Emily hesitantly continued. “But… um… when you aren’t in human form, you’re what, a cloud of matter or… I don’t get it, how are you always watching?” Emily had never been so curious in her entire life.
“I’m not some misty cloud of dust. How can I explain…?” He paused to think. “It’s like a microscopic organism. You can’t see them with your naked eye can you? But, just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it dissolves into some shapeless blob. It is always in its form but you can’t see it until you use a microscope. I always look like I do now. My body is as real as any human’s. It is just made of a finer, more delicate matter that cannot be seen with the naked eye. When I materialize it’s like using a special microscope to see me. Does that make any sense?” Alexander questioned, raising his eyebrows.
“I think I get it now.” Emily had an improved understanding, but it only confirmed a fear she had growing inside her, one that she had to ask about.
As a young adolescent Emily had made a decision. Exchanging a sweet kiss with someone she loved was as far as anything would go for her before she was married. It might seem like an old fashioned or ridiculous notion for most people but, it was important to Emily. She cringed with the thought that there was now a possibility someone had seen her in a more intimate setting than she wanted.
“So if you’re always watching then, umm what about… well… you know when I am getting dressed?” Emily felt her flush reach clear into her ears; she dropped her eyes, totally mortified.
Alexander laughed, amused with Emily’s chagrin. “I’m a Guardian, not a peeping tom.”
“But you said you were always watching.” Emily was more embarrassed now over the assumption that Alexander had seen her without clothes.
“We leave our Travelers their private moments. Besides, there are some things we do not want to see anyway, believe me.” Alexander’s laughter rolled freely from his barrel chest, as if there was some joke Emily was not getting.
Relief washed over her. Alexander hadn’t been there to witness every personal detail of her life. Maybe the ‘no clothes’ thing was silly to worry about but Emily wouldn’t have been able to relax around him if she was clueless as to how much he had seen.
Just then there was a rattling at the front door. Emily knew the sound. It was the sound of her father’s key turning the lock.
“Oh no, how can I explain Alexander here. Daddy is going to freak out!” Emily jumped up from the couch to assess the front door. She turned back toward Alexander. “You…” She stopped her sentence. Alexander was gone.
“That is amazing… and convenient.”
Her father walked through the door.
“Hi sweetie.” He put his stuff down and began to look around the living room with a questioning look. “Is Candice over? I thought I heard laughing.”
“Nope, I just had the TV on.” Emily glanced at the black screen. “But, um it’s off now.” She wasn’t exactly in the right position to be viewing the television screen, but it was the first thing that came to mind.
“Actually, I was conversing with my Guardian who has now gone invisible. His name is Alexander. Doesn’t that sound like a more sane explanation?”
Emily’s heart was pounding. She was still having a hard time grasping all that had just transpired.
“Oh.” Her father seemed satisfied with the explanation and moved into the kitchen. When he spotted the violin case he turned back to Emily. “You got your violin back. How is it, did they do a good job?”
Emily came over and opened up the case to show her father. “I think he did a great job. And it sounds absolutely breathtaking.” Emily was lost in the memory of earlier that day when Alexander had played.
“Really? Well maybe you need to take up violin so I can hear this old thing play.” He held out his hands indicating that he wanted to inspect it.
Emily handed it over and watched her father carefully examine the violin.
“Did the man tell you what on earth the letters EH stood for?” Her father asked as he carefully eyed the black mark.
“No, actually he didn’t. I’m not sure I will ever know what those letter stand for,” Emily responded.
“Maybe it’s the initials of the person who owned it before or something,” Her father suggested.
“Yeah, maybe.”
Then it hit Emily.
“Initials. Of someone’s name. Someone who played the violin. EH. Edmund Harris. It couldn’t be. Well it’s not like that would be shocking at this point.”
Emily decided it was plausible and put the subject at the top of her list of things to ask Alexander. She glanced around at the thought. He was probably around here somewhere, watching them.
“What should we do for dinner?” Her father said, snapping Emily back to the present.
While they prepared dinner, her father mentioned that Rob had asked about her and that he was looking forward to seeing her at the banquet this Friday night. Emily had completely forgotten about Rob. She wondered how he would feel knowing that she was utterly engrossed with Alexander.
Emily tried not to seem anxious at dinner or afterward when they watched their favorite TV show together. She was only going through the motions, so not to draw any questions from her father. All she wanted was to get to her room where she had some privacy and hopefully could talk with Alexander more.
By eight o’clock Emily felt she had waited to a completely suitable time. She said goodnight to her father and made her way to her bedroom.
She decided she should ready herself for bed first and then wait to see if Alexander would show. Emily couldn’t help but give an uneasy glance around as she undressed and changed into her pajamas. She knew Alexander was being honest in saying that he didn’t just sit around and watch her change. But, that didn’t keep her from feeling a bit self-conscious.
After she was dressed, she brushed her teeth and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. As she exited the bathroom she clicked on her television for background noise to hide her voice.
“Alexander,” she whispered. There was no response. “Alexander,” she whispered again, and bent down as if to check under her bed.
“I don’t live under your bed Emily.” Alexander chuckled.
She jumped at the sound of his voice behind her. “I know that I just… Well I don’t know what I was doing. This is all new for me, remember?” Emily said with only a hint of the humiliation she felt.
Alexander was still laughing softly as he nodded his head. “I know it is. It’s new for me as well. You’re the first person I’ve told.”
Emily hopped up on her bed. “I am? Really?” she responded with delight. “Why haven’t you told someone before?”
“It’s not something we are supposed to do and honestly I have never had the desire to tell anyone, until you.”
Emily couldn’t help but release a proud smirk at Alexander’s confession. “So have other Guardians ever come clean with their people. Oh, I mean their Travelers?”
“No, none that I am aware of. I believe I am the first.”
“Will you get in trouble for this? Can you?”
“I’m not sure what will happen. I’m certain I will be called to council with the Governing Five anytime now.” Alexander shrugged. He showed no signs of being worried or stressed.
“The Governing Five? What’s that?”
“The five head Guardians. They watch over us, help us, council with us when we have need. They are like the watchmen on the towers, making sure everything is running smoothly.”
Emily processed the information for a moment and then it dawned on her. “So that is what you meant when you said you had five parental figures.”
“Yes. I didn’t want to ever lie to you. I just tried to put things in terms that would let you assume what you wanted. Sorry.”
“No I understand. If you had told me all of this when we first met I might have called the police on you. Not that that would have done any good.” Emily gave a little laugh.
“Yeah, I have a knack for eluding unwanted company.” He grinned.
Alexander grew serious as he sat down next to Emily.
“I can’t express how good this feels, to have told you all of this about me. It means even more that you have accepted it.” Alexander lifted his hand to gently caress her hot cheek. “You don’t how long I have waited to be near you, to talk to you, to hold you.”
Emily could feel the warmth of Alexander’s hand and she welcomed it. It was so soothing. She closed her eyes, for a moment she was completely lost, forgetting that she was in the middle of a conversation. Her eyes popped open as Alexander pulled his hand away.
“So, why me?” Emily cleared her throat, trying to regain her thought process. “Why did you feel like you could tell me and not someone else?” She wasn’t really sure what she was asking, or even trying to get at. Her thoughts were everywhere and nowhere, all at the same time.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Alexander responded.
Emily raised her eyebrows. She needed further clarification.
Alexander caught the hint, and proceeded to explain himself. “Two years ago, when you had your accident, something became clear to me. When I saw the car spinning out of control and you were headed for the cliff, I waited for the prompting to intervene. But it was the first time I experienced total panic whether that prompting would come. I wanted to save you, with or without a prompting. It felt like if you were to go over that cliff, so would a piece of me….” He paused. “That was the night I knew I loved you.”
Alexander’s words hit Emily with extreme force.
“He loves me! I can’t believe it, he loves me!”
Emily opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Alexander used his hand to close her jaw and continued.
“As I spent time as Guardian for Edmund, a desire grew within me. I wanted to have someone, to love someone as Edmund loved Catherine. For the first time in my existence I was envious of a human being. I wanted what he had. I wanted to experience the complete joy that came from loving someone so deeply. Of living for someone else, even if that involved the wrenching pain that came with loss. Being his Guardian changed me. I am not sure why, but it did.”
Emily’s mind was beginning to make sense of things and then she found the piece that completed the puzzle.
“That violin I bought, is it Edmund’s?” Emily’s mind was boiling over now with the implications of what this all could mean.
Alexander took a deep breath, relaxing his shoulders as if a weight had just been removed from him. “Yes, yes it is. That violin was the same one that Edmund had all his life. The very one he played lullabies to his unborn child with.”
“It all makes sense now.” Emily gazed into the distance, lost in her thoughts.
“I kept the violin for a few decades. I would get caught up playing the familiar songs I remembered from Edmund, but after a while it only brought me pain. The songs reminded me of what Catherine and Edmund had. Something I thought I never would experience myself. So I donated the violin to a small museum about thirty years ago. Saying I was shocked the night it showed up at your father’s charity auction would be an understatement. I was there of course, watching you.” Alexander cleared his throat in an effort to control his emotions. “Then when the violin was up for bid and I witnessed you raise your paddle with such determination, I began to think that maybe there was something more to all of it.”
“I had never bid on an item before. Never.” Emily sounded almost breathless.
“I know,” was all Alexander said.
“I couldn’t explain it. I was just drawn to that violin. I had to have it, and the need completely consumed me. And then… when I took it to be restored is when I met you, when you saved me. If I hadn’t bought the violin, I wouldn’t have gone to that store. I wouldn’t have been attacked. We wouldn’t have met.” It was all very clear to Emily. This was not some crush that came and went or some form of infatuation. This was something bigger, bigger than them both.
Alexander wrapped his hands around Emily’s “Yes, when I saw the chain of events unfold before me, I knew that it was no longer something that only involved me and how I felt about you. I knew we were supposed to be together. At that point I was willing to welcome whatever might come, just to experience a moment of loving you. I knew that by some divine design I was being allowed the chance.
Tears streaked down Emily’s face.
“Can this really be possible? Can someone really love me so much? Can I really be getting something back after what has been taken from me?”
So many if’s and why’s ran through her head. She wasn’t positive about any of them, except for one. Emily knew without a doubt that she loved Alexander. No matter how against reason it seemed, whatever logic would argue that it was too soon or whoever might say she was crazy it didn’t matter. She was in love with Alexander and he was in love with her. There was no denying it.
Chapter 6
* * *
Council
Neither Alexander nor Emily realized what was set in motion that night.
They were blissfully unaware of the plan that now stood cemented in place, caused by their actions and confessions. It was too easy to be caught up in the excitement of their newly professed love. They gave no immediate thought to what consequences might result from such an unusual and cosmically unique relationship.
Every part of Emily’s mind and body was exhausted. Even though she still had so many questions for Alexander she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. A thrilling roller coaster of emotions had streamed through her today and it was all beginning to catching up with her. But she didn’t want to go to sleep, she wanted to stay awake and be with Alexander.
“I’m not going anywhere, remember?” Alexander gently reassured her.
It was so comforting for Emily to know that Alexander would not be some flash in her life. He was around for good, not only because of their love but because he was entitled to. He was her Guardian; he was responsible for her protection, which meant he could spend every minute of every day with her.
Nestled in closely to Alexander’s warm chest, Emily gave an audible sigh. Everything about him was welcoming and reassuring, she loved it. Leaning in this closely, his scent was intoxicating, sweet like vanilla yet tinged with the smell of sandalwood. He was warm all over as though he had a built-in heater that never ran out. And although his body looked as solid as stone, Emily found his skin surprisingly soft and his touch ever so gentle. Alexander felt familiar to her, like having a favorite childhood stuffed animal, where the sight and scent alone could always bring comfort.
Sleep was creeping up on her more rapidly now. Even sitting in an awkward position leaning against him didn’t matter. She was fading fast.
Just when Emily was experiencing the first few moments of those dreams between dreams Alexander spoke up.
“It has been a long day and I believe you need some rest.” He chuckled a little as though sleep was an inane thing for him. Like it was something he didn’t understand.
Emily wasn’t sure how things happened, but before she knew it she was tucked in her bed with her covers draped over her, clear up to her chin.
“I’ll just be over here if you need me.” Alexander motioned towards her chair by the window.
But Emily didn’t see him; her eyes were closed in sweet slumber.
The rapid knock on the door startled her awake.
“Emily? Emily, are you awake? Sweetie it’s time to get up.”
Her father gave a few more persistent knocks on the door. She finally snapped her head up, instantly looking around for Alexander. He was nowhere to be seen, but she knew that didn’t necessarily mean he was gone.
She stumbled out of bed and hurried to the door. Once she got it opened she could see the bewilderment on her father’s face.
“Do you know what time it is? And why is the door locked?” His confusion gave way to concern. “Are you feeling okay?”<
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“Yeah, I’m alright I guess. What time is it?” Emily still felt groggy from waking so quickly.
“It’s seven forty-five. You’re gonna be late for school.” He checked his watch. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay? It’s not like you to sleep in. I don’t think I have ever had to pound on the door to wake you.”
Her thought process was beginning to move quicker now and she realized that an opportunity was placed before her. She decided to play sick for the day.
Son of Eden, a Paranormal Romance (Tales of the Guardian) Page 10