The Protectors: Book 1 in the Protectors Saga

by Paige Dooling

  Gumptin continued down the overgrown path for over a mile before he finally reached his destination. It was a large pool of crystal clear water, surrounded by a wall of opalescent rock. It was beautiful, but there was nothing particularly magic about it, that is, until Gumptin reached into one of the pouches tied around his belt and pulled out a handful of white powder. The powder was made of ground up crystals, snake scales, sand, and five tears from a broken heart; it was a common summoning powder.

  He threw the powder into the pool and recited the words, “Deax ploria avu Domuvita Elementia!”

  A few seconds later, the water in the pool shot straight up into the air in one long stream, and came crashing back down, but instead of landing back into the empty pool, it stayed hovered a few feet above it. Gumptin watched as the water began to move and churn, until it took on the shape of six figures, three female and three male, all made out of water, except for their eyes which glowed a pale shade of blue.

  “Gumptin the Wizard,” spoke one of the female figures in a watery almost songlike voice, “why have you summoned us here?”

  Gumptin gave a small bow of respect to the Elementals before he began, “The Protectors have been killed.”

  “We are already aware of this information.” Said one of the males in the same sing-song voice, “Tell us what it is you summoned us for.”

  Gumptin swallowed hard, “I am asking for you to bring them back using the Spell of Rebirth. They have been dead for less than twenty-four hours, which is the only requirement, and I know you have the power to do it.”

  There was silence and for a horrifying moment Gumptin thought that they might simply decide to leave without dealing with him anymore.

  Finally, the first female spoke, “Gumptin, that is a spell that hasn’t been done in thousands of years,” she blinked her pale eyes and tilted her head towards Gumptin, “and for good reason.”

  “But this planet needs the Protectors!” Gumptin pleaded, “The Emperor grows stronger every day, and without them there is almost no chance of stopping him. They are too important to let die!”

  This time, another male spoke, “We created the Protectors, Gumptin, we know of their importance. However, they were mortals and mortals die. It is fate that decides when.”

  “Then change their fate!” Gumptin shouted. These girls weren’t just his students; they had become his family, and he wasn’t going to leave without getting them back, “If anyone deserves a second chance it is them. They have done nothing but fight for the greater good all of their lives. They devoted their lives to the burden that you placed upon them, and yes,” Gumptin spoke quickly before the Elementals could protest, “it was a burden…you know it was. They deserve a second chance.”

  The male was about to speak again, but the first female held up her hand to silence him and spoke instead, “What you are asking is not lightly done. You are asking us to affect life and death, the natural order of things.”

  Gumptin started to speak, but this time the female held up her hand to silence him.

  She continued, “The Inamri Ancients cast a spell not very long ago, a dark and extremely powerful spell, a spell that will have dangerous repercussions, a spell that could very well tip the balance in evil’s favor forever. We were going to take the Inamri to the Council of Ancients and have their spell revoked. However, if we do this, if we bring the Protectors back, we lose all authority to challenge the Inamri. Whatever they did will remain done.”

  Gumptin knew the Inamri were the darkest of the Ancients. Above all the others they desired power, not balance, and unfortunately, power could usually be obtained through evil.

  “What spell did the Inamri cast?” Gumptin asked.

  All six Elementals shook their heads, “We have told you all we can. Now, you must choose.”

  Gumptin knew it should have taken him longer to decide, being a Wizard dedicated to fighting for good, but weighing one dangerous spell against the Protector’s lives was no choice for him, “I want you to bring them back.”

  All six water figures merged together as one, forming one large ball of water that glimmered the same pale blue color as their eyes. They stayed in that glowing ball of water for almost a minute. Then, when they emerged back into their human water forms, five of them, all except for the female who seemed to be in charge, were holding radiantly glowing orbs the size of a peach in their hand.

  “We have collected the Protector’s souls.” The female told Gumptin.

  Gumptin gasped and fell backwards a step, focusing on the fact that he was actually staring at the Protectors.

  “Souls remain in the atmosphere for twenty-four hours before they move on.” The main female Elemental informed Gumptin, “That is why the spell must be performed within a day of the individual’s death.”

  “So, you shall do the spell?” Gumptin asked, barely able to breathe from excitement.

  “Yes,” she answered, “the souls will be placed back into the mothers of the Protectors to be reborn. They will then be sent through the Ora Gateway.”

  “What?” Gumptin exhaled weakly.

  Being a Wizard, Gumptin of course knew about the Gateways. There were thousands of them spread across the universe, and they always came in pairs, one on one planet and its twin on a separate planet. They were, just as their name suggested, gateways, or doors, from one planet to another. They allowed an individual to step through a door on one planet, travel through space in a matter of seconds, and exit through the other door on whatever planet it’s located. There were five different gateways scattered across their planet of Orcatia, but no one outside of the magic folk knew where they were located, or to which planets the Gateway’s connected. Gumptin, as part of the magic community, knew that the Ora Gateway was located only a few miles from the Protector’s village and that it connected to a planet called Earth.

  “Why would you send them through a Gateway?” Gumptin asked, not liking the idea of the Protector’s on another planet.

  “There are many reasons, Gumptin.” The Elemental answered, “Foremost, this planet cannot wait years for the Protectors to be born and grow up. It would be pointless to bring them back if that were the case. We can manipulate the Gateways. As we send them through space, we can also send them through time. We will send them back in time sixteen years to the planet Earth. There, they will grow up, and when they reach the age they were when they died, you will go and collect them. We will come to you when it is time. Only a few days shall go by here on Orcatia. Because they will be born on Earth, they will age at the normal rate. However, their parents, being born Orcatian, will not be able to age on Earth. Make sure you tell them this.”

  Gumptin thought about that for a moment. He had been so wrapped up in bringing the Protectors back to life he hadn’t really stopped to think about them being re-born or growing up. His head began to ache. He tried to think of a way around the Gateway and sending them to the past, but he came up with nothing. In the end, Gumptin realized that he had no choice but to do it the Elementals way.

  “There is one more thing you should know.” The Elemental bowed her head in a way that left Gumptin nervous to hear the rest of what she was about to tell him. “There are certain consequences that come with doing a spell this powerful.”

  “What kind of consequences?” Gumptin asked feeling disheartened.

  The Elemental lifted her head, “With the Spell of Rebirth, those being reborn are born without their memories.”

  Gumptin felt the blood drain from his face. Apart from being told that the Protectors would have to stay dead, he couldn’t imagine hearing worse words coming out of the Elementals mouths.

  “For how long?” he asked, “Will they regain any of their memories?”

  “Over time they might reclaim a very small amount of their memories,” The Elemental answered honestly, “but they will never remember everything.”

  Gumptin nodded his head; there was nothing else he could do. If this was the price for getting the P
rotectors back alive, he couldn’t argue against it.

  The five Elementals that held the Protectors souls began to mold back together into the giant water ball.

  “Go,” the last Elemental told Gumptin, “prepare the parents; we will meet you at the Ora Gateway in three hours.”

  When she finished speaking the female Elemental merged into the water with the others. They remained swirling around for a few seconds before vanishing in a bright explosion. The remaining water fell back into the pool and Gumptin watched the water still, as if nothing had happened.

  Gumptin walked back to the village at a much slower pace than he had used to reach the Elementals. He was lost in thought, mulling over everything that had just been discussed. On one hand, he was relieved; the Protectors were being given a second chance. They would be brought to life and Gumptin couldn’t be anything but overjoyed by that, but there were aspects of them being re-born that left him uneasy. They were going to be growing up on a distant planet, with no memory of ever being a Protector. He could only hope that when the time came for them to return to Orcatia they would be able to step back into the role of a warrior.

  When Gumptin returned to the village he found the villagers, who were in a panic.

  Apparently, when the Elementals had taken the Protector’s souls, their bodies had turned to dust, leaving the parents in a state of hysteria.

  Gumptin quieted them down and explained to the villagers everything that the Elementals had told him. Slowly, the parents began to calm down and take in everything he was saying.

  “So,” Sasha’s mother choked, “you’re telling us they’re going to be alright?”

  Gumptin nodded and the whole village seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

  The parents were more than willing to do what the Elementals had asked of them, travel to Earth and raise their children all over again for sixteen years; that was nothing to them.

  The parents and Gumptin left the village immediately to go meet the Elementals at the Gateway. It wasn’t a very long walk, less than an hour, even following Gumptin who wasn’t the fastest of walkers.

  Their destination was at the end of a small dirt path, which lay a mile down the main road; it opened up into a small clearing about ten feet around, surrounded by dense overgrown trees. At the far end of the clearing were two exceptionally large oak trees, only a few feet apart and out of place from the other trees.

  Gumptin picked up a small rock and threw it between the trees. The parents heard it land somewhere in the thicket of the forest.

  Gumptin picked up a second small rock, but this time before throwing it between the trees he spoke the words, “Ora Gateway.”

  There was a small charge that went off between the trees, like a miniature lightning strike. When Gumptin threw the stone, the space between the trees rippled as if someone had thrown a pebble into a pool of water. This time the stone didn’t land on the other side; it disappeared completely.

  Gumptin turned to the parents, “That stone is lying somewhere on Earth now. That is how the Gateway works; you have to name it. Once you say its name, it stays open for approximately ten minutes.”

  “You, however, will not need to use the Gateway once you travel to Earth.” The ethereal voice came from behind Gumptin and the parents.

  They all turned to see six figures, human in appearance, but made up of what looked like smoke and dust, although, they still had their gleaming pale blue eyes. Five of the Elementals were still holding the glowing souls.

  The Elementals addressed the parents, the main female speaking for the group, “We will send you all to the planet Earth, with your children’s souls. Once there, we will provide you with a place to live and a means to support yourselves. You will have normal lives and raise your children as normal girls.” The Elemental gave the parents a penetrating gaze, “Never speak of this planet or who they really are. You will not use the Ora Gateway to travel back to Orcatia until Gumptin comes to retrieve you; do you understand?” She waited for each of the parents to tell her they understood, before asking, “Are there any questions?”

  The parents only wanted their children back alive and were willing to do whatever the Elementals demanded of them. The parents shook their heads and the five Elementals holding the souls walked forward towards the mothers.

  Avery’s mother was the first to be given her daughter’s soul.

  The Elemental walked up to her, cupped the soul in both palms, leaned down to her stomach and whispered words, “Sula Dunna Nacht.”

  The words were too old for even Gumptin to understand, and that was saying a lot, considering he was a Wizard with extensive knowledge of the old languages.

  There was a bright flash of bluish light, and then the soul was no longer in the Elemental’s hands.

  “Take care of her.” The Elemental told Avery’s mother, and she nodded in agreement, holding her stomach, tears begin to form in her eyes.

  The other Elementals followed suit. First, Jade was given to her mother, then Sasha, then Skylar, and finally Bunny.

  Bunny’s mother seemed hesitant and the Elemental backed away, “Are you sure you want this?” he asked her, “It must be all of them that go back, or none at all.”

  All of the parents looked at Bunny’s mother, pleading and warning with their eyes.

  “Of course, I want this!” She cried, “I just can’t believe everything that’s happened today.” Her voice cracked as she steadied her stance, readying herself to accept Bunny’s soul.

  The Elemental nodded once, then continued to place the soul into her body.

  Once the Elementals had done their job of placing all the souls, they ordered the parents into the Gateway.

  The five Elementals who had carried the Protectors souls went through the Gateway first, followed by the parents. The main female stayed behind for a moment.

  “Thank you for doing this.” Gumptin told her, overcome with gratitude after seeing the souls safely put where they belong, knowing his Protectors would soon be returning to him.

  “Just remember, Gumptin,” The Elemental answered, her sing-song voice taking on a melancholy tone, “you were the one to ask for this. Whatever happens, good or bad, do not come to us for any more favors.”

  And with those words, she turned and walked into the Gateway, leaving Gumptin standing alone, pondering what she had said.

  Chapter 4

  Eeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrr!

  Avery Kimball’s head shot up from her desk so fast that she nearly managed to knock herself out of her seat. She had almost fallen asleep when the ear piercing bell, signifying the end to her final class, slammed her back into reality. She checked her desk and the side of her face for drool. There was hardly anything as embarrassing as falling asleep in class and drooling all over the place, and this she knew from experience.

  Avery slumped her backpack onto her shoulder and started to file in line with the rest of the students pilling out of the compact classroom and into the crowded corridors.

  “TGIF, right?” a slight Asian girl, with dyed purple hair, standing beside Avery asked.

  “Tell me about it.” Avery responded, keeping her eyes fixed on the two double plexi-glass doors which led out to the parking lot and to freedom, “I thought this week would never end.”

  “So, are you going to Mitchell’s party tonight?” The girl asked.

  Avery let out a sigh, but before she could continue and officially say no, the girl cut her off, “Avery, you have to go! It won’t be the same without you there. Plus, now that Mitchell and Jenny are a thing of the past, he totally has eyes for you!”

  Avery thought about that for a moment. She had always held a small torch for Mitchell Becker and his big brown puppy dog eyes, ever since the third grade when he had shared his bag of gummy snacks with her. She let herself fantasize about his eyes for a few more seconds before deciding against making a play for his affection.

  “Sorry, Ming, I can’t.” Avery said, hoping she wouldn’t later come to
regret her decision, “I’ve got an English literature paper that desperately needs my attention.”

  Ming shook her head, “You’ve gotta knock it off with all this studying, girl. We’re only juniors; we have another whole year before we have to start worrying about grades and college.”

  Avery gave Ming a light motherly pinch on the cheek, “It’s never too early to start worrying…or so my parents tell me”

  Finally, they exited the doors and were out of the student packed corridors.

  Ming waved goodbye, smiling broadly, “Well, we’ll miss you tonight, but I’ll give Mitchell a big kiss for you.”

  Avery smiled back, telling herself that Ming’s comment was just a good humored joke and not an actual declaration of something she was intending to do. Otherwise, smiling would be the last thing Avery would do.

  “I’ll see you Monday, Ming.” Avery shouted her goodbye.

  Phoenix Mountain High School was located right next to a large park, filled with dozens of bulky trees and green bushes overflowing with petite white flowers that extracted a spicy sent into the air.

  It was by the curb at the far side of the park that Avery always parked her car. In the far distance, she could see the sun glinting off the hood of her beloved Dodge Challenger. She didn’t care that it was over thirty years old, with a peeling dark blue paint job, missing windshield wipers, a sticky gear shift, and sun visors that randomly decided to fall off. Avery didn’t even care that she had ended up putting more money into it than what she had initially paid for it. That car was her baby. It was the first thing she had bought with her money earned from working at her Mom’s flower shop, and more importantly, at this moment, it was her ride to home. Of course, she had to make it to the car first.

  Avery would have inhaled to take in a deep breath of that delicious scent of the tiny white flowers, but first she had to cross the car packed student parking lot blocking her way to the park. There was nothing that she hated more about school than the student parking lot, with its smoldering black top, insane teenage drivers, and asphyxiating exhaust clouds. Avery glanced over longingly at the green oasis that was Cactus Wren Park.