129 | TO BE A GUARDIAN

Hale doesn’t like hearing that I was attacked while he was away. When I tell him about my thoughts on ‘going on he offensive’ against the Revenant, Hale reluctantly agrees. So the next night, I travel with him to Colton to meet the Guardian trainees. Four of the eight are out on some sort of ‘final solo mission’ near Darklight, so I meet the other four. If I hadn’t known they were vampires, I’d never have guessed they were anything but human.

They move like humans, the lingering scent of humans is stronger than the iron and sweetness on them. Hale had told be that these four were the majority of the ‘freshly-turned’ vampire Guardians-in-training. My nose keeps twitching as I look at the four across from me at the large dining room table. We’re in the dining area I’d been in last time I was here, but the table is different, and I can make out a few scratches in the delicate walls.

Signs of fighting and destruction lay in thin, unforgotten lines on the floors as well, hidden well with fresh polish and replaced in areas, but I can still tell. When I’d heard about the Revenant, ex-King William, turning and killing the entire court aside from Mina and Fang, I had scoffed - at least mentally. *How could* one *Revenant, a new one at that, have brought such destruction?* Seeing it first-hand, I’m a little surprised so many other vampires in the Court survived. All Guardians and Court Royalty were slaughtered, leaving only the Knights and lower classes in the Court.

A few of the freshly-turned are from the lower classes, Hale had explained, and were having issues adjusting - hence the impromptu mission. I get the impression that Mina wanted to keep from a repeat situation - like the one I had with the King when he started lusting after my blood.

I study the faces of the freshly-turned. They’re relatively young, all younger than thirty, but older than me. All adults. I briefly wonder what it must be like, to be ripped from the human life they lived and thrown into a more military one where they find out that they not only have to fight minsters, but be one. Hell, I’d known what I was a whole year before actually accepting the idea of beings part vamp myself. But then, I’d always known I was Wolven, so the revelation wasn’t so shocking. *How must these once-normal-people be feeling?*

“What kind of information have you guys gathered about the Revenant’s locations?” I ask after another long, uncomfortable pause. The freshly-turned keep fidgeting in their seats, eyes swiveling between me and Hale with undisguised curiosity.

“Revenant is a general term,” One of the newbies says, a woman with short, cotton-candy-pink hair and grey-blue eyes. She’s got more scars on her sun-kissed skin than I’ve ever had, but inlike the claw marks and bite scars I’d had, hers are reflective of hard work and an even harder life. There’s a sort of all-business air about her I immediately respect. “We’ve scoped out a few nests so far, but…” Her voice trails off and she glances at Fang.

The Guardian is standing near Mina, as always, near the head of the table - blending in so well with the still wall behind him that I’d almost forgotten he was there. He steps forward, as if called from the shadows to speak.

“The Revenant I’m assuming you’re speaking of, the late King, has been randomizing it’s movements too efficiently for us to get a solid location on.” Fang tells me emotionlessly, though I note the flare of red in his otherwise humanoid sienna eyes. “We do, however, have the locations of three of the other Revenants that were sired.” He continues and looks to Hale.

“One of those nests is where the four other trainees have gone. It’s the one closest to Darklight, therefore is the most pressing.” Hale explains. “Dr. Chambers was none too thrilled to hear about the nest when I spoke to him, but some of his kin are looking into the matter with the trainees.” My father adds to me in a lower tone. It’s not quiet enough to not be heard by the room of vampires around us, but more like a side-conversation. I know this is something everyone else knows already.

“So, then you guys don’t know where the ex-King is?” I ask blandly, my voice coming out colder than I mean it too.

“Not necessarily,” This time, Mina speaks, sitting forward in her high-backed chair and looking at me. The regality of the Queen stands out in the room, her being one of three among us who actually moves like a vampire. “We know the elder Revenant continues to remain with the freshly-turned of it’s ilk for at least a few days at a time. There are three in the area that we’ve taken out, and six unnacounted for.” I stare at the Queen in stunned silence. *That many? How is the Revenant - the ex-King - able to ‘create’ other Revenant’s in the first place? Isn’t it supposed to be some long process?* Part of me want to know…but the other is terrified to find out.

“The rate of creation is unusual,” Hale murmurs to me, his creepy way of being able to know the direction of my thoughts not as freaky as it once was as he answers my unspoken musings. “Since William was so powerful, however, and his age,” He shrugs almost imperceptibly. “Although the rate of change is oddly fast, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility.” I frown, wondering what kinds of odds have to be in the ex-King’s favor in order for his Revenant minions to change so quickly.

“Do you think he’s stalking them beforehand?” I ask aloud as the wheels in my head turn. Everyone in the room still. Like completely. I wouldn’t be surprised in the chords of time were vibrating around me, it’s so still, but then Mina speaks.

“That shouldn’t be possible. No one can predict how a human can react to the process of becoming a Revenant without first being a vampire…” Mina looks to the door and - as if he was waiting for the cue - my cousin stalks in. Ryker pauses to press a hand to my shoulder in greeting before finishing his trek to the Queen. I note how his eyes never stray from hers. “What is it?” Ryker bends fluidly and murmurs in the Queen’s ear. Mina’s face greys a little and her expression falls before it goes completely blank. “Alert the Cavaler before you leave.” She tells my cousin when he pulls back.

“What?” I ask, frowning at her and my cousin. Ry’s as expressionless as the Queen, but his blue eyes are filled with a weariness I’ve never seen in him before.

“The four we sent out,” Mina begins, swallowing as her voice catches. “They’ve…” She looks to my father hesitantly. “They were ambushed and…taken.”

Hale stiffens beside me, his jade eyes flaring acid green as his jaw tightens. His skin pales and he rises from his chair.

“The supernaturals from Darklight were slaughtered,” Mina adds softly, lowering her eyes from Hale’s. “If you would deliver the news-” Suddenly, the power in the room spikes to near-claustrophobic heights. I can’t even breathe for a beat and my heart practically stops dead in my chest.

“***See that my daughter is returned to Kiwina.***” Hale’s voice booms and the Queen’s eyes flash blood-red, glaring at my father until he leaves the room. Everyone sucks in air the moment the tension is gone, my heart stutters to beat, like a clock restarting with old batteries. I flex my hands on the table, my muscles feeling a little cramped and too tight. Hale’s order, though not directed at me, rattles around my skull for another few seconds before it pools in my chest, making it feel heavier than before and just this side of tight.

“Fang,” Mina starts, her voice hollow and strained.

“At your word,” Fang replies coolly, though his own words are controlled and careful. The Guardian watches me with an unreadable expression, but I can’t deny the tiny level of hostility that makes his humanoid eyes a little angry-glow red.

“Please ensure Scarlett’s safe return to her home.” The Queen states plainly, but by the way she says it, each word is careful and general.

“But-” I hiss. *What the hell? Is Mina really just going to send me home because the other team was captured? We’re not going to help?* Mina raises a regal hand to silence me and my teeth click together in the silence that follows.

“Come now, hybrid,” Fang murmurs to me, suddenly right behind my chair.

I glare at the Queen for another silent beat, hoping she knows what she’s doing, and utterly pissed that this is it. Blood boiling, I get up from my chair, ignoring the loud groaning of the heavy thing as it topples over, and storm out of the room. Fang keeps up with me, eerily silent - like a certain ex-shadow.

No one leads us out of the castle, but I know my way by now, and take turn after turn until we exit the Coven.

“I’m not going home.” I tell the vampire at my heels, glowing at him - ready to throat-punch him if he disagrees. “I can’t just sit around at home and wait for a Revenant to come and-”

“I agree,” Fang surprises me by interjecting. I shut up mid-sentence and stare at him.

“You agree?” I ask back slowly, wondering if he’s about to know me out and take me back to Kiwina. The vampire Guardian lets out a sigh and glances over his shoulder at the now closed door to the castle.

“To be a Guardian,” Fang begins slowly, turning to face me with a look of resignation on his face. “Means doing what’s right, even if it’s something that goes agaist the wishes of those you love.” I nod, understanding and accepting his words, even as my chest starts to tighten against Hale’s order. I let out an unsteady breath, the air shuddering out of me in a rush.

“Great, so where are we heading?”