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During the summers, Mother would seek all sorts of activities that would be possible to carry out without the powerful sting of the sun’s rays. Her resolve was the lake since we were never allowed beyond the gates.

My brothers had continuously longed for sunset since it signified a visit to the lake, and while I was never fond of the water, I joined because it meant time outside alongside them.

The familiar queasiness overtook my stomach once I neared the end of the forest. Low waters greeted the sand in slow motions, the two merging into one as I drew closer. The same pier resided in the water; the wooden structure stretched to nearly meet a quarter of the lake.

My distrust of the pier had once been stronger than the water. But on days I felt the toughest, I’d walk along it with Mother.

“You’re the strongest and bravest of them all,”she’d say.“Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Simpler times had long vanished, yet my mind reminisced on the memories as if they were from a few weeks ago when our mother was alive and my brothers smiled occasionally. But they were smoke in the wind, a visible embodiment that lasted for a few seconds before disappearing again. All that remained was the distaste of the past stranded on my tongue and the ache that echoed within my chest.

Bubbles formed along the water’s surface and traveled in my direction at a rapid speed. A dark outline burst through the water’s surface, my feet stumbling backward, causing my body to crash on the sand. Hands thrust through the dark matter on the outline and pulled it away, revealing the new guardian’s face. Her hands twisted through her thick, ink-black hair, the lengths surpassing her knees. In an instant, her eyes settled on me and quickly widened.

“Alek, I mean, Mr. Sephtis—” She cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders. “I wasn’t expecting to see anyone at this time.”

I took her in. The guardian I had witnessed hours ago was no more, the one who stood before me an utter contrast. Her body didn’t tremble as if she suffered from chills, nor were her icy green eyes dazed and hollow. She appeared perfectly fine.

Kaleb’s marks from her had vanished while Tristan lay recovering in the infirmary. His condition had improved, but the essence of what occurred to him was still present.

The trembling fear in my body settled into a fiery heat.

“What are you doing here?” The question escaped my mouth like an insult.

“I didn’t know this place was restricted,” she responded.

“You shouldn’t be informed by anyone. You’re a guardian, not a child.” Regret immediately washed over me, my stomach constricting and twisting as the words echoed.

She took a step forward. “Excuse me? I may be a guardian, but that doesn’t mean I know everything. That’s not my job.”

“Then what is? Attacking innocents when you’re furious?” The same sense of regret swallowed me whole, but the anger couldn’t be contained.

“W-what? N-no, of course not!” She froze in place, and fists tightened against her sides. “They were all accidents!”

“How many more accidents will it take for you to understand? We don’t need you here. Leave! You’ll be doing all of us a favor.”

Her expression dimmed while her eyes hollowed, the appearance oddly heart-wrenching. I walked away before an apology could slip my lips, my pace faster than normal.

My back was on her, yet, I could sense her gaze through my flesh, sunlight a mere sting compared to her burning stare.

ChapterNine

KATERINA ELI

Ihated being bored.

At the CEG, I wasted hours practicing in the training room or following Lace around. But here, after being relieved of my duties, it was all I could torture myself with. While I could visit the guardian base for meals, I didn’t. My appetite was nonexistent since human food unsettled the hell out of my stomach the more I ate it.

The rumbling pain in my stomach was starting to claw through.

Without feeding, I could last three months on human food— four if I stretched out leftovers. But October was already halfway through, and I was digging for drops from the only bag I brought. Lace was smart enough to send me a new shipment. My problem now was waiting withher.

Shewasn’t a whisper in the back of my mind anymore but a scream that echoed in my bones.Herpresence was too obvious with the way my body grew numb. I only hoped that the gallons of water I chugged with the medication was enough to drown the clashing feelingsshethrived in.

Times like these made me want to escape, to feel weightless among the waves. After my last trip to the lake, though, I hadn’t gone back. Honestly, I was scared I’d stumble on Alek again.

I couldn’t face him, yet he was all I thought about.

All the homework wouldn’t have prepared me for his harsh —but true— words. It’s not like I wanted to do either one. With Kaleb, it’d been a slip-up. But with Mr. Amelle, I was fulfilling my job. What else were guardians supposed to do?