Daughter of Earth (Tales of the Guardian)

by Brianna Merrill

  “So, since my dad has you so busy at work do you get to go out and enjoy yourself much? Sounds like you’re functioning like a 40-year-old workaholic. That’s got to wear on you,” she asked, trying to deter his inquisitions regarding dorm life.

  “Yeah, I get out here and there. I guess the real problem isn’t your dad. It’s that I like what I do too much. Work has really become my best friend,” he gave an embarrassed chuckle.

  “I don’t think loving what you do is a bad thing, but at 22 Rob, you’ve got to get out and socialize more. Date! How are you going to start that big family you told me you wanted so much, if you don’t even date?”

  Emily saw the irony in her statement. Here was the ultimate hermit giving advice about socializing. It was also ironic because she knew Rob had attempted to date, he had tried to date her and it was because of her things hadn’t worked out like he wanted.

  “Dating just seems a little far off for me still. I’m really just figuring things out on my own, throwing a girl or a relationship into the mix might not be the best idea right now.”

  She’d wanted to hear he had a love interest, or had been on some dates. It created a little tinge of pain to think he possibly wasn’t dating because of her. She desperately hoped this was not the case.

  Emily hadn’t been paying much attention to her surroundings until suddenly something inside her seemed off. It felt like a heaviness or slight cramp in her stomach.

  Her other senses kicked in and she was now very aware of the smells and sounds around her. The wet grass gave off a heady scent and the buzzing swarm of mosquitoes nearby seemed to echo like tiny jet planes in her ears.

  The sudden alertness made her head jerk and she was instantly investigating the grounds around her.

  “I wasn’t trying to access my core, was I?”

  It was only a second or two before she spotted the tall dark figure looming off to the side, slightly hidden by the shadow of a bridge.

  Rob didn’t notice the man at all as he continued walking and carrying on with his explanation. He went a few paces more before he realized Emily had stopped.

  She stood frozen as the man in the shadows emerged like some panther stalking its prey. His movements were graceful yet powerful. He didn’t need to fully step into the light from the overhead lamp for her to know who he was, or actually what he was.

  This was why her senses had awakened, as though her core could recognize danger before she was even aware. It was her internal warning mechanism. Her core truly was an amazing thing, even the fraction of it she was using now.

  Rob’s words fell mid-sentence the moment he turned around and saw the man walking briskly toward them.

  Emily felt her panic spiral upward but she remained calm as she coaxed herself to tap into the control she experienced while meditating.

  Running was useless and she imagined it would only provoke the man. Though she had grown up in the city she still knew the most important rule of the wild. Never turn your back and run from a predator. It was safer to steady her stance, and to try to appear just as big and ferocious as the animal. This figure seemed no different than some savage beast and she would do her best to appear just as intimidating.

  Alexander was bound to arrive at any moment. He must’ve received a vision already, she just has to hold out for a moment or two before help would arrive.

  The Ancient One was just an arms distance from her.

  “Hello, Emily.” His voice was deep and rich.

  It carried some type of accent but not one she could recall ever hearing before. His dialect sounded closest to a Germanic one but she knew that wasn’t it.

  His eyes shimmered a beautiful golden yellow color but she knew just how quickly that beauty could change. She’d witnessed it for herself when Dante decided he was done pretending, when he no longer wished to persuade and manipulate Alexander.

  Emily glanced nervously to both sides. “Where is Alexander? He should be here. He should have gotten a vision. He should be here!”

  “He’s not coming, Emily. None of them are.” Sandros didn’t sound threatening. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought he was attempting to comfort her.

  “Excuse me, but I don’t think we know you. You don’t know him, right?” Rob placed his foot between her and the Ancient One.

  “They’re not coming because I have no plans to harm you. I am only here to talk. That is all,” Sandros smiled widely, as he completely ignored Rob’s presence.

  Emily’s eyes locked with his. She failed to recognize Rob’s attendance as well. She shook her stare free for a moment.

  “No, its fine Rob. I know him; um, maybe just wait over there for a minute so we can talk.” She pointed to a bench about 25 yards away.

  “This guy just said he wasn’t here to hurt you. Saying something like that is the first indication he’s crazy,” He grabbed her upper arm and gave it a tug. “Let’s go.”

  “No,” she raised her voice, shaking her arm free from his grip. “I’m fine, just please give me a minute.” Her tone was demanding, quite unlike her.

  Part of her wanted to take off but her instincts told her it would turn into an ill-fated chase if she didn’t hold her ground. Either way, things were dangerous. If she was going to die, she would die fighting. She was done being a coward and the rage she’d carried these past months since her father’s incident fueled the fire inside her.

  And although she was silently prepping herself for some sort of physical struggle another part of her was saying she needed to stay calm and not jump to conclusions. He said he wasn’t going to hurt her and oddly, she trusted that.

  Rob peered at each of their faces, trying desperately to get a handle on the odd and strange turn of events.

  “You want to talk to this guy, fine, but I’m only stepping back a few feet. Something’s just not right about this,” his voiced cracked faintly as his nerves began to set in.

  “Whatever, that’s fine then,” she turned back to look at the Ancient One.

  A familiar calmness slowly crept into her body. It reminded her of the not too distant experience with Dante, and once again she felt helpless to rid herself of the sensation. Soon Rob would be feeling the invisible drug as well, and there would be no more arguments from his lips as the eerie relaxation was bound to paralyze him.

  She no longer wondered if these Ancient Ones had some hypnotic ability. The question now became how long the effect could last. Was there a time limitation?

  Something inside Emily was telling her the situation was being rushed, he could probably only manage people for so long.

  “I know it’s hard to believe I won’t hurt you, not currently. You can see that’s the truth by the lack of Guardians around.”

  He was right, Emily felt sure that regardless of what was going on between them, Alexander would be here if he had received a vision she was to be harmed.

  “So what do you want?”

  “To talk. I am afraid you have some misconceptions and I wish to right them for you.”

  “Misconceptions? I think everything seems pretty clear to me, I’ve seen your kind before. I know how you work.”

  “Are you sure of that? Alexander hasn’t been completely honest with you. He has fed you the same lies he’s been told. So you can’t really blame him,” Sandros spoke very softly; his tone was rhythmic like the ticking of a clock.

  “If anyone fed him lies, it was Dante,” Emily sneered; she was surprised with how powerful her hatred truly was.

  It was an Ancient One who had stabbed her father that night, almost killing him. She’d wanted revenge these past months and though she knew she could not adequately deliver it, the desire acted as a potent poison now coursing through her, empowering her with the confidence and bravery to look Sandros in the eyes and stand toe to toe with him. Revenge was a commanding emotion but it was dark and could easily get Emily in trouble. Damarus spoke briefly about this with her, yet her mind seemed foggy in the presence of this Ancie
nt One, so his counsel was harder to remember.

  “Dante allowed Alexander a rare glimpse of the truth. Something not many are privileged to see. Perhaps you would like to see what Alexander saw, to know what he now knows?” Sandros offered as he reached his arm out toward her.

  His hand crept in slow motion. Something inside Emily was screaming, an unease telling her not to let Sandros touch her, not to let him show her the vision. But he offered a juicy temptation. Even if it was a lie as Alexander had said, she wanted to know what he had seen. She was torn between knowing what was right, and what enticed her.

  It was her core that was churning inside. Sending pulses through each nerve she possessed. Her mind moved quickly enough to evaluate the turmoil.

  Sandro’s fingers were only inches from Emily’s hand and in that instant she reacted.

  “No,” Emily said firmly as she pulled her hand back, taking a step in the same direction. Beforehand she had felt cemented to the ground, yet now she could feel the movement returning to each of her limbs, like the tin man getting oiled up, one joint at a time.

  Sandros’ face showed his surprise. A vision could not be forced on anyone, they had to accept it and want it, even if it was only a partial approval on their behalf. But a firm no was all that was needed to block his attempt at delivering a vision.

  “That is fine. I thought you might be interested in seeing for yourself,” he paused, letting out a deep sigh. “You see Emily, I very well may be your enemy, but at least I will admit to my nature, and my intentions. You cannot say the same about Guardians.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” she felt the hypnotic effects wearing off with each second, she glanced over her shoulder to see if Rob was any better. He looked glazed over and stood motionless.

  She returned her attention to Sandros as he stepped toward her again, closing the gap she’d created a moment ago with her glide backward.

  “Think for a moment, Emily. Guardians claim to be the protectors of men, yet they pick and choose who lives and dies, they choose when to intervene and when to stand back and watch humans suffer.”

  “That’s not true. Alexander doesn’t make those choices.”

  Sandros let a quiet gurgle escape, his version of a scoff. “Oh, really? If Guardians have no power over their actions, then how was it Alexander came to have a relationship with you? Aren’t Guardians forbidden from falling in love, from revealing their true nature to humans? If Alexander is exempt from one law, then how can you say he is not exempt from all of them? The real question is whether there are any laws at all? Or are they all just a mask to hide Guardians’ true intentions?”

  Sandro’s question was like a slap to the face. Was he implying Guardians were all liars?

  “Alexander is special, our relationship is unique.” Emily retorted but did not carry the conviction she’d intended.

  “Is he unique? Is your relationship really some anomaly? Or is it all just a game, a manipulation for the Guardians to acquire what they really need. What are they asking from you, Emily? Isn’t the only reason they require you is to fulfill the needs of their own kind? Do you really think you’re the first to fall for their trickery?” Sandros slowly shook his head, “Sometimes the greatest deception is evil surrounded by sweetness and flowers and good manners. If one sees a sparkling crystal goblet they will assume the wine within is sweet and delectable, yet the decorative glass is only a deathly deception. Instead, it can hide and house a venom that sits silently within, awaiting its next victim.”

  “I …. no…. that’s wrong,” Emily fumbled with her words. She couldn’t piece her thoughts together; she’d been caught completely off guard.

  A rueful smile began to spread across the Ancient One’s face. He could tell his thoughts had penetrated on some level, so he pushed on with his emotional assault.

  “Why should Guardians be the ones to decide who to save and who not? Why have they taken a seat at a throne that is not rightfully theirs? They pretend to play God, yet do it according to their personal desires and will. How could the type of being they profess to be, sit back and watch people suffer, watch good honest humans painfully die…. like your mother.” He let his words sink in and then continued. “Of course, Alexander would not fess up that he let her die. To say it was not in his power to keep her alive was an easy way out, so why wouldn’t he say it?”

  Emily felt like the wind had been knocked from her lungs. Her mother’s death was still difficult to even think about. She was cheated and wronged when her mother died. Seeing all the pain her mother went through scarred her deeply. It was something she convinced herself she’d come to terms with, but, in reality, each mention of her mother reopened the wound on some level, even if just a little.

  “You’re just saying that to upset me, to try and play with my thoughts,” she mumbled.

  Rob suddenly stirred, wakening from his statue-like state and blinking hard. Emily could relate. She’d experienced that same feeling of capture and release twice now under the influence of the Ancient Ones.

  Coming to was a bit disorienting.

  Rob placed his hand on Emily’s shoulder, “Let’s go. Now.” Rob glanced at Sandros. “Now, Emily!”

  “No, she’s not done yet. She obviously needs a little more convincing,” Sandros addressed Rob but he did not take his eyes away from Emily’s.

  “I’m calling the cops.” Rob turned to stand directly in front of Sandros, who effortlessly dwarfed him. But Rob showed no fear; something had finally clicked in him. Rob had been pushed and bullied too far.

  “We’re leaving.” Rob said firmly. He turned to grab Emily’s arm but was stopped by Sandros’ massive hand suddenly slamming into his chest.

  “I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this Emily, but you leave me no choice. Now I must demonstrate exactly what I am talking about. You have forced my hand.” Sandros curled his fingers tightly around a fistful of Rob’s shirt, jerking him in closely.

  “Get your hands off him!” Emily yelled. Instant panic flooded her nerves as she lunged for Rob’s shoulders, trying to pull him away from the Ancient One.

  Rob was now like a slice of meat in a sandwich between the two of them. He placed his own hands against Sandros’ chest shoving himself away. But the Ancient One’s grip on his shirt was like stone and the elasticity of his clothes acted like a bungee cord, pulling Rob directly back toward his captor.

  Then Emily heard it, a sick grunting sound and she felt the muscles in Rob’s shoulder suddenly tense and then go limp.

  Pulling with all her strength she yanked Rob backward, but Sandros released his grasp. The sudden freedom caught her off guard.

  The two of them tumbled to the ground with Rob landing awkwardly on top of her. She could hear his wet gargles and choking as she scrambled to pull herself from under him trying to free her legs from the dead weight of his body.

  Sandros loomed over them like a spectator. The scene before him didn’t affect his expression.

  The light from above was dim but the bloodstain from Rob’s chest wound was bright.

  Glancing around desperately, Emily searched for anyone nearby. It was Central Park, surely someone else was there.

  “Help! Someone! Help!” She screamed, placing her hand over the bleeding wound.

  But, pressure would not help his injury. Rob wasn’t bleeding to death, he was choking to death. Sandros had stabbed him directly in his lung, twisting the blade to speed the process.

  “Why are the Guardians not here, Emily? Why is Rob’s life of no value to them?” Sandros circled the pair slowly. “Didn’t he have a bright future? Wasn’t he a wonderful person? Certainly he had some amazing role to play in life.”

  Rob coughed, spitting blood at Emily as she hung her head directly over his face. She wasn’t watching Sandros, her eyes were directly on Rob’s. Her muscles trembled in fear.

  This situation was all too familiar.

  “You’re not going to die, Rob,” Emily whispered. She then raised he
r head to the sky and shouted once more, “Help, someone help us!”

  “Guardians aren’t coming, Emily. Because they don’t care. Alexander is probably going to be relieved to see his competition taken out.”

  Emily glanced up to look at the Ancient One. It was hard to see his face clearly but it didn’t appear as she anticipated.

  She’d expected to see those deep black eyes, and all of his beauty gone, just as it had been with Dante. Instead he held a look of compassion, or possibly even sadness, as if he was not the cause of this problem, like he wished somehow things were different.

  “I tried to tell you Emily, Guardians are not what you think they are. They are not saviors of mankind. They are simply puppet masters pulling the strings when they deem fit.”

  A group of voices was approaching, the chatter was frantic. They’d obviously heard Emily’s cry for help and could see two people curled up on the ground.

  Sandros looked Rob over one last time and then his gaze fell intensely on Emily.

  “You may want to figure out whose team you’re really playing on. It would be wise to find out if that goblet truly has sweet wine within it… or deathly venom. Evil can take many forms and is easily hidden among the good, for that is where it can manipulate and torment without detection or recompense.” He gave a sympathetic grin and then vanished.

  The sound of the metal blade dropping to the ground echoed in Emily’s ears. She looked back down at Rob, his eyes had closed and she could no longer hear his struggled breathing.

  Giving a slight shake she expected to see him startle but instead he lay still.

  “No, Rob, don’t do this, don’t die. You’re not supposed to die…not because of me.”

  Three men had arrived and immediately swarmed, quickly assessing the situation. One man was on his cell phone disclosing their location.

  “Is he breathing?” he asked, pausing in his conversation to speak with his friend that was feeling for Rob’s pulse.

  “I don’t think so,” the other man shook his head.

  “Lady? Hey, Lady. What happened?”