment to collect herself, then headed inside. Her thankful smile at the cold bottled water she gulped down faded as she took in the pile of books that weren't on her desk when she set out that morning.
And that's how things had gone for the last two weeks. Morning run, studying, afternoon of orchard work, more studying, then afternoon exercises before—finally—freedom.
This morning's studies were all about spirits, spiritual energy and how to harness it for practical use, and something she actually knew a little about called the Astral Road.
Thank you, all-inclusive college and your acceptance of World Noble Studies.
Mercifully, the guys had come over every so often to either check on her or bring food. Tal was an amazing cook and always made too much, so at least she wouldn't starve from forgetting to eat. And it wasn't like Reiem hadn't offered—he had—but Charlie felt odd having him cook for her when he could have been spending that time doing something else. Closing her book, she realized she had no clue if the guy even had any hobbies.
Like always, that was a quandary for Future Charlie. Right now, it was break time.
Instead of wandering through the orchards to clear her head, she headed to the beach. It wasn't yet afternoon so there wouldn't be too many people, and it wasn't hot enough to cook her alive on the sand. Nothing but the calming roil of water, the chirping of the gulls, and the fresh, salty air to help her unwind.
Char
lie laid on the sand at the edge of the water, feeling the tide wash over her feet and calves as she stared up at the cloudless sky. And while not typically religious, she idly wondered if her grandma's spirit was still somewhere nearby on that wide and wild land—if she even thought everything was going good. Maybe there would be something she could tell her—some advice or even just give her a sign—to help her know she was really on the right path.
Charlie gave a sigh. As much as she wanted to lay there until the tide rose and took her away, that really wasn’t her choice to make.
"Great people are not affected by each puff of wind that blows ill. Like great ships, they sail serenely on, be the sea either tempest or calm."
Charlie sat up quickly, turning to see Reiem standing a few paces away with a look that was far more distant than his typical indifference. Raising an eyebrow to the quote, she chuckled.
"I'm not great."
Reiem met her eyes then crouched down beside her. "You will be one day, Miss Charlotte. No person of influence, be they kings or gods, began their tales at perfection. It is the trials that make us who we are."
"Hmm, I guess you're right. I just wish I'd been prepared for all this. It's so much to take in all at once."
Reiem frowned at that, further lowering to sit on the sand, his knees slightly drawn up and hands supporting him as he leaned back. "Are your studies not going well? Have I chosen something too difficult?"
"Not really, no. Maybe I'm being the difficult one?"
She had often told herself that, one day, she would be in this position, saying it wasn't a big deal she didn't start when she was supposed to or that she knew practically nothing about monsters or magic. She figured that was all something that would come in time, kind of like a second puberty or something. Now faced with the reality of just how screwed she was, Charlie had no idea just how much there would be, especially when she was pushed into it so quickly.
Thinking back to her day's topic, she turned to Reiem, a fluttering in her stomach. And judging by his expression once he saw the look on her face, she knew this wasn't going to be an easy topic. Nevertheless, she broached it quietly.
"Is there some way to…I don't know…contact the spirit of one of the other Guardians? I mean, for real. Not like those fake psychics."
"There is." The faraway look in his eyes told Charlie there was more to those two words than he was willing to elaborate on, but she didn't push. "We can call on them this evening, after the sun has passed its peak," he said finally.
"The less sunlight there is," Charlie replied, recalling what she'd read earlier, "the less energy a summoned spirit has."
"Mm, and why is that?"
"Daylight is more for the living, while moonlight is for those no longer here. Except in certain circumstances, right?" she added with some hesitation. At the faint, almost ghost of a smile she got in response, she smiled herself. At least she could remember something, she thought to herself.
"Seems your worries are over nothing." Charlie just blinked at him, and he quickly looked away. "My apologies. I should not have done that. Forgive me."
"Don't worry about it," Charlie hurried to say. "You didn't do anything wrong."
She smiled at him to show him she wasn't angry…or whatever he thought she was. In all honesty, the fact he could read her mind was just another wonder to her—immortal, strong, magical, and now a mind-reader? She thought he would just pick up on those tiny bodily cues no one else was aware of.
"It's more of a connection to what you're feeling than what you're thinking," he quietly explained. "Mental connections to the point of mind reading or thought manipulation is…something I've not experience with a Master in many centuries."
They sat in silence, enjoying the crashing of the waves. Charlie intended to come here to clear her head, but now she just had more to think about.
She hadn't had much of a chance to really look Reiem over—in fact, even as a child she hadn't paid him much attention, however brief their interactions were. The fact Reiem was not only immortal but basically a servant of her family planted feelings of bewilderment and confliction. Swallowing them down, she casually ran her gaze over him, careful not to linger long enough to be caught staring. Even if he had his eyes closed, he could probably feel her gaze.
Sure enough, the second her gaze lingered just a little too long, he flicked his dark eyes to her. Forcing herself to look away, she swallowed before breaking the silence.
"Never took you for a sea-watching kinda guy." Reiem grunted softly in reply to her comment. "You come here a lot?"
He nodded. In a tone so low she almost couldn't hear him over the spray, he said, "It was the one thing they couldn't take away from me."
The corner of Charlie's mouth tugged up at the memories she had of her own sea-watching as a child, even as Reiem's words sent a fresh pang of sorrow through her. To her, the sea was a natural wonder that would carry her young mind across the world. But to Reiem, it was his only escape from some hell he lived out each day, literally under her nose. One she never saw.
She remembered the sad smile he wore as he oversaw her and the guys as they played in the orchard. His split-second flash of fear as Marianne screamed his other name. His look of shocked horror as she lay dying in the community center. The warmth of his hands as he carried her.
Reiem's gentle voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"Please don't toil over it, Miss Charlotte. What's done is done."
"It's not that," Charlie muttered hastily. "So…will you be using that lamp to call the spirits?" At his questioning look, she continued. "It was in the spare closet. It showed me a ghost. I think?"
"What did this lamp look like?"
Charlie tried to recall the details as best she could. Truth be told, she hadn't wanted to think of it and the terrible things it had shown her glimpses of. If those weren't spirits, then she didn't know what they were.
After her description, the immortal looked more puzzled.
"Qismat's Lamp," he replied. "Hm, Lori claimed it had broken. Did it function properly?"
"Don't get me lying. I thought it was just some cool lamp from Idam Tritva, not some freaky ghost projector."
Reiem gave a gentle laugh. Soft though it was, it was a real laugh that reached his eyes. "Would you care to explain what you saw?"
"I really don't know." Charlie drew her knees up to her chest and rested her chin upon them. "I know I saw Grandma for sure. But the other guy? No clue. Everything jumped around like it was some glitched-out video. I was too scared to really take notice…"
Reiem went silent again, this time lost in thought. "It seems it is, indeed, broken. I will fix it and see what can be made of the entire event."
"You can pick it up now if you'd like." She honestly just wanted that thing the hell out of her house, away from her—and the further the better. "I need to eat before I get back to the books anyways."
"Then let us be off. What would you prefer to eat?"
‡ † ‡
Charlie turned up the speakers, letting the music wash over her as she worked. Where that morning had been dedicated to spirits and the Astral Road, it was now time for her to breathe life into her own bindrunes. She couldn't explain it, but somehow the music seemed to help guide her hand, smooth her strokes, let her get lost in the process of creating instead of picking it apart for flaws.
It had been so long since she'd done anything creative she wasn't certain she still had it in her, but the moment her fingers curled around her pencil it was like she never stopped. She'd missed the feeling of turning a blank canvas into something beautiful. With each new completion of her rune, her hand tingled; she could feel the energies coursing through her.
Her stepmom was always so proud of her art, even if her bio mom called it useless scribbles. From the time they first met, Sarah been her secret cheerleader. Money was forever tight, but if Charlie asked for new pencils or markers, Sarah would get them. She supported everything Charlie did without
reservation, without judgement.
She missed her so much.
She wondered what her bio mom would say about her life now. Would she still be looking down on her? Probably. Charlie didn't understand her sudden personality change, or the downturn in her treatment of her. Thinking on it now, she realized there was a huge contradiction in what she'd been raised to 'remember'. She recalled that soldier wanting to save her above all else. Why would her mom lie about it? Then again, the soldiers even being in town was bizarre. She always assumed the trauma from dying was what caused her to misremember but being home and feeling so free put that little flutter in her gut when she thought back.
And this time, it wasn't out of fear. No. She realized she'd been lied to the past nine years.
That lamp… If what it showed her had been her grandma's last moments, then who's to say it couldn't show what really happened in the community center? Reiem had cautioned her about calling certain spirits: ones who died an unclean death. Over lunch he elaborated that aggressive ends leave the deceased envious of those still alive. And in time that envy would turn to anger, even hatred, and the spirit would eventually become a shadow and attack the living.
That right there put her off wanting to call on her ancestors, but since the lamp only picked up on the residual emotions of events past, it was perfectly safe to view what took place in certain areas, given the lamp's user knew specific details.
Huffing a sigh, she turned off the music and slumped in her chair. She'd let her mind wander far too much, and now she couldn't focus. The little tingle of energy she'd felt five runes ago was basically gone, so she stepped outside. But instead of clearing her head out in the clear, country air, she found she had some mail.
A very peculiar parcel stuck out of her mailbox. She wasn't expecting a package, and as far as she knew her stepmom hadn't ordered her anything.
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