The Guardian (Callista Ryan Series)

by Alexandra Weiss

  She swallowed. The ground seemed incredibly far away, and in the darkness, she couldn’t tell exactly how many branches she’d run into on the way down. The fog was circulating in smoky curls, darkly warning her against what laid below.

  With a deep breath, she closed her eyes. And when she opened them, she didn’t see any easier solutions. So she ignored the way that her gut lurched as she made up her mind, and crouched down a ways, before leaping, wingless, into the empty air, her arms outstretched, squeezing her eyes shut once more in blind terror.

  When her hands slapped firmly against bark, though, her eyes snapped open in shock. She quickly tightened her fingers against the fleshy branch, the bark soggy with oozing tree sap. She hung limply from the branch, unsure what to do now. She hadn’t thought this part through. Sitting on the branch was out of the question, as there was no place to sit; the branch itself was hardly hanging on. She saw Adeline and Alex, not three feet from her now, and began to swing her legs back and forth.

  She inched closer to the branch they sat on with each thrust, before falling backwards again. And then, stealing herself as she came within reaching distance, she shot one hand forwards as though she were still a kid, playing in some high-stakes game of monkey bars, and let go.

  Almost implausibly, she felt herself latch onto this branch as well. The good luck startled her; she couldn’t believe that she was able to pull herself onto this one, too. But she was, and once she was seated, she found that she was perched beside Adeline, not six inches away, and was able to hear their conversation.

  Alex’s eyes were hard. Callie recognized the expression. He was arguing with Adeline; she had been the source of that look several times herself. Irrationally, it upset her to see him fighting with someone else.

  “He’s not going to just warn them, Adeline,” Alex said. “This isn’t a traffic violation. He’s talking about mass slaughter—do you think he’d be satisfied if he forwent that? And for mere words, no less?”

  “Well, I don’t see you offering up any solutions!” she said, throwing up her hands. Her purple eyes blazed. She was leaning against the trunk of the tree, in much the same stance as was Serena, hugging her knees to her chest as she faced Alex. He sat on the branch, his legs hanging over one side, facing outwards and watching the forest.

  “When I have one worth offering, I’ll tell you,” he promised her. She sighed and slumped back further against the trunk, the angry energy draining from her.

  “This is impossible,” she moaned.

  Alex drew a deep breath, and leaned to the side, picking up Adeline’s ankles and pulling them forwards so that her legs were draped across his lap. “We’ll think of something,” he said.

  Callie noted the way that Adeline’s cheeks flushed red, matching her hair. Callie didn’t think that Adeline was breathing well at that moment; for that matter, neither was Callie. Alex grinned over at her.

  “If it comes to the worst case scenario, we could always go rogue. Kidnap Emeric, tie him down until he relents,” he said. Adeline chuckled.

  “Wonderful,” she laughed. “And when we let him loose? He’ll banish us for sure, if not do away with us altogether.”

  “Come on, we can take him,” Alex said.

  “Alright, you go ahead. I think I’ll save that option for plan B,” Adeline replied.

  “Coward,” he said, leaning into her for a second, nudging her. She laughed loudly then, her whole face alight. Callie saw the way Alex watched her, like he was absorbed in her every nuance, her every motion. He concentrated on her like she was something entirely new to him; it wasn’t the way he looked at Callie, as though he were completely familiar with her. Callie shifted on the branch. She knew she had no right to be jealous. But watching this was more difficult than she could have anticipated. And she knew that this was exactly why Serena had wanted her to see it.

  “Are you two done yet?” Serena called from below.

  Both Alex and Adeline started, as though they’d forgotten she was there. Adeline peeled her legs off of him, one by one, hanging them over the side of the branch. “We should probably go,” she said.

  Alex nodded. “Probably,” he said, though he said it slowly. Callie knew that he didn’t want to leave. But she, on the other hand, could not have been more relieved when the world slipped out from beneath her again, and the trees began to blur in a familiar loss of clarity, and she knew that she was getting the hell away from this place.

  She sucked in a breath and closed her eyes against the dizzying sensations, waiting for the center of gravity to right itself again.

  Soon enough, she felt the forest still. Callie opened her eyes, and saw that she was in the exact same place she’d been before she’d visited the forest floor. Adeline’s cottage was unchanged; not much time had passed. A murmur of voices drifted out to her from the back room, and she turned to watch the scene.

  “I’m not saying that it’s not a good idea, I’m just saying that it could very easily go wrong,” Alex said, following Adeline out from the bedroom. Callie lifted her eyebrows. She was worried for a moment, until she saw Serena follow Alex out, looking just as bored as usual, and then she relaxed.

  Adeline stormed into the kitchen, looking upset. “We’ve been at this for weeks, Alex. Emeric is getting ready to send the troops any day, and you want to discuss hypotheticals?” She slammed a bowl down on the counter top, and thrust the cabinet door closed before turning to retrieve something from a higher shelf.

  Alex leaned onto his elbows against the counter, watching her as he said, “Just tell me this: who is going to be the one to do it? I mean, in theory, the idea is valid. But if prejudice or bad judgment come into play for even a second—“

  “What? Then the Sirens will all die?” she asked, whipping around to face him with a clear container of oats in hand. “Newsflash, they already will!”

  Alex sighed and hung his head. More calmly, he replied, “Emeric will see it as a flaw in the plan.”

  “Oh, God, why don’t you two just sleep together already and get it over with?” Serena moaned, sinking into a chair and rolling her eyes, the picture of a tortured woman.

  They both looked in her direction as though she were crazy. Adeline was the first to break the awkward silence.

  She shook her head. “All we need to do is bring the idea to Emeric,” she said. “After that, I think he’ll be willing to help us solidify it. He as good as said he wouldn’t go through with the attack if there were any other way.”

  “Why don’t you test that theory?” Serena asked, looking out the window. “Here he comes.”

  “What?” Alex and Adeline shouted in unison.

  “He isn’t supposed to be here until evening,” Adeline said, panicked. She placed the bowl and oats into the sink quickly, hiding them, and smoothed her hair.

  Alex lifted an eyebrow. “What, do you hope to win him over with your good looks?” he asked.

  Adeline sneered at him. But in spite of the mocking remark, Callie could see the way his eyes lingered a little too long, even though Adeline couldn’t.

  Emeric flew into the house, landing so smoothly that he fell right into step as he walked into the living room. He nodded at Serena, and then looked to Adeline.

  “You wanted to speak with me?” he asked.

  “Emeric, what a surprise,” Adeline said with forced sweetness. “I wasn’t expecting you until later.” Her eyes darted to Alex, and then back to Emeric. Alex smirked, though the gesture was so small that Callie doubted anyone else noticed.

  “You said that you had business to discuss, and so I came. Shall I come back?” he offered, though the question was less an offer than a challenge.

  “No!” Adeline said. She cleared her throat. “No. I just…we just had an idea. We thought you might appreciate it, if you don’t mind listening.”

  “Why would I mind?” Emeric asked, his face darkening in suspicion.

  “I—“ Adeline said, clearly nervous, and frustrated with herself
for being so. She frowned, and huffed, and Callie thought she would have begun to curse had Alex not intervened.

  “We have come up with an alternate solution to the problem,” he said. “We do not believe it is necessary for you to exterminate any portion of the Siren population, after all.”

  “You don’t?” Emeric asked, surprise in his voice. But there was also patronization there, as though he were listening to a child propose to explain quantum physics.

  Alex hoisted himself onto the counter, sitting atop it with ease and assurance. Adeline’s eyes all but sprung from her head at the nonchalance of his gesture. She seemed to grow more livid with each passing second.

  “You see, Adeline has come up with a plan which may prove to be more peaceable and beneficial to all of us,” Alex said.

  Adeline cut in, holding up a finger. “Oh, no, it wasn’t just me. We all helped.”

  Callie chuckled. It wasn’t generosity which made Adeline say that, she knew, but fear of failure. This way, the blame would be equally shared. She was surprised at how likeable this Adeline was in comparison to her future self. Callie thought that maybe, had she known this woman all of those years ago, they could have been friends. And that thought made her laugh even harder.

  “Quiet, human,” Serena’s voice echoed. For a moment, Callie looked at the memory version of Serena. But she was sitting quietly on the couch, appearing wholly unconcerned with the entire affair. It was then that Callie realized the voice had come from the real Serena, the one who could hear her laughing in the present.

  The rest of them couldn’t hear her, though. Callie was quiet again, listening. Alex went on, “As I was saying, Adeline thought that it might be a better idea if you decided to use a liaison, instead.”

  Emeric lifted his chin. “A liaison,” he repeated.

  Alex nodded. “You see, if we simply created a position in which a protector could communicate with the Sirens, we would have a way of reasoning with them. They would feel as though they had more of a connection to us, that they are not being suppressed. We believe it would improve relations between our peoples, and negate the need for war.”

  Emeric’s eyes narrowed, and he walked further into the kitchen. As he passed by Alex, he made a gesture with his hand, and said, “Get off of the counter. You look ridiculous.”

  Alex grinned, either his rebellion or Emeric’s tone causing him to find the words comical. Nevertheless, he sprung from the counter with grace, landing firmly on his feet. Emeric stood across from Adeline, leaning against the stove and studying the floor.

  “Who else have you told of this plan?” Emeric finally asked, looking between them.

  “No one,” Adeline said.

  “Well, they’ve told me,” Serena drawled. “And I’ve told a few people.”

  “What? You have?” Adeline hissed. “But I thought—“

  “Oh, please, Adeline,” Serena sighed. “Look at him. If no one knew that we’d hatched this plan, he wouldn’t even be considering it right now. He’d insist we’d keep it a secret, and then he’d go on about this war business as though he hadn’t a choice.” She motioned to Emeric, who returned her glance with his own icy glare. Adeline’s face contorted in embarrassment, and she shook her head violently at Serena. “What?” Serena asked. “You know I’m right. Emeric never wants people to change his mind for him. It makes him feel less in control.”

  Alex laughed loudly at the statement.

  “Serena!” Adeline said.

  Emeric’s face turned ashen, though he retained his cool expression.

  “Oh, come on, Emeric,” Alex said. “It is true. And you do have to consider that with another viable option on the table, people would be far less interested in your war plans. Even Milo would disapprove of them, had he thought of this himself.”

  “Do not speak to me of that man,” Emeric seethed, holding up a hand. Callie saw that his hand was shaking with rage. She caught her breath, sensing that Emeric was about to lose control.

  But he closed his eyes and drew a breath, and when he opened his eyes again, they had lost the insanity which had shown through just seconds before. He seemed to have a grip on his emotions.

  “It is a reasonable plan,” he finally admitted. “I will take it under advisement.”

  “Under advisement?” Serena asked. “You mean you’ll forget all about it.”

  “Emeric, you have to consider what will happen if you attack now. It will divide the people. There are those who still believe that, no matter what the Sirens have done, they deserve their rights to life and freedom as much as we do. I doubt many of your soldiers will even obey you,” Adeline said.

  Emeric’s nostrils flared. He ground down on his molars, and swallowed. Several seconds elapsed before he said anything else. “You may be right,” he relented. He choked on the next words, gripping the counter on either side of him until his knuckles turned white. “For now, the plans for attack are postponed. We will try this your way.”

  Adeline’s jaw dropped, and she drew a breath to say something, but Alex chuckled and, stepping next to her, threw an arm around her shoulders and clamped a hand over her mouth. Serena shrugged, having expected such an outcome.

  Emeric walked towards the door, and as soon as his back was turned, Adeline jumped into Alex’s arms and he spun her around, their arms and wings intermingling so that it looked like they were one person. “Speak to me tomorrow further of your idea,” Emeric called over his shoulder. In a quieter voice, he grumbled, “Foolish ingrates.”

  He flew away before they could reply.

  “Well, that’s my cue,” Serena said, standing up. “I’ll…leave you to it.” She bit her lip, though the corners of her mouth twisted up in a mocking smile. Adeline narrowed her eyes, but couldn’t hide her own grin.

  She turned back to Alex. “We did it!” she cried, hugging him again, her arms wrapping comfortably around his neck. Callie saw his face as it rested atop her shoulder; it was jubilant at first, but then he closed his eyes, and his smile faded, and he looked serious once again. He drew back slightly, looking down at Adeline’s purple eyes.

  For a moment, they were caught in each other’s gaze. After a little time had passed, during which Serena clumsily collected her purse and notebook and pen from the coffee table, Alex asked, “Do you want to….”

  Adeline nodded. “Yes,” she said, taking his hand. She walked slowly, unsure, looking back over her shoulder as she led him to the back room.

  “Oh, don’t mind me,” Serena said, tucking her things into her bag. “I’m just the one who closed the deal.”

  But they weren’t listening. She rolled her eyes and shook her head just as the bedroom door closed behind them. “As if I actually told anyone!” she called after them. She waited a beat, her head cocked towards the door as she listened. Finally, she yelled, “Your welcome!”

  And still they didn’t answer. She sighed and finished zipping her purse, then walked to the door. At the last minute, she froze, doubled back, and dug a scarf out from under a sofa cushion. Callie frowned, unsure why this memory was continuing. Was Serena purposefully making it drag on, hinting at what was going on beyond that door? She felt her heart sink a little.

  So this was what Shay had meant when she’d said that Adeline had been important to him. She thought that she might have already known, really. But then why was her stomach twisting with jealousy?

  Serena fished out the scarf, and walked to the door again. But before she could jump, a resounding crash came from the back room. Her head snapped towards the door as a low, dreadful moan came out from behind it.

  “Adeline?” she asked, walking towards the back room.

  But before she’d even gotten to the threshold, Alex opened the door, his face etched with horror. Serena began to sprint. “What is it?” she asked.

  And then she froze in the doorway, her hands braced on either side. She gasped as she looked into the room. Callie walked over to her, and peeked over her shoulder.

&
nbsp; Adeline was on the floor, hunched in the fetal position, her hands raking over her face and hair in furious repetition. She was keening, soft and heartbroken, “No, no.”

  And that was when Callie saw it. She hadn’t seen it before because Adeline’s wings had been folded. But now they were stretched out to either side of her, and Callie saw it clearly. The faint but clear traces of silver outlining the inside of Adeline’s feathers.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Falling

  When Callie opened her eyes, she was in Serena’s cottage again. She blinked and looked around. Serena was in front of her, leaning backwards against the counter, her arms crossed over her chest. She stared at Callie with some sort of emotion. It wasn’t anger, exactly. Nor was it annoyance. It was almost sadness, though the kind of sadness which produces ferocity rather than vulnerability.

  Callie took a step away from her, and looked over her shoulder. Shay was sitting in a chair, reading one of Serena’s novels. It struck Callie as odd that, as she’d been bearing witness to such emotional transformation and turmoil, Shay had been performing such an everyday task.

  She looked back at Serena. She didn’t know quite how to process the avalanche of emotions raining down upon her now. She was heartbroken and furious, jealous and repulsed, all at once. But she had a question that took precedence.

  “What happened next?” she asked, almost afraid to know.

  “You know what happened,” Serena said. “You’ve seen her on that island.”

  “No…I mean, what happened immediately after that. How does the story end?” Callie asked. She felt like it had cut off too abruptly, like Serena didn’t want her to see what happened after the climax.

  Serena lifted her chin. “Once word got out about her condition, people started to whisper that she had only come up with the plan because she had known. They claimed that she’d been aware of her evolution the entire time, and she had only been trying to save herself. The position of liaison became a joke. No one wanted it; they thought it was a traitorous position.”