Sacred Bloodlines (The Guardians)

by Wendy Owens

  “Ummm... well, hard to say really.” Gabe tried to think of an answer that would conceal his crush. “Everyone seems really nice. Just a lot to take in, you know?”

  Sophie nodded and flowed right into the next question.

  “So, Uri was telling me you live in a group home for boys?” Gabe was impressed by her forwardness and a little embarrassed at the same time.

  “Yeah, I’ve been in several foster homes as a kid, but now St. John’s Home for Wayward Boys is where I rest my head at night.” Gabe was careful not to sound too bitter about his plight in life.

  “Do you like it? Do you have friends there? Do you miss it?” Sophie rattled off the questions with barely a breath between them.

  “Wow, umm, gee,” Gabe replied laughing a little at Sophie’s rapid fire of questions. “I am not sure I would say I like it. It’s not good or bad. I suppose they feed me and the priests that run it seem nice enough. Just the kind of place you keep your head down and get through your time, you know?”

  “Well, do you have any friends you miss?” Sophie asked the question again.

  “I suppose the closest thing I had to a friend was Dominique, my roommate. We ate together sometimes but he is a pretty big metal head. We don’t really have a lot in common, I suppose.” Gabe explained, wondering if Dominique had even noticed his disappearance.

  Sophie nodded in recognition of Gabe’s struggle to establish close friendships. She thought about her struggle before she had come to find Michael and Uri. They continued with small talk for a few minutes.

  “So how did your parents die?” Sophie asked out of the blue without hesitation.

  Gabe was so shocked by the bluntness and randomness of the question his mouth literally fell open. He marveled at her bold nature.

  “I’m sorry,” Sophie said seeing Gabe’s obvious discomfort at the topic. “Just forget I asked.”

  “No,” Gabe added quickly. “I don’t mind. You just took me by surprise.”

  “It’s just...” Sophie paused, her chipper and happy tone had become quiet and sad. “I lost my parents at an early age, too. I was nine.”

  Early age, Gabe thought. He would have given anything to have his parents for that amount of time. He struggled every day to even remember what they looked like. He wondered if Sophie realized how lucky she was to have had them as long as she did.

  “It was a robbery.” Gabe explained, the old helplessness nagging at the back of his mind. “I don’t remember a lot about that day. I know we had spent the day together. I have glimpses of memories that contain a park, a playground, even a kite.”

  “That’s awesome your last day with them was so special though.” Sophie added in an effort to bring Gabe some small piece of comfort.

  “We used to have movie nights once a week.” Gabe continued. “We would rent a family movie and then always pick up what my dad called movie candy at the store on the corner.” Gabe stopped and looked down at the ground. He felt his chest begin to ache and his eyes fill with tears.

  Sophie reached out a hand and touching Gabe’s arm gently asked, “What is it Gabe?”

  Gabe kept his head hung low as he shook it no, trying not to think about the emotions that were stirring inside him.

  “You can talk to me.” Sophie insisted. Gabe believed her, he had never really discussed that night, not even with all his different therapists. Something felt different as he spoke with Sophie.

  “I don’t know Sophie,” Gabe began as he hesitated for a moment. “It’s not really something I like to open up about I guess.”

  “Have you ever tried?” Sophie asked. “Maybe it would make it better in some way.”

  “Maybe,” Gabe replied.

  Taking a deep breath Gabe closed his eyes for a moment and decided if he was ever going to have a little trust in someone, why not right now with Sophie? Without any more thought, Gabe spoke.

  “I blame myself.” Gabe couldn’t believe he had even allowed the words to escape his lips. He had never shared that with anyone. He continued to stare at the floor in hopes his tears would dry up.

  “Why would you blame yourself?” Sophie asked in a soft and caring tone.

  At last, Gabe looked up at her, his eyes barely able to dam the swelling rush of salty tears. “I have always gotten these feelings when something bad was going to happen.”

  “Auguries,” Sophie interjected.

  “Yeah, I guess,” Gabe replied, recognizing the term from earlier conversations. “I had gotten a feeling that night when my parents suggested the candy run, but I didn’t say anything.”

  “Gabe, you were so young. You didn’t know and even if you had said something, you don’t know if they would have listened to you. It’s not your fault.” Sophie insisted gently.

  Gabe looked into the fire, replaying the night in his head. He was remembering clearly for the first time. Maybe this sharing thing had something to it.

  “My arms were overflowing with sweet treats. We didn’t notice what was going on at the register. A man had come in a few moments before. The stranger had demanded cash from the register and apparently he had a gun. Not realizing what was happening we made our way to the cashier when I saw an entire container of pixie sticks.” Gabe shook his head, no longer able to hold back the tears of shame and helplessness.

  Sophie inched closer to Gabe, wrapping her arm around him in a comforting way.

  “I know.” She added, trying to relay her familiarity with the loss.

  “It was my fault…” Gabe whispered.

  “Gabe, what do you mean?” Sophie asked.

  “When I saw the pixie sticks, I reached for them and a box of milk duds that was balancing in my arms fell to the floor with a rattle. I don’t know, I guess the noise startled the man. He turned and pointed the gun at me. Seeing the danger I was in, my dad...” Gabe’s chest heaved as he struggled to tell the story. The entire violent scene was playing out in his mind.

  “He was just trying to protect me, you know?” Gabe added.

  Sophie nodded, rubbing her hand along Gabe’s back in a circular motion. Gabe continued, “When my dad yelled my name and moved towards me, the man shot both my parents. He was just trying to protect me. If I hadn’t dropped that box, he may have never noticed us.”

  “You can’t do that,” Sophie said trying to comfort Gabe. “If you play out all of the ‘what ifs’ in your head, it will drive you crazy.”

  “That bastard killed them and then let me live, I don’t understand why he... I wish he would have...” Gabe felt a tear roll down his cheek.

  “Gabe” Sophie interrupted. “It wasn’t your fault. You were a kid; there was no way you could have known.”

  Gabe nodded, knowing deep down what Sophie was saying was true but wondering why he couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling of blame he had carried with him all of these years.

  “My dad left us when I was little.” Sophie began her story in an effort to illustrate to Gabe there were some things you can’t blame yourself for. “It was always just me and my mom. Don’t get me wrong, she was all I ever needed. She was amazing. When I was nine, my mom told me she wanted to throw me the biggest and best birthday party any nine year old girl ever had.” Sophie said looking at Gabe, her eyes also filling up.

  “There were streamers, balloons, confetti, and the biggest birthday cake I had ever seen. She had invited all our friends and family. She even hired a clown. It was going to be the most amazing event in my life. Two men had arrived to inflate the bouncy house when my mom got a call that the cake delivery driver was sick and they needed us to pick up our own order.” Sophie let out a heavy sigh as she thought of that day.

  “My mom called everyone she could think of to pick the cake up for us.” Sophie continued. “But nobody was available. I can still see her. She looked at me and said ‘What kind of party would it be without a cake? Why no party at all.’ Minutes later we were on our way to the bakery. It was so fast I can’t even remember the actual accident. I just
remember waking up in a hospital bed, my entire life changed. Apparently we were hit head on and the only reason I even survived was because my bloodline had been activated and with a Guardian’s natural ability to heal, I lived. Our healing ability is part of why we live so long.” Sophie stopped, her breath getting caught in her throat.

  “You know, I even convinced myself she wasn’t dead for a little while. I would wake up in the hospital and ask the nurses if my mom was there. I did it for weeks. It wasn’t until Michael found me and I came here that I really allowed myself to fully admit she was gone.”

  “Sophie,” Gabe didn’t know what to say. How could he comfort her when he had the same feelings of guilt? The same frustrated helplessness.

  Sophie turned and pressed her back into Gabe. She pulled one of his arms around her head, using it as a pillow as she lied on the floor in front of the fire. Gabe moved in closer to Sophie, draping his arm over her side. They both took in a deep breath of air, their bodies heaved against one another in grief.

  Gabe thought better of saying anything else as he did not want Sophie to reconsider her positioning. A moment later their bodies gave into the exhaustion and fell fast asleep in one another’s arms.

  Chapter Eight

  Gabe awoke, his hands tingling and pain shooting up his arm. He went to move but saw that Sophie was still asleep on his arm. Gabe quickly froze, hoping with everything in him to prolong the moment. He had never felt like this for anyone, honestly he had never let himself get close to anyone. Looking down at peaceful her face , he wondered if this was what sleeping beauty look like.

  Gabe found himself questioning what he was doing. There was a reason Gabe didn’t let himself get close to people.They ended up dead. Sophie had almost been killed once because of him. He wasn’t sure what he would do if something happened to her.

  “Good morning, love birds.” Uri’s sarcastic tone cut through Gabe’s thoughts. With that, Sophie popped up and frantically looked around assessing the situation.

  “Shut up, Uri,” Sophie said flashing Uri a nasty glare. She frantically turned and gathered up her boxes of candy, shoving them into her nearby bag. Uri started to laugh in a deep bellow.

  “I’m serious, Uri, you better shut up! Nothing happened.” Sophie insisted.

  “Sure, whatever you say, Soph.” Uri said with a huge grin across his face and flopped down on the bed, hands behind his head, ankles crossed. The arrogant pose seemed to enrage Sophie.

  “Whatever.” Sophie said in a huff, grabbing her bag and exiting, not a word to Gabe.

  Gabe sat there dumbfounded, not sure what to say. He looked over at Uri. “You should learn to knock.” Gabe was annoyed his moment with Sophie had been stolen. Uri continued to smile mischievously. “You know, she is telling the truth, Uri, nothing happened.” Gabe added.

  “I know.” Uri said sitting upright. “You’re not her type.”

  Gabe sank at his words. He thought Sophie and he had an incredible connection, but Uri had him doubting that confidence in an instant. Had he just read into things? Was she just being nice to the new kid who she thought saved her life?

  “What do you mean I’m not her type?” Gabe asked deflated and a little wounded.

  Realizing he had upset Gabe, Uri quickly tried to put his statement far from Gabe’s mind. “Never mind, don’t listen to me. Ready?” Uri popped up to his feet and walked to the door.

  “What?” Gabe asked, still fixated on getting a real answer from Uri about his observation.

  “Training, remember?” Uri asked acting a little irritated while glancing back at Gabe.

  “Yeah, I mean of course.” Gabe acted as though he had not forgotten. “I need to shower first though.”

  Uri began to laugh. “Nonsense, you’re fine. You will really need a shower when I’m done with you though.” Uri turned around and walked over to where Gabe still sat on the floor. He extended a helping hand.

  “Come on, you will need a good breakfast however.” Gabe took his hand and stood. “No promises you will be able to keep it down though.” Uri laughed again. Gabe was beginning to think he was not particularly fond of Uri’s sense of humor.

  “My clothes?” Gabe asked walking towards the wardrobe.

  “Don’t worry about it.” Uri replied growing more impatient. “There will be clothes at the sparring center.”

  “Sparring center?” Gabe asked, unable to hide the concern in his voice. Uri laughed again and patted him on the back. The two were off to the dining hall for what Uri kept calling a ‘breakfast of guardians.’ Gabe thought he was trying to play on the ‘breakfast of champions’ saying, but the joke was falling short. After about the third time though, Gabe decided to give Uri the laugh he so desperately craved in hopes he would not have to hear the joke again.

  Breakfast was incredible, but the entire time Gabe was wondering what awaited them at this sparring center. He had never been much of a fighter. He had avoided school sports like the plague. The idea of other boy’s bodies being hurled at him with great force had never seemed very appealing.

  Gabe’s thoughts were invaded by images of Sophie with no warning. The memories of their evening overwhelmed his curiosity about Uri’s impending lessons. As he thought about dancing under the stars and sharing intimate stories, Gabe was sure Uri had to be wrong about Sophie’s interest. Without warning, a slight smile crept across Gabe’s face.

  Once Gabe finished his meal, the two boys headed across the court yard. Uri greeted everyone they passed. Gabe wondered if Uri knew everyone at the manor; he certainly seemed to. A few more unfamiliar faces passed before Gabe caught site of one he recognized. Michael was in the distance, standing and talking to another gentleman. The conversation seemed to be quite intense.

  Gabe studied the man Michael was speaking to. He noticed as the man shifted his weight, he seemed to be favoring one leg. The man pulled his golden hair from his face. Gabe recognized him as Anthony, the injured man from Michael’s office. Gabe thought Anthony appeared much stronger than last he had seen him. His stature was broad and commanding.

  Gabe watched as Michael and Anthony’s interaction became heated. A second later, both men looked up. Seeing Gabe and Uri headed in their direction, they instantly turned down the opposite path. Gabe wondered if they were trying to avoid him, but decided that he was being paranoid.

  Trying to not think any further on the odd exit of the men, Gabe asked Uri, “So does everyone go through this training?”

  Uri thought on the question for a moment as the two continued through a large doorway. “I suppose,” Uri replied. “Training is tailored to each individual and what their role is. Some are healers and only healers. Some are what we call clerics and are trained in incantations.”

  “What are you?” Gabe asked.

  Uri laughed and then realized Gabe had been serious with his question.

  “A Guardian, like you obviously.” Uri said, looking a bit puzzled. “Michael didn’t explain all this to you?”

  “Some of it, but we sort of got interrupted,” Gabe explained.

  “I see,” Uri continued. “Well, a Guardian is different. Everyone’s purpose is to protect mankind of course, but when all else fails we are the last line of defense.”

  “Yeah, I got that much.” Gabe answered remembering that part of his conversation with Michael the previous evening.

  “Well, stop me if I repeat anything,” Uri continued. “A Guardian is trained in all abilities; hand to hand combat, incantations, healing, creature charms…”

  “Creature charms?” Gabe asked with a curious look on his face.

  “Not all creatures that were unleashed on the earth chose to follow an evil path. We discovered through the years that there are some creatures that have been tricked or forced, into doing the lord of the Underworld’s bidding. Once they escaped, many were more than eager to help the other side.” Uri explained.

  “Wait, what kind of creatures?” Gabe asked.

  “Well, probably the
most common one you have heard of would be an Alicorn.” Uri replied looking over at Gabe. He could see Gabe wasn’t sure what he was talking about. “Well maybe not, imagine a cross between a unicorn and a Pegasus.”

  Gabe furrowed his brow imagining what the beast would look like.

  “So a horse with a horn and wings?” Uri nodded in the affirmative.

  “I see,” Gabe added sarcastically.

  “Where are these things then? I’ve sure never seen one.” Gabe asked looking around, clearly in disbelief.

  “Have you ever seen a million dollars?” Uri asked seriously.

  Gabe looked over at Uri confused.

  “Well, no.” Gabe replied slowly.

  “Does that mean a million dollars doesn’t exist?” Uri asked.

  “No, but that’s not really the same thing, Uri.” Gabe argued.

  “My point is, Gabe, that there are a lot of things in this world you may have never seen but it doesn’t mean they are any less real than the things you have,” Uri explained.

  “I get it. I’m just saying if these things exist, I’m a bit surprised I have never seen one.” Gabe retorted hanging on to his disbelief.

  “Had you seen a demon before the night we met?” Uri asked. Gabe sat there not sure what to say. Uri had a very valid point.

  “Besides, some Alicorns stay in the stables, so you can ask them for yourself if they are real.” Uri answered with a grin.

  “Yeah, right,” Gabe responded, not allowing himself to be so easily fooled by Uri.

  Uri’s face suddenly took on a very serious expression as he insisted, “I’m serious, Gabe. They really are there.”

  Sensing Uri’s sincerity, Gabe was in awe at Uri’s revelation as he continued walking in silence.

  “They are pretty amazing creatures.” Uri continued. “They have the power of invisibility so they are allowed to come and go as they please. They are quite brave in battle. We owe them a lot. They have become a huge ally for us to have on our team.” Gabe could see Uri’s admiration for the Alicorns and liked seeing this side of him.