Awakening (Promiscus Guardians Book 1)

by Brianna West

  Guess that makes sense.

  Love knows no bounds, and all that crap.

  “So, this Lucas dude,” I began, pretending to be particularly interested in my cuticles, “he’s the one you say is after me. Because I have some kind of tremendous power? Or so you say.”

  Tristan smiled sadly. “I am afraid so. He will do anything to have you for his own, even going so far as to attempt to convince you he truly cares for you. Even possibly loves you.”

  “Seems like every bad villain in movies these days,” I laughed before sitting up straighter. “And you were sent to protect me? Like some kind of guardian angel? That seems a bit ironic. And funny,” I stated with a small giggle.

  My very own Guardian Angel. Cue the music!

  “As far-fetched as that sounds, yes. I am here to ensure that you are not taken by them,” Tristan stated before standing. “I imagine you must be hungry. We can speak more about it after you have eaten.”

  As much as I still felt on guard, I was starting to trust Tristan little by little. However, I still felt this deep feeling inside that there was something not right about what he was saying. It was an inkling of doubt that I couldn’t discard.

  --

  It had been nearly a week since I started to live with Tristan. Even though, he could be a real bastard sometimes, always with that handsome smile of his, he really looked out for me. He was teaching me about the world he lived in, showing me some of the things he, and even I, were capable of. I still didn’t really believe it; although, there was a very noticeable feeling that hadn’t been there before.

  I called in the Tristan locater. I could feel him wherever he went. The feeling was very heavy, and sometimes it left me weak and breathless. I wasn’t sure if it was because he had a great power, or if I wasn’t used to the feeling, but I was starting to recognize that it was supposedly one of my powers.

  Tristan told me that I mustn’t use my power, or I could be located. He said it was too dangerous to train me, even despite my begging him to. I wanted to protect myself, not be protected. As nice as Tristan was, he was odd at times.

  I noticed it a few days ago. One night, when he thought I had gone to bed, he slipped out of the house and built an odd sort of light barrier around the house. At first, I thought it was because he wanted to keep the others out; however, when I snuck out one night, I found that it was actually to keep me in. I couldn’t get past it, no matter what I tried.

  I spent the better part of my days attempting to remember what I had forgotten. There was this feeling inside of me that grew every day I was here—discontent. It felt like there was something really important I was forgetting. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t remember.

  --

  I collapsed onto the bed. Sir Knight had been gone for nearly an entire day. The bastard never told me where to.

  I was bored, and I was probably going to die from it if I didn’t act soon. I had managed to figure out how to use my powers; at least how to do that little ball thingy that Tristan showed me.

  It had been two weeks since I had come here. I was starting to wonder if I was being protected, or if I was being imprisoned.

  I sat up, snuck out of the house with a few backwards glances (I had seen it in an action movie once), and fled to where the barrier was.

  Okay. If I did this right, I might be able to do a small little orb thingy.

  I closed my eyes, focusing on my deep breathing. In and out. I opened my eyes and found that my little focus exercise had worked. There was a ball of gyrating lights in my hand, pulsating and levitating like something right out of a science fiction movie.

  Aw, it was such a cutie. My little sphere baby.

  I was awesome. I internally fist pumped.

  Licking my lips and saying a quick goodbye to my baby, I aimed the ball at the invisible barrier and hurled it like a baseball into the very faint light barricade.

  There was a burst of light before I saw the ‘hole’ in the barrier. It was more like an unaffected area where my orb had cut through.

  I crawled through, careful not to touch the areas still affected by the barrier.

  Home free!

  I jumped like it was the ending credits of some lame teen movie before running at top speed. I had no idea where this new endurance for running came from, but I wasn’t complaining.

  I might actually start to like running now.

  There was a sharp pain in my side. Nope, I take that back. I huffed through the pain and continued forwards.

  I could feel the heavy pulse, beckoning me forward and towards it; it was very close by. I couldn’t quite tell who it was since the pulse was very different from what I felt with Tristan, but something drew me towards it.

  Like a moth to a flame. I ran towards it, abandoning thought and hesitation. It just felt like I needed to go there.

  I ran for what felt like hours. I navigated through a labyrinth of trees and brush. I sailed through high-grasses and crunchy fallen leaves. I ran like I never knew I could run before. I ran forever.

  My old gym teacher would have been jumping for joy if she could see me now.

  Suddenly, the pulse were close. I stopped, breathing hard as I did and turned full circle to assess the area around me. The night air bit at my exposed arms and legs, causing my limbs become numb.

  I felt him. I turned and watched as a body slid through a joining of trees. The body was massive, probably over six-feet tall. Long hair, about shoulder length accompanied a body built of strength. Glistening eyes regarded me at first with interest, and then with surprise.

  “Izzy?” the voice called.

  “How do you know my name?” I asked, horrified.

  Fear pitted. I took a step backwards.

  “It is me, Izzy.” The large man came forward, the moonlight catching him and illuminating his gorgeous features.

  Holy hell, he was freaking amazing. Drop-dead gorgeous. Like some sort of handsome pirate captain, he stood all rugged and handsome against the moonlit background.

  Well, shiver me timbers.

  I tilted my head with interest. “Who is me?”

  The gorgeous pirate captain stalled a few feet from me, allowing me a longer look at his breeches.

  His jaw worked for a moment before he replied, “Lucas.”

  Holy hell.

  My breath caught in my throat.

  Dammit, Izzy! I ran right to the devil himself.

  I took another few steps back. “Lucas…”

  “Izzy,” he called as he attempted to come nearer.

  Dammit. I had to go and leave the barrier. This was probably why Tristan put it up.

  “Stay back,” I called out desperately, collecting whatever I could in my palms. It flashed in and out of existence. “Dammit!”

  I looked up at the pirate captain as he froze where he stood.

  “Izzy, it is me,” he repeated, a bit breathlessly. “Why are you running?”

  My powers were failing me. I threw my hands up, as if in surrender, and Lucas watched me as if he couldn’t comprehend the reasoning for my actions.

  Well, that was odd.

  Even so, I wasn’t going to stay around to find out why. I darted off to the side, making it about a hundred feet or so before I was scooped up with ease. I fought the hold, hitting and kicking the captain until I was weak with exhaustion.

  “Let go of me, you bastard. I won’t let you use me to do your bidding,” I screamed, voice harsh with fatigue.

  “Bidding? Izzy, are you well? Why are you acting as if you do not recognize me?” his voice was soft, as if affected by fatigue himself. “Izzy, I have searched—“

  “I know!” I growled, pulling away from his as much as I could.

  Was this dude made of steel?

  Holy hell.

  “We do not have time,” he whispered before we were moving so quickly that my head flew back and painted against his chest.

  My eyes barely followed as we moved through the surroundings at the speed
of freaking light. My entire body was heavy with the force of wind that pushed into me.

  Suddenly, he stopped, and if he hadn’t been holding me, I would have surely collided hard with the earth. Instead, I was dizzy and barely able to see my surroundings as a result of the time-travel we just accomplished.

  I wonder if he took me back to the fifties. Maybe even the sixties. At the speed we were going, I would be in no way surprised if he had, in fact, time-traveled.

  “How did I know you would come sooner or later?” a voice I recognized called out.

  Oh, thank god.

  I turned to find Tristan blocking our path. “Return her,” he demanded, a soft gaze directed at me. I smiled and nodded.

  The arms around me tightened. “Over my dead body.”

  “Izzy,” Tristan called. “Do you want to stay with him?”

  What kind of back-asswards question was that? Was that Tristan’s idea of a bad joke?

  I shook my head despite my internal need to shout at Tristan for being a jerk.

  Bloody bastard was going to get me kidnapped.

  “It doesn’t seem the lady wants to go with you,” Tristan mused with a sweet smile. “Best give her back.”

  “You are a bloody fool if you think I would willingly give her to you,” Lucas growled while holding me tightly against himself.

  “Let. Me. Go,” I demanded, pushing with all the strength I could muster.

  Lucas looked down, momentarily stunned, and nearly dropped me in the process. “Izzy, what has gotten into you?” he demanded with a look of pure disbelief.

  I used this opportunity to throw myself from him, flying through the air, and luckily being easily caught by Tristan.

  Well, seems I had some heroic moves when I needed them.

  Lucas came towards us, snarling like some sort of beast. “Izzy,” he growled. “What the bloody hell are you doing?”

  I watched him, momentarily stunned by the magnitude of his anger.

  Something inside me desired to return to him. I wasn’t sure where this new feeling was stemming from—probably his unbelievable good looks—but I wasn’t about to sign my death warrant because of it.

  I shook my head defiantly. “Over my dead body,” I responded, throwing his own words at him. “I’m not sure what has you so hell-bent on having me, but I won’t go willingly.”

  “You heard the lady,” Tristan said with a smile that almost looked evil.

  I watched the peculiar show of pride on Tristan’s face before I turned to find Lucas attempting to steal me back. Tristan easily dodged the attack, maneuvering into the sky and out of Lucas’ reach. I breathed a sigh of relief as we sliced through the air and out of range.

  “Naughty, naughty,” I heard Tristan say as we flew past what had been my home for the last few weeks. “Figured out your power and broke through my barrier. That is very like you, Izzy.”

  “Glad you approve,” I responded sarcastically. “And it almost got me killed.”

  “As long as you have learned your lesson, dear.” Tristan leaned right and sailed over the open and vast ocean leisurely. “A bit ahead of schedule, but I have just the place to take you.”

  “Hopefully somewhere far from that crazy pirate,” I quipped as I watched the water beneath us ripple and crash against itself.

  Tristan chuckled lightly. “He is a very efficient tracker,” Tristan stated with a small smile. “However, after that meeting, I have a suspect there will be a slight feeling of discouragement.”

  I quirked a brow. Tristan fancied himself a riddler. Half the time, I didn’t know what he was going on about.

  “Oh?” I asked, hoping he’d explain further.

  Tristan usually did. The man liked the sound of his own voice.

  “No matter,” Tristan said dismissively. “I have plans for our next run in with Lucas.”

  Or not.

  I sighed with frustration. Once more securing my hold around him, I watching the world pass us by.

  --

  I was brought to an unassuming building that looked many years past its prime. The windows were caked with dust, doors bleeding rust, and ground broken and uneven. Tristan easily entered one of the side doors, and I was suddenly surrounded by the sounds of heavy machinery.

  The place looked like an industrial plant.

  Heavy smoke and hissing pipes were below the bridge-like walkway, which creaked and swayed as we walked. I held a bit too tightly to the bars, my fear of heights surfacing with every step.

  Dear lord, this was high up.

  “Are you quite alright?” Tristan asked with a small, knowing smirk.

  Bastard.

  “Just dandy,” I snapped, hands tightening as I took another few steps. “Lovely place you have here.”

  “Only the best for you, Izzy,” he sang.

  “Har, har,” I croaked as my hand slipped slightly.

  I regained my composure and managed to make it to the other side relatively unscathed.

  It seemed an odd place for an angel to stay. There was a growing unease inside as I followed him down dark, damp hallways to a wide room filled with men and women dressed in all black. Black wasn’t usually what one associated angels with, but I was hardly the expert when it came to such things.

  “Sir,” one greeted, bowing before looking at me. “I see you were able to retrieve the girl.”

  “Nice to meet you, too,” I greeted with a smug grin.

  The small man regarded me with a dark look before once more addressing Tristan.

  Well, that was rude. Hopefully they weren’t all this unwelcoming.

  “Have you infiltrated their headquarters,” Tristan asked, following after the man as he led to a large holographic image of a building compound.

  There were blueprints and descriptions of every room. I was able to look at it briefly—getting a sense of déjà vu when I did—before the image disappeared.

  “We have been unable to,” the man disclosed with a scowl. “However, I think with a little more information, I can get us inside.”

  Tristan’s eyes looked at the man with an expression that caused my skin to crawl. It was very dark; dark enough that I almost questioned how he could be an angel with expressions like that.

  However, the look disappeared as he nodded and smiled. “Of course. Good work. I will speak with you in more detail later.”

  If I wasn’t mistaken, it almost looked like the small man cringed with these words. I watched as he bowed and returned to the table he had been when we entered.

  Tristan led me through the room to a door at the far end. “Living quarters are just beyond this door. You will be quite safe here. I fear there is work that I must do. Do not leave your room until I give you permission; this is for your safety, Izzy.”

  My safety really felt like imprisonment lately.

  However, I had run out of the protective barrier, and then straight into the arms of my enemy. Tristan had a right to be strict with me. Even if I didn’t like it.

  Sighing, I nodded and walked through the door and down the hallway. There was a door open, obviously for me, and I laid on the bed with another deep sigh.

  Life really sucked sometimes. I missed Nattie. I wanted to go home.

  --

  I woke to a sudden explosion that shook my bed and caused my walls to creak and groan in protest.

  Throwing my feet over the side of the bed, I desperately ran towards the door. I pulled the handle of the door, only to find it locked from the outside.

  Why the hell did they lock it?!

  Jerks.

  Like I would really try to escape again.

  My hands trembled as another earth-shattering shake caused my body to sway to and fro. I held the door knob, secretly thanking it for not being some shitty door knob and letting me fall to the floor when it comically broke for a cheap laugh.

  Closing my eyes, I focused my energy on the knob, surprising myself—and the knob, no doubt—when it gave, and the door flew open.
/>   Hell yeah! I had super powers. I was unstoppable.

  I attempted to leave, but tripped over a crack in the floor, causing my knees to collide with hard cement and shooting pain to spread through my legs.

  I could hear men barking orders. Cracks and loud thuds echoed down the corridors as they fought whoever had broken into the compound.

  I stood up, limping when my knees protested the movement, and panted against the wall. Slowly, I walked down the length of the hallway, looking like some badly casted heroine in an under budgeted action movie.

  Even my fantasies wouldn’t let me costar with Bruce Willis.

  Cracks splintered out from the walls and floor as another explosion shook the entire corridor and floor beneath my feet.

  Holy hell. This was getting real.

  I closed my eyes and bit my lip. I could try to escape, but whatever was out there was giving these trained Joes a run for their money. I doubt I could escape so easily.

  “Izzy!” someone called.

  I turned towards the voice. A large man with blonde hair that flew around his face in a dazzlingly messy way ran towards me. His body was as large as Tristan’s, quite the feat indeed. It was taut with muscle, which was masked only by black, skin-tight clothing. His blue eyes were striking. They took me in with such gentleness and welcome that I nearly found myself running to him as a result.

  I would have married this beautiful man if I wasn’t so preoccupied with my imposing death.

  “Who are you?” I questioned.

  The man tilted his head to the side like some sort of large puppy dog.

  Dammit, it was adorable.

  “Who am I?” He asked, obviously mystified by something.

  Poor thing was stupid. At least he was handsome.

  I detected the Russian accent, so I figured he was probably also not familiar with the language.

  “Um, I don’t speak Russian,” I offered lamely. “I am Izzy,” I said, pointing to myself and saying the words slowly. “Who are you?” I asked while pointing to him.

  The man threw his head back, barking out laughter. “It’s just like you to play jokes at a time like this, you saucy minx. Come on then.” He came forward, offering me his hand like he expected me to take it. “Oh, come on. We have to go. Lucas has Tristan occupied. He asked that I get you out of here.”