Guardian

by Sam Cheever

  The water lifted from the pool like a waterspout and churned there as the Watcher danced his fingers into it, lifting here, probing there, and forming a complicated magic string that slowly caused the spout to descend back into the pool. As soon as the water cleared, a picture emerged.

  I gasped as I recognized the woods and the eerily beautiful face shining out at us. Queen Tana of the fairies swept her emerald gaze dismissively past Etta and me and fastened it on the Watcher. “Why cast thou moldy eye o’re my woods, Watcher?”

  Etta and I turned wide eyed gazes on the ugly, little man, waiting for the explosion. But he just laughed. “Why, only to drink in your beauty, Tana, queen of my heart.”

  Queen Tana’s musical chuckle caressed our ears.

  Oh…My…Gods! He was flirting with her. I rolled my eyes at Etta and she made a gagging motion with her finger.

  “I saw that.” He flicked magic water at us and it stung. We rubbed the burns on our arms and turned back to the show. “Queen Tana, the Faery Wood has apparently been infiltrated. We have seen a human creature using faery dust.”

  The queen’s bejeweled gaze grew sharp, and I saw the ruthlessness she was known for in its pretty depths. “That is unacceptable!”

  The Watcher said nothing.

  Tana turned from the pool and called out a command in harsh tones, hardening the musical tones of her faery language in her rage. Then she turned back. “I will investigate immediately, Watcher.”

  She disappeared with a final sharp look at me, as if she blamed me entirely for the problem. I chewed my lip, turning to the Watcher. “Will she discover how he got the dust?”

  The Watcher grimaced, “If she has to torture her entire kingdom to do it.” Then he sighed and jerked his big head dismissively. “Out with you both. I have work to do. I need to find that human. In the meantime, you can check out his residence.” He turned a large, strangely soft hand over and lifted it, palm up, in front of my nose. There was a small flash and a piece of paper lay there, I took it from him and saw that it had an address on it. “I doubt he’ll go back there now that he knows we’re on to him, but it’s worth a try.”

  The Watcher made me a portal and I stepped into it quickly, before Etta could see the address.

  ~ ~*~ ~

  The street below Ian Lavelle’s window was busy. And loud. I watched the traffic move by for a while and then turned to a small table under the window and picked up a knick knack. What kind of guy had knick knacks? It was a small statue of a sprite or faery, with sparkles on the porcelain wings and an impish look on its face.

  Cute.

  I set it down and blew breath thru my lips, frustrated by the fruitless waiting. I’d been in that apartment for a couple of hours, and I was tired of it. I turned around and gave a little scream, clutching my heart in surprise.

  The Watcher hung in front of me in mid-air. Or rather his ugly face did. The image stopped at the furry fringe of hair which circled his face, lending more weight to the monkey comparison. “You scared the life out of me!”

  “Why are you there?”

  I flapped my lips for a few beats and then made a noise of frustration. “You told me to come here.”

  He shook his fuzzy head. “I found him a full cycle of the clock ago. I gave the location to Etta. She assured me she’d pass it on to you, but there you are.” His dark, brown eyes narrowed on me, assessingly. “Is there a problem?”

  A grinding noise filled the silence of the empty apartment. I shook my head. “No. No problem. Except that my partner is a gnome’s ass and I’m gonna cut her into tiny little, monster pieces as soon as I find her.”

  The Watcher expelled a breath. The sliver of space around his head rippled as he pushed his arm through the portal. Suddenly a thick fingered hand poked into the room, extended toward me.

  I held my hand out and the Watcher dropped something into it. I looked down at the tiny bottle. “What’s this?”

  “Get him to drink that and he won’t be able to leave your side without excruciating pain. It will give you time to find out what he’s up to.”

  I nodded, slipping it into my pocket. “Does Etta have one of these too?”

  He glanced at me, sheepish. “She promised she’d give it to you.”

  I huffed out a breath. “Where is he?”

  The hand withdrew and I watched as he touched the portal in several spots before a picture formed itself on the surface. I reached out and placed my hand on the image and was immediately transported there, finding myself, amazingly in the Faery Wood.

  Every tree was straight and smooth and stood taller than the eye. The trees were clear of foliage until well above my head, and at that point, the leaves were so densely placed that no sky was visible above. It was dim in the wood, but a strange, unnatural light filtered through the trees. It was impossible to tell what time of day or night it was.

  The air was thick with the scent of rich earth and flowers. Here and there, like giant fireflies, sprites danced upon the air, throwing off brilliant sparks of light to mark their passage. If I concentrated, I could hear the soft melody of their constant song. I frowned. I’d have to be careful or I could easily become bespelled by it.

  Glancing around I tried to get my bearings. I thought I recognized a huge tree to my left and turned in that direction. As I approached, a sprite dropped in front of my face, a tiny bow and arrow nocked in his hands.

  “Where dost thou go, spirit?”

  Glancing around, I saw that I was surrounded by the bright, colorful creatures. They looked harmless. I knew differently.

  “I search for a human male who is believed to be in these woods.”

  The sprite laughed heartily, turning to his companion, a delicate female with startling purple hair and lashes that touched the sharp edges of her cheeks when she giggled.

  He dropped his weapon, apparently thinking I was too stupid to present a danger to them. “No human walks these woods, spirit.”

  “And if one did,” added the delicate female, “It would be hunted by a guardian, not a Monad Warrior.”

  I narrowed my eyes on her. “And have you seen such a guardian? I believe she preceded me here.”

  This question created much merriment. The smile widened on the male’s tiny face. “Mayhaps.”

  “Take me to the guardian then…” adding as an afterthought, “if you please.”

  The male looked at the female and she nodded. He spun in the air without another word and took off at a speed I’d never be able to match in the natural realm.

  With a sigh I created a wrinkle with my mind and stepped inside. Within the wrinkle every step I took covered as much ground as I wished it to. So I was able to walk beside the sprite as he flew at a speed the human eye couldn’t even capture.

  I quickly found myself looking at Etta. She sat upon the ground at the base of a frail looking tree, staring dejectedly into space.

  She jumped when I stepped out of my wrinkle. Her face was smudged and her robes were ripped. One wing hung at an odd angle. “You startled me, Nuria.”

  The female sprite, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, lunged towards Etta’s face and the guardian gave a little gasp and hunched over, covering her face protectively.

  A chorus of laughter erupted and I scowled. “Leave us!”

  A sound like bees wings filled the air. The laughter faded away with their flight.

  Etta scowled after them. “Nasty little bugs.”

  I couldn’t disagree. “So you tried to pull another fast one on me, huh?”

  She just shrugged. “If he’s human I’m the one who should be looking for him, Nuria. Technically you’re out of your jurisdiction.”

  I dropped down beside her and leaned against the tree. “Technically I am. But he’s using faery dust and he’s in the faery wood. This is my territory. You could get killed here without me to protect you.” I turned to look at her. “And the Council gave me the assignment to find him. Not you.”

  She shrugged but kep
t silent.

  I laid my head back against the tree. Suddenly oh so weary. I’d done little but search for the damnable human for weeks. I hoped I could finally track him down in the Wood and be done with it.

  “So, we meet again, ladies.”

  My eyes flew open to find Ian Lavelle standing over us, looking at me with a smug smile on his handsome face. He wore tight, rough brown breeches, soft black boots, and an emerald stud in one ear. And nothing else.

  His smooth, brown chest glowed under the unnatural light. The illumination softly highlighted the tightly sculpted flesh of his abs and chest as if he’d been painted with it. I wondered if he knew how the light played to him. Something about the smug smile made me think he did.

  I stood to face him. On my feet, I still had to look up to see into his sparkling, brown eyes. “Mr. Lavelle. Fancy meeting you here.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. “Apparently it’s a very small world, Monad.”

  I felt Etta at my back and prayed she wouldn’t scare him away before I could figure out how to get the potion into him. “I don’t know why you keep calling me that, Mr. Lavelle. I have no idea what a Monad is but it sounds exotic.”

  His brown gaze sparkled. “I admit I’m shocked at your denial, Warrior. It’s quite obvious to me that you are a Warrior Spirit. Why you are chasing me I don’t know. However…” He stepped close and lifted my chin with a strong finger, lowering his lips to within inches of mine. My body tightened in reaction to the violent pull of his sensual aura.

  His nearness created a whirlwind sensation. I got the sense of chaos and destruction whirling around us, with unspeakable passion and calm sensuality in the eye of the storm where we stood. “…I find that I really don’t mind all that much.”

  Against my will my lips parted and my chin started to tilt. Before my eyes closed in anticipation of his kiss, the sound of a throat being cleared behind me jerked me back to reality.

  Etta’s voice was soft with anger. “Ian Lavelle, we have questions for you, regarding your activities with a certain rebel group. A group you apparently lead.”

  Ian turned toward Etta, his finger still under my chin.

  I blinked twice and stepped away from him, clearing my throat in embarrassment. “Yes, Mr. Lavelle. We have questions.”

  His slow grin made my knees knock together. I cursed myself. Pull yourself together, Warrior. Your behavior is ridiculous.

  I second that. Etta intruded on my thoughts.

  Shut up, Guardian.

  His eyes found mine again. “I don’t think I feel like answering your questions, Monad.” He turned to Etta and smiled. I noticed she blinked under the force of that smile and I felt better. But I recognized this as his exit line and wasn’t about to let that happen.

  Reaching out, I grabbed his wrist and twisted hard. His eyes widened as I bent his muscular arm around behind him and shoved him to the ground. I went with him, landing astride his back.

  Leaning down I placed my weapon at the base of his skull. “If I have to I’ll pull you between the layers with me. You’re not using that dust to escape me again, human.”

  “Thank you for saving me the trouble, Warrior.”

  My surprised gaze jerked upward to find Queen Tana, surrounded by what looked like half her court. All fully armed with crossbows and swords.

  “Your majesty. I appreciate that you have questions for this human, but I also must question him.”

  She stood straight and tall, her lithe form draped in a paper thin, silver material that molded her every curve and puddled softly on the ground. The dress covered her from throat to toes, while giving the appearance of not covering her at all. A belt of flowers draped her tiny waist, and encircled her shimmering silver hair. Her gaze never left Ian Lavelle as she nodded. “You will have your chance to question him, Warrior. And then I will hang him slowly…from our tallest tree.”

  Chapter Three

  Hanging Slowly

  Ian shared a long look with Queen Tana that had me wondering if there was more to her obvious anger than the fact that he’d intruded on her lands and stole her faery dust. I stepped back as two of her burliest guards grabbed my prisoner’s arms and yanked him to his feet.

  Ian grunted a bit as his arms were wrenched but landed on his feet with a smile. “Queen Tana. It’s very nice to see you.”

  Her bejeweled gaze could have formed ice from molten metal. “Save your charm for those who can be charmed, human. I have no use for it.”

  I glanced at Ian and was surprised to see his smile widen. But he simply lowered his head slightly in acquiescence.

  Etta and I fell into step behind the fairies as they headed back toward Tana’s castle.

  The wood grew thicker, livelier, and more magical as we headed into its center. Queen Tana ruled all of the fairies, elves, brownies, leprechauns, and sprites around the world. They were free to live wherever they pleased, but most of them lived in the Wood. They liked the camaraderie and security of living amongst their own, free from outside interference. And they thrived in the magic saturated atmosphere.

  In fact, the magic was so thick in the Wood that my skin tingled with it as we walked. I noticed that even Etta rubbed her arms and looked around as if expecting to be accosted by some winged creature at any moment.

  Guardians are simple carriers and dispensers of the light, the healing power of God. They are a kind of power repository. They don’t have their own magic, so they don’t mix well among those who do.

  While Monads are also creatures of the spirit, we have our own magic. We have to, in order to manage our charges in the magical world.

  After an hour of walking through the Wood, the trees became gradually thinner until we found ourselves walking under a burning mid-day sun on thick, fragrant green grass. The gates to Tana’s kingdom rose tall and magnificent in the near distance and I realized we’d reached the exact center of the wood, which encompassed several thousand acres of faery woodland. The forty foot tall mother of pearl gates swung slowly open as we approached and a perfect, double line of fairies astride the most beautiful Unicorns I had ever seen trotted out to provide an avenue for the queen to walk through. They held gently arching mother of pearl poles covered in vines thick with fragrant flowers over our heads to create an arbor for our passage.

  It was a welcome respite from the burning sun and the air beneath the vines was thick with the flowers’ sweet scent. Despite myself I was impressed.

  Directly in front of me, Ian Lavelle walked tall and straight, looking just like a faery in his tight breeches. His smooth, naked, brown back still looked as if it glowed with some inner light. I frowned at this. I was starting to suspect that Ian Lavelle was no ordinary human. But if that were true…then what was he?

  I barely had a chance to ponder this latest, startling thought before Queen Tana turned and signaled to the fairies holding Ian. They hauled him away from the rest of us, toward a rock wall in the distance.

  I picked up my pace until I walked beside the queen. “Where are they taking him?”

  “To the caves. You will get your chance to question him later.”

  I nodded. “I’d like to bring him his meal.”

  Her sharp gaze swung to me and I held it, refusing to give in to the incredible pull of her personal power. Finally she nodded, “As you wish, Warrior.”

  We reached the common area of the kingdom and she stopped, turning to Etta and me. “You will be given shelter here. I will see you tonight, at the feast.” She glanced at the faery beside me and the young woman bowed low.

  “Follow me please.” The young faery instructed in a soft, high pitched voice.

  I continued to look at Tana. “Feast?”

  She smiled, but it wasn’t a happy smile. “To celebrate the intruder’s capture. And his imminent death.”

  My mouth opened to say something…though I wasn’t sure what…but she turned away and left us standing there, her long, slender legs striding purposefully toward the golden p
alace in the distance.

  I shook my head and looked at Etta. Her eyebrows lifted but she said nothing. We would keep silent until we were sure we were alone. It was obvious we couldn’t allow the queen to follow her own timeline. Or Ian Lavelle would be dead before we’d discovered what we needed to discover. For some reason the queen was very unhappy with our charming human. The depth of her unhappiness seemed out of proportion to his crime. And while I knew Queen Tana to be a volatile and petulant ruler…I also knew that she was eminently fair. Which led me directly to the obvious question. What the hell had Ian Lavelle done to the faery queen…to make her hate him so?

  ~ ~*~ ~

  I pushed back the gauzy window cover and peered out. Queen Tana had left a guard behind to watch us. Etta and I had decided to communicate telepathically rather than risk being overheard in our planning.

  Is he still out there?

  I turned and nodded. I need to get to those caves.

  She frowned. They’ll be expecting you to go. I should be the one to go. They won’t expect me to try it, guardians aren’t exactly known for rule breaking.

  I knew she was right, but damn! If Etta gave him the potion he’d be stuck to her instead of me. I wasn’t sure why that bothered me but it did. Finally I did an inner shrug and told myself it was because I was a control freak. I needed to control everything around me or my skin started to itch.

  Un huh.

  I shook my head. I need to be the one to speak with him.

  Why? The angel disappeared before my very eyes and the monster was standing there. I was used to dealing with monster Etta, but it was still a little eerie to see her face go all purple and splotchy like that.

  Because the Council gave this task to me, not you.

  I was sent along to help.

  To help, yes. I’ll let you know when you can help me.

  There was a groan and a muffled thump outside and I flew to the door. It opened before I got there. Ian Lavelle sauntered in.