The Guardians Crown (The Guardians Book 5)

by Owens, Wendy

  “He stopped wailing, I guess that’s good. He’s been standing out there for a while. I can’t bring myself to go talk to him,” Haim replied, “It’s weird, you know? We all loved Sophie, but Uri … she was like a sister to him.”

  “I know,” Gabe added softly. He knew exactly what Haim meant. No matter what was in Gabe and Sophie’s history, or how he felt about her, it paled in comparison to the bond between her and Uri.

  Patting Haim on the arm, Gabe stepped off the small porch, crossing in front of Sophie’s body. He made his way to Uri’s side. Seeing him approach, Sera turned and walked away with a smile, giving them an opportunity to talk.

  “Hey man,” Gabe spoke solemnly, coming to rest against a nearby tree that was three times rounder than he. “How are you doing?”

  Uri glanced over at his friend and then back out at the empty forest. Gabe noticed his eyes were sunken and bloodshot, his skin pale and clammy. “How do you think I’m doing?” he groaned, his voice cracking as he spoke.

  “I know …” Gabe said, “I still can’t believe she’s gone.”

  “Do you have a baby yet?” Uri asked, wanting to avoid the discussion of Sophie’s corpse.

  “Not yet, apparently the kid’s a stubborn one,” Gabe said, preparing for the apple not falling too far from the tree jokes. But Uri said nothing, just continued staring straight ahead.

  A silence lingered between them for sometime. Gabe thought of a dozen things to say, but none seemed right. Uri looked Gabe over, his gaze empty. Gabe feared Sophie’s death would lead to his friend’s recklessness and ultimate demise. He couldn’t share that with him though, he could only think it, and worry. Instead Gabe said the only thing he could think of that might comfort Uri.

  “Sera’s going to need you more than ever now.”

  Uri looked away again, he seemed annoyed by the comment, “Sera’s never needed anyone in her entire life.”

  “Fine, then I need you,” Gabe said. He didn’t even remember thinking the words; they just came out of his mouth.

  Uri still didn’t look at him. “I’m going to take Sophie’s body to Michael. He’d want me to do that.”

  Gabe shook his head. The idea made no sense to him, “We haven’t heard from him in months, we’re not even sure where he is on the battlefield. I think we should burry her here.”

  At last, Uri turned his head, locking his eyes on him, but it made Gabe wish Uri would look away again. There was utter contempt on his face. He was disgusted that Gabe could even suggest such a thing. “Sophie won’t be buried in the place you fell in love with Rachel. She’ll go home, and be buried with family.”

  Though Uri’s words stung, Gabe swallowed hard, and attempted to remain understanding. He knew this was the grief talking and not his friend. “You do what you think’s best. It’s safer for Sera to stay here with us until you return, though.”

  “Whatever,” Uri said coldly.

  Gabe turned to walk away, it was obvious to him Uri didn’t want him anywhere near him at the moment. After a few steps, he hesitated and turned one last time, saying, “We all loved her. Sophie gave her life to save my wife and child. Don’t think you’re the only one hurting. We’re all going to miss her.”

  And with those words Gabe was gone, not waiting for a response from his friend, unsure if Uri would even offer one.

  “Gabe!” Dina shouted from the open doorway, “It’s time!”

  He bounded into the cabin at full speed, pushing the door closed behind him. Looking at his wife, who was now drenched in sweat, he quickly asked, “What do I do?”

  “Hold her hand,” Dina instructed.

  Rushing to Rachel’s side, he scooped her hand up into his, their fingers intertwining. With his other hand he wiped away the damp hair that was plastered to her brow.

  Closing her eyes, Rachel focused on the sound of her own breathing, first shallow, then labored. The stabbing pains of another contraction overtaking her, she squeezed Gabe’s hand.

  “That’s it Rachel,” Dina coached. “Push.”

  Gritting her teeth, tightening the grip of her free hand on the bed linens, Rachel pushed through the searing pains. The sweat now pouring from her body, the contraction passed and Rachel used the calm to find her breath.

  “You’re doing great, baby,” Gabe encouraged her, staring into his wife’s eyes.

  “I can see the head Rachel, we’re almost there. I know you’re tired, but with the next contraction I want you to give it all you’ve got,” Dina instructed.

  Rachel nodded in response, attempting to conserve her energy. She wondered how she could possibly push anymore, her body already felt like it was on the brink, preparing to give up on her at any moment.

  The next surge of pain came on like a tidal wave. It crashed into her pelvis and she shuddered from the onset, but then bore down and focused on her job. She was about to bring a child into this world; she was going to be a mother. Pain was no longer a factor.

  She lifted her butt slightly off the bed, pressing down with her upper back and shoulders, folding her body in half she pushed until her face turned from bright red to purple.

  “Remember to breath Rachel,” Gabe reminded his wife, lovingly.

  But she didn’t hear him, all she could think about was pushing this child free from within her. She told herself if she pushed long enough, hard enough, all of this would soon be over.

  “The head’s out and you’re doing beautifully Rachel, just one …” Dina begins but is interrupted as the baby falls into her hands with a gush.

  Dina quickly turns the baby onto its stomach, tapping it firmly on its back, until it cries. Gabe peered down over his wife’s bent legs, a flood of emotions overtaking him, unlike any he had ever known. Through tear filled eyes he cried, “It’s a boy, baby, we have a boy.”

  Rachel sighed a breath of relief as she reached out for her child. Her face contorted into an expression that can only be described as pure joy. Tugging slightly on the cord, Dina placed the child into his mother’s arms.

  His fists shook wildly in the air, his cries filled the cabin, and it was the sweetest sound his parents had ever heard. Gabe watched in awe as his son twisted in his mother’s arms. A peace fell over them and briefly he thought of Sophie, mouthing a thank you as he did.

  Gabe held his son, freshly cleaned, his wife resting beside them. He gently laid one hand on her shoulder, the other cradling their newborn. “What are we going to name him?”

  “I was thinking about that,” Rachel began, her voice a whisper. “Michael has been such an influence in your life, how do you feel about naming him Micah?”

  “Hmm ...” Gabe pondered the suggestion. Looking over at Dina who was still busying herself with cleaning up, an idea came to him. “How about Micah Raimie Harwood?”

  “Sounds perfect to me,” Rachel answered. “How about you little guy, do you like that name?”

  Gabe saw a smile come over Dina as she continued with her work, at last breaking her silence she asked, “You know their all dying out there to know what’s happening, right? Do you want to share the news or shall I?”

  Gabe looked to Rachel, “Do you mind if I take him out to meet everyone?”

  Shaking her head, she told him to go ahead, and that she was in great need of a nap. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to her forehead, and then stood, now wrapping his other arm around his son.

  Pulling the door open with his foot, he stepped out onto the porch. Much to his surprise, even Uri stood nearby, waiting for the news.

  “It’s a boy,” Gabe said. Sera, Uri, and Haim looked on eagerly as Gabe tilted Micah towards them.

  “He’s beautiful, Gabe,” Sera commented, placing a hand on the small of Gabe’s back before stepping to one side and allowing Uri to approach.

  Haim loudly congratulated him, and then quickly inquired how Rachel was doing.

  “Good,” Gabe replied. “She’s resting now. If anyone deserves it, she does.”

  Gabe looked ove
r at Uri, who said nothing, only stared at Gabe’s son’s face, who was staring right back, a slight scowl as his expression.

  “Micah apparently finds you fascinating,” Gabe remarked, with a small laugh.

  “Micah?” Uri inquired.

  With a nod Gabe confirmed, “Micah Raimie Harwood.”

  “He’s perfect,” Uri added softly, his voice trembling. Gabe was a little shocked by his friend’s reaction.

  “Are you all right?” he inquired.

  “Yeah, I’ve never been this sad and this happy all in one day,” Uri replied, then pressed his lips tightly together in an attempt to smile.

  “I know what you mean. It doesn’t feel right without her here to share it with us. But at the same time I’ve never experienced so much joy from any other event in my life. He’s amazing. He presses his lips together and I’m in awe. He grips my finger and my chest literally aches.”

  “And that’s a good thing?” Haim asked over Gabe’s shoulder.

  “It’s indescribable. Of course now all I can think about is how can I possibly ever keep him safe,” Gabe revealed.

  “We will,” Uri stated flatly. “Sophie thought he was worth dying for. We have to save him.”

  Suddenly Micah burst out into a fit of sobs.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Uri quickly asked.

  “I don’t know, this bouncing thing seems to work,” Gabe replied nervously.

  From the doorway behind them, Dina stepped out and instructed him, “He’s hungry. Give him to me and I’ll take him to mommy.”

  “Gross,” Sera mumbled.

  Uri smiled briefly.

  Gabe walked past his friends, into the clearing, coming to a stop just in front of Sophie’s body. He looked up through the trees. The mist was now all burned off under the morning sun, and streams of light were finding their way through the trees. He felt the hair on his arms stand straight up, closing his eyes he whispered, “What am I going to do?”

  Nobody approached him, they just watched from afar, wondering what he was thinking. When Gabe opened his eyes the green canopy overhead was spinning, and he could feel his stomach twisting and turning, a tear then escaping, and rolling down his cheek.

  Though his son was just born, and only moments ago he felt like he was overflowing with happiness, in an instant he felt something completely different. Desperation. He loved Rachel, and he would have done anything to keep her safe, but now that he had held their son in his arms, he suddenly felt inadequate. He wished he understood the prophecy better. If his death would mean their safety that was a price he was willing to pay. But how? If he were not there to keep them safe, who could? Sophie tried to save his family and look what happened to her.

  Gabe collapsed at Sophie’s side, gripping the blanket that covered her; he let out a blood-curdling cry. Still none of his friends moved, instead they watched in silence. “Why?” Gabe screamed. The raw emotions he was experiencing were not as simple as they appeared to onlookers.

  What Gabe was truly asking was why him? He was born into a life that was full of death? Why his parents? Why his friends, one after the next? Why give him a son who he can’t protect? Why make him live a life void of hope?

  Gabe fell forward, his body lying across Sophie’s now stiff corpse. His chest heaved as he released himself into a frenzied fit. The rawness cut through him like knife, searing his flesh. The pain was literally burning.

  Before Gabe realized what was happening, he could feel two large hands on his upper arms, pulling him back, away from Sophie’s body. Looking up he saw Uri’s face. His sad expression wasn’t confused like the others around him. Instead, Uri’s was a look of understanding and recognition. Uri knew the pain and most of all the desperation Gabe felt, because he felt some sense of it, too.

  With a single hand, he helped Gabe to his feet. Gabe used the back of his sleeve to dry his cheeks. With a deep breath Gabe attempts to regain his composure.

  “I’m going to go with you to find Michael,” Gabe stated.

  “What? No,” Uri replied shaking his head. “You have to stay here with Micah and Rachel. They need you.”

  “No, I’ll help you take Sophie’s body back to him,” Gabe insisted. “Haim, Dina, and Sera can watch over them until we return. We’ll prepare the valley, set up the alarms like I had once had them. They’ll have plenty of warning if by chance Baal still checks this valley on his patrols.”

  “But why?” Uri asked.

  “I need to do this for Sophie, and for myself,” Gabe explained. “Michael understands the prophecy and what I have to do in order to save my family. The only way that Sophie won’t die in vain is if I can figure out a way to save them.”

  “If you’re sure,” Uri replied.

  “I am,” Gabe replied. “And I know how we’re going to find him.”

  “What? How?”

  Gabe pulled the blood stone charm from his pocket, dangling it from a chain. Years ago, Michael had given him that charm as a summoning link, if Gabe were ever in danger Michael would find him through that. It was with that bloodstone he found Gabe on the beach, as a boy, just before Anthony was going to kill Gabe. It was with that stone Gabe found Michael in the dark forest when he had been captured. And it was with that stone he would now bring the girl back to him who had been as a daughter to Michael.

  Gabe’s heart grew heavy. To be the one to show Michael what this war had done to the little girl he had loved so dearly was going to be extremely difficult. It pained him. He just hoped, through it all, Michael might hold the answers he needed, and Gabe might finally be able to give his wife and child a little piece of hope he never managed to find.

  The night approached and Gabe knew he must tell his beloved wife and son farewell. Standing in the doorway, he peered in at her, marveling at her beauty. He watched as she spoke to their son, dancing her fingertips across his belly. She stopped, suddenly realizing she’s being watched.

  She smiled, “You’re ready?” she asked.

  Each and every day he spends with her, he’s more awe struck by her. When she learned of his plan to help Uri return Sophie’s body, she didn’t lash out, she didn’t plead with him to stay, she simply smiled and softly, said she understood and to be careful. He was sure she was why he had been put here, on earth.

  “I’m afraid so,” Gabe replied.

  “You’ll be back with us before you know it,” Rachel said offering an extended hand.

  Gabe stepped forward, and walking to her side squeezed her hand gently.

  “You, little one,” Gabe instructed, poking a large, round finger into his son’s chest, “Listen to your mother while I’m gone, and let her get some sleep, all right?”

  Micah cooed in response.

  “I love you,” Gabe added looking at both of them.

  “Say, ‘we love you too daddy,’” Rachel replied, lifting Micah’s arm as if he were waving.

  Gabe’s eyes filled with water, but he pushed the tears back with a little laughter. “We better go. Finding him with cover of night will be best.”

  Rachel nodded. Then Gabe did one of the hardest things he had ever done, he turned and walked away from his family.

  Stopping and bracing himself against one of the posts of the porch, Haim slapped him on the back before stating, “I promise, I won’t let anything happen to them.”

  “I know you won’t,” Gabe added, and then made his way to Sophie’s body, where Uri already waited, Sera, leaning in for one last kiss.

  “Be careful you two,” Sera warned.

  Uri crouched, and scooped Sophie’s body up into his arms, ensuring the blanket was still covering her. He prepared himself for the transportation. Gabe pulled the bloodstone once again from his pocket. Running his fingers across it repeatedly he asked Uri, “You ready for this?”

  “Does it matter if I’m not?” Uri replied.

  “No, not really,” Gabe answered, reaching out and taking a firm grip on Uri’s arm. Using the charm to track as they transported
was different than what the boys were used to. They lingered in the in between, the distorted reality starting to take more of an effect on their senses.

  When at last they arrived at their destination, Gabe thought he might actually vomit, but then managed to suppress the urge.

  “You all right?” he asked, looking at Uri who stumbled back a couple steps, struggling to hold on to Sophie’s body.

  “Fine,” he replied, shaking it off.

  Looking around, Gabe saw a vast campsite around them, military in nature. As far as his eye could see were rows upon rows of tents. A large part of the grounds were lit by torchlight and campfires.

  With an elbow to Gabe’s side, Uri motioned towards the large tent across the path in front of them, “The flag.”

  Gabe peered at it for a moment, watching it snap and twist in the wind, it was the crest of Rampart. They all wore rings that bore the same symbol, a symbol that signified they were a force, uniting against evil. On the flag was a dagger through a snake that was wrapped around a tree.

  “You think he’s in there?” Gabe asked.

  “We used the stone and that’s our mark, what do you think?” Uri grumbled.

  “All right, no need to get snippy,” Gabe replied.

  “Sorry, I’m just not looking forward to this,” Uri stated, shifting Sophie’s weight in his arms.

  “Hey!” a distant soldier shouted. “Hey you there, stop!”

  “Let’s go!” Uri shouted, moving as quickly he could across the path towards the oversized tent ahead of them.

  “I said stop!” The man shouted again before blowing a whistle.

  Just as Gabe reached the opening of the tent, Michael emerged, trying to figure out what all the noise was about.

  Uri fell to one knee in an effort not to drop Sophie.

  The one guard arrived at the tent as well and was now accompanied by three more. “I’m sorry sir, I tried to stop them.”

  Uri looked up from the ground and remarked, “You gotta get better security.”